Early warning...

Early yesterday morning, the health assistant in Lunana was woken up by loud rumbling sounds from the Gotu-chu. At 3:30 AM he found that the river, a tributary of the Pho- chu, had swollen to thrice its size and dispatched a wireless message to the Early Warning Station in Wanduephodrang warning them of a possible flood downstream along the Pho-chu and Punasang-chu.

The rumblings that the health assistant had heard spread panic in Punakha and beyond. And by mid-day, the entire nation was consumed by fear of the impending dangers in Punakha and Wangduephodrang. His Majesty the King was immediately in Punakha. As were our prime minister and home minister.

By the time I reached Punakha, traveling from Phuentsholing, the alert had been called off, and everything appeared normal.

I was happy to see the quick response of our government to a potential disaster. And I was happy to see our prime minister admit: “we were not prepared, thousands of lives would have been lost if this was a real flood.”

We now know that we are “not prepared” to handle a flood in Punasang-chu. And we know that, if the river were to flood, thousands of lives would be at risk. We also know that a “real flood” is inevitable – it’s only a matter of time.

How we use this knowledge will determine how we react to future rumbling sounds from Lunana.

Sustaining happiness...

I’m in Phuentsholing, on my way back from a special trip to my constituency. I went there to receive Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck, who visited Sombaykha and Gakiling in my constituency, and then to accompany the royal entourage to Dumtoe and Dorokha in Samtse.

Her Majesty trekked for eight straight days, from the freezing Tergo-la in Haa to the hot and humid Yaba-la in Samtse. She undertook this arduous journey – trudging in the cold winds and snow, in the rain among leeches, and in the sun in sweltering heat – to meet the people living in the remotest parts of Haa and Samtse. And Her Majesty met them in their villages and in their homes to tell them about reproductive health, to advocate family planning, and to warn them of the dangers of HIV/AIDS, drugs and excessive alcohol.

Pictured is Her Majesty in Rangtse enjoying a happy moment with the people of Gakiling. There, I was suddenly struck by the realization that Her Majesty’s journey to my constituency, and those through the length and breath of our country, was not just about reproductive health or HIV/AIDS; it was ultimately a campaign to ensure that the happiness of our people is sustainable.

I return to Thimphu today.

Watching our mountains...

On the 12th of April, I had promised to post a good picture of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck Range. I’m afraid I haven’t been able to get one. I’m sorry.

Dun dun was correct in commenting that I “was indeed in a hurry” and that my picture is “all hazy, washed out and dry!”

I will be honest: the real reason I wrote the entry, even though I didn’t have a good picture of the mountains, was to remind myself that our northern range is now called the “Jigme Singye Wangchuck Range”.

The picture of the mountain range I’m posting is a photo of the one that accompanies the popular binoculars in Dochula. The photo shows off our important mountains and their respective altitudes. It was given to me by a friend.

On a related note, most tourists visiting Bhutan know that mountaineering is forbidden in our kingdom. And all of them would know that that’s out of respect to our deities that reside in our high mountains.

But some of our mountains have been “conquered”. Do you know which ones? By whom? And when?

Saluting the army...

Today, on the 24th of April, we observe Armed Forces Raising Day. On this important day, we commemorate the establishment of our armed forces comprising of the Royal Bhutan Army, the Royal Bhutan Guards, and the Royal Bhutan Police. And, more importantly, we remember and celebrate their valuable services to the tsa-wa-sum.

I respectfully offer my gratitude and tashi delek to the Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces and the Militia, and to all officers and troops of the RBP, RBA and RBG.

Risky business...

I was horrified to learn that an oil tanker burst into flames in the BOD’s petrol pump in Samdrup Jongkhar. (Read Bhutan Observer article) The fire was quickly contained, but only after two men had been seriously injured. We’re lucky that the fire didn’t spread to and cause unimaginable damage to the residents of Samdrup Jongkhar.

The BOD station in Thimphu is a disaster waiting to happen any day. The street literally runs through the middle of the petrol pump. So traffic is heavy. But not just to fuel-up. Every driver uses the BOD station as a thoroughfare.

The danger is obvious. If something like the Samdrup Jongkhar incident were to take place in Thimphu, it would be difficult to control the fire. It would be catastrophic. One, the station stores much more fuel. And two, the resulting traffic jam would prevent fire trucks from reaching anywhere near the inferno.

The solution is also obvious. Redesign our streets. Or, if that’s not possible, relocate the BOD.

Seedy grant...

Our newspapers reported that the cabinet has approved the constituency development grant last week (read Bhutan Observer). I join the NC Chairman in expressing complete shock at the cabinet’s decision. Here are a few reasons, most of which I’ve shared with BBS, why we should be seriously concerned if the CDG has really been approved:

1. It is unconstitutional. Our Constitution declares that “there shall be separation of the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary and no encroachment of each other’s powers is permissible.” Allowing MPs to implement the CDG amounts to the legislature encroaching on the executive.

2. It undermines local governments. Our Constitution declares that “power and authority shall be decentralized and devolved to elected Local Governments…” By granting Nu 2 million per year per constituency as CDG, MPs retain a considerable amount of direct control over development funds. This will seriously undermine the “power and authority” of the Gewog Tshogdes.

3. It undermines the National Council. During the second session, the NC resolved that the CDG is unconstitutional and submitted the matter to His Majesty the King. In approving the CDG, the government may have totally disregarded the NC’s resolution.

4. Rules have not been approved. During the first session of the parliament, the NC and NA, in the joint sitting, resolved that they would continue deliberating the CDG in the next session, and instructed the government to present draft rules on the CDG at that time. The CDG rules were not presented or discussed during the second session of the parliament.

5. It is not fair. If members of the National Assembly require a constituency development grant, what about members of the National Council? They too have constituencies. They too made promises. And what about gups? And mangmis? And tshopas? All of them also have constituencies and also have promises to fulfill.

6. It will breed corruption. The CDG looks a lot like slush funds – the money is not earmarked for any specific purpose, and it will be used to gain political mileage.

7. It is inefficient. If money is available (and it must be, hence CDG), use it to fund development work as part of the 10th Five Year Plan. The ruling party’s promises, and that of its MPs, should and must be fully covered in the Plan. Extra money, if any, should be placed at the disposal of local governments. After all, they will have a much more intimate knowledge of the problems and the opportunities in their gewogs.

8. Learn. Several countries that have similar schemes – India, for example – are trying to abolish them. But they can’t. Why? Politicians, who are the ones who stand to gain the most from such schemes, will not agree to do away with them. Let’s learn from the mistakes of others.

To Gakiling and beyond...

I begin another visit to my constituency today. In particular, I’ll visit Gakiling. And from there head to Dumtoe and Dorokha in Samtse. Most families from Samar gewog, including mine, make this journey every year, moving their cattle from the high mountains in Haa to the lowlands in Samtse each winter. This difficult journey has been undertaken by many, many generations at almost the same time each year, along exactly the same path, and to the same pastures. Our people continue this tradition. We have to: we are semi-nomadic people.

So, naturally, I’m excited.

I won’t be able to access the internet, and this blog, for the next 8 days. But, be warned, I’ve already posted a few entries that are scheduled to be published while I’m away, enjoying the beauty of our countryside and its people.

Pictured is part of Sombaykha and Gakiling gewogs courtesy Google Earth. If you enlarge the picture (by “clicking” on it) you’ll see the main parts of Sombaykha and Gakiling. These are some of most rural parts of our country. The river you see running through the middle is Amochu, what most of us know as the Toorsa as it enters Phuentsholing.

Meeting gups...

Many of our readers expressed concerns about the opposition being left out of the 5th annual meeting of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu and Gewog Tshogde Chairpersons that ended today. Some were obviously outraged. And a few suggested that the opposition organize a separate meeting with the gups.

I appreciate your concerns. And your advice. Thank you.

We’ve decided that organizing a separate meeting with the gups would not be proper. It would send the wrong message: that the annual meetings are organized only for the government. In fact, gups are apolitical. And they are important. So all relevant agencies should have access to them during the one time they congregate together. And I’m not just talking about access for the opposition party. I’m sure the National Council would find it useful. And NGOs. And the private sector, among others.

Organizing a separate meeting is also not possible. I’m already in my village, Dorikha in Haa! I arrived half an hour ago.

So, because I couldn’t meet them in Thimphu, the idea is to travel to the dzongkhags to meet them there. And I’ll telephone those who I can’t meet in person.

I view this as a good opportunity to interact with local governments at an even more personal level.

Left out...

The 5th annual meeting of the Dzongkhag Tshogdu and Gewog Tshogde Chairpersons will end today. These meetings are important as, once every year, the gups of all 205 gewogs get together to discuss issues relating to local government. And this year’s meeting is especially important as this is the first such meeting since the introduction of parliamentary democracy.

But the opposition party was excluded from this meeting.

I’d hoped to meet our local government leaders to solicit their opinions and advice on the opposition party’s work. And to seek their views on the amendments to the Local Government Act that are expected to be discussed during the parliament’s next session.

So when the meeting was announced, I requested the organizers for an opportunity to meet the gups. But I was told that their agenda was packed. And that it would not be possible to include a session for the opposition.

And so I’ve decided to contact the 205 gups personally.

Photo of gups from www.kuenselonline.com

Free media...

On Sunday, March 22, Bhutan Times reported: The most direct evidence of our new democratic freedom this past year is the ease with which the kingdom’s young media professionals can now get hold of government leadership including, even, the Prime Minister himself. Good.

On Saturday, April 11, Kuensel reported: The prime minister said that the government respected the media. It had in no way hindered them. “The government lets media do what they’re supposed to be doing. People need to know the truth, both good and bad … We should be honest and we should reveal.” Very good.

On Wednesday, April 15, Kuensel reported: When discussions got heated up between MPs and coordinators, the DPT party told the press to leave the hall. Not good.