Editor BY IP ADHIKARI : To my understanding, this is another testimony of leaders fighting against a tyranny – a passionate and consistent fight against all odds. Bhutan has so far been in mission to bamboozle the world community to tag us terrorists and anti nationals. It’s in mission to tell the world that all those demanding democracy and human rights in Bhutan are working against national interest and that Bhutan has not committed any human rights violations or tortured any activists
I am delighted to read your book Quest for Democracy – against all odds, the first book on Bhutan I read after migrating to Australia early last month. It helped me a lot to revive my passion for democracy and rather worked as a refresher in an alien land where I am feeling lonely. To … Read more
October 19, 2010: A film on Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness philosophy is all set to be screened in Himalayan Film Festival in New York. The festival at New York City’s Greenwich Village, the cultural heart of Manhattan at Quad Cinema will run through October 22 till 28. Among 31 Himalayan films selected for the festival, … Read more
October 19, 2010: Indian officials are making all efforts to turn private tour of King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk as official visit, that begins on Wednesday. Earlier, the visit was planned to be private with king visiting some specific places of his interest. With greater engagement of China in Bhutan, India wants to further strengthen … Read more
A court in predominantly Buddhist Bhutan has sentenced a Christian to three years in prison for “attempting to promote civil unrest” by screening films on Christianity. A local court in Gelephu convicted Prem Singh Gurung, a 40-year-old ethnic Nepalese citizen from Sarpang district in south Bhutan, on Oct. 6, according to the government-run daily Kuensel. … Read more
The relation of happiness with democracy is one of the most confronting questions today. As happiness is inherently subjected to the state of natural rights and exercise of freedom, it is clear that democracy without happiness is almost dysfunctional. After the end of Hitler and Stalin rule, the world acknowledged the cohesive need of happiness … Read more
October 18, 2010: One of the major festivals of Hindus, Vijaya Dashami, was celebrated with festivities by Hindus Bhutanese all around the world. News from Bhutan states that Durga Puja was being observed in a Hindu temple in Thimphu, coordinated by Hindu Dharma Samudaya of Bhutan. Bhutan has opened up for Hindu festivities since last … Read more
Dear T Penjore I am delighted to read your book Quest for Democracy – against all odds, the first book on Bhutan I read after migrating to Australia early last month. It helped me a lot to revive my passion for democracy and rather worked as a refresher in an alien land where I am … Read more
On one of the fine days of early 1991, Nepalese people at Kakarvitta near Indo-Nepal border witnessed about 450 people with worn out faces and woozy looks entering Nepal looking for temporary shelter who in response provided the best of services and support that they could render at their level. They were all Bhutanese seeking … Read more
BY DR. BHAMPA RAI: Instead of hearing to their appeal, the Royal government chose to militarize the region launching brutal method of crackdown, following intimidation, arbitrary arrest, torture and killing in makeshift detention cells. Schools were converted into interrogation centers, while women were raped, houses were zeroed to ashes and valuable documents confiscated alongside the militarization of villages and towns. In such dreaded state of affairs, those affected Bhutanese people had to flee the country for their lives. Their relatives and others, who decided to remain behind too were coerced into signing voluntary migration forms at the gun point and finally evicted from their homeland.