Bhutanomics.com, a satirical website has been blocked by Druknet, one of the Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country. This was confirmed by a Druknet employee though he and his colleagues did not share who gave the instructions to do so.
Nobody is really sure whether the website is operated within the country or the webmaster resides outside Bhutan.
“Bhutanomics,” the website defines itself as serving the citizen to understand Bhutan’s challenges. It also solicits the reader to express one’s opinions to help Bhutan make intelligent decisions for a meaningful future.
The website since its inception had become hugely popular and was seen as an anonymous online forum to criticize the government.
Blogs on the website were always a satirical take on developments or mistakes of the government. It also posted some direct editorial content randomly from local newspapers that it fancied. Not only does it limit its posts to text but even edits and modifies pictures to match their “news”.
The site, however, was also criticized for slandering personal reputations without editorial oversight.
Bhutan InfoComm and Media Authority (BICMA) officials said the authority hasn’t instructed any of the internet service providers (ISPs) to block the website.
Asked if BICMA would review websites that contains materials deemed unsuitable for the Bhutanese audience, the officials said “while the Bhutan Information, Communication and Media Act 2006 (Act) mandates the Authority to take steps to regulate or curtail the harmful and illegal contents on the Internet and other ICT/media services, this mandate can be exercised upon a directive issued to the Authority by the Ministry of Information and Communications (MoIC). As of now, no such directive was received.”
The two popular sites that has been posting articles on a regular basis are Bhutanomics.com and Jigsnews.tumblr.com.
Cabinet Secretary Dasho Penden Wangchuk said he isn’t aware of any such websites nor has any idea about the cabinet banning the site.The MoIC’s Department of Information and Media (DoIM) Director Kinley T. Wangchuk said although aware of such websites, the department hasn’t received any directives on taking any action about it. “We haven’t blocked nor banned any websites,” he said.
However, one of the users posted a comment on the website’s Facebook page with instructions on how to open the site despite being blocked by the ISP. “Let them block, we will always find a way to open it because this is the age of ICT,” he posted.
An ardent social media user, Kunga Tenzin Dorji said “Bhutanomics makes no claim to factual authenticity. It is satirical. Blocking it is equivalent to banning cartoons or caricatures from appearing in newspapers.”
He said “it is unconstitutional as well, because the constitution provides us the right to information. Bhutanomics does not poke fun at the Monarchy nor does it threaten national security.”
He said there was no reason for such an extreme measure. “Blocking of bhutanomics.com is downright wrong. Druknet can be and ought to be sued in a court of law for violating our right to information. If Druknet was ordered by higher ups, those higher ups should be sued,” he said.
A journalist who is also the Editor of Bhutan Times, Namkhai Norbu said “I don’t know the rationale behind blocking of the site. They must have reasons but it would be wrong on the part of the ISP if they were told to do so externally and if they had completed all process to have the website hosted in the first place. However, we should know how to draw lines between freedom of expression and right to privacy. We have the freedom of expression, but we should keep in mind that every person has the right to privacy too.”
The website though is still available in other private ISPs like Tashi Cell.
The general public opinion is that the government has banned the website from Druknet which is the biggest internet service provider in Bhutan and is owned by the government.
Earlier a similar website bhutantimes.com also suffered a brief ban by the government before making a comeback and then fizzling out again.
According to the Opposition leader bhutantimes.com played an important role in influencing voters in 2008.
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From The Bhutanese
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‘MA SHEY TAM GI GYELP’ – proves to be true here.
Let those jokers behind the cloak of Bhutanomics come out. Bhutanomics is a biased website. Last time, I sent them an article but they did not post it. From there on, I realised that they are determined to defame the govt.
will you post that in kuensel forum? i like to see things from different perspective.
And yes I am one of those jokers
1. I am the joker who upholds the true integrity of nation’s constitution.
2. I am that joker who exercise the right of information.
3. I am that joker who lawfully brings out the flaws in the system.
4. I am that joker who informs the world what happens behind that curtain of white elephants.
5. I am the joker who truly loves Bhutan and the rights of the Bhutanese people.
6. I am that joker is here to open the eyes of every brother and sister dwelling on this land.
7. I am that joker who is here fighting the fight where no one dares to fire a single shot.
8. I am the joker who is in the quest of bringing justice for peace.
Then go and join politics and try and change things, it is not as easy as it sounds to you guys, thats my point.
Wai Yonder J S,
As much as you love Bhutan, I love my King, Country and People too. Patriotism is no one’s monopoly. Don’t be mistaken that I am a supporter of DPT. There is a line between criticism and cynicism and you are on the spectrum of cynicism. Looking at the progress in terms of development, I am happy with their performance.
I don’t care which Govt. come into power as long as they deliver and uphold our country’s sovereignty. I will continue to support the govt. irrespective of whether it is PDP, DCT, DNT, DPT or BKP.
Be positive, try to inculcate positive attitude and the positive energy will naturally follow. That’s how it has been in Bhutan till now.
Therefore, so-called “Bhutanomics” should learn to appreciate. I have never seen even a single story that appreciates or praises govt.
By the way, I am the supporter of all the parties, unlike you.
You are very much right about the articles and the posts, it seems to be tilting towards much criticism. But the usage of word ‘you’ is bit shallow ‘spectrum of cynicism’ is completely one dimensional. Please look beyond the articles and look at the picture behind the frustration and fear, it is sad that this has had happened I mean being cynical towards the government, but what can I as a individual do and write if I don’t see any merit in government…
With due respect I do appreciate your eye opener.
JAMYANG Y S(ass): By looking at how you describes yourself, you are guidance of every Bhutanese like a GOD who dares to do anything that no other Bhutanese can. But the reason of you-jokers remaining anonymous describes you otherwise. You have placed yourself at a level where you cannot even imagine. I appreciate your self-esteem.
Dear Tempaling,
Thank you for your comment and the appreciation you have had but,
I wouldn’t comment on a person who brings vulgarity to whole wide world behind the pretext of being the saint The language you have used is in breach of the respect and thus invade the personality in me as well as the people in the blog. If you do have something personal against not just me but the whole other people please feel free to express it in a proper language We would appreciate that. It is because of people like you and the langauge you use who bring down the whole credibility of the typical Bhutanese like us.
Jamyang YS
A picture painted is thousands of times powerful then the mere words of the eloquent, here we are trying to paint a picture as rationale as possible and as accurate as possible, its not a style of a man as an observer to step into the shoes of the ones that we criticise, else the work you do and had done measures to nothing, its better to watch and paint.
Just email me . I can post articles from India ..
Well apart from Joke ….I hate this fact that so called Govt Runners Instead of trying to figure out solutions they are killing the voice of it’s people …
If they put this much effort on other tings that will do some good to our country
>.< CUnTS
The issue is not what or even how it is being expressed. It is very much that everyone should be given the right to express oneself in a free society. The DPT government cannot claim to be the champions of GNH and democracy, which it does all the time everywhere and then clamp down on the very bloodline of no the freedom and happiness – the right to express one’s vies freely and without fear, even and especially if they are discordant with those in power. Shame on the despots and the hypocrites. There is only one way to deal with them: vote for the other parties.
There you go, Mr. Willow. Finally, the cat is out of the bag. ‘vote for the other parties’, that’s what you always wanted.
Wrong, AHFOAIDFAO, WRONG. I have no political affiliation. I just don’t like despots and hypocrites is all.
I think the real paradigm shift that needs to take place in an awful hurry is for the pm to realize that he is an elected politician, not a King or Emperor in a long bygone era.
Bhutanomics may have good intention but my opinion is that it is crossing limit. Freedom of expression in democracy does not mean that one can write whatever comes to ones mind. If we are really concerned about Bhutan and its people, there are better ways to help & support our government. Whether it is DPT, PDP, BKP, DNT or DCT, once they win the election, it is our government.
why to hide? when we know there is right to information, we should also know, we should present our information in right way and the information should be right. show your identity. hiding behind the door and barking is rather poisonous. some time we need to appreciate what others do. trust is what Bhutan holds and if such website still exist i think we are imparted with suspicion, deception, if you really love your country, you can be our prime minister, just not hiding and breaking the trust within citizens. i am not supporting anyone, but i believe the one who runs this website should think once more. its easy said than done, any body can write anything, but doing things are not as easy as we write down. i have started to think those who run this website may not be even Bhutanese, because i trust Bhutanese know well how to appreciate others. if you are a Bhutanese i think, you should question yourself in what ways you are proving you love your country by running this. lets not spoil the minds of the young. if you are genuinely patriotic, i am sure you will rule Bhutan.good luck and switch of this manner less website, whose eyes just see the black shadow not the working crow.
I don’t think there’s anything to to get so emotional about a website. It is just a platform for anyone with access to the internet and a view to air it. Simple as that.
Now as for having to do that in the safety of anonimity, it is an indication of the level of tolerance of the freedom of expression which Bhutan’s first democratically elected government just didn’t practise. Lyonchen gave a lot of lip service to the importance of the freedom of expression but his actions spoke louder. He is an autocrat and everyone knows that. It is suicidal to oppose him and his party. In fact, you are a marked person even to have been associated with the other party. On the other hand, if you are related to him or a supporter of his party, you will be handsomely rewarded. Under such circumstances, a website like Bhutanomics serves a very crucial platform to allow dissenting voices to be aired. I would say it is a very healthy thing to allow in a country like Bhutan. Granted, many of the write-ups are anti-dpt or jyt but the website itself is neutral. Supporters of the govt and the pm are free to air their views as well, as they are doing. So what’s the fuss? The wonderful thing about freedom of expression is the all sides are free to air their views. And just because someone is exposed to a certain view does not mean that he/she will believe whatever is written or spoken. That person can read/hear, weigh and decide whether to believe or not, isn’t it? If that person is so gullible as to be swayed by every view she comes across, then she is not worth having on anyone’s side in the first place, mena? So what’s the big deal?
Let people express themselves freely without fear in Bhutanomics…in complete safety. And hopefully we will have a truly democratic government in place soon which will allow complete freedom of expression and then we will be able to say and write whatever we want…and there will be no need of Bhutanomics.
Till such a time, Bhutanomics, gyelo!
What part of Bhutanomics is neutral in your view, for many it cannot get any more biased.
@siren i have read all your comments and you are a dickhead and it is bloody people like you that support and makes up the whole bunch of losers suck JYT’s wrinkled dick…
if there is nothing to be emotional about this website then you are saying this website is absolutely of no use in seriousness( just a fun?) but if you mean to provide platform to citizens to express, there is many other media, unlike yours who is hiding the face. if your website is neutral i have not seen anything good about any one. we got to talk about work they do, not the figure or posture they possess. and your website is more on how their nose is? how their belly looks like? come on, just because democracy came into our country does not mean we should make Bhutan like India( if only you know about Indian systems). we need not have to make it like US either. if you have a genuine Bhutanese heart i am sure you will leave this website and take part in next upcoming election to be our ruler. i am happy for you. we people are here to support for your genuine heart. if you scratch where you itch, it will itch more, so lets not scratch it ,rather, wake up from the bed, go to hospital and ask doctor for medicine.
The fact that we are having this discussion – undeterred, unfettered, free of censorship and fear of reprisals speaks for its neutrality.
As for deciding what to do with an itch, you, Drukpakota, are free to decide whether to scratch it or leave it alone, only with your itch, nobody else’s itch. And the government certainly has no right to decide that either. That is the whole point of our difference in opinion.
And I don’t think we are in a position to caste aspersions on democracies with better credentials like the USA, or for that matter, even our neighbor India. No country has a perfect system and probably never will as long as human nature remains imperfect. But at least the two countries mentioned enjoy far greater freedom of expression than we do under the jyt regime.
And sycophants like you will only prolong the autocracy. I express my thoughts here because I want this freedom for myself and my compatriots. That does not mean I want to join politics. That too, is my choice and I should be free to decide. Lastly, I urge the last 2 posters to do some basic reading on the principles of democracy before trying to engage in a reasonable discourse on the subject. Otherwise it’s just a waste of time.
you censored
its a silly neutrality. i believe we Bhutanese exist in cohesion. we have a strong trust, respect, and love for each other. freedom of expression does not mean to defame some one. what made you remove the tittle like loenchen, leonpo or dasho from them and replacing them as a boy. this is a complete ego. i think you are democracy perfectionist and you deserve to be citizen of america or India like countries. sorry sir, Bhutan is too much poor to serve brilliant citizen like you. i feel you seriously need to study duty genuinely rather than sticking to a right right right…lastly i am commenting not to enjoy freedom of expression but to tell you that this website is acting smart.
Even a dickhead like drukpakota is allowed to have his/her say on Bhutanomics.
Patriotism is indeed the last refuge of scoundrels.
i can see how willow is by the way he comments. drukpakota don’t be sad about him okay, he is an idiot. cheers, lets see how far your sniping travels .:)
So who blocked bhutanomics? The Gods? Someone, somewhere out there is lying!
we can’t block anything… there is no way out. People can even post in BBC.com it will be hit.. overnight.
mind your own business guys!!! Love…Live….Laugh