His Majesty honours, among others, the armed forces
« Their Majesties with Dasho Ugen Chewang (second from left) and Dasho Ugen Dorji (fifth from left)
Auditor general and former speaker receive red scarves
National Day His Majesty the King honoured the armed forces, a senior government official, a prominent businessman, a freelance driver and the Bhutanese media during the national day celebrations in Thimphu on December 17.
The armed forces received the Order of the Druk Wangyel for always protecting the nation’s security and sovereignty. His Majesty said the armed forces brave the harshest of conditions in securing nation’s borders – from Jomotshangkha in the east to Tendu in the west along the southern border, and from Lharigang in the west to Tobrang in the east along the northern border. They also served the people in the aftermath of the major earthquakes of 2009 and 2011, as well as numerous other natural and man-made disasters.
His Majesty conferred the red scarf (bura marp) to the auditor general Ugen Chewang for his constant effort since his appointment to the civil service in 1979, for his effort to build a strong audit authority, and for the confidence and strength that this award will bestow upon him, so that he might shoulder his responsibilities without fear or favour.
“I’m humbled with this honour,” Dasho Ugen Chewang said. “When His Majesty conferred Nyikelm to me, I was thinking of my colleagues along with me, who had given so much effort in the RAA,” he said. “It’s the recognition of the institution and colleagues who are dedicated and committed to serve the nation.”
“My biggest challenge, as an auditor general, is to take decisions without prejudice, fear and favour,” said Dasho Ugen Chewang. He became the auditor general in 2006 and was re-appointed as a constitutional head in July 2010. He conceptualised and formulated national pension and provident fund schemes for both civil servants and armed forces when he was the director of National Pension and Provident Fund from 2000 to 2006.
His Majesty also conferred red scarf to prominent businessman, Ugen Dorji, former speaker of the National Assembly, in recognition of his service to the private sector as president of the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry for 17 years, and to the government as deputy speaker and Speaker for seven years. He also served during the reign of the Third and Fourth Druk Gyalpos.
“It’s a special moment for me that I’ll cherish throughout my life,” Dasho Ugen Dorji, 68, said.
Explaining the significance of red scarf and patang, His Majesty said that, conferring of bura marps should not make the recipient or the people feel that it is the conferring of an exalted position in society. “In our spiritual nation, the bura marp signifies the robes of the Buddha. This means that those who wear it must serve the people with compassion, justice and integrity. The patang is a symbol of the will of the person wearing it, to sacrifice his own life in the protection of the people and nation.”
Tashi Dawa, freelance driver from Pemagatshel, was also honoured with the Order of Merit (silver) for his integrity and honesty in returning Nu 9.382 million he had found to the rightful owner. “For his selflessness, as a husband and father of three children with a salary of Nu 7,000 a month, he returned an amount that would have sustained him for over 111 years,” His Majesty said.
Tashi Dawa, 37, from Dungmin, Pemagatshel found the bag lying next to his vehicle in a parking lot in Paro on November 10. After waiting for half an hour, and no one coming back to claim the bag, he took it home, but returned it the next day, after seeing a notification on a local cable channel, he returned it to the Bank of Bhutan (BoB). In return for his honesty, he received a Nu 400,000 reward.
His Majesty also awarded the Order of Merit (gold) to the Bhutanese media for the efforts made, in spite of their lack of resources and experience, in carrying out their duties, especially in keeping people well informed and in encouraging debate and participation. The 11 media houses included TV, radio and print media
Source: kuenselonline