E/CN.4/1995/91 page 25 Resolution adopted during the Thirtieth Session of the National Assembly of Bhutan held on 27 May 1969 corresponding to the 11th day, 4th month of the earth bird year 19. Matters relating to the reincarnation of foreign lamas in Bhutan Bhutan being a Buddhist country, it was apprehended that in future many Tibetan lamas may reincarnate in Bhutan. In order to avoid embarrassment, the Assembly noted that if any Tibetan lama reincarnated in Bhutan, those coming to recognize the reincarnation should report the matter to the Government and be accompanied by representatives of the monk bodies, two government officials, and the village headman of the village where the birth took place, to carry out the following tests: (i) (ii) The reincarnated lama (Trulku), between 3 to 5 years of age, should be able to recount details of his previous life. He should be able to identify items of his personal possession in the previous life from many similar objects. If the Trulku was found to be genuine, and decided to leave the country with those recognizing him, he would forfeit his citizenship on the very day he left the country. In the event that his parents desired to visit the Trulku and return thereafter, they were to obtain the necessary permission from local Dzongda. If the Trulku wished to return to Bhutan, he would be required to obtain a permit like any other foreigner entering the country. He would be permitted to stay at the place of his birth, but he would neither be permitted to introduce any new religious system nor to set up any new monastery or monk body. Trulkus desiring to stay in Bhutan and wishing to join the monk body would be governed by the rules and regulations of the country’s monk body. Proceedings and resolutions of the Seventy-first Session of the National Assembly of Bhutan 12. Ban on Christianity The people’s representative of Chirang Dzongkhag requested the National Assembly to ban Christianity in Bhutan and that people already converted should be stopped from practising the religion. They said that Christianity was spreading in Chirang and becoming a serious problem. Bhutan being a small country should not have too many religions. Buddhism and Hinduism which were the two recognized religions of the country were brother religions. The introduction of other religions would create serious social problems. Already family strife was taking place due to differences of religious beliefs among family members. The people’s representatives said that they had heard that many emigrants who had left Bhutan and gone to the camps in Jhapa, Nepal were being converted to Christianity with incentives of Rs.500/- and assurances of further rewards. Word was being spread in Chirang that potential emigrants should convert to Christianity so that it would be convenient for them when they arrived in Jhapa.