HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN Wednesday
Dec 18-25, 2012
jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com
Arunachal part of India: US Ambassador
Powell
India-China
border row: US sticks to McMahon Line
Guwahati, Dec 18: US ambassador to India Nancy J Powell on Friday
said the US still adopts the 1962 policy of recognizing the McMahon Line
regarding the India-China border dispute. She said the US recognizes Arunachal
Pradesh as an integral part of India.
On China's repeated claims that
Arunachal Pradesh as its territory, Powell said, "This is an issue between
India and China. It has to be resolved bilaterally by the two countries."
She added that the US always encourages talks between India and China on all
issues.
Commenting on China's rise as a
global power, Powell said the US does not consider China's fast economic and
military growth as a cause of rivalry. "We don't think it is a rivalry.
The US will continue to work with China, along with other friendly countries.
We are for investing in China and engaging them in trade," she added. She
said the US has good relations with China and have a lot of investment in that
country. She, however, said India's own interests are similar to that of the US
as both countries believe and practice democracy, The Economic Times reported.
Powell said the geo-political
situation in South and South-East Asian region has changed now and the India's
northeast region has become an important area. "With Myanmar opening up
and trade links with Bangladesh improving, the northeast today is at a critical
juncture," she added.
"The northeast joins the
ASEAN countries with the Indian sub-continent. It is a geographical junction of
the new silk route," said Powell, explaining how the NE region has become
very crucial for trade ties between India and ASEAN countries.
Sino-Indian border deadlock
raises tensions; ambiguity of past accords hinders settlement
Sikkim in Indo-China border dispute
 |
| Indo-China border in east Sikkim |
London, Dec 18: Indian national security adviser Shivshankar Menon
went to Beijing the week before last to have his last formal meeting with his
Chinese counterpart, State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who will be retiring in March
next year.
When they had met earlier this
year in January, the two had decided to come up with a joint record of
negotiations and to look at the future trajectory of these talks. The aim of
the latest talks was to ensure continuity with Dai's successor.
After the meeting, Menon
suggested that the two sides have now reached a "common understanding"
on the progress made so far in the border talks that will provide a framework
for drawing a "fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable" boundary,
The Japan Times reported.
More significantly, India
acknowledged China's sovereignty over Tibet and pledged not to allow
"anti-China" political activities in India, while China acknowledged
India's 1975 incorporation of the former monarchy of Sikkim by first agreeing
to open a trading post along the border with the former kingdom and by later
rectifying official maps to include Sikkim as part of India.
In 2005, both sides established
the Political Parameters and Guiding Principles for the Settlement of the
India-China Boundary Question Agreement — broad principles to govern the
parameters of any dispute settlement.
China has expressed its desire to
seek a fair resolution to the vexed boundary issue on the basis of "mutual
accommodation, respect for history and accommodation of reality."
Since then China has vigorously
asserted its old claims along the border with India and has combined it with
aggressive patrolling, which New Delhi views as a violation of a 1993
agreement.
Even as India considered the
Sikkim border issue settled, repeated Chinese incursions in the "finger
area" in northern Sikkim in the past few years are aimed at opening a
fresh front against India. Concerns are growing about covert intrusions into
the Indian territory to strengthen Chinese claims over the disputed border
areas.
Forces of the People's Liberation
Army also regularly intrude into Bhutanese territory at the junction where the
three countries meet and destroying Indian Army posts. These incursions are
strategically directed at the Siliguri corridor that connects India with its
northeast states.
Issue provisional ration cards to Nepalese: HC
Shimla, Dec 18:
Himachal Pradesh High Court directed the district controller, food civil
supplies and consumer affairs, Kullu, to provide provisional consumer
cards/ration cards to Nepalese applicants and other migrant labourers in Kullu
district and supply all the essential articles to them as are given to other
ordinary ration card holders for six months.
The directions were issued by
a division bench comprising Chief Justice Kurian Joseph and Justice Rajiv Sharma
during the hearing of a petition filed by Mool Pravah Akhil Bharat Nepal Ekta
Samaj, Kullu, seeking directions to government for supplying ration cards to
Nepalese residing in Kullu so that they could purchase essential commodities
from fair price shops.
District controller, food
civil supplies and consumer affairs, Kullu, in his reply, had stated that there
was no provision in HP Specified Articles (Regulation of Distribution) Order,
2003, to issue permanent ration cards to such persons, a national daily
reported.
However, under its Clause
10(4), temporary ration cards could be issued to those persons, who have no
fixed or identifiable place of dwelling, on payment of required fee. He also
informed the court that the state government had sought clarification from the
Central government in this regard five years ago and a response was still
awaited.
The court directed the
Central government to give clarification to state government and to file a
reply within two months and also directed the director, food and civil
supplies, Himachal Pradesh to provide required quantity of essential articles
to district controller, food, civil supplies and consumer affairs, Kullu.
Concerns raised over Chinese activities in Ladakh, PoK
New Delhi, Dec 18: Concern was expressed over
Chinese activities in Ladakh region and presence of Chinese troops in
Pakistan-occupied Kashmir(PoK) during a meeting of Parliamentary Consultative
committee of the Home Ministry.
Intelligence Bureau Director
Nehchal Sandhu, however, while briefing the MPs, said a close watch was being
maintained along the India-China border and that there was nothing to be
worried about, official sources said, PTI reported.
Participating in the meeting
held here last night, some MPs had voiced their concern at the repeated
incursions by Chinese troops in Ladakh region and their growing presence in
PoK, the sources said.
According to official data
presented in Parliament earlier this year, there were nearly 500 Chinese
incursions in the last three years. Of this, 218 was in 2010 and 213 in 2011.
There were 64 such incursions till April this year.
Intelligence agencies have
been reporting presence of around 4,000 Chinese troops across PoK. Army Chief
Gen Bikram Singh had said in September that Chinese soldiers were present in
PoK to provide security to its railways and road projects.
In an official release issued
by the Home Ministry, it was stated that the Consultative Committee of MPs
attached to the Ministry reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
The meeting was chaired by
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde.
NAGA ISSUE
Peace With Honour
The Joint Legislature Forum (JLF), a forum
floated by the 60 Nagaland Legislative Assembly members, recently indicated its
willingness to resign from the House to pave way for an honourable solution to
the vexed Naga political problem. However, their stand on the issue is
conditional: no resignation before solution. Taking a bold stand on the Naga
issue, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has pointed out that “our adversaries had
divided and placed us in four Indian states and in two countries - India and
Myanmar." He says early resolution to the Naga issue is crucial to the
implementation of various developmental plans in the State. To resolve the Naga
issue at the earliest, the JLF has decided to consult all political parties,
civil society and church leaders.
The Centre has been holding talks with NSCN-IM since 1998 to
find a solution to the Naga problem. In July, the Centre and the NSCN-IM had
announced that they "narrowed" down differences and were working out
a settlement in the "shortest possible time". Responding favourably
on resolving the Naga issue, the Opposition Congress party in Nagaland is
likely to urge the Government of India for deferment of the State Assembly
elections due in March 2013 till a solution is arrived at. The Centre now needs
to take a serious view of the situation. Although talks between the Government
of India and the NSCN-M are underway the Centre needs to focus its attention on
the issue in view of the changed situation. NSCN-M leaders – Chairman Isak Chsi Swu and General Secretary Thuingaleng
Muivah – are likely to be in Nagaland during
Christmas before they proceed to New Delhi next month to resume the talks.
Statehood demand raised in GJM meet
Be patient, make GTA
successful: Gurung
Darjeeling, Dec 18: While keeping the statehood issue alive Gorkha Janmukti Morch chief
Bimal Gurung said all Gorkhas must ensure the success of the recently-formed
Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA).
This appeal was made during
the GJM’s first national conference held here on Sunday. GJM's unit
representatives from twenty-two states participated in the conference, which
also dwelt on security of Gorkhas living in the country.
Realizing the touchy issue of
adopting a fine balance between the GTA and the statehood demand, Gurung said,
"We cannot achieve anything if we lose patience. The state government has
given us the responsibility to run the GTA and we are doing that. But if they
dishonour the resolutions we take in the GTA Sabha, then we will have to opt
for the route of agitation."
The statehood demand was one
of the four resolutions adopted during the conference. The other three were
conferring tribal status to the entire Gorkha community except for scheduled
castes, giving linguistic minority status to Darjeeling Hills and inclusion of
Terai and Dooars in the GTA.
GJM's unit representatives
from twenty-two states, not much clear about the political polices being taken
up by the central committee in Darjeeling Hills attended the conference, with
the common question - what after the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration
(GTA).
"The subject of a
separate state should not be closed, even if the GTA is a stepping stone for
it," said a member from Arunachal Pradesh.
While the GJM president said
prolonged dialogues were needed to pursue the state for the demand of
Gorkhaland, Gurung said he would not abandon the Terai and Doors region at any
cost.
GTA to form Lepcha Development Board
Darjeeling, Dec 18: The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Sabha on Friday
adopted resolutions to take measures to protect the interest of different
tribal communities living in the hills of Darjeeling. Among these is the
formation of a Lepcha Development Board within the ambit of GTA.
The marginalized Lepcha
community, the sons of the soil of Darjeeling, had been demanding for some time
that a development council be formed to take measures for their protection.
They had held agitations on several occasions, in Darjeeling as well as in Kolkata,
in support of this demand.
The board/council will not
have any territory assigned to it but will function as an independent body to
protect the ethnic identity of the Lepchas.
The Lepchas have been holding
agitations demanding an administrative mechanism to protect their identity, as
they claim to be the aboriginal tribe of Darjeeling.
The state backward classes
welfare department is believed to have submitted a proposal to set up a Lepcha
Development Council to chief secretary Samar Ghosh recently.
The proposed council is aimed
at protecting “the language, cultural traits and help in economic development
of the Lepchas”.
The council will act as a
coordinating agency to undertake various projects for the welfare of the
Lepchas. It will approach the concerned departments, for example, about
building new roads, providing drinking water, setting up schools, and improving
the Lepcha-dominated areas.
Lepchas have complained that
their identity and culture has always been dominated by the majority Nepalese
community.
Sikkim girls bag silver medal in national basketball
tourney
Captain Nim Doma Bhutia gets
‘most valuable player’ award
Gangtok, Dec 18:
Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Gangyap, west Sikkim, finished runners-up with silver medal at the
CBSE under-19 National Basketball Championship held recently in Jaipur.
APS Noida, last year’s runners-up beat the Sikkim team by 11
points in the finals. However, the ‘most valuable player’ was awarded to the
captain Nim Doma Bhutia of the EMRS team. This is the second time she has been
awarded this title in national tournament.
EMRS girls had won the title last year. The Sikkim girls
defeated Madhya Pradesh 57-37 in an exciting semifinal.
Impressed with the Sikkim team, the members of Basketball
Federation India, an official release informs, have asked the team to
participate in the junior nationals through Sikkim Basketball Association.
Other members in the team include Rinchen, Tshering Eden,
Dikim Doma, Binu Hangma Subba, Nim Lam Bhutia, Pem Choden Lepcha, Manita Subba,
Deechen Bhutia, Bimochen Tamang, Kinchmit Lepcha and Lakchung Lepcha.
Tini Tshechu, the team manage, is aided by Darren Van Biois
as assistant coach, and Siddarth Yonzone as coach.
Darjeeling’s reunification with Sikkim will make us
‘Sikkimese, not Gorkhas’: Moktan
Kalimpong, Dec 18:
Gorkhaland Task Force (GTF) Coordinator R. Moktan said in the event
Darjeeling-Sikkim demand comes through the inhabitants of the new state will be
called ‘Sikkimese’ and not ‘Gorkhas.’
Highlighting the statehood demand, Moktan said the demand
for formation of Gorkhaland state is aimed at catering to the need of the
Gorkha community in the country for a homeland of their own and to safeguard
their identity.
“Through merger we will be called Sikkimese, not Gorkhas,”
Moktan said, Mungpo News reported. He
has urged everyone to stand united for creation of Gorkhaland.
Moktan’s reaction on Darjeeling-Sikkim merger comes at a
time when the issue is hotly debated in Sikkim and by a section of politicians
in Darjeeling.
BJP will demand 'Frontier Nagaland' in Parliament:
Gadkari
Kohima, Dec 18: In
a move which could stoke secessionist ambitions elesewhere in the region, BJP President
Nitin Gadkari assured to the people of eastern districts of Nagaland that BJP
would carve out a separate state of Frontier Nagaland if it came to power in
Lok Sabha elections in 2014.
Nagaland, where BJP only has 2 legislators out of total 60,
also goes to assembly polls in 2013.
Slamming the ruling Naga People’s Front and the main
opposition Congress for their lack of sensitivity towards the political
aspirations of the people of Tuensang and Mon districts, Gadkari said on Sunday
that BJP would initiate a demand for ‘Frontier Nagaland’ in the Parliament, dailybhaskar.com and Nagaland Post
reported.
“Nagaland attained statehood in 1963. It should not have
remained like this for 49 years,” he said at Mon Town Hall pointing to the severe lack of economic
development in the eastern districts of Nagaland. “Both Congress and NPF have
failed the Naga people,” said the BJP President.
Also, addressing a mammoth gathering here at local ground
Tuensang, BJP chief said the party has recognized the ‘uniqueness’ of the eastern Nagas and pointed out that
they have understood the problems and grievances being faced in this part of
the country in various developmental aspects.
Giving an air of credibility to his assurances, Gadkari
revealed that he had even met leaders of Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation
ENPO) in Delhi and referred them to few MPs for redressing their grievances.
ENPO has been demanding a separate state comprising of
eastern part of Nagaland, ascribing it to lack of development and opportunities
under different regimes that came to power in the past.
However, unlike other secessionist and statehood movements
which plague the north-eastern region, ENPO’s means of achieving separate state
have largely remained peaceful.
Notably, Gadkari’s visit was to the state was coordinated by
ENPO, thus sparking hopes of BJP-ENPO alliance in 2013 assembly elections.
INTERVIEW Lobsang Sangay
“China ought to have a new perspective on the Tibet
issue”
In an interview with The Times of India recently, Tibet’s
exiled Prime Minister Lobsang Sangay says there will be no compromise on
democracy and non-violence to achieve Tibet’s goals. Excerpts:
Times of India: What is the Tibetan
government-in-exile doing to highlight the increasing number of self-
immolation cases in Tibet?
Lobsang Sangay: We have declared 2013 as
'Solidarity-with-Tibet Year'. Starting December 10, which is commemorated as Human
Rights Day, we will organize events, rallies, conferences, and discussions in
different cities across the world, such as New York, Geneva and New Delhi,
which have strong UN presence. We have also launched a website,
solidaritywithtibet.org, which consists of a six-minute video on atrocities
committed by China in Tibet, and links to social networking sites to create
awareness on the cause.
Q: The present border conflict between India
and China regarding MacMahon Line was drafted between British India and
Independent Tibet in 1914. Do you think the Tibet and border issues have some
common ground?
A: These issues are very much connected. The treaty was negotiated
between British Indian representative, the then Tibetan PM and a Chinese
representative. China didn't sign the final draft as it had border issues with
Tibet. But the Tibetan government-in-exile's stand is that McMahon Line should
be acknowledged as it was a treaty signed by Tibet.
Q: What is the current state of negotiations
between Dharamsala and Beijing?
A: Our envoys met their Chinese counterparts nine times between 2003 and
2009, and presented the memorandum of genuine autonomy within the framework of
Chinese constitutions. But since then, there has been no contact from the
Chinese side.
Q: Are you comfortable with the regime change
in China following the conclusion of 18th Party Congress?
A: We will have to wait till March 2013, when there will be a change of
guard for top Chinese political positions. We feel that with the induction of
new people there ought to be a new perspective on the Tibet issue, given the
tragedy in Tibet and failure of the Communist party's hardline policies in the
region.
Q: What are your expectations from Xi Jinping
whose father was considered a liberal Communist leader?
A: Xi Zhongxun, Xi Jinping's father, was close to the Panchen Lama and
knew the present Dalai Lama, and was very liberal in his political approach.
Whether the son will be like his father is yet to be seen.
Q: Do you think the middle path approach for
Tibet is still relevant today?
A: The middle path - which is asking for genuine autonomy within the
framework of Chinese constitution - is the official policy of our
administration based on the resolution passed by Tibetan Parliament-in-exile.
Democracy and non-violence are two basic and uncompromising principals we
believe in to achieve our goals. The concept of freedom is becoming a global
trend and we believe China will come around at some point.
