UN Working Group Condemns Bhutan for Arbitrary Detention and Human Rights Violations

The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has condemned Bhutan for its arbitrary imprisonment of political prisoners and ongoing human rights violations, calling for immediate reforms and accountability.

In its Opinion No. 60/2024, the UN body highlighted the cases of three Nepali-speaking Bhutanese political prisoners—Birkha Bahadur Chhetri, Kumar Gautam, and Sunman Gurung—who have been incarcerated since 2008 under harsh conditions. The report describes these cases as part of a larger pattern of repression, with at least 29 other political prisoners similarly detained.

The Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) issued a statement on Tuesday, accusing the Bhutanese government of using unfair trials, fabricated charges, and repressive legal measures to silence dissent, particularly targeting the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community.

The WGAD report reveals that the three detainees were arrested in 2008 without warrants and sentenced to life imprisonment under Bhutan’s National Security Act (1992) for distributing pamphlets critical of the government. They were denied legal representation, forced to defend themselves in court, and tried in Dzongkha, a language they do not understand, with government-appointed interpreters. Bhutan falsely labeled them as terrorists under national security laws that have been used to suppress ethnic minorities and political activists. Since 2017, the government has denied all political prisoners family visits, contradicting its own claims. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) last visited Bhutan in 2012, and families holding ICRC documents were denied access to their imprisoned relatives in 2022. Bhutan refused to cooperate with the UN Working Group, failing to provide any legal justification for the detentions.

The WGAD has declared Bhutan’s actions a violation of international law and has urged the government to immediately release all political prisoners, reform its legal system, provide compensation to those wrongfully imprisoned, and allow independent investigations into human rights violations. The GCRPPB has welcomed the UN findings and called on international human rights organizations and foreign governments to pressure Bhutan into compliance with international law. It has also urged Bhutan to end its suppression of political dissent and permit independent monitoring of its prison system.

The WGAD report highlights a systematic pattern of human rights abuses in Bhutan, particularly against the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese community. At least 32 political prisoners remain behind bars under fabricated charges. Human rights organizations are now calling for strong diplomatic and legal action against Bhutan, urging the United Nations and foreign governments to intensify pressure for democratic reforms and justice for political detainees.