(Update): The Cabinet had to “surrender” the three government Secretaries for the greater good of the country, according to the Economic Affairs Minister, Norbu Wangchuk.
The three Secretaries; Dasho Penden Wangchuk, the Cabinet Secretary, Dasho Sonam Tshering, the Economic Affairs Secretary and Yeshey Dorji, the Foreign Secretary were “surrendered” to the Royal Civil Service Commission with immediate effect, today.
“The Secretaries, as the members of Committee of Secretaries had taken unilateral decisions,” said Lyonpo Norbu Wangchuk, in a press conference, this evening.
The Committee of Secretaries (CoS) has 11 members.
The Minister said the Secretaries had written a letter, almost demanding the Indian government’s intervention, to resolve corruption charges related to hydropower sector, especially the appointment of Bhutan Ventures Trading as an agent for Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited (BHEL).
“The Cabinet was alarmed to discover a letter sent by the CoS to the Government of India.”
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Lyonpo said the letter demanded the Indian government take ENERTIA, an Indian publication, to the task for writing articles of corruption charges against a senior Bhutanese official, Dasho Sonam Tshering.
According to the article in the journal, Bharat Heavy Electrical Limited and Bhutan Ventures Trading had struck a deal under which the latter will receive a commission of 1.5 to 1.8 percent for supply of electro-mechanical equipment to Punatsangchhu II and Mangdechhu projects.
BHEL, as a government company, is reportedly not authorised to nominate agents.
“The government is deeply concerned about the language and the tone, the letter had carried.” He said it could potentially dampen the good relations Bhutan and India share.
The letter also demonstrates how the CoS had kept the government in the dark without letting any ministers know about the decision or the evolution to the decision, according to the Minister.
He said the decision of the CoS was arrived over deliberations of four meetings over two months. “The government feels deeply let down because over the two months CoS had not informed the government, leave alone consult.”
Lyonpo also said they had made it clear that they will not ask the Indian government to intervene until the facts of the matter, over the corruption charges, have been established.
He said the government had decided not investigate or instruct an investigation into the matter without completing the due diligence. “…Because, first of all, the fact of matter needs to be collaborated and established…”
Lyonpo said they had made their stand clear to the media, society and the bureaucracy. He said, yet contrary to the position of the government, the CoS had gone ahead and taken matter in their hands.
“The government is worried that such an action could constitute running a parallel government.”
The Minister said the CoS will be discontinued until a task force reviews the need and the protocol of the CoS.
BBS could not get through to two of the Secretaries despite repeated efforts and one said he has no comment.
