Month: November 1999

Leader Writer Leivon Jimmy
The powerful blast that was triggered on May 28 at the temporary office of the Autonomous District Council (ADC) at Khuman Lampak sports complex is not only a crime against humanity but a disregard to the sanctified sports complex, a training ground for many promising sports players bringing laurel for the state.

The mindless act has inflicted injuries to three innocent members of a family including a mother and her two minor daughters of which one is still battling for her life. Besides it has prevails a fear psychosis among the enthusiastic sports players, a symbol of Manipur`™s pride and glory.

The mentality of the people involved in triggering the blast needless to say that it would be creepy enough for a common man from the nature of the blast and most prominently where it was planted. As per reports a guy before leaving a car behind inside the campus asked the father of the victim girls about a meeting taking place at the ADC office. Knowing the presence inside the campus and nearby, the car bomb was left revealing the cold-blooded nature.

Had it not been for the general strike imposed by a civil body in connection with the visit of Nagaland`™s Chief Ministers at Senapati that has resulted in low turnout of people, the loss and tragedy could have been worst. The blast was so powerful that the fragments of the bomb were sent hundreds of meters away from the epicenter and completely wrecked the car into pieces.

In the meantime, the Government can be blamed equally for the incident for its ignorant. Even as the Chief Minister of Manipur speaking during a meet at his official bungalow ruled out security lapses. The clarification is somehow reckless comparing to the situation of stiff opposition while conducting the election of the ADC.

In addition to that the Chief Minister`™s clarification was contradictory when compared with the statement of a senior police officer was quoted by newspapers that ADC office has been enduring intense intimidation from a group.

The message was loud and clear that someone is not happy with the ADC office.

In the wake of such intimidation there was no sign or words of the presence of security forces in an around the office building. It is a well known fact to everyone how often lobbing of bomb or bomb blast, and firing incident took place in the state. The perpetrators dare to attack even in the presence of security forces and Singjamei blast at the residence of an engineer is a glaring example. What then if there is no security arrangement at all? It can be accounted to as inviting troubles or encouraging the propaganda of the opposition side.

Every section of the society should condemned the act at a strongest term for it had risk several lives. And, demoralized the spirit of promising sports persons by creating a sense of insecurity in an around the area. Demoralizing the players means a huge blow to the status it enjoys as the `Powerhouse of sport for India`.

People in this region have paid enough prices for no foul of theirs. History is the grim reminder. They have been caught in a murky conflict that has been waging and renewed generation after generation.
There is nothing but loss for the people here and has always been.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/yUZtrE3vqi0/

IMPHAL June 3: As a part of the continuing effort of various social organizations of Jiribam to press the state government to convert the Jiribam sub-division into a full fledged revenue district, the Jiribam branch of AMSU, MSF and DESAM, today, organized a peaceful protest rally starting from Jiribam higher secondary school at around 11. 30 am.

Around 400 students from Kalinagar high school, Kasturba high school, Jiribam higher secondary school and R.K. Sanatombi Vidyalaya high school, Jiribam participated in the said rally.

Later in the day, the Jiribam district demand committee had called a 30 hours general strike in Jiribam sub division which will be effective from the mid-night of June 6 till 6 am of June 8 as a response to the concerned authority`™s mute stand.

A press conference that was held at around 2.30 pm at the temporary office of the committee which is situated in the office of MSF, Jiribam branch also highlighted the further course of actions if the government continue to fail to act accordingly even after repeated demands. In this regard the convener of the committee, Mutum Meipaksana Mangang has appealed the general populace in the Jiribam area for their support till the demand of converting the sub-division into a district is materialized.

The committee further cautioned the state government that an economic blockade for 5 days starting from 7pm of June 11 till 7 pm of June 15 will be instituted on the Imphal Jiribam state highway as a further course of action, if the government fail to give any positive responses even after the stipulated time. The committee further appealed to all the vehicles plying on this highway to fully cooperate during the proposed economic blockade.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/Hqq2XlWDY00/

IMPHAL June 2: Calling for new changes in the state, Th. Chaoba ex- union minister, while addressing a One day political conference at Thoubal Charangpat Mamang Leikai community hall under Wangkhem A/C stated that the state is facing an acute hardship as a result of the congress government. He further mentioned that in the forth-coming general election, MPP will form an alliance with like minded political parties other than NPF to overdraw the Congress led government.

Accusing the Chief Minister of being associating with family politics, Th. Chaoba termed the present O.Ibobi led Congress government will have the same fate as that of Karunanidhi led government in Tamil Nadu.

The One day political conference was organized by the Youth Front of Manipur Peoples Party to address on various present issues of the State.

Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, president MPP, L. Kunjabihari, district president MPP, Th. Chaoba, , L. Jatra, ex-MLA, M. Maniton Mangang, president Youth Front MPP graced the function as chief guest, president and guests of Honour respectively. The function was also attended by other office bearers, members and invitees.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/tPbkRYcCIUc/

IMPHAL June 2: Calling for new changes in the state, Th. Chaoba ex- union minister, while addressing a One day political conference at Thoubal Charangpat Mamang Leikai community hall under Wangkhem A/C stated that the state is facing an acute hardship as a result of the congress government. He further mentioned that in the forth-coming general election, MPP will form an alliance with like minded political parties other than NPF to overdraw the Congress led government.

Accusing the Chief Minister of being associating with family politics, Th. Chaoba termed the present O.Ibobi led Congress government will have the same fate as that of Karunanidhi led government in Tamil Nadu.

The One day political conference was organized by the Youth Front of Manipur Peoples Party to address on various present issues of the State.

Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, president MPP, L. Kunjabihari, district president MPP, Th. Chaoba, , L. Jatra, ex-MLA, M. Maniton Mangang, president Youth Front MPP graced the function as chief guest, president and guests of Honour respectively. The function was also attended by other office bearers, members and invitees.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/tPbkRYcCIUc/

The rains have halted for a while. It will be back soon in bigger monsoon torrents if all goes as per normal seasonal cycle. But this break can be made used of meaningfully by the government. The least it could do is to fill up the potholes on the roads as well as repair weak spots before the rains return. Now that weather forecasts technology has advanced so much, it can actually plan out its work schedule much better than it could 10 years ago. Investing in renovation works now will save the government a lot more money in the near future, for the potholes and weak spot, if left unattended, would virtually trigger total or at least much more substantial damages of the roads during the monsoon. One wonders why this thought does not occur to the government on its own without anybody having to remind it. Local MLAs which are the eyes and ears, as well as guardians of the constituencies they represent, should have brought up the matter before the government for necessary action. Or is it a case of there being no such system of feedback in the establishment. If there isn`™t any, it is time for the government to introduced one. Let the government also realise that it would not only be saving expenses in the long run, but also doing a great service to the people it is supposed to serve.

We wonder why the government gives so little attention to maintenance of infrastructure. If it were to give the matter of maintenance a fraction of the attention that it gives to laying foundation stones or inaugurating new public infrastructures, so much would have been set right. The enthusiasm for the latter is such that our leaders would even agree to lay foundation stones or inaugurate structures ranging from public toilets to community halls where they would make fiery public speeches with an air of self assumed grandeur of imagined epic proportion. Perhaps as a tactics, a tradition should be introduced where our leaders are encouraged to cut the ribbons even in cases of public infrastructure renovation works and allowed to make speeches. This hopefully will encourage them to think of repair works more seriously and with far greater interest.
Jokes aside, this is a matter of concern, and indeed a big lacuna in the attitude of the government. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can keep in good shape without routine repair renovations. Roads are no exceptions. So why does the government not keep aside a separate budget for this purpose. We would even suggest a different government department with the responsibility of ensuring repair works are executed promptly, catching signs of damages early and fixing them before they get extensive. Let us remind the government once again that such a policy would save it considerably amount of money and quality time rather than put more pressure on its exchequer. It does not have to be recruiting fresh employees. It is just a matter of introducing a new structure to division of work responsibilities in its engineering departments. What seems to be also missing is a system of accountability. If a certain stretch of road or for that matter any government infrastructure is in a bad condition or have not been built as per specifications and standard, there should be somebody to answer. As for this latter proposition, in all likelihood the system already exists. The question is, if this is so, why are damaged roads left unrepaired for months until the damages become so extensive that the public are left with no choice than to resort to public agitation?

Nothing seems to be urgent in the eyes of the government. The only things that perk it up are the periodic mock epics and tantrums from various warring civil society bodies which are supposed to be challenges to the territorial integrity of the state. The war drums and war cabinet meetings recently over the opening of a party office of the Naga Peoples`™ Front, a Nagaland state political party, at Senapati headquarters by the Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, is just the latest example. It may be recalled, all the clamours in the end proved to be nothing more than what the great bard William Shakespeare said in those immortal lines: `a story told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.` Instead of wasting its energy on such frivolous matters, we wish it would give more priority to keeping public utilities in good shape. For all one knows, such a shift in priorities would in the end prove to be the solution to episodes such as that of the Senapati fiasco.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/ko73jmKn06s/

The rains have halted for a while. It will be back soon in bigger monsoon torrents if all goes as per normal seasonal cycle. But this break can be made used of meaningfully by the government. The least it could do is to fill up the potholes on the roads as well as repair weak spots before the rains return. Now that weather forecasts technology has advanced so much, it can actually plan out its work schedule much better than it could 10 years ago. Investing in renovation works now will save the government a lot more money in the near future, for the potholes and weak spot, if left unattended, would virtually trigger total or at least much more substantial damages of the roads during the monsoon. One wonders why this thought does not occur to the government on its own without anybody having to remind it. Local MLAs which are the eyes and ears, as well as guardians of the constituencies they represent, should have brought up the matter before the government for necessary action. Or is it a case of there being no such system of feedback in the establishment. If there isn`™t any, it is time for the government to introduced one. Let the government also realise that it would not only be saving expenses in the long run, but also doing a great service to the people it is supposed to serve.

We wonder why the government gives so little attention to maintenance of infrastructure. If it were to give the matter of maintenance a fraction of the attention that it gives to laying foundation stones or inaugurating new public infrastructures, so much would have been set right. The enthusiasm for the latter is such that our leaders would even agree to lay foundation stones or inaugurate structures ranging from public toilets to community halls where they would make fiery public speeches with an air of self assumed grandeur of imagined epic proportion. Perhaps as a tactics, a tradition should be introduced where our leaders are encouraged to cut the ribbons even in cases of public infrastructure renovation works and allowed to make speeches. This hopefully will encourage them to think of repair works more seriously and with far greater interest.
Jokes aside, this is a matter of concern, and indeed a big lacuna in the attitude of the government. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can keep in good shape without routine repair renovations. Roads are no exceptions. So why does the government not keep aside a separate budget for this purpose. We would even suggest a different government department with the responsibility of ensuring repair works are executed promptly, catching signs of damages early and fixing them before they get extensive. Let us remind the government once again that such a policy would save it considerably amount of money and quality time rather than put more pressure on its exchequer. It does not have to be recruiting fresh employees. It is just a matter of introducing a new structure to division of work responsibilities in its engineering departments. What seems to be also missing is a system of accountability. If a certain stretch of road or for that matter any government infrastructure is in a bad condition or have not been built as per specifications and standard, there should be somebody to answer. As for this latter proposition, in all likelihood the system already exists. The question is, if this is so, why are damaged roads left unrepaired for months until the damages become so extensive that the public are left with no choice than to resort to public agitation?

Nothing seems to be urgent in the eyes of the government. The only things that perk it up are the periodic mock epics and tantrums from various warring civil society bodies which are supposed to be challenges to the territorial integrity of the state. The war drums and war cabinet meetings recently over the opening of a party office of the Naga Peoples`™ Front, a Nagaland state political party, at Senapati headquarters by the Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, is just the latest example. It may be recalled, all the clamours in the end proved to be nothing more than what the great bard William Shakespeare said in those immortal lines: `a story told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.` Instead of wasting its energy on such frivolous matters, we wish it would give more priority to keeping public utilities in good shape. For all one knows, such a shift in priorities would in the end prove to be the solution to episodes such as that of the Senapati fiasco.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/ko73jmKn06s/