Thursday, 06 July, 2006 Vol. 5 No. 143 Gangtok Rs. 3 MASTERS EDUCATION POINT TIBET ROAD, GANGTOK CLASSES FOR COMPARTMENTAL CBSE- X & XII [PHYSICS, CHEMISTRY, MATHS, ECO- NOMICS, COMMERCE, Trantra T-Shirt ACCOUNTANCY & GEOGRA- PHY] GOING TO START FROM The Arcade 1st JUNE 2006 CONTACT: 201161(O), Kazi Road, Gangtok 9332966844(O), 733076801, NOWFirst With The News! 9434357076& 9434143925 Army welcomes THE RETURN OF NATHULA reopening whereas the only trade agree- than the traders here had bar- REMUNA RAI ment extant at the time was gained for. Traders based in GANGTOK, 05 July: between India and Tibet which Sikkim could get a trade pass Nathula and the trade mart had allowed for trade over issued from the Political Of- before it at Serathang will be Jelepla since it was closer to fice maintained by the Govern- abuzz with VIP presence and Kalimpong than Nathula. ment of India here and this pas media persons from all over Things have changed now allowed them to travel through the world on Thursday. A sig- with Gangtok becoming the Yatung in Chumbi Valley up nificant pointer to how things closest Indian town and to Gyantse from where the Ti- have changed since the days Serathang the closest possible betan plateau opens up. Trad- when the pass was officially trade mart to a border pass. ers could also continue up to opened for bilateral trade back Motilal Lakhotia, who fig- Lhasa on a pilgrimage. in 1953 - to no media frenzy, ures in just about every cur- Gangtok traders would set no ceremonial inaugurations, tain-raiser to the reopening of out for the journey around just traders on a business trip. Nathula, is the lone survivor three in the morning [much Yes, Nathula, till 1953, of the delegation of Indian like the journalists who have was mostly traversed by trad- businessmen who called on been briefed to leave for ers from Tibet on their way to the then Indian Prime Minis- Serathang by 4AM on Thurs- Gangtok. Traders based here ter, Jawaharlal Nehru, in 1953 day] on mules and continue did not pay return visits be- and urged him to persuade the northwards for about eight cause most of the commerce Tibetan Government to allow hours, after which the high ers, the release adds. a NOW REPORT at that time was concentrated traders from Sikkim to use winds made it impossible for The Indian Army will in Kalimpong, the nearest In- Nathula [which is closer to them to continue their jour- GANGTOK, 5 July: The continue to man the interna- dian town to the border passes Gangtok than Jelepla] for ney. This meant a halt at any Indian Army stationed here tional boundary including to Tibet in Sikkim. trading with Tibet. They had small hamlet or settlement on has welcomed the opening of Nathula and the security con- Sikkim was an independent the option of Jelepla, but the the way till the next morning, the trade route through cerns in carrying out as the kingdom [a protectorate state only possible routes to it were whence they would com- Nathula as a historically sig- primary tasks have been ad- of India] at that time and al- either too long or in extremely mence the journey. Conse- nificant development. equately addressed in light of though Sikkim and Tibet al- poor repair. quently, the traders would A press release issued by the trade activity across the A young Motilal Lakhotia [third from left], a trader from Sikkim, with his Tibetan counterparts ways had bilateral relations, it The permission came reach Yatung, the hub of the the Indian Army reiterates pass, the release adds. at a halt along the trade route march from Gangtok to Yatung over Nathula in the 1950’s. had not been formalized through and was much better turn to pg2 that the reopening of the The thawing of relations trade route is being seen as a between the two countries positive step towards the and the armies continues to State Congress growing economic ties be- glow warm with the twice a DC [North] holds tween both the countries. year border personnel meet- has reservations The release further informs ings between the two sides. that the responsibility of con- The cordiality continues with coordination meeting, over Nathula ducting trade, including vari- issues of concern being ous modalities of transporta- promptly addressed through a NOW REPORT stresses punctuality tion, customs clearance immi- the telephone hotline or GANGTOK, 05 July: A press gration and trading at marts, through flag meetings be- The DC also advised that DEEPAK SHARMA release issued by the Sikkim would rest with the civil ad- tween the two military garri- government land should be Pradesh Congress Committee ministration as per the agree- sons, the release adds. MANGAN, 05 July: A dis- properly identified by all de- president Nar Bahadur ment signed by the countries. The Army, the release trict level co-ordination com- partments and regularized at Bhandari has highlighted the Meanwhile, the ITBP has states, will provide “all pos- munity meet was organized the earliest. party’s concerns regarding is- been incorporated by the ad- sible assistance” being on the today by the District Collec- All the departmental offi- sues related to the opening of ministration to ensure secu- spot at Nathula, as requested tor [North], TN Kazi, which cials should be punctual and the border trade through the rity of Border Trading Mart by the administration and the was coordinated by the SDM, inform the DC while pro- Nathula on 06 July. of Sherathang and the Cus- whole procedure for control BK Lama, and also attended ceeding on official tours of The party lists its concerns toms/ Immigration out post at and movement of traders has by the DDO, N Thapa, Senior leaving the station for meet- about the ‘impending threats’ Nathula and also to provide been finalized by the civil ad- SP, ST Bhutia, CMO, IL ings. The departments were to the country resulting from necessary guidance and secu- ministration in close consul- Sharma and all the officers also directed to submit the revival of the Indo-China rity for the movement of trad- tation with Army. of different departments. monthly reports to DC. border trade route and it feels DC [North] informed that LEO, Labour Depart- that certain issues have not the meeting has been called ment, KR Limboo, updated been addressed before initi- It is notified that TELEPHONE ADALAT for to discuss various inter-de- the meeting on the Labour ating of the reopening. Gangtok, Singtam and Mangan areas (East and partmental problems and to Department notification of One of its concerns per- North Districts of Sikkim) will be held on sort out these problems. the Sikkim Labour Protection meates over the venture of 22.07.2006 from 1100 Hrs to 1400 Hrs in the Of- It was also directed that Act, 2005 to regulate the the State Pollution Control fice of the General Manager Telecom, Cherry DAC Building roof was leak- employment and conditions Board, whether any, to avoid Building, Gangtok. The subscribers are requested ing and that the Building and of services and employed environmental hazards and Housing department should workers or labours and indi- protect the rare species of to FILE THEIR COMPLAINTS ALONG WITH make necessary repairs. All vidual workers and to protect flora and fauna of Sikkim. COPIES OF DOCUMENTS REGARDING 1. Ex- the departments were di- them from exploitation and The SPCC has also raised cess Billing 2. Service etc. by 17.07.2006 addressed rected to maintain their toi- also for statistical purpose, by queries on what steps have been to the Accounts Officer (TR) O/o The General Man- lets and bathrooms properly. registration of individual initiated to check the influx of ager Telecom, Cherry Building, Gangtok, Sikkim. AE, PHE department was workers or labours. people into Sikkim from across directed to provide proper The Act was enforced in the border and a yardstick to water supply and it also sug- the State on 01 June 2006, so protect the rights of the indig- A photograph from the 1860’s shows a Sikkimese spinning wool onto a distaff. This ADMISSION OPEN gested that PHE water sup- all the labourers should take enous Lepchas, Bhutias and ply bills should be borne by the forms from the Labour photo probably taken by Sir Benjamin Simpson in the 1860s [and a copyright expired SPINNING photo in the Royal Geographical Society collection] highlights well what used to be at Nepalis from the new influx. all departments instead of Department, Mangan, and BCA, BSc IT, BBA, MCA, MSc IT, MBA, one time the largest export from Chumbi valley in Tibet – wool. Chumbi is renowned the Also, it raises the issue of the Land Revenue depart- submit the same after filling world over for the quality of the wool it produces, which is incidentally one of the items the benefits which the PGDCA, PGDIT, ONE YEAR/ SIX MONTHS ment alone. in the required details. HISTORY! allowed for duty-free import from Tibet Autonomous Region over Nathula. turn to pg3 DIPLOMA AND BASIC COURSE CONTACT: Tibetan Govt-in-Exile welcomes SIKKIM MANIPAL UNIVERSITY U/C YOURS COMPUTER [2794], DARAGAON, TADONG, GANGTOK Ph: 03592-232136, 9832090111, 9832035271 resumption of border trade MOBILE MEGA OFFER (FREE AIRTEL CONNECTION WITH EVERY PURCHASE) a NOW REPORT Dalai Lama’s birthday by giv- “BETTER RELATIONS BETWEEN THE TWO ASIAN GIANTS WILL HAVE ing them something big which AIRTEL TO AIRTEL @ 30 PAISE AND OTHER MOBILES @ 90 PAISE GANGTOK, 05 July: It is POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE RESOLUTION OF TIBET ISSUE” competes for their interest on Nokia 1100 = Rs.2200 Motorazor(black) = Rs.9225 understandable for the Ti- day in a more positive light.