The
Bhutan Montbly
July 1996 NuIRs 5.0 Vol.4 No.7
74th NA Session Begins LHOYI KHUJU, NEW DZONGKHA MONTHLY . . . . which impresses donors; the The ngolop (anti-national) The OPPOSition VlCW Ul Bh~tan discontinuation of goongda problem is once again the main is now likely to spread WIder ~. • woola (forced labour conscrip- agenda in the 74th National and reach a larger audience ~ qJ~ ~ ' ~~ ~ tion system where the govern- Assembly session which be that matters. The Druk Na- ... le? I"\i)~ 'I ...... " ment was obliged to pay mini. gan on June 28. Addressing rional Co~gr~ss (ONC) bas be· ~,.. 6:i 'll mum wages) but continuation members. the Speaker indi gun publication of a monthly of: and increas-..I obligations •." th "1" .... 'i'i'\I \ k , "! • .... cated that this reflec ted the newsletter in D ~ng,,".. a.. e rr .... I ' loo • ., . '-"",.. ~... ""'" under, other non-paying woo/a concern of the people and Lhoyi Khuju. The maugucalls- qq"l1.n-&''''I '''''" ' ~.ill"lII~f~~¥ '~'..iR: ~ ifc:I;Ja.·"61l"· 'lI;j~'4·~ schemes; the flouting of civil urged the members to ' debate' sue was released by the party " , "1 " or 'I ... service rules in the case of the this issue with utmost s incer on June 16. coinciding with ¥~!)er~l(~",·~"·~-it,,,·5~'f.j'¥f"';'· ~,\~~~~ 1 elite while the same rules vic- ity to find an early and lasting the second anniversary of its tlmize lower category person solution. founding. nel, and retrenchme nt exer On the opening day. the The June issue carries a cises which target IhoullClmpas Royal Ciovenunent announced message from ONC Chairman (southerners) and sIJarchops a hefty increase in the salary Rongthong Kunley Oorji, and (central and easterners) em of civil servants and 'elected' has articles designed to open ployees; impotent institutions representatives. The Finance the minds of the average such as the village and district Minister announced that a hike Bhutanese to the oppressive level commiuees, and even the of25 per cent in the wages of policies of the reginle and the National Assembly, where civil servants, including Min blatant suppression of the what the members can and isters. and 50 per cent in the rights of the common people. cannot say and what, on the In their maiden effort, the edi remuneration paid togups (vil other band, they must speak is tors reflect the authoritarian lage headmen) and chimis decided by the district admin situation of present-day (National Assembly members) istrator. had been incorporated in the Bhutan with the general inter As the only other newspa national environment of indi 1996-97 budget as com .perin Dzongkha apart from the vidual freedom and demo manded by His Majesty the Royal Government's mouth cratic governance. Instances of Kin . piece, the weekly Kuenscl government policies and (also printed in English and NEPALESE ENVOY programmes w hich invariably Nepali), Lhoyi Khuju fills an PRESENTS CREDENTIALS hurt the common man while important breach. ProfLok Raj Baral presented his benefiting a small section of the e lite have been inc luded: credentials as the new Royal For s ubscription details, con Nepalese Ambassador to Bhutan A pic torial essay depicting tact P.O.Box 5754, Kath to His Majesty the King at stark poverty in interior ~is mandu, Nepal or send a fax to Tashichhodzong in Thimphu on tricts challenges government +977-1-472529. JWle 25. On the occasion, aspects c laims of ' development ' of Nepal-Bhutan relations, In cluding the vexing problem of APPEAL MARCH PROGRAMME RESUMES Bbutanese refugees in Nepal, The Appeal Movemeol Coordina along the original routCi . was reportedly in frail health, a subsequeot attempts by the group ...... ere discussed. His Majesty is ro tion Council (AMCC) ...... nich has On Jooe 3, 104 refugees were condition aggravated by condi to force their way forward. the ported to bave expressed faith in been coordinating a peaceful arrested from buses in which they tions in jail and lack of access to police resorted to alothi charge. tbe bilatenal pl'Ocess and desired march of refugees from camps in were traveUing from Siliguri to proper medical care. He is sur A large nwnber of marchers iliat tbe talks between tbe two Nepal to the Bhutanese capital wards their starting destination. vived by his wife, Paha1maya. and were hurt. 3 persons critically in governments be continued to re Thimpbu through the [ndian state More were picked up as they four children in Sanischare refu jured were admitted to the North solve the refuaee problem. Am of West Bengal is continuing its gathemd close to the lode-Bhutan gee camp. Bengal Medical College hospital. bassadorBaral is amemberofthe campaign pressing for safe border; a group of 50 at The AMCC. respecting the Following the scuffle, the coffin Ministerial Joint Commiuee es passagethroogh Indian territory. Hashimara on JWle 14. another 50 wi shes ofthe deceased, propose
DEMOCRACY IN A M ERICA Alexis De Tocqueville
LHOYI KIIUJU - DwcntiDgin [)zon&kha The defects and weaknesses of a influence only during the shon debased. and the notion or moral The month of June. in recent times. has acquired a special democratic government may period for wb icb he is elected. right is therefore fading away? significance for Bhutan. Foremost on the calendar of events fOl'" readily be discovered; they are Corruption and inupacity do Argument is substituted for faith. June remains the 1974 coronation of His Majesty King ligmc demonstraled by nagrant not act as common interests. and calculation for the impulsCll Singye Waogchuck on the 2nd of the month. Sixteen yean on, in s tances. while its salutary whicb may connect men of sentiment. If. in the midst of Bhutan Peoples Party (BPP). the first opposition political party. influence is insensible. and. so to permanently with one another. this general disruption. you do not cbose the very same day in J 990 to announce its formation in exile. speak. occuJt. A glance suffices to A corrupt or incapable succeed in connecting the notion On1y. year later, when some senior civil servants opted to defect detect its faults. but il s gnod magistrate will not concert his of rigbt with that of privale and join the ranks of dissidents, both the officials' allegations of qua lit-ies can be discerned only by measures with another interest. which is the only discriminatory policies and gross abuse of southern Bbutanese long observations. The laws of magistrate. simply because the immutable point in the humao against the regime as well as government allegations of fmancial American democracy are latter is corrupt and incapable heart, what means will you bave impropriety by the former bureaucrats were aired. not by design frequent ly defective or as bimself; and tbese two men of govern ing the world eltcept by but sheer coincidence. on June 2. Bhutan's first non-lhotshampa incomplete: they sometimes attack will never unite their endeavors fear? When l am lold that tbe laws dissident organization also found that June was an auspicious month vested rights. or sanction others to promote the comlption And are weak and the people turbulent. to launch its campaign, Md on June 16. 1994. the Druk Nationw which are dangerous to the inaptitude of their remote that panions are ex.cited and the Coogress (ONC) was bom. community; and even if they were posterity. The ambitiO Jl and authority of virtue paralyzed. and Yet another milestone can now be said to have been grabbed good. their frequency would still manoeuvres of the one will therefore no measures must be by June with the start ofthe first dissident newsletter, Lho)'1 Khuju, bea greAt evil. How comes il, lhen. serve, on the contra ry. to taken 10 increase the rights of in Dzongkha, the national language. Why such a fuss over the that the American republics UIIDlask the other. The vices of democracy. I reply. that. for these printing of amere four-page tabloid. one might ~U ask... Regardless prosper and continue? a magistrate, in democratic very reasons. some measures of of the nature of opinions it might contain and whichever language Deulocratic laws generally states. are usua ll y wholly the kind ougbt to be taken.; and T might have been used to express them. surely there is little cause tend to promote the wclfare ohhe personal. .. believe that governments are still for excitement. some may be ~ompted to remark. In a world that greatest possible number; for Utey There is. indeed, a secret more interested in taking them is today swamped with information. prinl. audiovisual and emanate from the majority of the tendency in democratic than society at large, for electronic inedia all competing for attention. and where the limitless citizens. who are subject to error. institut ions, which makes governments may perisb. but varlety and amoun! of infonnalion one can choose to access is bUI wbo cannof have an interest exertions of the citizens society cann~ die. limited only by one's own capacity 10 absorb.. that a little newspaper, opposed to their own advantage. subservient to the prnsperity of But I do not wish to that too only a four-page monthly. be il ever so bold in disagreeing The laws of an arislocracy tend. the community, in spite of their exaggerate tbe example wbich with the establishment, shouJd arouse so much interest might indeed on the contrary. to concentrate vices and mistakes; wbilst in America furnishes. There the wealth and power in the hands of aristocratic institutions. there is SCl.'1ll strange. BI.t anyone who pauses to raise such questions will people were invested with also have. in the same breath, loudJy p..oclaimed his or her ignorance the minority; because an a secret bias, which. political rights at a time when they aristocracy. by its very nature. about Bbutan and matters Bhutanese, and for sucb a group. a little notwithstanding the talents and could nOI be abused. for the constitute! a minority. It may education about the media in the kingdom might not go waste. vinues of those who conduct inhabitants were few in number. therefore be asserted. as a general the government, leads them 10 The only vehicles for dissemination of information in Bhutan and simple in their manners. As proposition. that the ptupose of a contribute 10 the evils which consists ofa government radio station. Bhutan Broadcasting Service they have increased. tbe democracy in legislation is more oppress their fellow-creatures. (BBS), which broadcasts for a few hours every day in four Americans bave not augmented useful to hwnanity than that of an In aristocratic governments. languages. Dzongkha. Ellglish. Sharc:hopkha, aod Nepali. and the power oftbe democracy; they aristocracy. Th is is. however. the public men may frequently do Kueruel a weekly newspaper published by the government in three have rather extended its domain. sum lolal of its advanages. harm without intending it : and It cannot be doubted that the languages, Dzongkha, Engl ish. and Nepali. These official outlets Arjs t ocrac:ie ~ are inrintely in democratic states, they bring moment at which political rights for government-approved news and announcements represent the more expert in the science of about good results which they are granted to a people that bad sum total oflbe media in Bhutan. Private enterprise and individUal legislation than democracies ever never thought of. before been without them is a very initiative in this fie ld is quickJy discouraged. and even government can be. 'nley are possessed of a critical one - that tbe measure, institutions. schools and colleges Whicb bring out the rare annual self-control which protects them Notion of Rigbts though often necessary, is always magazine. are cautious to a fault and carry no opinion pages tbat frow tbe errors of temporary After the general idea of virtue. I dangerous. A child may kill could stir lbe hornet's nest. excitement: and they form far know of no higher principle th1'lll before he is aware of the value of Apologists for the regime wil l be quick to assen !.bat slringeot reaching designs, which they Utat of right; or rather these two life; and he may deprive another ceruorsbip is nO( practiced by the authorities and. as evidence. point know liow to mature till a ideas are united in one. The idea person of his property before he out !.bat Indian daily newspapers and international publicatioM lll'e fllvourable opportwlity arrives. of right is simply that of virtue is aware that his own may be freely available. But the average Bhulanese can hardly c laim a Aristocratic government proceeds introduced into Ihe political taken from him. The lower order!. regulB1 reading diet of nm£s. Newswed. and Indian dailies. On with the dex.terity nf art: it world. It was the idea of ri ght when they are invested witb the other hand, given that Bhutan's problems and inuigucs. or the understands how to make tbe whicb enabled men to define political rights. stand. in relation regime's misdeed5. rarely makes the international news, this me collective fnrce of all its laws anarcby and tyranny; and which 10 those rights. in the satlle availability says little for the government's purponed openness converge al the same time to a taught them how 10 be pusition as the child does to the and willingness to face scrutiny, especially from the Bhutanese given point. Such is not the case independent without arrogance. whole of nature; and Ihe people itself. Indeed. even as tbis misperception regarding with democracies, whose laws are and to obey without servility. The celebrated adage may then be government probity continues, enough Bbutanese will be found almost always ineffective or man who submits to violence is applied to Ihem. Homo p"er who can vouch tor the mysterious disappearance. both before and inopportune. The means of debased by his compliance: but robll.HUS. This truth may be after the genesis of the southern problem, of particular issues of democracy ate therefnre more when he submits to the right of perceived even in America. The internalional publications which featured articles critical of the imperfect than those of authority which he acknowledgcs States i.n which the citizens have regime or embarrassing for the royal family. aristocracy, and the measures in a fellow-creature. be rises in enjoyed their rights lungest, are This delusion - that ostensibly unhindered sales of foreign which it unwilligly adopts are some measure above the person those in which they make the best publications is by and in itself proof that Bhutanese have the frequ!ntly opposed to its own who gives tbe command. 111ere use of tbem. freedom 10 hold and express opinions through an unfettered media cause: but the object it has in view are no great men without vinue; It cannot be repeated tuo - is but one more example of how effective the Royal Government is more useful. and tbere are no greallJations - it oOell. that nothing is more fertile bas been in its scheme of grand deception. Tbe regime has An analngous observation may almost be added, there ill prodigies than the art of being wlder.>tandably worked hard to create this illusion. bUI the world. tIlay be made respecting public would be no society - without free; but there is nothing more loo. has provided a helping hand: Ute small band ofmediapcrsons officers. It is easy to pcrceive that respect for right; for what is a arduous than the apprenticeship - a group which surely should know better - invited and allowed the American democracy union of rational and intelligent of liberty. It is not so with inlo the kingdom as select guests b85 largely been responsible for frequently ern in the choice of the beings who lite held together only despotism: despotism often shoring up such false impressions. individuals 10 whom it entrusts by the bond nf force? promises 10 make amends for a When 'M: brought out the first issue of the Review three-and power oftbe administration. l1te The government of the thousand previous iUs; it supports a-half years ago, it was our endeavour to at least partialJy fill the men who are entrusted with the democracy brings the notion of the rigbt, it J"otects tbe huge void 'created by the government lid on infonnalioD. We direction of publk affairs in the political rights to the level oflhe oppressed. and it maintains public continue to 'honestly try and fulfil Ulat mission. We realize. of Uuited States are frequent ly bumblest citizens. just as the ordCT. Tbe nation is lulled by the course, thAt ouropinlon.s, ho\Vevet' objectively constructed, would inferior. both in capacity and dissemination of tbe wealtb temporary prosperity whicb it a1ways be cOll5ldered tainted. first on account of our alleged '81lti mora lity, to Ibose wbom an brings the notion of property produces. until it is roused to a oatJonaJness' and then by our supposed 'Nepaliness'. Bul in a nation aristocracy would raise to puwer. within the rellch of all men; 10 my sense of misery. Liberty. 0[1 the where free expression of optnioos remains unthinkable, even if Hl/tlJteir interest is identified and mind. this is olle of its greatest contrary, is generally established only from the safety of exile, it remained. until now. the only o'her confounded wHit that of th e advantages. 1 do not 8ay it is easy lVitb difficulty in tbe midst of view. A newsletter in Ozongkha now provides another dimension. mnjority of their fellow-citizens. 10 teach men how to exercise stonlls; it is pcrfected by civil Wilh Lhayl Khuju.. a need has now been fulfiUed. As the world's l1tey may frequet1.t ly be faithless. political rights: but I maintain discord: and its benefits C8nnot be orny second newsletter in Dzongkha after Ku.ensel. the paper will and frefluently mistaken; but they that. when it is possible. tbe appreciated nUlil it is already old. will never 5ystemoti calty adopt a effects which result I'rOIl} it are be devoured greedily by a people denied an alternative to TOcl{uel'lIh~, Q French nobleman government propaganda in Kllensel. U tile authorities have been line of conducl hostile to the highly importan t: and I add. that. majority: and they cannot give a if there ever was a time IItlVbich and polMeal scientist, wrote his complacent because bldian Uewspaper! and foreignjoumals seldom such an IIUenlpl ougbt to be made. /'/0$$1(' Ir,o(lu Democrac), In carry news about Bhutan, the time may bave arrived to be dangerou5 or exclusive tendency to thc governmenl. lhat time is now. Do you not see Amer/c«, from 0 1ri1n$lafion of concerned. The direct approach of LhQyi Khui" 10 the people in Tbe maiadlllinistration uf a Ihat religious belief is shaken. which Ihls article h(u been north Bhutan ill their own language, the Royal Government must democratic magistrate, moreover. and the divine notion of right is t.l(uol!led, ofler a l'isll la Ihe realize. can have a devastating effect. is ao isolued fact. wbich has declining? - that morality is counlry in 1831-31. July 1996 TIle Bhutan Review Page 3 I JRS STATEMENT IN GENEVA The Jesuit Refogee Service (JRS) which been assisting Bhutanese refugees in the education sector has also been acriVf! in efforts aimed at sensiti;ing the International community to tile Bhutanese refugee problem. Following extensil'e lobbying 01 the 5211d session a/UN Commis sion on Human Rights (18 March· 26 April 1996), JRS Was' invited to defi\>er a statement on the siluation of Bhutanese refugees to tile UN "Mass killings, torture Working Group on Minorities, under specific agenda Item: 'Examination of isslles relating 10 forcible displacement ofpopulotions, including and 'disappearances' threats ofremo~'QI, and return a/persons who hm.'e been displaced'. The core a/the May 1, 1966 stOlemenf, co-sponsored by the Lutheran World Federation and CarUas Inlernationalis, ;s reproduced below. shame the entire interna tional community. Re Mr Chainnan. covenants on civil and political gees) are not Bhulanese nationals. forthwith; sponsibility for these out On behalf of the Jesuit Rf:fugee rights and economic, social and they certainly are not Nepalese. • tuge the Government of India rages does not lie oJlly Service, I thank you for this ~ cultural rights, it is nevertheless Bbutan must take tbe responsi to prompt1y release the Bbutanese with those who pull the portunity to draw the attention of bound to adhere by the provisions bility to solve this problem since Appeal Marchers currently incar the Working Group on Minorities set forth in the Declaration on lhc Bhutan is responsible" [electronic cerated in Indianjails and instead trigger or apply the elec to the plight of some 90,000 Rights of Persons Belouging to version]. provide them with safe and unhio tric shock. It a lso lies with Bhuranese refugees ofNepali ori- National or Ethnic, Religious and In the lighl of evenls ao; de dered passage to Bbutan: governments which s up gin CWTeOtly residing in camps in Linguistic Minorities 88 adopted scribed. and in searcb of a peace • encourage tbe Royal Govern ply anus and equjpment easlem Nepal, and aoothe!' esti- by the General Assembly Resolu- fuJ and constructive solulion to the ment ofBhutaJI 10 repeal its 1985 used to torture, maim and mated 30,000 unassisted ti00471135 of December 1992. Bhutanese refugee problem, aUow Citizenship Act and its 'One Na kill. These governments Bbutanese refugees Living outside According to the report of the me, MrChairman, to make the fol tion. One People' policy of 1989 put profits and political these camps in both Nepal and In- Working Group on Arbitrary De- lowing recommendations to the and 10 replace it with laws COD advantages ahead of hu dia. According to incomplete tention 00 their visit 10 Bhulan to Working Group on Minorities ror sistent \vith international human man rights. Regardless of Royal Bhulane8e Government the fifty ~fin'lt session ortbe Corn· i~ urgent con~iderntion: rights law. the letter and spirit of the consequences. they census figures for 1995. these mission on Human Rights (El • prepare a comprebensive report the Chru1er of the United Nations allow weapons to be sup· refugees represent more tbanone- CN.4/199S/31/Add.3), King OIl the situation of the Bhutanese and the Universal Declaration of plied t o forces with a .sixth of the total population of Jigme Singye Wangchuck is refugees in Nepal and India for the Hwnan Rights. the two covenant! record of abusing hwnan Bhutan. Half oflhe refugeoe popu~ vested with supreme poWe!'. in- n~1 session of the Su~Commis- on Civil and Political rights and latien living in the camps in Nepal eluding that of bead of stale and sion on Prevention ofDiscrimina on Economic. Social and Culnual rights. They should be constitute women and about one supreme judge. For most impor- tion and Protection of Minorities righlS and the Declaration 011 the h e ld accountab le vvhen third are children. Most of lhe tant decisions be is held to be. di- and adopt a resolution on the issue Rigbts of Persons Belonging to this equipment is used to refugeeswisbloretumlotbeplace rectly or indirectly. the ultimate in the Iighl of its finding<> 10 be sub- National or Etlutic, Religious and cOln.nit atrocities.-' of their habitual residence while authority. The country has no writ- miltcd 10 the next session of tile linguistic Minorities. as well as th~ Royal Government ofBbutan ten constitution. UN Commission on Human to ratify the Convention of the Reporl96, appears detennined to deny them By virtue of the Natiollldity Rights; due account should be Elimination or all FOflllS of Dis Amnesty International. reentr)'. Seven rounds ofbilaternl Law of Bhutan. enacted in 1958. taken in this endeavour oflhe rt"so. crimination without further delay. talkIIlo resolve this situation be- the then King granted Bhutanese lution adopted recently by the Eu lltank you. Mr Chainnan. tween the royal govenunents of citiu:nship to Nepali settlers liv- ropean Parliament on the issue; Bbutan and Nepal between 1994- inS in Bbutan. The grantingofciti- • request the High Commissioner 96. the last of which took place zenship in 1958 was ootified by for Human Rights. ill close coop MEDIA SCAN only earlier this mooth. have royal proclamation. but was not eration with the office of the I I achieved but little progress. accompanied by any special cer- United Natioos High Commis COllcerned parties have beld tificatjon process. The Bbutan sioner for Refugees, to examine BHUTAN much hope for this last round of Citizenship Act of 1977 amended the reasons ror the ell:odus of the A prisoner or conscience spent his ,both year in prison. A possible bilateT8l talks as for the first rime the nationality law and made eli· refugees and to mediate among prisouer ofconselence was aTTested and detained, A prisoner was the ta1ks Md been conducted by gibility criteria more stringent. concerned governments witb a allegedly tortured. A "village volunteer group" was reportedly the foreign ministers of the two The Bhutanese Citizenship Act or view 10 arrive at an early resolu l-esl1onsible for a possible utrajudicial ueeution. countries. 111e stalemate reached 1985 was interpreted during the tion of the situation and to take all Talks between the governments of Bhutan and Nepal in March and at the bilateral negotiations under- 1988 census as fwther tightening necessary steps, in line with tbe lines the risk of the refugees to regulations for eligibility by re- Conventioll on the Reduclion of April to discuss the fate of88.000 Nepali-speaklng southern Bhotanese ~ome stftteless persons, bt!ing stricting citizenship to ethnic Statelessness of 1961. to ensure people living in refugee camps in eastern Nepal was inconclusive. A denied their fundamental hWl1all Nepal; Rdulls who owned laud Qnd tllut the refugees do not become joint verification tcam to categorize the people in the camps bad not right 10 nationality by the Royal had ti ved in Bhutftn since 19~8 . 8te.lelen; started its work by the end of the year (see Amnesty /nrernollonClI GovenunentofBhutan. The Royal TIte current situation of the • request the Working Group on Report 1994 alld 1995). By the end of August over 340 more people Government of Bhutan maintains Bhutanese refugees, Mr Chair- Arbitrary Detention cWTentl y vis had left southern Bhutan to seek asylwn In Nepal. Many were be- that many oflhe persons registered man. is marked by increasing frus- iting Nepal and Btiutanto.ex ten