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AD
747: Guru Padma Sambhava, visits Bhutan and later founds Nyingmapa
1616: Shabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, a monk arrives from Tibet, and establishes his rule in Bhutan. He establishes duel system of rule. 1625: Shabdrung signed agreement with Nepal seeking migration of people
from Nepal. Thus starts the first official migration of Nepal-speaking
people to Bhutan.
1629 : First European (Portuguese) Jesuits-visit Bhutan. 1651: Shabdrung Nawang Namgyal dies. During his rule he unifies Bhutan.
Drukpa Krgyupa sub-sect emerges as a dominant religious force.
1728: Civil war for succession struggle to power 1772: British forces invade Bhutan.
1774: Bhutan signs peace treaty with British India 1841 : British take control of Bhutanese portion of Assam Duars and begin payment of annual compensation to Bhutan. 1864: Civil war waged in Bhutan. British seek peace relationship with 1864: Duar War waged between Bhutan and British India. 1865: Treaty of Sinchula signed between Bhutan and British India. Bhutan Duars territories ceded to British India in return for annual subsidy.
1898: Southern Bhutan, the habitat of Nepali-speaking citizens, was accorded
a special administrative status under the authority of Kazi from Dorji
family. Southern Bhutan administered from Kalimpong, India.
1904: Ugyen Wangchuck helps secure Anglo-Tibetan Convention on 1907: Theocracy ends and hereditary monarchy established. Ugyen Wangchuck becomes the first king of Bhutan 1910 : China invades Tibet laying claims on Bhutan; Treaty of Punakha signed with British Raj giving them control over Bhutan's foreign relations. 1926: King Ugen wangchuck dies on Aug 21 and his son Jigme Wangchuck 1947 : India becomes independent from Britain 1949: Treaty of Friendship signed with newly-independent India on Aug 08, with
guarantee of non-interference in Bhutan's internal affairs, but allowing
Indian influence over foreign relations.
1949: National Assembly of Bhutan ( Tsogdu) established
1952: Reformist King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck enthroned; Bhutan State
Congress (BSC), a political party formed under Nehru's patronage,
was formed and subsequently banned
1953: National Assembly established 1954 : BSC gives a call for (satyagraha) movement on March 22,1954.
Government forces open fire. Some 25 people were killed and several
others injured.
1958: National Law of Bhutan- Citizenship law enacted. The Laws granted
citizenship to Bhutanese of Nepali origin. Other social reforms follow in
subsequent years.
1959 Several thousand Tibetan refugees given asylum after Chinese annex
Tibet. Immigration banned.
1960: The king bans Bhutan State Congress (BSC).
1961: First Five-Year Economic Development Plan introduced. 1962: Sino-India war. Indian troops retreat through Bhutan
1964: Prime Minister Jigme Palden Dorji assassinated. . A failed coup staged against King Jigme Dorji Wangchuk 1965: Unsuccessful Assassination attempt on King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck. 1968: First cabinet established. King decrees that sovereign power resides in himself and National Assembly. 1971 Bhutan joins the United Nations.
1972: Fourth King Jigme Singye Wangchuck succeeds his father
1974: Aborted assassination attempt on King Jigme Singe Wangchuk, the present ruler, at his coronation. Chukha Hydro-electric Project Agree signed with India. New monetary system established separate from India's and first Bhutanese currency notes released. Tourism introduced. New Pemagatshel district established. King visits India. King crowned 1975: Work on Chukha Hydro-electric Project begins. King visits India.
1976: First Junior College opened in Sherubtse. Motor Vehicle Act passed.
4th Five Year Plan launched. King attends 5th Non-Aligned Summit in
Colombo, Sri Lanka.
1977: Bhutan declared Smallpox Free Zone. King visits India. New citizenship Act
enacted
1978: Bhutan joins IFAD. Royal Bhutan Embassy established in New Delhi.
Partial Test Ban Treaty and Geneva Protocol of 1925 signed.
Land Act and Stamp Act passed. King visits India
1979: UNDP Resident Representative Office in Bhutan opened.. The Alma
Atta Declaration signed. King attends 6th Non-Aligned Summit in
Havana, Cuba. BBS established and SW transmission introduced.
Consumer Price Index (CPI) constructed. Customs Act passed. Bhutan
joins Asian Reinsurance Corporation
1980: Royal Bhutan Embassy established in Dhaka. Marriage Act, Inheritance
Act, Livestock Act, Loan Act and Police Act passed. Bhutan Chamber of
Commerce and Industry established. Trade Agreement signed with
Bangladesh. Penden Cement Authority Ltd. Commissioned. Postal
Parcel Agreement & Universal Postal Convention signed. National
Council for Social and Cultural Promotion set up to strengthen national
integration, later closed down. Bhutan Standard Time introduced ( + 6.00
GMT)
1981: 5th Five Year Plan launched. District Development Committees
established. Joined IMF, World Bank, IDA & FAO. Ratified Convention on
the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.
International Convention against raking of Hostages signed. King visits
India
1982: Bhutan Board of Examination established. Joined WHO, UNESCO, Asian
Development Bank, SEARO and SACEP. Royal Civil Service Commission
(RCSC) established. Prisoner's Act and Royal Monetary Act of Bhutan
passed. Signed the Final Act and the Law of the Sea Conventions. King
visits India
1983: Diplomatic relations established with Nepal and Kuwait. Tax policy
introduced. Druk Air Dornier flights started. King attends the 7th Non-
Alignment Summit in New Delhi. Joined UNIDO, Asia-Pacific Postal Union
(APPU), South Asian Sports Federation and Olympic Council of Asia.
Royal Monetary Authority 'established. Degree courses introduced at
Sherubtse College
1984: Diplomatic relations established with Maldives. Joined World Fellowship of
Buddhists Indo-Bhutan Analog Microwave link established. King visits
India. Bhutan, Child hold first border talk in Beijing.
1985: King attends the 1st SAARC Summit in Dhaka. State visit by the Indian
Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi and PLO Chairman, Yasser Arafat. Joined
SAARC. ThePermanent Mission to the UN in Geneva established. Nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty signed. Diplomatic relations established with
Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands and Norway. Statutes of
the Centre for Science and Technology of the NAM countries and
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology signed.
Joined UNCTAD Board and ICIMOD. New law on citizenship enacted. It
superseded the earlier citizenship laws and declared invalid the
citizenship cards issued since 1982.
1986: King attends 8th Non-Aligned Summit in Harare, Zimbabwe and the 2nd
SAARC Summit in Bangalore, India. Royal Bhutan Embassy established
in Kuwait Diplomatic relations established with Japan and Finland. Land
Acquisition Act passed . Royal Institute of Management established. Civil
Aviation Department established. Special Commission for Cultural Affairs
established. 6th Five Year Plan launched.
1987: King attends the 3rd SAARC Summit in Kathmandu, Nepal. Visit by Prince
Naruhito of Japan. 6th Five Year Plan launched. Diplomatic relations
established with South Korea and Sri Lanka. Pasture Development Act
passed. Joined International Organization of Supreme Audit Institutions
(INTOSAI). Druk Air BAe-146 jet services introduced. Dzongkha
Development Commission opened. New Chukha District established
1988: Royal Wedding held in Punakha. King and the Indian President R.
Venkatararnan inaugurate Chukha Power Project. King attends the 4th
SAARC Summit in Islamabad, Pakistan. State visit by Princess Galyani
Vadhana of Thailand, King and the Queen of Nepal and President
Muhammad Ershad of Bangladesh. Joined ITU and Association of
Development Financing Institutions in Asia and the Pacific (ADFIAP).
Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substance Notification Act passed.
Census is carried out. The census team unilaterally declares many
Nepali-speaking citizens in southern Bhutan as non-citizens. The
government introduces racial policies against Nepali-speaking citizens.
Tek Nath Rizal, Royal Councillor appeals to King against the high-
handedness of census team. He was arrested and later released.
Underground Student Union of Bhutan was formed in Sherubtse college.
For details please visit Bhutanese Refugees website
1989: Diplomatic relations established with Austria. Visit by UN Secretary
General, Perez de Cuellar. King visits India. The government lifts Nepali
language from school curriculum. People Forum for Human Rights,
Bhutan formed. Man Bahadur Chhetri, a student human rights activist
hanged by Police. Many Nepali-speaking citizens arrested. Tek Nath Rizal
arrested. Government introduced Driglam Namzha and One nation One
People Policy. King attends 9th Non-Aligned Summit in Belgrade,
Yugoslavia. Explosives Act, Company Act and the Royal Advisory Council
Act passed. Joined International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
1990: King visits Bahrain, Kuwait and India. Bhutan Peoples Party formed. It
organizes pro-democratic rallies in southern Bhutan, pressing for greater
democracy and respect for Nepali rights, after which, the government
starts forced eviction of Nepali-speaking citizens . Nepali-speaking
citizens start coming to Nepal as refugees. The NOC introduced. All
schools closed in southern Bhutan. The Home Minister Dago Tshering
issued a forced eviction order against Nepali-speaking citizens. Mass
forced eviction of Nepali-speaking citizens commences. For details
please visit Bhutanese Refugees website. Prominent dissident leaders,
Ronthong Kunley Dorji, Sonam Tshering and Chheku Drukpa arrested for
their activities in Eastern Bhutan. King 5th SAARC Summit in Male,
Maldives. Diplomatic relations established with Pakistan. New Trade
Agreement signed with India. Convention on the Rights of the Child
signed. Universal Child Immunization achieved. Fire Arms and
Ammunition Act passed. Joined Office International des Epizooties (OIE
). International Direct Dialling services introduced. Earth Satellite station
installed. Bhutan Peoples party formed on June 02.
1991: Six top-raking bureaucrats resign and defect to Nepal. The UNHCR
establishes camps for Bhutanese refugees in eastern Nepal.
Computerization of land record started. King attends the 6th SAARC
Summit in Colombo, Sri Lanka. Diplomatic relations established with
Thailand. Visit by SAARC Chairman, President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom
of Maldives. Enabling Act for Suppression of Terrorism and Extradition
Act passed. Joined Asian Institute of Transport Development
1992 Tek Nath Rizal, Chairman of People Forum for Human Rights, Bhutan
sentenced to life imprisonment. Joined INTELSAT. Diplomatic relations
established with Bahrain. 7th Five Year Plan launched. New districts of
Gasa and Trashi Yangtse established. Visit by SAARC Chairman
President Ranasinghe Premadasa of Sri Lanka. Financial Institutions Act
and National Security Act passed. BNDP formed. Amnesty International,
London published first documented report on violation of human
rights in Bhutan.
1993: The Nepalese Home Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and his Bhutanese
counterpart, Dago Tshring held the first meeting on refugees issue on
July 15, 1993. On 13 September, first Bhutan-Nepal Joint Ministerial
Committee (JMLC) talk was held. Refugees categorized as, Bonafide
Bhutanese; Bhutanese, who emigrated; non-Bhutanese and Bhutanese
who have committed criminal acts. Royal Securities Exchange of Bhutan
established. King visits India. King attends the 7th SAARC Summit in
Dhaka. visit by Indian Prime Minister Narasimha Rao. Sustainable
Development Treaty signed with the Netherlands. Rape Act and Plant
Quarantine Act passed.. Airmail, DHL and express mail services
introduced . tek Nath rizal sentenced to life on Nov. 16
1994: The second, third and fourth JMLC Talk held in Thimphu, Kathmandu
and Thimphu on February 21-24, April 4-7 and June, 1994
respectively. Visit by SAARC Chairperson, Prime Minister Begum
Khaleda Zia of Bangladesh and King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia
of Sweden. Joined WIPO. International Plant Protection Convention
(IPPC) signed. Kurichu Power Project Agreement signed with
India . Amnesty International, London published second report on
forcible exile of Bhutanese refugees.
1995: Fifth and sixth JMLC talk held in Kathmandu and Thimphu on February
27-March 1 and April 20, 1995. King attends the 8th SAARC Summit in
New Delhi. Mines and Minerals Act and Forest and Nature Conservation
Acts passed. UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and
Convention on Biological Diversity signed. Work on Kurichu Power Project
started. Bhutanese Coalition for Democratic Movement (BCDM) formed.
1996: Seventh JMLC Talk held at the Foreign Ministers' level in Kathmandu on
April 4-8, 1996. King visits India. Visit by Indian Foreign Minister, I.K.
Gujrat. Marriage Act and Loan Act amended, and Chathrim for National
Wage Rate introduced. Joined Asia Pacific Seed Association (APSA). Tala
Hydro-electric Project Agreement and Dungsum Cement Project
Agreement signed with India. Basochhu Power Project Agreement
signed with Austria. Bhutan Postal Corporation Act Passed.. Companies
Act passed. 10th Bhutan-China border talk held in Nov. in Beijing.
European Parliament passes the first resolution on Bhutanese refugees.
1997: Royal Bhutan Embassy established in Bangkok. King visits India. Bank of
Bhutan management nationalized. Visit by Australian Deputy Prime
Minister, Tim Fischer and Japanese Prince. King attends 9th SAARC
Summit in Mate, Maldives. 8th Five Year Plan launched. Road Safety and
Transport Act passed. Joined Asian Broadcasting Union (ABU).
Convention on Chemical Weapons signed. Stare Trading Corporation of
Bhutan privatized. Civil works on Basochhu and Tala Power Projects
started. Signed Extradition Agreement with India. 11th Bhutan-China
border talk held in Aug in Thimphu.
1998: Visit by Prince Charles of Wales and Chairman of SAARC, President
Maumoon Abdul Gayoom of Maldives. . King visits India. King cedes
some powers to national assembly, giving up role as head of
government . Joined the Constitution of the Asia-Pacific
Telecommunity (APT) and Asia- Pacific Network Information Centre .
Bhutan and China signed an Agreement to Maintain Peace and Tranquility
on the Bhutan- China border in 1998. Bhutan and China signed an
Agreement to Maintain Peace and Tranquillity on the Bhutan-China Border in 1998.1th Bhutan-China border talk held in Dec. in Beijing. Amnesty
International, London published third report Crackdown in Eastern Bhutan.
Bhutan refused office building permission in New York for poor human rights.
1999: Cable television and internet services allowed. Eighth JMLC talk held in
Kathmandu on September 13-16, 1999. Forty political prisoners,
including Tek Nath Rizal, granted amnesty and released. Municipal Act
passed. Jigmi Y. Thinley becomes the first Chairman of the Council of
Ministers.13th Bhutan-China border talk held in Thimphu.
2000: First internet cafe opens in Thimphu; Ninth and tenth rounds of JMLC
talk held on May 22-25 and December 25-28, 2000 in Thimphu and
Kathmandu respectively.14th Bhutan-China border talk held in Nov. in
Beijing. Amnesty International, London published fourth report-
Right to Nationality of Bhutanese refugees. Seventh Round Table Meeting
(RTM) of development partners for Bhutan held in Thimphu. European
Parliament passes the second resolution on Bhutanese refugees.
2001: Eleventh JMLC Talk held in Thimphu on August 20-23, 2001. JVT starts
verification of refugees started in Khudunabari camp on March 26 and
completes on Dec. 15. Bhutan's first Constitution drafting committee formed
on Nov. 30. 15th Bhutan-China border talk held in Nov. in Thimphu.
International human rights organisations like Human Rights Watch and
others send memo to Bhutan and Nepal governments on refugee issue. R.K.
Budathoki, President of Bhutan Peoples Party murdered.
2002: Denmark closes its Liaison office in Bhutan in March. Crown Prince
addresses Un special session on children in New York in March . Ganga
Adhikari a Bhutanese refugee girl also submits memorandum on the
plight of Bhutanese refugees to UN Secretary General, UN High
Commissioner for Refugees and UN Human rights High Commissioner
during the spec |