Peaceful transition not always brings peace
For the third time, election of the upper House National Council postponed by three days, rescheduling it for the last day of this year onto which chief election commissioner Kuenzang said it was done so to meet the directives of the king to hold election within 2007.
The starting was delayed leading the congestion in other programs at the approach of the deadline. Suitably, the schedule was to meet the deadline, no matter how prepared the parties and the people are.
A democratic transition requires years even if people go rallying and demonstration demanding changes. This is not the case of this country. Except the 1990s, the demonstrations are rarely organized, no matter we say due to the suppression. A good showdown in 1997 would have been a big challenge if not suspended. Hundreds arrested for being involved in the prepared still serve jail terms.
King thought transition would be better without people’s awareness. Practically, the level of awareness that uprising brings in a month takes years in peaceful transition. Public attention to political change is rare, leading to lethargic political indoctrination to the general people. Unless, people are politically aware and are able for an informed choice in democracy, democracy will not succeed. This is the negative aspect of the peaceful transition of a country into party-politics from despotism.
To take into consideration the current political upheaval in Bhutan, it is not worth-some. The political leaders, who had yesterday enjoyed luxury in the government today continued fooling people that they are the only leaders. The semi literates, with no political consensus are mired with disgruntles due to one-handedness. The decision taking role has already been centralized. Ideas are brought from the central not from the bottom.
A few technocrats are empowered in the villages to recommend persons for NC elections. In most cases, the government officials or relatives of those in power overruled the decisions in the villages while recommending a NC candidate. This means, the leaders are of the leaders, not of the people.
The tussles in the village level have already begun. The cadres are used as defense guards for the interests of the leaders. While at the top, leader gain out of muscle-show in the villages, enmity pours among neighbors. This lead to division among the villagers; the communities are fragmented.