From guest: Minister Rai and Democracy
By Mani Dahal
Minister Nanda Lal Rai’s understanding on the value of democracy came public right after the arrival of Mr. Dhan Kumar Rai in Bhutanese refugee camp in eastern Nepal after serving 17 years jail term in Bhutan, standing for Democracy and Human right there. He was given 48 hours ultimatum to leave the country after he was released from jail on 1st of November 2008 by so called democratic government.
Contrary to what the government is doing to the democratic forces Mr. Nanda Lal Rai so called democratically elected Minister for Information and Communication was very much comfortable to say “democracy will be in peril where the government and the rulers suppress the people” to the Nepalese journalists who are covering the issue of Bhutanese refugees for last 17 years who are victim suppression.
Minister Rai was aware of the suppressive rule of Druk regime, since he was the part of it and his close relative and a prominent leader for human right movement in Bhutan was the victim of despotic druk regime. Minister Rai has to realize the fact that he is made Minister for the design democratic government to further suppress his own people.
Instead of speaking something out of reality to the media outside, it would be worth for Minister Rai to use his influence as a minister to overcome some of the suppressive rules imposed to Lotshumpas even after the dawn of democracy. He needs to think about people of Nepali origin, who are deprived of their voting rights, in so call democratic election. In excitement Minister Rai even forgot his own value and could not attend his own father’s funeral, who died just before the coronation in Sarpang , some six hour drive from capital Thimphu. Apparently, every parents dream is to have their son at their funeral. Don’t you think it is a betrayal? How can a man who fails to exercise his own right as a son can talk of people’s right in Democracy?
Meanwhile it is too early for Minister Rai to comment on Nepal’s democracy, since he is the Minister of given democracy not earned. The fact is Bhutan still has to go long way to see the real democracy.
The interesting thing to note of Bhutanese politics is that one Rai was imprisoned and torture for 17 years, released and expel from the country for leading democracy and human right movement in the country, while other Rai who remain Jigme’s pet all these years of suppression and landed to become Minister. Minister Rai’s visit to Nepal was basically design to defame Mr. Dhan Kumar Rai in the name of feasibility study of airports in mountain area.
Thanks to minister Rai for understanding the value of democracy even at the midst of despotic regime.