Kuensel Newspaper

Include tshogpas: PM

Keeping parties alive is pivotal to democracy

Prime Minister is greeted by dzongdags at their conference in Thimphu

11 March, 2010 - Prime Minister Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley asked dzongdas from 20 dzongkhags yesterday to take party coordinators on board in the development process at the local level to strengthen democracy.

No room at the inn

Foreign ministry vies with tourism industry for limited hotel space

SAARC Summit 11 March, 2010 - With just over a month remaining for Bhutan to host the SAARC Summit, the government is stuck in its process of ticking off the list of preparations lined for the national event.

Brought under control

Trashigang Fire Update 11 March, 2010 - The Trashigang fire, which wreaked havoc in the dzongkhag within hours, was brought under control by late yesterday evening, according to Trashigang dzongrab, Dorji Sangay.

First rabies fatality

11 March, 2010 - In what could be a rare case, a 31-year old man from Samtse died of rabies at the Thimphu referral hospital, without any obvious history of animal bite, both wild and domestic, in the last year.

2-day GNH seminar starts

The prime minister with the Indian ambassador Pavan K Varma and co-organiser Malvika Singh at the opening ceremony

11 March, 2010 - In an engagement that goes beyond the usual bilateral relations between the two countries, an academic delegation from India will meet with Bhutanese counterparts for a two-day seminar on GNH, which begins today in Thimphu. �We�re here to learn from Bhutan,� said India�s ambassador to Bhutan, Pavan K Varma, at an opening ceremony last night. The ambassador pointed out that this is the first such kind of engagement between the two countries. It went beyond the mechanics of bilateral relations by engaging in the realm of ideas, he said.

A fearful frontier life

Kuensel�s Tashi Dema spent a night with villagers in Tashiling, Sarpang, in her quest to find out how living on the edge is

Living On The Edge:Tashiling, Sarpang, fell prey to cross-border banditry this year

11 March, 2010 - It�s 10 pm and the night is calm and still except for the shrill chirping of the crickets outside. Astamaya Rai, 54, lies awake in her one-storey hut in Tashiling, Sarpang. Her husband is half asleep in the other corner. A rattle alarms the couple. The husband gets up to check, but Astamaya stops him. Even a slight disturbance around her house is a matter of concern for the mother of nine. The couple has already been robbed and traumatised once last year. Since then, they never had a peaceful sleep.

Last day focus on transfers

18th Annual Dzongda�s Conference 11 March, 2010 - Ministries are taking unilateral decisions in transferring dzongkhag sector staff, even if they are directly under the administration of the dzongkhag, say dzongdas.

Additional aircraft for Drukair

To meet growing demand, the national airline may need another Airbus and a small plane

11 March, 2010 - As the country prepares to accommodate more tourists in another year or two, and with more and more Bhutanese able to afford trips abroad, Bhutan�s national airline, Drukair, is also gearing up for the challenges.

Three chortens desecrated in one day

11 March, 2010 - Two Namgay Khangzang chortens, measuring about seven and nine feet, and a Jangchub chorten, measuring 12 feet, were vandalised at Khelwongzor, Trashigang on March 6.

A second chance

11 March, 2010 - If there�s something that can be referred to as a second chance, it�s the education ministry�s continuing education programme that is allowing working people to go to school again and upgrade their qualifications and career prospects.