Day: May 30, 2011

TORONTO, May 30: From May 23-25, Nobel Peace Laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Mairead Maguire led an unprecedented conference in Canada, to develop strategies for ending rape as a weapon of war.

According to a statement from Mary D Khuvung of Control Arms Foundation of India, they were joined by over 120 civil society activists, corporate and security sector leaders, military and peacekeeping personnel, and academics to discuss and share ideas at the conference, entitled Women Forging a New Security: Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict.

According to Nobel Women`s Initiative who organised the Conference, “Sexual violence takes place in every region of the world, with the reasons for its use varying from conflict to conflict. It has been used as a tactic to terrorize communities suspected of supporting guerrilla forces, as a way to force population off land, and to punish human rights defenders”, it added.

“Waging war on the bodies of women has got to stop,” says Jody Williams, who won the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for her work to end anti-personnel landmines. “Like any tactic of war, it can be eliminated.The magnitude of the problem must be matched by our collective effort. Working together, we can finally bring an end to this scourge on women and their communities.”

The statement also stated that Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and honorary member of the Nobel Women`s Initiative, Aung San Suu Kyi also sent a video message emphasizing the critical importance of ending sexual violence in conflict.

On 26 May, which was declared as international day of action against sexual violence in conflict, the three Nobel Peace Laureates called upon concerned people and nations from around the world to TAKE A STAND to end rape in war, it added.

Binalakshmi Nepram, Founder of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network who participated in the conference spoke about the situation in Manipur and in India`s Northeast Region and the non-violent ways of unique protests in which women in Manipur and Northeast India have undertaken to respond to sexual violence against women in conflict zones, the statement added.

A declaration was also unanimously adopted at the historic conference which called up Government of India, Manipur and other Northeast Indian states and also to non-state armed groups to stop violence against women in conflict areas and work to protect women.

According to the statement, the conference has resolved that, “We, 120 women from 33 countries including three women Nobel Peace Laureates gathered at the conference “Women Forging a New Security: Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict” in Montebello, Canada, May 23-25, 2011, call upon the Governments of India and the state of Manipur and other Northeast Indian states and non-state armed groups operating in the region to end violence against women in Manipur and Northeast India. We declare our solidarity with Irom Sharmila and hundreds of thousands of women in Manipur and India`s Northeast region who have non-violently resisted militarization in the name of insurgency and counter-insurgency. We call upon the Government of India to uphold its democratic values by repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958. We call on all parties to cease attacks on the civilian population and seek peaceful solutions”.

Bomb attack decried
Imphal, May 30 (Newmai News Network): The Ukhrul District Congress Committee and also the North East chapter of Jesus Gospel Ministry (JGM-NE) have condemned the bomb attack at the office of Autonomous District Council (ADC) located at Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal on May 28.

Three persons–a woman and her two daughters–were injured in the explosion on Saturday morning. Till date no organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The Ukhrul District Congress Committee termed the Saturday incident as “undesirable bomb attacking culture targetting the innocent people. The Commiittee then appealed those elements responsible for such act to abstain from repeating in future.

Meanwhile, the Jesus Gospel Ministry-North East India (JGM-NEI) while asking the people involved in the May 28 incident to identify themselves, has said that such act is against any religion. “No religion permits such cruelty,” said Ashang Kasar who is the director of the JGM-NEI. He also said that acts of violence will not bring any good for the society but only more problems.

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IMPHAL, May 30: With the end of counting of votes of the Imphal Municipal Council election this evening, the Indian National Congress has achieved the needed absolute majority by bagging 14 seats out of the 27 available.
By attaining absolute majority, the party is now awaiting to stalk claim for administering the Imphal Municipal Council at the earliest possible.

Even as the party is all ecstatic on wining absolute majority, a blot in its time of winning is the fact that going out chairperson, RK Ranisana, who was contesting with a Congress ticket has been defeated by an Independent candidate Phurailatpam Prameshori Devi from ward No. 6.

According to an official report on the results of the election to the Imphal Municipal Council, while Congress has been able to bagged 14 seats, Independent candidates did well with eight Independent candidates winning from their respective wards.

Meanwhile NCP could win in only two wards and BJP, CPI and newly floated Trinamool Congress could just win one each.

According the official report, Soraisam Binarani Devi an INC candidate was elected as councilors from Ward No.1 along with Yendrembam Premila and Ajit Panmei as Ward Development Committee.

In Ward No 2, Independent candidate, Thokchom Purnachandra Singh was elected as councillor along with Thokchom Suresh Singh and Ngangbam Dhananjoy Singh as members of WDC.

Hijam Nutunchandra an independednt candidate was elected from ward No.3 along with Thangjam Ongbi Manimala Devi and Khumbongmayum Gambhir as members of WDC of the ward, while L Arenkumar Singh an INC candidate was elected from Ward No. 4, along with Ayekpam Winny Singh and Haorongbam Santosh as members of WDC.

Ph. Baleshwar Sharma an INC candidate from Ward No 5 along with Hajarimayum Bobby Sharma and Santosh Nameirakpam as members of WDC of the ward while Phurailatpam Praneshori Devi an independent candidate was elected from ward No. 6 along with Tourangbam Indrajit and Y Leibakleima as members of WDC.

Kongbrailatpam Priyosakhi Devi another independent candidate from Ward No. 7 alongwith Khwairakpam Ranjit Singh and A Manisana were elected as councilor and WDC members of the ward respectively.

K Tikendra Singh an INC candidate for Ward No. 8 along with Sorokhaibam Nanao along with Kanagabam Shatish were elected as councilor and members of WDC of the ward respectively.

Soram Sunilkumar INC candidate for Ward No.9 alongwith Kangabam Rajen and Thokchom Chandrashakhi Devi were elected as councilor and as members of WDC of the wards respectively.

From Ward no 10, Salam Tiken Singh of INC along with Sanjenbam Seityabarta Meitei and Wangkhem Devaraj Singh were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively.

Pheiroijam Memchoubi Devi, NCP candidate for Ward No. 11, along with Mongjam Arunkumar and L Shantikumar were elected as councilor and members of the WDC respectively.

From Ward No 12, Ahanthem Romakanta Singh of INC along with Elangbam Chandikumar Singh and Potsangbam Shreekanta Singh were elected as councilor and members of the WDC respectively while N Raghumani Singh another INC candidate along with Thokchom Jefri Meitei and Huiningsumbam Shantikumar Singh were elected as councilor and as members of WDC of Ward No. 13.

Samom Reeta of INC along with Laimayum Rajeev Sharma and RK Bhubaneshwore were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively from Ward No 14 while Leishangthem Gyanendra Singh a candidate of the All India Trimamool Congress along with Salam Sushilkumar and M Sadananda Singh were elected as councilor and as members of WDC of ward No 15.

According to the official report, M Shuvaschandra an Independent candidate from Ward No. 16 along with M Santosh and L Romen Singh were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively while RK Bimolini Devi another Independent candidate from ward No. 17 along with Thokchom Joychandra Singh and Aheibam Panthoi Singh were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively. Meanwhile Kalanchonglu Gangmei an INC candidate from ward No. 24 along with Raja Dangmei and Rajen Gangmei were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively while Thangbaljao Phaomei another INC candidate from Ward No. 25 was declared uncontested for the councilor, while Chungjanglung Phaomei and M Jiten Singh were elected as members of the ward.
Soraisam Memsana Devi a candidate of CPI from ward No. 27 along with Akoijam Manglem and Arubam Komol Singh were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively.
As per the official result of the election of the seven wards in Imphal East district, Aribam Nimai Sharma an INC candidate was declared elected as councilor for ward No 18 along with Khangembam Dilip Singh and Wahengbam Tomba Singh as WDC members of the ward.

Yumlembam Ratikanta a BJP candidate from Ward No. 19 was elected as councilor while Thongam Gobind Singh and Phanjoubam Chindanand Singh were elected as WDC members of the ward.

Loukrakpam Ongbi Tombi Devi an INC candidate from ward No 20 along with Khuraijam Bhogen Singh and Huidrom Noren were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively while Kshetrimayum Umesh Singh another INC candidate from ward No. 21 along with Dayanand and Phukhrambam Suraj Singh were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively.

Ngamminlun Kipgen an IND candidate along with Abdul Helim and L(O) Ranjana Devi were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively from Ward No 22.

In Ward No 23, Birjit Lousambam a candidate of NCP along with Siakhom Sanjit and Ngangbam Binodini Devi were elected as councilor and as members of WDC respectively and M Majakhon another Independent candidate along with Ngangom Ranjan and Lansingngam Kamson were declared elected as councilors and members of the Ward Development Committee members from Ward No 26.

It may be mentioned that a total of 272 candidates including 93 candidates for councilor and 179 candidates for members of WDC had contested for the available 27 councilor seats of Councilors and 54 members of Ward Development Committee.

The said IMC election was held on May 25 peacefully under tight security blanket, while counting of votes had begun since May 29.

Bengal beat Manipur 2-1 in final, retain Santosh Trophy
Guwahati, May 30 (Agencies): Bengal today retained the Santosh Trophy with a 2-1 victory over Manipur in the summit clash to win their 31st title of the national championships here today.

Strikers Branco Cardozo (21st minute) and Budhiram Tudu (48th) scored for Bengal while Manipur pulled one back through Nabachandra Singh in the 75th minute at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Manipur were playing in only their second final after winning the title in 2002.

Both the teams started on an aggressive note. While Manipur went all out for an early goal, Bengal preferred to play sensibly and gained in confidence as they played the waiting game.

Branco put Bengal ahead in the 21st minute. He blasted a Francis Fernandes pass from the top of the box as Bengal went into the interval with a one-goal lead.

After changing ends, Bengal doubled the lead in the 48th minute. Midfielder Budhiram Tudu found the back of the net when he tapped in from close.

With no other option left, Manipur went all out. And it paid dividends when Nabachandra Singh reduced the margin in the 75th minute. Inspired by the goal, Manipur launched a series of attacks to restore parity but it all came a bit too late.

Bangal now have won their second consecutive title after a lull of 11 years since emerging champions in 1999. In the last edition, Bengal had beaten Punjab 2-0 in the final to regain the trophy.

Manipur ultras sought Maoist, separatists links
New Delhi , May 30 (Hindustan Times): Despite being approached by several ‘foreign’ elements, a key Northeastern insurgent outfit had expressed strong reservations about accepting any such help, and instead focused on forging close links with the Kashmir separatists and the Maoist movement. A June 18, 2010 letter written by United National Liberation Front (UNLF) chairman Rajkumar Sanayaima aka Meghen to the head of another Manipur outfit — Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), said: “As part of a revolutionary struggle for Kashmir and us, it is necessary to help in strengthening the Indian Maoist structure. This concept seems to be very new to them. I sat with them many times.”

UNLF is one of the oldest insurgent outfits in the northeast with about 2,500 armed cadres, operating out of camps located in Myanmar .

In the letter, Meghen talks about a series of meetings in 2009 where Kashmiri separatists and Maoists had assured cooperation and support.

The leader also wrote about the need to take help from similar minded organisations but not from “foreign” powers because of two reasons: these powers only served their own needs and unity was not possible among the leaders of the northeastern insurgent groups.

“One important weakness faced by us is the inability of the groups mainly the leaders to unite,” he wrote.

By foreign powers, the UNLF chairman indicated state or non-state elements in Bangladesh , Pakistan , China and Myanmar.

In the letter, the leader speaks of an elderly man from Pakistan who had approached UNLF, whom Meghen expressedly asks his cadres not to trust.

A person by the name of Gong Jian, had also approached the outfit seeking detailed response to a questionnaire on the insurgent outfit’s aims, commitment, capacity, network and requirements, and who promises support and help if the answers are satisfactory.

Meghen, looked up to as a prime strategist by the insurgent groups in the northeast, is now in custody.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/0TudE3WFbd4/