HRWF-Bhutan

About HRWF-Bhutan

Human Rights Without Frontiers, Bhutan (HRWF/Bhutan) is established in 2006 in exile as a non-governmental, non-profit making, non-political, independent, public interest organization working for the establishment of democracy, human rights, rule of law and press freedom in Bhutan through peaceful and non-violent means. It has been affiliated to Human Rights Without Frontiers, International. It has been working in close association with different governmental and non-governmental organizations around the world. Human Rights activists, Economists, Political Scientists, Advocates, Anthropologists, Researchers, development experts are involved in this organization.

Bhutan is the last bastion of hereditary absolute monarchy with a feudal order. In Bhutan there is a complete ban on the formation of unions, associations, organisations, human rights organisations, press, political parties etc. It is passing through a harrowing period of internal insecurity, political instability and vulnerability created by current ruling elite. The eviction of over one hundred thousands Nepali-speaking southern Bhutanese or the Lhotshampas as they are officially called is a glaring example of the current state of affairs in Bhutan.

Bhutanese brutal royal regime has been responsible for generating one of the highest per capita refugees (one fourth of the total population) in the world and the first report of the reporters sans frontiers index show that the Bhutan is among the top five of least press freedom country in the world. No any national and international human rights organization exists inside Bhutan, nor any international news agency. The newly registered two private magazines are a mouth piece of government. Hundreds of people are disappearing and thousands are in arbitrary detention by brutal regime. Even news channel are not allowed inside Bhutan. These inhuman activities of brutal regime indicates that people inside Bhutan are under suffocation.

In the name of national integration, the government implemented various racial and discriminatory policies aimed at forceful homogenization of multi-ethnic society. Forced national integration, through eviction, through depriving the Lhotshampas and dissidents of their nationality, or through brutal intimidation and use of force have been the hallmark of state policy.

Buddhism has been used as a political tool by the state. Buddhism has been defined to suit the interests of the ruling community. Bhutanese policy is increasingly communalized by the ruling elite. Politics is practiced on ethnic lines that the politics became the monopoly of the single ethnic group, the Ngalungs. Bhutanese refugees are the victims of racial policy of their government, who are genuine citizens of Bhutan. Without taking back the Bhutanese refugees, it will not be possible to achieve integration of the Bhutanese society. They must be repatriated with dignity and honor.

To establish democracy, ensure human rights, end of racism and discrimination, creation of participatory and political institutions, establishment of a secular political and social order, rule of law, press freedom inside Bhutan, repatriation of Bhutanese refugees are the focal points around which the resolution of Bhutanese refugee and the political crisis revolves. Thus HRWF/Bhutan is established to work on these burning issues.

We work for equal value of all human beings, equality, dignity and rights of all individuals and peoples regardless of colour, race, ethnicity, sex, religion and creed.

Objectives

HRWF Bhutan is free from political idology, religious movement. Subject to the laws in force and Human Rights Without Frontiers, International(HRWF Int.) policy and direction. The objectives of the HRWF Bhutan are as follows:

To work for the protection of the rights of Bhutanese refugees in accordance with the Rights conferred by various international laws.
To work for an early repatriation of Bhutanese refugees with dignity and honor and reduction of statelessness.
To work for securing justice for religious, ethnic and linguistic minorities suffering discrimination, prejudice and persecution in Bhutan.
To work for the protection of the rights of Bhutanese refugees in accordance with the rights conferred by various international laws.
To create an environment for promotion, protection and defense of human rights inside Bhutan.
To promote goodwill and co-operation and foster tolerance forbearance between and among communities, cultural and religious groups for strengthening the multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-linguistic and multi cultural society of Bhutan.
To organize awareness raising program to the Bhutanese Refugees on Human Rights, Democracy, Press Freedom and Rule of Law.
To generate international awareness about the gross violation of human rights by brutal royal regime, lobby and update the Human Rights situation on regular basis to the HRWF/Int., European Parliament, UN, and other stake holders.
To pressurize Govt of Bhutan to give permission to open human rights NGOs inside Bhutan and provide easy access to the human rights INGOs and International Press inside Bhutan.
To pressurize the Bhutan Govt. to reveal the whereabouts of hundreds of missing people, political prisoners and prisoners of conscience.