Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay called upon to address human rights concerns

KATHMANDU: The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) has congratulated Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay and his party on securing a majority in the lower house of the Bhutanese National Assembly.

While Bhutan marks its transition to a democratic, constitutional monarchy with commendable strides toward a consolidated democracy, the GCRPPB raised crucial concerns regarding the plight of political prisoners within the country.

The GCRPPB emphasized that despite Bhutan’s democratic advancements, over 50 individuals labeled as political prisoners are presently held in various prisons across the nation. In a plea directed at Prime Minister Tobgay, the campaign urgently requested his support in addressing these pressing issues.

Key appeals include urging the Prime Minister to grant amnesty to the 50+ individuals currently held as political prisoners, facilitating a legal pathway for the repatriation of the 6,500 Bhutanese refugees residing in camps, extending citizenship rights to the remaining 40,000 Nepali-speaking Bhutanese, and providing appropriate opportunities for resettled Bhutanese in Western countries to visit Bhutan for familial and socio-economic purposes.

Additionally, the GCRPPB has advocated for efforts towards creating a friendly environment for national reconciliation with exiled former-Bhutanese citizens.

The GCRPPB has underscored its commitment to fostering harmonious relations between the Bhutanese administration, the people, and the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese diaspora community. The organization expressed hope that Prime Minister Tobgay and his government will consider these appeals, fulfilling humanitarian responsibilities and promoting meaningful progress on these critical issues.