Nepal vice-president’s apology ends Hindi row

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

Violent protests that had disrupted Nepal for seven consecutive days after the newly elected Vice-President of Indian origin Parmanand Jha took his oath of office in Hindi ended Wednesday with the embattled official offering a public apology.

“I express my regrets if I hurt anyone’s sentiments while taking my oath of office (in Hindi),” a statement issued by the beleaguered vice-president’s office said. “It was not my intention to hurt the national unity, integrity, sovereignty and self-respect of any Nepali citizen.”

The former judge, who had been at the centre of a raging controversy since last Wednesday, said he had taken the oath of office and secrecy in Hindi instead of Nepali or his mother tongue Maithili thinking “all communities would be able to understand the meaning and essence of the oath” if it was taken in Hindi.

Expressing sorrow at the demonstrations that shook the nation for seven days and deepened the rift between India-origin Nepalis and others, the statement said that Nepal was a “multi-lingual, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-ethnic country” and urged “unity and goodwill”.

Soon after the statement, the public protests, spearheaded by the Maoists, ended, making the nation heave a sign of relief.

Over a dozen people had been hurt, nearly three dozen vehicles damaged, offices vandalised and repeated transport and education strikes called during the escalating anti-Hindi row with protesters calling for Jha’s resignation or a public apology.

Jha will now have to answer Nepal’s Supreme Court’s call to show reason why he took the oath in Hindi.

Nationalistic lawyer Bal Krishna Neupane dragged the first vice-president to court soon after the swearing-in, demanding that Jha take the oath again in Nepali.

In answer to the petition, the apex court said it would give top priority to the case and asked the vice-president last Sunday to furnish his explanation within a week.

Hindi, though widely spoken in Nepal, is identified as the national language of its southern and increasingly unpopular neighbour India. Jha stoked protests further by choosing to wear at the ceremony the dhoti and kurta preferred by his Madhesi community of Indian origin which is looked down upon by Nepal’s hill community.

RIGHTS-NEPAL: Court Ruling Emboldens Third Gender

FROM INTER PRESS SERVICE NEWS AGENCY

By Mallika Aryal

Transgender men Anish Acharya, Suman Tamang, Sumit Poudel (L-R) with transgender woman Bhumika Shrestha (foreground). Credit:Mallika Aryal/IPS

KATHMANDU, Jul 30 (IPS) – Suman Tamang, 26, remembers feeling guilty for wishing he were a man. Tamang, born a woman, wanted to do the heavy work only men do, was friends with more men than women and was attracted to girls. “At that time, I didn’t really understand I was transgender, I was awkward and I knew I was different.”

Today Suman lives with his 21-year-old wife Anusha in Kathmandu. The couple met at a dance programme in Jhapa town, fell in love and decided to stay together. When they revealed their plans to get married to their families, it was not accepted, so they fled their village and came to Kathmandu. “There are more employment opportunities in Kathmandu, and as a couple we feel safer here,” says Tamang.

Although there is no law in Nepal that recognises the couple’s marriage yet, there have been some policy changes in Nepal, which have been in favour of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community. On Dec. 21, 2007 Nepal’s Supreme Court (SC) declared that all discriminatory laws against LGBTI people must be repealed by the government, and provision must be made for recognition of the ‘third gender’ on government documents. Nepal is the only country in South Asia to provide such rights.

“It took a lot of lobbying, discussions, organising, talking, pressuring” says Sunil Babu Pant, founder of Blue Diamond Society (BDS) an NGO that reaches out to the LGBTI community through education, healthcare and advocacy. “Not only are the third gender now recognised, but political parties Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) and Communist Party of Nepal (United) have clauses recognising sexual minorities in their party manifestos,” adds Pant, who recently made headlines for being the first person from the LGBTI community to represent CPN (U) in Nepal’s constituent assembly.

Nepal has been slowly making progress in terms of LGBTI rights. In February this year a local bank produced application forms that included the third option of “others” under the gender category. Similarly, BDS and the Supreme Court are looking into forming a seven-member committee to explore the legalisation of same-sex marriages.

Most LGBTI come from remote parts of Nepal. Throughout Nepal over 120,000 people from the LGBTI community are in touch with the BDS through its offices in 25 districts. The community predicts that there may be around 900,000 LGBTI in the country.

Nepalese President asks Maoists to form Government

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

KATHMANDU: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav today called the CPN (Maoist) to forge political consensus for the formation of new government. According to a press statement issued by the office of the President, Dr Yadav urged the CPN-Maoist, the largest party in the Constituent Assembly, to take initiative for the formation of new government in seven days.

Dr Yadav asked Maoists to appoint new Prime Minister and council of ministers in accordance with Article 38 Clause (1) of the Interim Constitution of Nepal-2007 by forging consensus. Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum feel that the CPN-UML — another key partner of newly formed left-democratic — alliance might leave them to join hands with the CPN-Maoist to form new government.

NC general secretary Bimalendra Nidhi said so, adding that cozying up of the two communist parties was indicative of the emerging leftist alliance. MJF chairman Upendra Yadav also hinted that the UML could desert the left -democratic alliance. “You cannot be sure of the communist parties’ move because they easily change their stance,” Yadav told this daily.

UML has sided with the Maoists to oppose PM Koirala’s proposed representation in the SAARC summit scheduled on August 2-3. “If they (UML and Maoists) tie up and formed a government we will sit in the opposition,” Nidhi said. Maoist and UML leaders were busy in bilateral meetings till late in the evening.

Hindi row turns ugly in Nepal – Photo Feature

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

A boy walks near a student protest against vice president Parmananda Jha for taking the oath of office in the Hindi, in Kathmandu. (AFP Photo)

Nepalese student activists throw stones towards policemen during a protest against vice president Parmananda Jha. (AFP Photo)

Students throw stones at the police during a anti-Hindi protest in Kathmandu. (Reuters Photo)

Police throw stones back at student protesters at Amrit Science Campus in Kathmandu. (Reuters Photo)

Hindi row turns ugly in Nepal

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

KATHMANDU: The raging row in Nepal sparked by the vice-president taking his oath of office in Hindi last week turned into war on Tuesday with the rift between the hill people and Indian-origin plains community widening and protesters from both sides going on the rampage.

Nearly three dozen vehicles were vandalised in the capital and the Terai plains, while closures were called in border towns.

Ignoring lawmakers’ appeals to maintain harmony and national unity, angry crowds kept up demonstrations here as well as in southern districts, burning tyres and the effigy of vice-president Parmanand Jha for the sixth consecutive day.

They are demanding either the Indian-origin official’s resignation or a fresh oath-taking in Nepali instead of Hindi used by him last Wednesday. Eight student organisations, which had begun the protests last week branding Jha an anti-national for taking his oath in a language identified as the national tongue of India, said they would call off their stir on Tuesday out of deference to the Supreme Court.

But the issue snowballed with Indian-origin youngsters now taking up cudgels on embattled Jha’s behalf.

Madhesi youths began retaliatory public demonstrations, saying Jha had done nothing wrong and condemned the “dictatorial” demand for a fresh oath. While anti-Hindi protesters shut down transport and educational institutions in Nawalparasi district, Madhesis called a counter-closure in Parsa.

The controversy reached Nepal’s supreme court after a nationalistic lawyer, Bal Krishna Neupane, filed a writ, calling Jha’s swearing-in unconstitutional and asking for him to be barred from office till he took the oath again in Nepali.

Misuse of freedom is like ‘virus of democracy’: CM

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Gangtok: “The exemption of central income tax has enlivened the feeling that we are Sikkimese and it has also pushed us further towards unification with the country. This is the happiest hour marked by such big achievement” Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling said in his address on the concluding day, 29th July, of the Summer Session of Sikkim Legislative Assembly which started from 28th July. “We should use such privileges properly in order to get more in future”, he added. [Inset: Sikkim Legislative Assembly]

People will not allow Ghisingh to return: GJM

A BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY

DARJEELING, July 29: After leaving his hometown for the fear of his and his family’s lives the President of Gorkha National Liberation Front may now have to find a new home outside Darjeeling Hills if what the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders are saying are to be believed. The GJM leaders have declared that “Ghisingh will not be allowed to return to Darjeeling Hills”.

“Ghisingh has run away from Darjeeling Hills due to the fear of being lynched by the people. He has betrayed the aspirations of the people of the Darjeeling Hills by selling out to the West Bengal Government,” GJM General Secretary Roshan Giri said. Ghisingh left Darjeeling for Siliguri on July 26 after Pramila Sharma was shot dead allegedly by Deepak Gurung’s supporters the previous day. The GNLF President was given 15 days by the GJM to leave the hill town following the incident.

Political analysts in the Hills believe that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has now become increasing ‘reactive’ and has largely used the death of Pramila Sharma to purge whatever opposition remained within the Hills which could in future challenge GJM supremacy. However, intellectuals backing GJM reiterate that the leaders and the cadres of the Gorkha National Liberation Front had acted in such manners that warranted the ‘people’s reprisal’. Whatever may be the truth, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha have gone one step ahead and started taking over houses and properties of the former GNLF leaders and started converting them into office houses and ‘party guest houses’. The GJM President has even gone to the extent of allocating DGHC buildings like ‘Gorkha Ranga Mancha Bhawan’, ‘Roy Villa’ to different institutions holding allegiances to the party. The role of the local administration in particular that of the District Magistrate and the Police are dubious to say the least. The Government it seems have now applied a ‘wait and see’ attitude to everything that is happening in Darjeeling Hills.

Centre sets up committee for Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2007

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, July 29: The Government of India has constituted a Special Screening Committee and the National Selection Committee for the selection of Awardees for Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards 2007.

The Award will be presented by the President of India along with the Arjuna Awards. The Members of the Special Screening Committee consists of the Joint Secretary, Youth Affairs as Chairman and representative of the resident, IMP, representative pf the President of Aero Club of India and Representative, Swimming Federation of India as members, Director/DS (YS. IV) as convener.

In the National Selection Committee, the members include Minister of State (IC) Youth Affairs and Sports as Chairman, Secretary, Youth Affairs, Government of India, President, Indian Mountaineering Federation, President, Aero Club of India, President, Yachting Club of India, Harish Kapadia, distinguished Mountaineer and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award winner 2003 and Wg. Cdr. MIK Reddy, distinguished Skydiver and Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Award winner 2006 as members and the Joint Secretary, Youth Affairs as member secretary.

Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards have been instituted as the highest national recognition for outstanding achievement in the field of adventure activities on land, sea and air. A provision has also been made for a Life Time achievement Award to persons who besides individual excellence have devoted themselves to the cause of promotion of adventure.

White Paper on Schedule Tribe status for Limboo-Tamangs tabled in the Sikkim Assembly

GANGTOK, July 29: The Chief Minister Pawan Chamling today tabled the White Paper on efforts made by the present government in securing Schedule Tribe status for Limboo and Tamang communities and subsequently to secure reservation of seats for the two communities on the second day of the summer session of the Sikkim Legislative Assembly here today.

The voluminous 943 pages white paper elaborates the efforts made by the State Government to deliver ST status to the Limboo and Tamang communities since it came to power in December, 1994. In brief, the White Paper emphasizes that the Chief Minister pursued with added vigour the demand of the Limboo Tamang seat reservation with the Central Government.

The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDf) party headed by Mr. Chamling in their representation dated September 3, 2001 to the Union Home Minister had requested the Central Government to take steps for making a separate reservation of seats in the Legislative Assembly for Limboo and Tamangs by effecting amendment of section 7 of the Representation Act, 1950 keeping in view the reservation provided to Lepcha communities intact.

On High Alert

Bans are popular and easy to enforce by enacting legislation, but these do not work everywhere.With the opening of the Nathu-la Pass for trade and tourism on the Sikkim-China border, conservationists fear an alarming rise in illegal wildlife trade, writes Malini Shankar

Tracking illegal trade in wildlife takes one to most unlikely places. Now going towards Nathu La Pass on Sikkim’s border with Tibet, my thoughts, however, were more on the prospect of high altitude mountain sickness. Finally, I did succumb to the altitude sickness and had to turn back about 12 kilometres before reaching the destination.

With the opening of the Nathu La Pass for international trade and tourism in 2006, conservationists fear that illegal trade in wildlife contraband will spawn further. The highly militarised zone is the closest point connecting Kolkata to Lhasa – the virtual headquarter of illegal wildlife trade according to wildlife experts. Rhino horns, hornbill skulls, tiger and leopard bones, fur, claws, canines, talons, penis, bear gall bladder, bird beaks, are all raw material for traditional Chinese medicine. The demand, despite international campaigns, is still huge. Sea cucumber and other marine wealth make their way from the Andaman to Kolkata en route to Lhasa by road.

A seizure in Ghaziabad in December, 1999 of a truck laden with neatly cured leopard and tiger skins stashed away in furnishing material marked the beginning of the unearthing of what turned out to be massive organised crime. This truck was heading towards Siliguri, investigations revealed.

At 14,000 feet above sea level, the Pass was once part of the ancient Silk Route and was a conduit for trade between India and Tibet, which was closed post Indo-Chinese war in 1962. Wildlife conservationists apprehend that three factors may abet increase in illegal wildlife trade through this route – Chinese connection to the markets of its traditional medicine; the new Lhasa – Beijing Super fast train and now the opening of the motorable road through Nathu La.

Says, Belinda Wright of the Wildlife Protection Society of India, “Some goods coming from China have real animal furs lined inside.” There was an instance when a person in Darjeeling was wearing a leather jacket lined with rabbit fur but when he was questioned about it, he claimed it was certified rabbit fur. “There was nothing that could be done about it,” says Dipankar Ghosh of World Wide Fund for Nature, Sikkim Chapter.
Lhasa, Litang and Linxia are the hotbeds of illegal wildlife trade. In 2005, Litang Horse Festival, Wright and Debbie Banks of Environmental Investigation Agency of London witnessed hundreds of nouveau riche Tibetans sporting leopard skin chubas (vest coats), tiger skin coats and kilns. The activists filmed the Tibetans wearing these costumes, showed the clips to Dalai Lama and requested him to appeal to the Tibetans to stop wearing them. The appeal had its desired effect and the fancy for wildcat skins has reduced since then.

Minister slams GJMM for resorting to violence

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, July 29: The state urban development minister Mr Asok Bhattacharya has asked the Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha to exercise restraint in the Darjeeling Hills and reiterated the state government’s resolve to go ahead with the proposed tripartite negotiation to amicably settle the protracted Darjeeling imbroglio. He was addressing a DYFI convention in Naxalbari near Siliguri today. The state DYFI secretary Mr Abhas Roy Chowdhury also addressed the gathering.

Calling upon the youth of the Darjeeling district to work hard for peace and development of the region, the minister said that real development was possible only in a peaceful atmosphere. “There is no problem which cannot be solved within the democratic framework of mutual give and take,” Mr Bhattacharya affirmed.

Flaying the GJMM for resorting to violent means, the minister said that violence had no place in a democratic set-up. “Paying lip-service to the Gandhian principle of non-violence and shoving out political opponents of the Hills only expose the ideological hollowness of the Hill-based outfit,” he said.

Reiterating the state government’s resolve to go ahead with the proposed tripartite negotiation, the minister said that exercise of utmost restraint by the GJMM at this crucial juncture was the need of the hour. “The undemocratic way in which the GJMM has been organising its political movement runs counter to the spirit of the proposed tripartite negotiation for which the state government and particularly the chief minister have been trying so hard,” Mr Bhattacharya said.

Addressing the youth gathering the DYFI state secretary Mr Abhas Roy Chowdhury said that the sub-national grievances should be expressed in a positive way. “Raising divisive demands under the cloak of pent up sub-national grievances may prove counter-productive,” the youth leader said.

For a healthy living…

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, July 29: A two-day programme started today at the North Bengal Science Centre, Matigara in Siliguri to observe the UN sponsored International Year of Sanitation. Mrs Moni Thapa, sabhadhipati, Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad, inaugurated the programme. More than 100 students from several schools of Siliguri participated.

In her inaugural address, Mrs Thapa said that the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad would observe the year of sanitation in a big way. “We would leave no stone unturned to make the programme a success. We are stressing on sanitation and health awareness among the rural people,” she said.

Appreciating the NBSC for carrying out several programmes to make the pupils of the region science-conscious Mrs Thapa said that the positive outcome of the science awareness programmes round the year was being manifested in the collective life of north Bengal. “This development encourages us all to take up more formidable challenges in the direction of positively transforming the ignorance of rural life,” she said. In the same breath, however, Mrs Thapa expressed concern over lack of sanitation and hygiene awareness among a greater part of the rural people dwelling near the Siliguri city. “ It is embarrassing to notice such lack of sanitation and hygiene awareness among the rural populace within the Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad area,” she commented.They must convince their parents about the enormous advantages of having sanitary toilets,” Mrs Thapa said.

Sports museum languishes in neglect

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, July 29: It was once touted as one of the biggest attractions for tourists in north Bengal. But it is now one of the least visited places in the region.

Krira Dipti, the first-of-its kind sports museum in north Bengal, which was inaugurated by the former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly, his deputy, Rahul Dravid and cricketer Irfan Pathan on August 10, 2004, is today languishing in neglect.

Thanks to the failure of the Siliguri Stadium Committee, which is responsible for the management and maintenance of the 1400 square feet (approximately) gallery and generate interest among people in the museum’s exhibits, the Rs12 lac project of the Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority is crying for attention. The last time an item was added to the exhibits in the museum was on February 26, 2007, when Sourav Ganguly donated India’s cricket World Cup 2007 jersey, the gloves he used during the India-Sri Lanka One-Day Series in February 2007 and a replica of the trophy, which India had won in the series.

According to the ‘Krira Dipti,’ caretaker Mr Sushanta Kumar Das, there had been a drastic fall in the footfalls at the museum since February 2007. Das felt that a few attractive additions would restore the once-popular gallery to its former glory. However, the Siliguri mayor, Mr Bikash Ghosh, who is also secretary of the Siliguri Stadium Committee, ruled out any addition to the museum’s exhibits in the near future. He hoped the opening of the swimming pool near ‘Krira Dipti,’ which is under construction, would increase more people to the archive.

Jumbo found shot dead

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

The body of the female elephant. (Anirban Choudhury)

Phashkhawa Tea Estate, (Alipurduar), July 29: An adult female elephant was found shot dead in Phashkhawa Tea Estate under Buxa Tiger Reserve (East) Division this morning.

People who went to the forest for collecting firewood first spotted the body lying in Fuel Bari section under Hatipota beat, 42km from Alipurduar town. Forest officers suspect that the pachyderm had fallen to bullets fired by garden residents who were annoyed with frequent incursions into the habitat by elephants.

Three persons have been killed by wild elephants in the division in the past one week.

Many officers, including Koushik Choudhury, the additional divisional forest officer of Buxa Tiger Reserve (East) and Jayanto Mandal, the in-charge of Hatipota range, rushed to the spot after being informed about the incident.

An officer said the jumbo was part of a 12-member herd roaming in the area in the past few days. The veterinary surgeon, who conducted the post-mortem, said the animal had bled profusely and there were three-four injury marks on its chest.

The vet has collected body samples to be sent to the Regional Forensic Lab in Calcutta to confirm the cause of the death.

Suvankar Sengupta, the deputy field director of the division, said: “We have removed a few bullets used in country-made guns from the elephant’s legs. We checked the bullets and found that they were not the ones used by the forest department.” The officer was apparently pre-empting a possible imputation that the animal was shot dead by the guards.

Tea data a click away

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, July 29: For any person who is associated with the Siliguri Tea Auction Centre, information about the institution is just a click away.

The centre, which has 359 sellers, 397 buyers and nine brokers as members, launched its own website on July 26 when the 31st annual general meeting of the auction committee was held.

The website (www.siliguriteaauction.com) shows weekly auction prices, market report, events organised at the centre, rules for members and stakeholders’ contacts, to name a few.

“Our basic attempt is to disseminate all necessary information to the members and those who want to know the auction prices of different categories of tea and total sales,” S.K. Saria, former chairman of the Siliguri Tea Auction Committee (STAC), said today. He added that the site, developed by the Siliguri-based Techno Developers’ Group, would be updated regularly

The website would also provide information about weather, including forecasts for tea growing areas like Darjeeling, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Cooch Behar.

“There are interesting sections like details of the brew grown in north Bengal, history of the centre, photo gallery and information about tea tasting,” said Saria.

Bike with ‘GL’ plate seized

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Thapa with his motorcycle before the ‘GL’ number plate was removed. (Anirban Choudhury)

Alipurduar, July 29: Police today seized papers of the motorcycle of a Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leader in the Dooars for sporting “GL” on the number plate.

Madhukar Thapa, the Morcha convener in the Dooars, was stopped near Dalgaon railway station, while he was coming to Birpara around 11.30am. The police then removed the vehicle’s number plate.

The seizure was the first in north Bengal after the Morcha asked its supporters to replace the original number plates of their vehicles with “GL” (Gorkhaland).

Thapa, however, got his motorcycle back after the law enforcers completed the formalities according to the motor vehicles’ act.

Roshan Giri, the Morcha general secretary, said: “Writing GL on number plates is nothing but a protest against the Bengal government. At present, only the central committee members of the party are using GL on number plates, but in the coming days every member of the Morcha will use it. Even Thapa will again use GL on the number plate of his motor cycle,” Giri added.

The additional superintendent of police, S.R. Misra, said Thapa had registered his motorcycle in Bengal. “How can he use GL in place of WB (West Bengal). This is illegal. We have seized the papers according to Section 192 of the act. Prosecution against Thapa has started,” he added.

Ghisingh’s house taken over

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

A room at Lepcha Villa. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

Darjeeling, July 29: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has taken over Subash Ghisingh’s “palatial” two-storeyed house at his native village in Manju Tea Estate, around 15km from Mirik, and converted it into a unit office.

In the past three-four days, Morcha supporters have damaged and burnt down properties of GNLF leaders across the hills. The retaliatory attacks followed the incident on Friday in which a shot fired allegedly from Darjeeling GNLF president Deepak Gurung’s house killed a woman Morcha supporter, Pramila Sharma.

The Morcha leadership in Manju acted otherwise.

“Instead of vandalising Ghisingh’s house, Lepcha Villa, we decided to take it over. After all, the palatial building has been constructed with public money and now it rightfully belongs to the people. We took control of it on July 27,” said Roshan Thapa, the president of the Morcha’s Manju village unit.

Ghisingh has never spent a night at the “white palace” — as the villagers call the house — built in 1999-2000. The GNLF leader had shifted base to Dr Zakir Hussain Road in Darjeeling town ever since the start of the Gorkhaland movement in 1986.

Thapa claimed that a number of contractors had pooled money to build the house for Ghisingh even though he had left Manju by then. “We estimate that the total expenditure of the house has crossed Rs 50 lakh. That is why we believe this to be a public property, or else where did Ghisingh get the money to construct the building?” Thapa asked.

The keys of the house were with Ghisingh’s brother-in-law, K.P. Allay, who lives nearby. “When we asked for the keys, Allay promptly handed them over to us,” said Thapa.

Maichang Allay, Ghisingh’s sister, died in 2006. K.P. Allay, who was out “on an errand”, could not be contacted today, but his daughter-in-law, Satya Allay, agreed to talk.

Morcha flags flutter atop Lepcha Villa. Picture by Kundan Yolmo

“My father-in-law did give the keys after around 40-45 boys came to our house in a jeep and a lot of motorcycles. Did we have an option?” Satya asked.

The Morcha has taken over the entire house and put up its flags on the first-floor balcony. “Four rooms are being used as offices of the Morcha, Nari Morcha (women’s wing), Yuwa Morcha (youth wing) and the labour wing of the party,” said Thapa.

The rest of the three rooms will be used for “community purposes”, he added.

Ghisingh, who has been forced out of the hills and is currently staying in Siliguri, refused comment on the takeover of his house.

Monk on ‘democracy hunt’ – Lone rival MLA protests with torch, reminds House of Chamling

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

The Acharya at the news conference. (Prabin Khaling)

Gangtok, July 29: The torch replaced the candle in the hunt for democracy inside the Assembly here today as the lone Opposition member tried to turn the tables on the ruling Sikkim Democratic Front, more than 15 years after it had created a similar flutter in the same hall.

The leader of the Congress’s one-member legislature party, Acharya Tshering Lama, “searched” for democracy with a torchlight in one hand and a black flag in the other after he was not permitted to speak during the zero hour of the second day’s special sitting of the Assembly. The Acharya later walked out of the house.

On September 9, 1992 Pawan Chamling who is now the chief minister had created a flutter when he “searched for democracy” with a lighted candle to protest against the “autocratic government” of the then Nar Bahadur Bhandari-led Sikkim Sangram Parishad.

Chamling, who was a minister in the Bhandari cabinet, had rebelled against his leader. He formed the Sikkim Democratic Front in 1993, which came to power in 1994, shortly after the general elections.

Addressing reporters at the Congress Bhavan in Jeewan Theeng Marg, the Acharya who is a representative of the Sangha (monks’ body), said he had wanted to discuss the B.K. Roy Burman report on social and environmental sector policies, plans and programmes.

Three-gun theory in Friday firing death – 10 empty cartridges found

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

BY VIVEK CHHETRI

Gurung’s house that had been set on fire on Friday. Picture by Suman Tamang

Darjeeling, July 29: Preliminary investigations suggest that three different guns were used to fire at Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters on Friday, police sources have said.

The volley of bullets that had come raining down, allegedly from the house of GNLF branch committee president Deepak Gurung, had killed Pramila Sharma, a 38-year-old Morcha activist.

“We recovered three types of empty cartridges from Gurung’s residence which clearly suggest that three different weapons were used in the firing,” a police source said. The cartridges are of 9mm, 0.22mm and 0.32mm calibre bullets. So far, 10 empty cartridges have been recovered.

“These were found on the stairs that leads from the second to the third floor,” said the source. Pramila was killed in front of the second floor, the main entrance to Gurung’s house. Since the building is located on a slope, the ground and the first floors that have been let out are below the driveway aligned to Dr Zakir Hussain Road and can be accessed through a side entrance. The GNLF leader and his family occupy the second and third floors of the building.

Eyewitnesses had said the bullets had come in three bursts, suggesting the use of an automatic with 9mm bullets.

It is, however, not yet known which calibre bullet had hit Sharma as the post-mortem report says it had pierced and exited the deceased’s body.

Investigations suggest that there were “five-six” people at Gurung’s house when the firing took place. “We have got some names and are trying to trace them,” said the source.