ROY’S MUSINGS: GJM stops ABGL from holding a political meeting at Gitangey Dara

The day started with a chill but ended with a nerve wracking political “misdemeanour”, at least for All India Gorkha League as yet again the party was not allowed to conduct a political meeting at Chowk Bazaar, Darjeeling today. “We had the microphone permission and were slated to hold a political meeting at Chowk Bazaar, Darjeeling albeit speaking from outside the Gitangey Dara, when the venue was overwhelmed by Gorkha Janmukti Morcha cadres. The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha further conducted their political meeting from the Gitangey Dara forcing us to give up our meeting. This certainly amounts to misdemenour as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha is interrupting and hindering our political activities giving rise to unwarranted political strife,” said one of the activists of All India Gorkha League.

True, All India Gorkha League had come with all the requisite permissions and looked forward keenly to engaging itself in the Gorkhaland movement and infusing some sense of political zeal among its cadres and leadership which after the ‘Leave Politics’ challenge on their President, Madan Tamang had witnessed an obvious downslide. However, the Party and especially the Party President Madan Tamang’s hope was dashed to oblivion as Gorkha Janmukti Morcha choose not to be any more lenient to the party. Gorkha Janmukti Morcha’s ability to sweep aside other Political Parties has also started raising many eyebrows as intellectuals and lays alike have begun to question Gorkha Janmutki Morcha’s celebrated Democratic norms.

“Why can’t they allow All India Gorkha League to hold a political meeting” inquired Ramdhoj Sharma, a local trader at the market in Darjeeling. “I am absolutely in favour of Gorkhaland however the infightings and inter-party and intra-party rivalry have been very damaging to the Gorkhaland movement as a whole.”

Sharma’s statements were echoed by Prem Khatiwada, a school teacher from a tea garden near Kurseong. “The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh has now allied itself with Communist Party of Revolutionary Marxists. All India Gorkha League has been trying to make a come back. Even the news of former Gorkha National Liberation Front leaders holding secret meetings in Siliguri are being often published by newspapers. Here Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, Bharatiya Janata Party have been in logger heads with All India Gorkha League and other local parties. All these evolving political equations only seem to suggest that parties who are supposed to be fighting for Gorkhaland are actually already fighting with each other or are preparing uproot each other. How will Gorkhaland ever be achieved if we continue to fight with each other?”

PHOTO FEATURE: There Are something that we never learn

Traffics chaos at the site where a boy died sometimes back under a same conditions. Photo by Himalaya Darpan

CELEBRITY WATCH: ‘Indian Idol’ to become Nepal’s matinee idol

FROM THAINDIAN

Prashang Tamang during Indian Idol 3 Gala. Photo by 4to40.com

Kathmandu, Dec 26 (IANS) A year after Prashant Tamang took India’s entertainment industry by storm with his win in the popular television reality show “Indian Idol”, the 24-year-old police constable is now poised to become a matinee idol in Nepal.The young man of Nepali origin, who owed much of his triumph to his wild fan following in this country, will now play himself in a biopic being made on his life, struggle and eventual victory.

The yet to be titled full-length feature film is the first venture of debutant director Dinesh Raj Sharma.

The script is by the “Indian Idol” himself and focuses on the artistic, mental and physical struggles he had to undergo to win a show that is watched by millions in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and the Middle East.

Besides Prashant, the other stars are Nepali film industry’s most charismatic hero Rajesh Hamal, action hero Ramit Dhungana and sultry actress Jharana Thapa, who recently stirred a controversy with a media report about Bollywood baddie Shakti Kapoor “misbehaving” with her during shooting for another film in southern Nepal.

Most of the film will be shot in Sikkim and Darjeeling. Prashant was born in Tungsung village in Darjeeling district of India’s West Bengal state.

He studied at St Robert’s School in Darjeeling and after the death of his father Madan Tamang, who worked in West Bengal Police, joined the force where his singing talent came to the fore in the police orchestra.

Part of the film will also be shot in Nepal, where Prashant received a hero’s welcome after winning the contest. Nepal’s then prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala invited him to tea twice and his first concert in Kathmandu valley was sold out despite bad weather.

The shooting will start early February after Prashant, who won a Rs.10 million contract with Sony, is free to take up other commitments.

INTERNATIONAL ESSAYS The Future of Infrastructure Terrorism

A BEACON ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

By Musa Khan Jalalzai

The author is former Executive Editor of Daily Outlook Afghanistan and author of 156 books on terrorism, extremism, and human trafficking, Afghanistan, drug trafficking and foreign policy studies and is based in London, Director Centre for Terrorism, Sectarian Violence and Organized Crime Studies in UK

The physical function of modern society and state ultimately depends on a strong infrastructural network. Electricity, water, communication and transportation provide services that we use, daily keep us on the track of aggrandizement. In the cyber age, individuals have more power to wage an attack of dangerous proportions on whatever target may provoke their ire–other individuals, corporations and organizations, and even nations.

In the United Kingdom and Europe, critical infrastructure, private and government departments are under threat from the Asian, specifically migrant Indians, and Middle, Eastern hackers and cyber warriors. These hackers and electronically trained terrorists gather defense, commercial or economically valuable information. Defense and financial data can be obtained easily through various electronic means. Cyber terrorism attack on the UK infrastructure will happen in near future because members of cyber army have got citizenship or asylum here. They are in operation; they can obtain military, financial and sensitive information through their electronic skills. They are well aware of the state function in the country.

Politically motivated hacking attacks are on the increase, in recent months, we have seen the politically driven strikes on the governments of Italy, UK, USA and Estonia. However, this is trend for the future and is unlikely to overtake financially motivated cyber crime. Cyber crime, banking fraud and the preparation of fake ID documents have provided the terrorists and extremists the opportunity to easily enter into Europe. Internet plays an important role in our daily life. It is the largest single component of cyberspace, with a presence of more than 200 countries.

Internet is built upon telecommunication infrastructure including the landlines of public phone systems and wireless. Most countries around the world have paid little attention to the cyber attacks on their basic civil and military infrastructures. Reducing infrastructure vulnerabilities to cyber attack is inherently global issue that will require global response. Modern technological competition and electronic warfare in Asia and Europe has created uncertainties in the defense and financial market.

In view of the cyber-warfare dimension to the Russia-Georgia conflict, and the Chinese cyber-espionage against UK and Europe, an effective countering strategy needs to be developed. A Chinese and Russian electronic attack against Europe’s Critical National Infrastructures worldwide is widely discussed in print and electronic media these days.

SIKKIM: SMU to organise international conference on environmental biotechnology

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK: Sikkim Manipal University (SMU) in collaboration with International Society of Biotechnology is organising international conference of ‘Environmental Biotechnology (ISBT 2008) from December 28 through 30.

According to a press release, ISBT-2008 will be a major forum for international researchers and professionals to present their latest research, results and ideas in all areas of Environmental Biotechnology.

State Forest and environment and Science and Technology Minister SB Subedi will grace the inaugural function as the chief guest, the release said.

The release added that the conference has attracted scientists from all over the world. About 300 scientists, including about 50 from abroad, will participate in this conference, it is informed. Foreign delegates from Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Bangladesh, Thailand, Malaysia, South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Germany, France, USA and other countries will deliberate their research findings during the conference.

Speaking about the importance of the theme of the conference theme, Dr. Ajeya Jha, Secretary of the conference, said, “In terms of common environment (air, water and land), the world has always been a single entity which transcends all national boundaries. Globalization naturally has brought us together in other ways also. This naturally translates into growing concern over the quality of our environment demands; prevention of polluting releases in the ecosystem and treatment of pollutants already there. Biotechnology offers a “natural” way of addressing environmental problems ranging from identification of biohazards to bioremediation techniques for industrial, agricultural and municipal effluents and residues. We need to bolster a biotechnology approach to environmental issues within an international context.”

The sub-themes for the conference include Bioaccumulation, Bio Remediation, Bio Transformation, Bio Marker, Bio Energy, Bio Composting, Bio Pesticide, Bio Degradation, Bio Sensor, Bio Engineering, Pollen Biotechnology, Biotechnology Policy Issue, Agricultural Biotechnology, Biotechnology and Biodiversity Conservation, Peaceful uses of Chemistry through BioTechnology, Medical/Pharmaceutical Biotechnology.

SIKKIM: SNPP claims support from five foreign nations on merger issue

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK: The Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) today claimed that its ‘Associate State status’ movement for Sikkim is gaining momentum with international support coming from Sweden, USA, Germany and Argentina.

“We have received letters of support from USA, Germany, Sweden, Argentina and one more country regarding our demand for Associate State Status for Sikkim,” said SNPP president Biraj Adikhari during a press meet here. “I have been approached by them, he said adding that he has also initiated steps to take the issue to UN.”

“However, I have made it clear to the Government of India that we do not seek independence but want what has been promised when it annexed Sikkim in 1975, said Mr. Adikhari.”

SNPP had debuted earlier this year in September with a sole agenda – Associate State Status for Sikkim which had been assured by the Union Government during the 1975 merger of this erstwhile kingdom.

“I have also been assured legal support by an international organization if I decide to take up the issue with the Hague but I don’t want to do this at this stage and convince the Union Government to fulfill its promises to Sikkim,” said Mr. Adikhari. He said that he is keeping the Ministry of Home Affairs fully informed about the developments.

“During the negotiations with the Centre, I have been asked to initiate a dialogue with the Prime Minister on our demand,” said Mr. Adikhari. He asserted that SNPP will not be internationalizing the issue for the moment and is ready to give the Union Government a long rope on the alleged violations of the merger agreement when India ‘annexed’ Sikkim.

The party’s agenda stems from its assertion that the Union government had ‘betrayed’ the people of Sikkim by making it a full fledged State of India instead of an ‘Associate State’ status as promised while ‘annexing’ this erstwhile Chogyal kingdom in 1975.

SIKKIM: USSC congratulates Bhaichung Bhutia

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

GANGTOK: United Sikkim Sporting Club (USSC) has congratulated its chief patron and Indian football team captain Baichung Bhutia for being chosen the All India Football Federation (AIFF) player of the year.

A congratulatory note had been issued by USSC and the club president Hishey Lachungpa also called up Bhutia after learning of the good news, USSC executive members said.

AIFF after its general body meeting had decided on Bhutia’s selection for the coveted award.

Members of Bhutia’s home club has expressed that it was yet again a proud moment not only for Sikkim and Sikkim football but for all football lovers across the nation.

Bhutia has become the only other player to have been chosen twice after bagging it first in 1995.

The year ends well on a good note for football lovers in the hills with Bhutia performing well to have led his club to win this year’s Federation Cup. His home club, USSC also did well bagging the first L. D. Kazi memorial cup at Chakung recently.

SIKKIM: TAKE THE EASY WAY OUT: ADIKHARI

SNPP clings to Nepali seats agenda

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Gangtok: Reeling under political criticism for its ‘Sikkimese Nepali seat’ plank, Sikkim National People’s Party (SNPP) today reiterated its claim that only the restoration of the Assembly seats for the majority community could lead to the realization of the Limboo Tamang seats at the earliest time possible.

“At least 13 seats out of 19 seats in the Assembly is the right of the Sikkimese Nepali community. Today we have zero reservation for the Sikkimese Nepali community which we had before thirty five years ago. We will become a minority community in coming years if the present rate of influx comes”, said SNPP president Biraj Adikhari.

Making a forceful pitch for restoration of Sikkimese Nepali seats, Mr. Adikhari said that the restoration is possible in a double quick time then the ST seats and could easily provide relief to the Limboo Tamang seat issue. Take the easy way out, he said.

“The Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) government must within a month file a Constitutional petition to challenge the 1979 ordinance of the President which illegally and unconstitutional did away with the Sikkimese Nepali seats. Once it is done, the seats will be restored in a minimum time frame”, said Mr. Adikhari. He argued that the minority Bhutia Lepcha communities are already secured with their 12 seats while it is the majority community who are facing political annihilation.

SIKKIM: State govt takes possession of Bansilal petrol pump lot – NB Khatiwada refuses to budge until official notice; will seek legal remedies

FROM SIKKIM EXPRESS

Bansilal petrol pump, Gangtok

GANGTOK: The Sikkim Government today took possession of the disputed Bansilal petrol pump lot located here at the heart of the capital despite much protestation by Supreme Court advocate, NB Khatiwada who claims the said land as a gift from the late LD Kazi.

The possession includes the entire 0.35 acres land including physical assets built during the 1988s when former Chief Minister LD Kazi used to own the land.

East District administration officials and Police arrived at the lot in the afternoon to take over the land and directed those doing business or operations area to vacate along with their physical properties that belonged to them at the earliest.

The petrol pump was also directed to finish its existing stock of petrol and pack up as the government now owns the whole lot. The pump was established in 1987.

Supreme Court advocate and advisor of the Sikkim Gorkha Prajantrik Party NB Khatiwada who claims that the land was gifted to him by late Kazi was also present during this take over operation. He runs his legal work from a two room wooden cabin in the lot and claims that the land belongs to him rightfully.

SIKKIM: Tourism fest attracts all and sundry

FROM THE STATESMAN

Gangtok, Dec. 25: The three-day Kanchendzonga Tourism Festival 2008 began at Pelling in Sikkim yesterday. The chief guest Mr Z Norgay Tenzing inaugurated the festival. Mrs Kalawati Subba, minister for animal husbandry and veterinary services graced the occasion as the chief guest in the evening.

Organised by Pelling Tourism Development Association, the festival is being sponsored by the department of tourism, Sikkim government, the district administration and locals.

Visitors and tourists from the country and abroad enjoyed the festival enveloped in the Pelling mist ~ the town is situated at an altitude of 6,100 ft. The main attractions at the festival are exhibition and sale of handicrafts, traditional food, children’s fashion show, mountain biking, rural sports and flowers. Short treks, horse riding, yak riding, sightseeing and white-water rafting made up the list of activities surrounding the festival.

DARJEELING: GJMM calls off stir from today

FROM THE STATESMAN

Darjeeling, Dec. 25: To ensure a “conducive atmosphere” for the upcoming tripartite talks in New Delhi on 29 December, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has called off its ongoing closure of state government and DGHC offices from tomorrow.

“The stir against the state government and DGHC offices has been called off for the time being to facilitate a congenial atmosphere for the dialogue on Gorkhaland. But the outcome of the talks will determine our future course,” said GJM spokesperson Mr Binay Tamang today.

The relaxation, however, does not extend to the NHPC and NTPC projects. The closure of revenue collection offices and bill payment sections of the electricity and telephone departments since April would also continue.

Intensifying its agitation in the second phase, the GJM  had called an indefinite closure of all state government offices from 8 December. Despite the party’s claim that the agitation programme is targeted towards the state government and not the Central government, the bandh was imposed on NHPC and NTPC projects too.

DARJEELING: Now, the row is over a public meeting

FROM THE STATESMAN

Darjeeling, Dec. 25: A political stalemate has cropped up between the All India Gorkha League (AIGL) and the GJM youth wing, the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha over a public meeting. Both sides have decided to hold respective public meetings at the same venue and time in Darjeeling tomorrow.

With no love lost between the two pro-Gorkhaland parties and both refusing to back off, a clash seems imminent. “We are not scared of anybody. This is democracy and we will hold our pre-scheduled public meeting tomorrow. It is the administration’s duty to maintain law and order. The GJM  is making a hue and cry of democratic rights violation in the recent Kalchini clashes but what they are doing to the Opposition in Darjeeling contradicts their stand,” asserted AIGL president Mr Madan Tamang today. The AIGL public meetings have been obstructed by GJM  on earlier occasions too. Matters escalated when GJM  activists regularly gheraoed the AIGL office and Mr Tamang’s residence recently demanding him to prove “allegations” cast upon the Morcha.

While the AIGL has already procured permission to convene the public meeting from 11a.m. to 3 p.m. at Gitangey Dara from the sub-divisional officer (SDO) on 22 December, GJYM leadership claim that it had applied for permission to the SP Darjeeling through the Inspector-in-Charge, Sadar police station on 23 December.

SUKNA: Sukna Gold Cup from Saturday

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Siliguri, Dec. 25: Sukna Gold Cup Challenge Football Championship will kick off on Saturday to promote local talents and also to velop the amity between people of the hills and the plains.

Bimal Gurung, the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president, will inaugurate the tournament to be organised by the Sukna Games and Sports Association at the Sukna playground, 7km from here. The finals of the tournament will be played on January 18.

“This is for the fourth year we are organising the tournament in which 20 teams will participate. The teams are coming from across the region, Calcutta, Sikkim, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh,” said Suren Pradhan, the secretary of the association. “One main objective of organising the tournament is to bring forth the amity and fraternity between people of the hills and the plains.”

The association, established 13 years ago, organises regular football coaching camps to hunt for soccer talents. “In November, we organised a month-long coaching camp at Sukna, where Shyam Thapa, a former national footballer and currently the director of Mohunbagan Football Academy, was present,” Pradhan said.

KALIMPONG: Dooars trio in talks team

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Kalimpong, Dec. 25: The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha has included two Adivasis and a solitary Rajbangshi in the delegation for the tripartite talks. The strength of the team has been increased to 17 from the 13 declared yesterday.

Announcing the team that will take part in the December 29 meeting in New Delhi, Morcha general secretary Roshan Giri repeated what president Bimal Gurung had said earlier.

“The country is facing a war-like situation and we completely understand that. We will require many more rounds of talks to achieve Gorkhaland,” Giri said here today.

Yesterday, at Gorubathan, Gurung had said the party was not, too, hopeful about the outcome of the talks, especially with the country grappling with more pressing problems (like terror strikes).

While Rimesh Tigga is the joint secretary of the Morcha’s eastern Dooars unit, Bajrangbali Minz, another Adivasi, is a trade union member. Satya Singh, who is a Rajbangshi, is the party’s youth wing leader from Siliguri.

Giri and central committee members Anmol Prasad and Harkabahadur Chhetri are also part of the team. The rest are also Morcha leaders, who were there in the first round of talks.

Observers said L.B. Pariyar and Trilok Dewan would be a real asset as part of the delegation. While Pariyar is the former chief principal secretary of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council, Dewan is the ex-chief secretary of Andhra Pradesh.

DARJEELING: ABGL, rivals set to flex venue muscle

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Darjeeling, Dec. 25: A pall of uncertainty is looming large over Darjeeling with the All India Gorkha League (AIGL) and the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha deciding to go ahead with their respective political programmes at the same venue tomorrow.

The two parties are at loggerheads and there is a clear hint from the Morcha that it would not like the ABGL to hold its public meeting at Chowk Bazar.

On the other hand, Madan Tamang, the president of the ABGL, today said: “We have already obtained mike permission for our scheduled public meeting and we are determined to go ahead with it. I have heard that the person who was supposed to arrange the public address system for us has been threatened.”

Tamang said if the situation so demanded, he might even address the people without the microphone. “I have a loud voice,” he said in jest, adding: “In a democracy, every party has the right to make a public speech. They (Morcha), too, maintained that they are in favour of upholding democracy, but we will see about the claims tomorrow.”

A police official had confirmed yesterday that while the ABGL has been given mike permission for the meeting at Chowk Bazar, the Gorkha Janmukti Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of the Morcha, is being allowed to bring out a procession in town tomorrow.

“We will go ahead with our rally (procession) from 10am onwards,” said Alok Kant Mani Thulung, the president of the Yuva Morcha over the phone from Pokhriabong, 20km from here. The ABGL plans to start its meeting from 11am.

JALPAIGURI: CM hits out hard against Morcha

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee with senior officials on the circuit house campus in Jalpaiguri on Thursday. Picture by Biplab Basak

Jalpaiguri, Dec. 25: Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today made it clear that the state government would never accept the demand for the separate state of Gorkhaland and the inclusion of Siliguri, Terai and Dooars in it.

Unlike yesterday’s plea to the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha to contest the elections, the chief minister took a stronger stand this morning.

“Matha thik korun, thik korun ki chan (Decide rationally what you want),” he said. “Terai, Siliguri, Dooars er Adibasi o onno sadharon manush keno jaben Gorkhalander moddhe? Keno eigulo chaiben apnara, eta hoy naki? (Why would the tribal population and other people of the Terai, Siliguri and Dooars want to be part of Gorkhaland? Why do you want it? Is it feasible?)”

The chief minister was addressing the inaugural session of the 14th state conference of the Coordination Committee of central government workers and employees’ associations at the art gallery auditorium here.

“As the date for the second round of tripartite talks has been fixed, we don’t want them (Morcha) to create any tension and instead participate in the discussions to resolve the crisis.”

Bhattacharjee hit out at the Jharkhand Disham Party and the Maoists who of late have been demanding the inclusion of three states – Purulia, Bankura and Paschim Midnapore – in Jharkhand.