International Women's Day

International Women's Day has been celebrated throughout the world on 8th March with ulterior motive to empower women. In Bhutan it is celebrated every year under the grace of Her Majesty Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck . this year it was celebrated at Gedu College under Chukha Dzongkhag. Her Majesty arrived the avenue by the evening of 7/03/2010 received by regional heads, Dzongkhag sector heads, lecturers, teachers and students. Culturer show was hosted by Gedu College and dinner with wine by Tala Hydro Project (THP) staffs.

On 8th Her Majesty has been formally received with chipdrel processions and Marchang Ceremony. The avenue of celebration was decorated traditionally with some adds of posters stating to empower women. Guests from UN organisations gave their statements and views of the day after the welcome speech by Dasho Drungpa. Several Cultural programmes has been presented by Dzongkhag dancers, Gedu College, Gedu HSS and Chukha women association. Her majesty granted Lunch (tokha) to the people of four gewogs present on the day. the day ended with Tashi lebey.

Origin of our first Bhutanese Unique Culture, Chipdrel

Trip to Tshamdra Goenpa

“Kuzu zangpo, this is English Service of BBS.

First the headlines.

- Road to Tshamdra Goenpa under Chukha Dzongkhag is ……………..”

Instantaneously vivid picture of Dasho Lungten advocating people of Paro flared up in my mind, “one of the most unique traditions of our country, chipdrel originated from Tshamdra Goenpa. Lam Ngawang Duba sent one of his disciples to buy a box of tea leaves from Paro tshondue……….”

Meanwhile my cell phone danced to a beautiful Bhutanese tune ♫♫♫Gangkar jomolhari...♫♫♫ oops! what a disturbance. It was my friend Sonam calling me “hello Yeshey this time let us go to a sacred place where we have never been, Tshamdra Goenpa”. I felt it was more of destiny than a mere coincidence.

It was 9:30am when we started our journey in an old car of one of my friends which demanded check-up after few minutes. After changing Berol, we reached the junction to start our real sweating journey. Our guide, so called Ap Zogo (carpenter), cousin of my friend Sonam was patiently waiting for us.

By 1:15pm, we started climbing almost 70 degree landscape. It was tiring journey and I was about to rest on a flat rock not caring the print on it. Suddenly Ap Zogo muttered “this is the false zhabje (imprint) of Je Yonten Thaye carved by peoples of this community as they had no devotion for him. They wanted to create rumors that lama is prophesized to leave that community”. It was a clear zhabje but facing down.

After successfully slurping seven bottles of mineral water, we reached our destination by 5:00pm. Lopen Pema, the senior most disciple of Lam Domchung, present lam of Goenpa greeted us with a searing cup of suja. Offering us a bangchu of zaw, Lopen Pema began “This lhakhang is said to have been built by revered Lam Ngawang Dorji around 13th century. Later his nephew Lam Ngawang Duba extended it with three stories.”

Majestic Toenpa takes the centre place in the ground floor which is said to have three feet statue of Je Yonten Thaye at its heart. “Actually disciples of Lam wanted to have sculptured statue of Lama himself” but before Lopen Pema could complete, one of my friend interrupted, “Why didn’t that happen la? Lopen answered with a heavy tone “Lama knew that people of that community had no faith in him”.

Lopen began to unlock a large wooden box which contained a steel box with numerous locks. “This is our nangten, muti choegho (pearl gown) of Guru Rinpoche”, Lopen began unfolding it. I couldn’t believe my eyes and questioned myself; am I that fortunate enough to be blessed by such divine sight? Tears of devotion glistened in my eyes. For a while I felt I was in heaven. Mutichoe gho is beautifully embroidered with designs of silk and pearl. Designs of eight lucky signs are bordered by pentsali designs of Vajra guru (mantra of Guru himself). Despite the colour being faded, it looked very beautiful and sacred.

In one corner, beautiful drums painted with gold were staked one upon another. Before my scrutiny, Lopen Pema emphasized “these are miracle products as thousand drums were carved form a single tree”. It is said that great virtue would be accumulated by single beat of that drum. Kajur (Sanskrit), which is said to be brought from India ornaments the ground floor.

After offering butter lamps we climbed the chilled stone steps of Neten chudrug lhakhang. The statues looked gracious but the faint gold faint seems to have forgotten to glitter. Lopen with hands folded said “this sacred antiques of neten chudrug(16 Arhats) are said to have been sculptured by Lam Gyelwai Shacha, the founder of Phajoding Goenpa”. The statues are so beautifully sculptured but seems to ask us to give a new look. Then we promised to offer the original gold to all sixteen Arhats.

Kudung lhakhang of Lam Ngawang Duba is beautifully decorated with original paintings by Lama himself. At the corner, was an enormous flat stone and before I could ask anything, Lopen started “actually Lama wanted to carve secrets of his heart on this stone but broke. Therefore lama sewed up the stone”. Magnificent Guru, said to be the original masterpiece of lam Ngawang Duba with his eight manifestations graced the top floor of the lhakhang.

The darkness has taken its turn as usual. It was 6:30pm when Lopen served us a hot cup of tea. Climbing down the dark hill took almost two hours. Our car has tolerantly waited in the cold for us by the road side. On the way my friend played a hearty song of Kelly Clarkson which was my favourite number.

Reaching home my mom prepared me a steaming cup of hard coffee. Over that cup of coffee I began pondering about offering the gold. Original gold…sixteen Arhats…three months…it was consuming me with just 100/- balance of my first salary. In a jiffy my cell phone was beeping ♫♫♫tring tring♫♫♫, it was an SMS from my friend Sonam “hey man tired ena? Zheyser phebey gasho hangten aley ya? Letz ask 4 contributns frm our nea n dea 1s”.

It was a brilliant idea as all of us would get opportunity to do something good. We are waiting for the opportunity to do something good and some where someone is waiting to be done. Life is too short and death waves its hand before something good is done. Therefore I would say that my friends are fortunate enough to be able to make contributions.

The contributions till date are-

1) Sonam Tshering - 501/-

2) Tshering Wangda - 100/-

3) Sonam Dorji - 100/-

4) Dema Choki – 121/-

5) Janchu Dorji – 105/-

6) Damcho Wangmo – 105/-

7) Ugyen Thinley – 105/-

8) Kanjur Wangmo – 101/-

9) Sonam Wangchuk – 107/-

10) Dhan Raj Tamang – 55/-

11) Jigme – 101/-

12) Tendrel Gyeltshen – 101/-

13) Nima Om – 100/-

Thanking you

Legal Awareness Campaign in Paro Dzongkhag

http://yahoo.com/

Legal Awareness Campaign

For the first time in Bhutan, legal awareness campaign on specific procedural and substantive law have been conducted in Paro Dzongkhag from 20th January to 5th February. The request was put up in Dzongkhag Tshogdue as people felt the need to know provisions of laws directly concerning them. The campaign is being carried out in all ten Geogs starting from Shaba geog and ending at Tsento. Dasho Lungten Dubgyur, Drangpon of bench I chaired the programme assisted by Dasho Pasang Wangmo, Drangpon of bench II.
After the statistic of cases being presented, Dasho Lungten began narrating the historical background of the law “The law in the kingdom of Druk yul is said to have begun from Mangpukurwai gyep (leader respected by all). Hundreds of year before in a typical village in Bhutan, people were said to be devoid of selfishness and hatred as Mamenpai lotho (crop which grew without being cultivated) grew spontaneously, People in that village never thought of ownership of that crop as they didn’t have to put hardship. One fine day a cunning man started thinking of sustenance for the future. He wanted to protect and preserve it for the future and began fencing the crop which aroused awareness to other people. Now every one followed him and began owning the crop resulting to big chaos in that village. Meanwhile there emerged a wise man who analyzed to solve the problem and began equitable distribution of the crop with justice. Peace once again prevailed in that community. People of that village considered him as messenger of god as he solved their entire problem thereby respecting him. From that time there, emerged a law called Mangpu kurwai thrim for the first time in the kingdom of Bhutan”. Beautiful story ended with a wise conclusion that equity and justice is the only source of peace and harmony.
Dasho started explaining that the basic principles of our law are rooted in religion. Bhutanese legal system came into good shape after codifications of laws by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel with sixteen virtuous deeds and ten pious acts as the main basis of it. Tenthrim nga, kadrey chenmo dru and chayigchenmo has been enacted. With the benevolent rule of Monarchs, Bhutanese legal system got further purified. Especial credit goes to all our Monarchs and other great rulers for their wise and timely enactment of acts. Dashop stated that a good law is the one that deserves the loyalty from the people for all times (past, present and future). So far so good, we have around 141 acts enacted as per the need of changing times.
Dasho also lime lighted the ‘rule of law’ and ‘due process of law’ through explanations of some provisions of Civil and Criminal Procedure Code with clear distinction between criminal and civil cases. Dasho gave simple comparison of due process of law to processes of lochoe “just like the processes in lochoe with all serially planned, our judicial process too have such order. Disorder in those processes in both cases can cause chaos”.
Dasho related the trial system to typical trial by Drenakchung (procecutor) and Lhakarchung (defendant) which is narrated in Terton Karma Lingpa’s 14th century text, hundreds of years before the public trail concept came to west.
Specific provisions of penal code have been emphasized starting from chapter two, giving clear cut distinction between felonies and other degrees of crime. It was made crystal clear that Drangpons doesn’t have any authority in deciding sentence period of a criminal without proper legal basis and explained value-based sentencing with an example of murder. He stated that there cannot be greater sin than sentencing a person for a crime which he hasn’t committed and should be beyond reasonable doubt. The other emphasis was on legal components required in preparing agreement and petition. He stated “a document with so called collective witness will hence forth not be considered legal”.
Dasho gave vivid explanation of provision of ten days duration to nullify an agreement. In total forty other section of the code was discussed with adequate examples.
Marriage act was precisely explained by Dasho Pasang with her soft Punap accent. The act was kick started with importance and legal documents required for marriage certificate.
Dasho emphasized “marriage below 18 years will be considered as rape despite consent of both the parties”. The Act was summarized under three headings as entitlements of divorced parties, entitlements of children and property allotment (all three parties). Dasho highlighted that the most deprived is children during a divorce. “Today majority of criminal youth are known to be siblings of divorced parents” Dasho stated. Dasho Pasang ended her session with request to look back and fro before one appeals for a divorce.

Dasho Lungten ended the session with few facts on Driglamnamzha (Zhudery phuensum tshogpa, chipdrel and marching) and its origin as he believes that trying to do anything without a proper knowledge of it can never be successful.
The question answer session was important as we came to know how aware our people are in the field of law. It also facilitated the people to understand law clearing their doubt. The programme was formally ended with a vote of thanks by Gup and a lunch.

To evaluate the campaign, four Assist. Legal officers obtained feed backs from participating people ranging from adolescent to old-aged through the means of questions.

The feed backs are –
Tshencho Dema,
Age-52,
Lunye Geog.
What did u learn from this campaign?
Ans. -I feel like we are tied up by law as it seems there is law for everything but I too realized that it is for reduction of social chaos and crimes. With changing times law has come to our doorsteps enhancing our knowledge and confidence in law. Today it is said that there are over hundred acts promising peace and harmony in our small country. We are very proud to know that honourable Dasho has successfully solved numerous cases in short span of time. Being a mother and a wife, most important part for me was about marriage act. Dasho has given clear cut information on entitlements during divorce.

Do you think that the campaign would be helpful?
Ans. – this campaign was very educative as we did not have other alternative to learn about legal provision and facts being illiterate. Only those people with case and village heads had some knowledge of law and legal provisions. In olden times it is said that people never knew why he/she is being sentenced but to follow the order. With judiciary becoming people friendly and Dashos coming door to door advocating principles of law, it would definatetly help people of all times.


What improvements need to be done?
Though advocacy was conducted for the first time, every thing was fine. The important provisions were presented within short period of time. It would seem much more profound if there is legal information on land act.

Wangdi,
Age- 56,
Lango Geog.
What did u learn from this campaign?
Although I was considered well educated legal personal in my village I always had problems in understanding law. Court procedures have difficult technical words which is very difficult for a layman like me to understand. Today Dasho has simplified and explained to us the most important provisions of law and legal history. Dasho has lime-lighted CCPC through rule of law and due process of law thus making us understand that judiciary’s goal is to administer justice. It is our pleasure to know that there is just one case pending beyond one year. The right format of preparing agreement and petition has been priority for me as I have been doing it for years but never knew the exact format. The tree format explanation of constitution, procedural laws and acts has given us clear distinction of laws.

Do you think that the campaign would be helpful?
The greatest help that a legal system can render to society is creating awareness before the crime is being committed. It would prevent wastage of time and resources. Books on laws are very rare and people have a stigma that law books are meant for lawyers. Information on legal issues had just one means of dissemination, through involvement in cases. Other masses were ignorant to law. Important provisions of procedures and acts relevant to emerging cases in our geog have been emphasized by two Dashos ensuring decrease in cases coming to courts.

What improvement needs to be done?
Apart from few incomplete Bhutanese proverbs, everything was fine. Dasho tried to make the programme interesting by relating some jokes. The enthusiasm in the session was further enhanced by short stories and examples.

Tshering Pem,
Age- 59,
Dob-Shari Geog.
What did u learn from this campaign?
I have learnt many things from this campaign but as a lay person won’t be able to reproduce everything. Dasho Pasang’s emphasis on matrimonial entitlements seems to be the most important part for me. We ladies suffer without knowing the legal rights and being harassed by some so-called village heads during divorce. Till date I never knew the distinction between bail-able and non bail-able offences, today we are made aware of it with clear cut distinction with duration of sentences.


Do you think that the campaign would be helpful?
Ans.- Yes, the campaign is of great help to us. We are made aware of our entitlements and sentences when we commit crimes. Since now that we know how strong our country’s law is, I think it would help in reducing crimes in the region. People would be more careful and they would refrain themselves from committing crimes. There is law for everything. Sometimes, I feel that we are all bound by law and would be punished if we go to the bathroom. We are grateful to our leaders for facilitating us to live peaceful and harmonious lives. Unlike other countries, the people of Bhutan are really fortunate to have unmatched peace and harmony and high level of law and order.


What improvement needs to be done?
Ans. -Everything was fine but there was a little problem. Since I was sitting at the back row, Dasho Passang’s lecture was not very audible. If this problem could be considered and improved next time.

Karma Wangdi,
Age- 31,
Doteng Geog.What did you learn from the campaign?
Ans. -From this campaign I came to know that Paro Court has solved numerous cases that are of different nature, matrimonial being the highest. I have also come to know that our law like in other country has originated from our own religion that is Buddhism, tradition and our unique culture. I also came to understand that law should be dynamic in nature so that it can best suit with the changing needs of the circumstances. As the law is the basic foundation of peace and harmony in community, family and country, I realized that any place or institution would be in utter chaos without law and order. The genuine information that I received today is about importance of components of agreement and petition.

Do you think that the campaign would be helpful?
Ans. –it is always said that there is every reason for everything, the reason of origin of law is profound as I came to know that law originated for the first time in that community with the motive to establish justice and equity. As we do have faith in Buddhism, its basis on it can be trusted. Dasho’s explanations of degrees of crime and sentences have enhanced our knowledge in criminal justice.


Personal opinion
The Awareness Campaign is very timely, as the country is undergoing a transition from a monarchy to democracy. This is also the phase where people need to know their rights and legal obligations to know that they are under rule of law. This kind of awareness creates a good image of the judiciary as people were never approached by the Court in this manner till date. This kind of awareness gives the people a sense of pride to know the basic knowledge of law.

The mere fact that a Judge of a District Court is involved in furthering legal education among people will speak a lot about the people friendly Court or Judiciary. This way people will no longer fear to approach the court of Justice as an institute of punishment, but will be always ready to approach the fountain of justice and equity.

People in Bhutan are not at all familiar to the legal world. They always feel nervous to even enforce their own rights. This kind of awareness Campaign by a Judge will go a long way in making people learn and know more about their rights. They have not only the knowledge of their rights but also the knowledge of the procedures to approach their rights before the Court of Justice.

Origin of law

The law in the kingdom of Druk yul is said to have begun from 'Mangpukurwai gyep' (leader respected by all). Hundreds of year before in a typical village in Bhutan, people were said to be devoid of selfishness and hatred as 'Mamenpai lotho' (crop which grew without being cultivated) grew spontaneously, People in that village never thought of ownership of that crop as they didn’t have to put hardship. One fine day a cunning man started thinking of the future. He wanted to protect and preserve it for the future and began fencing the crop which aroused awareness to other people. Now every one followed him and began owning the crop resulting to big chaos in that village. Meanwhile there emerged a wise man who analyzed to solve the problem. He began equitable distribution of the crop with justice. People of that village considered him as messenger of god as he solved their entire problem thereby respecting him. From him emerged a law called ‘Mangpu kurwai thrim’ for thev first time in the kingdom of Bhutan.
Bhutanese legal system came into good shape after codifications of laws by Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel with sixteen virtuous deeds and ten pious acts as the main basis of it.tenthrim nga, kadrey chenmo drug and chayigchenmo has been enacted. With the benevolent rule of Monarchs, Bhutanese legal system got further purified. Especial credit goes to 3rd monarch, widely known as Himalayan revolutionary with documentation of Thrimzhungchenmo. So far so good we have around 141 acts enacted as per the need of changing times.