SIKKIM OBSERVER Feb 18, 2012
New anti-Cong, anti-BJP front may include SDF
Kolkata, Feb 17: After the Lokpal Bill and FDI in retail, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has become the latest common rallying point for some UPA and opposition parties.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is one of the biggest partners in the UPA, has joined CMs of opposition-ruled states to flag down the NCTC, The Hindustan Times reported.
A section in the group of non-Congress CMs opposed to NCTC claimed it could be the beginning of a pressure group of regional parties. TDP's Chandrababu Naidu has already backed them.
Top sources in the camp said talks were on to rope in the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and NCP in the protests against NCTC. The NCP has so far backed the Congress, the report said Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik said there was "need for a new transparent, corruption-free and secular front".
The SDF, which presently supports the Congress at the Centre, has, however, not reacted on the proposal.
A senior leader of his party, BJD, said: "This is going to be a platform of non-BJP, non-Congress parties that are strong in their regions. The message we want to send out is that the bigger parties cannot ignore regional outfits and their state governments".
With pressure mounting on NCTC, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Kolkata: "We will have to take notice of their observation and the government will take appropriate action."
While the Congress leadership has ruled out the threat of a new front, BJP chief ministers have lent support to the cause.
Banerjee's opposition to NCTC comes ahead of her February 22 meeting with PM Manmohan Singh after she alleged that the home ministry was delaying clearance of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Act.
BJP takes on Sikkim Manipal University, files RTI
Gangtok, Feb 17: President of Bharatiya Janta Party, Sikkim unit Padam Chettri has filed an Right To Information (RTI) application with the State Information Commissioner seeking “criteria” under which the State Government gave license to the Sikkim Manipal University (SMU).
In his letter to the Commissioner, Chettri said he had filed an RTI application with the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Departments of the State Government but failed to obtain information on the subject from the concerned authority.
“I consider the denial of information regarding Sikkim Manipal University as an attempt by the SPIO to protect and defend the SMU”, which has “violated the law and I regard the SPIO as an accomplice of SMU in committing crime by SMU in Sikkim,” Chettri said in his application.
Briefing reporters here Chettri said his party has given the SMU till March 5 to furnish the relevant information.
42nd All India Police Science Congress
Press indulging in “yellow journalism”, RTI “misused”: Chamling
“Review of security scenario” need of the hour
Gangtok, Feb 17: In the just-concluded 42nd All India Police Science Congress here this week, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, said the meeting was an opportune time to “review risk factor and security scenario” in the State, which is strategically placed between Asia’s two giants.
He said until very recently “national security” was largely seen from the point of “threats from external forces and the internal disturbance caused by terrorism, insurgency etc.”
“However, in recent times national security is also seen in the context of declining law and order and crime situations that lead to economic instability in a country. Strategically our key challenge lies in the area of people, technology, actionable intelligence and finance,” the Chief Minister said.
The Chief Minister pointed out that “trans-national crimes such as human trafficking, drugs and arms and import of counterfeit currency make it imperative to have cross border collaborative actions with partner agencies both within and outside the country.”
Referring to community policing, the Chief Minister said, “I would like to touch a little on community policing. It is not a new concept and I am sure most of you have made contributions towards police community partnership. The face of policing around the world is constantly changing and we need to meet the expectations of the community.” He added, “I take pride to state that Sikkim has seen the lowest crime rates and the Sikkim Police has maintained excellent police-public partnership.”
The Chief Minister had a dig at the Press during the conference. He alleged that a section of the local media was indulging in “yellow journalism.”
“Ethics of journalism should be fully implemented as the Press fraternity is equally responsible and answerable to the people and for the smooth functioning of a democratic State and the Country,” Chamling said.
He went on to allege that in “the name of democracy, they (Press) are acting in a most irresponsible manner with the malafide intention to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the State and called for “strict implementation of cyber laws.”
Chamling also alleged that the Right to Information Act is also being “misused” in the State by “vested interests.”
“We should work hard to protect our precious Karma Kagyu lineage”
The 14th Gyalwang Shamarpa, one of the three Regents of Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, has made a fervent public appeal on the “Karmapa controversy” and of the need to preserve the sanctity of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The Press Statement by Shamar Rinpoche is reproduced herebelow:
Recently, I released a statement about the many accusations directed towards me regarding my position on the Karmapa Controversy over the years. Since then, I have received a lot of feedback from devotees. One of the requests I have been receiving most often has been for me to reveal who the other person was that had been involved in the forging of Situ Rinpoche’s fake prediction letter.
This information will not be disclosed. I will say that I feel certain that the person who offered their suggestions to Situ Rinpoche in this regard did not have any bad intentions. It is the habit of many old fashioned Tibetans to behave hypocritically. Of course, later, there were some other negative influences on Situ Rinpoche who helped to shape the outcome of the controversy, though by now I believe any sensible person should already know who these people are. In any case, the person who was alluded to in my recent statement was, at most, guilty of being old fashioned and had no intent on doing any harm to myself or the lineage.
Another question I have been asked since the release of my last statement was why, “out of compassion”, did I give in so easily to the requests of Tulku Ugyen. What does that mean? Tulku Ugyen was my guru, from whom I received the entire Rinchen Terzod (The Treasury of the Nyingma Termas). He was over eighty years old at the time. He felt it was very important that I receive this transmission and he worked day and night passing it on to me. How could I disappoint him?
As far as Ugyen Thinley is concerned, I understood from the beginning that it would not be fruitful to protest. China wanted to recognize Ugyen Thinley as a Karmapa and enthrone him in Tsurphu. Tsurphu is in China, not India. With China being as powerful as they are, I was paralyzed to stop it. Moreover, His Holiness Dalai Lama had already given his acknowledgment, and as everyone knows His Holiness the Dalai Lama is one of the most powerful spiritual leaders in the world. So, though it was very bad for the Karma Kagyu tradition, my objection at that time would be akin to the barking of a dog. I felt that we should instead work hard to protect our precious lineage, and that this was the only solution at the time.
I knew then that the majority of people wanted to believe in Ugyen Thinly as the Karmapa, for the very reasons mentioned above. However, it was very important to enthrone the traditionally recognized Karmapa, so as to support the preservation of our unique Karma Kagyu lineage.
I understood very well that what was good for the Karma Kagyu tradition would not be very good for me as an individual under these circumstances. Yet, I sacrificed myself for the greater good in order to protect the lineage. The reason I chose to sacrifice myself was that I had already by that time taken on the role of leadership, in accord with my position as the Shamarpa. How could I ignore something so important in order to save myself from any hardship? I took this responsibility seriously, as is my duty. I tried to be a bulldozer, in order to build up the strength of the genuine Karma Kagyu tradition.
According to the power of my position and the wishes I had made, our achievements were great. The main reason for this is due to the genuine support of all the well-wishers for the Karmapa and His lineage. I am so grateful to these people who chose to support the truth in spite of their own disadvantages. It is for this reason as well that I went along with Tulku Ugyen’s requests at that time and then went on to fulfill my duty as the Shamarpa.
There are so many monks, nuns and lay people who are suffering due to the damage done to our Karma Kagyu tradition. They all trust and rely on me as their only savior. If it were not for the suffering of these people and their undying trust in me to remedy the situation, I may have done things differently. However, how could I ignore them? Among the high levels of society to the normal civilians, the monks’ community and the general lay community, so many suffered from the damage done to our lineage, especially those in the administration of the late 16th Karmapa. This was evidenced in the recent letter sent to His Holiness Dalai Lama in May of 2011 from the monks of the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre in Sikkim.
I hope this statement sheds some light onto the reasons behind my decisions made over the years and allows for more understanding of the circumstances that surrounded them.
Sincerely,
Shamar Rinpoche
February 5th, 2012
Speaker for people-centric policing with a human touch
Gangtok, Feb 17: Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly K.T.Gyaltshen stressed the need for a people-centric policing with a human touch to make Indian police more effective that will lead to positive results, transparency and accountability in the whole system.
Addressing the valedictory function of the 42nd All India Police Congress in Gangtok this afternoon, Gyaltsen said the police force must be efficient, highly trained and skillful to intervene and counter the modern-day crimes which are technologically abetted and aided, according to a PIB release.
Stressing the need for modernization of the police infrastructure, the Speaker said there must exist a total discipline among the force accompanied by quality leadership, team work, mutual respect, understanding and commitment.
Claiming that Sikkim
Addressing the valedictory function, Director General of the Bureau of the Police Reforms and Development ( BPR&D) Vikram Srivastava said key resolutions arrived at during the meet included issues relating to police reforms, performs appraisal in police, comprehensive training policy, E-policing, emerging trends in cyber security monitoring and police investigation.
Director General of Sikkim Police Jasbir Singh in his brief speech said themes during the conference including police reforms, changing technology, cyber crimes and means to ensure integrity were developed, probed and resolutions framed. He said Sikkim police is working towards improving its capabilities and developing its intuitions, describing the 42nd police congress as a learning experience.
Sikkim Tourism unveils new eco-tourism policy
New Delhi, Feb 17: Sikkim Tourism with the help of the newly- constituted Eco-Tourism Directorate of Sikkim has come out with a comprehensive policy to promote environment friendly tourism in the state.
The new Eco-Tourism Policy of the State, which was released on January 26, 2012, envisages de-congesting the capital city, Gangtok, and improve dispersal of tourists to other parts of the State which are either virgin from a tourism perspective or not much explored by tourists so far.
"The mandate of the new policy is to de-congest Gangtok. Sikkim
As part of the new plan, the State Eco-tourism Directorate has identified ten villages around Kanchenjunga Sanctuary to be developed as model villages for promoting tourism. These ten villages have been zeroed in from a list of 40 villages identified initially.
According to the official, the selection has been done taking into consideration almost nine prerequisites, such as accessibility, stakeholders' interest, scenic attraction of the place, culture, etc. The villages thus identified include Dzongu, an original Lepcha village, Lachung, Lachen, Okharey, etc. Each village is being developed on a specific theme, the official informed, like water, culture, art and craft, etc.
The whole development project, including the capacity building exercise of the stakeholders, are being funded by Japan International Co-op Agency (JICA). The project is expected to be completed over the next five years.
Adhoc employees to call off strike
Gangtok, Feb 17: The All Sikkim Departments Adhoc Staff Group (ASDASG) has decided to calloff its 21-day-long indefinite strike from today.
A spokesman of the group said the strike will be resumed after the health condition of its President Sonam Jigme Sherpa improves.
The strikers, including Sherpa, met the HRD Minister NK Pradhan here today to hold talks, according to informed sources.
Due to his deteriorating health condition Sherpa is likely to be hospitalized here. A large number of teaching and non-teaching employees have been supporting the strike since it was launched here at the DC office premises on January 29.
SC directs Sikkim govt to help women fight sexual harassment
Gangtok, Feb 17: Senior advocate and social activist Doma T. Bhutia is hopeful that the State Government will follow the recent Supreme Court’s order on formation of complain committee in order to curb sexual harassment against women in the State.
Briefing reporters here recently, Doma said the apex court, taking note of a writ petition filed by a woman, directed the State to form a complaint committee. The court had asked the State to form this committee in 1997 but till date no such committee has been formed, Doma said.
As per the directions of the apex court, Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso recently filed an affidavit detailing steps taken by State Government for formation of the committee.
As per the apex court’s guidelines, the employer is required to include a rule in the company a code of conduct for preventing sexual harassment.
Organizations also must establish complaint committees that are headed by women.
The concerned authorities are also expected to initiate disciplinary actions against offenders and safeguard the interests of the victim.
Female employees are also entitled to be made aware of their rights.
Doma said that there are many women employees in private companies who are facing sexual harassment but due the fear of termination they never complain against the accused.
Editorial
COMMUNITY POLICING
Service With A Smile
In a democracy the men and women in uniform who are interacting with the people on a daily basis ought to know that they are there to help the public, not harass them. Too often police personnel feel that it is their right to clamp down heavily on those who fail to obey them. What we require is friendly but firm policing. Unfortunately, this is not the case and too often those who look after law and order are viewed with fear and apprehension.
Both the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, and Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, K T Gyaltsen, urged the Police to perform their with a “human touch” keeping in view matters regarding “community policing” while addressing an all-India conference on Police Congress. Sikkim Police must take credit for the general law and order situation in the State as compared to neighbouring areas. The efficient manner in which the traffic in Gangtok is managed is something to be proud of. However, we still have a long way to go in performing our duties with a human touch.
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