A life sets with the passing away of the best of friend. Dearly missed ' Goup ' Tshering Wangchen.

A friend, a very best friend dear Tshering Wangchen. Yours was quite a turbulent life but somehow you faced it with your own choosing. A personality of different seasons and a true friend of all seasons that's who you have been. Different personality because you had to adapt to vicious seasons of life but kudos because you still survived with your honest simple heart and character. A friend of all seasons because you remained the very same Tshering Wangchen whether you were in the royal environment at Samteling Palace or in Dhobjee village environment.

Nothing stood between us. You understood my disciplinarian ways and I comprehended your carefree almost irresponsible attitude to life and living. Your character was shaped by the lush rich golden rice fields of beautiful Paro valley and mine by the icy stark blue but heavenly valley of Haa.  You loved life in whatever manner. You loved archery, songs and dances and pretty good in all yourself.  It shocked me to the core when informed 4 days too late. I wish I had the privilege of standing by your bedside before you left for your next abode. 

I feel very sad maybe more of loneliness. Yet as memories flash by there are so many that makes me smile. 1965 at North Point School, the Sisters ( Nuns ) from Kerala complained about our names Wangchen and Wangcha being too confusing and we thought the Kerala  tongue just impossible to decipher. At Ugyen Wangchuck Academy, Paro when I decided that I was fed up with the group punishment. Morning study was one hour duration 6:30 to 7: 30. But our Principal decided to count the time starting with the last arrival and so the study never ended at 7: 30. One morning I walked out at 7:30 and sure enough Mr. Filby ordered me to get back because last arrival was timed 15 minutes late. I refused and got into a debate with him on the irrationality of group punishment and life being largely individual liability. A few minutes later you had walked out and the Principal told you to get back into the study hall. And you protested saying that I was already out there.  From that morning, it was one hour study for all with own timing and surprisingly even our friend Tally started coming at 6:30 am sharp. Actually no one wanted to be late for breakfast served immediately after the study. Ha ! Ha! Students always have hungry stomachs.  Another was when your wife of original Love passed away. It did not sound incredulous then but every time I recall how you broke the news to your son who had just come from the school in India baffles me. You said, " Son, you know Happy Hunting Ground? Mummy has gone there ". I guess we really enjoyed as students those Cowboys and Red Indians movies and you like Red Indians just related Heaven to Happy Hunting Ground. And that's really the whole of You: Simple,Straight and Uncomplicated.

Then more than 16 years ago, you shocked me by turning up most unexpectedly during one of the 21 days period of my mother"s last rites. My shocked reaction was, " Tshering, you are not supposed to be here ". And you calmly replied, " I knew you would say so but don't worry, I took necessary permission." I was glad to see you though apprehensive about your personal well being. Thank you my friend for being there.
Mom knew of you as my first friend beyond Haa valley.

Yes. There are so many instances of the past that makes me smile even in grief.

I often wondered why Fate made life so complicated for such a simple honest person. It was fine and smooth sailing until your wife of original Love passed away. Then came the short period of your crazy love that led to insane deed which undid the anchor of your family. Years later you found another Love and this time thankfully you loved sensibly and found some steadiness in your life.

You are survived by your three children of original Love. I really admire them. They were put under tremendous strain at such tender ages and they have come through wounded probably but far stronger and healthy in all sense. Your daughter from second wife is beautiful,too. Then your wife Rinzi Pem and the two children son and daughter. The elder four are well settled and do not worry about the younger two. Your eldest of children wonderful Deki who I think later became your life anchor says she and others can take care of and guide the younger two whom you  already have nourished and guided up to their High Schoolings.

There is not much earthly worries that you leave behind. They will miss you as much as you are fond of them. But your families especially your six children are closely knitted together. I guess you know that. And I was so happy to hear that your friends from Dhobjee Village came in droves to mourn for you and stand by your large Family. Your wife tells me that on the third day of your 11 days illness, your condition  panicked her and she called home. And in about 2 hours or so, 29 men from her village barged into your chamber brushing aside the Thimphu Hospital security staffs and pleas from your family members to respect the hospital rule. They told Deki your daughter " Sorry, we owe your father too much to stay away from him at this stage of his life ". And this scene was repeated even in the wee hours of that fateful Sunday when you chose to fade away.  How very, very wonderfully touching ! 

Its your Dhobjee group led by your friend former Dhobjee Lam, your grandson Truelku and others who are leading the prayer rituals all the way to the 21st day.

And my friend, you must be in double Heaven with the honour that our great King His Majesty Jigme Singye Wangchuck accorded to you on the 4th day. The 4th day into the after life world is said to be the awakening and realisation day of one's change of state. So possibly you were spiritually conscious of the Royal Blessings. His Majesty visited your bereaved Family where also you had laid in state. His Majesty had your wife, all your children and grand children seated in his audience and shared those tales of our incredible youthful happy memorable days at Ugyen Wangchuck Academy. I am told that it was His Majesty who graciously told Deki to inform me of your passing away. How so very thoughtful His Majesty still remains ! I never faltered in my faith and respect for our King but this incredible epitome of Love and Kindness shown to you and your Family by His Majesty is just beyond humane humanity. I have bowed to the Royal Person but never to the Royal Portrait. But I have started since I heard of the event. The King is Buddha alike so like Buddha statue is HM portrait. I am so happy and feel honoured because you were so richly honoured by our great King and Guru.  With such a Blessing from a kind of living Chenrezi, your soul would definitely be in Heaven. I feel like congratulating you on your death but I miss you my dearest friend.

You had passed away in the early hours of Sunday the 14th of February, 2016 at around 1.30 am, Deki tells me. I got the shocking news on Wednesday evening. On Thursday I got the opportunity to greet and pay my respect to you and be among your Family sitting around you as the monks chanted and offered lunch to you. The monk reading the Vardo Thudruel was into the 7th day passage.  I had to whisper to you that it was the 5th day. Hope you were listening.  Later both your wife and daughter Deki told me that they wished they had served you a drink before you passed away. The thing is we are never able to let go and keep wondering what else could have been done to ease that pain or add on few more hours or days of life. Love and Affection are not bound by reasons. But now you would know far more than any of us here because in the after life world you attain ninefold wisdom and everything else. Yes, hereafter, I will be the one seeking advice.

The cremation day Friday the 19th February turned out to be beautifully calm and sunny. Looks like you had no demands upon anyone. But there were lots of tears and many mourners. The lady friends consoling your wife seemed dumb founded when I told them to let her cry but keep close company. Tears somehow help to  ease that near suffocating pent up emotion of despair. 

The day passed too soon and I kind of felt real void as the ashes got carried away by Thimphu Chu. The only consolation was accompanying your spirit to your childhood home at Paro. In the jumble of disarray that follows in leaving the cremation ground and Thimphu traffic, somehow,  I reached your home in Paro before your convoy. How did you feel me welcoming you to your own home? Old days moh ! Those Sartsam Chorten days when two of us raced to your home. Did I out race you as I did this time? Maybe you were with me all the time in that final return journey to your home and hearth.

Before I left your Home, I told your daughters Deki and Tshering Lham to count me in if they are ever in need of an emotional father. In all other matters, all your elder four children are doing very well. They are determined and capable of guiding the younger two. You know that,too. And my friend, You must join me to salute your son Chencho who to me symbolise " True Grit ".

And your wife will be alright because you have so many who adore you and love you in her village. Strange but true that Dhobjee has turned out to be a place of your life yearning though it did not start that way. Your wife tells me that even late into the nights you would not stay at Thimphu or Paro. But insist on gong to sleep at your humble Dhobjee home. Why ? A Khendum waiting there in your dreams !  Perhaps you were a kind of Milarepa,too. It is said that the statue of Milarepa brought from Tibet refused to budge upon reaching Dhobjee. There is even a very tall Dzong perhaps a replica of his nine storey one in Tibet.

Wait ! Oh My God ! It just occurred to me that the two lives have great parallels. Yours and the Buddhist yogi Jetsuen Milarepa. And Dhobjee is where pilgrims go to be blessed by Milarepa statue brought from Tibet  and purified by Milarepa Spring which too originate at Tibet. Life is stranger than the unknown. But today finally, I am beginning to find the answer to my initial query. Why did Fate complicate the life of such an honest simple man ? I have been so troubled by your departure and got down to write away my agony. And as usual I am rewarded. Writing from the heart reveals truths and connects those dots to reveal values and essence.  You are simple but not that ordinary my friend !

This time I suddenly make the happy discovery of the parallel life of Milarepa. How very incredible ! Milerepa had Marpa  Guru and you a Maha King. A beloved woman the mother in case of Milarepa and yours a beloved lady who were reasons of similar unholy tragedies  followed by years of penance of 12 years or so and final deliverance by the Guru and in your case again His Majesty our King.  You had  physically laboured to contribute in the reconstruction/renovation of Tan Gu Dzong and operated later in life a stone quarry for livelihood gains. And Milarepa quarried stones to build the Tho Gu Dzong by himself for spiritual gains.   Now I recall Deki telling me. She said, " Uncle, my father was not a religious man but surprisingly  he got blessings from so many holy Lamas during his last few hours of life." And my response strangely was, " Well dear, he may not have appeared religious but all this proves he was pure in heart." In retrospection, I had hit the bulls eye ! Didn't I dear Milarepa parallel ?

Dear Milarepa Tshering. Thank You for being there from those days of 11 years of age till now. A Friend for Life is a precious soulmate. Rest in Peace. You earned it.

P.S Today Thursday the 25th of February,2016 is the 12th Evening since your departure. I just had to release my emotion because its difficult to contain, alone, all bottled up.  I know it is not fair to monopolise the conversation but you give me no alternative my dearest Friend. With Love and Respects.

FB hiatus for the Holy Month.

Hibernation/Hiatus for the duration of this Holy Month starting midnight today from FB. No comment, no blogging , no imparting information or lessons of any kind but I shall continue to read and learn from fb friends. Thank you and hope to communicate again from 2ndweek March.

When did or does Male Fire Monkey Year start in Bhutan?

If you refer to Kuensel issue today you might,  like quire a few others along with Kuensel, assume the Male Fire Monkey Year begins today the 9th of February.  For Chinese and Tibetans the Male Fire Monkey year began yesterday the 8th February. Their Losar fell on 8th February this year a day ahead of Bhutanese.

For Bhutan,  Male Fire Monkey year actually began on the 30th of the Bhutanese 10the Lunar month. In the Dratsang , one week rituals are performed to bid the old year goodbye and for blessing the New Year. The ritual ends on the 29th of the 10th Lunar month with the Lue ( kind of religious effigies ) procession at the end of which the effigies are set on fire. Thus the New Year starts fresh and blessed on the 30th of the 10th Lunar month.

This fact explains why the baby Prince born on 5th February is proclaimed to be born in the Male Fire Monkey Year.

I do not know why the animal sign cycle begins this way in Bhutan. Maybe it is to do with the Bon religion. In my village some ritual associated with Lombo are of Bon culture. Lombo or New year celebration in Haa and Paro Dzobgkhags occurs from 29th of 10th Lunar Month to 1st of 11th Month. Any baby born on and after 30th Lunar Month will be considered to be adopted by the new animal sign.

Traditionally Losar in Bhutan was celebrated by officials. Each Dzongkhag have budget set aside for the celebration. It was considered as the King's New Year. Bhutanese Losar had no significance on the animal sign. General common Bhutanese celebrated their own calendar of New Year the first being Lombo followed by Nyinlo and Chunipai.

Welcome O Great Crown Prince to Your Kingdom, Your People and the Royal Families !

A Star is Born ! And a Dynasty embarks upon a new journey ! The much awaited arrival of His Royal Highness the 5th Wangchuck  Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Bhutan has taken Birth yesterday the 5th of Feb., 2016. Great Happiness and Celebrations !

The whole Dragon Nation, the People, the Royal Families and especially the glorious Royal Parents their Majesties the King and Queen can now smile with relief and feel blessed by the Triple Gem and the ChhoeChongs of Pelden Drukpa.

Pelden Drukpa ! Lha Gyal Lo !
Pelden Drukpa ! Gyalsey Gyal Lo!
Pelden Drukpa ! Gyal Lo !

Welcome Your Royal Highness the future  King of Bhutan ! May the Crown Prince light up the good fortune of the Tsawa Sum. Happy Birth Occasion Your Royal Highness ! Welcome to Your Kingdom and the People and the Royal Families !

Well Done Your Majesty the most beautiful Queen of Bhutan ! Enjoy Good Health and Happy Days always. Your Majesty's first and foremost Duty as the Queen on the Dragon Throne has been fulfilled. The glorious Rainbow of the Dragon Kingdom has blessed all of us !

Congratulations to the most Proud and Happy Father His Majesty the King. Thank You Your Majesty for Sharing the Joy with the whole of the Nation.

Congratulations to their Majesties the great grand King and grand Queens, the grand grand Queen, their Royal Highnesses Princes and Princesses, the respected grand Parents and grand grand Parents, all honourable members of extended Royal Family and finally to We the People of forever Sovereign Kingdom of Bhutan !

The Sixth Wangchuck Dynasty King of Bhutan is Born ! May the Crown Prince enjoy great health  and may Peace and Prosperity continue to Bless the Kingdom!

The National Son has taken Birth in the Royal Garden Palace in Thimphu the Capital of Bhutan on Friday the 5th of February, 2016 coinciding with the Bhutanese 27th Day of the 12th Month.

Pelden Drukpa ! Gyalsey Gyal Lo !
Pelden Drukpa ! Gyalsey Gyal Lo !
Pelden Drukpa ! Gyalsey Gyal Lo !

The confusions and divisions that could result from perplexing signals from the Bhutanese Cabinet.

1. Every Minister has adopted two Dzongkhags. That was a public declaration at Pema Gatsel about a month back.

2. Today the Govetnment decision is 4 Cabinet Ministers from the Eastern Region of Bhutan has formed a special Committee to babysit Eastern Dzobgkhags people interests.

2. The Yongfula airport is to develop the East. So not really for overall national connectivity ?

3. The Klongchu hydro project is not a national venture but a eastern Bhutan economic push lobbied by the 4 cabinet Ministers. When was the project conceived?

4. The East West Highway expansion would in reality benefit the whole nation. But it is declared to be built only for the East according to 4 minister task force.

5. The additional schools planned in the East could very well house students from all over Bhutan. But politically these investments are only for the East so declares the 4 minister task force.

In retrospection, maybe the south high ways were deemed to be only for the lhotsampas in the south and therefore was cancelled. I believed the highways would serve the whole national purpose and therefore had lamented the cancellations.

In retrospection, maybe better relationship with China and  embassy level relation with Japan was determined to be only in the interest of Foreign Ministry officials' posting opportunity and so was concluded to be irrelevant. Perhaps a thought about national benefit would have resulted in a much more worldly polity awareness decision.

The people may not speak out or maybe they will speak but only what superiors want to hear. How and what will people of the East, South and West view the 4 cabinet minister committee for the East. In it's endeavour to project a pro East image, the Government is raising the stake in political gamble. Every political party must look after its own welfare and promote future party prospects. However, could confusion and divisions achieve political party goal in a sustainable manner ?

When PDP defeated DPT in 2013 , my comment was that there may be many reasons put forth for DPT loss but ultimately their leadership has to realise that PDP was politically more smart and that PDP President simply played his cards well. A man's outer image may change with transition from opposition leader to the Primeministership but in 3 years duration, he could not have misplaced his political direction. So the political acts till date maybe only represent half the Act. That's why these appear confusing and divisive to me and possibly to some others also. The whole picture would emerge by 2018 !

I respect the diversity of the East, West and South. Also since East have more population and more educated population and more employed population, the migration trend would naturally be more in the East. There are gungtongs in all rural areas of Bhutan and where the migration movement is more, there will be more empty village houses. In Haa Dzongkhag for example all the hill top village settlements have disappeared. The famed Gompas are reduced to just the Temples and that too because Central Monastic Body kindly took over the management. Education, economic opportunity and population integration have changed traditional social fabrics. . In Paro the gem of western Bhutan, the souls that vibrate today  are Sharchops the people from the East. Thimphu Thromde the capital of Bhutan will have major Lhotsampa voters within a decade.

As a Bhutanese, I do not think we need to have special cabinet steering committee for East, West or South. Bhutan belongs to all Bhutanese and so freedom of migration and residency must be respected and comprehended in socio economic plans. The eastern Bhutanese will understand that west-east highway or Klongchu hydro project will not be exclusively theirs to enjoy. In the west, the western people are out numbered by people from the East and South. Exclusivity is unheard of  and not even expected. There are almost 100000 people living in Thimphu Thromde and there are less than 5000 original Wang people voters. A revolution have taken over in the national demography and our political leaders are still stuck in the mud pool of regional politics. A four Cabinet Ministers task force for the Eastern people may serve some purpose if the objective is to consolidate their constituency influence but then four MPs cannot gain a Government. So PDP needs another 5 task force comprising of balance Ministers and other MPs.

By all means, please take development to all corners of the Kingdom but do it in the name of national prosperity and benefit for all Bhutanese. We can get excited about 20 Dzongkhags, several Dungkgags and over 40 proposed Thromdes of various sizes. But reality is that all of Bhutan put together is still a pigmy size compared to the West Bengal State of Republic of India. So dividing Bhutan by region wise, ethnic wise or culture wise cannot sustain long term national goal. The geographic and population size of Bhutan is too small to be divided in such political manner.

Kuensel seems to be panicking on BFF/Zimdra coverage.

Kuensel Headline News on 1st Feb,2016 is Damage Control .  " Investments like BFF's in Zimdra Food is Legal ".

Let's not be concerned about the legality of financial transaction between BFF and Zimdra. Let it be. Legal or illegal what has happened will not be visited by any legal authority.

Just to remove disinformation:

1. Bhutan Football Federation is not a registered company under the Companies Act of Bhutan. So Company Act does not apply.

2. Zimdra Food and Bhutan Football Federation are not listed Companies under Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan. So opinions of RSEB is meaningless.

3. A financial expert especially one who hides his/her name is either non-existing or a fair weather personality. And in any case it is an individual opinion.

Thus Kuensel has quoted no legal or official  authorities in making its Headline assertion. The lengthy writeup is a damage control attempt. A national paper engages in such exercise under pressure.

So young minds in Schools and Colleges should be wary of manipulations by media sources in the process of doing damage control.

Choyzang Tashi /ACC/OAG Case Analysis:

There was quite a publicity about alleged corruption cases surrounding Choyzang Tashi, a Director in Government Service. More so because he had served as Regional Director and then as Director of Revenue and Customs. The allegation drew wide public attention because it came up during the ACC massive hunt in the alleged wrong doings of few officials of Revenue and Customs supposed  collusions with businessmen to avoid paying taxes on goods imported into the Country at the entry gates.

Now the case against Choyzang Tashi is in the Court. And strangely the case has nothing to do with Tax Evasion. And shockingly, the actual allegations are far removed from his official responsibility and authority as the Regional Director and then Director of Revenue and Custom.

The case filed in the Court is on charges of Forgery. However, the actual substance of the cases are more a case of Fronting than Forgery. The case is about trade licences issued in the names of the mother-in- law and sister-in-law of Choyzsng Tashi being leased to an Indian national on a monthly fee system. The fee is said to be Nu: 2500 per month. This arrangement is officially termed by Trade Department as Fronting. That means someone other than the actual licence holder is operating the business.

Now the charge against Choyzang Tashi is that he processed the formalities on behalf of his in- laws for obtaining the two licences. We all know that in our extended family society, it is a requirement by tradition for a family member to assist less knowledgeable members to get things done. How is it a crime for Choyzang Tashi to process the trade formalities for and on behalf of his in-laws as long as they the in- laws were fully aware of the deed and in fact had sought his assistance to obtain the licences. There is nothing illegality about it.

What is a forgery crime? It is a crime only if you forge some document or signature of another person with the intention to harm that person or accrue self benefit. Here the in- laws were not harmed. Choyzang Tashi did not personally benefit. In fact he helped his in- laws by processing the trade formalities and obtaining the licences.

Now one might say the trade licence rule was played around because the actual applicants had not signed the application forms. However, how did or how much Trade Department suffer as a consequence. Nothing. The Trade Department did not suffer any tangible loss. If the Trade Department felt the real necessity of ensuring nitty gritty formality correctness it should have insisted upon the licencee signing on the trade licence prior to handing over the same to the possession of the applicant.

Both the in-laws of Choyzang Tashi are Bhutanese citizens and there should be Police Clearance Certificates issued in their names that qualified them to apply for trade licence. Choyzang Tashi cannot fake Police Clearance Certificates for his in-laws.

The crux of the matter is that no matter who signed ( the applicant themselves or by someone on their behalf ), a Bhutanese would not have been issued a trade licence if he or she did not produce Police Clearance Certificate. Trade Department issues licences only to Bhutanese cleared to do business. Whether the applicant name is Dorji or Wangmo related to whom or from which region of Bhutan does not matter. And it should never matter. The fact that Choyzang Tashi a known official processed the formalities could very well speeded up the process. That is how things function in almost all fields. But licence would have been issued in the end even if the applicants had got some other lesser known persons to help them if they were  ill disposed to do the same by themselves.

Therefore, the forgery charges holds no water as long as the Applicants were fully involved as a party to the processing of the formalities by Choyzang Tashi on their behalf and as long as the monthly leased fee for the licences ultimately benefitted the licence holders. It was morally wrong for Choyzang Tashi to arrange the Fronting for his in- laws. But how many of us can pass the various morality tests. Even then let Trade Department authority decide who should be legally held responsible for the Fronting deed the actual licence holder or other third parties.

Bhutanese are still very much bonded to our age old tradition. The more knowledgeable and able must help the lesser able and knowledgeable among the extended family community. The more able are expected to look out for their lesser able members in employments, school seats for children and sometimes even help to set up business. There is no Social Security System in Bhutan. The more able members are the Social Security of the less able members in Bhutan.

How could ACC blow up the allegations to such high proportion? I for one thought that Choyzang  Tasji was being investigated by ACC for possible collusion with businessmen in evading taxes on imported goods. If that was the case then he had compromised and misused his official responsibility and authority and rightly he should be charge sheeted in the Court of Law. But for helping his in- laws in his personal capacity to process trade licence for the in- laws who are legally entitled anyway, it is absurd for ACC to waste such disproportionate time and money.  The case should have been handed over to Trade Department to handle as per Trade Rules and Regulations on Fronting.

The whole case surfaced because a licence in Bhutanese name was operated by an Indian. And so it is a clear case of Fronting and Trade Department has the capacity to deal with such cases under the Trade Rules and Regulations. The charges of Forgery tantamount to persecution under the facade of prosecution. And this should not be happening to Choyzang Tashi or any other Bhutanese.

Fronting is not permitted but it is widely prevalent. People do construction works under someone else contract licence. Bar licences are rented out. In fact there was quite a hala about Drayangs running Bars under leased Bar Licences.

The three in- laws of Choyzang Tashi are also being charge sheeted in the Court. The charges are based on their alleged attempt to tell ACC that Choyzang Tashi was not at fault. They themselves were responsible for Choyzang Tashi processing the licences for them. In total sum this was what happened.

People panic when ACC or Police Teams knock upon their doors in the dead of the night or out of blue. Therefore, their statements made under mental duress could vary. But Drangpons are professionals and their Honours have the inbuilt legal intuition to draw relevant conclusions from seemingly differing statements. 

I share this analysis purely out of my pursuit for Justice. Choyzang Tashi may have heard about me as I came to know about him. I do not know him or his family members socially. This analysis is just thoughts provoked by my natural interest in judicial matters upon reading about the court case courtesy Kuensel Issue of 28th January, 2016.

May Justice Prevail !

National statistic on court cases on sex. ( courtesy Kuensel )

2015 national statistic:   
             
              Rape down by        -  27%
              Prostitution up by +150%

What does this indicate ? What would be more acceptable to the society ?

There seems to be a startling relation between prostitution and rape. Maybe adult prostitution should be either legalised or less stringently harassed.  Socially Bhutanese are not that puritanical in thoughts or deeds when it come to sexual affairs.  Prostitution would not eliminate rape but it seems it has a reducing effect when statistic is compared.

There would be many pretentious and also genuine advocates against prostitution even though Bhutanese are one of the most liberal minded people when it comes to casual sex. Traditionally we were not even disturbed by intimate relationship between same sex. Now of course the world also think like Bhutanese.

So what is so wrong about commercial sex when boy friends and mistresses and live in couple are part of social character. Is money so repulsive when most agreement and  disagreement are centred around money. When it is alright for people to sell their soul and loyalty for money and position, how could commercial sex be so bigotry in nature.

What really is the truth about HIV ?

It is said the disease is not spread by body fluids like saliva, tears or sweat or kissing and not even by mosquito bite ( reference youth focus article Kuensel ). It seems HIV is primarily spread through unprotected sex and blood transfusion. And yet mosquito bite does not spread HIV though blood is involved if a mosquito bites a HIV person and then bites a non- HIV person.

What could be the difference between other body fluids and genital fluids.? And what is the difference between HIV blood passed on through direct transfusion and through mosquito ?

How does a human body compartmentalise a disease that it is contagious only through direct genital to genital contact and blood transfusion in more volume than what a mosquito can pass on ? Are world authorities on HIV being totally honest or declaring convenient statements to protect social life of HIV patients ?

The Whole Story Zimdra Food Pvt. Limited and Bhutan Football Federation Money.

Kuensel carried a story of BFF funding Zimdra Food Pvt. Ltd. to the tune of Nu: 30 million @ 10% interest per annum. A conflict of interests theory sprouted because the President of BFF is also associated with Zimdra Food. The Kuensel story has been followed up with clarifications from the President of BFF Dasho Ugen Tsechup who is also the Promoter and probably major share holder of Zimdra Food. He expressed  his unhappiness with Kuensel 's part coverage of details and goes on to provide the whole story. His side of the story was published today the 18th January,2016 in Kuensel Issue under ' My Say ' column.

One may wonder as to what product does Zimdra Food produce?  Ngultrums !  The declared financial deals with BFF, the Central Dratsang and Gantey Shedra are more like Fixed Deposit Schemes that Banks offer or Public Bonds sold by Security Firms on behalf of Corporations who obtain RMA approval.

Dungsum Cement Corporation and Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan have sold bonds in the open market to raise cheaper funds, upon approval from Royal Monetary Authority. Unlike shares, bonds fetch a fixed return and some provide for encashment option if required. Banks could also readily accept bonds as mortgage instruments for loans.

Is Zimdra Foods also a Financial Company?  Or has it been authorised to float Public Bonds? The main question here is legal propriety not the issue of conflict of interests as made out to be. When a deed is deemed to benefit all participating  parties, there cannot be conflicts of interests except maybe in the eyes of the law. And laws can choose to be blindly ignorant in almost all nations. However, it is also very possible that its all done legitimately. So why the controversy?

What Dasho Ugen Tsechup has described is a very traditional business style. Money lending against fixed return is a common age old Bhutanese social and economic character. The Courts in Bhutan are infested with Cases related to such loans. These loans happen generally between individuals. Under the Revenue rules on PIT or BIT or CIT , expenses to meet interest payments for loans from outside the Financial Institutions are not deductible operating expenses. Thus Companies do not generally borrow money from outside circles.

However, if you are starting a new company without much capital in hand, gaining large capital in form of Fixed Deposits with just 10% annual interests  liability is simply an irresistible temptation. It is manna from Heaven. And its all the more attractive if the lender or depositors does not seek tangible guarantee other than verbal or written assurance. However,it is quite impossible for just any average businessman or industrialist to successfully raise capital in such traditional manner. You have to have the name and clout and bit of luck and favourable circumstances.

Under licensed trade, industry and commerce practice, an enterprise should not be infringing upon the rights of other enterprise. Thus generally, Zimdra Food is not expected to takeover banking activities. However, in Bhutan the legislations are very unfriendly to Savings culture. Bank interests on Savings are low and then interests on one year Fixed Deposits are just about 6% and again it is taxable income. . Therefore, many NGOs and retired people get a raw deal for their bank deposits. First Banks are not in position to give respectable interests rates and second the interest accrued is taxed by the Government. At one time, the DPT Government had talked of doing away with PIT on Fixed Deposits. It just remained a talk. Now with PDP Cabinet, the proposal seems to have been shelved or simply put on the back burner.

What Zimdra has done in the cases of the idle Funds of NGOs is to provide a window to earn 10% interests per annum. Provided the quantum of idle fund is large ( in Bhutanese context ) like the 3 crores of BFF, such opportunity present huge financial relief to individuals or organisation. Otherwise yearly inflations and expenses rapidly dwindle the Savings. Thus Zimdra financial scheme benefits both parties and fills a void in financial service. However, Zimdra is not engaged in piety works.

It is also very lucrative for a Company like Zimdra to avail such Funding because borrowings from Financial Institutions is far more expensive and repayment of interests and capital on monthly or quarterly basis creates extra financial pressure on Companies. Banks are quite strict in terms and conditions before sanctioning loans. And Bank loans are far more costly than the loans availed by Zimdra from NGOs.

Dungsum Cement financial woes were eased by floating Public Bonds @ 10% interest per annum. The  money raised through bonds issued was used to pay off high interests loans taken by the Company.  RICB also seeks capital  fund for its investment in similar manner.

The Zimdra Food Pvt. Ltd  Financial Scheme type is a welcome widow of investment opportunity for idle funds plus those old and retired individuals who depend on little savings they are able to hold on to. Like DCCL, Zimdra Food or any other Company can legitimately engage in such investment channels with RMA blessings.

It would make a world of positive economic impact if the Finance Ministry and RMA could liberalise Public Bond Issues backed by guaranteed Securities. Yes, in the bond market, guaranteed financial security of fund invested in the bond is most important. Otherwise the bond market will turn out to be a official Ponzi Scheme that will ultimately tumble down.  For example Dungsum Bonds are guaranteed by DHI.

There is a pool of Savings fund within the Country that if permitted to utilise beneficially can make huge difference to both commercial enterprises and Savings culture in Bhutan. Under prevailing rules, interests earned from Company bonds are tax free whilst Fixed Deposit interests earned from Banks are taxed. Thus it makes good investment sense to opt for guaranteed income of 10% per annum on idle fund as so offered by Zimdra Food Pvt. Limited.