Unlike many countries around the world, which opted for democracy following political and social unrest, Bhutan, he said, was introducing the process at a time of unprecedented peace and against the will of the people, who chose to be guided by the wise and visionary monarchs.“There’s no doubt about the success of this new process,” said Mr Pomes. “In our observations so far, most of the processes comply with international standards.”

A team of 15 observers from 13 different EU countries arrived in the country to observe, among others, the campaign environment, the role of media, the work of election administration and women’s participation in the historic process.

While six of the 15 observers will be based in the capital, nine will be spread across the country in pairs, each covering five regions in Thimphu, Phuentsholing, Samdrup Jongkhar, Trashigang and Bumthang.

“Each pair will cover between 10 to 15 of the over 800 polling stations in the country, depending on difficulty and distance of the polling stations,” said Mr Pomes.

He said that they normally sent observers in twos to ensure balance in views, analyses and observations. “That is why we have observers from 13 different EU countries,” he said.

While the team will keep note of the degree of access parties and their candidates have in the media, by allocation of time on television and space in print media, they will also look into which party or candidate refuses interviews and advertisements in which media or their preference for one particular media organization over others.

The election observers will follow all steps of the process, meeting parties, candidates, election officials and the general electorate to compile an in-depth and comprehensive report on the entire process.

“Our mission is to meet every Bhutanese citizen interested in the process,” said the deputy chief observer, Luis Martinez Betanzos.

He added that they would issue a preliminary statement of the report, based on election observation mission’s preliminary assessments of the process, following the Election Day. The final comprehensive report with recommendations would be issued two months after the end of elections.

“That would be very useful for the country in terms of preparing and conducting the next election,” said another EU election observer.

Members of EU Election Observation Mission address the media 

Source: Kuensel 

“I’ve never attacked PDP. I said whoever does this is wrong. I tell them to recognize intimidation by giving examples. I tell them to recognize lies by giving examples of other countries.”

Jigmi Thinley was trudging towards Nimshong, in Zhemgang dzongkhag, nearly a day’s walk from the nearest road, up a muddy trail and through a thick and roadless jungle. “I’m afraid. I am fearful for Bhutan. We’ve had it too good for too long. Nobody wanted democracy in this country. Everybody was happy with the way things were. Everyone had trust, confidence, and respect in Their Majesties the Kings. We didn’t want things to change. There was nothing to be mended, nothing was broken.”

He was afraid, Jigmi Thinley said, because Bhutan was politically, culturally and economically a vulnerable country. Far stronger countries had collapsed because democracy did not begin well there, he said. Countries near Bhutan, where people have aspired for democracies, where the people were able to empower themselves with the right to choose their governments, things have gone horribly wrong.

“If we are afraid, we will be careful, we’ll think.”

“It’s not so much fear as worry that I am planting in people’s minds. I tell them to think on what I’ve said. I tell them to decide whether what I’ve said is correct. I am only creating spaces for people to think. That’s the responsibility of political parties.”

There are about 90 people in Nimshong, mostly women. Word has spread among the tshogpas that the people from other gewogs were prevented from attending the meeting. They identified a person, who allegedly dabbles in the ways of occultism and is feared by the farmers.

The man himself is in the room, too, among the farmers. He stands up and declares that he did not stop people from coming to the DPT meeting. The Zhemgang DPT coordinator, an elderly man, also stands to insist that he had stopped them. The DPT president continues his speech.

“Beware of those that come to intimidate you of your votes,” Jigmi Thinley says in Khengkha. “Your vote is a precious gem that His Majesty the fourth King has given you. That gem is your right, the freedom to choose your leader, to shape your destiny, your children’s destiny and the destiny of your country. It is your sacred duty to protect it.”

“Don’t think that you cannot think. Don’t convince yourself that you are not capable of taking the right decision. You have the wisdom, you have the capability, that’s why His Majesty has trusted you, trusted us, the people. We must exercise that, we have to be responsible.”

“There will be people, who will try to intimidate you into voting for them, using threats ‘if you don’t vote for us, we will not give you roads.’ Beware of these people, for they are not good.”

“There will also be people, who will try to lure your vote with money. It is called bribery and it is a crime. An unethical person will never benefit you.”

The next day the alleged man and his friend are there in the DPT meeting in Tingtibi. An unusual drama unfolds. The DPT tshogpas spot him listing down the number plates of the DPT cars, including the president’s. A driver confronts him during the act and a heated exchange ensues. A Zhemgang businessman intervenes and coaxes the man away.

At one point during this meeting, the DPT president asks the man and his friend: “What are you doing here, you two?” People’s eyes rest on the two men and they stand there, unmoved. The man tells Kuensel: “I’ve come here to attend Lyonpo’s speech. There is nothing wrong with that. Is there?”

DPT president appears to exude a newfound sense of urgency and purpose.

“If you are going to get swayed by gifts, by promises, and by threats, if you yield and submit to threats, you’ll get an authoritarian rule. If you yield to people, who bribe you, you’ll get corrupt government.”

Source: Kuensel

The elaborate exhibits include sacred works of art dating back to the 8th century, like painted and textile thangkas, sculptures, rare tantric deities to portraits of Buddhist masters, and ritual items and sculptures from the 17th through 19th centuries, known as the golden age in the Buddhist art of Bhutan.

Speaking at the opening ceremony to a special group of invitees consisting of official representatives, scholars, members of the board of trustees, donors and sponsors of the exhibition, HRH Sonam Dechan Wangchuck said that the exhibition was a wonderful gesture of friendship, trust, and confidence between the people of USA and Bhutan.

Her Royal Highness conveyed that it was for the first time that the sacred arts of Bhutan were taken out of the country for a major international exhibition.

Referring to the political change in Bhutan, Her Royal Highness said that Bhutan’s transition to parliamentary democracy depicts an unconventional story of a country, that is attempting to integrate elements of its tradition and culture with modernity, in order to secure the well being of the people as emphasized by its development philosophy of Gross National Happiness (GNH).   

“This journey of transition is one that was cautiously charted out, and one that spans over the last 25 years,” Her Royal Highness said. “With globalization and socio-economic development, there is a shared understanding of the growing need to preserve our living culture and heritage. As Bhutan steps into an age of modernity, it is important for the younger generation to appreciate the values and traditions that promote and sustain our spiritual and cultural way of life.”

Her Royal Highness also conveyed the good wishes of His Majesty the King, the government, and people of Bhutan to friends in the United States. “It’s my hope that this cultural exchange will enable an understanding and appreciation of Bhutan’s spiritual and cultural heritage. I feel certain that such exchanges will further the bonds of friendship and understanding between our peoples, which will develop to greater levels of cooperation between our two countries,” she said.

Her Royal Highness congratulated all those who worked tirelessly to arrange the exhibition and commended Dr Stephen Little, Director of the Honolulu Academy of Arts, for his commitment towards ensuring the success of the exhibition.

Dr Stephen Little informed the gathering that Bhutan is the only Vajrayana Buddhist Kingdom, which has successfully maintained intact its ancient culture, arts, and religious lineages. “Preserving these traditional ways of life is one of the highest priorities of the Bhutanese government. The nation is unique in the world for its official policy of GNH, in contrast to the Gross National Product that preoccupies so many other countries,” he said. “In this focus on the human being’s happiness, as opposed to their productivity or commodification, Bhutan stands apart from the rest of the world.”

The secretary for home and cultural affairs ministry, Dasho Penden Wangchuk, said that Bhutan has a living heritage and the items displayed were not just of artistic and historical values, but potent with spiritual energy, that an ardent devotee will be able to connect himself with, if invoked in the right manner. He expressed his deepest appreciation to all those involved in the project and thanked them for contributing to the success of the exhibition.

Representing Bhutan to Honolulu were the Tsugla Lopon, Samten Dorji, former secretary of department of culture, Dasho Sangay Wangchug, Bhutan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Daw Penjo, monks of the central monastic body and fifteen monastic dancers from Yudrung Chhoeling Dratshang.

The exhibition will be open through May before embarking on a two-year world tour.

Source: Kuensel

Neutral observers begin to arrive 28 February, 2008 Members of an Euro-pean Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) team have arrived in Thimphu to observe and assess the run up to the National Assembly election and the March 24 poll day.

Five experts from the team reached the capital on February 22, and 10 more led by the chief observer of the mission, Mr. Javier Pomés Ruiz, a member of the European Parliament, will be here shortly. Nine of them will be deployed to other parts of the country until poll day.

Deputy chief observer, Luis Martinez-Betanzos, told Kuensel that the mission provided support to the host countries, which invited them, to hold a standard election.

“We’ll assess and monitor the election process, make sure everything is within the constitutional framework and in accordance with regional and international standards,” he said.

The EU EOM works independently with the mandate to conduct a comprehensive assessment of electoral process and offers an impartial, balanced and informed analysis of the elections.

It assesses all aspects of the electoral process, including delimitation of constituencies, registration of voters and candidates, training of election staff, voter education, media coverage, campaign and the preparations for election day, as well as the appeals process.

On poll day, observers will visit polling stations to observe opening, voting, counting and the aggregation of results.

The deputy chief observer said assessment will be done in line with human rights aspects in the election process, which includes “right to be elected” and “right to vote”.

The mission also includes media analysts who will monitor media coverage during the election using international methodological standards of quantitative and qualitative analysis.

Press expert, Andrea Malnati, said that they would monitor the main media in the country, especially the state television, Kuzoo radio, and the three newspapers.

“Quantitative analysis will include details like how much time and space was allocated to both parties and candidates, see if it is balanced, and also check the tone of coverage towards the candidates and quality of news reported,” he said.

The media monitoring will inform the EU EOM on the performance of media through regular reports and it would also form part of the overall evaluation of the election process.

Meanwhile, observers from different professional backgrounds from 13 member countries, who will arrive this week, will travel to all regions of the country and come out with an assessment.

The deputy chief observer said that the mission will not make any statement until the election was over and will be doing so within 48 hours after the election.

“We’re here not to interfere with the process but to help through study and observation and make recommendations for future elections,” said Luis Martinez-Betanzos.

Source: Kuensel

“The Phuensum Tshogpa has never campaigned. What we actually did was a familiarization where there was a mutual education between the people and the politicians,” said Jigmi Thinley. “DPT educated them on democracy and freedom of choice, whereas people educated us on their hopes, needs and aspirations.”

He said that the party would ensure growth with equity and justice but did not say what the party would do for the people of the Nubi gewog.

Jigmi Thinley said that road access was important and that all the 205 gewogs in the country should have a road. “With roads, everything could be enhanced, the existing infrastructure can be improved and economic prosperity brought to the people.” He also said that electricity and drinking water were other services, after road access, that were important.

The DPT president said that people should consult whom to vote for but ultimately it was their own decision. He, however, warned the people not to vote for the party that bribes them, as it would be like sowing seeds the fruit of which they would reap later. “If you vote for the wrong party, the party will become the prime focus instead of people being the main focus in democracy,” said Jigmi Thinley. “It is where dictatorship and authoritarian rule sets in.”

For some people who attended the DPT campaign launch, the president’s speech on not having to fear anyone was important. “I always thought I’d be deprived of any welfare if I vote for the losing party,” said a farmer from Simphu. “Today I realize I don’t have to fear anyone as my single vote is a gift from the fourth Druk Gyalpo.”

On asking why the people of Nubi gewog should vote for DPT, the DPT president said that DPT is a party that people can trust. “The action of the party should be borne in mind,” he said. “DPT, throughout our familiarisation, has proven our trustworthiness and, as a party, DPT will stand for truth and justice while we abide by the laws and traditions of the country.”

Except for the crying of babies and ringing of mobile phones, the campaign launch meeting went off.

However, the party manifesto distributed to the people was the English version and most of the people attending the launch meeting were farmers. The president, however, assured that the dzongkha version of the manifesto would be distributed to the public soon.

No refreshment was given and no lunch served to the people. “We’ll vote for the party that gives us a road,” said a farmer from Pang.

The party president, along with candidates of the dzongkhag, left for lower Trongsa after the meeting.

The symbolism of Trongsa
Launching the party campaign from Trongsa was symbolic as the party recognizes the monarchy as a life force of the Bhutanese state and it was in Trongsa where the institution was born, according to the party president.

“It is our pledge to serve and strengthen the institution just as it has served the country for the last 100 years,” said Jigmi Y Thinley.

“We want to have the strength and faith our forefathers had.”

The party president also said that he is sentimentally attached to Trongsa as he was the only civil servant to receive a red scarf from His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo as a ‘nyikem’ back in 1986 in Trongsa dzong.

For the gathering of about 1,500 people from Nubi gewog, party supporters of Bumthang, Zhemgang and Wangduephodrang, the launching is equally symbolic as it clearly depicts how much faith DPT has in our tradition.

“Trongsa played an important role in the past, giving it a revival would motivate a lot of people to vote for the party,” said Ugyen from Kaba.

Source: Kuensel

It also marks the birth of a new Bhutan. With a new King at the helm, the younger generation are looking at a new beginning. His Majesty pledged to fulfill the Fourth Druk Gyalpo’s vision for a nation founded on the philosophy of Gross National Happiness and the principles and ideals of Democracy.

It was a year of dramatic transition.

In June the Bhutanese clergy, government officials, and representatives of the people gathered around the Golden Throne to offer their sacred pledge to His Majesty the fifth Druk Gyalpo. They offered their prayers for the health and long life of His Majesty the King, for His Majesty the Fourth King, for peace and prosperity in the country, and for the well being of the Bhutanese people.

Then the 55-year-old National Assembly was dissolved.

In July, seven senior ministers of the cabinet resigned to look for new destinies, along with dozens of civil servants who decided to seek political careers. A caretaker government was formed with Lyonpo Kinzang Dorji taking over as the caretaker prime minister, following the last session of the Lhengye Zhungtshog on July 26.

The ministers formed the core of two political parties that began campaigning across the country. The People’s Democratic Party was the first political party to officially register with the Election Commission of Bhutan, on September 1. The Druk Phuensum Tshogpa party was registered on October 2. The country saw intense political activity as the politicians adopted a variety of strategies to win voters in a process that the Election Commission of Bhutan called “familiarization” tours.

Bhutan elected the 20 members of the National Council in November and December.

His Holiness the Je Khenpo went on a 54-day tour in the eastern and central dzongkhags in March. He conducted a 15-day Wang-Lung-Thri (blessing, oral transmission and admonition) ceremony in Zhemgang, Tshewang (blessing for long life) to about 10,000 devotees in Tsirang on October 12. His Holiness presided over the Badza Guru Dungdrup in Gyalpoizhing in March, conducted the Moenlam Chenmo (great prayer ceremony) in Trashiyangtse and Pema Gatshel. His Holiness also conducted a Thri ceremony in Punakha in January last year.

International relations
Bhutan and India ratified the India-Bhutan Friendship Treaty, which was signed in February, 2007. Leaders of both countries hailed a relationship that reached new heights. His Majesty the fourth Druk Gyalpo had pointed out that the kingdom’s friendship with India was one of the reasons that significant political transformation would be a success. In August, Indo Bhutan economic cooperation received a major boost when the former foreign ministers of the two countries, Pranab Mukherjee and Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, signed the 1095 MW Punatshangchhu-1 project. The Nu 35,148.10 million project is a stride for Bhutan on its journey towards economic self reliance.

Bhutan also received many international visitors in 2007. In October, on the invitation of His Majesty the King, Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Orange and Princess Maxima of The Netherlands visited Bhutan from October 28-31. Earlier in June, His Majesty the King granted an audience to Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol of Thailand at the Dechenchholing palace.

The bilateral process by Bhutan and Nepal to place about 100,000 refugees living in UNHCR-run camps in eastern Nepal into four categories has stalled. Meanwhile, the U.S. government offered to resettle at least 60,000 of them in the United States. The U.S. government, the government of Nepal, UNHCR, and other agencies have formally begun the process of resettling refugees and the first refugees are expected to leave for the U.S. in January, 2008. However, the political leadership around the camps is trying to disrupt the resettlement process.

Challenges
In December, 30 people, who had joined the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) based in Nepal, were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to nine years for conspiring to carry out subversive activities against Bhutan.

In January, four bomb blasts rocked the nation, not causing damage and injury, but waking up society to new security dangers that may lie ahead. A blast was repeated last week, reminding the Bhutanese people that they are not far away from the turbulence that has been a part of life in the south Asian region for many years.

Priorities
In October, speaking to more than 1,000 university graduates, His Majesty the King outlined his priorities for the country and the people. He said that there were three things that influenced his decisions and that he always kept in mind when working: peace, security and prosperity for Bhutan now and in the future; achievement of the goals of Gross National Happiness; and building a vibrant democracy.

His Majesty told the nation that the path to Gross National Happiness was economic development. In a significant initiative to boost economic development, the Druk Holding and Investments (DHI) was created with the primary objective of safeguarding national wealth for all times to come. DHI was formed with an initial grouping of 14 companies in sectors such as hydropower, banking, minerals and natural resources, where the government has full or partial stake. It has a total value of Nu 19,000 billion (US$ 500 million approx.)

In a major move initiated from the Golden Throne, His Majesty the King issued a kasho (decree) to the 87th session of the National Assembly, instructing the government and related agencies to study the mining of sand and stone to “keep prices affordable, ensure equitable allocation, and ensure that the revenue from sand and stone further benefits the people and nation through its utilisation by the government”. Subsequently, mining of sand and stone was nationalized under the newly formed Natural Resources Development Corporation.

In the Royal Kasho, His Majesty said that “his hope was that every single citizen will have the opportunity to own a home of his or her own and become an equal partner in, and beneficiary of, the nation’s progress and growth …”

In January, the government renamed the planning commissioned as the GNH commission so that Bhutan’s development will be viewed and planned in a GNH perspective. As the year came to a close, Gross National Happiness represented the continuity of the national priorities that will take the kingdom into another year, this time the beginning of the lunar cycle, the Year of the Rat.

Security
The year of the hog saw a number of bomb blasts all aimed at derailing Bhutan’s peaceful transition to a democracy.

Four bombs blasted within two hours in four dzongkhags, a week before the second round of the National Council election. The first blast went off in Samste dzongkhag: the second, in Thimphu town, the third blast occurred near the gate of the Tala Guest House in Gedu, Chukha dzongkhag and the fourth at 2:10 pm in Dagapela, Dagana. A second explosive device, which did not go off, was found in the same area.

The Royal Bhutan Police said that one of the three militant organizations based in Nepal, the Bhutan Tiger Force, the Bhutan Maoist Party, and the Communist Party of Bhutan, was suspected to be behind these bomb blasts.

Almost two weeks later, another bomb went off in Samtse on February 3, the second in the dzongkhag. A militant camp was uncovered in Tsirang and a student carrying grenades was also arrested in January.

Earlier, in May 2007, thirty people, including three students, who had joined the Communist Party of Bhutan (Marxist-Leninist-Maoist) based in Jhapa, Nepal, had been apprehended by the Royal Bhutan Police in Samtse.

Police said the 30 people were engaged in seditious meetings to recruit more people and collect donations to finance subversive activities. They were sentenced to prison terms ranging from five to nine years for conspiring to carry out subversive activities against Bhutan.

In the same month, a bomb, which exploded in Phuentsholing town, damaged the engine and the front of a parked Bhutan Post bus.

In April, the Royal Bhutan Police in Phuentsholing found an explosive device on the railings of a culvert bridge, about two kilometres from Phuentsholing town. Police also found a hand-written note placed near the explosive device, which had the names of two organisations, the Bhutan Tiger Force and the Bhutan Revolutionary Youth Organisation, claiming responsibility for planting the device.

In August, police prevented a potential explosion after the Indian intelligence sources alerted the Royal Bhutan Police of an explosive device in a five-storey building opposite Kuenga Hotel in Phuentsholing on August 10.

To enhance security along the Indo-Bhutan border to check infiltration of Indian insurgent groups and anti-social elements into Bhutanese territory, the 17th border districts coordination meeting (BDCM) was held in the capital in November between Bhutanese officials and a delegation from the Indian state of West Bengal.

In the same month, the fifth border district coordination meeting (BDCM) between high level officials of the Assam state government and Bhutan was held in Sarpang. The delegates agreed to intensify patrolling along the Indo-Bhutan border to check infiltration of Indian insurgent groups and anti-social elements into Bhutanese territory.

Crime
Drugs and drug-related incidents top the crime list in 2007 and at least one person died of drug overdose every month. Phuentsholing recorded the highest number of deaths from drug overdose with five cases, including a young couple.

More than 1,060 Relipen tablets and 240 stripes of Nitrosin (N10) tablets were seized in 2007 by police at various check posts. In December, for the first time, following a tip-off, Thimphu police arrested a 40-year-old homemaker, carrying an assortment of illegal prescription drugs.

Drug-related cases reached 281 by December 15 and was the top crime on the police crime chart.

Minors became the common victim of rape as rape cases were reported almost every month from around the country.

The youngest victim was a two-year four-month-old child, who was raped by a 40-year-old man on the night of September 9 at Norbuling, Gelephu.

The victim was brought to the central regional referral hospital in Gelephu bleeding profusely and with minor physical injuries. In January, a six-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 33-year-old man in Sarpang.

In August, the Trashigang district court sentenced a 21-year-old man to nine years in prison for raping a six-year-old girl in Yangneer gewog. The district court also sentenced a 33-year-old man to two years for the rape of a 63-year-old woman in Merak village. The 63-year-old widow was alone at home when the incident took place.

In July, police apprehended five army personnel aged 25 to 32 years in connection with the rape of a 16-year-old girl on the night of July 2 at Samarzingkha, Thimphu. Their trial is being conducted at the Thimphu dzongkhag court.

2007 also saw a former judge, the former head of Thimphu city corporation, and revenue and customs officials fined or sentenced.

Politics
A special moment in Bhutan’s democratic process took place on April 21 when His Majesty King Jigme Khesar entered Dungkar village in Kurtoe, to personally witness and encourage villagers participating in the country’s first parliamentary mock election exercise.

Meeting with about 568 voters from the 24 villages of Kurtoe gewog, His Majesty reiterated the importance of people’s participation in the democratisation process. His Majesty said that a strong democratic system would ensure that the people’s aspirations will always be fulfilled but its success would depend on the commitment and the dignity, people accord to the process.

Two rounds of National Parliamentary Mock elections were held in March and April as a dress rehearsal for the general elections later this March. The yellow party won, hands down, in the mock elections with 40 percent of the Bhutanese people voting.

By June, three informally formed political parties, the People’s Democratic Party, Bhutan People United Party, and the Bhutan National Party came out in the open and a fourth announced its formation. The fourth party, which called itself All People’s Party, merged with the BPUP to form the Druk Phuensum Tshogpa.

PDP became the first legitimate party after it registered with ECB on September 1. The Phuensum Tshogpa was registered on October 2. The BPUP was disqualified because “ it lacked the capacity to fulfill the aspirations, visions and goals of a democratic Bhutan,” while BNP exited from the scene silently with some of its members joining BPUP. Both registered parties formed women wings and hundreds of women joined active politics on the gender platform.

The democratization process kicked off with the finalization of the constituencies at 47 and the Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) inviting people to form political parties in March. Civil servants, religious personalities, and local leaders were to remain apolitical.

As the electoral process progressed, “Can politics be clean?” became the dominant question as parties and party workers began accusing each other of bribery, coercion and illegal fund collection.

Political activities picked up after the two party presidents toured the country on what ECB termed as familiarization meetings. Groups of voluntary party workers, called party tshogpas, penetrated deep into rural Bhutan splitting villages, gewogs, and even families into supporters of either party.

In December, 15 dzongkhags elected their representative to the National Council and in January, five more were elected to complete the National Council election. The election commission of Bhutan has announced the dates for the National Assembly and both parties, PDP and DPT have submitted their letter of intent last month to contest in the National Assembly election on March 24.

Education
Improving quality of education was high on the education ministry’s agenda throughout the past year with efforts focussed on improving teacher performance and motivation.

In July 2007, the Colleges of Education in Paro and Samtse decided to scrap the six-month apprenticeship programme for would-be teachers and instead increase the duration of the B.Ed course to four years from 2008.

A total of 514 additional teachers joined the system last year but rural areas still face a shortage.

In terms of curriculum, much of the discussions were about whether Bhutan history should continue to be taught in Dzongkha or revert to being taught in English. During the conference, officials said that they had received a lot of feedback, mostly negative, but would take a decision only in 2009 after a joint study by the education ministry and DDC.

The year also saw the completion of one of the most comprehensive research studies, conducted by Bhutanese educationists led by the centre for educational research and development, on education standards.

The study challenged the existing perception that quality of education was deteriorating. Some of the findings showed that, far from being in “great distress,” the Bhutanese education system was up and running. The year-long study which completed in July covered 370 of the 485 schools across the country.

The number of school students had increased to 152,194 from 146,524 in 2006. To inculcate the culture of reading among school students, the government decided to spend Nu 35 million to buy library books with all schools to be given Nu 10,000 each to buy reading materials and build libraries.

Support for disabled students continued when Drugyel LSS was upgraded last year. On November 24, the new buildings with separate classrooms and hostels for the hearing impaired students were inaugurated.

On August 18, the Tala hydropower project authority’s office and residential buildings worth Nu 760 million were handed over to the Royal University of Bhutan for Jigme Singye Wangchuck college of business studies, which will open in June this year.

Sherubtse college launched its new degree programme in Humanities and also the double degree program, e.g. the Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Dzongkha.

1,034 graduates including fifteen army officers with bachelor degrees in Defence attended the national graduates orientation programme last year.

Source: Kuensel

A government executive order, to be issued next week, will formalize the establishment of the NTB and the existing department of tourism (DoT) will be reconstituted in accordance with NTB’s new structure.

The positions and staff of the DoT will not be transferred automatically to the NTB and all transfers and appointments to the NTB will be determined by the board of directors and managing director.

The NTB board will be headed by the prime minister as the chairman, a government secretary as the vice chairman, with the managing director of Druk Air, secretary of the GNH commission, head of Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO), directors of the dratshang lhentshog, forestry department, bilateral department and one representative of the dzongdas as its members. The managing director of the NTB, who will function as the member secretary, will be appointed from the civil service on secondment.

At a press conference yesterday afternoon in Thimphu, prime minister lyonpo Kinzang Dorji said that the NTB was formed in keeping with the vision of His Majesty the King towards developing a dynamic economy as the foundation for vibrant democracy.

“NTB was created to maintain the “uniqueness and exclusivity” of touring Bhutan to both international and regional clientele and to have an autonomous agency to manage and develop the tourism industry,” he said.

It will institute a multi-sectoral approach to cooperation and collaboration to optimize revenue generation from the tourism sector and its benefits for fuelling the broader socio-economic development process in the country, he added.

Asked if new infrastructure would be built soon, the prime minister said that the board will accord priority to infrastructure development and take up the construction of the Gelephu International Airport in the 10 Five Year Plan. “The government will give importance to tourism to generate foreign exchange, develop the economy, and generate employment,” he said.

The DoT’s director general, Lhatu Wangchuk, said that about 100,000 jobs would be created in the sector in the 10th Plan, a bulk of which will be from the hotel industry.

Lhatu Wangchuk said that the department had proposed and supported the creation of NTB because the tourism department needed more flexibility to move forward. “The department cannot progress if it is bound by rules like other governments departments,” he said.

The director general said that except for ABTO there was no one on the NTB’s board who understood the tourism industry. “We have many people who have worked with the department for years and have tremendous knowledge of the industry and issues facing it,” said Lhatu Wangchuk. “Perhaps the government should think of appointing some of these people among the board members.”

Source: Kuensel

28 January, 2008 - Bhutan still had an advantage over other countries in the region when it came to biodiversity conservation because of its large intact resources and relatively small human population said the executive director of Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), Mr Jorgen B Thomsen, who travelled around the country for a week.

“What you have that your neighbours don’t is very large intact ecosystems,” said Mr Thomsen. “There seems to be harmony between people and nature because Bhutan’s natural resources and traditional lifestyles are still intact.”

Mr Thomsen’s trip to Bhutan coincides with the beginning of their financial support to the whole region. “What we are interested in is looking at the interface between natural resource management and development.”

Bhutan, Nepal and north east India in the eastern Himalayan region are under the CEPF programme where protecting biodiversity and natural resources, without excluding development and benefits to people were the main issues, said the executive director.

However, he pointed out that urban situation was changing and worse could happen unless Bhutan starts thinking about tackling some of the predictable issues brought about by urbanisation.

Nepal and India, he cited, were large urban communities with many unemployed people and where traditional lifestyle and culture was disappearing.

For Bhutan, he said there was a real opportunity to leap forth the problems. “But only if you don’t make the same mistakes that other countries have made,” Mr Thomsen cautioned. “You only need to look at Kathmandu to see what you don’t want.”

According to Mr Thomsen, transportation is an issue that Bhutan needs to deal with because the road systems were clearly not built to sustain the kind of growth in vehicles. “It’s possible people will be sitting in traffic jams in all your main roads.”

Appreciating Bhutan’s conservation policies, he said that having a constitution that talks about a certain forest coverage as part of the country’s national identity is unique, something he hasn’t seen anywhere else in the world.

The CEPF programme in Bhutan was launched on May 26, 2006. A total grant of USD 326,000 has been given to the Royal Society for the Protection of Nature for building grassroots support for conservation, Kuensel Corporation Limited to help inform and educate the nation on biodiversity conservation and sustainable development issues, Royal Institute of Management for management of social forestry and to Norden Pines, a sawmill factory in Bumthang for production of alternative fuel from sawdust and other wood waste.

CEPF is a partnership of donors including the World Bank, which manages the fund to support participation of civil society organisations in conservation activities in bio-diversity hot spots around the world.

Source: Kuensel