Democracy with discord
Bhutan’s democratic transition is just a collective political approach to overshadow demand for a real political transformation. The draft constitution rubberstamped by India is gradually inviting a good volume of criticism from western democratic institutions. Rather than enriching the draft constitution incorporating true spirits of democratic values, India has been continuously cherishing the act of diehard Bhutanese elitists.
In fact, Bhutan is rather isolating itself from forums of democracies which may eventually invite national crisis. The voices of 20 percent of the total population, forcibly evicted by the regime, still remain unheard. Being the biggest democracy of the world, India owns liability of proximity to intervene peacefully but not ignoring the issue of the exiled Bhutanese.
Ironically, during his visit to Jalpaiguri in West Bengal on June 29, India's external affairs minister denied having made public statement about India’s role and official stance in resolving the crisis of exiled Bhutanese. Nevertheless, those who had long-awaited for India’s role in the issue-resolving process turned ‘hopeless’ when the foreign minister termed the issue to be bilateral deal between Bhutan and Nepal.
India’s consistent refusal to engage itself as mediator in tripartite talks explicitly shows its diminishing role in the region. India failed with its foreign policy in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. Not to an exception, it has high-handedness even in Nepal.
So far India’s position on our issue is concerned; it utters the same rhetoric as that of Bhutan-demographic imbalance. The best illustration for this can be the recent uncalled remark made by its external affairs minister during long march ‘Bhutanese of Nepali ethnicity has created demographic imbalance’. As such he failed to understand that a state can accommodate a homogenous character of all ethnic groups. Even today, none of the ethnic groups had vied for power. It is preemptive fear of the Bhutanese ruling elites to sow such communal discord. There are no any acceptable laws in the world that states a national surpassing the number of other ethnic group is virtually a non-citizen. India herself is a country with multi ethnic, multi culture, caste and creed.
Bhutan unleashed a salient apartheid against its innocent citizens. One must know that apartheid is a weird dictatorship of minority aimed at social and economic exploitation. It is designed to strengthen the privileged position of the ruling elite. Like some of the African states, Bhutan too forced school children to learn the language of the oppressor, but not of their own.
If we are to believe India’s external affairs minister’s statement, question can be raised: who is ruling Bhutan? Again, it is the king and his handpicked ministers. The present ministers are yesteryears minister, who now formed parties to change themselves from partyless ministers. It is ‘old wine in a new bottle’. The gist of democracy can be best enjoyed only when there is strong opposition. Infact, we as oppositions are forced to flee from the hometown. Doesn’t Lhotshampa (Bhutanese of Nepali ethnicity) reverberate in king’s mind when he/she used is exclusive prerogatives while nominating five members in National Council? This has vindicated true racial attitude of the Bhutanese king. To exiled Bhutanese, the king is using dubious methods to terminate Lhotshampas, once considered the world’s most dedicated and decorated army from the Royal Bhutan Army and Royal Bhutan Police.
Bhutan is creating a historical blunder. Bhutan was already small and has been cut short from 46,000sq km to 37,000sq km. Such an uncompromising compromise; issue of national sovereignty, have been made without people’s approval. States belong to the people. But king indicated as if he and his associates are the owners of Bhutan. In fact, Bhutan has been exposing to danger per se.
Bhutan’s win-win diplomacy to both gigantic China in the north and mighty India in the south; squeezing herself by compromising northern territory to China and providing unconditional access to India to exploit water and mineral resources is raising many eyebrows. Is this blind diplomacy a need to get favor to ruling elite to thwart democratic demands? The issue needs debated amongst Bhutanese intellectuals. Bhutan must understand that the legitimate right of the people to govern themselves can never be suppressed. It is just a matter of time.
The exiled Bhutanese are caught in discord. On the one hand, Bhutan is constantly downplaying our claim for repatriation and citizenship and on the other, Nepal still unsure how to pursue Bhutan on this matter. Exiled Bhutanese must explore alternate strategies in the changing political scenario. India has shown shifting attitude towards the Tibetan and Burmese refugees as well. India has recently made an agreement to train Yangoon Airforce (Tamdawley) at Indian Naval Service at Garida in Kuch. Also, India has agreed to provide Islander aircraft; despite United Kingdom (original manufacturer) opposed the deal. The Indian government has supplied 105mm field guns, T-55 tanks, and rocket and rifle grenade launcher with ammunition last year.
Bhutanese human rights and democratic activists must stop lobbying for India’s intervention once and for all. One of the veteran right activists of India as saying ‘it is useless to draw India’s intervention’ is enough to mean it. Thus, Bhutanese leaders must build up confidence for final reconciliation with Bhutan with support of other international communities. Prudent Bhutan will come forward for talks, or this may inexorably result in the whole thing ending in a fearfully violent and bloody conflict in long run.
(The writer can be reached [email protected])