DAY 71

The Government of Sikkim in their first reaction to ACT's recent gesture to call off indefinite hunger strike of duo Dawa & Tenzing has welcomed the move.

The State Government welcomed the decision of Affected Citizens of Teesta (ACT)’s Dawa Lepcha and Tenzing Lepcha to withdraw from the indefinite hunger strike and wished the two Lepcha youth speedy recovery and good health. In a letter to the President of ACT Athup Lepcha, dated August 23, 2007, the State Government has welcomed the withdrawal from the indefinite strike by the two youths. And that the relay hunger strike too may be ended.

Meanwhile, Lepchas of Kalimpong under the banner of indigenous Lepcha Tribal Association (ILTA) has started the relay hunger strike since August 23 in support of ACT. In a bid to express their solidarity with the Affected Citizens of Teesta, eight members of the Lepcha Youth Association started an indefinite hunger-strike at Tricon Park in Kalimpong town yesterday. The Lepcha youths are protesting against the upcoming hydroelectric power projects at Dzongu in North Sikkim. The LYA is planning to stage similar hunger strikes in Darjeeling, Kolkata and Delhi.

( Hunger strike in Kalimpong)

A flash flood in the Teesta has washed away two adjacent Bailey bridges in Zema, North Sikkim, on Saturday cutting off the frontier outpost from the rest of the state. A red alert was sounded at towns and villages downstream due to rising water levels in the river.
Around 400 families from Lachen who practise shifting cultivation live in the highlands during this season and are stuck there, along with the army personnel posted on the border.

The cause of the flash flood is yet to be ascertained. While some spoke of a sudden melting of the Zemu glacier leading to a rise in the water level, others said a landslide triggered the flood.

The chief Minister is yet to return from his trip to the capital. Talks are expected to be initiated on his return. However, the indefinite relay hunger strike continues at BL house.

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