Day: February 12, 2013

Mail News Service
Imphal, Feb 12 : Apropos to the news articles title “UNLF alleges cross border activities” published in this paper Assam Rifles has strongly rebutted the allegation that AR had crossed inside Myanmar territory and conducted a sabotage operation by destroying a bridge.
The statement made by UNLF against the Assam Rifles is simply a case of frustration leading to vilification as combined efforts of the state machinery and Assam Rifles in bringing peace in Manipur has paid dividends, which recently manifested in 45 UPPK cadres coming overground it was stated. Such statement is nothing but cheap stunt of under-grounds to drive a wedge between India and Myanmar, two friendly nations. Visit of Dr Manmohan Singh, the Prime Minister of India to Myanmar on 7 May 2012 and signing of various MOU’s between Govt of India and Myanmar during the visit has raised concern amongst the undergrounds groups. Apart from visit of the PM, defence minister, Service Chiefs and various dignitaries also visited Myanmar & the visits were reciprocated by the Myanmar Government. In addition, other confidence building means like Post level meeting, joint patrolling by SFs and Myanmar Army, Hot Line between India and Myanmar, increase in frequent visit of high ranking Military and Civil Administration official to Myanmar and numerous other means instituted between two countries have raised trust levels to a new high . Relations between India and Myanmar are hence getting better with each passing day. Blowing up of bridge at Tamu appears to be a plan of CorCom to disrupt the relations between two countries and create misunderstanding, a plan that has failed miserably, since ties between the countries have been cemented to such an extent that they remain unaffected by such false malicious propaganda. The trust shared by the Myanmar Govt is evident by the protest note forwarded by Myanmar Govt which clearly blamed UNLF for this act of cowardice and treason on the innocent people of Myanmar. They have also requested cooperation of State Govt of Manipur and Assam Rifles in investigating and bringing the culprits before the law.
These kind of baseless claims are an endeavour by CorCom to boost their depleting credibility, morale of their rank and file and also to malign the image of Security Forces since perception of general masses has tilted favourably towards Security Forces. Assam Rifles strongly condemn this act by UNLF and assures that it will make all possible effort to prevent undergrounds from harming Myanmar’s interest and will fight tooth and nail attempts of UGs to drive a wedge between two friendly nations.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/ar-refutes-allegations/

IMPHAL, Feb 12 MNS NNN: Wife of Nitin Masih has once again appealed to all concerned to help trace her husband, expressing shock and anguish over Manipur Government’s alleged negligence in the kidnapping case.
Nitin Masih from Madhya Pradesh has gone missing since November last year from Manipur’s Thoubal district.
Speaking to the media at Manipur Press Club here on Tuesday, Naorem Amila Devi, wife of Nitin Masih said Manipur Government was telling her time and again that it was trying hard to trace her husband though his whereabouts is still unknown to the family for more than two months.
She urged all the NGOs in the state to render support to her family to find out whereabouts of her husband.
Amila appealed that if Masih is abducted by any militant group, she wants negotiation and sought information about its specific demand so that the family can fulfill it to secure his release.
“She wants to know whether he is still alive or dead,” demanded Amila flanked by representatives of the Joint Action Committee (JAC) which has stressed the state Government demanding to find out whereabouts of the missing non-Manipuri.
Masih, an x-ray technician by profession, is a native of Indore in Madhya Pradesh. He is believed to have been kidnapped by unidentified people from his wife’s parental village Kakching Pallel Lamkhai in Thoubal district, Manipur on November 24, 2012.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/woman-appeals-to-trace-husband/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Feb 12 : One Billion Rising is a global campaign by women, for women. The movement calls for an end to violence and for justice and gender equality. On February 14, 2013, a one-day event will be held, a call for one billion women around the world to walk away from their homes, businesses, and jobs, and join together to dance in a show of collective strength. The event will be held on the 15th anniversary of the V-Day movement. The word “billion” refers to the one billion women who are survivors of abuse.
The campaign was initiated by playwright and activist Eve Ensler (known for her play The Vagina Monologues), and her organization V-Day.V-Day is a global activist movement to end violence against women and girls. V-Day is a catalyst that promotes creative events to increase awareness, raise money, and revitalize the spirit of existing anti-violence organizations. V-Day generates broader attention for the fight to stop violence against women and girls, including rape, battery, incest, female genital mutilation (FGM) and sex slavery.
According to Eve Ensler, “One Billion Rising is an appreciation, amplification and an escalation. When One Billion bodies rise and dance on 14 February 2013, we will join in solidarity, purpose and energy and shake the world into a new consciousness. Dancing insists we take up space. It has no set direction but we go there together. It’s dangerous, joyous, sexual, holy and disruptive. It breaks the rules. It can happen anywhere at anytime with anyone and everyone. It’s free. No corporation can control it. It joins us and pushes us to go further. It’s contagious and it spreads quickly. It’s of the body. It’s transcendent.”
On V-Day’s 15th Anniversary, 14 February 2013, ONE BILLION women are inviting and those who love them to WALK OUT, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence. ONE BILLION RISING will move the earth, activating women and men across every country. V-Day wants the world to see our collective strength, our numbersand our solidarity across borders.Activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities and women and men across the world will STRIKE, DANCE, and RISE, coming together to express their outrage, and demand an end to violence against women and girls.
In India, according to National Crime Record Bureau in 2011, 14.7% rape cases are registered in cities while 85% rape cases are registered in rural India; there are more than 1 lakh rape cases pending; a total of 2,28,650 women faced violence and abuse during 2007-2011 which includes rape, kidnapping, abduction, dowry death, cruelty by husbands and relatives, molestation, sexual harassment, importation of girls, immoral traffic etc. and the National capital Delhi has the highest percentage of crime rates against women which is 31.2%. In Northeast India, a total of 13,308 incidence of crime against women had been reported according to the National Crime Records Bureau 2011 with 11503 cases in Assam, 269 cases in Meghalaya, 1358 cases in Tripura, 167 cases in Mizoram, 247 cases in Manipur, 38 cases in Nagaland, 171 cases in Arunachal Pradesh and 55 cases reported in Sikkim.
A union of social organizations namely WAD, UNMM, NEDF, NLF, SASO, LCF, WEJ, RLP, IRDC, Watch Group, COWF, SSG, CNPW, ATWO, MBSCM etc. who works for the cause of women and its empowerment will also extend solidarity by joining the One Billion Rising movement, organizing various events and entertainments on the February 14th 2013 from 1.00 pm to 5.00pm at Hapta Kangeibung (Palace Compound). It is a call to one and all and everyone dear and near to join and participate the One Billion Rising Movementorganized by various social organizations collectively and demand to end violence against women in our society. This rising is of course and indeed a revolution for reformation. Joining and be a part of such worldwide revolution like One Billion Risingwill boost the enthusiasm of finding some sorts of solution to mainstreaming the gender sensitivity and end the violence against women and girls in Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/one-billion-rising-campaign-on-feb-14/