Pages

Bhutan News Service

Bhutan News Service

Dashain teeka in camp

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 02:35 AM PST

Becoming a journalist in exile

Posted: 17 Dec 2010 02:31 AM PST

Nepalese Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara has assured to provide recognition to Bhutanese journalists in exile who have been publishing newspapers, running radio programme and online. 

Addressing a function to release the first book on Bhutanese media 'Becoming a journalist in exile' written by T. P. Mishra, editor of Bhutan News Service and APFAnews.com, in Kathmandu March 31,2009  Nepalese minister Mahara said government is ready to extend all possible support to refugee journalists despite legal hurdles. 

Postmortem to take long time ; DNC-D asks govt to compensate human loss

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 11:22 PM PST

The forensic experts involved in postmortem and identification of passengers and crew have said it would take time for them to finish the task.

According to forensic expert at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu  Dr Harihar Osti, the expert team handed over the dead bodies of the airline’s crew members to their families Friday morning, Nepalnews reported.

A team led by Cabinet Secretary, Tashi Phuntso, is in Nepal since Thursday to collect the dead bodies of 18 citizens killed during the Tara Air aircraft crash.

Bhutnaese officials and relatives of victims at TIA, Kathmandu/ Courtesy : Myrepublica

The Government on Thursday announced that it has arranged a special helicopter to bring the relatives those killed during the crash to Kathmandu on Saturday until postmortem and identification are over.

Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinely said, the government would arrange free travel and accommodation for them during their stay in Nepal.

Meanwhile, King Jigme Khesar Wangchuck offered a thousand butter lamps at the Tashichodzong on Thursday morning in memory of the victims, the Kuensel reported.

According to the report, three-day long “holy puja” for the departed souls and are their survivors being arranged in all the 20 dzongkhags starting from today.

According to the Kuensel, one person Kinley Namgay was luck to miss the plane and Sherab Wangmo had traveled in his name.

Nepal’s assurance for investigation
The Government of Nepal assured Bhutan that it will carry out a thorough probe into the aircraft crash and make a detailed report available.

In a condolence massage sent to the Government of Bhutan, Prime Minister of Nepal Madhav Kumar Nepal said, his government is fully committed in investigation of the cause behind the mishap.

DNC-D asks govt to provide compensation
The Druk National Congress –Democratic (DNC-D) said the party whole heartedly mourns the departed souls of the 18 unfortunate Bhutanese pilgrims who lost their lives during the spiritual pilgrimage.

The party President Thinley Penjore, in a condolence message sent to Bhutan News Service, said, “We pray that their soul find the Buddha field and extend our heartfelt condolence to all the bereaved family members in their respective homes.”

DNC-D also expressed gratitude to the Government of Nepal for efficient search works.” We appeal Bhutan to adequately compensate the bereaved members of the family, who lost their lives in the foreign land.”

List of passengers to be on board Tara Air:

  1. Lt Col Tshewang Rinchen (Rtd), Wangdue
  2. Aum Dema (wife of Tshewang Rinchen)
  3. Thinley Rinchen (Son of Tshewang Rinchen)
  4. Kesang Wangmo sister of Aum Dema
  5. Karma (Lam), Wangdue
  6. Phub Pem, Nyisho, Wangdue
  7. Samdrup, Nyisho, Wangdue (Accountant with the Center for Bhutan studies), son of Phub Pem
  8. Phub Gyelmo, Phadekha, Wangdue
  9. Tshering Wangmo, Talo, Punakha
  10. Dorji Bidha, Talo, Punakha, sister of Tshering Wangmo
  11. Pema Wangmo, daughter of Dorji Bidha
  12. Sangay (Lam), Gaselo, Wangdue
  13. Kunzang Dorji, owner of Gyelyong enterprise, Thimphu
  14. Kelzang, Hebisa, Punakha
  15. Lhazin Wangmo, Hebisa, Punakha (Student of Motithang HSS, Class XI, Science)
  16. Sangay Bidha, Hebisa, Punakha
  17. Tshering Yangki, Yangtse, Trashi Yangtse
  18. Sherab Wangmo is suspected to have travelled in place of Kinley Namgay

Continuing Tradition of Immigration

Posted: 16 Dec 2010 08:58 PM PST

It is a matter of pleasure to be here to join with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, International Organization for Migration, the colleagues from Bhutan and with the core-group and all of you to mark this very special occasion –departure of the 40,000th Bhutanese refugee from Nepal. I think it is a great day and the weather has cooperated, as well. I know I speak from the fellow core-group members. When I say the US is proud to work with such a tremendous group of partners to provide a durable solution to our refugees from Bhutan.

When we started the program in 2007, there were 109,000 refugees living in camps of Jhapa and Morang. Most of them had to wait over 15 years in camps, but with no hope of returning to Bhutan. While we continued to press the Government of Bhutan to accept back those citizens who wish to return, we also felt it was important to offer another solution to this problem. I know there were many concerns when the resettlement program begun, most not only among the refugees themselves. It is remarkable that in less than three years, after the first departure, we have resettled 40,000 thousands Bhutanese refugees and another 50,000 expressed interest in resettlement.

Three stars of resettlement : From left, chief of IOM at Damak David Derthick, Envoy DeLisi and UNHCR Nepal’s representative Stephane Jaquemet

Today, this is one of the largest resettlement programs in the world and the US is committed to resettle as many refugees as they wish to get resettled. The success of this program is a tribute to all our partners. Both the UNHCR, which is responsible for referring the refugees, and the IOM, which handles the processing of cases, have done exceptional job. As any one who lives in Nepal knows the logistics of moving 40,000 refugees from remote south east corner of this country, first to Kathmandu and to the countries of their resettlement is daunting test, as I believe.

The IOM has more than made this challenge and its operations are the best operations that I have seen in my thirty years diplomatic business. The US has already accepted over 34,000 refugees and I am happy to say that our domestic agencies report that they are doing well. There are certainly challenges as they adapt to a new country, they appear to be making most of the opportunities.

When we are here to celebrate the success of the resettlement program, I also want to note the continued excellence of the programs to support the refugees who do remain. The Government of Nepal and the UNHCR should be proud of running some of the best refugee camps in the world. They do so with exceptional assistance from key partners like the Lutheran World Federation, Caritas and the Association of Medical Doctors for Asia . Thank you everyone for your care for the refugees.

As more refugees continue to be resettled, I look forward to work with the government, UNHCR and all their partners to implement plans for future of the camps and remaining refugees. Finally and perhaps most importantly to the refugees at this center today, the US is proud to welcome you all to our country. As the grand-son of immigrant myself, I know you continue the long tradition of immigration and I know you will make our country better. Many Americans have and will continue to work to make you enter into the US as smoothly as possible. But please let me be the first American to say “Good Luck” and “Welcome” to the United States.

(This is unedited version of a speech delivered by the US Ambassador to Nepal, Scott H. DeLisi, on December 13, 2010 at program organized at the IOM transit camp, Kathmandu to mark resettlement of the 40,000th Bhutanese from camp)