Three Sharchhops arrested in Bhutan

Kathmandu, August 1: The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGOB) has arrested three people from Wangphu, Samdrup Jongkhar on July 26 for allegedly possessing the ‘political pamphlets and materials’.

General Secretary of Druk National Congress (DNC – Rongthong) Kesang Lhendup informed the BNS that the detainees including Tendel Wangdi, Gyeltshen and Ten Dorji from Shokshi village under Samdrup Jongkhar district not kept in Samdrup Jongkhar jail.

Lhendup said that the detainees are subjected to brutal torture and inhuman treatment.

Lhendup quoted the DNC sources in Bhutan as having informed their party that the security forces arrested them alleging their denial to support People Democratic Party (PDP) led by Sangey Nidup.

According to Lhendup, Wangdi and Gyeltshen were once arrested during peaceful demonstrations at Gomdar in 1997 and were sentenced to five year imprisonment. Most of the relatives of the detainees are living in exile in Nepal.

Lhendup further informed the BNS that three more people at Merak Saktan in Tashigang were also detained, who it’s claimed is yet to be confirmed, for the same charges of possessing political pamphlets.

DNC has strongly demanded the RGOB to release them unconditionally and immediately. It has also urged international human rights organizations to assert pressure on the RGOB for their immediate release.

Earlier on July 17, the DNC led by Thinley has claimed it successfully launched poster and pamphleteering program coinciding the auspicious day of the "Anniversary of Lord Buddha turning the Wheel of the Dharma for the first time". 

DNC – Thinley said the pamphleteering program was launched in the locations of Semtokha in Thimphu, Kanglung in Trashigang, Chamkhar town in Bumthang, Drametse in Mongar and Gomdar in Samdrup Jongkhar. Bhutan News Service