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Bhutan News archive for 31 May 2010

May 31, 2010 - From

International Sources

Anne Hathaway serves up sweetness and sensuality in … – Examiner
A friend has come back from Bhutan, and they showed me pictures of something they ate and it was the grilled guts of some animal and it was not appealing. I get a little nauseous thinking about it. So I am not that adventurous. The Travel Channel …    [read more]

Refugees increasingly find a home in St. Louis – St. Louis Post-Dispatch
The largest numbers of refugees today come from Bhutan, Myanmar (formerly Burma), Iraq and Somalia … Those populations have waned, replaced by Bhutanese, Burmese and Iraqis. Among those newer refugees are Lila and Bhim Rai and their three sons.    [read more]

Some don’t leave home without a photo of their pet – Reporter
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I start …    [read more]

Pigeon caught in India-Pakistan trust gap – CNN
In April, Indian and Pakistani prime ministers met at Thimphu, Bhutan in what was seen as a thaw in the troubled relations between their countries. At a news conference in New Delhi last week, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh noted that both …    [read more]

ECONOMIC GROWTH vs. ECONOMIC WELLBIENG – NewsWithViews.com
Although references to wellbeing are written into the founding documents of many societies, Bhutan is the only nation in the world that officially pursues economic wellbeing as a goal rather than economic growth. Bhutan is advancing the concept of …    [read more]

Star Students HONORABLE MENTION MEDINA COUNTY Cass… – Akron Beacon Journal
Moved from Nepal and learned English. 2007 Speaker of Youth in Bhutanese refugee camp. Soccer Club, captain and best player. GPA: 4.03. Rank: 1 of 134. College: University of Akron. Valedictorian, National Honor Society vice president.    [read more]

‘A Man’s Life: Dispatches from Dangerous Places’ book review – Examiner
His style is simple, vivid, and has the power to transport his readers to go along with him while he climbs mountains in Bhutan, or rides his bike across Siberia. Luckily for us, we get to savor each trip, one chapter at a time. For more info: visit …    [read more]

The Most Endangered Glaciers – Newsweek
… Inner Asia with the Tian Shan Range, becomes the Hindu Kush in northern Afghanistan, joins with the Karakorum in northern Pakistan, and then merges into the Himalayas above Nepal, Bhutan, India, and southwest China. Because these mountains …    [read more]

Q&A: How big is the Maoist uprising in India? – msnbc.com
They operate across a “red corridor” stretching from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to the central state of Chhattisgarh and into West Bengal, bordering Nepal and Bhutan. They remain hidden in dense forest bases and move around villages in …    [read more]

Croatia’ EU hopes may be set back by debt crisis – AP – msnbc.com
There is no direct link between the final stage of Croatia’s EU negotiations and the Greek financial crisis,” Josko Paro, a foreign policy adviser to Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, told The Associated Press. “There has been no such suggestion from …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Shopping for an electoral system?
The centre for Bhutan studies advocates adopting a new electoral system

31 May, 2010 – Britain may abandon its current voting system, with the recently elected liberal democratic government announcing a referendum on its continued use.

The system currently used there, and also in Bhutan, first-past-the-post (FPTP), where the candidate with the most votes wins in a constituency, is flawed, say the liberal democrats.    [read more]

Building boom outside city limits
Landowners avail of the best of both worlds for unplanned urban development

South Thimphu 31 May, 2010 – Thimphu has a grand structural plan to develop the city into a unique and beautiful Bhutanese city extending from Changtagang in the north to Ngabirongchu in the south.    [read more]

Coming up to scratch
Work on infrastructure to begin this July

Dechenchholing & Langjophaka 31 May, 2010 – Dechenchholing and Langjophakha residents can rejoice about the government’s plans to endow the two places with all urban amenities missing so far.    [read more]

Gawai Charo and Druk Air make Q/F
Come Back Charo: Gawai charo celebrate a shower of kareys as they cruise to a comfortable victory

12th Coronation Silver Jubilee Trophy 31 May, 2010 – On Saturday, when Tshangkhar Draduel (TD) defeated Gawai Charo 25-10 in the first of three game sets, spectators thought TD would send Gawai Charo packing by the end of the day.    [read more]

Two students placed runners up
Communication minister, Lyonpo Nandalal Rai awards the trophy to captain Tshering

National Handicap Tournament 31 May, 2010 – Two Thimphu students took runner up positions in the first golf tournament of the year, the national handicap tournament, played yesterday at the Thimphu golf club.    [read more]

Past decision, present distress
Tsangkha LSS 31 May, 2010 – Children of Tangsibji gewog in Trongsa today bear the brunt of choices their parents made in the early ‘60s.
   [read more]

Vesak in Sri Lanka
Lord Buddha’s parinirvana celebrated in Colombo

31 May, 2010 – Doechen Nga Zom, Lord Buddha’s parinirvana is also celebrated as Vesak in Sri Lanka, a Theravada Buddhist country like Myanmar, Thailand and Cambodia.
   [read more]

Meditation is mind over matter
Yangpoi lopon Chimmi of the zhung dratsang spoke on “mindfulness” to about 600 students and teachers at the Nazhoen Pelri complex on May 29. An excerpt from the talk.
The Yangpoi lopon speaks to teachers and students

Nazhoen Pelri Talk 31 May, 2010 – Our bodies are present in this hall, but most of our minds are loitering outside, thinking what you did yesterday, what you will do tomorrow and your school work, failing to control mind.    [read more]

Lone bangchu represents Bhutan
Misidentified as a product of Nepal until corrected by visitor

Tokushima (Japan) Exhibition 31 May, 2010 – A lone bangchu (bamboo lunch box) is representing Bhutan at the “Himalayas: People’s Life and Nature” exhibition (April 29-June 6) taking place at a museum in Tokushima, Japan.
   [read more]

Opening up to openness
31 May, 2010 – Imagine a country where an average citizen can walk into the prime minister’s office and avail all his email correspondence concerning the nation.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Local leaders learn prioritised planninge
To equip gewog tshogde (GT) members, includ­ing the mangmis and tsogpas, with necessary skills to take on tasks entrusted to them, the gewog administra­tive officers (GAO) of the 15 gewogs in Trashigang dzong­khag recently conducted a planning and prioritization training.
The GT members were briefed on Bhutan history, evolution of decentraliza­tion policy, democracy, three branches of [...]    [read more]

Missing woman found
A mentally challenged woman in Yangkhar village about two hours walk from Pemagatshel town, who went missing for three days, was found by a search party in a nearby for­est on May 25.
Lungten Wangmo, who is in her mid thirties, went miss­ing from her house on May 23 while her husband was out to tether [...]    [read more]

Bhutan Star set to come back
Preparations for the come­back of Bhutan Star (Druk Gi Sungkey Dendhur), the first singing show in the country, is in full swing.
The registration forms have been distributed, the jury members selected and the stage is being redesigned for Bhutan Star 2010.
Starting June 2, auditions will begin from Paro and cov­er 18 dzongkhags. People of Gasa [...]    [read more]

Costa Rica looks to Bhutan for happiness
By Chrissie Long
Tico Times Staff | clong@ticotimes.net
Costa Rica is consulting with Bhutan for how to remain among the happiest places on earth.
A small country of 680,000 inhabitants, the Kingdom of Bhutan is located in the Himalaya mountains on the eastern border of India, and is the only country in the world to measure the happiness [...]    [read more]

Potato price expected to drop
The bumper harvest of potato in India this season may bring down the price of Bhutanese potatoes, according to Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB) officials. But, they say that Bhutanese potatoes will still fetch a good price consider­ing their better quality.
“Last year, due to low po­tato yield in Nepal and India, our potatoes fetched good [...]    [read more]

Debate tests our growth
Jamyang Khyentse’s Many questions, few answers has culminated into a respectable degree of public debate and discussion and I think it was intended to be so in the first place.
Whether it is outright re­jection or appreciation of the faithful or rounded comments by Dr Colman, we need to ac­cept that here is an uncom­mon guy [...]    [read more]

Kanjur recitation marks holy month
Thirty anims of Dorjich­hoeling Anim Gonpa in Pemagatshel have started reciting the kanjur from May 15 to mark the holy fourth month of the Bhuta­nese calendar.
According to Ani Lopoen Karma Seldon, the kanjur is also being recited for the well-being of the Tsawasum and all sentient beings, par­ticularly to ward off increas­ing occurrence of natural [...]    [read more]


Wai! Opening ourselves up to the outside world has brought us enormous benefits of inte­gration and exposure. But, somewhere along the way, we have lost our sense of self-reliance, which we stress with a strong sense of nationalistic fervour.
In olden days, our grandparents had nobody to rely on, nowhere to go to in times of [...]    [read more]

On-the-spot job interviews flawed
Sir,
I am shocked and disap­pointed to learn that the min­istry of labour and human recourses has prearranged the public organisations to partake in the on the spot job interviews and recruit­ment procedures. This is a biased recruitment process. Recruiting students from the limited choice of one college and hence taking away the opportunity of Bhutanese [...]    [read more]

Cheap domestic power not viable
With the increase in domes­tic power consumption, Druk Green Power Corporation’s (DGPC) revenue from power export is falling.
While DGPC gets Nu 2 a unit from power export from Chhukha and Nu 1.8 from Tala and Kurichu hydropower plants, it gets only Nu 1.2 a unit from Bhutan Power Cor­poration (BPC).
In 2009, 5,462.07 million units of [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 30 May 2010

May 30, 2010 - From

International Sources

Lanika Solutions Announces Partnership with … – PR-USA.net
Responding to the growing international demand for High-performance 3D visualization software, Lanika Solutions will distribute VSG’s products in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. Visualization Sciences Group is the leading …    [read more]

Evangelical churches bringing mission work home – Herald-Dispatch
Founded to reach Hispanics, it now also draws Bhutanese, Eritrean and other refugees to everything from monthly dinners to classes, dental clinics and youth sports clinics. Pastor Philip Molestina said the church seeks “a healthy balance” of …    [read more]

Pet owners carrying on – Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I …    [read more]

Star Students HONORABLE MENTION MEDINA COUNTY Cass… – Akron Beacon Journal
Moved from Nepal and learned English. 2007 Speaker of Youth in Bhutanese refugee camp. Soccer Club, captain and best player. GPA: 4.03. Rank: 1 of 134. College: University of Akron. Valedictorian, National Honor Society vice president.    [read more]

June calendar: Your guide to area events and activities – Scranton Times-Tribune
ONGOING: NEPA Bluegrass Festival, featuring numerous acts, vendors and workshops, June 3-6, Lazy Brook Park, Tunkhannock. “Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands,” on display at Everhart Museum. “Migration: A Journey from Bhutan to Scranton …    [read more]

What’s in your wallet? – Standard-Times
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I …    [read more]

The Most Endangered Glaciers – Newsweek
… Inner Asia with the Tian Shan Range, becomes the Hindu Kush in northern Afghanistan, joins with the Karakorum in northern Pakistan, and then merges into the Himalayas above Nepal, Bhutan, India, and southwest China. Because these mountains …    [read more]

Croatia’ EU hopes may be set back by debt crisis – CNBC
There is no direct link between the final stage of Croatia’s EU negotiations and the Greek financial crisis,” Josko Paro, a foreign policy adviser to Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, told The Associated Press. “There has been no such suggestion from …    [read more]

Q+A: How big is the Maoist threat in India? – msnbc.com
They operate across a “red corridor” stretching from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to the central state of Chhattisgarh and into West Bengal, bordering Nepal and Bhutan. They remain hidden in dense forest bases and move around villages in …    [read more]

India PM: ‘trust deficit’ in way of Pakistan ties – YAHOO!
… Yousuf Raza) Gilani and I agreed that trust deficit was the problem blocking progress,” Singh told reporters, referring to recent discussions between the two in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu . “Pakistan is our neighbour. It is my firm belief …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Food for thought
Meals are the incentive; learning is incidental

Sakteng CPS 30 May, 2010 – It is almost a ritual for 15-year old Ngawang Chozom to wake up at six every morning and ready herself for the school, about an half and a hour walk from her village in Borongmang, Sakteng.    [read more]

Sheep count down
Dogs turn from protectors to predators

30 May, 2010 – As easy as it is to count sheep in Bumthang, so it is in the remote north-eastern dungkhag of Sakteng. Their numbers are down to several dozens from the hundreds at one time that, together with the yaks, ruled the pasturelands.    [read more]

“Parents are entirely responsible”
The president of the young Buddhists’ association Druk Nangpoi Zhoenu, His Eminence Garab Rinpoche, talked to Kuensel’s reporter, Tenzin Namgyel, about the programme to commemorate Lord Buddha’s parinirvana.

30 May, 2010 – Q. What’s the idea behind organising the event in a different way?
It was kind of expressing our gratitude to Buddha, who was born in samsara to benefit all beings. The other reason was to remind Bhutanese about the birthday. Today, most Bhutanese do not want rituals.    [read more]

Digging up a ‘past age’
Ongoing archaeological excavation brings to light a surprising discovery
Unearthing The Past: Piecing together the structure and story of Chokhor Deb’s dzong

Drapham Dzong 30 May, 2010 – More may soon be known of the craftsmanship and engineering of the ancient Bhutanese, with archaeologists excavating the ruins of Drapham dzong that predates the era of the Zhabdrung.    [read more]

Soccer debuts in Bhutan

30 May, 2010 – In 1922, the people of Bumthang flocked to the holy grounds of Kurjey monastery to witness perhaps the first ever historic football match played in the country (see photo).    [read more]

Relevant officers brought up to speed
Online Security Clearance 30 May, 2010 – Human resource, information and communication and accounts officers from various agencies across Thimphu received a daylong training on operating the online security clearance system on May 28.

A majority of the 50 odd trainees were human resource officers.    [read more]

Are We Victims of Our Own Success?

PERSPECTIVES
30 May, 2010 – In his recent article, Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche nails his colours to the mast, as he passionately pulls together concerns and criticisms many have long held about our traditional culture, but perhaps never viewed through the prism of wisdom. He deftly evokes a stagnated cultural environment that is peppered with horse-and-buggy ‘habits’ and the need to find a fine balance. For the culturally apathetic yuppies, it’s a wake-up call. And for those engaged in cultural debates, the article might just provide the right thrust.    [read more]

How to save the exchequer a packet
PERSPECTIVES 30 May, 2010 – With reference to some of the articles that appeared in the newspapers, I would like to submit my views, which, if taken seriously, may save the country billions of ngultrums.    [read more]

Thimphu is teen turf
A passing phenomenon of the ‘90s has now grown to a menacing level

29 May, 2010 – A 16-year old student receives a call from his friend one evening. The voice on the other side, sounding rather agitated, informs him that his younger brother is being beaten up by a group of 15 young boys.    [read more]

Are we ready for RTI?
The government apparently doesn’t think so

Right To Information Act 29 May, 2010 – The government recently refused the media the right to a copy of the country’s draft right to information Act for public discussions; the work on which began since 2007. So much for right to information.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Potato price expected to drop
The bumper harvest of potato in India this season may bring down the price of Bhutanese potatoes, according to Food Corporation of Bhutan (FCB) officials. But, they say that Bhutanese potatoes will still fetch a good price consider­ing their better quality.
“Last year, due to low po­tato yield in Nepal and India, our potatoes fetched good [...]    [read more]

Debate tests our growth
Jamyang Khyentse’s Many questions, few answers has culminated into a respectable degree of public debate and discussion and I think it was intended to be so in the first place.
Whether it is outright re­jection or appreciation of the faithful or rounded comments by Dr Colman, we need to ac­cept that here is an uncom­mon guy [...]    [read more]

Kanjur recitation marks holy month
Thirty anims of Dorjich­hoeling Anim Gonpa in Pemagatshel have started reciting the kanjur from May 15 to mark the holy fourth month of the Bhuta­nese calendar.
According to Ani Lopoen Karma Seldon, the kanjur is also being recited for the well-being of the Tsawasum and all sentient beings, par­ticularly to ward off increas­ing occurrence of natural [...]    [read more]


Wai! Opening ourselves up to the outside world has brought us enormous benefits of inte­gration and exposure. But, somewhere along the way, we have lost our sense of self-reliance, which we stress with a strong sense of nationalistic fervour.
In olden days, our grandparents had nobody to rely on, nowhere to go to in times of [...]    [read more]

On-the-spot job interviews flawed
Sir,
I am shocked and disap­pointed to learn that the min­istry of labour and human recourses has prearranged the public organisations to partake in the on the spot job interviews and recruit­ment procedures. This is a biased recruitment process. Recruiting students from the limited choice of one college and hence taking away the opportunity of Bhutanese [...]    [read more]

Cheap domestic power not viable
With the increase in domes­tic power consumption, Druk Green Power Corporation’s (DGPC) revenue from power export is falling.
While DGPC gets Nu 2 a unit from power export from Chhukha and Nu 1.8 from Tala and Kurichu hydropower plants, it gets only Nu 1.2 a unit from Bhutan Power Cor­poration (BPC).
In 2009, 5,462.07 million units of [...]    [read more]

The last days of tokpaling
Bamboos are to the farm­ers of Dechenling in Pemagatshel what yaks are to the herders of Merak and Sakteng in Trashigang – an integral part of life.
The average Dechenling household has most of its utensils made of bamboo. Bamboo ladles, spatulas, churners and cups are still widely used.
The villagers still serve tshogchhang in tokpaling, a [...]    [read more]

Let’s remain home first
Bhutan is at a crossroads. With the coming of de­mocracy, we are rushing headlong into dizzying times. With democracy came the sudden rush of energy, drive and enthusiasm from our po­litical leaders. Before we could digest one policy, there is an­other and yet another. Before we could come to terms with one plan, there is [...]    [read more]

The Iron Man of 2010
He has won several contests both within and outside the country. To add a feather in his cap, Sonam Dhendrup, 29, won the Iron Man of 2010 title at the second open na­tional bodybuilding champi­onship held in Phuentsholing on May 22.
Organized by Garab Work Zone, he won a cash prize of Nu 15,000 along with [...]    [read more]

Bone hunters dig up graves
At least eight graves were found exhumed at a secret forest graveyard in Lamperi, Thimphu.
After a tip-off, three resi­dents of Lamperi discovered the graveyard beside the Thimphu-Wangdue highway, 5 km from Dochula towards Wangdue.
Namgay, a canteen owner in Lamperi, who was one of the three residents who dis­covered the graveyard, said they had found [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 29 May 2010

May 29, 2010 - From

International Sources

What’s in your wallet? – Standard-Times
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I …    [read more]

‘Our Father’ prayer connects us with the world – Daily Press
Now when I pray it is: “Our Father make it better for those Bhutanese in the refugee camps……” “Our Father make all of us American and Iraqi, Christian and Muslim one family in your love…….” Text NEWS to 71593 for headlines from the Daily …    [read more]

The Most Endangered Glaciers – Newsweek
… Inner Asia with the Tian Shan Range, becomes the Hindu Kush in northern Afghanistan, joins with the Karakorum in northern Pakistan, and then merges into the Himalayas above Nepal, Bhutan, India, and southwest China. Because these mountains …    [read more]

Global Kids Hosts Exiled King of Tibet and Exclusive … – Forbes
NEW YORK, May 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On Wednesday, June 2, 2010, Global Kids will host a special visit by the seventeen-year-old exiled king of Tibet, Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen Lhagyari, and an exclusive screening of a film he created with …    [read more]

Q&A: How big is the Maoist uprising in India? – msnbc.com
They operate across a “red corridor” stretching from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to the central state of Chhattisgarh and into West Bengal, bordering Nepal and Bhutan. They remain hidden in dense forest bases and move around villages in …    [read more]

‘A Man’s Life: Dispatches from Dangerous Places’ book review – Examiner
His style is simple, vivid, and has the power to transport his readers to go along with him while he climbs mountains in Bhutan, or rides his bike across Siberia. Luckily for us, we get to savor each trip, one chapter at a time. For more info: visit …    [read more]

Big Kittens – Valdosta Daily Times
The cubs’ parents are Bhutan, a 6-year-old golden tabby Bengal tiger, and Tamara, a 10-year-old, white Bengal tiger, Hogan says. The cubs are not a direct part of the show, but they will be kept in a special area for viewing from this weekend …    [read more]

India PM: ‘trust deficit’ in way of Pakistan ties – YAHOO!
… Yousuf Raza) Gilani and I agreed that trust deficit was the problem blocking progress,” Singh told reporters, referring to recent discussions between the two in the Bhutanese capital Thimphu . “Pakistan is our neighbour. It is my firm belief …    [read more]

Q+A: How big is the Maoist threat in India? – Reuters
They operate across a “red corridor” stretching from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to the central state of Chhattisgarh and into West Bengal, bordering Nepal and Bhutan. They remain hidden in dense forest bases and move around villages in …    [read more]

Croatia’ EU hopes may be set back by debt crisis – AP – msnbc.com
There is no direct link between the final stage of Croatia’s EU negotiations and the Greek financial crisis,” Josko Paro, a foreign policy adviser to Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, told The Associated Press. “There has been no such suggestion from …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Thimphu is teen turf
A passing phenomenon of the ‘90s has now grown to a menacing level

29 May, 2010 – A 16-year old student receives a call from his friend one evening. The voice on the other side, sounding rather agitated, informs him that his younger brother is being beaten up by a group of 15 young boys.    [read more]

Are we ready for RTI?
The government apparently doesn’t think so

Right To Information Act 29 May, 2010 – The government recently refused the media the right to a copy of the country’s draft right to information Act for public discussions; the work on which began since 2007. So much for right to information.    [read more]

ACC suspends MD again
Construction Development Corporation 29 May, 2010 – The anti corruption commission (ACC) has for the second time in eight months suspended the managing director of construction development corporation ltd (CDCL) under the works and human settlement ministry.
   [read more]

Likely to resume
Decision on the vaccination program after immunization committee consensus

Pentavalent Vaccine 29 May, 2010 – After six months of investigation into the suspected death of four infants, the pentavalent vaccine was ruled out as the cause of death and the vaccination programme will most likely resume, according to the health secretary, Dasho (Dr) Gado Tshering.
   [read more]

Father LeClaire passes away at 82
29 May, 2010 – Father Gerald E LeClaire, SJ, former principal of Sherubtse College in Kanglung, passed away at the Jesuit infirmary in Pickering, Ontario, on Sunday May 23. He was 82.    [read more]

Symptom of a deeper malaise
29 May, 2010 – It’s a natural tendency among adolescents, who share similar interests to form peer groups. At that sensitive age, there are issues like finding an identity and fitting in with the group, or trying to be the coolest dude on campus.    [read more]

His Majesty addresses parliament
Lok Sabha speaker Meira Kumar expresses confidence in Bhutanese democracy
Meira Kumar addresses the parliament

Fifth Session Opening 29 May, 2010 – Addressing the fifth session of the parliament yesterday, His Majesty the King felicitated the constitution of the Supreme Court (SC) of Bhutan and stressed the importance of the judiciary in the governance of the country.    [read more]

Tobacco smugglers busted
Two Bags Full: Using an old route for a new purpose

29 May, 2010 – Phuentsholing custom officials last morning nabbed two people trying to smuggle in Nu 46,000 worth of tobacco products, using an old route that crosses into the border town of Jaigaon.
   [read more]

The truth about ferns and asparagus

26 May, 2010 –
There is another smell that dominates the spring season. It’s not the earthy smell of the after showers, the drenched earth as buds and flowers bloom. It’s more to do with what’s cooking in the pot.
   [read more]

Jangchuk Choden: Up and coming pop singer

26 May, 2010 – W
hen Jangchuk Choden, 22, lost the Voice of Drukyul title at the Druk Star contest this year, it opened up a whole new world of music for her.

The vibrant wannabe Jangchuk is already working on a self titled pop Bhutanese album and receiving unlimited offers as playback singer. Her latest song ‘Dari nim lu’ for the movie Shhh Galuya Malap has already become popular among the Bhutanese.

With the support of her mother, sister and families, Jangchuk, after completing Class X from Jigme Sherubling higher secondary school in Khaling, came to the capital this year with the hope of becoming a singer. Druk Star gave her a platform to launch her singing talent. With her powerful voice during the contest, she was known among the participants, judges and by others as the legendary Indian singer Usha Uthup.

Although she made it to the top five, Jangchuk lost to other contestants after she garnered the least votes. However, this did not dampen her passion for music.

With her powerful voice, which stood out during the competition, Jangchuk has now become a local celebrity and people stare at her every time she is out in public. It makes her proud. “I even receive calls from students asking me to sing over the phone,” she said.

Jangchuk was candid about how she received money from fans, who asked her to use to money to vote for herself. “But the money was always spent on buying something,” she said.

Brought up by a single mother, she is the younger of two daughter. She is from Orong, Samdrupjongkhar. Jangchuk, who sang and performed during school days, considers music her passion and hobby. “I use to win competitions and received lots of merits.”

“Every time I was offered to sing or perform in other schools, I never backed off,” gushed the singer. She adamantly said, people might take time to recognise me but I will not leave music, as it’s my passion. She took part in Druk Star after she was informed about it by her school’s vice principal.

Her inspiration comes from the famous Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan. Among the Bhutanese, she preferred to call Namgay Jigs her favourite. “I’m happy I got to sing his song during the competition and I always learn the way to sing from his songs.”

Renowned music composer, Tandin Dorji, said that his team was still working on the launch of her album. It is expected to finish in two months. “Previous contestants Sonam Tobgay, Tshering Dorji and Dorji Penjor will be singing in the album,” he informed.

Jangchuk considered the whole experience of Druk Star important as she now knows how to sing zhungdra and boedra. “It should be preserved since it’s our culture,” she said. With only a small local music industry, Jangchuk said she would be looking for a full time job elsewhere. She had no interest in acting.

By Yangchen Choden Rinzin
   [read more]

Bhutan Observer


Wai! Opening ourselves up to the outside world has brought us enormous benefits of inte­gration and exposure. But, somewhere along the way, we have lost our sense of self-reliance, which we stress with a strong sense of nationalistic fervour.
In olden days, our grandparents had nobody to rely on, nowhere to go to in times of [...]    [read more]

On-the-spot job interviews flawed
Sir,
I am shocked and disap­pointed to learn that the min­istry of labour and human recourses has prearranged the public organisations to partake in the on the spot job interviews and recruit­ment procedures. This is a biased recruitment process. Recruiting students from the limited choice of one college and hence taking away the opportunity of Bhutanese [...]    [read more]

Cheap domestic power not viable
With the increase in domes­tic power consumption, Druk Green Power Corporation’s (DGPC) revenue from power export is falling.
While DGPC gets Nu 2 a unit from power export from Chhukha and Nu 1.8 from Tala and Kurichu hydropower plants, it gets only Nu 1.2 a unit from Bhutan Power Cor­poration (BPC).
In 2009, 5,462.07 million units of [...]    [read more]

The last days of tokpaling
Bamboos are to the farm­ers of Dechenling in Pemagatshel what yaks are to the herders of Merak and Sakteng in Trashigang – an integral part of life.
The average Dechenling household has most of its utensils made of bamboo. Bamboo ladles, spatulas, churners and cups are still widely used.
The villagers still serve tshogchhang in tokpaling, a [...]    [read more]

Let’s remain home first
Bhutan is at a crossroads. With the coming of de­mocracy, we are rushing headlong into dizzying times. With democracy came the sudden rush of energy, drive and enthusiasm from our po­litical leaders. Before we could digest one policy, there is an­other and yet another. Before we could come to terms with one plan, there is [...]    [read more]

The Iron Man of 2010
He has won several contests both within and outside the country. To add a feather in his cap, Sonam Dhendrup, 29, won the Iron Man of 2010 title at the second open na­tional bodybuilding champi­onship held in Phuentsholing on May 22.
Organized by Garab Work Zone, he won a cash prize of Nu 15,000 along with [...]    [read more]

Bone hunters dig up graves
At least eight graves were found exhumed at a secret forest graveyard in Lamperi, Thimphu.
After a tip-off, three resi­dents of Lamperi discovered the graveyard beside the Thimphu-Wangdue highway, 5 km from Dochula towards Wangdue.
Namgay, a canteen owner in Lamperi, who was one of the three residents who dis­covered the graveyard, said they had found [...]    [read more]

Welcome FDI, not yet WTO
Acknowledging the benefits of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the economy, the government has welcomed FDI. But there is no decision on joining World Trade Or­ganisation (WTO) any time soon.
WTO member countries look at accession to the world trading body as an invitation for FDI. Not only do member countries receive more FDIs than non-members, [...]    [read more]

Do you think that the MPs should be given another salary raise?
   [read more]

Private sector dissects EDP
Almost two months after the government approved the economic development policy (EDP), business representa­tives from 20 dzongkhags de­liberated on the policy docu­ment during Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (BCCI) annual general meet­ing in Thimphu. The partici­pants recommended points to be incorporated in the policy.
During the three-day meet­ing that ended Wednesday, BCCI President Tobgyal Dorji [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 28 May 2010

May 28, 2010 - From

International Sources

Q&A: How big is the Maoist uprising in India? – msnbc.com
They operate across a “red corridor” stretching from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to the central state of Chhattisgarh and into West Bengal, bordering Nepal and Bhutan. They remain hidden in dense forest bases and move around villages in …    [read more]

Global Kids Hosts Exiled King of Tibet and Exclusive … – Forbes
NEW YORK, May 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — On Wednesday, June 2, 2010, Global Kids will host a special visit by the seventeen-year-old exiled king of Tibet, Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen Lhagyari, and an exclusive screening of a film he created with …    [read more]

Child Soldiers – Vision Insights and New Horizons
In Bhutan, Burundi, Myanmar, El Salvador, Ethiopia and Mozambique, says Wessells, children have even been kidnapped while at school. And the “Child Soldiers Report 2008” notes that the same is true in Bangladesh and Pakistan. Warlords in …    [read more]

Q+A: How big is the Maoist threat in India? – msnbc.com
They operate across a “red corridor” stretching from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh to the central state of Chhattisgarh and into West Bengal, bordering Nepal and Bhutan. They remain hidden in dense forest bases and move around villages in …    [read more]

Paw prints: Nearly half of owners carry pet pictures – El Paso Times
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I start …    [read more]

Big Kittens – Valdosta Daily Times
The cubs’ parents are Bhutan, a 6-year-old golden tabby Bengal tiger, and Tamara, a 10-year-old, white Bengal tiger, Hogan says. The cubs are not a direct part of the show, but they will be kept in a special area for viewing from this weekend …    [read more]

Croatia’ EU hopes may be set back by debt crisis – Associated Press
There is no direct link between the final stage of Croatia’s EU negotiations and the Greek financial crisis,” Josko Paro, a foreign policy adviser to Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, told The Associated Press. “There has been no such suggestion from …    [read more]

APB Trailer Sets the Scene – Shacknews
APB publisher EA has released the crime MMO’s opening cinematic, explaining how the city of San Paro came to play host to open warfare between punky cops and punks. Operating somewhat differently to regular MMOs , APB comes with fifty hours of play …    [read more]

Nepal’s PM agrees to resign – Tacoma News Tribune
The two men had met at a regional summit in Bhutan. “A major effort is being made to bridge the trust deficit with Pakistan,” Singh told reporters at a rare news conference.    [read more]

Factbox: National goals for combating global warming – Reuters
BHUTAN – Already absorbs more carbon in vegetation than it emits from burning fossil fuels; plans to stay that way. BOTSWANA – Shift to gas from coal. Nuclear power, renewables, biomass and carbon capture also among options. CONGO – Improve …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

The truth about ferns and asparagus

26 May, 2010 –
There is another smell that dominates the spring season. It’s not the earthy smell of the after showers, the drenched earth as buds and flowers bloom. It’s more to do with what’s cooking in the pot.
   [read more]

Jangchuk Choden: Up and coming pop singer

26 May, 2010 – W
hen Jangchuk Choden, 22, lost the Voice of Drukyul title at the Druk Star contest this year, it opened up a whole new world of music for her.

The vibrant wannabe Jangchuk is already working on a self titled pop Bhutanese album and receiving unlimited offers as playback singer. Her latest song ‘Dari nim lu’ for the movie Shhh Galuya Malap has already become popular among the Bhutanese.

With the support of her mother, sister and families, Jangchuk, after completing Class X from Jigme Sherubling higher secondary school in Khaling, came to the capital this year with the hope of becoming a singer. Druk Star gave her a platform to launch her singing talent. With her powerful voice during the contest, she was known among the participants, judges and by others as the legendary Indian singer Usha Uthup.

Although she made it to the top five, Jangchuk lost to other contestants after she garnered the least votes. However, this did not dampen her passion for music.

With her powerful voice, which stood out during the competition, Jangchuk has now become a local celebrity and people stare at her every time she is out in public. It makes her proud. “I even receive calls from students asking me to sing over the phone,” she said.

Jangchuk was candid about how she received money from fans, who asked her to use to money to vote for herself. “But the money was always spent on buying something,” she said.

Brought up by a single mother, she is the younger of two daughter. She is from Orong, Samdrupjongkhar. Jangchuk, who sang and performed during school days, considers music her passion and hobby. “I use to win competitions and received lots of merits.”

“Every time I was offered to sing or perform in other schools, I never backed off,” gushed the singer. She adamantly said, people might take time to recognise me but I will not leave music, as it’s my passion. She took part in Druk Star after she was informed about it by her school’s vice principal.

Her inspiration comes from the famous Bollywood singer Sunidhi Chauhan. Among the Bhutanese, she preferred to call Namgay Jigs her favourite. “I’m happy I got to sing his song during the competition and I always learn the way to sing from his songs.”

Renowned music composer, Tandin Dorji, said that his team was still working on the launch of her album. It is expected to finish in two months. “Previous contestants Sonam Tobgay, Tshering Dorji and Dorji Penjor will be singing in the album,” he informed.

Jangchuk considered the whole experience of Druk Star important as she now knows how to sing zhungdra and boedra. “It should be preserved since it’s our culture,” she said. With only a small local music industry, Jangchuk said she would be looking for a full time job elsewhere. She had no interest in acting.

By Yangchen Choden Rinzin
   [read more]

Topic of the week
26 May, 2010 – What’s your opinion on the literary festival where writers and poets from two cultures have come together?
   [read more]

The courts are in session
Despite vacancies in both HC and SC, the judicial system has its act together

28 May, 2010 – From a work in progress, Bhutan’s judicial system is now in place.

Supreme Court (SC) justices and its administration staff moved to the Kuengachholing state guesthouse, a temporary location, on May 24, making room at the High Court (HC) for the recently appointed HC justices.    [read more]

Picture Story

28 May, 2010 – Thousands of Buddhist devotees thronged the Memorial chorten yesterday, as members of the Druk Nangpoi Zhoenu. dressed as first five of Buddha’s disciples chanted prayers as they circumambulated the chorten to commemorate Lord Buddha’s parinirvana.
   [read more]

BoB not to divest any time soon
As the govt.’s main bank, it’s governed by a different set of rules

28 May, 2010 – Bhutan national bank (BNB) floated its shares to the public in 1998, and one of the recently introduced banks, Druk PNB closed its this week.    [read more]

Lok Sabha Speaker to address parliament
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar

28 May, 2010 – In what will be a parliamentary interaction between the world’s youngest and largest democracies, Speaker Meira Kumar of the Lok Sabha, parliament of India, will address the Bhutanese parliament today, the opening day of the 5th session.    [read more]

Tsirang marks occasion with clean-up campaign
Not everyone was happy with the initiative
Work Is Worship :Something to remember the day by

Duechhen Ngazom 28 May, 2010 – On the occasion of Duechhen Ngazom or Lord Buddha’s Maha-parinirvana, a national holiday, the business community and civil servants in Damphu, Tsirang, took to the streets and cleaned up the town.    [read more]

Sri Lankan donation for Buddha statue

28 May, 2010 – The president of Sri Lanka, Mahinda Rajapaksa, has contributed USD 10,000 to the Bhutanese government for the successful construction of the Buddha Dordenma Statue in Kuenselphodrang, Thimphu.    [read more]

A lifestyle that spells early death
28 May, 2010 – Unlike many normal diseases, those of non-communicable types are like a ticking time bomb that catches us unaware.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Cheap domestic power not viable
With the increase in domes­tic power consumption, Druk Green Power Corporation’s (DGPC) revenue from power export is falling.
While DGPC gets Nu 2 a unit from power export from Chhukha and Nu 1.8 from Tala and Kurichu hydropower plants, it gets only Nu 1.2 a unit from Bhutan Power Cor­poration (BPC).
In 2009, 5,462.07 million units of [...]    [read more]

The last days of tokpaling
Bamboos are to the farm­ers of Dechenling in Pemagatshel what yaks are to the herders of Merak and Sakteng in Trashigang – an integral part of life.
The average Dechenling household has most of its utensils made of bamboo. Bamboo ladles, spatulas, churners and cups are still widely used.
The villagers still serve tshogchhang in tokpaling, a [...]    [read more]

Let’s remain home first
Bhutan is at a crossroads. With the coming of de­mocracy, we are rushing headlong into dizzying times. With democracy came the sudden rush of energy, drive and enthusiasm from our po­litical leaders. Before we could digest one policy, there is an­other and yet another. Before we could come to terms with one plan, there is [...]    [read more]

The Iron Man of 2010
He has won several contests both within and outside the country. To add a feather in his cap, Sonam Dhendrup, 29, won the Iron Man of 2010 title at the second open na­tional bodybuilding champi­onship held in Phuentsholing on May 22.
Organized by Garab Work Zone, he won a cash prize of Nu 15,000 along with [...]    [read more]

Bone hunters dig up graves
At least eight graves were found exhumed at a secret forest graveyard in Lamperi, Thimphu.
After a tip-off, three resi­dents of Lamperi discovered the graveyard beside the Thimphu-Wangdue highway, 5 km from Dochula towards Wangdue.
Namgay, a canteen owner in Lamperi, who was one of the three residents who dis­covered the graveyard, said they had found [...]    [read more]

Welcome FDI, not yet WTO
Acknowledging the benefits of foreign direct investment (FDI) on the economy, the government has welcomed FDI. But there is no decision on joining World Trade Or­ganisation (WTO) any time soon.
WTO member countries look at accession to the world trading body as an invitation for FDI. Not only do member countries receive more FDIs than non-members, [...]    [read more]

Do you think that the MPs should be given another salary raise?
   [read more]

Private sector dissects EDP
Almost two months after the government approved the economic development policy (EDP), business representa­tives from 20 dzongkhags de­liberated on the policy docu­ment during Bhutan Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (BCCI) annual general meet­ing in Thimphu. The partici­pants recommended points to be incorporated in the policy.
During the three-day meet­ing that ended Wednesday, BCCI President Tobgyal Dorji [...]    [read more]

Of concrete ghettos and human space
How should an ideal town look like? Jigme Wangchuk asks whether town planning is all about sand, brick and mortar
The history of urban planning in Bhutan has been punctuated by aesthetic and architectural failures.
With the new town of Bajo in Wangdue under construc­tion and 30 such towns sanc­tioned by the cabinet recently, it is time [...]    [read more]

NA to adopt five bills this session
The fifth session of the Na­tional Assembly, which starts today, will adopt the civil service bill, tobacco control bill, Royal Monetary Author­ity bill, Bhutan standards bill, and service conditions bill for the holders of constitutional offices.
The session will also see deliberations on five new bills – childcare and protec­tion, child adoption, water, fi­nancial services, and [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 27 May 2010

May 27, 2010 - From

International Sources

What kinds of photos do you carry around? – Greensboro News & Record
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I start …    [read more]

Global food crisis (CE) – Reliefweb.int
Updates on Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bahamas (the), Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic (the), Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros …    [read more]

Himalayan High: Kathmandu – Gateway to the Himalaya – GADLING
Whether you’re headed to Everest Base Camp, hiking the Annapurna Circuit , or continuing your journey on to Bhutan or Tibet, you’ll invariably have to go through Kathmandu, the colorful, chaotic, and at times confounding, capital of Nepal. It is …    [read more]

Pet owners proudly carry photos of their little … – KABC
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I start …    [read more]

TGIF: Your weekend guide to area entertainment events – Scranton Times-Tribune
MIGRATION: A JOURNEY FROM BHUTAN TO SCRANTON: through Sept. 6, Everhart Museum. FOR EVERY SEASON: FOLK ART IN DAILY LIFE AND CELEBRATION: Sept. 24-Dec. 31, Everhart Museum, Nay Aug Park. WATERCOLOR AND MIXED MEDIA: by Bill Woelkers, ongoing exhibit …    [read more]

Bhutan plans Gross National Happiness center – GADLING
The Himalayan nation of Bhutan is famous for its government policy of measure progress not by Gross National Product, but by Gross National Happiness . The brainchild of former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, it puts the well-being of the general …    [read more]

APB Trailer Sets the Scene – Shacknews
APB publisher EA has released the crime MMO’s opening cinematic, explaining how the city of San Paro came to play host to open warfare between punky cops and punks. Operating somewhat differently to regular MMOs , APB comes with fifty hours of play …    [read more]

Lanika Solutions Announces Partnership With … – PRLog (free press release)
Responding to the growing international demand for High-performance 3D visualization software, Lanika Solutions will distribute VSG’s products in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and Pakistan. Visualization Sciences Group is the leading …    [read more]

Big Kittens – Valdosta Daily Times
The cubs’ parents are Bhutan, a 6-year-old golden tabby Bengal tiger, and Tamara, a 10-year-old, white Bengal tiger, Hogan says. The cubs are not a direct part of the show, but they will be kept in a special area for viewing from this weekend …    [read more]

Today In History – AP – msnbc.com
… Almost 200 miners are killed in coal mine explosion near Fukuoka, Japan. 1966 – Indonesia and Malaysia agree to end five years of hostilities. 1974 – Jigme Singye Wangchuk is crowned King of Bhutan at age 18, becoming the youngest monarch in the …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Meet the press

27 May, 2010 – The prime minister and his team at their monthly interaction with the media
   [read more]

Report submitted to Prime Minister
Lyonchhoen directs concerned agencies to take appropriate action

Samtse Investigation Update 27 May, 2010 – The investigation report on the squabble between two women teacher trainee councillors and Samtse dzongda and drangpon, which occurred earlier this month, has been completed and handed to Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley.    [read more]

For Bhutan to decide
Based on its own national interests

Relations With China 27 May, 2010 – If Bhutan decides to develop its relationship with China, the decision should be its own, according to V C Khanna, former Indian ambassador to Bhutan from 1989 to 1991.    [read more]

Muscling in on a monopoly
Buddha Air will compete with Drukair on its third busiest route

Paro-Kathmandu Sector 27 May, 2010 – Buddha Air is most likely to offer lower fares than Drukair, a strategy that will end the national airline’s monopoly on its third busiest route, the Paro-Kathmandu sector.

“It will be survival of the fittest,” said civil aviation director, Phala Dorji. “They’ll have to compete on this route.”    [read more]

Cleaning up our act
The prime minister’s plans to wean Bhutan away from a consumerist ethos

Meet The Press 27 May, 2010 – Deskbound jobs, physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, smoking, excess use of alcohol and psychosocial stress are among major lifestyle issues that are gradually creeping into the Bhutanese society.

Just last year, referring 10 patients suffering from non-communicable diseases to India cost the government Nu 10M.    [read more]

Picture Story

27 May, 2010 – ACC chairperson Dasho Neten Zangmo and chairman of national anti corruption of Thailand, Mr Panthep Klanarongran yesterday signed an MoU to cooperate in combating corruption    [read more]

Upping the power ante
27 May, 2010 – From what members of the DPT cabinet had to say during the ‘meet the press’ function yesterday, Bhutanese may soon be paying more for electricity.    [read more]

Celebration with a difference
Druk Nangpoi Zhoenu, the programme last year

Lord Buddha’s Birthday 27 May, 2010 – Today people across the country will visit monasteries and lhakhangs to offer prayers and butter lamps to observe Lord Buddha’s Parinirvana, coinciding with the 15th day of fourth month of the Bhutanese calendar.    [read more]

Self styled khekpa gets six months
One sent to prison for instilling public fear

27 May, 2010 – Tsirang district court yesterday sentenced a 27-year old man to six months in prison for instilling fear among the public.

Police filed the case on May 6 this year charging the man, Situ, for petty dismeanour. for which sentences range from one month to one year.    [read more]

In need of a dose itself
Overcrowded and understaffed, the hospital is a cry for help
Out Of Action: The only X ray technician is attending a 3-month training course in the capital

Phuentsholing General Hospital 27 May, 2010 – With the only X ray technician of Phuentsholing general hospital gone to Thimphu to attend a three-month in-house training since this month, patients in the country’s second largest town that need to do an X ray are being asked to do it in the border town of Jaigaon.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Premium price for chillies
The season’s first chillies in Pemagatshel con­tinue to fetch premium price in the local market. A kilo of the spice consumed as vegetable is priced at Nu 100. The price is considered to be not far behind what is fetched in Thimphu.
Thapa, an official, said that, although it was expen­sive, ema datshi from the season’s [...]    [read more]

More than 50 candidates register for Miss Bhutan 2010
Ten days after registration for Miss Bhutan 2010 opened, some 55 candidates have reg­istered with the organizers, all through emails.
Girls between 17 to 28 years standing more than 5’4 feet with a minimum qualifi­cation of class X are eligible to take part in the beauty pag­eant.
Organizer Karma Tsher­ing, the director of MPC Bhu­tan entertainment, said [...]    [read more]

Policy for a better healthcare facility
Bhutan, today, confronts new and varied challenges in ris­ing health care expenditure, changing disease patterns, inadequate human resources, changing political environ­ment, increasingly evolving health care needs, interna­tional health obligations and new health technologies.
The draft National Health Policy, which was updated last week and presented to Gross National Happiness Commission, is expected to help overcome the [...]    [read more]

Land cases rise before cadastral survey
Gup Drep Norzang of Chimung gewog is an ageing man in his sev­enties. Under normal circum­stances, he would have been a peaceful man in his own world back in his village. But, the impending land inheri­tance issue forced him go to court.
There are several people like him seeking legal inter­vention in deciding land-re­lated issues [...]    [read more]

BDFCL in Dorokha
Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited (BD­FCL), in a drive to meet its mandate of reaching the rural clients, is opening a branch office in Dorokha in Samtse.
The proposal to set up a branch office was approved by the BDFCL board, having done the feasibility study. The Dorokha branch will start only from June.
According to the [...]    [read more]

Who should issue sand permit?
Sir,
As per an executive order form His Majesty in 2007, the operation and marketing of sand was nationalized under Natural Resources Develop­ment Corporation Ltd. (NRD­CL). But some division offices of the Department of Forest still issue permit for sand col­lection to contractors for com­mercial building purposes.
The forestry officials in these offices say they have the [...]    [read more]

On HPV vaccine
Do not fear HPV vaccine
This is with regard to last week’s Bhutan Observer sto­ry How safe is HPV vaccine? Please do not fear the HPV vaccine or vaccinations in general. Please read this news report with some scepticism. Here is where you can get the most accurate information available (The Center for Dis­ease Control, USA): [...]    [read more]

Unregistered medicines
The Drug Regulatory Author­ity (DRA) has stopped the entry of unregistered medi­cines into the country from March 31 this year to ensure the safety, quality and effi­cacy of medicines. But people still come to pharmacies with prescriptions of unregistered medicines, according to phar­macists.
Most pharmacists said many people go back empty-handed because the medi­cines prescribed by [...]    [read more]

Teacher commits suicide
A 46 year-old teacher of Tsebar Lower Second­ary School in Pemagat­shel committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the early hours of May 15, at his home in Tsebar Du­wang. The deceased, Pema Dorji, who was from Tsebar village, was said to be a reclu­sive man all his life. However, he never showed [...]    [read more]

Hundreds attend Guru Tshewang
Hundreds of devotees attended Guru Tshewang ceremony performed
by HH Jangtruel Rinpoche last week at the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu. At the wang ceremony, explaining the ill-effects of intoxicants, Rinpoche called upon the youth to refrain from alcohol and drugs abuse.
   [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 26 May 2010

May 26, 2010 - From

International Sources

Poll: Almost half of pet owners carry photos of their pets with them … – Los Angeles Times
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I start …    [read more]

Today In History – AP – msnbc.com
… Almost 200 miners are killed in coal mine explosion near Fukuoka, Japan. 1966 – Indonesia and Malaysia agree to end five years of hostilities. 1974 – Jigme Singye Wangchuk is crowned King of Bhutan at age 18, becoming the youngest monarch in the …    [read more]

Poll: Nearly half of Americans carry around photos of … – KHOU
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I …    [read more]

Mumbai attack suspect to remain free – United Press International
The meeting, decided after a previous informal meeting at a regional economic conference in Bhutan, is set for July 15 in the Pakistani capital Islamabad. Earlier this month an Indian court began a sentencing hearing on the only surviving gunman from …    [read more]

The Meaning of Miss Bhutan – Wall Street Journal
… means something after all, then look no further than Miss Bhutan … acted in two Bhutanese movies, and is widely regarded as the country’s first authentic female star. Little girls giggle and follow her when she ventures into Thimphu’s main …    [read more]

What kinds of photos do you carry around? – msnbc.com
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I start …    [read more]

view as printer-friendly – WOKV.com
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I start …    [read more]

Nearly half of pet owners carry photos of their pets – Los Angeles Daily News
His favorite is one of everyone (except Lucky) on vacation in Bhutan in the Himalayas. Jeter said he’s not likely to take out his phone and start looking at pictures when he’s traveling. “It makes me homesick. I try to avoid it because then I start …    [read more]

APB Intro Details San Paro’s Struggle – Game Informer Online
All Points Bulletin developer Realtime Worlds has given us a sneak peek at the title’s opening cinematic, setting the stage for the action-centric game. The video – told through quick cuts of local news coverage – shows the city of San Paro in …    [read more]

Asian Development Bank Appoints New Country Director … – All Headline News
As director of ADB’s South Asia energy division, Kandiah oversaw ADB’s operations in the energy and power sectors in Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka since 2003.    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

The vexed question of voting rights
Separating the wheat from the chaff in terms of an electorate

Chodey Lhengtshog Meeting 26 May, 2010 – With local government elections on the horizon, the chodey lhengtshog (religious commission) is attempting to clearly define and categorise who is a religious person as a religious person cannot vote.
   [read more]

Double burden rising
Unique project conducted only in Bhutan and Sri Lanka

Non-Communicable Diseases 26 May, 2010 – In 2009, the government spent Nu 30M referring 220 medical patients to Vellore in India. Of this Nu 10M was spent on treating 10 patients suffering from kidney failure as a result of diabetes, a non-communicable disease.    [read more]

Farmers rush on PNB shares
26 May, 2010 – People of Mongar and Lhuentse dzongkhags, subscribed for more than Nu 1.5M worth of Druk PNB shares that closed its public offer yesterday.    [read more]

Another quiver to the bow
Instructional Leaders 26 May, 2010 – Every day, a typical principal in a Bhutanese school has to juggle various roles as an administrator, manager, disciplinarian, school safety expert, teacher, a leader or a budget officer.    [read more]

Wish list submitted to BCCI
26 May, 2010 – Town committees from the country’s 20 dzongkhags yesterday submitted issues pertaining to policy matters and proposals that would make better the functioning of their individual towns. Haa business community expressed their deep concern over the IMTRAT CSD canteen eating into the pockets of local businesses.    [read more]

Full of sound and fury
26 May, 2010 – One of the first things that first time visitors to Bhutan experience, apart from the striking scenery and clean air, is the audible silence that has a calming effect on the mind.    [read more]

Bhutanese man dies in Delhi hotel
Bhutanese Embassy officials are currently investigating the case

26 May, 2010 – A 45-year old Bhutanese man was found dead in his room in a hotel in New Delhi yesterday.

The deceased, Bhoj Bahadur Adhikari, the vice principal of the construction service centre in Thimphu was on his way back home from a two-week study tour of the Netherlands with nine other officials. Bhoj Bahadur was the team leader.    [read more]

Abandoned dead baby found
26 May, 2010 – Ranjung residents are still recovering from the shock after they found remains of a disfigured baby in the town yesterday.
   [read more]

Not quite ‘abandon ship!’
WFP will phase out only after making sure of alternative assistance from govt.

World Food Program 26 May, 2010 – That the world food program (WFP) was phasing out its assistance in 2013 was untrue, said WFP officer in-charge in Thimphu, Dungkar Drukpa, who refuted several other points of the education ministry officials. He said the current development project “Improving rural children’s access to basic education with focus on primary education” was between 2008 and 2012. However, subject to availability of funds, he explained about the possibility of the program’s extension until 2015, coinciding with the millennium development goal II’s ‘Education For All.’    [read more]

Dead firs are living homes
Park officials hold firm against pressure from locals to exploit forest wealth
Dead Or Alive: What appears desolate is actually a habitat rich in biodiversity

Thrumshingla National Park 26 May, 2010 – Dense fogs and gloom cast by colossal mountains covered in thick forest that surround the area give travellers ascending the country’s highest pass, Thrumshingla, from the base of Sengor between Trashigang and Bumthang, an eerie feeling.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Premium price for chillies
The season’s first chillies in Pemagatshel con­tinue to fetch premium price in the local market. A kilo of the spice consumed as vegetable is priced at Nu 100. The price is considered to be not far behind what is fetched in Thimphu.
Thapa, an official, said that, although it was expen­sive, ema datshi from the season’s [...]    [read more]

More than 50 candidates register for Miss Bhutan 2010
Ten days after registration for Miss Bhutan 2010 opened, some 55 candidates have reg­istered with the organizers, all through emails.
Girls between 17 to 28 years standing more than 5’4 feet with a minimum qualifi­cation of class X are eligible to take part in the beauty pag­eant.
Organizer Karma Tsher­ing, the director of MPC Bhu­tan entertainment, said [...]    [read more]

Policy for a better healthcare facility
Bhutan, today, confronts new and varied challenges in ris­ing health care expenditure, changing disease patterns, inadequate human resources, changing political environ­ment, increasingly evolving health care needs, interna­tional health obligations and new health technologies.
The draft National Health Policy, which was updated last week and presented to Gross National Happiness Commission, is expected to help overcome the [...]    [read more]

Land cases rise before cadastral survey
Gup Drep Norzang of Chimung gewog is an ageing man in his sev­enties. Under normal circum­stances, he would have been a peaceful man in his own world back in his village. But, the impending land inheri­tance issue forced him go to court.
There are several people like him seeking legal inter­vention in deciding land-re­lated issues [...]    [read more]

BDFCL in Dorokha
Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited (BD­FCL), in a drive to meet its mandate of reaching the rural clients, is opening a branch office in Dorokha in Samtse.
The proposal to set up a branch office was approved by the BDFCL board, having done the feasibility study. The Dorokha branch will start only from June.
According to the [...]    [read more]

Who should issue sand permit?
Sir,
As per an executive order form His Majesty in 2007, the operation and marketing of sand was nationalized under Natural Resources Develop­ment Corporation Ltd. (NRD­CL). But some division offices of the Department of Forest still issue permit for sand col­lection to contractors for com­mercial building purposes.
The forestry officials in these offices say they have the [...]    [read more]

On HPV vaccine
Do not fear HPV vaccine
This is with regard to last week’s Bhutan Observer sto­ry How safe is HPV vaccine? Please do not fear the HPV vaccine or vaccinations in general. Please read this news report with some scepticism. Here is where you can get the most accurate information available (The Center for Dis­ease Control, USA): [...]    [read more]

Unregistered medicines
The Drug Regulatory Author­ity (DRA) has stopped the entry of unregistered medi­cines into the country from March 31 this year to ensure the safety, quality and effi­cacy of medicines. But people still come to pharmacies with prescriptions of unregistered medicines, according to phar­macists.
Most pharmacists said many people go back empty-handed because the medi­cines prescribed by [...]    [read more]

Teacher commits suicide
A 46 year-old teacher of Tsebar Lower Second­ary School in Pemagat­shel committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the early hours of May 15, at his home in Tsebar Du­wang. The deceased, Pema Dorji, who was from Tsebar village, was said to be a reclu­sive man all his life. However, he never showed [...]    [read more]

Hundreds attend Guru Tshewang
Hundreds of devotees attended Guru Tshewang ceremony performed
by HH Jangtruel Rinpoche last week at the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu. At the wang ceremony, explaining the ill-effects of intoxicants, Rinpoche called upon the youth to refrain from alcohol and drugs abuse.
   [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 25 May 2010

May 25, 2010 - From

International Sources

Niño en hospital tras ataque de perro – Birmingham News
A pesar de que el niño paró, el perro se avalanzó sobre él, lo derribó al suelo y le atrapó del cuello con sus fauces. Una vez que el dueño logró separar al perro, el vecino lo levantó sobre la varda mientras el dueño luchaba por detener al …    [read more]

Not Mountain Echoes – Newsblaze.com
The Mountain Echoes, a first literary festival in the country, concluded in Thimphu recently exchanging the affections and creativity among the writers. It seems to be a great event, unprecedented, for Bhutanese who never had earlier experienced the …    [read more]

Life at the SETI Institute: David Morrison, Carl Sagan … – Huffingtonpost.com
Our recent trips to exotic locales include the Silk Road in China, Bhutan and Ladakh in the Himalayas, the Antarctic Peninsula and the ice fjords of western Greenland, Burma-Laos-Vietnam in South-East Asia, and all of north Africa, from Morocco and …    [read more]

HallStar and SurfaTech Cooperate on New Products – PR Inside
This is a major step forward for both of our companies,” said John Paro, Chairman, President, and CEO of HallStar. “I predict that we are going to see some cutting-edge technologies emerge from this agreement, which will really benefit …    [read more]

Croatia’ EU hopes may be set back by debt crisis – Las Vegas Sun
There is no direct link between the final stage of Croatia’s EU negotiations and the Greek financial crisis,” Josko Paro, a foreign policy adviser to Croatian President Ivo Josipovic, told The Associated Press. “There has been no such suggestion from …    [read more]

The Meaning of Miss Bhutan – Wall Street Journal
… means something after all, then look no further than Miss Bhutan … acted in two Bhutanese movies, and is widely regarded as the country’s first authentic female star. Little girls giggle and follow her when she ventures into Thimphu’s main …    [read more]

CDC Software Adds Six New Strategic Resellers as Part … – Bradenton Herald
The new resellers are expected to help CDC Software expand its geographic footprint in India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and Nepal. CDC Software’s Pivotal CRM solutions are already used by some of the leading brands in India including Bharti AXA, CIBIL, Max …    [read more]

ITU Calls for Broadband Internet Access for Half the … – Cellular-News
In Bhutan, for example, 40 per cent of all localities have a Public Internet Access Centre. Since 2003, the Royal Government of Bhutan, in cooperation with ITU, has been revamping post offices in remote and rural locations into ICT centres, allowing …    [read more]

Celebrating Books at 7,600 Feet – Daily Beast
… the 28-year-old monarch, His Majesty Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, and other royals, but at Thimphu … changes in Bhutanese society as it modernizes, and his personal journey from childhood in a remote mountain village to the new Bhutan.    [read more]

‘A Man’s Life: Dispatches from Dangerous Places’ book … – Examiner
His style is simple, vivid, and has the power to transport his readers to go along with him while he climbs mountains in Bhutan, or rides his bike across Siberia. Luckily for us, we get to savor each trip, one chapter at a time. For more info: visit …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Canadian mission in Bhutan
High powered delegation on a listen and learn assignment

Business 25 May, 2010 – Call it mere coincidence or meticulous planning. Barely three days after the government released the revised foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, representatives of world-renowned business companies from Canada are in the country on a “business mission.”    [read more]

Picture story:

25 May, 2010 – Farmers, monks, businessmen and civil servants crowd the RICBL office in Trashigang town yesterday in a last minute rush to buy shares of the Druk PNB that closes its public offer today    [read more]

Mother of all report cards
MoE sets itself the massive task of keeping track of 541 schools once in two months

Performance Management System 25 May, 2010 – A student’s performance will be assessed by a teacher, a teacher’s by the principal and the school, in turn, by the district education officer (DEO). The DEO will then send a report to the education ministry.    [read more]

BCCI cash crunch
25th Annual General Meeting 25 May, 2010 – The Bhutan chamber of commerce and industry (BCCI) needs to raise more funds to not only sustain itself but also carry out its activities to support the private sector.    [read more]

WFP to wind up operations
Alternative assistance from Thai princess’s NGO

25 May, 2010 – When the world food program (WFP) began pulling out its assistance from high and middle schools in some remote parts of the country between 2009 and 2010, many students, parents and teachers felt dejected.    [read more]

Mixing up the Mussos
25 May, 2010 – The chances of such a thing occurring are one in 10,000, according to at least two sources on the internet. And it happened in Thimphu last month.    [read more]

The gap between compact and actuality
25 May, 2010 – To ameliorate the existing services in Thimphu referral hospital, the health ministry proposed two main goals of trimming patients’ waiting time and introducing off-hour clinics.

A compact was signed to ensure that the pledges are fulfilled.    [read more]

Opening up to private prospectors
Exploration no longer to be a government preserve

Mineral Development Policy 25 May, 2010 – Prospective Bhutanese miners will be allowed to do their own exploration or ‘prospecting’, according to the draft Mineral Development Policy that has now been distributed to the business community for feedback.    [read more]

Catch-22 situation for private sector
National Minimum Wage Structure 25 May, 2010 – The national minimum wage structure, which the labour ministry at this stage is in the process of drawing up, is one of the core issues of dispute in the private sector, according to labour officials in the regional office in Phuentsholing.    [read more]

Documentary on GNH wins Emmys

25 May, 2010 – The documentary Bhutan: Taking the Middle Path to Happiness by Tom Vendetti (a Hawaii based producer, director, cinematographer and editor) was awarded two Emmys at the 39th annual northern California area Emmy awards on May 18. The documentary won in the historical/cultural program/special category; and the second Emmy was awarded to the composer-associate Christopher Hedge for the films musical composition/arrangement.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

More than 50 candidates register for Miss Bhutan 2010
Ten days after registration for Miss Bhutan 2010 opened, some 55 candidates have reg­istered with the organizers, all through emails.
Girls between 17 to 28 years standing more than 5’4 feet with a minimum qualifi­cation of class X are eligible to take part in the beauty pag­eant.
Organizer Karma Tsher­ing, the director of MPC Bhu­tan entertainment, said [...]    [read more]

Policy for a better healthcare facility
Bhutan, today, confronts new and varied challenges in ris­ing health care expenditure, changing disease patterns, inadequate human resources, changing political environ­ment, increasingly evolving health care needs, interna­tional health obligations and new health technologies.
The draft National Health Policy, which was updated last week and presented to Gross National Happiness Commission, is expected to help overcome the [...]    [read more]

Land cases rise before cadastral survey
Gup Drep Norzang of Chimung gewog is an ageing man in his sev­enties. Under normal circum­stances, he would have been a peaceful man in his own world back in his village. But, the impending land inheri­tance issue forced him go to court.
There are several people like him seeking legal inter­vention in deciding land-re­lated issues [...]    [read more]

BDFCL in Dorokha
Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited (BD­FCL), in a drive to meet its mandate of reaching the rural clients, is opening a branch office in Dorokha in Samtse.
The proposal to set up a branch office was approved by the BDFCL board, having done the feasibility study. The Dorokha branch will start only from June.
According to the [...]    [read more]

Who should issue sand permit?
Sir,
As per an executive order form His Majesty in 2007, the operation and marketing of sand was nationalized under Natural Resources Develop­ment Corporation Ltd. (NRD­CL). But some division offices of the Department of Forest still issue permit for sand col­lection to contractors for com­mercial building purposes.
The forestry officials in these offices say they have the [...]    [read more]

On HPV vaccine
Do not fear HPV vaccine
This is with regard to last week’s Bhutan Observer sto­ry How safe is HPV vaccine? Please do not fear the HPV vaccine or vaccinations in general. Please read this news report with some scepticism. Here is where you can get the most accurate information available (The Center for Dis­ease Control, USA): [...]    [read more]

Unregistered medicines
The Drug Regulatory Author­ity (DRA) has stopped the entry of unregistered medi­cines into the country from March 31 this year to ensure the safety, quality and effi­cacy of medicines. But people still come to pharmacies with prescriptions of unregistered medicines, according to phar­macists.
Most pharmacists said many people go back empty-handed because the medi­cines prescribed by [...]    [read more]

Teacher commits suicide
A 46 year-old teacher of Tsebar Lower Second­ary School in Pemagat­shel committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the early hours of May 15, at his home in Tsebar Du­wang. The deceased, Pema Dorji, who was from Tsebar village, was said to be a reclu­sive man all his life. However, he never showed [...]    [read more]

Hundreds attend Guru Tshewang
Hundreds of devotees attended Guru Tshewang ceremony performed
by HH Jangtruel Rinpoche last week at the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu. At the wang ceremony, explaining the ill-effects of intoxicants, Rinpoche called upon the youth to refrain from alcohol and drugs abuse.
   [read more]

Changankha reach final of U-13 girls’ tournament
Changangkha Lower Second­ary School de­feated Khasa­drapchu Middle Secondary School in a thrilling penalty shootout to book their place in the final of under-13 girls’ foot­ball tournament on May 19 in Thim­phu.
The match kicked off with respective support­ers cheering for their teams. Both the teams tried hard but the match remained a goall­ess draw till the [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 24 May 2010

May 24, 2010 - From

International Sources

This page requires javaScript to be fully functional … – Charleston Gazette
The two men had met at a regional summit in Bhutan. “A major effort is being made to bridge the trust deficit with Pakistan,” Singh told reporters at a rare news conference. “I’m hopeful this process can move forward,” he said. But he later tempered …    [read more]

India Prime Minister: ‘Major effort’ in Indo-Pakistan … – Deseret News
The two men had met at a regional summit in Bhutan. “A major effort is being made to bridge the trust deficit with Pakistan,” Singh told reporters at a rare news conference. “I’m hopeful this process can move forward,” he said. But he later tempered …    [read more]

‘A Man’s Life: Dispatches from Dangerous Places’ book … – Examiner
His style is simple, vivid, and has the power to transport his readers to go along with him while he climbs mountains in Bhutan, or rides his bike across Siberia. Luckily for us, we get to savor each trip, one chapter at a time. For more info: visit …    [read more]

One World Trekking Announces 2011 Epic Adventure Travel … – Online PR News
… dates for their unique collection of epic Himalayan trekking adventures which will take adventurous hikers to some of the most remote and culturally interesting regions of Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. In the spring of 2011 the season kicks off in …    [read more]

ITU World Telecommunication Development Conference … – TMCnet
… three ITU reports with case studies on 26 May at 12:15 (0645 GMT): – Satellite Connectivity to Remote Areas and E-Services for Development: Initiatives through Post Offices in Bhutan – ICTs, Community Access and Development: Case studies from …    [read more]

India PM: ‘Major effort’ underway in Pakistan peace … – USA Today
The two men had met at a regional summit in Bhutan. “A major effort is being made to bridge the trust deficit with Pakistan,” Singh told reporters at a rare news conference. “I’m hopeful this process can move forward,” he said, but later appeared to …    [read more]

“Trust Deficit” Named Biggest Obstacle To Indo-Pak … – All Headline News
During a historic meeting on April 29 in Bhutan, Singh and his Pakistani counterpart, Yousuf Raza Gilani, agreed that “trust deficit is a major problem blocking progress in the direction of going forward and that it should be our common endeavor to …    [read more]

Indian prime minister: ‘Major effort’ under way to … – Daily Press
The two men had met at a regional summit in Bhutan. “A major effort is being made to bridge the trust deficit with Pakistan,” Singh told reporters at a rare news conference. “I’m hopeful this process can move forward,” he said. But he later tempered …    [read more]

India, Pakistan trade fire near Kashmir – United Press International
Singh met his Pakistani counterpart Yusuf Reza Gilani in April on the sidelines of a South Asian summit in Bhutan, signaling stalled diplomatic talks could move toward normalization. Singh told delegates in a press conference in New Delhi that peace …    [read more]

Indian PM Says Lack Of Trust Main Hurdle In Ties With … – RTT News
As agreed by Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the Thimphu SAARC summit, Foreign Secretary-level talks will be held in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad on July 15 aimed at increasing trust and reviving peace talks …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Sakteng feels the heat
Global warming comes to a mountain community
Cabbages & Leeches: Two of the far reaching effects of a change of climate on the local ecology

Climate 24 May, 2010 – High up in the mountains of Sakteng, the nomads are seeing a lot of changes around them. Brokpas say the signs are crystal clear that the climate is changing – Sakteng is getting warmer.
   [read more]

Roadblocks cleared
Thimphu-P/ling Highway 24 May, 2010 – The massive mudslide, which rolled huge boulders and blocked the Phuentsholing-Thimphu highway at Takti on Thursday evening, was cleared for traffic around 7 pm yesterday.    [read more]

Engaging the idea of a GNH centre
In the woods: PM inspects location for the GNH center

24 May, 2010 – The prime minister, Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley, spent several hours last Saturday morning, May 23, in the blue pine forests of Chokhor Toe, Bumthang, inspecting a possible location to establish a Gross National Happiness (GNH) centre.    [read more]

The bandage change runaround
JDWNRH 24 May, 2010 – On May 21, a two-year-old girl was scalded waist down when she accidentally fell into a bowl of hot water. She was rushed to the JDWNRH emergency ward by her mother, where she received medication and was asked by the doctor to come for dressing everyday until the wound healed.    [read more]

Haa gewogs rewarded
National biodiversity centre recognises popular conservation efforts
Local seed variety on display at the exhibition

International Year Of Biodiversity 24 May, 2010 – It didn’t mean much for 1,000 odd visitors from different parts of Haa to tour around watching the same seeds of pumpkin, cucumber, beans, potatoes, wheat, buckwheat and rice displayed by 60 villagers from six gewogs of Haa.    [read more]

Democracy delayed?
24 May, 2010 – The truest form of democracy existed at the grassroots levels much before the country’s transition into the process a couple of years back.

Villagers elected a candidate from among themselves who, having experienced similar plights and hardships, understood their needs better and worked towards addressing them.    [read more]

A road will be most welcome
The 37 km feeder would be more of a boon than a bane
All The Way Up: The walk will come down from three days to three hours

24 May, 2010 – If there’s one community willing to give up lucrative porterage earnings and its seclusion in exchange for road access, it’s the Brokpas of Sakteng dungkhag in northern Trashigang.    [read more]

‘There’s space for everybody’
Gyalsten K Dorji spoke with Ravi Singh, editor-in-chief of publishing company, Penguin India, who was in the country last week for the Mountain Echoes literary festival about the publishing business and what they look for

24 May, 2010 – What role does a publishing company play in helping society’s writers and readers?
It’s crucial, without a healthy publishing industry, we wouldn’t have a culture of writing and books, but then again what’s necessary is to have professional publishers, because there can be printers masquerading as publishers, so you need professional publishers, who can exercise discretion and help writers get maximum exposure and at the same time recognise their own talents best and work to the best of their abilities.    [read more]

Nu 1.451B dividend proposed
Higher projection made for 2010

Druk Holding and Investments 24 May, 2010 – The Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) has proposed a dividend of about Nu 1.451B to be paid to the government, excluding the Nu 2672.9M tax it paid in 2009.    [read more]

Revised and released
FDI Policy 23 May, 2010 – High end education services, specialised health services, five star hotels and infrastructure development projects of a minimum project cost of Nu 200M will be allowed 100 percent foreign ownership, says the revised FDI (foreign direct investment) policy that was released on May 21, in Thimphu.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Land cases rise before cadastral survey
Gup Drep Norzang of Chimung gewog is an ageing man in his sev­enties. Under normal circum­stances, he would have been a peaceful man in his own world back in his village. But, the impending land inheri­tance issue forced him go to court.
There are several people like him seeking legal inter­vention in deciding land-re­lated issues [...]    [read more]

BDFCL in Dorokha
Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited (BD­FCL), in a drive to meet its mandate of reaching the rural clients, is opening a branch office in Dorokha in Samtse.
The proposal to set up a branch office was approved by the BDFCL board, having done the feasibility study. The Dorokha branch will start only from June.
According to the [...]    [read more]

Who should issue sand permit?
Sir,
As per an executive order form His Majesty in 2007, the operation and marketing of sand was nationalized under Natural Resources Develop­ment Corporation Ltd. (NRD­CL). But some division offices of the Department of Forest still issue permit for sand col­lection to contractors for com­mercial building purposes.
The forestry officials in these offices say they have the [...]    [read more]

On HPV vaccine
Do not fear HPV vaccine
This is with regard to last week’s Bhutan Observer sto­ry How safe is HPV vaccine? Please do not fear the HPV vaccine or vaccinations in general. Please read this news report with some scepticism. Here is where you can get the most accurate information available (The Center for Dis­ease Control, USA): [...]    [read more]

Unregistered medicines
The Drug Regulatory Author­ity (DRA) has stopped the entry of unregistered medi­cines into the country from March 31 this year to ensure the safety, quality and effi­cacy of medicines. But people still come to pharmacies with prescriptions of unregistered medicines, according to phar­macists.
Most pharmacists said many people go back empty-handed because the medi­cines prescribed by [...]    [read more]

Teacher commits suicide
A 46 year-old teacher of Tsebar Lower Second­ary School in Pemagat­shel committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the early hours of May 15, at his home in Tsebar Du­wang. The deceased, Pema Dorji, who was from Tsebar village, was said to be a reclu­sive man all his life. However, he never showed [...]    [read more]

Hundreds attend Guru Tshewang
Hundreds of devotees attended Guru Tshewang ceremony performed
by HH Jangtruel Rinpoche last week at the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu. At the wang ceremony, explaining the ill-effects of intoxicants, Rinpoche called upon the youth to refrain from alcohol and drugs abuse.
   [read more]

Changankha reach final of U-13 girls’ tournament
Changangkha Lower Second­ary School de­feated Khasa­drapchu Middle Secondary School in a thrilling penalty shootout to book their place in the final of under-13 girls’ foot­ball tournament on May 19 in Thim­phu.
The match kicked off with respective support­ers cheering for their teams. Both the teams tried hard but the match remained a goall­ess draw till the [...]    [read more]

Discipline
Discipline is the most indispensable quality of life and plays a great role. It is the backbone of character. Discipline comes from the Latin word “disciplinare” which means to teach. Thus, dis­cipline means a training that teaches self-control, obedience, cooperation and orderliness.
Discipline plays an important role everywhere in school, family and office. Every object of [...]    [read more]

The self-made music ace
He has had no formal training, but he is one of the best music directors in the country. He has won eight awards, includ­ing the best music composer and best background score, in the recent film awards.
But the journey for music director Tandin Dorji was not all smooth sailing.
His father died after he fin­ished class [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 23 May 2010

May 23, 2010 - From

International Sources

Get happy – Times-Argus
The former director of leadership programs at Burlington’s Snelling Center for Government tells of traveling to the tiny Himalayan country of Bhutan, where its former king coined the term “gross national happiness” before helping to create a …    [read more]

Saved by the crown – Boston Globe
In Bhutan, King Jigme Singye Wangchuck pushed his once-isolated country toward its first truly democratic elections. In Spain, King Juan Carlos midwifed a new Spanish democracy after dictator Francisco Franco’s death. In Cambodia, King Norodom …    [read more]

A journey of faith – Daily Interlake
They were forced out of their native Bhutan because they were Christian … After living 17 years in a Nepali camp for Bhutanese refugees, Bal and Kamala, both 34, immigrated to the United States hoping to live the American dream. Instead they lived …    [read more]

Pakistanis, Indians clash in Kashmir, one dead – msnbc.com
But the countries’ prime ministers met on the sidelines of a regional conference in Bhutan last month and agreed to get talks going again to tackle their disputes. The Pakistani army said Indian forces opened “unprovoked” fire across the so-called …    [read more]

$59,268 for travel: City officials say 91 trips … – El Paso Times
Her trips included visits to the Asian countries of Bhutan and Jordan. Documents obtained by the Texas Public Information Act show that Public Service Board President and CEO Ed Archuleta traveled the most of city officials during the last 15 months …    [read more]

Indigenous People’s Green Jobs Coalition is a voice … – Twin Cities Planet
We want to make sure that the green economy benefits the Native communities and respects their culture,” said IPGJC board co-chair Dawn Paro. In addition to advocating for a strong Indigenous voice in policy making at the state level, IPGJC also aims …    [read more]

Clash Over Cement Factory – Radio Free Asia
Tibetan service director: Jigme Ngapo. Mandarin service director: Jennifer Chou. Translated from the Tibetan by Karma Dorjee and from the Mandarin by Ping Chen. Written for the Web in English by Sarah Jackson-Han.    [read more]

Obama’s Empty Gestures – Front Page
The only area to show overall improvement was the Asia-Pacific region, spurred by notable gains in South Asia that included status changes in Bangladesh and Bhutan from Not Free to Partly Free and a numerical score jump for the Maldives.    [read more]

Stopping in New York, on a Nine-Year Pedal – New York Times Blogs
Karki rattles off the countries he has visited on his fingers, like a child’s playground chant — China, Bhutan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore. Mr. Karki says that once he visits roughly 150, by 2013, he will call it …    [read more]

Five Ethically Challenged Countries for the Adventure … – Associated Content
Reason Not to Go : The CAVR report shows that a wide array of human rights violations during the period of 1974 through 1999 has gone unpunished. Little has been done to deliver justice to the East Timorese people. Reason to Go: The Kingdom of Bhutan …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Revised and released
FDI Policy 23 May, 2010 – High end education services, specialised health services, five star hotels and infrastructure development projects of a minimum project cost of Nu 200M will be allowed 100 percent foreign ownership, says the revised FDI (foreign direct investment) policy that was released on May 21, in Thimphu.    [read more]

What ABSD is all about
23 May, 2010 – Accelerating Bhutan’s socio-economic development (ABSD) project, which began in July 2009, has now reached the implementation stage, say GNH commission officials.

Officials said that the project had concentrated its efforts on two components: public service delivery and in creating 90,000 jobs in the 10th Plan period.
   [read more]

Where tradition discounts education
Empty schools in two villages speak of separate priorities
Old Habits Die Hard: A family on route to its summer residence

Merak-Sakteng 23 May, 2010 – It’s different in the highlands of remote Sakteng in northern Trashigang. Walking to the dungkhag, visitors encounter droves of cattle herded by young school-aged children.
   [read more]

Gelephu’s grand provider dies
A Landmark No More It almost always had about a hundred people under its wings

23 May, 2010 – There was an daunting silence amongst the people, who witnessed the untimely cremation. How do we cope with this stupendous loss? Other questions, whose answers were not valid anymore, were inevitably asked. Some fought back their tears bravely, only to be betrayed by their voice. The provider had died, and it was certain that many had no clue where their next meals would now come from.    [read more]

“Himalayan culture is very different”
An interview with English historian and author Patrick French

Mountain Echoes 23 May, 2010 – How did you get into writing?
When I was in school, I was very interested in writers like F Scott Fitzgerald. I also liked romantic poets like Shelly and Keats, and I thought I’d very much like to become a writer. It looked like an exciting and glamorous life.    [read more]

“Culture is a way of life”

23 May, 2010 – The Indian ambassador, Pavan Varma, also a scholar and writer, has authored more than a dozen books; his latest being ‘Becoming Indian: The Unfinished Revolution of Culture and Identity”. In view of the recent discussions on culture and identity in the country, Kuensel spoke with the ambassador on the much debated subject.    [read more]

Don’t mistake knowledge for wisdom
PERSPECTIVES
23 May, 2010 – We have to thank Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse rinpoche for his article in Kuensel. When reading rinpoche’s article, I could physically feel the pulse of the nation changing, and like an echo that follows the roar I was equally pleased to see Dr Karma Phuntsok’s views being expressed in the Bhutan Observer. With enthusiasm we must exercise our right to freely express.
   [read more]

A close shave with a landslide
The Takti the roadblock is probably the biggest on the highway in recent years

23 May, 2010 – A government servant, who was returning to Samtse from Punakha on May 20, narrowly escaped a major mudslide and rolling boulders at Takti on the Thimphu-Phuentsholing highway.

Chukha dzongda Tshewang Rinzin described the roadblock as probably the biggest on the highway in recent years.    [read more]

Stationery budget halved
Reducing misuse by limiting supplies

22 May, 2010 – In a move to reduce misuse of office stationery, the government will be halving the annual stationery budget starting from the next fiscal year in July.

This was decided after the cabinet secretariat found that there was misuse of government stationery, especially in urban centres. The cabinet decided to slash the budget for all government offices and autonomous agencies across the country.
   [read more]

Not our man any more
Village file complaint against gup, request new election

Makron, Ura, Bumthang 22 May, 2010 – Villagers of Makrong in Ura have filed a complaint against their gup with the dzongkhag administration and requested for an election to choose a new leader.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Land cases rise before cadastral survey
Gup Drep Norzang of Chimung gewog is an ageing man in his sev­enties. Under normal circum­stances, he would have been a peaceful man in his own world back in his village. But, the impending land inheri­tance issue forced him go to court.
There are several people like him seeking legal inter­vention in deciding land-re­lated issues [...]    [read more]

BDFCL in Dorokha
Bhutan Development Finance Corporation Limited (BD­FCL), in a drive to meet its mandate of reaching the rural clients, is opening a branch office in Dorokha in Samtse.
The proposal to set up a branch office was approved by the BDFCL board, having done the feasibility study. The Dorokha branch will start only from June.
According to the [...]    [read more]

Who should issue sand permit?
Sir,
As per an executive order form His Majesty in 2007, the operation and marketing of sand was nationalized under Natural Resources Develop­ment Corporation Ltd. (NRD­CL). But some division offices of the Department of Forest still issue permit for sand col­lection to contractors for com­mercial building purposes.
The forestry officials in these offices say they have the [...]    [read more]

On HPV vaccine
Do not fear HPV vaccine
This is with regard to last week’s Bhutan Observer sto­ry How safe is HPV vaccine? Please do not fear the HPV vaccine or vaccinations in general. Please read this news report with some scepticism. Here is where you can get the most accurate information available (The Center for Dis­ease Control, USA): [...]    [read more]

Unregistered medicines
The Drug Regulatory Author­ity (DRA) has stopped the entry of unregistered medi­cines into the country from March 31 this year to ensure the safety, quality and effi­cacy of medicines. But people still come to pharmacies with prescriptions of unregistered medicines, according to phar­macists.
Most pharmacists said many people go back empty-handed because the medi­cines prescribed by [...]    [read more]

Teacher commits suicide
A 46 year-old teacher of Tsebar Lower Second­ary School in Pemagat­shel committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the early hours of May 15, at his home in Tsebar Du­wang. The deceased, Pema Dorji, who was from Tsebar village, was said to be a reclu­sive man all his life. However, he never showed [...]    [read more]

Hundreds attend Guru Tshewang
Hundreds of devotees attended Guru Tshewang ceremony performed
by HH Jangtruel Rinpoche last week at the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu. At the wang ceremony, explaining the ill-effects of intoxicants, Rinpoche called upon the youth to refrain from alcohol and drugs abuse.
   [read more]

Changankha reach final of U-13 girls’ tournament
Changangkha Lower Second­ary School de­feated Khasa­drapchu Middle Secondary School in a thrilling penalty shootout to book their place in the final of under-13 girls’ foot­ball tournament on May 19 in Thim­phu.
The match kicked off with respective support­ers cheering for their teams. Both the teams tried hard but the match remained a goall­ess draw till the [...]    [read more]

Discipline
Discipline is the most indispensable quality of life and plays a great role. It is the backbone of character. Discipline comes from the Latin word “disciplinare” which means to teach. Thus, dis­cipline means a training that teaches self-control, obedience, cooperation and orderliness.
Discipline plays an important role everywhere in school, family and office. Every object of [...]    [read more]

The self-made music ace
He has had no formal training, but he is one of the best music directors in the country. He has won eight awards, includ­ing the best music composer and best background score, in the recent film awards.
But the journey for music director Tandin Dorji was not all smooth sailing.
His father died after he fin­ished class [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 22 May 2010

May 22, 2010 - From

International Sources

‘All Points Bulletin’ (ALL) Steam Pre-Order Gets You Early Access … – WorthPlaying.com
APB takes the universal theme of Criminals and Enforcers and brings it to a persistent, open-world, online multiplayer setting in the modern, crime-ridden fictional city of San Paro. Some players will achieve notoriety by feeding on the city, its …    [read more]

APB Steam Pre-Order Includes Early Access & Exclusive … – Ve3d.com
Many will become Criminals, supporting themselves by feeding on the citizens of San Paro. Other players will choose to join the Enforcers – and feed on the Criminals. Every single player will be unique, thanks to APB’s cutting-edge customization …    [read more]

Global food crisis (CE) – Reliefweb.int
Updates on Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Armenia, Bahamas (the), Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cambodia, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic (the), Chad, China, Colombia, Comoros …    [read more]

Five Ethically Challenged Countries for the Adventure … – Associated Content
Reason Not to Go : The CAVR report shows that a wide array of human rights violations during the period of 1974 through 1999 has gone unpunished. Little has been done to deliver justice to the East Timorese people. Reason to Go: The Kingdom of Bhutan …    [read more]

Obama’s Empty Gestures – Front Page
The only area to show overall improvement was the Asia-Pacific region, spurred by notable gains in South Asia that included status changes in Bangladesh and Bhutan from Not Free to Partly Free and a numerical score jump for the Maldives.    [read more]

Nessacus Honor Roll – Berkshire Eagle
… Jocelyn Lussier, Shaylynn MacHaffie, Ryan Maffuccio, Pukhraj Mann, Ella Markowitz, Alexandra Massaro, Jaryd Massaro, Marisa Massaro, Catherine May, Juliane McBain, Haley Nesbit, Christopher Paro, Dalton Peck, Erica Perrea, Brendan Pugh, Brittany …    [read more]

Stay Connected with State.gov – U.S. Department of State
Travels to Nepal, Bhutan, and China ; Office of the Spokesman; Washington, DC -04/23/10 Roundtable Discussion on Responsible Agricultural Investment (RAI) ; Office of the Spokesman; Washington, DC -04/23/10 Secretary Clinton to Deliver Remarks at the …    [read more]

LAHDC for enhancing reservation quota for Leh – GroundReport
The Executive Councilor Health, Tsering Wangchuk said in the meeting that the infrastructures and equipments for Sub District Hospital at Khaltsi and Nyoma have already came up, therefore he requested the Minister for taking necessary measures at …    [read more]

Somebody needs you – Twin Falls Times-News
Donations — The College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center is in need of a guitar for one of the Bhutanese refugees, as well as a crib, rugs, washers and dryers, dishes and kitchen items, and gentle used clothing. The center also needs volunteers to …    [read more]

Clash Over Cement Factory – Radio Free Asia
Tibetan service director: Jigme Ngapo. Mandarin service director: Jennifer Chou. Translated from the Tibetan by Karma Dorjee and from the Mandarin by Ping Chen. Written for the Web in English by Sarah Jackson-Han.    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Stationery budget halved
Reducing misuse by limiting supplies

22 May, 2010 – In a move to reduce misuse of office stationery, the government will be halving the annual stationery budget starting from the next fiscal year in July.

This was decided after the cabinet secretariat found that there was misuse of government stationery, especially in urban centres. The cabinet decided to slash the budget for all government offices and autonomous agencies across the country.
   [read more]

Not our man any more
Village file complaint against gup, request new election

Makron, Ura, Bumthang 22 May, 2010 – Villagers of Makrong in Ura have filed a complaint against their gup with the dzongkhag administration and requested for an election to choose a new leader.    [read more]

DHI looks for options
22 May, 2010 – The Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) has shortlisted six education consultants and is looking at similar concepts of an education city which have been implemented in other countries according to DHI chairman, Om Pradhan.    [read more]

Made in Bhutan
Computer Manufacture 22 May, 2010 – Bhutan will finally have its own manufacturing unit for laptops, PC computers and servers by June next year for a “made in Bhutan” computer, according to Infosoft solution officials, dealing with software development in the country. HCL Infosystem, which agreed to venture with a local private sector to that effect, involved eight eminent private sectors from Bhutan to explore the possibility of collaborating with them to set up a computer manufacturing plant in Bhutan.
   [read more]

Preferential treatment resented
On Campus Recruitment 22 May, 2010 – The initiation of on-campus recruitment in some of the Bhutanese colleges has caused concern among hundreds of graduates, who fret the system might further pare down their chances of employment in an already thinning job market.    [read more]

A bond but not the bent
22 May, 2010 – That a number of Bhutanese students are sent abroad for higher and professional education never fails to draw envy from people elsewhere.    [read more]

Divestment is govt.’s decision to make
A clear framework of what’s being done with the companies

DHI Ownership Policy 22 May, 2010 – It is not clear yet if Druk Holding and Investment will divest the shares of Bhutan Telecom and Bank of Bhutan, although rumours are rife that the two subsidiaries are planning to divest.
   [read more]

Surge in freight charges
SCI restriction on overloaded trucks being enforced on Assam highways

Road Transport 21 May, 2010 – Transportation costs via India highways to eastern Bhutan have reportedly surged by 60 to 80 percent, following a recent notification from the commissioner of transport in Guwahati, Assam, to strictly comply with the Supreme Court of India’s order restricting overloaded trucks plying the national highway network.    [read more]

Water bill to get an airing
Eight bills to be introduced in 5-week session starting May 28

National Assembly 21 May, 2010 – Eight bills, including a bill that will make water resources national property, will be deliberated upon during the fifth session of the National Assembly (NA) beginning May 28.    [read more]

Picture story

21 May, 2010 – Land Filled S/J residents want a site that’s fenced off and inaccessible to scavengers.

Photo by Tshering    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

On HPV vaccine
Do not fear HPV vaccine
This is with regard to last week’s Bhutan Observer sto­ry How safe is HPV vaccine? Please do not fear the HPV vaccine or vaccinations in general. Please read this news report with some scepticism. Here is where you can get the most accurate information available (The Center for Dis­ease Control, USA): [...]    [read more]

Unregistered medicines
The Drug Regulatory Author­ity (DRA) has stopped the entry of unregistered medi­cines into the country from March 31 this year to ensure the safety, quality and effi­cacy of medicines. But people still come to pharmacies with prescriptions of unregistered medicines, according to phar­macists.
Most pharmacists said many people go back empty-handed because the medi­cines prescribed by [...]    [read more]

Teacher commits suicide
A 46 year-old teacher of Tsebar Lower Second­ary School in Pemagat­shel committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree in the early hours of May 15, at his home in Tsebar Du­wang. The deceased, Pema Dorji, who was from Tsebar village, was said to be a reclu­sive man all his life. However, he never showed [...]    [read more]

Hundreds attend Guru Tshewang
Hundreds of devotees attended Guru Tshewang ceremony performed
by HH Jangtruel Rinpoche last week at the Memorial Chorten in Thimphu. At the wang ceremony, explaining the ill-effects of intoxicants, Rinpoche called upon the youth to refrain from alcohol and drugs abuse.
   [read more]

Changankha reach final of U-13 girls’ tournament
Changangkha Lower Second­ary School de­feated Khasa­drapchu Middle Secondary School in a thrilling penalty shootout to book their place in the final of under-13 girls’ foot­ball tournament on May 19 in Thim­phu.
The match kicked off with respective support­ers cheering for their teams. Both the teams tried hard but the match remained a goall­ess draw till the [...]    [read more]

Discipline
Discipline is the most indispensable quality of life and plays a great role. It is the backbone of character. Discipline comes from the Latin word “disciplinare” which means to teach. Thus, dis­cipline means a training that teaches self-control, obedience, cooperation and orderliness.
Discipline plays an important role everywhere in school, family and office. Every object of [...]    [read more]

The self-made music ace
He has had no formal training, but he is one of the best music directors in the country. He has won eight awards, includ­ing the best music composer and best background score, in the recent film awards.
But the journey for music director Tandin Dorji was not all smooth sailing.
His father died after he fin­ished class [...]    [read more]

Ancient men, modern deities
Namgay Tshering finds out why a small community in Thimphu still propitiates two legendary men for irrigation water
The small community of Wang Jamdo Wom in Thimphu is still hostage to its legacy. The farmers have to offer prayers to Ap Wang Drukgay and Ap Chundu, two of the community’s legendary figures, for irrigation water.
Village elders [...]    [read more]

New procurement system to reduce construction problems
The new procurement system of the finance ministry fol­lowed by College of Science and Technology in Phuent­sholing for constructing two new buildings is expected to help reduce construction flaws, assure quality control and minimise expenditure.
In the new procurement system, a lump sum contract is awarded to contractors un­like in the old system where contracts were [...]    [read more]

PM meets German special envoy
Ambassador Han-Joachin Daerr, the special envoy to German Chancellor Angela Merkel, called on Prime Minister yesterday, May 20. The two discussed a range of issues including the relation
between the two countries, the ongoing financial crisis in Greece and disaster management. They also exchanged opinions
on the role and membership of United Nation’s Security Council.
   [read more]