HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN Aug 22, 2012
New Nepal alliance agenda: ethnic
federalism
Prachanda
to lead Maoists, Madhesis and Janjatis under Federal Democratic Republic
Alliance
 |
| Prachanda |
Kathmandu, Aug 21: In a significant development the Maoists led by its
leader Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has struck a deal with the Madhesis and
Janjatis and formed the Federal Democratic Republic Alliance (FDRA).
The
establishment of ‘ethnic federalism’ in the former kingdom is the main goal of
the 20-party Alliance, which is headed by Prachanda.
Led
by the ruling Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), constituents of the
United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF), and several small Madhesi and Janjati
outfits have come together to form the FDRA. Prominent parties in the alliance
are Forum-Loktantrik, Forum-Ganatantrik, Tarai Madhesh Loktantrik Party (TMLP),
TMLP-Nepal, Sadvawana, Tamsaling Nepal Rastriya Dal, Sanghiya Sadvawana,
Marxist Leninist-Socialist, Nepal Family Party and others.
The
Maoist chief said the newly-formed alliance of “pro-federalists” will ensure
the drafting of a constitution which is
“an
ethnicity-based federal structure.” Prachanda explained that resignation of the
Prime Minister, Baburam Bhattarai, is not the solution to Nepal’s woes. He said
the need of the hour is to “reach an agreement on contentious issues.”
“The
move is widely perceived as a bid to drive opposition parties, mainly the
Nepali Congress and CPN-UML who are often labelled by the parties in FDRA as
anti-federalist forces, into a corner and deter them from making moves to
dislodge the current government,” a newsmagazine observed.
Reacting
to formation of the newly alliance, Chairman Mohan Baidya Kiran of Nepal Communist
Party-Maoist, on Sunday described the new party as an ‘unholy alliance.’
Sikkim Speaker, Minister lead delegation
to Bangalore, assures students
Gangtok, Aug 21: A high-level delegation of the State Government led by
Speaker KT Gyaltsen and HRD Minister NK Pradhan called on Karnataka Chief
Minister Jagadish Shettar in Bangalore yesterday and expressed concern over the
safety and security of Sikkimese, including students, residing in the southern
State.The
delegation comprising HRD Secretary CS Rao, Gangtok Municipal Corporation (GMC)
Deputy Mayor Shakti Singh Choudhary, and Namchi Municipal Corporation (NMC)
Vice-Chairman NH Ansari, also met the Karnataka Chief Secretary and DGP.
The Karnataka CM gave “all assurance”
regarding the safety of all Sikkimese and informed the delegatiom that all
possible help would be extended, an IPR release said.
The
delegation had gone to Karnataka to ‘check on the ground reality’ after
thousands of Northeast people fled the city for their homeland due to
fear-psychosis.
The delegaation also met with the Sikkimese
students and assured them of the efforts that the State Government was
undertaking. The students were requested to go about their studies as normal
and were informed of a helpline for any assistance.
Tibetans were alerted in south India
Mysore, Aug 21: Tibetans living in a South Indian city were put on
alert following a knife attack on a monk and reports that other Tibetans may
soon be targeted for assault, sources in the region say.
The
attack on Wednesday in Mysore city came following clashes between Muslims and
other ethnic groups, some resembling Tibetans, both in northeastern India and
in the western Burmese state of Rakhine.
On
Aug. 14, two Indians riding a motorcycle stabbed Tenzin Phuntsog, a Tibetan
monk, in the back, Lobsang Jamyang, president of the South Indian Regional Tibetan
Youth Congress, told Radio Free Asia.
“There
are about 300 Tibetan students studying in Mysore City, and most of them have
now left for the safety of their homes in the Tibetan settlements of South
India,” Jamyang said.
Weeks
of fighting between Rakhine Buddhists and Muslim Rohingyas in Burma and in
India’s northeastern state of Assam have fueled ethnic tensions in South India.
Additionally,
police have cited rumors that people resembling northeastern Indians, East
Asians, or Tibetans will be attacked at the end of the Muslim fasting period
around Aug. 20.
India ‘decisive’ factor in solving China-Bhutan border
dispute
On August 10, 2012, Fu Ying, head of the Chinese delegation
and Vice Foreign Minister and Khandu Wangchuk, head of the Bhutanese delegation
and Acting Foreign Minister of Bhutan held the 20th round of border talks in
Thimphu.
Beijing, Aug 21: India’s influence over Bhutan would be a
“decisive” factor in resolving border dispute between Beijing and Thimpu, a
Chinese expert said.
“India has tremendous influence over Bhutan,” Fu Xiaoqiang,
a researcher with the state-run China Institutes of Contemporary International
Relations told the Global Times
newspaper referring to the close Indo-Bhutan ties.
“If Bhutan can settle
border issues with China, the result will certainly create norms that will
likely be followed in the border talks between China and India,” he said.
His comments came as Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Fu Ying
made a rare visit to Bhutan last week to take part in the 20th round of
boundary talks between the two countries, PTI reported.
Fu’s visit took place in the backdrop of a surprise meeting
between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and his Bhutanese counterpart Jigmi Y
Thinley on the sidelines of a UN meet in Rio de Janeiro in June, where the two
expressed their desire to establish diplomatic ties.
Though neighbours, the two countries have not yet
established diplomatic relations as Bhutan, a strongly ally of India, had
remained aloof since 1951 from China after Beijing took firm control of Tibet,
which shared borders with Bhutan.
Relations between Beijing and Thimpu remained traditionally
strained following their border dispute.
The two countries shared about 470-km long contiguous
borders and held 20 rounds of talks to resolve the dispute and inked an
agreement promising to ‘Maintain Peace and Tranquillity on the Bhutan-China
Border Areas’ in 1998.
Any settlement of the Bhutan-China border is regarded as
significant for India as Chumbi Valley, a vital tri-junction between Bhutan,
India and China border is just 500 km from Siliguri corridor. Known as “Chicken
Neck” it connects India’s land links with its North Eastern states as well as
Nepal and Bhutan.
Fu who visited Bhutan on August 10 also met Bhutan’s King
Jigme Singye Wangchuck.
Fu appreciated the importance the King attached in
developing ties with China and his commitment to resolve the border issues,
Chinese Foreign Ministry said, the report said.
The King, according to the ministry, said China has become
Bhutan’s third largest trading partner and he “believes that a rising China
will play a wise and balanced leadership role in the world”.
The 20th round of talks were held between Fu and acting Bhutanese
Foreign Minister Khandu Wangchuk in Thimphu.
“China hopes to make joint efforts with Bhutan on the basis
of previous talks, continue to seek fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable
solutions through friendly consultations and make the border line a bridge of
friendship and cooperation between the two countries,” the Chinese minister
said.
“Bhutan firmly pursues the one-China policy, thinks highly
of China’s long-term foreign policy of treating all countries as equals, no
matter large or small and good-neighbourly friendship and is willing to
strengthen coordination with China on the international arena,” Wangchuk said.
Karnataka: Uneasy calm in Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement
Mysore, Aug 21:
Though the attack on a Tibetan student in Mysore city shocked many refugees, an
uneasy calm prevailed in Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement, the biggest outside
Tibet.
The refugees who stopped going out for their daily needs for
the past two days fearing violence, have asked their kith and kin to return.
Tibetans say it would affect their children’s career if the apprehension
continue, as many are returning home from colleges and work, fearing violence
after Ramdan celebrations.
As many as 300 Tibetans studying in Mysore city have
expressed their wish to return to Bylakuppe Settlement, Gurupura near Hunsur
and Vadayarpalya near Kollegal, according to reports.
“We are expecting more from Bangalore to reach the
settlement by Friday evening,” said Tashi of New Settlement. People in the
settlements are praying for the safe return of children from far-off places.
Local representatives directed them to stay back in the
settlement and avoid going to Mysore or Bangalore. “My cousin has not gone out
of Kushalnagar to purchase tiles for her house under construction, fearing that
something may happen after the Mysore attack,” said Dorje, who works in a local
school.
The tension has affected the business of Tibetans to a great
extent. Those who have taken loans to start businesses, have also returned,
sources in the Bylakuppe Tibetan Settlement said.
“Tibetan Settlement
had witnessed good business in recent times. The incident will have a negative
impact on the financial condition of the refugees as more jobless people are
set to return. We are refugees and guests in India. Though we are not from the
northeast, we are feeling the pinch,” they say.
Meanwhile, patrolling has been stepped up near Golden
Temple, Bylakuppe, Guruipura and other places which have a Tibetan
concentration and a tight vigil is kept on every tourist entering their places.
Burma abolishes media censorship
Yangon, Aug 21: Burma
has abolished pre-publication censorship of the country's media, the
information ministry has announced.
The Press Scrutiny and Registration Department (PSRD) said
that as of Monday, reporters would no longer have to submit their work to state
censors before publication, BBC reported.
However, strict laws remain in place which could see
journalists punished for what they have written.
Burma has kept tight control over all aspects of its media
for some 50 years. But the civilian government has been gradually easing
restrictions since taking office last year.
"Censorship began on 6 August 1964 and ended 48 years
and two weeks later," Tint Swe, head of the PSRD, told AFP news agency on
Monday.
"Any publication inside the country will not have to
get prior permission from us before they are published.
"From now on, our department will just carry out
registering publications for keeping them at the national archives and issuing
a license to printers and publishers," he said.
Tint Swe said the likelihood of permission being granted for
private newspapers to be set up was "closer than before" and could
happen after a new media law is enacted.
A ministry official told AFP films would still be subject to
censorship. The head of the BBC's Burmese Service, Tin Htar Shwe, says
journalists in Burma are cautiously optimistic about the reforms, but that the
end of the law does not necessarily mean the end of the censorship altogether.
Many laws still exist under which journalists can be
punished for writing material which angers or offends the government, she says.
Wai Phyo, editor of the Weekly
Eleven journal, told Reuters the
move was "a big improvement on the past", but that editors would now
be under increasing pressure to ensure their publications remained legal.
In the past, entire newspapers have been shut because of
their reports and many reporters have been jailed.
But in recent months, journalists had been given guidelines
allowing them to write about controversial topics, something that would have
been unthinkable under the previous military rule.
Some 300 newspapers and magazines covering less sensitive
issues had already been given permission to print without prior censorship and
restrictions were lifted on 30,000 internet sites, allowing users unrestricted
access to political content for the first time.
In October last year, Swe said censorship should be
abolished as it was incompatible with democratic practices, while warning that
all publications should accept the responsibilities that go with press freedom.
JKLF chief urges international community to resolve
Kashmir issue
Srinagar, Aug 21: In
occupied Kashmir, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman, Muhammad
Yasin Malik has appealed to the United Nations, Organisation of Islamic
Cooperation and the world community to raise their voice for resolution of
Kashmir dispute so that peace in South Asia could be made possible.
Muhammad Yasin Malik addressing a big public gathering at
Charar-e-Sharief on Friday said that the people of Kashmir also wanted to live
with freedom. He said that if the international community continued its silence
over the long-pending dispute, uncertainty would further increase in the
region.
The JKLF Chairman said that India could not suppress the
ongoing liberation movement of Kashmiris through use of brute force and urged
the people of Kashmir to foil the nefarious designs of enemies by forging unity
among their ranks.
The separatist leader stressed the international human rights
organisations to play their due role in immediate release of all illegally
detained Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders and activists.
People raised high-pitched pro-freedom slogans on the
occasion.
"Silence of the world community on Kashmir equals to
criminal negligence. If the world community continues with the same behavior of
negligence, it would put world into a more dangerous situation like that of
Hiroshima and Nagasaki," said Malik.
Referring to the
August 15th address of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Malik said, "By
ignoring Kashmir and only referring towards so-called panchayat elections, and
saying all is well in Kashmir, a leader of high stature has done unlike of his
status...It is unfortunate that today Indian leaders like conquerors tell us that
there is no issue in Kashmir."
India concern over Chinese troops in PoK
New Delhi, Aug 21: India has raised with China the issue of
presence of Chinese security forces in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has
conveyed that Pakistan has been illegally occupying parts of Jammu and Kashmir
since 1947, government told the Lok Sabha on Friday.
"Government is aware that China is executing
infrastructure projects in PoK," Minister of State for External Affairs
Preneet Kaur said in a written reply. "Government has raised this issue
with the Chinese side and has clearly conveyed India\'s consistent position
that Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of Indian state of Jammu
& Kashmir since 1947," Kaur said, PTI reported.
China regards Kashmir as a bilateral matter to be settled
between India and Pakistan, she said, adding "government has conveyed its
concerns to China and about their activities in PoK and has asked them to cease
such activities." Replying to a separate question on violation of Line of
Actual Control (LAC) by Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh, she said
"China disputes the international boundary between India and China. There
is no commonly delineated LAC in the border areas between India and
China."
India reacts strongly to OIC mentioning JK as country
New Delhi, Aug 21: India
on Friday strongly reacted to Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)'s
mention of Jammu and Kashmir as a country, terming it as “unacceptable”.
“We note that there is an erroneous and factually incorrect
mention about an integral part of India by the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation (OIC) in its communiqué issued at its Fourth Extraordinary Summit
held in Makkah on August 14-15, 2012.
This is wrong, unacceptable and we reject it,” official
spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs Syed Akbaruddin said, PTI
reported.
He was replying to India's position on OIC's reference to
Jammu and Kashmir in its Islamic Solidarity Summit in Makkah. Under the heading
of 'Solidarity With Other Member States', Final Communiqué at OIC Summit, said;
"The Summit affirms its solidarity and full support for Sudan, Somalia,
Afghanistan and Jammu and Kashmir, Iraq, Yemen, Ivory Coast, the Union of
Comoros and the Republic of Turkish-Cyprus in addressing the challenges facing
these countries."
In the past also, the grouping has been referring to Kashmir
as "occupied territory", which has never gone down well with New
Delhi. In the Makkah Islamic Solidarity meet, the OIC also suspended the
membership of Syria from the Organization.
Editorial
INDIGENOUS MOVEMENT
Towards Identity-Based
Federalism
Nepal’s mainstream parties
which have for long ignored the plight and prospects of the former kingdom’s
plainspeople and indigenous communities in the country’s economic and political
set-up may now be forced to reconcile themselves with the changed situation.
The formation of Federal Democratic Republic Alliance (FDRA) in Kathmandu last
week is a significant move towards emancipation of the downtrodden people of
Nepal who have been placed on the sidelines down the centuries. If Nepal is to pursue its goal towards a
democratic republic it must give due weightage to its ethnic minorities and
marginalized madhesis. That the
Maoists led by Prachanda has finally embraced these two very significant
sections of Nepal’s population and taken them into their fold is a step in the
right direction. It is true that indigenous people are usually marginalized the
world over. The likely formation of a separate ethnic party in Nepal next month
will go a long way in creating an alternative political force in the country
given the fact that mainstream political parties have failed to deliver. Fact
is that even in democratic India the indigenous people are not given their due
rights and share in governance. The unity of purpose displayed by the elite across
the political spectrum led to poor performance of the former Indian Speaker, PA
Sangma, in the recent presidential polls in India. Sangma has now decided to form an indigenous
people’s political party to create greater awareness of their economic and
political rights and to ensure that they assert their rights.
The key issue of the new alliance in Nepal
is formation of provinces along ethnic lines which would give the madhesis and indigenous people demographic
advantage in the proposed provinces. One member of the ethnic communities in
Nepal rightly pointed out: "An ethnic political
party is now a must for the indigenous people. It is our only way of being
heard." The recent rally in Kathmandu on August 9 – declared by the
United Nations as World Indigenous People’s Day – by the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NFIN) is
aimed at putting more pressure on mainstream parties in Nepal to evolve a
consensus on the touchy issue of identity-based federalism. Now that the FDRA
has take up the issue in right earnest parties such as Nepali Congress and
Communist Party of Nepal (UML) may be forced to look deeply into power sharing in
a democratic set-up. Those who point out that ethnic-based federalism would
lead to ethnic conflict and division of the country must note that a government
of a particular community, for a particular community and by a particular
community cannot for long endure as it is undemocratic and unjust and has
created the present mess in Nepal. It is time to clean up the mess before Nepal
sinks deeper into the mire.
Sikkim govt gets assurance on safety of Sikkim
students in B’lore
Himalayan News Network
Gangtok, Aug 21: The State Government has taken
a very serious view over the situation arising over the reported news of
attacks on the North Eastern people residing in southern cities, including
Bengaluru.
In order to ensure safety of Sikkimese
residing in these cities, Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso spoke to his Karnataka
counterpart, S.V. Ranganath, according to IPR Secretary KS Tobgay.
Gyatso conveyed the State
Government’s concern about the safety of Sikkimese, including students, to his
counterpart. In response, the Chief
Secretary of Karnataka gave full assurance as regards the safety of Sikkimese
in Bengaluru.
He also assured the State
Government that the law and order in Karnataka was under control and therefore
there was no reason to worry or panic, a press release by Tobgay said.
Gyatso has also requested the
Speaker, K.T. Gyaltsen, to take up the issue with the Karnataka Government
during his visit to the State which is scheduled for September 18 next month,
2012.
The Chief Secretary and the
Director General of Police Jasbir Singh have been in constant touch with their
counterparts in the aforementioned cities, an IPR release said.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister
Pawan Chamling, is in constant touch with his counterparts and is monitoring
the situation closely, has appealed to all to remain calm and united..
Chamling said that even in
New Delhi all the parties are united in sending out a clear message of unity so
that the ugly events are brought to a close and the culprits and perpetrators
are found and punished.
Exiled Tibetan govt minister meets Sikkim ministers on
welfare of Tibetan refugees
 |
| Dolma Gyari |
Gangtok, Aug 21:
Home Minister of the Tibetan exiled government Dolma Gyari, who met HRD
Minister NK Pradhan here last week, held talks on the shifting of Thonmi
Sambhota school from Gangtok to somewhere else in the State.
Matters regarding providing
mid-day meals to the students of the school was also raised with the HRD
Minister, who expressed his concern for the welfare of Tibetan refugee students
in the State.
Gyari, former Deputy Speaker
of the exiled Tibetan Parliament, also met Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso and
raised several matters pertaining to the welfare of Tibetan refugees in the
State.
“We are grateful to the
Sikkim Government and the people of Sikkim for all the help and concern
extended to our people in the past so many years. We would never think of
encroaching on the rights of the Sikkimese people but would be grateful if
humanitarian aids are provided to poor Tibetan refugees in the State,” Gyari
told Himalayan Guardian.
Gyari also met Speaker KT
Gyaltsen and Power Minister Sonam Gyatso and Additional Chief Secretary R.
Ongmu.
She has met the Tibetan
community and various organizations representing them. The Tibetan leader also
paid a visit to Thonmi Sabhota school during the Independence Day celebrations.
National media body takes up Sikkim scribe case with
Delhi Police
Gangtok, Aug 21:
The Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) has responded positively to
its Sikkim unit’s request for taking up the case regarding robbery of a
Sikkimese scribe in New Delhi recently.
The Secretary General of IFWJ, Parmanand Pandey, has taken
up the matter with Delhi Police.
Pandey has informed the Sikkim Federation of Working
Journalists (SFWJ) President Jigme N Kazi that he has approached the Deputy
Commissioner of Delhi Police to probe into the robbery of Duk Nath Nepal,
editor of Shangrila Times, a
Gangtok-based Nepali daily, who was robbed of his money and other items,
including laptop, worth around Rs 2 lakhs, in New Delhi on June 27, 2012.
Nepal was accompanied by Madhusudhan when the two were
robbed by five unidentified assailants.
NASBO, ASESEUEA express concern over mass exodus of NE
people
Gangtok, Aug 21: The All Sikkim Educated Self Employed and Unemployed Association and
the National Sikkimese Bhutia
Organization (NASBO - 371F) have expressed concern over the repercussions of
the recent violence in Assam in several cities in the south which have prompted
thousands of people of the Northeast to flee these places for their homeland.
“The situation all across the
country is very grim and the respective authorities should take this issue at
highest possible level and solve to matter at the earliest,” Association
President Nawin Kiran Pradhan said.
“We are receiving phone calls
from Sikkimese based outside State that they are facing problems due to this
racial/communal tension and some have started returning back. Some of these
messages were found to be true and some only rumours,” Pradhan said.
“In the wake of the
fear-psychosis that has ultimately erupted thereby posing threat to the very
safety the students hailing from the North-east, including Sikkim, Bhutan,
Nepal and the North Bengal regions, the Sikkimese parents are now much worried
about the prospect and safety of their wards and inmates at Bangalore,” NASBO
President Sonam Kaleon said in a press statement.
“At such hour of crisis, it is appropriate
that we, the entire Sikkimese society, work jointly in facing the
circumstances. We appreciate the initiatives being taken by the Sikkimese Chief
Secretary with his counterpart in Karnataka in ensuring safety of our Sikkimese
students there,” Kaleon said.
