Ram Karki was one of the three people to establish the Bhutanese Refugee camp in 1991, he started the camp education system informally before Caritas, and others formalised it. Now he is the champion of the Bhutanese Political Prisoners release campaign that he pioneered with prisoners families in July 2019.
Ram Karki, a well-known advocate for human rights, was born in Chengmari, a small village in the southern Bhutanese region of Samchi, present-day Samtse. His transformation from a refugee from Bhutan to a Dutch citizen exemplifies his steadfast dedication to justice.
Ram began his educational experience at Chengmari Primary School, where he established the groundwork for his future endeavors. After finishing primary school, the government transferred him to Wamrong Junior High School in the Trashigang district to continue his education. Ram continued schooling at Motithang High School (grade 😎 in Thimphu, where he completed his ICSE (grade 10) from Samtse High School. However, His desire to attend Kanglung College in Bhutan remained unfulfilled because he didn’t qualify to get a place. Undaunted by this failure, he enrolled in a teacher training program, a four-year course, at the National Institution of Education (NIE) in Samchi.
Unfortunately, on August 19, 1990, Ram’s life took an unexpected turn when he had escaped Bhutan and seek asylum in India. This was the start of his advocacy. In India, he helped in organizing large-scale peaceful demonstrations within Bhutan. Ram was dedicated to guaranteeing peaceful marches down to the smallest detail.
The nonviolent demonstration on September 19, 1990, in that Ram took part, was a watershed point in his advocacy. The rally began with a thousand people and grew to over 25,000 when it reached Chamurchi Bridge. Unfortunately, the Bhutan Army reacted aggressively, shooting shots at peaceful protesters. Ram bravely assisted the injured and transported them to local hospitals in India. Due to the events during this gathering, thousands of southern Bhutanese fled across the Indo-Bhutan border for safety and freedom.
Ram’s advocacy work continued in India, where he persistently battled for the rights of the evicted Bhutanese. He participated in various peaceful protests demanding food and shelter for evicted Bhutanese and raising awareness about their plight. Despite severe hurdles and Indian institutional disdain, Ram remained dedicated to the cause.
Ram and two companions (Gauri Shankhar Nirola and Bhim Khapangey) helped 91 vulnerable Bhutanese in February 1991, including rape and torture victims and sick and emaciated children. This was received from various rural villages in southern Bhutan. They were successfully transferred to Nepal and set up a refugee camp in Maidhar, Jhapa. Ram’s attempts to preserve lives continued as the camp grew to house thousands of Bhutanese refugees. He was instrumental in establishing an open-air schooling system for children in Maidhar camp which later transformed into a full-fledged school with the assistance of Caritas.
Ram’s interest in education and justice motivated when he was awarded DAFI scholarship by the UNHCR and went to further his education at St Joseph’s College in Darjeeling. In 1997 he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science with Honors. He firmly pushed for Bhutanese refugees while in Darjeeling. He sought support for justice and human rights in Bhutan by meeting with significant figures such as the late Chief Minister of West Bengal, Jyoti Basu.
After attending an International Human Rights Conference in Prague in 2022, Ram chose to seek political asylum in the Netherlands. He subsequently became a Dutch citizen and is still lobbying in the Netherlands.
Ram’s campaigning has taken on greater significance in Europe. He had organized rallies before the Dutch parliament, addressed European Parliament, Dutch Parliament, UN Human Rights Council at Geneva, lectured at numerous Dutch Universities, and actively participated in European Union meetings on human rights and refugee concerns. Ram Karki has been outspoken about the condition of Bhutanese refugees. He has fought for their rights and the necessity for a peaceful resolution. He has also increased his advocacy efforts to bring attention to global human rights breaches and refugee issues. He speaks up against prejudice, injustice, and violence on behalf of underprivileged people, refugees, and asylum seekers.
Since July 2019 Ram has been spearheading the Global Campaign for the Release of Bhutanese Political Prisoners as its Global Coordinator with the support of the families of the Bhutanese political prisoners. His campaign on this front has gained a huge success when Human Rights Watch published a comprehensive report on 14 March 2023 with a list of 27 Bhutanese political prisoners demanding the immediate release of Bhutanese political prisoners. Ram’s effort towards this front has created an international awareness on the plight of the Bhutanese political prisoners including the creation of massive awareness on the issue among the resettled Bhutanese communities.
Ram has actively researched and published about human rights and refugee concerns in addition to his advocacy. He has written various articles and publications, sharing his ideas and experiences to add to the discussion on these themes. His passion and hard work have earned him the praise and support of international organizations, human rights organizations, and individuals dedicated to justice and equality. He has been recognized and honored for his extraordinary contributions to human rights activism. He is also noted for his steadfast dedication to fighting for the rights of the oppressed.
Besides his advocacy efforts, Ram is highly committed to empowering and supporting refugee populations. He hopes to inspire and empower individuals and communities forced to evacuate their homes and face multiple obstacles due to his efforts.
Many people are inspired by Ram Karki’s path from Bhutanese refugee to notable human rights activist and advocate for justice. His bravery, resilience, and unrelenting commitment to human rights have earned him a place in the global human rights community. Ram’s work continues, and he is committed to achieving freedom for Bhutanese political prisoners and the just resolution of the Bhutanese refugees crisis . He campaigns for the rights of all underprivileged communities around the world. His voice is still heard, reminding the world of compassion, empathy, and human rights respect. This is part of the process of creating a just and inclusive society.
Exiled based Think Tank “The Bhutan Watch” (http://www.bhutanwatch.org) to which Ram is the coordinator spreads awareness through publications such as The Bhutan Journal and The Annual Human Rights Report.
Ram’s principal goal at the moment is to free the existing Bhutanese Political Prisoners, rehabilitate them, address the Bhutanese refugee problem, obtain European Union assistance, and lobby for refugees’ rights. He also mentions recent evictions in Bhutan as human rights breaches, pleading with authorities to address complaints and preserve rights. According to Ram, statelessness must be regulated, and stateless persons must be granted citizenship. He encourages international communication with Bhutan, envisioning a future where resettled people can reconnect, participate, and rebuild. Ram’s campaign seeks fairness, inclusion, and respect for all human rights.
Ram Karki has a Master of Science degree in Sociology with specialisation in Engaging Public Issue from Erasmus University Rotterdam.
