That one thing...

CLARIFICATION PLEASE!

The second last session of the Parliament of Bhutan saw extensive debate on the Annual Report submitted by the Anti-Corruption Commission. There were praises, allegations, accusations, emotions, anger, excuses, worries, satisfaction and dissatisfaction. In effect, it was in no short of drama.

While I am not sure of what public in general made out of this whole saga, as an anti-corruption activist and as someone working for the agency dedicated and mandated to combat corruption by no less than the Constitution of the country, I am tempted to clarify certain things.

The Minister, Ministry of Health raised issues on investigation in his Ministry and alleged ACC of unnecessarily  prolonging investigation in his Ministry and called upon the house and Anti-Corruption Commission to complete investigation in Ministry of Health as soon as possible.

While it is true that the Ministry of Health has been under the scanner of ACC for almost four years, it is factually incorrect to say ‘ACC is unnecessarily prolonging investigation there.’ It is FACTUALLY incorrect because, ACC has, over the period of four years, completed 8 corruption cases in Ministry of Health, of which 5 cases have been put before the Court of Law through the Office of the Attorney General and 3 cases are being reviewed by the Office of the Attorney General for necessary prosecution. Given the constraints and the nature of the task, unearthing 8 cases in four years is indeed timely and comparable with any standard of criminal investigation in the world. Mind you- proving beyond reasonable doubt is the principle and fulfilling it is not anyone’s cup of tea.

Opposition Leader called upon the house on the need to include names of those alleged and accused in the annual report of the Commission.

While it is easy and sounds fancier to include names of alleged or accused in the report, it is legally incorrect to do so. It is legally incorrect because, under our law, one cannot assume anyone guilty until proven and naming people in the report would invariably take to mean such assumption.  Mind you- ‘presumption of innocence’ is the principle and not abiding by it would have legal implications like in any other jurisdictions where the onus to prove lie with the accuser.

to be continued

Growing Vegetables at Home and Comparative disadvantage

I met Mr. Dal Bahadur who hails from Sarpang District last weekends at Centenary Farmers’ Market. We studied together at Jakar Junior High School in Bumthang long time ago.

With his caliber and intellect, I was sure, beyond a shadow of doubt, that he will either become a doctor or an engineer, -a profession much sought after even today, after his studies and to that extent, he even proclaimed his aspiration, if I can remember correctly. 

As I met him that day, he was neither a doctor nor an engineer. As much as my guts failed to ask him what happened to his childhood aspirations, his appearance and the circumstances quickly told me that he has taken to farming for his profession and he isn’t doing well.

Drawing lessons from the interviewing techniques, I quickly leveled our emotions and drove him into a common but non-threatening ground of rapport building.  I told him about the RUPEE CRUNCH and the Government’s austerity measure of BANNING vegetable imports from India and how this might and would provide OPPORTUNITY for him as a farmer to cash in and do well.

“This is Bullshit!” he said. “Things do not work in a vacuum like this.” He added.

The next hour or two of our togetherness was no less than an academic setup for economics class as he went about illustrating the theories of international trade starting from the David Ricardo’s classical theory of comparative advantage to Adam Smith’s theory of absolute cost difference to modern Bertil Ohlin’s theorem, which ‘states that countries which are rich in labour will export labour intensive goods and countries which are rich in capital will export capital intensive goods.” 

There was nothing I could agree less with him. Unless we improve the conditions for agriculture in terms of water and fertilizers along with adequate subsidy to make up for the cost difference between our two countries or with other countries for that matter, not even the Great Wall of China, let alone the BAN, can stop us from going to India given the rationality of human beings.

We didn’t even talk about the advantage of ‘economies of scale’ that countries like India enjoy over us.  In the interest of my kids who I was with that day, we had to part our ways, and we parted our ways, ofcourse increasingly convinced of the unconvincing implications of the policy put in place to overcome rupee crisis.

I wished him all the luck in all the turnarounds he is wishing for in future.

Turning point

I have options not to take this path.
Photo courtesy: http://agewell-initiatives.blogspot.com/

There is no empirical study done to establish how civil servants faired their post-retirement life even though several of them retired over several years.  A couple of retirees that I see around paint different picture all together. While there are some doing extremely well and living a happy and comfortable life, there are others who are not doing well and consistently grappling to make their ends meet. 

While some of the happier retirees are happy simply by banking on their well to do children, some seem to be cashing in from the fortune they made during the hay days whether legal or illegal. But for retirees like Ap Kado, who has neither children nor fortune, post-retirement life has not been any merrier and it's Ap Kado's post-retirement condition that got me into thinking……"Can I ever secure my future as Civil Servant?"…………..... "Where is the guarantee that I will be Ap Kado after my retirement?"

The socio-economic and demographic conditions have radically changed to rest assured that my children will do well in future. The ever changing values and quickly degrading culture is increasingly accelerating uncertainties in the certainty of banking on my children even if they do well in future. The number of aged people loitering in and around Thimphu city stands testimony to it.

There is neither any hay days like those days for any civil servants to make fortune to secure my gray days. As much as it is ethically and morally incorrect, there is also very less opportunity for anyone to be corrupt and prosper. Unlike in the past, together with risk of detecting corrupt acts the cost of corruption has also increased drastically.

That being the case and the fact that there is hardly any thing left from my legal income at the end of a month, Ap Kado is increasingly becoming my reality and it’s time I act now to change this reality.  

Decision that tickled my @$#

On 20^th February 2012, I get a mail from AP-INTACT- an email-based network group of anti-corruption practitioners from all across the world, publicly announcing of an opening for a scholarship program at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) at Laxenburg, Austria.  For me, more than the training content, it was the number of anti-corruption practitioners who will be gathering there for this program (70 from all across the world) that captured my imagination. “Wow! What a pool of resources” I said to myself.  ---Such is the opportunity.

“Dear Friends,

I trust this mail finds you well.  The International Anti-Corruption Academy in Laxenburg, Austria, is inviting new applications for its 2012 summer school. Interested friends can find details and apply online here.”

On 2^nd March 2012, I informed this matter to Mr. A. K Rinzin, Chief of the Education Division and decided to apply for this program. But wait! You better inform the Commission about it even though there is no guarantee that you will get through the selection process. On the same day, Mr. A.K wrote to HR Officer requesting her to put up the matter during the upcoming HRC meeting.

“Dear Pasang,

Please find attached herewith the information regarding the upcoming program at the International Anti-corruption Summer Academy. Loday and I will apply………………and that is the reason I am forwarding this to you. Please put it up to the next HRC.

-  A Karma Rinzin”

Considering silence as acceptance, on 14 March 2012, I submitted my application online- a day before the submission deadline. -Such is the aspiration. 

On 13^th April 2012, I get a mail from IACA informing me of my admittance to the International Anti-Corruption Summer Academy with an IACSA Scholarship. They have not only accepted my candidature but also agreed to fund me in full. –Such is the luck.

“Dear Mr. Tsheten,

It is a great pleasure for us to inform you that the IACSA Selection Board has admitted you to the International Anti-Corruption Summer Academy with an IACSA Scholarship. This years´ Summer Academy will take place in Laxenburg, Austria, from 5 to 14 July 2012 at the premises of the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).

In order to process your admission, please confirm your attendance by e-mail before 24 April 2012, 12:00 CET. Please confirm also that you agree with the Declaration of Consent for IACSA Scholarship Holders at the International Anti-Corruption Summer.”

On 18^th April 2012, the matter was put before the HRC for onward recommendation to the Commission-the final approving authority to my two ways ticket to Austria. The following is the minutes of the meeting.

“DCPO informed the HRC that Mr. Loday has applied for scholarship to participate in the summer academy organized by IACA and had received his acceptance letter. It was learned that AK had sent an email to HRO regarding the scholarship. In the mean time he went ahead with application for the scholarship. The members agreed that before applying for the course, the same should have been routed through the HRC. One of the members felt that though there was some procedural violation yet if the course content was useful and relevant, the violation could be excused. And exception could be made considering the relevance of the course. However, majority felt that nomination process was violated and any consideration will create precedence, which may lead to adhocism and derail planned HR implementation.”

If the above minutes of the meeting is anything to go by Mr. Loday Tsheten is accused of procedural violation, setting precedence, creating adhocism and finally derailing the planned HR implementation.

while it’s always nice to be accused of something, somewhere, sometimes, the manner and the wisdom with which such accusations are made calls for serious sole-searching.  I am still wondering as to how and why I might be accused of procedural violation if I have already informed the concerned official prior to my application? Was it right to victimize someone for the inefficacy of another?  –Such is the wisdom and rationale that supports decision-making in an organization that aspires to be the best.

And on 23rd April 2012, a day before the deadline to confirm my participation, I get the final decision from the authority.

“As a senior officer who is fully aware of HR policy and procedure and who has operated as HR member, such oversight of procedure is not acceptable. Despite the scholarship, participation is not approved. This sets an unhealthy trend.”

Fully respecting all the wisdom behind the decisions and of course, adamantly dejecting all the allegations put against, Loday Tsheten wrote to IACA. 

“Dear Sir/Mam,

Thank you very much for your kind consideration. However, I regret to inform you that I cannot make it to the upcoming summer academy program to be held in July this year due to unavoidable circumstances.

Thank you once again and with best wishes,

Loday Tsheten

Bhutan”

  

Rupee crunch and Implication II

However there is no way Bhutan can be complacent about it. As much as people do not want to call this a crisis, the light at the end of the tunnel is dim and we are in for a serious trouble.

Our Ngultrum is highly pressured and is increasingly being pushed to the limit. The Royal Monetary Authority, in a bid to maintain this “peg at par” rate with Indian Rupee, is heavily borrowing. As much as the borrowings from Indian banks help provide much needed rupee in the economy for now it is also increasingly adding up to the already high debt service ratio of our country. Prices of almost all commodities in the market have increased. Investments are halted. Black market is said to be setting in if it is not already in operation. Thought not pronounced, unemployment and layoff in some of the companies seem imminent. 

This is no time for hallow promises that “Everything is going to be okay.” This is no time for blame game. It is time indeed for people in the authority to come up with a viable and sustainable solution.  I for one, for that matter, wouldn’t hide my audacity, beside others, to review the rationale and appropriateness of current pegging system in lieu of the changed economic environment we are in.

May the wisdom prevail for all times to come.

Rupee Crisis and implication thereof

Indian Rupee

The current rupee crunch that Bhutan is facing today, as far as I am concerned, was as sure as eggs. It was, in fact, bowed to the inevitable. To me, it was just a matter of how worse would it get and when?

Just have a look around your house and it will tell you how dependent you are to India. I don’t know about yours- almost everything I have in my house is imported from India including the broom behind my door.  The question however is,- is it bad? Not necessarily I would say. United States, for example has everything imported from China. You can hardly find products made in USA in many of the malls there and so is the case with Australia.

Where is the problem then? The problem lies with imbalance of trade and thus payment. Unlike USA and Australia, we are simply importing much more than what we are exporting.  Was that avoidable? Absolutely not! It is only rationale to demonstrate our economic prosperity through increased pattern of consumption. As much as desirable, the rate at which our economy has grown and growing is directly responsible for this crisis and I would neither blame government nor private sector directly.

Had it not been for Bhutan, situation like this could have already resulted into major financial and economic crisis in the region. Latin American Crisis of 1994 and Asian Crisis of 1997 are some of the legendary examples of how currency crisis can trigger major crisis in the economy. 

The first thing any rationale person would do in such a situation is sell Ngultrum or convert whatever Ngultrum you have into other stable currency or buy gold.  Reaction of such nature, if the market is efficient, will distort market equilibrium by increasing supply and decreasing demand for Ngultrum in the economy. This will invariably lead to what analyst would call ‘loss of confidence’ to our Ngultrum.   Thanks to dead and inefficient capital market, absence of foreign exchange market, un-integrated economy and innocent people- we still have confidence in our own Ngultrum.

To be continued....

Why the State should fund Political parties in Bhutan?

As a realist and anti-corruption activist, I dare say- the State should fund Political Parties in Bhutan and here are my Two Cents as to why.

(For my readers outside Bhutan, State funding for political parties has been a controversial issue ever since the ruling party submitted to the Parliament for approval owing to the financial difficulties faced.)

Not considering the existing electoral laws vis-à-vis the governance of the Political Parties in Bhutan and even by the modest and the most conservative standard, Political Parties ought to spend not less than Nu. 3 million annually to stay alive and kicking in the system. And that, invariably, excludes resources needed in R&D Department, which I say is very crucial, if one is to make any difference in the arena of politics.

And, where should this 3 million come from? The Political Parties Rules of the Kingdom of Bhutan-2009 provides for but limits the source of revenue to one-time registration fee, membership fee and voluntary contributions.  If what’s being experienced by the two existing political parties holds any water, this 3 million Ngultrum is hard to come by and it’s increasingly going to be harder with memberships dwindling and no voluntary contribution coming forth. There are also no indications, whatsoever, that people will register with the parties and accordingly contribute to their sustainability in future. And if this be the case, how will Political Parties function?

And, yes of course, we have few elites who can chip in?  But, as much restrictive as this voluntary contribution is (there is ceiling to it as well), it is also a highly risky business. There is a saying that my mother often reminds me of- “MEE ZEY KOEMER GYAL TSAM NA….RANG SEM KIPAI DUE MESHAR”. (You will not have peace of mind….if you have gobbled food from others).  That’s where and when the environment for CORRUPTION becomes conducive.   And if this be the case, how will Political Parties function?

Therefore, it is only proper that the State not only fund but also fund adequately if democracy is not to be undermined in this country.

Off-Party Campaign

In context of political change in the Thunder Dragon Kingdom

Many wake up from their deep but eternal slumber

While some on the pretext of 'responding to nation’s call'

Others calling it their sacred duty

Many for financial freedom

Few for social fame

Like many elsewhere

Some vowed for employment

Others guaranteed national security 

Many promised  better economic prosperity
Few even pledged to protect our pristine environment
A million dollar questions, however is- Is Bhutan changing for better?

Amidst these aspiring politicians
How many are genuine?

How many can deliver?
And yet-how many are crooks? Only a time can reveal and until such time

Lets think of those who thought of what one can do to one’s country and not otherwise.


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Note:This is the poem I wrote in 2007 when Bhutan was frantically preparing for transition from 100 years of Monarchy to Constitutional Democracy.