Public &Private Dialogue Forum 29th December,2014.

The Prime Minister was quite candid with the business people. I felt the address was a realty check for the private sector. Let me highlight the issues brought forth:

1. Neither the Government nor the Private sector can authoritatively state what % the private sector contribution is to the economy. The Prime Minister had asked the Statistical Agency to look into the issue. Has BCCI or private sector thought about it?

2 Private Sector is welcome and must participate in the lucrative power sector development but first Private Sector must develop its in house national capacity including full Bhutanese Managerial Capacity. The Government would be prepared to award contracts directly to a fully capable Bhutanese firm just as in the case of a firm which is fully manned by Bhutanese to build bridge.

3. Regarding electricity rate the Private Sector need to also take into account the cost factor of importing power supply from India during lean seasons at comparatively higher rate that was not passed on to the private sector.

4. The Government would be always ready to hear and discuss private sector needs and grievances and 2 hours every Monday was committed for such process.

5, Nu: 5 billion was available to fund private sector growth and the process is on.

The BCCI had also put forth the cash crunch issue. Maybe it is little outdated financial picture of the recent past. Presently I am told by a reliable financial Executive that Banks now have excess liquidity so they are planning to reduce interest rates on deposits. This of course would be good news to private sector.

I am impressed with the matter of fact approach taken by the Prime Minister.

What really is at stake on the outcome of RCSC decision on COS versus Cabinet?

It took several years for the DPT Cabinet to agree to the formation of Committee of Secretaries and it took just over a year for PDP Cabinet to dissolve this very same  official administrative body the Committee of Secretaries. So it does not take any deep thinking to guess what really is behind all this political sham.

It is ludicrous for Cabinet to deny any knowledge of COS decision when it was clearly decided by the COS  to inform the  Cabinet through its Chairman the Cabinet Secretary. The Cabinet Secretary would have to be a donkey to keep the Cabinet in the dark and at the same time issue an official directive in writing as Cabinet Secretary to the Foreign Secretary to act. How could RCSC nominate and the King approve such an " idiot" to the post of a Government Secretary?

It is however possible that the Prime Minister may not have personally desired to communicate with Indian Government but had refrained from giving  clear or definite order to the Cabinet Secretary when he was briefed on the decision of COS. Silence or no remark can be construed as go ahead or having  no objection. And as for the words spoken by the Cabinet spokes Minister to BBS, these claims just do not make administrative sense. It begs to be interpreted as political hogwash. I had high regards for his intellectual capacity during Primary Election campaign on occasions when he represented his Party in the political parties discussion forums. In fact I thought that Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk had led the structural organization of Druk Nyamrup Tshogpa his original Party.

It is not relevant for Foreign Secretary to inform or discuss an order from the Cabinet with his Minister because the Cabinet consist of Council of Ministers and so the Foreign Minister is a Member of Cabinet whose decision or directive would be conveyed by the Cabinet Secretary. If it was deemed that the Cabinet Secretary acted on his own then he alone should have been held accountable.

What parallel Government is being hinted at? Is the PDP formed Cabinet accusing the Secretaries of working for the Opposition Party which never had a hand in appointing the Secretaries or for the King who extended their initial term of 5 years of service or for Modi Government to whom  the letter of request was addressed ? Such loaded political accusation cannot be based on just one letter of request to India to caution the Indian NGO which is bent on reckless path to malign the economic partnership between two friendly Countries as conduit of bilateral corruption.

The  above summation is just a background to what is really at stake hereafter.

Now what can happen hereafter if a Cabinet formed by the ruling  Political Party can under any make believe reasons  break the backbone of the Bureaucracy at its whim and fancy now and in future?

1, All said and done almost all Secretaries, Director Generals or any in Executive grade would want to protect their service as much as the other subordinates. When civil servants are viciously trampled over to teach who is really their Boss, there is only one open path. That is give total reverence and obedience to the Political Party in power. Tsawa Sum is a luxury that few can even risk in their hearts to think of under the present scenario.

2, The faith in RCSC would be diluted. Love, Loyalty and Respect for the Nation, the People and the King is not going to protect any civil servant if the Cabinet can just toss off Government Secretaries like dead rats for doing their job which on a second thought the Cabinet in retrospection  realised to be politically embarrassing and probably decided to disown effectively. Many spectators must be wandering what really spooked the honourable Prime Minister and his Political allies after 11 days of Government writing the letter through the Foreign Ministry?

3. One is tempted to presume that the PDP Party which has accused DPT Party to be anti Monarchy would never do anything to undercut the Royal Shine ( aura and influence through people's reverence ). However this Cabinet cannibalism of bureaucracy head has set a very dangerous precedent. From henceforth regardless of the King extolling the civil servants to be true to the Tsawa Sum, the bureaucracy will have to opt to do as directed by the political Party even if by doing so they feel Tsawa Sum may be betrayed. Further every nuances, directives and orders and discussions must be signed and sealed down the administrative line in the event the superior denies responsibilities later on.

There would be national administration chaos if in future a Political Party that is anti sovereignty ( meaning placing Party interest before Tsawa Sum ) comes to power. With the docile cooperation of a thoroughly humiliated and defeated Bureaucracy, the faith and trust that Bhutanese People have for the Throne can be easily subverted by an ambitious Cabinet. Even a great King would be helpless if the heart of national administrative machinery is totally in the palm of an unscrupulous Cabinet. Therefore it will never serve the interest of Bhutan to subject the Bureaucracy to such unjustified and callous attacks unless act of treason is proved against the COS through the process of RCSC investigation or evaluation. A humiliated and devoid of dignity civil service cadre cannot be relied upon to efficiently and justly serve the Tsawa Sum.

It will not be the whole world but there would be variety of spectators awaiting with interest the outcome of RCSC evaluation and decision. The preliminary response has been laudably dignified though much delayed. The task is now to establish grounds to  reinstate or legal action against treasonable collusion. Most might already be expecting a face saving compromise or political damage control effort. All said or expected the undeniable fact is that it is a harrowing national experience.

AIRASIA Flight QZ 8501 of Indonesia Death- ly News.

Bodies of Passengers being retrieved from the debris found at sea. There is no hope of life. The prayer is for all 162 bodies to be recovered at the earliest so that proper burial can be done and terrified souls freed to rest in peace. May the affected members of families find the strength to pick up the shattered pieces of life to move forward.

Happy Lombo !

Today the 20th December, 2014 my favourite day of every week Saturday we bid the past year good bye with deep gratitude and welcome the approaching new year with greater hope and faith. The actual transition happens at midnight tonight.

Lombo meaning the Birth period of new year never ceases to affect my sentiment. There is a rush of past years events both happy and sentimental days and the forever belief that every experience of past and the approaching new years is designed by Kuenchho Sum for the betterment of the family in terms of both emotional bond and the collective strength   of the whole of extended Families.

On this heart warming and spirit inspiring auspicious time of Lombo I renew my love and responsibility to all my family members both immediate and extended and to my beloved great Country Bhutan.

To my beloved Father and Mother in the next world I pledge as always to fulfill my duty as you have taught me and that which  your spirit still continue to guide me. And to my beloved children and grandchildren I love you as you are and always at the depth of your hearts uphold to the highest esteem and deepest love the two mothers who are our Sun and Moon of every 24 hours of our life and family; to nourish the bonds of sibling love and duty and love your Nation which is the source of our dignity and proud identity in the world.

I sincerely take this opportunity to wish a very Happy Lombo to all in Haa, Paro and  beyond.

And may I with all humility and respects wish His Majesty the King, His Majesty the Triple Gem, their Majesties the Queens of our Kings and Kingdom and their Royal Highnesses the Members of the Royal Family the Blessings of Lombo.

I deeply and gratefully thank our beloved King for being at his magnanimous  majestic best on the occasion of 107th National Day and for the very much needed  Nation Healing Royal Touch to the socio economic and political health of the Nation. Thank you Your Majesty for the precious gift to the Nation at the onset of Lombo !

A conspicuous omission by two media arms of the Government from the 107 National Day Address of the King of Bhutan.

Both the Kuensel English edition of 18th December,14 and that of BBS link in Facebook have omitted the King's appreciation to the Defence Forces, HH Je Khenpo, the Dratsang, the 3 arms of good governance: Legislative, Executive and Judiciary,the Constitutional Bodies and the Local Governments.

Further there is no reference at all to the emphasis His Majesty made on the importance of Civil Service Cadre and their crucial role in ensuring continuity of national governance and service to the people.

I would have thought that the royal appreciations were important part of national address and would mean a lot to the Organizations. And especially the expression of His Majesty's faith and confidence in the civil service would be a much needed morale boosting aphrodisiac in the light of the recent beheading of the civil service pyramid by the Cabinet on a kind of speculative grounds.

Thankfully the re- telecast of the live national Address on BBS Television is not censured.

The peak of culture of respect and discipline

So many would have seen the live telecast in addition to thousands of live spectators at the 107th National Day Celebration at Kanglung under Trashigang Dzongkhag in Eastern Bhutan. It was a sea of colours,  pageantry, performances and national recognition awards and medals for many notable personalities. His Majesty the King addressed the Nation and His Majesty the Dharma King graced the Day. It was a day of spectacular events and surprises.

And yet the most spectacular and charming show was reserved for the end of the celebration. It was the Father and Son Kings walking along greeting lines of people who had come to be part of the celebration. The Father walked ahead interacting with the people with the respectful Son closely following in attendance. As the Father turned to greet someone else the Son changed his position to place himself behind so respectfully never obstructing the view and never allowing his shadow to fall on the Royal Person of the Great Triple Gem Father. I watched mesmerized as this peak of inborn culture of respect and discipline was so naturally and unconsciously demonstrated for the world to witness, learn and practise.

No wonder that the Dharma King so willingly gave his Crown to this People's King. This noble King though on the Throne holding the Sceptre of dynastic power  never forgoes the first and foremost Duty of a Son and the inherent responsibility of the Throne to the people and the sovereign Kingdom.

I pray to the Deities of Palden Drukpa to look after the Great Son and King of Bhutan.

An unforgettable Day the 107th Nationa Day.

The awe inspiring unexpected Royal Thoughts and Deeds of the People's King
on the 107th National Day at Kanglung.

His Majesty the King publicly acknowledged the Dharma King ( the 4th King ) as the Truelpa embodying the great qualities of the Triple Gem: Chhana Dorji, Chenrezi and Jampelyang.

A Royal thank you to a very deserving Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye the 1st Chief Justice of Supreme Court of Bhutan. It was emotional and certainly the epitome of his life long devotion and dedication to the Kings, the Nation and the People and to Judiciary of Bhutan. Congratulations Your Excellency !

The Prime Minister of Bhutan Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay was awarded a very rare life long honour of Liwang Scarf and Patang. His Excellency was clearly emotional on this auspicious royal trust and honour bestowed upon him. May Lyonchen Tshering Tobgay take the Nation forward along a fresh and united path. Congratulations Your Excellency !

I offer my admirations and congratulations to Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho, Lyonpo Sonam Kinga, Dasho Chewang Rinzin, Dasho Tashi Wangyel and all great Bhutanese and others who were honoured by His Majesty the King for their selfless service to Tsawa Sum on the auspicious 107th National Day.

I thank His Majesty the King for the way forward and the absolute royal hope and faith in the goodness and prosperity of the Kingdom for Greater Good of all Bhutanese.

The 107th National Day of the Kingdom of Bhutan. The Day of 17th December,2014.

National Day will be celebrated in all the 20 Dzongkhags, however, the main Event will be held at Kanglung under Trashigang the largest Dzongkhag of the Kingdom. In a way Trashigang is the heart of the East  the pulse of Sharchhok Khorlo Chhusum.

I look forward to the live telecast of the national event tomorrow. To me personally the celebration of the National Day in the  East means just more than a tribute to the past or the consolidation historic event of national administration under one Leader. It was a day that epitomised the collective national will to end internal strife and move forward in unison for greater good and prosperity of all Bhutanese.

I therefore pray that this 107th National Day Celebration held in the East is dedicated towards a fresh start to the national dream of greater good and prosperity for all Bhutanese with a renewed vigour.

I feel most grateful to His Majesty the King for the enlightened thought in making possible the celebration of this National Day in the East and further for the thoughtful arrangement to have the Dharma King ( the 4th King ) to grace the historic Occasion.

The Dharma King had put his own life on line to protect the peace, prosperity and happiness of all Bhutanese in the East, South, West and the nomads of extreme North. He fulfilled the Oath of his great Grandfather to protect the sovereignty of Bhutan whose people collectively entrusted this task to him and his Dynasty. The 5th King on the Dragon Throne His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck repeated the Oath of Commitment and Pledges of the 1st King His Majesty King Ugyen Wangchuck when he received with his heart, soul and spirit the 5 silken colours from the alter of Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel.

The first and foremost Duty of a King on the sacred Dragon Throne is to unite the people of Bhutan as one People one Goal and one Polity. And we the people of Bhutan and equal subjects of our King must discard old baggage of regionalism and political wounds of Election defaults that arise from democratic processes. Nation Building together for the equal benefit of the Bhutanese Society must be our collective pledge to ourselves and our Deities on the 107th National Day.

I look forward to consoling thoughts, words and wisdom of consolidated path to greater Nation and social dynamics.

May their Majesties the Kings and Queens of all generations live long and true. And may all Bhutanese once again from the bottom of our hearts renew our love and trust in the Wangchuck Dynasty represented in the royal person of the  People's King.

I humbly take this opportunity to pray and wish the Dharma King a very glorious 60th Birth Anniversary.

Pelden Drukpa ! Lha Gyel Lo ! ( May the Kingdom and her Deities be Victorious ! ).

Pray for resumption of electricity supply.

No electrical supply to parts of Jushina since yesterday evening. Waited over 2 hrs thinking repair would be under process. Then called 1250 several times. IThis number is a set up wall to diffuse complaints to frustrating silence. Finally got the local lineman number who hesitatingly let out the difficulty of getting maintenance unit assistance. Provided mobile number of Maintenance Head Mr. Sherab. It seemed he had been just informedabout the power outage. He said a team would be sent but no electricity supply even this morning.

These days people are dependent on electricity for cooking. And both yesterday and today are very cold days so heating is important.

Could BPC please pay some attention to socially low status customers. We do pay the same power charges though we are not able to give promotions and bestow honours .

An Analysis of the highly publicised Bhutanese Cabinet decision to sack 3 Government Secretaries from their Posts

1, The Government lamented the collective decision of the Committee of Secretaries ( COS ) that was arrived at after extensive discussions in 4 COS  official Meetings spread over 2 months October & November,2014.

2. The decision of COS is arrived by consent of majority members in the required quorum. There are 10 or more Government Secretaries so the quorum has to be 6 or more Members.

3.  It is most unlikely that none of the Ministers were informed by any of the Secretaries during the 2 months about the COS taking up the issue of BHEL and BVT.

4. One Government Secretary was named by  a legal Entity in India and by an ex-officer of Royal Government as being a party in the alleged hydro-projects financial scam. A registered Newspaper The Bhutanese had been carrying this allegation story in both print and electronic form for over 3 months now. Facebook was bombarded with it.

5, Against this back drop the Cabinet have had to have dwelt upon this accusation against the Government. And the Government Secretaries would be officially  and morally bound to discuss and decide the course of action. The allegation had to be investigated and culprits identified for legal and official action or the instigators of baseless allegations brought to task. You just cannot stay frozen when a Government Secretary is directly identified with a alleged huge financial scam.

6. The Prime Minister had told the Media quite sometime back that his Government was asking Anti Corruption Commission ( ACC ) and the Royal Audit Authority ( RAA ) to investigate. However yesterday the Cabinet revealed that it had not done so. The delay could only be explained if the Government had decided first to take up the issue with Government of India.

7. The BHEL ( The Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited) is a Government of India Enterprise. And only the Indian Government can obtain all necessary details of its operations regarding Supplies to hydro projects in Bhutan.

8. The registered Indian company ENERTIA that made the accusations against the Officials of past two Governments of both Bhutan and India of corrupt practices and identified the Bhutanese Economic Secretary as being among them is based in Mumbai. Again the Indian Government Cooperation is required.

9. An official letter of request was sent to this effect by the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Bhutan to presumably the Indian Ambassador in Thimphu. That is the established protocol. The Director General or Joint Secretary could have sent such a letter as per protocol ranking. However the RGOB had always treated the Indian Ambassador with extra courtesy so the Secretary must have signed the letter.

10. This letter could not be written without the knowledge of the Cabinet Ministers. Otherwise all the Secretaries would be sacked together for to quote, " running a parallel Government". Only 3 were selected and with unnecessary over the board publicity. The big question is Why.? Why?

11, There is one plausible answer. The letter was written on 2nd December and after 11 days on 12thDecember the Cabinet reacted in the most disoriented manner. The letter could have provided an opportunity for the present BJP Government to set in motion the Investigative Agencies on the past records of UPA ll  Government. After all the alleged corruption deeds took place during the previous Government. The present Modi Government cannot be accused of vindictive action because outwardly it is only obliging the request of a very friendly Country Bhutan.

12. Someone may have tipped off the PDP formed Bhutanese Cabinet on the political fallout upon UPA Government Officials. It was UPA that went to extra length in 2013 to help PDP and even committed Rs. 5 billion to make good PDP Campaign pledges.

13. The way out was to disown the letter. It cannot be withdrawn. So pick 3 Secretaries that had direct hand in writing the letter. The Economic Secretary for providing the material, the Cabinet Secretary who conveyed the Government order to the Foreign Secretary who took up the matter with Indian Government. To disown the baby the umbilical cord had to be cut. The Bhutanese confirms that the letter was copied to the Cabinet Secretary and as per official norm he would be made aware of action taken upon his directive.

14. The Cabinet Press Release states that the 3 Secretaries are surrendered for Royal Civil Service Commission's action and / or till the completion of ACC investigation of the allegations of corruption on the appointment of Bhutan Venture Trading as agent of Bharat Heavy Electrical Ltd..

15. It could mean that until things cool down the Secretaries are surrendered to RCSC and after the fast track investigation they could  rejoin or be transferred to other Ministries.

16. The Secretaries are appointed with the consent of the Throne and by the same virtue the Throne may have to be appraised of their removal  along with substantiated valid reasons. And doing their job or being picked up from amongst all Secretaries linked to the COS decision may just not be an acceptable or justifiable reasons to sack 2 honoured Red Scarf Officers and a 2 term  Foreign Secretary honoured with Patang and fringeless broad white Scarf.

Declarations:

The Secretaries are not related to me in any manner. I have not even met them officially or unofficially for many years.  And I do not believe that they are affiliated to any specific Political Parties. And in any case I have no attachments to Political Parties. My analysis is simply a political exercise to comprehend this thunder storm in the middle of a beautiful blue sky with the aroma of festival moods of approaching  National Day on 17th December an occasion to celebrate the historic Day with special emphasis once again on the 60th Birth Anniversary of the Dharma King who I believe possess the qualities of the Triple Gem.

P.S  I shall not be responding to any comments favourable or vicious except if officially demanded which I do not expect in a democracy.

The Ousting of 3 Government Secretaries Today by the Bhutanese Cabinet.

This whole episode is confusingly intriguing. The Cabinet Press Release the personal Facebook page of Prime Minister and the statements of Economic Minister on National Television seem to suggests a hurried or haphazard conclusion of a Hindi Cable Drama Serial winding up due to lack of  audience by killing all the main Characters. Now do we wait for a Press Conference from the now outlawed Committee of Secretaries?This is the Grand Tsechu of Bhutan Government. The Spectators are other Nations and we the people are the duped clowns.

Imtrat and the Dzong of Haa. Let's Face !

Recently the NC member from Haa Dasho Tshering Dorji raised the issue of Haa Dzong in the National Council. For countless times from those National Assembly times of another era and even during the reign of the illustrious Father of modern Bhutan, Haa Dzong was an issue raised by people of Haa and the Nation remained silent.

It is not just the Dzong but more significant is the area which comprise the heart of Haa Valley. Almost all Dzongs in Bhutan are built on sides of hills or on top of ridges and knolls but Haa Dzong is different. The old Dzong was smaller and it was built in the village of DungChhong. The new Dzong popularly known as DungChhong Dzong "Sarpu" ( Sarp means new.)  was built by the people of Haa during the time of the 2ndKing. It was initiated by Deb Zimpon Sonam Tobgay the father of late Prime Minister of Bhutan hon'ble Jigme Palden Dorji. It is located in  the front stage of the two auspicious hills of Chenrezi and Chhana Dorji. As you drive down to Haa Valley from Chilila Pass and get a bird eye view of the Dzong  area , you will understand what I mean. The Dzong was built for the purpose of Administration and designed to be the central hub of Haa Valley. It was not for the traditional role of Defence. It was for growth and prosperity.

The other name Wangchuck Lo Dzong that MP Tshering Dorji has cited means Wangchuck Training Dzong. Wangchuck is the Surname of of our Kings and Lo is Lobjong. It was named by late Prime Minister as a Military Training Academy to be managed  by IMTRAT for the interim period until RBA could take over. The Royal Bhutan Army since long time back acquired the skill and know how but instead of taking over the established Academy, a new Training Centre was built at Tencholing under Wangdue Dzongkhag.

It seems that at one time of Bhutanese modern history since 1907, the  administration of Haa Valley along with Southern Bhutan was left to successive Heads of Dorji Family. But some incidents seemed to suggest that not everything was within the family administrative domain. For example my great grand Aunty was adored by my Grandfather for fighting a legal battle in Paro Court under Paro Penlop jurisdiction, for seven years on behalf of the family. The process of arduous court case took heavy toll on the health of the family in terms of wealth and happiness but the incredible lady finally succeeded where men dreaded to venture. My mother always maintained that I was the gift that her father wished her on his death bed. My Grand Father had told my mother that," No daughter or offspring has been called upon to perform  twice over the duty to a parent  At this late stage of life all I can do for you is pray that you too receive a gift as precious as you have been to me." It seems that my Grand Father had a way with words to express his inner thoughts. I think the late Prime Minister too would not have forgotten the phrase the elderly man my Grand Father used to preserve the family right to grazing land. A man of frail health and incredible social and moral strength. I wish I was born in his time just for a glimpse of him.

In 1970 or early 1971 any way it was When His Majesty the King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck came to Haa for the inauguration of Haa to Chhuzom motor road. In his Public Address to the people of Haa His Majesty the King confirmed that the Dzong and the area surrounding the Dzong belonged to Haa and the Bhutanese Nation. It was not sold nor leased to the Indian Military Training Team ( IMTRAT ). The late Prime Minister Jigme Palden Dorji  on the exigency of the situation those days had used the Dzong to house IMTRAT which  came to provide military training to the Bhutanese Army. It was an act of interim measure to solve  pressing accommodation need. It is very possible that IMTRAT Institution would have a record of the Public Address given by the King at the ground in front of the DungChhong Dzong Sarpu.

In fact everything that followed since the Dzong takeover by IMTRAT suggest the temporary nature of their residency in Haa. The single storey Officers residences were also built by people of Haa under compulsory labour contributions by every household. I remember accompanying my elder sister early in the morning to help  with her daily quota of stone collection for the retaining wall. That time the woola dungnye ( labour clerk ) was the father of Madam Pem Sherab the one time Principal of Motithang  High School. He carried out the roll call and paid the wages. My boyhood picture of him resembles that of Dasho Karma Ura. No relation I suppose.

The Royal Bhutan Army was supposed to takeover the Training task from IMTRAT and land for proper establishment of RBA Cantonment in Haa was also contributed. But over the years so many unforseen internal events beginning with the assassination of the Prime Minister took place that diverted the attention of the King and meanwhile IMTRAT stayed on. IMTRAT was not supposed to make any permanent structures in Haa. The cattle of the surrounding villages grazed freely in the Dzong areas. Now IMTRAT has started wire mesh fencing and blocking all access. IMTRAT has also started constructing permanent RCC buildings. I do not know what has transpired between the Leaders of the Bhutan and India in the last several years.

Haa people including its NC member seems to be missing the larger picture and zeroing on to a miniscule goal the recovery of the Dzong structure itself.  IMTRAT does not need the Dzong Structure. Already the Utse the central Citadel is administered by Haa Dratsang. But IMTRAT would be most reluctant to surrender the Areas surrounding the Dzong that they had silently usurped over more than half a century. That's almost 50% of the reign of Wangchuck dynasty. You can call it the Indian Dynasty. Haa Dzong occupation by IMTRAT is just not a heart sore of only Haa people. It can turn to be a time bound cancer to sovereignty. And I am not an alarmist. A lot that I had pointed out has turned to reality.

For this weekend I think we have adequate fodder to feed on and reflect upon. So I choose to conclude here.

The 14th NC Session a demonstration of Quality

National Council concluded a very commendable 14th Session on 8th Dec,2014. Dasho Sangay Khandu a prominent 2nd term MP has even posted important agendas of the next 15th Session to ponder upon including  Amendment to Election Act.  This Session was remarkable. There was no resentment kind of difference with NA. The NC steered clear of Party Politics except maybe a tinge of forgiveable politics when some members defended the legality of BOiC using the passing of the budget as justification.

BOiC the Business Opportunities and Information Centre would benefit the development of private sector. Therefore it was very sensible on part of NC not to censure the establishment of the Office but direct the Government to get it formally approved. I think this thoughtful decision should go well with both the Opposition and the Ruling Parties as well as meet the legal requirement.

I still am wonder struck with the frank and honest NC observations on the Mining Status in Bhutan. It is a happy note that the Eminent members also shared the same anxieties as most other members. I have already shared, 2 weeks back, my thoughts in my blog on the proposed State Mining Corporation. It was very courageous of NC to highlight the wrongs of present practice of concentrating total national mining wealth  in the hands of few beneficiaries and call upon the Government to nationalize all Primary Mining Activities under the proposed State Mining Corporation. I also take this opportunity to express my admiration to the Royal Audit Team for exposing the unscrupulous management of Mining Companies.

I hope the Government heeds the brave and sound call of the National Council. If the Government is not ready to nationalize all Primary Mining Activities and stop renewing Mine Leases then the Government should not even talk about State Mining Corporation formation. Let the prevailing trend of enriching the few continue till they die out or the poorer majority disintegrate whichever happens earlier. The national mineral wealth is certainly a jewel . The question is for whom the jewel toils?

In my humble view,the House of Review and Law has kept the constitutional faith reposed unto it. The NC has demonstrated national responsibility and wisdom. Constitution and constitutional faith is not guarding past Acts intact in the name of the King. It is to carry out what must be done for the nation. Both the Constitution and His Majesty the King would want Democracy to succeed. Democracy is not an alternative to the Throne. I fear that there is a fatal misconception that needs to be removed.  Democracy in Bhutan is to further brighten the future and present progress of all Bhutanese under the auspices of the Throne and active participation of the people. If any democratic leader wants to serve the King and protect the Throne, then begin by first serving the people and the Kingdom that the King has sworn to serve and protect.

I humbly thank all the 25 NC members for adequately representing the King and the people whilst deliberating national issues and bringing out the resolutions.

Different System of Justice under same Law.

Statistical studies conducted on American law enforcement Agencies have revealed that on the average up to 45℅  killings by Police are not officially recorded. And there exist two criminal justice systems one for the rich and the other for the poor though the laws are same. This means the prosecuting Agencies and Police manipulate charges and evidences depending on the race,colour and wealth of the alleged criminals and the judges apply different yardsticks of law in dispensing justice.

What is the opinion of Bhutanese about our own legal system especially the criminal justice? If Bhutanese are afraid to comment publicly but wish to share facts write on my blog with request not to publish ( to access my blogspot simply type Wangcha Sangey ).

Double Shocker for the Government in Parliament yesterday the 5th Dec,2014.

The Parliament resolved that in regards to Budget and Appropriation Bill,these must be referred by the Speaker to the Parliamentary Committee. Till now the Opposition being in the minority position could not influence the Budget shape and National Council had no power to do so. On top of that even the MPs of the ruling Party had very little say in the matter of Budget. It was kind of prerogative of the Cabinet.

With this amendment the Government would be forced to consult its own MPs and also take into consideration the views of other Parliament members. In a way it was a boomerang effect. The Governments of past and present sometimes justified their lopsided decisions on the passing of the Budget Bill that MPs hardly had the time and background information to actually digest the implications.

The inexperience of the Government was highlighted with the Finance Minister telling the media that he had not been prepared for such a turn of event. The Government concern is genuine and valid. Now the Budget which is the hall mark of any Government of the day is going to be a kind of Coalition Budget forced on a single Party Government. Its a strange political demand on governance.  So where does this leave the democratically elected Government and its election commitment?

The other Shocker was the turnstile decision of the Parliament regarding the much vented vengeance against the resignation of former Prime Minister who had resigned after being elected as MP.  The proposed amendment would not have had financial impact on Lyonchen Jigmi Thinley even if it went through but it would have been a vengeance in the form of a kind of moral slap. However in its final decision the Parliament yesterday decided to endorse the right of an MP to resign. So its a kind of moral victory for the 1st democratic Prime Minister of Bhutan.

I always supported the resignation for the reason that it is the most advisable step for any Bhutanese if he is accused by Opponents as challenging the Throne. To remove any doubt simply remove yourself from any seat of political power including Party Presidential seat. Therefore I could never really comprehend the ulterior motive of the ruling Party and the National Council crying foul and demanding stiff penalties for resigning.

Regarding the post of Party President, I initially felt that he owed it to the Party supporters and the democratic voice to stay on but the subsequent uproar by ruling Party and Members in NC made me understand the necessity for him to resign from Party Presidency Post. It made no sense to even appear to be in a challenging position to the Throne that is the heart of national sovereignty.

I was initially anxious of the political situation after the 15 Points submission directly to the Throne by the DPT Party. If warranted it should have been to the Election Commission not that anything would have come out of it given the all powerful position the Election Commission  enjoys. But unwanted rumour would not have been fueled. So the news of the resignation was a relief to me. All I wanted to know was the procedure Lyonchen followed in leading up to the resignation letter, as it would indicate the political implication. I took upon myself to verify and requested for an appointment with Lyonchen Jigmi Yoeser Thinley. I said it was a courtesy call and I received an appointment.

His Excellency clarified that he requested for an audience with His Majesty the King. Unfortunately he was not able to receive an early audience and meanwhile the date for National Assembly swearing in ceremony for elected MPs was approaching. With just few days left he appealed for an audience with His Majesty the 4th King. During the audience he submitted his intended resignation and according to him, His Majesty felt it would be alright since he was no longer the Opposition leader. The DPT Party had already elected Lyonpo Pema Gyamtsho as their Leader in Opposition. 

I felt that he had followed the correct protocol procedure though I wish the audience with the King on the Throne had materialized. But there could have been many reasons including of the possible easy attitude of Dasho Secretary in the Royal Secretariat that could have resulted in delayed or no response.

I have chosen to relate this because in a calmer atmosphere now a little clarity may help. The complete turn about by the Parliament yesterday on MP resignation issue also suggest that realism had dawned.

I ask the readers not to read too much on my impulse to meet the resignation issue headlong. Its in my nature. I had confronted the Coordinator of Danida when the Office of Denmark in Thimphu tried to sow the seed of distrust and disparity among Bhutanese youths. Nobody asked me to do so.  As a Bhutanese I had to. Likewise I approached Lyonchen Jigme Thinley to find out how he resigned and whether he had followed the unwritten but sacred protocol decorum of the Kingdom. I thank both the Danida Coordinator and Lyonchen for agreeing to see me and provide insights. On both occasions we exchanged views in gentlemanly and cordial manner. I however apologise to Lyonchen for sharing in public what was a two person discussion.  It was not an interview. Simply a courtesy he accorded  as one fellow Bhutanese to another.

I will always put the welfare and stability of my nation before any self preservation thought. I am an insignificant person but the call of citizen responsibility will be answered till my last breath. I owe my self well being to this Nation, the Kings and my family. I cannot stay still or keep silent when nation changing events take place. It is my duty to tell the honest truth from my side and then accept what life shell out.

I feel  the breeze of national unity finally charming the forlorn willow of politics. I feel the sceptre of the Throne and the principle of Democracy together in united strength tilling the field of Democracy to produce national harvest for all Bhutanese. I feel the grace of Pelden Drukpa gradually steering the nation from senseless acrimony to wiser path. May we all be united in our love for the nation and desire to strengthen the sovereignty and overall welfare of Bhutanese of all walks.

Pelden Drukpa ! Lha Gyel Lo !

Bhutan is the national home of all Bhutanese.

"Whenever You Decide, You Divide." Kuensel  ominously headlines the interview with the  quote from the new Chief Justice. You read further and find its about winning and losing a court case. Even then the words Decide and Divide  on the nature of justice conveys an eerie or creepy sense of a foreboding warning when used by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court in his first interview with a national paper, upon ascending to the highest judicial seat.

The two Political Parties: the ruling and the opposition are in tearing and warring mood. One is accused of promoting anti institution wave whilst the other is accused of being do little witch hunters.

On the eve of the departure of Bhutan's second largest donor next to India, Danida  the oversea cooperation arm of Denmark, flags down the Kingdom of Bhutan with a book co-authored by a Bhutanese that records that a Danish team told the King of Bhutan that they do not like Monarchy.

Bhutan's ethnic troubles are far from over if Denmark and its allies were involved in the 1990 Southern Bhutan uprising with the call for democracy as the published excerpts from the Book seem to suggest.

I hope that Bhutanese of all walks of life regardless of caste, creed or race and religion awaken to the dangers we as a nation face. There will be differences within a vibrant society but the nation cannot be made divisive. Bhutan is the national home of every Bhutanese.

The political parties may be blinded with their party squabbles; the judiciary may be submerged in deciding and dividing and civil servants demoralised to inaction. Therefore  more Bhutanese from general populace must remain attentive. Democracy in Bhutan has a long way to go but gradually changes in overall outlook and concrete positive democratic principles will prevail. We need to give ourselves more time to develop trust in this new principle and way of governance.

I believe that Pelden Drukpa will remain vigilant and that His Majesty the King will put national goals before all other priorities. Bhutanese must choose our own national path from deep down our hearts and never at the prodding of others especially outside forces. We remain grateful to all the Donors for financial helps, the technical and human resource contributions, the institutional and infrastructural developments but we cannot become clones of their systems and pawns of their politics.

Do not feel small and do not feel big. Just feel Bhutanese to want to shape the course of your nation and shape your destiny.

Pelden Drukpa ! Lha Gyel Lo !

Ignorance is no excuse for any writer for gross misrepresentation.

Kuensel article of 29thNov,14 on Bhutan Denmark, the writer probably a young Bhutanese writes that in 1962 Bhutan had no health services and communication facilities and only 18% of rural Bhutan had reasonable and relatively unpolluted drinking water and administration system was rudimentary. Which caves could he have visited?  But leaving aside the humour please beware there are too many write ups on Bhutan by authors even Bhutanese officials who made too many guess works on Bhutan and therefore not reliable source of reference. 
The fact is in 1962 Bhutan was rural.  There was no urban centres as such. There was plentiful of clean drinking water because the streams,brooks and rivers were clean and bigger. There were medical services though only in pockets. We had then two medical doctors and one veterinary doctor and medical Assistants, few Dispensaries.  A national vaccination programme was also carried out.  And there was a well organised administrative system including National Assembly along with effective communication means though not mechanized. 

Civil Service Bench Marks?

The Finance Minister said that those Commissioners meaning those that the present System had nominated were the best out of more than 25,000 civil servants. This is a sweeping view of the Government. No wonder the Government did not think much of the civil servants when the legislators and the constitutional members were granted substantial pay increase. It seems the Government felt that apart from those few who have been now made Commissioners, the other civil servants did not qualify the Government's set standard. It is a difficult call for the civil servants who are required to remain politically neutral and yet qualify the expectation of a ruling political Party.

I have sympathy with pre- retirement aged Commissioners who have been left abandoned after service in the Commissions. It is a kind of fall from the grace through no fault of theirs unless they had earlier lobbied for commission post. I am  sure they are hard working. And definitely capable. But on what basis: academic, experience, examination or loyalty to Tsawa Sum are they the best among the 250000 whole lot? I assume that in the absence of any form of criteria conducted publicly, the yardstick used had to be political to determine the best suitable.

The Constitution and the Throne made political wedge of convenience.

It was said in the Parliament that amending the Election Act tantamount to looking the gift horse in the mouth. The Ruling Party felt that the opposition party was acting disloyally in endorsing the changes that a legislative committee had put up to the National Assembly.

On the other hand the ruling party amended the constitutional post holder rule against the objection of the opposition party. Does this mean that when amendment is made by the ruling party the changes are not against the Throne and when amendment is supported by the opposition party the changes are deemed to be against the Throne?

It is also confusing that the opposition party participated in the vote on amendment to election Act and the next day took upon the Speaker's stand made the other day just before the election act vote.

Why participate in the vote if the opposition felt that the Speaker was denouncing the party stand as anti- Throne? Why protest a day later if the Speaker's admonition was untrue. They should have walked out instead of voting.

Why did the ruling party amend the constitutional post holder rules if anything gifted by the Throne must be kept intact and changes viewed as being an act of disloyalty?

Are both parties out to discredit the Constitution and the Throne ? One directly and the other indirectly?

I feel that the path of democracy in Bhutan is being highjacked by party enmity and in the process the constitution and the Throne are being soiled. This trend of dragging the dignity of Throne into party squabbles is most unsettling.

The Bhutanese Parliament: Anti social culture and closed closets moral mentality.

Bhutan continues to have the same set of power brandishing and narrow minded Legislators under different tags. When it comes to Consensual Sex, they are even anti- offsprings.

Under Sex Education campaigns the students are taught how to practise safe sex. And when they do, they are prosecuted under spinster administered Laws. This is what is called national entrapment of the young generation.

The law says to the 18 year girl," Its alright to have sex." And the same law silently requires the girl to partner with the choice of the legislators. What really is love if there is no choice whom to love? What really is consensual if to whom you consent to is not acceptable?

We have legislators who take immense satisfaction in persecuting the society and imposing morals they never ever abide themselves. There is that unquenchable desire to dictate for the sake of being in position to dictate. And with democracy the trend is appalling like kids with match sticks.

Most women marry men who are senior in age and vice versa men usually have wives younger in age. Is it so difficult for the Bhutanese Legislators to comprehend as to why 16 or 18 years girls have consensual sex with older partners? The nature and culture has been functioning in this manner for ages all over the world. Being a different nation does not call for Bhutan to be the worst dictator in matters of social and love affairs.

Develop a healthy respect for love and sex. Be normal and let not your degrading harboured inhibitions that you suffered in the past now shackle the growth of a proper society. There is a huge difference in discouraging rape and outlawing love relation. Please stop pushing love couples over the cliff.

Do not wait for someone near to your heart to be jailed or hanged for loving. Grasp the wisdom to amend the Consensual Sex Law. Lead the Fight for youth and right to Love !

The ills of Consensual Sex Clause.

The Consensual Sex Clause under Penal Code needed to be amended to accommodate traditional social and cultural norms and reality of present level of human development in terms of general awareness,physical and intellectual faculties. It should never have been viewed as protecting male chauvinism. And yet that was what exactly happened to the Dagana Dzongkhag proposal for a revisit of the Consensual Sex Clause under the Rape Law. According to reports in the mass media the proposal for an amendment was allowed to be killed with a lone woman MP  voice of dissent in the National Assembly.

People have wondered why women do not generally vote for women candidates. Well this is the answer. Not many take time to consider the welfare of women in general. Rather they simply look across the aisle and see a male raising a sex or marital issue and blindly oppose it as a matter of equality principle.

This is similar to what happened with the issue of the right of a woman with a child born from an affair especially with the husband of a married woman . Women MPs at that time either put themselves in the shoes of the woman engaged in illicit affair or taking vengeance upon the erring man.  They never stopped even for a second to consider about the right and the welfare of the wife and the legitimate children when they demanded and got a legislation that allocated 20 percent of the man's income to the mistress for raising the illegitimate child. A man's income often is the only income of the whole legitimate family.

Yes a child regardless of legal status has rights and needs but what about the plight of the wife and children of lawful marriage. This law has not stopped extra marital affairs.  And lawful family members'  sufferings have multiplied because of love affairs between clever other women married or single and erring  insatiable husbands whose misdeeds are encouraged and rewarded by this legislation backed by women MPs. Today the legal wife pays the price of two other people side affairs through physical and mental torments and financial deprivation. The absurdity is that the same law legislated to protect single mothers favours the married man whose ego may be bruised but income supplemented if his spouse bears another man's child. To give some credit to those women legislators,maybe, in their personal experience of life, only single men had the potential to father illegitimate children. So they did not think of legal consequences to lawful wives and children.

In the case of consensual sex especially among the age bracket of 16 to 24, the law inflicts a heavy toll on young lovers in high schools or colleges.  This law cannot prevent consensual sex because very often consensual sex is not so calculated and planned as deemed by legislators. Love blossoms like Spring flowers as part of natural instinct and consensual sex follows. Why must the claws of law tear away the lives of say a 16 year pregnant mother and 19 year old father.

A re-visit of the Consensual Sex Clause could have alleviated such social dilemma where the young father is jailed for 9 years and the even younger mother abandoned to fend alone and helpless.  But an MP  bent on penalising the man crucified the  plight of the young mother on the floor of the National Assembly. This should not have been the Buddhist legislative mood towards love and life. It is a crime against the young generation.

Bhutan may be a white washed democracy until younger generation are given a fair consideration. In my younger days I was amazed when I read a news piece that related an incident in an American School where a male student of 13 Years was given one day paternal leave to meet his baby and the mother aged 16 at the hospital where the delivery took place. O.K Bhutan is not America but just the thought that historically the Declaration of Independence by American forefathers actually defined Democracy of modern days.

The other MPs of this Parliament also have a duty to correct the deficiencies of a past legislation. Does this law have to bite someone prominent and influential to warrant an amendment? That day will hardly come because mostly the defenceless become the victims since such people possess no paved escape route.

Was any kin and kith of prominent and influential jailed under the Tobacco Law?

It took a Royal Decree to end the sufferings of many ordinary humble citizens jailed under the draconian Tobacco Law.  Insensitive and harsh laws makes criminals out of otherwise humble law abiding people.  Now who will and can step forward to stop the legal persecution of consensual sex partners that is driving young couples to commit suicide or face heavy jail term for men and social and economic deprivation for young women? Again the poorer section of the population will have to pray and hope for respite from the Throne.

Do the leaders of today's power structure know that the 1st national highway from phuentsoling to both Thimphu and Paro was built on the back breaking labour taxes imposed  on all people of Bhutan from the Bhutanese lunar age of 15 and above. Three months of compulsory labour contribution tax from every adult member of a family went into laying the lifeline of modern Bhutan. And adult hood was fixed at the age of 15. Now what kind of moral authority is being exercised by the democratic  legislators on the age that was sanctified and taxed not just traditionally but also during the dawn of modern nationhood?

In the world today, the rule of the Kings are not generally favoured. Yet in Bhutan even though democracy was introduced by the King ,the people can be heard saying let's go back to the  old system. Some maybe saying it out of blind faith or loyalty or curry personal favours but many may genuinely be frustrated with irresponsible and unaccountable deeds of democratic leaders who exercise collectively the power of an absolute Monarch. But unlike the individual person of the King the democratic leaders cannot be individually held accountable let alone penalize. The history can record a King being great or cruel or kind but under democracy except for the Prime Minister,the legislators who collectively are more powerful than the Prime Minister escape any historical blemish for their blunders or collective tyranny.

The definition of frankly honest.

The agriculture minister admits the failure to sort out Tsamdro and sokshing grievances and apologised. That is a sign of accountability. Thank you Lyonpo for being frankly honest.

The NC chairman remarks that the provisions of 2007 Land Act that favours the Authority have been implemented and the provisions that favour the people have been with held. Thank you Chairman for being frankly honest and possessing the insight to the grievous wrongs and the courage to name it in public.

It may be possible and it may not be, to fulfill commitments but it is a better person to have the decency and the courage to admit the truth. It may be within one's power or it may not be but it is a conscious leader to point our national administrative flaws.

The Man of Bhutanese Judiciary.

Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye had an incredible service opportunity to serve the Kings and the nation. And he spent and dedicated all his heart and resources to fulfill the responsibilities that came with the opportunities. The Royal Civil Service Commission, the Royal Audit Authority and the Judiciary System have reasons to celebrate his tenures and miss his presence hereafter. He is one individual who took pains to learn more to serve better.

The International Agencies like Danida and Indian  Embassey who assisted the Judiciary System of Bhutan with Assistances in human resource development, judiciary capacity and infrastructure developments must have been amazed and impressed with the humility and earnestness of Chief Justice of Bhutan.

As a private citizen I thank Lyonpo for making the Judiciary procedures transparent and easily accessible from application forms and penal codes to guidance to actual Court Hearing procedures and steps. Only someone exposed to earlier traditional Court System would really understand and appreciate the incredible transformation that he sweated and cajoled to bring about. The path to Justice begins the moment people step into the Court Complex and the changes he and his team introduced over the years helped to bring about the friendly and comprehensible court environment.

Another memorable scene for me is Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye as the Chairman of the Constitution Drafting Committee standing day after day on the Parliament floor to carry out the historic task of trudging unknown and uneasy path of the Constitution of Bhutan. He deserved national thanks just for the extra ordinary patience and physical stamina displayed at that august Hall filled with mostly fresh recruits to national powers.  He got the Constitution passed and finally it was signed at a special ceremony at Tashichhodzong  right across the Parliament Hall where he  humbly, patiently and firmly stood to nurse the draft Constitution through the highest National Legislative Body.  Well Done Your Excellency!  And I just do not think its over as yet in terms of your service to the nation.

My respects to Your Excellecy and the legal fraternity you built under the guidance of their Majesties. And my regards to your family. Wish Your Excellency peace and happiness.

Vehicle Quota option a thoughtful mind.

The National Assembly on Vehicle Quota  discussion heard a very sensible and equitable suggestion. A product of thoughtful mind ! Option to utilize the Quota in form of vehicle import or take cash incentive of Nu: 160,000. It will take care of economically disadvantaged officers who cannot afford to buy a new car. It is time to practise democracy in administration and end the traditional practice of economic segregation that always favour the better off. For example only an officer who has a vehicle in one's name can claim mileage and not the person in the same grade but poorer. The poorer officer who does not own a car cannot use someone else's car and claim mileage for official tours. I appeal to the well paid MPs to have a heart for the civil servants this time. Please provide this Option and do not convert it into PDP  versus  DPT fight or National Council versus National Assembly. Thank you.

Welcoming President Pranab Mukerjee of India at Paro Airport.

It makes me wonder why the Bhutanese media and forums are engaged in some kind of justifications or is it searching for valid grounds in their Majesties the King and Queen of Bhutan personally  welcoming the President of India to the Kingdom at Paro Airport.

The President is Head of the Nation of India and nearing 80 in age. His Majesty is the Head of the Kingdom of Bhutan and far younger in age and also the host. So if it is unprecedented and out of established protocol of yesterdays, now simply get used to the new set precedent and set protocol as of this Presidential State Visit. How the Indian Delegation viewed the Royal Welcome is beyond the control or influence of Bhutanese media and national forums.

It did not occur to me that the Royal welcome was unprecedented, beyond established protocol or beyond call of duty. The first two things I was ignorant and as for duty, I feel once enthroned whatever a King does or states or commands are all part of being the King and therefore very much the Duty to the Throne of the Kingdom. A King could set precedent or new protocol but to say going beyond the call of Duty is rather a kind of blemish because the interest of the nation is a King's responsibility as well as it is of a common ordinary citizen.
I personally would have been more happy if the President of India also had a Khader in greeting our King and failing that maybe he could have accepted in his hands the offered welcome scarfs. However, I suppose lapses occur with age and protocol surprise. The problems with scarfs started with the visit of Prime Minister Modi. I had then said, maybe, leave out the scarf but then it is our culture and symbolism not that of India. And culture must be practised to preserve as part of national identity whether India or any other Country comprehends or appreciates.

The Launch of the 60th Birth Anniversary of The 4th King of Bhutan

The 11th November,2014 scene at Changlingmithang was massive and spectacular. The public turned out in thousands and in spectrum of colours. And entertainments vied in all forms of display,  tradition, culture and variety found in different corners of Bhutan.

His Majesty the King and the Government along with the people of all walks of Bhutanese life had wholeheartedly intended to grandly launch the Celebration of the 60th Birth Anniversary of His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck the 4th King of Bhutan. And the 11th November day at Changlingthang was simply that and may be more if the signs of the celebratory blue Thimphu sky is taken into our hearts.

The Launch of the 60th Birth Anniversary of the 4th King was well rehearsed and meticulously managed. Everyone involved in the arrangements and the participants must be as pleased as the the whole nation with the success of the day. I feel gratefully happy that a whole year is dedicated to celebrate the life of the 4th King. Sixty years is a huge part of a King's life ! And the accomplishments the King achieved  are stupendous and the monumental sacrifices he made for his people and the Kingdom are immeasurable.

A larger than life figure, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck is a national hero of different historic dimensions and aspects of national status and life. May His Majesty enjoy many years of happiness and may the flag of Pelden Drukpa continue to flutter high under the reign of his son, His Majesty King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.

How old is the 4th King on 11th November,2014?

Some say 59 years and some say 60 years. The difference in thought could be due to different traditions of counting age as well as the publicised celebration of 60th anniversary of Birth being launched today.

By western system, His Majesty is 59 years and one day old today. By our tradition the King is 60 years old and by Lombo of Haa and Paro, His Majesty would turn 61 years on 21st December, 2014. The King would be joined by His Holiness Jhe Khenpo Trulku Jigme Choedra and Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi  Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. The 21st December is also the Day of Winter Solstice as per western calendar though by Bhutanese calendar,the Winter Solstice Nin- Lok  is on 2nd January, 2015.

In my life experience, the age of 61 is a pivotal period in the life of a person especially for the man. If one can afford, offer prayers at holy sites or have prayers performed on behalf. Otherwise trust the recitation of Bratsa Guru to see you and your beloved ones through. Lams may retire to the practice of meditation for several months or the whole year. According to sage sayings the changes to life for men occur usually at the early stage of the year whilst for women the later months.

One offer prayers so that changes that occur may be on the brighter side of the life. And for Bhutan as a nation it is important to pray for brighter side for the Kingdom on the triple occasion of the three national figures turning 61 on 21st December,2014. May the Triple Gem Bless His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, His Holiness JheKhen Trulku Jigme Choedra and Her Majesty Queen Mother Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck. And may National Deities watch over this year of 60th Birth Anniversary Celebration of the 4th King.

Pelden Drukpa ! Lha-Gyel- Lo !

A tribute to 4thKing the Triple Gem.

The King of Bhutan has dedicated the whole year duration from 11th Nov,2014-to- 11th November,2015 for celebration of the 60th Birth Anniversary of his father the 4th King. I am sure many would compose in beautiful eloquence their words of love, appreciation, admiration and gratitude to His Majesty King Jigme Singye Wangchuck. Such words of  expressions and outpourings are inevitable.

I just wonder if as citizens one could take a forward step in life to practically commemorate the role of His Majesty the 4th King as the ever patient and loving Father. Be a shade better father, mother, spouse , son and daughter as a genuine and meaningful  tribute to the 34 years of reign of the 4th King. Such an effort would enhance our own family happiness and collectively bring the Country closer to national Happiness.

On the 60th Birth Anniversary, I wish for His Majesty to be blessed with the enduring occasions to enjoy the happiness of his loving family members and the peace and prosperity of his beloved Bhutan.

With deep gratitude and respects. Humbly Wangcha Sangey.

State Mining Corporation.

The Government has decided to weed out rat hole miners and protect good private players. This declaration made by the Economic Ministry was reflected by Kuensel in its front page Mining story on 4th November,2014.

It's now out in black and white. This Government will protect the rich resources of the powerful Private Mining Corporations and will nationalize small private mining enterprises

Several large Mining Corporations face closure of their lucrative Mines with the expiry of their leases. So the Government has come up with this State Mining idea to over ride the concerns of the Dzongkhags and renew the Mining Leases of the large Mining Corporations. If renewal is warranted why not just do it instead of obscuring the process through the grand delusion of State Mining Corporation. The proposal guarantees total leeway to large Private Mining Companies by removing even the present small scale competitors and circumventing the policy of local governments.

If nationalization was done without exception or segregation into so termed Good Private Players and Rat Hole Miners, one would be tempted to think that the national leadership is serious about enabling all Bhutanese to share national wealth from mining minerals in a sustainable manner. But this policy to encourage large private mining enterprises to go ahead and terminate the leases of small mining parties simply highlights the trend of the affluent trampling over the lower rug of the society. Such national scale corruption cannot be controlled by the Anti-Corruption Commission. 

Please do not compare income from sale of minerals with that of electricity. The investment in  hydro- Projects are highly inflated by system corruption and the export price is dictated by India. Water used for producing electricity simply will flow away to the Bay of Bengal even if not harnessed. Bhutan cannot retain river water so advisable to beneficially use it on its way out of the Country.  Also water comes from snow and rain and protecting our hills instead of demolishing for onetime export of minerals would preserve our water sources. Large scale mining will cause environmental degradation that the young Himalayan eco-structure cannot endure. The southern part of Bhutan is already sinking in many areas and major land slides occur every year. Mining will make such natural disasters more prevalent. Major mining activities in the north will destroy the rain catchment hill ranges and cause water shortages not just for hydro- projects but for irrigation and sanitation and drinking water supply.

It is a pity that for all the talks of future of the Nation as a whole, the policies expounded are for benefitting few to reap ill gotten wealth from monopoly of exploiting national  mineral resources.  The selfish greed of the few could cause national grief for the majority if not wisely restrained.

Would India disrupt Bhutan China Border Negotiation?

The Indian Newspaper The Telegraph carried a front page article on the forth coming  visit of the Indian President to Bhutan in its issue of 28th October,2014. It says that the visit is about Indian anxiety on the progress of China Bhutan Border Talks. President Pranab Mukerjee arrives on7th and leaves on 8th November.2014. Would he demand Bhutan to obstruct border negotiations with China?

India had been controlling the Sino Bhutan international boundary Talks through its iron grip on Bhutan's economic and communication dependence on India. The writer Charu Sudan Kasturi cites the case of India withdrawing subsidies in 2013 to warn Bhutan against normalising relation with China.

The China Bhutan Border Talks have been going on for decades. China has been quite sincere and mostly positive in conducting the international boundary negotiation with Bhutan. And Bhutan on the other hand has been trying to delay the progress for many years at the insistence of India. How long can Bhutan defy the patience of China and to what national benefit? The next step after signing international boundary agreement with China would be normalising relationship between the two Countries.

And that is what India wants to stall or prevent. A diplomatic level relationship with China would forever consolidate the sovereign status of Bhutan. Bhutan would no longer be easily available to act as political pawn or  surrogate for India in  sensitive international politics. That is a fact. However, Bhutan's corner stone foreign policy of friendship with India will not alter. India will remain Bhutan's most desired benefactor. Geographical access, language and social behaviour naturally bring Bhutan closer to India. So India will be more dominant than China in Bhutan's priority. At the other end of the scale it would be suicidal to keep snubbing friendly overtures from China.

Unfortunately India and many other Western Nations and their Allies in South East Asia including Australia and Japan do not want China to develop progressive relationship with Bhutan. On the other hand these same Countries have gone all out to develop their own political and economic ties with China. So they are not containing the influence of China in international affairs but they are curtailing the progress of Bhutan. It is necessary that Bhutanese Leaders counter the isolation of Bhutan from China by vested interests of India and other pro Western groups of nations. Bhutan cannot be " A Tool of Irritant ' for anti- China forces.

The Telegraph article on the eve of the visit of President of India to Bhutan is a deliberate political attempt to misconstrue the facts about China Bhutan international boundary Talks. The article alleges that China is offering more land to Bhutan at certain point of Sino-Bhutan border in exchange for some adjustment at the Tri-junction border of India, Bhutan and China. This is a a desperate strategy on part of India to thwart Sino Bhutan progress in boundary Talks.

The actual fact is that India wants Bhutan to demand more land from China at the Tri-junction.  India is very well aware of the historical facts of British Raj days in India. As much as the Kings and the Kingdom of Bhutan want to comply with Indian dictate,historical facts cannot be changed by Bhutan. The British Raj grabbed the Duars from Bhutan and made the Duars part of India. The Tri-junction  is part of annexed Duar region and part of it was sold by British Raj to China Tibet after it was annexed from Bhutan.

Now how could Bhutan reclaim this portion of land from China when she cannot reclaim her Duar regions from India? The Tri-junction is a strategic point and neither India nor China would surrender even a square inch of their land to each other or to Bhutan . If Bhutan continues to postpone the finalization of international boundary with China,the King of Bhutan has to be aware that the Kingdom will not get the relaxation that China had so far accorded on the disputed Sino Bhutan border.  And history will reflect badly on the legacy of the so far much admired Wangchuck dynasty for testing, at the behest of India, the extreme limit the benign policy of China towards Bhutan.

President Pranab Mukerjee is an accomplished leader of India. No one can cast doubts on his nationalistic insight and foresight especially on China and India border dispute. He and another notable Political  Leader of India  late hon'ble Shri Basu of Communist Party could have been the Prime Ministers of India but for the obstructions from their own respective Parties.  So he is of the highest political calibre to understand that even without coming to Bhutan that Bhutan is in no position to take Chinese land to enhance the strategic interest of India.

President Pranab Mukerjee was the then the  Minister of External  Affairs of India when the 4th King of Bhutan pleaded with India in 2006 for renegotiation of 1949 Indo Bhutan Treaty. What concession did he consider for Bhutan? Why was the clause regarding the Duars annuity payable by India to Bhutan removed from the renegotiated Treaty? The Kingdom of Bhutan was obliged to forgo its past losses in the bargain to regain authority over its present and future Sovereign Affairs. But in realty Bhutan lost out on the Duars annuity and India still insist on directing Bhutan's external affairs. India even took the unprecedented step to intervene in the General Election of Bhutan in 2013 as recorded in the Telegraph article.

When will India and Bhutan respect the spirit and the letter of the re-negotiated Indo Bhutan Treaty that was in fact signed by the present President of India and the present King of Bhutan in 2006.

Their Majesties the 5th King and the 4th King have all the respects and obedience of the Bhutanese people but how does India expect the Kings to overlook the security interest of their own Kingdom and people and continue delaying the settlement of China Bhutan international boundary.

India is an old and dear development benefactor of Bhutan. No Bhutanese can discount this fact. However can any Bhutanese put his head in the mouth of the lion in the north at the roar of the tiger from the south? My own answer is no even if the tiger does pose danger to my assumed secure position. Actually without real sovereignty there cannot be secure position for anyone in Bhutan; only a deluded sense of hanging on borrowed time and position.

The international Sino Bhutan boundary is being demarcated by two technical survey teams of Bhutan and China. The Indo Bhutan international boundary in the west and south of Bhutan was demarcated by the Survey General of India.

Bhutan and India are yet to resolve the international boundary in the East of Bhutan primarily because the Survey General of India could not arbitrarily demarcate the boundary of Arunachal State which is also claimed  by China.  According to Chinese map of Bhutan, substantial land area of Bhutan is presently occupied by the  State of Arunachal. Would India be prepared to give back Bhutanese land?

The paradox is that there are three maps of the Kingdom of Bhutan. One is Indian version,the other is Chinese version and one that Bhutan adopted several years back at the later stage of the reign of the 4th King. The ideal solution would be for China to give to Bhutan whatever the Indian map shows as being Bhutanese land along the Sino Bhutan boundary. And India should also give to Bhutan whatever land the Chinese map shows as Bhutanese land along the Indo Bhutan boundary. As a gesture of goodwill to Bhutan's two neighbours, the King of Bhutan could advise the Bhutanese Parliament to sanction joint patrolling with China along Sino Bhutan international boundary and joint patrolling with India along Indo Bhutan international boundary. That way both China and India would not be aggrieved for accepting both the version of Bhutanese international boundary maps prepared by their own national Survey Agencies.

I invite the three nations to consider the ideal solution. Both China and India could return the whole of ancient Bhutanese land to Bhutan. And participate with Bhutan to patrol the respective border regions. That way the land China returns to Bhutan cannot be used by India and the land India returns to Bhutan cannot be used by China. A real politics of status quo put in actual real life practise could provide for peace of mind of all three neighbours.

I urge Bhutan to finalize the Sino Bhutan international boundary. The issue has been  straggling over three reigns of Wangchuck dynasty since 1970. Also as successive leaderships of Bhutan have reiterated, the friendship with India must remain the corner stone foreign policy of Bhutan.  However, China has the vast potentiality to also assist Bhutan to economic prosperity and economic development must be the central goal of a least developing nation like Bhutan. Right now Bhutan is the only SAARC Country and maybe the only UN Member which does not pursue an  internationally respectable status relationship with its immediate northern neighbour China.

India under Shri Modi leadership has gone  all out to woo Chinese investment in India. Prime Minister Modi of India accorded a huge welcome to the President of China even whilst Chinese and Indian troops stood at close hostile encounter positions on the line of disputed Himalayan border.  This is one lesson that Bhutanese leadership could put in practise in Bhutan's relation with China. After all , is not the new Indo Bhutan Big Brother Theme : Bharat for Bhutan and Bhutan  copycat Bharat?

Pelden Drukpa !  Stay Vigilant !

The Election Act amendments I wish :

1. The Primary Election should be entirely between Political Parties. Identification of Candidates helps Party campaigning but it should not be made mandatory for Political Parties to nominate their constituency candidates to qualify for participation in the Primary Election. The Election Commission had come up with this rule on the eve of Political Party registration for Primary Election in 2008. I suspect it was to prevent a third Party registration that would compel the holding of the Primary Election. A direct General Election must have  suited the interests of  DPT, PDP and the Election Commission convenience. Thus Democracy in Bhutan was compromised from the onset.

Primary Election is for propagating the Parties and their manifestoes which will be evaluated by voters all over the Country.  It is the opportunity for voters to choose their preference of Political Parties. During General Election, more emphasises are on Candidate preference. In 2008, there was no Primary Election but the way people voted, it was made a Primary Election between Political Parties. The scene in 2013 was different. The people voted for the Parties in the Primary Election and Candidates in the General Election.

2. Get rid of this requirement of mandatory nomination of 47 Candidates for Primary Election. It will resolve two thorny issues:

           a) The similar case like DNP and PDP successful Primary Candidates teaming up under one Political Party banner for General Election will not be repeated again.
           b) There will be no scarcity of Candidates for the General Election. Instead there will be a rush for Candidate seats of the two winning Political Parties qualifying for the General Election.         There will be no need to relax rule on resignation of civil servants for participation in the Election.

3. The Campaign Election Expenditure limit has to be legally enhanced. The present limit is ridiculously low and being violated by all and worse Election Commission turning a blind eye. Otherwise both General Elections would have been declared null and void.

4. Asset declaration is good and disassociation from business operation or  management a must. But why demand nullification of business licence when it is well known that the business licences are simply transferred to the next of kin? Its all so superficial and unnecessary paper works.

5. Make it possible for aspiring Candidates to participate in the NC Election. The National Council Candidate should not need the endorsement of the specific chiwog or geog  after all the Candidate is to represent the Dzongkhag not just a particular chiwog or geog. Allow any and all otherwise qualified  candidates to stand for National Council Election from their respective Dzongkhags.  This will make it possible for the voters of the Dzongkhags to exercise their real choice.  The franchise of all voters of a Dzongkhag should not be allowed to be  compromised and curtailed by narrow politics at Chiwog and Geog level. The Chiwog and Geog can exercise their full power in the election of Tsokpa and Gup.
If endorsement is necessary to limit the number of candidates then let the aspiring NC Candidates prove support from a minimum of say 150 voters from within the Dzongkhag

6. No Vote Button:  There is a need for registration of NO VOTE in the local and General Election if a voter does not like the Candidates presented.

7. Party Alliance. A re-look is necessary on the Party Alliance for the General Election. During the second General Election,the Election Commission with much reservation permitted successful Primary Election Candidates of DNP to join PDP Political Party to combat DPT Political Party. The merger of successful candidates of two Political  Parties had all the hall marks of Party Alliance.  It will create a level political field in amending the Election Act to permit Party Alliance or a third Party participation by amending the Constitution.  It is damaging to the process of genuine democracy to leave room for Election Commission discretion in such pivotal criteria in the midst of a National Election.

8. Voting from Place of Residence.  This should be feasible if EVM is  used. It will save time and money for voters and therefore logistically encourage more voter participation in elections. It will do away with postal ballot for residents in Bhutan. It will ease political pressure on voters. If voting from place of residence is not allowed then disallow the use of EVM to prevent possible electronic tampering. The paper ballot and boxes are more general voter friendly and satisfying.

There are few voices advocating doing away with Party Tsokpas to prevent local acrimony. That maybe wishful thinking because political election by its very nature will cause grievances and intense diverse views among the communities. Democracy leads to Party Politics. And rewards, acrimony and vendetta are part of Politics. There is no such thing as clean or neutral Party Politics.

What is wrong with Bhutanese Politics is not the fights and disagreements between the two Political Parties to protect Party turfs nor the the rewards to arch supporters by the victorious Party. The evil lies in the  concept of national sovereignty and democracy that is being unfortunately redefined. And in the long run the nation will face unpleasant consequences because the Political Parties have chosen to transgress into the otherwise the two sacred pillars of Bhutanese nationhood: The Sovereign status of Bhutan  and the Throne.

I would like to express my admiration for  the immense efforts made by the Election Commission and its team in conducting the various Elections. It was admirable. However, there are rooms for not just improvement in the procedures but also on general national directives for much needed  enhancement of more beneficial process of democratic principles. It would be self defeating for Election Commission to cold shoulder any suggestion of amendment to Election Act.

Amendments should not be brought about for narrow political interest nor it should be so looked upon as such. Rather amendments should be for betterment of ways of doing things in the general interest of the nation. In a young developing democracy,there will be changes in rules and principles because Bhutan is entering a new political world after centuries of one powerful leader after another rule even before Shabdrung time. The objective of amendment cannot be to dilute the power of an Agency but rather necessary progressive changes with lessons learnt from actual practices.

I should end with wishing the Parliament Good Luck but on a second thought the Parliament does not need luck. It is all powerful to do as it pleases whether more pay and perks or realign national goal to individual path. So I will wish Good luck to the Bhutanese Nation and hope that more forward looking MPs are able to have their voices not just heard but have the impact translated into national Policies.

This is my submission to the Legislative Committee of the Parliament, the Political Parties and to the honourable Members of NC and NA and to all politically conscious citizens. It is an honest exercise of humble responsibility of a citizen when granted the opportunity.

Pelden Drukpa Stay Vigilant !

Gungtongpas the imagined social thorns of Eastern dzongkhags.

Gungtongpas  the imagined social thorns  of Eastern dzongkhags.

Reality is that East has the largest population and if not from the East then where else people will be coming to inhabit the urban centres that government has built on the farm lands in the West and South. Should people of neighbouring countries fill our towns?

There is a lot of grumbling from the local authorities of the East against those who move to greener pastures. They give a lot of reasons such as community development and labour taxation but the actual reason is that they have less people to boss around.

The rural communities in the West and in the South of Bhutan also suffer the same problems of community development and labour shortages and these regions as yet do not have gungtong  problems as such. There will be migration to the urban centres because jobs for educated young generation are in the commercial and urban centres. And older parents move for family togetherness,to take care of home and children of employed family members and for overall sustenance of livelihood.

Bhutan has to come to social ,political and economic terms with the unavoidable trend of migration. Just as community schools are being closed due to dwindling number of students so must community needs be based on actual requirement. Maybe the rural settlements need to be merged to facilitate concentration of development of infrastructures. Why have so many small villages scattered all over the country? Create a model farming village in the same geog or Dzongkhag and offer the opportunity to settle within a larger community.

Those who want to farm,let them farm on the most fertile lands and those who seek other means of legally permissible vocations for livelihood let them do. Do not hinder them. The ancestral family homes and land are roots of anchor for the migrants regardless of their place of residence. Do not think of confiscating
the the ancestral holdings of the gungtong as thoughtlessly suggested by some. The ancestral home and hearth inspire the national sense of belonging and duty. Forgo pettiness for overall national peace and stability. Do not be too eager to uproot Bhutanese in the Kingdom of Bhutan

In which ever part of the Country we reside, we are still all citizens of the same nation and King.. If there is so much local animosity against gungtongpas then what about those that try to find livelihood outside the country. Local resentment may be are being aroused by local officials who may be engaged in accruing illicit gains on the pretext of absent gungtongpas.

Sangey of Haa Wangcha 23rd Oct,2014

The Government of Contradiction.

This Government is going all out for second hand electric cars supposedly to reduce fossil fuel import and promote clean environment.

That's great but why is the same Government promoting Motor Bike tourism? Recently I saw a group of foreign tourists of motor bikers and there are others coming in. Motor bikes are terribly noisy,consume fossil fuel and extremely dangerous to already congested narrow mountain roads. If Bhutan is serious about its environment and curtailing its fuel consumption then motor bike tours and car rallies must be banned.

Taxi service provide substantial employment to many Bhutanese. However the Government has now closed this opportunity to low income Bhutanese. You cannot register a taxi unless it is an electric car. The electric cars are second hand and very expensive . It really seems that the  policy is only to promote business of existing electric car agency as so claimed by many.

The Government is promoting motor bike tours and it permits so many fossil fuel consuming motor vehicles of Indian ownership to ferry tourists in Bhutan. And yet job starved Bhutanese cannot register motor cars for taxi service unless the car is electrically powered.

The Government knows that taxi service provides major private employment. Many poor urban families are solely dependent on income from the taxi. The taxi drivers even receive royal audience once a year because the King recognises the social and economic role the taxi drivers and their families play in supporting the policy of self reliance. In Bhutan taxis are individually owned and driven unlike in other countries where most taxi services are run by companies.

The Government is in blatant breach of national faith because it imposes second hand electric cars dumped by developed nations upon Bhutanese citizens especially targeting the large taxi community. And on the other hand the Government encourages foreigners to visit Bhutan on motor bike tours and private motor vehicles from India to ferry tourists in Bhutan.

TAKE MY ADVICE WILL YOU PLEASE?

On this spur of moment I share with all parents an advice. The greatest gift that parents can gift to their children is love and trust among the siblings.

Parents can not make the full journey with their children and even accumulated wealth wear away with time and trouble.  However brothers and sisters will be there together for the long haul. Love  and trust fostered at early age will sustain them in their trials and differences.

I am most indebted to my parents for the bonds of sibling love that they sowed and nurtured among us the children. And as parents, I and my life partners endeavoured to pass on this gift to our 8 children. It is my hope and prayers that we succeeded. And I wish every parent who read this achieve the same.

And for all our children and that of children of all parents,I want to say that the  deepest love and tribute that you can offer to us the parents lies in enduring that sibling bond nurtured under the loving wings of your Dads and Mums.

The 3rd Royal Nuptial Anniversary.

The 13th October 2014 marks the 3rd anniversary of the royal union. On this historic occasion I pray for the unity, peace and prosperity of all the 20 Dzongkhags of Bhutan under the reign of their Majesties the King and Queen of Bhutan. May our King and Queen also enjoy personal happiness and contentment. With deep respects.

The Rs.240 Million Hydro Commissions

Quite a number of people are highlighting this case. The news is based on  an  Indian journal called Enertia story on BHEL which was copied by The Bhutanese a weekly newspaper in Bhutan. Again according to The Bhutanese, the Bhutanese Government has now decided to look into these allegations.

The case is becoming quite an intrigue because it is already alleged that the firm that got the commission in Bhutan belongs to a Supporter of the present Opposition Party. I suppose the ruling Party would be keen  to nail few opposing politicians. Till  now I have followed the case in the Facebook but could not really fully bank on the source. I have no idea of this Enertia journal. However if the Government has told The Bhutanese that it would investigate the case then the Government must have had its own source of verification.

What I know of Indo- Bhutan dealing is that in almost all bilateral agreements including hydro projects, it is India that decides and Bhutan consents. If a Bhutanese party had been paid by BHEL then Parties in India have to be paid. Why nothing has been mentioned by Enertia or The Bhutanese about commissions paid in India?

If at all  a Bhutanese party had  been paid commission to secure supply contract on monopoly basis for BHEL then the Indian side would have to have been taken care of much before and logically the commission has to be more than 3 times because the entire funding of hydro project comes from India both in the form of loan and grant. India holds both the purse string and the ultimate authority.

Up till the RGOB decision, this accusation in the media against the Bhutanese firm may  have been just bad press or vindictive rumour.  Now it has moved away from speculations to hard reality with every  word and action accountable. According to The Bhutanese, the Government would be using or rather requesting ACC and RAA to implement its decision. It would be interesting to see how the Government of Bhutan paves the Indo-Bhutan bilateral berth necessary for the two Agencies to operate or manage their tasks.

Somehow I feel that it will be a case of lot of thunder and no rain. But one can never be sure where anything leads anywhere in this political environment. There will be kickbacks and commissions in most projects and the amounts will increase with the size of the projects. But proving what, who and how takes more than a single letter in possession of Enertia which  could also change sides. Truth if it can be dug up would provide relief to the innocents and catch the real culprits.

BHUTAN and UN Membership Day

On 21st September,1971, the Third King of Bhutan achieved the national dream of all Kings and the Bhutanese citizens. Bhutan was admitted into the august hall of sovereign nations- The United Nations. It is not possible to comprehend how on earth the Bhutanese King persuaded India to assist him to get his Kingdom into the membership of United Nation ?

Today Bhutanese leadership is unable to even glance at another nation without the approval nod of India. It seems that the euphoric D- Day of September,1971 has somehow got waylaid and ambushed even though in paper the Indo-Bhutan Treaty of 1949 has been suitably amended several years back to enhance Bhutanese control over Bhutan's external affairs.

I vividly recall that UN celebration day at Lungtenphu, Thimphu in September,1971. His Majesty was in high royal mood. It was also my first experience of seeing the King and the Queen of Bhutan together arm in arm.  Her Majesty Queen Keasang Choden Wangchuck and  entourage arrived at the celebration ground and His Majesty King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck went forward towards the Entourage ,received his delicately beautiful Queen and  gallantly  escorted her.  It was a picture of national unity on such an important and auspicious national Day.

Several decades have passed by since that great day when the very heart of a great Monarch fluttered with joy and expectations for his nation and citizens. The Dragon was at its glorious peak.

The days of Camelot is no more. Bhutan has undergone internal political changes. The Law of the King has been converted to Constitutional Law that is Gyelthrim to Tsathrim. However the King can still guide the nation and his citizens with the spirit of D-Day of September,1971 and secure dignified sovereignty in the external affairs of Bhutan. 

The Constitution enshrines the royal institution and royal prerogatives
( Gyal-ju and Wongchha ). The introduction of Democracy has not relieved the dragon throne  from the duty of protecting the dignity of the Kingdom even while democratic leaderships seeks comfort in bilateral appeasement with India. Political serfdom was never the part of the traditional Bhutanese  characteristic even though it is human to desire material wants. Money and power is everything except for love,respect and freedom.

Wishing all Bhutanese a very happy UN Membership Day Celebration in your hearts. Remember and cherish with pride 21st September,1971 when the Dragon roared his own flame.