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Bhutan News archive for 30 June 2010

June 30, 2010 - From

International Sources

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Is our food safe?
The answer to that question is: we don’t know … yet

Persistent Organic Pollutants 30 June, 2010 – Bhutanese could be consuming unacceptable amounts of pesticides, industrial chemicals, and other harmful toxins every time they eat imported food, says a UNDP official.
   [read more]

Minor but extensive
Update 30 June, 2010 – The heavy downpours on June 26 and 27 had damaged about 18 farm roads, seven bridges, eight irrigation channels and three rural houses in various dzongkhags, say government officials.    [read more]

Picture Story

30 June, 2010 – Bhutan’s largest thongdroel, depicting the 8th century Nyingma master, Guru Padmasambhava, as Ngangsoed Zilnon, unfurled at the Tashichhodzong yesterday morning
   [read more]

Boy’s dormitory burnt
Mendrelgang MSS 30 June, 2010 – Students in Mendrelgang MSS, previously known as Lamidara, could not sit for their last mid-term exam yesterday afternoon, after a fire broke out in the boys dormitory.    [read more]

Plaintiff to be paid damages
Court rules in favour of defamed woman

Bhutan Today 30 June, 2010 – Thimphu district court yesterday ordered Bhutan Today, a daily news organisation, and its former reporter, to pay Nu 36,000 each for publishing a defamatory article against a woman.    [read more]

To revoke or to suspend work?
Anti Corruption Commission 30 June, 2010 – A particular provision mandating the anti-corruption commission to revoke work secured through corrupt means whipped up a momentary disagreement among the otherwise mostly agreeing national council members yesterday.    [read more]

Coming out with the wash
30 June, 2010 – The year’s first heavy downpour, which marked the start of the monsoon, besides baring sloppy workmanship also exposed the darker side of the city’s residents.    [read more]

Monsoon spark hopes
For farmers wholly dependent on nature, the monsoon promises much
Water Of Life: Back breaking but better than nothing

Radhi, Trashigang 30 June, 2010 – Heavy rains on June 26 and 27 might have blocked roads, washed away bridges, and disrupted construction work, but Radhi farmers welcomed the rain with open hands.    [read more]

On track to meet new October deadline
Yonphula Airstrip: Work in progress

Yonphula Domestic Airport 30 June, 2010 – Work on the Yonphula domestic airport is still continuing, despite a suspension order from the national environment commission (NEC), to complete by the new deadline of October this year.    [read more]

A classroom closer to home
Tendrelgang Extended School 30 June, 2010 – At the end of the Tang valley in Bumthang, Tendrelgang village stands among silent and majestic hills and the dense forest.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Electric cookers save fuelwood
The use of electric oven and cooking pots has consider­ably cut down the emission of harmful gases. Institutes and organiza­tions using electric ovens and cooking pots have saved 20 to 30 truckloads of firewood yearly, reducing demand for firewood. Bumthang Bukhari, which makes electric ovens and cooking pots, has supplied the products to 15 monasteries [...]    [read more]

Gewog submits drastic proposal
In view of the grav­ity of water problem in Pemagatshel villages, Shumar Gup proposed to the dzongkhag to have a stricter measure in place to protect water sources. He proposed that, in the interest of the larger community, all the water sources and catchment areas be mapped separately from individual landholdings during the upcoming cadas­tral [...]    [read more]

Car buyers feel tax hike heat
The State Trading Corpo­ration of Bhutan Limited (STCBL) has written an ap­peal to the finance ministry asking exemption from the revised taxes for active ve­hicle orders after their clients wanted to cancel orders. Dorji Namgay, the Manag­ing Director of STCBL, said the revision of taxes had caused serious problems with their clients as most of [...]    [read more]

Bhutan wins bronze in bodybuilding
The Bhutanese bodybuilding team returned home with a bronze medal from the 7th South Asian Men’s Bodybuilding Championship held in Nepal from June 17 to 20. From the four Bhutanese participants, Tshering Dorji, Mr Bhutan, won a bronze medal in the under 75 kg category. Some 75 contestants from the South Asian countries participated in [...]    [read more]

Industrial estate pollutes villages
Before the establish­ment of Pasakha Industrial Estate, people of seven villages near the industrial estate were so happy as if heaven had fallen on them. They were happy that they would be connected to road which will ease their travel and cash crop busi­ness. They thought that it was the end of isolation for them. [...]    [read more]

Tobacco users and the ban
Sir, History recorded Bhutan as the first country in the world to ban tobacco in 2004. Since then, the government has initi­ated a lot of activities ranging from advocacy campaigns on the ill effects to the enforce­ment of stringent rules in en­suring the ban in the country. Despite all these, black mar­ket started to flourish [...]    [read more]

Lack of financial access impedes SME growth
Lack of access to finance is one of the key impediments to various small and medium sized firms in the country, according to the World Bank’s Investment Climate Assess­ment (ICA). Out of 250 firms surveyed, 27.7 percent of the firms reported access to finance as one of the key obstacles in doing business. 37 percent [...]    [read more]

Youth and Technology in Bhutan
The youth of today are fond of using gadgets like mobile phones, walkmans, iPods and mp3 players. Urban youth have more access to them unlike the youth in the rural areas. Technology, one of the branches of science has become a crucial device for the urban population which com­prises of mostly youth. Technology is not [...]    [read more]

Could we not make the best of our wastes?
Up until now, we have blamed the lack of alternative for plastic bags as the cause of failure of the plastic ban. Now that the alternative has finally come, in the form of reusable jute bags, we will have one less thing to blame. Although it will give us some measure of relief to see [...]    [read more]

Halam Chi wins veteran basketball championship
Halam Chi trounced Re-Unit­ed in the final of the ongoing Veteran Basketball Champion­ship. The usually quiet Swim­ming Pool Complex’s basket­ball court buzzed with cheers and shouts from the pavilions occupied by the veteran players’ families, friends, and basketball enthusiasts who had come to witness the finals on the evening of June 22. The veterans ran [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 29 June 2010

June 29, 2010 - From

International Sources

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

To beat the housing problem
Social And Cultural Affairs Committee 29 June, 2010 – The two of the country’s most populated urban areas, Thimphu and Phuentsholing together will require more than 17,000 units to accommodate the ever-increasing population.
   [read more]

Sand from this September
Feasibility study finds location viable

Khanghari Quarry 29 June, 2010 – Contractors and local communities in Nganglam, Pemagatshel are eagerly looking forward to the government’s permit to lift sand from Khanghari quarry near Manas river in Nganglam. It would save them from having to travel across the Indian border of Assam, about 65 km from Khanghari, to fetch sand.
   [read more]

Wall collapse kills schoolgirl
Rain Damage : The wall was described as an accident waiting to happen

29 June, 2010 – A 15-year old student of Lungtenzampa middle secondary school was killed just outside her home in lower Mothithang yesterday, when a neighbour’s brick wall, about six feet high, suddenly crumbled and fell on her.
   [read more]

Altitude sickness claims one life
29 June, 2010 – A member of the lake Thorthormi mitigation team died last week of altitude sickness, according to health officials in Laya.
   [read more]

Bumthang earns a drop-in centre
The dzongkhag was placed fifth in terms of number of abusers

Int’l Day Against Drug Abuse 2010: Her Majesty the Queen Mother Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck inaugurated the centre on June 26

National Baseline Assessment 2009 29 June, 2010 – With about 42 drug abusers in the dzongkhag, Bumthang, the country’s spiritual hub, has earned the notoriety of ranking fifth in terms of number of drug abusers in the country.
   [read more]

Guru thongdroel consecration
29 June, 2010 – His Holiness the Je Khenpo will consecrate Bhutan’s largest thongdroel, depicting the 8th century Nyingma master, Guru Padmasambhava, as Ngangsoed Zilnon, at the Tashichhodzong today.
   [read more]

Money ill spent
29 June, 2010 – June is a busy month. It is all about beginnings and endings. We are closing our annual accounts. The monsoon is beginning and planting the last rice seedling should end before the month or we will reap a bad harvest.
   [read more]

10 percent growth rate projected
Construction activity main driver of economy for next three years

2010-11 Budget Report 29 June, 2010 – The Bhutanese economy is expected to grow at 10 percent and beyond in the remaining three years of the current plan, largely because of construction activity, spurred by building of the hydropower projects, according to the 2010-11 budget report.
   [read more]

Capital’s fifth park in
Good & Green: A nominal fee will be charged to cover maintenance costs

29 June, 2010 –
The more parks the capital city has, the more its recreational use both among the young and the elderly, who utilise the space for picnics, birthday celebrations and play.
   [read more]

Women on top
Rangjung Institute Of Electrical Engineering 29 June, 2010 – Women grabbed the top positions among the 97 trainees, who graduated from the Rangjung institute of electrical engineering (RIEE) yesterday.
   [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Car buyers feel tax hike heat
The State Trading Corpo­ration of Bhutan Limited (STCBL) has written an ap­peal to the finance ministry asking exemption from the revised taxes for active ve­hicle orders after their clients wanted to cancel orders. Dorji Namgay, the Manag­ing Director of STCBL, said the revision of taxes had caused serious problems with their clients as most of [...]    [read more]

Bhutan wins bronze in bodybuilding
The Bhutanese bodybuilding team returned home with a bronze medal from the 7th South Asian Men’s Bodybuilding Championship held in Nepal from June 17 to 20. From the four Bhutanese participants, Tshering Dorji, Mr Bhutan, won a bronze medal in the under 75 kg category. Some 75 contestants from the South Asian countries participated in [...]    [read more]

Industrial estate pollutes villages
Before the establish­ment of Pasakha Industrial Estate, people of seven villages near the industrial estate were so happy as if heaven had fallen on them. They were happy that they would be connected to road which will ease their travel and cash crop busi­ness. They thought that it was the end of isolation for them. [...]    [read more]

Tobacco users and the ban
Sir, History recorded Bhutan as the first country in the world to ban tobacco in 2004. Since then, the government has initi­ated a lot of activities ranging from advocacy campaigns on the ill effects to the enforce­ment of stringent rules in en­suring the ban in the country. Despite all these, black mar­ket started to flourish [...]    [read more]

Lack of financial access impedes SME growth
Lack of access to finance is one of the key impediments to various small and medium sized firms in the country, according to the World Bank’s Investment Climate Assess­ment (ICA). Out of 250 firms surveyed, 27.7 percent of the firms reported access to finance as one of the key obstacles in doing business. 37 percent [...]    [read more]

Youth and Technology in Bhutan
The youth of today are fond of using gadgets like mobile phones, walkmans, iPods and mp3 players. Urban youth have more access to them unlike the youth in the rural areas. Technology, one of the branches of science has become a crucial device for the urban population which com­prises of mostly youth. Technology is not [...]    [read more]

Could we not make the best of our wastes?
Up until now, we have blamed the lack of alternative for plastic bags as the cause of failure of the plastic ban. Now that the alternative has finally come, in the form of reusable jute bags, we will have one less thing to blame. Although it will give us some measure of relief to see [...]    [read more]

Halam Chi wins veteran basketball championship
Halam Chi trounced Re-Unit­ed in the final of the ongoing Veteran Basketball Champion­ship. The usually quiet Swim­ming Pool Complex’s basket­ball court buzzed with cheers and shouts from the pavilions occupied by the veteran players’ families, friends, and basketball enthusiasts who had come to witness the finals on the evening of June 22. The veterans ran [...]    [read more]

Copyright law enforcement seeks criminal sanction
At a consultative deliberation on copyright enforcement in Thimphu yesterday, stake­holders called for necessary amendment of a clause in the Penal Code which handicaps institutional arrangements to deal with copyright infringe­ments. The officiating director of Intellectual Property Divi­sion said section 28 and 30 of the Copyright Act must be included in the Penal Code. “We [...]    [read more]

Off-hour clinic: A blow to GNH
Individual happiness that totals up to gross cumu­lative happiness of the nation rests upon how healthy every single citizen is. In other words, health is the nucleus of GNH. The dynamic con­cept of GNH would not have evolved so far if its essence did emphasize money as the prime source of happiness and ignored other [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 28 June 2010

June 28, 2010 - From

International Sources

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

What’s In A Name?
Plenty, if it’s your brand new baby

23 June, 2010 – There are no word games that beat the mental exercise one gets when deciding a name for a newborn. Wouldn’t you rather play scrabble with a set number of alphabets than rattle your brain trying to almost concoct a perfect name that’s unique from the Dawas, Dorjis, Kinleys, Demas and Wangmos of Bhutan?    [read more]

Commuting on his own steam

23 June, 2010 – Ten years of cycling definitely pays and it shows on Pema Rinchen, 43, who is healthy and physically fit. He manoeuvres the winding potholed roads, traffic, pedestrians and dogs of Thimphu city five times a week.    [read more]

Here comes the fishes

23 June, 2010 – In the language of Feng shui, water is the element of peace and harmony, and what better way to have the element in your living room or office than in a colourful aquarium with exotic fishes.
   [read more]

A valuable lesson
Class VI A of Jigme Losel Primary School, Thimphu 2010

23 June, 2010 – It was a day for gifts, inspiration, and a valuable lesson for about 120 students of Jigme Namgyel primary school in Thimphu, when His Majesty the King visited their school, interacted, shared his personal experiences with them and set them a task.

   [read more]

Monsoon mayhem nationwide
Heavy rain comes as a relief but with the usual disruption
Heavy rains washed away a portion of the Dagana-Sunkosh road at Phapharkhetey

28 June, 2010 – More rain is expected in most parts of the country today, even as heavy and slightly heavy rainfall swept over several areas yesterday, causing landslides, roadblocks, swelling rivers and bringing construction work to a halt.    [read more]

Second price hike in six months
Deregulation in India sparks rise

28 June, 2010 – The price of petrol and diesel will see frequent fluctuations with the Indian government on Friday deregulating petrol pricing and with plans to do the same for diesel.    [read more]

Chamkhar branch to come on board
Core Banking System 28 June, 2010 – Residents of Chamkhar, Bumthang, will have to wait until August 23 before they can start using the automated teller machine (ATM) services to withdraw money.    [read more]

Bhutan to host ministerial meeting
Home Minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji and Afghanistan’s Interior Minister Munir Mangal (second from right) looks on as Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani (right) shakes hands with India’s Home Minister P Chidambaram before the conference in Islamabad on June 26. AFP.

28 June, 2010 – The third SAARC home ministers’ conference in Islamabad on June 26 adopted the Islamabad statement on cooperation against terrorism, which reiterates the resolve to further strengthen cooperation to fight and eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations through coordinated and concerted response.    [read more]

It never rains, it pours
28 June, 2010 – As if to make up for the delay, the skies opened with a vengeance early yesterday morning, bringing the first heavy showers and announcing the arrival of the much-awaited monsoon.    [read more]

Trashigang town worried about youths
Youth with little else to do find mischief
Small Town Big Problems: Trashigang town is seeing many youth related issues

Trashigang Town 28 June, 2010 – Of late, Trashigang town has witnessed a spate of criminal activities; from burglary to vandalism and trespassing, to causing nuisance to residents at night.

Recently, the office of the Trashigang middle secondary school was broken into and Nu 17,700 was stolen.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Bhutan wins bronze in bodybuilding
The Bhutanese bodybuilding team returned home with a bronze medal from the 7th South Asian Men’s Bodybuilding Championship held in Nepal from June 17 to 20.
From the four Bhutanese participants, Tshering Dorji, Mr Bhutan, won a bronze medal in the under 75 kg category.
Some 75 contestants from the South Asian countries participated in nine different [...]    [read more]

Industrial estate pollutes villages
Before the establish­ment of Pasakha Industrial Estate, people of seven villages near the industrial estate were so happy as if heaven had fallen on them. They were happy that they would be connected to road which will ease their travel and cash crop busi­ness. They thought that it was the end of isolation for them. [...]    [read more]

Tobacco users and the ban
Sir,
History recorded Bhutan as the first country in the world to ban tobacco in 2004. Since then, the government has initi­ated a lot of activities ranging from advocacy campaigns on the ill effects to the enforce­ment of stringent rules in en­suring the ban in the country.
Despite all these, black mar­ket started to flourish in the [...]    [read more]

Lack of financial access impedes SME growth
Lack of access to finance is one of the key impediments to various small and medium sized firms in the country, according to the World Bank’s Investment Climate Assess­ment (ICA).
Out of 250 firms surveyed, 27.7 percent of the firms reported access to finance as one of the key obstacles in doing business. 37 percent of [...]    [read more]

Youth and Technology in Bhutan
The youth of today are fond of using gadgets like mobile phones, walkmans, iPods and mp3 players. Urban youth have more access to them unlike the youth in the rural areas. Technology, one of the branches of science has become a crucial device for the urban population which com­prises of mostly youth. Technology is not [...]    [read more]

Could we not make the best of our wastes?
Up until now, we have blamed the lack of alternative for plastic bags as the cause of failure of the plastic ban. Now that the alternative has finally come, in the form of reusable jute bags, we will have one less thing to blame. Although it will give us some measure of relief to see [...]    [read more]

Halam Chi wins veteran basketball championship
Halam Chi trounced Re-Unit­ed in the final of the ongoing Veteran Basketball Champion­ship.
The usually quiet Swim­ming Pool Complex’s basket­ball court buzzed with cheers and shouts from the pavilions occupied by the veteran players’ families, friends, and basketball enthusiasts who had come to witness the finals on the evening of June 22.
The veterans ran the court [...]    [read more]

Copyright law enforcement seeks criminal sanction
At a consultative deliberation on copyright enforcement in Thimphu yesterday, stake­holders called for necessary amendment of a clause in the Penal Code which handicaps institutional arrangements to deal with copyright infringe­ments.
The officiating director of Intellectual Property Divi­sion said section 28 and 30 of the Copyright Act must be included in the Penal Code.
“We will submit [...]    [read more]

Off-hour clinic: A blow to GNH
Individual happiness that totals up to gross cumu­lative happiness of the nation rests upon how healthy every single citizen is. In other words, health is the nucleus of GNH. The dynamic con­cept of GNH would not have evolved so far if its essence did emphasize money as the prime source of happiness and ignored other [...]    [read more]

Towards cost reduction
To ensure that the cost of recurrent expenditure is met from internal resources of the country, the government wants its agencies to adopt cost cutting measures from the coming financial year, starting July 1.
According to the recent notification issued by the Min­istry of Finance (MoF) to the various government agencies, the budget for 2010-2011 office [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 27 June 2010

June 27, 2010 - From

International Sources

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

2010 – 11 budget highlights
Social services get the lion’s share, as usual

27 June, 2010 – In keeping with past trends, the social service sector, health and education, has the highest allocation, with an outlay of Nu 8.21B, which is 23 percent of the 2010-11 budget.    [read more]

On the ‘Divine Madman’s trail
Prayer flags outside the Carpenters’ log house

27 June, 2010 – Their knowledge on Bhutan’s culture could put the locals to shame. They have combed and trekked Bhutan 18 times in 11 years.    [read more]

Where is Guru Rinpoche’s Bhutan?
Part 2 of 4 Condensed from Dasho Karma Ura’s forthcoming booklet

PERSPECTIVES 27 June, 2010 – Mon Kings and
Mon Consort

V
ery little about economic and social conditions in Bhutan are recorded in the Hagiography of Sindharaza or old terma writings. There are, however, nuggets of other information. Gold dust was the high currency. Sindharaza sent escorts with pouches of gold dust to fetch Guru from India. Silk seems to have reached the court of Sindharaza.    [read more]

Gyalpoizhing going to seed

27 June, 2010 – About a kilometre before reaching the Kurichu hydro project is the Gyalpoizhing town. The recently developed town, with streetlights, public toilets and vegetable sheds, is not in such good shape though.    [read more]

All for one good cause
10-day long distance clean-up from Kanglung to Paro
For a cause: Sherubtse students clean up in Trashigang

Sherubtse College 27 June, 2010 – Fifty four students and lecturers, including 14 women, started a ten-day cleaning mission yesterday. They will sweep clean the highway and towns and villages on route from Kanglung to Paro.    [read more]

Picture Story

Green for Green: Twenty male and five female foresters graduated yesterday from the Ugyen Wangchuck Institute for Conservation and Environment (UWICE) after completing a one-year certificate course in forest protection and conservation.
   [read more]

Beating the June 30 deadline
Frantic activity to meet the financial year ending

26 June, 2010 – Farmers in Drujeygang gewog in Dagana worked unusually long hours until dusk this month, rushing to build an irrigation channel. The gup mobilised men and women from almost 300 households and on June 15, the Nu 800,000 worth irrigation channel was completed. It took them about 25 days.    [read more]

Picture Story

26 June, 2010 – A Wang family moves to Punakha for Changla (paddy transplantation) with their cattle after completing Changla in Thimphu. Photo by Damchho Tshering    [read more]

Treasury bills to fill resource gap
Meeting the shortfall through internal borrowing

2010-11 Budget Report 26 June, 2010 – The government will resort to issuing treasury bills to meet the resource gap of Nu 3.8B in the coming financial year, according to the 2010-11 budget report, the presentation of which began in the National Assembly yesterday.    [read more]

Bilingual point man in ministries
Annual DDC Conference 26 June, 2010 – The presence of a bilingual senior official in government ministries is important if the government is to promote the national language, Dzongkha, according to Dzongkha development commission (DDC) secretary Dasho Sherab Gyeltshen.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Youth and Technology in Bhutan
The youth of today are fond of using gadgets like mobile phones, walkmans, iPods and mp3 players. Urban youth have more access to them unlike the youth in the rural areas. Technology, one of the branches of science has become a crucial device for the urban population which com­prises of mostly youth. Technology is not [...]    [read more]

Could we not make the best of our wastes?
Up until now, we have blamed the lack of alternative for plastic bags as the cause of failure of the plastic ban. Now that the alternative has finally come, in the form of reusable jute bags, we will have one less thing to blame. Although it will give us some measure of relief to see [...]    [read more]

Halam Chi wins veteran basketball championship
Halam Chi trounced Re-Unit­ed in the final of the ongoing Veteran Basketball Champion­ship.
The usually quiet Swim­ming Pool Complex’s basket­ball court buzzed with cheers and shouts from the pavilions occupied by the veteran players’ families, friends, and basketball enthusiasts who had come to witness the finals on the evening of June 22.
The veterans ran the court [...]    [read more]

Copyright law enforcement seeks criminal sanction
At a consultative deliberation on copyright enforcement in Thimphu yesterday, stake­holders called for necessary amendment of a clause in the Penal Code which handicaps institutional arrangements to deal with copyright infringe­ments.
The officiating director of Intellectual Property Divi­sion said section 28 and 30 of the Copyright Act must be included in the Penal Code.
“We will submit [...]    [read more]

Off-hour clinic: A blow to GNH
Individual happiness that totals up to gross cumu­lative happiness of the nation rests upon how healthy every single citizen is. In other words, health is the nucleus of GNH. The dynamic con­cept of GNH would not have evolved so far if its essence did emphasize money as the prime source of happiness and ignored other [...]    [read more]

Towards cost reduction
To ensure that the cost of recurrent expenditure is met from internal resources of the country, the government wants its agencies to adopt cost cutting measures from the coming financial year, starting July 1.
According to the recent notification issued by the Min­istry of Finance (MoF) to the various government agencies, the budget for 2010-2011 office [...]    [read more]

Working mothers and bottle fed babies
Do the Bhutanese working mothers have enough time to breastfeed their children? Kezang Dorji finds out
Karma, a private em­ployee and mother of a two-month-old child, has routinely breastfed her child for only one month. After she joined the office after the month-long mater­nity leave, she has hardly got time to breastfeed her baby. She has [...]    [read more]

Jails need to improve, say MPs
The human rights commit­tee of the National Assembly yesterday submitted a series of observations and recommen­dations on jails and detention centres in the country.
Presenting the five-member committee’s report, Chairper­son Damcho Dorji submitted that all jails and detention centres in the country lacked infrastructural facilities. He said overcrowding was com­mon in jails and detention centres across [...]    [read more]

Teacher graduates to sit RCSC exam
From this year, teacher gradu­ates will have to sit for an RCSC common exam to enter the civil service.
This move is expected to improve the current teacher recruitment and deployment process, including developing strategies to ensure that only committed and competent teachers take up the profes­sion.
The exam, which will be tailor-made for teacher gradu­ates, will [...]    [read more]

NC turns down FDI land ownership
Economic Affairs Committee of the National Council, in its report on the impact of foreign land ownership yesterday, said that the policy of granting land ownership to foreign di­rect investment (FDI) should be revoked.
The committee chairperson said granting land ownership to FDIs could hamper policy of the government and the coun­try. The recently launched FDI [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 26 June 2010

June 26, 2010 - From

International Sources

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Beating the June 30 deadline
Frantic activity to meet the financial year ending

26 June, 2010 – Farmers in Drujeygang gewog in Dagana worked unusually long hours until dusk this month, rushing to build an irrigation channel. The gup mobilised men and women from almost 300 households and on June 15, the Nu 800,000 worth irrigation channel was completed. It took them about 25 days.    [read more]

Picture Story

26 June, 2010 – A Wang family moves to Punakha for Changla (paddy transplantation) with their cattle after completing Changla in Thimphu. Photo by Damchho Tshering    [read more]

Treasury bills to fill resource gap
Meeting the shortfall through internal borrowing

2010-11 Budget Report 26 June, 2010 – The government will resort to issuing treasury bills to meet the resource gap of Nu 3.8B in the coming financial year, according to the 2010-11 budget report, the presentation of which began in the National Assembly yesterday.    [read more]

Bilingual point man in ministries
Annual DDC Conference 26 June, 2010 – The presence of a bilingual senior official in government ministries is important if the government is to promote the national language, Dzongkha, according to Dzongkha development commission (DDC) secretary Dasho Sherab Gyeltshen.    [read more]

Preliminary appeal hearing held
Samtse Mining Case 26 June, 2010 – The recently appointed high court justices conducted yesterday a preliminary hearing on the Samtse mining case – one of the most controversial corruption cases in recent years.    [read more]

When did you order your car?
26 June, 2010 – Vehicles that had been ordered and advance paid to dealers before or on June 16 will not be subjected to the revised sales tax and customs duty, according to a recent notification from the finance ministry.    [read more]

A double take on FDI
26 June, 2010 – Lack of capital and expertise, juxtaposed with the need to create employment and generate income, has set the government on an ambitious goal towards unprecedented economic development endeavours.    [read more]

Meeting the promises made
Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu

Question Hour 26 June, 2010 – With just over two years until the first democratically elected government’s term ends, some of its members are beginning to feel the pressure of not being able to fulfill the promises they made to their constituency electorates.    [read more]

Landowners and tenants to be compensated
Work can now start by July next year

Langjophakha Local Area 26 June, 2010 – Work on developing Langjophakha as a well-planned urban town could start from July next year, with the resettlement action plan for affected landowners and tenants finalised and disclosed to landowners.    [read more]

Sowing the seeds of modern Bhutan
A 20-point letter from King Ugyen Wangchuck to the Viceroy of India in 1921
In this rare photo the first King, Ugyen Wangchuck, is seen standing with a stick and wearing a hat near the long wall stupa in Chendebji near Trongsa. John Claude White, British Political Officer took this photo in 1905 during his trip to Bhutan. (Royal Geographical Society)

26 June, 2010 – “Bhutan is at present a poor and a backward country. Until recent years it suffered frequently from internal struggles, which depopulated and ruined the country,” wrote King Ugyen Wangchuck (1862-1926), the first Druk Gyalpo, to the Viceroy of India dated September 5, 1921.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Copyright law enforcement seeks criminal sanction
At a consultative deliberation on copyright enforcement in Thimphu yesterday, stake­holders called for necessary amendment of a clause in the Penal Code which handicaps institutional arrangements to deal with copyright infringe­ments.
The officiating director of Intellectual Property Divi­sion said section 28 and 30 of the Copyright Act must be included in the Penal Code.
“We will submit [...]    [read more]

Off-hour clinic: A blow to GNH
Individual happiness that totals up to gross cumu­lative happiness of the nation rests upon how healthy every single citizen is. In other words, health is the nucleus of GNH. The dynamic con­cept of GNH would not have evolved so far if its essence did emphasize money as the prime source of happiness and ignored other [...]    [read more]

Towards cost reduction
To ensure that the cost of recurrent expenditure is met from internal resources of the country, the government wants its agencies to adopt cost cutting measures from the coming financial year, starting July 1.
According to the recent notification issued by the Min­istry of Finance (MoF) to the various government agencies, the budget for 2010-2011 office [...]    [read more]

Working mothers and bottle fed babies
Do the Bhutanese working mothers have enough time to breastfeed their children? Kezang Dorji finds out
Karma, a private em­ployee and mother of a two-month-old child, has routinely breastfed her child for only one month. After she joined the office after the month-long mater­nity leave, she has hardly got time to breastfeed her baby. She has [...]    [read more]

Jails need to improve, say MPs
The human rights commit­tee of the National Assembly yesterday submitted a series of observations and recommen­dations on jails and detention centres in the country.
Presenting the five-member committee’s report, Chairper­son Damcho Dorji submitted that all jails and detention centres in the country lacked infrastructural facilities. He said overcrowding was com­mon in jails and detention centres across [...]    [read more]

Teacher graduates to sit RCSC exam
From this year, teacher gradu­ates will have to sit for an RCSC common exam to enter the civil service.
This move is expected to improve the current teacher recruitment and deployment process, including developing strategies to ensure that only committed and competent teachers take up the profes­sion.
The exam, which will be tailor-made for teacher gradu­ates, will [...]    [read more]

NC turns down FDI land ownership
Economic Affairs Committee of the National Council, in its report on the impact of foreign land ownership yesterday, said that the policy of granting land ownership to foreign di­rect investment (FDI) should be revoked.
The committee chairperson said granting land ownership to FDIs could hamper policy of the government and the coun­try. The recently launched FDI [...]    [read more]


   [read more]


   [read more]

UN global photo contest
The UNDP-Olympus-AFP Foundation will organise a global photo contest with the theme Picture This: We can end poverty. All amateur and professional photographers worldwide can enter the contest. The winning photo will be exhibited during the UN MDG Summit and UN General Assembly in September, 2010, in New York, when world leaders will meet to [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 25 June 2010

June 25, 2010 - From

International Sources

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Fears of foreign land ownership
NC points out dire consequences of such a policy

Foreign Direct Investment 25 June, 2010 – National council members yesterday unanimously agreed that land ownership in the country by foreign direct investment (FDI) companies should be disallowed.    [read more]

The plight of our prisons
Report points out need to reform and presents a list of recommendations

Human Rights Committee 25 June, 2010 – Former convicts should be entitled to security clearance certificates, so that they are not deprived of the opportunity to start a new life, according to the national assembly’s (NA) human rights committee.    [read more]

Land hurdle crossed
With the last block cleared, work can begin

Gelephu Airport 25 June, 2010 – With 141 landowners in Gelephu and Sarpang agreeing to settle for land substitute, work on the Gelephu airport will begin soon, according to department of civil aviation (DCA) officials.    [read more]

Non-filer’s fine reduced to Nu 30,000
Income Tax Defaulters 25 June, 2010 – The national assembly (NA) yesterday decided to reduce the fine to be levied on non-filers of personal, business and corporate income tax from the proposed Nu 50,000 to Nu 30,000.    [read more]

Zhapto lemi: Forced to volunteer?
25 June, 2010 – When a village lhakhang begins to crumble, nobody tells the community to come together to rebuild it. It just happens.

If the village irrigation canal gets damaged just before transplantation season, the community that depends on it gets together to fix it.    [read more]

Red tape ties up progress
Bureaucratic delay is the biggest hurdle to timely implementation

UN Small Grants Program 25 June, 2010 – Government bureaucracy, plus the misuse of money, is hindering a UN small grants program in Bhutan, according to information provided by participants during a stakeholder workshop held in Paro, yesterday.    [read more]

Trainee teachers set an example
Multitaskers From Samtse: Besides picking up our litter, they spread the good word

Samtse College Of Education 25 June, 2010 – There is a little truth about college students spending their vacation wandering through the streets, hanging around bars and snooker rooms.

Students of the Gaeddu college of business studies, Samtse college of education (SCE) and Sherubtse college will be on a cleaning campaign this summer vacation.    [read more]

First national talent hunt begins
Talent Scouts: A briefing before the all Bhutan search for diamonds in the rust

25 June, 2010 – Bhutanese interested in joining the entertainment business or the film industry will now have a window to showcase acting, singing and dancing talents.    [read more]

Not to the letter of the law
Zhabto lemi 24 June, 2010 – A 45-year old woman from Mongar, who was in the capital visiting her son, had to rush back to her village this week for zhabto lemi or voluntary labour service for a farm road construction.    [read more]

Changes expected
Either less weightage to academics or an entrance exam

RCSC Examination 24 June, 2010 – Fresh graduates pouring into the capital city in anticipation of landing a job are rapt over word that the royal civil service commission (RCSC) was reducing the academic mark weightage in their civil service common examination.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Copyright law enforcement seeks criminal sanction
At a consultative deliberation on copyright enforcement in Thimphu yesterday, stake­holders called for necessary amendment of a clause in the Penal Code which handicaps institutional arrangements to deal with copyright infringe­ments.
The officiating director of Intellectual Property Divi­sion said section 28 and 30 of the Copyright Act must be included in the Penal Code.
“We will submit [...]    [read more]

Off-hour clinic: A blow to GNH
Individual happiness that totals up to gross cumu­lative happiness of the nation rests upon how healthy every single citizen is. In other words, health is the nucleus of GNH. The dynamic con­cept of GNH would not have evolved so far if its essence did emphasize money as the prime source of happiness and ignored other [...]    [read more]

Towards cost reduction
To ensure that the cost of recurrent expenditure is met from internal resources of the country, the government wants its agencies to adopt cost cutting measures from the coming financial year, starting July 1.
According to the recent notification issued by the Min­istry of Finance (MoF) to the various government agencies, the budget for 2010-2011 office [...]    [read more]

Working mothers and bottle fed babies
Do the Bhutanese working mothers have enough time to breastfeed their children? Kezang Dorji finds out
Karma, a private em­ployee and mother of a two-month-old child, has routinely breastfed her child for only one month. After she joined the office after the month-long mater­nity leave, she has hardly got time to breastfeed her baby. She has [...]    [read more]

Jails need to improve, say MPs
The human rights commit­tee of the National Assembly yesterday submitted a series of observations and recommen­dations on jails and detention centres in the country.
Presenting the five-member committee’s report, Chairper­son Damcho Dorji submitted that all jails and detention centres in the country lacked infrastructural facilities. He said overcrowding was com­mon in jails and detention centres across [...]    [read more]

Teacher graduates to sit RCSC exam
From this year, teacher gradu­ates will have to sit for an RCSC common exam to enter the civil service.
This move is expected to improve the current teacher recruitment and deployment process, including developing strategies to ensure that only committed and competent teachers take up the profes­sion.
The exam, which will be tailor-made for teacher gradu­ates, will [...]    [read more]

NC turns down FDI land ownership
Economic Affairs Committee of the National Council, in its report on the impact of foreign land ownership yesterday, said that the policy of granting land ownership to foreign di­rect investment (FDI) should be revoked.
The committee chairperson said granting land ownership to FDIs could hamper policy of the government and the coun­try. The recently launched FDI [...]    [read more]


   [read more]


   [read more]

UN global photo contest
The UNDP-Olympus-AFP Foundation will organise a global photo contest with the theme Picture This: We can end poverty. All amateur and professional photographers worldwide can enter the contest. The winning photo will be exhibited during the UN MDG Summit and UN General Assembly in September, 2010, in New York, when world leaders will meet to [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 24 June 2010

June 24, 2010 - From

International Sources

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Not to the letter of the law
Zhabto lemi 24 June, 2010 – A 45-year old woman from Mongar, who was in the capital visiting her son, had to rush back to her village this week for zhabto lemi or voluntary labour service for a farm road construction.    [read more]

Changes expected
Either less weightage to academics or an entrance exam

RCSC Examination 24 June, 2010 – Fresh graduates pouring into the capital city in anticipation of landing a job are rapt over word that the royal civil service commission (RCSC) was reducing the academic mark weightage in their civil service common examination.    [read more]

Roping in the private sector
IT Skilled Workforce 24 June, 2010 – Private information technology (IT) firms will soon join the government to help realise its ambitious goal of creating a skilled IT workforce in the country.    [read more]

Expanding the role of the monk body
Dratshang Conference: Monks on the first floor of the Tashichodzong kunra Photo : Karma Dupchu

Annual Dratshang Conference 24 June, 2010 – Providing Dzongkha language classes for university graduates as part of the community outreach programme of the dratshang lhentshog (special commission) is one of the issues discussed at the 7-day annual dratshang conference in Thimphu, which started yesterday.    [read more]

Marathon clean-up campaign
Gaeddu College Of Business Studies 24 June, 2010 – This summer vacation 33 students of Gaeddu college of business studies (GCBS) will initiate a 20-day waste management campaign that will cover Chukha, Samtse and Thimphu.    [read more]

Playing a dangerous game
24 June, 2010 – This week a member of the legislature was fatally injured when an arrow hit him on the head. The accident was extreme, but not new or surprising.    [read more]

Zordung’s seeds of discord
Shortage of water for irrigation purposes is widespread in the east

Kangpara, Trashigang 24 June, 2010 – It’s that time of the year again where the age old harmony among villagers in Kangpara is put to test.
   [read more]

A slew of recommendations
Among others, to include rural development within EDP’s ambit

Economic Development Policy 24 June, 2010 – Having delved into the economic development policy, the national council’s (NC) economic affairs committee had reviewed, members yesterday discussed a list of recommendation to be submitted to the government.    [read more]

A cat and mouse game on Thimphu’s main street
A tug o’ war between clearing the pavement and keeping a livelihood
Catch Me If You Can: Vendors equipped for a quick getaway

Norzin Lam 24 June, 2010 – “The city official is coming, wrap up your goods and run,” yells a woman on Norzin lam, Thimphu’s main thoroughfare, to the others at the sight of a dark stout man in an ash coloured gho.    [read more]

Irrigation Issue Raised
MoA plans for reservoirs and revival of irrigation division

Water Shortage 24 June, 2010 – Despite the fact that a significant proportion of the country’s population is agrarian and the boast of abundant water resource, its benefit is rarely reaped in full.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Retired singer still passionate about singing
When the legendary singer Aum Thinley Om, popularly known as Aum Thinleyem, sang, the whole country was charmed by her voice.
Now 62, she has stopped singing and spends most of her time peacefully watching Indian television shows at her home in Hejo, Thimphu.
The retired singer, who is a diabetic, goes for walk in the mornings [...]    [read more]

Just for seconds you came
It was a cold and rainy winter night. There was a full moon shining outside. I leaned against my bedstead gazing through the window. The scene seemed so familiar. I tried to recollect, then I remembered! The scene was similar to that night five years ago when my brother, whom we be­lieved to be dead, [...]    [read more]

Water tariff to be increased
Just weeks after a proposal for electricity tariff revision, Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) has increased the water tariff which will come into effect from next month.
For residential purpose, tariff has been revised from Nu 2.30 to Nu 2.45 for water consumption below 20 cubic metre (one cm3 equals 1,000 litres), Nu 2.75 to Nu 2.95 [...]    [read more]

Feed mill established to meet local needs
In an attempt to address the lack of access to balanced animal feed in Pemagatshel Dzongkhag, a feed mill was established at Yalang village last week.
Run by a private entrepre­neur with support from EU project, the mill is expected to produce about 300 kg of cattle feed daily during its initial production period. The mill [...]    [read more]

Transfer of funds to become faster
The Electronic Funds Trans­fer and Clearance System (EFTCS) which was launched last week by RMA with techni­cal assistance from Reserve Bank of India will provide fast, secure and efficient payment services within Bhutan. One can transfer funds from one bank to any other banks in the country.
The system will help transfer money electronically from one [...]    [read more]


Child labour is one of the biggest menaces plaguing the world. Today, about 215 million children in the world are believed to be caught in this menace. There are such children in Bhutan too. Sonam Pelden tells their story
Every day for the past two years, Dema has been getting up at 5:30 in the morning [...]    [read more]

Will the tobacco ban work this time?
The ban on tobacco has resurfaced again from its dormancy. While it is for everyone to guess whether it will be successful this time round, one thing is certain; the sellers have laughed their way to the bank all the while.
The ban succeeded in inflating the price of tobacco products, but achieved little in restricting [...]    [read more]

The world cup extravaganza
The football world cup is the biggest sport­ing extravaganza the world witness every four years. Countries around the globe compete for the cup, while the whole world comes together in celebration. While it lasts, this event, the whole world stops and all eyes and passions are diverted and transfixed on the game — the beautiful [...]    [read more]

Innovative idea expensive for farmers
It is mid-day and the sum­mer sun on the horizon is nothing less than scorching. But three robust men relentlessly mow down shrubs with power chain saws from an orchard oblivious to the heat.
Sonam Dorji, Tshering and Tashi, all in their thirties, who own a power chain saw each, are beginning to find different uses [...]    [read more]

The other side of world cup
As the football world cup fever sweeps the country, fans betting for their favourite teams are adding on to the excitement of the tournament.
Several offices and corpo­rations in the capital have cre­ated a game plan for betting. Participating members have contributed amount ranging from Nu 100 to Nu 500 and each member have received a [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 23 June 2010

June 23, 2010 - From

International Sources

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

Mandate too limited
Economic affairs committee review submitted for discussion

Economic Development Policy 23 June, 2010 – As the scope of the recently launched economic development policy (EDP) is limited to urban based formal business, its purpose is not consistent with the foreword on the document; and it’s more apt to be called a private sector development policy.    [read more]

Picture Story

23 June, 2010 – Paddy transplantation season in Zordung, Kangpara
Photo: Tshering Palden    [read more]

4 die as taxi goes off road
Trulku and his wife among victims

Lumitsawa 23 June, 2010 – Four people, including the driver of a taxi Wagon R car, died on the spot at Lumitsawa, about 15 km from Lobesa, on the night of June 21.

The incident occurred at around 10:30 pm, when the taxi, returning to Thimphu from Punakha, veered off the road, leaving the four dead bodies some 80 m below a steep cliff.    [read more]

Car, driver fished out of Paachu
Update 23 June, 2010 – After three days of rigorous search for a car that plunged into the Paachu, rescue team comprising members of the armed forces, yesterday fished out the car.    [read more]

MP recovering, says doctor
Update 23 June, 2010 – Doctors at the Medical institute of neurological diseases in Kolkata said that Haa MP Ugyen Tenzin is recovering after the arrow in his head was successfully removed late last night.    [read more]

Another impasse in the offing
Once again, a joint sitting is on the cards to resolve differences
Lyonpo Zangley Dukpa

Civil Service Bill 23 June, 2010 – Uncertainty and confusion still reigns over the civil service bill, which was re-discussed at the national assembly (NA) yesterday, almost four days after the national council (NC) endorsed it.    [read more]

A bill in the balance
23 June, 2010 – When it comes to the civil service bill, the most immediate expression that comes to mind would be confusion.    [read more]

Not a Bhutanese student
Kodaikanal Public School Update 23 June, 2010 – Kodaikanal public school does not have a Bhutanese student studying there, say royal Bhutanese embassy officials in New Delhi, who carried out an investigation, after media reports on June 21 said that a 14-year old Bhutanese student of that school was allegedly molested by a faculty member.    [read more]

Demand overwhelms supply
Hatchling at the regional piggery and poultry breeding centre in Lingmithang, Mongar

Piggery And Poultry Breeding Centre 23 June, 2010 – The regional piggery and poultry breeding centre in Lingmithang, Mongar, set up to supply pork and poultry products to the six eastern districts, is struggling to do so.    [read more]

No Bhutanese studying in Kodaikanal Public School
Update 22 June, 2010 –
Kodaikanal Public School does not have a Bhutanese student studying there say Royal Bhutanese Embassy officials in New Delhi who carried out an investigation after media reports on June 21 said that a 14 year old Bhutanese student of that school was allegedly molested by a faculty member.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Retired singer still passionate about singing
When the legendary singer Aum Thinley Om, popularly known as Aum Thinleyem, sang, the whole country was charmed by her voice.
Now 62, she has stopped singing and spends most of her time peacefully watching Indian television shows at her home in Hejo, Thimphu.
The retired singer, who is a diabetic, goes for walk in the mornings [...]    [read more]

Just for seconds you came
It was a cold and rainy winter night. There was a full moon shining outside. I leaned against my bedstead gazing through the window. The scene seemed so familiar. I tried to recollect, then I remembered! The scene was similar to that night five years ago when my brother, whom we be­lieved to be dead, [...]    [read more]

Water tariff to be increased
Just weeks after a proposal for electricity tariff revision, Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) has increased the water tariff which will come into effect from next month.
For residential purpose, tariff has been revised from Nu 2.30 to Nu 2.45 for water consumption below 20 cubic metre (one cm3 equals 1,000 litres), Nu 2.75 to Nu 2.95 [...]    [read more]

Feed mill established to meet local needs
In an attempt to address the lack of access to balanced animal feed in Pemagatshel Dzongkhag, a feed mill was established at Yalang village last week.
Run by a private entrepre­neur with support from EU project, the mill is expected to produce about 300 kg of cattle feed daily during its initial production period. The mill [...]    [read more]

Transfer of funds to become faster
The Electronic Funds Trans­fer and Clearance System (EFTCS) which was launched last week by RMA with techni­cal assistance from Reserve Bank of India will provide fast, secure and efficient payment services within Bhutan. One can transfer funds from one bank to any other banks in the country.
The system will help transfer money electronically from one [...]    [read more]


Child labour is one of the biggest menaces plaguing the world. Today, about 215 million children in the world are believed to be caught in this menace. There are such children in Bhutan too. Sonam Pelden tells their story
Every day for the past two years, Dema has been getting up at 5:30 in the morning [...]    [read more]

Will the tobacco ban work this time?
The ban on tobacco has resurfaced again from its dormancy. While it is for everyone to guess whether it will be successful this time round, one thing is certain; the sellers have laughed their way to the bank all the while.
The ban succeeded in inflating the price of tobacco products, but achieved little in restricting [...]    [read more]

The world cup extravaganza
The football world cup is the biggest sport­ing extravaganza the world witness every four years. Countries around the globe compete for the cup, while the whole world comes together in celebration. While it lasts, this event, the whole world stops and all eyes and passions are diverted and transfixed on the game — the beautiful [...]    [read more]

Innovative idea expensive for farmers
It is mid-day and the sum­mer sun on the horizon is nothing less than scorching. But three robust men relentlessly mow down shrubs with power chain saws from an orchard oblivious to the heat.
Sonam Dorji, Tshering and Tashi, all in their thirties, who own a power chain saw each, are beginning to find different uses [...]    [read more]

The other side of world cup
As the football world cup fever sweeps the country, fans betting for their favourite teams are adding on to the excitement of the tournament.
Several offices and corpo­rations in the capital have cre­ated a game plan for betting. Participating members have contributed amount ranging from Nu 100 to Nu 500 and each member have received a [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 22 June 2010

June 22, 2010 - From

International Sources

Tibetan Activist on Trial – Radio Free Asia
Karma Samdrup in a December 2009 photo. HONG KONG—A prominent Tibetan businessman-turned-activist has gone on trial in China’s troubled northwestern region of Xinjiang, on theft-related criminal charges that were …    [read more]

Lao Family celebrates 30th anniversary today – Berkeley Voice
OAKLAND — The group began 30 years ago in a refugee family’s cramped Richmond apartment. It expanded when the founders bought a $25 typewriter and a $5 telephone at the Alameda flea market and pooled their meager …    [read more]

Arizona refugees become U.S. citizens – AZCentral.com
On Monday, 10 men and women in Phoenix raised their right hands and became citizens of the United States of America by taking an oath of allegiance. Speaking as one, the new citizens vowed to “entirely renounce and …    [read more]

Post Offices Deliver Internet in Remote Areas – YAHOO!
Post offices in many emerging countries are being transformed from their traditional role of delivering letters, to centers for the delivery of Internet and services in far-flung locations, according to studies by the …    [read more]

Lao Family celebrates 30th anniversary Tuesday – San Jose Mercury News
OAKLAND — A group that went from humble beginnings to become the largest refugee organization in the East Bay will celebrate its 30th anniversary Tuesday. Lao Family Community Development was founded in a refugee …    [read more]

Postcards from Hell – Foreign Policy
Having Pakistan at number 10 and India at number 87 is absurd. Taliban insurgency currently covers 2-5% of Pakistan’s territory which is generally considered inaccessible and has never been legally governed by Pakistan …    [read more]

How the Tibetan Mongolian Buddhist Cultural Center and Dalai Lama Came to be in … – Examiner
The droning song of a Tibetan violin drifts over the grassy grounds. Incense wafts on the afternoon air. Tibetan dancers move lightly in ritualized harmony. A mandala sand painting created by Buddhist monks gleams in a …    [read more]

Sun Life Financial Rising Stars Program Today Awards Three Local Exceptional Students … – dBusinessNews.com
California Real Estate Technology Services Launches Commercial MLS Powered By ePropertyData Gig Harbor, WA (June 22, 2010) – California Real … Powerful partnership between IceTech America, Inc. and Oxarc Inc Oxarc …    [read more]

‘All Points Bulletin’ (ALL) – 17 New Screens – WorthPlaying.com
All Points Bulletin (APB) is a massively multiplayer online freeform combat and driving-based game. Players must decide which side of the law to abide by, as Law Enforcement who take on the challenge of supporting and …    [read more]

US lifts restrictions on refugees in Mich. – Zimbio
The U.S. State Department is changing a two-year-old policy that limited refugee resettlement to the Detroit area because of Michigan’s struggling economy. The State Department had restricted resettlement in the area to …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

No Bhutanese studying in Kodaikanal Public School
Update 22 June, 2010 –
Kodaikanal Public School does not have a Bhutanese student studying there say Royal Bhutanese Embassy officials in New Delhi who carried out an investigation after media reports on June 21 said that a 14 year old Bhutanese student of that school was allegedly molested by a faculty member.    [read more]

Thrashing out a knotty issue
The precious resource will receive parliamentary attention

Water Bill 22 June, 2010 – With paddy transplantation in full swing in the Punakha-Wangdue valley, where fields are craving for water, farmers, especially in Omtekha and Matalungchu villages, will begin fighting over their ancestral irrigation water sharing rights.    [read more]

Picture Story

22 June, 2010 – Prayer For Peace: Devotees perform yoga at the site (Changangkha) of the global peace stone yesterday
   [read more]

MP struck by arrow
Arrow successfully removed last night in Kolkata

22 June, 2010 – Doctors in Kolkata last night successfully removed the metal arrow that hit national assembly member from Haa’s Bji-Katso-Uesu constituency, Ugyen Tenzin, yesterday.    [read more]

Search and rescue in Pachhu
Soldiers attempt to drop the hook yesterday

22 June, 2010 – Search and rescue operations for a car that plunged into the Paachu, about 2 km before reaching Chunzom from Paro, is expected to continue for the second day today.    [read more]

New drasha next month
First part of ongoing India govt, funded renovation complete

Wangduephodrang Dzong 22 June, 2010 – The Wangduephodrang dzong that straddles the ridge overlooking the confluence of the Dangchu and the Punatsangchu is a breathtaking sight that visitors to the valley find hard to ignore.    [read more]

Molest case in Indian school
Kodaikanal Public School, TN 22 June, 2010 – A 14-year old Bhutanese girl studying in Kodaikanal public school, Tamil Nadu, was allegedly molested by the school’s principal, according Timesnow.tv of the Times of India Group.    [read more]

Paying for the party
22 June, 2010 – Someone rightly pointed out that Bhutanese don’t think all that far ahead, and that policies normally follow where implementations fail.    [read more]

Chili crop decimated
Freak weather conditions and a fungus conspire to wipe out saplings
Nipped In The Bud: The chili saplings barely grew off the ground

Kangpara, Trashigang 22 June, 2010 – Chili produce from Kangpara, Trashigang, could drastically dwindle this year, with a fungal infection and changing weather patterns, having wiped out almost all the chili saplings in several of its villages.    [read more]

Unpaid compensation for land
Farmers affected await govt. response to complaint
Road Connectivity: Coming at a cost

Gasa Dzongkhag 22 June, 2010 – In 1991, when the government promised Gasa villagers that a road would be built to connect the northernmost dzongkhag, villagers breathed a sigh of relief. The news became better, when they were told that they would be compensated for land lost in the road.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Water tariff to be increased
Just weeks after a proposal for electricity tariff revision, Thimphu City Corporation (TCC) has increased the water tariff which will come into effect from next month.
For residential purpose, tariff has been revised from Nu 2.30 to Nu 2.45 for water consumption below 20 cubic metre (one cm3 equals 1,000 litres), Nu 2.75 to Nu 2.95 [...]    [read more]

Feed mill established to meet local needs
In an attempt to address the lack of access to balanced animal feed in Pemagatshel Dzongkhag, a feed mill was established at Yalang village last week.
Run by a private entrepre­neur with support from EU project, the mill is expected to produce about 300 kg of cattle feed daily during its initial production period. The mill [...]    [read more]

Transfer of funds to become faster
The Electronic Funds Trans­fer and Clearance System (EFTCS) which was launched last week by RMA with techni­cal assistance from Reserve Bank of India will provide fast, secure and efficient payment services within Bhutan. One can transfer funds from one bank to any other banks in the country.
The system will help transfer money electronically from one [...]    [read more]


Child labour is one of the biggest menaces plaguing the world. Today, about 215 million children in the world are believed to be caught in this menace. There are such children in Bhutan too. Sonam Pelden tells their story
Every day for the past two years, Dema has been getting up at 5:30 in the morning [...]    [read more]

Will the tobacco ban work this time?
The ban on tobacco has resurfaced again from its dormancy. While it is for everyone to guess whether it will be successful this time round, one thing is certain; the sellers have laughed their way to the bank all the while.
The ban succeeded in inflating the price of tobacco products, but achieved little in restricting [...]    [read more]

The world cup extravaganza
The football world cup is the biggest sport­ing extravaganza the world witness every four years. Countries around the globe compete for the cup, while the whole world comes together in celebration. While it lasts, this event, the whole world stops and all eyes and passions are diverted and transfixed on the game — the beautiful [...]    [read more]

Innovative idea expensive for farmers
It is mid-day and the sum­mer sun on the horizon is nothing less than scorching. But three robust men relentlessly mow down shrubs with power chain saws from an orchard oblivious to the heat.
Sonam Dorji, Tshering and Tashi, all in their thirties, who own a power chain saw each, are beginning to find different uses [...]    [read more]

The other side of world cup
As the football world cup fever sweeps the country, fans betting for their favourite teams are adding on to the excitement of the tournament.
Several offices and corpo­rations in the capital have cre­ated a game plan for betting. Participating members have contributed amount ranging from Nu 100 to Nu 500 and each member have received a [...]    [read more]

Towards professional film making
For the first time in the country, a private IT institute will offer more than just IT courses. Ser Thig Institute of IT and Media in Thimphu, which will start from October, will offer courses related to film making along with other regular IT courses.
The institute will offer basic and advance IT courses, certificate and [...]    [read more]

ECB gears for prerequisite test
Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) is making preparations for the prereq­uisite written and oral test in Dzongkha for candidates par­ticipating in the local govern­ment elections.
ECB has satrted voter education, trainings and awareness programmes on functional literacy throughout the country.
The Chief Election Com­missioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, said one of the chal­lenges ECB is anticipating before the [...]    [read more]

Bhutan News archive for 21 June 2010

June 21, 2010 - From

International Sources

Where to Watch Wimbledon 2010 Online – Newteevee.com
Wimbledon 2010 kicked off today, and if you’re a tennis fan, there’s no doubt that you’ll want to watch the matches live. But for many tennis fans in the US and UK, the matches take place during work hours …    [read more]

CBS has its eye on Indian television – Radio Business Report
Reliance Broadcast Network (RBN), the owner of the largest radio network in India, announced plans for a joint venture with CBS Corporation to own and operate television channels in India. The planed venture would have …    [read more]

Multi Crore Indian Illegal Lottery business going on with the blessings of POWERFUL – PRLog (free press release)
PRLog (Press Release) – Jun 21, 2010 – Multi Crore Lottery business going on with the blessings of POWERFUL The State Governments of Nagaland, Sikkim, Goa, Maharashtra, Kerala and Bhutan are openly defying the …    [read more]

Daily Beast Announces New Prize – Daily Beast
Your email has been sent. We are thrilled to announce The Daily Beast-Open Hands Prize for Commentary in South Asia. An annual prize for $25,000 to be awarded in January 2011. The Daily Beast and Open Hands Initiative …    [read more]

BUY AUSTRALIAN FAKE PASSPORT/GERMAN FALSE PASSPORT FOR SALE/FINNISH FAKE ID CARD … – Scientist
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Paro the Robo-Seal Aims to Comfort Elderly, but Is It Ethical? – Wall Street Journal
It might be the cuddliest medical device ever to cause an ethical quandary. Five years ago, a Japanese robot manufacturer introduced Paro to the world. Built to resemble a baby harp seal—with a plush coat of …    [read more]

CBS and Anil Ambani’s Reliance Broadcast Network in talks to launch Indian TV joint … – Washington Examiner
MUMBAI, INDIA — A unit of CBS Corp. and Reliance Broadcast Network, a subsidiary of India’s powerful Reliance-ADA Group, plan to launch television channels in India together, Reliance said. The joint venture is a first …    [read more]

BUY BRITISH FAKE PASSPORT/UK FALSE DRIVING LICENSE FOR SALE ONLINE/CANADIAN ID CARD – Scientist
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Lack Of Tracking Of Medical Devices’ Performance Raises Questions About Safety And … – Kaiser Health News
The New York Times reports on a dispute between a surgeon and the medical device company he once worked for and promoted. “For years, Dr. Richard A. Berger designed surgical tools and artificial joints for Zimmer …    [read more]

CBS and Reliance plan to launch Indian TV channels – Yahoo Finance
MUMBAI, India (AP) — A unit of CBS Corp. and Reliance Broadcast Network, a subsidiary of India’s powerful Reliance-ADA Group, plan to launch television channels in India together, Reliance said. The joint venture is a …    [read more]

Kuensel – Bhutan’s National Newspaper

After the ballot comes the bill
DPT Meeting 21 June, 2010 – Discussions on state funding for political parties re-emerged this week, as almost 100 Druk phuensum tshogpa (DPT) members met in Thimphu to try and solve the party’s dire financial situation.    [read more]

Private sector bottlenecks
Investment Climate Assessment 2009 21 June, 2010 – Access to finance, government regulations, labour productivity and skills are the main challenges faced by the private sector in Bhutan, according to World Bank’s second investment climate assessment (ICA) survey, 2009.    [read more]

Picture story

21 June, 2010 – Work in progress – The Buddha at Kuenselphodrang begins to emerge    [read more]

Preliminary review of tariff revision proposal
Going by regulations 21 June, 2010 – In its preliminary review of the power tariff revision applications the Bhutan electricity authority (BEA) has recommended maintaining the ‘debt equity’ ratio as stipulated in the regulations. If this is taken on board, it could change a number of things, like bring down the cost of generation and supply. This means the proposed tariff revision could also come down.    [read more]

Crime, like charity, begins at home
A novel approach to raise public awareness of law and order
A scene from the domestic violence skit

RBP Road Show 21 June, 2010 – About 1,000 Jiji residents, who complain of numerous crimes in the community, were treated with a skit on domestic violence yesterday, which police say is the most unintentional crime leading to divorce in Bhutan.
   [read more]

Semi-finals line up set

Veterans Tournament 21 June, 2010 – For a team seeking answers on the offensive end, Halam Chi offered valuable hints yesterday in the tense game played against team Achos at the swimming pool sports complex, most of which came in the last five minutes. The veterans of Halam Chi set the tone in shooting and their centre man out-rebounded his opponent, dominating the board.    [read more]

Bringing the public on board
21 June, 2010 – Last Friday’s public consultations on the power tariff revision proposal in Thimphu saw a number of people attending, but very few representing the ‘general public’.    [read more]

Courting the Divine Bride
The assaults on the summit of Mt. Jhomolhari
On the throne of the goddess

21 June, 2010 – “What’s your problem?’ Dorjee Lhatoo shouted in Tibetan, “We’ll all die if we carry on pushing towards the summit,” Lieutenant Chachu replied. The two men were a hundred feet below the summit of Mount Jhomolhari (24,000 ft) making their final assault to the summit.    [read more]

Using science not violence
MoA applies technology to win this war

Human-Wildlife Conflict 21 June, 2010 – We cannot kill all wild animals and cut down trees to prevent wild animals from marauding villagers, according to agriculture minister, Lyonpo (Dr) Pema Gyamtsho.    [read more]

Locals have second thoughts about lease
No promised power yet, but water supply disrupted
Too close for comfort: The quarry is about 50ft from the village

Chenathang Quarry 21 June, 2010 – A year ago, a businessman in Dagana approached the villagers of Chenathang, to ask their permission to start a quarry nearby. In return, he promised to connect their village with electricity.    [read more]

Bhutan Observer

Feed mill established to meet local needs
In an attempt to address the lack of access to balanced animal feed in Pemagatshel Dzongkhag, a feed mill was established at Yalang village last week.
Run by a private entrepre­neur with support from EU project, the mill is expected to produce about 300 kg of cattle feed daily during its initial production period. The mill [...]    [read more]

Transfer of funds to become faster
The Electronic Funds Trans­fer and Clearance System (EFTCS) which was launched last week by RMA with techni­cal assistance from Reserve Bank of India will provide fast, secure and efficient payment services within Bhutan. One can transfer funds from one bank to any other banks in the country.
The system will help transfer money electronically from one [...]    [read more]


Child labour is one of the biggest menaces plaguing the world. Today, about 215 million children in the world are believed to be caught in this menace. There are such children in Bhutan too. Sonam Pelden tells their story
Every day for the past two years, Dema has been getting up at 5:30 in the morning [...]    [read more]

Will the tobacco ban work this time?
The ban on tobacco has resurfaced again from its dormancy. While it is for everyone to guess whether it will be successful this time round, one thing is certain; the sellers have laughed their way to the bank all the while.
The ban succeeded in inflating the price of tobacco products, but achieved little in restricting [...]    [read more]

The world cup extravaganza
The football world cup is the biggest sport­ing extravaganza the world witness every four years. Countries around the globe compete for the cup, while the whole world comes together in celebration. While it lasts, this event, the whole world stops and all eyes and passions are diverted and transfixed on the game — the beautiful [...]    [read more]

Innovative idea expensive for farmers
It is mid-day and the sum­mer sun on the horizon is nothing less than scorching. But three robust men relentlessly mow down shrubs with power chain saws from an orchard oblivious to the heat.
Sonam Dorji, Tshering and Tashi, all in their thirties, who own a power chain saw each, are beginning to find different uses [...]    [read more]

The other side of world cup
As the football world cup fever sweeps the country, fans betting for their favourite teams are adding on to the excitement of the tournament.
Several offices and corpo­rations in the capital have cre­ated a game plan for betting. Participating members have contributed amount ranging from Nu 100 to Nu 500 and each member have received a [...]    [read more]

Towards professional film making
For the first time in the country, a private IT institute will offer more than just IT courses. Ser Thig Institute of IT and Media in Thimphu, which will start from October, will offer courses related to film making along with other regular IT courses.
The institute will offer basic and advance IT courses, certificate and [...]    [read more]

ECB gears for prerequisite test
Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) is making preparations for the prereq­uisite written and oral test in Dzongkha for candidates par­ticipating in the local govern­ment elections.
ECB has satrted voter education, trainings and awareness programmes on functional literacy throughout the country.
The Chief Election Com­missioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi, said one of the chal­lenges ECB is anticipating before the [...]    [read more]

Draft national wage policy in the pipeline
The Ministry of Labour and Human Resources (MoLHR) is working on the draft policy of national wage and fixation of national minimum wage which will be completed by the end of this month and submitted to the cabinet for approval.
The objective of the policy is to provide a minimum standard of living and healthy development [...]    [read more]