Free Republic

Fast forward into troubleFour years ago, Bhutan, the fabled Himalayan Shangri-la, became the last nation on earth to introduce television. Suddenly a culture, barely changed in centuries, was bombarded by 46 cable channels. And all too soon came Bhutan's first crime wave - murder, fraud, drug offences. Cathy Scott-Clark and Adrian Levy report from a country crash-landing in the 21st century Saturday June 14, 2003The GuardianApril 2002 was a turbulent month for the people of Bhutan. One of the remotest nations in the world, perched high in the snowlines of the Himalayas, suffered a crime wave. The 700,000 inhabitants of...

GAUHATI, India -- The king of the tiny Himalayan nation of Bhutan has said he will step down as ruler in 2008 and hold the country's first national elections for a parliamentary democracy, state media reported Sunday. King Jigme Singye Wangchuck said he will be succeeded by his son, the crown prince. ''Bhutan will remain strong and glorious and our country will achieve greater prosperity with the sun of peace and happiness shining on our people,'' the king said. The king has been circulating a draft constitution for months that would end almost 100 years of monarchical rule in the...