Month: September 2012

MNS: The Committee on the Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM) expressed concern with the reported move of the Government of Manipur, at the behest of Jubilant Energy, to organize another public hearing at Nungba for Oil Exploration in Manipur despite the clear verdict of the people against oil exploration in Manipur in all the three public hearings on oil exploration organized by Manipur Pollution Control Board at Nungba on from 30 July till 17th August 2012 at Jiribam, Parbung and Nungba. There is no need for a second environment public hearing at Nungba or other places in Manipur as the public has already expressed their verdict with clear “NO” to petroleum exploration and drilling in Manipur. As a direct outcome of this verdict, the Chairperson along with panel members at the Nungba Public Hearing gave a written statement, “..the two public hearings for the block AA-ONN/2009/1 & AA-ONN/2009/2 are hereby cancelled once and for all for Tamenglong District”. The government’s insensitive move for another Public Hearing compels us to ask how many times the government and Jubilant Energy wants our people to say “No to Petroleum Exploration in Manipur”.
The report and proposed move to organize public hearings with full security deployment is unreasonable as peoples voices can never be suppressed by any force including the military. Public hearings should not held under military duress and indeed, the deployment of security forces in the public hearings will only demean the entire purpose of the “public hearings”. Security forces are not meant to collude with private companies in burying the rights, aspirations and future of peoples, but rather to protect the peoples’ rights and interests. In democracy, governments are expected to uphold peoples’ voices. There can be no true development by relying on the military, militarization and suppression of peoples’ rights.
The CPNRM would like to urge upon the Government to respect the wishes and sentiments of indigenous peoples of Manipur against Oil Exploration and also to respect their rights over their land, natural resources and allow them to determine their own future. There should be no further flawed public hearings for oil exploration in and peoples clear verdict against Oil Exploration should be fully respected and honoured. No forces, no matter how powerful, can ever silence the voices of the peoples. Let the Jubilant Energy and the Government be aware that the land and resources in Manipur are not for sale and not for profits and plunder and that the people of Manipur will decide our destiny said a statement issued by Pamei Tingenlung, Convenor.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cpnrm-says-no-to-public-hearing-on-oil-exploration/

Imphal, Sept 10 MNS / NNN: A suicide by a boy over a love affair with a girl has caused a mob fury in a locality in Manipur’s Thoubal district on Monday.
A 15-year-old boy committed suicide by hanging himself in the middle of the night yesterday at Keibung Primary School under Thoubal district Police Station, Thoubal district of Manipur.
The deceased identified as Maibam Milan, son of M Shyam of Leishangthem Keli Makhong, Thoubal district took the extreme step after family members along with some neighbours of his girlfriend named as Anna reportedly gave him advice not to engross in love affairs as they were very young.
Two friends of Milan along with his girlfriend have been pulled up by the police for questioning in connection with the incident. Milan was a standard VIII student of Keibung High School in the district studying with his girlfriend in the same class. The girlfriend, a resident of Keibung Mayai Leikai, is the daughter of late Md Abdul Rahaman.
Reports reaching here said two close freinds of Milan, both from the same locality, halted at his residence the night he committed suicide allegedly after the trio were scolded by parents and the school principal over the love affair. His two friends are identified only as Jiban and Amarjeet.
At around midnight, the trio woke up and went to Anna’s house to call her out. Anna came out. They then decided to commit suicide together, according to the sources which cited statements of Anna and the two friends of Milan who are now in the police custody as saying.
Milan hanged himself by using a noose from the verandah ceiling of Keibung Primary School. They later loosen the rope and took him down on the floor trying to save his life. But, succumbed at around 3 a.m. Monday.
Meanwhile, the family of Milan along with hundreds of local residents of Leishangthem Keli Makhong stormed the house of Anna showing anger and shock over the death. However, police arrived at the scene and managed to control the angry crowd.
A case has been registered with the Thoubal Police Station regarding the incident.
The body is still lying at JNIMS mortuary pending autopsy.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/love-stricken-teenage-boy-commits-suicide/

imphal, Sept 9 (MNS/NNN) : An Assam Rifles jawan was killed and six others injured in yet another powerful blast in Manipur this morning planted by Peoples Liberation Army (PLA), the armed wing of Revolutionary Front (RPF). Some of the injured are said to be in critical condition who are being treated at the military hospital at Leimakhong.
The incident happened at Kangshoibi bridge which is located between Kumbi Kangshoibi Khong and Kumbi Uchal Makhong in Bishenpur district at around 6 am.
Yesterday’s Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion was also triggered by the same militant outfit which was preceded by the explosion planted by United National Liberation Front (UNLF) on September 5 at Keishampat area in Imphal.
Regarding today’s blast, a Naik Subedar of 33 Assam Rifles identified as Sriniwas Rao was killed instantly on the spot while 10 other jawans of the same company got injured with some of them sustained grievous injuries.
The 33 Assam Rifles is under B-Coy which is located at Moirang Khunou Block under Bishenpur district.
According to reports, among the 10 injured, 4 jawans are Manipur origins. They were shifted to a military hospital at Leimakhong which is around 20 kilometres north of Imphal by an army chopper.
Meanwhile, the RPF while holding responsibility for today’s blast, has said that more of such attack will continue. “ Manipur will be the graveyard of the Indian Army,” said the RPF in a press communique issued by its publicity secretary T Leisemba.
The RPF then cautions the public that in the event of more such attacks by the outfit on the Indian Army the latter may turn their wrath and barrels on the civilians.
It can be noted here that after yesterday’s blast targetting the Sikh Regiment at Tiddim Ground in Imphal, the RPF had pledged that the bombs of the RPF would now run after the Indian Army. The outfit had claimed that it had already completed all its strategies to attack the Indian army. “The time now is to shout slogan that no Indian Army in civilian areas and not the usual slogan, ‘don’t plant bombs in civilian areas’”, stated the RPF.
In Saturday’s blast, an Army Lance Naik and another civilian were wounded after Peoples Liberation Army (PLA).
Harjindar, a Lance Naik of A-Coy, 18 Sikh Regiment, a native of Gurudaspur, Punjab was wounded yesterday and the civilian’s name has been identified as Akham Shanti, 31, son of A Modhu of Kwakeithel bazaar.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the valley areas following the rising incidents of blast triggered by militants.
Frisking on civilians by the police has been enhanced as a pre-emptive measure taken up by the state government.
Militant organisations are trying to make their presence felt by planting bombs in public places in the past one week, said Manipur Home minister Gaikhangam while condemning the blast.
Home minister said before every election whether small or big, underground outfits always carry out violent activities. “The Panchayat election in Manipur will be held on September 13 and these groups are trying their best to remind the people about their existence,” said Gaikhangam.
The state Home minister then said dialogue is the best weapon to solve any problem. “The state government of Manipur is always ready to facilitate for dialogues between the underground organisations and the government of India,” said the state Home minister while adding,”The time has come for talks and that any group has the liberty to express their desire and discontentment during the dialogue.” The Home minister further stated that violence can never bring a solution but dialogue is. “The state government has been putting its best effort with utmost sincerity to facilitate the various groups for holding dialogues and this is the only and the best way for solving any problem,” stated Gaikhangam, adding that creating situation where a fear psychosis reigns among the public by the underground groups is condemnable.
Meanwhile, security situation in Manipur has become a farce affairs as blasts continue to rock the state since the recent time.
The series of blasts also came in a time when a co-ordination committee (CorCom) of seven major underground groups of Manipur including UNLF, RPF/PLA, PREPAK, PREPAK-PRO), UPPK, KYKL and KCP had served a quit notice to non-locals to leave Manipur by December 31.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/gaikhangam-condemns-bomb-attacks-ar-jawan-killed-in-blast-six-others-injured/

Imphal, Sept 9 (NNN): Minister of State (MoS) for Information and Broad Casting, Government of India Mr J.C. Jatua has said he will take up the matter regarding the frequent intimidation to the journalists in Manipur.
Speaking to the media on the sideline of Trinamool Congress organisational meeting in Imphal today, J.C Jatua said the matter actually concerns with the state home department and the Union home ministry “but I will discuss the matter with the journalists here when I come again to Imphal next time.”
On Sunday, Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’ Brien who is also the All India Trinamool Congress vice president along with MoS for I & B J.C Jatua came to Imphal and participated in the TMC party organisational meeting here on Sunday.
Before leaving for Kolkata, Derek O’ Brien addressed the media where he said that his party’s stand to implement the Inner Line Permit in Manipur has not changed. “Our party chief Mamata Banerjee came to Manipur before the state assembly election some eight months ago and assured to push for implementing the Inner Line Permit in Manipur and this assurance still stands,” said Drek O’Brien.
On the recent threats to the people of the North East region in elsewhere India, Derek O’Brien said the issue was a serious one to which the Trinamool Congress is very much concerned. “We have raised the issue in the Parliament three times,” stated Derek O’Brien.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/trinamul-leaders-in-imphal/