Bhutan Heading Towards Democracy?
Printer Friendly
April 23, 2007

According to the International Herald Tribune (April 23, 2007), the Kingdom of Bhutan appears to be taking its first steps towards democracy.  The small Buddhist country has been ruled by an absolute monarchy since 1907 but its rulers are now pledging democratic reform and parliamentary elections.  Additionally, in order to practice for the real elections, which are supposed to take place sometime next year, “more than 125,000 Bhutanese citizens participated Saturday in what the government called ‘mock elections.’”

In December 2006, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck abdicated in favor of his 26-year old Oxford-educated son Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck; however, before handing over power, the King called for parliamentary elections and “a Constitution that will introduce multiparty democracy” and give the Parliament the power to remove the king altogether with a two-thirds majority vote. 

However, despite calling for liberalizing measures, some critics believe the monarchy is only instituting elections to prevent any movements for democracy forming within the country and to avoid pressure to democratize from the international community.  Additionally, “ethnic Nepalese dissidents have denounced the elections as a ploy to deflect international attention from the refugee crisis;” over 100,000 ethnic Nepalese fled the country in 1990 after “a royal crackdown on their agitation for democratic rights and… have since languished in refugee camps across the border in Nepal.”

Bhutan remains incredibly isolated, with television and internet only being allowed into the country 1999, and although health care and education has improved in the past few years, Bhutan “remains a poor country, heavily reliant on foreign aid and with little industry.”  However, criticism of the King and the government from within the country is rare and the Bhutanese seem content to follow the commands of the King: according to Prime Minister Khandu Wangchuck, the citizens are “reluctant” to embrace elections, but are doing so because it “is what the king wanted.”  Indeed, several Bhutanese interviewed for the article reinforced this view by expressing their hesitancy about moving towards democracy and their loyalty to the King and his decisions above all else. 

For additional information on democracy in Bhutan visit:http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/04/23/asia/web0423-bhutan.phphttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/23/wbhutan23.xml
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6576523,00.html