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

According to the clause Tha-12 of the Thrimshung Chhenmo which was codified
in 1954, those involved in theft of sacred relics and nangten are punishable by
life imprisonment. The criminals apprehended in this case were those who have
committed repeated crimes. Considering that Tsip Sangchung could not be
apprehended between Thimphu and Phuntsholing, there is an urgent need to start
investigating smaller vehicles at security check posts. They enquired as to what
punishments are being awarded in accordance with the resolutions of the 77th
session.
Although intensive discussions on it were held in the previous sessions of the
Assembly, the theft of nangten have relatively increased. The main reason for this
proportionate increase in theft and vandalism is the leniency shown without
applying the clause Tha-12 of the Thrimshung Chhenmo. If the attitude of the
people has to be improved, there is no other alternative than to enforce both
spiritual and temporal discipline. They pleaded that the law must be strictly
enforced hereafter.
The hon’ble Home Minister reminded that the Assembly members who were
present in the 78th session has had the opportunity to go visit the Punakha Dzong
on June 11, 2000 and receive blessings of the sacred Rangjung Kharsa Pani. The
loss of this invaluable relic within a few months later is an incident that is still
unthinkable not only to the Assembly members but to all the people in the
country.
The loss of this relic was discovered on November 27, 2000, a day after the
arrival of His Holiness the Je Khenpo and the Central Monk Body at Punakha for
their winter residence. The news of the loss shocked and saddened the whole
country for a week.
After a week, on December 3, 2000, the relic was surprisingly found kept in front
of the doorstep of the Dukhang. Its loss and the recovery has been reported by
56