http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/ jour jj mois 2007

Ouverture de la route Ladakh-Chine
L'Inde attend un signe du gouvernement chinois.    

JAMMU, Jan 19, 2007

Bien que le gouvernement indien ait pris avec détermination la question de l'ouverture par la route de la frontière entre le Ladakh et le Thibet (Chine) pour promouvoir le tourisme, les échanges et le pèlerinage de la région avec la Chine, pourtant le signe positif d'assentiment du gouvernement chinois était encore attendu.

....................

Plus tard, le ministre dit que le commissaire permanentent de J&K à New Delhi avait développé cette solution dans la conférence sur le développement des infrastructures à la frontière, tenue le 28 nov. 2006 et le gouvernement central avait déclaré alors que cette solution a été prise avec les contre-parties chinoises, mais la réponse était encore attendue de leur côté. De plus, le Département des Affaires du Ladakh au gouvernement de J&K  avait également évoqué la question avec le Gouvernement Central de temps en temps. Le ministère de l'Intérieur de l'Union tout en répondant à une des communications du Département des Affaires du Ladakh, a précisé que le régime chinois a rapporté qu'ils considéreraient la demande en fonction des conditions au Thibet et que le sujet était suivi par le ministère des affaires extérieures (GOI).

Un document soumis au gouvernement de l'Union par le département Tourisme de J&K a indiqué que l'ouverture de cet itinéraire pour le yatra annuel de Kailash-Mansrovar était essentielle pour relancer l'économie de la région du Ladakh et favoriser le pèlerinage. Il a indiqué que la distance de Leh à Kailash Mansarovar par Damchok est 613 km.

Tandis que la distance de Leh à Damchok (territoire indien) est de 323 kms, elle est de 290 kms dans le territoire chinois. L'itinéraire entier est carrossable et s'il est ouvert cet itinéraire fournira un accès relativement facile et rapide aux pèlerins de Kailash Mansarovar qui peuvent l'atteindre en deux jours en autobus ou en véhicule léger à partir de Leh. Cet itinéraire réduira également la dépense des pèlerins qui voudront aller participer au yatra de Kailash-Mansrovar.

Opening of Ladakh-China highway  
India awaits nod from Chinese Govt: Mir  
voir la page du journal

JAMMU, Jan 19, 2007 : Even though the Government of India has taken up the issue of opening of Ladakh-Tibet (China) border road for promotion of tourism, trade and pilgrimage in the region with China forcefully, yet a green nod from the Chinese Government was still awaited.

While responding to a question of P.Namgyal in the Upper House of the J&K Legislature here today, Minister for Tourism, Horticulture, PHE and Flood Control, Dilawar Mir told the House that talks over the issue with Chinese Government officials were going on from time to time. He claimed that some success in this connection has been achieved but a final response from the Chinese Government was still awaited.

Mr Mir while responding to subsequent supplementaries of the senior legislator from Ladakh, Namgyal further disclosed that Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and even his predecessor, Mufti Mohd Sayeed and even Dr Farooq Abdullah has taken up the issue with the Centre from time to time. Providing some communications between the State Government and the Centre in this regard, Mr Mir said over a period of time matter is being taken up at various levels. The Union Ministry of Tourism had also taken up the issue with the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry was also informed about the resolution moved in the Upper House in Aug 2004 by Member, P. Namgyal regarding opening of international border between Ladakh and Tibet ( China) at Damchok to promote tourism, trade and pilgrimage to Kailash Mansrovar and hold discussions with Chinese Government. The reminders were further sent to the Union Government (Tourism Deptt) by J&K in July 2006 and October 13, 2006, he maintained.

The minister further said that Resident Commissioner, J&K at New Delhi had highlighted the issue in the conference of border infrastructure development held on Nov 28, 2006 and the Central Government had informed there that this issue has been taken up with Chinese counterparts but response was still awaited from that side. Besides this, Ladakh Affairs department of J&K Government has also been taking up the issue with the Centre from time to time. The Union Home Ministry while responding to one of the communications of Ladakh Affairs Deptt, has informed that Chinese regime has conveyed that they would consider the request according to the conditions in Tibet and the matter was being followed by the Ministry of External affairs (GOI).

A document submitted to the Union Government by J&K Tourism department has indicated that opening of this route for Kailash-Mansrovar annual yatra was very vital for raising economy of Ladakh region and promote pilgrim tourism. It indicated that distance from Leh to Kailash Mansrovar via Damchok is 613 kms.

While distance from Leh to Damchok (Indian territory) was 323 kms, it was 290 kms ahead in Chinese territory. The entire route was motorable and if it is opened this route will provide relatively easy and quick access to Kailash Mansrovar pilgrims who can reach in two days by bus or light vehicle from Leh. This route will also reduce the expenditure of the pilgrims intending to go for Kailash-Mansrovar yatra.