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

however, be in our interest to endorse the signed minutes and postpone military
action for the time being, he said.
The Chairman of the Royal Advisory Council informed the members that since
the responsibility of the country’s sovereignty and security had been reposed in
His Majesty the King, talks with militants leaders were held on the directives of
His Majesty and the results were also duly reported. The agreed minutes signed
during the recent meeting with the ULFA leaders was possible because of the
wisdom and guidance of His Majesty the King.
In keeping with the guidance given by His Majesty the King, we have always
impressed upon the militants the serious problem created for Bhutan by their
presence in our territory, he said. Their continued presence posed a grave
security threat to Bhutan and would undermine the excellent state of Indo-
Bhutan relations as well as disrupt the implementation of the socio-economic
development plans and programmes in the country.
The militants were told that their continued presence was a matter of deep
concern to His Majesty the King and the Bhutanese people. He said that it
would do no harm for the Assembly to endorse the agreed minutes of the
meeting with the ULFA leaders and decide to act in accordance with the
provisions of the minutes and its implementation by the ULFA.
A Royal Advisory Councillor, the representative of the BCCI, and the Chimis
of Trashigang and Punakha Dzongkhags said that it would be a good idea to
wait and see what happens until the expiry of the deadline given in the agreed
minutes. They said that the main reason for the heated debate on this issue over
the past two days is the doubts felt by the members that the militants might defy
the Government and people of Bhutan by violating the provisions of the
agreement. If such an eventuality takes place then the Bhutanese people would
have to come together in unity and strength behind the traditional call of
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