GTA first step towards formation of separate State: GJM

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN      July 20, 2011

GTA first step towards formation of separate State: GJM

There will be no division of Bengal: Mamata

Siliguri, July 19: While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made it very clear on the day the Gorkhaland tripartite agreement was signed here on Monday that there would be no division of West Bengal, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) said creation of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) is a stepping stone for formation of Gorkhaland state in the near future.

A day after the pact was signed Morcha chief Bimal Gurung told his supporters that he has not dropped the demand for a separate Gorkhaland state.

"GTA was born during the seventh round of tripartite meeting and the CPM government had given its consent. At that time it was called Gorkha Autonomous Authority (GAA). But the important thing is that the CPM did not have the heart to give us anything that the Trinamool Congress has," Gurung said.

Referring to Mamata’s statement that Darjeeling was the “heart of Bengal” and would always be a part of the State, Gurung said, “She was under political pressure to say Bengal would not be divided.”

 "We have to let her (Mamata) work because one cannot repair the wrongs of 34 years in an instant. People should also have patience as the process for implementing the GTA will take some time but we must show the government that we (Gorkhas) can run an administration," Gurung said.

“There will be no division of Bengal. Darjeeling is not outside West Bengal. It is the heart of West Bengal. We will stay together,” Mamata told audiences comprising primarily of Gorkhaland supporters during the signing of the accord.

 Morcha MLA from Kalimpong and party spokesperson sided with Gurung when he said, "We are happy with the agreement. But we consider this as a major step towards our ultimate goal of getting a separate state.”

He also pointed out that “it is clearly written in the agreement that we are not giving up our separate statehood demand."

"We appreciate the announcements about common developmental activities. But those hardly address the main reason behind all our movements. It is the question of identity of Gorkha community. That can only be fulfilled by formation of a separate state," Chhetri said.

“We are not going back on the earlier demand of a separate Gorkha state. In fact the agreement for GTA has a separate clause recognising the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, signifying that we are not going back on our earlier demand,” said Roshan Giri, Morcha general secretary.

Obama meets Dalai Lama at White House, assures support on China-Tibet dialogue

Arvind Sharma

Dharamsala, July 19: US President Barack Obama received His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the White House on Saturday, and "encourages direct dialogue to resolve long-standing differences and that a dialogue that produces positive results for China and Tibetans".

“The President reiterated his strong support for the preservation of the unique religious, cultural, and linguistic traditions of Tibet and the Tibetan people throughout the world," a statement of the White House said after the meeting.

"He underscored the importance of the protection of human rights of Tibetans in China."

The President commended the Dalai Lama’s commitment to nonviolence and dialogue with China and his pursuit of the “Middle Way” approach. Reiterating the U.S. policy that Tibet is a part of the People’s Republic of China and the United States does not support independence for Tibet, the President stressed that he encourages direct dialogue to resolve long-standing differences and that a dialogue that produces results would be positive for China and Tibetans.

"The Dalai Lama stated that he is not seeking independence for Tibet and hopes that dialogue between his representatives and the Chinese government can soon resume,” the statement noted.

On his return to the hotel after the meeting, His Holiness gave a brief reaction to some media personnel waiting there. His Holiness said that President Obama showed concern about basic human values, human rights and freedom. Naturally, His Holiness added, he showed genuine concern about suffering in Tibet and also other places. It was wonderful, he added.

The Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy Kasur Lodi Gyari, Representative Kasur Lobsang Nyandak Zayul, and Secretary Tenzin N. Taklha accompanied His Holiness to the White House.

Beijing to pursue tough line on Tibet

Beijing, July 19: Chinese Vice-President Xi Jinping vowed on Tuesday to crack down on separatist forces led by the Dalai Lama, suggesting that China's heir apparent to the presidency will not ease Beijing's hardline stance toward the region.

Xi, who is widely expected to become president in 2013, made the remarks in his first major speech on the subject, just days after the exiled Dalai Lama leader met U.S. President Barack Obama in Washington, angering China, Reuters reported.

"(We) should thoroughly fight against separatist activities by the Dalai clique by firmly relying on all ethnic groups ... and completely smash any plot to destroy stability in Tibet and jeopardize national unity," Xi said in front of Lhasa's Potala Palace, the traditional seat of the Dalai Lama.

"The extraordinary development of Tibet over the past 60 years points to an irrefutable truth: without the Chinese Communist Party, there would have been no new China, no new Tibet," Xi said, at an event to mark 60 years since Tibet's "peaceful liberation."

Beijing has repeatedly accused the Dalai Lama of being a violent separatist.

The Nobel Peace prize laureate denies seeking independence for Tibet, saying he wants a peaceful transition to true autonomy for the remote Himalayan region, which China has ruled with an iron fist since 1950, when Chinese troops marched in.

China has put Tibetan capital Lhasa under tight security over the past few weeks, according to exiled Tibetan groups, and has also banned foreign tourists, nervous of attempts to disturb government celebrations marking the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese Communist Party.

Editorial

DAM THREAT

Take Warning Seriously

Mega hydel projects across the Himalaya may be a constant source of revenue and kickbacks for governments and politicians but they also endanger the fragile environment and ecology of the region while also uprooting the people, particularly the indigenous and tribal people, from their ancestral homeland. Politicians, aided by government officials and corporate houses, never fail to seek shelter under the name of ‘democracy and development’ while exploiting the natural resources and misleading the people for their vested interests. What happens to the inhabitants of the land is least of their concerns even as they make great promises of their economic prospects.

The authorities sadly take fleeting note of predictable disasters only when they encounter disasters – man-made or natural – such as the terrorist attacks in Mumbai last week. Now that the Intelligence Bureau (IB), the country’s premier intelligence watchdog, has warned of a possible terrorist attack on Bhakra Nangal dam, one of the largest dams in the country which lie on Punjab-Himachal Pradesh border, the authorities need to sit up, take note and do something concrete. The IB report projected the threat in the context of a growing feeling in Pakistan about India depriving it of its fair share of water. The IB report said the Bhakra Dam figures prominently on their target list due to its economic importance and potential for large-scale damage downstream. Mega hydel projects in Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh are also a potential threat to the country’s security interests in the sensitive and strategic region.

Hills Celebrate Historic Darjeeling Pact

 A NEW BEGINNING IN GORKHALAND TERRITORY

Plains outfits oppose accord, call bandh

Siliguri, July 19: The historic tripartite agreement for the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was on Monday signed to resolve the vexed Darjeeling problem amidst protests and bandhs in the Terai and Dooars areas.

The agreement was signed by West Bengal Home Secretary G D Gautama, Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary K K Pathak and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha General Secretary Roshan Giri at the Pintail village, about 8 km from Siliguri.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and GJM chief Bimal Gurung and the Bharatiya Janata Party MP from Darjeeling Jaswant Singh were present at the accord-signing ceremony, among others.

Describing the occasion as 'historic,' Chidambaram said the Centre and the state government would fully back the GTA.

"Both the Government of West Bengal and the Government of India will stand by you and hold your hand. The task before you is stupendous. There will be many hurdles, but there is no hurdle that cannot be solved through dialogue, determination and spirit of give and take," the home minister said.

Pointing out that the area under the GTA jurisdiction had a pluralistic society, Chidambaram said, "There will be many races, different languages, different cultures. But we are one people. The new administration must respect the plurality of the region."

Chidambaram added: “Today I stand witness to a historic event, when years of strife have come to an end due to the wisdom and sagacity of two people: Mamata Banerjee and Bimal Gurung. Today is the day when we put all the suffering behind us. Today marks the beginning of the GTA. Today marks pariborton — change for a better tomorrow.”

Chidambaram cautioned Gurung that the task before him was stupendous: “You have to rebuild brick by brick, and the Centre and the state government will be by your side. Here is an opportunity to show that you can govern and deliver.”

    Categorically ruling out any division of West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the new accord gives maximum autonomy to the hill people and would function within the constitutional framework and within West Bengal.

The Amra Bangali, Jana Jagaran and Jaja Chetana, backed by the Adivasi Bikash Parishad, have called a 48-hour bandh in the Terai and Dooars in the plains area against the signing of the pact.

As per the accord, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration will have 59 departments with a board of 50 elected and 5 state-nominated members. It is scheduled to have its first election in six months. A Bill for this will be moved in the Assembly and, on adoption, it will be sent to the President for assent.

Several hills Opposition parties such as AIGL and CPRM issued statements opposing the new agreement and accused the Morcha leadership of betrayal on the statehood issue.   

A day after the historic tripartite agreement Morcha leaders reiterated the fact that they are not going back on their demand for a separate state.

However, during the signing of the pact Mamata declared: “Bengal will not be separated and Darjeeling will smile inside the state. There will be no division of Bengal (Bangla bhag hochchhe na). Darjeeling is not outside West Bengal. It is the heart of West Bengal. We will stay together.”

 “Right now, we will concentrate on the GTA, the election process and selections to the jurisdictional committee. That in no way means we are ignoring the ultimate creation of Gorkhaland,” Morcha General Secretary Roshan Giri said.

That the GTA is a success for the GJM, is proven by the fact that celebrations continued unabated in Darjeeling, while Siliguri and surrounding regions remained paralysed for the second consecutive day on the back of the 48 hour bandh called by anti-Gorkhaland organisations in the foothills of the Darjeeling, Dooars and Terai.

   Slogans such as 'Mamata Banerjee zindabad,' 'Bimal Gurung zindabad,' and 'we want Gorkhaland,' by Morcha supporters were heard during the signing of the accord.

 Baptist World Alliance supports Naga peace process

Rev Wati honoured for peace & unity efforts

Dimapur, July 19: The Naga Hoho and Ao Student Conference (AKM) have

congratulated  Dr Rev Wati Aier, Principal, Oriental Theological Seminary, Dimapur, and Convenor Forum for Naga Reconciliation on  winning the prestigious Baptist World Alliance 2011 Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award.

A Hoho press statement said, “His work in the Naga political issue has been tremendous, a man who has dedicated his life for peace and unity in his motherland.”

The AKM described Wati as a man of “exemplary courage and dedication”, who sowed the seed of Naga Reconciliation.

Wati received the award at Kuala Lapur, Malaysia on July 9. He now joins the likes of former US President and Nobel Peace Laurete Jimmy Carter who was the first recipient of the award in 1995.

Wati spent almost 20 years trying to bring the warring groups to the negotiating table. The FNR, formed in 2008, convened more than 60 meetings of the various Naga factions in the peace process.

What is more significant is that in a historic resolution, the general council meeting of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) held at Kuala Lumpur from July 4 to 9, affirmed support to the long-protracted Naga issue and the ongoing Naga reconciliation process initiated by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR).

With the affirmation, a total of 120 nations federating with BWA would now make it their focus to advocate the Naga issue to all corners of the world through prayers.

The Peace Commission of the Division of Freedom and Justice for the BWA has also endorsed the 'Journey of Common Hope' for Naga reconciliation.

The FNR convener, Rev Wati Aier, who also attended the 2011 Baptist World Alliance meet, told mediapersons here that the resolution of the BWA with support from 120 nations is historic, of great significance and a huge blessing. "It is very important that the Naga people and leaders, both underground and over-ground, understand the significance of the BWA resolution," he said, expressing hope that Naga leaders would take this support seriously.

The BWA also affirmed the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) and its leadership, which has courageously supported the reconciliation process in calling Baptist brothers and sisters to be reconciled with one another and to adopt non-violent methods in pursuit of their goals.

The regional bodies of BWA under which 120 nations coalesce include All Africa Baptist Fellowship, Asia Pacific Baptist Federation, Caribbean Baptist Fellowship, European Baptist Federation, Union of Baptist in Latin America and North American Baptist Fellowship.

On the home front, the FNR said there is no gap in the Journey of Common Hope and the reconciliation process as feared by many in the backdrop of the split in the Khaplang group into NSCN (Khole-Kitovi) and NSCN(K) and the recent spurt of violence.

India halts US missions to find WWII dead

Missing plane wreckage lies in disputed territory of Arunachal Pradesh

Itanagar, July 19: Following some good yarns over the past few years about the Indiana Jones-style discoveries of the wreckage of fighter planes and bombers downed going "over the Hump" to join the battle against the Japanese in the Burma theater of World War II, India has reportedly put an end to US missions to recover its war dead from the jungles of the Northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh.

While missions were carried out by the US in the past to recover remains of aviators who perished in plane crashes while flying over the ‘hump’ to deliver supplies for allied forces fighting the Japanese in China, all missions to Arunachal have been halted for the past two years, the Indian Express reports.

More than 500 US warplanes are believed to be missing while flying in the China, India and Burma theatre during the world war, the paper said. In Arunachal alone, estimates put the number of missing Americans at over 400.

The paper said that the US embassy had made requests to conduct at least two more missions last year, but canceled them this year after India refused to grant permission for the expeditions.  The Indian Express speculated that India's ongoing border dispute with China in Arunachal Pradesh was the reason for the change in policy.