News - Country profile: Bhutan
Almost completely cut off for centuries, it has tried to let in some aspects of the outside world while fiercely guarding its ancient traditions.
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The Bhutanese name for Bhutan, Druk Yul, means “Land of the Thunder Dragon” and it only began to open up to outsiders in the 1970s.
The Wangchuk hereditary monarchy has wielded power since 1907. But Bhutan is set to make the switch to a two-party dating ethnic site democracy. Elections are scheduled for 2008 and a draft constitution envisages a two-chamber parliament.
Bhutan’s ancient Buddhist culture and breathtaking scenery make it a natural tourist attraction.
Tourism is restricted; visitors must travel as part of a pre-arranged package or guided tour. Backpackers and independent travellers are discouraged.
Phunaka Dzong: Monks’ winter home in the former capital
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King Wangchuk has gone to great lengths to preserve the indigenous Buddhist culture of the majority Drukpa, who have a common culture with the Tibetans and other Himalayan peoples.
National dress is compulsory - the knee-length wrap-around “gho” for men and the ankle-length dress known as the “kira” for women.
But by the 1990s, attempts to stress the majority Buddhist culture and the lack of any political representation had led to deep resentment among the ethnic Nepali community in the south.
Violence erupted and tens of thousands of Nepali speakers fled to refugee camps in Nepal.
Some 100,000 refugees live in the UN-supervised camps. The leaders of Nepal and Bhutan have promised to try and repatriate the refugees before the elections in 2008.
- Full name: Kingdom of Bhutan
- Population: 672,000 (via UN, 2006)
- Capital and largest city: Thimphu
- Area: 38,364 sq km (14,812 sq miles)
- Major language: Dzongkha (official)
- Major religions: Buddhism (official), Hinduism
- Life expectancy: 61 years (men), 64 years (women) (UN)
- Monetary unit: 1 ngultrum = 100 chetrum
- Main exports: Electricity, timber, cement, agricultural products, handicrafts
- GNI per capita: US $870 (World Bank, 2006)
- Internet domain: .bt
- International dialing code: +975
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Head of state: King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck succeeded his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, in December 2006 after the former monarch announced his abdication. A formal coronation has yet to take place.
The young monarch promised to build on his father’s legacy
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The new king, who was 26 at the time, promised to build on his father’s efforts to transform the country into a parliamentary democracy. His predecessor gave up some of his absolute powers in 1998 and ruled in conjunction with the government, an assembly and a royal advisory council.
Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck studied in the US and at Oxford University, where he completed an MA in politics.
His father came to the throne in 1972 at the age of 17, assuming the title of “Druk Gyalpo” or Dragon King.
Partly educated in Britain, and having travelled abroad, the king continued the policy of limited modernisation adopted by his father. He sought to lift the “Gross National Happiness” of Bhutan by preserving its traditions and environment.
He was seen as maintaining a simple lifestyle - preferring to work in a small log cabin above the capital rather than in the fortress-like palace used by his four wives, all of whom are sisters.
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Television was introduced only in 1999, because for years Bhutan had a deliberate policy of isolation, fearing that outside influences would undermine its absolute monarchy, freedom and culture.
The state-run Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS) launched the first TV service as part of celebrations surrounding King Jigme Singye Wangchuk’s silver jubilee. The launch marked the end of a general ban on television.
Radio broadcasting began in 1973 and the first internet service was introduced in 1999.
Media freedom is restricted by the government. There are no private broadcasters, but cable television is said to be thriving with rival operators offering dozens of channels.
The press
- autonomous weekly
Television
Radio