May 27, 2007
Democracy Has Risks,
but Bhutan Ready for Challenge
Thimphu
Bhutan is ready to take up the challenge of transforming from a
monarchy to parliamentary democracy despite "risks" from the
historical shift, says Bhutan's Chief Election Commissioner Dasho
Kunzang Wangdi.
"Some amount of risk that can come with democracy is always there.
But we have to minimize such risks as much as possible and see to it
that democracy offers much more than what the monarchy has been
offering," Wangdi said in an interview here in capital Thimphu ahead
of Monday's mock elections.
"But we are optimistic about the change that is going to take place
and believe democracy would be good for the country," Wangdi told
IANS.
Monday's exercise is part of the final dry run to familiarise people
in the "Land of the Thunder Dragon" with how parliamentary democracy
actually works.
The first or the primary round of mock polls was held April 21 in
all the 47 parliamentary constituencies. Voting would begin at 9
a.m. (GMT + 0600 hrs) and end at 5 p.m.. Counting of votes would
begin soon after.
Bhutan's former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated the throne in
December in favour of his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck,
and announced that the country's first parliamentary elections would
take place in 2008.
"If you have a political party ruling the country (after the 2008
election) who only believes in industrialization and earning dollars
and increasing the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), you never know what
would happen," Wangdi said.
He said Bhutan wanted a party that would serve the nation
efficiently without compromising on the traditions and cultural
values of the Himalayan kingdom.
"The ruling party would determine the fate of Bhutan for five years
after being elected. So the aspirations are that we should have a
party that is capable of doing a better job than what we have during
the monarchy," Wangdi underlined.
Despite a general perception among most Bhutanese that the present
monarchial system was good for the country, the chief election
commissioner said the former king had rightly decided to bring in
changes.
"(He) probably thought of introducing democracy for the simple
reason - why wait for a revolution to start seeking democratic
changes?
"The atmosphere is just conducive, and the former king wished to
have a democracy in place for better results. But it is true people
in general still have tremendous faith in the monarchy and want that
status quo be maintained."
Wangdi said the skepticism among the people about the transition was
mainly due to the not-so-encouraging democracies in Bhutan's
immediate neighbourhood.
"Television has opened the world to Bhutan and what people see in
India, Nepal, and Bangladesh today is lot of demonstrations,
destruction, conflicts and corruption. If that is democracy we don't
need it -- is what most people think and so prefers the monarchy to
continue," he said.
"The image of the democracies that we see is what is coming in the
way of people wholeheartedly accepting the changes that Bhutan is
planning."
Wangdi, however, said the mock elections in Bhutan had dispelled
certain wrong notions about the transition.
"Today we think about 60 to 70 percent of the people are mentally
prepared for the change and accept the vision the former king had in
mind to decentralize power and have an efficient and able government
rule Bhutan," he said.
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