National Assembly Resolutions

The people's representatives of Lhuntsi Dzongkhag and the representative of Khibisa, Lajab and Tshangkha gewogs in Dagana Dzongkhag pointed out that in the past few years people from the southern Dzongkhags had emigrated and left the country despite repeated appeals made by the government not to leave. These people even ignored the personal appeals made to them by His Majesty the lung through his Kashos and when he visited the southern Dzongkhags to meet the emigrants and asked them not to leave the country. They even threatened local authorities and other villagers who tried to discourage them from emigrating and left for Nepal after taking Kidu Soilra. Lhotshampa civil servants who have stolen government funds also absconded to Nepal while other Lhotshampas had left after terrorising and robbing the villagers. After going to Nepal, these people have registered themselves as refugees by claiming to have been forcefully evicted and making other false allegations against the Royal Government. The people's representatives said that they are shocked that these people have been given refugee status by international organizations and that their cause is being supported by the Nepalese government. If they had been forcefully evicted they would have staved across the border in India. Why go all the way to Nepal? Many of these people who are registered in the refugee camps in Nepal have been sneaking back into the country to carry out terrorist acts such as murder, rape, armed robbery and destruction of development facilities. Such terrorist acts by the ngolops have been going on for several years now. The people's representatives asked the government to clearly inform all the foreign agencies providing assistance to the ngolops about the serious crimes being constantly committed by these people. They said that the Nepalese government and international organisations like the LTNHCR should reconsider their position on this issue on the basis of the true facts.

The Home Minister acknowledged that there was much substance to the points raised by the people's representatives of Lhuntsi and Dagana Dzorgkhags. Despite all the efforts made by the government to dissuade them, most of the Lhotshampas who had applied to emigrate had left -the country for Nepal. Many of these people have since been coming back to carry out terrorist raids inside Bhutan, he said. Giving a summary of the terrorist activities perpetrated uptil August, 1995, the Home Minister informed the National Assembly that the ngolops had committed 68 confirmed murders and 960 cases of dacoity and armed robbery. They had burnt down or destroyed 66 private houses, hijacked 62 vehicles and destroyed another 36. They had also physically attacked and injured 664 Bhutanese nationals and carried out 65 ambushes and attacks on the security forces and government officials. The Home Minister also informed the members that 112 terrorists had been apprehended and handed over to the police by the village volunteers in the southern Dzongkhags.

The Home Minister said that the terrorists and ngolops are persons who have stolen government funds, have incurred large loans and debts or were involved in criminal activities while they were in Bhutan. The reason why all those who leave Bhutan go straight to Nepal is because the ngolop leaders have been telling them to come to the refugee camps where they will receive free food and housing, free education for their children, free health facilities and even free kerosene oil and soap, he said. They are also provided free transport from Bhutan to the camps in eastern Nepal. All it takes for them to be accepted in the camps in Jhapa, is to be of Nepalese origin and to declare they are Bhutanese refugees. As a result of this, many unemployed and destitute ethnic Nepalese from Nepal and the nearby areas have congregated in the camps in eastern Nepal claiming to be Bhutanese refugees. Among this group of people claiming to be Bhutanese refugees are many labourers brought from Nepal and the neighbouring areas by the Nepalese Baidars to work in Bhutan on development projects and who have since returned ' The Home Minister agreed that it is indeed very important to apprise all outside agencies helping the ngolops about these facts.

The Home Minister informed the members that several non-governmental organisations, some UN agencies and a few countries are involved in giving assistance to the people in the refugee camps in eastern Nepal. Some of them are extending assistance out of genuine humanitarian concern while some are doing so to proselytise their own faith, and some others for political reasons. All of them are now aware that there are people in the refugee camps in Nepal who are not really Bhutanese, he said. The Nepalese government is also aware of this fact. However, the Nepalese government and the concerned organisations continue to extend their support because they find it difficult to withdraw after being involved in establishing and running the camps over the last four years. The Home Minister assured the people's representatives that the Royal Government has been making every effort to keep the agencies and organisations involved in the refugee camps properly informed about the true facts regarding the ngolops and their activities.

The people's representatives of Lhuntsi and Dagana Dzongkhags said that while they could understand the position of the concerned organisations if the people in the camps had been forced to leave Bhutan, they are utterly shocked that people who refused to remain in the country when His Majesty the King himself had repeatedly appealed to them not to leave have been given refugee status and are receiving assistance from these organisations and the Nepalese government. They once again emphasised the need to properly apprise these agencies and the Nepalese government about the true facts regarding the ngolops.

The Samtse Dzongda informed the people's representatives that since lie took office in Samtse in 1992, about 400 Lhotshampas from his Dzongkhag had emigrated and left for Nepal despite all efforts to dissuade them from leaving. After registering themselves in the refugee camps in eastern Nepal, some of these people have been coming back to carry out terrorist activities in the Dzongkhag. He also informed the Assembly that over 20 Indian journalists and 14 Western journalists have visited Samtse Dzongkhag to see the true situation for themselves. Members of international organisations and non-governmental organisations, and officials from foreign embassies have also visited Samtse. They have all seen and studied the situation and know the true facts, including whether people have been forcefully evicted or not. For instance, in May 1994,269 persons from Dorokha Dungkhag came to Samtse and insisted on emigrating to Nepal despite every effort by all of us in the Dzongkhag Headquarters to persuade them to withdraw their applications, he said. Even after reading to them a Kasho sent by His Majesty the King appealing to them not to leave and exempting all rural taxes for three years to all those who withdrew their applications, only 32 persons accepted His Majesty's Kasho and stayed back. All the others left for Nepal. Journalists and NGO members who have met these people and interviewed other emigrants and their neighbours know whether they were forced to leave or left o their own free will. He agreed with the people's representatives that it is indeed sbocking to see the Nepalese government and the concerned outside agencies according refugee status and giving assistance to people who have emigrated from the country despite every effort to persuade them to stay back, especially when many of these very people have been coming back to carry out terrorist activities inside Bhutan.

The representative of the, Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry reminded the National Assembly that in October, 1991, Prime Minister G.P. Koirala of Nepal had clearly stated in a, BBC interview that in 1952 he had helped to organise the first attempt by the Lhotshampas to ris against the Royal Government of Bhutan which had given them shelter and Kid when they came to the country with out any possessions to their names. It is very significant also, he said, that the relatives of some of the ngolop leaders today were involved in this attempt organised by the former Prime Minister of Nepal. Persons carrying out ngolop activities as well as those who have been taking Kidu Soilra and emigrating have all been going straight to Nepal because they are being given full support and encouraged to come there. It is important that these facts are explained clearly to all those who are extending assistance to the ngolops, he said.

Speaking on the issue, the Foreign Minister assured the people's representatives that the countries and international organisations and agencies giving assistance to the people in the refugee camps in Nepal have been kept informed about the true facts regarding the ngolops. He said that one of the main reasons why some of the organisations are extending assistance to the people in the camps is to proselytise and convert as many of them as possible in return for free handouts of food and clothing, free education and health facilities, and other incentives. He informed the members that more than 3,000 people in the camps have already been converted to Christianity. Some of the organisations and countries involved in giving assistance to the people in the camps are doing so for political reasons and others because all the people in the camps are ethnic Nepalese, he said.

The Samdrupjongkhar Dzongda recalled that in February 1992, His Majesty the King toured all the villages in Bhangtar, Daifam and Samrang by foot to meet wit the Lhotshampas who had applied to emigrate and appealed to them to stay back While these people assured His Majesty that they would not leave, the moment His Majesty returned to Thimphu they all insisted on emigrating and pressed for their applications to be processed without delay. Members of the media and foreign organisations who have visited southern Bhutan are fully aware of the true facts since they have carried out their own study of the situation and have also observed the emigration procedures and seen all relevant records and documents. Since some international organisations and countries are giving assistance to these people who have left Bhutan on the basis of their false allegations against the Royal Government, it is necessary to make them understand that there are really no grounds at all for treating these people as refugees, he said.

The National Assembly resolved that the Royal Government must make every effort to clearly brief the international agencies and countries extending assistance to the people in the refugee camps in Nepal about- the ngolops and their true motives and activities. The National Assembly also resolved that when the Nepal-Bhutan talks are held, the Nepalese government must also be clearly briefed about the above views and concerns expressed by the people's representatives.

2. Relatives of ngolops and employment in government service

The people's representatives of Lhuntsi Dzongkbag, Serti, Louri and Orong gewogs in Samdrupjongkhar Dzongkhag, Nanong, Lumang, Merak, Sakteng, Radhi, Rhaling and Uzurong gewogs in Trashigang Dzongkhag, Drakteng gewog in Trongsa Dzongkliag, and Tbangrong and Silambi gewogs in Mongar Dzongkhag submitted the views of the people of their constituencies on the continued employment of relatives of ngolops in government service. They said that the relatives of the ngolops are like the seedlings of bad fruits. They can never be trusted since they maintain close contact with their relatives in Nepal and, as such, have one foot inside the country and the other outside. The people's representatives also pointed out that instead of sending these people out, the government has continued to employ the relatives of ngolops and also given them financial assistance and support to do business. There have been many cases of Lhotshampa officials stealing government funds and leaving the country. There have also been cases of Lhotshampas who have not returned after going abroad for further studies and training. While these are the facts, the ngolops have been constantly making false allegations that the government has been discriminating against the Lhotshampas. As submitted earlier during the 72nd Session of the National Assembly, the people once again submit that all relatives of ngolops should not be employed in government service.

The people's representatives of Tong gewog in Zhemgang Dzongkhag, Dogar and Humrel gewogs in Paro Dzongkhag, and Chubu and Gooma gewogs in Punakha Dzongkhag also submitted the views of the people on this issue. They reminded the other members that senior Lhotshampa officials who had stolen large amounts of government funds and fled to Nepal had shamelessly alleged that the Royal Government has been discriminating against Lhotshampas and terminating them from government service. The relatives of ngolops are a constant threat to the country and they cannot be trusted in government service. They must not be given any responsible posts or jobs involving financial matters. Nor should they be considered for promotions. Lhotshampas going for trainings, meetings or seminars must be carefully screened before they are sent. The people's representatives emphasised that this is a matter which must be given careful thought and consideration by the government.

The people's representatives of Samtse Dzongkhag, Geta gewog in Chukha Dzongkhag, Khar gewog in Pemagatsel Dzongkhag, and Zomey and Talo gewogs in Punakha Dzongkhag also submitted the views of the people on this issue. They pointed out that while the relatives of the ngolops continued to be employed in government service and carry out business activities, without discrimination, the ngolops in the camps in eastern Nepal have been making all sorts of malicious and false allegations against the Royal Government. The ngolops have also been inflicting untold suffering on the people in the villages o southern Bhutan through their constant terrorist raids. Most of these terrorist acts are being carried out by the ngolops who have their relatives inside the country and are passing information to them. Because they maintain close contact with each other, the relatives of the ngolops who are inside Bhutan are a constant security threat to the country. Therefore, all relatives of the ngolops should be sent out of the country.

Speaking on the issue, the Deputy Minister, Royal Civil Service Commission (RCSC), said that he fully understood and appreciated the concerns expressed by the people's representatives about the continued employment and appointment of relatives of ngolops in the civil service and the proposals regarding their retention in service, appointment in sensitive posts, and screening for appointments and trainings. He said that the concerns expressed by the people were not unfounded as many Lhotshampa civil servants had absconded from the country since 1990 to join the ngolops, and the leaders of almost all the ngolop groups in Nepal are former civil servants. The repeated calls by the people's representatives not to promote Lhotshampas or send them abroad for training and to stop employing relatives o ngolops is understandable in light of the fact that many Lhotshampa civil servants have absconded after stealing large amounts o government funds and assets and also taken important documents with them.

The Deputy Minister said that while he shared the concerns of the people, the Royal Government has always followed one policy for all Bhutanese and in keeping with this policy, the induction, training and promotions of civil servants by the RCSC has been based purely on merit. Despite the ngolop problem in southern Bhutan, and the considerable risk and embarrassment to the Royal Government over the past five years on account of Lhotshampa civil servants absconding, the RCSC has, on the command of His Majesty the King, not resorted to any discriminatory measures against the Lhotshampas. Out of 11,793 Bhutanese in the civil service today, 3,179 are from southern Bhutan, he said. Since 1990, 1,061 Lhotshampas have been inducted into the civil service and 784 Lhotshampa civil servants have been promoted by the Ministries and the RCSC. 441 Lhotshampas have been sent abroad for training out of which 59 are students sent to study in professional fields. On the other hand, the Deputy Minister said, 465 Lhotshampa civil servants have absconded during the same period, many of them with large amounts of government funds and assets, and hundreds have resigned to join the ngolops. Seven Lhotshampas sent abroad for higher studies did not return to the country. Such actions by Lhotshampa civil. servants and students have been a source of much disappointment to the Royal Government and constant embarrassment both at home and abroad. The Royal Government educated and trained these people at great cost with the hope that they would contribute to the progress and development of the country, the Deputy Minister said. By absconding or resigning and leaving in such large numbers, these Lhotshampa civil servants have not only harmed His Majesty the King's policy and vision of bringing the Lhotshampas into the national mainstream but they have also brought about immeasurable loss in terms of skill and experience.

Being as concerned as the people about the continued employment of the relatives of ngolops in government service, the RCSC decided several times to retire all immediate family members of the ngolops from government service. However, on each occasion the RCSC decision was over-ruled by His Majesty the King on the ground that no civil servant should be dismissed unless he or she has violated the Civil Service Rules an Regulations. The Deputy Minister said that while the RCSC is making every effort to properly screen all applicants inducted into the civil service and civil servants considered for promotions and trainings, it is difficult to know a person's true feelings an intentions. As such, some element of risk will always remain. Nevertheless, in keeping with the directives of His Majesty the King, the RCSC will not adopt any discriminatory policy towards the relatives of the ngolops and will continue to provide equal opportunity to all citizens for employment promotion and trainings. The Deputy Minister said that it is his fervent hope and prayer that the Lhotshampas, including those in the civil service, will in turn prove themselves to be loyal citizens so that the aspiration and vision of His Majesty the King to build a strong, united and prosperous Bhutan will be fulfilled.

The Sarpang Dzongda informed the National Assembly that in the course of his tours of the villages in Sarpang, the people had categorically told him that if the relatives of ngolops are allowed to remain in the country, they cannot visualise the ngolop problem in southern Bhutan ever being re solved. The people had told him that the time had now come to remove the relative of ngolops from the midst of loyal citizen and send them out of the country as mil should not be diluted with water. According to the people in his Dzongkhag, there are many cases of parents taking Kidu Soilra and emigrating while the children remain in the country and parents remaining be hind while the children have left. There are even cases of husbands leaving and wives staying behind, and wives leaving and bus band, staying back. There are also cases of Kidu Soilra being given to the family members staying behind, and those leaving transferring their property in the names o family members staying back. The people had told him that the constant contact between those staying behind and their relatives in the camps in Nepal is a serious security threat.

The Dzongda said that members of the Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogchung and th GewogYargay Tshogchungs are hesitant to raise this issue because they are immediately targeted for attack by the ngolops. For instance, a DYT member from Hilley gewog who informed the DYT about the movement of the ngolops had his house blown up th very next day and was himself injured the ngolops. The Dzongda also narrated a incident of an elderly woman who had give food and shelter to three terrorists. When she was questioned after the incident be came known, she had said that she felt obligat4ed to give food and shelter to the terrorists since one of them was her own son. The Dzongda also said that threat letters were sent to those who had apprised His Majesty the King during one of his meetings with the people about the difficulties faced by them on account of the ngolops and their terrorist activities. The people are living in constant fear because of the threats and terrorist attacks by the ngolops. The Dzongda said that in his view also the ngolop problem is not likely to be resolved if the relatives of the ngolops are allowed to continue staying in the country. Since "blood is thicker than water", he did not see why the bonds between the ngolops and their relatives should not be stronger than the feelings these people have for the country.

The people's representative of Gelephu informed the National Assembly that some of the ngolops who had left for Jhapa, Nepal, after carrying out terrorist activities and disrupting development activities in the Dzongkhag have been coming back frequently to meet their relatives who have stayed behind. In the course of these visits they have not only been taking information back and forth but have also been terrorising and robbing our villagers, he said. In view of their role in prolonging the ngolop problem, all relatives of the ngolops must be sent out of the country.

The people's representatives of Ha, Paro, Mongar, Trongsa and Chukha Dzongkhags also expressed strong views on the issue one after another. Some of the people's representatives pointed out that the people had repeatedly called for all relatives of ngolops to be dismissed from government service right from the 71st Session of the National Assembly, and they were again calling for all ngolop relatives to be removed from government service. Other representatives said that the National Assembly had the power to decide on any measure and policy that will remove the ngolop problem once and for all. As one of the measures necessary to remove the ngolop problem is to ensure that the relatives of the ngolops do not stay in the country, they said that the National Assembly must take a decision to send away all relatives of the ngolops. Other people's representatives said that since the relatives of the ngolops are passing information to their relatives in the camps in Nepal and pose a constant security threat, all of them must be sent out of the country.

Intervening in the debate, His Majesty the King said that not only the people but the Royal Civil Service Commission had also wanted to dismiss the relatives of ngolops from government service and they had taken a decision to do so several times. However, His Majesty had over ruled their decisions and no relatives of ngolops have been dismissed from the civil service till date. His Majesty asked the National Assembly members to keep in mind that any action taken against civil servants whether they are relatives of ngolops or not must be governed by the Civil Service Rules and Regulations. His Majesty also reminded the members that it is a serious violation of the law and a punishable offence to force any Bhutanese citizen to leave the country.

The Speaker reminded the people's representatives that while the views and concerns expressed by them regarding the relatives of ngolops were true and reflected the feelings of the people, the responsibility for resolving the ngolop problem had been entrusted to His Majesty the King by the people with the prerogative to take whatever decisions he deemed necessary to remove the problem. Therefore, the question of dismissing relatives of ngolops from government service or sending them out of the country should be dealt with in accordance ,with His Majesty the King's decision and policy on the matter. Regarding promotions and responsibilities to be given to Lhotshampa civil servants and sending them for trainings and meetings, the Royal Civil Service Commission should exercise proper care and carry out thorough screening as proposed by the people's representatives.

The National Assembly resolved that the issue of removing the relatives of ngolops from government service or sending them out of the country should be dealt with in accordance with His Majesty the King's policy and decision. Regarding promotions and responsibilities to be given to Lhotshampa civil servants and sending them for training.- and meetings, it was resolved that the Royal Civil Service Commission shall exercise the greatest care and carry out proper screening of the concerned civil servants.

3. Extradition of Rongthong Kinley

The people's representatives of Lhuntsi, Pemagatshc-1, Mongar, Trashigang, Punakha, garpang, Trashiyangtsi, Zhemgang, Samdrupjongkhar, Wangdiphodrang, Thimphu and Paro Dzongkhagg, and the representative of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry made 14 submissions on behalf of the people of 36 gewogs calling for Rongthong Kinley to be extradited from Nepal and punished without leniency for subversive activities.

The people's representatives of Wangdiphodrang, Punakha, Thimphu and Paro Dzongkhags, and the representative of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that Rongthong Kinley had left the country and joined the ngolops in Nepal. He then established a subversive party called Druk National Congress with himself as president and has been spreading baseless allegations of human rights violations in Bhutan. He has been attempting to create misunderstanding between the government and the people by falsely claiming that the people of eastern and western Bhutan support his subversive activities. However, nobody believes a single word of the malicious lies spread by him in an attempt to erode the pure bond that exists between the government and the people.

The people's representatives pointed out that Rongthong Kinley is a person who has received much Kidu from the government. His children were educated by the government and he himself was assisted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and awarded a coal mining lease at Bhangtar, Samdrupjongkhar for several years. Instead of repaying the bank loans taken for this project, he did not even pay the royalty and taxes due from him. Contrary to the terms of the contract, he stole and sold coal in Assam and West Bengal. Since he failed to make any of the payments due from him or even submit accounts, his mining contract was terminated. Realizing that it was difficult for him to repay the many loans he had taken he fled the country. The people strongly condemn Rongthong Kinley for spreading false and malicious allegations against the Royal Government of Bhutan They request the Royal Government to talk with the Nepalese government and extradite Rongthong Kinley following which he must be given capital punishment.

The people's representatives of Trashigang, Mongar, Trashiyangtsi, Pemagatshel, Lhuntsi and Zhemgang said that the country had been enjoying peace and happiness due to the blessings of the Guardian Deities, the farsighted leadership of His Majesty the King and the good fortune of the people when the ngolop problem in southern Bhutan arose. The people strongly condemn Rongthong Kinley and Tenzin Gawa Zangpo for attempting to take advantage of this problem to promote their own vested interests by also launching subversive activities against the Tsa-Wa-Sum. The representatives said that most of the people of the eastern Dzongkhags did not know Rongthong Kinley and had not even heard his name before. According to those who knew him he had married the widow of Trashigang Dzongpon, Sonam Tobgyel, and thereafter, attached the name of her village, Rongthong, to his name. That is how he came to he called Rongthong Kinley although he was neither born and raised in this area nor was his name listed in the census register of Rongthong gewog in Trashigang. The people's representatives called for the prefix "Rongthong" to be deleted from his name in the Assembly records as it insulted the area that he did not belong to, and to, henceforth, have him referred to only by his real name Kinley Dorji. In any case he is no longer married to the Dzongpon's widow, having divorced her after he had gambled away most of her wealth and assets. Kinley Dorji is an irresponsible person who spent most of his time indulging in heavy gambling sessions. He neglected his business ventures and never bothered to repay the large loans he had, taken to finance them.

Just like the horse that kicks the person who has fed it, Kinley Dorji has repaid the government for helping him in his business ventures and educating his children by joining the ngolops. He has been attempting to create ill feelings among the people of Bhutan and misunderstandings between the government and the people in his efforts to subvert the established system of government. The representatives said that the people of the eastern Dzongkhags are greatly outraged with Kinley Dorji for his audacity in claiming to have their support, and they dismiss his claims with utter contempt. The representatives said that a ngolop like Kinley Dorji should not hope for the support of the people of the eastern Dzongkhags even in his wildest dream.

The representatives reiterated the people's pledge of total support and loyalty to the Tsa-Wa-Sum. They also requested the government to apprise the National Assembly about any course of action that may have been decided regarding Kinley Dorji's false and treacherous allegations against both the government and the people. They said that the people of the eastern Dzongkhags strongly condemned Kinley Doiji and called for every effort to be made to extradite him and Tenzin Gawa Zangpo and award them both capital punishment.

The Home Minister acknowledged that there was much substance to the condemnation of Rongthong Kinley Dorji voiced by the people's representatives and their call for him to be extradited and punished as per the laws of the country. He distributed a brief write-up on the background of Kinley Dorji and his accomplices for the information of the members.

Kinley Dorji is the son of Khen Mamung Khotsa from Zhemgang Dzongkhag, said the Home Minister. As the people's representatives had pointed out he was a habitual gambler, so much so that most people knew him as Tasi Kinley (Cardplayer Kinley). In the late 1960s, he moved to Samdrupjongkhar looking for business opportunities. He obtained large loans from the Bank of Bhutan and the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan and received trade and business licences to set up agencies in salt, rice, cement, and beer dealership. He established weaving, brick making, and stone crushing units. He also received licenses for export of forest products, coal mining, construction, transportation, hotel and travel agency. He, however, misused much of the large loans he had taken from the financial institutes and business associates to indulge in his compulsive gambling habits and love of the good life and did not manage his business properly. He even misused the Drezhu (contribution) money for the maintenance of the Zangtopelri Lhakhang at Samdrupjongkhar. Eventually, his debts swelled to Nu. 10,115,345.35. In order to avoid having to pay this huge debt, Rengthong Kinlpy devised a devious scheme whereby he established contact with the Lhotshampa ngolop leaders and assured them that he would mobilize the people of eastern Bhutan to support their subversive activities.

Based on reliable evidence of his subversive activities, Rongthong Kinley was detained on May 18, 1991 for further investigations which established that he had indeed carried out treasonable acts against the Tsa-Wa-Sum. Although he was liable to the severest punishment under the law of the land, His Majesty the King granted him royal pardon on July 5, 1991 with the hope that he would appreciate the magnanimous gesture and in view of the fact that amnesty had also been granted to many Lhotshampa, anti-nationals. In appreciation of the royal pardon, Rongthong Kinley signed of his own free will an undertaking in the presence of the Chief Justice, the Deputy Home Minister, the Royal Advisory Councillor from Kurtoe and his younger brother Pema Wangdi who was then the Director of Home Ministry, pledging that he would never indulge in any activity against the Tsa-WaSum. He declared his willingness to face any punishment under the laws of the land if he failed to honour the undertaking signed by him. However, he left the country for Nepal in August 1991. Once in Nepal, he projected himself as an influential and successful businessman and made baseless outcries of human rights violations in Bhutan to cover up his own shortcomings and misdeeds. On June 21, 1094, he launched a subversive party called the Druk National Congress with himself as Chairman and about 25 office bearers and members. The names and backgrounds of some of these associates, most of whom had stolen government funds and absconded were given in the brief w-rite-up.

Rongthong Kinley is a two faced person, said the Home Minister. He recalled that, in one of the large public meetings in Samdrupjongkhar during His Majesty the King's tours to meet the people and discuss development programmes with them, Kinley Dorji had praised His Majesty and the previous kings at great length. As the people's representatives from Samdrupjongkhar and the government officials who attended the meeting will recall, he spent so much time on making these praises that His Majesty had to intervene and remind him to confine himself to speaking about development matters as the purpose of the meeting was to discuss development programmes to promote the welfare of the people. Recalling his praises for His Majesty the King at that time and seeing the malicious allegations in the subversive literature he has been distributing, the government officials are as amazed as the people at the false and treacherous character displayed by Rongthong Kinley, said the Home Minister.

His objective is now clear to everyone. He is attempting to foment misunderstandings between the government and the people and undermine the image of the Royal Government through his false and malicious allegations. By joining hands with the ngolop leaders in Nepal he hopes to thereby overthrow the Royal Government and assume an important position in Bhutan. Among other things, he sees this as a way to avoid having to pay the huge debts accumulated by him. Rongthong Kinley and his associates are all birds of a feather who have stolen government funds or defaulted against loans and have resorted to subversive activities against the Tsa-Wa-Sum as a way out for escaping the consequences of their misdeeds, said the Home Minister. Rongthong Kinley is a chronic gambler, a conman, a defaulter of large loans and a ngolop to his Ying, country and people. As such, there is no need for the National Assembly to have an extended discussion on such an insignificant person like Rongthong Kinley, said the Home Minister.

The Home Minister reported to the National Assembly that Rongthong Yinley falls under Category "Bhutanese who have committed criminal acts, of the four agreed categories of people in Nepal as accepted by the Ministerial Joint Committee during the ongoing Bhutan-Nepal talks. He also informed the members that there were many cases registered against Rongthong Kinley including one case by R.B. Basnet who was then the Director of Revenue & Customs and is now the President of the Nepal based party called BNDP. There are two cases registered against Rongthong Kinley in the Samdrupjongkhar District Court, one case in the Mongar District Court and four cases in the High Court. The Home Minister assured the members that the arm of the law is long and that the ngolop Rongthong Kinley will be brought to justice in due course of time.

The people's representatives, the representative of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Royal Advisory Councillors and representatives of the government all made repeated interventions on the issue. Some members said that Rongthong Kinley had not only caused heavy losses due to his loan defaults but he had been making malicious and false allegations against the government to erode the strong and pure bond between the government and the people. They said that the National Assembly must discuss the matter thoroughly and decide on a course of action to extradite Rongthong Kinley and his associates to Bhutan and award them capital punishment.

Other members said that Rongthong Kinley Dorji's children and close relatives should be made to clear the dues of more than Nu. 10 million owed by him to the government, financial institutes and private individuals. Others suggested that although there is no extradition treaty between Bhutan and Nepal, possibilities of extraditing him on the grounds of the civil cases of loan defaults pending against him in the Court should be explored. If that is not possible, the Foreign Ministry and the Home Ministry should raise the issue of his extradition during the Nepal-Bhutan talks. They reiterated that a treacherous man like Rongthong Kinley must be extradited and punished. Some of the people's representatives from the eastern Dzongkhags, expressing their outrage with Kinley Doiji for attempting to involve the people of the eastern Dzongkhags in his devious scheme to avoid paying the debts accumulated by him, also insisted on his extradition.

Other people's representatives said that the issue of extraditing a worthless person like Rongthong Kinley is not important enough to be deliberated any further in the National Assembly. The Speaker also reminded the members about the Home Minister's clarification that Rongthong Kinley's case would fall under Category 4 of the four agreed categories of people accepted by the Ministerial Joint Committee in the course of the Bhutan-Nepal talks.

The National Assembly condemned Rongthong Kinley Dorji and his party. It was decided that the extradition of Rongthong Kinley and his associates should be taken up with the government of Nepal in conjunction with the outcome of the Bhutan-Nepal talks on the problem of the people in the refugee camps in Nepal.

4. Ban on return of people who have left the country

The people's representatives of Samtse Dzongkhag, Norbugang, Dalim, Bakuli and Hastinapur gewogs in Samdrupjongkhar Dzongkhag, and Kalikhola, Sarpangtar, Leopani, Hilley, Dovan, Gelephu, Bhur, Taklai, Sershong and Surey gewogs in Sarpang Dzongkhag submitted the views of the people on those who had left the country.

Although the people had called for a ban on the return of all those who had left the country and the issue was discussed during the 71st and 72nd Sessions of the National Assembly and resolutions also adopted, the representatives said that this point was being raised once again by the people because they felt very strongly about the matter. Following the establishment of the camps in eastern Nepal where free food, housing, health, education and other facilities were given, without proper verification, to any person claiming to be a Bhutanese refugee, many Lhotshampas had applied to emigrate and left for Nepal. His Majesty the King appealed many-times. to the Lhotshampa emigrants not to leave the country. He issued Kasho ' s exempting rural taxes, Goongda Woola and taxes on the sale of oranges and cardamom to encourage them to stay and even visited the villages in the south to meet these people and personally explain to them the disadvantages of leaving the country. However, these people refused to listen even to His Majesty the King and left for Nepal after taking Kidu Soilra.

After reaching Nepal, they all claimed to have been forcefully evicted from Bhutan and made malicious and false allegations against the Royal Government. Many of them have also been coming back into the country to terrorise and raid the innocent villagers in the south.

The people's representatives said that the people are very upset to hear that ngolops who have blown up and destroyed schools, health centres, bridges and other service facilities have hopes of returning to the country. The people cannot stand the thought of such persons returning even in their dreams. It is very important for all members of the National Assembly to realise that the real reason why these shameless ngolops wish to return is not to live peacefully and earn a livelihood but to launch insurgency and overthrow the Royal Government. It must, therefore, be ensured that, in keeping with the law, all those who have left the country must never be allowed to return.

The people's representatives of Yangtsi and Bumdeling gewogs in Trashiyangtsi Dzongkhag, Khar and Yurung gewogs in Pemaeutshel Dzongag, Nanong, Lumang, Merak, Sakteng, Radhi, Khalig, Shongphu and Uzurong gewogs in Trashigang Dzongkhag pointed out that all those who left the country are either terrorists, persons who stole public funds or those who applied to emigrate and left. Everyone knows that the intentions of these people are to subvert the country. The loyal citizens of Bhutan cannot stand the thought of having such people living in their midst. The people, therefore, request the government to ensure that all those who have left the country are never allowed to return.

The people's representatives of Tsirang and Samtse Dzongkhag recalled that instead of appreciating the many development facilities given by the government for the progress and prosperity of the Lhotshampa people, the ngolops in southern Bhutan had turned against the Tsa-Wa-Sum in 1990. AU loyal citizens were threatened by the ngolops to join them or they would have their heads cut off. Offices and development centres were closed down or blown up and destroyed. Ghos and kiras were forcibly stripped off people and burnt, and all those supporting the government were threatened for being "Bhotay Chamchas'. As a result of the outbreak of the ngolop problem in southern Bhutan in 1990, the people have been facing great difficulties.

The representatives said that all those who have since left the country are ngolops, including the people who applied to emigrate and left. From the time when Lhotshampas first applied to emigrate, His Majesty the King made repeated appeals to them to stay back. His Majesty not only traveled to the southern Dzongkhags to meet and appeal to them personally but he also issued Kashos exempting the Lhotshampa people from Goongda Woola and rural taxes. These Kashos were not only read out and explained by the Dzongda in the Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogchungs but also translated into Nepali and distributed to the people. However, these people refused to listen to all appeals. They sold their land and property, insisted on having their emigration applications processed, submitted written statements to the Dzongkhag Courts that they were emigrating of their own free will, took Kidu Soilra and left the country. After leaving, they claimed to have been forcefully evicted. The representatives said that the people are very upset to hear that these shameless persons and the terrorists who have inflicted untold suffering on the people have hopes of returning. The people are also upset to hear that the Nepalese government also wishes to send these persons back to Bhutan. The people, therefore, reiterate their call to ban all persons who have left the country from ever returning.

The Samdrupjongkhar Dzongda recalled that His Majesty the King visited the villages in Bakuh, Dalim and Samrang in February 1993 to meet and explain to the Lhotshampa emigrants the disadvantages of leaving their country. His Majesty had pointed out that, although free food and housing may be available in the camps in eastern Nepal at the time, such facilities would not be available forever. So by leaving the country, they would, in the long run, be making life very difficult for themselves. Although the emigrants assured His Majesty that they would not leave the country, the moment His Majesty returned to Thimphu, they all insisted on leaving. They sold their cattle and other property, including materials from their houses which they dismantled, and left in trucks already arranged from Assam to pick them up and take them to Nepal. It was found that these emigrants had been in close contact with the people in the camps in eastern Nepal and had made plans to leave the country and join them. As seen also by the Gups and National Assembly members of Samdrupjongkhar, these emigrants had dismantled the pipes from irrigation schemes and CGI sheets from development centres and sold these materials across the border in Assam before leaving. Such people who have left the country must not be allowed to come back, said the Dzongda.

The Sarpang Dzongda informed the Assembly that every effort had been made by the government to dissuade emigrants from leaving. Applicants were even given daily allowances sanctioned by the government while strenuous efforts were made to persuade them to stay back. Despite all efforts these people refused to stay back and left for Jhapa, Nepal. Many of these people who had left for Nepal have been coming back to carry out terrorists raids in different parts of the southern Dzongkhags, he said. In Sarpang alone the ngolops have carried out 389 terrorist raids, injuring 250 people, and the identities of the perpetrators of these crimes are also known, Just about two weeks ago, the house of one of the villagers in Sarpang, Bhim Prasad Phuyel, was raided for the fourth time by the terrorists. Bhim Prasad Phuyel was shot and injured and is still undergoing medical treatment in the hospital. Eight schools, six health centres and 10 Forest Department offices in Sarpang Dzongkhag have been destroyed by the ngolops. Agriculture and animal husbandry centres and gewog offices have also been destroyed. The irrigation scheme in Taklai, the biggest such scheme in Bhutan, and UNICEF assisted rural drinking water supply systems have also been destroyed by the ngolops. The Dzongda informed the members that the perpetrators of these terrorist acts are mostly people from the camps in Jhapa, Nepal. Village volunteers in Sarpang had uptil now apprehended 49 terrorists during raids on villages who were all found to have come from the refugee camps in Nepal. He submitted that all those who left the country and then come back to terrorise and rob the people must never be allowed to return.

The Dzongdas, Royal Advisory Councillors and people's representatives all made repeated interventions to emphasise that those who have left the country must never be allowed to return. These people had left despite every effort made by the government to dissuade them from emigrating, including exemption of rural taxes, goongda woola and exemption of cash crop taxes which was given only to the Lhotshampas to encourage them to stay back. After reaching Nepal they claimed to have been forcefully evicted and made other baseless and malicious allegations against the Royal Government. It is not possible for such people, who have turned against the Tsa-Wa-Sum and left the country, to co-exist, with loyal citizens again. Not only must these people never be allowed to return, but all those who have been helping them and are still in the country must be sent out, keeping in mind the saying, "evil must be rooted out so that good can flourish".

The Minister for Trade and Industry said that the views of the people's representatives on the issue must be given full consideration. He pointed out that the real objective of the ngolops in the camps in eastern Nepal is to overthrow the Royal Government and undermine the Bhutanese tradition and culture - and way of life. Leave alone hundreds or thousands, not even one person from the camps must be allowed to return, he said. Since they have gone to a country of their choice to enjoy human rights and democracy, they should be happy to continue staying there.

The Home Minister said that the representatives of the people and the government had clearly highlighted the difficulties and hardship caused by the ngolop problem in southern Bhutan and the suffering inflicted on the villagers by the continued terrorist activities. Indeed, everyone is aware of this and how those Lhotshampas who emigrated and left for Nepal refused to stay back despite the appeals from His Majesty the King and the efforts of the Dzongkhag officials and the Dzongkhag Yargay Tshogchung members to dissuade them from leaving. He informed the Assembly that it has now been established that the terrorist attacks inflicted on the innocent villages in the southern Dzongkhags are carried out by persons from the refugee camps in eastern Nepal. Village volunteers in the southern villages have caught and handed over to the police 112 terrorists who have come from the camps in Jhapa, Nepal, he said. He also informed the members that there are 1,661 persons in the camps in eastern Nepal who have committed various crimes and against whom charge sheets have been prepared for registering in the Court.

The Home Minister pointed out that many relatives of ngolops and those who have left the country continue to be employed in government service and live in the villages. If the government has been evicting people as alleged by the ngolops, the first persons to be sent out should be the relatives of ngolops and those who have left the country. As for the question of banning the return of people who have left the country, this was debated during the 71st and 72nd Sessions of the National Assembly, and resolutions also adopted. The Home Minister also informed the members that His Majesty the King had made it very clear that if there are any Bhutanese citizens in the camps in Jhapa, Nepal, who have been forced to leave the country, they will be accepted as Bhutanese refugees and the Royal Government will take full responsibility for them.

The National Assembly decided that there was no need to adopt a separate resolution on banning the return of people who have left the country as the resolutions adopted during the 7lst and 72nd Sessions on the same issue should stand in force.

5. Bhutan-Nepal talks

The people's representatives of Samtse and Bumthang Dzongkhags, Drametsi, Ngatshang and Chaksikhar gewogs in Mongar Dzongkhag, and Shelngana and Bemey gewogs in Punakha Dzongkhag submitted that the Royal Government, keeping in mind both the short and long term interest of the country, should from the very outset not even discuss the question of allowing any of the people in the refugee camps in eastern Nepal to come to Bhutan. Those who have left Bhutan and joined the ngolops in these camps did so of their own free will. The people have been dismayed to learn from radio and newspaper reports that the Bhutan-Nepal talks did not progress well because the Nepalese government wanted to send all the people claiming to be Bhutanese refugees back to Bhutan. Since this is the intention of the Nepalese government there is no reason to continue the talks and the people would appreciate it if further talks on the issue are not held.

The people's representative of Dagapela Dungkhag in Dagana Dzongkhag pointed out that the anti-nationals carrying out terrorist raids in southern Bhutan have been coming from the-refugee camps in Nepal. These are the very people who have left Bhutan of their own free will and were then given refugee status by the UNHCR and the Government of Nepal. It seems that the Nepalese government is not at all bothered about preventing people in the refugee camps from going to Bhutan to out terrorist activities. If the Nepalese government is sincere about a fruitful outcome of the Bhutan-Nepal talks, they should not allow people registered as refugees in Nepal to carry out terrorist activities in Bhutan. If terrorist activities by the so-called refugees continue like this, the Nepalese government and the UNHCR should be held responsible as the refugee camps in Nepal will ha,, e to be considered the base for these activities. The people would like to request the government to focus on this issue during the next round of the Bhutan-Nepal talks.

The people's representatives of Mewang, Gyene and Dagala gewogs in Tbimphu Dzongkhag, Tong and Nangkhor gewogs in Zhemgang Dzongkhag, and Samar gewog in Haa Dzongkhag said that although the first five rounds of the Bhutan-Nepal talks had made progress, they had learnt from the radio and Kuensel that the 6th round of talks had not gone well. The people would, therefore, like to receive a briefing on the Bhutan-Nepal talks.

The Home Minister distributed a written report on the Bhutan-Nepal talks and briefed the National Assembly. He informed the members that following the outbreak of ngolop activities in southern Bhutan in 1990, 234 persons claiming to be Bhutanese refugees reached Nepal in January, 1991. In August 1991, the Nepal government formally invited the UNHCR to provide assistance to these persons, and when the UNHCR commenced giving food and shelter from September 1991 there were still only 304 persons claiming to be Bhutanese refugees.

When the number of people increased to 6,000 by the end of 1991, His Majesty the King told Prime Minister G.R Koirala of Nepal during their meeting in Colombo that many of these people were neither refugees nor Bhutanese. When His Majesty requested Prime Minister Koirala not to allow people claiming to be Bhutanese refugees to enter Nepal, as it would provide opportunity for many destitute and unemployed ethnic Nepalese to congregate in the camps for free handouts, he replied that he could not comply with the request as it would hurt the sentiments of the Nepalese people and the political parties would criticise him.

After exchanging communications through diplomatic channel, it was decided that a ministerial level joint committee would be set up to discuss and resolve the problem of the people in the refugee camps in eastern Nepal. The first ministerial level talks between the two governments were held in Thimphu in July 1993 during which a Ministerial Joint Committee was established with a three point mandate to resolve the problem.

During the first meeting of the Ministerial Joint Committee which was held in Kathmandu, the two sides agreed that there are four categories of people in the refugee camps in eastern Nepal. During the third meeting of the Ministerial Joint Committee a Mechanism for Joint Verification of the people in the camps was agreed. The fourth meeting discussed the harmonisation of the two government's positions on the four categories. Although agreement of positions was negotiated on three of the categories, the Nepalese delegation said they had problems on the second category "Bhutanese who emigrated" and the positions could not be harmonised.

The fifth meeting of the Ministerial Joint committee was held with the new government in Kathmandu. Although general agreement was reached on Category 2, the Nepalese delegation had problems with harmonising positions on Category 3 "Non Bhutanese people". During the sixth meeting held in Thimphu, the Bhutanese delegation accepted most of the amendments proposed by the Nepalese side and came very close to working out an agreement. However, the Nepalese delegation introduced a new dimension by saying that the problem was between the Royal Government of Bhutan and the people in the camps so Bhutan should take all these people. Regrettably, it was then agreed that the matter should be discussed again during the next meeting.

On May 3,1995, His Majesty the King met with Prime Minister Adhikari of Nepal during the 8th S.AARC Summit held in New Delhi. His Majesty presented a set of documents to the Nepalese Prime Minister containing proposals to resolve the problem. After the meeting, the Prime Minister told His Majesty that he now had a better understanding of the problem. He said he would respond to His Majesty on the proposals after consulting with his cabinet colleagues. The Home Minister informed the members that copies of the documents given to the Nepalese Prime Minister were included with the brief on the Bhutan-Nepal talks distributed to them earlier.

Following the briefing by the Home Minister, the people's representatives, and the Chairman and Councillors of the Royal Advisory Council expressed their views on Bhutan-Nepal talk. Some of them pointed out that not much progress had been made in the talks because the Nepalese side had been frequently changing their positions on points that had already been agreed upon and they had also introduced new elements, thus rendering the talks quite meaningless. The members pointed out that the refugee camps were established by the Nepal government, and the people going to these camps from Bhutan all left the country of their own free will. If the Nepalese government thinks that this issue is not their concern, there is no need for Bhutan also to have any concern over the matter.

Some of the members said that, in the course of completing six rounds, the talks had to be postponed several times because of the Nepalese government. Since it appears that the Nepalese government is not keen on finalising the dates for the next meeting, there really seems no point in continuing the talks.

The representative of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the people's representatives of Paro Dzongkhag wondered why it is only now that the Nepal government is saying that th6 problem is between the people in the camps and the Royal Government of Bhutan. If that is the case why did they agree to hold talks or not take this position when the talks started? Seeing how they have taken this position at this juncture, after four years of bilateral talks, it appears that the Nepal government is not interested in resolving the problem of the people in the camps in eastern Nepal.

The Deputy Minister, Royal Civil Service Commission and other people's representatives said that although there ma