Kathmandu: Coinciding with the 73 International Human Rights Day, Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) has renewed its call for the early release of Bhutanese political prisoners.
GCRPPB has sent an appeal to the King of Bhutan appealing him to grant them amnesty. A copy of the appeal has also been sent to the Bhutanese Prime Minister, Ministers, and Members of Parliament.
Similarly, GCRPPB has also submitted a common memorandum to the government of all the Bhutanese refugees resettling countries appealing their support for the safe and early release of those political prisoners.
[Related: A long and desperate wait for the families of Bhutanese political prisoners]
It has also sent separate appeals to UN Human Rights Council, European Union, US State Departments, Diplomatic missions of USA, UK, Australia, The Netherlands, Denmark, Canada, Sweden, Norway, New Zealand based in Kathmandu and New Delhi for seeking their attention towards the plight of the political prisoners.
[Related: Concerns raised over wellbeing of Bhutanese political prisoners]
Currently, more than 100 political prisoners have been languishing behind the bars in the South Asian country for decades. Most of them were booked under the National Security Act which demanded life sentences; thus the prisoners are currently serving life sentences. Most of their elderly parents, wives, and children are now resettled in various developed countries after living in various UNHCR aided refugee camps in Nepal for more than 20 years.
GCRPPB has been making repeated calls to free the prisoners by appealing to the King of Bhutan and other stakeholders. The campaign was formed in 2019 to call for the early release of Bhutanese political prisoners.
[Related: Bhutanese diaspora calls to rescind award to former Bhutanese Home Minister on charge of human rights violation]
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