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

Bhutanese people. Last December, without any provocation or reason, 15
Bhutanese were shot dead and 19 others injured by the BLT in Assam.
However, the loss of the 15 lives will be nothing when compared to thousands
of Bhutanese lives that could be lost in a military confrontation with the
militants. The casualties will include brothers, sons, nephews and relatives in
the armed forces as well as the civilian population. There will be heavy loss of
property including houses and vehicles. Development works and economic
activities will be affected in at least 12 out of the 20 Dzongkhags. Over a
hundred development centres in Samdrup Jongkhar and Sarpang Dzongkhags
and Panbang Dungkhag under Zhemgang, including schools and Basic Health
Units, will have to be closed down.
The Home Minister said it was not known how many trained and armed
militants the ULFA had as reserves in Assam who they could bring in as
reinforcements in the event of armed confrontation. He pointed out that Assam
had a population of 25 million people and, even if a small percentage of them
were supporters and sympathizers of the ULFA and NDFB militants, it would
be a very large number for Bhutan. If armed conflict was to break out, many
Bhutanese would lose their lives and many of the militants would also be killed.
As a result, the militants and their relatives and supporters will retaliate by
attacking and killing Bhutanese people especially those who travel through
Assam.
Nevertheless, regardless of the possible loss of thousands of Bhutanese lives,
disruption of development works and economic activities leading to
unprecedented problems, if all peaceful solutions to the problem are exhausted,
Bhutan would obviously be left with no other option but to resort to military
action. In this regard, if the Bhutanese people do not cherish and safe guard the
security and sovereignty of the country who else can be expected to take up this
responsibility.
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