Tag: Top Stories

var addthis_product=’wpp-252′;var addthis_options=”Google+1″IMPHAL, July 31: All Manipur Fish Farmers Ngayok Lup Welfare Association has said that they will initiate various democratic actions if the…

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Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/eL8UM38JnvM/

IMPHAL August 22: Many young women in the state who are widowed by unforeseen circumstances are reeling under meager earnings on daily basis. As our society is firmly based on traditional customs and norms has adversely affected to widows who are living in scrimpy earnings. The condition is rather severe to women who have been left behind by husband that succumbed to HIV/AIDS.

This was revealed during a one day awareness programme on vulnerable organized by Manipur Positive Women Network (MPWN+) held at Rising Youth Organization (RYO) ground located at Moirangkhom Bokul Makhong, Imphal west.

Tanuja Sharmi, secretary of MPWN+ during the function described that one of the main issues that these widows are facing in our society today is social gender discriminations and stigmatisms. In rural domains the conditions of the widows remain the same where the society look down upon them as ill-omened in social and religious gatherings whereas the situation of  their counterparts in urban  regions are rather relax. Imposition of social sanction to them has negative implications in their day today livelihood that survive on limited resources. Many of them fallen prey to easy earnings which are regarded as socially outrageous professions in our society. Tanuja added that such social discrimination has adversely affected in the income generation.

In order to give morale solace and support and to provide self reliance and independent Manipur Positive Women Network (MPWN+) was formed, Tanuja said.

She elaborated that the reasoned behind the one day awareness programme on vulnerable widow that was held today was to address on the current issues face by these women in their daily live and to create awareness on the benefits and welfare facilities provided by the central and state government for the widows in order to pave ways to come to the mainstream society.

Ph. Satyabhama devi, Advisor(MPWN+) presided the function while Samom Reeta Devi, councilor ward no.4 and A. Manisana Singh,local leader graced the one day awareness campaign as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

In the mean time, prior to the today’s function, the MPWN+ had observed a two minute silence as mark of respect to late Elangbam Suraj Singh, MLA. Yaiskul a/c.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/socioeconomic-condition-of-widows-not-sound/

IMPHAL Sept 8: JAC against the enforced disappearance and arbitrary detainment of G Jiteshwor Sharma alias GM Changjou has announced today that the JAC along with other civil organizations of the state have prepared to launch different agitations beginning 6pm of Friday.

At a press meet held at Manipur Press Club, spokesperson of the JAC,  Kapur said that the family members suspect the involvement of NSCN (IM) and Assam Rifles behind the alleged abduction of the assistant publicity secretary of the PLA/RPF on August 17.

He divulged that at the time of arrest of Jiteshwor, there were persons in uniform and having shoulder tags while some were in civvies.

His family had received a text message from Jiteshwor shortly after he was captured, the message that he sent read that he was abducted by persons whom he suspects to be Assam Rifles personnel and NSCN (IM) cadres. The sms was sent from mobile number 9612163982.

Kapur mentioned that the matter was intimated to the state DGP to take up an inquiry in the regard but there has not been any positive response from the state Home department. The JAC members also met minister Th Debendra yesterday who is presently holding office on behalf of the Chief Minister. The minister had reassured the JAC that after the arrival of the Okram Ibobi, the matter will be seriously addressed, and necessary intimations will be made to the Nagaland ministry.

On the assurance of minister Debendra, the JAC had differed their stance to start agitating from today onwards and given the deadline for Friday evening.

“We want to state government to find out the whereabouts of Jiteshwor within the given time frame of September 9 evening otherwise we will continue the agitations”, Kapur announced.

The JAC members voiced that the public is undergoing a tough time due to lack of essential commodities, but the government has to be shown that the human rights of one of its citizens cannot be violated, irrespective of the credential of the individual and political inclination.

Spouse of Jiteshshwor, Gurumayum Bebe has filed a missing person report to the Nagaland police and a writ petition to the Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench. The petition was made on September 1 has been made answerable by the court within September 29.

It may be mentioned that a similar case was in the arrest of UNLF chairman Rk Meghen, after an alleged abduction by NIA and Bangladesh police from Bangladesh. The chairman was finally brought out after more than a time span of one month by Indian police as arrested from the Bihar border.The claim of the police was denied by Rk Meghen.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/jac-to-launch-stern-agitations-demanding-whereabouts-of-changjou/

IMPHAL, April 26: The Non Gazetted Employees Welfare Association JN Hospital, Porompat, Imphal has served an ultimatum to the Chief Minister today demanding better service conditions and retirement benefits failing which the association has threatened to launched various forms of agitations on or before May 4.
According to a release of the association, it has submitted several representations to the concerned authorities regarding their demands including improvement of service conditions and retirement benefits etc in respect of the staff Nurse, Paramedical staff and Grade-IV employees of JN Hospital, who had been transferred to the JNIMS Imphal East.
It has further mentioned that, in this regard a general body meeting of the association was held on April 21 this month with L Chandrakumar Singh, president of the association in the chair. The said meetinghad unanimously resolved to launched various steps of agitations, unless the demands are considered favourably by the state government on or before May 4.
As decided during the meeting their steps of agitation will start with the wearing of black badge for dive days from May 5 to 9 next month.
It has further stated that the black badge wearing demonstration will be followed by non cooperation movement from May 10 to 12, sit in protest there after till May 16.
The association will follow up the sit in protest by cease work strike until the demands are fulfilled, the release added.

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IMPHAL, March 24: Police commandos have arrested at least six militant cadres from different parts of the state while conducting separate counter insurgency operations since yesterday.

A statement issued by the Superintendent of Police Imphal West district, has stated that a team of the district police commandos along with women police constable arrested three cadres of the proscribed KCP (MTF) including two women yesterday from near Shija Hospital at about 7 am in the morning.

The arrested individuals have been identified as one Thonglenmang Haokip, 26, s/o Yanthang Haokip of Dongsum Village, Senapati district, Akim Haokip, 40, w/o Alet Haokip of Dongsum village at present residing at Kangchup Chingkhong and Wahengbam (O) Chaoba alias Asharani alias Asha Devi, 26, w/o W. Tomba alias Shyamkumar of Naransena Maning Leikai at present staying at Langol Ningthou Mathak.

It said that the trio disclosed that they were working under one Tomba since the past one year. A 9mm pistol along with magazine and five live ammunitions, three Chinese hand grenades and three detonators were seized from their possession, it added.

It further stated that in a follow up action another cadre of the outfit was arrested from Langol crossing identified as one Wahengbam Tomba alias Shyamkanhai, 32, s/o W. Heramot of Naransena Maning Leikai Ningthou Mathak.

The individual disclosed that he was working under Tachou alias Ebai who is residing outside the state. He has been assigned to serve demand letters, extortion and kidnapping, it said.

The statement further stated that the same day a combined team of the Imphal East and West district police commandos arrested a cadre of the KCP (Pibarel) at around 6 pm from Singjamei Waikhom Leikai.

He has been identified as one Yumnam Rajen alias Chandra alias Korou, 41, s/o Y. Komol Singh of Langmeidong Mamang Leikai, stated the release.

On spot verification he disclosed that he was working under the command of s/s general secretary of the outfit. One 9 mm pistol having five live ammunitions has been recovered from his possession it said.

On the other hand, another statement issued by the SP Thoubal district police claimed that a team of the district commandos arrested one cadre of the PULF yesterday around 6:30pm while conducting a search operation at Shikhong bazaar.

The arrested cadre is identified as one Md. Warish Khan alias Ibungo alias Shaiba, 20, s/o Md. Etobi of Shikhong Hanuching Manak.

A 9mm pistol with magazine containing two live ammunitions were recovered from his possession, it said.

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IMPHAL, May 31: The 23 year old IAS topper Haulianlal Guite, from Churachandpur district ranking 33rd position, probably the youngest among toppers of the state sees potential in Manipur in producing toppers in good ranks.

Comparing the past performance of the state and the present he said, `My achievement is the testimony that we have potential`, in an exclusive interview with the IFP.

The Bachelor student of Philosophy who graduated from St. Stephen College, DU, is the eldest of four siblings of Dr. Thangchinkhup Guite (father) MHA, USA and Dr. Dr. Paozachiin Guite, an eye specialist.

The young topper expressed his desire in preserving the ecology of Manipur and arranging alternative livelihood for those whose activities is threatening it. He is also willing to work for encouragement of animal husbandry and improvement of road connectivity.

He observed the need of reformation of the education system in the state especially the Matriculation. He maintained that the syllabus is somewhat narrow when compared to others.

Haulianlal further suggested the need for introducing logical reasoning which he sees as a helpful tool in studies and appearing in competitive examinations and asserted that he does not believe in `punishment`™ but productive measures to encourage students. And most importantly, he lamented on the lack of Library facilities in the schools of Manipur. `These things are vital, my success and experiences is a testimony` he said.

He did his schooling till six standards at St. Joseph Churachandpur, which he termed as the `formative years`™ for it was the first time that he have ever been exposed to public speaking. He shifted his school from seven standards at the St. Paul institute, Churachandpur, and matriculated from there. And He received his higher secondary studies at the Air Force School, New Delhi.

Haulianlal reacted that his result was beyond expectation. He revealed that he was confident of going through the exam however was expecting within 300 positions. His outmost desire is to become a philosopher, but somehow he ended appearing the civil service exam owing to his father`™s suggestion.

He asserted that this was his second attempt.

He expressed his love for reading books base on philosophy, human and science etc and stated that Steven Hawkings remains one of his favorite.

Responding on being asked about his way of preparation for the exam, the young topper maintained that he spent 4 to 5 hours a day reading on a regular basis. As for the preliminary round of the exam he said that he prepares his notes by himself base on past papers and college notes and as for the mains exams, he took coaching.

He likes to indulge in extracurricular activities like badminton, table tennis, hiking and has hobbies of Philosophical Writing, Reading books, news paper etc.

As strong believer of God and determination, he gives his credits of success to God and his parents. `God help those who help themselves`, said Haulianlal.

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IMPHAL June 2: Calling for new changes in the state, Th. Chaoba ex- union minister, while addressing a One day political conference at Thoubal Charangpat Mamang Leikai community hall under Wangkhem A/C stated that the state is facing an acute hardship as a result of the congress government. He further mentioned that in the forth-coming general election, MPP will form an alliance with like minded political parties other than NPF to overdraw the Congress led government.

Accusing the Chief Minister of being associating with family politics, Th. Chaoba termed the present O.Ibobi led Congress government will have the same fate as that of Karunanidhi led government in Tamil Nadu.

The One day political conference was organized by the Youth Front of Manipur Peoples Party to address on various present issues of the State.

Dr. Nimaichand Luwang, president MPP, L. Kunjabihari, district president MPP, Th. Chaoba, , L. Jatra, ex-MLA, M. Maniton Mangang, president Youth Front MPP graced the function as chief guest, president and guests of Honour respectively. The function was also attended by other office bearers, members and invitees.

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NEW DELHI, June 4 (MIC): The Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh called a high-level meeting with Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh and senior central ministers and top officials today at 10.30 am at his official residence, Race Course here to review implementation of national projects, besides several critical infrastructure and health and education ventures. The Chief Minister was accompanied by the chief secretary, Manipur and special secretary, Planning.After detailed discussions lasting over one hour, it was agreed that the JN Institute of Medical Sciences should be supported for completion within 2014-15. Pending approval of the revised Detailed Project Report (DPR) of Rs. 867 crores, the Planning Commission agreed to release allocated SPA funds of Rs132crores for this project. Approval to the revised DPR would be expedited. The state government was advised to submit the revised DPR for the Capital Project. The progress made in respect of the State Assembly and High Court Complexes was appreciated. The Planning Commission also agreed to consider favourably the revised DPR estimated at Rs. 841.83 crores. The Chief Minister of Manipur expressed concern regarding the slow pace of implementation of the Railway Line project Jiribam- Tupul-Imphal. Noting that the target date for completion of the Railway Line upto Tupul had already been re-scheduled to 2012, the Chief Minister requested the Railways authoruties to induct additional manpower and equipments for ensuring that there would be no further slippages. On the suggestion of the Member (Engg) of Railway Board, the Border Road Organisation was advised to strengthen all weak bridges on NH-53 by December 2011, so that the Railways could bring in all required heavy equipments required for the tunneling work. The Railways also agreed to supplement equipment and manpower and assured that the Railwayline upto Tupul would be completed by 2014, and upto Imphal by 2016. The Chief Minister also re-iterated the importance of expediting upgradation of NH-53 as it was the second lifeline of Manipur. The union minister of Defence A.K.Antony, on behalf of the BRO, assured that the ongoing work for double-laning and black-topping of NH-53 would be completed by 2013. It was also decided that the ministry of Defence would advise the BRO to outsource the critical portions of NH-53 to reputed engineering companies for expediting completion and ensuring quality work. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh asked the ministry of Road Transport & Highways to clear pending DPRs submitted by BRO in the coming week, and also develop a new proposal for converting NH-53 to a world class road, befitting a road leading to international borders.The state government’s proposal to have an alternative alignment of NH-39 to by-pass sinking areas and link Manipur to Assam through Peren, Nagaland was appreciated. The secretary, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways informed that both proposals were proposed to be included in ‘Phase A’ of the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme, and approval of the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure was being obtained. The Prime Minister advised the ministry to bring the two issues to the Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure within June 2011 for approval. As regards the proposal to seek Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) assistance for Augmentation of Water Supply for Imphal city, by drawing water from the Thoubal Multi-Purpose project, the Planning Commission reported that it had given in-principle approval to the project which estimated at Rs. 687 crores, for funding as an Externally Aided Project. It was agreed that besides posing it to JICA, Planning Commission would also consider funding the project through plan financing. The state government’s proposals seeking support of the ministry of Human Resource Development for establishing Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas in all nine districts was considered favourably. The union minister of Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal agreed to bring up a Note for consideration and approval of the Central Cabinet to relax the existing guidelines and assist Manipur to set up additional KGBVs. He also informed that the ministry had approved setting up of four additional KGBVs (residential schools for poor and vulnerable girls) in educationally backward blocks of the state, taking the total to five KGBVs. Similarly, the Ministry would bring up another Note for the Union Cabinet to approve setting up of new Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas at Ukhrul and Kangpokpi.The Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region(DoNER) B.K.Handique agreed to expedite approval to NLCPR support for Construction of 300 school buildings in the five Hill districts at an estimated cost of Rs.137.77 crores. In connection with the request of the State Government for release of Special Advance Plan Assistance of Rs. 300 crores, the Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh called on Pranab Mukherjee, union finance minister separately. After brief discussion, it was agreed that issue of cash reserve would be cross-checked and State Finance department would separately meet the secretary, Expenditure to work out the details.

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By A Staff ReporterIMPHAL June 6: In an endeavor to address the rising crime perpetrated against women in the state, a monthly magazine titled “Nupigee Punshi” has been launched today at GM hall by MLA Th Nandakishore.
The magazine is launched under the aegis of Young Women Help Organization with Arambam Robita,who is also the secretary of the Organization as the editor of the magazine.
The function was also attended by ex-chairperson of Manipur State Commission for Women, Dr Ch Jamini and social worker Laishram Nabakishore.
In the keynote address, Arambam Robita stated that the initiative to launch the magazine was to address and inform the public against the rising violence and crime perpetrated against women.
“We have an aim to spread awareness among the public, especially to the women so that the victims can know how to address the situation and what help can be sought, we have the belief that the crime rate will decreased if awareness is provided through our publication”, she said.
MLA Th Nandakisore in his speech as the chief guest commended the motive behind the inception of the magazine.He stated that the elected legislators need to address the issue of the rampant violence committed to women. He opined that the monetary benefits given to widows under the scheme of the Family Welfare department needs to be increased.
Today’s program saw a full audience mainly comprising of widows and victims of conflict incidents.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/yYoROU-7q24/

IMPHAL June 9:  Due to present conflict situations, mental illness has been on the rise in the state and the matter need to be discussed in length.
This was disclosed by Dr. Abdul Bary of the Manipur State Mental Health Authority today at one day awareness campaign on mental health held at Kamong Meisnam Leikai which was organized by the Nupi Agang Yaipha Lup under the sponsorship of the Manipur State Mental Health Authority (MSMHA).
Dr. Abdul Bary was one of the resource person at the campaign.
He further said that various mental problems were found by the doctors in the state. Among them depression illness and panic or disorder are some of the main mental disease. Such illness of depression are mostly created by the lost of property, divorce etc.
Person with mental illness needed treatment as earliest as possible because this illness sometimes led to committing suicide due to high depression.
He further said that depression illness, panic and disorder illness were created in the state mostly due to conflict issue and family matter as well from friend’s circles.
He further mentioned that to give awareness on mental health, the state government had launch this campaign from 2008 and still gives awareness to villages.
He also appealed the villager of Kamong to consult medical practitioner and give immediate treatment whenever any villager are found having mental disorder.
M Shakhi Devi, vice president of the All Manipur Nupi Marup, who attended as chief guest also disclosed that prevailing conflict situation in the state is one main factor for developing mental disorder.
She further appeal the Manipur State Mental Health Authority to organise more awareness campaign like the one organised today at Kamong.
During the awareness campaign, Kh. Imoba Singh resource person MSMHA, Kamong GP Pradhan A. Kunjamala and Working Women Forum Manipur Y Indramani Devi also attended.

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By N. Arunkumar
Laika, the first living creature who was sent to space on November 3, 1957, had actually died it seems, soon after the launch of the Sputnik 2, Russia`s manned space ship, to go one notch up on its rival of those days , the USA. Unfortunately, Laika was a scapegoat, a guinea pig, as the jargon goes, for specimens used for laboratory experiments to test something new on a living creature, in the name of scientific progress.

Laika was a street dog, a mongrel that was picked up from the streets of Moscow, in order to be sent on that ground-breaking mission to space. Of course the poor mongrel clearly did not know what was going to be her fate, or even what the whole thing was about that was being secretly put in place by the Russian scientists.

In that rigid Communist regime of the erstwhile USSR, it was impossible for anyone to question or even enquire about the activities of the highly secretive and often ruthless machinations of the coterie holding the reins of power in their politburo. Had there been a pressure group to speak up for the ethical treatment of animals, the story would perhaps have been different and Laika would have lived an average dog`s life.

In fact, one scientist involved in that path – breaking mission, had declared that it was not worth having sent the poor mongrel to its terrifying end, as they had hardly learnt anything significant from that experiment, according to his own admission. The craft had eventually crashed into the ocean floor after a while.

The poor dog had died within five to seven hours of the launch, though the regime withheld that truth till much later. The people were however given to believe that Laika had lived in space for many days, instead of hours, as news was never told in truth from behind the Iron Curtains of the regime. The poor dog invokes a tear in those who care to read the real story of the fate of the creature, available all over the Internet today.

There are detailed accounts of how she was prepared for the mission and trained to endure the stress of space travel, though the scientists knew that they were sending her to her wretched end all the time. Mans singular aim to realize a majestic scientific accomplishment took priority over other noble human values, in the case of this dog. The poor street dog had only wanted a loving home and affection from her handlers, and perhaps she had felt secure under their watchful eyes and the special treatments that were being showered upon her in the build up to the last days before the mission, after she was snatched from the streets of Moscow.

There is a particular picture of the poor creature sitting in her capsule inside the Sputnik 2, looking helplessly and almost crying out for some sympathy from her handlers, who had left her in the capsule to be sent to space. That picture refuses to leave my mind even at this moment as I try to feel like her, sitting in that death row. A dog was about to be sacrificed at the altar of science and quest for supremacy over a rival nation, equally ruthless in its quest for doing one better than the other.

A monument has been erected in Moscow by the Russians now, as a memorial to the sacrificed little dog, Laika. The language of love, which all mankind professes as the only solution to achieve a peaceful world and happiness for all, is more or less all the time put under the butcher`s knife relentlessly. You might wonder why I should be musing over the death of a mere dog, who had been instrumental in mans pursuit for scientific knowledge.

It is of course insignificant to many who have no element of compassion for our speechless friends from the world of the animals of less important faculties. But, the simple fact is that they are also creatures, who have needs and fears just like us superior humans.

Man has forever been a major threat to weaker animals, and it would not be out of place to mention here that more often than not, he is even prone to be wilder than the wild animals roaming in the jungles of the world. Man has pitted himself against monster beasts, using his feeble body but far superior powers of thought and action.

But, Laika, my dear girl, you will forever be remembered and cherished as the brave girl who went ahead in your journey to death, and I take solace in thinking that you went away from our midst, nearer to God who treasures you now in his garden of everlasting joy. You will always remain alive in our memories Laika, my dear brave girl.

I heard your last bark that was recorded before you went silent eternally. Your terrified bark will forever travel in the waves of eternal time as a message to those who sent you up, as a bark to the horrors of being men. However, we pray that you are resting in peace, nearer to the creator who loved you more than us. I console myself by these self delusions.

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Absolute faith is absolute surrender to an amazing grace. A lot many people do not like the idea of surrender, but it is a fact that a lot many who felt there never was a need to surrender, did ultimately surrender – albeit a surrender not in humiliation, but in humility. In legendary singer and poet, Bob Dylan’s words: “You may be the heavy weight champion of the world, but someday you gonna have to serve somebody.” This amazing grace however does not have to be in the direct sense of Almighty God, but often manifests in the shape of what many poets have referred to as “hope”. TS Eliot’s “Four Quartets” comes to mind, an extended poem that followed his earlier one of a similar genre “The Wasteland”, which, after a lengthy tour of the spiritually barren landscape of modern life, ends with the chant Shanti, repeated three times. In the end, all that matters is peace, but peace, as a physical condition as well as a mental state, is illusive. Nobody would know this better than those of us in Manipur. Its quest has also never been easy. In a very paradoxically way, those who have found it are those who have surrendered – in the most sublime cases, surrendered their individual wills to the will of the “Amazing Grace”.

Many, if not most religions actually say this. Earthly life in this interpretation is a punishment, and transition from this temporal existence to the divine is the ultimate meaning. In the Semitic religions (including Christianity) the original sin is what condemned life to earthly existence. Otherwise it would have been an eternity in Eden for the original parents and nobody else. As to how attractive this idea is, is a matter of opinion. The original mother, Eve, probably thought it was a bore so she ate the forbidden apple, out of what is described as a feminine weakness. If not for her original sin, we all probably would never have seen daylight, or moonlight for that matter. It is difficult to say if we should deride what she did or else be thankful. Another paradox of life we suppose – another overwhelming question of “to be or not to be”. To be happy with a secure vegetative life, or else look for happiness in choosing to face challenges even if it means exposure to trouble and misery. The non-Semitic religions say very much the same thing, but in a different way. Take Buddhism for instance, or Hinduism for that matter. Rebirth is perpetuated by individual sins, implying that this cycle will end when sin is banished. As in other religions, earthly nonexistence here becomes bliss. The lure of this bliss, it has been explained, is also what gives suicide bombers the fanatic courage which makes them able to do what they do.

But the Amazing Grace manifests in another more tangible and comprehensible form – hope. To paraphrase Eliot’s “Four Quartets” this amazing grace is like the faith of a passenger in a subway train that stops and becomes stranded for hours in pitch darkness in the middle of a tunnel deep down below the surface of the earth because of a sudden power failure, that power would be ultimately restored and the train would again begin moving. That at the end of even the darkest tunnel, there would be light. Put another way, it is like a test of faith of a child in her father’s love for her and her belief that he would never abandon her, come what may. In pitch darkness where she cannot see anything, in the event of an emergency if she is required to jump from the window of her first floor room, and her father implores her to do so from below with the assurance that he can see her and would catch her, would she jump? She would if she had enough faith in her father. Such faiths give hope. Such hopes salvage. The amazing grace is that way too. For some inscrutable reason which you cannot explain but all the same feel, you know that this amazing grace would not let you fall. Come to think of it, Manipur has been stranded in the middle of a deep, dark tunnel for decades. Yet it has held together, despite all the centrifugal forces threatening to tear it apart. It is reasonable to believe hence that despite all its inherent contradictions, a faith in itself has given it the strength and hope that there would one day be light. What a time to recall the miracle of this Amazing Grace in this auspicious and festive season of a great religion of the world.

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In 2006 Literature Nobel Prize winner Orhan Pamuk’s “The Black Book” there is a passage describing the relationship between Turkish Jews and the Turks, dominantly Muslims. Both are the same people, yet both are so different in their outlook to life, for reasons unfathomable. Describing the situation he says: “And wasn’t it amazing, just amazing, to watch these two peoples through the twentieth century swaying to the rhythm of the same secret music, never meeting, always at a tangent, forever linked, forever condemned, like a pair of hopeless twins.” The great thing about great quotes is, they seem so uncannily applicable to similar human situations everywhere. Pamuk’s quote hence may just as well have been about Manipur and the relations between different ethnic groups and different geographic regions of the state, in particular the much hyped hill-valley divide.

Yesterday this tangential show of interests was up for show. While in the valley, the June 18 uprising anniversary was being observed, an extraordinary event in which hundreds of thousand people took to the streets of Imphal in 2001 to protest what they believed was a move by the Central government to dismember Manipur’s historical territory, elsewhere the United Naga Council, UNC, dispatched a letter to the Prime Minister of India, Manmohan Singh, seeking an administrative arrangement separate from the Manipur government for the Nagas in what they consider as their traditional territorial domain. It may be recalled, the June 18, 2001 incident that followed the Government of India’s unilateral decision to extend the NSCN(IM) ceasefire into Manipur under the blanket clause “without territorial limits”, resulted in the death of 18 protestors and the burning down of several important government infrastructures, including the Manipur State Assembly building. It is pertinent to note here that one of the main demands of the NSCN(IM) is the formation of a Greater Nagaland by merging territories of Manipur and other neighbouring states which it considers as part of a traditional Naga homeland with the state of Nagaland. In 2010 May 6 again there was another confrontation when the Manipur government did not allow the NSCN(IM) chairman, Th. Muivah to enter Manipur to visit his village Somdal in Ukhrul, leading to agitations at Mao gate in which two protestors ended up killed. At the time, the Manipur government was pushing ahead with the election to the autonomous district councils, ADCs, in the hill districts, which for reasons of their own, the UNC and some other Naga organisations objected, and the government was apprehensive Muivah’s visit was timed to coincide with the agitation, among others. It may also be recalled that while sections of the Nagas objected to the ADC elections, other hill communities welcomed it.

What can anybody make of this friction, other than what Pamuk described as “always at a tangent, forever linked, forever condemned, like a pair of hopeless twins”? If the problem seems intractable and irreconcilable, think again. It just requires for all caught in this senseless trap to distance themselves a little from the immediate and from a detached vantage, take a more dispassionate look at these same issues. From such a vantage, these frictions would suddenly begin to appear extremely limited, and this is probably also why so many observers from outside this conflict theatre are unable to comprehend how these conflicts manage to sustain for so long, for the reasons behind them appear to them as easily reconcilable. Those of us immersed in these frictions know very well how very far the truth this observation is. However, the question worth considering is whether it is these observations which are limited in vision, or else it is the inability of parties in these frictions who are incapable of rising above the immediate and mundane, to see and think outside the box. While we have always been of the opinion that there has to be a balance between the objective and subjective visions for a more accurate assessment of any conflict situation, it must also be acknowledged this also implies that either of these visions can come to overbear on the other thus skewing up these assessments. At this moment, it does seem there is an excessive and indeed unhealthy tilt towards a myopic subjectivism dominating the professed logics behind these conflicts.

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By Robin S Ngangom
“The yellow mustard’s in bloom
Krishna’s got a wife
Radha has given birth to a child
Krishna is starving.”

Once again it is the season that smells of Yaosang.

The yellow mustard departs, peas ripen, and
Boys revisiting the year, steal from vegetable patches at night
For Yaosang’s neighbourhood feast.

We cursed the Brahmin priest when he refused to bring the god
To our reed and straw hut on the river bank
Ready to be razed to mark the new season.

As the months warmed up to her
My grandmother pulled out, one by one,
From the caches in her sunny room
Dry sweetmeat she brought from her endless pilgrimages.
In winter, she could only give me wizened fruits
That looked like her fingers.

And then the courtyard plays, the touring cinemas,
The khongjom parba phaibok, arrived in droves,
Growing in clamour as a boy’s nights grew very late
And he didn’t know that his father had gone looking for him.

For the boy, though, in the twinkling festive nights
Every girl was a fairy or a goddess
Smelling of lotuses and dreams.

And having abandoned his grandmother
While chasing his kite he felt guilty
And went to her now “dark and mouldy” room.

He found her tied with a rope to her bedpost and
Hobbling around her bed. She said,
“I’m mad now, don’t come near me.”

The boy ran onto the street behind his house.
But while running on the street he did not realise that
He was growing taller with patches of hair under his arms and belly
As the life of the streets claimed him.

It could be his blooming heart
Or his wet dreams, he mustered up courage to ask a girl out
After writing fifteen perfumed letters
And they went cycling past the returning mustard fields on river banks,
Past his almost happy boyhood.

So many years he waited in vain for them to return
The pena shakpa,the laiharaoba, the chalees of kang,
Thehalf-remembered pass khelas.

But they’ve disappeared in the folds of his reveries
Like the fairies and the goddesses.

One day in his middle years
They all returned suddenly as spectacle
Watched eagerly by wives and boys
Before they became victims
Of the killers who have stepped out
Of the courtyard plays and created widows
And made boys disappear into endlessly waiting days.

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IMPHAL July 1: Chief-whip of the SPF and MLA of Thanga constituency T. Mangibabu clarified that the allegations made against him by one Tongbram Robindro who was arrested by police for smuggling drugs and that his arrest was perpetrated by the MLA himself is unfounded.

Talking to reporters at his office at the old secretariat complex today, Mangibabu contended that he had nothing to do with Robindro’s arrest and he was hauled up by police for his clandestine business activities.

“How can I instigate the police to arrest someone, Robindro was known as a smuggler after the Delhi police arrested one Napolean from Delhi airport with 200 kgs of Ephidrine on April 4, Robindro was named as the mastermind behind the smuggling in the media. His allegation in the local electronic media that he is not involved with drug trafficking and that I was responsible for his arrest is baseless”, the MLA added.

The MLA contended that he had been involved in politics since the early 80’s has never used any unfair means to get ahead in his career. “Let anyone stand for election, it is a person’s democratic right but I feel that he should be centered in bringing about peace and development, not in criminal activities”, he said.

The MLA and his workers voiced that Tongbram Robindro has political aspirations and to contest the forthcoming elections.

Meanwhile Robindro who belongs to the same constituency as the MLA is said to be related to the MLA.

Mangibabu replying to the fate of fishers after the introduction of the Loktak Protection Act said that the Act has to be there to protect the lake, but if the clauses in the said act becomes anti people, then it needs to be amended, he maintained.

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IMPHAL July 5: The B.Sc. Nursing college under the RIMS authority which was started a year and half ago could not conduct its 1st year examination owing to some inevitable circumstances faced by the institute said the director of RIMS, S. Sekharjit Singh while responding to a group of media persons at the sideline of a function held at mini auditorium of Gynecology ward of RIMS in connection with departmental promotion of its staffs.

He elaborated that the 1st year examination will be conducted most probably within this month and said that the institute is in the process of recruiting regular teachers for the Nursing College.

Responding to a question about the agitation by the inmates of Nursing college hostel on the alleged lack of infrastructural and other demands recently, he said that the college has adequate infrastructural facilities including the hostel with efficient mess facility.

He added that the only problem in the college is the requirement of regularly appointed teachers.

Later, the director appealed the public for co-operation and requested to restrain from interfering into the administration of the college keeping in view the welfare of the students who had been admitted to the college.

During the meeting with the media persons he further said that presently, much improvement is needed at RIMS, the emergency and ICU facility needs to be strengthened.

He added that due to various deficiencies the institute is able to meet only 50% in providing medicines and other amenities free of cost to patients. He further said from the next few months a major renovation of RIMS is in the pipeline.

He added that the institute is trying to the augment the existing infrastructure at RIMS in order to accommodate more numbers of MBBS students. A proper hostel accommodation for all India PG students will also be provided, he added.

Further he made an assurance that the session for the Dental College will be started from next year after it has been deferred from its previous deadline due to technical inconveniences on the part of the college.

Today’s function at the mini auditorium was held for handing over official document to respective doctors and officers in connection with departmental promotion under the timescale promotion scheme of RIMS. It was reported that today’s function was held for the first time in RIMS.

Altogether 42 doctors and officers of RIMS have been promoted from their respective post. Eight associate professors were promoted to the post of professors, 16 assistant professors to associate professor, 12 sr. registrar, sr. demonstrator, registrar and demonstrator to Assistant professor (non-functional) and 6 registrars and demonstrators to the post of senior registrar and senior demonstrator respectively.

During the function Prof. Ng. Brajachand Singh, microbiology, H. Shanti, medical superintendent, RIMS and S. Sekharjit Singh, director, RIMS were on the dais.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/YrWeG2GpPQw/

var addthis_product=’wpp-252′;var addthis_options=”Google+1″IMPHAL, July 31: The Federation of College Teachers’ Associations, Manipur (FECTAM) will launch cease work strike from August 1 in…

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IMPHAL, Aug 21: All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) is going to observe the 46th Hunger Marchers’ Day on August 27 in remembrance of the dedication of lives of four students during the protest against the then government in the state on August 27, 1965 for causing artificial scarcities of the essential food items in the state.

According to a release of AMSU, during the students protest against the causing of artificial food scarcities on August 1965 four students identified as Promodini Devi, Chaobhal, Nabakumar and Nillamani were killed during the excessive security atrocities during their demonstrations.

The release further mentioned that, the union in order to observed the very day on August 27 appeal all sections of societies and common public to extend assistance to the AMSU by donating good or kinds for the successful observation of the day.

And the various district level committee of the union have also started their campaigns for the ensuing hunger marchers’ day observation in order to make conveniences for the students of various educational institutions and well wishers and common public of different districts of the state on August 27, the release added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/amsu-all-set-to-observe-hunger-marchers-day/

IMPHAL, Aug 25: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has today reaffirmed in the Assembly House that the recent bomb blast at Sangakpham Bazar was a handy work of NSCN (IM) targeting the elected members of autonomous district councils.

Chief Minister stated this while replying to a calling attention motion raised jointly by senior opposition MLA Okram Joy and MLA RK Anand today on Sangakpham blast which occurred on August 1 in which five persons including two minor schools girls were killed and eight others were wounded.

Ibobi further stated that one of the persons killed in the blast was a cadre of NSCN (IM), identified as Anthony Kamei from Churachandpur. He died while planning to attack the chairman of Senapati ADC, R.S. Henry whose convoy was passing the site of the blast on that day, he asserted.

The cadre was waiting for the convoy with a scooter fitted with the powerful IED. The bomb exploded due to some technical failure, Chief Minister stated.

“Police arrested a rifleman of 4th IRB, named J. Kamei who was also involved in the bomb plan and also a relative of the deceased Anthony Kamei. The personnel is a member of the security escort party provided to the ADC chairman and he passed on information about movement of the chairmen to Anthony. He is now in judicial custody after he was arrested by the police from near SBI Secretariat branch”, stated Chief Minister.

Despite of NSCN (IM) denial of involvement in Sangakpham blast, Ibobi claimed that the parents of Anthony confirmed he was a cadre of NSCN (IM) and he came to home two/ three days back before the blast.

Though the NSCN (IM) did not say anything about its opposition to ADCs, some Naga bodies were strongly against the constitution of district councils.

Ibobi further maintained that investigations revealed NSCN (IM) was planning to attack the elected members of the ADCs.

He also blamed NSCN (IM) for the attack on the convoy of MLA Wungnaoshang Keishing in which eight persons including six personnel of Manipur Rifles were killed in April this year.

“During my last trip to Delhi I raised the issue of terrorist activities of NSCN (IM) before the Prime Minister and Home Minister. I urged both the leaders to let the NIA investigate into the NSCN (IM) activities,” Chief Minister Ibobi said. He further stated that the Centre has taken serious note of the activities of NSCN (IM) and assured him the NIA to probe the recent activities.

“If such terrorist activities are carried out by the outfit, the ongoing peace talks will have no meaning,” Chief Minister contended.

Raising the matter, opposition members Okram Joy and RK Anand accused the Centre of creating havens for NSCN (IM) on the garb of peace talks.

“The state government should declare NSCN (IM) as a terrorist organisation and take actions against those involved in terrorist activities. The outfit had even killed a couple recently,” Okram Joy demanded.

 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/cm-reaffirms-involvement-of-nscn-im-in-sangakpham-blast/

IMPHAL Sept 8: Condemning the bomb blast at gate number 5 of Delhi High Court yesterday in which twelve persons were killed and several others were injured, the members of High Court Bar Association, (HCBA), Manipur abstained from court works today.

Speaking to media persons at the office of the association at Gauhati High Court Complex, senior advocate and president of the lawyers’ body N Kumarjit stated that such wanton acts of terror should be condemned. The demand of the terrorist group Harkat-ul-Jehadi-Islami (HUJI) which perpetrated the bombing to revoke the death sentence of one of their cadres, namely Afzal Guru is unreasonable and unjust.

“The Judicial system cannot discriminate between people. Let the person be a minister or a beggar, rights of the citizens from all walks of life are redressed. The court gives its verdict by deliberating cases through trials and such an act of terror on the judiciary is an intolerably grave act and a barbaric one’, he averred.

He added that bomb threats have been witnessed inside the GHC, Manipur twice.

“We will make representations to the Chief Justice of the GHC and concerned state authorities to provide adequate security arrangements for the court also”.

He mentioned that it was due to the security measures carried out before entering the Delhi High Court that the terrorists could not detonate the bomb inside court premises.

Executive member of HCBA, advocate Khaidem Mani also added that the act carried out to the judicial institution is a gross act of terrorism and should be condemned in the highest.

“We share the sorrow of family members of the deceased persons and those injured.As a token of condemnation, we did not attend court proceedings after a meeting resolve of the HCBA today morning”.

The press conference was also joined by vice president Ch Dhananjoy,secretary M Roshini Piba and joint secretary H Genanda of the HCBA, Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/high-court-lawyers-protest-delhi-blast/