ASIA/BHUTAN - The country elects its first democratic leader in history, however religious freedom is yet to be seen

New Delhi (Agenzia Fides) - On March 24, in their first democratic elections ever, the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan elected a new government and Prime Minister: Jigmi Thinley, leader of the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa (DPR), the Bhutan United Party, that won a landslide victory, claiming 44 of the 47 seats in the lower house, in a vote which was proposed by Bhutan's royals to transform the country into a constitutional monarchy. The tiny Himalayan state wedged between India and China is governed by the king, Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, who rose to the throne December 14, 2006, at 26 years of age. Bhutan has 2.3 million inhabitants, with a Tibetan culture (and it is the only country in the world that maintains Tibetan as its official language) and the official religion of Buddhism. In fact, it is the only country on the planet where the Buddhism of the Dalai Lama is the official state religion.
This is where observers are focusing their attention: the road to full democracy in Bhutan cannot ignore full religious freedom. There are currently about 20,000 Christians in the country (among which there are about 400 Catholics) and 200,000 citizens who belong to the Hindu religion, all of whom continue living with limited freedom. Consequently, although Christians in Bhutan look with favor on the new democracy, they wait in hope that the principles of freedom of conscience and inalienable rights for each person will be fully promoted among all political and social sectors, beginning with the right to religious freedom that symbolizes the “pulse” in all healthy democracy.
The Indian priests in the Diocese of Darjeeling, in North India, who visit the Bhutan territory, bringing the Eucharist to the Catholic families, say that they must carry out their ministry and celebrate liturgical rites with the greatest possible discretion. Although they have permission from authorities to carry out this ministry, they cannot freely make external manifestation or profession of their faith in public places. In this historic moment in the country’s evolution, all are hoping that the current democratic process will lead the government and the king to grant their citizens full religious freedom. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 27/3/2008; righe 28, parole 357)