Month: February 2012

Dimapur, Feb 25 (NNN): Nagas from Manipur, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and elsewhere will conglomerate at Dimapur on February 29 in a mega reconciliation programme to be convened by Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR).
Hectic preparations are underway to the historic event where the FNR will update the reconciliation process to the Naga public.
Since the formation of Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) in the year 2008, the factional clashes among the Naga underground organisations have ceased, albeit minor incidents crop up now and then.
On Saturday, the FNR informed Newmai News Network tonight that in the course of “Naga Reconciliation: A Journey of Common Hope” the Forum for Naga Reconciliation (FNR) has in numerous public meetings over the last four years asserted that it would eventually organize a large Naga meeting. The purpose of the meeting is for the FNR to report to the people on the status of the Reconciliation process and that during such a meeting it would also invite leaders of all Naga groups (factions) to share its position on reconciliation and its vision for a shared Naga future, it added.
“The proposed “Naga Reconciliation Meeting” to be held on February 29 is the very meeting that FNR had envisaged couple of years ago. The Forum for Naga Reconciliation was not formed in a vacuum. The concept emerged out of the Naga Peace Convention in 2008, and after a series of meetings, the FNR was formally endorsed by 29 Naga organizations at Hotel Japfü, Kohima. Since then, the more Naga organizations have reaffirmed the “Naga Reconciliation: A Journey of Common Hope” at different intervals – September 25, 2008; February 22, 2009; August 25, 2009; November 18, 2010; April 8, 2011, besides visiting various Naga towns and villages. And now on February 29, 2012, the FNR seeks to report to the Naga people on the status of Naga Reconciliation. Furthermore, FNR has extended warm invitation to the leaders of all the Naga groups (factions) to stand before the Naga people and to share their views on Reconciliation and their vision on a shared Naga future,” the FNR stated.
It then said on February 14, three Naga groups publicly supported by extending invitation to the “Naga Reconciliation Meeting,” and since then other Naga groups have also endorsed it. The Forum also said that it would like to inform the Naga people, that the “Naga Reconciliation Meeting” is for the Naga people and because public trust was put on FNR to facilitate a reconciliation process among the Naga groups (factions), it is duty bound to share with the people its experiences in the Reconciliation meeting.
“Once again, the FNR extends its invitation to the leaders of all the Naga groups (factions), the Naga Hoho, tribe hohos, ENPO, UNC, Nagas in Myanmar, Assam and Arunachal, all the women organizations, all the student organizations, colleges, schools, civil society organizations, village leaders, churches, senior citizens, GBs and DBs, Naga Council, Dimapur, politicians and bureaucrats and the Naga public at large. The FNR wishes to clearly state that no one is excluded. All are welcome to join the “Naga Reconciliation Meeting” on February 29 at the Agri-Expo Centre, 4th Mile, Dimapur from 10 am onwards,” the FNR statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/naga-organisations-to-meet-on-29/

Mail News Service
New Delhi, Feb 25: The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against certain officials of BSNL and private companies in the matter of award of Leased service Area (LSA) contract for deployment of Wi Max services.
It is alleged that the public servants had entered into a criminal conspiracy among themselves and in furtherance of the said conspiracy the accused public servants abused their official position and facilitated the award of franchisee for three LSAs to a private limited company by dishonestly and intentionally withholding the sale of tender documents in a fraudulent manner, and, allegedly diluting the eligibility conditions to accommodate the said private company and thus causing an estimated wrongful loss of approximately Rs. 535.50 crores to BSNL.
It is also alleged that the said company did not have the required qualification of Rs 100 crore annual turnover for the last two years.
Searches are being conducted at nine places in Delhi, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Chennai and Kolkata. During searches, incriminating documents have been recovered.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/cbi-registers-case-bsnl-officials/

Manipur Information Centre
New Delhi, Feb 25: The Writers’ Forum Imphal, one of the leading literary organisations of Manipur represented Manipur in the biennial World Book Fair New Delhi, 2012 which was inaugurated today at Pragati Maidan here. More than 1000 books related to Manipur’s literature, arts and culture were displayed at Stall number 73 of Hall number 10. My Days in Tihar Jail , a collection of short stories based on true stories written by Dr Leimapokpam Swasticharan and published by Raider International UK recently, was among the books displayed in the Manipur Stall. As per invitation from the National Book Trust, the President of the Writers’ Forum Imphal A. Kumar Sharma, the General Secretary B. S. Rajkumar and the Executive Member Ranbir Sarungba attended the 20th edition of the World Book Fair which would last upto March 4. This was the first time that Manipur participated in the Delhi World Book Fair.
A.Kumar Sharma said that the National Book Trust provided the stall and their accommodation free of cost and other expenditure was born by the participants. He expressed his thankfulness to the Director of Arts and Culture for extending some financial helps for their participation in the Book Fair in the larger interest of the people of Manipur. Tripura, Assam and Manipur were the States from North Eastern India participating in the Book Fair.
Chingangbam Anupama who was doing research on Manipuri literature under the Indira Gandhi National Open University today bought all the books written by Yumlembam Ibomcha and Thangjam Ibopishak available in the Manipur Stall. She expressed his happiness to find a big stall for showcasing Manipuri books in the World Book Fair for the first time. She drew the attention of the authorities of Manipur to take part in such book fair regularly.
Inaugurating the 20th World Book Fair, Chief guest Kapil Sibal, Union Human Resource Development Minister said that India being the third largest publisher after US and UK was a pioneer in the field of literature and this kind of event should take place on annual basis to promote the Indian literature globally.
Shahabuddin Yaqoob Quraishi, Chief Election Commissioner of India also visited the event and said that it is really great to see a blend of literature and cinema together as cinema is something that conveys the message directly to the heart of a person and it is really good to see a fusion of cinema and literature at the same place.
Organized by the National Book Trust (NBT), India every year, the theme of the World Book Fair 2012 is Indian Cinema as Indian cinema is going to complete its 100 years in 2013. A few books based on Indian cinema were also released on the occasion. Moreover, a catalogue including 300 titles representing publications of 800 publishers in all major languages based on Indian cinema has been released by NBT. The catalogue contained information about copyright and contact details for right enquires that would help the publishers around the world to get the information about the rights to publish or translate any of the books based on Indian Cinema.
The event was divided into three pavilions namely Rights Pavilion, Theme Pavilion and Children Pavilion showcasing a total number of 2500 stalls. Exhibitors from foreign countries like USA, Bangladesh, France, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Canada, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Germany also participated in the book fair.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/writers-forum-displays-manipuri-books/

Shillong, Feb 25 (NNN): The North East India Drugs and AIDS Care (NEIDAC) convenor Michael Syngkon said today that countries designating themselves as ‘religious’ are no exception to the contraction of HIV AIDS epidemic bringing about massive change in the health scenario of the community as a whole. “HIV AIDS has emerged from the dark ghettos to even the beautiful pews of many worship places”, said Michael Syngkon.
Terming a ‘silent organisation’ as a ‘dead organisation’, Syngkon said it is high time to transcend religious fundamentalism and overcome the mistrust of other religious groups and reach out to people in need with humanity and care. Pointing out the advantages of church organisations and faith based organisations in curbing this disease, Syngkon said, “Churches can cater to mass population as they are present in every nook and corner and equal participation of these faith based organisations can bring about a change in the society as far as spreading awareness on HIV AIDS is concerned”.
“We need to find a common platform for action,” Syngkon said adding that there is a need to formulate a policy frame for engaging as a ‘healing agency’. While expressing a need to respect and remain sensitive to the local culture and traditions.
Stating Meghalaya as a vulnerable state, Syngkon said the flow of migrantion to this state is rampant and the movement of trucks along the national highways has become a daily affair. “As per studies, truck drivers besides others are mostly infected and affected by HIV AIDS and this poses a great threat to the individual family members”, Syngkon said adding that it is time to move from judgmental attitude in a more compassionate understanding.
“It is time for the faith based organisations to respond collectively and restoration of the ‘whole’ individual is the main desire of the Almighty”, he said expressing a need to lend a voice to the voiceless saying, “Those infected and affected by this disease will not come forward to express their grievances due to fear of stigmatization and discrimination”. “This agency should move beyond conversion to even physical care and support and it should stand as an agent of transformation”, he elaborated.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/neidac-discusses-aids-issue/