Prosecutors in this tiny Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas have, in late May, charged one of two pastors arrested in March with illegally collecting funds and have dropped charges against both men of lacking permission to screen a film, sources said.
The Office of the Attorney General in April charged M.B. Thapa, known as Lobzang, and Tandin Wangyal with attempting to screen a film and illegally collecting funds after no evidence was found to charge them with proselytising, as the home and cultural affairs minister had initially sought. A trial court earlier in May dismissed the film screening charge, relieving Lobzang of both charges, while Wangyal was called for two evidence hearings about findings on his laptop.
Raising outside funds
Wangyal was charged with collecting funds from within and outside of Bhutan. He denied the charge, which under Article 71 of the Civil Society Organization Act of Bhutan outlaws raising funds for activities ‘in contravention of the laws of the country’ and without prior permission. The pastors were arrested in Khapdani village, Dorokha area in Samtse District.
