HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Nov 14-20, 2012  

Japanese MPs should visit Tibet: Dalai Lama

Tokyo, Nov 13: The Dalai Lama on Tuesday urged Japanese lawmakers to visit Tibet to find out the reasons for a spate of self-immolations, after Beijing accused him of instigating the deadly protests against Chinese rule.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader was addressing around 130 parliamentarians, including Shinzo Abe, a former premier who is seen as a favourite to retake the role in forthcoming general elections.

The welcome rolled out for the Dalai Lama -- albeit a non-governmental one -- earned Japan a rebuke from Beijing for giving succour to a man they say is a dangerous separatist.

"I request some parliamentary groups, 'Visit Tibet'," including areas where Tibetans have died in "very sad" self-immolations, the Dalai Lama told the meeting in Japan's diet, or parliament.

"Perhaps the (Chinese) authorities, leaders of China, I think, may get the true picture" of self-immolations if foreign lawmakers report what is actually happening there, the 77-year-old added.

Two Tibetans died in separate self-immolations on Monday, taking to nine the number of people who have set themselves on fire in the last week in protest at Chinese rule.

Reports of their deaths came hours after the Dalai Lama urged the Chinese government seriously to investigate the incidents, saying it is more interested in criticising him than finding the reason behind them.

In response, China's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei accused the spiritual leader of encouraging the suicides, saying he was sacrificing lives "to achieve his goal of Tibetan independence".

"Japanese right-wing forces have been blatantly supporting Dalai's anti-China separatist activities and interfering in China's internal affairs, which China strongly condemns,” Hong said.

Ahead of the Dalai Lama's speech, Abe, the front-runner in the race to become prime minister in upcoming general elections, called on fellow lawmakers to use diplomatic means to help stop the immolations.

"I promise to continue to support Tibet and do my best to change the situation in Tibet in which (people) are oppressed," the hawkish conservative said.

Abe's stance will likely come under scrutiny for its possible implications for Sino-Japanese relations, already strained by a row over the sovereignty of islands in the East China Sea.

The lawmakers adopted a statement strongly urging China to improve its "unlawful suppression of human rights against Tibetans and Uighurs".

Suu Kyi visits India after 40 years

New Delhi, Nov 13:  Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who arrived here today, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Suu Kyi is on a six-day visit to India during which she will meet various leaders of the country. She will also visit her alma mater, Lady Sri Ram College in New Delhi, where she will interact with the faculty and the students.

The Nobel prize winner spent her formative years in India when her mother was the country's ambassador to India and Nepal.  She studied at the Convent of Jesus and Mary School and graduated in political science from Lady Shri Ram College.

Suu Kyi began her day today by paying homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. She then visited Shantivan to pay tribute to Jawaharlal Nehru. Later in the day, she will deliver the Nehru Memorial Lecture on the occasion of the former PM's birth anniversary.

"People keep asking me about my expectations. My visit is an attempt to strengthen ties between the two countries. There are things in India that have changed and some that haven't changed. I am glad some things haven't changed since years. If I have expectations from the Indian government, I will not tell it to the media," Suu Kyi, who is an inspiration for those fighting oppressive regimes around the world, told reporters.

Suu Kyi is Myanmar's opposition leader and the chairperson of the National League of Democracy of Myanmar. Her visit to India is part of India's engagement with the multi-party polity in Myanmar. During her nearly week-long stay, she will also meet Vice President Hamid Ansari, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, Congress president Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid.

India awarded Suu Kyi the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1992 while she was under house arrest under the military government in Myanmar.

Sharmila completes 12 years fast

Imphal, Nov 13: The 'Iron Lady of Manipur' Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on a hunger strike since 2000 demanding repeal of Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA),  completed 12 years of fast last Monday.

Sharmila, a civil rights activist, began her hunger strike after the death of ten people in an alleged encounter with the Assam Rifles at Malom in Imphal valley on November 2, 2000.

She has been demanding repeal of AFSPA which the human rights activists hold as a draconian law.

Currently she is in judicial custody where she is forcibly fed through her nose.

Tourism boom in Nepal: India scores over China

Kathmandu, Nov 13: Despite recent mortal avalanches in its crowded Himalayan mountains, Nepal is heading into a record year in tourist arrivals in 2012.

According to data for the first eight months of the year, arrivals by air progressed by 16.3%, reaching a record of 377,043 international arrivals. Strong growth is coming from Nepal’s two giant neighbours, India and China. Indian air arrivals jumped by 24.1% from January to August, topping 126,472 arrivals. China performed even better with a growth of 27.5%, reaching a total of 31,204 visitors. Other Asian markets showing strong performances are Japan, up by 17.9%, Korea (up y 12.3%) and Malaysia (up by 11.9%).
Surprisingly, Europe performed extremely well despite the current economic recession. Total air arrivals from the continent reached 91,042, a 14.8% improvement over 2011… Europe remains an extremely important market for Nepal, generating 24.1% of all arrivals between January and August of this year.
Tourism experts point out that the very good performance of tourism this year is also due to the restrictions taking place for foreigners trying to visit Tibet. Talking recently to CNN, Grayson Schaffer, senior editor at Outside magazine, declared that Mount Manaslu proved particularly popular this year among travellers after Chinese authorities restricted tourist visas, making access difficult to Cho Oyu or Shishapangma, two 8,000m (26,000 ft) peaks on the border with Tibet.
Strong interest to trek in Nepal is likely to continue as the government unveiled early October new trekking routes, following promises made to former Maoist rebels to help them economically by promoting tourism. The new trekking routes –named the “Guerilla Trek” pass through the battlegrounds of the country's decade-long insurgency. Hikers will then be able to discover unspoilt natural landscapes, authentic centuries-old villages, which served once as bases for Maoist troups.
The government hopes that tourism will help spreading prosperity beyond the usual tourist sites of the the Kathmandu Valley, Pokhara and the Everest region.

Bhutan foundation to support monks, nuns

Thimphu, Nov 13:  A religious organisation has been established here in a novel initiative to sustain 43 religious centres, training over 1,000 monks and nuns in different parts of Bhutan.

The Pedling Choeki Gatshel Foundation drew an overwhelming response from its members on the very first night of its launch on Thursday, as it raised 2.8 Bhutanese Ngultrum ($52,000) as contributions from them, Kuensel reported.

According to the ninth Gantey Trulku, Kunzang Rigzin Pema Namgyel, who heads this foundation, children of the economically deprived families usually become monks as they find it beyond their means to attend schools, IANS reported.

"The foundation's fund would go a long way in making these students stand on their own feet," Kuenselonline quoted him as saying.

He believes the rich Buddhist religious culture could be promoted through two ways --imparting knowledge and spreading Buddhism.

The foundation's fund would be used to renovate and construct lhakhangs (temples) in various parts of the country.

While Gantey Trulku will be the permanent chairperson of the foundation, four other board members have been appointed. In future, the four members are to be elected.

Monks completing the ninth standard in a shedra, or the place of learning will be given a masters degree certificate in Buddhist studies.

Kashmir Sikhs want National Minority Commission extended J&K

Srinagar, Nov 13: Instead of Jammu and Kashmir government's intention to form a new minority commission, a Sikh body last Sunday demanded the extension of current National Commission for Minority Act 1992 in the state.

In a statement All Parties Sikh Coordination Committee appreciated the Union Ministry's motion of taking over the issue of minorities with the State Government, The Hindustan Times reported.

The committee chairman Jagmohan Singh Raina pointed out that the government should extend the current National Commission for Minority Act 1992 in J&K, instead of drafting a new minority commission for Minority "on the designs of some people dominating the state government."

"If state government tries to sabotage the minority rights of Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists, then all the rightfully deserving minorities of the state will jointly instigate a political campaign against the new minority commission draft," Raina said.

"Some people with vested interests already having reservation quota in the State want to have the privilege of dual reservation status which will not be expectable to us in any form. According to the guidelines of National Minority Commission, Muslims enjoying the minority status at the national level should not be eligible for minority quota at state level in J&K where they are already a majority community," he stated.

"In the state, as per the 2001 population census, the Kashmir division of the state has 0.88% as Sikhs and 0.11% as Buddhists and others. The population of Jammu division has 3.57% as Sikhs and 0.51% as Buddhists and others.  So it clearly states that the Sikhs, Christians and Buddhists are the minorities in dire need of government benefits through the implementation of the NCM Act 1992," the statement said.

Raina stated that in a "recent meeting with the President of India, Pranab Mujherjee" they were given assurance for early implementation of Minority status in the State.

"If present ruling coalition government NC and Congress fail to do so then minority communities of J&K will be disappointed in them and would have no other alternative than launch an agitation against them in the coming elections. This shows that state government is more serious towards the vote bank politics rather than inclusive development of the State," the Sikh leader said.

Editorial

LOOK EAST

The Die Has Been Cast

As of now, out of a total of 157 panchayat wards in east district where polls were held 42 independents have won while 102 wards went to the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, which has been in power since 1994. Repoll may be held in 13 wards in this district as results were withheld due to ‘tabulation error.’ It is expected that some of these wards will go to independents. It is significant that performance of independent candidates, who have the backing of rebel ruling party leader PS Golay, from east district is far better than the other three districts. Gangtok, the State capital, is located in east district. The capital is not only the centre of business and administration but also the heart of the State where politicians, intellectuals and social activists mingle frequently and freely to discuss and debate on various issues that concern Sikkim.

East district is heavily populated by two major sections of the State’s population which play a dominant role in politics: Bahun-Chettris and Bhutia-Lepchas. The other major ethnic combination in Sikkim is the Rai-Limbus, who dominate south and west districts. It is pertinent to point out that just before the panchayat polls former chief minister and Sikkim Congress President Nar Bahadur Bhandari has been openly siding with Golay during his public meetings. Ever since his ouster from power in 1994 Bhandari has proved his hold in the east district during Assembly polls. If polarization of political forces on ethnic/caste lines is expected to take place in the 2014 Assembly polls then the battle lines have already been drawn during the panchayat polls. Much political heat is likely to generate after Golay forms his own political outfit shortly.

CII to promote industries in North Bengal

North Bengal has huge potential for growth and development: Deb

    Deb (inset) and Siliguri town with majestic Kanchenjunga (in Sikkim) in the background.

Siliguri, Nov 13: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) recently organised North Bengal Conclave here to promote North Bengal in the industrial space.

North Bengal has a strategic location with its neighboring states like Sikkim, Assam, Bihar and the International Boundaries with Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh. The region has witnessed substantial development in the recent years.

Against this backdrop, CII in association with West Bengal Department of Tourism, organized North Bengal Conclave Siliguri town last month, IBNS reported.

The Conclave was inaugurated by state North Bengal Development Minister Gautam Deb.

Addressing the gathering, Deb said that this forum would definitely promote the region in the development space.

He said that North Bengal is endowed with a magnificent view of the Himalayas, dense forests and wild life sanctuaries.

"North Bengal possesses huge potential of growth and development. Through industrialization economic growth can be accelerated in North Bengal," said Deb.

He stated that the region consists of six districts and there is tremendous growth potential in the districts of North Bengal in terms of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); as well as micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

Dasho Tsering Wangda, Consul General, Royal Bhutanese Consulate, said that North Bengal has not yet reaped its full potential. Siliguri is the immediate business centre of the Bhutanese. He stressed on strengthening ties between India and Bhutan.

Abida Islam, Bangladesh Dy. High Commission, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, stated that the economy of Bangladesh has maintained a growth rate of 6% on an average.

"Trade and investment are the pillars of economic growth. Over the years, India and Bangladesh has maintained a long and cordial relation. She stated that during the last three years significant developments has taken place between India and Bangladesh," said Islam.

She stressed on the need for improved facilities for the increase in bilateral trade.

Growth in production of large cardamom from Sikkim?

Gangtok, Nov 13: After a decade long gloomy spell, the bright days are back for Sikkim's large cardamom. The State, considered as large cardamom epicenter of the world, is expecting high growth in auction sales of this aromatic spice in 2012-13.

"The glory is coming back after decade long low yield, low quality and low price spell. We expect over 100% growth in sales this year over last year figures. We had a sale of 4 Metric Ton (MT) in 2010-11, the first year of organized sales of large cardamom through open auction. That went up to 16MT in 11-12.

This year, this is expected to be around 40 Metric ton. Against Rs 1100/kg average price of last two years, it is expected to reach Rs 1300/kg. Beginning by mid November, the fortnightly auctions will be conducted till June 2012," said P C Roy senior zonal manager Eastern Regional Agricultural Marketing Cooperation (NERAMAC), an agency under administrative control of GoI's Department of North East Region, The Economic Times reported.

NERAMAC operates the only large cardamom auction center of India at Rangpo in Sikkim.

Beside 6 available wild varieties, Amomum subulatumis the main traditionally cultured species in Sikkim, the epicenter of India's large cardamom arena that produces around 80% of national annual yield. Remaining 20% comes from Darjeeling hills and North East Region. India is the world leader by producing over 50% of global yield.

Beside consuming 1500 to 1800 MT, India is an important exporter of this cash crop mainly to Pakistan, Singapore or Middle East where Sikkim's large cardamom is the preferred choice due to its distinctive aroma and colour.

SDF SWEEPS PANCHAYAT POLLS

Independents get 40% of votes, bag 92 panchayat wards, 5 zilla seats; east district leaning towards independents

Gangtok, Nov 13: The ruling Sikkim Democratic Front has swept the panchayat polls by winning 895 of the total of 987 panchayat wards, leaving the independents with only 92 wards. In the zilla polls, SDF bagged 103 seats while 5 seats went to independents.

Results of 13 wards in east district, where the performance of independent candidates are better than the other three districts, was initially withheld due a ‘tabulation error.’ However, after a recheck of the polls results, SDF bagged 11 wards in east district, leaving only 2 to independents.

More than 50 per sent of seats in gram panchayat and substantial percentage of seats of zilla seats were won by the ruling party even before the polls as these seats were uncontested. Thus, out of 430 wards where polls were held SDF won 328 seats. Of the 70 contesting zilla seats the ruling party won 65 seats.

This year’s panchayat polls were keenly watched as rebel ruling party legislator and former minister Prem Singh Tamang (Golay) claimed that over 150 independent candidates were his supporters.

Opposition parties did not contest the polls stating that they were not in favour of party-based panchayat polls.

However, both camps – ruling and opposition – have claimed ‘victory’ in the just-concluded elections to the two-tier panchayat system in the State.

While Chief Minister and ruling Sikkim Democratic Front President Pawan Chamling has hailed his party’s landslide victory in the panchayat polls as a “victory” of the people, his rivals, including former chief minister and State Congress President NB Bhandari, said the results of the polls was a “victory” of the people who want change in the State.

Close aides of former minister and dissident ruling party leader PS Golay say the fact that as many as 92 independents have been voted from the panchayat wards is an indication that there are disgruntled elements within the ruling dispensation.

They say Golay did not participate in the panchayat polls but helped those who fought against the ruling party as independents.

What is noteworthy is that around 40 per cent of votes polled went to independents.

Naga People’s Front against EVMs in Nagaland polls

Kohima, Nov 13: The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) has opposed the use of electronic voting machines (EVM) in the ensuing Nagaland Assembly election.

In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, NPF secretary general KG Kenye said that the party has deliberated on the pros and cons of the use of EVMs and has come to the conclusion that the universal adult franchise as enshrined in the Constitution of India would best be assured to the people through the use of the ballot paper system.

The NPF pointed out that the EVMs provide no physical proof of votes cast and also do not give the voter any physical proof of his or her vote.

Furthermore, the NPF said even the most developed countries continue to use the ballot paper during elections. "Universal adult franchise is the very foundation of democracy and it is necessary that a voter should have physical proof of his or her vote which he or she has cast. Physical proof of every vote ensures transparency and leaves no room for any error or manipulation," stated the letter.

Nagaland assembly's tenure comes to an end on March 26, 2013 and the election is likely to be held in February or March next year.

N-E states to launch joint operation against militants

Aizawl, Nov 13: The police of Tripura and Mizoram have decided to launch a joint operation to flush out militants from areas bordering south Assam, officials said.

DIGs of Tripura and Mizoram, Gaurav Tripathi and C Zoramna respectively, agreed at a recent meeting at Kanchanpur in North Tripura that they would hold joint exercises and the next move against extremism and cross border crimes would be coordinated with Assam.

"Since Barak Valley shares border with Mizoram and Tripura, we are always in touch with police administration of Kolasib in Mizoram and North Tripura in our operations against militants," DIG of South Assam Binod Kumar said.

"Any operation involving Assam would be fruitful in tackling militancy and other crimes," he added.

During the joint operations, the target would be the hideouts and bases of militant groups along the border areas on the basis of shared information, sources said.

In remote areas of the three states, like south of Hailakandi and Karimganj districts in Assam, breakaway groups have cropped up and were extorting people, the sources said.

It is often reported that North-East based extremists continue to operate in Chittagong Hills Tract in Bangladesh and use the Tripura-Assam-Mizoram corridor for their movement to Myanmar, now a favourite destination for them.

The routes and corridors have been identified and only a combined operation can block their movement, they said.

Besides tackling the extremists, other inter-state crimes such as hijacking of vehicles from highways, smuggling of fake currency notes, contraband goods and human trafficking could also be tracked in the operation.

INTERVIEW Dipak Gyawali

“We need to rethink development in the light of climate change”

Dipak Gyawali, research director of the Nepal Water Conservation Foundation, explains that an area as diverse as the Himalayas needs localised, 'toad's-eye' science if it is to learn how to adapt to climate change. Interview by Isabel Hilton, editor of ChinaDialogue, part of the Guardian Environment Network.

Isabel Hilton: How accurate are predictions of future climate impacts in the region?

Dipak Gyawali: Here is a sense of confusion: the implications of what is happening seem more and more horrendous and some things are pretty certain. Beyond that, though, the models predict all kinds of things. The question of the Himalayas has not really begun to be addressed and the science has a very long way to go on precipitation and the social effects.

Q: How can science become more relevant to the region?

A: The effects in different parts of the Himalaya and south Asia will be very different and it's not all about glaciers. The Maldives will be drowned; Sri Lanka may have more tsunamis and more intense storms; Bangladesh will have its own problems. They will not be impacted directly by the glaciers; the interest in the glaciers is that they are powerful indicators: they tell you clearly that something is wrong. It's like going to the doctor with a fever: you know you are sick. But we don't have the science to be able to make accurate predictions of impacts over a hugely diverse region.

Some of them are predictable: spring is coming a week earlier, for instance; things begin to grow, but it is We also looked at some major regional catastrophes, signature events like the failure of the Indian monsoon or the floods in the Terai, to see how people were affected. It's essential to find out what is happening, and we believe we need to rethink development in the light of climate change. That has not happened yet.

Q: Presumably it has not happened because the development agencies have not had this kind of detailed input?

A: That's precisely the point. The remote sensing and the satellites give us the eagle-eye view, which is essential but not enough. In a country as diverse geographically and socially as Nepal – there are more than 90 languages and 103 caste and ethnic groups – the eagle-eye view needs to be complemented by the view from the ground, what I call "toad's-eye" science.

Q: Because high-level science can't be broken down into what is happening in any given local area?

A: Yes. You are dealing with such diversity: ecological, geographical, cultural and ethnic diversity. The reason we focused on this toad's-eye view is that we found people were not sitting around waiting for an agreement at the COP15 in Copenhagen. Millions are voting with their feet every day at the grass-roots level, reacting with civic science and traditional knowledge. This is what people are basing their everyday decisions on.

High science to come down off its high horse and meet up with civic science and traditional knowledge, in order to understand what is happening, so that national governments can also plan. The high science has to start looking at why there are more male flowers on the cucumbers, why berries are ripening at the wrong

Q: Have you a better idea of who is vulnerable as a result of this work?

A: Yes. The conventional wisdom is that the most vulnerable people are the poorest of the poor, but we have found that it is actually the lower middle classes. The reason is that the poorest of the poor have never had enough land to keep their families for the whole year, so they have always had to diversify their sources of income: they do seasonal labour and have those networks and connections already. They have a built-in resilience, so if their harvest is worse than usual, they just go and work longer.

The lower middle classes, though, have had enough land to be able to depend on their crops. They might survive one bad year, but two or three wipe them out, and then you get what you are seeing in India – farmers committing suicide. That is also happening in Nepal. The poorest are suffering, but it is not fatal. The people who are really being hit are the lower middle classes and upwards, which has implications for social stability.

Q: What adaptation is possible in these circumstances?

A: The solutions have to come out of the watershed and out of the problem-shed. You can talk about big solutions – building high dams – which can take 40 years. We don't know in Nepal if a government will last 40 days. The solutions have to be what these millions of households can take. Can they be helped? How can they be helped? We just haven't done the science for that. We need civic science; ground-level truth.