Bhutan Peoples' Party
The Bhutan Peoples' Party is a democratic socialist political party, currently working in exile in Nepal. Founded on 2 June 1990 in West Bengal,[1] it was the pioneer political party in Bhutan. The Bhutan Peoples' Party was founded to represent the Nepali citizens of Bhutan, who felt discriminated against by the Bhutanese monarchy and under-represented in the institutions of the country.[1]
Bhutan Peoples' Party | |
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Founded | 2 June 1990 |
Headquarters | Kathmandu, Nepal |
Ideology | Democratic socialism Lhotshampa interests |
Political position | Centre-left to left-wing |
Party flag | |
Website | |
www.bpparty.org | |
Overview
The Bhutan Peoples' Party was involved in the organization of mass protest rallies in the south of the country in September and October 1990 in peaceful rallies; the party was declared illegal by the absolute monarch and banned from the country along with other parties formed during the same period.[1][2]
On September 9, 2001, party founder and first leader R.K. Budathoki was assassinated in a small town called Damak that lies in Jhapa district of eastern Nepal and a few miles away from Beldangi refugee camps.[1]
Still in exile in Nepal, the Bhutan Peoples' Party asked to be registered as a political party when the Bhutanese government first introduced a multiparty system.[1] This request was turned down by the Bhutanese Election Commission in January 2008, and the party was prevented from competing in Bhutan's first ever elections in March 2008.[1] Indeed, only two "loyal" (pro-monarchy) parties were allowed to compete.[1]
Notes
- ian macdonald [sic] (2009-05-30). "Bhutan Peoples' Party". Flags of the World online. Archived from the original on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-03.
- "Timeline: Bhutan". BBC News online. 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2010-10-01.