analysis – Manipur News

Art and violence

It is a welcome development that dead bodies, especially horribly defaced victims of violence, have slowly but surely disappeared from the front pages of local dailies. Once upon a time, it was almost the thumb rule for the media here to grade newsworthiness of pictures by the gore and violence depicted. Crime reporting then was […]

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2016/11/art-and-violence/

Kidney and gall stones analysis

Kidney and gallstones represent a widely prevalent and costly health issue. The chemical composition of gallstones or kidney stones is essential to study the aetiopathogenesis of gallstone disease and to help identify the cause of the kidney stone and, where possible, to prevent the recurrence of more stones. Both health conditions are very common in […]

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Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2016/09/kidney-gall-stones-analysis/

Demography Watch: How Northeast India Was Christianised In The Last 100 Years

Source: Swarajyamag Northeast India forms a major region of Christian concentration in India today. Of the 2.78 crore Christians counted in 2011, 78 lakh are in the northeast (including Assam). This is the largest concentration of Christians in India after the coastal region stretching from southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala to coastal Karnataka, Goa and […]

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Is drafting a fresh legislation on ILP the answer ?

The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015 has been withheld by the President of India, while the other two Bills namely the Manipur Land Revenue & Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 and Manipur Shop & Establishment (Second Amendment) Bill, 2015 are still under examination by experts as per media reports. On query from those […]

Alcohol Industry and State Income

By Chingakham Dina and Arambam Karamjit Wine and alcohol is as old as the history of human being. It is dated back to 10,000 BC. It has history that meitei as well as other communities drank alcohol but the adoption of Vaishanavism by meiteis changed their food habit and stopping drinking at least openly

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2016/01/alcohol-industry-and-state-income/

Human Rights and Self-determination as prerequisites for real development

Professor Naorem Sanajaoba was an active upholder of human rights, as well as an academician – a most significant combination. He drew frequent comparisons between the situation in Manipur and in other regions in the world where people are struggling for democracy and greater autonomy in the face of harsh repression. Fundamental to the challenges

Developing Imphal City into a Smart City-Suggestions

By Dr Khomdon Lisam On 25 June,2015, the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi launched three ambitious projects (1) the Smart Cities Mission (2) Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban

How Smart Will Imphal Smart City Be?

How Smart Will Imphal Smart City Be? By Khwairakpam Gajananda In this era of science and technology, we have reached the moon, we are planning to live on the Mars

View of Imphal City. Photo by: Deepak shijagurumayum

How Smart Will Imphal Smart City Be?

By Khwairakpam Gajananda

In this era of science and technology, we have reached the moon, we are planning to live on the Mars and everyone has a desire to develop. Then the big question is, “how can we make it possible”? We need a vision, which must identify the potential risks and bottlenecks and their possible solutions in order to mobilize efforts in a focused manner. It is neither a prediction of what will actually occur, nor simply wish-lists of desirable but unattainable ends. It is a testimonial of what we believe is possible for Manipur to achieve, by fully mobilizing all the available resources like – human, technological and natural resources. Our effective strategies should focus on fully utilizing the man, material, technological and natural resources that we possesses—in the most rapid, efficient, organize and sustainable manner.

Every Nation or State, therefore, needs a vision, which should stir the imaginations and motivates its people to greater efforts. The denizens of Manipur should also share visions of prosperous Manipur, visions of winners, visions of leaders. Here, a vision is not just a public speech, conference proceeding, project report or a plan target—it is an articulation of the desired end results in broader terms.

Clearly, Imphal Municipal Council (IMC) has been experiencing the growth, parallel to some other cities of India. The contributions of Manipur to the World and India are already written in the golden book, because of which, today, we are known to many as, “Power House of Sports”, “Land of Polo”, “Land of Dancing Deer”, “Land of Siroi Lily”, “Land of Juko Lily”, “Land of Loktak Lake”, “Land of Women Markets” etc. These will clearly provoke our thoughts that, “How smart will Imphal Smart City (ISC) be?”

To answer the above question, we need to have focused objectives, such as: To identifies and apply appropriate technological advancement and conservation principles for the betterment of the ISC urban infrastructures and food security by protecting the natural environment. To pioneer in developing a new ISC, rather than to copy or follow others. To commit in disseminating indigenous knowledge and cultures at local, national and international levels. To show-case our indigenous products all over the world through entrepreneurships. To target better economic performances of the ISC. The ISC should also have the goals for food security, sustainable livelihoods, poverty alleviation, quality educations and jobs creations by mitigating the negative impacts on various factors and by sustainably utilizing the available resources.

Nonetheless, ISC will have many challenges to meet. Some of them are: Competition—no doubt Imphal City is supplemented by picturesque surroundings, still it has many growing challenges from various factors such as inter cities competitions, migrations and immigrations, environmental degradations, wastes problems, lack of proper infrastructures, pollutions, energy inefficiency etc. Health—lack of preventive, curative or palliative pharmaceutical or medical facilities to treat pandemic diseases. Urban Economy—lack of participation in building a strong financial capital of the State. Urban Safety— no Zero Accident City. Food Security—no proper facilities for processing and preservation of food grains, vegetables and fruits. Environment—no proper sustainable environmental conservations and tackling the major issues in a holistic approach. To meet the above challenges, ISC needs to plan itself. The plans should be systematically identified and evaluated by competent authorities of IMC, so that it can be implemented by giving utmost importance.

All over the world, urban and peri-urban agriculture is contributing to employment opportunities and income generations of households, operating as individuals and organized as micro and small enterprise operators, cooperatives and investors. It has also become an area of investment opportunity. Producers are able to satisfy their food need and supply the market with agricultural products mainly grains, crops, vegetables, poultry, milk, livestock, fruits, honey, tree crops etc.

In this scenario, the utilizations of wastewater and biodegradable solid wastes have high potential for reuse in agriculture; an opportunity for increasing food and environmental security, avoiding direct pollution of rivers, canals and surface water, conserving water and nutrients, conserving lands and landscapes. Thereby, reducing the need for chemical fertilizer and disposing of municipal solid wastes and wastewater in a low-cost sanitary way. The WHO’s international guidelines on wastewater reuse in agriculture and aqua-culture and recommendations of wastewater treatments are considered by many governments as the legal framework. Roughly, 10% of the world’s urban wastewater is currently being used for irrigation. However, industrial wastes, such as heavy metals, acids and derivatives of plastics, and organic and inorganic components of human wastes—pose serious health and environmental threats. Prolong contacts of solid wastes and wastewater poses numbers of health and environmental risks for users and communities.

Therefore, the preparations for growth and growth plan for ISC should be, to develop capabilities to meet the challenging demand for urban populations, industries and environment. Diversification of ISC into the emerging areas, in line with the changing trends of the World and the advancement of the infrastructures and technologies is required. There should be focus on the expansion of ISC activities with increase in workforces and infrastructures. IMC should also tap the potential Human Resources. Incorporate the improvements of the human life styles, health, environment, and mitigation of the urban poor. All these can be achieved through; improvement of work cultures, infrastructures, technologies, quality educations and health facilities.

Finally, realizing the ISC goals should not be an end in itself, but rather an essential condition for allowing the spirit of Manipur to emerge and flourish. The fresh minds and young Manipuri’s have immense potentials and ideas within them—that we just need a push. It is a joint responsibility of all of us present today in Manipur, and also for the future generations who will lead tomorrow, to continue the pace of developments by leaps and bounds to fulfill the visions of our Imphal Smart City.

The writer is an Associate Professor at Center for Environmental Sciences, CNS, Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia. He can be reached at gajkh@yahoo.com

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/how-smart-will-imphal-smart-city-be/

People of Manipur Protection Bill – Lost in Translation: Linda Chhakchhuak

By Linda Chhakchhuak 07 September, 2015 Countercurrents.org Some folklore say that Manipur is land of the three brothers. They are the Meitei, Naga and the Kuki communities. But as most

Manipur police truck has been burnt down by the agitators on the road at Churachandpur
Photo: Deepak Shijagurumayum

By Linda Chhakchhuak

07 September, 2015
Countercurrents.org

Some folklore say that Manipur is land of the three brothers. They are the Meitei, Naga and the Kuki communities. But as most brotherhood stories go they inevitably ended up disagreeing and quarrelling over the inheritance left by their fathers. This myth seems to sum up the history of this troubled northeastern state of India which is once again engulfed in blood, soot and tears.

This being an age in which the information highway passes through almost every hand with a mobile phone, the war cries, chest thumping and ill conceived rumors were mass knowledge in a span of few minutes, each post more virulent than the earlier one igniting ire. Not too soon after the by now famous three Bills were passed in the Manipur Legislative Assembly on August 31, the house of a Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) went up in flames. Homes of Manipur’s health minister Phungzathang Tonsing and five other MLAs were set afire during the protests. Eight persons died in the subsequent mob quelling actions by the state police.

The “angry mob” was people of the hills districts mad at their own tribal MLAs for not standing up against the three Bills which they claimed was a deviously diabolical game to take away their land rights and making them strangers in their own homeland.

The three Bills are The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh) Amendment Bill 2015 (MLRLR Bill 2015), The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015 and The Manipur Shops and Establishments Act (Second) Amendment Bill 2015, collectively meant to be the Government of Manipur’s solution to the months long demand for implementation of Inner Line Permit system by the Meitei organizations to protect them from the high rate of influx of outsiders. The states of Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have the ILP system which are British enactments made for their own benefit but vaunted as a wall against assimilation from outsiders today.

Obviously the polity is so steeped in local conspiracy theory that common people have not a shred of trust left in the persons they themselves had voted to represent them. On the other hand neither did the representatives or the Government make any effort to get public opinion before legislating on such a sensitive issue. That cost them their homes and credibility. But did people understand what they were they out in the streets for, braving bullets and death?

The MLRLR Bill 2015 clearly outlines the unenviable situation of the Meitei people, who inhabit the valley portion of the Manipur state. The state is 90 percent hills and 10 percent plains. But demography wise, the valley is packed with 60 percent of the total population of the state (27 lakhs plus). The density 731 persons as opposed to 61 persons in the hills just go to show what the valley people are up against. Under the main 1960 MRLR Act, Scheduled Tribes of the state who are native of the hills can buy land and settle down in the plains. On the other hand the plains based Meitei people are forbidden to acquire land in the hills by this same law. This same Law permits the Scheduled Tribe (ST) to sell off their lands in the valley with the provision that if they are selling it to a non-Scheduled Tribe it can be done only with the consent of the Deputy Commissioner. This would mean that if they are disposing it off to another Scheduled Tribe person, then it would not need any consent of the DC.

What seems to be happening as can be surmised from reading between the lines of the MRLR Amendment Bill 2015 is that there is an influx of ‘outsiders’, not so much as that of non-tribals from outside the state, but also of persons of affiliated kins-tribes from across the network of Kuki-Chin-Mizo community as well as Nagas from neighboring borders whether it is from Mizoram, Nagaland, Assam and Myanmar. Affiliated and based on close-knit kinship systems it is impossible to differentiate the ‘native ST’ from the ‘outsider Tribes’ in the state where the buying and selling of land may be happening. This is a cause of concern for the valley inhabitants of the Meitei heritage, who are struggling to keep their ancestral lands from slipping away right under their noses. They are a beleaguered people hemmed in by dozens of problems, the least of them being officially categorized as “non-tribal” , settled on the fulcrum of a tribal volcano of resentment. (Long ago they refused to be clubbed under the category of “Tribe” which they want reversed now but it is another complicated
story.)

Instead of directly dealing with the issue of influx, the MRLR (Seventh) Amendment Bill2015 seeks to curtail this transfer by invoking sale against the “Non Manipur Person”(NMP). The amendment is to ‘regulate the sale of land to Non Manipur Persons of the state so that the limited land in the valley is available to the permanent residents of the state in the interests of the general public.” From now on any sale and transfer of land in the valley to Non Manipur Persons of the state, firms, institutions or any other entities intending to purchase land will be done only after getting state government approval. This is actually a cry for space and the plight of the growing population of Meitei people and the other non-tribal residents of the tiny valley jostling for space with the Scheduled tribe people who have the upper hand as far as the right to buy or sell land in the state is concerned.

The MRLR (Seventh) Amendment 2015 is supported by The Protection of Manipur People Bill, 2015. The objective of this Bill is to regulate the entry and exit of Non Manipur Persons and tenants. It defines who are the “Manipur People” in Clause 2 section (b) which says “b) “Manipur people” means Persons of Manipur whose name are in the National Register of Citizens, 1951 Census Report 1951 and Village Directory of 1951 and their descendants who have contributed to the collective social, cultural and economic life of Manipur;. This is the clause which has raised mayhem among the Kuki affiliate tribes and the Nagas who say, rightly, that during the early fifties there was hardly any infrastructure or government presence capable of capturing the whole population of the region in a register.

But these misgivings should have melted as the Bill carries a caveat in Paragraph 8 which unequivocally states that the persons to be exempted under the provisions of this Bill are “the native people of the state of Manipur.” The Bill does not give details about this, but going by definition by the heavyweight expert on Manipur, T C Hodson it refers to the Meitei, Kuki and Naga of the state.

Predictably, politicians of all hues and categories from the inside the state and the neighboring regions of Manipur have lost no time in fishing in troubled waters of Manipur. They should know better as the same equations of conflict are just a spark away in their own homes and states.

(Linda Chhakchhuak is an independent Journalist and anthropologist, based in Shillong, Meghalaya)

‘Us’, ‘them’ and an elusive peace – Dr. Malem Ningthouja

Manipur has often been the setting for violent agitations, with those behind them demanding the implementation of an Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in order to define and protect “insiders”

Meitei and Kabui women stage protest demanding Inner Line Permit System at Konung Mamang in Manipur

Manipur has often been the setting for violent agitations, with those behind them demanding the implementation of an Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in order to define and protect “insiders” from buying up land on the one hand, and from the unregulated entry of “outsiders” on the other. All this can be traced to the core — in the agitations of 1920, 1935, and 1965, when sections targeted the “outsider” monopoly in trade. The agitations, in 1980, 1994, and from 2006 onwards, have been primarily against unregulated immigrants who bought up land and immovable properties.

The agitations have been motivated by the situation that has set alarm bells ringing following unrestrained demographic pressure by “outsiders” and the need for an ILP as it exists in Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram and Nagaland. The ILP is required for ‘other’ Indian citizens to enter Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. The objective has been to prevent outsiders from buying up land and owning natural resources in Manipur. But these stirs have been confined to the Manipur valley, which is about 9 per cent of the geographical area and where 61.54 per cent of the enumerated population (Census 2001) comprises the majority community Meitei, tribals and others living together. Interpretations of the campaign have been along communal lines, probably because it was concentrated in the valley and led by Meitei-based organisations.

Geo-community projection

The apparent Meitei orientation of the agitation has been obvious since minimal tribal presence in the valley has been juxtaposed with Meitei predominance and tribal organisations in the hills that have deliberately maintained an opaqueness about a supporting role. A visible role for the Meitei is clear as defending the territorial integrity of Manipur is dear to them and as they have been the front runners in being associated with other popular movements to protect land and resources from being consumed by controversial projects.

The ILP agitation has been the brainchild of Meitei organisations for two basic reasons. First, its geographical epicentre has been the valley where there has been increasing pressure on land as a result of population growth. This includes migrations by outsiders and continuous “land grabbing” by the government for the setting up of military establishments and other infrastructure, which led to systematic reduction of areas under primary economic activities. Second, Meiteis have been in the fore front of this as despite their known achievements in arts and culture, sport and other skills, they are deeply apprehensive of being marginalised and facing insecurity in Manipur.

This needs to be explained in detail. Despite the perception that identifies the Meitei with the valley, in reality, the valley is liberally open to all who can buy and own land and resources. This situation is what has promoted the large-scale migration of tribals and outsiders from other parts of India and also Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh. It is a one way migration that has deeply affected the psyche of many Meiteis, as they, as a result of being clubbed with non-tribals, are now constitutionally not permitted to own land both in the vast tracts of government reserved areas in the valley and in the hills of Manipur. However, the Meiteis consider the migration of tribals as a sign of integration and do not oppose it; what they are critical of and apprehensive about are the ‘outsiders’.

A form of restraint

Many Meiteis are worried that the numerical strength and growth of outsiders have now reached alarming proportions and there is a situation where they outnumber several small communities in Manipur; according to the 2001 census, there are 9.18 lakh Meiteis and others, 6.70 lakh tribals and 7.04 lakh outsiders. They predict a socio, cultural and economic domination by outsiders as a result of large-scale migration, especially after the extension of railway lines, trans-Asian highways and the expansion of market corridors towards Southeast Asian countries. They are also worried about unrestrained land grabbing in Manipur to facilitate hydro-electric projects, mining, and also oil exploration and drilling at the cost of the people and the ecology. Many have upheld that the implementation of the ILP or a similar law can act as a form of restraint to unregulated immigration and also prevent outsiders and companies/industry from taking control over the land and resources, especially in the valley, where there has been no protective law ever since the permit system was lifted by the Government of India in November 1950.

Following violent agitations that have often lasted months, the Government of Manipur and the Joint Committee on the Inner Line Permit System in Manipur (JCILPS) arrived at an agreement. Thus, on August 31, 2015, the Manipur Legislative Assembly passed three Bills, which were not to the complete satisfaction of pro-ILP sections. These are the Protection of Manipur People Bill 2015, which has fixed 1951 as the base year to detect outsiders; the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Amendment Bill 2015, and the Manipur Shops and Establishments Bill 2015. These Bills are being strongly opposed by the ‘tribal’ organisations in the Manipur hill districts, particularly those of the Kuki Chin Mizo-based organisations, and which have now been supported by Naga-based organisations as well.

Inter-community tensions

Agitators blocking the road by burning at churachandpur.
Photo: Deepak Shijagurumayum

Kuki organisations have opposed the ILP movement from spreading in Churachandpur and Chandel districts, which led to a violent clash on August 18, at the border town of Moreh. They have charged the Bills as being evidence of Meitei expansionism in the hills to expel a large section of Kukis. The propaganda has been appealing to many who are unhappy with the anti-Kuki stance and ‘refugee’ tag attributed to them by individuals from other communities. There has also been rivalry between Kuki underground organisations and those who have been identified as being with other communities. There could also be an element of fear as many of them — either people who might have migrated after 1951, or those whose lineages might not have been recorded in the list criteria — could be treated as outsiders. Other tribes have also expressed similar concerns.

The overall projection of the Bills as being pro-Meitei fails to holistically interpret the limitations of the cut-off year of 1951. This provision actually affects all, including some sections of the Meiteis and others who came to Manipur after 1951. It will also be practically difficult to detect and deport migrants who have close ethnic bonds with one or other ‘indigenous’ communities. But the polemics of insecurity have interplayed with the propaganda that the Manipur Land Revenue and Reform Act 1960 has been extended to the hill districts, which is untrue as there is no amendment in the territorial extent of the said Act.

BSF’s gypsy has been burnt down by the agitators inside the Churachandpur hospital
Photo: Deepak Shijagurumayum

The recent tensions, and which have been extensively reported in the media, might not have occurred had the Government of Manipur dealt with the situation in a better way. Instead of fully relying on the consent of the tribal MLAs, it could have also consulted the Hill Areas Committee or other responsible ‘tribal’ organisations in order to resolve any misunderstanding, before passing the Bills. On the other hand, neither the organisation that had led the ILP movement nor the tribal organisations who protested against the Bills had approached each other for mutual consent in this regard. The Kuki and Naga organisations were not insensitive to the primary objective of the cut-off year of 1951, as being primarily to target the ethno-culturally, distinguishable outsiders from other parts of India, Nepal and Bangladesh. They wanted to magnify the controversies arising from these Bills in order to invoke community sentiment, consolidate their respectively fractured communities, and to intensify the demand for either VI Schedule status for the tribes or different administrative systems for Kukis and Nagas. In this, there is tactical unity between Naga and Kuki organisations. This is understandable in the context of Naga enthusiasm towards the speeding up of some kind of pan-Naga integration under the proposed framework of the recent Peace Accord. This is something that the Kuki organisations are concerned about as this inspires the ‘Kuki’-based undergrounds that are under the Suspension of Order (SoO) with the government, to speed up their agenda to have either Pan Zomi Reunification or autonomous administration. The recently leaked Kuki National Organisation’s proposal to the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN-IM asserts: “Historically, the [Meetei or Manipur] Kingdom consisted of the valley areas, which today form the valley districts of Manipur… The Kuki and Naga peoples shall mutually respect one another’s identity and territory and maintain the best of fraternal relations and work together to preserve peace in the land and usher in progress and human welfare in the Kuki and Naga states.”

Now, when tensions have been fanned, there seems to be the role of certain vested political groups to add fuel to the fire in order to magnify the issue of unrest, and, in turn, use this as a reason to justify the imposition of President’s rule in order to unseat the incumbent Congress government. In this there is an interplay of political demagogy, adventurism and speculation. Unrest, rioting and repression have led to a heavy toll in terms of civilian life, the destruction of property and a creation of tension. If the Bills are the issue, is there no room to either clear the misunderstandings or add some clauses in the Bills to resolve the tension? If the Bills are just the spark, what role should the Government of India be playing to scale down the tensions? The question now is this: who will negotiate for peace with whom, at what cost, and for what purpose?

Malem Ningthouja

(Dr. Ningthouja is a Fellow at the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, and the author of three books on Manipur.)

** The article was first published in The Hindu and reproduced in KanglaOnline with permission from the author.

A journey to the Ngainga Village, Ukhrul – A village that can set an example of sustainable economic growth and autonomy of a village republic

By Chingtham Balbir Khuman On July 2, 2015, four of us from Imphal, comprising myself, Mr. Senjam Bishorjit (just completed graduation in Zoology from

By Chingtham Balbir Khuman

On July 2, 2015, four of us from Imphal, comprising myself, Mr. Senjam Bishorjit (just completed graduation in Zoology from the Liberal College), Miss Chingkheimayum Daya (Currently a teacher in a private school) and Miss. Chingkheimayum Sana (M. Sc. Mathematics, final year in the Manipur University) visited Ngainga village. The village, about 2348.17 hectares (5802.45 acres) in size, based on a hill top, inhabited by the Tangkhul community, is located in the western part of Ukhrul district, at about 17 km. from the district headquarters.

Ngainga Tarung Tree. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

Our interest to visit Ngainga grew stronger following an interaction with Dr. Malem Ningthouja of the Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur), who had visited the village in the winter of 2014, to find some documents related to the murder of Miss Luingamla by the Indian ‘security’ forces in 1986. We were being informed about the scenic beauty of Ngainga village, its calm and peaceful location, the comradely attitude of the villagers, and the prospect of sustainable development through community initiatives. We thought that, we must visit Ngainga, to have an overview idea about it and potential future planning.

Luingamla

The initial contact with responsible persons to guide and support us at Ngainga was arranged by the CPDM. Accordingly, we made contacts with the general secretary of the Women’s Union of Ngainga Mrs. Tharawon, the general secretary of the Tangkhul Katamnao Long Mr. Leiyolan Vashum, and Mr. Thankson and Mr. Deben of the Volunteers for Village Development, a non-governmental organization based in Ukhrul. Initially, Leiyolan was asked to guide us to the village from the Ukhrul town, as we are unaware of the route.

Our journey started, at around 6 a.m., from Imphal. On the way, at the Lamlai market, we bought some pineapples from the Lamlai market as aunty Tharawon was curious to have some piece of it, as those are not grown in her village. Other than pineapples, we took some edible water vegetables (stems, seeds and roots) such as eshing ekai thabi and thangjing, which were rarely grown in the hills.

As we drove in a car, we have discovered that the road, particularly after Lamlai, was dotted along with several stretches of the worst conditions, due to destructions brought about by rain. In several dotted stretches, running into several hundred meters, those were marked by muddy, rugged and slippery conditions. There were several risky curves and turnings. The situation considerably delayed the speed of driving to cover a distance of about 82 km from Imphal to Ukhrul. We could reach the Ukhrul town only at around 9:20 am. The road requires proper attention from the government and other stake holders.

Ngainga Babtist Church. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

At the Ukhrul town we were welcomed both by Leiyolan and Thankson. We were expecting a long interaction with Leiyolan about his activism and the organizational functioning of TKS. Unfortunately, Leiyolan could not spend much time with us, as he had to attend an urgent meeting that was called at short notice by the All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM). But we could sense that Leiyolan was an energetic and committed youth, with lots of responsibilities for cause of the society or community that had nominated him to the position. We are hoping to meet him again to learn from his experiences.

After bidding adieu to Leiyolan, the burden of guiding us to the VVD office and Ngainga was shouldered by Thankson. Thankson took us to the VVD office, where we met uncle Deben and some enthusiastic volunteers. The VVD was established in 1982 with the mission to create a society with sustainable livelihood where love, brotherhood and equitable life prevails: to enable self-help initiatives for strengthening the village republic. It was constituted by a General Body that periodically nominated an Executive Committee, which in turn supervise the activities of the Program Staff, Support Staff and Micro Finance. At the VVD office, we had a short preliminary interaction on two broad issues: (a) The Mapithel Dam and its fallout, and (b) Chromite drilling in Ukhrul.

Ngainga route guardless stalls. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

Both these issues are complex in nature, created by man of power. These two projects are the products of a where a microscopic clique of beneficiaries, who in collusion with the state and ‘investors’ had prospered (or likely to prosper) at the cost of the larger bulk of the marginal Tangkhul peoples. There are powerful stake holders that enacted legitimacy to exploit other through misinformation and use of muscle powers, at the cost of the ecological balance, sustainable development and peace for the Tangkhuls. The manner that these projects had been or would be executed can be studied to reveal how monetisation, commodification and intrusion by big and destructive capital had brought about greed for profit, mistrust, oppression, exploitation, and inequality in the Tangkhul world. These two issues can be the best reference to raise questions against the ideological position and strategic policies of the attempted pan- Naga ‘revolution’, which had been spearheaded by the armed parties such as the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (IM) and others.

Ngainga playground. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

The interaction at the VVD office was very cordial and enlightening. Uncle Deben was very energetic, open minded and practical in approach. He had spent many time there, worked with the people, ate with them and shared many things with the volunteers. He being from a Manipuri Brahmin (Meetei Bamon) family background; his commitment, lifestyle, and relation with the volunteers, who are from the scheduled tribes, to some extent deconstructed the prevailing stereotypes and polemics about discriminations, hatred and enmity along religious and communal lines. What was being upheld, at the grass roots, according to what we had noticed, was collective work amongst those who shared common objectives, who enjoyed doing it and who grew on it. Like uncle Deben, Thaknson was equally friendly, energetic and enterprising. He belong to the average middle class migrant family from Ngainga, who have now settled in the Ukhrul town. His nostalgia for Ngainga was persistent and he had the vision of contributing towards making Ngainga prosperous by making the village republic politically and economically self- generating.

Luingamla Kashan

After the interaction, we were guided upto the Ngainga village by Thankson. Although only about 17 km in distance from the Ukhrul town, there were many sloppy curves and turnings, which have slowed down the average speed of driving. It took us around 50 minutes to finally reach Ngainga. On the way, our eyes were completely overwhelmed by the enchanting scenic beauties of the green and blue mountains, the refreshing vegetation and forests on the road sides, the vibrant terrace cultivations, the dotted traditional dwellings and community settlements. It all appeared to be exotic, full of beauty and attractions, something like a dream that were hardly been imagined.

A unique feature, in the interior route on the way to Ngainga, which we had never noticed in our lifetime were the dotted vegetable stalls on the roadside. Those stalls had no attendants. Those stalls were marked by a platform where goods were placed on it, a price tag of the goods was fixed like a placard neatly written on a paper sheet, and a bag to put money by any customer who would purchase any of the items. The logic was: anyone buying anything from the platform would have to voluntarily drop the money into the bag. The degree of trust in sincerity, as indicated by these stalls, had surprised us a lot; in a world where the powerful sections (even amongst the Tangkhuls) have now become highly selfish for profit and would indulge in misappropriation at the cost of the marginal sections. In the so called civilized metropolitan cities, the malls and kiosks are guarded by gun holding guards and CCTV cameras to obstruct robbery and hijacking. The social picture shown to us by these unguarded stalls was totally different. It explained a robbery free society where mutual trust had prevailed above greed. We can’t predict, how long the tradition will continue. But, we were overjoyed to find it, which gives us lots of hope about building an alternative society free from the poisons of greed that has been perpetuated by the neo-liberal economy. The point is, how to carry forth to achieve the alternative society. How do we learn it from the society that enable to flourish the unguarded stalls?

Ngainga Church sponsored school hoardings. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

While approaching Ngainga, there were highly and colourfully decorated rows of cemetery on both sides of the road. This was how the Christianised Ngainga villagers constructed the mnemonic tools to respectfully remember the deaths, with lively colours; which also suggested that the deaths were not thrown into oblivion, but the burials were being made into a visually attractive sites of tourism as well. Compared with it, the so called martyrs square, which was constructed in memory of Mayopam Ramror and Ramkashing Vashi, near the mini-stadium, at Ukhrul town, who were killed in police action on 30^th August, 2014, was in a dilapidated condition, littered with dirt and garbage like wasted materials. In this regards, the so called civilised and patriotic peoples in the Ukhrul town needs to learn from Ngainga as to the manner mnemonic tools should be constructed and maintained, to preserve the aesthetic beauty and the meaning of patriotism embodied in such constructions.

Luingamla memorial, Ngainga village.

When we reached Ngainga, we were warmly welcomed by the members of the Ngainga Women’s Union at aunty Tharawon’s residence. By the time we had reached, since the people normally had their meal in the morning, we were already late for it. We were asked to have the meal before interaction with others and tour inside the village. In fact, three women had been preparing the meal that was rice and different varieties of simple cooked cuisines such as chicken curry, eromba, vegetable fry, singju, and boiled vegetables. The well prepared natural aroma of the food was tempting us a lot to jump into the kitchen. We, along with the aunty and others who were the host, sat around the dining table; the aunty led the prayer, after which we shared the delicious food. Thanks to the aunty and others for the food.

After the meal we had an interaction with the members of the Ngainga Women’s Union, Youth’s Union, Tangkhul Naga Long and elders of the village. They were all persons with wisdom, the respectable personalities in the village, and were very much considerate about developing the village. They carried in themselves the oral narrative of the genesis of the village, the past and present, the memories of various jubilant and unfortunate happenings, the undelivered service delivery expectations from the government, the landlocked landscape locations and hardships due to the neglect by the regimes in power, and the complaints against the moribund state system. Those persons of wisdom, tested us with several simple but thought provoking questions, which could not be satisfactory responded by powerless individuals like us, who had merely visited the village to learn from them. Those simple questions made us to realise how weak and powerless persons we were, and inspire us to rethink ourselves to learn more, to work more, and to find the adequate answers. We could not offer anything in return for the hospitality and food; instead, we receive from them more wisdom, which make us today more inquisitive towards finding the means to unite and fighting for an alternative world order.

Luingamla jewellery

After the interaction we had a short sightseeing tour in the village. In this, we came across the memorial tomb of Miss Luingamla Muinao (Maza) (1968-86), which was constructed and unveiled on 23 October 2011. Luingamla, daughter of late Suilei Mazawo, of Ngainga Village, was charming and hardworking She was fatally shot on January 24, 1986, inside her home by the Indian paramilitary personnel who were carrying out routine combing operation on the eve of the Indian Republic Day. It is being said that she was killed because she raised alarm while there was an attempt to rape her. People resented the killing and boycotted the Republic Day. From that year onwards, the date of the annual foundation day of the Ngainga Shanao Long was rescheduled on 26 January. Therefore, the Indian Republic Day in Ngainga Village since 1987 had been marked by the observance of the raising day of the women organisation. In the course of time, one Zamthingla Ruivah a woman neighbour of Luingamla, in memory of Luingamla designed a woollen cloth for women known as Luingamla Kashan, a piece of which was shown to us by our host. They also showed to us some pieces of necklace and earing that were designed and attributed to in the name of Luingamla. The inscriptions on the three faced column conveys the narratives of the brutal sexual crimes and murders committed by the Indian law enforcing agents, the valiant struggle by the helpless victims to protects the rights, chastity of women’s social being, and the memory of the tortures and pains. Inscription on one side of the three faced column reads: “Weep no more mummy let the world know I have sacrificed my life in preserving a woman’s chastity and dignity blessed by God the Creator. Lt. Miss Luingamla Muinao (Maza).” The visual resonance of the memorial, filled our hearts with pain, and we asked ourselves: how long India will indulge in killing and coercing the innocents, to advance the greedy course of militarisation, to serve the oppressive and exploitative neo-liberal interests? What happened to the culprits who killed Luingamla? Were they punished for name sake or were they really befittingly punished? What have India done, so far, to mentally compensate the loss of Luingamla?

Ngainga landscape. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

Our next attention was the tradition of the erection of the dried tree trunks and inscribed family genealogy on concrete structures in the courtyard. It has been a tradition that, amongst the rich and prominent families, a particular tree trunk christened as “Tarung” in Tangkhul dialect, was erected in the front courtyards. These appeared to be symbols of pride, wealth and prominence. The concerned family erected it, after making a traditional announcement, followed by symbolic ritual and a feast that was offered to the neighbourhoods. Other than this, there was also a tradition of erecting stone structures in the front courtyard where names of the patriarchal line of the respective families were neatly inscribed. But the size, material composition, artistic rendering and material adornment of these structure varied depending on wealth. These true traditions, in their diverse material forms, which comprised an overarching tradition, would suggest that despite the holistic notion of community as above the individuals and some forms of egalitarianism; some form of social divide along the lines of wealth have been gradually taking shape in the village. The search for wealth, opportunity and prospect, has been a reality; which continue to promote emigration in other places in search of job and wealth. Our guide, Thankson, belong to an emigrant family, although he continue to possess the nostalgia of Ngainga. But nostalgia alone will be insufficient to make Ngainga prosperous; the village ‘diasporas’ must come back and invest in collective initiatives to make Ngainga recover from what our host had disappointingly paraphrased as a situation of ‘underdevelopment’. In reality, the villagers live in a situation, where the women union was badly in need of fund to construct its separate office and secular community hall. The question is: who will fund it?

Ngainga church interior. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

One of the distinctive and largest constructed structure that we came across was the Baptist Church. The church had sponsored primary school. We had entered the Church only to discover lack of infrastructure, although well-orderedly maintained and neat and clean inside. We had wanted to enter into the school complex to have a few look on the infrastructure inside and the probable facilities rendered to the villagers. We did not enter; but, we had the impression that it was meant for rudimentary teachings and there was lack of facilities to fulfil the needs of the students that require additional input and supports. There was also an elaborate open play field in the village, where periodical tournament across villages were held from time to time. The field was left open for anyone to play, particularly soccer, but without a gallery and other infrastructure. There was no indoor stadium and there was considerable lack of logistic facilities for a variety of sports. Although Manipur is being acknowledged as a hub of sports in the Indian sub-continent; it seems to us that, in the context of the inadequate infrastructure, facilities and incentives in sports, the sports loving children and youth of Ngainga may have the rare chance to come up to the status of compatible only through several thousand extra miles of exhaustive commitment had hard working. Why have the Manipur Sports Department neglected Ngainga and many others? If the proposed establishment of a Sports University in Manipur become a reality; will the government care for the hitherto neglected community of potential sportspersons in Ngainga and elsewhere?

Ukhrul road. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

We were shocked at learning about the complete neglect of public transport system and medical sector by the government. Firstly, there is no government transport system connecting Ngainga and ukhrul and other places via Ngainga. Currently, there is an irregular taxi service between Ngainga and Ukhrul town run by private owners. For any emergency purpose at any time or to travel to other places that are not covered by the taxi service, the commuters have to find their own means. The rich are not affected by the poor transport system, but the poor had to suffer a lot when the service is not easily available to them. Secondly, there is neither a health centre nor a pharmacy in Ngainga. One had to visit Ukhrul town for medical check-up and treatment. For ‘minor’ injuries and sickness, either those are left alone for self-curing or relied on some medicines which were being kept for personal usage by some families. These two sectors, as one could see in Ngainga, exemplify the urban rural divide in terms of facilities and services. These are the two sectors that the government had largely neglected. Paving the way to privatisation of these two important sectors, in no way had brought about any substantial amount of service delivery to address the rural grievances. Driven by profit motives, the profiteers in these sectors are less enthusiastic about providing services to Ngainga and other neglected areas, as those areas would not ensure them quick and huge profit. The system, therefore, has practically perpetuated uneven growth and facilities in these important sectors. How long Ngainga should live at the mercy of the system?

Ukhrul road. Photo- Chingtham Balbir Khuman

Economically, the people of Ngainga appeared to be one of the underprivileged sections of Manipur. Most of the families are depended on agriculture, forest products and weaving for survival and income generation. Over utilisation of these land resources to meet the growing need of an expanding population, had the side effects towards decline of area under cultivation, depletion of soil fertility, and decline in production scale, and so on. Many face the problems of acute shortage of water for plantation and the basic energy for domestic consumption. In sum total, the primary constraints of the families are poverty and lack of facilities for education and human resource development. Some amount of recovery or development attempts had been made by the NGO sectors from time to time. However, those attempts had not been successful in overcoming poverty, inequality and marginalisation. The situation had compelled many to become permanently depended on the mercy of the powerful, who would casually donate some amount of money in the name of social service, in exchange for support in election and other politically motivated games. These powerful power and profit hungry rulers, do not want to make the people self-reliant so that they grow and become politically autonomous; on the contrary devised tactics to make the people perpetually dependent, to suit their vested interests.

Despite the visit, our knowledge about Ngainga is still incomplete. We lack more knowledge about Ngainga and the means to make it economically prosperous and politically autonomous. We merely had a glance of what were distinctively apparent to the eyes. However, the little things that we had come across made us believe that Ngainga had lots of potential to become one of the model villages; where there can be sustainable development through a mixture of private entrepreneurship and community initiatives. The village still possesses abundant amount of land, a huge portion of which are under cultivation and the rest of which are either underutilised or could be regenerated. What is lacking is the skill, technique and the organisation of labour to spearhead economic growth through collective initiatives, without actually compromising the ecological system. If these shortcoming is being overcome, Ngainga will become a surplus economy, which will further help in promoting other sectors, which in turn will also generate surplus. In that sense, Ngainga can become an autonomous village republic, without begging for petty funds from the greedy rich and the half-hearted government of the exploiters. What are the required skills, techniques, and organisation of labour: for this we intend to visit Ngainga again to learn more from them and also to express our views. Like the emigrant sections who had left Ngainga in search of opportunity; we, who were attracted by the comradely treatment of the host, beauty and calmness of the village, and the prospect are equally having the nostalgia about Ngainga. May Ngainga prosper soon!

The author has completed graduation in B. Sc. Life Science, in 2015, from the Zakir Husain Delhi College, University of Delhi. He is currently residing in Delhi for further studies. He can be contacted at balbirkhuman(at)gmail(dot)com

INDIA: Government Masterplan: Kick the Students Out of School

By: Urikhimbam Jenison The Manipur state government has closed down all educational institutions in the state in an attempt to curb the ongoing movement for the implementation of the

A torch rally taken out in New Checkong area demanding implementation of the ILPS.

By: Urikhimbam Jenison

The Manipur state government has closed down all educational institutions in the state in an attempt to curb the ongoing movement for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System (ILPS) in Manipur. It has been a month since this decision was taken. In other words, students have been kept out of their schools and colleges for a long time already.

ilp, ilps, jcilps, hyderabad manipuri society

Hyderabad Manipuri Society, Hyderabad organised a peaceful candle light vigil at at Doyens Township Colony, Serilingampally on Saturday, 18th July 2015. Photo by HYMS

On July 8, Sapam Robinhood, a 16 year old student studying in the XI standard was killed by police personnel during the crackdown on a peaceful student protest that was led by the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS), Student Wing, in Tellipati area of Imphal East. Since then, all the educational institutions have remained closed following the order of the state government. The orders for temporary closure of educational institutions have been issued “in consideration of the physical safety and security of the students of all institutions in Imphal area”.

This temporary closure of the educational institutions has by now given rise to students fearing losing an academic year and falling behind in their planned careers. Despite many appeals from the teachers, CSOs, parents, and student bodies, the government has not been able to find a solution to the ILPS demand and make a decision to re-open the institutions. Instead, the government has taken to deploying police personnel in all the schools, colleges, and universities.

The root cause of this odd situation, wherein students are shut out of schools now packed with police and military personnel, is the government’s attempt to to suppress the movement of the Inner Line Permit System, which has been building for decades. The people living in Manipur genuinely fear that their identity will disappear in the near future if the influx of migrants is not controlled. Manipur non-residents are beginning to outnumber permanent residents in many areas, and also acquire local identity cards, provided by the government for vested interest.

MSAP rally demanding introduction of ILPS in Manipur.

The government passed a bill, titled Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers (MRVT&MW) Bill 2015, on 16 March, 2015, which failed to meet the demands of the people and led to an upswell of protests. This made the movement for the ILPS, led by JCILPS stronger. And, the killing of Sapam Robinhood by the police forced the government to retract. On July 15, the government held an emergency assembly session and a motion was passed to withdraw the Bill, without introducing an alternative, which is not in accord with procedure.

Since Sapam Robinhood’s killing, every nook and corner of state has resounded with the protest. The demand is for implementation of the ILPS and punishment for the officer involved in killing a student who participated in a peaceful protest. Student bodies have taken the step to boycott all governmental departments until their demands are fulfilled by the government. In support of the late Sapam Robinhood, students, CSOs, and social activists across the state have been demanding justice to the victim’s family and implementation of the ILPS.

Womenfolk taking out a rally in demand of ILPS.

While people living in Manipur have been protesting for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System, the rest of India has interpreted this as an anti-Indian or anti-mainlander fight, which is an incorrect interpretation. The people of Manipur are seeking that the government protects them from losing their ancestral place, and there is a fear that indigenous Manipuris will become minorities in their own land. It is not that the people want to prevent outsiders from entering Manipur. The fears of the Manipuris have been realized in Tripura, where the Tripuris have became a minority in their own ancestral land.

The government has been on the back foot since Sapam Robinhood’s killing. And, it is the government’s attempt to regain control that has resulted in the decision to to close down the schools and universities.

This, however, is not the first time the people, and in particular the students, of Manipur have had to experience of shut-down of educational institutions. For instance, institutions were shut in 2001 in relation to the Naga ceasefire, which, in Manipur, resulted in a people uprising. Then again, in 2004 they were closed to try and control the rage following the news of the rape and murder of Th. Manorama by Assam Rifles personnel. The year 2009 witnessed the same, following the killing of Rubina, a 7 month pregnant woman, and Sanjit, by police commandoes. And, most recently and something that is ongoing, in 2015, the Dzukou Valley dispute between Manipur and Nagaland is keeping students away from the schools and colleges in the Mao area of Manipur. So, in some sense shutting down schools and universities is standard operating procedure for the government in times of emergencies when misgovernance or brutal crimes following by impunity unsettles the population.

Police women trying to control vendors of Ima Keithels during a protest rally.

Following the order of the state government for the temporary closure of institutions, yet another order was issued to deploy police personnel in all the schools, colleges, universities, and other such institutions. And, now police officials deployed in the schools and colleges have taken to misusing the compounds: by playing cards, drinking, and smoking. Some students, who arrived at their respective campuses out of desire that their institutions be reopened, even confronted these officers. The prevailing environment of police personnel camped out in educational institutions has only generated insecurity amongst the students. And, while it is police officials occupying educational institutions in the Imphal City, in the outskirts, it is out and out militarisation, with the Assam Rifles and paramilitary forces having taken over the compounds of schools and colleges.

The central and state government have taken no steps to bring this movement and the root conflict to an end. Officials appear intent to only hold onto their chairs. The people of Manipur are grieving at heart, wondering why is it that the state and central government, which has all the power and infrastructure, cannot put an end to the conflict? Who benefits from the continuing conflicts? How long does the government plan to keep the people, the students, under soldier’s boots?

Mr. Urikhimbam Jenison is Human Rights Activist. He can be contacted at urikhimbam.jenison@ahrc.asia or jeni_u580@yahoo.com

Mainland media’s roles in Northeast important to change Center’s mindset

By Oken Jeet Sandham Killing of 21 people due to flash flood and landslides in Manipur was not Headline news in National Newspapers, but the death of 1 or

By Oken Jeet Sandham

Killing of 21 people due to flash flood and landslides in Manipur was not Headline news in National Newspapers, but the death of 1 or 2 people in heavy downpour in India’s major cities or submerging Mumbai City by heavy downpour captured Headlines of all the National Dailies.

Killing of 18 Indian soldiers in Manipur by NSCN (K) continued to remain lead and front page stories in all the leading National Papers for more than a week. But shutting down of educational institutions over a month in Manipur following the agitations by students and other civil societies demanding for introducing Inner Line Permit (ILP) system in Manipur still fails to capture Headlines of National Dailies. But few hours agitations by students or any civil societies in major Indian cities will dominate National Dailies.

The mainland media tried their best to twist the unfortunate ambush on Indian Army on June 4 at Manipur’s Chandel district and afterwards even to the extent of saying that India Army’s surgical strikes could kill 100 Naga militants, sometimes 80, sometimes 60, sometimes 40 by crossing International boundary in Myanmar. They could even use the photograph of the Indian Army helicopter taken during Nepal relief service in 2013 as if it was taken in surgical strikes in Myanmar territory in 2015.

Of late, again many mainland media started their news bombardment soon after the signing of the “Framework Agreement” between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) was over. Several unfounded issues totally unconnected with the Naga issue by wrongly mentioning many historical chapters and names have been incorporated in their stories. Before the two parties spelling out of the nature of “Framework Agreement,” they have started giving all sort of speculative stories even at times look like they know everything of the contents of the “Framework Agreement.”

Our National Media need to change their mindset towards Northeast and seriously study on issues prevailing here. Only then will the leadership of this country start thinking something positive towards the people of the Northeast. Then change for better can be expected.

DRCM – IRCS Chandel Mission 2015 Report

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/drcm-ircs-chandel-mission-2015-report/

The events unfold Delhi

By Oken Jeet Sandham I have never come across such massive news coverage in print and electronic media nationally and internationally of the ambuscade on the Indian Army convoy by

By Oken Jeet Sandham

I have never come across such massive news coverage in print and electronic media nationally and internationally of the ambuscade on the Indian Army convoy by the combined team of NSCN (K), KYKL and KCP in Manipur’s Chandel district bordering Myanmar. 18 soldiers were killed while 11 left injured in the ambush.

The post-ambush news coming in is more interesting. It is even more interesting after Indian Army started operation and surgical precisions from Mi-35 attack helicopters of the Indian Air Force against the militants by even entering into Myanmar’s air space. Soon after this mission, several conflicting news came in TV Channels….Indian Army after crossing international border could launch surgical strikes and destroy militant camps and killed 100 militants inside Myanmar…sometimes, news came in as 40 militants killed… sometimes 20 militants killed who were believed to be responsible for the deadly ambush on Indian army in Chandel. The highly controversial Indian army commando team’s victorious picture with their chopper after their mission in Myanmar went viral in Social Media and it has extensively damaged the image and integrity of the Indian Army.

In spite of all these doubtful supply of news materials to the media, the media, particularly based in Manipur, have been maintaining their professionalism. In fact, release issued by Defense Wing did not mention figures of any casualty. The media in Manipur acted professionally in covering the Army operations.

Now Myanmar authority denied Indian army entering into their territory and killed the militants involved in Chandel ambush. Their denial is as important as Indian army’s claim of entering into their territory to the media people. However, Indian army’s image and integrity is badly dented more by the controversial victorious picture. Anyhow, finally they said they recovered seven dead bodies of the militants.

Why had all these unwanted things suddenly happened? It is because of the Center’s failure to keep the NSCN (K) in the loop. The outfit has been in truce with them since 2001. In fact, they would not have abrogated the truce if the news of Center’s reluctance of extending the ongoing ceasefire with them did not come in mass media. Having ceasefire with them for 14 years is a very costly affairs and every effort should be made to keep them in the loop. Had the Government of India asked them to prepare “Charter of Demands” for starting at least some preliminary talks? The outfit entering ceasefire with Myanmar Government is in fact a blessing in disguise for India for the fact that the burden would be lesser on them. After all these 14 long years of truce, a news item doing the round of not extending the ongoing truce with them was actually an humiliation, besides making them mockery in the eyes of the world.

Expectedly, soon after the abrogation of the ceasefire, they started attacking on the Assam Rifles in Nagaland’s state capital, Kohima and even in Arunachal Pradesh. Their desperation was high after Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju’s remark that NSCN (K) had got nothing to do with the Naga issue.

All these careless remark gave them to commit to any audacious attack on Indian army. This was expected and one wonders why Indian intelligence did not have such thinking. What is our Intelligence quality? NIA’s role in this became more questionable after wrongly naming high profile functionaries of another outfit as NSCN (K)’s masterminding the deadly ambush. They later clarified. How poor Intelligence input and system they have and this can put many innocent persons’ lives into danger during such volatile situation. With this level of intelligence of our Agencies, the doubts on varied news items after Indian army attacks on militant camps by entering into Myanmar territory will be proven otherwise.

If one studies the whole events very carefully, the Center seems not knowing the historical backgrounds of the Northeast people. And unless they try to know this, to start for finding solution to any issue is not even thinkable.

The country needs professionals.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/06/the-events-unfold-delhi/

CRDO Preliminary notes on Sesachalam Killings

Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisation (CDRO) Sesachalam killings: Preliminary notes The police version of the ‘encounter is that on the early hours of the 7th, STF came across more

Coordination of Democratic Rights Organisation

(CDRO)

Sesachalam killings:

Preliminary notes

The police version of the ‘encounter is that on the early hours of the 7th, STF came across more than a hundred ‘smugglers’ carrying red sanders logs. When challenged, the ‘smugglers’ attacked the force by pelting stones. In self-defense, the STF fired ‘random’ shots, which resulted in the death of 20 people.

The CDRO team’s observations at the encounter sites raise serious doubts about the police claims. The highlights of the observation are:

1. The part of the forest where the encounter took place has no red sanders. There are no red sander trees within many kilometers of the site.

2. Only twenty dead bodies were recovered (along with a few logs). Which begs the question, what happened to the rest? Where are the injured? Where are the arrests? What happened to the many logs that they were supposed to have been carrying?

3. Blood stains are only found on the spots where the bodies were lying. There are no random blood marks on the ground, as one would expect in a random firing.

4. There are no bullet marks anywhere on the encounter sites. No bullet holes on trees, the clay mounds or on the ground. In the ‘random’ firing every single bullet seems to have found it’s mark – the upper body of the victims. (In fact, media reports say, quoting both the witnesses who saw the bodies and the doctor who conducted the autopsy, that the bullet injuries are primarily on the upper body and the shots have been fired at close range.)

5. The encounter sites are not stony at all. There are simply not enough stones to throw. (And we are talking of people carrying a very heavy load, using both hands to balance a log on their shoulders, throwing stones at an STF party armed with automatic rifles.)

6. The bodies were not lying among the trees or spread all over the space, as one would expect in a random encounter. The bodies were very conveniently found lying next to each other in two clearings inside the forest. Both encounter sites are clearings, and more or less accessible from the Jeepable road. Places where it is easy to bring in bodies (or people to be shot).

7. When the team tried to meet to forest officials to take their version of events, the team was threatened with dire consequences. Eventually, a case was registered against the team under the Forests Act for trespassing (other charges may also have been slapped). Those charged include rights activist Mr.Chandrashekar (general secretary CLC, AP) who had moved AP high court, demanding that a murder case be registered under section 302, and due process laid down by the supreme court be followed and that the case be investigated by a neutral central agency like CBI and not AP police (who is the accused in this case).

Demands

1. Case has to be registered under section 302 of IPC against the police personal who are responsible for the killing of red sandal coolies.

2. An independent inquiry commission should be appointed to inquire this case without the involvement of AP police who is the prime accused.

3. Immediately withdraw the cases that has been charged against the activists.

Organisations part of the national fact finding committee.

CLC (AP and Telengana),

HRF (AP and Telangana),

PUDR (Delhi), CPDR (Mumbai),

PUCL(TN),

CPCL(Chennai),

PPRC(Chennai),

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/04/crdo-preliminary-notes-on-sesachalam-killings/

Letter to the Editor: Rising Tide of MDR-TB in state and Loopholes in Government TB department

Naharol Choukhathanba Kanglup, Uripok,Imphal Dated:-27/10/2014 Ref:- 702-271014 “Rising Tide of MDR-TB in state and Loopholes in Government TB department” In a shrinking world where diseases know no boundaries. The severe global

Naharol Choukhathanba Kanglup, Uripok,Imphal
Dated:-27/10/2014 Ref:- 702-271014

“Rising Tide of MDR-TB in state and Loopholes in Government TB department”

In a shrinking world where diseases know no boundaries. The severe global TB epidemic poses a direct threat to all the countries. It is estimated that (1/3) of the world population (2 billions) is infected with Bacillus, although the majority of these cases are latent or asymptomatic. About 3.6% of new tuberculosis (TB) patients in the world have multi-Drug resistant strain(MDR-TB) level are much higher about 20% in those previously treated for TB. About 10% MDR-TB cases also resistance to the two important Second-line drug classes,or Extensively drug-resistant TB(XDR-TB).World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that there about 4,50,000 new (incident)MDR-TB cases in the world in 2012.More than 60% of the cases occurred in China, India &Russia. While India was home to 73,000 patient with MDR-TB.

WHAT ARE MDR-TB, XDR-TB AND RR-TB ?

TB organisms resistant to the antibiotics used in its treatment are widespread and occur in all countries surveyed. Drug resistance emerges as a result of inadequate treatment and once TB organisms acquire resistance they can spread from person to person in the same way as drug-sensitive TB.

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is caused by organisms that are resistant to at least the two most effective anti-TB drugs, isoniazid and rifampicin.
Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB) is a form of TB caused by organisms that are resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin (i.e. MDR-TB) as well as any fluoroquinolone and any of the second–line anti-TB injectable drugs (amikacin, kanamycin or capreomycin).
Rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB) is caused by organisms that are resistant to rifampicin, with or without resistance to other drugs. Both MDR-TB and XDR-TB are forms of RR-TB.
These forms of TB do not respond to the standard six month treatment with first-line anti-TB drugs and can take two years or more to treat with drugs that are less effective, more toxic and more expensive. [© WHO October 2013 (GTB number C7)]

As of our state is concern TB department is like a sinking Titanic in the middle of spreading MDR-TB epidemic .Through Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) and WHO-DOTS guideline TB patient are receiving free medicine according to the plan. In this the patient have to eat 12,000 pills for 24-28 months along with daily injection kanamycin or capreomycin for 1^st six months(WHO- DOTS guideline).Some of the drugs like Cycloserine,Quinoline and/or etionamide cause severe side effect ranging from peripheral neuropathy ,psychiatric disturbance, ocular toxicity,renal toxicity, suicidal tendancy,severe depression and many more.

So for all of this, close monitoring of the patient is required along with regular counseling by a dedicated expert on this field. In our state there is no proper place for MDR-TB treatment where they can rely on as compare to other state of our country. As of now the Intermediate Reference Lab(IRL) R&D wing of Lamphelpat (Sound like Lincoln Lab of MIT ,USA) is the only hope and place where patient can work through. Interestingly the infrastructure is just small derelict condition huts which lean toward the well structure wall of Officer Club Lamphelpat. “What a great Juxtapose”.

Without proper places and facilities for close monitoring of the patient and proper counseling facility it is difficult to cure MDR-TB it is just like climbing Mt Everest without O2 cylinder. Instead of curing, more MDR-TB case will arises as MDR-TB is a purely man-made diseases due improper treatment , Wrong dosages or combination , premature termination due to lack of proper counseling and severe side effects. Even though Govt supply 12000 pills free of cost for curing MDR-TB it is becoming like near impossible. Dr R.K Laksana state TB Officer, Manipur informed that the “(MDR-TB) which surfaces due to improper and erratic use of Directly Observed Treatment (DOTS) has become a matter of serious concern and he also stated that among the 73 persons tested for MDR-TB in the state, a total of 28 persons have been tested positive which is about 38% as against country average rate of (12-18)% which is double the all India rate”.

Another severe problem face by MDR-TB patient is the daily injection of Kanamycin for 6 months. It is difficult to inject by family alone for 6 months as it required certain expertise in this field and the TB department are also not looking in this mater seriously and they just left to poor family. In these context for time being if the Govt and state TB department tie up with all private &Govt hospital to give the said injection for free of cost as part of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) to MDR-TB patient by simply giving certain register ID,then it would be like a boon to patient and family and a stepping stone toward eradication of MDR-TB in the state .

TB can happen anywhere,in any community exposure can happen at school, at work at home while travelling, or anywhere that people are on close contact with one another.That why TB prevention is a public health priory for the Nation for everyone.For the hope of tomorrow for all TB patient a new drug called PaMZ is going to be tested for clinical trial under clinical named STAND (Shortning Treatment by Advancing Noval Drug) and it will be a game changer for all,as announced by Bill &Malinda Gates foundation .With these new drug the treatment time will be drastically reduced from 24 months to only just 6 months.

So let’s fight this deadly but curable disease united and wipe out from the face of the world. “Support the cause, toward free Multi-Drug resistant-TB (MDR-TB)”.Lastly I appeal the Government and state TB department/cell/center or whatsoever please try to see the MDR-TB matter seriously, lots of loophole is arise like injection case .If you didn’t act now then lot of MDR cases will arise in our state in the near future and please remember the quote “timely stitch save seven times”.

Yours sincerely
Huirem Bharat Meitei
Secretary
Naharol Choukhathanba Kanglup
Email: thinktank453@gmail.com

Injustice to Indian boxer Sarita tarnishes images of boxing world & 17th Incheon Asian Games

By Oken Jeet Sandham In my 36 years of sports careers particularly in the field of martials arts – Karate, Kick-Boxing and later 25 years in Muaythai – I have

By Oken Jeet Sandham

In my 36 years of sports careers particularly in the field of martials arts – Karate, Kick-Boxing and later 25 years in Muaythai – I have never come across such a humiliating sporting incidents like the one where India’s boxing star Sarita Devi’s semifinal fight against her South Korean opponent Jina Park on September 30, 2014 on the ongoing 17^th Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea.

I was having food while Sarita’s boxing match with her South Korean opponent Park came in on live TV. I just shoved my plate aside and started gluing to the live TV showing her dominating fight against her opponent. The first round was somewhat neck to neck though she was slightly ahead of her opponent. But the rest of the rounds, she gave her ferocious punches to her opponent with her fantastic footwork. Even at following rounds, Park simply could not defend herself Sarita’s ferocious attacks and was off-balanced at many times.

Being in sports for 36 years and also having judged on many world kick Boxing and Muaythai tournaments including 13^th Asian Games at Bangkok in 1998 and also 24^th SEA Games at Korat, Thailand in 2007, I was banging my dining table as soon as the Sarita’s fight against Park was over, shouting, “Oh, Sarita wins.” But in no time, all hell broke loose when the referee lifted Park’s hand as winner. I was still speechless and remained as stupor unbelieving the judging over this match, because it was so hugely different the boxing skills and prowess between the two boxers. Sarita’s boxing skills and prowess dominated during the fight. This greatest injustice sent instant shock waves across the world.

I would not have much thinking even if Park was declared winner if their fight was somehow neck-to-neck or near neck-to-neck. But in the case of Sarita’s semifinal fight against Park on September 30 at Seonhak Gymnasium was something no judges could manipulate for the simple fact that Sarita had far exceeded than her opponent in attacks and punches with excellent footwork.

Then seeing the points given by the judges on their match becoming more ridiculous because the entire judges came in favor of Park and not even one judge came in favor of Sarita. This incident has simply tarnished the image of the technical officials of AIBA besides creating massive question mark on their activities.

In any game, the standard of the match depends on the quality of judging and not the match. Even for any new game to get Olympic recognition it’s judging and refereeing needs first examining. And if the judging and refereeing are not up to the mark, no game can be qualified to enter into Olympic Games or Asian Games.

Whatever the explanations or arguments that might come after this highly questionable and controversial match, the simple and plain truth is this historic match has been video recorded and telecast worldwide. The match has been in YouTube and other social media networking sites and it can never be misinterpreted.

In fact, the whole country was overjoyed when legendary India boxer Mary Kom won Gold Medal in 51kg category in the Asian Games a day after Sarita’s final berth in the 60kg category was deliberately robbed off. But Sarita’s controversial match was prominently splashed in all the front pages of newspapers in India and the country’s media had done remarkable justice by openly defying the controversial results given by the judges on Sarita’s fight against Park. They said she lost out due to “unfair” decisions during her bout. They all agreed that Sarita was the real winner in her historic semifinal match against Park. Even for the first time, international media had given coverage prominently around the world on the controversial boxing match between Sarita and Park.

Some papers feel Sarita Devi was a “clear winner” in her lightweight (57-60kg) semifinal bout against South Korean Ji-Na Park on Wednesday.

The Indian Express says” “Sarita appears to be a clear winner in the bout… dominating the proceedings with such ferocity that Park barely managed to stand the assault. But much to the shock of the Indian contingent and the spectators, the judges awarded the bout to Park.”

A report on the Mint website says the controversial result has been “widely condemned as unfair and biased towards the host country.”

Sarita’s refusal to accept her bronze medal and her outburst of emotions on the podium dimmed the celebration of Mary Kom’s victory. But the Mint website adds that “it was a day of tears in the boxing arena at the Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea. Some happy, some sad.”

The follow up developments have exposed a very shoddy affairs of the boxing officials from India as well as the officials from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA). I have agreed that a grave injustice was meted out to Sarita by the judges but it was a double whammy that no officials either from Indian Boxing or Indian Olympic came forward to formally lodge complaints forget about consoling her. It was simply unimaginable that Sarita had to borrow money from the Indian media persons for protest fees. But she as a player could not lodge any complaint whatsoever with the Judging Committee. Where were the officials be it Indian Boxing officials or Olympic Officials. Are they aware of the rules of the games that in the event of any controversial results given by judges, officials were the ones authorized to formally lodge complaints along with whatever protest fees prescribed as per the rules and regulation framed by that respective International Federations.

Although some including deputy general of Incheon’s organizing committee (IAGOC) say that Sarita’s refusal to accept her bronze medal on the podium went against the values of sportsmanship, no one at home takes it that way. Everyone in India appreciated her actions rather, though it happened with her unprecedented emotional outburst. But the mistake was not Park’s but the judges who should be suspended from judging any future boxing tournaments.

At the same time, the injustice meted out to Sarita tarnishes the beautiful image of the 17^th Asian Games at Incheon. It also exposes shoddy attitudes of Indian Boxing officials as well as Indian Olympic officials.

New Momentum on Climate Must Generate Action in Asia and the Pacific: Op-Ed by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar

New Momentum on Climate Must Generate Action in Asia and the Pacific: Op-Ed by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar Op-Ed by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations The landmark Climate

New Momentum on Climate Must Generate Action in Asia and the Pacific: Op-Ed by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar

Op-Ed by Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

The landmark Climate Summit convened by the United Nations Secretary-General last week in New York was unprecedented in terms of the participation of leaders,the private sector and a range of other stakeholders. The level and scale of enthusiasm it generated augurs well for global climate action and for future generations.This new momentum must now translate into real action in Asia and the Pacific.

Leaders at the Summit offered commitments that will feed into the UN Climate Change Conference to be held in Paris next year. Some categorically committed to cut emissions, and called for greater action to limit the rise in global temperaturesto less than 2 degrees Celsius. Initial commitments at the Summitfor the capitalization of the Green Climate Fund amounted to more than $2.3 billion, with new multi-stakeholder partnerships registered for low carbon and climate resilient development finance, amounting to almost $200 billion. It’s a good start, but much more is needed. To support the public commitments, calls have been made for greater engagement byfinancial institutions, the insurance sector and institutional investors,who hold enormous global and regional savings which can service the risk and long-term capital requirements of climate adaptation and mitigation projects.

The Summit also overwhelmingly supported carbon pricing as a tool to reduce emissions and to improve sustainability,as well as economic growth prospects. Equally hearteningwere the cross-sectoral, multi-stakeholder coalitions which emerged, from the Global Agricultural Alliance to secure food for rapidly growing populations, to the dozens of Governments, businesses, civil society groups and indigenous peoples who pledged to end deforestation by 2030.

The clearest and most pertinent message from the Summitwas thatclimate change is a global threat and must be tackled by global partnerships for a more sustainable future.

The UN Secretary General reminded us that “the human, environmental and financial cost of climate change is fast becoming unbearable.” President Obama emphasizedthat thecost of inaction is far greater than the cost of action.No region of the world knows this better than Asia and the Pacific, where there is a compelling case for urgent climate action.

Between 1980 and 2009 the people of Asia and the Pacific shouldered the burden of 85 per cent of global deaths and 38 per cent of global economic losses due to natural disasters. Just weeks ago, heavy monsoon rains and floods across Pakistan caused more than 300 deaths and impacted more than 1.8 million people. Typhoon Haiyan caused the death of more than 8000 people in the central Philippines last year, with an estimated $15 billion in damages.We are witnessing some of the worstnatural disasters in recorded history, and they are destroying the lives and livelihoods of millions across our region.

Resource and carbon-intensive economies are also economically vulnerable. The Asia-Pacific region uses three times more resources to produce one unit of GDP than the rest of the world. We are not only the region most vulnerable to climate-related disasters, but also to resource-price volatility.As resource costs rise, the economic impacts are most severe onthe poorest and vulnerable in our region.More than 42 million people in Asia and the Pacific were pushed back into poverty due to rising energy and food prices in 2011 alone.

Innovative climate action to improve our region’s energy and resource efficiency not only reduces emissions, butwillalso drivesustainable economic growth in the face of rising resource prices, generating jobs and reducingpoverty while increasing long-term resilience to natural disasters and the impacts of rising resource costs.

Turning resource constraints and the climate crisis into opportunities for economic growth and poverty reduction, Asia-Pacific countries have adopted pioneering strategies to promotegreen growthand environmentally sustainable approaches, while strengthening regional integration and cooperation to address risks and vulnerabilities, which include disasters, climate change and resource constraints, alongside improving trade, finance and investments, as well as physical infrastructure connectivity.

At the Summit, China affirmed its aim to reduce carbon emissions per unit of GDP by 45% compared to 2005. Fiji spoke of their green growth strategy,already in place, and ambitions to generate all electricity from renewable resources by 2030.Malaysia andIndonesia are reforming fossil fuel subsidies to encourage a shift to cleaner energy. Mongolia plans to reach 20-25% of total energy production from renewables by 2020. These are but some examples of the already strong regional climate actions taking place.

But change is not happening fast enough. We need to massively scale up these actions,not only to match the magnitude and urgency of climate impacts, but also to harness the economic growth and opportunities whichclimate action entails.

The UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific will continue to urge leaders in the region to seize the opportunity to intensify national climate actions and commitments, and to work even more closely together to make our vision of the sustainable, prosperous and resilient future we want a reality.Moving the climate frontier from negotiations and commitmentto realaction is not only urgent but also opens a new window of sustainable development opportunity for all in Asia and the Pacific.

The author is an Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP). She is also the UN’s Sherpa for the G20 and previously served as Governor of the Central Bank of Pakistan and Vice President of the MENA Region of the World Bank.

Posted: September 30, 2014

If This Is Application Of Mind: Whom the Gods would destroy, they first make mad

By Amar Yumnam The educational institutions in Manipur, right from the first stage to the colleges, have been locked out by the provincial government. This has also been articulated as

By Amar Yumnam

The educational institutions in Manipur, right from the first stage to the colleges, have been locked out by the provincial government. This has also been articulated as a correct decision arrived at by the government after application of her critical mind as put to the public domain by the second-in-command of the provincial government. Let me start with a quotation from the classic Rights of Man by Thomas Paine: “If we look back to the riots and tumults which at various times have happened in England, we shall find that they did not proceed from the want of a Government, but that Government was itself the generating cause: instead of consolidating society it divided it; deprived it of its natural cohesion, and engendered discontents and disorders which otherwise would not have existed. In those associations, which men promiscuously form for the purpose of trade, or of any concern in which Government is totally out of the question, and n which they act merely on the principles of society, we see how naturally the various parties unite; and this shows, by comparison, that Governments, so far from being always the cause or means of order, are often the destruction of it.” Paine also writes in the same book: “When I contemplate the natural dignity of man, when I feel (for Nature has not been kind enough to me to blunt my feelings) for the honour and happiness of its character, I become irritated at the attempt to govern mankind by force and fraud, as if they were all knaves and fools, and can scarcely avoid disgust at those who are thus imposed upon.” Before I make any comment on the latest manifestations of the orientation and quality of the provincial government of Manipur, I must at least express my personal gratefulness on the recent shut-down of the educational institutions; it has forced me to reread Thomas Paine’s classic. But beyond this, the decision has been nothing more and nothing less than dangerous stupidity. It is a complete case of the Gods making it mad before destroying it.

Now the onus is on me to articulate before the wise men in command on why I term the whole approach stupid. To begin with, it comes immediately after the recent Ukhrul fiasco. The recent happenings consequent upon the processes of governance there in Ukhrul are supreme examples of governance incompetence and absence of application of critical mind; a critical mind is not an external thing, it should be spontaneous and accompaniment of any decision-making process. Both the Ukhrul happenings and the closure of educational institutions sine die are examples of the government looking at these decisions as the ultimate outcomes and as finality in the process. Society is never a static entity, and anything is part of the process and never an ultimate. The provincial government is under the illusion that it can enforce an outcome instead of influencing the process of transformation in a positive way; negatively in the present cases.

Second, the world has multiples of examples of how the imperatives of the education and knowledge creation processes were honoured even in the worst of circumstances, and thus ultimately secured the civilizational process. The nearest example is the case of Vietnam where education was not compromised even during the high periods of bombing by the American forces. The continuing example is that of the United States of America where scholars call the final shots even in decisions for Atomic Bombing of Japan (a colleague and friend of mine has recently brought to my light how Kyoto was spared of the deadly bombing thanks to comments of the scholars) and the deepening global competition in knowledge and technology. But in the case of Manipur, ‘the wise men’ have thought it prudent to put a stop to the whole process of knowledge acquisition for periods best known to them. But unfortunately for them, and even more unfortunately for the society at large, the rest of the world does not wait even a second for us; it is a red herring race.

Third, education can never be an off and on process kind of thing. The social transformation dynamics are such that they continue irrespective of whether educational processes are in place or out of place or absolutely hang-fire. The problem is that the transformation with the education and knowledge creation processes is always healthier and richer than otherwise. The contextual problem is that the provincial government has applied her critical mind, and has come to the conclusion that interruption in knowledge creation would be prudent.

Fourth, the latest developments putting Manipur in the heart of the global connection between South East, East and South Asia demand that the province prepares herself forever continuously and with greater capability so that the unfolding processes serve the interests of the people and the land in positive ways. The imperatives for this preparedness are wide and deep. The province has not yet have the fortune of attaining any social and economic momentum so far. Further, the unfolding challenges are of a nature and scale where the people and the land have not experienced in history. This necessitates the compulsion for committed preparation than ever, and in a way very different from the periods so far of only exploiting and misusing the doles of allocations from the federal government.

Fifth, the internal dynamics of the home are such that there are so many conflicting interests to be addressed. Shutting down of the educational institutions does not in any case help address these conflicts. It only amounts to suicide before the others kill you.

In fine, the greatest tragedy of the people and the land of Manipur so far has been that the provincial government has all along been under the spell that fire-brigade approaches to social issues are relevant and would pay off. No they do not. Time is now for realising this. Social issues are always much more than law and order issues to be addressed in a way of fire-fighting exercise.