Morning Headlines, KalimNews:
How Gorkhaland a book of UGRF Chief Ajay Dahal released in Kalimpong.
Bikram Chhetri, CPI candidate of LF for Kalimpong seat in Legislative Assembly poll.
How Gorkhaland a book of UGRF Chief Ajay Dahal released in Kalimpong.
Bikram Chhetri, CPI candidate of LF for Kalimpong seat in Legislative Assembly poll.
Hill Social Welfare Organisation organised a women's conference.
Eight GP areas of Kranti Assembly constituency -Chapadanga, Moulani, Lataguri, Teshimella,Kumlai, Rabhadanga, Chengmari,and Kranti are now added to Mal Constituency after delimitation of constituency.
GNLF to fight polls alone - Fresh faces for 3 seats
Eight GP areas of Kranti Assembly constituency -Chapadanga, Moulani, Lataguri, Teshimella,Kumlai, Rabhadanga, Chengmari,and Kranti are now added to Mal Constituency after delimitation of constituency.
GNLF to fight polls alone - Fresh faces for 3 seats
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| Security personnel deployed outside Ghisingh’s Darjeeling house on Wednesday when a mob assembled to oppose his return to the hills. Picture by Suman Tamang |
TT, Jalpaiguri, March 16: The GNLF has decided to contest Assembly elections alone with thrust on the execution of the Sixth Schedule agreement and field fresh faces in the three hill seats.
Subash Ghisingh will announce the names of the candidates for Darjeeling, Kurseong and Kalimpong on March 22 before going to the hills for campaigning.
“The GNLF will not align with any anti-Gorkha Janmukti Morcha party or national party and will fight the elections alone,” Ghisingh told The Telegraph at his rented house in Collegepara here this morning.
“I will announce the names of new but known faces on March 22 and they will be young. After that, I will go to the hills to launch our campaign.”
Ghisingh, whose writ had run in the Darjeeling hills for two decades, had a steady stream of visitors to his house today. From 8am to 1pm, he was closeted with around 40 party members from Kurseong and Kalimpong to discuss the strategy to be adopted for the polls.
“I had called the meeting to finalise the candidates for the three hill seats and I listened to the views of all those who had come to meet me,” said the former DGHC chairman.
However, Ghisingh refused comment when asked if the Kurseong MLA of the GNLF, Shanta Chhetri, would be fielded again. But he added that he himself would not be a candidate for the polls.
The central plank of the GNLF campaign will be the Sixth Schedule agreement inked by Ghisingh, the Centre and the Bengal government in December 2005.
“The agreement has not come into effect as yet and our party workers will campaign on this issue. Another focus of the electioneering will be the manner in which the Morcha is spearheading the movement for Gorkhaland. That party has created a state of panic in the hills, affecting tea and tourism to a great extent,” said Ghisingh.
The 75-year-old leader will be at the forefront of the GNLF campaigns in all three hill subdivisions. “I have also planned a public meeting in Darjeeling but the date is yet to be finalised. We have formed our committees in Kurseong and Kalimpong. I will go to Darjeeling and form a committee there also.”
Dipendra Rai, a Kurseong GNLF leader who was present at today’s meeting, said Ghisingh had already begun the process of setting up village-level committees in Kurseong and Kalimpong to canvass for the votes in rural belts.
Ghisingh was forced to leave the hills on July 26, 2008, a day after a Nari Morcha supporter had fallen to bullets allegedly fired from the house of a GNLF leader in Darjeeling. The incident sparked off widespread violence against GNLF leaders in the hills. Houses of Ghisingh and other leaders were torched by alleged Morcha members.
The GNLF has written to the Election Commission, the inspector-general of police, north Bengal, and the Darjeeling police superintendent to ensure a congenial atmosphere for the campaign by Ghisingh.
SNS, DARJEELING, 16 MARCH: Security forces have been deployed near the residence of GNLF chief Mr Subash Ghisingh in Jakir Hussain Road as a prelude to his long-awaited return to the Darjeeling Hills. The decision to deploy the security personnel has been taken following rumours that his residence would be vandalised.
A group of people demonstrated outside the house of Mr Ghisingh this morning, shouting slogans and shooting invective at the paramount leader of yesteryear. They, however, carried no party flags and claimed themselves to be ordinary people.
There were also rumours that the roads would be blocked to prevent Mr Ghisingh from stepping into the Hills.
The security personnel belonging to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and some constables associated with the Darjeeling police station have been asked to maintain a round-the-clock vigil around the residence to ward off any attempt to vandalise it. Notably, Mr Ghisingh is entitled to Z category security.
Meanwhile, the possibility of Mr Ghisingh coming to his home turf has triggered speculation over its likely impact on the Hill political scenario, particularly when the GJMM seems to have mellowed down to the extent of calling for consensus candidates for the three Hill Assembly constituencies. Though it is uncertain when he would come back, the people look agog with excitement. “May be the Hills would witness interesting contests with the GNLF patriarch leading the anti-GJMM onslaught in course of the electioneering,” said a local who resides near the residence of Mr Ghisingh.
A resident of Kurseong said that his return would leave no perceptible impact on the Hills poll scenario. “He is all but spent up. Besides, it is doubtful whether he would extensively campaign during the electioneering. The party must first find suitable candidates, willing to throw real challenges to the GJMM,” he said.
SNS, DARJEELING, 16 MARCH: Security forces have been deployed near the residence of GNLF chief Mr Subash Ghisingh in Jakir Hussain Road as a prelude to his long-awaited return to the Darjeeling Hills. The decision to deploy the security personnel has been taken following rumours that his residence would be vandalised.
A group of people demonstrated outside the house of Mr Ghisingh this morning, shouting slogans and shooting invective at the paramount leader of yesteryear. They, however, carried no party flags and claimed themselves to be ordinary people.
There were also rumours that the roads would be blocked to prevent Mr Ghisingh from stepping into the Hills.
The security personnel belonging to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and some constables associated with the Darjeeling police station have been asked to maintain a round-the-clock vigil around the residence to ward off any attempt to vandalise it. Notably, Mr Ghisingh is entitled to Z category security.
Meanwhile, the possibility of Mr Ghisingh coming to his home turf has triggered speculation over its likely impact on the Hill political scenario, particularly when the GJMM seems to have mellowed down to the extent of calling for consensus candidates for the three Hill Assembly constituencies. Though it is uncertain when he would come back, the people look agog with excitement. “May be the Hills would witness interesting contests with the GNLF patriarch leading the anti-GJMM onslaught in course of the electioneering,” said a local who resides near the residence of Mr Ghisingh.
A resident of Kurseong said that his return would leave no perceptible impact on the Hills poll scenario. “He is all but spent up. Besides, it is doubtful whether he would extensively campaign during the electioneering. The party must first find suitable candidates, willing to throw real challenges to the GJMM,” he said.
Hill link to Tibetan polls - In the race for Dalai powers
Vivek Chhetri, TT, Darjeeling, March 16: Two men who trace their roots to Darjeeling are in the fray to become the next kalon tripa (prime minister) of the Tibetan exile government.
Lobsang Sangay and Tenzin Namgyal Tethong are among the three candidates who are contesting for the post. The other is Kasur Tashi Wangdi.
While Lobsang Sangay was born and brought up in Darjeeling, Tenzin Namgyal Tethong had come to the hill town for schooling.
The prospects of a Tibetan from Darjeeling heading the parliament-in-exile for the first time have generated much enthusiasm among the refugees as the Dalai Lama, the head of the community, has already desired to relinquish his political powers.
This would mean the next kalon tripa might wield more powers over the 1.5 lakh Tibetans living in exile in various parts of Asia, Europe and the USA.
Although the Dalai Lama’s decision has already been accepted by the kashag (cabinet), it is yet to be endorsed by the 43-member parliament. The kalon tripa is the head of the parliament also.
Hectic campaigning for Sangay, 43, Tethong, 62, and Wangdi, 64, has already started in the hills.
Sangay was born in Lamahatta, 24km from Darjeeling, and passed out of the Central School for Tibetans (CST) here in 1986. Supporters of Sangay said he was being backed by the younger generation. “He is brilliant, young and dynamic,” said a supporter.
“He was always interested in politics. As a member of the Tibetan Youth Congress, Sangay used to lead us when he was in school and we used to hold regular meetings at Beechwood in Darjeeling,” said Sonam Chokey Norbhu, a supporter.
Sangay did his Plus Two at St Joseph’s College (North Point) before moving to Delhi and the US for further studies. He is at present a senior fellow at the Harvard Law School.
Ngodup Tsering, a science teacher at the CST, vouched for Sangay’s contribution to the welfare of the community.
“He is my choice. He has visited Darjeeling recently and has done a lot for the community. Although Sangay hails from an ordinary family, he has made it big,” said Tsering. “In a straw poll conducted some months back, Sangay was leading.”
Polls to choose the prime minister of the exiled Tibetans began in 2001. Around 80,000 people who have attained the age of 18 and possess the dhanglang chathel (the green book which shows the refugee status) are eligible to cast their votes.
There are many who are rooting for Tenzin also. Fondly called TNT by his supporters, Tenzin hails from Musoorie. He later moved to Darjeeling in 1962 and studied at Mount Hermon. “I have heard that he was an outstanding student,” said George Fernandez, the principal of the institution.
“We are rooting for TNT because we find him very experienced and capable. Perhaps when Sangay gets more experience we will support him,” said a supporter who did not want to be named.
Tenzin is now a fellow at the Tibetan Studies Initiative, Stanford University.
The third candidate, Wangdi, is being projected as “Mr Clean” by those who back him in the hills. He is the Dalai Lama’s representative in the European Union.
“Wangdi has much experience and we need such a person to hold the post of the prime minister in the crucial period of transition,” said a Wangdi supporter.
The term of the prime minister is five years and Samdhong Rinpoche has been holding the post since 2001. However, he is not seeking a third term in the polls to be held on March 20.
The hills are home to around 2,000 Tibetan refugees.
गुरूङ द्वारा चामलिङको महत्व बयान पहाडको सबै दललाई साथमा लिएर कार्य गर्नेछौः बिमल गुरूङप्रविण खालिंग, कालिमन्युज, गान्तोक,16 मार्च। मुख्यमन्त्री पवन चामलिङसित गत 2 मार्चको दिन उनको सरकारी निवासमा गोर्खाल्याण्ड आन्दोलनलाई लिएर विगत 40 महिनादेखि संघर्षरत गोर्खा जनमुक्ति मोर्चा (गोजमुमो) प्रमुख विमल गुरूङले सिक्किमलाई साथमा लिएरै कार्य अघि बडाउने अठोट गरिसकेको पक्का पक्की भएको छ। आज यहाँको आरीथाङस्थित विशाल गाउँमा आफन्तको मृत्यमा सम्वेदना प्रकट गर्न आइपुगेका अध्यक्ष गुरूङले गोजमुमो सिक्किम शाखा र गोर्खा जनमुक्ति चालक महासंघका प्रतिनिधिहरूसित भेटघाटको क्रममा मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङलाई देशकै एकमात्र गोर्खा मुख्यमन्त्री हुने ठाउँमा आसिन भएकोले उनीसितै सहकार्य गर्नुपर्ने मन्तव्य व्यक्त गरे। उनले मुख्यमन्त्री चामलिङको प्रशंसा गर्दै उनको महत्व भारतीय गोर्खहरूको निम्ति कति महत्वपूर्ण छ त्यो अवगत गराए।
बातचीतको क्रममा गोजमुमो सिक्किम शाखा र गोजचामाको प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई उनले सिक्किम र दार्जीलिङको सम्बन्धमा पुनः न्यायोपन आएको तथा केहीकाल गलत तत्वहरूको कारणले समस्या हुन पुगे पनि अहिले सुधार भएको मन्तव्य व्यक्त गरे।यसैगरि सिक्किममा गोजमुमोको नामलाई प्रयोग गरेर पैसा उठाउने कार्यको निन्दा गर्दै भने गोजमुमोले अहिलेसम्म कसैलाई मागेको छैन अनि हाम्रो कुनै कार्यकर्ता यसमा संलग्न छैन, उनले भने।
यसैगरि गोजमुमो सिक्किम राज्य समिति गठन कुनै राजनैतिक लाभको निम्ति नभएर मुद्दाको समर्थनको निम्ति गरिएको हुनाले यसमा दत्तचित्तले कार्यगर्ने अध्यक्ष गुरूङले सिक्किम शाखाका प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई जानकारी गराएको सिक्किम अध्यक्ष भवनी प्रधानले बताएका छन्।यसैगरि अध्यक्ष गुरूङले सिक्किमको राजनीतिमा कुनैप्रकारको हस्तक्षेप नगर्ने निर्देश पनि राज्य समितिलाई दिएको तथा संगठन विस्तारको क्रममा आवश्यक परेको खण्ड आर्थिक सहयोगको निम्ति सोझै केन्द्रिय समितिसित सम्पर्क गर्ने तर चन्दा र पैसा संग्रह नगर्ने स्पष्ट अडान पनि राखेका छन्। यसैगरि बंगाल विधानसभा चुनावमा आम सहमतिलाई प्राथमिकता दिने र दलीय सहमतीको निम्ति प्रयासरत रहेको उनले बताए। यसको निम्ति आगामी 18 मार्चको दिन सर्वदलीय बैठक आयोजन गरेर निकासा खोज्ने प्रयास गरिने बताए। यसपालीको चुनाउमा बंगाल सरकारलाई बलियो जवाफ दिने रणनीति तयार पारिएको उनले बताए।उनले सिक्किमसित मधुर सम्बन्ध बनाउने उद्देश्यलाई स्पष्ट पार्दै सिक्किमलाई आवश्यक परेको खण्डमा जुनै प्रकारको पनि सहयोग दिन तयार रहेको जानकारी गराए।
बन्दुक उठाउने क्रान्तिकारीले उठाए कलम र लेखे-हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड? अजय दाहालको प्रश्नः हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड? आन्दोलनभित्रको अन्तरविरोधहरूको पर्दाफास
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 16 मार्च। बन्दुकले मात्र छुट्टै राज्य बनाउन सकिने कुरामा विश्वास राख्ने क्रान्तिकारी नेता अजय दहालको विश्वास अब बन्दुक होइन कलमसित छ। एकपल्ट बन्दुक बोकेर आन्दोलन गर्न जङ्गल पस्ने अजय दाहाल अहिले कलम बोकेर पाठकअघि उत्रिसकेका छन्।एक समयको क्रान्तिकारी अनि उग्रवादी नेताकोरूपमा चिनिएका अजय दाहालले अब व्हाई होइन हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड-को विचारलाई पुस्तककोरूपमा अघि सारेका छन्।
तिनले आज आफ्नो दोस्रो पुस्तक हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड-सार्वजनिक गरे। ह्वाइ गोर्खाल्याण्ड भन्दै दिल्ली गुञ्जाइए पनि आन्दोलनकारीहरूबीचको अन्तरविरोधको कारण कोही पनि शिक्षित बनेको देखिएन। यसैकारण अब ह्वाइ होइन हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड-को परिस्थिति बनिसकेको छ। यसै कुरालाई आत्मसात गर्दै अजय दाहालले अब ह्वाइ होइन हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड-को विचारलाई पुस्तककोरूपमा अघि सारेका छन्।
व्हाई गोर्खाल्याण्ड? अहिलेसम्म छुट्टै राज्य माग्नेहरूले यही प्रश्न सोध्दै जनमुद्दालाई प्रतिनिधित्व गरिरहेका छन् तर युवा क्रान्तिकारी नेता अजय दाहालले अब ह्वाइ होइन हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड भन्दै कसरी छुट्टैराज्य स्थापित गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने विचारलाई सार्वजनिक गरेका छन्। एकसमय सशस्त्ररूपले मात्र गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुनसक्छ भन्ने कुरामा विश्वास राख्दै युजिआरएफ गठन गर्ने अनि जङ्गल पसेर आन्दोलन गर्ने अजय दाहाल अहिले आन्दोलनकारीहरूमा रहेको रणनैतिक चेतना र आन्दोलनको रूपरेखा, कार्यशैलीहरूले उपार्जन गरेका अन्तरविरोधहरूलाई शिक्षाकोरुपमा पस्कन सक्षम बनेका छन्। आन्दोलनको क्रममा जेलयात्रासमेत तय गर्ने क्रान्तिकारी नेता अजय दाहाललाई आन्दोलन गर्न अघि आन्दोलनको इतिहास, यसभित्रका चलखेल र आन्दोलनको सही मूल्यबारे सबैलाई शिक्षित गराउन अहिले पुस्तक लेखनमा सक्रिय छन्।
तिनले यस अघि मिशन गोर्खाल्याण्ड नामक पुस्तक प्रकाशित गरिसकेका छन् भने आज जगन्नाथ भवनमा क्रान्तिकारी नेता आर.बी. खतिवड़ा, पदम राई ललित गोलेको हातबाट दोस्रो पुस्तक हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड, गोर्खाल्याण्ड सन्दर्भ अन्तरविरोधहरूको संजालहरूको विश्लेषण-को विमोचन गरे। मुख्य अतिथिकोरूपमा उपस्थित आर्.बी खतिवाड़ाले पुस्तकलाई आन्दोलन र यसलाई सञ्चालन गर्नेहरूको ईमान्दारिता जोख्ने मूल अस्त्र मान्दै भने, मुद्दा एउटै भए पनि विभिन्न सङ्गठनहरूले आ-आफ्नै तरिकाले यसलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने कार्यको फलस्वरूप यतिविघ्न अन्तरविरोधहरू जन्मिएका छन्, जसलाई केलाउनको निम्ति सबै एक ठाउँमा नआए अनि आन्दोलनलाई विथोल्न चालिने विरोधीहरूको चलखेललाई सबैले एकसाथ नबुझे छुट्टैराज्य सम्भव नै छैन।
पुस्तक विमोचनको कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न राजनैतिक सङ्गठनहरूका नेतृत्वको पनि उपस्थिति थियो। क्रामाकपा, गोजमुमो, गोरानिमो, कंग्रेस, गोर्खालीग, सीपीआईएमएल जस्ता राजनैतिक सङ्गठनका प्रतिनिधिहरू मात्र नभएर समाजका वरिष्ट नागरिकहरूको उपस्थिति तान्न दाहाल सक्षम बनेका थिए। दाहालले भने, आन्दोलन गर्न जङ्गल पसियो, धेरै के के भयो। पक्रा पनि परियो अनि जेल पनि बसियो तर आन्दोलनको निम्ति मैले भन्न पर्ने कुरा भनिसकिएको थिएन। जनसभा गरेर, भेटेर कुरा राख्न अस्मभव थियो। यो परिस्थितिले मलाई लेखन क्षेत्रमा तान्यो। तिनले सबैलाई एकसाथ सम्बोधन गर्दै भने, कति जङ्गलमा, कति ओड़ारमा बसेर लेखिएको एकबोरा विचारहरूलाई तिनोटा पुस्तक बनाएको छु। दुइवटा प्रकाशमा आइसक्यो अब एउटा बॉंकी छ। तिनले साहित्यले नै विचार निर्माण गर्ने कुरामा आफ्नो विश्वास रहेकोले अहिले पुस्तक लेखन र यसको प्रकाशनमा अग्रसर रहेको तिनले जनाए।
क्रामाकपाका महासचिव तारामणि राई, गोजमुमोका संस्थापक सदस्यहरू विजय सुन्दास, नोर्देन लामा, गोर्खालीगका त्रिभुवन राई, गोरानिमोका अध्यक्ष दावा पाखरिन, बुद्धिजीबी अरूण आचार्य, नाटककार ललित गोलेले पनि कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गरे। सबैले दलहरूबीचको अन्तर विरोधहरू केलाएर सामुहिकरूपले मुद्दालाई सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्ने अनि यदि सामुहिकरूपले गर्न सक्दैन भने एउटै मुद्दालाई प्रतिनिधित्व गर्नुपर्ने आजको आवश्यकता रहेको जनाए। दावा पाखरिनले भने, गोजमुमोले अहिले सर्वदलीय सभाको आयोजना गर्ने भएको छ, जो नितान्तै समय सान्दर्भिक र बुद्धिमानी कार्य भएको छ। तारामणि राईले भने, भइरहेको आन्दोलनलाई केलाइनुपर्ने अनि भएका भूलहरूबाट नयॉं रणनीति तयार पार्ने संस्कार हुर्कन बॉंकी छ। अजय दाहालले विचार निर्माणको निम्ति जुन पुस्तक तयार पारे यसको क्रम निरन्तर होस्। ललित गोलेले भने, बन्दुक उठाउने हातले कलम उठाएको छ, जो समय सापेक्ष रहेको छ।
तिनले आज आफ्नो दोस्रो पुस्तक हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड-सार्वजनिक गरे। ह्वाइ गोर्खाल्याण्ड भन्दै दिल्ली गुञ्जाइए पनि आन्दोलनकारीहरूबीचको अन्तरविरोधको कारण कोही पनि शिक्षित बनेको देखिएन। यसैकारण अब ह्वाइ होइन हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड-को परिस्थिति बनिसकेको छ। यसै कुरालाई आत्मसात गर्दै अजय दाहालले अब ह्वाइ होइन हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड-को विचारलाई पुस्तककोरूपमा अघि सारेका छन्।
व्हाई गोर्खाल्याण्ड? अहिलेसम्म छुट्टै राज्य माग्नेहरूले यही प्रश्न सोध्दै जनमुद्दालाई प्रतिनिधित्व गरिरहेका छन् तर युवा क्रान्तिकारी नेता अजय दाहालले अब ह्वाइ होइन हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड भन्दै कसरी छुट्टैराज्य स्थापित गर्न सकिन्छ भन्ने विचारलाई सार्वजनिक गरेका छन्। एकसमय सशस्त्ररूपले मात्र गोर्खाल्याण्ड हुनसक्छ भन्ने कुरामा विश्वास राख्दै युजिआरएफ गठन गर्ने अनि जङ्गल पसेर आन्दोलन गर्ने अजय दाहाल अहिले आन्दोलनकारीहरूमा रहेको रणनैतिक चेतना र आन्दोलनको रूपरेखा, कार्यशैलीहरूले उपार्जन गरेका अन्तरविरोधहरूलाई शिक्षाकोरुपमा पस्कन सक्षम बनेका छन्। आन्दोलनको क्रममा जेलयात्रासमेत तय गर्ने क्रान्तिकारी नेता अजय दाहाललाई आन्दोलन गर्न अघि आन्दोलनको इतिहास, यसभित्रका चलखेल र आन्दोलनको सही मूल्यबारे सबैलाई शिक्षित गराउन अहिले पुस्तक लेखनमा सक्रिय छन्।
तिनले यस अघि मिशन गोर्खाल्याण्ड नामक पुस्तक प्रकाशित गरिसकेका छन् भने आज जगन्नाथ भवनमा क्रान्तिकारी नेता आर.बी. खतिवड़ा, पदम राई ललित गोलेको हातबाट दोस्रो पुस्तक हाउ गोर्खाल्याण्ड, गोर्खाल्याण्ड सन्दर्भ अन्तरविरोधहरूको संजालहरूको विश्लेषण-को विमोचन गरे। मुख्य अतिथिकोरूपमा उपस्थित आर्.बी खतिवाड़ाले पुस्तकलाई आन्दोलन र यसलाई सञ्चालन गर्नेहरूको ईमान्दारिता जोख्ने मूल अस्त्र मान्दै भने, मुद्दा एउटै भए पनि विभिन्न सङ्गठनहरूले आ-आफ्नै तरिकाले यसलाई सम्बोधन गर्ने कार्यको फलस्वरूप यतिविघ्न अन्तरविरोधहरू जन्मिएका छन्, जसलाई केलाउनको निम्ति सबै एक ठाउँमा नआए अनि आन्दोलनलाई विथोल्न चालिने विरोधीहरूको चलखेललाई सबैले एकसाथ नबुझे छुट्टैराज्य सम्भव नै छैन।
पुस्तक विमोचनको कार्यक्रममा विभिन्न राजनैतिक सङ्गठनहरूका नेतृत्वको पनि उपस्थिति थियो। क्रामाकपा, गोजमुमो, गोरानिमो, कंग्रेस, गोर्खालीग, सीपीआईएमएल जस्ता राजनैतिक सङ्गठनका प्रतिनिधिहरू मात्र नभएर समाजका वरिष्ट नागरिकहरूको उपस्थिति तान्न दाहाल सक्षम बनेका थिए। दाहालले भने, आन्दोलन गर्न जङ्गल पसियो, धेरै के के भयो। पक्रा पनि परियो अनि जेल पनि बसियो तर आन्दोलनको निम्ति मैले भन्न पर्ने कुरा भनिसकिएको थिएन। जनसभा गरेर, भेटेर कुरा राख्न अस्मभव थियो। यो परिस्थितिले मलाई लेखन क्षेत्रमा तान्यो। तिनले सबैलाई एकसाथ सम्बोधन गर्दै भने, कति जङ्गलमा, कति ओड़ारमा बसेर लेखिएको एकबोरा विचारहरूलाई तिनोटा पुस्तक बनाएको छु। दुइवटा प्रकाशमा आइसक्यो अब एउटा बॉंकी छ। तिनले साहित्यले नै विचार निर्माण गर्ने कुरामा आफ्नो विश्वास रहेकोले अहिले पुस्तक लेखन र यसको प्रकाशनमा अग्रसर रहेको तिनले जनाए।
क्रामाकपाका महासचिव तारामणि राई, गोजमुमोका संस्थापक सदस्यहरू विजय सुन्दास, नोर्देन लामा, गोर्खालीगका त्रिभुवन राई, गोरानिमोका अध्यक्ष दावा पाखरिन, बुद्धिजीबी अरूण आचार्य, नाटककार ललित गोलेले पनि कार्यक्रमलाई सम्बोधन गरे। सबैले दलहरूबीचको अन्तर विरोधहरू केलाएर सामुहिकरूपले मुद्दालाई सम्बोधन गर्नुपर्ने अनि यदि सामुहिकरूपले गर्न सक्दैन भने एउटै मुद्दालाई प्रतिनिधित्व गर्नुपर्ने आजको आवश्यकता रहेको जनाए। दावा पाखरिनले भने, गोजमुमोले अहिले सर्वदलीय सभाको आयोजना गर्ने भएको छ, जो नितान्तै समय सान्दर्भिक र बुद्धिमानी कार्य भएको छ। तारामणि राईले भने, भइरहेको आन्दोलनलाई केलाइनुपर्ने अनि भएका भूलहरूबाट नयॉं रणनीति तयार पार्ने संस्कार हुर्कन बॉंकी छ। अजय दाहालले विचार निर्माणको निम्ति जुन पुस्तक तयार पारे यसको क्रम निरन्तर होस्। ललित गोलेले भने, बन्दुक उठाउने हातले कलम उठाएको छ, जो समय सापेक्ष रहेको छ।
मोर्चाले उम्मेद्वार दिए कंग्रेसले नदिने
मनोज बोगटी, कालिमन्युज, कालेबुङ, 16 मार्च। मोर्चाले उम्मेद्वार दिए कंग्रेसले नदिने भएको छ भने मोर्चाले उम्मेद्वार नदिए कंग्रेसलाई सघाउने अपील गरिने हिल कंग्रेसका अध्यक्ष के.बी छेत्रीले जनाएका छन्। 18 मार्चको दिन यता मोर्चाले सबैदललाई बैठकमा बोलाएको छ। सबै बसेर विधानसभा चुनाउबारे महत्वरूपूर्ण निर्णय गर्न मोर्चाले पहल चालिसकेको छ भने उता बृहत दल रहेकोले मोर्चासित विभिन्न दलहरूको भेटघाटको कार्यक्रम पनि निरन्तर रहेको सूत्रले बताएको छ।
हिल कंग्रेसको एक टोलीले पनि कुमानीमा विमल गुरूङसित भेटघाट गरेको थाहा लागेको छ। चुनाउमा कंग्रेसलाई उम्मेद्वारलाई विजयी बनाउने सम्बन्धमा कुराकानी भए पनि मोर्चा र कंग्रेसबीच गोर्खाल्याण्डको सवाललाई लिएर सम्झौताको परिस्थिति बनेको सूत्रको रिपोर्ट छ।
यता मोर्चाले सबै दललाई बैठक बोलाएकोले कंग्रेस मोर्चाको यही बैठकलाई हेरेर बसेको हिल कंग्रेसका अध्यक्ष केबी छेत्रीले जनाएका छन्। विश्वस्त सूत्रद्वारा थाहा लागे अनुसार कंग्रेसले दार्जीलिङ क्षेत्रको तिनोटा आसनको निम्ति आफ्ना उम्मेद्वारहरू तयार पारिसकेको छ। उनीहरूमा खरसाङबाट सरोज खत्री, दार्जीलिङबाट हेम राई अनि कालेबुङबाट शान्ति शर्मा रहेका छन्।
यसबारे प्रश्न गर्दा छेत्रीले आफूहरूले डीसीसीमा आफ्ना उम्मेद्वारको नाम छनौट गरेर पठाइसकेको स्पष्ट पारे। तर तिनले भने, 17 तारिक नै हाम्रा उम्मेद्वारहरूको नाम अघि आउन सक्छ। यदि मोर्चाले कोही पनि उम्मेद्वार दिन्छ भने हामी हाम्रो उम्मेद्वार नदिन पनि सक्छौं। मोर्चाले दिएन भने हामीले मोर्चालाई कंग्रेसलाई सघाउने कुरामा अपील पनि गरेका छौं। विश्वस्त सूत्रद्वारा थाहा लागे अनुसार कंग्रेसले मोर्चाका प्रतिनिधिहरूलाई कुमानीमा नै पुगि भेटघाट गरिसकेको छ।
कंग्रेसलाई सघाउनको निम्ति मोर्चासित कुरा राखिए पनि मोर्चापक्षबाट जबसम्म कंग्रेसले गोर्खाल्याण्डको निम्ति स्पष्ट कुरा राख्दैन तबसम्म यसबारे सोंच्न नसक्ने कुरा राखिएको जानकारी पाइएको छ। कंग्रेसका प्रतिनिधिहरूले दिल्लीका कंग्रेसी नेताहरूको मुखबाट गोर्खाल्याण्डमाथि स्पष्ट कुरा नराखेसम्म यसपल्ट विधानसभा चुनाउमा मोर्चा मात्र होइन कुनै पनि दलले सघाउने कुरा आउन सक्ने सम्भावना देखिएको छैन। यता 18मा सबै दलले विधानसभा उम्मेद्वारमाथि कुरा खुलस्त गर्नसक्छ। कंग्रेस मोर्चा लगयात सबै दलले सघाउनसक्ने आशामा बसेको छ।
Suicide pact
TT, Jalpaiguri: A mother and her teenaged daughter committed suicide at Kumlai Tea Estate near Malbazar on Wednesday. Police said Sumitra Oriya, 35, and Anima, 15, had consumed poison at their residence on Tuesday night. They were taken to the Malbazar subdivisional hospital and later shifted to the Jalpaiguri district hospital where they died the next day.
Red Alert In Japan: An Unfolding Nuclear Catastrophe
By Stephen Lendman, 16 March, 2011, Countercurrents.org: Since March 12, a potentially unprecedented catastrophe has been unfolding in Japan, despite official denials and corroborating media reports - managed, not real news. Believe none of them. Nonetheless, on March 15, Reuters suggested what's ongoing, headlining: "Japan braces for potential radiation catastrophe," saying:
"Japan faced potential catastrophe on Tuesday" after a fourth Fukushima reactor explosion, fire, and high-level radiation release, posing grave human health risks to an expanding area, including Toyko's 20 million population 170 miles south.
France's Nuclear Safety Authority rated the disaster a six on the international seven-point nuclear accident scale. Clearly, it's the worst ever. Europe's energy commissioner, Guenther Oettinger called it an "apocalypse," telling the European Parliament that Toyko lost control of events.
Independent experts agree. It's an unprecedented disaster spreading globally. All six Fukushima reactors are crippled, four of them spewing unknown amounts of radiation.
On March 15, city officials said levels were 20 times above normal, later stating they'd dropped, downplaying the risk. Government authorities also claimed Fukushima levels were falling. For residents throughout the country, believing them is hazardous to their health, given the gravity of the situation, likely deteriorating, not improving.
In Maebashi, 60 miles north of Tokyo and Chiba prefecture further south, Kyodo News reported radiation levels 10 times normal, perhaps downplaying much higher ones. Even Prime Minister Naoto Kan was alarmed, saying "(t)he possibility of further radioactive leakage is heightening," meaning very likely it reached extremely hazardous levels. Earlier official reports downplayed the danger.
According to Hokkaido University Professor Koji Yamazaki, "Radioactive material will reach Tokyo but it is not harmful to human bodies because it will be dissipated by the time it gets" there.
False! Any amount of radiation is harmful. Moreover, it's cumulative, causing cancer if one human gene is affected. Depending on the type and amount, it damages chromosomes and DNA. In her landmark book, "Nuclear Madness," Helen Caldicott said:
"Lower doses of radiation can cause abnormalities of the immune system and can also cause leukemia five to ten years after exposure; (other) cancer(s), twelve to sixty years later; and genetic diseases and congenital anomalies in future generations."
Moreover, "nuclear radiation is forever," says Caldicott. It doesn't dissipate or disappear. Downplaying its danger is hypocritical and outrageous. For a scientist like Yamazaki, it's scandalous.
In 1953, Nobel laureate George Wald told students (including this writer) that "no amount of radiation is safe," explaining that "Every dose is an overdose."
Radiation is unforgiving. Exposure to elevated levels for short periods is harmful. If longer, cancer and other potentially fatal illnesses may develop. It's why using nuclear reactors to generate power is irresponsible, in fact, crazy.
On March 15, New York Times writers Hiroko Tabuchi, David Sanger and Keith Bradsher headlined, "Fire and Damage at Japanese Plant Raise Risk of Nuclear Disaster," saying:
Fukushima's operator Toyko Electric Power (TEPCO), a notorious industry scofflaw, "expressed extreme concern that (they) were close to losing control over the fuel melting that has been ongoing in three (Daiichi) reactors...." After Unit 2 exploded, "pressure had dropped in the 'suppression pool" - a section at the bottom of the reactor that converts steam to water and is part of the critical function of keeping the nuclear fuel protected."
Afterward, radiation levels soared. According to Hiroaki Koide, senior reactor engineering specialist at Kyoto University's Research Reactor Institute:
"We are on the brink. We are now facing the worst-case scenario. We can assume that the containment vessel at Reactor No. 2 is already breached. If there is heavy melting inside the reactor, large amounts of radiation will most definitely be released."
Moreover, a plant official said breaching would make it hard to impossible to maintain emergency seawater cooling for an extended period, and if workers are evacuated, "nuclear fuel in all three reactors (will likely) melt down," causing "wholesale releases of radioactive material...."
Further, already over 200 magnitude five or greater aftershocks have occurred, and authorities warned of a 70% chance of a magnitude seven or greater one in days, perhaps making a bad situation much worse. In addition, chief cabinet secretary Yukido Edano said previous radioactivity levels were misreported in microsieverts instead of millisieverts - 1,000 times stronger. Earlier he said the situation isn't similar to Chernobyl. In fact, potentially it's far graver, unprecedented.
Nuclear experts also explained that even without a full meltdown (perhaps ongoing), today's emergency will last a year or longer because of problems cooling the affected cores. As a result, long-term evacuations will be necessary. Already, nearly 500,000 people are affected, a total likely to grow, besides vast destruction, spreading contamination, growing threat to human health, and tens of thousands still missing, by now presumed dead, though not reported.
"Red Alert: Radiation Rising and Heading South in Japan"
On March 15, Stratfor Global Intelligence headlined that danger, saying:
After more explosions and risk of one or more full meltdowns (perhaps ongoing though unreported), "(t)he nuclear reactor situation in Japan had deteriorated significantly." Even Japan's Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) said Fukushima's No. 2 reactor radiation level rose 163-fold in three hours. At No. 3, it was 400-fold.
Muted Japanese media report rising radiation levels south and southwest, already reaching Tokyo and numerous prefectures. "The government says radiation levels have reached levels hazardous to human health," omitting that any level causes harm.
Reports "suggest a dramatic worsening as well as a wider spread than at any time since the emergency began." All Japan and the Pacific rim are threatened. "The situation at the (affected) facility is uncertain, but clearly deteriorating." How gravely, the fullness of time will determine.
A Final Comment
On March 12, nuclear expert Mark Grossman headlined, "Hydrogen, Zirconium, Flashbulbs - and Nuclear Craziness," saying:
Coolant loss causes hydrogen gas eruptions "because of a highly volatile substance called zirconium," chosen "in the 1940's and 50's" to build nuclear plants, "as the material (for) rods into which radioactive fuel would be loaded."
Each plant has "30,000 to 40,000 rods - composed of twenty tones of zirconium." It alone works well, allowing "neutrons from the fuel pellets in the rods to pass freely between the rods and thus a nuclear chain reaction to be sustained."
But not without "a huge problem...." Zirconium "is highly volatile and when hot will explode spontaneously upon contact with air, water or steam." With tons used in nuclear plants, in "a compound called 'zircaloy,' it "clads tens of thousands of fuel rods."
Any interruption of coolant builds quickly. However, because of zirconium's explosive power, the equivalent of nitroglycerine, it catches fire and explodes "at a temperature of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, well below the 5,000 degree temperature of a meltdown."
Before it happens, it can cause hydrogen explosions "by drawing oxygen from water and steam letting it off," what happened at Fukushima. They, in turn, create more heat, "bringing the zirconium itself closer and closer to its explosive level," what may, in fact, have happened, perhaps bad enough to cause a full meltdown.
Using tons of explosive material like zirconium is "absolutely crazy." Doing it makes every nuclear plant a ticking time bomb, vulnerable to explode, spewing lethal poisons into the atmosphere.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
(source:http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/)
TT, Jalpaiguri: A mother and her teenaged daughter committed suicide at Kumlai Tea Estate near Malbazar on Wednesday. Police said Sumitra Oriya, 35, and Anima, 15, had consumed poison at their residence on Tuesday night. They were taken to the Malbazar subdivisional hospital and later shifted to the Jalpaiguri district hospital where they died the next day.
Red Alert In Japan: An Unfolding Nuclear Catastrophe
By Stephen Lendman, 16 March, 2011, Countercurrents.org: Since March 12, a potentially unprecedented catastrophe has been unfolding in Japan, despite official denials and corroborating media reports - managed, not real news. Believe none of them. Nonetheless, on March 15, Reuters suggested what's ongoing, headlining: "Japan braces for potential radiation catastrophe," saying:
"Japan faced potential catastrophe on Tuesday" after a fourth Fukushima reactor explosion, fire, and high-level radiation release, posing grave human health risks to an expanding area, including Toyko's 20 million population 170 miles south.
France's Nuclear Safety Authority rated the disaster a six on the international seven-point nuclear accident scale. Clearly, it's the worst ever. Europe's energy commissioner, Guenther Oettinger called it an "apocalypse," telling the European Parliament that Toyko lost control of events.
Independent experts agree. It's an unprecedented disaster spreading globally. All six Fukushima reactors are crippled, four of them spewing unknown amounts of radiation.
On March 15, city officials said levels were 20 times above normal, later stating they'd dropped, downplaying the risk. Government authorities also claimed Fukushima levels were falling. For residents throughout the country, believing them is hazardous to their health, given the gravity of the situation, likely deteriorating, not improving.
In Maebashi, 60 miles north of Tokyo and Chiba prefecture further south, Kyodo News reported radiation levels 10 times normal, perhaps downplaying much higher ones. Even Prime Minister Naoto Kan was alarmed, saying "(t)he possibility of further radioactive leakage is heightening," meaning very likely it reached extremely hazardous levels. Earlier official reports downplayed the danger.
According to Hokkaido University Professor Koji Yamazaki, "Radioactive material will reach Tokyo but it is not harmful to human bodies because it will be dissipated by the time it gets" there.
False! Any amount of radiation is harmful. Moreover, it's cumulative, causing cancer if one human gene is affected. Depending on the type and amount, it damages chromosomes and DNA. In her landmark book, "Nuclear Madness," Helen Caldicott said:
"Lower doses of radiation can cause abnormalities of the immune system and can also cause leukemia five to ten years after exposure; (other) cancer(s), twelve to sixty years later; and genetic diseases and congenital anomalies in future generations."
Moreover, "nuclear radiation is forever," says Caldicott. It doesn't dissipate or disappear. Downplaying its danger is hypocritical and outrageous. For a scientist like Yamazaki, it's scandalous.
In 1953, Nobel laureate George Wald told students (including this writer) that "no amount of radiation is safe," explaining that "Every dose is an overdose."
Radiation is unforgiving. Exposure to elevated levels for short periods is harmful. If longer, cancer and other potentially fatal illnesses may develop. It's why using nuclear reactors to generate power is irresponsible, in fact, crazy.
On March 15, New York Times writers Hiroko Tabuchi, David Sanger and Keith Bradsher headlined, "Fire and Damage at Japanese Plant Raise Risk of Nuclear Disaster," saying:
Fukushima's operator Toyko Electric Power (TEPCO), a notorious industry scofflaw, "expressed extreme concern that (they) were close to losing control over the fuel melting that has been ongoing in three (Daiichi) reactors...." After Unit 2 exploded, "pressure had dropped in the 'suppression pool" - a section at the bottom of the reactor that converts steam to water and is part of the critical function of keeping the nuclear fuel protected."
Afterward, radiation levels soared. According to Hiroaki Koide, senior reactor engineering specialist at Kyoto University's Research Reactor Institute:
"We are on the brink. We are now facing the worst-case scenario. We can assume that the containment vessel at Reactor No. 2 is already breached. If there is heavy melting inside the reactor, large amounts of radiation will most definitely be released."
Moreover, a plant official said breaching would make it hard to impossible to maintain emergency seawater cooling for an extended period, and if workers are evacuated, "nuclear fuel in all three reactors (will likely) melt down," causing "wholesale releases of radioactive material...."
Further, already over 200 magnitude five or greater aftershocks have occurred, and authorities warned of a 70% chance of a magnitude seven or greater one in days, perhaps making a bad situation much worse. In addition, chief cabinet secretary Yukido Edano said previous radioactivity levels were misreported in microsieverts instead of millisieverts - 1,000 times stronger. Earlier he said the situation isn't similar to Chernobyl. In fact, potentially it's far graver, unprecedented.
Nuclear experts also explained that even without a full meltdown (perhaps ongoing), today's emergency will last a year or longer because of problems cooling the affected cores. As a result, long-term evacuations will be necessary. Already, nearly 500,000 people are affected, a total likely to grow, besides vast destruction, spreading contamination, growing threat to human health, and tens of thousands still missing, by now presumed dead, though not reported.
"Red Alert: Radiation Rising and Heading South in Japan"
On March 15, Stratfor Global Intelligence headlined that danger, saying:
After more explosions and risk of one or more full meltdowns (perhaps ongoing though unreported), "(t)he nuclear reactor situation in Japan had deteriorated significantly." Even Japan's Nuclear Industrial Safety Agency (NISA) said Fukushima's No. 2 reactor radiation level rose 163-fold in three hours. At No. 3, it was 400-fold.
Muted Japanese media report rising radiation levels south and southwest, already reaching Tokyo and numerous prefectures. "The government says radiation levels have reached levels hazardous to human health," omitting that any level causes harm.
Reports "suggest a dramatic worsening as well as a wider spread than at any time since the emergency began." All Japan and the Pacific rim are threatened. "The situation at the (affected) facility is uncertain, but clearly deteriorating." How gravely, the fullness of time will determine.
A Final Comment
On March 12, nuclear expert Mark Grossman headlined, "Hydrogen, Zirconium, Flashbulbs - and Nuclear Craziness," saying:
Coolant loss causes hydrogen gas eruptions "because of a highly volatile substance called zirconium," chosen "in the 1940's and 50's" to build nuclear plants, "as the material (for) rods into which radioactive fuel would be loaded."
Each plant has "30,000 to 40,000 rods - composed of twenty tones of zirconium." It alone works well, allowing "neutrons from the fuel pellets in the rods to pass freely between the rods and thus a nuclear chain reaction to be sustained."
But not without "a huge problem...." Zirconium "is highly volatile and when hot will explode spontaneously upon contact with air, water or steam." With tons used in nuclear plants, in "a compound called 'zircaloy,' it "clads tens of thousands of fuel rods."
Any interruption of coolant builds quickly. However, because of zirconium's explosive power, the equivalent of nitroglycerine, it catches fire and explodes "at a temperature of 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit, well below the 5,000 degree temperature of a meltdown."
Before it happens, it can cause hydrogen explosions "by drawing oxygen from water and steam letting it off," what happened at Fukushima. They, in turn, create more heat, "bringing the zirconium itself closer and closer to its explosive level," what may, in fact, have happened, perhaps bad enough to cause a full meltdown.
Using tons of explosive material like zirconium is "absolutely crazy." Doing it makes every nuclear plant a ticking time bomb, vulnerable to explode, spewing lethal poisons into the atmosphere.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. Also visit his blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and Saturdays and Sundays at noon. All programs are archived for easy listening.
(source:http://www.progressiveradionetwork.com/the-progressive-news-hour/)
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