With all the discussions, disagreements, suggestions, allegations and assumptions making it to the pages of the local print media on the government’s advertising policy that is still being fine tuned, there seems to be agreement at least on one aspect – content is important. Good writing, accuracy, objectivity, analysis, sensitivity, would be some of the […]
It might seem a little outlandish to find women, especially in Thimphu, carrying chili powder or tiny Swiss knives with their cosmetics in their handbags these days. While they carry make-up sets to apply on their faces from time to time to accentuate the way they look, chili powder and knives are reserved to keep […]
Bhutanese in exile, who are not yet granted ‘refugee status’ by the Government of Nepal and the UN Refugee Agency, have started sit-in protest on relay basis from Monday. These non-registered Bhutanese have forwarded their demands that included immediate registration to provide ‘refugee status’ and supply ration and other facilities to them as enjoyed by […]
The Bhutanese government expects steady double-digit growth for the next three years—the period the Thinley government will remain in power. The annual budget presented at parliament last week has projected growth based on expanding construction such as hydropower projects. The projection has not taken into consideration the negative impact of inflation in India. The internal market is directly affected by India, and inflation has been taking its toll there.
As speculated by the G20 leaders, another wave of global economic downturn is expected shortly. This will fuel consumer prices in India and thus have a direct impact on Bhutan. Additionally, increasing food prices in India will affect Bhutan which relies heavily on India for its food supply. The food dependence on India will heighten in the coming years as the construction of over a dozen hydropower projects will further reduce the area of agricultural land in Bhutan. When completed, these mega power projects will raise the national growth rate much higher, as high as 27 percent. This does not represent balanced growth of the country, considering the fact that it will not bring any changes in the lives of the common Bhutanese
The Bhutanese government expects steady double-digit growth for the next three years—the period the Thinley government will remain in power. The annual budget presented at parliament last week has projected growth based on expanding construction such as hydropower projects. The projection has not taken into consideration the negative impact of inflation in India. The internal […]
An Australian citizen of Bhutanese origin, Parsuram Sharma Luital has raised various issues relating Bhutan and Bhutanese refugees in the 48th Standing Committee Meeting of the UNHCR and Annual Consultations with the NGOs in Geneva from June 22 to July 1.
Sharma, who was selected to represent the Refugee Council of Australia, was scheduled with the responsibilities to advocate on behalf of the refugees and settlement issues of South Asian countries.
BY PASHUPATI TIMSINA: Erudite people in and out of the convention hall were expressing their opinion that the current fragmentation of the community is just due to the reason of the conflict of few people with their personal matter. This is unfortunate. Personal vested interest should not be flashed publicly and should not hamper the entire community. Bhutanese in America require an umbrella organization to speak their real problems and assist in their requirements. For both the organization, time has come to be cool, broadminded, dynamic and farsighted, before taking any decision or organizing any activities. At some point, unity now has no alternative. Thus, both OBCA and ABA members must coolly think about the prevailing situation in the communities. This is the need of the community and demand of the time. Bhutanese communities in America wish for unity of OBCA and ABA. Both organizations have to be serious. It is not that ABA or OBCA alone should compromise for “unity”. Both of these organizations have to compromise, if needed. Words can perhaps be easily uttered but it’s the demand of the time that we live up united in practice. The panelists also expressed sadness on the formation of OBCA despite their open interest for the unification and amendment of the team. They accepted the weakness for their poor outreach, advocacy and strong communication with Bhutanese in America due to the lack of funds, human resources, among others.
Travelling north on the Mechi Highway, terraced rice fields give way to tea plantations that carpet the foot of the hills. From Happen Chowk, strangely named after the shorts, we head east, driving through a deeply-rutted road penetrating the Burne tea plantation in Jhapa towards the Timai refugee camp. The Timai camp, one of the […]
BY DICK CHHETRI: It must be made clear that it is time to think twice about the stakes involved in the unity of all Bhutanese in America. It is time that we all take timely actions to respectfully tell ABA and OBCA to come together as one at this very initial stage before the fire of division spread and engulf us. Honestly, I see an unfortunate fork at the road that if ABA does not recognize, accept and offer a solution now, we all are doomed to divide. This is the time for ABA to lead by offering valuable and varieties of options, giving the people good reasons to follow. We want one organization at the national level without competing among the two but by coming together in understanding as one. It might be too early to say but let’s hope the ongoing convention of ABA will leave no stone unturned to bring unification on the single subject of one National organization for all Bhutanese in America. The creation of two different national level organizations will be a blow to the morale of Bhutanese in America and it sends out a ripple effect to the Bhutanese in exile. It will not only divide the people but lose support because most of the people will remain in between reluctant to contribute on either side.
It is not about you and me It is not about you and me. It is about the Bhutanese in America. It is perhaps unfortunate that within a gap of few weeks, we Bhutanese are bound to observe two conventions—both of them claimed to be of “national” level. We recently observed the first convention of […]