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Statement by the Foreign Ministry of
Bhutan on the commencement of military operations to flush out from
its soil three terrorist groups active in India's Northeast, December
15, 2003
The Royal
Bhutan Army began operations on December 15, 2003, to flush out
from its soil terrorists of three groups active in India's Northeast.
The full text of the statement released by the Foreign Ministry
of Bhutan is as follows:
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1. Many are aware that three
armed separatist groups from India, namely the United Liberation Front
of Assam (ULFA), National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), and Kamtapur
Liberation Organization (KLO) have clandestinely entered and established
camps in the dense forests of southern Bhutan.
2. The
three separatist groups are scattered across southern Bhutan bordering
Arunachal Pradesh in the east to Sikkim in the west, thereby covering
the entire stretch of Bhutan’s southern boundary with India. Bhutan
is particularly sensitive to India’s security concerns in the region.
The separatists use their camps in the dense forest to train their cadres,
store arms and ammunition, and to launch surprise attacks inside India.
The ULFA has 13 camps, the NDFB 12 camps, and the KLO 5 camps.
3. Development
and economic activities in Bhutan have been seriously affected by the
presence of the militants. Work at large industries such as the Dungsum
Cement Project have been suspended. Educational institutions in vulnerable
areas had to be closed down. Trade, agriculture production and other
commercial activities in several districts of the country have been
disrupted.
4. Innocent people
in Assam, West Bengal, as well as in Bhutan have been victims of threats,
coercion and extortion. Unprovoked attacks by the militants against
Bhutanese nationals inside the country, as well as those traveling through
Assam, have resulted in tragic loss of innocent lives. It has become
unsafe for Bhutanese to travel and transport goods through the traditional
and more convenient routes in India.
5. The
presence of the militants, who entered Bhutan clandestinely 12 years
ago and established their camps initially without our knowledge has
become a direct threat to Bhutan’s sovereignty and national security.
Their long-term presence has undermined the peace, stability and socio-economic
development enjoyed by the Bhutanese people, and threatens the very
sovereignty of the country. Of particular concern are the misperceptions
surrounding their presence and the implications on the excellent bilateral
relations with India which is of the highest importance of the royal
government and the Bhutanese people.
6. Given
the magnitude of the security threat posed by the armed militants, the
issue has been regularly discussed in the National Assembly of Bhutan.
It has also been one of the central issues raised in all major public
fora, including the regular meeting of the local bodies.
7. Despite
the seriousness of the threats and the immediate need to rid the country
of their presence Bhutan, as a Buddhist and a peace loving nation, committed
itself to find a peaceful solution and pursued a series of dialogue
with the separatist groups since 1998. Every effort was made by the
royal government to bring about their peaceful departure from the country.
In this regard, the fraternal and good neighbourly relations between
the Bhutanese people and the people of Assam have always been the primary
concern and has, in fact, been a major factor in the royal government’s
decisions to ensure that every effort is made to resolve the problem
peacefully.
8. It was
with much regret and frustration that the royal government was unable
to report any successful outcome of the talks to the National Assembly.
Finally, during the 81st session of the Assembly, held from June, 28,
to August 18, 2003, the royal government was mandated to make one last
attempt at persuading the militants to leave the country. The resolution
was clear in that, should the talks fail, then as a last resort, the
Royal Bhutan Army would have to be given the responsibility of removing
the militants from Bhutan.
9. Based
on the above the home minister, who is also the prime minister of Bhutan,
invited the leaders of the three separatists groups to Thimphu for talks.
Despite Bhutan’s request that the top leadership attend the talks, the
two militant groups, namely the ULFA and NDFB, sent mid-level representatives,
while no response was received from the KLO. Nevertheless, because of
the sincere effort on the part of the royal government to find a peaceful
solution, the home minister met separately with the ULFA in October
2003, and the NDFB in November 2003, and engaged in lengthy, substantive
discussions. During the talks, the militants were told, with great restraint
and patience, that the royal government cannot tolerate their presence
any longer. They were reminded that their entry into Bhutan was no different
from a foreign invading army, and their conduct showed no regard for
our laws. It was made very clear to them that they were not refugees
seeking humanitarian protection, and that their refusal to leave would
result in a senseless and fratricidal conflict. They were also told
that the senselessness of a confrontation lay in the fact that the Bhutan
has nothing to do with their hopes and aspirations. Every life lost
in the foreign soil of Bhutan for them would be a waste. They were advised
to engage in serious reflection and consider the wisdom of continuing
the armed struggle. They were also advised that the moment had arrived
when they should try to find a solution within the constitutional framework
of the republic of India.
10. Conducting
dialogue with the militants has never been easy, but as a peace-loving
nation, Bhutan has been tolerant and patient in seeking a peaceful resolution
of the problem. After six years of consistent and strenuous efforts
to find a peaceful solution, the process of peaceful dialogue has been
fully exhausted, and the royal government was left with no option but
to give the royal Bhutan army the responsibility of removing the militants
from Bhutan.
11. It
is ironic that Bhutan’s success with environmental conservation, in
particular, conservation of the dense sub-tropical forests along the
southern border, has rendered the country a favoured hiding place for
the separatist elements from India. The predicament for Bhutan is that
of a country feeling the life threatening pains of a problem that lies
everywhere. In this regard, the National Assembly of Bhutan has noted
with appreciation that multi-pronged efforts made by the government
of India to resolve the problem. These include administrative, economic,
political and military initiatives.
12. Under
the circumstances, Bhutan seeks the continued understanding and support
of the government of India, particularly the bordering states of Assam
and West Bengal. It is our hope that the compulsion of flushing out
the militants from Bhutan will promote peace, stability and economic
development in our region and further strengthen the age-old friendship
and cooperation among our people and governments.
13. Bhutan
also seeks understanding and support from many other development partners
and friends among the international community.
Source: Kuensel
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