For a person like me who has to be correct always, I would love to see our system a little systematic.
ECB not informing us as desired...lol
Jun 21, 2011
Jun 1, 2011
Anti-Corruption Act 2011
An almost unanimous Act
Only one of the 67 members present in the house voted ‘no’
The only nay sayer
Anti Corruption (Amendment) Bill 31 May, 2011 - Following a brief discussion on the Anti Corruption amendment bill, 2010, Parliament yesterday passed the bill as the Anti Corruption Act 2011.
Of the 67 Parliament members, excluding the speaker, present at the hall, 66 voted ‘yes’ to endorse the bill as an Act.
Penalty Amount involved
Second degree felony more than Nu 1.2M
Third degree felony Nu 1M- Nu 1.2M
Fourth degree felony Nu 540,000-1M
Misdemeanour Nu 252,000-540,000
The only member to vote ‘no’, Chukha assembly representative Ugay Tshering said he voted so because the provisions contained in the amendment bill were more or less similar to those of the previous Act.
Some holding eminent positions in society, who were smart enough to wash the trails of their misdeeds and probably cognisant of the anti-corruption laws, he said, refrained from falling prey to actions that would be deemed corrupt.
“Therefore, there are very few high profile cases,” he said, adding a majority of the Bhutanese caught in corruption cases were common people.
“There is an earnest need for better education for the ordinary people,” he said.
The decision comes after the National Assembly speaker last week asked the joint committee to further review and incorporate necessary changes the members suggested, following the joint committee’s recommendations presented to the house.
While many parliamentarians last week agreed that the fourth degree felony was too harsh a penalty for people caught in small time corruption cases, a majority were for the harshest of sanctions for cases involving misuse of significant amounts of state funds.
Bearing in mind the suggestions from the floor, the joint committee further amended the penalties they had initially recommended in several sections.
Minimum penalty for bribery of various types involving public servants and people in the private sector and issues of embezzlement was reduced to a misdemeanour.
It was a fourth degree felony in the committee’s earlier recommendation.
The maximum penalty, however, in keeping with a majority of the member’s submissions, was increased from third degree felony to second.
It further specifies that second-degree felony would apply in cases where the money involved exceeds Nu 1.2M, or the “total amount of minimum wage at the time of the crime for the period of 35 years”.
The rationale for multiplying a Nu 3,000 monthly minimum wage by 35 years to reach Nu 1.2M was based on section 287 of the country’s penal code.
For a case to be booked under third degree felony, a Parliament member explained the amount involved has to be between more than Nu 1M and Nu 1.2M, and to be classified under fourth degree felony, the amount should be between Nu 540,000 and more than Nu 1M.
For misdemeanour, the amount spells between Nu 252,000 and Nu 540,000 or between a month and three years prison term, instead of three to five years initially.
Bribery cases in bids and contracts, which some members thought was one of the major channels, where the government lost a significant chunk of its borrowed money, the minimum penalty was decided as a fourth degree felony.
Lhuentse’s assembly member Karma Rangdol said, to stop corruption for good in the country, it was of utmost importance that, for big corruption cases, penalties go beyond life imprisonment, if possible.
“That’ll drill some fear into the hearts of people, who will think twice before siphoning off substantial public money,” he said, adding many Bhutanese holding eminent positions misused public funds intelligently to never be nabbed.
“Some of them must be laughing at us, while we deliberate the penalties here today,” he said.
By Samten Wangchuk
Only one of the 67 members present in the house voted ‘no’
The only nay sayer
Anti Corruption (Amendment) Bill 31 May, 2011 - Following a brief discussion on the Anti Corruption amendment bill, 2010, Parliament yesterday passed the bill as the Anti Corruption Act 2011.
Of the 67 Parliament members, excluding the speaker, present at the hall, 66 voted ‘yes’ to endorse the bill as an Act.
Penalty Amount involved
Second degree felony more than Nu 1.2M
Third degree felony Nu 1M- Nu 1.2M
Fourth degree felony Nu 540,000-1M
Misdemeanour Nu 252,000-540,000
The only member to vote ‘no’, Chukha assembly representative Ugay Tshering said he voted so because the provisions contained in the amendment bill were more or less similar to those of the previous Act.
Some holding eminent positions in society, who were smart enough to wash the trails of their misdeeds and probably cognisant of the anti-corruption laws, he said, refrained from falling prey to actions that would be deemed corrupt.
“Therefore, there are very few high profile cases,” he said, adding a majority of the Bhutanese caught in corruption cases were common people.
“There is an earnest need for better education for the ordinary people,” he said.
The decision comes after the National Assembly speaker last week asked the joint committee to further review and incorporate necessary changes the members suggested, following the joint committee’s recommendations presented to the house.
While many parliamentarians last week agreed that the fourth degree felony was too harsh a penalty for people caught in small time corruption cases, a majority were for the harshest of sanctions for cases involving misuse of significant amounts of state funds.
Bearing in mind the suggestions from the floor, the joint committee further amended the penalties they had initially recommended in several sections.
Minimum penalty for bribery of various types involving public servants and people in the private sector and issues of embezzlement was reduced to a misdemeanour.
It was a fourth degree felony in the committee’s earlier recommendation.
The maximum penalty, however, in keeping with a majority of the member’s submissions, was increased from third degree felony to second.
It further specifies that second-degree felony would apply in cases where the money involved exceeds Nu 1.2M, or the “total amount of minimum wage at the time of the crime for the period of 35 years”.
The rationale for multiplying a Nu 3,000 monthly minimum wage by 35 years to reach Nu 1.2M was based on section 287 of the country’s penal code.
For a case to be booked under third degree felony, a Parliament member explained the amount involved has to be between more than Nu 1M and Nu 1.2M, and to be classified under fourth degree felony, the amount should be between Nu 540,000 and more than Nu 1M.
For misdemeanour, the amount spells between Nu 252,000 and Nu 540,000 or between a month and three years prison term, instead of three to five years initially.
Bribery cases in bids and contracts, which some members thought was one of the major channels, where the government lost a significant chunk of its borrowed money, the minimum penalty was decided as a fourth degree felony.
Lhuentse’s assembly member Karma Rangdol said, to stop corruption for good in the country, it was of utmost importance that, for big corruption cases, penalties go beyond life imprisonment, if possible.
“That’ll drill some fear into the hearts of people, who will think twice before siphoning off substantial public money,” he said, adding many Bhutanese holding eminent positions misused public funds intelligently to never be nabbed.
“Some of them must be laughing at us, while we deliberate the penalties here today,” he said.
By Samten Wangchuk
May 19, 2011
Apr 22, 2011
Fun Facts
1. A car traveling at 80 km/h uses half its fuel to overcome wind resistance.
2. Chimps are the only animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror.
3. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
4. Sheryl Crow's two front teeth are fake
5. Martha Stewart became a billionaire while in prison
6. A pound of potato chips costs 200 times more than a pound of potatoes.
7. Agaricus mushrooms are the most common variety prepackaged in supermarkets, available fresh, canned or frozen.
8. Cashew nut shells contain oil that is extremely irritating to human skin.
9. The average office worker spends 50 minutes a day looking for lost files and other items.
10. Onions have no flavor, only a smell.
2. Chimps are the only animals that can recognize themselves in a mirror.
3. Our eyes are always the same size from birth, but our nose and ears never stop growing.
4. Sheryl Crow's two front teeth are fake
5. Martha Stewart became a billionaire while in prison
6. A pound of potato chips costs 200 times more than a pound of potatoes.
7. Agaricus mushrooms are the most common variety prepackaged in supermarkets, available fresh, canned or frozen.
8. Cashew nut shells contain oil that is extremely irritating to human skin.
9. The average office worker spends 50 minutes a day looking for lost files and other items.
10. Onions have no flavor, only a smell.
Apr 13, 2011
Gud Morning
I had a wonderful spritual night. My mind finds peace when ever i find Dzongsar Jamyang Khentse Rimpoche speaking. Having said that I watched IPL as well. So it was a tense night too...and right in the morning I followed Warnie and Elizabeth Hurley on Twitter. Its fun to see celebs tweet like kids. It looks like a good day. Umm at the moment i am compiling my sector report to submit to the 7th session of the 1st Parliament scheduled to be held from 20th of May 2011 and as usual Hon'ble prime minster will be making a state of Nation Report. This year since it also happens to be a mid vision 2020 and completion of Mid term review, the report should capture acheivements on aspirations of vision 2020 besides 10th plan policy objectives..so its a little difficult for me....
Take care and have a good day folks
Take care and have a good day folks
Apr 11, 2011
Weather Report
Wangdue is becoming warmer and warmer. The good thing is we received some early showers. I am reading a book Statistical procedures for Agriculture Research by Gomez and Gomez..Its a nice book and a must read for a researcher. With some flips i m understanding something. Hopefully by the end of the 600 page..I should understand something
Jan 27, 2011
Away
I will be away from my desk the next whole week...I want to spend some quality time with my family...The choku is around and its a good opportunity for all the relatives to gather. After two days of the religious puja, the mood will still be festive and even more wonderful with the Bhutanese New Year around.
Namlo Sar tshe la Tashi Delek...Happy Losar
Warmest Regards
Namlo Sar tshe la Tashi Delek...Happy Losar
Warmest Regards
Rabi Crops
The Rabi crops are growing nicely...except for the seed production of Mustard where it seemed to be affected by Aphids...i might visit Ap Dophus place at sha Palukha may be tomorrow..He is a very progressive farmer i am told and we have a mustard trial at his place....lol
Jan 17, 2011
Fever
I played hours of tennis in the cold winter breeze. I thought it would be good for my body but turned out just to be the opposite. May be I did it so heavily and in that process I caught a very bad fever. For two days I dint know how to behave. The body ached and I was literally bed ridden for two days.
The food lacked taste and my throat pained like hell but even in that process i finished a book. Two states by Chetan Bhagat. I think my throat is comfortable now and I am back to work. will plan my work for the next six months and yeah looking forward to playing tennis again and of course watch the Australian Open with great joy
Good day
The food lacked taste and my throat pained like hell but even in that process i finished a book. Two states by Chetan Bhagat. I think my throat is comfortable now and I am back to work. will plan my work for the next six months and yeah looking forward to playing tennis again and of course watch the Australian Open with great joy
Good day
Jan 10, 2011
M really thinking
I am really thinking, really thinking to shift and thinking if shifting will help me plan and help me in buying a small car
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