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 Richard Boucher
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Posted on 11-16-06 3:19 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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Richard A. Boucher
US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs

Some quotes from his recent Nepal trip:

1. "We support whatever decision the Nepali people make"

2. "A comprehensive peace agreement between the Government of Nepal and the Maoists is anticipated"

3. "I came here to better understand Nepal's transition to democracy, and it is clear this is an historic time"

4. "We will be fully prepared to deal with them [Maoist] as a political party when they start being a political party. Political parties don't run militias, political parties don't walk around with guns. You don't walk into parliament with a gun in your pocket"
5. "The Nepali people, who have lived in fear for 11 years, deserve a chance to live without fear and to choose their form of government in fair elections"

6. "We will also continue to contribute to Nepal's long-term development."

source:
By Suresh Nath Neupane
www.kantipuronline.com

 
Posted on 11-16-06 8:06 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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Here is a discussion going on in "Nepal Democracy Forum" (Google Group) sparked by Boucher's admiration for Bhutanese government as reported
- http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2006/nov/nov15/news13.php

Nepe

Note: Read the message bottom up for a chronological order

**** **** **** **** **** ****
From: ... ...
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 6:53 PM
Subject: [ND] Re: The reason why America has lost its credibility in the world

I support the idea of getting Bhutanese expatriates (in Nepal and elsewhere) involved in this project. Can anyone make contact with Tek Nath Rizal?

If it can not be done through ND forum, it may be time to start a BD forum.
.... ....

**** **** **** **** **** ****
----- Original Message -----
From: Deepak
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 12:55 PM
Subject: [ND] Re: The reason why America has lost its credibility in the world

... ... and friends,

My hunch about the forum members' feeling (based on my own) is that having Bhutanese themselves AT THE FOREFRONT of such activism rather than Nepalis doing it ON THEIR BEHALF will be more binding and effective. So getting more Bhutanese involved and organized might be a good initiative. I am sure some of the forum members are in contact with Bhutanese in the US and can help in this one. Teknath Rijal-jee can also be contacted. However, our activism better be community-driven rather than leader-driven.

On a larger note, whatever happened to George Bush's 2005 swearing-in speech in which he was talking about a new policy of the US to promote pro-democracy movements against tyrant regimes all over the world ? If I was reading the media correctly, then it was thought of as a PARADIGM SHIFT in the US foreign policy then. Is it abandoned ? Any foreign policy buff ?

Here are excepts from the speech.

"So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world...
...We will persistently clarify the choice before every ruler and every nation: The moral choice between oppression, which is always wrong, and freedom, which is eternally right. America will not pretend that jailed dissidents prefer their chains, or that women welcome humiliation and servitude, or that any human being aspires to live at the mercy of bullies.

We will encourage reform in other governments by making clear that success in our relations will require the decent treatment of their own people. America's belief in human dignity will guide our policies, yet rights must be more than the grudging concessions of dictators; they are secured by free dissent and the participation of the governed. In the long run, there is no justice without freedom, and there can be no human rights without human liberty....

...Today, America speaks anew to the peoples of the world:

All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

Democratic reformers facing repression, prison, or exile can know: America sees you for who you are: the future leaders of your free country..."

Full text of the speech:

- http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/01/20050120-1.html

Deepak

----- Original Message -----
From: ... ...
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Sent: Thursday, November 16, 2006 8:34 AM
Subject: [ND] Re: The reason why America has lost its credibility in the world


That is a good idea Kripa ji. I will talk to few of our Bhutanese friends here in Ohio as well. Writing to Amnesty International is a good idea as well. They will disseminate information if they think the cause is worthwhile. I can write to them this weekend on behalf of ND group if it is okay with the members. However, we seem to lack the enthusiasm here...is it plain old inertia or something deeper ?

Regards,

.... ....

**** **** **** **** **** ****

From: ... ...
Reply-To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ND] Re: The reason why America has lost its credibility in the world
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 20:07:44 -0800

Namaste all,

I would be happy to volunteer to draft some semblance of a petition; however, it would have to be towards mid January since I have a multitude of things to take care of prior to that.

Sucheta Ji, I'm sure this route has already been tried, but, could we approach HR organizations like Amnesty et all to see if they will back us as a community in getting this issue come up in the popular media? Much like the crisis in Dafur (and I in no way mean to compare the horrors of Dafur to that of the Lothsampas), the American populace was rather blissfully unaware of the crisis untill a series of articles appeared in the press.

Additionally, there are Nepalese who have, to all intents and purposes, been banished from Bhutan in different parts of the U.S (I know some in Seattle that I will certainly speak to in terms of soliciting information for purposes of the petition), perhpas we can create some sort of group to work on this?

Best regards,
... ...

**** **** **** **** **** ****

On 11/15/06, ... ...wrote:

Dr....

We have, in the past asked the Bhutanese government to respect individual rights and liberties. However, this time if we could highlight the under-secretary's remark and voice our "dismay' I think it will make some sort of an impact. It is high time the Americans start living up to their rhetorics. How could a US representative go to South Asia, talk about granting refuge to the Bhutanese refugess and praise the Bhutanese administration in the same breath ?


How can they chide the maoists time and again for not respecting human rights but praise a King (who has destroyed lives of millions Lothsampas) and his administration of doing a good job. We as a community could at least voice our displeasure if nothing.

My two cents worth.

... ...

**** **** **** **** **** ****

From: ... ...
Reply-To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ND] Re: The reason why America has lost its credibility in the world
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 17:28:52 -0800 (PST)

Dear all:

I will wholeheartedly support such a petition.

Unfortunately, due to other commitments, I am not able to draft or coordinate a petition to support a dignified repatriation of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal and India. The petition should also pressurize the Bhutani government to respect the democratic aspirations of their people, accept the equality of all ethnic groups, and pursue a pluralistic polity to represent every Bhutani in the political process.

We should also give a copy of the letter to the UN, and to the governments of India, Nepal, UK, China, Japan, Canada, and Australia. We had done a protest in 1991 but to no apparent impact.

... ...

**** **** **** **** **** ****

... ... wrote:

I will support the idea of sending a petition to the congress members per following suggestion.

The Bhutanese refugee is not just limited to those who have been driven out from their home land and many of them are forced to live in camps in eastern nepal. There may be thousand others who are probably living in India and hundreds of thousand others still living in Bhutan under difficult circumstances.

Would any one like to volunteer to draft a petition?

Best,

... ...

**** **** **** **** **** ****
From: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com [mailto:nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com]
On Behalf Of ... ...
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 7:06 PM
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ND] Re: The reason why America has lost its credibility in the world

I also know many Nepali Bhutanese who are suffering inside Bhutan. I will support such a petition.

... ...

**** **** **** **** **** ****

----- Original Message -----
From: ... ...
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, November 15, 2006 12:47 PM
Subject: [ND] Re: The reason why America has lost its credibility in the world

More than that ... ...ji, I feel that as long as things are "stable" in a poor third world country, as long as that country doesn't project some sort of threat to US interest in the region, they are fine with any kind of political system the country has. Time and again, it has been proven that the policy of democratic peace that Washington rallies around the globe is one big farce.

And yes Kripaji, the Bhutanese King talks about "Gross National Happiness" I wish American foreign policy experts explain to us what GNH truely means. Thousands of Bhutanese refugees are languishing in Nepali soil and instead of using their political muscle to corner the King, Americans praise him. I wish we could write a petition to Senators and Congressmen here protesting this action. They talk about German anti-semitism as if it is almost a profanity whereas they praise a country that hunted down and banished/purged the Lotsamphas. The sad thing is, Americans get away with everything, as they do with the war in Iraq, with meddling in Nepalese politics and even with stunts like this.

Imagen prasing an administration which initiated a purge against its own people...its a shame !!

Regards,

... ...

**** **** **** **** **** ****

From: ... ...
Reply-To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
To: nepaldemocracy@googlegroups.com
Subject: [ND] Re: The reason why America has lost its credibility in the world
Date: Wed, 15 Nov 2006 08:39:25 -0800 (PST)

Dear ... ..

I am not suprprised by Boucher's statement. There was a time when dignitaries from democratic countries used to say great things about Panchyat system of Nepal as it was the most demopcratic system in the world. It all comes down to how much the US public offcilas know about Bhutan.

During last five years of advocting for Nepali democracy cause in the US Congress, I have learnt how much misinformation there was. It was mostly fed by the people in power and their coterie; visiting ministers, ambassadors, honorary consuls and US representatives in Nepal. Thanks to the efforts of so many Nepalis in the USA, we have come a long way. However there is still a very very long way to go.

As to Bhutan, the democratic forces have to sart the information camaign and they have a long way to go. They also have to bear in mind the strategic partnership between the USA and India.

Regards,

Shyam Karki
... ...

**** **** **** **** **** ****

... ... wrote:

America raves about Bhutan's political state of affairs!! What could be more amusing that this?
- http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2006/nov/nov15/news13.php

**** **** **** **** **** ****
 
Posted on 11-16-06 8:17 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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On Bhutan issue, Mr. Boucher said

1. "We want to contribute as we can and our offer to take 50,000 or more people is a part of that and we look for cooperation between Nepal and Bhutan and there are other countries that are willing to help out as well"

2. "resettling the people in the camps in Nepal might take longer than just a few months because getting on the path to settling it was the hardest thing."

source: nepalnews.com
 
Posted on 11-16-06 10:12 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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On Maoists:
1. "…we won't be able to fund programs that they (Maoists) run. We won't be able to fund programs where they are in-charge," ...."Given that law (on terrorists), we will have to look at individual circumstances, particular programs or the circumstances or a ministry or an organization that they use."

2. "We can continue our programs, perhaps we will have to find some new mechanisms for doing that. But, we fully intend to continue our support for the people of Nepal."

3. "We have to apply those laws (on terrorist groups) and make sure we don't provide support to the Maoists in any way," "But, that doesn't mean we can't deal with them as part of the government."

4. "Until they fully go through the process of transition, until they establish a track record as a peaceful political party, we are not going to be able to provide support to them. We won't be able to deal with them as a political party until they really are one. At this point, we haven't seen changes in their behavior. We haven't seen them act like a political party."

(source: kantipuronline.com)
 
Posted on 11-16-06 10:57 PM     Reply [Subscribe]
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If the US really take 50,000 and begin resettling them in the US territories....wait and see ....a lot of "newly converted" Bhutanese refugees will appear from nowhere.
 


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