This is a part of a paper presented in 24th October 2014 at the Institute for Defence and Studies Analysis, a GoI think-tank in New Delhi that advises the Ministry of External Afairs and the Ministry of Defence. Media’s role in promoting regional harmony and cooperation When it comes to …

November 1st 2014 is the sixth anniversary of the Coronation of His Majesty the King, and close to the eight year since His Majesty the King took over the responsibilities of the Golden Throne from His Majesty the Fourth King on 9th December 2006. In this span of eight years …

Dear Sir, As winter approaches in the Thimphu Valley it has become common place to observe a thick pall of smoke that hangs over the valley especially in the mornings. The smoke is not visible during the day but it is surely there. This forces me to think about whether …

An open secret of the Bhutan’s hydropower sector is finally out, as it is increasingly unlikely that Bhutan will be unable to achieve the ambitious target of 10,000 MW by 2020. According to a reliable and senior source, the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MoEA) is in the process of developing …

When I first arrived in Bhutan to work for the Centre for Bhutanese Studies (CBS), they couldn’t find me any accommodation. In the meantime, they suggested the Thimphu Hotel, a cheap, loud and cheerful place that looked down on the only traffic island in the entire kingdom, from where I …

The proverbial cat is out of the bag in Bhutan’s 10,000 MW hydro projects sector, with news that we will most probably not be doing all the projects by 2020 due to financing issues. Discussions are currently on at the bureaucratic level and the final confirmation will have to come …

My first memory of Dasho Shingkhar Lam Kunzang Wangchuk is from 1982 when I was a young boy. The community of Ura was renovating the village temple and building a colossal statue of Guru Rinpoche. Dasho Shingkhar Lam arrived on his yellow jeep to appraise the work. When the sculptors …

This is a very serious matter. Now I understand why there must be corruption in every developmental activity in our country. Our nation was not known for that though it had pride and favoritism. I am about to join my service in dedication for my country, but, on the other …

The ongoing court case between the defendant Dasho Benji and the plaintiff DPT, will rank in importance next to the first constitutional case raised by the Opposition party over taxes during the previous government’s tenure. This paper given the sub-judice nature of the case will not pass any judgment on …

A mutual visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic and official passports was signed on 8th October 2014 by Foreign Secretary Yeshey Dorji and Linus von Castelmur, Ambassador of Switzerland to Bhutan. This arrangement will greatly facilitate official travel between the two countries and strengthen contacts and cooperation. Holders of …