Tsirang Subject: Persecution of Bhutanese Christian continues July 01, 2001 PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIAN CONTINUES IN BHUTAN: CHRISTIANS TORTURED IN TSIRANG DISTRICT The persecution of Christians in Bhutan has spread to Tsirang district in the southern Bhutan after similar cases were recently reported in some international newspapers abroad. On 20th June 2001, in the absence of the Dzongda (Chief District Officer), Mr. Dawala, who had gone to Thimphu to attend the meeting of the National Assembly, the District Administrative Officer, Mr. Kuenzang Dorji, based on the identity furnished by village headmen, asked all the villagers practising Christian faith to report to the District Administrative Office. Thirty-four Christian villagers from Pataley, Tueray, Burichu, Salami, Gairigaon, Khorsaney, Gopini, Malabasey and other villages reported to the office at about 2.0 pm on the same day. All these villagers were severely beaten by Mr. Kinzang Dorji and two other men. As a result, the victims suffer from bruised backs, broken ribs, vomiting of blood, damaged eardrum and other internal injuries. Most of these victims are past 40 years old. One fifty-year old victim said, I was asked to stoop and I remember Mr. Kinzang hitting me with a heavy stick four times after, which I fell unconscious. When I regained consciousness, I was asked to make a choice between my faith or my country. Those who decided to continue practising the faith were imprisoned and beaten for several days, the worst being the case of four people namely, Lakshuman Rai of Pataley Block, Purna Bahadur Rai and Rajan Tamang of Phuntencho Block and one Mr. Tirpasey Subba. The eyewitnesses, who were victims themselves said that these four people were in critical condition when they were last seen. They suffer broken ribs, vomiting of blood, broken arms and other internal injuries. On top of it, the village headman of Pataley, Mr. Nim Tshering forced them to carry sand bags on their bruised backs from Larey River to Damphu as punishment from his part. When the victims went to the Damphu hospital for treatment, they were given massage cream without issuing any prescriptions. They had to flee to other districts for treatment. Those who said that they would give up faith were forced to write a statement stating that they would brew liquor and perform necessary ( un-Christian) rituals to prove that they were de-christianized. These rituals would be inspected by the Village headmen and other district officials. The administrator also said that those leaving the faith would be given free cows so that they can perform Hindu rituals. This has been going on in Tsirang for a long time. Despite the fact that the villagers have written statement from the government, which states that that the Christian community is free to practise their faith, the administrator told the villagers that the statement is no longer valid. Instead, he set a deadline till 2nd July 2001 to give up faith or face another round of torture. All the victims were ordered to report to the office of Dzongda on 2nd July. The Christian civil servants hailing from this district too were asked to report to the said office on the same date, failing which they were warned of dire consequences. They were asked to contact Mr. Kinzang Dorji on telephone before meeting him. The Christian minority in Tsirang is denied water supplies, electricity and firewood permits. Firewood permits are regulated by the District Administration Office. People are not given timber permits to construct houses. One victim said when I approached the office of Dzongda for fire wood permit, Mr. Kinzang Dorji told me to ask Jesus for firewood. He also added insult saying that I should go to that country where Christianity is practised. The authorities also instigate the local non-Christian villagers to harass and beat the Christian minorities. The authorities are very inquisitive if any Christians buy a tape recorder or a television set. They suspect that the Christians are getting support and possessions from the White World and threaten them of confiscation. The Tsirang villagers are not allowed to travel from one district to another without prior permission of the Village Headman or other government authorities. The villagers are required to furnish details of the trip prior to making the journey, failing which they are liable to strange punishments from the authorities. The Census Officers often mark the names of Christians in the register and warn them of scrapping off their names if they dont give up their faith. There is a very strong possibility of the eviction of Christian minorities from Bhutan in the near future. With best regards. Director, Bhutanese Christians Services Centre (BCSC) ( Formerly BCIN, now renamed BCSC) Mailing address: GPO Box # 3485, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel. No. 00977-1-529 106. Fax No. 00977-1-542 564 Email