Election failed to incorporate people's spirit (Press Release)
Press Release
Date; January 02, 2008
The election for the upper house National Council in Bhutan is a failure to incorporate the spirit of the people and address their demands, but it is another attempt to fool the citizens saying they have been empowered.
The very low turnout of the people to vote in the election has adequately proved people’s annoyance to the act of the autocratic ruler. Only around 50 percent reached the polling stations, according to the royal commission for election.
Many who reached the polling stations also faced many bureaucratic hassles, the officials responsible for carrying out the voting process, not helping the people cast their votes but responding rudely.
Certainly, the voters’ turn out was less than 40 percent while taking into considerations of a large populace not given Voters Photo Identity Cards (VPIC) on grounds of various allegations. VPIC are issued only to those who produce No Objection Certificate (NOC) which in turn is issued by Royal Bhutan Police. Many who supported 1990 and 1997 demonstrations are bared from getting this card.
The election in the country is also void seeing the number of observers present. Only six international observers were in the field to look into the voting process – five from UN resident mission in Thimphu and one from Australia. Taking into consideration the presence of India in Bhutan’s internal affairs, we cannot regard three officials of the Indian election commission as international observers.
Though, repeatedly claimed that the country is moving towards a parliamentary democracy, people have not been given powers. The draft constitution concentrates most power in king’s hand while the parliament – upper house National Council and lower house National Assembly – are given limited authority. The parliament cannot act without ascent of the king.
Additionally, the regime’s plot excluded most of the southern Bhutanese from being election. Practically, only one Lhotsampa won the elections.
Thus, the newly elected national council will certainly fail to catch up the sentiments and spirit of the people. The election is another measure to pull the wool over the eyes of the international community. The support extended by India to the autocratic regime was the cause for international community to remain mum over the irrational election. India, self claimed biggest democracy of the world, is covering is shameless face to support an autocratic regime.
The election will not pave way for democracy in Bhutan rather it will squeeze the rights of the people. It won’t be a wonder to expect more ethnic cleansing policies from these selected people in future.
Vidhyapati Mishra
General Secretary
Association of Press Freedom Activists (APFA) – Bhutan
[email protected]