It has been only a half dozen years since
Bhutan took her transition from absolute monarchy to constitutional democratic
form of government. Within these years of transition, the citizens have
witnessed a number of unprecedented events crafted in the history of Bhutan. A
major political reformation has taken place through empowerment of people to
elect their own government in pursuit of fulfilling their needs in return. With
high hopes and expectations from the Politicians, people of Bhutan have pressed
their fingers on Electronic voting Machine in 24th of March 2008 and
13th of July 2013.
The
seed of democracy was sown in 2008 by Druk Phunsum Tshogpa( DPT) Government
headed by 1st democratically elected Prime Minister, lyonchen Jigme
Yoezer Thinley, after his party wining landslide victory over PDP ( Peoples
Democratic party), headed by Ex Agriculture Minister Lyonpo Sangay Nidup. On 24th
of March 2008, PDP has suffered unbelievable crushing defeat against Thinley’s
party DPT, when the president of PDP was lost by vast margin of votes from his
own constituency. Out of 47 seats in the National Assembly of Bhutan, only 2
seats were reserved by PDP candidate one form Haa Sombeykha constituency and
other form Gasa Khaotoe Laya constituency. With no other options, the two
members of PDP has instituted the world’s smallest opposition body in the
country with huge duties and responsibilities shouldered to provide check and
balance to the Victorian government in the interest of our beloved Kings,
people and the country proudly known as Tsa-Wa-Sum. The first and the smallest
opposition were headed by a young, dynamic and exuberant member of parliament Tshering
Tobgay from Haa district.
Along with the political reformations, the
nation was shaken by number of natural calamities claiming the lives of many
citizens. Just few months after the birth of democracy in Bhutan, the swelling
Wangchu River has washed away the six precious lives of school children, the
future asset of the Nation indeed. On 21st of September 2009, a
seismic wave measuring 6.2 magnitudes on Richter scale has shaken the whole
country with its epicenter spotted in Monagr region. Besides claiming lives of
11 people, the quake has caused severe damages to uncountable public
infrastructure like, houses, chortens (stupa), lhakangs (monastery), schools,
hospitals etc across the country amounting to Nu. 700 million losses incurred
to the government.
In the preceding years, we have also witnessed
the Bumthang town being completely engulfed by fire twice within few months’
time and Wamrong town once in Tashigang District. The entire nation was shocked
and deeply saddened in 2012 when historic Wangdiphodarng Dzong was completely
raised to the ground by the fire. The significant edifice was built by
Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, the unifier of Bhutan in 16th century.
Today this beautiful dzong (fortress) serves as a seat for Wangdi dzongkahg
Administration and Rabdey.( Mnoastic body)The
flash flood in Gasa and outbreak of fire in lhentse BOD (Bhutan oil
distributor) had also emerged as headline news for BBS (Bhutan broadcasting
Service), the only televised media in Bhutan and for many other print media of
the country.
After the institution of government by DPT
under the wise and dynamic leadership and guidance of His Majesty the 5th
king of Bhutan Jigme khesa Namgyal Wangchuk, the headlines on political
reformation was never out of sight. In fact it has dominated the everyday
headlines of BBS and other print media as well. The signing of constitution on
18th of July has feathered the young democracy adding a new chapter
in the history of Bhutan. The
fascinating nature of political beauty was witnessed by the people of Bhutan,
when two members of the opposition dauntlessly took the government before the
court of justice on the basis of levying heavy tax on import of motor vehicles
without an approval from the parliament of Bhutan. Indeed this first
constitutional case has emerged as top stories in BBS and other print Medias. “We
support the government in levying heavy tax on motor vehicles, yet we have
serious of doubt in the implementation process and that is why we have
forwarded the matter to high court of Bhutan” said opposition leader through
BBS screen in 2010.
Finally
the much awaited verdict was passed by the high court in favor of opposition.
The verdict was passed based on unconstitutionality of levying tax by the
government without an approval from the parliament. “It is not that opposition
has won, rather people of Bhutan has won” said opposition leader in his
interview with BBS radio. “We are deeply disheartened by the verdict of high
court and it is the total miscarriage of the justice. With regard to direct
taxation government is fully authorized by the constitution to levy the tax in
the interest of the nation and I am pretty sure that my government has never
violated any law of the kingdom” said Prime Minister of Bhutan, Jigme Thinley
through telephone interview with BSS, who is on tour to Bangladesh as a chair
of SAARC in 2010. Bhutan has also witnessed by entire world, when it hosted the
16th SAARC summit at Thimphu chaired by Prime Minister of Bhutan.
As expected by everyone, the first constitutional
case was forwarded by the government to the supreme court of Bhutan responsible
for passing the final judgment. The government was represented by Attorney
general of Bhutan and the opposition was represented by MP Damcho Dorji of
Gasa. His co-PDP member, the opposition leader was out of country for medical
purpose in Thailand after his lower Jaw was fractured in bike accident while
racing from Bumthang to Thimphu. The hearing was done for many times as per the
judicial procedure. To my surprise the Attorney general has defended the
government with pages of explanation on constitutionality of levying the tax by
the government alone. However the two opposition members had never bunch an
inch leading to the victory when the judgment was finally passed by the supreme
court of Bhutan.
The
verdict passed by the supreme court of Bhutan proved as an indigestible
judgment to DPT government and the nation was filled with rumors, that the
government was planning to step down from her power. For two consecutive days
after the verdict passed by the supreme court of Bhutan, all the DPT MPs
including the Prime Minister was fully engrossed in secrete meeting at
Motithang in Thimphu. During this course
of time, many media personal has approached the government to undiscover their
secrecy of meeting, yet government has never entertained and refused to appear
in front of BBS camera and refused to comment on any matter. At last towards
the evening of 2nd day, the prime minister has announced that the
rumors were untrue and government has high respect for the judgment passed by
the Supreme Court of Bhutan.
Five years have just elapsed witnessing all
those unprecedented events, sometimes shocking the nation, sometimes worrying
the nation, and sometimes filling the nation with joy and happiness. The
crowning of His Majesty the 5th king, to the golden throne of Bhutan
in 2008, has marked stunning smiles on the faces of Bhutanese people and it has
remained undiminished until today. Sublimes of smiles were crafted on the face
of Bhutanese when the royal wedding was celebrated in 2011. Away from home,
Thinley’s government has also strengthened our foreign relations by watering
the existing ties with many countries including world’s oldest democratic and
superpower country, Republic of India. Today Bhutan has unique and special
relationship with 52 countries across the world. During her tenure of five
years, the DPT has never left any stone unturned, the road were paved through
length and breadth of country, thousands of rural houses were electrified,
generating of power energy from Bhutan’s rushing rivers was always prioritized
on the top as it was regarded as an engine of growth in Bhutanese economy.
After the successful completion of 10th
five year plan, DPT government has stepped down from the power as mandated by
constitution to contest for the next upcoming election. The preparation for
2013 election took place back in 2011, with an incubation of Druk Nyamrub
Tshogpa, followed by Bhutan kenyam party and Druk chirwang Tshogpa. The biggest obstacles faced by the political
parties were not able to grasp the candidates from all constituencies followed
by not having the suitable party leader to lead the newly born parties. In
Bhutan many civil servants preferred to stay away from politics as they
conceive nature of politics as dirty and filthy. More over there are around 10%
of the Bhutanese who fulfills the required qualification and other norms to
stand as a party candidate, as mandate by the law. Since Bhutanese modern
education was started only in early 1960s, majority of her elder citizens were
still barbaric in nature.
In spite of many hindrances and hurdles for the
political parties, 4 political parties were qualified to race the 2013 primary
election. Sadly Bhutan kuenyam party could not make to primary round as she has
no representative from Gasa District. Under the strict supervision of election
commission of Bhutan, the campaigns by the political parties were in full swing
across the nation, coupled with common forum debate among the candidates of the
four parties, which was telecasted by BBS. Almost in all common forum debates,
all the candidates has highlighted that it was the unwise decision of the
previous government to borrow huge amount of loan and putting the nation into
an unstable economy condition. Some of the candidates other than incumbent members
have also shared their concern on worsening the economy of the country in last
five years. Non incumbent candidates have informed the nation, that the former
government has ushered the corruption in the country by indulging Government
herself.
On 27th May of 2013, exactly after
a month of campaign period, the pool day was welcomed by the voters and the
nation has declared the day as Election Day. Many surprised things had happened
on the evening of the pool day. PDP the world’s smallest opposition has won
from 12 constituencies, DNT has won only from 2 constituencies kicking her out
of the race, and the rest constituencies were won by DPT. On the same day ECB has declared that Druck
chirwang Tshogpa will be not entitled for campaign fund from the state in 2018
election, as she could not secure even 10% of the total votes. Vigorous and
tireless preparations were made by both DPT and PDP to contest in 2013 general
election. As expected by many Bhutanese people, the DNT has agreed to merge
with PDP with some political reasons behind, nurturing PDP to emerge to as a
strong opponent of DPT. On the other hand, DPT has raised their voice on
illegality of merging the parties together. They have even questioned ECB on
this matter, yet their petitions was proofed baseless by ECB based on election
Act enacted by first parliament of Bhutan in 2008.
Once gain the election campaign was in full
swing. The debates between the candidates of two parties were live telecasted
by BBS. Unachievable and unrealistic promises were made by both the parties. The
kingdom’s struggling economy and ties with neighboring India were also key
issues in the campaign. As the pool day
was getting closer, many voters have shared their willingness to support PDP
through social media, print media and other modes of communication. The chief
editor of “The Bhutanese”, Tenzin Lamzang tweets “The customers for my paper
have alarmed ever more than before and when I actually examine the matter, I
found that DPT supporters were burning my papers and preventing it to flow in
the market”. There were also bewilderments among the voters circulated hither
and thither. The topsy-turvy among the people was ignited by local party
coordinators in trying to influence the voters to vote for their own party.
Owing to auspiciousness of the day as per the
Buddhism, which is widely practiced by many Bhutanese; the citizen of newest
democratic country of the world went to polls on the morning of 13th
July 2013. Once in the blue moon, the day was calm, serene and so silent, we
can no longer see our farmers’ plouging their field with pair of Oxen, we can
no longer see the police personnel waving their hands to control the traffic in
the heart of capital city. On evening of the same day, the result for general
election was live telecasted by BBS. To my surprise the super strong DPT has
just won from 15 constituencies and the rest seat was reserved by PDP making
them as ruling party for next five years. Today the government was in place,
trying to stable our fragile economy, serving our beloved kings, people and the
nation at the best of their capacity and ability. I have no doubt that the PDP
government will be the best servant of Nation under the wise and dynamic
guidance of his Majesty the 5th king of Bhutan. May peace and order
prevail in the land of GNH and the people of Bhutan enjoy the everlasting peace
and prosperity.
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