After 12 years in jail, a Bhutanese faces deportation (Exclusive)

Birtamod, October 02: After 12 years of imprisonment, the Druk regime has forced Buddhi Man Rai leave the country, who arrived in Jhapa to re-unite with his evicted family in Khudenabari camp.

Rai, 31 from Sarkitar in Samtse district, had entered Bhutan as part of the pamphleteering campaign by the Bhutan National Democratic Party (BNDP) in 1995. He was arrested on September 3, 1995 from Samtse check post while returning to India after the campaigns.

For initial seven years, he was kept at the Samtse jail and then later transferred to Thimphu, Gelephu and Samdrup Jongkhar jails.

Rai explained Bhutan News Service the poor conditions inside the jails where the inmates spent all days with nothing to read, write or see.

He said the Lhotsampas once arrested are forced to accept the allegations clamped and if not, they should face severe torture – physically and mentally.

People from all faiths have to compulsorily attend the Buddhist prayers before breakfast and dinner. Neither the human rights organizations nor the humanitarian bodies including the UN are allowed to visit the inmates.

For all the years he spent in jail, the BNDP remained silent. Even after his release, the party has not contacted him, which betrayed him from party politics.

He also narrated the pathetic conditions of the Sarchops arrested recently. He said the Sarchops arrested recently from eastern district on charges of powtering against the regime, have been given severe and inhuman torture by the authorities.

His jail term terminated on September 3, but has to remain there until September 10 for no one arrived to receive him. He was not given food for two days. On September 10 he was told to leave the jail on conditions that he would immediately leave the country. The authorities threatened him of re-arresting if found inside Bhutan.

The inmates with him contributed some money for his travel.

Despite this, his vigour for fight to democracy and human rights and repatriation of his fellow countrymen survives. Everyone should come together for the fight, he added. Bhutan News Service/Tri Vikram Adhikari