Introduced
March 2, 2026
Mr. Khanna (for himself and Ms. Lee of Pennsylvania) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
RESOLUTION
Acknowledging oppression, forced eviction, and suffering experienced by tens of thousands of Bhutanese citizens during the late 1980s and early 1990s, and encouraging steps toward justice, reconciliation, and lasting peace.
- (1) declares that the Royal Government of Bhutan is responsible for the political, cultural, and ethnic oppression of Nepali-speaking Lhotshampas, Sharchops, and other minorities in Bhutan during the late 1980s and 1990s;
- (2) urges the Royal Government of Bhutan to conduct a rapid and unconditional release of all political prisoners, whose crime was demanding democracy and human rights, with due restitution and reparations;
- (3) in a spirit of friendship, urges the Royal Government of Bhutan to resume discussions with the Government of Nepal on the status of individuals in Nepal who assert a claim to Bhutanese citizenship or residency;
- (4) requests the Royal Government of Bhutan to restore citizenship for all Nepali-speaking Lhotshampas that have had it arbitrarily revoked;
- (5) requests the Royal Government of Bhutan to accept the voluntary return of its citizens from the refugee camps in Nepal; and
- (6) urges the Royal Government of Bhutan to enter into a holistic peace building and reconciliation process and institute an independent Truth Commission to publicly investigate any human rights violations and abuses committed during the 1990s, publish its findings, and follow through on its recommendations to ensure no future displacement or oppression of minority citizens in Bhutan.