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1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

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It is the responsibility of the Gups and Chimis to stop proselytization in their<br />

villages and geogs. As such, they must ensure that the people are properly<br />

briefed about the National Assembly decisions and the laws of the country<br />

regarding this issue. If any person is found carrying out proselytization the case<br />

must be reported to the Dzongkhag authorities and the court of law. Likewise,<br />

the officials of the government ministries and departments must also play an<br />

active role in guiding and advising the public in ways that would be beneficial<br />

and fruitful to the country.<br />

Speaking on the issue, the Home Minister informed the Assembly that in March<br />

and April this year, a Home Ministry official spoke to three Bhutanese nationals<br />

who were involved in proselytization activities. The relevant clauses on<br />

proselytization were explained to these persons and copies of the related<br />

resolutions of the National Assembly were also given to them.<br />

The Minister also informed the Assembly that some international newspapers<br />

have recently printed false reports alleging that the Bhutanese police entered the<br />

homes of Christians and threatened them to either give up practising their<br />

religion or leave the country. Otherwise they would be terminated from their<br />

jobs, their business licenses would be cancelled and they would be denied<br />

access to all social service facilities. As in the past, the Ngolops in the camps in<br />

Nepal have also been spreading false allegations that the Bhutanese<br />

Government is persecuting Christians. In view of these false allegations, some<br />

of the foreign embassies in the region made enquiries to the Royal Government<br />

regarding these false allegations.<br />

The Minister said that he was informing the Assembly about these activities to<br />

remind the hon’ble members that certain parties with vested interests have been<br />

distorting facts about this issue to deliberately malign the Royal Government<br />

and the Bhutanese people.<br />

197

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