International Sources

Royalists win Bhutan’s 1st parliament elections - Los Angeles Times
Bhutanese election officials, in traditional dress, man an office in the run-up to the first democratic elections held March 24. Some in the tiny nation fear the move to Western-style democracy. From the Associated Press March 25, 2008 THIMPHU …

In Bhutan, arrows (and insults) fly - Arizona Daily Star
PARO, Bhutan — Dorji, a house painter with close-cropped black hair, draws his bowstring, hooks his thumb on his cheek and takes aim at what looks like an impossible target: an 11-inch-wide slip of wood dug into the soil a whopping 460 feet away, a …

Tibetologists consider “Tibetan Youth Congress” a terrorist pro … - Xinhua News Agency
BEIJING, May 4 (Xinhua) — The Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) is a stubborn advocacy group for “Tibet independence” supported by the Tibetan “government-in-exile”, which upholds complete violence and has become an armed spearhead of the 14th Dalai Lama …

Bhutan’s rupee shortage: mystery or mayhem? - Kuensel Online
3 May, 2008 - It is believed that the Bhutanese economy was “missing” around 4-5 billion rupees in the 2007 fiscal year. Analysts reason that factors like informal trade, unaccounted rupee outflows, fronting, and heavy imports were to blame …

Eye on Russia - CNN
For CNN’s weeklong special, “Eye on Russia,” we want to hear from you. Have you been to the country? What were your impressions? Send us your photos and videos, and share your experiences of Russia. Use the form on this page to send files from your …

Bhutan allows more foreigners, but no bungee - Sydney Morning Herald
Travellers in the insular Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The insular Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan aims to boost tourists five-fold but will preserve its cachet as an exclusive destination with no bungee jumping backpackers allowed, officials say. The …

Archers let the arrows and insults fly - South China Morning Post
Dorji, a house painter with close-cropped black hair, draws his bowstring, hooks his thumb on his cheek and takes aim at what looks like an impossible target: a 28cm-wide slip of wood dug into the soil 140 metres away. He lets his finger slip and the …

A Full Plate Today, Uncertainty Tomorrow - Common Dreams
Our translator, Sami al-Sayani, took us through the crowded, narrow streets of old Sanaa this month, to the Bab al-Yemen market area, leading the way among stalls piled high with apples, bananas and stacks of egg crates. He was unflappable until we …

My Life In Travel: Dan Cruickshank - The Independent
Poland. I lived in Warsaw as a child, but I remember having a sensational holiday in Krakow when I was eight or nine. I was overwhelmed by the architecture, particularly the Catholic structures – in many ways, it’s not dissimilar to Rome. I would …

Flying into the past in N. Korea - Chicago Tribune
I was in North Korea for a few days recently, and all I could think about was money. To be precise, I kept seeing things that were so utterly unusual that I would think to myself, “I bet Western tourists would pay good money to see this.” Let me …

Kuensel - Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Unlucky seven for school dropouts

3 May, 2008 - New figures indicate that students dropping out of school peak when they reach seventh grade.

The annual average dropout rate in class VII was almost 7.15 percent, the highest compared to all other grades in the past six years, according to education ministry officials. Last year, it was 5.2 percent or about 600 of the total 11,800 class VII students, who left school with hundreds having to repeat in the same grade (see box for details). In 2005-06, class VII dropout rates were again highest with nearly 800 students or 6.9 percent students leaving school.

Tarayana Fair 2008 at clock tower

Her Majesty Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck at the fair

3 May, 2008 - With six communities from remote parts of the country participating and spiced with games, flowers, music and food, the annual Tarayana fair, which began yesterday in the capital at the clock tower square, had a carnival atmosphere.

The shaman of Karshong

Sangay Wangdi, receptacle of Ap Gongnyap, the village deity

2 May, 2008 - It was the eighth day of the 11th month of the dog year. Sangay Wangdi, a farmer of Karshong village in Trongsa, was out playing archery when he started acting strange all of a sudden.

Bhutan Observer

bO observation: The weekly stupor
Thimphu resembles a bubble. A lubricious fizz wherein toys the tenants of the six realms. There’s a zoo under construction. The irony is the zoo is built by monkeys, and the monkeys are building it so that the lions can occupy it. Who gets caged or fenced in is anyone’s guess. For now, the kings […]

Readers Voice: Spoilt brats and wayward parents
Every parent wants his or her children to do well not only in their studies, but in their lives as well.
It is with this intention that we as parents go to the extent of doing almost anything to help them fulfill their dreams. Sometimes,the good intentions go awfully wrong and we have to ultimately bear […]

Signboards: bringing down democracy
Yesterday was d-day for putting up the new uniform sign boards as mandated by the Thimphu City Corporation but about 100 business outlets resisted the order.
Earlier, the TCC stated that this was as per the instructions of the government and it was streamlined after a discussion with the town committee and the MoWHS. The reasons […]

Did something go wrong, again?
The august Upper House is supposed to be the moral, ethical and apolitical voice of the new political system. The house, more than any other institution, is the conscientious guardian. The Chairperson of the house, therefore,should represent all of the qualities and principles the house should uphold.
The Chairperson, Namgay Penjore , was elected by 13 […]

No show for Indian idol
Indian Idol, Prashant Tamang, and co-contestant Charu were to perform live at the Changjiji ground in Thimphu today but there will not be any show.
Following a confusion of last-minute bureaucratic procedure and protocol, the show has been postponed. Official approval for live musical concert was given, then revoked and the matter was bounced about between […]

Who is getting what?
The pay, allowances and other benefits of the Cabinet Ministers and the MPs are tentatively in place, after much disgruntlement from members and the public.The second meeting of the cabinet ministers (CCM) held on April 29, resolved most of these issues considered pertinent by the members.
Some members expressed relief that they will not have to […]

A ground: no play
Trashigang: It is supposed to be a football ground. Only playing here could get ones feet broken because the ground is littered with boulders and stones.
The only open ground in Trashigang belongs to the Trashigang Middle Secondary School but it remains just a ground, not one that football lovers can enjoy.
The ground has, over the […]

Readers’ Voice: Teachers’ Day – a long drawn tribute
May 2, is perhaps, the only day when teachers realise that a certain group of people still acknowledge their hard work.
When world leaders decided to observe October 5 as World Teachers’ Day in 1994, they wanted to commemorate the signing of the UNESCO/ILO, which stressed the recommendation concerning the status of teachers.
The recommendations, among others, […]

Young volunteers show the way
Pemagatshel: There is nothing like youth in responsible action. This was proven in Pemagatsel on April 20 when 25 girls and 25 boys of the Y-VIA (Youth Volunteers In Action) cleaned up the water tanks and improved drinking water sources at the Nangkor Higher Secondary school, Hospital and Bhutan Telecom.
Apart from cleaning debris, the volunteers […]

Get business savvy at Gedu
Phuentsholing: The Gedu College of Business Studies is open to business – not quite yet. The opening has been postponed from May 3 to July 18. The wannabe-tycoons will have wait that much longer.
The college has accepted 243 fresh class XII graduates but the total strength will be 528 because the commerce department of Sherubtse […]

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