Chairman of CPN-UML, Jhala Nath Khanal, on Wednesday opined that exiled Bhutanese should try to fight for their repatriation and democracy through peaceful means as before. He also said that Nepali people would always be ready to support such activities. “UML has always been supporting democratic struggle in Bhutan and would remain so in the [...]

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After living for more than 20 years in a refugee camp in Nepal, Ram Rai is very happy to be settled here. “We had nothing there. I want to thank America for giving us a chance to start a new life,” the 30-year-old man said during a recent interview at Lutheran Social Services of New England, where he is a caseworker. “We are struggling, but hopefully we can pass through this phase and make a contribution to America.” Rai, whose family moved from Nepal to Bhutan four generations ago, was among the ethnic Nepali driven from Bhutan about 20 years ago. The government was bent on having a “one people, one nation policy,” he says.

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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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Chief District Officer of Jhapa, Yadav Prasad Koirala, Monday asked all the agitation Bhutanese to end up their ongoing relay hunger strike. Koirala requested a joint team of camp secretaries and the struggle committee that has been demanding registration and refugee status of all pending cases. The delegation that reached Chandragadi, Jhapa this morning also [...]

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Saha Bir Subba, who received a bullet on his chest  Friday evening in Beldangi-I shootout, is stable, doctors reported. According to his family source, doctors at BP Koirala Hospital of Health Sciences successfully removed the bullet from Subba’s chest. Meanwhile, Armed Police Force (APF) arrested nine exiled Bhutanese for interrogation. APF arrested Nipta Raj Gurung, [...]

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The funeral ceremony of 9-year-old Bishnu Kumar Nepal, who died drowning into a lake this week, was observed in a local cremation center in Akron, Ohio. Photo courtesy: FamilyThree hours long funeral process ended Monday evening, Amber Subba told Bhutan News Service from there

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Coinciding their national day, May 17, the Norwegian locals in Alta Kummune have extended their “wishes” for the earliest recovery of three Bhutanese children drowned in the beach on Sunday

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Europe-based Bhutanese including those who participated in the Geneva campaign last December have declared Bhutanese Advocacy Forum Europe (BAF Europe) to raise the issue of human rights and democracy in the international forums. Bhutanese living in various parts of Europe have come under such a platform following serious need to raise a single voice against atrocities of the regime

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Jan 18: King father Jigme Singye Wanchuk said Bhutan has lost a good friend at the sudden demise of India’s left icon Jyoti Basu. He expressed condolences at the death of Basu in two messages to chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Basu’s son Chandan. Expressing deep sorrow, King father described Basu’s death as “a great [...]

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Kathmandu, Jan 13:  The newly appointed United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Representative in Nepal, Stéphane Jaquemet, presented the Letter of Credentials to the Nepali Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister of Nepal, Sujata Koirala yesterday. Upon assuming office, Jaquemet said, “I am happy to be in Nepal, such a beautiful and cultured country, and [...]

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