Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 14:

Bhutan National Democratic Party welcomed the step taken by the Bhutanese King to unveil the draft copy of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan. “One of the demands of the party has been a written Constitution, besides multi-party parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy. The party will review the provisions contained in the draft Constitution and will submit its suggestions to the King,” said a press statement. It said that it should be noted (in Constitution) that the genesis of the Bhutanese refugee problem has its roots in the citizenship issue. “Unless the refugees are repatriated and their legitimate aspirations addressed, the promulgation of the Constitution alone will not serve the long-term interests of Bhutan and Bhutanese people,” it said.