Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Lower Pemakoe,Tsangla

According to Timotheu A.Bodt’s book “The new lamp Clarifying the History, Peoples’ Languages And Traditions of Eastern Bhutan and Eastern Mon” In the late 19th century the Kanam Depa introduced taxation in Pemakoe in exchanged for protection from Lopa attacks .The taxes were collected in kind,as rice , cotton, cloth, money,butter and pelts but also as compulsory labour service to transport and guide all travelers authorized by the government. Ironically, after having fled oppression and taxation in their homeland, the Tsangla were now faced a similar situation.As resources in the area were scare ,agricultural practices poor,internal strife rampant and the area isolated and difficult to access, the practice of marauding and stealing became widespread.Therefore, the Kanam Depa appointed Dzongpons in lower Pemakoe to collect tax and enforce the law.The first dzongpon was a Tsangla from Ngatsang clan called Nono la.During his rule from [1881-1883] the Lopa tribes revolted and led by the leader of herdsmen Droma Wangdii they defeated Nono la who committed suicide whilst waiting settlement of the dispute in captivity.After that, the return tax for lopa was limited to axes and wool.Execpt for two, all the 12 dzongpons that were appointed by the Kanam Depa between 1884-1916 were local Tsangla .The Pemakoe area was divided in upper and lower Pemakoe,the “Polung ma bu drug “ and Lower Pemakoe or [Mon Tso Khag Nga] five divisions of Mon; Namely, Tambu Tso, Hora Tso,Bipung Tso,Sakar Tso, Tangam Tso.