Leaving for War
The Prince of Bhutan has had to quit life as an Oxford student this week to prepare for war in his home country. News of his departure, as revealed in an exclusive interview with The Oxford Student, has as a result alerted the international media to the severity of the situation in Bhutan.
Modern History & Politics fresher Jigyel Wangchuck left St Peter's College on Tuesday morning for Heathrow, as he had volunteered to join the militia this summer were Bhutan to fight the Indian rebels currently residing illegally in the country.
He told the The OxStu that although his country remains at large a peaceful nation, Indian rebels desiring the independence of regions such as Assam and Jalpaiguri have launched attacks on north east India from training camps set up in the southern forests of Bhutan. The failure of bilateral negotiations between the Bhutanese Home Minister and rebel leaders last week has meant that full-scale preparation for war is now under way.
Before his interview with The OxStu, the majority of the British press appeared completely unaware of the current situation in the small nation, landlocked between India, China and Tibet, presumably because of its low profile and relative isolation from the western world.
The news of his sudden departure has left peers shocked. St Peter's fresher Quiller Brooke, a friend of Jigyel, told The OxStu: "It certainly puts an essay crisis into perspective. Everyone sees war on television news, but when it could be your mate out there it's something different". A senior member said: "It was sad to see him go. The idea of a prince fighting for his country is quite remarkable".
In the interview in this week's OxStu, where Jigyel compares his short-lived 'Oxford experience' to life in Bhutan and the USA, he said: "Regardless of who I am, I've taken an oath of allegiance. Though I was happy here in this amazing city, I know I've done the right thing".
30th Oct 2003