BELDANGI, Nepal — Community leaders and well-wishers gathered at the Beldangi Refugee Camp to present financial aid to Chatur Man Tamang and Hasta Bahadur Rai, two former Bhutanese political prisoners recently freed after more than 18 years of detention.

The financial relief was raised through a July crowdsourcing effort organized by the Global Campaign for the Release of Political Prisoners in Bhutan (GCRPPB). After accounting for processing and transfer fees, the campaign yielded NPR 243,809.57, which was split equally between the two men. Beldangi Camp Secretary Sancha Hang Subba formally handed each beneficiary NPR 121,904.79 during the welcome event.

Both men were originally detained in February 2008 and served life sentences at Chamgang Central Jail until their release on June 1. Upon arriving back in Beldangi with minimal resources, Tamang and Rai were greeted by camp leaders with ceremonial khadas—traditional scarves symbolizing respect and goodwill.

“This assistance gives us hope as we begin the hard work of rebuilding our lives,” Tamang and Rai stated, expressing gratitude to the 33 individual donors who contributed to the fund.

GCRPPB Coordinator Dil Kumar Rai and Camp Secretary Subba both urged the international community to maintain its solidarity, emphasizing that the newly freed men still face significant challenges re-establishing independent lives.

Founded in 2019, the GCRPPB regularly raises humanitarian funds for released prisoners and their families. Organization representatives confirmed that 28 political prisoners remain in Bhutanese jails and vowed to continue campaigning until every prisoner is released.