Bhutan king to step down after three years

[Guest guest]

Bhutan's future king wins hearts of citizens

 

Indo-Asian News Service

 

Guwahati/Thimphu, December 22, 2005|14:29 IST

>From participating in pillow fights to giving sermons, the crown

prince of Bhutan who is to be enthroned king of the Himalayan

kingdom in 2008 is coming closer to citizens.

 

King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, 50, announced last week that his eldest

son, the crown prince, would take over from him before the kingdom

holds its first national elections in 2008.

 

Crown Prince Dasho Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk, 25, is now the centre of

attraction across the largely Buddhist nation of 600,000.

 

King Jigme Wangchuk has been ruling the Land of the Thunder Dragon,

as Bhutan is known, since ascending the throne in 1972 at the age of

17.

 

"We are very happy that our future king cares for us," an unnamed

school student was quoted as saying by Bhutan's national newspaper

Kuensel.

 

The crown prince Wednesday endeared thousands of locals in Paro, a

town in western Bhutan, by taking part in traditional games, ranging

from pillow fights to carrying a man on his back in a race

competition.

 

"They warmed up as His Royal Highness (the crown prince) took part

in the events, even carrying a person on his back in a race," the

newspaper said.

 

The crown prince also addressed a 4,000-strong crowd of soldiers,

monks, farmers, and government officials at Paro as part of the

ongoing National Day celebrations.

 

"It was only through hard work that the Bhutanese people could

create a better tomorrow for their children. Without hard work His

Majesty's great gift of such a strong foundation for Bhutan's future

will be wasted," the crown prince said.

 

Although the people were initially shocked by the king's dramatic

decision, they are now beginning to reconcile to the fact that the

Oxford-educated crown prince would be their future monarch.

 

 

"Shower all good wishes to the young prince, the beacon of hope.

 

May the godly traits of His Majesty manifest in you and may you live

in the hearts of the people like your father," said a message

titled "Letter to my Beloved King" posted in the Kuensel website by

Bathong (single name).

 

The eldest of the king's five sons and five daughters, the crown

prince received his official recognition as prince on October 21,

2004.

 

The crown prince would be enthroned before Bhutan adopts a

constitution and elects a prime minister in 2008 under its first

parliamentary democracy. The king will give up absolute power to

become a constitutional monarch.

 

The transition began four years ago when the king handed over the

powers of daily government to a council of ministers and empowered

the national assembly to force a royal abdication if the motion was

backed by three-quarters of its membership.

 

Bhutan earlier this year unveiled a 34-point constitution, which is

now being sent to some 530,000 citizens for their views and is

expected to be ratified after a referendum. Once adopted, it will

replace a royal decree of 1953 giving the monarch absolute power.

 

King Wangchuk is the fourth ruler in the Wangchuk dynasty that came

to power in December 1907.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/7598_1579730,000500020006.htm

 

 

Bhutan king to step down after three years

 

Bhutanese monarch Jigme Singye Wangchuck

http://www.nepalnews.com.np/archive/2005/dec/pic/bhutan-king.jpg

 

In what is seen as a surprising development, Bhutanese monarch has

announced that he will hand over power to his son and conduct first

parliamentary elections in 2008.

 

In March this year, the Buddhist kingdom published a draft

constitution that aimed to set up a two-party democracy after nearly

a century of absolute monarchy put in place with British support in

1907.

 

"I would like our people to know that the first national election to

elect a government under a system of parliamentary democracy will

take place in 2008," online edition of Kuensel, the state-run

Bhutanese newspaper quoted King Jigme Singye Wangchuck as telling a

public rally in the town of Trashiyangtse.

 

The Bhutanese king said his son, Crown Prince Jigme Khesar Namgyel

Wangchuck, would take over from him in 2008.

 

"It is my wish and prayer that during the reign of Jigme Khesar

Namgyel Wangchuck, the Palden Drukpa (Bhutan) will remain strong and

glorious ... and the hopes and aspirations of our people will be

fulfilled," Wangchuck said. (See: Full Text)

 

Wangchuck became king in 1972 at the age of 16 after his father's

death.

 

In 2001, he initiated the drafting of a new constitution to

eventually replace a half-century-old royal decree under which

Bhutan has been run.

 

The draft calls for a two-chamber parliament -- a 75-member National

Assembly and a 25-member National Council.

 

The king would remain head of state, but parliament would have the

power to impeach him on a two-thirds vote.

 

In his speech, the Bhutanese king did not mention anything about the

plight of over 100,000 Bhutanese citizens who are languishing as

refugees in seven UNHCR-maintained camps in eastern Nepal for the

last 15 years.

 

The refugee leaders have referred to the exercise to draft a new

constitution as being nothing but an eyewash.

 

Bhutanese citizens have been asked to submit their views on the

Bhutanese king's plans to hand powers to a council of ministers,

introduce a system of two-party democracy and subject the monarchy

to a confidence vote.

 

The king said the election commission would educate the people in

the democratic process over the next two years.

 

"I have every confidence that our people will be able to choose the

best political party that can provide good governance and serve the

interest of the nation," he said.

 

Wangchuck gave no indication of how much power would remain with the

monarch.

 

There was no immediate comment from the Bhutanese refugee leaders

over the latest announcement by the Bhutanese king.

http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2005/dec/dec18/news14.php