Bhutan Crowns New King

ZHANG:
In one of Asia's only remaing monarchies, the people of Bhutan are celebrating the coronation of their new king today, a 28-year-old with an Oxford education. The popular king is expected to continue his father's policies of modernizing Bhutan and guiding the county smoothly down the road of democracy.

STORY:
[Yeshey Dorji, Bhutanese Foreign Secretary]:
"Today is the formal ceremony of the coronation of his majesty the king of Bhutan."

Namgyel Wangchuck assumed the Raven Crown of Bhutan. He is now entrusted with guiding the world's newest democracy as it emerges into the modern world.

Wangchuck spent much of his life in the United States, Britain and India. He will receive the crown from his 52-year-old father, who modernized Bhutan during his reign, imposed democracy and then stepped down from the throne in 2006.

India's president and foreign minister were among the 30 diplomats from around the world who were present at the coronation.

The citizens of Bhutan have had to wait two years for this day, after astrologers deemed 2007 a "black year," unsuitable for any major events. Most say it has been worth the wait.

Five decades ago, Bhutan was a feudal, medieval place with no roads, proper schools or hospitals and scarcely any contact with the outside world. Today, education and healthcare are free and life expectancy has risen to 66 years from less than 40.

For most Bhutanese, credit goes to the outgoing monarch, the Fourth King, who saw that his tiny country had to be stronger to survive in a dangerous neighborhood.

He was also the architect of Bhutan's widely admired national philosophy, Gross National Happiness, the idea that spiritual and mental well-being matter as much as money and that material gain should not come at the expense of the environment or culture.

Category:

News & Politics

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[helmsdeep84]

the young king of bhutan is very well loved indeed....

[rukubi07]

don't say that india has no interest in bhutan. what are indian army doing in bhutan.

[rajanharamme]

i think u r the onlyone person from whole butan to post the comment ,u dickhead druk having no-style

[cidrose]

India never interfered with Bhutan's politics internal or external unless requested by the Bhutanese authorities. In fact India has been the biggest supporter of Bhutan going democratic. Bhutan's economy depends mostly on India. China is nation with different interests.

[Drukstylz]

China, build illegal roads into Bhutan then accused Bhutan of over reacting when the matter was brought up.

[rajendrakc]

The last autocrat regime in South Asia after king of Nepal Gyanendra and president of Maldives Gyum! Why so called democratic country in the world, India doesnot press Bhutan to work for the returning of Nepalese Speaking Bhutanese who are living in Nepal since 18 years!

One day, the autocratic regime should bend down infront of democrat!