Bhutan Mountain Biking Club Organizes
Tour and Race: 6 th to 21 st October 2004
For the first time ever, an international bicycle tour and race, cycling through Bhutan ’s pristine forests and mountains and mixed with sightseeing, culture, day hikes, meeting people, adventure, etc. is organized in this hidden Kingdom in the Himalayas . An experience of a lifetime and the perfect opportunity to visit Bhutan and be part of the international Year of Mountain Biking in Bhutan .
The Event:
The event consists of 5 days of cultural sightseeing, then 6 days of cycling across Bhutan , followed by “The Fury Dragon Day”, and finally 2 more days of seeing the country. The tour starts in Bumthang, central Bhutan , and takes you to Punakha across two passes of 3400 m. The Fury Dragon Day is a 38.3km uphill race, starting at 1410m (4625 ft0 and ending at Dochula at 3150m (10330 ft). Racing 1700 m (5700 ft) uphill is going to be as breathtaking as the views.
Awards:
This will be the first ever official bicycle race in Bhutan . Your times for the race will be recorded and the record will be there for others to break in the future or never to get reached again!
All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation. All finishers (completing all stages) will receive medals and a Certificate of Completion. The fastest 7 will be rewarded a permanent membership of The Bhutan Mountain Biking Club. The fastest 3 will also get prizes.
The Participants:
Cyclists will come from the United States , Europe , Canada , Australia , Asia . Anyone who owns two wheels on a frame and uses his/her calf pistons as engine can participate. You can also bring along family and friends and we have a separate itinerary set for them to also be part of the event.
Bhutan: "Table Tennis in the Sky"
Bhutan, the country of the dragon, hosted an Olympic Solidarity Course led by Emanuel Christiansson of Sweden in July. The course was conducted using the new ITTF Level 1 Coaching Manual and was held in the capital city, Thimphu with 22 participants.
Altitude is a big factor with Thimphu being approximately 2000m above sea level. You can really feel it when playing table tennis here.
Participants included national team players, coaches and schoolteachers with a big interest for table tennis. Four of the participants where woman, two national players and two teachers. During the course there where both theoretical and practical sessions covered.
Special guest at the course was the Swedish Ambassador in India that was visiting the King of Bhutan at the same period. Ambassador Mrs Inga Eriksson Fogh was very impressed with the course and also very pleasantly surprised meeting me here.
Travelling around in this beautiful country was like being in heaven and you could see high mountains and deep valleys everywhere.
Bhutan has a great possibility to build table tennis into a leading sport when you consider how cheap it is and also having strong support from a developing federation with highly educated and hard working people.
Secretary General is Mr Prem Rai who is working as a volunteer. Mr Rai used to play in the National Team and has also been National Coach. National players of Bhutan are very young and if they can get the oppurtunity to practice in another country, in Asia or Europe they could reach a high level. This would give Bhutan players the chance to build up a new strong generation which will take table tennis to a higher level.
As the Course Conductor I had a really good time and I must say that is was a privilege and adventure to be able to visit this lovely country. I would like to thank Bhutan Olympic Committee, Bhutan Table Tennis Federation and the participants for their nice hospitality that has given me a memory for life.
New Prime Minister takes over
Posted on Saturday, August 21-16:20:14 CDT BST
20 August 2004 - At a special sitting of the lhengye zhungtsho on August 18, attended by His Majesty the King, the reins of executive authority was handed over by Lyonpo Jigmi Y. Thinley, to the new prime minister of Bhutan, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba.
His Majesty the King expressed his satisfaction with the performance of the government six years after the devolution of executive authority. His Majesty also expressed his appreciation to the outgoing prime minister, Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley, and the council of ministers, to the Kalyon and royal advisory councillors for fulfilling their responsibility with loyalty and dedication over the past year when Bhutan had faced a serious threat to its national security.
His Majesty pointed out that, as the country now moved into the year ahead, the government had serious responsibilities to fulfill which were important to the people and the nation.
In this context His Majesty shared his views with the members of the lhengye zhungtsho.
His Majesty reminded the members of the lhengye zhungtsho that the salary of the civil servants, last revised about five years ago, was an important issue that needed to be considered, keeping in mind the rising cost of living. His Majesty advised that the council of ministers should carefully study all the implications of a salary revision and come to a final decision.
Bhutan’s fiscal health was also an important issue for the government. His Majesty said that the government was rightly concerned about the rising national debt. The total debt exceeded Nu. 24 billion with the hard currency loans at US$ 208 million and, even more important, the Rupee loan had now reached Rs.14 billion. His Majesty added that Bhutan had always enjoyed excellent relations with the government of India and deeply appreciated the generous support that India had provided since the first development Plan. But, to maintain a healthy fiscal policy, it was important to ensure that the government and people were not burdened by debt and that a healthy debt-servicing ratio was maintained.
As all the lhengye zhungtsho members were fully aware, the employment of Bhutanese youth was an important issue, His Majesty said. According to the ministry of labour and human resources a total of 9,107 graduates and drop-outs from various institutions had come looking for jobs in the past year. Out of this 7,329 had been given jobs or study opportunities and 1,778 had not registered at all with the ministry.
His Majesty said that it was possible for Bhutan, with a small population, to provide jobs for every individual if the government and the private sector worked together. “With the rapid pace of development in the country, if our youth are unemployed, it will be an indication that we are not following right economic policies,” His Majesty said.
His Majesty also advised the members of the lhengye zhungtsho that it was time to establish the Dungsam Cement Factory. His Majesty reminded the members that, during his visit in 1985, the Indian Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, had committed the establishment of the Dungsam Cement Project when he addressed the National Assembly. But the project had been delayed because there was no power supply to Dungsam.
In 1996, during His Majesty’s state visit to India, Bhutan had formally signed an agreement on the Dungsam Cement Project with the government of Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. But the project had been delayed again because of the presence of ULFA and NDFB militant camps in the area.
Now, with Kurichu power supplied to Nganglam, the 37 kilometre road from the highway in Assam to Nganglam to be repaired by Dantak, and the militant threat removed, it was important that the project was started. With major new power projects in the pipeline large quantities of cement would be required, there would be many opportunities created for the private sector, and the project would also provide employment and enhance the national revenue.
His Majesty said that, as the ministry of trade and industry had reported to the National Assembly, private sector development was a government priority and five sites were to be developed as industrial sites in Pasakha, Jigmeling, Samdrup Jongkhar, Bongdima, and Tingtibi. His Majesty expressed his view that Pasakha, Jigmeling and Samtse were more feasible because of the wide space and infrastructure already available.
His Majesty also reminded the lhengye zhungtsho members that the government had made the commitment to purchase two new Airbus jets for the national airline, Druk Air. While the aircraft were needed for Druk Air His Majesty said that the lhengye zhungtsho must carefully consider the financial implications of the purchase of the two aircrafts.
On the Constitution of the Kingdom of Bhutan, His Majesty said that the fourth draft had been completed. The Constitution had been delayed in the past because of the militant problem and the final draft would be sent to the lhengye zhungtsho by the end of the year. After discussions in the lhengye zhungtsho the draft would be distributed and discussed with the public of the 20 dzongkhags.
His Majesty extended his Tashi Delek to the new Prime Minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba, and expressed his full confidence that he would serve the country with full dedication and commitment.
His Majesty also informed the lhengye zhungtsho members that, in October this year, the Crown Prince Dasho Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuck, would be installed as the Trongsa Penlop. His Majesty said that the Dhar would be conferred in Tashichhodzong and, in keeping with tradition, the tendryil would be performed in the Trongsa Dzong.
The outgoing Prime Minister, Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley, said that the tendryil ceremony for the change of prime minister was a precious opportunity for the members of the lhengye zhungtsho to receive the guidance of His Majesty the King.
Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley said that it was through His Majesty the King’s wisdom that the council of ministers had been established as the executive authority, making its decisions by consensus. He said that the most important responsibility of the Cabinet was to live up to the expectations of His Majesty the King and to try to fulfill His Majesty’s aspirations for the nation.
Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley pointed out that the prime minister was responsible and accountable for governance. But, since the office of prime minister had no specific powers, the capacity of the lhengye zhungtsho was determined by the degree of unity and cooperation among the ministers. The lhengye zhungtsho had, in the past, worked in close harmony, drawing on their collective wisdom on all decisions. This would be even more important in the future because, if the ministers were divided, the office of prime minister would be undermined and the system would not work.
The advantage for Bhutan, said Lyonpo Jigmi Thinley, was that His Majesty the King was always there to provide guidance and support. The Druk Gyalpo was the uniting factor of the Bhutanese system, providing the small vulnerable nation the strength to survive and grow.
The new prime minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba, said that Bhutan had just emerged from a deeply troubling period when His Majesty the King, with no regard to his personal safety, had led the nation into a new era of security and paved the way for a new period of development. His Majesty the King, in his wisdom, had also outlined clear guidelines for the government, setting goals that had to be achieved for the well being of the Bhutanese people.
Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba said that the government would face a critical period in the next few years. His Majesty the King had devolved political authority to the people and the system of governance would face many challenges before the people were ready to take on such a grave responsibility.
He said that, while the elected ministers had the confidence of His Majesty the King, there was reason for concern as the Bhutanese system went through significant change. The recent session of the National Assembly had shown that while the people were ready to differ with the government potential political differences were also visible. It was important that, given these changes already taking place, everyone gained the political maturity to serve the interests of the nation and the people.
Ensuring the success of the devolution of power by His Majesty represented a very serious responsibility, said the Prime Minister. But, as in the past, the lhengye zhungtsho would be guided by the clear vision of His Majesty the King. If the ministers worked closely as a team the government would go a long way in fulfilling the aspirations of His Majesty and the Bhutanese people.
Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba pledged to serve His Majesty the King, the nation, and the people of Bhutan with complete loyalty and dedication.
By Kinley Dorji
chief@kuensel.com.bt
|
