Assam’s Son Rohit Sonar in Voice of India-2

FROM ASSAM TIMES

BY NANDA KIRATI DEWAN

NEWS SHARED Y K SHRESTHA

After Debojit Saha its now the turn of Sadiya boy Rohit Sonar who is all set to bring accolades to the state. Son of a high teacher and a nurse mother Rohit Sunar hails from Sadiya a small town in Tinsukia district of upper Assam who have craved a niche in the entertainment industry by entering into final twelve Bemishal Barah of Amul Star Voice of India-2 singing reality contest in Star Plus which is telecast on every Friday and Saturday at 10pm.

Sunar was recently in Sadiya for shooting footages of his place for Star Plus. Sadiya MLA constituency Bolen Chetiya arranged a hero’s welcome for the ASVOI contestant. He was escorted from Parghat by Rohit Sunar Fans’ Club and various social and students’ organization and felicitated him in a mass gathering program. Cycle, Motorcycle rally were seen Rohit in front that halted in Chapakhowa general field where the aspiring singer enthralled his fans and well wishers with varieties of songs. Later the crowd dropped Rohit to his house where his parents were made to speak about their child and ask the general people to vote for him.

Meanwhile campaign for Rohit is on full swing as various cultural and literature organizations, NGOs and social organizations have been engaged. Organizations and general people from the neighbouring state Arunachal Pradesh also attended the welcome rally and felicitated him. They wished his success in his endeavor and opined that it is a matter of pride of North East to be get recognition at the national level. Divang valley Idul-Missim Students Union promised to campaign for the rising singer.

Imansingh Chemjong at Kalimpong by Bairagi Kaila

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Chemjong’s Letter and Limbu Phonetics by Bairagi Kaila

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Indian Navy in Deep Waters

FROM BUSINESS WORLD By Jyoti thapa Mani

During the 1971 Indo-Pakistan war, a 21-year-old, anti-submarine frigate INS Khukri is torpedoed by the modern, French-made Pakistani submarine Hangor. Within minutes, she sinks off the coast of Kathiawar and 18 officers and 178 sailors are killed on the night of 9 December, just seven days after the third Indo-Pakistan war begins. The captain of Khukri, M. N. Mulla, chooses to go down with his ship.

Khukri and two sister ships Kirpan and Kuthar, second class anti-submarine frigates with short range sonars were to protect India’s west coast against Pakistan’s modern submarines. With Kirpan out of action due to a burst boiler, Khukri and Kuthar were supposed to be the ‘hunter killer force’ torpedo and submarine specialists. When Khukri was hit, she was within 2,500 metres of Hangor which has a 25,000-metre detection capability.

Was the sinking of the INS Khukri an institutional or personal failure? Why are we lagging behind in submarines design and manufacturing? The story draws attention to the drawbacks of the Indian Navy. Infantry man, Maj Gen (retd) Ian Carduzo, drives home the fact that India is 20 years behind in submarines technology. He also compares the principles of war in 1971 and today. Every tragedy has a human side to it, and Carduzo brings this out with accounts of survivors and family members of those who lost their lives with the Khukri. It seems Captain M.N. Mulla had a point to make as he smoked his last cigarette on the sinking bridge of the Khukri.

Battling Victors

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Chhetri strike takes India into final

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NEPAL AFTER MONARCHY IS AT RISK OF CIVIL STRIFE

FROM THE MINT

ARTICLE SHARED BY AARDEE

The monarch has been deposed and a republican president installed. The world applauds or is indifferent. Let me be the voice of dissent. Nepal is making a profound mistake. Fragile societies which have multiple fissures and fractures along ethnic, religious and social lines are far better off with a constitutional monarchy where the sovereign is a convenient and comfortable symbol transcending different groups within the country and providing a unifying symbol. By getting rid of the institution of monarchy, Nepal runs the risk of descending into chaos with endless fratricidal civil wars.

Remember Afghanistan had a king. It may not have been the greatest place to live, but at least there was a measure of peace, freedom and progress. The monarchy was eliminated and then began the long agony of the Afghan people who were now Khalq or Parcham supporters, Pusthuns, Tadzhiks or Hazaaras, but Afghans no longer. With all its faults, the existence of a constitutional monarchy would have enabled greater balance and harmony in a poor volatile country.

The British were (and hopefully still are) a clever people. The most sensible thing they did after the Cromwellian interregnum was the restoration of their monarchy. Once they had established that absolute monarchy was dead, they saw the value of a legitimate, symbolic head for the English people. Britain has retained an amazing stability as a society in substantial measure because of the continuance of the monarchy. France has seen several republics and more constitutions because after the revolution, they were unable and unwilling to have an act of healing which is implied by the word “restoration”. In Belgium, the only Belgian is the king. The rest are either Flems or Walloons and if it had become a republic, the country would have split long ago to the economic and social detriment of all its residents.

Home Rule!

Government of India official vehicles with GL registration plates in Kalimpong. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

GJM supporters pray at Tribeni for Gorkhaland

Photo by Himalaya Darpan

GJM’s Women Wing lays seize over District Court – accused feels threat to life

Gorkha Janmukti Nari Morcha’s relentless seize over the Darjeeling District Court lead to the police declaring its inability to produce the accused including Deepak Gurung, Aitraj Gurung among others at the Court. All the accused were to be produced before the Court and the hearing started. It means to be seen whether the blockade will lead to any hearing in the days to come.

Beijing Olympics is inaugurated

Indian Contingent at the Beijing Olympics. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

Maoists again fail to form consensus govt in Nepal

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

KATHMANDU: After the drubbing they received in the presidential election last month, Nepal’s former Maoist guerrillas suffered yet another setback on Friday when, for the second time this week, they failed to meet the deadline set by President Ram Baran Yadav for coming up with a consensus government.

Despite emerging as the largest party in the April election, the ex-insurgents failed to carry caretaker PM Girija Prasad Koirala’s Nepali Congress party along with them. Even after a marathon five-hour dialogue on Friday with the NC as well as the other major parties – the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist and the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum – Maoist chief Prachanda’s ambition to become the next PM of Nepal was destined to remain unfulfilled.

Though the parties said they would hold yet another round of parleys on Saturday, the indications are that the Maoists and Koirala may part ways now and both try to persuade the other parties to support them. With the failure to reach a consensus government, the president may now call Koirala, the leader of the second-largest party, to form the new government. The other option is that the newly elected constituent assembly, will now hold a vote to elect the new PM.

The failure is bound to alienate Maoist hardliners even more from India, whose pressure to form a consensus government with Koirala prevented the Maoists from pressing forward with a minority government they had planned.

Olympic protests held around the world

FROM GUARDIAN.CO.UK

By Jenny Percival and Elizabeth Stewart / Photograph: Binod Joshi/AP

Nepalese police detain a Tibetan protester near the Chinese consulate in Katmandu.

Human rights campaigners scaled up anti-China protests today with demonstrations around the world and an unauthorised broadcast from inside Beijing as the Olympic opening ceremony began.

While a heavy police presence ensured the streets of the host city remained calm, Chinese authorities were unable to stop the pirate radio transmission by media group Reporters Without Borders in the capital.

Using transmitters and a homemade antenna, the message, broadcast in Mandarin, English and French, urged the government to relax state control of the media and called for the release of imprisoned journalists.

Meanwhile, large protests were held in cities including London, Hong Kong, Delhi and Kathmandu.

In London, around 200 protesters converged on the Chinese Embassy in Portland Place, shouting anti-China slogans and waving “Free Tibet” placards.

Demonstrators from Tibet, Zimbabwe, Sudan and Burma joined forces to protest against human rights violations and China’s hosting of the Olympics.

Nepal Maoists fail to form government

FROM IANS

By Sudeshna Sarkar

Kathmandu, Aug 8 : Luck ran out for Nepal’s former Maoist rebels who after tasting victory in a 10-year guerrilla war and the election this year failed to win the support of the other major parties to form a new government Friday, the extended deadline for the task given to them by the president.

Even after a marathon five-hour negotiation with the three other major parties, the former guerrillas failed to reach an understanding on power-sharing, deepening the protracted political crisis.

There was no immediate official statement on what would happen now.

The failure to cobble a consensus government is likely to lead to a vote in the newly -elected constituent assembly where the party that can garner simple majority can now lay claim to power.

However, the Maoists said they would hold another round of dialogue with the parties Saturday in a last-ditch attempt to hammer out an understanding.

The failure to reach an understanding Friday stems from the Maoists’ duel for power with caretaker Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and his Nepali Congress (NC) party, with both sides trying to woo the other parties to cobble a majority government.

Maoist supremo Prachanda, who is staking claim to the prime ministership after his party’s surprise victory in the constituent assembly election, this week failed to meet the Tuesday deadline given by President Ram Baran Yadav to name a new government.

Though the former guerrillas have an uneasy alliance with the other communist parties, including the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (UML), the third-largest party in Nepal, they can’t head the new government unless they win over Koirala and his party, which is the second-largest.

NEPAL: Strikes and blockades hitting livelihoods

FROM IRIN ASIA

August 2008 (IRIN) – Daily wage labourer Krishna Rai is reeling under severe financial hardship as frequent strikes in his area result in market shutdowns and road blockades.

“What are poor people like me supposed to do? How can we survive if this situation goes on?” asked Rai, frustrated over the impact of the ongoing strikes on poor Nepalese like him – most of whom depend on subsistence income to support their families.

Rai travelled for more than 12 hours by bus to Kathmandu from Jhapa District, nearly 400km southeast of the capital, where he hoped for a regular income as a labourer on a new housing complex.

However, between 1 July and 8 August, the economy and daily lives have been disrupted by more than 20 strikes and road blockades in various parts of the Himalayan nation by 10 different groups – including armed groups, political parties, student unions, the business community, medical workers, transport associations and indigenous ethnic organisations, according to daily media reports.

Since January there have been more than 100 strikes by 20 different groups.

Bhattarai clarifies he is not a RAW agent

FROM ANI

Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) parliamentary party deputy leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai has refuted media reports that claimed that he has clandestine links with some foreign power centres.

Kathmandu, Aug 8 : Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) parliamentary party deputy leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai has refuted media reports that claimed that he has clandestine links with some foreign power centres.

Nepalese media reports said that Dr. Bhattarai has close links with the Indian establishment more so, India’s intelligence agency RAW (Research and Analysis Wing) which was pressurising the Maoists paraphernalia to elevate Bhattarai as the Nepal’s Prime Minister in place of Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the Maoists’ party chief.

The Maoists’ ideologue said that “the media reports were aimed at assassinating his character and aimed at maligning his nationalist credentials.”

“I have throughout my political career dedicated myself to the broader communist unity and believed that only with the Communists, Nationalists and the Republicans in Nepal coming to a single front the country’s socio-economic uplift were possible,” Bhattarai said.

“I deplore the sponsored activities that are only aimed at dividing the communists in several fronts,” the Telegraph Nepal quoted him, as saying.

Tibetans in India, Nepal protest ‘blood’ Olympics

FROM REUTERS

BY BABBA MAJUMDAR

NEW DELHI - Police detained hundreds of angry Tibetan refugees who tried to storm a Chinese consular office in Kathmandu on Friday as protests in India and Nepal grew hours before the Olympic Games open in Beijing.

In New Delhi, nearly 3,000 Tibetans shouting anti-China slogans braved heavy rains to protest near India’s parliament against the Olympics being staged by China.

“China is not the right place to hold Olympics, it is a blood Olympics, it is a shame Olympics,” shouted Kalsang Tsering, a Tibetan protester.

But a small Chinese immigrant community in the eastern city of Kolkata celebrated the Olympics with a dragon dance and feasts. Many in the city’s Chinatown watched the opening on special giant screens.

“We are having a grand feast for 1,200 people after the opening ceremony,” said Chen Khir Kui, a Chinese businessman.

In Kathmandu, Nepali police detained more than 1,300 Tibetan refugees who tried to storm a Chinese consular office.

“We want that the Tibetans should stop protesting, taking into consideration the long-lasting relations of friendship with China,” Nepali Home Ministry spokesman Modraj Dotel told Reuters.

The protests came as thousands of performers readied in Beijing for the opening of the Games at eight minutes past 8 p.m. on the eighth day of the eighth month – the number symbolizing fortune – before an estimated global audience of 1 billion.

In India’s capital, angry Tibetan exiles and monks scuffled with police as they were stopped from getting close to the parliament building.

“Stop the Olympics, China is no place to stage it,” Jampa Lobsang, a Tibetan monk dressed in maroon robes, said as hundreds of protesters dressed in yellow and green “Free Tibet” t-shirts stamped on posters of Chinese President Hu Jintao.

Till death do us part: serial killer finds love with translator

FROM THE INDEPENDENT

By Andrew Buncombe

Charles Sobhraj after his hearing at Supreme Court in Katmandu, Nepal last year. [Photo 2] Sobhraj is led to Tihar Prison in New Delhi in 1977

Invitations have yet to be sent, the wedding band has not been booked. But inside a Nepalese prison cell measuring less than 10ft across, what must qualify as one of the more unlikely of marriages is actively being planned. [Miss Nihita Biswas]

The groom-to-be is Charles Sobhraj, a 64-year-old French citizen nicknamed “The Serpent”. This convicted, self-confessed killer has been blamed for perhaps as many as 20 deaths, is the subject of several books and a full-length movie, is a veteran of South Asia’s jails and is a twice-married womaniser. Now, as he appeals against his conviction by a Kathmandu court, he is planning to marry a Nepalese woman 44 years his junior.

Sobhraj has become engaged to Nihita Biswas, who was hired by his lawyer to work as a translator. She insists it was love at first sight and that neither their age difference or her fiancé’s conviction should stand as a bar to their happiness. “We are planning a future after his release. We know he is going to be released soon. We are going to be married under French law in France,” Miss Biswas, 20, said at the weekend. “I am mature enough to decide for myself. Age does not make a difference.”

It is difficult to know where to begin the twisting and near-incredible story of Charles Sobhraj, who was born to a Vietnamese mother and Indian father in what was then Saigon. He was later adopted by his mother’s second husband, a French officer during the colonial occupation. His link with Nepal dates back to December 1975, when he was being pursued for the murder of two backpackers. Remarkably, Nepali police were ordered to wait in the lobby of their suspect’s hotel for two days rather than ignore the “Do Not Disturb” sign he had hung from his door. Taking advantage of the police’s extraordinary deference to wealthy foreign tourists, Sobhraj and his then Canadian girlfriend, Marie-Andrée Leclerc, escaped. They had already slipped into India by the time officers broke down the door of their hotel room.

Gardner-Webb University B.E.S.T. Program

FROM THE STAR

BOILING SPRINGS – The Godbold School of Business at Gardner-Webb University hosted the third annual Bringing Executives and Students Together (B.E.S.T.) Program Monday through Thursday this past week. [Inset: Gardner-Webb University B.E.S.T. Program]

Representatives of local businesses, organizations and government agencies met with students and spoke about business and the importance of focus and drive.

“It is always a great honor to welcome such a panel of leaders to speak to the children,” said dean of the Godbold School of Business, Anthony Negbenebor. “This annual event is very dear to us because it allows Gardner-Webb to give back to its surrounding communities. But more importantly, the program educates and opens these children’s eyes on how things are processed and organized around them in reality.”

The high school students were taught the techniques and principles of self-conduct and management. Presentation topics went beyond business as Rotary Club members Renee Ybarra and Connie Greene spoke of the hardships in India and divinity professor Don Berry spoke of thinking globally and opening up to other cultures.

Good news for diabetics – GFPF offers sugar free organic drinks

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

BY SHIVADEEP RAI

Singtam: Taking into account the diabetic scenario of Sikkim, Government Fruit Preservation Factory, (GFPF), Singtam, launched organic sugar free Pear Fruit Drink, Passion Fruit Drink, Orange Fruit Drink and Ginger Drink in 200 ml bottle on August 7. All the drinks are RTS (ready to serve) drinks which can be consumed directly without addition of water. Other new products, namely, Aakashey Chilli with curd and Pear Squash were simultaneously launched on the day. Many more are in the pipeline, it is learnt.

The RTS drinks will be available in the market with GFPF’s brand name ‘Sikkim Supreme’ at the rate of Rs 15 per 200 ml bottle. The Pear Squash would be available for Rs 43 per 700 ml bottle and Aakashay chilli can be obtained at Rs 10 per pouch.

GFPF has acquired 4.5 metric tonnes of Aakashay chilli from Zoom till date for producing different products. Pears are being obtained from Kabrey, Sadam, Burmeik and Soreng in Sikkim. GFPF has also utilized tomatoes in bulk to produce different tomato products like tomato juice (RTS), tomato chilli sauce ‘Chatak Matak’, tomato chutney and hot and sweet tomato ketchup with dallae flavor, which are already in the market. About 30 metric tonnes tomato were procured from Sadam, Daramdin and Tashiding.

I-Day soccer tourney takes off in South

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

BY PRAKASH CHETTRI

Namchi: The much awaited Independence Day Football Tournament of South District was kicked off at Baichung Stadium here on Thursday. Attractive cash prizes – Rs. 1 Lakh to the winner and Rs. 50,000 to the runner up – has made the tourney more interesting and the enthusiasm was seen during the inaugural matches.

The opening match of the tournament was between Friends XI, Gangtok, and United XI, Namchi. The match became totally one sided and the Namchi team fully dominated the game. Eventually, Friends XI were crushed by United XI by a humiliating margin of 9 goals to nil. With this victory Namchi’s United XI became the first team to enter the Quarter Final of the tourney which they will play on 9th August 2008 against Classic XI. Among the scorers of Namchi were Santosh (no. 11), CB Thapa (12), Abhisek (9), G. Gosh (7) and Robert (10).

Another match of the inaugural day was played between New Light Academy, Namchi and Joss – On XI, Pabong. Unlike the first match this was a contesting one and players of both the team played a skillful game. The 90-minute match ended goalless and the decision was made finally through penalty shoot out. In tie breaker Joss-On XI won the match scoring 3-1 and entered the Quarter Final round. They will play their next match against Tarun Khelkud Sangh, Darjelling, on 9th August 2008. Friday’s fixture is SAI Namchi versus Sinolchu Namchi and Kamrang XI versus Lolu Sporting Club, Darjelling

Balanced development for blissful life: CM

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

By DB RAI

Gangtok: “Ours is the first government that has introduced modern education of subjects like environment science, biotechnology, among others, in the colleges and university of the state and, at the same time, our government has emphasized on preservation of local language, culture and tradition”, said Chief Minster Dr. Pawan Chamling in his address after inaugurating Bhutia Kay Rab Yargay Tshypoi Khimchin, a literary and cultural house of Bhutia community, at SNT complex on Thursday. He further said he is the “Chief Minister of all communities” and a chief minister should not be bias towards any person or community. Mentioning erection of the statue of Chogyal King P.T.Namgyal, Chief Minister said,”Elsewhere in the world, people break the statue of kings whereas, being a democrat I am erecting one by one the statue of Kings, to preserve the culture and history of Sikkim”.

He assured that he would erect a grand statue of Chamrezey, a guardian deity of Bhutia community in West District very soon. Referring to preachings of Lord Budha, CM said “the main purpose of life is to know the mystery of life; wealth alone is not the success index of life; a balanced development, material and spiritual, is needed for a blissful life; so I want Sikkim to be developed not only in infrastructure and economy but also in mental and spiritual level that make a person happy”.

Three-storied building collapse in Gyalshing

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GYALSHING, August 07: A three-storied building collapsed here last night leaving most of the residents tense. The fateful incident occurred at Gyalshing-Pelling road.

As per the information, the building belonging to one DB Siktel had developed cracks and was evacuated few days back. Talking with SIKKIM EXPRESS over the phone this morning, the Disaster Project Officer, Gyalshing, Jigme Bhutia informed that due to collapse of the structure, vehicular movement has been disrupted affecting the traffic at large between Gyalshing and Pelling.

Nearly 14 families residing in nearby areas have been evacuated from the place, he said.  It has also been reported that the major landslide, which occurred last night at Tikjuk has swept away nearly five acres cardamom field of a farmer. Tourists visiting Pelling have also been affected.

According to the DPO, the only kucha road leading to Gyalshing has also been blocked.  “We had a problem in removing the debris as no one was willing to give permission to dump the mud in their fields, Mr Bhutia said.

SPCC condemns disruption of GJM signature campaign

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 07: The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) convened an emergency meeting at its head office here today to deliberate upon the situation arising out of what it calls “the undemocratic treatment meted out to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) party workers and supporters” here in the Capital today.

According to a press release issued by Kunga Nima Lepcha, SPCC, general secretary (press and media), the GJM party workers and supporters were organizing “a signature campaign at Gangtok and were making general public of Sikkim aware of the constitutional, democratic demands of the Morcha for the creation of their own State and to safeguard their identity.”

The release also informed that without any provocation or breach of law and order, the State Police reportedly seized their anchor-sheets containing signatures and the pamphlets despite this assembly was informed to the concerned State authorities.

SPCC has further ridiculed the “act of the SDF Government in “obstructing” the “peaceful conduct of the GJM’s demands in a Gandhian way”. Members of the SPCC also said that the SDF Government will be solely responsible for the sufferings and hardships of the innocent people of Sikkim in the event the GJM takes recourse to closure of National Highway 31A.

NEDFi on new growth path, completes 13 years of incorporation

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 08: North eastern Development Finance Corporation Limited (NEDFi), the development Bank of the North East has completed 13 years of incorporation today.  Registered as a Company with its Regd. office at Guwahati, NEDFi has an authorized capital of Rs. 500 crore.

According to a press release, the NEDFi family has grown to seven branch offices in all State Capitals of the North Eastern region, three representative offices (New Delhi, Tinsukia and Kokrajhar) and three information entres (Silchar, Sibsagar and Kohima).

Going back to its establishment, it was in 1994 that Dr. I K Barthakur Committee on Industrial Development of North East suggested for a separate bank for North Eastern Region, after which Dr. Manmohan Singh in his budget speech 1995-96, conceived formation of a North East Development Bank. NEDFi thus came into being in August 1995 and its business commenced in February 1996.

In living up to its expectations of playing the key role as a development bank for the North East region, the Corporation has continually sustained the growth in business and reached new heights in key parameters such as gross income, profits, sanctions, disbursements and the number of borrowers as at the end of March 2008. Out of the 34 sectors financed by the Corporation, the maximum recovery has been from the industries engaged in capital goods, ferro-alloy, industrial gases, power, all at 100%, followed by contract finance (99.99%), cement (99.03%), iron & steel (98.81%), real estate (98.66%), coke (96.32%), petroleum products (94.79%) and hotels (90.99%).

The release also says that the Corporation is committed to promote the North East economy and has laid stress to widen the development options, encourage entrepreneurial activity and support the vulnerable and sensitive sections of society by financing their viable business needs.