ULFA, other groups were threat to sovereignty: Bhutan PM
Bhutan’s Prime Minister Jigme Thinleyin conversation with Sanjoy Hazarika at his office in Thimpu, capitalof Bhutan, on May 19, 2010.
Thimpu, Bhutan – Bhutan’s first democratically elected Prime Minister, Jigme Yoser Thinley, says that while the fairy-tale Himalayan Kingdom’s tryst with democracy will take time to mature, it would not have been possible to launch the democratic process if North-eastern militant groups had not been thrown out in the 2003 military operation.
In a detailed interview at his spacious, wood-paneled office overlooking the century-old Tashizhong, the vast white and brick colored monastery-cum-administrative complex that is the seat of Bhutan’s government, Mr. Thinley, dressed in the formal robes of office known as the go, talked at length about the challenges to the kingdom-democracy and how the action against the militants was necessary but “painful”, reflecting the dilemmas of security in a nation that is Buddhist and prided itself on its tolerance and non-violence (its army was largely ceremonial until 2003).
Excerpts from the interview:
On “Operation All clear”, the action against the United Liberation Front of Asom, The National Democratic Front of Bodoland and the Kamatapur Liberation Organization
What comes to mind was that it was a regrettable event in our history, in relations between the people of Assam and the Bhutanese people which are centuries old. We did not celebrate it as a triumph, it was a very painful episode in our history, and we grieved over it quietly as we even do today. If you follow government statements and developments in Bhutan, you will find that this episode is not mentioned and we find it painful to talk about it. But looking at it objectively, the truth is that it was necessary. It was a matter of survival for Bhutan. I told the Ulfa leaders, the Bodos, that “You cannot hope to win and unless you leave Bhutan, then will be the last time that we meet; we will fight for our country and a Bhutanese soldier has the entire nation behind him, they are better fighters, what will your cadres fight for? Your cause is not clear since you will be fighting a country that has been like a host to you!” They were very arrogant, they said, “We are a force that even the Indian Army cannot dislodge.” They did not believe me.
About reports that individuals and small groups of militants slip into Bhutan from Assam
This is not true, although the government on the other side (Assam) may find it convenient to say so. On our side we have peoples’ groups, village groups, which maintain vigil through the year along the border and coordinate with the police and the army. Those who are coming are illegal loggers and poachers who are mistaken by the law and order authorities there as such people (militants). We are losing timber and wildlife, especially our elephant populations there which have been decimated. But I understand that conservation efforts are being renewed and forest rangers on the Indian side are more active.
On Democracy in Bhutan, having had free and fair elections for the first time in 2008 after a century of monarchy under the Wangchuks; the royal family handed over power at the initiative of the fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuk (The Premier’s royalist and largely conservative Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party won 45 of the 47 seats to the National Assembly)
Democracy in Bhutan will take time before it matures, judging by the experiences of most countries which became democratic decades earlier. As an emergeing democracy, we recognize the vulnerabilities which we face, the threats we are exposed to and are reminded of it every day, in the neighbourhood and region. What is happening in Nepal would have destroyed this country if it had happened here. Our commitment is to build a democratic culture and polity, the people now have great power and that power has to be used with responsibility, beyond self-interest and without fear.
On the emergence of a new free media, after decades of state control (Bhutan now has six newspapers, five of them private) and six radio stations (five are private including FM channels) plus the state-run television company, Bhutan Broadcasting Service.
We recognize the media as the fourth branch of governance and media is a powerful factor, it has to be independent of the executive. Fro a political point of view, I may be unhappy about the media coverage, they report wrongly, they under-report or don’t report but as a person committed to democracy, I’m happy about it. But the media remains weak and struggling. Even wrong reporting has to be accepted from an entity that is struggling to establish its independence.