BHUTAN: As Bhutan gets ready to become a democracy next year, the conservative Buddhist society debates the merits of the change

As the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan switches over to democracy next year, Bhutanese are considering the merits of the change. It is a giant leap into the unknown for the conservative nation, and one that has many of its citizens thinking about the value of becoming a democracy. Thimphu local Zaiko Lah said democracy would give Bhutanese people the power to elect or reject for the first time in their lives, "Since people will have the right to choose, they will choose the best one and if he fails to deliver then they can immediately throw him out," he said. But not everyone is convinced that it is the best way forward. With conflicts in Bangladesh, Nepal and India, many Bhutanese worry democracy may lead to corruption and strife. "It basically just broadens your choice of governments but it does not necessarily guarantee prosperity, does not necessarily guarantee happiness," said Gopilal Acharya, the 28-year-old editor of the Bhutan Times, a private newspaper launched last year as part of moves towards free press. Bhutan's version of democracy will be a tightly controlled affair, critics say. Former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck decided to hand power of the mainly Buddhist country to an elected government, against the will of his advisers and many subjects, before passing his crown to his 26-year-old Oxford-educated son last year. As recently as the 1960s, Bhutan had no roads and practically no schools or hospitals. Today education and healthcare are free, and life expectancy has risen to 66 years, from less than 40, a fact most people attribute to the monarch's rule. But there are nearly 100,000 refugees languishing outside the country who are unhappy with the treatment from the palace and are now appealing for the chance to return and take part in the elections. However, the government has outlawed political parties they portray as anti-national terrorists, and says many of the refugees are not genuine Bhutanese. Bhutan's chief Election Commissioner Kunzang Wangdi told Reuters only Bhutanese citizens would be allowed to participate in the elections. "I am conducting the elections for the citizens of Bhutan. Now the only way of knowing whether a Bhutanese is a citizen or not is through a document that we have called the citizenship identity card. So I will be conducting elections for anyone who can produce a citizenship identity card," he said. A 2006 study by a British scientist ranked Bhutan the eighth happiest country in the world, just behind Sweden, despite it having an average national income of just 740 U.S. dollars. But human rights group have criticised Thimphu for abuses, including its deporting of tens of thousands of ethnic Nepalis, mostly Hindus, from south Bhutan after they protested against discrimination and for democracy in 1990. Bhutan says most were illegal immigrants. Many Bhutanese, with blind faith in their monarch, believe that whatever he does, is for their good. As for real political parties, only two have been formed, disappointing those who had hoped for real debate ahead of next year's elections. One, likely to be led by Wangchuck's brother- in-law, Sangay Ngedup, is strongly tipped to take power. Ironically the very people who led demonstrations in favour of human rights and democracy in 1990 have been exiled en masse. More than 105,000 live in abject poverty in seven refugee camps in neighbouring Nepal. Mohan Tamang leads a group of Bhutanese youths living in exile, "Unless they give inclusive sort of democracy, it makes no sense giving democracy in Bhutan," said he said. Many refugees say they welcome the idea of democracy in Bhutan but are unsure of how well it will fare in practice.

ITN Source | August 11, 2007