Exiled Bhutanese oppose mock poll

Birtamode, April 21: National Front for Democracy (NFD) – Bhutan has strongly opposed Bhutan’s 2008 mock election.

Coinciding with Bhutan’s ‘mock poll’ on Saturday, thousands of exiled Bhutanese under the banner of the NFD has demonstrated at the Mechi bridge demanding their early repatriation.

Thousands of Sasastra Suraksha Bal (SSB) is reported to have been deployed at the Mechi bridge to bar exiled Bhutanese from entering Bhutan.

Addressing the mass meet, Chairman of the NFD, Thinley Penjore demanded for the involvement of government of India for resolvement of the crisis. Another speaker, Narad Adhikari also stressed on India’s support.

Meanwhile, in a separate press meet at Birtamode, Tek Nath Rizal has urged international support and solidarity for early repatriation. “The 2008 election in Bhutan is a means to fool the international community’, he added.

For the mock poll ,the two most successful parties will compete in a run-off in May, in which high-school students will act as candidates.

Some 10,000 officials are involved in the logistics, with special observers from neighbouring India, which has helped train them. Bhutan News Service/Bhola Puranaghare