No world leader of today or in
future can match His Majesty the Fourth King’s leadership in safe guarding the
security of its own country.
His Majesty led his army to
fight highly equipped and trained Indian militants, which far out numbered the
Bhutanese army. These dangerous militants were even dreaded by the Indian Army.
They were after them for more than a decade without any result but suffered
heavy casualties. His Majesty the Great Fourth overpowered them within three
days after launch of "Operation All Clear."
His Majesty was leading from
the front and he devised all detailed war strategy on hourly basis, which was
executed in precision manner by the brave troops.
Other world leaders only
talks and know only how to create conflicts. They can't fight physically like
our King. I challenge if there is one. They are fully dependent on their
military personnel and Hi-tech war equipment.
"I will not stay in the capital and give orders. I
hold the responsibility of safeguarding the security and independence of our
nation. I am here today, to look after the safety and welfare of our soldiers,
because I worry from the heart for you are all like my own children. This is my
true responsibility."
- The Great Fourth, Deothang, 2003.
LONG LIVE HIS MAJESTY THE KING
The below is an article
that give some insight written by Tenzing Lamsang/Thimphu, the Bhutanese
November 7, 2015.
“The militants matched us
almost evenly in manpower and weapons but we had His Majesty the Fourth
King”:
- Goonglen
Batoo Tshering
The 2003 Operation All
Clear was one of the most important moments in Bhutanese history as the Royal
Bhutan Army; led by His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo removed 32 militant
camps from Bhutanese soil.
The Chief Operations
Officer (COO) of the RBA, Goonglen Batoo Tshering was one of the officers who
took part in the 2003 operations starting from 1997, when he was sent as a
Colonel by His Majesty the Fourth King to raise a Command center in
Dewathang.
The command center played
an important role in strengthening and preparing the Bhutanese forces in the
southern parts of Bhutan for the 2003 operations.
“I was very honored and
fortunate to be picked up by His Majesty to coordinate and train the Royal
Bhutan Armed forces in Dewathang to prepare for the Operations,” said Goonglen
Batoo Tshering.
The initial group sent to
the command center consisted of 8 officers and 200 soldiers under the command
of Batoo Tshering.
The Command center
eventually consisted of around five wings including one wing from the Royal
Body Guards.
“The instructions
from His Majesty were so professional and simple that every officer and soldier
knew exactly what we were supposed to do, where we were supposed to go and at
what time we were supposed to move, in the 2003 Operations,” said the
COO.
“All the inputs for the
Operation were from His Majesty who always made simple plans that were never
complicated,” said the COO.
The Goonglen said, “Even
the 11 casualties could have been avoided if we had followed His Majesty’s
instructions to the full.”
His Majesty’s plans
were not based on theories but a detailed study of the potential battle zones
and in also understanding the opponents.
The COO said that
starting from 2000 to 2003 His Majesty the Fourth King personally visited each
and every inch of ground from the West to the East in all the areas where the
Operations were to be launched.
“His Majesty grew up as a
prince and would not be used to travelling in extremely rugged terrain but His
Majesty travelled through the toughest areas on foot where no vehicles could
go,” said the Goonglen.
The travels entailed
roughing it out and sleeping in the forest or if they were luckier, then remote
local schools.
Since long distances had
to be covered, including over rugged mountains, sometimes, the food carried was
not adequate, and His Majesty even had to sleep hungry or without adequate
food.
The travels also had an element
of danger as the militant camps and militants were in the same area.
His Majesty was taking
such pains in familiarizing himself with the potential battlefield to get a
first-hand account of what His Majesty’s soldiers would be facing.
“As far as we were
concerned His Majesty was putting in so much effort to study the ground and
also the habits of the militants to reduce the risks for our soldiers to a
minimum,” said Goonglen.
The Goonglen stated that
the Royal Bhutan Armed forces faced a strong opponent in the militants.
The Goonglen pointed out
that the militants had plenty of experience in fighting one of the world’s
largest armed forces in the form of the battle hardened and mighty Indian
forces.
In such a conflict the
common international military strategy was to have one to 10 numerical
superiority which Bhutan’s armed forces did not have.
“Even though the
militants matched us almost evenly in manpower and weapons, if not better, we
had the advantage of His Majesty the Fourth King leading us,” said the
Goonglen.
His Majesty’s
contribution in addition to providing leadership and laying out the military
plans and strategies was also in providing a tremendous moral boost and being a
force multiplier by leading from the front.
Given the thorough
planning of His Majesty, the operations were over in two days and another seven
days was spent in mopping up operations.
After the operations His
Majesty immediately showed a compassionate side. The Goonglen said, "His
Majesty commanded that the militants who are injured should be given priority
over our own soldiers. Captured militants were given proper food and
care."
In response to a question
on the main changes brought about by His Majesty the Fourth King to the armed
forces, the Goonglen said, “To be honest, initially our own people did not have
confidence in our armed forces. It was the sheer leadership provided by His
Majesty the Fourth King and the organizational reforms and infrastructure
brought in by His Majesty that today we not only enjoy the respect and
confidence of our people and the RGoB but also enjoy the respect of other
countries.”
The Goonglen said that
currently under His Majesty the King the image of the RBA had been further
enhanced as the RBA was also engaged in many disaster response activities and
its professional aspects were being further strengthened.
He said there have been
further reforms by His Majesty the King in terms of training and equipment to
be ready for any emergency, including dealing with natural calamities. The
Goonglen also pointed out the role of the RBA had also been further enhanced as
it was taking part in international United Nations peacekeeping
operations.
“The RBA had a very
positive image all due to His Majesty the Fourth King and His Majesty the
King,” said the Goonglen.
Courtesy: The Bhutanese
