As I had said in one of my earlier posts, I was in a dilemma as to how to appropriately word my
बधाइयां
- to the winning candidates of the 2013 elections - without rubbing salt to injury. The PDP will form the next government - but I doubt that the taste of victory is as sweet as it would have been - had they been allowed the opportunity to win the elections - based on their own merits. Deep down, they cannot help but feel a sense of hollowness - because their victory has been served to them on a platter. In all fairness, no one should doubt that the PDP could have won the elections on the strength of their own worth but the blatant show of hand by the government of India must surely leave a bitter after-taste.
Regardless of what happened, the election results are out and there is no reversing it. The PDP will form the next government and they will direct the affairs of the country for the next five years. Therefore, it is time that we move forward and not be marooned in the quagmire of hurt and resentment. Thus, I would like to offer them my felicitations with the following salutations:
चुनाव जीतने के
लिए चुने जाने पर बधाई!
(Congratulations on being chosen to win the elections!)
I would also like to wish the VERY BEST OF LUCK TO THE NEW CABINET comprising of the following Ministers who will most likely receive their Namzha and Pata tomorrow from His Majesty the King.
I have only one regret - the cabinet has no representation from my Dzongkhag. Thus, as in the past, I suspect that Khengrig Ngyamsum will continue to be neglected.
I would also like to wish the VERY BEST OF LUCK TO THE NEW CABINET comprising of the following Ministers who will most likely receive their Namzha and Pata tomorrow from His Majesty the King.
I have only one regret - the cabinet has no representation from my Dzongkhag. Thus, as in the past, I suspect that Khengrig Ngyamsum will continue to be neglected.
A few years ago, I read this in the erstwhile Bhutantimes.com where one blogger, a khenga for sure had written about there being too many protected areas/forests in Shemgang and hence khengpas were being merged with wild animals, Au Yeshey, with no Minster from your region, looks like those times are coming back again.
ReplyDeleteI am flabbergasted by the omission of Kheng Lekey Dorji. I was confident that he would become the next MoIC Lyonpo. In 2008 if PDP and he had won he was earmarked for that post. MP elect TT might have been pretty pissed with him for starting DNT. Compare Dungel with Lekey for the post of MOIC Lyonpo through their CVs. This is a bigger snub for you as you come from Khen rig nam sum. All my sympathies.
ReplyDeleteIn Lekey Dorji's case, it looks like a case of divine intervention, maybe the way he left PDP to form DNT has more to do with the PMs decision. At the same time, for the PM his roots seem to be mean little or nothing to him, in his campaigns he proudly advertised to the whole nation that his mother had roots in Kheng, so it is quite strange that he did not appoint a minister from Shemgang.
Delete"As in the past.." you say, but Khenrig Namsum had Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi for the last five years. With only 10 ministerial posts, it certainly will not be easy to be fair as per our perspectives. PDP may have their own justification, but not having someone of the calibre of Lekey in their cabinet will be their shortcoming. He is certainly more capable than many others who were selected. However, for a change, the ministers (owing to their lack of experience heading a ministry) will at least listen to the professionals and the bureaucracy.
ReplyDeleteIt would be untrue to say that the election was fair and free - both parties used many goondagiri tactics. However, the epitome of Bhutan's existence, our monarch, have spoken, and we should just move on. I say, let the five years roll on and we will know how the new government performs. Any concerned citizen should speak up if the government is seen faltering. I am confident many wrongs will be righted, and Bhutan will be on a much better track.
PDP used goonda giri tactics and not DPT, please write things which are believable.
Deletethe old policy of "khen thosa makey kupsey chap wong; khen maasa mazhag genkhur they" must be at work again.
ReplyDeletewe cant have twenty ministers for twenty dzongkhags.
ReplyDeleteचुनाव जीतने के लिए चुने जाने पर बधाई! From an unsatisfied voter. 2013 NA General Election will always be remembered for all that happened out of the blue in the last 2 weeks. If an election turns off 10 to 20% of people then in 5 to 10 years no body will vote. Democracy in Bhutan is Demon gone crazy!
ReplyDeleteIf the 15 points submitted by DPT is not addressed, no more voting for me and my family, why should we waste so much of our time, money and at the same time risk traveling for 8 days on treacherous roads during the rainy season. In addition, ECB must allow coalitions as long as there is just one General Election and no Primary round of elections, just like in India. We don't want what DNT did to influence the results of the 2013 elections. If possible we would also want to see DNT banned from ever participating again.
ReplyDeleteIn hindsight (from the two past elections), there is no denying that there is a need to review the Election Act and regulations to iron out some rough edges. BUT, what we/country/NA don't want and need is succumb to the vested interest and demands of the political parties/supporters and their vested interests. These guys cry out foul (at times for accidently genuine reasons) the minute their party of choice is losing out or is on the verge of. I am amazed at what lengths these people are ready to go to have their WANTs (their party to form the government) sanctioned ...making seemingly valid protests/reasonings. What frustrates me most is that - even with this knowledge - I cannot stop this Photographer and his ilk, and ardent supporters of PDP from taking the country and ordinary & ignorant citizens hostage to fulfill their personal desires and designs........whatever they are!
ReplyDeleteI am inclined to believe that the author will not publish my comment since, on few occassions he did not. In any case, I have said what I wanted to say ................. that's that!!!
To the last Anon,
ReplyDeleteI am glad that you find my Blog an appropriate place for you to vent your frustrations. But you seem to miss out on something very basic: it wont be the ordinary and the ignorant who will bring about the change you seek - ironing out the rough edges of the Election Act. It will be people like you and me - who care enough to be engaged in a process that is, by necessity, evolutionary.
If you want to make a difference, don’t pass judgments from behind the mask of anonymity. If you say that I did not post your comments, the only reason could be that they were not constructive enough to find a place on my Blog.
Please remember that you cannot rubbish the process - it is at the core of the whole enterprise of elections. It is also incorrect to say that what you believe is the Gospel truth. There are others who are no less fervent about the convictions they hold. Those count too - whether you like it or not.
The issue is not of winning or loosing but whether the contest was fairly conducted. Since you have already realized that the electoral laws need change, you already agree that things have not happened in a manner it should have - otherwise you would not be concerned about those, what you call, the “rough edges”.
Now we know that we have PM appionted by India, US and isreal. Next tine round to make our life easy, we just need to ask them who the want us to vote for. perhaps, this explains why they were flushed with unlimited supply of cash. No doubt our Pradhan Mantri is not in favour of GNH, which goes very much against he tenent of capatilism.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.globalresearch.ca/obamas-asia-pivot-the-himalayan-angle/5344623
"Deep down, they cannot help but feel a sense of hollowness - because their victory has been served to them on a platter."
ReplyDeleteVery true la.
When I think of a person that served the country in the most intelligent and patriotic way, Ex Lyonchen Drep Jigme Y Thinlay’s name come to my mind(aside from HM the 4th King). He was a man of principles. Unlike many other high government officials, he was not at all corrupt. But the allegations of corruptions in his tenure as the first PM of a democratically elected government were just allegations, nothing more. His foes (rich and powerful ones) went to great lengths to bring down the great man and they have in a way succeeded. That reminds me of someone learned who said democracy works best where voters are educated enough to judge for themselves. However, in Bhutan’s case the power hungry people used lies to tarnish the image of Hon JYT. They used the loophole in the election law to form coalition. They even used India against DPT and make people believe that if DPT comes to power, India will be not happy. And whats even worse, they had somehow gained the backing of some powerful institutions to make them win the elections.
ReplyDeleteSo DPT under the leadership of JYT had to fight against all the odds. And so they lost. If one looks at the events that led to the loss of DPT in a very objective way, its a loss not only for DPT but for democracy in Bhutan. Almost all the Bhutanese know what really transpired between the Primary round and General round of 2013 Bhutan elections but nobody dare not speak out. But history will tell the truth.
All said and done what really lingers in my mind is what has the great JYT done to deserve to the treatment that was meted out to him. As far as I and many others know, all he did in his career was serve his king and country to the best of his ability. As for the Indian Government’s hand in our election results, it was plain for everyone to see. New Delhi could not stand to see JYT making friends with many other countries. Just as its in the interest of Bhutan to have diplomatic relations with as many countries its also in the interest of India to keep Bhutan dependent on India (that way they can twist Bhutan’s arms anytime New Delhi wants). Sadly, PDP didnt seem to understand/care to act in the long term interest of the country. They played the devil’s advocate and the devil rewarded them with the power to rule Bhutan.
I believe JYT took the right decision by not being part of this parliament. Of all the people he would have known so well what really happened. Whatever, like what he said ”JYT will be JYT, nobody can bring JYT down and nobody can elevate JYT”. To add to that, Bhutan will always remember JYT for his statesmanship qualities, principles and above all for patriotism.
No one is denying what JYT did (good things) for the country. Minus that, and the fact that we are now a democratic country and have been one for the last five years, we (as a people) cannot remain stuck in the past. Times change and it does for a reason. You and I, or for that matter any JYTs or TTs cannot remain the same forever. Just because you did some good things in the past it cannot and should not be the reason to absolve you of any wrong doings thereafter. If one wants to survive and live the same way, s/he needs to adapt to the changing environment...a central theme of Buddhism and...Darwin-ism to a lesser extent (one could survive by not necessarily being moral).
ReplyDeleteHaving said that, I know it is easier said than done and I am fully aware that, try as I might, I will never know the REASONs and factors/forces that make people say and act the way they do. Ignorance or willfulness could be the reason.
I am an optimist by nature and I would like to believe that all is not Gloom and Doom for us Drups. So, I implore my fellow compatriots to make a conscious effort to remain as ONE NATION and set aside our petty bickering and still be proud to be called a tiny nation "sandwiched" between two Giants. We would be doing a great disservice to our forefathers if this generation cannot appreciate this fact ...our strength and vulnerability lies in our Unity or Disunity! The choice is ours to make and please be reminded that we cannot rewind and undo the things we may later regret. PEACE!!!
(Sigh)...sorry if I sounded like a living Buddha preaching ...for I am not.
This is nothing about being stuck in the past, it is the way things were made to happen that we are not comfortable with. If the elections were free and fair, I don't think anyone would have had any reason to complain. What happened in 2013, unfortunately, will continue to happen in future, the signal we have received is that it is acceptable to cheat during the elections. If things get worse in the future, we will only have ourselves to blame.
DeleteAuthorji, can you tell me a situation/scenario which is not impacted/influenced by both internal and external factors? Are you saying the 2008 election outcomes were as fair as Buddha would have wanted, when JYT went from place to place assassinating characters in the PDP? SWOT and PESTLE would not have evolved as tools otherwise!
ReplyDeleteWhatever happened happened for good, and I am a happy citizen now than a year back...
I think Character assassination was done by PDP and not DPT, please cite one incidence to back up your statement that JYT was indulging in character assassination. If anyone was indulging in character assassination, it was the two mouthpieces of PDP, namely The Bhutanese and Bhutanomics.
DeleteThe last Anon, it's good you are happy. As far as I can remember, the Hon. JYT did not go assassinating any characters and his campaign was based purely on educating people about democracy.
ReplyDeleteGuys let us not indulge ourselves in blame game-let the past be buried. We have two big giants staring at us from all angles. Let us all save our energy for constructive thinking with the aim of supporting the government in their efforts to revive the economy and help achieve economic self reliance and bring the much needed changes in the governance.
ReplyDelete