Democracy, Adult Franchise, and Public Participation
Source: The Bhutan Journal ABSTRACT Bhutan is now a democracy. This new democracy promotes adult franchise. It conducts periodic elections and has elected members in parliament and government. It has political parties contesting elections. Despite these basics of democracy, the country lacks accountability mechanisms, participatory channels, independent and active...
Conspiracies and counter conspiracies in Bhutan
Bhutan made the first high-profile arrests on 16 February 2021 in decades – that too on charges of overthrowing the chief of the Royal Bhutan Army. The nature and process of arrest speak volumes about impunity. A team of Royal Bhutan Police arrested Kuenley Tshering, in what is seen...
Australia: calf crushed in a bullfight
The latest and sudden change of tone of Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison is pointing to the greater belief on Australian policies and politics are influenced by US politics and individuals there. His statement reverberates Australia simply runs behind the US to accomplish their interest. For the last four...
Wamrong Case: powerful vs commoner
You cannot question the authority for its actions. This was the primary principle of governance in Bhutan for centuries. Post ‘guided democratic’ changes, little has changed to diffuse the perception among the elite members of Bhutanese community that it is a void in democracy. Misuse of authority and privilege...
COVID19, emergency power and civil liberties
Coronavirus has not only destabilised our health system but economy too. Experts and politicians are rambling around the prospects of economy when we pass this virus era. Far beyond this, there is more disturbing image of possibility of decline of democracy and civil liberties that we enjoyed. The failure...
COVID19 – fighting at best, prepare for worst
We are fighting with the deadliest disease of this century with fullest hope that controlling the disease will return our life to normalcy. That’s not a future that we are likely to face at the end of this pandemic. The biggest pandemic is yet to begin – the economic...