Bhutan mocks with democracy

Narad Adhikari, representative of the Global Human Rights Defence for Bhutan, is also the General Secretary of Druk National Congress (DNC), spokesperson of National Front for Democracy and a central committee member of the Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee. Active in political movement since the establishment of DNC, he joined with Thinley Penjor after the split in the part initially led by Rongthong Kuenley Dorji. He has more command in politics compared to other issues.

DNC has sharply criticised the US government's statement of resettling over 60,000 exiled Bhutanese in US, and more others in Canada and Australia. DNC is the youngest among Bhutanese political parties but is the most influential of all.

Adhikari spoke to T. P. Mishra of Bhutan News Service (BNS) contemporary Bhutanese politics inside and outside in exile. Excerpts:

BNS: Where has Bhutanese political movement reached?
Adhikari: Political parties were established in early 90s and various coalitions of these parties came into existence all the way long. Formation of the National Front for Democracy (NFD) in April 2003 and the Bhutanese Movement Steering Committee (BMSC) early this year can be taken as major developments towards consolidating political movement in Bhutan, which, I think, could pave the way for an amicable solution to our crisis. However, there are still some challenging hurdles to strengthen and accelerate our movement for which we have to work more cautiously and vigorously. Indeed, we are not progressing satisfactorily in our effort but we are not regressing as well.
 
BNS: What you achieved through the BMSC?
Adhikari: The advocacy team of the BMSC has built good network both at the national as well as at the international level and is gaining its momentum satisfactorily. I am optimistic that the result of the BMSC's efforts to resolve the issue of exiled Bhutanese will result to better because it is sincerely committed towards finding solution.

BNS: Why you object resettlement? Does it affects Bhutan's political movement?
Adhikari: Personally, I have neither opposed the offer of resettlement nor did I think that it is matured enough right now to welcome though I know how pathetic the living condition of the exiled Bhutanese is in the camps. What is most important here is the government of the host country should first clarify its official stand. As far as the resettlement of the exiled Bhutanese in the third countries is concerned, I think, we should have a broader thought on its repercussion. It will not only weaken the people's movement for political change, social justice and restoration of human rights in Bhutan but also encourage the Druk oligarchy to evict more Lhotshampas.
 
BNS: How do you see the growing international concern towards the issue of exiled Bhutanese and possibility of armed rebellion?
Adhikari: As a part of their global commitment, I am sure the US Congressmen and Senators will render full support for the repatriation of the exiled Bhutanese to their homestead with justice and freedom. 

Since 16 individual were characterized as most vulnerable cases and accepted for resettlement in the US and Canada on special humanitarian grounds, I have no comment on it. However, I wouldn’t agree if anybody says that other individuals in the camp are are not vulnerable.

As far as the possible armed rebellion is concerned, I strongly oppose to any violence. We hope, there will not be any rebellion in Bhutan. I think violence is not the means of any solution rather is peace.

BNS: Should India involve in this issue?
Adhikari: India, by virtue of being Bhutan's foreign policy guide, should use its diplomatic leverage on Bhutan to help resolve this problem. It is the first country of asylum for the Bhutanese people and India knows in-depth about the genesis of the problem of exiled Bhutanese. Despite number of appeals handed over to high officials including the Prime Minister, India has been turning deaf ears. The main thing is that we have not been able to approach collectively seeking support from India.

BNS: In what sense the government draft of the constitution is bad?
Adhikari: We have not said that the draft constitution of the royal government of Bhutan, unveiled last year for public debate, is bad. What we have raised in our concern is that the draft constitution does not address the basic interest and aspirations of the Bhutanese people, as sovereign citizen of the country and it does not incorporate demands put forward by the political parties. It is drafted with the sole objective to strengthen the century old autocratic rule of the Wangchuck dynasty in Bhutan. The Bhutanese king should first dissolve the existing government and form an interim government which could constitute a committee to draft the constitution.   
     
BNS: What kind of political system is suited for Bhutan?
Adhikari: All the political parties existing today, though in exile, have proposed for a multi-party parliamentary political system in Bhutan. It is with the reason that almost all the south Asian countries, where vibrant democracy is functioning today, have the multi-party parliamentary democracy. Though coalition has been the means of consolidation of smaller parties to form the government, multi-party system is still not wiped out in this part of the world. The dual-party system of parliamentary democracy has the advantage of preventing horse-trading or political corruption, which is very important for a smaller country like Bhutan.

So, to materialise the parliamentary democracy, the Druk National Congress (DNC) has adopted the political ideology of Democratic Socialism. It is of the view that the economic policy of the country should be devised based on the principle of Democratic Socialism.              

BNS: What you and Bhutanese political movement achieved from DNC split?
Adhikari: It was on August 21, 2001 that the general election of the party elected Dasho Thinley Penjore as the President of the DNC with 99 percent majority vote. After the UFD (United Front for Democracy) headed by Rongthong Kuenley Dorji was dissolved on June 16, 1998 he declared that the DNC under him will not work with any other group. That annoyed the party members, who voted to oust him of the party. Therefore, the members of the DNC do not accept the split of the party but only its president has changed through a democratic franchise exercised by its central committee members. The changes in the leadership of the DNC helped it to work in coalition with other political parties, which is still continuing with full spirit and vigour.           

BNS: You had talked of launching demonstrations and movement inside the country when you split from Rongthong. Why s this not executed?
Adhikari: Yes, under the new leadership, the DNC had declared to intensify the Bhutanese struggle for human rights and democracy inside Bhutan but collectively with other political parties and organizations, not alone. As a result, the DNC forged alliance with Bhutan Peoples' Party (BPP) and formed National Front for Democracy (NFD) in Bhutan. This new alliance is working actively in the interest of the Bhutanese people. It is also strongly advocating the repatriation of the exiled Bhutanese to their homestead with safety and in dignity.

BNS: Do you accept the election slated for 2008?
Adhikari: Well, for me the proposed election going to be held in 2008 in Bhutan is nothing but a mockery to the democratic world. There are at all no chances for free and fair election in absence of free press. The entire process is hypothetical, which is declared to fulfil the vested interest of the monarchy only. The process of so-called democratization is a complete farce as the king is merely interested to see in his lifetime the fifth king in the hereditary Wangchuck dynasty of Bhutan. Thus, the DNC cannot accept the 2008 election under the existing scenario.

BNS: Do you agree that Bhutanese leaders lack leadership calibre to launch movement?
Adhikari: Vested interest and personal differences within leaders are chief factors in failure. But, that does not mean that all are not sincere and are working for their vested interest. I don't accept that all the political leaders have failed to lead the movement. Whatever changes taking place inside Bhutan is all because of the democratic movement from exile.

BNS: Will the Nepal-Bhutan talks give any outlet?
Adhikari: Now, the governments of Bhutan and Nepal are holding the 16th round of bilateral talks in November to finalize the dilemma on repatriation of exiled Bhutanese. I am optimistic that the democratic government of Nepal would make pragmatic approach to work out a lasting solution on the protracted problem. Prolongation of the problem is in no one's interest. The sooner it is solved the better it will be.