Wow Bhutan

Immunising Bhutan – with Japan’s help

The government of Japan will continue to support the expanded programme on immunisation (EPI) in Bhutan for the next three years. The health secretary, Dasho Dr Gado Tshering, the resident representative of JICA, Tetsuo Yabe, and head of development cooperation division of the GNH commission, Thinley Namgyel, signed a project agreement on Monday. Under the project, the Japanese government will supply vaccines and vaccine storage equipment, also called cold chain equipment. Japanese tec...

Bhutanese take divorce in their stride

It may sound like a comment from Scandinavia - but this is Bhutan and the speaker is a young artist, Barun Gurung. His own parents divorced 10 years ago, when he was 13 and his brother a little older. "I think during their marriage they used to have small fights which, you know, used to have bad impact on us," he told the BBC. "They used to fight and you know my father used to put hands on my mother. So it was quite bad to see that." We meet in the studio where Barun works - a collectiv...

Recession hits Bhutan’s tourism industry

THIMPHU: Global meltdown has hit Bhutan's all-important tourism sector and tour operators have sought special measures from the government to deal with the crisis. The Association of Bhutanese Tour Operators (ABTO) has said that over 1,500 tourists have cancelled their proposed trip to the country in 2009 following the financial crunch. “More bad news may be in store. Even the ones coming in do not or will not stay long,'' ABTO General Secretary Sonam Dorji said. ABTO is requesting “in...

John McCain visits Bhutan, gives tips on democracy

John McCain visited the world's youngest democracy on Thursday, one month after he lost the race to lead the world's oldest. McCain stopped in Bhutan, a tiny Buddhist kingdom nestled high in the Himalayas between IJohn McCain visited Bhutan on Thursdayndia and China, while on a tour of South Asia. He was joined by Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, two frequent companions during his campaign for president. Bhutan, known for its unique index...

A Historic Year for Reclusive Bhutan

In 2008, the traditionally reclusive nation of Bhutan opened its doors a bit wider to the world, but vowed to protect its traditional values by exercising caution regarding the negative influences of globalization. Bhutan held its first democratic elections in March for a new parliament and prime minister—over a year after King Jigme Singye Wangchuk willfully abdicated the throne to his son, ordered an end to absolute royal rule, and transitioned the country towards a constitutional monarchy....

Former Bhutan king’s name dropped from V-B honour

SANTINIKETAN: The name of the former king of Bhutan, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, has been dropped from the list of the recipients of Desikottama (DLitt Honoris Causa), though Visva-Bharati authorities had earlier declared his name. Seven persons would be conferred Desikottama by the Prime Minister at the December 6 convocation. Despite the situation after the Mumbai terror attack, Visva-Bharati officials are hopeful the PM would make it to Santiniketan. Addressing the press on Sunday, Visva...

Bhutan King leads countrymen in prayers for Mumbai victims

Bhutan King Jigme Khesar Namgyal led thousands of his countrymen in prayers at a special ceremony for the victims of the Mumbai terror attacks. Namgyal offered prayers and the traditional butter lamps in the Tashichhodzong fortress here and also expressed solidarity with the government and people of India in their resolve to fight terror. Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley, his Cabinet colleagues, Indian Ambassador to Bhutan Sudhir Vyas, parliamentarians and representatives from the intern...

Refugees from Bhutan settle in Pittsburgh

CASTLE SHANNON, Pa. (AP) — Chitra Prassad Gautam and his family watch in awe as water comes out of the shower head in the bathroom of their new apartment. "I have a question," Gautam says, holding up a bottle of shampoo. "Do I put this in my hair before going in the shower or after?" Gautam, 19, his parents and his two siblings are among the first of about 5,300 ethnic Nepalese refugees from the tiny south Asian country of Bhutan who this year started leaving refugee camps to resettle in ...

Bhutan, the world’s youngest democracy, hands Raven Crown to 28-year-old King

The isolated Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan crowned a 28-year-old Oxford-educated bachelor as its new King yesterday, six months after reluctantly transforming itself from an absolute monarchy into the world’s newest democracy. Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck became the world’s youngest reigning monarch when he was handed the Raven Crown by his father, the former King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, in an elaborate ceremony in Thimphu, the capital. The former King, who is 52, abdicated two years ago as ...

The Raven Crown

The Wangchuck dynasty is among the most colourful in the history of modern Asia. The first king, Ugyen Wangchuck, was a masterful warrior-diplomat who was able to crush constant clan warfare and woo the British overlords in neighbouring India. London approved his proclamation of a kingdom in 1907. When the British withdrew 40 years later, India replaced it as Bhutan’s protector. That role continues today: India is Bhutan’s biggest investor and customer. The new king is an unexpecte...