India’s stance
Exiled Bhutanese and their well-wishers had expected that this time India would open its mouth but it went exactly opposite thereby leaving enough space to question on her so-called democratic values in the South Asia region. To be fair, India cannot continue keeping absolute Druk regime under its armpits citing that the exiled Bhutanese issue is a bilateral deal between Nepal and Bhutan. Now exiled Bhutanese want to question the stakeholders in New Delhi why it had inhumanly dumped Bhutanese people at the Indo-Nepal border loading them in trucks during early 1990s. And, why she restricts them from returning to hometown, Bhutan via the same route. Was that her strategy to remain sidelined from the issue? Does she simply want to see these people getting assimilated in third countries? This isn’t a fair and impartial initiative if India really claims to be one of the biggest democracies of the world.
India’s stance
Once again the exiled Bhutanese issue is overshadowed by political lords in New Delhi. This is because the 42-member delegation from Bhutan led by Prime Minister Jigmi Y. Thinley returned home, after official visit to India, even without discussing a single word regarding the protracted crisis.
The tactical plan of New Delhi and Thimphu to see exiled Bhutanese getting assimilated in third countries is gradually working. Or else, these concerned governments would have discussed the issue during the meet. Exiled Bhutanese do not expect that the latter would show interest in discussing the issue with the former but it was the responsibility of India to draw Bhutan’s attention towards expediting the repatriation process since she is regarded as one of the biggest democracies of the world.
Exiled Bhutanese and their well-wishers had expected that this time India would open its mouth but it went exactly opposite thereby leaving enough space to question on her so-called democratic values in the South Asia region. To be fair, India cannot continue keeping absolute Druk regime under its armpits citing that the exiled Bhutanese issue is a bilateral deal between Nepal and Bhutan. Now exiled Bhutanese want to question the stakeholders in New Delhi why it had inhumanly dumped Bhutanese people at the Indo-Nepal border loading them in trucks during early 1990s. And, why she restricts them from returning to hometown, Bhutan via the same route. Was that her strategy to remain sidelined from the issue? Does she simply want to see these people getting assimilated in third countries? This isn’t a fair and impartial initiative if India really claims to be one of the biggest democracies of the world.
It should not be forgotten here that the more India tries to remain out of the scene in this issue, the further complication it generates. Thimphu is never going to accept ‘refugees’ languishing in Nepal as its citizens unless New Delhi speaks. India is left with no option than to press the Druk regime for expediting the repatriation process after resolving all sorts of political flux inside Bhutan.
Read more...
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Opinion
Hence, at this critical moment I take it wiser to echo with Anatole France who says that man’s prudent who neither hopes for fears anything from the uncertain events of the future. Furthermore, a material thing is simply in itself but human is for himself. So we must try to live as a human with the fulfillment of at least the basic needs.
It is natural that every one of us with evident pride says that I belong to this country, I am going to be that personality and I am going to hold that material gain. Being born and brought up in a given country it’s our moral duty to be patriotic, committed and loyal towards our nation. But there are unpredicted circumstances that we have to face knowingly or unknowingly.
Question of defeating Miserable Life
By Hasta Bhattarai
Existentialism says humans are free and responsible for their own actions in a world without meaning. But it has been a great failure in case of the people living in the Bhutanese refugee camps. What a mystery it is! We never know what we will be reaping as a fruit of our toil. What we had as our dreams when we were settled in the camps 17 years ago no longer remain even as dreamiest today. It is true that we have to expect the unexpected. We never thought that we would be in a state of such miserable plight with respect to our hopes, aspiration and ambition. At the moment, we are no more than debris. But we should never give up hopes. Debris may prove to be good nourishment for the health growth of plant. We must be able to adapt with any sort of situation that entangles us. We should always survive the ray of hope. That is the only way to positivism and easy going. According to Eliot, the only way of expressing emotions is by finding objective correlative of emotion. Objective correlatives are a set of objects, a situation or chain of events which shall be the formula of that particular emotion. We are compelled to hold the stick of our well-wishers for our rescue, in particular not to leave the right track before it is too late.
Hence, at this critical moment I take it wiser to echo with Anatole France who says that man’s prudent who neither hopes for fears anything from the uncertain events of the future. Furthermore, a material thing is simply in itself but human is for himself. So we must try to live as a human with the fulfillment of at least the basic needs.
It is natural that every one of us with evident pride says that I belong to this country, I am going to be that personality and I am going to hold that material gain. Being born and brought up in a given country it’s our moral duty to be patriotic, committed and loyal towards our nation. But there are unpredicted circumstances that we have to face knowingly or unknowingly. We may be prepared or may not be for the cause of our nation, our pride. No man ever gives up his strength to belonging to one’s nation. He may be displaced by ruthless power holders in the course of history but that never defeats him. I believe a genuine patriot even reincarnates from the ashes like phoenix. Darwinian ideology stresses struggle for existence and survival of the fittest.
Of course, every one of us tried our best to contribute for the cause of southern Bhutanese but we were destined to be evicted as destitute by the dictatorial power holders who never had the knowledge of sights and privileges of the citizens. Our voice of truth, the message of god for humanity remained unheard. Instead we are forced to undergo bitter and inhumane life in the refugee camps in Nepal. Today it seems that the god had seen our plight, sacrificial penance for the salvation of our souls. It’s certain that the people languishing in the camps having requisites below the basic requirements for human existence are in an ambivalent state. Despotic regime might have taken that evicted people disintegrate, perish and deteriorate in the miserable situation they are in but this, though is my personal opinion, is an immature logic.
Languishing in the camps for at least a couple of decades in a plightless situation has made the people take any humanitarian aid at their reach for the better further prospect. And one of such aids is the opportunity for the people to opt for third country resettlement. Not to an exception, I have also taken this opportunity in my favor. I have never prepared myself to give up my struggle for returning home with dignity and honor. I, in person, participated in many of the programs for repatriation led by political leaders in exile. Despite our active and repeated involvement in this respect, we failed in our attempts due to Indian intervention. At this desperate dispersion, I feel I made wise decision to get resettled in the foreign land.
On the day I filled up the resettlement interest form, I was saddened and shattered by the sense of dislocation and loss of identity and unity. But I was destined to master courage to show readiness for the resettlement program. I was forced to give up everything that I had at hand. I had to give up my job, my studies, friends, relatives and even family members. I am happy to abandon all my possessions for abroad resettlement. It should not be misread here that I opted resettlement just for pleasure but I had no often to be the substitute to support my existence as a human being. As like those already resettled, I am leaving for abroad for my better future prospect with a heavy heart. I strongly believe that going abroad at any cost does not dismantle our ambition and passion for return to hometown, Bhutan. I suppose we will have better living standard out there leading to better thoughts and actions. Of course, it is enigmatically shocking to leave our station for an unknown destination.
It is painful to leave all our close relatives behind but in the globalized context one can easily get connected with the other one provided that they are spiritually and ideologically bound to fight for dignified return to Bhutan. One day or the other we may stay abroad until the day we are fully equipped materially and intellectually to combat with the ruthless regime that aborted us for its pleasure. Living in the poor condition in the camps for eternity, we won’t gain any degree of momentum to strengthen ourselves in any ground.
In the host country, our survival is questionable in any sense. We have no right for secured life, liberty and pursuit of hopelessness. Where ever we go out our ‘refugee tag’ invites ill fate. We may be exploited, ill-treated or segregated on the ground of refugee tag. This harassment has psychologically weakened, paralyzed and discouraged our existence as normal human beings. No doubt we are not less competent in any sense with the natives of our host country. This simply discourages, reifies and makes us feel always as failures.
In my opinion at this wretched juncture, taking option for third country resettlement at the cost of any loss that we are bound to bear may not prove us to treacherous traitor who betray his countrymen instead it may add vigor, zeal and new but better perspective in our attempt to fight for returning home. I do not think having settled outside with enjoyment of better privileges one can forget one’s country where he/she was born and brought up. Instead, our scattered resettlement in various parts of the foreign land may give us easy access to raise our pathetic voice to the world communities inspiring them for their immediate helping hands towards the solution.
In this regard, I think it is reasonable for any opposition groups to stop their protest against the people going abroad. Going abroad may breed better minds. This may be of great help for the country and our suppressed, subdued and discarded brothers and sisters residing in southern Bhutan expecting great help from us. Our mission should not be other than emancipating our siblings from prolonged slavery, exploitation and discrimination. And it has been crystal clear that quarrel and enmity among ourselves besides our joint effort for our safe return home in the camps and always a failure. We also have excess skilled people in the camps who are ever unemployed. This will breed frustration, desperation and self-degeneration. On the other hand, if they can be given way to foreign resettlement, they not only raise their living standard but also do something not only for the country but also for the whole humanity.
Though we live in miserable camps, we may be having scientists, artists and scholars who can contribute something for world provided that they are given better opportunities. We must try our hands at any privileges that come to our reach rather than debating and opposing each other.
To conclude, every individual must have utmost freedom to choose his/her option with dignity and honor. Neither the supporting agencies should be bias to give priority to the only option that adds certain gain to them nor should those opting for it take their pace with the drunkenness of jealousy, greed and illogical conclusion. Our choice must not intervene any one’s rights and privileges but should guarantee peace, prosperity and safety to the concerned.
(Bhattarai, a Master’s degree holder in English literature, contributed this write-up before leaving to the US under resettlement program and opinion expressed in this piece is solely that of the author)
Read more...
It is natural that every one of us with evident pride says that I belong to this country, I am going to be that personality and I am going to hold that material gain. Being born and brought up in a given country it’s our moral duty to be patriotic, committed and loyal towards our nation. But there are unpredicted circumstances that we have to face knowingly or unknowingly.
Question of defeating Miserable Life
By Hasta Bhattarai
Existentialism says humans are free and responsible for their own actions in a world without meaning. But it has been a great failure in case of the people living in the Bhutanese refugee camps. What a mystery it is! We never know what we will be reaping as a fruit of our toil. What we had as our dreams when we were settled in the camps 17 years ago no longer remain even as dreamiest today. It is true that we have to expect the unexpected. We never thought that we would be in a state of such miserable plight with respect to our hopes, aspiration and ambition. At the moment, we are no more than debris. But we should never give up hopes. Debris may prove to be good nourishment for the health growth of plant. We must be able to adapt with any sort of situation that entangles us. We should always survive the ray of hope. That is the only way to positivism and easy going. According to Eliot, the only way of expressing emotions is by finding objective correlative of emotion. Objective correlatives are a set of objects, a situation or chain of events which shall be the formula of that particular emotion. We are compelled to hold the stick of our well-wishers for our rescue, in particular not to leave the right track before it is too late.
Hence, at this critical moment I take it wiser to echo with Anatole France who says that man’s prudent who neither hopes for fears anything from the uncertain events of the future. Furthermore, a material thing is simply in itself but human is for himself. So we must try to live as a human with the fulfillment of at least the basic needs.
It is natural that every one of us with evident pride says that I belong to this country, I am going to be that personality and I am going to hold that material gain. Being born and brought up in a given country it’s our moral duty to be patriotic, committed and loyal towards our nation. But there are unpredicted circumstances that we have to face knowingly or unknowingly. We may be prepared or may not be for the cause of our nation, our pride. No man ever gives up his strength to belonging to one’s nation. He may be displaced by ruthless power holders in the course of history but that never defeats him. I believe a genuine patriot even reincarnates from the ashes like phoenix. Darwinian ideology stresses struggle for existence and survival of the fittest.
Of course, every one of us tried our best to contribute for the cause of southern Bhutanese but we were destined to be evicted as destitute by the dictatorial power holders who never had the knowledge of sights and privileges of the citizens. Our voice of truth, the message of god for humanity remained unheard. Instead we are forced to undergo bitter and inhumane life in the refugee camps in Nepal. Today it seems that the god had seen our plight, sacrificial penance for the salvation of our souls. It’s certain that the people languishing in the camps having requisites below the basic requirements for human existence are in an ambivalent state. Despotic regime might have taken that evicted people disintegrate, perish and deteriorate in the miserable situation they are in but this, though is my personal opinion, is an immature logic.
Languishing in the camps for at least a couple of decades in a plightless situation has made the people take any humanitarian aid at their reach for the better further prospect. And one of such aids is the opportunity for the people to opt for third country resettlement. Not to an exception, I have also taken this opportunity in my favor. I have never prepared myself to give up my struggle for returning home with dignity and honor. I, in person, participated in many of the programs for repatriation led by political leaders in exile. Despite our active and repeated involvement in this respect, we failed in our attempts due to Indian intervention. At this desperate dispersion, I feel I made wise decision to get resettled in the foreign land.
On the day I filled up the resettlement interest form, I was saddened and shattered by the sense of dislocation and loss of identity and unity. But I was destined to master courage to show readiness for the resettlement program. I was forced to give up everything that I had at hand. I had to give up my job, my studies, friends, relatives and even family members. I am happy to abandon all my possessions for abroad resettlement. It should not be misread here that I opted resettlement just for pleasure but I had no often to be the substitute to support my existence as a human being. As like those already resettled, I am leaving for abroad for my better future prospect with a heavy heart. I strongly believe that going abroad at any cost does not dismantle our ambition and passion for return to hometown, Bhutan. I suppose we will have better living standard out there leading to better thoughts and actions. Of course, it is enigmatically shocking to leave our station for an unknown destination.
It is painful to leave all our close relatives behind but in the globalized context one can easily get connected with the other one provided that they are spiritually and ideologically bound to fight for dignified return to Bhutan. One day or the other we may stay abroad until the day we are fully equipped materially and intellectually to combat with the ruthless regime that aborted us for its pleasure. Living in the poor condition in the camps for eternity, we won’t gain any degree of momentum to strengthen ourselves in any ground.
In the host country, our survival is questionable in any sense. We have no right for secured life, liberty and pursuit of hopelessness. Where ever we go out our ‘refugee tag’ invites ill fate. We may be exploited, ill-treated or segregated on the ground of refugee tag. This harassment has psychologically weakened, paralyzed and discouraged our existence as normal human beings. No doubt we are not less competent in any sense with the natives of our host country. This simply discourages, reifies and makes us feel always as failures.
In my opinion at this wretched juncture, taking option for third country resettlement at the cost of any loss that we are bound to bear may not prove us to treacherous traitor who betray his countrymen instead it may add vigor, zeal and new but better perspective in our attempt to fight for returning home. I do not think having settled outside with enjoyment of better privileges one can forget one’s country where he/she was born and brought up. Instead, our scattered resettlement in various parts of the foreign land may give us easy access to raise our pathetic voice to the world communities inspiring them for their immediate helping hands towards the solution.
In this regard, I think it is reasonable for any opposition groups to stop their protest against the people going abroad. Going abroad may breed better minds. This may be of great help for the country and our suppressed, subdued and discarded brothers and sisters residing in southern Bhutan expecting great help from us. Our mission should not be other than emancipating our siblings from prolonged slavery, exploitation and discrimination. And it has been crystal clear that quarrel and enmity among ourselves besides our joint effort for our safe return home in the camps and always a failure. We also have excess skilled people in the camps who are ever unemployed. This will breed frustration, desperation and self-degeneration. On the other hand, if they can be given way to foreign resettlement, they not only raise their living standard but also do something not only for the country but also for the whole humanity.
Though we live in miserable camps, we may be having scientists, artists and scholars who can contribute something for world provided that they are given better opportunities. We must try our hands at any privileges that come to our reach rather than debating and opposing each other.
To conclude, every individual must have utmost freedom to choose his/her option with dignity and honor. Neither the supporting agencies should be bias to give priority to the only option that adds certain gain to them nor should those opting for it take their pace with the drunkenness of jealousy, greed and illogical conclusion. Our choice must not intervene any one’s rights and privileges but should guarantee peace, prosperity and safety to the concerned.
(Bhattarai, a Master’s degree holder in English literature, contributed this write-up before leaving to the US under resettlement program and opinion expressed in this piece is solely that of the author)
Read more...
Third View
Becoming a journalist
By David Brewer
I was honoured when TP Mishra invited me to write a chapter for this book about journalism and news. We have never met. Our only contact has been over the internet. Our lives couldn’t be more different. He is working, unpaid, as a reporter, editor and publisher in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal, committed to informing those starved of news. I have a comfortable lifestyle in the UK thanks to a career in journalism.
When I first read the email asking me to write the introduction chapter “because you are an experienced journalist and media activist,” it made me think.
If length of service equals experience, then I guess I qualify as an experienced journalist. I started as a reporter at my home town newspaper in the 70s, moved to radio, became a TV correspondent and then a political editor, before moving to online journalism. I have worked as a journalist and manager in print, broadcast and online. However, as far as certificates go, my walls are bare. I passed a few basic exams for shorthand, typing and the essential law for journalists more than 30 years ago, but that's it.
Becoming a journalist
By David Brewer
I was honoured when TP Mishra invited me to write a chapter for this book about journalism and news. We have never met. Our only contact has been over the internet. Our lives couldn’t be more different. He is working, unpaid, as a reporter, editor and publisher in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal, committed to informing those starved of news. I have a comfortable lifestyle in the UK thanks to a career in journalism.
When I first read the email asking me to write the introduction chapter “because you are an experienced journalist and media activist,” it made me think.
If length of service equals experience, then I guess I qualify as an experienced journalist. I started as a reporter at my home town newspaper in the 70s, moved to radio, became a TV correspondent and then a political editor, before moving to online journalism. I have worked as a journalist and manager in print, broadcast and online. However, as far as certificates go, my walls are bare. I passed a few basic exams for shorthand, typing and the essential law for journalists more than 30 years ago, but that's it.
I'd never thought of myself as a media activist. I have always considered an activist to be someone who pushes a cause without aiming to reflect an alternative view point. If that is the case, and if an activist makes no attempt to remain objective and impartial, how can they also be a journalist? There is a danger in becoming emotionally and politically involved in any issue. It can warp our reporting to the point where it could be damaging in terms of informing the public debate?
So, from my western perspective, I have never considered myself to be a media activist, but I think I understand what TP Mishra is referring to.
For the last eight years I have been working with journalists in transition and post-conflict countries, and countries where freedom of expression is under threat. I have been trying to help them establish strong, independent, high quality media organisations. In those conditions, I can see the term activism being used in a different way by those who don’t enjoy the levels of freedom of expression that I enjoy in the West. However, it still raises the question of whether a journalist can be an activist for freedom of expression and still remain objective and impartial.
Perhaps the phrase media activist reflects the realities of what journalists in the majority world face day to day. I come from a society where journalists are taken out and wined and dined by the powerful and influential, whereas many journalists in the majority world are simply taken out with bullets and bombs. In that atmosphere it is understandable to come across journalists who view themselves as activists.
However, if a journalist’s role is to seek out truth, reflect the voices and opinions of those who don’t usually have a say, and to represent the whole audience regardless of race, religion, political affiliation and social status, then perhaps a journalist is, essentially, an activist for freedom of expression.
Journalism basics
To make sure there is no confusion here, we need to examine what it means to be a journalist. One dictionary definition of journalism is ‘the profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and online’. However, I would argue that journalism, without clearly-defined journalistic ethics, can easily deteriorate into public relations (PR). In my view public relations can be for political or business gain, or activism for a cause, other than freedom of expression. None of those categories qualifies, in my view, as real journalism.
Journalism has to be accurate. It is all about clear, irrefutable facts that are tested and well set out. Journalism also needs to be well-sourced. All evidence must be checked and verified. All elements of the story need to be thoroughly tested to ensure that they are not misleading and that they don’t magnify one side at the expense of another.
We should use clear, precise wording to tell the story and avoid comment and opinion that could add confusion. We need to be open about what we know, what we think we know and what we don’t know. Rumour and unfounded speculation should never be used. If the journalist feels that the fact that rumours are circulating is important to the story, then they need to make it clear that they are unfounded rumours, where they are coming from and where they are being circulated. As a rule they should not be used.
Journalism needs to be impartial, objective, balanced and fair. We must write and broadcast to inform the whole audience regardless of religion, race, political persuasion, sexual orientation and financial status. We need to be fair and open-minded and reflect all significant opinions as we explore a wide range of disparate views.
If we decide not to use some views, we need to be clear why. We need to ask ourselves why we are omitting some information or views and including others. What effect does that have on the piece? Does it help clarify issues, or does it confuse? If it confuses, what could be the consequences of that confusion and who is likely to gain from that?
Most important of all, we need to ensure that those consuming our journalism can do so knowing that it is not influenced by political, business, or personal gain. We need to be honest with ourselves about our motives and reasons for covering a story. The key is to ask searching questions to all sides, particularly those who hold public office, and, in doing so, provide the basis for a healthy and robust public debate. All journalists will have their own political points of view, but these must never creep into our journalism and they must not have any bearing on the choice of stories we cover or the way we cover them.
Early lessons
On my first day as a local newspaper reporter, the editor took me aside and told me what was expected of me. What he said to me has stuck with me throughout my life as a journalist.
“It’s all about who, what, where, when, why and how, just give me verified and sourced facts. I want reports that are written in crisp, clean English. I don’t want waffle. I don’t want padding. I want sentences with a subject, verb and object. I want facts, facts and more facts. I don’t want your comment or opinions; your views don’t matter. Just go out there and get me facts – and be quick about it.”
I have always tried to follow that code over the past 30 years, mostly with some success, but also with some spectacular failures.
Read more...
By David Brewer
I was honoured when TP Mishra invited me to write a chapter for this book about journalism and news. We have never met. Our only contact has been over the internet. Our lives couldn’t be more different. He is working, unpaid, as a reporter, editor and publisher in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal, committed to informing those starved of news. I have a comfortable lifestyle in the UK thanks to a career in journalism.
When I first read the email asking me to write the introduction chapter “because you are an experienced journalist and media activist,” it made me think.
If length of service equals experience, then I guess I qualify as an experienced journalist. I started as a reporter at my home town newspaper in the 70s, moved to radio, became a TV correspondent and then a political editor, before moving to online journalism. I have worked as a journalist and manager in print, broadcast and online. However, as far as certificates go, my walls are bare. I passed a few basic exams for shorthand, typing and the essential law for journalists more than 30 years ago, but that's it.
Becoming a journalist
By David Brewer
I was honoured when TP Mishra invited me to write a chapter for this book about journalism and news. We have never met. Our only contact has been over the internet. Our lives couldn’t be more different. He is working, unpaid, as a reporter, editor and publisher in the Bhutanese refugee camps in Nepal, committed to informing those starved of news. I have a comfortable lifestyle in the UK thanks to a career in journalism.
When I first read the email asking me to write the introduction chapter “because you are an experienced journalist and media activist,” it made me think.
If length of service equals experience, then I guess I qualify as an experienced journalist. I started as a reporter at my home town newspaper in the 70s, moved to radio, became a TV correspondent and then a political editor, before moving to online journalism. I have worked as a journalist and manager in print, broadcast and online. However, as far as certificates go, my walls are bare. I passed a few basic exams for shorthand, typing and the essential law for journalists more than 30 years ago, but that's it.
I'd never thought of myself as a media activist. I have always considered an activist to be someone who pushes a cause without aiming to reflect an alternative view point. If that is the case, and if an activist makes no attempt to remain objective and impartial, how can they also be a journalist? There is a danger in becoming emotionally and politically involved in any issue. It can warp our reporting to the point where it could be damaging in terms of informing the public debate?
So, from my western perspective, I have never considered myself to be a media activist, but I think I understand what TP Mishra is referring to.
For the last eight years I have been working with journalists in transition and post-conflict countries, and countries where freedom of expression is under threat. I have been trying to help them establish strong, independent, high quality media organisations. In those conditions, I can see the term activism being used in a different way by those who don’t enjoy the levels of freedom of expression that I enjoy in the West. However, it still raises the question of whether a journalist can be an activist for freedom of expression and still remain objective and impartial.
Perhaps the phrase media activist reflects the realities of what journalists in the majority world face day to day. I come from a society where journalists are taken out and wined and dined by the powerful and influential, whereas many journalists in the majority world are simply taken out with bullets and bombs. In that atmosphere it is understandable to come across journalists who view themselves as activists.
However, if a journalist’s role is to seek out truth, reflect the voices and opinions of those who don’t usually have a say, and to represent the whole audience regardless of race, religion, political affiliation and social status, then perhaps a journalist is, essentially, an activist for freedom of expression.
Journalism basics
To make sure there is no confusion here, we need to examine what it means to be a journalist. One dictionary definition of journalism is ‘the profession of writing for newspapers, magazines, radio, TV and online’. However, I would argue that journalism, without clearly-defined journalistic ethics, can easily deteriorate into public relations (PR). In my view public relations can be for political or business gain, or activism for a cause, other than freedom of expression. None of those categories qualifies, in my view, as real journalism.
Journalism has to be accurate. It is all about clear, irrefutable facts that are tested and well set out. Journalism also needs to be well-sourced. All evidence must be checked and verified. All elements of the story need to be thoroughly tested to ensure that they are not misleading and that they don’t magnify one side at the expense of another.
We should use clear, precise wording to tell the story and avoid comment and opinion that could add confusion. We need to be open about what we know, what we think we know and what we don’t know. Rumour and unfounded speculation should never be used. If the journalist feels that the fact that rumours are circulating is important to the story, then they need to make it clear that they are unfounded rumours, where they are coming from and where they are being circulated. As a rule they should not be used.
Journalism needs to be impartial, objective, balanced and fair. We must write and broadcast to inform the whole audience regardless of religion, race, political persuasion, sexual orientation and financial status. We need to be fair and open-minded and reflect all significant opinions as we explore a wide range of disparate views.
If we decide not to use some views, we need to be clear why. We need to ask ourselves why we are omitting some information or views and including others. What effect does that have on the piece? Does it help clarify issues, or does it confuse? If it confuses, what could be the consequences of that confusion and who is likely to gain from that?
Most important of all, we need to ensure that those consuming our journalism can do so knowing that it is not influenced by political, business, or personal gain. We need to be honest with ourselves about our motives and reasons for covering a story. The key is to ask searching questions to all sides, particularly those who hold public office, and, in doing so, provide the basis for a healthy and robust public debate. All journalists will have their own political points of view, but these must never creep into our journalism and they must not have any bearing on the choice of stories we cover or the way we cover them.
Early lessons
On my first day as a local newspaper reporter, the editor took me aside and told me what was expected of me. What he said to me has stuck with me throughout my life as a journalist.
“It’s all about who, what, where, when, why and how, just give me verified and sourced facts. I want reports that are written in crisp, clean English. I don’t want waffle. I don’t want padding. I want sentences with a subject, verb and object. I want facts, facts and more facts. I don’t want your comment or opinions; your views don’t matter. Just go out there and get me facts – and be quick about it.”
I have always tried to follow that code over the past 30 years, mostly with some success, but also with some spectacular failures.
Read more...
Refugees Around us
Refugees forcefully removed in South Africa
Hundreds of desperate refugees, earlier victimized by the xenophobic attack, who had camped by a busy Johannesburg road for days were arrested and others forced to evacuate their tent camp by armed South African police on July 28.
According to reports, the migrants, most of them coming from Congo and Burundi, had camped by the roadside to emphasize their mistrust of the South African government and disgust at they way they are being treated.
They were among thousands who fled their homes in the South African city as a result of xenophobic violence, which erupted in May and June.
Refugees forcefully removed in South Africa
Hundreds of desperate refugees, earlier victimized by the xenophobic attack, who had camped by a busy Johannesburg road for days were arrested and others forced to evacuate their tent camp by armed South African police on July 28.
According to reports, the migrants, most of them coming from Congo and Burundi, had camped by the roadside to emphasize their mistrust of the South African government and disgust at they way they are being treated.
They were among thousands who fled their homes in the South African city as a result of xenophobic violence, which erupted in May and June.
They were thus housed in a tent camp for displaced, but reportedly refused to register with government officials, apparently fearing that this might jeopardize their right to stay in South Africa. Some are said to have held out for the UN to resettle them abroad as they were afraid to return to communities they fled during violence.
Reports show that the government lost patience last week and moved them to the Lindela camp run by the Department of Home Affairs, which detains illegal immigrants before they are deported.
More than 400 foreigners refused to go into the centre, as their documents were in order, and instead they camped out by a freeway. South African authorities reportedly said they had no power to deport refugees and immigrants with valid papers, but could however not let them camp out by the side of the road.
South African media said yesterday that six armored police trucks had removed women and children to a family care centre and took the men to police stations. They added the "roadside refugees" offered no resistance and were visibly exhausted.
Media reports further said, "officials of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees were at the site registering asylum seekers and refugees who wanted to return to their home countries."
More than 60 people died in the May-June violence, which erupted from Johannesburg to Cape Town out of anger that migrants were taking scarce jobs and housing from poor South Africans. At the height of the crisis, 20,000 people were confined to government tent camps.
Local government official Jorrie Jordaan said refugees might be charged with a road traffic offence, of allegedly occupying land by the roadside, endangering traffic as well as endangering their own lives, according to local media. While male refugees faced traffic law charges, women and children were moved to the Riet Family Guidance Centre, a shelter for abused women and children.
Source: Afrol News
Chief executive of Riet Family Guidance Centre, Ivan Kortje, said about 300 women and children were taken there. Krugersdorp municipality executive manager Jorrie Jordaan, said health conditions of detained women and children had deteriorated, after spending four nights in open next to road.
"It was totally unacceptable for children to be spending nights in cold," Mr Jordaan said. He however could not say what charges the refugees faced, stating that they could be charged with a road traffic offence, which was illegally occupying land by the roadside, endangering traffic as well as endangering their own lives.
Read more...
Hundreds of desperate refugees, earlier victimized by the xenophobic attack, who had camped by a busy Johannesburg road for days were arrested and others forced to evacuate their tent camp by armed South African police on July 28.
According to reports, the migrants, most of them coming from Congo and Burundi, had camped by the roadside to emphasize their mistrust of the South African government and disgust at they way they are being treated.
They were among thousands who fled their homes in the South African city as a result of xenophobic violence, which erupted in May and June.
Refugees forcefully removed in South Africa
Hundreds of desperate refugees, earlier victimized by the xenophobic attack, who had camped by a busy Johannesburg road for days were arrested and others forced to evacuate their tent camp by armed South African police on July 28.
According to reports, the migrants, most of them coming from Congo and Burundi, had camped by the roadside to emphasize their mistrust of the South African government and disgust at they way they are being treated.
They were among thousands who fled their homes in the South African city as a result of xenophobic violence, which erupted in May and June.
They were thus housed in a tent camp for displaced, but reportedly refused to register with government officials, apparently fearing that this might jeopardize their right to stay in South Africa. Some are said to have held out for the UN to resettle them abroad as they were afraid to return to communities they fled during violence.
Reports show that the government lost patience last week and moved them to the Lindela camp run by the Department of Home Affairs, which detains illegal immigrants before they are deported.
More than 400 foreigners refused to go into the centre, as their documents were in order, and instead they camped out by a freeway. South African authorities reportedly said they had no power to deport refugees and immigrants with valid papers, but could however not let them camp out by the side of the road.
South African media said yesterday that six armored police trucks had removed women and children to a family care centre and took the men to police stations. They added the "roadside refugees" offered no resistance and were visibly exhausted.
Media reports further said, "officials of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees were at the site registering asylum seekers and refugees who wanted to return to their home countries."
More than 60 people died in the May-June violence, which erupted from Johannesburg to Cape Town out of anger that migrants were taking scarce jobs and housing from poor South Africans. At the height of the crisis, 20,000 people were confined to government tent camps.
Local government official Jorrie Jordaan said refugees might be charged with a road traffic offence, of allegedly occupying land by the roadside, endangering traffic as well as endangering their own lives, according to local media. While male refugees faced traffic law charges, women and children were moved to the Riet Family Guidance Centre, a shelter for abused women and children.
Source: Afrol News
Chief executive of Riet Family Guidance Centre, Ivan Kortje, said about 300 women and children were taken there. Krugersdorp municipality executive manager Jorrie Jordaan, said health conditions of detained women and children had deteriorated, after spending four nights in open next to road.
"It was totally unacceptable for children to be spending nights in cold," Mr Jordaan said. He however could not say what charges the refugees faced, stating that they could be charged with a road traffic offence, which was illegally occupying land by the roadside, endangering traffic as well as endangering their own lives.
Read more...
In memory of him….
By T. P. Mishra
I even found difficult to control myself since the eyes were almost filled with tears and hands shaking when one of my relatives informed me over telephone that ‘HE’ had already passed away. I wondered how accurate my relative makes a prediction. This is because my relative, who was just back to Kathmandu from Jhapa, informed me that Hom Nath Dahal of Beldangi-II, A/2 (a close neighbor friend of mine since years) was severely sick and was struggling with death. My relative was responding to my query if there was anything new in and around my sector in camp.
Just within a couple of days of information regarding his struggling life, I was socked to hear that Hom Nath, who had just suffered from viral meningitis, took his last breathe on July 21.
In memory of him….
By T. P. Mishra
I even found difficult to control myself since the eyes were almost filled with tears and hands shaking when one of my relatives informed me over telephone that ‘HE’ had already passed away. I wondered how accurate my relative makes a prediction. This is because my relative, who was just back to Kathmandu from Jhapa, informed me that Hom Nath Dahal of Beldangi-II, A/2 (a close neighbor friend of mine since years) was severely sick and was struggling with death. My relative was responding to my query if there was anything new in and around my sector in camp.
Just within a couple of days of information regarding his struggling life, I was socked to hear that Hom Nath, who had just suffered from viral meningitis, took his last breathe on July 21. I really cursed the GOD and interrogated if death was the last solution on Hom Nath’s part. This is because he was too young having dynamic characteristics and one of the most friendly within the colleague’s circle. Besides, his dream to make a better future prospect by getting resettled in the United States (US) could not hit the stand of reality since he passed away before boarding the flight at Bhadrapur Airport to Kathmandu scheduled on July 18 to leave for the US.
Despite several attempts I failed to trace out when was the last moment that I met with Hom Nath but the days we spent together, particularly during the examination preparation hours for School Leaving Certificate (SLC) in 2059 will ever be stored in my fresh memories. Since then, one way or the other we were physically away from one another’s frequent-touch. But, I had never missed the opportunities to meet him or inquire about him at his hut, when he used to be away from camps, during my stay/visits in camps each time.
Enriched with multiple interesting and friendly characteristics, Hom Nath was never found in desperate mood during his short-term stay on this beautiful earth. I really remain indebted upon all sorts of help he had rendered to me during our friendship.
I also regret for being unable to pay him my last tribute but hopefully Hom Nath, though physically no more in this world, certainly deserves my prayers for the eternal peace in heaven along with a big BHUTANESE-CULTURED-SALUTE! I really miss you HOM NATH!
Read more...
I even found difficult to control myself since the eyes were almost filled with tears and hands shaking when one of my relatives informed me over telephone that ‘HE’ had already passed away. I wondered how accurate my relative makes a prediction. This is because my relative, who was just back to Kathmandu from Jhapa, informed me that Hom Nath Dahal of Beldangi-II, A/2 (a close neighbor friend of mine since years) was severely sick and was struggling with death. My relative was responding to my query if there was anything new in and around my sector in camp.
Just within a couple of days of information regarding his struggling life, I was socked to hear that Hom Nath, who had just suffered from viral meningitis, took his last breathe on July 21.
In memory of him….
By T. P. Mishra
I even found difficult to control myself since the eyes were almost filled with tears and hands shaking when one of my relatives informed me over telephone that ‘HE’ had already passed away. I wondered how accurate my relative makes a prediction. This is because my relative, who was just back to Kathmandu from Jhapa, informed me that Hom Nath Dahal of Beldangi-II, A/2 (a close neighbor friend of mine since years) was severely sick and was struggling with death. My relative was responding to my query if there was anything new in and around my sector in camp.
Just within a couple of days of information regarding his struggling life, I was socked to hear that Hom Nath, who had just suffered from viral meningitis, took his last breathe on July 21. I really cursed the GOD and interrogated if death was the last solution on Hom Nath’s part. This is because he was too young having dynamic characteristics and one of the most friendly within the colleague’s circle. Besides, his dream to make a better future prospect by getting resettled in the United States (US) could not hit the stand of reality since he passed away before boarding the flight at Bhadrapur Airport to Kathmandu scheduled on July 18 to leave for the US.
Despite several attempts I failed to trace out when was the last moment that I met with Hom Nath but the days we spent together, particularly during the examination preparation hours for School Leaving Certificate (SLC) in 2059 will ever be stored in my fresh memories. Since then, one way or the other we were physically away from one another’s frequent-touch. But, I had never missed the opportunities to meet him or inquire about him at his hut, when he used to be away from camps, during my stay/visits in camps each time.
Enriched with multiple interesting and friendly characteristics, Hom Nath was never found in desperate mood during his short-term stay on this beautiful earth. I really remain indebted upon all sorts of help he had rendered to me during our friendship.
I also regret for being unable to pay him my last tribute but hopefully Hom Nath, though physically no more in this world, certainly deserves my prayers for the eternal peace in heaven along with a big BHUTANESE-CULTURED-SALUTE! I really miss you HOM NATH!
Read more...
Friday, August 1, 2008
Going home or abroad: question for Bhutanese 'refugees' in Nepal Thirty-eight-year-old Krishna Prasad Sharma, who has been living in Nepal as a Bhutanese refugee since 1991, is excited that his family will soon find a new home in a developed country under a resettlement program. But his old father Ram Prasad Sharma is not.
Sharma's family, living in makeshift huts at Goldhap refugee camp, some 320 km east of Nepali capital Kathmandu, is one among more than 7,800 Bhutanese refugees families residing in seven different camps of Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern Nepal.
Some 105,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal for the last 17 years. Bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan -- 15 rounds of them -- failed to yield any results so far.
Going home or abroad: question for Bhutanese 'refugees' in Nepal
Thirty-eight-year-old Krishna Prasad Sharma, who has been living in Nepal as a Bhutanese refugee since 1991, is excited that his family will soon find a new home in a developed country under a resettlement program. But his old father Ram Prasad Sharma is not.
Sharma's family, living in makeshift huts at Goldhap refugee camp, some 320 km east of Nepali capital Kathmandu, is one among more than 7,800 Bhutanese refugees families residing in seven different camps of Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern Nepal.
Some 105,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal for the last 17 years. Bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan -- 15 rounds of them -- failed to yield any results so far.
Since the beginning of this year, the third-country resettlement of the refugees in north America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand has started.
"My life in the refugee camp is like a hell. I have no job and earnings," said Krishna, whose application for third country resettlement is in process.
"We waited for so many years but Bhutan is not ready to accept us. I don't want my children to suffer like us," said the father of two sons.
The refugees entered Nepal via bordering towns of India during late 1980s and early 1990s after Bhutanese government carried out ethnic cleansing against people of Nepali origin.
For the last 17 years, the Bhutanese refugees have been living in Nepal with the support from United Nations food and shelter program.
The Nepal-Bhutan talks began in 2003 and in 2007 the Nepali government gave the green light for the refugees to resettle abroad.
Krishna Sharma said he planned to work and strive for a good living for his wife and children in a foreign land.
"I will work hard and educate my two kids so that they can live a happy life," he added.
According to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal, seven western governments -- the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark -- have offered to resettle nearly 90 thousand refugees.
The United States said it was ready to pick up 60,000 initially, followed by as many as wishing, in the next five years.
"Until mid-June, 37,988 refugees have applied for resettlement and 1,186 have been resettled," UNHCR Nepal's external assistant Nini Gurung told Xinuha days ago.
"We would be sending more and more refugees in coming months," she added.
But Bhutanese refugee resettlement program has brought a big division among the refugees living inside the bamboo-and-mud-made huts.
Krishna's 70-year-old father Ram Prasad Sharma is against the resettlement program.
"My forefathers lived there. I have a house and land in Bhutan," he said, "How can I leave my properties and friends and go to foreign countries?"
"I want to die on the land of Bhutan, I will not follow the footprints of my son and go abroad," he added.
"All the energetic people inside the camps are preparing for resettlement. If they go, who will take care of us and run the movement for repatriation," he said sadly.
The refugees organized a "long march" to go back to Bhutan via India in March last year but Indian security forces at Indo-Nepal border stopped them. One refugee died and many were injured in the clash.
Last year after Nepali government decided to allow refugees to resettle, violence erupted inside camps. Two refugees died in the clash between groups supporting and opposing resettlement program.
Most of the Bhutanese Refugees who do not want to be resettled hope that Bhutan will be compelled to take them back if strong international pressure is put against it.
"To transport refugees from one country to another is not a durable solution," S.B. Subba, the chairman of Human Rights Association of Bhutan (HUROB), an organization in exile said, adding that the international community should give more priority to repatriation than resettlement.
"The aid agencies and international community have given more focus on resettlement of refugees. But Bhutan is the ultimate destiny for refugees and solution of this problem," He said.
Some groups have even started to target against resettlement program.
On June 30, three bombs exploded inside the office of International Organization of Migration (IOM) situated at Damak city in Jhapa district. It was near the refugee camps.
But till now, Bhutan, which entered a new democracy after the historic election in this May, has shown no signs of accepting the refugees as its legitimate citizens.
In the Goldhap camp, while father Ram is waiting for the time when he can return to his homeland, his son Krishna is desperately longing for the ticket abroad.
Source: Xinhua
Read more...
Sharma's family, living in makeshift huts at Goldhap refugee camp, some 320 km east of Nepali capital Kathmandu, is one among more than 7,800 Bhutanese refugees families residing in seven different camps of Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern Nepal.
Some 105,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal for the last 17 years. Bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan -- 15 rounds of them -- failed to yield any results so far.
Going home or abroad: question for Bhutanese 'refugees' in Nepal
Thirty-eight-year-old Krishna Prasad Sharma, who has been living in Nepal as a Bhutanese refugee since 1991, is excited that his family will soon find a new home in a developed country under a resettlement program. But his old father Ram Prasad Sharma is not.
Sharma's family, living in makeshift huts at Goldhap refugee camp, some 320 km east of Nepali capital Kathmandu, is one among more than 7,800 Bhutanese refugees families residing in seven different camps of Jhapa and Morang districts in eastern Nepal.
Some 105,000 Bhutanese refugees have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal for the last 17 years. Bilateral talks between Nepal and Bhutan -- 15 rounds of them -- failed to yield any results so far.
Since the beginning of this year, the third-country resettlement of the refugees in north America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand has started.
"My life in the refugee camp is like a hell. I have no job and earnings," said Krishna, whose application for third country resettlement is in process.
"We waited for so many years but Bhutan is not ready to accept us. I don't want my children to suffer like us," said the father of two sons.
The refugees entered Nepal via bordering towns of India during late 1980s and early 1990s after Bhutanese government carried out ethnic cleansing against people of Nepali origin.
For the last 17 years, the Bhutanese refugees have been living in Nepal with the support from United Nations food and shelter program.
The Nepal-Bhutan talks began in 2003 and in 2007 the Nepali government gave the green light for the refugees to resettle abroad.
Krishna Sharma said he planned to work and strive for a good living for his wife and children in a foreign land.
"I will work hard and educate my two kids so that they can live a happy life," he added.
According to the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Nepal, seven western governments -- the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Norway and Denmark -- have offered to resettle nearly 90 thousand refugees.
The United States said it was ready to pick up 60,000 initially, followed by as many as wishing, in the next five years.
"Until mid-June, 37,988 refugees have applied for resettlement and 1,186 have been resettled," UNHCR Nepal's external assistant Nini Gurung told Xinuha days ago.
"We would be sending more and more refugees in coming months," she added.
But Bhutanese refugee resettlement program has brought a big division among the refugees living inside the bamboo-and-mud-made huts.
Krishna's 70-year-old father Ram Prasad Sharma is against the resettlement program.
"My forefathers lived there. I have a house and land in Bhutan," he said, "How can I leave my properties and friends and go to foreign countries?"
"I want to die on the land of Bhutan, I will not follow the footprints of my son and go abroad," he added.
"All the energetic people inside the camps are preparing for resettlement. If they go, who will take care of us and run the movement for repatriation," he said sadly.
The refugees organized a "long march" to go back to Bhutan via India in March last year but Indian security forces at Indo-Nepal border stopped them. One refugee died and many were injured in the clash.
Last year after Nepali government decided to allow refugees to resettle, violence erupted inside camps. Two refugees died in the clash between groups supporting and opposing resettlement program.
Most of the Bhutanese Refugees who do not want to be resettled hope that Bhutan will be compelled to take them back if strong international pressure is put against it.
"To transport refugees from one country to another is not a durable solution," S.B. Subba, the chairman of Human Rights Association of Bhutan (HUROB), an organization in exile said, adding that the international community should give more priority to repatriation than resettlement.
"The aid agencies and international community have given more focus on resettlement of refugees. But Bhutan is the ultimate destiny for refugees and solution of this problem," He said.
Some groups have even started to target against resettlement program.
On June 30, three bombs exploded inside the office of International Organization of Migration (IOM) situated at Damak city in Jhapa district. It was near the refugee camps.
But till now, Bhutan, which entered a new democracy after the historic election in this May, has shown no signs of accepting the refugees as its legitimate citizens.
In the Goldhap camp, while father Ram is waiting for the time when he can return to his homeland, his son Krishna is desperately longing for the ticket abroad.
Source: Xinhua
Read more...
Election Bill adopted
Bhutan News Service
Thimphu, July 27
The joint sitting of parliament with 21 parliamentarians voting against the move on July 26, adopted the Election Bill of Bhutan.
While the house required 47 votes to win the two-third majority, as demanded by section 4 of Article 13 of the Constitution, only two votes had saved the parliament from declining the much-debated bill.
Out of 70 MPs in the parliament, excluding the speaker and one absentee, only 48 voted in favor while 21 were against the move. The two houses had discussed the bill about four times.
Members of the national council discussed the bill from June 18 to July 7 and forwarded it to the national assembly on July 8 with a number of amendments. The bill was then deliberated on by the national assembly from July 9 to 16 and sent back to the national council on July 21, from where it once again returned to the assembly with further changes.
PM faces media, criticizes it
Bhutan News Service
Thimphu, July 27
The Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley has criticized the media for not understanding the reasons behind the proposal for state funding of the two political parties during the NA session, and for not writing in favor of it.
PM was responding to media at his office in Thimphu on July 24 regarding the state funding of political parties, recruiting resigned civil servants, MPs being abroad instead of visiting their constituencies that were hit by windstorms in May, and joining WTO.
The PM told journalists that his party DPT was in comfortable situation and there was no need of state funds. “PDP was desperate and why pay for a party that was dying? Did you ever try to find out why the government was in favor of it?” he said, adding that the PDP’s secretary and finance officer came to the party office and then he had asked them to write to him officially. PM also accused the media of blowing up the issue without analyzing the situation.
The prime minister also questioned why the media had not reported on the government remaining silent about the reemployment of PDP candidates.
On MPs not visiting constituencies that were hit by natural calamities, the prime minister said that the ministers could have done so and gained political mileage but that was not what they were after.
“The MPs not going there had to do with the fact that the National Assembly was in the process of discussing the constitution,” he said.
During the media session, the health minister Zangley Dukpa, also explained why he had to go to Geneva during such a time when people in his constituency in Pemagatsel were suffering.
In responding to a query of Bhutan joining the WTO, PM said that he was not against joint it but was against joining without knowing enough.
Bhutan to receive India's credit facility
Bhutan News Service
New Delhi, July 27
India has decided to grand a sum of Rs 400 crore to Bhutan to help meet the shortage of Indian currency in the country.
The commitment was made during Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley's recent four-day visit to India.
As of now, the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), the country's central bank, has managed the shortage by borrowing from the State Bank of India (SBI) at an interest rate of 10 per cent.
RMA pledged hard currency as collateral to borrow. From March until now, the central bank had borrowed about Rs 200 crore from SBI.
With more than 80 per cent of Bhutan's trade with India alone, the demand for Indian rupee has been steadily rising within the country in tandem with growing disposable incomes and increasing imports.
Central bank officials explained that rupee flows in the Bhutanese economy have demonstrated a cynical pattern that revolves around mega projects.
At the commissioning of mega projects, the economy experiences a rupee surplus and when such projects, like Chukha and Tala, wind up, the economy had faced a shortage.
Read more...
Bhutan News Service
Thimphu, July 27
The joint sitting of parliament with 21 parliamentarians voting against the move on July 26, adopted the Election Bill of Bhutan.
While the house required 47 votes to win the two-third majority, as demanded by section 4 of Article 13 of the Constitution, only two votes had saved the parliament from declining the much-debated bill.
Out of 70 MPs in the parliament, excluding the speaker and one absentee, only 48 voted in favor while 21 were against the move. The two houses had discussed the bill about four times.
Members of the national council discussed the bill from June 18 to July 7 and forwarded it to the national assembly on July 8 with a number of amendments. The bill was then deliberated on by the national assembly from July 9 to 16 and sent back to the national council on July 21, from where it once again returned to the assembly with further changes.
PM faces media, criticizes it
Bhutan News Service
Thimphu, July 27
The Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley has criticized the media for not understanding the reasons behind the proposal for state funding of the two political parties during the NA session, and for not writing in favor of it.
PM was responding to media at his office in Thimphu on July 24 regarding the state funding of political parties, recruiting resigned civil servants, MPs being abroad instead of visiting their constituencies that were hit by windstorms in May, and joining WTO.
The PM told journalists that his party DPT was in comfortable situation and there was no need of state funds. “PDP was desperate and why pay for a party that was dying? Did you ever try to find out why the government was in favor of it?” he said, adding that the PDP’s secretary and finance officer came to the party office and then he had asked them to write to him officially. PM also accused the media of blowing up the issue without analyzing the situation.
The prime minister also questioned why the media had not reported on the government remaining silent about the reemployment of PDP candidates.
On MPs not visiting constituencies that were hit by natural calamities, the prime minister said that the ministers could have done so and gained political mileage but that was not what they were after.
“The MPs not going there had to do with the fact that the National Assembly was in the process of discussing the constitution,” he said.
During the media session, the health minister Zangley Dukpa, also explained why he had to go to Geneva during such a time when people in his constituency in Pemagatsel were suffering.
In responding to a query of Bhutan joining the WTO, PM said that he was not against joint it but was against joining without knowing enough.
Bhutan to receive India's credit facility
Bhutan News Service
New Delhi, July 27
India has decided to grand a sum of Rs 400 crore to Bhutan to help meet the shortage of Indian currency in the country.
The commitment was made during Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley's recent four-day visit to India.
As of now, the Royal Monetary Authority (RMA), the country's central bank, has managed the shortage by borrowing from the State Bank of India (SBI) at an interest rate of 10 per cent.
RMA pledged hard currency as collateral to borrow. From March until now, the central bank had borrowed about Rs 200 crore from SBI.
With more than 80 per cent of Bhutan's trade with India alone, the demand for Indian rupee has been steadily rising within the country in tandem with growing disposable incomes and increasing imports.
Central bank officials explained that rupee flows in the Bhutanese economy have demonstrated a cynical pattern that revolves around mega projects.
At the commissioning of mega projects, the economy experiences a rupee surplus and when such projects, like Chukha and Tala, wind up, the economy had faced a shortage.
Read more...
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