. HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN         Jan 12, 2012

China for better ties with India

New Delhi, Jan 11: Ahead of their boundary talks next week, India and China Monday rejected an "adversarial relationship" amid recent irritants and called for greater all-round cooperation to scale up strategic trust that will enable them to shape the evolving international order.

In a bid to keep sensitive bilateral ties on an even keel, China's Ambassador to India Zhang Yan acknowledged that there are "differences and challenges left over by history," alluding to the decades-old boundary dispute, but pitched for greater trust and cooperation to resolve these issues, The Economic Times reported.

Without naming anyone, the Chinese envoy said that "some are trying to create a wedge between the two countries but asserted that they will not succeed".

The cooperation between India and China will benefit each other and the confrontation will hurt us, Zhang said.

Despite prophecies with evil intentions, India-China relations will take their own course and go where their national interests lie, the envoy said.

Ex-Nepal king embarks on a two-week India visit

Kathmandu, Jan 11:  Nepal's ex-King Gyanendra today embarked on a two-week long personal visit to India during which he is expected to meet political leaders.

Gyanendra is accompanied by his wife Komal and daughter- in-law Himani Shah. He will be visiting Jaipur for attending a wedding function in the family, PTI reported.

However, he will have a stopover in Delhi during the two week visit where the ex-monarch is likely to meet some political leaders, according to sources close to the ex-King.

Meanwhile, Nepalese people today observed the 290th birth anniversary of late King Prithvi Narayan Shah, who is known for unifying the modern day Nepal by joining smaller states.

The visit of ex-King comes at a time when the two major political parties, the Unified CPN-Maoist and the Nepali Congress are at loggerhead over the issue of system of governance as the process of drafting the new constitution is underway in the Himalayan Republic.

A fitting farewell for Bhaichung

New Delhi, Jan 11: Bhaichung Bhutia, the face of Indian football for more than a decade, is hanging up his boots in a blaze of glory.

In a glowing tribute to the icon from Sikkim, India played an exhibition match against Bayern Munich at New Delhi on Tuesday. Bayern, one of the top clubs in the world, are among the frontrunners to win the Uefa Champions League this season.

C.M. Ranjith, former junior Indian player and current coach of national junior teams, said Bhutia is a self-made super star.

“Whatever Bhutia has achieved in his life is through his hard work. He had no godfathers. Bhutia continues to be an inspiration for players from northeastern states,” he added.

According to Ranjith, Bhutia’s commitment made him a standout among his peers. “He gave his all for every team he played for. Bhutia was a born goal-getter. He always knew where the goal was. It is rare in our country to find a player of Bhutia’s goal-scoring ability,” the State Bank of India officer said.(Deccan Herald)

You can now fly to Bumthang in Bhutan Airlines

Thimphu, Jan 11: Drukair, the national airline of Bhutan, and Tashi Air, also known as Bhutan Airlines, Bhutan's first private airlines, will now fly to Batpalathang airport in Bumthang, the stunning valley of pick buckwheat fields, and Yonphula in Tashigang, which may be declared the most stunning airport yet.

The mysterious east of Bhutan has never been more accessible. With the launch of domestic air services to two of the most beautiful regions of the country, Bhutan travel has become simple like never before says Karma Tshering of BhutanTravelAgency.

Drukair, the national airline of Bhutan, and Tashi Air, also known as Bhutan Airlines, the country's first private airlines, will now fly to Batpalathang airport in Bumthang, the stunning valley of pick buckwheat fields, and Yonphula in Tashigang, which may be declared the most stunning airport yet.

The journey, which would otherwise take one day by road to Bumthang from the capital Thimphu or the international airport at Paro, will now take a mere 25 minutes, and the journey to Tashigang, the remote and even more mysterious far east of the exotic travel destination that is Bhutan, which would take two days by road from the capital, is now only 30 minutes away.

Bhutan Airlines also offers chartered flights and long mountain flights to make travel Bhutan luxurious, which promises to be exceptionally beautiful airplane rides, thanks to the stunning white peaks and emerald mountains of Bhutan, with glistening ribbons of rivers running through them, dotted with rural homes and an occasional enormous red roofed dzong or monastery high up in the mountains.

Bhutan Airlines charges 350 USD for a flight to Yonphula, and 600 USD for a return flight, while a flight to Bumthang from Paro costs 250 USD or 400 USD for return. Promotional introductory fares are offered till the end of February 2012 and can also be combined with various Bhutan tour packages.

Bumthang in the north of Bhutan is already a traveller's paradise, with broad expanses of valleys, and a strong presence of local businesses famous for naturally produced honey and cheese. It is also a well known religious and cultural destination, with Jampay Lhakhang, a venerated monastery known as the place where the 8th century saint Guru Padmasambhava performed miracles to secure the land, subduing malicious deities and converting them into protectors of the land and the people. This is also where the famous sacred naked dance is performed at midnight during the Jampay Lhakhang Festival in October-November.

The valley is also well known as the birthplace of the treasure-hunter or Tertoen Pema Lingpa who discovered many religious artifacts left behind by Guru Rinpoche. Lake Mebartsho, or the Burning Lake, is one of the most holy sites in Bhutan, and was the place where Tertoen Pema Lingpa is said to have dived into the rushing waters with a lit butter lamp, and emerged with religious artifacts and the lamp still burning, giving the lake its name.

Coming soon: An English journal on Tibet from Lhasa

Himalayan News Network

Lhasa, Jan 11: Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region plans to launch its first English language periodical on Tibetan studies this year, a publication for global researchers on Tibet and its culture.

"The proposal for the English version of 'Tibetan Studies' was submitted early last year and received a warm welcome from the central government," said Lan Guohua, a researcher with Tibet's regional academy of social sciences, at the annual regional political advisory session in Lhasa on Tuesday.

Lan is a member of Tibet's regional committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

His academy has been publishing Tibetan Studies, a bimonthly periodical, in Chinese since 1981 and in the Tibetan language since 1982.

The publication focuses on Tibet's economy, history, religion, culture, archeology, language, traditional medicine, art and folklore.

Lan said Tibetan Studies has a circulation of about 2,200, including 1,200 Chinese and 1,000 Tibetan copies.

"It's mainly distributed to foreign embassies and diplomatic missions in China, as well as universities, research institutes and worldwide Confucius Institutes."

The English publication will help foreign Tibetologists learn more about the plateau region, he said.

Lan said the first issue will be published later this year, but the exact timetable is not immediately available.

On the other hand, Lan said his academy was also expanding cooperation and exchanges with foreign research bodies, hoping to share the ideas and research findings of their global colleagues.

Edittorial

CIVIL SOCIETY

Keep Away From Electoral Politics

Team Anna has succeeded in creating greater awareness of rampant corruption in Indian society. It has also aroused the national consciousness, particularly among the middle class, of the need for citizens to get involved in daily affairs of society to cleanse the system. Both the Congress party and the Opposition have been galvanized into action in giving the nation a strong Lokpal Bill. In the process the political establishment in the country has been thoroughly exposed. This in itself is a great achievement and people have to now take greater interest in matters that concern their life.

Democracy without active participation of the people in matters great and small will ultimately lead to dictatorship of the politicians, who have been working together with the bureaucrats and business houses in looting the nation for decades. Now that the ground work of national consciousness to eradicate corruption has been laid Team Anna needs to make a nation-wide tour to form credible platform for civil society in every state and region. Anna Hazare and his colleagues should refrain from taking active part in electoral politics. They should focus on major issues that are linked to cleansing society of corruption.

Morcha for speedy implementation of GTA

C. Tamang

Darjeeling, Jan 11: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha wants speedy implementation of the

Gorkhaland Territorial Administration pact.

This was indicated by Morcha General Secretary Roshan Giri during a tripartite meeting in Delhi on Monday.

 Giri said: "We have asked for speedy implementation of the GTA. We are not being able to start development work until the GTA is formed. Today we asked the Centre to release Rs 93 crore immediately for projects in Darjeeling. We have also submitted the project proposal to the Centre. This fund will come from the Rs 200 crore central aid that was declared in the agreement earlier."

He added: "We have also requested the central government to arrange for election, and the election must take place in Darjeeling and Terai and Dooars regions simultaneously. The central government representatives told us that the GTA is expected to be implemented by January 15. The GTA bill has been sent for inter-ministerial comment by the MHA. Then it will be sent for presidential assent."

 “We have also asked to expedite the process of the high power committee, which was formed to determine the territory of the GTA. We want the election to be held in the GTA area as soon as possible and for that, area determination is needed," Giri said.

Oz couple back in Darjeeling for Christmas 

Darjeeling, Jan 11: With the arrival of the Gates couple it is Christmas in the Queen of the Hills. This Australian couple has been celebrating Christmas in Darjeeling for the past 20 years and plans to continue doing so. “Christmas is very different here than other parts of the World.

The hangover of the days of the Raj complete with the traditional Christmas spread draws us to Hotel Windamere in Darjeeling each year” stated David Gates, talking to Hindustan Times.

This septuagenarian couple from Kiama, 130km from Sydney, Australia had visited Darjeeling for the very first time in the winters of 1991. “It was a trip around India and Darjeeling was part of the trip. It was Christmas. We just loved the way Windamere celebrated Christmas- the carol singing, the entertainment and the Christmas dinner. Since 1991 we have not celebrated Christmas anywhere else” stated David’a wife Pat.

Soon the couple became a part of the town. “Over the years we have befriended many of the town’s folk. We pay them a visit every year. Many of them have passed away” stated David.

 “Darjeeling is a safe place. It is amazing that different communities, speaking different languages, practicing different religions, coexist peacefully here. One does not feel threatened here. There are a very few places in the world where one feels such nowadays” stated David.

Earlier the couple used to visit Sikkim after Christmas and then return to Darjeeling for the New Year’s celebrations. “For the past few years we have been staying in Darjeeling throughout. We arrive before Christmas eve and leave Darjeeling on the 3rd or 4th of January” stated Pat. From Darjeeling the couple will visit Goa. “We have many friends in Goa too,” added David.

 “The couple have become a part of the Windamere family. We look forward to their visit each year. We try to keep our Christmas celebrations as authentic as the Christmas celebrations of 1939. There are many tourists who keep coming back just because of this,” added Shubhana Rai, Sales Manager, Windamere.

Bhaichung thanks Yuvraj for helping earthquake victims in Sikkim

New Delhi, Jan 11: Bhaichung Bhutia expressed his gratitude towards star cricketer Yuvraj Singh for standing by victims who were affected by earthquake in Sikkim, last year.

"I can't thank Yuvraj enough for his support in the hour of crisis. After the earthquake, he was one of the first sportspersons who tweeted and pledged his support for the victims who were affected by the tragedy. I spoke to him after that and he has also given a lot of donation," Bhutia, who was present at a function organised by NGO Khushi Centre for Rehabilitation & Research, said on Monday.

To raise funds for the earthquake victims, Yuvraj has given one of his bats, Ashish Nehra  gave his India jersey, shooter Ronjan Sodhi has given his shooting jacket while pugilist Vijender Singh gave his boxing gloves.

"I thank all of them for this nice gesture which will help us a lot in making a bit of difference to the families who are trying hard to overcome such a tragedy," he concluded.

Nagaland church celebrates golden jubilee

Kohima, Jan 11: Rev. Dr. Neikedozo Paphino, President Nagaland Christian Revival Church (NCRC), last Friday unveiled the golden jubilee stone. Earlier, the NCRC relic hall was dedicated by Rev. Dr. D.L. Sanchu. Rev. Beilieu Shuya unfurled the golden jubilee flag.

The golden jubilee flame was ignited by Vihoto Lohe, first pastor and oldest person in Gariphema. A new song book was released by Rev. Zhangulie.

Dr. Sanchu stated that NCRC was born on January 9, 1962 at Gariphema village and this church was

“an Asian indigenous local church” free from “foreign hierarchical rules or control.”

The celebrations concluded yesterday.

Art exhibition in Mizoram

Aizwal, Jan 11: A painting exhibition was recently held in Mizoram's capital Aizawl where several artists from the region exhibited their work.

The exhibited paintings gave a glimpse of "Traditional Mizoram" to the visitors. Paintings depicted women in indigenous attire,and showed age-old practices and rituals and traditional Mizo villages.

The paintings were the work of 12 veteran and budding painters including Lalbutta, Biaklara, and Jerry, who have been exhibiting their work throughout the country, ANI reported.

"Most of our painters paint realistic paintings like nature, traditions and cultures. Most of our audiences like such paintings. I started painting since my childhood and this is my hobby," said Lalbuta, a veteran painter from Mizoram.

The visitors who came to the exhibition appreciated the works of the artists and considered them at par with their contemporaries residing in cities.

"Most of the people participating here are good and talented. They care about their work and have given good strokes in the paintings. I believe our artists have the talent to compete with other artists in plains or other cities," said V L K Dawngluina, a visitor.

The artists association has asked for support from the government to level the ground with artists from other states.

"I have been running a school in Mizoram since 1986 where I have been teaching painting but nothing other than that. So if a school of art is there it will be good for the students," H K Jerry Ramliana, a veteran painter in Mizoram

The exhibition was organized under the aegis of Mizoram Academy of Fine Arts.

  INTERVIEW/ Justice Rajindar Sachar

  ‘An independent CBI director can still be held answerable and accountable’

    Not many people know that former chief justice of the Delhi and Sikkim High Courts, Justice Rajindar Sachar, was also a trade union leader and was jailed during the Emergency in mid-seventies. After retirement from the judiciary, he was elected president of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). In 2005, he was named the chairperson of the high-level committee formed by the prime minister to look into the state of Muslims. In an interview, Justice Sachar tells Tehelka’s Ashish Khetanthat the first step in the direction of curbing corruption is to free the CBI from government control.

Ashish Khetanthat: The burning issue right now is what we should do to free the CBI from political meddling. What is your prescription?

Rajindar Sachar: One view is that why don’t you just make the CBI more autonomous, in the sense, let the director be appointed by a congregation of the Lokpal and a Parliamentary Standing Committee that comprises of different political formations. Give the director a fixed tenure, to start with, say, of five years.

In the US, the FBI director is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. But we can’t have it here because we don’t have the presidential system. So let him be appointed by a panel of the Lokpal combined with the Standing Committee.

Q: With the government being in minority in the selection panel?

A: Frankly, if you ask me, we are very suspicious people. I mean, after all, Lokpal is also a part of an organisation. Whether you have the government representatives in minority or majority in the panel, I don’t mind. You could say that the CBI director should be appointed by consensus or say, by a minimum of two-thirds majority. You can work out any reasonable formulation. But give him a fixed tenure of five years so that he is secure in his job. And vest the administrative control of the organisation with him. Of course, the Lokpal may have the power to ask for information, periodical reports and give overall general directions.

Q: But no day-to-day monitoring or supervision of the CBI by anybody?

A: What I have just suggested is good enough supervision, which is the Lokpal could ask for reports, refer matters to the CBI, take periodical reviews, etc.

Q: And the power to do transfers, postings, promotions.

A: Let it be with the director.

Q: Many are arguing that it’s not a good thing to give absolute power to any police agency. Also extending your argument about unnecessary mistrust in elected governments, we are ready to repose our full faith in a non-elected CBI director who is not answerable to Parliament, but are not willing to trust elected representatives. After all, we are parliamentary democracy and not an oligarchy.

A: He would certainly be answerable and accountable. He could be subject to removal by Parliament or by the Standing Committee or by the consensus of both the Lokpal and the committee. There are many ways to make him accountable to Parliament.

The idea is to create a mechanism that allows the CBI investigator to act in an independent and honest way. And not to be deflected in any way or be afraid of anybody.

After all, the judges are only removable by Parliament. Even the magistrate of ours has so much of independence and irremovability with him. Then there’s no way even the prime minister can interfere in his work. That’s the theory.

Now, if he chooses to be dishonest, what can you do? We are all human beings. The idea is to create a mechanism that permits you, on the assumption that the person is honest, you also remain honest, and therefore it will be a pressure on him to be honest.

Q: The way going forward is to create a system of checks and balances.

A: That’s always very important.

Q: But Team Anna is advocating that only the system devised by them is perfect.

A: That’s too presumptuous. Frankly, they may have a point of view. For example, if you ask me, I’m not in favour of having this so-called C and D grade employees under the Lokpal. That’s ridiculous. See, I think it’s a very bad situation, where you are told that barring 9-10 people, everybody else is dishonest. Or anybody who differs with their views is dishonest. The whole idea of creating a Lokpal is to deal with big cases of corruption.

TRAVELImpressions

Prayer flags at Changu Lake

Arun

Changu Lake (Tsomgo Lake) in east Sikkim was one of the places that I was eager to see during my recent trip to Sikkim. But when I got there, somehow I wasn’t charmed by it as I hoped for. It could be all the touristy construction and army bunkers around it or it could just be me. Indian Army has a considerable presence near Changu Lake, thanks to our friendly neighbours across the border who love our land so much that they get possessive about it.

My attempt to get good pictures of the lake failed miserably, but I did not give up completely on it. It did not help that I spent very little time next to the lake. What did help a bit is a magic formula that the mountain people in the Himalayas use for making anything and everything pretty. The fluttering prayer flags along the shore brought alive the lake that otherwise lacked luster.