The Druk National Congress (Democratic) led by Thinley Penjore has called for the attention of the current development of the refugee situation, which has not received any assurance from any corner of the well-wishing agencies to resolve the prolonged refugee stalemate through rightful repatriation.
In his opening address during a function to mark the party’s 17th foundation day, Thinley also urged every democracy and justice aspiring citizens of Bhutan to understand that there is no alternative other than to ushering in vibrant and inclusive democracy, which can create a conducive atmosphere for the repatriation of the refugees with equality, freedom and justice.
Penjore recalled the seventeen years of the party’s journey in the struggle for democracy in Bhutan. He focused particularly on the sacrifices the party members, the supporters and their mass grass roots activists made during the 1997 peaceful movement staged on the streets of the eastern districts.
He expressed his regrets for being unable to get the political prisoners released even after the dawn of so-called democracy and urged to firmly stand to continue the Bhutanese struggle to establish an inclusive, vibrant and workable democracy.
The Party also released its vision-2011 in Dzongkha and English, and declared launching the same in the Party’s website. Briefing the gathering on the occasion of the Foundation Day, and releasing the book, decided submitting a copy each of the English version to the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of India and the Indian Ambassador in Bhutan for their perusal and consideration to garner their support and solidarity, as the largest democracy of the world, to help establish real and inclusive democracy in Bhutan.
Thinley also said that India has been not only the closest neighbour and friend of Bhutan since time immemorial, but also the largest and pioneer development partner of Bhutan, who is anticipated to support Bhutanese struggle for democracy.
In his memorandum to the Prime Minister of India, he described Bhutan’s democracy as, “a mere window-dressing process to eyewash the international communities” and further said that, “In absence of true and inclusive democracy, a large number of its citizens of diverse ethnicity and religious background had to flee into exile and continue their quest for true democracy”. The memorandum appealed the government of India to bestow moral support and solidarity, which will go a long way in ushering in true, vibrant and inclusive democracy in Bhutan.
The Chief Advisor Gup Ugen Tshering, Vice President Rinzin Dorji, General Secretary Lop Karjey and Youth President Karma Chojey were among others in the Party, who addressed the gathering during the occasion.
The Druk National Congress then led by Rongthong Kuenley Dorji suffered a vertical split on August 27, 2001 resulting into two factions–one still led by him and the other by Thinley Penjore. Penjore’s faction later renamed the party as Druk National Congress -Democratic (DNC-D) in 2008.
