Asia Times: Bhutan enters the Information Age



	May 28, 1999	atimes.com

Media/Technology

Bhutan enters the Information Age
By Subir Bhaumik

THIMPU, Bhutan - Next month, television and the Internet willcome to Bhutan, opening the isolated Himalayan kingdom to theworld outside.

On June 2, marking the silver jubilee of King Jigme SingyeWangchuk's coronation, the Bhutanese national television channelwill be formally launched. The same day, DRUKNET, the firstInternet service provider, will come on line.

''A new age is beginning for us. The message of the millenniumis dawning on Bhutan,'' exulted Dorji Tshering, a college studentat Sherubtse.

Television viewing was forbidden in 1992 when a resolutionadopted by the National Assembly said that a ''ban on dish antennaeshould remain in force until a national television network isestablished."

Kuensel, the kingdom's only newspaper, says that possessionof satellite dish antennaes will be ''largely unnecessary'' oncethe national channel starts telecasting select foreign programs.

''We must first have our own channel before we open up toglobal television. Our people must have a sense of their ownbearing before they are exposed to a hundred channels,'' preachedSonam Tshong, chief of the Bhutan Broadcasting Service (BBS), which willalso look after the TV channel.

According to Tshong, ''millions of dollars'' are being spent onthe project, which will be implemented in phases. But the mainmedium for Bhutan will remain the radio, because of its reach andthe mountainous topography of the country, he explains.

Besides the BBS, some foreign radio stations, particularly theBritish Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), have a huge following inBhutan.

Tshong said the national TV channel will reflect Bhutan's richheritage and diverse culture, and carry news and specialprograms on development and environmental issues. He said BBSwas looking at joining with select foreign channels to retelecastprograms that have ''educative and informative value."

Initially, the reach of the Bhutanese national televisionchannel will remain confined to the municipal limits of thecapital city, Thimphu. Later, a chain of relay stations will carrythe channel to the remotest parts of the kingdom.

Telecasts will be in English and Dzongkha, the language of theDrukpas, the ruling ethnic group of the kingdom. Telecasts will not be made inNepali, the language of the ethnic Nepalis of the south who haveleft in large numbers claiming discrimination by the government.

''The Bhutanese radio broadcasts in Nepali as well, but therewill be no telecasts in Nepali. This is significant,'' said GautamBasu, a Bhutan-watcher in Calcutta, eastern India.

Bhutanese Communications Ministry officials say the kingdom'ssouthern districts are outside the reach of the national channelin the initial stages. ''So there is no point in telecasting inNepali, or in other languages like the Sarchops, at this stage,''one official said.

Possession of satellite dishes will continue to remain illegalin the kingdom, until otherwise decided, according to thegovernment.

In spite of the legality issue, as soon as the decision to start the national TV channelwas announced, satellite dishes sprouted up all over Thimphu andother urban centers, particularly those sharing borders with India,where the equipment was bought from Indians across the border.

Most people interviewed said they were desperate to ''see theworld through television.'' A college student, Karma Phuntsho, agreed, saying, ''When we cross into India, we can see 60 to 70 channels. I won't say all that makes sense but most of it was very exciting."

Phubzam, a trader whose work takes her across the border,admitted, ''I am proud to be Bhutanese but I want to know what goeson in the world.'' Some people, however, like Thinley Namgay, feel TV willmake the Bhutanese ''neglect social and religious responsibilities, even affect their reading habits."

Fear of the ''possible loss of cultural moorings'' has causedthe Bhutanese government to wrestle with whether or not to controltelevision program production.

Far less complicated than the entry of television into Bhutanhas been the development of DRUKNET, a project supported by theUnited Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

The UNDP will provide equipment worth five million ngultrums($115,000) to the government Telecommunications Department,which has been entrusted with the management of DRUKNET.

''Many Bhutanese already log on to the Internet through serversoutside the country. Now they will at much less cost,'' said aTelecommunications Department official.

To many Bhutanese, the changes were inevitable. ''How can onecountry, however remote, keep these (TV and Internet) out in thisage,'' said Sonam Wangdi, a trader. Bhutan has opened up to let anew age dawn.

(Inter Press Service)