Bhutan's Only Fake News Site

Complete text of JigsNews interview with Kuensel on social media and anonymity

Sat, 01 Sep 2012 11:39:00 +0530

JigsNews interview with Gyalsten K Dorji of Kuensel

1. You must have noticed that the number of individuals choosing anonymity on Twitter has spiked recently. In fact, it would be right after the time JigsNews was established. It seemed that anonymity may have been on the decline, with Bhutantimes.com closing shop, and going by the discussions on the Amend the Tobacco Control Act Facebook page, where the majority of opinions could be connected to an identity. Of course, the KuenselOnline forum still allowed anonymity in the meantime, but that’s a moderated forum. But it seems that this spike in anonymous Twitter activity could be the beginnings of a revival of the unfiltered, unmoderated, anonymous trend. Would you, as the anonymous creator and operator of JigsNews, agree with this assessment? And if so, or not, why?

Social Media forums, including Twitter have helped record and document the trend of anonymous, unfiltered, moderated conversations. JigsNews sees this trend in a socio-anthropological perspective, where a society’s loud thinking, which is easily forgotten in our oral tradition, is documented for posterity.

Amend the Tobacco Control Page had a purpose and after it purpose was served it died down. We cannot really say that there is a revival of anonymous posting. Consider the ‘Social Democracy’ Facebook page. It is very active. At the same time www.kuzuzangpo.com though it has been online for a long time, permitting anonymous posting, is not that active.

2. Why have you chosen to operate anonymously? For instance, JigsNews is similar to the American newspaper, the Onion, but the writers there are not anonymous, or at least there’s a contact address. What is lacking in our context that prevents freedom of expression without concern?

JigsNews believes that satire and parody is essential for a healthy, functioning democracy. But in our society, it can be easily be mistaken for mudslinging. Infact, JigsNews has not fully explored the potential of satire, the way Onion has been doing. It is because of this caution that JigsNews could be branded as partisan. You must have noticed the undying interest to know the identity of JigsNews. This yearning to know the identity behind the mask, also enables to searcher to formulate his or her ideas on ‘who JigsNews is with’ or ‘what our agenda is’.

Satire or parody, like facts, are sacred. The moment is it branded as partisan, then its punch is lost. Our society does not lack the freedom for mimicry and parody.See our atsaras, they fulfill their social, religious purposes. But when it is represented through a new social medium - when satire reflects our social and cultural life - then it could offend certain people. JigsNews will wait for this social maturity to deconstruct ourselves - till then enjoy the masked atsara.

3. Do you feel that anonymity is a right for a democracy?

The anonymous space is also a public space. If scientific research can be based on surveys where people do not have to reveal their identities, an anonymous opinion is as valid as any other opinion. The very question that assumes that anonymity is bad, JigsNews feels is wrongly placed. It assumes that open opinions are ‘true’ and ‘ethical’ and anonymous ones are bad and unethical.

JigsNews would like to quote satirist Jonathan Swift here, from his “Verses on the Death of Dr. Swift”

Yet, Malice never was his Aim;
He lash’d the Vice but spar’d the Name.
No Individual could resent,
Where Thousands equally were meant.
His Satyr points at no Defect,
But what all Mortals may correct.

4. What is the value to anonymity for a society, for Bhutanese society?

An ethical, compassionate but sharp practice of anonymity, infact would help open up a society where anonymity is not needed.

4. To what extent should anonymity be respected and privacy protected?

As journalists, you would be aware that public interest takes precedence.

5. In your satire, parody, and at times, real news, is there a limit that you might be following, lines that you might not cross?

If you have noticed, all our tweets and blogs have always kept public interest in mind. Our parody is based on information that is already in the public sphere. JigsNews is not a source of gossip.

Exclusive behind the door details from Bhutan-China talks

Fri, 10 Aug 2012 10:14:00 +0530

Here are exclusive details from the ongoing closed door talks between Bhutan and China in Thimphu. We are publishing the first draft of what was agreed by China to Bhutan and vice versa.

A bridge of River Maokhola in southern Bhutan was promised by the DPT when it came to power. Lack of funds stalled the project. During the ongoing border talks between Bhutan and China in Thimphu, the Bhutanese side has agreed to name the bridge after Chairman Mao if funds come by from there.

Promises from the Chinese side

Ten Chinese gymnasts will represent Bhutan in 2016 Olympics. China promises a minimum of one gold, one silver and two bronze medals for Bhutan to keep.

China will reinforce vigilance on border to ensure that Bhutanese cordyceps do not crawl into China. Visa will be made obligatory.

All Bhutanese citizens will get automatic Shanghai(ed) visa upon arrival in China.

China will sponsor a Made In China wooden chair, which’ll collapse in 2 years, for Bhutan’s non-permanent seat in UN security council.

All city buses will have preinstalled radios tuned to Chinese stations. Buses will be supplied wit newspapers from Beijing.

Promises from the Bhutanese side

Bhutan will dedicate bridge over Mao Khola to Chairman Mao if funds to build it comes from Beijing.

Bhutan will allow silent prayers in Mandarin in front of the world’s largest sitting Dodenma Buddha in Thimphu built with Chinese labor.

Bhutan will accept itself to be called ‘The Land of the Smaller Peaceful Dragon’.

Bhutan will stop its plan to build the Great Wall of Bhutan along the Chinese border which was supposed to block fresh O2 flowing from Bhutanese forests into polluted Chinese cities.

Bhutan agrees to rename doma (bettlenut) stain as Chinese red.

Why Bhutan cannot win an Olympics medal

Thu, 09 Aug 2012 11:44:00 +0530

Some irresponsible and insensitive Bhutanese have been trolling on why Bhutan cannot win an Olympics medal. But a JigsNews and International Olympic Committee joint study reveals that non-winning has nothing to do with capabilities, but more with the political, social-economic, geographical & cultural conditions.

Archery and shooting: Foreign media has been praising Bhutan for not winning any medal and are exoticising our athletes so much that they blush the moment they read an article on them. But our study reveals that while Bhutanese are good in traditional archery, their inability to win an international tournament has a Chinese connection. Even though the archery set they uses seems to come from US or Europe, the manual rolled around the bow-string is always in Chinese. After all everything is made in China these days. And you know how difficult it is to get a Chinese interpreter in Bhutan.

And moreover, Bhutanese can’t win a shooting or archery competition unless there is someone to distract them at the target end. Department of Culture should consider composing some lewd songs aimed at our archery maiden and have men singing it. And the effect of prayers for winning has geographical limitations. Dechenphodrang is too far from London.

Water Sports: Blame it on the Blessed Rainy Day, a very auspicious day in Bhutan where the whole country takes a shower. Astrologers have warned against potential swimmers that if they practice everyday, then Blessed Rainy Day will have no effect. And which Bhutanese would want to win gold instead of god?

Throw events: As Buddhists, Bhutanese try to avoid confrontations. The study says that most athletes come from very poor background and there is no big enough a ground to practice regularly. And since most of practicable land are in the hands of a rich few, a discus, shot-put or javelin throw lands in the property of some influential dasho and he complains against his land being damaged. In Bhutan avoiding the wrath of a rich man is better than an Olympic gold.

Long distance walk: How can someone practice when the country has just one designated day a week for walking. Moreover, most Bhutanese are used to walking in the dark (night hunting) in rugged conditions whereas at the Olympics the athletes are made to walk in broad daylight or under floodlights.

Sprints: Bhutanese, used to rocky paths find it difficult to run on clean synthetic tracks. Also blame it on Bhutan’s conversation policy, before you finish a 100 meter dash, you dash into at least three trees that proudly hold the branches of Gross National Happiness. The strict traffic rule of ‘slow down, move to the left lane & let vehicles overtake’ is seen as a major impediment to Bhutanese sprinters who can’t shed the habit on the tracks. Another significant finding is that Bhutan doesn’t want to offend Indian or Chinese sprinters for geopolitical reasons. What happens on the tracks influences diplomacy.

Pole vault & High Jump: The world has never witnessed an Olympics in the Himalayas. You see, there is a certain height to which our gymnasts can jump. The air here is thinner, gravitational pull is lesser. So a gymnast who weaves magic in the Bhutanese fails elsewhere.

Mixed Doubles: Suspicion of extra-marital affairs, a small society syndrome, is impeding participants in men-women’s mixed doubles in disciplines such as tennis & table tennis.

Wrestling: The Bhutanese society’s non-acceptance of gay culture. A lot of touching, fondling, slapping is needed in wrestling. Isn’t it too gayish and kinky?

Team Events: With 6 political parties, it is difficult to build team unity as teams cannot be formed with supporters of one party. Therefore, there is disunity and teamwork is an issue, which deters Bhutan from getting medals in team event.

Last but not the least, there are always more officials than athletes. If there was a competition for non-athletes on the struggles to get into the Olympics contingent, our officials would stand a fair chance against medal-winning countries.

5 survival tips for PDP to row into 2013

Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:21:46 +0530

Dear PDP President, in your interview to Bhutan Observer, you asked DPT not to bother about the deadline given by ECB to repay the 2008 debt. But as the all-knowing, JigsNews understands that you are really worried. Our suggestion; give a post-dated 2013 cheque to all debtors and strictly adhere to the following tips that will make sure PDP wins the next polls.

Have you every realized that by shaving your head often, you were shaving off your luck. Remember this Nordic saying, “You last hair strand is like a lone solider in a battle, nothing can beat his pride.”

1. You need four horses

You know why DPT lost the other Gasa constituency in 2008? So tweak your party symbol and increase the number of horses to four. Make it wind horses so that they can walk, as well as fly, and fight the cranes. It also transcends linguistic divides (Lungtha, Kurtha). Wind horses also help fight the ECB. If worse comes to worst, tell Dasho Kunzang Wangdi that you are heading a new party, and the debt of one horse over the four years increased to four.

2. Luck is in your hair

3. Give power, not water

Your new slogan ‘Power to the People’ is a great idea, because everyone needs electricity. The country needs it to earn foreign revenue; houses need it for their rice cookers. And with new power projects coming up, you would even be able to lower the power tariff. JigsNews heard some PDP men want to change the slogan to ‘Water to the People.’ Never ever do it. You can promise power but never water; even capital Thimphu is caught in a water crisis.

4. Walk, don’t cycle

The success to a good political victory is walking and not cycling. Even though the PM earlier said he wants to make Thimphu a bicycle city, he did not really pursue the idea. Instead he introduced the Pedestrian Day. See, he found the walking idea was good. Now you have to beat him in his own game. To be with the people don’t cycle, walk and talk.

5. Stop blogging, start flogging

The media, local and international, has praised you as a tech-savvy politician. They shower praises on your blog. But history tells us that a good blogger doesn’t win wars or elections, Alexander the Great never was on blogspot. Napoleon used to punish people who mentioned the word ‘blog’. Our own prime minister, despite having a Macbook and an iPad with pre-installed blogging applications never took to it.

Why? Because he believes only in flogging, even if its only with his tongue. You know, we Bhutanese love being flogged once in a while. Do you remember, during the campaign, while PDP requested votes, DPT demanded it. Our prime minister scolded the voters, and they loved it. So stop (or limit) blogging and start flogging.

How Buddha and pencil batteries connect India, Bhutan and China

Fri, 20 Jul 2012 15:33:02 +0530

Earlier in this blog, JigsNews has unraveled the other side of ties with China. Adding to that, our research team -without any funding - has discovered that among the three countries a strong love triangle exists. Excerpts from our findings.

1. Lord Buddha who lived and spread his teachings in India has got a statue atop a Bhutanese hill. And who made it? The Chinese.

2. Latest reports say that Chinese buses will ply as city buses on road made by India’s Dantak in Thimphu.

3. Chinese pencil batteries sold by Bhutanese middlemen has been lighting Indian torches for many years.

4. A JigsNews source said Dasho Karma Ura will start his professorship at a Chinese by wearing his favourite Indian-made Raymond 3 piece suit.

5. And the melting ice from Kulagangri (which China claims as it’s) is tapped at Bhutanese hydropower dams and sold to India.

REALNEWS: Bhutanmania spreads across Singapore's spit-free streets

Thu, 19 Jul 2012 14:58:00 +0530

(The Going Oversease For Advanced Reporting (Go-Far Bhutan) group with the team leader Cherian George. They will be here in the country from July 30 till August 10. Photo 1 courtesy, Go-Far Bhutan’s Facebook page. Photo 2 courtesy: http://gofar.sg/ )

First it was Singapore’s development minister Khaw Boon Wan who talked of Bhutan’s unhappiness, and he got it real bad for saying that the only smiling people where tourists, children and foreign volunteers. That was last year. But now, senior economists of this city-state where gum chewing was a crime till recently is fascinated with doma-chewing Bhutan. Economists Yeoh Lam Keong and Manu Bhaskaran from the Institute of Policy Studies say Singapore should adopt GNH indicators, which include studying one’s jealousy, frustration and selfishness.

Mr Yeoh said 20 years back Singapore was perfect with affordable housing, social medicine and an egalitarian education system, but now the country has lost it all. The economists were talking to a group of journalism students who will be reaching Bhutan next week to soak in GNH.

The team called ‘Go-Far Bhutan 2012’ will make documentaries, write articles and take photographs on how happy Bhutan’s housing system is affordable, awe at the quality of education in schools, and watch the efficiency of the health sector. The story ideas that students from the Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information, Nanyang Technological University, are looking at include the dimensions of how Bhutanese use ‘la’ to end a sentence, the team’s FB page said.

As this beautiful night draws you away, RIP Rajesh Khanna, you...

Wed, 18 Jul 2012 14:33:17 +0530

As this beautiful night draws you away, RIP Rajesh Khanna, you were Jigs.

Heights of everything in Bhutan; from politics to desperation

Fri, 13 Jul 2012 10:54:40 +0530

(Height of Politics: MP Sangay Khandu in Lunana at 18,000 feet. Photo courtesy www.sangaykhandu.com )

Height of Democracy – Drivers in ECB selected by a secret ballot of office staffs by Dasho Kunzang Wangdi

Height of Impossibility – Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa nominated for lifelong GNH ambassadorship

Height of Heights – Lyonpo Thinley Gyamtsho, Lyonpo Kunzang Dorji, Lyonpo Dorji Wangdi, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji & Azha Namgay in NBA

Height of Success – Dasho Penjor Dorji of DMT becoming the PM

Height of Confusion – GNH talk between the Speaker, Lyonpo Nandalal Rai & Lyonpo Zangley Drukpa

Height of Patience – A bridge over Mao Khola

Height of Surprise – MP Prahlad Gurung standing to speak in the NA

Height of Expectation – Opposition Leader sending friend request to PM on Facebook

Height of Politics – MP Sangay Khandu in Lunana

Height of Stupidity – Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba (re)presenting the Trowa Theater case

Height of Laziness – Bhutan Media Foundation

Height of Ego – Lyonpo Wangdi Norbu in Jaigaon with a bundle of ngultrum

Height of Kindness – Government willing to sell Trowa Theater land to poor businessman

Height of Effort – PM JYT riding bicycle on Pedestrian Day

Height of Silence – A day in the parliament without MP Tshering Penjore

Height of Confidence – Lyonpo Nandalal Rai chartering a flight to Yongphula

Height of Anonymity – JigsNews using Spiderman mask to cover Atsara mask.

Height of Stinginess – Media consultancy firm funded by external agency asking refreshment money from participants

Height of Irritation – Tenzing Lamsang prodding a news source

Height of Arrogance – RMA Governor telling NC to collect documents from his office

Height of Illusion – Aum Neten’s dream of corruption free Bhutan

Height of Courage – China-Bhutan ties

Height of Hypocrisy – 11^th Plan theme ‘Rural Prosperity’.

Height of Show-off – Education City

Height of Desperation – Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk at New Delhi to raise the INR credit line to 10b.

Oh MP, My MP

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 16:31:00 +0530

(JigsNews dedicates the following poem to Punakha MP Tshering Penjore as the 9th Session of parliament comes to a close. During the past one month, not a single day in parliament has passed without him talking. Thanks to his ~~irresponsible~~ remarks during discussions, he is the only MP to have a fake account created in his name on twitter, MPTsheringPenjo. This poem is an expanded version of what CrossRabbit1, a JigsNews fan has penned.)

Oh round Tshering Penjore has come out of the west,

Through all the NA sessions his speech was the best.

And save his shiny patang he weapon had none,

But words flowed with doma stains, till he was fully done.

……………….

He spoke all unarmed and he spoke all alone,

He even spoke in the hall, when there was none.

So faithless in love and so dauntless at night

Yet forever he was there, ever ready to fight.

……………..

So boldly he enters the hall, and lays his bag to rest,

And raises his hand to throw a jab at his best.

The Speaker avoids his glance and searches elsewhere,

But when it’s his hand alone, Speaker says ‘Yes, you there’.

………………

Begins he, ‘So much water has under the bridge flown,

From east, west, north & south, much wind has blown.

Birds have gone and since long come home, but alas!

I forgot I stood up to say ‘Jabchor Yoe La’.

…………….

Many have said ‘Again he is getting up, oh what a bore’,

But there never was a MP like Tshering Penjore.

Bhutanese handicrafts shopkeepers will oppose any move to have China ties

Sat, 07 Jul 2012 16:08:14 +0530

(A JigsNews investigation found that a Chinese delegationwho had come to Bhutan took photographs of Bhutanese-made ties from the crafts bazaar to copy the design)

Handicrafts shop owners in Bhutan are reportedly taking Chinese lessons to write to Chinese prime minister Wen Jiabo to immediately drop any plans to introduce ties from China to Bhutan. This comes after the alarmingly clandestine move by China to force Bhutan to accept ‘Made In China’ ties into Bhutan.

A JigsNews source from the Thimphu Crafts Bazaar said handmade ties woven with traditional Bhutanese material have a good market now and is a big hit among foreign tourists. Allowing Chinese ties to flood in the market would really affect the local market. The handicrafts shop owners association said Chinese are capable of weaving ties that can imitate the Bhutanese ones and sell it at a much cheaper price

“How can Bhutan allow a Chinese diplomatic mission here just for a few ties?” asked a shopkeeper. The association in a press release said the statement from the foreign ministry denying the Chinese tie rumor cannot be accepted. They also said the Bhutanese media has been irresponsible in reporting on the tie issue which quoted Chinese, Indian and other international newspapers on the issue but never took the effort to meet the handicrafts shop owners association.

“We will not believe the government unless the department of trade issues a statement. The foreign ministry has nothing to do with ties,” the statement said.

A JigsNews investigation found that a Chinese delegationwho had come to Bhutan took photographs of Bhutanese-made ties from the crafts bazaar to copy the design.

“Today they will import ties, and tomorrow they will import ghos and kiras,” an angry shopkeeper said.

The tie issue is expected to become more sensitive as JigsNews learnt that Bhutanese ties are also becoming really popular for different reasons.

“Some kinky tourists from Europe buy it to tie up their partners during sex sessions. They say the Bhutanese ties are as good as whips and ropes,” said a handicrafts shopkeeper.

From Adidas to Sherubtse College, new slogans to match the Jigs era

Tue, 26 Jun 2012 12:30:12 +0530

Thousands of companies, foreign and local have been writing to us on how JigNews have been changing the way humans think around the world. To keep up with the times, they asked us to suggest new slogans for them. Here is our compilation.

Kuensel - That the Nation shall be Jigs

Bhutan Times - Your Sunday Jigspanion

Bhutan Observer - The Jigs Voice

Bhutan Today - A Jigs Perspective

Business Bhutan - Dealing Jigs

Bhutan Youth - Say what Jigs Thinks

The Bhutanese - The Jigs Way or Highway

Bhutan Broadcasting Service - The Jigs Expression

Tourism Council of Bhutan - Happiness is Jigs

Bhutan Telecom - Always Jigs for you

Bhutan National Bank - The Jigs Bank

Druk PNB - Your Jigs Partner

Anti Corruption Commission - 0 tolerance for all, except Jigs

Election Commission of Bhutan - Ensuring free, fair & Jigs elections

Sherubtse College - Jigs for Excellence

Druk Phuensum Tshogpa - Equity & Jigstice

People’s Democratic Party - Walking & Talking Jigs

LG - Life is Jigs

Adidas - Impossible is nothing, Jigs is everything

Nike - Jigs does it

Haig Scotch Whiskey - Don’t be shy, ask for Jigs

Braniff Airlines - When you are Jigs, flaunt it

Burger King - Have it the Jigs way

Wendy’s - Where’s the Jigs?

The Independent - It is. Are you Jigs?

Campbell Soup - M’m! M’m! Jigs!

Citi Bank - Jigs Never Sleeps

Federal Express - When it’s Jigs, has to be there overnight.

Hallmark - When you care enough to send the very Jigs.

IBM - I think after Jigs.

Kit Kat - Have a break. Have a Jigs.

From http://www.facebook.com/dorji.khand A few interesting...

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 19:37:16 +0530

From http://www.facebook.com/dorji.khand

A few interesting comments to this photo on FB:

Sharchopa Kota Yoezer lucky for him , since he dun have to walk„, during pedestarian day…. hes got that web swiwing thing

Pema Lotus Wangchuk Hey guys, don’t criticise GNH…

Yeshi Jeong Eun Lhamo Ummmmm…s he is in T/phu(in our country) so GNH mean Government Need Help…

Pema Lotus Wangchuk This is foolish image designed to downsize our GNH values….

Yangden Tshering stupid spider man……he is breathing it right into his lungs n not knowing it hahahah

Trowa cow wants Grass Domestic Product, not Generous National Happiness

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 13:06:55 +0530

( I love chewing this film posters: JigsNews talked to a thsethar cow who roams around the Thimphu Trowa Theater who is worried about the owner losing the theater lease land to the government. Aum Cow, who also wants to be resettled to greener pastures has apprehensions whether her application, under the proposed Land Act 2012, will be approved by the cabinet as she follows a political party that has a cow as its symbol)

The ruling government seems to be basking too much in GNH principles that it is becoming too generous; a clause in the mineral development policy to have only one mine for a family was removed, it wants to sell the Trowa theater land to its owner on compassionate grounds, and lastly it wants control over land commission so that the cabinet can decide to resettle people according to its benevolent wishes.

JigsNews immediately contacted a thsethar cow roaming near the Trowa Theater for her views on this generosity bubble. She was first hesitant to talk to our correspondent as she thought the world’s biggest generosity was her life itself. A few minutes of intelligent ruminations by our correspondent had the cow flat on the expressway. “ You JigsNews, you are as intelligent as our MPs. Ok, now ask,” she said.

JigsNews: Do you watch movies at Trowa?

Cow: No Jiggy, but I watch people walking in and out, that’s all. When there is no enough grass and when no one is watching, I chew film posters; Bhutanese actors and directors have very good taste. But I am sad these days. The owners couldn’t pay the lease and I fear the theater will close down.

JigsNews: No Aum Cow, the human settlement minister, Lyonpo Yeshey Zimba wants to sell the land to the Trowa owner at a negotiated price as the owner is unable to pay the lease amount.

Cow: Thanks for the news, you are choo chweet Jiggy. That saves me from walking all the way to Lugar to eat posters. I agree with the minister, the poor Trowa owner has to maintain a couple of SUVs, bungalows, businesses and he does it all for ~~his~~ happiness. So I can understand his difficulty in paying the lease money. Thank God, I do not have to pay lease for the expressway sidewalks from where I eat grass.

JigsNews: I understand your love for Dzongkha movies, but if you want to move to greener pastures, you can apply to government for resettlement land.

Cow: Ohh Jiggy, you are so intelligent. Where do you get all this information from? I thought only His Majesty could allot land. But now, you are saying I can apply for land to the government and be resettled?

JigsNews: Yes, but the decision is yet to be finalized as the parliament has to approve it first, and then…

Cow: Wait wait wait. I have a small problem. I am not a DPT supporter like the Trowa owner. I am for Druk Mitser Tshogpa because it is the only party that stand for cow rights. See, only they have a cow as the party symbol.

JigsNews: That I don’t think so, In Bhutan only JigsNews is partial. The government is supposed to be impartial to cows, humans, theater proprietors, fronting lords and madams, mine owners etc…

Cow: But, I don’t believe in GNH either. Because GNH is only about air, Bhutan wants to sell clean air through carbon credits. And GNH is all over the air. I believe in GDP because it’s about my little patch of land where I can graze and sleep. And I want to be a domestic cow. I believe in Grass Domestic Product.

JigsNews: Grass Domestic Product, what?

Cow: Yes Jiggy, the product from a domestic cow that eats grass. You take my milk tey.

"Sentence of the week award goes to Kuensel: He was found guilty of gang raping a woman, attempt to..."

Mon, 18 Jun 2012 10:33:58 +0530

“

Sentence of the week award goes to Kuensel:

He was found guilty of gang raping a woman, attempt to gang rape another woman, raping a married woman, raping a woman, and attempting to rape a woman.

”

- http://www.kuenselonline.com/2011/?p=32485

What RTI means to 10 Bhutanese ministries & others

Wed, 30 May 2012 10:36:55 +0530

Since different agencies have different ideas on what the Right to Information Act means, the Act will not be tabled in the upcoming parliament session. See what ministries, agencies, and people think what RTI is.

Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Right To Interrupt.

Ministry of Health: Right To Infect.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Right To Influence.

Ministry of Labour: Right To Idle.

Ministry of Education: Right to Irony.

Ministry of Agriculture: Right To Irritate.

Ministry of Finance: Right To Inflate.

Ministry of Works and Human Settlement: Right to Imperil.

Ministry of Information: Right to Infuriate

Ministry of Economic Affairs: Right to Imperialize

And for Others:

Former Dasho’s Club: Right to Inclusion.

ACC: Right To Ignore.

The Rapist: Right to Insert.

Youth: Right To Interlope.

Drug Addict: Right to Inhale.

Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley: Right to Idealism.

Media: Right to Immaturity.

For the Unemployed: Right To Imagine.

For singles: Right to Introduction.

For Sherubtsians: Right To Illegitimize.

Tenzin Lamsang: Right to Inquisitiveness.

For the Conman: Right to Impersonate.

BNCA: Right to Impose.

RMA: Right To Irresponsibility.

RMA Governor: Right to Ignorance.

Joseph Stiglitz: Right to Interpret.

ECB: Right to Ink.

Civil Servants: Right To Inactivity.

House Husbands: Right to Insincerity

Forest Fires: Right to Inflame

DHI: Right to Invest.

Buddhism: Right to Imaterialize.

Opposition Party: Right to Impeach.

Banks: Right to Insolvency.

Dasho Karma Ura: Right to Intellect

GNH: Right to Indoctrinate.

MP Sonam Kinga: Right To Impress.

MP Sangay Khandu: Right To Illusion

JigsNews: Right To Insight

"Bhutan’s Agriculture Minister says country is self-sufficient in eggs. Very Obvious. Otherwise..."

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:41:43 +0530

“Bhutan’s Agriculture Minister says country is self-sufficient in eggs. Very Obvious. Otherwise family planning programs needn’t come in. Why say something 4 fun?”

- While officials are optimistic that Bhutan can achieve self-sufficiency in eggs, vegetables and dairy products by the end of the 11^th plan, there are apprehensions in case of meat and rice production.

"Real atsara makes us happy at festivals. Fake atsara @Jigsnews makes us happy on twitter. All in the..."

Tue, 29 May 2012 14:33:13 +0530

“Real atsara makes us happy at festivals. Fake atsara @Jigsnews makes us happy on twitter. All in the name of GNH”

- Dorji_Wangchuk on Twitter

MULTISECTORAL SOCIAL MEDIA TASK FORCE MEETING: Land commission secretary says Farmville and Cityville against Bhutan’s land act

Mon, 28 May 2012 09:27:36 +0530

(LandCommission says now they will have stricter rules for FarmVille holdings)

Last week a high level meeting, comprising Ministers, MPs, senior government officials and participants from other sectors met to discuss the fast evolving Bhutanese social media. Without existing laws in the country, the agenda of the meet was focused on relevancy of social media to all sectors and all participants contributed to the discussion relevant to their respective fields.

Opening the meeting the MoIC minister, lyonpo Nandala Rai said that media in Bhutan is growing faster than anticipated irrespective of the fact that it dropped six places in a rating conducted by an international organization. He said social media is economically viable & environment friendly but socially disruptive and politically unpredictable. “Social media is like a horse gone wild, trampling in fields and destroying peach blossoms,” he said uploading a photo of a peach flower from the Minister’s Enclave onto his FB account.

Dasho Kinley Dorji, MoIC secretary said that social media is already breaking cross ownership laws. There are already 1000s, who own space on all social media platforms which allows people to influence opinions and election outcomes. He also emphasized the presence of many users with hidden identities who abuse the services and referred to some as virtual rapists. He said ‘If we allow social media to go in this direction, we may as well make Drukpa Kuenley the media god of Bhutan’.

MP Sangay Khandu of Gasa remarked that the strong social media culture in Bhutan was because of absence of a RTI Act, which he said is driving many to use the more elusive social platforms. But NC members Sonam Kinga & Karma Retty objected that saying the National Council does not have people who even read lesser important documents like the Tobacco Act, how will it be able to decide on a very critical issue like the RTI Act.

The Secretary of the Land Commission said the social media also goes against the current land policy. While a Bhutanese can own only up to 25 acres of land there is no limit of space used on social media he said. There is a need to impose a maximum limit, between 5-7 GB space, he said. There is also the need to categorize the various social medias. He proposed FB as dry land since many applications like cityville allow construction. ‘Twitter is like wetland, where people can harvest only 140 quintals of rice’, he added. Blogs, he said should be given same status as orchards, where bloggers can intrude upon government websites just like private orchards overlapping with government land.

The two representative of the Regional Surface Transport Authority (RSTA) and Traffic Division of the RBP said social media is over speeding in terms of growth in number of users and also in information upload. There is an urgent need to limit the speed they said. One effective method, which they said worked with the present transport sector was to make it mandatory for every user to get a license, with 5 year validity. They said they were sure about others but on FB, the ‘POKE’ button can be used to warn each time a FB user defaults. And license can be ceased after 2 pokes. The need to service individual social media was also suggested on a yearly basis. Among other things, compulsory insurance of individual FB, twitter and blogs were also discussed.

A dratsang representative said the tshechu schedule in Bhutan has been disrupted as its 365 days tshechu after JigsNews arrived on Twitter.

The meeting, which commenced at 9.15 am continued without seeing any possibility of a conclusion. All participants looked tired and they gratefully looked at the MoIC when he stood up to give the concluding remark. He said he had expected the meeting to finish before lunch but unfortunately it took more than 12 hours. With MoIC already listed number 1 on the ACC’s list of fund misappropriation, he said MoIC will not be able to bear the day’s lunch & tea bills. It was exactly 9.30 pm, as Lyonpo Nandala picked up his Kabney & Patang and left hurriedly mumbling; enough time for him to reach home for his favorite serial on Sony channel, CID, at 10 pm.

REALNEWS: Haa voter says his MP threatened him on Facebook

Wed, 16 May 2012 16:34:00 +0530

Ok, first of all we would like to thank blogger, teacher and most importantly a JigsNews follower on twitter, Mr Passang Tshering, for leading us to this important Facebook Discussion.

Today he blogged about a discussion between Haap Wangchuk and National Council MP from Haa, Tshering Dorji, on a Facebook group called Haap Dorros ~~(Don’t this Haaps have any other work)~~. The MP’s response to his voter on the FB page with over 300 members was a bit frightening forcing Haap Wangchuk to say that now he fears voicing his views as the MP may charge him.

This is what Haap Wangchuk , a general manager at Lhaki Hotel in Phuentsholing wrote and fired off a discussion

As this is the page for Haap Dhoros, that did our elected Members bought any changes in your area.Did they helped you when you were in trouble.Did they fulfilled their promises they made. For me i will say they are neutral. What ever the decisions taken by the Dzongkhag administration and gewog administration is final. They dont even have guts to justify the complaints made by victims. I have never seen or head of them correcting the errors made by Dzongkhag and gewog Administrations.

Now read excerpts from the MP’s reply. Interestingly, this politician who is pretty active on Facebook and seems to do good work has no political views. His ‘Political views’ column on his FB page says “no politics please”

Haap Wangchuk, Before you shoot your mouth, as a responsible citizen, you also have the responsibility to consider the following 1. Please go through the constitution and and the NC and NA acts and also the recently passed Local Government Act

As a haap yourself please find time to come and attend the public meeting(zomdu) that I conduct after every session as mandated by the law or atleast make an effort to call up your local leaders-gups, mangmi, tshogpa or elderly people from your village to find out as to what I as an elected representative been doing

ou have a lot of guts in publicly criticizing us and the public institutions that we represent based on your ill-informed imagination. As per the section 317 and 320 of the Penal code of Bhutan, what you have posted in the public media in nothing less than the offense of defamation and Libel since you are intentionally trying to causes damage to the reputation of another person or a legal person by communicatingfalse or distorted information about that person’s action, motive, character, or reputation in writing.

You are right, I dont have guts to take the matter further but if I do please also consider what could happen to you.

You never know where a slip of your tongue will land you up. So think twice before you shoot your mouth irresponsibly.

To this, Passang Tshering wrote:

your comment is very scary that no person will ever dare to ask anything. He may have something to say which you could listen and try to solve if its within your bound, but you have put a fullstop to his opinion

The MP replied back:

Within the backdrop of what has transpire between I and Wangchuk and you and I long time ago in different forum, (and also I urge you to read the comments that he posted once more carefully and I am sure you will get it given your capability to read and write), Just as you think that you have the right to question and pass comment to your elected representative, I also have the right to express my opinion and pass my comment. Whether you wan to construe it as putting fullstop will depend on you but I am just informing you about the law that is in place and to refrain from making ill-informed comments.

He then wrote to the hapless Haap Wangchuk:

Wangchuk, I think you are not comprehending what you have written. It reminds me of a story of a person caught with his finger in cookie jar but flatly denying that he is a not stealing it.

And Mr Hapless replies:

Dasho, have patience and i would like to request dasho that now i wont comment any thing related to you and your work on any of social networks as you have already warned me by mentioning laws and further you may charge me for that. As a leader you can correct me but you cant charge or warn me. We are not qualified like you but we are not child so we too know what to write n what not.

After this, the MP hopes to meet Haap Wangchuk personally and clear the air and asks him to write more responsibly. One accusation the MP made is true; that Haap Wangchuk has “mysteriously” deleted comments from the Haap group.

Bhutan PM's exclusive interview on him being "misinterpreted"

Fri, 11 May 2012 19:15:00 +0530

Honorable Prime Minister Lyonchen Jigmi Y Thinley consented to talk to our cabinet correspondent Jigdrel Woodward following a raging twitter controversy regarding PM’s remarks on the vegetable ban controversy.

(Apples are not vegetables and we have enough apples. I propose all Bhutanese eat an apple a day to keep the crunch away)

Q Senior Kuensel reporter Kezang Dema tweeted today quoting you that the media misinterpreted your comments on vegetable import ban from India. You have denied saying that there would be no ban on vegetables. Your press secretary Dekey Choden Gyeltshen tweeted back saying the PM has not talked to the Kuensel reporter at all on the issues. Do you think this Twitter is causing all trouble?

A I find it particularly significant that a discourse on the mounting threats of Twitter and the compulsions for cooperation in the field of misinterpretation is being happening. This debate is in the true spirit of democracy.

Q Will the vegetable contorversy affect Indo-Bhutan relations?

A Good question, but bad timing JigsNews. I am really sad that Indian vegetables, with which Bhutan has friendly relations over decades has been pulled into this unnecessary quandary. Indian onions, tomatoes, and potatoes have always been our ~~belly~~ development partners. As an irresponsible media house JigsNews should have left this to Aum Kezang Dema and Aum Deki Choden Gyeltshen as matters of vegetable policy.

Q Do you agree with what your press secretary said on Twitter, “Our media needs to be lil more patient in breaking news instead of publishing half baked information.”

A I believe baking is not really baking if, at the very least, it does not cause half-baking. Our media ought to promote prudent use and management of scarce information to make my press secretary’s tweets stable and secure. I approve her statement because I am sure since most media people are always broke they would not really know what baking is. She meant the baking that happens at Swiss bakery, Art Café and the Manhattan bakery from where she had some amazing brownies during the UN’s happiness conference.

Q What do you think is mis-reporting?

A Unfortunately, Bhutanese media is like a meteor, blazing toward self-annihilation along with all other innocent life forms. But this course can be changed if the media acts now by being responsible. Our media should test itself with the tools of GNH and good reporting can be achieved by balancing the needs of the DPT government with those of your sensationalist requirements within a peaceful and secure advertisement environment. It requires all reporters to go to the GNH center in Bumthang to meditate so that evil reporting ideas that goes against the spirit of GNH is controlled. I talked about this to students at Columbia last year and they were amazed at the mis-reporting happening in Bhutan. They have agreed to produce (for free) a software that checks misreporting which includes words like, crunch, scam, foreign-trips, corruption, very good flower, very good horse, very good bulls, incredible Jigmi Drukpa etc.

Q But you haven’t told JigsNews anything more about the vegetable ban.

A Since there is too much misinterpretation going on, and since its already time for me to meditate, I will reply to your question with a poem To his Coy Mistress by Andrew Marvell.

My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than Chapcha and Phobjikha, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Lyonchen, and on its forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore my cranes,
But thirty thousand to McKinsey;
An age at least to every DPT policy,
And the last age should show 2013.