Veteran Bhutanese democratic leader, Tek Nath Rizal, has been admitted at Patan hospital in Kathmandu valley Thursday afternoon for diagnosis and treatment of his ailments, his family members said.
The 58 year-old most respected Bhutanese politician-in-exile was suffering from various ailments for the last few months. His wife, Kaushilya Devi Rizal, said that her husband was suffering from high fever and backache, among others. A diabetic patient for long, doctors suspect Rizal to be suffering from some kidney-related ailments.
Talking to Nepalnews on Wednesday, Rizal said he was suffering from various ailments right from the prison days. He said he was subject to a wide range of torture while serving jail term within Bhutan.
Nepalese authorities during the Panchayat regime had arrested Rizal and handed him over to Bhutan in November 1989. He then spent ten long years in various Bhutanese prisons until he was released amid intense international pressure in December 1999.
“The torture methods employed by Bhutanese authorities against me included tying with ropes, various techniques to cause mind shocks, food poisoning and harassment,” said Rizal. He said he believed that all of his ailments had roots to the severe torture that he was subjected to while in the prison.
“They treated me like an animal while in custody,” said Rizal. “For full ten years, I did not have an opportunity to look at a piece of `white paper.’ I was not allowed to write to my family or receive letters from them despite repeated requests from the International Red Cross,” he added.
Rizal has narrated vivid account of his ordeal in Bhutanese jails in his recently published book, ‘Nirvasan’ (Exile).
While in Kathmandu, Centre for Victims of Torture (CVICT) Nepal offered psycho-social counseling and medical treatment to Rizal. Doctors also advised him to undergo thorough check-up to find out causes of his ailments.
“We have managed to get him admitted at Patan hospital. But we have no resources to carry out his full examination as advised by the doctors,” said Kaushilya Devi.
She also appealed national and international groups, humanitarian agencies and individuals to help in the treatment of her husband.
Rizal’s contact no. in Kathmandu is + 977-1-5547542 and email is [email protected]
Ever since he was exiled from Bhutan six years ago, Rizal has been championing the cause of democracy and human rights in the Dragon kingdom and dignified repatriation of over 100,000 Bhutanese refugees – who have been languishing in refugee camps in eastern Nepal for the last 15 years.
“There is a lot to do for Bhutan and also for our own brothers and sisters who have been forced to live as refugees,” said Rizal. “But when you are sick and weak, you can’t do justice to your mission despite all your noble wishes,” he added.