A new United Nations report has condemned Bhutan for illegally jailing ethnic Nepali citizens for life without parole, simply for expressing political opinions. The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention concluded that Bhutan has violated fundamental human rights, including the right to a fair trial, and described the arrests as “discriminatory.” The report highlights the cases of Birkha Bahadur Chhetri, Kumar Gautam, and Sunman Gurung—arrested in 2008—who were targeted due to their political beliefs and their identity as part of the Lhotshampa, or ethnic Nepali, minority. Human rights groups and exiled Bhutanese say this reflects a broader pattern of ethnic discrimination, rooted in Bhutan’s “One Nation, One People” policy that led to the expulsion of over 100,000 ethnic Nepalis in the 1980s and 1990s. Though many Lhotshampa have since been resettled abroad, serious concerns remain about those still imprisoned in Bhutan and ongoing injustice against ethnic minorities.
Abba Father, we pray for those unjustly imprisoned in Bhutan for their ethnicity and beliefs. Let truth and justice prevail. May those suffering behind bars be set free and restored with dignity (The Bible, Psalm 9:16).
Lord, comfort the Lhotshampa people and others displaced or discriminated against. Heal their wounds, restore their rights, and bless them with peace, identity, and hope (The Bible, Psalm 146:9).
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