Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thats like a good report!
Peter Baker reported from Washington and Mark Landler from Kabul, Afghanistan. Reporting was contributed by Alissa J. Rubin from Kabul; Eric Schmitt, David E. Sanger and Elisabeth Bumiller from Washington; and Helene Cooper from Seoul, South Korea.
(FROM NY TIMES, DATED, 19TH NOVEMBER 2009)
WASHINGTON — President Obama sent his top diplomat to Afghanistan on Wednesday to press President Hamid Karzai to deliver “measurable results” on governance and corruption as the White House prepared specific new demands to accompany an American troop buildup.
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On Wednesday, President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan, left, greeted President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan in Kabul.
In an unannounced visit to Kabul, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton warned Mr. Karzai privately that future civilian aid would depend in part on how his government performed in areas like developing an effective army and curbing cronyism, according to an American official. Publicly, she told reporters that Mr. Karzai had begun to tackle corruption but “not nearly enough.”
The trip, coming on the eve of Mr. Karzai’s inauguration for a second term after a chaotic election marred by charges of rampant fraud, represented part of a broader effort by the Obama administration to tie the pending troop increase in Afghanistan to more effective efforts by its partners in the region.
The White House is developing “clear targets” for both the Afghan and Pakistani governments, possibly with specific timelines, as a way to signal that the American military presence will not last indefinitely, American officials said. It is not yet clear what the administration is willing to do if the targets are not met.
Among other things, the officials said, the administration will insist that Afghanistan fight corruption, speed up troop training and retention, and funnel development assistance to areas the Taliban dominate. As for Pakistan, the officials said, the White House plan would press Islamabad to keep up pressure on its insurgents as well as on Al Qaeda and, most important, go after militant groups that until now it has not taken on aggressively.
Many supporters of Mr. Karzai charge his critics in the West with hypocrisy, noting that they helped put him in power. And yet, some in his own circle are also pressing him to clean house, recognizing that widespread corruption and the failure to deliver services are prompting Afghans to turn to the Taliban and other insurgent groups.
“We are asking that they follow through on much of what they have previously said, including putting together a credible anticorruption governmental entity,” Mrs. Clinton told reporters traveling with her. “They’ve done some work on that, but in our view, not nearly enough to demonstrate a seriousness of purpose to tackle corruption.”
During her 90-minute private talk with Mr. Karzai, which ran much longer than scheduled, Mrs. Clinton pressed for specific actions like increasing inspectors on American aid programs and certifying Afghan ministries to ensure they do not siphon off money, an American official said. She also pushed Mr. Karzai to make merit-based appointments to senior government positions and take a greater personal role in developing a stand-alone army and police force.
Gen. James L. Jones, the president’s national security adviser, made a similar trip to Pakistan late last week, where he pressed that government to do more. Any new list of goals for Pakistan would include taking on the Haqqani militant network along the Afghan border and the Taliban shura, or council, in the southern city of Quetta, both of which the government has been reluctant to confront, an American official said. The administration also wants to expand drone operations north into Chitral and deeper into Bajaur in the north and into portions of Baluchistan in the south, the official said.
Whether timetables will be applied to some of these demands remains undecided, officials said. Deadlines have been set for some goals, like training more Afghan soldiers, and they very likely will be accelerated. But while the White House is seeking to develop an exit strategy, Mr. Obama does not appear likely to set an overall time frame for beginning to withdraw American troops, as he once advocated for Iraq.
“The point here is to put in place very concrete targets that we can use as fulcrums to press for continued success,” said an administration official. “It’s not meant to be a threat per se, but a statement of reality. It’s not a bottomless well.”
But laying out such benchmarks in the past — most recently in September — did not change the course of events in that region, and aides said Mr. Obama was reluctant to threaten consequences aggressively if the goals were not met. Mrs. Clinton’s mention of civilian aid raised one potential point of leverage. The fact that additional American troops will flow into Afghanistan in phases over the next year provides another.
But even if Mr. Karzai is willing to clamp down harder on corruption, he may find it difficult to do so without jettisoning some of the very allies who helped him get re-elected. It is not clear that he is willing to replace enough people to placate critics — or if he did, whether his government could survive.
The new targets are a way of reinforcing the idea that the administration will not simply send more troops to Afghanistan unconditionally and that it envisions eventually beginning to draw down troop numbers after turning over the fight to the Kabul government. In his public comments lately, Mr. Obama has increasingly warned that his is not an “open-ended commitment.”
The message has three audiences, officials said. The first is the Afghan people, trying to rebut the Taliban characterization of American forces as occupiers. The second is the Afghan government, which is being told it needs to step up. And the third is the American people, who have grown deeply uneasy about the eight-year-old war.
“The task here is making sure that Afghanistan is sufficiently stable so that we can make that handoff,” Mr. Obama told NBC News during his trip to Asia. “So my goal is exactly what you described — creating a situation in which our footprint is smaller and Afghan security forces can do the job of keeping their country together. They’re not there yet. They need help from us.”
Mr. Obama told CNN that he was “very close to a decision” on how many more troops to send and would announce it “in the next several weeks.” He suggested that he would like to be winding down American military involvement in Afghanistan before leaving office. “My preference would be not to hand off anything to the next president,” he said.
Mr. Obama has already sent 21,000 additional troops to Afghanistan since taking office, bringing the total American force to 68,000. After more than two months of rethinking his strategy, he has decided to send even more and is weighing how many.
Several people briefed on administration deliberations, who like others requested anonymity to discuss delicate matters, said Wednesday that the president’s advisers had been testing the reaction to an increase of 20,000 to 30,000 troops, while warning that no decision had been made.
White House officials said that after returning from Asia, Mr. Obama would meet with his national security team on Friday or over the weekend, his ninth such session, but they indicated that no announcement appeared likely until after the Thanksgiving holiday. A senior Senate aide said lawmakers anticipated a decision in time to hold hearings during the week of Nov. 30.
In Kabul, Mr. Karzai begins a second term on Thursday as a leader damaged by a tainted election, strained relations with allies and a record blighted by ineffective management and corruption. His inauguration at this pivotal moment, eight years after Americans began the Afghan war, raises the question of whether the Afghan people or American officials can expect better from him over the next five years.
While Mr. Obama turns up the pressure, Mr. Karzai appears caught among competing imperatives: the West, his supporters and his own instincts to be loyal to tribe and family.
“If Karzai removes all the people who supported him in the election, the warlords, and he doesn’t have support from the international community, then he could lose both sides,” said Muhammad Noor Akbary, a member of Parliament who worked on Mr. Karzai’s campaign. “He has to have some allies.”
Sunday, November 15, 2009
The walk!
The royal Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS) in collaboration with the Department of Medical Services under the Ministry of Health observed World Diabetes Day on the 14th of November.
To commemorate world diabetes day, the minister of health, Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa flagged off the walk early this morning. The Lyonpo addressed the issue of increasing cases of diabetes in the country and emphasized on the importance of sensitizing and creating public awareness about the disease.
Thematically charged,” Global Diabetes Walk-Understand Diabetes and take control" the walk saw a total of 350 students including 40 faculty members from RIHS participate. About 50 member staff from the Ministry of health also joined the throng to create public awareness on the disease.
The walk that began at 8:10 am saw through the lunch time.
The 400 participants started the walk from the RIHS gate via Memorial chorten and walked in one combined crowd till the Changlam Plaza. From there on groups were formed to walk all through the town for maximum public reach.
And as the participants walked the street, they distributed pamphlets on the know-how about diabetes to the public.
After an extensive walk through the town, the Secretary of Health, Dasho Gado Tshering spoke to BBS.
Once back to the institute, the staff and students of RIHS followed the programme for the day as scheduled. A lively inter-house quiz show, the questions for which were exclusively based on diabetes was organized. This was followed by a game of basketball game. And finally a sumptuous lunch wrapped up the special programme.
The event was organized by RIHS with a financial assistance from World Diabetes Foundation based in Geneva.
To commemorate world diabetes day, the minister of health, Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa flagged off the walk early this morning. The Lyonpo addressed the issue of increasing cases of diabetes in the country and emphasized on the importance of sensitizing and creating public awareness about the disease.
Thematically charged,” Global Diabetes Walk-Understand Diabetes and take control" the walk saw a total of 350 students including 40 faculty members from RIHS participate. About 50 member staff from the Ministry of health also joined the throng to create public awareness on the disease.
The walk that began at 8:10 am saw through the lunch time.
The 400 participants started the walk from the RIHS gate via Memorial chorten and walked in one combined crowd till the Changlam Plaza. From there on groups were formed to walk all through the town for maximum public reach.
And as the participants walked the street, they distributed pamphlets on the know-how about diabetes to the public.
After an extensive walk through the town, the Secretary of Health, Dasho Gado Tshering spoke to BBS.
Once back to the institute, the staff and students of RIHS followed the programme for the day as scheduled. A lively inter-house quiz show, the questions for which were exclusively based on diabetes was organized. This was followed by a game of basketball game. And finally a sumptuous lunch wrapped up the special programme.
The event was organized by RIHS with a financial assistance from World Diabetes Foundation based in Geneva.
The students of RIHS were to me a source of great inspiration.
To commemorate world diabetes day, the minister of health, Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa flagged off the walk early this morning. The Lyonpo addressed the issue of increasing cases of diabetes in the country and emphasized on the importance of sensitizing and creating public awareness about the disease.
Thematically charged,” Global Diabetes Walk-Understand Diabetes and take control" the walk saw a total of 350 students including 40 faculty members from RIHS participate. About 50 member staff from the Ministry of health also joined the throng to create public awareness on the disease.
The walk that began at 8:10 am saw through the lunch time.
The 400 participants started the walk from the RIHS gate via Memorial chorten and walked in one combined crowd till the Changlam Plaza. From there on groups were formed to walk all through the town for maximum public reach.
And as the participants walked the street, they distributed pamphlets on the know-how about diabetes to the public.
After an extensive walk through the town, the Secretary of Health, Dasho Gado Tshering spoke to BBS.
Once back to the institute, the staff and students of RIHS followed the programme for the day as scheduled. A lively inter-house quiz show, the questions for which were exclusively based on diabetes was organized. This was followed by a game of basketball game. And finally a sumptuous lunch wrapped up the special programme.
The event was organized by RIHS with a financial assistance from World Diabetes Foundation based in Geneva.
To commemorate world diabetes day, the minister of health, Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa flagged off the walk early this morning. The Lyonpo addressed the issue of increasing cases of diabetes in the country and emphasized on the importance of sensitizing and creating public awareness about the disease.
Thematically charged,” Global Diabetes Walk-Understand Diabetes and take control" the walk saw a total of 350 students including 40 faculty members from RIHS participate. About 50 member staff from the Ministry of health also joined the throng to create public awareness on the disease.
The walk that began at 8:10 am saw through the lunch time.
The 400 participants started the walk from the RIHS gate via Memorial chorten and walked in one combined crowd till the Changlam Plaza. From there on groups were formed to walk all through the town for maximum public reach.
And as the participants walked the street, they distributed pamphlets on the know-how about diabetes to the public.
After an extensive walk through the town, the Secretary of Health, Dasho Gado Tshering spoke to BBS.
Once back to the institute, the staff and students of RIHS followed the programme for the day as scheduled. A lively inter-house quiz show, the questions for which were exclusively based on diabetes was organized. This was followed by a game of basketball game. And finally a sumptuous lunch wrapped up the special programme.
The event was organized by RIHS with a financial assistance from World Diabetes Foundation based in Geneva.
The students of RIHS were to me a source of great inspiration.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Once more on it!
How does media house function in Bhutan? Does the management have a say in the editorial department? There does not however, seem to have a set answer.
The bone of contention in the recent Bhutan Times controversy as accused by the seven journalists was an incessant interference by the new management. Truth however, could not be squeezed out of the issue since the concerned involved persons refused to talk citing excuses.
However, I managed to talk to few media houses and asked them how each of them thought about the unfortunate incident and how they as a media entity functioned.
Most agree, “They should have given more time to the new Chief Executive Officer and should have united in solving the problem instead of just walking away.”
The Managing Director of Bhutan today and the ex-Dzongkha editor of Bhutan Times who now works for Bhutan Today as well condemns the journalists for not giving ample time to the management to come up with the new editorial team without which any media house becomes defunct.
“We maintain a very respectable and a strong boundary between the management and the editorial. We have company rules wherein the management does not have any say how an editorial should work. At the same time, we also respect the management because they have ton make money for company to sustain,” said the Kuensel spokesperson. How nice would it be if this had been the general practice.
Bhutan does not have established policies that define roles and responsibilities of people working in media.
The Bhutan Infocomm and Media authority on 23rd of October had issued a notification to the CEO, Wangcha Sangay demanding as required by “the provision of the act” to submit the credentials of the new editorial team latest by the noon of 30th October-nothing has transpired since.
Should incidents like this be not attended to from the start, democracy will not see the light of the day for long in our tiny Kingdom.
The bone of contention in the recent Bhutan Times controversy as accused by the seven journalists was an incessant interference by the new management. Truth however, could not be squeezed out of the issue since the concerned involved persons refused to talk citing excuses.
However, I managed to talk to few media houses and asked them how each of them thought about the unfortunate incident and how they as a media entity functioned.
Most agree, “They should have given more time to the new Chief Executive Officer and should have united in solving the problem instead of just walking away.”
The Managing Director of Bhutan today and the ex-Dzongkha editor of Bhutan Times who now works for Bhutan Today as well condemns the journalists for not giving ample time to the management to come up with the new editorial team without which any media house becomes defunct.
“We maintain a very respectable and a strong boundary between the management and the editorial. We have company rules wherein the management does not have any say how an editorial should work. At the same time, we also respect the management because they have ton make money for company to sustain,” said the Kuensel spokesperson. How nice would it be if this had been the general practice.
Bhutan does not have established policies that define roles and responsibilities of people working in media.
The Bhutan Infocomm and Media authority on 23rd of October had issued a notification to the CEO, Wangcha Sangay demanding as required by “the provision of the act” to submit the credentials of the new editorial team latest by the noon of 30th October-nothing has transpired since.
Should incidents like this be not attended to from the start, democracy will not see the light of the day for long in our tiny Kingdom.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Last question please!
(Source: Internet-gramattical errors are not mine!)
Question: Ms America, how do you describe a male organ in
your country?
Ms America: Well, I can say that male organs in America are
like gentlemen.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms America: Because it stands every time it sees a woman........
(Applause! Applause!)
Question: Ms Spain, how do you describe a male organ in your
country?
Ms Spain: Male organs in our country are like our very own
Bullfight or Toro (Bull)
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Spain: Because it charges every time it sees an opening.
Applause! Applause!)
Question: Ms Philippines, how do you describe a male organ
in your >country?
Ms Philippines: Well, I can say that male organs in our country
are like gossip or rumors.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Philippines: Because it passes from mouth to mouth.
(Applause! Applause! Standing Ovation! Applause! Applause!)
Question: Ms Iran, how do you describe a male organ in your
Country?
Ms Iran: Well, I can say that male organs in Iran are like
thieves.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Iran: Because they like to enter through the back door.
(Applause! Applause! Laughter! Laughter! Applause!
>Applause!)
Question: Ms India, how do you describe a male organ in your
country?
Ms India: Well, I can say the male organs in India are like
labourers.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms India: Because it works day and night......
> >(Applause! Applause! Applause! Applause! Applause!
Applause! Applause!)
Question: Ms Malaysia, how do you describe a male organ
in your country?
Ms Malaysia: Well, I can say that Male Organs in Malaysia
are like Proton car.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Malaysia: Look tough but actually very soft.
(Applause! Applause! Laughter! Laughter! Applause!
Applause!)
Question: Ms Singapore, how do you describe a male organ
in your country?
Ms Singapore: Well, I can say that male organ In Singapore
is very Kiasu (Afraid to lose).
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Singapore: It always wants to rush in quick and leave
15 minutes before the show is over.
>Applause! Applause! Applause! Applause! Applause!
Applause! Applause!
Question: Ms China, how do you describe a male organ in your
country?
Ms China: Well, I can say that male organs in China are like
a space plane.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms China: Because it brings you to paradise within few minutes........
Question: Ms America, how do you describe a male organ in
your country?
Ms America: Well, I can say that male organs in America are
like gentlemen.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms America: Because it stands every time it sees a woman........
(Applause! Applause!)
Question: Ms Spain, how do you describe a male organ in your
country?
Ms Spain: Male organs in our country are like our very own
Bullfight or Toro (Bull)
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Spain: Because it charges every time it sees an opening.
Applause! Applause!)
Question: Ms Philippines, how do you describe a male organ
in your >country?
Ms Philippines: Well, I can say that male organs in our country
are like gossip or rumors.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Philippines: Because it passes from mouth to mouth.
(Applause! Applause! Standing Ovation! Applause! Applause!)
Question: Ms Iran, how do you describe a male organ in your
Country?
Ms Iran: Well, I can say that male organs in Iran are like
thieves.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Iran: Because they like to enter through the back door.
(Applause! Applause! Laughter! Laughter! Applause!
>Applause!)
Question: Ms India, how do you describe a male organ in your
country?
Ms India: Well, I can say the male organs in India are like
labourers.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms India: Because it works day and night......
> >(Applause! Applause! Applause! Applause! Applause!
Applause! Applause!)
Question: Ms Malaysia, how do you describe a male organ
in your country?
Ms Malaysia: Well, I can say that Male Organs in Malaysia
are like Proton car.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Malaysia: Look tough but actually very soft.
(Applause! Applause! Laughter! Laughter! Applause!
Applause!)
Question: Ms Singapore, how do you describe a male organ
in your country?
Ms Singapore: Well, I can say that male organ In Singapore
is very Kiasu (Afraid to lose).
Question: How can you say so?
Ms Singapore: It always wants to rush in quick and leave
15 minutes before the show is over.
>Applause! Applause! Applause! Applause! Applause!
Applause! Applause!
Question: Ms China, how do you describe a male organ in your
country?
Ms China: Well, I can say that male organs in China are like
a space plane.
Question: How can you say so?
Ms China: Because it brings you to paradise within few minutes........
A MOTHER'S LOVE
(Source: Internet)
A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on.
After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:
1) For cutting the grass: $5.00
2) For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
3) For going to the store for you: $.50
4) Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
5) Taking out the garbage: $1.00
6) For getting a good report card: $5.00
7) For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75 +- R88
Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind.
She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:
1) For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: NO CHARGE
2) For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: NO CHARGE
3) For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: NO CHARGE
4) For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: NO CHARGE
5) For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: NO CHARGE
6) Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is: NO CHARGE
When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said,"Mom, I sure do love you."
And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote:
"PAID IN FULL".
*LESSON
You will never know how much your parents worth till you become a parent.
Be a giver not an asker, especially with your parents.
There is a lot to give, besides money.
ADVICE
IF your mom is alive and close to you, give her a big kiss and ask her for forgiveness.
IF she is far away - Call her.
If she passed away - Pray for her.
RELATED QUOTE
"God bless my mother, all that I am or ever hope to be I owe to her."
A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on.
After his Mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:
1) For cutting the grass: $5.00
2) For cleaning up my room this week: $1.00
3) For going to the store for you: $.50
4) Baby-sitting my kid brother while you went shopping: $.25
5) Taking out the garbage: $1.00
6) For getting a good report card: $5.00
7) For cleaning up and raking the yard: $2.00
Total owed: $14.75 +- R88
Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind.
She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he'd written on, and this is what she wrote:
1) For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: NO CHARGE
2) For all the nights that I've sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: NO CHARGE
3) For all the trying times, and all the tears that you've caused through the years: NO CHARGE
4) For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: NO CHARGE
5) For the toys, food, clothes, and even wiping your nose: NO CHARGE
6) Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is: NO CHARGE
When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said,"Mom, I sure do love you."
And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote:
"PAID IN FULL".
*LESSON
You will never know how much your parents worth till you become a parent.
Be a giver not an asker, especially with your parents.
There is a lot to give, besides money.
ADVICE
IF your mom is alive and close to you, give her a big kiss and ask her for forgiveness.
IF she is far away - Call her.
If she passed away - Pray for her.
RELATED QUOTE
"God bless my mother, all that I am or ever hope to be I owe to her."
Friday, October 30, 2009
A man walks in and seven walks out!
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!
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!
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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