Last modified: 2023-06-03 by zachary harden
Keywords: bhutan | bhutan peoples party |
Links: FOTW homepage |
search |
disclaimer and copyright |
write us |
mirrors
image by Ivan Sache, 11 April 2009
See also:
The Bhutan Peoples' Party (BPP), the first political party in Bhutan, was
founded on 2 June 1990 in West Bengal (India), to represent the Bhutanese
citizens of Nepalese origin (lotshampas) who felt discriminated by the absolute
power and under-represented in the institutions of the country. Involved in the
organization of mass protest rallies in the south of the country in
September-October 1990, the BPP (together with other parties formed at the same
period) was declared illegal, as a terrorist group, and banned form the country.
The party exiled in Nepal, where his founder and first president, R.K. Budathoki
(1957-2001) was murdered in a refugee camp of eastern Nepal on 9 September 2001.
Still in exile in Nepal, the BPP asked to be registered as a political party
when mutlipartyism was set up in Bhutan; turned down by the Election Commission
in January 2008, the BPP was prevented to compete in the first elections ever
organized in Bhutan in March 2008. Indeed, only two "loyal" (pro-monarchy)
parties were allowed to compete.
The flag of the party is described as
follows on the party's website:
"The flag of Bhutan Peoples' Party is divided
into two halves diagonally. The upper half which is pure white in colour with a
yellow five sided star symbolizes the party's infallible respect for peace,
non-violence and harmonious, co-existence; while the yellow star signifies the
Royal Institution as the constitutional head of the country. The other half
portion which is green in colour, indicates Party commitment towards economic
prosperity and sound environment."
Source:
http://www.bhutanpeoplesparty.org/aboutus/partyflag.htm
Ivan Sache, 11 April 2009