In Tune with Darjeeling

Darjeeling tea exports threatened by strike – Al Jazeera

“Gorkhaland is the only solution” cries students in Kurseong

Photo by Sunil Pradhan & Rajesh Pradhan

Students on Hunger Strike

Subhajit Adhikary, Sajan Thapa, Yogesh Shankar, Rohit Chhetri, Manish Pradhan, Wangdi Pakhrin, Sujit Pradhan, Ujwal Das

All the students are from Pushparani Higher Secondary School

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Flag over the District Magistrate’s Office Signboard

Photo by Barun Roy

Popular Support

Man passes by Gorkha Ranga Mancha Bhawan with Gorkha Janmukti Morcha flag over his shoulder

Photo by Barun Roy

Hill Employees Association rallies for Gorkhaland

A Leader of the Hill Employees Association speaks to the people

People sit before the statue of Adhi Kavi Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, at Chowrasta Darjeeling to listen to speech

Photo by Barun Roy

Post Officer Employees Join Gorkhaland Agitation

“We want Gorkhaland”

Photo by Barun Roy

State funeral for Manekshaw

Wellington (TN),Jun27 (PTI) In a rare gesture, the Centre has decided to accord a state funeral to Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, the Defence Ministry said. An earlier announcement this morning by the Defence Ministry said Manekshaw, the hero of 1971 Indo-Pak war, would be accorded a military funeral with full honours. A press release issued later said that the former Army Chief, who died early today, would be accorded a state funeral by the Centre.

Union Minister of State for Defence, Pallam Raju, would represent the Central Government at the funeral, while a representative of Chief of Royal Bhutan Army Kinley Dorji would attend, representing the Bhutanese Army, it said.

Vice Chief of Army Staff Lt General M L Naidu and a Tamil Nadu Minister would also be attending the funeral.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu government announced a day’s official mourning today. The National flag would fly half mast through out the state, an official press release said.

Educational institutions in the Nilgiris would remain closed today as a mark of respect to the departed General, the release added.

Meanwhile, the body of Manekshaw (94), who passed away at the Military Hospital here, was taken to his residence for religious rites as per Parsi customs. The body will be brought to Madras Regiment Centre (MRC) and would be kept for two hours for the public to pay their homage. Full military honours would be provided during the period, a defence spokesman said.

SC expresses concern over blockade of highway to Sikkim

PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, June 27 (PTI) The Supreme Court today expressed concern over the situation arising due to frequent blockade on National Highway 31A, the lone road link that connects Sikkim to the rest of the country, by pro and anti-Gorkhaland supporters.

“The situation is not all right. The rest of the country cannot be shut like that,” a Bench headed by Justice Altamas Kabir said.

The Bench said it was an urgent matter to be heard but it can be taken up next week since the strike call for separate Gorkhaland has been withdrawn till July 6 and the situation has calmed down.

However, the Bench, also comprising Justice G S Singhvi, expressed concern about the future and the situation after July 6 saying “what will happen afterwards”.

It posted the matter for urgent hearing on July 3 observing that NH 31A not only connects Sikkim to the rest of the country but also passes through several districts and hill places like Siliguri, Darjeeling, Kalimpong and Cooch Behar in West Bengal.

The Court said since West Bengal was not represented by any of the advocate it would prefer that the state’s standing counsel be informed about the hearing on July 3.

NEWSALERT-GJM-BUDDHA

PTI PKC PB PC PAL 06271847 DEL

West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee agrees to hold tripartite talks on Darjeeling issue at a date to be fixed later, Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) Central Committee member Amar Lama says.

North Pointer Dinyar S. Devitre Named Special Advisor to General Atlantic

GREENWICH, Conn., June 26, 2008-- General Atlantic LLC (GA), a leading global growth equity firm, today announced that Dinyar S. Devitre, the former Chief Financial Officer of Altria Group, a multi-billion dollar consumer products company, and a former Executive Vice President at Citigroup in Europe, has become a Special Advisor to the firm. In this role, Mr. Devitre will provide financial expertise and strategic counsel to GA and its portfolio companies.

Founded in 1980, GA has a long history of identifying, investing in and supporting growth companies in the U.S., Europe and Asia. With a target investment size of $50 million to $500 million, GA manages approximately $17 billion and invests about $2 billion per year in growth opportunities globally. GA’s Special Advisor network consists of several experienced industry executives who work closely with GA’s investment professionals in identifying new opportunities as well as providing in depth expertise to GA’s portfolio companies.

William Ford, Chief Executive Officer of General Atlantic, noted, “We are privileged to have Dinny, a leading financial executive, join the GA team. His experience, energy and global relationships will support and complement our efforts to identify and support leading growth companies around the world. Moreover, Dinny’s domestic and international track record and public company financial expertise will prove invaluable to our public and private portfolio companies.”

Mr. Devitre said, “I am delighted to work with General Atlantic, which I believe is uniquely positioned to serve as a value-added partner to leading growth companies throughout the world. I look forward to being actively involved with GA’s portfolio companies, as well as collaborating with the GA team to identify important industry trends, especially in the consumer products industry on a global basis.”

Czech researchers arrested for collecting rare insects in Darjeeling

By Jan Velinger Radio Praha Czech

Czech entomologists Petr Švácha and Emil Kučera can’t be pleased over developments, arrested conducting private research in Darjeeling hills: on Sunday the research duo was taken into custody by Indian officials, after being caught collecting specimens in a national park in the area of Darjeeling. The duo did not have permits to gather specimens of butterfly and beetles (estimated by Indian sources as worth hundreds of US dollars) and illegal gathering is a serious offence. Under India’s wildlife protection act, the removal of insects from their natural habitat could mean up several years in prison. Kateřina Vovková is an official at the Czech Embassy in New Delhi. [Inset: Petr Švácha]

“It is quite a serious crime here in India because Indian authorities and citizens really care about nature and anything against nature is considered serious. Therefore they are facing charges between 2 to 7 years in prison. They had been collecting some beetles and butterflies and worms and defended themselves by saying they didn’t realise it was a national park and didn’t know it was against Indian law. They said they were not aware of any wrongdoing and had been taken by surprise. That’s how the situation is.”

Back in the Czech Republic many here are convinced the incident is a misunderstanding. Jan Šula is the head of the Entomology Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences in České Budějovice, Petr Švácha’s employer:

“Petr Švácha is a world-recognised specialist on sawyer beetle larvae and I think that explains what he was doing there. He does everything for science, even investing his own time and money. I think intentional wrong-doing is out of the question. Of course, if they had been there officially this kind of thing could never have happened. On official trips you have cooperation from local specialists and so on. If they had been there officially this could never have happened.” [Inset: A sadhu or Hindu holy man holds a beetle (insect) in his hand as he poses for a photograph, during Ambubasi festival at Kamakhya temple, in Gauhati, India, Saturday, June 21, 2008. The Ambubasi festival will start on June 22. (AP Photo/Anupam Nath)]

Both men now have legal representation and will have to await the next step: local authorities will return to their case on July 7.

This time Gorkhaland movement more democratic, say veterans

By Soudhriti Bhabani. India, 11:31 AM IST India ENews

As the Darjeeling hills throb with the demand for statehood, many prominent Gorkhas feel this time the movement is truly democratic and mass-based unlike the violent campaign led by Subhash Ghising in the 1980s.

Veterans of the Gorkhaland movement of 1986-88 say the ongoing campaign for a separate state is far more consolidated and people-oriented. The region is part of West Bengal.

‘The Gorkhaland demand has now blossomed into a mass movement, compared to the protests in the 1980s. There has been no incident of bloodshed in the hills over the issue,’ Amar Singh Rai, one of the frontrunners of Ghising’s Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)-led Gorkhaland movement in the 1980s, told IANS.

According to reports, at least 1,200 people, including police personnel, had died at that time.

Rai said the Gorkhas are now united and want a separate state under the single umbrella of the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM).

‘There is no racial or communal conflict in the movement. We believe in the concept of composite culture and Darjeeling has been a great example of being the melting pot of so many religions,’ he said.

Ghising, a former armyman, led a prolonged violent struggle in the 1980s for a Gorkhaland state before signing an agreement Aug 22, 1988, with the central and state governments for the creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) – an autonomous governing body for the hills.

He remained an uncrowned king of hill politics, heading the DGHC for two decades till March this year when he was forced to step down after most of his men deserted him to join the GJM led by Bimal Gurung.

Rai said: ‘We were with Ghising in the movement but suddenly we heard that he signed the Sixth Schedule keeping the entire Gorkha population in the dark. People vehemently protested that decision, but nothing happened after that.’

An important announcement by Gorkhaland Tranport Department

Citizens of Darjeeling Hills and Dooars Terai are hereby notified that they can get in touch with the Transport Department, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha Head office, Singamari, Darjeeling. Applicants are requested to come with their Blue Book and Vehicle Registration Details.

Transport Department,

Gorkha Janmukti Morcha,

Darjeeling

Welcome to Gorkhaland – Vehicles sports GL Registration Plates

BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE [THE HIMALAYAN BEACON]

A two wheeler sports a GL (Gorkhaland Plate). Photo by Barun Roy

Students to actively participate in Gorkhaland Movement – Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha

BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE [THE HIMALAYAN BEACON]

BY BARUN ROY

Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha Vice President Amrit Yonzon addressing students at the District Magistrate’s Office, Darjeeling. Photo by Barun Roy

Darjeeling: “Students in Hills and Dooars Terai will henceforth be actively participate in the Gorkhaland movement”, said Bhaskar Rai, Treasurer Gorkha Janmukti Vidyarthi Morcha, speaking to The Himalayan Beacon. “14 students 7 each from Sardeshwari Girls Higher Secondary School and Maharani Girls Higher Secondary School are voluntarily participating on a 24 hour relay hunger strike today. They have all come up voluntarily and it is a welcome initiative that girls are leading the way,” Bhaskar said. When asked how many students were on hunger strike over the Hills and Dooars Terai he said, “Seven Students each are participating on 24 hour relay hunger strike at Kalimpong, Mirik, Kurseong and Dooars Terai.” On the question of why students were on hunger strike he said, “It is important that students participate in the historic Gorkhaland movement. We have been following a peaceful and a democratic movement for the attainment of Gorkhaland. We are not communal and students from all races and creed will be participating. We have been thus far working hard on issues involving the students. We had put students displaced from Siliguri at Pintail village so that they could sit for the examinations. However, we of now realized that we will have to take a proactive part in the movement.” Bhaskar Rai also reiterated that though the Students Front have now put the attainment of Gorkhaland as their highest priority the need of most immediate appointment of full time Principal at Darjeeling Government College, formation of University at Darjeeling, and the initiating of Nepali Language courses in colleges in Siliguri and Dooars Terai were also being vigorously pursued by the Students Front.

“Gorkha Girls lead the way for Gorkhaland” Bhaskar Rai, Gorkha Janmuti Vidyarthi Morcha

BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE [THE HIMALAYAN BEACON]

By Sanjana Subba

Seven Girls of Sardeshwari Girls High School participating on a hunger strike today

Seven Girls of Maharani Girls High School participating on a hunger strike today [Photos by Barun Roy]

Student Hunger Strikers in Darjeeling Today

Maharani Girls High School

1. Anchal Rai – Age 17

2. Archana Rai – Age 20

3. Sudha Subba – Age 18

4. Roshni Tamang – Age 18

5. Nilima Tamang – Age 18

6. Prerna Rai – Age 16

7. Suman Rai – Age 17

Sardeshwari Girls High School

1. Manju Tamang – Age 16

2. Puja Sarki – Age 16

3. Urmila Pradhan – Age 16

4. Sunaina Chettri – Age 16

5. Diksha Sharma – Age 16

7. Swasthika Singh – Age 17

Hill Students comes out to press for the Gorkhaland

Students block Army Vehicles as they march for Gorkhaland in Darjeeling [Photo by Barun Roy]

Beacon Online Exclusive Photo Feature

Gorkha Janmukti Temporary Workers Union demand for permanent settlement

BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE [THE HIMALAYAN BEACON]

BY BARUN ROY

Darjeeling 2:59 pm IST: In a mass political meeting organised by Gorkha Janmukti Asthahi Karmachari Union (Gorkha People’s Liberation Temporary Workers Union) has warned West Bengal Government of mass agitation if their demands were not met as soon as possible. Speaking to the people and the cadres of the Union, Nayan Rai, Member, Central Committee, Gorkha Janmukti Asthahi Karmachari Union said, “The West Bengal Government must understand that it cannot continue with its suppression and discrimination in the hills. It is responsible for its policies. We have been forced to come out in protest because of the indignation that have been forced unto us. After 22 years of service we have no future! Now we don’t want any assurances by the West Bengal Government but something concrete and that is the formation of the state of Gorkhaland.” More than eight thousand Unionists and supporters had gathered to participate in the mass rally organised at Chowk Bazaar, Darjeeling. [Inset: Nayan Rai speaking at the Rally. Photo by Barun Roy]

Beacon Online Exclusive Photo Feature on this story [All photos by Barun Roy]

Gorkhaland Singature Campaign

Place : Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
Date : Sunday, June 29, 2008
Time : 1 pm onwards

Sam Bahadur with Gorkha Officers in Darjeeling

Sam Bahadur with officers of 5 and 8 Gorkha Rifles, Biennial Conference 1956. Sam Bahadur was still a Brigadier then. Sitting Extreme Left to Sam Bahadur is Col A. J. Dewan (1/5 GR) Darjeeling. This photo was taken in Dehradun. This photo was taken in Darjeeling.

Today’s Panorama of Siachen Glacier

Today’s panorama looks west over the Karakoram Range and the Siachen
Glacier. This alpine glacier is one of the largest glaciers in the
world outside of the poles, and the largest in the Himalayas. It has a
length of 70 km and is lies at an altitude of 5,450 to 7,720 meters
above sea level.

–
Dr. William A. Bowen
California Geographical Survey

British Sikhs upset over desecration of war memorial

By Prasun Sonwalkar

London, June 27 (PTI) The large Sikh community in the west Midlands town of Coventry is outraged after a memorial in honour of Sikh soldiers was desecrated by miscreants who tied a pig’s head to the structure.

The war memorial was put up near a central roundabout by the community in 2005 to honour the 83,000 Sikh soldiers who fought in the British army during the two World Wars.

Local resident Navreet Singh (22), who removed the animal head before taking it to the police, said whoever had tied it to the memorial was “ignorant” and “mindless”.

“It is absolutely disgusting. This is a war memorial. It’s not a Sikh monument, it is a British one. It seems like someone was trying to attack Muslims. It is ignorance,” he said.

The desecration was first noticed by delivery driver Dave Chester, who informed a local newspaper, Coventry Evening Telegraph, about the incident.

Meanwhile, the West Midlands Police in a statement said: “Police were made aware of an incident last night involving a pig’s head located on a roundabout near to Stoney Stanton Road. Inquiries are ongoing in respect of this issue.” Retired soldiers and community leaders appalled by the recent incident have hit out at the desecration.

Funeral with full military honours

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Wellington (TN), Jun 27 (PTI) Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, who died early this morning, would be accorded a funeral with full military honours, a defence spokesman said.

Vice Chief of Army Staff, Lt General M L Naidu, and a Tamil Nadu Minister would be attending the funeral, he said.

The body was taken to the residence of Manekshaw from the Military Hospital here in the morning to perform religious rites as per Parsi customs.

The body will be brought to Madras Regiment Centre (MRC) and would be kept for two hours from 11 am for the public to pay their homage. Full military honours would be provided during the period, he said.

Later the cortege would leave the MRC for the Parsi funeral ground at Udhagamandalm.

The last rites would be a purely private affair during which only family members will be allowed, the spokesman said.

Manekshaw a truly inspiring leader: PM

New Delhi, Jun 27 (PTI) Describing Sam Manekshaw as one of India’s greatest soldiers, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said military historians will forever record the strategic brilliance and the inpirational leadership of the Field Marshal, who died early today. 94-year-old Manekshaw was “without doubt one of India’s greatest soldiers and a truly inspiring leader,” he said in his condolence message.

Singh said Manekshaw, popularly called Sam Bahadur, had served the army with great distinction for over four decades beginning with the very first military engagement free India was dragged into in the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Sam Bahadur was the architect and the inspiring leader of the operation and the consequent military victory in what is now Bangladesh,” he said.

The Prime Minister said “military historians will forever record the strategic brilliance and the inspirational leadership of Sam Bahadur”. Singh said the people and the government expressed their deepest admiration and their profound gratitude for Manekshaw’s leadership as Chief of Army Staff by conferring on him the prestigious title of Field Marshal.

He has “inspired several generations of Indian soldiers and officers over the past half-a-century. I am sure his legacy will continue to live with us for years to come,” the Prime Minister said, expressing his “deepest and heartfelt” condolences. PTI SC SC 06271256 DEL