The nomination of the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court came through when His Majesty, on December 17, accepted the six-member royal commission’s nominee, 60-year-old former Chief Justice, Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye, who superannuated on November 15. Lyonpo Sonam Tobgye served the country for 38 years, 18 and a half years in the judiciary. He [...]

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Stephanie Horton, a program facilitator at Refugee Assistance Program (RAP) under City School District in Syracuse has two decades’ experience working closely with different refugee groups. Her interest in languages led her to a place in Albany, the capital city of New York, called the International Center in early January, 1990. Initially, she worked as a [...]

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This is just an intermediate situation and they need to always make decisions keeping in mind the motherland and its future. If it happens they will be able to preserve their Bhutanese identity-may it be that they are not in Bhutan or in Nepal or not having direct influence in present Bhutanese politics. It will help strengthen the democratic future of Bhutan.

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Late KB Khadka was a popular social activist within and outside Bhutanese refugee community. Bhutanese refugee community around the world is now mourning his unexpected death. IP Adhikari of BNS had talked to late Khadka and two other leaders about Bhutan's concept of Gross National Happiness before 18 months. This discussion was broadcast live from Nepal FM 91.8 in Kathmandu via Saranarthi Sarokar. Adhikari converted the interview into texts. Excerpts:

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Having seen no solution for the exiled Bhutanese even after 18 years of bitter stay in the UNHCR-administered camps, several countries have come forward with an offer of resettling the interested Bhutanese in their countries under the Third Country Resettlement Process (TCRP). The International Organization for Migration at Damak said that over 15 thousands Bhutanese citizens have already gone to the United States of America, Australia, Canada and other European countries so far. Also more than 60 thousands have declared their interests for the TCRP. Meanwhile, Senior Citizens Bhutan (SCB) has initiated filling up forms for repatriation. HarkajunJ Subba, the coordinator of SCB talks to Saranarthi Sarokar of Bhutan News Service on the latest repatriation initiative.

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A new handbook for training journalists in remote and disadvantaged parts of South Asia is currently being printed in Nepal. It is the brainchild of T.P. Mishra, founding president of the Bhutan Chapter of the Bangladesh-based Third World Media Network. The book was originally aimed at the Bhutanese refugee journalists who work, unpaid, in the refugee camps in Nepal, but those behind it want it made available to all journalists working in exile. Media Helping Media has contributed a chapter on journalism and activism for the book. In the following question and answer session, we asked T.P. Mishra to explain his thinking behind the publication.

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he Bhutanese will need to keep in mind that employment is the key to self-sufficiency in the United States. A willingness to work hard is important. It is very beneficial to have good communication with their resettlement agency and to feel comfortable asking any questions related to their adjustment. Asking questions is culturally acceptable here and it will help them learn more quickly. Further, it is important to participate in English classes offered to the refugees. Those who have good spoken English will find that job opportunities and supportive services are easily available to them. Also, the most business and services are conducted in English

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epal Resettlement Program Manager for International Organization for Migration (IOM), David Derthick, 52, is also the IOM Head of Sub-Office Damak. Derthick has worked with refugees since 1983 in Indonesia, The Philippines, Kenya and Nepal. After the signing of Memorandum of Understanding with the government of Nepal on September 3, 2007, IOM opened offices in [...]

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The founding general secretary of Bhutan People's Party (BPP), Dhan Kumar Rai generally referred to as D. K. Rai, was released by the Bhutanese authority on November 1. Rai, who was arrested from Todey in Darjeeling (India) on November 17, 1991, was later handed over to Bhutan police.  45-year old unmarried Rai, who spent almost 17-year [...]

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Bhutan Gorkha National Liberation Front (BGNLF) is one of those political parties especially advocating for rights to Nepali speakers southern Bhutan. The party projects itself an ethnic organization and tries to base the agenda that are important to Nepali speakers. While other parties call ethnic Nepalis for southern Bhutanese, BGNLF argues they are Gurkhas. For [...]

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