HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday July 10-16, 2013  

Editorial

DEALING WITH GRAFT

China Takes The Lead

China’s new leader Xi Jinping has kept his promises to eradicate the administration of corruption. This week, China’s former Railways Minister Liu Zhijun has been given a suspended death sentence by a Beijing court for corruption and abuse of power. The 60-year-old former minister has been accused of accepting bribes to the tune of USD 10.53 million over a period of 25 years when he was in power. The combined punishment for Liu's crimes is death penalty with a two-year reprieve, deprival of political rights for life, and confiscation of all personal property.The stiff sentence against him comes in the wake of promise by China's new leadership headed by President Xi Jinping to crackdown hard on corruption.

During his tenure as railways minister, Liu helped his relatives to win cargo transportation contracts and railway construction contracts. He also helped them in the acquisition of shares in a bullet train wheel set company, and with enterprise financing, by breaking regulations and applying favoritism. In India, the slow pace of investigation and lengthy court processes make a mockery of our justice system. Worse still is the fact that our political leadership – at the Centre as well as in the states – do not have the will to fight corruption.

Chief Secy inspects drinking water source, tells officials to do their job well

Gangtok July 9: Chief Secretary R Ongmu along with the Secretary P.H.E T.B Rajalim, Chief Engineer, contractor and other concerned officials from the department visited Rateychu the reservoir of the drinking water for the capital on Saturday.

During this visit the Chief Secretary inspected various work for Greater Gangtok Water Supply Schemes, and appealed to them to complete the work in the stipulated time frame with quality work in mind, an IPR release said.

She also urged the Secretary and the concerned officials of the department to have good road map for future to give regular supply of drinking water for the people of Gangtok possibly by also increasing the amount of supply from the current rate, keeping in mind the target for the next twenty years.

Ongmu also assured full cooperation from her side and also informed that there won’t be any constraint of funds for the ongoing work in the area for the continuous supply of drinking water for the residents of Gangtok.

Stop AADHAAR scheme, its encouraging influx:KSU

Shillong, July 9: Citing influx as a major concern, a powerful students group in Meghalaya on Thursday asked the government not to go ahead with the National Population Register (NPR) biometric enrolment, and the implementation of the Aadhaar scheme in the State.

The Khasi Students' Union (KSU) expressed the need to put on hold the proposed enrolment drive as the State first requires stronger mechanisms to check influx.

"Our demand from the state government is to stop this biometric enrollment and implementation of Aadhaar. Amidst our focus on the need to have strong mechanisms to check influx, this enrolment will defeat the purpose of checking the menace of influx in the state," said KSU supremo Daniel Khyriem, IANS reported.

He alleged that the NPR biometric enrolment or implementation of Aadhaar will only facilitate "outsiders" to strengthen their claim of being genuine residents of Meghalaya.

The NPR biometric enrolment will lead to the implementation of the Unique Identification number (UID) in the state. After the enrolment comes to a close, each individual will be provided with the UID number.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) aims to provide UID or Aadhaar, a 12-digit ID number, to all residents on a voluntary basis.

The NPR biometric enrolment in the state commenced on June 21 from Raj Bhavan where Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary was the first in the state to have completed the process.

The biometric enrolment in the state is part of the second phase of data collection for NPR. The first phase of this national exercise was completed in 2010 along with the housing and house listing operations for the 2011 Census.

Save Kabi Longtsok activists get Chief Secy’s assurance on historic site

‘Save Kabi Longtsok’ protest at Kabi, North Sikkim, recently.

Gangtok, July 9: The Save Kabi Longtsok Committee (SKLC) has been assured by Chief Secretary R. Ongmu that the Government would not allow the sacred and historic site to be defiled, according to Committee President Sonam Tshering Bhutia.

The assurance was given when a delegation of monk body and Committee members led by Venerable Champo Lhendup and Acharya Phigu Lama of Kabi Sangha Thargayling monastery, met the Chief Secretary last weekend, according to a press release of the SKLC.

“During the interaction she gave us a patient hearing and assured us that she will not allow the holy place to get defiled as she was well versed with the facts, the sacredness and importance of Kabi Longtsok and Sikkim’s history,” the release said.

The Chief Secretary also assured the delegation that the proposed ‘beautification and development’ project at the historic site of Kabi Lungtstok in North Sikkim “will be seriously scrutinised and shifted from the present sacred site,” the release added.

LOGO DESIGN CONTEST

            The Tsuklakhang Trust is a religious charitable trust dedicated to uphold and propagate for the benefit of all sentient beings the traditional religious, social customs, ceremonies and teachings expounded by Guru Rimpoche. This was patronized by successive Chogyals of Sikkim and on 26^th of August 1982 His Highness Chogyal Tenzing Wangchuck Sisum Namgyal established The Tsuklakhang Trust to continue this rich heritage. Accordingly, the Trust has earnestly been undertaking the activities supporting propagation of teachings introduced in Sikkim by Neljorcheshe through religious, education and charitable causes and performs ceremonies of Gongsar, Pang Lhabsol, Kagyet, Saga Dawa, Lhabab Duchen, Drukpa Tseshi etc.

 In order to garner popular support while portraying the vision and goals of the Trust, an official logo and motto for the Trust is proposed to be created by way of public participation. Therefore, entries are hereby invited from interested participants for this noble cause. The logo and motto best reflecting the Trust’s vision will be presented with a letter of appreciation and a token amount of Rs 5,000/- during the ensuing Pang Lhabsol celebrations on 21^st August 2013. 

Logo specifications:

The logo design - in colour A4 size paper (gloss, 90-120 GSM) along with the motto should be submitted to the office of THE TSUKLAKHANG TRUST, Tsuklakhang, Gangtok Sikkim by 10^th August 2013. The logo imprint should be clear using soothing colours that depict the objective of the Trust.  The motto text should also be printed clearly with visible and readable font (type Times New Roman and size 14) on a page. Interested participants can obtain further details from the Trust Office at Tsuklakhang, Gangtok or the undersigned.

                                                                                                                       

                                                                                                      (Namgyal T. Bhutia)                                                                                                                         SECRETARY

      THE TSUKLAKHANG TRUST

   (Ph: 9434103318 & 8967542498)

SIKKIM OBSERVER Saturday   July 6-12,  2013    

Blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

NCP chief's man made Sikkim Governor

Gangtok, July 5: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday appointed bureaucrat-turned-politician Srinivas Patil, a trusted aide of NCP chief and Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, as Governor of Sikkim.

Patil's appointment is seen as a major setback for chief minister Prithviraj Chavan. Patil, a former Pune divisional commissioner, had defeated Chavan by a huge margin in the 1999 Lok Sabha election from Karad.

Patil, who joined the state civil services as deputy collector, was inducted into the IAS in 1979. In 1999, he resigned from the IAS to join led NCP.

Patil's appointment as governor surprised not only the NCP but also senior Congress leaders, as it was never expected that a politician who defeated Chavan would be considered for a gubernatorial assignment. His appointment clearly indicates the ever-increasing clout of Pawar in the ruling UPA at the Centre, The Times of India reported.

"We welcome Congress president Sonia Gandhi's move to accommodate NCP while appointing the governor," a senior NCP leader said. "It will strengthen the bond between Congress and NCP in the ensuing Lok Sabha and assembly polls. However, we are surprised over nomination of Srinivas Patil as the governor of Sikkim."

Patil succeeds outgoing Governor BP Singh.

Scrap Kabi-Lungtsok project, monk body tells govt

Call for Minister TT Bhutia & Penday’s social boycott

Gangtok, July 5: The Monks of Sikkim have urged the State Government to scrap the proposed ‘beautification and development’ project at the historic site of Kabi Lungtsok at Kabi in North Sikkim.

The monk body has sent a stern appeal to Minister Thinley Tshering Bhutia and Penday Kazi from trying to destroy the sacred site and thereby erasing Sikkim’s history which has been preserved down the ages.

In a press statement, the association’s General Secretary Lama Sherap Tenzing Lepcha termed the proposed project as “anti-BLs (Bhutia-Lepchas)” and “anti-Sikkimese”.

 During its meeting held here this week the monks “expressed their anguish” over the “insensitive manner” in which the State Government went about its job in trying to erase Sikkim’s sacred history.

The monk body observed that in the name of ‘development’ the State Government seems bent on destroying Sikkim’s religious and cultural heritage.

It has urged the Kabi monastery monks to socially boycott Bhutia and Penday and declared them as ‘tenshik’, destroyer of faith.

Penday was the Congress candidate who reportedly sold himself to the ruling party in the Assembly polls in 2004 by not filing nomination papers from the Kabi-Tingda Assembly constituency.

SIBLAC demands CBI probe on Kabi-Lungtsok project

Gangtok, July 5: The Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) has sought CBI probe into the proposed development project at the sacred and historic site of Kabi-Lungtsok.

This demand has been made to Governor BP Singh by SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia.

The memorandum on the demand was handed over to the Raj Bhawan Secretary as the Governor was out of station, a press release said.

SIBLAC has appreciated the assurance given by Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee President Kunga Nima Lepcha on the issue. Lepcha said he would raise the demand for scrapping of the project with the Union DoNER Ministry.

It has at Kabi-Lungtsok that Sikkim’s indigenous Bhutia-Lepcha ancestors signed a blood-brotherhood treaty between the two communities in the 13^th century. This led to the formation of the Namgyal Dynasty four hundred years later in 1642.

China lifts 17-year ban on Dalai Lama photos at Tibet monastery: Rights group

Beijing, July 5: Chinese officials have lifted a ban on Tibetan monks displaying photographs of the Dalai Lama at a prominent monastery, a rights group said on Thursday, an unexpected policy shift which could ease tensions in the restive region.

The decision concerning the Gaden monastery in the Tibetan capital Lhasa - one of the most historically important religious establishments in Tibet - reversed a ban introduced in 1996, the Britain-based Free Tibet group told Reuters, citing sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

   It was made as similar changes are being considered in other Tibetan regions of China, and may signal authorities are contemplating looser religious restrictions and a policy change over Tibet, three months after President Xi Jinping took office.

Chinese officials in western Qinghai province are also considering lifting a ban on Tibetans displaying pictures of the exiled spiritual leader, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a US-based advocacy group.

It said there were also draft proposals in the region to end the practice of forcing Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama, and to decrease the police presence at monasteries. Officials in Lhasa and Qinghai could not immediately be reached for comment.

Such measures appear calculated to reduce tensions between the Tibetans and the government after a series of Tibetan self-immolation protests against Chinese rule. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled China in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a violent separatist.

The Dalai Lama, who is based in India, says he is merely seeking greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland. Since 2009, at least 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in China in protest against Beijing's policies in Tibet and nearby regions with large Tibetan populations.

Most were calling for the return of the Dalai Lama. "Tibetans' reverence for and loyalty to the Dalai Lama has almost no equal among the world's communities and if this policy is extended beyond this individual monastery as other reports suggest, it will be very significant for the Tibetan people," Free Tibet spokesman Alistair Currie said.

The new policy at the Gaden monastery and the discussions in Qinghai come after a scholar from the Central Party School published an essay questioning China's policy on Tibet. So far, President Xi has said very little publicly about Tibet.

His late father, Xi Zhongxun, a liberal-minded former vice premier, was close to the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan leader once gave the elder Xi an expensive watch in the 1950s, a gift the senior party official still wore decades later.

"There's increasingly a view that due to the critical nature of the situation of Tibet, a discussion of a change in some hardline policies is merited and there's a need for the Dalai Lama to be involved in some way," Kate Saunders, spokeswoman for the International Campaign for Tibet, Reuters reported.

Saunders said the draft proposals in Qinghai were likely to be implemented either in August or September.

Editorial

CBI ‘AUTONOMY’

“Still A Caged Parrot”

After it was accused by the Supreme Court of turning the CBI into "the state's parrot", the government has submitted a 41-page proposal on how to free the CBI of political control.

The document, given to the Supreme Court, keeps administrative control of India's top law enforcement agency firmly with the government, leading CBI officials to comment that the agency "is still a caged parrot." The proposal says the CBI director will be chosen by a committee  of the  Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court judge. The affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court on Wednesday was based on recommendations made by a Group of Ministers, set up after SC castigated the government over the CBI probe into coal blocks allocations.

Anti-corruption campaigner and politician Prashant Bhushan wants the investigation to be  transferred to a Supreme Court-monitored team because he says the CBI lacks independence. He dismissed today's proposal as "hogwash." The BJP, however, trashed the suggestions as a "farce". "Who will select these retired judges to whom the CBI will be accountable? Many are men of integrity wedded to judicial values. Yet there are many who are perpetually seeking post-retirement jobs," senior leader Arun Jaitley wrote in his blog. To ensure functional autonomy, the government proposes that the administration and superintendence of CBI in high-profile corruption cases be vested with the CVC. But CVC will not have the power to direct CBI to probe or dispose any case. In all other cases, CBI would be administered and supervised by the Centre.

Muslims in Sikkim: a paan shop next to the masjid

By SYED AHMED

A few days back, an important work took me to Sikkim, the small State that nestles between the peaks of the eastern Himalaya. While staying at the capital city Gangtok I came across a small majid close by the city bus-stand. Near the masjid I met two bearded Muslims running a big paan shop. I talked to one of the Muslims at the paan shop, named Mohd. Rauf, to know more about the Muslims in the State. Rauf said he came to Gangtok from Bihar in the early 70s in search of livelihood. He was later joined by his brother, who also works at the paan shop.

I inquired about the settlement of Muslims in Gangtok and other parts of Sikkim. He informed me that there is no indigenous Muslim population in the State. “All the Muslims in Sikkim came from outside, mainly from Bihar, UP and West Bengal in search of work. Around 80 per cent of the Muslims are from Bihar, while the rest are from West Bengal and UP. There are around ten thousand Muslims in the capital city. There are also Muslims in Rangpo, Ranipool, Rinnak, Rangili, Jothang, Namchi, Gyalshing, Mangan, Simtam, etc. In all, there must be around twenty thousand Muslims in Sikkim. As the State Government does not allow outsiders to buy land here the Muslims and in fact all the outsiders stay in rented houses. I have also been staying in a rented apartment with my brother all these years,” Rauf said.

“Majority of the Muslim population are temporary migrant workers. Many of these Muslims engage in construction works. The rich local population engages skilled constructor workers and manual labourers for the construction of their residential buildings. The State Government too engages these people for building roads, office building, dams, constructing roads on the hills, etc. Many Muslims also do petty business. They open small shops. Some Muslims are popular here as tailors. A few early Muslim settlers are working as Government employees, mainly as teachers and policemen. Some have also married the local women,” Rauf added.

Later I entered the masjid complex and talked to the Imam, Maulana Asgar Ali, who hails from Madhubani in Bihar. The Imam further informed, “There is only one masjid in Gangtok. This area is called Apar Arithang. There are around six to seven thousand Muslims here. The masjid was constructed in 1942-43. It was then constructed with wood. It is said that a wealthy Tibetian Muslim from Ladakh, named Sabila Sardar had acquired the land for the masjid from the local ruler. The descendants of Sabila Sardar still live in Gangtok. One of his grandsons named Saeed is running a big shop at the MG Road. There are very few Tibetan Muslims here in Gangtok. However, there are quite a large number of Tibetan Muslims in Kalimpong. They are all wealthy businessmen. There are another 8 more masjids in different parts of Sikkim. There are also prayer houses for other religions too. There is a Gurudwara at Deorali near Gangtok town.”

“I came here to work as Imam few years back. I get five thousand rupees per month. The masjid is managed by public subscription. We have organized a body called Anjuman-e-Islamia, Gangtok, to manage the masjid and the Muslims here. It is a registered body. The jurisdiction of the Anjuman is fixed from Tadong to Vajra, Balwakhani and Chandmari to by-pass. There is no madrasa here. The Muslims have realized the need of having a madrasa. We have started the construction of the madrasa building here in the masjid complex,” the Imam added.

Sikkim is renowned for its scenic beauty, rich flora and fauna and ethnically varied population. The State with an area of 7096 sq. km. has a population of just around 6 lakh. The 8586 meters high Kanchenjunga, the third highest mountain in the world, dominates the skyline of Eastern Sikkim. Sikkim has more than seventy Buddhist monasteries, the oldest dating back to the 1700s. The State has 660 species of orchids. And it is famous for the mask dance performed by Lamas in Gompas.

Majority of the State’s population are of Nepali ethnic origin. The native Sikkimese consist of the Bhutias and the Lepchas. Migrant resident communities include Biharis, Bengalis and Marwaris.

Hinduism is the State’s major religion (61%), followed by Buddhism (28%) and Christians (7%). The minority religious communities, consisting of Muslims, Sikhs and Jains form almost two per cent of the State’s population. (TwoCircles.net)

Prez, PM urged to save historic site at Kabi Lungtsok

Gangtok, July 5: Sikkim Bhutia-Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) Tseten Tashi Bhutia has sought the intervention of the President and Prime Minister on efforts made by the Sikkimese to save the historic and sacred site of Kabi Lungtsok in North Sikkim.

In his letter to President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the SIBLAC chief has expressed concern over the State Government ‘development’ project at the historic site which is expected to cost Rs 8.5 crore.

Bhutia has urged the Union Government “to save heritages, places of worships and Dharma in Sikkim which otherwise in the name of development is reaching the verge of extinction,’ a press release of the Committee said.

SU celebrates 6^th foundation day

Gangtok, July 5: The Sikkim University celebrated its sixth foundation day on Tuesday. A programme was organised at the Saramsa Garden auditorium to mark the occasion. Delivering the welcome address, Vice Chancellor T B Subba commended the efforts of faculty members and administrative staff in shaping the character of the university and its students. Thereafter, Professor A C Sinha, National Fellow of ICSSR delivered the VI Foundation Day Lecture on “Social Formation in and around Sikkim in the middle of the 20th Century.”

 In his lecture, Sinha elucidated important events that shaped the existing socio-political-cultural mosaic of Sikkim. He also donated around one thousand books from his personal library to the Sikkim University, PIB release said.

C D Rai graced the occasion as Guest of Honour. Addressing the programme, Rai observed that the education scenario in Sikkim has undergone a sea change in the last seven decades. “Education is the greatest weapons to delivery anytime anywhere,” he said.

N K Pradhan, Minister HRDD, Government of Sikkim who was the Chief Guest at the event assured that state government will continue to do its best to ensure that the Sikkim University gets the best of infrastructure. “Government wants the University to become a centre of academic excellence which can give the best education to any child from anywhere in the world”, he added.

Students of the University presented a vibrant cultural show with which the programme concluded.

INTERVIEW OF THE WEEK

NAVNITA CHADDA

“Why can’t we reach an understanding with our own people?”

Kashmir is mired in a series of overlapping conflicts, rather than being a single issue to be solved. In an exclusive interview with Kashmir Life’s  Syed Asma, academician and Kashmir expert, Navnita Chadda shares her scholarly insights on Kashmir. 

Kashmir Life: Tell us a bit about yourself?

Navnita Chadda: I am a professor. I teach in Delhi University. I read and write. My main disciplinary base is International Relations but Kashmir has been my area of interest for 20 years. I started working on Kashmir in 1992 when movement was on its peak. Since then I have been reading and writing on the subject. So, it has been a long while.

KL: You have so far written two books on Kashmir. Being a non-local, what prompted you to choose Kashmir as a subject?

NC:  When I started my first project I did not choose Kashmir as such. My interest was academic and quite conceptual in nature. I wanted to understand in a country like India where there are so many diverse identities why is it that some identities at any given historical juncture become politicized, and why some of them become violent? I had a chance of looking at Kashmir, Punjab and North East India and as luck would have it, the first library I consulted at Nehru Memorial Museum, Kashmir was the most organised section there 

KL: What were you working for and what was the project about?

NC: I was then working as Assistant research Professor in Centre for Policy Research. The project basically was why some identities get politicized and why some get violent? So, my first book, ‘State, Identity and Violence’ was born out of that project.  It came out in 2002.

KL: What is your understanding of the conflict in Kashmir? What do you think people in Kashmir want?

NC: There is no single definition of conflict because I do not think there is a single conflict in Kashmir. There are several layers and several players to it. Each conflict has its own dynamics and they all overlap. It is not in a neat and straight category. No conflict is too generous that it won’t get impacted by others. It does! So, the main conflict, I would say, is here [Kashmir] – the demand for separation and self-determination that was voiced in 1980s. But there were so many other conflicts in the same period like Ladakh started the movement for the status of Union territory and Jammu had raised the demand for more integration. Then there were several other layers like that of linguistic identity, conflicts like Gujjar demanding Scheduled Tribe status. Later in 1990s Pandits started demanding their own homeland.

KL: Which among these is predominating?

NC: It is obviously the separatist movement or the Azadi movement but it does not capture the dynamics of the whole State.

KL: Why do you think it is the predominant one?

NC: I think because lot of people got affected by it. There is no doubt that whole Kashmir society has gone through a very double-end period for last 20 years. Lot of people have given up their lives, lot of people have lost their lives. There is hardly any family which is not affected by the conflict, so, that makes it most predominant. But it does not subsume other complexities of the conflict. Other conflicts have a dynamic of their own which takes it in different trajectories. And they have impacted on why this one [the predominant one] has succeeded or not succeeded. They all are integrally linked and this was the most interesting thing that I found while researching about Kashmir.

KL: What is the link in all these conflicts and why do you think the main conflict did not succeed?

NC: The movement here [Kashmir] demanded self-determination on the behalf of ‘all’ the people of Jammu and Kashmir but they actually were not representing the interest of ‘all’ the people. And ‘all’ was very diverse. They had their own definitions of self-determination. I believe that this is the most critical factor why they haven’t been successful. I think they got check-mated at home. The standard explanation that I find in the literature is that Kashmir’s insurgency got defeated because of India’s military might. My argument is that it got defeated on political grounds and it got check mated by its own communities of the State which did not support the demand. So, basically I think it got fragmented in a very political way and separatist leadership was not in a position to present a front which was all inclusive.

KL: After 2002 elections you had said that the major challenges the new government had to face were ‘deepening communalisation and regionalisation’ in the State. Can you please elaborate?

NC:  I have said this post Farooq Abdullah’s government after reading the recommendations in the Regional Autonomy Committee (RCA) report. I believe it strengthened the communal fault lines. If you look at the complexion of J&K state today,   there are three regions, one is “Hindu majority”, one is Muslim majority and other is Buddhist majority. RCA report re-carved the boundaries of the entire state or suggested to do so. It re-carved the boundaries in such a way that it suggested the entire J&K to be into eight regions, of which 6 became Muslim majority. The way I looked at it historically, it was revival of 1975 plan of ‘Greater Kashmir’ of Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. I feel that strength of the state lies in its diversity. Plural diverse fabric of society is strength of the society and not its weakness. So, if it is the strength you should not weaken it by undermining it, by territorially casting it different.

KL: Do you think state government is powerful enough to fulfil its promises if New Delhi is not willing?

NC: Absolutely yes! I personally am very uncomfortable with this thought that state government has no authority and Delhi is dictating its terms.

KL: And where do you think India in Kashmir has failed?

NC: I as a scholar think that in Kashmir’s case we get caught in the chimera that unless we talk to Pakistan we cannot resolve it. In a way it is true, but I personally am not convinced that if our population is alienated and if we are saying it is our people so why can’t we reach out to them independently. So, if Delhi is willing to offer a substantive political deal in terms of autonomy, self-rule, and other common grounds, why is it that we can’t reach an understanding with our own people?

People want their political aspiration to be addressed and to my mind it can be addressed. So, why there is a gap in that stand is an element of puzzle.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN Wednesday July 3-9, 2013 ‘SIKKIMESE NEPALESE’ UP IN ARMS AGAINST ‘FOREIGNER’ TAG Biraj Bhandari Duknath Gangtok, July 2: Their reserved seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly were illegally and arbitrarily abolished in 1979. This was followed by division of their community with the introduction of OBCs in the former kingdom. Thereafter came another blow: part of OBCs were declared STs in 2003. And now they have been labeled as “foreigners” in a writ petition in the Supreme Court. The Sikkimese Nepalese leadership in the State has threatened to stage a statewide agitation if the old settlers failed to withdraw their allegation against them in the Supreme Court. The threat worked; the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) has assured it would delete its “unintentional mistakes” in its writ petition filed before the Supreme Court on the income tax issue. Reacting to the allegation, former Chief Minister and Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) chief Nar Bahadur Bhandari said the Association’s submissions were “false” and added that Sikkimese Nepalese were ‘subjects’ of the Chogyal like the Bhutias and Lepchas as they possessed Sikkim Subject Certificates and are, therefore, entitled for IT exemption. 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. 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. 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. Adhikari said, “till the seat reservation (in the Assembly) 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.” 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. The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) President KN 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 371F which excludes these so-called old settlers,” Sharma said. China lifts 17-year ban on Dalai Lama photos at Tibet monastery: Rights group Beijing, July 2: Chinese officials have lifted a ban on Tibetan monks displaying photographs of the Dalai Lama at a prominent monastery, a rights group said on Thursday, an unexpected policy shift which could ease tensions in the restive region. The decision concerning the Gaden monastery in the Tibetan capital Lhasa - one of the most historically important religious establishments in Tibet - reversed a ban introduced in 1996, the Britain-based Free Tibet group told Reuters, citing sources with direct knowledge of the situation. It was made as similar changes are being considered in other Tibetan regions of China, and may signal authorities are contemplating looser religious restrictions and a policy change over Tibet, three months after President Xi Jinping took office. Chinese officials in western Qinghai province are also considering lifting a ban on Tibetans displaying pictures of the exiled spiritual leader, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a US-based advocacy group. It said there were also draft proposals in the region to end the practice of forcing Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama, and to decrease the police presence at monasteries. Officials in Lhasa and Qinghai could not immediately be reached for comment. Such measures appear calculated to reduce tensions between the Tibetans and the government after a series of Tibetan self-immolation protests against Chinese rule. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled China in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a violent separatist. The Dalai Lama, who is based in India, says he is merely seeking greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland. Since 2009, at least 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in China in protest against Beijing's policies in Tibet and nearby regions with large Tibetan populations. Most were calling for the return of the Dalai Lama. "Tibetans' reverence for and loyalty to the Dalai Lama has almost no equal among the world's communities and if this policy is extended beyond this individual monastery as other reports suggest, it will be very significant for the Tibetan people," Free Tibet spokesman Alistair Currie said. The new policy at the Gaden monastery and the discussions in Qinghai come after a scholar from the Central Party School published an essay questioning China's policy on Tibet. So far, President Xi has said very little publicly about Tibet. His late father, Xi Zhongxun, a liberal-minded former vice premier, was close to the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan leader once gave the elder Xi an expensive watch in the 1950s, a gift the senior party official still wore decades later. "There's increasingly a view that due to the critical nature of the situation of Tibet, a discussion of a change in some hardline policies is merited and there's a need for the Dalai Lama to be involved in some way," Kate Saunders, spokeswoman for the International Campaign for Tibet, Reuters reported. Saunders said the draft proposals in Qinghai were likely to be implemented either in August or September. Advani slams Omar, says BJP always opposed special status to J&K New Delhi, July 2: Against the backdrop of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah slamming him on the issue of revocation of special status to the state, senior BJP leader LK Advani on Friday advised him not to use words like cheating and deceiving and clarified that his party has always been opposed to Article 370. In his latest blog posting, Advani said even the Congress party- other than Jawaharlal Nehru and a few other leaders- were strongly opposed to giving a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, PTI reported. Advani quotes from a biography of Sardar Patel to argue that even he was against Article 370 but kept his views in the background out of his regard for Nehru. "Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir state, has every right to disagree with the BJP on matters relating to J&K. "But I would advise him never to use offensive language and words like 'cheating and deceiving' in that context',? Advani said on his blog. Advani had recently said Article 370 should be revoked. Abdullah had responded to this without naming Advani and slammed him for raising the "false boggy of revocation" of the provision. Holding that it is "highly improper" for anyone to use offensive words like "cheating" in the context of BJP's stand on J-K, Advani said his party has "not only been unequivocal, forthright and consistent from the time Jana Sangh (BJP's predecessor) was born in 1951 till today, but it is an issue for which the Party's Founder President laid down his own life?.' "Since our very first all India session at Kanpur, we have been championing complete integration of J&K State with India,” Advani said. Editorial WARNING BELLS The Establishment Will Remain Silent After the monsoon flood victims in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Assam and elsewhere will be forgotten. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s reconstruction and rehabilitation package will soon meet with bureaucratic red-tapism and nothing much will come out of his endeavours. Tall promises will be made which will not be fulfilled. The media will also find another stories to sell and the people will also reconcile themselves to accepting their tragic fate. This is exactly how India is run. Nothing much happened to Sikkim after the September 18, 2011 earthquake. Only local contractors and construction companies have thrived in the tragedy. The manner in which the entire establishment, including the army, woke up to the Uttarakhand tragedy has been and will be repeated in other parts of India. People paid for administrative lapses. Government officials should have been sent to affected places within hours of the tragedy to take stock of the situation. Army choppers in great numbers should have been dispatched with adequate food, clothing, medicine, blankets and other items in the affected areas straight after the tragic incident. Too much focus was placed on pilgrims stuck in the hills while neglecting the local populace. The monsoons have just begun and warning bells are coming from everywhere. It is time to sit up and take note. The English poet John Donne said in the 17th century: “No man is an island… Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” Editorial WARNING BELLS The Establishment Will Remain Silent After the monsoon flood victims in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Assam and elsewhere will be forgotten. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s reconstruction and rehabilitation package will soon meet with bureaucratic red-tapism and nothing much will come out of his endeavours. Tall promises will be made which will not be fulfilled. The media will also find another stories to sell and the people will also reconcile themselves to accepting their tragic fate. This is exactly how India is run. Nothing much happened to Sikkim after the September 18, 2011 earthquake. Only local contractors and construction companies have thrived in the tragedy. The manner in which the entire establishment, including the army, woke up to the Uttarakhand tragedy has been and will be repeated in other parts of India. People paid for administrative lapses. Government officials should have been sent to affected places within hours of the tragedy to take stock of the situation. Army choppers in great numbers should have been dispatched with adequate food, clothing, medicine, blankets and other items in the affected areas straight after the tragic incident. Too much focus was placed on pilgrims stuck in the hills while neglecting the local populace. The monsoons have just begun and warning bells are coming from everywhere. It is time to sit up and take note. The English poet John Donne said in the 17th century: “No man is an island… Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.” Sonia approves proposal to reconstitute Sikkim PCC New Delhi, July 2: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday approved the proposal for reconstituting the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, besides also appointing President of the Pradesh Mahila Congress. Gandhi cleared the appointment of Major T Gyatso and Penzo D Namgyal as senior vice presidents, Anil Lachenpa as treasurer and Rudra N Sakya as general secretary of the Sikkim PCC, PTI reported. Sarita Sharma has been made the president of the Pradesh Mahila Congress, said AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi. Gandhi appointed Gayching Bhutia, Jagdish Cintury, Buddhibal Gurung and Deepak Sharma as District Congress Presidents in Sikkim. Following the removal of the SPCC President NB Bhandari in April this year, the party high command appointed Kunga Nima Lepcha to replace Bhandari, who returned to his old party, the Sikkim Sangram Parishad, and became its President. Manipur royal palace takeover: plea to President for scuttling govt move Manipur’s titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba coming out from the Royal Palace to attend a traditional function in Imphal. Imphal, July 2: Against the recent state cabinet's decision to take over the Manipur royal palace, the "Maharaja in Council", a prominent body of the palace, has urged President PranabMukherjee to pressure the state government to revoke its decision. A memorandum was sent to the President a couple of days ago, said the council's legal adviser, advocate P Tomcha, on Saturday. A body of Tangkhul village chiefs has also joined the growing demand to revoke the decision, The Times of India reported. Along with several social organizations, the council demanded the state government to roll back its decision and maintain the palace in which the titular king of Manipur stays as a "living palace" and a customary institution. The cabinet that met on June 22 with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in the chair resolved to take over 12 to 13 acres of the palace area in the heart of Imphal and develop it to retain the glorious era of Manipur's existence as an independent nation in the past. While deciding to construct a house for the king near the royal palace after taking over the area, the cabinet maintained that the king's customary rights will remain undisturbed. A joint delegation of the council and "Sana Konung Semgat Lup" (SKSL), an apex body set up by different organizations for the overall development of the palace, will go to New Delhi to meet the President to discuss the matter soon, said Tomcha. While urging the President to impose central rule if the state fails to retract its decision, the council threatened to launch various forms of agitations if the government doesn't revoke its decision in 10 days. On the other hand, the king, who had not taken food since the cabinet passed its decision, broke his fast on Thursday after fervent requests made by the council and SKSL leaders, said Tomcha. Since the king is living in the palace and performing all customary rites and rituals as the sole authority, it is his rights to stay there as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, Tomcha argued. On several occasions, the state government abortively attempted to take over the palace and it made its utmost effort in 2006, he said, adding that following public protest, the government was forced to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the SKSL. The process of acquiring the palace area should remain suspended until a final agreement is reached between the state government and SKSL, said Tomcha. Northeast militants have formed 'United Forum': Tripura CM Agartala, July 2: India's northeast region was under serious threat as several militant outfits had come together on a common platform called the United Forum, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said in New Delhi last month. "Reliable reports indicate that most of the northeast India insurgent groups, including NLFT ( National Liberation Front of Tripura), have formed a common platform called "United Forum", which might pose a serious threat to all the northeastern states and to the country as a whole," Sarkar said in his speech at the conference of chief ministers, PTI reported. Demanding additional central forces and strengthening vigil along the India-Bangladesh international border, Sarkar said: "The NLFT has as many as 19 hideouts in Bangladesh and these are located within 10km of India-Bangladesh border. The militant groups are trying to make fresh recruitments." The Chief Ministers of Northeast states sought the Centre's help in launching coordinated action against insurgents taking shelter in various states as well as neighbouring countries. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said coordinated action was needed in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya if training, arms supply transit routes and shelters of militants are to be chocked. "Myanmar remains a foreign sanctuary and there are efforts to reopen camps in Bhutan. Any reversal by a future Bangladeshi regime of the drive against Indian militants will revive the spectre of inviolate sanctuaries across our borders," he said at the conference of CMs on internal security here. His Mizoram counterpart Lal Thanhawla said various militant groups from neighbouring Northeast states and countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh have taken advantage of the porous and inhospitable terrain along the inter-state and international borders. "This has direct bearing on the internal security for not only Mizoram, but also for the whole northeastern states as insurgent groups used it as a conduit for arms smuggling and for crossing over to neighbouring countries for seeking refuge or training," he said. Representing Sikkim, state Urban Development Minister D B Thapa said formation of separate states may renew unrest in the region adjoining Sikkim. Thapa said that its adverse effect will also be experienced in Sikkim which has its distinct identity and cultural heritage.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday July 3-9, 2013  

‘SIKKIMESE NEPALESE’ UP IN ARMS AGAINST ‘FOREIGNER’ TAG

Biraj    Bhandari    Duknath

Gangtok, July 2: Their reserved seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly were illegally and arbitrarily abolished in 1979. This was followed by division of their community with the introduction of OBCs in the former kingdom. Thereafter came another blow: part of OBCs were declared STs in 2003. And now they have been labeled as “foreigners” in a writ petition in the Supreme Court.

The Sikkimese Nepalese leadership in the State has threatened to stage a statewide agitation if the old settlers failed to withdraw their allegation against them in the Supreme Court. The threat worked; the Association of Old Settlers of Sikkim (AOSS) has assured it would delete its “unintentional mistakes” in its writ petition filed before the Supreme Court on the income tax issue.

Reacting to the allegation, former Chief Minister and Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) chief Nar Bahadur Bhandari said the Association’s submissions were “false” and added that Sikkimese Nepalese were ‘subjects’ of the Chogyal like the Bhutias and Lepchas as they possessed Sikkim Subject Certificates and are, therefore, entitled for IT exemption.

 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.

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.

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.

Adhikari said, “till the seat reservation (in the Assembly) 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.”

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.

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) President KN 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 371F which excludes these so-called old settlers,” Sharma said.

China lifts 17-year ban on Dalai Lama photos at Tibet monastery: Rights group

Beijing, July 2: Chinese officials have lifted a ban on Tibetan monks displaying photographs of the Dalai Lama at a prominent monastery, a rights group said on Thursday, an unexpected policy shift which could ease tensions in the restive region.

The decision concerning the Gaden monastery in the Tibetan capital Lhasa - one of the most historically important religious establishments in Tibet - reversed a ban introduced in 1996, the Britain-based Free Tibet group told Reuters, citing sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

   It was made as similar changes are being considered in other Tibetan regions of China, and may signal authorities are contemplating looser religious restrictions and a policy change over Tibet, three months after President Xi Jinping took office.

Chinese officials in western Qinghai province are also considering lifting a ban on Tibetans displaying pictures of the exiled spiritual leader, according to the International Campaign for Tibet, a US-based advocacy group.

It said there were also draft proposals in the region to end the practice of forcing Tibetans to denounce the Dalai Lama, and to decrease the police presence at monasteries. Officials in Lhasa and Qinghai could not immediately be reached for comment.

Such measures appear calculated to reduce tensions between the Tibetans and the government after a series of Tibetan self-immolation protests against Chinese rule. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama, who fled China in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, a violent separatist.

The Dalai Lama, who is based in India, says he is merely seeking greater autonomy for his Himalayan homeland. Since 2009, at least 120 Tibetans have set themselves on fire in China in protest against Beijing's policies in Tibet and nearby regions with large Tibetan populations.

Most were calling for the return of the Dalai Lama. "Tibetans' reverence for and loyalty to the Dalai Lama has almost no equal among the world's communities and if this policy is extended beyond this individual monastery as other reports suggest, it will be very significant for the Tibetan people," Free Tibet spokesman Alistair Currie said.

The new policy at the Gaden monastery and the discussions in Qinghai come after a scholar from the Central Party School published an essay questioning China's policy on Tibet. So far, President Xi has said very little publicly about Tibet.

His late father, Xi Zhongxun, a liberal-minded former vice premier, was close to the Dalai Lama. The Tibetan leader once gave the elder Xi an expensive watch in the 1950s, a gift the senior party official still wore decades later.

"There's increasingly a view that due to the critical nature of the situation of Tibet, a discussion of a change in some hardline policies is merited and there's a need for the Dalai Lama to be involved in some way," Kate Saunders, spokeswoman for the International Campaign for Tibet, Reuters reported.

Saunders said the draft proposals in Qinghai were likely to be implemented either in August or September.

Advani slams Omar, says BJP always opposed special status to J&K

New Delhi, July 2: Against the backdrop of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah slamming him on the issue of revocation of special status to the state, senior BJP leader LK Advani on Friday advised him not to use words like cheating and deceiving and clarified that his party has always been opposed to Article 370.

In his latest blog posting, Advani said even the Congress party- other than Jawaharlal Nehru and a few other leaders- were strongly opposed to giving a special status to Jammu and Kashmir, PTI reported.

Advani quotes from a biography of Sardar Patel to argue that even he was against Article 370 but kept his views in the background out of his regard for Nehru.

"Omar Abdullah, Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir state, has every right to disagree with the BJP on matters relating to J&K.

"But I would advise him never to use offensive language and words like 'cheating and deceiving' in that context',? Advani said on his blog.  Advani had recently said Article 370 should be revoked.

Abdullah had responded to this without naming Advani and slammed him for raising the "false boggy of revocation" of the provision.

Holding that it is "highly improper" for anyone to use offensive words like "cheating" in the context of BJP's stand on J-K, Advani said his party has "not only been unequivocal, forthright and consistent from the time Jana Sangh (BJP's predecessor) was born in 1951 till today, but it is an issue for which the Party's Founder President laid down his own life?.'

"Since our very first all India session at Kanpur, we have been championing complete integration of J&K State with India,” Advani said.

Editorial

WARNING BELLS

The Establishment Will Remain Silent

After the monsoon flood victims in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Assam and elsewhere will be forgotten. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s reconstruction and rehabilitation package will soon meet with bureaucratic red-tapism and nothing much will come out of his endeavours. Tall promises will be made which will not be fulfilled. The media will also find another stories to sell and the people will also reconcile themselves to accepting their tragic fate. This is exactly how India is run. Nothing much happened to Sikkim after the September 18, 2011 earthquake. Only local contractors and construction companies have thrived in the tragedy.

   The manner in which the entire establishment, including the army, woke up to the Uttarakhand tragedy has been and will be repeated in other parts of India. People paid for administrative lapses. Government officials should have been sent to affected places within hours of the tragedy to take stock of the situation. Army choppers in great numbers should have been dispatched with adequate food, clothing, medicine, blankets and other items in the affected areas straight after the tragic incident. Too much focus was placed on pilgrims stuck in the hills while neglecting the local populace.  The monsoons have just begun and warning bells are coming from everywhere. It is time to sit up and take note. The English poet John Donne said in the 17^th century: “No man is an island… Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Editorial

WARNING BELLS

The Establishment Will Remain Silent

After the monsoon flood victims in Uttarakhand, Himachal, Assam and elsewhere will be forgotten. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna’s reconstruction and rehabilitation package will soon meet with bureaucratic red-tapism and nothing much will come out of his endeavours. Tall promises will be made which will not be fulfilled. The media will also find another stories to sell and the people will also reconcile themselves to accepting their tragic fate. This is exactly how India is run. Nothing much happened to Sikkim after the September 18, 2011 earthquake. Only local contractors and construction companies have thrived in the tragedy.

   The manner in which the entire establishment, including the army, woke up to the Uttarakhand tragedy has been and will be repeated in other parts of India. People paid for administrative lapses. Government officials should have been sent to affected places within hours of the tragedy to take stock of the situation. Army choppers in great numbers should have been dispatched with adequate food, clothing, medicine, blankets and other items in the affected areas straight after the tragic incident. Too much focus was placed on pilgrims stuck in the hills while neglecting the local populace.  The monsoons have just begun and warning bells are coming from everywhere. It is time to sit up and take note. The English poet John Donne said in the 17^th century: “No man is an island… Any man's death diminishes me because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.”

Sonia approves proposal to reconstitute Sikkim PCC

New Delhi, July 2: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on Saturday approved the proposal for reconstituting the Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee, besides also appointing President of the Pradesh Mahila Congress.

Gandhi cleared the appointment of Major T Gyatso and Penzo D Namgyal as senior vice presidents, Anil Lachenpa as treasurer and Rudra N Sakya as general secretary of the Sikkim PCC, PTI reported.

Sarita Sharma has been made the president of the Pradesh Mahila Congress, said AICC general secretary Janardan Dwivedi.

Gandhi appointed Gayching Bhutia, Jagdish Cintury, Buddhibal Gurung and Deepak Sharma as District Congress Presidents in Sikkim.

Following the removal of the SPCC President NB Bhandari in April this year, the party high command appointed Kunga Nima Lepcha to replace Bhandari, who returned to his old party, the Sikkim Sangram Parishad, and became its President.

Manipur royal palace takeover: plea to President for scuttling govt move

Manipur’s titular king Leishemba Sanajaoba coming out from the Royal Palace to attend a traditional function in Imphal.

Imphal, July 2: Against the recent state cabinet's decision to take over the Manipur royal palace, the "Maharaja in Council", a prominent body of the palace, has urged President PranabMukherjee to pressure the state government to revoke its decision.

A memorandum was sent to the President a couple of days ago, said the council's legal adviser, advocate P Tomcha, on Saturday. A body of Tangkhul village chiefs has also joined the growing demand to revoke the decision, The Times of India reported.

Along with several social organizations, the council demanded the state government to roll back its decision and maintain the palace in which the titular king of Manipur stays as a "living palace" and a customary institution.

The cabinet that met on June 22 with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh in the chair resolved to take over 12 to 13 acres of the palace area in the heart of Imphal and develop it to retain the glorious era of Manipur's existence as an independent nation in the past.

While deciding to construct a house for the king near the royal palace after taking over the area, the cabinet maintained that the king's customary rights will remain undisturbed.

A joint delegation of the council and "Sana Konung Semgat Lup" (SKSL), an apex body set up by different organizations for the overall development of the palace, will go to New Delhi to meet the President to discuss the matter soon, said Tomcha.

While urging the President to impose central rule if the state fails to retract its decision, the council threatened to launch various forms of agitations if the government doesn't revoke its decision in 10 days.

On the other hand, the king, who had not taken food since the cabinet passed its decision, broke his fast on Thursday after fervent requests made by the council and SKSL leaders, said Tomcha. Since the king is living in the palace and performing all customary rites and rituals as the sole authority, it is his rights to stay there as guaranteed by the Indian Constitution, Tomcha argued.

On several occasions, the state government abortively attempted to take over the palace and it made its utmost effort in 2006, he said, adding that following public protest, the government was forced to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the SKSL. The process of acquiring the palace area should remain suspended until a final agreement is reached between the state government and SKSL, said Tomcha.

Northeast militants have formed 'United Forum': Tripura CM

Agartala, July 2: India's northeast region was under serious threat as several militant outfits had come together on a common platform called the United Forum, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar said in New Delhi last month.

"Reliable reports indicate that most of the northeast India insurgent groups, including NLFT ( National Liberation Front of Tripura), have formed a common platform called "United Forum", which might pose a serious threat to all the northeastern states and to the country as a whole," Sarkar said in his speech at the conference of chief ministers, PTI reported.

Demanding additional central forces and strengthening vigil along the India-Bangladesh international border, Sarkar said: "The NLFT has as many as 19 hideouts in Bangladesh and these are located within 10km of India-Bangladesh border. The militant groups are trying to make fresh recruitments."

The Chief Ministers of Northeast states sought the Centre's help in launching coordinated action against insurgents taking shelter in various states as well as neighbouring countries.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said coordinated action was needed in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur and Meghalaya if training, arms supply transit routes and shelters of militants are to be chocked.

"Myanmar remains a foreign sanctuary and there are efforts to reopen camps in Bhutan. Any reversal by a future Bangladeshi regime of the drive against Indian militants will revive the spectre of inviolate sanctuaries across our borders," he said at the conference of CMs on internal security here.

His Mizoram counterpart Lal Thanhawla said various militant groups from neighbouring Northeast states and countries like Myanmar and Bangladesh have taken advantage of the porous and inhospitable terrain along the inter-state and international borders.

"This has direct bearing on the internal security for not only Mizoram, but also for the whole northeastern states as insurgent groups used it as a conduit for arms smuggling and for crossing over to neighbouring countries for seeking refuge or training," he said.

Representing Sikkim, state Urban Development Minister D B Thapa said formation of separate states may renew unrest in the region adjoining Sikkim.

Thapa said that its adverse effect will also be experienced in Sikkim which has its distinct identity and cultural heritage.

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.