July 2015 – Page 74 – Manipur News

Apprehension still looms large over Wahong village Craters continue to emit … – The Sangai Express

Apprehension still looms large over Wahong village Craters continue to emit …The Sangai ExpressWahong village is located in the interior part of Ukhrul district, 130 kms to the north of Ukhrul district headquarters and around 10 kms from Indo-Myanmar…

Apprehension still looms large over Wahong village Craters continue to emit …
The Sangai Express
Wahong village is located in the interior part of Ukhrul district, 130 kms to the north of Ukhrul district headquarters and around 10 kms from Indo-Myanmar border pillar number 130. Manipur-Nagaland border is located at a distance of around 3 km from …

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Mysterious eruptions in Manipur – Deccan Herald

Mysterious eruptions in ManipurDeccan HeraldA remote village in Ukhrul district of Manipur is burning midnight oil to keep vigil on an unremitting surge of smoke and ashes from a neighbouring hill which they presume to be volcanic eruptions. While the …

Mysterious eruptions in Manipur
Deccan Herald
A remote village in Ukhrul district of Manipur is burning midnight oil to keep vigil on an unremitting surge of smoke and ashes from a neighbouring hill which they presume to be volcanic eruptions. While the government has sounded an alert in the area …
Apprehension still looms large over Wahong village Craters continue to emit …The Sangai Express

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NSCN(K) cadre killed in gunfight in Manipur with SF – Nagaland Post

NSCN(K) cadre killed in gunfight in Manipur with SF
Nagaland Post
A NSCN (K) cadre was on Friday killed in a gun battle with security force at Mukti Khullen village in Manipur’s Tamenglong district. According to a police report, the gun fight erupted after a joint operation was launched by troops of 21 Para and 13 …

NSCN(K) cadre killed in gunfight in Manipur with SF
Nagaland Post
A NSCN (K) cadre was on Friday killed in a gun battle with security force at Mukti Khullen village in Manipur's Tamenglong district. According to a police report, the gun fight erupted after a joint operation was launched by troops of 21 Para and 13 …

Resolve Manipur-Nagaland border dispute through national tribunal: UCM – Nagaland Post

Resolve Manipur-Nagaland border dispute through national tribunal: UCMNagaland PostUnited Committee Manipur (UCM) Friday suggested that the inter-state boundary dispute between Manipur and Nagaland over Dzuko/Kozirii be resolved under supervision of a …

Resolve Manipur-Nagaland border dispute through national tribunal: UCM
Nagaland Post
United Committee Manipur (UCM) Friday suggested that the inter-state boundary dispute between Manipur and Nagaland over Dzuko/Kozirii be resolved under supervision of a national tribunal. Speaking at the 15th foundation day of UCM , its president …

Imphal hosts Mao vendors affected by SAPO threats

IMPHAL, July 3: Certain valley based organisations today joined hands with the Mao Women Trade Union Association and youth and students`™ organisations of Mao area to open a market for

People checking the vegetables and fruits at the temporary market for Mao vendors.

IMPHAL, July 3: Certain valley based organisations today joined hands with the Mao Women Trade Union Association and youth and students`™ organisations of Mao area to open a market for the Mao villagers here in Imphal.

The market was opened to help the villagers, who have been affected by the recent Dzuko Valley land dispute between Nagaland and Manipur which resulted in the Southern Angami Peoples`™ Organisation launching attacks and assaults on the Mao people.

Two trucks carrying vegetables, fruits and flower plants were bought to Imphal with help from various civil organisations and a temporary market shed opened at Nagamapal so that the vendors from Mao could sell their items.

Speaking to media persons at the temporary market shed, president of the Mao Union, Dr Loli said the people of Mao have been facing a lot of hardship since the incident.

He said people of Mao are not allowed to enter into Nagaland jurisdiction and almost 10 vehicles belonging to the people have already been vandalized.

Shops have been attacked; even students are not spared and not allowed to attend schools in Nagaland, he added.

`Most of the villagers sell vegetable to run their family, however, the Southern Angamis have stop us from everything and we are seriously going through a hard life,`™ he lamented.

He continued, the Southern Angami people supported by the Naga Hoho and other various organisations are continuing to pressure them to withdraw the memorandum on the issue submitted to the government.

The situation is only getting worse by the day, an emotional Dr Loli said.

On being asked as to how much worth of property of the Mao people have been vandalized and destroyed by the Southern Angami since the recent disruption of the dispute, he said it must have crossed one crore rupees.

Dr Loli also expressed happiness over the positive response from the people of the State and valley based civil organisations.

He said the market will continue as more vendors from Mao are expressing desire to sell their products.

The initiative for the market was taken by League of 4 World People Kangleipak, International Peace and Social Association (IPSA), All Club Organisation Association Manipur-Lup (ACOAM-Lup), Kanglei Ima Lup (KIL), Kangleipak Students Association and Chanura lamchingleng, Kangleipak and the vendors from Mao were hosted by United Club, IMC ward no 4, Uripok and KYC Kangjabi Leirak at Nagamapal.

Powerful IED found on NH in Manipur – Business Standard

Powerful IED found on NH in Manipur
Business Standard
A powerful Improvised Explosive Device, weighing 3 kg, was found today at Torbung village in Manipur’s Bishnupur district located on NH 150, connecting Imphal to Mizoram and then leading to Myanmar border. A senior police officer said here, the …

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Powerful IED found on NH in Manipur
Business Standard
A powerful Improvised Explosive Device, weighing 3 kg, was found today at Torbung village in Manipur's Bishnupur district located on NH 150, connecting Imphal to Mizoram and then leading to Myanmar border. A senior police officer said here, the …

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Powerful IED found on NH-150 in Manipur – Chandigarh Tribune

Powerful IED found on NH-150 in Manipur
Chandigarh Tribune
A powerful Improvised Explosive Device, weighing 3 kg, was found today at Torbung village in Manipur’s Bishnupur district located on NH-150, connecting Imphal to Mizoram and then leading to Myanmar border. A senior police officer said here, the …

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Powerful IED found on NH-150 in Manipur
Chandigarh Tribune
A powerful Improvised Explosive Device, weighing 3 kg, was found today at Torbung village in Manipur's Bishnupur district located on NH-150, connecting Imphal to Mizoram and then leading to Myanmar border. A senior police officer said here, the …

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Consumers` Forum Kakching informs MSPDCL of high electricity bills

IMPHAL, July 2: Senior Citizen Kakching, Consumers Forum Kakching and a team of Manipur State Power Distribution Corporation Limited led by Deputy General Manager, Kakching Circle and his Staff convened a joint meeting on June 30 at the office premises of the Kakching G.P.W Consumers Welfare Union at 3 pm.

According to a statement of the union, the meeting was chaired by presidum member Nimai Singh, president – Senior Citizen, Y Satya Singh – President G.P.W. Consumers Welfare Union and Shri L. Selungba Singh deputy general manager MSPDCL.

It said Consumer Forum on behalf of the consumers stated that the electric bill collected by the corporation is disproportionate in comparison to other nearby villages and towns and a flat rate of Rs. 480 to each household of KaKching is exorbitantly high for the poor consumers.

The forum also observed that it is also quite obvious that the monthly electric tariff prescribed by the corporation shows quite dissimilarities among the consumers. Consumers in the village of Khongjom are presently paying Rs. 304 while the people of Kakching pay Rs. 480.

The forum also highlighted grievances such as long time disconnection of power due to overload, lack of necessary infrastructure, exorbitant monthly fees and delayed prepaid project during the meeting.

The Deputy General Manager and his Staff heard the grievances and inconvenience faced by the general public and he assured all the members who were attending the meeting that he would take up precautionary measure in no time, it said.

The statement also said that he further swore to Forum members that the prepaid project along with requisite infrastructure will be completed by the end of August this year.

The meeting was concluded with an amicable resolution in order to manage until the assurances given by the corporation are fulfilled, it said.

Case registered against MOBC employee for swindling scholarship amount: CM

IMPHAL, July 2: Director of Minorities and Other Backward Classes (MOBC) Department has registered a case against an employee of the department identified as Shaikh Mujibur Rehman for siphoning off

IMPHAL, July 2: Director of Minorities and Other Backward Classes (MOBC) Department has registered a case against an employee of the department identified as Shaikh Mujibur Rehman for siphoning off a scholarship amount of Rs 1, 67, 000 to be given away to a student, revealed Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh.

He was responding to a motion for disapproval of policy cut raised by MLA Dr I Ibohalbi Singh while putting up Demand No 47 `“ discussion on grant of Rs 34, 87, 58, 000 for Minorities and Other Backward Classes (MOBC) for 2015-16 in the ongoing 11th Session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today.

The CM said that the incident of fund misappropriation that cropped up in the MOBC Department has tarnished the image of the government.

The employee of the department involved in the fund embezzlement will not be spared, he vowed.

Maintaining that a clear communication has been established between educational institutes and the concerned Ministry through direct online for awarding scholarship amount to students, Ibobi admitted that the government had not been able to verify the scholarship process through scholarship amount had been given away to deserving students.

Therefore, the state government has urged the concerned Ministry to allow an officer not less than the rank of Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) to verify the scholarship process, he said.

Ibobi then briefed the House about various measures taken up by Youth Affairs and Sports Department for welfare of youths and sportspersons of the state.

MLA Dr I ibohalbi while raising the motion for disapproval of policy cut claimed that the scholarship amount swindled by the employee of the MOBC Department was for a poor student namely Nongyaimayum Afzal Ali pursuing B Tech in Food Technology in an institute in Gangtok, Sikkim.

Surprisingly, the student was quoted as studying B Tech in Civil Engineering in NERIST in the list notified for awarding scholarship amount making him to miss out his scholarship, he said.

He also said that the MOBC Department has been plagued with scandals, which needs prompt intervention by the government to ensure transparency in the department.

Students and meira paibis demonstrate demanding ILPS implementation

IMPHAL, July 2: Continuing to put pressure on the State government to implement the Inner Line Permit System or a similar Act in the State to safeguard the indigenous population,

IMPHAL, July 2: Continuing to put pressure on the State government to implement the Inner Line Permit System or a similar Act in the State to safeguard the indigenous population, meira paibis and school students today took out a rally in Imphal.

The rally led by the meira paibis started off from Kwakeithel Akham leikai Community Hall at 1:30pm.

The demonstrators numbering around 150 shouted slogans demanding implementation of the ILPS and to save the indigenous people of the State.

However, a team of State police personnel inclusive of women personnel blocked the demonstrators from proceeding further at the Tiddim Oil Pump.

After a brief tussle, the women police personnel managed to ward off the demonstrators.

Students of the various schools who were participating the rally in thier school uniforms were also dispersed by the Imphal West Police from the spot.

Houses passes demands amounting to Rs. 722 crores

IMPHAL, July 2: On the fifth day of the ongoing 11th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today, the House passed six demands amounting to Rs 7,22,90,39,000. Chief Minister

IMPHAL, July 2: On the fifth day of the ongoing 11th session of the 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly today, the House passed six demands amounting to Rs 7,22,90,39,000.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh who is also the leader of the House tabled the demands for discussion.

The demands are demand no 4- Land Revenue, Stamps & Registration and District Administration amounting to Rs 80,31,90,000; Demand no 19- Environment and Forest Rs 1,84,98,16,000; Demand no 25- Youth Affairs and Sports department Rs 55,48,08,000; Demand no 40- Irrigation and Flood Control department Rs 2,82,22,23,000; Demand no 43- Horticulture & Soil Conservation Rs 85,20,44,000 and Demand no 47- Minorities and other Backward Classes department Rs 34,87,58,000.

Opposition MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi Singh, K Shyam Singh, L Ibomcha Singh and Th Shyamkumar Singh moved motions for disapproval of policy cuts during the discussion and voting on the demands for grants, 2015-2016.

During discussion on Demand no 4- Land Revenue, Stamps & Registration and District Administrationm Dr Ibohalbi raised a motion for disapproval of policy cuts on `Failure to collect more revenues from Stamps and Registation by checking undervaluation of land/ property at the time of transfer and standing properties/ buildings thereon, failure to demarcate Dzuko Valley and determine its area, failure to control establishment of service units in the agricultural land of the State and failure to set-up land banks in the State.

Dr Ibohalbi alongwith K Shyam and L Ibomcha also jointly raised a motion for disapproval of policy cuts in regards to Demand no 19- Environment & Forest on `Failure to preserve and protect forest area, failure to protect the reserved Forest Area of the State as a whole and that of Langol in particular, failure to procure appropriate machinery to cut and remove fixed phumdis in both the core and buffer zones of Loktak Lake, failure to protect forest land and forest of Dzuko valley and failure to adopt policy to stop the cutting of trees illegally in the reserved forest areas of the State.

During discussion on Demand no 25- Youth Affairs and Sports department, Dr Ibohalbi and Shyam Singh raised a motion for disapproval of policy cuts on `Failure to maintain quality playground in each and every district of Manipur, failure to develop specific policy to reduce the problem of un-employment amongst the youth, failure to provide promotion avenues to national and international players and failure to focus in the affairs of the youth.

Opposition MLAs Dr I Ibohalbi, L Ibomcha Singh and K Shyam also raised motion for disapproval of policy cuts during discussion and voting on Demand no 40- irrigation and Flood Control department on `Failure to protect the banks and beds of many rivers/ streams flowing in Manipur, failure to maintain water bodies, failure to save Greater Imphal area from submergence in water after light rain, failure to implement remaining portion of the Nambul Project and lack of a long term policy.

During discussion on Demand no 43- Horticulture and Soil Conservation, L Ibomcha Singh and K Shyam raised motion for disapproval of policy cuts on `Absence of horticulture & soil conservation activities in the department and improper implementation of schemes.

However, the Opposition MLAs withdrew their motions following clarifications from the concern minister including the Chief Minister, deputy Chief Minister, IFC minister Ngamthang Haokip, Forest and Revenue minister Th Debendra.

Magfruit factory of Manipur to be revived: Gaikhangam

IMPHAL, July 2: The North East Council (NEC) has sanctioned the first instalment amount for reviving the Magfruit Factory of the State and installation of cold storage for the factory

IMPHAL, July 2: The North East Council (NEC) has sanctioned the first instalment amount for reviving the Magfruit Factory of the State and installation of cold storage for the factory which will be executed by Horticulture and Soil Conservation department, said deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

He was replying to a motion for disapproval of policy cut raised jointly by opposition MLAs L Ibomcha and K Shyam while discussing Demand No 43 `“ grant of Rs 85, 20, 44, 000 for Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department today.

He informed the House that the Horticulture and Soil Conservation Department is under the Ministry of Agriculture in the Centre.

Earlier in the State, the department was put under Agriculture department. However, the Horticulture and Soil Conservation department came into existence as a separate department since 1978, Gaikhangam said.

Stating that the total valley area measures 2000 sq km out of the total area of the state while the hill areas coveres 20, 000 sq km, he asserted that the State has the advantage in the field of horticulture.

The soil of the State is fertile for growing varieties of vegetables and fruits. In the last five years, out of the total potential area, around 25, 000 sq km has been able to cover, he said.

He continued that the revenue target set by the department for 2014-15 is Rs 12 lakhs but has already generated an amount of Rs 21.43 lakh as revenue collection.

Functioning of the factory came to a standstill after a major fire broke out in the factory. Knowing the importance of the factory, the department prepared a Detail Project Report (DPR) worth Rs 9.52 crore which was sent to the NEC for revival of the factory, Gaikhangam elaborated, adding that the first instalment amount has been sanctioned.

He went on to say that the department has launched a website through which one could know about its achievement.

Sanjenthong construction to complete by September 6, Works minister informs House

IMPHAL, July 2: Construction of the Sanjenthong which was supposed to be completed by June 6 will take another three months and be completed by September 6, Works minister Dr

IMPHAL, July 2: Construction of the Sanjenthong which was supposed to be completed by June 6 will take another three months and be completed by September 6, Works minister Dr Kh Ratankumar Singh told the House today.

He was replying to a question from Opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi.

The minister said, construction of a bridge normally takes two years, however, considering the importance of the bridge efforts are made to complete it within a year.

He said the bridge is a double lane bridge and will have footpaths.

Responding to another question of the Opposition MLA, Dr Ratankumar said compensations have already been provided to the families whose land have been affected by the road widening process from Keishampat to Imphal Airport, however, there is no facility for provision of utility compensation.

Meanwhile, Revenue minister Th Debendra while responding to a question from Dr Ibohalbi said as of now, the State government has no policy to identify clear-cut boundaries of the State`™s districts.

The minister responding to another question from MLA Shyamkumar said there is no approval from the Forest department regarding deforestation at Nongmaiching Hills for poppy plantation.

Although the department has no information of those responsible for the poppy cultivation, a case has been already registered against the act, he continued.

Mistakes galore in COHSEM prescribed textbooks: MLA Shyamkumar

IMPHAL, July 2: Observing that if students are prescribed with textbooks in which conflicting information and wrong diagram are included then it will be a serious issue more dangerous than

IMPHAL, July 2: Observing that if students are prescribed with textbooks in which conflicting information and wrong diagram are included then it will be a serious issue more dangerous than murder case, opposition MLA Th Shyamkumar urged the government to initiate befitting action against those involved in providing such books.

He was speaking while putting up a motion on “™need to review and improve the textbooks prescribed by Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (COHSEM)`™`™ raised during the last business of the ongoing Assembly session today.

The MLA claimed that there are many mistakes in Class XI and XII textbooks guiding students in the wrong direction.

Physics textbook written by three teachers of Class XI and XII and subsequently prescribed by COHSEM is filled with mistakes. There are many mistakes including wrong diagram on page no 5, 41, 73 and 148 in the physics textbook for Class XII. Apart from the subject, there are also apparent mistakes in chemistry and biology textbooks, he pointed out, adding that that such errors are not found in textbooks prescribed by NCERT.

Taking serious note of the mistakes in the textbooks, he drew attention of the House to form a House Committee to look into the matter in the larger interest of students.

Clarifying the issue raised by the MLA, Education Minister M Okendro said that forming a small Committee will be a better option instead of a House Committee to look into the matter.

However, he called for establishment of truth behind the mistakes in the textbooks before the end of the Assembly session, July 10.

When uproar in the House erupted amongst the movers of the motion over the issue, PHED Minister I Hemochandra and opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi intervened.

Later, the House unanimously resolved to rectify mistakes in the textbooks but not by forming a House Committee.

Forgive us Sanatomba; we could`nt mourn for you then

By YambemLaba On the 30th of June 1993 the day R.K.Sanatomba was shot dead by suspected UNLF activists the bulk of journalists who mattered in Manipur was in Darjeeling as

By YambemLaba

On the 30th of June 1993 the day R.K.Sanatomba was shot dead by suspected UNLF activists the bulk of journalists who mattered in Manipur was in Darjeeling as a part of AMWJU trip to Arunachal Pradesh,Sikkim and Darjeeling.PradipPhanjoubam and Pokanapham`™sEigyaGopal were also there besidesme.We got the news the next day through an agency despatch that got carried in the Calcutta papers.

Not many of us knew who Sanatomba was but I knew that he was R.K.Nemai`™s brother and for about half an hour we discussed about who the assailants might have been but when it was told that he was Editor of a journal called KanglaLanpung we knew that it had something to do with the on-going strife brewing up in the UNLF,the one led by R.K.Meghen aka Sanayaima now interned in Gauhati Jail and he once trusted aide NamoijamOken.We did not even stood in silence for a minute then in memory of the departed soul maybe because he was not a member of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union or maybe because we were not just sensitive enough to the scenario opening up for scribes in Manipur.

Sanatomba was not a numberedmember of the UNLF that he should have been caught in the fratricidal wave that was sweeping across Manipur was not thinkable then..He was just another youth who loved Manipur and was caught in the cross currents of the turbulent history of Manipur and maybe he followed the lateAchouToijamba too closely and became the founder general secretary of the Manipur National Federation or the Man Federation as it was known then.AchouToijamba or Tachou as we used to call him during the Pan-Manipuri days used to spend a lot of time at our household as my cousin was the late YambemTejendra former General Secretary of the Pan Manipiuri Youth League and Editor of the Lamyanbajournal.Tachou is no more with us today but he was a master organiser and later became the founding Chairman of the KYKL when it was finally formed in January 1994 amalgamating factions of the KCP and Prepak and UNLF Cadres who chose to follow Oken.The killings did not stop with Sanatomba and the KYKL hit back with full gusto culminating in the killing of ArambamSamarendra founder General Secretary of the UNLF .He was killed on the 10th of June 2000 and the KYKL later owned up responsibility for the action.Sometime later thanks to the efforts of the Prepak hostilities between the UNLF ceased and everyone heaved a sigh of relief.

However the killings of journalists did not cease.Itspreaded to the hill areas and A Lalrohu Hmar editor a Hmar Language daily ,Shan was shot dead by the Hmar Revolutionary Army in October 1999.Then came the turn of 70 years old ThounaojamBrajamani Editor of the Manipur News.He was shot dead on 20th August 2000 by an armed organisation who did not own up the Killing.The same group that did away with Brajamani is also believed to have fired the fatal shots that killed YambemMegha an upcoming social activist and a correspondent of the North East Vision a TV channel on 14 October 2012.
.Again there was no owning up.And all that the scribes could do was to stage a day long dharna in front of the Keishampat Power house on both the killings.The police registered their mandatory FIRs and all was forgotten soon.

Then came the killing in 2008 of Konsam Rishi Kanta a young scribe with the Imphal Free Press by suspected Manipur Police Commandos.This time the journalist fraternity really woke up and put enough pressure on the State authorities that they were compelled to order a CBI probe into the killing. In January 2012 anothert journalist in Churachandpur by the name of KhupkholinSimte was also gunned down.He was the editor of Lenlaimagazine.Then came the killing in the not so recent past of another fellow TV journalist,NanaoThangjam in the line of duty when he was shot dead by police personals in Tangmeiband on 24 December 2012.This time the entire who`™s who of the State machinery turned up at the Press Club to pay their last respect to our slain comrade as a fallout of the infamous molestation case of budding Manipuri film starlet Momoko in Chandel.The Press now a much more cohesive body the AMWJU was able to wrest out a big compensation for his killing and a government job for his widowed wife.

While the Press could stand up against wrongs done to its fraternity it still could not get away from the vortex of the non-state actors.On 9th February RatanLuwang then General Secretary of the AMWJU was shot at by one of the numerous factions of the KCP who wanted a quick and easy name for themselves as a deadly force perhaps to ease their path to extortion and labelled baseless charges against Ratan to justify their action-which was not only contradicted by himself in person but also by the KYKL.Ratan survived the deadly attack but had to undergo intensive medical treatment and is today a national leader of the Press fraternity.

The Press continues to be part of the game plan of the numerous group of `patriotic`™ armed non-state actors many of whom have not even fired a catapult(Naori) shot even at an unarmed home guard personnel but is active in planting bombs at residences of SOs,Pradhans and contractors all in the name of liberating Manipur.They would like to diktat their terms of what to print or not to print or broadcast prompting the AMWJU to come with a set of `working rules` and as a result the then President of AMWJU AhongsangabamMobi got a bomb hurled at his house which incidentally exploded.

I was present on Sanatomba`™s 12th Death Anniversary-this being the first time I was invited and listened to Prof.RajendraKshetri`™sdiscourse on Media and Contemporary Manipuri Society as a part of the observance.He was full of praise for the Manipuri media but I found him lacking in the role of the Press in Manipur as the 4th Estate in the literal sense of the term.I recollect running a column called the Acute Angle in the Imphal Free Press which was actually playing the role of the opposition in the State Assembly revealing scams after scam.The opening salvo of the Acute Angle was entitled `Potrait of a Minister as a Conman` and a series of articles thereafter contributed in my humble opinion to the fall of the then Rishang Government in 1997.While Nipamacha could garner enough votes on the Assembly Floor to topple Rishang the public opinion against Rishang Government was built up by the Acute Angles.I am mentioning this because Prof.Rajendra had mentioned about how ArunShourie`™s article led to the dismissal of the A R Antulay Government in Maharastra.

Then there is also the infamous case of the Lottery Scam-when the then Finance Minister in the NipamachaGovernment ,H.Lokhon attempted to wave Rs.1.67 crores due to the State from three Lotery Agents of Manipur all in the name of resource mobilisation.OjaNipamcha was forced to withdraw the waiver order and constituted a Cabinet Sub-Committee to probe the Lottery dealings in Manipur.Then after sometime the sub-committee was constituted I had a very surprised visitor at my office in the form of former fellow scribe and then a Cabinet Minister in the Nipamacha ministry, PuT.N.Haokip-he was a member of the Cabinet sub-committee and came to me with a request to me to make available copies of the Government documents in my possession ,for according to him the Finance Minister had burnt all the documents relating to the lotteries in Manipur.This then was and is still Manipur, a failed State which for us scribes is a `Reporter`™s Paradise`.

Relating to the coverage of the National media on affairs in Manipur I cannot speak about other national media but The Statesman for which I had served as a Special Correspondent between 1990 -1998 was more pro-active in coverage of events in Manipur than many of our local media.For instance two articles which I wrote,the first entitled `UNLF`™s Long March to Geneva` and the second was` PLA:A New Dawn` was according to many legal experts could have been termed seditious in nature was published in The Statesman.And also during the Naga:Kuki killing days I got three by lined headlines stories printed on three consecutive days in my paper.Also how one handles the head office either in Calcutta or Delhi can determine how they treat our despatches-for where in India do you find MLAs armed with guns in hand seeking out to kill the Speaker in the Assembly building except in Manipur and how we package our story with a national relevance is what matters for coverage in the national media in my most humble opinion.
I took a 14 years Sabbatical from active journalism during which I had served as a Member in the Manipur Human Rights Commission and later also as Director of the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy but in 2012 I returned as the Special Representative of The Statesman and am currently facing a Rs.50 Croes defamation suit from UtlouChaoba President of the Manipur BJP for exposing his corrupt deeds at RIMS and elsewhere.

Anyway thanks to the efforts of Sanatomba`™s elder brother R.K.Nemai who by his own account is one of the most incorruptibleand steadfast officer that Manipur has seen in recent times Sanatomba lives on in the minds and memories of Manipur and also lending recognition and encouragement bestowing an award to a selected scribe thereby encouraging and supporting the media fraternity in the State.

At this juncture my humble appeal to the powers that are at the All Manipur Working Journalists Union is to put up a scroll of honour at the Press Club depicting the names of the journalists who had been killed in their line duty beginning with Sanatomba and ending with Nanao irrespective of whether they members of AMWJU or not, with a lot of space below for more journalists might be shot dead in the near future still

And as for me all that I can say and that too I think represents the feelings of many of my fellow scribes is `Sanatomba,forgive us for we could not mourn for you,when you died`

Immigrants then and now

The question is not an easy one by any standard. Just how is the issue of immigration, economic, political or otherwise, expected to be tackled by those who are at

The question is not an easy one by any standard. Just how is the issue of immigration, economic, political or otherwise, expected to be tackled by those who are at the receiving end? The answer would, to a very great extent depend on the perspective one takes. Against the context of the universal notion of human rights, as enshrined in the UN Charter of Human Rights, economic and political migration is deemed as a basic right. This humanitarian outlook is however premised upon the position that the host nation or region is far superior economically and demographically, and therefore is under no threat from such migrations. Sadly, this condition is not always a reality. The predicament of the Northeast is adequately the proof. Assam today for instance is virtually an extension of Bangladesh, and it is said indigenous Assamese today are no longer a majority in Assam. It is said if the various ethnic communities, like the Bodos, Cacharis, Misings etc were to be excluded as a separate tribal category within the broader Assamese identity, the percentage of Assamese Hindus and original Muslims, would be reduced to a significantly smaller minority, forming perhaps even less than 30 percent of the total population.

It is not as if migration is a new phenomenon in Assam and the rest of the Northeast. But in the olden feudal days, when the power structure was radically different, migrants sooner than later assimilated themselves to the identity of the host communities that their new feudal masters belonged. Hence, Bengali peasant migrants from East Bengal would in no time adopt the Assamese identity (Amalendu Guha: Planters Raj to Swaraj), so that along with the continuous immigration, would be a growth of the Assamese population. This was demonstrated in pre-independence census exercises. Guha also explains, that for the poor illiterate Bengali peasantry who migrated to Assam from the mufossil districts of the then East Bengal, to identify with the powers that be in Assam gave them a sense of greater identity and would readily indigenise. Had they known there was a much greater Bengal and Bengali identity were within their immediate reach, this might not have been. Indeed this was the case with the Hindu Bengali Bhadralok from East Bengal. They wanted to identify with what was then often referred to as the Bengali Renaissance in Bengal rather than rural and backward Assam of the time, creating another layer of ethnic tension. We need not go too far to appreciate this indigenization process Guha refers to, for this was also to a great extent the case in Manipur when it was still a monarchy. The Muslims, again from the then East Bengal, readily became the Pangals, and Brahmins from Kanauj in the modern day Uttar Pradesh and other places from subcontinental India too willingly became absorbed as the Bamons. As long as the indigenization process of immigrants remained a natural phenomenon, demographic frictions were either altogether absent or else within easily manageable limits.

Enter modern times and democracy, and the scenario altered radically. Identity consciousness and knowledge also expanded immensely. To take the Assam example again, in the modern era immigrants from East Bengal (now Bangladesh) are not willing to compromise their origin identity. Viewed against the compulsion of massive immigration on the eve of, and immediate wake of, the Partition of India, this became a huge issue, for then the indigenous Assamese began to see a threat to their own identity by a demographic takeover by Bengalis. Assam even refused to have the Hindu majority Sylhet become part of Assam when the Hindu Bengalis of the district desperately wanted it so in order to be included in India at the time of Partition, and as a result this populous district was forced to join East Pakistan. Sketching the scenario at the time, Sanjib Baruah, another well known Assamese scholar, quotes the memorable and bewildered remark by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru upon reading Gopinath Bordoloi`™s letter, that the way the Assam chief minister was reacting, he might as well treat Assam as an independent country, adding an ironic remark that Nehru`™s remark proved prophetic, that many youth in modern Assam would indeed come to want such a fate. Perhaps not an exact parallel, but the Assam story is generally also the undercurrent behind much of the xenophobia the northeast has now come to be afflicted by. In the democratised world, immigrants no longer are willing to indigenise, setting them apart from the populations of the host regions. Struggles for power and economic spaces between them are the inevitable consequences. Democracy being ultimately a system of deciding who gets to hold the reins of power by a headcount, xenophobic tensions are also only natural. This, in our opinion, is one of the most fundamental challenges in tackling and overcoming the xenophobia issue in the northeast.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/immigrants-then-and-now/

MDAVO objects to 15-day deadline for Chadong villagers to shift

IMPHAL, July 2: The Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organisation strongly objects the office notification of the executive engineer, Thoubal Project Division I, IFCD Manipur published in local newspapers on June

A statement of the association signed by its chairman Themson Jajo said the very notice is an imposition and illegal as it contradicted para 8 (page 52) of the rehabilitation plan of the oustees 1998 where it states that `the rehabilitation plan would be completed before 1 year of the completion of the project`.

Additionally, the current notice is also a violation of the High Court stay order of April 25, 2012 in which it is clearly stated that `agreement dated September 24, 2011 for RnR package shall not be given effect to until further order, it said.

It said Chadong is gradually being submerged and like animals the villagers are asked to move to a government designated site.

Rehabilitation and resettlement is about rebuilding a new village with all amenities and new life skills that allows better life as they have sacrificed the ancestral homes for the greater common good, it observed adding that the farmlands have been submerged long since.

The statement said it may be mentioned here that except for ground leveling, the land allotted for `relocation`™ is bereft of the basic requirements for a person to live with dignity and respect. It is almost as if the human rights of the villagers, having been snatched with the construction of the dam, may be abused and violated over and over again. We are concerned and extremely suspicious of the present government who have the audacity to ask the villagers to move to a place where there is not even amenities for drinking water- a basic right to life and survival? There have been no proper plans for livelihood, it said.

The criminal intent and action will be met with legal action and resistance by the villagers who have withstood this far and still continuing, it said.

MDAVO would like to reiterate in a final note that the final comments and recommendations by the Expert Review Committee (ERC) on RnR constituted by the government of Manipur on January 18, 2008 as per Order of Governor of Manipur letter dated No. 20/1/2005-IFC(Pt) be made at the earliest before the angst and agony of the submerging village and villagers take over, it said.

Month: July 2015