Essence of democracy
Some time ago, the election commission had published a list of national graduates. The list came to public after complaints from the contesting NC members who were declared disqualified by the commission.
Enthusiastically, I went through the list but could not find the name of Mr Kinzang Wangdi himself. Forgive me if I missed it.
Wangdi completed half of one of this tasks mandated by Jigme Singye. Half is yet to be completed and is scheduled for this month end. Still, the NC will have only 19 members, because, the people in Lhuentse failed to find a candidate to represent them.
Sorry, a good list of graduate published founding nothing for the district. 10 years of preparation by the regime proved a weak management. The preparation for transformation of an absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy with constitutional monarchy started in 1998. However, the much talked and most reported, despite the isolation of the nation, election did not bring enthusiasm in people.
I think only 40 percent people voted. The ECB said 55 percent voted. The regime termed 80,000 national as non-Bhutanese. Similar number of citizens either did not register at the election commission or did not received VPIC. Calculating 55 percent of this population and then finding percentage of people casting vote from gross population will be around 40 percent. Not to consider over 130,000 citizens left out of country. If they are added, the voters’ turn out will be around 30 percent.
Is it a democratic election?
The Bhotes made every attempt to exclude southerners. But it was important to show the international community that Lhotsampas are given seat in the parliament. To do that, the Samtse was chosen as the ideal district. No Bhotes contested there. In all other districts, the regime tried to minus Lhotsampas by picking up Bhotes. Much was spent in their campaigns.
Ironically, a St Xaviers graduate having only Nu 100 in saving won the people’s heart. Even then, I am not going to praise him until seeing his effort to deliver justice to much suppressed southern Bhutanese.
The Upper House will certainly become a rubber stamp of the king. Look at the draft constitution. The king is described in 22 sub articles. The NC’s all powers is explained in around 1/5 of this. Logically, the king is five times powerful than the parliament. Will this function as a democratic institution.
Holding elections is not the final indicator to measure how democratic the nation is. Pervez in Pakistan held the election under the army gun. Rulers like Saddam, Castro also held elections. Do you think they have democracy?
I had read some years back a book by Bhabani Sengupta. He had then questioned, if many countries around the world have no democracy, why a small country in Himalayas needs? Dear foolish writer from India, if you are still alive, why don’t you raise voices now that Bhutan is not in the need of democracy? Please do so! The shadow of largest democracy will be enough for this tiny kingdom. As you come from that largest democracy, you have the right to express it. But poor Bhutanese! They cannot utter a word against you.
I think, Bhabani should venture out with a new book that Bhutan’s is the best form of democracy that world has even seen because is has bloomed under the principle of Gross National Happiness.
Sorry! It has already become a long story. I shall continue the next time.