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Stichting Information Bhutan International, a Dutch Human Rights foundation has been closed due to bankruptcy.a

Mentioned below is the previous achivements and objectives of the organisation.

To mention for its reminiscence, this was founded by a journalist from Bhutan in the year 2000 as a non-political, non religious and non-profit making human rights organisation named Information Bhutan International and registered under the Dutch law.

His purpose to have a foundation was as follows:

Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation of freedom, justice and peace, & Whereas disregard and contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have outraged the conscience of the mankind; and the advent of a world in which human beings shall enjoy the right to freedom of Opinion and Expression, without fear, has been proclaimed as the basis of the fundamental Human Rights of men, women and children; Information Bhutan International is constituted to serve the people of Bhutan and its development partner countries with the wisdom of the Human Rights, particularly the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 19.

Why was this foundation necessary?

The kingdom of Bhutan is also a member of the United Nations, and therefore the international norms and humanitarian principles adopted by the bodies of the United Nations, such as the Rights and Freedoms enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is essential to cause, for the people in Bhutan, to be fully known and practically enjoy it. Bhutan’s relationship with its neighbouring and the development partner/donor countries has not been at the people’s level but been limited between each others' few influential personalities, and the factual current affairs of Bhutan is least known to the outside world. The need to foster amiable interaction between the people of Bhutan and its development partner countries, in order to support each other’s rights and freedoms and uphold the international norms and humanitarian principles in Bhutan has this common platform constituted and established on 14^th February 2002 in The Netherlands.

Mission.

To promote and protect the right to the Freedom of Opinion and Expression (UDHR 19) in Bhutan and appraise the people and governments of Bhutan’s development partner countries with its current affairs and defend for the Human Rights, Peace and Justice in Bhutan.

AIMS AND MANDATE WAS

    To culminate and protect in Bhutan the right to freedom of opinion and expression and the freedom of press and defend for the human rights, equality, peace and justice.

    To appraise the people and governments of Bhutan's development partner/donor countries and the international community on human rights situation of Bhutan, and consolidate their support, and build up human development mechanisms to pursue human rights, peace, equality and justice for all the Bhutanese people.

It worked in this manner

To realise the mission of IBI, regular and thematic programmes that supplements both the objectives in various ways shall be formulated. The regular programmes shall be executed through volunteer social service of the Bhutanese and their well-wishers. The thematic programmes are project-tied activities, set in the light of the specific situation and aspiration of the people, and are realised with the pursuance of the institutional support.

Regular programmes:

   Disseminate the factual news and human rights conduct of Bhutan to the audience to Bhutan's development partner countries through symposiums, audio-visual, electronic and print documentations; focusing to develop solidarity and friendship and set common opinion on the values of each other’s culture and human rights.

Thematic activities.

   Conduct research and documentation on issues of the current affairs of Bhutan and develop apprisal tools to the international communities on the true circumstances of the Bhutanese people, and build up human development mechanism to pursue human rights, peace and justice for them.

Financial resource and accounts was met from his personal income and hard work. But despite this a few educated Bhutanese refugees scoundrels falsly accused the founder of earning money in the name of refugees. However many leaders worldwide appreciated the work and felt a need for such an avenue this foundation has been dissolved and accordingly reported to the concerned Dutch government authorities.

What was the achievement?

This organisation achieved many many startegies and realised most of the rights and freedoms enshrined in the UDHR, see Bhutan Review Anual Reports particulierly:

• Change the opinion of the Dutch society on Bhutan and Bhutanese refugee situation whereby any Bhutanese who came to Holland was received cordially and asylum was granted when sought for.
• Bhutanese culture and lifestyle has been now beter understood.
• Bhutan's human rights issues was taken up in government and various faculties
• Dutch grant aid to Bhutan was compelled to package with human rights conditions and even stopped when Bhutan did not comply to it.
• It protected Bhutan's right to freedom of press and expression of public opinion.
• It prevented Bhutan's Nepali edition of Kuensel being stopped by the royal government.
• It encouraged and lobied to include Lhotshampa broadcasting programmes to full scale with other language deparments of Bhutan Broadcasting Service.
• It apprised the situation of press to outside faculties.
• It organised demonstrations once in the Hague and in Geneva UN office to pursuade Bhutan repatriate the refugees.
• It has documented the case on forcible exile for international appeal.
• Many more....

I dream of a society where no one has to separate with his families or leave home for the urgent need of the survival. I dream of my people forcibly exiled by the regime of Bhutan and wish their safe repatriation. Gautam