Dec 11: The fourth session of the First Parliament concluded on Friday, having passed few bills and debating on many. 

The closing ceremony was attended by King and representatives of the international community, defense and government officials. 

As usual, the parliamentarians expressed their gratitude to King ‘for the noble initiatives taken towards the relief effort for disaster hit people’. 

Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley expressed appreciation to the people, donor countries and others for accelerating the relief efforts for the victims of the earthquake and other disasters.

In his concluding address, on behalf of the Parliament, the Speaker JIgme Tshulthrim thanked king for granting land kidu.

During the fourth session of the parliament, the National Assembly adopted Standards Bill of Bhutan, 2009, Royal Monetary Authority (Amendment) Bill of Bhutan, 2009, Tobacco Control Bill of Bhutan, 2009, Civil Service Bill of Bhutan, 2009, Marriage (Amendment) Bill and Entitlement and Service Condition Bill for the Holders of Constitutional Offices of Bhutan, 2009. They are sent to upper house for deliberation.

Dec 11: The parliamentarians in Thimphu might not be aware, until they are pressurized by an open letter to raise the issue of border dispute with China during the House session that ends today in Thimphu.

The fact is that, despite Bhutan ceded some parts of the upper border to China some years ago the northern neighbor had intruded deep into Bhutanese territory 17 times in 2008 alone. 

According to a report presented at the parliament after MPs sought clarification from the government, the Chinese soldiers came up to the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) outpost at Lharigang in the Charithang valley on each occasion. 

There was similar intrusion by Chinese soldiers in 2004 which was then resolved through a meeting in New York between the foreign minister of Bhutan and the Chinese foreign minister.

The Chinese have started constructing roads within Bhutanese territory since August this year. For centuries, Bhutan has not been able to resolve border disputes with India and China. 

India has stationed over 100,000 military personnel in Bhutan, half near Sino-Bhutan border to stop Chinese incursions.

Dec 09: Bhutanese delegation chief in Geneva for Human Rights Council country review session, Kinzang Dorji said that it is factually incorrect to say all people in the camps in Nepal are Bhutanese refugees. 

In his address during the adoption of state report on Tuesday evening, said, “Some statements referred to the people in the refugee camp in Nepal as Bhutanese refugees. Consequently the term reappears in some of the recommendations. I wish to retro rate the position of royal government that there are many different categories of the people in the camps including non Bhutanese.”

Kinzang, who answered only two issues among many raised by the country delegates during the review on December 4, said, “Concerns over sexual abuse of girls in villages have been raised by one delegation. Allow me to underscore that the excesses and reprehensible exploit of individual do not constitute the cultural tradition and nor can hey be used to condemn the credibility of the entire administrative service.” 

He also said, “As I have said in my opening statement that we have approached the UPR with an open and positive mind therefore your questions, comments and recommendations will contribute immensely to our continued efforts for the further protection and promotion of Human rights.”

Kinzang, who opened the adoption session 12 minutes late, assured that all recommendations will receive the careful consideration of the government and informed that Bhutan will report to the human rights council before the 13th session. 

He said that the delegation will take back the report and make it available widely.