Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB) US-Chapter organized 'December 17 Rally'; this Saturday in Harrisburg, the capitol city of Pennsylvania, USA.
 
The rally was organized to demand the immediate and unconditional release of the Nepali-speaking Bhutanese political prisoners, who have been imprisoned in Bhutan's prisons for decades.
 
The coordinator of the GCRPPB US-Chapter CM Niroula highlighted the purpose of the program and said Bhutan celebrates its National Day on December 17, the rally was organized on the same day to draw greater attention of the larger audience around the globe to pressurize Bhutan to release political prisoners from the prisons in Bhutan. He emphasized, 'Bhutan movement is not over, only its form has changed.’
 
He said that the Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan
(GCRPPB) will remain steadfast in its campaign until the political prisoners who are living a miserable life in Bhutan’s prisons are unconditionally released, given proper compensation and dignified residence in the country.

 
GCRPB US-Chapter youth coordinator and the rally coordinator Ashika Dhaurali said that we can’t be happy in resettled countries unless the release of the political prisoners from miserable conditions from Bhutan’s prisons.
 
Bhutanese community activist and researcher Dr. Narad Pokhrel said that although there are hundreds of political prisoners in Bhutanese prisons, due to lack of sufficient information, we were able to gather details of 43 political prisoners only. He further highlighted that Bhutanese refugees who became the citizens of the developed countries where they resettled have the moral responsibilities to raise the voice to release political prisoners in Bhutan.
 
The prominent figures of the Bhutanese communities in Pennsylvania, including Narad Adhikari, Tika Dhungana, Pasang Tamang, Samika Subedi, Mon Ghale, etc., have highlighted the various aspects of the Bhutanese movement and committed to provide every effort for the release of Bhutanese political prisoners.  
 
The prominent figures of the local Bhutanese communities Vishwanath Chhetri, Madhav Phuyal and many others have joined the event held at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex. despite of extremely bad weather condition.