HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN      July 18, 2012

                      Mamata Banerjee lighting a lamp at the Bhanu Jayanti function in Kalimpong on Friday.

Mamata attends Bhanu Bhakta function, reaches out to people

“I have not come here to do politics. I want Darjeeling to prosper"

Kalimpong, July 17: Reaching out to the people of Darjeeling, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday made it to the function organized to celebrate the 198^th birth anniversary of Nepali poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya.

Speaking at the function, Mamata made it very clear that she had not come to campaign for her party for the ensuing Gorkhaland Territorial Administration elections but to urge the people to work for development of Darjeeling.

“I have not come here to do politics. I want Darjeeling to prosper."

The chief minister said that though she was a busy person, "yet I will come here again and again for the development of the hills."

She said, "We will be happy if you are happy. Bengal cannot be happy without Darjeeling. We want both Darjeeling and junglemahal to smile."

Later, Mamata had a meeting with Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) President Bimal Gurung at Orchid House in Kalimpong.

Gurung said, "We'll run the Gorkha Territorial Administration well to bring in development in Darjeeling hills."

"Our friendship with Trinamool Congress will remain all the same though we'll contest in a few seats during GTA polls. We are happy that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has come to visit various places in Darjeeling again," he said.

As the Morcha secured an absolute majority in the proposed GTA, Mamata stressed on peace and democracy in the region.

She also called for unity between the people residing in the state's hills and plains.

"Without Darjeeling, West Bengal cannot remain in peace. It is easy to politicise and divide and rule, but not easy to unite," the chief minister said.

‘Black-listed’ Kazi finally gets recognition, appeals for Press freedom

“India must live up to the expectations of the Sikkimese people”

Gangtok, July 17: Journalist-cum-writer Jigme N Kazi was today honoured with this year’s ‘Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar’ award by the Press Club of Sikkim.

Kazi, editor of Sikkim Observer and Himalayan Guardian,  was conferred the award for his “outstanding contribution and dedication made during last three decades in the field of journalism,” according to Press Club Working President Vishnu Neopaney’s letter to Kazi informing of the Press Club’s “unanimous decision” to confer the award on its decadal foundation year.

The “Most Promising Journalist” award went to Bishal Gurung while Mohan Lama, Darjeeling correspondent of Sikkim’s Samai Dainik, was also felicitated by the Press Club. Gurung is the State correspondent of Hindustan Samachar news agency.

Theatre activist and senior journalist CK Shrestha of Kalimpong, who was the Chief Guest for the occasion, urged the media in the State to remain united in “thought” and side with the people in all situation. “Merely reporting will not do. You must tell the truth,” Shrestha said.

While IPR Secretary KS Tobgay assured the Press that the government would positively look into all the problems faced the media in the State, Press Club advisor CD Rai, who was the chairman of the function, said Kazi not only deserved the award but his writings were “balanced.”

While urging the media to remain strong, free, united and independent, Kazi called on the people, including the authorities, to respect and respond positively to the urges of the media to remain  free and independent.

“I believe that by conferring this award to this long-time black-listed man, who is forced to live in self-imposed exile in his own homeland, the Press in Sikkim is sending a clear message to those who care to listen. And that message is loud and clear: the Press in Sikkim wants to be more free and independent and those in power and the people at large should take note and respect this stand,” Kazi said in his acceptance speech.

Kazi, who has authored two books, “Inside Sikkim: Against the Tide,” and “Sikkim for Sikkimese”, also appealed to the Centre not to ignore the “hopes and aspirations” of the Sikkimese people and honour the terms of Sikkim’s ‘merger’.

“Even if our political leadership has failed us time and again, India must live up to the expectations of the Sikkimese people. If it continues to ignore the hopes and aspirations of those who sacrificed their country so that this nation may live in peace and security there may come a day when Sikkim will become a hot-bed of international politics,” Kazi warned.

KALIMPONG HERITAGE HOMES Himalayan Hotel

History

The house that is now the Himalayan Hotel Kalimpong, was the family home of David Macdonald. Macdonald was posted to Tibet as a British Trade Agent, serving in Yatung and Gyantse IN THE Chumbi Valley until his retirement in 1924.

Macdonald assisted the 13th Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet in 1910, and he was later invited to Lhasa in 1921. Prior to his retirement he served briefly as Britain's Political Officer in Sikkim, in charge of Britain's relations with Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim. After his retirement, Macdonald shifted to this house and rented part of it as a hotel. The Himalayan Hotel still remains the residence of the Macdonald family.

Arunachal media may demand CBI probe on scribe assault

 Itanagar, July 17: The Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) has unanimously resolved to shut down all media houses in the State today in protest against the attack on Arunachal Time’s Associate Editor Tongam Rina.

Condemning Sunday’s incident as an attack on the press fraternity, a meeting of the APC and APUWJ also decided to boycott news and advertisements of the State Government for 15 days, which would be reviewed if the culprits were not arrested.

The organizations demanded that the State Government book the culprits under non-bailable section within 7 days and the case be fast-tracked through a special court to award exemplary punishment or else hand over the case to CBI forthwith.

The members also resolved to send a delegation to New Delhi and Guwahati to stage protest and to highlight the repeated atrocities being committed on the press fraternity.

Unidentified gunmen had yesterday shot at and critically injured an associate editor when she was entering office.

The Dalai Lama shares a light moment with some of the elders of the Tibetan Muslim community during his visit to the Tibetan Public School in Srinagar, J&K,  on July 14. (Photo/OHDDL/Tenzin Choejor

Pro-federal forces to hit streets if no consensus on federal structure: Mahato

Kathmandu, July 17: An all-party meeting organised by Sadbhavana Party held here last weekend concluded that only a new constitution, and not a change of guard as sought by opposition parties, could resolve the present political deadlock.

The meeting agreed that if political parties failed to forge consensus on unsettled issues of the constitution, they should agree to incorporate the agreed agendas and leave the issue of the 10-Pradesh model proposed by the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) to the new Constituent Assembly.

Reading out the recommendation endorsed by the two-day 'mini-Parliament' convened here, Sadbhavana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato said, "After political parties reach consensus on the contentious issues of federal structure, the constitution can be promulgated through reinstatement of the Constituent Assembly for a brief period".

This recommendation comes at a time when some opposition leaders are demanding that the issue of single ethnic identity based federal structure be settled through referendum.

The meeting concluded that the SRC proposed 10-Pradesh model could be approved or some minor amendments could be made to the proposal.

“A new constitution should be promulgated only through CA, not any commission and the constitution should guarantee identity based federalism,” read the declaration issued at the end of the two-day gathering.

In case political parties cannot agree to reinstate the Parliament, fresh election must be conducted to resume the task of drafting the constitution, Mahato said.

If no solution can be reached through dialogue and discussion then all pro-federal forces and republican forces should come to the street forming a joint front among Madhesis, Dalits, indigenous and ethnic communities for the cause of promulgating the constitution with ethnic identity based federal structure, Mahato said.

The meeting was attended by various political leaders, including Maoist chief Prachanda.

3500 MW Indo-Bhutan hydropower projects to begin in Bhutan soon

Thimphu, July 17: Works for several new hydropower projects of total 3500 MW capacity under Indo-Bhutan joint initiative is set to begin within next one year. The project would not only offer significant financial benefit to Bhutan, it will brighten India's power profile to a great extent, as well.

The most important one in this list of projects is Sankosh. Though downsized recently by the Empowered Joint Group (EJG) of high government officials of Bhutan and India to a 2560 MW from its earlier planned capacity of 4050MW, this is still the single largest power project in Bhutan, The Economic Times reported.

According to Economic Affairs Minister of Bhutan K Wangchuk, pre-construction infrastructure works, including building access bridges and roads, are to start in August 2012 in both sides of the border by respective government agencies. Construction of main work, including the dam and power house, is likely to begin in 2013.

Though initially planned to be a joint venture with its 51% owned by Indian PSUs and rest with Bhutan's Government owned hydropower agency Druk Green Power Corporation, the $110 billion project has been remodeled to be established under a different inter governmental model in which India will provide entire funding.

However, agreements pertaining many facets of the project, including tax and duty exemptions, funding process, Indian PSUs participation etc, are likely to get signed by end July.

Beside Sankosh, works for four other hydropower projects in the list, including Kholongchhu (600MW), Chamkharchhu (770MW), Bunakha (180MW) and Wangchhu (570MW), are expected to start by this year.

Bhutan is committed to develop 10,000MW new power generation capacity dedicated for India by 2020. And, "India is also keen on utilizing Bhutan's untapped hydropower potential," said India's Union power Minister S K Shinde.

Dalai Lama visits JK after 25 years

Srinagar, July 17: The Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama is presently on a weeklong visit to the State, which comes after a gap of 25 years.

Hundreds turned up for a glimpse of the Buddhist spiritual leader here last week when he arrived. The reception, organized by the Tibetan Muslims, was in Srinagar’s old city.

The old city’s Sangeen Darwaza is home to around 200 Tibetan families of Kashmiri ancestry, with dozens more living in adjoining localities. They say they are the children of Tibetan women and Kashmiri traders who had settled in Tibet seven centuries ago.

They have surnames like Qazi, Sheikh, Bhat, Wani and Tramboo but their features resemble those of the Tserings and Lamas of Ladakh. What distinguishes them from other Tibetans is their religion.

They are Muslims, who had fled Tibet during a Chinese crackdown in 1959. But what they share with Buddhist Tibetans is their love for the Dalai Lama. It is they who played the host.

“His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, is our king, our leader. We all love him. That is why we are here,” said Masood Bhat, a Tibetan Muslim volunteer who had joined dozens of others to organise the programme at Tibetan Public School.

“It is not just Tibetan Muslims who are here. As you can see, a majority of students in this school are Kashmiris and they, along with their parents and others in our locality, are here.”

The participants, including girls in colourful clothes but in purdah and elderly women in traditional Tibetan Chuba dresses, lined up to receive the Dalai Lama along with chief minister Omar Abdullah and other dignitaries.

“We should all strive to create a harmonious society where we will care for each other,” the Dalai Lama said. He later visited a mosque built by Tibetan Muslims, and joined the prayers.

Nasir Qazi, the chairperson of the school management committee, said they offered him Kashmiri wazwaan, Ladakhi momos and other dishes.

“He relished the food,” Qazi, whose office has a portrait of the Dalai Lama, said. “But more important, he loved the way we spoke fluent Tibetan.”

The last time the Buddhist spiritual leader had visited Srinagar was in 1988.

Editorial

TIBET-J&K-SIKKIM

Demand For Special Status

Historically, Tibet, the former Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim and the State of Jammu and Kashimir share much in common. Today, it is not only religion and culture that binds the peoples of these areas but a shared sense of having a special status within China and India. Legally, while Jammu and Kashmir’s special status comes under Article 370 of the Constitution, Article 371F protects Sikkim. China’s constitution also guarantees autonomy for the Tibet region of Kham, Amdo and Utsang. However, in reality these three provinces in the Himalayan region do not enjoy the special status provided to them. Despite the Dalai Lama’s insistence that he wants ‘genuine autonomy’ for Tibet under China Beijing continues to label the Tibetan spiritual leader a ‘splittist.’

Only very recently BJP leader Arun Jaitley pointed out that that the “special status to J&K was a historical blunder” and even threatened to launch a movement if the Centre accepts the report of its interlocutors pertaining to “special status” for Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370. Jaitley, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, blamed Jawarharlal Nehru for incorporating Article 370 in the Constitution. Though there has not been such a threat on Sikkim the gradual dilution of its distinct identity within the Union has been resented by the Sikkimese and the Centre is not paying any heed to it. As in Tibet, the influx of non-ethnic groups in Sikkim has threatened the survival of bonafide Sikkimese, including Sikkimese Nepalese, who were subjects of the Chogyal. Beijing and New Delhi, it they wish to come closer, must address the grievances of those living in the border region of the two countries.

IB and RAW role in Karmapa Controversy

Divergent views on funds controversy reflect conflict of interest

The lack of coordination and divergence of views between the two principal intelligence agencies, IB and R&AW, has never been felt more acutely than in the way New Delhi plays out its Tibet and China policies.

Early last year a jeep was intercepted by the Himachal Pradesh police coming in from Punjab. On inspection the police found cash worth Rs1 crore stacked in bundles. As investigations progressed, the links led to the 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje (UTD), who has been in India ever since his dramatic escape from China many years ago. Soon after an FIR was registered, officers from the IB and R&AW were called in to do their discreet inquiries and give their assessment to the government.

What was not stated, but known was that while R&AW was keen to maintain a good equation with the UTD faction, the IB was pushing for a rival Tibetan faction, headed by Trinley Thaye Dorje (TTD). The seeds of disarray had already been sown.

As expected, both agencies came up with diametrically differing views. R&AW argued, and with considerable merit, that the UTD faction of the Tibetan diaspora was the most powerful and influential of factions. The TTD was virtually unknown in the Tibetan diaspora.

Their assessment was that the cash that was discovered was a routine development among the Tibetans residing in India who did not have any other means to conclude their land deals. The IB sent across a detailed note claiming that the cash had come in from China through intermediaries in Hong Kong and was being used by the Karmapa to fund espionage activities against the Tibetan-government-in-exile in Dharmashala.

Matters came to a head when the Karmapa, who was named as an accused in the case, filed an application stating that his name be dropped from the case as he did not have anything to do with the cash. But the IB, backed by the union Ministry of Home Affairs, stuck to its guns while R&AW was left to fight a solitary battle in the meetings of the National Intelligence Board (NIB). The NIB is the apex intelligence sharing mechanism in India’s security architecture with the IB, R&AW chiefs sharing the table with the National Security Adviser (NSA), the foreign secretary and the home secretary.

The IB felt that the Karmapa and his affiliates had created a maze of organisations that did not have clearance to receive funds from abroad. The IB argued that the Karmapa had created two organisations, the Saraswati Charitable trust and the KGT since 2003, concealing the Tibetan identities of its trustees.

The R&AW disagreed in its assessment. They pointed out that the Chinese currency stacks found in the subsequent raids were genuine donations from Tibetans living under Chinese occupation. They argued that had it been funds for espionage activities then they would have sent the money in Indian currency and not left such a huge trail pointing back to the Chinese.

Instead, R&AW argued that New Delhi needed to engage the Karmapa and the UTD more actively to retain its influence over the Tibetan diaspora and continue to act as leverage in all negotiations with the Chinese.

Faced with such divergent views, the government held a series of meetings in February and July this year to resolve the issue. It agreed that both factions, the UTD and the TTD would get equal play from the government. It was agreed that both religious leaders would be allowed to travel abroad and be given equal assistance from Indian missions abroad. However, the bulk of the decisions would be held in abeyance, held hostage to the factional fights between IB and R&AW. (DNA)