Community members support GCRPPB’s initiative
Harrisburg, PA: Today, The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan
(GCRPPB) held its first rally demanding amnesty for Bhutanese political prisoners. After spending
three years advocating for human rights, today, GCRPPB saw an increasing number of local
Bhutanese community members joining the cause.
Over 40 activists stood at the front steps of the PA Capitol Complex. They called for the immediate
and unconditional release of political prisoners in Bhutan.
For centuries, the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese people resided peacefully in Bhutan’s southern
region, only to find themselves subject to unjust cultural alienation, exiled from the country, and
imprisoned. Political prisoners in Bhutan were once peaceful members of the country. Their only
crime was advocating for democracy and human rights for all Bhutanese citizens. Because of this,
they were labelled anti-nationalists and shut behind bars without due process.
Since 2019, GCRPPB has been pleading for their amnesty. However, the Royal Government of
Bhutan continued to violate its citizen’s human rights by refusing to grant them their freedom. As a
result, family members of the political prisoners continue to suffer as the world forgets about them.
But today, the Bhutanese community in the USA rallied in solidarity. It demanded the release of the
many political prisoners in Bhutan. The rally, organized by GCRPPB USA chapter coordinator CM
Niroula and Youth Coordinator Ashika Dhaurali, brought in local Bhutanese leaders as speakers:
Narad Adhikari, Tika Dhungana, Dr Narad Pokhrel, Samickshya Subedi, and Man Ghaley. A
personal plea was delivered by Pasang Tamang, brother of Chaturman Tamang, who is serving a life
sentence in Bhutan. The campaign also held a spoken memorial in honour of the Late Dr Bhampa
Rai and the Late Kishor Rai, two prominent Bhutanese activists.
Prominent Bhutanese Community leader and a former Amnesty International Prisoner of
Conscience and presently Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs-
Pennsylvania, Mr Biswanath Chhetri, Bhutanese intellectuals Mr Madhav Sharma, former
Bhutanese Parliamentarian Mr KB Chuwan, and several others were present on occasion. Young
generation Bhutanese leaders Soniya Pradhan, Samickshya Subedi, and Dikchha Chuwan took a
deep interest and actively participated in the program.
The young people must continue to work in the Bhutanese movement, as they are the community’s
future. They should be involved in the work to pressure the Royal Government of Bhutan and the
King to immediately release all political prisoners, respecting their fundamental rights to peaceful
opinion. International organizations must also continue to advocate publicly for the protection of
human rights in Bhutan.
GCRPPB is pleased that more people are hearing the stories of the languishing political prisoners.
We hope that together we can achieve a future of reconciliation for the prisoners of Bhutan who
have endured these oppressive conditions for far too long.
We thank you for standing with us in this cause and urge you to help spread the message demanding
freedom and justice for the political prisoners of Bhutan.
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