Manipur News

IMPHAL September 12: The High Court of Manipur has directed Imphal Municipal Corporation (IMC) to divert the salary of IMC chairman, councillors and other Class I officers and clear the pending dues of its pensioners.

A court order dated August 28, 2015 which is cited by the pensioners`™ association as the third directive from the same office reads, `In spite of several orders passed by this court, petitioners have not been paid their pensions regularly and huge arrear is yet to be cleared.`

`IMC has not come with any concrete proposal indicating the manner in which the petitioners can be paid their pension both the current and the past. Under these circumstances, the only option left for the court is to direct stoppage of payment of salary/ honorarium to the chairperson as well as councillors and Class I officers of the IMC and divert the amount to payment of the current pension of the pensioners.`

In a press meet held today at Manipur Press Club, secretary of Imphal Municipal Pensioners Association L Tomba said that after exhausting all options to recover their 169 months of due pension, the association had filed a writ petition with the then Gauhati High Court in 2003.

`Finally in 2005, the IMC was directed to clear the amount immediately. Yet there is still black log payment which might be declared unclaimed if the delay is prolonged`™ he said.

Hence, we sought another submission from the court, he said.

Unfortunately, the IMC has only provided verbal assurance without actually clearing their full dues or complying with the court directives, he added.

Such conduct of the IMC to clear the pensions of the pension amounts to disrespecting the senior citizens, he observed.

Another member of the association G Brajabihari Sharma who had retired almost 10 years back said he has received only half the amount of his due pension during the last one decade.

He continued such kind of treatment meted out by our own department has scrapped us of our dignity and left us wanting in our old age.

He said it is also of profound unhappiness that the temporary shed inside the IMC campus under which they use to come together has been dismantled.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/imc-ordered-to-pay-backlogged-pensions-of-its-former-employees/

IMPHAL, Sept 12: The Joint Students Co-ordination Committee (JSCC), a conglomerate of four student bodies, is all set to observe the 119th birth anniversary of Lamyanba Hijam Irabot with various events starting from September 25 till September 30.

The committee`™s media co-ordinator Manjit Sarangthem informed the itinerary during a press meet at Manipur Students Federation (MSF) office at Keisampat today.

Saluting the dedication and sacrifices made by the legend for his people, a main function will be organised at the DM College of Arts on his birth anniversary September 30.

Elaborating on the series of events as part of the observation, Manjit said a cleanliness drive will be held at Nambol on September 25 and a cycle rally on September 29.

Symposium and poetry recital competitions for Class IX to XII and graduate and above will be held on September 26 and 28 at Imphal College, he said.

Students willing to participate may get their forms from the office of the AMSU, MSF, KSA and SUK on or before September 23, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/lamyanba-hijam-irabots-anniversary-to-be-observed/

IMPHAL, Sept 12: The Hmar Women Association; Kuki Women Union; Zomi Mothers Association; Churachandpur Joint Women Organization; Mizo Peoples Convention Women`™s Wing and Naga Women`™s Union have categorically stated that the agreement between Government of Manipur and JCILPS on the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 which was subsequently passed in the State Assembly on August 31 should not include the land that belongs to Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Chandel, Ukhrul and Senapati.

In a joint statement, the tribal women`™s bodies said, “™ We are people who have been living and practicing our culture and traditions which are unique and distinct from the dominant societies. Our social, cultural, economic and political life has been passed down from our ancestors and we continue to practice them.`™`™

`We belong to a worldview that defines land as collectively owned by the people and not the State. We are against any form of attempt to alienate us from our land. Land is central to our identity and life,`™`™ the statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/tribal-womens-bodies-react-to-mlr-lr-bill/

IMPHAL, September 12: The Joint Action Committee formed in connection with the passing of the bills in its emergency meeting held today at the JAC Information Center office has unanimously resolved to declare public boycott on all the elected tribal MLAs who have refused to feel the pulse of the tribal populace and declined to resign in spite of the mounting pressure from the general public to do so.

Informing this in a statement, the JAC reiterated that All Tribal Students`™ Union, Manipur (ATSUM) had made an appeal to all the tribal MLAs on August 30 to abstain from the special session of the Manipur State Assembly wherein the three bills namely the Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015; Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Manipur Shops & Establishments (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 were intended to be passed.

However, the appeal went unheeded, it said.

The statement said that the tribal apex bodies Kuki Innpi, Hmar Inpui and Zomi Council in their meeting on September 1 had unanimously given an ultimatum to the Hill Areas Committee to convene a meeting at the earliest and take appropriate steps to either repeal the bills or insert exceptional clause in it within ten days.

However, no response in any form was received from the Hill Areas Committee till date, it lamented.

The tribal apex bodies in their meeting on September 2 had resolved that the JAC formed on September 2 at KKL Complex shall be the forum to spearhead all issues including the demand for a separate administration for the hill peoples of Manipur and that it shall have the full backing of the tribal apex bodies, the statement maintained.

It further reiterated that the JAC in its emergency meeting on September 7 had resolved to support the ten-day ultimatum given by the tribal apex bodies and agrred to impose public boycott on all the elected tribal MLAs if no desirable response is received from the HAC by midnight of September 10 or if they do not tender their resignation but no response of any kind was received from the HAC till date.

Stating that there were rumors of the resignation of some of the tribal MLAs, the JAC in the statement claimed that a media team was sent to verify the same today but failed to get any satisfactory response from the tribal MLAs.

There is no intimation or communication to the tribal apex bodies, ATSUM or the JAC from any of the MLAs regarding their resignation, the statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/jac-churachandpur-resolves-to-boycott-tribal-mlas-against-passage-of-bills/

LAMKA, September 12: The JAC formed against the passing of three bills in the State Assembly has said it has decided that an amount of Rs 100 will be collected from each household instead of its earlier decision to collect Rs 10 from each individual.

The amount collected will be used to show support, solidarity and respect to the tribal martyrs, said the JAC.

A statement of the JAC issued by its Finance sub-committee said the resolution adopted on September 4 to collect Rs 10 from each individual has been reviewed during its sitting on September 10 and now Rs 100 will be collected from each household considering the gravity of the situation.

It said the village chiefs/ Village Authorities are assigned the responsibility to collect the donations from the households of their respective village household and all amounts collected will be made public against receipt issued by the sub-committee.

The exercise of collecting the donation will begin from September 14, the statement said.

It has further appealed to the public to extend their full co-operation to the exercise.

The JAC has also decided to relax its bandh called from 5am to 10am tomorrow also.

On the other hand, the Autonomous District Council Churachandpur team camping in the national capital managed to meet the chairman of the National Commission for ST and the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh today. The team is also trying to get an appointment for a meeting with the Prime Minister.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/families-urged-to-contribute-rs-100-each-for-martyrs/

KANGPOKPI, September 12: The recent unrest in the State over various issues has captured the attention of KBC No.5 who offered a mass prayer today for peace and tranquility in the State and those directly impacted, as well as those who are suffering from the underlying issues that surfaced during the recent protests.

The mass prayer organized by KBC No.5 at KBC Centre Church Kangpokpi was attended by about 500 members from various churches within KBC No.5.

Speaking at the function Dr. Rev. Thangboi Chongloi lamented that in all of our moods we call out to Almighty God today to help us remember how much the State needs peace and to make it real in the society.

He asserted that Almighty God is the rightful advocate of peace, elegant champion of reconciliation, whose victories echo harmoniously and taught the way towards peace.

He emphasized the significant roles of Churches in time of unrest situation in the society and urged every church member to uphold and strengthen the teaching of Lord Jesus Christ about peace among the people.

He also solicited God to guide the leaders of all communities that justice may prevail throughout the state while praying to make all the leaders of the state an instruments of peace to glorify the Almighty.

`Teach us to carry the torch of peace that it may reside within our heart and radiate in our surroundings and transform the current unrest of the state into a Heaven through the Grace of your power for Almighty God you are the only hope of mankind`, prayed Dr Rev Thangboi Chongloi.

The speaker also sought the Almighty God to hold back the hands that kill and maim, turn around the hearts that hate and grant strong spirit of Peace that passes to the understanding of mankind but changes lives.

`When the foundations of peace are shaking, give strength to your people to uphold justice and fight all wrong`, he further prayed.

The mass prayer prayed for peace in all the communities this day and commits to the Almighty all who work for peace and end to tensions while committing those who work to uphold law and justice in every community in the state.

It also prayed for calm in the villages, districts and cities that people may go about their lives in safety and peace while praying for civilian women, children and men whose lives are unrest by prevailing tensions, calling to mind in penitence the anger and hatreds of humanity.

The mass prayer also prayed for those who mourned and urged the Almighty to immerse them in His love and lead them through this darkness into light.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/churches-pray-for-peace-and-tranquility-in-state/

IMPHAL, September 12: A BJP Manipur State Core Committee meeting has resolved to revoke the expulsion of its four members and suspension of another four.

A statement of the party identified the expelled members as S Rajen Singh vice-president, BJP Manipur; Y Khemchand ex-vice president, BJP Manipur; N Ratan Singh ex-executive member, BJP Manipur; ex-minister L Jatra Singh ex-executive member, BJP Manipur and the four suspended as ex-minister T Hangkhanpao ex-vice president, BJP Manipur; Chidananda Singh, ex-executive member, BJP Manipur; Michael Dangmei ex-secretary, BJP Manipur and Ajang Haokip, ex-president, Churachandpur district, BJP Manipur.

The meeting which was also attended by Prahlad Singh Patel also discussed the acceptance of the individuals enrolled on online enrolment as members of the party, it said.

The resolution was taken as per a decision of the party`™s Central Office conveyed by the State Prabhari Prahlad Singh Patel, it said.

It further resolved that the State president is entrusted to do the needful in this respect at the earliest with due process as per rule of the party Constitution.

It was also resolved that the acceptance of enrolment of individuals on online enrolment through mobile as primary member of the Party be given after proper verification by the competent authority of the Party as per provisions laid down in the Constitution of the party in this respect, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/bjp-revokes-expulsion-and-suspension-of-members/

IMPHAL September 12: Heingang MLA Nongthombam Biren has charged the BJP led NDA government in the Centre of disturbing the peace and unity of the State.

Speaking as the chief guest at the 21st foundation day celebration of LYS Steel and Cement Agency at Kwakeithel Makha near the Police Outpost, the MLA said the recently passed three bills to save the native people of the State contains nothing which could hurt any community of the State.

He said unseen forces are trying to instigate hatred and violence among the indigenous population of the State.

`We should be very careful with what we say and do as it could mislead the masses`™, he added.

These unseen forces are campaigning to disrupt our integrity and the NDA led government in the Centre should be held responsible for it.

He also said that the Chief Minister of neighbouring States like Nagaland and Mizoram should be more responsible with their comments.

`In their States the Inner Line Permit System is fully enforced and so why are they so much against it when the Manipur State government passed a similar home-made bill just to safeguard our native people?` he asked.

Moreover the bill is not anti-tribal or against any community, he added.

Urging the people of the State to stand firm to save our integrity of Manipur, Biren appealed to all concerned people not to mislead the general public and sow seeds of hatred as it might lead to another June 18 uprising.

He said that the Peace Accord which was signed between the NSCN-IM and the Indian Government should not affect the interest of Manipur.

If it is meant to solve the age old Naga issue, why take only the consent of the faction of the Nagas led by NSCN-IM, he asked.

Meanwhile, emphasizing on the need to infuse the ideas and knowhow of entrepreneurship, Biren said that we need to work with sincere dedication to be successful in life.

He said that sheer hard-work has led to such entrepreneur like the LYS to flourish in the State.

MLA of Naoriyapakhanglakpa Assembly Constituency RK Anand who presided over the function maintained that the changing political scenario in the State is the fall out effect of the Peace Accord signed between the NSCN-IM and the Centre.

The history of Manipur must be considered first for any geo-political talk with any group or State which might affect the integrity of Manipur State, he observed.

He stated that the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi vowed to denounce the practise of divide and rule taught by the British, yet he is applying the same approach in Manipur.

It is very unfortunate that the act of such a high personality has contradicted with his words, he observed.

People have lost faith with the Central government, he added.

He further said that the Naga Peace Accord would surely contain something since the agreement cannot be signed on a blank paper.

The agreement must hence be shown to the States which are affected by it, he demanded.

India is a democratic and republic country and such exclusive approach must be taken seriously by the people, he added.

During the UPA regime such issues were never entertained, however the NDA government has used such tactics of disintegrating Manipur, he alleged.

He maintained that the three bills passed by the State government was passed after a year of consultation starting from 2014 and the claims that the tribal people were not consulted is false.

Further he said it is time to pressure the Centre to amend the Article-3 of the Constitution as it is might challenge the integrity of Manipur.

The foundation day observation was also attended by well-wishers of the agency and its customers. The agency was first started in the year 1994 by Laishram Yaima Singh.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/centre-responsible-for-disturbing-peace-in-state-mla-biren/

IMPHAL September 12: The United Committee Manipur (UCM), All Manipur United Club Organisation (AMUCO) and Committee on Civil Society of Kangleipak (CCSK) have announced today that they will collectively initiate a local level consultative meeting for building a mass mobilization regarding the present political situation following the signing of the Naga Peace Accord with the Government of India.

This was announced during a joint press conference held at UCM office at Lamphel in Imphal today.

Elaborating on their meeting with the interlocutor of India-NSCN (IM) peace talk RN Ravi, AMUCO president Dr Y Mani Khuman said they urged the interlocutor that the territorial integrity and boundary of the State should not be compromised at any cost.

The organisation also urged him to produce a white paper disclosing all the details of the Peace Accord to calm the tension and apprehension among the people of Manipur following the signing of the Peace Accord, he said.

He continued, we told him that we do welcome the Peace Accord of GOI, but the undisclosed grey areas of the accord have created tension among the public.

We have clearly stated that people of Manipur will not accept any compromise on the territorial boundary and territorial integrity of the State. We cannot agree to a Pan Naga formation on ethnic lines which can distort the present façade of the State, he said.

He said we insisted that the people`™s mandate should not be surpassed.

RN Ravi did inform us that Naga sovereignty has been waived, he said.

Yet we are not convinced given the history of cases and incidents in the past when our territorial integrity was challenged, he continued.

Mani Khuman said they have submitted a memorandum in this regard placing their position. He feels that the Ravi has taken serious note of it.

United Committee Manipur president Elangbam Johnson said that RN Ravi has informed them the Peace Accord is signed within the Constitution of India and will not alter the boundaries of the neighbouring States.

However the GOI`™s recognition of Naga`™s unigue history and the evolving Naga aspiration towards a Pan Naga continues to create tension in the State, he added.

Besides this NSCN IM`™s Th Muivah has been repeatedly stating post Peace Accord that integration of Nagas remains in the agenda, he added.

We have apprised the interlocutor of these concerns, said Johnson.

He continued we fear that this will lead to an institutional transformation.

Johnson said we feel that his present engagement with the people of Manipur is directly related to the signing of the recent Peace Accord, which the interlocutor also did not deny.

On the allegation of discriminating the hill population in the State, we told him that these are unfounded allegations and had also cited the pre-merger and post-merger special provisions and separate regulations for the hill people, he said.

Autonomous District Council was kept in abeyance by the NSCN IM for very long. However it is revived again and there has been a lot of discussion for further devolution of power which we are supportive of, the UCM president said.

But a divisive administrative unit drawn on ethnic lines will not be acceptable as it will distort the pluralistic feature of this State, he said.

The GOI will not be allowed to bypass the State government or the people`™s voice on such crucial issues, he observed.

All this positions were also highlighted to the interlocutor during our meeting, he said.

Since 1997 the GOI has been following a Naga appeasement policy stating that they recognized, respect and honour the unique history of the Nagas. Likewise the GOI should also equally regard our 2000 years of history, he said while reiterating that any attempt to fragment the State will be confronted.

President CCSK, Arjun Telheiba said the interlocutor mention that the GOI is trying to bring an amicable solution to the long political tussle with the Nagas and is mindful of the sensitivity in Manipur.

`RN Ravi asked our feedback on solution for Manipur Nagas. Our respose was that GOI should decide wisely so that the oneness of the State will not be disturbed`™ said Arjun. He said RN Ravi had been urged not to play favoritism on ethnic lines during their meeting.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/ucm-amuco-and-ccsk-to-organise-consultative-meeting-on-present-political-situation/