NEW AWAKENING

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN VOL 1 No 14 Page 1 March 2, 2011

EDITORIAL

NEW AWAKENING

Future of Gorkhas in India

The formation of the Sikkim unit of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) last month comes at a time when Gorkha leaders in neighbouring Darjeeling, which was once a part of Sikkim, have pitched their stand on the statehood issue of Gorkhaland. While the political leadership of Sikkim, dominated by the Nepalese, have supported the statehood demand the Morcha’s Sikkim unit’s role on creation of a new state for the Indian Gorkhas is likely to add a new dimension to the issue. However, to achieve the desired objectives much depends on the credibility and effectiveness of the leadership of the Sikkim unit.

Already, the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) is quite active in Sikkim and have been able to create a general awareness of the plight of the Gorkhas in India and the need to have their own state. The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), too, had its Sikkim unit which is now almost defunct. Darjeeling’s Gorkha Rashtriya Congress (GRC),whose prime objective is unification of Darjeeling with Sikkim, has also been eying the Nepali population in Sikkim to support its demand. Presently, the Sikkimese Nepalese leadership may be against the unification demand and only supporting the statehood demand; but ultimately when Gorkhas/Nepalese residing in the region find themselves overwhelmed by the gradual influx from the plains they are likely to join hands to chalk out a common future.

PRACHANDA CALLS FOR PEOPLE’S FINAL REVOLT TO END NEPAL CRISIS

R P Sharma

Kathmandu, March 1: Maoists supremo Prachanda on Sunday called on his cadres to make "final preparations" for a people's revolt aimed at putting a swift end to the political stalemate in the former Hindu kingdom.

His call comes amid a power struggle to take control of key ministry of Nepal's new communist government led by Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, chairman of CPN-UML (Communist Party of Nepal – United Marxist-Leninist).

Prachanda, the chairman of Unified CPN (Maoist), called upon all factory workers affiliated to the Maoist party to make "final preparations" for launching the people's revolt.

He said all factories, industries and hotels across the country will be turned into barracks to ensure the success of the people's revolt the party is planning to launch.

Those who believe that the Maoists will not wage any people's revolt and think that it is just a bluff will soon get a rude shock, he warned.

Addressing a national conference of a workers' organisation affiliated to Maoist, All Nepal Trade Union Federation (Revolutionary), on the outskirts of the capital, he said the Maoists will not tolerate any attempt to sabotage the peace process and drafting of the new constitution as also to bring about a radical transformation in the country.

Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, who was elected by lawmakers after more than seven months of stalemate and 17 attempts on February 3, has been unable to complete his cabinet formation, amid disagreement over a power-sharing deal with the Maoists, with whose support he won the election.

The two main allies - CPN-UML and the Maoists - have failed to arrive at an understanding over the distribution of key portfolios. UCPN-Maoist, the largest party in the House, is demanding important portfolios, including the home ministry.

The Maoists have been pressing for the implementation of the seven point deal, which reportedly includes provisions like sharing the Prime Ministerial post between Khanal and Prachanda on rotational basis and forming separate unit in Nepal Army after the integration of the former Maoist combatants with the military.

The Maoists have threatened to withdraw support to the Khanal-led government in case their demand is not fulfilled, which is causing delay in expansion of the cabinet.

PM  to look into Karmapa controversy

Gangtok, March 1: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has assured a Buddhist delegation that he would personally look into the matter of Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje and review the entire case which was highlighted by the national media recently.

A Buddhist delegation called on the Prime Minister on Saturday to discuss the problems facing the Karmapa., PTI reported.

A press release issued by the leader of the Joint Action Committee of Buddhist Organisations of Sikkim, Kunzang Sherab, said that the Prime Minister reassured the delegation that “he fully understood the sentiments of the Buddhists” and promised that as soon as the Budget session was over he would personally look into the matter and review the entire case.

The delegation comprised Lok Sabha MP PD Rai, former MP and Union Minister from Ladakh, P. Namgyal, former member of the National Commission of Scheduled Tribes, Lama Lobzang, and former Sikkim MP and Ambassador, Karma Topden.

They also submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister requesting him to “look into all the problems that the Karmapa was facing and allow him to visit Sikkim”.

The Centre on February 16 is understood to have given a clean chit to the Karmapa in the case relating to the huge foreign currency haul from his house in Dharamsala, saying the money had come in the form of donations and offerings by devotees.

Karen people sign human rights petition against Burma

Ethnic leaders in Nepal threaten to boycott census

Himalayan News Network

Kathmandu, March 1: The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities(NFIN) has threatened to boycott Census 2011 if the government fails to include participation of ethnic minorities in the census process and ‘mistakes’ in the enumeration relating to their identity relating to language and religion are not addressed.

“We want at least 38 percent enumerators from indigenous communities and mistakes related to language, religion, ethnicity and caste corrected in the questionnaire,” said Ang Kaji Sherpa, General Secretary of the Federation.

 “The CBS has not addressed our concerns. We believe there is still time for correction. If our call is ignored, we will boycott the census,” he added.

 Sherpas has demanded that census enumerators should be recruited from indigenous communities in proportion to their population.

The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is all set to begin Census 2011 from May 15 in two phases. The second phase is set for June 17-27.

Controversy over changing of flag, emblem of Ladakh Council

L. Verma

Srinagar, March 1: Adoption of a new emblem and flag by the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, has snowballed into a major political controversy with the ruling  National Conference and  the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) describing it “mischief” and “unfortunate”.

The National Conference leader, Mustafa Kamal minced no words to take on the Congress for playing “mischief” with the State and his party (NC), saying; “They (Congress) still are on the path of playing mischief and letting us (NC) down as they have done in the past on several crucial occasions.”

“It was the mischief when this Hill Development Council was created in 1995 and now changing the emblem is yet another mischief. They (LHDC leaders) have almost declared the area as a separate region of J&K,” Kamal remarked.

The LAHDC, in a unanimous resolution passed last week, adopted the symbol with the Ashoka Pillar which almost resembles the national emblem. The Council is already using a separate flag.

Reacting to the issue, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his government will take a decision after examining the matter.

"We are examining the issue. After all, it is a local municipality. Even the Srinagar municipality has a different emblem. We will examine the manner and take a decision," Omar said.

 The PDP has described the move to discard the State emblem by LAHDC as “unfortunate.”

 “The LAHDC decision is very unfortunate. If BJP or Ladakh Union Territory Front has adopted the resolution it could be understood as they have their own agendas. Since the decision was made by the Council controlled by the Congress, which always advocates integrity of the State, it is most regrettable.” PDP President Mehbooba Mufti said.

"PDP will fight any attempt to dilute the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under the Constitution. Leh is part of the State. The emblem controversy is unfortunate," Mufti added.

 “Nobody is undermining the state flag or emblem. They had already a logo and they have just changed it,” Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, who is a Congress leader, from Leh said.

 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said it would fully endorse the demand of Ladakh people for Union Territory. “We fully support the people of Ladakh on their demand for Union Territory status to Ladakh region,” BJP MLA, Ashok Khajuria said.

National emblem is our logo:LAHDC

Jammu, March 1: In a development of far reaching consequence, the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) has discarded the state flag and adopted the national emblem -effectively distancing itself from the state's emblems and separatist politics.

Jammu and Kashmir has its own flag and emblem. The State secretariat both here and at Srinagar hoists two flags - the national tricolour and the State flag - while the ministers also use the two flags on their cars.

The Indian state symbol of Ashoka pillar with three visible lions has been adopted as the council's official logo. The LAHDC passed a resolution earlier this week, adopting the new emblem in which the rising sun and mountains provide a background to the Ashoka pillar.

"The national emblem of our country is now our logo. The council has already adopted it and we are now giving it final touches to ensure that it represents Ladakh's administrative set-up," said Congress leader and LAHDC councilor Tsewang Rigzin, who had moved the resolution for a new logo.

Rigzin, who is also a journalist, said that inclusion of the national emblem as the hill council's logo indicates that the LAHDC exists under a government act.

"It was the need of the hour to ensure that people in the outside world come to know that the hill council is a unique political dispensation for people of Ladakh," Rigzin said.

The 32-member  Council also passed a resolution for inclusion of Bodhi language in the Eight Schedule of the Constitution without any opposition.

“Home is where the struggle is”

TENZIN TSUNDUE

Indians call me 'ching chong', the Chinese arrested me when I walked into Tibet, beat me up in jail and threw me out and said 'Get out of here, you bloody Indian.' Who am I? I am born and brought up in India and speak four Indian languages, love Bollywood, have more Indian friends than those of my tribe. Who am I?

My identity card is called Registration Certificate. It says you are a foreigner, and your nationality is Tibetan. But for India there is no Tibet, it's only China, although we have Indo-Tibetan Border Police. Legally, no one is a refugee in India, there's no refugee law prevalent here, but India is home to the largest number of refugees, from Parsis to Burmese, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankan Tamils and Tibetans. My friend, Sopa, from our refugee camp in Kollegal, Karnataka, fought in the Kargil War. Two soldiers on either side of him were shot in their heads, and when the survivors were being decorated in Delhi, Indian soldiers were photographed with the President, while medals for Tibetans were pinned by an officer in the top floor room.

Rooms. We love rooms, bigger the better. That's what we live in, because home is a sacred dream reserved for some distant future, but, inevitably coming, because our Dalai Lama says so. Even our exile government staff live in rooms. When her boyfriend moves in, they set up a kitchen against one of the walls. Other walls are for books, clothes, a TV set and of course a door and a window. When she gets pregnant it becomes home, and then we all join the house-warming party. Our rooms are decorated with protest slogans and photos of bullet-ridden martyrs. We live in India, but our hearts are in Tibet. We are neither here nor there.

I grew up imagining homeland, a glorious return, but realize home is here where the struggle is. The struggle is the home. Tibetans make an annual pilgrimage. It's not to Bodh Gaya or Banares, it's to the local police station to seek an extension to stay in India for another year, a must for all Tibetans above 18, whether you came from Tibet in 1959, are born in India, or a celebrity escapee from Tibet in recent years. No exception. No one is above the law. Show your face and get the privilege.

Lobsang got a job as a waiter in Sweden. Excited, he packed for a two-year stint. At the last moment, just before his flight, the Delhi emigration officer said he has no clearance from the local police station. At 2 am, he had masala chai for 60 rupees at the airport and came back to Dharamsala.

Go anywhere, be a tourist in Kerala or Rajasthan, pretend that you are a native in the North East.We were promised a dreamland from childhood. Our people in Tibet fight Chinese guns with their prayers and militant hope to change Chinese minds with Buddhism. As an activist, I try Gandhi. Dalai Lama is too complicated; I keep my guru in my heart, but work with Gandhi from my head.

In 2008, when protests against the Beijing Olympics raged in India, I was arrested in Kullu. The reason? I hadn't registered my departure from Dharamsala. I was locked up for 11 days, with extended detention for 14 days in Dharamsala, watched over by two policemen.

Now even the Commonwealth Games are over, the World Cup is here, and still I have to appear for court cases the police have no interest in pursuing. After the recent high court ruling, Tibetans born in India are eligible for Indian citizenship. My Indian university friend recently pleaded with me to get rid of all my court cases and legal hassles. I said: "I am Indian, perhaps more Indian than you. Why do I need a certificate?" (The writer is a Tibetan poet and activist – Times of India)

Gurung firm on inclusion of Dooars

C. Tamang

Darjeeling, March 1: The political impasse in the hills of Darjeeling when the spring tourism season is about to begin has got the people worried again.

In his public meeting in Kumani on February 27 the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) supremo Bimal Gurung may have stated that he would put on hold an embargo on the despatch of the first flush of Darjeeling tea from the Dooars but the deadline set for this is only March 6.

The party chief pointed out that the proposed embargo is aimed at improving the welfare of tea workers. Gurung wants the labourers’ daily wage to go up to Rs 120 to Rs 150 from the present Rs 67.

He wants the wage hike by March 6. “If that doesn’t happen, we will stop the despatch from the next day,” said Gurung.

Gurung has also overruled his party’s student wing decision calling for boycott of classes by students to support the statehood demand. The party now wants the students and teachers to wear black armband as a mark of protest.

The more worrying factor for the public is Gurung’s adamant stand on inclusion of the Gorkha-dominated portion of Dooars and Terai in the territory of the proposed Gorkhaland state.

 “Bengal is thinking that I will go to the hills after today’s meeting, but I will not leave this place until a decision on the inclusion of the Dooars and Terai is taken,” Gurung said and added, “I got a call from Delhi today, and they were talking about some declaration so that the territory issue can be taken up after the Assembly elections. I have said no to such a declaration. I will only agree if a clear stand is taken on the territory issue before the elections.”

Ethnically I’m a Tibetan-Burmese: Tripura king

S. Deki

Bangalore, March 1: Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman, the king of Tripura, last week admitted that though he was an indigenous tribe of Tripura ethnically he was of Tibetan-Burmese origin. “Ethnically I am a Tibetan-Burmese,” the king said.

This admission came during a function at the St. Joseph College of Arts and Science organized by a northeast and Tibetan students’ forum. Barman was the chief guest for mini-international cultural and food festival held at the college campus where at least 3,000 people had gathered.

The college has around 1000 north eastern students and one hundred Tibetan students.

"I am often questioned by many people that how I admitted such a huge number of north east people, and I told them that north east is not a one State, there are many states. Students from north east studying here belong to different tribes and communities consisting of eight states and 150 tribal languages," the college Principal, Dr. (Fr.) Ambrose Pinto Sj said.

He added, "Tibet, of course is different. There is no Tibetan state as yet. People of Tibet are rootless and homeless. It is necessary to provide them the support they need to create a home as they struggle."

Tashi Phuntsok, the chief representative of Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), was among the distinguished guests at the function.

Maharaja Kirit Pradyot Deb Barman Manikya Bahadur, also known as P.B.K Manikya (born July 4, 1978) is the current king of the Royal House of Tripura. He succeeded to the throne of Tripura on November 27, 2006.

He is not only the Chairman of the Royal Heritage Hotel, Editor of The Northeast Today magazine, but also a member of the Indian National Congress.

The Tripura Dynasty is said to be  the second oldest in the world from a single straight line, the present king being the 186th. Only the Mikado Dynasty from Japan have an older lineage.

“The ‘Greater Nepal’ demand will become a movement one day”

PHANINDRA NEPAL, President of the Unified Nepal National Front (UNNF) and  a strong advocate of the ‘Greater Nepal’ concept, believes that the Nepalese people will one day turn the theory into a movement.

Nepal, who is also the author of two books: “The ABC of Greater Nepal” and “Nepal-Tista to Sutlej”, says grant of Nepali citizenship to “Indian migrants” will lead to a situation where the Nepalese will become a minority in their own homeland, leading to “Nepal becoming Bhutan first and Sikkim later.”

Question: You had been advocating the theory of “Greater Nepal” for a long time in the past? Has the theory died a premature death? What sort of response have you received from Nepali intellectuals during your campaign?

Nepal: My association with the “Greater Nepal” movement is more than a decade and a half long. I can tell you that “Greater Nepal” was not a matter of discussion in the past, now it has become a major issue in the country’s national politics. Thus there is no point in saying that the theory has died a premature death. This issue will continue to survive as long as Nepal does not get its lost territory back because of the Sugauli Treaty (signed between East India Company and Nepal on December 2, 1815)

I can also assure you that Nepali politics that is presently divided will one day be united in favour of “Greater Nepal”. It is also true that each and every Nepali share the pain deep inside their hearts because of the Sugauli Treaty.

We are trying to move ahead with the motive of transforming the demand for “Greater Nepal” into a movement.

It is for sure that the Indian side fears the movement for “Greater Nepal” originating from Nepali soil. This has indeed become a matter of headache for them. They fear that one day this movement may get international attention. If we get our lost territories back, Nepal’s eastern periphery can extend up to Bhutan and Bangladesh. This implies that the Indian-controlled eastern states will finally detach themselves from the Indian Union.

Q:  Media reports say that India has been constantly encroaching land belonging to Nepal in different parts of the country. However, the political parties, radical communists included, do not utter a single word in favour of their own country? How do you take their silence?

Nepal: The frequent media reports that the Indian side is encroaching upon our land are not at all fabricated. In reality, the Indian side has been exceeding all the limits and there is not a single adjoining district in Nepal that has not faced continuous Indian encroachment.

More perplexing is the response from the Nepali side. The silence exhibited by the political parties and the so-called Maoist revolutionaries is indeed surprising.

The Suguali Treaty became null and void right on 14th August 1947. Had we been smart enough to get back the lands that we lost through the treaty of Sugauli on August 14-15, 1947, the entire lost lands (including Darjeeling) would have been in our possession since then. But we failed.

Q: Many academics in Kathmandu see the influence of India in Nepal’s internal affairs and that too in a brazen manner. Do you see such influence in Nepali politics by India or  is it just a rumour only?

 Nepal: There is not only the Indian influence in Nepali politics but there is clearly an intervening Indian role in our internal matters.

Sometimes I also feel that India is not to be totally blamed for this. We have several examples of our own leadership publicly admitting its Indian leanings. They are merely pawns in the hands of foreigners. Until and unless we have leaders like “Mir Jaffar and Lhendup Dorje”(Sikkim’s first chief minister), Nepal will remain  as an Indian colony or at best a Protectorate.

We need such leadership that is more responsible to its own citizens and the country. Nepalese leadership should fear the wrath of its own people rather than fearing India.

Unless our leaders gets rid of the mindset that without India’s blessings they cannot acquire influential positions in Nepal India will continue to influence, interfere and intervene in our politics.