The Office of the Media Arbitrator has fined another party supporter and issued warning letters to several individuals. The fine was levied on a BTP supporter while the warnings were issued to a BTP candidate and supporters of both parties.
An individual named Tshewang who is a supporter of the Bhutan Tendrel Party from the Boomdeling-Jamkhar constituency in Trashi Yangtse was fined Nu 15,000 on 12th December.
According to the OMA, he had defamed the People’s Democratic Party’s candidate of the same constituency after the primary round. The party supporter had shared an audio clip in a social media group which the election officials determined is false and defamatory. In addition, the OMA also warned another individual Tshering Choden for spreading false information and defamatory remarks directed to the PDP’s Boomdeling-Jamkhar candidate.
BTP’s Dewathang-Gomdar candidate Tshering Penjor was issued a written warning by the OMA for campaigning during no-campaign period. And two other individuals, Bumpa and Sangay Lhendup were warned for engaging in third-party advertisement in favour of BTP.
Similarly, Dechen Pelden and Sangay were warned for making defamatory remarks and passing hate messages against the PDP’s North-Thimphu and Kanglung-Samkhar-Udzorong candidates respectively and accusing the PDP of buying votes in the primary round.
Similarly, the Election Commission and the OMA had issued a public reprimand and written warnings against three individuals for soliciting support for the People’s Democratic Party and for making defamatory remarks against the BTP and its President. Ugyen Phuntsho from Haa was reprimanded for campaigning for PDP in social media groups by glorifying the party’s achievements. Meanwhile, Rinchen Zangpo and Tandin Penjor were warned for passing defamatory remarks and hate messages against the BTP and BTP President respectively.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Phub Gyem
