HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN      1   May 9, 2012

BJP MP raises Limbu-Tamang seat reservation issue in Lok Sabha

Assembly seats are reserved for Bhutia-Lepchas as per 1973 pact: Khurshid

Gangtok, May 8: The demand for reservation of Assembly seats for Limbu and Tamang communities, who have been added to the list of scheduled tribes in 2002, has been raised in the Lok Sabha by BJP MP Balkrishna K Shukla.

Shukla, BJP in-charge of Sikkim who visited the State last month, said he would raise important issues of the State in the Parliament.

Padam Chettri said the people of Sikkim are grateful to the BJP for raising the issue in the Parliament on May 3. He alleged that even the two MPs from Sikkim have not raised the issue in the House and have “completely ignored the burning issue.”

While thanking Shukla for having raised the issue in the Lok Sabha, Chettri said, the National Democratic Alliance-led Government at the Centre granted the status of ST to the Limboos and Tamangs of Sikkim under the Constitution (Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes) Order (Amendment) Act, 2002. “However, the two tribes have not been able to get reserved seats in the Sikkim Assembly on the ground that there is no constitutional provision for reservation of seats for Scheduled Tribes.”    

 “The Limboo and the Tamangs were declared as Scheduled Tribes in 2002. Since then the Census of India has been conducted and the population figures of the two tribes are available. I do not see any reason why the reservation of seats for them should be delayed any longer,” Chettri said in his letter of thanks to Shukla.

“The Sikkim Assembly passes all sorts of Resolutions. It also passed Gorkhaland Resolution which had nothing to do with the people of Sikkim. But it is sad to note that the Sikkim Assembly did not find any time so far to pass the requisite Resolution for the reservation of seats for the Limboo and Tamang of Sikkim,” Chettri said in the letter.

In reply to Shukla’s question whether the UPG government is aware that the Sikkim Legislative Assembly does not have seats reserved for the Scheduled Tribes of Sikkim and what action is being taken to “preserve and protect” the STs in the State Assembly, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid said the 12 seats reserved in the Assembly were meant for ‘Bhutia-Lepchas’ as per the 1973 tripartite agreement between the Government of India and the Chogyal and political parties of Sikkim. 

Khurshid said Assembly seat reservation for STs in the State would depend on the population of the Limbus and Tamangs on the basis of 2011 Census, which is still awaited.

“Any increase / decrease in the present status could be considered only after wider debate from all the Stake holders in the State of Sikkim,” Khurshid said. (see edit on page 4)

Tibet advocate Beastie Boy Yauch dies of cancer

New York, May 8: Fans are mourning the death of Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch, and are remembering an influencer who both changed the face of rap and the way stars bring critical causes to world’s biggest stages.

Yauch, who died in New York at age 47 on Friday, played an integral role in raising awareness and funds for Tibet’s struggle to liberate itself from China. As the Beastie Boys settled into its 90s heyday, Yauch, also known as "MCA," decided to take on another role -- advocating for Tibet’s independence, according to Beastiemania.com.

After sampling the work of two Tibetan monks on the group’s 1994 “Ill Communication” album, Yauch decided that he wanted to do more than just give the pair some royalty profits. He decided to establish the Milarepa Fund and enlist the help of activists worldwide to fight for Tibet’s freedom.

“We're able to help the Tibetans to gain their freedom,” Yauch said in a "Frontline" interview. “But I think the really significant part of it for us for the western world is we have a lot to gain from the Tibetans -- there are certain lessons that are within Tibetan culture. I mean understandings of compassion and of nonviolence that are things that we really lack in our society.”

As fans flocked to see the Beastie Boys perform, Yauch carried both his pioneering talent and main cause into the spotlight.

The group organized a series of Tibetan Freedom Concerts, which enlisted the likes of such musical greats as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Foo Fighters, Alanis Morissette and Buddy Guy, CBS reports.

Most Beastie Boys groupies may have come for the star lineup, but Yauch and his band mates made sure that representatives from the Milarepa Fund were on hand and equipped with educational information about the situation in Tibet and how budding activists could get involved, according to Beastiemania.com

But Yauch never aimed to serve as the mouthpiece for the Tibetan cause. He hoped to offer up an effective platform from which oppressed Tibetans could effectively share their story.

“What we're really trying to do is create more of a forum for the Tibetans themselves to be able to speak,” he told Frontline. “I guess the idea is -- creating some kind of forum where the -- the Tibetans themselves can speak and Tibetan culture can be there itself.”

Yauch was a practising Buddhist and died after a long battle with cancer. He is survived by his wife Dechen Wangdu and daughter Tenzin Losel.

Literary festival in Thimphu in May

Thimphu, May 8: The festival between May 20 and 24 this year has lined up some of the most impressive authors writing from and on South Asia, including Vikram Seth, Patrick French, Wendell Rodricks, William Dalrymple, Kalpish Ratna, Ali Sethi and Gulzar.

Conceptualised in 2009, the festival began its journey in the pristine city of Thimpu in May 2010, as a joint effort by Pavan K Varma, India's ambassador to Bhutan, co-directors Namita Gokhale and Pramod Kumar K G as wells as Mita Kapur, CEO, Siyahi.

The festival also has the support of the India-Bhutan Foundation and the patronage of Bhutan's queen mother, H M Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuk, who is herself a published author.

"The festival has grown organically. The focus this year is on travel writing, photography, Sci-fi, food writing and writing music. Films would also be screened," says Mita Kapur.

Mountains, particularly the Himalayas, are an important factor for the South Asian region encompassing within them other themes such as travel, environment, spirituality and philosophy – all of which feature in sessions programmed for the festival.

Sessions on cinema are being organised with veterans like Vishal Bhardwaj, Mushtaq Sheikh, Amitabh Bhattacharya and Shakun Batra. Sharmila Tagore has been scheduled to speak about Satyajit Ray.

Kashag thanks HP Govt for withdrawing case against Karmapa

Dharamsala, May 8: The Kashag (Cabinet) of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) welcomes the Himachal Pradesh State Government's recent decision to withdraw the criminal case pending against 17th Gyalwa Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorjee.

The Secretary for Information CTA said, “The Kashag would like to thank all the relevant authorities for making this just decision.”

The Secretary said that the exile Tibetan community is a law abiding community and respects the law of the country they are living in. He further said that the CTA would also like to reiterate its appeal to the Tibetan people to uphold Indian laws and regulations.

The Himachal Pradesh Government recently decided to drop Dorjee’s name from the chargesheet in the foreign and Indian currency recovery case.

The 26-year-old Karmapa was charged under section 120-B for conspiracy along with nine others who were charged under different sections of IPC including 419 (punishment for cheating by personation), 420 (cheating) and 467 (forgery of valuable security), in the challan filed by police in a Una court of Himachal Pradesh.

The government, in exercise of its power under section 321 (withdrawal of prosecution) of CrPC, decided to delete the name of Karmapa from the charge sheet after getting the matter examined by the Home and Law departments, an official spokesman said. Police had recovered currencies of 26 countries, including 120,197 Chinese yuan and around Rs. 5.3 million in Indian currency, from the Gyuto Tantric University and Monastery located in Dharamsala. 

Autonomy only solution to JK: National Conference

Srinagar, May 8: The ruling National Conference on Friday hit back at Congress MP Lal Singh saying anyone who opposes restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir is challenging Article 370 of the Constitution.

"People talking against autonomy are challenging Article 370", Lok Sabha member Sharief-ud-Din Shariq said at a party workers meet here.

He said restoration of autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir is considered as the only realistic solution to address the aspiration of the people of the State, Kashmir Observer reported.

Shariq’s statement comes a day after Congress MP from Jammu region Lal Singh opposed autonomy or self-rule as a solution to the Kashmir problem.

"There should be no autonomy or self-rule for the state as demanded by some sections", Singh had said in Lok Sabha.

Shariq, who represents north Kashmir in Lok Sabha, said even the Centre is aware that restoration of autonomy is the only way to resolve the issue.

"The autonomy report had been acknowledged by the former president of Pakistan Gen Parvaiz Musharaf and other Pakistani leaders during the visit of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to Pakistan. While the autonomy report has been endorsed worldwide, there is no reason for New Delhi to delay its restoration", he said.

Editorial

LIMBU-TAMANG RIGHTS

Seat Reservation Dilemma

Limbu and Tamang communities, which were part of the OBC section of the Nepali population in Sikkim, were enlisted in the Scheduled Tribes list of Sikkim in 2002. Subsequent to them being declared as STs in the State demands were raised on reservation of their seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. In the two Assembly polls (2004 and 2009) the seat reservation issue of the two communities were highlighted by most political parties in Sikkim, including the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front. The issue was raised in the Lok Sabha last week by a BJP MP in-charge of Sikkim.

It now appears that another Assembly polls, scheduled for 2014, will come and go without seats being reserved for the Limbus and Tamangs. The UPA Government has stated in the Lok Sabha that until the population figures of Sikkim are made available on the basis of 2011 Census the seat reservation issue would linger on. Even if the population figures are made known now more time will be needed to formulate a new arrangement in the Assembly, which will be followed by fresh demarcation of Assembly constituencies.

China rail link to stretch to near Sikkim border

China is set to extend its Tibet railway network into the strategically important Chumbi valley area, next to Sikkim and the Siliguri corridor. This was confirmed by a Chinese Railways Ministry map, put out last month (Jan 2012), showing China’s “long term railway network plan”.

Until now, these plans were being loosely speculated upon, but they now have an official stamp on it. The latest map shows the railway line extending from Lhasa to Zangmu on the Nepal border, which is going to eventually extend into Nepal and even Kathmandu.

According to the plan, another line will branch out midway from this link to Zangmu, at a place called Shigatse. This line will move east and go right up to Yadong, on the mouth of the Chumbi Valley. This town is connected to Sikkim through the Nathu La pass and is strategically located on the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan.

There are areas near Yadong (Yatung) which are still disputed between China and Bhutan. The area witnessed military conflict in 1962 as part of the Indian effort to defend Nathu La.

While construction on the line has not yet started, sources said, feasibility studies are already being conducted. This project is slated for completion by 2017, bringing the Tibet railway just 500 km short of the Siliguri corridor. This may raise demands from Bangladesh to provide connectivity to the Chinese market via India.

This project must be seen along with the hectic progress, further east, on a railway line connecting Kunming in China to Singapore. With the Thailand government throwing its weight behind the idea, work on this project is moving at a quick pace. Given that there already exists a trade route from the Indian border to Kunming, the understanding is that pressure will increase on India to link up with the Chinese railway network.

What is of more concern to India is that the improved technological ability in this sphere means Beijing will end up meeting its deadlines. In the last year, China added over 10,000 km of high speed railway, and in the past five years has built 70,000 km railway lines. India, on the other hand, has struggled to connect Bhutan to India by rail.

(The Indian Express)
Muivah disintegrating Northeast insurgent movement: Barua

Ahead of talks with ULFA, Paresh Barua criticizes Thuinglang Muivah’s choice to go alone and not unite with other rebel outfits

Riding close on the heels of the first ever formal peace talks between United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)’s pro talk faction and the Centre, the Commander-in-chief of the banned outfit Paresh Barua, who leads the anti-talk camp, has hit out at his one-time ‘close friend’, General Secretary of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac Muivah) (NSCN-IM), Thuinglang Muivah accusing him of disintegrating the Northeast insurgent movements by siding with the Indian Government and, thereby, failing to keep his promise made to the people of Nagaland.

The NSCN(IM) has been involved in a peace parley with New Delhi since 1997. Union Home Ministry insiders have confirmed that a new settlement of the long-continuing Naga conflict will be achieved before Christmas (2011). In such a scenario a snub from Paresh Barua will leave Muivah and his team in utter discomfort.

“Muivah is responsible for the disintegration of Northeast insurgent struggle for sovereignty. The Government for long has been taking advantage of the discord among various outfits of the region. Way back in 1985, ULFA has proposed to NSCN (IM) general secretary Th.Muivah to initiate a unity move among Northeast rebel groups since ULFA feared that Government will try to divide and encourage fratricidal killings. But Muivah sided with the Government of India. Thus Muivah has failed to keep his promise to the people of Nagaland,” reads the statement issued by Arunoday Dohutia, press secretary of Paresh Barua led anti-talk faction of ULFA.

The statement further referred to the 10 October incident where there was a huge gun battle between the NSCN (IM) and Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) in Manipur. The Barua faction feels Muivah’s decision to go alone and not unite the various rebel outfits of Northeast had dealt a blow to the survival of the underground insurgent movements in the region and, in the process, he has betrayed other rebel outfits and people of Northeast.

Independent watchers feel that by issuing such statements the anti-talk faction of ULFA is making a mistake. “The problem of division among various rebel groups in the Northeast is nothing new. It has been there because of high assertions of ethnicity that reduced the ground for the outfits to come closer. The Indian State has always been able to take advantage of this situation, thus by making such statement Paresh Barua is falling into the same trap which he accuses Muivah of falling into,” explained Subir Bhaumik, Editor, Seven Sisters Post.

Between 1985 and 1990 ULFA’s cadres were baptised in terror by the NSCN. They used to share camps in the head quarters of undivided NSCN in Kesan Chanlam on the other side of the Indo-Myanmar border across from Nagaland. After NSCN got divided, the military wing of ULFA under Barua’s leadership has maintained close ties with both the factions. “We have come to know from surrendered ULFA cadres that once Paresh was fond of Muivah but friction developed between the two outfits after Paresh became close to the rival faction of Khaplang-led NSCN-IM. ULFA and NSCN once got engaged in a gun fight over control of a corridor in NC hills,” a senior military intelligence officer said. NSCN(IM) top leader Anthony Shimray, who was in charge of the outfits arms procurement, was hand-in-gloves with Barua before his arrest in Nepal. (Tehelka)

Sikkim High Court never asked govt to pass destruction of records bill: BJP

Gangtok, May 8: The State unit of the BJP has revealed that the High Court of Sikkim had nothing to do with the controversial bill of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly aimed at destroying past records and documents of the State Government.

OP Bhandari, OSD (Legal) to Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, recently made a complaint to the High Court regarding criticisms of the Opposition to the Sikkim Disposal and Destruction of Documents and Records Bill, No 25 of 2012, which was introduced, considered and passed on March 20, 2012 in the Assembly.

According to Bhandari, it was as per “the desire” of the High Court that the Bill was proposed to the Government for legislation. In order to “give due regards and honour of the decisions of the Hon’ble High Court of Sikkim,” the State Government “felt it necessary to pass a bill in the Sikkim State Legislative Assembly and therefore the said bill was unanimously passed by the House”, Bhandari said in his complaint to the High Court.

“The Opposition Political Parties are not aware that to criticize and comments on the decision of the courts amount to contemptuous and the person or organization criticizing the decision or proposal of Court are liable to be viewed adversely,” Bhandari added, according to BJP Sikkim unit chief Padam Bahadur Chettri.

 “As such, I consider it my bounden duty as necessary to write a complian/ letter addressing to the Registrar General of High Court of Sikkim, annexing all the documents/newspapers and letter and other evidence about the criticism made by the various quarter about the said bill, to request the Hon’ble Court to take cognizance of the Offence made by the Opposition Political Parties for registration of contempt of court proceedings against them, if it is attracted for commenting and criticizing against the desire of Hon’ble  court,” Bhandari said in his letter.

The High Court, however, has denied Bhandari’s views that it was on the High Court’s advice that the Bill was passed in the Assembly. It reacted, “There are no correspondences/ documents on the Bill between the High Court and the Government”.

It said, “High Court never desired the bill to be enacted by the State Government” and added “High Court did not ask State Government to bring the bill in the Assembly so the question of quoting law as requested does not arise”.

CPRM’s May Day rally in Darjeeling impressive

Darjeeling, May 8: The CPRM’s May Day rally here on May 1 has been hailed as a major success by the Opposition in the hills.

Since its formation in 2007, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has ruled supreme in the hills and Opposition parties have not been able to organize any impressive public show of strength.

Even this time the Morcha reportedly tried to scuttle the rally but was unsuccessful.

“Its not that the Morcha didn’t try to spoil yesterday’s CPRM show, but Bimal Gurung’s supporters were taken aback when they found that the rally had a huge participation,” reported a national daily.

The labour wing of the Morcha tried to foil the rally but it failed, said CPRM leader Govind Chhetri.

However, Morcha union leaders denied that the party was disrupting the May Day rally of the CPRM.

At least 5,000 supporters of the CPRM rallied at Chowk Bazar amidst much fear and tension.

Former Rajya Sabha MP and CPRM President RB Rai alleged that the Morcha was insincere on the statehood issue. He said his party would pursue the statehood demand.

The life and death of Gorkha leader Madan Tamang

Darjeeling, May 8: Delay in investigating the murder of All India Gorkha League (AIGL) President Madan Tamang has been criticized by party leaders.

Even after two years of the Gorkha leader’s killing the culprits have not been booked.

Tamang was stabbed to death allegedly by Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) supporters in Darjeeling on May 21, 2010.

While the GJM denied its involvement, news of the death led to a spontaneous shutdown in the region.

Tamang (64), who led the anti-GJM Democratic Front in the Darjeeling hills, was attacked with a khukri (long knife used by Nepalis) and swords on Laden La Road below the Planters' Club in broad daylight.

ABGL general secretary Laxman Pradhan alleged that a 40-strong mob of GJM activists attacked Tamang and his associates while he was busy making arrangements for a party meeting on the day he was killed.

The articulate and well-educated Tamang was involved with the hills' politics for over 40 years as a front-ranking ABGL leader. A strong advocate of a new state of Gorkhaland, to be carved out of parts of northern Bengal, Tamang had all along maintained a distinct identity of the ABGL and consistently opposed both the GNLF and GJM, which has been spearheading the statehood agitation for the last couple of years.

3 persons had received bullet injuries allegedly when police bodyguards of AIGL leaders had opened fire during the attack on Tamang. 53 year old Subash Tamang of Singamari, and Prashant Chettri (Yogesh Rai) in his late twenty, from the Lebong area of Darjeeling were arrested.

23 year old Sangay Yolmo of Upper Harsing had also received severe bullet injuries in his spinal cord from the alleged firing by police bodyguards.

In November last year the  Calcutta High Court granted bail to one Subash Tamang but rejected bail prayers by Dipen Maley, Sudesh Raimajhi and Asish Tamang in the Madan Tamang murder case.

A cell phone belonging to GJM Central Committee member Nickol Tamang had been recovered from the murder spot on the murder day.  Nickol had been arrested on August 16, 2011 from his ancestral house in Kainjaley, 47 km from Darjeeling and sent to judicial custody.

Nickol, however, disappeared from the CID camp in Pintail Village, near Siliguri, in the early hours of August 22 morning.

Based on the call records of Nickol Tamang's cell phone the CID had already arrested 39 year old Sudesh Raimajhi, a local builder on June 3. Interrogation of Raimajhi led to the arrests of 35 year old Purna Rai of Phoobtshering Tea Estate, Asish Tamang (26) of Badamtam Tea Estate, Sunil Rai (33) of Tukvar Tea Estate and Tilak Sotang (33) also of Tukvar Tea Eastate.

The case was later handed over to the CBI. The CBI had arrested Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha (Youth wing of the GJM) Spokesperson Dipen Maley on May 25, 2011, from his residence in Pokhriabong, 30 km from Darjeeling town in connection with the case.

On August 29, 2011, the CBI sleuths had filed an additional charge sheet implicating Maley.

Govt service extension criticized by youth body

Gangtok, May 8: The All Sikkim Youth Association has criticized the State Government for its decision to give further extension to government employees whose service term has expired.

During its meeting held here last week the Association has decided to launch a “movement” against such extensions. Association President Gyatso Lepcha said the extensions deprived a huge section of educated unemployed in the State.

 “The youths today are not in a position to get job in theirown State because of the extension system,” a press release of the Association said.

The Association wants the retirement age to be reduced to 55 from 58.

Manipuri student hangs in front of girl friend

Bangalore, May 8: Close on the heels of a Manipuri student who was found dead in "mysterious circumstances" in his college hostel last month, another student from the north-eastern state allegedly committed suicide here by hanging.

The deceased was identified as Jackio Heisnam (23), a second year student of Mechanical Engineering in Bangalore Institute of Engineering in Chandapura taluk in Bangalore district, police told PTI.

Police said Jackio had a heated argument with his 19-year-old girl friend (Sera Phina), also from Manipur, as she had not been answering his phone calls for the past few days. Though she explained that she was busy with her exams, Jackio suspected her of cheating on him and started shouting at her.

In the course of the argument at his rented room in Suddaguntepalya late last Friday night, Jackio picked up a wire and tied rpt tied it around his neck and hanged himself from the fan in front of the girl, police said.

Immediately, the girl cut the wire and called out to his friend in the next room and rushed Jackio to a private hospital where he was declared brought dead, sources said.

Sera is a II semester BA student at Jyothi Nivas College in Koramangala.  

"Jackio's parents have been informed and they are on their way to Bangalore. We will be questioning them as well as his girl friend (who is a second year student in BA in a city college)", police said.

Last month, 19 year-old Loitham Richard was found dead in "mysterious circumstances" in his room in the college hostel at Madanayakanahalli in Bangalore district.

While police initially said he died as a result of a road accident, the student's friends and family alleged he suffered fatal injuries in an assault by seniors a day earlier.

The death sparked off protests in Bangalore and New Delhi with the protesters demanding justice for Loitham.

"We are enjoying religious freedom in Tibet”

Two Tibetan writers from China talked about their experience and writing at the ongoing London Book Fair recently to help people learn more about a real Tibet.

Alai, who was born in southwestern Sichuan province in 1959, recalled the education he received as insufficient but helpful.

"I was in a village and every day I drove the sheep uphill before going to school," he said. In the afternoon, the students raised their hands to remind the teachers to dismiss class, so that they could bring the sheep back home.

In comparison, Cering Norbu, born in 1965, was lucky. He grew up in Lhasa and received bilingal education there. The environment gave them inspiration.

Alai finished his story King Gesar, based on the Tibetan epic with the same name.

"It was the epic of the Tibetan people, just as the Greek mythology to Greece," he said.

Dubbed the Eastern Homer, the Epic of King Gesar, an epic poem from Tibet, is a piece of intangible cultural heritage that China has been trying hard to preserve.

"Even today, many storytellers are still telling this story in the villages or on the farms," he said.

However, Alai noted that while the Greek mythology became novels, movies and musicals, King Gesar remained less known. "It is time to retell it," he said.

This is a difficult task. On the one hand, the epic was extremely long and it was hard to choose which part for retelling. On the other hand, some part has became obscure over the centuries.

This prompted him to reflect on the culture.

Alai remembered going to the British Museum and seeing Tibetan culture represented by the religious stuff only. "As a Tibetan I felt uneasy," he said. "Our culture is far more than just temples and lamas."

Talking about the influence of Tibetan culture by modernization, Alai said "development is good, as a culture couldn't just live in museums."

His view was echoed by Cering Norbu. "This influence is not solely on Tibetan culture," he said. "It is why writers are important, as they should record the history of a nation."

Alai has a famous historical novel, the Dust Settles, which follows a family of Tibetan chieftains before the democratic reform in 1959. When asked if such topic was sensitive, he laughed and voiced his confidence.

"In fact, I am free to express my innermost thoughts in China and writing itself is a happy experience," he said.

Cering Norbu is working on a new book, which tells the change of life among Tibetans after 1959.

"Nobody has written down completely the changes Tibet experienced during the past half a century," he said.

"We are enjoying religious freedom. Our lives have been greatly improved, particularly after the reform and opening-up. I want to tell the readers our true feelings," he said.

The three-day 2012 London Book Fair opened on Monday, with China being honored as the Market Focus country for the first time. Some 300 events were held during the book fair, and 57 leading Chinese writers participated in literary events with British writers and readers. (Xinhua)