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Appeal to International Community
Dear Ms/Sir,
May we take this opportunity to apprise you about the plight of Christians
in Bhutan. Bhutanese Christians are facing worst situation, strongest
opposition and persecution they have ever experienced in their lives. Fear
is growing among believers. The practice of Christianity by Bhutanese
citizens was banned by a law of National Assembly (Parliament) of Bhutan in
1969.
The Royal Government of Bhutan is systematically persecuting the Christian
population since 1999. Persecution against Christians is now widespread and
systematic, village by village. They are subject to various form of
persecution, physical torture and mental harassment. They are beaten and
tortured. They are denied the right to freedom of religion, worship, observe
and practise their religion in Bhutan. Churches are not allowed to be
established in Bhutan. They cannot even assemble for worship. The chapels in
their private homes are subjected to the Government scrutiny.
They are being constantly told to leave the faith or the country by the
government. The government is not issuing nationality/citizenship
certificates to Bhutanese Christians and they are excluded in the census. It
means they will loose their Bhutanese citizenship. Citizenship certificates
are required for admission of children to school, seeking job, applying for
business and it is required for virtually everything. They are discriminated
and denied the job and economic opportunities. The situation is one of
virtual apartheid for the Bhutanese Christians.
Christians in southern Bhutan are required to produce a Security Clearance
Certificate (SCC) ( previously called as "No Objection Certificate" (NOC)
or Police Clearance Certificates (PCC) ) from the police authorities for
admission of their children to schools, acquiring travel document, bank
loans, trade and business license, promotion in the civil services,
recruitment and getting jobs, stating that that a person of his family is
not involved in the activities not like by the government. The authorities
do not issue the NOC/PCC/SCC to the Christian believer's family, as their
religion is not liked by the government The government has used the NOC/PCC/SCC
to effectively coerce the citizens to submission. This requirement of NOC/PCC/SCC
bars the Christian from acquiring any facilities available through the
State. This NOC/PCC/SCC are required for admission of children to schools,
acquiring travel document, scholarship, medical treatment outside Bhutan,
bank loans, trade and business license, promotion in the civil services,
recruitment in the government and other jobs. Which means that the
Christians are denied all of the above as penalties for practicing the
Christian faith. Please browse the Persecution and What's New links in this
site.
Under these circumstances, we appeal to the international community, donor
countries and agencies to pressurize Bhutan to lift ban on Christianity. The
Royal Government of Bhutan must guarantee the Bhutanese Christians' right to
freedom of religion, worship, observe and practise their religion in
private, community, and in public. They should be allowed to establish their
Churches in Bhutan. The Royal Government of Bhutan must withdraw the
requirement of No Objection Certificate (NOC) or Police Clearance
Certificates (PCC) or Security Clearance Certificate (SCC) from its
citizens.
Bhutan receives foreign aid form Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, Germany, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Republic
of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, United States of America and
the UN agencies.
The email address of the high officials and missions of the Royal Government
of Bhutan are as follows:
High Officials in Thimphu, the
capital of Bhutan
Mr. Jinmi Thinlay, Foreign
Minister of Bhutan:
jthinlay@mfa.gov.bt
Mr. Yeshey Zimba, Finance
Minister:
yzimba@hotmail.com
Mr. Ugen Tshering, Foreign
Secretary :
utshering@mfa.gov.bt
Ms. Aum Neten, Secretary,
Cabinet:
neten@druknet.net.bt
Secretary, National Commission
for Cultural Affairs:
dorwang@druknet.net.bt
Diplomatic Missions
Bhutan’s Mission to UN, New
York :
dnkun@undp.org
Bhutan’s Mission to UN, New
York :
pmbnewyork@aol.com
Bhutan’s Mission to UN,
Geneva :
pmbnewyork@aol.com
Royal Bhutanese Embassy,
India :
bhutan@del2.vsnl.net.in
Royal Bhutanese Embassy
Thailand :
bht_emb_bkk@yahoo.com
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely
Director
Bhutanese Christians Services
Centre (BCSC)
Mailing address:
GPO Box # 3485
Kathmandu
Nepal
Telephone No. 00977-1-5529106
Fax
No. 00977-1-5549 284
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