HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN        Aug 22, 2012

New Nepal alliance agenda: ethnic federalism

Prachanda to lead Maoists, Madhesis and Janjatis under Federal Democratic Republic Alliance

Prachanda

Kathmandu, Aug 21: In a significant development the Maoists led by its leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has struck a deal with the Madhesis and Janjatis and formed the Federal Democratic Republic Alliance (FDRA).

The establishment of ‘ethnic federalism’ in the former kingdom is the main goal of the 20-party Alliance, which is headed by Prachanda.

Led by the ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), constituents of the United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), and several small Madhesi and Janjati outfits have come together to form the FDRA. Prominent parties in the alliance are Forum-Loktantrik, Forum-Ganatantrik, Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP), TMLP-Nepal, Sadvawana, Tamsaling Nepal Rastriya Dal, Sanghiya Sadvawana, Marxist Leninist-Socialist, Nepal Family Party and others.

The Maoist chief said the newly-formed alliance of “pro-federalists” will ensure the drafting of a constitution which is

“an ethnicity-based federal structure.” Prachanda explained that resignation of the Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, is not the solution to Nepal’s woes. He said the need of the hour is to “reach an agreement on contentious issues.”

“The move is widely perceived as a bid to drive opposition parties, mainly the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML who are often labelled by the parties in FDRA as anti-federalist forces, into a corner and deter them from making moves to dislodge the current government,” a newsmagazine observed.

Reacting to formation of the newly alliance, Chairman Mohan Baidya Kiran of Nepal Communist Party-Maoist, on Sunday described the new party as an ‘unholy alliance.’

Sikkim Speaker, Minister lead delegation to Bangalore, assures students

Gangtok, Aug 21: A high-level delegation of the State Government led by Speaker KT Gyaltsen and HRD Minister NK Pradhan called on Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar in Bangalore yesterday and expressed concern over the safety and security of Sikkimese, including students, residing in the southern State.The delegation comprising HRD Secretary CS Rao, Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC) Deputy Mayor Shakti Singh Choudhary, and Namchi Municipal Corporation (NMC) Vice-Chairman NH Ansari, also met the Karnataka Chief Secretary and DGP.

The Karnataka CM gave “all assurance” regarding the safety of all Sikkimese and informed the delegatiom that all possible help would be extended, an IPR release said.

The delegation had gone to Karnataka to ‘check on the ground reality’ after thousands of Northeast people fled the city for their homeland due to fear-psychosis.

 The delegaation also met with the Sikkimese students and assured them of the efforts that the State Government was undertaking. The students were requested to go about their studies as normal and were informed of a helpline for any assistance.

Tibetans were alerted in south India

Mysore, Aug 21: Tibetans living in a South Indian city were put on alert following a knife attack on a monk and reports that other Tibetans may soon be targeted for assault, sources in the region say.

The attack on Wednesday in Mysore city came following clashes between Muslims and other ethnic groups, some resembling Tibetans, both in northeastern India and in the western Burmese state of Rakhine.

On Aug. 14, two Indians riding a motorcycle stabbed Tenzin Phuntsog, a Tibetan monk, in the back, Lobsang Jamyang, president of the South Indian Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, told Radio Free Asia.

“There are about 300 Tibetan students studying in Mysore City, and most of them have now left for the safety of their homes in the Tibetan settlements of South India,” Jamyang said.

Weeks of fighting between Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas in Burma and in India’s northeastern state of Assam have fueled ethnic tensions in South India.

Additionally, police have cited rumors that people resembling northeastern Indians, East Asians, or Tibetans will be attacked at the end of the Muslim fasting period around Aug. 20.

India ‘decisive’ factor in solving China-Bhutan border dispute

On August 10, 2012, Fu Ying, head of the Chinese delegation and Vice Foreign Minister and Khandu Wangchuk, head of the Bhutanese delegation and Acting Foreign Minister of Bhutan held the 20th round of border talks in Thimphu.

Beijing, Aug 21:  India’s influence over Bhutan would be a “decisive” factor in resolving border dispute between Beijing and Thimpu, a Chinese expert said.

“India has tremendous influence over Bhutan,” Fu Xiaoqiang, a researcher with the state-run China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations told the Global Times newspaper referring to the close Indo-Bhutan ties.

 “If Bhutan can settle border issues with China, the result will certainly create norms that will likely be followed in the border talks between China and India,” he said.

His comments came as Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying made a rare visit to Bhutan last week to take part in the 20th round of boundary talks between the two countries, PTI reported.

Fu’s visit took place in the backdrop of a surprise meeting between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Bhutanese counterpart Jigmi Y Thinley on the sidelines of a UN meet in Rio de Janeiro in June, where the two expressed their desire to establish diplomatic ties.

Though neighbours, the two countries have not yet established diplomatic relations as Bhutan, a strongly ally of India, had remained aloof since 1951 from China after Beijing took firm control of Tibet, which shared borders with Bhutan.

Relations between Beijing and Thimpu remained traditionally strained following their border dispute.

The two countries shared about 470-km long contiguous borders and held 20 rounds of talks to resolve the dispute and inked an agreement promising to ‘Maintain Peace and Tranquillity on the Bhutan-China Border Areas’ in 1998.

Any settlement of the Bhutan-China border is regarded as significant for India as Chumbi Valley, a vital tri-junction between Bhutan, India and China border is just 500 km from Siliguri corridor. Known as “Chicken Neck” it connects India’s land links with its North Eastern states as well as Nepal and Bhutan.

Fu who visited Bhutan on August 10 also met Bhutan’s King Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

Fu appreciated the importance the King attached in developing ties with China and his commitment to resolve the border issues, Chinese Foreign Ministry said, the report said.

The King, according to the ministry, said China has become Bhutan’s third largest trading partner and he “believes that a rising China will play a wise and balanced leadership role in the world”.

The 20th round of talks were held between Fu and acting Bhutanese Foreign Minister Khandu Wangchuk in Thimphu.

“China hopes to make joint efforts with Bhutan on the basis of previous talks, continue to seek fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable solutions through friendly consultations and make the border line a bridge of friendship and cooperation between the two countries,” the Chinese minister said.

“Bhutan firmly pursues the one-China policy, thinks highly of China’s long-term foreign policy of treating all countries as equals, no matter large or small and good-neighbourly friendship and is willing to strengthen coordination with China on the international arena,” Wangchuk said.

Karnataka: Uneasy calm in Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement

Mysore, Aug 21: Though the attack on a Tibetan student in Mysore city shocked many refugees, an uneasy calm prevailed in Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement, the biggest outside Tibet.

The refugees who stopped going out for their daily needs for the past two days fearing violence, have asked their kith and kin to return. Tibetans say it would affect their children’s career if the apprehension continue, as many are returning home from colleges and work, fearing violence after Ramdan celebrations.

As many as 300 Tibetans studying in Mysore city have expressed their wish to return to Bylakuppe Settlement, Gurupura near Hunsur and Vadayarpalya near Kollegal, according to reports.

“We are expecting more from Bangalore to reach the settlement by Friday evening,” said Tashi of New Settlement. People in the settlements are praying for the safe return of children from far-off places.

Local representatives directed them to stay back in the settlement and avoid going to Mysore or Bangalore. “My cousin has not gone out of Kushalnagar to purchase tiles for her house under construction, fearing that something may happen after the Mysore attack,” said Dorje, who works in a local school.

The tension has affected the business of Tibetans to a great extent. Those who have taken loans to start businesses, have also returned, sources in the Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement said.

 “Tibetan Settlement had witnessed good business in recent times. The incident will have a negative impact on the financial condition of the refugees as more jobless people are set to return. We are refugees and guests in India. Though we are not from the northeast, we are feeling the pinch,” they say.

Meanwhile, patrolling has been stepped up near Golden Temple, Bylakuppe, Guruipura and other places which have a Tibetan concentration and a tight vigil is kept on every tourist entering their places.

Burma abolishes media censorship

Yangon, Aug 21: Burma has abolished pre-publication censorship of the country's media, the information ministry has announced.

The Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) said that as of Monday, reporters would no longer have to submit their work to state censors before publication, BBC reported.

However, strict laws remain in place which could see journalists punished for what they have written.

Burma has kept tight control over all aspects of its media for some 50 years. But the civilian government has been gradually easing restrictions since taking office last year.

"Censorship began on 6 August 1964 and ended 48 years and two weeks later," Tint Swe, head of the PSRD, told AFP news agency on Monday.

"Any publication inside the country will not have to get prior permission from us before they are published.

"From now on, our department will just carry out registering publications for keeping them at the national archives and issuing a license to printers and publishers," he said.

Tint Swe said the likelihood of permission being granted for private newspapers to be set up was "closer than before" and could happen after a new media law is enacted.

A ministry official told AFP films would still be subject to censorship. The head of the BBC's Burmese Service, Tin Htar Shwe, says journalists in Burma are cautiously optimistic about the reforms, but that the end of the law does not necessarily mean the end of the censorship altogether.

Many laws still exist under which journalists can be punished for writing material which angers or offends the government, she says.

Wai Phyo, editor of the Weekly Eleven journal, told Reuters the move was "a big improvement on the past", but that editors would now be under increasing pressure to ensure their publications remained legal.

In the past, entire newspapers have been shut because of their reports and many reporters have been jailed.

But in recent months, journalists had been given guidelines allowing them to write about controversial topics, something that would have been unthinkable under the previous military rule.

Some 300 newspapers and magazines covering less sensitive issues had already been given permission to print without prior censorship and restrictions were lifted on 30,000 internet sites, allowing users unrestricted access to political content for the first time.

In October last year, Swe said censorship should be abolished as it was incompatible with democratic practices, while warning that all publications should accept the responsibilities that go with press freedom.

JKLF chief urges international community to resolve Kashmir issue

Srinagar, Aug 21: In occupied Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad Yasin Malik has appealed to the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the world community to raise their voice for resolution of Kashmir dispute so that peace in South Asia could be made possible.

Muhammad Yasin Malik addressing a big public gathering at Charar-e-Sharief on Friday said that the people of Kashmir also wanted to live with freedom. He said that if the international community continued its silence over the long-pending dispute, uncertainty would further increase in the region.

The JKLF Chairman said that India could not suppress the ongoing liberation movement of Kashmiris through use of brute force and urged the people of Kashmir to foil the nefarious designs of enemies by forging unity among their ranks.

The separatist leader stressed the international human rights organisations to play their due role in immediate release of all illegally detained Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders and activists.

People raised high-pitched pro-freedom slogans on the occasion.

"Silence of the world community on Kashmir equals to criminal negligence. If the world community continues with the same behavior of negligence, it would put world into a more dangerous situation like that of Hiroshima and Nagasaki," said Malik.

 Referring to the August 15th address of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Malik said, "By ignoring Kashmir and only referring towards so-called panchayat elections, and saying all is well in Kashmir, a leader of high stature has done unlike of his status...It is unfortunate that today Indian leaders like conquerors tell us that there is no issue in Kashmir."

India concern over Chinese troops in PoK

New Delhi, Aug 21:  India has raised with China the issue of presence of Chinese security forces in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has conveyed that Pakistan has been illegally occupying parts of Jammu and Kashmir since 1947, government told the Lok Sabha on Friday.

"Government is aware that China is executing infrastructure projects in PoK," Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur said in a written reply. "Government has raised this issue with the Chinese side and has clearly conveyed India\'s consistent position that Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir since 1947," Kaur said, PTI reported.

China regards Kashmir as a bilateral matter to be settled between India and Pakistan, she said, adding "government has conveyed its concerns to China and about their activities in PoK and has asked them to cease such activities." Replying to a separate question on violation of Line of Actual Control (LAC) by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh, she said "China disputes the international boundary between India and China. There is no commonly delineated LAC in the border areas between India and China."

India reacts strongly to OIC mentioning JK as country

New Delhi, Aug 21: India on Friday strongly reacted to Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)'s mention of Jammu and Kashmir as a country, terming it as “unacceptable”.

“We note that there is an erroneous and factually incorrect mention about an integral part of India by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in its communiqué issued at its Fourth Extraordinary Summit held in Makkah on August 14-15, 2012.

This is wrong, unacceptable and we reject it,” official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said, PTI reported.

He was replying to India's position on OIC's reference to Jammu and Kashmir in its Islamic Solidarity Summit in Makkah. Under the heading of 'Solidarity With Other Member States', Final Communiqué at OIC Summit, said; "The Summit affirms its solidarity and full support for Sudan, Somalia, Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir, Iraq, Yemen, Ivory Coast, the Union of Comoros and the Republic of Turkish-Cyprus in addressing the challenges facing these countries."

In the past also, the grouping has been referring to Kashmir as "occupied territory", which has never gone down well with New Delhi. In the Makkah Islamic Solidarity meet, the OIC also suspended the membership of Syria from the Organization.

Editorial

INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT

Towards Identity-Based Federalism

Nepal’s mainstream parties which have for long ignored the plight and prospects of the former kingdom’s plainspeople and indigenous communities in the country’s economic and political set-up may now be forced to reconcile themselves with the changed situation. The formation of Federal Democratic Republic Alliance (FDRA) in Kathmandu last week is a significant move towards emancipation of the downtrodden people of Nepal who have been placed on the sidelines down the centuries.  If Nepal is to pursue its goal towards a democratic republic it must give due weightage to its ethnic minorities and marginalized madhesis. That the Maoists led by Prachanda has finally embraced these two very significant sections of Nepal’s population and taken them into their fold is a step in the right direction. It is true that indigenous people are usually marginalized the world over. The likely formation of a separate ethnic party in Nepal next month will go a long way in creating an alternative political force in the country given the fact that mainstream political parties have failed to deliver. Fact is that even in democratic India the indigenous people are not given their due rights and share in governance. The unity of purpose displayed by the elite across the political spectrum led to poor performance of the former Indian Speaker, PA Sangma, in the recent presidential polls in India.  Sangma has now decided to form an indigenous people’s political party to create greater awareness of their economic and political rights and to ensure that they assert their rights.

   The key issue of the new alliance in Nepal is formation of provinces along ethnic lines which would give the madhesis and indigenous people demographic advantage in the proposed provinces. One member of the ethnic communities in Nepal rightly pointed out: "An ethnic political party is now a must for the indigenous people. It is our only way of being heard." The recent rally in Kathmandu on August 9 – declared by the United Nations as World Indigenous People’s Day – by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) is aimed at putting more pressure on mainstream parties in Nepal to evolve a consensus on the touchy issue of identity-based federalism. Now that the FDRA has take up the issue in right earnest parties such as Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (UML) may be forced to look deeply into power sharing in a democratic set-up. Those who point out that ethnic-based federalism would lead to ethnic conflict and division of the country must note that a government of a particular community, for a particular community and by a particular community cannot for long endure as it is undemocratic and unjust and has created the present mess in Nepal. It is time to clean up the mess before Nepal sinks deeper into the mire.

Sikkim govt gets assurance on safety of Sikkim students in B’lore

Himalayan News Network

Gangtok, Aug 21:  The State Government has taken a very serious view over the situation arising over the reported news of attacks on the North Eastern people residing in southern cities, including Bengaluru.

 In order to ensure safety of Sikkimese residing in these cities, Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso spoke to his Karnataka counterpart, S.V. Ranganath, according to IPR Secretary KS Tobgay.

Gyatso conveyed the State Government’s concern about the safety of Sikkimese, including students, to his counterpart.  In response, the Chief Secretary of Karnataka gave full assurance as regards the safety of Sikkimese in Bengaluru. 

He also assured the State Government that the law and order in Karnataka was under control and therefore there was no reason to worry or panic, a press release by Tobgay said.

Gyatso has also requested the Speaker, K.T. Gyaltsen, to take up the issue with the Karnataka Government during his visit to the State which is scheduled for September 18 next month, 2012.

The Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police Jasbir Singh have been in constant touch with their counterparts in the aforementioned cities, an IPR release said.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, is in constant touch with his counterparts and is monitoring the situation closely, has appealed to all to remain calm and united..

Chamling said that even in New Delhi all the parties are united in sending out a clear message of unity so that the ugly events are brought to a close and the culprits and perpetrators are found and punished.

Exiled Tibetan govt minister meets Sikkim ministers on welfare of Tibetan refugees

Dolma Gyari

Gangtok, Aug 21: Home Minister of the Tibetan exiled government Dolma Gyari, who met HRD Minister NK Pradhan here last week, held talks on the shifting of Thonmi Sambhota school from Gangtok to somewhere else in the State.

Matters regarding providing mid-day meals to the students of the school was also raised with the HRD Minister, who expressed his concern for the welfare of Tibetan refugee students in the State.

Gyari, former Deputy Speaker of the exiled Tibetan Parliament, also met Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso and raised several matters pertaining to the welfare of Tibetan refugees in the State.

“We are grateful to the Sikkim Government and the people of Sikkim for all the help and concern extended to our people in the past so many years. We would never think of encroaching on the rights of the Sikkimese people but would be grateful if humanitarian aids are provided to poor Tibetan refugees in the State,” Gyari told Himalayan Guardian.

Gyari also met Speaker KT Gyaltsen and Power Minister Sonam Gyatso and Additional Chief Secretary R. Ongmu.

She has met the Tibetan community and various organizations representing them. The Tibetan leader also paid a visit to Thonmi Sabhota school during the Independence Day celebrations.

National media body takes up Sikkim scribe case with Delhi Police

Gangtok, Aug 21: The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) has responded positively to its Sikkim unit’s request for taking up the case regarding robbery of a Sikkimese scribe in New Delhi recently.

The Secretary General of IFWJ, Parmanand Pandey, has taken up the matter with Delhi Police.

Pandey has informed the Sikkim Federation of Working Journalists (SFWJ) President Jigme N Kazi that he has approached the Deputy Commissioner of Delhi Police to probe into the robbery of Duk Nath Nepal, editor of Shangrila Times, a Gangtok-based Nepali daily, who was robbed of his money and other items, including laptop, worth around Rs 2 lakhs, in New Delhi on June 27, 2012.

Nepal was accompanied by Madhusudhan when the two were robbed by five unidentified assailants.

NASBO, ASESEUEA express concern over mass exodus of NE people

Gangtok, Aug 21: The All Sikkim Educated Self Employed and Unemployed Association and the  National Sikkimese Bhutia Organization (NASBO - 371F) have expressed concern over the repercussions of the recent violence in Assam in several cities in the south which have prompted thousands of people of the Northeast to flee these places for their homeland.

“The situation all across the country is very grim and the respective authorities should take this issue at highest possible level and solve to matter at the earliest,” Association President Nawin Kiran Pradhan said.

“We are receiving phone calls from Sikkimese based outside State that they are facing problems due to this racial/communal tension and some have started returning back. Some of these messages were found to be true and some only rumours,” Pradhan said.

“In the wake of the fear-psychosis that has ultimately erupted thereby posing threat to the very safety the students hailing from the North-east, including Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal and the North Bengal regions, the Sikkimese parents are now much worried about the prospect and safety of their wards and inmates at Bangalore,” NASBO President Sonam Kaleon said in a press statement.

 “At such hour of crisis, it is appropriate that we, the entire Sikkimese society, work jointly in facing the circumstances. We appreciate the initiatives being taken by the Sikkimese Chief Secretary with his counterpart in Karnataka in ensuring safety of our Sikkimese students there,” Kaleon said.