HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN      May 23, 2012

Jaya launches  ‘Sangma for President’ campaign

Chennai, May 22: AIADMK leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has been speaking to leaders of various national and regional parties seeking their support for P.A. Sangma’s candidature for the post of president, her party said on Sunday.

In a statement issued here, the AIADMK said Jayalalithaa spoke to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani, Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Prakash Karat and CPI leader A.B. Bardhan as part of garnering support for Sangma, a former Lok Sabha speaker.

She also discussed the matter with Telugu Desam Party leader N.Chandrababu Naidu, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav, Shironmani Akali Dal leader and her Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal.

Seeking their support, she said Nationalist Congress Party leader Sangma, hailing from northeastern region and belonging to a tribal community, is fully qualified to become the president.

On Thursday, Jayalalithaa announced that her party supported the candidature of Sangma for the office of president of India.

She said the decision was arrived at “after due internal consultation” with Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal chief Naveen Patnaik. She said none belonging to the tribal community had ever become the president.

Nepal ignores SC deadline, extends CA term

Kathmandu, May 22: Nepali politicians on Tuesday proposed to ignore a Supreme Court deadline giving them until Sunday to draw up a new constitution for the Himalayan republic, saying they needed more time to agree on the boundaries and names of new states.

The new constitution is widely seen as crucial to helping end instability that has plagued Nepal since the end of a Maoist-led civil war in 2006 and the subsequent overthrow of the monarchy, Reuters reported.

The coalition government formally proposed that the Constituent Assembly, which doubles as parliament, be given three more months to try to bridge deep differences that have forced lawmakers to miss several earlier deadlines.

"We are formally registering a proposal in the parliament today (Tuesday) seeking a three month extension of the term of the Constituent Assembly," Deputy Prime Minister Narayankaji Shrestha told reporters after a cabinet meeting.

The parliament is almost certain to pass the proposal in a vote expected before the weekend deadline expires.

The decision to extend the life of the assembly was made on the last day of a three-day, nationwide strike that closed thousands of schools, shuttered businesses and forced vehicles to stay off the roads. There were renewed clashes between protesters and police in the capital and other towns.

Protesters enforcing the strike were demanding that the impoverished country be divided into states along ethnic lines and that the states' names also be ethnically rooted.(see page 2)

1,000 Tibetan monks, nuns sign motherland petition

Lhasa, May 22: About 1,000 monks and nuns in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region have initiated a signature campaign to express love for the country and religion.

They signed their names on Monday at monasteries of counties in Shannan Prefecture, resolving to comply with law and dharma, choose right from wrong, advocate harmony and pursue peace, Xinhua reported.

The number of participants exceeded 80 percent of the total registered monks and nuns in the prefecture, said Dawa Tsering, head of the prefecture's Buddhism association, organizer of the event.

"A Buddhist should never forget himself or herself as a votary for the Buddha, and should take it as responsibility for well-beings of the religion, the human beings and the country," said Dawa Tsering who led the signature-signing at Samye Monastery, in Chanang County.

Built more than 1,000 years ago, Samye Monastery was the first Buddhist monastery in Tibet and the birthplace of the Nyingmapa sect of Tibetan Buddhism.

Ethnic groups-madhesi bandh paralyse Nepal

Ethnic groups feel they will be reduced to a minority in the proposed 11 states

Kathmandu, May 22: Life was paralysed across Nepal on Sunday as the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN), an umbrella organisation of ethnic communities, kick-started a three-day nation-wide shutdown demanding identity-based federalism, and opposing the agreement signed by the top three national parties on constitutional issues last week.

Among the most severe bandhs in recent years, the day saw incidents of violence as well as attack on the press in Kathmandu, The Hindu reported.

Transport was crippled and markets were closed in the capital. Over 60 people were arrested by the local police on charges of disrupting law and order and instigating violence.

Since the morning, protestors began vandalizing media vehicles as well as manhandling journalists in what appeared to be a concerted attack on the press. NEFIN chairperson, Raj Kumar Lekhi, blamed it on ‘vigilantes’ who had infiltrated the movement, and termed it as a ‘conspiracy to defame the peaceful movement’.

General Secretary of the organization, Ang Kaji Sherpa, however blamed the media for its selective representation of issues concerning ethnic groups, accused it of hill upper caste dominance, and threatened journalists. The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) organized a protest meeting on Sunday evening, and strongly condemned the attacks, the report said.

NEFIN’s shutdown was supported by the Broader Madhesi Front, a cross-party Madhesi grouping led by former foreign minister Upendra Yadav. The front shutdown its stronghold of eastern Tarai for the third consecutive day, and protests by the Tharu Struggle Committee crippled life in western Tarai.

The bandhs are a part of the opposition to May 15 agreement between Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), Nepali Congress (NC), and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist Leninist) by Nepal’s marginalised and excluded communities. According to the pact, there would be eleven provinces in a future federal set up – the names and exact boundaries of the provinces are to be decided later.

Both Madhesi and ethnic groups have demanded that federal restructuring be based on the report of either the subject committee of the Constituent Assembly, which recommends 14 provinces, or the report of the State Restructuring Commission which suggests 10 states. Ethnic groups feel they will be reduced to a minority in all provinces if the 11 state model goes through; Madhesi parties are against slicing the Tarai plains into five provinces as the bigger parties propose to do. Over 320 ethnic and Madhesi lawmakers, across party lines, have opposed the understanding. Serving Madhesi ministers have threatened to resign from the government unless the deal is revised.

On Saturday, Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that the agreement has lost its legitimacy and must be reviewed. The NC and UML have, however, warned against revising the number of states.

With the term of the Constituent Assembly expiring on May 27, Nepal has exactly a week to resolve the contentious issue of state restructuring and finalise its constitution.

Burma to restore infamous Death Railway

Yangon, May 22: Tens of thousands of POWs were forced to work in harrowing conditions to build the 424-kilometre railway through dense jungles and mountains.

By the time it was completed in 1943, more than 11,000 POWS, including 2,815 Australians, and about 75,000 Asian labourers were dead Radio Australia reported.

A feasibility study on the 105-kilometre stretch running from Burma's Three Pagodas Pass area to Thailand is scheduled to begin in October, railway minister Aung Min said.

"We will reopen this (rail) road. The other countries said they would also help us and we will continue working for it," Aung Min said after peace talks with ethnic Shan rebels, the report said.

"We will do a survey and try to start working after the rainy season with the help of the international community."

Long isolated under decades of army-rule, Burma has embarked a rapid series of political and economic reforms under its president Thein Sein, including moves to better relations with its neighbours.

The railway would provide a much-needed economic shot in the arm for the impoverished area, which is home to Burma's rebellious Karen ethnic group, by boosting trade with Thailand and attracting tourists.

Karen rebels signed a ceasefire with the government in January, a major breakthrough towards ending the long-running insurgency.

Japan built the railway during World War II to shuttle supplies from Thailand into Burma along a route that engineers had long considered impossible.

The rail link was destroyed by Allied bombers in 1945.

Dalai Lama’s security may be tightened

Dharamsala, May 22: With spiritual leader the Dalai Lama claiming that Chinese agents were plotting to kill him, the Tibetan cabinet will meet on Sunday to review the security setup of His Holiness.

The Department of Security of the Central Tibetan Administration, which is responsible for maintaining tight vigil of the Dalai Lama, has taken serious note of the spiritual leader’s fears and will take stock of his security arrangements.

Ngodup Dorjee, secretary of the Department, says that Indian government has been consulted for the same and that there have been talks of upgrading the security apparatus around the Dalai Lama with the latest technology and security equipment.

Indian security officials have advised the Nobel laureate to live in a high security cordon in his temple palace grounds in Dharamshala, a hill station in Himachal Pradesh.

The Dalai Lama, who is currently touring Europe, had earlier said that China was training few female agents as fake devotees who were out to poison him.

The Tibetan spiritual leader was quoted as saying that "some Chinese agents training some Tibetans, especially women, you see, using poison - the hair poisoned, and the scarf poisoned - they were supposed to seek blessing from me, and my hand touch".

But Chinese authorities rubbished the claims, saying that China could have done that earlier if it wanted to and that it was an “insidious trick” by the Dalai Lama.

Court drops charges against Tibetan spiritual leader

Dharamsala, May 22: A Himachal Pradesh district court on Monday dropped charges in a currency seizure case against the 17^th Karmapa Ogyen Thinley Dorje.

The 26-year old Tibetan spiritual leader was implicated by the police in December 2011, following a seizure of $1.4 million from his monastery in Dharamsala earlier in the year.

However, the charges filed by police in a district court against 10 people, including the Karmapa, related to a smaller amount of money.

“I am happy that the charges have been laid to rest by the Himachal Pradesh Government and through the judicial procedure of democratic India,” the Karmapa said in a statement.

The Karmapa has fought off suggestions by India’s media that he is a Chinese spy since police found the cash, including some Chinese yuan.

His office had maintained that the money came from the thousands of followers who have visited the Karmapa every year since he arrived in India.

The Karmapa is close to the Dalai Lama, Tibet’s exiled spiritual leader, and both men strongly deny accusations that he works for the Chinese.

Despite his escape across the Himalayas in 2000, the Karmapa remains recognised by Beijing as the 17th incarnation of his spiritual lineage.

When Benazir enjoyed `Pakeezah` in Shimla 

New Delhi, May 22:  When her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto discussed peace with Indira Gandhi in Shimla, his daughter Benazir was busy viewing the Meena Kumari-starrer `Pakeezah`.

So says M.K. Kaw, a highly respected Indian bureaucrat who was then posted in the Himachal Pradesh capital and who had been assigned to look after the young Benazir Bhutto.

Assisting him was Veena Datta, lady officer of the Indian Foreign Service. "She helped me keep Benazir in a good mood," Kaw says in his just released book "An Outsider Everywhere" (Konark Publishers).

The year was 1972 when the senior Bhutto travelled to Shimla to sign a peace pact with Indira Gandhi after the breakup of Pakistan and the birth of Bangladesh following the 1971 India-Pakistan war, IANS reported.

Kaw says Benazir wanted to see "Pakeezah", a hugely successful Kamal Amrohi production in which Meena Kumari played the role of a `tawaif`. The celebrated actress died soon after the movie was made.

Kaw says he spoke to Shimla`s deputy commissioner and a special show was organized at the Ritz cinema.

"There were only three of us in the cinema hall: Benazir, Veena and myself. Benazir enjoyed the film immensely.

"I retained the picture of the young and innocent Benazir all through the years of her tumultuous career till she was assassinated."

An IAS officer, Kaw served the government for 42 years in various capacities before retiring in 2001.

The book is replete with his numerous interesting experiences as well as encounters with leading politicians and officials at various levels all over the country.

Editorial

TRIBAL CARD

‘Sangma for President’

He may have been endorsed by two Chief Ministers as Presidential nominee, but Congress President Sonia Gandhi refused to meet PA Sangma on Tuesday.  Sangma has met leaders of various political parties to canvass for his candidature during the last few days. Sonia is the first important leader to deny him appointment. Sonia’s refusal to meet Sangma shows that Congress’ first family has not forgotten the foreign origin issue raked up by the former Lok Sabha Speaker when Sharad Pawar formed the NCP. With Sonia sending a clear signal that Sangma remained ‘untouchable’ for the Congress,  parties like SP and BSP are unlikely to  entertain the NCP leader, who has far been able to get commitment of support only from the Biju Janata Dal and AIADMK.

Shillong’s GG Swell, then Rajya Sabha MP, lost the fight for Raisina Hills in 1992 to Shankar Dayal Sharma, who secured 675,485 votes while Swell got 346,485. Sangma, however, has a national image and his stint at Lok Sabha was colourful and is worth remembering. Had he remained in the Congress party he would have been one of the oldest and most experienced politicians in the party. The Tura MP is now playing the tribal card for the top post and his candidature is sure to cause a lot of discomfort among various regional and national parties. Even if he loses Sangma is sure to have succeeded in creating a new political force in the country.

SIKKIM UNIVERSITY CONTROVERSY

Centre urged not to extend Lama’s tenure

Gangtok, May 22: Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal has been asked to look into the demand for 50 per cent seat reservation for local students in the Sikkim University.

This was one of the 8-point demands of the Students Union of Sikkim placed before Sibal by the State’s lone Rajya Sabha MP Hishey Lachungpa.

Lachungpa also apprised Sibal on the growing dissent against the present Sikkim University Vice Chancellor Mahendra P. Lama, who has allegedly  deviated from his role as an educationist and has instead begun to resort to politics for selfish interests undermining the basic role for which he had been appointed, Lachungpa’s press release said.

The MP has urged the Centre not to grant further extension of his term in the university.

Issues regarding service tax, railway and setting up a regional centre in the State for passports were also taken up with various Central leaders by the MP.

The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, while regretting its earlier decision to support Lama’s candidature when he was initially appointed the Vice Chancellor of the university, has also hit out against the outgoing VC, whose term reportedly ends next month.

Former Lok Sabha MP and party spokesperson Bhim Dahal said the SDF “regrets” backing Lama and wants his early replacement. Dahal said Lama was not working in the interest of “Sikkim and the students.”

Gorkha League remembers Tamang,  plans hunger strike

Darjeeling, May 22: The All India Gorkha League on Monday threatened a relay hunger strike from June 21 if the CD of purported conversations among GJM leaders on the day of Madan Tamang’s murder is not given to the CBI by the state government in one month.

AIGL on Monday observed the second death anniversary of its leader Madan Tamang in Darjeeling with a memorial meeting where major leaders opposed to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, including Subash Ghising and Chhatrey Subba, were invited. Ghising and Subba did not attend the meeting, but senior CPM leader and former minister Ashok Bhattacharya was present, a national daily reported.

“We organised the event to mark the second death anniversary of our leader. We have learnt that a digital file containing telephonic conversations of hill leaders named in the FIR is in the custody of the chief minister and she is refusing to hand it over to the CBI. If the CBI gets hold of the file, senior Morcha leaders could be arrested. We have requested the chief minister to hand over the recording, but we are yet to get any response. We want justice. So we have decided to give a month’s time to the government to hand over the digital file to the CBI. If it is not done, we will start a relay hunger strike from June 21,” said Pratap Khati, general secretary of AIGL.

“We will observe the strike for 10 days initially, but if the state government does not respond, Bharti Tamang, Madan Tamang’s wife, will fast unto death,” he added.

AIGL leaders in their speech hinted that the state government is not handing over the CD to the CBI for vested interests. “With the help of the CD, the state government is able to make the GJM leaders do everything it wants,” Khati added.

Bharti Tamang said, “Had there been this sort of security arrangement on May 21, 2010, my husband would not have been murdered in broad daylight.” Madan Tamang was killed by a khukri-wielding mob that day.

Sikkim forum lambasts opposition silence on power scam

Gangtok, May 22: The Platform for Joint Action against hydel projects in the State has criticized the Opposition for its silence on the alleged multi-crore scam in the State’s hydel projects.

The forum recently held a discussion on the recent Current News report alleging Rs. 20,000 scam in the power sector.

“The meeting noted with concern the scam of such magnitude in a small state like Sikkim that has escaped the attention of our civil society and political leaders. In fact, such revelation was made by the national print media which is under wide circulation in the nation across thus putting bad image and impression of Sikkim,” the forum press release said.

It criticized the “inaction of opposition political parties” on the matter, which is highly “condemnable.”

The forum consists of Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), All Sikkim Educated Self Employed and Unemployed Association (ASESE&UA), National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO 371F), Save Sikkim, All Sikkim Monasteries’ Association (ASMAN), Concerned Lepchas of Sikkim (CLOS), Affected Citizen of Teesta (ACT), Denjong Chyarig Tsogpo and  People’s Forum on Earthquake (PFOE).

Power Secy admits ‘mistakes’ on hydel projects

Gangtok, May 22: Issues relating to the alleged Rs 20,000 scam in the 1200 MW Teesta State III hydropower project and other hydel projects in north Sikkim were taken during a meeting between the Power Secretary and members of the All Sikkim Educated Self Employed & Unemployed Association and SAVE Sikkim here last week.

The involvement of Teesta Urja Ltd in the 1200 MW hydel project in Chungthang was raised during the meeting. Controversial Andhra Pradesh MP Jaganmohan Reddy, who is currently facing CBI trial on corruption charges, is said to have invested heavily into power projects in north Sikkim.

The demand for scrapping power projects in west Sikkim was also taken up with the Secretary. While welcoming the scrapping of Ting Ting and Lethang power projects, the members demanded the scrapping of Tashiding power project.

The Power Secretary said the department had made “errors” and “mistakes” regarding power projects in the State, a release of the Association said.

Team Anna supports anti-dam protests in Assam

New Delhi, May 22: Team Anna on Monday came out in support of anti-dam protests in Assam led by one of its members Akhil Gogoi and asked the government to accept the demands of the protestors.

In a statement, Team Anna said the construction of dams in Arunachal Pradesh be stopped "as people of Assam cutting across their economic background have been opposing it".

They said the construction activities should stop till an agreement is reached with the people living in the downstream, PTI reported.

They also demanded the alleged police action against protestors be stopped and all those detained released unconditionally.

Gogoi, a Team Anna Core Committee member and general secretary of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), is on an indefinite fast along with 30 others since last Saturday as part of anti-dam protests.

Gogoi alleged "police atrocities" have increased and that is why he is sitting on an indefinite fast to press for their demands like release all the detained activists unconditionally and stopping of police attrocities, a statement said.

"India Against Corruption believes that the demands made by Mr. Gogoi must be implemented with immediate effect. IAC urges the government to take immediate steps in this regards.

We stand with the activists led by Gogoi in the struggle for betterment of the people in the North East," it said.

Rebel leaders disagree, Naga talks fail

New Delhi, May 22: The widening rift between Naga rebels has led to NSCN (Isak-Muivah) opting out of the reconciliation meeting to be held at Chiangmai in northern Thailand this week.

The decision that NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah will not participate in the meet was taken on May 14 and confirmed by NSCN sources on Friday. However, sources in the Union Government said they never expected Muivah to participate in the meet, reports said.

The reconciliation exercise, initiated by the church in Nagaland and continued by civil society groups, is over 10 years old. Naga Hoho, the apex body of Nagas, was the prime mover for several years before the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) was formed. Though FNR’s efforts have borne some fruit, a complex web of inter and intra-rebel group politics along with the shifting policies of the Centre has made reconciliation a tough exercise. The forum has held several meetings for reconciliation at Chiangmai.

Differences between the NSCN(I-M) and NSCN (Khaplang) surfaced last year when the Khaplang faction led by Kitovi Zhimomi threatened to hold talks with New Delhi.

As the rebels fail to reconcile, the government now seems to be in the mood to talk to more than one group.