SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   June  22-28,  2013    

 ‘Save Kabi-Lungtsok’ call gains momentum, peace puja on June 24

Kabi-Lungtsok: historic and sacred site of bloodbrotherhood treaty between Bhutias and Lepchas in the 13^th century at Kabi, North Sikkim.

Gangtok, June 21: If there are those who are bent on destroying the cultural heritage of the indigenous minority Buddhist Bhutia-Lepcha tribals of the former kingdom of Sikkim in the name of ‘development and progress’ they are up for a tough fight ahead.

Three organizations representing the Bhutias and Lepchas during its meeting held here on Wednesday “unanimously resolved” to appeal to the State Government to stop the ‘development and beautification’ project at the historic Kabi-Lungtsok site in Kabi, North Sikkim.

During its meeting, the SAVE Kabi-Longtsok Committee, Ong Shezum (Lepcha Youth Association) North District and Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) welcomed the stand taken against the project by various organizations of the indigenous Bhutia-Lepchas of the State.

According to a press release of the three organisations, the DUCHI(Monk Body) of  Kabi -Lungtsok  Sangha Thargayling Goenpa, Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation  (NASBO), Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum (Sikkim Lepcha Association), Ong Shezum (Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association) have opposed the project on historical and religious ground.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia, decided to hold a day-long peace prayer at Kabi-Lungtsok on June 24. Led by Lepcha priests (bongthings) and lamas the peace puja is being organized under the banner of Save Kabi-Lungtsok Committee and Ong Shezum (North), the release said.

A member of the Dzongu Sikkim Krantikari Morcha wrote in Facebook: “…we have to preserve this heritage for the future generation....but sad to say today 8.24 cr project is building in our heritage. this is rite time for us BL now we have to wake up.....wake up BL.”

The historic place is the site where the Lepcha priest Thekongtek and Bhutia ruler Khye-Bumsa swore eternal bloodbrotherhood in the 13^th century.

Golay to formally takeover SKM next month

Gangtok, June 21: Rebel ruling party legislator PS Tamang (Golay), who floated his Sikkim Krantikari Morcha on February 4 this year, will finally come out in the open and head the party next month.

This was stated by SKM Working President Bharati Sharma during a public meeting of the party in Yangang, South Sikkim, on Monday.

Sharma said Golay will formally take over the party in July and continue with its parivartan (change) campaign. She said the mass support that SKM was receiving all over the State shows that people want change.

Sharma accused the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, which has been ruling the State for 20 years, of dividing the people and ensuring that wealth was kept in the hands of a handful of pro-ruling party people.

The demand for Golay to come out in the open to lead his party has grown, particularly after former chief minister NB Bhandari revived his party, Sikkim Sangram Parishad, recently. Bhandari said he wants to join hands with Golay and other opposition leaders to bring opposition unity in the State to take on Chief Minister Pawan Chamling-led ruling party.

 SKM sources said it was now legally safe for Golay to lead the party formally. “Had he come out earlier he would fall under the anti-defection bill,” a source said.

Editorial

STRAY DOGS IN ‘SINGAPORE’

The Ground Reality Is Quite Different

As Sikkim tries to emulate Singapore a city corporation of Kerala is all set to follow the Sikkim model in controlling stray dog population in that city. Sikkim reportedly has a well-established animal birth control and rabies vaccination programme which is being monitored by 'Vets Beyond Borders', an Australian-based, non-profit organization established by veterinary volunteers. The State is also receiving assistance from National centre for disease control (NCDC) of the ministry of health and family welfare.

Before anyone comes to Sikkim to emulate its various projects – most of which exist only on papers and in the internet – the authorities are advised to make on-the-spot inspections to see the ground reality. It is OK to plan a trip to the hill State for a summer or winter break giving some administrative reasons to justify the pleasure trip but if the exercise is futile then why waste someone else’s money, particularly when it comes from abroad for a good cause.  This newspaper carried out several pictorial stories showing dozens of stray dogs in ‘Singapore’’s famous ‘MG Marg’ and the authorities took no note of it. “If we remove the stray dogs, we will be targeted by animal activists,” said a concerned official of the Gangtok Municipal Corporation. Perhaps Thiruvananthampuram’s city officials should take some photographs of stray dogs at MH Marg when they visit the city. They should also contact a local loyal who was recently bitten by one of the stray dogs.

Faleiro elevated as Congress general secretary, still in-charge of Sikkim

Faleiro

Gangtok, June 21: Former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro has been elevated as general secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) and entrusted charge of six north-eastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.

Faleiro's appointment as general secretary was notable, as he became the first Goan to be entrusted with this responsibility at a national level in the Congress organization, sources said.

The former chief minister's name figures in the list of 12 general secretaries appointed by Congress on Sunday.

He was earlier a permanent invitee to the Congress working committee.

Recently Faleiro was appointed chairman of the central election committee (CEC) for the Karnataka elections that Congress won, raising his stock in the Congress.

Faleiro has been in-charge of Sikkim for quite some time now and is well-acquainted with the State’s politics. With former SPCC President NB Bhandari’s exit from the party recently the state unit of the party is likely to be rejuvenated under Kunga Nima who has replaced Bhandari.

“There will be more activities for the Congress in Sikkim,” said Congress leader Anil Lachenpa.

Sikkim school participates in St. Joseph’s School’s 125^th anniversary     

A group of 32 students from Sikkim’s Padma Odzer Choeling School visited St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, recently to participate in the 125 year celebrations of the school. The students staged three Lepcha dances which were part of "The Cultural Fest-2013"

 “I’ve gotta be the luckiest North Pointer around!! Believe me it doesn’t get any better than this…to be part of the 125 year celebrations of my alma mater along with the Lepcha dancers from my school…I really am very blessed!! Thank you Fr. Santy and Fr. John and the entire North Point Family for your hospitality and generosity. It means a lot to me and my kids,” says Leonard Lefevre, who now teaches at the Padma Odzer Choeling School.