GJM is running a parallel Government for Gorkhaland

CLICK ON THE SCANNED COPY TO ENLARGE

COPY SCANNED AND SHARED BY AARDEE

Images of Gorkhas and Gorkha Culture

Missionary schools in Sikkim remain closed

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Gangtok, Aug 29 (PTI) The Christian missionary schools in Sikkim today remained closed for the day in protest against the violence on the Christians in Orissa’s Kandhamal district earlier this week.

The police said schools like St Thomas’, Don Bosco, St Joseph and other missionary schools remained closed for the day after the school authorities had declared an unscheduled holiday today, school sources said.

The students were not told about the reasons behind the closure of the schools, sources said, adding that the decision was taken in compliance with the directive of top missionary authorities. PTI KDK AMD DD 08291507 DEL

Mizoram schools protest attack on Christians

Car lifters in Northeast form Vehicle Kidnapping Association

FROM PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Shillong, Aug 29 (PTI): Strange though it may seem, car lifters in the Northeast have formed an association – Motor Vehicle Kidnapping Association – setting the police on its trail.

The association with its headquarters in Shillong is spread all over the Northeast including Ladrymbai, Karimganj, Silchar, Tezpur, Hojai, Nagoan, Patharkandi, Anitpur, Ratabari and parts of Mizoram, superintendent of police M K Singh said.

Before the police began its search for the car thieves, it was the Khasi Students Union which carried out overnight raids at Ladrymbai and Khliehriat in the Jaintia Hills district of Meghalaya last Monday and apprehended six of them.

They were handed over to the police. The very next day the police arrested the main gang leader Abdul Fateh.

Mobile phones, daggers and a piece of paper, inscribed with the name of the association, were seized from the possession of the gang-members who were identified as Lias Mia, Govin Chetri, Sunil Barman and Pradip Kalita all from Assam, Sonu Tamang Nongrum of Pynursla and Plom Bareh of Mynkre, Khliehriat Pohsh Nong.

Cabinet to moot sammanpatras for freedom fighters

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

New Delhi, August 28: The UPA government is all set to start distributing “sammanpatras” to freedom fighters. A proposal to this effect, moved by the Home Ministry, is likely to come up for approval at the Union Cabinet meeting tomorrow.

The distribution of the sammanpatras is likely to be launched on October 2, when Rahul Gandhi will be launching the Congress’s “aam admi ke sipahi” to spread awareness about the Centre’s achievements at the grassroot level.

The Home Ministry pointed out that Indira Gandhi had started the scheme of distributing “tamrapatras” to freedom fighters in 1972. The government had originally planned to revive the tamrapatras scheme itself. But with the designs of the new inscriptions not fitting the bill, the Ministry decided to get it converted into sammanpatras.

The sammanpatras, on an acrylic sheet with wooden frame having steel ‘lipi’ with 22 carat gold plating, will be distributed to all freedom fighters who are recipients of the central samman pensions. While their number stood at about 1.7 lakh in 1980, the current pension outgo indicates their number to be between 30,000 to 40,000. The government hopes to locate about 20,000 pensioners to distribute the sammanpatras.

The Cabinet may also take up a proposal for upgrading about two dozen posts in the MEA. This includes upgrading three joint secretary level posts to additional secretary at the headquarters in Delhi and 16 at the missions abroad.

Tawang monastery seeks World Heritage tag

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

By Samudra Gupta Kashyap

Tawang, August 28 : Arunachal Pradesh has requested the Centre to take up a case with UNESCO for granting a World Heritage Site status to the magnificent Buddhist monastery here, which is also one of the biggest such monasteries in the world.

While the monastery authorities have pressed Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu to take up the issue, the latter is understood to have already written to the ASI as well as the Prime Minister for making an official move.

“This monastery not only has a rich heritage, but also has a rich collection of artefacts which together make it a fit case for inclusion in the World Heritage Site list,” Guru Tulku Rimpoche, the Chief Rimpoche or abbot of the monastery, said. While the picturesque Tawang monastery was founded by Mera Lama Lodre Gyasto and became functional in 1681 during the time of the fifth Dalai Lama. The sixth Dalai Lama was born here in Tawang, the Rimpoche said.

Roots Gatherer

FROM INDIAN EXPRESS

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

29 Aug, 2008: Fortunes have a propensity to swiftly change sides. And what seems to be the given order of things can swiftly come to be transformed. Witness the heartburn in India when news emerged that the new Nepali Prime Minister, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, was headed to Beijing instead of paying obeisance to New Delhi first.

If there’s one thing we haven’t yet gotten used to in our neighbourhood, it’s the sudden and complete transformation within Nepal. We were quite happy while we could treat Nepal like a province, a wee bit like a colony, and while their leaders would first and foremost be careful about our big brotherly concerns.

It was quite all right as long as the image of ordinary Nepalis only meant thinking of a pliable servant at home. Things were just fine as long as we could head up there without any restriction and virtually run the economy. Until the Maoists came along.

It is as if Nepal has discovered a new identity, an ability to stand up and speak for itself. After dumping the monarchy, which again irked us as the kings were quite part of our own royal families,the new Nepal now seems like it wants to talk on equal terms.

Roots Gatherer – Tenzing Palzor

COPY SCANNED AND SHARED BY AARDEE

How to be happy and stress free: Workshop

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Namchi: A day-long workshop on Stress Management, Drug Addiction and Alcoholism was organized held at Namchi Community Centre by South District Police in collaboration with Brahma Kumari Raj Yog Meditation Centre, Namchi, for the students, Youths and the Police personnel of this district town and its surroundings. Resource persons for the workshop were Deo Raj Bhaiji from Darjeeling and Sister Sonam from Gangtok.

The programme was attended by South District Police Officials, Teachers of participating schools and devotees of Brahma Kumari centre. The day’s programme started with the welcome address of SP South, GK Verma. He said the youths of our present society were following the wrong path of drug abusement and alcoholism and it was the duty of each and every citizen to eradicate such things from the society. Sister Sandhya of Brahma Kumari gave an introductory talk highlighting the beneficial programmes of Brahma Kumari Raj Yoga Meditation. Resource Person Deo Raj Bhaiji stressed on the impact and the causes of Alcoholism and Drug Abusement among the people and especially among the youth.

China’s agent CPM don’t want India to move ahead: Congress

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Kolkata: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi alleged that the CPM was against the Indo-US nuclear deal because it did not want India to have an edge over China. “The CPM does not want India to go for the nuclear deal. But they do not have any objection to China going for the deal. Can they not be called agents?” Dasmunsi said at the 55th anniversary celebration of Chhatra Parishad, the student wing of Congress.

Recalling that the CPM had opposed the move by the Rajiv Gandhi government to introduce computers in the country, Dasmunshi said the CPM-led government in West Bengal was now wooing IT companies in the state.

“The CPM has opposed India signing the GATT treaty and inclusion in the WTO. Now, even China has entered WTO and wants most favoured nation status from the US,” he said, adding that since inclusion in the WTO, India’s exports had increased by 12 times and was the second largest in the world after Japan.

Asserting that the nuke deal was absolutely necessary to meet India’s energy requirement by 2012, he said the deal had been struck with the US after some scouting as it was found to have the required technology. “Does the deal mean that we cannot make nuclear bombs? The answer is, we can. No one can influence our military strategy. The only condition is that we cannot send our reactors to any other country,” he said.

Pandit Nehru in Darjeeling Hills

A rousing reception was accorded to the Prime Minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, at a number of villages on his way from Darjeeling to Gangtok, the villages on his way from Darjeeling to Gangtok, the capital of Sikkim, which he visited in the last week of April, 1952. Photo shows a group of villagers welcoming the Prime Minister at a village on his way to Gangtok. The Prime Minister is seen garlanding a small village girl.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru addressing the people at Darjeeling

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India addressing a public meeting in the Darjeeling, during his visit on April 26, 1952. [Photo Division, Government of India]

GJM unit formed at Mamhila

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

RANGPO, August 28: Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) party is actively spreading its wings along the NH 31 A by roping in the people along the highway into the party.

Several committees, sub committees and Nari Morchas have been formed along the NH 31 A by GJM.

A similar exercise was held today at Mamhila, 6 kms away from Rangpo in Kalimpong where a meeting was held under the chairmanship of former Panchayat Purna Bahadur Tamang.

A Committee of Mamkhola GJMM Sub-Branch was also formed under the Presidentship of Namgyal Sherpa.

The newly committee consist of Rajen Manger, Vice-President, Hem Kumar Mangar-Secretary, Lakpa Tamang-Joint Secretary, Tilak Mangar-Cashier, Three active members named Nima Sherpa, Kishore Manger, Nar Bahadur Managar and Man Bahadur Mangar, Ram Bahadur Mangar and Bal Bahadur Mangar as a Advisors.

Dhirdham Temple, Darjeeling1952

Photo Division, Govt. of India

Drug shipment into Sikkim busted at Rangpo

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY SANJAY AGARWAL

Rangpo, August 28: Rangpo Police today prevented a large consignment of banned drug substances from being shipped into the State.

A total of 2296 capsules of Spasmo Proxyvon and 200 tablets of N-10 were recovered from three youths by Rangpo Police who were trying to slip into the State with these drugs.

They were travelling in a taxi vehicle (WB 73A-0595) from Siliguri to Gangtok. At Rangpo check post, their general behaviour and outlook aroused suspicious from the Police.

During the subsequent checking, the police came across the drugs hidden in a bag belonging to the youths. The drugs were seized and the youths, Ganesh Chettri (Tadong), Solomon Tamang (Development Area) and Bijoy Rai (Dajey Dara, Gangtok) were arrested and booked under Sikkim Anti-Drugs Act, 2006.

The seized drugs are worth over Rs.20,000 in the grey market of Sikkim. As per sources, the actual cost of one tablet of Spasmo Proxyvon is Rs.1.88 paise and Rs.2.20 paise for N-10 tablet in Siliguri. But once it cross into Sikkim, the prices of each tablet reaches Rs.10.

21st National Photo Contest

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 28 (IPR): The 60th United Nations General Assembly has declared 2008 as the International Year of Planet Earth. Observance of The Year of Planet Earth will go a long way in not only in engaging peoples’ imaginations but also enhancing their knowledge about our Planet. It will also enable them to use this knowledge to make the earth safer, healthier and wealthier place for our children, grandchildren and their grandchildren.

The Photo Division Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has also decided to conduct its 21st National Photo Contest on the theme “Life and Environment” as its small contribution.

There will be two sections of the Contest, one for black and white photos and the other for colour photos. Participants may send a maximum number of four photographs of sizes between 12X15″ to 16X20″ to the Director, Photo Division, Soochna Bhavan, C.G.O. Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110 003.

The last date of submission of the entries is 5th September 2008. The Division has raised the award money this year. The first prize will now be of Rs. 25,000/- second prize Rs. 20,000/- and third prize Rs. 15,000/-. The commendation award has also been enhanced to Rs. 5,000/-. The cash award will be accompanied by a plaque and citation. Details of the terms and conditions are available in the website www.photodivision.gov.in

Sikkim-Bhutan route study trip in Sept

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK, August 28: Officials from Centre and Sikkim governments are slated to undertake a recee of a potential alternative highway for the State through its Himalayan neighbour of Bhutan this September. Chief Minister Pawan Chamling had earlier made a proposal for the trans-nation alternative highway to Union Ministry of Transport to ease out the landlocked State from its sole dependability on the its lifeline NH 31 A.
The proposal was an alternative highway either through Nepal or Bhutan for Sikkim bypassing the politically and naturally troublesome areas of Darjeeling hills.

Out of this, the Bhutan alignment was found feasible by the Union Ministry through Eastern Sikkim. The frequent blockades of NH 31 A had prompted Sikkim to propose to the Centre for an alternative highway route from Bhutan.

NH 31 A, a tenuous 5-meter wide highway is the only connectivity link of Sikkim with the rest of the country. The highway often remains closed to traffic either due to bandhs called by protestors of various groups or landslides. The most recent instance was the blockade imposed by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in July.

With no railhead or airport, the state’s infrastructure is heavily hemmed in by the 41-km NH 31A from Siliguri to Gangtok. Sikkim shares a sensitive international border with China, making connectivity a critical concern.

Now, the Union Ministry has outlined the preliminary plans and a tour of the potential route for Sikkim via Bhutan is set on the first week of Bhutan.

Rash of landslides in Ranka – 25 families shifted, Luing Tami Dara GPU cut off

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

BY HOMNATH DAVARI

GANGTOK, August 28: Around 300 families from Luing Tami Dara GPU under Ranka constituency have been delinked from rest of the State as its two approach roads have been wiped out by raging streams fed by incessant rainfalls yesterday night.

The affected villages are Chanrang, Tami Dara and Bhutia Gaon where sporadic landslides of various degrees spread like a rash yesterday night resulting in heavy loss of private and public property. Twenty five families have been directed by the East District administration to evacuate to safer locations.

According to Ranka BDO Urvashi Poudyal, 25 families of the GPU have to be shifted to safer locations. She had conducted a recce of the affected villages today. The families have been advised to shift and an amount of Rs. 1000 was handed to each family as an immediate relief, she told SIKKIM EXPRESS.

The village people have been left traumatized overnight slides. They also fear the possibility of further slides as it has been raining nonstop.

Though they have no other options but to shit to other locations, the villagers are facing problems on how to manage their cattle. We just cannot leave our animals like this dangerous position and shifting them cannot be done immediately, the villagers of the GPU said.

Images from Darjeeling

Spices being sold at Darjeeling

Ramakrishna Sikcha Parishad Higher Secondary Boys line up for Morning Prayer

Photos by Tor Lundgren

“Those attending the Tripartite Meeting should be asked to categorically reject Sixth Schedule,” Madan Tamang

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY

Darjeeling, 29 August: No vehicles from plains plied to Darjeeling Hills in the last 48 hours. The Siliguri based Darjeeling District Taxi and Private Car Drivers Association has stopped all plains based vehicles from plying to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik. These vehicles was involved in transporting people and goods to the Hills Towns. According to conservative estimates more than 500 plains based vehicles remained off the Hill route.

Sandeep Chatterjee, secretary of the association’s Air View Crossing Unit said, “Until and unless the situation comes by to normal and our drivers are not harassed, we will not send any vehicles from the plains to the Hills. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha cadres are forcefully blackening the West Bengal registration numbers and asking us to put Gorkhaland vehicle registration numbers. How is it possible for us? We are not from Darjeeling Hills. This type of unprovoked harassment must stop.”

“Those attending the Tripartite Meeting should be asked to categorically reject Sixth Schedule,” Madan Tamang

Darjeeling, 29 August: “We will only consider attending the Tripartite Meeting at New Delhi after receiving an invitation from the Central Government,” said Madan Tamang, President of All India Gorkha League. It may be noted that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) President, Bimal Gurung had said that representatives from all pro-Gorkhaland parties, minorities and adhivasis would be part of the GJM delegation at the Tripartite Meeting. While letter of invitation to the Tripartite Meeting has been received by GJM, no other parties have been approached so far.

No Vehicles from plains ply to Darjeeling Hills

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY (with inputs from Abhinav Ghosh)

Kolkota TV car’s WB vehicle registration number blackened

Darjeeling, 29 August: No vehicles from plains plied to Darjeeling Hills in the last 48 hours. The Siliguri based Darjeeling District Taxi and Private Car Drivers Association has stopped all plains based vehicles from plying to Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, Mirik. These vehicles was involved in transporting people and goods to the Hills Towns. According to conservative estimates more than 500 plains based vehicles remained off the Hill route.

Sandeep Chatterjee, secretary of the association’s Air View Crossing Unit said, “Until and unless the situation comes by to normal and our drivers are not harassed, we will not send any vehicles from the plains to the Hills. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha cadres are forcefully blackening the West Bengal registration numbers and asking us to put Gorkhaland vehicle registration numbers. How is it possible for us? We are not from Darjeeling Hills. This type of unprovoked harassment must stop.”

Darjeeling District CPIM welcomes tripartite meeting

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY (with inputs from Abhinav Ghosh)

Siliguri, 28 August: Darjeeling District Committee of Communist Party of India Marxist (CPIM) has welcomed the 8^th October Tripartite Meeting to be held in New Delhi. The Tripartite Meeting has been called by the Central Government to discuss on the issues vexing Darjeeling Hills. [Inset: CPIM Darjeeling District Committee members briefing the press]

Speaking to the press, West Bengal CPIM State Committee member Jibesh Sarkar said, “The problems vexing Darjeeling Hills can only be solved through negotiation and discussion. We are not in favour of the division of state. We were instead in favour of a powerful autonomous administration.”

When asked about his reaction to the Home Rule movement initiated by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the hills, he said, “I suggest that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha refrains itself from violating the law and spreading violence in the hills, if it is to be taken seriously as a political force. It should also refrain from forcibly enforcing GL registration numbers and socially boycotting opposition leaders and supporters. And if this continues there could be chances that the tripartite meeting may be not fruitful. GJM must come to the table with an open mind. GJM leaders must also keep up with their responsibility as a political party.”

Sarkar further added, “Gorkha National Liberation Front had won the Council elections and hence been bestowed with the reigns of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council. But their failure ultimately led to their ouster. Similarly, Gorkha Janmukti Morcha must also participate in elections to be able to be bestowed with authority.”

Hundreds still missing from Nepal war: Red Cross

FROM THE PENINSULA: QATAR

KATHMANDU • Nepal’s new government must investigate the fate of hundreds of people still missing in Nepal despite the end of a civil war with Maoist rebels, the International Committee of the Red Cross said yesterday.

A 2006 peace deal between the government and the Maoists ended a decade-long conflict against the monarchy and the former rebels are now heading a coalition government after their surprise victory in a constituent assembly election in April.

During the war, which caused more than 13,000 deaths since 1996, both government troops and the rebels were accused by rights groups of human rights abuses including killings, arbitrary arrests and kidnappings.

Mary Werntz, head of the Red Cross delegation in Nepal, said at least 1,227 families had sought the help of the Geneva-based agency for information about their loved ones.

“They face the ongoing pain of not knowing if their loved one is dead or alive and, if dead, in which circumstances he or she died,” Werntz told reporters on the eve of Saturday’s International Day of the Disappeared.

Prachanda’s China trip ‘costly’

FROM GULF TIMES

Kathmandu: Nepal’s first Maoist Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda’s China visit has proved costly for the cash-strapped Himalayan republic, causing it financial, economic and diplomatic losses.

Barring a meagre $300,000 flood assistance from the Chinese government, the Maoist leader has returned home on Wednesday not just empty-handed but also shrunk in stature and having ruffled its other giant neighbour India in the bargain.

On Saturday, Prachanda led an 11-member delegation to Beijing on an “informal” visit, ostensibly to attend the closing ceremony of the Olympic Games.

Though pleased that the revolutionary chose to break with the tradition of Nepal’s prime ministers visiting India first, the protocol-bound Chinese government declined Nepal’s suggestion to give the virtually impromptu visit additional depth.

Pro-Tibet activists chant slogans during a protest rally outside the Chinese embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal

BBC Photo