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08/23/2006: "The Boro Support Group Press Statement"
The Boro Support Group Indigenous Human Rights
Press Statement the Hague, August 23 2006
With the foundation of the Boro Support Group the demeaned and neglected people of the plagued North East of India to save their culture from oblivion are set to garner attention.
Abduction of NDFB leaders by Bhutan questioned
The leaders of the National Democratic Front of Boroland, NDFB, when in Bhutan's capital Thimphu to sign an agreement with the Government of Bhutan regarding the NDFB bases in that country, were abducted. They were: Mr. B. Erakdao, B. Habrang and N. Phwjoukhang. On November 27 there was a bilateral talk between the Royal Govt. of Bhutan and the NDFB which started at 10 am and lasted till 12 noon. There were four representatives of the Royal Bhutan government present. On December 3 Mr. Sanam tensing of the Bhutanese Government informed the DNFB members of the DNFB that his Majesty the King had directed to prepare a formal agreement by his Government. He further informed the official agreement would be signed by both parties on 13/12/2003 at Gelepu. Since then were never seen again, no sign of life then. On December 14 Mr. Erakdap informed his wife that the agreement could not be signed at the fixed date and they were asked to wait for further information. Since then nothing has been heard of the three leadership members of the NDFB. (the affidavit of Mrs. Rwimali Mochahary, wife of Mr. Erakdao is with the Boro Support group)
Days after the abduction the NDFB along with ULFA bases were destroyed and the members of both organizations driven out of Bhutan. This operation known as “OPERATION ALL CLEAR”, was joint operation of both the army of the government of India and the government of Bhutan. Many people sided, civilians too. An excerpt of the text written by the wife of shows how treacherously the Government of Bhutan trapped the NDFB leaders. Frantic family members are still in oblivion as to the whereabouts of the NDFB leaders as the Bhutan Government, in spite of their repeated requests of what happened to them. The question is, are they in prison? If so, will they be charged, will they have defense lawyers, or have they been killed?
India and Bhutan are responsible for what happens under their jurisdiction. If the Bhutan Government is not responsible for their arrest and subsequent detention or murder, it should do its alls it can to find the NDFB men held in custody or the culprits who murdered them. The Boro, according to the Government of India, are part of the Indian Union. Consequently, the NDFB men are Indian nationals. India should enquire about its citizens and demand from the Bhutanese Government what happened to the NDFB leaders. Are they dead or alive, are they held prisoner?
Hence The Boro Support Group calls on both the Indian and Bhutanese Government to be sincere and produce the NDFB leaders and show evidence on what basis the men are charged or show what happened to them. Thought Bhutan is directly accountable to have made citizens from a friendly neighbor disappear it is the Indian Government who should have followed up on them.
More information on background and prospects of the Boro Nation will soon be available on the Boro Support Group website
