Bhutan’s polls

The Kathmandu Post's Editorial:

What sort of parliamentary election is it when one-fifth of the population,
who have been languishing in UNHCR-administered refugee camps, are denied the
right to vote in it? Will the much-touted polls really put an end to the
absolute monarchy in Bhutan or will they be mere eyewash to legitimize the
de-Bhutanization of over 140,000 people? These are the key questions that still
remain unanswered. Bhutan conducted its first parliamentary election yesterday.
Two political parties — the People’s Democratic Party and the Bhutan United
Party led by the kith and kin of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk — were in
the election fray. Most of the candidates had to undergo a royal test to
qualify to be a candidate. Several hopefuls were debarred simply on the grounds
of having links with refugee leaders or failing to produce royalist
credentials.

The emerging political change in Bhutan was triggered by the banishment of
hundreds of thousands of its citizens. These Bhutanese had fought for political
change during the early 1990s, and thus were forcibly evicted by the Druk
dictator. The Druk oligarchy confiscated their properties and settled northern
Bhutanese on their lands. Now Bhutan calls them anti-national elements even
though they have been waiting at seven UNHCR camps in eastern Nepal for the day
when they can return home. The refugees would certainly have been repatriated
had India given passage for them to go back. Instead, in 2001, India helped
Bhutan to draft a constitution. Bhutan was admitted to the UN in 1971 without a
constitution. It is probably the last country in the world that does not have a
basic law and is ruled by royal decree.

Bhutan did not include any member from the Nepali-speaking Lhotshampa
community in the constitution drafting committee, let alone allow the
democratic political parties in exile to participate. The constitution will
always be a subject of debate and controversy even after its adoption. A
controversial constitution cannot command the expected respect from the
citizens. However, the parliamentary polls should not become another gimmick to
hoodwink the international community and deflect international opinion from the
real issues of refugee repatriation, resettlement on the lands vacated by the
refugees and human rights abuses inside Bhutan. The demand for political change
in Bhutan came from the exiled Bhutanese groups that the Druk oligarchy did not
recognize. Let us hope the parliamentary election upholds the ultimate and
universally accepted principle of democracy so that the Bhutanese refugees,
political parties in exile and the civil society can promote and protect their
rights and interests.

Source:eKantipur.com