Just a week after the four political parties hit the constituencies for the primary election campaign, allegations are beginning to surface that parties are resorting to “unhealthy” means to woo voters.

Word is out that parties are hosting meals for villagers in Punakha, Bumthang and Trashigang. Some voters have allegedly been paid for attending party meetings in Trashigang while others speculate that “gifting” of mobile phones by some parties have occurred in Zhemgang.

In several places voters were reportedly transported in cars and trucks to and from campaign venues.

Rumour also has it that some of the party workers are paid extremely high, while there were also party candidates who were being paid a “substantial salary”.

However, no reports of such matters have reached the election dispute settlement body at dzongkhag, as well as at central level, which “hears and redresses the complaints and grievances relating to elections” for now.

Election commission’s public election fund division is also yet to receive the first weekly expenditure reports from the observers positioned in the constituencies.

“It will be submitted soon, and any irregularities in use of fund can be detected there,” officials from the division said.

An official explained that parties would have to submit reports once every week of their expenses to the observer, who will then verify and endorse.

If a party was seen arranging meals during campaign but was not reflected in the report, the observer would crosscheck with party people before forwarding it to the division for further verification.

Among others, while the public election fund Act indicates communication expenses as “permissible”, division officials explained it did not mean providing mobile phones to party people to stay connected.

That was because, officials said, no expenses should be incurred on items that can be retained for more than 30 days after an election.  However, the fund could be used for paying phone bills or buying recharge vouchers for candidates and representatives.

The law also allowed “hiring of motor vehicles for campaign purposes”.

But officials explained that, after fixing rates with the owners, which had to be specified in the account later, the candidates or representatives could use the car for campaign purposes. The vehicle details, however, should be submitted to the returning officers.

“But this doesn’t mean vehicles could be used to transport people,” one said, adding recently, a letter has been issued to parties, returning officer and observers informing about it.

Returning officers should also be informed about who or how many people would travel in the hired cars.

As for the daily subsistence allowance (DSA), the officials reminded that only those representatives returning officers approved or party workers whose services have been hired for campaign purposes can be paid DSA.

“Suppose a party visits a gewog and assistance of that gewog coordinator has been sought, he is entitled,” he said.

The commission allowed a daily allowance of Nu 150 to 300 for them, while party representative was entitled for Nu 500 a day.  The highest allowable expenditure for candidates was Nu 800.

However, in lieu of DSA, those who are involved could be offered refreshments but for that, they will have to forgo the allowance.

“If they’ve reflected both in the accounts, it isn’t acceptable,” an officer said.

“But even if those attending the party meetings are registered members, but have no role in conducting the meeting, parties aren’t allowed to pay them or offer them refreshments,” he said, adding the parties have been notified that no refreshment or meal should be provided whatsoever.

Meanwhile, for the primary elections, parties were instructed to open a campaign account, in which they would receive a lump sum amount of about Nu 6.1M, a state campaign fund of Nu 130,000 for 47 constituencies.

The parties were allowed to use another Nu 130,000 from their own funds, raised through permitted sources of income.  Expenditure incurred from party fund should be recorded separately, thus ensuring the Nu 260,000 ceiling is not crossed.

Party treasurers would compile election expenditure for all the constituencies and, within 30 days from date of declaration of election result, they would have to submit the accounts.

Public fund division officials said, if the limit was crossed by even one ngultrum, they would be liable to return the state provided campaign fund, besides other implications like possibility of disqualification of parties.

Meanwhile, to keep track, among others, the banks have been instructed to report to election commission if they notice substantial amounts being deposited in party accounts.

By Kesang Dema | Thimphu

With the election campaign on, former parliament members re-contesting have hung their symbols of authority – kabney (scarf) and patang (ceremonial sword) – and titles, such as lyonpo or dasho, are not in use to ensure a level playing field, as required by law.

But ambiguities still persist on the usage of titles and symbols, particularly when individuals are no longer serving in those positions.

This is particularly the case with regards to former ministers, who are still serving as chairpersons of organisations and agencies, but no longer head a government ministry.

While officials from the culture department are of the view that, except for those who were conferred the red scarf by His Majesty, other symbols and titles should be used only during their tenure in serving a particular post.  But without a written regulation, it has been difficult to push through such an understanding.

The former culture secretary and red scarf officer, Dasho Sangay Wangchuk, who is now a member of the Privy Council, said the title of lyonpo (minister) should be used only during the tenure of serving as a minister.

He said ministers were no more ministers or lyonpos once they leave their post in the ministry. “Once they resign, the lyonpo title has to be dropped,” he said.

Dasho Sangay Wangchuk said, while the wide practice in the country of using prefix is wrong, it has to be put into context why a particular person is referred to with a particular title.

He said a person is referred to as minister because of the particular ministry he heads, and the titles have to be post-based and, after the term is over, the title should be left for people in that post.

“But informally, we could always refer to them as former minister,” Dasho Sangay Wangchuk said.

A cultural practitioner explained that, earlier, when a person was appointed to a position, along with the title, symbols like kabney and patang were awarded as an honour and symbol of authority and responsibility.

“The kabney is for honour and the patang is a symbol of authority,” he said. “So, until now, after retirement, people have been using the kabney, as the honour remains, but the patang is not used, since there is no authority.”

But he said that this has to change, as it would be difficult to distinguish between the serving and former officials.

As of now, there are more than 50 to 60 retired red scarf officials and 20 officials with the orange scarf.

“Our society is small and, if all people start using blue, red and orange scarf, it would not only confuse people, but also have other implications,” he said.

The head of culture department’s driglam section, Jigme Yoezer, said, ideally, the usage of titles and symbols should be post based.

There are many, who are of the view that the usage of title, symbols and prefixes should be equally considered as a part of culture preservation and promotion.

On the title of dasho (the best), Dasho Sangay Wangchuk also said, prior to 2008, ministers were firstly awarded with red scarf and then gradually appointed as minister.

He said that, with the onset of democracy, the system should be changed in accordance to it. “Those people, who were awarded red scarf by His Majesty the King, would continue to wear their red scarf and be referred to as dasho even after retirement.”

One of the practices followed today is the 2003 National Assembly resolution that stated that dzongdas, drangpons, thrimrabs and dzongrabs, who have already received the dhar and observed the tendrel, would be allowed to wear the kabney and patang, even if they are transferred to other posts in the government or corporate sector.  It was also decided that those who have not observed tendrel should not wear the kabney and patang if they are transferred to another post.

By Tashi Dema | Thimphu

Only registered members of the parties and the candidates, whose names have been submitted to election commission while filing the letters of intent, will be allowed for “official participation” in the ongoing primary round of elections.

This also apply to representatives parties appoint for official participation.

Election commission, through a notification issued yesterday, clarified that those candidates, whose names have been submitted, may be allowed to be substituted by another registered member of a political party only after the primary round.

This can happen under several conditions.

Substitution can happen if the candidate-designate has died, or is unable to contest because of physical incapacitation.

It could also happen if a candidate was not accepted by returning officers, or there’s a cancellation of candidature because of violation of laws, during the course of the campaign.

The party could even decide to register and nominate a candidate from another party that did not make it for the general elections after forfeiting the registration in original party.

The notification comes in the backdrop of numerous reports from the field that some political parties have “no” representation in the constituencies, or have attempted to send in representatives from other constituencies.

In Trashiyangtse, People’s Democratic party candidate had missed his common forums because of a death in the family.

While the candidate had tried to appoint a representative, the returning officer had rejected it, since the representative was not a registered member of the same constituency.

The party had also tried to field another representative in Trashiyangtse’s other constituency, but election officials could not accept, since he was not a registered member of the party.

Similar instances had occurred in one of the constituencies in Mongar, where Druk Chirwang tshogpa and People’s Democratic party didn’t have representation.

Some election officials said, while they had tried to field substitutes, they were from a different constituency.

Meanwhile, those following elections closely said the fact that some parties didn’t have representations in the field was because they were yet to finalise their candidates despite have submitted names to election commission.

Others said not having representation could prove costly to the party, since there was no one in the constituency to take party messages forward.

“Some would base their votes on the candidates the party have in the particular constituencies, but lack of one could completely shut chances for that party,” one said.

Meanwhile, the notification stated that noting public concerns on the eligibility of candidates-designate tendered by political parties in their letter of intent, scrutiny of candidates’ nomination papers by returning officers will be carried out strictly to ensure all requirements are fully met.

By Kesang Dema

Of more than 800 eligible voters in the gewog, 85 people attended the forum, while there were only 45 from Athang, which also has same number of eligible voters.

DPT had promised a road for the villages in 2008. “It’s already in the 11th Plan, and we’ll get it through in a couple of months,” he said, pledging to eradicate poverty in the next five years.  “Believe in us, we’re not lying,” he said.

If re-elected, DPT would build infrastructure in rural places to address rural-urban migration.  For civil servants, the representative said, the party would work on providing affordable housing in Thimphu at the end of their retirement.  Other pledges were to build power tiller track at low cost, build old age homes and offer transportation charges for elderly on concession.

While Tandin Wangchuk of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) committed to get two helicopters if PDP comes into power. “The helicopters will be used for emergency, such as in the event of road blocks,” he said.  He also promised to release Nu 2M annually to all 205 gewogs.

Given the need of quality farm roads, he pledged to construct farm roads that would be pliable for all seasons and black top gewog centre roads.  He also promised farm roads for Jarong and Zawa villages. “We’ll also work to increase the entitlements of the local government.”

If elected, PDP, he said, would make kerosene, diesel, petrol and LPG gas available in every gewog, by setting up stations.  He asked the gathering to vote for other parties so that people get a choice. “If you go for the same, you wouldn’t know the taste of others,” Tandin Wangchuk said.

Druk Chirwang tshogpa’s (DCT) Chador Namgyal spoke on the party manifesto of strengthening democratic principles. “We’ll make democracy stronger than 2008,” he said.

Chador Namgyel said unbalanced socio-economic development has been a major cause of poverty in rural areas, which has fuelled rural-urban migration.  DCT, if elected, would provide trainings to youth before they enter the job market.  DCT, with more young candidates, would understand the problem of young, he said. “Don’t think we’re young, but vote for us and we’ll serve,” Chador Namgyal said.

Emphasising more on a party that would eliminate corruption, Druk Nyamrup tshogpa’s (DNT) Rinchen Namgay said a party formed on united strength of common interest would clearly understand the common people’s problem.

More than development activities, Rinchen Namgay said his party is concerned about how they would be able to understand the real problems of the people.

“Unlike other parties, I don’t have party workers and supporters, but all I have is a clear motive to serve you,” he said. “Don’t let the government fall in the hands of the rich and powerful, because policies would be aligned to their interest rather than the people’s interest.”

Unlike DPT and PDP, DNT’s representative didn’t make any pledges and, instead, said that the people should not worry about the party being led by a woman president. “Our collective wisdom and efforts are what we have for you,” he said.

By Tenzin Namgyel, Wangdue

Unlike the other three parties Druk Nyamrup tshogpa’s (DNT) candidates are not making too many promises during the common forum.

Like the candidates in Wangdue, DNT’s Dr Tandi Dorji of Lingmukha-Toewang constituency in Punakha, during the common forum yesterday at Zomi gewog, pledged only two things: reduce the gap between rich and poor, and among regions, and disburse constitutional development grants, based of the size of constituency and population.

Instead, he reminded the gathering of 190 people to be careful of promises parties make which are already in the plan activities. “Whoever comes into power, development activities have to be carried out, so don’t get convinced that they are promises,” Dr Tandi Dorji, adding “Those activities are your entitlements. Analyse the promises and see whether it’s going to happen in reality,” he said.

Chimmi Dorji of People’s Democratic party (PDP) committed to procure two helicopters, if PDP comes into power.  The helicopters, he said, would be used for emergencies during natural calamities.

He also promised for Nu 2M each a year to every gewog from the constitutional development grants and a power tiller each to every chiwog. “We’ll also set up a workshop in every gewog to maintain the power tiller,” he said.

He also pledged bank facilities at the village level, so that people don’t have to keep their money under the pillow or inside the mattress.  He said he will streamline education policy, so that intelligent students will be recognised and sent abroad to work. “We’ll make international competent students,” Chimmi Dorji said.  For civil servants, he said the party would give housing allowance.

Despite being the first speaker, Pema Lhamo of the Druk Chirwang tshogpa didn’t pledge specific commitments, apart from empowering women, strengthening media and creating a GNH-based society. “We’ll promote culture and tradition.”  Her pledges were general, as contained in the party’s manifesto.

Druk Phuensum tshogpa’s candidate, Dr Sonam Wangyel Wang, pledged a new motor bridge over Phochu, in spite of knowing that the government can’t afford that. “I know government can’t do it, but I’ll manage if our party gets through,” he said.  The bridge over the river will cut short the distance to Punakha town and hospital by 2km.

He also promised a pitched road along Phochu that leads to Samdingkha from the Khuru Bridge. “The road has remained the same since I was young,” said Dr Sonam Wangyel Wang.

He also pledged to upgrade three schools in Lingmukha-Toewang constituency that has five gewogs, and training to school dropouts with the help of external fund that he will manage on his own.

Some of the people, who attended the forum, were sceptical of the promises made. “Forget about helicopters and bridge we don’t have proper drinking water,” Kinley, a villager, said.

By Tenzin Namgyel, Punakha

Bhutan has one newspaper less, with the Bhutan infocomm and media authority (BICMA) revoking the license of Bhutan Youth, a weekly paper on youth in March this year for not meeting the licensing terms and conditions.

The newspaper was already under suspension for a month and, after it didn’t get any response from the paper, the authority on March 19 cancelled the paper’s license.  Bhutan Youth hit the newsstands in 201 1.

That is not the only action BICMA has taken. Lately, the authority has been implementing some of the clauses of the licensing terms and conditions that all media houses have signed and agreed.

The authority on May 16 lifted the month long suspension on Bhutan Times, a weekly paper.  BICMA suspended Bhutan Times on April 10 for violating the licensing terms and conditions, and for providing false information to the authority about the paper’s operation.

“The authority has approved the lifting of the suspension of the newspaper publication license of the Company with immediate effect,” BICMA stated in its letter to the paper on May 16.

It states that the approval is accorded on the strength of agreements submitted by the company that it will publish a formal apology in its first publication; maintain the required number of editorial team at all times as per the licensing terms and conditions; to relocate the office of the Company and to appoint a chief executive officer on or before May 31, 2013.

The newspaper has to publish a formal apology stating, “Bhutan Times apologises to BICMA for its act of violating the licensing terms and conditions and submission of false information on the operation of the newspaper during the period 2012-2013. Recognising that this act cannot be quantified in monetary or other terms, the company assures the authority that such acts will never be repeated in future.”

“Non-adherence to the submissions and undertaking made to this effect by the company shall oblige the authority to revoke the newspaper publication license of the company as per Bhutan Information, Communications and Media Act, 2006, the rules and licensing terms and conditions.

Bhutan Times’s chairperson Phub Zam said it’s difficult to sustain and meet the editorial requirement of having at least 10 people in the newsroom especially with less revenue being generated through advertisements.

“We have to maintain that requirement and we are doing that, but we don’t know for how long we can maintain,” she said.  The paper today has about nine reporters.

Further, in its effort to “streamline” the licensing terms and conditions, BICMA has also given seven newspapers until May 31 to meet their editorial requirement of having at least 10 media persons in their newsroom.

BICMA on May 10 wrote to Bhutan Today, Bhutan Observer, The Journalist, Druk Nyetshul, Druk Yoedzer, Gyelyong Sharshog and Druk Melong that they should meet this editorial requirement.

As per the licensing terms and conditions, all papers, both English and Dzongkha publications, should have a minimum of 10 people in their editorial team. The authority is however yet to decide on the action it would take if the papers fail to meet this requirement.

But, while they can meet this requirement, the management of some private papers said that their main worry is the paper’s sustainability. “We are trying to meet this requirement and comply with BICMA’s letter but given our financial situation we hope the authority would consider newsrooms to have less than 10 people,” the editor of bi-weekly newspaper, Bhutan Today MB Subba said.

Including interns, the paper today has more than 10 people in their newsroom, he said.

Sonam Pelden

Druk Chirwang Tshogpa

What is your party ideology?

Our philosophy and political ideology is based on the wisdom, principles and values of social democracy – liberty, equality, and solidarity.

We believe in strengthening democracy by upholding the Constitution, protecting civil rights, and ensuring a just, united, prosperous and harmonious society.

Our approach to development is people-centric with citizens’ interest as the central theme. We believe in inclusive and sustainable socio-economic development. Our nation will move forward only when our citizens are empowered and truly prosper when all are equal, when there is social justice, no disparity between the rich and the poor and when government is accountable.

Democracy can flourish only when civil rights are protected, when people have bigger role in decision-making process, and when our youth, women and common people are a part and parcel of our development story.

What to you is corruption? 

Abuse of power, misuse of authority and exploitation of public resources for personal gain.

From a legal perspective, corrupt action is a crime since it violates the law like any other criminal act, be it theft, rape, murder etc.  Morally corruption is an act of committing what is unethical, wrong, and harmful to the larger good of the society.

How would you resolve the Rupee shortage?

We will need to sync fiscal and monetary policies, and improve communication channels between government and central bank. As a short-term measure, we will have to continue to seek GOI line of credit and Rupee currency SWAP arrangement given our inability to earn Rupee in the immediate term.

We will promote Bhutan as a tourist destination to high-end Indian tourists and increase Drukair flights to destinations in India.

Also need to initiate bilateral negotiations with the government of India to revise tariff rates for electricity, particularly exported from the Chukha hydropower plant and explore the possibilities of resuming the Bhutan Lottery business in India.

We will review tax on imported goods, according to different categories, and review customs and excise duty imposed across all imported goods and commodities.

We will pursue the policy of self-sufficiency in meeting our own basic needs through local production.

For the longer term we will expand our manufacturing and export base, and explore alternate trade partners and markets in the region.

What is your stand on people without census? 

This needs to be resolved for good. While the historical incident that gave rise to this issue is uncomfortable, it’s time for us to reconcile and move forward. We cannot turn a blind eye to this issue since it affects the lives of many people.

If this issue goes unresolved, it will only breed discontent and disillusionment among the people, which can eventually pose challenges to the country’s unity and stability. As a GNH nation, it befalls on the government and political establishment to ensure there is no discrimination of any sort and that every one enjoys dignity and respect in the country.

What is the biggest obstacle to democracy in the country?

We are just a five-year-old democracy and we are still learning the many nuances of this new political system.

All the important institutions of democracy are directing their efforts in creating a vibrant, democratic culture.

Politics is a vital aspect of the democratic process, yet in a small country like ours, it has the danger of creating divisions. We must always ensure that politics do not divide our people into smaller fragments of this and that ‘political stripe’ and create rifts in our traditionally, tight-knit society.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa

What is your party ideology?

Collective teamwork in steering the nation forward. We strongly believe in serving the people by listening to their voices, using evidence based decision-making process and by keeping the interest of the nation and people first, at all times.

Every Bhutanese should be provided with equal opportunities and no one should be left behind. The gap between the rich and poor must be narrowed and an enabling environment must be provided to ensure the freedom as enshrined in the constitution. The party stands for zero tolerance in corruption and promotes meritocracy and transparency in all undertakings and will stand accountable for its actions.

What to you is corruption? 

People elect politicians and political parties to act in the public interest and give access to public resources and the power to take decisions. But if elected leaders abuse this for personal it is political corruption.

Corruption also means abuse of public resources to enrich favoured individuals, families or friends. Among them, power to protect or shield wrongdoers from prosecution is also corruption.

How would you resolve the Rupee shortage? 

It will require addressing structural weaknesses in our economic fundamentals, which is now compounded by huge external debt.

Short and long-term economic measures have to be introduced to raise domestic supply capacity and productivity as well as to curtail local demand for non-essential goods and services.

We need to work towards boosting productivity in local industry such as agriculture (employs 60%), manufacturing etc., to meet public demand and reduce our over-dependence on imported goods and services; and more importantly, to increase opportunities for employment.

Policies and incentives for private sector need to be re-evaluated and modified to target sectors with potential for foreign exchange earning and foreign inflows from FDI needs to be encouraged.

Fronting must be addressed to tackle potential leakage of Rupee. Further fiscal consolidation is necessary. As the largest employer and consumer in the economy, the government sets the tone for consumption and investment and as such, unnecessary expenditures needs to be avoided. Bans on imports needs to be replaced by more appropriate fiscal tax measures on non-essential goods to regulate these imports.

What is your stand on people without census? 

Nyamrup will be guided by the constitution and the subsequent laws, rules and regulations. In accordance with the principle of solidarity, equity and justice, Nyamrup will ensure the fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution and no one will be left behind as a result of injustice.

What is the biggest obstacle to democracy in the country?

An absolute majority with no opposition and resistance of the elected government to devolve decision-making process to the people can be an obstacle.

Another big obstacle is the smallness of the society whereby every family or an individual is either known or related to one or other making it difficult for people to come forward as candidates. This is compounded by imposition of rules such as civil servants to be apolitical, while definition of apolitical is not very clear.

Laws should enable citizenry to participate as candidates and the elected government should enable people’s participation beyond the ballot box. There is an urgency to review laws and regulation that currently impedes people’s participation in the electoral process.

Democracy can only be as good as people choose to make it and fundamental to a healthy democracy is the existence of free and fair with a strong judiciary.

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa

What is your party ideology?

It draws inspiration from the philosophy of Gross National Happiness for a flourishing democracy in Bhutan, where every citizen enjoys the motivation and the ability to pursue happiness within an enabling environment of peace, security and justice. DPT believes in a harmonious nation and a happy society through the pursuit of self-reliance with equity and justice.

What to you is corruption? 

People view corruption and associate it with systems and institutions but the actual reality is that it is a failure in the core values of individuals who work or derive services from these systems and institutions.

Corruption is not only the act itself, but also the culture of letting it happen. Every individual is responsible to act upon those who are involved.

Although systems may be in place to curb corruption, if individuals fail to act on it, this conscious negligence is also a form of corruption.

How would you resolve the Rupee shortage? 

Issue has given us the opportunity to reflect upon our strengths and weaknesses. The government reviewed the potential strength and made interventions to enhance domestic production of vegetables, dairy and poultry products.  The country has attained self-sufficiency in poultry products, local vegetables and dairy products.

These activities are providing additional income to the rural population while curtailing imports from India thereby reducing Rupee spending.

The Rupee problem will be solved when we are able to match our exports to that of our imports from India.

We have to expand our export base and increase our import-substituting industries.  Addressing the issues would require reorientation of the economy by way of expansion and diversification, which would entail a longer time frame.  DPT’s study indicates that Bhutan could have a positive Rupee balance by the FY 2015-16 or the latter half of the coming Plan.

What is your stand on people without census? 

Bhutanese citizenship is the birthright of every Bhutanese and it is our duty to ensure that no Bhutanese is denied this birthright.

If there are people in the country without census, one of the reasons could be that they are not Bhutanese in origin.

However, there may have been cases where census has been denied because of certain ambiguities and shortfalls that may have cropped up in the process of registering their census.

For instance, there are many children whose census has not been registered owing to ignorance on the part of parents or sometimes simply carelessness. There have also been cases where non-Bhutanese have been erroneously recorded as Bhutanese. Because of this anomaly, while it is important to streamline our census records, it is equally important to undertake the process with the greatest care and caution.

What is the biggest obstacle to democracy in the country?

The poor understanding of what constitutes democracy. Particularly at this formative stage, individual’s rights, liberties and freedom have been poorly understood and most often misinterpreted. The only way to remove this obstacle is to ensure that each individual is educated in his/her responsibility to the collective good. Each individual has to understand that the freedom and the right of the individual come with responsibility, which most people tend to disregard.

It takes time for democratic culture to take roots; it is something that cannot be developed overnight or within five years. All of us have the responsibility of consciously cultivating this culture within ourselves and in our communities.

People’s Democratic Party 

What is your party ideology?

Wangtse Chhirpel, which is about “empowering people for liberty, equality and prosperity by devolving power and authority from the centre to the people.” For democracy to work, we believe people should be at the centre of the development process. To empower people, we have to empower institutions at the grassroots – gewogs, thromdes, dzongkhags and the centre and in that very order. For example, to empower gewogs, we will give an annual grant of Nu 2 million to each gewog over and above the budget. The gewog will have full discretion to use the grant.

What to you is corruption? 

We are a young democracy. We are still in the process of transition. It is important to have strict anti-corruption legislation in place. It is important to strengthen the Anti-Corruption Commission. In the past five years, we have seen the ACC complain of not getting the institutional support to fight corruption. Government ministries have at times defied the ACC when it called for civil servants alleged in corruption cases to be terminated. Moreover, it is unfortunate to have seen top elected leadership involved in corrupt practices.

How would you resolve the Rupee shortage? 

We are on the brink of an economic crisis. The outgoing government has tried its best to convince the country that the situation is not dire. But it is.

The Rupee crisis cannot be solved overnight. In the short term, we will work closely with the central bank to ensure that there is enough flow of the Rupee in the economy so that imports of essential goods are not impacted.

For the long run, we will promote import substitution and come up with fiscal measures to ensure that we are not over dependent on India for sustenance.

We will also initiate a detailed study of the Rupee issue and come up with long-term solutions. We will also explore major businesses that bring in the Indian Rupee. We will restart the Bhutan lottery business, which is alone expected to solve the Rupee shortage. We will support existing businesses and promote new ones that have the potential to bring the Rupee.

What is your stand on people without census? 

PDP believes that every Bhutanese deserves to be happy and prosperous. Every Bhutanese should have equal rights and should get equal opportunities. We are very concerned about some of our people having problems with their census. We are worried for them. They are also our brothers and sisters and we will make sure they don’t suffer.  This will be one of the first problems we will try to address if we form the government.

What is the biggest obstacle to democracy in the country?

Not only for a democracy, but for all countries to grow, we need to respect the rule of law. This aspect has been largely undermined in the past five years. When the rule of law is undermined, the essence of progressive growth is lost and the system loses the respect and confidence of the people. It gives birth to a lot of negative energy. When the rule of law is undermined, the functioning of democratic institutions will be undermined. Their independence would be undermined and progressive growth would naturally be arrested. Another obstacle to progressive growth is corruption. It is more so if there is corruption at the highest office of governance. Corruption has to be rooted out for our democracy to succeed. There should be absolute zero tolerance to corruption not just in words but it should be practiced and the elected leaders have to lead by example.

For, before her arrival, the voters, who were waiting for more than an hour, were worried that they may not be able to understand if she spoke in Dzongkha.

A woman voter from Chali gewog said that many people in the east do not understand Dzongkha well, which is why most don’t turn up to listen to the speakers.

Another woman voter said they felt connected when the president spoke to them in their dialect. “We felt comfortable in expressing our concerns with her,” she said.

One of the men voters said people in the east go hungry because of human wildlife conflict, and that they don’t get time to eat and sleep.  To him, DCT seemed quite promising in addressing this problem.

DCT president Lily Wangchuk said their party is formed by common people and knows the grassroot problems better. “I saw many social problems at present and, to solve those problems, we came forward to give people a choice,” she said.

She said DCT do not have former ministers or Dashos because, if they had such profiles, it would be very difficult for the common people to approach them easily. “We’ll be there every time to solve your problems, unlike others.”

The president said that, within six months, their party has become equally strong. “We have put hard work to come forward as a tshogpa because of your support,” she said.

Lily Wangchuk said there are lots of laws that need to be re-looked, because today only the poor gets punished.  She also said that Mongar has lots of scope to become a commercial hub and, if given a chance, DCT would make Mongar a real commercial hub for eastern Bhutan.

She also said 80 percent of the people depend on agriculture and that there is a need to bring balanced development and solve human wildlife conflict.  She said youth unemployment is a problem for the poor and most of the youth, who struggle today, are the economically backwards’ sons and daughters.  If elected, DCT would address these issues.

By Dechen Tshering, Mongar

More than 130 voters of Dunglagang gewog gathered at the gewog centre on May 16 to listen to the representatives of four political parties of Pataley-Tsirangtoe constituency.

Druk Chirwang tshogpa’s representative, Sangay Tamang, 27, and former NC contestant, told voters that the party was formed by a group of common people, and will focus on unity and rural problems.

If elected, his party would strengthen democracy, address youth problem, self-reliance, empower women, create scholarships for youth and improve existing farm roads.  Preservation of culture, enhance tourism sector and solve the rupee crunch were some of the party’s promises. “We’re there to serve you with body, speech and mind, if elected,” he said.

Druk Nyamrup tshogpa’s representative, Chhatraman Chhetri, 46, told the voters that it was important to vote for the party formed by ordinary people, rather than keeping it in the hands of the rich and powerful. “Ours is a party formed by ‘nyamchung’ (poor) like you people, and our hands will reach out to you,” he said.

Creating job opportunities abroad, especially nursing at US, to solve youth unemployment-related problems, providing every household 100 units free power supply to stop buying LPG gas from India, address rupee issue and make every household compulsory produce bio-gas at home for domestic consumption were some of DNT’s promises.

Besides, he said, the party would make one storage house for vegetables, and increase the entitlements of the local government leaders.

Druk Phuensum tshogpa’s representative, Udya Chandra Bhandari, 46, told the voters that they should be mindful of party president’s educational and experiential background, and their capabilities in order to choose the party to form the government.

Referring to his party president, he said, “The first democratically elected prime minister has 40 years of experience in civil service, besides a good set of experienced ministers, and it’s important for the people to consider the most capable ones, who can really run the government.”

He said, in five years, DPT has a record of serving the people. “You can see roads, electricity, water supply and mobile network everywhere, which are all due to DPT’s efforts,” he said. “The security clearance that used to take time is now available at one click, and the elected government has worked out the census cases and submitted to His Majesty the King.”

If elected, the DPT, he said, would blacktop all the roads until gewog centres, reduce poverty to five percent and unemployment rate to zero, while a railway would be connected between Phuentsholing and Samdrupjongkhar.

People’s Democratic party’s representative, Novin Darlami, 27, also a former NC contestant, said ensuring ‘wangtshey chirpel’ (decentralisation) was his party’s ideology.  He said there are three types of decentralization, in the form of administrative, economic and social, and that it should reach everyone.

If elected, PDP, he said, would provide Nu 2,000,000 to each gewog, black top all gewog centre roads and provide power tillers at subsidised rate.  One stop shop at all gewog centers and two helicopters would be made available for emergency services. “We promise to enact the entitlement bill for local government leaders, and address youth unemployment issues,” he said.

By Tshering Namgyal, Tsirang