5 December 2008, Thimphu, Bhutan: His Majesty the King granted an audience yesterday to the 15-member US Congressional delegation lead by Senator John McCain. The delegation included Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
During their stay here the senators also met His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, the Prime Minister, the Opposition leader and the Chief Justice. At a press conference with Bhutanese journalists yesterday, the three senators spoke of the “extraordinary quality of leadership” in Bhutan, who were united in their “devotion to national interests” and what was best for the people.
“A lot of our conversations have centred around the transition that this country has made so successfully from a monarchy to a truly functioning democracy,” McCain said.
“We intend to encourage our friends and colleagues to get to know Bhutan better because I think it can serve as an example to many other parts of the world that have either tried and failed or are struggling towards freely electing democratic governments.”
Graham said, “We’ve travelled all over the world and I don’t think I have met a group of people that are more informed and have a more sophisticated view of the world and the region than the people here and the officials of Bhutan… I think the future of Bhutan is very bright because the leadership is thinking about the next generation not just this moment.”
He lauded Bhutan’s environmental policies as “forward- thinking” and said that, as a lawyer, he thought the Bhutanese constitution was a “well thought out” document whose environmental leanings were unique and creative.
Speaking about climate change, Lieberman said the consequences of glacier melting could be severe to life as has existed for a long time in Bhutan. The Bill on Global Warming that the three senators had pushed could be passed this year as it was gaining support in the senate and agreed with the new President’s line of thinking.
“Part of the bill does include using some of the money gained under our proposal to help other countries mitigate the effects of climate change,” he said. “Bhutan would be eligible as a recipient of such a fund.”
The three senators warned, however, that Bhutan should realise that the biggest challenge for a democracy was to avoid making promises to present generations that future generations will have to pay for.
“We all respond to our voters,” said Mc Cain. “In the case of the United States, we have responded irresponsibly.” Lindsey Graham described Bhutan’s 80 percent electoral turnout during the elections as “remarkable.” He said that sustaining enthusiasm for democracy requires parents to teach their children the responsibility that comes with being free people.
“You can lose the election in America but not lose your voice, not lose your property; so I would encourage the government and the people to make sure that you have honest and fair judges, that the judiciary be above politics,” he said. “I think it will serve this country well to have a strong legal system that will set people and property apart from politics.”
The USA remains one of the prime education destinations for many Bhutanese. Prominent US alumni base in Bhutan include His Majesty the King, Their Royal Highnesses, the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader. By Kunga T Dorji (www.bhutanobserver.bt)