Saturday, June 4, 2011


HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Vol 1 No 19       Page 1             May 31, 2011
Imperial India wanted Tibet a buffer State
SONAM WANGDI
The plight of Tibet and the flight of the Dalai Lama have been attributed to either deliberate or inadvertent lack of foresight in Independent India’s Himalayan policy, which had replaced Imperial India’s time-tested strategy before 1947. The main policy of Imperial India was to maintain Tibet as a buffer State between China and the Indian empire and to keep off the Russians from Tibet and also to gain access to the vast Chinese market.
The British, being an alien power, wanted to ensure that there was absolute peace on the frontier by surrounding its Indian [Burma, now Myanmar, was a part of India till 1935] possessions by a series of buffer States on the western, northern and north-eastern borders. Thus Iran and Afghanistan in the west were under its sphere of influence; Tibet, Nepal, Sikkim and Bhutan provided the inner and outer bulwark between China and India; Siam or Thailand was the bumper between the British and French empires in the east.
Britain had no problem defending India against any naval attack since she was the strongest naval power in the world and the Indian ocean was considered a British lake where no power dared to enter and disturb the Indian Empire. Imperial India, however, was not sure of the loyalty of its Indian subjects who could rise in revolt again as in 1857; and an imperial power cannot hold on to its possession if the imperial army has to fight on the border and also to help the Police simultaneously in quelling internal rebellions.
The British empire wanted a virtually independent Tibet, not because of its love for the Tibetans but because it did not want China on its threshold. A quarrelsome and powerful neighbour is a perpetual headache. Before the Younghusband mission, despite repeated attempts from the British-Indian Government to open up Tibet, she kept aloof on the ground that the British “were harbouring ulterior designs on their country and their religion.” But the British policy in India was to annex only those territories which were fertile and rich in mineral resources and leave the rest under the largely autonomous Princely States which were in their largest number in the semi-desert areas of Rajputana, now Rajasthan.
Both Tibet and Mongolia had their inner and outer territories. During the Manchu empire, both Tibet and Mongolia with their inner and outer areas were part of China. After the collapse of the Manchu dynasty in 1911, Tibet and Mongolia were said to have signed a treaty in January, 1913 at the Mongolian capital, Urga. If the Tibetans had played their cards right, with the assistance from the wily British, the Outer Tibet, with Lhasa, would have been certainly a sovereign country in the same way as the Outer Mongolia, called Mongolia, is today. Mongolia is closer than Tibet is to the Chinese capital. With the help of the Soviet Union, the Mongolian People’s Republic was proclaimed in 1924. Inner Mongolia is a part of China. (The writer is former Chief Secretary of Sikkim)
DALAI LAMA FORMALLY GIVES UP POLITICAL POWERS
Spiritual leader to remain ‘symbol’ of Tibet & Tibetans
Himalayan News Network
Dharamsala, May 31: The Dalai Lama has formally relinquished his political powers "in a historic move" but will remain the “symbol” of Tibet and Tibetan unity.
"It is a very historic moment. He will still be the religious leader and the symbol of Tibetan unity, but he has formally devolved his political role," the Buddhist monk's spokesman, Tempa Tsering, said on Monday.
In his last political act, the 75 -year-old Tibetan spiritual leader signed an amendment to the Tibetan constitution, turning over his powers to Prime Minister-in-exile, Lobsang Sangay. Tibetan officials say the Dalai Lama will spend more time promoting human rights and interfaith cooperation
Tibetan exiles elected a Harvard scholar, Lobsang Sangay, 43, in April as their new prime minister to assume the political duties of the globe-trotting spiritual icon.
Tsering said the Dalai Lama on Sunday has formally given up his role as the political head of the Tibetan government-in-exile, but will remain Tibetan spiritual leader.
The Tibetan spiritual leader's other responsibilities will be divided among the speaker, deputy speaker, the justice commission and other democratically elected leaders, Tsering added.
Under the amended Article 1, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the “Protector and Symbol of Tibet and Tibetan People”.
The Parliament also gave approval of the change in the title of the Tibetan government-in-exile to ‘Tibetan Administration'.
 The announcement followed deliberations over three days, May 26-28, during which the Tibetan parliament approved the new preamble and rights and responsibilities for the Dalai Lama under Article 1 of the Charter.
The Dalai Lama announced in March that he would relinquish his political powers in favor of an elected head of government.
The newly elected members took oath of office here on Monday. Sangay will take charge from outgoing PM Samdhong Rinpoche on August 15.
JUNE 6 MEET BEFORE TRIPARTITE TALKS
Hope in hills after Mamata-Gurung meet
“We want good things to happen to Darjeeling
Himalayan News Network
Kolkata, May 31: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the State Government will hold discussions with Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) on June 6 on the Darjeeling issue to chart out a roadmap for future course of action.
Briefing mediapersons after her meeting with GJM supremo Bimal Gurung here on Monday, Mamata said, "It has been decided that discussions on the Darjeeling issue will start between GJM and state government officers on June 6. And after that meeting, they will decide from the discussion as to when the political process can be started."
This was the first official meeting between Banerjee and Gurung after she took over the reins of the State following her Trinamool Congress's landslide victory in the Assembly elections.
The Morcha leadership has put its demand for a separate Gorkhaland State on the backburner and agreed to resume the tripartite talks.
Gurung, along with his colleagues, called on the Chief Minister here on Monday when it was decided that talks would be held at the official level with the State administration on June 6 as a prelude to the next round of tripartite discussions at the political level for, as the Chief Minister put it, “a speedy solution” to the impasse in hills.
"We all love Darjeeling. It is very much a part of West Bengal and will continue to remain so," Banerjee announced after an hour-long meeting with Gurung.
"We want a solution as soon as possible. If there is a political vision, things work out according to plan. We want good things to happen to Darjeeling and the State," the Chief Minister said.
Gurung said he was happy with the outcome of the meeting which he described as “good and cordial.” He sees a “ray of hope after 34 years” of Left Front rule in West Bengal.
Gurung agreed to Mamata's suggestion that the CID should investigate into the Sibchu police firing on February 8 in which three GJM supporters were killed.
Besides Gurung, GJM general secretary Roshan Giri and the four party MLAs were present in the meeting.
Activists in favour of separate Himalayan policy
Himalayan News Network
Dehra Dun, May 31:  In an effort to give impetus to the overall growth of the Himalayan region, social activists in Uttarakhand have called for a separate policy keeping in mind the needs of the biodiversity rich region.
"Discussions have already started for formulating a separate policy in sectors like agriculture, fishery, horticulture and animal husbandry," head of HESCO, a Dehradun-based NGO, Anil P Joshi said, PTI reported.
"We are involving leading NGOs, central institutions and experts in this endeavor," he said.
The main concern of the new policy will be to fulfill the requirements of the hills where land holdings are small, soil erosion is rampant, biodiversity is rich and climate change is seen as a big factor, Joshi said.
Factors like haphazard growth, water shortage, rapid migration, unemployment will also be taken into account, he said.
A series of workshops and discussions involving the Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) and its various organisations are being planned in this regard, Joshi said.
Sunderlal Bahuguna, leader of the Chipko movement and a recipient of Padma Vibhushan, has also supported the idea of a separate policy saying big dams like Tehri were causing destruction to the rich biodiversity of the region.
"Our main concern is that through the new Himalayan policy we will be able to protect our forests and vast biodiversity of the region," Bahuguna said.
Editorial
NEPAL CRISIS
Top Priority: New Constitution
That Nepal managed to avert another constitutional crisis is not something new. The world and the Nepalese in particular are gradually getting used to Nepali lawmakers devious attempts hang on to power irrespective of the enormous damage done to the country’s image at home and abroad. The last moment decision of Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal to resign has paved way for a consensus based government, democratization of the Nepal Army and implementation of past deals made with Madhesi parties. These are some of the contentious issues that the legislators have to deal with during the three months given to them to frame the new constitution.
    Once a Hindu kingdom, Nepal still seems to be struggling to usher in a more stable democracy where all citizens have equal rights and equal opportunities. While the administration is in shambles the Nepalese are still a long way towards the goal of reaching a measure of economic success. The Constituent Assembly, elected in 2008 with a mandate to draft a constitution within two years, has not been able to do its job due to differences among major parties in the country. The unresolved issues of integrating the Maoists fighters into the Nepal army and giving more political space to the growing Madhesi clout in national politics will surely continue to cause more obstacles to the Parliament, whose life-span is now only three months. A country that wishes to embrace democracy must be ready with a give and take attitude. Otherwise the turmoil will go on leading to either President’s rule or army takeover.
Darjeeling Gold Cup football tourney to be revived this autumn

C. Tamang
Darjeeling, May 31: The likely revival of Gold Cup football tournament in Darjeeling has been okayed by the new Sports Minister, Madan Mitra, who announced his plans after a meeting with officials of the All India Football Federation in Kolkata on Saturday.
Mitra met Federation’s General Secretary Kushal Das and Vice-President Subrata Gutta at the Salt Lake Stadium and discussed over the issue.
With a view to reviving the tournament in the hills, Mitra said, “We want to encourage the youth of the region to take sports seriously.”
In the good old days when football festival in the hills of Darjeeling was in full bloom in the 60s and 70s hundreds and thousands of fans thronged the North Point ground to witness Herlihy Cup and Malla Shield football tournaments. When these tournaments faded into the background it was the Gold Cup tournament that enthralled football fans in the hills.
But the Gold Cup, too, died a natural death as agitational politics became the main preoccupation of hill people.
That the Mamata Government is reviving the Gold Cup this autumn is good news to all football lovers in the region.
Justice Dinkaran case likely to be sent to Constitution Bench: SC
New Delhi, May 31: The Supreme Court on Friday hinted at referring to a Constitution Bench the Sikkim High Court Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran’s petition challenging the impeachment process adopted against him.
“We are thinking why not the matter be referred to a Constitution Bench,” a vacation bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and C.K. Prasad said at the fag end of the day’s hearing, PTI reported.
The Bench’s remarks came after counsel Basava Prabhu Patil and Romy Chacko, appearing for Justice Dinakaran, argued the Constitution Bench in Justice Ramaswamy case did not decide the question whether a Parliament-appointed panel can travel beyond the jurisdiction of the impeachment motion.
Justice Dinakaran’s counsel also submitted no third party should be allowed to implead in the matter as it amounted to scrutinising the conduct of even the committee.
In an apparent reference to media reports and statements, the counsel submitted a “parallel inquiry” was being conducted against the judge even before his case was decided.
“When there is a public debate of a judge’s conduct, it becomes difficult for the judge to function,” Patil submitted.
He argued the judge unfortunately stood condemned even before his innocence or otherwise was established by the inquiry committee.
The counsel repeatedly said the Rajya Sabha-appointed panel had exceed its jurisdiction by framing 14 charges on the basis of fresh complaints whereas there were only 12 charges at the time when the motion was introduced in Parliament.
It was argued that the committee should restrict itself to the original 12 charges instead of inviting further complaints from various persons, which was not permissible under the law, the counsel argued.
Justice Dinakaran had also sought recusal of senior advocate P.P. Rao on the ground that he was allegedly biased against him as he was part of a delegation which had met the then Chief Justice K.G. Balarkrishnan to oppose his elevation to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court said a judge has to behave in an ''exemplary'' manner both within and outside the court, as any aberrations would undermine the institution.
 “A judge in court has a personality and his conduct has to be exemplary in all respects. Any aberration would make him liable. Any deviation would dilute the dignity of the institution and office,” the court said.
Thecourt is likely to hear the submission by various parties, including Lalit on behalf of the inquiry panel, Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra and advocate Prashant Bhushan next Tuesday.
SCALING EVEREST
Woman on top, twice in two weeks creates controversy
RP Sharma
Kathmandu, May 31: Arunachal Pradesh’s Anshu Jamsenpa is not only the second woman to scale Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak; she did the job twice in less than two weeks.
However, her success has been mired in bureaucratic red tapism as she has been accused of “illegally” climbing the summit (8,848 metres) a second time.
"There is a controversy about Jamsenpa's Everest ascents," said Laxman Bhattarai, spokesman at Nepal's tourism and civil aviation ministry.
"She applied for a permit to us to climb Mount Everest once and paid the required royalty of $25,000. However, she then summited the peak a second time without taking a permit first or paying the licence fee again."
Bhattari said “an illegal climb” would not be recognized in Nepal.
However, the mother of two from Bomdila was optimistic that the red tape problem would be resolved amicably.
"I first summited Mount Everest on May 12," Jamsenpa said. "Then I decided on the spur of the moment to try once more and was told that there would be a weather window on May 21, allowing climbers to attempt the summit. There was little time to complete all the formalities before that and so, I thought I would climb first and then sort out things."







Saturday, May 28, 2011

Kerala High Court orders CBI probe into Rs 80,000 cr lottery scam


SIKKIM OBSERVER   Vol 20 No 14 Page 1 May 28 2011
Kerala High Court orders CBI probe into Rs 80,000 cr lottery scam 
Lottery agents in Sikkim, Bhutan involved
Observer News Service
Kochi, May 27: The Kerala High Court on Tuesday approved a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the multi-billion rupee lottery scam in the State.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said his government would extend all help to the federal agency to probe into the scam.
There are allegations against agents of Bhutan and Sikkim lotteries that they siphoned off Rs.80,000 crore in the last four years by violating tax laws and diverting unclaimed prize money.
Former chief minister V.S. Achuthanandan was keen on a probe but his cabinet colleague and former finance minister Thomas Issac opposed it.
Isaac accused the Congress-led central government of reluctance to transfer the powers to states to ban lotteries.
Reacting to the High Court verdict, Issac while welcoming the probe said that one thing that should be included in the probe is the reason why the central government all this while was not keen on it.
“It must be recalled that in 2005 a public interest litigation demanding a CBI probe in the case had come up but the then chief minister Oommen Chandy (of the Congress) sat on that and saw to it that it never happened,” said Issac.
Achuthanandan had written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Home Minister P Chidambaram demanding a CBI probe. The Home Minister, however, asked him to register a case, issue a notification and follow the procedure, according to sources.
However, the Congress Party had accused Achuthanandan of going soft on the ‘lottery mafia’ under the influence of his son V A Arun Kumar.
State Congress President Ramesh Chennithala told reporters in Delhi that his party welcomed the decision on CBI probe since it will bring out the truth behind the lottery muddle.
Mamata likely to meet Gurung on Monday
“We love Darjeeling and its people”
Observer News Service
Kolkata, May 26: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is likely meet Gorkha Janmukti Morcha President Bimal Gurung on Monday.
“Bimal Gurung has spoken to me over the phone. He will come to meet me on Monday,” said Mamata after her meeting with the delegation led by Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri.
Giri and three Morcha MLAs, Harka Bahadur Chhetri, Trilok Dewan and Rohit Sharma, met the Chief Minister here yesterday. Though the meeting was described as a “courtesy call” by Morcha leaders the delegation submitted three demands to the Chief Minister which included the release of Gorkha leader Chhatre Subba who has been languishing in jail for alleged attempt on GNLF chief Subash Ghising on February 10, 2001.
“We love Darjeeling and its people. We want a solution to the ongoing problems in the hills and the Jungle Mahal at the earliest. Today’s meeting, however, was a courtesy call,” said the chief minister, adding: “I have asked the chief secretary (Samar Ghosh) to set up a date for talks with the Morcha.”
Meanwhile, the Morcha leadership is keeping the statehood issue alive while giving enough time to the Mamata Government to solve the  problems faced by the people in Darjeeling hills.
Editorial
“TOTAL REVOLUTION”
And The Present Reality
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s historic 36-day date with the people of Sikkim has evoked mixed reactions. While it is high time that the Chief Minister acquaints himself with the ground reality at the grassroots level, particularly when there is a wide gap between the haves and have-nots, criticisms are pouring in from all corners of the State on the futility of embarking on such a journey whose outcome is predictable: “nothing will happen.” Ever since he came to power 17 years ago Chamling has often complained about the slow pace of work in the administration. He wants to move fast but the bureaucratic red-tapism has been a big stumbling block. At times the Chief Minister has complained – and rightly so – about the lack of will and directionless of his own legislators and Cabinet colleagues who fail to share his dreams of a better tomorrow for all Sikkimese.
Chamling came to power promising ‘total revolution’ and change in the system of governance. The mandate given to Chamling’s Sikkim Democratic Front in 1994 was for restoration of freedom, democracy, rule of law and eradication of corruption. In the past 17 years the people have witnessed mushrooming of local newspapers and yet how many of them are really free and independent. People’s participation in the democratic process has not made much progress and restoration of the rule of law is still a distant dream in a State where sycophants have thrived leaving the honest, competent and credible persons on the sidelines.
For fear of incurring the wrath of the powers-that-be no one will tell Chamling the real, hard, and bitter truth. And as Chamling moves around from village to village, district to district to re-discover his Sikkim with an open mind and sincere heart he should be reminded of what he once said in his book (published in 1992) of poems, Perennial Dreams And My Reality, : “Amid the pompous projects – And blue prints of progress – I see no safeguard, no security – For Common people’s rights.” The Chief Minister, who was then (1992) a member of NB Bhandari’s Cabinet, gives this conclusion in his poem: “No, all plans and projects – Schemed by the powers that be – Reflect cynical disregard – For the suffering millions – And for their agonies and woes. In the inmost core of my heart – I feel these tantalizing projects, Full of sound and fury, Are devised to serve the vested interests, And hoodwink the bleeding masses.”  Chamling alone cannot and must not be blamed for the reality that we see around us; we are all responsible for the death of our dreams.
NHRC likely to be downgraded by UN
India desperately needs an effective, independent, transparent, and accountable national human rights institution”
Observer News Service
New Delhi, May 27: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), currently holding a status of participant (A status), is likely to be downgraded to the position of an observer (B status) when its accreditation renewal comes up for consideration before the United Nations (UN).
There are various reasons for this, including the corruption charges raised against Chairman, K.G. Balakrishnan, former Chief Justice of India. Other reasons that are expected to go against the NHRC include lack of (a) diversity in its composition, (b) transparency in its appointment process and (c) autonomy in having its own staff for monitoring and investigating human rights cases, Bar & Bench news network reported.
The Asian NGOs Network on National Human Rights Institution (ANNI) in its report on the Performance and Establishment of National Human Rights Institutions in Asia suggests that “India desperately needs an effective, independent, victim-sensitive, transparent, and accountable national human rights institution (NHRI) capable of providing effective leadership to the other 158 statutory human rights institutions in the country”.
The appointment of K.G. Balakrishnan as the Chairman of NHRC was widely criticized. The criticism stemmed from the numerous controversies surrounding K.G. Balakrishnan including blocking the prosecution of former Justice Nirmal Yadav, attempting to exempt the office of the Chief Justice of India from the purview of the Right to Information Act and delaying action against Justice P.D. Dinakaran even after the Parliament had initiated an impeachment motion against him, the report said.
Another aspect that will go against the NHRC is the lack of diversity in its composition. Members to the NHRC are usually appointed from the judiciary and the bureaucracy. Arguably, the NHRC should provide due representation to women members, persons with disability and civil society representatives.
The NHRC also lacks the resources necessary to run an effective, powerful institution that can protect and promote the human rights of over 1 billion people. The budget for 2010-2011 has been reduced. From Rs. 24.10 crore ($ 5.1 Million) to Rs. 18 crore ($3.8 Million). In other words, the Government of India has allocated a mere Rs. 0.158 ($ 0.003) per person per year, towards the protection and promotion of human rights.
The ANNI report points out that approximately 450 million people in India live below the poverty line while 46 percent of children in India are still under-nourished, double that of Sub-Saharan Africa. The report concludes by saying that NHRC has failed desperately to take the lead in the national discourse of human rights.
Complaints against ex-CJI made public by PMO
Observer News Service                                                                      
New Delhi, May 27: The Prime Minister's Office has made public the large number of complaints received by it, including those from two MPs and veteran jurist VR Krishna Iyer, demanding removal of the former Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan from the post of NHRC chief on charges of corruption.
 During the first five months of this year, at least 15 complaints filed against Justice Balakrishnan have been received by the PMO, according to a RTI reply given to Delhi-based activist, Subhash Chandra Agrawal.
The complaints have been sent to the department of justice, the specialised arm of the law ministry which deals with all issues related to the judges, the PMO stated in the reply.
Iyer, a former Supreme Court judge, in a strongly worded letter to the Prime Minister in February, slammed Justice Balakrishnan, calling him "unparalleled in the judicial world."
The 96 year-old Iyer wrote: "Inspite of the fact that worst has been said about the highest judicial office occupied ignominiously by Balakrishnan, who not only is said to have amassed a corrupt fortune, he is neither resigning from NHRC no agreeing for a probe."
This followed a letter from Janata Dal (United) Lok Sabha MP, Jainarayan Prasad Nishad on March 14 to the PM on corruption in judiciary. "To our great shock, Justice KG Balakrishnan was allegedly caught involved in multiple judicial scams..."
Nishad's complaint also names two sitting SC judges, whom he alleged "have connived with Justice Balakrishnan in different matters."
A letter by BJP Rajya Sabha MP from Gujarat, Purshottam Rupala, written to law minister M Veerappa Moily has also been forwarded to the PMO. Rupala has referred to "rampant corruption in higher judiciary," which according to him peaked during Justice Balakrishnan tenure as the CJI.
An organisation of lawyers and former judges — Campaign for Judicial Accountability and Reform, in a detailed complaint to the PM, cited six grounds seeking Justice Balakrishnan's removal from the NHRC post.





              



China says 'door open' for Dalai Lama's return to Tibet


HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Vol 1 No 19       Page 1                May 25, 2011

China says 'door open' for Dalai Lama's return to Tibet
Beijing, May 24: China's top Tibetan official last Thursday said "the door was open" for the return of the exiled Dalai Lama, but repeated its charge that the spiritual leader was a separatist bent on Tibetan independence.
    In China's first high-level comment since the Dalai Lama retired in March as head of Tibet's government-in-exile, Padma Choling said the spiritual figure was welcome to return to Tibet as long as he ended his separatist activities.
"If he wants to come back, the door to China is always open," Choling, Tibet's highest-ranking official, told reporters, AFP reported.
"If the Dalai Lama really does retire as he says he has, if he stops his separatist activities, stops disrupting the stability of Tibet and really concentrates on Buddhism, then this will be good for Tibet," he said. "The key is if he really gives up Tibetan independence."
China has made similar statements before but Tibet-watchers believe Beijing will not allow his return due to its potential for causing political instability in tense Tibet, the report said.
China has for years insisted the Dalai Lama wants to establish an independent Tibet, charges the 1989 Nobel laureate has long denied, saying he only seeks "meaningful" autonomy for his Himalayan homeland.
Following his March retirement, Tibetan exiles elected Harvard academic Lobsang Sangay, 43, as their new prime minister and handing him the daunting task of assuming the political duties of the Dalai Lama, a global icon.
Beijing has long been seen as playing a waiting game, believing that the Tibetan exiled movement will splinter and collapse after the eventual death of the 75-year-old Buddhist monk.
Choling, who was speaking on the 60th anniversary of China's "peaceful liberation of Tibet," further accused the Dalai Lama of seeking to restore the Tibetan theocracy that existed for centuries before China's 1951 takeover.
"Since he went into exile in 1959, he has never done anything good for Tibet, everything he has done since he left is to struggle for the restoration of feudal serfdom," he said.
He further reiterated Beijing's stance that the exiled Tibetan government was "an illegal organisation," and said any future negotiations on the Dalai Lama's return to Tibet would be with the Buddhist leader and not the exiled government.
The newly elected prime minister of Tibet's government-in-exile recently predicted that the 75-year-old Dalai Lama will return during his lifetime to the homeland he fled five decades ago.
"He will live very long. I believe we will see he will return to Tibet in his lifetime," Sangay said.
Sangay will be sworn in on May 30 in Dharamsala.
Nepal party split ahead of CA term expiry
RP Sharma
Kathmandu, May 24: Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta, Co-Chairman of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal (MJF-N), today announced the launch of a separate parliamentary party backed by 13 Constituent Assembly members, throwing a spanner in the ruling alliance’s plan of sidelining the Nepali Congress and extending the CA term with the support of a two-thirds majority.
MJF-N, which emerged as the fourth largest party after the CA elections in 2008, is now left with only 12 members in its fold. MJF-N is part of the current coalition with its leader Upendra Yadav, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, in the government.
The unexpected split in MJF-N has come at the most inopportune time for Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal, as it can upset the government plans to secure the two-thirds majority (397 votes in 596-member CA) to get endorsed the Bill to extend the CA term through the ninth amendment to the interim constitution.
With just four days left before a potential constitutional meltdown, Nepal's communist-Maoist government today clamped prohibitions near the parliament building, banning all protests and rallies within a 50m radius.
Security forces swung into action in the morning, removing by force the various pressure groups which had been holding peaceful demonstrations before parliament for days, demanding the promulgation of the new constitution within the stipulated May 28 deadline.
Quake could cause Himalayan glacial lakes to inundate populated areas
Himalayan News Network
New Delhi, May 24: Earthquakes could lead glacial lakes in the Himalayas to cause serious hazards to population centres, scientists have said. 
The BBC quoted them as saying that past records indicate the region could experience a large quake in the future.
According to reports, many glacial lakes are said to be growing, and some of them are alarmingly, because of melting glaciers.
Some are at risk of rupturing, could flood downstream areas, they said.
"Such a disaster is very much possible, more so, when we are expecting a big earthquake in the region now. If the acceleration is very high in the epicentre of the earthquake, everything will be in the air as things will not be stable. So, naturally the liquids like waters in glacial lakes will burst out," Sushil Kumar, a geophysicist with the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology in India, said.
Reports also suggest that a number of these lakes are located near seismic faults.
"Given the location of the lakes, if the epicentre of the earthquake happens to be nearby them, they will certainly explode," Pradeep Mool, a glaciologist with the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) that works on mountain issues in the region, said.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has shown that at least 35 glacial lake outburst took place in Nepal, Pakistan, Bhutan and China during the last century.
Editorial
INDIA’S HIMALAYAN POLICY
Perspectives Have Changed
India’s policy towards the former Himalayan kingdoms of Nepal and Sikkim and Bhutan had a similar thrust of retaining the core British strategic framework of keeping these kingdoms as an integral art of India’s defence structure, while shedding off its imperial and colonial façade. Emerging aspirations of people in these countries for democratization were responded to within this framework, i.e., without sacrificing the security interests. This was evident in Nepal as this was also evident in Bhutan and Sikkim.
An important aspect behind India’s support to monarchies in Sikkim and Bhutan, related to its security interests has been that the resistance movements and forces of democratization in both of these countries had a strong ethnic character. In both Bhutan and Sikkim, democratization demand was raised by the Nepali groups and the monarchies have been Bhutias and Lepchas in Sikkim and Drukpas in Bhutan; having closer cultural and religious ties with Tibet. As a result, supporting democratic movements would have amounted to favoring one side in the ethnic divide and as a consequence, alienating the other one.
Indian policy makers did take into account the possibility, howsoever remote, of the ruling Mongoloid ethnic groups in Bhutan and Sikkim seeking China’s support in case of India leading its weight with their Nepali protesters. Political instability precipitated in the process would surely have been exploited by China. Ironically, it is Nepal, with its dominant Maoists supporters, which is inching closer to China than Sikkim or Bhutan. In the light of these developments New Delhi needs to take a fresh and realistic look at its Himalayan policy.

Sikkim CM on 36-day tour of State
Himalayan News Network
Gangtok, May 24: On the eve of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front’s completion of 17 years in power last week, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling embarked on a historic 36-day whirlwind tour of the State to find out the “problems and grievances” of the people first hand.
On the fourth of day of his tour, which began on May 17, Chamling said his dream of turning Sikkim into a “model state” would be realized if the people and government worked in tandem.
Ever since he came to power in 1994 promising to restore unity, harmony and freedom and democracy in the State, Chamling has been stressing that he did not get the much-needed cooperation from his legislators and bureaucrats to fulfill his promises made to the people.
It is also significant to not that the Chief Minister called all the heads of departments before his marathon tour to state that he expected civil servants to be more responsible and accountable to the people, indicating that he would not tolerate inefficiency and corruption in the administration.

Meghalaya for revision of Indo-Nepal Friendship Treaty to check influx
P. Ghosh
Shillong, May 24: Chief Minister Mukul Sangma is likely to offer “suggestions” to the Centre to ensure that the Indo-Nepal Treaty of Friendship, 1950 is made non-applicable to Meghalaya.
"The matter concerns both countries. The state government would give some suggestions on the provisions of the treaty," Sangma told representatives of some organisations here. The organisations, including the Khasi Students' Union (KSU), urged the Chief Minister to take appropriate measures to “check influx” in the State.
The Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 is a bilateral treaty between Nepal and India establishing a close strategic relationship between the two South Asian neighbours. The treaty allows for the free movement of people and goods between the two nations and a close relationship and collaboration on matters of defence and foreign affairs.
The organisation representatives described as alarming the figures of the recent census showing the decadal population growth of the state at 27.82 per cent, much higher than the national average of 17.64 per cent. The representatives attributed the reason for the “abnormal growth to unabated influx of outsiders” arguing it has posed a threat to the identity of the locals.
On the demand of the organisations to implement the Inner Line Permit in the State to check infiltration and disturbance of the tribal demographic structure, Sangma said a mechanism would be worked out even as the state was trying to project Meghalaya as a tourist destination, which would open up employment opportunities to the youths.
The organisations have also demanded that 1971 be made the base year for determining citizenship status of “non-indigenous” residents in the State.
Referring to the proposed “work permit system” in the State, Sangma said the labour department has been asked to implement the proposals within three months.

FASHION
  Will Prabal Gurung replace Galliano at Dior?
Kunga Chukie
Christian Dior, the luxury goods group that is the main holding company of Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, is looking at nine possible candidates to replace John Galliano.
Designer Prabal Gurung who had a good outing at the Autumn/Winter collection at the New York Fashion Week this year is said to be a frontrunner, according to ibnlive.com
LVMH's Bernard Arnault has insisted that Dior is in no hurry to name Galliano's successor, but his advisers have reportedly submitted a list of suggested candidates.
According to Women's Wear Daily, the list includes: Riccardo Tisci, Tom Ford, Hedi Slimane, Olivier Theyskens, Nicolas Ghesquiere, Alber Elbaz, Haider Ackermann, Prabal Gurung, and Sarah Burton.
Gurung is showing at the upcoming Audi Fashion Festival on May 14 where he's presenting a line with Atelier Swarovski.
Prabal Gurung launched his first eponymous collection during New York Fashion Week in February 2009 with a presentation at the FLAG Art Foundation in Chelsea. For Fall 2010, he staged his first runway show in the Tents at Bryant Park.
Gurung was born in Singapore and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal. It was in New Delhi, India that his design career truly began. While studying at New Delhi’s National Institute of Fashion Technology, he apprenticed at several local production and fashion houses and designed with Manish Arora.
Gurung’s travels took him to Melbourne and London, where he assisted stylists for various fashion shows and international publications. In 1999, after seven years of traveling, Gurung moved to New York City. He began his career in New York interning for Donna Karan while attending Parsons School of Design. In his first year, he was awarded the 'Best Designer' title at the annual Parsons/FIT design competition.
Since the launch of his collection, Gurung has dressed leading ladies, including Michelle Obama, Demi Moore, Zoe Saldana and Oprah Winfrey, to name a few.
Dior, one of the biggest brands within luxury goods group LVMH, sacked Galliano earlier this month following publicity over a video of him shouting abuse in a Paris bar and saying he loved Hitler. Dior Chairman and Chief Executive Sidney Toledano said the company was studying possible replacements and the brand's creative development had not been interrupted.
Fashion magazine Elle reported that Dior might not announce Galliano's replacement before the autumn.





Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Bhutan king to marry Jetsun Pema in October


HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Vol 1 No 19       Page 1                May 25, 2011
Bhutan king to marry Jetsun Pema in October
Himalayan News Network
Thimphu, May 24: It is now official. The Druk Kingdom’s 31-year-old King Jigme Khesar Namgyal Wangchuk will marry Jetsun Pema (20) in October this year.
The formal announcement came from the King himself who declared in the Parliament last Friday that he intends to marry Jetsun Pema in October.
"As king, it is now time for me to marry. After much thought I have decided that the wedding shall be later this year," the young King declared.
King Jigme and Jetsun Pema

"While she is young, she is warm and kind in heart and character,” is how the British-educated King described his future wife and Queen of Bhutan.
"These qualities together with the wisdom that will come with age and experience will make her a great servant to the nation," the King said.
King Jigme, who completed his studies at Oxford and was crowned the monarch in 2008, announced his marriage plans on May 20.
The King took over after the abdication in 2006 of his father, Jigme Singye Wangchuk, who began the country's democratic transition. In March 2008, Bhutan became a constitutional monarchy and the King relinquished his absolute powers.
Wangchuck, however, is widely revered in the country of some 700,000 people.
The young monarch had known Pema, who has been educated in India and Britain, for "quite some time.”
A biography released by the palace listed her interests as fine arts, painting and basketball.
Jetsun Pema, who was born in Thimphu on June 4, 1990, stands pretty at 5' 10". She had joined the Lawrence School in 2006 and cleared her plus two examination in 2008. Before joining Sanawar, she studied at the St. Joseph's Convent in Kalimpong (West Bengal) and Changangkha Lower Secondary School and Lungtenzampa Middle Secondary School in Thimphu, Bhutan. She graduated from Regents College, London.
The future queen of Bhutan comes from the Bumthang Pangtey family and her father, Dhondup Gyaltshen, is the grandson of Trashigang Dzongpon Dopola. Her mother, Sonam Chuki, comes from the family of Bumthang Pangtey. Sonam Chukie, too, is an alumnus of Kalimpong’s St. Joseph’s Convent. Jetsun Pema has two brothers and two sisters.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

CHAMLING ON 36-DAY ‘MEET-THE-PEOPLE’ MISSION


SIKKIM OBSERVER   Vol 20 No 14 Page 1 May 21 2011
CHAMLING ON 36-DAY ‘MEET-THE-PEOPLE’ MISSION
Observer News Service
Gangtok, May 20: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s 36-day marathon tour of the State, which began from his home constituency in South Sikkim, aims to bring the administration to the doorsteps of the people with the objective of getting a first hand information about their “problems, grievances” and aspirations.
The Chief Minister began his tour on May 17 after offering prayers at the newly-built Sirdhi Sai temple at Assangthang in Namchi. The day ended at Char Dham temple at Solopphok (Namchi). During the day the Chief Minister and his entourage visited Assangthang, Raika Gaon, Salghari, Chisopani, Nandu Gaon and Denchung.
“The Chief Minister was making person to person contact, interacting with them at all the places he visited. He also informed that this is the first time ever in India that such an innovative programme of bringing the government to know about the problems and grievances of the people and general public has come to their doorsteps,” an IPR release said.
On the third day of the tour at Mikhola, the Chief Minister said, “We have come to learn from you where our weakness lies.” He added, “Inspite of the fact we have all the required facilities and infrastructure” there is still “poverty” in the State.
During the tour Chamling gave patient hearings to the problems and grievances of the general public convincing the people about the various schemes and the programmes of the Government, the release said.
During his tour Chamling, accompanied by ministers and top civil servants, interacted with the people at all places and personally enquired about the problems they faced.
The Chief Minister informed the people that such person-to-person contact programme was done for the first time in the country. During the visit, the Chief Minister made several on-the-spot announcements of development schemes for the people.
Editorial
CENTRE’S ‘NO’
Taxing Times For Sikkim
The Centre’s recent decision not to grant income tax exemption to non-Sikkimese who were settled in Sikkim before the ‘merger’ in 1975 comes at a time when the business community in the State is faced with a burden of having to pay heavy taxes to the State exchequer under numerous heads such as trade licence, hotel tax etc. The Chamling Government’s recent initiatives to cater to the growing needs and insecurities of ‘old settlers’ in Sikkim, many of whom are plainspeople, have faced stiff opposition. While the Union Finance Ministry has closed the chapter on the issue of IT extension to the ‘left out’ persons, Opposition parties’ recent opposition to the Chamling Government’s readiness to issue ‘pink cards’ to ‘Sikkim subjects’ has forced the administration to keep the issue in abeyance.
Critics of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front in Sikkim believe that in the name of issuing ‘pink cards’ to bonafide Sikkimese who possess genuine Sikkim Subject Certificate and grant of income tax exemption to those whose names were ‘left out’ from the Sikkim Subjects Registrar, a document containing a list of ‘Sikkim Subjects’ maintained during the Chogyal’s rule in Sikkim,  a host of non-Sikkimese and foreign nationals would stand to greatly benefit from these initiatives, threatening the political and economic rights and interests of bonafide Sikkimese who possess genuine Sikkim Subject Certificate and who belong to the three ethnic communities – Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese of Sikkimese origin.
   The Chamling Government wants tax exemption for members of old business community and farmers who were permanently settled in Sikkim before 1961. It has also demanded that government servants who were in government service before 1969 also be granted income tax exemption. However, the Centre is not ready to comply with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s demand. “It will not be advisable now to reopen a subject which had been concluded after 18 years of negotiation with consensus,” the letter from the Union Finance Ministry  to Prem Goyal, Chief Coordinator of Nagarik Sangharsh Samiti, who has been pursuing the issue, said. It added that because of this “it would not be feasible to include non-Sikkimese” under the ambit of income tax exemptions provided to bonafide Sikkimese who were regarded as “Sikkim Subjects” during the Chogyal era before Sikkim’s absorption into the Indian Union in 1975.

PRIDE OF SIKKIM
TNA student topper at Mayo College
Observer News Service
Gangtok, May 20: Deepika Agarwal, an ex-student of the State’s prestigious Tashi Namgyal Academy (TNA), has become the “school topper” in the class 12 (Indian School Certificate) board examination at Mayo College Girls School, Ajmer.
She scored 97.75% in the commerce stream and topped her class. This has brought “glory, joy and pride” to her parents, TNA and the State as a whole.
Deepika scored 100% in Accounts, 99% in Mathematics, 97% in English, 95 % in Commerce and 94% in Economics.
Deepika joined Mayo College after completing her class 10 at TNA in 2009. She hails from a family belonging to the old business community in the State. Daughter of Bramanand Agarwal and grand daughter of late Tarachand Agarwal, Deepika’s family has been residing in Sikkim for more than 100 years.
Chamling faces twin setback: pink card proposal shelved, income tax demand rejected
Jigme N Kazi

Gangtok: While the Chamling Government’s claim on economic empowerment of the people may be debatable, politically Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, who has been in power for the fourth consecutive term since 1994, has recently faced two significant setbacks.
Firstly, the Centre has turned down the State Government’s demand for income-tax exemption for pre-merger settlers in the State who do not possess the Sikkim Subject Certificate (SSC), an authentic document issued to ‘Sikkim Subjects’ by the Chogyal’s durbar as a proof of their nationality.
Secondly, the Chamling Government’s bid to issue ‘pink card’ to bonafide Sikkimese, who possess genuine Sikkim Subject Certificate, has also been shelved due to strong opposition by Opposition parties, including the Congress party, in the State.
   The Chamling Government wants tax exemption for members of old business community and farmers who were permanently settled in Sikkim before 1961. It has also demanded that government servants, who were in government service before 1969, also be granted income tax exemption. To put more pressure on the Centre on the issue the State Assembly recently passed a resolution demanding income tax exemption to ‘old settlers’ in the State at par with the Sikkimese who possess Sikkim Subject Certificate.
    However, the Centre is not ready to comply with Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s demand. “It will not be advisable now to reopen a subject which had been concluded after 18 years of negotiation with consensus,” the letter from the Union Finance Ministry  to Prem Goyal, Chief Coordinator of Nagarik Sangharsh Samiti, who has been pursuing the issue with the Centre, said. It added that because of this “it would not be feasible to include non-Sikkimese” under the ambit of income tax exemptions provided to bonafide Sikkimese who were regarded as “Sikkim Subjects” during the Chogyal era.
    Local Sikkimese fear that Chamling is wooing non-Sikkimese as he has lost the confidence of bonafide Sikkimese in the State who feel that ‘outsiders’ have largely benefited from the State’s development activities. The Chamling Government’s recent initiatives to cater to the growing needs and insecurities of ‘old settlers’ in Sikkim, many of whom are plainspeople, have faced stiff opposition.
While the Union Finance Ministry has closed the chapter on the issue of IT extension to the ‘left out’ persons, Opposition parties’ recent opposition to the Chamling Government’s readiness to issue ‘pink cards’ to ‘Sikkim subjects’ has forced the administration to keep the issue in abeyance.
Critics of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) in Sikkim believe that in the name of issuing ‘pink cards’ to bonafide Sikkimese, who possess genuine Sikkim Subject Certificate, a host of non-Sikkimese and foreign nationals would stand to greatly benefit from this initiative, threatening the political and economic rights and interests of bonafide Sikkimese who belong to the three ethnic communities – Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese of Sikkimese origin.
   Opposition parties have demanded names of 31,180 ‘fake’ Sikkim Subject Certificate (SSC) holders in the State to be made public. They allege that the Chamling Government is determined to issue ‘pink cards’ to holders of fake Sikkim Subject Certificate, ostensibly in the name of bonafide Sikkimese, in order to give them income tax exemption at par with former ‘Sikkim Subjects.”
“Five years have gone but the people holding the fake papers have not been brought to justice or the false certificates revoked,” said Biraj Adhikari, President of Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP).
Adhikari and other Opposition leaders, including State BJP President Padam Chettri and Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad Party (SHRPP) President AD Subba, are convinced of the State Government’s “hidden agenda” in the pink-card episode.
Chamling, while defending his government’s initiative on the issue, said the objective of the ‘pink card’ exercise is to safeguard the rights and identity of bonafide Sikkimese who are now said to be less than 50 per cent of the State’s six lakh population.
Guv backs CM on inclusion of ‘Sikkim’ in national anthem
Observer News Service
Gangtok, May 20: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s efforts towards Sikkim’s “emotional integration” with the mainstream received a big boost with Governor BP Singh endorsing his move to replace ‘Sindh’ with ‘Sikkim’ in the national anthem.
“I support the Chief Ministers contention of Sikkim to be a part of National Anthem,” the Governor during the 36th State Day function here on May 16.
The Governor was referring to the suggestion put forward by the Chief Minister to substitute the word ‘Sindh’ in the national anthem with the word ‘Sikkim’. The Chief Minister had said that in the changed circumstances, Sikkim richly deserves this recognition to further promote a sense of emotional integration with India, an IPR release said.
 Sikkim was a Buddhist kingdom ruled by the Chogyals (kings) of the Namgyal Dynasty since 1642 before it became a part of India in 1975.
Article 371F of the Constitution, which provides special status to the State, was inserted into the Constitution during the merger in April-May, 1975.







Friday, May 20, 2011

Charles Bell and 13th Dalai Lama shared lasting friendship


HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN  MAY 18, 2011
Charles Bell and 13th Dalai Lama shared lasting friendship

Sir Charles Alfred Bell K.C.I.E. (1870 – 1945), born in Calcutta, was a British-Indian tibetologist. He was educated at Winchester College. After joining the Indian Civil Service, he was appointed Political Officer in Sikkim in 1908. He soon became very influential in Sikkimese and Bhutanese politics, and in 1910 he met the 13th Dalai Lama, who was forced into temporary exile by the Chinese.
He got to know the Dalai Lama quite well during this time, and he was later to write his biography (Portrait of the Dalai Lama, published in 1946). At various times he was the British Political Officer for Bhutan, Sikkim and Tibet.
After travelling through Tibet and visiting Lhasa in 1920, he retired to Oxford, where he wrote his series of books on the history, culture and religion of Tibet. Some of his photographs that he took while in Tibet can be found in the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford. Some of these can be found in a recently published book Tibet: Caught in Time (containing photographs by Charles Bell and John Claude White; Reading: Garnet, 1997).
His English-Tibetan colloquial dictionary was first published together with a grammar of colloquial Tibetan as Manual of Colloquial Tibetan in 1905. Charles Alfred Bell died in Canada in 1945.
Sir Charles Bell was a career diplomat in the service of the British Raj, the personification of the grandeur of an empire that spanned the world. The Great Thirteenth Dalai Lama of Tibet was the spiritual and temporal leader of a remote and isolated theocracy in the heart of the Himalayas. Sir Charles represented the power and limitless potential of the new century. The Dalai Lama was the literal embodiment of an ancient lineage, an incarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, the ruler of one of the most inaccessible and forbidding places on earth. That the two men should find so much in common and develop a bond of deep and lasting friendship is a wonder that does credit to them both. Sir Charles' biography of the Dalai Lama, Portrait of a Dalai Lama: The Life and Times of the Great Thirteenth is the story of that friendship.
Sir Charles Bell gives us a unique insight into the personality of the man behind the ritual and pageantry of his high office. He shows us a man of profound intelligence and sensitivity, a man of wit and humour, a man quick to anger, a man of compassion. This man, who ruled with absolute authority and was revered as a living god, gave Sir Charles Bell his friendship; and, through his eyes, we see a man of warmth and charm, who loved his dogs and his garden.