SIKKIMESE SOLIDARITY

SIKKIM OBSERVER   Vol 20 No 12 Page 1 May 7 2011

Editorial

SIKKIMESE SOLIDARITY

Initiative Must Come From Sikkimese Nepalese

Opposition leaders in Sikkim are basicially harpening on the same theme these days. They want permanent safeguards for Sikkimese who possess genuine Sikkim Subject Certificates. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling and his colleagues used to say the same thing before they came to power in 1994. Nar Bahadur Bhandari, who ruled Sikkim for nearly a decade and half before Chamling, too, made the same promises. In fact, Bhandari and his Sikkim Parishad, which overthrew the Kazi Government in the State’s first Assembly polls after the ‘merger’ in 1979, promised more than safeguards under Article 371F of the Constitution; they wanted de-merger. “Desh Farkaow” (return Sikkim) was their slogan.  After more than three and half decades down the line Sikkimese people are just scraping through in every respect and those who made tall promises have been accused of not only betraying the people but indulging in rampant corruption.

   If Sikkimese – Bhutias, Lepchas, and Nepalese of Sikkimese origin – are to stand united as aspired by Bharat Basnet-led Sikkim Solidarity Forum for Gorkhaland, then the initiative and leadership must come from the majority Sikkimese Nepalese community. Unfortunately, the Sikkimese Nepalese leadership has miserably failed the people on basic issues and long-term interest of the Sikkimese people. After nearly four decades let-down by the Nepalese leadership in Sikkim the minority Bhutia-Lepcha tribals have now been forced to do some real hard thinking. Mere statements, speeches, resolutions, emotional expressions of any kind will now not stir the hearts and minds of genuine Sikkimese if the political leadership in Sikkim do not have the will to carry on the noble and much-needed task to fight for all Sikkimese, including those other than ‘Sikkim Subjects’ who have been living in Sikkim for generations and have made Sikkim their homeland. The political leadership in the former kingdom needs to do an indepth self-introspection before embarking on yet another sentimental journey leading to nowhere. Even if the Sikkimese people do not deserve anything as they, with few honourable exceptions, are only after the mundane things of life and nothing else, ‘Sikkim’ should not be allowed to forever live on hope and die in despair. It should be given one more chance to come back to life and remain the homeland of generations of Sikkimese yet to be born.

Solidarity Forum demands ST status for Sikkimese Nepalese

Sikkimese Nepalese leadership has failed us: Basnet

Observer News Service

Gangtok, May 6: Realizing the need to safeguard Sikkim’s distinct identity and the political rights of the Sikkimese Nepalese, Sikkim Solidarity Forum for Gorkhaland has demanded that all Sikkimese be declared ‘scheduled tribes’ in the State.

Briefing the media at a press conference here yesterday, Forum Chief Convenor Bharat Basnet has demanded that Nepalese of Sikkimese origin, who possess Sikkim Subjects Certificates and were ‘Sikkim Subjects’ in the former kingdom, should be declared scheduled tribes.

Presently, only Tamangs and Limbus from the majority Nepalese community have been granted ST status in the State. The Bhutias and Lepchas obtained ST status way back in 1978.

Basnet made a fervent appeal to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to pass a one-point resolution in the State Assembly demanding ST status for all Sikkimese Nepalese.

“If Chamling does that I’m ready to join the ruling party,” Basnet said.

He said inclusion of all Sikkimese Nepalese in the ST list in the State would go a long way in preserving Sikkim’s distinct identity as per the provisions of May 8, 1973 tripartite agreement and Article 371F of the Constitution. “This is the only way to preserve the political rights of Sikkimese Nepalese and restore communal harmony in Sikkim,” Basnet said.

Basnet, a senior Congressman who was recently expelled from the party along with others, including former minister KN Upreti, for alleged anti-party activities, said the leadership of the Sikkimese Nepalese has completely failed Sikkim and the Sikkimese people.

He said Sikkimese Nepalese should now be willing to handover the post of chief ministership to a capable person from the minority Bhutia-Lepcha community.

Referring to the Forum’s activities on Gorkhaland, Basnet said after his organization got active Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung met Chamling. “This meet led to passing of Gorkhaland resolution in the Sikkim Assembly,” Basnet said.

BJP HOLDS ANTI-CORRUPTION DHARNA IN GANGTOK

Threatens to raise issue in New Delhi

Observer News Service

Gangtok, May 6: The State unit of the BJP has threatened to raise the corruption issue against the Chamling Government at Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi next month if the State Government fails to act on the alleged rampant corruption in the administration as reported in the latest CAG report.

Briefing reporters during the party’s dharna on corruption in front of the District Collectorate office here on Tuesday, BJP Sikkim unit President Padam Chettri said if the concerned authorities fail to act on the report on corruption raised by the BJP with 30 days his party would raise the issue at Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi.

BJP Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, Nikhil Chowdhury, who had come to attend the dharna to back the State unit’s anti-corruption campaign in the State, said at a press conference that the party is likely to raise the corruption issue in the Parliament and may also demand that the issue be referred to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) in the House as all the 32 members of the Sikkim Assembly belong to the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF), leaving no Opposition members in the Assembly to raise corruption issue against the government.

Chowdhury has been appointed as the Sikkim in-charge in the Lok Sabha by the central BJP leadership. The central BJP has already formed a panel to look into alleged massive corruption in the northeast, including Sikkim.

 Recently, BJP President Nitin Gadkari, while campaigning for his party in Assam for the Assembly polls, said his party would raise alleged rampant corruption in the northeast with President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The alleged corruption scandal in northeast runs into Rs 63,000 crore, according to Gadkari, who released a report entitled ““Congress Government’s Loot of North East” in Guwahati recently.

In Sikkim, the NB Bhandari-led Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee’s “Sikkim Mahaloot”, a 108-page colour magazine detailing corruption in the Chamling Government, is doing the rounds. The magazine has been published in English and Nepal. Copies have also been submitted to the Congress President Sonia Gandhi, who is said to have given the green signal to the party on the corruption issue. The matter is presently pending with the CBI awaiting the Prime Minister’s go-ahead.

Senior Congress leader and former Minsiter KN Upreti had earlier alleged that around Rs 4,000 crore has been misappropriated by the Chamling Government.

Chettri, while quoting CAG report, said more than Rs 6,000 crore has been misused by the Chamling Government. He has written to Governor BP Singh and Chief Secretary ND Chingapa demanding necessary action on the matter. If the concerned authorities fail to act on time the BJP will hold a dharna in New Delhi shortly, Chettri said.

Only Article 371F protects Sikkim’s distinct identity, not ST status: Upreti

Gangtok, May 6: Former minister KN Upreti said Sikkim’s “distinct identity” can only be preserved if Article 371F is implemented in “letter and spirit.”

Opposing the Sikkim Solidarity Forum for Gorkhaland’s demand  on scheduled tribes status for all Sikkimese Nepalese in the State, Upreti in a press statement said the view that the distinct identity of the three ethnic communities in the State can be saved if the entire Sikkimese Nepalese in the State are declared scheduled tribes is “erroneous.”

The former minister said Sikkim’s special status can only be preserved under Article 371F. Unfortunately, former chief minister, N B Bhandari, and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling used the provisions of Article 371F with an “ulterior motive” and played with “the sentiments of local people.”

Upreti also accused the Government of India for failing to protect Sikkim’s distinct identity under Article 371F.

He said Sikkim’s special status has been diluted due to old laws being replaced by new laws. He added that the three ethnic communities – Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese – and the old settlers can “survive” only under Article 371F and May 8, 1973 agreement.

“Inviting the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution to get tribal status neither gives us protection nor preserves our distinct character,” Upreti said.

He has appealed to “right-thinking” local people to oppose the move to erode Sikkim’s “special feature.”

Khando’s death great loss for Tibetans: Samdhong Rinpoche

Observer News Serevice

Dharamsala, May 6: The Kashag of the Central Tibetan Administration on Wednesday condoled the sad demise of Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who died in a helicopter crash in Lobothang near Tawang District.

In a condolence message, Kalon Tripa Prof Samdhong Rinpoche expressed "deep sadness and worry about the tragic demise of a young, honest and one of the best chief ministers” of Arunachal Pradesh.

“Moreover, he has brought immense development and improvement in the lives of the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the Tibetans living in there,” Kalon Tripa said.

“Since his death is a great loss to both the Tibetans and the people of Arunachal Pradesh, I, along with my cabinet colleagues offer our prayers and heartfelt condolences to the people of the state and his family members,” Kalon Tripa said.

A special prayer service will be organised by the Department of Religion and Culture at the Tsuglagkhang, the main temple in Dharamsala on 5 May, Kalon Tripa said.

The Core Group for Tibetan Cause in India said Khandu was not only an  “ardent Buddhist” and a “staunch follower” of the Dalai Lama but also “a great friend of Tibet.”

In a statement, the Group’s National Convenor, NK Trikha, said Khandu  “held Tibet deep in his heart and had even visited Dharamshala to express his solidarity with the Tibetan cause.”
” Despite China’s pressure, he stood firm and invited His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh as a State Guest.  He was a true friend of Tibet. His tragic demise is a huge loss to the Tibetans and friends of Tibet all over the world,” the statements added.

Khandu was declared dead on Thursday in a helicopter crash, six days after the copter carrying him dropped off the radar.

The wreckage was sighted on Wednesday after an aerial survey of the difficult terrain in the State's Tawang district, from where it had taken off on Saturday.

Besides the chief minister 5 others on board also died in the tragic incident.

 BJP seeks CBI probe against Chidambaram in 2G scam

New Delhi, May 6:  The BJP on Thursday launched a campaign seeking to corner the UPA government on corruption by using the PAC report on the 2G spectrum scam.

Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha fired the first salvo, demanding that home minister P Chidambaram be investigated by the CBI for his alleged role in the spectrum scam when he was finance minister, Financial Express reported.

The party, which kicked off what it terms “a campaign against corruption against a government of the corrupt” will be launching a series of public meetings, with the first being held in New Delhi on Thursday.

Sinha, who had taken on Chidambaram even earlier, said, “P Chidambaram is a master at obfuscation, and has not been able to explain why he first objected and then later fell in with plans to allocate 2G the way it was. Till his role is probed by the CBI, the investigation into the 2G spectrum allocation will not be complete,” he said.

Chidambaram had, after Sinha’s initial allegations last week, already clarified that, “the note of January 15, 2008, was sent to solely deal with the issue of the charges for spectrum, also known as spectrum usage charges.” The note, he maintained, made three very specific suggestions for raising additional revenue, including price discovery through the auction route.

PEOPLE WANT TO KNOW People Have A Right To Know

“I am deeply grateful to India and will not do anything against its interests”

In his first formal press statement after the recent controversy on the activities of his monastery His Holiness the 17^th Gyalwa Karmapa, Ogyen Trinley Dorje, says that he is not a “Chinese agent” as alleged and India has become his “home” after he escaped from Tibet in January 2000.

There have been many media reports recently about the Karmapa name and institution. I did not respond to them because I did not want to add unnecessary public controversy while the investigation was at a critical stage.

However, the time has come to make certain fundamentals clear to those who may still nurse any doubts. Let me at the outset state categorically that:

1.      I am not a Chinese spy, agent or plant in India.

2.      I am deeply grateful to the Government of India for giving me refuge in this great country and for all the courtesy and hospitality shown to me since my arrival here. I am also very moved by the marks of affection that the Indian people have always showered on me. India is my home now and I would never do anything against the interest of the country or her people.

3.      His Holiness the Dalai Lama is my spiritual and temporal leader, and I am committed to the well-being of the Tibetan people.

It would appear from media speculation that some people still wonder why I left Tibet in December, 1999. I have given press interviews on the subject previously. Today, I wish to reiterate that my spiritual education as the 17th Karmapa could not be completed if I had remained in Tibet. I had to receive the oral teachings of the Karmapa Lineage which have been passed down in an unbroken chain from India since the time of Lord Buddha. The origins of my lineage are in Nalanda whose great scholar, Naropa, received the teachings from his teacher, the Mahasiddha Tilopa. Naropa transmitted these teachings to the Tibetan Marpa, who passed them on to his disciple, Milarepa, and thence to Gampopa, from which they passed to Dusum Khyenpa, the first Karmapa. The Karmapa Lineage is thus deeply rooted in India where my illustrious predecessor, His Holiness the 16th Karmapa, also found refuge in India, and established Rumtek Monastery in Sikkim. All the gurus of my lineage were in India. The Chinese Government would not allow them to visit me in Tibet. I could not live up to the high expectations from my position without their spiritual guidance. If I had stayed in Tibet, I strongly believe I would have had to denounce His Holiness, the Dalai Lama.

Tibet is under Communist China's totalitarian regime. Unlike democratic India, there is no religious freedom there.  Many Tibetans, including the illustrious heads of the different sects of Tibetan Buddhism had to flee to India following the Cultural Revolution. Even today, distressing news is coming out of Tibet regarding the current unrest at Kirti Monastery in the Tibetan area of Ngaba in Sichuan province. On March 16th, the self-immolation of a young monk named Phuntsok reveals the underlying tension that has been simmering for decades due to China's misguided policies addressing the grievances and resentments of the Tibetan people.

Reports say that the ongoing military siege of Kirti Monastery, the arrest of over 300 monks, and the death of two elderly local residents in police beatings have increased fears that if the authorities did not abandon use of force, the situation may deteriorate into full-scale violence costing lives of hundreds of unarmed and innocent Tibetans. I understand there are still some 2,200 monks completely isolated and the monastery is blockaded by the security police; the fate of these monks is still unknown owing to the April 21st official order sealing the Ngaba and Kandze areas to visitors.

Frequent peaceful protests carried out by the Tibetans are symptoms of a broken and wounded people desperately crying out for the restoration of their cultural identity, religious and human rights. Since Kirti Monastery is very important with great historical significance throughout the Ngaba region, I join His Holiness the Dalai Lama and His Eminence Kyabche Kirti Rinpoche in their appeal to the Central Chinese Government and the international community to peacefully resolve the current crisis in Ngaba.

Tibet was an independent nation from ancient times. It maintained strong religious, cultural and trade ties with India. The common border was open and peaceful, allowing not only the free movement of trade and people but also the flow of the finest thoughts of human civilization. Hindus and Jains revered Mount Kailash and Mansarovar Lake as places of holy pilgrimage. Tibetans regarded India as the holy land of Lord Buddha and aspired to make a pilgrimage to Bodh Gaya. Buddhism came to Tibet from India. Along with Buddhism came much of the Tibetan language and the Tibetan script which was derived from ancient Indian scripts. We honour Indian saints and sages like Shantaraksita, Padmasambhava, Atisha, and many others who came to Tibet. Scholars and practitioners from renowned institutions of learning like Nalanda and Vikramasila inspired many of our religious schools.

Today, India is our second home. The Tibetan culture and religion has flourished in India's free and welcoming atmosphere. India has given refuge to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and to many Buddhist lineage heads who have set up monasteries around the country. Tibetan Buddhism, culture and the Tibetan way of life thrive in India.

I am deeply conscious that India has not only saved Tibetans and their way of life from extinction but also enabled us to draw inspiration from this holy land of the Buddha and take Buddhism to distant parts of the world where it was unknown previously. I pray that Lord Buddha's teachings and Mahatma Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence combined together become a source of peace and harmony for the entire world.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN   EDITORIAL PAGE 4 May 4, 2011

GHISING’S COMBACK

Heat In The Himalaya

Even if none of his party candidates win in the Assembly elections the Gorkha National Liberation Front chief Subash Ghising has made a comeback of sorts in hill politics after three years of hibernation in the plains. The GNLF, which won all three seats in the last Assembly polls and has fielded candidates from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, is poised to revive and strengthen its base in Darjeeling hills, where people are disillusioned and confused with the way things are.  Despite threat to his life the GNLF supremo dared to return to the hills and that too during elections when emotions are high. While hundreds of his party supporters welcomed him during public meetings, a rare event in the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha-dominated hill region, Ghising threw another challenge to Morcha leader Bimal Gurung by demanding that his party be made party to the ongoing tripartite talks.

What is more significant to note is the fact that Ghising is not raising the Gorkhaland demand this time. He wants Darjeeling hills to come under the 6^th Schedule of the Constitution. Even if we are not in agreement with his views on the 6^th Schedule the fact that he chose to make a comeback with this demand when the prevailing mood of the hill people is for Gorkhaland state is in itself a mark of leadership that dares to go against the current. Ghising has his own reasons for going against the tide. Perceptive observers are convinced that while the Gorkhaland issue may be a vote-catching tool during elections most hill parties have reconciled to the fact that creation of a new state is not possible at the present juncture. Ghising is more realistic and an experienced hand in dealing with New Delhi and Kolkata. Hill politics, therefore, is bound to heat up after the polls no matter who wins in the hills and at Writer’s Building when results are declared on May 13 (Friday the 13^th).

The Rana Dynasty ruled Nepal for over 100 years

The Rana dynasty ruled the Kingdom of Nepal from 1846 until 1953, reducing the Shah monarch to a figurehead and making Prime Minister and other government positions hereditary. The dynasty is descended from one Bal Narsingh Kunwar of Kaski who moved to Gorkha in the early 18th century and entered the service of Raja Nara Bhupal Shah around 1740, and of Bhimsen Thapa (1775-1839 who is counted among the National heroes of Nepal.

Janga Bahadur Kunwar began the dynasty. He came to power through the 1846 Kot massacre  where 36 members of the palace court, including the Prime Minister and a relative of the King Chautariya Fate Janga Shah, were murdered. These were unstable times and Janga Bahadur brought stability to the country by putting himself firmly in control. He took the title Rana ("king"), the honorific Shrī Tīn  meaning his name was preceeded by Shrī-Shrī-Shrī, and was accorded 19-gun salutes by the British Raj.

 However Shah kings were Shrī Pānch  -- Shrī-Shrī-Shrī-Shrī-Shrī -- called Maharājdhirāj "king of kings", and given 21-gun salutes. Junga Bahadur's sons and brothers inherited the title Rana and took it as their family name instead of Kunwar.

After Junga Bahadur's death his brother Ranodip Singh Rana took the Prime Ministership and title of Junga as per Junga's established wishes. However, the childless Prime Minister Ranodip was murdered by four of his nephews (sons of Dhir Shumshere Rana, youngest and most trusted brother of Jung). This was because against Jung's wishes Ranaudip wanted to pass on the hereditary title and position of Prime Minister to Jung's family only, while Jung had firmly established a system where the eldest member of the Rana dynasty should get the position as he himself had passed on his title to his brother and not his son after his demise.

This did not sit well with Dhir's elder sons, so just as their uncle Jung āengineered the Kot massacre for the stability of the nation, so too the unfortunate hand that Ranodip played led to his murder and the firm establishment of the Shamshere Rana rule. Most notable among the Shamshere Prime Ministers were Bir, Chandra and Juddha, who established the first banks, schools, hydro power plant and industries. They also adapted the full name of Shamshere Jung Bahadur Rana in honour of their uncle. The children of Jung Bahadur mainly lived outside of Kathmandu, in Nepal and mainly in India after escaping the coup d'état of 1885.

The shortest serving Rana was Dev Shamsher Jang Bahadur Rana who ruled for two months in 1901, he was deposed by his brothers because of his open display of guilt for what has happened during the coup. Known as "The Reformist" for his progressive policies, he proclaimed universal education, began to building schools, took steps to abolish slavery, and introduced several other social welfare schemes.

He also made improvements to the arsenal at Nakkhu (south of Kathmandu) and started The Gorkhapatra newspaper. Dev Shumsher felt guilty for what had transpired during the coup, also a key incident happened during the coup which affected him deeply. He was held at gunpoint by General Dhoj Narsingh Rana, but was allowed to live and forgiven. For this, he felt a lot of guilt and asked for the exiled family members to return to Nepal. This brought him to a clash with his immediate brothers.

He was deposed by his relatives, where he settled in Jhari Pani, near Mussoorie, where his Fairlawn Palace once stood. A developer purchased the palace and tore it down, replacing it with cottages. All that remains are a few of the original gates and a small portion of the palace skeleton.

The Ranas were acclaimed and given much prestige and a 19-gun salute by British as well. All with the exception of Deva Shamsher received knighthoods. The Rana dynasty developed into a powerful family clan and are still very influential in the country today. The family formed a close alliance with the Shah dynasty via marriage. (Wikipedia)

OPINION

 P. STOBDAN

Beijing weaving ‘garland of pearls’ around India

"Hide your strength and bide your time" is an old Chinese strategy

The Chinese are masters of the art of denial and deception. At a recent closed-door meeting of a reputed Beijing-based think-tank, Chinese experts told three Indians that China would be "magnanimous" in Aksai Chin if India agreed to give up Tawang. Among the Chinese experts were Sun Shi Hai, deputy director of Asia Pacific Studies and advisor to the highest in the country's power structure; Ma Jia Li, a senior analyst connected with China's foreign intelligence arm; and Chen Rui Sheng, a former ambassador to India. The so-called Indian representatives, by contrast, didn't possess expertise in the Sino-India relationship.

Through the Beijing meet, the Chinese have emphatically conveyed that Tawang is non-negotiable in a final settlement of the border issue. Located strategically at the Bhutan-Tibet-India tri-junction, a transfer of Tawang to China will bring this point further down south to the slender Siliguri corridor joining the Northeast to the rest of India. With Beijing's claim in Bhutan also inching closer to the Indian border, the Chinese threat needs no elucidation. If China's minimum demand in the eastern sector has been defined 'unofficially' to a certain extent, the so-called offer of concessions in the western sector remains vague. Mostly, this offer has been qualified by the phrase, "China will consider".

Worse, China can deny even these messages from the Beijing meet. This has been its habit, its history. Deng Xiaoping offered in 1988 a package deal on the border. It was withdrawn as "just a concept" when Indian officials sought clarifications. And yet, many in India swallow the Chinese propaganda that New Delhi has always rebuffed Beijing's reasonable overtures for resolving the border issue!

The Chinese are only interested in resolving the border issue on their terms. And these terms extend beyond Tawang to cover all of Arunachal Pradesh, which appears linked to Beijing's Tibet policy. They feel their control over Tibet is incomplete without Arunachal. Didn't ambassador Sun Yuxi declare that the whole of Arunachal belongs to China? Should they not manage to regain Arunachal now, they'd encourage the Tibetans to lay claims to the State once a deal is struck between Beijing and the Dalai Lama. Completion of the ongoing railway project in Tibet is expected to only harden Beijing's position in the eastern sector.

"Hide your strength and bide your time" is an old Chinese strategy. This involves lulling their opponent into disarming, while they acquire overwhelming strength. Then they suddenly pounce upon their foe. For decades, China worked behind the veil of being a Third World country, implementing the theory that says development and security must go together; that in the absence of one the other can't be achieved.

The veil is now slipping off. The Chinese Institute of Contemporary International Relations, a think-tank supported by China's external intelligence agency, recently unveiled the "Greater Peripheral" theory of emerging as an "independent big power". This was most recently showcased through a commitment of $5 billion in assistance to 48 African countries. The scheme was earlier applied in its immediate periphery (East and Central Asia) where it had used a varied mix of instruments—diplomacy, political support, economic allurement and military aid—to acquire heft and influence.

The greater periphery strategy includes both big and small nations. Of the several US-led alliances in the region, Beijing perceives the following as vital: US-Japan, US-Australia and US-India, which can coalesce into a US-Japan-Australia-India alliance to encircle China. Independent interests of the US, Japan and India in Central Asia are also viewed as catalysts for an anti-China coalition. India is seen as the weakest of the above actors. But then it straddles the Indian Ocean and, along with the US, controls the sea-lanes to the Malacca Strait and beyond. Most of the ASEAN countries are also increasingly looking at India to balance China's force projection in the region.

The standard Chinese policy, therefore, is to ensure that India is surrounded by inimical neighbours. Thus, Pakistan was elevated to a nuclear weapons power through illegal proliferation. Bangladesh is the new sparkling pearl in Beijing's "garland of pearls" strategy against India. Not only is it arming Bangladesh, it is assisting Dhaka to build a nuclear reactor. This Chinese strategy is expected to only accentuate. (Professor Stobdan is the director of the Strategic and Regional Studies, University of Jammu.)

NE students back Manipur’s “Iron Lady”

Himalayan News Network

Guwahati, May 3: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), the banner organization of all the major students’ unions in the seven Northeastern states, has launched a fresh region-wide agitation to press for its demand to repeal the ‘draconian’ Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act ,1958. This Act provides sweeping powers to security forces fighting insurgents in the region and allegedly precipitated many cases of human rights violation and aberrations in the region for over five decades.

The NESO has started its fresh agitation in solidarity with Manipur’s ‘Iron Lady’, Irom Sanu Sharmila, who has been on hunger strike for over ten years demanding scrapping of the AFSPA. The activists of the NESO would wear black cloth on their mouth to register protest against the continuation of the  Act in the region to protest the central government’s inaction on the demand.

“The Government of India which buckled under the hunger-strike resorted to by Gandhian leader Anna Hazare against corruption, has adopted a grossly discriminatory attitude towards Manipur’s iron lady Irom Sharmila on fast since November 2, 2000 demanding scrapping of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 that has been in force in the North East for about five decades,” stated NESO chairman Dr Samujjal Bhatacharrya.

The NESO has expressed its anguish over the Centre’s lukewarm attitude towards fasting Sharmila and termed it ‘inhuman’ and lambasted the Centre for adopting an overall attitude of treating the people of North East as second class citizens of the country.

“Nowhere in the world a lady has been on fast for more than a decade for the causes of her fellow people and the Government of India is keeping her under judicial custody in a hospital in Imphal. It is outrageous,” Bhattacharrya said.

Bhaichung joins Tibetan rally in Shillong

P. Ghosh

Shillong, May 3: Indian football skipper Bhaichung Bhutia last Friday joined a candle-light procession by Tibetans here protesting the alleged atrocities by Chinese forces on monks in Tibet.

Tibetans in Shillong were protesting the repression by Chinese forces at Kirti Monastery in Ngaba province.

"We should join hands for tranquility and peace of the people," Bhutia said. "We are praying for the monks who are under house arrest in Kirti Monastery," he added.

Regional Tibetan Youth Congress president Gompu Tenzin said at least three monks have been beaten to death while over 300 arrested by Chinese forces at Kirti Monastry in Northern Tibet.

The 100-odd protesters displayed placards saying 'Release the Monks', 'We want Peace' and 'Stop the Starvation of Monks'. (also see page 2)

Himalayan Children’s Home of the Tharchins

Kalimpong’s Himalayan Children’s Home was established in 1962 by the Late Rev. G Tharchin and his wife Margaret Tharchin, who was a German missionary working in West Bengal.

In 1956, Rev. Tharchin became the first local Tibetan Pastor. Seeing the plight of many destitute and displaced children of Tibetan refugees after the Chinese occupation of Tibet in 1959 the Tharchins started a small Children’s Home in Kalimpong from their residence.

The school started with only five students. The Home is located at Tirpai hill above the main bazaar.

After the couple passed away the Home was looked after by their son Rev SG Tharchin and his wife since 1975. Most of the students belonged to ethnic communities of the region – Nepalese, Tibetans, Sikkimese and Bhutanese.

Presently, Himalayan Children’s Home has around 100 students between  the age group of 5 to 18. To cater to similar needs, the Tharchins have opened two similar branches in Nepal (in Ayabari town at the foothills in southern Nepal) and at the Indo-Bhutan border township of Chamurchi. Each of these Homes, run in rented houses, has at present 25 students.

SC breather for Sikkim CJ in corruption case

Himalayan News Network

New Delhi, May 3: The Supreme Court on Friday stayed all further proceedings of the three-member panel probing corruption and other charges against Chief Justice of the Sikkim High Court P.D. Dinakaran.

A Bench of Justices H S Bedi and C K Prasad stayed the impeachment inquiry, saying it cannot continue in the larger interests of natural justice if Justice Dinakaran has even a mere “apprehension” that the men judging him are biased.

The stay for two weeks was granted after senior counsel Amarendra Saran and counsel Romy Chacko, appearing for Justice Dinakaran, pointed out that the committee had passed orders without even hearing the petitioner, raising the question of bias.

In his petition, Justice Dinakaran challenged the April 24 order of the committee rejecting his plea that Rao recuse himself from the committee, on grounds of bias. Once the apprehension of bias was raised against a member, he said, an order compelling him/her to continue to serve was fraught with disastrous consequences, impinging on his fundamental rights.

He alleged that Rao was part of a delegation that met then CJI K G Balakrishnan in 2009 to protest his elevation to the Supreme Court.

The probe panel led by Justice Aftab Alam of the SC, which was appointed by Rajya Sabha Chairperson Hamid Ansari, has framed 16 charges against Justice Dinakaran, including possession of wealth disproportionate to his sources of income and encroachment on public property and land belonging to Dalits.

Jamir back in State politics, to contest by-election

For the interest of Naga people, we must win: Rio

Kohima, May 3: After 60 years in politics former Nagaland Chief Minister, who served as Governor of Goa and Maharashtra, is back in State politics.

Jamir, one of the seniormost Congress leaders in the country, will be contesting the ensuing by-election from Aonglenden Assembly constituency on May 7. If declared a winner he could pose a threat to the present Democratic Alliance of Nagaland Government led by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio.

 Jamir wants to make a comeback to contribute towards “peace, unity and prosperity” of the Naga people. “Let us look forward to the future with hope and great expectation, where the younger generation of the Nagas would feel proud of themselves,” he said.

Jamir expressed his appreciation to the Congress party for unanimously recommending his candidature and thereby giving him the opportunity to play an active role in Naga politics once again.

Campaigning for his party (Naga People’s Front), Rio said when regional parties come to power, there is peace and harmony; however when nationl parties come to power in the State, there is trouble.

Rio said that political vision of the NPF party is to work for the protection of the Naga people’s identity and culture and to work for the development of the State.

“We must win. For the interest of the Naga people, we must win. For the future of the Naga people, we must win,” said Rio during his poll campaign.

Jamir’s return has not only rejuvenated the State Congress, but has also posed a major challenge to the ruling Nagaland People’s Front, which has won two consecutive Assembly elections.

Jamir launched his campaign by stating that decades of armed conflict had not only brought untold misery and hardship to the Nagas, but had also divided the tribal society.

“We cannot blame others for this and we cannot deny that Naga society lies mortally wounded because of its own follies,” he had said.

INTERVIEW/Lobsang Sangay

“I would like to continue the dialogue with China”

Lobsang Sangay is the first Kalon Tripa, or prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, to come to power since the Dalai Lama announced he would relinquish his political responsibilities last month. As such,  Sangay will have an unprecedented role to play in the future of the Tibetan movement.

The results of the election for the new prime minister, which took place March 20, were announced in India’s Himalayan town of Dharamsala, where the exiled government is based, on Wednesday.

Born in a Tibetan refugee settlement in India’s hill station of Darjeeling in 1968,  Sangay moved to the U.S. in 1995 to study at Harvard Law School, where he later completed a doctorate on the history of Tibet’s exiled government. He has been living in the U.S. since, and is now a senior fellow at the school.

Before moving to the U.S. he was an active member of the Tibetan Youth Congress in Delhi, participating in many protests against Chinese rule in Tibet.

Sangay, who is set to take office in August, is widely seen as the face of political change among Tibet’s exiled community. In a telephone interview with India Real Time, he talked about his approach to the job and the plights of Buddhist monks at Kirti Monastery, located in a traditionally Tibetan area of China’s Sichuan province, following police crackdowns on unrest there over the past month. Edited excerpts:

IRT: How do you feel about being the first Prime Minister to be elected since the Dalai Lama announced his retirement from politics?

Sangay: It’s humbling and also an honor and a privilege that Tibetans have entrusted their hope and aspirations in me and I will do the best in my capacity to live up to the expectations of Tibetans.

I regard His Holiness’ top down gift of democracy as magnanimous. For Tibetans it remains a difficult decision to digest and I, for one, will do my best to promote His Holiness’ vision of a secular, democratic, Tibetan society. This will always remain my inspiration.

IRT: What will your top priority be as Prime Minister?

Sangay: My number one priority is to end the suffering of Tibetans inside Tibet, to have the Chinese government recognize the identity and dignity of Tibetans and to find a peaceful way to address the issue of Tibet.

Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and Martin Luther King are all great leaders of the nonviolent movement who achieved their goals through both dialogue with the other side and, yes, by also confronting unjust policies as required.

IRT: What is your policy line on China?

Sangay: In my 16 years at Harvard, I organized conferences and met hundreds of Chinese scholars. I would like to continue the dialogue at the people level and if the Chinese government is willing, also at the government level.

More moderate policies and attitudes will serve their interests, too. Tibet is under occupation and there is ongoing repression, cultural assimilation and economic marginalization.

One case in point is the repression at Kirti Monastery in northeastern Tibet. It is a symptom of the ongoing tragedy in Tibet which must end. Moving away from its hard-line policy on Tibet is in the best interests of China, too. It would improve its image in the eyes of the international community.

IRT: You’ve attracted a lot of support from young Tibetans in exile. What message do you have for them?

Sangay: I come from a humble background. My parents had to make many sacrifices for me to go to the Tibetan refugee school. I spent my winter vacations working in the woods to help my parents. The person I have become is mainly because of the education I got and because of my hard work. I hope to inspire the young generation to pursue their education.

I’ll do my best to provide the opportunities, through policies and funding, so that they will be able to stand on their own feet and become successful professionals in the future.

IRT: How would you respond to critics who say you have little experience in government?

Sangay: I have an understanding of the government’s political institutions, I’ve dialogued with Chinese people and have confronted unjust policies of the Chinese government. I am also familiar with the Indian government and its people, which is also important for the role of Kalon Tripa.

Although I do not have direct experience of government, I have had exposure to the inner workings of Dharamsala because I spend a lot of time there. People have taken me for who I am. If you look around the world there are a lot or prime ministers and presidents who are in their forties, from Barack Obama in the U.S., to Julia Gillard in Australia, to David Cameron in the U.K. They are doing fine and I should be fine as well.

NAWANG GOMBU: YOUNGEST HERO OF 1953 EVEREST EXPEDITION

Nawang Gombu (79), the youngest member of the 1953 team that put Sir Edmund Hillary on the summit of Mount Everest, who died at his home in Darjeeling last week (April 25), was the first person in the world to scale Mt. Everest, the world’s highest peak, twice.

Prominent among those who were present during his funeral in Darjeeling last Thursday was Bachendri Pal, a close friend of the deceased who was India’s first woman to climb Everest in 1984. "We not only shared a professional relationship but he was more like a father figure to me. Besides being a great mountaineer, he was also an explorer. His death is a great loss to the nation," Pal said.

Gombu was barely 21 when he joined his uncle Tenzing Norgay -- who eventually summitted with Hillary -- on the first successful expedition to climb the world's highest peak.

Gombu missed out on the summit in 1953, but got there 10 years later and again in 1965 -- making him the first person to scale the mountain twice.

Born in Tibet, he had moved with his family to Nepal before finally settling in the Indian hill town of Darjeeling.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, former president of the Nepal Mountaineering Association and a leading organiser of Everest expeditions, said his death was a "great loss" to the mountaineering community.

"We know that his passing will not only leave a void in our lives, but in the hearts of all those who knew him," he said.