Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist)

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The Bhutan Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) is a recently formed and banned political party in Bhutan. Formed in UN refugee camps in Nepal and largely composed of Bhutanese ethnic Nepali refugees, the BCM (MLM) calls for a New Democratic Revolution and the overthrow of the Bhutanese monarchy and the House of Wangchuck. Not much is known about the party and it appears to be small in number, yet an individual named Vikalpa has been announced as the general secretary and appears to be taking inspiration from the nearby Nepalese People's War. This is further supported by the fact that the BCM (MLM)'s first press release was done through the website of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). This press release was dated the 22nd April 2003 (the anniversary date of birth of Vladimir Lenin) and so it roughly be assumed that this was around the time the party was formed. The party reportedly has a staunch anti-Indian line, accusing the monarchy of initiating a process of "Sikkimisation".

The BCM (MLM) has announced, in one of the pamphlets found in the UN refugee camps, a 10 point list of "Demands for the Peasant Brothers and Sisters:"[1]

  1. Bhutan Government must declare sovereign democracy and guarantee people’s rights and freedoms.
  2. Bhutan Government must repatriate all its citizens with dignity and honor.
  3. Bhutan Government must guarantee with acceptance in principle of right to self-determination.
  4. Following the principle of "Land for the people", distribute the lands to poor peasants and landless farmers.
  5. Bhutan Government must fix the minimum wage of Nu. 150/- per day. Also the emergency fund for forthcoming catastrophe, health insurance and shelter must be guaranteed.
  6. Guarantee all fundamental rights of women and equal judgment.
  7. Bhutan Government must guarantee cost free education and employment.
  8. Guarantee democratic and employment oriented education.
  9. Do away with all the draconian laws and acts reconstruct new democratic laws and constitution.
  10. Guarantee the freedom of Speech, press, freedom to travel within the territory of country.

The party's armed wing is the Bhutan Tiger Force.[1]

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Simon Denyer Bhutan tolerates democracy but not dissent The Boston Globe. 15 May 2007.
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