Bhutan's Acession to WTO

As Bhutan prepares to be the part of the World trade Organization (WTO), the Prime Minister talked to the Bhutanese Media. The following is the excerpt from Bhutan Broadcasting Service online.

Even the Cabinet remains divided on WTO

March 26: Should Bhutan join or not join the World Trade Organisation (WTO)? That is one of the pertinent questions looming large for quite some time now among the policy makers, academicians, intelligentsia, and the general public. Some say Bhutan should. Some say it is too early. Even the Cabinet Ministers remain divided on this tricky issue. “Many of our Cabinet Members are also supportive of joining the WTO, the Ministry of Economic Affairs is supportive of joining the WTO but there are a few of us, thankfully, who still think we need more questions not only answers, we need answers to questions,” said the Prime Minister Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley. He was speaking to the Bhutanese media on Wednesday. Lyonchhen said that everybody wanted Bhutan to join WTO and even the WTO wanted Bhutan to join. “Do we really know enough about WTO? What is it that we will be loosing if we don't join WTO as opposed to what it is that we will really be gaining? Have we quantified those areas? How will our farmers really be protected? How will our nascent industry be really protected? How will acceding to the WTO really reconcile with our pursuit of GNH,” questions the Prime Minister, adding that the WTO is all about agreeing on set of rules and regulations for the manufacturing and the movement of goods and services and bringing down all kinds of borders. “It impacts on sovereignty as well.” Lyonchhen said that there are more questions than answers at the moment.  “There really is not so much of a cost in waiting. We are not going to loose anything by waiting to be sure but if we go ahead it may be difficult for us to opt out,” Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said.

Bhutan's Acession to WTO

As Bhutan prepares to be the part of the World trade Organization (WTO), the Prime Minister talked to the Bhutanese Media. The following is the excerpt from Bhutan Broadcasting Service online.

Even the Cabinet remains divided on WTO

March 26: Should Bhutan join or not join the World Trade Organisation

The obligations of life in city

 As journey continues with my life, there are more obligations to fulfill. When I was in the school to college days, my obligation was to pass exams, qualify for college and come out with a degree. When I completed my degree, I was obliged to pass and qualify for the civil servants, so that I become somebody in the society and make my parents proud of me. I was able to fulfill these
obligations without much problem by the god’s graces and wishes from everyone.

Now I am in a job and my obligation is different. The first one is to stand on my own feet. I have siblings still studying and as an elder, I am obliged to help them and assist my parents both financially and logistically.

But the first assignment for me is to get settled myself.  To do that, I have to find a house, procure necessities to start with. These necessities include the kitchen utensils to bedroom needs to few basic leisure items like television, stereo etc. One of the most difficult tasks is to find a house at reasonable price as I open my new chapter.

Finding a house in a city like Thimphu is almost impossible. With the huge rural-urban migration and more people coming to the capital for better life makes our life even harsher. The smallest apartment with a single room at the attic of any building cost not less than Nu. 3000. Most of these attics lack the basic amenities like proper restroom, continuous water supply, decent kitchen and proper ventilation in the apartment. But tenant have no other means than to reside. The Charles Darwin’s theory of survival of fittest is applied here. If we are not competent we are bound to be eliminated from the group. The process of natural selection starts here and screens the unwanted ones and keeps that best suited and adapted to the environment. Many people today describe that finding a wife in Thimphu is far easier than finding a small apartment. That is true as far as people living here are concerned.  

The Tenancy Act of Kingdom of Bhutan 2004 has been there for the last six years and it is still in the dormancy and it has never been enforced. It is a white elephant for the tenants. No house owner gives a damn to it because they can always find another one to occupy their apartment. So for these people there is no need to compromise and listen to their tenants or need of such Act.

Once we get house, then it is the turn for the shopkeepers and vegetable venders to hammer us. Most of these people are rude and client unfriendly besides overcharging their customers with a lot of lame excuses.

All these make our life more complex and harsh vibe to lead a happy life. In short, the essence of Gross National Happiness loses its charm in this context. The age old tradition of hospitality and the essence of extended family are getting slowly diluted and degraded. The people are now becoming more materialistic. In the process, the life in a city is perplexed in predicament. In other words, the greed and selfish grows more and more strong as we continue to live in the world of urban. These are some of the most prominent impacts of modernization and urbanization.

No matter what is the condition of the life, we have no other alternative path than to take the one travelled by everyone. That is the fact of life and everyone who falls on this path is ought to follow the rest of the life. So shall I have to because I am made to travel the same path and overcome the struggle to lead a decent life.

The obligations of life in city

 As journey continues with my life, there are more obligations to fulfill. When I was in the school to college days, my obligation was to pass exams, qualify for college and come out with a degree. When I completed my degree, I was obliged to pass and qualify for the civil servants, so that I become somebody in the society and make my parents proud of me. I was able to fulfill these

The writers, their styles and their professions: A review on journal published by NC

The clock struck almost half past four in the evening. I could hear the steps of my colleagues moving out of their office. I finished my work for this day and decided to go home to too, when I saw a book on my table. The book had a picture of parliamentarians, national council members to be precise. I looked at well and read February 2010, NC Reflections. I took the book and went home.
After having my dinner, I went through the book. There are
seven articles written by seven members of the National Council. The topics ranged from “The House of Review” to “Legislation” to “Drugs and Youth” to “Before mountains echo different songs”.
One of the prominent differences I have found was the way each one of them has written. I know that although today they all hold the same post, their past experiences and professions were all different.
Dr Jagar Dorji has written on the “The house of review: beyond the nuts and bolts” in which he talks about the promises made by the members and their fulfillment. This piece of writing looks more academic as he was an academician.
The next article was on “Legislation: Formulation, Application and Interpretation” by Kuenley Tshering. As he comes from a legal background and was also a senior judge at the High Court prior to his appointment to this post. He articles talks on the principles of legislation and how laws are formulated, interpreted and applied in the court of law. In this article one would note how he has used the precise legal terms to explain about legislation. Some prominent terms he used are “The Golden Rule”, “The Mischief Rule, statute, Jus dicere, et non jus dare, House of Justice”. It is also distinguished by long sentences and a lot of footnote which is absent in other articles.
An article titled “Before mountains echo different songs” was written by Ugyen Tshering. The article starts with a description of a valley slowly bringing the story of remote village where the author has visited. This article is very much journalistic way of writing. This has depicted that this author has come from a media background and I found it true, as I know he worked in a broadcast for a long time before joining politics.
Another National Council Member, Rinzin Rinzin wrote a first person narrative story on His Majesty launching land Kidu program and where he himself accompanied the royal entourage. His article was “Halo of rainbows and lights in the shadow of my king”. In this article, Rinzin being a writer who has written mostly the non creative fiction has brought his ability to bring the story in a first person form as per the rule in writing a non-fiction creative writing.
Sonam Kinga being a renowned and active researcher has written his article with a lot of research on zhabto Lemi. His article was titled “Zhabto Lemi Chhathrim:The need for completing the Law-making process”. He has put his researched results in the form of table as any researcher would do to prove his research and make recommendations. Further the article is very similar to the articles published by Centre for Bhutan Studies in terms of its structure and lay out.
On the other hand, the two young members Sonam Yangchen who wrote on “Drugs and Youth:Still looking for an answer” and Sangay Khandu on “Law-making in Bhutan” were having similar way of writing as well as the layout. There is more of modern style of writing which mainly included their observations and comments on the issue.
We can see the following few excerpts from their articles and compare.
“In the Bhutanese Parliament the creation of the apolitical National Council gives the bicameral system a strength that most parliaments do not have. The views expressed in this paper are very well summarized in the following words:” Dr. Jagar Dorji, former Director of Sherubtse College.
“The role of the judge is to declare what law already exists. The standard legal maxim is, Jus dicere, et non jus dare, that is, the province of a judge is to declare the law, not to make it.” Dasho Kuenley Tsshering, a Judge at the High Court of Bhutan.
“From all four corners, mountains loom large against the clear blue sky. Inside this bowl of rugged beauty lies the small village of Gonyul in the tiny mountain kingdom of Bhutan.” Ugyen Tshering, former General Manager of BBSC
When I was honoured with the news that our Druk Gyelpo was on his way to Lhuentse to launch the Land kidu program, honestly, I was full of mixed feelings-excitement and anxiety alike”. Rinzin Rinzin, an author and agriculturist.
“Text of the re-structured Bill sent by the National Council to the National Assembly. This text is based on the 1996 Chathrim. The provisions deleted (by a line) are based on the National Assembly’s proposal and resolutions of the 87th session of the former National Assembly”. Sonam Kinga, a former researcher(CBS) and Chief Editor (BO).
“The Constitution of Bhutan states amongst other things, how the legislature should conduct its legislative process”. Sangay Khandu, former employee of UNDP.
“Drug use has been on a constant rise in the country. There are varying set of factors contributing to the ever rising drug abuse problem”. Sonam Yangchen, RCSC selected candidate for Post Graduate Diploma in Public Administration.
These few examples depict that how each individual can differ in writing as we grow in different set of environment and profession. Thus, it is at all not advisable to comment on some one’s writing.