Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist–Leninist–Maoist)

Underground communist party in Bhutan

The Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist–Leninist–Maoist) (abbr. CPB (MLM)) is an underground communist party in Bhutan. The CPB (MLM) aims to start a New Democratic Revolution and overthrow the Bhutanese monarchy and the House of Wangchuck. Its armed wing is the Bhutan Tiger Force, which had an estimated 600 to 1,000 cadres in 2009. The party's leader uses the nom de guerre Comrade Umesh.

In the 1990s, Nepali speaking Bhutanese peoples protested against the Bhutan government for democratization and language reforms. The government forcibly evicted the protesters, where they were put into refugee camps in eastern Nepal. Those who stayed have faced widespread discrimination. Inside the refugee camps, insurgent groups sprung up, including the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist–Leninist–Maoist). The CPB (MLM) was announced publicly on 22 April 2003, as stated on the website of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)—now called Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre), or CPN(M). During Bhutan's transition to a constitutional monarchy in 2008, the CPB (MLM) insurgents carried out five explosions across Bhutan, including one in the capital Thimphu. They also declared the beginning of a "people's war". In March 2008, Bhutanese police killed five suspected CPB (MLM) insurgents and arrested seventeen more in various operations in the south. A Bhutanese reporter was arrested in January 2009 after authorities suspected him of being a CPB (MLM) member. During the 16th South Asian Association of Regional Co operation, security was tightened after threats by the CPB (MLM).

Shortly after its founding, the CPB (MLM) released a ten point program which outlined its demands from the government. The party's ideology is oriented around Marxism–Leninism–Maoism; its cadres hope to start a "people's war" and a "New Democratic Revolution". The group seeks to repatriate the Lhotshampa refugees and declare Bhutan a "sovereign democracy".

The CPB (MLM) has close ties to Maoists in neighbouring Nepal, whom the party considers to be its inspiration.