Section 10.2 declares that: “Only one penalty shall be imposed in each case.”

I haven’t heard from the RCSC yet. But in the meantime, I’ve learnt about another case, this time involving three officials of the Paro NIE.

They too had been caught “adjusting” their accounts, supposedly to meet workshop expenses. They were penalized. Then they were taken to court. And after the court’s verdict, the RCSC reinstated all three of them in their earlier jobs.

One of them decided to resign. He applied for, and received his retirement benefits.

The other two decided to continue in their jobs. But the RCSC reversed their earlier decision and terminated them both. They didn’t receive their retirement benefits.

Where is Section 10.2? Where is justice?

This is their story:

We (Phurba & Kezang D. Yeshey – lecturers of Paro College of Education) would like to inform you about the nature and actions taken by different offices.

We were hired by Dorji Wangchuk, CAPSD, Education division, Paro to conduct Environment Studies (EVS) workshops in nine districts. We adjusted some of the bills after conducting workshops to cover for the extra payments made to the participants and workshop helpers. As a result, we had to accept so many administrative actions and legal penalties. And they are as follows:

1. We paid the adjusted amount to the Royal Audit Authority (RAA)
2. Ministry of Education forwarded our case to the Office of the Attorney General for prosecution.  Letter no: MoE/ADM(22-2006/3319 dated 10/11/2006)
3. After few months our case was withdrawn by MoE and RCSC in preference of Administrative action (Kuensel, vol no: XXII sometimes in January 2007)
4. In February 2007, MoE & RCSC jointly conducted meeting to impose administrative actions against us. (Minutes of the meeting available with us)
5. MoE & RCSC imposed administrative action through Office of the Vice Chancellor (OVC) by withholding promotion for three years and maintaining in the negative name list for three years without availing training and further studies. (Letter no: RUB/ADM-15(B)/2007/2254 dated  19th march 2007)
6. As a result Phurba missed his masters training programme which was supposed to be in UNE, Australia. (Internal notice, dated 30, march 2007)
7. In April 2008, the OAG prosecuted us in Paro District court and suspended us during that period (Letter No: PCE/ADM(16)2007-2008/1861 dated 14th April 2008).
8. Paro District court acquitted us of all the charges. (Verdict no: 11274, dated 13/08/2008)
9. The OAG appealed to the High court against our acquittal. The High Court reversed the District court’s verdict and sentenced us for eighteen months imprisonment and fifteen months for Dorji Wangchuk. (Verdict No: 09-05 dated 19/02/2009)
10. After the High court verdict, RUB reinstated us in our formal jobs with additional administrative action. That is, RUB Withheld one year increment as per the BCSRR sec 2.4.3, page 191 (Letter No: RUB/HRM/15/(B)2009/1443 dated 25/03/2009)
11. RCSC issued office order to the Dy. Auditor General regarding Dorji Wangchuk’s entitlement to his retirement benefits as we were already reinstated by RUB (letter No: RCSC/LS-4/2009/5090 dated march 5/2009)
12. Finally RCSC terminated us without any benefits. (Letter NO: RCSC/LS/4/2009 dated 30/06/’09)
13. We appealed to the High court as per sec 12.5 of BCSRR 2006, page 204 against RCSC’s action citing sec 10.2 of the BCSRR 2006. The High Court rejected our appeal. (Letter No: 3718 dated 6/08/2009)
14. We filed the case against RCSC’s action in the Paro District Court but the district court rejected our case. (Letter No: 2639 dated 28/8/2009)

But before finalizing the policy, the government should hold thorough consultations with all stakeholders, particularly the private sector, to ensure that they understand the policy and, more importantly, that they commit to supporting it.

And once the FDI policy is finalized, it should be made public.

Incidentally, the cabinet approved the Economic Development Policy last year. But it is still not available to the public. Instead, just last month the prime minster informed a potential investor that:

Bhutan was finalizing the Economic Development Policy which would spell out the kind of environment in which they can operate.

Transparency is important. And it is especially important where there’s money to be made.

• The National Council has declared it as unconstitutional;
• The Election Commission of Bhutan has complained that it will compromise the conduct of free and fair elections;
• citizens have called it a political tool; and
• the opposition party has denounced it.

And still, the controversial CDG prevails.

But faced with increasing questions on the legitimacy, intent and usage of the CDG, the prime minister has agreed to consider revoking the grant after two years of his government. The plan, apparently, is to scrap the CDG:

Provided that majority of the Gewog Tshogde (GT) submits that it was not useful.

But why involve local governments? Either the CDG is constitutional, or it is not. If it is, and if it is good for democracy, go ahead and implement it. But if it is not constitutional, withdraw it.

So don’t pass the buck to local governments.

But if we must, then give local governments real choice. Ask them if they would like to implement the CDG with their MPs. Or if they would prefer to implement the grant without the interference of their MPs.

First give them the money – they need it. Then ask them if they would like their MPs to be involved in the management of that money. And they will tell you, in no uncertain terms, No!

The draft mineral development policy proposes to allow only “one mining lease to an individual or to a company”. Very good. I’m all for a healthy reduction in the number of mines in our country.

But wait a second, what about the Punatshangchu Hydropower Project Authority? Didn’t they recently apply for “three large quarries”? And what about Penden Cement? Surely they operate more than one mine. And Dungsum Cement? They’ll surely need more than one mine!

Incidentally, it seems that PHPA will not operate the quarries themselves. Instead they may just transfer their mining lease to the big three Indian Contractors – L&T, HCC and Gammon.

Which leads me to an important question: are foreign companies allowed to operate our mines?

Mr OL You got to do some explaining here! We are not convinced. TR has given his explanation and made his stand clear. Now Mr OL you need to put a brave face and give your reasons. otherwise we are going to take this as one of your several political gimmicks!

And the comment before that was by “Guest” who pleaded:

I am still pleading with the OL to explain to me how he sees that issue which escapes me totally. My request is genuine.

If Bhutan Today wishes to publish the cabinet’s press releases as their own stories, so be it. I may not agree with them. But I wouldn’t be overly concerned either. After all, we must remember that Bhutan Today was established barely 14 months ago, and that they were the first daily newspaper. So if, in order to meet their daily deadlines, they cut a few corners, I am not about to complain.

I would, however, be concerned if the prime minister’s press officer started influencing Bhutan Today. And very concerned if the PM’s press officer was associated with Bhutan Today when they published the cabinet’s press releases as their own stories. That, unfortunately, is what seems to have happened.

Tenzin Rigden, the PM’s press officer, has admitted in a letter that he “helped” Bhutan Today. And that he had helped “…with story headlines, captions and the design as well”.

Story headlines! The PM’s press officer says he helped Bhutan Today with their story headlines!

It’s no wonder that two journalists – one from Bhutan Observer, the other from Business Bhutan – asked me, on separate occasions, what I thought about Tenzin Rigden editing stories in Bhutan Today.

But for some odd reason, both the papers have decided not to publish what they told me was headline news.

Thimphu will look presentable by this time next month. And our visitors will be duly impressed. But we, residents, must ask ourselves if our city really is as clean as it might look. And, if not, what we, residents, should do about it.

I took the following pictures a few days ago while walking to town from Taba.

Taba Rongchu

Taba Hokha

Taba Hokha

Below the road

Below the road

By the road

Above Langjophakha; below the road

Above Langjophakha; under the road

I have already expressed my concerns that the prime minister’s office may be influencing the media. But what has recently been happening is worse: one newspaper, Bhutan Today, has started carrying every press release that comes out of the prime minister’s office as their own story, word for word, but with their own byline.

Compare the following stories:

• “Bigger responsibility for NSB, better data for nation” by the Cabinet; and “Statistics and GNH Statistics” by Bhutan Today
• “SAARC summit: preparations in full swing” by the Cabinet; and “450 Delegates to Attend SAARC Summit” by Bhutan Today
• “100% FDI to build five-star hotels in Bhutan” by the Cabinet; and “100% FDI for Luxury Hotels” by Bhutan Today
• “It’s Ethics, Stupid” by the Cabinet; and “It’s Ethics, Stupid” by Bhutan Today
• “Tourism Reforms” by the Cabinet; and “Tourism Reforms” by Bhutan Today
• “Two-way dialogue is important, says PM” by the Cabinet; and “Dialogue Important: says PM” by Bhutan Today

My concern is no longer that the prime minister’s office may be influencing a newspaper. I’m now concerned that they could be controlling Bhutan Today.

There’s something dangerous going on. And I’m writing to BICMA about it.

Still unsure

More than decade has already passed since the start of Bhutan’s accession process to the WTO. And many of our current ministers have been involved throughout the process. So I find it strange that, after all these years, one of them, the prime minister, is “still unsure” about joining the WTO.

What do you think? Should we join or not? Or are you also “still unsure”?

Take our poll that asks, “Should Bhutan join the WTO?”

Caricature by Bhutan Observer