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In the first part, you can listen to Ichha presenting Bhutan coverage followed by a conversation with singer Dawa Tamang moderated by Arjun Pradhan from America. The second part is a talk with one resettled student Ram Siwakoti who has become Bill Gates scholar moderated by Ramesh Gautam from Norway.
Congratulations in advance to our young King!
In last November, when King Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck visited Jakar Higher Secondary School, he had played a lot of funs with students in their teens, some in their viable-diable age. As he spoke to them, one of his sentences was notable for many who availed a chance to listen at him.
He lucidly told them that every college student must enjoy his life of being young and unmarried, but should never miss to study hard. By that time, he was 30.
On contrary to his advice, as he turned 31 on February 21 this year, the King started preparing to disclose his relationship with one 21-year-old college girl, Jetsun Pema, as if the citizens are unaware of his relationship.
His long-time attachment with Pema was a matter of discussion among the significant population inside Bhutan. However, the nature of relations remained unascertained until the King disclosed in the seventh session of the Parliament, Friday.
Prior to this declaration, some foreign media also attempted to report on this confirming that Pema has been accompanying the monarch in most of his visits abroad. Even the state-owned Bhutan Broadcasting Service has said, “she accompanied His Majesty on royal tours around the country.”
Khesar, who decided to discontinue his Oxford-based education after his graduation to become the fifth King when his father, the fourth King, “voluntarily stepped down”, was also connected in various news reports of being so charming to Thai girls when he visited Thailand’s Honeymoon Island – Phuket twice in 2006.
Also, it has remained undisclosed if he visited the Honeymoon Island with Pema or alone.
Taking his own versa, the hottest head of state as claimed by some powerful blogs, Khesar, informed the Parliament that he decided to wed, probably during this October, but did not disclose the exact date of the royal wedding. The announcement appeared just two weeks after the renowned British royal function completed in the United Kingdom.
“As king, it is now time for me to marry. After much thought I have decided that the wedding shall be later this year,” the King told the Parliament adding, “While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character.”
There is little information disclosed to the public about the future queen, a commoner to be respected in the highest position.
Born on June 4, 1990, Pema was born to her father Dhondup Gyaltshen and mother Sonam Chuki of Tashigang.Being the second eldest daughter in her family, Pema has two sisters and two brothers.
If the King decides to opt all Pema’s sisters as his wives, like what his father did, he would be at least sad for not wining his father in housing multiple wives.
The next suspicion is whether Pema has already become a mother or still enjoys “being so young”.
She is said to be currently a student at the Regents College in London. However, considering the time she has been spending with the King, one can easily guess that she is not a regular student, and probably has been missing to “study hard”.
But, the King is committed. He said that Pema is uniquely beautiful, intelligent and graceful.
Khesar, who might have seen the British wedding on recently introduced television, internet or someone might have briefed him about the grand function, has asked the government not to plan for similar “grand celebrations” saying that the happiness of his beloved father and the blessings of the people would give him the greatest joy.
How the young King’s wedding function would take place, despite how so ever calculated now, is yet to be seen. But a majority of Bhutanese citizens, including their well-wishers across the world, might have been wishing that the king would not head down the way his father, former King, paved: marrying ‘multiple’ wives?
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck has finally revealed his intention to marry a commoner Jetsun Pema in an address at the opening of parliament, officials said.
“The king presided over the opening of parliament this morning and during the ceremony he announced that he would be getting married in October,” a secretary from the ministry of information, Kinley Dorji, told AFP.
“There will be a celebration, but His Majesty has requested that the government not make big plans and big celebrations,” Dorji Wangchuk from the royal press office, told AFP by telephone from the capital Thimphu.
“It is because of the lack of resources (in Bhutan), and secondly to make the celebrations more intimate and personal,” he added.
Not much information has been released about Pema but it is reported that she is a college student. Interestingly, the former king of Bhutan has four wives.
As per the information revealed by the King, 21-year-old Pema is a student at the London’s Regents College.
Media reports during the King’s recent visits said that Pema has been accompanying him during various instances.
Bhutan Media Society said it distributed Rs 1,162,676 (equivalent US $ 16,610) that it collected through the online donation drive to fire victims of Goldhap and Sanischare refugee camps of Jhapa and Morang districts on May 10-12. The video loaded here has explained the situation of the fire victims and the method applied by the BMS to distribute the raised fund.
Locals of Ganamani VDC of Jhapa district have shut-down the Goldhap refugee camp by restricted entry of vehicles belonging to the United Nations, International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and Government of Nepal into the camp and barring refugees to travel outside.
Agitating locals, who have been floating various demands to the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) and the government before relocating refugees from the camp to three Beldangi camps, have been blocking the main entrance to camp since Thursday.
On Friday, they even closed a government office managed by camp supervisor Pashupati Niraula, who somehow had managed to enter the camp early morning.
Altogether 22 vehicles that reached the camp to carry relocating refugees from Goldhap to Beldangi returned yesterday, informed camp secretary Chiranjibi Rai.
“Refugees have been warned of not leaving the camp save their emergencies. Thus, the situation today is more compelling as locals have even not allowed UN vehicles to get into the camp,” Rai told Bhutan News Service.
Shanta Upreti, who heads the agitating group, expressed that the protest would continue unless their demands are met.
“We may decide to discontinue the ongoing protest if we receive written commitment regarding fulfillment of our demands from the government and the UNHCR,” Upreti said adding, “Otherwise, we will intensify the protest programmes.”
Meanwhile, Chief District Officer Sashi Shekar Shrestha told that negotiations with the agitating locals were underway.
However, Upreti ruled out this saying the group has not received any official call from the government for dialogue.
At least four resettling refugees and several others attending interviews at IOM and UNHCR walked up to Garamani from the camp early this morning to catch buses.
The locals have been demanding a blacktopped road connect Goldhap with Butabari (7 km), Garamani (5.5 km) and Dewania (4.5 km).
“We want the government and UNHCR to set up a botanical garden in the camp settlement area once the camp gets shifted to Beldangi,” Upreti added.
“The locals have also demanded schooling and health services in the VDC.”
The camp still hosts around 2100 refugees. The UNHCR has also relocated 1800 refugees to the Beldangi camps.
Reported by Keshav Timsina from Goldhap for BNS
Gelephu district court has sentenced a 27-year old man to three years in prison for smuggling tobacco products into the country.
According to a report on Kuensel, Lal Bahadur Neopaney from Gosaling, Tsirang, was arrested near the Gelephu border checkpost with 72 packets of chewing tobacco, 20 packets of bidi and a packet of Wills cigarette on April 21. The defendant was returning from Dadhgari, a small market across the border in Gelephu, at the time of the arrest, and Gelephu police on a routine check found the illegal products under the seat of his Hilux. Lal Bahadur has 10 days to appeal to the high court.
Meanwhile, Gelephu police, on May 15, arrested a 25-year old former royal Bhutan army soldier in connection with the smuggling of tobacco products.
The retired soldier, from Nganglam Dechenling, who resides in Tsirang, was arrested at the Dadhgari checkpost with 130 bundles of chewing tobacco. Police said the accused was taking the tobacco to people in his village as a gift.
He is the fifth Bhutanese to be arrested in Gelephu. About 30 people were arrested in the country after the implementation of tobacco act since this January.
The Bhutanese Australians in Adelaide observed the third year of their settlement in Australia with cultural presentations and Bhutanese-Nepali cuisines on May 13 at the Olympuc Centre in the heart of Adelaide city.
The celebration formally began in traditional manner with guest of honour, Governor of South Australia Hieu Van Le and the chief guest Michael Atkinson, the Member of Parliament for Cryodon and representative of the minister for multicultural affairs, jointly lighting candle. Other guests included Tony Japia, the Federal Member of Makin. The organizers received each participant and guest with khada.
In his welcome speech, chairperson of the Bhutanese Association in South Australia (BASA) Jogen Gazmere highlighted the progress made by the Bhutanese Australians towards integration and adaptation into the new home.
He said, “Many are still facing difficulties in adjusting in their new country, while some are settling down well. Being entrenched in tradition, the Bhutanese community is sometime seen to face dilemmas and difficulties in adjusting to the new multicultural environment.”
According to Gazmere, the difference in the outlook of older and younger generation is possibly going to generate rift in the future, where reconciliation would be the only recourse to resolution.
“The gender issue and the issue of cohesion and harmony will equally demand attention in the days to come which needs to be addressed sensitively, but firmly.”
He also claimed that as a community, the BASA has strength and weaknesses as well as virtues and vices.
He was of the opinion that the vision of creating a productive and purposeful community would demand to premise endeavor on collective strengths and virtues.
Meanwhile, the Governor appreciated the progress the Bhutanese community has been making to settle down in Australia.
“Since becoming the member of the South Australian Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, I have seen many communities established themselves in this state including my own community – the Vietnamese community,” said the Governor.
“But I have to say, I can recall very few, however, that have made such excellent progress in short period. And you the Bhutanese community.”
He also appreciated the five-year plan charted out by BASA in its efforts to build a strong and vibrant Bhutanese community.
The Governor further said that he was sure that the members of the local Bhutanese community have the ability to adapt to maintain social harmony and most important of all to succeed in their new home.
Similarly, the next speaker Atkinson highlighted that the Bhutanese community in South Australia is characterized by energy and mission, and their outstanding organization to establish a cohesive and strong identity.
He mentioned that Bhutanese settlement is the one of the success stories of the state.
The choir sang the song that carried a message about the progress, strength and integration of the Bhutanese community in wider Australian society symbolized as a ‘colorful’ drop in the ocean. The crowd cheered when they sang together, ‘We love Australia’.
The dances that followed hit the ground, which depicted the Bhutanese-Nepali culture and tradition of entertainment for the community.
The volunteers worked the whole day in the kitchen preparing typical Bhutanese-Nepali cuisines including Datshi. Special chefs from Sagarmatha Nepali Restaurant mentored the Bhutanese volunteers prepare the traditional dishes.
The Bhutanese costumes, musical instruments including madal (tom-tom) and other cultural stuffs were stalled for exhibition that mostly attracted visitors and guests.
“With grants from some service providers and the money collected from community members, the BASA was able to organize yet another big event most successfully”, said Sushil Niraula, coordinator of the third annual day function.
Bendigo Bank, Refugee Services Department of Families and Communities and Multicultural of South Australia supported the event.
The day marked the arrival of two Bhutanese families in Australia under the third country resettlement program in 2008.
Reported by Ichha Poudel for BNS from Adelaide
Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire (BCNH)-Concord has inaugurated Nepali Learning Project amidst a special function in Concord, New Hampshire on Tuesday.
According to BCNH-Concord, a two-hour long program was organized in Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Concord, NH. A sizeable number of American guests including from the resettlement agency, teachers from Concord High School, officials from different non-profit organizations, volunteers and resettled Bhutanese folks in the state attended the function.
BCNH-Concord further stated that Barbara Seebart, New Hampshire State Coordinator, inaugurated the program. During the program, Barbara highlighted the importance of preserving and promoting the first language and expressed gratitude to the community volunteers for initiating the needful project.
Speaking about the project, Bhagirath Khatiwada, Deputy Executive Director of BCNH informed that the project was launched to preserve Nepali language and literature, Bhutanese culture, arts and heritage while integrating into new society. Khatiwada also said that in the initial phase, priority would be given to the children between the ages of 6-11 to enroll in the class. “It is entirely a selfless volunteer effort initiated by the dynamic community volunteers,” he added.
According to the BCNH Executive Director, Tika Acharya, Nepali Learning Project would be an example for the rest of Bhutanese resettled in different parts of the world. He also emphasized in preserving language, culture and heritage to maintain Bhutanese identity. Indicating equal responsibility of all, Acharya further said that the Nepali language, Bhutanese culture and heritage is not only of Bhutanese but it is also of the USA.
Another speaker, Annamarie Dipasquale, School Liaison from Lutheran Social Services stressed on involvement of parents in successful outcome of children. Linda Banks, Program Director, ELL Teacher, Concord High School stated that it is important to keep mother tongue alive because it helps in the process of understanding other languages. She further added that Nepali language is one of the identities of Bhutanese citizens and that it was important for them to preserve at all times.
Addressing the function, Jackie Winn, a former lawyer who became a tutor with the high school’s English Language Learners program prioritized in preserving and promoting Bhutanese culture and Nepali language especially for young Bhutanese children who are at the verge of losing their mother tongue.
Doug Hall, who served four terms in the NH House of Representatives, motivated Bhutanese children to attend the classes to learn Nepali. He further encouraged parents to be supportive in the project.
Meanwhile, Julia Freeman-Woolpert, Outreach Advocacy Director from Disabilities Rights Center, citing her recent visit to Bhutanese Refugee Camps in Jhapa and Morang districts in Nepal, said that Bhutanese culture is very rich and that it should be promoted in the USA.
Rajesh Koirala, the Guest Editor of Aksharica Nepali Newsletter said that a country would be healthy with the mosaic of culture and languages. During the function, Subash Acharya offered vote of thanks to the audience and guests presented at the program.
The Association of Bhutanese in America (ABA) and the Organization of Bhutanese Communities in America (OBCA) slated different dates and locations for their national convention.
A media statement sent to BNS by OBCA stated that its second national convention is slated from June 10-12, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee. Meanwhile, a circular made to Bhutanese individuals by the ABA has stated that their fourth annual convention will kick-off on July 1 and conclude on July 3, 2011 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania.
Click here to see the BNS coverage of OBCA’s first national convention.
“This second convention marks the end of one year formative period transitioning OBCA from an interim period into a full fledge community institution,” reads OBCA’s statement.
According to the circular made by ABA, their convention in Pittsburg will see various programs—both formal and informal including outdoor picnic, sight-seeing tour, indoor meeting, among others. A source at the ABA informed BNS that his organization is involved in an intense strategic planning session – with two days planning session on June 30 and July 1, followed by the convention on July 2.
Click here to see the BNS coverage of ABA’s third national convention.
The OBCA’s statement further stated that the convention will be marked with various formal program segments including election to the National and Regional Executives, Board of Directors and various other committees for a term of two years, honoring local community volunteers, introduction of the newly elected Executives and Board of Directors of OBCA and cultural programs as a part of the organization’s set goal of promoting and preserving the distinctly rich community culture and tradition.
Click here to see RP Subba’s piece on the need of unity among these two.
Resettled Bhutanese people in Norway participated in National Day Celebration programs organised in different parts of the country today.
For the first time after being resettled, Bhutanese people in western Norway have also made a formal participation in people’s parade organised regionally in Haugesund, a central city in western Norway. “We felt the importance of this sort of participation as an accessory means to be integrated in the society we are living today”, Rohit Pokharel said. Pokharel, who is also the president of Association of Bhutanese in Norway-Rogaland Working Committee, called for the participation of Bhutanese people in people’s parade.
“We are proud to get a country for which we stood together after spending many years in refugee camp”, Pokharel added. Majority of Bhutanese participated in the celebration, either in people’s parade or in the programs organised in schools or municipalities.
Laxmi Dhital, a Bhutanese child of 10 years was selected for a school band which played music for the entire parade teams.
May 17, which is observed as Norwegian national day, is the day on which the constitution of Norway was signed in the year 1814 which declared Norway as an independent nation after remaining in union with Denmark and Sweden for many centuries.
Contributed by Ramesh Gautam from Norway for BNS.
