HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN Vol 1 No 19 Page 1 May 18, 2011
Rethinking in Sikkim if Centre ignores rampant corruption, misrule: Sikkim Liberation Party
Himalayan News Network
Gangtok, May 17: The newly-formed Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP) has warned the Centre that if it continues to neglect rampant corruption, suppression of democratic rights, and alleged misrule in the State which has been the order of the day in the past three and half decades since the merger, the Sikkimese people would be forced to take a “different course” of action to shape their future.
In its memorandum, dated May 16, 2011, to the Union Home Minister, P. Chidambaram, SLP Convenor, Duk Nath Nepal , said the party’s letter to him was the “last hope” of the Sikkimese people to set things right in Sikkim
The message in the memorandum is well-timed as it comes on May 16, which is annually observed as a State Day in the State, commemorating the day (May 16, 1975) when the former kingdom formally became the 22nd State of India.
Stating that Central funds are widely misused in the past three decades, when two persons ruled Sikkim , Nepal alleged that New Delhi Nepal
If what is going on in Sikkim is supposed to be “a fruit of democracy” and “dreams of our forefathers” then, Nepal
It further warned: “…if the Government of India cannot keep the promise made to our forefathers” and if there is further suppression of the democratic movement in Sikkim
“Talks only with Dalai Lama’s aides”
Himalayan News Network
The remarks by Zhu Weiqun, a vice minister of the Chinese Communist Party's United Front Work Department -- which has led unsuccessful on-off talks with the Dalai Lama's envoys -- are Beijing's strongest reaction yet to the election of Harvard law scholar Lobsang Sangay as Tibet's new prime minister in exile, Reuters reported.
In an interview on the website of the China News Service on Thursday Zhu said the exiled government was an illegal group with no recognition.
"We have two basic points when it comes to contacts and negotiations. The first is that the capacity of the other side can only be as the Dalai Lama's private representatives," the article cited Zhu as saying.
"It does not matter who is the 'kalon tripa' (prime minister) of his 'government in exile', they are a splittist political clique that has betrayed the motherland. There is nothing legal about them and they have no qualifications to 'talk' with the central government's representatives," he added.
Sangay told Reuters in an interview this week that he was willing to negotiate with Beijing
The Nobel Peace Prize-winning Dalai Lama said in March he would relinquish the four-century old tradition of political guidance in favour of a popularly elected leader by the Tibetan diaspora.
Zhu, whose department oversees the Party's dealings with religious organisations, said the only meaningful thing the exiled government could do was dissolve itself.
"The content of negotiations can only be about the Dalai Lama's future, or at most that of a few of his personal aides," Zhu said.
New Tibet
Arvind Sharma
Dharamsala, May 17: The new Tibetan Prime Minister-in-exile Lobsang Sangay expressed hope that dialogue process with China China after protests in Tibet
Sangay has also endorsed the middle-way approach adopted by the Dalai Lama in which he had sought meaningful autonomy under Chinese sovereignty. “The stated policy of the Tibetan government in exile is the middle-way. So, I as the Kalon Tripa elect, when I take over, which is likely to be in mid-August, will implement that policy,” he said.
On his arrival here from the US last week-end Sangay told reporters that one of his main priorities would be to ensure that the Dalai Lama returns to his “rightful place in Lhasa
“His Holiness Dalai Lama made the magnanimous decision to dissolve his political power to elected leaders. It is not a question of replacing him, he’s irreplaceable, he’s led us brilliantly for the last 50 years and he will be a great source of inspiration for all of us,” Sangay said.
The new PM will be administered oath to the office on May 30. He, however, will assume office in August when the term of present Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche ends.
Sangay will also participate in the debate of Tibetan parliamentarians and other leaders over the draft proposals framed by a committee of Tibetan parliamentarians for devolution of political and administrative authority of the Dalai Lama to the elected leadership.
After the draft proposals for devolving the political and administrative authority of the Dalai Lama are discussed by the Tibetan luminaries, a special session of Tibetan parliament-in-exile will be convened at the end of May to pass resolutions.
Nepal govt for another year extension for Parliament
Himalayan News Network
Kathmandu, May 17: Nepal
The parliament, known as the Constituent Assembly, was originally elected with a two-year mandate -- meant to end on May 28, 2010 with the promulgation of the new constitution, AFP reported.
Political deadlock in the Maoist-dominated house resulted in a one-year extension to May 2011 and, with no constitution in sight, the cabinet has now proposed a second extension to May 2012.
"We have decided to extend the term because it became clear that we won't be able to promulgate the constitution within the deadline," Education Minister Gangalal Tuladhar told reporters.
The decision followed a multi-party meeting, notable for the absence of two opposition parties who want to stick with the original deadline, the report said.
The proposed extension will require the support of two-thirds of parliament. "The government will hold negotiations with other parties to garner their votes to secure the approval," Tuladhar said.
The conflict ended in 2006 and led to the abolition of a centuries-old Hindu monarchy, ushering in a difficult transition period to democracy in which the drafting of a new constitution is considered a crucial step.
The lack of progress, amid splits between and inside various parties, has seen public anger mounting in recent months with civil society groups demanding that MPs deliver the constitution in time.
Editorial
TIBET
The newly-elected Prime Minister, Lobsang Sangay, of the exiled Tibetan Government has stated that one of his top priorities would be to continue engaging Beijing Beijing Tibet issue through peaceful means unlike a section of the younger exiled Tibetan leadership which prefer a more radical way to tackle Beijing Tibet
While leading the exiled government Sangay must note that one of his main priorities should be to work towards more democratization of not only the system of governance but to help the Tibetans in Tibet and elsewhere to think and act democratically in society and in their daily life. The Dalai Lama has graciously given up political power to enable Tibetans to work towards a secular, democratic society while preserving Tibet
Bimal Gurung on poll results:
“VICTORY FOR GORKHALAND”
C. Tamang
The Morcha’s three candidates won all three hill constituencies in Darjeeling
The victory margin of the three winning candidates is also the highest in the State.
Trilok Dewan, GJM candidate from Darjeeling
Harka Bahadur Chettri, GJM candidate from Kalimpong, secured 109,102 votes defeating his nearest rival Prakash Dahal of the GNLF who had secured 7427 votes, by a margin of 101675 votes.
Rohit Sharma, GJM candidate from Kurseong secured 114297 votes defeating his nearest rival Pemu Chettri of the GNLF who had secured 21201 votes, by a margin of 93096 votes.
In Darjeeling
“This is a unique victory. Our rivals have forfeited their deposits. This is a victory for Gorkhaland, the public and the able candidates,” said GJM President Bimal Gurung.
Ghising leaves hills after GNLF-GJM clash
GNLF activists reportedly attacked a Morcha victory celebration near Sonada on Sunday night. While one Morcha member was stabbed on the neck another three were injured in the clashes.
In retaliation, Morcha supporters vandalized five houses of GNLF supporters in Sonada, located between Darjeeling
The Morcha leadership has blamed Ghising for the unrest. Four GNLF supporters have been arrested. Ghising reportedly left the hills on Sunday night.
Morcha supporter Rabin Rai, who was injured in the incident, was taken to a Siliguri hospital for medical treatment.
The newly elected Morcha MLA from Kurseong Rohit Sharma, accused the GNLF of trying to disrupt the victory celebration. “Armed GNLF goons hurled stones at our party members. Soon after, they attacked our supporters.”
"We have deployed a contingent of police in Sonada. The situation is normal," said Darjeeling SP D P Singh. The four arrested persons were produced in the Kurseong court on Monday.
Morcha MLAs threaten to resign if Gorkhaland demand is rejected
Mamata to keep her Darjeeling
Kolkata, May 17: Trinamool Congress leader and CM-designate Mamata Banerjee said she would try to sort out the Jangalmahal and Darjeeling
"I will try my level best to sort out the problems in three months," Banerjee told a Bengali news channel here, a national daily reported.
While Jangalmahal area in three districts of West Bengal are affected by the Maoist problem, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is demanding separate statehood for the Darjeeling Hills.
"I will go to Jangalmahal and Darjeeling Hills as promised and talk to the people there," she said.
Mamata is also expected to appeal to the Centre to solve the Darjeeling
Meanwhile, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha is hopeful that Mamata would fulfil her promise of finding an amicable solution in the hills within 100 days of her coming to power.
The newly-elected Morcha MLA Harka Bahadur Chhetri said, “We will talk to Mamata Banerjee after she assumes charge as chief minister. If she does not agree to our demands, we will resign from the Assembly and the GJM will chalk out plans for future agitation for Gorkhaland," Chhetri said.
He, however, added, “We will either be a part of the government or resign from the Assembly, particularly if it is proved beyond doubt that Trinamul and the Congress will not accept our key demand for Gorkhaland,” Chhetri said.
“We have supported the Congress-Trinamul alliance in the Dooars and the Terai. So we have every right to want to participate in the new government if the alliance comes to power,” Chhetri said.
“In case our demand is turned down outright, then we shall resign as there is no point in sitting in the Opposition. The GNLF sat in the Opposition for all these years but achieved nothing.”
Chhetri, however, said the Morcha would not apply pressure on the new government to clear its stand on this statehood demand “from day one” but would give it “sufficient time” to make up its mind.
No IT exemption for non-Sikkimese: Centre
Goyal to pursue issue with Rajya Sabha panel
Gangtok, May 17: Despite the Centre’s decision not to give income tax exemption for non-Sikkimese social activist and Chief Coordinator of Nagarik Sangharsh Samiti Prem Goyal seems confident that he would get a favourable response from the Centre on the issue for the old business community in the State.
Briefing reporters here last Friday, Goyal said he had received a letter from the Union Finance Ministry’s Revenue Department stating that the Centre was not keen on giving income tax exemption to non-Sikkimese, who do not possess the Sikkim Subject Certificate. This certificate is issued to bonafide Sikkimese (Sikkim
The letter, dated April 25, 2011, was in response to Goyal’s memorandum to the Finance Ministry urging it to consider giving IT exemption to old settlers who resided in Sikkim
Goyal said while the Finance Ministry had closed the chapter on his demand he has also approached the Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Petition Committee on the same subject. The committee has accepted his petition and the first hearing took place in January this year.
According to Goyal, the panel is likely take up the hearing of the issue on May 16 and a positive response is expected from the 10-member committee.
Several organisations of the business community in the State close to the ruling party and government had placed much hope on the Chamling Government to get IT exemption for pre-merger settlers in the State. The government had also passed a resolution in the State Assembly in March this year demanding tax exemption for non-Sikkimese who were settled in Sikkim
After nearly two decades of fighting the Centre granted IT exemption to bonafide Sikkimese in 2008.
“In this regard, I am directed to state that the exemption package to Sikkim was granted after a well consulted and considered decision, involving the representatives from Government of Sikkim,” the letter to Goyal said. It added, “It will not be advisable now to reopen a subject which had been concluded after 18 years of negotiation with consensus. Therefore, it would not be feasible to include Non-Sikkimese under the ambit of exemptions provided by section 10(26AAA) of the Act.”
No comments:
Post a Comment