New Delhi, March 9, 2009: Shantiram Acharya, former reporter with The Bhutan Reporter, published by Association of Press Freedom Activists Bhutan in exile, has started hunger strike in Chemgang central jail from Monday.
Acharya was arrested in January 2006 for taking photo of army camp in southern Bhutan and was charged for carrying out subversive activities against the state.
Druk National Congress led by R K Dorji said in a statement that nine other people sentenced to long years of jail term by the high court during the period of absolute monarchy have joined Acharya on indefinite hunger strike. They are Sup Prakash Rai, Om Nath Adhikari, Karenda Kheder, Govinda Nerula, Chatra Bhadur Tamang, Ram Bahadur Chamling, Kumar Gautam, Sukman Mongar and Hastha Rai.
The ten inmates in Chemgang central jail decided to sit on fast-unto-death after doctors forced N. L. Katwal to take food administering glucose. Katwal ended his hunger strike on March 7. Katwal is in stable condition now, the party said.
The prisoners have demanded the institution of independent judiciary in Bhutan to look into their case again along with demands put forward by Katwal.
Even after the adoption of constitution in July last year, the fundamental human rights are not accorded to them and government continues to deny them the access to counsel so that they can fight their case appropriately.
GOOD BLESS YOU ALL N REALESE SOON
May their demands be met. May justice be awarded to all needy.
I salute your sacrifice and devotion for the common cause.where we are,,,not a big thing but our one vision is the main thing.Now world is small you are not alone there in chemgang.We are with you from all over the world.One day whole world will speak for our cause..We will working for the new hope where we will
be never lost in the future.
Best of luck for you all….and may the new democracy,,,,hear the voice of voiceless…….
GOOD! GOD BLESS YOU! TRUTH IS IN FAVOUR OF YOU.
I honour your courage of producing voice of justice in the custody of Bhutan. You are fighting for the truth,God will be in your favour.
I bless you aii prisonals Realese soon
who said he is reporter. he cannt write single correct sentence in nepali let us not talk of enlglish. this is only propoganda to release him.
I wish you all the political prisoners who are at jail in Bhutan to continue the strike unless the autocratic,despoitic and feudal government knee down.I also would like to request all the independant media,international community,human rights organization and humanitarial assisting organization to express support and the solidarity for the Bhutanese movement and to solve the Bhutanese Refugees issues.All the best.
Until & unless we unite and fight back, the regim’s policy against southern bhutanese will remain same. Till now not even a single thing has changed in Bhutan. The policy adopted by the regims & its supporter remains the same. There are so many innocent people inside the jail like santiram put behind in one or the other pretext. But everybody shold know that these things are happening with the help of the masters in Delhi.
I am mad and I pledge you all not to believe me. I continue speaking but urge you all not to follow me.
I am not feeling well for last decade.
Ganga Ram Lamitarey.
Ganga Sir,
As saying goes “It is better to weep with wise men than to laugh with fools”
I always believed in you and never doubt your commitments.
Keep up your hope.
Regarding madness, we are all mad, not only individually, but nationally.
Kharga Bir