Bhutan says all refugees are not Bhutanese (Nepalnews. com)
Bhutan has questioned the identity of Bhutanese refugees taking asylum in Nepal stating that all those registered in the camps are originally not Bhutanese.

Bhutan opposition resigns amid vote row (TODAYonline)
A Bhutanese voter wears a badge commemorating the country’s first elections as he lines up outside a polling station in Kabesa,on the outskirts of Thimphu, on March 24. Bhutan’s first week as the world’s newest democracy has been marred by the resignation of its opposition amid allegations of foul-play in historic elections that ended a century of absolute monarchy.

In Bhutan, Tibetan refugees yearn to join protests (Reuters via Yahoo! News)
In a remote corner of the Himalayas, a small Tibetan refugee community felt helpless as it watched protests erupt all over the world against Chinese rule in their homeland. For in the tiny Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, ethnically, culturally and linguistically close to its giant northern neighbor Tibet, demonstrations are not allowed. Young Tibetans were even reluctant to give their names for …

Opposition seeks probe after Bhutan’s historic poll (IANS via Yahoo! India News)
Thimphu, March 31 (IANS) The first visible signs of protest and anguish over Bhutan’s transition from monarchy to democracy has been made public with the embattled People’s Democratic Party (PDP) hinting that last week’s historic parliamentary elections was not fair.

Even after polls for change, Bhutanese keep faith in king (Gulf Times)
THIMPHU : Bhutan’s century old monarchy may be on the way out, but the 28-year-old king will continue to wield considerable influence in shaping his Himalayan nation’s future policies if the results of the historic parliamentary election this week are any guide.

Bhutan: The World’s Youngest Democracy (The Globalist)
The last time a monarch abdicated power to make way for democracy was in 1932, when Thai King Rama VII gave up the throne. To some, the recently held elections in Bhutan signal the dawn of a new future for the nation. But, as author Aim Sinpeng argues, the change might just be for appearances’ sake.

In Bhutan, Tibetan refugees yearn to join protests (Boston Globe)
In a remote corner of the Himalayas, a small Tibetan refugee community felt helpless as it watched protests erupt all over the world against Chinese rule in their homeland. For in the tiny Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan, ethnically, culturally and linguistically close to its giant northern neighbor Tibet, demonstrations are not allowed. Young Tibetans were even reluctant to give their …

Indian experts begin consultation on Bhutanese refugee issue (Nepalnews. com)
Amidst two important incidents – third country resettlement of Bhutanese refugees and Bhutan’s transition to democracy through recent elections – Indian experts have begun discussion on the protracted issue of Bhutanese refugees on Monday.

Bhutan’s democracy experiment (BBC News)
Bhutan is praised for the orderly staging of its first ever parliamentary election - but the new government faces big challenges. Chris Morris reports.

In Bhutan, Tibetan refugees yearn to join protests (Reuters via Yahoo!Xtra News)
HONGTSHO, Bhutan (Reuters) - In a remote corner of the Himalayas, a small Tibetan refugee community felt helpless as it watched protests erupt all over the world against Chinese rule in their homeland.

Bhutan becomes the world’s youngest democracy
1 April, 2008 - Bhutan has become the youngest member in the club of parliamentary democracies. The peaceful elections on March 24 marked a key turning point in the smooth transition from monarchy to democracy. With the success of this historic process, the Bhutanese people have fulfilled the vision of the “father of democracy” the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

On the green weekend ritual

31 March, 2008 - With the regular vendors and sellers gone home to cast their ballot in the National Assembly election, Thimphu’s dusty vegetable market had little to offer last weekend.

The Tomorrow Syndrome
31 March, 2008 - Hey, procrastinator: Don’t you dare bookmark this to read later:

In 1956, George Armitage Miller, a professor of psychology at Princeton University wrote a paper entitled, The Magical Number Seven, Plus or Minus Two. He had discovered that people can only focus on five to nine things at a time — anything beyond this has to be held in the unconscious mind. For most of us, it would be a dream come true if we only had to focus on five — or even nine — things!

Ten questions

31 March, 2008 - Thinley Om, 37, from Phuentsholing is a vegetable vendor at the Thimphu
vegetable market. She spends about three days at the market.

1. When do you open and close the shop?
We open by Thursday afternoon and close late in the evening on Sunday.

The National Council is complete

His Majesty’s five eminent appointees to the NC

31 March, 2008 - “Tomorrow’s citizens and their leaders must be nurtured. Young people must be made a part of the important decisions of the nation. They must play a part in determining the future that they will live in.”

Neglect of agriculture aggravates poverty

ESCAP report presented to media and government representatives

31 March, 2008 - Chronic neglect of the agricultural sector in Asia and the Pacific is condemning 218 million people to continuing extreme poverty, and widening the gap between the region’s rich and poor, according to the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2008, which was released in multiple locations, including Thimphu, on March 27 by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

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31 March, 2008 - Bhutan’s ambassador to Bangladesh, Tshering Dorji, presents his credentials to the President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Mr Mahinda Rajapakse, on 17 March 2008 in Colombo, as the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of Bhutan to Sri Lanka.

TB to a full stop
31 March, 2008 - Tuberculosis (TB) in Bhutan was well under control and in keeping with international standards, according to the programme manager for TB of the health ministry, Dr Pandup Tshering. But, as Bhutan observed World TB Day at Khasadrapchu, Thimphu, on March 28, the programme manager warned that TB could get out of hand because of the increasing number of people infected with HIV/AIDS and the MDR (multi drug resistant) variant of TB.

SAARC telemedicine project in place
31 March, 2008 - Except for a few complex cases, not all referrals will have to be sent to India with the inception of telemedicine facility in the country within the next few days.

The “con”tractor and the orange growers
31 March, 2008 - It was on a pleasant afternoon in December last year when 53-year-old Yangka from Budashi met a well-dressed man near Phangkhar Zam.

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