REPS RO KHANNA AND SUMMER LEE INTRODUCE RESOLUTION CONDEMNING HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY BHUTAN

Washington, D.C. — Today, Rep. Ro Khanna (CA-17) alongside Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12) introduced the Bhutan Oppression Resolution that recognizes the Kingdom of Bhutan’s responsibility for the oppression and forced eviction of more than 100,000 Nepali-speaking Lhotshampas and Sharchops during the late 1980s and 1990s, and urging long-overdue steps toward justice, repatriation, and reconciliation.

This resolution seeks to compel Bhutan to end the political and economic discrimination of these communities that have endured detention, torture, loss of citizenship, and large-scale displacement, while maintaining constructive ties with the United States. 

"I am proud to introduce my resolution alongside Rep. Summer Lee (PA-12) and take a significant step forward towards the Lhotshampas and Sharchops pursuit of justice and peace in Bhutan. We have an obligation to the Bhutanese American community to ensure the Bhutananese government respects human rights, democratic principles, and investigates human rights abuses," said Rep. Ro Khanna

Read the full text of the resolution here.

The resolution calls for the Kingdom of Bhutan to: 

• Release all political prisoners detained for advocating democracy and human rights.
• Restore citizenship to Nepali-speaking Lhotshampas.
• Reengage Nepal on the status of displaced individuals.
• Accept the voluntary return of refugees.
• Establish an independent Truth Commission to investigate abuses from the 1990s and promote reconciliation.

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