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Bhutan's
new Constitution
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Bhutan Politics |
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Bhutan Information |
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Chukha
dzongkhag discusses the Constitution
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29
March 2006
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| The Crown Prince with the people of Chukha dzongkhag |
| "We
were eager to be involved in the evolution of the nation, especially after
watching His Majesty the King on television in the other dzongkhags," said
a senior representative of Chukha dzongkhag. "We were inspired so much
by his profound advice and his hopes for the future of the Bhutanese people.
It is a historic time in our country and we are proud that we will be able
to tell our children we were part of it." |
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More
than 7,000 people of Chukha, who had gathered in Phuentsholing, received
His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, Trongsa Penlop Jigme Khesar Namgyel
Wangchuck, with a traditional chipdrel ceremony.
During
the formal discussions the people asked for the removal of the section
that required the Druk Gyalpo to abdicate at the age of 65 years. They
pointed out that there was no such precedence in any monarchy nor in any
country in the world.
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| His
Royal Highness told the people that he had conveyed His Majesty's feelings
on this issue to the people on many occasions because this was something
the people were very emotional about. His Royal Highness said that His
Majesty had always commanded that the country should always come first
and that the Constitution should be drafted to safeguard the interests
of the people and country and not the monarchy.
A
senior citizen said that some of the people at the discussions had attended
the coronation of His Majesty as a young Monarch in 1974. |
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They
had heard His Majesty speak of his vision for the country and how he would
work to fulfill the aspirations of the people. And they had been witnesses
to the progress and transformation brought about by such a young leader.
The people of Chukha, therefore, also looked forward with hope and confidence
at the young Crown Prince.
His
Royal Highness said that although the King had, from a young age, always
worked in the interests of the people, the announcement that His Majesty
would resign in 2008 had initially been a deep shock.
On
reflection His Royal Highness had come to realise that, throughout the
33 years of his reign, His Majesty had worked towards this� the complete
and careful devolution of power to the people. Local governments and decision-making
bodies, elections and participatory planning were all steps to train the
people to assume their responsibilities that would come with the adoption
of the Constitution.
His
Royal Highness related a personal moment with His Majesty in 2003, during
the military operations against Indian militants in the south, when His
Majesty had said: "As a Crown Prince your duty is not to serve the King.
It is always to serve the people". His Royal Highness said he had felt
then, and still felt now, that serving His Majesty was the same as serving
the country. He said that, as His Majesty places the country on the road
to democracy, they should work with commitment to fulfill the King's vision
for the nation and people.
His
Royal Highness said he agreed with the people's prioritisation of culture
and their desire to include it in the Constitution. It played a special
role in the case of all landlocked countries, His Royal Highness said,
but it was even more important for Bhutan, given the living vibrant culture
and its significance in bringing about a special way of life. He said he
was confident that the young Bhutanese would safeguard this priceless inheritance.
His
Royal Highness explained the workings of the political parties, elections,
and formation of government. His Royal Highness said that the Constitution
had been drafted to prevent the ills that other countries had faced with
coalition governments, instability, horse-trading and defections.
Some
of the people raised their concern that, with the changes in the political
system, it would become much easier for corruption to take root. Without
a strong leader the political parties would take Bhutan into the same future
as many failed nations.
Ultimately,
His Royal Highness said, the crucial ingredient is the people. If they
elected the people best able to serve their interests and that of the country,
the new political system would bring immense prosperity and growth. However,
if they were to shirk their responsibilities, the problems that had taken
root in other countries would begin in Bhutan. The concern that the people
expressed today was a good sign for the future of the country.
"It
is natural to worry about something you care for but it should not become
an excuse for the failure to accept and carry out one's responsibilities,"
said the Crown Prince. "His Majesty has complete confidence in you and
so do I."
Some
people said that the age limit of 25 to 65 years for candidates standing
for election should be raised to allow senior retired civil servants to
contest. The chief justice explained that the philosophy behind the relatively
low retirement age limit for most positions was that the country would
have young and dynamic officials as the country progressed and changed
rapidly. Senior officials should not be able to hold on to office indefinitely.
In fact His Majesty had set the example by personally commanding that the
clause requiring the King to resign at 65 years should be included in the
Constitution. In the case of civil servants who wished to participate in
politics they could resign and do so at any time before the age limit.
His
Royal Highness said that, with over 45 percent of the population under
15 years, this was an important limit. These young people had the desire
to serve the country so they deserved the opportunity to fulfill their
ambitions.
On
Article 30, on Holders of Constitutional Offices, His Royal Highness pointed
out that their appointment was quite unique. Unlike the practice of the
leader of the ruling party making the recommendations for general appointments,
they would be selected jointly by the Prime Minister, Speaker of the National
Assembly, Chief Justice, Chairperson of the National Council, and the leader
of the Opposition party. Once in office they could only be removed by parliamentary
vote. This ensured that the best people would be selected and they would
have the necessary independence from politics and government as well as
accountability to the people.
On
the final Article, Amendment, the Chief Justice explained that, in Bhutan,
the King was introducing a stable democratic system despite the resistance
of the people. His Majesty had always said that the "destiny of the country
lies in the hands of the people". He said the drafting committee had felt
that Article 2, on the Institution of Monarchy, should be inviolable but
His Majesty had commanded that the people must have the power to amend
any article or section in the Constitution. This was a sign of complete
commitment to the people's future.
"Bhutan
is a special nation built on the toil and vision of our parents - yours
and mine," said the Crown Prince while concluding the discussions. "We
must be proud of it and we must build upon this strong foundation so that
one day our children will be proud of us."
In
a special message to the young people at the meeting His Royal Highness
said that, as the leaders of the next decade, it was important for them
to understand the profound changes taking place and to contemplate on their
own hopes for Bhutan and for themselves and work towards fulfilling them.
His
Royal Highness said that, despite the successes Bhutan had enjoyed, it
would take strong commitment and effort to build the new system of a democratic
constitutional monarchy. His Royal Highness also expressed his confidence
in the people's ability to implement the new Constitution.
Talking
to Kuensel, Bhutan's National Newspaper, the people of Chukha echoed the
apprehension and hopes of a population on the eve of historic change.
Some
expressed their concerns over the known ills of parliamentary democracy
as they themselves had seen in the local elections. They said that the
royal government had taken the right action in putting those responsible
for electoral corruption behind bars. "It was a good example, proving that
nobody was above the law," said C B Ghalley, gup of Phuentsholing gewog.
Khaley,
51, of Barshong village, said that a parliamentary democracy would allow
corruption while Kezang Wangmo, 32, of Getena believed that the poor and
disadvantaged would be neglected.
The
youth said they looked forward to gaining political maturity under the
rule of the Crown Prince.
Dorji
Lhendup, a Class XI student of Chukha higher secondary school, told Kuensel
that His Royal Highness was an inspiration for the Bhutanese youth today.
"His Royal Highness always emphasises the role of the Bhutanese youth wherever
he goes and it is an encouragement for us to do better," he said.
"With
many youth giving in to the whims of modernisation, it is very easy to
be distracted these days. So the words of His Royal Highness gives us direction
in life."
The
people left the meeting feeling secure in the knowledge that, during the
years of dramatic change that lay ahead, they could look to their King
and their Crown Prince for guidance.
| This
article was contributed by Kuensel, Bhutan's National Newspaper, 2002 |
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