Bhutan/Burma & Refugees

[cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

dawn star wrote:
> 
> Dear Brelief and company, EuroBurmanet will back off the Bhutan and
> reply only directly those of you concerned by the problem of human
> rights in Bhutan. The problem there is only as complicated as you make
> it, and discussion untangle the knots. It is most odd that one extends
> compassion only to the King, and not the repressed now languishing in
> prisons, harrassed throughout India and Nepal, and the issues there
> deserve more than indifference or neglect. For those who wish to find
> something on Bhutan, and there is not much,
> http:www-uvi.eunet.fr/asia/bhutan/
> 
> I fail to see what Ken and Visakha disagree with, as that has not been
> yet made very clear here. I repeat what i sent earlier : "if there were
> more respect for human
> > >rights,  there would be less refugees".
> 
> Ken and Visakha do overlook one vital point, that in Nepal, and I was
> there, with ministers, the government is supporting the Myanmar regime,
> and not supporting the refugees of the Burmese crisis or the Bhutan
> refugee population, or the Tibetans now persecuted throughout Nepal.
> Yes, cultural diveristy and national distinctions abet tribal rivalry,
> but the Nepal government's position is not favorable to freedom in
> Burma. We have seen references to Nepal in several recent Burmanet
> postings.
> 
> And look at the geopolitics, Bhutan is not very far from Burma re India
> and China. Keeping focus on Burma issues is fine and excellent, but not
> at the cost ofexclusion of even marginally related issues. This is why
> we have a United Nations, and deal not only on bilateral issues.
> 
> Metta, and compassion to all, refugees and the King himself,
> Dawn Star
> EuroBurmanet (not Euronet)
> 
> brelief@xxxxxxx wrote:
> >
> > From: Ken and Visakha Kawasaki <brelief@xxxxxxx>
> >
> > The Buddhist Relief Mission has strong reservations about the issue of
> > Nepalese refugees from Bhutan.
> >
> > We would certainly regret seeing FBC and Free Burma activists caught up in
> 
> No one is caught up as you say
> 
> > this very muddy issue, perhaps on the wrong side.  We do not want to belabor
> > the point by marshalling resources and background information for a debate
> 
> no one is asking for a debate, only information when it is scarcely
> available on this
> > on it either, detracting from the issue of Burmese democracy.  Suffice it to
> > observe that the problems in Bhutan and Burma are very, very different.
> 
> of course they are different, very different,
> 
>   The
> > one similarity we see is that in Burma we can everywhere witness the
> > destruction of precious, irreplacable indiginous cultures.
> >
> > It has been observed that Tibet has been lost to the Chinese, while
> > Buddhists in Sikkim are now a distinct minority in their country.  Bhutan?
> >
> > It is certainly a very complicated issue.  Much more than this simplistic
> > appeal, "Daw Suu enjoyed Bhutanese hospitality, therefore climb on board,"
> > would suggest.
> 
> not at all, this was your interpretation, and i must say, jumped the
> gun. anyone can intrepret as they best think fit,
> 
> >
> > We do not agree with Euronet Burma.  At this time we also feel compassion
> > for the King of Bhutan.
> >
> > With metta,
> > Visakha and Ken
> >
> > At 11:43 AM 5/1/97, you wrote:
> > >From: dawn star <cd@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > >
> > >Euro-Burmanet strongly endorses this appeal to the Bhutanese King and
> > >calls on all FBC spiders and Free Burma advocates to support the call
> > >for human rights in Bhutan. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi once enjoyed the
> > >hospitality and goodness of the Bhutanese people, and knows of their
> > >natural kindness. Let us hope that the Free Burma movement may show
> > >similar solidarity and extend a worldwide call of support to freedom in
> > >Bhutan and Mr. Rizal now in his time of dire need and hunger fast.
> > >
> > >The Indian govt, which strongly influences Bhutanese foreign policy, a
> > >vitual proxy state of India, also pressures Nepal in a geopolitical
> > >tight spot with China: China's policy in Nepal has caused the worst
> > >repression of Tibetan refugees inside Nepal since the creation of
> > >democracy there in 1959 -year of the Chinese invasion. There is
> > >currently a widespread Bhutanese refugee crisis in Nepal, as well,
> > >adding to tensions with India. Needless to say, Nepal is currently
> > >committing grave violations of human rights, of both Tibetan and
> > >Bhutanese populations. There is a large section of Burmese-origin
> > >peoples now living in Nepal... A call for for human rights in Bhutan, is
> > >also a call for human rights in the region -China, India, Nepal, Bhutan,
> > >as well as Burma. Natually, if there were more respect for human
> > >rights,  there would be less refugees.

Refugee problems cross borders, obviously. Burma refugees, though not to
be complicated with Bhutan, are a regional problem crossing many ethnic
lines and country barriers. 
> > >
Yes it is complicated in part, but more truth and light on the problem
may render more understanding and positive solutions.
> > >
> > >Dawn Star, Paris
> > >EuroBurmanet
> > >
> > >
> >
> > http://www2.gol.com/users/brelief/Index.htm