The recently concluded Local Government (LG) Election has been widely applauded by the Bhutanese authority and the media alike. Ultimately, it was the turn of the so-called architect of the Bhutanese democracy – who is none other than the Druk Gyalpo of Bhutan. As was anticipated exactly, the King cleverly over-rode the Prime Minister and called the Gup elects to Thimphu all the way from different districts only to show the international community that the King gives all the directions to all parts of the government machinery. It, thus, makes the Prime Minister free of any responsibility because if the Gups were to be felicitated, it should have been done by the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, and not at all by the King. However, the democratic constitution of Bhutan has given the special prerogative under Article 2(16) (e) to the King to do anything, which is not mentioned in the constitution.
In a much hectic way, King appointed the Gups with traditional “dhar” and “kabney” awarding system, where 190 out of 205 Gup elects and yet to be elected were present in the ceremony. However, the unfortunate Gups from 15 gewogs could not participate in this program of historical importance. Ironically, not the people but the royal regime could not find appropriate Gup candidates for three gewogs that included Goenshari in Punakha, Bjacho gewog in Chukha and Gongdue gewog in Mongar. People from Talo in Punakha could not elect Gup for their gewog after the result ended in a draw, while 11 Gup elects have been facing court cases, not because of any fraud or foul play but because the election commission is not sure about their loyalty to the palace democracy.
The much-hyped LG Election is now completed, which is claimed to be held in the “best satisfaction”, where the King expressed his gratefulness to the Election Commission of Bhutan, all civil servants, teachers and armed forces, and the dratshang. “With your hard work and prayers, we have conducted the historic first local government elections under democracy,” said the King. The so-called young democracy headed by the King with the Prime Minister behind the steering wheel is extremely careful to hold all the elections apolitically. It is because the palace gifted democracy cannot accommodate the civil supremacy in the democracy, which is claimed to be functioning under the farsighted leadership of “His Majesty”.
As rightly quoted by the “Kuensel”, which reads, “Gups are important, as they deal with people every day, and know the needs of the people well”, as having said by the King. The jest is that it is only the King who knows how important the Gups are because they are elected apolitically to keep the palace democracy safe and sound. If anything goes political in democracy, it will be against the feudal system. It could expose the corruption of the authority, because the true democracy demands people’s participation in the policy-making, transparency and accountability in the administrations. Hence, this is the first of its kind in the so-called democracy of Bhutan that the Gups are awarded the Kabney by the King. With this trend, it will not be surprising in the Bhutanese democracy, for the King to go to the extent of presenting “dhar” even to the “Chiwog elects”, because King wants to ensure democracy for the palace and not necessarily for the people, who truly aspired for.
To quote the “Kuensel” here again, it reads, “Democracy, His Majesty said, was a carefully planned process by the fourth Druk Gyalpo, with the establishment of dzongkhag yargay tshogdus way back in 1980, and gewog yargay tshogchungs in 1990” in order to ensure that within the camouflage of democracy, the feudal power will continue to be reined with the hereditary monarchy. The King, maintaining the auspicious awarding of “…the kabney and dhar for the first time from the throne as a symbol of independence and importance…” is but binding them under the spiritual charm of the King to carry out their responsibility for the people according to the wish of the palace and not in accordance to the expectations of the people. It also does not give the recognition to the establishment of the National Assembly in 1953 by the third King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. The objective of the formation of the National Assembly though unicameral in nature, was also projected as a step forward towards democratization in the system of governance.
As a bona-fide citizen of my country, it is pertinent to exercise my rights to express what I have in my perceptions. In a true democracy, Gup as the person of people’s mandate has to be political being elected by the people, otherwise, there is no meaning to the exercise of election if the Gups are considered apolitical. Being apolitical and heading the Gewog Tshogchung as its chairman would be again a blunder as the people’s expectations will not be fulfilled in view of his decisions as the chairman performing on the orchestration of the throne. The King’s personal visit on foot to the villages and meeting the people instead of reaching well maintained motor vehicular roads to garner confidence and support and on the other hand, awarding dhar and kabney from the throne is nothing but a grand design of gimmick, which the people of Bhutan have started understanding gradually now. It is the fear psychosis that is implanted into the traditional ethos of the Bhutanese society that no one can dare to spit any word against the functioning of the palace mechanism.
The official mouthpiece until recently, the Kuensel editorial even expressed their concern in terms of heavy costing incurred in the process of election – quote: “but the impression going around is that it cost a lot more than it should” because of its delay by more than a month in view of “the issues of disqualification of candidates, who were former members of the two existing parties”. It is apparently interpreted in the editorial that “a lot of funds also went into the printing of hundreds and thousands of voter photo identity cards (VPIC), which many did not collect”. The concern is, “why people can’t use their citizenship identity cards, after all the ID is proof enough of being a citizen, and therefore a right to vote”. Further, “a large section of the population not being eligible to postal ballots has hampered electoral participation,” added the editorial.
I hope the Bhutanese people of 21st century will come out openly and boldly, and elect their representatives within the framework of the best political ideology adopted by them. In line with the buttery words of our fourth King and traditionally followed by the fifth King, Bhutan is unique in all its characteristics that goes to the extent of continuing the grandest of the designs to technically and most cleverly enslaving the people in the name of democracy that has not yet emerged out of its eggshell. If the people are given the real freedom to exercise their skills and enthusiasm into democratic practicality, Bhutanese people with modern education supported by the growing expertise in the scientific thinking, given the advantages of geo-physical conditions and guided by the global democratic values, have the potentials to significantly manifest the truest form of democracy, which serves the nation and fulfill the aspirations of the people to the highest standard of integrity.
The author is Vice President of the Druk National Congress (Democratic).
Good piece. Keep it up Mr. Rinzin.
MR Rinzin Dorji,
This is a boldest exercise of freedom of speech from a Bhutanese leader. It opens the mind of the common people: “His Majesty’s farsighted vision”, what is the farsighted vision?
As the fourth king’s subordinates rule the country in the name of democracy after ethnic cleansing, it seems that the present king is binding in “red tapism of tradition and culture” the political leaders of the local people.
“Man is worse than a Dog, because a man bows before another man, whereas the Dog does not bow before another Dog”………syn.
Dick Chhetri
This is the best analysis ever I have read from the leaderships in exile.I have seen Thenley Penjor and Rinzin Dorjee. They are true fighter of democracy in Bhutan. They have understood the gist of the refugee crisis. And they have understood the system in Bhutan. Please consolidate DNC (grand old party) and DNC (Democratic). Your responsibility in future would be to spearhead international campaign for Bhutan until we get true democracy, where all exile bonafid citizen will be allowed to return Bhutan, atleast to visit to thier birth place.
@Rinzin -As the head of the constitution, it is appropriate for the king to felicitate an apolitical gups. You seem to have inherited Girija’s pity politic living in Nepal and apply to the Bhutanese. Thanks but no thanks. You have play that dirty politic in the camp.
Guys believe it or not, Bhutanese people are truely struggling for democratic changes in Bhutan, and Rinzin Dorjee and Thenley Penjor are such people. We should all support them as they are true democratic fighters. We also request them to consolidate the DNC R K Dorjee.
@ DICK Chhetry, organize your Lotshampa community abroad and invite Rinzin Dorjee , Thenly penjor and RK Dorjee to campaing for human rights and democracy in Bhutan. They are the leaders we all should support!
However, the democratic constitution of Bhutan has given the special prerogative under Article 2(16) (e) to the King to do anything, which is not mentioned in the constitution.
Can any one explain this to me? I could not get it?
This is once again a propaganda of the kings and THEIR plans and methods to win THEIR election and put THEIR choice in place.
An article with substance by Rinzin
keep going Rinzin…we all are here to support you…..
This is lump in the bump hung by a goose on the loose.
what kind of shitty logic is this? How can the constitutional head conferring ‘dhar’ to elected local leaders undermine democracy? Did someone say substance? Apart from the long-winding more-than-a-mouthful sentences designed to make you dizzy, I don’t see any substance. Thank god, you’re VP, DNC not DPT or PDP. Write something better and more sensible, if not for anything just to ensure it doesn’t impact the credibility of your party.
@dick, what is the far-sighted vision? It is GNH for true citizens of the country, and now to be shared with the rest of the world. If you count yourself out of it, that’s your loss; but you can’t stop others because they’re not stupid.
Well, it sounds good but would be better if you could let the common people know the
Article No 2(16)e of the constitution of Bhutan. Anyway I really appreciate your real sense of commitment to the Bhutanese Movement. Please go ahead.’You fight for the land we will give you our hands’.
In the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, the Article 2 is about the Institution of Monarchy, on which it’s sub-article (16)(e) reads,”(King) Exercise powers relating to matters, which are not provided under this Constitution or other laws.” Constitution of any country is the supreme law of the land and cannot be interpreted by any other than the judiciary or amended by the legislature. It also cannot be read between the lines. In the context of our country, or to any democratic society, what should be its implication? Can such privilege to the head of the constitution ensure that no one is above the law in a democratic society?
In the parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy, King remains only the head of the Constitution and cannot be above any law of the land. He has to work within the provisions of the Constitution on the recommendation of the cabinet. No Article of the Constitution shall deem to restrict any right under the law to initiate proceedings against the King, if his actions and deeds are against the provisions of the Constitution enacted by the parliament.
Therefore, if the democracy under the constitutional monarchy is to flourish in Bhutan, then this type of articles are going to be stumbling block and certain to create frequent political crisis in the country. So, obviously the concern raised by Mr. Rinzin Dorji appears genuine for anyone who wants to see true democracy that is anticipated to fulfill the expectations and aspirations of every citizens of the country.
Your comment your marked offensive for the fact that you used inappropriate/filthy words.
– Editor, BNS
Yes, Narad’s comment seems logical on constitutional flaws in Bhutan. What happened in Nepal when the former monarchs abused the prerogative power conferred on them under Article 31 & 32 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal – 1990, is the vivid example for anyone to refer.
@Naradji, Thank you for your update.
Nilik
Two articles came one after another by two leaders in exile on the same issue (local government election in Bhutan), one fron RK Dorji(DNC)and another from R Dorli(DNC democratic).The former expresses satisfaction and the later shows dissatisfaction on the same issue. I being a reader,feel that the second article analyzed the issue more logically. The first article was a bit disappointing but the second article is very encouraging.Thank you DNC Democratic leader for bringing us your democratic views through this wonderful article.
Rinzin Dorji, an excellent advocate for “Democracy in Bhutan”. you have very correctly indicated the fallacy of bhutannese so called democracy now. How com there is democracy in Bhutan. They are practicing barbarism in the name democracy. I din’t see any news papers, news FM, Magazines and other bulletins publishing in bhutan other than government controlled one. Is there a democracy????? Who can imagine that. If anyone advocates the present uncultured monopoly practice in bhutan is a democracy than he or she needs some high schooling.
Mr. Dorji has rightly emphasized that there is no democracy in Bhutan. I would like to give an example, just one ‘The so called prime Minister always say one hundrend thousand bonafied Bhutanese as non Bhutanese which proves that his barbaric, demonic and most undemocratic accusation. Believe or not there is no single supporter of him outside bhutan and may be very few inside Bhutan.
Well expressed article, dear vice president. The observations are logically correct, factual and acceptable to people of conscience. You are our voice in the country, speaking our heart in your own words. Looking for a day to welcome such Bhutanese nurturing the feelings of the handicapped commoners!