The Bodo & Ulfa Problem

Bhutan Bodo & Ulfa Conflict Talks with the militants (September 2003)

After a day-long meeting in Gedu on June 11, the government's security coordination committee for Chukha dzongkhag drew up a 19-point resolution aimed at strengthening security measures to protect government infrastructure, service facilities, and the people of the dzongkhag.The Home Minister, who chaired the coordination meeting, said that the meeting - similar to the ones held earlier in Deothang and Gelephu - was held in Gedu specifically because members of a new militant organisation called the Kamtapuri Liberation organisation KLO had been detected in the vicinity of the dzongkhag. Although it was a small force, the KLO's proximity to Chukha, and even to Thimphu, was a reason for concern and called for appropriate responses, he said.

The KLO, established by activists from the Cooch Behar region known as the Cooch Rajbansis, is reportedly demanding an independent state for the Kamtapuri people spread over seven districts in West Bengal and Assam. "We came to know about the KLO camp across the Wangchu river, very close to Chukha dzongkhag, earlier this year," the Home Minister said. He added that, while security was vital for every part of the country, it was particularly important for Chukha because of the presence of the two most important hydroelectric projects as well as the main trade and commercial highway.

The Home Minister said that the militant group also posed grave risks of destabilising relations between the people of West Bengal and Bhutan who had always enjoyed very close relations. Although Chukha had suffered during the ngolop problem in the past, militancy was a new phenomenon and the people were not yet aware of the problem. "Our people will have to be better informed and, in case the security situation deteriorates in the Lhamoizhingkha area, we may even have to evacuate some of our villages," the Home Minister said.

The home minister, Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho, briefed the National Assembly on the government's agreement with the ULFA militants: the ULFA will move four of their nine camps in Bhutan by December 31, 2001; they will reduce the strength of their cadres in the remaining five camps; and, following the implementation of this agreement within December, 2001, the government and the ULFA will meet again to find a solution to the remaining five ULFA camps in Bhutan.

Mongar, Trashigang, Pema Gatshel and Samdrup Jongkhar dzongkhags conducted a three-day security coordination meeting in Deothang in June. Like the meeting which was held in Gelephu in May, the discussions focused on security for important installations, coordination with Assamese officials and police, prevention and response to attacks by militants or their supporters and assistance for people in conflict affected areas, including their rehabilitation if necessary. In June, the business community of Bhutan offered Nu. 94.92 million to His Majesty the king as a contribution from the private sector to strengthen the security of the country.

The Bhutanese members of the Joint Verification Team (JVT), set up to identify the people in the refugee camps in eastern Nepal, reached Nepal on March 11. The governments of Bhutan and Nepal had agreed on the selection of Khudaunabari camp under Jhapa district as the first camp to undergo the field verification by the team. In August, the 11th meeting of the Ministerial Joint Committee of Bhutan and Nepal met in Thimphu. During the meeting the two governments agreed to accelerate the verification process of the people in the refugee camps in Nepal but, at the same time, maintain the "quality and thoroughness" of the verification work. The measures agreed upon to accelerate the verification process were:

a) simplification of procedures;

b) strengthening of the JVT (joint verification team);

c) bifurcation of the JVT to conduct separate activities simultaneously.

Bhutanese officials met with Jalpaiguri district representatives in January to clarify issues, promote economic growth and stabilise the law and order situation on both sides of the border. The meeting decided that work should start immediately on the identification of the international boundary between Jaigaon and Phuentsholing with the realignment of the pillars which were missing. They also discussed the construction of a stone wall along the border, not to stop the movement of the local people, but for security reasons as Phuentsholing had become a border town used by militant groups in West Bengal and Assam. A total of 49 officers and men of the Bhutanese service forces received decoration medals from His Majesty the King on December 17 during the celebration of National Day in Wangduephodrang. The Drakpoi Wangyel Medal, The Drakpoi Thuksey Medal, and the Drakpoi Khorlo Medal were awarded to the servicemen in recognition of their long and dedicated service to the Tsawa Sum, their contributions in protecting the security of the country, and their courage under enemy fire.