Bhutanese Christians - Bhutanese Newspapers

Bhutanese Christians
Bhutanese Christians Services Centre (BCSC) is a national non-profit, non-governmental, service-oriented organization devoted to promoting and protecting Bhutanese Christians' right to freedom of religion, worship, observe and practise their religion in private, community, and in public and eliminating all forms of discrimination against Christian community in Bhutan through peaceful and non-violent means. It is also working for the Christian communities’ right to have their Churches in Bhutan. It is also raising or generating international awareness on the human rights issue of religious freedom and the persecution of people of faith in Bhutan. It upholds and affirms its faith and commitment to Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Who started the group and why?

Total Christian population of Bhutan is approximately 16,000 or 2.05% of the total population of Bhutan. Out of which 10,000 or 1.28 % are living as refugees in Nepal. Christian inside Bhutan comprise approximately 6,000 or 0.77% of the total population, which includes the members of all three major ethnic groups of Bhutan, namely Dzonkha-speaking ruling Drukpa community in the north, Sharchhop community in the east and Nepali-speaking Lhotshampas in the southern Bhutan. There are about 100,000 Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal.

The practice of Christianity by Bhutanese citizens was banned by a law of National Assembly (Parliament) of Bhutan in 1969. Bhutanese Christians have been denied the right to freedom of religion, worship, observe and practise their religion in community, in public, or even in private by the government. Even the chapels in private homes are subjected to the Government scrutiny. Churches are not allowed to be established in Bhutan. Even the chapels in private homes are subjected to the government scrutiny. The Christian missionary schools, hospitals and social work are non-existent in Bhutan. They are not allowed inside Bhutan. Evangelism and pastoral work are largely done by the Indian Pastors form over a dozen Churches based on the Indian side of Indo-Bhutan borders.

The Royal Government of Bhutan (RGOB) has been systematically persecuting its tiny Christian population. They have become voiceless. Bhutanese Christians are silently suffering. Currently, the government is undertaking a census. In which, Christians are refused to be registered on the pretext that Bhutan accepts only two religions – Buddhism and Hinduism. And only two religions are mentioned in the census form. Thus, Christians are being excluded on the ground that there is no mention of Christianity in the census form. Christian relief organizations are non existent in Bhutan. The Jesuit priests who were earlier brought to improve the education system were asked to leave in 1989.

In Bhutan, Christian group are excluded from the national mainstream and the process of development. They have been deprived of most of the opportunities including access to education, employment, job, business and industry, skill development training, education etc. They do not have access to economic resources, political process and decision-making institutions. Their representation at the policy and decision making bodies is non-existent. The government attitude against Christianity has contributed to the current status of Christians. This has made Bhutanese Christians lacking in confidence in handling the issues generally affecting themselves even in their day-to-day life. The situation in Bhutan is such that majority of Christians are not even aware of their basic rights.

Thus, in the wake of wide spread persecution of Christians in Bhutan, a group of concerned Bhutanese Christians established the Bhutanese Christians Services Centre (BCSC) in exile on Palm Sunday, April 11 1999, with the aims of eliminating all forms of discrimination against Christian community in Bhutan and to promote and protect their right to freedom of religion, worship, observe and practice their religion in private, community, and in public in Bhutan.

The peoples of different faiths including Christianity have lived in perfect communal and religious harmony in Bhutan. Never before, any instances of clashes based on religion at the peoples level have occurred in Bhutan. In fact, it is only the government and the officials that are against the Christians and Christianity. However, there is a fear that sooner or later the government will start inciting other (Buddhist) religious groups and mob violence against Christian population in Bhutan. Many Sharchopkha speaking Nyingmapa Buddhist people of eastern Bhutan have also been converted into Christianity. They have made Jesus Film and International Audio/Radio Version in Sharchopkha language.

Under such circumstances, it was very important to create the BCSC to promote the freedom of religion and an information network on Bhutanese Christians, so that the information on Bhutanese Christians are regularly brought to the notice of international Christian community. It is Bhutanese peoples’ right to choose their religion and worship. The government should have no business to interfere in its citizens’ right to chose religion and worship. There is an urgent need of monitoring the government action against Bhutanese Christians and to collect and disseminate information on their situation to the international community so that Christians feel secure in their own homeland

What do the International Law say about the Right to freedom of religion?

Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stipulates that: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance."

Article 18.1 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights reasserts this right thus, " Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching." It further reaffirms ( Article 18.3) that "Freedom to manifest one's religion or beliefs may be subject only to such limitations as are prescribed by law and are necessary to protect public safety, order, health, or morals or the fundamental rights and freedoms of others."

Article 2.1 of the Declaration of the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief states that " No one shall be subject to discrimination by any State, institution, group of persons, or person on the grounds of religion or other belief." Article 2.2 defines "intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief" as "any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on religion or belief and having as its purpose or as its effect nullification or impairment of the recognition, enjoyment or exercise of human rights and fundamental freedoms on an equal basis."

However, the Royal Government of Bhutan (RGOB) has violated the provisions of almost all the international laws including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the Declaration of the Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief concerning the right to freedom of religion, with impunity.