GANGTOK: Normal life was paralyzed in Sikkim following an indefinite bandh called by the ruling Sikkim Sangram Parishad (SSP) in protest against the deployment of Army Jawans in the Rumtek monastery here.

All shops business establishments’ educational institutions and government offices remained closed.

Reports however said that the Army Jawans had been withdrawn from the monastery.

The Sikkim chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari has expressed shock at the army take-over of the Rumtek monastery “without the knowledge and consent of the state government” reports PTI

Bhandari said he was given to understand that the Army action was ordered to ensure safety of a Tibetan refugee in the monastery after “the king of Bhutan approached the external affairs ministry.”

Expressing surprise that even the governor of the Army authorities stationed in the state did not have knowledge of the issue the chief minister said the state administration had also “not received any complaint about a law and order problem in and around the Rumtek monastery.”

Stating that “the people of the country must know the truth about this incident” Bhandari urged the Prime Minister to look into the matter Copies of the letter were also sent to the defence minister Sharad Pawan and the home minister S.B.Chavan.

The Akhil Bharatiya Nepali Bhasha Sangharsha Samity has postponed its proposed hunger strike to press for the inclusion of Nepali language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. The hunger strike was withdrawn in view of the bandh that is being observed in protest against the Army posting.

The two SSP MPs Dil Kumari Bhandari and Karma Topden at a hurriedly called Press conference here condemned the Army deployment and said that the state government “which is the ultimate authority to call the Army has been kept in the dark.”

Jawans of the Kumaon Regiment were deployed to guard the residence of His Eminence Shamar Rippocha one of three co-regents of Rumiek monastery which is the seat in exile of His Holiness Gyalwa Karmapa. The Army personnel it is alleged had even entered the main chapel of the

Led by Shamar at least six armed Jawans entered the monastery while their eminence Tai Situ Rinpoche and Gyaltsap Rinpoche two other regents in charge of the monastery were giving a public address in front of monastery declaring the discovery of 17th Gyalma Karmapa an event keenly awaited by Buddhists all over the world.

While the two Rinpoche’s were addressing the public Shamar Rinpoche entered the monastery and forcibly opened the main door of the chapel followed by the armed Jawans. This angered the crowd which tied to stop the Jawans. What followed were open clashes between various factions in the Rumtek monastery. These included monks.

The Army Jawans were immediately withdrawn and the Sikkim police and CRPF Jawans deployed. They calmed down the agitated mob and prevented any major clash The situation was brought under control although the clashes left over two dozen Tibetans including lamas injured. A monk who sustained head injuries has been admitted to hospital here.

Two persons were arrested in connection with the incidents.

Senior officials including the district magistrate and the inspector-general of police rushed to the Rumtek monastery.

The two Rinpoche’s had in their address said that the new reincarnation of the Karmapa was bom in Tibet and was an eight-year-old monk. UgenThinley the 17th Ramapa was born in the Lithok area of Kham province in eastern Tibet. The discovery of new incarnate they said had the approval of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The two Rinpoche showed the Dalai Lamas letter of approval to the people.

They said that the newly discovered Karmapa would be installed at Tsurphu monastery in eastern Tibet seat of the Karmapa in Tibet on June 17 The Karmapa would then be brought to India to be formally enthroned in the Rumtek monastery.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 26, 1992