Bhutan on its New Year’s way (Kuensel)
29 December, 2007 - On January 1, Bhutan will receive its New Year’s gift - 15 elected people’s representatives to the National Council following Bhutan’s historic parliamentary elections.

Bhutan ready for historic parliamentary polls (IANS via Yahoo! India News)
Thimphu, Dec 28 (IANS) The transition from a 100-year-old monarchy to democracy in Bhutan would begin Dec 30 with voting for the National Council, or upper house, which will make up the first phase of parliamentary elections.

Bhutan ready for historic parliamentary polls (EARTHtimes.org)
Thimphu, Dec 28 - The transition from a 100-year-old monarchy to democracy in Bhutan would begin Dec 30 with voting for the National Council, or upper house, which will make up the first phase of parliamentary elections.

Bhutan’s brush with democracy begins Monday (IANS via Yahoo! India News)
Thimphu, Dec 29 (IANS) Bhutan is all set for Monday’s historic parliamentary elections, the Himalayan kingdom making its first big leap towards democracy by shedding a 100-year-old monarchy.

Bhutan’s brush with democracy begins Monday (EARTHtimes.org)
Thimphu, Dec 29 - Bhutan is all set for Monday’s historic parliamentary elections, the Himalayan kingdom making its first big leap towards democracy by shedding a 100-year-old monarchy.

Border to be sealed ahead of Bhutan polls (The Times of India)
The Bhutan-India border will be sealed for 36 hours during the National Council polls in the Himalayan country slated for December 31.

Bhutanese monk sets himself afire in Bodh Gaya (Khaleej Times)
PATNA — A Bhutanese monk immolated himself in front of the Bodh Gaya temple in Bihar, police said yesterday. James Lamo, a Bhutanese monk in his mid-70s, set himself on fire on Thursday night in front of Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, about 110km from here.

Bhutanese monk sets himself afire in Bodh Gaya (IANS via Yahoo! India News)
Patna, Dec 28 (IANS) A Bhutanese monk immolated himself in front of the Bodh Gaya temple in Bihar, police said Friday.

Bhutanese monk sets himself afire in Bodh Gaya (Calcutta News)
A Bhutanese monk immolated himself in front of the Bodh Gaya temple in Bihar, police said Friday. James Lamo, a Bhutanese monk in his mid-70s, set himself on fire Thursday night in front of Mahabodhi temple in Bodh Gaya, about 110 km from here.

Bhutanese monk sets himself afire in Bodh Gaya (EARTHtimes.org)
Patna, Dec 28 - A Bhutanese monk immolated himself in front of the Bodh Gaya temple in Bihar, police said Friday.

Some year-end thoughts
29 December, 2007 - We started 2007 with a royal visit to India and the signing of the updated India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, symbolizing a new era of political stability. We end the year with the first stage of our parliamentary elections. In between we had much to talk about and much more to think about.

Bhutan on its New Year’s way
29 December, 2007 - On January 1, Bhutan will receive its New Year’s gift - 15 elected people’s representatives to the National Council following Bhutan’s historic parliamentary elections.

“Voters” leaving in droves

Prayers and spas before polls

29 December, 2007 - The Election Commission’s plea to the public to refrain from going on pilgrimage at this time of year as it clashes with the dates set for the National Council election, December 31, seems to have fallen on deaf years.

TV debates: The Importance Of Being Witnessed
29 December, 2007 - The recent National Council debates aired on BBS were remarkable for a lot of things, say observers. For one, it was boring. Second, it was not how debates are conducted. High school debates have been far more engaging.

Setting the (land) record straight
29 December, 2007 - Bhutan’s total geographical area is 38,394 sq km, according to the Office of International Boundaries, of which the total protected area, including biological corridors, is almost 40 percent.

Bhutan national inter-club/dzongkhag taekwondo

29 December, 2007 - Haa club won Nu 10,000 as champions of the Bhutan national inter-club/dzongkhag taekwondo tournament held in Phuentsholing from 24-26 December this year. This is the club’s third consecutive title. The 23-member club won 7 gold, 6 silver and 7 bronze medals. Teams from 11 dzongkhags took part in the tournament.

Complainants to be questioned
29 December, 2007 - Days after the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa supporters in Mongar withdrew their complaint against the NC candidate, Pema Tenzin, the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) has asked election officials in Mongar to question the complainants about putting up a written complaint and withdrawing it the next week.

No holiday for 5 dzongkhags
29 December, 2007 - December 31, polling day for the National Council election, will not be a public holiday for Thimphu, Haa, Gasa, Lhuentse and Trashiyangtse dzongkhags, where the election has been postponed, according to election officials.

The National Council
28 December, 2007 - On the eve of the National Council elections what do we look forward to? Not much. it seems.

Villagers suffering from “meeting-fatigue”

A line of farmers for a string of meetings

28 December, 2007 - The idyllic settings of rural Bhutan often belie the busy and hard life that villagers live day in and day out.

Take, for example, farmer Tshering Dem, 37, of Sopsukha village in Punakha. She has to tend to eight cows, a five-langdo pekar (mustard-green) field and three very young children, among other daily chores. When she is not threshing paddy, she sells oranges by the wayside.

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