Inability to access the Bhutanomics website by Druknet customers, has raised allegations that the internet service provider (ISP) is blocking the website.
Bhutanomics, which appeared on the Internet last year, allows users to submit articles on political issues and current affairs, anonymously.
Last month, the website alleged on a social media platform that it has been blocked by the government.
Currently, the website cannot be accessed by Druknet users in Thimphu and other dzongkhags. But it is accessible through proxy websites, and by users using private ISP connections. The website is also accessible abroad.
Druknet general manager Tshering Norbu said the ISP has not received any instructions to block Bhutanomics, nor was he aware of any block in place.
He pointed out that a block occurring without his knowledge and consent was unlikely, as the proper protocol is for any such instruction to come through either him or the managing director of Bhutan Telecom.
Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) media officer, Lakshuman Chhetri, also pointed out that it has not instructed any ISP to block it. The Bhutan Information, Communication and Media Act 2006 mandates the authority to regulate or curtail harmful and illegal contents on the internet. This mandate can be exercised through a directive issued by the Information and Communications ministry. “As of now, no such directive was received,” he said in an email interview. Information and Communications Secretary Dasho Kinley Dorji said the ministry had not instructed BICMA to block the website. There was and is no reason for the website to be blocked, he said.
But Bhutanomics maintains its stance. “Inability to view our website only through Druknet confirms the fact that we are banned. The government has no control over Tashi and Samden,” it is pointed out, referring to two of three private ISPs in the country.
Bhutanomics is “funded and run independently by a group of free lance writers”, according to information on the website.
Asked to respond to observations that some of the material on the website are personal attacks, defamatory, or could compromise a free and fair elections this year, the website administrators state that Bhutanomics is a publishing platform for contributions from “people who are concerned about the state of the country.” It added, “The parts considered unbearable by those in power are what in other countries is called satire and lampooning … Banning criticism is really the situation where free and fair elections are not possible.”
Despite the ability to bypass blocks using proxy websites, or by utilising social media plat- forms, the website’s administrators pointed out that a block qualifies as censorship of free speech, and therefore is a significant issue.
Druknet GM Tshering Norbu said if a customer complaints or a written complaint is received about the website being inaccessible, the ISP will conduct a check. He said that is normal procedure.
After Internet services was introduced in 1999, Druknet attempted to block pornography websites but high costs and bypass methods caused the ISP to abandon the effort. In 2007, BICMA attempted blocking the BhutanTimes website, but abandoned the effort shortly thereafter.
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From KUENSEL
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government of bhutan always use to do such things as they r really guilty. did you even notice kuensel form is not active after ACC registered case with speaker of bhutan and home minister. Big shame on DPT
Waht do people say on the postal voter registration. For more than a week the postal voter registration on ecb was under construction. now the deadline has passed, and should we presume that people living abroad, civil servants, corporate empployees will not be able to take advantage of postal voting?
are we to say that people need to spend scores of thousands to go to their respective polling station, just to press a button?
bhutanomics can elaborate more on this.
but the fact of the matter is, everyone denies having blocked, or ordered to block or blacklist the web. and the key question is- why only druknet users were not able to get out of this magic.
Dear Hon. Jigme Yoezer Thinley and your entourage,
Your Honourable I know you would be definitely reading this or maybe one of your entourage would do it as a point in time, as a democratic country, media has the rights to scrutinise the very acts of the government as well as to bring out both the positive and the negative aspects of the government and its system, with this very line, it is the duty of the media to convey the message to the people about what the so called freely chosen government’s progress are and what are their achievement. I personally feel as a citizen and a rightful voter I am responsible to keep a tab on the values of my votes and see how the government uses my trust and faith.
If a government can not upheld itself to the criticism drawn by its subjects how would the government function, I believe it is the criticism that can be used as a check and balances measure to see how your party is doing and the true health of your governing system. I believe when you take on to become a politician it is the part and the parcel that there will be criticism both critical and cynical, but it is up to you how you hold on to it, but I feel now you are failing in your duty as a politician by taking away the very essence of democracy, the very essence of rights to information and very essence of Fundamental rights, how do you expect yourself to be a forbearer of democracy I believe you are bridging us towards an autocratic system.
The point here is we don’t want you to set up the trend of snatching rights and freedom and lead us to have seven governments in five years.
Say in a lay man’s term I come to your house and start taking away your belongings how would you feel without even telling you the reason for it, it is vice versa here.
Please by the end of this letter i feel “The future of Bhutan looks very bleak if you have such leaders and politician as the custodians of our freedom and rights”
I have had the complete trust in you and your government when I dropped that ballot in the box, but now at this juncture I am truly sorry to say ‘History is written by winners and man like you is not a gracious winner’ so I do not know about my fellow citizens but I am unfortunately not going to make the same mistake again.
Truly yours,
A very disillusioned Drukpa, Tshangla and Nanong-Shumar Pemagatshepa
Amen ….
Agreed 200%
So what positive story has Bhutanomics written about Bhutan, can you please clarify, this question is for pemagatshel kkota!
Welcome back, BHUTANOMICS!!
I for one missed you; more so your accounts and stories of people and situations in the country, many of which we ourselves knew all along but could not speak out. You could.