October 20, 2015 – Page 4

Violation of government restriction order led to tension: Andro chief

IMPHAL, October 19: The reported tension which erupted between communities of the Sandangsemba Maring and Andro yesterday was a result of the cultivation activities of the Maring villagers at an

IMPHAL, October 19: The reported tension which erupted between communities of the Sandangsemba Maring and Andro yesterday was a result of the cultivation activities of the Maring villagers at an area where both the district administrations of Senapati and Imphal East have placed restriction orders under section 144 CrPC.

This was claimed by Andro Khullakpa Ch Gandhar Meitei today at the Manipur Press Club.

He said following yesterday`™s incident, the Maring villagers have threatened Andro villagers that they will not bear any responsibility if any eventualities happened along the road passing through the Maring Village.

He said in case of anyone getting injured while crossing the road considered the lifeline of Andro, the people Sandangsemba Maring Village will be held full responsible.

He claimed that the Maring community in their report which appeared in some local dailies today had wrongly identified the name of the place where the incident occurred as Chonga Loukon. Chonga Loukon comes under the jurisdiction of Huikap Village, whereas the place where the villagers of Andro had gone yesterday is known as Chafu Uppi Laimang where they have been conducting their annual traditional rituals, he said.

He further continued that some months back, villagers of the Sandangsemba Maring Village encroached on the said area for jhum cultivation.

This had led to tension among the two sides resulting in both the DCs of Senapati and Imphal East imposing a restriction until further notifications, he said.

He said the Andro Khullakpa Sana Pokpa Chakpa had served a letter to the DCs concerned, Sandangsemba Maring Village chief and Andro Police on June 6.

However, recently, two villagers of the Sandangsemba Maring Village had violated the restriction and continued their cultivations, he said.

On getting the information, villagers of Andro went to the area and damaged the cultivation yesterday and there was no political involvement, he observed.

The people of Andro will never compromise on the Chafu Uppi Laimang area at any cost as the area has been used since time immemorial for traditional rituals, he said.

Chadong representatives insist on revised R&R package

IMPHAL Oct 19: Representatives from four Clans of Chadong village namely Ramthing Kasar, W Linus Mungva, Rockson Kashung and Raymond Mahong, Chairman, held a press meet at Manipur Press Club

IMPHAL Oct 19: Representatives from four Clans of Chadong village namely Ramthing Kasar, W Linus Mungva, Rockson Kashung and Raymond Mahong, Chairman, held a press meet at Manipur Press Club today.

The representatives insisted on a comprehensive rehabilitation and resettlement package that will also safeguard their existing rights over the resources of water and forest.

While sharing their woes that this year there has been no plantation at paddy field and hence the villagers will not harvest anything they said, `In addition to this deficit, even our jhum farms and kitchen gardens were submerged leaving us completely depended on buying from outside.`

Ramthing said, the Rs 14 lakhs compensation was only for house, granary, toilet, kitchen, transportation and rehabilitation grant.

However other terms and conditions included in the approved rehabilitation and resettlement plan of 1998 for rehabilitation and resettlement is a much more comprehensive package, Rockson said.

He added the government schools in Chadong are submerged and there is no school at the new resettlement site hence the children have no option but to migrate even for Primary Education while some have remained out of school for this academic year.

He further said, mere ground leveling does not make a resettlement site. It has to have basic amenities like water supply, electric supply, school, health system etc.

These provisions and full R&R were supposed to be implemented one year prior to the completion of the project and submergence of the habitat, he added.

The members demand implementation of a comprehensive R&R and to make immediate arrangements for food, shelter, safety, health, education, electricity, until their rehabilitation is complete. They also want the arrangement of alternative livelihoods and skill trainings towards that.

Written test results for Staff Nurse Recruitment conducted in 2013 remains undeclared

IMPHAL, October 19: Candidates of the written test conducted in 2013 for recruitment of 221 staff nurses (ANM-200 and GNM-21) by the Directorate of Health Services have made all preparations

IMPHAL, October 19: Candidates of the written test conducted in 2013 for recruitment of 221 staff nurses (ANM-200 and GNM-21) by the Directorate of Health Services have made all preparations to launch strong agitations against the failure of the authorities to declare the results of the test till date.

The notification for the recruitment was issued by the then director Health Services Dr A Bijoy Singh on March 13, 2013.

Following the notification, the directorate had conducted the written test for more than 5000 candidates on August 18, 2013.

However, the result of the written test has been left undeclared till date.

On learning that the candidates have made all preparations to launch the agitation, IFP conducted an investigation on the matter.

During the investigation, it was learnt that no one was sure of whether the results will ever be declared or if declared then when.

When IFP tried to contact the principal secretary (Health) Dr J Sureshbabu, the officer was found on leave and out of station.

The director Health Services, Dr O Ibomcha Singh was also found on leave.

However, the IFP managed to talk to one of the two under-secretaries Health Services, who said as of now the government has not cancelled the written test.

However, he was unable to provide more details and asked to inquire the Health Directorate for further details.

At the Health Directorate Office, Lamphel, out of the four additional directors, three joint directors and nine deputy directors meant to be present at the office, the IFP managed to meet only joint director Binata, deputy director (Medical care/ Vehicle) LR Kom and deputy director (Training) Dr Tomcha Khuman.

All the three officers were unable to confirm whether the results will be declared or not.

On the other hand, joint director Binata offered a joint meeting with the director and the concerned deputy director saying that reporting it on the newspaper will bring no solution.

It is also learnt that three candidates of the test had on December 15, 2014 jointly filed a petition to the High Court of Manipur although the case is yet find a legal judgement.

The petitioners had appealed to declare the results of the written test.

Earlier on August 21, 2014, the ANM, GNM Written Test Faced Candidates Association had submitted a memorandum to the health and Family Welfare minister and Health Services Director.

On August 22, 2014, the association submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister demanding declaration of the results.

Again on November 11, 2014, the association had submitted a memorandum to the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare.

Alliance building programme for survivors of conflicts, drugs, domestic violence held

IMPHAL, October 19: A one day alliance building programme for survivors of conflict, drugs/ HIV/AIDS, domestic violence, sexual assaults and street vendors etc under the project titled: Humanitarian support to people affected by conflict in Kashmir, Manipur, Telengana and Andhra Pradesh States of India was held today at the Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound.

The programme was organised by the Women Action for Development (WAD) with support of ECHO and Action Aid Association.

Director Prosecution, Government of Manipur Ng Tejkumar, speaking as a resource person on the topic `Access to Justice and its Implication`™, said the armed conflict and drug abuse, during the past few decades, have taken a toll on the male population of the State.

He added this has only led to an increase in the number of widows and HIV/AIDS affected women.

Tejkumar further expressed the need for an inclusive and stronger effort to abolish arm conflict and drug abuse which the women folk of the State have already initiated.

He also said that the Indian legal system has all the needed provisions to protect women against crimes.

The Manipur Legal Services is one body which is there to provide free legal help to anyone against such crime, he said.

All Manipur Working Journalists`™ Union president Wangkhemcha Shamjai spoke on the topic `Role for media in the present context of Manipur`™.

He said although the door is wide open for any victimised women to approach the media in order to help her restore her dignity in the society, no one should misuse the media by providing misleading stories.

Looking East

Persistently writing on a single topic has the danger of repetition of points. But this is a characteristic hazard of all campaigns, including journalistic ones. We have no scruples about

Persistently writing on a single topic has the danger of repetition of points. But this is a characteristic hazard of all campaigns, including journalistic ones. We have no scruples about admitting we have been involved to a good extent in this form of journalism, although after making sure to the extent possible that our views are not partisan. The `Look-East Policy`, now `Act East Policy`, of which there has been a deluge of opinions as also reams written about, is one of these. We have always been for the policy and we still are. This has been misconstrued by many as merely a case of market worship and that we have not been sensitive enough to the cautions that an expanded, internationalized market ought to be taken with. This is a case of reading too much between the line and missing out on what were actually in print of what we have written. We never disagreed more on the matter of the market, and that although it is desirable, has to be harnessed under broad regulatory mechanisms. For the market, as all of us are aware, is amoral and can be extremely brutal. The one most important engine that drives it, that of profit, does not think fair play, or exhibit environmental concerns, or gender issues etc. Left on its own, rather than encourage competition, for far too often it has been known to destroy competition. That is why tough monopoly and oligopoly laws are felt essential even in the most advanced market economies. However, once under a certain regulatory mechanism to eliminate these aberrations, it can be the most effective incentive for individuals and peoples to strive for perfection. As Charlton Heston as Moses in the Hollywood classic `The Ten Commandments` said, `There can be no freedom without the law.` The market hence must have to be moderated by the law so that the strong does not trample the weak and hog all its benefits.

But let this be a matter for another discussion. However, our concern and attraction to the idea of the northeast opening up its eastern gateways, is also on another major considerations. This landlocked region needs to open up as many doors and windows. One question should provide much of the explanation to this contention. How did the northeast become landlocked? How did it come to be connected to sub-continental India by just a corridor wedged between Bangladesh and Bhutan, now often referred to as the `Siliguri Corridor` or the `Chicken`™s Neck`? In many ways, if there is anything as a physical manifestation of what is often referred to as colonial legacy, the northeast predicament must be it, for its political shape, and now cognizable identity, were indeed predetermined by certain colonial confines. Its northern boundary is the controversial McMohan Line, its southern boundary is the Radcliff Line, and its eastern boundary were very much the gradual but definitive outcome of the Treaty of Yandaboo, all thereby carrying a colonial stamp. These were the boundaries that shut off the northeast from its natural elements, made the sea suddenly distant, age old trade routes stifled, alienated it from its neighbourhood and not the least created the `Chicken`™s Neck` corridor that connects it to the rest of India. This forced confinement would have robbed the region of its spirit and disoriented a great deal of its sense of purpose. Perhaps the perennial problems the place festers with are a symptom of the unnaturalness of this turn of political history.

The international boundaries around the northeast entity cannot be redrawn. To expect it thus would be un-pragmatic if not foolhardy, notwithstanding the fact that they were drawn out of colonial needs of the expanding British Empire and not so much out of the region`™s intrinsic needs of the time. The `Act East Policy` then, viewed from this perspective is a way of unwinding to the extent possible without disturbing any international diplomacy equilibrium, some of the claustrophobic confinement that the northeast has been condemned to by a certain brand of politics of a certain era. Trade, in our opinion, is only one important part of the story, for there is also an equally important strand of the same story that tells of a way to get the northeast breathing freely in its organic environment, and in the process restoring some of its lost inner spiritual self.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/10/looking-east/

Getting President`s assent for bills is Congress` responsibility, Chaoba claims

IMPHAL, October 19: Getting the President`™s assent for the three bill passed by the State Assembly on August 31 is the responsibility of the Congress government, said BJP Manipur Pradesh

IMPHAL, October 19: Getting the President`™s assent for the three bill passed by the State Assembly on August 31 is the responsibility of the Congress government, said BJP Manipur Pradesh president Th Chaoba during a one day political conference at Lilando Lampak Thongju Constituency.

He said if the Ibobi government is unable to get the President`™s assent for the three bills, it should resigned on moral grounds and the BJP will bring in a peaceful Manipur

The conference was organised by party workers of 5/1, 5/2 and 5/3 polling stations of the constituency.

It is unfortunate that the Congress government in the State has fixed the responsibility to get the President`™s assent for the three bills and the responsibility for the recent signing of the Peace accord between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) on the State BJP, Chaoba lamented.

It is sad for a party which has formed the government in the State and has three MPs, he continued.

When it should be pressuring the Centre to give assent to the three bills, why has the Congress fixed the responsibility to the BJP Manipur Pradesh, he said.

People are aware that the BJP has no MLA in the State Assembly and no MP in Parliament and that the NDA government had to power in the Centre only a year back, he said.

The BJP demand a detail report of the meeting between Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam and the Prime Minister in connection to the Peace Accord and the three ILP bills, he said.

It is learnt that the Prime Minister had come out with a smile on his face after the meeting, he said demanding the details of the meeting.

Chaoba further asked why the Chief Minister has not replied to any of the statements made by the Chief Ministers of Nagaland and Mizoram on the issue of the bills.

He said, being the Chief Minister, Ibobi must know all the details and needs to face his counterparts from neighbouring States.

As for the NSCN (IM) Accord, when the Centre`™s interlocutor RN Ravi visited the State, he didn`™t meet the BJP leaders but met the Chief Minister, Chaoba claimed.

The BJP State president also alleged that the Congress knows nothing but corruption and that there has been no development in the State during the last 13 years of its rule.

Citing that Manipur is the only State left where the Food Security Act 2013 is not implemented, he alleged the Congress has been cheating the people for long.

He also claimed that the government has been siphoning off development funds of NREGA.

Although all rice loads for the implementation of the Food Security Act have been brought in from the Centre since 2013, the same have been sold off through back doors without providing it to the beneficiairies, he claimed.

Although Gaikhangam has charged Bishwajit the former Thongju MLA of not taking up any developmental work in his constituency, the deputy Chief Minister seem to have forgotten the condition of his own constituency, Chaoba asserted.

He said it is evident from the condition of the roads in Khoupum that no develop works have been undertaken in the deputy Chief Minister`™s constituency although it is his fifth term.

On the other hand, Thangmeiband ex-MLA Joykishan has demanded that if the government is able to provide satisfying answer to a few queries, he will not file nomination for the bye election in his constituency.

He asked as to why only three MLAs were disqualified from among four MLAs in the same case.

He further asked why disqualification of O Lukhoi of Wangoi Constituency was revoked after a case was filed before the High Court

He further demanded as to why the Congress government to take up the case of the merger of five MSCP MLAs into the Congress till date.

Disqualify the five and we will not file nomination paper for the by election, he said.

Former MLA Thongju Th Bishwajit and other BJP State leaders also attended the conference.

Kuki bandh cripples life in Manipur hills – Times of India

Kuki bandh cripples life in Manipur hills
Times of India
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), set up by irate Kuki people, called the bandh from Sunday midnight with hordes of Kuki civil bodies, including the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and Kuki Students’ Organization (KSO), general headquarters supporting the bandh.
48-hr hill bandh hits normal lifeNagaland Post
Blockade from October 21 to 31, indefinite blockade from November 2 threatenedE-Pao.net

all 7 news articles »

Kuki bandh cripples life in Manipur hills
Times of India
The Joint Action Committee (JAC), set up by irate Kuki people, called the bandh from Sunday midnight with hordes of Kuki civil bodies, including the Kuki Inpi Manipur (KIM) and Kuki Students' Organization (KSO), general headquarters supporting the bandh.
48-hr hill bandh hits normal lifeNagaland Post
Blockade from October 21 to 31, indefinite blockade from November 2 threatenedE-Pao.net

all 7 news articles »