(FOR
PRIVATE CIRCULATION ONLY)
JANUARY – FEBRUARY
2003
Partiality of
the Royal Government.
The partiality of
the Royal Government in implementing infrastructural developmental
activities in the country is clearly visible now.
During his
Dzongkhang tour in 1990, The King promised to develop Eastern
Bhutan. He promised the establishment of a university at Kanglung
and a medical college at Tashigang/Mongar. He had even assured the
public that Eastern Bhutan would have “traditional learning
centers”, and that the existing education and health facilities
would be upgraded. But contrary to the assurances, the Royal
Government shifted the existing Deothang Polytechnic Institute
(presently it is known as Royal Bhutan institute of technology) from
Deothang, in Eastern Bhutan to Phuentsholing in Western Bhutan, on
the pretext that the presence of ULFA and BODO militants in that
area was hampering its functioning. Since the ULFA and BODO militant
are friends of the King there certainly shouldn’t be anything to
fear from one’s “friend”.
The induction of
Sangay Nidup (the brother-in-law of the King) as Minister for Health
and Education not only put all developmental activities in field of
health and education in Eastern Bhutan on hold, but what ever
facilities existed have also been downgraded. The teacher’s training
college and the hospitals promised to Eastern Bhutan have now been
established in Paro, in Western Bhutan.
The lucrative
Dungsam Cement Project too has been kept on hold citing the presence
of ULFA and BODO militants as an excuse. However, the coal
extraction in Bangtar, Samrang is functioning freely without the
slightest problem. Is it that the coal mining company involved in
the operation is unafraid of ULFA and BODO militants? Or is there
another reason? Why is it that in the same area,
companies(particularly in which the royal family or those close to
them are the financial beneficiaries) are functioning smoothly,
while it is supposedly “not conducive” to go ahead with welfare
projects for the public.
The Western
Bhutanese can purchase a pack of cement for Nu. 80.00, whereas the
Eastern Bhutanese are forced to buy the same at Nu. 200.00 per pack,
due to the supposed transportation charges from the west to east.
There are no inland road services from the Southeast to the
Southwest. At present the people are forced to travel through Indian
road at ones’ own “risk”.
What is the use
of a government if it doesn’t protect the interest of its people?
The King has always
been very partisan, manipulative and apparently wants to keep the
Sharchops in economic enslavement. The King has always exploited the
naďve nature of the Sharchops and they have been victims of the
King’s machinations.
While the people
are beginning to waken out of this slumber, it is time to more
closely question one’s role and responsibility in the development of
the nation, and in choosing and establishing a system of governance
that cares for the interests of the people and the nation.
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