Gups, elected gewog heads, from 199 gewogs are in Thimphu

Gups, elected gewog heads, from 199 gewogs are in Thimphu to discuss and resolve various local government issues, but mainly to understand where they stand in the new political structure.

An upshot of democracy, the gewog leaders said, is that their workload has increased, respect from the people has diminished and they are struggling to understand and draw a line between politics and local governance.

This year’s annual conference of the gups, which began yesterday, is the second such meeting, since the introduction of parliamentary democracy, and the first after the recent reinstitution of the local governance department under the home ministry.

“We’re all trying to understand our place in the new system, not just the gups, but also the mangmis, party coordinators, tshogpas and parliamentarians,” said Sarpang’s Chuzargang gup, Sangay Tshering, adding that a gup’s responsibility has doubled post 2008. “We’re looking after the enormous Plan works, holding meetings and dealing with people, who now seem more vocal and powerful,” he said.

About six of the 205 gups are not attending the five-day annual conference, because of various reasons, officials of the local governance department said.

Some gups told Kuensel that their roles in the gewogs have remained the same, while many said it was changing.

For instance, some gups said that most of the party coordinators and tshogpas were former local leaders themselves and therefore they shared a close relationship.

“Our mandates are clear that we aren’t supposed to get into politics. But some of us are going to contest in the local government elections, and we expect the same people, who voted for the government, to vote for us,” one of the gups said.

Many gups, however, felt that they were no longer the only figure of authority and trust in the gewogs with the advent of parliamentary democracy. “The respect we used to receive isn’t the same anymore,” said Samtse gup Dorji Wangdi.

Similarly, other gups said that some people preferred discussing their problems with party tshogpas, coordinators or directly with members of parliament, in the belief that the government would respond faster to them than the gups.

Describing the role of a gup as “crucial”, home minister Lyonpo Minjur Dorji said that the gups have a lot of work to do to ensure that the desired actions take place in the gewogs.

“There’s no drastic change in their roles and responsibilities, but they have so much work to execute,” Lyonpo Minjur Dorji said. “Their main role is to implement activities on the directives of the government and support democracy, instead of sidelining it. Any political inclination shouldn’t affect their work. We hope to discuss these issues and educate them in the next five days.”

Another gup from Drujeygang gewog in Dagana, Sherub Dorji, said that the government’s success would also be judged from the work completed at the local level and many gups faced greater work pressure. “I’m very worried because, in my gewog, I’ve been able to complete only 5 percent of the Plan work and we’re running out of time,” he said.

Chuzargang gup Sangay Tshering said that, besides executing the Plan work, they had another important responsibility – ensuring that gewog tshogdus are functional and active for democracy to flourish. “We need more guidance to ensure that people understood democracy, because we’re in direct contact with the people,” he said.

Source: Kuenselonline

Bhutanese look forward to weekends: Druk Star

Weekends are always looked forward to as a time to relax. But these days, Bhutanese look forward to weekends for a special reason. And the reason is Druk Star. Ever since the show began, almost all Bhutanese in Phuentsholing have been spending their weekend home watching the show.

Seventy three-year-old Angay Mindu is among the many ardent Druk Star fans in Phuentsholing. Angay Mindu makes it a point to be home every weekend to watch the show.

“I always watch the show leaving behind everything. I eat my lunch quickly before the show begins so that I can watch it uninterrupted. The show is very interesting and I like it very much,” said Angay Mindu.

Her heart broke when her favourite contestant Gyem Dorji got voted out. But now that he is back into the show through the wildcard entry, angay Mindu is determined to keep him in. She even learned how to vote.

“I voted for Gyem Dorji all the time. When he was voted out last time, I felt very sad. I want to vote for him again. I like the boy very much. He is young and has a very good voice,” Angay Mindu said.

Her husband is also a great fan of the show. He never misses the show.

“Wherever I am, I rush home to catch the show. If I can’t make it, I watch from where ever possible,” said Dendup Rinchen.

Every time he watches the show, the talent of the contestants leaves him mesmerized and amazed.

“It is not easy to sing Zhungdra. But the Druk Star contestants sing very well. To be able to sing Zhungdra at such young age is really commendable,” Dendup Rinchen said.

Their daughter Kinley is even a greater fan of Druk Star. Kinley lives in Samtse but the place she stays in has no cable connection. So every weekend she makes a trip to Phuentsholing to watch the show.

“Friday after office I drive to Phuentsholing and go back on Sunday after the show ends. For the result, I call my family to find out, “Kinley said.

Like them, most Bhutanese families stay glued to BBS TV watching the show on weekends. When Druk Star came to Phuentsholing early this week, fans rushed to watch their favourite contestants perform LIVE.

The Norgay cinema hall, where the show was performed, was packed with people. The contestants performed amidst cheers and applause.

Bhutan’s national team is gearing up for ACC elite cup in Kuwait

Bhutan’s national team is gearing up for the Asian cricket council (ACC) elite cup in Kuwait, which will begin in April. The squad of 14 players, despite leaving behind five key players, is confident and optimistic about performing at their best.

Lobzang Yonten, a teacher from Merak Sakteng and Manoj from Tashi Bank are two of the five. “Although they’re really interested in joining the team to Kuwait, they’re bound by their official duties,” said the coach

Bhutan will be playing against United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong, Singapore, Nepal, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Malaysia.

“I’ve never played an ACC elite cup and I’m very excited and nervous at the same time,” said bowler Tandin Wangchuk.

Many team members expressed their concern over the lack of a good bowler, including the youth national coach of Bhutan cricket council board Damber S Gurung. “In spite of their absence, we feel competent and up for the tournament,” said Damber.

Although winning the tournament seems like a distant dream, the national squad is eying at least two wins to retain their position in the elite cup group. Failure to do so will result in the team being relegated to challenge cup level.

“It’s a golden opportunity for me to play in the elite cup,” the team’s youngest player Susil S Luite said. “It’s a matter of pride and satisfaction for me to be representing my country.”

Instances of burglary in Phuentsholing are nothing new

Instances of burglary in Phuentsholing are nothing new. It’s the flip side, residents say, of being the country’s main gateway for trade and other commercial activities.

Since the last two years, burglary in the country’s commercial hub has been increasing much to the dismay of locals. Police in Phuentsholing recorded 84 burglary cases in 2009, which accounts for as many as seven burglaries a month, up from 43 reported cases in 2008.

Since the beginning of 2010 to date, Phuentsholing police registered as many as 18 burglary cases.

A Phuentsholing police spokesperson said that, despite raising awareness among residents, the crime was still on the rise.

“Besides handling cases, we distributed pamphlets on safety measures last year,” the spokesperson said, adding that they reminded residents and building owners to install doorknobs, peepholes or chains to prevent strangers from entering the house.

“While some install, some don’t,” he said. “Those, who do, don’t make use of it.”

Many residents, Kuensel spoke to, had some bitter experiences to relate of their encounter with burglars.

In 2008, Kesang, now a college student, remembered how she was pushed from the balcony of her room on the first floor of a building in Karbreytar by a burglar.

It was in December at around 3 am when Kesang was preparing for her Class XII board examination that a stranger, who was behind her, pushed her off the balcony when she stood up and turned around.

“I fractured my right arm and my thigh and had to undergo surgery,” she said. She could not sit for her examination that year. Kesang said her family did not lodge any complaint with the police, because she had not seen the criminal’s face.

A senior resident said that burglary in Phuentsholing, whether during the day or night, was nothing new as it shared a porous border with the Indian state of West Bengal. “I think it occurs to every third person you meet on the streets,” a resident. He said some of his guests from other parts of the country who lived with him for a few nights, were robbed off mobiles phones and cash from his residence.

A private employee, Dawa Tshering, recalled his encounter with a burglar last year. On one occasion, while climbing up the stairs to his office, he noticed a half open door of one of the units. He peeked in and saw an Indian walking towards him. “He claimed to be the caretaker of the unit while its owner was out,” Dawa said. “I even took a glass of water from him.”

He grew suspicious of the man and went to ask a neighbour if the stranger was really a caretaker but was interrupted by the stranger who followed him to ask him if he looked like a thief to Dawa.

“I went out for a while and on returning saw the house burgled,” he said.

Most Phuentsholing residents said burglars always studied a particular house they wanted to break into. “So they know which house is left unattended during the day and night,” said a resident. “With the datho predicting rise in crime, especially burglary this year, we have to be more careful,” said another.

Her Royal Highness, Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck : Semso for those affected by the fire in Haa

On behalf of His Majesty the King, Her Royal Highness, Princess Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck met with those affected by the fire in Haa, and granted them Semso.

Her Royal Highness expressed condolences and delivered His Majesty’s Semso and Soelra to the 25 families who lost their properties in the fire.

The fire on Monday burnt down a two- storied traditional house, and partially damaged another house near Ugyen Dorji Higher Secondary School.

Her Royal Highness granted Nu. 15,000 each to the owners of the houses. The tenants affected by the fire, also received Nu. 20,000 each as Semso.

Moreover, Her Royal Highness granted CGI sheets to those affected by the fire last November; these families had already been compensated earlier with His Majesty’s cash Soelra.

Her Royal Highness reassured the families that they would be given free timber to reconstruct their homes, as well.

Her Royal Highness then granted Tokha to the families.