Kathmandu, January 2:

Bhutanese leader Tek Nath Rizal today labelled the elections for National Council conducted in Bhutan on Monday as “yet another attempt” at eyewash.

“The election is unfair since thousands of Nepali speaking people, who were not provided with the No Objection Certificate were barred from voting,” Rizal told this daily. Saying that the Bhutan government has done yet another injustice to the Nepali-speaking community inside Bhutan and the refugees here, Rizal termed all political parties who won election as King’s men responsible for ethnic cleansing.

Rizal also blamed the international community for curtailing the rights of the Bhutanese people in the name of resettlement at a time when Bhutan government had “admitted” that the refugees in the camps of Jhapa and Morang were Bhutanis.

Two days after the first democratic exercise in Bhutan, the Association of Press Freedom Activists Bhutan said the election had to incorporate the spirit of the people and address their

demands. “Low voter turnout proved people’s annoyance with the autocratic ruler,” a statement issued by APFA said today, adding that voter turnout was less than 40 per cent.

A large populace was denied Voter Photo Identity Cards on various grounds. APFA states that the VPICs were issued to those who produced No Objection Certificate (NOC), which was issued by Royal Bhutan Police. “Many who supported 1990 and 1997 demonstrations were denied VPICs,” the statement adds.

“The election will not pave the way for democracy in Bhutan but will be used to violate people’s rights. Expect more ethnic cleansing policies from these selected people,” adds APFA.