09-15 April, 2003; NOW! 1 COPS FOIL eeman(Meals) JA PURE VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT Rs. 1.30 LAKH GANGTOK; WEDNESDAY, April 09-15, 2003 ROBBERY BID Sirf Khana a NOW REPORT RANGPO: There was no need for witnesses to crack this case. It was witnessed by cops on beat them- selves when they chanced upon a robbery in progress at 3 AM of SpecialisedNo North Bar Indian cuisine April 7, Monday. Dilip Gurung and special fast food items All items TROLLEY served. was caught red-handed when we JEEMAN (MEALS), KUNDEH-KHANG BUILDING, NEAR was just about to whisk away with SADA THANA, TIBET ROAD, GANGTOK. Phone: 225098. SIKKIM MATTERS VOL 1 NO 41 ! Rs. 5 E-MAIL: [email protected] Rs. 1,30,000 into the wee hours of NOW the morning. Gurung was caught when he broke open an almirah and a drawer ON pg 4 with his khukuri after breaking two locks and gaining entry into the THE SHAPE OF CONSTITUENCIES TO COME Sales Depot of Yuksom Breweries Pvt. Ltd. here in Rangpo. The noise caught the attention of Second OC Sonam Detchu and his morning patrol which had been on the alert after a spree of minor THE PROPOSAL’S robberies were reported in this bor- der town. he delimitation structure for Sikkim When loud and consistent Twhich has been the cause for bangs were heard, the patrol team much consternation is finally out. The headed towards the source of the State Government on April 5 issued the NOW IN Government gazette announcing the noise and ultimately cornered Gurung who was at the time busy proposed shape of constituencies to emptying the locker inside the come. Now, the detractors and support- almirah at the Depot. ers of the initiative have up to April 19 to Gurung is presently in custody voice their opinions with the Delimita- at the Rangpo Police Station. Hail- PUBLIC tion Commission which has convened ing from Buddhabarey in “public sittings” for April 22 and 23 to NABIN BHATTARAI hear Sikkim’s take on the proposed re- Kalimpong, Gurung apparently ACCUSES ORGANISERS has had prior run-ins with the po- structuring of its constituencies. lice in regard to thefts and robbery TURN TO pg 8 FOR DETAILS OF CHEATING in Gangtok. DOMAIN IN THE NAME OF THE THE WAR IN IRAQ CHOGYAL A Viewpoint COMMISSIONCOMMISSION THETHE ONLYONLY FORUMFORUM TOTO DEBATEDEBATE From This DELIMITATION:DELIMITATION: CHAMLINGCHAMLING Side Of The Teesta TURN TO pg 4 FOR DETAILS FIRST TIMECHINACHINA IN SIKKIM BAZAARBAZAAR CHINESE TOYS, CHINESE JEWELLERY ANY ITEM FOR Rs. 90 CHINESE BELLS, CLOCKS, STEEL UTENSILS, UMBRELLAS, CHINESE MATS, PLASTIC CONTAINERS, CRICKET BATS, CHINESE GIFT ITEMS, BAGS... AND MANY MORE FABULOUS ARTICLES!!!!!!! TURN TO pg 3 CHINA BAZAAR, HOTEL BAYUL, MG MARG. FOR DETAILS NOW OFFERS IT’S ANNUAL SCHOLARSHIP Near Krishi Bhawan, Tadong Gangtok. Phone 270876 UPTO 30% Below Power Deptt, Kazi Road Gangtok. Phone: 227917 ON DIPLOMA & OTHER COURSES Nayuma Building, Namchi Bazar Namchi. Phone: 263919 RUSH TO YOUR NEAREST CENTRE TODAY e-mail: [email protected] 1 2;GANGTOK NOW! 09-15 April, 2003 09-15 APRIL, 2003 ED-SPACE THE LEXICON OF WAR SIKKIM MATTERS NEWS AS INFORMATION Never has the debate over what constitutes proper journalism been as frenetic as it is nowadays with the multitude of 24- hour news channels from diverse backgrounds addressing diverse audiences with their own spin on reportage from the invasion of Iraq. Grand debates have been held over which channel has provided balanced reports and which has been too sensational or which news broadcast dispelled journalistic ethics. The debates will never resolve because journalistic ethics are not codified enough to throw absolute answers on what is right and what wrong. In fact, journalism is essentially concerned with reportage and not with the greater disputes of rights and wrongs. These are concerns which require application of serious thought and a reporter, by virtue of his/ her job-description is not expected to be the expert with all the solutions. That does not go to say that reporters cannot help in resolving issues. In fact, this is what a good journalist should be committed to. They do not, however, resolve conflicts by suggesting remedies, they do so by providing information since conflict exists in the absence of information. Once all sides have access to information, they are also equipped to work out solutions. This is where journalists differ from politicians. Politicians, given the paranoia that comes with the post, hold he most interesting thing who can at length discuss in the their cards very close to their chests. They also thrive on about war, when you can PRAVEEN MOKTAN same wavelength as the aforemen- misinformation and this is where a committed journalist could Twatch it from the luxury of on what puts him off tioned generals the intricacies of play a constructive role - by disbursing information. your favourite sofa without hav- strategy and the intrigues of world To disburse information, however, a journalist is required to ing to worry about a stray missile the war on Iraq, the politics not to mention conspiracy procure it first and on this path are the most pitfalls. Since here and a bunker buster there, is theories with Nostra Damus information has to be sourced, there is always the danger of a its contribution to your vocabulary. 24 hr live thrown in for good measure. It will plant. People with personal vendettas on their agenda are The neutralising of a meaning is also one suspects provide enough known to dish out selective information and many journalists coverage of the war something that wordsmiths on ei- fodder for debating topics, essay stumble. While the general argument goes to say that peppered with its information is information irrespective of where it came from, ther side of the conflict engage in papers and moral science ques- a journalist is expected to glean through it carefully. If at all all the time. The Americans, how- politically correct tions for days to come. someone needs to let off a shot, why should it be from the ever, who even in times of peace On a more serious note I per- shoulders of a reporter straight into public domain. Whenever can call a belt a “detachable pant language, sonally am indebted to a whole lot journalists speak of “self-censorship,” this is what they mean. retainer” (this I got from the most notwithstanding of things typically American to Information, at the end of the day should serve the needs of American of the American fami- improve the quality of my exist- the public and not individuals. The self-censorship mentioned lies- the Simpsons) and that good pression that is redolent of an in- ence. America has given me jazz, here deals only with deciding on what needs to be thrown in old digestive effluent which we so nocence that one could find only Feynyman and Warhol not to men- the public domain and not whether it is palatable or not. Any innocently call fart “anal leakage”, in a western novel. This new ex- tion Martin Scorcese, The Dead news, good or bad, which needs to be broken, should be and literally take this too far. pression is what they call “friendly and the Mac. But there is not much the news bearer should not be blamed for it. As for the It is, I guess, an Anglo-Saxon fire”. But only in this case it does that can redeem the fact that the audience, they should understand that news is about prerogative to temper down the not signify the cheery glow of a same America that is so alive, vi- information first and not all information can be sensational. brutality of this bloody business by hospitable hearth, in these trou- brant and eclectic also wastes not only sanitising the picture but bled times the meaning as most of more on dog food than the entire THE WAR IN IRAQ also the sound. In the TV we see us addicted to the CNN and the continent of Africa spends on well-edited clips of orderly col- BBC already know, is quite sinis- meeting the dietary requirements umns in the vastness of a perfect ter. It implies a situation where of its people. So at the risk of A Viewpoint From This desert marching towards a picture- your own comrades turn their guns sounding too activist I have to perfect finality that reminds us on you and, well, fire. It is I guess mention that what puts me off this Side Of The Teesta more of movies than it does of the a typical American simplicity to war is not the politics that made it National politics therefore had madness that is being enacted out co-catenate an expression that is possible but the sheer excess and by JERRY BASI to be recast. India for instance has there. The liberators not only have so user friendly and so euphemis- waste of the whole exercise. Ex- little to do with Russia now. The to play the part but look it too, so tic, that it perfectly camouflages cess is what sums up the Ameri- obody wants war, but war earlier relationship where we were the press-briefing centre at Doha the viciousness of the actual mean- can experience, right from its is inevitable sometimes subject to the influence of the might (where sharp cut generals in well- ing. It makes what is otherwise a obese kids to its supermarkets to Nand at this moment in of one of the two superpowers in starched fatigues mouth self-right- deadly goof-up seem almost banal.