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IMPHAL May 28: Among the six people injured in a poll related incident at 19/9 polling station at Mahabali Rongmei LP School of ward No.19 on May 25, the condition of Sumitra Palmei, 32, d/o (L) Laldun Lungpu who was severely injured on her face and scalp area has worsen and is now admitted in the ICCU of Shija Hospital, said Lamta Golmei, 54, who was also badly hurt during the incident, in a press conference held at Mangge Makhong, Bhamon Leikai, today.

Narrating the incident, Lamta Golmei, strongly denied the statement made on several local dailies by the supporters of Y. Ratikanta, BJP councilor candidate for ward No. 19.

He said that on May 25 at 19/9 polling station at around 3.30 pm, a grey colored Bolero came speeding along the narrow road leading to Mahabali Rongmei L.P. School and came to a sudden halt without any concerned for the people who passing by the road.

He stated that the sudden commotion caused a gust of dust to blow all around the place that caused serious inconveniences to the nearby people, and added that he saw Y. Ratikanta, BJP candidate for councilor of ward No. 19 came down with few of his associates from the Bolero. On seeing the commotion a woman complained to him of the consequences in which he readily showed unbecoming attitudes to the people present at that time that later led to the altercation. He alleged that the candidate himself came with an intention as there were already 10/20 workers stationed in that area who later joined in to the altercation.

The candidate along with his several workers beat several people including women and drove off leaving no time to react for the others, he said alleging the action as a premeditated and well thought out plan.

Lamta further alleged that without any reason he was also beaten up black and blue along with his son Rocky Golmei, 27, who came running after him on seeing the situation. He stated that all of the injured persons were supporters of RK (ongbi) Bina Devi, INC councilor candidate.

He further condemned Y. Ratikanta, BJP councilor candidate for making false charges by tarnishing the facts. The other injured persons were Maja Gangpu Palmei 25, brother of Sumitra Palmei, Jolsian Golmei 25, s/o Amusanna Golmei, Bijoy Malingmei 26, s/o Khuman Singh Malingmei, Abui Kamei 32, Asing Puina Golmei, 26, and Konjengbam Nanao, 27, all from ward no. 19, Mahabali, he added.

Talking to the media persons, Thounaojam Vikramaditya, president Yaiskul Block Youth Congress committee, the convenor for the press meet refuted the charges and alleged that Prof. S. Tiken, vice president of BJP state unit had wrongly labeled charges by concealing the facts and encouraged Gundaism or hooliganisms. He charged that the high honourable esteem position held by such national party like BJP has been maligned by fielding such an incompetent person.

He added that it was very unfortunate that several baseless labels were also framed by S.Tiken on Rk. Dorendro husband of Rk (ongbi) Bina Devi, Congress councilor candidate of ward no. 19.

He further termed the derogatory remark made by Tiken as unfounded as no such incident of threatening with a licensed revolver to anyone by Dorendro took place, Th. Vikramaditya added.

He has also demanded that Prof. S.Tiken, should immediately clarify on the derogatory remarks and wrong allegation made on several local dailies on May 26 that were subsequently published on May 27.

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By RS Jassal
1. In this conflict ridden situation, the announcement by Shri RK Meghen @ Sanayaima UNLF Chief to hold a plebiscite to end Indo `“ Manipur confrontation has been construed by various individuals and organizations in divergent ways. Mostly civil society orgs (CSOs) are taking it as a means to ascertain whether merger was legal or illegal, people be given liberty for self determination , full sovereignty & so on has echoed out of it. Day by day, media is puffing it up whatever big or small meetings are taking place with no analysis. No doubt, at certain occasions and under differing situations or difficult circumstances, communities or even nations were forced to take recourse to plebiscite on matters like applicability of one law for people of those particular communities or nations though such cases have been very far and few to count . That is valid only if 100 or so percent participation of the people is there. Here in Manipur `it`™ assumes special importance because of multi- ethnicals. Without touching constitutionality or sentimentality of a good number of people, I wish to offer my views being a citizen of Manipur.

2. Meghen has not spelt out terms of reference to be contested by people in private since it has to affect all the people mainly — Meities, Nagas, Kukis, Hmars, Pangals and non `“ Manipuri`™s (now Manipuri`™s). One wonders if all adults & above out of the 22.5 million will participate in the plebiscite even if Govt of India wish to give a trial . Will there be some significant outcome in the wake of demand of NSCN (IM) `“ UNC for Nagalim, and UNLF pledge to ensure integrity of Manipur. The political demands and social agenda of various UG groups differ, contradict and imbalance the scales to match with solution thus leaving no room for single point agenda for the plebiscite to achieve.

3. Compare to the differences caused with shift of stand each major UG group has undergone from start of revolution to current period from secession to reconciliation but with conditions India became independent on 15th Aug, 1947. There was no political demand as on that day. Naga Hills was an out district of Assam & out of NEFA admin box. Manipur was single district administration unit even up to 1960`™s and there was only one IGP for entire Assam. So roughly speaking, it was treated as part of Assam (erstwhile greater Assam) for national policies & social percepts. In 1964 open skirmishes ended with 6 Sep signing of SoO in Nagaland after expansion of Naga Hills to Nagaland by clubbing adjacent areas up to permissible extends. UNLF (1964) started its basic operations of mobilizing awareness against apprehensions of Manipur breaking into three parts like Naga areas going to Nagaland as per then action plan of UNIC under Rishang`™s leadership. Manipur however retained its supreme, serene & pristine form as self with dissolution of UNIC in 1972, UNIC mergering with Congress & Manipur gaining statehood status i.e., nine years later than Nagaland.

4. After six decades of up & down wading through muddy waters of insurgency, Naga UGs have been persuaded to agree to appreciate the typical constitutional position & obligation of India towards its people & has made them almost agree to not to break Manipur. Fat economic packages are under way. UNLF Chief may also have the idea that plebiscite is to regularize the merger to assuage the hurt feelings of a section of hard thinking people so that confrontation may be called off honourably and with dignity. IT MAY NOT BE FOR SECESSION, who knows, but the way discussions are going on & political pundits who are acknowledged nationalists also titling in their thinking to plebiscite, it is feared current discussion in the valley may go astray. It may prompt Nagas- Kukis – Zous Hmars – and Sadar Hills occupants (where Gorkhas are also in countable numbers) may isolate themselves from plebiscite . As early as recommendation of State Re Organization Commission during the Premiership of late Jawaharlal Nehru, Manipur was threatened to be stripped of hill areas & valley was to be left as a district of Assam, which was out rightly turned down by him & Manipur remained as it is today. So Manipur tided over that unsuspected threat and moved on & on .

5. Going a bit century back, in 1891 uprising of Manipur Kingdom against British Power & devastation of Kangla Fort, dismembering of Manipuri armed strength, the recommendation was made to the Queen at London by the British Viceroy, Delhi after a Military Court of Inquiry, that Manipur to be merged into British Indian State. It is on record. Her Excellency Queen refused to do so. It was ordered Manipur – be kept as a native kingdom & King from right lineage be selected & taken to Mayo College, Ajmer for education & princely upbringing. Young boy of 5 years age Churachand was identified. Manipur territories thus remained intact and tutor of young prince Mr. Johnstone also moved to Manipur as Political Officer latter when same Churachand took over as Maharaja. Coronation was held with appropriate gun salute. Manipur retained its status as it is today when there was nobody to take care other than the Regent. Manipur had faced similar situation of forced hibernation during 1825 `“ 1832 known as Seven Years of Devastation caused by Awa men of Burma( recall Chahi Taret Khuntakpa period) but Manipur emerged phoenix like out of Yandaboo treaty ending conflict with Ava permanently.

6. Negotiation table is also lying without activity because what UNLF wants PREPAK, RPF and KCP may not agree to. It is suspected . It is therefore suggested Civil Society Organisations, Frontal organizations, influential intellectuals be organized into pressure groups to contact important UG leaders and suggest solid measures to uphold the spirit of Manipur so that its body culture is not disturbed . I humbly ask, is Spirit of Plebiscite conducive to the body culture of Manipur ? What is expected out of it by UNLF from plebiscite without participation from Hills. And Hills firing repeated salvos of various sorts for changing directions can not be under scored. If plebiscite is intended for secession (ism), one wonders how public meetings are being allowed to hold discussions on plebiscite in light of constitutional amendment No 16 of 1963 under sub head right to secession which clearly says ` even discussion of secessionism will invite no protection to freedom of speech`. which is guaranteed to all Indians under Fundamental Right in the Preamble of Constitution.However it can be a negotiation instrument for UNLF chief/ as & when his team sits with Govt. of India on the table to discuss.

7. For final and close to acceptable solution `“ three(Tarun Gogoi, Ibobi & Rio) political hat scorer including two in line up need to sit together with Hon`™ble HM Shri. P. Chidambaram, at Guwahati with Rajkhowa (ULFA) , Muivah (NSCN IM) and Meghen (UNLF) as special invitees and chart out key map for peaceful solution. Other are all wasteful efforts.

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IMPHAL June 3: As a part of the continuing effort of various social organizations of Jiribam to press the state government to convert the Jiribam sub-division into a full fledged revenue district, the Jiribam branch of AMSU, MSF and DESAM, today, organized a peaceful protest rally starting from Jiribam higher secondary school at around 11. 30 am.

Around 400 students from Kalinagar high school, Kasturba high school, Jiribam higher secondary school and R.K. Sanatombi Vidyalaya high school, Jiribam participated in the said rally.

Later in the day, the Jiribam district demand committee had called a 30 hours general strike in Jiribam sub division which will be effective from the mid-night of June 6 till 6 am of June 8 as a response to the concerned authority`™s mute stand.

A press conference that was held at around 2.30 pm at the temporary office of the committee which is situated in the office of MSF, Jiribam branch also highlighted the further course of actions if the government continue to fail to act accordingly even after repeated demands. In this regard the convener of the committee, Mutum Meipaksana Mangang has appealed the general populace in the Jiribam area for their support till the demand of converting the sub-division into a district is materialized.

The committee further cautioned the state government that an economic blockade for 5 days starting from 7pm of June 11 till 7 pm of June 15 will be instituted on the Imphal Jiribam state highway as a further course of action, if the government fail to give any positive responses even after the stipulated time. The committee further appealed to all the vehicles plying on this highway to fully cooperate during the proposed economic blockade.

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At its crux, there are only two known ways of resolving a conflict of interest. One is to crush the weaker of the two with brute force and the other to reach a democratic consensus. The civilized norm of the modern world being the latter option, the need is to explore its possibilities, wherever conflict has come to stay, at least until a more perfected mechanism is evolved. For the moment, we can only foresee all putative future conflict resolution mechanisms as derivatives of the democratic system, the latter being known for its resilience and almost infinite accommodative capacity. But it must be acknowledged that often the most vocal advocates of democracy have regressed into the logic of an atavistic past where only force mattered. The objectionable interventions in the Middle East and West Asian have said this eloquently. It is a matter of pessimism that war still seems unavoidable even in the days of democracy. A qualification needs however to be added here. In the UNDP Human Development Report, HDR, 2002 with the theme “deepening democracy in a fragmented world”, one of the many interesting patterns of national behaviors that evolved from empirical data on wars in the second half of the 20th Century is, no two democracies have ever gone to war with each other. Quite obviously, these nations have discovered an alternative ground on which to thrash out vexed issues. The indication is also, democracy is a versatile medium for this meeting of minds and resolution of conflicts.Even in our situation, there have been very strong tendencies on very many occasions to return to the former method of conflict resolution, which basically has a one-line philosophy made famous by Joseph Conrad’s fictional character, Kurtz in Heart of Darkness – exterminate the brute. But, as in this story, the scale to decide which is the “civilized” and which the “brute” between the exterminator and exterminated, becomes extremely blurred. But the values of democracy, with its insistence on giving each and every one a say, regardless of numerical or physical strength, have generally managed to keep this tendency in check. There have been occasions when this inner moderation snapped, as in the case of the Naga-Kuki feud, Meitei-Meitei Pangal mayhem, and Kuki-Paite fratricide, but it would be reasonable to presume that many more would have been prevented by this inner cord. For indeed although our society seemed at certain junctures to have reached points of explosive of ethnic violence, nothing so catastrophic have happened so far. This however does not mean the dark forces of violence have been successfully subdued for all times. We still continue to sit on a dormant volcano which can with provocation come alive again. And provocations there have been and there will be by those who either do not understand or believe in the healing power of accommodation and mutual respect that democracy recommends.There have also been plenty of talks of a dialogue between the civil societies of the different communities that are at loggerheads. This is welcome, but a dialogue devoid of a willingness to accommodate can possibly lead nowhere. A dialogue or a discourse is not simply about convincing the opposing party to surrender to the will of the other party, but of discovering, or rediscovering as the case may be, of common grounds on which to build the foundation of the future together. This spirit has never been conspicuous in all the vociferous claims for the need for understanding and good neighbourliness. By democracy we do not necessarily mean only the number game. This is a necessary ingredient, but it is far from being a sufficient condition. Equally important, it is also about justice, and in evolving this understanding of justice, the premium must be on reason and creative insights into what is common good. Here concept of freedom is also important. Without individual freedom, the aggregate of which is what constitutes freedom of larger social grouping, including the nation, there can be no democracy. But again, as philosopher Isaiah Berlin said, freedom cannot be without any conditions. Absolute freedom for the wolves translates into death for the lambs. Freedom then can make meaning only if it is moderated by reason and a commonly legislated rational law.

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By Nehginpao Kipgen John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, has been one of the fiercest critics of the Burmese military junta, while lending unwavering support to Aung San Suu Kyi-led democracy movement. Why is a man who once called the Burmese military generals “thugs” have decided to visit Burma now? Perhaps equally surprising is that why did the Burmese government issue him visa?This week’s visit comes at a time when both the United States and the Burmese government are interested in improving bilateral ties between the two nations. The visit is more so important for the Burmese government than the senator’s own agenda. Even though McCain has not publicly spelled out the objectives of his mission, his past records have suggested what his intentions are. Although he is not an official envoy from the U.S. government, the nature of his important role in imposing sanctions on the Burmese government and his influential status in the U.S. senate makes the visit a significant one. The high-profile visit also comes at a time when Burma has once again captured headlines in international media. The country’s request for the 2014 chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, two high-profile visits from the U.N. secretary general’s special envoy Vijay Nambiar and U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state Joseph Yun, and the visit to China by the Burmese president Thein Sein, all happened in May, have drawn the attention of the international community. Analyzing his past records on Burma, senator McCain has two primary objectives in his trip to Burma: assessing the ground reality of political developments in Burma after the 2010 election and listening to Aung San Suu Kyi’s view on the U.S. policy toward Burma. McCain in his July 2009 senate floor statement said, “I once had the great honor of meeting Aung San Suu Kyi. She is a woman of astonishing courage and incredible resolve.” The 2008 presidential candidate presumably has no high expectation of making a great stride in this trip. By meeting Suu Kyi, he wants to reiterate his admiration for her courage and dedication for the cause of democracy, and convey the U.S. strong support for democracy and human rights. With the formation of a new Burmese government, McCain plans to assess the ground reality of political developments inside the country. In doing so, he is expected to meet representatives from the government, which is dominated by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. Since there are over 2,000 political prisoners still languishing in different prisons across Burma, McCain is likely to push for their release and the implementation of more democratic reforms before the U.S. can consider lifting sanctions, the issue raised by deputy assistant secretary of state Joseph Yun in his May 18-20 trip. On the other hand, the Burmese government wants to take this opportunity to show the U.S. government that it has made progress in democratic reforms. The new Burmese government, former military generals in civilian clothes, wants to demonstrate its claim to the international community. This is an important reason why McCain was issued visa in the first place. Indeed, the government has something positive to present to the visiting senator and other critics. President Thein Sein recently reduced all prison sentences by one year and commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment. Thousands of prisoners were released, although only a small number of political prisoners were among the freed. Naypyidaw will argue that it has successfully conducted the first countrywide general election in two decades and has released thousands of prisoners. It will reiterate its demand for the U.S. government to lift sanctions which the Burmese government considers as the greatest hindrance for improving bilateral relationship. It has to be noted that the United States has a leverage to help genuine democratic transition in Burma for two important reasons. First is because of the U.S. unparalleled economic and military power and its pioneering role in championing democracy and human rights. Second is because of the widely acceptance of the U.S. engagement policy by the Burmese people. The senator’s visit should be viewed as a positive development. The U.S. government needs to continue its diplomatic pressure for genuine democratic reforms and protection and promotion of human rights. One effective way of engagement for the senator is to urge his colleagues to confirm the nomination of Derek Mitchell as a U.S. special envoy for Burma. The then-president Bush nominated Michael J. Green as U.S. special envoy for Burma in late 2008, which was never confirmed by the senate. Senator McCain and his senate colleagues should not let president Obama’s nomination slip away. The special envoy, with an ambassador rank, can work more effectively than some occasional visits. Burma decades-old problem is not entirely a question of democracy. The root cause is about denying rights to ethnic minority groups. In the process of engaging Burma, the U.S. government, either democratic or republican party, should involve more representatives and experts from ethnic minorities. After all, the Burmese people themselves best understand the political psychology of the Burmese military generals. Burmese native scholars should be consulted equally, if not more than the Western scholars, in formulating effective U.S. political strategy. The Burmese scholars have the advantage of in-depth empirical knowledge besides theoretical, which the Western scholars often lack. Nehginpao Kipgen is a researcher on the rise of political conflicts in modern Burma and general secretary of the U.S.-based Kuki International Forum (www.kukiforum.com) whose works have been widely published in five continents – Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. He currently pursues a Ph.D. in political science at Northern Illinois University and can be reached at nkipgen1@niu.edu.

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By A Staff ReporterIMPHAL June 6: The Manipur Press Club located at Majorkhul has recently reported some paranormal activities.The club which is an official destination of the All Manipur Working Journalist’s Union, apex scribe body of the state and a favored spot for holding press meets and important functions has now become a controversial place among the journalist fraternity that haunting have occurred inside the club building recently.
The paranormal activities report culled from various sources stated that, near midnight, a female voice singing could be heard, sound of heavy footsteps on the ceiling and stairs, and a reported sighting of a female form.
Many occupants of the club building ,at present masons, press club chowkidar  and a senior correspondent have reported witnessing the specter.
The club chowkidar, Kalu was also in a state of hysteria after an encounter with the apparition  a few days back and a local shaman was called to tend to his condition. The shaman also exorcised the building by throwing rice inside the club building and the outdoor areas of the club premises. The chowkidar in a state of delirium went up the stairs till the fourth floor and allegedly came down from the bamboo scaffolding erected for construction of the club upper floors.
“ I don’t know what happened but a voice kept calling me, and I rushed to the top floor and I heard a scream like someone falling down, I don’t know what came over me ,but I came down the scaffolding instead of taking the stairs”, a visibly apprehensive Kalu told this IFP reporter.
The chief mason in charge of the club construction also stated similar comment that many of his workers also left the work after encountering the bizarre activities. “ One of my workers came all the way to Serou,Kakching at night saying that he had had enough and can’t stay at the club anymore”. The chief mason also said “ I came down one night after hearing a noise downstairs, as costly tiles were kept below, I feared that someone might be attempting to rob the tiles, I had a torch light in hand, there was no one, later from near the toilet, I saw a female form suddenly rushing up the stairs in a flash, a chill ran down my spine and I had another similar encounter”, he said that he had goose bumps recounting his experience.
The story was also told in a similar manner by a senior correspondent of a national paper who occupies a room at the first floor of the club building. “ I mostly work late, one night I heard a sound of singing, it sounded like a girl and I went down to investigate.

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IMPHAL, June 7: A joint review meeting of various projects and schemes implemented in the state under the NLCPR was convened this morning at the conference hall of Old Secretariat Imphal this morning which was attended by seven visiting officials of different central ministries and head of departments of the state government led by the state chief secretary.The joint official delegates of central ministries headed by the secretary DoNER, Joyati Chandra, jt. secy. DoNER PK Patnaik, director DoNER Udal Shankar and PR Mishra, director MHA North East in charge Dr. MC Mahenathan, director Ministry of Finance, Vandita Kaur and advisory to the Planning Commission of India, SN Brahmo conducted an inspection tour of sites where projects under the NLCPR is undergoing at present.The tour which was conducted this morning included visits of the construction sites of Thoubal Multipurpose project (Maphou Dam), Sagolmang Kharasom bridge, Capitol Project, NIT at Lamphel, City Convention Centre, Sewerage Project.According to an official source, the meeting started at 11:00am after the completion of the tour and further monitored the official progress reports of the various schemes and projects undertaken in the state funded by the Ministry of DoNER under NLCPR since 2000.According to the source, the visiting central officials during the review meeting today expressed their appreciation of the efforts of the various line departments in the implementations of the projects and schemes even though there have been multiple disturbances caused by the deteriorating law and order situation of the state.Further, the visiting central officials also suggested the state officials to submit the Utilization Certificates of the completed works in time in order to avoid the delays in the release of phase wise funds for the implemented projects of the state.In the meantime, director DoNER Joyati Chandra, during a short press interview soon after the joint review meeting at Old Secretariat this afternoon, expressed her appreciation of the efforts of the state government while implementing the projects and schemes under NLCR during this last two years. She further said that the state government has been implementing a total of 135 separate projects and schemes under NLCPR since 2000 for which the DoNER ministry has already released a total of Rs.1119 crores for the proper implementation of the projects. Besides out of the approved projects 46 projects were already completed and many of the remaining projects are in the completion stage while some projects are in progress.It is also mentioned that, the progress in the implementation of the various projects under NLCPR in the state might be due to stability of the existing state government and frequent monitoring of the construction works of projects both by the state government and officials concern from the centre, she added.Director DoNER finally mentioned that, delaying of launching of the propose helicopter services into the state was due to delay in the clearance from the ministry of Civil Aviation and there are possibilities of the project taking more time as the officials of the civil aviation are in the process of surveying to launched helicopter service not only in the state but also for the entire states of North east, she added.

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