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Mizzima: Bhutan imposes restriction
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Bhutan imposes restrictions on trade by Indians
By Our Correspondent
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
Samdrup Jongkhar (BHUTAN), Nov. 22: Hundreds of people engaged in trade
in Samdrup Jonkhar, Bhutan, will have to leave the country shortly. The
Royal Government has issued notices to shops and business establishments
to lay off non-Bhutanese employees immediately. The notices issued on
20 October said: "Shop owners presently employing non-Bhutanese workers
are hereby ordered lay them off. Failure to do so will be persecuted by
the authorities with cancellation of licences without further notice".
The situation in the Samdrup Jongkhar border district of the Himalayan
kingdom has been tense in the wake of the Royal Government?s move.
Indians who dominate trade in the area are left disillusioned after
having run their business for the last 20 years. "The Royal Government
wants to drive away the Indians", said a group of Indian businessmen.
They also alleged that the Bhutanese government has started harassing
Indians without reason.
The move by the Royal Government is likely to affect the relations
between the two countries, the traders said. Although the traders
accuse the Bhutanese Government of using tactics to drive out Indians,
the current measures have reportedly been initiated for the safety of
the Bhutanese people who have become a soft target to militants
operating in the area.
During the last couple of years several Bhutanese people were killed by
militants. It is for this reason that the Royal government has now
restricted people?s movement. Regardless of the problems in the area,
the Indians said they could not return to India, leaving flourishing
business behind.
Cross-border trade between India and Bhutan has been affected. The
Samdrup Jongkhar area, which was once a major trading point between
India and Bhutan, is plagued by militancy, forcing several businessmen
to pack in. "The situation is volatile. Considering the gravity of the
situation the Bhutanese government should revoke its order", said Dorge
Wangshee and Thinley, two businessmen fearing that the government?s move
would affect relations between the countries. They also appealed to the
government to remove the restrictions in order to allow for a smooth
flow of business. The people residing nearby areas have also expressed
astonishment over the alleged anti-Indian policy adopted by the Royal
government saying this would lead to serious problem among the people
residing in the area. Yet the government?s restrictions seem not wholly
unjustified in view of militancy witnessed in the Samdrup Jonkahar area
over the past several years.
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<center><b><font color="#3333FF"><font size=+2>Bhutan imposes restrictions
on trade by Indians</font></font></b></center>
<p><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>By Our Correspondent</font></font>
<br><font color="#FF0000"><font size=+1>Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)</font></font>
<p><font size=+1><b><i>Samdrup Jongkhar (BHUTAN), Nov. 22</i></b>:
Hundreds of people engaged in trade in Samdrup Jonkhar, Bhutan, will have
to leave the country shortly. The Royal Government has issued notices
to shops and business establishments to lay off non-Bhutanese employees
immediately. The notices issued on 20 October said: "Shop owners
presently employing non-Bhutanese workers are hereby ordered lay them off.
Failure to do so will be persecuted by the authorities with cancellation
of licences without further notice".</font>
<p><font size=+1>The situation in the Samdrup Jongkhar border district
of the Himalayan kingdom has been tense in the wake of the Royal Government?s
move. Indians who dominate trade in the area are left disillusioned after
having run their business for the last 20 years. "The Royal Government
wants to drive away the Indians", said a group of Indian businessmen. They
also alleged that the Bhutanese government has started harassing Indians
without reason.</font>
<p><font size=+1>The move by the Royal Government is likely to affect the
relations between the two countries, the traders said. Although the
traders accuse the Bhutanese Government of using tactics to drive out Indians,
the current measures have reportedly been initiated for the safety of the
Bhutanese people who have become a soft target to militants operating in
the area.</font>
<p><font size=+1>During the last couple of years several Bhutanese people
were killed by militants. It is for this reason that the Royal government
has now restricted people?s movement. Regardless of the problems in the
area, the Indians said they could not return to India, leaving flourishing
business behind.</font>
<p><font size=+1>Cross-border trade between India and Bhutan has been affected.
The Samdrup Jongkhar area, which was once a major trading point between
India and Bhutan, is plagued by militancy, forcing several businessmen
to pack in. "The situation is volatile. Considering the gravity of
the situation the Bhutanese government should revoke its order", said Dorge
Wangshee and Thinley, two businessmen fearing that the government?s move
would affect relations between the countries. They also appealed to the
government to remove the restrictions in order to allow for a smooth flow
of business. The people residing nearby areas have also expressed astonishment
over the alleged anti-Indian policy adopted by the Royal government saying
this would lead to serious problem among the people residing in the area.
Yet the government?s restrictions seem not wholly unjustified in view of
militancy witnessed in the Samdrup Jonkahar area over the past several
years.</font>
<br>
<p> </html>
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