Tuesday, October 16, 2012

Bhutan Bans Public Religious Events For 6 Months Before Elections

AP reported yesterday on the action of the Election Commission in the small, largely Buddhist nation of Bhutan banning public religious events from Jan. 1, 2013 until Parliamentary elections (expected to be held in June 2013) are completed.  Designed to prevent the mixing of religion and politics, the Commission's Oct. 1 Notification (full text) says in part:
The Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan provides for the political system in Bhutan to be secular where Religion is elevated to the higher pedestal through the declaration: “Religion shall Remain Above Politics”....

We  are  hopeful that  with  your  Prayers and Blessings, the conduct of  the Second Parliamentary Elections in early 2013 will be smooth and peaceful as the First. However, as a safety and preventive measure the ECB seeks the kind indulgence and the support  of the Religious Communities  in the Kingdom  to schedule public events to be carried out only after the Parliamentary Elections are completed.