Manipur News

By RS Jassal
General.  I was happy to be invited to attend a one day Seminar on NH 102 – Challenges and Effective Management held at Pallel sometime in October 2011 organised by 26 Sect Assam Rifles under aegis of IGAR(S).  It was attended by important officials of NCB (Narcotics Control Board), Customs Department {(Revenue), Govt. of India}, Wild Life and Forest Department (Govt. of Manipur), State Taxation Department, Intelligence Bureau (IB), State Police Department and all the CO’s of the Assam Rifles posted along or astride NH 102.

Aim. The aim was to bring all the above agencies to a common platform with a view to know each other organisationally, to appraise themselves of Acts and various Regulations, powers and limitations specially caused by insurgent’s activities in the state and to share the expertise and views towards effective management of NH 102 because of its importance and being the main surface  linking to Myanmar very important  for us.

Conduct.  Mr VS Shahasane, Regional Director, NCB gave detailed information about the National Policy on Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances based on the Directive Principles in  Article 47 of the Constitution of India under NDPS Act, 1985.  NCB as a Central authority has an aim to effectively prevent and combat abuse of illicit trade, move and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.  It achieves its aim by coordinating its actions with the State Government and other agencies.  So their organizational setup, Act, Rules involved, apprehension of offenders, punishments by courts, disposal of seized goods and suspects to authorities concerned for a trial were of great learning value  for all who attended to understand the overall picture.  Due to unfavourable situation created by the insurgent activities which prevents them from discharging their duties properly and their expectation and help from the Assam Rifles, synergy required with Police and Civil  Administration were covered in detail in a very simple and absorbing manner.

Customs Deptt also gave detailed setup of their Land Custom Station (LCS) at Moreh for Controlling Trade, Board of excise and custom as a Part of the Department of Revenue under the Min of Finance, GOI.  This department deals with implementing Policy concerning levy and collection of Customs and Central excise duties, prevention of smuggling and administration of matters related to customs, central excise and Narcotics to the extend CBEC under preview.  The participants learned about their organizational setup, difference between legal and controlled goods, role of duties imposed for various items and quantum of punishment to offenders and steps required to plug loopholes.  They also projected their expectations and help required from the Assam Rifles in view of the insurgency.

In addition to above, State Taxation Department have also setup many check gates along NH 102 and their Policy Perspectives keep on fluctuating.  Thus check gates/ tactics keep on changing.  The functioning of the State Police as role players in this chess game is known to almost all. The Assam Rifles being CPMF though not directly meant for assistance in these operations since  mainly tasked for Counter Insurgency Operations to keep NH 102 safe for passage, also gets naturally involved under directions from Central authorities to ward off interference by the insurgents, where multi parallel routes go side by side coupled with many unknown routes available through the porous borders with Myanmar.  Players in this game of making easy money, involvement of expert public carriers, powerful persons both in the social circles & aided by some strong politicians and OGW’s (Over Ground Workers) was also discussed.  On many occasions the role of undergrounds comes into lime light through media that they are protecting the cultivation of Poppy and conduct of business in Heroin.  However in a recent news in media, RPF (Revolutionary Peoples Front) have put blame on SFs that it is they who are patronizing the snakes and ladders trade of the contraband items so that the youths of Manipur remain addicted to drugs and Manipur remains as it is afflicted with HIV/AIDS for reasons quite obvious.

Whatever may be the allegations, counter allegations from SF/UG, I feel without going into side of anyone, we must appreciate that every segment of the society and the officials of Govt agencies want that THIS MENACE must be eradicated.  If all join hands, the task for Government agencies can go easy and situation will become manageable once UG’s also feel that this evil must stop to see a healthy Manipur. Even otherwise, when allegations/counter allegations are evaluated with factual data what  SF’s and Govt agencies are doing together, the UG’s allegations stand nowhere near by to their accusation that  Govt agencies are patronising the cultivation which readers can see in the following paragraph.   There is one major success story to quote where poppy cultivation has been stopped.  Most of the Intellectuals are aware of the fact that when China started to build their nation in acquired territories they realized that Yunnan- Kumning area which were known producers of this drug substance, under some notorious & rouge Generals must be neutralised.   They decided to push out such persons from their territories South/ South East i.e. Salween hills/valley.  They succeeded in this mission.  Their move  towards north was denied to them and those groups got tagged to create Golden Triangle and their business found opening in south & south-west through Kachin area of Burma to  India – Afghanistan – South America (Colombia) The other story is of Mon District of Nagaland.  Up to late sixties the entire Mon area specially touching into Khonsa and Namnasa (Sonari of Assam) had got completely devastated by the addiction of all and sundry to ganja & puffing of poppy powder in various forms.  Members of Mon Students Organisation who were generally studying outside the state, decided to put an end to it.  So they destroyed the crops under protection of village elders through awareness cautioning  on the damaging consequences of losing their populations and also sought Govt assistance to give villagers an alternative.  Govt went jubilant, maize seeds, and other fruits saplings like pears, peaches, banana,  were provided.  And today there is not even a single cultivator who grows this crop. These are two success stories. Drugs make youth and adults lethargic, dis-interested and they ultimately fall prey to AIDS/HIV and insolent dependency.

Conclusion.  Seminar conducted by HQ 26 Sector AR under aegis of IGAR(S) was highly successful in giving a common platform to all concerned agencies to know each other’s functioning and direct their efforts to control this menace.  Our young generation are the most affected thousands of widows/ and widowers are there now.  There are number of NGO’s who work for seminars and criticise Government agencies rather than taking local area activists along  and exhort youths  to educate locals not to grow this type of crops and help eradicate the growing of this crop, its  trade and its use.  This  envisaged achievement which looks like just beginning of a crusade to make Manipur “Drug Free State”, can be made possible only by  well kindered, calibered, synergy between SFs people  and the Central Narcotic Drugs officials under the leadership of various SF Commanders and with full cooperation from Director Narcotics like Mr VS Shahasane.

In recent past, 26 Sector AR and its units have done successful operations in destroying 1200 acres of poppy crops since last two years.  The areas of Saijik Tampak- Khengjoi-Joupi have been absolutely cleared and encouraging note is villagers have shown no interest to revive the cultivation which means people wish to get rid of this, provided they get alternative crops.  Similar, action was taken by 27 Sector AR in Southern Churachandpur  with  then 30AR in lead and destroyed almost 1000 acres, areas and 73 Mountain brigade have now done it in area Aina  on borders of Senapati and Tamenglong districts and destroyed 750 acres of crop  with  46 AR/38 AR and with 6/8 Gorkha Rifles in Joupi area. 59 Mtn Bde with 43 AR destroyed complete crop in Saikul sub division  a year  back &  5AR intercepting almost  8 tons of processed ganja from Maram to Tadubi check posts. Government agencies, six of them engaged in same task will be too happy to complete their job if RPF and other likeminded UG organisations also decide to take similar actions on their own to see Manipur bloom as Drug free society.  To conclude the Seminar was conceptualised under visionary and missionary  zeal  of Maj Gen UK Gurung, YSM.  though , he could not personally attend the programme  since was held up at some interior post waiting for hepter lift, but conveyed his vision through Sector Commander.   26 Sector AR under command of Brig Upendra Dwivedi deserves appreciations to have organised the seminar which is urgent necessity of the times.  Conduct of the event by Col Ravroop Singh was excellent and active participation by SP Chandel with  his DIG and Prof CH Priyaranjan of Manipur University who presented the key note with equal  concern and clarity

End Note. It needs multipronged thrusts to make people forget about poppy cultivation. 
(a) Synergetic, effective and harsh measures against the defaulters by the ED (Enforcement Department) are  required.

(b) Ethical approach i.e. to induce others kids to make them mentally, psychologically and economically week at cost of making profits for self and a few is a crime against humanity and God.

(c) Horticulture, Floriculture, Pissiculture and herbal plantation to go thousand percent in Social Sector as North East is rich in bio-diversity deposits.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/02/nh102-challenges-seminar-and-threats-to-peace-in-manipur/

By Dr. Thamsing Lamkang
The world today, we can simply say that ‘the love of money’ seems to destroy everything, no doubt about it. Politics is good for many reasons but when the politicians try to muscle their power through money, it destroys. It is evident, nowhere is no secrets that destroys the peaceful co-existence of the people living together as one-humanity. The politicians use money to sell and buy their power and it becomes their god. They’re capable to rule and destroy the dreams of common people, simply by making some arbitrary decisions! There almost exists a conflict of interest between materialism and any other cause, including people’s live. Satan uses material things to lord it over men. Thus, greediness owns everything, showing the world that he is rich and powerful.

In a decade’s past people became more selfish and greed for money, motivated in craving more than others, and it’s a big ‘SIN’. Being jealous of neighbors and not wanting to settle for anything below their level, it’s also a big ‘SIN’. And it has to do with money and political power. The wrong mind-sets to have more than others, I don’t care what happens to others! The Election could be a good time to examine the power of money in politics, and that hampered the peaceful coexistence of people living together in peace and harmony.

Men’s reaction seems to oppose anything that does not promote money or power. Basically the society in Northeast India is grounded in this; the interplay between money, politics and power. It is the reason why those who have huge financial assets are able to dominate. And the powerful people are those with money. It is, what’s more, a philosophy of life, the philosophy of material success, of power and, often, of political deceit. But wise people know the limit of being rich and powerful, yet, they can’t ignore, because God is not their priority in life!

The seriousness of the matter is that these ‘enemies’ can rob your spiritual reward. Always remember that if you give into the pressure, if you allow them to govern your lives. They are real enemies which infiltrate your lives without you realizing it. They make you think in the same way as the rest of the society; you feel obliged to have the same motivating force, and give importance to the same things. You then stray from your own objectives, and so you have your prize taken away, which is in God. In the ‘Olympic Games of our spiritual life’, money and power stops you from participating and winning the most important prize, the crown of ‘Eternal Life’.

Unfortunately, it’s not only these external enemies that you are concerned with. Equally dangerous are the enemies inside your lives. Yes, although it seems hard to believe, your own sin is your worst enemy. It shows itself in hundreds of different ways, egoism, pride, envy, jealousy, giving into temptation… and the worst of it is that you are often unaware of what is happening and taking place around you because of your wrong and negative decision making.

Millions of people base their hopes on material possessions which have no future, others grasp at religions which make no sense, and many are full of fear for what could happen. There are men and women who are cheated by those who ‘buy and sell the truth’, people who are not concerned about their final destiny. Many go to hell by way of false teaching, sects and the so-called ‘enlightened ones’- many people whose future is eternal condemnation.

We should be ready, ready to do battle against the enemy that wants us to disqualify your receiving the crown of life, whether it is from outside or within you. We have the right to work for the eternal crown; no one should take it from you or allow others to lose that crown, because it is Everlasting. Don’t let others walk on your shoes. Don’t strike and sin for the sake of retaliation but be rather kind and gentle for Christ sake and you’ll be rewarded with ‘the crown that’ll last forever’. God has promised us the victory in these kinds of situation.

What you do on earth determines your reward in heaven! On the day you die, what will you take with you? You may have all the money in the world-but it’ll all stay here. You may have all the admirers in the world-but they’ll stay here. You may enjoy the best social position that you know, but when you die, you won’t take that position with you. You may have the most beautiful houses, material possessions, land, and cars-but will all stay here. You may have everything necessary to live the good life-but one day you’ll have nothing. You’ll leave everything behind.

One of the greatest moral stories being told even today is about the Great Emperor Alexander: When he was on his dying bed he was asked for his last dying wish. He told his minister; let both of my hands be put outside the coffin box. His minister asked him my lord, if your people question me, what does it means to keep the Emperor’s hand outside the coffin. He said, “Let the world knows that, even the Great Emperor like me dies without taking a single penny, but an empty handed.” So that my people will not pile up wealth, instead use their wealth for the welfare of others, especially to comfort the poor and needy. Can we learn something out of it?

If you’re believer don’t let the love of money take away your Eternal Crown. The important thing about money is ‘whether it’ll save your life or it destroys’. We shouldn’t forget that the Government fund is regarded as God’s money; you’re only entrusted to manage and deliver for the purpose. How do you handle that you’re entrusted with, it will determine your destiny!

The last but not the least, the Bible says in Col. 2: 18 “Do not let anyone…disqualify you from the prize”.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/02/peace-is-being-destroyed/

By Jenson Rajkumar
When hurdlers across the world are practicing with hurdles on the track, their Indian counterparts are hoping to overcome hurdles of a very different kind, the one that it faces from the Indian Government. Athletes in India are only remembered when the Olympic Games or the Asian games draw nearer. Otherwise the Indian Government keeps the list of athletes in their cupboards.

So as usual, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and the athletes will be more on the focus as the summer games in London draws nearer. Have they been in exile since Beijing and Guangzhou? The main culprit for this is the lack of focus of the Indian Government towards sports apart from cricket.

The positive thing is, from the past 3-4 years, Olympic sports (which includes each and everything apart from cricket) has been on the rise in terms of the attention given to them. There are many boxers, wrestlers and many talented sportspersons have been given financial benefits, sponsorships etc. this will certainly help in motivating these sportspersons. But are these enough?

To some extent, these are good. But the scene including both the Indian athletes and the Government is very short lived. Whenever an athlete comes back from an athletics meet victorious, they will be given a rapturous welcome, which they deserve. Cash, Government jobs, awards etc. etc. will be announced, athletes will enjoy their moment of fame. And after a few months, there will be utter silence and those athletes did their country proud, will be kept in the dark. With the exception of a few lucky ones who’ll get some advertisement contracts and sponsorships, many of the names will be forgotten and it will be another case of has been.

In India, there is belief that if you are going to make sports as your profession then you have to do it in cricket. I’ve seen many small kids, after school, going to the ground with a cricket kit bigger than them. Many of you must have seen it. But how many of us have seen kids with a running and going to the track, or even with a football stud and going to the football field. Sad but true, but these are very rare. This shows the lack of attention given to sports other than cricket. The result can be seen in the Olympic Games, Indian contingent will be always small.

Even if the focus is given to other sports, it will be given to only a few people. Why only a few? Why not in hundreds, thousands? The answer will always be the same to questions of this type, inadequate facilities and budget problems. It is irrational, completely irrational. What about the things which has always been promised in the budget? How much is the Government going to lose if they are to lay a new track for track and field athletes? Even if they don’t build a stadium, they can at least put a track. Even a tiny country has produced many outstanding athletes, and they are starting to dominate the world in track and field. What is the reason? Proper scouting and grooming of raw talents. When they can do it, why not India, which is many times bigger in terms of size and population.

It is appalling to know that there are talents in every nook and corner of the country, yet they are not being scouted. It is always a case of ifs and buts. As an Indian, I want my country to be represented on the Olympic map and do it in style. If only there are many eyes on other sports (not only cricket), then it would have been a different story. I wish the athletes who will represent the country at the upcoming summer Games all the best. Do us proud.  

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/02/indian-athletics-and-its-hurdles/