Bhutan Observer

2007, August 24: Rangsit University in Thailand and the Royal Civil Service Commission signed a memorandum of understanding establishing a scholarship in the name of the Trongsa Penlop.

Under the scholarship, Rangsit University will provide 15 scholarships, 5 for master’s degree and 10 for bachelor’s degree every year for ten years. The scholarships will commence next year with formal coronation of His Majesty the King.

The memorandum of understanding was signed by the President of the Rangsit University, Dr. Arthit Ourairat and the RCSC Secretary Dasho Bap Kezang on August 23.

Apart from the 15 scholarships for masters and bachelors degree courses, the Rangsit University has also pledged to offer 30 certificate level short courses annually for next ten years. For the first year, coinciding with the coronation of His Majesty the King, the university will offer 10 additional scholarships for bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.

The scholarship will cover tuition fees, boarding facilities, and medicinal and living expenses.

Speaking to the Bhutanese media, the President of the Rangsit University Dr. Arthit Ourairat said Bhutan and Thailand has so many things in common.

Also Speaking to the Bhutanese media, the RCSC Secretary Dasho Bab Kesang said the courses will be selected based on the changing needs in Bhutan.

Under the MOU, the two parties will review the program annually.

So far, 17 Bhutanese students have already graduated from the University and about 26 students are currently studying in the University through private funding. The scholarship is for both public and private sectors.

August 12, 2007 - Thimphu: A one-year-and-eleven-month-old baby girl who fell from a two-storey house in Gaselo, Wangduephodrang, was miraculously saved by a team of doctors at the Jigme Dorji Wangchuck National Referral Hospital in Thimphu.

Sonam Choki had sustained severe head injuries and lost all consciousness for 13 days after the 12-feet fall on July 25. She was immediately rushed to the local basic health unit and subsequently referred to the Thimphu Hospital.

“She was in a very critical condition when she was brought here. The urgent computer graphic of the head showed several multiple skull fractures but fortunately no internal bleeding,” said Pediatric Surgeon, Dr. Johannes Meixner. [Source: BhutanTimes]

August 12, 2007 - Samdrupcholing, Samdrup Jongkhar: A former Drimpon was killed when his neighbor, a lay monk, stabbed him with a dagger.

Dorji, 64, stabbed his neighbor, Karma, in front of the victim’s family in Thangchung Gonpa in a fit of anger during a minor quarrel on August 7 at around 7 pm.

Immediately after the incident, both Karma and Dorji (who was also injured in the fight) were rushed to the Samdrupcholing basic health unit. Karma died on the way to the Deothang military hospital, early morning. Dorji was later taken to Samdrup Jongkhar police station.

The victim, Karma, 47, on returning from a meeting that evening found his son, Tandin Gyamtsho, 19, being bullied by Dorji. The apple of discord was Dorji’s son Tshering who had been missing.

“We heard that his son was in Samdrup Jongkhar,” said Tandin Gyamtsho, “and I was telling him the same. But he started nagging me for no reason.”

Meanwhile, Karma appeared and the culprit picked up a quarrel with him. All of a sudden Dorji took out his dagger and stabbed Karma in front of the victim’s son, wife, mother and two others who had come to the family’s shop. [Source: BhutanTimes]

August 12, 2007 - Thimphu: On the Wings of the Black-necked Crane is the latest collection of folktales to hit the local market. The book comes alive with the tales of the yore told to author Dechen Dolkar by her grandmother, momola.

Set in the time when people flew and gods and demons walked the earth, where people communicated with animals and trees, these stories take the reader to the good old time when people sat around the hearth and saw the world go magical.

Dechen Dolkar found refuge in her grandmother listening to these stories during those difficult years of growing up. And these stories were a safe heaven where she would retreat when life became too confusing for her. [Source: BhutanTimes]

2007, August 10: Continuous rainfall for the past few weeks in Pemagatsel has completely damaged a two storied traditional Bhutanese house.

Two concrete have also developed cracks in the building wall and ceiling following the rain.

Residents are worried about their safety but they said they have no alternative but to continue to occupy the houses.

A two storied mud house collapsed on the night of July 30 at Zophel Gewog leaving 12 people homeless. The families are now living in tents having lost all their belongings.

Our reporter Tenzin Namgyel says these families are facing a difficult time. Following the continuous downpour, cracks have been found in the walls and ceilings of two concrete buildings in Pemagatshel town.

Sonam Zangmo is the owner of one of the houses. The tenants are spending sleepless nights worried that the house may collapse.

Police, Dzongkhag officials and grassroots leaders are investigating the extent of damage.

Their reports will be sent to the Royal Insurance Corporation of Bhutan in Samdrupjongkhar. [Source BBS]

2007, June 27: Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand left the kingdom today. Her Royal highness accompanied by Royal Consort and a 43 member entourage was in the Kingdom on a nine day goodwill visit. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn was seen off by Her Royal Highness the princess Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuk and senior government officials.

While in the kingdom Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol received an audience with His Majesty the King.

The Chulabhorn research Institute in Thailand also conducted a seminar on Environmental Toxicology for Safe and Sustainable Development. Her Royal Highness also delivered a series of lectures on toxicology, chemical carcinogenesis and pesticides.

During the last nine days, Her Royal Highness also visited places of historical and cultural interest in the kingdom.

Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn is the youngest child of Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit.

Born in 1957 in Bangkok Her Royal Highness has a PhD in organic chemistry from Mahidol University in Bangkok. Her Royal Highness is currently the President of the Chulabhorn Research Institute and Professor of the Faculty of Medicine at the Siriraj Hospital in Thailand.

This is Her Royal Highness’s first visit to Bhutan.

According to foreign ministry officials, the visit will further enhance the close ties of friendship and cooperation between the two Kingdoms. Formal diplomatic relation between Bhutan and Thailand was established in 1989.

By APFA Bhutan

The Royal government of Bhutan has banned viewing a website this month without furnishing any reason.

The government ordered the recently formed Bhutan Information, Communication and Media Authority (BICMA) to block viewing bhutantimes.com inside Bhutan.

According to the orders given by the government, the only and government owned ISP Druknet and Pvt. ISP Drukcom blocked viewing the site within the country. According to the officials of the BICMA, they blocked the site as per the orders.

The site had been popular for forum discussion where people can register and express their opinion on important national issues.

The site did not have its own news contents rather self updated news on Bhutan, militancy in north-east India through google news feed.

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[source]

2007, June 19. Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand has arrived in the Kingdom on a nine day goodwill visit yesterday. Her Royal Highness is accompanied by Royal Consort and a 43 member entourage.

Upon arrival at the Paro International Airport, Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol was received by Her Royal Highness the Princess Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck, the Health Minister Lyonpo Dr. Jigme Singye and the Foreign Secretary Yeshay Dorji.

On arrival at the Mothithang palace Her Royal Highness was received by Their Royal Highnesses the Princesses Ashi Dechen Yangzom Wangchuck and Ashi Kesang Choden Wangchuck. The Gyalpoi Zimpon Penjore was also present to receive Her Royal Highness.

Her Royal Highness will receive an audience with His Majesty the King on Tuesday.

This is Her Royal Highness’s first visit to Bhutan.

Her Royal Highness will also attend an executive seminar on Environmental Toxicology for Safe and Sustainable Development, Pollution Control and Management at the Royal Institute of Management in Semtokha.

Her Royal Highness will also deliver a series of lectures on toxicology, chemical carcinogenesis and pesticides.

While in the Kingdom, Her Royal Highness will also visit places of historical and cultural interest.

Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn is the youngest child of Their Majesties King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit. Born in 1957 in Bangkok Her Royal Highness has a PhD in organic chemistry from Mahidol University in Bangkok.

Her Royal Highness is currently the President of the Chulabhorn Research Institute and Professor of the Faculty of Medicine at the Siriraj Hospital in Thailand.

According to foreign ministry officials, the visit will further enhance the close ties of friendship and cooperation between the two Kingdoms.

Formal diplomatic relation between Bhutan and Thailand was established in 1989.

Television reached the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan only eight years ago but the country is hooked.

Hollywood movies and Indian soaps are the biggest draw, but amid a mass of programmes there is growing unease about the cost to traditional culture.

Residents of the tiny nation, wedged high in the mountains between India and China, were given their first taste of television in 1999 following widespread discontent over missing the football World Cup the previous year.

Now 40 channels are on offer, beaming images of an outside world that Bhutan’s rulers spent centuries trying to keep out. Family life is changing.

“When I had no TV, we used to get together and sometimes the kids would sing and chat. The kids also used to go out and then I could concentrate on prayers,” said Ngyenam, a middle-aged woman who lives in a village outside the capital Thimphu.

The goggle box has also transformed the tiny village of Yuwakha. Villagers no longer talk and drink well into the night; as dusk falls the streets are deserted as people settle down for soap operas from India.

“After we got the TV, I hardly get time,” said Ngyenam. “Even though I spin my prayer wheel, my mind is always on the TV. I can go anywhere… watching TV is like travelling to all the places I like.”

Ngyenam’s husband, a retired civil servant, believes their children’s concentration is also beginning to suffer.

“They get frustrated when we say ‘don’t watch’. So it is a concern for us because they don’t study properly,” Sangay Tshering said.

A changing lifestyle in Yuwakha is one of many examples of the impact of television in Bhutan, something that the authorities are starting to fret over.

But what many fear is the rabid consumerism of much of the outside world. “Television and advertisements create desires,” said Phuntsho Rapten, a researcher with the Centre for Bhutan Studies. “And it is also possible that these kind of desires may not be satisfied given the economic situation of the people.”

[Source]