Manipur News

IMPHAL, September 18: The State core committee of BJP, Manipur Pradesh had a meeting today at its head office located at Nityaipat Chuthek during which the prevailing situation in the State witnessed in the aftermath of the passing of the three bills passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly was discussed at length.

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 passed by the State Assembly on August 31, drawing flak from the tribal community.

The meeting observed that the State is in turmoil due to social unrest and agitation by the people from both the hills and valley on the issue of protection of the identities and culture of its indigenous people.

The people have been struggling over the years to confront the threat from the continuous influx of people from other States of the country and outside the country for which such a demand was submitted to the government for protection of the indigenous people. The government took cognizance of these demands and got three bills adopted by the State Assembly unanimously on August 31, the gathering agreed.

It is unfortunate that some Chief Ministers and leaders of other States were expressing sectarian views on such a sensitive issue concerning the people of Manipur. Such avoidable interference in the internal affairs of Manipur would not help maintain peace and harmony in the region, the meeting noted.

The BJP State core committee also admitted that the State government is making efforts to defuse the situation by inviting NGOs and other organizations for consultation on the three bills passed by the Assembly with the view to bring about a peaceful atmosphere.

Though BJP Manipur has returned not a single MLA in the 11th Assembly, the party has been supporting the cause of the indigenous people of Manipur and suggesting ways and means to the government for resolution of the issue in the face of the public movement spearheaded by JCILPS, it maintained.

Further observing that normalcy is expected to return as and when the government gives assent to all the three bills pending in the Governor Secretariat, the BJP State core committee appealed to all sections of the civil society to maintain calm and join hands in the better endeavour to protect the interests of the indigenous people of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/bjp-discusses-prevailing-situation-post-passage-of-bills/

IMPHAL, September 18: More than 250 Kuki villages were recorded by the Manipur Durbar in 1946-47, so how is it possible to term the Kukis as foreigners as was claimed by the Meitei International Forum member RK Rajendra.

This was stated by JD (U) Manipur general secretary (Organisation) Lien Gangte during a press conference held at the party office.

He demanded a proper clarification from Rajendra on his claim and to tender an apology to all the kukis in the world in the traditional kuki way, if he fails to do so.

He said he will file a case in the court under IPC 153 (A), if Rajendra fails to do so.

Speaking at the press conference, he said his party considers the statement to be unfortunate.

Since time immemorial, the kukis have been coexisting with the other communities in Manipur, he observed.

During different periods, the Kukis had taken vital roles during wars for the Manipuri kingdom, he said.

During the reign of Maharaj Budhachandra, the Manipur Durbar recorded 250 Kuki villages in Manipur in the 1946-47, he added.

He said in the past, the kings had even handed the sole responsibility of the hills to the Kukis.

It is ufortunate the RK Rajendra had made such a statement as claiming the Kukis to be foreigners, he added.

He demanded a proper clarification through the media or other platform from Rajendra.

If his proof is authentic, we will further check the truth, but if he wants the truth he can get all the documents from the JD (U) office, Gangte added.

Such statement hurts the sentiments of the people and Rajendra should be responsible if any communal tension is ignited due to the statement, he added.

JD (U) State president M Tombi on the other hand accused the Centre and the State unit BJP of being anti-Kuki.

He said the government is yet to do anything for the Kuki villagers who were killed, displaced and thir houses destroyed during the Naga-Kuki clash in the early part of 1990’s.

The government has also failed to even try to settle the demands of Suspension of Operation signatory Kuki groups, while, it has signed a peace accord with the NSCN (IM), he said.

He also charged the Centre, the State government and the BJP State unit of playing games in the State.

He said the JD (U) also welcome the Nagaland Governor’s statement that NSCN (IM) cadres will be absorbed in security forces.

Tombi also said if MP Thangso Baite had actually made the statement of splitting the State into two Union Territories then it is very unfortunate.

He said during a meeting with the Union Home secretary on August 23, regarding the five pints of the JCILPS, all MPs from the State Md Salam, Dr Th Meinya and Thangso baite were present and all of them had not raised any objection to the five points then.

He said if Thangso Baite has made the splitting of Manipur comment to the media, then it is very unfortunate.

However, if the MP clarifies he had not made any such statement, but later his voice recordings are produce to prove it, then he must resign from being an MP of Manipur, he demanded.

Clarifying on Kim Gangte’s allegations that neither the government nor the JCILPS included Hill leaders in preparing the bills, he said it is totally wrong and baseless.

He said during a discussion on the five point demands of the JCILPS at the Conference Hall of the Assembly, Phungjathang Tonsing, Francis Ngajokpa and other hill leaders were also present.

He also said that during the long period preparing the bills, opinions of several seasoned politicians including RIshang Keishing, RK Dorendro, RB Koijam and many other hill leaders were taken.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/lien-gangte-demands-clarification-from-rk-rajendra/

In these troubled times, it is difficult not to be reminded of the stand taken by moderate Muslims, such as Maulana Azad, to oppose the Partition of Indian on the eve of the country attaining independence from British colonisers. As most of us are familiar with now, Azad’s decision to not go along with the Muslim League was not so much an opposition to the idea of Pakistan per se, but one dictated by an enlightened self-interest. While he had little to say against the contention that Muslims would be happy to be on their own in Pakistan, his concern was for those Muslims who would remain in India, either by choice or for the lack of means to migrate to Pakistan. Muslims undivided would have still been a minority in an undivided sub-continental India, but it would have been a significantly larger minority, therefore not left at the mercy of the majority Hindus. Other than the decimation in number that would result from Partition, he also reasoned like any other moderate and rational thinker that it would not be easy for Muslims who remained behind in India to win back the confidence of the country. In hindsight we know Azad’s politics of resisting Partition proved futile, but nobody can deny the future that he envisioned for Indian Muslim has been prophetic.

This thought is especially relevant in the wake of the recent statement by a Rajya Sabha MP from Nagaland, Khekiho Zhimomi, that Manipur should be bifurcated into two Union Territories, the hills for the tribal communities, and the valley for the Meiteis. Outer Manipur Lok Sabha MP, Thangso Baite, rather tentatively also gave his nod, with an incoherent statement which implied this could be a solution to Manipur’s current problem but pending further public consultations. As for the Zhimomi, he has little business in the matter, though we must thank him for his concern despite his raw and uncouth tone of ridicule in his reference to the valley districts, fit only for internet trolls, an ugly and mindless species whose population is multiplying like virus on various social networking sites. Baite probably was doing a balancing act, owing allegiance to both the state he represents in Parliament and his community that reduced his home to ashes in an extended explosion of fury against the three allegedly anti-tribal bills, whose officially stated intents are to regulate influx of migrants into the state. He has since clarified that he was misquoted by the reporter who asked for his opinion on the matter. Whatever the case was, the truth is, there is today a campaign for such a bifurcation of the hills and the valley of Manipur, so rather than sweep the matter under the carpet, it needs to be elevated to a forum of meaningful discourse, and resolved.

Dividing Manipur into two Union Territories for obvious reasons is unlikely to happen. If the situation does to come to such a pass, under the present circumstance, it can have disastrous and long lasting consequences of the kind Azad feared. For this reason if not anything else, there is an element of irresponsibility in those who insist this should be. What can instead be thought of is a comprehensive autonomy model for the hills as well as the valley. The hills for instance can have the 6th Schedule ADCs if they so wish and a matching autonomy model can be thought of for the valley in consultation with its public. We for one no longer think it should be a 6th Schedule type of autonomy for the valley which is already under modern land tenure system. We are sure nobody would also like to revert to rule by customary law after witnessing all the vigilante and mob justice which often put the valley districts under their frenzied grip. Everybody, we are also sure are happy with modern legal jurisprudence too, just as they have internalised the working of the modern land revenue system under the MLR&LR Act 1960. What can be instead thought of is the reopening and renegotiation of the Merger Agreement 1949 to ask for autonomy such as those that went to Kashmir at the time of its own merger with India. If the hills want to be part of this, fine, otherwise it can be the valley’s new autonomy structure. The Manipur’s Merger Agreement was signed in four days of coercive negotiations with the former kingdom’s ruler under house arrest in his summer home in Shillong, the then capital of Assam. The agreement contains virtually nothing of substance, and King Bodhchandra can hardly be blamed for this, for he was not given the benefit of legal advisers or expert counsels in those four traumatic days in captivity. By contrast, the NSCN(IM) peace negotiation has been happening for 18 years under guidance of the best of legal experts from all over the world, and yet a treaty has still not materialised. The injustice of 1949 is obvious and everybody in India and the world would, or at least should, understand the desire for reopening of this chapter to purge the oppressive memory of this sorry episode.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/manipur-besieged/

IMPHAL, September 18: Member of Parliament from Outer Manipur constituency Thangso Baite has strongly reacted and refuted a media report that quoted him as saying “Creation of two union territories out of Manipur can be a possible solution to solve the present issue in the State.”

Speaking at a press conference called on Thursday at his residence to clarify on the report, the MP said the report is totally wrong and baseless.

He said while he was in the national capital, he received a phone call asking for a comment on a question on “whether the problem of Manipur can be solved by only splitting the State in two Union Territories.”

He had replied there is nothing as such and that commenting on such a critical situation might create more misunderstanding and it is not the right time to comment on it.

Any wrong reply could create more problems for the State he said he had told the person.

Unfortunately, when the report was published, it quoted him as making the statement which is very unfortunate and baseless, he told the media persons.

He said the party high command does not allow making such provoking statements on State issues.

Baite also added that issues of people’s concern could be brought up for discussion but splitting of the State is impossible from his side.

He further appealed to all section of the Manipuri people and the political parties not to believe such biased and wrongly quoted statement.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/outer-mp-contradicts-media-report-on-split-manipur-into-two-uts/

LAMKA, September 18: Womenfolk in the district continued staging sit in protests in various parts of the district in support of the JAC Churachandpur demanding a separate administration of the tribal dominated districts.

In the meantime, the JAC imposed public curfew was relaxed from 5am till 1pm today.

Showing support to the demand for autonomy of the hill people, womenfolk also took out a massive torch rally in the late afternoon yesterday which commenced from Hiangtam Public Ground with slogans raised during the rally including “Tribal Unity: Let it sustain; the three bills: Let it be revoked.”

The torch bearing womenfolk had converged from different localities of Lamka Town including suburbs like Mata, Thingkangphai, Kangvai, Saikot, etc.

Meanwhile, in another incident, late in the afternoon, women folk who had been virtually handling the protest in Churachandpur burned down Health minister Phungzathang Tonsing’s residence for the third time yesterday since fierce protest erupted in the district against the passing of the three bills in the State Assembly on August 31.

The womenfolk were angry that supporters of the minister had once again tried to repair the minister’s residence even though the bodies of the nine who died during the ongoing movement in the district are lying at the Churachandpur District Hospital.

Prior to today’s torch rally, chief convenor of the JAC and representatives of SoO signatory groups UPF and KNO deliberated on the importance of capitalising on the unprecedented unity among the tribals and to sustain it.

ZRO chief advisor Khaizasong said a team of the UPF and the KNO will meet the Home secretary in Delhi and urged for an observation team from the Centre to visit Churachandpur.

He added some positive response will transpire soon which was welcomed with a thunderous applause from the womenfolk who were all dressed in black as a sign of mourning.

On the other hand, many protestors who participated in today’s rally said they would not allow the present struggle to die out, while others from Hebron Veng of New Lamka said they want the supporters of the minister who tried to repair the minister’s residence which is an insult to the deaths and public sentiment should be punished by the public.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/churachandpur-women-stage-sit-in-protest-phungzathangs-residence-set-on-fire-for-the-third-time/

KANGPOKPI, September 17: Ameishing Luikham, Secretary, department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises, government of India visited Kangpokpi town on his trip to Senapati District to inspect the changes in the district today.

The IAS officer, who was accompanied by Jacintha Lazarus, Deputy Commissioner, Senapati stopped at the Multi-Purpose Hall, addl DC’s Office at Kangpokpi at around 3:30 pm in the evening where he had a brief interaction over the various changes in the areas with the District Level Officers, Civil Society Organizations including Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, KSO Sadar Hills, Kangpokpi Town Committee in the presence of DK. Thangboi, addl DC, Kangpokpi.

Speaking on the occasion, Jacintha Lazarus highlighted the basic purpose of the secretary’s visit to the district.

She said that the Prime Minister would like to have knowledge of what are the changes, the IAS officer could see at his first place of posting and the changes happening at the moment.

She also said that the secretary would like to make out what changes have the DLOs, CSOs and the general public envisage and shared their view on the present government policies and programs, which are satisfactory and which needs modification.

KSO Sadar Hills general secretary Lamcha Chongloi apprised the visiting Union secretary on the inevitability of a full-fledged Sadar Hills district for grassroots level development.

We are pleased over the government policies and programs, however, for earth-shattering changes and development the district status enjoyed by Sadar Hills, should be officially declared full-fledged by the Government of Manipur, he said.

This will help in achieving fertile implementation of various government policies and programs in Sadar Hills, he added.

He continued that when any government policies and programs are directly implemented through the Sadar Hills Administration it could be properly accomplished.

We had already become a district some 40 years back, but the Government of Manipur has intentionally denied the Parliament Act of 1971 which was in regard to the creation of the Sadar Hills, he added.

He also said the Parliament Act of 1971 remains one of the oldest Act passed by the Indian Parliament and waiting for its implementation while adding that unless the Centre takes appropriate measures to enforce the said Act accordingly it will remain a mockery of the Indian Parliament in the Indian history.

Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills and Kangpokpi Town Committee put up their view on the ageless water paucity in the town and its adjoining areas. Meanwhile, area representatives also highlighted the pitiable road condition and connectivity in Twilang (Imphal-Tamenglong) areas.

Various DLOs also shared their views on Medical, Education and other departments.

Speaking after the interaction, Ameishing Luikham emphasized on the importance of sizeable agriculture market in hill district.

“Agriculture/vegetable market is the most important among the markets since it helps the poorest of the poor”, asserted A. Luikham.

He also stressed on the need to change the unchanging practice of sitting on the roadside selling vegetables.

The visiting IAS officer also shared his view to make rural economy more influencing and the major source of income by introducing conveniently sizeable agriculture marketplace.

The IAS officer, who was enthusiastically serious about the market, suggested the concerned town committee and the district administration to approach the government with a proposal of setting up a big agriculture market while adding that the Government will definitely help in any possibility.

However, Luikham noted that the community should donate a huge land, which is near to the roadside and approachable since the Government has no land in the hill areas.

He urged the DLOs, CSOs and the people to have a serious thought of more than five steps ahead for the future so as to avoid apology when it too late.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/declaration-of-sadar-hills-as-full-fledged-district-inevitable-cso-leaders-apprise-union-secretary/

IMPHAL, September 18: The Coalition Against Drugs and Alcohol (CADA) celebrated its 9th foundation day today here at Lamyanba Shanglen, Konung Mamang.

The function was attended by Commerce and Industries minister Govindas Konthoujam, CADA president Y Ratankumar, National & International Awardee Ibungosana Ningthemcha as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

Dr Ch Narendra, Reader LMS Law College; Dr N Gyaneshwar Singh, Psychiatrist District Hospital Churachandpur and Dr Homen Thangjam, Assistant Professor MB College spoke as resource persons at the function.

Minister Govindas speaking at the function said that even a common man would say that drug abuse is bad but we need to discuss how bad it can be.

He further said we have heard stories of opium war where not only the existing generation is destroyed but even future generations of the society are affected.

The geographical location of Manipur is such that it is very prone to drug trafficking as three directions of it is open to Myanmar and only one direction is open towards mainland India, he said.

The government has very little knowledge about the various kinds of illegal narcotic drugs being trafficked from these three porous directions bordering Myanmar however the civil society organizations operating in these areas have more information about these activities, he said while maintaining that the situation is very alarming.

There are also very common news reports of packages sent through flight couriers or through the post turning out to be illegal drugs, he added.

Introspecting on why narcotics drugs are being brought into the State, certain questions are raised, he said.

Is it that some people are trying to wipe out our entire race from the surface of the earth or are they simply trying to suppress us using these drugs and bring in new communities, he observed.

By 2017, the railway service would be reaching our land and at the same time, the Trans Asian Highway will be opened by then opening the eastern gates, he said

If we don’t act in time, our future generation might perish, he maintained.

Now is the time for all of us to face these issues and extend help to our civil organisations fighting against drug and alcohol abuse, he observed.

Another very common sight we get to see daily is women both young and old chewing “zarda pan” as soon as they wake up, he said.

This is a serious concern and is very unhealthy for pregnant women, he said, and added what would happen to the inborn children if the going to-be-mothers keep on chewing ‘zarda pan.’

Will we produce only unhealthy children, he asked.

Manipur is considered a sports powerhouse of the country, but are we going to allow drugs and alcohol destroy our rich culture, good sportsmanship and educated youth which we are all proud of?, he continued.

Manipur is a dry State only on paper, the minister continued.

Anyone can get any kind of liquor at a number of hotel, he said.

Different varieties of liquor are also available at the Canteen Supply Division of various security organisations present in the State, he continued.

Brokers buy liquor from these sources and then sell it at various locations around the State, he added.

Sometimes, people from outside visiting the State mock us saying that although Manipur is a dry State on paper, liquor is available everywhere, the minister said.

We need to properly assess how all these is affecting our society mainly the youngsters, he said.

Govindas said some of our communities have rituals which demand them to brew liquor in their homes.

We can make an exception to them, however, this also needs regulation because a family will only need a maximum of half a bottle for the rituals, he said.

At the same time, the government has also received some applications to patent the liquor produce at Sekmai, Andro, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/govindas-reminds-all-of-ills-of-drug-abuse-during-cada-foundation-day-celebration/