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BHUTANESE CHRISTIANS
SERVICES CENTRE (BCSC)
BHUTAN4CHRIST
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.
CONTACT
ADDRESS IN EXILE
R. K. Chhetri
Chairman
Contact in Kathmandu:
GPO Box No.
3485
Kathmandu, Nepal
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