Mock election results do not bolster King's democracy vision

Sandrupjhonkhar, Bhutan, May 30 (UNI) Ahead of next year's first-ever elections in Bhutan, the authorities face a major challenge in making the residents of the isolated kingdom aware of their democratic rights.

The tiny Himalayan kingdom is the only monarchy in the world at this point, which is offering democracy to its people but with a marked lack of success. The mock election, designed as a dress rehearsal for the country's first democratic polls next year, came to an end yesterday but did not bolster King Jigme Singye Wangchuk's vision of a democratic Bhutan by July 2008.

In the first round last month, voters were given a choice of four imaginary parties -- Thunder Dragon Red, Thunder Dragon Yellow, Thunder Dragon Green and Thunder Dragon Blue.

In the second round on Monday, they had to choose between Thunder Dragon Yellow, which stood for traditional values, and Thunder Dragon Red, which represented industrialisation. The results were conclusive but cast doubts on the former King's vision. The former party won 46 of the total 47 seats.

''I voted Thunder Dragon Yellow because it is royal colour'' said Tshewang Zangpo, a villager behind the mountain that overlook this tiny town, barely a two hour drive . That was the primary reason that everybody voted for Thunder Dragon Yellow, diluting the very concept of the mock poll.

Central Election Commissioner Dasho Kunzang Wangdi sounded concerned over the trend. ''The mock poll was a success but emergence of one party is a concern for a viable democracy,'' he told UNI over phone from Thimphu.

He admitted that people of Bhutan were still confused about democracy, and this was because of illiteracy. ''It can create a problem in the actual poll,'' he added.

Sandrupjhonkhar election officer Norbu Wangdi also voiced a similar opinion. ''Perhaps our people will need some more time to adapt to the real meaning of democracy,'' he said.

The people's preference for tradition and reinforcing their faith in monarchy, was a stark illustration of the challenges facing Bhutan as it tries to drag itself into the modern world after centuries of economic and political isolation.

The Buddhist kingdom, which was never colonised, did not have roads, cars, electricity or currency until the 1960s, allowed its first foreign visitors in 1974 and did not introduce television until 1999.

The King, who had already handed stepped down in favour of his Oxford-educated son last December, had conceived of the democratisation planin a design to avoid the sort of trouble that has rocked neighbouring Nepal. However, most Bhutanese remain devoted to their monarch and fearful of the relative instability and corruption that democracy has brought to other neighbours such as Bangladesh and now Nepal.

UNI