Open letter to the King of Bhutan
To
His Majesty The King of Bhutan
Tashichhodzong, Thimphu
Kingdom of Bhutan
Sub: Appeal to Release Political Prisoners.
Your Majesty,
We the following justice loving global citizens would again like to put forward our most sincere request for your consideration.
Following the dawn of democratic government and constitutional monarchy, we had a great expectation that our brothers and sisters who were arrested on political grounds and serving prison sentences in various prisons in Bhutan, will be released.
Most of the family members of those political prisoners are already resettled in eight western countries after living many years in Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal. Most of them have successfully gained citizenship of the countries they resettled. Others are in the process of acquiring. Despite living in the economically developed countries and enjoying all amenities, they feel incomplete and emotionally desolate only because their close family members/relatives/friends are still in Bhutan’s prisons. They have remained disconnected following their resettlement after which ICRC stopped the family visit programme. Those in the prisons are their dear husbands, fathers, sons, brothers, uncles, friends without whom it has become increasingly difficult for them to live a modest life, no matter where and how they are now living.
Therefore, we the undersigned, with our heavy heart, request Your Majesty’s good office to gracefully use the constitutional Royal Prerogatives (per Article 2.16.c of the constitution of Bhutan) to provide amnesty to political prisoners. It will be the most benevolent action of a constitutional monarch and goodwill gesture of a great human being if this appeal is duly considered.
Your Majesty,
The elderly parents of those political prisoners are in the way of dying without their wishes to see the face of their beloved children being fulfilled. Children of those prisoners who were just born have great wishes to see their parents. They have been waiting for decades in the hope of getting opportunities to live rest of their lives peacefully together.
We humbly look forward for Your Majesty’s positive response to our most sincere request.
Sincerely
Ram Karki on behalf of the signatories
