HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday June 19-25, 2013  

GOLAY TO LEAD ‘SKM’ FROM NEXT MONTH

PS Golay (pix: sikkimnow)

Gangtok, June 18: Rebel ruling party legislator PS Tamang (Golay), who floated his Sikkim Krantikari Morcha on February 4 this year, will finally come out in the open and head the party next month.

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

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

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

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

India welcomes election announcement in Nepal

Nepal PM Khil Raj Regmi

Kathmandu, June 18: India has welcomed the announcement of the Constituent Assembly elections in Nepal on November 19, saying that the polls will "usher in an era of peace, stability, progress and prosperity" in the country.

"We warmly welcome the announcement of election date by Nepal government as it reflects collective desires of the Nepalese people," said a statement from the Indian Embassy here.

"We are confident that elections will enable the finalisation of a new constitution and usher in an era of peace, stability, progress and prosperity in Nepal," the statement said, PTI reported.

Earlier, US had welcomed the announcement mentioning that they have been encouraging the Government of Nepal to take this important step after the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly in May last year.

"We welcome the announcement by the Council of Ministers in Nepal that Constituent Assembly elections will take place on November 19, 2013," Jennifer R Paski, spokesperson for the US Department of State said.

With the formation of the election government led by Chief Justice of Nepal, Khil Raj Regmi in March, the political parties had earlier tentatively agreed to conduct the elections in June or by December this year.

Parties hope Kashmir issue to be raised during PM visit

Srinagar, Jun 18: High expectations are riding on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit to Jammu and Kashmir later this month, with mainstream political parties hoping that he will initiate steps to address the internal and external dimensions of the Kashmir issue.

"We hope that the Prime Minister's visit will focus on the peace process in the broadest sense. We hope it is not just at the localised level but a dialogue is initiated with the separatists as well as Pakistan," chief spokesman of opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Naeem Akhtar said.

The Prime Minister, along with UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, is scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir on June 25 to inaugurate the railway link connecting Kashmir in north of Pir Panjal Mountain range to Banihal town on the south. This section is vital for linking Kashmir with rest of the country through the ambitious rail project started 10 years ago, PTI reported.

Akhtar said the PDP is hoping that J&K-specific confidence building measures between India and Pakistan will be taken to next level as the recent elections in the neighbouring country have ended the period of uncertainty there.

Ruling National Conference said although the PM's visit was for inaugurating development projects in the state, the party was hopeful that Singh will initiate steps from Kashmir for resolution of the problems of the state.

"Now that there is a change of guard in Pakistan, we hope that the Prime Minister initiates from Kashmir steps for resolution of Kashmir issue," Tanvir Sadiq, NC leader and political secretary to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, said.

State Secretary of CPI(M) Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami said Singh should at least send a message to the people of Kashmir that justice will be done on all fronts.

"We expect that the least the Prime Minister can do is to assure the people of the state that various recommendations of the working groups set up by him will be implemented," Tarigami said.

The recommendations that Tarigami wants to be implemented include return of power projects to Jammu and Kashmir, enhancing the cross-LOC movement and good governance.

The separatist camp has so far shown no interest in the Prime Minister's visit except for JKLF which has called for a shutdown the day Singh lands in Kashmir.

Editorial

SIKKIM SURPRISES

Politicians Are On The Move

As the Sikkim Assembly elections draws nearer there will be many surprises in store for the people who are longing for change. The former kingdom which has largely been ruled by two men – Nar Bahadur Bhandari and Pawan Kumar Chamling – since 1979 desperately needs a change to its political leadership. And yet despite the desire for change the opposition is still not able to get its house in order. While Bhandari after the SSP’s has stated that his state-wide tour would begin only after the monsoon, the newly-formed Sikkim Krantikari Morcha leader PS Golay is yet to leave the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front to lead his party.

Meanwhile, expelled SKM leader Avinash Yakha has alleged that the SKM has no plan and policies for Sikkim’s future. Another youth leader Nawin Pradhan has quit the unemployed youth association which was critical of the State Government and is likely to join the ruling party. While some Congress functionaries have quit the party to join Bhandari’s Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) there are those who will not leave the party mainly to obtain its ticket to contest the next Assembly elections due early next year. And as cash flows fast and freely from the top there will be more surprises in store for the Sikkimese people before, during and after the next polls.

Govt project may defile Kabi-Lungtsok sanctity: Lepcha body

Gangtok, June 18: The Sikkim Lepcha Association (Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum) and Lepcha Youth Association (Ong Shezum) have expressed their apprehension over the State Government’s proposed project at the historic site of Kabi-Lungtsok, where an eternal bloodbrotherhood was sworn between the Lepchas and Bhutias in the 13^th century.

During its meeting held here yesterday, members of the two associations “felt that the concerned department involved, should have initially interacted with the concerned community and the stake holders to avoid the said apprehension arising at the present, among the members of the lepcha community,” a release of the Tarjum said.

The meeting held under the chairmanship of Tarjum President Sonam Dupden and Shezum President Ongden Tshering Lepcha on the issue of development and beautification of the historic site, “felt that though the said project for preservation of the centuries old historical and religious spot at Kabi Lungchok, was needed,  but at the same time that they had strong ‘apprehension’ against the said project, in regards to the sanctity of the sacred and the said religious place, which had been a century old place of worship and devotion among the Lepchas of Sikkim and the world.”

“The house also felt that such heavy funded project would surely jeopardize the age old historical & the religious sanctity of Kabi Lungchok,” the release added. The meeting urged the authorities for “an appropriate and immediate solution to the said problem.”

Darjeeling Lepchas to honour Mamata

Siliguri, June 18: Right when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee finds her friendship with Gorkhas in Darjeeling hills under uncertainty, Lepchas, another major hilly community, has come forward to support her. Though not known how solid or how long this support can go in long run, but it can definitely give TMC a strength to bargain in the hills with Gorkha activists now.

"We will confer the title - 'KINGTSOOM DAARMIT,' MEANING 'Queen of prosperity,' to her on the next 2nd September 2013 at Siliguri," said L. S. Tamchang, President Indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA). ILTA is the umbrella body for around 1.5 lakh lepcha population in West Bengal out of which, over 90% resides in Darjeeling hills and contribute a significant role in the hills politics, The Economic Times reported.

ILTA has decide to celebrate 2nd September 2013 as the 2nd anniversary of 'formation' of Mayel Lyang Lepcha Development Board(MLLDB), a body, announced by the CM on the same date at state assembly, to be formed to work for the Lepchas development.

"This was the first time, with formation of MLLDB, this Government has given us true recognition as well as a feeling of freedom. We are thankful for that," said Tamchang. He was the leader of Lepcha delegation in many recent meets with the CM.

But, interestingly, the very formation of MLLDB is STILL under thick cloud. After the assembly announcement in 2011, it took two years for the state to mentioned about the plan of formation of this in a gazette notification. As it is mentioned in the notification, MLLDB shall be registered under West Bengal Society Registration Act XXVI of 1961.

"We have applied for the registration, but yet to receive the certificate. Naturally, the body is not yet formed officially," accepted Bhupendra Lepcha, Secretary and spokesman of ILTA. He also accepted that any society, just registered under societies registration act, cannot be a big autonomous body that can enjoy major financial grant from Government to carry on large scale development work. Moreover, an elected autonomous body Gorkhaland Territorial Administration is working in the hills. Leaders of neither the Lepchas nor TMC could clarify how they thought the MLLDB could work there avoiding conflict with GTA.

"Now since Gorkhas are not as happy as they were with the CM earlier on various issues, this extended helping hands of Lepcha leaders, somehow arranged by the CM, may give TMC significant electoral benefit in next panchayat or 2014 Lok Sabha election in the hills. But, this may erode harmony between the two hilly communities, Gorkhas and Lepchas, which will be a great loss in long run," said political observers.

Manipur Assembly for implementation of ILP

Locals being outnumbered by ‘outsiders’

Imphal, June 18: The Manipur Legislative Assembly on Thursday unanimously resolved to urge the Centre to extend the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation (BEFR), 1873 or inner line permit (ILP) system in the state.

The resolution was moved by Congress MLA R K Anand who emphasised the need to amend the Constitution for extension of the regulation in the state in view of the increasing number of people coming from other states to Manipur, PTI reported.

Speaking during the discussion, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh expressed the need to detect foreign nationals who have entered the state for manual work without valid documents and appealed to NGOs to help authorities in this.

The government, he said, is prepared to send an all party delegation to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde and other central leaders for extension of BEFR to the state by amending the constitution suitably.

Regarding the ongoing agitation by various social organisations for implementation of inner line permit (ILP) system in the state, he appealed to all not to resort to violence.

Opposition leader I Ibohalbi (Trinamool Congress), senior opposition member L Ibomcha (Nationalist Congress Party) and some other senior members also spoke on the issue.

Later, the house unanimously resolved to urge the central government to extend the BEFR 1873 in the state and requested the speaker to convey the resolution to the centre.

Official sources said various social organisations including students bodies have been organising sit-ins and other forms of agitation FOR over a month to press for the implementation of ILP.

The social organisations claim that the number of people coming to Manipur from other states far outnumber the total tribal population in it.

Tibet issue: NCP urges Centre, Arunachal Pradesh govt to review China policy

Itanagar, June 18: The Arunachal Pradesh unit of NCP has urged both the Centre and State Government to review the policy towards China and support the Tibetan cause.

Describing the violations of basic human rights of the Tibetans by the Chinese authorities, especially in matters of culture and religion, and aggressive marginalization of the Tibetans through economic imperialism and exploitation of its huge water and mineral resources as extremely upsetting, the party urged to the leadership to realize the gravity of the Tibetan problems and start an early review of India's approach towards China, PTI reported.

"The innumerable instances of self-immolation in various pockets of Tibet and the growing unrest amongst Buddhist monks throughout the globe are matters of international concern and speak volume of the grave situation," party state unit president Kahfa Bengia said on Sunday.

"The greatest foreign policy blunder committed by the Centre was accepting Tibet and their problems as internal issues of China. This sort of soft, timid and ambiguous approach by India led to Chinese Aggression in 1962," he said.

To begin a change in paradigm shift in policies, the Centre should not only support the Tibetan cause internationally, but also allow the voices within the nation, particularly of Arunachal, who are the worst victims of Chinese occupation to ventilate their concerns for Tibetan refugees in India, as well as those in Tibet, he said.

The spontaneous formation of Tibet Support Group (TSG) with participation of prominent leaders like R K Khrimey, Anok Wangsa, Kabak Tacho and many others, including leaders from various political parties in the state, extending their unconditional support to Tibetan cause is a welcome beginning, Bengia said.

The Arunachalis living in border pockets of Taksing, Limeking, Singha, Geling, Monigong, Charli, Damin, Mago and Thimbu among others are leading a wretched life with no facilities of pakka road, electricity, telecommunication, healthcare and modern educational amenities, essential commodities only because of fear psychosis of the policy makers of Indian mainstream of another Chinese aggression, he added.

Mother releases daughter’s book in Shillong

The Bookmark Sahaki offers book lovers of Shillong a cosy little space for book release events. Authors of different genres have come and read bits and pieces of what they consider to be the gems of their creative expressions.

This time the author is US-based Nina Harkness who has her roots in Shillong. The release function was quite an extraordinary experience. Nina’s mother, Bluebell Wason Marbaniang, founder of Step by Step School, proudly released her daughter’s book.

Nina said, “This book is for you Mum.” What a poignant moment it was! And yes the book is a fiction, Nina says, but hints that it is also strikingly close to real life events.

As Nina read about the protagonist Ramona’s tryst with a fur stole brought to their bungalow by one of those roving Pathans, Kong Bluebell rummaged into a plastic bag, took out the stole and wore it.

Nina Harkness – Neena Wason in school – was my classmate and batch of ’72. Her mother Mrs. Bluebell Wason was my teacher and I continue to keep in touch with  her two brothers – Brij and Robin – also from Mt. Hermon School, Darjeeling: Editor. (right)

“It’s over fifty years old and I paid quite a royal sum for it even at the time. It cost Rs 400,” she narrated with pride and joy.

Kong Bluebell was dressed in a Bhutanese ‘Baku’ since the novel is set amidst the hills of North Bengal, now a strife torn region but once the favourite haunt of tea planters and managers.

When asked what inspired her to write A Sahib’s Daughter, Nina said she had penned down her thoughts since 1986 and the plot was all figured out but she did not have the time to actually complete her manuscript.

“I wanted to dedicate the book to my parents but when my father died two years ago and I had not progressed beyond the first few chapters, I decided that I was going to complete the book at least for my mother,” Nina said her eyes welling with tears.

She wrote the book in two months flat producing 76,000 words. A Sahib’s Daughter, published by Tollymoore Publishing, USA was released in the USA in 2011. The book has already won rave reviews from established authors like Barbara Miller and Jean Bricknell.

A resident of Naples, Florida, Nina Harkness lives and works there. She has two children, a son who works for the US Government and daughter who just graduated from law school.

“The publishers showed me several cover designs but most of them looked like adverts for Lipton or Brooke Bond tea. Finally my daughter, Laura Harkness said she would give it a try. It has come out so well. The cover shows a young lady who is about to venture into the beckoning mountains,” Nina explained.

A Sahib’s Daughter takes readers on an intriguing journey as three generations of women grapple with secrets, scandal and passions of the heart during the post-Raj Indian era.

Nina weaves her story around the life and times of the great era of the Tea Planters and Managers and their imposing lifestyles with a retinue of servants and cooks to cater to their every need.

This was an era of change as well because the colonists now opted to marry Indian women whom they would earlier romance with and leave behind with a brood, that had no father to call their own.

The book also ventures into the intricate psyche of the Anglo Indians of the time and their worldview which was unattainably British (firangi) yet pragmatically Indian.

In the 60′s and 70′s Anglo- Indians were often torn between these two complex worlds and struggled to straddle the two.

A Sahib’s Daughter will soon be available in paperback at the Bookmark Sahaki. Currently it is also available through Junglee.com and Amazon.com. (The Shillong Times)

ENVIRONMENT

CRESTED KINGFISHER in the streets of Gangtok!

Minla Zangmu and Usha Lachungpa

In a strange recurrence of events, just like the Kalij Pheasant rescued from New Market MG Road, Gangtok On April 19, 2013, in less than two months, on June 16, 2013, at 1:30 pm we were once again called by Shakti Singh Choudhary, Deputy Mayor of Gangtok, regarding a bird rescued near Star Cinema Hall, New Market, MG Marg.

On arrival the bird was identified as a Crested Kingfisher, Megaceryl lugubris, most likely a female on account of pale rufous colouring on the undersides of the wings. On examination, the bird was found uninjured, but severely stressed and dehydrated.

 This beautiful Kingfisher locally called “JALEWA” (Nepali) was immediately transferred to a stress free environment to recover and be released back into its natural riverine habitat.

 The occurrence of this bird on New Market MG Road Gangtok is highly unusual, considering that the nearest river where it should normally be found is in the lower altitudes of Sikkim, for example, Nimtar and below. Definitely not in the middle of a bustling busy urban area! Just like the Kalij Pheasant that was rescued in the same area some time back, this bird is also a long way from home and in the most unlikely of places.

 We are grateful that Shaktiji and like-minded people were on site at both times to rescue the birds.  Now it is up to all to see that we have no such recurrences in the future.

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   June 15-21,  2013   

MY blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

Gangtok’s Tashi Namgyal Academy (TNA) students actively participating in their Sports Day

Sikkim EIILM owner arrested for issuing fake certificates

Siliguri, June 14: Vinay Kumar Rai, the Chairman of Rai Foundation and owner of Eastern Institute for Integrated Learning in Management (EIILM) University, Sikkim, was arrested from Bagdogra Airport on May 7 last month minutes before he was to board a flight to Delhi.

 Rai was arrested for allegedly issuing fake certificates of EIILM. After the arrest Rai was taken to Sikkim by the Sikkim Police. J. Jayaraman the Commissioner of Siliguri police said, “Rai was detained at the Airport on the request of the Sikkim Police.” Immediately after his arrest, Rai who runs multiple businesses throughout the country, claimed that he is innocent and he would not go to Sikkim with the Sikkim Police unless they furnish a magisterial order.

However the Sikkim Police officials forced him to board the car and left for Sikkim in the afternoon, Eastern Panorama reported.

A.K. Singh the District Collector of East Sikkim said, “The EIILM University Vice Chancellor, Registrar and the Controller of Examinations who were arrested were small fish.” The mastermind is believed to be Rai, the Chairman of Rai Foundation that runs EIILM, Sikkim. Rai who was once ranked in the Fortune 500 people group has extended his business empire. Reliable sources in Sikkim said many of his business and his business dealings have already come under the scanner and the issuing of fake certificates on behalf of EIILE, Sikkim is one of these businesses.

On the same day of his arrest, three high ranking officials of the University were released on bail by the District Court, East. The Sikkim police had arrested Vice-Chancellor O.B. Vijayan, Registrar Dr. Alok Bhandari and Controller of Examinations V. Dahiya on charges of issuing fake degrees to students on payment of money, the report said.

The trio was held from EIILM’s Jorethang office, South Sikkim by a police team following a raid and brought to Sadar Police station, Gangtok on May 6 evening and produced in the District Court, East on the afternoon of the next day. The court granted bail on the ground of insufficient investigation conducted by the Police. Amidst complaints against EIILM for issuing fake degrees, the Sikkim Police found out that a certificate issued to one Manjit Kaur of Karnal, Haryana in 2011 was fake. The Additional District Collector, south district, had filed a police complaint regarding the case at Gangtok, but the arrests couldn’t be made due to lack of evidence.

The certificate in question issued in 2011 was under the police scanner and a RTI reply further confirmed the doubt. They were booked under IPC Sections 467,468,471,120 B and 181.  EIILM University, Sikkim has around 336 centres all over the country, including West Bengal, Assam and other Northeastern States. The State Legislative Assembly of Sikkim had accorded it as a private State university in 2006 with the Sikkim Governor as the Chancellor.

SIBLAC opposes ‘project’ at sacred Kabi-Lungtsok

Gangtok, June 14: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), an umbrella organization of the State’s minority indigenous Bhutia and Lepcha communities, have vehemently opposed any form of construction and defacement of the historic Kabi-Lungtsok spot in North Sikkim.

This spot, held sacred by the Sikkimese, witnessed the historic signing of bloodbrotherhood treaty between the Lepcha chief, Thekongtek, and Bhutia ruler Jowo Khye-Bumsa in the 13^th century. Khye-Bumsa is the ancestor of the former kingdom’s Namgyal dynasty which ruled Sikkim since the swearing-in ceremony and more effectively from 1642 when the first ruler, Chogyal Phuntsong Namgyal, was consecrated as the Chogyal (king).

SIBLAC chief and former minister Tseten Tashi Bhutia, who is leading the movement for preservation of Sikkim’s unique cultural heritage,  said the State Government’s bid to change the natural setting of the area, which has been preserved down the ages,  is “not acceptable to the people of Sikkim and in particular to the Bhutia-Lepcha community.”

“This holy place is safeguarded and protected under the Places of Worship (special provision) ACT, 1991, and further by the Old laws of Sikkim under Clause ‘k’ of Article 371-F of the Constitution of India, followed by many government notifications,” Bhutia said in a press statement.

“Any injury and harm to this sacred place will be considered as “genocide on Historical-Cultural-Religious civilisation of Sikkim,” SIBLAC said.

Bhutia said his press statement should be treated “as our objection” to any “project” proposed at the historic spot.

Gorkhaland resolution was sent to Home Ministry in 2011: govt

Make Thapa’s speech opposing smaller states public: Bhandari

Gangtok, June 14: The Sikkim Legislative Assembly resolution of March 2011 supporting formation of Gorkhaland state in West Bengal was sent to the Union Home Secretary on May 2011, the State Government has stated while denying reports that the resolution had not been forwarded to the Centre.

Reacting to news reports that the resolution on Gorkhaland was not sent to the Centre, the State Government in a press release said the resolution, which was passed by the Assembly in March 2011, was forwarded to GK Pillai, former Home Secretary, by former Chief Secretary ND Chingapa on March 19, 2011.          

“The stand of the Government of Sikkim in favour of Gorkhaland has always been the same and such baseless and unfounded allegation were probably made with the intention to cause rift between peace loving people of Sikkim and Darjeeling,” an official release said.

Had the RTI applicant on the issue, BP Sharma, approached the State Government he would have been provided with the required information, the release said. However, the State Government would enquire with the Home Ministry “as to how they have stated that the resolution has not been sent,” the release added.

 According to Sharma, the Home Ministry, responding to his application, said, “This Ministry has not received any State Assembly Resolution from the Government of Sikkim regarding formation of a separate state in West Bengal having name Gorkhaland.”

Meanwhile, Sikkim Sangram Parishad President and former chief minister NB Bhandari has demanded that the speech opposing creation of smaller states by Urban Development Minister DB Thapa in New Delhi recently during the CMs conference be made public.

After Thapa’s statement indirectly opposing creation of Gorkhaland state, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said he favoured creation of Gorkhaland state.

Bhandari lambasted the State Government for its double speak on the statehood issue. The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha (SKM) has also targeted the State Government on the statehood issue.

ASESEUA members “sold as cheap potatoes”: Mayalmit Lepcha

Gangtok, June 14: The newly-elected adhoc President of the All Sikkim Educated Self-Employed & Unemployed Association (ASESEUA) Mayalmit Lepcha has accused the outgoing president of the Association Nawin Kiran Pradhan of betraying the trust reposed on him by the unemployed youths of the State.

In a Press statement, Lepcha, an anti-mega dam social activist, said Pradhan lacked “integrity, loyalty and honesty.” Lepcha said “a man who doesn’t have integrity, loyalty and honesty towards the association and youth have no right to talk about the Sikkimese youth future.”

She alleged that some members of the Association had “betrayed” the youths and were “sold as cheap potatoes.”

Earlier, media reports said Pradhan and some of his colleagues would join the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).

She said under her leadership the Association would work for the 40,000 unemployed youths of the State.

Editorial

ADVANI WITHDRAWS

‘Federal Front’ Leaders Unite

LK Advani created a huge stir within the BJP when he resigned from several posts of the party this week. Besides the BJP his resignation had immediate reactions from the Congress as well as the ‘third front.’ However, Advani’s meek withdrawal of his resignation paves way for Narendra Modi’s projection as the prime ministerial candidate within the BJP. It now appears that those proposing a ‘federal front’ will now be opposed to BJP mainly because Modi seems to be an acceptable candidate for the top job within the Sangh parivar.

If south, east and northeast regions of the country unite to form a ‘federal front’ as proposed by Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar and Naveen Patnaik the Congress party’s hopes of making a comeback in the next general elections seems quite bright at this point of time. However, much now depends on how ‘federal front’ leaders unite to take on both the BJP and Congress. The stage is gradually being set for the ‘third front’ to play a decisive role in which party forms the government at the centre at this time next year.

Lone Tibetan marcher goes missing from Gangtok

Tsetan Dorjee along with his mother Dhum Po Kyi at their residence in Dharamshala. (pix:Phayul)

Dharamsala, June 14: After covering over 2000 kms and reaching within a couple of day’s trek to the Tibetan border, Tsetan Dorjee, who was on his march to Tibet for the second time, has reportedly gone missing.

It has been learned that Dorjee went missing from Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, which is located just 54 kms (34 miles) from the famous Nathu Pass, the historical trade route between India and Tibet.

Speaking to Phayul, Mogru Tenpa, a member of the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile said the last he heard from Dorjee was a phone call on Monday, June 10, at 11 in the morning from Gangtok.

In the telephonic conversation, Dorjee had told Tenpa that he was risking arrest if he tried to travel near the border region on foot.

“So, he was hoping to get a ride to drop him near the border but he added that he was finding it difficult to get a ride because everyone was scared that they might get into problem,” Tenpa said.

He further noted that Dorjee’s phone has been switched off since Tuesday and there is no information about his current whereabouts, Phayul reported.

Tseten Dorjee, 36, began his second march to Tibet from the exile headquarters of Dharamshala on March 10, coinciding with the 54th anniversary of the Tibetan National Uprising Day.

Dorjee, who has been living in Israel for the last few years along with his wife and two children, came back to India to begin his journey back home.

On March 10, 2012, Dorjee along with his mother, Dhumpo Kyi and sister, Lhamo Kyi had embarked on their first peace march to Tibet.

After marching for over two months and covering more than 1,300 kms, the exile family was stopped by Nepali border police and forcibly returned to India in May.

However, slipping past Nepali border posts, Dorjee left behind his mother and sister on the Indian side and carried on with his March to Tibet in Nepal. He was arrested eight days later on the outskirts of Kathmandu and sentenced to five years in prison.

Dorjee came out of prison after spending nearly a year in a Nepali jail to begin his second peace march to Tibet earlier this year.

In May, Dorjee’s mother Dhumpo Kyi sat on silent-partial hunger strike for a month from May 10 with only one meal a day in support of her son’s return journey.

INTERVIEW OF THE

WEEK

Tenzing Tethong

“In the ’70s nobody in US wanted anything that would upset China”

Tenzin Tethong is currently a Distinguished Fellow at the Tibetan Studies Institute at Stanford, and President and one of the founding members of the Dalai Lama Foundation, as well as Board Chair of the Committee of 100 for Tibet. In the 1970s, he worked with members of Congress to secure the first visit of the Dalai Lama to the United States. As former Representative of H.H. the Dalai Lama in New York and Washington, Tenzin Tethong was instrumental in initiating many key Tibetan organizations in the United States. He has also been Prime Minister of the exiled Tibetan government based in Dharamsala.

Martin LeFevre recently talked to the Tibetan leader on skype on his views on Tibet

and of his wide-ranging experiences and overlapping perspectives.  Excerpts of the interview:

Martin LeFevre: Other than at Dharamsala, where the government in exile is located, I know there are Tibetan communities in America and Europe. Do you call it a diaspora?

Tenzin Tethong: There are scattered communities in the United States and Canada, and to a lesser extent in Europe—for example, there’s been a Tibetan community in Switzerland since the early 1960s. A few thousand Tibetans have come to the United States and Canada the last 15 years, so the description of a diaspora is becoming a little more common.

ML: Were you born in Tibet, and when did you leave?

TT: I was born in Tibet in 1948. My parents left when I was about six, so we managed to come out before 1959 (when the Dalai Lama went into exile).

ML: Tell me a little about your childhood and early life.

TT: I went to school in Darjeeling at a missionary school (Mt. Hermon School), and attended some of the first refugee schools in India. My father was a teacher in one of the schools.

Soon after my high school graduation, I started to work in Dharamsala as an interpreter, secretary and translator. From 1967 onwards, I became involved in many of the Tibetan activities, especially among the young people at that time. I worked on publications and to self-organize the youth, such as the Tibetan Youth Congress, and a few years later I was sent to New York in 1973, where there had been a Tibetan appeal at the United Nations.

ML: What was the nature of that appeal?

TT: It began in 1959 at the UN General Assembly, with resolutions also in 1961 and 1965 on Tibet, essentially calling on China to respect the human rights of the Tibetan people, and in one resolution saying that the right of self-determination of the Tibetan people should be respected.

ML: So you first came to the United States just after Nixon’s rapprochement with China?

TT: Yes, I came at a time when the Office of Tibet, which was representing His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government, was being shut down. The US government had changed its policies on China (under Nixon), and we were being encouraged to close down our activities. From that point on, official support, and shall we say unofficial support was not at all forthcoming.

ML: You don’t sound bitter though.

TT: People in America knew very little about Tibet at the time. But we were not forced to shut down, to the credit of the United States. The office continued, and I was there for the first few years, just one person, trying to figure out the United States, Tibet work, and myself as well—I was only in my mid-20s.

ML: What kind of work did you do at that time?

TT: I was in touch with just a handful of Americans who had interest in Tibet, some with scholarly backgrounds, others who had visited India and Nepal, among them young travelers, hippies. Some had found Tibetans to be very friendly, helpful and kind. You could say we were a whole rag-tag bunch.

ML: What was your goal?

TT: Working with that small group, and a handful of Tibetan Buddhists and Buddhist scholars scattered across the United States—there were only 2-300 Tibetans in the country at that time—gradually we built up a small circle of friends and network of friends. The issue of inviting His Holiness to the United States came up often.

ML: Politically, that must have been a delicate situation.

TT: In the early ’60s there may have been some interest by the US government in a possible visit by His Holiness, but by the mid-70s of course nobody wanted anything that would upset the Chinese. So I got involved in trying to plan a visit by His Holiness, and began to work with this new circle of friends. It became a fairly complicated and difficult attempt, but finally we did manage to organize something for His Holiness, and so in the fall of 1979 he came to the United States.

ML: Do you consider that first visit successful?

TT: There were many difficulties, but the visit became successful because of His Holiness’ ability to reach out, speak, and be able to communicate with a lot of people in different situations.

ML: With whom did the Dalai Lama meet on that first visit?

TT: Many of the visits were to give a talk or lecture at a university, and others were at Buddhist centers, or inter-church ceremonies.

ML: There was a lot of sympathy for the plight of the Tibetan people at that time as I recall, and a growing respect and affection for the Dalai Lama.

TT: Yes, that first visit led us to establish a new foundation in America, and it extended to the United States Congress. The White House and the State Department obviously didn’t want much to do with Tibet or the Dalai Lama really, because the US policy was now completely to build a relationship with China.

ML: How little things have changed, and how much. What kinds of problems did you run into?

TT: When we were first planning the visit we had difficulty in getting some sense of, shall we say, if not approval, at least non-objection from the US government. We didn’t want His Holiness to be stopped at the airport and denied a visa. So we worked with one or two congressman, and got enough informal support on Capitol Hill to prevent anyone from the State Department from saying, ‘the Dalai Lama cannot come.’

ML: Indeed, he was warmly welcomed on Capitol Hill as I recall.

TT: After that first visit, many of the congressmen and senators who met him actually got to like the Dalai Lama quite a bit. And in later visits in the ‘80’s, each time he would visit Washington, he met with them and others. On Capitol Hill he became an almost unanimously loved figure.

(martinlefevre@sbcglobal.net)

DISTINCT IDENTITY

Within The Union

Historical considerations have justified a differential treatment: Supreme Court

The Chogyal (centre) with Bhutia highlanders of Lachen, North Sikkim.

Beginning from this week, Sikkim Observer will publish views, articles, statements, judgements on Sikkim’s distinct identity within the Union of India. Readers, writers and all concerned are requested to contribute towards this column.

To begin with we have former minister and convenor of Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) Tseten Tashi Bhutia’s  compilation of the Supreme Court’s views on the subject in

R.C. Poudyal vs. Union of India and others on 10 February, 1993. It may be recalled that Ram Chandra Poudyal, former minister and President of Congress (R) in 1979, challenged  reservation of 12 seats of the Bhutia-Lepchas and 1 seat for the Sangha in the 32-member Sikkim Legislative Assembly, in the Supreme Court.

The verdict delivered in 1993 went in favour of reservation of the former Buddhist Kingdom’s indigenious Bhutia-Lepcha:
Bench: Supreme Court Chief Justice M. N. Venkatachaliah
"But in the case of the Sangha, it is not merely a religious institution. It has been historically a political and social institution in Sikkim and the provisions in regard to the seat reserved admit to being construed as a nomination and the Sangha itself being assigned the task of and enabled to indicate the choice of its nominee."
"In view of this historical association, the provisions in the matter of reservation of a seat for the Sangha recognises the social and political role of the institution more than its purely religious identity."
"Clause (f) of Article 371F is intended to enable, a departure from Article 332(2)."
"We are of the opinion that the provisions in the particular situation and the permissible latitudes, cannot be said to be unconstitutional."
"But, in our opinion, clause (f) of Article 371F is intended to enable, a departure from Art. 332(2). This is the clear operational effect of the non obstante clause with which Article 371F opens."
"The departures are not such as to negate fundamental principles of democracy. Thus, the provisions in the particular situation and the permissible latitudes, cannot be said to be unconstitutional."
"The reservation of seats for Bhutias and Lepchas is necessary because they constitute a minority and in the absence of reservation they may not have any representation in the Legislative Assembly."
"The provisions of clauses (f) of Article 371 F and the consequent changes in the electoral laws were intended to recognise and accommodate the pace of the growth of the political institutions of Sikkim and to make the transition gradual and peaceful and to prevent dominance of one section of the population over another on the basis of ethnic loyalties and identities. These adjustments and accommodations reflect a political expediencies for the maintenance of social equilibrium."
"Historical considerations and compulsions do justify inequality and special treatment."
"Indeed the argument in the case, in the perspective, is really one of violation of the equality principle rather than of the democratic principle. The inequalities in representation in the present case are an inheritance and compulsion from the past. Historical considerations have justified a differential treatment."

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday June 12-18, 2013  

Sangma for political solution to the Naxal problem

“Go into the root-cause of the problem”

Raipur, June 11: Former Lok Sabha Speaker and National People's Party chief P A Sangma yesterday said the Chhattisgarh government should find "a political solution" to the Naxal problem.

"What has happened (the Naxal attack in Bastar on Congress leaders) is very unfortunate and I completely reject this violence, but simultaneously we urge the state government as well as the Centre to go into the root-cause of the problem," he said here.

"As a tribal leader, I appeal (Naxals) to shun violence and come out for a dialogue. The government should find a political solution," he said.

Asked about possible impact of Bastar attack on the coming Assembly polls, he said, "Definitely it would have impact on Congress as they have lost their top leaders."

Sangma also said he was "very much against" using Army to fight Naxals, agencies reported.

"Their mindset is to fight enemy, not our people. In North-East, it is quite evident that even after deploying Army and imposing AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Power Act), insurgency has upsurged," he said.

"Tribals were ignored and suppressed. They are accused of being Maoists and Naxalites, hence they are scared to come to the capital (Raipur), which is very bad...There should be an economic package of Rs 2 lakh crore for the development of fifth schedule areas (listed in the Constitution)," Sangma said.

Sangma also said that Third Front will play a key role in coming Assembly elections in Chhattisgarh and will field candidates in all the ninety seats.

The Third Front in the state includes NPP, Chhattisgarh Swabhiman Manch, CPI, CPI (M), Rashtriya Gondwana Gadtantra Party and Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha.

Students protest against support to “His Majesty King Gyanendra”

Kathmandu, June 11: Dozens of students staged a rare protest on Monday against Nepal’s former king at the start of his private pilgrimage in the southeast of the country, police said.

Police arrested six protesters after they blocked roads and tore down banners welcoming Gyanendra Shah to Saptari district, in a rare demonstration against the monarchy which was abolished five years ago. “They also dismantled makeshift gates (built over the roads) welcoming the former monarch,” Rajendra Thakuri, a local police officer of Saptari district, AFP reported.

He said the students were angry at public displays of support for Nepal’s monarch, particularly banners in the town of Rajbiraj that still proclaimed the former king as “His Majesty King Gyanendra”. Police said around 60 protesters blocked roads throughout the district, forcing their closure and prompting police to deploy some 300 officers.

Dalai Lama invited to Hong Kong

Dharamshala, June 11:  His Holiness The 14th Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, has been invited to visit Hong Kong by a Tibetan and Han-Chinese religious organisation in September. The organisation said it is confident that His Holiness will be able to make the trip.

Philip Li Koi-hop, chairman of the Hong Kong Tibetan and Han-Chinese Friendship Association, expressed his optimism while speaking to Hong Kong based newspaper the South China Morning Post. Li said he has visited the Dalai Lama four times in India between 2009 and 2011.

"One time I asked him if he wanted to come to Hong Kong. He answered 'Yes', and said a University of Hong Kong professor had invited him earlier. But the Hong Kong government rejected the visit," Li, who has visited the Dalai Lama four times in India between 2009 and 2011, reports said.

Li said the current invitation to the 77-year-old spiritual leader, who relinquished all his political authority to the elected Tibetan leadership in 2011, was sent following his return from his latest visit.

Li further said that he hopes to use media pressure to urge the Dalai Lama to come to Hong Kong as well as to lean on the Immigration Department to allow the visit.

He has applied to the Immigration Department as well as sent letters to authorities in the mainland, and to President Xi Jinping, to allow His Holiness the Dalai Lama to visit the city.

The Hong Kong Tibetan and Han-Chinese Friendship Association was set up in 2010 to ''defend Tibetans' core value and promote ethnic harmony in China.'

An official of the Association had earlier told the Kyodo news service based in Tokyo "they want to gather people who would defend Tibetan culture and to build strong ties with them."

Li also said that if the Tibetan spiritual leader is permitted to visit Hong Kong, "his visit will represent significant progress in easing tensions with Beijing."

However, His Holioness The Dalai lama's private office has clarified that there was no such plan to tour the special administrative region under the control of People's Republic of China.

“Yes, it is true that the Private Office received the letter and our concerned staff had immediately replied saying that His Holiness' visit would not be possible for the time being,” said Nagpa Tsegyam, secretary at His Holiness the Dalai Lama's private office

“His Holiness has no scheduled plans of visiting Hong Kong in the near future,” he said, adding that there was a lengthy process involved in organising spiritual leader's visit and required detailed planning.

Tourists return to the Kashmir valley

Srinagar, June 11: J&K appears to be back on the popularity charts again after a brief lull in April, when tourist arrivals dropped by a sharp 30%. Houseboats, hotel rooms and planes are booked to capacity and bursting at the seams allaying apprehensions earlier this year that the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru may impact tourist footfalls.

Tourism ministry officials said that if the trend continues, the State would have received as many if not more tourists in 2013. J&K received a record 13 lakh tourists in 2011 and 2012, and industry estimates suggest that this is likely to continue. In fact, number of tourists in January and February, 2013, had doubled since 2011, Times of India reported.

However, the trend was stymied for the first time in April 2013, when the number of tourists dropped from 1.06 lakh in 2012 to 80,000. Guru was executed on February 9, 2013, following which protests flared up in the Valley and curfew imposed. Mobile, cable TV and internet services were disrupted and there was tension in parts of Kashmir for over 10 days. None of this was encouraging for tourism.

“There were fears within the government that Afzal Guru's execution would cause unrest and consequently impact tourism which was reflected when we received figures for tourist arrivals in March and April. April is the beginning of the season and it was a cause of deep worry,'” a tourism ministry official said.

The tourism ministry in collaboration with the ministries of home affairs and civil aviation and the state government had announced a two-week long Kashmir festival from May 14 onwards. “We began plans to offer 20%-30% discounts on airfare, houseboats and hotel room to boost tourism in the Valley. However within two-three days of announcing the discounts, the response was tremendous and we withdrew the offers,'” the official said.

Editorial  

MIXED REACTIONS

Chamling’s Dual Stand On Gorkhaland

There was no need for Sikkim Chief Minister Pawan Chamling to indirectly oppose formation of Gorkhaland state during the recent chief ministers’ conference in New Delhi. Though it was his Urban Development Minister DB Thapa who attended the conference on Chamling’s behalf the stand adopted at the meeting where Sikkim actually opposed formation of smaller states has justifiably caused discomfort in neighbouring Darjeeling. When Thapa spoke at the meeting he was speaking on behalf of the Chief Minister and, therefore, for the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to blame it on the minister alone is not a proper thing to do. The All India Gorkha League has at least voiced its doubt on Chamling’s sincerity on the statehood issue mainly because the Chamling Government has not only passed a resolution in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly supporting creation of Gorkhaland but Chamling himself as stated after the CMs’ conference that he supported the statehood demand in Darjeeling.

There could have been a strong reaction on Sikkim Government’s dual stand on Gorkhaland. Does this reflect that Gorkhas in North Bengal are gradually losing faith on Gorkha/Nepali leadership on the statehood issue? While most Sikkimese, including ‘Sikkimese Nepalese’, would fully back the statehood demand there are those in Darjeeling who are comfortable with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) – at least for the moment. Others are demanding 6^th schedule/Union Territory status for Darjeeling. In the meanwhile, the Centre is keenly watching our flip-flop on ‘Gorkhaland’ and is convinced that we are not very serious and sincere on the issue.

Chamling’s sincerity questioned on Gorkhaland issue

Darjeeling, June 11: Not all parties here are pleased with Sikkim’s flip-flop on the demand for creation of Gorkhaland state. While the ruling Gorkha Janmukti Morcha blamed Chief Minister Pawan Chamling’s cabinet colleague, Urban Development Minister DB Thapa, for opposing creation of smaller states in the country the opposition All India Gorkha League (AIGL) cast doubts on Chamling’s sincerity on the issue.

After Thapa opposed creation of smaller states in the country at the CMs’ conference in New Delhi last week, Chamling on Monday said he supported demand for Gorkhaland. In fact, Chamling said India should have at least 50 states like the USA.

 “We welcome the Sikkim Chief Minister’s support to our demand as it has also been passed in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly. But one of his minister has shown Darjeeling hills in a negative manner which is unacceptable”, said JGM General Secretary Roshan Giri.

Thapa had said formation of separate states may create unrest in Sikkim.

AIGL General Secretary Pratap Khati said it was difficult to ascertain Chamling’s sincerity on the statehood issue given the fact that the Sikkim Legislative Assembly two years back had passed a resolution supporting the creation of Gorkhaland state. (see edit on page 4)

600 Nathula tourists stranded

Gangtok, June 11: Around 600 tourists returning to Gangtok from Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la were stranded at 5th Mile, 15km from Gangtok, following a landslide on Jawaharlal Nehru Marg on Saturday evening, official sources said.

"Around 5pm, when the tourist vehicles were returning from Chhangu Lake, Baba Mandir and Nathu-la, slush and the debris blocked the road at 5th Mile and 112 vehicles were stuck," said a check post police officer at 2nd Mile, Sabitri Pradhan, over the phone, PTI reported.

Pradhan said the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) had started clearing the debris and the tourists would be brought to Gangtok as soon as possible.

"The tour operators with whom the tourists had booked vehicles have been informed. Some of them have reached the spot and are trying to bring the tourists back to Gangtok," said Pradhan.

BRO director A K Das said workers had been deployed to clear the road.

Gorkha agenda cheers Darjeeling tea planters

Kolkata, June 11: Darjeeling tea planters' keenness to launch tea tourism has found support in the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha's development agenda but the Mamata Banerjee government is sitting idle on the project. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader Bimal Gurung has asked planters to come up with development projects including tea tourism which can generate employment and earn revenue for the newly formed Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA).

Planters are keen on tea tourism because it provides them an alternative source of income at a time when erratic weather is affecting tea production. Talking to ET, SS Bagaria, chairman of Darjeeling Tea Association, said: "The GJM leader has told us that GTA has outlined a number of development projects for the region. Tea tourism is one of the important projects that he has suggested. Planters too are keen to develop tourism projects as this will add to their profitability." Though Mamata Banerjee is gung-ho about tea tourism, her government has not yet allowed planters to convert land use from agriculture to tourism, The Economic Times reported.

"I have submitted three such projects but I am yet to get a no-objection certificate from the government. Tea tourism has immense potential in the hills and can attract international tourists," said Bagaria. Gurung has asked planters to consider the setting up of an auction centre in Darjeeling and take active part in the development of the region.

Darjeeling tea industry veterans say the project will not take off unless the government takes the initiative. Ashok Lohia, chairman, Chamong Tee, the largest Darjeeling tea producer, said the GJM supremo is perturbed that teas from other regions were being branded and sold as Darjeeling tea.

Transportation of food grains to NE via Bangladesh

Kolkata, June 11: Transporting food grains for the mountainous northeastern states of India via Bangladesh began on Sunday, and the first consignment is expected to reach Tripura within 10 to 15 days, reports IANS quoting officials.

"A barge carrying the first consignment of 3,000 tonnes of foodgrains for Tripura left Haldia port (in West Bengal) on Thursday for Ashuganj river port in Bangladesh. From Ashuganj port, the food grains would be ferried to Tripura by road," a senior official of the Tripura food department said.

He said: "The first consignment is likely to reach Tripura within 10 to 15 days. In the next few months 10,000 tonnes of foodgrains for Tripura would be transported by this route."

Ashuganj river port in eastern Bangladesh under Brahmanbaria district is 35km from Tripura capital Agartala.

Surface connectivity is a key factor as the hilly region is surrounded by Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan and China, and the only land route to these states from within India is through Assam and West Bengal.

During the monsoon season (June to September), road transport becomes very difficult in the mountainous region due to floods and landslides. For ferrying essentials, goods and heavy machinery from abroad and other parts of the country, India has for long been asking Bangladesh land, sea and rail access to the northeast.

Agartala via Guwahati, for instance, is 1,650km from Kolkata and 2,637km from New Delhi. The distance between the Tripura capital and Kolkata via Bangladesh is just about 350km.

BEAUTY CONTEST

Sneha Subba is Miss Sikkim

This year’s Miss Sikkim Sneha Subba (centre) with Preeti Yonzon (right), 1^st Runners Up, and Srijana Adhikari (left) 2^nd Runners Up, at the Miss Sikkim 2013 contest in Gangtok on Saturday (June 8, 2013).

KALIMPONG: Your Quiet Hill Destination

Kalimpong is a bustling bazaar town set among the rolling foothills and deep valleys of the Himalayas. Kalimpong has become an important tourist destination owing to its temperate climate and proximity to popular tourist locations in the region. It is famous for its flower market, especially the wide array of orchids. Other attractions include Buddhist monasteries, including the Zang Dhok Palri Phodang - known for its rare Tibetan Buddhist scriptures, churches, an excellent private library for the study of Tibetan and Himalayan language and culture.

Kalimpong is also known for its traditional handicrafts. Although not many travellers bother to visit Kalimpong, there's enough here to keep you occupied for a couple of days, and for the energetic there's some good trekking and river-rafting in the river Teesta.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday June 5-11,

BJP slams Centre, State govt for neglecting Sikkim

Gangtok, June 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party has slammed the Centre for neglecting infrastructure build-up in Sikkim despite China increasingly showing border belligerence. The party’s national spokesperson, Prakash Javadekar who led the visit of the parliamentary committee on defence to the Indo-China border at Nathula in East Sikkim raised the charge. He also criticised the state government for not doing much in bolstering infrastructure in the strategically sensitive state.

The parliamentary team, he said, had visited the Indo-China border at Nathula to get a clear picture of infrastructure developments on both sides early Sunday morning.

Asked on their findings, he said: “We will submit a report to the Parliament and it is only after it is submitted things will be clear to all.”

“The Centre keeps neglecting Sikkim. What is needed for this landlocked state is good means of communication. The National Highway 31-A remains in bad shape, the proposed Airport keeps hanging for years, the rail link has not seen any progress beyond Bhoomi Pujan. No allocation has been made in this year’s rail Budget. The Centre should be more active in implementing the long pending connectivity projects - rail, road and air, The Statesman reported.

This is what should be the priority for a real developmental roadmap involving the landlocked, yet strategically important state,” he said. According to the BJP leader, the Pawan Chamling government is not making full use of funds for development schemes. "Both the Centre and the state government have failed Sikkim’s people. Sikkim deserves better,” the BJP leader added.

Nepal’s ex-king to tour Terai region

Kathmandu, June 4: Nepal’s sidelined monarch Gyanendra Shah is touring the Tarai districts of Nepal beginning June 10.

His trip to the southern plains to which Nepal’s friendliest neighbor India considers as its sole prerogative, will begin from the district of Saptari.

Gyanendra must have sought clarification from the Indian authorities, presume experts.

A press meet was organized by the Royalists in Rajbiraj today to announce the visit details.

 “His majesty will perform Pooja at the Kankalini temple in Bhardaha and Hanuman temple in Hanumannagar”, disclosed Kishori Mahato talking to the press men.

Bhardaha is located on the banks of the mighty Koshi River. Famous Nepali singer Udit Narayan hails from this place.

After visiting Saptari, King Gyanendra will travel to the districts of Siraha, Mahottari and Sarlahi.

It is almost certain that the failed republican parties of the country will take King Gyanendra’s visit to the Tarai as a conspiracy to derail the frail republican order, analysts claim.

Nepal villagers worry over decline in production of ‘Himalayan Viagra’

 (left)GOLD RUSH IN NEPAL: Nepalese hunting for yarchagumba

Every summer, Himalayan villages empty as locals rush to the mountains of northern Nepal to harvest yarchagumba, a high-altitude wild fungus that is prized for its aphrodisiac qualities.

In recent years, however, the yield has been severely depleted by over-picking and the probable effects of climate change, experts have warned, prompting fears about the future of the “Himalayan Viagra” harvest.

Last year’s season’s crop has been particularly poor, say the villagers who rely on the rare, parasitic fungus to earn money to feed their families.

“We returned home as we could not even collect more than 10 pieces of yarchagumba in a month,” Nar Bahadur Bohara, who had been harvesting in the remote northwestern district of Darchula, told the Kathmandu Post.

“Those who had collected 150 to 200 pieces last year could make it only 20 to 30 pieces.”

Fellow forager Narendra Thekare said the area had seen no rain for two months while winter snowfall, which is needed for the fungus to thrive, had been minimal.

“Production of yarchagumba has declined over the past five years. If this situation remains for some years, yarchagumba might vanish,” Thekare said.

Neighbouring China has a huge appetite for the obscure fungus, pushing prices above $11,500 per pound and putting its value somewhere between silver and gold.

Despite declining harvests, the export trade still brings essential cash into the impoverished local economy with Darchula district earning about $85,000 last year, according to officials.

Thousands of foragers in the mountains are able to support their families for a year with a decent haul from the April to June season, but competition for yarchagumba can turn violent.

In November a court convicted 19 villagers over the murder of a group of seven farmers during a fight in 2009 over the fungus in Nar, an isolated village 13,000ft above sea level.

Yarchagumba is effectively two organisms, the larva of the Himalayan ghost moth and the Cordyceps fungus. The fungus spores attack the larva while it lives beneath the ground, killing it and causing a mushroom to sprout out of its head.

There has been no definitive research conducted by Western scientists but Chinese herbalists believe the fungus, an excellent balance of yin and yang, as it is both animal and vegetable — boosts sexual performance.

Boiled in water to make tea, or added to soups and stews, it is said to cure a variety of other ailments from fatigue to cancer.

TIPA organizes Himalayan cultural show in Dharamsala

Dharamsala, June 4: Tibetans' Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) organized an Indo-Tibetan cultural exchange programme in Dharamsala that witnessed the participation of artists from India, Tibet and Nepal.

"It's a combined program of Nepalese and TIPA (Tibetans' Institute of Performing Arts), dancing group and this is an exchange of culture between Nepalese and Tibetans and plus we have asked the Hijackers musical group of Indians to backup the event," said organizer of the event, Ajay Lalhal.

The artists enthralled the audience by their unique cultural performances, ANI reported.

People from India and abroad gathered at the institute to watch the programme.

Participants see the event as a medium to promote their culture and exchange artistic knowledge with each other.

Nawang Yengchen, a Tibetan artist, said that it's a good idea to learn something as well as to know each other and their culture.

"Lots of foreigners have come and just to show our culture and to preserve, to show that we are just preserving our culture when we are in exile," said Yengchen.

The famous musical band, the 'hijackers", also performed at the function.

Himachal demands reimbursement on Dalai Lama, Karmapa expense

Shimla, June 4: Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday sought central assistance to strengthen civil and military infrastructure in its areas along the border with China.

Raising the issue in the chief ministers' meet on internal security here, Health and Family Welfare Minister Kaul Singh requested the central government to provide liberal financial assistance to strengthen police and civil establishments in Kinnaur and Lahaul-Spiti districts, which fall along the Indo-Tibet border.

He requested the union government to enhance financial allocations under the Border Area Development Programme, IANS reported.

Pleading that a broad-gauge rail line be built to link Manali with Leh in Jammu and Kashmir, he said this would help in transporting men and material to border areas of Ladakh, which are strategically important from the security point of view.

He also demanded 100 percent funding for police for equipping forces with high-altitude mountain gear and disaster management equipment to tackle natural disasters.

Singh also demanded reimbursement of the entire expenditure on security for Tibetan spiritual leaders the Dalai Lama and the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje, who reside in Dharamsala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, reported PTI.

He said that at present only a part of expenditure of the Dalai Lama is being reimbursed by the Ministry of External Affairs while the entire expenditure on the security of the Karmapa is being borne by the State.

He said the state would set up a Tibetan refugee unit in the state intelligence department, and a Tibetan refugee cell in Dharamsala.

Editorial

COMBATING GRAFT

Media Must Come Under RTI

BJP leader Arun Jaitley’s stand on the media as far as combating corruption in high places is concerned should be appreciated. He has suggested that efforts should be made to bring media groups and NGOs under RTI (Right To Information). Today, public figures and public enterprises include media representatives and their media houses. They cannot be exempted from transparency and accountability. Even in smaller cities and towns in India the media exerts enough influence in public life. Their activities, therefore, must come under public scrutiny. In many place pro-established media houses and individual journalists are favoured by the authorities as far as issue of advertisements and other facilities are concerned.  Public money cannot and must not be spent arbitrarily.

Setting a new bench mark in transparency in politics, the Central Information Commission (CIC) has held political parties are answerable under the Right to Information Act. A full bench of the commission comprising chief information commissioner Satyananda Mishra and information commissioner M L Sharma and Annapurna Dixit has directed several major political parties in the country to comply with the provisions of mandatory proactive disclosures clauses given under the RTI Act and put those details on their websites. The CIC held that political parties "affect the lives of the citizens, directly or indirectly in every conceivable way and are continuously engaged in performing public duty. It is, therefore, important that they become accountable to public." The same yardstick must also apply to the media as its role in public life is also very vast and influential.

Manipur girls victims of Jaipur’s Grace Home run by pastor

Imphal, June 4: Following interaction with families in Manipur who had sent their children to a Jaipur-based illegal children’s home, social activists have alleged that batches of children went back home with severe physical deformities, sexual abuse - and in one case even pregnant. Four children reportedly died on their way back home.

Ukhrul District Alliance for Child Rights has filed a report to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights, pointing out over 30 cases of physical and sexual abuse of children lodged in Grace Home in Jaipur, said a report in The Indian Express.

Grace Home, run by Pastor Jacob John, was raided on March 12. In two other following raids, 53 children were rescued by an NGO FXB India Suraksha, Rajasthan Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Jaipur Police.

From the rescued lot, one girl had complained of repeated rape and another of molestation. Since a large number of the rescued children - 23 out of 53 - were brought in from Manipur, social activists in the state attempted to reach out to the children who were pulled out of the home by their families between 2004 and 2009.

The report states four children died: two on their way back in the train, one in Grace home and one died of TB after reaching her house.

Other children who were pulled out of the illegal home came back with severe physical deformities; particularly knock knees, and mental retardation.

“Almost all of them have disfigured legs. This is observed mostly in girls. Girls said they were given two types of medicine as vitamins. Some got severe stomach pain after consuming the medicine.

One girl said she did not take the medicine when other girls complained of stomach pain. Incidentally, her legs are not disfigured.”

Tangkhul Shanao Long, Delhi president Felicita Shongvah told The Sunday Express, “A number of minor girls were sexually exploited and in one case, the girl got pregnant.

It is said she has delivered the baby, who is with her grandmother now, while the girl is missing. The children also confided they saw Jacob sleeping with the girl inmates.”

It may be mentioned that Pastor Jacob John was brought to Nagaland on May 7 and was kept in police custody for 5 days.

The eight trafficked children from Nagaland rescued from dubious children’s homes in Jaipur on March 12 were brought back to Nagaland April 4.

Imphal, Agartala airports to be upgraded

Agartala, June 4: Airports Authority of India (AAI) has begun preliminary work to upgrade the airports in Imphal and Agartala as international airports as part of India’s “Look East” policy to boost the region’s connectivity and trade with Southeast Asia, officials said.

“As part of the ambitious plan, the terminal buildings, air traffic control towers, runway and other necessary infrastructure would be expanded and further strengthened in both Agartala and Imphal airports,” an AAI official told IANS.

“Over Rs.160 crore would be spent to gradually develop Imphal and Agartala airport to international standards.

Modern Air Traffic Control towers are being set up at a cost of Rs.10 crore each in the two airports,” said the official, asking not to be named.

Currently, Guwahati airport is the only international airport in mountainous northeastern region comprising eight states, including Sikkim. Since 2010, Bhutan’s Druk Airlines has been operating flights from Guwahati in the Bangkok-Guwahati-Paro (Bhutan) route once in a week.

AAI chairman V. P. Agarwal and Civil Aviation Secretary K. N. Shrivastava will hold a high-level meeting in Agartala June 6 on the upgradation of the Agartala airport as an international airport.

“Upgradation of Agartala airport, development of two other abandoned airports in Tripura and modernisation of the airport would be discussed in the June 6 meeting,” Tripura transport secretary Kishore Ambuly told IANS.

The Tripura government has long been demanding to operate flights between northeastern states and adjoining Bangladesh to boost trade, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

According to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh, Imphal Airport would become an international airport in July this year.

For some time, the North Eastern Council (NEC), a regional planning body, and the Union Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) have been trying to operate a regional airline to connect selected airports in eight northeastern states.

With Guwahati as the hub for the new regional airline, there are 11 operational airports in the northeast, including Tezpur, Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Silchar in Assam, Dimapur in Nagaland, Agartala in Tripura, Aizawl in Mizoram, Imphal in Manipur and Barapani in Meghalaya.

The proposed regional airline would also be connected with the Bagdogra airport in West Bengal.

The official said that at least 12 new airports are expected to be operational in the near future in the region.

“To develop five airports in the northeastern region, projects worth Rs.141.17 crore have been sanctioned recently on a 60:40 funding basis (60 percent by NEC and 40 percent by Airports Authority of India),” the official added. The five airports include Guwahati, Imphal, Barapani, Jorhat and Dibrugarh.