In June, the abbot of a Buddhist monastery was murdered...

In June, the abbot of a Buddhist monastery was murdered when some very rare precious stones were stolen in Pangsho, in Wangdi Phondrang. Two Bhutanese were arrested and confessed to have been paid by foreign gangsters. Last year a monk died when a monastery was set on fire. The latest crime has impacted on public opinion and, despite the widespread doctrine of nonviolence, some politicians have called for the death penalty. For a Buddhist nation to even think about resorting to breaking a taboo on killing shows how far their dharma (teaching) has been challenged.