The people of Samdrup Jonkhar at the consultation meeting

His Royal Highness explained every Article of the Constitution in detail, after it was read out in Tshangla, and the clarifications and advice were also translated into Tshangla.

His Royal Highness said that the Constitution was being drafted in the long-term interest of the people. His Majesty the King had told people on many occasions that the Constitution was not being adopted to safeguard the Monarchy but to ensure that future Kings would always work to serve the people and country. Therefore, there was no need to remove the section on the abdication of the Druk Gyalpo. His Royal Highness said, however, that he felt a deep sense of loss and sadness that His Majesty would resign at the age of 52 years in 2008.

When many people expressed their apprehensions about ineffective political parties, corruption, and other problems that could arise from the changes, His Royal Highness told the people that the Constitution was not a prescriptive document, nor one that showed the people what to do on a daily basis, but a sacred document that placed the power of governance and the future of the nation in the hands of the people.

Thereafter, it would be up to the people to determine what was of importance to them and to work to fulfill these aspirations.

Electing good politicians, carrying out their own responsibilities, and refraining from corrupt activities were all individual responsibilities that would have a direct impact on the path that the nation would take in future and on the success of the Constitution and the democratic system.

The Crown Prince said that he felt fortunate to experience these momentous changes and to be a part of history but that he also felt the burden of the responsibilities that came with the changes. “You should remember that this burden also falls on you so you should prepare to shoulder the responsibility of ensuring the successful implementation of the Constitution,” said the Crown Prince.

His Royal Highness said that His Majesty and the Crown Prince himself were traveling the country to encourage the people to play an active and educated role in this important period of Bhutanese history. The people must express their own aspirations and their hopes for the country.

On the issues of youth, education and employment, the Crown Prince described Bhutan as having the people as the greatest asset despite a shortage of resources. Therefore every effort must be made to provide the best education, skills and motivation to the youth. In the past the government had always accorded highest priority to education and now, with 45% of the population below 15 years, it would become even more important that this emphasis continued under the new democratic system.

“The young people in school today, like those of you attending the meeting, are the pillars on which the nation's future stands,” said His Royal Highness. “They are the leaders of tomorrow. A nation can import resources such as fuel, labour and machinery for the socio economic growth of the country but not the most vital resource - leaders. This resource will have to come from our schools, from among our own children.”

The people's representatives quoted examples of failed democratic systems around the world and raised questions on the course to be taken if politics failed, or if corruption became rampant, or if events went the wrong way.

His Royal Highness replied that there were many successful democracies as well. The ingredients for success were good leadership, an enabling environment, and a population that shouldered its responsibilities under the new system. Bhutan had the first two and the time was right for the introduction of a new political system.

All that remained for success was that the people played their part and, in doing so, put aside petty differences and concerns and kept the greater good of the people foremost in their minds.

His Royal Highness reminded the people that, today, Bhutan also enjoyed the respect and friendship of its closest neighbour, India, and the international community as it undertook an unprecedented and historic democratisation exercise.

His Royal Highness informed the meeting that the drafting committee had studied Constitutions from around the world and had adopted those aspects that were relevant and useful for Bhutan. Where needed, they had drafted clauses that were unique to Bhutanese needs and priorities such as those on culture, spiritual heritage, campaign funding, and appointment of constitutional office holders, corruption, and others.

After the long meeting, His Royal Highness hosted lunch for the public representatives and shared his views informally with people from all walks of life.

Talking to Kuensel the people expressed their concerns and their hopes for the future. “If politics goes wrong, people will ultimately suffer,” said Nangla from Shinkhar Lauri. “There could be regionalism and corruption.” Gomchen Phuntsho, 40, who had walked two days from remote Shingkhar Lauri said that, while many of his doubts on Bhutan's future were clarified by the Crown Prince, he felt that multi-party democracy might divide the country even into small gewogs. “We have lived as one family under His Majesty,” he said. “Now we look to the Crown Prince to guide the country as his father did for more than three decades.”

“When I went through the Constitution the first thought that struck me was that 'democracy is here',” said Deki Yangzom, 24, a resident of Samdrup Jongkhar town. “Then I realised how important honesty, sincerity and integrity will be to have a good democracy in place.”

Dorji Phuntsho, a Class X student of Nganglam Middle Secondary School, said that he was very grateful to His Majesty for giving people an infallible Constitution. “I think party system will be interesting,” he said. “It will open up opportunities for talented people to lead the country into future. At the same time, if we have wrong persons elected it will mean that we have ourselves to blame for the failure to select a good government.”

Leelanath Ghimiray, 57, from Pemathang, welcomed the Constitution. “Our Constitution seems perfect, like a gem that shall take Bhutan to its true destiny,” he said. “However, corruption is a major concern for the post-2008 government.” He added that the media was not playing its part in exposing corruption both in government and the private sector while it was still at a manageable stage.

The majority of people said that Bhutanese in general were not yet ready for a multi-party democracy and there was a need to educate all the people, especially in the rural areas. They said that the Constitution and the changes it would bring were too complex for them to fully understand. This was summed up by Dorji Phuntsho of Samdrup Jongkhar town: “Democracy doesn't necessarily guarantee the best government. All it does is give options but most choices can turn out to be the wrong ones. So the need is to educate people to identify and elect the best leaders.”