New crisis for Nepal as Maoists refuse to form govt

FROM AFP

Nepal’s Maoists said Tuesday they would not form the Himalayan nation’s first post-royal government after the defeat of their candidate for president, setting off a new political crisis here.

The former rebels’ decision, seen as a blow to Nepal’s peace process, came one day after rival parties in a constitutional assembly ganged up against the Maoists to elect a president allied to the main centrist party.

“The party’s central committee… decided not to form the government under our leadership,” Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara told AFP.

Elections to the assembly in April gave the Maoists the largest single bloc of seats, but not an outright majority. The Maoists had insisted their choice of president should be elected and that they form a new government.

But a vote on Monday saw Ram Baran Yadav from the Nepali Congress party — the Maoists’ main rival — anointed the country’s first president.

“After the presidential election, it is certain that we do not have a majority. So we do not have any basis to form the next government,” said Mahara.

The presidency is a largely ceremonial position, but the Maoists have argued that Yadav’s victory would give them little room to manoeuvre should they form a government, and little chance of implementing key platform pledges like radical land reform.

The Maoist spokesman however added that the “door to talks with other parties is still open.”

Arjun Narsingh Khatri Chhetri, spokesman for the Nepali Congress party, told AFP the presidential vote had been a wake-up call for the Maoists.

“They wanted to divide the political parties and rule alone. Now they have to respect and be committed to democratic norms, values and processes,” Chhetri said. “They can’t have everything their way.”

Indian court denies bail to Czech bug collectors

This story is from the Czech News Agency (ČTK).

Darjeeling, India/Prague, July 21 (CTK) – The Indian court Monday refused to release two Czech entomologists detained in northeastern India over unauthorised insect collecting in June, Czech consul in New Delhi Jan Kreuter told CTK.

He confirmed by phone that the Indian judge rejected the Czechs’ request for release from custody.

“It is not certain for what reasons. We are communicating with lawyers in this case,” Kreuter said.

However, he added that the court would deal with the entomologists’ release again on July 23.

“The lawyers see their chances with optimism,” he added.

Czech scientists, headed by Academy of Sciences chairman Vaclav Paces and Entomological Institute head Jan Sula, expressed support for their two colleagues in reaction to Monday’s decision of the Indian court.

The two Czechs, Emil Kucera, 52, and Petr Svacha, 51, were detained close to the Singalila National Park, the Bangla state, on June 23 because they did not have an official permit to collect insects.

Since then they have been in custody in Darjeeling.

The entomologists insist on being innocent.

If found guilty, the they face up to seven years in prison under the Indian law.

The Indian press speculated that the two Czechs may belong to an international network of smugglers of rare insect species, which. Sula categorically denied these speculations.

US storage giant eyes tea sector business

FROM BUSINESS STANDARD

LINK SHARED BY AARDEE

US-based food grain storage equipment maker GrainPro Inc, is eying the tea market in West Bengal for marketing its new products like Coccon, SuperGrainbags and TraSafeliners.

The company started its operations in India last year, by supplying seed storage equipment to Bayer for about Rs 1 crore. Subsequently, it bagged several contracts for preserving Basmati rice in Punjab and Haryana.

Speaking at a press conference in Kolkata on Monday, Tom de Bruin, chairman, managing director and president, GrainPro, said last fiscal, the company achieved a turnover of $5 million globally, through its presence in more than 30 countries worldwide.

In India, the company has opened an office in Kolkata, apart from its existing officers in Delhi and Mumbai. “West Bengal and the North east are of particular interest to GrainPro on account of the tea industry. Tea, being an extremely hygroscopic commodity, can turn stale due to an increase in humidity,” said Ravi Verdi, chairman and managing director, B A Agro Hermatic Preservation Systems, the Indian company in-charge of marketing products by GrainPro. He also said the company was in talks with several tea estates for selling the storage facilities in West Bengal.

For storing food grains using traditional techniques like fumigation, the cost of preserving a tonne of food grain comes around Rs 450 per year. In case of GrainPro, the one-time cost for the same is close to Rs 800 per meric tonne.

Land plea on Gorkha lips, banner

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

LINK SHARED BY AARDEE

A college student signs on a map. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, July 21: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha today ran a signature campaign here to garner support for their demand of a separate Gorkhaland.

The signature campaign at Albert Ekka Chowk, which began at 3pm and lasted two hours, was part of the morcha’s nation-wide protest.

“The demand for a Gorkhaland dates back to 1907, when the Gorkhas petitioned the British rulers. This demand was repeated in 1917, too, by the Hill Men’s Association. Even in free India, this demand has remained unfulfilled,” said Vishal Rai, the convener of the signature campaign cell of the morcha.

“Some of the communal leaders of Bengal have termed the Indian Gorkhas as foreigners. And the Left is now aggressively suppressing our demands. Since they never looked after us, we want to create a separate state including Darjeeling, Siliguri, Terai and the Dooars, which never belonged to Bengal on historical grounds,” he said.

Truck hits SNT bus, leaves one dismembered

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, July 21: Ashok Tamang, 41, had never thought that boarding a SNT bus would cost him so dearly. Tamang lost his left hand when the bus he was travelling in was hit by a fast moving truck. The incident occurred yesterday morning near Tar Khola when a SNT bus bearing number SK 04/ 890 plying from Gangtok to Jorethang collided with a truck coming from Siliguri.

The bus driver also sustained minor injuries. No other casualties were reported.

Tamang, who was employed at Yuksom Breweries at Bye-pass, Deorali was on his way home to Jorethang.
Talking with SIKKIM EXPRESS today, Ashok who is presently undergoing treatment at the orthopaedic ward of the Sir Thutob Namgyal Memorial (STNM) Hospital here said that the accident took place in the blink of his eyes.

“I was seated in the last seat when all of a sudden I heard a huge sound; after a while I discovered that my left hand had been ripped off from my body and was lying near by,” he recalled. He further said that out of panic he started showing his broken arm to the fellow passengers. Tamang was immediately rushed to Rangpo Hospital from where he was referred to the STNM Hospital.

The driver of the truck is absconding and is yet to be arrested.

In Black and White!

ABVP to stage protest today

ANNOUNCEMENT

HYDERABAD: The ABVP calls for protest by students before the Collectorates in Telangana districts on July 22 demanding an announcement on separate Telangana before the 2009 elections. It alleged that the Telangana movement was getting diluted by “opportunist” parties.

Nepal’s first President!

From a farmer’s son to first president of republic Nepal: A short biography of Dr Ram Baran Yadav

FROM NEPAL NEWS

By Anand Gurung

Dr Ram Baran Yadav has made history by becoming the first president of republic Nepal through a closely contested presidential run-off held Monday, thus fulfilling the long cherished dream of many Nepalis of seeing a true Janata ko Choro (son of the people) to assume the responsibility of the coveted post.

Dr Ram Baran Yadav (File Photo)

Consequently, Dr Yadav has made another history by also becoming the first person outside the royal family to be the head of the state of the new republic, breaking the century old tradition which reserved the coveted title to the eldest son of the Shah Dynasty, who held a demi god status of a incarnation of Lord Bishnu, all of which ended with it eventual demise through a historic proclamation of the Constituent Assembly that declared the country a republic.

But like most person of stature, Dr Yadav, too, had a very humble beginning. Born to a simple farmer family in Magh 22, 2004 B.S in Safai VDC of Dhanusha district in the Terai plains of Nepal, Dr Yadav was the fourth son of Dhan Yadav and Ram Rati Yadav.

He completed his initial education in Dhanusha district and then came to Kathmandu for higher studies. As he was keen on studying medicine, the young Ram Baran Yadav went to Kolkata (formerly Calcutta), India, and got admission in Calcutta Medical College from where he received his M.B.B.S degree and became a practicing doctor. Later he acquired M.D degree from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh of India in the year 2040 B.S.

A well-known doctor who is very much respected in the medical fraternity, Dr Yadav later became the private physician to late B.P Koirala. This must be noted as an important turning point in his life, as through close association and inspiration from this eminent leader of Nepal, Dr Yadav got actively involved in politics.

Call it a coincidence, but on the day the nation marks the 26th death anniversary of late former prime minister B.P Koirala that Dr Ram Baran Yadav has been elected to the post of the first president of republic Nepal.

Although a doctor by profession, Dr Yadav could never distance himself from active politics despite his busy schedule. This zest for politics was planted young as even during his university days Dr Yadav used to be very active in student politics.

Nepal Police Revolt: Example of State Lawlessness

FROM UNITED WE BLOG FOR DEMOCRATIC NEPAL!

Politics is a principal policy of state, but the state is in confusion since the CPN (Maoist) became the largest party in the CA election with 38% of 601 seats.

By Bishnu Pathak PhD

Incident IV: Against the low quality food, rampant ill-treatment and discrimination not by others, but by their own seniors, about 500 Nepal Police rank and file seized the Riot Control Battalion and the Mid-western Regional Company at Nepalgunj (about 650 km west from Kathmandu) on July 12, 2008. They took seven-senior officers including one SSP (Senior Superintendent of Police), 3 SP (Superintendent of Police) and others hostage.

Those hostages were identified as SSP Parsuram Khatri, Chief of Bheri Zone, SP Ghanashyam Bhatta, Chief of the Riot Control Battalion, and SP Akhtar Ali Ansari, Chief of the Mid-western Regional Company. The rank and file has put-forward a 20-point demand to the state. To make the officers’ captivity publicly known, the rebels fired 15 rounds onto the air from the Battalion premises. As the security and law and order providers themselves were involved in terrifying the people, Nepalgunj became tense on July 12th and 13th. Moreover, the agitating policemen warned surrounding pedestrians not to walk near the road. They barricaded the main gate with barbed wire, and shouted for action against the corrupt boss and administration.

Although the rebel police personnel freed all hostages after 36 hours of captivity, surrendering them in front of the Deputy Inspector General of Mid-Western Region at mid-night (0.00 hrs) on July 13, 2008, the emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday instructed the Home Ministry to take all necessary actions to release all those held captive. The Cabinet meeting ordered the Nepal Army to send its special commando force to bring the situation under control and to take necessary measures to avoid repeat of such incidents in the future.

Nepal police initiated disciplinary or legal action against four police personnel including the leader of the mutiny, Sub-inspector Bhan Bahadur BK, suspending them. They were produced at a press conference with handcuffs on the same day. All accused policemen appealed for mercy from senior police officers. Nineteen other officials may face action.

Excerpts of 20-point demands submitted by the mutiny cops in Nepalgunj (July 13, 2008)
• Action to be taken against the culprits of financial irregularities and return of the money to the juniors. They had received just Rs. 1,470 for ration out of the allocation of Rs. 1,501 in the fiscal year 2064/065.
• The senior officers have received double ration, reducing the juniors ration.
• The police attendant neither received clothing nor did junior police take delivery of quality clothing on time from their boss. This is against the police act.
• The canteen in the Police Training Center has become a primary resource for seniors who sell to juniors at an increased rate.
• Nepotism and favoritism have been followed in transferring, promotion and reward rather than the basis of skill and seniority.
• Seniors select their near and dear ones for better income and professional training.
• Junior police did not receive transportation costs and daily allowances as per regulation when they were mobilized for the CA elections for April 10, 2008.
• Seniors have been drinking alcohol in front of all (outside the exercise hall) after physical exercise. They usually drink each Saturday and abuse the juniors.
• A written commitment not to have any departmental action against the mutiny or agitation, ensuring concession for their fired bullets, to be furnished.
• Transfer of the hostage chiefs within 24 hours.
• The provision of “the seniors may grant leave to juniors” in police act to be amended so that leave is their right instead of the seniors’ grant.
• A deep study to be done to remove anyone from the job.
• Stern action to be taken to the senior males officers they often involve into sexual amusement with junior females on luring temptations.
• To investigate financial irregularities done by seniors and its accountants in overall management.
• Stop political intervention at the Police institution as the seniors work under political leaders’ umbrella rather than police act.
• Stop misuse of vehicles and over fuels charge done in cooperation between chief and its accountant.
• Well manage human resources, water, toilets, etc. in exercise hall.
• Stop giving priority to send near and dear officials of seniors at UN and Haiti Mission.
• The previous grade to be continued even after the promotion.
• Dialogue to be held in the presence of IGP, Home Minister, central leaders of seven party alliance, human rights workers, and journalists.

Incident III: The Probe Committee of the Regional Police Office in Pokhara recommended disciplinary action against 20 Nepal Police personnel of the District Police Office (DPO), Gorkha district (about 200 km east of Kathmandu). Those disciplined include chief of the DPO, a female DSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) Gita Uprety on the charge of administrative carelessness on July 16, 2008. Of them, four are fired and three are demoted with the others facing various other penalties. The incident had occurred when an Assistant Inspector physically assaulted a Constable on June 19, 2008. The various ranks of police personnel staged a whole night long protest in front of DPO against the discrimination and impunity inside the office.

Incident II: About 300 disgruntled Armed Police Force (APF) of Bageshwori barracks at Shamshergunj, Banke district, revolted against bad-food, misbehavior and discrimination, beating battalion chief Harishankar Budhathoki and keeping over a dozen officers captive on June 21, 2008. The agitating forces padlocked the main gate, capturing all communication sets and telephone lines. They put-forward a 26-point demand letter to the Home Ministry the following day. On June 23, 2008, a High-Level Team lead by AIGP Narayan Raj Pandey and Joint Secretary Mod Raj Dotel of Home Ministry released all 17-hostages by signing a 22-point agreement with the displeased force, with an ultimatum to implement it within a month. The pact agreed to provide equal and decent food for all, pay medical expenses and CA poll allowances to all, etc.

The pact agreed to punish the seniors who were involved in financial irregularities including the battalion in-charge. The most perplexing fact is that Budhathoki had received a reward for his excellent work from the government only last year, but one year later he was beaten by his own juniors. On the other hand, AIG Pandey himself accepted the fact that he had been involved in financial irregularities. As a result, the question has been raised: who were right, the juniors, APF Headquarters or Budhathoki? Meanwhile, a committee was formed under SSP Rajendra Bahadur Singh to investigate alleged irregularities. Both delegates, Pandey and Dotel, appreciated the move of juniors against the seniors and vowed to initiate stern action against the seniors. Such an initiative encouraged exploited juniors to move against the inequalities, injustices, and dictatorial rule of seniors across the country.

Party leader: Ram Baran Yadav elected 1st Nepali president

Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, general secretary of the second largest CA(Constituent Assembly) party Nepali Congress (NC), who has been also supported by the third and the fourth CA parties, talks outside the International Convention Center (ICC) in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, on July 21, 2008. Ram Baran Yadav from the Nepali Congress (NC) was elected the first Nepali president, NC central committee leader Shekhar Koirala told Xinhua reporter on Monday afternoon.   (Xinhua Photo)

FROM CHINA VIEW

KATHMANDU, July 21 (Xinhua) — Ram Baran Yadav from the Nepali Congress (NC) was elected the first Nepali president, NC central committee leader Shekhar Koirala told Xinhua reporter on Monday afternoon.

“Ram Baran Yadav with 308 votes has won the elections,” Shekhar Koirala told Xinhua reporter on Monday afternoon.

Meanwhile, local television channels also reported that Ram Baran Yadav has won 308 votes from the 590 voting Constituent Assembly (CA) members, while Ram Raja Prasad Singh, nominated by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) (CPN-M), won 282 votes. Four CA members were absent for voting.

Supporters from the NC have begun to celebrate their party’s victory at the CA venue, International Convention Center (ICC) in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu.

The official results of the presidential election are expected to be announced at the CA meeting, supposed to convene at 4 p.m. local time (1015 GMT).

Nepali CA members began voting in the re-polling for the post of the youngest republic’s president on Monday morning.

On Saturday evening, Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) candidate Paramananda Jha was declared the first vice president of republican Nepal by the CA. However, none of the presidential candidates gathered simple majority support from Saturday’s 578 voting CA members. Ram Baran Yadav on Saturday bagged 283 votes and Ram Raja Prasad Singh won 270 votes.

Since no single candidate won over half support (298 votes out of 594 CA member voters), two top candidates securing the largest number of votes, Ram Baran Yadav and Ram Raja Prasad Singh, came to contest again in the elections for the second round on Monday.

Nepal was declared a federal democratic republic at the first CA meeting on May 28, ending the 240-year Shah dynasty.

MPRF candidate Paramananda Jha won Saturday’s election with support from the NC and the third largest CA party, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (CPN-UML).

The three party went together when the CPN-M rejected NC’s proposal for Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN-UML’s proposal for its former general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal to take the presidential post, and turned down to support MPRF’s vice president claim.

Mangan Tourism Development Committee asked to develop new destinations in North Sikkim

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, July 20: The Secretary of the State Tourism Department has asked Mangan Tourism Development Committee (MTDC) to develop new destinations as to accommodate more visitors.

He said this in a meeting held recently in his chamber with the Adhakshya, North District, District Collector (N), members of Mangan Tourism Development Committee (MTDC) and the officers of Tourism Department to discuss developing the North District as the ideal winter destination for the tourists.

Suggesting ways and means to develop new destinations, the Secretary said that the ideal way would be through village tourism as the tourists with the scenic beauty of north will experience the way of life of its people. 

In a press release issued by the deputy secretary of the department, the Tourism department is developing village tourism at Thingchim. The release further informs that the MTDC said that the North District is a haven for adventure lovers and that the promotion of new trekking trail at Kishongla along with skiing at Lachung, bungee jumping at Rang Rang would boost tourism industry.

The MTDC also requested the department to place signage at the tourist spots along the Gangtok Mangan route with brief write up on the spot.

Stating that Mangan Music Festival is an annual rendezvous for all music enthusiasts, the house was informed that it would be held in the second week of December and that it should be marketed as Winter Tourism.

“The meeting ended on the positive note that all would work to make Sikkim the holiday destination of India, the release adds. 

SCC opposes higher tax for professionals, trades & employments

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, July 20: The Sikkim Chamber of Commerce (SCC) has opposed the Central Government’s plan to raise the ceiling on professional tax from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 7500 per annum stating that the move is steep. According to a press release issued by SK Sarda, president, SCC, the Central Government is thinking to bring a proposal before the Union Cabinet to raise the ceiling and that the union cabinet is expected take up the proposal shortly.

Mr Sarda has said that the States out of their hungry for more revenue are urging upon the Central Government to increase the Professional tax from Rs. 2500 to Rs. 7500 per annum.

Professional tax is levied by State Governments on profession, trades, callings and employments. The limit last fixed was Rs. 2500 per annum and was approved by Union Government. 

“The Professional people like lawyers, doctors, self employed persons, shopkeepers, out of their hard work are contributing a lot to Exchequer of States and Central Government. It is not, therefore, proper that the citizens who are already burdened with high inflation and high taxes are asked to cough out more taxes,” Mr Sarda said in a release. 

He further said that instead of reducing the number of taxes, State as well Central Governments are bent on creating new form of levies. Whenever a new levy is created, the Government goes for a new directorate for its collection and a new process of registration/tax payments/assessment /reassessments and harassments starts, he added.

The president, SCC further said that it would be better if the number of taxes are reduced, tax rates are made moderate and collection process created simpler with no hassles and harassments. 

The Chamber of Commerce has also called upon the Union Government not to go ahead with its proposal to enhance professional tax.

CM discuss alternative highway with Union transport ministry

Centre and State to work out the modalities for the new alignment of an alternative highway from eastern Sikkim via Bhutan

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, July 20: The Secretary, Ministry of Surface Transport, Government of India, Brahm Dutt called on the Chief Minister, Pawan Chamling at his official residence at Mintokgang yesterday afternoon. Mr Dutt, accompanied by Kamlesh Kumar, Chief Engineer, Ministry of Surface Transport, discussed important issues pertaining to the construction of an alternative highway for the State. 

Welcoming the Union Secretary, the Chief Minister stressed that Sikkim being a landlocked state faced innumerable problems due to the closure of the National Highway 31A during the political upheavals in the neighbouring state and the frequent landslides during the Monsoons. The National Highway 31-A is the life line of the state and its frequent closure causes heavy losses to the people of Sikkim, he said.

The Chief Minister further said that the road connectivity is essential for promoting tourism industry. Sikkim does not have Airfield as of now and supply of essential commodities gets affected very badly due to its frequent closure. Sikkim is a progressive state and the need for an independent alternative highway is a necessity for us, he said. The Chief Minister also suggested the possibility of an alternative highway through either Nepal or Bhutan.

During the meeting, the Union Secretary assured to look into the proposal and said that he and his team of officials will definitely find a solution to the highway problem. He also suggested a team to be set up comprising of officials from the PWD, BRO and officials from the Ministry of Surface Transport, Government of India to work out the modalities for the new alignment of an alternative highway from eastern Sikkim via Bhutan.

“Sikkim, the land of Goddesses”: CM

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

NAMCHI, July 20: The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today said that Sikkim can be rightfully called as the land of goddesses as women are respected and enjoy high status and rights in the State.

He was speaking at the closing function of the constituency level meeting of the Cheli Morcha of South District, which was organised by Cheli Morcha SDF party, South District.

While stating that the status of women in Sikkim was high in comparision to the rest of the country, the Chief Minister said that people of the State need to contribute through their knowledge and good deeds to make Sikkim really a land of the Goddesses. Mr. Chamling also stressed that the State government have framed and passed several policies for women empowerment in the State.

“Earlier, women in our society were treated as second class citizens but my government has launched some path-breaking policies to uplift the status of the women in the society as compared to their men counterparts,” he said. Urging the gathering not to confine themselves only to the meetings of the Cheli Morcha, the Chief Minister said that the SDF government has started programmes like Small Family Scheme for the women to provide them the assistance for higher studies. The Government has also launched Prerna Scheme to encourage meritorious girl students in their further studies as well as given 30% reservation for higher studies and in government jobs, he said.

The SDF Government has passed the affirmatives share bill to provide the Sikkimese daughters the ancestral right to inherit their share of properties of their fathers and forefathers just as the sons, the Chief Minister said.

“The SDF Government is the only government in the country which provided 40% seat reservation for the women in the Panchayat seats as well as given high posts in the Panchayats,” he said ,adding, “women are more sincere, committed and have higher moral values than men.

He also urged the women Panchayat members to fully utilize the powers given by the government to provide justice to the needy and the poor people. “Every woman of the society has to play her role as the missionary of social justice and poverty alleviation,” the CM added.

He further said that the SDF government has exempted the original residents of Sikkim from the central direct tax. “We have demanded exemption for the non-locals also,” he added. The Chief Minister further announced that the Government will give social service pensions to women who serve the society in the rural areas as local health activists voluntarily. Announcing that the next Janata Mela would be held in August, the CM sought the involvement of the women party workers to select for deserving beneficiaries. The decision to construct more than 400 KM roads to connect all the villages with the urban areas was also made, for which the CM told the party workers to be serious with the programmes and the policies of the government.

Darjeeling MP to vote for UPA government

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, July 21: With assurances from both UPA chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi and the PM Dr Manmohan Singh, Darjeeling MP Mr Dawa Narbula has decided to cast his vote in favour of the UPA government. “Since the response from both the Congress president and PM is positive I will use my vote to save the government from this crisis”, confirmed Mr. Narbula from Delhi today.

The PM assured the MP that Gorkhaland would certainly feature in the list of smaller states when the next State Re-organisation Commission formed when they met last evening. “The PM like Congress president assured me that Gorkhaland would be added in the list of the next State Re-organisation Commission”, Mr. Narbula said. Arrangements for a tripartite meeting will also be done after the Trust motion takes place tomorrow, he added. The development comes following GJMM’s pressure that the MP should secure a written assurance from the government in favour of Gorkhaland before casting his Trust vote. “I have always raised my voice for Gorkhaland and have also used this opportunity lobby for the Gorkhaland demand. The PM is aware of our plight. He has pledged the Congress party’s and the governments support towards the Hill people”, he said. In Darjeeling, GJMM supporters took out a rally demanding that the MP use his vote to get an assurance for Gorkhaland

Blood donation marks the end of NCC camp

FROM THE STATESMAN

KURSEONG, July 21: The closing ceremony after ten days of NCC’s Combined Annual Training Camp-3, under the banner of 5 Bengal Battalion NCC Darjeeling was held today at Eastern Forest Rangers College in Kurseong.

To mark the ceremony, a cultural program and a blood donation camp was also organised, today, in which the cadets participated, in an enthusiastic manner.

During the Combined Annual Training Camp-3, which started on 13 July, the widespread training was conducted, on weapon handling, physical training, firing of arms, route marches, map reading, field craft etc. In the meantime, an awareness program on HIV/AIDS, Drug Abuse, and Environment was also held. The Football and Vollyball tournament was also played during the camp. Beside, a special lecture and workshop on career management had also been organised, during the camp. The Career Management was conducted by Lt Col Deepak Dhingra, who specialises in career counseling to cadets.

Meanwhile, through this camp, a total of 53 cadets were selected for Republic Day Parade Contingent 2008 and who will further undergo training prior to final selection for Republic Day.

Sixty-two cadets were also selected for “Thal Sena Camp” which is held in Delhi every year. These cadets will form West Bengal team and a final team will then be selected from 7 NCC groups for “Republic Day Contingent” and Thal Sena Contingent” of West Bengal NCC.

Notably, the camp was organised with a total of 525 cadets from north Bengal and Sikkim areas, two officers, ten ANO, eight JCO, sixteen NCO and other staffs.

Importantly, after a gap of 11 years, the NCC’s Combined Annual Training Camp was staged in Darjeeling hills. The 5 Bengal Battalion NCC Darjeeling, CO Lt Con SR Singh informed that due to lack of proper place (accommodation) and drinking water facilities, the camp had not been organised in the hills.

Blood donation marks the end of NCC camp

FROM THE STATESMAN

KURSEONG, July 21: The closing ceremony after ten days of NCC’s Combined Annual Training Camp-3, under the banner of 5 Bengal Battalion NCC Darjeeling was held today at Eastern Forest Rangers College in Kurseong.

To mark the ceremony, a cultural program and a blood donation camp was also organised, today, in which the cadets participated, in an enthusiastic manner.

During the Combined Annual Training Camp-3, which started on 13 July, the widespread training was conducted, on weapon handling, physical training, firing of arms, route marches, map reading, field craft etc. In the meantime, an awareness program on HIV/AIDS, Drug Abuse, and Environment was also held. The Football and Vollyball tournament was also played during the camp. Beside, a special lecture and workshop on career management had also been organised, during the camp. The Career Management was conducted by Lt Col Deepak Dhingra, who specialises in career counseling to cadets.

Meanwhile, through this camp, a total of 53 cadets were selected for Republic Day Parade Contingent 2008 and who will further undergo training prior to final selection for Republic Day.

Sixty-two cadets were also selected for “Thal Sena Camp” which is held in Delhi every year. These cadets will form West Bengal team and a final team will then be selected from 7 NCC groups for “Republic Day Contingent” and Thal Sena Contingent” of West Bengal NCC.

Notably, the camp was organised with a total of 525 cadets from north Bengal and Sikkim areas, two officers, ten ANO, eight JCO, sixteen NCO and other staffs.

Importantly, after a gap of 11 years, the NCC’s Combined Annual Training Camp was staged in Darjeeling hills. The 5 Bengal Battalion NCC Darjeeling, CO Lt Con SR Singh informed that due to lack of proper place (accommodation) and drinking water facilities, the camp had not been organised in the hills.

He also claimed that through this Combined Annual Training Camp, the cadets were trained on several field and subject, in a compressed manner, through which, they will absolutely benefit in the near future in this competitive era, as well as it will also help to inspire them to work for the interest of social obligation and National interest.

A ray of hope for arrested Czech tourists

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, July 21: The two Czech nationals were visibly relieved when the chief judicial magistrate court declared in their third hearing toady that an interim bail could be granted if somebody provided security for their bail. “Our lawyers will immediately correspond with the Czech embassy in Delhi regarding the matter. In fact our ambassador who was here recently personally assured that we will not avoid trial if granted bail”, entomologist Petr Svacha was quick to respond.

For that purpose the court deferred the next hearing of the Czech entomologist and his companion Emil Kucera arrested for collecting rare insect species from Singalila National Park to 23 July.

The unavailability of official records and the absence of a defence lawyer due to cease work of lawyers coupled with indefinite closure of government offices proved the earlier two hearings to be futile. As the shutdown was lifted from today the case progressed this far with required documents.

Though they claim their purpose of visit as “partly tourists and partly to collect insects for research purpose” the duo travelled to India on a tourist visa. “Darjeeling lies in the foothills of the Himalayas and the 3 species of insects we were looking for biogenetic purposes is found here. We could have gone to Nepal or Bhutan but since Kucera knew this place well we opted to come here”, Mr. Svacha said. Moreover the fact that during three times of his visit to India in 1999, 2003 and 2008 Mr. Kucera procured three different passports and despite his 2003 passport being valid till 2009 he got yet another passport for his visit this year, this makes his position doubtful. “In our country it’s normal to get new passports if they are in a bad condition or get lost”, explained Mr. Kucera.

The Czech ambassador for India who visited them last week also admitted that: “Importance of proper documents could not be undermined no matter how long it takes to procure them”.

According to court sources the lawyers may withdraw their cease work in a meeting tomorrow. “The decision to withdraw the cease work rests entirely on our meeting tomorrow. In case we withdraw the cease work I will do my best to secure a bail for the Czech national lodged in jail for the past one month”, assured defence lawyer Mr. Taranga Pandit.

Radical groups slam govt on GL number plate issue

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, July 21: Several Siliguri-based radical organisations slammed the state government for remaining inactive when the West Bengal number plates of the private vehicles were being changed into GL (meaning Gorkhaland) number plates in the Darjeeling district. “The state government must rise up to the gravity of the situation and punish the law breakers,” the leaders of the organisations said.

The president of the Jana Jagaran, Mr Haren Ghosh said that the state government was sending a wrong signal to the lawbreakers. “The situation would take a turn for the worse if such nonchalance on the part of the government continues. The cars must be seized and confiscated and the car-owners must be arrested in accordance with the law of the land,” he said.

Speaking on the issue Dr Debaprasad Kar, the president of Jana Chetana, said that this kind of appeasement on the part of the state government was wrong and this confirmed the pusillanimity of the government before the bullying tactics being adopted by the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha.

“This is a serious issue warranting a serious approach from the state government. Yet it seems that the state government has ceased to have the will to govern.”

The Constitution is being flouted in the Darjeeling Hills with the state government meekly acquiescing. This reflects a sorry state of affairs for the state administration,” he said.

He further said that his organisation would organise street corner meetings in and around Siliguri to mobilise public opinion against the failure of the state government in maintaining rule of law in the Darjeeling hills.

Former Sikkim CM backs Gorkhaland

FROM THE STATESMAN

GANGTOK, July 21: Former chief minister of the state Mr. Nar Bhahadur Bhandari sought for a separate state of Gorkhaland and called it a genuine demand.

While stressing on the demand for Gorkhaland he said, according to Article 3 of the Constitution any region can demand a state or any state can merge with any other state or they can even create their own state in the country as this is their democratic right. “So the West Bengal government should not pose any restriction to this movement” he added.

However, before claiming or demanding for any separate state in the country demarcation is the most important. “Gorkhaland should touch the Bihar border including Northeast states so that the Gorkhas living in the Northeast are not deprived while demarcating the separate state” suggested Mr. Bhandari. “But the inclusion of Siliguri either half of it or full, remained a big question” he said. He was attending the intellectual forum meet at Kalimpong yesterday as he was invited as a special guest to suggest the forum on the demand of Gorkhaland. “The strong core and central committee should be formed immediately and people from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Siliguri and Dooars should be included in the committee” suggested Mr. Bhandari. “The adibasi tribal people of Dooars should not be deprived from the committee as they are also part of the Gorkhaland” he said.

While suggesting the forum he said, the continuous discussion on the issue should be made in the committee and they should focus on the tripartite meeting with the Centre where all the members from the region should be included in the delegation team for tripartite meet. “But one shouldn’t mock the other while forwarding the demand in the Centre which could peril the demand” he added. He also apologised to the forum for the Sikkim government who had filed the case against the Gorkha Jan Mukti Morcha (GJMM) in the Supreme Court for blocking the NH 31A during an indefinite strike called by them for the demand recently. “We had never filed any case against the GNLF during the 1986 agitation for Gorkhaland where even the NH, 31A was shut for 40-days” recalled Mr. Bhandari. “In fact we had provided shelter to over 50,000 people from Darjeeling district who flocked here during the agitation and ” he added. He also said: “This is the fight of our blood brethrens so we should never stand against them and have cope with them either directly or indirectly.

Apart from Mr. Bhandari the meeting was also attended by Mr. Roshan Giri General Secretary of GJMM, Mr. Pravakar Devan a senior advocate of Kalimpong, Mrs. Ramulima Subba along with Mr. Manoj Tega and Mr. Vivek Sarkar from Dooars and Siliguri.

Probes scrub hospital death taints

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, July 21: Official inquiries into two recent incidents of death allegedly caused by the misbehaviour and negligence of the staff of a hospital here have found the employees innocent, the chief medical officer of health of Darjeeling district said today.

Subir Bhowmik, the CMOH, was on an inspection tour of the 320-bed Siliguri District Hospital. He said he had received the reports of the respective inquiry committees and had gone through them and interacted with nursing staff and doctors involved in the cases.

“We cannot blame them for what happened,” he said.

The CMOH blamed political parties for creating commotion over the two deaths. On July 4, an elderly man died of a heart attack after an altercation with a senior nurse. The man was not allegedly allowed to deliver saline bottle to a patient by the nurse who abused him. Eight days later, a young housewife died, allegedly without being attended to by doctors.

“In the first case, the person should have taken special permission to see the patient after visiting hours. Inquiries have revealed there were no saline bottles to be delivered. The elderly person had assaulted a security guard for not being allowed to enter the female ward. When a senior nurse saw this, she intervened, saying the guard was doing his duty. The man, who had recently had a bypass, suffered a heart attack following the altercation and could not be saved,” the CMOH said.

The woman, on the other hand, who had delivered a baby three weeks before her death, was suffering from pancreatitis.

Power, water off for Wattar

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, July 21: CPM leaders in the Darjeeling hills continue to be at the receiving end of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s anger, K.B. Wattar from Bijanbari being the latest in the line of fire.

Morcha supporters have been demonstrating in front of Wattar’s house since yesterday, demanding that he either quit the CPM, which is against a separate state, or leave the hills.

“The Morcha harps on democracy, but at the same time its members intimidate our leaders in the hills,” Bengal urban development minister and CPM MLA Asok Bhattacharya said here today.

“Hundreds of Morcha supporters have confined Wattar and his family members to the house and have disconnected water and cable TV lines. They have threatened the family with social boycott and have demanded that Wattar leave the hills if he cannot resign from the CPM,” the minister said.

Earlier, CPM leaders like the party district secretary S.P. Lepcha, who lives in a garden near Darjeeling town, and Tara Sundas from Kalimpong had to face the brunt of Morcha protests. Their houses had been gheraoed and they were told to leave the CPM.

Morcha leaders had then admitted that the incidents had taken place, but branded them “people’s protests, which had nothing to do with the hill party”.

Wattar, a CPM district secretariat member and president of the party’s farmers’ front, Paschimbanga Pradeshik Krishak Sabha, said over the phone that around 300 Nari Morcha supporters surrounded his house at 11am yesterday. “They demanded that I quit the party. Water and cable connections to my house were snapped. The demonstration continued till 2pm.”

750 seats vacant in colleges

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, July 21: Over 750 seats are lying vacant (see chart) in seven colleges in and around Siliguri after the admission process that raises a clamour of “less seats” gets over.

On the other, the undergraduate council of North Bengal University (NBU) sanctioned more than 40 extra seats in different honours streams in some of its affiliated colleges today.

After the publication of the Higher Secondary results this year, there was a huge uproar in five colleges of the Siliguri subdivision with student unions complaining of less number of seats. The college authorities, too, expressed helplessness for being unable to accommodate all the students.

The admission crisis had led to ransacking of Siliguri College of Commerce, followed by subdivision wide strikes. A large number of students, unable to secure a seat in the under-graduate courses, continued visiting the institutions. Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya announced that two new colleges would be opened at Sevoke Road and Naxalbari.

“We have been saying that there is no dearth of seats in the colleges of Siliguri, especially after the new colleges were opened. Now it has been proved,” said Partha Sarathi Das, the principal of Surya Sen College. “The problem was with getting chance in the preferred subjects.”

Malay Karanjai, the principal of Siliguri College, also echoed the same. “There was never any shortage of seats. It is true that there was a deadlock in some colleges. Students, who went out of the town after securing berths in the Joint Entrance Exams or got themselves admitted to self-financed courses, took admission to the local colleges also. But they did not cancel the same, till they secured admission at other places.”

Efforts on to get embassy ‘surety’ over fax – Cuffed, Czechs come to court

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Svacha (left) and Kucera in handcuffs being brought to Darjeeling court on Monday. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, July 21: Cuffed to each other and looking tired, Czech entomologist Petr Svacha and his companion Emil Kucera were brought to the chief judicial magistrate’s court around 12.30pm today, much to the consternation of their defence lawyers.

The duo were with five other under-trial prisoners, none of whom were cuffed.

“The Supreme Court has specified that it is only in exceptional cases that undertrials can be handcuffed but even then a permission has to be taken from the magistrate. Specifics of the exceptional cases has been underlined clearly (by the apex court),” said T.K. Pandit, one of the lawyers.

The exceptional conditions will be applicable if the undertrial has a violent nature or there are instances when he or she has tried to disrupt the hearing in court. “Those who have a tendency to flee from custody while being produced in court can also be handcuffed,” the lawyer said, stressing that none of these conditions were applicable to his clients.

The two Czechs were not handcuffed when they were produced in front of the judge.

Pandit, however, said he has no immediate plans to protest against the treatment meted out to the two foreigners. “We are now concentrating more on securing bail.”

The cease-work called by the Darjeeling Bar Association is expected to be lifted tomorrow. Government offices, however, opened today ending a 14-day strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, which is spearheading the movement for a separate state.