HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Gangtok Wednesday Dec 12-18, 2012  

Pro-Sikkim editor Tenzing Bhutia’s death ‘mysterious’, unacceptable: Sikkim Liberation Party

Prince Tenzing, Tashi Topden, Chukie Topden died under similar circumstances 

Tenzing Bhutia (left)

Gangtok, Dec 11: The Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP) has taken a serious view of the untimely death of Tenzing Bhutia, political activist and editor of the recently-launched Pro-Sikkim English weekly, who died in a car crash in Rumtek, east Sikkim, on December 5.

SLP Convenor and journalist-cum-writer DN Nepal said Bhutia’s death was “mysterious” and his party has taken a serious view of how and why he died.

“It is a clear fact that any person taking a pro-Sikkim stand have met with this kind of mysterious death in accident,” Nepal said in a press statement.

Nepal said Sikkim’s Prince Tenzing, former Secretary Tashi Topden and social activist Chukie Topden, who were pro-Sikkim, died in a car crash “in similar circumstance.” 

(L to R) Nari Rustomji, Chogyal Palden Thondup and Prince Tenzing

While Prince Tenzing died in a car crash in Nam Nang (Gangtok) on March 11, 1978, Topden and his sister Chukie died after their car went down the road near Rabong, south Sikkim, on April 6, 2009.

SLP feels these deaths have “sinister and diabolic design,” and as such the party is not ready to accept Tenzing’s death as a “normal incident.”

Nepal said while pro-Sikkim Nepalese leaders were either sidelined or lured to luxurious living, pro-Sikkim people among the minority Bhutia-Lepchas faced “mysterious and fatal death.”

Tashi Topden

Nepal also noted that the timing and manner of the Sikkim-Darjeeling merger issue presently raised in the local media and by politicians has further added to the “mystery” of Tenzing’s death.

Chukie Topden

SNPP appeals to all Sikkimese to oppose Sikkim-Darjeeling merger move

Centre has betrayed Sikkimese, violated merger terms: Biraj

Biraj Adhikari

Gangtok, Dec 11: The Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) has vehemently opposed the reported move to merge Darjeeling with Sikkim. It said it would oppose the move “with all the power at its disposal and appeals to all Sikkimese people to do the same.”

SNPP President Biraj Adhikari said his party had a thorough discussion on a report carried in a local daily regarding “conspiracy being hatched by the Central Government and the Sikkim CM (Pawan Chamling) to merge Darjeeling with Sikkim.”

“The party discussed the fact that this would yet be another excellent example of betrayal by the Central Government after signing the 8th May agreement with the people of Sikkim in the year 1973,” a press statement by SNPP said.

Adhikari said the Centre “forcefully enforced the 36^th Amendment without the people’s consent.” This act of the Parliament led to Sikkim’s merger with India in 1975. Since then the Centre is “hell bent” on erasing the “identity of the Sikkimese people forever.” 

While condemning “the sinister efforts” of the Centre and Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to merge Darjeeling with Sikkim, the SNPP has called for formation of Gorkhaland state without further delay.      

Issue of rights violations in Tibet raised in Lok Sabha

New Delhi, Dec 11: On the occasion of International Human Rights Day, BJP yesterday raised in the Lok Sabha the issue of rights violations in Tibet, while CPI(M) alleged that similar problem exists in Jammu and Kashmir.

BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said the Chinese have been carrying out the "grossest" violations of human rights in Tibet over last 60 years because of which 81 Tibetans have committed suicide during this period, PTI reported.

66 Tibetans have committed self-immolation since January this year and "worse, the response of the Chinese is more repression", Sinha, former External Affairs Minister, said in Special Mentions during the Zero Hour.

He said Tibetans were troubled because of "excessive use of military force", religious restrictions, disappearances and detentions, removal of nomads and degradation of ecological system in the region under Chinese rule.

Sinha wanted the House to express "deepest heartfelt condolences" over Tibetans' plight and call upon the Chinese to "listen to the anguish" and "ensure people (in Tibet) get their rights".

"I call upon Parliament to speak up," he appealed.

Immediately after, CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia rose to allege "blatant" human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir by security forces.

He referred to the demand for withdrawal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Jammu and Kashmir and said the central government had not taken any decision even after recommendation from the State Government.

Nepal: only two days to form unity govt

Kathmandu, Dec 11: As Nepal's main parties struggled to form a national unity government, President Ram Baran Yadav on Friday gave them another six days to strike a deal, the second such extension to the original November 29 deadline.

Yadav's move came a day after crucial talks between the ruling alliance comprising UCPN-Maoist and Joint Madhesi Front and opposition Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML on naming a consensus prime ministerial candidate failed, despite being given an extra seven days to do so after they missed the original deadline.

It was the second time that the president had extended the deadline issued to political parties to form a national consensus government that would replace the incumbent government led by Premier Baburam Bhattarai of UCPN-Maoist.

Earlier, NC had nominated its President Sushil Koirala as the candidate for prime minister after the UCPN-Maoist and the CPN-UML asked it to recommend its candidate.

Exiled Tibetan govt to launch ‘Solidarity with Tibet’ campaign

New Delhi, Dec 11: Cautioning Asian nations about the threat emanating from Beijing’s ambitions of a Greater China, the Prime Minister of the Tibetan government in exile, Lobsang Sangay, on Saturday appealed for worldwide support to “solidarity with Tibet” campaign in 2013.

Speaking to media persons here, he said he would visit the Tibetan settlement at Mundgod, near Hubli, on December 10, 2012, the Human Rights Day, to launch the campaign.

The worldwide campaign would help create awareness and mount pressure on China at a time when the country was attempting to demonstrate that it had the upper hand over territorial disputes by releasing a map of Greater China.

“Despite the increasing number of self-immolations, the international community remains largely unaware of what is going on inside Tibet. The Chinese government has responded to the self-immolations with further repressive policies, and sentencing of individuals suspected of having shared information regarding the self-immolations with the outside world. We will provide accurate information about events in Tibet to everyone during our campaign. I appeal to the international community and governments to stand for justice by answering the universal aspirations of Tibetans in Tibet: the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Tibet and freedom for Tibetans,” he added.

Asked about unsuccessful Sino-Indian talks in recent years,  Sangay remarked “We have dealt with China, and know exactly how the leaders react. Our delegations also had similar experience with the Chinese government. Passports issued recently with a map of Greater China are based on ethnology, and shows a major portion of Nepal as part of Greater China. Now, even the people of Nepal are apprehensive about the designs of China,” he added.

Sangay said the “solidarity with Tibet” campaign would build on lobbying efforts initiated in 2012 through parliamentarians and organisations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Reporters’ Without Borders, and the US Congressional Executive Commission on China.

Chorten Nyima: Another Hidden Valley

Chorten Nyima - a mountain range and a mythological 'hidden valley' (beyul) lies within a remote region of the Tibet-Sikkim Himalayas at the junction of three countries, Tibet, Sikkim and Nepal. Pristine and untouched, this pilgrimage site is virtually unknown to outsiders and its scenic beauty rivaled only by Karchu Lapchi and Tsari. From the complex, snow fields and glaciers are only an hour's walk away.

Today, this ancient retreat in south Tibet again draws a constant flow of pilgrims; for some Nyingmapa followers, Chorten Nyima is perhaps a greater spiritual prize than Mt Kailash, mainly because of the sustained spiritual activities of Guru Rinpoche in the area. It is regarded as the North Gate of the magically powerful Dremojong Beyul (Sikkim), a 'hidden valley' situated deep within the Tibet-Sikkim divide. This beyul, together with Pemako and others, functions as a paradisiacal refuge for all Tibetans in times of great national stress.

Sikkimese threatens to raise demerger demand

“Sikkim is for Sikkimese only”                                             

Gangtok, Dec 11: The reported bid to merge Darjeeling with Sikkim has evoked radical reactions from the Sikkimese. Dr. Shiva Kumar Sharma, Population & Conservation Geneticist, has threatened to demand Sikkim’s demerger if the Centre goes ahead with the reported plan.

In a press statement circulated widely among local journalists, Sharma said “… if the Centre moves ahead with this merger issue, we Sikkimese strongly press demerger of Sikkim from India.”

He said “Sikkimese shall not tolerate being dominated, humiliated and looted by any one in future. If the Centre fails to protect the rights and privileges of Sikkimese the consequences would be terrifying.”

Reacting to a report in a local daily entitled ‘Centre keen on Sikkim-Drjeeling merger,’ Sharma said Sikkim and the Sikkimese people enjoy a distinct status within the Union after the merger and this cannot be taken away.

“The agenda of Sikkim-Darjeeling merger is a conspiracy hatched out by the Central Government to completely betray the people of Sikkim,” Sharma said while adding “As a concern and educated person of Sikkim, I would, at first, vehemently condemn the agenda of Sikkim-Darjeeling merger as it has been moved by the Central Government. This move also indicates the Centre’s secret plan of diluting the agenda of Gorkhaland.”

“All Indian citizens must know one fact that Sikkim is for Sikkimese only and not for others,” Sharma said.

“Sikkimese were the subjects of the Chogyal of Sikkim before merger with the Union of India in 1975 and only the Sikkim Subject Certificate holders and their descendants are Sikkimese and shall remain the same.”

‘Sons of soil’ to guard China border in Sikkim

New Delhi, Dec 11: India’s policy of integrating local soldiers or “sons of the soil” with the Indian Army in guarding the frontier with China will now be extended to Sikkim. This will complete an arch of locally recruited battalions to be integrated with the Army and stationed from Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir in the North to Arunachal Pradesh in the East.

The Cabinet Committee of Security has given its nod to raising a battalion of “Sikkim Scouts” that will be tasked with guarding high passes and portions of the north-eastern part of Sikkim, besides keeping an eye on the routes of ingress, according to reports.

Initially, 28 officers, 44 Junior Commissioned Officers and 862 jawans will form the battalion. The raising of the battalion will cost the government Rs 32. 50 crore, while the annual recurring cost will be Rs 34.45 crore. The battalion will be ready and raised in 30 months i.e. mid of 2015.

It will take time to recruit and train boys from Sikkim to form the battalion of “sons of the soil”, said sources.

The Army has integrated battalions of locally recruited soldiers under “Ladakh Scouts” and “Arunachal Scouts” (two battalions each), “Kumaon Scouts”, “Garhwal Scouts” and “Dogra Scouts” (one battalion each). Battalions comprising locally recruited soldiers hold a strategic advantage. The local recruits have instinctive knowledge of their mountainous terrain, do not require skills training to survive in harsh climatic conditions and can gather information from local population easily.

Over 350 infantry battalions are stationed all over the country and are moved every few years to keep them abreast with different terrains and threat levels.

“Arunachal Scouts” was the last one to be raised. General JJ Singh (retd) had proposed it during his tenure as Army Chief and the Cabinet approved it in 2009. Its first battalion was raised in 2010. The second one was approved later.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION

Seal border, check influx: Mahanta

“Illegal migration from across the border was politically motivated”

New Delhi, Dec 11:  The Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) on Saturday demanded immediate steps from the Centre to seal the Indo-Bangladesh border to check unabated illegal immigration from across the boundary.

Referring to the recent spate of violence in Kokrajhar in Assam, AGP President and former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta blamed the Centre for not taking tough measures. He said the Centre must immediately seal the international border in Assam and deploy enough mechanism to check the exodus.

"There are government records which show the presence of foreigners in Assam. Continuous rise of immigrants have endangered the population of Assamese existence," he said at a seminar on infiltration, ethnic divide and how to bring a solution to the troubled Assam, PTI reported.

The function was organised by the Delhi Chapter of All Assam Lawyers' Association.

Deputy Chief of Bodoland Territorial Council Kampa Borgayari said illegal migration from across the border was politically motivated and supported by religious extremist forces.

"It is not a mere economic migration but it is an invasion and infiltration," he said.

Borgayari said there were many laws in force in the country but none of them have been able to deter or stop the illegal migration.

President of Bodo Women's Justice Forum Anjali Daimari asked the indigenous people of the state to come together to fight the problem of illegal migration.

"The land hungry immigrants have come with political agenda," she said.

Army agrees to domicile certificates for recruitment

Itanagar, Dec 11: The army in Arunachal Pradesh has agreed in principle to consider domicile certificates as valid proof of residence during recruitment rallies. This follows an initiative by Governor Gen (retd) J J Singh to fill up vacancies in the army.

"This consideration is only for the non-Arunachal Pradesh scheduled tribes residents settled in Arunachal Pradesh for long periods and will not affect the reservation quota for the scheduled tribes of the state," a Raj Bhavan communique said here on Saturday.

Singh had taken up the matter with Army Chief General Bikram Singh recently, TNN reported.

In his letter to the army chief, the governor pointed out that as per State Government policy, no permanent resident certificate is issued to non-residents of the State.

As a result, they were not recruited by the army and vacant posts under general are diverted to other states.

With the revised procedure, the State is likely to see more residents getting recruited by the army during the rally, scheduled for December 3-5 at Tezu in Lohit district.

State finance, planning and PWD minister Chowna Mein first highlighted the issue before the Governor and also made concerted efforts to ensure that these residents get their due and maximum representation in the armed forces.

Losoong: A Sikkimese Harvest Festival

By Sonam Deki and Kunga Chukie

Though Losoong (celebration of the year) is annually celebrated as a harvest festival in Sikkim the occasion is also traditionally regarded as the Sikkimese New Year. The event  normally falls in the month of December and towards the end of the 10^th month of the Tibetan lunar calendar and is basically celebrated by Sikkimese Bhutias. However, the Sikkimese Bhutias who live in the northern regions of Lachen and Lachung, Losoong is normally celebrated in the month of January.

 At the close of the year the farmer's rejoice and celebrate their harvest. Losoong marks the end of the harvest season and is a traditional celebration to thank the gods and each other for the good harvest and to offer prayers for the next season.

The festival is marked by Chaam (masked) dances at several monasteries in Sikkim. The dances symbolize the exorcizing of the evil spirits of the year and the welcoming of the good spirit of the New Year.

They also make offerings to the gods, both in the monasteries and in their domestic shrines.  It is best to see this festival in rural areas of Sikkim, where it is celebrated more pompously with traditional archery competitions and other events.

To the Sikkimese, Losoong is more of a private affair. People get up before dawn to take bath and wear new clothes. Later, all the family members sit together to perform pujas for peace and prosperity.