Bhutan- A Democratic Constitutional Monarchy Or Its Mask?

Bhutan is a small country covering an area of 45,500 sq.kms with a population of seven Lakhs and the system of governance there is absolute hereditary monarchy. Bhutanese people have been agitating peacefully and non-violently for the establishment of an elected Democratic Government with a constitutional monarchy.

More than a lakh Bhutanese who were agitating for democracy in their country were forced by the administration to leave Bhutan and for the last 18 years they are passing days as ‘refugees’ in several camps in eastern Nepal. Nearly 20,000 Bhutanese are living as ‘refugees’ in India and other countries. Exiled Bhutanese have also been demanding repatriation to their homeland with honor and dignity and settle there as citizens.

The King of Bhutan of that time Jigme Singye Wangchuck on March 26, 2005 and publicly declared that by 2008 the constitution will be fully promulgated. The draft constitution contains a preamble, 34 articles and 4 schedules and declares that the form of government shall be democratic constitutional monarchy. Article 1 lays down that “Bhutan is a sovereign Kingdom and the sovereign power belong to the people of Bhutan and that the form of government shall be that of a democratic constitutional monarchy”.

The parliament is to consist of two houses ie the National Assembly (lower) and the National Council ( Upper House). The government of Bhutan declared that the elections to the Upper House will be held on December 31, 2007 and to the Lower house will be held sometime in February or March, 2008.

I would not like, at present, to comment in detail on the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan except making limited observation. At least under the pressure of its people, the Bhutan King has started a process of so called democratization in Bhutan.

I fail to understand as to why the Members of Parliament and holders of High Constitutional Office have been mandated by the Constitution to take an oath of allegiance to the Druk Gyalpo (King of Bhutan). I have therefore my reservations about the constitution and apprehend that this constitution is not entirely democratic and abstains from giving real power to the people.

There is, at present, no freedom of speech and expression, freedom of press is a far cry. Peaceful assembly of persons is banned. Only two political parties formed and chaired by near relatives of the King are allowed to function. An election without the active participation of Bhutan’s one fifth population is a farce. Elections held or conducted under such conditions will be rigged, they will neither be fair nor free.

About one lakh and twenty thousand refugees should be taken back to their homeland with honor and dignity. They should be guaranteed all democratic rights enjoyed by citizens and must be allowed to participate in elections both as electors and candidates. Political parties of Bhutan in exile should be allowed to function freely and participate in elections. All political prisoners languishing in jail should be released and cases against them should be withdrawn unconditionally.

On June 9, 2007, when asked by a journalist at Kolkata, India’s External Affairs Minister Shri Pranab MukherJee said that “Bhutan’s ‘refugee’ issue is an international problem”. It is therefore high time that India should take a concrete step for early resolution of the problem.

Being the largest and second highest populous democracy of the world and relentless champion of people’s democracy, fundamental and human rights, government of India can not afford to remain a silent spectator to the sufferings and miseries of the people of Bhutan, its friendly neighbor. India’s Government and people should play a major role to fulfill the democratic aspirations of Bhutanese people clamoring for a Government of the people, for the people and by the people in the real sense of the term. A disgruntled friendly neighbor is a great threat to one’s peace, prosperity and happiness.
(Malaviya is Former Union Minister and President, Indo-Bhutan Friendship Society, New Delhi, India)