The Bhutanese Leading the way.
In a recent briefing session with reporters it was let known by the National Assembly Secretariat that they should not disturb ministers with queries when they are heading for their snack and lunch breaks in between the sessions.
To be fair this is not a new request but was also attempted by the previous NA Secretariat.
The implications of this are far reaching.
Journalists who often cannot meet ministers, due to their busy schedule, use the breaks as an opportunity to catch up with them with public queries mostly related to the Parliament proceedings.
The ministers now or in the past are generally accessible and do not have a problem with being approached.
Therefore, it is puzzling that the NA would make such a request. This is yet another nail in the tightening of access to information.
Even, the monthly meet-the-press in the past was a much freer flowing affair, but it now feels like a mechanical exercise with questions having to be submitted well in advance and only one question allowed per reporter with no chances to ask supplementary questions or more questions.
The latest development is journalists who were 3 to 5 minutes late to the press conference, including from this paper, being criticized multiple times by the Prime Minister who even linked it to larger national issues.
The PM is free to do that with his Cabinet Ministers who are even asked to not attend meetings if they are a bit late, but he should not mistake journalists as cabinet ministers or his employees in the PMO.
In the past, journalists have waited for long stretches of time for ministers to show up for the monthly press meet including in the tenure of the second government.
Not extending the courtesy the other way without any warning comes as a jolt.
Bhutan in many ways is in the modern era but a lot of our mindset is still stuck in the 17th century.
It is amazing to see how even modern and open-minded people immediately turn into feudal lords fit for a Bhutanese version of the Shogun show.
The old days of officials scolding, exerting excessive power and acting like feudal lords are gone, and if people are not mindful it might well backfire.
Equality is the soul of liberty; there is, in fact, no liberty without it.
Frances Wright