Suddenly, it is 'Chal Arunachal'

[RAM]

Suddenly, it is 'Chal Arunachal'
Prime Ministers may fly by chopper or aircraft to remote state capitals they occasionally deign to visit, but with them trundles a gravy train. And The Tawang monastery complex houses about 200 child monks, the youngest barely seven years old. The monks wake up with the first gong around 4.30 am and rush to the prayer hall. Every morning, the sharp sounds of soldiers at drill mingle with the sober rhythmic beat of the prayer drums
so it was when Manmohan Singh visited Itanagar on January 31 last year. The trip was repeatedly called “historic” . Even more historic was the outlay of Rs 24,000 crore that accompanied it. The money, said the PM, was to help develop the state and bring it closer to the mainstream. Roads, power, airports, everything has acquired a patriotic hue.

To put it plainly, Arunachal has benefitted from Chinese covetousness. Indian VIPs who didn’t otherwise give this hilly stepchild a moment’s notice have come tramping in officiously to mark their turf. “That the Prime Minister of India visited a state after 12 years shows that somewhere, somehow we were not giving it the desired importance,’’ says Arunachal governor J J Singh. “But there have been several such high-profile visits in the last one year, with the President, PM, vice-president , external affairs minister and the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission all visiting the state. That I would say is historic.”

In 2006, then chief minister Gegong Apang petitioned the National Development Council at Delhi. His state, he said, was suffering from “impaired economic development’ ’ and trailing behind the national average on most parameters; the terrain was hostile, the costs of infrastructure disproportionate. The geographic hardship is compounded by the twin problem of Chinese incursions and internal insurgency, particularly in the two districts of Tirap and Chanlang. These two spots share a border with Myanmar and the Armed Forces Special Powers Act is still in force here.

But with the PM’s 2008 visit, the longheld belief that it suited policy makers to keep Arunachal underdeveloped as it would serve as a “natural barrier against foreign aggression’’ seems to have changed drastically.

Of course, as is the case in all things bureaucratic , there is many a slip between purse and project. So, agreements for as many as 103 power mills have yet to generate a single watt. The ambitious Rs 5,550 crore trans-Arunachal highways scheme envisaged to cover 718 km, is stuck. And so is the airport. “We acquired the land, gave the go ahead, got the forest clearance, environment clearance... now they are talking about excessive funding for leveling the ground,” says Singh, a tad irritated.

The new chief minister Dorjee Khandu has his work cut out.


http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Suddenly-it-is-Chal-Arunachal-/articleshow/5182392.cms

 

[RAM]

Don't politicise my Arunachal visit, Dalai tells China

TOKYO: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama today hit out China for opposing his proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh next week, saying it reflected a "negative attitude" as his trip was solely for teaching.

The Dalai Lama said his upcoming visit to the Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh was not the first one, and that he was surprised and saddened by China's criticism over it.

"I was surprised at China's criticism. If my visit creates problem, I am very sad, that's all," the Tibetan leader, on a visit here told journalists, implying that he intends to go ahead with his visit on November 8.

"... So now I think when the Chinese government (opposes) ... (then they have) some sort of a negative attitude or seriousness about my visit... I am a little bit of surprised," he said.

The 74-year old Nobel Peace Prize winner said his visits were "politicised too much" by Chinese government. "Where I go is not political," he said.

Contending that he was travelling to Arunachal for teaching his beliefs, the Dalai Lama said Tawang held great memories for him as this was his first stop 50 years ago when he was forced to flee Tibet, according to Kyodo.

India and China were recently engaged in a verbal spat over Dalai Lama's proposed visit to Arunachal over which China lays claim. China objected to his visit, but India rejected the objection, saying the Tibetan leader was free to travel anywhere in India.

New Delhi, however, has made it clear that the Dalai Lama is not supposed to indulge in political activities or discuss India-China boundary question.

The Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Tawang monastery to deliver spiritual discourse to his followers at the invitation of local leaders and also dedicate a new hospital, built in part with funds donated by him.

He said he was going on a long pending invitation. "Now I found appropriate time, this time," he said.

Dalai Lama recently visited Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory and met with political leaders on the island, despite strong criticism from China.

Dalai Lama also raised concerns over the plight of Tibetans and other ethnic minorities in China, urging journalists to visit there to assess the conditions without the presence of security officers.

"If the reality in Tibet is what the Chinese government claims, then our information is wrong. We would have to apologise and cease all our activities," he said.

"... But if it is not as what the government claims, then Beijing should take a realistic approach at solving the situation because propaganda isn't going to work," he added.

He said allowing the media to report the truth about Tibet would help China build trust with other countries and that would increase its authority in global affairs.

Although branded as a separatist trying to tear Tibet away from Chinese rule, the Dalai Lama insisted he is seeking genuine autonomy, not outright independence.

Don't politicise my Arunachal visit, Dalai tells China - India - The Times of India

 

[RAM]

The Dalai is god in Tawang, his writ is law


The day starts early at the monastery in Tawang, a rambling structure atop a mountain with clusters of smaller buildings and living quarters
arranged around it. The 200-odd child monks, their cherubic faces flushed pink with the cold, rise at the crack of dawn. The youngest is seven years old. They race up to the gompa as the first gong reverberates in the prayer hall. It is 4.30 am. The children are wrapped in warm red-and-yellow robes, their feet pushed into blue rubber slip-ons .

The original monastery, built in 1681 by Merak Lama, a Tibetan Buddhist disciple, has been replaced by a new building. The prayer hall is dominated by a massive gold Buddha, the walls are covered with elaborate murals of gods and enormous engraved pillars hold up the ceiling. The little monks sit in quiet rows on wooden planks lined with cushions. As they begin their chanting, the medieval space suddenly comes alive.

There is palpable excitement in the whole of Arunachal Pradesh, especially in Tawang, as the Dalai Lama's weeklong visit, which begins on November 8, draws near. He will spend five days at the monastery, will take part in special prayers and religious rituals and inaugurate a super-specialty hospital to which he has donated Rs 20 lakh.

Despite the hectic preparations to welcome him, the monks maintain their strict daily routines. After the prayers, which last for about an hour, the children queue up to collect the thick wheat roti and vegetables that make for the first meal of the day. The older monks and functionaries fan out to supervise various works in progress, including the construction of a new museum that will eventually hold rare treasures and artifacts of Tibetan Buddhism.

"We have been preparing for his visit for a year," says the abbot, Tulku Rinpoche. An array of gifts that include a silver and gold dharma chakra (held by Lord Brahma), a conch (held by Lord Indra) and a butter lamp with intricate inlay work encrusted with corals and turquoise, designed by skilled craftsmen from Karnataka, will be presented to the Dalai Lama. An idol of Ami Tayus, worshipped for long life, and a red-andyellow robe tailored at Dharamsala will also be given to him.

As the child monks brush up on their Buddhist philosophy, a subject introduced recently at the monastery's Centre for Buddhist Cultural Studies, so that they are prepared in case the Dalai Lama asks a question or two, the 500 elders prepare for special pujas for the man they consider god. They will not only pray that he has a long life, but also that "peace, compassion and kindness be instilled in Chinese hearts" .

Rushing to the bazaar to buy bamboo poles and bolts of silk which will be used as flags to decorate the monastery for the "great event'' , Phurba, a 35-year-old monk, says he has been praying hard for heavy snow along the border. "This is to prevent the Chinese from entering India.''

The Dalai is god in Tawang, his writ is law - India - The Times of India

 

[RAM]

Arunachal to have its first jail on Tuesday

Itanagar, Nov 1 (PTI) The first-ever jail in Arunachal Pradesh will be inaugurated on Tuesday, ending the practice of keeping undertrials and convicts in police lock-ups in the state and prisons in Assam.

Around 30 undertrial prisoners in judicial custody, now in lock-ups of various police stations here, will be shifted to the central jail.

Developed as a reform centre under the new approach to treat the prisoners, the Rs 3 crore jail infrastructure has been lying unused after completion since 2005.

Former Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil had come to inaugurate it in 2005 but cancelled the programme due to the demise of the then Pope.

Since then the inaugurations were skipped on several occasions

fullstory

 

[RAM]

China accuses Dalai Lama of damaging ties with India


BEIJING: The Chinese foreign ministry on Tuesday accused the Dalai Lama of damaging its relationship with India by his plans to visit a disputed border region. China was referring to 90,000 sq km (55,900 square miles) of Arunachal Pradesh along the border, which it regards as own territory.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader has riled Beijing by arranging a trip next week to Arunachal Pradesh, parts of which China claims as its own. The Chinese government has condemned the trip several times and asked Delhi to stop it going ahead.

But with ties between the two Asian giants strained by a flare-up of disputes over their shared boundary, Beijing apparently hopes to keep its ire over the trip, due to start November 8, from inflaming diplomatic tensions.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu repeated earlier criticism of the Dalai Lama for "separatist" activities, but did not condemn Delhi for allowing the trip to go ahead, and underlined the importance Beijing places on Sino-Indian ties.

"The Dalai Lama often lies and often engages in acts to sabotage China's relations with other countries," Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said at a regular news briefing. "I am confident that his scheme to wreck China's relations with the relevant country will come to nothing."

"I am confident that his scheme to wreck China's relations with the relevant country will come to nothing."

China claims about 90,000 sq km (55,900 square miles) of Arunachal Pradesh along the border as part of its territory, that it sees as "southern" Tibet.

Ma said that late last month, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh had agreed to focus on promoting "healthy and stable relations."

"We hope that each side will continue striving to make strides in that direction," Ma added.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/...aging-ties-with-India/articleshow/5192704.cms

 

[RAM]

China amasses troops along Arunachal for 'army exercise'


Guwahati: The Chinese Army is conducting exercises in areas adjoining Arunachal Pradesh. This was disclosed by Major General S.S. Jog, General Officer Commanding the Red Horn Division, during a seminar on counter terrorism organised by the Army for officers and allied personnel engaged in anti-insurgency operations in Guwahati on Wednesday.

Apart from the serving officers, several retired personnel of the Indian Army and para-military forces shared their views and expertise in counter-insurgency operations.

To a poser on intrusion by Chinese troops in the neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh state, Major General S S Jog, General Office Commanding of the Red Horn Division, said: “There is some sort of exercises, which they generally do during this particular time of the year. They have done a few exercises and certain amounts of troops have come in but it''s normal routine exercise.”

There has been a flurry of reports in Indian media of Chinese incursions along the border -- shrugged off by both the Indian and Chinese governments.

Consequently, New Delhi protested against a Chinese Foreign Ministry''s policy of issuing different visas to residents of disputed northern region of Jammu and Kashmir state.

Major General (retied) Gaganjit Singh said that although things have improved a lot in Assam the ultimate peace is yet to return.

"The things have changed a lot. What it was in 10 years back it''s not now today. Firstly, the public of Assam have realised that insurgency has given them no benefit. That realisation is a big achievement. Secondly, I can only say that ultimate peace has not come. It takes time for everything," said Major General Singh.

China India news-China amasses troops along Arunachal for `army exercise`

 

[ppgj]

India: The strategic importance of arunachal pradesh

Paper no. 3421/17-Sept-2009

INDIA: THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH

By Dr. Subhash Kapila

Introductory Observations

China’s past and contemporary rigidity on claiming the whole of the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh as Chinese territory arises significantly from the strategic importance of this region in relation to China and its hold on Tibet.

On the eve of Chinese President Hu Jin Tao’s visit to India in 2006 the then Chinese Ambassador to India in a manner that was diplomatically abrasive, unwise and arrogant startled the Indian policy establishment by public assertions that the whole of Arunachal Pradesh was part of China.

This Author had at that time in SAAG Paper No. 2023 dated 13.11.2006 entitled: “CHINA: THE STRATEGIC RELUCTANCE ON BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT WITH INDIA” (http://www.southasiaanalysis.org/papers/paper2023.html) had focused on two major issues:

* “China’s Endless Round of Border Dispute Negotiations” to prolong a boundary settlement was prompted by strategic reasons.
* “The Strategic Importance of Tawang" Some of the major reasons of the strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh were highlighted and it was stressed that India could not afford any territorial compromises in this region.

In the current season while China has once again focused on rigidly and persistently claiming the whole of this region, it is appropriate to refocus on the strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh to India. The above referred Paper is reproduced below.

Additionally, one would like to stress is that Arunachal Pradesh in India’s hands strategically worries China most because it is from this region that India’s missile ranges and coverage of Chinese heartland targets, offers the best locations.

Concluding Observation

Notwithstanding any peace rhetoric from China or efforts to lower temperatures in the India-China border standoff on the Tibet border, it would be realistic for Indian military contingency planning to expect a major Chinese military offensive against India centering on Arunachal Pradesh with Tawang as the initial prime target. That was the lesson of 1962 also.

(The author is an International Relations and Strategic Affairs analyst. He is the Consultant, Strategic Affairs with South Asia Analysis Group. Email:[email protected])

Paper no. 2023 13.11.2006

CHINA: THE STRATEGIC RELUCTANCE ON BOUNDARY SETTLEMENT WITH INDIA

By Dr. Subhash Kapila

Introductory Observations

China ever since its emergence as a monolithic Communist state in 1949 was involved in boundary disputes with virtually every nation on its peripheries. It led to border wars with the former Soviet Union, Vietnam and India. In the case of Vietnam and India, the border wars were perceived by China as punitive wars.

China today has undertaken boundary settlements with virtually all countries with which it had disputes with the exception of India.

Some in India hoped that with a generational change in leadership in China and with the economic, political and strategic rise of India, China may be prompted to move towards more accommodative stances on the China-India boundary dispute.

China’s President Hu Jintao would be visiting India from November 20, 2006 for four days. This author has already spelt out in two earlier papers, that in terms of perspectives, China has given no indications that India could expect any significant breakthrough announcements by the Chinese president on the boundary dispute.

The Chinese President’s visit to India in November 2006 will be just one more item in the chronology of China- India relations. A politically correct visit at best.

This paper attempts to analyse the strategic importance of Tawang (read Arunachal Pradesh) which has now emerged in the open as the core issue of China’s reluctance on the border dispute settlement.

China’s Endless Round of Border Dispute Negotiations

Endless rounds of border dispute negotiations have taken place between China and India. These have taken place at two levels, namely:

* Joint Working Group (JWG) discussions which commenced in 1988
* Special Representatives talks at the level of India’s National Security Advisers and Chinese Vice Minister level since June 2003.

The JWG has already completed over fifteen rounds of discussions. The Special Representatives held Seventh Round of talks in March 2006.

The standard responses after each round have been of the type that was stated in March 2006: “The two Special Representative continued their discussions for an agreed framework for the resolution of the boundary question in a constructive and friendly atmosphere”.

Chinese leaders on visits to India come out with the oft-repeated statement that the boundary dispute should be left to future generations to resolve and meanwhile China-India relations in other fields should move forward. This is just an excuse to keep alive the border dispute as a strategic pressure point against India.

This leads to the question whether China is really serious about resolution of the China-India border dispute?

The endless round of negotiations does not suggest so.

It is best exemplified by an Indian media news report that no meetings have been scheduled between Indian and Chinese Special Representatives for talks on the boundary dispute before the visit of Chinese President Hu Jintao on November 20 “as India doesn’t expect any substantive progress on the border issue in the near future.”

Symbolically, China’s reluctance can be read as dissatisfaction with growing US-India strategic relationship and keeping alive the border dispute as a strategic pressure point against India.

Obviously China is actively involved in delays and prolonging the resolution of the boundary disputes for strategic reasons.

China’s Strategic Reluctance on Boundary Settlement with India

Veiled references in the past were made by Indian official spokesmen that progress could not be made as China was constantly pressurizing India to accept a swap by India of Tawang in lieu of Aksai-Chin.

China has now come out in the open to demand and advocate this proposal. An Indian news-report covering the closed door meeting organized between Chinese distinguished experts and Indian academics by China’s Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies, which is part of the giant official Chinese Academy of Social Sciences had this to report:

* Chinese experts said that China would be magnanimous on the issue of Aksai Chin area if India agreed to give up Tawang.
* The high-level Chinese experts which included former Chinese Ambassador to India Chen Rui Sheng made it clear that the border dispute could be solved if India handed over Tawang to China.

The Strategic Importance of Tawang for India

At the outset it must be made clear that for the Chinese, Tawang is not just the Tawang Monastery region. For them Tawang implies the whole of India’s Arunachal Pradesh. So as not to dilute their claim, they officially will not call it that Arunachal Pradesh should be returned to them.

Coming to the strategic importance of Arunachal Pradesh or Tawang in Chinese parlance the following need to be recognized:

* Arunachal Pradesh provides strategic depth to India’s Brahmaputra Valley and India’s other North Eastern states.
* Arunachal Pradesh provides security to Bhutan on it entire Eastern flank by geographical contiguity.
* Bhutan would be then be in a pincer group of China on both it flanks if Tawang is given away. This would be detrimental to India’s security.
* China’s borders would then rest on the plains of Assam; India might as well write off its other North Eastern states.
* The Chinese obsession with the Tawang Region is totally strategic in its aims.
* In any future conflict with China and if India singly or in coalition with some other power develops offensive capabilities against China, this region offers the shortest cut to China proper and to Tibet.
* India’s communications infrastructure in this region developed in World War II for US military aid to China is existent and can be further improved.
* Arunachal Pradesh offers all-wealthier lines of communication to India for military needs to the Tibet border as compared to Aksai-Chin.
* In terms of any air operations by China in this region, Arunachal Pradesh would provide multi-layered air defence deployments on the ground as deterrence.
* The region is rich in terms of mineral and natural resources prospects.

There are many more reasons that one can state but the major ones should be enough. Arunachal Pradesh is of vital strategic importance for the territorial integrity and defence of India’s North East states and should be non-negotiable.

Concluding Observations

China would be politically naive of it perceives that in the 21st Century, a powerfully rising India would accept the bait of a Chinese strategic barter of Aksai-Chin in lieu of Tawang (read Arunachal Pradesh)

India would be more politically naive than China if it thinks that China would concede the area of Aksai-Chin through which passes its lifelines to keep Xinjiang under Chinese control.

Both in Aksai Chin and in the Arunachal Pradesh area, the strategic interests of China and India clash in the most intense manner. It would be a magical wonder if China can turn around to be strategically accommodative of India’s strategic sensitivities.

China’s strategic reluctances to solve the border dispute with India can therefore be expected to bedevil China-India relations for a long time to come.

(The author is an International Relations and Strategic Affairs analyst. He is the Consultant, Strategic Affairs with South Asia Analysis Group. Email:[email protected])

INDIA: THE STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE OF ARUNACHAL PRADESH*

 

[RAM]

BRO constructing 61 roads along China border

NEW DELHI, Nov 20 – Trying to keep pace with the infrastructure development in Tibet by China, the Border Road Organisation (BRO) is constructing 61 roads along Indo-China border covering a total length of 3377 Km in five States including Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh. With reports of intrusions pouring in from Arunachal Pradesh top priority is being given to develop the road network in the State. Highest number of 27 roads has been sanctioned for Arunachal Pradesh followed by 14 in Uttrakhand.

In a Rajya Sabha reply, Union Minister for Railways, E Ahmed said that focus is also on to develop the railway network in the bordering States. A new line to connect Itanagar with Harmuti has been sanctioned in 1996-1997 at a cost of Rs 160.48 crore. Construction work is in progress.A survey to connect Parashuramkunda in Arunachal Pradesh with Rupai in Assam has been conducted, he said in a statement.

The Assam Tribune Online

 

[stax]

Dalai is recognized as a hypocrite with limited IQ in China. He is just imposed by some crafty enemies.

 

[F-14]

stax you should be shamed to say this he has never told his followers to engage in terrorist actives all he is asking is for the Rights of his people and to have a Bit of respect for their way of life he is old enough to be your grandfather mate

 

[RAM]

Arunachal part of India, no matter what China says: Tharoor

Pune: Union minister of state for external affairs Shashi Tharoor said on Sunday that despite China's academic claims on Arunachal Pradesh the fact was that the state was an integral part of India. Tharoor was speaking after attending the convocation ceremony of Symbiosis International University.He said China had been making such claims since 1962 "Arunachal Pradesh, however, is part of India. Recently, elections were held there. We control the borders and have maintained Arunachal's integrity." On the Dalai Lama's recent visit, Tharoor said, he had visited Arunachal as a spiritual leader, and not for any political gains. "Dalai Lama has a mass following there."

Despite the border issue, Tharoor said trade between the two countries had increased. "About 50,000 business visas were issued to Chinese businessmen coming to India," he said. On the other hand, over 70,000 Indian students have visited China.

"We are pushing for negotiation on border issues and so far 13 rounds of talks have taken place. The Chinese government is making an academic claim on Arunachal Pradesh but India has agreed to disagree on the issue," he said.

Arunachal part of India, no matter what China says: Tharoor - dnaindia.com

 

[stax]

stax you should be shamed to say this he has never told his followers to engage in terrorist actives all he is asking is for the Rights of his people and to have a Bit of respect for their way of life he is old enough to be your grandfather mate

But he is seperating south Tibet from China...

If an old man want to seperate New Delphi from India, do Indians respect him?

 

[F-14]

are you out of your mind kid you can even get my captials name right and as for he being a terroist no terroist is given the Noble prize for peace