Showing posts with label international news. Show all posts
Showing posts with label international news. Show all posts

Bimal Gurung on suspicious movement of Rohingyas in the region

12:51 PM

PRESS RELEASE:-

The Darjeeling, Terai and Duars touches three international boundaries - Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Tibet (China) is also located right above our region. Given which the significance and importance of this highly sensitive and strategic border area, that connects the Indian mainland to the rest of North East India, cannot be overstated.

Of late, I have been hearing ground reports from our cadres about suspicious movements of new people in our region, many of whom reportedly do not even speak Hindi, and they fear that these people are Rohingyas who are now being gradually pushed into our region with the intention of diluting the existing Gorkha, Adivasi, Rajbonshi and Indian Bengali population. It seems like sinister plans are afoot to further marginalize the original inhabitants of these land, and render us homeless.

It has been widely acknowledged that Rohingyas pose a national security threat, and it seems like certain political elements are allowing them to settle here for one and only reason - 'vote-bank' politics. Despite the central intelligence agencies having repeatedly raised the national security risk posed by Rohingyas, some political outfits are allowing politics of votes to supersede national interests.

I am hopeful that the Honourable Prime Minister and Union Home Minister will kindly take cognizance of the situation developing in our region, and do the needful to put an end to these sinister designs.

I request everyone living in our region to kindly remain vigilante and report all such suspicious settlements that may be coming up near you.

New York Gorkhas for Gorkhaland

11:33 AM

Writes: Indira Chongbang

New York Gorkha Welfare Society East Cost NY organized a BBQ program in New York in order to support the Gorkhland movement and for the solidarity from the foreign land to pass the message we are united for the Gorkhaland regardless of the physical distance and united together throughout the world.

The gathering was a symbol of the single voice they want to live and thrive in their nation with equality and respect which is possible only if their demand of Gorkhaland will be granted. They tried to disseminate their emotions towards the people and spread their sentiments through play cards and a banner stating they stand along with the people of Darjeeling and against the violations of human rights which are disrupting due to the police brutality and inhumanity.

It was motioned to be united among the Gorkha diaspora who live in the United States and scattered around the globe, but they are together for the common cause of Gorkhaland wherever they are. According to the sources, about 1200 people have sacrificed their lives for this same mission and they have been fighting for 110 years in the history demanding the independent state of their motherland India. Though they are considered as the migrated Nepalese, their ancestors already have spent the numerous years even many of them don't know which part of Nepal they belong from.

Gorkhaland is the dream of the West Bengal people of India.  The mission of the movement which carries the long history along with it.The demand of this separate Gorkhaland state has been raised since 1907 after the  Hillmen's Association in Darjeeling submitted a memorandum to Minto-Morley Reforms. After then different groups raised their voices. In the 1980s, Subhash Ghisingh raised the demand for the separate state called Gorkhaland within India to be carved out of the hills of Darjeeling and areas of Dooars and Siliguri Terai contiguous to Darjeeling.

The solidarity of the Darjeeling people around the globe is also in tribute the martyrs who lost their lives during the movement. People around the world who are in favor of humanity and against the violence have joined the hands together with them directly and indirectly. The own country is against its people making the blockage and letting the people live without internet and enough foods. It is against the humanity and violence of human rights. The Darjeeling, the beautiful place, and the attraction of tourists is in turmoil and inflicted by its own state and national leaders.

Seven agitators killed from recent violence,  several injured, human rights are mishandled, the voices have been suppressed, the protestors are arrested, the way of communications, internet and networks are blocked even the mainstream media are not covering the news to bring the truth to this world. This is the panic attack of human rights and it hurts not only the residence of that place but also the people who know what is going on and how the people are living with one-third of food.

This group in New York started their campaign to support the Gorkhaland and to be united toward this mission together in the world. They organized the candle lights for the condolences of the people who lost their lives in New York. On 30th Aug the people of Darjeeling who are scattered around the globe; marched in front of the United Nation worldwide. No attention has been paid to the foreign concerns so far yet though the livelihood of the people has been vicious due to rippling the important aspects of survival like basic foods, sanitation, supplies, education and other needs. I wish and pray for the people of Darjeeling and my support for the humanity and aspiration to the upcoming days stand along with their demand to let them live enjoying their human rights with respect, dignity, and equality.

First International Nepali Poetry Festival held Successfully

6:55 PM

The first ever International Nepali Poetry Festival was held yeaterday at the South Asian  University (SAU), New  Delhi yesterday.  The one-day  festival  was organised by Nepali student community of the university, in collaboration with the university’s  Institute  of South Asian  Studies (ISAS) and book  club. The poetry festival was supported  by  the BP Koirala Foundation under  the  Nepal  Embassy  in New Delhi.

The  programme  began with  Dr.  Kavita  Sharma,  President,  SAU,  welcoming  all guest  and  participants.  She shared her  vision  of  South  Asia and underscored the  importance  of poetic  exchanges  between  countries in  the  region. The  Nepali Ambassador to India, Deep  Kumar Upadhyay applauded the efforts of the organising team for their efforts and encouraged the participants to engage themselves more in such events in future.

The  festival  proceeded  to  explore  poetic  imaginings in Nepal and  India through  a  conversation between Professor Abhi Subedhi, renowned writer  and  critic from  Nepal, with  Shri Ashok  Vajpeyi,  poet and  former  Chairman  of the  Lalit  Kala  Akademi of India. Featured were  panels  on  South-Asiaism - first  on  the  various South  Asian  translations of  Pablo  Neruda’s poems and  later  on  feminist  writings in  various languages  of  South Asia:    Bangla,  Daree,  Hindi,  Urdu, Sinhala,  Tamil,  Telugu  and  Nepali.

The session  was  followed  by  the  discussion  on  Nepali  session  which was  the  major  attraction  of the festival. The  Nepali session  began  with the  discussion  on  ‘Nepali  Poetry  outside  Nepal’ by  the  panelist which included noted  poet  Dr.  Rajendra Bhandari  from  Sikkim,  Daibaki Timilsina  from  Assam, and  Raja Puniani from  Darjeeling. The  second  session of the peotry festival focused on the discussion of various  aspects of Nepali poetry  by Bhupinder Adhikari  from  Dehradhun,  Madan Puskar recipient  Ram  Lal Joshi from  Nepal and  Sukul  Pradhan  from Delhi.

Later on, Vishnu  Gurung  from  All  India Radio,  Dr.  Naba Raj  Lamsal from  Radio  Nepal, and  Jogen Darnal from  Darjeeling  expressed  their  views on  ‘Poetry  in  Media and  Academia’. The  invited panel guests enthralled the audience with their captivating poetries that focused on different issues and themes.

Sarubhkata  Shrestha, the Chancellor of Nepal  Academy  of  Music and  Drama, delivered  the  most  awaited keynote  address  on  ‘Contemporary  issues  on  Nepali  Poetry.’

The twenty young poets who came  from  different  parts  of Nepal  and  India also entertained  the large  gatherings by  their poetry  recitation. Besides, there  were  also  video recitation from  different  parts  of the  world, including China,  USA,  Israel,  and  Norway. The  program  was streamed live through DC-Nepal and was coordinated by Ram N. Shrestha and Krishna Sharma.

Via TheDC

UNESCO World Heritage Status for Khangchendzonga/Kanchenjunga National park Sikkim

9:44 PM
Sikkim Gangtok 17th July 2016: Congratulations to The Ministry of Environment and Ministry of Culture, Govt of India and the Govt of Sikkim for successfully ushering in Khangchendzonga (Kanchenjunga) National park as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

World Heritage Sites fall under three categories: cultural, natural and mixed. These sites are a legacy from the past, what we live with today and what we pass on to future generations as irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration, as stated by UNESCO. Presently there are more than 1,031 World Heritage sites, of which 802 are cultural, 197 natural and 32 mixed. India has 32 sites: 25 cultural and seven natural.

India's two ministries, MoEFCC through its Wildlife Institute and the Ministry of Culture through its World Heritage advisory body proposed, that Khangchendzonga National Park be inscribed under the mixed category.
UNESCO World Heritage Status for Khangchendzonga National park Sikkim
UNESCO World Heritage Status for Khangchendzonga/Kanchenjunga  National park Sikkim

This category is meant for sites that are an outstanding example of a traditional human settlement living sustainably with ecosystems, with treasure of invaluable traditional knowledge and culture that highlights human interaction with the environment. Such heritage sites have the sort of intangible features that provide an encyclopedia of lessons for vulnerable communities under change of ecosystems. Such lessons are of immense value today when we are faced with the challenge of climate change.

Situated in the eastern Indian state of Sikkim, Khangchendzonga National Park exhibits one of the widest altitudinal ranges of any protected area worldwide and occupies a third of the state's area.

Mount Khangchendzonga and park around are endowed with deep cultural meanings and sacred significance. The multi-layered landscape of Khangchendzonga is sacred to both Buddhists and Lepchas as Mayel Lyang. The expanse represents a unique example of co-existence and exchange between different religious traditions and ethnicities, constituting the base for Sikkimese identity and unity.

The ensemble of sacred texts, the still-performed rituals, the oral history and traditional practices around Mount Khangchendzonga - third highest peak in the world - strengthen human bonds with nature. It conveys and manifests the cultural meanings projected onto natural resources and the indigenous and specific Buddhist cosmogony that developed in the Himalayan region.

The indigenous traditional knowledge of the properties of local plants and the local ecosystem, which is peculiar to local people, is on the verge of disappearing and represents a precious source of information on the healing properties of several endemic plants. The traditional and ritual management system of forests and the natural resources of the land pertaining to Buddhist monasteries express the active dimension of Buddhist cosmogonies and could contribute to the property's effective management.

The participation of Sikkim, which has already shown its extraordinary stewardship by totally converting itself into an organic farming state, in developing the proposal has provided a "bottom-up" approach to the process.

Two international bodies of experts evaluated India's proposal. The International Union for Conservation of Nature assessed the area's natural values and its outstanding universal values. The International Council on Monuments and Sites evaluated the cultural aspects of the nominated property, both visible and invisible.

Both bodies had found undeniable outstanding universal natural and cultural values and clear tangible and intangible authenticity and integrity of the 178,400 hectares of this Himalaya global biodiversity hot spot that has with a buffer zone of some 114,712 hectares.

KNP has now become the second largest World Heritage Site in India after the Western Ghats, which were inscribed in 2012.

Via TheDC

SAS Soldier chopped and killed 3 ISIS terrorists with khukuri

11:35 AM
A Special Air Service (SAS) soldier reportedly stabbed to death three ISIS members with a traditional Gorkha knife when the militants tried to abduct him in Fallujah. The SAS soldiers are reportedly fighting Daesh (as ISIS is also known as) in Libya and Iraq, advising curter attacks and also occasionally taking part in fighting.

The SAS has been operating in Iraq for years. They are responsible for assassinating  Jihadis high-up in the ranks of terrorist organizations and in assisting other forces fighting against the ISIS.

According to reports, earlier in June this year, a SAS snipper debarred two men with a single bullet from carrying out a car bomb attack.

According to a report by Daily Star, a SAS soldier was caught in a stand-off with the ISIS members with an Iraqi team after the jihadists bombed a factory in Fallujah. Several Iraqi soldiers were killed, and four were seriously injured in the face-off.
Gorkha Soldier chopped and killed 3 ISIS terrorists with Khukri
Gorkha Soldier 
The soldier, who quickly went out of ammunition, was left only with the famous Khukuri knife to defend himself.

The 27-year-old Hindu Gorkha soldier had apparently been gifted the Khukuri knife by another British Gorkha soldier.

According to a SAS source,

“As soon as his ammunition was expended, the IS gunmen tried to storm him. As they went to grab him he unsheathed his kukri and began slashing away…He decapitated the first gunman, slit the throat of second and killed another with a third blow. He then sliced away at three others. The IS gunmen fled in panic allowing the SAS soldier to carry the injured men to safety….He expected to be killed but thought he’d take as many of the enemy with him. When he was reunited with Iraqi troops they thought the he was seriously wounded because he was covered in blood but he explained that the blood wasn’t his.”

He added later,

“He cleaned his knife, grabbed some more ammo and then led another Iraqi special forces team into battle.”

Via thelotpot


Nepal Disallows Celebration of HH Dalai Lama's Birthday

11:39 PM
6th July 2016 The Songtsen Brikuti School in Boudhanath in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu where the Tibetan community was scheduled to celebrate the 81st birthday of the Dalai Lama was swarmed by Nepalese police early this morning, disrupting the celebrations and even detaining close to 30 Tibetans including the Tibetan Settlement Officer. The celebratory event was forced to be canceled.

The developments came as a surprise move by the police, considering the fact that proper permission had earlier been granted by concerned Nepalese authorities for the celebratory function, according to a source who wish to remain anonymous. The source further adds that, “the Police threatened the Tibetan people to leave the venue immediately or else face detention.” Currently, the detained Tibetans are being held at the Brikuti Mandap police station in Boudha area.
Nepal Disallows Celebration of HH Dalai Lama's Birthday
Nepal Disallows Celebration of HH Dalai Lama's Birthday
The Nepalese police blocked the main gate to the school and were seen nudging and shoving Tibetans instructing them to abandon the event. Pema, a Tibetan youth living in Boudha, who was at the venue spoke with Phayul about the situation and described the incident as “hellish”. “Anyone who is wearing Tibetan dress or wearing monastic robes is detained in the vicinity. We were merely celebrating the birthday of our beloved leader, it is not political. Besides, the same police were smiling and accepting our help and donations during the earth quake last year when Tibetans and Nepalese people were working together for relief efforts in the aftermath. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion has turned into a sad one,” Pema lamented.

The birthday celebration is an important date in the calendar for the Tibetans and more so for the Tibetan refugees who are increasingly targeted by the police under pressure from China.

Nepal which is home to more than 20,000 Tibetans who either came across the border or were born to settlers, are finding it hard to sustain a free and normal existence. The Nepalese government’s treatment of the Tibetan refugees has taken a turn for the worse in the last few years with China pumping in cheap interest loans and relaxed FDR (Foreign Direct Investment) schemes in exchange for its will to be imposed. China’s FDR in Nepal has shot to $128 million in 2015 up from $24 million in 2014 besides perks such as a fleet of Mercedes SUVs.

The Nepalese government has publicly spoken on the issue when Nepal's foreign minister, Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, earlier during a visit to Beijing in March, said that they, “will never allow any forces to use Nepali territory to engage in anti-China activity."

With China gaining the upper hand in controlling the moors in the tiny Himalayan nation replacing India with the promise of riches, the Tibetans who set foot on Nepalese soil decades ago are once again subjected to thinly veiled wrath of China.

SHAME ON NEPAL!!

[Info via: Phayul]

Via TheDC

Darjeeling Zoo to receive snow leopard from Britain

8:36 PM
The Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in Darjeeling  West Bengal will receive a two year old snow leopard as a part of an international breeding programme. Makalu born at the Black Country zoo in Britain will arrive from DZG on Friday at Kolkata airport and then will be taken to the Darjeeling zoo for conservation breeding programme. The big cat species is on the list of endangered animals. It's believed there are between 4,000 and 6,500 left in the world.

'Makalu', named after the world's fifth highest peak rising to 27,765 feet (8,463 metres), southeast of the Everest, left Dudley Zoo on Wednesday for Darjeeling zoo, almost 8,000 km away, in the foothills of the eastern Himalayas.

Darjeeling is the native region of the snow leopard and the zoo is internationally recognised for its 33-year-old conservation breeding programme for the species, with 56 births to date.


Representational Image

"The breeding programme could "potentially see Makalu's descendants released into the wild," DZG curator Richard Brown said.
"We are hugely proud to be involved in this transfer, which is an incredibly exciting move for Makalu and the snow leopard species in general," Brown said.

"The international studbook coordinator in Finland has identified Makalu as a genetically important snow leopard and recommended him for the move, so we are proud to play our part in helping secure the future of the endangered species and we're thrilled with where he is going," Brown added.
The DZG will financially support Makalu for the next five years.


Two Indians among 25 killed in Kabul terrorist attack

8:05 PM
“We have learnt that 2 Indian nationals, Ganesh Thapa & Govind Singh from Dehradun, died tragically in the blast in Kabul today morning,” external affairs ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup tweeted late on Monday night.

The Taliban and the Islamic State both claimed the first attack, which killed 14 security guards, including the Indians, working for the Canadian embassy in Kabul in a massive blast that left their yellow minibus spattered with blood.

Two Indians were among 25 people killed in a suicide blast in Kabul Monday. Officials said they worked for a private security company, Sabre International, and were probably deployed at the Canadian embassy. The Taliban claimed responsibility for the blast, which also killed 14 Nepalese guards working for the embassy. A suicide bomber on foot had targeted a mini bus transporting them.

Within hours, a second blast went off inside the vehicle of MP Ataullah Faizani in Chehlsitoon area, injuring him.

The Indian government is working with its Afghan counterpart to repatriate their bodies at the earliest, Swarup said without giving other details. MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said, “Ganesh Thapa and Govind Singh from Dehradun died in the blast. The government is in touch with their families and is working to repatriate their mortal remains.”
Two Indians among 25 killed in Kabul terrorist attack
An injured Nepalese security guard in Kabul - Source: AP
Soon after a Taliban spokesman on Twitter claimed the attack, the Islamic State’s affiliate in Afghanistan and Pakistan released a competing claim in which it named and pictured the alleged bomber, according to the SITE monitoring group. An Afghan intelligence source said officials were investigating the IS claim, which was denied by the Taliban.

Police said the attack on the security guards was carried out by a suicide bomber on foot on a key road leading east out of Kabul towards Jalalabad. The interior ministry said in a statement that five Nepali citizens and four Afghans were wounded. The Canadian embassy confirmed the “cowardly” attack in a tweet and said it had employed the guards.

 
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