| New Bhutan constitution only an eyewash: leaders
Bhutanese refugee leaders residing in exile in Nepal have said the new draft constitution unveiled by the dragon kingdom is nothing but an eyewash, according to reports.
In his initial reaction, veteran Bhutanese human rights leader, Tek Nath Rizal, has termed the proposed constitution as ‘undemocratic.’ Bhutanese political leaders in exile have also criticized the entire four-year-long process of drafting the new constitution as it has excluded nearly one-sixth population of the kingdom residing in UNHCR-maintained seven refugee camps in eastern Nepal for the last 14 years.
Talking to Nepalnews Monday, a Bhutanese human rights activist, RakeshI Chhetri, said the proposed constitution was “only a document to maintain status quo in the Himalayan kingdom.”
According to Chhetri, the powers of the Bhutanese King remain intact even in the new constitution. The proposed constitution provides authority to the Bhutanese monarch to veto any legislation passed by the bicameral house. Similarly, he has the exclusive authority to appoint chief of the armed forces, attorney general, auditor general and heads of other constitutional bodies.
“The provision that the king shall abdicate throne if the two-third majority of the legislature decides so is not new. Similarly, the provision of the king retiring at the age of 65 years is also not new,” said Chhetri. “As per the new constitution, now there will be a new ruling party and a royal opposition. There is no room left for any third political party,” he added.
The proposed constitution will replace a royal decree of 1953 giving the monarchy absolute power and transform the majority Buddhist nation of 534,000 people into a parliamentary democracy, officials said.
Thirty-four articles in the proposed constitution will outline the role of the monarchy, clergy, fundamental rights and duties of the people while creating new constitutional offices including a National Council.
BBC quoted Bhutan's chief justice, Sonam Tobgye, as saying that a referendum would be held at the end of the year to ratify the constitution. He said every family in the country would receive a copy of the constitution for discussion before they vote for a referendum.
Bhutan’s only newspaper Kuensel quoted king Jigme Singye Wangchuk as saying that (since) Bhutan now enjoyed peace and stability it was the best time for a transition to democracy.
“The sovereignty, stability and well-being of the country must be placed above everything else,” Wangchuck told the government mouth-piece. “The country is more important than the king,” he added.
Bhutanese refugee leaders, however, have called upon their monarch to fulfill his own promise by opening doors to its own subjects (now living as refugees), rather than coming up with new ‘gimmicks’ for the consumption of international community. nepalnews.com by Mar 28 05
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