Himalayan Guardian March 14, 2012

Burma minority leader jailed for 20 years

Yangon, March 13: A court in Burma has sentenced a leader of the Karen ethnic minority group to two decades in prison for treason, his legal adviser says.

Nyein Maung, a member of the Karen National Union (KNU) central committee, was arrested last year in China and deported to Myanmar, where he was taken into custody.

A special court at Insein prison gave him life imprisonment - which is equivalent to 20 years - for high treason, said adviser Aung Thein, The Irrawaddy magazine reported.

Nyein Maung was handed an additional three years under the illegal organisation act, but will serve the two sentences concurrently, he said.

Burma considers the KNU - whose leadership is based in Thailand - to be an illegal organisation. Its armed wing has been battling the government since 1949.

The KNU signed a pact with the new reform-minded government in January in a move that raised hopes of a permanent end to one of the world's oldest civil conflicts.

But the organisation warned last month that the pact was "fragile", and pointed to the detention of Nyein Maung as a key issue of contention.

"I do not think the government will harm the peace talks with the KNU by keeping him in prison. Who knows? The president can grant a pardon for his release any time," the adviser said.

Focus on stability, progress in Tibet: Chinese Prez

Beijing, March 13: Chinese President Hu Jintao asked the military should pay more attention to safeguarding social stability amid a volatile situation in northwestern Xinjiang province and Tibet.

Speaking at a plenary meeting of People's Liberation Army (PLA) deputies to the National People's Congress, Hu said every soldier in the military must be aware that development and stability are the priorities, state-run Xinhua news agency said.

Hu, who is also the General Secretary of the ruling Communist Party and Chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), stressed that the PLA and the armed police must focus on national defence and army building, and adhere to the fundamental requirement of making progress while maintaining stability.

Hu is set to retire towards the end of this year. Internal stability continue to be main focus of Chinese leaders as China like last year would be spending more on internal security budget than that of defence this year.

 There is growing stress on internal security due to heavy deployment of forces in Xinjiang, where the security forces battled separatist forces of East Turkistan Islamic Movement,(ETIM). Tibet has witnessed unrest following over two dozen self-immolation attempts by Buddhist monks calling for the return of the Dalai Lama from India.

New road to link Yunnan, Tibet

Beijing, March 13: A deputy to China's top legislature has suggested constructing a new route linking southwestern Yunnan province with Tibet autonomous region.

The new route would originate in Kunming, Yunnan's capital, and pass through the city of Dali and the Lisu autonomous prefecture of Nujiang to reach Lhasa, capital of Tibet, and is of "strategic significance" in promoting the local economy, boosting ethnic solidarity and maintaining stability in the border region, said Ding Xiuhua, a National People's Conference deputy from Nujiang prefecture.

The current route from Kunming to Lhasa is 2,314 kilometers, but the new route would be just 2,055 kilometers, she said, Xinhua reported.

The current route is hazardous, as it traverses three major rivers and more than 10 mountains with altitudes of over 4,000 meters, making it almost impassable in winter, according to Ding.

The new route would be passable year-round if two 1,600-meter tunnels were created, Ding said.

"The construction of the new route will also boost economic development along the road," Ding said.

Moreover, the route would connect the resource-rich, but impoverished regions of Nujiang in Yunnan province and Nyingchi county in Tibet to the outside world and make their resources accessible, Ding said.

Tibet-Bhutan border police station set up

Beijing, March 13: China has established its highest border police station at 5,373m above the sea level on its border with Bhutan in Shannan prefecture. It has also set up an all-female police station in Tibet's Nyingchi prefecture, which borders Arunachal Pradesh in India.

These moves are being seen as aimed at keeping a close watch on a road being laid to connect Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh with Bhutan, said a Beijing-based source on Sunday.

The Chinese authorities, it is learned, may also use these police stations to keep a tab on Tibetans who try to escape across the border.

The police station has come up in a Tibetan village, Pumaqangtang village of Shannan prefecture, which has a population of 900 people. The site of the female police station, Nanyi Village of Mainling County in Nyingchi prefecture, has 445 inhabitants. "The foundation of the police station marks the progress of border administration , and it plays a positive and important role in social development and lasting peace and stability along Tibet's border," Tashi Dodan, head of the public security border detachment of Shannan prefecture, told the official media.

China has intensified scrutiny on its border with Nepal to curb the flow of Tibetan rebels, who often find their way into India.

It is being helped by the Nepalese government in this. But Chinese authorities fear that Tibetan dissidents might use the Bhutan route to escape from China, the source said.

The female police station will cover the Lopa people, China's least populous ethnic tribe. It has 20 officials between the ages of 18 and 31. Nanyi's beautiful landscape attracts a large number of tourists every year, said the official Xinhua news agency.

The move follows a call by Chinese leader Jia Qinglin, who recently stressed the need to safeguard social harmony and stability in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Burma holds peace talks with ethnic Kachin rebels

The Kachin are one of Burma's largest ethnic rebel groups

Yangon, March 13: Burma's government is holding talks with ethnic Kachin armed rebels in the hope of brokering a truce in the decades-long conflict.

The government has signed provisional ceasefires with several armed ethnic groups in recent months as part of political reform in the country, the BBC reported.

But attempts to end the fighting in Kachin state have proved difficult.

Western nations say the lifting of sanctions depends on progress being made towards national reconciliation.

Meanwhile, a prominent monk, who served years in prison for anti-government activities, has been questioned in custody for the second time in recent weeks.

The family of Shin Gambira told the BBC's Burmese service he had been detained for about 24 hours and questioned about a recent visit to Kachin state.

Conflicts between Burma's central government and rebels from the various ethnic minority groups have flared sporadically over the decades since the country gained independence.

Gambira was one of the leader's of the "saffron revolution" protests in 2007

Tens of thousands of people have been displaced by fighting and there are many reports of human rights abuses.

The civilian government, backed by the military, which came to power in 2010 is attempting to sign ceasefires with rebel groups in preparation for further political discussions.

Last week, they signed a preliminary ceasefire with the ethnic Karenni rebels in the east of the country.

But the BBC's South East Asia correspondent Rachel Harvey says that after decades of mistrust, many of the groups that have agreed a truce have done so with extreme caution.

The Kachin have so far refused to sign any agreement before political issues are resolved but are now entering into talks.

Meanwhile, fighting between the rebels and the army is continuing, say reports, forcing thousands of people to remain in temporary camps on either side of the border with China.

Our correspondent says reaching a nationwide peace deal is widely recognised as key to Burma's future political and economic development.

“Karmapa not connected to funds scam”

Shimla, March 13:  Tibetan spiritual leader the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje did not appear personally in a recent court hearing in Una town of Himachal Pradesh .

But his attorney appeared on his behalf seeking exemption of the 26-year-old spiritual guru in connection with a seizure of a huge amount of foreign currency in his monastery in Dharamsala a year ago.

 “We have applied for the exemption of his appearance in court as the Karmapa is in Bodh Gaya presiding over an import religious function (puja),” Narender Pal Singh his attorney said,  the Hill Post reported .

Distancing himself from the case Singh said the Karmapa said the chargesheet is mainly against the people who are involved in selling land to the Karmae Garchen Trust for cheating and forgery.

“The Karmapa has not even been served the court summons so far,” Singh claimed.

“Even though the Karmapa heads the trust he has never attended even a single meeting which involves building a permanent structure in Dharamsala,” he said.

“Nor has he played any administrative, financial or management role. These duties are held by his administrative office, ” he said .

“The Karmapa has expressed his feelings of hurt, he has also said that he has great faith in the Indian judicial system and has the highest respect for the democratic values of this country,” Singh said.

A chargesheet was filed by the state police against the Karmapa in December last year. The chief judicial magistrate in the town of Una had asked the Karmapa and nine others, including his aides, to appear personally in court on March 6.

The Karmapa has been charged under penal provisions related to conspiracy.

A year ago the Himachal Pradesh police recovered Indian and foreign currencies including 120,197 Chinese yuan.

The Karmapa is the spiritual head of the Karma Kagyu school, one of the four sects of Tibetan Buddhism. He fled Tibet in 2000 and has been living in Dharamsala since then under the protection of the Dalai Lama.

Editorial

CONG DILEMMA

Let The People Command

After a humiliating performance in the just-concluded Assembly polls in five states the Congress party has made yet another blunder by dumping its man and party supporters in Uttarakhand. Harish Rawat was the obvious and unanimous choice for the chief ministership but the party high command chose a less popular man for the job. The revolt within the party for this lack of sensitivity is inevitable. Rawat’s supporters, including majority of the elected legislators, have threatened to split the party and rightly so.

  The Congress party ought to know by now, particularly after its poll debacle in Uttar Pradesh, that it cannot afford to cold shoulder regional leaders. Having lost the upper caste battle to BJP, the tribals, dalits and minorities in UP are split between SP and BSP, leaving the Congress without a vote-bank to build up the party in UP. In many other states the party is toying the same line. It must now reconcile itself to the fact that depending on a few individuals, no matter how great they may be, to win votes does not work anymore. It must listen and respond to the sentiments of its supporters and stop commanding from New Delhi.

Until 1852, Kanchenjunga was the highest peak in the world

Kangchenjunga is the third highest mountain in the world with an elevation of 8,586 m (28,169 ft) and located along the India-Nepal border in the Himalayas. Kangchenjunga is also the name of the section of the Himalayas and means "The Five Treasures of Snows", as it contains five peaks, four of them over 8,450 m (27,720 ft). The treasures represent the five repositories of God, which are gold, silver, gems, grain, and holy books.

Three of the five peaks – main, central, and south – are on the border of North Sikkim in India and Taplejung District of Nepal, while the other two are completely in Taplejung District. The Kangchenjunga Himal includes twelve more peaks over 7,000 m (23,000 ft).

Until 1852, Kangchenjunga was assumed to be the highest mountain in the world, but calculations made by the Great Trigonometric Survey of India in 1849 came to the conclusion that Mount Everest (known as Peak XV at the time) was the highest and Kangchenjunga the third-highest.

 Kangchenjunga was first climbed on May 25, 1955 by Joe Brown and George Band, who were part of a British expedition. The British expedition honoured the beliefs of the Sikkimese, who hold the summit sacred, by stopping a few feet short of the actual summit. Most successful summit parties since then have followed this tradition. (Wikipedia)

DILEMMA OVER GTA POLLS

No elections without inclusion of Terai & Dooars: GJM

C. Tamang

Darjeeling, March 13: The first elections to the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) has run into a controversy. While Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wants the polls to be held now that the GTA has obtained the presidential assent, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) insists that elections would not be held without the inclusion of Terai and the Dooars in GTA.

Briefing the media for the first time every since President Pratibha Patil gave her assent to the GTA Bill in Kolkata on Wednesday, the chief minister, while announcing the surrender of Maoist leader Suchitra Mahato, said: "What else would you ask for? The GTA Bill has been cleared and elections will be held as per the agreement. In another three months, you would have nothing more to ask for. We've fulfilled most of our commitments."

GJM supporters took to the streets in the Darjeeling hills on Sunday reiterating their opposition to any move to hold elections to the GTA without the inclusion of areas in the Terai and Dooars region in the north Bengal plains within the territorial jurisdiction of the proposed body.

Processions were taken out and rallies organised by the youth and women wings of the GJM in the three hill subdivisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong where demands were also raised for an interim set-up comprising nominated members till the formation of the GTA, The Hindu reported.

But even as the GJM leadership has made clear that there could be no compromise on its demand for the inclusion in the GTA of what it claims to be 398 Gorkha-dominated mouzas in the Terai, Dooars and Rajgunj block of Jalpaiguri district, various regional groupings in these areas including the local units of the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikash Parishad (ABAVP) have reaffirmed their opposition to any such move.

“We are against the transfer of any areas in the Dooars and Terai to the proposed GTA and shall launch a prolonged agitation if any move towards this end is made”, said Birsa Tirkey, State president of the ABAVP which claims to enjoy substantial support among the tribals of the region.

The Bengalis, Kamptapuris and the Adivasis have however rejected the idea of ceding any part of the Plains to the GTA.

History of Darjeeling

Darjeeling originally belonged to Sikkim

Until the beginning of the 18th century, the area between the present borders of Sikkim and the plains of Bengal, including Darjeeling and Kalimpong, belonged to the kings of Sikkim. In 1706 the king lost Kalimpong to the Bhutanese. And control of the remainder was wrested from them by the Gorkhas who invaded Sikkim in 1780, following consolidation of the latter's rule in Nepal

 These annexations by the Gorkhas, however, brought them into conflict with the British. A series of wars followed, eventually leading to the defeat of the Gurkhas and the ceding of all the land they had taken from the Sikkimese to the British. Part of this territory was restored to the king of Sikkim and the country's sovereignty guaranteed by the British in return for British control over any disputes which arose with neighboring states.

 One such dispute in 1828 led to the dispatch of two British officers to this area, and it was during their fact-finding tour that they spent some time at Darjeeling. The officers were quick to appreciate Darjeeling's value as a site for a sanatorium and hill station, and as the key to a pass into Nepal and Tibet. The officers' observations were reported to the authorities in Calcutta and a pretext was eventually found to pressure the king into granting the site to the British.

The transfer, however, rankled with the Tibetans who regarded Sikkim as a vassal state. Darjeeling's rapid development as a trading center and tea-growing area in a key position along the trade route leading from Sikkim to the plains of India began to make a considerable impact on the fortunes of the lamas and leading merchants of Sikkim. Tensions arose and eventually the British annexed the whole of the land between the present borders of Sikkim and the Bengal plains, and withdrew the Raja's annual stipend. These annexations brought about a significant change in Darjeeling's status. Previously it had been an enclave within Sikkimese territory, and to reach it the British had to pass through a country ruled by an independent king. After the takeover, Darjeeling became contiguous with British territory further south and Sikkim was cut off from access to the plains except through British territory.

This eventually led to the invasion of Sikkim by the Tibetans and the British military expedition to Lhasa. When the British first arrived in Darjeeling it was almost completely forested and virtually uninhabited, though it had once been a sizeable village before the wars with Bhutan and Nepal.Development was rapid and by 1840 a road had been constructed, numerous houses and a sanatorium built and a hotel opened. By 1857 Darjeeling had a population of some 10,000. The population increase was due mainly to the recruitment of Nepalese laborers to work the tea plantations established in the early 1840s by the British. (SikkimOnline.Info)