SIKKIM OBSERVER  Jan 26 – Feb 1, 2013

REBEL LEADER TO LAUNCH HIS PARTY ON FEB 4

Gangtok, Jan 25: After dithering over the timing of formation of his party for months rebel leader PS Golay has finally decided to take the plunge. His new political outfit will be formed on February 4 next month, it is learnt.

Actually, January was the expected month for launching of the new party but this did not take place and this led to some bickering and disappointment among Golay’s supporters. February 4 is just a week before Losar (New Year according to lunar calendar), which falls on February 11. The Tamang community to which Golay belongs celebrate the New Year as Sonam Lochar, which is a public holiday in the State.

Technically, Golay still belongs to the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front and is a member of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly from the Upper Burtuk constituency, located near Gangtok in east Sikkim.

The new party will be launched from Golay’s native village of Singling in Soreng-Chakung constituency in west Sikkm.

Golay’s new party is expected to cut into the vote-bank of the ruling party, which has been in power since December 1994. Opposition parties will also be wary of their supporters flocking into the new camp.

Form Cong govt in Sikkim, Bhandari tells high command

Gangtok, Jan 25: Sikkim Congress unit President N B Bhandari blamed the party high command for not taking an active role in strengthening its party in the State.

He also charged the Congress-led government at the Centre for diluting Sikkim’s special status under Article 371F of the Constitution. Addressing the Chintan Shivir in Jaipur, the three-time former chief minister said regional parties such as the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front’s continuation in power is threatening the “security” of the country in the “border State.”

While urging the party high command of the need to root out regional parties in the State, the SPCC chief emphasized the need to form a Congress government in the State.

Bhandari last headed a Congress government in 1981-84 after he merged his Sikkim Janata Party with the Congress in mid-1981.

The second Congress government in the State, led by BB Gooroong in May 1984, lasted for only 13 days. Another revolt against Bhandari in May 1994 saw SM Limboo become the Chief Minister for six months from May 1994 to December 1994. During this period Limboo’s SSP(S) merged with the Congress party.

Chief Minister Pawan Chamling, another rebel in the Bhandari camp, formed his ruling Sikkim Democratic Front in March 1993 and came to power on December 12, 1994. Chamling has been in power since then.

Editorial

HOME TRUTHS

Take Note, Madam Gandhi

Sikkim may be small, but the Congress high command ought to note by now how vital this tiny Himalayan State is to the nation’s security interest. SPCC President NB Bhandari’s warning to the party high command at the party’s brainstorming session in Jaipur this week that the continuation of the Chamling Government is a threat to the country’s security is not an outburst of a politician who has failed to make a comeback since his abrupt departure from power in May 1994. The growing disillusionment with Chamling’s brand of ‘democracy’ and ‘development’, despite the State obtaining first positions in several fields, will surely lead to a new kind of political uncertainty in the near future if timely and appropriate action is not taken. When Bhandari merged his Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) with the Congress in 2003 Sonia Gandhi promised that she would come to Sikkim to fulfil her late husband’s dream. Perhaps this visit was not made because Sikkim was not ready for it.

National parties may not be the ideal choice for Sikkim but the rule of regional parties for most part of past three and half decades has forced the Sikkimese to live in fear under  ‘one man rule - one party system’ in a democratic set-up. Because of Bhandari and Chamling’s failure to live up to the high expectations of the people – the two men ruled Sikkim from 1979-2013 – PS Golay, seen by many as the CM-in-waiting, will find it very difficult to get the spontaneous support of the people even though he has the support and sympathy of many. After Golay created his own political space in the State Bhandari hinted that he is ready to align with the rebel leader against Chamling. But now that Bhandari has urged the party high command to strengthen its party unit in Sikkim with a view to forming a Congress government in Sikkim what would be Golay’s role in the changed situation?  In the past two Assembly polls (2004 and 2009), the Congress party, under Bhandari, secured around 30 per cent of votes polled. If Bhandari is able to ensure that his vote-bank remains intact he will surely play a commanding role in uniting the Opposition.

Northeast separatists call for Republic Day boycott

Boycott as a mark of resistance against what it termed as "Indian occupation of the region".

Imphal, Jan 25: A massive security alert was sounded across the northeast Tuesday after separatist rebels announced a boycott of the Jan 26 Republic Day celebrations, an official said.

"We have placed security forces on high alert to thwart rebels from disrupting the Republic Day celebrations," Shambhu Singh, joint secretary (Northeast) in the home ministry, told IANS on Tuesday.

Five frontline separatist groups in the region have called a boycott of the Republic Day and also a general strike from 1 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. that day as a mark of resistance against what it termed as "Indian occupation of the region".

The call has been given by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the National Liberation Front of TWIPRA (NLFT), the Tripura People's Democratic Front (TPDF) and Coordination Committee (CorCom) - an umbrella of seven major separatist outfits - fighting for an independent state for the majority Metei community in Manipur.

These groups are active in Assam, Manipur and Tripura.

The five rebel groups announced their boycott on Monday through a joint statement e-mailed to several media houses.

"There is a clear image of Indian colonial racism manifested in the suppression of human rights under martial and Draconian law such as the Armed Forces Special Power's Act (AFSPA), 1958 and other forms of suspension of fundamental rights," the statement said.

"Extra judicial killings, inhuman torture, fake encounter and sexual harassment in the region are routinely carried out to suppress the freedom struggle of our indigenous people.

"Freedom and independence is the only solution for the conflict as the region can never be a part of the Indian mainstream.”

PEOPLE & PLACES Sikkim

In Rumtek, a generation of Buddhist monks loses hope

By ANJANI TRIVEDI

 In their 13th year of waiting for their spiritual leader, the Tibetan Buddhist monks at a mountainside monastery in Sikkim are starting to give up hope.

“Our hearts have fallen — the master isn’t coming,” said Karma Yeshi, a monk and teacher at the Rumtek monastery, home to 150 monks in the Himalayas in the erstwhile kingdom annexed to India in 1975. “It’s like a house without a father.”

The person the monks are eager to see is Ogyen Trinley Dorje, the 27-year-old man deemed to be the leader of the Kagyu order of Buddhism, one of the four main schools in Tibetan Buddhism.

Tibetan Buddhism stresses the importance of meeting the Karmapa. Teachings in the Kagyu order are passed on from master to student, and the Kagyu’s Web site says that “all great Kagyu teachers regard his Holiness Karmapa as the embodiment and source of all the blessings of the lineage.”

The young man known as the 17th Karmapa is currently based in Dharamsala at the Gyuto Tantric University, having been granted official refugee status in 2001 after fleeing from Tibet in late December 1999. But since 2000, the Indian government has blocked the Karmapa from entering Rumtek and the state of Sikkim, citing security concerns.

To travel outside Dharamsala, the Karmapa needs prior approval from various government agencies and ministries, and he is given security once he does begin his travels, said a Home Ministry official, who asked to remain anonymous because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

Ogyen Trinley Dorje (left)

Rumtek is the most important seat of the Kagyu tradition outside the Tsurphu monastery in Tibet. Rumtek has also been the site of much controversy, as different factions have fought over who is the real Karmapa, or incarnate lama. At least two others have laid a claim to the title, but the Dalai Lama and China have officially backed Ogyen Trinley Dorje. The monastery’s valuable relics have also been the source of contention among two rival factions, leading to fistfights.

The gated monastery and community in Rumtek is more of an armed garrison, with India’s border forces patrolling it 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While some say the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Force, which also maintains vigil on the nearby India-China border, is guarding the treasure and symbols of authority at the monastery, others say the forces were placed there after clashes among the monks.

“This has lowered the morale among the monks and Buddhist community at large,” Karma Yeshi said.

The government has two concerns about letting the Karmapa travel: his security and the legal battle over ownership of the relics, according the official in the Home Ministry.

     Rumtek Monastery, seat of the 16^th Karmapa in east Sikkim

State officials say they believe that the national government thinks the Karmapa is a spy. “There is a strong feeling that he might be an agent of China,” said a state government official, who did not want to be identified because he is not authorized to speak publicly on the issue. “It’s very difficult to escape from China, as far as Tibetans are concerned.”

However, China, which does not recognize Sikkim as a part of India, hasdismissed these claims by the Indian government.

In 2011, the Karmapa came under scrutiny by Indian police officials after trunks filled with foreign currency were discovered at his residence in Dharamsala, drawing even more suspicion from the government. The Karmapa’s lawyer said the money was donations from devotees from all over the world.

The Karmapa’s presence is a “very, very sensitive” issue that involves multiple ministries, including External Affairs, said the Home Ministry official, although he denied it had anything to do with security.

However, the official said, “He’s been living here, so it’s our duty to protect him. Rumtek being a controversial matter, it’s not in his interest to go there because there are other claimants. So it’s as simple as that.”

“The government of India has adopted a policy of refraining from any succession controversy. We are not favoring or supporting anyone. This policy has been consistent – it was the case 10 years ago and it is still the same,” he added.

Sikkim’s state government backs the Kagyu monks. Sikkim’s chief minister, Pawan Chamling, who has governed for 18 years, has appealed to Manmohan Singh, the prime minister of India, many times to allow the Karmapa to visit the state.

“The chief minister had taken up this matter when he last visited Delhi,” the state government official told India Ink. “At least, if you don’t allow him to visit Rumtek, his official seat, let him visit Sikkim and bless the people of Sikkim, who are great followers. Even that is not being done by the government of India.”

However, the Home Ministry doesn’t want to take a risk with his security, according to officials in the ministry, which deals largely with internal security matters. Ultimately, they say, the responsibility for his safety rests with the central government, and not the Sikkim government.

Karma Yeshi of the Rumtek monastery said that this issue is not just a local matter, as India is a place of pilgrimage for all Buddhists, masters and monks alike, as the birthplace of Buddhism.

“This is very important not only for the Karmapa issue but for Buddhism. The Buddha dharma is from India, from India it went to China, from China to Tibet – this is how the lineage came about,” the senior monk said.

The inability to meet the Karmapa is nothing less than a tragedy for these Tibetan Buddhists.

“We have been waiting for long enough now,” said Monay Rai, a 24-year-old guide at the monastery, who was born and raised inside the gates of the Rumtek community. “Sometimes when V.I.P.s visit, the aged people tell me, ‘Please tell the V.I.P.’s to help us, to allow our guru. I can’t travel. It is my dream before I die to see the Karmapa here.’” (The New York Times)

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday Jan 23-29, 2013  

Strengthen party unit, form Cong govt in Sikkim: Bhandari

Gangtok, Jan 22: Sikkim Congress unit President N B Bhandari blamed the party high command for not taking an active role in strengthening its party in the State.

He also charged the Congress-led government at the Centre for diluting Sikkim’s special status under Article 371F of the Constitution. Addressing the Chintan Shivir in Jaipur, the three-time former chief minister said regional parties such as the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front’s continuation in power is threatening the “security” of the country in the “border State.”

While urging the party high command of the need to root out regional parties in the State, the SPCC chief emphasized the need to form a Congress government in the State.

Dialgoue with Beijing stalled under Hu Jintao: Gyari

Negotiations not possible without the Dalai Lama

Lodi Gyari

Dharamsala, Jan 22: Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari, the former Special Envoy of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, said the stalled dialogue process with China failed to make much progress under the decade-long leadership of President Hu Jintao.

 Speaking at an international conference on the implications of the leadership transition in China here recently, Gyari pointed out that prospects for negotiations in fact declined after Hu, who as the communist party head of Tibet in 1989 had declared martial law in Tibet which lasted a full 419 days, took over, phayul.com reported.

   Gyari, who has more than three decades of experience in dealing with China, stressed that negotiations with Beijing will not be possible without the Dalai Lama.

The former special envoy, who led nine rounds of official talks with China from 2002-10, before resigning last year, noted that consistency in retaining the main objective of the talks throughout the process was necessary while dealing with China.

Gyari and Envoy Kesang Gyaltsen resigned in May 2012, citing the deteriorating situation inside Tibet and their “utter frustration” over the lack of positive response from China.

Expressing doubts over the notion that a democratic China will help resolve the Tibet issue, Gyari pointed out that while Tibet must not wait hoping for change in China, the absence of a paramount leader in Beijing might prove unfavourable for a substantive decision on Tibet.

When asked about the future prospects of the dialogue process under China’s new leader Xi Jinping, the former special envoy said he remains hopeful considering reports that Xi’s style of working is similar to that of former president Jiang Zemin, who according to him took interest in Tibet.

Lodi Gyari added that the only way forward for Tibet, in the absence of other viable options, is to persist with the dialogue process with China.

Editorial

INDIA’S BETRAYAL

Corporates Set To Take Over Sikkim

The stage is all set for big business houses to take over the tiny Himalayan State of Sikkim. If Sikkim’s Companies Bill 2012 gets the Rajya Sabha’s nod it will pave way for corporate bodies to enter the former kingdom in a big way. With business and commerce influx will increase. Remember what happened when the East India Company took over Darjeeling in the 19^th century? In due course the locals will be replaced by no-locals, who will surely obtain political and economic rights as they gradually settle down in the green pastures of this Himalayan frontier. Local Sikkimese have already seen the extent of inroads made by power and pharmaceutical companies in Sikkim. They may not want further encroachment into their rights and interests but their so-called elected representatives have their own hidden agenda.

The Opposition made a lot of noise recently when the Bill – intended to scrap two old laws (Registration of Companies (Sikkim) Act 1961 and Companies Act 1965) – was passed in the Lok Sabha recently. However, not much is expected from it as it made a big issue of several vital issues that concern Sikkim in the past and eventually nothing came out of it. What is to be noted is the allegation by former chief minister and Congress unit President of Sikkim, Nar Bahadur Bhandari, that scrapping of old laws is a “conspiracy” of the Centre and State Government. Bhandari, once an anti-merger veteran, also pointed out that this conspiracy was also an act of “betrayal.” At the time of “merger” New Delhi assured the Sikkimese that its “distinct personality” would be safeguarded through Article 371F. The Bill is, therefore, an anti-constitution and betrayal of assurances given to Sikkim during the takeover in 1975.

Provisions of Assam Accord challenged by indigenous Assamese

Deportation of all illegal migrants sought

    Signing of the Assam Accord in 1985

New Delhi, Jan 22: The validity of crucial provisions of the Assam Accord, including the cut-off date for detection, deletion and deportation of illegal migrants, besides Constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act 1955, has been challenged in the Supreme Court.

A Division Bench of Supreme Court comprising Justice CK Prasad and Justice Khalifullah recently issued notices to Government of India, Ministries of Home Affairs, External Affairs, Registrar General of India, Election Commission of India, Government of Assam and All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) acting on a writ petition filed by Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha, National Democratic Front of Bodoland (Progressive) and Indigenous Tribal Peoples’ Federation.

Counsel for the petitioners Vijay Hansaria reportedly said some of the provisions of Assam Accord have been challenged and the public interest litigation (PIL) has sought a direction to the Government of India to deport all illegal migrants.

The petitioners have alleged that Section 6A violates Article 6, 14, 29(1), 253 and 355 of the Constitution. They have stated that this provision promotes and protects illegal immigrants and has been specifically enacted for protecting illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

The petitioners have demanded that 1951 be taken as the base year for detecting foreign nationals and that directions be issued to the Central and State governments to evolve an effective procedure for deportation of illegal immigrants.

The petitioners have also demanded that all the documents pertaining to the consultation process that preceded the signing of the Assam Accord be placed before the apex Court.

It was argued the Clause 5 of the Assam Accord have been arbitrarily foisted upon the people of Assam. The provisions of Clause 5 and its sub-clauses are inherently illegal, discriminatory and forced on the people of Assam their right to equality.

SIKKIM OBSERVER   Jan 19-25, 2013

GJM calls for ‘final battle’ for Gorkhaland

Public meetings in Darjeeling, Kurseong next week

 Darjeeling, Jan 18: Observing that "time had come for the final battle", the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) said it would restart the movement for a separate Gorkhaland state.

"From GJM we want to make it clear that the time has come for Gorkhaland. We will move ahead with our movement for Gorkhaland. Time has come for us to restart our movement," party general secretary Roshan Giri told mediapersons.

"This is our final battle and the time has come for us to come on the front," said Giri, IANS reported.

The GJM has planned a rally and public meeting in Darjeeling (January 20) and Kurseong (January 27) during which it will announce its future course of action regarding the movement.

The GJM's threat to revive the Gorkhaland agitation comes in the wake of union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde's remarks after the December 28 all-party meeting in Delhi that a decision on carving out a new state of Telangana would be made within a month.

"We had told Mr Shinde that he should consider the country's oldest demand - Gorkhaland. We welcome the way the centre is going to create Telangana but the demand of Gorkhaland should also be considered," said Giri.

The agitation over a separate state out of the northern West Bengal hills has led to loss of many lives over the past two decades, besides hitting hard the region's tea, timber and tourism sectors.

On July 18 last year, a tripartite agreement was signed between the GJM, and the state and central governments for setting up a new autonomous, elected Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a hill council armed with more powers than its predecessor, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council formed in the late 1980s.

The GJM now runs the GTA after sweeping its maiden elections last July.

The tough stance of the GJM, ahead of chief minister Mamata Banerjee's proposed visit to Darjeeling on January 29, is also related to its "unhappiness" over the slow pace of transferring powers to the GTA.

"Except the name of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration, what else have we got," Giri said.

Chamling behaving like an autocrat:Upreti

Gangtok, Jan 18: Senior Congress leader KN Upreti has alleged that Chief Minister Pawan Chamling is behaving like an “autocratic ruler.”

Referring to Chamling’s public speech at Maghe Mela in Jorethang, south Sikkim, on Monday, Upreti said development funds for the State are meant for all those who reside in the State and is not exclusively reserved for supporters of the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF).

In a press statement, Upreti said he condemns the “ Talibani Farman” of the Chief Minister, who reportedly said that all development funds of the State should go only to SDF supporters.

“Such kind of statement from a Head of the government deserves condemnation,” Upreti said.

He added, “Chamling should know that the development fund which is pouring in from the Congress Govt. in the Centre is not meant for the SDF party but for upliftment of poor and downtrodden of the State irrespective of caste, creed and party affiliations.”

“This kind of Hiltarian outburst is not befitting to his chair or position which he holds,” Upreti said while adding “this is a democratic state and he is running a democratic Government. He should not speak like an autocratic ruler.”

BL body supports demand on Assembly seat reservation for Limbu-Tamang community

Sonam Lama Kaloen

Gangtok, Jan 18: The National Sikkimese Bhutia Organisation (NASBO 371F) has supported the reported demand of the Akhil Sikkim Limbu Krantikari Yuva Sangha on reservation of Limbu-Tamang seats in the Sikkim Legislative Assembly before the next Assembly polls in the State due next year.

Reacting to the Sangha’s demand, NASBO President Sonam Lama Kaloen said his organization “wholeheartedly supports and stands by the decision” taken by the Sangha on the seat reservation issue.

Kaloen said his organization appreciates the Sangha’s stand that the 12 reserved seats of the Bhutia-Lepchas (BL) and 1 seat of the Sangha (monasteries) in the Assembly should not be touched when seats are reserved for the Limbu-Tamang community, who have been declared scheduled tribes in the State.

NASBO noted that during the Chogyal era separate seats in the Assembly/Council were reserved for the Tsongs (Limbus), who have historical and cultural ties with the indigenous Bhutias and Lepchas of the former kingdom.

“This organisation further confirm its keenness to be a part of any such movements or initiatives that aims at rejuvenating our lost Tsongs’ as well as Nepalese seats in the Sikkim Assembly from the remaining 19 general seats,” Kaloen said in a press release.

 Ex-secy Tashi Chhophel passes away

Loss to Sikkim, says CM

Gangtok, Jan 18: Chief Minister Pawan Chamling has condoled the demise of Late Tashi Chhophel, Former Secretary to the Government of Sikkim.

Chhopel breathed his last here at the Manipal Central Referrel Hospital  yesterday morning. The Chief Minister visited Late Chhophel’s house and met his family members.

In his condolence to the family members the Chief Minister remembered Late Chhophel as a senior and experienced bureaucrat of the state who was well versed in administrative matters of the State and has said that his loss is a great loss to the State.

Chhophel, son of Late Thinley Bhutia was born at Kewzing, South Sikkim, on July 6, 1929 and joined the state service on  July 8, 1957 as a Dy. Registrar of Cooperative Department. During his government service he served the government as Dy. Magistrate in North Sikkim, Assistant Magistrate in West Sikkim, Managing Director, STCS, Secretary Panchayat, Ecclesiastical, IPR, Press, Establishment (DoP), Industries and many other departments of the Government. After retirement he was nominated as Chairman, SPSC during the year 1986. He is survived by his wife Kunzang Choden, six daughters and two sons.

Editorial

FALLING STANDARDS

Pressman Or ‘PR Man’

Courage in journalism is not all about reporting from war zones or riot-affected areas; most of the time display of courage by journalists are less dramatic. It takes great courage to tell the truth, to stand up against the establishment which wants to plant a story or kill a story. The most disturbing trend in this profession is that many journalists become nothing but ‘PR’ tools for the powers-that-be for a consideration. It is one thing to maintain a distant and yet healthy relationship with the government but quite another thing to masquerade as a journalist when you are actually an informer or doing a ‘PR’ job for your political masters.

These days it has become fashionable for media houses to award powerful persons and even state governments in India. Most of them depend on government handouts and documents to justify their action in felicitating someone. If there is a probe into the nexus between politicians and media houses the public would know the truth. And yet the farce continues and no one seems to take much interest as they have lost complete faith in the system that is supposed to cater to public welfare and convenience.

It is said that people deserve the government they get. The credibility of a government is reflective of those who vote them to power. It can also be said that the people deserve the press they get. In a healthy and thriving democracy there is more interaction between the people and the press. But this is not so in a society where people are either afraid to speak up or not bothered as they know full well that the press will not report on what they say or if it is reported there would be no response from the government. The role of the press in such a society needs to be redefined to ensure that the press stays relevant and remains a vital organ of a democratic set-up.

Constitutional amendment must for GTA Act: Centre

Ghising had challenged validity of GTA

New Delhi, Jan 18: The Centre yesterday informed the Calcutta High Court that a constitutional amendment is essential to validate the Gorkha Territorial Administration (GTA) Act and for which it has asked the West Bengal government to hand over the draft of the Bill.

Somnath Basu, representing the Centre, said the constitutional amendment was required for a technical purpose otherwise there was no illegality in the Act. To which, Justice Dipankar Dutta asked whether the GTA Act was introduced before amending the Constitution. Bose said yes.

Subash Ghising, President of Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) and former chairman of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, had filed a writ petition in June 2012, challenging the legal validity of the GTA Act which was passed in the state Assembly in September 2011.

The Act paved the way for the formation of the GTA as agreed in the tripartite agreement between the Centre, State and Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Indian Express reported. The case will come up for hearing next week.

Sikkim bags first prize in global flora show in Delhi

Gangtok, Jan 18: Just a week after hosting a grand Curtain Raiser event in Sikkim House, New Delhi, the State Horticulture Department bagged first prize for best pavilion in the 8th International Flora Expo organized by Mediatoday Group from 11-13 January in New Delhi.

   The Sikkim Stall stood out as one of the most attractive amongst various stalls put up by state governments, private companies and central government organizations. The splendid display of cymbidium orchids in bloom, beautifully arranged cut flowers complimented by green fillers and ornamental kale mesmerized each and every visitor to the stall, an IPR release said.

The show was inaugurated by Transport Minister for Delhi State. The other dignitaries visiting the event included Tariq Anwar, Union Minister of State for Agriculture, Member of Planning Commission and various senior level officers from Ministry of Agriculture and State departments. 

Besides display of large varieties of flowers and potted plants, various kinds of stalls advertising interrelated products and services like greenhouse manufacturing, tools & equipment, automated irrigation systems, seeds and fertilizers, landscaping materials, disease and pest control systems, books & journals also featured in the exhibition. In total there were more than 100 participants.

This event served as best platform to advertise our upcoming International Flower Show that is being organized at Saramsa Garden in the last week of February. Many visitors have show keen interest to visit the State during the flower show and most of the important states and companies have confirmed their participation.

Catholic youth convention held in Pakyong

Pakyong, Jan 18: A three-day Christian youth convention was held here last week. The convention, organized by the Indian Catholic Youth Movement (ICYM), was held here at St. Xaviers School.

Youths from eight parishes of Northeast Deanery participated in the event whose main theme was Christ:  Leader and Perfector of Faith.

Prominent among those who participated in the event were Rev. Fr. Marcelleno, youth co-ordinator of NE Deanery and  Bhim Emmanuel Chettri, General Secretary of Sikkim Catholic Association

The Pope has declared ‘Year of Faith’ from October 2012 to 2013, so all the activities was based on this theme, Megdolin Lepcha, Publicity Secretary of the organizers, said. One of the main objectives of the youth convention was to bring the youths of N/E Deanery together, enlighten the youths about their role  in society and their churches and  develop leadership qualities.

Disaster management training essential for Sikkim: Gangtok Mayor

Gangtok Mayor KN Tobgay

Gangtok, Jan 18: A five-day training on Incident Response System and Simulation Exercise is being organized here this week by the National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India in collaboration with Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department, Government of Sikkim, at the conference hall, Election Department.

    The training, which began on Wednesday, is being conducted as part of the Disaster Management Support Project under GOI-United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and United States Forest Service (USFS) and is imparted to  officials and councilors of GMC, officials of the district administration, nodal officers of line departments, Army, BRO, ITBP SSB, along with the officials from Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority and the Land Revenue and Disaster Management Department.

 Keeping in view the occurrence of disasters on a frequent basis and the difficulties faced in responding to such emergencies, the Government of India has collaborated with USAID for institutionalizing the Incident Command System of America to India which is known as Incident Response System.

Accordingly, Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration, Mussorie, was initially designated as the Nodal Training Centre for this purpose and NIDM is the nodal Institution for all training and development on such matters.

Arun Sahadev, Consultant, NIDM, MHA, Col. Supanekar, DM, Head from YASHADA Training Institute Pune, Mr C.Balaji Singh DM Expert and Country Laison US Forest Service,  Steve Heil from US Forest Service, Type one Incident Commander and Rajesh Bhatia, AD, Administration Training Institute, Government of Delhi, were the resource persons who will impart training on the principles and features of IRS,  organization and staffing, incident resource and resource management etc.

The Mayor Gangtok Municipal Corporation,  K.N. Topgay, while speaking on the inaugural session stated that this training is imperative for the State as it is prone to disaster of various calamities. He said preparedness is the solution to reduce the impact of disasters. The Mayor pointed out that the State machinery along with other line departments and paramilitary forces had responded well in the disasters which had occurred in the past but there are  still shortcomings which need to be addressed.

 The Mayor also felt the need of such training in the ground zero so that each and every individual has an important role to play in preparedness initiatives to prevent hazards from turning into disasters.

BRO, officials neglecting North Sikkim Highway: Cong leader

“North district has become ‘Kaala Paani’ of Sikkim”        

Gangtok, Jan 18: Congress leader Ugen Nedup Bhutia has lambasted the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for its negligence and indifferent attitude towards road construction work along North Sikkim Highway.

In a press statement, Bhutia, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) member of Kabi-Lungchok, North Sikkim,  said due to the failure of the BRO North Sikkim has become the ‘Kaala Paani’ in the State.

 “I am anguished to bring” to notice “the most apathetic state of the North Sikkim Highway” which is going “from bad to worse,” Bhutia, a Congressman from Phensong, North Sikkim, said.

Bhutia has condemned the haphazard manner in which the BRO is managing the highway. He has strongly urged the BRO to undertake road construction work during dry seasons and not during the rainy season.

 The Congress leader has also criticized the negligence of three MLAs, two Cabinet members and officials of North Sikkim. He said the district administration is least bothered about the condition of road in the tribal-dominated north district.

“These kind of indifferent approach of the State government followed by the failing district administration often compels me to accept what the common people in the State considers the North district as ‘Kaala Paani’,” Bhutia said.

He has also urged the people of North Sikkim to “come together and raise this matter most effectively” and ensure that the concerned authorities take appropriate steps to address the issue.

It may be pointed out that back-cutting of the highway began more than a decade and half back and yet the work is still not complete. As a result many people travelling to north district take the alternate route through Singtam-Samdong-Dikchu.

Karmapa to visit Kagyu centres in Hong Kong

Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje with Shamar Rinpoche

Gangtok, Jan 18: His Holiness the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Trinley Thaye Dorje will be embarking his first dharma tour of the year abroad from today.

He will be staying in Hong Kong for ten days. He is being invited there by Kagyu centres of Hong Kong, according to official sources.

During the course of his stay, His Holiness would be granting initiation, discourses & dharma lectures and empowerments, apart from conducting designated Amitabha ceremonies and rituals, followed by meeting with the disciples, both monks and lay.

SIKKIM OBSERVER        Jan 12-18, 2013

Lepchas demand employment under ‘primitive tribe’ status

Gangtok, Jan 11: The Sikkim Lepcha Youth Association (Renjyong Mutanchi Rong Ong Shejum) has demanded reservation for members of the minority Lepcha community in the State in the employment sector under the “Primitive Tribe Group”.

The State Government has placed the Lepchas under the “Primitive Tribe” grouping. A press release of the Association said the Chamling Government has given this status to the Lepchas

“after taking into consideration the human development statistics of autochthonous Lepchas.”

The Association has urged the government to fulfill their demand at the earliest, the release said.

Editorial

PRESS VS PRESS

A Needless Controversy

Those, including mediapersons, who want reunification of Darjeeling with Sikkim, ought to adopt a better method to meet their objective. Raking up this controversial issue without a sound base will achieve nothing. People from Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Kurseong, who have settled in Sikkim since the ‘merger’ in 1975, are at home in the former kingdom and are living in peace and amity with local Sikkimese. The present political leadership in Darjeeling has stated that it will not interfere in Sikkim’s politics. The political leadership in Sikkim while supporting the demand for creation of Gorkhaland state in Darjeeling has made it clear that it is against Darjeeling’s merger with Sikkim. The Chamling Government has also passed a resolution in the Assembly supporting the statehood demand of Indian Gorkhas. Therefore, those who are hell-bent on racking up the Sikkim-Darjeeling issue are needlessly causing unnecessary social disharmony and tension. The good relationship that the people of Darjeeling and Sikkim enjoy should be maintained at all cost.

When asked for his opinion by Hamro Prajashakti, a Gangtok-based Nepali daily, the editor of this newspaper, said he did not have any comment on the issue but said that some of those in Sikkim who were vociferously opposing the merger were not sincere in safeguarding Sikkim’s distinct identity within the Union. If Sikkimese leaders are strong, consistent and committed to safeguarding the rights and interests of bonafide Sikkimese hailing from the three ethnic communites – Lepchas, Bhutias and Nepalese – no one will dare to try to divide us and dilute our identity. Despite a simple and strong rejection that the editor had not supported the merger demand, Prajashakti, unfortunately, said that he had made a ‘U-turn’ on the issue. It is hoped that those such as the editor of this weekly, who are apolitical and want to remain so, should not be dragged into a needless controversy just to help those who are campaigning for something. Those who are with Prajashakti ought to know that if readers lose faith in the credibility of a newspaper it has lost everything. Mediapersons ought to protect its colleagues in times of trouble if it is justified and not do anything which may cause harm to their colleagues. 

Indigenous people: a new emerging political force in Nepal

By JAMYANG DORJEE

After the subjugation of Magrat empire, Kirat and Limbu kings and finally the establishment of the Gorkhali state on 12 November 1769, with the final capture of Bhaktapur by Prithvi Narayan Shah, Nepal became a Hindu state and it strictly forced a vedic caste system which was later codified by Janga Bahadur Rana in his famous (Muluki Ain) of 1853.  For 182 years until Nepalese became the citizens of the country for the first time in 1951 from being subjects of the king, people had no say in running of the country. Dor Bahadur Bista, also known as the father of Nepalese anthropology, in his book Fatalism and Development in Nepal, termed this voicelessness as people's belief in  ' fatalism' preached by the Hindu Puranic texts.

Democracy in Nepal started sixty years ago but unfortunately even today Nepal does not experience a stable and lasting democracy because the exercise remained exclusive affairs of the Pahari rulers centric to Kathmandu valley.  Himali people in the northern border and the bulk of the indigenous people were excluded from mainstream politics and discriminated.

The proposed 14 Federal States of Nepal.

Nepal Government during the 245 years of monarchy ignored the cultural plurality and tried to contain the country's remarkable ethnic diversity through national caste system. This extreme ethnocentric model of achieving national integration automatically established the cultural dominance of the upper caste and degraded all who conformed least to Hindu norms. According to R.P.Yadav, former member of National Planning Commission, while stating the status of the Nepali government from 1951 to January 2005, said "all ministers and the secretary level officers and all the members of the cabinet, which was formed sixty four times during that period, has remained mainly in the hands of Hindu high castes of Chhetris/Thakurs, Brahmins and Newars." For centuries the state strongly believed that unification can be achieved by suppressing the difference.

The Madhesis: The Madeshi in the Terai region bordering India and the Bhotiyas of the northern region have always been treated as foreigners or Indians and Tibetans respectively by the Kathmandu rulers.  L.R. Baral in one of his books observed that “The Terarians are vociferous critics of the overall policies followed by what they call the 'Pahade (Hill) dominated power structure' aimed at intensifying the process of 'Nepalisation' i.e. dissemination of the Brahmin-Chettri political and social cultures of the hills.”

 Madeshis have marriage relations across the border with India and the two people are emotionally, culturally, religiously, economically and geographically so interlinked that it is difficult for any political move to separate them. Naturally, India trusts them and with their support today, Madeshi rise to power is very apparent.

Nepal is home to 59 officially recognized groups of indigenous peoples (known as Adivasi-Janajatis), with distinct cultures, languages and belief systems. Collectively they comprise about 37.8 % of the population according to official census. Indigenous leaders claim that the figure should be much more. Indigenous peoples are found all across the country, in the mountains, hills and plains areas; the largest concentration being found in the east.

Indigenous people: The bulk of the non-resident Nepalese, which remained the main source of foreign remittance, the backbone of Nepali economics, spread over in  Hongkong, Malaysia, Korea, Middle-east, USA and Europe are all indigenous people. Almost the entire army in the Gorkha regiment, be it in India or British army, consisting of Gurung, Tamangs, Thapas, Limbus and Lamas are indigenous people.

Two million of Himali indigenous people, who call themselves as  'Bhotya and Sherpas' and  look towards Tibet as a source of their civilization, are spread over 19 districts of the  entire northern borderland from Humla to Tablejung and share a common ethnicity, culture, language, marriage relation and religion. The fact remains that Buddhist/Bonpo culture dominant among highlanders is very different from the dominant culture of the Nepalese state. Also the later never made a secret of its contempt for Bhotiyas.

Krishna B. Bhattachan, an indigenous leader writes, “The main socio-cultural-political fault line in the past and the present, irrespective of political systems, is the ideology, policy and practice of Bahunbad (Brahmanism)." He further writes, "In the past the main challenges faced by indigenous peoples were monarchy and the Hindu kingdom. Now monarchy has been abolished for good and Nepal has been declared as a secular state. Therefore, the main challenges to indigenous peoples comes from Bahunbadis, patriarchy, continuation of unitary state in the name of federal democratic republic, and undemocratic and exclusive political parties."

The 27th May, 2012 Constituent Assembly of Nepal was supposed to declare the new constitution of the Federal Democratic Secular Republic of Nepal. Instead, the Assembly itself was dissolved due to disagreement amongst the major political parties, mainly on the state restructuring issue. Different political parties have, over the years, debated over different ideologies on hard issues such as the political system but never serious to deal with the socio-cultural and religious inequalities, which, as a matter of fact, remain the core issues for the suppressed and marginalized section of the society.

Ruling elite: Today's ruling class does not want to see the unification of Madeshis and formation of federal states based on identity or ethnicity. They support federal states where Madeshis are divided into parts and other states based on mixed identity, geography and capability. They refused to even name the states based on identity. They advocate that federating the country based on ethnicity will break the country; in other words they want to maintain the status quo.

On the other hand the Madeshis and indigenous people advocate that the fruit of many years of struggle or revolution must be implemented.  The six-point agreement of SPA-Maoist on November 7, 2006 stated: “to end discriminations based on class, ethnicity, lingual, gender, cultural, religion and region and to deconstruct the centralized and unitary structure of the state and to reconstruct it into an inclusive, democratic and forward looking state… A high level commission will be formed to suggest on the restructuring of the state. Final decision regarding the restructuring of the state will be made by the constituent assembly.”

The high-level state restructuring committee of the constituent assembly was indeed formed and in its final report it suggested formation of 14 states, which include two states for Madhes and two Himali states. The indigenous people demand that this proposal should follow the next natural course of parliamentary procedure, meaning debating in the parliament and voting. They know full well that they will get 2/3 majority and, therefore, the upper-caste party of NC and UML refused to allow discussion in the parliament. Instead they began to discuss the issue outside the parliament for so many months for consensus, which bore no fruit. The high-level committee's report was again subjected to a refinery process by an expert committee of non-parliamentarians. They further delayed and finally submitted the report to the PM two days after China's Prime Minister Wen Jia Bao's visit to Nepal by deleting the two Himali ethnic states.

Sixty years of democratic struggle in Nepal is virtually the history of struggle for empowering the marginalized people.  27th May parliamentary dissolution is simply a repetition of history.

Knowing full well the political bullying tactics of the ruling elite, the indigenous people have gathered themselves across party lines and developed a strategy. 219 members of the Constituent Assembly belonging to indigenous people  have  formed what is known as 'Indigenous People's Caucus', whose sole aims and objectives is to ensure the rights of  ethnicity, culture, religion and federalism are included in the new constitution. All the members of the caucus have signed an undertaken that they will not respect their respective party whip in the parliament when it comes to the common interest of religion, culture and ethnicity.

Federalism: The three big parties in Nepal, which normally sit to decide Nepal's future, still consider Madeshi party as party of second class citizens. The Congress and the UML have decided to fight to the tooth against ethnic federalism because they believe that such democracy will finish their traditional political base forever. The Maoists leaders, who are basically Bahuns, are not able to decide whether they should be with their party folks or their caste brothers. Prachanda says one thing when the three party leaders sit together and another thing when he meets his party workers.

Therefore, Sushil Koirala, President of the Congress party, recently said, “The problem could be solved if Prachanda was honest.” The indigenous people and the Madeshis knew the kind of decision that could emerge out of the meeting of the Bahun leaders and hence have openly declared in advance that the three-party decision is not binding on them. Realizing this, the indigenous leaders have decided to form a separate political party. Dissatisfied over party's stand on federalism, Passang Sherpa spearheaded the movement with the support of Ashok Rai, Prithvi Subbha Gurung and Chaintanya Subbha and 517 party workers from 61 districts. Disgruntled Janajati-Madhesi leaders of the CPN-UML declared their breakaway from the mother party in October 2012.

Besides, vice-chairman Ashok Rai, other leaders including Rajendra Shrestha, Rizwan Ansari, Mangal Siddhi Manandhar, Ajambar Rai, Hemraj Rai Majhilal Tharu, Bijay Subba, Bir Bahadur Lama announced their ultimate decision to desert the party. The formation of the new party was not easy because some of the veteran communists like Ashok Rai want to include Maxism in the party ideology but Passang Sherpa was adamant that party's ideology should be only social democrat with no communist baggage attached.

People’s movement: Ashok Rai announced his party as socialist democrat two months back and Subbha and Passang announced the new party 'Social Democrats' on 30th December, 2012. Passang Sherpa said on the opening day: “For 60 years we followed the Congress and Communists with the hope that finally the indigenous, Madeshis, Dalits, women and suppressed people of Nepal will see the light of the day but they failed us. When it comes to inclusive democracy, they all follow the same path therefore; we are launching this new political force of the suppressed people of Nepal.”

Now that the people's revolution, some say 'social evolution' launched by Maoist party, already have woken the suppressed masses and brought the ethnic gin out of the bottle, it is not easy to put it back. At the same time, the NC and UML leaders continue to believe that they enjoy full support from both the neighboring countries on rejecting federalism based on ethnicity and that they can outwit the indigenous leaders by their oratory skills outside the parliament.

 Democracy is a numbers game and as of today Madheshi-indigenous combine (Madheshis 40% and indigenous people 37.8 %) is a majority force that cannot be easily ignored. While the elite parties are fighting for the post of Prime Minister, believing that power in hand will change the fortune of the party, the indigenous people are on the ground managing the grassroots movement believing that ultimately it is the numbers game in a democracy and grassroots campaign that will blow the wind in their favour. (Jamyang Dorjee is the Regional Coordinator, CTAC, Kathmandu.”

Chungthang Teesta hydel project to produce power by June 2013

Gangtok, Jan 11: With the ending of the long standing dispute between the Sikkim Government and Teesta Urja Limited (TUL) over the State Government’s share holding in one of the largest hydel projects, Teesta-III located in Chungthang in North Sikkimis all set to on stream from June this year.

Men and machines are racing against time to ensure that project work is completed as per current schedule and provide virtually free power to Sikkim and supply to four northern States – Delhi, UP, Haryana and Rajasthan - which reel under chronic power shortages, according to sources.

The Sikkim Government, through Sikkim Power Investment Corporation Limited, obtained 26% share holding in the SPV that is executing the 1200 MW Teesta-III hydro power project – the largest in the six cascade projects on the Teesta river.

Teesta Urja’s Board of Directors has already approved the transfer of 29,64,00,000 partly paid shares held by Athena Projects Private Limited in favour of SPICL.

The State Government has reportedly withdrawn its case against TUL following the amicable settlement paving the way for taking the project back on track.

The first unit will begin to produce power by June. As much as 99.2% of tunneling works was already completed (around 34.4 km out of total 34.6 Km). The excavation of 13.824 km of head race tunnel is also complete, sources said.

REC and PTC are among the big lenders to the project while a consortium of six PE players led by Morgan Stanley have pumped in Rs 750 crores signaling the FDI into country’s hydro power projects.

This was considered to be the largest PE transaction in the country’s power sector. Besides Morgan Stanley, the group of investors includes Everstone Capital, General Atlantic, Goldman Sachs Investment Management and Norwest Venture Partners.

Experts say Sikkim sets the new trend for developing hydro-power projects as the country is blessed with bounty of rivers flowing from Himalayan glaciers during summer when the power consumption is at its peak. Development of hydro power projects along the Himalayan river course, thus, could be a win-win situation for the people and the governments.

New Act to benefit private employees

Gangtok, Jan 11: The Employees’ State Insurance Act 1948, which provides certain benefits to employees, has been enforced in Sikkim with effect from December 1 last year.

The Act provides certain benefits to employees in case of sickness, maternity and employment injuries, an IPR release said.

 Under the Act, shops, factories, industries, hotels, restaurants, private educational institutions, road motor transport establishments, cinemas, news paper establishments, private medical institutions, nursing homes, diagnostics centres and others are to be registered under the scheme.

A team of officials from Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) regional office of Kolkata is here to meet State Government officials on the implementation of the Act. The meeting is scheduled for January 10. The Act is applicable to private enterprises which have a minimum of 10 working staff members. As per the Act, all employees in those private enterprises coming under its purview, are to be insured with contributions made to the ESIC by the employer. The rates are prescribed by the Central Government. The employees can claim benefits to him and his dependants for sickness, maternity and injuries while working.

An awareness programme on Employees State Insurance Scheme (ESIS) was organized by the Labour Department, Government of Sikkim, at a local hotelyesterday. It was mentioned that the ESI scheme is a comprehensive social security scheme designed to accomplish the task of socially protecting the employees in the organized sector against the events of sickness, maternity, disablement and death due to employment injury and to provide medical care to the insured employees and their families.

HIMALAYAN GUARDIAN     Wednesday Jan 9-15, 2013 

 Jigme N Kazi’s blog: jigmenkazisikkim.blogspot.com

WE ARE STRONG AND UNITED ON THE ISSUE OF SIKKIM’S DISTINCT IDENTITY WITHIN THE UNION: KAZI

“There is no U-turn, I did not support Sikkim-Darjeeling merger demand; designs of vested interests will not work”

Gangtok, Jan 8: Hitting back at “vested interests” for their attempts to tarnish his image, Jigme N Kazi, journalist and author, has denied supporting the demand on Sikkim-Darjeeling merger as reported in two local dailies.

Reacting to newsitems on the subject appearing in Hamro Prajashakti and its sister publication Himalayan Mirror on Jan 5, 2013, Kazi in a press statement said the content of the report gives the impression that he was supporting the merger demand. This is “false and misleading,” and “people should not rely on them,” he said.

Kazi has urged his friends and well-wishers not to believe what has been reported on him as the report is “highly mischievous and motivated.”

“There is no U-turn as has been alleged,” Kazi said and added, “The people of Sikkim know who I am and what I have stood for in the past three decades. The nefarious designs of vested interests no matter how high and mighty they may be will not work for we are strong and united on the issue of Sikkim’s distinct identity within the Union.”

He has also appealed to the Sikkimese people “to know who is doing what and why” and act accordingly.

“I had merely stated that some of those in Sikkim opposing the demand were not sincere in safeguarding Sikkim’s distinct identity and special status within the Union,” the release said.

When asked to give his comments on the issue by reporters of the two dailies, Kazi had said that he had no comments to make and that he neither supported nor opposed the demand.

In an article in Talk Sikkim recently, Kazi had stated, “The demand for ‘Gorkhaland’ and ‘Greater Sikkim’ may become a reality one day but the end result will frustrate the hopes and aspirations of hill people some day,” as due to influx from the plains Sikkim will eventually go the Nepal way, where plainspeople are playing a greater role in shaping the former kingdom’s political agenda.

The two reporters were given a copy of Sikkim Observer carrying the Talk Sikkim article and asked to refer to the comments made while reporting on the matter. However, this was not done.

Sangma floats National People’s Party, to fight for tribal unity

New Delhi, Jan 8: Former Lok Sabha Speaker P. A. Sangma, who broke away from the NCP to contest the presidential election last year, launched the National People's Party (NPP) on Saturday and immediately joined hands with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance.

The NPP is expected to be a major player in Meghalaya, where Sangma hails from. By anointing former Union Minister Arvind Netam as the party's Working President, Sangma wants to appeal to tribal-dominated districts across the country.

A veteran leader from Chhattisgarh, Netam had gone against his party to back Sangma's candidature in the presidential election. Consequently, he too was suspended from the Congress.

Launching the NPP at the national level, Sangma said it has been active for a long time as a recognised party in Manipur. Sangma, who is also the President of the new party, said his daughter Agatha will remain in the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) for the time being.

Agatha is a member of Parliament from her father's stronghold of Tura in Meghalaya, and he does not want her disqualification according to the anti-defection rule.

The nine-time MP, however, said she will fight future elections as an NPP candidate.

He said his party would contest the Meghalaya Assembly elections in March this year and is ready with the names of 33 candidates.

Sangma, who unsuccessfully contested for the president's post last year as a candidate of the Tribal Forum of India, said the NPP will give due importance to tribal issues.

Bhutan, Thailand join hands to promote tourism among two kingdoms

Thai visitors at Taktsang in Paro

Bangkok, Jan 8: The Tourism Council of Bhutan (TCB) in cooperation with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) hosted a familiarisation trip for Thai media to visit the Kingdom of Bhutan last month.

The trip was organised following the agreement made during the 2nd Tourism Cooperation on 8th June, 2012, in Bangkok. The collaboration is comprised of Marketing Channels, Public Relations and Training Internship Programmes, Pattaya Post reported.

TAT also provided information for TCB’s possible participation at the Thai International Travel Fair hosted by the Thai Travel Agents Association (TTAA). The Fair will be hosted twice a year in February and September to help promote Thailand’s tourism industry and to provide tourists with tourism products and services, both domestic and out-bound. The exhibitors are travel agents, airline representatives and members of National Tourism Organisations (NTO).

Bhutan’s carrying capacity for national tourists is estimated to be not over 150,000 arrivals a year. In 2011 the country received 65,756 tourist arrivals. During January – September 2012, there were about 2,450 Thais visiting Bhutan and 12,000 Bhutanese visiting Thailand.

Most Bhutanese people come to Thailand for shopping and a medical checkup. Meanwhile, many Bhutanese students continue their studies at the bachelor’s degree level in Thailand.

The majority of Thai tourists to Bhutan visit only the western part of Bhutan for cultural tourism. Thuji Dorji Nadik, Acting Managing Director for TCB said TCB wants to promote more tourism relating to snow and also nature tourism to Thai people as Bhutan has immense ecological resources including birds, wildlife, orchids and medicinal plants.

Druk Air – the Bhutanese national carrier – is the only airline operating flights to Bhutan and runs daily flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Paro Airport in Bhutan.

Editorial

INDIA’S BETRAYAL

Preserve Old Laws

Ever since the ‘merger’ in 1975 the former kingdom of Sikkim has witnessed a gradual dilution of old laws, leading to the eventual death of many old laws that preserved Sikkim’s distinct identity. Anti-merger veteran and former Chief Minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari has rightly termed that repealing old laws was not only a ‘conspiracy’ hatched by New Delhi and Mintokgang but a betrayal of the Sikkimese people by the Government of India, which in 1975, through Article 371F of the Constitution, pledged to protect Sikkim’s old  laws. Opposition leaders in Sikkim have decided to approach their MPs and party high command to ensure that old laws are not scrapped with the passing of Companies Bill 2012 by the Lok Sabha recently. This Bill, when it becomes an Act, will replace two old laws of Sikkim – Registration of Companies (Sikkim) Act 1961 and Companies Act 1965.

The Chamling Government should note that in December 2006 the Sikkim Assembly unanimously passed a resolution to reaffirm the government's commitment to protect all old laws and manuals that existed before the ‘merger’. The need for the resolution was felt in the wake of a statewide public outcry against the possible dilution of old laws after the Sikkim High Court, during the hearing of a case, questioned the validity of Rule 4 (4) of the Sikkim Government Establishment Rules, 1974, which provides preferential treatment to Sikkimese people in government jobs. Participating in the discussion, Chief Minister Pawan Chamling said some vested elements misled the people and created the ''unrest''. He said Sikkim is an integral part of India and Art 371 F (k) of the Constitution protected all old laws of Sikkim. Chamling said the resolution was an effort to maintain the sanctity of the Constitution.

“India’s security rests on its people and not on territories”

AADHAR card meant to degrade Sikkim Subject Certificate: Ugen Nedup Bhutia

Gangtok, Jan 8: Congressman Ugen Nedup Bhutia said Article 371F, which provides special status to Sikkim, is better and stronger than Article 370 meant for Jammu and Kashmir.

However, due to extension of central laws Sikkim’s special status is being diluted day by day. Bhutia said the “imposition” of AADHAR (unique identity card), which is being given to residents of the State, is meant to “demean and degrade” the significance of Sikkim Subject Certificate.

“Any kind of welfare measures in Sikkim must be made available on the basis of these Sikkimese documents and not on the basis of AADHAAR” card or other documents, Bhutia said in a press release.

Stating that Sikkim was “annexed” for “security reasons”, Bhutia said the authorities in Delhi and Gangtok must realise that “India’s security rests on its people and not the territories.”

Referring to special provisions in the Constitution for Sikkim and J&K, Bhutia said J&K people

“hardly ever” allowed central laws to be extended in the State. “If we look at it more closer, we will find that our special provision of Article 371 F is rather more stronger,” than Article 370.

Taking a critical view of the recent repeal of Sikkim Registration of Companies (Sikkim) Act 1961 in the Lok Sabha, Bhutia said if Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was strong Sikkim’s old laws would not be repealed.

Rey monastery performs Mahakala puja

     Puja in process at Rey monastery, east Sikkim

 Gangtok, Jan 8: The annual Gutor ceremony of Rey monastery in Rey-Mindu, east Sikkim, which began last Thursday will conclude on Thursday, according to Rey Monastery Duchi Committee.

 The puja is held annually for world peace and celebration of Sikkim as Mahaguru Padmasambhava’s Bayul Dremo Dzong.

During this ceremony, also known as the Grand Mahakala Puja, the Sangha traditionally engages in a practice of the Protector Mahakala to clear away the obstacles of the previous year and open the way for the new one to come, Karma Tsultrim Lama, Secretary of the Committee, said.

“As such, we request all the lay devotees to attend this important puja going on at Rey Monastery and seek blessings of the Tri-Ratna, Mahaguru, Mahakala and all the guardian deities of Sikkim.

May this bring peace and prosperity to all,” said in a message.                                                                                                          

Six Nagaland parties want polls deferred

Nagas want "solution, not elections"

Dimapur, Jan 8: Six political parties in Nagaland have demanded a postponement of the assembly elections till the Naga national groups and the Centre arrive at a consensus on the Naga issue. The six political parties - the Congress, the BJP, the JD(U), the NCP, the Trinamool Congress and the RJD - met on Saturday and resolved that the UPA government should give more importance to the ongoing political talks between the Centre and the Naga national groups". Earlier, Naga Hoho, the society's apex body, had raised a similar demand.

In a memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the political parties urged him to expedite years of peace talks on the Naga political issue to a "logical conclusion" that was "honourable and acceptable to all sections of society".

The memorandum pointed out that in view of the ongoing peace talks that had elicited "strong sentiments" of the Naga public in favour of "solution and not elections", the Assembly elections should be deferred, a national daily reported.

The memorandum was signed by NPCC president S I Jamir, MLA and state BJP President M Chuba Ao, JD (U) President Mhonjan Lotha, PAC member and youth president of NCP Chonben Yanthan, TMC Convenor Senkathung Jami and RJD President in the State Khetovi Kinny.

Last week, the Naga Hoho appealed to the Election Commission of India to withhold the poll process in the state and give sufficient time for the peace process "in the interest of the people of the state".

A four-member Naga Hoho delegation met the chief election commissioner and his team members on Friday to apprise them of the desire and wishes of the Naga people in this regard.

The Hoho reminded the commission that the Naga people have been struggling for political rights for more than 80 years. The last Ceasefire Agreement was signed in 1997 between the Centre and NSCN-IM and the subsequent signing of ceasefire with different political groups have completed 16 years, long enough to arrive at an amicable solution, the group added.

 “Chakma refugees pose serious threat to existence of indigenous people”

Tangsa tribes in Changlang district of Arunachal

Itanagar, Jan 8: Concerned over the increasing number of Chakma refugee population in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh, the Singpho Development Society (SDS) has urged the state government to immediately conduct a census and prepare a dossier of the original refugees settled and the same be provided to the Centre for their early deportation.

The SDS felt that the increasing number of refugees posed a serious threat to the very existence of indigenous population of the State, PTI reported.

In a memorandum to the Chief Minister Nabam Tuki, the SDS narrated the Chakmas alleged extremities, including the recent violent incidents at Mpen, Miao town and two other Singpho villages.

We are deeply concerned by the sudden influx of the illegal Chakma migrants into our place. The ever increasing crime graphs of our area can be directly attributed to the illegal migration", the society said in the memorandum.

Further claiming that the Chakmas have allegedly moved out of their assigned settlement blocks and encroached upon forest reserve and destroyed the green covers of Manabhum hill, thereby creating ecological imbalance in the area, the memorandum demanded the government to take necessary steps to demarcate their settlement blocks so that they remain confined in their respective blocks.

Moreover, illegal migrants from Assam, Tripura, Mizoram and Bangladesh have entered into these settlement areas and were mixing with the existing population who were permitted to settle in Arunachal.

Manabhum reserve forest has become an asylum for these illegal migrants as well as anti-social elements.

Urging the government to appoint Political Officer for keeping eyes on the movement of Chakmas, the Society said, “Strict vigil at the check gate is the need of the hour.”

DARJEELING: Strumming for change & brotherhood

Some people swear there's no beauty left in Darjeeling, no magic. Then how do you explain the entire hills coming together on this day to strum for change and brotherhood of man.

In an extraordinary tribute to the 23-year old rape victim 600 guitarists play John Lennon's Imagine in Darjeeling this week. Five men accused of gang-raping the student on a bus in New Delhi are to be formally charged in court.

The extraordinary event was a source of encouragement for the youngsters.

Nishant Rhyth Thapa wrote: Around 600 guitarists from across the hills assembled at Chowrastha to strum the guitar to John Lennon’s song Imagine at the Darjeeling Tea and Tourism Festival on Thursday.

 “We had around 600 guitarists at Chowrastha on Thursday. None were paid to perform but they just turned up for the show to be a part of Darjeeling’s celebration. Through their presence, the people of Darjeeling have shown their true spirit: the spirit of being united through pain and happiness,” said Palzor Tshering, the co-ordinator of the event.

The attempt was to create a world record by having the largest number of guitarists assembled at a particular place. “However, with schools and colleges closed for the winter vacation it was difficult to co-ordinate,” said Tshering.

On May 5, 2012, 7,273 guitarists had assembled at Wroclaw, Poland, to pay tribute to Jimi Hendrix by jamming on his classic Hey Joe. The guitarists at Chowrastha were led by Kishore Gurung. Guitarist and singer from Shillong Lou Majaw was also present. The guitarists also paid tribute to the late Delhi gangrape victim. Asked if the organisers would try and arrange a bigger show next year, Sonam Bhutia, the tourism secretary of the GTA, said: “I am sure everyone will join us again.” (Kanchenjunga social network)

 Shillong’s Lou Majaw