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Bhutan News Service

Bhutan News Service

Aid-agencies urged for ration, registration

Posted: 06 Jul 2010 07:35 PM PDT

Exiled Bhutanese, who have been excluded from receiving facilities including the ration provided by the UNHCR, have obstructed the regular works at the offices of the aid-agencies, among others.
Despite their earlier vow to make the officials lay "pen-down", the demonstrators in some locations even padlocked the offices of agencies. The demonstrations launched in various places in all seven camps led the offices of aid-agencies including the UNHCR, Lutheran World Federation, Nepal Red Cross Society, among others halted for hours.
Demanding that they be treated equally as other refugees in camps; provide ration and other facilities, the demonstrators even restricted aid-agency officials and Nepal government staffs from entering their offices early on Tuesday.
At estimated 3,000 plus exiled Bhutanese are reported to have been restricted from getting ration due to various reasons.

Exiled Bhutanese, who have been excluded from receiving facilities including the ration provided by the UNHCR, have obstructed the regular works at the offices of the aid-agencies, among others.

Demonstrators holding banners displaying their demands.

Demonstrators holding banners displaying their demands.

Despite their earlier vow to make the officials lay "pen-down", the demonstrators in some locations even padlocked the offices of agencies. The demonstrations launched in various places in all seven camps led the offices of aid-agencies including the UNHCR, Lutheran World Federation, Nepal Red Cross Society, among others halted for hours.

Demanding that they be treated equally as other refugees in camps; provide ration and other facilities, the demonstrators even restricted aid-agency officials and Nepal government staffs from entering their offices early on Tuesday.

At estimated 3,000 plus exiled Bhutanese are reported to have been restricted from getting ration due to various reasons.

By Jeetan Subba & Arjun Pradhan/BNS

Journos celebrate SAFMA anniversary

Posted: 06 Jul 2010 07:03 PM PDT

Coinciding the 10th anniversary of the South Asian Free Media Association's (SAFMA), Bhutanese journalists came together in Thimphu on  July 3.

Needrup Zangpo, the editor of Bhutan Observer and President of the Bhutan chapter spoke on SAFMA's activities and achievements in the region. He said that, although not much could be done until then, Bhutan chapter was planning several activities for the coming months.

It was announced that SAFMA Bhutan chapter will elect its new office bearers including the secretary general, vice president, and coordinator for South Asia Media Commission. While the secretary general, Kuensel's Dzongkha editor Rinzin Wangchuk, is out of the country for long-term studies, other office bearers are no longer with the media.

The Bhutan chapter held its last election for office bearers 11 months ago on August 9, 2009. Bhutan was the last of the eight south Asian countries to join SAFMA on August 5, 2007. Despite its commitment to advocate for press freedom in the country, the Bhutan Chapter of SAFMA has been a mute spectator to various incidents relating threat on media freedom.