EDITORIAL

New ruler marks a new era for Bhutan

Himalayan kingdom faces the challenge of transforming itself into a constitutional monarchy

When King Wangchuck of Bhutan abdicated one year ahead of schedule last week and his eldest son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel, 26, assumed the throne, this peaceful Himalayan kingdom and its people were given an unmistakable signal that the country's biggest transformation since attaining independence 99 years ago was now irreversible.

The young king, keenly aware of the great responsibility that was placed on his shoulders, appealed for support from his people to ensure a smooth transition from absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy.

King Jigme Khesar Namgyel will need all the help he can muster to translate his father's democratisation scheme into reality by the year 2008 as planned. In the meantime, the new king and his people must work together to set into motion the process to rebuild Bhutanese society according to the democratic ideal that has been envisioned.

To his credit, former king Jigme Singye Wangchuck had laid the groundwork for an orderly transformation of the country's political system on which the new king can build. Remarkably, the former king has already produced a draft constitution that provides a road map to democracy through national elections tentatively scheduled for 2008. The Bhutanese people are now being asked to review the document, which is to become the basic law that will usher in the democratic era.

The former king also came up with an interesting idea that attracted and still holds the world's attention when he proclaimed that "gross national happiness is more important than gross national product" because "happiness takes precedence over economic prosperity in our national development process".

It certainly helps that this Buddhist kingdom has managed to maintain its status as an oasis of peace in the turbulent Indian subcontinent for so long. But the road towards democracy and modernity is fraught with pitfalls. The Western-educated new king must already know that Bhutan and its people have a lot to learn from other countries' experiences with democracy, both good and bad.

The new king's greatest challenges include transforming a paternalistic monarchy into a functioning democracy and turning the mostly peasant population into politically aware and effective citizens. Not to mention the need to strike a delicate balance between the onslaught of modernity that comes with political freedom and the importance of preserving Bhutan's unique cultural heritage and way of life.

With the advent of television and the Internet, allowed only in recent years in this hitherto isolated society, the strength of Bhutan's traditional values and way of life are being put to the ultimate test. The democratisation process will likely accelerate and intensify positive as well as negative impacts of globalisation on this tiny kingdom of 600,000.

No one can predict the outcome of democratisation in Bhutan. For Bhutan's democracy to thrive and take root, the new king and his people will have to make difficult choices together, while at the same time redefining their relationship as the political system evolves. Bhutan's journey towards democracy will be watched closely by Thailand and the rest of the international community.

Thailand and its people had the privilege to get to know the new Bhutanese king as a young prince. As crown prince, he travelled to Bangkok on behalf of his father in June to participate in the celebrations of the 60th anniversary of King Bhumibol Adulyadej's accession to the throne. In November, he returned to take part in the international floral exhibition in Chiang Mai . His charm, down-to-earth mannerisms and friendliness won the admiration of the Thai public. Before his arrival, very few Thais knew about the tiny kingdom in the Himalayas and the concept of gross national happiness. Several books about the new king and his country have since become available at bookshops and news stands and are selling well.

On this very auspicious occasion we offer the new king and the Bhutanese people, who are embarking on a great journey towards democracy, our best wishes for a bright future, great happiness and lasting peace.

The Nation

Quote:appealed for support from his people to ensure a smooth transition from absolute monarchy to parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy

This will be good for the people of Bhutan. Interestingly Bhutan has a population less than 1 million (less than New Zealand)