INDEFINITE FAST FROM JUNE 4
Ramadev all set to lead nationwide anti-corruption campaign
Observer News Service
New Delhi, June 3: Pulling out all stops to convince Baba Ramdev not to go ahead with his proposed fast from June 4 to demand an end to corruption and black money, senior ministers are meeting him again even as the yoga guru stood his ground. On Tuesday, the government took the unusual step of deputing four senior ministers — Pranab Mukherjee, Kapil Sibal, PK Bansal and Subodh Kant Sahay — as well as cabinet secretary KM Chandrashekhar to talk to Ramdev at the Delhi airport on his arrival from Ujjain in a chartered plane.
The gesture went beyond the niceties accorded to visiting heads of state and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly asked Sahay to cut short his foreign trip and use his personal equation with Ramdev to urge him to call off his agitation which, the government fears, could slip into the BJP-RSS’s hands.
Although Ramdev is still planning to go ahead with his fast, sources hinted that the talks were moving in the right direction, with the government assuring him that it is taking a series of steps to unearth unaccounted wealth, which have started yielding results.
There were, however, discordant voices within the Congress over the developments. “Fasts cannot end corruption in the country,” said party general secretary Digvijaya Singh. Other party leaders, who were not willing to be quoted, appeared unhappy with the government’s overdrive to placate the yoga guru.
Ramdev, who earlier in the day did a volte-face on his statement that the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India should be kept out of the Lokpal’s purview, also told reporters his first round of talks with the government was positive and the dialogue would continue.
"But we will not be satisfied with dialogue or assurances. There should be evidence of bringing back black money from tax havens,” Ramdev said after meeting the ministers.
"Till there is 100% agreement on all issues and a decisive stage is reached, the fast will go on,” Ramdev added. “It is a big war. We have to change the system of 64 years. It is not an easy task. But we will get it done.”
Meanwhile, a 2.5 lakh square metre waterproof marquee has been erected, massive cut-outs of Baba Ramdev have been put in place, and thousands of his followers have reached the site. Ramlila ground -- the venue for the yoga guru's proposed hunger strike -- is bustling with activity even before the fast begins on June 4.
The yoga guru says his fast is to protest against the illegal funnelling of wealth abroad by Indians for tax avoidance.
The move follows April's hunger strike by activist Anna Hazare demanding tough anti-corruption laws.
Anna Hazare ended a 96-hour hunger strike, known as the "fast unto death", after the government agreed to all of his demands and forced the government to change the way its new anti-corruption law was being drawn up.
"India
"The nation's wealth stashed in foreign banks should be brought back by India
Dalai Lama hands over power to elected leaders
Observer News Service
Dharamsala, June 3: Nearly three months after he pledged to give up political leadership of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama has formally devolved powers to the new elected leaders of the Tibetan exiles.
But the 75-year-old Nobel Prize winner said he would stay committed to the cause of Tibet
A Tibetan official said the Dalai Lama on Sunday approved the amendments the Tibetan parliament had made in the Tibetan charter, IANS reported.
“Now Dalai Lama’s administrative and political powers are vested with the democratically elected leaders,” spokesman Tenzin Norbu said.
The Dalai Lama vested the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and its elected leadership with the powers and responsibilities formerly held by him and the CTA.
It was on May 10 that the Dalai Lama, the global face of the Tibetan exile movement, shocked many by announcing that he would hand over power to the elected leadership.
According to the amended charter, the powers earlier vested with the Dalai Lama, who fled to India
Other responsibilities have been given to parliament and the judiciary.
Parliament has also approved that the title of “Tibetan government-in-exile” be changed to “Tibetan administration.”
Under the new charter, the Dalai Lama’s duties will include providing advice and encouragement with respect to the protection and promotion of the physical, spiritual, ethical and cultural well being of the Tibetan people. He will also remain engaged in the efforts to reach a satisfactory solution to the Tibetan issue.
D N Nepal’s Shangrila Times faces discrimination
Observer News Service
Gangtok, June 3: Duk Nath Nepal
Though what prompted him to resort to this likely step stems from the “unconstitutional” and discriminatory manner in which his Nepali daily, Shangrila Times, was suddenly deprived of government advertisements recently, Nepal has been facing suppression of various forms in the State in the past two decades.
In a letter to State Chief Secretary NDChingapa, Nepal has given a detailed story of how his democratic and constitutional rights have been curtailed in Sikkim
Nepal was not only “illegally” locked up in jail for 25 days and subsequently taken to “the court barefooted and produced before the judge in handcuff like a hardcore criminal” during the Bhandari regime in 1991 for writing the truth in one of his publications, even during the present Chamling rule he has been faced several instances of economic suppression.
After spending several years in different political parties, including Congress, BJP and CPIM, Nepal
In his letter he mentions that though his paper has been empanelled with the Information and Public Relations Department (IPR) for receiving government advertisements his paper has been unjustly discriminated against. This has caused a lot of financial constraint as he not only has to pay salaries to his 16 employees but also bank loans.
Unfortunately from Jan 2011 the IPR “without any information and reason… cur-
tailed my rights to get advertisements illegally and unconstitutionally,” Nepal
These developments have led Nepal
“In my 46 years of life I never got a single second where I enjoyed the fruit of
democracy promised to my forefather’s by the union of India
In his letter to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, Nepal
Quoting the Universal Declaration Act of 1951, Nepal
SC reserves verdict on Dinakaran after marathon hearing
Observer News Service
After a marathon hearing stretching several days on several important questions relating to the role of judges, their appointment and removal procedures as laid down in the Constitution and the Judges Inquiry Act, a bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and C.K. Prasad reserved the judgment.
Two senior advocates — B.P. Patil and Amarendra Sharan — appearing for Justice Dinakaran, took serious objection to Tuesday’s intervention by government law officer P.P. Malhotra in the case and defending the inquiry panel’s order to investigate the matter further.
While explaining that the impeachment motion was an issue between Parliament and the judge under probe, Sharan asked where was the need for the Centre to intervene when the matter was still before the inquiry committee.
Rejecting the contention that the committee was empowered to conduct a preliminary probe before the framing of charges, Patil said having regard to the scheme of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, definite charges could be framed only on the basis of the charges contained in the motion.
He pointed out that the committee could not add or substitute any material for the framing of charges as it had no jurisdiction to do so.
In the present case, it was admitted that enquiry was conducted prior to the framing of charges by taking evidence.
Additional solicitor-general P.P. Malhotra on Tuesday had justified the order of the three-member inquiry committee, headed by Supreme Court Justice Aftab Alam, framing 14 charges against Justice Dinakaran while the impeachment motion notice issued to him contained only 12 charges.
Gurung & Co hold talks with central leaders before June 6 meet in Kolkata
Observer News Service
New Delhi, June 3: Union Ministers, Pranab Mukherjee and P. Chidambaram, have asked the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership to work with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to find an amicable solution to the hills problem.
Morcha delegation led by its chief Bimal Gurung met Mukherjee and Chidambaram yesterday to hold talks with the Centre before its meeting with officials of the West Bengal Government on June 6.
The meeting with central leaders was crucial to elicit their views before the June 6 meet, Morcha leaders said.
Resumption of the tripartite meeting would now depend on the outcome of the meeting in Kolkata next week.
Gurung was accompanied by Morcha General Secretary Roshan Gurung, the three newly-elected members of the party in the Assembly – Harka Bahadur Chhetri, Trilok Dewan and Rohit Sharma – and study forum members – L B Pariyar and P. Arjun.
WWF to organize two-day conservation drive in Lachen, Gurudongmar
P. Rai
Gangtok, June 3: WWF-India will hold a two-day environment conservation drive in Lachen in north Sikkim
The garbage cleaning drive in Lachen on June 4 will be followed by a second drive at the famous Gurudongmar lake further north, located at an altitude of about 17,000 feet above sea level.
This project will be a part of the High Altitude Wetlands Conservation Project in Sikkim of the WWF in India
The drive will be carried out by WWF-India Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme in association with Lachen Tourism Development Committee.
The Lachen Dzomsa (Assembly of the People), members of the local community along with school students will take part in the two-day programme, informed sources said.
WWF-India has been working towards biodiversity conservation through participation of the local communities in the State for more than ten years.
One of its main priorities has been the conservation of myriad high altitude wetlands in the State, fragile environments providing multiple benefits, including water security, refuge for wildlife and tourist attractions.
Following a successful conservation model in Tsomgo in east Sikkim with conservation issues monitored by the Pokhari Sanrakshan Samity, focus has also been given to Lake Gurudongmar , one of the highest lakes in the world and a major tourist destination and pilgrimage centre in Sikkim
Conservation plans have been worked out in collaboration with local governance institutions like the Lachen Dzumsa, organizations like the Lachen Tourism Development Committee to ensure effective protection to the fragile high altitude environment of the lake while continuing sustainable tourism practices.
It is hoped that these drives will generate major awareness regarding sustainable management of waste in two of the major tourist attractions in the State where huge number of both domestic and international tourists arrive each year.
Editorial
ACTIVIST VS ESTABLISHMENT
The meeting between ministers and civil society leaders on the Lokpal Bill ended on May 31 on a bitter note, with activists accusing the government of not being serious about fighting corruption. In its website (India Against Corruption) civil society members of the joint drafting committee of the Bill said the government's intentions were suspect and people should be prepared to taking to the streets. Noted yoga guru Baba Ramadev, who supports a strong Bill to check corruption, is all set to lead a countrywide anti-corruption rally on June 4.
Anti-corruption crusader Arvind Kejriwal has rightly and very sternly pointed out to representatives of the government in the drafting panel that it was unacceptable that the government now wanted the prime minister, judiciary, MPs as well as officers below the rank of joint secretaries out of the purview of the proposed Lokpal.
Kejriwal wanted to know – most citizens of the country also want to know – if this official proposal enjoyed the backing of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written to Baba Ramdev asking him not to go ahead with his hunger strike from June 4, promising to find with him "pragmatic" solution to tackle the scourge of corruption. However, Ramdev made it cear that he was not calling off his agitation plan till all the demands were met. Social activist Anna Hazare has claimed that conspiracies were being hatched against Lok Pal bill to curb graft and urged people to be ready to agitate to save the proposed legislation.
The Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre needs to sit up and take note of the people’s readiness to take to the streets to agitate against corruption in high places. The fight against corruption is not going to be a 100 metre dash but a never ending marathon.
We will fight against corruption together, Hazare tells Ramadev
Observer News Service
Hazare, who rattled the government in April through his fast for a stronger Lokpal that generated widespread nationwide support, said all those fighting against corruption should not be satisfied with the oral assurances of the government.
Hazare said he would join Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi
"I will support Ramdev so that the government does not do what it did when we were fighting. We will fight together against corruption," he said.
Referring to the question of bringing Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal, which Hazare claimed the government had agreed to earlier but now disfavours.
Claiming that the government has "cheated" activists on the issue of Lokpal and people have realised the "betrayal" by the government, Hazare said, "it is a fraud if the government agrees on certain issues and say the Prime Minister will be accountable under Lokpal and later backs out."
"Baba Ramdev has been raising the issue of black money from so many days. Why did the government not think of doing something on the issue? People have now come to know what the intentions of the government are.
"Now no more hollow assurances and oral promises. What we want is action and the fight against corruption will continue throughout the country till we get what we want," he said.
TIBET-CHINA DIALOGUE - I
The Demand for Genuine Autonomy for Tibet
The statement of Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on the present status of dialogue between the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government delivered at the Institute of South Asian Studies, Singapore, November 24, 2010.
I would like to thank the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) for providing this opportunity to share my thoughts on the status of our discussions with the Chinese government in finding a political solution to the issue of Tibet
Today, our talks with the Chinese leadership have reached a stage where, for the first time after decades of being in and out of contact, we have been able to convey to them in an unambiguous manner the position of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in seeking a solution within the framework of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the steps that need to be taken to resolve the Tibetan problem. Although we are yet to see any concrete outcome leading to a solution, our talks have certainly enabled the two sides to have a better understanding of each other’s position and concerns.
In order to put our dialogue process with the Chinese leadership in context, I would like to explain its historical development. Broadly, we can categorize the dialogue process into three phases since the process began in 1979:
Initial Contact (1979 – 1985)
The first phase started with the establishment of contact in 1979, when the then Chinese leader, Mr. Deng Xiaoping, conveyed a message to His Holiness the Dalai Lama (through Mr. Gyalo Thondup, his elder brother) that except for the issue of Tibetan independence, all other issues could be discussed and resolved.
Subsequently, two high level Tibetan delegations were sent to Beijing
Simultaneously, four fact-finding delegations were sent by His Holiness to study the conditions in different parts of Tibet
During this phase of the dialogue process, the Tibetan delegations met with senior Chinese leaders, including Mr. Deng Xiaoping and other politburo members.
Tibetan Initiatives and Developments in Tibet
The second phase of our dialogue process occurred between 1985 and 1993. There were infrequent visits by emissaries of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to China
As an effort to encourage the beginning of serious talks on the issue of Tibet, in September 1987 His Holiness presented his Five-Point Peace Plan, his vision for a way forward on Tibet, in an address to the US Congressional Human Rights Caucus in Washington D.C. Thereafter, in June 1988, His Holiness elaborated on the fifth point (calling for earnest negotiations on Tibet ) of his Five-Point Peace Plan, in an address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg Beijing
Thereafter, the Chinese government publicly agreed to meet His Holiness’ representatives to discuss issues any time at a venue of his choice. His Holiness responded positively and immediately to this indicating his sincerity and determination to engage in dialogue. He appointed a negotiation team and proposed that the talks be held in Geneva Beijing Hong Kong in April of that year was also rejected.
September 1987 saw the beginning of a series of massive demonstrations by Tibetans in Tibet Tibet
Meanwhile, as an indication of the international community’s recognition of his peaceful efforts, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. China
Eventually, contacts between our two sides broke off in August 1993.
Re-establishment of the dialogue process (2002 onwards)
After several years of intense and active informal and behind the scene contacts, our two sides agreed to resume formal direct contact and the first round in this process took place in September 2002. This process can be categorized as the third phase. This phase has become more institutionalized with meetings being more business like. Since 2002, nine rounds of talks and one informal session have been held. The most recent round, the Ninth Round, took place in January 2010. I have been leading the Tibetan side in all these deliberations.
During these rounds we have been able to present and clarify His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s position on the future of Tibet
Our Memorandum puts forth our position on genuine autonomy and how the specific needs of the Tibetan nationality for autonomy and self- government can be met through application of the principles on autonomy of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China
Since the Chinese leadership had several concerns relating to the Memorandum, which they rejected as being unconstitutional, we presented a Note to the Memorandum during the Ninth Round in January this year. This Note addressed the concerns and offered some constructive suggestions for a way forward in our dialogue process. The Note was also intended to prevent misinterpretation and misconception by the general public about His Holiness’ position.
We emphasized that His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s sole concern is the wellbeing of the Tibetan people. His Holiness has never raised any issue relating to his personal wellbeing or the welfare of the people around him. Our position is that most of the Tibetan people are being severely marginalized and that they do not enjoy satisfactory religious, political, economic, language and cultural, and social rights. The widespread peaceful demonstrations throughout Tibet
The Chinese Government, however, contends that the Tibetan people are in a happy and satisfactory situation, and that there is no Tibetan issue.
In the light of these two differing perspectives, we suggested that there be a study by the two sides to determine the conditions of the Tibetan people. The Tibetan people should have the opportunity to participate in this study without fear or suspicion. If the outcome of this study is that most of the Tibetans feel there is no problem and their present situation is satisfactory, this is what His Holiness the Dalai Lama is calling for. But if the outcome confirms that most of the Tibetan people are not in a satisfactory situation, the Chinese government then needs to recognize that there is a problem and, in the spirit of seeking truth from facts, our two sides need to discuss and find a solution.
Also, during the informal session in Shenzhen in May 2008, we rejected the Chinese charge that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership in exile have instigated the demonstrations throughout the Tibetan areas since March 10, 2008.
Since we find that the same allegations are being repeated, we asked the Chinese Government to clarify and invited it to undertake a thorough scientific investigation, in Tibet
Some Important Issues Raised by the Chinese Side
During our most recent round, the Chinese side provided us with a detailed briefing on developments relating to Tibet
We especially welcomed the fact that the Fifth Tibet Work Forum has looked into the issues of development in all Tibetan areas –The Tibet Autonomous Region as well as other Tibetan areas. It is our strong belief that all the Tibetan areas must be under a uniform policy and a single administration. If we take away the political slogans, many of the issues that have been prioritized by the Forum are similar to the basic needs of the Tibetan people outlined in our Memorandum. However, recent indications are that instead of having a positive uniform policy for all Tibetan areas, there is effort to extend the stringent measurements already in place in the Tibet Autonomous Region to all other Tibetan areas. This is a counterproductive measure and the Chinese authorities need to realize this.(to be continued)
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