Harvard scholar Sangay is new PM of exiled Tibetans

SIKKIM OBSERVER  Vol 20 No 11  Page 2 April 30, 2011

Dharamsala, April 29: Lobsang Sangay, a 42-year-old Harvard scholar, has been elected by Tibetans across the world as the new Prime Minister of Tibet’s government-in-exile.

The results of the elections to the 44-seat Tibetan Parliament and Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister) were declared on Wednesday after completion of the counting of votes and compilation of the reports received from 56 regional election commissions.

The new Prime Minister would take charge on August 15 after the term of incumbent Prime Minister S Rimpoche ends.

Congratulating the newly-elected Prime Minister, Samdhong Rinpoche said, “I and my fellow members of the Kashag (cabinet) would like to extend our congratulations to Sangay for winning the election with an overwhelming majority.”

Sangay polled 27,051 votes (55 percent) in the final round of polling held March 20. Out of 83,990 registered voters, 49,184 cast their ballots.

Upreti supports BJP on corruption charges against Chamling govt,  demands probe

By A Staff Reporter

Gangtok, April 29: Former Minister and dissident Congress leader KN Upreti has backed Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Sikkim Unit President Padam Chettri’s allegation that Chief Minister Pawan Chamling is more corrupt than former Union Telecom Minister A. Raja, who has been chargesheeted by the CBI in the 2G scam and placed in judicial custody.

Lending support to the BJP leader, Upreti said Chettri’s allegation against corruption in the State administration was based on “CAG report.”

The allegation leveled by Chettri as “far as the level of corruption in the State is concerned is absolutely true and we too support his statement,” Upreti said in a Press statement.

Upreti expressed his “serious concern” for Central Government agencies in the State ignoring rampant corruption in the State administration. The former Minister has also demanded a thorough probe into corruption in the State by Central agencies.

“The claim of the SDF Party that its Chief Minister Shri P.K.Chamling has clean image is ridiculous and only a section of blind supporters of the party believe to be so,” Upreti said.

The State unit of the BJP has submitted a memorandum to Governor BP Singh and Chief Secretary ND Chingapa on alleged rampant corruption in the State.

While stating that Chamling is more corrupt than Raja, Chettri, while briefing the media here, said as per the latest CAG report Rs. 6,254 crores have been embezzled by different departments in the State. The BJP has demanded the UPA Government at the Centre to act strongly and swiftly against the culprits in the State.

The BJP has also threatened to raise the issue in the Parliament and urged the people to support their anti-corruption campaign  in the State.

SC refuses to hear Sikkim CJ plea

Observer News Service

New Delhi, April 29: The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to hear Sikkim High Court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran’s plea seeking stay of pre-impeachment probe by a Rajya Sabha-appointed committee into allegations of misconduct and corruption against him.

A bench comprising justices D K Jain and H L Dattu did not give any reason for recusing itself from hearing the matter.

"It will go before another bench in the mentioning list for tomorrow," the bench said.

Dinakaran on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court to stay impeachment proceedings against him for alleged corruption. (also see page 3)

Editorial

INDIA PRESS

Land Acquisition Controversy

The reported bid to acquire the premises of India Press near Balwakhani in Gangtok by the Sikkim Government has been opposed by a section of the workers of the printing press (India Press). They not only allege that around 13 acres of the land belonging to the press is being acquired by the State Government but have also opposed the move to acquire such a huge amount of prime land belonging to the Central Government. The workers fear that once the land is acquired the State Government may not make use of the land and give away to private parties. This has happened before at lower Tadong below Gangtok where land was acquired by the Sikkim Government from private parties, who belonged to the tribal community, for industrial purposes and later allotted to Ministers and senior civil servants close to the ruling party. Another justifiable apprehension of the workers of India Press is the fear that once the area is acquired they may lose their job. A thorough study needs to made keeping in view these facts before a final decision is taken on the issue.

If the reported bid to takeover land belonging to India Press is true then the Chamling Government needs to be congratulated for getting back a portion of Sikkim’s land which was once taken by the Centre. Apart from the Palace area the best part of Gangtok such as Libing, Balwakhani and Burtuk (Swastik), which fall on the ridge, have been acquired by the Centre for defence, intelligence, communication and road building offices and quarters. Precious land of the locals have also been acquired by the army in border areas, particularly in North and East Sikkim at the Indo-China (Tibet) border. The indiscriminate construction of multi-crore hydel projects besides other industrial houses in Sikkim has displaced many locals from their ancestral homeland. If the rate of sale of Sikkimese land continue within a dacade or so many Sikkimese will surely become refugees in their own homeland. Land acquisition in Sikkim, therefore, needs careful thinking by the people as well as the concerned authorities.

Dinakaran moves SC to stay probe against him

Observer News Service

New Delhi, April 29: Sikkim High Court Chief Justice PD Dinakaran has asked the Supreme Court to stay an inquiry against him by a Parliament-appointed panel.

The panel, appointed by the Rajya Sabha chairperson Hamid Ansari after the House initiated impeachment motion against him, had asked Dinakaran to respond to the 16 charges framed against him. The panel is examining charges of corruption, land grabbing, abuse of judicial office and amassing wealth disproportionate to known sources of income against Dinakaran, a national daily reported.

The three-member panel headed by Justice Aftab Alam of the SC, Karnataka High Court Chief Justice JS Khehar and senior advocate PP Rao had rejected Dinakaran's plea seeking stay on proceedings till he is supplied with all documents being looked into.

Dinakaran sought quashing of the panel's order, which rejected his appeal, seeking recusal of Rao alleging that he was biased. Dinakaran had said he apprehended that there was likelihood of bias in the proceedings as Rao had earlier campaigned against him when his elevation to the SC was under consideration, the report said.

Dinakaran's plea alleged that Rao was part of a delegation of lawyers which met then Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan in 2009, to oppose his elevation to the apex court.

"The impugned order passed by the Judges Inquiry Committee allowing a biased member to continue to serve as a member of the committee is hit by the principles of natural justice and, hence, violated Article 14 of the Constitution," he said. He pleaded that the apex court should quash the order passed by the panel on the recusal of Rao. The panel had on April 24 rejected Dinakaran's plea against Rao saying the objection should have been raised at the start of the proceedings. Rao did not participate in the meeting when this application was discussed.

Charges against Justice Dinakaran, who is due to retire on May 9, 2012, were leveled when he was Chief Justice of the Karnataka HC. He was subsequently transferred to the Sikkim High Court.

Dinakaran on Wednesday filed an application before the panel demanding that media be kept out of the hearing on the removal proceedings and that they be held ‘in-camera.'

Justice Dinakaran also filed an application seeking a review of the order on his preliminary objection that Rao should recuse himself from the probe as he was biased.

Rejecting the application, the committee said the hearing would begin on Thursday.

Tibetan human rights body demands release of nun

Observer News Service

Dharamsala, April 29: Jampa Tso (28), a nun from Badak Phuntsok Choeling Nunnery, Drangko County, Kardze “Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture”, Sichuan, has been arrested after she shouted slogans calling for freedom in Tibet and distributed leaflets on 16 April 2011.

According to confirmed information received by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy (TCHRD), Jampa Tso staged her demonstration at a bridge leading to the market place in Derge County. Soon the police came to know about it and immediately arrested her.

After being arrested by Derge police, her family at Dangkho County was informed. When the family arrived at the Derge County Public Security Bureau Detention Centre they were denied a meeting. The family was told that Jampa Tso has committed a grave crime and they were intimidated from coming back.

During 2008 around hundred nuns from the Badak Nunnery protested against repressive rule of the Chinese government.  The authorities threatened that if they find any more political activities from the nunnery, the government will close the nunnery.

The TCHRD has called for immediate release of the nun. The forum said she should not be punished for expressing her opinion which is a fundamental human right.

SPORT Archery

United Bhutan lifts Chief Minister’s  Gold Cup

Gangtok, April 29: It was Bhutan vs Bhutan at the finals of the 12^th Chief Minister Gold Cup Archery Tournament held here this week.

United Bhutan lifted the trophy after defeating Pendent Cement (Bhutan) with 42 points against 40.

Sikkim Assembly Speaker KT Gyaltsen, while presenting the awards, said archery was not just a game but holding of archery tournaments help towards preservation of the cultural heritage of the people in the region.

Sikkim Archery Association President and Minister TT Bhutia expressed happiness over the successful conclusion of the tournament.

United Bhutan’s Tsewang Dorjee won the ‘Man of the Match’ award.

The 16-day tournament held here at Tathangchen was organized by the Sikkim Archery Association.