SIKKIM OBSERVER  Saturday   June 29 – July 5,  2013    

 ‘Sikkimese Nepalese’ defend their special status, condemn old settlers for calling them ‘foreigners’

DN Nepal supports Kabi-Lungtsok sanctity; Biraj Adhikari for restoration of Assembly seats for Sikkimese Nepalese

Duknath Nepal

Gangtok, June 28: Sikkimese Nepalese leaders have strongly condemned and vehemently resisted attempts made by some members of the old business community in the State to label them as ‘foreigners.’

According to them, some members of the old settlers of the State have in their petition in the Supreme Court on the income tax issue have alleged that ‘Sikkimese Nepalese’ are ‘foreigners’ in the State.

The Sikkim Liberation Party President Duknath Nepal in a press statement said his party workers have been instructed “to be prepared of any kind of circumstances” in opposing those who have labeled them as foreigners.

“This is not the first time that Sikkimese have been under attack and their rights being impinged upon. From the very first day of being the part of India, there has been grand design against the interest of Sikkimese people,” Nepal said in the statement.

“Some elements have been relentless in their effort to point fingers time and again against the Sikkimese people,” Nepal added.

He has pointed out that the Constitution has recognized “only three ethnic communities as the bonafide of Sikkim, and they are Bhutia, Lepcha and Nepali” and not those who represent the business community in the State.

Nepal has also supported the efforts made by the State’s minority Bhutia-Lepchas to preserve the historic and sacred site of Kabi-Lungtsok in North Sikkim.

“While on the one side the majority are being tagged as foreigners, there has been persistently cowardly attack to destroy the historical base of the minority community,” Nepal said and appealed “to all the section of the Sikkimese society to stand united to fight the diabolical forces.”

Biraj Adhikari

“Historical places are neither constructed or developed, instead protected and conserved,” Nepal said.

The Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) feels betrayed by old settlers of the State for describing Sikkimese Nepalese as “foreigners” in their writ petition in the Supreme Court.

“The SNPP strongly condemns the choice of words used in the petition to describe the Sikkimese of Nepali origin as foreigners, which shows an absolute lack of sensitivity on the part of the petitioners regarding the sentiment and pride of the majority community who, incidentally, have been supporting the petitioners in their efforts to exempt themselves from paying Income Tax from the beginning,” SNPP President Biraj Adhikari said in a Press statement.

“The party feels this is a betrayal of the trust which has existed for so long and is of the opinion that just a simple apology to the Nepali community will not suffice, and the petitioners will have to make visible efforts in order bring back the trust as it was,” Adhikari said.

The SNPP chief also reiterated the Sikkimese Nepalese’ demand for restoration of their reserved seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly.

Adhikari said, “till the seat reservation is restored, the Sikkimese of Nepali origin will not get their due even after having papers like the Sikkim Subject Certificate, and will be subject to these demeaning accusations in the future also.”

 “The party hopes that this incident will be the eye-opener for the people to renew their demands for the restoration of seat reservations which were in place and which will put an end to such absurd insinuations,” Adhikari added.

 While condemning the allegation, the Sikkimey Nepali Jaatiya Sangharsha Samiti  has threatened to stage a state-wide non-cooperation movement if members of the old settlers in the State fail to apologize and rectify the mistake in the writ petition.

Reportedly, members of the old settlers have assured that allegations against Sikkimese Nepalese in their petition would be amended.

SDF has ‘betrayed’ Sikkim: SSP

SSP President NB Bhandari during his campaign in east Sikkim

Gangtok, June 28: Sikkim Sangram Parishad feels “betrayed” by the Chamling Government, which came to power in 1994. One of the objectives of the party is to “abolish the misrule” of the ruling party and “give proper justice to the innocent people of Sikkim.”

This assurance was made to several youths of Syari Assembly Constituency, who joined the SSP yesterday.

The youths informed SSP President NB Bhandari the “hope and aspiration” of the people have not been realized in the 19-year rule of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front government.

The joining of the youths follows the SSP’s “Jan Bichar Bimarsha Adhiyan” campaign in the State under Bhandari’s leadership.

The campaign reached several towns in east district such as Pakyong and Ranipool on Wednesday where people placed their grievances against the government to the SSP chief.

The SSP was revived on May 24 last month when Bhandari - formely President of Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee – took over the party as its President.

Bhaichung slams SFA for ignoring demands

Gangtok, June 28: Former Indian football captain Bhaichung Bhutia on Thursday said he was upset with the attitude of the Sikkim Football Association (SFA) as it had ‘ignored’ the demands of the clubs of the state.

Bhutia, CEO of United Sikkim Football Club, said the recently formed Football Club Association of Sikkim (FCAS) had sent its demands twice to the SFA but got a reply which only told the clubs to comply with 13-point criteria.

“The criterion was such that even Asian Football Confederation did not apply them to foreign teams to take part in tournaments organised by them,” he told a press conference.

“This is just telling us indirectly that we are not welcome to contribute for the benefit of football at the grassroots level,” Bhaichung, an executive member of the FCAS, said.

Various other members of the FCAS were present at the press conference, PTI reported.

Among other demands, FCAS had sought that two members of all clubs that have played in Senior Division S-League for a minimum of five years be given permanent membership with voting rights in the SFA and two FACS executive members be made executive members of SFA.

Another demand of the FCAS was that clubs from within and around Gangtok playing in S-League and Independence Day tournaments be given Rs. 5,000 per match by the organizing committee. Also, teams from outside Gangtok be given taxi fare besides Rs 5,000.

The SFA reply had puzzled everyone as, if the 13-point criteria was followed, many clubs would fail to qualify even for the local S-league since SFA wanted that 20 players of each participating club would have to be below 20 years of age, Bhutia said.

“We met the sports minister today. He has assured us to intervene in this matter,” he said.

Pandey had betrayed people in 2004 Assembly polls: ‘Save Kabi Longtsok’ Prez

Gangtok, June 28: Palden Bhutia – or Pandey – the person who ditched the Congress party and the people of Kabi-Tingda by failing to file his nomination papers for the 2004 Assembly polls is now under attack.

He has been heavily criticized by ‘Save Kabi Longtsok’ President Sonam Tshering Bhutia on his efforts to defile the sanctity of the historic and sacred site of Kabi-Lungtsok in Kabi, North Sikkim.

According to Sonam Tshering Bhutia, Pandey is the President of Kabi Longtsok Development Association (KLDA), which has a stake in the proposed construction works of the State Government at the historic site.

“The people of Kabi-Tingda constituency once has thrown him out of society for betraying the people of his constituency by absconding from filing nomination in 2004 General Assembly Election. People even conducted Black Puja against him for stopping the people of Kabi-Tingda from their voting right and exercising their adult franchise which comes once in a five years.

Each and every individual in Sikkim is aware of this man Mr. Palden alias Pandey’s history, character and his nature,” Bhutia said in a press statement.

Editorial

SIKKIMESE NEPALESE

Harmony Must Be Maintained

Nepalese living outside Nepal have always been wary of the ‘foreigner’ tag labeled on them. This is the main reason behind the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland in India. Even Sikkimese Nepalese, at times, feel a sense of insecurity on the issue. This is evidenced from how some Nepalese political and social organizations in Sikkim reacted this week against Sikkimese Nepalese being labeled as ‘foreigners’ in a petition of the old settlers of the former kingdom in the court. Whatever their history, the fact is that majority of bonafide Sikkimese are Sikkimese Nepalese and they possess genuine Sikkim Subject Certificate.

Fortunately, the old settlers’ organization promptly decided to rectify the allegation in their petition. At times such as these there is the need for all sections of people in Sikkim to act with caution and to maintain the peace, unity and communal harmony that is so vital to this very sensitive and strategic border State. Hopefully, the three ethnic communities and others living in the State will stand strong and united against any bid to tear apart their unity and peace.

An Appeal:‘Please Save Kabi Longtsok’

By TSETEN TASHI BHUTIA

“Our future depends on our ability to honor and maintain long-standing spiritual practices." - J.D. Educator

“No meaningful performance of Buddhist rituals is possible if this land and water is desecrated.”- Prof. P.S. Ramakrishnan

The appellation Kabi Longtsok derived from the sacred occasion of swearing-in of the oath of blood-brotherhood between the Great Lepcha Patriarch Thekong Tek and Cho Khye Bhumsa in the 13th.Century.

‘Kabi’ meaning Ka-yu-sa-vi or our blood and ‘Long’ meaning stone and ‘Tsok’ meaning erect in Lepcha. Kayu-sa-vi-na Long- tsok in Lepcha, that is, erect stone with our blood which is an oath sworn.

The modern history of Sikkim has direct connection with the history of blood brotherhood between Thekong Tek and Khye Bhumsa.

Khye Bhumsa and his wife had no issue even after the passage of several years. When he heard about a legendary Lepcha Patriarch Thekong Tek of Sikkim, who was duly venerated as an emanation of the Guru Rinpoche, he instantly decided to seek his blessing and according to the prophecy, set southward of Tibet. On meeting Thekong Tek, he requested him for a boon of a son which Thekong Tek considered the request and gave his blessings. The following year a son was born to Khye  Bhumsa. Much delighted by the miracle, Khye  Bhumsa out of gratitude decided to pay tribute to the great Lepcha Patriarch with gifts and offerings and visited him again at Kabi Longtsok..

During this meeting, Thekong Tek lifted the child in a playful mood, accidentally one foot of the child touched his forehead. Thekong Tek pondered over this occurrence and insisted for an Oath of eternal blood brotherhood between Lepchas and the Bhutias.

  This oath taking ceremony witnessed the sacrifice of several animals with invocation of the local deities to witness the occasion of this solemn oath of Blood brotherhood between the Lepchas and Bhutias as one and inseparable single entity. Both Thekong Tek and Khye Bhumsa put their feet in a blood-filled vessel and sat upon raw animal hides with the intestine of the animal tied around them and blood splattered all around.  Thekong Tek invited and involved all the local deities led by the eternal guardian deity of Sikkim Khang-Chen-dzod-nga or Kintsoom Zaongboo Cheu to witness the historic occasion of Blood brotherhood treaty.

He also directed the deities to bless those who observed this oath most sincerely and faithfully and curse on those who tries to break their relationship or refuses to comply with it.

As such, realizing the prophecies of Guru Rinpoche and as discharged and interpreted by the great Lepcha Patriarch Thekong Tek, the indigenous Bhutia-Lepchas became a single inseparable entity since  the 13th.Century A.D. after this historic oath taking ceremony, which was witnessed by non-other than the Khangchen Dzod-nga Tag-Tse at Kabi Longtsok Drag-Chen.

Commemorating the significance of the event, Supreme Guardian deity of Sikkim Mt. Khangchen Dzonga is still venerated also as “Witness God” during the annual Pang-Lhabsol ceremony in Sikkim.

After this, the descendent of Khey Bhumsa; Mipon-Rab, Guru Tashi, Gyalpo Apha, Gyalpo Nagpo, Guru Tenzing and then the first “consecrated” Chogyal of Sikkim, Phintso Namgyal in 1642 A.D. succeeded Khey Bhumsa.

While Ney-da Thekong Mon- Slong of Ney Thakthungrong-Phamorong was requested by Mahaguru to guide and help the local guardian deities in protecting and preserving all hidden dharma treasures and sacred locations as explicitly mentioned in Denzong Neyig. There is a belief that the Lepcha Chief Mon-Slong was the host when three lamas arrived in Sikkim land.

To perpetuate the treaty and its objective of unity, peace and harmony amongst the future generation of the land, a symbolic stone was erected as per tradition with blood splattered over it, which can be witnessed even today where we pray, worship and make offerings without or with our Bongthings and Monks traditionally.

The value and significance of 13th.Century Blood brotherhood of Kabi Longtsok between Bhutia and Lepchas as single inseparable entity is legalized, approved and confirmed today even by the parliament of largest democratic country in the world officially as BL (Bhutia-Lepcha) and therefore, any attack to dislodge the brotherhood is unconstitutional, illegal and not acceptable as prophesied by the Great Lepcha Patriarch Thekong Tek. (The writer is a former Minister and Convenor of Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee – SIBLAC)

Sikkim Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh defends ‘Sikkimese Nepalese’ status, condemns old settlers’ stand

Gangtok, June 28: The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) has condemned aspersions cast against Sikkimese Nepalese by old settlers of the State.

In a press statement, BGP Sikkim unit President KN Sharma said “anti-social elements” within the State’s old settlers had in their petition in the Supreme Court on the income tax issue alleged that Sikkimese Nepalese are foreigners.
Sharma said the “so-called older settlers” of the former kingdom refused to accept Sikkim subject status when it was given to all residents of Sikkim under certain criteria in 1961. They should now not label “native Sikkimese Nepalese as foreigner,” the release said.

“The IT exemption by Government is constitutionally guaranteed to the native Sikkimese under the preview of the provisions granted under article 371 (F) which excludes these so-called old settlers,” Sharma said.

 ‘Save Kabi Longtsok” holds peace puja, gets wide support

Gangtok, June 28: The ‘Save Kabi Longtsok Committee’ has thanked all those who participated in the peace puja performed at the historic Kabi-Lungtsok site in North Sikkim on  Monday and giving it the much-needed support in opposing the State Government project at the site.

Committee President Sonam Tshering Bhutia, in a press statement, thanked Ong Shezum (Lepcha Youth Asso.),Sikkim, NASBO, Save Sikkim from West Sikkim, Denzong Chyarig Tsogpa, All Sikkim Monastery Association(ASMA) and many others, including Ex-Chief Secretary  Sonam Wangdi, Ex-MP ,Ex-Minister, and members of other communities “for their support and appreciation shown for fighting against illegal project” at the sacred site.

INTERVIEW OF THEWEEK

DEV GURUNG

“Polls are ploy to Sikkimize Nepal”       

  CPN-Maoist is all set to launch the second round of its nationwide protests against the government’s ‘unilateral’ decision to hold Constituent Assembly elections on November 19. The party has ruled out dialogue unless their demands, including the resignation of the CJ-led government, are met. Is it still possible for CPN-Maoist to find common ground with the Big Four and the Regmi government on CA polls? How will it respond if its demands are not met? Kathmandu’s Republica talked to the outspoken CPN-Maoist Party Secretary Dev Gurung on various issues confronting the former Hindu Kingdom. Excerpts of the interview:

Republica: Your party seems determined to disrupt upcoming polls. Is that the right perception?

Dev Gurung: Election is not the right solution to the problems the country faces today. Look at what happened in Sikkim. Election there cost the territory its sovereignty. The same thing happened in Fiji. Let there be no doubt: The proposed election is not meant to give a new constitution. If the parties really wanted to make one, they would have done so through the old CA. The problem is not absence of election, but the deeply rooted rastriya atmasamarpanbad (‘national capitulation’) among the top leaders of four parties.

R: CPN-Maoist has been raising the bogey of Sikkimization for quiet sometime now. What is the basis of your suspicion?

DG: Isn’t it obvious? Article 21 of the 25-point constitution amendment proposal has provisioned for citizenship distribution by descent, even for temporary residents of foreign origin living along the border. We share a porous border with India. Citizenship is the only means to distinguish Nepalis from foreigners there. But the current citizenship distribution system has allowed even foreigners to get citizenships on the eve of election.

    In time, foreigners will become dominant, and real Nepalis will be pushed into a minority. Events over the last two years suggest that we are indeed on the way to being Sikkimized. Foreign forces are conspiring to turn Nepal into another Sikkim and, if that is not possible, into another Bhutan. The election is a part of the same design.

R: Only a couple of days ago your party chairman said that the party could participate in the polls if they were deferred from November 19.

DG: We wanted to give four parties enough time to correct their wrongs. Let us first forge broad consensus, resolve the citizenship issue, and bring politics back into our own hands. We can even make a political declaration of consensus. If it takes a few more months to settle these issues, let it be so. Election can wait.

R: Many partners in your 42-party alliance support election. Unlike CPN-Maoist, no other party is asking that the government resigns. Doesn’t it sometimes feel like a lost cause?

DG: It is not a question of how many supporters we have. We may have a few things in common with the 41 other parties, but we are fighting for a completely different agenda. We are fighting for no less than national sovereignty and independence.

R: What are minimum criteria for your participation in the polls?

DG: The problem is neither the government nor the four parties are interested in settling disputes through negotiation. If they were, they would halt election process and we would put our protest programs on hold. But the four parties and government are forging ahead, updating voter roll, announcing poll date and enacting electoral laws without taking us into confidence. They have taken us to the point of no return. They have left us no room to participate in the polls.

R: But isn’t election intended to bring a new legislature parliament as well?

DG: Like I said, the problem is not the election. If one person is ill, you can’t cure him by treating another person. The root cause of our problems is the tendency of our political leaders to capitulate before foreigners. If they stand united on national issues, foreign powers will be helpless. If the parties agree to restore the country’s political rights, we are ready to compromise on anything.

R: How can this be done?

DG: The Big Four need to correct past mistakes. The parties are staging the farce of election without getting the basics right. Their first mistake was to hold the CA hostage for four years and then to dissolve it. The four parties should not have supported Bhattarai’s unconstitutional move of dissolving the CA and legislature parliament. The President’s 25-point amendment order killed the spirit of interim constitution. Then they appointed Chief Justice as the PM. All this has happened under the direct order of foreign powers. These need to be corrected.

PRIDE OF SIKKIM

NIMA DOMA BHUTIA

Nima Doma Bhutia  of Eklavya Model Residential School (EMRS), Gangyap, West Sikkim, was  awarded 'Chacha Nehru Sports Award' for the 2nd time in  two years.

Nima Doma Bhutia, a class XII student of EMRS,was once again awarded the ‘Chacha Nehru Sports Award’ in basketball by CBSE, New Delhi, for her amazing performance in the under 19 CBSE Basketball Nationals last December in Jaipur, where EMRS stood as Silver Medalists. She received a cheque for a sum of Rs. 6,000/-.The letter from CBSE,  stating her winning the award along with the cheque was received on 21st of June 2013.

Bhutia had won the same award last year too when she led EMRS to victory in the CBSE Basketball Nationals in Tamil Nadu.

Nima Doma expressed her gratitude to her coach, her team mates and all her well wishers as well as the entire Eklavyian teaching faculty and school management committee and said she dedicates the award to them. Her one dream is to play for the country and so continues to train and practise hard.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday June 26 – July 2, 2013  

Take part in electoral process, PM tells JK

Hurriyat Conference has called for poll boycott

Srinagar, June 25: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today asked people of Jammu and Kashmir to participate more in the electoral process for a better future for the youth, saying that elections reflect true aspirations and hopes.

"Elections express the aspirations and hopes of the people in the true sense. I appeal to the people to participate in this process so that we can together ensure a better future for our younger generations," he said after inaugurating the 850 MW Rattle power project here.

The Prime Minister's remarks come in the wake of recent opposition by separatists to people's participation in the elections due next year.

The hardline Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani has called for a boycott of the elections. While Lok Sabha elections are scheduled next year, the Assembly polls in the state are to be held towards the end of 2014.

Singh, accompanied by Congress president Sonia Gandhi, landed in Udhampur today and then flew by helicopter to Kishtwar where they addressed a rally after inaugurating a Hydel power project across the Chenab river.

A day after the militant strike in Srinagar left eight soldiers dead, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the entire country is standing united against terrorists and they will not succeed in their designs.

"I want to pay my tributes to the soldiers who laid down their lives while fighting the terrorists," Singh said in his speech after inaugurating 850 MW Rattle power project here along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

China praises Nepal for crackdown on Tibetan "separatists”

Kathmandu, June 25: Terming its relations with Nepal as "exemplary", China on Monday praised its southern neighbour for its crackdown on Tibetan "separatist forces".

The China-Nepal relationship is an "example of relationship between big and small countries based on mutual coexistence and mutual treatment", Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a media briefing here today.

She was responding to a question on the two-day visit of China's State Councillor Yang Jiechi to Kathmandu beginning today, PTI reported.

State Councillor is China's highest ranking diplomat, a post akin to National Security Advisor.

Yang will arrive in Kathmandu after completing his visit to Myanmar.

"The sound and steady relationship between our two countries not only serves them but also regional peace, stability and development," Hua said.

Hua also praised Nepal for the crackdown on Tibetan refugees by barring all activities in support of the Dalai Lama.

"The government of Nepal is upholding the One-China policy and always recognises Tibet as an inalienable part of the Chinese territory and does not allow any force to carry out anti-China separatist activities on the land of Nepal," she said.

"We highly commend it and we also hope and believe that Nepal will continue to honour this commitment," she said.

Shigatse-Kathmandu rail link by 2013 end

Kathmandu, June 25: The Tibet railway is expected to connect Kathmandu with Shigatse later this year. Losang Samten, chief of the Tibet Autonomous Region government, informed in Beijing that the Lhasa-Shigatse railway will be completed ahead of schedule and the railway will become operational at the beginning of 2014.

Speaking at the ongoing Chinese National Congress on Tuesday, Losang Samten informed that the project, considered a very ambitious and strategic one for China, is going to see completion soon.

“I hope the Lhasa-Shigatse railway will be completed by the end of this year [2013] and will come into operation at the start of 2014,” said Losang, speaking in course of the Natonal Congress meeting, Republica reported.

The 253 kilometer Lhasa-Shigatse railway is a very ambitious project under China´s 12th five-year plan, which commenced in 2011. The project, started in September 2010, aims to see completion by 2015, at a cost of 2.1 billion US dollars.

The railway will reach Shigate, the second largest city of Tibet, passing through the 90-kilometer gorge of the Yarlung Tsangpo (Brahmaputra) river and it is expected to boost tourism and business in those areas. Tibet attracted 11 million tourists last year, generating revenue worth 2.1 billion dollars.

The Lhasa-Shigatse railway is the first-leg expansion of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, which is to connect Tibet with the Chinese capital.

Beijing plans to link Kerung, a business hub near Rasuwagadhi in Nepal, with Shigatse, which is connected with Nepal, India and Bhutan.

Another branch of the railway to Nyanchi, south-east of Lhasa, will reach the Indian border. The main purpose of the railway is to develop relations with South Asia. China is already connected to South-East Asia by rail.

According to Hu Siseng, South and South-East Asia director of the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, China plans a rail and road network from south-eastern Yunan province to the border areas of the western province of Xinjiang by 2020.

“We plan to connect neighboring countries including Nepal after constructing railways to the border areas,” said Hu, indicating some amendments to a previous plan. He said the railway will connected with Nepal after expanding the road network.

Hu claimed that India will also be attracted by the strategic aspects of these developments in physical contact between Nepal and China within the next few years. He commented that this will impact hugely on relations between China and South Asia.

“Field studies show that there is not so much difficulty technically and physically in connecting Kathmandu by rail,” added Hu, indicting that China would not be deterred by the difficulties of Himalayan geography.

 After Uttarakhand, will Arunachal & Sikkim be next?

By SOUMIK DUTTA

India’s northern state of Uttarakhand is struggling in the aftermath of flash floods which caused massive destruction of life and property. At last count, over 500 have died.

The tragedy has also turned the spotlight on the unmitigated construction activity in the environmentally sensitive hill areas, notably the vast number of hydel power projects.

India’s federal auditor, the Comptroller & Auditor General (CAG), in a report submitted four years ago warned Uttarakhand as well as the Central Government of potential hazards arising from the 42 hydropower projects in the state as well as some 200 under construction.

But Uttarakhand is not alone. India’s earthquake-sensitive, north-eastern hill states like Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are also seeing a frenzied construction of new power plants.

Most of this capacity is meant to serve consumers elsewhere because the states are already meeting most of their own demand. This report does not delve into the environmental assessment impact of these additional power plants. And yet, the scale of projects planned and underway is staggering.

For instance, the Arunachal Pradesh Government had, as of March 2013, signed memorandum of agreements (MOAs) for 153 hydel projects adding up to a whopping 43,118 MW.  This is almost 19% of India’s total installed capacity of 225,133 MW! The good news perhaps is that most of these projects are yet to take off.

Sikkim as per the latest list submitted recently by the Government in High Court, has 26 live hydro power projects with a total revised capacity of 4190.50 MW. This included 570 MW commissioned by NHPC and an additional 730 MW by the public sector National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) under construction.

The large number of power projects on the runway does not in itself mean that an Uttarakhand-like disaster will strike but warnings have been sounded for a while, mostly by locals. There have been a fair amount of media reports on Arunachal’s `hydel gate’ too but fewer have focussed on the potential environmental hazards. Arunachal for instance lies in Seismic Zone V, or very ‘high damage risk zone’.

In contrast to the massive line-up, current power demand in the two states stands at just 589 MW for Arunachal Pradesh and 409 MW for Sikkim. Incidentally, total installed capacity in the north east of India is 2,885 MW while peak demand is 1,899 MW. Actual demand met stands at 1,718 MW right now, leaving a deficit of 9.5% (181MW).

Teesta hydro power project in North SikkimAdd caption

Arunachal Pradesh currently generates around 44o MW of power. Of this, 35.19 MW comes from 63 micro/mini/small hydro electric plants (HEPs) while 405 MW comes from a single power project, run by the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), a public sector unit.

Projects worth another 690 MW are under construction. The NEEPCO is building one 600 MW plant while the state government is building 72 mini projects with a combined output of 91.9 MW.

Sikkim generates around 610 MW of electricity; of this 40.70 MW comes from the state government while the balance 570 MW comes from the NHPC. There are approximately 10 projects at various levels of construction in Sikkim which would potentially add 1,000 MW capacity. Projects include Gati’s 97 MW project and Jorethang’s 97MW. Assuming a cost of Rs 7 crore per MW, the total cost of these projects would be at least Rs 7,000 crore.

There is concern that these ambitious plans might be good to meet energy deficits but dangerous environmentally. While this report is not delving into environmental assessment issues, it’s interesting to note that many projects have gone to developers with no prior experience. A fact pointed out in recent media reports as well.  They include Gati, a cargo & logistics firm, Athena Energy Ventures, which has had some construction experience but one leg of the trail ends up at the door of a finance company – Karvy Financial Services. Similarly,  Dans Energy was a finance company before it also joined the energy race in the north-east state.

Second, it is alleged that the Environment Impact Analysis (EIA) studies prepared have lacked vital inputs like seismological data and geological formation studies. Moreover, huge tracts of forest lands have been diverted for non-forest use, involving felling of thousands of trees. In Himachal Pradesh, to use a concurrent example, 78 square kilometres of forest were engulfed by hydroprojects. The compensatory afforestation programme by project developers is often faulty and inadequate.

It is also felt that the environmental issues are not getting the attention they deserve from the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF). For instance, the ministry has set the minimum distance between two dams at 1 km; reason being that the 1 km distance is the bare minimum between dams on the same river or tributary needed to preserve aquatic life.

There are charges of developers manipulating river flow data, discharge of water data, flouting norms on deposition of muck from drilling and blasting as well as felling of trees and not fulfilling the compensatory plantation. There have been wide scale protests across the Himalayas against these practices. In Sikkim, organisations like the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (Siblac) and the Affected Citizens of Teesta have been protesting the hydro power projects.

Anti-Teesta hydel project protesters of the Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT) during an indefinite hunger strike in Gangtok (file pix)

The CAG in a report on the power projects, said:  “The terms of the High Powered Committee-endorsed hydro power policy are loaded in favour of the IPPs (Independent Power Producers).  Sikkim charged an absurdly low upfront premium of Rs 10,000 per MW of installed capacity towards non-refundable processing fee while states like Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal and Uttarakhand were demanding and getting huge up-front premiums from private hydropower developers.

So, why are the states going hell for leather in setting up these projects, despite the potential environmental hazards? Revenue from power seems to be a key consideration. Arunachal, for instance, has collected substantial sums as processing fee and upfront premium from the project developers. There have been multiple reports of corruption as well.

And there are other concerns. Questions are being raised about the state’s authority in giving away land for any project. In Arunachal, all land rights are with the tribal communities. The same applies to Sikkim, under article 371F, as most of the land is tribal land with no right to purchase, sell or lease being vested with non-tribals.

As this report started by saying, projects signed up do not mean executed. As it turned out. Most  Arunachal projects were signed off between 2006 and 2009, a boom period of sorts. This trend is similar to excesses in other resource-led industries like coal, in the same period. Be that as it may, the Uttarakhand disaster should surely serve as a strong warning sign to any environmentally sensitive infrastructure projects, particularly in the virgin hill states of India. (India Spend)

China may be easing up on Tibet

By TSERING NAMGYAL

In an abrupt and unexpected reversal of policy, Chinese government officials have told monks in some Tibetan areas that they are now free to “worship” the Dalai Lama as a “religious leader.” The new policy document—prefixed with the word “experiment”—also asked that the monks now refrain from “criticizing the Dalai Lama,” and “stop using such labels as a wolf in a monk’s robe,” a common pejorative hurled against the Tibetan spiritual leader by Beijing.

“As a religious person, from now on you should respect and follow His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama,” the document continued, “but in terms of politics you are not allowed to do so. Politics and religion should go separate ways.”

The announcement was reportedly made during a conference held on June 14 at a so-called Qinghai Provincial Buddhist School where a new party secretary was appointed. It was attended by high-ranking ethnic Tibetan and Chinese officials, according to the Tibetan language website Khabda.org, which reported the news.

Analysts say that the Chinese government might have been forced to rethink its strategy on Tibet following more than 100 self-immolations that have occurred inside the special administrative region since 2009.

“If that document is genuine, then they are trying to diffuse the pressure of the self-immolations,” said Thierry Dodin, director of the Tibet Information Service, TibetInfoNet in London.

The new policy is to be first implemented as an “experiment,” according to the report. Dibyesh Anand, Tibet specialist and associate professor at Westminster University in London, sees no evidence of a major shift and says that this can be best explained as an experiment at the local level.

When the Communist Party of China (CCP) initiates a new or major policy change, they usually prefix it with the word “experimental,” which means that if it works they would apply it nationwide, if it fails would be dropped from party’s policy. China is slated to announce a new policy in August.

Some believe the new policy is a public relations offensive in the wake of much criticism toward the Chinese regime from the outside world, especially human rights organizations in the aftermath of the series of self-immolations.

“No criticism of Dalai Lama is more to do with smarter public relations propaganda … rather than a genuine effort at reconciliation,” Anand said.

However, a similar announcement was also reportedly made lifting the ban on the displaying of the Dalai Lama’s pictures in homes and monasteries around the town of Dram near the Tibet-Nepal border, triggering hopes that China might be interested in easing its control on religious practice on a much wider scale.

Beijing’s policy change might also be aimed to send a signal to the outside world that the new leadership is interested in changing its policy toward the Tibetan spiritual leader, said one leading Tibetan scholar. “It is an indication of change,” said the scholar, who did not want to be named.

Making it even more interesting is that the news comes on the eve of China’s forthcoming tour of Tibet by foreign journalists.

Recently, a few other articles have raised speculation that there might be an olive branch in the offing from Beijing authorities to the Tibetan leadership in exile.

In an interview with Hong Kong-based Asia Weekly, Jin Wei, a director of ethnic and religious affairs at the Central Party School at Beijing think tank Central Party School, also suggested that China’s policy in Tibet may not be working.

She called for restarting negotiations with the Dalai Lama’s representatives and has proposed that the Dalai Lama might even be invited onto Chinese soil, Hong Kong and Macau as well discussing the issue of reincarnation with the Dalai Lama himself.

Tibet watchers believe that it is best to adopt a wait-and-see approach if the China government matches their words with actions.

“If she really is transmitting a message, then we should take note of it and wait and see first because what they say does not matter, you have to see what they actually do on the ground,” Dodin said.

Given China’s hard-line policy, Tibetans have demonstrated a mixed response to the news, ranging from guarded optimism to outright skepticism.

Since 2009, as many as 119 Tibetans living under China’s rule have set themselves on fire demanding freedom and the return of the Dalai Lama from exile. 102 of the self-immolators died in agony while the condition of more than 10 remains unknown.

(Tsering Namgyal, a journalist based in New York, is the author of a new biography of the 17th Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorje published last month by Hay House, India. He is also the author of a recently published novel, The Tibetan Suitcase – Asia Sentinel)

Businessmen have invaded our hills and mountains

Today Darjeeling looks like Solan, Solan like Kausali, Mussoorie like Ghaziabad. The long arm of Indian commerce has invaded every unique setting, and left a trail of devastation in its wake.

Once while designing a hotel in the mountains of Uttarakhand, I had proposed using local pine for constructing the building. But the builder scoffed at the choice. "Arrey bhai, don't you understand", he said, "the cost of felling a pine is the same as a deodar". The value of a two-hundred year old deodar forest could be seen only in commercial terms by a man of business.

Forest resources were cheap, readily available and often difficult to quantify. Today, the nexus between builder, politician, bureaucrat and forest official has left large swathes of mountainsides empty of tree cover. All across Uttarakhand large scale transfers of land are taking place. Whole mountains are bought by Mumbai and Delhi businessmen, who then sell luxury villas around Almora, Ranikhet, Mossourie and Nainital. Some builders find it more lucrative to build nine-ten storied apartments, then sell them off through agents in Delhi and Lucknow. High rises of two and three-bedroom flats used only in the summer, lie in squalid heaps, all along what were once pristine mountain settings - monsoon stained and empty for most of the year.

In the past 30 years, the continual expansion of the population deeper into the hills has already left a passive trail of devastation - tourist hotels some as high as six-eight storey perch on cliffs, empty summer houses of the Delhi rich; an expanding road network on unstable hillsides, commercial activity along new tourist routes, loss of tree cover, expansion of agriculture into forests, and a rain of garbage along hillsides. It is a wonder that environmental disasters don't happen more often. The river's force within minutes can alter the topography of an area, as it did along the Kedarnath Gangotri belt last week. A sudden deluge engulfed religious sites at Kedarnath, Govindghat and Pandukeshwar, the tragedy occurring at peak tourist season, leaving hundreds dead, washing away cars and people.

Certainly, there is no doubting the ferocity of the flood, but then why was a 3,000-capacity car parking on the river at Govindghat allowed to be built? Why were structures around the Kedarnath shrine constructed without embankments? Given that the state Disaster Management Authority has formulated no plan, guidelines or regulations, why were hotels and private houses allowed to be constructed on the flood plain?

Tourism has to a great part contributed to the excessive and unchecked development around shrines. Most religious places are littered with make-shift shops, hotels, sarais and dhabas that come up as temporary shelters for quick commerce, but because of their endorsement by local religious authorities, become 'regularized'. The ramshackle and putrid air of many religious sites is in part due to the laxity of local government who refuse to interfere in matters of religion. If indeed states are serious about 'ecotourism', there needs to be a restrictive strategy that limits tourist numbers, creates more equitable public modes of transport and creates clearly defined precincts for food and lodging.

Moreover, a recognition of the merits of hill topography needs to be carefully factored into any form of building legislation. The development of a pedestrian lakefront in Nainital, guides for construction on ridges in Shimla and Mussorie, stringent controls on building material and roof types in Kumaon and Garwal - all require individual consideration. Today Darjeeling looks like Solan, Solan like Kausali, Mussoorie like Ghaziabad. The long arm of Indian commerce has reduced every unique setting into a suiting ad. Land, building, wall space, air rights, sidewalks, everything is on sale. (The Times of India)

Sikkim tops suicide chart in country

Gangtok, June 25: Sikkim has topped the suicide chart amongst the Indian states, according to a report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) recorded per one lakh population for 2010-12, which has been widely accepted as a standard yardstick.

According to NCRB reports, Sikkim reported 181 suicides in 2012 with 0.1 percentage share of the total number of suicides in the country, which is 1,35,445, The Statesman reported.

The population of Sikkim as per the latest census is 622,000. The all India rate of suicides was 11.2 per cent during 2010-12.

Pondicherry reported the highest rate of suicides (36.8 per cent) followed by Sikkim at 29.1 per cent.

Sikkim topped the chart in 2010 with 45.5 per cent, against the national rate of 11.4 per cent. In 2011, the state ranked third with 30.3 per cent.

As many as 40 people committed suicide due to illness whereas 120 people committed suicide by hanging in 2012. The rate of suicide was highest in the 15-29 years age group.

GNLF to renew 6^th schedule demand from July

Darjeeling, June 25: The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) is likely to re-emerge in the hills from next month. Its chief Subash Ghising has already asked his supporters to renew the party’s demand on 6^th schedule status for Darjeeling from next month.

"July will be the launch month of our renewed movement. Our leader Mr. Ghising has already given his directives in this regard to all levels of our party. This movement will give hills a true path in the direction of development," said N Lama, Convener of GNLF, Kurseong Sub Divn., The Economic Times reported.

The 6^th schedule status, specially designed for NE region, gives special financial and administrative power to the places of tribal dominance. It was first raised by. Ghising during 2006.

"As I told much earlier, so long Gorkhaland does not come, VIth schedule is the answer for Darjeeling," said Ghising earlier.

Implementation of 6th schedule in Darjeeling needed constitution amendment but before the amendment could finally take place Ghising was driven out of the hills by the Gorkha Janamukti Morchca(GJM), his rival group.

A day-long peace puja was held by various Bhutia-Lepcha organizations at the historic site of Kabi-Lungtsok in North Sikkim yesterday (June 24). The empty chairs are meant for the 12 Bhutia-Lepcha MLAs and 1 Sangha MLA, who failed to attend the puja. The minority indigenous communities are against construction at the sacred site by the State Government. The leaders of the two communities – Thekongtek and Khye-Bumsa – swore eternal blood-brotherhood at this sacred and historic site in the 13^th century. This historic pact led to the formation of the Namgyal Dynasty in Sikkim in 1642 when Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal, a descendant of Khye-Bumsa, was crowned the first Chogyal (king) of Sikkim in Yuksam, West Sikkim.

Take lessons from U’khand tragedy: Akhil Gogoi

Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti  President Akhil Gogoi

Guwahati, June 25: The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) on Sunday warned that Assam and the other States of the North East were sitting on a time bomb of disasters due to dams in Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan and called upon Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to learn a lesson from the Uttarakhand disaster that was magnified mainly due to man-made reasons.

Addressing mediapersons here, Akhil Gogoi, president of KMSS said that if steps are not taken right now, the Uttarakhand tragedy would be repeated in Assam and the North East on a bigger magnitude.

“Faulty infrastructure development, house construction, haphazard road construction, construction of a large number of dams involving heavy blasting, tunneling and excavation, dumping of muck and debris in the river magnified the disaster in Uttarakhand that started with a natural event,” said Akhil pointing out that the proposed hydropower dams in Arunachal Pradesh without any cumulative and downstream impact studies will trigger unimaginable destruction in Assam that falls under the Eastern Himalayas and has a more fragile ecology than the Western Himalayas under which Uttarakhand comes, The Assam Tribune reported.

“Will the Government of Assam wake up after seeing what has happened in Uttarakhand?” questioned Akhil stressing that an appropriate development policy for the Eastern Himalayas and the Brahmaputra plains needs to be evolved with consent of all citizens.

 “The large number of dams (during construction and after commissioning) will only increase the downstream impact including magnifying floods and other risks during natural disasters. Clearly Assam, Sikkim, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Manipur are sitting on a time bomb of disasters,” warned Akhil, calling upon the people of the State to unite and force the policy-makers to act in the interest of the State and public and not the big corporate houses and industrialists who are concerned about their hydropower projects only and least bothered about the environmental hazards and safety of the people.

“We demand a complete moratorium on existing and proposed dam building in the Himalayas,” said Akhil.

The Meghalaya government has allotted a 120-acre plot on which work is under way for a state-of-the-art academic-cum-residential campus.

Arunachal CM urges MLAs to donate 1 month's salary to Uttarakhand victims

Arunachal Pradesh CM Nabam Tuki (left)

Itanagar, June 25: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister NabamTuki has requested all Congress legislators of the state to deposit one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, which would be contributed for relief and rehabilitation of victims of Uttarakhand floods.

More than 500 people have reportedly died so far in one of the worst natural disasters in recent times in Uttarakhand. Nearly 14,000 people are believed to be missing and another 60,000 are stranded.

AICC president Sonia Gandhi has directed all Congress MPs and legislators to contribute to the fund being generated for relief and rehabilitation of the victims of the disaster.

In a circular issued on Saturday, Tuki has appealed to all Congress legislators of the state to contribute their one month's salary for the purpose on or before June 26, officials said.

He also appealed to all conscious citizens, irrespective of party affiliations, to donate to the fund and assured that proper receipt would be given against all contributions, which would be exempted from income tax regulations.

"Our friends in Uttarakhand are in dire need of help. Let us lend them a helping hand to rebuild their lives," he said in an appeal.

Contributions in cash, cheque or demand draft may be deposited or drawn in favour of the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, which would then be transferred to the fund being generated countrywide.

While praying to God to give strength to the family members of those who have lost their lives in the devastation, Tuki extended solidarity on behalf of the people of Arunachal Pradesh with their compatriots in Uttarakhand.

Manipur govt to take over Royal Palace for preservation as historical monument

Imphal, June 25: In spite of strong reaction from the titular King of Manipur and the Sana Konung Kanba Lup over the move, the State Cabinet has decided to take over Sana Konung (Royal Palace) and develop it as a landmark historical monument of the State.

Announcing this to media after the Cabinet meeting here on Saturday, a  spokesperson of the government said the Cabinet has decided to take over the Royal Palace so that it can be developed into a landmark historical monument to the whole to know that Manipur was once princely kingdom, e-pao reported.

Accordingly, the Cabinet has decided to dismantle all the unruly constructions in and around the palace and to confiscate the entire private households which were once part of the Royal Palace.

The temples of Pakhangba, Yumjao Lairembi and Lainingthou Nongsaba which were once a part and parcel of the Royal Palace would also be renovated.

A house for the titular King of Manipur would be constructed by the State Government just near the Royal Palace soon after taking over the palace by the State.

Even though the Royal Palace would be confiscated by the State, the customary rights of the king would remain undisturbed.

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   June  22-28,  2013    

 ‘Save Kabi-Lungtsok’ call gains momentum, peace puja on June 24

Kabi-Lungtsok: historic and sacred site of bloodbrotherhood treaty between Bhutias and Lepchas in the 13^th century at Kabi, North Sikkim.

Gangtok, June 21: If there are those who are bent on destroying the cultural heritage of the indigenous minority Buddhist Bhutia-Lepcha tribals of the former kingdom of Sikkim in the name of ‘development and progress’ they are up for a tough fight ahead.

Three organizations representing the Bhutias and Lepchas during its meeting held here on Wednesday “unanimously resolved” to appeal to the State Government to stop the ‘development and beautification’ project at the historic Kabi-Lungtsok site in Kabi, North Sikkim.

During its meeting, the SAVE Kabi-Longtsok Committee, Ong Shezum (Lepcha Youth Association) North District and Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) welcomed the stand taken against the project by various organizations of the indigenous Bhutia-Lepchas of the State.

According to a press release of the three organisations, the DUCHI(Monk Body) of  Kabi -Lungtsok  Sangha Thargayling Goenpa, Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC), National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation  (NASBO), Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Tarjum (Sikkim Lepcha Association), Ong Shezum (Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association) have opposed the project on historical and religious ground.

The meeting, held under the chairmanship of SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia, decided to hold a day-long peace prayer at Kabi-Lungtsok on June 24. Led by Lepcha priests (bongthings) and lamas the peace puja is being organized under the banner of Save Kabi-Lungtsok Committee and Ong Shezum (North), the release said.

A member of the Dzongu Sikkim Krantikari Morcha wrote in Facebook: “…we have to preserve this heritage for the future generation....but sad to say today 8.24 cr project is building in our heritage. this is rite time for us BL now we have to wake up.....wake up BL.”

The historic place is the site where the Lepcha priest Thekongtek and Bhutia ruler Khye-Bumsa swore eternal bloodbrotherhood in the 13^th century.

Golay to formally takeover SKM next month

Gangtok, June 21: 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, on Monday.

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.

 SKM sources said it was now legally safe for Golay to lead the party formally. “Had he come out earlier he would fall under the anti-defection bill,” a source said.

Editorial

STRAY DOGS IN ‘SINGAPORE’

The Ground Reality Is Quite Different

As Sikkim tries to emulate Singapore a city corporation of Kerala is all set to follow the Sikkim model in controlling stray dog population in that city. Sikkim reportedly has a well-established animal birth control and rabies vaccination programme which is being monitored by 'Vets Beyond Borders', an Australian-based, non-profit organization established by veterinary volunteers. The State is also receiving assistance from National centre for disease control (NCDC) of the ministry of health and family welfare.

Before anyone comes to Sikkim to emulate its various projects – most of which exist only on papers and in the internet – the authorities are advised to make on-the-spot inspections to see the ground reality. It is OK to plan a trip to the hill State for a summer or winter break giving some administrative reasons to justify the pleasure trip but if the exercise is futile then why waste someone else’s money, particularly when it comes from abroad for a good cause.  This newspaper carried out several pictorial stories showing dozens of stray dogs in ‘Singapore’’s famous ‘MG Marg’ and the authorities took no note of it. “If we remove the stray dogs, we will be targeted by animal activists,” said a concerned official of the Gangtok Municipal Corporation. Perhaps Thiruvananthampuram’s city officials should take some photographs of stray dogs at MH Marg when they visit the city. They should also contact a local loyal who was recently bitten by one of the stray dogs.

Faleiro elevated as Congress general secretary, still in-charge of Sikkim

Faleiro

Gangtok, June 21: Former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro has been elevated as general secretary of All India Congress Committee (AICC) and entrusted charge of six north-eastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim.

Faleiro's appointment as general secretary was notable, as he became the first Goan to be entrusted with this responsibility at a national level in the Congress organization, sources said.

The former chief minister's name figures in the list of 12 general secretaries appointed by Congress on Sunday.

He was earlier a permanent invitee to the Congress working committee.

Recently Faleiro was appointed chairman of the central election committee (CEC) for the Karnataka elections that Congress won, raising his stock in the Congress.

Faleiro has been in-charge of Sikkim for quite some time now and is well-acquainted with the State’s politics. With former SPCC President NB Bhandari’s exit from the party recently the state unit of the party is likely to be rejuvenated under Kunga Nima who has replaced Bhandari.

“There will be more activities for the Congress in Sikkim,” said Congress leader Anil Lachenpa.

Sikkim school participates in St. Joseph’s School’s 125^th anniversary     

A group of 32 students from Sikkim’s Padma Odzer Choeling School visited St. Joseph's School, Darjeeling, recently to participate in the 125 year celebrations of the school. The students staged three Lepcha dances which were part of "The Cultural Fest-2013"

 “I’ve gotta be the luckiest North Pointer around!! Believe me it doesn’t get any better than this…to be part of the 125 year celebrations of my alma mater along with the Lepcha dancers from my school…I really am very blessed!! Thank you Fr. Santy and Fr. John and the entire North Point Family for your hospitality and generosity. It means a lot to me and my kids,” says Leonard Lefevre, who now teaches at the Padma Odzer Choeling School.

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.