World

Bhutan foreign minister to be sacked

Home minister Damcho Dorji to take over the portfolio
File photo of Bhutan foreign minister Rinzin Dorje

Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has proposed to sack his foreign minister Rinzin Dorje.

Rinzin Dorje who is on “authorised leave” since January is defending a corruption charge in the court.

The minister was exonerated by a district court for a charge that dates back to his tenure as the governor of Haa district, a small district bordering Autonomous region of Tibet. 

He was charged for embezzlement of public property and misuse of functions.

But the country’s anti-graft commission appealed to the High Court prolonging his “authorised leave”.

The recommendation was submitted to King Jigme Khesar NamgyelWangchuck which also includes transferring the home minister Damcho Dorji as the foreign minister and the Bong-Chapchamember of parliament as the new home minister.

Incumbent foreign minister Rinzin Dorje said he respect’s the prime minister’s decision, refusing to comment further. Lyonpo Rinzin Dorje was on authorised absence since January 23 this year.

While the Cabinet ministers were not available for comments, prime minister’s press secretary Tshering Wangmo said the recommendation to remove the incumbent foreign minister from the Cabinet has been submitted to His Majesty The King. “Lyonchoen had already discussed the issue with the foreign minister,” she said.

The decision was reached despite lyonpo Rinzin Dorje’s acquittal by the Haa disctrict court and an appeal against the verdict to the High Court. The High Court is yet to start it’s hearing on the appeal case.

Some of the Parliament members from the ruling party said the decision came as a surprise and that they were not consulted.

However, People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Ritu Raj Chhetri said that the issue was discussed in the executive committee that is chaired by the prime minister.

“The executive is the highest decision making body in line with our party charter,” he said, adding that the parliament members were briefed by lyonchoen on the decision yesterday.

On the late decision despite the minister being acquitted, Ritu Raj Chhetri said that they had to take “national interest over individual interest.”

Ritu Raj Chhetri said that the precedence in other countries issuch that a parliamentarian or a cabinet minister takes moral responsibility when involved in a corruption case.

“In our case, it didn’t happen the way it should have happened, as no person is guilty unless proven,” the Tashichoeling representative said.

“Even in the past government’s tenure, the foreign ministry has been without a minister for about threeyears,” he said. “Foreign ministry is a crucial ministry and to not have a minister for a longer period, it’s not justified.”

With the case already in High Court, Ritu Raj Chhetri said it could take about two to three months for the High Court to pass its verdict and if any of the parties appeal further, it could take another three months or so.

“This means that in a year almost 20 percent of our time is wasted which is a lot of time,” he said.

Besides, he said the party’s stand is to not tolerate corruption. There had also been a lot of feedback and general perceptions from people on the case. “As a party, we don’t want to malign ourselves with corruption,” he said. Meanwhile, the government’s decision is seen as a political move for some while others see it as a good decision.

Some Parliamentarians said that the decision would have a lasting impact on the future governments, as the precedence has been set. Others said that the decision was timely as it was not fair for the people and country to have a foreign minister to be on authorised absence for an indefinite period.

Copyright: Kuensel/Asia News Network 

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Bhutan foreign minister to be sacked

Home minister Damcho Dorji to take over the portfolio
File photo of Bhutan foreign minister Rinzin Dorje

Bhutan’s Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has proposed to sack his foreign minister Rinzin Dorje.

Rinzin Dorje who is on “authorised leave” since January is defending a corruption charge in the court.

The minister was exonerated by a district court for a charge that dates back to his tenure as the governor of Haa district, a small district bordering Autonomous region of Tibet. 

He was charged for embezzlement of public property and misuse of functions.

But the country’s anti-graft commission appealed to the High Court prolonging his “authorised leave”.

The recommendation was submitted to King Jigme Khesar NamgyelWangchuck which also includes transferring the home minister Damcho Dorji as the foreign minister and the Bong-Chapchamember of parliament as the new home minister.

Incumbent foreign minister Rinzin Dorje said he respect’s the prime minister’s decision, refusing to comment further. Lyonpo Rinzin Dorje was on authorised absence since January 23 this year.

While the Cabinet ministers were not available for comments, prime minister’s press secretary Tshering Wangmo said the recommendation to remove the incumbent foreign minister from the Cabinet has been submitted to His Majesty The King. “Lyonchoen had already discussed the issue with the foreign minister,” she said.

The decision was reached despite lyonpo Rinzin Dorje’s acquittal by the Haa disctrict court and an appeal against the verdict to the High Court. The High Court is yet to start it’s hearing on the appeal case.

Some of the Parliament members from the ruling party said the decision came as a surprise and that they were not consulted.

However, People’s Democratic Party spokesperson Ritu Raj Chhetri said that the issue was discussed in the executive committee that is chaired by the prime minister.

“The executive is the highest decision making body in line with our party charter,” he said, adding that the parliament members were briefed by lyonchoen on the decision yesterday.

On the late decision despite the minister being acquitted, Ritu Raj Chhetri said that they had to take “national interest over individual interest.”

Ritu Raj Chhetri said that the precedence in other countries issuch that a parliamentarian or a cabinet minister takes moral responsibility when involved in a corruption case.

“In our case, it didn’t happen the way it should have happened, as no person is guilty unless proven,” the Tashichoeling representative said.

“Even in the past government’s tenure, the foreign ministry has been without a minister for about threeyears,” he said. “Foreign ministry is a crucial ministry and to not have a minister for a longer period, it’s not justified.”

With the case already in High Court, Ritu Raj Chhetri said it could take about two to three months for the High Court to pass its verdict and if any of the parties appeal further, it could take another three months or so.

“This means that in a year almost 20 percent of our time is wasted which is a lot of time,” he said.

Besides, he said the party’s stand is to not tolerate corruption. There had also been a lot of feedback and general perceptions from people on the case. “As a party, we don’t want to malign ourselves with corruption,” he said. Meanwhile, the government’s decision is seen as a political move for some while others see it as a good decision.

Some Parliamentarians said that the decision would have a lasting impact on the future governments, as the precedence has been set. Others said that the decision was timely as it was not fair for the people and country to have a foreign minister to be on authorised absence for an indefinite period.

Copyright: Kuensel/Asia News Network 

Comments

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