HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday Jan 9-15, 2013 

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

WE ARE STRONG AND UNITED ON THE ISSUE OF SIKKIM’S DISTINCT IDENTITY WITHIN THE UNION: KAZI

“There is no U-turn, I did not support Sikkim-Darjeeling merger demand; designs of vested interests will not work”

Gangtok, Jan 8: Hitting back at “vested interests” for their attempts to tarnish his image, Jigme N Kazi, journalist and author, has denied supporting the demand on Sikkim-Darjeeling merger as reported in two local dailies.

Reacting to newsitems on the subject appearing in Hamro Prajashakti and its sister publication Himalayan Mirror on Jan 5, 2013, Kazi in a press statement said the content of the report gives the impression that he was supporting the merger demand. This is “false and misleading,” and “people should not rely on them,” he said.

Kazi has urged his friends and well-wishers not to believe what has been reported on him as the report is “highly mischievous and motivated.”

“There is no U-turn as has been alleged,” Kazi said and added, “The people of Sikkim know who I am and what I have stood for in the past three decades. The nefarious designs of vested interests no matter how high and mighty they may be will not work for we are strong and united on the issue of Sikkim’s distinct identity within the Union.”

He has also appealed to the Sikkimese people “to know who is doing what and why” and act accordingly.

“I had merely stated that some of those in Sikkim opposing the demand were not sincere in safeguarding Sikkim’s distinct identity and special status within the Union,” the release said.

When asked to give his comments on the issue by reporters of the two dailies, Kazi had said that he had no comments to make and that he neither supported nor opposed the demand.

In an article in Talk Sikkim recently, Kazi had stated, “The demand for ‘Gorkhaland’ and ‘Greater Sikkim’ may become a reality one day but the end result will frustrate the hopes and aspirations of hill people some day,” as due to influx from the plains Sikkim will eventually go the Nepal way, where plainspeople are playing a greater role in shaping the former kingdom’s political agenda.

The two reporters were given a copy of Sikkim Observer carrying the Talk Sikkim article and asked to refer to the comments made while reporting on the matter. However, this was not done.

Sangma floats National People’s Party, to fight for tribal unity

New Delhi, Jan 8: Former Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma, who broke away from the NCP to contest the presidential election last year, launched the National People's Party (NPP) on Saturday and immediately joined hands with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

The NPP is expected to be a major player in Meghalaya, where Sangma hails from. By anointing former Union Minister Arvind Netam as the party's Working President, Sangma wants to appeal to tribal-dominated districts across the country.

A veteran leader from Chhattisgarh, Netam had gone against his party to back Sangma's candidature in the presidential election. Consequently, he too was suspended from the Congress.

Launching the NPP at the national level, Sangma said it has been active for a long time as a recognised party in Manipur. Sangma, who is also the President of the new party, said his daughter Agatha will remain in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the time being.

Agatha is a member of Parliament from her father's stronghold of Tura in Meghalaya, and he does not want her disqualification according to the anti-defection rule.

The nine-time MP, however, said she will fight future elections as an NPP candidate.

He said his party would contest the Meghalaya Assembly elections in March this year and is ready with the names of 33 candidates.

Sangma, who unsuccessfully contested for the president's post last year as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, said the NPP will give due importance to tribal issues.

Bhutan, Thailand join hands to promote tourism among two kingdoms

Thai visitors at Taktsang in Paro

Bangkok, Jan 8: The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hosted a familiarisation trip for Thai media to visit the Kingdom of Bhutan last month.

The trip was organised following the agreement made during the 2nd Tourism Cooperation on 8th June, 2012, in Bangkok. The collaboration is comprised of Marketing Channels, Public Relations and Training Internship Programmes, Pattaya Post reported.

TAT also provided information for TCB’s possible participation at the Thai International Travel Fair hosted by the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA). The Fair will be hosted twice a year in February and September to help promote Thailand’s tourism industry and to provide tourists with tourism products and services, both domestic and out-bound. The exhibitors are travel agents, airline representatives and members of National Tourism Organisations (NTO).

Bhutan’s carrying capacity for national tourists is estimated to be not over 150,000 arrivals a year. In 2011 the country received 65,756 tourist arrivals. During January – September 2012, there were about 2,450 Thais visiting Bhutan and 12,000 Bhutanese visiting Thailand.

Most Bhutanese people come to Thailand for shopping and a medical checkup. Meanwhile, many Bhutanese students continue their studies at the bachelor’s degree level in Thailand.

The majority of Thai tourists to Bhutan visit only the western part of Bhutan for cultural tourism. Thuji Dorji Nadik, Acting Managing Director for TCB said TCB wants to promote more tourism relating to snow and also nature tourism to Thai people as Bhutan has immense ecological resources including birds, wildlife, orchids and medicinal plants.

Druk Air – the Bhutanese national carrier – is the only airline operating flights to Bhutan and runs daily flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Paro Airport in Bhutan.

Editorial

INDIA’S BETRAYAL

Preserve Old Laws

Ever since the ‘merger’ in 1975 the former kingdom of Sikkim has witnessed a gradual dilution of old laws, leading to the eventual death of many old laws that preserved Sikkim’s distinct identity. Anti-merger veteran and former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari has rightly termed that repealing old laws was not only a ‘conspiracy’ hatched by New Delhi and Mintokgang but a betrayal of the Sikkimese people by the Government of India, which in 1975, through Article 371F of the Constitution, pledged to protect Sikkim’s old  laws. Opposition leaders in Sikkim have decided to approach their MPs and party high command to ensure that old laws are not scrapped with the passing of Companies Bill 2012 by the Lok Sabha recently. This Bill, when it becomes an Act, will replace two old laws of Sikkim – Registration of Companies (Sikkim) Act 1961 and Companies Act 1965.

The Chamling Government should note that in December 2006 the Sikkim Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to reaffirm the government's commitment to protect all old laws and manuals that existed before the ‘merger’. The need for the resolution was felt in the wake of a statewide public outcry against the possible dilution of old laws after the Sikkim High Court, during the hearing of a case, questioned the validity of Rule 4 (4) of the Sikkim Government Establishment Rules, 1974, which provides preferential treatment to Sikkimese people in government jobs. Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said some vested elements misled the people and created the ''unrest''. He said Sikkim is an integral part of India and Art 371 F (k) of the Constitution protected all old laws of Sikkim. Chamling said the resolution was an effort to maintain the sanctity of the Constitution.

“India’s security rests on its people and not on territories”

AADHAR card meant to degrade Sikkim Subject Certificate: Ugen Nedup Bhutia

Gangtok, Jan 8: Congressman Ugen Nedup Bhutia said Article 371F, which provides special status to Sikkim, is better and stronger than Article 370 meant for Jammu and Kashmir.

However, due to extension of central laws Sikkim’s special status is being diluted day by day. Bhutia said the “imposition” of AADHAR (unique identity card), which is being given to residents of the State, is meant to “demean and degrade” the significance of Sikkim Subject Certificate.

“Any kind of welfare measures in Sikkim must be made available on the basis of these Sikkimese documents and not on the basis of AADHAAR” card or other documents, Bhutia said in a press release.

Stating that Sikkim was “annexed” for “security reasons”, Bhutia said the authorities in Delhi and Gangtok must realise that “India’s security rests on its people and not the territories.”

Referring to special provisions in the Constitution for Sikkim and J&K, Bhutia said J&K people

“hardly ever” allowed central laws to be extended in the State. “If we look at it more closer, we will find that our special provision of Article 371 F is rather more stronger,” than Article 370.

Taking a critical view of the recent repeal of Sikkim Registration of Companies (Sikkim) Act 1961 in the Lok Sabha, Bhutia said if Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was strong Sikkim’s old laws would not be repealed.

Rey monastery performs Mahakala puja

     Puja in process at Rey monastery, east Sikkim

 Gangtok, Jan 8: The annual Gutor ceremony of Rey monastery in Rey-Mindu, east Sikkim, which began last Thursday will conclude on Thursday, according to Rey Monastery Duchi Committee.

 The puja is held annually for world peace and celebration of Sikkim as Mahaguru Padmasambhava’s Bayul Dremo Dzong.

During this ceremony, also known as the Grand Mahakala Puja, the Sangha traditionally engages in a practice of the Protector Mahakala to clear away the obstacles of the previous year and open the way for the new one to come, Karma Tsultrim Lama, Secretary of the Committee, said.

“As such, we request all the lay devotees to attend this important puja going on at Rey Monastery and seek blessings of the Tri-Ratna, Mahaguru, Mahakala and all the guardian deities of Sikkim.

May this bring peace and prosperity to all,” said in a message.                                                                                                          

Six Nagaland parties want polls deferred

Nagas want "solution, not elections"

Dimapur, Jan 8: Six political parties in Nagaland have demanded a postponement of the assembly elections till the Naga national groups and the Centre arrive at a consensus on the Naga issue. The six political parties - the Congress, the BJP, the JD(U), the NCP, the Trinamool Congress and the RJD - met on Saturday and resolved that the UPA government should give more importance to the ongoing political talks between the Centre and the Naga national groups". Earlier, Naga Hoho, the society's apex body, had raised a similar demand.

In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the political parties urged him to expedite years of peace talks on the Naga political issue to a "logical conclusion" that was "honourable and acceptable to all sections of society".

The memorandum pointed out that in view of the ongoing peace talks that had elicited "strong sentiments" of the Naga public in favour of "solution and not elections", the Assembly elections should be deferred, a national daily reported.

The memorandum was signed by NPCC president S I Jamir, MLA and state BJP President M Chuba Ao, JD (U) President Mhonjan Lotha, PAC member and youth president of NCP Chonben Yanthan, TMC Convenor Senkathung Jami and RJD President in the State Khetovi Kinny.

Last week, the Naga Hoho appealed to the Election Commission of India to withhold the poll process in the state and give sufficient time for the peace process "in the interest of the people of the state".

A four-member Naga Hoho delegation met the chief election commissioner and his team members on Friday to apprise them of the desire and wishes of the Naga people in this regard.

The Hoho reminded the commission that the Naga people have been struggling for political rights for more than 80 years. The last Ceasefire Agreement was signed in 1997 between the Centre and NSCN-IM and the subsequent signing of ceasefire with different political groups have completed 16 years, long enough to arrive at an amicable solution, the group added.

 “Chakma refugees pose serious threat to existence of indigenous people”

Tangsa tribes in Changlang district of Arunachal

Itanagar, Jan 8: Concerned over the increasing number of Chakma refugee population in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, the Singpho Development Society (SDS) has urged the state government to immediately conduct a census and prepare a dossier of the original refugees settled and the same be provided to the Centre for their early deportation.

The SDS felt that the increasing number of refugees posed a serious threat to the very existence of indigenous population of the State, PTI reported.

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, the SDS narrated the Chakmas alleged extremities, including the recent violent incidents at Mpen, Miao town and two other Singpho villages.

We are deeply concerned by the sudden influx of the illegal Chakma migrants into our place. The ever increasing crime graphs of our area can be directly attributed to the illegal migration", the society said in the memorandum.

Further claiming that the Chakmas have allegedly moved out of their assigned settlement blocks and encroached upon forest reserve and destroyed the green covers of Manabhum hill, thereby creating ecological imbalance in the area, the memorandum demanded the government to take necessary steps to demarcate their settlement blocks so that they remain confined in their respective blocks.

Moreover, illegal migrants from Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Bangladesh have entered into these settlement areas and were mixing with the existing population who were permitted to settle in Arunachal.

Manabhum reserve forest has become an asylum for these illegal migrants as well as anti-social elements.

Urging the government to appoint Political Officer for keeping eyes on the movement of Chakmas, the Society said, “Strict vigil at the check gate is the need of the hour.”

DARJEELING: Strumming for change & brotherhood

Some people swear there's no beauty left in Darjeeling, no magic. Then how do you explain the entire hills coming together on this day to strum for change and brotherhood of man.

In an extraordinary tribute to the 23-year old rape victim 600 guitarists play John Lennon's Imagine in Darjeeling this week. Five men accused of gang-raping the student on a bus in New Delhi are to be formally charged in court.

The extraordinary event was a source of encouragement for the youngsters.

Nishant Rhyth Thapa wrote: Around 600 guitarists from across the hills assembled at Chowrastha to strum the guitar to John Lennon’s song Imagine at the Darjeeling Tea and Tourism Festival on Thursday.

 “We had around 600 guitarists at Chowrastha on Thursday. None were paid to perform but they just turned up for the show to be a part of Darjeeling’s celebration. Through their presence, the people of Darjeeling have shown their true spirit: the spirit of being united through pain and happiness,” said Palzor Tshering, the co-ordinator of the event.

The attempt was to create a world record by having the largest number of guitarists assembled at a particular place. “However, with schools and colleges closed for the winter vacation it was difficult to co-ordinate,” said Tshering.

On May 5, 2012, 7,273 guitarists had assembled at Wroclaw, Poland, to pay tribute to Jimi Hendrix by jamming on his classic Hey Joe. The guitarists at Chowrastha were led by Kishore Gurung. Guitarist and singer from Shillong Lou Majaw was also present. The guitarists also paid tribute to the late Delhi gangrape victim. Asked if the organisers would try and arrange a bigger show next year, Sonam Bhutia, the tourism secretary of the GTA, said: “I am sure everyone will join us again.” (Kanchenjunga social network)

 Shillong’s Lou Majaw