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RESOLUTION BANNING CHRISTIANITY
Resolution of the National
Assembly (Parliament of Bhutan) Banning Christianity
The
people’s representatives of Chirang (Tsirang) Dzongkhag requested the
National Assembly to ban Christianity in Bhutan and the people already
converted to be stopped from practising the religion. They said that
Christianity was spreading in Chirang (Tsirang) and becoming a serious
problem. Bhutan being a small country should not have too many religious.
Buddhism and Hinduism which were the two recognised religions of the country
were brother religions. The introduction of other religions would create
serious problems. Already family strifes were taking place due to
differences of religious beliefs among family members. The people’s
representatives said that they had heard that many emigrants who has left
Bhutan and gone to the camps in Jhapa, Nepal were being converted to
Christianity with incentives of Rs. 500/- and assurances of further
rewards. Word was being spread in Chirang that potential emigrants should
convert to Christianity so that it would be convenient for them when they
arrived in Jhapa, Nepal.
The
people’s representative from Kalikhola stated that at per the resolutions of
earlier sessions of the National Assembly, Buddhism and Hinduism were the
only two recognised religions of Bhutan. However, as the government had not
taken note of the situation, Christianity was spreading along the border
areas and creating serious social problems. The Samdrup Jhongkhar “Chimi”
pointed out that as Buddhism and Hinduism were the only two recognised
religions in the country, allowing other religions would result in serious
problems for the country. For the benefit of future generations, he
requested the National Assembly to pass a resolution that no religion
would be allowed in Bhutan.
Several
people’s representatives state that countries all over the world had their
own different religions, customs and laws. Bhutan, too, should allow and
uphold only those religions that have traditionally been recognised. If
proselytising of other religions were allowed it would cause sectarian
friction which would lead to serious social problems.
The Home
Minister pointed out that the practice of religions other than the one
already recognised had been discussed several times in previous sessions of
the National Assembly. During the 30th session the National Assembly in
1969, it had been resolved that no religions other than the one already
recognised would be allowed in the country. Also, as per Article 16 of the
51st sessions of the National Assembly, while all other religions could be
practised privately no proselytising would be allowed. He, therefore,
recommended that the house should direct the Dzongkhag Yargye Tshokchungs (DYTs)
to decide on the matter as per the Thrismshung Chenpo and the resolutions
of the previous sessions of the National Assembly.
The
representative of the Dratshang Lhentshog pointed out that all religions
were good and existed for the benefit of sentient beings. The problems in
the world that have been related to religion did not arise from the
religions themselves but were caused by the shortcomings of the
practitioners. He , therefore , proposed that , as recommended by the Home
Minister: the existing laws and Assembly resolutions should form the basis
for all steps taken to ensure that no sectarian problems arose in Bhutan.
Other
peoples’ representatives pointed out that if proselytising of different
religions were allowed in a small country like Bhutan, it would create
social disharmony and may even harm the security and sovereignty of the
country dues to misunderstandings over religion with big countries. Buddhism
and Hinduism were tow brother religions in harmony with each other. The
practice of different religions in the country would create disharmony and
problems would arise as pointed out by the Lhotshampa chimis.
The Chimi
from Dagapela Dunkhag pointed out that although Buddhism and Hinduism had
the same origin, because there were differences in practice quite a few
difficulties did arise at times. But Christianity being totally different
from these two religions, the problems which had already started to arise
in Chirang because of the spread of Christianity would disrupt social
harmony throughout the country if no timely steps were taken . He
therefore proposed that the resolution taken during the 51st session of
the National Assembly on the practice of different religions must be
strictly implemented.
The
Chirang Dzongda said that the DYT had received reports that there were many
Christians trying to convert people to Christianity. This had resulted in
frequent problems between Christians and Hindus in the Dzongkhag. The
Dzongda reported that Bibles printed in Nepali were being sent from
Thimphu and distributed to the people. Accordingly, the DYT had decided to
request the National Assembly to ban Christianity.
His
Majesty the King informed the Assembly that the issue of allowing different
religious in the country had been thoroughly discussed during the 30th
session of the National Assembly in 1969 and also during the 51st session
in 1979 . The issue was also clearly covered by the Thrimshung. If these
resolutions and the law were followed, the issue could be taken up by the
Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchung and there would be no need for the Assembly to
promulgate any new law.
The
Assembly resolved that copies of resolutions of the previous sessions of
the National Assembly and the clauses of the Thrimshung pertaining to
religion would be distributed to the chimis . The matter should thereafter
be taken up in the concerned DYTs and dealt with accordingly.”
Note: The above propaganda resolution “Ban on Christianity” was adopted by
the National Assembly (Parliament of Bhutan) and shown as if it had been
requested by the representatives of people. The fact is that it was
engineered by the government and not requested by the representatives of
people.
GLOSSARY
Dzongkhag :
District
Chimi
:
Member of National Assembly (MP)
Dzongkhag
Yargye Tshogchung (DYT): District Development
Committee
Thrismshung
Chenpo: Penal Law
Dratshang
Lhentshog: Monk
Body ( Buddhist Monastic bureaucracy)
Dunkhag
:
Sub-district
Dzongda :
Chief District Officer
Extract from the Government’s weekly news bulletin
Kuensel’s(Government Newspaper) “Assembly Supplement” dated November
4, 1992 dealing with the status of Christianity in Bhutan
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