APFAnews Archive December 2008
Oli wants repatriation of exiled citizens
YFC organizes Friendship football matches (Sports)
Bhutan appoints army general as Ambassador to India
Huge explosion in Sarpang, 4 killed and 2 wounded
Floating population to dominate parliament in Bhutan
NA endorses waste management bill
Nepal Bar organizes awareness programs
Bhutan says ‘No’ to Indian poultry products
PDP president resigns, signals for single-party-system
NFD-Bhutan asks for permanent task force
APF nabs one for threatening
Exiled citizens vote for their representatives
Saligram worship discourse in Holland (Diaspora)
IBFS criticizes Bhutan
BACC postpones its convention
Bhutan practises democratic suppression: Balaram
IOM helps over 8,000 to resettle abroad
Redefining Bhutan-Nepal relations
Bhutan wins first, loses second match (Sports)
Fund set up for injured refugee boy (Reproduction)
24 Bhutanese resettled in Saint-Jerome, Canada (Resettlement)
King interferes into politics again (Nation)
HRD celebrated in camps
Bhutanese refugees tell dark side of Himalayan kingdom (Repoduction)
24 exiled Bhutanese reached Canada (Resettlement)
Resettlement to be halted (Resettlement)
Children Forum elects central coordinator (In Exile)
Family says 6-year-old still in coma (Reproduction)
Coronation celebrations crossed budget limit (Nation)
Support to Bhutanese ‘Mandela’ pours in
Resettled folks hit by a car, one critical sustaining head injury (Resettlement)
Bhutan ‘very serious’ towards resolving refugee crisis (Reproduction)
23rd World Volunteer Day celebration in camps (In Exile)
Indian power minister arriving (Economy)
Europe based Bhutanese extends support for Rai’s treatment (Diaspora)
US delegation in Bhutan to study growing democracy
Children voted for their coordinator (In Exile)
King Jigme not to get Indian award (Nation)
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Oli wants repatriation of exiled citizens
Damak, December 31: A veteran CPN-UML leader KP Sharma Oli has expressed that the exiled Bhutanese must exercise their right to return home.
Responding to journalists here today he said that it was not uncommon for the Bhutanese citizens to get relocated before starting the reptration program .
“There is no matter of surpise for relocation by those who are interested”, told Oli.
“We must not consider geograpghical proximity for repatriation,” told he adding, “Refugees must have right to return from any part of the world.” Bhutan News Service/Arjun Pradhan
This entry was posted in Main News on December 31, 2008 by Editor.
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YFC organizes Friendship football matches (Sports)
Beldangi-II, December 31: Youth Friendly Center (YFC), a youth alliance of young Bhutanese from 18 to 25, is organizing inter-community friendship football match from toady. The tournament lasts until January 12.
“We are incorporating youths from camps and affected local community in these matches”, YFC program coordinator Fr. Peter told Bhutan News Service. “We are finishing this years grants from FC Barcelona with this tournament”, added he.
Caritas-Nepal, which manages education programs for the exiled Bhutanese, runs and operates programs of YFC with funding from UN Refugee Agency.
Fr. Peter claimed that YFC works basically to create social awareness in camps.
“YFC addresses the needs and wants of youths, making them work on voluntary basis,” told an YFC cadre. Bhutan News Service/Arjun Pradhan
This entry was posted in Main News on December 31, 2008 by Editor.
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Bhutan appoints army general as Ambassador to India
Delhi, December 31: Vetsop Namgyel, an army major general who served the fourth king as his ADC, has reached Delhi today with his credentials as Ambassador to India.
“I am much excited to join Bhutanese embassy in India”, Namgyel told Indian media. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 31, 2008 by Editor.
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Huge explosion in Sarpang, 4 killed and 2 wounded
Gelephu, December 31: A huge blast from a detonator planted underground on the road near Singay village in Sarpang district claimed the lives of four injuring two yesterday.
Department of forest mentioned that those who met the scene were foresters were on a tractor, which was massively blown up early morning.
Locals in Singay village reported that several rounds of gun-fire were heard early 3 am.
“The attackers fired us mercilessly,” said one of the injured victims in Gelephu hospital adding, “They looted SLR and some mobile sets.”
The regime-mouthpiece Kuensel suspected the involvement of Communist Party of Bhutan quoting the spokesperson of Bhutan Police. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 31, 2008 by Editor.
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Floating population to dominate parliament in Bhutan
By Govinda Rizal
Senator John MC Cain’s visit to Bhutan had immense effect on the Bhutanese government’s way of treating the past and present opponents. For the first time, the issue of the floating population will be discussed. One such immediate effect will be seen when the winter session of the parliament shall discuss on the issue of the families divided and broken due to several state sponsored crackdowns on the opponents in the past.
This time, the focus is mostly on the remaining relatives of the people who fled or were evicted from Bhutan in the 1990s. There may not be much to surprise the victims of earlier evictions or from other parts of the country. The people’s representatives from the eastern districts may talk on the problem of the people in the south, many in favor and a few in opposition; they shall try their best not to mention the problems of their region.
The earlier government had faced and dealt with several disputes, each time crushing the opponents or rebels by death or eviction. The last two major fracases took place in southern districts in 1990s and in eastern districts in 1997. The first one resulted in the exodus of estimated one hundred fifty thousand people residing in the southern Bhutan, most of whom took refuge in Nepal and after a long wait are being resettled in first world countries.
The second was an uprising in 1997 in the east, when the activists and local leaders were incarcerated or disappeared by the government forces. Both these movements were under the aegis of exile based political parties calling for democratic reforms, which the monarchy perceived as a threat to its survival. In response, activists and supporters were treated brutally. Many fled, others remained as silent victims, their lands and properties were confiscated and names were transferred to a different census register. In the national census conducted three years ago, this population of around one hundred thousand was termed as “floating population”, which makes twenty percent of the total population.
Unlike, in the earlier parliamentary sessions where debates were presented after a rehearsal, the actual pattern in the present system is still in the making; whether the members shall speak of the people or the whip of the party.
The problem
To suppress the movements, government devised various methods to restrict the moment of the people, to limit their access to the welfare facilities and ultimately to coerce them to flee. No objection certificate (NOC), police clearance, travel document, categorization in the census registration, stop on the land and property transfer registration, confiscation of citizenship cards, refusal to issue new cards, were some out of many methods executed. These restraints and limitations created miserable plight, compelled them to flee from the country. Not all did. Many challenged to resist and lived with it. It was an acid test of nationalism. After two decades the people’s representatives will be talking of some of these issues with some optimism and enough hesitation.
No objection Certificate
Initially the brain child of the present Prime Minister, NOC, was the most effective tool government used to sieve people and their relatives who took part in the anti government protest from the rest. All those people and their family members involved in the movement were denied NOC. NOC was made mandatory for the admission and to get to next higher grade in schools, enter a university, and apply for job and business license.
Police Clearance
Police acquired the movie and still photographs of the people who participated in the protest rallies and demonstrations, later labeled by government as anti national activities. Based on the photographs, police gave clearance for NOC or other permits.
Travel Document
To travel from one village to another, people have to get TD from the authority. It takes long time to get, if at all, and one TD works for a single entry. The security is the main reason given for the method.
Categorization in the Census Registration
Department of immigration and census, classified the people into seven categories and registered into seven files, named as F1 to F7. Census teams place people into one of seven categories:
F I Genuine Bhutanese
F2 Returned migrants (people who had left Bhutan and then
returned)
F3 “Drop-out” cases – i.e. people who were not around at the time
of the census
F4 A non-national woman married to a Bhutanese man
F5 A non-national man married to a Bhutanese woman
F6 Adoption cases (children who have been legally adopted)
F7 Non-nationals, i.e. migrants and illegal settlers
Besides, the families from which some family members have fled are registered into a different file. Some of the people who were absent in the census in 1992-93, but present in the subsequent census are suspected to be those who were unable to get registered in UNHCR run refugee camps in Nepal and returned to Bhutan. Citizenship cards of these people are confiscated and they are without new cards which other citizens have. In the last national census, these two groups were referred to as “floating population”, because they at any time were expected to spill or get flushed into exile.
Stop on the Land and Property Transfer Registration
The transfer of land and properties from parents to children or purchase is not registered for more than a decade. The land and properties are bought and sold, have passed through many owners, but in absence of legal registration, the real owners are in a mess.
Confiscation of Citizenship Cards and Refusal of New Cards
The citizenship cards were confiscated from the people falling in other than F1 category, and the floating population. Last year, before the census, new cards were distributed nationwide. But this big segment is deprived of it. They were not allowed to participate in the election.
If and when the parliamentarians get a chance to speak on the plight of the victims affected with these discriminatory policies, it would be wiser if they talk in a wider perspective and pass laws in the greater interest of the people and the country. All Bhutanese people must be treated equally. Carrying a political ideology or keeping a different ideology should not be treated as different class of citizens. Citizenship cards and all the benefits must be given impartially to all the citizens and no force and no reason whatsoever should have authority to revoke citizenship. All the people must get back the land, houses and properties, they or their family members possessed in the past. Those whose houses were demolished must be compensated. The tags like the “relatives of anti nationals” or “anti nationals” should be dropped from use. Those imprisoned for participating in the democratic movements should no longer be incarcerated as the country itself has adopted democracy.
This parliament may not have capacity to deal with the issue of the evicted people and the Bhutanese refugees in exile, it is still the best they take care of the people who are living an appalling life in their constituencies.
govindarizal@gmail.com
This entry was posted in Opinion on December 29, 2008 by Editor.
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NA endorses waste management bill
Thimphu, December 29: The National Assembly endorsed Waste Prevention and Management Bill of Bhutan 2008 on December 26.
The House, which will forward the bill to the National Council for adoption and implementation, accepted the bill with minor amendments on the preamble, sequencing of article and clauses.
The second session of the house resumed on December 24 with the inaugural address by junior Jigme. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 29, 2008 by Editor.
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Nepal Bar organizes awareness programs
Beldangi, December 28: Nepal Bar Association (NBA) and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees jointly organized public awareness programs on legal matters in various camps.
“There are frequent cases of rapes and other forms of sexual harassment in camps,” said a legal expert adding, “These types of awareness programs will be really useful.”
According to the Bar, there are complications in processing for resettlement due to divorce, marriage or relationship, which it has been dealing with in cooperation with other aid-agencies.
Supported by UNHCR, NBA has been shouldering legal issues of the exiled Bhutanese in Nepal. Bhutan News Service/Arjun Pradhan
This entry was posted in Main News on December 28, 2008 by Editor.
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Bhutan says ‘No’ to Indian poultry products
Thimphu, December 28: Citing outburst of avian influenza, Ministry of Agriculture has banned the import of poultry or its products from West Bangal and Assam.
However, no restriction has been imposed on air transport of poultry and its products from other Indian states.
“Import of animal and poultry feeds manufactured in Bhutan via West Bengal and Assam will be allowed only if all the feed bags are fully covered and sealed at the place of origin in presence of Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority officials”, said the order issued by the ministry. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 28, 2008 by Editor.
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PDP president resigns, signals for single-party-system
Thimphu, December 24: Due to acute financial pressure that the party has been facing, the president of People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Sangay Ngedup, submitted his resignation to the Election Commission.
Though the actual date of submission was not disclosed, a PDP cadre has confirmed of his resignation.
The state bank earlier had informed that it was going to auction Ngedup’s land in Thimphu since the party has more than 20 million overdraft loan.
There are unconfirmed reports that a number of party cadres from PDP also resigned from their portfolios. If similar trend continues, Bhutan will have a single political party for practicing so called constitution democracy. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 24, 2008 by Editor.
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NFD-Bhutan asks for permanent task force
Kathmandu, December 23: The chairman of the National Front for Democracy (NFD) Bhutan Balaraman Paudyal and its spokesperson Narad Adhikari yesterday submitted a memorandum to the Nepalese Home Minister Bam Dev Gautam.
NFD-Bhutan has urged the government of Nepal to form permanent task force comprising of senior politicians, intellectuals, civil society members, human right workers, media persons and Bhutanese political and human rights representatives in exile to do adequate homework on the Bhutanese issue.
“We also have asked the Minister to urge the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, core-group countries and International Organization for Migration to provide orientation prior to refugees choosing for third country resettlement”, said Adhikari.
“We have requested for taking necessary corrective measures to curb all corruptions and irregularities and ensure transparency in the process of third country resettlement”, added he.
According to Paudyal, a permanent task force is a must since there is no proper body to handle this long-standing imbroglio.
“When we visit the Home Minstry, we are asked to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and vice-versa”, lamented Paudyal.
NFD-Bhutan also informed this reporter that the Home Minister has assured them of forwarding the paper to the Prime Minister for immediate actions.
From the very beginning of its formation in 2003, NFD-Bhutan has been demanding special considerations to grant political asylum for the exiled Bhutanese of humanitarian considerations who are opting for repatriation, in view of their personal security until they are repatriated or an amicable solution is traced to the problem. Bhutan News Service/Vidhyapati Mishra
This entry was posted in Main News on December 24, 2008 by Editor.
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APF nabs one for threatening
Beldangi-I, December 23 : The Armed Police Force (AFP) deployed at camp arrested Ashish Chhetri of Sanischare camp yesterday on charge of bullying and physically threatening Tika Ram Dorjee of Beldangi-I camp.
“They were four but three of them managed to escape”, told a AFP personnel.
According to the source those who fled the scene included two from Beldangi-I and one from Beldangi-II, whose details are not disclosed for further investigation.
AFP caught Chhetri red-hand while he was asking two-hundred-thousand cash ransom from Dorjee showing a home-made pistol in late evening.
The gang of four also used a sharp knife which left a severe mark in the left arm of Darjee. Bhutan News Service/Arjun Pradhan
This entry was posted in Main News on December 23, 2008 by Editor.
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Exiled citizens vote for their representatives
Beldangi-II, December 23: Elections for various sections under Camp Management Committee (CMC) in camps are held today.
According to the latest reports, TB Gurung has been elected the camp secretary of Beldangi-I camp. Similarly, Ganapati Adhikari and Purna Gurung have been elected as heads of CMC from Beldangi-II Extension and Goldhap respectively.
The results of other camps are yet to be announced. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 23, 2008 by Editor.
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Saligram worship discourse in Holland (Diaspora)
Netherland, December 22: A discourse on the procedure and importance of worshiping Saligram was first of the kind appreciated even by Dutch and Belgians.
Organized by Nanda Gautam in Boxtel last Saturday this religious discourse was given by Janakidas Brahmacari, a disciple of His Holiness Gaur Govinda Swami from Bhuvaneswore. Salirgram is the self-manifested deity form of Lord Vishnu’s expansion in the material world.
It appears as stone for the material eyes but it must be seen through spiritual perspective and must understands that it is spiritual that appear before us in His simplest form to receive the love and devotion of the people. Worshipping a Saligram is very auspicious.
According to Jannakidas everyone has the right to worship Saligram although some stream of Hinduism say that only the people of higher class of Varnasrmadharma are allowed. Sudras, Vaisas and women can worship Saligram provided that they maintain cleanliness and follow certain rules namely no meat eating and intoxication, he added.
His lectured was taken from the Brahma Vaivarta purana in which the story behind how the Lord Vishnu appeared as stone deity in order to fulfill the desires of Tulasi and Sankacurna. The discourse also included question- answer session within the participants.
‘I expected people from Indian and Nepalese background would come to participate but there some Dutch and Belgians too’ said Gautam who runs a Vedic Cultural Center for the last seven years.
Programs with different themes are organized every third Saturday of the month. As part of the program, Vegetarian meals are served and explained the benefit of it particularly to reduce the slaughtering of animals for food. Bhutan News Service/TP Mishra
This entry was posted in Main News on December 22, 2008 by Editor.
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IBFS criticizes Bhutan
Indian leaders have criticized Bhutan for absence of initiation for repatriation of over 100,000 exiled Bhutanese who have been taking asylum in Nepal since they were evicted in 1990.
Former Union Minister of India and president of the Indo-Bhutan Friendship Society (IBFS) Satya Prakash Malaviya in a statement on Friday said society supports the timely repatriation of exiled Bhutanese in honor and dignity.
“IBFS is appalled that even after the institution of democratic government in Bhutan for last ten months; the reports emanating from Bhutan are disturbing,” the statement reads, adding, “The fundamental human rights and democratic rights are not granted to people. The political persecution is still rampant and freedom of speech and expression are restricted.”
The statement further reads, “Freedom of assembly and association is banned. Exile political parties and human rights organization are still banned. Independent judiciary is absent. Political prisoners are still incarcerated and the sentences meted out to political prisoner are utterly unbelievable.”
Society decided to write letter to Bhutanese Members of Parliament highlighting the issues and to visit Bhutan, meet political prisoners and seek to hold discussion with concerned Bhutanese authorities’ towards finding just and peaceful resolution to various issues. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 19, 2008 by Editor.
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BACC postpones its convention
The Bhutanese American Community Center (BACC), citing amendment in its bylaws, has postponed its forthcoming convention from this December until 2010.
A release issued from California said the decision was announced following the first amendment of the organization bylaws by its board of directors on December 17.
“We decided not to hold a convention any time soon, pertaining to the pressing needs of the rapidly growing community”, said the statement.
Its executive director Ananta Gurung said that BACC has been successful in establishing strong relationships with various organizations in the bay area within a short span of time. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 19, 2008 by Editor.
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Bhutan practises democratic suppression: Balaram
Kathmandu, December 17: The president of National Front for Democracy (NFD) Bhutan, Balaram Poudel today said, “Bhutan, which was suppressing the citizens, is now practising democratic repression.”
Poudel said this while addressing an interaction program organised by NFD Bhutan on the occasion of National Day of Bhutan, here at Reporters’ Club Nepal.
Its spokesperson Narad Adhikari said that there is no use of celebrating this day when more than one-hundred thousand Bhutanese citizens are languishing in Nepal and India.
“International community must respect out right to return,” added he, “We want to mark December 17 as a black day.”
Dhan Kumar Rai, who was released from 17-year of jailbird life on Nov 1, also made his first public appearance and addressing the gathering.
Poudel, who did not disclose the future programs for repatriation, highlighted the need to form a permanent task force to handle the long-standing imbroglio.
Raju Thapa of Human Rights Without Frontiers mentioned that repatriation is the best option for having a durable solution of the problem.
Reports from Jhapa said that similar programs were organized in various camps today to mark the day. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 17, 2008 by Editor.
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IOM helps over 8,000 to resettle abroad
Kathmandu, December 16: International Organisation for Migration (IOM) said this year it helped over 8,000 exiled Bhutanese leave refugee camps and resettle in third countries, including the US, Australia and New Zealand.
This year the U.S. accepted over 7,500 refugees, Australia accepted 365 and 134 were resettled in New Zealand. A smaller number were resettled in Denmark, Sweden and the Netherlands.
These include the processing of cases referred to resettlement countries by UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, as well as the medical screening, cultural orientation and travel arrangements of refugees accepted for resettlement.
IOM opened a sub-office in Damak in December 2007 and now employs over 200 local staff operating in Damak and all seven Lhotsampa camps.
“The pace of the operation is now picking up,” says David Derthick, Head of IOM Damak. “Our resettlement numbers have gone from fewer than 100 in 2007 to over 8,000 this year. The decision of whether to opt for resettlement or not is entirely up to the families concerned, but next year we expect to move between 16,000 to 18,000 people,” added Derthick in a statement issued. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 16, 2008 by Editor.
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Redefining Bhutan-Nepal relations
Bhutan’s connection to South Asia is connected not by geography but through ethnic combination and it would be irrelevant to mention that the relation between the Himalayan kingdom with India was possible in absence of Nepal. In short, Bhutan’s connection with South Asia begins with Nepal, if not, at least with Nepali speakers.
The connection between Bhutan and India might not delink now in absence of Hindus or Nepali speakers in southern Bhutan, but Bhutan’s assertion of close cultural relation with India would derail to zero if intolerance against Lhotsampas continue in the current torrent.
Bhutan, as it has been projected today, has it root in Tibet. Political and cultural dominants of present Bhutan have greater links with Tibet, less with South Asia. The very reason was flouted by China when it claimed suzerainty over Bhutan, to be part of Tibet.
The present political elite of this kingdom descends from northern part of the Himalayas and until 1905, relation with northern neighbor was sound – much closer than its southern. Several attempts by the British rulers to maintain relation with that ‘country in transition’ failed to yield any results until the beginning of the 19th century.
Shabdrung, who unified the country in early 17th century, despite being evicted from his kingdom in Tibet, tried to resume relation with the north. Several Nepali speakers taken during his reign were settled in south to constrict the linkage between British India and his administration. But it long run, it turned the other way round.
The rulers and ruling tribe, culturally and customarily are bound by the tradition and practices brought down from Tibet, where they originate. Their way of life, language and physical appearance match with Tibetans, not Indians. Dzongkha, the national language is a derivative of the Tibetan.
During coronations, king still receives sacred empowerment of the five elements from Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyel, whose perpetual incarnation was evicted and finally killed and whose system of governance was terminated by the Wangchuks in 1907. Mahakala, who is believed to have guided Shabdrung to Bhutan from Tibet, is now manifested in the Raven Crown as Jarog Dongchhen, which the Bhutanese monarchs today wear.
Jigme Namgyel was the first to wear the Raven Crown despite the fact that he was not the king. It was designed by Lam Jangchub Tsundru from Tsang Yengoen in Tibet. Remember, it was rulers from Tsang province who drove Shabdrung to Bhutan and continued attacking him to ensure he does accomplish power in the south. Every King of the Wangchuck dynasty has then been enthroned with this Raven Crown made by A Tibetan. In this sense, King Jigme Khesar has become the sixth Raven King, indirectly humble to Tibet.
In fact, the Nepali speakers, who are Hindus by religion and settled in southern part of the country, are source of tightening relation between India and Bhutan. Indian culture, traditions and way of life infuse with Lhotsampas and through them, the Bhutanese Drukpa society gradually opened up for closeness with its southern neighbor. Thus, Nepali speakers born to be bridge connecting the Drukpa followers with the traditional Hindu population of India.
The relation took a twist when Bhutanese regime began hammering Hindus in the south in late 1980s on charge of being illegal immigrants. It is unavoidable fact that few Nepali speakers migrated to southern Bhutan as late as 1970 considering the porous border with India, Bhutan’s ruthless action in south largely tortured more to genuine citizens than those late immigrants. It was result of the Bhutan’s visionless rulers to tighten the migration regulations rather than terminating citizenship of those who are genuine.
The relation that tainted after the flush of over 100,000 Nepali speakers in early 1990, who are now resettled in western countries including USA, Australia and Canada, has started mould through exchanges of people’s contact of late. Last week, an exhibition was held in Thimphu, where Bhutanese artists joined Nepalese artists from Kathmandu for Bhutan Canvass 2008 that reflected revising relation between the two Himalayan nations. On the eve of the Bhutan King’s coronation last month, Nepalese Magasaysay winner Sanduk Ruit ran eye camp donating vision to many visionless Bhutanese and among few invitees to coronation was Nepalese envoy to Bhutan based in New Delhi.
This is symbolic resemblance of cultural relations of Bhutan with Nepal. But whether this revision will turn the relation tighter that it was would rest on sincerity of political actors from both the countries. The pasts are bygone and it’s time that both these nations define their relation in new way.
(Read more articles at www.freedombhutan.blogspot.com)
This entry was posted in Opinion on December 15, 2008 by Editor.
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Bhutan wins first, loses second match (Sports)
New Delhi, December 16: Bhutan could not repeat its opening-day success and went down to a nine-wicket loss to Nepal in the U19 Women Cricket at the Chiang Mai Gymkhana, Thailand on Sunday.
On the opening day, Bhutan woman tasted success in their first outing in international cricket when the team beat Singapore by 14 runs in the Asian Cricket Council’s inaugural match on the same ground.
Bhutan’s 101 was the highest total of the opening day, with Ugyen Dema scoring along 17.
On the second match, no Bhutanese batsman managed double figures and limped to 34 off their 25 overs. Coach Damber S Gurung praised Nepal’s performance but not of his team. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 15, 2008 by Editor.
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Fund set up for injured refugee boy (Reproduction)
By MARK HAYWARD
2008MANCHESTER – A bank fund has been set up to help the family of the 6-year-old refugee boy who was critically injured when struck by a car last Saturday.
Maousham Adhikari remains in an induced coma at Massachusetts General Hospital, said his father, who has been at his side since the accident.
On Thursday, doctors postponed a surgery to reset his jaw because they were fearful of complications, said Basu Adhikari.
The boy’s jaw, ribs and collarbone are broken. And his spinal cord and brain may have some damage.
The boy’s left hand and limbs have moved, but the right side has shown no movement, an indication of possible brain damage, his father said.
“It’s very, very painful,” Adhikari said. “I feel like ‘why that happen, why to the innocent, why not to me?'”
In Manchester, friends and school employees have set up the Adhikari Family Donation Fund through Citizens Bank. Donations can be accepted at any bank location, said Kim Calhoun, a Manchester school social worker assisting the family.
The money will be used to help the family with immediate needs such as food, a telephone and transportation from Manchester to the hospital.
Already, fellow students at Gossler Park School have raised $660. The Queen City Rotary has said it will contribute. And West High teacher Jeanne Rubenson has obtained gift cards from her synagogue for the family, Calhoun said.
Volunteers have driven family members back and forth to the hospital. On Thursday, Calhoun and her friend brought the boy’s mother and a Hindu priest to the hospital.
The Adhikaris moved to Manchester this summer, part of a wave of Bhutan refugees who have immigrated to the United States from a refugee camp in Nepal.
Adhikari said the Bhutanese refugees are Hindus who are discriminated against in their south Asian country, which is predominantly Buddhist. Adhikari was at a teacher-training college when his family fled the country. He returned home to find his house burned and joined them in Nepal, he said
Adhikari and his family lived 18 years in the Nepalese refugee camp before emigrating. The accident, which took place Saturday evening, came at a pivotal time for the family, Calhoun said.
“They were just at the point of starting to become independent,” Calhoun said. Adhikari’s two older children had found jobs — one at a McDonald’s, the other at a hotel — and he was working sporadically as a translator at Manchester schools.
Now, he spends all his time with his son. Doctors have said the boy could be in the hospital for months, Adhikari said.
This entry was posted in Main News on December 14, 2008 by Editor.
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24 Bhutanese resettled in Saint-Jerome, Canada (Resettlement)
Canada, December 11: The first group of the exiled Bhutanese landed here safely in Toronto Pearson International Airport, Canada on December 8.
As per a highly-placed government source, these people will be settled in a place called Saint-Jerome, a town some 40 kilometer away from Montreal which is one of the biggest cities in Quebec. Quebec mostly has settlers from France who speak French.
No details about the relocated families are disclosed regarding the number and status of the newcomers.
According to the office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the next group from Nepal is scheduled to arrive here in early 2009 and will be settled in various provinces of Canada including Charlottetown, and Prince Edward Island.
Contributed by Madan Kumar Giri/Charlottetown, Canada
This entry was posted in Main News on December 14, 2008 by Editor.
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King interferes into politics again (Nation)
Thimphu, December 12: Despite the announcement that kings will now have no role in national politics and administration, cozying up for a ceremonial role, King Jigme Khesar has return to hold grip on national politics.
In a recent decree issued, he asked the Election Commission and its chief to extend the tenure of the Gups or the block headman, until legal provisions are read to hold elections for those positions.
Government mulled over holding early elections for gup as their three-year term ends shortly against which the National Council members approached the king to take lead in interfering the government decision.
King told the CEC to halt the gup elections until it completes the delimitation process and finalizes relevant acts under which the elections are to be held.
King said this step would best serve the interest of the people, nation and democracy.
King said the recently announced Gup elections to be held as per acts that have been repealed and which in fundamental ways are contrary to the provisions of the Constitution, will not draw any legitimacy even as an interim measure. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 12, 2008 by Editor.
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HRD celebrated in camps
Beldangi, December 10: The 60th anniversary of Universal Declaration of Human Rights has been celebrated in camps organizing various programs today.
Bhutanese Refugee Women Forun has ended its 16 days awareness campaign in all seven camps, said one of its camp coordinators from Beldangi-I camp.
Meanwhile, camp secretaries from Beldangi camps have sent appeals to the UN Refugee Agency and Chief District Officer of Jhapa districts to expedite the registration process of pending cases.
“We appeal for prompt registration of the Bhutanese citizens, who were missing during official registration”, stated the release. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 10, 2008 by Editor.
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Bhutanese refugees tell dark side of Himalayan kingdom (Repoduction)
If Canadians know anything about Bhutan, it likely revolves around the tiny Himalayan nation’s seemingly enlightened monarchs, often praised for ushering in democracy and championing a state-sponsored philosophy dubbed Gross National Happiness.
But this week, the first of 5,000 refugees from Bhutan arrived in Canada, offering a reminder of the dark side of the country’s recent history. The refugees — ethnic Nepalese and mostly Hindu — were effectively forced out of Bhutan by that same, Buddhist royal family almost 20 years ago and have been languishing in camps in Nepal ever since.
Their unusual story has continued with the Canadian resettlement offer. Some Bhutanese refugees believe no one should leave the camps until their homeland lets them return and, as part of a sometimes violent internal dispute, have spread misinformation about Canada to discourage immigration here.
Prospective migrants have even been told they will be forced into labour camps in the Arctic if they move to Canada.
“There are lots of rumours circulating,” said Yogendra Shakya of Access Alliance, a Toronto-based social service agency, who visited some of the camps in August. “I was asked a lot ‘Is it true that Canada is so cold that you can’t have children there, and that’s why they want us to go there?’ ”
The resettlement program is also part of a new approach by the federal government to sponsor large groups of refugees en masse. In support of the project, Citizenship and Immigration Canada this month put out a $1.3-million contract to conduct advance health screening of the Bhutanese coming to Canada and provide treatment for tuberculosis and other conditions if necessary before they relocate.
Refugee sagas usually begin with an infamously despotic leader, or with years of war and strife. This one unfolded differently. Jigme Singye Wangchuck, Bhutan’s king until recently, has been widely praised for lifting his people from near-medieval conditions, beefing up public education and health care and opening the window to the outside world. He also promoted Gross National Happiness, a creed which holds that material wealth should not come at the expense of spiritual wellbeing, the environment or culture.
Two years ago, the hugely popular king converted Bhutan into the world’s newest democracy and abdicated in favour of his Western-educated son. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck was crowned just last month, earning glowing press coverage as a handsome and charismatic monarch of the people.
Almost forgotten was a period in the late 1980s and early 1990s when more than 100,000 Bhutanese of Nepalese origin — a sixth of the population — departed the country, leaving Bhutan largely to the majority Kruk people.
According to a 2006 article by the UNHCR, the United Nations’ refugee agency, “tens of thousands” were evicted, often after being made to sign “voluntary” migration certificates. An Immigration Canada spokeswoman said the camps’ residents were “forced” to leave Bhutan, while a 2007 Human Rights Watch report states that most, if not all, the refugees in Nepal have a right under international law to return to Bhutan.
A spokesman for the Bhutanese government, however, argued on Tuesday that few of the refugees are actually from his country, suggesting that many impoverished residents of the region settled in the camps to take advantage of services funded by the international community.
Bhutan has no ill feelings toward its remaining Nepalese minority, with some even serving now as cabinet ministers, added Tshewang Dorji, counsellor with Bhutan’s mission to the UN.
“Nobody was forced to leave … The government didn’t want the [ethnic Nepalese] people to leave,” he insisted. “People who have ill feelings toward Bhutan have blown this issue out of proportion.”
Regardless, repeated efforts to win the refugees’ repatriation failed, until eventually a group of seven Western countries, including the United States, Australia and Britain, agreed to accept about 70,000 of them. Canada is taking 5,000 over the next five years.
And yet the humanitarian offer met some stiff resistance in the camps, with certain groups fearing that mass resettlement would spell the end of their efforts to get back to Bhutan itself.
“There have been fairly organized efforts to discourage migration,” said Janet Dench, executive director of the Canadian Council for Refugees. Word spread, for instance, that refugees who ended up here “would have to work at camps at the north pole,” she said.
To try to set the record straight, Canada has distributed leaflets with accurate information about this country, and is further briefing those selected to come here, said Danielle Norris, an Immigration Canada spokeswoman.
The years of living in refugee camps, unable to officially work to support themselves, has taken its toll on the displaced Bhutanese, said Mr. Shakya, who is of Nepalese origin himself. “Depression, stress is very, very common in the camps,” he said.
And yet, he said the refugees have strived to make the most of their grim predicament. Levels of education are higher than in the Nepalese population outside the camps, and many speak fluent English, he said.
Lately, it seems the refugees have also come around to the idea of setting down roots in the West, with many believing they can continue to fight for return to Bhutan from their new homes, said Mr. Shakya.
(Tom Blackwell in National Post, Canada. tblackwell@nationalpost.com)
This entry was posted in Main News on December 10, 2008 by Editor.
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24 exiled Bhutanese reached Canada (Resettlement)
Kathmandu, December 10: The first lot of Bhutanese relocating under third country resettlement program has reached Canada on December 8.
“24 Bhutanese refugees departed for Canada on December 6”, quoted a highly placed source at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees here.
Though no details were published, a Canadian daily paper wrote yesterday that a group of exiled Bhutanese from Nepal has reached Canada.
According to The National Post, the resettlement program is also part of a new approach by the federal government to sponsor large groups of refugees en masse.
In support of the project, Citizenship and Immigration Canada this month put out a $1.3-million contract to conduct advance health screening of the Bhutanese coming to Canada and provide treatment for tuberculosis and other conditions if necessary before they relocate wrote the daily.
Canada has announced that it will be accepting some 5,000 Bhutanese for relocation in Canada.
Prior to the start of resettlement program, a family from Beldangi-II was resettled at Charlottetown in Canada. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 9, 2008 by Editor.
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Resettlement to be halted (Resettlement)
Damak, December 09: International Organization of Migration (IOM) said the resettlement process would be halted for nearly about two weeks during the Christmas and New Year celebrations said Ujyalo Network quoting David Derthick, the chief of IOM in Damak.
According to the IOM in Damak, the works for resettlement will be halted from December 19. However, he did not mention when the work will resume.
The data as of Novermber 25 shows that 7,220 exiled Bhutanese have been resettled so far –6,776 in the US, 266 in Australia, 129 in New Zealand, 19 in Norway, 17 in the Netherlands and 13 in Denmark.
Those expressing interest for resettlement has also reached 60,000. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 9, 2008 by Editor.
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Children Forum elects central coordinator (In Exile)
Damak, December 09: The Exiled Bhutanese children have elected Sunita Gurung from Timai camp as their chief coordinator of the seven camps.
Teknath Sanyasi of Beldangi II has been elected as assistant coordinator and Om Nath Adhikari of Beldangi II Extension as the secretary of the Children Form instituted in 1997 in the initiative of Save the Children (UK).
Manmaya Magar of Timai has been elected as assistant secretary and Kaushila Wagle of Sanischare as treasurer. The new team will work for the next two years.
Around 153 childrenm below 16 years, who gathered in Beldangi I, including camp coordinators and other representatives, voted to elect their leaders. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 9, 2008 by Editor.
Camp elections scheduled (In Exile)
Damak, December 09: Elections for camp management committee have been scheduled for December 22, 23, and 24 to elect new teams for the next one year.
The exiled Bhutanese above 18 years of age will elect their sub-sector chiefs who in turn will elect the secretaries and administrators.
Representatives for health, relief distribution, counseling and security agencies will also be elected. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 9, 2008 by Editor.
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Family says 6-year-old still in coma (Reproduction)
MANCHESTER – The 6-year-old struck by a car Saturday evening while crossing a dimly lit street with his grandfather has moved his hand, the only sign of improvement so far since arriving at the hospital, his family said yesterday.
Maousham Adhikari remains in a coma at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, his family said.
“The doctors say he will be better, but it will take a long time,” said his sister, Jhali Adhikari, who is 22.
The heartbreaking accident has jolted a family that is just learning about life in the United States.
The Adhikaris are refugees from the South Asian country of Bhutan, a country about twice the size of New Hampshire that is wedged between India and China. They moved to the United States this past summer.
The grandfather, Kubirlal Adhikari, 64, was in Catholic Medical Center yesterday with a broken ankle, broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder, family members said. He is conscious and has talked about the accident, said a relative, Chandra Subodi.
“He said he looked on both sides, didn’t see anything and crossed,” Subodi said.
The two were struck about 5:20 p.m. Saturday while crossing at the intersection of Conant and West streets, not even a block from the Notre Dame Avenue apartment building where the boy lives. He had spent the day at his aunt’s apartment, telling stories and playing hide-and-seek with his 3-year-old cousin, relatives said. His grandfather was taking Maousham home when the accident occurred.
Police have impounded the car and were inspecting it for mechanical defects yesterday, said Lt. Jon Hopkins, head of the Manchester police traffic division.
Hopkins said police have interviewed Kubirlal Adhikari and the driver of the Volkswagen sedan that struck the two, Joshua Bouchard, 19, of 153 Whipple St. Bouchard has been cooperative, Hopkins said.
Hopkins said there is no indication that speed or impairment came into play. Nor is there any indication that Hopkins was driving with his lights off, he said.
Conant Street, which runs beside West High School, is straight and narrow, with few if any visual obstructions. But Hopkins said it is not well-lit. Police should make a determination on the accident by Thursday, he said.
Maousham started kindergarten at Gossler Park School this year. His classmates drew get-well cards for him yesterday, said school Principal Jim Adams. The school has been in touch with the family since the accident.
On Sunday, a school district social worker, Kim Calhoun, drove some family members to the Boston hospital, Adams said.
Yesterday, the family welcomed a visitor into their slightly furnished apartment and answered questions. All were bundled against the cold snap. Older women wore traditional dress and spoke their native language. Younger adults wore puffy ski jackets and spoke in English.
The Adhikaris had lived in a refugee camp in Nepal since 1991.
Maousham’s mother nodded in appreciation of condolences, but turned her head sideways and gazed off, worry etched on her face. She has not been able to go to the hospital because of her own health problems, Subodi said.
“She’s worried, and she’s praying to God he will be better soon,” her daughter said.
The boy’s father — a teacher in his native Bhutan — rode in the medical helicopter to the hospital with Maousham and has remained there since. Family members said they wanted to visit him at the hospital yesterday, but did not have a way to get to Boston.
(By MARK HAYWARD in New Hampshire Union Leader on December 09, 2008)
This entry was posted in Main News on December 8, 2008 by Editor.
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Coronation celebrations crossed budget limit (Nation)
Thimphu, December 08: The king said and the Prime Minister repeated dozen times that the centenary and coronation celebrations of the fifth king would remain simple and less luxurious. However, results have come different.
A total of Nu 19 million was allocated for the celebrations, that still continue, monitored by Citizen’s Initiative for Centenary and Coronation Celebrations (CICCC) led by government chief.
Before the celebrations concluded, the funfair has already consumed over Nu 24 million and demands for more funding is on for more functions.
Nu 17 million alone went up for building the infrastructure at centenary ground in Chamlimithang and the committee sponsored six musical concerts by now.
Government spent Nu 1.6 million for Thai bands and Nu 2.4 million for the Unity in Diversity show. Crunched by fund, CICCC took loan of Nu 4 for the programs. The organizers targeted collected some fund from Bangladesh trade fair but 61 out of 76 Bengali exhibitors withdraw three days before the fair seeking no possibility of selling their stock at the mess of funfair.
Despite budget deficit, the organizers say they would keep up to their words to deliver all programs set earlier, adding more burden to national treasury. Some even approached the CICCC that celebrations be extended until the end of the year.
CICCC is now looking after funds, including international donors. Interestingly, Bhutan which bans any foreign support for political parties is now seeking international donors for celebrating king’s coronation. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 7, 2008 by Editor.
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Support to Bhutanese ‘Mandela’ pours in
Kathmandu, December 07: President of Bhutan People’s Party (BPP) Balaram Poudel has handed over Nepalese rupees 44,000 to D. K. Rai for his medical treatment.
Poudel handed over the amount to Rai in Kathmandu on Sunday in presence of representative from Bhutan News Service (BNS).
According to Poudel, the amount was collected from Germany and US-based exiled Bhutanese. Poudel also informed the BNS that out of Nepalese rupees 49,300 collected, at least 5300 is still with his party and this amount is meant to help other exiled Bhutanese prisoners who were released along with Rai.
Poudel further expressed gratitude to those who extended financial support to leader Rai for his medical treatment. “BPP likes to appeal one and all to support leader Rai since his contribution to Bhutanese movement is immeasurable”, added Poudel.
Spokesperson for National Front for Democracy in Bhutan, Narad Adhikari, who was also present on the occasion, expressed words of happiness with leader Rai over his release. Adhikari also wished Rai’s continued commitment towards democratic struggle in Bhutan after his medical treatment.
Rai, founding general secretary of BPP, also expressed words of gratitude to those who extended financial support.
Released on November 1 after 17-year of jailbird life inside Bhutan, Rai is currently in Nepal’s capital city, Kathmandu for his better medical treatment. Rai informed the BNS that his health condition is gradually getting improved following the consumption of regular medicines as prescribed by Centre for Victims of Tortures. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 7, 2008 by Editor.
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Resettled folks hit by a car, one critical sustaining head injury (Resettlement)
Manchester (USA), December 7: Mausham Adhikari, 6, and his grandfather Kubirlal Adhikari, 64, who were resettled in America in last August, were hit by a car near their apartment on Friday.
The boy, who suffered a head injury, was riding a toy vehicle that his grandfather was pushing when they were hit crossing Conant Steet, within sight of their Netre Dame Avenue apartment, police said wrote a US-based news portal, the unionleader.com.
Mausham was listed in critical condition at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, while Kubirlal was at Catholic Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. According to the portal, his condition wasn’t available.
Police said speed and alcohol did not appear to be factors for the accident. They identified the car’s driver as Joshua Bouchard, 19, of 153 Whipple St. Bhutan News Service
“According to camp secretary of Beldangi-I, T B Gurung, Adhikari was a resident of Beldangi-I, sector D/3 before getting relocated in the USA.
“This is a serious case and I hope he will be taken care well”, said Gurung recalling, “Mausham was a playful boy in camp”.
“He has his uncle and aunts still left in the hut”, he added. Bhutan News Service/Vidhyapati Mishra
This entry was posted in Main News on December 7, 2008 by Editor.
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Bhutan ‘very serious’ towards resolving refugee crisis (Reproduction)
The government of Bhutan is very serious regarding finding an amicable solution to the Bhutanese refugee crisis and has formed a high-level team comprising of government ministers for this, a senior Bhutanese minister said Friday.
Dr Pema Gyamtsho, Minister for Agriculture of the Royal government of Bhutan told Nepalnews.com that the protracted crisis has been an “embarrassment” for the Himalayan Kingdom “as much as any other party concerned”, and hoped that the new-round of talks that is soon going to start between Bhutan and Nepal on the issue will bear fruit.
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal had met with his Bhutanese counterpart at the sidelines of SAARC summit in Sri Lankan capital Colombo right after assuming office and thereafter at the BIMSTEC meeting in Thailand. On both these occasions, Bhutanese Prime Minister reportedly pledged Bhutan’s commitment to resolving this problem by agreeing to resume the stalled talks.
Minister Gyamtsho, however, said that political stability in Nepal was necessary for the talks to become successful, adding that frequent changes in the government in Nepal in the past was the main reason the high-level talks between the two countries couldn’t make any headway.
“We should understand that it is not always Bhutan to blame for failure of the talks,” he added.
The Bhutanese minister even went so far as saying that the Nepalese media has been biased in its coverage of the Bhutanese refugee crisis till now, always reporting one-side of the story, hence portraying Bhutan in a very negative light.
According to him, Bhutan wants to see the refugee problem resolved as much as Nepal or any other parties involved, but the “negative coverage” [by the Nepalese media] has become a major hindrance to realize this goal.
“This negative coverage should stop if Nepal wants to see the problem resolved,” Dr Gyamtsho said, “the Nepalese press should try to administer positive energy into the whole process so as to derive positive results.”
He, however, refused to comment on the third country resettlement program that has clearly divided the Bhutanese refugee community languishing in refugee camps in eastern Nepal where they had arrived more than 17 years back after being forced to flee from their homes in Bhutan.
Some 1,00,000 Bhutanese still reside in makeshift huts built inside these UN managed refugee camps, even though hundreds of them have been leaving Nepal for U.S.A, Australia and other European countries every day as part of the third country resettlement program. However, Bhutanese refugee leaders have been opposed to the idea of third country resettlement, insisting that the only solution lies in the “respectful return” of the Bhutanese refugees.
Minister Gyamtsho is currently in Kathmandu to attend the 25th Anniversary celebration of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD). (Ananda Gurung in www.nepalnews.com)
This entry was posted in Main News on December 6, 2008 by Editor.
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23rd World Volunteer Day celebration in camps (In Exile)
Beldangi-I, December 5: The fifth23rd World Volunteer Day (WVD) has been celebrated with various programs today.
Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Tatsuo MIZUNO and In-charge for Economic Cooperation, Kenichi Tanito, along with various official of UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), Lutheran World Federation, World Food Programme, AMDA-Nepal and the government of Nepal have witnessed various cultural and stage programs today.
The WVD celebration was being promoted by various agencies including the UNHCR in camps today. Bhutan News Service/Arjun Pradhan
This entry was posted in Main News on December 5, 2008 by Editor.
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Indian power minister arriving (Economy)
Thimphu, December 04: India power minister Sushilkumar Shinde will arrive Thimphu today on a three-day visit to push ahead the projects on hydropower generation.
He will hold discussion with government officials and political leaders on opportunities in hydro power sector. The 15-member delegation will hold extensive debates on implementation of eight hydropower projects which will generate over 8,000 MW power, all to be consumed in India.
He will return Delhi upon completion of the tour on December 6. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 3, 2008 by Editor.
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Europe based Bhutanese extends support for Rai’s treatment (Diaspora)
Kathmandu, December 3: The Bhutanese based in Europe have extended monetary of assistance of 38, 200 Nepali currency for treatment of Dhan Kumar Rai, who was released after 17 years of rigorous imprisonment a month back.
“We have contributed this amount for treatment of DK Rai, who showed his courage and power to sacrifice for the Bhutanese citizens”, said the release issued by Durga Giri, the general secretary of Bhutan People’s Pary, based in Germany.
The statement has also extended gratitude to Center for Victims of Torture (CVICT) Nepal for taking the initiative for Rai’s treatment. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 3, 2008 by Editor.
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US delegation in Bhutan to study growing democracy
Thimphu, December 3: The US Senator John McChain has arrived for a three day visit today.
Led by McChain, 15 member delegation also includes Joseph Lieberman, a Senator from South Carolina.
The delegation has arrived Thimphu to make ground study of the latest political changes taking place in Bhutan.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the US delegation is also scheduled to meet the recently crowned king Kheshar and the Prime Minister. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 3, 2008 by Editor.
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Children voted for their coordinator (In Exile)
Beldangi-I, December 1: A total of 153 children under 18 from various camps voted for their central coordinator today here.
” I am very excited to be elected as the central coordinator “, said Sunita Gurung, 16, of Timai camp.
Gurung received 37 votes followed by Tek Nath Sanyashi, 17, of Beldangi-II, who received 35 votes.
Om Nath Adhikari from Beldangi-II Extension and Kausila Wagle from Pathri camps were elected secretary and treasurer respectively.
Representatives from government of Nepal, Lutheran World Federation, camp management committee and other donor agencies observed the election of the exiled children.
According to the program coordinator of Bhutanese Refugee Children Forum, 756 members are directly under the forum following election process while above 32,000 children in all seven camps are its primary members. Bhutan News Service/Arjun Pradhan
This entry was posted in Main News on December 1, 2008 by Editor.
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King Jigme not to get Indian award (Nation)
Phuentsholing, December 01: The Visva Bharati University in West Bengal state of India has dropped the name of Bhutan’s fourth king Jigme Singye Wangchuk from the list of recipients of the Desikottoma award.
In a ‘meet the press’ program of the university on Sunday, the vice chancellor Rajat Kanti told journalists that the name was proposed but not considered to be recipient.
Earlier, the university had floated the name of Wangchuk among few experts for the award. The reason to drop the decision has been made clear. Kanti only said the name was not formally announced. Bhutan News Service
This entry was posted in Main News on December 1, 2008 by Editor.