Apr 26, 2013
Bhutan has elected a new council for the next five years, but some questions still hang over the apolitical legislative institution that also functions as a house of review.
One is about it being a continuous house. Article 24 of the Constitution specifies that elections, in case of the National Council, will be held so that it is re-constituted on the date of the expiry of its term.
On April 28, the National Council will complete its [... Read More]
Apr 26, 2013
Come one, Kamal: Voters at the old DYT hall on April 23 in Damphu TownBesides maturity, experience and qualification, it was the tangible proof of somebody having done a community some service that voters in Tsirang were looking for in electing their National Council candidate.
Apart from that, they wanted someone who understood and had contact with villagers and was comfortable speaking the national language to be able to take their issues to the Parliament.
“Kamal Bahadur Gurung had the qualities we were looking for,” a 60-year-old Kilikhorthang villager said.
“It’s because [... Read More]
Apr 26, 2013
Close race: The five candidates wait for the results on April 23While every candidate won a clear majority of votes in their own gewog, it was Kaka Tshering, who was able to garner more votes from other constituencies to end a close race.
Of all dzongkhags, Paro experienced the closest race with the winning candidate being elected by the smallest percentage of votes.
Kaka Tshering secured 2,422 votes out of 10,207 cast, or 23.7 percent of total votes. Nagya gewog’s Kinley Tshering obtained 20.3 percent of total votes [... Read More]
Apr 26, 2013
Relatives watch on, while the councillor elect gives his first media interviewSarpang’s NC-elect said he’d tour the dzongkhag to take stock of villagers’ problems
After an exhausting race, Sarpang’s National Council-elect wants to keep calm and stay put in his parental home in Dekiling gewog until the petition period is over.
Dhan Bahadur Monger, 33, who was elected as the council representative from Sarpang by about half of the eligible voters in the dzongkhag has even switched off his mobile phone.
Celebrations are on hold until he receives formal [... Read More]
Apr 26, 2013
Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to Bhutan, Shaida Mohammad Abdali (left), and ambassador of the Republic of Serbia to Bhutan, Jovan Mirilovic, presented their credentials to His Majesty the King yesterday.
Apr 26, 2013
Karma checks whether a reed needs straightening Self taught in the craft and, naturally, a keen archer to boot
For Karma Wangda, 51, the excitement of participating in an archery tournament is almost like contesting an election. The night before a match he can barely sleep, thinking about the next day’s competition.
This has always been the case, despite having participated in umpteen tournaments, starting in the village as a 12-year old boy, and later at the Changlimithang archery range in Thimphu as a [... Read More]
Apr 26, 2013
Rinzin Rinzin (left) and Tempa Dorji at a common forum in Dungkar
…but Lhuentse opted for change
The problem in Lhuentse, voters said, was that both their council candidates were “equally good”.
As such, when the race heated up, the voters decided to go for the new candidate, with the reasoning that they have already given the other candidate, the council incumbent, a chance.
Thus, when the result was announced, it was not much of a surprise.
Tempa Dorji, 45, of Jarey gewog, beat incumbent Rinzin Rinzin, 44, from Khoma gewog, [... Read More]
Apr 26, 2013
Aum Rinchen Lhamo, 54 is happy that double paddy plantation on her field is likely to yield wellReviving a practice that died about a decade ago following security issues
It is not yet season for paddy transplantation, still a patch of paddy field in Phuntshothang gewog, Samdrupjongkhar already wears a green look amid brown untilled terraced surroundings.
It is only towards the end of May that farmers of the gewog begin tilling their fields and transplanting paddy sometime in June.
Samdrupjongkhar’s maximum rice growing dungkhag, Samdrupchholing (Bhangtar) has, this year, begun double-cropping and four households [... Read More]
Apr 26, 2013
Proposed names: Rhododendron khochii and princenamgiaePlant and flower enthusiasts have two more names to add to their list.
Officials of the nature recreation and eco-tourism division and the royal botanical park at Lamperi under the forest department have recorded two new species of rhododendron last week.
The department’s information and communication officer, Ugyen Tshering, said park officials, while collecting rhododendron flowers for the upcoming festival, found the plant species at Dochula, between 2,600m to 3,600m above sea level.
Of the two new species, [... Read More]
Apr 26, 2013
He remembers the time, when he rushed to Bumthang from Thimphu at 3am, having learnt the Chamkhar town was on fire.
As one of the core team members, he had played an active role in putting up the structures back in place. He had worked to garner fund support from people around.
Wherever and whenever possible, he had also taken part in events and activities in the dzongkhag. He had pursued issues related to the dzongkhag, besides [... Read More]
