Tshering Tobgay

On ECB’s side

March 20, 2012Democracy14 Comments

Elections are the single most important part of a democracy. They allow people to participate in the democratic process by directly choosing who they want as their representatives in the parliament. And they provide political legitimacy to elected representatives and to democratic governments. That's why it's important to allow as many people as possible to take part in elections. So, naturally, I'm happy to hear that the Election Commission has decided to allow Bhutanese citizens living in America to use postal ballots in the next elections. They were not allowed to do so in the past, and, as such,…

Bhutanese food

March 18, 2012Economy21 Comments

A couple of friends and I went out for lunch the other day. We ate at Cousins, a new restaurant that specializes in authentic Bhutanese food. You'll find the restaurant on the first floor of the new building opposite the BNB. The food at Cousins is good. We had ribs (with dried red chillies and spring onions in a hot garlic sauce),chopped dried beef (in a chilli and cheese sauce), kewa-datsi, dal, rice and, for desert, fresh apples in cream. The food, like I said earlier, was good. And it was mainly traditional Bhutanese fare. But in fact, there…

Public works

March 15, 2012People, Towns11 Comments

Thimphu's main roads are fairly good. They are not necessarily beautiful, but, in spite of limited resources, they are, by and large, smooth, wide and well-managed. The smaller roads, however, tell a different story. Many of them are narrow, riddled with pot holes, and have not seen any form of maintenance for years. Naturally, many local residents are frustrated. One such resident is Aum Thinley Lham. She lives in Taba and, for the longest time, has complained bitterly about the state of her road. But instead of continuing to grumble, she has decided to take matters into her own…

Do what’s right

March 12, 2012Health33 Comments

After more than a year of chronic drug shortages, the prime minister has asked the health minister for a report on the problem. I'm surprised. Hospitals throughout the country have been facing a serious shortage of drugs for more than a year. The problem has been widely reported and analyzed by the media. The opposition party questioned the government during the 7th session of the Parliament. And the National Council questioned the government during the 8th session. So I'd have thought that the prime minister would be well aware of the problem. I'd have thought that would have discussed…

Family strength

March 11, 2012People8 Comments

Here's another picture for my 'father and child' series: Tobgay and his wife, Sonam, with their children occupying a vantage spot at the Chukha Dzong courtyard. The family had traveled from Bjabcho to attend the consecration of their dzong, and had made sure that they would enjoy a clear view of the folk and mask dances during the festivities. The consecration ceremony was graced by Her Majesty the Queen and presided over by His Holiness the Je Khenpo.

Crunch time

March 7, 2012Economy63 Comments

A severe rupee shortage threatens to cause an economic crisis. But the government is in denial. As recently as last week, the finance minister blamed the media for blowing up the issue. On the other hand, the RMA governor has declared that, “we have no money.” And he has already stopped issuing rupees to commercial banks. He has also warned that we can no longer sell our foreign reserves to buy rupees. The RMA has had to borrow rupees to allow for the import fuel and other essential items. But traders are already complaining that they cannot do business.…

Pound foolish, penny wise

March 7, 2012Health15 Comments

Being too cautious with small amounts of money now, could cost you a lot of money later. All of us are familiar with this universal truth. In fact, there's a well known idiom for it: penny wise, pound foolish. But what about the opposite? What if you spend a lot of money now, and end up having to count every penny later? That would be foolish, plain and simple. No idiom is needed, and none exists, to describe such fools. The government spend more than US$ 10 million to hire McKinsey. That works out to about Nu 500 million.…

Flirting with danger

March 6, 2012Government59 Comments

Last month, on 17 February, at about 8:45 PM, a policeman was shot and severely injured when gunmen opened fire on the Rinchending check post. Moments later a bomb blast ripped through the check post. The United Revolutionary Front of Bhutan, an armed outfit based in Nepal, has claimed responsibility for the attack. URFB is just one of the many Nepal-based organizations committed to spreading terror in Bhutan. Last week, on 1 March, less than two weeks after the attack on the Rinchending check post, the prime minister announced that he is willing to repatriate bona fide Bhutanese living…

Extremely determined disrespectful opinion

March 5, 2012Government12 Comments

The government has decided to discontinue the constituency development grant. That is good news. The government had bulldozed the CDG through the Parliament, without a full debate, without a vote, and without any support of the National Council and the opposition party. The ECB had objected saying that the CDG undermines free and fair elections. And the media has repeatedly questioned the legality of the grant. So the government’s decision to discontinue the controversial grant comes as really good news. But there's bad news too. The prime minister has not accepted that the CDG was a mistake. He has…

An atrocious crime

March 4, 2012Education8 Comments

It's been three months since two students died and 31 became very ill at Orong HSS due to chronic vitamin deficiency. It's been three months, and finally, last Friday, the education minister announced his response to the disgraceful state of nutrition in our schools. First, the the education ministry has submitted a proposal to increase the school feeding stipend from Nu 700 to nu 1000 per month. Second, the ministry has formed a task force to investigate what happened and to assign responsibility to those involved. And third, the education and health ministries have decided to work together to…

DPT leaders

March 2, 2012Political parties42 Comments

Allegations that Dasho Chang Ugyen had illegally acquired 10 acres of community and government land in 1987 has drawn widespread outrage and public condemnation. The allegations come even as the Gyelpozhing land grab case is still being investigated. Both the land cases involve the senior most DPT leaders. The president, both vice presidents and several senior members of the DPT are alleged to have acquired large tracks of land illegally. Some commentators here have pointed out that the land was acquired many years ago, much before DPT was established, and that, as such, DPT should not be linked to…

Father and child

February 26, 2012Culture2 Comments

Two characteristics that all Bhutanese men should be proud of: knowing how to cook, and taking care of their children. I, like most Bhutanese men, like to cook. But my wife has made it quite clear that I’m more of a nuisance than a help in the kitchen, and my family only grudgingly accept what I cook. So my main responsibility at home revolves around taking care of our children. I enjoy that responsibility, and feel fortunate that I, like most Bhutanese men, can spend quality time with my children.
Today I looked for Bhutanese fathers with their children. And within minutes – literally minutes – I was able to capture these ‘father and child’ moments:

Lop Ugen Dorji, Kelki HSS, with Phakchung Dolma, 4 years, and baby Pema Yutsi on a walk

Kinzang Wangdi driving behind bikers Sangay Ngedup, 9 years, and Kinga Yeedzin Dema, 7

Happy Losar!

February 22, 2012Culture1 Comment

Art by Chimi R. Namgyal, a self-taught digital artist, who creates the most amazing 'paintings'. The printers were not able to do justice to Artist Chimi's work, so I'm still trying to get the job done, at another press, in a manner that will reflect the original quality. Please email me if you'd like a copy of this 'belated' Losar card. Meanwhile, I wish all my readers a very happy Losar!

The Bhutanese

February 21, 2012Media78 Comments

The Bhutanese, Bhutan’s latest newspaper, was launched today, coinciding with His Majesty the King’s 32nd birth anniversary, in a quiet ceremony in their offices in Chubachu. The Bhutanese is our 11th newspaper. But it is the first to use the broadsheet format. So while we’ve become used to reading small, comfortable tabloid papers, The Bhutanese offers the feel of a bigger and more real newspaper. They’ve used the extra space well. In their very fist issue they take on the “DPT vice president involved in Nu 300 mn Thimphu land scam”, the “Commission Raj in the health ministry…”, arbitrary…

“Khandu-Om” is right

February 20, 2012Youth15 Comments

“Youth Unemployment – A serious concern for Bhutan?” That’s what BBS asked yesterday, on People’s Voice, a popular Sunday show. The debate was timely, given that thousands of students are now entering the workforce. But public opinion on this important topic was overwhelmingly one-sided: 733 of the people who took part in the vote said that youth unemployment is a serious concern; only 87 said that it isn’t. My blog post earlier this month, when the Class 12 results were announced, drew similar responses. But one of them, by a “Khandu-Om”, put the blame squarely on me. Here’s what…