Upset with state election commission, Cong will not contest municipal elections

The Congress party will not contest Municipal elections scheduled for 09 October in Sikkim. This, as a sign of protest against the State Election Commission ignoring opposition parties while proceeding with delimitation of Municipal wards and in deciding reservation of posts in Municipal bodies.

NASBO boycotts State Day

GANGTOK, 15 May: Arguing that political security was more important than economic or infrastructural development, National Sikkimese Bhutia Organization, in a press statement issued today, contended that due to “submissive and ignorant approach” of successive political leadership of the State, the people were losing their political rights and hence the organisation has decided to boycott this year’s State Day.
“It is at this point, we need a real change, a transformation,” states NASBO president Sonam Lama Kaloen in a press communiqué issued today, adding that the organization regards State Day as “Fooling Day, another occasion to fool the Sikkimese people”.
The organization plans to boycott State Day celebrations till such time that “both the Indian and Sikkimese government acknowledges and incorporates the significance of Article 371 F for all purpose, till the political rights of the Sikkimese people are adequately restored, or else, the posterity would only regard the State Day as ‘Black Day’.”
The organization believes that expenditure on State Day celebrations was an avoidable expense since, as per NASBO, “the observation only represents senseless exercise and lip service wherein the political future of our people is completely at the mess.

SHRPP boycotts panchayat poll process alleging flaws in voters list

GANGTOK, 25 Sept: Sikkim Himali Rajya Parishad Party [SHRPP] has announced its decision to boycott the upcoming Panchayat elections. SHRPP had boycott the last panchayat election as well and the latest decision was taken at a party meeting convened today and chaired by treasurer, SB Gurung.
A press release issued by SHRPP general secretary, Tara Shrestha, informs that the decision to boycott was taken in light of the party’s belief that the voter list published for the Panchayat Election was flawed. The release alleges that voter list for almost all wards carry names of even those persons who passed away from 6 months to a year back and that names of some voters have been published in voter lists for two gram panchayats.
The release contends that that the party had already expressed its dissatisfaction over these matters and sought rectification but no action was taken. The release states that by keeping these and other reasons in mind, the party decided to boycott the panchayat election process.
The party has also alleged a conspiracy of the State government and the administration to bind down its workers from participating in political activities.

Lachung Dzumsa boycotts family for violation of Dzumsa system

GANGTOK, 07 June: The public at large including the Pipon of Lachung Dzumsa have boycotted one Thupden Norzang Lachungpa and his family for life considering the non-compliance and violation of the Dzumsa system practiced in Lachung.
Addressing media-persons here today, a delegation of the Lachung Dzumsa headed by the Pipons and the Gumpa head informed that they are in agreement that Thupden N Lachungpa of Lachung has been “misguiding the innocent people of Lachung along with trying to dislodge the Dzumsa practice of Lachung by carrying out activities which are totally against the Dzumsa law and system”. [Thupden N Lachungpa has also lashed out against a section of the people yesterday; read “Individuals with ‘ulterior motives’ creating problems alleges Lachung Dzumsa Coop Society” published in NOW! issue dated 07 June 2012]
Tshering Lachungpa, Gumpa Head of Lachung, contended that Mr Thupden has been carrying out activities “violating the law of the land practiced by the Dzumsa” for a while now and has been reprimanded in the past as well. In the year 2008-09 he had filed an RTI application on the MGNREGS “hindering developmental activities in Lachung violating the Dzumsa system” following which the Dzumsa had boycotted him in person. This boycott was later lifted.
“But Mr Thupden for the second time started an NGO in Lachung without prior information and discussion with the public or the Pipon and with it committed yet another mistake and now again without any prior information or consultation with the Dzumsa he has registered a cooperative society [Lachung Dzumsa Cooperative Society],” he added.
The Dzumsa itself is a cooperative society and the decision made by the Pipon selected by the public at large directs the actions on development to be carried out in the area added, Tshering Lachungpa added. “Mr Thupden’s allegations of favoritism and lack of freedom in the work carried out in Lachung are totally untrue and false,” he added.
Apart from these, the Lachung delegation also alleged that he is even misguiding the local youth and creating a rift between the state government and the people of Lachung by “speaking nonsense”. The Gumpa head added that Mr Thupden had even forged the stamps, signature and the seal of Pipons for the registration of the said cooperative society which is totally illegal considering which such a step is being initiated by the Dzumsa of Lachung today.
Apart from this the delegation also met with the Secretary Roads and Bridges Department demanding the cancellation of the enlistment of Thupden N Lachungpa along with Registrar Cooperation Department to cancel the registration of the cooperative society.
Lachung Pipon [I], Karma Lachungpa said that the people of Lachung have been and will continue to support the state government and the Sikkim Democratic Front [SDF] party. All the laws and rules enacted are acceptable but the action initiated by Mr Thupden trying to create a rift between the Dzumsa and the government is unfortunate, he stated.
The Chief Minister earlier with respect to cooperative movement had also stated that no cooperative system will be enacted in Lachen and Lachung where the Dzumsa will continue, he added.
He further informed that the Law Department in its notification had also stated that no changes be made in the Dzumsa system being practiced in Lachen and Lachung. He also appealed to all the departments and the state government not to entertain the documents of Thupden N Lachungpa hence forth even if it is duly signed by the Pipon.
He also demanded the cooperative society registered under the name of Lachung Dzumsa Cooperative Society by Thupden N Lachungpa with registration number 193/JRCS/COOP dated 26.03.2012 be cancelled at the earliest and no developmental works to be allotted as well. If the same is initiated than the Dzumsa system [which is protected by Article 371 F Old Laws] will no longer remain functional in areas like Lachung and Lachen.
It may be recalled here that Mr Thupden had claimed in a press release yesterday that some individuals were trying to create problems for the Lachung Dzumsa Cooperative Society of which he is the president.

Sikkim traders boycott border trade when new items come with 29% customs duty

TRADERS SEEK CLARIFICATION FROM COMMERCE DEPTT, DEPTT WILL APPROACH CENTRE ON THE ISSUE
AMEET OBEROI
GANGTOK, 22 May: The joy of five items being added by the Central Government to the list of goods allowed for import from Tibet was shortlived for Sikkim traders, when, on the first day of trading yesterday, another surprise was pulled on them with the imposition of a 29% customs duty on the new goods. Border trade is traditionally kept out of the purview of customs duty and no trader, it is learnt, was informed of 29% duty until they arrived at the Sherathang trade mart yesterday. It might be recalled that although trade was to resume on 01 May, heavy snowfall and the poor condition of the road beyond Sherathang had delayed actual trading. With the weather having cleared up, trade was announced to begin yesterday. Confronted with the imposition of customs duty, Sikkim traders have boycott the trade and resolved not to resume until this regime was lifted.
The 05 new items introduced this year are readymade garments, shoes, quilts & blankets, carpets and local herbal medicines.
As per the schedule, trade did resume on 21 May [Monday] wherein a total of 20 trucks from the Chinese side arrived at the Sherathang Trade Mart but there was no trading because of the boycott by traders from Sikkim.
Speaking to media persons, Commissioner cum Secretary, Commerce and Industries Department, BK Kharel, confirmed that traders from Sikkim have stayed away because of the imposition of customs duty and have also sought a clarification on why this was being imposed.
He went on to add that no public notice on exemption in customs duty has been announced by the Government of India and the duty is only imposed on the new items added recently and was not extended to items on the original list.
The Secretary mentioned that the ‘Trade Welfare Association’ through their General Secretary has also sought clarification on the issues from the department on whether custom duty is applicable on imports from Tibet and whether goods imported through this border trade can be sold to states outside Sikkim.
The department will be approaching the Government of India for necessary clarifications on the issue raised by the Association after availing prior approval from the state government, informed the Secretary. He informed that the department will also write to the Ministry of Commerce regarding this issue.
Mean while, Sikkim traders have reiterated that until and unless custom duties are not lifted, they will not take part in trading.
“We the traders have taken it on ourselves not to do any trading until the Custom Duty on the 05 new items is lifted,” informed one of the traders, while speaking to NOW! today. “The goods that we bring from Nathula are not of the finest quality and we have to sell it cheap and now, if we have to pay custom duty then who will buy these goods at a higher price as the same can be purchased from Siliguri markets at cheaper rates,” he added.
He further stated that the imposition of custom duty on these new items was only being demanded in Nathula Border Trade and not in the other two border trading outposts.
On the other hand, the Trade Welfare Association has been tirelessly putting in efforts in convincing the Minister concerned to take up this matter at the earliest and then they will also be calling upon the Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha to look into the exemption of custom duty from the Nathula Border Trade.

Off-Roll Employees boycott work at Dikchu HEP

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
DIKCHU, 17 Oct:  The off-roll employees at Sneha Kinetic Power Project Ltd., a Hyderabad-based company developing the 96 MW Dikchu Hydroelectric Project, have boycott work following the company’s failure to fulfil their three pending demands.

Dzongu boycotts NHPC, public stays away from Stage-IV public hearing

The affected people of Teesta Stage-IV and their representatives boycott the public hearing scheduled for 22 July at Namprikdang. The only people who showed up were officials tasked with conducting the hearing, police personnel and media persons.

PUBLIC HEARING POSTPONED TILL FURTER NOTICE; NHPC ADVISED TO UNDERTAKE THOROUGH PUBLIC CONSULTATION NEXT TIME

WANGCHUK BHUTIA
NAMPRIKDANG, 22 July: The affected people of Dzongu carried through their resolve to boycott the public hearing called for Teesta Stage-IV hydel project with complete unanimity today. When all of them, including their panchayats and MLA, remained no-shows at the venue of the public hearing, the Namprikdang Ground, even till noon, the DC [North], who chairs the public hearing panel, postponed the public hearing till further notice since not even a single person had shown up, save the concerned officials and NHPC representatives.
The venue was hit by a minor case of arson last night when some banners and decorations at the stage were burned by miscreants. No substantial damage was caused.