Bhutan Peoples' Party
Encyclopedia
The Bhutan Peoples' Party is a democratic socialist party in Bhutan
, currently working in exile in Nepal
. Founded on June 2, 1990 in West Bengal
, it was the first political party in Bhutan. The Bhutan People's Party was founded to represent the Bhutanese citizens of Nepalese origin (Lhotshampas) who felt discriminated against by the Bhutanese monarchy
and under-represented in the institutions of the country. The Bhutan Peoples' Party was involved in the organization of mass protest rallies in the south of the country in September and October 1990 which spawned violence; the party was declared illegal as a terrorist group and banned from the country along with other parties formed during the same period.
On September 9, 2001, party founder and first leader R.K. Budathoki was assassinated in a refugee camp of eastern Nepal.
Still in exile in Nepal, the Bhutan Peoples' Party asked to be registered as a political party when the Bhutanese government first introduced a mutliparty system. This request was turned down by the Bhutanese Election Commission in January 2008, and the party was prevented from competing in Bhutan's first ever elections in March 2008. Indeed, only two "loyal" (pro-monarchy) parties were allowed to compete.
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
, currently working in exile in Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
. Founded on June 2, 1990 in West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, it was the first political party in Bhutan. The Bhutan People's Party was founded to represent the Bhutanese citizens of Nepalese origin (Lhotshampas) who felt discriminated against by the Bhutanese monarchy
House of Wangchuck
The House of Wangchuck has ruled Bhutan since it was reunified in 1907. Prior to reunification, the Wangchuck family had governed the district of Trongsa as descendants of Dungkar Choji. They eventually overpowered other regional lords and earned the favour of the British Empire...
and under-represented in the institutions of the country. The Bhutan Peoples' Party was involved in the organization of mass protest rallies in the south of the country in September and October 1990 which spawned violence; the party was declared illegal as a terrorist group and banned from the country along with other parties formed during the same period.
On September 9, 2001, party founder and first leader R.K. Budathoki was assassinated in a refugee camp of eastern Nepal.
Still in exile in Nepal, the Bhutan Peoples' Party asked to be registered as a political party when the Bhutanese government first introduced a mutliparty system. This request was turned down by the Bhutanese Election Commission in January 2008, and the party was prevented from competing in Bhutan's first ever elections in March 2008. Indeed, only two "loyal" (pro-monarchy) parties were allowed to compete.
See also
- List of political parties in Bhutan
- Bhutanese general election, 2008Bhutanese general election, 2008Bhutan held its first general election on March 24, 2008 for the National Assembly. Two parties were registered by the Election Commission of Bhutan to contest the election: the Bhutan Peace and Prosperity Party , which was formed by the merger of the previously established Bhutan People's United...
- Politics of BhutanPolitics of BhutanThe Government of Bhutan is a constitutional monarchy; between 1907 and the 1950s however, Bhutan was an absolute monarchy. The peaceful march to democracy has been a steady one. The King of Bhutan is head of state. Executive power is exercised by the Lhengye Zhungtshog, or council of ministers,...