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Translation Role of Bhutanese Media in Democracy: Case Study of the 2013 General Election
Translation Role of Bhutanese Media in Democracy: Case Study of the 2013 General Election Keywords: Bhutan, Monarchy, Democracy, Information Society, Media Hitoshi FUJIWARA, Waseda University. Abstract The Kingdom of Bhutan, located in the Himalayas, closed its doors to foreign countries until the 1960s. After it reopened, Bhutan was a modern state for half a century. In 2008, the King of Bhutan decided to relinquish his power and democratize the country. It was an unprecedented event in history. On the other hand, there was no mass media in this tiny country until the 1990s. In 1999, the King lifted the ban on information technology such as television and the Internet. It was a rare case where television broadcasting and Internet services commenced at the same time. This study illustrates the history of democracy and the media in Bhutan and examines the correlation between them. Before commencing with such an examination, the theoretical stream of the relationship between democracy and the media in modern history should be reviewed. The primary section of this paper comprises field research and analysis regarding the National Assembly election of Bhutan in 2013, as a case study of the practice of democracy. The research questions are as follows: ‘What was the role of Bhutanese media in this election?’; ‘What kind of information led Bhutanese voters to decision making?’ In conclusion, the theoretical model and the Bhutanese practical model of the relationship between the government, media, and citizens are compared. This comparison shows the progress of democracy and the role of the media in modern-day Bhutan. 16 Journal of Socio-Informatics Vol. -
The Next Generation Bhutan Foundation Annual Report 2016
The Next Generation Bhutan Foundation Annual Report 2016 Our nation’s vision can only be fulfilled if the scope of our dreams and aspirations are matched by the reality of our commitment to nurturing our future citizens. —His Majesty the King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Table of Contents 4 A time to invest in the Future: Letters from our Co-Chairs and President 8 Youth citizen scientists research how environment responds to climate change 10 Tiger, tiger, burning bright! 13 How solving a community problem can protect snow leopards 15 Bhutan’s history, my history: A student explains the importance of cultural heritage 16 Teaching the next generation of health-care workers 18 Young medical professionals take health care to mountains, glaciers, and beyond 21 Specialized training means better services for children with disabilities 23 How simple agricultural innovation can provide hope 24 How the young and old bring a community back to life 26 Civil society organizations play important role in youth participation 29 Our Partners 30 Bhutan Foundation Grants Fiscal Year 2016 34 Financial Overview 36 Ways to Give 38 Our Team Table of Contents 4 A time to invest in the Future: Letters from our Co-Chairs and President 8 Youth citizen scientists research how environment responds to climate change 10 Tiger, tiger, burning bright! 13 How solving a community problem can protect snow leopards 15 Bhutan’s history, my history: A student explains the importance of cultural heritage 16 Teaching the next generation of health-care workers 18 Young medical professionals take health care to mountains, glaciers, and beyond 21 Specialized training means better services for children with disabilities 23 How simple agricultural innovation can provide hope 24 How the young and old bring a community back to life 26 Civil society organizations play important role in youth participation 29 Our Partners 30 Bhutan Foundation Grants Fiscal Year 2016 34 Financial Overview 36 Ways to Give 38 Our Team A Time to Invest . -
DRUK Journal – Democracy in Bhutan – Spring 2018
Spring 2018 Volume 4, Issue 1 The Druk Journal འབྲུག་୲་䝴ས་䝺བ། ©2018 by The Druk Journal All rights reserved The views expressed in this publication are those of the contributors and not necessarily of The Druk Journal. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming, recording, or otherwise, without permission from the publisher. ISSN 2411-6726 This publication is supported by DIPD and Open Society Foundations A Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy Publication PO Box 1662, Thimphu, Bhutan www.bcmd.bt/www.drukjournal.bt Printed at Kuensel Corporation Ltd., Thimphu, Bhutan Dzongkha title calligraphy: Yonten Phuntsho Follow us on Facebook and Twitter འབྲུག་୲་དམངས་གཙོ荲་宱་譲མ། Democratisation of Bhutan www.drukjournal.bt The Druk Journal འབྲུག་୲་䝴ས་䝺བ། Contents Introduction 1 Editorial 2 DEMOCRACY IN BHUTAN Political Parties in the 21st Century Bjørn Førde 3 Democracy in Bhutan Dr Brian C. Shaw 14 DEMOCRACY DECENTRALISed Dhar from the Throne : an Honour and a Responsibility Kinley Dorji, Tashi Pem 24 The Micro Effect of Democratisation in Rural Bhutan Tshering Eudon 28 The Thromde Elections – an Inadequate Constituency? Ugyen Penjore 38 POLITicS OF DEMOCRACY Socio-economic Status and Electoral Participation in Bhutan Kinley 46 National Interest Versus Party Interest: What Former Chimis Think of Parliamentary Discussions Tashi Dema 59 The Bhutanese Politicians Kesang Dema 66 Youth and Politics in an Evolving Democracy Siok Sian -
Annual Information Bulletin
དཔལ་辡ན་འབྲུག་ག筴ང་། ཞབས་ཏོག་辷ན་ཁག སྲིད་བྱུས་དང་འཆར་ག筲་སྡེ་ཚན། 䍲མ་坴ག 2 ANNUAL 0 INFORMATION 1 BULLETIN 8 དཔལ་辡ན་འབྲུག་ག筴ང་། ཞབས་ཏོག་辷ན་ཁག སྲིད་བྱུས་དང་འཆར་ག筲་སྡེ་ཚན། 䍲མ་坴ག དཔལ་辡ན་འབྲུག་ག筴ང་། ཞབས་ཏོག་辷ན་ཁག སྲིད་བྱུས་དང་འཆར་ག筲་སྡེ་ཚན། 䍲མ་坴ག 2 ANNUAL 0 INFORMATION 1 BULLETIN 8 དཔལ་辡ན་འབྲུག་ག筴ང་། ཞབས་ཏོག་辷ན་ཁག སྲིད་བྱུས་དང་འཆར་ག筲་སྡེ་ཚན། 䍲མ་坴ག NATIONAL HIGHWAYNational AND GEWOG Highway CONNECTIVITY and NETWORK Gewog AS OF Connectivity MAY 2018 Road Network National Highway Gewog Connectivity Road Border Road Gasa (23) Damji Dungkhar (23) Tashithang (37) (11) Toewang Rimchu Khoma (6) Bumdeling Naro (13) Gangzur Lhuentse Chhubu (1) (5) Samadingkha Bumthang (8.5) (29) (12) (12) (3) (28) Tang T/Yangtse Jangchubcholing Shengana (14) Tangmachu Zam Kabjisa Tangmachu Dodena Punakha (12) (16) (4) Kurjey (8) (9) (3) (17) Khuruthang Tashidingkha (7) Minjay Kawang Nobgang (15) (3) Nubi Pangrizampa Talo (4) (12) Lingmukha (14) Nobding Pelela Jakar Metsho (30) (7) (28) (16) (10) (9) Dungmethang (9) (17) (13) (49) Tshenkharla Dochula Samtengang (24) Yotongla Thimphu (16) (34) Drukgyal Dzong (39) Mesina(10) Toetsho Lawala Trongsa (6) Doteng (20) (28) Bajo Chuzomsa (21) (8) (6) (6.5) (10) Sheytangla (2) Nangar (36) (16) Chuserbu (27) Chhume Khamdang Wangdue (20) Ura (3) (14) Tshangkha Yalang (3) Jaray Tomzhangtshen Damthang Lamgong Dopshari Hesothangkha (16) (6) Gangte Kungarabten (12) (21) (7) (11) Autsho (8) Gasetshogom (4) Paro (35) (16) Gaselo Phobjikha (20) Duksum Ramjar (4) (31) Galakpa Bji Katsho (11) Thrumshingla (7.4) Bidung (7) Refee (10) (26) (14) -
Your Gateway to Bhutan for a Unique Experience with Your Loved Ones
JULY-AUGUST/2013 01 COVER STORY 10 THE NEW facE OF BHUtan’s DEMOcracy 22 Article PHOTO ESSAY 48 Know Your Food Generation In-be tween Seshy Shamu Pith Instructions For Understanding Bhutan’s Youth. 50 Restaurant 14 IMAGES FROM BEFORE AND Review DURING THE GENERAL ELEctION 32 Feature Jimmy’s Kitchen Quality Education How can Bhutan 52 Movie Review achieve it. Arrows or the Thunder LIVING WITH Dragon. 26 Travel London Calling 54 Book Review The White Tiger. 60 LIVING WITH SEWING MACHINES 40 Feature 60 Leisure Emprowering Rural Communities, Creating 66 Most Discussed Conditions for rural INTERVIEW prosperity. 68 Art Page 54 THIRD EYE 30 Column 72 Last Word Election Aftermath: Zero Point Eight Meters A milestone or a millstone ? 44 What’s New? Trends The Raven July / August, 2013 1 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir/Madam, There are lessons to be learnt from The Raven on Greetings from Munich, Germany. what journalism is about; reporting things as seen I am regularly in Bhutan, guiding pilgrimage or heard without taking sides. groups. I heard about The Raven magazine and This and its analytical treatment of the real con- I am very interested in reading it. temporary issues is probably why The Raven has Also, do you have a website, foreign subscrip- established and maintained a serious readership. tions? Tshewang Tashi, Thimphu Detlev Gobel, Germany My name is Ford Hamidi and I am from Canada. I spent some time working in Bhutan and became The monastic community can be above poli- fond of your magazine with it’s high quality arti- tics, but not above the law especially when it cles and design. -
Mi-Khung-Vol-4 Issue 2
མི་ཁུངས། Media and Democracy in Bhutan | www.bcmd.bt | Volume 4, Issue 2, August 2014 The Space for Democracy’s Growth Siok Sian Pek-Dorji, Director, BCMD Bhutan has taken on the task of build- ing a system of governance as a democratic constitutional monarchy. The evolving po- litical system is shaping a new space and culture that gives us the opportunity to lay the foundations so that citizens can find the means and the encouragement to shape our future. In the process, we are learning to un- derstand and assume new responsibilities as the citizens of a new democracy. In a country where the state has been a strong driver, perhaps the only driver, of change, we need to now consider how to BCMD’s ‘exploring democracy conversations’ provide public space for discussions get the state to provide more space for citi- zens to interact, associate and to share their reflected a sense of helplessness, and even free press has suffered a famine,” said No- views. We are talking of “public space”, a remorse, at how they had simply “reported” bel Laureate, Amartya Sen. Sen’s analysis is concept that has been described as a physical the events at the last elections without giv- that a free press helps a country to keep tabs or virtual space that facilitates the creation ing deeper thought to the political negativi- on what’s going on and to enable decision- of an enabling environment for democratic ties and mud-slinging that will have an im- makers to respond to felt needs. -
Technical Summary Report: FAO-BAFRA National Seminar and Workshop on Food Safety Culture and Food Safety Indicators Pilot Project in Bhutan
Technical summary report: FAO-BAFRA National seminar and workshop on food safety culture and food safety indicators pilot project in Bhutan 19-23 August 2019 Thimphu and Gelephu, Bhutan ©Tandin Norbu, 2019 Norbu, ©Tandin ©FAO, 2019 Technical summary report: FAO-BAFRA National seminar and workshop on food safety culture and food safety indicators pilot project in Bhutan 19-23 August 2019 Thimphu and Gelephu, Bhutan Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Bangkok, 2019 Abstract The report presents the proceedings of 1) a high level advocacy seminar on food safety culture for policy decision makers, heads of the technical departments and institutions and food business owners to introduce the concept and garner support for food safety culture; 2) a technical workshop on food safety culture for food professionals aimed at instituting a deeper understanding of food safety culture; and 3) a field trip to the south of Bhutan to understand the current progress with the food safety indicators and traceability work that the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) have implemented in Bhutan in collaboration with Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority and Khesar Gyalpo University of Medical Sciences of Bhutan (KGUMSB). FAO, in collaboration with Bhutan Agriculture and Food Regulatory Authority (BAFRA), Ministry of Agriculture and Forests (MoAF), Royal Government of Bhutan organized it from 19 August to 23 August 2019. Approximately 50 participants comprising senior government officials, top management of various stakeholder organizations, heads of international agencies and development partners attended the high- level seminar, while 60 technical officers working on food production, safety and regulation from government, private food businesses and relevant stakeholders attended the training workshop. -
Mass Media: Its Consumption and Impact on Residents of Thimphu and Rural Areas
MASS MEDIA: ITS CONSUMPTION AND IMPACT ON RESIDENTS OF THIMPHU AND RURAL AREAS Phuntsho Rapten∗ Introduction Mass Media in Bhutan primarily refers to the radio, Kuensel (the national newspaper), cinema halls, television and Internet. These are the main media disseminating information and serving as sources of entertainment. Although different forms of media were introduced since the launching of socio-economic development in the 1960s, television and Internet services were introduced only in June 1999. While television, newspapers, cinemas and Internet services are largely confined to the urban areas radio is the only effective communication medium in the rural areas. A 1998 listener survey1 of five Dzongkhags (Thimphu, Paro, Chukha, Punakha and Wangdue) gives an idea of the penetration of the media in Bhutan. Taking an example of all the households in five Dzongkhags on average, 63.1% own at least one radio receiver, 22.6% own a tape recorder, 6.9 % own a TV screen, 8.4% own a video player or recorder, and 6.5% own a telephone. Although Kuensel is also widely circulated in the country, its readership in the villages is very limited due to a low literacy level. The media in Bhutan have progressively enhanced individual awareness by widening the scope of information transmission beyond the traditional face- to-face oral interaction to literacy-oriented communication and now to an electronic media. They have helped to share information about the past and present, depict social, cultural and historical aspects of Bhutan that helped to create a common culture, tradition and system of values. However, the mass media and information technology are increasingly becoming powerful instruments for the penetration of global culture and the values of a global market into Bhutan. -
Silence in the Land of the Thunder Dragon
SILENCE IN THE LAND OF THE THUNDER DRAGON by Line Kikkenborg Christensen Thesis submitted May 2018 . Thesis submitted: 31st of May 2018 PhD supervisor: Associate Prof. Simon Turner, University of Copenhagen Assistant PhD supervisor: Associate Prof. Bjørn Møller, Aalborg University PhD committee: PhD Series: Faculty of Social Science, Aalborg University ISSN: ISBN: Published by: Aalborg University Press Skjernvej 4A, 2nd floor DK – 9220 Aalborg Ø Phone: +45 99407140 [email protected] forlag.aau.dk © Copyright: Line Kikkenborg Christensen Printed in Denmark by Rosendahls, 2015 Cover photos by Signe Ravn-Højgaard (Copyright). Front cover: The Thinker from Paro. Back cover: Goooooodmorning Trongsa. Normalsider: 78 sider (á 2.400 anslag inkl. mellemrum). Standard pages: 78 pages (2,400 characters incl. spaces). CV Line Kikkenborg Christensen holds a Master of Social Science in Development Studies and International Relations from Aalborg University and a Bachelor of Science in Anthropology from Aarhus University. She worked as a research assistant at Global Refugee Studies at Aalborg University before becoming a PhD fellow in the University’s Department of Social Science. ENGLISH SUMMARY In Bhutan, old codes of secrecy are part of the political culture. This creates societal silences around politically sensitive issues such as ethnicity, citizenship and the domestic conflict of the past. This article-based thesis raises the overall question: what forms of societal silence exist in Bhutan and what consequences do they have for the political culture of the country? Four articles answer this overall question. The article ‘Freedom of Speech and Silent Youth Protest in Bhutan: ‘Plz Delete it from Your Inbox’’ contributes to our understanding of silence as sensitivity and how obliviousness, self-censorship and silent protests play out in the political culture of Bhutan. -
Bhutan Center for Media and Democracy with the United Nations Democracy Fund And
Bhutan Center for Media and Democracy with The United Nations Democracy Fund and United Nations Development Programme “Strengthening Media and Civic Education to Enhance Democracy in Bhutan” FINAL EXTERNAL PROJECT EVALUATION Conducted by Ms. Chimmi Dolkar for UNDP Bhutan, July 2013 Table of Contents Acronyms .................................................................................................................. 3 Glossary of Terms .................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ................................................................................................. 4 1. Introduction ....................................................................................................... 9 1.1 Democratic transition in Bhutan .............................................................. 9 1.2 Importance of CSOs in the democratic transition ............................... 10 2. The Project and its Developmental Context .............................................. 11 2.1 Project Initiation ...................................................................................... 11 2.2 What the project sought to achieve ........................................................ 12 2.3 Purpose of the Evaluation Study ............................................................ 12 3. Evaluation Methodology................................................................................ 13 3.1 Project Monitoring & Evaluation .......................................................... -
Page 01 Nov 17.Indd
Home | 4 Business | 17 Sport | 24 QTA launches Qatar Qatar invests $5.24bn Taylor smashes Business Events in global real estate career best 290 as brand today in first half runs keep flowing The Peninsula Newspaper @PeninsulaQatar @peninsula_qatar TUESDAY 17 NOVEMBER 2015 • 5 Safar 1437 • Volume 20 Number 6617 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Premier meets Paris Mayor RAF’s counselling World traffic portal records over medicine three million hits DOHA: Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Foundation for Humanitarian Services (RAF) is running a portal in Arabic at www.mostshar-raf.com to provide counselling to people on social, psycho- meet begins logical, health and educational issues. Questions related to personality and skill developments are also being addressed. The portal has registered more than three Health Minister opens ITMA Congress million hits, visited by people of different age groups. Sixty-six experts, including counsellors, are involved in providing free counselling services related to their respective specialisation. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with Experts have been roped in from 16 countries the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo yesterday. They reviewed bilateral relations. See also page 2 keeping in mind cultural diversification of help- seekers. The privacy of people is being guarded. So far, 4,673 regular users have registered themselves for the portal through e-mail. In addition, questions are coming in from more than First phase of Doha Metro 50 countries from across the world. The portal is available on smart mobile phones as a first application for online counselling which is easing the process. -
Bhutanese Red Rice MOST DISCUSSED 56 Restaurant Review the Oriental 66 Tête Á Tête
MARCH/2013 COVER STORY 01 26 Young Minds That 16 Feature 10 EDUcaTION FOR SPECIAL Dare Self-Employ, Deconstructing the NEEDS IN BHUTAN Can Change Chibdrel & Marchang Their World Ceremonies 32 A Trip to Remember 38 Feature PHOTO ESSAY Love On the Sly? A 36 Fiction Brief Enquiry into Disgrace the Culture of Night 20 STILL DEVOTION Hunting 40 The media must be “Free” 31 Happenings Bhutan gets its 44 Commentary first Law Journal INTERVIEW China takes over its Pakistani pearl 49 What’s your quirk? 64 ART PAGE Beautician/Actress Dechen Phurba, Featuring Asha Kama popularly known as Dechen Selden 54 Know your food Bhutanese Red Rice MOST DISCUSSED 56 Restaurant Review The Oriental 66 TÊTE Á TÊTE 58 Movie Review With Lama Shenphen Zangpo Lue Dang Sem 60 Book Review Beyond the Silk E-reader Vs Book Route 62 Living with Little 69 Thumbs Up & Down The Raven March, 2013 1 LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sir/Madam, I have been informed that The Raven is about the The Raven is a wonderful read because it contains some only magazine that focuses on the real issues that in-depth, well researched and well written articles covering Bhutan faces. I’d be interested to subscribe to the various issues. magazine if it delivers what it promises. Would you be able to send me an electronic sample? However, the issues are not available in Trashigang, and Samdrupjonkhar. I would appreciate if you could broaden Kind regards, your reach in order to gain further ground. Karin Meichtry (Ms.) Pema Wangda, Mongar. Email: [email protected] My name is Kitso Wangdi, a Bhutanese student studying at Hampshire College in Amherst, MA.