Day: December 2, 2015

IMPHAL, December 2: Certain war relics believed to have been used in World War II were excavated from the construction site of Slope Land Public School, Salt Village near Khongjom in Thoubal District today.

The excavated war relics believed to be used by Allied Forces, consisted several rounds of 303 ammunition, an unexploded hand grenade, a shovel and two rifle bayonets.

Later, N. Babulin, principal of Slopeland Public School handed over the war relics to World War 2 Memorial Foundation Manipur through the foundation`s president Letmang Haokip for preservation and exhibition at the foundation`s Museum located near Pallel.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/war-relics-excavated-from-school-construction-site/

IMPHAL, December 2: The High Court of Manipur acting on a PIL case, has asked the concerned authority to give concrete reasons on why the Lok Ayukta Act is not implemented in the State till date given that the same Act has already been implemented in other States.

The judgement was passed by a Double Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice LK Mohapatra and Justice N Kotishwar today.

This was informed by senior advocate Khaidem Mani who is the counsel of the PIL case during a press meet held at the office building of All Manipur Bar Association at Uripok Cheirap Court this evening.

He claimed that the court also questioned the concerned authority whether it is true that posts of a Chairperson and two Members needed to implement the act effectively have not filled up so far and if it is true then the concerned authority should submit detailed reports to the court within eight weeks starting from today.

Advocate Mani said that the number of the PIL case is 49 of 2014 and was filed by advocate Yengkokpam Priyokumar.

The petitioner had submitted written statement to the Governor of the State and concerned Union Ministries urging to implement the Lok Ayukta Act in the State as in other States. Later, he filed a PIL in the High Court of Manipur, he said.

According to advocate Mani, the Lok Pal or Lok Ayukta Bill before it became an act was implemented from January 6, 2014 in most of the States. The State government had announced that the act has been implemented in the State from October 3 of the same year.

However, a competent Chairperson and two Members who are much needed to effectively implement the act have not been appointed so far.

He envisaged that people of the State will be benefitted from the implementation of the Lok Ayukta Act.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/hc-asks-reasons-on-nonimplementation-of-lok-ayukta-act-in-state/

IMPHAL, December 2: Victims of the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 and others who have lost relatives today shared their testimonies during a discussion on AFSPA.

The discussion was held on AFSPA and its impact on the people of Manipur with special focus on women and children in Manipur at the Manipur Voluntary Health Association (MVHA), Ningthem Pukhri Mapal.

It was organised jointly by the District Women Committee, Imphal East – UNMM, Conflict Widow Forum, Domestic Violence Survivor’s Forum and Kshetri Chanam Leikai Women Development Association as part of Women Action for Development’s 16 days of activism against Gender based violence.

Several widows of the armed conflict and other victims participated and shared their testimonials and called for the AFSPA to be repealed.

One of the widows who had lost her husband in the armed conflict said she would happily sacrifice her life if it could repeal the AFSPA.

Damdei Christian College lecturer Priyadarshini Gangte noted AFSPA has only given a negative impact on the society.

It is also important to impart lessons on human rights from the grass root level in the schools so that whatever the students become in their later life, they can atleast respect human rights, she recommended.

The lecturer also advocated refined recruitment of the Armed Security Forces personnel and to conduct training sessions on basic human rights of a person on a regular basis.

Gangte also called for the need to strengthen the State Women Commission to redress the grievances of the widows.

Clinical psychologist Khwairakpam Ramakanta noted the behaviour of fear psychosis among the general populace on seeing the security forces is very common in the State.

He said the AFSPA gives maximum power to the armed Security Forces and in return maximum grievances to the innocent public.

Memories of being a witness of extra judicial killings, atrocities of the Security Forces linger on the mind-set of the victims of conflict leading to depression, he said.

The psychologist also noted that sharing of their testimonials at the community level will help the victims minimise their fear.

He further called upon the people for a collective movement to demand repeal of the AFSPA, 1958.

WAD secretary M Sobita said Indian forces in the State of Manipur are using the Act as an instrument of war. This Act is a licence to kill and rape, she alleged.

Sobita maintained under the cover of the Act, the Indian forces have killed many innocent civilians since many years.

Suspects are not guilty until it is proven, but under AFSPA, the security forces can shoot to kill anyone on the mere ground of suspicion which is not only a disregard of the basic human rights, but it hugely affects the entire family of the victim, Sobita elaborated.

She said Irom Chanu Sharmila has been protesting and demanding the repeal of the AFSPA, 1958 in the wake of the Malom Massacre.

Although Sharmila has been on a fast for more than 15 years now against the Act, the government continues to remain silent even as people are getting killed every now and then under the Act, she claimed.

Those widowed by the arm conflict have been neglected by the government, she said citing that widow benefit schemes are available to only a few.

She said PDS items and rehabilitation programmes for widows have not reached the larger populace.

Later at the end of the discussion, the participants raised slogans demanding repeal of AFSPA-1958 and release of Sharmila, among others.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/victims-of-armed-conflict-raise-demand-for-afspa-repeal/

IMPHAL, December 2: Janata Dal (United) Manipur will fight the early 2016 Municipal elections in the State along with the Congress, said its president Moirangthem Tombi hinting to an alliance between the two parties in the State.

This has come considering the recent massive victory of the Grand Alliance in the recent Bihar election, asserted Tombi today speaking at a press conference held at the party’s office at Babupara.

He said State leaders of the two parties had deliberated on certain issues including the agenda and strategy for the upcoming elections.

The leaders also resolve to join hands for the January 11 Municipality and Nagar Panchayat election, he said.

This comes in the wake of the recent bye-poll in two Assembly Constituencies, both of which the Congress lost to the BJP.

People will witness a wave of political change during the upcoming local body elections, he said.

The alliance will also be a turning point for the JD(U) in the State, he said while announcing that intending candidates may apply for party ticket from the its office before December 20.

The JD (U), he said will field maximum number of candidates in the election.

Tombi said he along with Lien Gangte general secretary of JD (U) Manipur will visit Bihar from December 12 to 15 and invite leaders of the Grand Alliance to attend election campaigning in the State.

Tombi appealed to the people to elect their good leaders responsibly.

Lien Gangte said in order to bring good governance in the State, we need to start from the grass root level and elect good leaders.

People play an important role in bringing change to the society, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/jd-u-manipur-hints-at-alliance-with-cong-for-local-body-elections/

IMPHAL, December 2: Hill Villages shall not be brought under the proposed Sugnu SDC Circle, said Chandel (ST) AC MLA ST Nunghlung Victor in a press release today.

The MLA said in his statement that as published by the media recently, the State cabinet has approved the creation of Sugnu SDC Circle under Waikhong Sub-Division in Thoubal District.

He said although the proposed SDC Office will be helpful to the people of 11 villages including some hill villages such as Mahou (Tera), Toupokpi and Tonsen Khullen, the decision was not referred to the Hill Areas Committee.

Continuing that it has been repeatedly reminded that land matters in so far as related to Hills areas are within the purview of HAC, by virtue of Article 371 C and subsequent order, 1972, it said however, as always, the State government has again made a ploy decision to include hill villages under the proposed Sugnu SDC Circle of Thoubal district, which is unacceptable.

People may consider such decision as arbitrary, it said.

It said the government shall never forget that Manipur consists of hills and plains, and they are governed under separate Acts.

Hill areas are governed by the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Council Act, 1971, and valley areas are covered by the Manipur Land Reforms and Land Revenue Act, 1960, it said.

Their areas of operation have been clearly demarcated by the Article 371 C, and cannot be infringed upon each other.

He said it is unconstitutional and illegal, and cannot be accepted by hill people. Inclusion of Hill Villages to the proposed SDC Circle of plain areas or any part of the Hill districts shall be considered invasion of rights and land of hill people in violation of constitutional provisions, parliamentary legislation and State legislations, he said.

It is another ploy of the State government to “annex the hill areas for the advantages of plains”, because, there are no other reasons why the hill villages that govern by separate Acts has to be brought into the plains, he said.

State Cabinet is incompetent to take decision on land matters of hills without referring the matter to the HAC, he said before adding that he has no objection against the decision of the cabinet for creation of Sugnu SDC Circle.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/chandel-mla-claims-sugnu-sdc-circle-a-ploy-to-annexe-hill-villages/

CHURACHANDPUR, December 2: SoO signatory groups UPF and the KNO in a joint appeal have said that the outfits are hurt by the fact that a tribal community has been forced to declare certain things against their wish.

The joint statement was signed by convenor Calvin H and co-convenor TS Haokip.

It said it is unfortunate to learn that, on November 20 a stone was erected at Aimol Satu, Chandel district stating that the Aimol is of the Naga tribe.

This, the joint appeal stated, was reportedly carried out under the pressure from certain armed group further adding “In this regard, the Kuki National Organization (KNO) and United People’s Front (UPF) would like to state that there is no better time than today where we should strive for tribal unity.

The Aimol tribe of Manipur is relatively a small community, their distinct existence, historical and ethnical rooms deserve to be appreciated by all in accordance with the international human rights philosophy.

“As we are aware the government of India and NSCN (IM) had signed a framework agreement and the KNO and UPF have also entered a very critical stage in the peace process. This political development is welcomed step collectively taken by the government and the concerned group for political survival of the tribal.”

We therefore fervently appeal to all concerned to desist from taking steps that can hurt the sentiments of other people and upset the peace process” the joint appeal stated.

Both the KNO and UPF will like to maintain cordial and mutual respect and peaceful co- existence will all community of Manipur, particularly with the other hill tribes of the State, it said.

Further it is our humble appeal to other armed groups to discontinue their adversarial activities toward the Aimol people in the interest of the larger tribal unity, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/kuki-outfits-react-to-aimol-stone-erection-incident/

IMPHAL, November 2: A 16-year old girl has alleged she was raped and abandoned by a 20 year old boy known to one of her friends on November 22.

The shocking incident was revealed during a fact finding programme conducted by Women Action for Development and a team of media persons as part of the organisation’s 16-days of activism.

The girl Nidhi (name changed) said on November 20, around 8pm her friend Suman (name changed) who was temporarily staying at their home called her out.

She said she was forcibly taken on a boat by her friend, her boyfriend and another friend (accused) of the boyfriend to someplace known to the accused and stayed for the night there.

Her friend wanted to elope with her boyfriend, she said.

Amu (name changed) the boyfriend’s friend raped her next morning, even as her friend and the boyfriend held her, she alleged.

Afterward when she confronted the three, they took her to Amu’s village in Kakching area with the assurance of telling his elders about them eloping, but the elders rejected her, she continued. Then she found Amu had left her alone and ran away, she said.

Depressed by the incidents, she jumped into a pond and tried to kill herself but was saved by some passers-by, she added.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that a case has been registered with the Bishnupur Women Police Station and a forensic test has been conducted to confirm rape at the RIMS.

The concerned OC of the WPS said the accused is still absconding.

She said it is found that the accused was an adopted son and that his adopted parents have already disowned him.

The OC told this reporter that all possible means are being utilised to find the accused at the earliest.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/minor-allegedly-raped-and-abandoned/