1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

They wondered where all the organizations advocating human rights in the
world had gone when so many innocent Bhutanese people were slaughtered like
animals on the highway in Assam and the nation was overwhelmed with pain
and the sorrow over this tragedy. If a minor event occurs in big and powerful
countries, there is a deluge of media coverage through the radio, newspaper and
television. When it comes to the brutal and senseless murders of so many
innocent citizens of a small country like Bhutan the coverage by the
international media was non-existent except for a few stories in Indian
newspapers which were based on press statements. The true facts of the tragic
incident have not been covered by the media.
The people of Bhutan are still not aware if the perpetrators of these heinous
crimes were ULFA or Bodo militants or other outfits with vested interests. The
Royal Government should, therefore, brief the National Assembly on the
discussions held with the Indian Government and the outcome of the
consultations on this issue.
In response, the Home Minister said that, as submitted by the people’s
representatives, a terrible tragedy was inflicted on Bhutanese people travelling
through the Assam highway on 20 th and 21 st December last year.
i) On 20 th December 2000, two trucks, one belonging to the Royal Bhutan
Police and the other belonging to a private citizen was set on fire near
Santabari.
ii) On the same day, a new Toyota Hilux belonging to the Samdrup
Jongkhar Dzongkhag administration was hijacked and burnt down. Its
passenger Sonam Dorji, the Dzongkhag Registration Officer and the
driver, Tandin Dorji were kidnapped and they were released only three
days later.
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