Posted: 18 Mar 2010 08:28 AM PDT Mar 17: Bhutan and Nepal are set to hold bilateral trade talks Wednesday in Kathmandu. According to reports, the Joint Secretary level talks will be focused on a Bilateral Trade Agreement, proposed by Bhutan some eight years ago. Surya Silwal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce will head Nepal’s delegation whereas Sonam P Wangdi is leading the five member Bhutanese team. The one-day meeting is expected to scout possible avenues to bolster the bilateral trade. |
CSOs object provisions in CSO Act Posted: 18 Mar 2010 08:26 AM PDT Mar 17: Over a dozen civil society organizations (CSO) have spoken against the strict provisions in the CSO Act. Despite the fact that CSO has significance role in good governance and democracy, Bhutan has remained tight on allowing them function openly. CSOs are of two types mainly public benefit organization (PBO) and a mutual benefit organization (MBO). In a gathering in Thimphu, the stake holders raised that memorandum of association (MOA) and articles of association (AOA) needs to be clubbed together since both the Acts are almost similar which will help them save time during registration. The participants said rules and regulations were restrictive and they faced difficulties in fulfilling the requirements and demanded that other certified auditing agencies could audit the CSOs instead of Royal Audit Authority. |
Posted: 18 Mar 2010 08:24 AM PDT Mar 17: Illegal drug trafficking from across the border continue to rise despite government efforts to control. The police generally seize such drugs that are brought through Phuentsholing main gate but major trading activities are carried out from other border points. In January this year, a total of 45 arrests were made in the country in connection with drug trafficking. And 14 arrests were made in Phuentsholing. In February, 40 drug traffickers were arrested of which 12 in Phuentsholing. In a period of three months, 291 capsules of Spasmoproxyron, 127 tablets of Nitro sun, 73 tablets of Relipen, 4 bottles of corex (100 ml) and 115 gm of Marijuana were seized by the police officials at the Phuentsholing gate. |
Security tightened ahead of SAARC summit Posted: 18 Mar 2010 08:22 AM PDT Mar 17: The government has tightened the security situation ahead of the scheduled 16th SAARC summit in Thimphu next month end. The security personnel have be stationed in alert in major check points. Details of all people entering the country from borders are kept. The foreign workers are restricted to travel to Thimhu until May 1. Labour ministry officials said this was necessary because among the construction workers could be some fanatics disguised as workers, who could pose a potential threat to any of the leaders attending the summit. However, except for some neighboring districts surrounding the capital city, the rest will be allowed to bring in expatriate workers. Foreign workers with valid work permits will not be issued bus tickets from Phuentsholing to various destinations until May 1. Dzongdas are instructed to remain in their respective districts during the summit to monitor and ensure maximum security and are advised to employ whatever necessary measures to strengthen security in their area until the end of the summit. All 20 dzongdags were called to Thimphu recently for briefing. Import and use of construction explosives have been stopped. Bureau of law and order will send some officials to meet their counterparts across the border to brief them on security measures and to request increased vigilance. |