Dzongkha Version of Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 launched
July 19th, 2006
The Information and Communication minister of the Royal Government of
Bhutan, Lyonpo Leki Dorji, launched DzongkhaLinux
, an entirely
localised GNU/Linux distribution based on Debian GNU/Linux 3.1. This
is the first operating system that fully supports the country's
national language and which has been developed in Bhutan.
The Bhutan Department of Information Technology chose Debian for its high versatility and reliability as well as the guarantee to always remain 100 % Free Software. DzongkhaLinux developers have already contributed back their translations and development (fonts, input methods...) to both Debian and end-user applications, such as GNOME, OpenOffice.org and the Mozilla.
The development of DzongkhaLinux was supported by the International Development Research Center, from Canada, and the PANl10n project, aimed at bringing localised computer use in several Asian countries. The system consists of one CD which can be either installed or used as a live system.
Recent laws in the country have enforced the use of the national language in all official events and all official communication. DzongkhaLinux is the first opportunity for the entire Bhutanese population to join the information and communication age, using their own language.
About Bhutan
The Kingdom of Bhutan is a landlocked South Asian nation situated between India and Tibet, People's Republic of China, and is often described as the last surviving traditional Himalayan Buddhist culture. The official language is Dzongkha, a language from the Sino-Tibetan family. Bhutan is very committed to preserve its local culture and traditions.
About Debian
Debian GNU/Linux is a free operating system, developed by more than a thousand volunteers from all over the world who collaborate via the Internet. Debian's dedication to Free Software, its non-profit nature, and its open development model make it unique among GNU/Linux distributions.
The Debian project's key strengths are its volunteer base, its dedication to the Debian Social Contract, and its commitment to provide the best operating system possible.
References
- DzongkhaLinux main page
- Dzongkha Localisation Project
- IDRC, International Development Research Center
Contact Information
For further information, please visit the Debian web pages at https://www.debian.org/ or send mail to <press@debian.org>.