PROCEEDINGS AND RESOLUTIONS OF THE 75th SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY HELD FROM 20TH JUNE TO 16TH JULY, 1997 I. OPENING CEREMONY The 75th Session of the National Assembly of Bhutan began on the morning of the auspicious 15th Day of the 5th Month of the Female Year of the Fire Ox corresponding to June 20, 1997 with the performance of the traditional ceremony of the Zhugdrel Phuntsum Tsogpai Tendrel. In his opening address, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Dasho Kunzang Dorji, welcomed His Majesty the King, the representatives of the Central Dratshang and the Rabdeys, ministers and officials representing the government and the representatives of the people. He expressed his deep gratitude for the trust and confidence reposed in him by His Majesty the King and the hon’ble members by electing him as Speaker of the National Assembly. He pledged to serve the Tsa-Wa-Sum with unwavering devotion and loyalty and uphold the age-old institution of the Palden Drukpa. The Speaker also extended his Tashi Delek to the new representatives of the Dratshang, the government and the people who were attending the National Assembly for the first time. He reminded all the members of the very important role they had to play in the decision making process of the country and in ensuring socio-economic progress in Bhutan. Our country, the rich paradise of medicinal herbs and sandalwood, was blessed by Ugyen Guru Rimpoche as his sacred abode, said the Speaker. It had also been blessed by many sages and revered Lamas, the foremost of whom was the great spiritual leader Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal who unified the country into a sovereign, independent nation. Following a period of internal discord and instability before the turn of the last century, during which the people faced great hardship, the well being of the nation was ensured with the establishment of the cherished system of hereditary monarchy, said the Speaker. With the blessings of the Triple Gem, the protection of the Guardian Deities and the good fortune of the people, Gongsar Ugyen Wangchuk, the Trongsa Poenlop, was unanimously elected as the first hereditary monarch of Bhutan in 1907. Thus began an era of unprecedented peace and stability and phenomenal progress for our country. The Speaker reminded the members that His Majesty Jigme Dorji Wangchuk, the third hereditary monarch of Bhutan, had established the National Assembly in 1953 so that the King, officials of the government and representatives of the people could sit together and discuss the socio-economic development of the country and all issues of national importance. His Majesty the Third Druk Gyalpo also started the process of planned development in Bhutan. Since then, after His Majesty the present monarch ascended the Golden Throne, the security and sovereignty of the country had been greatly strengthened. According equal importance to the spiritual and material well-being of the people, His Majesty has preserved and renovated existing religious institutions and also established new religious institutions and Lhakhangs complete with sacred images and precious articles of religious worship. At the same time, with the well-being of the Bhutanese people foremost in his mind, His Majesty has also reposed great trust and confidence in them. Giving high priority to the policy of decentralization, His Majesty established the Dzongkhag Yargay Tshokchungs (District Development Committees) during the 5th Five Year Plan to promote active people’s participation in development. In 1991, His Majesty instituted the Gewog Yargay Tshogchungs (Block Development Committees) to further decentralise the decision-making process. With His Majesty’s farsighted vision and dynamic leadership, all sectors of socio-economic development like Health, Education, Agriculture and Livestock, and Trade and Industry had seen unprecedented growth. The people of Bhutan have never enjoyed such peace and prosperity, said the Speaker. However, since 1990, disgruntled people in the southern parts of the country had indulged in subversive activities to harm the well-being of the country and the people. The terrorist activities perpetrated by the ngolops had resulted in the loss of human life, serious setbacks to development programmes, and endangered the security of the country. However, because of His Majesty the King’s farsighted leadership and the unwavering dedication and loyalty of the security forces, the integrity and security of the country had been safeguarded and preserved. The Speaker reminded the Assembly that the 7th Five Year Plan would be completed by the end of June and the 8th Plan would commence from July 1, 1997. With the blessings of the Guardian Deities, the wise and farsighted leadership of His Majesty the King, and the good fortune of the people, the country had not only been able to make tremendous socio- economic progress but had also succeeded in safeguarding its peace and security despite the very difficult times it had faced as a result of the ngolop problem. As in the past sessions, the genuine concerns of the people for the security of the country were reflected in the agenda which had been received from the people of the 20 Dzongkhags. It was, therefore, appropriate that such issues of national concern should be discussed by the National Assembly. The Speaker reminded all the members that they had been nominated by the Central Dratshang and Rabdeys and the government, and elected by the people of their constituencies as the best persons to represent them. He also reminded the members that the National Assembly was the highest decision-making body where matters of national importance were deliberated. He, therefore, expressed his hope and confidence that the hon’ble members would all keep in mind the national interest and well- being of the country, and endeavour to participate in the deliberations in a manner worthy of the trust and faith reposed in them. With these words, the Speaker declared open the 75th Session of the National Assembly. II. DISTRIBUTION OF DOCUMENTS Following the opening ceremony, the Ministry of Finance distributed copies of its report on the 1996-97 Budget and the 1997-98 Budget to every member of the National Assembly. Making a brief statement after distributing the document, the Finance Minister expressed his appreciation to the previous Speaker, Dasho Passang Dorji, for successfully completing his tenure after serving nine years as Deputy Speaker and Speaker of the National Assembly. On behalf of all the members, the Finance Minister also congratulated Dasho Kunzang Dorji who had been elected as the new Speaker on June 18, 1997 and had been conferred with the scarf for the post by His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of the opening of the 75th Session of the National Assembly. He reminded the members that the National Assembly was the highest body which discussed important issues affecting the present and future well-being and security of the nation. He expressed his hope and confidence that under the guidance of the new Speaker, the deliberations of the 75th Session of the National Assembly would be successful. The Finance Minister informed the members that the document distributed by the Finance Ministry contained a report on the budget for the first year of the 8th Five Year Plan. It also contained a report on the expenditures and revenue under the budget for the fiscal year 1996-97 which had been approved by the 74th Session of the National Assembly. Since the 7th Five Year Plan was ending on June 30, 1997, the report also contained an account of the progress made in the implementation of development activities and establishment of service facilities during the 7th plan. He said that this document was being distributed two days before the formal presentation of his report on June 23, 1997 so that the members would have time to read and study the document. He requested the members to express their views on June 23. The Planning Ministry also distributed a report on the 8th Five Year Plan. The Planning Minister reminded the members that since the 8th Five Year Plan would begin on July 1, 1997, it was important for the members to read and study the document carefully. They should express any doubts and views they had on the report on June 23 when he would make a detailed presentation of the report. III . BHUTAN-CHINA BOUNDARY TALKS The people’s representative of Chang and Kawang gewogs in Thimphu Dzongkhag, after offering his Tashi Delek to His Majesty the King, the new Speaker and all the members of the National Assembly, on the auspicious occasion of the opening of the 75th Session of the National Assembly, requested for information on the Bhutan-China boundary talks. The representative said that having completed 11 rounds of border talks so far, and in keeping with the decision of the 74th Session of the National Assembly, the public requested for a briefing on the progress of the talks and any difficulties regarding the negotiations so that they could have a better understanding of the issue. Before addressing the Assembly on the topic of Bhutan-China boundary talks, the Foreign Minister first extended his Tashi Delek and congratulation to the new Speaker on his election to this important post and expressed his deep appreciation, on behalf of the Assembly, to the previous Speaker, Dasho Passang Dorji, for carrying out his duties successfully with utmost dedication. The Foreign Minister then informed the members that a Bhutanese delegation led by himself and which included the Secretary of Survey visited Beijing in November last year for the boundary talks. The Bhutanese delegation put forward Bhutan’s claims to Doklam, Sinchulung, Dramana and Shakhatoe in the western sector of the northern border and stressed that these were vital as pasture land for the people of Ha valley.