Upreti calls everyone to fight ‘rampant corruption’ in Sikkim

SIKKIM OBSERVER     June 11 2011

After revocation of expulsion order Upreti calls everyone to fight ‘rampant corruption’ in Sikkim

Observer News Service

Gangtok, June 10: Former Minister and senior Congress leader KN Upreti wants the State unit of the Congress party to function in a democratic manner and welcome anyone to join the party to fight against “rampant corruption”, “ruthless repression” and “injustices” of the Chamling Government.

Upreti’s call comes after he and six Congress leaders’ expulsion from the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee was revoked by the party high command.

A press release by Upreti, who has just returned from Delhi, says the SPCC’s “illegal and arbitrary” expulsion of seven SPCC members in March this year has been revoked by the AICC.

After their expulsion Upreti and company made representations to the party high command challenging the impugned order.

Responding to their petition, AICC incharge of Sikkim, Luizinho Faleiro, in his order dated June 4, 2011, stated: “I am directed to convey that Expulsion Orders dated 25.3.2011 of the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee expelling the following Congress members of the State for four years from 25^th March, 2011, have been revoked.”

The order added that Upreti and others – Phuchung Bhutia, Bharat Basnett, Arun Kumar Rai, Avinash Yakha, Nima Wangchuk Bhutia and Laxuman Gurung – who were expelled from the party for their alleged “anti-party activities”, “shall continue to be members of the Congress Party.”

The expelled members have thanked the party high command for its prompt and positive action regarding their expulsion.

Upreti and six others were expelled from the SPCC when Upreti tried to contest the SPCC President’s post during the party elections held here recently.

Upreti backed out from the contest after the party high command asked its State units to pass a one-line resolution authorizing party President Sonia Gandhi to choose party chiefs in the States.

However, the SPCC went ahead with the polls and as a result SPCC President N B Bhandari was re-elected.

GJM supporters hail Darjeeling agreement

Opposition condemn mandate misuse

C. Tamang

Darjeeling, June 10: Hundreds of Gorkha Janmukti supporters greeted party general secretary Roshan Giri and two other leaders when they arrived here from Kolkata, hailing the much-awaited agreement ending the 15-year-old Darjeeling problem.

Raising slogans in support of the 'positive' agreement, the supporters draped 'khada' around Giri and the two other leaders Harkabahadur Chhetri and Sankar Adhikari when they got down from train at the New Jalpaiguri railway station in the morning, reported PTI.

Chhetri, the GJM spokesman, expressed satisfaction at the agreement and said the hills would now witness all-round development, particularly in health, education and water supply.

Chhetri said the Gorkhaland demand would be discussed in the tripartite meeting to be called soon.

He said the decision to set up two committees - one to look into the territorial composition of the new hill council and the other on tea garden areas - was a welcome development.

While both chief minister Mamata Banerjee and leaders of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) are happy at finally reaching a solution to the Darjeeling problem, Opposition parties in the hills have condemned the agreement.

AIGL President Bharati Tamang said the GJM, which won the Assembly elections on Gorkhaland issue, had betrayed the people.

The GNLF, too, accused the Morcha of betraying the people’s trust. “People trusted them and voted the GJM only because they thought that the party would help eke out Gorkhaland for them. Now, the GJM is singing a different tune,” stated GNLF’S Palden Dorje Lama.

The CPRM said by signing an agreement with Writers’ Building the Morcha leadership had misused the people’s mandate.

Cleanliness drive in Gurudongmar, Lachen

P. Rai

Lachen, June 10: Gurudongmar Lake situated at the 17,100 ft in Lachen, North Sikkim, is one of the most sacred high altitude wetlands in Sikkim. Though located in an isolated corner of the State, the wetland receives a large number of domestic tourists estimated at around 15,000 every year, and with Sikkim establishing itself on the tourism map of the country, this number is on the rise. Apart from tourists, Gurudongmar Lake is also visited by locals going on pilgrimage.

While tourism offers incentives to the communities, the threats that it poses to these fragile landscape also cannot be ignored.

WWF-India Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme, as part of its High Altitude Wetlands conservation Project in Sikkim, has been working with the local youths of the village of Lachen  under the banner of Lachen Tourism Development Committee since early 2011 on sensitizing the community on conservation issues. Awareness programmes have been organized for students, taxi drivers as well as tourists.

As part of the same initiative, to mark the celebration of world environment day WWF –India in collaboration with LTDC organized a two- day event on 5th and 6th June at

A 29 member team comprising of members of Lachen Dzumsa, LTDC, WWF – India and media representative organized a cleanliness drive around  Gurudongmar Lake. While at first glance the area around the lake looked clean and garbage-free, on closer inspection the team found that over the years there had been quite an incredible accumulation of garbage. The team divided into groups to tackle different areas of the lake and armed with sacks and gloves collected all the waste lying in these areas.

Phensum Lachenpa, President LTDC later remarked – “Never had we imagined that thirty big sacks we were carrying would be filled with the garbage from Gurudongmar Lake”.

Pipon II from Lachen,  Tenzing Choyang Lachenpa, who was also part of the team, encouraged them by participating in the cleanliness drive himself. He said that it was a great initiative taken up by the youths of Lachen, which had to be continued and supported.

During the cleanliness drive it was found that most of the garbage had accumulated towards the outlet of the lake. The team also got support from the Army based there, and 20 jawans also helped in collection of the garbage.

During the occasion, signage providing useful information on Gurudongmar Lake and a Code of Conduct to be followed by visitors were put up near the holy lake. A separate site for offerings was also designated near the lake side, so as to regulate the practice of making offerings inside the lake.

All the waste material was collected in large sacks and brought back to Lachen, where the team again spent the evening segregating the waste into recyclables consisting of tins, plastic and glass bottles. Clothes, cardboards and paper were also segregated into different sacks.

It was found that while a large part of the collected garbage consisted of tins and plastic bottles that could be sent for recycling, there was also a large quantity of plastic wrappers that could not be recycled and would have to be dumped. But the segregation of the recyclables at least did reduce the amount of garbage to a considerable extent.

On the second day of the campaign 6th June, the team targeted the Lachen Village for the cleanliness drive. The Chief Guest for the day was MLA – Lachen Mangan  T.W Lepcha, while addressing  the gathering prior to the cleanliness drive, appreciated the efforts made by the youths of Lachen and congratulated them for cleaning up the sacred lake of Gurudongmar. As a word of caution, he also mentioned that youths had to look beyond the scope of contracts and build their capacities and skills for entrepreneurship.

A rally was also organized to flag off the cleanliness drive in which students from Lachen School actively participated and also assisted in clean up of the village. Members of LTDC targeted the local dumping site of Lachen to retrieve all the plastic bottles, tins and glass bottles that had been dumped to send for recycling. A total of 35 sacks of recyclable items were retrieved from the dumping site.

The Army posted at Chaten, located below Lachen, offered support for transport of the waste to the dumping site nearby. The materials segregated will be sold off for recycling. Chewang Lachenpa, General Secretary of LTDC, thanked the Army for lending their support to the cause and hoped for their cooperation also in the future. On the occasion Landscape Coordinator of WWF- India Priyadarshinee Shrestha and Senior Project officer Laktsheden Theengh also participate at clean drive programme.

Editorial

NEW SITUATION

Strike A Fine Balance

As talks begin on formation of a new council for the hill people in Darjeeling criticisms will start pouring in blaming the Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha for betraying the people on the statehood issue. The Morcha leadership had stated that their landslide victory in the recently-held Assembly elections in West Bengal, where Morcha candidates won all three seats in the hills (Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong) with an overwhelming margin, was a mandate for Gorkhaland state. Howver, within less than a month after the results of the polls were declared Morcha leaders are all excited about the formation of the new interim set-up. According to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the inititial deal of the new council has already been signed at Writers’s Building.

Morcha’s opponents in the hills will surely try to raise the statehood issue with a view to exposing Gurung and Co.’s mischief. They will also raise the issue of seeking justice to the murderers of AIGL Madan Tamang and put more pressure on the Morcha leadership. The demarcation of the Gorkha-inhabited areas in the plains of Dooars and Terai will take more than six months. The new council cannot be formed before the territorial issue is finalized. All set and done the Morcha leadership needs to show more tact and wisdom in dealing with the changed situation. While Darjeeling desperately needs an economic face-lift, which Mamata has promised, the Gorkhas believe that their main issue is identity and not development. To pull through this situation the Morcha leadership must strike a fine balance between conviction and compromise.

ANTI-CORRUPTION CAMPAIGN

BJP on Sikkim padyatra from June 12

Gangtok, June 10: The Sikkim unit of the BJP has decided to begin a village-to-village campaign in the State from Sunday (June 12) to access “corruption and malpractices” in centrally-sponsored schemes in all the four districts of the State.

Speaking to Sikkim Observer, State unit BJP President Padam Bahadur Chettri said he and some of his colleagues will meet the villagers and find out how the State Government has misutilised central funds in the name of development.

He said the decision to go on a padyatra was taken at the recent national executive meeting held in Lucknow.

In his letter to Chief Secretary ND Chingapa, Chettri has said the party’s decision to “access the development works at the level of Gram Panchayat Units, Primary Health Centre and Lower Primary Schools” comes in the backdrop of 2G spectrum scam and CWC scam and is aimed at pointing out “corruption and malpractices” into all ongoing programmes and projects at the grassroots level.

The BJP has also asked government officials to accompany them to “enlighten” them on these projects.

TIBET-CHINA DIALOGUE – II

“The Tibetan issue needs to be resolved between the Tibetans and the Chinese”

The second and last portion of the statement of Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on the present status of dialogue between the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government delivered at the Institute of South Asian Studies, Singapore, November 24, 2010.

The Essence of the Dalai Lama’s Middle Way Approach

One of the fundamental points that the Chinese officials fail to acknowledge is the fact that His Holiness the Dalai Lama is sincere and serious in his efforts for a solution within the framework of the People’s Republic of China through his Middle Way Approach.

His Holiness and the Tibetan leadership in exile took the courageous decision not to seek Tibetan independence but genuine autonomy for the Tibetan people that would ensure their basic needs of safeguarding their distinct culture, language, religion and identity and the delicate natural environment of the Tibetan plateau.

The Middle Way Approach is a way to peacefully resolve the issue of Tibet and to bring about stability and co-existence between the Tibetan and Chinese peoples, based on equality and mutual co-operation. Its origin goes back to the mid-1970s when His Holiness had internal discussions with his advisors. Over the years the Tibetan leadership in exile refined the concrete features of the Middle Way Approach to in the light of existing political realities in the PRC.

Official Chinese media continue to label His Holiness as being a separatist, who wants to regain Tibetan independence. They refer to contents of his statements of the past, including the Five Point Peace Plan and the Strasbourg Proposal, deliberately ignoring His Holiness’ subsequent appreciation of Chinese concerns and clarification of his position.

Our Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People clearly outlined His Holiness’s Middle Way Approach.

Our Memorandum and the Note to the Memorandum have been well received by many governments, parliaments, institutions, organizations and individuals as being very reasonable and legitimate. Many are surprised and deeply disappointed with the Chinese government’s reactions. Finding the Chinese government’s position inappropriate, they continue to emphatically urge them to engage in a substantive dialogue with us on the agenda of the Memorandum. For example, following a meeting between His Holiness and President Obama on February 18, 2010, the White House released a statement saying, “The President commended the Dalai Lama’s “Middle Way” approach, his commitment to nonviolence and his pursuit of dialogue with the Chinese government.”

Wider Implications of the Unresolved Tibetan Issue

Resolving the Tibetan issue concerns not merely the rights of the Tibetan people. Rather, it concerns the future of the Tibetan Buddhist culture, which impacts both the Tibetan people and the broader international community. Tibetan Buddhist culture, which, promotes a culture of compassion that is much needed in Tibet, in China and the region as a whole. When we talk about Tibetan Buddhist culture we are not talking about the religious aspects of Tibetan Buddhism.

Specifically, China is aspiring to be a superpower but such a status cannot be achieved purely through military and economic strength. Rather, moral authority is a very important condition and this can be imparted by the Tibetan Buddhist culture.

From the geopolitical perspective, too, if the issue of Tibet is resolved, it will be a positive factor not only in the relationship between the two upcoming global powers, India and China, but also to the region as a whole. Here, I concur with Singapore's Foreign Minister, Mr George Yeo, who wrote in an article that “Tibet is part of a much larger Asian drama that is changing the world”. Certainly, on account of geo-political, strategic and environmental reasons, the situation in Tibet will have deep impact to the changing landscape in Asia.

Environmentally, the Tibetan plateau is of great importance with scientists virtually naming it as the Third Pole. Tibet is the source of many major Asian rivers. Thus, if the Tibetan environment is impacted, it affects the global environment.

There is another implication about the Tibetan issue that impacts the Chinese people themselves. Today, there is increasing awareness of the Tibetan situation among the Chinese people. This is even more evident among the intellectuals and with younger generation. Many of them have courageously called for pragmatic approach to the Tibetan issue and sees His Holiness the Dalai Lama as the key factor in helping resolve the Tibet issue. They have realized that the attitude of the Chinese Government to the issue of Tibet will have a direct bearing on China’s own future, including its domestic stability and international standing.

Some Challenges

I have no reasons to doubt the Chinese authorities repeated assertion on the Tibetan issue that the “door is open for dialogue and the negotiations”. At the same time, I cannot help but feel concerned about their sincerity and seriousness in pursuing the present process for a substantive and meaningful outcome.

It seems that a section of leadership in Beijing continues to entertain the illusion that the problems in Tibet can be solved or confronted by economic means and that the China’s global standing as a economic and political power provides them leverage both domestically and internationally to impose its arbitrary stand.

They also continue to deceive themselves with the belief that the Tibetan problem will cease to challenge them once His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama is no more with us or the issue will lose its edge due to his advanced age.

The biggest concern of the Chinese leadership is the legitimacy of its rule in Tibet. The Chinese leadership knows that only one individual, the Dalai Lama, has the capability and authority to provide that. His Holiness is aware of the People’s Republic of China's concerns and sensitivities. For this reason we have conveyed directly to the Chinese leadership, and His Holiness has also publicly stated, that he stands ready to lend his moral authority to endow an autonomy agreement, once reached, with the legitimacy it will need to gain the support of the Tibetan people and to be properly implemented.

    The Chinese Government has also been making the case that it would like everyone to respect its core issues, most importantly, the issue of sovereignty and territorial integrity of the PRC. As can be seen from the points I have made here, we respect these concerns. At the same time, we also have a core issue, namely the preservation and promotion of the distinct identity of the Tibetan people. The Chinese Government must acknowledge and respect this legitimate right of the Tibetan people and work with us accordingly.

     Fundamentally, the Tibetan issue needs to be resolved between the Tibetans and the Chinese. Just as the Chinese Government does not want a third party involvement, we Tibetans, too, feel the right way is to resolve it through talks with the Chinese leadership. At the same time the issue of Tibet is of international concern with direct bearing on the peace and stability of Asia.

It is essential for students of the Tibetan-Chinese conflict to clearly understand and appreciate the differences between the fundamental positions of our two sides. Some experts do not seem to understand this.

The Way Forward

We do not see any reason why we cannot find a common ground on the Tibetan issue if the Chinese leadership has the sincerity and the political will to move forward.

We are convinced that this could be done without rewriting the history of Tibet. This is because if we go on the path of rewriting history of Tibet it will then not only lead to complicating further some of the existing conflicts in China’s relationship with others, but even give birth to new ones. Furthermore, the Chinese leadership needs to ponder whether it should make claims on the basis of some past imperial actions and should understand the international ramification and repercussion if it continues to do so.

Today’s Chinese leaders are also talking about establishing a harmonious society. We certainly support this endeavor as we believe it will directly impact China’s policies on the Tibetan people. However, it is clear that there cannot be a harmonious society without equality among nationalities.

Tibetans, especially those who are inside Tibet, continue to face the stark reality of the absence of equality at every level. Prominent Tibetan leaders, including the Late Panchen Lama, have repeatedly voiced their concerns in this regard by saying that any talks about unity should be preceded by the presence of equality.

His Holiness the Dalai Lama has a forward-looking approach and has shown his willingness to take any initiative necessary that is in the interest of the Tibetan people, that will encourage harmony and stability in the People’s Republic of China, and that will promote peace in the region. His Holiness is committed to work with the Chinese Government so that the Tibetan people can maintain their distinctive identity, regain their pride and dignity and the stability and unity of the People’s Republic of China are ensured.

Once again, I am grateful for this opportunity to share my thoughts at this prestigious institution. (concluded)

DARJEELING ISSUE SETTLED:MAMATA

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Vol 1 No 19       Page1 June 8, 2011

We are happy with the talks: Giri

DARJEELING ISSUE SETTLED:MAMATA

“Tripartite meeting will be held in Darjeeling”

Kolkata, June 7: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said that the 15-year-old Darjeeling issue was "settled" but the GJM was mum on whether there was any decision on its original demand for a Gorkhaland state.

"Today is a historic day. Darjeeling matter has been settled today. I congratulate the people of Darjeeling for their long movement. I have also informed Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram that the Darjeeling matter has been solved and I have also told him that the agreement has been signed. It has been decided at the official level. Rest of the details will be given to you soon," said Banerjee, with GJM leaders, including its secretary general Roshan Giri by her side.

Asked about the 'magic formula' that clinched the agreement, Banerjee, who had earlier stated that she would solve the Darjeeling problem within three months, said, "It is our heart and good intention. The magic formula for reaching this agreement is development."

      "We will visit Darjeeling very soon. We want the tripartite meeting involving the central government, state government and people of Darjeeling (GJM) to be held in Darjeeling only. As soon as possible as we want to do the final agreement on the soil of Darjeeling only," she said.

Noting that Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh would announce details of the nitty gritties, she said, "I have asked him to talk to the Centre so that the agreement can be formalised at Darjeeling where I will be present."

"Today's meeting has resolved some matters regarding the issues such as territory of Dooars and Terai, reserved forest, issues of casual employees of DGHC (Darjeeling Gorkha Hill council). Overall we are happy," Giri told reporters.

However, GJM legislator and party spokesman Harka Bahadur Chhettri said his party has not gone back on its demand for Gorkhaland.

Today was the second day of the official-level talks in which Giri, four GJM MLAs, the chief secretary and Home Secretary G D Gautama, were present.

Jethmalani’s Kashmir Committee to come out with road map

L. Verma

Srinagar, June 7: Ram Jethmalani’s Kashmir Committee (KC) will prepare an extensive document about the solution of Kashmir issue which will be presented to governments of India and Pakistan besides the separatist and mainstream parties of Jammu and Kashmir.

Quoting sources, a local news agency said Jethmalani, former union minister and senior advocate considers solution of Kashmir issue as an important mission of his life and intends to come out with a solution acceptable to India, Pakistan and people of the State.

Continuing its meeting with people from different walks of life, the KC today met PCC chief Saif-u-Din Soz, Hurriyat Conference (M) leader Moulana Abbas Hussain Ansari, separatist leader Yasmina Raja, former vice chancellor of Islamic university Dr Sidiq Wahid and families of the arrested youth.

Jethmalani is also intending to get some sort of support to his mission from Pakistan. Prior to his visit to Kashmir, he had met the ruling and other parties’ leaders in Pakistan. To his plea that the Pakistani government must support his efforts, Jethmalani was told in Islamabad that his roads map can get support if it is as per the aspirations of Kashmiris.

He had recently stated that a mixture of Gen Pervez Musharraf’s four point formula, PDP’s self rule and National Conference’s autonomy proposal can lead to a peaceful and final settlement.

During their four day long stay in Valley, KC met separatist leaders including Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and Shabir Ahmad Shah besides mainstream leaders. However, JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik refused to meet the committee on the grounds that its activities were against the interests of Kashmiris.

PCC chief told the delegation that UPA government at centre is very serious for a solution of Kashmir issue and that any move by union government would get support from the state government. He viewed that for peace in south Asia, and solution of Kashmir dialogue with Pakistan is imperative.

Talks begin on new hill council in Kolkata

Himalayan News Network

Kolkata, June 7: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha and the West Bengal government on Monday took the first steps towards formation of a new hill council for Darjeeling, replacing the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council that had been formed in 1988. It is expected that a new council would pave the way for return of normality in the Hills.

A GJM delegation led by its general secretary Roshan Giri and including four MLAs of the party had a meeting with state government officials led by Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and Home Secretary G D Gautama where the details about the formation of a new council were discussed. The meeting would continue on Tuesday to thrash out the the issues that needed to be settled before a council could be formed, the Times of India reported.

Giri said the talks focused on two main issues — the territorial jurisdiction of the proposed council and the transfer of the office of land (locally called "tauji") under the jurisdiction of the council. "Today's meeting was held under a cordial atmosphere. Our points are on the way to be solved," he said. The delegation raised seven points, he said. The GJM general secretary made it clear that while they were not giving up the Gorkhaland demand, they were not pressing the issue either.

GJM wanted inclusion of areas in the Terai and the Dooars, besides the three Hills subdivsions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong. If the discussion progresses satisfactorily, the formula worked out would be taken up in a tripartite discussion at the political level in which representatives of the Centre would also be present.

The state government would have to take into account the feelings of adivasis living in the Dooars and the Terai before a deal is concluded.

The GJM has been demanding the inclusion of those areas in the Terai and the Dooars where the Gorkhas are predominant within the jurisdiction of the new set-up. “The issue of territorial jurisdiction is the most important demand at this stage”, GJM general secretary, Roshan Giri told The Hindu after the meeting.

“We have already scaled down our demand on the territorial issue. Unlike earlier times when we had been demanding the entire Dooars and Terai areas be brought within the purview of any new body being considered for the region, what we are now looking at is the inclusion of 196 mouzas in the Dooars and 106 in Terai”, senior GJM leader, Harka Bahadur Chettri, said.

Chief Secretary Samar Ghosh and were among those present at the talks.

DARJEELING’S HERITAGE

Lt. Gen. George Llyod lived in ‘Mount Pleasant’

RAJENDRA BAID

Darjeeling long recognized as “Queen of the Himalayas” can also boast of a number of historical buildings, manifestations of the British Raj’s interest in this hill station.

In 1839 there were only ten huts and a hundred people in Darjeeling. But as the British realized its potential as an ideal summer retreat and health resort, things began to move fast. The Lt. General GA Lloyd recommended that a building project be undertaken to develop Darjeeling into a home away from home, complete with snow and mist.

Lord Napier of Royal Engineers laid out architectural plans and by 1843 Darjeeling flaunted thirty grand buildings. There was ‘Mount Pleasant’ the house of Lt General Llyod, ‘Bryan Stone’ where Sir Joseph Hooker lived, ‘Oak Lodge’, ‘Vernon Lodge’ etc. the Town Hall, which now hosts the present municipality of Darjeeling, was established in 1850.

The 19th century indeed saw hectic constructional and engineering activity in Darjeeling and some of the most beautiful heritage buildings date from that era. The Renaissance philosophy and Greek-Roman architectural designs dominated, skillfully adapted to local geographic and climatic conditions.

The public works department, formed in 1862, started constructing with new zeal. Among its best achievements were the Secretariat Building, Thorn Cottage, Raj Bhavan, Kutchery, Richmondhill, Rivershill, Old Kutchery Building, The Natural History Museum, Bloom Field Barrack, Eden Hospital Louis Jubilee Sanatorium, Dowhill and Victoria School.

Many of these buildings though recognized as heritage sites are still in use.

Take for example the Bengal Secretariat Building. It is easy to locate this three-storied building west of the Bandstand on the Chowk. It was erected in 1898 and houses the following offices: Ground floor – Offices of the chief secretary to the government, under secretary of political appointment departments and secretariat library. First Floor – offices of secretary of consulting architect to government and revenue department. Second Floor – offices of secretary and under secretary of financial and municipality department.

The Thorn Cottage, built in 1868, initially formed a meeting spot for the Planters Club. Later for a while it functioned as a PWD office. It now serves as staff quarters of various government departments.(The writer is Editor of Janpath Samachar, Siliguri)

Darjeeling looks back, remembers its founder

Himalayan News Network

Darjeeling, June 7: Darjeeling on Sunday paid homage to its discoverer Lt. Gen. George W. Aylmer Lloyd for the first time ever.

None in Darjeeling remembers any organisation or an individual ever paying homage to Lloyd till date. A group of school students and members of the civil society paid homage to Lloyd on his 146th death anniversary, The Telegraph reported.

Ajay Tamang, one of the organisers of the event, said: “We had forgotten the person who discovered the place. Despite Lloyd being buried in Darjeeling, few here have cared about this gentleman. This is an effort to safeguard our history.”

Historically, Darjeeling belonged to the Sikkim king, whose area had extended till eastern Nepal. The British sent two officers, Captain Lloyd and J.W. Grant, commercial resident of Malda, to broker peace between Nepal and Sikkim in 1828.

Captain Lloyd arrived near Ghoom, also known as the Old Gurkha Station, and immensely liked Darjeeling. The British East India Company gave him the responsibility to negotiate a lease of the area with the Chogyal of Sikkim. The deed of grant giving possession of the hills of Darjeeling to the East India Company was signed on February 1, 1835.

In 1841, the East India Company granted the Sikkim monarchy an allowance of Rs 3,000 as compensation and raised the amount to Rs 6,000 in 1846. While Lloyd continued to stay in Darjeeling, Arthur Campbell was given charge to establish a sanatorium and develop the area. Campbell, the first administrator of Darjeeling under British rule, also introduced tea to the hills.

The British in 1861 annexed Darjeeling after the Sikkimese people objected to British intervention in their country.

Lloyd died here at the age of 76 in 1865 and his body was laid to rest near the old cemetery along 18, Lebong Cart Road. Although the site was declared “to be of national importance” by the ASI (Calcutta circle) under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Acts, 1958, due attention has never been given to the place.

“We would want Lloyd’s burial site to be converted into a tourist spot and more attention should be paid to make it attractive. The entire cemetery should be well persevered,” said Udayan Rai, another person who came to pay homage to Lloyd.

BHAICHUNG BHUTIA

RETURN OF THE NATIVE

Coming home to spread the sunshine

Bhaichung Bhutia has returned to his roots at 34, after 18 years on the road, to develop football in his own backyard in the foothills of the Himalayas.

Dubai: Indian football icon Bhaichung Bhutia has pledged his future to his newly founded home-town team United Sikkim with the news that he will never feature in any other club colours, an interview with the-aiff.com has confirmed.

The "Sikkimese Sniper" has returned to his roots at 34, after 18 years on the road, to develop football in his own backyard in the foothills of the Himalayas, with part-ownership of the division two minnows, Gulf News reported.

With an illustrious career which jettisoned him from his simple beginnings in Gangtok, Bhutia has paid fond adieu to his days representing East Bengal, JCT Mills, Mohun Bagan and English League Two side Bury, with this latest statement. But in the same breathe he stresses he hasn't retired from the national team.

"My playing career is committed solely to United Sikkim. I'll never play for any other Indian club. I'm getting offers but I will not move out anymore. Even if USFC doesn't qualify for next season's I-League, I won't change my mind," said Bhutia.

On his national ambitions for India, with whom he has a record 109 caps, Bhutia added: "I'm yet to reach peak fitness. The injuries have been troubling me. I will wait for some time and see how my body responds. I haven't retired as yet. Wearing the National Jersey is something I have always relished and I'm up to the challenge."

Asked what prompted his launch of USFC, Bhutia added: "The game needs to spread. Let's not forget India is a vast country and football has a huge fan following. But there are certain parts which haven't had representation as far as the I-League is concerned. I thought we should have a local team from Sikkim which should serve as a role model to others."

Tenzin Yangkyi is Miss Tibet 2011

Himalayan News Network

Dharamsala, June 7: Tenzin Yangkyi (19) was crowned as Miss Tibet-2011 on late Sunday evening here on the 10^th anniversary of the beauty pageant.  Yangkyi, a student from Zurich in Switzerland, has just completed her class-10. She was the youngest among the six competitors.

“In my opinion, Miss Tibet can help the Tibetan issue in a great many ways. Being Miss Tibet means representing Tibet, and the name itself only gets the attention of the media. The media is the ultimate way to raise Tibet's voice to the world. Specially, Miss Tibet can help raise awareness of the Tibetan issue within the youngsters,” said Yankyi.

She added, "Winning the title of Miss Tibet would draw the attention of the international media and I could use the platform thus given to highlight the freedom issue by creating more awareness about the cause."

Yangkyi, who can speak fluently in Tibetan, German and English, is interested in fashion, acting and modeling. She wants to make modeling her career.

Unlike other beauty pageants where winners get huge cash awards besides modelling assignments, the winners of the Miss Tibet contest would hardly get anything in comparison. Having gone through the anguish of forced migration and of living in exile, it was the sheer determination of raising the Tibet issue on the international platform which made these six girls enter the contest.

One of the contestants, Ngodup Dolma, a nurse working in Australia said she escaped from Tibet when she was 8. She passed through the Himalayas on foot. Recalling her escape Dolma said, "My sister and I accompanied by 25 other monks used to take shelter under rocks during the day and we walked only at night." She said time has come for Tibetan women to make their voice stronger and speak for Tibet's cause through such events.

Another participant, Tenzin Khecheo from Minnesota, US, a college student said that elders from the exiled community are opposed to the idea of holding beauty pageants but they are still participating for the cause of their motherland.

The three other contestants are Chemi Lhazom (Delhi), Tenzin Sangmo (Dharamsala) and Dolma Tsering (Bangalore).

The 3 rounds of contest that includes a swimwear round on June 3, talent round on June 4 and finale night on June 5.

When the first ever Miss Tibet pageant was held here in 2002 it instantly became a hit with media from all over converging on this north Indian hill town to get the ‘interesting’ story.

Only 32 girls have competed for the crown since it was first started in 2002 by Lobsang who drew criticism from some sections within the Tibetan society including the Tibetan prime minister Samdhong Rinpoche who said the pageant was ‘un-Tibetan’ and ‘against Buddhist principles’.

"We want to convey the message to the community that beauty pageants are not going to ruin our traditional culture but such events are the need of the hour for highlighting the issue," she said.

INDEFINITE FAST FROM JUNE 4

SIKKIM OBSERVER   Vol 20 No 14 Page 1  June 4 2011

INDEFINITE FAST FROM JUNE 4

Ramadev all set to lead nationwide anti-corruption campaign

Observer News Service

New Delhi, June 3: Pulling out all stops to convince Baba Ramdev not to go ahead with his proposed fast from June 4 to demand an end to corruption and black money, senior ministers are meeting him again even as the yoga guru stood his ground. On Tuesday, the government took the unusual step of deputing four senior ministers — Pranab Mukherjee, Kapil Sibal, PK Bansal and Subodh Kant Sahay — as well as cabinet secretary KM Chandrashekhar to talk to Ramdev at the Delhi airport on his arrival from Ujjain in a chartered plane.

The gesture went beyond the niceties accorded to visiting heads of state and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh reportedly asked Sahay to cut short his foreign trip and use his personal equation with Ramdev to urge him to call off his agitation which, the government fears, could slip into the BJP-RSS’s hands.

Although Ramdev is still planning to go ahead with his fast, sources hinted that the talks were moving in the right direction, with the government assuring him that it is taking a series of steps to unearth unaccounted wealth, which have started yielding results.

There were, however, discordant voices within the Congress over the developments. “Fasts cannot end corruption in the country,” said party general secretary Digvijaya Singh. Other party leaders, who were not willing to be quoted, appeared unhappy with the government’s overdrive to placate the yoga guru.

Ramdev, who earlier in the day did a volte-face on his statement that the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India should be kept out of the Lokpal’s purview, also told reporters his first round of talks with the government was positive and the dialogue would continue.

"But we will not be satisfied with dialogue or assurances. There should be evidence of bringing back black money from tax havens,” Ramdev said after meeting the ministers.

"Till there is 100% agreement on all issues and a decisive stage is reached, the fast will go on,” Ramdev added. “It is a big war. We have to change the system of 64 years. It is not an easy task. But we will get it done.”

Meanwhile, a 2.5 lakh square metre waterproof marquee has been erected, massive cut-outs of Baba Ramdev have been put in place, and thousands of his followers have reached the site. Ramlila ground -- the venue for the yoga guru's proposed hunger strike -- is bustling with activity even before the fast begins on June 4.

The yoga guru says his fast is to protest against the illegal funnelling of wealth abroad by Indians for tax avoidance.

The move follows April's hunger strike by activist Anna Hazare demanding tough anti-corruption laws.

Anna Hazare ended a 96-hour hunger strike, known as the "fast unto death", after the government agreed to all of his demands and forced the government to change the way its new anti-corruption law was being drawn up.

"India's money stashed abroad should be declared the wealth of the nation. And the act of stashing away illegally-got money in foreign banks should be declared a crime against the state," Baba Ramdev told Tehelka magazine in a recent interview.

"The nation's wealth stashed in foreign banks should be brought back by India which should sign on to the UN convention against corruption."

Dalai Lama hands over power to elected leaders

Observer News Service

Dharamsala, June 3: Nearly three months after he pledged to give up political leadership of the Tibetans, the Dalai Lama has formally devolved powers to the new elected leaders of the Tibetan exiles.

But the 75-year-old Nobel Prize winner said he would stay committed to the cause of Tibet — and also remain the Tibetans’ spiritual head.

A Tibetan official said the Dalai Lama on Sunday approved the amendments the Tibetan parliament had made in the Tibetan charter, IANS reported.

“Now Dalai Lama’s administrative and political powers are vested with the democratically elected leaders,” spokesman Tenzin Norbu said.

The Dalai Lama vested the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and its elected leadership with the powers and responsibilities formerly held by him and the CTA.

It was on May 10 that the Dalai Lama, the global face of the Tibetan exile movement, shocked many by announcing that he would hand over power to the elected leadership.

According to the amended charter, the powers earlier vested with the Dalai Lama, who fled to India in 1959, as head of the executive have been delegated to the Kalon Tripa or the Tibetan prime minister.

Other responsibilities have been given to parliament and the judiciary.

Parliament has also approved that the title of “Tibetan government-in-exile” be changed to “Tibetan administration.”

Under the new charter, the Dalai Lama’s duties will include providing advice and encouragement with respect to the protection and promotion of the physical, spiritual, ethical and cultural well being of the Tibetan people. He will also remain engaged in the efforts to reach a satisfactory solution to the Tibetan issue.

D N Nepal’s Shangrila Times faces discrimination

Sikkim Liberation Party leader may seek political asylum

Observer News Service

Gangtok, June 3: Duk Nath Nepal, Convenor of the newly-formed Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP), has hinted that he may seek asylum if his fundamental constitutional rights are further deprived by the State Government.

Though what prompted him to resort to this likely step stems from the “unconstitutional” and discriminatory manner in which his Nepali daily, Shangrila Times, was suddenly deprived of government advertisements recently, Nepal has been facing suppression of various forms in the State in the past two decades.

In a letter to State Chief Secretary NDChingapa, Nepal has given a detailed story of how his democratic and constitutional rights have been curtailed in Sikkim by the government.

Nepal was not only “illegally” locked up in jail for 25 days and subsequently taken to “the court barefooted and produced before the judge in handcuff like a hardcore criminal” during the Bhandari regime in 1991 for writing the truth in one of his publications, even during the present Chamling rule he has been faced several instances of economic suppression.

After spending several years in different political parties, including Congress, BJP and CPIM, Nepal finally got down to his chosen profession – journalism – which he has been neglecting while being a political activist. In 2006, he took a bank loan and started his Nepali daily, Shangrila Times.

In his letter he mentions that though his paper has been empanelled with the Information and Public Relations Department (IPR) for receiving government advertisements his paper has been unjustly discriminated against. This has caused a lot of financial constraint as he not only has to pay salaries to his 16 employees but also bank loans.

Unfortunately from Jan 2011 the IPR “without any information and reason… cur-

tailed my rights to get advertisements illegally and unconstitutionally,” Nepal has stated in the letter.

These developments have led Nepal to seriously think of leaving the State and seeking asylum elsewhere.

“In my 46 years of life I never got a single second where I enjoyed the fruit of

democracy promised to my forefather’s by the union of India. It is serious concern that as the head of the state if you are not in a position to protect the fundamental and civil rights of its citizens enshrined by the constitution, I am ready to say a quit and leave the state.”

  In his letter to the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister, Nepal has alleged that if his basic and fundamental rights are not protected by the government he is ready to seek political asylum elsewhere.

Quoting the Universal Declaration Act of 1951, Nepal said Article 14 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights stated that "Everyone has the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution."

SC reserves verdict on Dinakaran after marathon hearing

Observer News Service

New Delhi, June 3: The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved its verdict on Sikkim high court Chief Justice P.D. Dinakaran’s petition questioning the impeachment inquiry committee’s decision to “broaden” the ambit of investigation beyond the impeachment motion notice against him.

After a marathon hearing stretching several days on several important questions relating to the role of judges, their appointment and removal procedures as laid down in the Constitution and the Judges Inquiry Act, a bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and C.K. Prasad reserved the judgment.

Two senior advocates — B.P. Patil and Amarendra Sharan — appearing for Justice Dinakaran, took serious objection to Tuesday’s intervention by government law officer P.P. Malhotra in the case and defending the inquiry panel’s order to investigate the matter further.

While explaining that the impeachment motion was an issue between Parliament and the judge under probe, Sharan asked where was the need for the Centre to intervene when the matter was still before the inquiry committee.

Rejecting the contention that the committee was empowered to conduct a preliminary probe before the framing of charges, Patil said having regard to the scheme of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, definite charges could be framed only on the basis of the charges contained in the motion.

He pointed out that the committee could not add or substitute any material for the framing of charges as it had no jurisdiction to do so.

In the present case, it was admitted that enquiry was conducted prior to the framing of charges by taking evidence.

Additional solicitor-general P.P. Malhotra on Tuesday had justified the order of the three-member inquiry committee, headed by Supreme Court Justice Aftab Alam, framing 14 charges against Justice Dinakaran while the impeachment motion notice issued to him contained only 12 charges.

Gurung & Co hold talks with central leaders before June 6 meet in Kolkata

Observer News Service

New Delhi, June 3: Union Ministers, Pranab Mukherjee and P. Chidambaram, have asked the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leadership to work with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to find an amicable solution to the hills problem.

Morcha delegation led by its chief Bimal Gurung met Mukherjee and Chidambaram yesterday to hold talks with the Centre before its meeting with officials of the West Bengal Government on June 6.

The meeting with central leaders was crucial to elicit their views before the June 6 meet, Morcha leaders said.

Resumption of the tripartite meeting would now depend on the outcome of the meeting in Kolkata next week.

Gurung was accompanied by Morcha General Secretary Roshan Gurung, the three newly-elected members of the party in the Assembly – Harka Bahadur Chhetri, Trilok Dewan and Rohit Sharma – and study forum members – L B Pariyar and P. Arjun.

WWF to organize two-day conservation drive in Lachen, Gurudongmar

P. Rai

Gangtok, June 3: WWF-India will hold a two-day environment conservation drive in Lachen in north Sikkim on June 4 and 5 as part of its annual World Environment Day celebrations.

The garbage cleaning drive in Lachen on June 4 will be followed by a second drive at the famous Gurudongmar lake further north, located at an altitude of about 17,000 feet above sea level.

This project will be a part of the High Altitude Wetlands Conservation Project in Sikkim of the WWF in India.

The drive will be carried out by WWF-India Khangchendzonga Landscape Programme in association with Lachen Tourism Development Committee.

The Lachen Dzomsa (Assembly of the People), members of the local community along with school students will take part in the two-day programme, informed sources said.

WWF-India has been working towards biodiversity conservation through participation of the local communities in the State for more than ten years.

One of its main priorities has been the conservation of myriad high altitude wetlands in the State, fragile environments providing multiple benefits, including water security, refuge for wildlife and tourist attractions.

Following a successful conservation model in Tsomgo in east Sikkim with conservation issues monitored by the Pokhari Sanrakshan Samity, focus has also been given to Lake Gurudongmar, one of the highest lakes in the world and a major tourist destination and pilgrimage centre in Sikkim.

 Conservation plans have been worked out in collaboration with local governance institutions like the Lachen Dzumsa, organizations like the Lachen Tourism Development Committee to ensure effective protection to the fragile high altitude environment of the lake while continuing sustainable tourism practices.

 It is hoped that these drives will generate major awareness regarding sustainable management of waste in two of the major tourist attractions in the State where huge number of both domestic and international tourists arrive each year. 

Editorial

ACTIVIST VS ESTABLISHMENT

India Against Corruption

The meeting between ministers and civil society leaders on the Lokpal Bill ended on May 31 on a bitter note, with activists accusing the government of not being serious about fighting corruption. In its website (India Against Corruption) civil society members of the joint drafting committee of the Bill said the government's intentions were suspect and people should be prepared to taking to the streets. Noted yoga guru Baba Ramadev, who supports a strong Bill to check corruption, is all set to lead a countrywide anti-corruption rally on June 4.

Anti-corruption crusader Arvind Kejriwal has rightly and very sternly pointed out to representatives of the government in the drafting panel that it was unacceptable that the government now wanted the prime minister, judiciary, MPs as well as officers below the rank of joint secretaries out of the purview of the proposed Lokpal.

Kejriwal wanted to know – most citizens of the country also want to know – if this official proposal enjoyed the backing of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has written to Baba Ramdev asking him not to go ahead with his hunger strike from June 4, promising to find with him "pragmatic" solution to tackle the scourge of corruption. However, Ramdev made it cear that he was not calling off his agitation plan till all the demands were met. Social activist Anna Hazare has claimed that conspiracies were being hatched against Lok Pal bill to curb graft and urged people to be ready to agitate to save the proposed legislation.

The Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre needs to sit up and take note of the people’s readiness to take to the streets to agitate against corruption in high places. The fight against corruption is not going to be a 100 metre dash but a never ending marathon.

We will fight against corruption together, Hazare tells Ramadev

Observer News Service

New Delhi, June 3: Noted social activist Anna Hazare on Thursday decided to associate himself with Baba Ramdev's hunger strike with a warning to the yoga guru that he should not be swayed by the overtures made by the government saying it plays "fraud" by first agreeing to demands and then backing out.

Hazare, who rattled the government in April through his fast for a stronger Lokpal that generated widespread nationwide support, said all those fighting against corruption should not be satisfied with the oral assurances of the government.

Hazare said he would join Ramdev at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi, where he is to sit on a fast-unto-death protest, on Sunday, emphasising that there was no divide in the civil society on the issue of corruption.

"I will support Ramdev so that the government does not do what it did when we were fighting. We will fight together against corruption," he said.

Referring to the question of bringing Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal, which Hazare claimed the government had agreed to earlier but now disfavours.

Claiming that the government has "cheated" activists on the issue of Lokpal and people have realised the "betrayal" by the government, Hazare said, "it is a fraud if the government agrees on certain issues and say the Prime Minister will be accountable under Lokpal and later backs out."

"Baba Ramdev has been raising the issue of black money from so many days. Why did the government not think of doing something on the issue? People have now come to know what the intentions of the government are.

"Now no more hollow assurances and oral promises. What we want is action and the fight against corruption will continue throughout the country till we get what we want," he said.

TIBET-CHINA DIALOGUE - I

The Demand for Genuine Autonomy for Tibet

The statement of Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, on the present status of dialogue between the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government delivered at the Institute of South Asian Studies, Singapore, November 24, 2010.

I would like to thank the Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) for providing this opportunity to share my thoughts on the status of our discussions with the Chinese government in finding a political solution to the issue of Tibet and the possible way forward.

Today, our talks with the Chinese leadership have reached a stage where, for the first time after decades of being in and out of contact, we have been able to convey to them in an unambiguous manner the position of His Holiness the Dalai Lama in seeking a solution within the framework of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), and the steps that need to be taken to resolve the Tibetan problem. Although we are yet to see any concrete outcome leading to a solution, our talks have certainly enabled the two sides to have a better understanding of each other’s position and concerns.

In order to put our dialogue process with the Chinese leadership in context, I would like to explain its historical development. Broadly, we can categorize the dialogue process into three phases since the process began in 1979:

Initial Contact (1979 – 1985)

The first phase started with the establishment of contact in 1979, when the then Chinese leader, Mr. Deng Xiaoping, conveyed a message to His Holiness the Dalai Lama (through Mr. Gyalo Thondup, his elder brother) that except for the issue of Tibetan independence, all other issues could be discussed and resolved.

Subsequently, two high level Tibetan delegations were sent to Beijing for exploratory talks in 1982 and 1984 respectively. I was a member of both the delegations. We had wide-ranging discussions with the Chinese leadership. One of the issues that we had clarified then was the fact that the Tibetan problem is not about the future and personal wellbeing of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, but that it is about the welfare of the six million Tibetans.

Simultaneously, four fact-finding delegations were sent by His Holiness to study the conditions in different parts of Tibet from 1979 to 1985.

During this phase of the dialogue process, the Tibetan delegations met with senior Chinese leaders, including Mr. Deng Xiaoping and other politburo members.

Tibetan Initiatives and Developments in Tibet (1985 – 1993)

The second phase of our dialogue process occurred between 1985 and 1993. There were infrequent visits by emissaries of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to China during this period.

As an effort to encourage the beginning of serious talks on the issue of Tibet, in September 1987 His Holiness presented his Five-Point Peace Plan, his vision for a way forward on Tibet, in an address to the US Congressional Human Rights Caucus in Washington D.C. Thereafter, in June 1988, His Holiness elaborated on the fifth point (calling for earnest negotiations on Tibet) of his Five-Point Peace Plan, in an address at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The essential characteristics of this proposal were that Tibetans would enjoy self-governance in their internal affairs, with Beijing maintaining overall responsibility in matters of foreign affairs and defence.

Thereafter, the Chinese government publicly agreed to meet His Holiness’ representatives to discuss issues any time at a venue of his choice. His Holiness responded positively and immediately to this indicating his sincerity and determination to engage in dialogue. He appointed a negotiation team and proposed that the talks be held in Geneva.  Unfortunately, Beijing responded negatively to this by raising procedural issues, despite clarifications from the Tibetan side. His Holiness’ subsequent proposal for our two sides to meet in Hong Kong in April of that year was also rejected.

September 1987 saw the beginning of a series of massive demonstrations by Tibetans in Tibet expressing their grievances against Chinese policies. The PRC authorities resorted to brutal crackdown on the Tibetans, imprisoning hundreds and declaring martial law in Tibet in 1989. The Chinese Government’s attitude spoiled the atmosphere for the dialogue process during this period.

Meanwhile, as an indication of the international community’s recognition of his peaceful efforts, His Holiness the Dalai Lama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989. China responded negatively to this honoring of His Holiness.

Eventually, contacts between our two sides broke off in August 1993.

Re-establishment of the dialogue process (2002 onwards)

After several years of intense and active informal and behind the scene contacts, our two sides agreed to resume formal direct contact and the first round in this process took place in September 2002. This process can be categorized as the third phase. This phase has become more institutionalized with meetings being more business like. Since 2002, nine rounds of talks and one informal session have been held. The most recent round, the Ninth Round, took place in January 2010. I have been leading the Tibetan side in all these deliberations.

During these rounds we have been able to present and clarify His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s position on the future of Tibet. Our talks eventually developed to a stage where we formally presented a Memorandum on Genuine Autonomy for the Tibetan People during the Eighth Round in November 2008.

Our Memorandum puts forth our position on genuine autonomy and how the specific needs of the Tibetan nationality for autonomy and self- government can be met through application of the principles on autonomy of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of China, as we understand them. It outlined 11 basic needs of the Tibetan people, which are provided for in the PRC’s Constitution and Law on Regional National Autonomy.

Since the Chinese leadership had several concerns relating to the Memorandum, which they rejected as being unconstitutional, we presented a Note to the Memorandum during the Ninth Round in January this year. This Note addressed the concerns and offered some constructive suggestions for a way forward in our dialogue process. The Note was also intended to prevent misinterpretation and misconception by the general public about His Holiness’ position.

We emphasized that His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s sole concern is the wellbeing of the Tibetan people. His Holiness has never raised any issue relating to his personal wellbeing or the welfare of the people around him. Our position is that most of the Tibetan people are being severely marginalized and that they do not enjoy satisfactory religious, political, economic, language and cultural, and social rights. The widespread peaceful demonstrations throughout Tibet, starting from March 10, 2008, once again clearly indicated the people’s dissatisfaction with the Chinese policies. Majority of these peaceful demonstrations took place outside of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR). Just last month, from October 19, there were series of peaceful rallies against the proposed replacement of Tibetan language by Chinese as the medium of instruction in schools. This is but the latest indication of Tibetan grievances.

The Chinese Government, however, contends that the Tibetan people are in a happy and satisfactory situation, and that there is no Tibetan issue.

In the light of these two differing perspectives, we suggested that there be a study by the two sides to determine the conditions of the Tibetan people. The Tibetan people should have the opportunity to participate in this study without fear or suspicion. If the outcome of this study is that most of the Tibetans feel there is no problem and their present situation is satisfactory, this is what His Holiness the Dalai Lama is calling for. But if the outcome confirms that most of the Tibetan people are not in a satisfactory situation, the Chinese government then needs to recognize that there is a problem and, in the spirit of seeking truth from facts, our two sides need to discuss and find a solution.

Also, during the informal session in Shenzhen in May 2008, we rejected the Chinese charge that His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan leadership in exile have instigated the demonstrations throughout the Tibetan areas since March 10, 2008.

Since we find that the same allegations are being repeated, we asked the Chinese Government to clarify and invited it to undertake a thorough scientific investigation, in Tibet as well as in the Tibetan community in exile, into the veracity of their charge. We stated our readiness to extend every support to such an investigation.

Some Important Issues Raised by the Chinese Side

During our most recent round, the Chinese side provided us with a detailed briefing on developments relating to Tibet, particularly on the Fifth Tibet Work Forum, held from January 18 to 20, 2010. They said the Forum decided to further improve the livelihood of Tibetans in the Tibet Autonomous Region and all Tibetan areas, specifically in public services, such as education, medical services, and environmental protection. Based on the initial reports that we had of the Forum, we welcomed the decision to improve the lives of the Tibetan people, especially in rural areas.

We especially welcomed the fact that the Fifth Tibet Work Forum has looked into the issues of development in all Tibetan areas –The Tibet Autonomous Region as well as other Tibetan areas. It is our strong belief that all the Tibetan areas must be under a uniform policy and a single administration. If we take away the political slogans, many of the issues that have been prioritized by the Forum are similar to the basic needs of the Tibetan people outlined in our Memorandum. However, recent indications are that instead of having a positive uniform policy for all Tibetan areas, there is effort to extend the stringent measurements already in place in the Tibet Autonomous Region to all other Tibetan areas. This is a counterproductive measure and the Chinese authorities need to realize this.(to be continued)