Manipur News

IMPHAL, Feb 22: As a part of the preparations for the 45th Annual Sports Festival 2015 to be held during the upcoming Yaoshang Festival in the first week of March 2015, Citizens`™ Club today conducted a one day cleanliness campaign under the theme `Games are more fun in a clean environment`.

The campaign covered areas around the club at Soibam Leikai, Wangkhei Khunou, Imphal East, where the said sporting event and various other programmes will be conducted during the festival.

While interacting with the media, President of Citizens`™ Club, W Rajen Singh, Director IPR, who was leading the campaign stated that Citizens`™ Club, which is one of the oldest clubs in the state, has been organizing such sports festival annually for the last 44 years besides conducting various other social and educational programmes with a view to promote the youth of the area in the field of sports and education.

He said that a clean environment is necessary for any sporting event. And keeping that in mind, the club is organizing the cleanliness campaign under the theme `Games are more fun in a clean environment`.

He further appealed to the people of the locality to keep their surroundings neat and clean in view of the upcoming sports festival.

Today`™s cleanliness campaign which was started at 7:00 a.m, was participated by members of the four Panas of Citizens`™ Club along with the local people of the area.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/games-are-more-fun-in-a-clean-environment/

IMPHAL, February 22: The DIPR APO (Press), Th Samo, in response to the allegation made against him by the Editors`™ Guild Manipur, has in a press release clarified that the dispute between him and a member of the guild was personal and nothing more.

The release of the APO said he was acting only as per the provisions of the freedom of speech guaranteed to him by the Indian Constitution. He also said the same Constitution does not empower any journalist to barge into enter a government officer`™s room and bang the table.

He further returned the charge that pressmen are not above the law, further noting that this is so for any individual, be it Mobi or the president of whatever media organization.

He charged that he reprimanded Mobi on that day because he came inside his room and started banging his table. He however refuted there was ever a physical assault on Mobi although it was only respect the law which made him refrain.

He clarified that the incident was only a personal matter between two individuals and nothing official. Complaining about it to the government and demanding his removal from his post or boycotting anyone on the matter is going against media ethics, he charged.

Samo`™s note said Mobi should know that a government is not under any pressman threatening if Mobi tries to further tarnish his name, he will take up legal course of action. `Mobi should not try to take advantage of the post he is holding, and also should not disseminate wrong information to the newspapers`, he said.

It may be mentioned here that the Editors`™ Guild Manipur yesterday announced the boycott of the Chief Minister of Manipur, his Council of Ministers and all ruling MLAs.

According to yesterday`™s release of the Editors`™ Guild Manipur, the step was taken following the passing of the deadline of February 20 the guild set to remove Samo from his post, after a series of meeting with the Chief Minister.

The EGM has alleged that Th Syamo, APO (Press), DIPR verbally assaulted and physically threatened the president of EGM A Mobi when he visited his office along with the secretary general EGM Yumnam Rupachandra.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/apo-samo-calls-dispute-with-egm-member-personal-matter/

IMPHAL, February 22: With the speculations of forming of government in J&K in coming days through PDP-BJP collaboration, Save Sharmila Solidarity Campaign (SSSC) has appealed leadership of the two parties to take AFSPA repeal demand on a serious note and on priority.

`We, at SSSC believe that though collaboration may be an effort to provide stability of political situation in J&K, the real objective of government formation, that is respecting people`s mandate can be only done though Repeal of AFSPA as a top priority,` said a release of SSSC.

`We see that joining hands of PDP and BJP was on hold due to few reasons and one of these includes AFSPA also, whereas at individual level, Repeal AFSPA can be not only beneficial for PDP but can also justify this collaboration that is being criticised by many. It is an opportunity for BJP also to respect rights of people,` it further said.

On other side, BJP state leadership in Manipur had already promised to repeal AFSPA before parliamentary election but till now, nothing such action has been taken, it said.

Now, in J&K again, PDP and BJP again show that they negotiated and now agreed to have discussion of phase wise withdrawal of AFSPA, it continued.

`We, at SSSC see that this negotiation must not be only `show off` and to pretend before people that parties care about them, instead there must be unconditioned phase withdrawal of AFSPA as a reality on ground,` it said.

People of J&K are suffering from serious human rights violations, AFSPA has recorded as one of worst acts of India and even many proved cases of fake and cold blooded killings, rapes and impunity counted under AFSPA have come before media, civil society, state and judiciary. But till now, the act is surviving. All the efforts of raising demands to its repeal have been failed till now before the rigidity of state, it said.

SSSC has appealed to these parties to start their day with repeal of AFSPA. It has also appealed to people of J&K and leaders and civil society activists of state to come forward to pressurise these political leaders.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/repealing-afspa-must-be-on-priority-of-pdpbjp-collaboration-sssc/

KANGPOKPI, Feb 22: The Joint Action Committee on Kadangband killing today resolved to suspend the ongoing economic blockade with immediate effect but cautioned the Government that an extreme agitation could be resumed at any time and place depending on the sincerity and integrity of the magisterial inquiry report.

The decision to suspend the ongoing stir of the JAC came after the joint meeting of the Joint Action Committee with various Kuki civil bodies at Imphal today.

Thangminlen Haokip, convener of the JAC said at the meeting, considering the advice of the Kuki Inpi Manipur, the apex Kuki body, the JAC has resolved to suspend the ongoing economic blockade with immediate effect.

Blaming the state Government`™s indifference and lack of interests for the whole gamut of agitation the JAC convener said that if the government had the sense to show some concern considering the sentiments of the agitators this five day economic blockade may not have been initiated in the first place.

He continued that during the blockade no untoward incident occurred as all the truckers or transporters have respected their cautions vis-à-vis the prevailing tensions while articulating hope that transporters as well as the general public will continue to comprehend the wrongdoings of the ARs and continue to support their cause in the fight against AR`™s atrocities in future too.

The Convener also claimed that during the blockade the JAC has taken utmost care to provide an atmosphere conducive enough for the students to appear their exams without any problem while ensuring disturbance-free conditions for the students from day one.

`Our resolve to launch the economic stir is just a tip of an iceberg`, maintained Thangminlen Haokip before cautioning that if the government continues to be indifference to our sentiments in future we will resort to other extreme measures and agitate in a language they can understand, the cost of which will be heavy.

The apex body of the Kuki people in Manipur, the Kuki Inpi, Manipur had earlier appealed the JAC against the killing at Kandangthabi to suspend the economic blockade it launched, expressing concern over the five-day economic blockade imposed by its subordinating Kuki civil bodies in a press release.

The press release issued by Kuki Inpi general secretary Khaimang Chongloi said students are going through a fear psychosis during the ongoing exams which does not augur well.

Regarding the Kadangband killing incident, Kuki Inpi, Manipur has held a discussion with the concerned District Magistrate on February 19 at its office about the magisterial inquiry. The DM informed that the magisterial inquiry has been constituted progressively while also apprising about the nature and framework of the inquiry commission to the Kuki Inpi leaders, it said.

The DM assured the leaders of complete impartiality and transparency in the inquiry while also expressing his resolve to finish the inquiry, and to present a report within the stipulated two months given to him by the government, it said.

Considering the difficulties faced by candidates of HSLC & HSSCL exams and the assurance of the District Magistrate to speed up the inquiry for its early culmination within the stipulated time, the Kuki Inpi is of the opinion that it is prudent to appeal to the JAC to suspend the economic blockade for the time being.

The Kuki Inpi, Manipur would reiterate that the Kadangband killing issue does not involve a particular group or tribe but it is an issue which is central to all the Kuki people. The excesses of the AR have already crossed all limits. If AR chooses to continue its reign of terror on the people of Manipur, a mass uprising against the AR is not ruled out in the near future, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/jac-suspends-stir-says-extreme-agitation-can-resume-any-time/

IMPHAL, Feb 22 (NNN): Nearly 300 Imphal-bound loaded trucks are stranded on the two main national highways (NH-2 and NH-37) on the last day of the five-day economic blockade on national highways.

The economic blockade imposed by the joint action committee formed in connection with January 28 Kadangband shoot out incident that killed two persons including a senior functionary of KNF by troops of Assam Rifles is due to end by Sunday midnight.

A report said that around 230 Imphal-found loaded trucks were stranded at Henbung taxation check post of Senapati district on NH-2. Some of the trucks were stranding there for the last few days while most of them arrived today from Dimapur side.

Another report said that at least 41 loaded trucks coming from Jiribam side where stranding at Leingangpokpi area on the stretch of NH-37 awaiting security escorts.

All the stranded trucks most of them ferrying essential commodities are likely to proceed toward Imphal after this midnight with the end of the blockade.

In the meantime, a highly reliable source said that the Tribal Blind Association Chandel district has decided to resume its indefinite bandh in Chandel district which also covers Imphal-moreh section of NH-102 from tomorrow (Monday) morning at 6 am.

The bandh imposed by the body was suspended yesterday (Saturday) after the circle MLA gave assurance to air its demands to the chief minister while convincing to arrange a meeting between the chief minister and representatives of the agitating body.

The Tribal Blind Association Chandel decided to resume the bandh reportedly after the MLA withdrew his assurance today.

A meeting of the body held this afternoon has decided to resume the indefinite bandh from tomorrow, the source added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/02/over-300-loaded-truck-stranded-on-highways/