1 TRANSLATION OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND ... - APFA News

must promote amongst our youth a sense of commitment to shoulder the sacred
responsibility of serving the country in its hour of need, said the Minister.
These days there are many unemployed youth loitering around aimlessly in the
towns without work. He said that it should be the responsibility of the elders
and senior members of our society to guide and advise our youth to join the
army and serve the nation when it is facing a serious security threat. He said
that it was very important that the National Assembly discuss this matter very
seriously and draw up mechanisms as to how the people of Bhutan at all levels
can support the army in safeguarding the security of the country.
The people’s representatives of Zhemgang, Haa and Samtse Dzongkhags
submitted that, as pointed out by His Majesty the King, there was a difference
between regular soldiers and militia volunteers. As such there was no need to
focus the discussion on the issue of regular recruits for the armed forces. They
said that militia volunteers are people who come forward to safeguard the
security of the country in difficult times, fully prepared to undergo hardships
and sacrifice their lives if necessary. Once the Dzongkhags have sent their
volunteers to the RBA Headquarters it is the responsibility of the army to ensure
they stay with them. It is true that nobody likes to go to war nor do people look
forward to losing their lives. If soldiers are granted Kidu when they request for
it and those who desert are not punished there will not be many people who
will enlist and remain in the army. At a time when the country is facing a
difficult security problem, it is necessary to raise a militia force to support the
regular army. If required, even those men who have crossed the age limit were
prepared to come forward and join the militia force to further enhance the
strength of the armed forces and safeguard the security of the country.
Out of the total population of over 600,000 in the country, about 100,000 or so
were students and civil servants or members of the business community and
monastic bodies. Although the Bhutanese population is very small, this is not
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