This document describes AI’s concerns about human rights violations occurring in southern Bhutan since late 1990. The violations occur in the context of opposition by Nepali-speaking southern Bhutanese to the policy of national integration on the basis of “driglam namzha” (northern Bhutanese traditions and culture) and the 1985 citizenship act. Described here are concerns about arrests of prisoners of conscience, arbitrary arrests and detention without charge or trial of political prisoners, unfair trials, ill-treatment and torture, including rape, deaths in custody and inadequate prison conditions. Also included are reports of attacks on civilians, attributed to “anti-nationals”, many of whom allegedly belong to the opposition Bhutan People’s Party.
