By Simon Denyer
PUNAKHA, Bhutan (Reuters) – The people of Bhutan face some subtle choices in their first parliamentary elections on Monday, choices that underline the changes democracy is bringing to this traditional Himalayan kingdom.
The biggest decision of all was imposed on the mainly Buddhist Bhutanese — their fourth king, Jigme Singye Wangchuck, went against the popular will by introducing democracy after a century of royal rule.
Democracy’s adversarial nature has left many people uncomfortable in a land long known as the last Himalayan Shangri-la, but some are gradually getting used to the idea of deciding for themselves.
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