By Peter Foster in ParoAfter 100 years of rule by absolute monarchy, the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan is taking its first steps towards democracy. The young Bhutanese woman emerged from the polling booth with a broad grin spread across her face. A few seconds earlier, with the touch of a button on an electronic … Read more
Thimphu, April 22: His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk personally attended the mock elections held in Dungkhar in Lhuentse district on Saturday to encourage the people participate in the voting process. There are 568 eligible voters from the 24 villages. King talks to them in person. He reached the polling station early morning. … Read more
Kathmandu, April 22: Two officials from the US State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration (PRM) arrived in Kathmandu for a six-day visit to Nepal on Sunday. They are Lawrence Bartlett, Deputy Director for Asia and the Near East, and Janice Belz, Deputy Director for Admissions. The officials are here to review protection, assistance, … Read more
Birtamode, April 21: National Front for Democracy (NFD) – Bhutan has strongly opposed Bhutan’s 2008 mock election. Coinciding with Bhutan’s ‘mock poll’ on Saturday, thousands of exiled Bhutanese under the banner of the NFD has demonstrated at the Mechi bridge demanding their early repatriation. Thousands of Sasastra Suraksha Bal (SSB) is reported to have been … Read more
By Simon Denyer TIMAI REFUGEE CAMP, Nepal (Reuters) – As the isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan prepares for historic elections, many of the 100,000 refugees languishing outside the country are appealing for the chance to return and take part. On Saturday, Bhutan takes a big step towards ending a century of absolute royal rule by … Read more
By: Prem Raj This world has become an inferno. The situation around is worsening day-by-day. In context of South Asia, India crops up as the key player to be responsible for exacerbation of the circumstances. The aggravated situation in Assam— the Manipur becoming victim of Indian Army’s excesses, Tripura facing belligerence , Dalits in India … Read more
Thimphu, April 18: The US ambassador to India Dr. David C Mulford completed his three-day goodwill visit to Bhutan on Thursday in the efforts to build relations between the two countries asking Bhutan to repatriate its citizens. During his meeting with the government ministers and officials, he stressed the need to build diplomatic relations between … Read more
Thimphu, April 18: Along with the general elections, Bhutan hopes to hold the elections of the local government in 2008 after which the power in the local government would be transferred to elected ones from the nominated rulers. Major towns (throms) will have Thrompons or the mayors. The portfolio of Thrompons is in place since … Read more
Kathmandu, April 18: Head of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) for Asia, Central and South America Esko Kentrschynskyj asked all concerned to take initiative for finding a comprehensive solution of the prolonged issue of the exiled Bhutanese. Talking to reporters in Nepalese capital Kathmandu on Wednesday after returning form his visit to two … Read more
Addressing the students of Sherubtse, the message reaching out to the entire nation, His Majesty the King outlined some of his royal vision last week, a vision for Bhutan and for the future. It is a foresight that lights up the future in a vivid perspective of past perceptions and current realities. Bhutan has been … Read more