Although two of the ministers in the first elected democratic government of Bhutan are of Nepali origin, many people of Nepali origin who still live in Bhutan whisper about the injustices. The stringent rule for jobs, where a no-objection certificate (NOC) is mandatory is one such example. If any member of the family was ever involved in any anti-government (read anti-monarchy) activity, you will not get the NOC. The vague definitions of such activities, left for the interpretation of local authorities at their own discretion, further makes things difficult for people like Shyam Bahadur Darnal. A taxi driver dressed in the traditional ‘national dress’ – Gho or Bakkhu – welcomes me to Bhutan. He introduces himself as Shakti Gurung. A mixed stream of emotions churns inside me with the soothing breeze and altered landscape. Had I not visited the ‘refugee camp’ in Jhapa district of Nepal just a few days ago, I would also have taken the beauty at face value like many tourists in Bhutan.

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Disc Golf Bhutan will introduce a new game for Bhutanese – disc golf – this week, as its founders plan to open the course in Thimphu. Founder Hans J Keller said discs will be given free of charge to people as they are not available in the local market. The interested persons will be taught by the supervisor everyday after 3 p.m. under the monitoring of Youth Development Fund (YDF).

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The upper house National Council, which was ignored by the government in the past, has begun working on giving a tough time for ministers in the upcoming parliament session. Despite repeated calls form the House, the ministers either absented or sent only written responses to its questions in previous sessions. There are no clear mandates how ministers should answer the questions raised in the parliament. In the winter session, the Council had wanted to invite about five ministers for the question-answer session, but none of them turned up

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Authorities in Dagana said that the road communication in the district, disrupted by the recent floods, will be restored by Tuesday. Construction of a temporary bridge over the Daga River will be completed by Tuesday, where the swollen river had washed away the bridge on May 26, leaving the district completely cut off from rest of the country for over two weeks

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The ninth annual gathering of the Bhutan Agriculture Food and Regulatory Authority (BAFRA) has begun at Hotel Zhiwaling, Paro on Wednesday where Officers In-Charge of the BAFRA Dzongkhag Offices, Plant and Livestock Quarantine Offices, City Service Office, leaders of the plant, livestock and food core groups are taking part.

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The newly resettled Bhutanese in Denver, Colorado are getting passing sleepless nights due to increasing attacks on the in the recent days.

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In the case you ever visit the Bhutanese refugee camp in Jhapa district, Nepal at Beldangi II, Sector I-1, Hut No 39, the first question you will be asked is whether you are the one who will take them to see their sons. Ram Chandra Guragai Ram Chandra Guragai The aged couple, Ram Chandra Guragai, 73, and Yasoda, 69, are living on the good will of their neighbors. Simple and essential tasks such as fetching water from the nearby tap and preparing meals are no longer possible for them most of the time. People age all over the world, and in Bhutanese refugee society the elderly are usually cared for by the families of their children. For Ram Chandra and Yasoda, however, this care is a dream, as their family is about 10,000 miles away. Two years ago the Guragai family started the resettlement process. As a family they faced the violent mass exodus from Bhutan. As a family they endured 18 years of struggle and poverty in the refugee camps of south-eastern Nepal.

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Beldangi-I, April 21: An unidentified gunman fired four rounds of bullets and killed Shanti Ram Nepal, 56, of Beldangi-I camp, B-2/155 around 8:45 PM today. Both, the camp secretary TB Gurung and the camp-based Arm

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