HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN        Feb 29, 2012

SIKKIM BAGS TOURISM AWARD

 New Delhi, Feb 29: Sikkim received tourism award from President Pratibha Patil at a function here today.

Pitching for accelerated development of the tourism sector, Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai said, “Efforts are on to promote India as a 365-day tourist destination” at the National Tourism Awards 2010-11 ceremony here.

The President gave away prizes to 78 awardees in over 50 categories.

Awards were given to States and Union Territories, hotels, travel and tour operators and private organisations among others in recognition of their performance in their respective fields and also to encourage healthy competition with an aim to promote tourism.

While Madhya Pradesh got four awards in different categories, Sikkim got three awards for tourism infrastructure and tourism related programmes.

Federalism based on ethnicity unacceptable: Ex-Nepal PM

RP Sharma

Kathmandu, Feb 28: Former Prime Minister and senior Nepali congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the proposal forwarded by the so-called expert commission on State Restructuring was not acceptable to his party.

The proposal is not aimed at preserving the territorial integrity of the country rather it encourages disintegration of the nation-state, said Deuba.

“The proposal does not look like being drafted by experts. It gives the impression that it is drafted by immature individuals.”

 “The Nepali Congress does not accept federalism based on ethnicity,” said Deuba.

Detained Tibetans in Nepal on hunger strike

Himalayan News Network

Kathmandu, Feb 28: Thirteen Tibetans, detained last week for protesting against China in front of the United Nations office in Nepal, started an indefinite hunger strike on Monday to press for their release, the president of the Tibetan Youth Congress in Nepal said.

The activists, including two women, were demanding U.N. intervention in their homeland after a series of self-immolations against Chinese rule there, Reuters reported.

Tsewang Dolma quoted the protesters as saying the detentions, since Friday, were a violation of human rights.

"The hunger strike is to demand their release," she said.

Human rights groups working for the Tibetan cause say Nepal was under pressure from China to crackdown on the activities of Tibetan exiles.

Journalists banned from entering Tibet: report

Dharamsala, Feb 28: China's Tibet Autonomous Region is out of bounds for foreign journalists. This causes media persons to resort to clandestine methods to get into the region, says a global press freedom organisation.

Foreign journalists, banned from entering Tibet, have been prevented by the police

from covering demonstrations by Tibetans in other Chinese provinces, Reporters Without Borders (RWB), a non-profit organisation, said in its report released last week, IANS reported.

"In the last week of January in Sichuan province, a crew from CNN was arrested at a toll barrier and prevented from travelling to neighbouring Tibet."

It said such "restrictions are unlawful, the authorities regularly cite bad weather or the poor state of roads to restrict access to the autonomous region".

Consequently, journalists are forced to resort to clandestine methods to get into Tibet or provinces with Tibetan populations. It said foreign journalists suspected of wishing to defy police instructions themselves become victims of harassment by the security forces.

"Not only are foreign media organisations prevented from covering these events, but the authorities have also organised a veritable disinformation campaign, using pro-government media such as the Global Times, which play down the disturbances and accuse the international community of interfering," said the RWB.

"Out of sight of the world, a major crisis is unfolding. Even Pyongyang has an international media presence, which is not the case in Lhasa."

The RWB added: "As in the past, the Chinese authorities aim to control the Tibetan people behind closed doors, excluding journalists, foreign ones in particular, who might be troublesome witnesses of what is happening.

Chinese authorities have stepped up major crackdowns against suspected dissidents in Tibet in recent months, with young men taken away from homes and families being separated. Tibetans, who had travelled out of China on valid documents, have been detained on suspicion on return and over a score have immolated themselves in protest, say Tibetans living here.

In the past year, 23 monks, nuns and other Tibetans set themselves on fire to protest Chinese rule, according to the Tibetan government-in-exile, a democratically elected body of the exiles that is based here.

Federalism should safeguard identity of all people: Yadav

RP Sharma

Kathmandu, Feb 28: President Rambaran Yadav has said the national integrity should be maintained while taking the nation towards federal structure. He said federalism in the former Hindu kingdom should guarantee protection of all people.

Inaugurating the Kavre Fair that began at Janagal in Kavre on Saturday, The President said all Nepali people first wish to identify themselves as a people belonging to a country where Lord Buddha was born and Mount Everest is located. Regional identification as Himali, Pahare and Madhesi comes after the national identity of the Nepalese.

Expressing concerns over the remarks by some of the incumbent ministers and the political leaders intended in breaking up political ties, the President suggested to the political parties to work together so as to conclude the peace process and constitution drafting process in the slated timeframe.

Stressing the need of further promoting the Nepali culture and identity, the President said identity of all castes, communities and religion and culture should be guaranteed while restructuring the State.

Promotion of foreign investment and development of the industrial sector was possible only after the completion of the peace and constitution drafting, he added.

Though the Nepal Government has already announced the year 2012 as the 'Investment Year', atmosphere of investment could not be created as the lasting peace was yet to be established in the country.

Arunachal, Bhutan to boost tourism

 Itanagar, Feb 28: Arunachal Pradesh and Bhutan have agreed to boost tourism through mutual cooperation.

A five-member Poverty Reduction Committee of Bhutan’s National Assembly, led by its chairman Dupthop, visited the State recently and discussed the matter with Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, official sources said.

Pointing out that Bhutan and Arunachal Pradesh had several similarities culturally and geographically, Tuki said the cooperation would eventually generate gainful employment and reduce poverty, PTI reported.

Tuki said that construction of a road from Tawang to Bhutan was progressing at a rapid pace and sought the Bhutan Government’s cooperation to speed up work in its territory.

“Once this road is completed and connects towns of Bhutan with Tawang, we could work on border trade, which would be beneficial for both the sides economically,” Tuki observed.

The Chief Minister also wanted helicopter services to be introduced between Tawang and Bhutan, which, he believed, would increase the tourist arrival substantially.

Dupthop agreed to a proposal by Tuki that a tourist circuit be developed encompassing Bhutan and parts of Arunachal Pradesh religiously linked to each other.

Media censorship declining in Burma

Yangon, Feb 28: Newspaper articles that would have been rejected by Burma's draconian state censors just months ago are making it into print, in one of many signs that the long-repressed country is becoming more open.

Though censorship persists — especially on political issues — the government is allowing many stories to be published without prior review, and journalists who were once jailed, beaten or blacklisted are testing the new boundaries, Time magazine reported.

Zaw Thet Htwe says a story he wrote about prison conditions wouldn't have been allowed under the military junta that ruled until last year. It was the first story he had written since being released from prison himself, in part for distributing a video of local donors handing out aid to disaster victims.

China might resort to territorial grabs in Ladakh, Arunachal: report

New Delhi, Feb 28: China may resort to territorial grabs, including through a "major military offensive", especially in Arunachal Pradesh or Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, and India should respond with "a strategy of quid pro quo", says a report by an independent group of Indian analysts.

"Our frontiers with China have been mostly stable for some years now. However, China could assert its territorial claims (especially in the Arunachal sector or Ladakh) by the use of force," says the report that seeks to outline a foreign and strategic policy for India in the 21st century, The Economic Times reported.

"There is the possibility that China might resort to territorial grabs. The most likely areas for such bite-sized operations are those parts of the Line of Actual Control where both sides have different notions of where the LAC actually runs. These places are known," says the report.

The report contends that India can't "entirely dismiss the possibility of a major military offensive in Arunachal Pradesh or Ladakh".

The report entitled "Non-Alignment 2.0: A Foreign and Strategic Policy for the 21st century", was unveiled Tuesday evening at a panel discussion at Hotel Ashok in which National Security Adviser Shiv Shankar Menon and his immediate predecessors M.K. Narayanan, currently West Bengal governor, and Brajesh Mishra participated.

"China will, for the foreseeable future, remain a significant foreign policy and security challenge for India. It is the one major power which impinges directly on India's geopolitical space. As its economic and military capabilities expand, its power differential with India is likely to widen," says the publication in a chapter entitled "The Asian Theatre".

The debate on India's options in dealing with an emerging China, among other things, has coincided with the two-day visit of Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi to India that began on Wednesday.

Media continues boycott of JK House proceedings

L. Verma

Jammu, Feb 29:  Media persons on Tuesday continued to boycott proceedings in the Jammu and Kashmir legislature in protest against assembly Speaker Mohammad Akbar Lone's controversial remarks made the previous day.

Over 100 media persons were staging a sit-in outside the main gate of the State Assembly demanding that the Speaker "take back" his remarks about the media.

Lone had Monday said that the media "during the session" works under his control and that they will have to disclose their sources to him.

His remarks came after Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ali Mohhammad Sagar expressed his reservations about the "source-based stories" appearing in the media.

To this, legislator of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Nizamuddin Bhat said the media "works under the control of the Press Council of India".

However, the Speaker immediately responded: "The media during the session works under my control."

This statement prompted an immediate walkout by the media in protest.

Minister Sagar and political advisor to the chief minister, Devender Singh Rana, along with some legislators tried to placate the media persons, asking them to resume their coverage of the Assembly proceedings.

But the journalists remained adamant on their stand that the "Speaker must take back his words".

"We extend our support to the ongoing protest by the state's media fraternity against remarks passed by the Speaker against mediapersons and their functioning," BJP state president Shamsher Singh Manhas said.

"Media is an important pillar of democracy and BJP opposes any attempt to suppress the freedom of press."

FEDERALISM IN NEPAL

The Battle For Supremacy

The main hurdle towards drafting a new constitution for Nepal is the contentious issue of federalism. Ethnic Nepalese are unlikely to accept Nepali Congress’s demand that federalism should not be based on ethnicity. Former Prime Minister and senior Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba’s statement that his party would not accept a federal structure based on ethnicity is a strong reminder to other communities in Nepal that the Bahun-Chettris, who have ruled Nepal for nearly 250 years since 1769, when Nepal came into being, are not ready to give up their power so easily.

While Nepal’s President Rambaran Yadav has not directly opposed Deuba’s statement he wants the new federal structure should safeguard the distinct ethnic identity of all Nepalese, meaning the ethnic communities and the madhesis, while ensuring that the national identity of Nepal and Nepalese remain intact. In a country where the majority  ethnic communities feel disadvantaged economically and politically for centuries and the minorities are determined to preserve their ground come what may the battle line seems to have been drawn even as the former Hindu kingdom struggles to usher in a new era of freedom and democracy.

ANNEXATION OF SIKKIM

“A black day in the history of democratic India”

Chogyal Palden Thondup Namgyal wrote to Indira Gandhi when his Palace was attacked by the Indian Army in 1975

By Sheetal Pradhan

I believe this piece of article was more of a documentary as the title suggest "The Story of Sikkim". A part of a many story in opinions 24x7 blog. The article gives a simple narration about Sikkim in brief. What I liked the most was the annexation part and as in my part what I see I share. So this interesting piece of extract is provided here which did touch my heart, especially the "letter" sent by our Chogyal (King) to Indira Gandhi, when Sikkim Royal Palace was attacked by the Indian Army .

""Finally, in 1975, the Kazi (Prime Minister) of Sikkim went against the Chogyal and appealed to the Indian Parliament to change Sikkim's status to a full state of India. His appeal was approved. In April 1975, a 5,000-strong contingent of the Indian Army invaded Sikkim and surrounded the Chogyal's palace. His 300 bodyguards, who were themselves trained by the Indian Army, were caught and driven away, while one of them was shot. The Chogyal was arrested. In his last letter to Indira Gandhi, he wrote:

"I have no words when the Indian army was sent today in a surprise attack on Sikkim Guards who are less than 300 strong and were trained, equipped and officered by the Indian army who looked upon each other as comrades. This is a most treacherous and black day in the history of democratic India in solving the survival of our little country by use of arms."

The Chogyal died under Indian surveillance, supposedly of a weak heart. The Sikkim National Flag was lowered and subsequently banned, being replaced by the Indian Tricolour. A referendum was held under which 59% of the electorate came out to vote. Of them, 97.5% approved a merger with India. However, historians strongly dispute the statistics provided by the Indian Government as well as the fairness of the referendum, which was conducted by the Indian Army. Nonetheless, Sikkim was merged with the Indian Union as its 22nd State.

Interestingly, the treaty which enabled the merger had a special clause inserted into it by India: the merger of Sikkim and India could never be disputed in any court of the land, including the Supreme Court. Of all the instruments of accession signed between various Princely States and the Indian Union, only this one contains this special clause. Details of what actions Indian Intelligence agencies took before the annexation, including the accession of Bhutan to the United Nations, remain sketchy, mostly because the Government classifies it as a state secret." (Proud to be a Sikkimese)

No governance and plenty of corruption in Uttarakhand

By Jagdish Bhatt

It has been 11 years since Uttarakhand came into being after the hill areas were carved out of Uttar Pradesh. And while its people struggled for statehood, braving the bullets and lathis of the police and para-military forces so that their hopes and expectations could become a reality, things have only deteriorated and gone from bad to worse.

Over the past decade, governance has taken a beating, while corruption at all levels from the highest rungs to the lowest in the babudom is rampant and become a way of life in the state. And though both the Congress and the BJP, which have formed governments in the state, make tall claims of eradicating corruption, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the working of the government, facts at the grass root level even today indicate on the contrary.

Recently chief minister B C Khanduri spoke of the competent and honest (sic)administrative machinery in Uttarakhand. But if what is going in the state capital, Dehra Dun, right under the nose of the government is any indication, one can only presume what will be happening in the rural hinterlands of the state. Sample this, as to what extent things are going haywire.

The CBI conducted raids on LPG agencies in Dehra Dun and reached the conclusion that they have 30 per cent fake connections in their registers. As a result customers have to wait for days to get their supply. The fake registrations are either sold directly to commercial organizations or they are used to refill commercial cylinders, which are then sold Rs 1000 to Rs 1100 per cylinder. The actual commercial cylinder costs Rs 1300. Incidentally the CBI undertook the raids following inertia over the large number of complaints of irregularities by the state government.

Fair price shops under DPS are supposed to supply ration to new card holders after one month of a new ration card being made. But they do not supply ration for over two to three months, and the ration meant for the ration card holder is conveniently sold to shops in the open marker. The District Supply Officer and inspectors are unconcerned being hand-in-glove with the ration depot holders as ration meant for PDS supply is openly being sold in the markets.

There is a system under which the concerned department has to take permission from the state government for floating any tenders over Rs 50 lakhs. However, the state energy department was circumventing these directions by breaking the high value tenders into smaller value tenders below Rs 50 lakhs so that necessary government permission was not required. An enquiry is now underway.

A team of scribes of a regional daily went to police stations as individuals without revealing their identity. They found most of the police stations refusing to lodge FIRs and in one case the police constable even took Rs 200 to lodge a complaint. Most of the scribes posing as civilians were threatened of dire consequences, if they insisted for lodging the FIR.

Ten persons were killed when an unfit mini bus rolled down the khud while going from Tuini to Vikasnagar. Passengers, who were mercifully to escape the accident said that the bus was not fir to ply on the roads and broke down on three to four occasions. They told the driver to stop the bus, but he kept plying it without listening to the passengers, resulting in the accident. How come the RTOs are allowing unfit vehicles to ply on the roads.

Building which have been reportedly sealed by the MDDA because of being illegal constructions, have been fully constructed and completed despite the ban on their construction. How have the MDDA authorities become blind and allowed the completion of structures that they have themselves sealed for being illegal. Will someone explain

This is just a sample of what is happening at the grass root level and citizens are at the receiving end, with no one bothered to listen to their woes, as every senior officer seems to be operating in actual connivance with his juniors and sharing the spoils.

Uttarakhand has recently had its vidhan sabha elections and results are to be declared on Mar 6. Whether it is the BJP or the Congress that forms the government, only time will tell, but will these two major parties, who have promised efficient and transparent administration, look into these rampant instances of mass corruption and at least improve upon, if not make life better for the people of the state. (Hill Post)

Sikkim party condemns statements against Indian Nepalese

“The entire Himalyan belt from Burma to Sutlej belongs to Nepalese”

Gangtok, Feb 28: The Sikkim Liberation Party (SLP) has reacted sharply against anti-Nepali stand adopted by Bangla Bhasa Bachao Samiti and Adivasi Vikash Parishad (AVP).

In a press statement, SLP chief DN Nepal said the statements issued against Indian Nepalese by the two organizations were “unconstitutional” and “offensive.”

Nepal said statements against “Indian Nepalese” are being made because the leadership of this community are not only “directionless” but are engrossed in “amassing wealth.”

“Those speaking out against the Nepalese community should know and understand that the entire Himalayan belt right from Burma (Myanmar) in the East to Sutlej in the West belonged to this community,” a resolution passed by the SLP during its meeting said.

According to Nepal, the two organizations have alleged that Nepalese living in India are “foreigners.”

Mukunda Majumdar of Bangal-O-Bangla Bhasa Bachao Committee criticized the attempt to divide Bengal and opposed inclusion of mouzas in Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA). He said, "Majority of the Nepali-speaking people in Terrai and Dooars are foreigners." The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has refuted the charge.

Meanwhile, the nine-member panel set up to examine the inclusion of areas in Terai, Dooars and also Siliguri under the new Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) will decide on the submission of its recommendations in its meeting on March 16.

CBI rescues Darjeeling girl from Delhi

C. Tamang

Darjeeling, Feb 28: A 14-year-old girl, who was missing from Darjeeling since November, 2011, was rescued by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from Munirka in south-west Delhi recently. This was a big break for the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the CBI, that was set up recently to collect, collate and analyze data on kidnappings and abductions from across the country.

According to an official, the AHTU received information about this girl and began investigations. During the course of investigations, the sleuths came to know that the girl, a resident of Darjeeling, was lured to Delhi by a young man who promised her a job there, a national daily reported.

Once in Delhi, he handed her over to others who abused her. The man who took her to Delhi and his associates also had plans to sell her to a brothel. A case has been lodged against the gang. The CBI began a search for the girl and traced her to Munirka in South West New Delhi. Sleuths have come to know that The man who took her to Delhi and his associates also had plans to sell her to a brothel.

In January this year, the CBI designated a unit in the Special Crime Zone of the CBI as the AHTU. It was realized that though a lot of human trafficking takes place in the country there was no centralized organization to deal with the matter exclusively. Most of this trafficking takes place from the eastern parts of the country as well as Nepal.

Entertainment

Barfee film shooting in Darjeeling

Priyanka takes music teacher to Darjeeling

Bollywood actor Priyanka Chopra took her music teacher Samantha Edwards to West Bengal's hill city Darjeeling, where she is shooting for Anurag Basu’s film 'Barfee'.

Piggy Chops said she is very much passionate about music and is very much thrilled about her international recording deal with Desi Hits and Universal Music to record her debut music album.

Priyanka is practising singing everyday after hectic shooting schedules in Darjeeling.

Her debut music album will contain 10 pop songs that will be released globally this year.

An uninterrupted and successful shooting schedule in Darjeeling has resulted in a high spirited Barfee team. So much so that Writer-director Anurag Basu has decided on a music launch of the film in Darjeeling. This is for the first time that a Bollywood film music release is taking place in.

Basu arrived in town on February 16 along with Ranbir Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra and Ileana D’Cruz, shooting for his romantic thriller Barfee. Basu has shot to fame with films like Murder, Gangster, Life in a Metro and Kites. Pritam is the music director of the film.

According to Basu: “We will have a music launch for the film in May in Darjeeling. The whole team including the cast will be in Darjeeling for the music release. Barfee will have 6 songs." The film is slated for July 13, 2012 release.

The locales for the shoot include Tindharia, Bhotey Bustee, Hotel Windamere, Chowrasta and the Planters Club in Darjeeling. Shooting is scheduled to end in Darjeeling on February 29. While Priyanka had left Darjeeling on February 23 for Hyderabad where she is shooting for the film Krish; Ileana D'Cruz had left on February 25.

SIKKIM OBSERVER         Feb 25, 2012

Sikkimese youths to fight for rights of ‘Sikkim Subjects’

Observer News Service

Gangtok, Feb 24: The ‘Sikkim Subjects’ issue is back on the political agenda in the State.

It is not political parties nor politicians that has brought back this issue in the public domain. It is the Sikkimese youths under the leadership of Nawin Kiran Pradhan which has, though reluctantly, reopened the chapter on the controversial issue of ‘Sikkim Subjects.’

The initiative came from Pradhan and his colleagues in the All Sikkim Educated Self Employed and Unemployed Association (ASESE&UA) during a press conference held here on Monday.

Pradhan, who is the President of the Association, said the organization has pledged itself to the Sikkimese people to do justice to it and fight for the rights and interests of the ‘Sikkim Subjects’ who became Indian citizens when the former kingdom was incorporated in the Indian Union in 1975.

Pradhan said the Constitution as well as the Supreme Court have protected the special status of Sikkim and the Sikkimese people and he intends to go ahead to restore the democratic and constitutional rights of the Sikkimese people.

Pradhan said non-Sikkimese have encroached upon the rights of the Sikkimese in the past several decades and urged the concerned authorities to give top priority to these issues.

Several political parties in the State had earlier raised several contentious issues related to ‘Sikkim Subjects’ but failed to take the matter to its logical conclusion. “They are involved vote-bank politics and are not concerned about the interest of the Sikkimese people,” said an observer.

Hills optimism after PM-Mamata meet

Darjeeling, Feb 24: With Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee setting the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) ball in motion in Delhi, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) heaved a sigh of relief. A GJM team led by GJM President Bimal Gurung will be departing for Delhi in a day or two to hold talks with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.

Banerjee on Wednesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and apprised him of the delay in the formation of the GTA (an autonomous administrative mechanism for the Darjeeling Hills) which according to her would lead to "further confusion," The Hindustan Times reported.

Following the meeting with the PM, Banerjee held a press conference in Delhi in which she stated "I told the Prime Minister that seven months have passed since the signing of the GTA Memorandum of Agreement and that the state government has completed its part. There is unnecessary delay by the centre in sending the GTA Bill (which has been passed by the West Bengal Assembly,) for the President’s assent. Darjeeling is peaceful. Further delay will cause confusion. The Prime Minister has assured me that in the next two days the Centre will clear the pending processes."

The GTA Bill at present in under inter-ministerial consultation. "We welcome the initiative taken by the chief minister and the assurances of the Prime Minister. This has been long overdue. Finally the Government has set itself a deadline. We expect the CM to bring some good tidings during her visit to Darjeeling" remarked Harka Bahadur Chettri, GJM Spokesperson, the report said.

The CM is slated to visit the Hills on February 29. Mamata is likely to declare the tentative date for GTA elections in Darjeeling feel political observers. Both the Chief Minister and the GJM would like to witness an early GTA. While an early GTA- projected as a solution to the Gorkha impasse would definitely seal Mamata's claim to a speedy resolution of this complex issue.

Gurung along with General Secretary Roshan Giri and Chettri will be camping in Delhi for the next few days. "We will be meeting Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on February 27 or 28^th," stated Giri.

Provide LPGs in border areas: Lok Sabha MP

Gangtok, Feb 24: While urging the Indian Oil Corporation Limited authorities to give top priority to providing LPG connections in border areas of North Sikkim, Sikkim’s lone Lok Sabha MP PD Rai has urged all commercial and industrial units in the State to use to use 19 Kg commercial LPG instead of using the normal LPG cylinders.

Rai’s appeal is in response to a high-level delegation of the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) led by Chief Manager (Operations), Siliguri, which called on him earlier this week.

 The delegation informed Rai that the production of the Indane Gas at Bagey Khola has been made to 300 MT as compared to 100 MT in the previous year. The IOCL has plans to appoint dealers in remote places in the State such as Chungthang, Mangshila, Phensong, Dentam and Soreong in north and west districts.

Rai urged IOC to accord top priority to release immediately the pending requisition of LPG connections under ICDS Centres (Aaganwadi Project) and Border Area Development Programme in North Sikkim, which are pending for quite some time.

The delegation also brought to the notice that most of the commercial and industrial units in Sikkim are still not using 19 Kg commercial cylinders in their hotels and projects, which is mandatory as per norms.

The proposal of IOCL to bring LPG bulk in bigger bullet to Mazitar Plant has been appreciated by Rai and assured that he will be take up the issue with the concerned department.

 Rai urged all commercial and industrial units in the State to strictly use 19 Kg commercial LPG for their projects, which are available at any point of time from any distributors of IOCL in Sikkim.

These units should discourage bringing these cylinders from outside the State, Rai said.

Tashiding hydel project: profit over people

By Tseten Tashi Bhutia

Gangtok, Feb 24: The hills of Yuksam and Tashiding in West Sikkim are alive with the sounds of villagers voicing their protest against the upcoming 97 MW Tashiding Hydro Electric Project (HEP). The Protest Rally organised by Platform For Joint Action Against 99MW Ting-Ting, 97MW Tashiding and 96MW Lethang HEPs, which saw the participation of people from all over Sikkim on February 13,  2012 in Gyalshing, headquarters of West District, has provided the much-needed moral support to the villagers of project area in West Sikkim.

The upcoming 97MW Tashiding Hydro-Electric Project, being constructed by M/s Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd, will damage surrounding mountain resources and affect livelihoods of hundred of villages. Environmentalists believe that this run-of-the- river scheme that divert Rathongchu river through mountain tunnels in Tashiding are damaging the fragile geology in an area that has already experienced the wrath of severe earthquake on September 18 last year.

Even though the High Powered Committee appointed by the State Government to examine the issues of 99MWTing-Ting, 97MW Tashiding and 96MW Lethang HEPs is yet to submit its report on 97MW Tashiding HEP the Government has already abandoned two projects viz. 99MW Ting-Ting and 96MW Lethang HEPs.

 The M/s Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd is hell bent on implementing the 97MW Tashiding project. Its tunneling activities have endangered the lives of local residents of the area. There is a widespread apprehension about the way the company is  using explosives to blast the fragile mountains.  M/s Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd  seems to be concerned only with the investment it has already made on 97MW Tashiding HEP.

The vested interest group of M/s Shiga Energy Pvt.Ltd, while seeing the mounting people’s protest against their Tashiding HEP, is using another means to achieve its end. Its drive for profit has put the morality and ethics at back seat.  At the behest of such vested interest group of M/s Shiga Energy Pvt.Ltd some so-called ‘local’ workers engaged in the Tashiding HEP have come out strongly in support of the Tashiding HEP saying that abandoning the project would render them jobless. M/s Shiga Energy Pvt. Ltd. should stop misguiding our innocent workers there at its site.

The so-called workers of M/s Shiga Engergy Pvt Ltd must take note of the fact that the Sikkimese people have joined this movement being spearheaded by Platform for Joint Actions spontaneously because they have learnt from their experiences of September 18 Earthquake.  The Teesta Urja’s Project at Chungthang in North Sikkim has already taught them a lesson. Now it is known to everyone in Sikkim that because of the deep tunneling work undertaken by Teesta Urja in the fragile and tectonically active rock of the Chungthang region killed so many people in North Sikkim when earthquake took place.   

   The Sikkimese people do not want to witness a Chungthang being repeated at Gyalshing-Tashiding and Yuksam area when the next quakes rattle their fragile mountains. The lives of people are more important than the jobs of few hundred people being engaged by M/s Shiga Energy Pvt.Ltd. The Platform for Joint Actions shall not sacrifice its movement intended to save the lives of generation-next Sikkimese simply because it will cost the jobs of few people! (Tseten Tashi Bhutia is Convenor, Platform for Joint Actions)

 Editorial

“BLACK MONEY”

India Largest Depositors in Swiss Banks

It is now fairly clear that Indians are the largest depositors in banks abroad. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has upheld what WikiLeaks said before on this issue. According to the CBI Director AP Singh an estimated $500 billion (nearly Rs 24.5 lakh crore) of illegal money has been stashed by Indian in tax havens. Singh also revealed that the “largest depositors in Swiss Banks are also reported to be Indians.” The CBI Director made this statement during the inaugural function of first interpol global programme on anti-corruption and asset recovery. Singh said that lack of political will in the leading tax haven states to part with the information because they are aware of the extent to which their economies have become "geared to this flow of illegal capitals from the poorer countries."

Around this time last year, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange said there was more Indian money in Swiss banks than any other nationality, sparking off renewed demands from the Opposition for disclosure of the names of account holders and bringing back black money. Assange disclosed that he was being offered a swap deal for handing over the details of Swiss banks and their secret account holders list. He revealed this when asked when the information will come out as people across India have been waiting to know. As yet the ‘Black Money’ issue raised by the BJP and religious leaders in India is yet to become a major political agenda of the Opposition.

‘SIKKIM SUBJECTS’

The Numbers Game Is Almost Over

Bonafide Sikkimese, who were referred to as ‘Sikkim Subjects’ during the pre-merger era in Sikkim, feel let down by the political leadership in the State, whose main preoccupation in the past three and half decades seems to be to remain in power at whatever the cost. Politicians who raise touchy issues that concern ‘Sikkim Subjects’ have their ulterior motive; they do not have the interest of bonafide Sikkimese at heart. Thirty two years have gone by since the reserved seats of the Sikkimese Nepalese in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly were illegally and undemocratically abolished.

No one raises the seat reservation issue anymore: while the majority community’s leadership feels that the Nepalese will be in the majority for all times to come and, therefore, reservation is unnecessary, the leaders of the minority Bhutia-Lepchas will not raise the issue for fear of being misunderstood and victimized. Nepal is a clear example of which way the winds are blowing. The ethnic Nepalese in Nepal are already outnumbered by the politically and economically more powerful madhesis. And yet the Sikkimese Nepalese leadership in Sikkim has not learnt its lesson. If future generations of Sikkimese do not wish to become refugees in their own homeland it is time to wake up and do something before it is too late.

SIKKIM People & Places

SIKKIM: In the lap of nature

V GUHAN

Who says rain plays spoilsport? At least, not in the hills. I am wiped out after an arduous journey of 16 hours.

I am in Sikkim, the darling child of Mother Nature. The place is Pemayangste, a nondescript forested village near Pelling, a beautiful spot in the state. My hotel overlooks the Sangalila range. Kangchenjunga can be seen at the farthest. In moments, a fine drizzle begins to veil the hills and the entire surroundings.  Heaven’s sprinkle has acted like a wiper:  the entire snow-capped mountain range  can be viewed in all its glory. The rain has pulled the curtain over the hills, which until then were cloaked in mist.

Outside the hotel, a short path leads to an arch, beckoning one toward the Pemayangste Monastery, which means the ‘Perfect Sublime Lotus’. It is one of the celebrated, oldest and most important monasteries of Nyingmapa Order of Buddhism in Sikkim. Built in the 17th century at an altitude of 2085 m, this Gompa is encircled by the haunting beauty of Kangchenjunga and its retinue of peaks.

A chamber with a big and colourful prayer wheel is tucked away in a corner.  The complex teems with yellow flags. It is a three-storeyed structure wherein the main hall has aesthetically painted doors and windows depicting Tibetan designs. The walls are adorned with traditional frescoes depicting tantric Buddhist themes. The main statue of Padmasambhava is seen in a dreadful form with multiple heads and arms. The monastery’s main attraction is the wooden replica of Zangdok Palri, the celestial abode of Padmasambhava. Intricately sculpted by a single monk, it is said to have taken five years  to complete.

A brisk half hour walk just below the monastery leads to a palace, now in ruins. Commendably maintained and preserved by ASI, with encouraging signages on the winding track (prodding the fatigued visitor to move on)and manicured lawns around the ruins, this site takes the pride of place in the history of Sikkim. Rabdentse, acknowledged as the second capital of Sikkim (after Yuksom), was abandoned at the end of 18th century due to the incursion of Nepalese armies and was shifted to Tumlong.

With the passing of time, Rabdentse was desolated and the ravages of time have turned the royal capital into ruins. The chortens around the palace have, however, stood the test of time.

On the following day, I resorted to the usual sightseeing. I had a look at the Singshore Bridge, an engineering marvel which spans across a deep gorge, connecting two hills. A visit was also paid to Khecheopalri Lake, one that is revered by Hindus and Buddhists for its magical healing powers. And of course, I experienced the symbiotic effect of light and sound at the Kanchenjunga Falls, where the water cascades down snowy peaks. (Deccan Herald)

SIKKIM OBSERVER Feb 18, 2012

New anti-Cong, anti-BJP front may include SDF

Kolkata, Feb 17: After the Lokpal Bill and FDI in retail, the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) has become the latest common rallying point for some UPA and opposition parties.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, whose Trinamool Congress is one of the biggest partners in the UPA, has joined CMs of opposition-ruled states to flag down the NCTC, The Hindustan Times reported.

A section in the group of non-Congress CMs opposed to NCTC claimed it could be the beginning of a pressure group of regional parties. TDP's Chandrababu Naidu has already backed them.

Top sources in the camp said talks were on to rope in the Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) and NCP in the protests against NCTC. The NCP has so far backed the Congress, the report said Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik said there was "need for a new transparent, corruption-free and secular front".

The SDF, which presently supports the Congress at the Centre,  has, however, not reacted on the proposal.

A senior leader of his party, BJD, said: "This is going to be a platform of non-BJP, non-Congress parties that are strong in their regions. The message we want to send out is that the bigger parties cannot ignore regional outfits and their state governments".

With pressure mounting on NCTC, finance minister Pranab Mukherjee said in Kolkata: "We will have to take notice of their observation and the government will take appropriate action."

While the Congress leadership has ruled out the threat of a new front, BJP chief ministers have lent support to the cause.

Banerjee's opposition to NCTC comes ahead of her February 22 meeting with PM Manmohan Singh after she alleged that the home ministry was delaying clearance of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration Act.

BJP takes on Sikkim Manipal University, files RTI

Gangtok, Feb 17: President of Bharatiya Janta Party, Sikkim unit Padam Chettri has filed an Right To Information (RTI) application with the State Information Commissioner seeking “criteria” under which the State Government gave license to the Sikkim Manipal University (SMU).

In his letter to the Commissioner, Chettri said he had filed an RTI application with the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Departments of the State Government but failed to obtain information on the subject from the concerned authority.

“I consider the denial of information regarding Sikkim Manipal University as an attempt by the SPIO to protect and defend the SMU”, which has “violated the law and I regard the SPIO as an accomplice of SMU in committing crime by SMU in Sikkim,” Chettri said in his application.

Briefing reporters here Chettri said his party has given the SMU till March 5 to furnish the relevant information.

42^nd All India Police Science Congress

Press indulging in “yellow journalism”, RTI “misused”: Chamling

“Review of security scenario” need of the hour

Gangtok, Feb 17: In the just-concluded 42^nd All India Police Science Congress here this week, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, said the meeting was an opportune time to “review risk factor and security scenario” in the State, which is strategically placed between Asia’s two giants.

He said until very recently “national security” was largely seen from the point of “threats from external forces and the internal disturbance caused by terrorism, insurgency etc.”

 “However, in recent times national security is also seen in the context of declining law and order and crime situations that lead to economic instability in a country. Strategically our key challenge lies in the area of people, technology, actionable intelligence and finance,” the Chief Minister said.

The Chief Minister pointed out that “trans-national crimes such as human trafficking, drugs and arms and import of counterfeit currency make it imperative to have cross border collaborative actions with partner agencies both within and outside the country.”

Referring to community policing, the Chief Minister said, “I would like to touch a little on community policing. It is not a new concept and I am sure most of you have made contributions towards police community partnership. The face of policing around the world is constantly changing and we need to meet the expectations of the community.” He added, “I take pride to state that Sikkim has seen the lowest crime rates and the Sikkim Police has maintained excellent police-public partnership.”

The Chief Minister had a dig at the Press during the conference. He alleged that a section of the local media was indulging in “yellow journalism.”

“Ethics of journalism should be fully implemented as the Press fraternity is equally responsible and answerable to the people and for the smooth functioning of a democratic State and the Country,” Chamling said.

He went on to allege that in “the name of democracy, they (Press) are acting in a most irresponsible manner with the malafide intention to disturb the peaceful atmosphere in the State and called for “strict implementation of cyber laws.”

Chamling also alleged that the Right to Information Act is also being “misused” in the State by “vested interests.”

“We should work hard to protect our precious Karma Kagyu lineage”

The 14^th Gyalwang Shamarpa, one of the three Regents of Rumtek Monastery, Sikkim, has made a fervent public appeal on the “Karmapa controversy” and of the need to preserve the sanctity of the Karma Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. The Press Statement by Shamar Rinpoche is reproduced herebelow:

Recently, I released a statement about the many accusations directed towards me regarding my position on the Karmapa Controversy over the years. Since then, I have received a lot of feedback from devotees. One of the requests I have been receiving most often has been for me to reveal who the other person was that had been involved in the forging of Situ Rinpoche’s fake prediction letter.

This information will not be disclosed. I will say that I feel certain that the person who offered their suggestions to Situ Rinpoche in this regard did not have any bad intentions. It is the habit of many old fashioned Tibetans to behave hypocritically. Of course, later, there were some other negative influences on Situ Rinpoche who helped to shape the outcome of the controversy, though by now I believe any sensible person should already know who these people are. In any case, the person who was alluded to in my recent statement was, at most, guilty of being old fashioned and had no intent on doing any harm to myself or the lineage.

Another question I have been asked since the release of my last statement was why, “out of compassion”, did I give in so easily to the requests of Tulku Ugyen. What does that mean? Tulku Ugyen was my guru, from whom I received the entire Rinchen Terzod (The Treasury of the Nyingma Termas). He was over eighty years old at the time. He felt it was very important that I receive this transmission and he worked day and night passing it on to me. How could I disappoint him?

As far as Ugyen Thinley is concerned, I understood from the beginning that it would not be fruitful to protest. China wanted to recognize Ugyen Thinley as a Karmapa and enthrone him in Tsurphu. Tsurphu is in China, not India. With China being as powerful as they are, I was paralyzed to stop it. Moreover, His Holiness Dalai Lama had already given his acknowledgment, and as everyone knows His Holiness the Dalai Lama is one of the most powerful spiritual leaders in the world. So, though it was very bad for the Karma Kagyu tradition, my objection at that time would be akin to the barking of a dog. I felt that we should instead work hard to protect our precious lineage, and that this was the only solution at the time.

I knew then that the majority of people wanted to believe in Ugyen Thinly as the Karmapa, for the very reasons mentioned above. However, it was very important to enthrone the traditionally recognized Karmapa, so as to support the preservation of our unique Karma Kagyu lineage.

I understood very well that what was good for the Karma Kagyu tradition would not be very good for me as an individual under these circumstances. Yet, I sacrificed myself for the greater good in order to protect the lineage. The reason I chose to sacrifice myself was that I had already by that time taken on the role of leadership, in accord with my position as the Shamarpa. How could I ignore something so important in order to save myself from any hardship? I took this responsibility seriously, as is my duty. I tried to be a bulldozer, in order to build up the strength of the genuine Karma Kagyu tradition.

According to the power of my position and the wishes I had made, our achievements were great. The main reason for this is due to the genuine support of all the well-wishers for the Karmapa and His lineage. I am so grateful to these people who chose to support the truth in spite of their own disadvantages. It is for this reason as well that I went along with Tulku Ugyen’s requests at that time and then went on to fulfill my duty as the Shamarpa.

There are so many monks, nuns and lay people who are suffering due to the damage done to our Karma Kagyu tradition. They all trust and rely on me as their only savior. If it were not for the suffering of these people and their undying trust in me to remedy the situation, I may have done things differently. However, how could I ignore them? Among the high levels of society to the normal civilians, the monks’ community and the general lay community, so many suffered from the damage done to our lineage, especially those in the administration of the late 16th Karmapa. This was evidenced in the recent letter sent to His Holiness Dalai Lama in May of 2011 from the monks of the Rumtek Dharma Chakra Centre in Sikkim.

I hope this statement sheds some light onto the reasons behind my decisions made over the years and allows for more understanding of the circumstances that surrounded them.

Sincerely,

Shamar Rinpoche

February 5th, 2012

Speaker for people-centric policing with a human touch

Gangtok, Feb 17: Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly K.T.Gyaltshen stressed the need for a people-centric policing with a human touch to make Indian police more effective that will lead to positive results, transparency and accountability in the whole system.    

   Addressing the valedictory function of the 42nd All India Police Congress in Gangtok this afternoon,  Gyaltsen said the police force must be efficient, highly trained and skillful to intervene and counter the modern-day crimes which are technologically abetted and aided, according to a PIB release.    

    Stressing the need for modernization of the police infrastructure, the Speaker said there must exist a total discipline among the force accompanied by quality leadership, team work, mutual respect, understanding and commitment.

  Claiming that Sikkim is the most peaceful state in the country, Gyaltsen said the Chamling government has been able to provide to its people peace, security and opportunities which are the basic objectives of democracy.

Addressing the valedictory function, Director General of the Bureau of the Police Reforms and Development ( BPR&D)  Vikram Srivastava  said key resolutions arrived at  during the meet included issues relating to police reforms, performs appraisal in police, comprehensive training policy, E-policing, emerging trends in cyber security monitoring and police investigation.

Director General of Sikkim Police Jasbir Singh in his brief speech said themes during the conference including police reforms, changing technology, cyber crimes and means to ensure integrity were developed, probed and resolutions framed. He said Sikkim police is working towards improving its capabilities and developing its intuitions, describing the 42nd police congress as a learning experience.

Sikkim Tourism unveils new eco-tourism policy

Japan to fund North Sikkim villages

New Delhi, Feb 17: Sikkim Tourism with the help of the newly- constituted Eco-Tourism Directorate of Sikkim has come out with a comprehensive policy to promote environment friendly tourism in the state.

The new Eco-Tourism Policy of the State, which was released on January 26, 2012, envisages de-congesting the capital city, Gangtok, and improve dispersal of tourists to other parts of the State which are either virgin from a tourism perspective or not much explored by tourists so far.

"The mandate of the new policy is to de-congest Gangtok. Sikkim has much more to offer than just Gangtok," an official of the Directorate said.

As part of the new plan, the State Eco-tourism Directorate has identified ten villages around Kanchenjunga Sanctuary to be developed as model villages for promoting tourism. These ten villages have been zeroed in from a list of 40 villages identified initially.

According to the official, the selection has been done taking into consideration almost nine prerequisites, such as accessibility, stakeholders' interest, scenic attraction of the place, culture, etc. The villages thus identified include Dzongu, an original Lepcha village, Lachung, Lachen, Okharey, etc. Each village is being developed on a specific theme, the official informed, like water, culture, art and craft, etc.

The whole development project, including the capacity building exercise of the stakeholders, are being funded by Japan International Co-op Agency (JICA). The project is expected to be completed over the next five years.

Adhoc employees to call off strike

Gangtok, Feb 17: The All Sikkim Departments Adhoc Staff Group (ASDASG) has decided to calloff its 21-day-long indefinite strike from today.

A spokesman of the group said the strike will be resumed after the health condition of its President Sonam Jigme Sherpa improves.

The strikers, including Sherpa, met the HRD Minister NK Pradhan here today to hold talks, according to informed sources.

Due to his deteriorating health condition Sherpa is likely to be hospitalized here. A large number of teaching and non-teaching employees have been supporting the strike since it was launched here at the DC office premises on January 29.

SC directs Sikkim govt to help women fight sexual harassment

Gangtok, Feb 17: Senior advocate and social activist Doma T. Bhutia is hopeful that the State Government will follow the recent Supreme Court’s order on formation of complain committee in order to curb sexual harassment against women in the State.

Briefing reporters here recently, Doma said the apex court, taking note of a writ petition filed by a woman, directed the State to form a complaint committee. The court had asked the State to form this committee in 1997 but till date no such committee has been formed, Doma said.

As per the directions of the apex court, Chief Secretary Karma Gyatso recently filed an affidavit detailing steps taken by State Government for formation of the committee.

As per the apex court’s guidelines, the employer is required to include a rule in the company a code of conduct for preventing sexual harassment.

Organizations also must establish complaint committees that are headed by women.

The concerned authorities are also expected to initiate disciplinary actions against offenders and safeguard the interests of the victim.

Female employees are also entitled to be made aware of their rights.

Doma said that there are many women employees in private companies who are facing sexual harassment but due the fear of termination they never complain against the accused.

Editorial

COMMUNITY POLICING

Service With A Smile

In a democracy the men and women in uniform who are interacting with the people on a daily basis ought to know that they are there to help the public, not harass them. Too often police personnel feel that it is their right to clamp down heavily on those who fail to obey them. What we require is friendly but firm policing. Unfortunately, this is not the case and too often those who look after law and order are viewed with fear and apprehension.

Both the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling, and Speaker of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly, K T Gyaltsen, urged the Police to perform their with a “human touch” keeping in view matters regarding “community policing” while addressing an all-India conference on Police Congress. Sikkim Police must take credit for the general law and order situation in the State as compared to neighbouring areas. The efficient manner in which the traffic in Gangtok is managed is something to be proud of. However, we still have a long way to go in performing our duties with a human touch. 

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN      Feb 15, 2012

Nepal PM to inaugurate Global Bihar summit

Patna, Feb 14: The Global Bihar Summit 2012, which is scheduled to explore and discuss new strategies for the State's development, will be inaugurated here on February 17 by Nepal Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai.

 Bhattarai, who is scheduled to arrive here on February 17, will lead a 17-member delegation of his country for the three-day summit, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister S K Modi said, PTI reported.

About 1,000 delegates from India and abroad are expected to participate in the summit. Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, RBI Governor D Subba Rao, British economist Nicholas Stern, Lord Meghnad Desai, industrialist Kumar Manglam Birla, lyricist Javed Akhtar and film maker Prakash Jha would be among the participants, Modi said.

Bhutan's King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and  former Japan PM Kan Naoto are also expected to be present during the function.

He said objective of the summit is to explore the potential areas Bihar's progress. The summit is be jointly organised by Bihar Foundation, Institute for Human Development and Asian Development Research Institute.

Tibet protesters arrested in US amid China visit

Himalayan News Network

Washington, Feb 14: Police on Monday arrested activists who unfurled a banner reading, "Tibet Will be Free," on a major Washington bridge during a closely watched visit by China's leader-in-waiting Xi Jinping.

Officers briefly took four people into custody after they rappelled down the Arlington Memorial Bridge, which connects Virginia with central Washington's National Mall, to hang the banner, police said.

The four -- two of whom were taken by a police boat as they dangled down the side of the bridge over the Potomac River -- were arrested on charges of trespassing, US Park Police spokesman Sergeant David Schlosser said, AFP reported.

The activists from the group Students for a Free Tibet said that they were later released after being issued citations with fines of about $250 each for trespassing and disorderly conduct.

"I wanted to send a message to Xi Jinping, and also to the Tibetan people that we stand in solidarity with them," said one of the four, Tenzin Jigme.

Culture, adventure package draw UK tourists to Bhutan

T. Dem

Thimphu, Feb 14: Latest yearly tourism figures for Bhutan show a significant increase in the number of UK visitors to the country in 2011 compared to those of 2010.

37,481 international visitors entered Bhutan in 2011, representing a 38% increase from the 27,196 in 2010. Of those 2,795 were British compared to 1,772 from the previous year – an increase of 1,023, according to reports.

COMO Hotels and Resorts, which owns Uma Paro, the first luxury hotel to open in the country in 2004, also saw an increase in UK and international visitors with many staying at the property for a longer length of time than before.  Of the back of this increased demand, COMO will be opening a sister lodge, Uma Punakha in September 2012, to enable guests to enjoy greater cultural and physical adventure within the country.

The hotel is situated on a hillside in the lush Punakha Valley, a five-hour drive from Paro.  The intimate, 11-room lodge will offer the option of a two-centre stay with COMO and provide even more reasons to explore the beautiful centre and east of the country

Much of the growth in tourism to Bhutan can be attributed to the attractiveness of the country for adventure and culture including trekking, mountain biking, archery, yoga and even spa.  One tour operator which has been sending more UK travellers to Bhutan is Ampersand Travel. 

Its founder James Jayasundera said: “The combination of better quality hotels and more exciting possibilities for adventure has led to this increase in numbers.  Bhutan is becoming more accessible yet retains its air of mystery and strong cultural heritage which has always been very attractive to Ampersand customers.”

Ten Tibetan journalists jailed in China

Hill Media Network

Lhasa, Feb 14: As the Chinese authorities continue to ban access to journalists attempting to report on the situation inside Tibet, a global annual census on imprisoned journalists conducted by a leading international NGO promoting press freedom reveals that 10 out of 27 known journalists imprisoned in China are Tibetans. Six are Uyghurs.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in its December 2011 Prison Census on China said that Tibetans and Uyghurs form the bulk of journalists jailed in China, adding this unfortunate trend dates back to the widespread 2008 and 2009 protests in Tibet and East Turkestan (Chinese: Xinjiang) respectively.

The ten imprisoned Tibetan journalists are documentary filmmaker Dhondup Wangchen (sentenced to 6 years since December 28, 2009, detained in March 26, 2008); Kunchok Tsephel Gopey Tsang, online writer for Tibetan cultural issues website, Chomei (15 years since November 2009, detained in February 26, 2009); Kunga Tsayang aka Gangyi, political essayist, photographer and environmental activist (5 years since November 2010, detained inMarch 17, 2009); Tashi Rabten, writer /publisher of Shar Dungri magazine (4 years since 2 June 2011, detained since April 6, 2010); Dokru Tsultrim, the twice-detained monk writer forKhawai Tsesok journal (formal charges undisclosed); Jolep Dawa, writer and editor of Durab Kyi Nga magazine (3 years since October 2011, detained in October 1, 2010); Choepa Lugyal aka Meycheh, freelance writer for Shar Dungri magazine (formal charges and wherabouts are unknown, detained in October 19, 2011).

The writer and editor Jangtse Donkho aka Nyen and his fellow writer for Shar Dungrimagazine Buddha were detained since June-July 2010. Both were sentenced to 4 years imprisonment subjected to hard labor since October 2010 while another writer for Shar Dungri, Kalsang Jinpa aka Garmi who was arrested along with Nyen and Buddha was sentenced to 3 years in October 2010. In January 2011, the three were imprisoned subjected to hard labor in Mianyang jail near Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province.

Nepali Congress for talks on federalism

Kathmandu, Feb 14: Nepali Congress (NC) lawmakers and Central Working Committee (CWC) members have urged the party leadership to take the lead to settle differences seen over federal structure under the new statute.

During a joint meeting of the party´s CWC members and lawmakers organized by its Central Policy Orientation Academy last week, the NC leaders argued that the party should hold negotiations with various other parties and ethnic organizations to persuade them over the NC´s position, The Republica reported.

The meeting comes against the background of the State Restructuring Commission (SRC) submitting two separate reports to the government on federal state structure.

Addressing the meeting, NC CWC member and lawmaker Gagan Thapa argued that the NC cannot afford to remain a back-bencher and only react to the federal models floated by others.

“We have already agreed to go for federalism. We now have a situation where we in the Nepali Congress can ourselves develop a single federal state model through consensus,” he said.

He also suggested to the party leadership to start negotiations with other political parties and various ethnic organizations advocating ethnicity-based federal states to bring them around to the NC´s position.

NC lawmaker Uma Kanta Chaudhary asked the party to take a clear position on Madhes.

“The Nepali Congress has a popular base in Madhes. Our party would benefit hugely in the next election if it took a clear position on the federal state agenda in Madhes,” CWC member Jiwan Pariyar quoted Chaudhary as saying. Chaudhary added that the Madhesi people are in favor of a separate Madhes federal state.

Hostel for JK students in Delhi

New Delhi, Feb 14: In order to mitigate the difficulty of students from Jammu and Kashmir in finding appropriate accommodation in Delhi during their studies, the Jammu and Kashmir Government last week signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) to provide accommodation to 400 students from Jammu and Kashmir at PG, Graduate and School level in JMI.

 The MoU was signed by the Commissioner Secretary Higher Education, Tanveer Jahan, on behalf of the State Government and Registrar JMI, S. M. Sajjad and Union Joint Secretary (K), Ministry of Home Affairs, K. Skandan in presence of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, Union Minister for Home Affairs, P. Chidambaram, Union Education Secretary and Vice Chancellor JMI.

 The Government of Jammu and Kashmir will release a sum of Rs 16.22 crore to JMI in installments to finance the construction of hostel building, including appropriate furniture and fixtures in JMI Campus, to enable JMI to provide accommodation to 400 students from the State of Jammu and Kashmir. The amount so released by Jammu and Kashmir shall be reimbursed by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The land for the hostel will be provided by the JMI within its campus.

 The project will be completed within 24 months from the date of commencement of  construction. The 400 students from Jammu and Kashmir to be accommodated in the hostel will only be those admitted to the JMI University and its affiliated schools and for that purpose the concerned Hostel Committee of JMI shall include a representative from the Jammu and Kashmir State Government (Education Department) while allotting hostel accommodation to the students.

Opposition wrath

Will Nepal go the Sikkim way?    

Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai’s ‘Lendhup Remark’ wherein he threatened possible merger either with India or China if Nepal failed to become a vibrant bridge between the two countries has drawn expected criticism from selected opposition.

Not all in the opposition bench in Nepal differ with Prime Minister Bhattarai for obvious reasons. May be Nehru is their political guru.

Bhattarai the other day in an interaction with his preferred group of journalists while deriding at Nepal’s unifier King Prithivi Narayan Shah had claimed that “If we fail to come out from the buffer state mentality, there looms largely a threat of either merging with India or China.”

The Nepali Congress chief-whip Laxman Ghimire and United Marxist Leninists’ reliable ‘US contact’ Bhim Rawal criticized India trained Nepal’s Prime Minister Baburam for making the irresponsible remark. Both Ghimire and Rawal were speaking at the parliament.

Mr. Ghimire seeking immediate clarification from the Prime Minister said, “The Prime Minister should appear in the parliament and provide immediate clarifications for his irresponsible remarks.”

Prime Minister Bhattarai’s akin to ‘Lendhup remarks’, claim experts, have come at a time when a section of critics suspect that the birth of the Unified Maoists Party, the decade long rebellion, India forced anti-national 12 Points Agreement, declaration of the republican order, chaos thereafter and eventually Baburam becoming the country’s prime minister---series of events make it clear that the country is headings towards possible disintegration or merger with India. Could be? Full circle of People’s War.

The US government’s reliable communist contact in Nepal, Mr. Rawal also came down heavily upon the Prime Minister for his anti-national remarks.

Said Rawal, “During his India visit, the Prime Minister had claimed that he "gambled" in Delhi while signing the BIPPA with India. Now, he is talking about ‘merger of the nation-state," Rawal said.

To recall, Lendhup (Kazi Lhendup Dorji Khangsarpa – the first Chief Minister of Sikkim) assisted Madame Gandhi for Independent and Sovereign Sikkim's merger into the Indian Union. Later Lendhup died an unsung death. (Telegraph Nepal)

Editorial

SACRED SIKKIM

Don’t Repeat Mistakes

The scrapping of two controversial hydroelectric projects in West Sikkim by the Sikkim Government recently follows a statewide agitation by social organisations, whose main opposition to these projects are based on religious and historical grounds. Traditionally, West Sikkim is regarded as a sacred place for Sikkimese Buddhism. Most of the important and ancient monasteries in Sikkim are located in this region, which has been blessed by many religious leaders of the Nyingmapa school of Tibetan Buddhism. Guru Rinpoche himself lived and meditated in the various sacred caves in this district when he visited the former kingdom in the 8^th century. Sacred Buddhist pilgrimage destinations such as Tashiding, Pamayangtse and Khechoepelri Lake draw many pilgrims from far and wide every year.

Nearly four hundred years after the coming of Sikkim’s ancestor Khye Bumsa the first Sikkimese monarch, Chogyal Phuntsog Namgyal, was installed as the ruler (Chogyal) at Norbugang in Yuksam in West Sikkim in 1642. The minority Bhutia-Lepchas, who  reluctantly accepted Sikkim’s merger with India, still want to preserve their ancient cultural heritage within the framework of the Indian Constitution. The Chamling Government is likely to also scrap the Tashiding hydel project as per the wishes of the people. Hopefully, future governments will not repeat the same mistakes. It is politically and financially unwise to go ahead with projects that are not in the best interest of the people.

“Muivah has failed to keep his promise to the people of Nagaland”

ULFA chief Paresh Barua guns at NSCN’s Thuinglang Muivah for disintegrating insurgent movements in Northeast

Riding close on the heels of the first ever formal peace talks between United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA)’s pro talk faction and the Centre, the Commander-in-chief of the banned outfit Paresh Barua, who leads the anti-talk camp, has hit out at his one-time ‘close friend’, General Secretary of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac Muivah) (NSCN-IM), Thuinglang Muivah accusing him of disintegrating the Northeast insurgent movements by siding with the Indian Government and, thereby, failing to keep his promise made to the people of Nagaland.

The NSCN(IM) has been involved in a peace parley with New Delhi since 1997. Union Home Ministry insiders have confirmed to TEHELKA that a new settlement of the long-continuing Naga conflict will be achieved before Christmas. In such a scenario a snub from Paresh Barua will leave Muivah and his team in utter discomfort.

“Muivah is responsible for the disintegration of Northeast insurgent struggle for sovereignty. The Government for long has been taking advantage of the discord among various outfits of the region. Way back in 1985, ULFA has proposed to NSCN (IM) general secretary Th.Muivah to initiate a unity move among Northeast rebel groups since ULFA feared that Government will try to divide and encourage fratricidal killings. But Muivah sided with the Government of India. Thus Muivah has failed to keep his promise to the people of Nagaland,” reads the statement issued by Arunoday Dohutia, press secretary of Paresh Barua led anti-talk faction of ULFA.

The statement further referred to the 10 October incident where there was a huge gun battle between the NSCN (IM) and Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) in Manipur. The Barua faction feels Muivah’s decision to go alone and not unite the various rebel outfits of Northeast had dealt a blow to the survival of the underground insurgent movements in the region and, in the process, he has betrayed other rebel outfits and people of Northeast.

Independent watchers feel that by issuing such statements the anti-talk faction of ULFA is making a mistake. “The problem of division among various rebel groups in the Northeast is nothing new. It has been there because of high assertions of ethnicity that reduced the ground for the outfits to come closer. The Indian State has always been able to take advantage of this situation, thus by making such statement Paresh Barua is falling into the same trap which he accuses Muivah of falling into,” explained Subir Bhaumik, Editor, Seven Sisters Post.

Between 1985 and 1990 ULFA’s cadres were baptised in terror by the NSCN. They used to share camps in the head quarters of undivided NSCN in Kesan Chanlam on the other side of the Indo-Myanmar border across from Nagaland. After NSCN got divided, the military wing of ULFA under Barua’s leadership has maintained close ties with both the factions. “We have come to know from surrendered ULFA cadres that once Paresh was fond of Muivah but friction developed between the two outfits after Paresh became close to the rival faction of Khaplang-led NSCN-IM. ULFA and NSCN once got engaged in a gun fight over control of a corridor in NC hills,” a senior military intelligence officer said. NSCN(IM) top leader Anthony Shimray, who was in charge of the outfits arms procurement, was hand-in-gloves with Barua before his arrest in Nepal. (Tehelka) 

Bangladeshis refuse to be Sikkim of India

India has alerted its army to extend all sorts of assistance to Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid if another attempt was made to remove her from power. The Bangladeshi army spokesman disclosed recently that a coup against the government planned by religious elements within the military was recently foiled without giving specific dates.

According to reports, published in the Indian media, Indian army bases near Bangladesh’s border have been asked to remain alert and there have been regular contacts with country’s embassy in New Delhi to forestall any attempt to dislodge the government. The reports of the Indian actions and concerns over an internal matter have further infuriated the proud Bangladeshis who have centuries-old history of not accepting hegemony of others and they do not want their country to become another Sikkim of India.

In 2009, two months after Hasina Wajid took office after general elections, Bangladeshi border guards mutinied and many serving army officers were killed. That shows the strong resentment among the armed forces over incumbent government’s close relation with India and underlines tension between the government and elements in the military that have lingered since the mutiny in 2009.

India wants its hegemony over Bangladesh and dictates its terms to get concessions and policies of its liking implemented by the sitting Government in Dhaka in return for support in the creation of the country in 1971. This is not acceptable to the people and they oppose any move of the government that gives the impression of surrendering to Indian dictation.

There are border and other disputes between the two countries but the long running water discord is of serious concern for Bangladeshis who want the government to control its political itching and take stand against Indian abuses. But the problem is that India has its own long-term designs and the ongoing tussle reflects that all is not well in India’s relations with Bangladesh. In the present international scenario, every state and its people want relations with other countries on equal basis and one fears that more India will interfere and assert in Bangladeshi affairs, more the resistance would be.(Pakistan Observer)

Sikkim not controversial: Gautam

Filmmaker Goutam Ghosh recently claimed that Satyajit Ray’s documentary “Sikkim” had been unjustifiably banned since 1975.

The DVD of the documentary created to portray its namesake, produced by the Royal family of a sovereign Sikkim in 1971 and banned by the Indian Government till 2010, was finally launched by Angel Digital in Kolkata last month.

While occupying the podium during the event Ghosh said, “The documentary was about the sovereign state of Sikkim before India annexed it, so perhaps there were political reasons but I still cannot justify the banning of this film as it contains no infuriating or controversial footage.”

“People had a great curiosity about this film as it was made by the legendary director Satyajit Ray and it is great that they will finally get to see it,” he remarked.

Fellow filmmaker and Satyajit Ray’s son Sandip Ray shared a few anecdotes from his experiences during a shooting trip to Sikkim with his father while affirming to the notion that “Sikkim portrays only the flora and fauna of the land. It only shows the beautiful landscape and I assure you that there are no controversial footages.”

Ray revealed that obtaining a decent print had been a hassle as the owner of the original negative Hope Cooke, the wife of the then Chogyal (King) of Sikkim, could not be contacted.

“It is really lucky that a print of this film was found with one of my father’s old friend and distributor in London because the original negative is no longer available,” Ray remarked.

“Some parts of the movie have been restored and though the original quality of colour was really great, this print is viewable and at least people will get the opportunity to see this,” he said.

Ray urged the distributors to produce compilations of his father’s other short films as this is the high time for their release.

“It would be great if the short films of my father are released because I believe the people are ready to see them now and so I request the producers to do something about it,” Ray said. (India Blooms News Service)

Left Front for Central intervention in Darjeeling

Kolkata, Feb 14: The Left Front is approaching the Centre to urge it to take steps to arrest the deteriorating political situation in Darjeeling in the wake of various pro-Gorkhaland groups taking out rallies in the Hill town in support of a separate Gorkhaland.

“Darjeeling is among the many issues where the State Government has failed to bring a solution,” State Opposition leader, Suryakanto Mishra said on Monday adding that he would reach the Central Government “seeking its immediate intervention before the situation spins out of control,” a national daily reported.

Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the Gorkha Janmutki Morcha, had on Sunday taken out huge processions in Darjeeling in support of a separate State. The rally came close on the heels of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s meeting with the GJM leadership where she assured them of quick commissioning of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration accord.

The tripartite accord signed by the State, Centre and the GJM in July 2011stipulates carving out of an autonomous zone comprising three Hill sub-divisions of Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong, apart from the Dooars and Terrain area in the foothills and contiguous Plains inhabited by the adivasis and Bengalis. A high-powered committee led by (retd) Justice Sabyasachi Sen is looking into the territory aspect of the treaty amid protests from the Akhil Bharatiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad and the local Bengalis.

“The treaty should have been implemented by the end of January, ie within six months of its signing. But it seems that the Government is not sincere about its implementation which makes the creation of a separate Gorkhaland all the more necessary,” said IM Pakhrin a senior GJM leader, wondering “how far the Hills can wait for the GTA to happen.”

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties in Darjeeling have already come under an umbrella to take on the GJMM forcing Gurung to press for quick implementation of GTA.   

JAC rally in Sikkim to protest Tashiding hydel project

Gangtok, Feb 14: The Joint Action Committee, a common platform to protest hydel power projects in Sikkim, organized a rally on Monday in West Sikkim demanding the scrapping of the third hydel power project Tashiding by the State Government.

The rally follows the scrapping of two hydel projects, Lethang and Ting Ting on Rathong Chu river in West Sikkim, considered sacred by Buddhists in Sikkim.

Thousands participated in the rally at the district headquarters of Geyzing, according to Nawin Kiran Pradhan, President of All Sikkim Educated Self Educated and Unemployed Association.

Pradhan said that the association has welcomed the historic decisions of the state government in scrapping Lethang and Ting Ting hydel projects. “If the state government does not accept our demands we will start a mass agitation,” said Pradhan.

Darjeeling ropeway reopens after more than 8 years

Darjeeling, Feb 14: The Darjeeling Rangeet Valley Passenger Ropeway in Darjeeling was reopened for the public this week after more than 8-year freeze.

The Ropeway is a joint venture by the West Bengal Forest Development Corporation and Conveyor and Ropeway Services (CRS).

A major tourist attraction, the services had been closed down following a fatal accident on October 19, 2003 which had resulted in the death of 4 passengers and had critically injured 11.

With demands of the reopening of the Ropeway from different quarters,  Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had assured that it would be functional from October 2011 (Durga Pujas). However, owing to technical hitches the deadline could not be met.

Following a thorough survey by the Metallurgical and Engineering Consultants (India) Limited (Mecon), this Central Government undertaking had furnished a list of technical recommendations, including modern safety features.

10 gondolas will undertake the 2km run between Singamari, adjacent to the St Joseph's School, North Point, on the outskirts of the Darjeeling town at 6,500ft to Tukvar tea garden at 6,000ft.

The ropeway was started in 1968 by the forest development department and comprised only a single car which ran one way. Later, it was upgraded to 16 cars and went to and fro from North Point to Singla Bazar, 8 km away.

Fight Maoist propaganda in Northeast: Pillai

P. Ghosh

Guwahati, Feb 14:  Former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai on Monday urged political parties and NGOs in Assam to counter Maoist propaganda at the grassroots level.

 Pillai also said the Army's role in counter-insurgency operations in the northeast could be reduced provided the State Governments were willing to upgrade their police forces.

“The subtle campaign of the Maoists to portray themselves as champions of the underdog and protector of the deprived is but a part of their larger campaign to seize political power through an armed struggle. And Assam needs to learn from the experiences of Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Odisha and nip it in the bud,” he said, while delivering the keynote address at a two-day seminar organised by the Centre for Development and Peace Studies (CDPS) here, a regional daily reported.

Describing Manipur as “perhaps the most problematic state in the North East as no genuine dialogue has yet taken place with the insurgent groups,” he said the disconnect between the State government and the Government of India on how to tackle the security situation and the consequent social and economic fallout “is more worrying.”

Presently a Distinguished Fellow of the Delhi-based Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA), Pillai alleged that the State police force in Manipur had become “politicised” and “highly dysfunctional.”

“The contours of peace in Manipur are still not clear. At present, this is hostage to the ongoing peace process with the Nagas. The government and the people of Manipur will have to be consulted and made a party to in the final settlement, which as Government of India has repeatedly stressed, respects the territorial integrity of Manipur and of other States in the northeast,” he said.

Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said proper utilisation of natural resources and generating employment opportunities were the keys to sustaining peace in Assam and the other north-eastern States. He, however, asserted that the Maoists would never be successful in Assam. Mr. Gogoi also said that he saw no difference between the Maoists and various insurgent groups of the region.

British Deputy High Commissioner to Eastern India, Sanjay Wadvani, said that the North East had tremendous economic potential and, in the current climate with many radical groups preferring dialogue to settle disputes, the moment seems opportune to build peace in the region and give a new vigour to development.