Day: September 16, 2017

IMPHAL | Sept 16

The North-East Forum for International Solidarity today petitioned the Union ministry of Home Affairs seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of state youth, Pravish Chanam, who was found secretly cremated at Noida recently.

A release said a memorandum submitted to the ministry maintained that since the UP police’s inquiry is bound to be heavily biased since its own personnel are implicated in the case, the apex agency CBI should be rope in.

It also demanded that the inquiry should especially probe the alleged connivance of police personnel with the criminals and hospital authorities. NEFIS has also intensified its efforts to seek the state government’s intervention in the case, it added.

Meantime, an FIR was reportedly lodged by the victim family regarding the case at the Sector 20 police station, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Noida demanding further investigation citing lapses on the part of the police.

IMPHAL | Sept 16

The North-East Forum for International Solidarity today petitioned the Union ministry of Home Affairs seeking an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the death of state youth, Pravish Chanam, who was found secretly cremated at Noida recently.

A release said a memorandum submitted to the ministry maintained that since the UP police’s inquiry is bound to be heavily biased since its own personnel are implicated in the case, the apex agency CBI should be rope in.

It also demanded that the inquiry should especially probe the alleged connivance of police personnel with the criminals and hospital authorities. NEFIS has also intensified its efforts to seek the state government’s intervention in the case, it added.

Meantime, an FIR was reportedly lodged by the victim family regarding the case at the Sector 20 police station, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Noida demanding further investigation citing lapses on the part of the police.

Newmai News Network

SENAPATI |Sept 16

United Naga Council (UNC) said today that it will continue to oppose former chief minister O. Ibobi and the Congress party. The Naga body said it will not allow the former CM and the Congress party to hold the ongoing district level political workers’ conference in Naga areas.

Information and publicity wing of the UNC said that many Nagas or tribal people were killed in the state during the time of O. Ibobi led Congress government. “We cannot forget that soon about the atrocities meted out to the Nagas or tribal by the Ibobi Singh led communal government of Manipur,” said the UNC.  

The Naga body further said, “Because of the state sponsored terrorism under the O. Ibobi led Congress government many people were killed or traumatised”. The UNC further said that so many acts or bills were passed by the “O. Ibobi led Congress government to suppress the Nagas or the tribal people.”

According to UNC information and publicity wing, O. Ibobi had told in a programme recently that the seven district creation was his “bold step.” The UNC took this comment of O. Ibobi as “continuing challenge” to the Naga people. “The tripartite talks are going on because of the mess he and his government had created but he is still vocal on the seven district creation,” said UNC.   “If this is not a big challenge to our people then what is?” asked UNC.

Further the Naga body said the Congress party will not be allowed to “use the soil of the Nagas to suppress the Nagas”.

Newmai News Network

SENAPATI |Sept 16

United Naga Council (UNC) said today that it will continue to oppose former chief minister O. Ibobi and the Congress party. The Naga body said it will not allow the former CM and the Congress party to hold the ongoing district level political workers’ conference in Naga areas.

Information and publicity wing of the UNC said that many Nagas or tribal people were killed in the state during the time of O. Ibobi led Congress government. “We cannot forget that soon about the atrocities meted out to the Nagas or tribal by the Ibobi Singh led communal government of Manipur,” said the UNC.  

The Naga body further said, “Because of the state sponsored terrorism under the O. Ibobi led Congress government many people were killed or traumatised”. The UNC further said that so many acts or bills were passed by the “O. Ibobi led Congress government to suppress the Nagas or the tribal people.”

According to UNC information and publicity wing, O. Ibobi had told in a programme recently that the seven district creation was his “bold step.” The UNC took this comment of O. Ibobi as “continuing challenge” to the Naga people. “The tripartite talks are going on because of the mess he and his government had created but he is still vocal on the seven district creation,” said UNC.   “If this is not a big challenge to our people then what is?” asked UNC.

Further the Naga body said the Congress party will not be allowed to “use the soil of the Nagas to suppress the Nagas”.

IMPHAL | Sept 16

An emergency public meeting was held at Lalpani High School ground yesterday organised by All Jiribam Linguistic Minority Peoples’ Organisation (AJLMPO) in connection with the demand of withdrawal of candidature of non-Manipur in the ensuing Gram Panchayat elections raised by the KSA and JCILPS.

A release singed by AJLMPO vice-president, Sushil Namasudra said the meeting strongly condemned the statement of KSA saying, “The KSA has threatened to ban movement of non-local people in all localities, if the non-local candidate contesting in the forthcoming ‘Panchayat election’ do not withdraw their candidature by September 20” and also the statement of JCILPS, “No non-local people should contest the forthcoming Panchayat election”.

Stating that KSA and JCILPS are not the authorities to establish someone’s identity and they have not been empowered to publish unconstitutional and undemocratic statements which hamper one’s fundamental rights, it said KSA and JCILPS should withdraw their unconstitutional and undemocratic statements immediately.

The meeting unanimously resolved that all contesting candidates in the forthcoming ‘Panchayat election’ will not withdraw their candidature but in association with other organisations, clubs, civil bodies, students organisations etc. will face any consequences if needed against the threat of KSA and JCILPS. 

It further said that if any untoward incident including communal tension arise in this connection in Jiribam district, the Manipur state government should be held responsible.

“The KSA and JCILPS which have no knowledge about the history of Jiribam and human habitation and settlement of Jiribam should not try to create communal tension among different communities living in Jiribam peacefully and communal harmony since time immemorial through their provocative statements”, it added.

The meeting also resolved to submit a memorandum to the chief minister, local MLA and other concerned for taking appropriate action, it said.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 16

Information and public relation minister, Th. Biswajit said that media plays a big role in the society and is acting as a moderator between the public and policy makers.

He was delivering the chief guest’s speech on the observation of the 43rd foundation day of All Manipur Working Journalist Union (AMWJU) today at the Manipur Press Club, Imphal.

Stating that a real journalist should follow the journalistic principle the minister asked journalists to maintain accuracy of the news as sometimes a faulty news can misguide the whole public.

Mentioning that media plays an important role in bringing society towards development Biswajit appealed to the media persons to take initiative is spreading the newly launched schemes to the public so that the public are aware about the schemes and can take benefits from them.

The minister said that the present BJP led government is working very hard at its best level to complete all the development projects within 10 months which could not be completed by the previous government in 15 years.

Claiming that a great positive change has been brought in the state during a short period of five months rule of the new BJP led government, he asked the people to know the difference between the new and the previous governments.

Biswajit assured that the government will take up initiative to make pension schemes available to all the veteran journalists.

The guest of honour, law minister, L. Jayenta asked media persons to have the idea about the restriction in the freedom of speech so that they do not face any legal action.

In order to have the legal knowledge in writing news he suggested to organise legal awareness programme for media persons. AMWJU president W. Shmjai and MLA S. Ranjan also attended the programme.

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 16

Chairman of the Committee on Human Rights (COHR), Phulindro Konsam charged that the endangered animal Sangai and floating hut of Loktak lake were displayed in Sangai festival as replica but the government and LDA are destroying the eco-system of Loktak.

Addressing a protest meet held yesterday at Phoubakchao Awang leikai, Sekmaijin community hall under the topic “Decommission Ithai barrage of 105 MW Loktak project” Phulindro said “keeping replica of Sangai and its habitat during Sangai festival is like a big joke”.

He said government claimed Sangai deer and Loktak lake as natural heritage but in reallity Loktak Development Authority (LDA) and government are destroying its eco-system.

On April 10, 2008 under Operation Summer Storm joint operation by the state police and 57 Mountain Division bombarded at Keibul Lamjao national park in the name of flushing insurgents.

During the operation the natural habitat of Sangai was affected and villagers and fishermen came on streets. Instead of chasing the insurgents the forces bombarded and destroyed the environment of the lake, he charged.

He said in the name of development state along with LDA burned down the huts on phumdis. The homeless people were scattered at different places of Ningthoukhong, Kwakeithel and others. These acts are crime against humanity and it was not for the welfare of the people but only to get profit from Loktak project, Phulindro added.

Before the commission of Ithai barrage and Loktak project many migratory birds and fish were found in Loktak. Since the commissioning of the barrage and Loktak project the water of Loktak becomes almost stagnant. The phumdis which are shuppoed to flow down Manipur river remain still at the lake.

Because of this the phumdis got rotten which contaminates the water. Migratory fish and birds stop feeding at the lake due to the contamination, Phulindro asserted.

 “The artificial flood which is occurring frequently in the state can be stop if Ithai barrage is removed,” Phulindro said.

Member of North East Youth Dialogue Forum, U. Jenision spoke on the impact of Ithai barrage and Loktak project and oil exploration in the state by various multi-national companies.

Central government is also planning to extract natural resources from the state without concerning the people of the state. If the process of extracting natural resources has started, the state might be in doom, he added.

The meet resolved that the government must decommission Ithai barrage and Loktak project immediately, compensate the affected people and organise rehabilitation programme. It also urged the Assembly to discuss these issues.

As a part of the meet, people of the area marched rally by chanting slogans “go back NHPC”, “decommission Ithai barrage and Loktak project immediately” in Sekmaijin, Phoubakchao area.