USE OF CHILDREN IN DARJEELING FOR ROAD BLOCKING; BLACKMAILING; GOKHALAND; GROSS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
DIPAK DE
GOKHALAND; GROSS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
- By DIPAK DE [HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST; M.PHIL IN HUMAN RIGHTS]
It is the news that Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)
directed its students’ wing Gorkha Jan Vidyarthi Morcha (GJVM) to use
the school students i.e. the children who are studying in primary
classes to class-x with the target to get separate state GORKHALAND by
dividing the West Bengal state. GJVM activists collected students
under threatening ( primary schools to class X) and on 30/12/2009,
Wednesday these activists along with the children blocked the roads
such as National Highway 31, National Highway 31-A and other places
and tried to enter Siliguri city. Road blocked were put up in Panchnoi
Bridge near Dagapur and five other places on National Highways. In
Doors, road blockades were put up at Birpara, Gomtu and Dalsaingpara.
Blocked were also put up at Sevoke, Teesta and Rangpo. It is most
serious matter that the Government of India and Government of West
Bengal arranged meetings with a section of Nepalese of Darjeeling
hills without making confidence with other citizens of India who are
living in Darjeeling district and Doors. Now it is apprehended that
there is secret terms and conditions with a section of Nepalese of
Darjeeling hills and in future if there is any communal riot or
violence break out in Darjeeling district and Doors, both the
Governments, Governments officials might be responsible.
Gorkha Janmukti Morcha formed in 7th October, 2007
under leadership of Shri Bimal Gurung, after braking away from Gorkha
National Liberal Front (GNLF). GNLF was formed in 30th. July, 1980.
GNLF demanded for separate state Gorkhaland and now GJM demanded the
same i.e. creation of state Gorkhaland by dividing the state of West
Bengal. GJM demanded that they are Gorkhas.
According to census 2001 of Nepal, there is about 103
distinct ethnic groups and castes in Nepal. There is no existence of
Gorkha ethnic group or Gorkha race in Nepal. The existence of Gorkha
race or Gorkha ethnic group not only in India and but also in the
world, does not arise at all. GORKHA denotes Gorkha soldiers. GURKHA
denotes Gurkha soldiers. British raised Gurkha regiment from the
Nepalese of Nepal in the year 1815 during Indo-Nepal war (1814 to
1816). Thereafter British India raised many Gurkha regiments from the
Nepalese of Nepal, mainly recruited from Magar, Guruing, Rai ethnic
groups.
After independence in 1947, Government of
India changed the name ‘Gurkha regiment’ to ‘Gorkha regiment’. But the
United Kingdom till date maintains the same name Gurkha regiment.
Nepalese are immigrants in North-East India, Sikkim and Darjeeling
etc. from Nepal. Original inhabitants of Darjeeling were Lepchas, the
indigenous people. Nepalese migrated from Nepal since the year circa
1839 and outnumbered the original inhabitants of Darjeeling. A section
of Nepalese in Darjeeling hills submitted false and fabricated claim
that they belong to Gorkha ethnic group and/or Gorkha race and is
clamouring for the creation of Gorkhaland state by dividing the state
of West Bengal in India.
Now we are familiar with the news of Gurkha
mercenaries and Gorkha mercenaries. According to Human Rights
philosophy and jurisprudence, the Nepali nationals who were/are in
Gurkha regiments or Gorkha regiments were/are mercenaries. Mercenarism
is a universal crime against humanity and is a threat to international
peace and security. They shall be treated as criminal. In the Human
Rights arena/forum, the Nationality of a soldier is the main
criteria.
It is a blackmail strategy with the intention
that the Authority will accept their demand as the obstructers are
students (children) so the Authority is helpless to clear the National
Highways or the State High Ways, the life lines. To clear the National
Highway or State Highway, application of minimum force is required.
These Nepalese are ready to create trouble so that the students
(children) would get injury including serious AND fatal injury. This
is not a democratic and peaceful agitation, it is called non-
democratic, violent and criminal intensive agitation to get the state
Gorkhaland. Millions of citizens of India are suffering for the last
three days, and dated 30/12/2009 was the third day. Blockade of
National Highway or State Highway means snatching away by force the
right to life, right to livelihood, right to education etc.
A section of Nepalese who put on a shirt named
‘Gorkha’ and is clamouring for Gorkhaland state, by using the Children
(school students) and blocking the National Highways and if any State
Highway, violated the Declaration of Rights of the Child, Universal
Declaration of Human Rights and International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights. Principle 9 of Declaration of Rights of the Child
reads: ‘The child shall be protected against all forms of neglect,
cruelty and exploitation. He shall not be the subject of traffic, in
any form.’ Principle 6 reads: ‘The child for the full and harmonious
development of his personality, needs love and understanding. He
shall, wherever possible, grow up in the care and under the
responsibility of his parents, and, in any case, in an atmosphere of
affection and of moral and material security; a child of tender years
shall not, save in exceptional circumstances, be separated from his
mother…..’
Article 3 of Universal Declaration of Human Rights
reads: ‘Everyone has the right to life, liberty and the security of
person.’ Article 1 reads: ‘All human beings are born free and equal
in dignity and rights…..’ Article 6(1) of the International covenant
of Civil and Political Rights reads: ‘Every human being has the
inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one
shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.’ Article 7 reads: ‘No one
shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading
treatment or punishment…..’
DATE: 01/01/2010. Dipak De
[Human Rights Activist; M.Phil in Human Rights;
Member of Amnesty International; United Nations on line volunteer on
Human Rights; in touch with: Asian Human Rights Commission,
Hongkong]