Month: February 2014

IMPHAL, February 2: The All Manipur Bar Association in collaboration with the United NGOs Mission Manipur today conducted a one day discussion on Armed Conflict, Right to Life and Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in Manipur at the Uripok Cheirap Court Complex.

President AMBA, advocate Khaidem Mani acted as the moderator of the discussion.

While indicating that AFSPA will go on its own, once the law and order situation in the state improves, senior advocate RK Nokulsana said the law and order situation is distressing as of now.

He said that the state has the authority for the imposition and lifting of the Disturb Area Status anywhere in the state, and so the first step should be to review the status.

Once after the Disturb Area Status is lifted, the centre will also automatically lift the AFSPA, he observed.

Meanwhile, District Session Judge, Manipur east, A Guneshor Sharma said modification of AFSPA is the need of the hour. The country’s Constitution provides for modification and appending of all Acts, he observed.

A statement from the AMBA president said the advocates and the concerned civil society groups participating in the discussion have appreciated the fact that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, almost all the Committee monitoring the major UN human rights treaty bodies to which Government of India is a party, all the UN Special rapporteur who visited recently as well as Working Group on Universal Periodic Review of the UN Human Rights Council that reviews India in both the 1 st and 2nd cycle have called for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 as a blot in democracy.

The participants had also seriously noted that the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, who promised to consider “replacing AFSPA with a more humane law” seems to be still complacent to the matter despite his United Progressive Alliance (UPA) holding power throughout the intervening decades, it said.

“Urging the centre to officially recognize the present political conflict to be armed conflict as de jure armed conflict rather than mere law and order problem” and after considering other issues, the participants had recommended to the governments at the centre and the state to repeal the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 immediately.

Further according to the statement, it was recommended that the government of India should become a party to the two Additional Protocols to the  1949 Geneva Conventions of 1977.

During the discussion it was also recommended to the political armed groups/armed opposition groups operating in Manipur and North East India in general to abide by the Article 3 Common to four Geneva Convention as a minimum standard and to sign the deed of agreement of Geneva Call.

Meanwhile, the North East Dialogue Forum, Village Authority, Women Society, Youth Club and Women Development of Kangchup Chiru Village, had also jointly organised one such consultation at Kangchup Chiru, Senapati district.

The function was attended by Soraisam Dhanabir, Maisnam Kalanjoy and Adam Kharam of the North East Dialogue Forum were present at the consultation as resource persons, informed a press release of the North East Dialogue Forum.

In the key-note address, advisor of the NEDF I Pratap Singh said that the people of Manipur have experienced enough suffering due to armed conflict for the last more than five decades.

At the end of the consultation, the participants unanimously resolved to recommend to the centre to repeal the AFSPA; to respect and implement the common article 3 of Geneva Conventions, 1949 and Additional Protocol-II of 1977; to establish Special Investigation Team to investigate into all cases of rape, torture and killing of innocent civilians, women and children and deliver justice to the victims and compensate them; to provide assistance to the victims of rape, torture, assault and harassment.

Other recommendations of the consultation include to urged the centre to immediately stop torture and summoning of civilians by security forces; the Governor of Manipur to visit the victim families of those who were raped, killed, tortured etc.

The consultation had also unanimously resolved to asked the armed opposition groups and urged to respect and implement the common article 3 of Geneva Conventions, 1949 and Additional Protocol-II of 1977; to reconcile and cease factional fights and to sign and respect the Deed of Agreement of Geneva Call on the use of landmine, on gender based violence and on violence against children.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/lawyers-discuss-removal-of-afspa/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=lawyers-discuss-removal-of-afspa

IMPHAL, February 2: Loktak Lake has been classified under the Montage category of wetlands, meaning its condition has undergone serious deterioration, said Th Ibobi Singh, project director of Loktak Development Authority (LDA).

This was announced during an observation of World Wetland Day 2014 at Moirang INA Auditorium Hall today which was organised jointly by Association of Science and Technology, Moirang; Thangjing Yageirel Marup, Moirang; Moirang Municipal Council and Loktak Development Authority. He further mentioned that all over the world lakes or wetlands have been endangered. The observation is to give awareness to the public on preservation and conservation of wetland under Ramsar Convention, 1971.

He continued that Manipur has a large number of wetlands among which Loktak Lake is the most important as it plays a vital role in the socio-economy of the state.

He said that according to a report published in 1993, the ecological balance and bio-diversity situation have worsened at Loktak Lake pushing it under the montage category.

The indicators of the health of wetlands are the presence of water birds and the state of bio-diversity, he stated.

The lessening of migrating water birds at Loktak Lake is not a sign of development and the need of the hour is to understand the danger and spread awareness to the public. Without public participation the conservation of our Loktak Lake is impossible, said Ibobi.

Environmentalist Dr Khangembam Samugnou, a member of the Wild Life Activist International Union for Conservation of Nature said that the Ramsar convention was held on February 2, 1971 at Italy with the participation of various countries to conserve and preserve the world wetland sites. Each year, government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and groups of citizens at all levels of the community have taken advantage of the opportunity to undertake actions aimed at raising public awareness of wetland values and benefits in general and the Ramsar Convention in particular, he added.

Loktak Development Authority is trying to augment the development of Loktak Lake which had been affected from various directions, he stated adding that for identification of a wetland as Ramsar site there must be not less than 20,000 winter migratory water birds there. A survey conducted by a British political agent in Manipur in 1930 reported that 56,863 birds were killed in Loktak Lake, said Ibobi.

He further mentioned that from 1999, the Loktak Pat Sangai Protection Forum and its volunteer conducted water birds census record on the Loktak Lake. The survey conducted by the British identified 30 species of water birds and their population were in term of lakhs.

Now, the recent census of water birds has indicated that though the number of species had increased, the same cannot be said about the population of birds. This may be due to the change (development) in the environment of Loktak Lake and its water bodies, he stated adding that rare species of birds that had disappeared 60/70 years back are now sighted again, said Kh Shamungou.

Dhanabir Laishram said for development and conservation of the precious Loktak Lake, the political and civil societies need to combine. The main object should be pulling out the Loktak Lake from inclusion under the Montage category of Ramsar Convention, he stated.

He further said that there are many Act and Law on the protection of Loktak Lake, but without public participation there will be no success in conservation and protection of our Loktak Lake.

We must know that Loktak lake is the kidney of our body, the government is the head and administration is the heart of the body. The body with a dysfunctional kidney cannot continue, he added.

Th Ibobi released a water birds book entitled “Water Birds of Loktak Lake” the first of its kind book in Manipur.

As part of the World Wetland Day observation, a boat rally was also organised at Loktak Lake, while a public meeting was held at Ninghtoukhong today.

The boat rally at Loktak Lake was jointly organised by ALLAFUM, AMTPWA, AMPFA, AMUCO, CORE, CSD, CRA, FIPA, FREINDS, HERICOUN, HRA, HRI, INTACH, IPSA, LIFEWATCH, LFWA, NIPCO, PRDA, REACHOUT, UCM, UPF-Manipur.

The rally was flagged off from Thanga Haoreng Chingyang by co-ordinator, INTACH, Manipur Chapter Dr RK Ranjan and AMUCO president Dr Y Mani Khuman after passing through Samukon, Ngaram and other Thanga area and concluded at Ngakrapat, Toubul.

The rallyists shouted slogans- “Save Loktak”, “Remove Loktak Protection Act”, “Let us save Loktak together”, “Loktak is our life”, etc.

At the end of the rally, a public meeting was held at Ningthoukhong.

While flagging off the boat rally, Dr RK Ranjan said that people should aware of the need to save the lake which has been providing livelihood to the people inhabiting the surrounding areas of Loktak Lake.

The rally was conducted with the objective of urging both the government and the private companies involved in the area against disturbing the culture and heritage of the people, he observed.

An Indonesian citizen who had attended the rally elaborated on the need for the people depending on the lake to enjoy economic freedom.

Today’s rally was participated by around 200 boats with two/three people in each.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/loktak-among-endangered-lakes/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=loktak-among-endangered-lakes

IMPHAL, February 2 (NNN): The Naga Peoples Front (NPF), Manipur State has dismissed the purported joining of NPF leaders to the BJP fold in Manipur.

The NPF, Manipur State said no NPF leaders had joined the BJP so far and “none of our leaders will join the BJP.”

In the past few days the news of NPF leaders joining the saffron party have been reported in local dailies.

“They are not leaders of NPF. It is a game-plan of some vested interest persons doing the cheap publicity gimmicks before the Lok Sabha poll. Such gimmicks can no longer fool the people these days,” NPF leaders said today. “Some politicians who were ministers some twenty years ago are also trying to invest old-fashioned politics in these highly sophisticated era. We feel pity for them. We will like to remind them that those cheap politics are no longer relevant these days,” advised the NPF leaders.

The NPF leaders then accused some national political parties of trying to attach the regional parties with communal tag.

“We will teach them a big lesson when the time is right,” asserted the NPF leaders.

Meanwhile, full preparations are on for the final district level political conference for Sadar Hills and Senapati district at the district headquarter on February 12. According to NPF leaders, the party leaders from Nagaland will also participate in the Senapati event.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/npf-rubbishes-bjp-claim-of-new-joinings/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=npf-rubbishes-bjp-claim-of-new-joinings

IMPHAL February 2: The president of the Kuki National Front – Nehlun (KNF-N), Dr Napoleon, has denied the outfit’s involvement in the various abductions in the state over the past few months while briefing the media at the Sadar Hills on Sunday.

The clarification came in even as people of Charhajar, Sadar Hills staged a sit-in-protest today demanding the safe release of a man who was allegedly abducted on the midnight of January 31, 2014.

Clarifying that the outfit has nothing to do with the abductions and is not related with any such illegal activities, Napolean said that the outfit appreciates the resolution passed by local clubs of Kuki Inpi, Saikhul and various civil societies of the state against future abductions and will support them.

The KNF-N president, commenting on the state of the various development projects in the Kuki-inhabited- areas, said: “From today with immediate effect, we ban the various developmental works of both the central and state sponsored schemes undertaken by the government in the Kuki-inhabited-areas as the development works are just in paper and hardly seen.”

Cautioning departments or agencies against continuing to work by neglecting their diktat in the area, he said that if anything untoward happens to those defying the ban; it would be their own responsibility.

“The KNF-N has banned the office of PHED, Kangpokpi and the SDO Office, Saikhul as the officer and staffs are operating from Khurai Lamlong and as a result people from both these places has to face lots of problems whenever something is required from the office as the officer and the staffs in these offices are sitting in Imphal.”

Appealing to the headmen of various villages in Saikhul to stop going to the office of SDO Office in Saikhul, he also asks the concerned officials to start coming to the office at Saikhul instead of Imphal for the betterment of the people.

“The group has come to know that some agencies are trying hard to get the work from Nairoiching to Sarampthong Hill Range project under the package number MN06 1588 of PMGSY 9- phase. Various agencies are after the project and many of them has bidden in a lower price for the work that cost 5 crore and 78 lakhs. But there are also some agencies who work genuinely for the development, and by keeping the interest, of the people in mind. Any agency which takes up these works has to meet the expectations of the people of the area in the developmental works.”

Asserting that if the agency fails to meet the expectations of the people then the agency will not be allowed to take up projects in the area, he also said that all the decisions were taken after a long discussion by the central committee of the KNF-N for the past two weeks.

The outfit also declared that ‘the total strength of the group is more than 100 and the members are presently stationed in various part of the state’ in the press briefing which was also attended by K S Elson, Commander Special Task Force and  also the  Home Secretary of KNF-N.

Meanwhile, people of Charhajar, Sadar Hills staged a sit-in-protest along the National Highway Number 2 at Charhajar demanding the safe release of a 56-year-old man who was forcibly abducted by some unknown persons on the midnight of January 31.

Speaking to the media persons during the protest, a family member said that Krishna Paodel, the abducted 56-year-old, runs a grocery shop in the area.

“On the midnight of January 31, around six unidentified persons forcibly took away Krishna in a silver coloured car. Till today, the abductors have not asked for any monetary demand and nor have made any phone calls.”

She also appeals to the abductors to release Krishna safe and unharmed after considering the hardship faced by the family members.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/knf-n-denies-hand-in-abductions/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=knf-n-denies-hand-in-abductions

By R Lester Makang

Ukhrul, February 2: Instituted in his memory, R Suisa Trust is keeping alive one of the most cherished dreams of the late Naga leader through its mission work to reach out to valley Christian brethren of the state.

This undertaking is not merely an act of lending a helping hand but also bears testimony to the fulfillment of the unflagging dream of the late leader.

In the year 2006, trust members comprising of Ngashathing AC Shimray,  PA to late Suisa and others decided to materialize his dream of fostering better relationship between the hills and valley and started up the mission to reach out to those valley brethren who needed help in different ways, according to Dr Ngahorshai Luithui, chairman of the trust.

“As a part of the mission, we are sponsoring a minister in the form of pastor Basant Luwang to take charge of the functioning of three different Meitei Baptist churches at Sanakeithel, Babubara and Luwangsangbam in the valley,” Dr. Luithui continued, while also adding that they have been associated with the Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) in such  programs as baptismal services.

Disclosing further that a vision of the late Naga leader who believed in togetherness of the hills and valley one day provided impetus to fulfill the dream, he said “In the vision, ojha Suisa had seen a bright light moving heavenward in the vast empty skies above the Kangla Fort in Imphal. On closer observation, ojha noticed a bright golden-colored cross against the brightened background.”

Significantly, there are proposals to install twin statues of late Akaba and late Suisa in both the valley and hills.

As regards the installation in Ukhrul district, Dr. Luithui said that we have agreed on the same in principle and things will be finalized very soon.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/trust-keeps-alive-suisas-vision/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=trust-keeps-alive-suisas-vision

CHANDEL, February 2: A Legal Aid Clinic, opened with the aim of providing free and competent legal services to the weaker section of the society of Chandel was inaugurated today by MLA of 41 A/C Chandel St Nunghlung Victor Anal during a one day legal awareness program cum opening of Legal Aid Clinic as the chief guest.

The program, organized by the District Legal Services Authority Chandel was held at the super market complex Chandel and attended by district secretary, Legal Services Authority Chandel W Tonen Meitei, advocate and president of Chandel District BAR Association RT Rebirthson Anal and chairman of the Japhou Bazar Board Js Angam Anal as the president and guests of honour, respectively.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, MLA Nunghlung pointed out that there are land records of Chandel that are still lying in the office of the SDC, Waikhong under Thoubal district.

He observed several Chandel based organizations had opposed the move of the government to acquire land at Thangbung Mino.

He further highlighted that the grievances faced by the pensioners and delay of Pallel Chandel road construction are the major area of concerned where the newly opened legal aid clinic must begin to work.

Prior to the awareness programme, the MLA accompanied by the officials had inaugurated the clinic at Treasury Road Japhou Bazar Chandel.

Advocate Rt Rebirthson mentioned that the Chandel district BAR Association would file a PIL in the court if the centre and the concerned authority fail to expedite the road construction stretch from Pallel to district head quarter Chandel within 30 days from now.

Saying that the public of Chandel has been suffering from the considerably bad and highly deplorable condition of the road, the advocate said it is high time the centre and the concerned authority ensure hastening of the work.

Attending the program, as resources person of the day, advocate Ch Momon Singh spoke on the role of para legal volunteers and Right to Education as enshrined under the Constitution of India and its connected law.

While advocate K Rabei Singh spoke on the topic on ‘Customary Rights and its value under the Constitution of India.

District secretary, Legal Services Authority Chandel W Tonen Meitei and the guest of honour Js Angam Anal also spoke on the occasion.

The programe was attended by representatives of the CSOs, NGOs and the village chiefs.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/02/legal-aid-clinic-opened-in-chandel/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=legal-aid-clinic-opened-in-chandel