Three individuals including the People’s Democratic Party’s Monggar Constituency candidate have been fined for violating various provisions of the ECB Social Media Rules and Regulations, and the Rules on Elections Conduct in the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2022. Besides the candidate, the other two are a party coordinator and a registered member of the PDP.
The People’s Democratic Party’s Monggar Constituency candidate, Sonam Dendup was fined Nu 37,500 for campaigning before the commencement of the campaign period.
The Monggar district’s election dispute settlement body levied the fine on the 18th of December.
The PDP candidate was found campaigning in Tsamang Gewog. He has five days from the date of the decision to appeal to the Central Election Dispute Settlement Body.
According to the candidate, he has yet to decide on appealing.
Similarly, the Office of the Media Arbitrator on the 15th of December fined the coordinator of the People’s Democratic Party, Chencho Dorji, Nu 15,000 for violating the ECB Social Media Rules and Regulations.
He was found sharing a screen recording video involving hate speech and defamatory remarks, which is in violation of the Section 4.4 of the ECB Social Media Rules and Regulations.
In a letter to the PDP coordinator, the Office of the Media Arbitrator states that the coordinator kept sharing the video despite repeated warnings by the Paro district’s social media monitor.
Likewise, Pema Khandu, a registered member of the People’s Democratic Party in Trongsa’s Korphu Gewog, was also fined Nu 15,000 on Sunday.
According to the Trongsa District Election Dispute Settlement Body’s decision, Pema Khandu has violated the Rules on Elections Conduct in the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2022 on three counts.
He had shared a video, which was manipulated saying the Bhutan Tendrel Party is a new party and has no budget.
He had also said in a WeChat group that the BTP’s Draagteng_Langthil candidate has no experience.
He also threatened the people that if they do not vote for PDP, the local deities will not be pleased.
