Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC)

Chronicle 2015

Friday, November 27, 2015

Seat Reservation for Bhutia Lepcha (BL) is a constitutional Obligatory

It would be a total deviation from the preceding Sikkimese political history and its evolution, if seat reservation for BL is not provided as duly recognized by the sacred Indian Constitution through the all pervading Article 371F of the Constitution of India.

Tseten Tashi Bhutia, Convenor, SIBLAC

Thursday, October 8, 2015

Maintaining irrevocable Obligations

SIBLAC's sister organization, the Bhutia Lepcha Protection Force (BLPF), takes a firm stand in the following Press Release pertaining to the constitutional seat reservation for the indigenous communities of Sikkim:

A writ petition seeking court's directive for providing reservation for Bhutia-Lepcha communities in the urban local bodies election was admitted by the high court of Sikkim on 6th October 2015. But the petitioner's stay application to stop the ensuing municipal elections in Sikkim was rejected by the high court.

That the petitioner by way of writ petition had challenged the Sikkim municipal elections of 2015 on the ground that independent reservation should be granted in favour of the Bhutia-Lepcha communities as per the mandate of Article 371F(f) of the constitution and judgement of the honorable supreme court in the case of R.C. Poudyal vs Union of India. The high court has issued notices to the state of Sikkim and State election commission to decide whether independent reservation to be extended to the Bhutia-Lepcha communities.

Bhutia Lepcha Protection Force in its earlier press release has condemned and deeply regretted the hidden agenda of the present government in power to do away with the political rights of BL minority communities in the governments earlier notification of reservation of seats in municipalities. In 2010, reservation has been provided separately to the BL communities but in reservation of seats in municipalities in 2015, the reservation for BL has been deliberately done away with.

BLPF, this time, will not again question the betrayal of their BL MLAs and BL ministers who have been elected and are representatives of the communities but demand their immediate resignation from their post and vacate the BL seats. They will be answerable to their posterity for not standing up to this kind of political injustice meted out to their communities. Also statements from certain ex BL MLAs that reservation of seats in municipal elections cannot be constitutionally challenged, BLPF would like to inform him that this has been challenged.

Under such constant threat and dilution of political right of BL communities under the present government, BLPF would like to appeal to the entire Bhutia Lepcha communities of Sikkim to once again come together and stand up against such hideous agendas to do away with our political survival.

Regards, K.D. Bhutia, Advisor BLPF

Friday, August 21, 2015

Riwo Sangchoe - Pang Lhabsol

After an audience with Kyabje Lachung Rinpoche, the leadership of SIBLAC eagerly forwards the advice received by the venerable master of the Longchen Nyingthig tradition. Accordingly, the Buddhist community of Sikkim is invited to perform Riwo Sangchoe during Pang Lhabsol.

In an appeal by SIBLAC, General Secretary Chewang Pintso points to the beneficial effects the Mountain Smoke Offering, a Terma revealed by Lhatsun Namkha Jigme, will not only have on every performing individual but as well on Sikkim and every sentient being in general.

Devotees are advised to perform Riwo Sangchoe on 29th August at 9 am in support of the rituals simultaneously performed by the monastic community of the erstwhile Buddhist kingdom.

–> Documentation: SIBLAC Press Release - August 21, 2015

–> Documentation: Riwo Sangchoe, Tibetan-English, courtesy Rigpa Foundation

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Thursday, July 23, 2015

SIBLAC unveils the whole Truth

On his way back from the Tenshug Shabten offerings for H.H. the Dalai Lama at Dharamsala, Tseten Tashi Bhutia took the opportunity of a stopover at Delhi to meet with Central Government officials. During his talks at the Home Ministry, the Convenor of SIBLAC ventured to put straight several misleading details of a statement released by Piyush Goyal, Minister for Power, Coal and Energy, in respect to the Tashiding HEP, in January 2015.

Responding to an enquiry by the Minister of Home Affairs, Goyal had drawn a far too innocent picture of the state at Tashiding, omitting conflicting aspects such as the lack of a mandatory clearance by the Standing Committe of NBWL or critical considerations voiced by the High Court of Sikkim. No mention was made of the fact that instead of the project complying with the regulations, the respective rules were adapted to suit the needs of the project, cutting down the Ecosensitive Zones from 1000 metres to a less than symbolic 25 metres. Thus, Goyals response to Rijiju either was an indication of a shocking ignorance or a deliberate attempt of inter-ministerial disinformation.

The omitted details presented by the Convenor to the ministry of Kiren Rijiju made up for an integral report on another nasty case of favoritism and bending the law. Tashi Tseten Bhutia's objections prompted the Home Ministry to get back to Piyush Goyal's statement with the demand to 'get the matter re-examined for appropriate action' in light of the 'new facts' brought out by the Convenor of SIBLAC.

Tseten Tashi Bhutia simultaneously sent an appeal for his support in this matter to Tsering Namgyal Shanoo, representative of the Buddhist minority at the National Commission for Minorities, Government of India.

–> Documentation: Statement of Piyush Goyal - January 2015

–> Documentation: SIBLAC Letter to Kiren Rijiju - July 22, 2015

–> Documentation: SIBLAC Letter to Tsering Namgyal Shanoo - July 23, 2015

–> Documentation: Home Ministry Letter to Piyush Goyal - July 28, 2015

Friday, May 15, 2015

People of Dzongu resolve to reject hydel projects

The Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT), Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee (SIBLAC) and Sangha MLA Sonam Lama have welcomed the decision of the people of Dzongu led by the Deputy Speaker cum area MLA, Sonam Gyatso Lepcha, to oppose all forms of hydroelectric power projects in the area.

This decision was made during a brainstorming and coordination session held on May 10 at Hee Gyathang in Lower Dzongu attended by the area MLA, panchayats and government employees.

In a press release entitled Better late than never, SIBLAC convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia said that "the unanimous decision taken by the Hon'ble Area MLA and people of Dzongu is an exemplary community act that deserves appreciation." He has further sought the early intervention of the government to immediately scrap the hydro projects in Dzongu as well as on Rathong Chu in West Sikkim.

–> Documentation: SIBLAC Press Release - May 15, 2015

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

SIBLAC spotting one-sided Views at the Centre

Tseten Tashi Bhutia, Convenor of the Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committee, launched a virtual wake-up call to the Centre with a message to Mr. Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Power, Coal and New & Renewable Energy. Responding to an exchange of communications between Mr. Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs, and Mr. Goyal revealing a shocking level of disinformation on the latter's part in regard to the hydropower project under construction over sacred Rathong Chu in West Sikkim, Mr. Bhutia attempts to list scores of reports by the national press as well central agencies, notably the CAG and the Standing Committee NBWL.

Referring to an impressive number of testimonials, the Convenor provides a briefing on obvious violations of applicable laws and suspected corrupt arrangements in connection with the project at Tashiding, complaining that "private power developers in connivance with corrupted central and state officials are looting the nation." Fearing this to be just "the tip of the iceberg", Tseten Tashi Bhutia invites the minister to convene "a face to face meeting with concerned officials and project proponents" in order to "sort out the matter and know the ground reality."

–> Documentation: SIBLAC Message to Piyush Goyal - March 3, 2015

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Thursday, January 29, 2015

Purification of Sikkim Subject Certificate Register first

Reacting to the Sikkim Cabinet decision of January 27, 2015, to make a Sikkim Subject Certificate or a Certificate of Identification mandatory for any type of appointment in the State Government, SIBLAC Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia issued the following statement over the social media channel:

Please purify Sikkim Subject Certificate (SSC) Register: The sacred document which was surrendered to the Home Ministry, Government of India, during the time of Sikkim annexation in 1975 was the Sikkim Subject Certificate (SSC) Register on the basis of which all the Sikkimese had become Indian. Hopefully, a copy of the same SSC register is lying with the Government of Sikkim today.

As per estimates published by a local paper, in Sikkim we have

  1. Fake Certificate of Identification (C.O.I) holders = 1,19,289
  2. Fake Sikkim Subject Certificate (S.S.C) holders = 31,180

adding up to a total of 1,50,469 "fraudster" or illegal and fake documents.

It is not only important but sensed urgent and the need of the hour to purify the SSC register in the interest of our future generations, else talking big about protection and safeguard of Sikkim and the Sikkimese will become a futile exercise that would imminently jeopardise our own posterity.

Therefore, we appeal the political parties of Sikkim to rise above politics. We don't mind to come out openly in support of the Government if it's really committed and wanted to eliminate, reject or withdraw the illegal Certificates issued so far.

Political parties in Sikkim should understand that unless this is realized, whatever programmes/policies they come out with will never achieve their targets which, then, would only be meant for securing a mere vote bank and accompanying politics.

Tseten Tashi Bhutia, Convenor, SIBLAC

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Obituary for Bhim Raj Pradhan, former Law Secretary of Sikkim

The Sikkim Bhutia Lepcha Apex Committe (SIBLAC) held a meeting to mourn the passing away of Shri B. R. Pradhan, former Law Secretary to the Government of Sikkim. In a statement released to the press, Convenor Tseten Tashi Bhutia highlights the merits of the deceased in connection with the compilation and preservation of the Old Laws of Sikkim providing the base for protection of the indigenous minorities to the present day, "if implemented in letter and spirit, both by our policy makers and commoners".

The assembled members observed minutes of silence in honour of late Shri Pradhan and expressed condolence to the family members of the deceased.

–> Documentation: SIBLAC Press Release - January 21, 2015

Thursday, January 1, 2015

New Year's Greetings

At the outset, we extend our heartiest greetings to the Sikkimese people on the unveiling of the New Year 2015. We pray that the New Year strengthen Sikkimese unity that fulfills all its dreams and aspirations that shall be fruitful in shaping Sikkim to its prime heights in all sphere. May the New Year ensure peace, progress and prosperity of Sikkim. May it further ensure stability of Article 371 F of the Indian Constitution that is most crucial for the harmony and unity of our people.

We pray that all the seeds that often pose threat to our Sikkimese harmony as well as threat to even smallest constituents of it are dispelled from the roots. It is the need of the hour that each and every unit of Sikkimese society feel secure in their land of origin including our old settlers whom we lovingly called as Sikkimese Indians, and we stand to it.

We further present our heartfelt greetings to the policy makers, both at the treasury and opposition benches that all their activities in this New Year is guided by the eternal safety, peace and prosperity of Sikkim where the sanctity of our Dharma lineage and historical tradition flourishes to its supreme.

Tseten Tashi Bhutia, Convenor SIBLAC

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Overview of News

November 27, 2015

October 8, 2015

August 21, 2015

July 23, 2015

May 15, 2015

March 3, 2015

January 29, 2015

January 21, 2015

January 1, 2015