Bhutan is getting ready for its first SAARC Summit

Text and pix by J. Sudath SILVA

The South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was launched in Dhaka in 1985 with the participation of the Kings of Nepal and Bhutan, Presidents of Bangladesh, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and the Prime Minister of India. Subsequent SAARC Summits were held in India in 1986, 1995 and 2007, Nepal in 1987 and 2002, Pakistan in 1988 and 2004, Maldives in 1990 and 1997, Bangladesh in 1993 and 2005 and Sri Lanka in 1991, 1998 and 2008. Afghanistan is the latest member of this South Asian group.

Thimpu City dressing up for Summit

At the conclusion of the successful 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo, Bhutan offered to hold the 16th SAARC Summit in Thimpu on April 28-29, 2010. Currently all the preparations are under way in Thimpu for the proposed Summit. Recently, President Mahinda Rajapaksa as the current Chairman of SAARC has sent a senior official team headed by Presidential Additional secretary and Chief of Staff Gamini Senarath and comprising senior officials of the SAARC Desk of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Bhutan in order to inspect and assist the preparation work for the next Summit. The delegation, arrived at Thimpu airport from New Delhi by Druk Airlines, the official airline of Bhutan, they were received by the Foreign Ministry officials. The delegation held extensive discussions with the officials of the Bhutanese Foreign Ministry on the preparations for the 16th SAARC Summit. The Bhutanese side appealed to Sri Lanka to assist and advise as Sri Lanka has expertise on holding Summit meetings of Heads of States.

After inspecting the Parliament Complex, which is the venue of the Summit, the team discussed the related issues with the hosts. The team also called on the Bhutanese Foreign Minister.

It was noted with satisfaction that Bhutan is taking every possible step to ensure success of the Summit. In addition to renovation of the Parliamentary Complex and existing hotels, several new hotels are being constructed to accommodate Heads of State, Ministers, officials and media personnel attending the Summit.

A Bhutanese official said that the country was proud to host the Summit and would seek assistance from Sri Lanka and other sister nations to ensure it success. He added that the Heads of State of all the eight countries, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Nepal have already confirmed participation.

Bhutan is an extremely beautiful Kingdom situated amidst high rise mountains. This country with area of 38,394 square kilometres has a population of 700,000 of whom the vast majority are Buddhists. The Kingdom is further beautified by several hill top monasteries and temples.

Bhutan was a monarchy until 2008 and in that year it has adopted a parliamentary form of democratic governing system. While the King is the Head of State, the Government is headed by a Prime Minister. In a 45-seat Parliament the ruling PCB has 45 seats and the Opposition has only two seats. The Cabinet comprises 10 Ministers and the ministries are headed by Secretaries. The Cabinet Secretary is the Head of the Bhutanese bureaucracy. The country has been divided into 20 districts with administrative offices in each of them. Bhutan has a 19,000 strong public service.

The per capita income of Bhutan is US $ 700. Its main revenue comes from export of excess electricity and export of agricultural products, dolomite and cement to India and Bangladesh. Tourism also brings in foreign exchange to the country. Bhutan also exports agricultural products and fruit and vegetables to several countries including Japan. Its main imports are rice, cloth, vehicles and food products from India and Bangladesh. Bhutan has an Election Commission headed by a Commissioner with two Deputy Commissioners. It has also a Commission of Bribery and Corruption. The King as well as the Buddhist Monks have no political role and they do not even have voting rights. Thus they remain above politics with respect and honour.

Additional Secretary to President Gamini Senarath with Bhutan's Foreign Ministry officials at a discussion

Bhutan had four Kings in the past and the current fifth ruler is King Jigme Khesar Namgyd Wangchuk who is 30 years. His father was King Jigme Singye Wangchuk who abdicated in his son's favour. King Wangchuk has four wives and all them are sisters from a single family. Bhutanese people consider the King as a descendent of the God.

Thimpu, the capital is a beautiful city and its beauty is heightened by the river Pachi which flows right through the city. The entire city is tobacco free as the Government had banned smoking. However, there are liquor shops all over the city.

The tourist season starts in April and Bhutan issues only limited visas to tourists, that too only to group tourists. Each tourist has to spend at least US $ 250 per day. The annual tourist arrival is around 20,000.

The SAARC Summit of April 28-29 will be preceded by the Foreign Secretaries meeting and the Foreign Minsters meeting from April 23. In addition to the eight Heads of State, Bhutan expects about 450 delegates and media personnel to attend the Summit. Furthermore several nations such as the European Union, Korea, Myanmar, Australia, Mauritius and Iran are attending as Observers. The national carrier Druk Air has started direct flights to Thimpu from New Delhi, Dhaka, Kathmandu and Kolkatta for the Summit.

The authorities are making preparations to offer media facilities to more than 150 media personnel expected to cover the Summit.

The officials assured us that the King, Prime Minister, Ministers, members of Parliament and officials are all involved in one way or another to ensure the success of the 16th SAARC Summit. They have expressed their gratitude to President Mahinda Rajapaksa for sending a senior delegation headed by Gamini Senarath to advise and assist the preparations for the Thimpu Summit.

The 16th SAARC Summit will be of special significance to many of the delegates as this would be their first visit to this mountain paradise.