Everlasting smile

Posted inInternational
Yesterday, at the Clock Tower Square, HRH Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck launched Grand Mutual Smiles, a project to exchange smiles – digitally, using smile detection cameras, computers and cyberspace – between the peoples of Thimphu and Linz, Austria. Thimphu’s Smiles project will be on for a week. And it was selected to introduce what’s being called “80+1: A Journey around the World”, an eighty day event featuring projects in at least 20 locations around the world. The projects showcase themes that are critically important for the future ranging from food and markets to exploration to co-existence. Thimphu’s theme is…

Happy birthday YDF

Posted inCivil society
About ten years ago, His Majesty the Fourth Druk Gyalpo commanded the establishment of a sustainable funding mechanism for the development of our youth. So Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, started the Youth Development Fund to realize the vision of our beloved monarch. During the last decade, Her Majesty has worked tirelessly to build this important institution, which has already benefited countless thousands of our youth. So on 16 June, when friends and supporters of YDF gathered at the Taj to celebrate its 10th anniversary, I respectfully offer tashi delek to Her Majesty and the…

Moenlam chenpo in Haa

Posted inReligion
I've posted another set of photographs. They were taken earlier today while accompanying His Holiness the Je Khenpo's entourage to Haa. His Holiness is in Haa to lead the moenlam chenpo prayers for world peace and harmony. The moenlam choenpo was started in 2001 by three cousins - Dasho Nob Tshering (a civil servant), Desang Dorji (a businessman) and Nob Gyeltshen (a retired RBG officer). That year, the three of them sponsored the prayers and contributed Nu 100,000 each towards the moenlam chenpo fund. Other devotees quickly joined them and, before the end of the week-long prayers, the fund…

More dogwood

Posted inMiscellaneous
Blooming dogwood prompted Tongyal to visit the Clock Tower Square and spend a good half an hour among the dogwood trees. Since Tongyal enjoyed the experience so much, I'm posting another picture - this one shows a blooming dogwood at the Motithang Hotel. Thimphu has a few other good dogwood spots. Some of them are old. All, at this time of the year, are quite beautiful.  I invite our readers, and especailly Tongyal, to look for them and send me the photographs.

Civil service bill

Posted inLegislature
You can download the Civil Service Bill of the Kingdom of Bhutan, 2009 from the National Assembly's website. This is important bill will be discussed during the forthcoming session of the Parliament. So please read it. And share your thoughts and comments here.

Archery stars

Posted inCulture
This week's featured photo is again about archery. The finals of the Silver Jubilee Coronation Tournament, which was, till 1998, called the Coronation Cup, concluded yesterday. As predicated, Team Phojas won the coveted trophy. But Team MPAB put up a good fight. They won the second game. And matched the Team Phojas karey for karey in the third game, which was far more interesting and competitive that what the final score showed (25-8). In a dramatic finish, Lop Kinley Tshering, MPAB's anchor, hit the target with his second arrow and cut Team Phojas' choenda, which had been planted by…

PDP meeting

Posted inPolitical parties
Today we organized a special meeting for our financial supporters. During the meeting, we made presentations on the status of our party, and talked about the way forward. Our supporters resolved that the PDP must continued to be strengthened in order to provide an effective opposition to the government, and to ensure that our people have access to a credible alternate party. Several supporters offered voluntary financial contributions. Others volunteered to join the fund-raising committee.

Archery finals

Posted inCulture
The 2009 National  Coronation Cup archery finals are being played in the Changlimithang grounds. Team Phoja, who are widely regarded as the strongest team this season, needed just four rounds to win the first game. The score: 25 - 0. And the time: only 10:30 AM. Most spectators were resigned to a quick second game, and hence the match, in favor of the much more superior team Phoja. Some even ventured that the match would be over before lunch. But team MPAB didn't give up. They began the second match by scoring points before team Phoja, preventing, much to…

Blooming nuisance

Posted inTowns
In my last entry, Blooming dogwood, Romeo, a regular commentator, pointed out an "...uncovered drain right next to the lower police gate that is very risky for pedestrians and vehicle drivers during the day as well as night." Romeo is right. The open drain is dangerous. I don't know how long the drain has been left like that, but I first spotted it about ten days ago. The City Corporation is obviously repairing something inside the drain. But they should either secure the area properly, or cover the drain when no one is working on it. Since they haven't,…

Blooming dogwood

Posted inPeople7 Comments
If you go to Thimphu's Clock Tower Square these days, you'll find the dogwood (phetse shing in Dzongkha) there in full bloom. In the midst of what is fast becoming a concrete jungle, the dogwood trees, though there are only three left, provide refreshing refuge. The Clock Tower Square, before it was extensively renovated in 2004, used to have many more trees. Maple and dogwood were some of the trees that Friends of the Square, a group of volunteers, planted along with bamboo, azalea and marigold to convert an unkempt, dirty square to a well organized garden with proper…

Protecting our judiciary

Posted inJustice
On 9 June, Kuensel reported that the selection of the new DDC secretary may have violated the RCSC's position classification system. If this is the case, RCSC should look into it. I have no problem about a member of the judiciary applying of a civil service post, and the RCSC accepting that person's candidature, or selecting that person. No problem that is, as long as both the Judiciary's rules and the RCSC's rules are followed. So the RCSC may wish to ensure that due process was followed. RCSC should also consider if it has infringed on the independence of…

Being blunt

Posted inGovernment
The cartoon in the last issue of Bhutan Times showed Lyonpo Nanda Lal Rai announcing: "I'm going to be blunt. He (opposition leader) along with other MPs will get the CDG. But he's creating all this noise to gain political mileage. If people are misinterpreting the Constitution from day one, they're asking for trouble." I take issue with Lyonpo Nanda Lal on four counts. First, I cannot and will not accept the CDG if I continue to believe it to be unconstitutional. My understanding of our obligations to safeguard our Constitution will not allow me do so. In fact…

Site update: gallery

Posted inMiscellaneous
I'm pleased to announce the latest addition to our website: a gallery where I'll post photos occasionally. I hope you approve. And, naturally, if you'd like to share your photographs, I'll be happy to post them too. The "gallery" button is on the navigation menu above the featured photograph. The inaugural album is of my last trip to Punakha. All the photos were taken at Talo's archery grounds.

About the CDG

Posted inGovernment
Last month, Archibald read "Illegal grants" and commented: "...i've been wondering what the CDG is..." A few other people have also asked me about the CDG. So let's talk about the CDG. Or, better yet, let's see what the National Council has said about the controversial grant. But first, let's recall how the grant was first introduced. It went something like this: On 23 June 2008, during the first session of the Parliament, the National Assembly discussed the budget for the year 2008-2009. The proposed budget made no mention of a CDG. When the National Council debated the proposed…

Gifted Kunzang

Posted inPeople
Here's a gift from Talo, Punakha: Kunzang Lhaden, aged 12, singing a soulful rendition of "Mitse Dina", a soundtrack by Namgay Jigs from the movie "Jigthar". Kunzang learnt this song, and others, by listening to BBS Radio. Enjoy...