HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN July 18, 2012
Mamata Banerjee lighting a lamp at the Bhanu Jayanti
function in Kalimpong on Friday.
Mamata attends Bhanu Bhakta function, reaches out to people
“I have not come here to do
politics. I want Darjeeling to prosper"
Kalimpong, July 17: Reaching out to the people of Darjeeling, West Bengal Chief Minister
Mamata Banerjee on Friday made it to the function organized to celebrate the
198th birth anniversary of Nepali poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya.
Speaking at the function,
Mamata made it very clear that she had not come to campaign for her party for
the ensuing Gorkhaland Territorial Administration elections but to urge the
people to work for development of Darjeeling.
“I have not come here to do
politics. I want Darjeeling to prosper."
The chief minister said that
though she was a busy person, "yet I will come here again and again for
the development of the hills."
She said, "We will be
happy if you are happy. Bengal cannot be happy without Darjeeling. We want both
Darjeeling and junglemahal to smile."
Later, Mamata had a meeting
with Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) President Bimal Gurung at Orchid House in
Kalimpong.
Gurung said, "We'll run
the Gorkha Territorial Administration well to bring in development in
Darjeeling hills."
"Our friendship with
Trinamool Congress will remain all the same though we'll contest in a few seats
during GTA polls. We are happy that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has come to
visit various places in Darjeeling again," he said.
As the Morcha secured an
absolute majority in the proposed GTA, Mamata stressed on peace and democracy
in the region.
She also called for unity
between the people residing in the state's hills and plains.
"Without Darjeeling,
West Bengal cannot remain in peace. It is easy to politicise and divide and
rule, but not easy to unite," the chief minister said.
‘Black-listed’ Kazi finally gets recognition, appeals for
Press freedom
“India must live
up to the expectations of the Sikkimese people”
Gangtok, July 17: Journalist-cum-writer Jigme N Kazi was today honoured with this year’s
‘Khangchendzonga Kalam Puraskar’ award by the Press Club of Sikkim.
Kazi, editor of Sikkim Observer and Himalayan Guardian, was
conferred the award for his “outstanding contribution and dedication made
during last three decades in the field of journalism,” according to Press Club
Working President Vishnu Neopaney’s letter to Kazi informing of the Press
Club’s “unanimous decision” to confer the award on its decadal foundation year.
The “Most Promising
Journalist” award went to Bishal Gurung while Mohan Lama, Darjeeling
correspondent of Sikkim’s Samai Dainik,
was also felicitated by the Press Club. Gurung is the State correspondent of Hindustan Samachar news agency.
Theatre activist and senior
journalist CK Shrestha of Kalimpong, who was the Chief Guest for the occasion, urged
the media in the State to remain united in “thought” and side with the people
in all situation. “Merely reporting will not do. You must tell the truth,”
Shrestha said.
While IPR Secretary KS Tobgay
assured the Press that the government would positively look into all the
problems faced the media in the State, Press Club advisor CD Rai, who was the
chairman of the function, said Kazi not only deserved the award but his
writings were “balanced.”
While urging the media to
remain strong, free, united and independent, Kazi called on the people,
including the authorities, to respect and respond positively to the urges of
the media to remain free and
independent.
“I believe that by conferring this award to this long-time
black-listed man, who is forced to live in self-imposed exile in his own
homeland, the Press in Sikkim is sending a clear message to those who care to
listen. And that message is loud and clear: the Press in Sikkim wants to be
more free and independent and those in power and the people at large should
take note and respect this stand,” Kazi said in his acceptance speech.
Kazi, who
has authored two books, “Inside Sikkim:
Against the Tide,” and “Sikkim for
Sikkimese”, also appealed to the
Centre not to ignore the “hopes and aspirations” of the Sikkimese people and
honour the terms of Sikkim’s ‘merger’.
“Even if
our political leadership has failed us time and again, India must live up to
the expectations of the Sikkimese people. If it continues to ignore the hopes
and aspirations of those who sacrificed their country so that this nation may
live in peace and security there may come a day when Sikkim will become a
hot-bed of international politics,” Kazi warned.
KALIMPONG HERITAGE HOMES Himalayan
Hotel
History
The house that is now the
Himalayan Hotel Kalimpong, was the family home of David Macdonald. Macdonald
was posted to Tibet as a British Trade Agent, serving in Yatung and Gyantse IN
THE Chumbi Valley until his retirement in 1924.
Macdonald assisted the 13th
Dalai Lama's escape from Tibet in 1910, and he was later invited to Lhasa in
1921. Prior to his retirement he served briefly as Britain's Political Officer
in Sikkim, in charge of Britain's relations with Tibet, Bhutan and Sikkim.
After his retirement, Macdonald shifted to this house and rented part of it as
a hotel. The Himalayan Hotel still remains the residence of the Macdonald
family.
Arunachal media may demand CBI probe on
scribe assault
Itanagar,
July 17: The
Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists
(APUWJ) has unanimously resolved to shut down all media houses in the State
today in protest against the attack on Arunachal
Time’s Associate Editor Tongam Rina.
Condemning
Sunday’s incident as an attack on the press fraternity, a meeting of the APC
and APUWJ also decided to boycott news and advertisements of the State Government
for 15 days, which would be reviewed if the culprits were not arrested.
The
organizations demanded that the State Government book the culprits under
non-bailable section within 7 days and the case be fast-tracked through a
special court to award exemplary punishment or else hand over the case to CBI
forthwith.
The
members also resolved to send a delegation to New Delhi and Guwahati to stage
protest and to highlight the repeated atrocities being committed on the press
fraternity.
Unidentified
gunmen had yesterday shot at and critically injured an associate editor when
she was entering office.
The Dalai Lama shares a light moment with
some of the elders of the Tibetan Muslim community during his visit to the
Tibetan Public School in Srinagar, J&K,
on July 14. (Photo/OHDDL/Tenzin Choejor
Pro-federal forces to hit streets if no consensus on
federal structure: Mahato
Kathmandu, July 17: An
all-party meeting organised by Sadbhavana Party held here last weekend
concluded that only a new constitution, and not a change of guard as sought by
opposition parties, could resolve the present political deadlock.
The meeting agreed that if political parties failed to forge
consensus on unsettled issues of the constitution, they should agree to
incorporate the agreed agendas and leave the issue of the 10-Pradesh model
proposed by the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) to the new Constituent
Assembly.
Reading out the recommendation endorsed by the two-day
'mini-Parliament' convened here, Sadbhavana Party Chairman Rajendra Mahato said,
"After political parties reach consensus on the contentious issues of
federal structure, the constitution can be promulgated through reinstatement of
the Constituent Assembly for a brief period".
This recommendation comes at a time when some opposition
leaders are demanding that the issue of single ethnic identity based federal
structure be settled through referendum.
The meeting concluded that the SRC proposed 10-Pradesh model
could be approved or some minor amendments could be made to the proposal.
“A new constitution should be promulgated only through CA,
not any commission and the constitution should guarantee identity based
federalism,” read the declaration issued at the end of the two-day gathering.
In case political parties cannot agree to reinstate the
Parliament, fresh election must be conducted to resume the task of drafting the
constitution, Mahato said.
If no solution can be reached through dialogue and
discussion then all pro-federal forces and republican forces should come to the
street forming a joint front among Madhesis, Dalits, indigenous and ethnic
communities for the cause of promulgating the constitution with ethnic identity
based federal structure, Mahato said.
The meeting was attended by various political leaders,
including Maoist chief Prachanda.
3500 MW Indo-Bhutan hydropower projects to begin in
Bhutan soon
Thimphu, July 17: Works
for several new hydropower projects of total 3500 MW capacity under Indo-Bhutan
joint initiative is set to begin within next one year. The project would not
only offer significant financial benefit to Bhutan, it will brighten India's
power profile to a great extent, as well.
The most important one in this list of projects is Sankosh.
Though downsized recently by the Empowered Joint Group (EJG) of high government
officials of Bhutan and India to a 2560 MW from its earlier planned capacity of
4050MW, this is still the single largest power project in Bhutan, The Economic Times reported.
According to Economic Affairs Minister of Bhutan K Wangchuk,
pre-construction infrastructure works, including building access bridges and
roads, are to start in August 2012 in both sides of the border by respective government
agencies. Construction of main work, including the dam and power house, is
likely to begin in 2013.
Though initially planned to be a joint venture with its 51%
owned by Indian PSUs and rest with Bhutan's Government owned hydropower agency
Druk Green Power Corporation, the $110 billion project has been remodeled to be
established under a different inter governmental model in which India will
provide entire funding.
However, agreements pertaining many facets of the project,
including tax and duty exemptions, funding process, Indian PSUs participation
etc, are likely to get signed by end July.
Beside Sankosh, works for four other hydropower projects in
the list, including Kholongchhu (600MW), Chamkharchhu (770MW), Bunakha (180MW)
and Wangchhu (570MW), are expected to start by this year.
Bhutan is committed to develop 10,000MW new power generation
capacity dedicated for India by 2020. And, "India is also keen on
utilizing Bhutan's untapped hydropower potential," said India's Union
power Minister S K Shinde.
Dalai Lama visits JK after 25 years
Srinagar, July 17: The
Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama is presently on a weeklong
visit to the State, which comes after a gap of 25 years.
Hundreds turned up for a glimpse of the Buddhist spiritual
leader here last week when he arrived. The reception, organized by the Tibetan Muslims,
was in Srinagar’s old city.
The old city’s Sangeen Darwaza is home to around 200 Tibetan
families of Kashmiri ancestry, with dozens more living in adjoining localities.
They say they are the children of Tibetan women and Kashmiri traders who had
settled in Tibet seven centuries ago.
They have surnames like Qazi, Sheikh, Bhat, Wani and Tramboo
but their features resemble those of the Tserings and Lamas of Ladakh. What
distinguishes them from other Tibetans is their religion.
They are Muslims, who had fled Tibet during a Chinese
crackdown in 1959. But what they share with Buddhist Tibetans is their love for
the Dalai Lama. It is they who played the host.
“His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, is our king, our leader. We
all love him. That is why we are here,” said Masood Bhat, a Tibetan Muslim
volunteer who had joined dozens of others to organise the programme at Tibetan
Public School.
“It is not just Tibetan Muslims who are here. As you can
see, a majority of students in this school are Kashmiris and they, along with
their parents and others in our locality, are here.”
The participants, including girls in colourful clothes but
in purdah and elderly women in traditional Tibetan Chuba dresses, lined up to
receive the Dalai Lama along with chief minister Omar Abdullah and other
dignitaries.
“We should all strive to create a harmonious society where
we will care for each other,” the Dalai Lama said. He later visited a mosque
built by Tibetan Muslims, and joined the prayers.
Nasir Qazi, the chairperson of the school management
committee, said they offered him Kashmiri wazwaan, Ladakhi momos and other
dishes.
“He relished the food,” Qazi, whose office has a portrait of
the Dalai Lama, said. “But more important, he loved the way we spoke fluent
Tibetan.”
The last time the Buddhist spiritual leader had visited
Srinagar was in 1988.
Editorial
TIBET-J&K-SIKKIM
Demand For Special Status
Historically, Tibet, the former Himalayan Kingdom of Sikkim
and the State of Jammu and Kashimir share much in common. Today, it is not only
religion and culture that binds the peoples of these areas but a shared sense
of having a special status within China and India. Legally, while Jammu and
Kashmir’s special status comes under Article 370 of the Constitution, Article
371F protects Sikkim. China’s constitution also guarantees autonomy for the
Tibet region of Kham, Amdo and Utsang. However, in reality these three
provinces in the Himalayan region do not enjoy the special status provided to
them. Despite the Dalai Lama’s insistence that he wants ‘genuine autonomy’ for
Tibet under China Beijing continues to label the Tibetan spiritual leader a ‘splittist.’
Only very recently BJP leader Arun Jaitley pointed out that
that the “special status to J&K was a historical blunder” and even
threatened to launch a movement if the Centre accepts the report of its
interlocutors pertaining to “special status” for Jammu and Kashmir under
Article 370. Jaitley, the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, blamed
Jawarharlal Nehru for incorporating Article 370 in the Constitution. Though
there has not been such a threat on Sikkim the gradual dilution of its distinct
identity within the Union has been resented by the Sikkimese and the Centre is
not paying any heed to it. As in Tibet, the influx of non-ethnic groups in Sikkim
has threatened the survival of bonafide Sikkimese, including Sikkimese Nepalese,
who were subjects of the Chogyal. Beijing and New Delhi, it they wish to come
closer, must address the grievances of those living in the border region of the
two countries.
IB and RAW role in Karmapa Controversy
Divergent views on funds
controversy reflect conflict of interest
The lack of coordination and
divergence of views between the two principal intelligence agencies, IB and
R&AW, has never been felt more acutely than in the way New Delhi plays out
its Tibet and China policies.
Early last year a jeep was
intercepted by the Himachal Pradesh police coming in from Punjab. On inspection
the police found cash worth Rs1 crore stacked in bundles. As investigations
progressed, the links led to the 17th Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje (UTD), who
has been in India ever since his dramatic escape from China many years ago.
Soon after an FIR was registered, officers from the IB and R&AW were called
in to do their discreet inquiries and give their assessment to the government.
What was not stated, but
known was that while R&AW was keen to maintain a good equation with the UTD
faction, the IB was pushing for a rival Tibetan faction, headed by Trinley
Thaye Dorje (TTD). The seeds of disarray had already been sown.
As expected, both agencies
came up with diametrically differing views. R&AW argued, and with
considerable merit, that the UTD faction of the Tibetan diaspora was the most
powerful and influential of factions. The TTD was virtually unknown in the
Tibetan diaspora.
Their assessment was that the
cash that was discovered was a routine development among the Tibetans residing
in India who did not have any other means to conclude their land deals. The IB
sent across a detailed note claiming that the cash had come in from China
through intermediaries in Hong Kong and was being used by the Karmapa to fund
espionage activities against the Tibetan-government-in-exile in Dharmashala.
Matters came to a head when
the Karmapa, who was named as an accused in the case, filed an application
stating that his name be dropped from the case as he did not have anything to
do with the cash. But the IB, backed by the union Ministry of Home Affairs,
stuck to its guns while R&AW was left to fight a solitary battle in the
meetings of the National Intelligence Board (NIB). The NIB is the apex
intelligence sharing mechanism in India’s security architecture with the IB,
R&AW chiefs sharing the table with the National Security Adviser (NSA), the
foreign secretary and the home secretary.
The IB felt that the Karmapa
and his affiliates had created a maze of organisations that did not have
clearance to receive funds from abroad. The IB argued that the Karmapa had
created two organisations, the Saraswati Charitable trust and the KGT since
2003, concealing the Tibetan identities of its trustees.
The R&AW disagreed in its
assessment. They pointed out that the Chinese currency stacks found in the
subsequent raids were genuine donations from Tibetans living under Chinese
occupation. They argued that had it been funds for espionage activities then
they would have sent the money in Indian currency and not left such a huge trail
pointing back to the Chinese.
Instead, R&AW argued that
New Delhi needed to engage the Karmapa and the UTD more actively to retain its
influence over the Tibetan diaspora and continue to act as leverage in all
negotiations with the Chinese.
Faced with such divergent
views, the government held a series of meetings in February and July this year
to resolve the issue. It agreed that both factions, the UTD and the TTD would
get equal play from the government. It was agreed that both religious leaders
would be allowed to travel abroad and be given equal assistance from Indian
missions abroad. However, the bulk of the decisions would be held in abeyance,
held hostage to the factional fights between IB and R&AW. (DNA)