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Open Letter to Sangey Ngedup, Predisent Opposition Party, Bhutan

By Unknown Citizen

Dear Sangey Ngedup President, People's Democratic Party

First, my sympathy on your defeat in the elections. Finally, you have learned what freedom and democracy is. The defeat in the national assembly elections compelled you to file an appeal at the election commission. This has been possible just because of the freedom and democracy. You might not have filed any appeal at government authorities seeking justice because you had direct hand in the palace. In democracy, palace has hands but open nature of the political system sometimes becomes an obstacle to all misconducts. If it had not been a democratic election, you might have asked the King or Queens (your sisters) to cancel the nominations of rival groups or even those elected but you do like them to attend the assembly.

Democracy gives place to file your grievances, and seeks a platform for fair justice. I know, there were malpractices and unfairness in the election leading your party to be defeated.

We had made several appeals to Ngalongs in the past seeking justice. It was indeed the effort of the southern Bhutanese to place Ngalongs to power. Of course, as you got more space to play, you decided to boycott the supporters. You ignored them. We made several appeals; you failed to turn your ears. Ngalongs thought, they now can do everything without any support from southerners. Now, the situation turned otherwise. The power has been shifted to those who have sympathy to easterners. The southerners have voted in their favour, at least hoping that there might be some justice to their grievances. It is by nature, you would not have received any votes from the east, but you might have acquired votes from the south and west, had you acted in their favour in the past.

You have felt the harassment and criticism even for a democratic defeat. Imagine how the southern Bhutanese felt when they were tagged terrorists. In what extent we were harassed when our relatives were driven out of the country?

Even after you've lost, you have got a place to appeal. We had not got that as well. In response to our appeal for justice and demand for democracy, human rights and equality, your brother-in-law and sisters termed us as anti-nationals. You might have felt the need of democracy once you face the defeat. If there had not been democracy, you might get the tag of terrorist by the time you filed your appeal.

In the absolute regime of your sisters and brother-in-law, filing an application seeking justice was anti-national activities, against the law of the land and against the interest of the soil.

Again, if you had taken initiative or have assured citizenship to those in southern Bhutan, whom your government in 2001 categorized as non-nationals, you might have received enough votes. There are over 80,000 in number; this is a big number in Bhutanese context to dramatically turn the result of the elections.

You have dreamt of winning the majority because you have matrimonial relations with the royal family and can use as much influence as you can to diver the votes. The reality is different. You might have better known than me.

You have only matrimonial relation with the royal family. But Jigmi Thinley has blood relations with the royal family. His mother is Sarchop, and the father is not. The pretending father might be anyone but he is in reality the son of the third King Jigme Dorji. Thinely is the illegal son of third King and obviously, the King (fourth) might have indirectly influenced the bureaucracy, as you say, to turn the votes in favour of his brother.

However, the situation of blood relation has changed drastically. Thinley regards himself an easterner and wishes to work for Sarchop interests. Now he has got the powers. It remains only less with four votes to out the wangchuks from the throne. I know the family's dissatisfaction has already begun in yours and your sisters'. This will lead to demoralization of Ngalongs. Downfall of Ngalongs has begun. Down! Down!! Down!!!

A suppressed and oppressed citizen from southern district.