Indian truckers stop essential supplies to Bhutan
Special Correspondent
Landlocked Bhutan, heavily depended on India for supply of essentials from fuel oil to salt, was left high and dry last week. Oil supply from the Indian state of West Bengal was stopped since October 1 triggering a serious crisis. Panic ran high among the people. Worried the administration was assessing how to shed off dependence on India for supply of essentials.
The association of Indian tank lorry drivers went on wildcat strike refusing to transport fuel oil to Bhutan. They demanded release of a driver who was arrested in Bhutan. Rumour spread in the capital Thimphu that oil supply from India will not be available for at least 40 days.
The Indian oil tank driver was arrested for violating law of the country. Driving rash he ran over a seven-year-old boy and fled away. After months when he came to Bhutan again with different identity the driver was arrested. He was fined as compensation to the victims family. But the driver refused to pay. Court summoned the lorry owner who also refused to appear. Finally, the driver had to be released for resumption of supply of fuel oil from India.
Yet the most clear message of all this is how vulnerable we are, with so much dependence on practically everything from salt to fuel The truckers strike perhaps succeeded in sending whatever message was intended, writes daily Kuensel of Bhutan.
Officials in Thimphu viewed that time has come for having diplomatic and trade relations with northern neighbour China so that the country is not overly dependent on a single country. They said Indians thought that they have the monopoly in dealing with Bhutan. But Nepal, also landlocked, had proved wrong their notion. Bhutan should follow what Nepal did.
China connection
Few days ago Bhutan has procured 15 buses from China through international tender to Indias chagrin. Historically and culturally closed to India, Bhutan has long been under the thumb of Delhi by virtue of 1949 friendship treaty. Delhi used to represent Bhutans concerns with China over the border disputes. After gaining UN membership in 1971, Thimphu has been trying to assert itself. It has accepted Taiwan as part of China One China policy. The friendship treaty with India was revised in 2007 with Delhi giving an undertaking to exercise no interference in the internal affairs of Bhutan. But under pressure Bhutan had agreed to be guided by the advice of Indian government in regard to its external relations.
After the UN membership, Bhutan has established diplomatic ties with a number of countries. It is also a founding member of SAARC. But Delhi has so far held up its advice for establishing diplomatic relations with China with which Bhutan has 470 km border. Years ago, Beijing and Thimphu reached an interim agreement to maintain status quo on the border and peace.
Recent reports indicate that India has finally agreed to loosen its grip on Bhutan. Delhi has agreed Bhutans establishing diplomatic and trade relations with China. Chinese vice foreign minister Fu Ying who visited Nepal in late August flew straight to Thimphu and discussed about early establishing diplomatic relations. In fact, China is keen to develop friendly ties with the Himalayan countries that adjoin the South Asian sub-continent. Now China wants to gradually lift Bhutan from Indias firm grips. Bhutan too appears willing to free itself from the Delhis shackles. Bhutan has now a new energetic king who is more assertive than his predecessor Jigme Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Delhis strategy
As Bhutan showed eagerness to fly the India nest, Delhi has to readjust its policy in the region. Keeping the new developments in mind, National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon had a meeting with senior diplomats and security and intelligence officials to work out a new strategy on Bhutan.
It is apprehended that the West, especially USA, might be targeting the soft ground of Bhutan for their larger and geo-strategic aims and objectives, including pitting India against China There are three main ethnic groups in Bhutan - the Sharchops of the east, the Ngalops, descendents of Tibetan immigrants who brought Buddhism to Bhutan and now constitute the main ruling group called Drukpas; and the Lhotshampas, or southern Bhutanese, of Nepali origin.
These ethnic groups could easily be used against one another and gently nudging them on an anti-China path.
With the Wests presence for years among the Lhotshampa community, including those living in refugee camps in Nepal, it may not be very difficult by pumping dollars, make way for the full-blown entry of Christian missionaries and ultimately transform the poor Bhutan into another free Tibet base.
Holiday
Special Correspondent
Landlocked Bhutan, heavily depended on India for supply of essentials from fuel oil to salt, was left high and dry last week. Oil supply from the Indian state of West Bengal was stopped since October 1 triggering a serious crisis. Panic ran high among the people. Worried the administration was assessing how to shed off dependence on India for supply of essentials.
The association of Indian tank lorry drivers went on wildcat strike refusing to transport fuel oil to Bhutan. They demanded release of a driver who was arrested in Bhutan. Rumour spread in the capital Thimphu that oil supply from India will not be available for at least 40 days.
The Indian oil tank driver was arrested for violating law of the country. Driving rash he ran over a seven-year-old boy and fled away. After months when he came to Bhutan again with different identity the driver was arrested. He was fined as compensation to the victims family. But the driver refused to pay. Court summoned the lorry owner who also refused to appear. Finally, the driver had to be released for resumption of supply of fuel oil from India.
Yet the most clear message of all this is how vulnerable we are, with so much dependence on practically everything from salt to fuel The truckers strike perhaps succeeded in sending whatever message was intended, writes daily Kuensel of Bhutan.
Officials in Thimphu viewed that time has come for having diplomatic and trade relations with northern neighbour China so that the country is not overly dependent on a single country. They said Indians thought that they have the monopoly in dealing with Bhutan. But Nepal, also landlocked, had proved wrong their notion. Bhutan should follow what Nepal did.
China connection
Few days ago Bhutan has procured 15 buses from China through international tender to Indias chagrin. Historically and culturally closed to India, Bhutan has long been under the thumb of Delhi by virtue of 1949 friendship treaty. Delhi used to represent Bhutans concerns with China over the border disputes. After gaining UN membership in 1971, Thimphu has been trying to assert itself. It has accepted Taiwan as part of China One China policy. The friendship treaty with India was revised in 2007 with Delhi giving an undertaking to exercise no interference in the internal affairs of Bhutan. But under pressure Bhutan had agreed to be guided by the advice of Indian government in regard to its external relations.
After the UN membership, Bhutan has established diplomatic ties with a number of countries. It is also a founding member of SAARC. But Delhi has so far held up its advice for establishing diplomatic relations with China with which Bhutan has 470 km border. Years ago, Beijing and Thimphu reached an interim agreement to maintain status quo on the border and peace.
Recent reports indicate that India has finally agreed to loosen its grip on Bhutan. Delhi has agreed Bhutans establishing diplomatic and trade relations with China. Chinese vice foreign minister Fu Ying who visited Nepal in late August flew straight to Thimphu and discussed about early establishing diplomatic relations. In fact, China is keen to develop friendly ties with the Himalayan countries that adjoin the South Asian sub-continent. Now China wants to gradually lift Bhutan from Indias firm grips. Bhutan too appears willing to free itself from the Delhis shackles. Bhutan has now a new energetic king who is more assertive than his predecessor Jigme Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck.
Delhis strategy
As Bhutan showed eagerness to fly the India nest, Delhi has to readjust its policy in the region. Keeping the new developments in mind, National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon had a meeting with senior diplomats and security and intelligence officials to work out a new strategy on Bhutan.
It is apprehended that the West, especially USA, might be targeting the soft ground of Bhutan for their larger and geo-strategic aims and objectives, including pitting India against China There are three main ethnic groups in Bhutan - the Sharchops of the east, the Ngalops, descendents of Tibetan immigrants who brought Buddhism to Bhutan and now constitute the main ruling group called Drukpas; and the Lhotshampas, or southern Bhutanese, of Nepali origin.
These ethnic groups could easily be used against one another and gently nudging them on an anti-China path.
With the Wests presence for years among the Lhotshampa community, including those living in refugee camps in Nepal, it may not be very difficult by pumping dollars, make way for the full-blown entry of Christian missionaries and ultimately transform the poor Bhutan into another free Tibet base.
Holiday
