UN Experts Reveal Bhutan's Hidden Dilemma: Illegal Detention of Political Prisoners

April 15, 2025

HRRC strongly condemns the illegal detention of those in political opposition of the current government in Bhutan. Free speech, freedom of expression, and political freedom are protected under international human rights law and those unlawfully detained must be released immediately.

Bhutan government representatives meet at the capital [Image credit: The Government of Bhutan]

A report by the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention reveals the illegal detention of political opponents in Bhutan. Three Bhutanese citizens, Birkha Bahadur Chhetri, Kumar Gautam and Sunman Gurung, were arbitrarily arrested in 2008 for the “crime” of distributing political pamphlets. Chhetri, Gautam and Gurung were charged under the National Security Act and will be serving life sentences without chance of parole, highlighting the government's abuse of power.

UN experts have declared these detentions arbitrary because they involved severe rights violations including enforced disappearance, judicial unfairness and detention stemming from discriminatory actions based on political beliefs and ethnic minority classification.

The government has not responded to any UN communications which questions the country’s commitment toward human rights.

Glossary

Arbitrary Detention: The illegal and unjustified detention of individuals without proper legal grounds or procedures, often violating international human rights standards.
Discriminatory Grounds: Actions or policies that treat individuals unfairly based on characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, political opinion, or other protected categories, violating principles of equality and non-discrimination.
Dilemma: A dilemma is a situation where one must choose between two or more equally undesirable options
Enforced Disappearance: The abduction or detention of individuals by government authorities or third parties, followed by a refusal to acknowledge the detention or disclose the person's whereabouts, effectively denying their legal rights.
Fair Trial: The legal right of an individual to have their case heard impartially by an independent and competent judiciary, with all due legal protections, including access to legal counsel, evidence, and the right to appeal.
National Security Act: A law typically used to protect a nation's sovereignty, security, or stability, often employed to justify detaining individuals deemed a threat to the government or national interests.
Political Prisoners: Individuals imprisoned for their political beliefs, actions, or affiliations, often due to expressing dissent or opposition to the ruling government or regime.
Systematic: Systematic refers to something that is organized and follows a structured, methodical approach. Here it means underlying problems and issues.
Treason: A criminal offense involving the betrayal of one's country, typically by aiding enemies, undermining national security, or attempting to overthrow the government. In Bhutan, political prisoners have been convicted of treason for non-violent acts such as distributing pamphlets.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR): A landmark document adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948, outlining the fundamental rights and freedoms entitled to all people, regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or religion.

Sources

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UN Experts Reveal Bhutan's Hidden Dilemma: Illegal Detention of Political Prisoners

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