KATHMANDU, Feb. 23 -- Families of Bhutanese political prisoners, represented by Damber Kumari Adhikari, mother of one of the political prisoners, appealed for help in securing the release of their loved ones.

They handed over their plea to Deekshya Illangasinghe, Executive Director of South Asians for Human Rights (SAHR).

The appeal, backed by research from Human Rights Watch (HRW), highlights the plight of 35 prisoners serving life sentences in Bhutanese jails for political activities between 1990 and 2008.

Despite the advent of democracy in Bhutan in 2007, their release remains elusive. The families have implored the Bhutanese King to grant amnesty, citing Article 2.16.c of the Bhutanese constitution.

SAHR, led by Illangasinghe, vis...