HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN Vol 1 No 19 Page1 July 27, 2011

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Vol 1 No 19       Page1 July 27, 2011

Prachanda finally agrees to power-sharing

Baburam in PM-in-waiting

RP Sharma

Kathmandu, July 26: Under pressure from most of his deputies, Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has finally agreed to loosen his grip over the party and share power. On Monday, the Maoist central committee approved Prachanda’s political document that advocates division of responsibilities and shifting of party focus on peace and constitution drafting. 

As part of the deal, Prachanda will continue to retain the parliamentary party leadership while vice-chairman Baburam Bhattarai would get the prime minister’s post when the party gets a chance to head the government.

Another deputy Mohan Baidya will head the party’s disciplinary department besides handling his existing responsibility of organization. General Secretry Ram Bahadur Thapa will head the military wing.

On Sunday the party had recalled most ministers in the present government to replace them with a team headed by Vice Chairman Narayan Kaji Shrestha, who will be the new Deputy PM and Home Minister.

The move to recall ministers is already witnessing opposition from Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal and opposition Nepali Congress. Maoists have threatened to pull out of the coalition if the new ministers are now sworn in.

Prachanda was forced to give up his singular control over the party after Baidya, Bhattarai, Shrestha and Thapa combined forces demanding more responsibilities.

Tibetan PM to take oath on August 8

Arvind Sharma

Dharamsala, July 26: The newly-elected Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) of the Tibetan exiled government, Lobsang Sangay, 43, will take oath of office on August 8.

The oath taking ceremony will be held at the central courtyard of the Tsuglagkhang, opposite the Office of the Dalai Lama a MecLeoadganj, near Dharamsala, which is the headquarters of the Tibetan government in exile.

He will be administered oath of office by Ngawang Phelgyal, the Chief Justice Commissioner. The function among others will also be graced by the Dalai Lama.

The new Prime Minister will be the first to take charge of the office after the Tibetan Parliament amended its Charter to divest the Dalai Lama of his political role and transfer his functions to the Parliament.

Sangay will succeed Prof Samdhong Rinpoche, a close confidante of the Dalai Lama.

Sangay had received his early education at Tibetan Refugee High School at Darjeeling and did his LL.B from Delhi University. Later he got Fulbright Fellowship to Harvard Law School.

Centre’s silence on stapled visa issue to Arunachalese “disheartening”

Himalayan News Network

Itanagar, July 26: The Centre’s reluctance to send a clear message to Beijing on the stapled visa issue has not been well received by those participating in international sporting events from Arunachal Pradesh.

Referring to China's issuing stapled visas repeatedly to Arunachal Pradesh sportspersons and preventing them from representing India in international events,

Chombay Kee, president of Yuva Arunachal (YA), an Ngo in the State, said

 "While China's diplomatic move and visa regime for Arunachal people deserve condemnation, the silence of New Delhi is equally disheartening."

Kee's statement comes in the wake of the Chinese embassy's issuing stapled visas to a team of karatekas from the State recently. The team on its way to Quanghou City in Fujjian province of China were prevented by Indian immigration officials from boarding their flight at the IGI airport in New Delhi for possessing stapled visas issued by the Chinese embassy.

"The central leaders are yet to react even after five people from Arunachal, including three karatekas, were prevented by the immigration officers at IG International Airport, New Delhi from flying to China on July 19 to take part in the 11th Asian Karateka-do Championship," he said.

Earlier this year, two sportsmen from Arunachal were given such stapled travel documents that prevented them from boarding a flight to Beijing. Indian Weightlifting Federation's joint secretary Abraham K Techi and a weightlifter of the State had to miss a tournament in China because immigration officials at New Delhi's IGI Airport turned them away because of the stapled visas.

Bhutan’s ‘Gross National Happiness’ on UN agenda

T. Dem

Thimphu, July 26: The General Assembly of the United Nations last week added Bhutan's model of Gross National Happiness (GNH) on its agenda to see whether it can be used as a development indicator.

In a non-binding resolution, the UN body called on member states to draw up their own measures of happiness based on Bhutan’s GNH principle, Asianews reported. The goal is to measure economics not only in terms of production and per capita revenue but also in terms of people’s sense of satisfaction.

Bhutanese Ambassador to the United Nations Lhatu Wangchuk said, “Our initial idea was to bring the concept of happiness to the consciousness of the UN membership . . . because we know that GDP indicators are inadequate to address human needs.”

He admitted some were sceptical when Bhutan started lobbying for the resolution 10 months ago. But ultimately it won 66 co-sponsors, including the UK.

The idea is based on Bhutan's model of GNH, or Gross National Happiness, which measures quality of life by trying to strike a balance between the material and the spiritual.

Created in 1972, by then 16-year old King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, GNH is based on four pillars: the promotion of sustainable development, preservation and promotion of cultural values, conservation of the natural environment, and establishment of good governance.

According to Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley, “There may be cultural and such other conditions that make the pursuit of happiness relevant only to certain sections of the human society.”

“Our endeavour will have to be to prove and convince that it is, in fact, relevant to every human being and for every country, and that it is the most worthy pursuit for human society,” he added.

Thinley said that for centuries economic models have been based on human greed that led countries to focus on profit, ownership and consumption.

Nepal urged to respect rights of Tibetan women refugees

RP Sharma

Kathmandu, July 26: Nepal has been urged to treat Tibetan refugees with respect and dignity.

In a recent report on conditions of Tibetan refugees in Nepal, the Tibetan Women Association has urged the Nepal Government to protect the rights of women, end arbitrary arrests and stop deportation of Tibetan refugees back to Tibet.

These demands were placed before the recent 49th session of the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), according to the Association President, Dolkar Lhamo Kirti.

“Past reports submitted in 1997 and 2003 by the Government of Nepal have lacked any mention of refugees or internally displaced people,” Kirti said. “The report submitted by Nepal this year makes slight mention of refugee women in Nepal, but does not reference the plight of Tibetan women,” she added.

TWA wants Nepal to “fully implement the provisions of CEDAW, ensuring that the stipulations therein are translated into appropriate legislation to effectively protect the rights of women in member countries.”

Tibet film ‘Passport Photos’ screened at international film festivals

Produced by Black Coffee Productions and Think Tibet productions ‘Passport Photos’ is a 15- minute documentary film that features a collection of conversations with young, suave and urban Tibetans with a shared name ‘Tenzin’. The film recognizes them by the prefix ‘Tenzin’. 

Set against the image backdrop of the Tibetan passport of Tsepon Wangchuk Deden Shakabpa, which was discovered in Nepal in 2003, those involved, all Tenzins, engage in a friendly banter about their lives, aspirations, dreams and essentially their experiences as an exile born and bred refugee. 

The film ‘Passport Photos’ competed against 300 other short documentary films to avail its exclusive screenings at the International Film Festivals. Having completed its post-production work in 2010, the film was first premiered at the IBN Arabi Film Festival in Murcia, Spain on January 31, 2011.

 Following the rave reviews and critics’ thumps-up for this niche film, it was screened at seven other 2011 International Film Festival in countries such as Laos, Canada and Italy.

The film explains through the prism of short interviews, that there is a generation of Tibetans raised in exile who have been given the name ‘Tenzin’ by the Dalai Lama; however, the non-Tibetans often fail to see that ‘Tenzin’ is part of a name and that it’s only part of a story.

Think Tibet was founded in 2007 and is a non-governmental organization without political or religious affiliation and overtures. The team is resolutely committed to being a catalyst for change. We believe in the Gandhi saying “we must be the change that one wishes to see” in society.(thinktibet)

Humans lived in Ladakh 3,000 years ago

Jammu, July 26: Ladakh, one of the world's highest cold desert, had early humans more than 3,000 years ago, a new government survey has found, denying the claims that no early humans could have borne the harsh conditions of the region. It is for the first time that evidence of early human existence has been found in upper Himalayan region, where winter temperature falls to upto minus 30 degree Celsius.

In first week of July, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) and Jammu University found hearths used by early humans on the bank of Wakka river in Ladakh valley for fire.

"These were mostly transit camps where fire was lit to cook food and to escape from harsh winters," said R K Ganjoo, professor of Geologoy at Jammu University.

The university with ASI are implemented a Central government project for finding traces of early

humans in Kargil and Ladakh after similar discoveries were made in neighbouring Tibet and Hindukush in Pakistan in 2009.

During survey of Ladakh valley, Ganjoo and S B Ota regional director of ASI office in Bhopal discovered number of hearths built by cutting natural slopes of the mountains about 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.

"Early man occupied the valley and exploited the slopes to settle down and carry out its routine activities under the large rock falls. Most interesting is that flat blocks of limestone was used by early men as floor around the fire placed," says a paper on their findings.

Sample archeological sites have been sent to investigate the type of wood used for burning the fire and remains of the food materials consumed by the early men.

"The investigation will help us to find the exact time and more about early humans in Ladakh region," Ganjoo said.

Earlier humans have been tracked back to two million years in Africa and in India the latest studies indicate presence of humans of stone age in the Attarapakkan region in now Tamil Nadu about 1.5 million years ago.

But so far presence of early humans was not discovered in cold desert region of Himalayas.

Editorial

INDIAN GORKHAS

Identity Issue Continues

Will creation of Gorkhaland state in North Bengal fulfill the aspirations of Indian Gorkhas/Nepalese? The Assam Gorkha Students’ Union’s rejection of  the recently-formed  Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) on the basis that it caters to ‘development’ of Darjeeling Gorkhas and fails to satisfy the demand for recognition of the ‘national identity’ of Gorkhas in India calls for a rethink on the subject of ‘politics of identity.’ The demand for inclusion of Nepali language in the 8^th Schedule of the Constitution was chiefly motivated by the desire to seek constitutional recognition of the distinct identity of Indian Nepalese. However, even after nearly two decades since the inclusion of Nepali in the 8th Schedule of the constitution (in 1992) there seems to be a visible feeling that Indian Nepalese/Gorkhas are sill facing an identity problem.

While politicians, whose prime activity is to win votes and come to power, will surely rake up diverse issues, including identity, there is a growing need for Indian Gorkha intellectuals to publicly debate on the subject with a view to reaching a lasting solution on the identity question. Will a Gorkhaland state in North Bengal solve the identity problems of the Gorkhas living in the rest of the country? Even if Darjeeling and Sikkim, where Nepalese/Gorkhas are in the majority, were to merge some day will it end the ‘identity crisis’ faced by Gorkhas living in Northeast and other hill states in northern India? Nepalese are gradually but surely being displaced – economically, politically and population-wise – by people from the plains in Nepal itself. Will the Nepalese/Gorkhas of Sikkim, Darjeeling and Assam be able to reverse the trend, particularly when we are part of India, where people are allowed to move around freely? What will happen to the identity problem when Nepalese in these places are reduced to a microscopic minority in the near future? These are hard facts that people in this part of the region will be forced to face in the coming days.

Its time for peace & prosperity in Darjeeling hills

Ethnic Gorkhas get more autonomy in Indian state

NIRMALA GEORGE

The government of the Indian State of West Bengal signed an agreement Monday (July 18) offering greater autonomy to ethnic Gorkhas in hopes of ending their often violent agitation for a homeland in the Himalayan foothills.

The agreement was negotiated by the newly elected government in West Bengal with the main Gorkha organization, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, or Gorkha Peoples' Freedom Front.

Gorkha nationalist leader Roshan Giri has said they have not abandoned the demand for a separate homeland but would wait for recommendations from a committee set up under the accord.

India's Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram attended the ceremony to mark the signing of the accord in the hill town of Sukna, about 300 miles (480 kilometers) north of Kolkata, the capital of West Bengal.

Tens of thousands of Gorkhas cheered and applauded as the deal was signed by representatives of the three sides.

"You have our fullest support to build a great future," Chidambaram told the cheering crowds in Sukna.

The agreement envisions a hill council with elected representatives, a committee that will determine what Gorkha-dominated areas will be represented and the transfer of land records to the newly created administrative authority. The Gorkhaland administration will have full control over agriculture, tourism and public health.

Members of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha welcomed the creation of the hill council but said the struggle for a seperate state would continue.

"This is a turning point in our movement and not a permanent settlement," said P. Arjun, a GJM leader. "The separate state issue is not a closed chapter."

In the 1980s, the Gorkhas led a violent insurgency leading to the deaths of some 1,200 people. Their means have been more peaceful since. Experts say the agreement could bring development to the Darjeeling region famed for its tea gardens.

"Once peace returns, people will see the impact of the agreement," said Sanjoy Hazarika, head of the Center for North East Studies, a New Delhi-based think tank.

Darjeeling, a popular tourist and educational hub in India's northeast, had lost its sheen due to unrest fueled by frequent strikes by separatist groups.

"If calm prevails, tourists should return," he said.

India has 28 states and seven federally administered regions but there are growing demands for smaller states to be carved out of the larger ones.

Several parts of India - the Telengana region in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, the Bundelkhand region in the central state of Madhya Pradesh and Vidarbha in the western state of Maharashtra - also face similar movements for new states. So far there have been no moves by the government to create separate states there.

India's Gorkha community is from the same ethnic group as the Gurkhas in Nepal, best known for the regiments in the Indian and British armies. (The Herald)

Darjeeling tribals to demand seat reservation in GTA

Kalimpong, July 26: The scheduled tribe communities in Darjeeling hills are likely to press the demand for seat reservation for their communities in the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

While the Darjeeling District Tribal Association President, SL Paljor, has taken the initiative to seek tribal representation in the GTA, the Kalimpong-based United Tribal Welfare Forum (UTWF), too, is likely to press for seat reservation in the GTA for the tribals, according to a source close to the Forum.

The Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Forum (ILTF), which is the political arm of the Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA), will also seek seat reservation for the Lepchas, indigenous tribals of Darjeeling, in the GTA.

ILTF President Paul Simick said seat reservation in the GTA is “vital to the existence of the Lepcha tribe.” He said the Lepchas were totally ignored by the DGHC and the State Government.

Apart from the Lepchas, the Bhutias, Sherpas, Tamangs and Limbus form a sizable part of the scheduled tribes community in Darjeeling.

Referring to the demand, a prominent intellectual from Kalimpong said there is no provision for tribal reservation in the GTA. He added there is a move to include all Gorkhas of Darjeeling in the list of Scheduled Tribes.

Ghising may challenge Darjeeling accord in court

C. Tamang

Jalpaiguri, July 26: Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) chief and former Darjeeling Gorkho Hill Council (DHHC) chairperson Subash Ghising is likely to challenge the signing of the tripartite accord, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

This indication came when some journalists tried to contact him here recently to know his views on the GTA.

Ghising refused to meet the press stating that he would meet the media only after studying the agreement.

However, his aide said the GNLF supremo has raised questions on the legality of the new deal.

"He wanted to know how the Centre and the state could enter into a new agreement without scrapping the 2005 deal. He might approach the court with a plea to invalidate today's deal. The GNLF chief has also decided to write to the state and the Centre, reminding them of the 2005 agreement and seeking clarification from their ends," reported a national daily quoting a source close to Ghisingh.

The Ghising was a signatory to a tripartite agreement in 2005 to grant autonomy to the Darjeeling hills under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution. During the recent Assembly poll campaign Ghising reiterated his demand for 6^th Schedule status for Darjeeling.

While the people of the Darjeeling hills are hoping that the accord and the GTA will bring development to their poverty-ridden region and end the agitations that have disrupted their lives, many fear the protests have been merely put on pause and that the movement for a separate state will gather momentum again soon.

Salient features of Darjeeling tripartite agreement

The following are the salient features of the 16 page tripartite Memorandum of Agreement on the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration signed by the Centre, the West Bengal Government and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on July 18, 2011:

— The Government of India, the Government of West Bengal and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, keeping on record the GJM demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, agree to form an autonomous body -- the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration -- through direct elections.

— Although the GJM was keen that the elected House of the Territorial Administration be called ‘Assembly,’ the Centre and the State Government persuaded the outfit to settle for ’Sabha.’ (Both the governments wanted to avoid creating an impression that the new autonomous body was being granted symbol of statehood such as an Assembly.)

— The Morcha had demanded that the House be headed by a Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Instead, it has been decided that a chairman and deputy chairman will conduct the business of the House.

— As per the agreement, the GTA Sabha shall constitute of 45 elected members and five to be nominated by the Governor to give representations to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Minority Communities.

— The MPs, MLAs and chairpersons of municipalities shall be ex-officio members of the GTA Sabha.

 -- The term of the Sabha will be for five years.

— The Government of India and the Government of West Bengal will provide all assistance to the GTA for all-out development of the region.

— The Government of India will provide financial assistance of Rs 200 crore per annum for three years for projects to develop socio-economic infrastructure in the GTA over and above the normal plan assistance to the state of West Bengal.

— The GTA, once established, will take up the issues of grant of incentives, subsidies, waiver of taxes and tariff and other benefits as appropriate to the region’s backwardness.

— A three-tier panchayat will be constituted in GTA region.

— The GJM agrees to ensure that peace and normalcy will be nominated in the region.

— A review will be done by the state government of all the cases registered against persons involved in the GJM agitation.

— Steps will be taken in the light of the review not to proceed with the prosecution of all cases except those charged with murder.

— Release of persons in custody will follow the withdrawal of cases.

— The youth in the GTA region will be considered for recruitment in the Police, Army and the Para-Military forces subject to their suitability.

— Regarding the demand for granting Tribal Status to the Gorkhas except Scheduled Castes, the GJM or any organisation representing the Gorkhas will make an application to the Backward Classes Welfare Department of the state government.

— After examination by the department the matter will be referred to the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes.

— Recommendations already submitted to the National Commission will be followed up by the State Government.

— The Government of India will consider granting ST status to all Gorkhas except the Scheduled Castes.

— There will be 59 departments in the new arrangement.

— These include the Tauzi Department to look after the tea gardens, the department of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry, Information and Cultural Affairs, School Education, Land and Land Reforms, PHE, Urban Development and Municipal Affairs.

— The earlier DGHC had 32 departments.

— The list of 17 projects to be undertaken by the GTA includes establishment of multi-speciality hospitals, tourism and hospitality management institutes, colleges, college of nursing, a Gorkha House in New Delhi, institutes for research and development of Nepali language, food and agro-processing complexes and cold storages and development of IT industries.

— The list of 14 projects which the GTA can take up with approval of the Government of India and the Government of West Bengal include establishment of a Central Institute of Technology, a Central University, a National Institute of Technology including IT and Biotechnology and a tea auction centre.

— The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway will be revitalised for boosting the tourism sector.

— The trade route from Kalimpong to Tibet, via Jelep-La will be revived.

— An industrial zone will be created in an area of at least 1,000 acre in the plains under the proposed GTA area.

— With regard to the transfer of forests, including reserved forests, it was agreed that the State Government will make a reference to the Central government on the issue of Reserved Forests. However, all offices catering to unreserved forests under the jurisdiction of GTA would also be transferred to GTA.

— In regard to the regularisation of all ad-hoc, casual and daily wage workers of the DGHC, regularisation by way of outright absorption is not feasible due to current legal position as enunciated by the Supreme Court.

— However, those employees who have put in 10 years of continued service would be guided by the state Finance Department's order of April 23, 2010.

— After several rounds of tripartite meetings at the ministerial and officials' levels, the GJM, while not dropping their demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland, has agreed to the setting up of an autonomous body empowered with administrative, financial and executive powers.

— The GTA will be formed through direct elections. Its area shall comprise Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong.

— Both the Government of India and Government of West Bengal have repeatedly emphasised for keeping the region as an integral part of the state of West Bengal

— In regard to transfer of the additional areas of Siliguri, Terai and Dooars to the new body, a high-power committee will be formed.

— The Committee will submit its report preferably within six months of its constitution. Work for the committee will run parallel to the electoral process which will be based on the existing area delimitation.

— However, the empowering statute will have a provision to transfer of additional areas in Siliguri, Terai and Dooars that may be agreed upon, based on recommendation of the committee.

— The objective of the agreement is to establish an autonomous self-governing body to administer the region so that socio-economic infrastructural, educational, cultural and linguistic development is expedited and the ethnic ideas of the Gorkhas established.

Alert in Assam over ULFA strike threat

P.Ghosh

Guwahati, July 26: The Assam government sounded a maximum security alert last Friday after reports that a faction of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) led by commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah was planning a massive strike in the state ahead of Independence Day August 15.

Intelligence inputs claim that Baruah has planned a series of major strikes with help from the Manipur-based People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Maoists, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said.

Rebels in insurgency-hit Assam, the largest among the seven northeastern states, have for years been boycotting India's Independence Day and Republic Day (Jan 26) celebrations to protest New Delhi's rule over the vast region rich in oil, tea and timber.

More than 30 rebel armies operate in the northeastern states, their demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy and the right to self-determination.

Baruah leads some 200 ULFA hardliners unwilling to talk truce with New Delhi despite most leaders and cadres of the banned outfit standing by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa to tread the peace path.

“Intelligence inputs have revealed Paresh Baruah is planning terror attacks across Assam with help from PLA, Maoists and some other extremist groups of the Northeast,” Gogoi said last Friday afternoon.

Gogoi criticized Baruah for carrying on with armed rebellion when most of his colleagues have decided to give peace a chance. “We hope he sees the writings on the wall and shuns violence. He should feel the pulse of the people who want peace,” he said.

The Assam government believes Baruah is operating from the China-Myanmar border. “He is holed up in northern Myanmar but keeps moving around. A number of extremist groups of the Northeast have their bases in that region too,” Gogoi said.

According to Gogoi, peace discussions between the Centre and the pro-talks Ulfa leaders were imminent following a green signal from New Delhi. “The talks will be held directly between the two parties,” he said. “The Ulfa is expected to submit its charter of demands in the first round of talks. The government would then weigh the demands.”

Sikkim’s indigenous tribes oppose hydel projects

Gangtok, July 26: The minority indigenous Bhutia-Lepcha tribals who have always unsuccessfully struggled to preserve their distinct cultural heritage ever since their country’s forceful takeover by its protecting power in the guise of ushering democracy in 1975 has sent a clear signal to the authorities, including the State Government, that they are against multi-crore mega hydel projects in the State.

No one, including the area MLA and Power Minister Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, turned up for yesterday’s public hearing of the Teesta Stage IV 520 MW hydro electric project in Dzongu in North Sikkim.

“The locals boycotted the public hearing held at Namprikdang as they against against hydel projects in Dzongu,” said D. Lepcha, a local resident near the dam sight.

North District Collector SK Pradhan, who is the chairman of the public hearing panel, was forced to postpone the meeting as around 300 chairs arranged for the hearing remained empty.

“It is notice that there is no representatives of the actual land owners for the project and there is also no attendance of panchayats or the area MLA,” said Pradhan.

The project is being implemented by the NHPC.

Much the same fate hangs for hydel projects in the remote tribal villages of Lachen and Lachung, which are inhabited largely by tribals of pure Bhutia stock.

“We remain firmly opposed to hydel projects in Lachen,” said R. Namgyal Lachenpa, a villager from Lachen.

Meanwhile, the Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has petitioned Governor BP Singh seeking his intervention to stop two hydel projects in West Sikkim – 96 MW Ting Ting project and 97 MW Tashiding project – on religious and historical grounds.

SIBLAC and Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), two non-political organisations of the minority Bhutia-Lepchas of the State, while opposing the projects, had appealed to the affected parties to boycott public hearing of the Dzongu hydel project.

“We are opposing the proposed hydel projects on our sacred Rathong Chu as the holy river is sacred to Sikkimese Buddhism,” said SIBLAC Convenor and former minister Tseten Tashi Bhutia.

 In a memorandum dispatched to President Pratibha Patil today, the National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO), while opposing hydel projects on Rathong Chu river in Tashiding, urged the President to “review” Sikkim’s “annexation” with a view to making suitable “arrangements” for the survival of the indigenous people in the State.

“Sikkim was annexed with the great Indian Union in 1975 wherein, the Government of India assured the Sikkimese people of all sorts of protection and preservation of its lineage, tradition and culture,” the memorandum said.

Meanwhile, French power equipment maker Alstom on Monday said it has bagged Rs 270 crore contracts for setting up three hydropower projects in India.

The first contract has been signed with Shiga Energy Pvt Ltd for the 97 MW Tashiding hydroelectric project in West Sikkim district on the Rathang Chu river. The second contract has been signed with NSL Tidong Power Generation Pvt Ltd for the Tidong 1 hydroelectric project in Kinnaur District in Himachal Pradesh, consisting of two 50 MW units. The third contract has been signed with Haridwar Infrastructure Pvt Ltd for the Dikchu hydroelectric project near Dzongu in East Sikkim, for a 96 MW plant.

Assam Gorkhas feel betrayed by GJM

‘GTA is about development, not identity’

Guwahati, July 26: The All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union has expressed it displeasure over the signing of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) by Gorkha leaders of Darjeeling.

In a press statement the AAGSU said the Gorkhas of Assam felt “left out” from the accord as the GTA is mainly about ‘development’ of Darjeeling and does not concern the ‘identity’ of Indian Gorkhas.

“AAGSU is of the opinion that Gorkhaland is not about Darjeeling Hills only, it is

about identity and ethnicity of the Gorkhas of this nation. It is not only about the piece of land in the North Bengal region but about emotional and political identity amongst population of the nation,” the Union’s publicity secretary (Jr)  Kamal Pradhan said.

He added that the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM), which signed the agreement on behalf of Darjeeling Gorkhas, had betrayed the Gorkhas of Assam as it failed to fulfill promises made to them.

Pradhan pointed out that the Morcha had earlier promised Special Protected Class (SPC) to safeguard the identity of the Gorkhas of Northeast region.

 He said the “formation Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) has no connection to the Gorkhas of Assam and Northeast and it is merely about road, water, education, safety, socio-political and economic development of Darjeeling,” Pradhan said.

He added, “The agreement nowhere mentions anything about Gorkhas of nation besides Darjeeling hills even 40% of the national Gorkha population who resides in Assam and Northeast does not find a place in it and have been left out which is matter for huge displeasure for supporting the Gorkhaland movement from these region and we do not refrain from condemning the act of keeping us in total darkness on clauses of GTA.”

While welcoming the Centre and West Bengal Government’s initiative on development of North Bengal, AAGSU publicity secretary Nanda Kirati Dewan, said the struggle for recognition of “national identity of Gorkhas across India must continue.”

INTERVIEW Sunil Chhettri

“Football clubs should be run professionally”

THOUGH India is not a major football power, when it comes to talent, the country never has had a dearth of it. Baichung Bhutia was once considered the torch-bearer of Indian football and the baton has passed on to  SUNIL CHHETRI.

The 26-year-old striker created history last year when he became the first Indian to play in the Major League Soccer (MLS) with Kansas City Wizards.

A member of India’s victorious AFC Challenge Cup team in 2008, Chhetri has come a long way in being the No.1 player of the country. Doha Stadium Plus caught up with the diminutive striker, who scored India’s opening goal in the recent friendly against Qatar at Al Sadd Stadium.

Question: This is your second visit to Qatar in six months. How much has life changed for you ever since the Asian Cup?

Answer: Well, a lot of things have changed in Indian football over the last six months. We’ve a new coach in Armando Colaco who’s got a different technique from his predecessor (Bob Houghton). And we’ve a new team to boot, with a lot of youngsters coming in. As a team, we’re coming up and we’ve no major injury concerns as of now.

Q: Are your preparations for the World Cup qualifiers right on track?

A: So far, it’s been going steadily. We’ve this important match against the UAE coming up on Saturday. The week-long camp here in Qatar and the victory over them has put us in the right frame of mind. It was very challenging to train under these conditions, but we needed it badly as the conditions in Al Ain are going to be similar to the one we had here.

Q: You’ve been used to partnering Bhutia up front for a long time. Now you’ve got a new set of strikers. How do you see the transition of your role as the senior pro?

A: The first thing is I trust these youngsters to the hilt. I’ve immense faith in the ability of players like Jeje Lalpeklua and Jewel Raja. Of course, you can’t compare them with Bhutia, who, I think, is one of the best players the country has ever produced. But with seniors like Renedy Singh, N P Pradeep, Abhishek Yadav and Deepak Mondal no longer there, it’s a good chance for these youngsters to showcase their talent on the big stage and I’m sure they’ll come good. They’ve got the talent and attitude to succeed at the highest level.

Q: Talking about the Indian domestic scene, Jagatjit Cotton & Textile Mills (JCT) FC have followed Mahindra United into oblivion. What ails the club system?

A: Well, there’re a lot of difficulties. To start with, when you form a club, you need to spend a lot. Then, there’s the issue regarding television prime time slots and other marketing things. I feel for the owners really. I don’t know how it’s going to change, but people who launch the clubs should be motivated enough to run it professionally.

Q: You were a part of the JCT bandwagon once. How do you react to its closure?

A: It was one of the saddest days for football in our country. I learned a lot during my stint in JCT. It’s one of the clubs which has the knack of producing talented players, like Baljit Singh and Gurjinder Singh to name a few. I’m at a loss of words to describe their closure. In fact, it was the only club from North India in the I-League.

Q: Your experience of playing in the MLS…

A: It was a different kind of experience. It taught me a lot of new things. New culture, different team atmosphere. I did my best to gel with the team. The transfer window had closed by the time I came back after the Asian Cup. So I had to leave. I’m looking for some other offers since the one with Benfica didn’t materialise.