An open letter to the king of Bhutan

Your Majesty,

With due respect, on behalf of the Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB), taking the auspicious occasion of 75th Human Rights Day, I am writing to submit my sincere request for your kind consideration.

It is a universal fact that Bhutan has become a democratic country with a constitutional monarchy in place. I commend you for your leading role in this. And yet, despite these political changes, more than 50 political prisoners are languishing in Bhutan’s various prisons. 

Many of these political prisoners’ family members have already resettled in eight Western countries after spending many years in refugee camps in Nepal. Besides few, most of them have successfully gained citizenship in the countries they relocated to, and others are in the process. Some such families are still in Nepal’s refugee camps and desperately hope to reunite with their family members who are still serving sentences as political prisoners in Bhutan.

Despite living in economically developed countries and enjoying all necessary life amenities, the resettled families of the political prisoners feel incomplete and emotionally desolate. For decades, their loved ones have been serving prison terms in Bhutan, and they have remained disconnected for several years. The agonies of these families are more miserable and are challenging to describe.

The political prisoners are their dear husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, and friends. It has become increasingly difficult for them to live a modest life, no matter where and how they live.
The parents of those political prisoners have started dying without their wishes to see the face of their beloved son being fulfilled. And the children of those prisoners who were just born when their father was arrested have great desires to see them. They have been waiting for decades for opportunities to live the rest of their lives peacefully together.

With a heavy heart, I request that your good office gracefully use the constitutional Royal Prerogatives (per Article 2.16.c of the Constitution of Bhutan) to provide amnesty to their beloved family members. I would be ever grateful to Your Majesty if my honest and sincere appeal is duly considered.

I humbly look forward to Your Majesty’s positive response to my appeal.

Sincerely yours, 

Ram Karki

Coordinator

Global Campaign for The Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB)

The Hague, The Netherlands. 

[email protected]

Here is the list of Human Rights Watch verified 35 political prisoners and their details.

	Name	Date of arrest	Sentence	Location
1	Rinzin Wangdi	June 25 1999	32 years 6 months	Chemgang
2	Tendzin Gawa Zangp o	2009	Life	Samdrup Jongkhar
3	Kinley Penjor			Rabuna
4	Kinley Gyeltshen			Rabuna
5	Ram Lal Rawat	1990	Life	Rabuna
6	Bishnu Rai	1990	Life	Rabuna
7	Madhulal Budathoki	1990	Life	Rabuna
8	M B Bhujel	1990	Life	Rabuna
9	Lok Bdr Ghale	1990	Life	Rabuna
10	Sha Bdr Gurung	1990	Life	Rabuna
11	Kumar Rai	1990	Life	Rabuna
12	Prem Rai	1990	Life	Rabuna
13	Ram Bdr Rai	October 31, 1995	24 years	Chemgang
14	Ganga Ram Dhakal	November 16, 1992	Life	Chemgang
15	Bhakta Bdr Rai	September 23, 1993	36 years	Chemgang
16	Moni Kumar Pradhan	November 29, 1999	43 years	Chemgang
17	Prakash Mongar	March 21, 1999	36 years	Chemgang
18	Harka Bahadur Gurung	June 10, 1999	32 years	Chemgang
19	Dambar Singh Pulami	Nov 23, 2001	43 years	Chemgang
20	Yogi Prasad Subba	February 9, 2008		Chemgang
21	Kumar Gautam	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
22	Hasta Bdr Rai	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
23	Suk Man Mongar	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
24	Birkha Bdr (Basnet) Chhetri	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
25	Govinda Niroula	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
26	Nandalal Basnet	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
27	Om Nath Adhikari	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
28	Khagendra Khanal	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
29	Aita Raj Rai	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
30	San Man Gurung	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
31	Chatur Man Tamang	February 26, 2008	Life	Chemgang
32	Chandra Raj Rai	July 24, 2008	Life	Chemgang
33	Pratap Singh Bhattarai	February 14, 2008	18 yrs	Chemgang
34	Chandra Man Subba	February 9, 2008	18 years	Chemgang
35	Bhim Bdr Rai	May 3, 2010	4 life terms	Chemgang