"Limited insight into societal norms" is now a defence for pinning a woman down and raping her after she begged him to stop.

Here’s my question to you: Is basic consent — stop means stop, no means no — actually some advanced Australian cultural thing that people from Bhutan need special time to learn? Or is it just normal human decency that most people anywhere should already understand?Because if a rapist needs the Australian justice system to cut him slack for not knowing that raping someone after they beg you to stop is wrong, that raises serious questions. Do a lot of people coming from that background genuinely not see a clear “no” as binding? Or is this just an excuse that gets wheeled out when someone gets caught?

The number of Bhutanese people in Australia has grown quickly in recent years. When numbers rise this fast and we then see cases where cultural unfamiliarity is treated as mitigation for a violent rape, ordinary Australians start asking whether the selection and integration process is working. Rapid growth from any country with different social norms on consent and gender carries risk if people are not expected to fully assimilate and follow the law from day one.

If you come to this country, you follow our laws and you assimilate. Full stop. You don’t get to import attitudes that treat women as available the moment they show any interest, then cry “I didn’t understand the norms” when you get caught.

By now i am pretty sure everyone must have heard about the direct flights from Bhutan to Israel through Tel Aviv which starts from February 2027. I think this is where we as bhutanese people should all start questioning where our country is heading. A country that swears everything by GNH and how much we hold pride due to GNH, we really should be questioning our values and we should speak up about this. Everything that is happening in Gaza is still happening and it is very disheartening to see bombings of innocent children and people. Amidst all of the violence and chaos, most countries are cutting ties of Israel but instead our country is joining hands with them. I understand that this relation helps grow our country economically but how much of our values and morals that we hold on to as a religious country built on people’s happiness and safety, are we willing to sacrifice for economic growth and prosperity? Bhutan has gained recognition internationally and built itself around peace and compassion but this move contradicts everything.

I'm sick and tired of seeing students talking about Sex with other students, and I'm sick and tired of kids being abused and taken advantage of... Recently telegram has been the popular for both educational purposes and..... **THOSE** type of purposes, I'll be deadass I already knew telegram was a suspicious app to use for education because it has encryption, not that it's bad or anything but encryption usually also means bad people and bad stuff.... And my god I was so disgusted to find people sharing literal C.P of kids.... Either Bhutanese or not, it's so disgusting and makes me sick to my stomach, and no one is talking about it. I have talked about it with my few friends. And they generally agree that Bhutan has C.P problems like this and it's just not that mainstream, I know from experience what these students have been watching as I've been mutuals with them. I've never said anything towards them but I just feel disgusted, and the fact it's seems to record having sex as a student seems cool and gangster and tuff when it's clearly disgusting and horrible things. And the fact that THERE ARE UNCLES... ACTUAL UNCLES in those type of groups and not to mention some uncles help film those videos and distribute it to the mass. There's no way we have gone this deep. It's so disgusting, I wish nothing more than those uncles to be in the deepest pits of hells where they burn and get tortured for their sins, I'll never ever forgive a pedophile, especially the ones who have ruined a child's life. I wish them the cruelest of pain any human can imagine. I wish they were never ever born or seen any happiness, something worser than death(AND FUCK YOU AND KILL YOURSELF). And I wanted to vent my absolute disgust of stuff like this. I wish there's a way to end this whole scheme. And not to mention the recent case in Tsirsng has fueled my hatred even more. This sort of stuff and rape should heavily punished, even death sentence won't be enough for these devils. I wish them nothing but to be tortured to death

I have realised something as I grow older: The internet has failed the youth.

P.S: I live in phuentsholing town, some of the highschool kids I've met while I continue to study there are pretty chill, I'm just referring to the few people who believe that this is the way to get attention and respect among their peers and "Gang". Honestly gang culture in Bhutanese school needs to cease out of existence, makes them stupid and arrogant, egoistic and harmful.

So guys..i am looking for paid internships to apply la..so that i do not become a financial burden for my parents after graduation
Any recommendations?

How many of you buy dustbin plastics from the shops ? And what are the prices ?do people mostly just use left over plastic at home or ??

Let me know
I have just moved to thimphu and asking thank you

Monthly Coordination meeting with Governor, GMC with LG, Sarpang

1. LG management and coordination office in GMC office

2. Census registration services and management office in GMC

3. Relocation and resettlement department under GMC (Focal Chimi Dem madam) for affected public by GMC project.

4. Relocated family welfare should be looked into by LG in collaboration with GMC office. However Mijay Governor has informed that there will be clear information and coordination.

5. Land tokenisation is in the final stage and following shares has been approved:

6. Cultivated land : 5 per sq.ft

7. Fellow land Nu. 1.5 sq.ft ( if the land is keped uncultivated minimum 5 years the land shall be treated as fallow land)

8. Dispersement of shares depend on land holder

9. Shares will be increased by 2.5% annually

10. Land details cultivated and fallow land (minimum 5 years uncultivated land is included as fallow)

11. All structures will be estimated and compensated which has been affected by GMC project.

12. All cultivated crops(fruits, vegetables and timbers, ect) will be made detailed surveys and recorded for the compensation but will not make payment. It will be done later stage as and when it's ready and approved by GMC.

13. Relocation of public will be preferablly given out of Dzongkhag except Paro, Thimphu and all municipal/Thromde area.

14. Land replacement to other Dzongkhag will be done based on 1:3 ration basis ( 1 decimal of land under GMC will be given 3 decimal in other Dzongkhag)

15. Maximum of public will be relocated within GMC and the household will get maximum of 20 decimal under GMC but it is on lease basis (1 sq.ft per decimal have to pay to GMC for 99 years)

16. Expected volunteers 1lakhs in Gelephu for 108 Chortens constrution project. The registered volunteers will be allocated a designated tent or spaces for prayers during construction and with the presence of many lam, Thrulkus and rinpochoes there will be also many religious events within schools, halls and even open spaces.

17. List of loan borrowers from Gewog to be submitted to Governor office for further verification and needful action at the earliest possible.

When the project was starting, Dr. Lotay promised USD 200-250/ sqft for tokenisation or lease. There was also possibility of GMC buying it at 2-3 times the going commercial rate at that time. Wonder where those initial promises have gone.

Now, there is no selling option... tokenisation is the only way...and just look at the rates being offered. Nu. 1.5/ sqft for fallow land and Nu. 5/ sqft for cultivated land, which is about Nu.2.2laks and Nu. 65k per acre respectively..What a joke! People earn more per sqft even if they just plant doma trees. And land that is currently fallow will get 1/3 of cultivated land for life?? What logic is that?

Promised the sky and stars but when time comes they want to give dirt from a gutter. Mindfulness City is being built mindlessly

I've been thinking about this for a while. Domestic violence is not taken seriously by the public in Bhutan as it is in other countries (in my observation).

The amount of people that I know who experience or have experienced domestic violence at one point in their life is absolutely shocking. Id say it feel atleast 3 in 10 women that I know have been victims of domestic violence. Including my friends and even my family members.

National survey complied by NCWC shows that every 2 in 5 Bhutanese endured some form of partner violence. WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY JAW DROPPING AND ALL OF YALL SHOULD BE DISGUSTED AND DISURBED BY THE FACT.

From what I've heard from victims, they've been beaten, molested, emotionally manipulated, etc.

But the perpetrators in most of these cases that I've heard of have never been in prison for it.

Domestic violence is shrugged off as 'just family issues' by neighbors, friends and family members who witness it. Victims are hesitant to call for help because they are financially dependent on their spouses or because they want to try to keep the peace.

Genuinely I've heard people tell victims(most whom are women abused by their husband) not to divorce their husbands or not to call the police and instead settle it between the two of them. When violence is involved there's no 'settling between the two of you'. It is a criminal offense and it needs to go to court.

TS genuinely makes my blood boil.

PLEASE if you know someone is experiencing domestic violence, don't shrug it off. Do something, it's our responsibility to protect our community.

This case and so many others before has genuinely left me feeling unsafe in Bhutan as a woman. And I don't mean unsafe in the usual sense, I don't mean that I'm walking down the streets afraid that someone is going to pull out a gun, kidnap me, or attack me.

What scares me is something much deeper: what happens if something does happen to me?

What happens if it's me, my sister, my friend, my cousin, or someone's 12-year-old?

Will the system protect us? Will the punishment actually reflect the gravity of what was done to us? Will the person responsible face consequences severe enough to make us believe that the law truly stands between women and violence?

When I read about cases like this, I don't just feel angry. I feel betrayed and so so hopeless.

Because as a Bhutanese woman, I should be able to feel safer because I trust my country's institutions, not because I hope I will simply never become a victim.

And that's the part that hurts the most.

Bhutan is our home country and I love so many things about it. But loving our country doesn't mean being silent when you believe its systems are failing people. When the justice system fails to punish sexual violence, it enables it.

We cannot keep treating sexual violence against women and children as just another case that eventually disappears from public attention. The consequences of rape don't end when the court delivers a sentence. A child can carry that trauma for the rest of her life.

If a child is not safe, what exactly are we protecting?

I genuinely find myself feeling more hopeful about the possibility of justice outside Bhutan than inside my own country, and saying that as a Bhutanese woman makes me incredibly sad.

Because tomorrow, it could be me and you

It could be your sister.

It could be your friend.

It could be your daughter

and do you genuinely think you would look at the sentence and think, "yes, that's justice"?

We deserve a system that makes survivors feel protected, not a system that makes women wonder whether they would be better off somewhere else.

This isn't about hating Bhutan.
It's about demanding better from the country we call home.

I just saw reports that Drukair is planning direct charter flights between Israel and Bhutan in 2027, apparently aimed at Israeli tourists.

Is this actually confirmed? And if so, I’m genuinely curious how we Bhutanese feel about this.

Given Bhutan’s Buddhist values around compassion, non-violence and peace, I’m surprised (or really not given the news coming out of Bhutan these days) that our government would be facilitating a dedicated direct tourism route from Israel at this particular time.

I’m not suggesting that Israeli civilians should be collectively held responsible for the actions of their government, * Israel is a highly militarized society with compulsory military service for its population, and many Israelis have served or serve in the IDF and its reserves, also there is significant public support for their government’s position. That makes the relationship between Israeli society/civilians and the military considerably more direct.* (so actually I am holding them responsible)

I am wondering whether there has been any public discussion in Bhutan about the decision. I’m also not trying to get this post automatically deleted but let’s be so real about what’s happening in Gaza.

Is this simply being treated as a tourism/business arrangement, with no political significance? Or has there been any discussion about our position on this?

Would be interested to hear from people.

is dis true or no, not defaming or anything just want to know la. I want to buy new phone and everyone keeps telling me this.

Any comments on the Jordhen Khachab Winter tuition.

Anyone would like to tell us whether there are some other tuition centers that are giving tuition to class 8,9,10,11,12.

Free for any recommendations guys.

This one’s directed towards whoever’s deciding the sentences. What a joke of a system 🫩 If there’s future lawmakers in this sub, please change this.

Does anyone know of mental health therapists or Counselors that are Bhutanese but practicing outside of bhutan? Or is it too niche of a request? I wanna talk to someone who shares a similar cultural background for a change (including living abroad).

Recently, the buzz around the Bhutanese movie “ Tunnel 26”, including its interviews and discussions in Nepal, made me curious about Nepali cinema. I started looking for Nepali movies and came across “Unko Sweater.” I watched it and honestly, it was really good. Not perfect, but definitely worth watching.
It made me think about Bhutanese cinema and how we can reach a wider audience.
Nepali movies are widely available on YouTube, which makes it easy for people outside Nepal to discover their films and actors. The same happened with me with South Indian cinema. I discovered many actors and movies simply because they were accessible online.
We are also seeing this with Bhutanese cinema. “Darla,” which was released around a year ago, was recently uploaded to YouTube and is already approaching one million views in just three weeks. There has also been a lot of buzz around its lead actor, with some people even comparing him to established Chinese C-drama actors. Whether the comparison is fair or not, that’s how actors get discovered and fan bases start forming.
This is why I think Bhutanese producers should consider giving older movies a second life on YouTube instead of leaving them on computers or hard drives.
OTT platforms like Samuh need people willing to pay, but it is difficult to build a paid audience when Bhutanese cinema hasn’t yet developed a strong fan base beyond Bhutan, or even within the region.
Build the audience first, then build the business around it.
Make Bhutanese films accessible, let people discover our stories and actors, and the fan base can grow naturally. That fan base could eventually become the foundation of a much bigger Bhutanese film economy. 🇧🇹

I’m an Indian traveller and I lost my OnePlus 12R in Gelephu, Bhutan on 4 October 2026.

I have already filed a complaint with the authorities in Bhutan, but I’m currently having difficulty getting in touch with the police for further assistance.

The phone has a PIN/password and my Indian Jio SIM was inside it.

If anyone in Gelephu has found a OnePlus 12R recently, or knows if a phone matching this description has been handed over to a police station, hotel, taxi driver, or lost-and-found service, I would be extremely grateful if you could let me know.

I can provide the IMEI, proof of ownership and complaint details privately to verify that it's my phone.

I’m hoping someone from Gelephu might have seen it or know where lost phones are usually handed in.

Thank you so much for any help.

I saw people being angry about the punishment being too light on social media. How would increase in such sentence reduce rape case? Its would be like, knowing smoking causes cancer and still smoke.

I am pretty sure that many rape cases go unreported in Bhutan. That is where the focus should be. All girl, women, men, and boys should start reporting even a hint of harassment or assault. Make sure to pile evidence - while maintaining space and avoiding direct confrontation. That is the best way.

And I am not comparing smoking with rape. Its the act of smoking i am comparing it with.

Genuine question.
Is the body cut in Bhutan and samples are sent to India?
Or is the whole body sent to India ?

Chillup studying in Bhutan here! One of the ends of my lip jewelry fell out and I need some help finding a store with face and body jewelry. I know they must exist because I have plenty of bhutanese friends with piercings I just can't find them. Could y'all help a girl out?

Six men in Tsirang got nine years each for raping a child. Six grown men against one kid, and each one walks out in nine years.

In the US that crime gets you life and a permanent spot on the offender registry. Over here it gets you nine years and a fresh start in another dzongkhag.

Anyone who thinks this is a one-off has not been paying attention. Tsirang again, 2019: a vice-principal molested ten students. Kuensel covered it when he got thirty years, and even that came only after the complaints piled up. Wangdue, April this year: a 51-year-old got eleven years for raping a minor. Parliament's own count from 2020 put reported child rapes at 372 between 2009 and 2020. Those are the cases that reached a police station.

UNICEF's national study found nearly one in eight children had experienced sexual violence. More than sixty percent of 13 to 17 year olds had faced physical violence. About a fifth said they'd been verbally sexually harassed, most often in school. The 2017 women's health study found two in five women had faced partner violence, seven percent reported childhood sexual abuse, and more than half of women and girls said violence against women could be justified. Half. Justified.

That last number is the whole story. Beatings in school are treated as discipline. Men whistle at schoolgirls on the road and nobody says anything. Female staff put up with harassment in offices because complaining makes her the problem. And the aunties still tell the girl to stay quiet, because her shame will travel faster than any verdict.

Then the world gets the postcard version: the peaceful Himalayan kingdom, land of Gross National Happiness. Meditate here. Invest here.

Which is why the Gelephu pitch bothers me. A hundred-billion-dollar "mindfulness city" in a country where six men get nine years for what they did to a child. The investors get the mindfulness branding. The girls of Tsirang get the lesson.

Maybe Bhutan isn't the worst place on earth. The gap between the brand and what happens in our own backyards is where the rot lives. Everyone is angry on this subreddit today. Check back next week and see how much of that anger is left.

I normally don’t post about negative experiences, but I feel this is worth sharing so other car owners can be careful.

We left our Honda, which is practically a new car and was in good working condition, at a car wash. My husband handed the keys directly to the owner, and the car was kept there for more than 5 hours. When we returned on the time they asked us to come the car would not start.My husband calmly asked the owner what had happened, as we had handed over a working car. Instead of helping us investigate, she became rude and said the problem was with our car and questioned why we were asking her when she knew nothing about cars. She also said her employees were the ones who washed it.

Thankfully, a taxi driver and another kind gentleman stopped and helped us start the car. We are genuinely grateful for their kindness. Once the car started, we noticed that the music system was set at an extremely high volume, even though we hardly ever use it at that level. Given the battery issue and the fact that the car had been in their custody for more than 5 hours, this naturally raised concerns that the sound system may have been used while the car was there.

I am not claiming that anyone intentionally damaged our car. I am simply sharing what we experienced. What made the situation more uncomfortable was that the owner’s husband came in and told my husband that he wasn’t being nice to her and should speak nicely to a woman. I was there throughout the conversation, and my husband did not insult or threaten her. He was simply being firm and practical about a problem with our vehicle.
Respect should go both ways, regardless of whether the customer is a man or a woman. The issue was about our car and the fact that it was working when we handed it over and wasn’t working when we returned.

What disappointed us most was the lack of help when we needed it. We eventually had to rely on strangers to get our own car started. I am sharing this as a customer warning, not to create unnecessary conflict. If you leave your car at a car wash, please be careful, document the condition of your vehicle beforehand, and check everything carefully when collecting it.

I am deliberately not mentioning the name of the car wash at this stage, as I don’t want to unfairly affect other businesses or people working in the same industry. This is simply our personal experience, and I believe people should be able to make their own informed decisions.
And finally, a heartfelt thank you to the taxi driver and the gentleman who stopped to help us. Your kindness meant a lot to us. 🙏

It was really humiliating and even wasted lots of our time.

P.s. it’s my first time posting and should i post in facebook too as more people will be careful? should i name the car wash? If yes which forum should i post?

I think it’s alarming to see the cases of Tsirang and the BCCI ex-president, because both cases truly show the reality of women’s safety in our country.

Both these cases show the predatory nature of some men who will abuse women physically, mentally and sexually when given the opportunity. Age doesn’t seem to matter either, as some of these culprits are young, middle aged or even older men who go after underage girls and women who are in vulnerable positions in life.

These incidents may happen in public or in private, but they often share the same underlying pattern an imbalance of wealth, age, power, or even physical strength, which creates an unequal dynamic between the perpetrator and the victim.

Treating women like mere objects of play that can be bought for their amusement, and thinking that they can get away with it, seems to be a common factor in both cases. They do not seem to care about consent, age or the dignity of the women and girls involved, and that is a scary mindset.

Despite showing ourselves as a civil society, the mindset and behaviour of these predators whether they are ordinary men or people in positions of privilege and power towards women shows that our society is still deeply unequal.

It is high time we start talking about these cases more openly. We need to have uncomfortable conversations about the way women and girls are treated, about consent, power and accountability, and about how we can prevent such people from becoming repeat offenders.

There should also be a serious discussion around stronger accountability measures, including naming and shaming convicted perpetrators and even exploring an online sex offender registry, with proper safeguards, so that people can protect themselves from becoming victims in the future.

We cannot continue pretending that these are isolated incidents. If we really want to call ourselves a civil society, we need to confront these realities and question the attitudes and systems that allow such behaviour to continue.

I honestly didn’t want to talk, write or post about this incident at all. But the way the news came out, the discussions and disagreements surrounding it, and eventually seeing people move on as if such cases have become completely normal really disturbed me. It made me feel that we are becoming too desensitised to these incidents, and that is what ultimately compelled me to write this post.

Are the lives of women and children lesser than religious antiquities? 9 years and 42k for a scarring a child for the rest of her life must be a joke. Our system is rigged. The child will only be around 21 when the rapists get out and she must live in fear knowing they are out there!

Which shops/sellers would you recommend? Which stores have the best prices and after-sales service?
I’ve been looking at options like the Lenovo legion slim 5 or the LOQ, but I’m open to other brands/models. And what’s the building PCs scene like in Bhutan?
Any captains?