Friday, June 28, 2013

India and Bhutan – Friend or Master?

I came across an article in Times of India of 26th June, 2013 titled “Bhutan’s road to democracy leads to China?” I have made my comments subject to limitations imposed by the Times of India webpage. The following is my full comment.

I think it is an insult to Indo-Bhutan friendship and trust and a display of Indian media’s arrogance and ignorance. The worse thing is that the article expounds the same theme that few unscrupulous Bhutanese politicians have accused the 1st democratic Prime Minister of Bhutan, “complicating relation with India by meeting Chinese Premier”. We have in Bhutan our own brand of hungry politicians the likes of Kazi Lhendup Dorjees who are ever ready to trample genuine national long term interests to achieve personal short term political ambitions. Therefore the article is an unwelcome attempt to interfere into the internal affairs of Bhutan during the 2nd General Election.

What audacious assumptions the writer makes when he states to quote, “it now appears that the King wasn’t quite in the loop as Bhutan expanded its diplomatic ties with 53 countries, as against 22 in 2008, as well as its overture to Beijing.” Where does he think the King of Bhutan was in the last 5 years? And how come Indian leaders were not aware of Bhutan’s attempt to gain a non-permanent seat at the Security Council. I thought it was pursued at the behest of India. How does Bhutan achieve any UN ambition if she does not develop diplomatic relationships with other UN members and does not accord proper cognizance to China, her closest neighbour and a very influential permanent member of UN Security Council? The writer’s whole assertion seems to be a repeat of few very dangerous Bhutanese politicians who are ready to compromise the sovereignty of Bhutan in pursuit of personal political power. As a matter of record, it is not the task of any Bhutanese Prime Minister and government to loop the King. The democratically elected leaders are required to serve the people and national interests of Bhutan in the footsteps of the Kings of Wangchuck dynasty. His Majesty the King and the people of Bhutan are the real masters of the Prime Minister and any government elected. So no one especially our friends from India or our own ambitious politicians should attempt to sow discord between the King and the people who elect the government.

National interests of Bhutan have to rise over and above the politics of always playing the Indian tune. We are not just good neighbours of India. We are a good and reliable friend of India. But Bhutan and Bhutanese are sovereignty unto our self. Therefore Bhutan’s paramount national interests and affairs just cannot be only pleasing India. We have to please ourselves too!

Why do Indian media and politicians want to castrate Bhutan for the most harmless relationship effort with China? Just the other day, I heard a rumour of a bureaucrat of India chastising Bhutanese leadership of being “dishonest”. What the hell is that suppose to mean? Which national leaders and governments bare its soul to another nation? We are not paid sex workers that benefactors need to know when our eyelashes and asses move and in which direction.

In a kingdom of 600,000 population, we have in Bhutan around 200,000 Indians in the forms of Indian Military teams, Indian Border Road Organizations (Para-military force), contractors, business firms, workers etc.. Almost all our imports are from India and all our water resources are harnessed for mutual benefit of the two countries. Bhutan is heavily dependent on Indian goodwill and financial assistance. All Bhutanese realize that our livelihoods have improved greatly beyond our wildest dreams because of the generosity of Indian Government and Indian people in the last 50 years.

Pray! Tell me what more testimony does Indian politicians and Indian media and for that matter even our own India hawkers need to underline the dependence and trust of Bhutan upon India?
So what if Bhutan endeavors to improve its relation with China? We do not wish China to take a morning walk over Bhutan. And in my humble view, maybe it would be a big relief if we can get some financial assistance to cover shortages in planned budget equivalent to 242B for the 11th five year plan. Bhutanese media is already expressing government’s fear that existing donors including most generous India is yet to commit fund for the 11th FYP. Leaving aside my personal thought on financial assistance, India, I think can rest reassured that there will be no Chinese presence in Bhutan replacing Indian Military Training Teams (Imtrat) and Indian-Para-military force (Dantak). The hydropower projects would still be cherished joint ventures of Indo-Bhutan. And there is not a China man residing in Bhutan verses more than 200,000 Indian friends living and rendering assistance to Bhutan.
There is constant talk of delay in release of project tied finance and other committed fund from India (including 4.2B for the 10th FYP which ends on 30th June, 2013) every time Bhutan or Bhutanese leadership acts to preserve national interest. It sounds more like a benefactor tightening the purse string whenever the mistress is unable to comply with every whims of his fancy.
The first line of the article “Bhutan’s road to democracy leads to China?” states to quote, “what’s arguably India’s only friendly neighbour, Bhutan”. It speaks volumes of Indian politicians and Indian media attitude. If you keep dictating and bullying, there will be no neighbours, only disgruntled and venomous nations surrounding India.

Bhutan is not just a friendly neighbour. We are India’s friend and I, for one wish Bhutan to remain so. So treat Bhutan as a friend, not as pawn to be manipulated for every whatever reason. Stop herding us like lambs in a Penn to be slaughtered whenever India desires a dish of lamb stew.

36 comments:

  1. You Said;- Bhutanese politicians have accused the 1st democratic Prime Minister of Bhutan, “complicating relation with India by meeting Chinese Premier”. We have in Bhutan our own brand of hungry politicians the likes of Kazi Lhendup Dorjees who are ever ready to trample genuine national long term interests to achieve personal short term political ambitions.

    If you are not coward why dont you name those hungry Politicians. Dont try to be a advisior to the leaders who are highly qiualified and farsighted than you.Your article tells us that you are the puppet to Pm JYT thats all.

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    1. Puppet to PM JYT? Did you read the article in the Times of India firstly? You are a PDP supporter, I can see. Right? Facts are facts and they will remain true always.

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    2. Watcha Sangay is right

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    3. And from all the things written you saw only these.
      bless you.

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    4. Wangcha Sangay has eloquently put India-Bhutan relationship in proper perspective and it is sad that the only thing you took away from it was that you think he is a puppet to JYT.

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    5. Yes Wangcha is right

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  4. Hey Anonymous!! If you have balls, come out like Mr. Sangay and don't throw your baseless comments. Mr. Sangay, your sense of patriotism and effort to intervene in the interest of this nation is always appreciated.

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  5. forget the news in Times of India, that reporter never visited Bhutan for collecting the news, whats written is not true

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    1. So it looks like Tenzing Lamsang is up to his dirty tricks all over the place. I bet there will be a connection.

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    2. we should not blame without a proper research, but one thing we know for sure is the reporter is not in Bhutan following the story. I do smell a rat.

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  6. It is believed Mr. Lamsang worked in TOI as intern and hope he might be the source of this news...

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  7. May be PDP is financing even "times of India"...

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  8. This fuss is created by PDP and his supporters and spread by media like "The Bhutanese, Business Bhutan, Bhutan Times".

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  9. Although I am a political but has noticed that if anything goes against DPT government then people seem to blame everything to PDP and Tenzing Lamsang. Tenzing Lamsang has proof for whatever he writes and your comments are all based on assumptions. If you can prove it then only I shall believe it. And looks like DPT and DPT supporters can't handle critics.

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    1. Reports of Tenzing Lamsang might topple the country. Hope he is not supported and paid by Anti-national refugees residing all over the world.

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    2. There is a chance to topple our country if we are not careful with this disgruntled Tibetan Tenzin Lamsang and hungry political party like PDP.

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    3. No wonder because of such people, Tibet was taken over by China. We need to get rid of such people.

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    4. you said that Tenzin Lamzang has proof..... Then why have he not approach the law. Since he has the proof he has every right to demand justice. But then he has not done so, so what value his proof has when he does not exercise his right. Nil! Does it not prove that he is politically motivated. I am a true Drup, so if you want to proof me wrong, then lets meet up, i will show you the true wrath of Pelden Lhamo. Or else fear me in your dream.

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  10. Bullshit PDP! Their pledges and promises are never consistent. It is like a child play... PDP need sometime to get matured. It is good they are learning a lot.

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  11. Tenzing Lamsang worked in Indian Express a rival of Times of India and the story clearly shows that the author is an Indian writer with source of information from Indian government agencies. DPT the biggest liar party is now saying that the world's richest media oragnization ToI is owned by PDP ?? ToI can buy Bhutan 10 times over.

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    1. We know very well it is an Indian author. But how do you know the source is Indian agiencies. Are you part of a scheme trying to deflect the spot light from TL or Kazi tshering Tobgay. You left big grey areas left to be filled up. The article sounds and reads very much like "the bhutanese". What next, are you PDP guys willing short change very freedom that our forefathers fought and preserved.

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  12. It is something to be taken seriously. Keep away the difference of DPT and PDP for this atleast. Now it time for us to contemplate where it went wrong.

    From where i can see, and from all the insights, i dont think Tensing Lamsang got to do anything with this news. DPT and their supporters should stop the blame game and should do something about it. Its BHUTAN on stake, be Bhutanese for once, not DPT or PDP.

    By the way i am not a PDP supporter also.

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  13. This is where all the false story on deterioration of India-Bhutan friendship starts from

    http://www.thebhutanese.bt/ol-says-govts-unsc-bid-and-foreign-policy-has-damaged-bhutans-national-interests/

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  14. Mr. Wangcha Sangay sounds like a true bullshit. never dare to mention dorji family in your stupid blog.

    it is such a sad moment in bhutan that even literate people can't realize the danger desperation that DPT is craving to win election.

    i wish a Mr. Jambay of 1964 reincarnated and perform a miracle to fix the danger faced by prerogatives of HM and royal family to welfare of a poor citizen of this country.

    wish miracle kill evil power hungry DPT leaders sooner than later...................

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  15. evil prevails when good men do nothing.

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  16. Kudos to the article well interpreted. We need to loop in CHINA for development funds if we cannot get any from India. China is ready to give 10 times more I am sure.

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    1. yeah surely it will give us 10 times just as it gives to tibet "10 times over".you fool china is gobbling up every small country around its territory.just go and browse through net u will understand how dangerous china is.what it is doing to taiwan and tibet....u will shiver.there will be no bhutan.china is like a snake,untrustworthy.on the other hand india has never ever ever invaded any country in her 5000yr old history.yes i agree it shud not hv meddled in our election process....but still it is 100 times better than china.india is worried about siliguri corridor and rightly so..as a good friends v shud allay their fears.nehru once said aggression against bhutan will be considered as aggression against india!! dont u think v shud return favour.is it not selfishness and oppurtunism? do u really think country like china will support us for non permanent seat and give 10 times over money without taking our land near siliguri??...u r being naive

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  17. I find this article very disturbing. For one, it is very critical of India and on the other it leaves a plain and welcoming space to China. Being literate and able to concoct words doesn't mean one sees with wisdom. It is not for no reason that our very benevolent 4th king ushered in democracy for the sake of Bhutan and it's people and it's sovereignty. I personally prefer to learn lessons from history and be with a democratic India. For the last 50 years or so India has done a lot and we are now a modern 21st century country. Being grateful and playing safe is in the long term interest of our very small nation state. Please do not juggle with word game or otherwise this politics will land us in real trouble. Pride comes before fall.

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  18. Seems like there are people still peddling this world's largest democracy thing when in fact India is quintessentially a police state. I think the world has finally woken up to this 'Shinning India' scam.

    http://www.counterpunch.org/2012/12/21/police-state-india/

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  19. Assholes, all that we are now is thanks to india. Biting the
    hand that feeds you. wangcha tibet had relations with china and that didn't end up very well for tibet did it? China is a giant
    best left alone. Never satisfied with what we have .

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  20. My country:

    It is always tough with the foreigners explaining them where my country is located. Below China…above India in the Himalayas…. Right of Nepal Etc... And usually end with a big curious face of the foreigner. I don’t blame them… indeed a country with a population of 750000 is just an another town in their country.
    Them I explain them…
    My Bhutan is the most beautiful country in the world. It is not the wealthiest country but we have no beggars. We have no big armies, tanks and aircrafts but our armies never lost a war. We have no big land but we have sufficient. Our National Budget may not match even your companies but we measure Happiness not Greediness. Our People trust our leaders; we do not come on street and protest. We are farmers, we work in our land and our community helps each other, we do not believe in conquering the wealth of others. We are stupid and we fight over a Prado and two helicopters in the National Level but when it comes to Bhutan as a Nation we are all one.
    We are born in Bhutan and we call ourselves Bhutanese.
    Thus then I tell my fellow friends that our fathers and their fathers made this country for us. This is not the time we fight among us and hate each other. Dudes let’s keep our Bhutanese attitude aside. Let there be our friends doing better than us. We must learn to appreciate. There are two ways of doing things. You climb up yourself or pull the other down. Let us follow the first. People from other countries are going to Mars and making hotels in the moon. Let us not keep begging from other bullies who treat us like a servant. Let us not forget Bhutan is a sovereign Nation and we are its citizens. Bhutan may be just a dot in the worlds map but we are unique and we are Bhutanese. They say beautiful things always come in small packages lets prove it.
    I am a NAVIP…not at all very important person… yet I care for my country. This is a place where I was born. Now it is my duty I hand it over to my children in a better way. Let us do it… we can for we are Bhutanese.

    Citizen of Bhutan.

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  21. I could not have explained better than the author. Thank you for a nice explanation and for hurling the misgivings to nosy and sly Indian politicians.

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  22. yeah surely china will give us a lot of money just as it gives to tibet a lot of money!!!".you fool china is gobbling up every small country around its territory.just go and browse through net u will understand how dangerous china is.what it is doing to taiwan and tibet....u will shiver.there will be no bhutan.china is like a snake,untrustworthy.on the other hand india has never ever ever invaded any country in her 5000yr old history.yes i agree it shud not hv meddled in our election process....but still it is 100 times better than china.india is worried about siliguri corridor and rightly so..as a good friends v shud allay their fears.nehru once said aggression against bhutan will be considered as aggression against india!! dont u think v shud return favour.is it not selfishness and oppurtunism? do u really think country like china will support us for non permanent seat and give 10 times over money without taking our land near siliguri??...u r being naive

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  23. deity in the form of human... i take refuge

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