Will stay in jail until there is independent judicial inquiry into Ladakh protest killings: Wangchuk
Jodhpur: Climate activist Sonam Wangchuk, who has been imprisoned in the Central Jail here, has sent a message to the people of Ladakh regarding his well-being but asked for an independent judicial inquiry into the killings of four people during the violence in Ladakh on September 24.
Wangchuk, passed the message through his lawyer Mustafa Haji, assured that he was doing well physically as well as mentally in the prison and also thanked everyone for their concern and prayers for him.
Sharing the activist’s message on his post on his personal ‘X’ account on Sunday, Haji said, “Today on the 4th of October Ka Tsetan Dorjey Ley ( Sonam Wangchuk’s elder brother ) and I ( Mustafa Haji- Lawyer ) met Mr. Sonam Wangchuk at Jodhpur Central Jail. Mr. Sonam has conveyed the following message to the people of Ladakh and India. (sic)”
The advocate further posted Wangchuck’s message, “I am doing well, both physically and mentally and thank everyone for their concern and prayers. My heartfelt condolences to the families of those people who lost their lives and my prayers with people who are injured and are arrested. There should be an independent Judicial Inquiry into the killing of our four people and unless that is done I am prepared to stay in Jail. I stand firmly with Apex Body and the KDA and the people of Ladakh in our genuine constitutional demand for Sixth Schedule and Statehood and whatever actions Apex Body takes in the interest of Ladakh, I am with them , wholeheartedly. I appeal people to keep peace and unity and continue with our struggle peacefully- in the true Gandhian way of non-violence. (sic)”
Wangchuk was detained on September 26 under the National Security Act (NSA), two days after people started their protests in Leh, the capital of Ladakh, demanding statehood and inclusion of Ladakh under the Sixth Schedule.
On September 24, the chaos reportedly broke out as protesters set fire to the office of a political party. Four people were killed and 90 others injured as the protest turned into clashes with the police.
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Lebanon appoints new representative for talks with Israel, rejects linkage to Iran
Beirut: Lebanon’s has moved to underline its independent position in ongoing regional developments, amid attempts to link the country to the broader conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
President Joseph Aoun, while announcing the appointment of former US ambassador Simon Karam as Lebanon’s representative in talks with Israel, made it clear that Karam would be the sole representative for Lebanon and that there would be no substitute.
The move comes in response to what the Lebanese officials see as efforts by Iran to tie Lebanon’s situation to the wider regional conflict. Iran had indicated that there would be no ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran unless it also included a ceasefire in Lebanon.
Some groups, including Hezbollah and its supporters, had expressed support for linking the situations, citing concerns that the Lebanese government has limited leverage in negotiations with Israel. Lebanon is not formally a party to the conflict, and its army is considered weak.
However, others, including Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, have opposed this approach. They view Iran’s stance as an attempt to influence Lebanon’s internal affairs and see it as undermining the country’s sovereignty.
Officials backing the government’s position say the move is aimed at reaffirming Lebanon’s sovereignty and ensuring that decisions about peace and ceasefire within the country are not dictated externally.
They also see it as a safeguard, so that any breakdown in talks between the US, Israel and Iran does not automatically lead to renewed conflict in Lebanon.
