KALIMPONG PRESS CLUB ON THE THRESHOLD OF A DECADE OF DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE PUBLIC

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON [BEACON ONLINE] EXCLUSIVE

BY BARUN ROY

DARJEELING: Kalimpong Press Club,  a registered body will be celebrating 10 years of its dedicated service to the people of Kalimpong.  The 10th Foundation Day celebration is on the 16th of November 2008, which is also the National Press Day. A function will be organised at Ramakrishna Rangamanch, Kalimpong. Kalimpong Press Club has instituted ‘Kaleybung Ratna Puraskar’. According to Kalimpong Press Club communique, “The objective behind the initiation of this award is to encourage and honour distinguished persons of Kalimpong Subdivision who have contributed in the field of Adventure (including rescue), Agriculture (all allied fields), Sports and Athletics, Business, Education, Environment, Literature, Journalism (Print and Electronic), Polictics (Creative Politics), Profession, Social Service, Health Service, Medical Science and Research / Studies etc.  Three persons with outstanding achievements in any of the above mentioned fields will be awarded the Kaleybung Ratna Puraskar every year on the occasion of the Club’s Foundation Day. The Award will include a memento, angavastra (shawl) and a citation.”

To begin with Kalimpong Press Club has decided to honour three prominent figures this year in the fields of Adventure, Agricultural Development and Sports. For this purpose a six member nomination committee consisting of two Life Members from the Club and four other prominent citizens of Kalimpong has already submitted the nominations. Accordingly a three member jury constituted of one executive member, one life member from Kalimpong Press Club and one senior citizen of Kalimpong has also begun the selection process for the award. 

Kalimpong Press Club is also organizing a Senior Citizens’ Quiz to encourage senior citizens of the society. This year’s topic is “our society and us.” Five ladies and ten gentlemen are participating in the quiz which will be conduted by Suraj Mani Pradhan.

ESSAY: GORKHALAND AND GORKHA IDENTITY

FROM INDIA TIMES BLOG

Gorkhaland: Realisable? Gorkha Land or Gorkhaland demand of people of Darjeeling hills has been raising for many decades now. Interim period also saw an autonomous Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) coming in to existence. But the autonomy was only for some departments from the mother state of West Bengal. Unfortunately bad governance, even in those Departments by the DGHC alienated the public at large, for not meeting the aspirations of the people whose near and dear ones gave lives for this cause. Why the demand for a separate state is not the scope of this discussion. Genuineness of the demand has already been established. I shall, therefore, like to focus whether the demand of Gorkha Land is achievable or not and do we need to take a mid-course correction, if essential? Because it is not the means but the end result which matters.

Territorial integrity We must think what will be the territory that will encompass the new state, should the demand of the Gorkhaland be accepted. I am sure all readers will agree that a state can not be viable if it is carved out of only two sub-division of Darjeeling district namely Darjeeling and Kalimpong. To be economically prosperous the state must offer place for industrial development and free trade within the state. If only two sub-divisions as mentioned above will be the new state it is doomed even before it comes to an existence because of its geographical configuration. A state must offer mix of hills and plains where possible and rail head for its commercial activities to be competitive. It is therefore essential that adjoining areas of Darjeeling district is integrated wit the new state. The problem is compounded because the adjoining areas are not all Gorkhas as in the hills and they have their own identity which they like to maintain, obviously. It is heartening that people are thinking on this point. But the people of plains are opposed to the Gorkhaland state. Therefore it is time to rethink the whole strategy by the leaders heading the agitation now to achieve Gorkhaland, and that is mainly the leaders of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha. In my opinion there are two main points for mid-course correction.

1. What is in the Name? By calling Gorkhaland, you have already alienated the people other than Gorkhas. It sounds very parochial. The state is not meant only for one cast or community. India is a secular country and therefore it must reflect in the name of the states of this Union. The name should be such that it suggests whole hearted welcome to all be from within or outside the state.

2. Another point for consideration is that state can not be a reality unless it is recommended by the parent state and accepted by the Centre, whichever be the party or coalition in power. Please now try to understand the psychology of these parties. They are all mainly dominated by the parties which are mainly Hindi speaking. In that case it would become even more difficult to make them to accede to the demand for the Gorkhaland. History is always a good teacher and look at the names of the states which have been carved out after independence. To mention few like Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Uttaranchal/ Uttarakhand, Chhaatisgarh, Jharkhand etc. and some which are demanding a separate state are Telangana, Bundelkhand, Harit Pradesh etc. etc.. So what needs to be considered is that take all people together, have the political parties in your side and do not show very narrow appraoch to statehood.

NEPAL: Prachanda keen on more hydel projects with India

FROM BUSINESS STANDARD

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

After firming up the Pancheshwar dam project during his visit to Uttarakhand today, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ indicated his keenness to develop more hydel projects with India. “Why Pancheshwar alone, we have a huge power potential. We can work with India to develop more power projects,” Prachanda told reporters after his tour of the 2,400 Mw Tehri hydel project.

Prachanda visited Tehri and toured the powerhouse of the dam. He closely inspected the various operative mechanisms of the project and discussed with the project officials the rehabilitation issues related to it.

Later, the Nepalese premier had lunch with Chief Minister B C Khanduri at the Jollygrant airport. The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and expressed satisfaction over the 6,000 Mw Pancheshwar dam, which is to be jointly developed by India and Nepal with an estimated investment of Rs 30,000 crore.

The Maoist leader said since the political situation in Nepal had improved, his country was looking forward to work with India on more hydel projects.

 

INTERNATIONAL: China to India – Don’t allow separatist acts by Lama

FROM MSN NEWS

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Beijing: As the Dalai Lama prepared to hold the biggest conclave of exiled Tibetans in nearly six decades in Dharamshala, China today asked India to honour its promise of not allowing any separatist activities from its soil against the Communist state.

Dismissing as meaningless the November 17-22 meeting of exiled Tibetans at the seat of the Dalai Lama’s Tibetan government-in-exile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang said Beijing expects India to honour its promise not to permit activities “aimed at splitting Chinese territory.” “The Indian government has made solemn commitments on several occasions that (it) does not allow any activities on its soil aimed at dividing (China),” Qin said.

“We hope that this commitment can be fulfilled,” he said while responding to a question on the upcoming meeting at a biweekly press briefing.

In the wake of repeated failures to find a solution to the vexed Tibet issue during talks with China, the 73-year-old Dalai Lama has convened a six-day meeting to determine the future direction of his quest for “genuine autonomy” for his Himalayan homeland under Chinese sovereignty.

But Qin claimed the upcoming meeting was aimed at achieving Tibet’s independence from Chinese rule. “The Chinese government is solemnly against any international activities aimed at splitting China, he said.

“Any attempt to plan or be involved in this meeting cannot represent the vast majority of the Tibetan people and their attempt will get nowhere,” he said.

INTERNATIONAL: National Anthem is played again in Germany

FROM THE FINANCIAL EXPRESS

NEWS SHARED BY AARDEE

Hamburg, Nov 14 History revisited Hamburg when the Indian national anthem was played on Thursday night in the German city, where it was first composed 66 years ago. Way back in 1942 during an event at the Hotel Atlantic here, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose chose a poem penned by Rabindranath Tagore as the national anthem of ‘free India’ centre, the predecessor of Azad Hind Fauj that he set up a year later in Singapore.

The venue was treated to the same musical rendering when Surya Kumar Bose, grand nephew of Netaji settled in Hamburg, played the tape of Tagore’s poem before a group of journalists who are here for “India Week” being organised by Hamburg city government. Engaged in IT business with operations in Hamburg and Kolkata, Bose had come to possess the copy of the original tape of the anthem recorded by a close associate of Netaji. “Not many people know how the national anthem was born,” Bose said. Going down the memory lane, he recollected a programme broadcast by the All India Radio on the occasion of 83rd birth anniversary of Subhas Chandra Bose in January 1980 called National Anthem Born in Exile. It said an organisation called Indo-German Association was founded at the Hotel Atlantic in Hamburg on September 11, 1942, on the initiative of Netaji. Among those present on the occasion were Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Mayor of Hamburg, representatives of German government and others. On the occasion, the Radio Symphony Orchestra of Hamburg played the national anthems of Germany and Free-India Centre, which was given proper recognition by countries like Germany and Italy.

ARTICLE: Koshi High Dam: Threat To Nepal

THE HIMALAYAN BEACON EXCLUSIVE

BY DIRGHA RAJ PRASAI

Dirgha Raj Prasai

There has been a realisation that India has lost its credibility in the construction of the Koshi and the Gandak projects – it did not stand by the provisions of the previous treaties. The existing Koshi project was completed in 1960, and the eastern portion collapsed on August 18 this year, while the western portion is showing imminent danger. Thousands of people have been displaced, apart from several lives lost, and thousands of hectares of land have been swept away. It is not a natural disaster, but a man-made tragedy caused by the negligence of India. In such a situation why is India interested in constructing another high dam on the Koshi?

Ambitious mega project

India has proposed building a 269-metre high dam on the Sapta Koshi River at about 400 metres upstream from the Barah Chhetra Temple to generate 300 MW of electricity for proportional sharing with Nepal. Eight kilometres downstream at Chatara, another dam for irrigating 546,000 hectares of land in Nepal has been proposed and 976,000 hectares in India, with an additional 300 MW of electricity. Nepal is carrying out a survey of the proposed project. Generation of hydropower together with irrigation by means of small and medium dams is always welcome, but it would be futile for Nepal to invest in an ambitious mega project such as this without first investigating and evaluating the benefits.

The proposal for the high dam on the Sapta Koshi River at Chatara is by no means new. When B. P. Koirala became prime minister in 1959, approval had already been granted for the Gandak Project, Dang-Deukhari Reservoir Project and the Koshi High Dam at Chatara. The Gandak Project was implemented, and the project office building had already been constructed in Dang. Following numerous protests of the people, King Mahendra and Prime Minister B. P. Koirala had visited Dang, and Prime Minister Koirala had to revoke the project.

But at the same time, technicians from India had begun the survey of the Koshi High Dam by erecting tents on the hills of Barah Chhetra. There was a popular protest, too, as Barah Chhetra is a sacred pilgrimage site of the Hindus. The people had protested strongly at the prospect of not only displacing the shrine but also many families and inundating their valuable agricultural land. King Mahendra together with the chairman of the Council of Ministers, Dr. Tulsi Giri and his personal assistant Sushil Koirala (now vice-president of the Nepali Congress) studied the project site by boat. After the site visit, the Sapta Koshi High Dam Project was cancelled, deeming it was not in Nepal’s interest.

But in 1991, during the visit of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to India, this dam project was approved secretly together with the Tanakpur Barrage Agreement. This came to light only when Sher Bahadur Deuba became the prime minister. All along, India has been insisting that the high dam is in Nepal’s interest. Such a large dam is likely to inundate large tracts of land now as well as in the future in both Nepal and India. Even Indian experts and the people of the area do not support such a venture.

BHUTAN: “We rejoice with Bhutan”

FROM KUENSEL NEWSPAPER

The New Bhutanese King with the Indian President. Photo by Kuensel Newspaper

15 November, 2008 – Ceremonies marked by solemnity, piety, and grace… celebrations full of colour and gaiety… people deeply rooted in a tradition and culture that quintessentially define Bhutan.

Such were the images that the guest of honour for the Coronation celebrations, President Pratibha Patil of India, took back with her when she left Bhutan.

“With democratic elections earlier this year, His Majesty the fourth King ushered in democracy to Bhutan,” the President said. “A new youthful generation will now guide Bhutan toward a brilliant future under the leadership of the young King.”

President Pratibha Patil recalled that the prime ministers of the two countries had exchanged historic visits this year, laying new foundations to take bilateral relations to new heights. “I am confident that our bilateral ties will become deeper and even more fruitful over the coming years,” she said.

Thousands of foreign visitors attended the Coronation celebrations over the past week, including 32 diplomatic representations, all the international agencies that work with Bhutan, and thousands more who flew in for the celebrations. Special guests from India included Mrs Sonia Gandhi, and her son and daughter, Rahul and Priyanka, the foreign minister, Pranab Mukherjee, and foreign secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon.

India’s ambassador to Bhutan, Sudhir Vyas, who attended the ceremonies in Punakha and Thimphu, said the ceremonies were marked by “dignity and elegance”. “We were particularly taken by the devotion and joy that was evident in the faces of the people, reflecting their faith in their Kings and their national pride.”

DARJEELING: A King for today… and tomorrow

FROM KUENSEL NEWSPAPER

By Kinley Dorji

His Majesty meets the public at the Changlimithnag stadium. Photo by Kuensel Newspaper

15 November, 2008 – Empowered with the Dar Na-Nga, endowed with the Raven Crown, the Druk Gyalpo Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck became an embodiment of the people as an unprecedented crowd took part in the Coronation celebrations.

Children, women, and men came to offer the Thridar and His Majesty the King embraced the public in every sense. As the images of the Coronation flashed around the world, the unanimous view was that this was a Monarch, who truly touched, not just his own people, but everyone who saw or met him.

“I am not a monarchist but, today, I’ve seen a new meaning of monarchy,” said an Indian scholar. “I have seen monarchs, who assume remote and god-like images, but your King is human and I mean that as a profound compliment.”

The images and the emotions of the Coronation celebrations also reminded most Bhutanese people that Bhutanese Monarchy is not about an individual. It is literally a system – the Bhutanese system. The institution of Monarchy, in a broad sense, envelops the government and the people.

At the same time, the supremacy of the Bhutanese Monarchy will enable democracy to function in a true sense because the Monarch, a figure above “mundane” politics, personifies moral authority. While monarchies, throughout history, often viewed democracy as a form of threat, the Bhutanese Monarchy is the foundation for democracy in Bhutan.

BHUTAN: Cultural Observatory to be set up in Bhutan

FROM KUENSELONLINE

By Tenzing Lamsang

15 November, 2008 – Bhutan will host the BIMSTEC Cultural Industries Observatory, a repository for information on culture industries and disseminate information to BIMSTEC member states.

A commission to oversee the mechanism of the observatory will also be established in Bhutan.
Lyonchhen Jigmi Y Thinley said that Bhutan had volunteered and been accepted and endorsed as the country for the observatory. He said that the observatory would be a very important contribution to the development of the entire region.

“We’ll also recognise culture as an industry that has definite and significant sub contribution to the country’s economy,” said the prime minister.

He said that the region comprised members, which are rich in cultural heritage. “By promoting and preserving the culture industry, countries could address the problem of unemployment.”

The observatory will carry out the Commission’s directives, establish a cultural industries data base, undertake research and statistical analysis and develop indicators for impact of the activities on poverty reduction and community vitalisation. The observatory will help member countries network with relevant institutions and stakeholders to develop the industries. It will prepare a consolidated calendar of major cultural industries expositions in the BIMSTEC region and maintain a web portal on the cultural industries profile in the region.

BHUTAN: Order of the Druk Gyalpo

15 November, 2008 - His Majesty the King will confer the Order of the Druk Gyalpo on His Holiness the Je Thrizur Tenzin Dendup, and Her Majesty the Royal Grandmother Ashi Kesang Choeden Wangchuck today.

The ceremony will take place in the Throne Room of Tashichhodzong.

BHUTAN: Bhutanese Royal Marriage

Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck and Dasho Palden Yoeser Thinley

FROM KUENSEL NEWSPAPER

Her Royal Highness Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck and Dasho Palden Yoeser Thinley were married on November 11. The younger princess of Her Majesty Ashi Tshering Pem Wangchuck, Ashi Kezang Choden Wangchuck is a graduate of Stanford University in the United States and currently the representative of His Majesty in Bumthang, looking after the welfare of the people. Dasho Palden, the son of Lyonchhoen Jigmi Y Thinley and Aum Rinsy Dem, is a graduate of Mahidol University in Thailand.

The sacred ceremony, at Dechenchholing Palace, was followed by a relaxed garden luncheon for the royal family, members of the groom’s family, friends and well-wishers.

NEPAL: Prachanda brings home high hopes

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NEWS NET

KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Puspha Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ today returned home after attending the 2nd Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) summit in New Delhi.

“The summit focused on common perspectives to emphasise the importance of regionalism in South Asia and Southeast Asia. It addressed the growing necessities of intra-regional trade, connectivity through the development on all modes of transportation and communication, poverty alleviation, climate change and hydropower,” he said.

“Since Nepal aims to generate 10,000 MW in the next 10 years, we visited Tehri dam in Dehradun this morning,” he said on his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) this evening.

Ministers and officials of Water Resources and Foreign Affairs had accompanied the PM.

“Nepal is the lead country for cooperation in poverty alleviation sector among BIMSTEC nations. We are close to setting up a tourism centre in Nepal. The summit also helped to revive Nepal’s relations with other member countries. We dwelt on reactivating Nepal-Thailand joint committees, which were on low ebb due to communication gap,” he added.

Prachanda said that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had expressed his desire to visit Nepal in February. PM didn’t get much time to hold one-one-one with his Bhutanese counterpart.

“We had a brief meeting. I asked Bhutan to come up with a permanent solution and proposal to resolve the Bhutanese refugee crisis,” he said.

Asked about the setting up of BIMSTEC secretariat, he said both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were eager. However, other member nations were in favour of consensus. Current global financial crisis, climate change, energy and food security issues were also discussed during the summit.

NEPAL: Federalism costly: Danish envoy

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NEWS NET

KATHMANDU: Danish ambassador Finn Thilsted said on Friday that federalism, a costly system, may not be economically viable for a multi-ethnic country like Nepal. He stressed the need of decentralisation. The envoy was talking to mediapersons at a programme.

Thilsted said that the success of Nepal’s peace process was closely linked with the contentious issues of separation of power between the President and the Prime Minister, restructuring of the state along federal lines, justice to conflict victims and integration of Maoist combatants.

The ambassador said PLA combatants could not live in the camps for ever. “Some of them should be adjusted with the Nepal Army, while others should form part of security forces,” said the envoy. He expressed hope that most of the PLA soldiers would prefer to join the society as civilians. Thilsted also highlighted the need to dispense justice to conflict-hit people.

The envoy informed that Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs would visit Nepal on November 26-29 to acquire information on the peace process and the process of framing a new constitution. “The Minister is scheduled to visit Bhutanese refugee camps in Jhapa,” he added.

NEPAL: No more private school, Nepal’s Maoist government declares

FROM THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

Private schools in Nepal

KATHMANDU, NEPAL – The massive election win last April by Nepal’s former rebel Maoists put them in the position to set the government agenda, and bring about drastic changes they promised during their campaign.

But their initial proposals on education – to end private investment in schools and distribute academic certificates to Maoist fighters – have left many Nepalese worried.

They’re concerned that their new government will take the country in too radical a direction that favors its former fighters and Marxist-Leninist-Maoist ideology.

“Recent statements by Maoist leaders are indicative of their political immaturity,” says Krishna Khanal, a political scientist at Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu. “They have made strange announcements to please their cadres and fighters.”

The Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) wields considerable legislative power to advance its policies. The group, which fought a 10-year insurgency from 1996 demanding a new constitution and an end to monarchy, is the largest party in Nepal’s 601-member special assembly. With 220 seats, it has twice the representation of the second biggest party, the centrist Nepali Congress.

The government also has few moderates who might push back against a radical agenda. The Maoists’ biggest alliance partner is the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist), third largest in the assembly, which also has radical roots and a history of armed violence.

AN ‘UNEQUAL EDUCATION SYSTEM’

The controversial announcement came Nov. 6, when Finance Minister Baburam Bhattarai declared the government would end private investment in education by 2010. Private investors, he added, should limit themselves to investing in universities.

The Maoists have long opposed private investment in primary and secondary schooling, arguing that it produces an unequal workforce – those coming from private schools have an edge over their peers from public schools, they claim.

“We have fought against this unequal education system for years now,” said Himal Sharma, general secretary of All Nepal Free Students’ Union (Revolutionary), the Maoist party’s student’s wing.

“We are pushing for a declaration next year of free education in public schools till class 8. And a year after that, we want the provision expanded for up to class 12. Ideally, we would want an end to private investment in schools by then,” he said.

NEPAL: Is he the ‘Buddha’ of our generation?

FROM REDIFF NEWS

Image: Ram Bahadur Bamjan sits on a platform before preaching to an audience at Ratanpuri village in Bara district, 100 kms south of Kathmandu.

Thousands of devotees are flocking to a jungle in southern Nepal for a darshan of a teenage boy, regarded by many as a reincarnation of Buddha, when he reappeared after three long years of meditation.

“I am blessed to have a glimpse of the Buddha God, Krishna Pyari Shreshtha, a local housewife, said.

“I am very happy to seem him again, we just wanted to see what he looks like after three years,” said Niraj Dhungana, a local farmer, who came from a nearby village for his darshan.

Ram Bahadur Bamjan, his real name, is 18 years old. He was first spotted in the jungle of Bara district in southern Nepal in 2005. He spent months there without eating and moving, with his eyes closed under a tree, believe his followers.

Bamjan re-emerged this week to meet thousands of his followers and well-wishers, who have come just to see him and have his blessing. He is currently staying in the jungles of Ratanpur, about 200 km south of Kathmandu.

NEPAL: Chinese military delegation to visit Nepal

FROM HINDUSTAN TIMES

BY ANIRBAN ROY

As political parties are fighting over the issue of integration of Maoist’s People’s Liberation Army soldiers with the Nepal Army, a high-level delegation of Chinese Army is planning a five-day visit to the Himalayan nation.

A high-level delegation of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army is scheduled to reach Kathmandu on November 19, officials of the Ministry of Defence said, adding that the eight-member Chinese delegation will be led by Major-General I. Huzeng.

The visit of the Chinese Army delegation is in the critical political situation as opposition political parties, including the Nepali Congress, are opposing the government’s move to integrate 19,600 Maoist soldiers in Nepal Army.

The Chinese delegation is likely to meet Deputy Prime Minister Bamdev Gautam, Defence Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa, Chief of Nepal Army General Rookmangud Katawal and the Defence Secretary Baman Prasad Neupane.

Though the Nepal government did not specify the reason of visit by the Chinese Army delegation, it is sure to raise many questions about China’s role in the integration of the Maoist army with the national army.

This is the first visit by any Chinese Army delegation to Nepal after the insurgency-ravaged country transformed into a federal democratic republic. It has been reported that the Nepal government has suddenly started getting closer to China.

NEPAL: Nepal to scrap king-above-law acts

FROM TIMES OF INDIA

KATHMANDU: In 1960, when Nepal’s then all-powerful king Mahendra staged a coup and banned the political parties, the elected prime minister B P Koirala and his trade union leader brother Girija Prasad Koirala, who would lead two anti-monarchy movements later, were sent to prison under the State Offence Act (SOA).

Almost four decades later, when the Maoist guerrillas began their People’s War to overthrow Mahendra’s son, the then king Birendra, the government began arresting suspected Maoists and their sympathisers in Midwestern Rolpa district, the cradle of the insurgency, under the same act.

Now finally, both the Maoists, who are leading the government, and Koirala, the leader of the opposition, can hope to see an end to the draconian law and its misuse with Nepal’s Supreme Court asking the government to abolish or amend the law along with two more that proclaimed the king and the royal family to be above criticism.

Under the SOA, a person could be sent to prison or be fined for writing, saying or even thinking something that directly or indirectly inflamed hatred, envy or contempt of the royals or trying to do so. It was supported y two more laws, the Printing Press and Publishing Act and the Broadcasting regulations that effectively gagged the media.

The criticism of the royals was prohibited as late as 2005 when king Gyanendra, following in the footsteps of his father, jailed the prime minister and began ruling the country himself with the help of the army.

However, the 2005 coup triggered widespread public protests that finally forced the king to step down in April 2006. Two years later, Nepal went to the hustings to decide if it should keep the king or not and overwhelmingly voted to become a republic.

But even though the newly elected constituent assembly on May 28 decided that the king should become a commoner and asked him to vacate the royal palace, the new government, plagued with infighting among its coalition partner and steady attacks by the opposition, failed to scrap the laws that provide impunity to the royals.

NEPAL: UML alleges Nepali Congress, Maoists to be extremists

FROM SOUTH EAST ASIA NEWS NET

Kathmandu, Nov 14 : UML General Secretary Jhala Nath Khanal has alleged that the Nepali Congress and the CPN (Maoist) were extremists as far as their views on integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist combatants into the national army were concerned.

Nepalnews quoted Kanal as saying that the Nepali Congress’s stance not to allow PLA integration into the Nepal Army and Maoist’s stressing to induct all of them are extremist ideas.

He asked both the parties to work as per the agreement reached in the past so as to find solution to the problem amicably.

Khanal further asked Nepali Congress to join the government and cooperate with other parties in drafting the new Constitution within the stipulated time.

He also said that the armed rebellion is not solution to any problem.

 

NEPAL: Law against criticising Nepal king may be axed

FROM IANS

By Sudeshna Sarkar

Kathmandu, Nov 14 : Members of Nepal’s former royal family, once considered to be above the law, should now be treated as common citizens and all existing laws that still uphold royal privileges should be scrapped, the apex court has told the government.

The Supreme Court Thursday ordered the government led by Maoists, who had fought a 10-year war to topple the country’s 239-year-old monarchy, to scrap three laws that still make it a punishable offence in the republic of Nepal to criticise the royal family.

The State Offence Act was formulated in 1989, just a year before a pro-democracy movement that curbed the absolute power of the monarch and reduced him to a constitutional king.

However, the governments that followed the pro-democracy revolt of 1990 did not nullify the law that could punish anyone critical of the king or any other member of the royal family through words, writing or simply thought, with three years in prison or a fine of Nepali Rs.3,000 or both.

Indeed, two more laws passed after the restoration of democracy, the Printing Press and Publishing Act of 1991 and National Broadcasting Regulation of 1995, also banned criticism of the royals.

The laws were challenged by an NGO, Freedom Forum, which asked the apex court to strike them down since Nepal no longer had a king.

After a new anti-monarchy wave two years ago, led by the Maoist guerrillas, the nation went to election in April and a month later, voted to sack the unpopular king Gyanendra, who had tried to seize the absolute power his ancestors enjoyed with the help of an army-backed coup.

Though the three judges hearing the petition dismissed it, saying the new interim constitution had provisions to treat the deposed king and his family as commoners, it, however, asked the government to scrap or amend the three laws.

SIKKIM: Minister urges Centre to re-orient NREGA

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Sikkim, Mr. Hishey Lachungpa addressing the meeting. Photo by Sikkim Reporter

Gangtok: Sikkim is the only state which has been implementing all programmes of the UPA government, said Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Government of Sikkim, Mr. Hishey Lachungpa in his address as chief guest at the inaugural function of Public Information Campaign at Chungthang, North Sikkim.

The Minister said while the programmes are being implemented, there are “some problems at the grassroot level”. He appealed to the Central Government “to re-orient the NREGA programme so that it will not be a wage giving scheme but also for creating permanent durable assets like a community hall. On PMGSY, the Minister appealed to the public to cooperate with the authorities for creating roads as it has come to light that some persons have refused permission after already receiving the compensation money for construction of roads.On RTI, he condemned the misuse of the ACT saying that “some persons are only using the Act for creating obstruction for the administration”.

Noting that the area (Chungthang) falls under a remote border district, he said the people have been in touch with the Army and the Border Roads Organisation continuously. They should work with integrity for all possible help and cooperation to Army and BRO. On Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the Minister said, teachers, school mothers who have been recruited under SSA are worried about the status of their jobs. This insecurity percolates to the students and hence they are not able to give proper attention to their jobs.He announced that the Chief Minister would distribute mobile medical vans under National Rural Health Mission to eight villages of North districts at a function in Mangan in December. As Minister incharge of health, Mr. Lachungpa said that he has already approached the Central Government for strengthening the Ayurvedic centre in Sikkim. The state is rich in medicinal plants and there is a culture of utilising the plants in everyday life which should be exploited.

SIKKIM: Telefilm to propagate power to Panchayats

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

BY JANUKA SHARMA

Gangtok: Suiting of a telefilm, “Paribartan”, under the banner of ACE Channel, is currently underway at Tokal Bermoik in South Sikkim. Story of the film is power decentralization in the Panchayati Raj system of Sikkim.

“Sikkim government is developing infrastructure in the villages by decentralizing power to Panchayats but the people are not fully aware of it. The film in making is to promote awareness of the people”. This was told to reporters at Tokal suiting site by the ACE Channel Managing Director, Mr. Chunilal Ghimire.

He said the suiting of the film will be will be done in different places of Sikkim like Timi Tarku, Singtam, Jorethang, Karfektar and Gangtok. Being completed in the first week of December this year, the film will be screened in all the 165 Gram Sabha of the State, he informed.

Script, lyrics and songs of the film are written by Mr. Ghimire, music by Albert Gurung and choreography by Deepak Dhakal. Mr. Pankaj Upreti and Ms. Punam Gurung are among the 20 artists of the film.

 

SIKKIM: CM to attend global climate summit in US on invitation

FROM SIKKIM REPORTER

Pawan Chamling

Gangtok: In response to a personal invitation from the Governor of California, USA , Arnold Schwarzenegger, Chief Minister, Dr. Pawan Chamling will leave for California on November 15, 2008, to attend the Governor’s Global Climate Summit in Beverly Hills, California, scheduled to be held on November 18-19, 2008 .

This ground breaking international forum dedicated to finding practical and sustainable solutions in our fight against global climate change is hosted by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and co-hosted by US Governors taking the lead in Climate Change. This forum will work to promote international action by forging international partnership and advancing specific, practical cooperation by the industrial, energy, transportation and forestry sectors.

Dr. Chamling is a well-known environmentalist and recognized by the Centre for Science and Environment in 1999 as the Chief Minister most committed and dedicated to environment and sustainable development.

Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and Environment has put on record that the exemplary work done by Dr. Chamling towards protection of environment and biodiversity has created a safe environment for the people of Sikkim. There is, in fact, no second opinion that he fully deserved the title “Greenest Chief Minister of India ” conferred upon him in the year 1999.

In his letter, dated October 20, 2008, the California Governor has requested the Chief Minister to join him, other US Governors and invited leaders from around the world at this historic summit in the fight against global warning. He has stated in his letter that global climate crisis requires global solutions with input from leaders at all levels of government and society.

SIKKIM: 3rd Guman Singh Chamling Award to Bijay Bantawa

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Bijay Bantawa. Photo by Sikkim Express

GANGTOK, November 13: Senior journalist and editor of Himgiri weekly paper, Bijay Bantawa has been selected as the recipient of the Aditya Bikram Guman Singh Chamling Award 2008 in recognition of his long standing contribution towards journalism.

The Aditya Bikram Guman Singh Chamling trust located at Reling, Darjeeling has been annually conferring the award from the past 3 years.

The award will be presented to Mr. Bantawa during a function on December 21 at Reling ground. The award consists of Rs. 1001 in cash, a shawl and citation.

Satish Pokhrel, the general secretary of the trust informed that Mr. Bantawa was selected during a meeting of the selection committee held today.

Mr. Bantawa has expressed his gratitude to the selection committee for the award. I feel proud to be honoured by our own brothers, he said.

The veteran journalist had already received several awards in his journalism career spanning three decades. He had take his first steps in the journalism field in 1974 from Darjeeling and later moved to Sikkim in 1978 where he started reporting for Sikkim Express and Himali Bela.

 

SIKKIM: SMIT student killed in road accident

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS 

The victim under the wheel of the truck. Photo by Sikkim Express

RANGPO, November 13: A final year student of Sikkim Manipal Institute of Technology (SMIT) was killed when the motorbike he was pillion riding collided with a tanker near Rangpo Thana here today.

Prasant Kumar Kapoor died on the spot while his friend Abhinab Anang, who rode the motorbike sustained injuries.

They were coming from Mazitar to Rangpo in the bike no JH 01-6-9029, which collided with the tanker bearing number SK- 03/0194. The tanker was travelling from Rangpo to Singtam.

Anang, also a final year engineering student, was arrested by the Police. Prashant’s body was sent for autopsy.

DARJEELING HILLS: GJMM condemns death of Nepali boys in Assam firing

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, Nov. 14: The Gorkha Jana Mukti Morcha president Mr Bimal Gurung has faxed a memorandum to Union home minister Mr Shivraj Patil and Assam chief minister Mr Tarun Gogoi condemning the killing of two Nepali boys in indiscriminate firing by an extremist group in Assam recently.

Tanka Chettri and Dipak Chettri were victims of the random firing by a militant group Dima Halam Daogah (Jewel) on 10 November at a Nepalese settlement of Kamala Tea Estate in North Cachar hills. The firing seriously injured many others and left the villagers petrified.

“With deep anguish we express our condemnation of the act. Gorkhas have been exemplary citizens in Assam but the incident has triggered a feeling of insecurity among Gorkhas in the region,” said GJMM general-secretary Mr Roshan Giri.

According to Mr Giri police from nearby Mahur area had warned the people just before the attacks but it was too late for security arrangements by then. “This means that the police knew of the attacks but did nothing for the villagers’ safety,” he said.