Moving Forward together with Nyamrup

NYAMRUP SPIRIT: Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa is a symbol of HOPE that no Bhutanese shall be left behind, while the country moves forward. 

Solidarity

The party will work to provide every Bhutanese with equal opportunities for living a dignified life.

“The party will always be sensitive to the needs of the people, and is in complete solidarity with those, who are poor, marginalised and vulnerable."

Justice

The party will support social, political and economic justice, while also pledging zero tolerance to corruption, and demands full accountability at all levels.

Freedom

The party is committed to working towards an enabling environment, where every Bhutanese would have the right to freedom, and could pursue individual goals and free enterprises within the law.

Who is Aum Dorji Choden

Dorji Choden

Education: I have a Bachelor in Civil Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology, India and a Masters in Arts in Public Administration from Syracuse University in the United States.

Brief Personal Narrative: I am Bhutan’s first woman engineer. I have served the government for over 20 years in different capacities, starting as an Assistant Engineer in the Public Works Department.

I have been the director of Standards & Quality Control Authority, and a Commissioner to the Anti-Corruption Commission.

During my tenure as a civil servant, I represented technical and gender issues at the national, regional and international forums.

I have worked with the United Nations in Bhutan after my brief political career during 2008 election. While in the United Nations, I handled the Poverty portfolio, with special emphasis on addressing youth employment and women’s empowerment.

I strongly believe that Social Democratic approach, which embraces inclusive participation and growth, leaving no one behind; at the same time promoting individual goals and free enterprise; is best suited to Bhutan.

I believe that the ultimate aim of the political structures and the systems is to achieve good governance; and country’s peace, security and prosperity hinges so much on good governance.

Although my political career in the first election was short-lived, I have yet again decided to join politics in 2013 with a clear intention of taking forward the young democracy towards inclusive, healthy debates and clean political game.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa provides this avenue among other profound principles and values of social democracy, best suited for Bhutan. DNT is grounded on long term vision of ensuring continued participation in the democratic process; 2013 election is just a beginning of the institution’s milestones.

I have joined the Nyamrup team to give my modest contribution in the process. I believe that democracy should strengthen the rule of law, reduce corruption, enhance inclusiveness and participation; and promote teamwork and shared leadership.

- See more at: http://www.druknyamrup.info/president/#sthash.kPeX09cJ.dpuf

 

"New Times, New Ideas"

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa is a people-centric political party. We believe in building HOPE together, through positive CHANGE, in the early stages of our democracy. We believe no Bhutanese should be left behind because ours is a small society of just 700,000 people.

One of the greatest gifts our Kings gave to Bhutan is democracy. We share the great privilege and responsibility of carrying their legacy into the future by creating inclusive democratic platform that our people love and dreaming up new opportunities for our people. New Times, New Ideas!

In Nyamrup spirit, let’s stand together and stand up for the love of our country.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa will promote social democracy, based on the three principles of solidarity, freedom and justice.

On solidarity, the party will work to provide every Bhutanese with equal opportunities for living a dignified life.

“The party will always be sensitive to the needs of the people, and is in complete solidarity with those, who are poor, marginalised and vulnerable,” he said.

On justice, the party supported social, political and economic justice, while also pledging zero tolerance to corruption, and demands full accountability at all levels.

On freedom, the party was committed to working towards an enabling environment, where every Bhutanese would have the right to freedom, and could pursue individual goals and free enterprises within the law.

“In short, it means looking after people’s welfare, and promoting democracy and marrying the two,” he said, adding the approach was timely.

“While opportunities are provided, and free competition encouraged through democratic process, there’s a need to give a push to those disadvantaged,” he said. “If we don’t put this into practice now, the social disparity will widen and become a major problem.”

President of Druk Nyamrup

One reason why people should vote for Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa?

DNT is here because democracy matters.  Democracy matters because it’s our future.  It gave us equal voice and equal vote for every individual, and everyone has a stake in the government.  We’re here as a voice of the free people of Bhutan.

Our people deserve better.  It’s about the drudgery of poverty, the challenges of youth in the new times, our women in their evolving roles, and of those who can’t reap the benefit of development.

From a complete no to politics, to becoming the president and leading one of the political parties, how…

At different points in life, one is often confronted with difficult choices that one has to make.  There was a greater need felt for a senior, ex-government servant like me to participate in our young democracy for the greater good of the nation.  We can’t afford to stay away from politics because it affects our lives and our nation.  The honour also comes with great responsibility and I’m not afraid because I am here to serve my Kings, the country and the people.

Everyone said you were a far better candidate in the previous election. Why do you think you lost?

I wish I had an answer.  Perhaps, maybe so, that I could learn and become a better person and a better candidate for this election.  Our journey of democracy has just begun and we’re just one-election year old.  Correct analysis is difficult.  But I respect the mandate of the people.  That is what democracy is.

Do you think Nyamrup will make it past the primary?

Our preparations are all aimed towards getting through to the primary round and beyond.  Let the people decide.

What happens if it doesn’t?

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa is a political institution and has been instituted with a vision to look beyond 2013 election.  We’re here to be honest, to tell the truth to the nation, to provide a platform for democratic discourse on important national issues and politics.  Election isn’t the end.  We will continue to believe in democracy.  We will continue to grow, to wonder, to inspire, to listen and to help.  We will continue to share and serve, and above all we will continue to dream and hope.

Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa will be there as long as democracy lives, as long as we live as a free people, believing in freedom, justice and solidarity.

What have you learnt from the previous election that will help you this time?

It was an enriching experience and it was a great honour to be involved in the first democratic election of our country.  Everything in life is a learning experience.  However, I have realised that it’s very important to educate the general mass on democracy on continuous basis.  There is a danger that innocent people in rural areas will be subject to threat and other illegal means in the process of securing votes.

Do you think candidates that make up the party will matter in 2013 election, which was not the case in the first election?

We’ve given serious consideration in the selection of our candidates.  Despite challenges, we have good candidates and we’re satisfied.  I definitely feel that candidates will be a determining factor this time.  All the constituencies need a good and capable representative in the parliament.  Politics shouldn’t be a showbiz of charisma and personality.  It should be about serving the nation.

All the new parties have been struggling to make the 47-candidate list.  Would you consider joining forces?

We have all 47 candidates and we don’t foresee any merger at this time.  A strong party is a party that stands together in nyamrup spirit and work on the collective wisdom.

New times, new ideas … give an example …

The world has changed and so has Bhutan.  The challenges we face as Bhutanese and global citizens are unprecedented.  The old economic model isn’t serving us anymore, climate change is affecting one and all, the aspirations of the people differ.  These are truly new times, calling for creative and innovative ideas and solutions.  Druk Nyamrup tshogpa shall seek new ideas to confront new challenges.

Is it any different to be a woman and to be leading a party?

I’ve never looked at it from that perspective.  Excellence has no gender.  Integrity and honesty should have no excuses.  Party leadership needs to lead by example.  There’s nothing more powerful than to lead by example.  Only action can give true meaning to the written or spoken words.  Remember the body knows, the intellect only guesses.  A true leader, a woman or a man, should have a genuine heart to serve the people, not earn a name for himself or herself.

Blog Post

Come this May 2013, we will have 5 political parties in Bhutan contest the primary election. Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa has all the 47 candidates as required by the election commission of Bhutan to be eligible for the election.