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SUB in the past and the present
SUB, since it's formation in the early days of 1988 has been striving, through
action based programs, against the discriminatory policies of RGOB. With the
exodus of thousands of Bhutanese who have been evicted, through foul means by
the Govt., the Union has currently been compelled to re-orient its direction in
mobilizing support and international campaign to restore peace in Bhutan.
In a country where there is no freedom of Press or Expression, where formation
of Union or Association is considered to be against the law, SUB had to work
very hard to create a sense of awareness among the people, and ventured to
campaign against the discriminatory policies of RGOB.
In 1989 the Royal Govt. clamped down on the activists and arrested and
imprisoned several SUB members including it's founder President and vice
President who was abducted from India. Fearing the persecution many SUB members
from colleges, training institutions and various sectors fled the country.
Though in exile the SUB members worked hard to open camps in the states of Assam
and Bengal in India and provide food and shelter to the deportees for several
months.
The SUB, in co-ordination with the Bhutan People's Party (BPP, formed on June
2,1990) worked to mobilize the public and organize mass peaceful demonstrations
throughout the southern belt during Sept- Oct-1990. When the fully unleashed
security forces resorted to bullet solution it led to the death of some of it's
members. Many imprisoned and several succumbed to rape, torture and beatings.
With the closure of 76 schools in South, over 40,000 students are victimized
blatantly violating Article 26 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
When there started tremendous flow of refugees and when the camps in India were
already destroyed by the Indian authorities, SUB volunteers took up the arduous
job of providing food and shelter in India and Nepal for the deportees before
any agency came for assistance. A committee was formed and was active in the
Indo-Bhutan border to help the newly evicted people for immediate temporary
shelter and later transported to the camps in Nepal.
With the commitments of the SUB members, it could open up schools in the camps
without any external assistance in the beginning. Now with generous help from
CARITAS-Nepal, SUB has succeeded in opening schools in all the camps. Later on a
coordination committee called Bhutanese Refugee Education Co-ordination
Committee(BRREC)was created with an understanding with the Caritas Nepal to
administer CARITAS sponsored Schools by it's volunteer coordinators and impart
education by it's members. The Caritas Nepal has also provided a letter of
appreciation to SUB for initiating Schooling for the refugee children in the
very beginning.
Despite several setbacks and SUB members being the greatest suffers, SUB
continued to remain in active in the Bhutanese movement.
Remaining in exile under such precarious condition SUB has been struggling
against the injustice meted out to the people of Bhutan.
SUB 1988-90
Concentrated in striving against the discriminatory policies of the
Government: conducted confidential meeting among the people, boycotted the
compulsory dress code, voiced against banning the Nepali literatures from the
schools and the malicious census exercises in the southern Bhutan.
Organized peaceful demonstration in the southern Bhutan. Started to bring out
monthly news bulletin called "Bhutan Focus" since Dec.1990.
1991-93
Actively involved in providing immediate relief to the evicted people in
India and later in Nepal. Established schools and supported implementing
emergency relief activities in Maidhar refugee camp. Started developing relation
with other youths and student organizations in Nepal and elsewhere.
1994-96
SUB developed organizational relation with youths and students organization
in Nepal and other countries and enhanced the international campaigning..
Organized Marathon Cycle Rally towards Bhutan along with other Bhutanese youth
bodies (YOB and DYB) supported by the two prominent Bhutanese political parties
(BNDP and BPP).
1997-99
Participated in regional and international youths and students events in
India, Nepal and Cuba. SUB established sub office in America and developed
contact with various individuals and organizations.
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[Introduction]
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