Bhutan in 2000 -: Challenges ahead

As it closed the door on the past millennium, Bhutan had a clear picture of the challenges ahead. A review of its Eighth Plan underlined the major issues facing the country in such areas as urbanization, privatization, economic diversification, and human resources development. On the political front, the National Assembly made a resounding call for military action should peaceful measures fail to solve the much debated question of the United Liberation Front of Assam's (ULFA) activities and the Bodo insurgency. However, despite progress in bilateral negotiations between Bhutan and Nepal, a conclusive solution to the problem of the people in Nepali refugee camps was yet to be found.