HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN Nov 17-23, 2011

CBI to probe Jagan's benami role in Sikkim hydel power projects      

Himalayan News Network

Hyderabad, Nov 16: The heat of Jaganmohan Reddy’s scams and unscrupulous business activities has touched even the North East corner of the country. The CBI is now probing the benami funding of two hydel power projects in Sikkim allegedly by Reddy’s companies.

Following a PIL filed by a Sikkim resident, Anand Lama, in the High Court of Sikkim, it is revealed that Reddy had invested around Rs 200 to Rs 500 crore under benami companies in Sikkim on these projects.

A CBI team visited Gangtok in October to probe the case under the guidance of Joint Director V V Lakshminarayana, the Deccan Herald reported. Reports in Sikkim also indicate that CBI sleuths visited Sikkim to probe Reddy’s assets during this period.

As per the facts of the case, the third phase of the 1,200 MW hydel project in Chungthang in tribal-dominated district of North Sikkim is being undertaken with private investment by an unknown company Teesta Urja Ltd. Similarly another company M/s Himurja Infra Pvt Ltd is setting up Pavan Hydro power project of 99 MW on the Lepsa reservoir.

Both the projects are wholly and privately funded by two companies, which are alleged to be benami for Y S Jagan. A senior IAS officer in the chief minister’s office during the Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s rule was said to be the brain behind the project and also instrumental in getting these projects for Jagan.

In the PIL, Lama alleged that the funds for these projects were raised by Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. Lama had appealed to the CBI to probe the case in detail about the scandalous racket.

The PIL was filed in the High Court in August and the hearing for admission of the case was to take place this week.                         

Nepal may ‘slash all facilities’ to Tibetans

Himalayan News Network

Dharamsala, Nov 16: Following the self-immolation by a Tibetan monk in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu, the Himalayan kingdom is reportedly mulling over restricting even the fundamental human rights of Tibetan refugees.

Talking to the Telegraph Nepal, a senior Nepali official said that the government might “slash all the facilities being granted to the Tibetans residing in Nepal”, including their freedom of movement.

“The government of Nepal is committed on its one-China policy. We will not allow any activities that go against the interest of our neighbours," said Sudhir Kumar Sah, spokesperson of Nepal’s Home Ministry.

"This will lead to a situation where the government may have to slash all the facilities being granted to the Tibetans residing in Nepal, such as that of their freedom to move even,” said the spokesperson.

A Tibetan monk in Kathmandu last week had set himself on fire protesting China’s continued occupation of Tibet and demanding the return of the Dalai Lama to Tibet.

The revelations by Sah comes in the wake of a proposed visit by the Chinese Premiere Wen Jiabao to Nepal in the coming weeks.

Nepal is home to around 20,000 Tibetans and a major transit point for Tibetans escaping Chinese repression enroute to India.

Gyari to assist in Tibet-China dialogue even after retirement

Hill Media Network

Dharamshala, Nov 16:  His Holiness the Dalai Lama's special envoy Lodi Gyari on Friday issued a statement stating that while he no longer would be officially involved with the exiled Tibetan government he would continue to assist in Tibet-China dialogue.

Formerly a civil servant under the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) Lodi Gyari became special envoy in 1991.

Now that His Holiness has stepped down as political leader of the exile government, Lodi Gyari has decided to cease any involvement with issues relating to the CTA. All such matters will now be handled by the Office of Tibet in New York, The Tibet Post reported

"This, however, does not imply that I do not have any desire to assist in the work of the new administration or that the new Kashag (cabinet) does not have any confidence in me,” Gyari said and added "It is merely a reflection of the process of clarifying the structure under the new system in place now."

Gyari said he will continue to be involved in the Tibet-China dialogue process, including leading efforts to arrange talks with the Chinese leadership.

"The present tragic situation in Tibet and the repressive policies of the Chinese authorities make one wonder if it is even worth making any efforts for the dialogue," he said, but concluded that, "On the other hand the prevailing situation confronts every sensible person that the only way is through dialogue."

LESS OPTIONS

Heat in the Himalaya

Mega hydel projects in the high Himalayas and the country’s strategic interest in the frontier region cannot go together. If the policy makers in New Delhi fail to give top priority to the country’s security interests in the region India will pay a heavy price in the long run. Unfortunately, our corrupt bureaucrats are always willing to submit to the short term gains of their political masters giving scant regard to the long term interest of the people and the country at large.

In the western Himalayan States such as Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh there is a move to away with hydel projects and vital tourist destinations to cater to better and faster communication network such as rail links and air space for the army. China’s preparedness – both military and communication – on the northern side of the Himalaya on the Tibetan plateau is making India sit up and take note. But the reality is that the Indian government, including State governments, are utterly incapable of expediting road and other construction works in the Himalayas and its foothills mainly because the establishment lacks the will and the resources to match up to the Chinese.

Sikkim is a typical example on how the Centre deals with security-related issues. The damage caused to roads, bridges and buildings –endangering national security interests – during  the recent September 18 earthquake will not stop the powers-that-be from going ahead with hydel power projects in this strategic and sensitive border State no matter how much the people oppose them. Most of the quake funds will be used to repair roads and build new roads or tunnels at the site of mega power projects near Chungthang in North Sikkim mainly because vested interests have a stake in these projects.

Democracy has failed South Asia: Nepal PM

Sachin Parashar

Nepalese Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai has warned that if the political dissensions in his country prevent successful drafting of the constitution, the path to democracy may have to be revisited.

Bhattarai, leader of the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), said democracy in its traditional form had failed the people of South Asia by not being participatory enough.

Nepal's peace process, which is expected to lead to drafting of the constitution, has been subjected to incessant delay because the political parties have failed to iron out their differences. Offering all possible assistance to Nepal, PM Manmohan Singh had complimented the Maoist leader in an official banquet on Friday for having joined Nepal political mainstream.

"We are optimistic about the constitution but if we fail, there is going to be the big question that whether or not the democratic path is appropriate,'' said Bhattarai in the presence of top Congress leaders and leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj. He was speaking at a function organized in his honour by JD-U national president Sharad Yadav.

Bhattarai said people might have to take up arms again if the traditional form of democracy fails to address their concerns. ``Democracy has to be made more participatory. If we fail to do it legally and constitutionally, people will be forced to take up arms again,'' he said.

"The copied traditional democracy in South Asia serves only small sections of the society. It fails to take into account class and caste differences and also doesn't accommodate the interests of minorities and tribals,'' he added. Bhattarai's remarks came towards the end of his four-day visit to India during which, as he said on Saturday, the two sides managed to foster the spirit of trust between them.

The visit also saw the countries signing an agreement for investment promotion. Bhattarai was slammed by the opposition parties in Kathmandu by a sell-out to India in signing the investment promotion agreement. Earlier in the day, Bhattarai described his visit to India as successful and emphasized that it had opened a new chapter in the bilateral relationship. (The Times of India)

Suu Kyi senses genuine desire for change in Burmese govt

Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese opposition leader, signalled on Monday she was ready for full engagement with the country's military-dominated regime, and insisted the president was "genuine" in his desire for change.

Speaking at a rare public appearance to mark a year since she was freed from house arrest, Suu Kyi said Myanmar President Thein Sein appeared to be a man with whom she could do business. She also said she had revived her political party from near extinction since her release.

"Looking back at the past year, it has been eventful, energizing and, to a certain extent, encouraging," she said. "I spoke of my intention to form a net-work for democracy. This network has been one of the great successes in the past year."

The daughter of Burma's foremost independence campaigner has spent 15 years and 19 days of the last two decades in detention, as she fought its military rulers for democracy.

She appeared in a cramped, humid room at her party's headquarters to explain how much had changed since she was freed.

"A lot of work needs to be done," she said. "We need to make sure it works out correctly. It's a lot more tiring than before."

Although technically disbanded, Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy, is to meet on Friday to decide whether to formally re-establish itself in response to recent government reforms.

"There is no such thing as them and us, but working together to a common, national goal on the basis of mutual faith and understanding," she said. "I have met President Thein Sein and I believe he is very genuine in his desire for change."

Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize winner, plotted a new course for the party while under house arrest on the shores of Rangoon's Inya Lake.

The NLD was punished for boycotting national assembly elections last November. The assembly is, in effect, a front for the army that controls about 84 per cent of seats.

This week's NLD meeting will also take a crucial decision on whether to contest byelections for 48 seats where the results were annulled following voting irregularities.

Obstacles remain in the rapprochement process with the regime, how-ever. The NLD has given the government a list of 591 political prisoners still in jail. The release of the detainees has been delayed by infighting even though the move was recommended by the regime's own human rights body.

The opposition is also critical of the military's role in recent fighting with ethnic minorities on Burma's northern border.

"What everybody is worried about at present is the lack of peace in the country, especially the fighting in Kachin State, which is a cause of concern and sorrow for us," said Suu Kyi. "I am always ready to do my bit to bring about peace in the country."

Some senior members of her party are reluctant to agree to military ground rules.

U Win Tin, one of its founders, warned the constitution still granted the military the right to reimpose the junta.

"I don't know whether there is any real intention to change the system," he said. "But we are willing to follow our leader on this."

Reformists, however, are pushing forward in the hope that the generals will gradually loosen their grip.

"We all know things have been difficult," said Myo Yan Nuang Thein. "I prefer to be optimistic." (The Vancouver Sun)

Opp to boycott civic polls in Darjeeling

“No democratic atmosphere in the hills”

Darjeeling, Nov 16: Almost all Opposition parties in the hills will not contest the forthcoming civic polls in Darjeeling.

While the CPM fears physical assault to their supporters and candidates if they took past in the polls, the GNLFchief Subash Ghising  maintains that the polls are “illegal.”

The All India Gorkha League President Bharati Tamang believes that holding of elections to civic bodies is aimed at derailing the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland.

With almost all anti-Gorkha Janmukti Morcha parties deciding not to contest the polls the ensuing polls will be a cakewalk for Bimal Gurung-led Morcha.

 “The people in the hills cannot come forward openly and so, the elections cannot be fair. Even the last Assembly elections were not held in a free and fair atmosphere,” Tamang said.

Former hill affairs minister and the CPM Siliguri strongman Asok Bhattacharya said, “There is no democratic atmosphere for participating in the municipal elections,” Bhattacharya said.

 “We had thought that with the change in guard, democracy would be back in the hills. But the new government is working like the previous one,” added Tamang.

Centre backing corrupt regimes to erase Sikkim’s identity: Sikkim Liberation Party

Make stand clear on Sikkim, says SLP chief

Himalayan News Network

Gangtok, Nov 16: The Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP) Convenor Duk Nath Nepal while accusing the Centre of backing corrupt and undemocratic regimes in the State since its controversial merger in 1975, has called on all Opposition parties in the State to forge a united front to dislodge the Pawan Chamling Government, which has been ruling the State for more than seventeen years since 1994.

“In the past 35 years the Centre’s main policy in Sikkim has been to gradually dilute and destroy Sikkim’s distinct identity,” Nepal said at the party’s first press conference held here on Sunday. “The method used by the Centre has been to back corrupt governments such as Bhandari and Chamling, who have not only suppressed democratic aspirations of the people but have exploited the people economically through corrupt means,” Nepal said.

The SLP leader, a prominent critic of both the present and former chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari, said the people of Sikkim want the Centre to make its “stand clear” to the Sikkimese people, who are becoming “refugees in their own homeland.” In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Nepal said his party, formed in May this year, had earlier submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister regarding “violation of the spirit of merger” but “the biggest democracy of this world” did not even bother to respond to the views raised in the memorandum.

“The belief of the Sikkimese people that they are becoming a victim of conspiracy and grand design has a solid base,” Nepal’s letter, dated November 13, 2011, to the Prime Minister said. Nepal said the Centre’s hidden agenda for Sikkim is to “erase” the Sikkimese people using puppet regimes, whose chief aim is to indulge in rampant corruption and suppress the democratic process. “Such regimes purchase or victimize those who fight for a just cause that they once espoused,” Nepal said.

Those who fail to toe the official line has no place in Sikkim, Nepal, who was once put behind bars and paraded in the court “barefooted and handcuffed”, said. “If you are in the Opposition you will not be able to exercise your democratic rights and get privileges and benefits that are meant for all citizens in the country,” Nepal said.  “The Constitution of India does not apply in Sikkim,” he added.

While calling for “unification” of the Opposition, Nepal, a former General Secretary of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee admitted that after Chamling SPCC chief Bhandari has the most following in the State. “However, the Congress party speaks in two voices. While its local unit wants to fight against rampant corruption in the administration the national unit is in favour of Chamling,” Nepal pointed out.

“I’m in touch with some Opposition leaders and am confident that we will be able to unite against Chamling,” Nepal said.