Suppressed silence
I was just following the post elections scenario in the country, constantly uploading them to apfanews.com. Since the beginning of this year, I had been receiving so much of mails from within Bhutan (at least they claim) and outside Bhutan regarding the unfolding political scenario.
Many said it a farce, others a peaceful transition. Especially journalists stationed in northern India along the borders with Bhutan take critical approach to look into the motives of election in Bhutan.
There had been positive responses from within the country. The Lhotsampas remained mum, even those who visited their relatives in Nepal, about the political changes. Might be the wounds of 1990 ripples were getting hurt.
A journalist with Bhutan Broadcasting Service recently attended a Panos South Asia online radio training in Kathmandu. My friend Vidhya was also a participant representing Bhutan. Vidhya said he was stunned to see BBS remaining shut when the discussion at the training turns to politics.
Despite the changing political scenes in Bhutan, openness in the society is yet to be observed. Very few people have actually got in touch with the openness. I received mail from ‘unknown Man’ that reflects why some remain silent on political topics. There some malicious and unproved statements, so I deleted them for public consumption. Here the remaining mail. I am not responsible for this text please!
Dear Sangey Ngedup
President, People’s Democratic Party
First, my sympathy on your defeat in the elections.Finally, you have learnt what freedom and democracy is. The defeat in the national assembly elections compelled you to file an appeal at the election commission. This has been possible just because of the freedom and democracy. You might not have filed any appeal at government authorities seeking justice because you had direct hand in the palace. In democracy, palace has hands but open nature of the political system sometimes become obstacle to all misconducts. If it had not been an democratic elections, you might have asked the king or queens (your sisters) to cancel the nominations of rival group or even those elected but you do like them to attend the assembly.
Democracy gives place to file your grievances, and seeks platform for fair justice. I know, there were mal practices and unfair in the election leading your party to be defeated.
We had made several appeals to Ngalongs in the past seeking justice. It was indeed the effort of the southern Bhutanese to place Ngalongs to power. In course, as you got more space to play, you decided to boycott the supporters. You ignored. We made several appeals, you failed to turn your ears. Ngalongs thought, they now can do everything without any support from southerners. Now, the situation turned otherwise. The power has been shifted to those who have sympathy to easterners. The southerners have voted in their favour, at least hoping that there might be some justice to their grievances. It is by nature, you would not have received any votes from east, but you might have acquired from south and west, had you acted in their favour in the past.
You have felt the harassment and criticism even for a democratic defeat. Imagine, how the southern Bhutanese felt when they were tagged terrorist. In what extent we were harassed when our relatives were driven out of country?
Even after your lost, you have got a place to appeal. We had not got that as well. In response to our appeal for justice and demand for democracy, human rights and equality, your brother-in-law and sisters termed us anti-nationals. You might have felt the need of democracy once you face the defeat. If there had not been democracy, you might get the tag of terrorist by the time you filed your appeal.
In the absolute regime of your sisters and brother-in-law, filing an application seeking justice was anti-national activities, against the law of the land and against the interest of the soil.
Again, if you had taken initiative or have assured citizenship to those in southern Bhutan, whom your government in 2001 categorised as non-nationals, you might have received enough votes. There are over 80,000 in number; this is a big number in Bhutanese context to dramatically turn the result of the elections.
You have dreamt of winning majority because you have matrimonial relation with the royal family and can use as must influence as you can to diver the votes. The reality is different. You might have better known than me.
You have only matrimonial relation with royal family. …………… …………… ……… ……… ………… …….. Thinley regards himself an easterner and wishes to work for Sarchop interests. Now he has got the powers. It remains only less with four votes to out the wangchuks from throne. I know, the family dissatisfaction has already begun in yours and your sisters’. This will lead to demoralization of Ngalongs. Downfall of Ngalongs has begun. Down! Down!! Down!!!
A suppressed and oppressed citizen from a southern district