2007年VOA标准英语-Bhutan's Prime Minister Confirms He Will Resign

By Steve Herman
Thimpu, Bhutan
18 July 2007

Bhutan's prime minister and six other members of his cabinet are set to resign within weeks. Prime Minister Khandu Wangchuk, in a VOA interview, confirmed the decision to step down so that he and others can be candidates in the Himalayan kingdom's first parliamentary elections. VOA's Steve Herman reports from Thimpu, the capital of Bhutan.

Bhutan's government is to be placed in the hands of a caretaker prime minister by early August following the expected resignation of most of the current cabinet.

Khandu Wangchuk

Khandu Wangchuk, the current prime minister, has told VOA News he and six other members of the 10-man cabinet will leave their posts to join politics at what he calls a "critical juncture¹" in Bhutan's history.

"To join the political process it requires us to stand down from our present responsibilities because if we continue you would have what we call conflict of interest," he said. "It is not proper for us to continue our functions as ministers or even for myself, as prime minister, and yet undertake political activities."

The prime minister says the country's fledgling political parties have been struggling to find enough candidates to run in this year's Upper House and next year's Lower House elections. Mr. Wangchuk says he had hoped to leave government but feels compelled to help ensure the success of democracy in the small Himalayan kingdom.

The move from absolute monarchy² to parliamentary democracy comes at the initiative of the former king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, who has abdicated³ his throne. His son, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has taken over and will be formally crowned next year.

The prime minister acknowledges that the king's subjects are anxious about the devolution of power from the throne because they have been happy with rule by four generations of the Wangchuck dynasty.

"People fear, or are concerned, that the changes may not necessarily provide continuity in terms of the stability, the peace and prosperity that people have enjoyed," he said. "They have seen not so good examples in some young democracies, there is often instability. And instability leads to lack of development and other social and economic problems."

Bhutan's draft constitution

The elected legislators are to approve Bhutan's first constitution, which ensures democratic representation.

Sandwiched between giants China and India, the Buddhist⁴ kingdom, although a member of the United Nations, has formal diplomatic relations with only a small number of countries.

Bhutan's foreign policy traditionally has been in the hands of India, but the two neighbors this year agreed that the kingdom will have a greater say in its own international affairs.

Prime Minister Wangchuk says he hopes Bhutan's neighbors and other countries will help ensure democracy in his nation succeeds. He says if Bhutan goes astray on its new path the consequences for the kingdom would be severe - a reference to states that have failed to make the transition from absolute rule to stable democratic governance.

1 juncture   

n.时刻，关键时刻，紧要关头

参考例句：

• The project is situated at the juncture of the new and old urban districts.该项目位于新老城区交界处。
• It is very difficult at this juncture to predict the company's future.此时很难预料公司的前景。

2 monarchy   

n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国

参考例句：

• The monarchy in England plays an important role in British culture.英格兰的君主政体在英国文化中起重要作用。
• The power of the monarchy in Britain today is more symbolical than real.今日英国君主的权力多为象徵性的，无甚实际意义。

3 abdicated   

放弃（职责、权力等）( abdicate的过去式和过去分词 )； 退位，逊位

参考例句：

• He abdicated in favour of his son. 他把王位让给了儿子。
• King Edward Ⅷ abdicated in 1936 to marry a commoner. 国王爱德华八世于1936年退位与一个平民结婚。

4 Buddhist   

adj./n.佛教的，佛教徒

参考例句：

• The old lady fell down in adoration before Buddhist images.那老太太在佛像面前顶礼膜拜。
• In the eye of the Buddhist,every worldly affair is vain.在佛教徒的眼里，人世上一切事情都是空的。