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Bhutan News Service

Bhutan News Service

Vermont GNH conference sees dark side

Posted: 05 Jun 2010 03:50 AM PDT

Vermont mission on the field

Vermont mission on the field

A group of some ex-refugees from Bhutan participated in the first Gross Hational Happiness (GNH) conference held in Burlington,Vermont of the US from June 1-4.

Ex-refugee's mission showed its presence in the first day by displaying cards and banners outside the conference hall, requesting the participants not to forget the plight of a hundred thousand people from the same country which coined and preached the philosophy of GNH. The participants from local organizations also joined the demonstration in solidarity.
On June 2, the mission held a panel discussion with the local TV channel and newspapers resulting in wide media coverage of the issues the mission had put forth. The participants registered for the conference and an informal discussion with the title 'GNH, Bhutanese refugees and National Reconciliation'.

When the mission requested Karma Tshiteem, the secretary of the GNH commission, to address a question raised on the refugee issue, he eluded saying it was not the appropriate forum. The discussion was, however, participated by a group of people, some of who also spoke on behalf of the Bhutanese government. They included Sonam Ongmo, a New York based Bhutanese freelancer and Tshering Tashi, the co-author with Australian Tim Fisher of the book 'From Jesuits to Jetsetters, BOLD BHUTAN BECKONS, Inhaling Gross National Happiness' which backs the policy of the Bhutanese government.

The mission ended with highlighting the reasons for National Reconciliation and the pathway to accomplish it.

Detail news at apfanews.com

Khanal to participate in resettlement consultations

Posted: 04 Jun 2010 11:41 PM PDT

Arizona, June 3: Manorath Khanal, who chairs the Bhutanese Community in Arizona (BCA), has been selected to participate in Refugees Resettlement Consultations to be held on June 7 and 8 this month in Washington D.C.

The consultation program of Office of Refugee Resettlement marks its 30th anniversary this year garnering community refugee leaders and other stakeholders from various States of America.

It is reportedly learnt that some other resettled exiled Bhutanese are also being selected from different parts of United States, however, BNS is yet to receive their names.   

”It is a matter of pride that International Rescue Committee (IRC) which has been looking after resettled refugees here selected me along with six others from various countries for this program,” Khanal told Bhutan News Service over telephone.”The IRC is sponsoring all participants from Arizona”, he added.

"The selection was made based on my contributions to our community members through BCA," he  responded to a BNS query.

From his involvement with the community works since two years, Khanal has felt that America has old immigration policies due to which refugees resettling there do not get sufficient benefits prior to becoming self-reliant economically.

"The aid basket for resettling refugees has been getting smaller each year," Khanal said promising to raise these issues during the consultations in Washington D.C.

Back in Nepal, Khanal served his community as a  secretary of Beldangi-II Extension Camp. He reached Arizona two years ago through the third country resettlement program.