Am I a Safe Commuter?

I am regular commuter in the City Bus Service. Over the years, I have had numerous experiences traveling with people from all walks of life.  She
looked young but energetic and has sharp tongue able to convince even the toughest commuter in the bus.

On weekends, one would notice that she is such a person who can squeeze over twenty people standing in the bus once the only 22 seats are filled. With the ending of winter season, the passengers inside would sweat and one would smell-some foul, some sweet, some pleasant, some alcoholic,  depending on whose side we are sitting. The people inside would make noise, complain it is too packed but she would cheerfully invite still more “Babesa! Babesa! Babesa!. He sharp tongue silence the passengers inside.

A few years back, when I used to travel, the helper would always be handy boy or a man, today, to my surprise many of them are replaced by young girls. During those days, commuters would quarrel with the handy boys quite often. The buses used to more comfortable not because the buses were new during those days but because only 10 people would be carrying standing.

Today, the rules have changed, the standing capacity has increased to an extend as long as they can squeeze inside. The recent accident at Lamperi has not even caused a little concern to Bhutan Post City Bus Service. The only concern I have seen over the period years is the money that the handy girl could collect. Despite of repeated notification, the collection of extra fare and non-issuance of tickets are still rampant. For instance, to reach Simtokha, the normal rate is Nu.8 whereas most often, the handy girl would collect Nu.10 saying that they don’t have change and will compensate next time which is never done agrees many regular travelers.  Many does not care but for some, they say it is annoying and unethical.

Am I a Safe Commuter?

I am regular commuter in the City Bus Service. Over the years, I have had numerous experiences traveling with people from all walks of life.  She

THE PRESS AND PEOPLE’S LAW

 Today, when all the international media are caught by the Tunisian effect of revolution in the Arabian Countries beginning from Tunisia to Egypt, Bahrain, Iran, Yemen and now Libya.  The international media talks range from International sanction of weapons embargo to no fly zone in Libya.  They are then caught by the news of suicide bombers in Pakistan and Afghanistan. And they are also preoccupied with the international
inflation and loss of jobs and measures to address these international needs.

Here in Bhutan be it broadcast or print, every journalist looks as if their eyes have become blind and ears deaf to these issue and instead they look like, their pen nips are replaced with cigarettes buds. Since the enforcement of Tobacco Control Act,  it has subdued the mind and the soul of every reporter and the online forum and penetrated every page of the writers.  At least one article is carried out in every paper on tobacco law. Most criticized the law and enforcement agencies for enforcing the Act, not realizing the contribution of the members of the parliament in legislating the law in the country and their wisdoms. It has caught the attention of one the most prominent bloggers of Bhutan, www.tsheringtobgay.com. Though he himself was one of the parliamentarians, not only heavily criticized the law, but also called the citizen’s movement to amend the law and requested the lawyers to defend Sonam Tshering the first case saying we are imprisoning our fellow citizen.

This has motivated the writers, the bloggers, the journalists and the many urban dwellers comprising mostly the smokers-civil servants, businessmen, youth.

Some editors are even to the extent in saying that the Law is Draconian and archaic which undermines the very principle of democracy. Some wrote that laws are meant for poor and this law is no exception.

The first case of tobacco being the monk and from a humble background brought huge criticism to the enforcing agency, collected voices raising their empathy and sympathy to the first offender to the extent of forming groups in the social network calling citizens to amend the law. Many writers and urban dwellers demanded leniency in the interpretation of the law justifying that the offender was unaware of such law. Some said that the law is such that the principle of proportionate is violated since the penalty is disproportionate to the magnitude of the crime committed. Some even voiced and equated that it is better to abuse drugs or rape a minor than to light a cigarettes. 

This has caught the attention of the Prime Minister of Bhutan to urge the public to convince their respective MPs to amend the law and defending that law is not passed by the government but by the parliaments who are elected members of the people and represent the people’s view.

All said and done, one has already sentenced to three years imprisonment and many would follow him until the law gets amended making the headlines of each and every paper unlike any other Act enacted so far in Bhutan

THE PRESS AND PEOPLE’S LAW

 Today, when all the international media are caught by the Tunisian effect of revolution in the Arabian Countries beginning from Tunisia to Egypt, Bahrain, Iran, Yemen and now Libya.  The international media talks range from International sanction of weapons embargo to no fly zone in Libya.  They are then caught by the news of suicide bombers in Pakistan and Afghanistan. And they are also preoccupied with the international

Did you miss me dearly or am I too important for Bhutan?

I have never been famous as today; I am so happy that am becoming one of the important elements in the History of Bhutan. I did not aspect such huge importance from the Bhutanese people where it is predominately visited and blessed by Guru Rinpoche.
I know most Bhutanese does not like me especially in the rural areas
in-spite they are the most hospitable to other guest. But it is interesting to know that the Opposition Leader who was part of the family building armies with better armor and sophisticated weapons “the fourth degree felony”. He was one who actually waked the others to destroy the very armor before it fully tested. For this I want to Thank Mr. Sonam Tshering, from Haa for carrying me till Chuzom, where I was embarrassed to see myself opened and discovered by the policemen and I was very sad that because of me, Sonam Tshering had to go into jail for next three to five years.

After that, OL wrote on his blog to call for Citizens movement to either dismantle the armor or rescue Sonam Tshering. This has attracted many young and budding journalists from print media and they started to write on every issue. I have become so popular that if you happen to read this week’s newspapers, I  am appearing on almost every paper, some in the form of editorial, some a feature story, some as excerpt from OL’s blog, some as report, some as criticism dominating the media in Bhutan.

I am not only attracted by local media here, but across the world. I don’t know why? May be they are really missing me who I have attachment for so long or may be people are believing that I am part of freedom to life as an element and should not be removed from the country of Gross National Happiness.

In fact, I have faced numerous challenges in the past as early as 1729 when Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal in his Edict, prohibiting monks and religious people not to accompany me or use me. Yet I still silently enter almost every dzong, monasteries and other religious institutions in a plastic without smell and odour.

Then in 1991, the people’s representatives from Thimphu raised in the then National Assembly that I have to be removed from Bhutan. This was again followed in the 73^rd Session of the then National Assembly when one of the Chimis from Paro raised the issue. This time, I became more unlucky as the house resolved that the Royal Government of Bhutan and the religious body will go on a vigorous anti-campaign against me especially on the harmful effects that I was able to create in the health of the people.

Subsequently, because of the anti-campaign against me, Bumthang became the first ever  Dzongkhag in the country to get rid of me. Thereafter, one Dzongkhag after another started geeting rid of me. By 2004, I was able to roam freely and reside without restriction in Bhutan only in Thimphu and Samdrupjongkhar town. My fortune fell again when the National Assembly during the 82^nd Session, decided that I will be no more qualified to stay in Bhutan by December 17, 2004 and by March 1, 2005, I was reminded that I cannot come in the public places.

Since then, I had to hide in the darkest sides in the country but able to survive well till June 2, 2010 despite the law enforcement being able to throw me out several times from entry gates into Bhutan to the small grocery shops to moving lorries in Bhutan.

With the enactment of the Act against me and the armor of fourth degree becoming ready to drive me out of Bhutan, I am really struggling to survive anymore in Bhutan. This is further supported by the international partners after WHO found me that I am made of over 4000 chemicals out of which 50 are found to cause various heart and lung cancers as well as circulatory systems and neurological problems. As of January 2011, more than 172 countries have turned against me and trying to either stop me from growing or manufacturing me. Thailand has been one of the toughest countries towards me where many people are now even voluntarily becoming enemy of me.

Now, I don’t see a good future in Bhutan as long as fourth degree is there in spite of a group still supporting me particularly in the urban youngsters.