Important Government Circulars and Notices
directing Forced Evictions of the southern Bhutanese (Lhotshampas)


Given below are samples of the important circulars issued by Bhutan government. These letters reflect the atrocities and repression of the government to crush the peoples' movement for human rights and democracy in Bhutan and how the southern Bhutanese people were evicted from the country.

1. Government claim of ''anti-nationals''

Refer Circular from Home Ministry, dated August 17, 1990 made to all the southern Bhutan district heads when people suspected of supporting human rights movement fled from the country to escape arrest.

2. Seizure of land holdings and cash crops

 (1)

Royal Government of Bhutan
Dungkhag Administration
Gylegphug, Bhutan

April 28,1991


Ref No.113/VG/Land-91/1860

GUP Gaylegphug, Bhur, Lalai, Taklai, Surey, Danabari.

Subject: Regarding land of persons involved on Anti-National activities who have fled the country.

As per letter No.109/ Sardzong/90-91/3245 dated April 15,1991 and letter No. Sardzong/109/90-91/3295 dated April 17,1991 of District Administration, Sarbhang, you are hereby ordered to prepare and submit reports as per the enclosed list of the persons involved in anti-national activities who have left the country. As the Government has decided to confiscate the land holdings of such persons, the report should be submitted immediately in two copies indicating the specific boundaries of these.

(SD)

Dungpa
Dungkhag administration
Gaylegphug

Copy : Dasho Dzongdag, Sarbhang, for information.

 (2)

Royal Government of Bhutan
Dungkhag Administration
Gaylegphug, Bhutan

July 16,1991

Ref No. 97/(da)/Admn-91/2411

Gewog Gups
Gaylegphug, Bhur, Lalai, Taklai, Danabari, Sersong and Surey.

According to an order of Dasho Dzongdag, Gom, Sarbhang, you are ordered to submit name list of the owners of cash crops and details of cash crops of your block as per following format. Moreover, you are ordered to submit two copies to this office by July 18, 1991 at 9 a.m. and the report should reach by July 19,1991, Sarbhang.

SN | Name | House No. | Block | Name of Cash Crop

(SD)

Dungpa
Dungkhag Administration
Gaylegphug

CC: Dasho Dzongrab, Gom, D/A, Sarbhang for information

 

3. Demolition of houses

 (2)

Royal Government of Bhutan
Dzongkhag Administration
Sarbhang Bhutan

Date: 14/1/ 92

Ref: Sardzong /109/91-92/1367 Dt. January 4,1992

To: Gup, Singhi Gewog,

You are hereby notified that although as per your report submitted to Dzongkhag office, stating that you had completed the demolition of houses of those who had absconded from the country, on my personal visit and in my assessment you have not complied to the order. I found that most of the houses were not demolished, and those demolished, were not cleared properly.

Therefore, within three days you are ordered to gather 70-80 people of your village to demolish the houses and intimate me about the same. The houses should be demolished in my presence. Treat this notice as very urgent.

 

Sd/-

(Kencho Dorji)
Officiating Dzongda

 (3)

Dunglagang Block.
Date: 20-10-92

All Agents of Block Headman, Dunglagang,

I issue this notification that all the houses of those people who have left or fled from Bhutan should be demolished by 30.10.92 according to the decision of Dzongda dated 19.10.92. You are to complete the demolition work before 30-10-92 and submit the report to the undersigned.

Accordingly without fail do as you are told for I have to submit the same to the district office on 30-10-92. The Agents of Gopini and Lalikharka villages are hereby ordered to bring labourers from their respective villages at 1 PM at Gopini School. Anybody who violates this order shall be dealt with accordingly. Remember that I will come personally to oversee the work. The labourers should come with tools such as hammers, iron rods, etc.

 

SD/

K. Pradhan
Block Headman
Dunglagang Block
Chirang, Bhutan.

 

4. Forced eviction

 (1)

January 10,1992

Mrs. Leela Devi Sharma
Bich Gaon (Tham No. 005)
Bara.

As per the instructions of Dasho Dungpa passed on the Mandals (Village Headmen) of the five Blocks on December 23,1991 at the Dungkhag Office, Sibsoo, all those families whose members have left the country are ordered to leave the Kingdom. The list of all such families required to leave the country had been notified on the same day. The list includes your name as well. Therefore, you are required to leave the country along with your family within January 20,1992.

Sd/

GUP
Bara Gewog.

 (2)

January 8,1992

Mr. Pashupati Ghimire
Priest
Bisweshor Shiva Temple
Bara Gewog

According to the orders of Dasho Dungpa, Sibsoo, issued on December 23, 1992, to all the five block headmen, all the people falling under census category No. 5 are required to leave the country. As your name is also in the list, you have to leave the country by January 15, 1992.

 

Sd/

Lila Prasad Sharma
GUP
Bara Gewog

5. Eviction on grounds of practicing Christian religion

 Block Dunglagang
Date: 3-1-93


The Village Agent
Dal Jit Rai
Bichgaon.

I notify you through this letter that, according to an order issued by the office of the District Office of Chirang Dzongkhag on 28-12-92, you are all aware of the decision taken at the meeting held at the Dzongda's office on 28-12-92.

In compliance with the decision taken at the said meeting , you are ordered to be present at the Block Headman's office at 10 AM on 7-1-93 to submit resignation from your position. You are also ordered to prepare a list of all who have accepted Christian religion. They should all write applications stating that they should be leaving the country. You should personally bring them here at the aforesaid date. Let there be no failure in complying with this order. You should at that time also hand over to the new agent the book of accounts in your possession presently.

 

Sd/

K. Pradhan
Block Headman
Dunglagang Block
Chirang, Bhutan.

 


Testimonies of the evicted Lhotshampas, (now as refugees)