A drop of hope and light in the wide blue sea of animosity was the driving force behind the recent remarks of Sikkim Chief Minister Dr. Pawan Chamling who extended an open invitation to Dawa Lepcha and Tenzing Gyatso who are completing 50 days of their indefinite hunger strike . An invitation for meeting that coincided with the annual celebration of Mother Earth on occassion of biggest festival of Lepchas 'Tendong Lho rum Faat'.
Referring to information according to which, there is disagreement between government officials and ACT on important issues relates to lack of mutual trust, Dr.Chamling has often characterized these events as a pseudo-dilemma which undermines the common effort for the promotion of the sikkim's interests.
The hunger striking issue is currently expanding, while the government is asking the ACT and especially to hunger-strikers Dawa Lepcha and Tenzing Lepcha to show a spirit of good faith and call of their 50 days old strike and Chief Minister assures a personal intervention on matter to sort out the issues closer to hearts and minds of Dawa & Tenzing of ACT.Chief Minister also maintained that culture is above politics and expressed the belief that sanctity of Dzongu would be preserved at all costs.
It should be noted that in the past few weeks Chief Minister has announced many confidence building measures towards lepchas of Dzongu , which is regarded as important for the development of a understanding between government and hunger strikers. Chief Minister stressed that unique identity of Dzongu must be respected for the lepcha cultural identity to be preserved while he also stated that the Lepcha culture has a lot to offer.
Chief Minister Pawan Chamling was chief guest at Tendong Lho Rum Faat 's programme at Sikkim Government College. In his address, the Chief Minister announced CBM's like, land acquisition would be hereafter done by the State government and not by the private investors. Moreover, in case any acquired land is unused, it will be returned to the owner after 35 years. He further informed that the power developers engaged in Dzongu will have to reserve hundred percent non-gazetted posts for Dzongu youths, according to a decision taken in a recent cabinet meeting. 'The Lepchas, as the primitive tribe of Sikkim, have been given more than what they demanded,’ the Chief Minister said. He urged Lepchas to give emphasis on quality education for their advancement in this 21st century, adding, only education can empower a person. Before 14 years, Lepchas did not have much political right, the Chief Minister said quoting from Bengal District Gazatteer, 1997, written by N.S.S.O. Maley. The Lepcha youth should appreciate that now their condition is not so grim, nor they are downtrodden anymore. As for the privileges provided by the state government, the Chief Minister noted that seven MLAs’ and one Member of Parliament are now from the Lepcha community at the instance of the present government. It is the first government to have so many numbers of Lepcha representatives, he said. The State government has also documented Lepcha history and culture through a research work, Sikkim Study Series, he mentioned.
The supporters of opposition political parties are intensifying their protests on issue of ACT and Dzongu and thus creating an unwarranted distance between state authorities and hunger strikers .The Sikkin Democratic Front Government's firmness to recently make arrests of supporters and members of oppsition political parties on issue of "Effigy Burning" has created a crisis and tension in the ruling government's relation with the Opposition political parties and Associations supporting the cause of ACT.
Meanwhile Chief Minister Chamling condemned the effigy burning and expressed concern over the escalation of violence and protests of opposition parties on issue of hunger strike being raised by them to derive political milage from it.It is also stressed that Chief Minister Dr.Chamling often expressed that he wants the easing of tensions and to contribute to constructive negotiations for peace and progress in the Dzongu and Sikkim as a whole.
In conclusion the Chief minister underlined the need for a peaceful solution of the problem and protests put forward by ACT through dialogue and stressed that the threat or the use of violence should be avoided, a point on which both have agreed and share the common thought despite all the differences and mistrust which has developed on issue due to surrounding of political clouds and air around it.
Limiting or reducing the level of fear among parties in conflict is essential for building confidence and a sense of security. Confidence-building measures (CBMs) aim to lessen anxiety and suspicion by making the parties' behavior more predictable.Confidence-building measures can be military, diplomatic, cultural, or political. CBMs are agreements between two or more parties regarding exchanges of information and verification.Some common CBMs are agreements meant to give each party assurance that the other is not preparing for surprise military action or pursuing policies associated with such future action. Such agreements provide a way to avoid misunderstandings about ambiguous events or perceived threats, and play an important role in instilling a sense of stability and security. Mutual confidence is crucial to reducing the likelihood of violent confrontations. In addition, such measures can allow for new institutional arrangements that pave the way for more peaceful relations.
Finally, confidence-building measures can be crucial tools in preventive diplomacy. Parties who mutually recognize existing boundaries and work together to build confidence are far less likely to enter into deadly conflict.
Finally, confidence-building measures can be crucial tools in preventive diplomacy. Parties who mutually recognize existing boundaries and work together to build confidence are far less likely to enter into deadly conflict.
Meanwhile, Many analysist and political narrators who have watched over the years the Pawan Chamling as an individual and political leader, One common experience all of them share about Pawan Chamling is that he is basically a positive man who derive his strength from positive attitude and aspirations therefore The writer of this article have a sense that Dr. Chamling deserves a chance and need to be trusted to sort out the issue of ACT which seems to be getting tangled every passing day into a political battle as man himself says "Sikkimese Lepchas being misled by opportunist forces "
Hopefully ACT would act sooner than later to find an appropriate and just solution through dialogues.
(Received on Email by THE SIKKIM TIMES)
