Why Can DPT Be Beaten? Constitutional Case
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November 27 The 2011 Journalist 1 Sunday The JournalistVol 2 Issue 48 27 Nov 2011 www.thejournalist.bt Nu 10 Can they be beaten? With more than 75 percent of the total votes in the 2008 elections, the Druk Phunsum Tshogpa (DPT) has now been in power for almost three and a half years. Does this mean the DPT is infallible? And does the party have as many supporters as before? Will the current Prime Minister lead the party for the next term? Or, has the party lost its ground and is now open for other players to stake their claim? Although all will be revealed in due course of time, Tshering Dorji of The Journalist tried to find out the answers to these questions. Why can’t DPT be beaten? The PM factor again The DPT’s biggest strength and asset has always been the Prime Minister. He was even seen as being invincible in the immedi- ate aftermath of the 2008 gen- eral elections. He may not be on the same pedestal today, but he is still head and shoulders above the rest. A perception survey conducted by The Journalist last week showed that he led in six out of 10 leadership indicators,- although his perceived fall in attributes such as integrity/char- acter, teamwork and as a doer (man of action) is some cause for concern. An unsuccessful PDP candidate from 2008 said that with the PM at the helm, the news is bad for everybody except the DPT. But the question is: will he or will he not come back in 2013? >> Cont. PG 32 Why can DPT be beaten? Constitutional case The constitutional case was not only a defining moment for Bhutan’s democracy but also ex- posed the chinks in the govern- ment’s armor. It showed that the DPT led by an intelligent and seasoned man like Lyonchhen can also make grave mistakes and it shook the unquestionable trust the government enjoyed from the people until then. Al- though the case also benefitted the government through its rul- ing on the separation of powers of the two houses of parliament, the government mulling over whether to resign – despite hav- ing a strong basis to do so - did not go down very well with the people. >> Cont. PG 32 illustration: Dotub November 27 November 27 2011 The The 2011 Sunday 2 COMMENT Journalist Journalist POLITICS 3 Sunday EDITORIAL Defection, Law and Impact give vent to these tendencies here may not affect the DPT’s stability, Let’s Hear It For Women in Bhutan,” said a Thimphu- but it may create unnecessary based consultant of a private tussle amongst the voters and firm, seeking anonymity. supporters. It could be a positive But are political party members stimulation to parties and offer allowed to defect? What are the wider choice to the electorates” if For the last 10,000 years, give or take, what women know Yes, they can be exasperating. Some women never positions of the country’s law and members defect after completing and don’t know has always been a complete mystery to more know what they want, until they see someone else with the respective party charters on their tenure. men than you might think. it. defection? These are the ques- Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said In Japan, the household is the woman’s domain; she serves Yes, they know how to complain. It has been noticed tions frequently being asked. that defection is “illegal” if it On the law front, Dasho Kun- happens while they are still in of- but controls. This is also true of many Latin cultures where that women suffer in silence louder than any living zang Wangdi, the Chief Election fice. “Even if it is only being con- women also tend to be admired for their looks but rarely thing anyone has ever met. Commissioner of Bhutan said templated it could also adversely consulted. And when it comes to the sensitive issue of age, many that Section 10, Article 15 of the affect stability of government For some males, the ideal woman is someone with mystery. women never lie about their own; they simply tell people Constitution prohibits MPs of and be reflected in weak commit- They don’t really want to understand them, even if they could. they are a year younger than their husband, then lie National Assembly belonging to ment to attaining Party/National To some soldiers a woman is an entirely imaginary being. about his. one party from defecting to the Objectives and geared more In various parts of Asia, and for millions of women who But have you noticed there are no women philosophers other, while in office, “individu- towards future personal electoral know the ways of men, their jewellery is their pension, insur- to speak of? Like hobbies, philosophy is a sad, lonely, ally or en bloc”. gains,” he said. ance and convertible wealth. male thing. Smart women are just too smart to be phi- But defection is generally seen Furthermore, there are appre- to be permissible in Bhutan for hensions among some members In Alan Bennett’s renowned play The History Boys, one losophers. Is it only women who understand that being members outside the parliament of the public that even if defec- female teacher says: “History is a commentary on the various involved and impartial are not necessarily mutually including the present MPs once tion happens outside the parlia- and continuing incapabilities of men. What is history? History exclusive. they have completed their tenure. ment, it might lead to a one-par- is women following behind... with a bucket.’’ There has already been a long, global and noble his- Dasho Kunzang Wangdi said, ty system, which is not healthy Good point. And whether men like it not, women are the tory of women with political and courageous voltage. “If a person is not serving in of- for the country’s democracy. true keepers of the flame, and where on earth would men be Many female warriors and leaders have been magnifi- fice they are free to resign from According to a private con- without them? In many cases, women are smarter, inwardly cent in appearance, majestic in movement and menac- one party and form a new party sultant, defection will normally stronger and far more intuitive than their male counterparts. ing in disposition. or join another party as they happen from weaker parties to History has certainly shown that behind every great man While these powerful women knew that words of flat- may wish.” a stronger party with better po- On a similar note, Gasa Na- litical prospects “like DPT in the there is a smart woman. tery are the infantry of negotiation, men underestimated tional Council member Sangay present case. If that happens, we And think of the millions of women who have lost husbands them at their peril. Ugyen Dorji – Thimphu President of PDP). Although one Khandu said that “There are no will have only one strong party and sons to wars but have somehow managed to go on, bring Think Cleopatra, Boadicea, Golda Meir, Indira Gandhi of the PDP’s ex-candidates (Dr permanent restrictions. Politi- and no contenders in our democ- OLLOWING MEDIA reports up the children, and sacrificed any life they may have built and the UK’s formidable Margaret Thatcher who was Tandin Dorji) has announced cians and political candidates racy,” he said. on the formation of new for the sake of others, out of the need to nurture. once described as having the ‘’lips of Marilyn Munroe the formation of a new party, he can change their memberships Yet, the Opposition Leader political parties, speculations Over 40,000 pregnant women were left homeless and single and the eyes of Caligula.” England’s Queen Elizabeth 1 F said that it cannot be considered as long as provisions in the laws Tshering Tobgay said that party are rife that Bhutan will soon a defection as “he had already and rules are complied with,” he members “cannot and must not” after the devastating tsunami in 2003. The vast majority gave an impression of a refinement that was too delicate witness defections on its political resigned from the PDP”. added. be forbidden “from resigning didn’t even have access to a doctor, let alone a shopping cen- for this earth but still beat the crap out of the Spanish. landscape, begging the question Similarly, Chang Ugyen, the For the moment, party charters from their existing parties and tre. But they were alive and raised their families alone. They All these women knew exactly what they were doing, as to whether it is allowed under Vice-President of DPT said, “None of the PDP and the DPT also do from joining other parties. should be praised for their courage, their intelligence and were acutely aware of how high the stakes were, and the law and how will it impact of our party members have not seem to put any restrictions “We must protect the right of our fledgling democracy. generosity - three of the greatest virtues a person can have. they all made a profound difference. Their absence is a defected to any other party so to party members on this matter. our citizens to support whichever Defection is a term used to refer And yet men continue to take women for granted. They are presence. far and I think they will not do political party they feel will be to a political situation when a ungrateful and unfaithful. Men always want to be a woman’s The comedian Robin Williams once said that women so in 2013.” While the issue of “The DPT Party Charter does the best for the nation and the person leaves a political party to first love.