National Assembly Resolutions

The people's representatives of Chirang Dzonkhag requested the National Assembly to ban Christianity in Bhutan and the people already converted to be stopped from practicing the religion. They said that Christianity was spreading in Chirang and becoming a serious problem. Bhutan being a small country should not have too many religions. Buddhism and Hinduism which were the two recognised religions of the country were brother religions. The introduction of other religions would create serious social problems. Any family strifes were taking place due to differences of religious beliefs among family members. The people's representatives said that they had heard many emigrants who had left Bhutan and gone to the camps in Jhapa, Nepal were being converted to Christianity with incentives of Rs.500/- and assurances of father rewards. Word was being spread in Chirang that potential emigrants should convert to Christianity so that it would be convenient for them when they arrived in Jhapa.

The people's representative from Kalikhola stated that as per the resolutions of earlier sessions of the National Assembly, Buddhism and Hinduism were the only two recognised religions of Bhutan However, as the government had not taken any note of the situation, Christianity was spreading along the border areas and creating serious social problems.

The Samdrupjongkhar chimi pointed out that as Buddhism and Hinduism were the only two recognised religions in the country, allowing other religions would result in serious problems for the country. For the benefit of future generations, he requested the National Assembly to pass a resolution that no other religion would be allowed in Bhutan.

Several people's representatives stated that countries an over the world had their own different religions, customs and laws. Bhutan too, should allow and uphold only those religions that have traditionally been recognised. If proselytizing of other religions were allowed it would cause sectarian friction which would lead to serious social problems.

The Home Minister pointed out that the practice of religions other discussed the ones already recognised had been discussed several times in previous sessions of the National Assembly. During the 30th session of the National Assembly in 1969, it had been resolved that no religions other than the ones already recognised would be allowed in the country. Also, as per Article 16 of the 51st session of the National Assembly, while all other religions could be practiced privately no proselytising would be allowed. He, therefore, recommended that the house should direct the Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchungs to decide on the matter as per the Thrimshung Chenpo and the resolutions of the previous sessions of the National Assembly.

The representative of the Dratshang Lhentshog pointed out that all religions were good and existed for the benefit of sentient beings. The problems in the world that have been related to religion did not arise from the religions themselves but were caused by the shortcomings of the practioners. He, therefore, proposed that, as recommended by the Home Minister, the existing laws and Assembly resolutions should form the basis for all steps taken to ensure that no sectarian problems arose in Bhutan.

Other people's representatives pointed out that if proselytising of different religions were allowed in a small country like Bhutan, it would create social disharmony and may even harm the security and sovereignty of the country due to misunderstandings over religion with big countries. Buddhism and Hinduism were two brother religions in harmony with each other. The practice of different religions in the country would create disharmony and problems would arise as pointed out by the Lhotshampa chimis.

The Dagapela chimi pointed out that although Buddhism and Hinduism had the same origin, because there were differences in practice a few difficulties did arise at time. But Christianity being totally different from these two religions, the problems which had already started to arise in Chirang because of the spread of Christianity would disrupt social harmony through out the country if no timely steps were taken. He therefore proposed that the resolution taken during the 51^st session of the National Assembly on the practice of different religions must be strictly implemented.

The Chirang Dzongda said that the DYT had received reports that there were many Christians trying to convert people to Christianity. This had resulted in frequent problems between Christians and Hindus in the dzongkhag. The Dzongda reported that bibles printed in Nepali were being sent from Thimphu and distributed to the people. Accordingly, the DYT had decided to request the National Assembly to ban Christianity.

His Majesty the King informed the Assembly that the issue of allowing different religions in the country had been thoroughly discussed during the 30^th session of the National Assembly in 1969 and also during the 51^st session in 1979. The issue was also clearly covered by the Thrimshung. If these resolutions and the law were followed, the issue could be taken up by the Dzongkhag Yargye Tshochung and there would be no need for the Assembly to promulgate any new law.

The Assembly resolved that copies of the resolutions of the previous sessions of the National Assembly and the clauses of the Thrimshung pertaining to religion would be distributed to the DYTs and dealt with accordingly.

VI. EVICTION OF NGOLOPS

The people's representatives of 51 gewogs from Haa, Shemgang, Samchi, Sarbhang, Mongar, Chirang and Tashiyangtsi dzongkhags submitted 8 proposals for the eviction of ngolops from the country.

During the discussions which followed, people's representatives from the northern dzongkhags pointed out that the ngolop problem in southern Bhutan had disrupted the peace and tranquility of the country and the rapid pace of development and progress that had been taking place. It had also posed a serious threat to the security of the country. In order to create a conducive atmosphere to resolve the problem, His Majesty the King had granted amnesty to thousands of people involved in ngolop activities. The development plans and programmes finalised for the southern dzongkhags were far larger than ever before. His Majesty the King had issued a Kasho declaring it to be a punishable offence under the law for anyone to forcefully evict any genuine citizen from the country. His Majesty had also exempted goongda woola and rural taxes for 1992 for all Lhotshampas as an act of faith in them and to encourage them to remain in the country. Despite all the efforts to discourage the people in southern Bhutan from emigrating. many Lhotshampas had continued to apply for emigration and leave the country. This could only be taken as proof that these people did not wish to remain in Bhutan and live with their fellow citizens as one people in one nation. Several chimis from the northern dzongkhags pointed out that even though the Lhotshampas in the country had submitted a Genja pledging total loyalty, dedication and support to the Tsa-Wa-Sum, it was difficult to trust them any more. Therefore, since it was evident that the Southern Bhutanese did not want to remain in the country anyway, they should all be sent out and their land and property confiscated.

The people's representatives of Samchi Dzongkhag reported to the Assembly that the District Development Committee, in accordance with the wishes of the people as submitted in the written Genja, strongly called for the eviction of au family members and relatives of ngolops. This was necessary because the ngolops who had left the country were often sneaking back into the country to meet their relatives and in the process were creating serious problems for the security and stability of the country.

Likewise, the people's representatives of Chirang Dzongkhag also called for the eviction of all ngolops. They requested that, as proposed by their dzongkhag during the 70th session of the National Assembly, if a head of a family absconded and joined the ngolops, the names of all his family members should be struck off the census records and the family evicted and their land and property confiscated. This was necessary as the head of the family would in all likelihood have influenced the rest of the household. If on the other hand, a member of a household, other than the head of the family, absconded and joined the ngolops, the names of the persons concerned only should be removed from the census and their property confiscated.

The people's representatives of Sarbhang Dzongkhag, on the other hand, proposed that regardless of whether it was the head the family or any other member of the household who had joined the ngolops, the whole household should be evicted. They pointed out that if such people were not removed from the country, there would always be a problem as these people would sneak in to visit their relatives, while the relatives would in turn always nurture close feelings for the ngolops which would be detrimental for the security of the country.

Many other people's representatives proposed that the only effective way of putting an end to the ngolop problem once and for all was to evict all ngolops and their entire family members including those in government service.

Other representatives took note of the Genjas submitted by the Lhotshampa chimis on behalf of the Lhotshampa people as per the resolution of the 70th session. They called for all ngolops and their relatives to be evicted from the country as per the proposals in the Genjas submitted by the Lhotshampa people.

The Home Minister then reminded the Assembly that, as already pointed out by the people's representatives, many initiatives had been taken by the government to resolve the ngolop problem and to encourage the Lhotshampas to remain in the country instead of emigrating. Far more extensive development programmes had been f'inalised than before, rural taxes and goongda woola had been exempted for all Lhotshampas and amnesty had been granted to 1571 ngolop detainees. His Majesty the King had also personally met and appealed to 388 Lhotshampa families who had applied to emigrate en masse not leave their country. Despite all these initiatives by His Majesty the King and the Royal Government, terrorist activities had increased and Lhotshampas had continued to emigrate from the country. Although the ngolops and their families deserved to be evicted as Proposed by the people's representatives, the Home Minister said, we are a law abiding nation and should therefore take actions that are fully in keeping with the law of the land. With regard to the proposal to evict all ngolops and their relatives, he said that no action can be taken that will violate His Majesty's Kasho of January 13, 1992 or is not in keeping with article 6 of the 1958 Citizenship Act; Chapter IX of the 1977 Citizenship Act; Chapter VI of the 1985 Citizenship Act; and Sec6on 5 of the resolutions of the 67[h session of the National Assembly. As for the proposals to confiscate land and property, such actions must be in full keeping with the Land Act he said.

Responding to the Home Minister's statement, several people's representatives acknowledged that what he proposed was quite reasonable. However, the government had been taking actions that were in full keeping with the law of the land ever since the outbreak of the ngolop problem, and the only result to show for such actions was increased terrorist activities and a continued threat to the security of the country and its economic progress and development. The representatives therefore pointed out that the ngolop problem could only be removed if all the ngolops and their families were sent out of the country.

Other representatives pointed out that not only were the ngolops who had left the country keeping close contact with their relatives remaining behind but even those Lhotshampas who had left on their own accord were sneaking back and disturbing the peace and endangering the security and stability of the villages in the south. The representative of the High Court, the Chairman of the Royal Advisory Council and the concerned Dzongdas reported to the Assembly that the observations and proposals of the people's representatives were very sound and valid. If the government did not take strict action as per the law, it would soon become very difficult to distinguish between ngolops and loyal Lhotshampa citizens. They also pointed out that there were many relatives of ngolops and even people actually involved in ngolop activities who were living openly in northern towns like Thimphu. This was a fact for everyone to see. They pointed out that if necessary and timely steps were not taken, there was every possibility of ngolop activities taking place in a big way in the capital city itself.

In response, the Minister of trade and Industry and some of the Lhotshampa chimis expressed deep regret and sadness that the ngolop problem had risen from southern Bhutan. However, the Minister of Trade and Industry said that it was wrong for the members to denounce all Lhotshampas as ngolops and call for their eviction. He said that it was the responsibility of the government and the people to work together to remove any threat to the security of the country regardless of the source of the problem. He requested the members not to bring up proposals for evicting all Lhotshampas regardless of whether they were involved in ngolop activities or not. The Lhotshampa chimis pointed out that even children of the same parents had different characters. They said punishment should be meted out as per the crime committed.

Chimis from the northern dzongkhags pointed out that the crux of the deliberations was that in order to remove the ngolop problem it was necessary to evict all ngolops and their relatives. At no point of the discussions had anyone said that all Lhotshampas were ngolops. Only the Lhotshampa people themselves would know best whether all Lhotshampas were ngolops or not they said.

The Home Minister intervened and reminded the Assembly that all actions against ngolops must be governed by the law of the land. He also reminded the members of the edict issued by His Majesty the King declaring it a punishable offence to forcefully evict any citizen. On his request the edict was read to the members by the Secretary of the National Assembly. The Home Minister requested the National Assembly to resolve that all actions against ngolops should be in strict accordance to the law of the land and His Majesty's edict and commands.

At this point, the Foreign Minister reminded the Assembly that although His Majesty's kasho clearly stated that no citizen could be forcefully evicted, the proposals of the chimis of Samchi and Sarbhang to evict all ngolops and their relatives merited further deliberation and consideration by the house. The Foreign Minister informed the house that the root of the problem facing Bhutan today was demographic pressure. He said that Nepalis from neighbouring Nepal which had a population of 20 million and an average annual growth rate of 500,000, were constantly looking for jobs and economic opportunities outside their country. There were &mother 10 million Nepalis living in India, many of them across Bhutan's immediate southern border. Many of these Nepalis look towards Bhutan as an economic haven.

The Foreign Minister said that it was the objective of the ngolops to change the system of government in Bhutan with international support and to take over the country through sheer numbers. To this end they had been making false and malicious allegations about the Royal Government persecuting Hindus in Bhutan in the hope of winning the sympathy and support of the major Hindu organisations of India. While the Royal Government always recognised Hinduism and Buddhism as the two main religions of Bhutan, the ngolops were clearly bent on creating misunderstanding and ill feeling between Hindus and Buddhists in Bhutan. Voicing slogans of democracy and human rights, the ngolops had spared no efforts to malign the Royal Government in order to win international support for their cause. They had even tried to turn donor countries and international organisations against the Royal Government in order to cut off foreign aid to Bhutan.

The Home Minister reminded the Assembly that as per the repeated commands of His Majesty the King, leave alone the relatives, even the ngolops themselves cannot be forcefully evicted from the country.

The Royal Advisory Councillors from southern Bhutan and the Lhotshampa chimis expressed the view that although the actions of the ngolops called for their eviction along with all their relatives, it was also important to uphold the law of the land and the commands issued by His Majesty the King. They therefore proposed that, as recommended by the home Minister , all actions against ngolops should be taken as per the law of the land.

His Majesty the King informed the Assembly that far from evicting any Lhotshampas, not even a single hard core ngolop had been evicted since the ngolop uprising in 1990. While it goes without saying that innocent citizens cannot be harassed or victimised under any circumstances, all actions taken against ngolops must also be fully in keeping with the law. His Majesty also informed the Assembly that none of the Lhotshampas who had gone to Nepal had been forcefully evicted.

Responding to His Majesty's intervention, the people's representatives said that although there was no need to have any reservations to evict all ngolops from the country, they would abide by His Majesty's commands on the issue.

The Assembly accordingly resolved that actions taken against ngolops would be strictly governed by the law of the land and the commands and edict issued by His Majesty the King.

VII. PUNISHMENT FOR NGOLOPS

The people's representatives of Tashigang, Lhuntshi, Tashiyangtsi, Pemagatshel, Mongar and Samdrupjongkhar submitted proposals for the strict punishment of all ngolops. They pointed out that His Majesty the King and the Royal Government had pardoned many ngolops apprehended by the security forces. They said that they realised these actions had been taken with the hope that the ngolops and their families, as well as the people of southern Bhutan would appreciate the magnanimous gesture and would therefore contribute towards finding a solution to the ngolop problem. However, instead of appreciating the magnanimity shown by His Majesty the King, the ngolops only seemed to gain in confidence thinking that the government was reluctant to take strong action against them. This was evident from the increase in terrorist activities. Most of the ngolops who were pardoned had resumed anti-national activities. Instead of contributing towards resolving the ngolop problem, the repeated amnesties had actually contributed towards making it more difficult to remove the ngolop threat. The people's representatives therefore requested His Majesty and the government not to grant anymore amnesties to the ngolops. They strongly proposed that all ngolops be strictly punished as per the Thrimshung without any reduction or commuting of punishments they would be liable to under the law.

Thee Lhotshainpa chimis of Dagapela, Daifam and Bhangtar also called for all ngolops to be strictly punished as per the law of the land. They said that while many ngolops had absconded from the country to escape punishment for the crimes they had committed, strict punishment must be meted out to those who still remained in the country. The chimis requested for all ngolops to be strictly punished as per the proposals in the Genjas submitted to the National Assembly by them on behalf of the Lhotshampa people.

Speaking on the matter, the Home Minister said that Bhutan being a law abiding nation, there had never been any instances till date of any punishment being meted out to ngolops or other criminals that was not in keeping with the law of the land. As in other cases, punishment for ngolops also could only be awarded by a court of law after following the prescribed trial procedures. On the other hand, as per the hung Chenpo, His Majesty the King had the full prerogative of granting amnesty to any criminal including ngolops, said the Home Minister. Moreover, the 70th session of the National Assembly had entrusted His Majesty the King with the full responsibility of solving the ngolop problem along with all the prerogatives and powers he deemed necessary. The government and the people had pledged to give their full support and assistance to His Majesty in all his decisions and policies. He therefore felt that there was no need to discuss the matter of granting amnesty to the ngolops further as this prerogative should continue to be exercised by His Majesty the King.

The people's representatives acknowledged that. as pointed out by the Home Minister, His Majesty the King had the full prerogative to grant amnesty to anyone including ngolops. They, however, requested His Majesty the King to kindly give some consideration to the views of the people an the ngolop problem. A people's representative from Bumthang Dzongkhag pointed out that repeated amnesties would render futile the efforts of the security forces and the militia volunteers who had volunteered for militia service even when they were short of people at home. Although many ngolops had been granted amnesty by His Majesty the King, the ngolop problem continued to threaten the security of the country and disrupt the peace, progress and prosperity of the people. The people therefore felt that the ngolop problem could not be removed by compassionate and magnanimous policies alone. They strongly believed that if the problem was to be removed within the legal framework, then the law must be strictly implemented and all ngolops subjected to the full punishment they were liable to under the Thrimsung.

Several representatives stated that the time had come to take firm action against the ngolops. If the treatment did not match the disease, the disease would overcome the patient, they pointed out.

The Speaker intervened and said that while he agreed with the chimis that no further amnesty should be granted to the ngolops, the prerogative of granting amnesty should. be left upto His Majesty the King as had been resolved during the 70th session of the National Assembly.

The assembly resolved that while the punishment for ngolops would be determined by the law of the land, granting amnesty would continue to be a prerogative to be exercise by His Majesty the King.

VIII. EXTRADITION OF NGOLOPS

The people's representative of Yangner Gewog in Tashigang Dzongkhag called for the extradition of those ngolop who had absconded after embezzling huge amounts of government funds. He suggested that they should be extradited from the neighbouring countries in accordance with the spirit of cooperation among SAARC members. Such action was necessary lest the examples of these ngolops were followed by others.

The representatives of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and called for the extradition of ngolops from neighbouring countries. He said that the anti-national activities of the ngolops had disrupted the peace and tranquility of the country for over two years. Blatant acts of terrorism such as kidnapping, hijacking, robbery, murder and decapitations had been carried out regularly by the ngolops. They had even gone to the extent of murdering senior government officials, as in the case of the late Gaylegphug Dungpa. Acts of murder and extortion continued to be carried out by the ngolops taking shelter across the border. The representative proposed that as Bhutan had always had close and excellent ties of friendship with India, the Royal Government should request India to facilitate the extradition of ngolop terrorists. The Indian Government should also be requested not to allow any ngolops to stay on their territory.

The Foreign Minister recalled that during the 70th session of the National Assembly, many people's representatives had called for the extradition of those ngolops who had embezzled large amounts of government funds and absconded to Nepal. He informed the house that Bhutan had an extradition treaty with India and could therefore extradite criminals from India. Accordingly, extradition procedures had been initiated against Bhim Subba and R.B.Basnet in India with a view to their extradition if they set foot in India.

Bhutan did not have an extradition treaty with Nepal but according to recent international trend serious criminal offenders could be extradited even without extradition treaties. An expert on Nepalese law had been consulted. The Foreign Minister also informed the Assembly that he had told the Nepalese Foreign Secretary, Narendra BikTam Shah, when they met recently in Jakarta, that one of the points he would like to discuss during his forthcoming visit to Nepal would be the extradition of Bhim Subba and R.B. Basnet on criminal charges.

The Foreign Minister informed the Assembly that the traditionally close ties of friendship, cooperation and understanding between India and Bhutan had been growing in strength over the years. The two countries had always supported each other in times of crises. As such the Government of India had extended full support and understanding to Bhutan over the ngolop problem. There was full support both from Mr. lyoti Basu and his government in West Bengal and from all the officials of the government in India. The Government of India had made it very clear that it would not allow any harmful activities to be carried out against Bhutan from Indian soil.

The Foreign Minister also informed the Assembly that the ngolops from southern Bhutan were able to take shelter in India because they could mingle with the large Nepalese population along the Indo-Bhutan border. As many of the 10 million Nepalese in India live immediately across Bhutan's southern border, it was very difficult to distinguish the Lhotshampa ngolops from the local Nepali population That was why, the ngolops were still able to carry out acts of terror-ism from Indian territory although India was extending full support and cooperation to Bhutan on the ngolop problem.

The people's representatives expressed their appreciation for the efforts of the Foreign Ministry in interacting closely with the Government of India to ensure that the ngolops could not carry out harmful activities against Bhutan from Indian soil. They called upon the Foreign Ministry to continue with these commendable efforts. The representatives also expressed their deep appreciation for the firm support and unfailing assistance and friendship extended to Bhutan by India.

The chimis said that one of the great regrets of the people was that the two ngolop leaders, Bhim Subba and R.B. Basnet had managed to abscond with such large amounts of government funds. They requested the government to take all possible steps to negotiate with the concerned neighbouring governments in order to extradite two criminals.

The Speaker noted that India had always been a close friend and neighbour of Bhutan. On behalf of the National Assembly, he expressed deep appreciation for the unfailing support and friendship extended to Bhutan by the government and people of India. He expressed his confidence that the excellent ties of friendship and understanding between the two friends and neighbours would grow from strength to strength. He called upon the Foreign Ministry to further promote the close ties between India and Bhutan.

The Assembly directed the Foreign Ministry to conduct intensive dialogues with India and Nepal to extradite Bhim Subba and R.B. Basnet, and to work closely with the, Government of India to ensure that the ngolops did not take shelter in India.

IX. EMPLOYMENT IN GOVERNMENT SERVICE AND HOLDING OF IMPORTANT AND SENSITIVE POSTS BY LHOTSHAMPAS

The people's representatives of 13 gewogs from Lhuntshi,Samdrupjongkhar, Tashiyangtsi, Punakha. Pemagatshel and Mongar submitted 7 points on the employment of Lhotshampas in government service and the holding of important and sensitive posts by them.

The chimis pointed out that during the 70th session of the National Assembly, the majority of the representatives had-called for all Lhotshampas to be removed from government service. However, even the Lhotshampas having family connections with ngolops were still kept in government service. This was clearly one of the reasons for the continuation of the ngolop problem. As the people could no longer trust the Lhotshampas in government service, they requested that no Lhotshampas be employed in important or sensitive posts. Only loyal and trustworthy citizens should be employed in such posts. Nor should Lhotshampa government employees be posted in the southern dzongkhags.

Several chimis pointed out that His Majesty the King, who always treated his subjects equally regardless of caste or creed, had given important posts to many Lhotshampas. However, many of these people had turned against the Tsa-Wa-Sum and absconded after embezzling huge amounts of government funds. As the Lhotshampas could longer be trusted in government service, the chimis requested the government not to give any important or sensitive responsibilities to any of them.

The Secretary of the Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC) said that the views expressed by the people's representatives on the employment of Lhotshampas in government service were not unfounded. He reported that since the ngolop uprising in southern Bhutan in 1990,475 Lhotshampa government employees had absconded from the country and taken up anti-national activities. Today, all the leaders of the ngolop groups in Nepal were former civil servants, many of whom had absconded from the country after stealing large amounts of government funds and property. Such actions by former civil servants had been a source of considerable embarrassment to the Royal Government both at home and abroad. It was therefore natural for some of the people's representatives to urge the government to remove all Lhotshampas from government service, and for others to urge that Lhotshampas were not employed in important and sensitive posts. It was also understandable for the people's representatives to call for the dismissal of all Lhotshampa government employees who were related to ngolops.

The Secretary said that while the RCSC fully shared the concerns of the people, the Royal Government had always followed one policy for all its citizens and provided equal opportunities to them in appointments, trainings and promotions in the civil service. Despite the ngolop uprising and the frequent embarrassments caused by Lhotshampa civil servants absconding, the RCSC had not adopted any discriminatory measures against Lhotshampas in government service. The Secretary informed the Assembly that out of 12,732 civil servants, 3,155 were Lhotshampas and 6,914 were from northern Bhutan while the rest were expatriates. Since the ngolop uprising, 691 Lhotshampas had been appointed into the civil service and 68 had been promoted. On the other hand, 475 Lhotshampa civil servants and government employees had absconded and another 520 had resigned and left the country to join the ngolop groups.

The Royal Government had educated and trained these people at great cost with the hope and expectation that they would contribute to the development and progress of their country as all true citizens would. Instead, they had turned against the Tsa-Wa-Sum and not only harmed the noble efforts of His Majesty the King to bring the people of southern Bhutan into the national mainstream but also inflicted big losses in terms of the investment made by the government in developing their skills and experience, the Secretary said.

The Secretary also informed the Assembly that although the RCSC had not adopted any discriminatory policy towards the Lhotshampas, it had proposed to dismiss all relatives of ngolops from service in view of the risks involved in their continued employment. However. His Majesty the King had over-ruled the Commission's decision and commanded that civil servants could not be dismissed unless they had seriously violated the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Act The Secretary also informed the house that there was no discrimination for fresh inductions into the civil service. Even after the ngolop uprising, 691 Lhotshampas had been inducted into the civil service. There was also no discrimination regarding trainings and promotion. Even before the RCSC was established in 1982, all candidates for employment, regardless of ethnicity, had always been required to produce information about the background and certificates that they were not involved in any illegal or criminal activities. He also reminded the member that the No Objection Certificate introduced as an interim measure after the ngolop uprising in 1990 for entry into schools and colleges had been discontinued on the command of His Majesty the King.

The Secretary said that the non-discriminatory and tolerant policy on the ernploymen4 training and promotion of Lhotshampas in the civil service had been followed in keeping with His Majesty's aspiration and efforts to bring all Lhotshampas into the national main stream. Despite the large scale abscondings of Lhotshampas, many of them after stealing government funds, it was hoped that the Lhotshampas in government service today would remain loyal citizens and work towards resolving the ngolop problem and restore the peace a-,id tranquility of the country in order to fulfil the aspirations of His Majesty the King to build a strong, united and prosperous Bhutan.

Several people's representatives said that if the removal of Lhotshampas from government service was not possible because of the civil service rules and regulations, they must not be given any important and sensitive responsibilities. In particular, they must not be employed in sensitive posts like financial institutions, communication centres and defense armouries and stores.

The Minister of Social Services informed the Assembly that in order to promote the well- being aid progress of the people, the Royal Government had been providing free health and education facilities to all citizens at great cost. For nine months of the year, the government, rather than the parents, took the responsibility of educating the children. The government also took the responsibility of providing higher studies either within Bhutan itself or in other countries. After completing their studies and trainings the government also provided employment for the students. Despite such beneficial policies which were implemented without discrimination by the Royal Government to benefit all citizens, the ngolops in southern Bhutan had rebelled against the Tsa-Wa-Sum and created serious problems for the country. Therefore the misgivings expressed by the people's representatives were understandable. However, it had always been the policy of His Majesty the King to treat all his subjects equally regardless of caste or creed and the Royal Government must therefore continue to implement its policies in accordance with His Majesty's commands. In view of this, the Minister requested the people's representatives to also think accordingly.

Several representatives then proposed that while Lhotshampas need not be removed from government service, at the same time they must not be given any important and sensitive posts until the ngolop problem in southern Bhutan was removed. For the time being they should only be given general posts where they could not do anything to harm the security of the country. Once the ngolop problem was removed, their employment in government service could once again be governed fully by the civil service regulations and the policies of the Royal Government.

Other chimis requested the government not to employ any non-nationals of Nepali origin in the ministries, departments, institutions and public corporations, and in the armed forces. The pointed out that it was the habit of the Nepalese people to come in search of employment and then establish permanent residence and create serious problems for the country. One of the ways they tried to establish permanent residence in Bhutan was to marry Bhutanese nationals. As it was the policy of the government to promote self-reliance, the chimis proposed that instead of employing outsiders of Nepalese origin, the maximum possible employment must be given to genuine Bhutanese citizens.

The Home Minister reported that the main reason for the problem in Bhutan today was the influx of landless and jobless ethnic Nepalis looking for land, higher wages and permanent employment in Bhutan. However, he requested the chimis not to make any racial differentiations in the employment of non-Bhutanese citizens by the government The criteria for employment in government service were clearly laid down in the rules and regulations of the Civil Service Act and there should be no problem as long as these were followed.

Several Chimis pointed out that once they had entered Bhutan and found jobs which enabled them to stay in the country, the, Nepalis from outside invariably sought to marry Bhutanese nationals and apply for permanent residence permits. This trend had serious implications for the future security of the country. The Chimis therefore requested the government not to employ , Neapalis from outside in government service.

His Majesty the King informed the Assembly that the government had allotted a budget of Nu. 1,300 million for human resource development during the Seventh Plan. With a total budget of Nu. 22,680 million for the Seventh Plan there would be many economic and employment opportunities for the educated Bhutanese as well as school drop-outs and people from n--al areas who had come to the towns and remained without any jobs. Giving the utmost importance to provide gainful employment for our citizens would contribute greatly to the manpower development policy of the government and the economic programs of the country, His Majesty said. It would therefore be useful to keep in mind the suggestions made by the people, out of concern for the national interest, regarding various aspects of employment in Bhutan.

The Assembly resolved that the employment of Lhotshampas in government service and sensitive posts would be carried out as per the civil service rules and regulations and the existing policies of the government. It was also resolved that every effort would be made by the government to provide the maximum possible employment to Bhutanese nationals.

X. EMIGRATION AND BAN ON RETURN OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DESERTED AND LEFT THE COUNTRY

The people's representatives of 23 gewogs from Sarbhang, Samdrupjongkhar, Tashigang, Tongsa, Mongar and Pemagatshel submitted 8 points proposing the passing of a special ordinance to ban the return of people who had emigrated and deserted the country. The chimis pointed out that instead of being grateful to the government for the preferential treatment given to the southern dzongkhags over all the other dzongkhags, many Lhotshampas took part in the ngolop uprising in 1990. When this failed, many of them left the country without anyone forcing them to do so. Such people who had deserted their country must not be allowed to return even if neighbouring countries like Nepal and the rest of the world were to ask for their return. The chimis said that some of the ngolops and other Lhotshampas who had left on their own accord had been coming back to the country. Security along the southern border must be tightened to prevent the return of such people. They said that people who applied to emigrate and leave the country were not much different from the ngolops as they obviously did not have any loyalty or love for the country. None of these people or their offsprings should ever be allowed to return to the country.

The Home Minister expressed his appreciation for the points raised by the people's representatives which clearly reflected their concern for the security and well-being of the country. He informed the Assembly that the issue of unauthorised people entering into the country was already covered under various immigration rules and regulations such as article 7 of the 1958 Citizenship Act; Section Ta-2 of the 1977 Citizenship Act; Article 6 of the 1985 Citizenship Act; and Section 5 of the resolutions of the 67th session of the National Assembly held in 1988. He said that the Department of Immigration and Census and the Royal Bhutan Police were monitoring and checking the entry of people at the various check posts in accordance with these rules and regulations. However, he requested the people's representatives to ask the people in the districts to immediately inform the police if they saw any unauthorised persons that the police and immigration officials may have failed to detect. Such assistance and cooperation from the people would enable the government to implement its policies and uphold the laws more effectively, he said.

Speaking on the matter, His Majesty the King said that far from forcefully evicted people from southern Bhutan as alleged by the ngolops, the government had been doing everything possible to change the minds of Lhotshampas who applied to emigrate. Leave alone evicting other Lhotshampas, not even a single ngolop had been forced to leave the country. As the people's representatives were aware, a Kasho had been issued in the beginning of this year declaring it to be a punishable offence under the law to forcefully evict any citizen. Any person subjected to such treatment could immediately bring the matter to the local court or to the Home Ministry or to the High Court or to the King. Following this, the Lhotshampa people were exempted goongda woola and rural taxes for 1992, and the Seventh Plan programmes were finalised for all the southern dzongkhags with a total budget that was 181 percent higher than the Sixth Plan budget. With the hope that applicants might change their minds, the pr es for emigration had also been deliberately prolonged to the extent possible with all members of the Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchungs required to endorse the applications for emigration. Despite these efforts many Lhotshampas had been continuing to apply for emigration with some people putting in applications more than two or three times.

With many government representatives, the Royal Advisory Councillors and people's representatives from all the dzongkhags expressing their view s, there was an extended discussion on the proposal to ban all ngolops and emigrants from returning to the country. The Assembly finally resolved that the matter of banning the return of people who had left the country was adequately covered by the 1958, 1977 and 1985 Citizenship Acts, and the resolutions of the 67th session of the National Assembly.

XI. ALLOTMENT OF LAND AND RESETTLEMENT IN SOUTHERN BHUTAN

The people's representatives of 51 gewogs from Shemgang, Sarbhang, Samdrupjongkhar, Tashigang, Punakha, Paro, PemagatsheL Thimphu. Chirang, Mongar, Tongsa and Lhuntshi and the representatives of the Dratshang and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry presented 16 points for allotment of land and resettlement in southern Bhutan. The representatives proposed that the land left behind by the ngolops who had absconded the 1990 anti-national uprising and the land vacated by the Lhotshampas who had sold them and legally emigrated to Nepal should be allotted to landless people from all the dzongkhags. There were over 400 households with very little or no land in Samdrupjongkhar alone and over I 000 such families in Mongar. In Tashigang, there were 178 landless families and 556 households with less than one acre of land. There were also many families in the eastern dzongkhags that subsisted entirely on Tseri cultivation. 'Me chimis from the eastern dzongkhags proposed that all these families from their dzongkhags should be resettled as soon as possible in the south. The chimes from all the other dzongkhags also called for the landless people in their dzongkhags to be resettled on the vacated and excess land in southern Bhutan.

The people's representatives from Sarbhang explained that if landless people from other dzongkhags were re-settled on the vacated land in the south, it would generate a greater sense of security among the local people and neutralise any plan by th6 emigrants to return and claim the land they had sold and abandoned.

The BCCI representative and the chimis from Thimphu said that not only were the Lhotshampas facing great hardship from constant raids by ngolop terrorists but their presence in the border areas would continue to be a source of serious problems for the security of the country. They therefore proposed that the landless people from the northern dzongkhags should be resettled in the south while the Lhotshampas should be resettled in the north.

The Home Minister reminded the Assembly that proposals for resettling landless people from northern dzongkhags in the south had been discussed during the 70th session of the National Assembly and the proceedings duly recorded under section 5 of Chapter IV of the resolutions. A proposal for resettling Lhotshampas in the northern dzongkhags had been discussed earlier during the 67th session of the National Assembly in 1988 and the proceedings recorded in its resolutions. As per Chapter 10 of the resolutions of the 69th session in March 1990, in order to facilitate the resettlement of landless people from the south in northern dzongkhags, a survey and feasibility study for resettlement had been carried out at Barpong, Pangling, BumpaMang and Bozam under Shemgang Dzongkhag; at Kamichu and Hebisa under Wangdiphodrang Dzongkhag at DargayIing and Kalizingkha in Dagana Dzongkhag. However, nothing had materialsed from the proposal. Far from any Lhotshampa coming forward for resettlement in the north, they were now emigrating from the country.

The Home Minister also informed the Assembly that His Majesty the King had granted over 15000 acres of land from various parts of Bhutan to over 5000 landless families.

His Majesty the King reminded the Assembly that while discussing the proposal for resettlement of Lhotshampas in northern dzongkhags during the 69th session of the National Assembly, many northern chimis had requested for similar resettlement kidugs to be granted to the Northern Bhutanese. His Majesty had however told them that resettlement kidus for the landless people in the northern dzongkhags would be taken up only after the Lhotshampa resettlement programme was completed. Incentives for Lhotshampas to resettle in the north included free agricultural tools and seed and 2 bulls per family. Exemption of rural tax and goongda woola for 3 years, a grant of Nu.5000 for house construction and free transport to the resettlement sites had been offered. The resettlement areas had also been selected in subtropical areas with warm climates. A total of 481 acres in southern Shemgang, 808 in Wangdiphodrang and Chirang and 700 acres in Dagana had been surveyed and detailed project reports had been made at great cost. Travel expenses and allowances had also been sanctioned for Lhotshampas wanting to see and select the areas they would like for resettlement However, no Lhotshampas showed any interest in the kidus offered by the government to facilitate resettlement of Lhotshampas in northern dzongkhags.

The Sibsoo chimi expressed deep regret that instead of resettling in the north as per the aspirations of the government many Lhotshampas had instead been leaving for Nepal on hearing that there was free food, clothes and other benefits available in the camps there. He said that the land vacated by such people should be resettled with landless people from other dzongkhags. This would be a great kidu for the landless people as well as a big help for the security of the loyal Lhotshampa citizens. It would also ensure proper utilisation of arable land and contribute to the successful implementation of the Seventh Plan programmes.

Many chimis then proposed that rather than resettle Lhotshampas in the north, the Resettlement of landless people from northern dzongkhags to the south should be done on a priority basis. This would be of great benefit it to the landless people and also help security situation for the loyal Lhotshampa citizens.

Several chimis proposed that resettlement should be carried out by sending the landless people from the eastern dzongkhags to Samdrupjongkhar and Daifam, while the landless people from the central dzongkhags should be given land in Surey, Gaylegphug and Sarbhang, and the landless people from the western dzongkhags should be givem land in Phuntsholing and Samchi. This would be very useful for the kidu of the people.

Other chimis said that as far as allotment of land was concerned it should be done as per the resolutions of the 70th session of the National Assembly. First preference should be given to the retired service personnel and to militia volunteers. The balance land should then be given to the landless people from the various dzongkhags. While it had been decided that resettlements would be carried out during the Seventh Plan period, there had been no decisions taken as to the time frame, actual distribution of land and overall implementation of the programme. The people therefore felt that it was important for the National Assembly to discuss and finalise how the resettlement would be carried out

His Majesty the King said that, as proposed by the people, all Dzongkhag Yargye Tshogchungs should submit lists of people who did not have any land or had very little landholding and those who were entirely dependent on Tseri cultivation. These lists should be submitted to the Home Ministry. At the same time, it was necessary for the Department of Survey and Land Records to prepare a list of land, including acreage and quality of the land left behind by emigrants who had received Kidu Soilras. The RBA had to make an assessment of security implications for any resettlement and the Finance Ministry had to assess the financial implications for a resettlement programme. Before drawing up any programme it was necessary to first complete these studies and reports.

His Majesty also informed the Assembly that during the Seventh Plan meetings in all the 20 dzongkhags, the DYT members, GYT members and the people had all requested for land kidu from the south. The Planning Commission had taken due note of these requests.

The Royal Advisory Councillors and people's representatives observed that, as pointed out by His Majesty the King, a resettlement programme could only be drawn up after the relevant informations were submitted by the dzongkhags and the concerned departments and organisations. Therefore, all the concerned departments and organisations must submit their informations and reports as soon as possible.

The Assembly resolved that a proper resettlement programme should be drawn up after all the concerned departments and organisations had submitted their reports.

XV. POINTS RELATED TO THE CITIZENSHIP ACT AND CITIZENSHIP IDENTITY CARD

The people's representatives of 43 gewogs from Dagana, Samchi, Sarbhang, Tashiyangtsi, Punakha, Thimphu and Bumthang and the representative of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry submitted 8 points related to the Citizenship. Act and the Citizenship Identity Card.

The representatives pointed out that the existing Citizenship Identity Cards were in the hands of many ngolops. Lhotshampas who were emigrating were also taking Citizenship ID Cards with them. Due to the shortcomings and oversight of the past census system, many of these Cards had also been issued to non-nationals. Citizenship ID Cards were also being forged. All this enabled the ngolops to enter and leave the country freely and was one of the reasons why the anti-national and terrorist activities were continuing unabated in southern Bbutan. The chimis therefore proposed that the existing Citizenship ID Cards should be cancelled and new Citizenship ID Cards issued.

Other chimis proposed that lists containing the Citizenship ID Card numbers of all emigrants and ngolop absconders should be made available to the dzongkhag administrations in the south and the various checkposts so that these persons could be detected when they tried to re-erter the country.

The chimis from Samchi reported that anti-national and terrorist activities were mostly carried out by illegal immigrants or through their instigation. The people of Samchi therefore proposed that such persons should not be allowed to settle in the country either through marriage or through other illegal means. As submitted in their Genja, the people of Samchi called upon the National Assembly and the Dzongkhag administration to ensure that the Citizenship Act was implemented strictly. This would go a long way in bringing about a permanent solution to the present problem in southern Bhutan. The people were convinced that if the rules and regulation of the Citizenship Act were adhered to, they would once again be able to live in peace and harmony and enjoy continued progress and lasting security.

The Sarbhang chimi reported that those persons who had applied to emigrate refused to cooperate with gup and were always creating problems because they had already decide to leave the country. Many families still insisted on emigrating despite the personal appeal made by His Majesty the King when he visited the southern dzongkhags. The DYT members were all convinced that they could consolidate and strengthen their dzongkhag only when they were sure of the loyalty of the people in their dzongkhag to their King and country. This would not be possible unless the people who applied to emigrate were allowed to leave. He said that the people of Sarbhang had therefore requested that all those families that had applied to emigrate should be allowed to do so without any delay.

Other chimis pointed out the ngolops in southern Bhutan had disrupted the tremendous progress Bhutan was achieving in balanced development in all the dzongkhas and in realising the national goal of self-reliance under the dynamic leadership of His Majesty the King. They therefore proposed that the citizenship of all ngolops and their relatives should be revoked. Also, instead of trying to persuade them to remain in the country, all those applying to emigrate should be allowed to do so without delay.

Speaking on the issue, the Home Minister said that the crux of the 8 points raised by the chimis could be summed up as proposals to ensure that census was carried out strictly as per the Citizenship Act; to allow emigrants to leave without delay; to revoke the existing Citizenship ID Cards and issue new one; restrict marriages of non-nationals to Bhutanese citizens; and to issue the Citizenship ID Card numbers of ngolops and emigrants who had left the country to the various checkposts.

Firstly, he said that the Home Ministry had been carrying out the census in strict accordance to the Citizenship Act and the resolutions of the National Assembly. The Ministry would continue to do its best to ensure that these rules and regulations were implemented properly.

Secondly, regarding the proposal to allow people applying to emigrate to leave without delay, it would be adequate to act according to the resolution that had already been adopted on this point during the current session of the National Assembly.

Thirdly, it was true that the existing Citizenship ID Cards were being forged by the ngolops. Forgery was easy because the Cards had been made at a very low cost of Nu. 2.00 each in a small printing press in Calcutta in 1982. Also, one of the main objectives of the terrorist raids that had been carried out till date on 361 houses in the south was to steal Citizenship ID Cards. As the ngolop leaders had been telling all Lhotshampas coming to the camps in Nepal to bring their Citizenship ID Cards with them, the people emigrating legally had also been taking their ID Cards. Although they should be returning their Citizenship Cards, they were coming up with all sorts of stories and excuses to explain how their ID Cards had been lost or stolen.

The Home Minister requested the chimis to ask the people to inform their gups and chimis, or the police or the dzongkhag administration if any ngolop absconders or emigrants who had managed to slip past the check-posts were seen in the districts. This would help to strengthen security in the rural areas.

As for issuing new Citizenship ID Cards, the Home Minister said that it was necessary to First complete the nation wide census. He assured the house that the Home Ministry would take steps to make new Citizenship ID Cards that could not be forged so easily. Once a suitable Citizenship ID Card was made, the Home Ministry would submit it to the Lhengyel Shuntshog before submitting it to the National Assembly for final approval.

Fourthly, as for the proposal by the Samchi chimis not to allow non-nationals and economic migrants to marry Bhutanese nationals, the matter had to be dealt with in accordance to the Marriage Act 1980. He felt that the most effective means of preventing such marriages was for parents to counsel and advise their sons and daughters against marrying non-nationals. The best way to ensure the security and well-being of the country was for the people and the government to work together closely, he said.

Fifthly, regarding the proposal by the Bumthang chimi to prepare a list containing the Numbers of the citizenship ID Cards of ngolop absconders and emigrants, the Home Ministry already had a list of all the ID Card numbers. However, it would not be easy or practical for the personnel in the various checkposts to use the list. As the list contained many ID Card numbers, all vehicles would be held up and delayed at the checkposts while verifying the list, thereby causing great inconvenience to the general public.

Several people's representatives proposed that although it may not be feasible to immediately issue new Citizenship ID Cards, a new ID Card could be issued to the Lhotshampas in the country to distinguish them from the ngolop absconders and emigrants.

His Majesty the King recommended that, as proposed by the chimis, the National Assembly could resolve that after a suitable Citizenship ID Card that could not be easily forged had been made, it should be distributed through the country.

The National Assembly resolved that, as recommended by His Majesty the King and as reported by the Home Ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs should take steps to make and distribute as soon as possible as suitable Citizenship ID Card that could not be easily forged.

XVI. MISCELLANEOUS POINTS RELATED TO THE NGOLOP PROBLEM

I. Removal of threat from ngolop terrorists across the border

The people's representative of Drugyalgang in Dagana Dzongkhag pointed out that the ngolops who were staying across, he Indo-Bhutan border were repeatedly carrying out violent and criminal acts such as extortion robbery and murder against the people on the Bhutan side of the border. The people therefore requested the government to improve security in the border areas by removing these ngolops through discussions with the Indian government.

His Majesty the King told the people's representatives that it was very difficult for the Indian authorities to distinguish the ngolops launching terrorist raids against Bhutan from the local ethnic Nepali population in India. As the Foreign Minister had said earlier, there were about 10 million ethnic Nepalis in India and many of them were living across Bhutan's southern border. His Majesty informed the people's representatives that the civil authorities and police in West Bengal and Assam had been extending their full support and cooperation to the Royal Government over the ngolop problem ever since the outbreak of largescale and-national activities in southern Bhutan in 1990. The West Bengal and Assam police also regularly provided security to Bhutanese officials travelling through their territory. As the Indian authorities were already extending their full support and cooperation to the Royal Government there was no need to raise the matter separately with the Indian government.

The people's representatives thanked His Majesty the King for his briefing. As the National Assembly had already directed the Foreign Ministry, during the discussions on extradition of ngolops, to work closely with the Indian government to ensure that the ngolops did not take shelter in Indian territory, no separate resolution was adopted.

2. Raising the ngolop problem in SAARC Summit

The people's representative of Khilpa and Lajab gewogs in Dagana noted that despite the serious problems created by the ngolops, the people at large had been able to live happily due to the wise and far sighted leadership of His Majesty the King. He reported that the people had suggested than His Majesty may wish to consider raising the ngolop problem during the SAARC Summit as a possible means of finding a solution for it.

His Majesty the King informed the Assembly that the SAARC Charter did not allow bilateral and contentious issues to be raised. However, the Foreign Minister would be going to Kathmandu in November for talks with senior officials of the Nepalese government. Later in December, His Majesty would be meeting the Prime Minister of Nepal during the SAARC Summit in Dhaka to discuss the southern Bhutan problem. His Majesty informed the National Assembly that the Royal Government had never allowed the ngolop problem to affect its traditionally warm and friendly relations with the Nepalese government.

The National Assembly thanked His Majesty the King for his briefing and expressed satisfaction with the above steps to find a solution to the ngolop problem.

3. Clarification sought on outside assistance to ngolops and emigrants.

The People's representative of Nubi gewog in Tongsa Dzongkhag sought clarification on outside assistance to ngolops and emigrants. He recalled that recently in July, His Majesty the King had gone to Gaylegphug Dungkhag to personally appeal to the Lhotshampa families who had applied to emigrate not to leave the country. During the meeting with His Majesty, one of the emigrants had declared that they would not stay back even if the Maukhola flowed backwards. Another emigrant, Tikaram Adhikari of Dhanabari had said that it was difficult to return boulders that had fallen off the cliff to their original site. When this was the attitude of the Lhotshampa emigrants, the government should not try to stop them from leaving the country. The people had also heard that the ngolops were being encouraged to come to the camps in Nepal and that they were receiving rations from some of the United Nations agencies. The people therefore requested the Foreign Ministry to let them know what discussions had been held so far on this issue with the United Nations and its various agencies.

The Foreign Minister informed the Assembly that recently when he was in Geneva, he had met Mrs. Sadako Ogata, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and had briefed her on the situation in southern Bhutan and the people in the camps in Nepal. He had explained that many of the people in the camps in Nepal were not from Bhutan but were ethnic Nepalis from neighbouring areas, including landless and unemployed people from Nepal itself. It was the objective of the ngolop groups to bring as many ethnic Nepalis as possible to the camps and to register them as Bhutanese refugees in order to win international sympathy and support for their cause of taking over Bhutan through demographic change. A few non-governmental organisations and missionaries were giving assistance to the people in the Nepal camps and providing them with free rations, education and medical facilities. These organisations were spending about US S 3/- (about Nu.90/-) per day on each person in the camps. Because of the availability of free rations and other facilities, many poor and unemployed ethnic Nepalis from neighbouring areas and from Nepal itself were going to the camps and posing as Bhutanese refugees.

The Foreign Minister said that he had explained to Mrs. Ogata that while it was true that ethnic Nepali were leaving southern Bhutan, they were either illegal immigrants or persons who had violated the laws of the land and had absconded or people who were applying to emigrate after following all the prescribed legal procedures. Some of the emigrants were leaving because their relatives had left the country. Others were leaving because they believed in the ngolop propaganda that they could return with international support to dictate terms to the government. They had been told that all they had to do was to claim they had been forcefully evicted from Bhutan and to be physically present in the camps in Nepal where they would be provided with free food, accommodation and other benefits. Even if they sold their land and property before leaving Bhutan they could reclaim them when they returned to Bhutan in triumph. The transportation for these emigrants were also being arranged by the ngolop groups. On the other hand, those Lhotshampas who refused to be taken in by the ngolop propaganda were threatened and targeted for attacks by terrorist gangs. Contrary to the malicious allegations made by the ngolop groups, no one was being forcefully evicted from Bhutan.

The Foreign Minister informed the National Assembly that in the course of their discussion, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees had said that Bhutan should be prepared to take back genuine Bhutanese nationals who had left the country.

On hearing that the United Nations High Commissioner had raised the question of taking back people who had left Bhutan, the people's representatives objected strongly and got up one after another to express their views. They pointed out that ever since the First Five-Year Plan was launched, the Lhotshampas had been given preferential treatment by the government with the hope that they would join the national mainstream. The southern dzongkhags were allotted larger development budgets than all other dzongkhags. Whether it was in agriculture, animal husbandry, health or education. the Lhotshampas had received far greater benefits. The southern dzongkhags also had more roads, bridges and telephones than the northern dzongkhags, and the Lhotshampas had long enjoyed higher income from cash crops like oranges, cardamom, ginger and betel nut. Most of the industries were also located in the south. All this was there for everyone to see. Instead of appreciating the unprecedented benefits they had received, they had rebelled against the Tsa-Wa-Sum and disrupted the peace and tranquility of the country. Far from joining the national mainstream and considering themselves as members of one people and one nation, they had carried out wanton acts of destruction and terrorism causing heavy loss to the government and inflicting great suffering to the people.

When the ngolop uprising in 1990 failed to achieve its objec6ve, those who had led the uprising and violated the law absconded and indulged 'm anti-national activities against the Tsa-Wa-Sum from outside the country. They then instigated others to leave the country and join them in Nepal. All those who listened to the ngolops had been applying for emigration. On reaching Nepal they had been spreading malicious allegations against the Royal Government and claiming they had been forcefully evicted in order to gain refugee status. No international Organisation or foreign country should even think of asking such faithless and untrustworthy people to be repatriated to Bhutan when they had left of their own accord in the rust place. Nor should the Royal Government give any consideration to taking back these people. The chimis all said that they were deeply upset to hear such talks.

The Samchi chimi pointed out that it was important for the outside world to be informed of the real reasons why the people in the Nepali camps had been leaving Bhutan. He said that there would hardly be any country in the world that would allow its citizens to give up their citizenship and emigrate when they felt Eke it and then allow them to come back and reclaim citizenship whenever it suited them.

Other chimis pointed out that just as the people who had emigrated had the right to decide whether to leave the country, the loyal citizens in the country had the right to forbid such untrustworthy people from returning. The Bhutanese people and government, like all other peoples and governments, had the sovereign right to conduct their affairs as per the laws of their country. The National Assembly members were unanimous in declaring that all those who had left the country must never be allowed to return.

The Royal Advisory Councillors and several people's representatives pointed out that the ngolop absconders and emigrants can never be classified as refugees. Other chimis said that even if the government agreed to take back these people because of the request of the UN or other international organisations or foreign countries, the people would not agree. They therefore requested the government that on this matter it should, from the very beginning, not agree to anything the outside world may ask without first consulting the people.

His Majesty assured the chimis that no decision on the matter would be taken without first consulting the National Assembly. He reminded the Assembly that the Foreign Minister would be visiting Kathmandu in November to talk with senior officials of the Nepalese government and that later in December His Majesty would himself be meeting the Nepalese Prime Minister in Dhaka to discuss the southern Bhutan problem. His Majesty also said that, as pointed out by the people's representatives, the people and the government of Bhutan had the inherent right as well as the sacred responsibility to safeguard the security and sovereignty of the country.

After an extended discussion, the National Assembly decided that all the countries and multilateral and non governmental organisations that had contacts with Bhutan should be suitably apprised by the Foreign Ministry of the views of the people of Bhutan on the true status of the so-called Bhutanese refugees in the camps in Nepal and on the question of their return. The organisations that were giving refugee status and assisting the people in these camps should also be fully apprised of the views of the Bhutanese people.

4. Travel documents

The people's representative of Shangphu gewog Tashigang proposed that in view of the ngolop problem in southern Bhutan, it would be useful if clearance for passports and travel documents for travelling outside the country were issued only after certificates from the concerned Dzongdas, Gups and Chimis were produced. For government employees such certificates could be issued by the concerned ministries and departments. These documents could be checked by the Police and immigration officials in the course of performing their routine duties.

The Home Minister clarified that although passports were issued by the Foreign Ministry, it was only done after proper verification in accordance with the Census Register maintained by the Home Ministry and the rules and regulations of the Citizenship Act.

Noting the clarification made by the Home Minister, the Assembly decided that there was no need to change the system of issuing passports.

8. All the people in Nepal camps are not Bhutanese

The people's representative of Chang and Kawing gewogs in Tbimphu Dzongkhag called on the government to counter the false claims of the ngolops that the people in the camps in Nepal were all Bhutanese refugees. They pointed out that contrary to the ngolop propaganda, many of these people were ethnic Nepalis from neighbouring areas, including people from Nepal itself.

Speaking on the matter, the Home Minister said that while the Foreign Minister had already clarified the status of the people in the camps in Nepal during @ session's earlier discussions, he would like to make some observations of his own. He informed the house that there were five categories of people in the camps in Nepal. One category were Nepalis who had come to seek employment in Bhutan and had now returned to their country. The second category of people in Nepal claiming to be refugees were people who had violated the laws of the land by taking up terrorist activities or were ngolops who had stolen huge funds from the government. The third category were people who were leaving without even waiting for their emigration applications to be processed. As per the Citizenship Act, such people had forfeited their citizenship once they had left Bhutan. The fourth category were people who had never even set foot in Bhutan They were poor, landless or unemployed Nepalis from the neighbouring areas, including Nepal itself, who had come to the camps to avail of the free food and other benefits available there by posing as refugees from Bhutan. Some international and non governmental organisations were giving US S 3 (Nu.90/-) for every person in the camps. The fifth category were the Lhotshampas who were applying to emigrate after fully acknowledging the fact that according to the laws of the land once the procedures for emigration were completed they, would forfeit their Bhutanese citizenship.

The Home Minister said that the Home Ministry had repeatedly sent circulars to the dzongkhags reminding these emigrants of the laws of the land and asking them not to leave, Moreover, His Majesty the King, during his numerous tours of the southern dzongkhags, had made many personal appeals to the Lhotshampas not to leave the country at a time when it was going through a difficult period. However, these people had less regard for the appeals made by His Majesty the King and for the law of the land than for the propaganda fed to them by the ngolops. Such people who had given up their citizenship and abandoned their country considered as Bhutanese as per the Land and Citizenship Acts.

The Home Minister also informed the house that, based on the malicious allegations made by the ngolop groups like the BNDP and the BPP that ethnic Nepalis were being forcefully evicted from Bhutan there were people in Nepal, several non-governmental and international organisations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees who were giving assistance to the so-called refugees in the camps in Jhapa and other places in Nepal. This in turn was attracting many ethnic Nepalis to the camps in Nepal.

The National Assembly decided that as the question of so-called refugees from Bhutan had already been discussed thoroughly and the discussion also recorded in resolution XVI-3 of the current session, there was no need to adopt a separate resolution. However, the Assembly noted that most of the people in the camps were not from Bhutan while those who did go from Bhutan were persons who had renounced their citizenship and emigrated, and were therefore no longer Bhutanese citizens.

9. Outside support to ngolops

The people's representative of Drametsi Gewog in Mongar Dzongkhag that according to a BBC news broadcast last year, the present Prime Minister of Nepal had been involved in the ngolop uprising of the Lhotshampas in 1952. Newspapers had also indicated that the ngolops were receiving strong support from the Nepalese government. As Nepal was a much bigger country than Bhutan such acts amounted to a bigger country trying to subvert a smaller state. The people therefore felt that Bhutan should appeal to the United Nations for protection against Nepal's actions.

The Foreign Minister, while acknowledging the point raised by the Drametsi Chimi, said that since Nepal and Bhutan had traditionally enjoyed close and friendly ties with each other, he was confident that the relations between the two countries would continue to be cordial. He agreed that it was certainly true that Nepal was much larger than Bhutan. Nepal had a population of 20 million which at its present growth rate would reach 40million within twenty years or so. Moreover, as there were about 10 million Nepalis in India also, many of them living immediately across Bhutan's southern border, the demographic threat to Bhutan from illegal immigration by ethnic Nepalis was well known to everyone.

The Foreign Minister also informed the Assembly that international organisations and a few countries were believed to be giving assistance to the ngolops in Nepal. It was reported that with money and mm from some of these countries, the ngolops were now undergoing military training. As this development would pose a very serious threat to Bhutan's sovereignty and security, it was very important for the government and the people to work together to ensure the security and well-being of the country. The threat from within was in many ways far more serious than the threat from outside, he added.

Referring to the Draimetsi chimi's proposal to register a protest against Nepal's actions with the United Nations, the Foreign Minister said that with 178 members in the United Nations, it would be very difficult for any decision to be reached on the proposal. It would be far more useful for the people and the government to work together closely and take the necessary steps to remove whatever problem threatened the country.

10. Trial of ngolops

The people's representatives of 7 gewogs in Pemagatshel, Mongar, Samdrupjongkhar and Tashigang raised 4 points on die trials of the ngolops in the High Court.

The chimis pointed out that as the 37 ngolops who were on trial in the High Court had committed major crimes against the Tsa-Wa-Sum, they should have been punished without any trial. Though five months had passed since the trials had begun, no punishments had been awarded so far to the ngolops. The people therefore requested for a clarification on why the trial was taking so long. They also pointed out that if the ngolops were not awarded the punishment they were liable to under the law, whether it was life imprisonment or capital punishment not only would it become difficult to remove the ngolop problem but the Thrimshung Chenpo would also be undermined and the general public would lose faith in the law of the land. They pointed out that the High Court should have no difficulty in dealing with die ngolops in strict accordance to the law.

The representative of the High Court explained that since the case of the 37 ngolops on trial were forwarded to the High Court on 12 May, 1992, a lot of time had been taken up in investigating and translating the statements of the detainees which were all in Nepali. Although taking the statements of the detainees had been completed by 8th June, 1992, detailed investigations had to be carried out as per die law. Many witnesses and victims of the terrorists had to be called from various dzonghkhag to testify in the cases. The trial was being conducted by the full bench of the High Court, including the Chief Justice, with meticulous care to ensure an impartial judgement. The representative assured the members of the house that once the trial procedures were completed, the judgements would be passed in strict accordance to the law.

The discussion was concluded with the people's representatives expressing appreciation for the efforts of the High Court to conduct the trial as per the law of the land and urging them to continue their efforts to conclude the trial as soon as possible.