Well, here we are folks. The final throes of 2007. In fact, for some of you, it's already 2008. So, consider this the final good news of the year - the last hurrah, as it were...
In stark contrast to the stories dominating headlines around the world - those relating to election violence in Pakistan and Kenya - today saw the culmination of elections in Bhutan. The first elections for a century, in fact! The article I'm posting here is not the only coverage of the elections by any means, nor even the most comprehensive, but it captures beautifully the state of electoral decorum (there can be no better word) in this tiny, fledgling democracy. The article, from Bhutan's online newspaper 'Kuensel', describes the level of commitment from voters in Pemagatshel dzongkhag (district) - many of whom will have to travel for an hour to get to their polling station (though this is nothing compared to the four days that I've read about elsewhere!) - and the mutual support demonstrated by the two candidates for that district, who have said they will work together whoever wins. 
The elections seem to have passed off largely without incident and the new National Council is now close to being formed. More significantly, the monarchy has shifted with seemingly minimal fuss from an absolute role to a 'constitutional' one. It's a new and promising chapter for Bhutan - and it will be very interesting to see how it pans out.
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Kuensel is worth a browse, as are two other websites about Bhutan if you are keen to find out more about this mountain kingdom: www.bhutannica.org and www.bhootan.org.
For some analysis of how Bhutan's newly democratic society may evolve, see the new opinion piece 'Gross National Happiness: putting the concept into practice' on Kuensel's website.
(Picture courtesy BBC online.)
Monday, December 31, 2007
Day Eighty-One: democracy comes gracefully to Bhutan
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2 comments:
Great story, and great choice of story! Of the 190-something countries in the world, it's amazing how few dominate the pitifully little foreign affairs coverage there is in most western media. Great to see some reportage from Bhutan, which hardly ever registers.
Also, good to see coverage of a trend as much as an event. So much news is event based (with events often picked on the basis of their shock value rather than significance), the larger trends too often go unreported and unnoticed. So, great news, eazibee!
Well, thank you, Diana. And great commenting, as usual! E
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