Egotistical clashes-that ends the story about Bhutan Times falling apart.
BT as a firm deserves respect and people like the brass-necked 'ode' poet should have come to a solution like a matured person.
well, could this be a plot to come up with an altogether a different paper?
I rather not write about it because i feel sick to my stomach knowing that a matter so trivial had brought the house down.
To the new Bhutan Times team-REVAMP!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
The torch bearer
Meet Doctor Sanduk Ruit, a Co-Director of Himalayan Cataract Project. His is face known to numerous hospitals around the world.
Dr. Sanduk Ruit’s soul mission had been, and continues to be, to bring eyesight back to anyone who needs it, regardless of his or her ability to pay — and to do so with pre- and post-operative care that rivals the highest quality health care throughout the world.
“The surgical chair is the most comfortable place on Earth that I have,” said the doctor working tirelessly at the operating table.
Dr. Ruit helped found the Tilganga Eye Centre in 1994. Because many of the poor and blind cannot make it to Kathmandu, Dr. Ruit reaches out to them by trekking into remote parts of Nepal and throughout the Himalayas.
Dr. Ruit held the conviction that all people with treatable blindness have the right to restored eyesight; and further, that people in developing countries deserve access to the same quality of care and technology as people in the developed world.
He had been in the country on the invitation of our Queen mother Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck said, “I think your queen mother loves you all so much because she always insists that we come to Bhutan and treat Bhutanese patients.”
Himalayan Cataract Project was founded in 1995. Since then it has become a leader in international health innovation in the developing world based on its unrivaled model in eye care.
On his way to Thimphu, the doctor had successfully operated on 150 patients in Phuntsholing. The project brought light in the lives of more than two hundred patients in Thimphu.
Ap Tshering, 65 from Trongsa was one of the patients operated on. The doctor is hopeful and confident that within three days, patients like Tshering will be able to see clearly if not better.
Now that’s what we should call an ‘embodiment’ of a good Doc.
Dr. Sanduk Ruit’s soul mission had been, and continues to be, to bring eyesight back to anyone who needs it, regardless of his or her ability to pay — and to do so with pre- and post-operative care that rivals the highest quality health care throughout the world.
“The surgical chair is the most comfortable place on Earth that I have,” said the doctor working tirelessly at the operating table.
Dr. Ruit helped found the Tilganga Eye Centre in 1994. Because many of the poor and blind cannot make it to Kathmandu, Dr. Ruit reaches out to them by trekking into remote parts of Nepal and throughout the Himalayas.
Dr. Ruit held the conviction that all people with treatable blindness have the right to restored eyesight; and further, that people in developing countries deserve access to the same quality of care and technology as people in the developed world.
He had been in the country on the invitation of our Queen mother Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck said, “I think your queen mother loves you all so much because she always insists that we come to Bhutan and treat Bhutanese patients.”
Himalayan Cataract Project was founded in 1995. Since then it has become a leader in international health innovation in the developing world based on its unrivaled model in eye care.
On his way to Thimphu, the doctor had successfully operated on 150 patients in Phuntsholing. The project brought light in the lives of more than two hundred patients in Thimphu.
Ap Tshering, 65 from Trongsa was one of the patients operated on. The doctor is hopeful and confident that within three days, patients like Tshering will be able to see clearly if not better.
Now that’s what we should call an ‘embodiment’ of a good Doc.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Genitalia of an old man versus that of a girl!
Two months ago, Lam Rinzin 65 (assumed name-real age), sexually molested a 12 years old girl Yeshey Lhamo (Name changed).
The old man had been invited by the girl’s father to act as a witness between the couple’s relationship that was falling apart.
Deki the mother said, “I did not report the incident to media because I feared it might stain my daughter’s reputation amongst her friends at school. However, I had to report to the police or else he would repeat it.”
When I approached the girl she told me, “At 6:30 in the morning, uncle Rinzin who is a stranger to me, offered me a sum of Nu. 200 and said that he wanted me to have sex with him, but when I vehemently refused, he offered me Nu 3000. After which he forcefully took me by the hands and clasped me into his arms. Frightened, I scratched him on the face and so i freed myself. I ran to my friend’s place and took refuge until my mother arrived. When I think of the incident, nothing appears on my mind. It frightens me, I guess.”
The man was arrested by the police and the case has been forwarded to the district court.
The rapist has requested the girl’s mother for an internal settlement of the case and pathetically enough, she has consented to it.
When I approached the girl’s father, he was like “hey dude, my daughter was nearly de-flowered and I have no comments.” LOSER!
The old man had been invited by the girl’s father to act as a witness between the couple’s relationship that was falling apart.
Deki the mother said, “I did not report the incident to media because I feared it might stain my daughter’s reputation amongst her friends at school. However, I had to report to the police or else he would repeat it.”
When I approached the girl she told me, “At 6:30 in the morning, uncle Rinzin who is a stranger to me, offered me a sum of Nu. 200 and said that he wanted me to have sex with him, but when I vehemently refused, he offered me Nu 3000. After which he forcefully took me by the hands and clasped me into his arms. Frightened, I scratched him on the face and so i freed myself. I ran to my friend’s place and took refuge until my mother arrived. When I think of the incident, nothing appears on my mind. It frightens me, I guess.”
The man was arrested by the police and the case has been forwarded to the district court.
The rapist has requested the girl’s mother for an internal settlement of the case and pathetically enough, she has consented to it.
When I approached the girl’s father, he was like “hey dude, my daughter was nearly de-flowered and I have no comments.” LOSER!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
The crevice of many a married lives!
Domestic violence of course is a global phenomenon. However, domestic violence in Bhutan, the country that the world sees as an embodiment of dharma-world, where principles like compassion and non-violence are an expected daily practice of the people, hence, more than anything else, it is a matter of shock.
A couple of weeks ago, as one of my tasks for the week, I took up domestic violence in our homes to report. I met a lady.
Pema who is 31 years old today wished for years longing to lead the life she does at this juncture. She is a tea-woman at the office of RENEW. Finally, it seems for her the poetic justice is arrived at.
All her married life, a preposterously 12 years to be exact. For these many years, she bore the brunt of violence inflicted on her by the man she loved and cared the most, in silence. Because then, the fear of leaving him was greater than the fear of staying. She was worried for the lives of their three children. But, as time passed by, her husband’s infidelity, violence and drinking habits worsened and it was then that the fear of staying became greater than the fear of leaving him. So, just when the time was right, she filed for divorce and availed the custody of her three children.
She is a changed person today not because she has stood up for herself and for her three children but because for a time she said that she felt hollow-empty like a bottle of beer lying on the street, cracked and reeking of its bitter contents. She said that she does not have the same heart or mind now. The way she sees the world is forever changed.
However, the pain of separation and the disappointment of not being able to work out her relation with the man she dearly loved often pained her maimed heart. It was impossible for her not to delve into past. She often found herself depressed.
While at that time when she was down and broken, jobless and homeless, hungry and almost completely depleted by life’s misgivings, a centre established especially for the poor replicated on a slab of otherwise useless marble as 'RENEW,' an acronym for Respect, Educate, Nurture, and Empower Women helped her recreate life.
With the money she earns, about Nu.8000 to Nu.9,000 a month, she tries to keep her family happy. More blessings for her, the shop is rent-free!
RENEW was conceptualized by her majesty the queen mother, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck in the late 1990’s when she traveled extensively into the remotest areas of the country. Having interacted with women from various walks of life, her majesty came to realize that regardless of who we are, where we belong, women generally faced one common problem-violence at their homes.
As the story developed, I met Aum Chimi Wangmo who is the executive director of RENEW. We fixed up an appointment for an interview. Precisely, our rendezvous was slated the next day towards the dusk.
She told me, “So, it was the need of the hour, no government or non government organizations catered to such marginalized victims and her majesty formally established RENEW in 2004 with financial support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to cater to the needs of the victims of domestic violence and essentially to complement RGoB’s goal to achieve Gross National Happiness (GNH).” True, GNH after all is about civility and quality of life.
To say simply without gushes of fast paced air whooshing out and recognizing that RENEW has changed victims like Pema’s lives would be like insulting the institution for we would be attributing and saying the least.
What had happened with Pema and why did it happen is something only god will know because when i asked her so as to make myself content, she gave me a look that deserves pity and love.
However, as i ponder on her matter it occured to me that things did not go wrong and break her heart so that she can become bitter and give up. Bad things (beatings from her husband) happened to her to break her down and build her up so that she can be all that she was intended to be, and right along aptly came RENEW!
"In fact in our society, people tend to accept domestic violence as a part of their married life. Alas! that does not hold accountable to the perpetrators. Society tends to look at domestic violence as a private affair, and usually these victims get advised by the local mediators to compromise and not to provoke," Aum Chimi said.
Domestic violence is not prevalent in Bhutan as we are a Buddhist society is but a myth. The study carried out by RENEW found out that 77% of the respondents have experienced domestic violence within the past 3 years.
Statistically speaking, RENEW alone receives at least 2 cases of domestic violence in a day.
On the other hand, the medical forensic unit at Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital (Thimphu) in 2007 – 237 cases of domestic violence cases have been treated, and in 2008 – 335 cases were treated. As on August 2009, 306 cases have already been registered with the Unit, the number no doubt is on a steep rise.
On an average, the Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) with the police and the hospital sees one – two cases everyday. According to them, some cases are missed out because the victims do not turn up after initially reporting the case.
To my utter amazement, i found out that the reason for such negligence is fear and shame!
The fear of shame and embarrassment, fear of retribution by their partners, lack of family and social support mechanism, concern for children, and the fear of ending their marital relationship are the reasons for failing to come out in the open. Further, what is more agonizing is that all these three organizations that cater to victims of domestic violence agree that the reported cases constitute only a fraction of the problem prevalent in our society.
Alcohol is the main reason for violence in our homes, however, of late, stalking due to advancement of technology and usage of cell phones according to the report from National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC). Craps! what ever the reason, violence in any form or with any reason is damnable-it is the greatest betrayal of human rights!
I could not hold up conciously when i learned that there is an absence of domestic violence act in Bhutan. I could not proceed with the story. For about 2 hours, i sat in the canteen staring at my coffee cup which was long empty. I have a very tumultous mind because i am always unable to tame my emotion. But i need a bread for a living afterall, so i gathered strength, i thought may be i can though on an individual level or personal initiative pester the concerned ministries/organisations (NCWC in this case) to come up with one. I was aware i could make a difference, however small.
While our constitution says “Law shall not discriminate against on the grounds of race, sex, language and religion.” There are plenty of jokers out there who take it for granted that it's okay to lay hands on women and children. Further, there are also certain legislations obvious to anyone who can make out that a is for apple what Z is for Zebra. There are words and clauses that undercuts this rather beautiful stipulation; well I am saying this in terms of women’s fundamental human rights.
This sure is getting somewhere now. Bhutan’s penal code provides penal offence in general but does not provide for domestic violence as such. Domestic violence law will substantiate the penal code and will provide further protective mechanism to the victims of the violence in particular.
I was further disappointed when i came across the fact that though Bhutan had submitted 7th periodic report to the CEDAW (Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women) committee on 23rd July, 2009 in New York and the committee consisting of officials from NCWC recommended having domestic violence law in place. The cold fact is, it still is in the draft process. It will be a year and until that time, wife bashers will be wife bashers!
Now face the music. Concerned organizations often find themselves handicapped to handle domestic violence issues before the matter is submitted to the court for adjudication. this is like, "wait till the cow comes home."
The domestic violence bill will need the undaunted support of our parliamentarians and policy makers so that the greatest of human rights violation is averted for all times to come.
God bless humanity!
A couple of weeks ago, as one of my tasks for the week, I took up domestic violence in our homes to report. I met a lady.
Pema who is 31 years old today wished for years longing to lead the life she does at this juncture. She is a tea-woman at the office of RENEW. Finally, it seems for her the poetic justice is arrived at.
All her married life, a preposterously 12 years to be exact. For these many years, she bore the brunt of violence inflicted on her by the man she loved and cared the most, in silence. Because then, the fear of leaving him was greater than the fear of staying. She was worried for the lives of their three children. But, as time passed by, her husband’s infidelity, violence and drinking habits worsened and it was then that the fear of staying became greater than the fear of leaving him. So, just when the time was right, she filed for divorce and availed the custody of her three children.
She is a changed person today not because she has stood up for herself and for her three children but because for a time she said that she felt hollow-empty like a bottle of beer lying on the street, cracked and reeking of its bitter contents. She said that she does not have the same heart or mind now. The way she sees the world is forever changed.
However, the pain of separation and the disappointment of not being able to work out her relation with the man she dearly loved often pained her maimed heart. It was impossible for her not to delve into past. She often found herself depressed.
While at that time when she was down and broken, jobless and homeless, hungry and almost completely depleted by life’s misgivings, a centre established especially for the poor replicated on a slab of otherwise useless marble as 'RENEW,' an acronym for Respect, Educate, Nurture, and Empower Women helped her recreate life.
With the money she earns, about Nu.8000 to Nu.9,000 a month, she tries to keep her family happy. More blessings for her, the shop is rent-free!
RENEW was conceptualized by her majesty the queen mother, Ashi Sangay Choden Wangchuck in the late 1990’s when she traveled extensively into the remotest areas of the country. Having interacted with women from various walks of life, her majesty came to realize that regardless of who we are, where we belong, women generally faced one common problem-violence at their homes.
As the story developed, I met Aum Chimi Wangmo who is the executive director of RENEW. We fixed up an appointment for an interview. Precisely, our rendezvous was slated the next day towards the dusk.
She told me, “So, it was the need of the hour, no government or non government organizations catered to such marginalized victims and her majesty formally established RENEW in 2004 with financial support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) to cater to the needs of the victims of domestic violence and essentially to complement RGoB’s goal to achieve Gross National Happiness (GNH).” True, GNH after all is about civility and quality of life.
To say simply without gushes of fast paced air whooshing out and recognizing that RENEW has changed victims like Pema’s lives would be like insulting the institution for we would be attributing and saying the least.
What had happened with Pema and why did it happen is something only god will know because when i asked her so as to make myself content, she gave me a look that deserves pity and love.
However, as i ponder on her matter it occured to me that things did not go wrong and break her heart so that she can become bitter and give up. Bad things (beatings from her husband) happened to her to break her down and build her up so that she can be all that she was intended to be, and right along aptly came RENEW!
"In fact in our society, people tend to accept domestic violence as a part of their married life. Alas! that does not hold accountable to the perpetrators. Society tends to look at domestic violence as a private affair, and usually these victims get advised by the local mediators to compromise and not to provoke," Aum Chimi said.
Domestic violence is not prevalent in Bhutan as we are a Buddhist society is but a myth. The study carried out by RENEW found out that 77% of the respondents have experienced domestic violence within the past 3 years.
Statistically speaking, RENEW alone receives at least 2 cases of domestic violence in a day.
On the other hand, the medical forensic unit at Jigme Dorji Wangchuk National Referral Hospital (Thimphu) in 2007 – 237 cases of domestic violence cases have been treated, and in 2008 – 335 cases were treated. As on August 2009, 306 cases have already been registered with the Unit, the number no doubt is on a steep rise.
On an average, the Women and Child Protection Unit (WCPU) with the police and the hospital sees one – two cases everyday. According to them, some cases are missed out because the victims do not turn up after initially reporting the case.
To my utter amazement, i found out that the reason for such negligence is fear and shame!
The fear of shame and embarrassment, fear of retribution by their partners, lack of family and social support mechanism, concern for children, and the fear of ending their marital relationship are the reasons for failing to come out in the open. Further, what is more agonizing is that all these three organizations that cater to victims of domestic violence agree that the reported cases constitute only a fraction of the problem prevalent in our society.
Alcohol is the main reason for violence in our homes, however, of late, stalking due to advancement of technology and usage of cell phones according to the report from National Commission for Women and Children (NCWC). Craps! what ever the reason, violence in any form or with any reason is damnable-it is the greatest betrayal of human rights!
I could not hold up conciously when i learned that there is an absence of domestic violence act in Bhutan. I could not proceed with the story. For about 2 hours, i sat in the canteen staring at my coffee cup which was long empty. I have a very tumultous mind because i am always unable to tame my emotion. But i need a bread for a living afterall, so i gathered strength, i thought may be i can though on an individual level or personal initiative pester the concerned ministries/organisations (NCWC in this case) to come up with one. I was aware i could make a difference, however small.
While our constitution says “Law shall not discriminate against on the grounds of race, sex, language and religion.” There are plenty of jokers out there who take it for granted that it's okay to lay hands on women and children. Further, there are also certain legislations obvious to anyone who can make out that a is for apple what Z is for Zebra. There are words and clauses that undercuts this rather beautiful stipulation; well I am saying this in terms of women’s fundamental human rights.
This sure is getting somewhere now. Bhutan’s penal code provides penal offence in general but does not provide for domestic violence as such. Domestic violence law will substantiate the penal code and will provide further protective mechanism to the victims of the violence in particular.
I was further disappointed when i came across the fact that though Bhutan had submitted 7th periodic report to the CEDAW (Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women) committee on 23rd July, 2009 in New York and the committee consisting of officials from NCWC recommended having domestic violence law in place. The cold fact is, it still is in the draft process. It will be a year and until that time, wife bashers will be wife bashers!
Now face the music. Concerned organizations often find themselves handicapped to handle domestic violence issues before the matter is submitted to the court for adjudication. this is like, "wait till the cow comes home."
The domestic violence bill will need the undaunted support of our parliamentarians and policy makers so that the greatest of human rights violation is averted for all times to come.
God bless humanity!
My first blog article!
The sweet remnant of wind gushing through my anamolously stuart hair as i in my own world ocassionaly strolled down the hilarously dangerous hill, the lovers back in the college call 'the view point' is a matter to retrospect now. Whenever the thought crosses my mind, its a feeling no different than a hot knife passing through butter. I get a clear mixed feeling no doubt.This is my first article on the blog so pardon me if i rather sound too difficult because i just don't seem to be able to help it. I do not know mercy. Well fellas, by the way that was a joke!Well, coming back to the wind gushing through my scant hair, the thought which definately is not fiction abruptly came to my fragile mind. So please allow me to ruminate on the experience sometime in the furure in detail because i certainly am running out of time right now. Need to attend to my ailing drunk friend for now. See ya!
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