HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN      Oct 17, 2012

Jigme N Kazi’s blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

GOLAY, SDF SUPPORTERS CLASH IN NAMTHANG

7 injured, 29 arrested; Section 144 imposed in Namchi

Gangtok, Oct 16: Section 144 was imposed in Namchi, headquarters of south district and a bastion of ruling Sikkim Democractic Front, on Monday following reports of clashes between supporters of the ruling party and SDF dissident legislator PS Golay at Namthang, South Sikkim, on Sunday night.

Twenty nine supporters of the rebel leader, who is on the verge of forming his own political outfit, have also been arrested and detained at the district jail in Namchi. Section 144 was imposed in Namchi on Monday afternoon in view of the tense situation.

According to reports, five vehicles belonging to SDF supporters were damaged and seven party workers were injured during the clash.

Prominent among Golay’s supporters who were arrested and sent for 15 days judicial custody were Nima Theeng, Bikash Tamang, Jacob Khaling, Rudra Khatiwada, Suraj Rai and Sanjay Subba.

Golay’s supporters have named Minister Tilu Gurung and former minister GM Gurung for allegedly inciting violence in their FIR. Those arrested and detained have decided to go on hunger strike in jail till SDF supporters who attacked them are arrested.

Meanwhile, SDF has blamed Golay for inciting violence. The party’s  press release said the rebel leaders supporters attacked the SDF party office in Namthang, where area MLA Tilu Gurung was holding a party meeting.

Golay’s confidant Bhoj Raj Rai has alleged that SDF supporters had plans to attack Golay during his visit to Namthang, where he was met members of a bereaved family to pay his condolences. He said several vehicles belonging to Golay’s supporters were damaged by SDF workers in Namchi and they were forced to retaliate.

Chinese ‘spy’ held at Nathula

Gangtok, Oct 16: Tensions have escalated at the Indo-China border trade mart in Nathula, East Sikkim, after a Chinese national was allegedly apprehended by authorities on charges of espionage. Even as the incident has triggered hectic backdoor diplomacy between the various agencies of the central government, trading was suspended on Thursday over the incident. In fact, the Chinese authorities, sources inform, have put border trade on the mat saying that they will not allow trade to take place till the arrested person is released and returned.

With the espionage accused, Langki Jiancan (20) having been sent to judicial remand of up to 15 days today, it is unlikely that he can be handed over or released before that time period.

Langki was reportedly “intercepted” by the Indo Tibetan Border Police, the paramilitary agency manning the border with TAR, after he was caught taking photographs of a “restricted area” on his mobile phone.

In fact it is informed that on crossing the border at Nathula and while on route to the Sherathang Trade mart which is a couple of kilometers away, he started taking photographs. This is a highly restricted zone and heavily manned by the ITBP.

Sources also inform that he was at first warned not to take pictures but as he continued to do so he was then picked up by the ITBP and subsequently handed over to the Sherathang police. It may be stated here that the person has a valid trade pass and moreover, has relatives on this side of the border, that is, in Sikkim. It is informed that he had come to meet one of his relatives here at the mart site. The FIR, at the Sherathang police station, was filed by the ITBP, Assistant Commandant.

The accused was produced before the Magistrate, Gangtok courts where the police obtained a remand of 15 days. Langki has been sent up to judicial custody. His mobile phone has been seized and he has been charged under section 3 (b) of the Official Secrets Act.

Trade resumed, although on a low key, at the border yesterday. Fifty three Chinese traders reached Sherathang Mart to do business.

Nepal Maoists lift ban on Hindi movies

Kathmandu, Oct 16: Hindi movies are back in cinema theatres in Nepal from Thursday----10 days after hall owners decided to stop screening them following a ban imposed by a breakaway faction of ruling Maoists. A statement issued by the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist on Thursday stated that the party decided to lift the ban across the country in view of the coming festive season.

The party headed by hardliner Mohan Baidya, which split from the ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) in June, had called for a ban on Hindi movies from September 10.

It is not yet clear whether the ban will again come into force once the Dashain and Tihar festivals end in mid-November.

The party had imposed a ban on ‘vulgar’ Hindi movies in a bid to ‘safeguard national sovereignty’ and ‘promote a self-reliant economy’.

Multiplexes and single screen theatres in Kathmandu began screening ‘Barfi’, ‘Heroine’, ‘Oh My God’ and ‘Kamal Dhamal Malamaal’---Hindi movies which were released before screening was stopped.

New releases like ‘Makhhi’ and comeback films of Sridevi (‘English Vinglish’) and Nepal’s Manisha Koirala (‘Bhoot Returns’) are likely to hit the screens from this week.

France supports Tibetans’ fight for preservation of cultural heritage

Paris, Oct 16: In a unique show of support for the Tibetan cause, more than 50 cities and towns in France have formally adopted villages and towns inside Tibet as sister cities.

The initiative launched by local Tibet support groups in France is aimed at “preserving the rich cultural heritage of Tibet” and to bring international concern over the “destruction of Tibet’s rich cultural heritage” in the parliaments and governments of democratic states.

On October 6, the city of Montbeliard in eastern Franche Comte and the municipality of Amfreville la Mivoie became the latest Municipalities in France to adopt Tibetan villages. While Montbeliard formally adopted Kharta, a small Tibetan village at the foothills of Mount Everest, Amfreville la Mivoie adopted Phari in western Tibet, Phayul website reported.

According to the Dharamshala based Central Tibetan Administration, the mayor of Montbeliard during the adoption ceremony underlined the importance of Tibet’s unique cultural identity and its preservation, which he said faced destruction at the hands of China. He also emphasised on the fundamental human rights of the Tibetan people, which he said needed to be upheld and supported, while rendering the city’s total support to the non-violent struggle of the Tibetan people.

Speaking to Phayul, Tsering Dhondup, secretary of Bureau du Tibet in France said the main purpose of adopting the villages in Tibet is to “express support to the Tibetan people’s freedom and respect for their fundamental human rights.” “As of now, direct link between the places in France and Tibet is not possible due to the Chinese government but nevertheless it sends a strong message of political support,” he added.

To join the adoption campaign, Municipal Councils in the towns and cities have passed a motion “requesting European or UN resolutions, human rights, environment, and Tibetan cultural heritage to be respected in occupied Tibet.” After adopting a Tibetan village, the Municipality places a plaque symbolising the adoption of the Tibetan village at the entrance of their office.

Bhutan to pursue happiness policy, to go 100-percent organic

Thimphu, Oct 16: The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, famed for seeking “happiness” for its citizens, is aiming to become the first nation in the world to turn its home-grown food and farmers 100-percent organic.

The tiny Buddhist-majority nation wedged between China and India has an unusual and some say enviable approach to economic development, centered on protecting the environment and focusing on mental well-being.

Its development model measuring “Gross National Happiness” instead of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has been discussed at the UN and has been publicly backed by leaders from Britain and France, among others, AFP reported.

It banned television until 1999, keeps out mass tourism to shield its culture from foreign influence, and most recently set up a weekly “pedestrians’ day” on Tuesdays that sees cars banned from town centers.

Its determination to chart a different path can be seen in its new policy to phase out artificial chemicals in farming in the next 10 years, making its staple foods of wheat and potatoes, as well as its fruits, 100 percent organic.

“Bhutan has decided to go for a green economy in light of the tremendous pressure we are exerting on the planet,” Agriculture Minister Pema Gyamtsho told AFP in an interview by telephone from Thimphu.

“If you go for very intensive agriculture it would imply the use of so many chemicals, which is not in keeping with our belief in Buddhism, which calls for us to live in harmony with nature.”

Bhutan has a population of just over 700,000, two-thirds of whom depend on farming in villages dotted around fertile southern plains and the soaring Himalayan peaks and deep valleys to the north.

Overwhelmingly forested, no more than three percent of the country’s land area is used for growing crops, says Gyamtsho, with the majority of farmers already organic and reliant on rotting leaves or compost as natural fertilizers.

“Only farmers in areas that are accessible by roads or have easy transport have access to chemicals,” he explained, saying chemical use was already “very low” by international standards.

In the large valleys, such as the one cradling the sleepy capital, chemicals are used to kill a local weed that is difficult to take out by hand — a challenge compounded by a lack of farm labor.

Elsewhere, the fertilizer urea is sometimes added to soil, while a fungicide to control leaf rust on wheat is also available.

“We have developed a strategy that is step-by-step. We cannot go organic overnight,” Gyamtsho said, describing a policy and roadmap which were formally adopted by the government last year.

“We have identified crops for which we can go organic immediately and certain crops for which we will have to phase out the use of chemicals, for rice in certain valleys for example.”

No threat from China in Ladakh: Shinde

Leh, Oct 16: Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, who visited the Sino-Indian border in Ladakh area, said there was no infiltration by Chinese troops there.

He also said the issue of detection of 550-mt tunnel from Pakistan into Indian territory in Samba sector of Jammu and Kashmir would be taken up with Pakistan at the highest level.

"I have been asked this question by mediapersons after my visit to Pangong Lake (Chinese bordering area in Ladakh) about the movement of Chinese there. I found there is no infiltration (transgression of Chinese troops)," he told reporters at forward border octroi post in Jammu district.

Shinde also said, "There is no problem from China (in Ladakh sector) till now."

On cross-border infiltration, he said, "It is right that some times infiltrations do take place, but our jawans and officers are doing a commendable job and I appreciate them."

He reviewed the progress of the cross-LOC trade and met a delegation of traders to discuss their problems.

Editorial

KHURSHID Vs KEJRIWAL

Fight Graft Tactfully, Forcefully

The fight against corruption in high places by India Against Corruption activists has now become a national affair. After taking on Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra, Arvind Kejriwal is now targeting one of Congress party chief’s most trusted lieutenants, Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid. While it is Kejriwal’s right to expose the corrupt in high places, to stage a day-to-day street rally, backed by a section of the electronic media, while demanding Khurshid’s resignation is not the proper way to fight against a corrupt system. Khurshid is not among those who are perceived to be corrupt. In fact, he is respected not only by Congress leaders but by others Opposition leaders and the public at large. If there is any mishandling of Zakir Hussain Memorial Trust funds managed by Khurshid and his wife then the law should take its own course and the guilty should not be spared.

Khurshid has rightly said he would not “give in to blackmailers” and would fight it out legally and politically. The manner in which Headlines Today TV channel has been reporting on the funds misuse issue by the Khurshids gives the impression that it is a highly-motivated campaign by vested interests. Kejriwal says that charges against Khurshid are based on an enquiry conducted by the Akhilesh Yadav Government in UP. Akhilesh’s father Mulayam Singh Yadav is presently facing CBI probe on charges of corruption. There should be an independent probe to look into the matter and a verdict should be declared at the earliest. Both camps are now poised to “fight tooth and nail” to prove who is right.

 GJM submits list of demands to CM, seeks total autonomy

 Demands more moujas in GTA; Rs 654 crore GTA budget approved

Darjeeling, Oct 16: The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) on Saturday renewed its demand for “total autonomy” in Darjeeling Hills and expressed displeasure over delay in transfer of departments to the recently-constituted Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA).

A six-member GJM delegation led by the party’s general secretary Roshan Giri met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and submitted a list of demands that include transfer of land and land revenue to GTA. The meeting was attended by the chief secretary and home secretary. A total of 59 departments are set to be transferred to the GTA.

“We want all the departments to be transferred immediately. Manpower, financial power, properties of these departments have to be transferred. But only 26 departments have so far been transferred. We have submitted our demands to the Chief Minister. We want full autonomy because GTA is an autonomous body. We want separate school and college service commissions under GTA. Recruitment of certain category of staff required concurrence of the state government. We do not want the government concurrence be taken since we enjoy autonomy,” Giri said. He said the “land and land revenue” have to be transferred to the GTA, The Indian Express reported.

Deputy chief of GTA Ramesh Allay said: “We expected more moujas would be included in the GTA. Out of 395 moujas we demanded, we got only five. The state government has set up a fact-finding committee to consider whether more moujas could be included. We will send our recommendation on this issue within a fortnight.” The issue has not been taken up “sincerely”, he said.

When asked how Banerjee reacted to their demands, Allay said: “She advised us to strengthen GTA”. “Out of Rs 200 crore promised to be given to GTA by the Centre each year, only Rs 85 crore has been given. The state government has provided Rs 173 crore from non-plan budget.”

Meanwhile, the GTA Sabha has passed an estimated budget plan of Rs 356 crore and Rs 298.10 crore under Plan and Non-plan expenditure heads respectively for the 2012-13 fiscal, GTA sources said on Wednesday.

The GTA had also sought Rs 362.98 crore as an interim fund over a period of eight months while passing the budget plan on Tuesday. Tourism has got a lot of importance in the budget proposals. The GTA plans to set up ropeways at Rohini, Dello and Tukvar in Darjeeling. Water kingdoms at Jamuney, Relli and Belta are also in the offing.

“We have proposed various project schemes to the government. We’ll need Rs 182.5 crore to implement the projects. For the water kingdom, we’ll need Rs 13 crore,” said Giri, GTA executive member and in-charge of the education department.

The Sabha also passed a resolution for a labour board, tourism development corporation and a regulated market in all the three sub-divisions of the hills.

The GTA Sabha has proposed to set up ITI hubs at Kalimpong, Mungpo and Darjeeling and polytechnic schools in Darjeeling and Mungpo.

Besides, three new colleges at Gorubathan, Pedong and Mirik and an engineering college at Tukdah have been approved by the GTA Sabha.

CJI to visit Darjeeling for Mt. Hermon School function on Nov 24

“Grand reunion” of Hermonites in Darjeeling in November

Senior Sikkim lawyer Udai P. Sharma (centre) offering khada to Chief Justice of India Justice Altamas Kabir in New Delhi on October 6. (L to R) Mahesh Singh, Jigme N Kazi, Justice Kabir, Krishna Goenka, Udai P. Sharma and Karan Anand

Darjeeling, Oct 16: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice Altamas Kabir will be present at the Speech Day function of his alma mater Mt. Hermon School on November 24 next month.

This confirmation came when a group of Sikkim and Delhi Hermonites called on Justice Kabir (64) at his residence in New Delhi on October 6 to felicitate him for being appointed to the country’s top post in the Judiciary.

Justice Kabir, who spoke fondly of his days in Mt. Hermon, said he would arrive in Darjeeling either on November 23 or 24.

Two members of Sikkim Hermonites Association (SHA), Udai P. Sharma and Jigme N Kazi, were part of the eight-member delegation who met the Chief Justice.

The Delhi Hermonites Association (DHA) were represented by Mahesh Singh, Krishna Goenka and his daughter Ratika Goenka – also a Hermonite, Karan Anand, Anita (Adhikari) Sawhney and Shibesh Singh.

Karma Bhutia, President of SHA, had sought the appointment with Justice Kabir, after her assumed office on September 29, to felicitate him.

Justice Kabir will be the Chief Guest for the function at Mt. Hermon. More than 150 ex-students have already confirmed their participation in the programme.

“We are going to have a good time. At least 40 1979 batch will be present in Darjeeling for the reunion,” said Thinley Gyari in New Delhi.

Alumni from Bhutan, Nepal and also from abroad, including Miss P. Russell, an ex-teacher, will be present during the “grand reunion.”

    The two ladies are Ratika Goenka and Anita (Adhikari) Sawhney

Shibesh Singh is second from right

The first book in Assamese was Baptist missionary William Carey’s Bible

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi releases ‘Dharmapustak,’ the reprinted edition of the first Assamese printed book, at Guwahati Literary Festival-cum-Book Fair-2012 in Guwahati on Saturday. (pix: The Hindu)

Guwahati, Oct 16: A slice of Assam’s 200-year-old printing history came alive at the ongoing Guwahati Literary Festival and Book Fair here on Saturday when Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi released a reprint of the first printed book in Assamese Dharmapustak (an Assamese version of the Bible translated by Atmaram Sarma and printed in 1813).

The reprinted volume has been brought out by the Publication Board, Assam, the organiser of the literary festival and the book fair at the Assam Engineering Institute playground.

Publisher Surjya Hazarika, who obtained a digitalised image copy of the original book kept preserved in the British Library, has edited the reprinted edition. On the occasion, Hazarika said it was Dr. William Carey of the then British Baptist Mission, who was instrumental in bringing out the book together with Atmaram Sarma, the Assamese translator of the Bible in 1813. The original volume runs into 864 pages. He said the reprinted volume would be valuable study material for linguists and researchers.

William Carey

Gogoi in his speech said the Assamese language, literature, art and culture had always been very rich and had now made remarkable progress. The State government would extend all possible help for preservation of heritage, he said. The Education Minister and Chairman of the Publication Board, Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, said the State would soon develop its own standard book numbering system on the lines of the International Standard Book Number (ISBN) to keep a record of the published books.

Shillong sports centre to cater to NE youths

North Eastern Hill University campus in Shillong

Shillong, Oct 16:  Sports Minister Ajay Maken on Wednesday directed officials of the Sports Authority of India to complete the Special Games Area Centre here within March-April next year.

"I have directed officials that the deadline should not be extended and that I will inaugurate the project on my next visit to the State," Maken said about the SGAC, India`s second high altitude centre, which was earlier scheduled for completion in September-October last year.

Maken inspected the project which was taken up in 2002 at a cost of Rs 43 crore and of which Rs 29 crore has been released by the Centre, PTI reported.

"The sports centre in NEHU (North Eastern Hill University) will be a game-changer in the region which will not only benefit youths from the State, but will also cater to neighbouring states in the northeast," he said.

Hoping that the centre would be utilised to the optimum, he said, "We are aiming to produce young talented youths from the NE who will represent the country by 2020."

The minister also said that there was a need to set up a sports science centre in the region for which funds required would be sanctioned.

"If you want to do well in different levels of competition, you need a sports science centre which will be equipped with best coaches," he said.

VIEWPOINT Dolma Gyari

“It is important to keep friendly and harmonious relationship with the local people”

Tibetans are grateful to India, Bhutan and Nepal

Dolma Gyari

It has been one year since the new Kashag took office under the leadership of the democratically elected Kalon Tripa, Dr Lobsang Sangay. On this occasion, I would like to extend my heartiest greetings to the Tibetan public on behalf of the Department of Home, Central Tibetan Administration.

The Central Tibetan Administration is the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people, both politically and historically. And particularly at this critical time in history, the responsibility of the Central Tibetan Administration is much more than even a government of an independent country. And therefore, the departments under the Central Tibetan Administration, has an equally important role and responsibility to perform and fulfill.

Speaking about the Department of Home, since the arrival of the Tibetan refugees in 1959, the Department of Home has been working tirelessly to rehabilitate the Tibetan refugees.  And under the leadership of His Holiness and the support of the Indian government and other aid groups, it was decided that the Tibetans should protect their distinct culture and identity while in exile. Particularly, in a big country like India with its huge population, there was a risk of disintegration of the small number of Tibetan populace. Hence, His Holiness the Dalai Lama with the help of the state and central government, established separate settlements for the Tibetan refugees in Nepal, Bhutan and India.

The Tibetan settlements in these countries have the right to pursue any profession, religious freedom and separate Tibetan schools. All these have been made possible due to the hard work of the former and present staff of the Tibetan settlements.

And since this is the first Kashag vested with full political authority, it has an enormous responsibility to fulfill. Sustaining the progress the CTA has made in the last 50 years and continuing the development of Tibetan settlements are the main concern of the home department.

We are very grateful to our host countries India, Bhutan and Nepal. And today, I would like to thank the people and the government of these countries for their gracious hospitality. Sometimes, it so happens that, due to sudden changes in political conditions of these countries, Tibetans had to face many hardships.

The department of home has initiated many programmes for the re-vitalisation and stability of the Tibetan settlements. Moreover, we consider it important to keep friendly and harmonious relationship with the local Indian people. I can’t say we have made so much progress in that field in one year, but we have devised many strategies and the settlement offices as well as the central administration must work together to achieve the desired results.

The economic conditions of the Tibetans living in Nepal, Bhutan and India are very different. The poor are very poor and we are doing what we could to help them. We don’t want to give them just financial aids but more importantly, we are trying to lift them up from poverty. And looking at the efforts the Central Tibetan Administration has put in the last 50 years, the results have been quite impressive.

The Central Tibetan Administration treats every Tibetan equally. Some Tibetans in the settlements are really poor, particularly some newly arrived Tibetans who face huge problems in India. We are doing what we could to solve all these problems. It would be a falsehood, if I say, we will be able to solve all these problems within a short span of time. But after five years, we hope to bring some positive changes that you all will be able to see.

Moreover, I also want to send this message across to the general public that, for the policies of the CTA to succeed, co-operation is very important. The work being done by the local settlement officers is crucial to the development of our settlements. We all should extend our full co-operation to them. But if there is any genuine grievances against the settlement officers, the people shouldn’t hesitate to contact us. You can send us a letter or talk to us directly about the matter. That way, we will be able to develop our settlements efficiently.

Lastly, I pray for the sufferings of the Tibetan people to end and may Tibetans, both inside and outside, reunite in Tibet soon. Long live His Holiness the Dalai Lama! (Dolma Gyari is the Home Minister of the Tibetan exiled government and a former Deputy Speaker of the exiled Tibetan Parliament)

Study team completes expedition to Rathong glacier in West Sikkim

Gangtok, Oct 16: A glacier study team of the Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology has successfully completed its expedition to East Rathong glacier in West Sikkim.

Comprising Assistant Scientific Officer Narpati Sharma and 3 Project Scientists, RK Sharma, Pranay Pradhan and Dilliram Chettri, the team embarked on the trip on September 27 last to study glacier velocity, snout monitoring, glacier melt and water run-off of Rathong glacier.

East Rathong is a south facing, valley glacier (starts from the elevation of 4600 meters above mean sea level) and it is a 5.12 km long north-south flowing valley glacier with an average width of 1.50km, PTI reported.             

During the expedition, the study team fixed 13 stakes each 12 feet high over the East Rathong glacier surface for monitoring glacier velocity, accumulations and ablations (melting) of the glaciers.

In such harsh environments, the team dug 7-9 feet deep in different glacier zones and the stakes were placed in such highly elevated low latitude glacier. The study team also recorded the GPS coordinates of the stakes.

The team began the journey by trekking on Himalayan belts of Kanchenjunga National Park from Yuksam and reached the East Rathong glacier on September 30. The team ended its first phase of ground survey and preliminary studies on October 9.

The team recorded the water discharge of Rathong Chu at the snout of the East Rathong Glacier and also recorded the geographical coordinates of the glacier snout with the help of GPS.

The expedition has been undertaken as a part of the project entitled "Long term monitoring of the Glacier Dynamics of East Rathong Glacier" sanctioned by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India to the Sikkim State Council of Science and Technology.