High Court grants interim stay to Royal Plaza, IT probe delayed

Himalayan Guardian, Jan 26, 2011

Gangtok, Jan 25: Two private companies have got a stay order from the High Court of Sikkim directing the Income Tax Department to desist from any further proceedings against them until further orders, officials said.

Teesta Rangit Pvt Ltd and Envision Pvt Ltd secured the interim stay order from the court yesterday on a writ petition filed by them, PTI reported.

The IT office had reportedly carried out a 35-hour survey at the offices of the two companies on December 23 in the absence of the owners of the companies.

While Teesta Rangit runs the Royal Plaza-cum-Casino Sikkim, Envision deals with sale of computers in the capital.

The two companies are linked to former lottery baron and former Assam MP Mani Kumar Subba who is facing CBI probe on his identity and business dealings.

Mystery of the missing soldier at Nathula

Tashi Pradhan

Indian Army personnel regularly worship the shrine of martyr soldier Harbhajan Singh at a temple in the Indo-China border in Nathula in East Sikkim.

Harbhajan Singh was an Indian army soldier who died at Nathula Pass while crossing a stream in 1968.

Indian Army soldiers built a shrine in his honour and it is believed that Harbhajan Singh, renamed as Baba, resides at the temple complex.

Residents of the region believe that Baba Harbhajan Singh has defeated death and is still doing his duty even after his death four decades ago.

The Indian Army regularly maintains his bed, uniform and keep his boots ready everyday.

Miracles such as his ironed uniform getting crumpled in the morning is a regular affair at this temple. His regiment promoted him as Honorary Captain and pays his salary and grants him annual leave and issues the railway warrant.

"Soldiers who have lived here told us that if they kept food for him they did not find it back and even if they find, then only in half quantity. His bed found wrinkled and they serve him tea like they use to do before and that also they find it in half quantity," said Sepoy Harish Kumar, a soldier.

"So, people feel Baba through all these things otherwise no one has seen him," he added.

The tourists visiting Sikkim during their trip to Nathula Pass have also shown immense interest in visiting this martyr soldier's temple.

Throughout the year every Sunday and Tuesday prayers are performed at Baba's temple and food is distributed to the devotees (ANI).

NE writers meet in Delhi on peace & culture

  P. Ghosh

Guwahati, Jan 25: Writers and poets from India’s northeast region will hold a two-day seminar on peace and culture in New Delhi this week-end.

The seminar is expected to explore if culture can play a proactive role in ushering peace in the trouble-torn region, according to Preeti Gill, editor of Subaan, a leading Delhi-based publishing house.

The two-day seminar, being organized by Zubaan in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Foundation and India Habitat Centre, will feature photo exhibition and musical concert highlighting the rich cultural diversity of the region.

Prominent among the speakers are Mamang Dai (Arunachal Pradesh), Sanjoy Hazarika (Assam), Pradip Phanjoubam (Manipur), and Subhir Bhaumik (Tripura).

Meeting with Chidambaram positive: Giri

Himalayan Guardian Jan 26, 2011

New Delhi, Jan 25: Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram today held a meeting with the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha on the demand for statehood to Gorkhaland and is understood to have deliberated on setting up of a regional authority for Gorkhas in Darjeeling.

“We had a detailed discussion on our demand with the Home Minister. The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and was very positive,” GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri told reporters after an hour-long meeting, the Hindu reported.

Giri refused to divulge what transpired, but said the Central government should clear its stand on GJM’s demand.

Sources said the meeting deliberated on the possibility of setting up of the proposed Darjeeling Regional Authority comprising the districts of Darjeeling and adjoining areas but no decision has been taken, the report said.

However, it was not clear whether the interim authority would be set up before the West Bengal Assembly elections a few months away.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Darjeeling MP Jaswant Singh was part of the delegation.

During the last tripartite political level talks, key issues, including territorial jurisdiction, were sorted out.

The Central and West Bengal governments have earlier worked on the subjects and departments which are expected to be handed over to the interim authority.

Sources said both the Central and West Bengal governments favoured limiting the proposed authority to just the hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong.

Since its inception in 2007, the GJM has been demanding a separate Gorkhaland State that includes the Siliguri sub-division of Darjeeling district in the plains and contiguous areas in neighbouring Jalpaiguri district.

Kalimpong Lepchas celebrate Gaeboo Aachyok’s 279^th  anniversary

Kalimpong, Jan 25: Lepchas of Darjeeling District celebrated the 279^th  birth anniversary of the Lepcha King Gaeboo Aachyok in Kalimpong recently.

Thousands of Lepchas from all over the district assembled at the Mela Ground here and shouted "Achuley" to greet each other. A simple function, organized by the Lepcha Tribal Association, was held  at Damsang Gari, a fort and  refuge place of the late King near Algarah about 18 km from here.

Lepchas are the aboriginal people of Eastern Himalayas and are found not only in the Darjeeling district but also in Sikkim, Nepal and Bhutan. Gaeboo Aachyok was a leader who fought the Bhutanese to save his vanishing tribe.

Aachyok was born in Lungshyol near Mangzing about 10 km away from Oodlabari in North Bengal. According to records, his kingdom’s territory extended from Paro in West Bhutan to Rhenock in East Sikkim. He was not very popular among the Bhutanese as he used to protest against the oppression of the Lepchas by the Bhutanese King. This compelled the Lepcha chief to leave Bhutan for good. 

It is said that Gaeboo appeared during the first Bhutanese attack in Sikkim in 1668 during the reign of King Debaraja, Chhoegyal Mijure Tempa of Bhutan (1668-1670). A legend says that Gaeboo sought the help of a Tibetan king for weapons to fight against the Bhutanese king.

A report says that during the period of fifth Dalai Lama, Bhutan invaded Sikkim. During this war Gaeboo fought against Bhutan and was killed in the war.

Another legend states that Gaeboo fought the Bhutanese army from Damsang Gari in Kalimpong. And yet another source says that he fought the Bhutanese army from a fort called Dalim Gari near Gorubathan and eastern Kalimpong and was killed there. (Darjeeling.com)

Sukhna land scam: Court martialled Lieutenant General P.K. Rath loses rank

Himalayan News Network

elhi, Jan 25: Lieutenant General P.K. Rath, who was found guilty in the Sukhna land scam by an Army Court in New Delhi, was on Saturday handed down a sentence including a two-year seniority loss and forfeiture of 15 years of service for pension purposes.

Lieutenant General Rath was found guilty on three counts -- firstly for providing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for the construction of the building next to the Army headquarters in Sukna in North Bengal, secondly for signing a Memorandum of Understand (MoU) with the private builder, and thirdly for not informing the Eastern Command headquarters while the process was being carried on by him, ANI reported.

"To take rank and precedence as if appointment as substantiating the Lieutenant General bore dated May 24, 2010, forfeiture of 15 years service for pensionary benefits and severely reprimand," General Court Martial (GCM) Presiding Officer Lieutenant General I.J. Singh said in his verdict.

This verdict will now have to be confirmed by the Army Chief and the Defence Ministry.

The land scam came into the open in mid-2008 and the names of Lieutenant General Rath and Lieutenant General Avadhesh Prakash figured among the senior army officers who influenced the decision to issue the NOC to a Siliguri-based private builder to construct an educational institution on a 70-acre land adjacent to the Sukna military station in Darjeeling.

The private builder had floated a trust - Agarwal Geetanjali Education Trust - to set up an affiliate school of the prestigious Mayo College in the area. 

NATIONALITY VERDICT Tibetan Identity Will Remain Intact

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN   EDITORIAL PAGE 4  Jan 12, 2011

EDITORIAL

Delhi High Court’s recent verdict to confer Indian citizenship to descendants of Tibetans who fled Chinese occupation will certainly be debated and discussed by many, including Tibetans themselves. For most Indians the issue may not matter much but for the one lac Tibetan ‘refugees’ living in the sub-continent the ‘landmark’ verdict will certainly make a great impact on the lives of many Tibetans, particularly youngsters, who want greater opportunities and civil rights in the land (India) of their birth.

The apprehension that accepting Indian, or any other country’s citizenship, will lead to erosion of the Tibetan identity is not quite valid as Tibetans, like the Jews, will not easily give up their rich cultural and religious identity. Many Tibetans, including lamas, living in the west still feel greatly about the country of their origin despite the influence of western values and culture.

India has been home to Tibetan refugees for over half a century and it is but natural to let these people enjoy the rights and privileges enjoyed by Indian citizens, particularly when the Constitution allows it and an Act has been passed by the Parliament in this regard. Not all Tibetans in India are ‘refugees’. Many of them have settled in India’s northern borders for well over a century. New Delhi needs to ponder carefully on these issues, particularly in view of the unlikely early return of the Tibetans to their homeland.

Bhutan ready to accept Christianity

 Himalayan Guardian Jan 26, 2011

Thimphu, Jan 25: Christians in Buddhist Kingdom of Bhutan has something to cheer about. The Druk Kingdom is about to grant the much-awaited official recognition to Christians residing in the country.

According to a report in the International Christian Concern, the Chhoedey Lhentshog, the authority that regulates religious organizations in Bhutan, during its meeting held here last month discussed how Christian organizations may be recognized to represent the community.

 Lhentshog Secretary Dorji Tshering when asked if Christians were likely to enjoy the same rights enjoyed by Buddhists and Hindus replied, “Absolutely.”

Bhutan had in 1969 and 1979 banned open practice of non-Buddhist and non-Hindu religions.

Initially, the government is likely to register only one Christian organization to represent all Christians in Bhutan, sources said.

Indo-Bangla land ports to benefit Nepal, Bhutan

Dhaka, Jan 25: Bangladesh and India have opened two land ports along the international border to boost bilateral trade and facilitate trading activity of neighbours Nepal and Bhutan.

The simultaneous openings of the two land ports on Saturday followed an understanding reached last year between the neighbours. India said it would also facilitate goods movement through Bangladesh's Chittagong and Mangla ports.

Soon after India's Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee opened a land port at Phulbari in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, Bangladesh's Agriculture Minister Matia Chowdhury flagged-in a flower-bedecked Indian truck at the Banglabandha land port in Panchagarh, the northernmost district of the country.

The opening of the land ports will help resume communication and movement between the two countries after more than six decades, since India was divided by the British in 1947.

Trade between Nepal and Bangladesh through Banglabandha has been continuing on a limited scale since its introduction in September 1997, The Daily Star reported.

Banglabandha will be an important land port thanks to broader trade with India, analysts said, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina met her Indian counterpart, Manmohan Singh in January 2010.

Chowdhury said importers and exporters have long been demanding opening of the port for goods transportation in and out of India. 'Today their demand is fulfilled.'

Iqbal Kaiser, president of the Panchagarh Chamber and Commerce and Industry, said the Banglabandha point was the key to developing regional trade. Siliguri is only five km from the port while it is 10 km from Jalpaiguri and 58 km from Darjeeling.

Mukherjee along with a 13-member delegation, including West Bengal Minister of Urban and Municipality Development Ashok Bhattacharya, joined in the inauguration, while Chowdhury led an 11-member team from Bangladesh.

Obama raises Tibet issue with Chinese Prez

Himalayan Guardian JaN 26, 2011

Washington, Jan 25: US President Barack Obama took the opportunity of a joint press conference with Chinese President Hu Jintao on 19 January 2011 to say that the United States supports "further dialogue between the government of China and the representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve concerns and differences, including the preservation of the religious and cultural identity of the Tibetan people."

The press conference, held in the White House, saw President Obama sending a strong message to China on how it dealt with issues.

President Obama said, "I reaffirmed America's fundamental commitment to the universal rights of all people.  That includes basic human rights like freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, of association and demonstration, and of religion -- rights that are recognized in the Chinese constitution.  As I've said before, the United States speaks up for these freedoms and the dignity of every human being, not only because it is part of who we are as Americans, but we do so because we believe that by upholding these universal rights, all nations, including China, will ultimately be more prosperous and successful."

The Tibet reference came in the opening remarks after President Obama revealed that the United States and China have agreed to resume formal dialogue on human rights and to new exchanges to advance the rule of law. 

 President Obama said, "And even as we, the United States, recognize that Tibet is part of the People s Republic of China, the United States continues to support further dialogue between the government of China and the representatives of the Dalai Lama to resolve concerns and differences, including the preservation of the religious and cultural identity of the Tibetan people."

Three in race for Tibet PM post

Tashi Namgyal

Dharamshala, Jan 25:  Two months before the final round of the Kalon Tripa (Prime Minister of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile) election, three names are still in the running for next Tibet's PM: Lobsang Sangay, Tenzin Namgyal Tethong and Tashi Wangdi.

The preliminary polls, held on October 3, offered  Sangay a comfortable first position with 22,489 votes out of the total 47,000 votes cast.  Tethong registered 12 319 votes while Wangdi, who served the Government-in-Exile as a cabinet minister, collected 2101 votes.

"Initially, there were six candidates, but today, only three remain. We could have allowed them to contest for the final elections but some of them withdrew, some of them resigned", Chief Election Comissioner Jamphel Choesang said.

Alongside the Kalon Tripa election, the Tibetan community in exile will vote for the Parliamentary elections. 94 candidates are running for 44 seats.

Choesang also raised the question of the participation, as abstention spectacularly went down from 73,2% at the last elections in 2006 to approximately 39% this year at the preliminary polls.

The Election Commission announced it is still expecting more voters for the last polls on March 20, as it presented fresh registration dates from November 30, 2010, to January 17, 2011 for eligible voters who didn't go to the polls on the preliminary round in October.

Tibetans in India entitled for Indian citizenship: Delhi High Court

Himalayan Guardian Jan 26, 2011

Dharamsala, Jan 25: After a legal battle of two and half years, Namgyal Dolkar Lhagyari became a Tibetan-Indian after a Delhi High Court ruling on 22 December 2010. She was given Indian citizenship according to India’s Citizenship Act of 1986.

Namgyal Dolkar is the oldest of four siblings who are descendants of Tibet’s 33rd King Songtsen Gampo, who reigned over Tibet and a greater part of Asia in the 7th century.

She lodged a case against the Regional Passport Office in Delhi after her application for a passport was rejected, Tibet Sun reported.

“The passport office told me that the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had ordered them to refuse a passport,” Namgyal said. The case was then directed against MEA.

The court then ruled that Namgyal Dolkar was entitled to Indian Citizenship according to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act 1986. This act entitles any person born in India, on or after 26 January 1950 but prior to the commencement of the 1986 Act on 1 July 1987, to citizenship of India by birth, the report said.

Namgyal Dolkar Lhagyari was born on 13 April 1986. She said that the court ordered MEA to pay a compensation of 5,000 rupees and ordered the passport office to issue her a passport within two months.

The Regional Passport Office in Delhi had rejected Namgyal’s application, saying that her parents were Tibetans.

Namgyal is one of over 94,000 exile Tibetans in India. There are 127,935 Tibetans living in exile, according to a 2009 population census report of the Tibetan government-in-exile. From the total, most of the Tibetans numbered 94,203 are living in India. As many as 13,514 are living in Nepal, 1,298 in Bhutan and 18,920 are scattered around the world, mainly in North America and Europe.

   Namgyal’s younger brother, Namgyal Wangchuk Trichen Lhagyari, was enthroned as the direct descendant of the first dharma king Songtsen Gampo at a coronation ceremony presided over by the Dalai Lama in June 2004.

Namgyal has a BA English Honours degree and is currently pursuing MA English in Dehra Dun.

Replying to questions by email about being a Tibetan-Indian, she said, “Yes, I believe now I am a Tibetan-Indian if that’s the term which would define it, but I was born from Tibetan parents who had struggled for their nation and continued with their duties. My father did that till his demise.

“As for my Amala (mother) she has always reminded all of us of our duties as Tibetans. I therefore doubt if I would ever cease to be an accountable nationality — instead I feel even more strongly for my nation, and feel confident that I can now do something constructive for my people.

I sincerely believe that everyone should realize their rights and utilize them responsibly for everyone. I am undoubtedly a Tibetan at heart though may be called an Indian.”

Meanwhile, the exiled Tibetan government has welcomed the court’s verdict and termed the order as a “landmark” judgment.

Sikkim OBSERVER

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