54-Day Hunger Strike and Counting
Gangtok: Today is the 54th dayof the indefinite hunger strike by members of ACT led by Dawa Lepcha and 20 yr old Tenzing Lepcha. The hunger striking duo Dawa and Tenzing are still at STNM hospital and refuse to take food orally but through Ryle's tube. The rest of the members continue their relay hunger strike at BL House.
And through This hunger strike the message has already gone to the national and international community and also especially to the government authorities, and people's consciousness and feelings have been aroused. Sikkim express its deep admiration to Dawa and Tenzing for their courage, love for land and single-mindedness in staying for such a long period on the hunger strike, risking your precious life for the cause you believed and felt right about, and despite knowing the enormous hardship that it entails. However, at this juncture, looking from all sides, In this situation, without taking care of health of Dawa & Tenzing , it is no good to continue the fast. Hence Time has come to consider the appeal of Chief Minister of Sikkim Dr.Pawan Chamling and initiate the dialogue process.
Also because of fact that The movement and protests can take many other forms, but giving up one's life is no good at all. If the value of giving up one's life is equal to the value of the outcome, then the option of giving up one's life may be perhaps considered. However, at this time, if one compares the loss of losing life with the gain of the outcome of the sacrifice, they do not balance. Given the current political scenario, it is difficult to have an outcome where you can say you have achieved acceptance of demands in its all entirety before there is withdrawal of protests through indefinite hunger strike because these issues need to be addressed through negotiations and talks to find mutually acceptable situation. Many weeks have passed now -- before the health of the hunger strikers undergoes severe deterioration, it is high time all the people of Sikkim should come forward to appeal to both of you to halt the fast immediately. All the people of Sikkim have great admiration to the hard work, courage, and determination of the hunger strikers."
It is also time for all of us to urge government officials also to enter into negotiations with hunger strikers Dawa Lepcha and Tenzing Lepcha and find a way out for the sake of Sikkim as the The two have been on hunger strike for 54 days, so that their voices can be heard and reasonable demands be met.The Dawa & Tenzing's main demand -- that the hydel projects planned for Dzongu are scrapped by Sikkim Government -- has not been fulfilled at the moment but However, the international and domestic and local reactions that Duo's protests generated indicate the effort was not made in vain.
The Duo went on hunger strike on June 20, pledging not to end it until the Sikkim Government has placed the Dzongu and River Teesta hydel projects situation on its agenda and until they were convinced that "the local community will devote its attention to Dzongu." and They have succeeded in both parameters but emphatically all the right thinking people of Sikkim need to urge and appeal to to end the Indefinite Hunger Strike immediately in larger interests and also for fact they have started symbolizing the lepcha community and Dzongu although nobody expected .
The Sikkim government has once again appealed to members of Affected Citizens’ of Teesta (ACT) to give up the fast and attempt a resolution through talks.
Chief secretary N.D. Chingapa, who heads the high powered committee dealing with the issue, today wrote to ACT members and reiterated that the government was committed to protect the sanctity of Dzongu and the old laws of the state.
“The state government assures that all genuine concerns will be addressed and ACT is welcome to state their case before the appropriate authorities” the letter reads.
There is yet no confirmation on the part of ACT as to a formal acceptance of such an offer.
Chief secretary N.D. Chingapa, who heads the high powered committee dealing with the issue, today wrote to ACT members and reiterated that the government was committed to protect the sanctity of Dzongu and the old laws of the state.
“The state government assures that all genuine concerns will be addressed and ACT is welcome to state their case before the appropriate authorities” the letter reads.
There is yet no confirmation on the part of ACT as to a formal acceptance of such an offer.
Their efforts may have already contributed to state government's decision to set up a monitoring cell for hydro projects and perhaps it would be fine tuned with time , even though duo's basic demands have not been fulfilled. But their aim that the world "devote its attention to Dzongu & Teesta river" may have been partially met. The most sensational development regarding their protests is that it has once again proved that it is sheer will power,sacrifice and selflessness in believing something and setting out to achieve it like Dawa Lepcha and Tenzing Gyatso Lepcha started and focused on has resulted not only getting issue put on various platforms and in public opinions but also resulted in deriving commitment and focus from government to solve the same in time bound banner and promise of man who once have been voted out as green chief minister might hold good if tested and tried but time has come to consider all options that lies before by Affected Citizens of Teesta for sake of everyone.
