Day: November 16, 2012

IMPHAL, Nov 16 NNN: Manipur deputy chief minister Gaikhangam will meet Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Saturday (November 17) to press for the early start of dialogue with the two umbrella organisations of Kuki militants, viz, United Peoples’ Front (UPF) and Kuki National Organisation (KNO) who are engaging in Suspension of Operation (SoO) with the government.
Gaikhangam who also holds the home portfolio, government of Manipur said, “I’m here in New Delhi today to meet the Central leaders. I will meet the honourable Union home minister tomorrow to press for the starting of talks with UPF and KNO at the earliest date possible.” The deputy chief minister of Manipur further said the state government of Manipur has been putting up its sincere effort in this approach. “So, I would like to appeal to all concerns to reconsider their decision of calling blockade in the interest of the people,” appeals Gaikhangam. The deputy chief minister expressed his optimism that the Central government will start the dialogue soon with the Kuki militant organisations.
On the other hand, Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) secretary Benjamin Mate and its information secretary George Guite informed in negative when queried by Newmai News Network whether the government has sent any feelers. “No feelers from the government side. We will go ahead with the agitation,” said George Guite. “Only after a written assurance is given by the Government of India that the process of political dialogue with Kukis, involving KSDC and Kuki militants, would begin within a predetermined date, then only we may review our stand,” asserted Benjamin Mate.
The indefinite “public blockade” in all the highways passing through “Kuki areas” was announced on November 12 by the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) in demand ‘for a separate Kuki state to be carved out of Kuki traditional lands incorporated within the present day Manipur.
It can be noted here that on November 2, Kuki National Organisation (KNO), an umbrella organisation of more than 10 Kuki militant outfits had asserted that it demands a separate Kuki state in Manipur under the Constitution of India. The KNO then said it had taken a decision to abrogate the Suspension of Operation (SoO) if the government does not hold dialogues with it by November 22.
Addressing a strong posse of journalists on November 2 at Press Club of India, New Delhi, spokesman of KNO Seilen Haokip had said that the lands of the Kukis are never under the Meitei kings, and the land ownership system has always been under the Kuki chiefs. Until there is a political solution for the Kukis in Manipur, the chieftainship system should not be abolised, the KNO leader had asserted. Seilen Haokip then said that the KNO had already taken a decision to abrogate the SoO if the government does not begin political talks by November 22, 2012 to find solutions to the Kuki political issues in Manipur. “If there is no political dialogue even after signing the SoO, then there is no point in staying at the designated camps set up on the basis of the SoO agreement. The KNO will have no other options but to go back to the jungle and continue its armed struggle against the state government and the government of India”, he said..

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/deputy-cm-to-meet-hm-to-discuss-kuki-stir/

SENAPATI, Nov 16 NNN: The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) while endorsing the directive of the United Naga Council (UNC) in connection with the Manipur government sponsored Sangai Festival, has urged all its constituent units and the Nagas to adhere to the directive of the apex Naga body.
On Friday, the Naga students’ body said, “It is the social and moral responsibility of every Naga to strengthen the severance of political ties with the “communal” government of Manipur because of the unmistakeable facts based on upon which the Nagas in Manipur have demanded an ‘alternative arrangement’ outside the government of Manipur in the democratic process of the ‘tripartite’ talk of the government of India, government of Manipur and the UNC pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue.”
The ANSAM further said that when there is no genuine efforts to address the differences and social divide, the Sangai Festival and such other state sponsored programmes with their superficial message of communal harmony is adding insult to injury which has been endured for so many years by the Nagas in particular and the tribals of Manipur in general.
“It is therefore hereby notified to our constituent units and to Nagas in Manipur that the November 13, 2012 public directive of the United Naga Council not to associate with the state sponsored Sangai festival and other such programmes should be adhered to in letter and spirit,” the ANSAM urged.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ansam-to-support-uncs-decision-on-tourism-festival/

IMPHAL,NEW DELHI Nov 16 MNS NNN : The parliamentary secy. IPR, K. Meghachandra said, the role of media in a democratic country is of utmost importance. Media is a powerful tool. In a secular state like ours, the role of media is more important.
He was speaking as chief guest at the national press day 2012 at Manipur Press Club today.
We should laud the media’s role as it is trying to unite the integrity of Manipur.The new office building of Directorate of Information and Public relations (DIPR) which is now under construction at Keishampat will be inaugurated in January 2013, assured IPR Parliamentary Secretary K Meghachandra while speaking on the occasion of National Press Day and Manipur State Journalist Awards, 2012 ceremony held at the Manipur Press Club on Friday.
Staff shortages in the department including district officers will be filled up soon after due consultation with the Chief Minister, Meghachandra added, assuring that all the cameras, video cameras and computers of the department will also be upgraded.
“The staff should try to uphold the DIPR by cooperating among themselves because, despite being a small department it plays a key role in disseminating information to the public on various policy and programme of the state which is highly sensitive,” he said during the function organised by DIPR.
Acknowledging that the department serves as a fine bridge between the Government and the public, the Parliamentary Secretary also said DIPR needs to be strengthened so as to enable full implementation of policy and programme as well as the 15-point programme of the state Government.
Stating that the media is a powerful weapon in a democratic country, Meghachandra added that a state like Manipur having different communities, religions and cultures has further made the role of the media bigger. The role of the media especially in maintaining the integrity of the state is undeniably commendable, he insisted.
The chief guest of the function later gave away the Manipur State Journalist Awards, 2012 to seven journalists. Pradip Phanjoubam, editor, Imphal Free Press bagged the Best Editor Award on National Integration, P Bishwakanta, reporter, Poknapham received the award for rural reporting, K Vedajit, reporter, Ireibak was honoured with the award for health and hygienic reporting.
Sapam Aruna, reporter, The Sangai Express was given the award for women and children reporting, Angom Ranjit, chief reporter, Poknapham was conferred the award for science and technology reporting, Nepram Krishnamohon, joint editor, Sanaleibak received the award for parliamentary reporting and Wangkhem Rishikesh, reporter, Hueiyen Lanpao was honoured with the award for sports reporting.
A Mobi, president, (AMWJU), L Lakher, Commissioner, IPR also attended the function as guest of honour and president respectively.
Later, Meghachandra also visited the construction site of DIPR building and inspected it personally. The IPR Parliamentary Secretary was accompanied by other top officials of the deportment during the visit.
A seminar: Freedom of Media was also organized to mark the occasion of National Press Day at the Manipur Press Club.
Dr Aribam Ibomcha, news editor and head of Regional News Unit, AIR, Imphal delivered a speech on ‘The Freedom of Media with Special Reference to Manipur’ at the seminar. Yumnam Rupachandra, correspondent, Seven Sisters’ Post also spoke on the topic: Freedom of the Media. Seram Mangi, retired IIS moderated the discussion.
Meanwhile Minister for Information & Broadcasting Shri Manish Tewari has said that the changing paradigm in the media space has taken place due to the technological innovations in the media domain. Both the regulatory framework and human ingenuity have not kept pace with the technological innovations. I the current scenario, self regulation was the best way forward with the participation and partnership of key stakeholders. The Minister stated this while delivering his address at the commemoration of the National Press Day organized by Press Council of India.
Elaborating further, the Minister said, that in view of the challenges that had emerged, there was need for constant introspection so that the self regulation process could be taken forward. The Constitution of India under Article 19 provides for the freedom of speech and expression, from where the media drew its strength.
The Press Council of India has instituted National Awards to honour journalists excelling in print journalism in various fields were given during the occasion. These awards were given today to encourage the media to pursue its duties following the dictum of ‘freedom with responsibility’.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/self-regulation-best-way-forward-manish-national-press-day-observed/