Celebrating teachers and workers

December 18, 2009Posted inMonarchy
Teachers and blue-collared workers throughout our country must be celebrating. Good. They have reason to rejoice. Yesterday, during the National Day celebrations in Changlimithang Stadium, His Majesty the King paid special tribute to our teachers and blue-collared workers. And, in recognition of their important services to the tsa wa sum, His Majesty awarded the National Order of Merit to 16 educationists and blue-collared workers. One craftsman, Jinzop Karma, Bhutan’s foremost traditional sculptor, was bestowed the Druk Thugsay. My heartiest congratulations to them. And, to the countless teachers and blue-collared workers all across our Kingdom, I say: thank you. Photo…

Royal decree

November 24, 2009Posted inJustice, Monarchy
I see two important points in His Majesty the King’s kasho instituting the Royal Commission and outlining the process to establish the first Supreme Court of Bhutan. The first is that the delay in establishing the Supreme Court was deliberate. It was meant to make the “… new democratic institutions learn to work together in harmony, and with unity of purpose, in the interest of the Nation and People.” The second is that, His Majesty the King has devolved his authority and created an even more transparent process of establishing the Supreme Court. Though Article 21, Section 4 of…

Helping hands

November 23, 2009Posted inMonarchy
. . . 9th November, 2009: RBA soldiers dismantling a house that had been damaged by the earthquake in Durung, Trashigang. . . . . . 22nd November, 2009: RBA soldiers dismantling a house that had been damaged by the fire in Haa town. . . From Trashigang in the east, to Haa in the west, the Royal Bhutan Army has played a crucial role in providing relief to the victims of disasters. They dismantled houses that were dangerously damaged by the calamities, they built temporary shelters, and, perhaps most importantly, they provided a sense of security. Now they…

Giving thanks

November 20, 2009Posted inLegislature, Monarchy
This week’s banner features members of parliament, in front of the Gyalyog Tshokhang, preparing to receive His Majesty the King to the inaugural ceremony of the fourth session of the Parliament. A quick translation of my statement thanking His Majesty the King follows: …………………………………………………….............…………………………………… A series of natural disasters have ravaged our country during the past 20 months. Nature’s four elements have created calamities throughout our country, in every dzongkhag, causing immeasurable problems for our country and our people. Recently, earthquakes, windstorms and fires have inflicted damage, and caused anxiety and hardship for the people living in the eastern…

Gifted Sonam

November 11, 2009Posted inEconomy, Monarchy
Ever so often, a reader will leave a comment that is much more powerful and important than the original entry. I am delighted every time that happens. Someone called “Invisible” left such a comment to my last entry, “Farmhouse lunch.” The comment is insightful, thought provoking, and inspiring. So, if you haven’t already read Invisible’s response about SMEs and jobs for the “invisible people”, I encourage you to do so. “If you ‘genuinely’ believed in Aum Sonam, enjoyed her lunch, and saw a business potential in it…” advised Invisible, “…let it give you inspiration, reason, and energy to drive…

Happy Coronation Day!

November 1, 2009Posted inMonarchy
I join the nation in celebrating the first coronation anniversary of His Majesty the King. On behalf of the opposition party and the People’s Democratic Party, I offer our humble felicitations to His Majesty the King. On this joyous occasion, we pray for His Majesty’s wellbeing and long life, and rededicate ourselves to the service of the tsa-wa-sum. The photograph, already an iconic picture, shows His Majesty inspecting the armed forces during the Coronation Celebrations in the Changlimithang stadium on the 6th of November 2008, five days after receiving the sacred dhar from the Machhen of Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal…

Royal nuptials

October 30, 2009Posted inMonarchy
HRH Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck married Dasho Tandin Namgyel yesterday. I join the nation in wishing the royal couple happy marriage and tashi delek! None of our newspapers covered this important event. They should have.

Paying attention

October 23, 2009Posted inDemocracy, Monarchy
When did you first know that democracy would be introduced in our country? That was the question I asked in my last entry. No one ventured a definite date. One reader, however, admitted that it was a “tough question” while others questioned the relevance and importance of the question. Relevant or not, I think I first knew about plans to introduce democracy in our country only in 2004. On 17th December that year, in Mongar, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo had commanded that: “The highest importance was also attached to the establishment of parliamentary democracy and a system…

When did we know?

October 19, 2009Posted inDemocracy, Monarchy
Last week, Bhutan successfully hosted the first Regional Conference on Deepening and Sustaining Democracy in Asia. The Centre for Bhutan Studies and UNDP Bhutan organized the event together. That Bhutan, the world’s youngest democracy, led a major international discussion on deepening democratic values is commendable. It shows how much we’ve matured, politically, since the introduction of parliamentary democracy in our country barely 18 months ago. It also shows how serious we are about our new form of governance. Looking back, it is clear that His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo had carefully prepared us, his people, for democracy. Most…

Jobs for Bhutan

October 18, 2009Posted inEmployment, Monarchy
As Bhutan is a small country with a small population we must never allow ourselves to reach a situation where we are unable to provide employment to our people. Ensuring that this does not happen is an important responsibility of the government. His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo, 17 December, 2000, Trashigang

Helping ourselves

October 13, 2009Posted inMonarchy
An earthquake, a storm and a fire recently ravaged our country in quick succession causing our people untold grief and suffering. And people from all walks of life, within the country and without, have come together in support of the victims of the these natural calamities that hit Eastern Bhutan especially hard. But not all of us know how to help. For instance, two Bhutanese students, both in America, asked me how and where they should send their contributions. And, a foreigner asked me the same questions too. The best and easiest way to help is by contributing to…

Our democracy

August 26, 2009Posted inDemocracy, Monarchy
Yesterday, HRH Ashi Sonam Dechan Wangchuck inaugurated a workshop entitled “Democracy in our Place”. During this important workshop, participates will discuss various concepts about democracy and good governance. In her royal address, HRH observed that many of us readily declare that “democracy must succeed in Bhutan.” But for democracy to succeed, HRH commanded that “…it must be relevant to the lives of the citizens, and most importantly it must be beneficial to them.” A gentle reminder for all of us. The workshop, which is being conducted in Hotel Zhiwaling, is organised by the Election Commission of Bhutan. You'll find…

Royal address

August 2, 2009Posted inDemocracy, Monarchy
ROYAL ADDRESS AT THE CONCLUDING CEREMONY OF THE 3rd SESSION OF THE PARLIAMENT, 30 JULY 2007 On the occasion of the concluding ceremony of the 3rd session of Parliament, I congratulate the elected government of the Druk Phuensum Tshokpa on the completion of one year and four months in office. In these early days of a new political system while bearing great responsibilities you have, despite the limited resources, successfully carried out the difficult duties of government in service of the Tsawasum. The Opposition, though comprised of only two members, has through diligence and commitment, fulfilled the important duties…

Noble king

July 21, 2009Posted inMonarchy
A year ago, on 21 July, during the first sitting of the Parliament after the signing of the Constitution, I proposed a motion to nominate His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo for the Nobel Peace Prize. To recall the importance of that motion, I’m featuring a photograph of our beloved kings, taken during the signing of the Constitution, in the banner. And, I’m posting a rough translation of the statement I made in the Parliament last year. On the 15th day of the 5th month of our calendar, His Majesty the King affixed his signature, in pure gold, to…

Gift from the Golden Throne

July 18, 2009Posted inDemocracy, Monarchy
One year ago, on 18th July 2008, His Majesty the King signed the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan. I am pleased to reproduce below, His Majesty the King’s address to the Nation on that historic day. On this day of destiny, in the blessed land of Pelden Drukpa we, a fortunate People and King, hereby resolve to bring into effect the root and foundation - the very source - of all law in our nation. On such an auspicious occasion, on behalf of the people I offer gratitude to His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo. During his reign…