Tag: Top Stories

IMPHAL July 2: To relieve from mud and water filled lanes marred by potholes on the Sagolband Salam Leikai and Wahengbam Leikai under Sagolband A/C stretch along the Imphal-Jiri highway resulted from the on going construction works conducted by the government under various developmental projects, several truck loads of stone chip and sand were donated today to the Sagolband joint development committee by Rajkumar Imo Singh, an active member of Congress I as a part of a temporary arrangement initiated for the aggrieved local populace of Sagolband A/C.

N. Kuleshwor, secretary, SJDC, while meeting media persons said that various inconveniences are faced by commuters especially in this area due to the construction works. Heavy down pour since the past few days has added another difficulty for the commuters, he added.

Condemning the local MLA Sagolband A/C for being silent on their repeated pleas for a viable solution from such inconveniences, the secretary lamented that it as very unfortunate.

However, on the other hand, the committee expressed contentment on various projects carried out by the government for the development of Imphal. The Sagolband joint development committee was formed after thorough consultation with local responsible residents for efficient development in Sagolband A/C, he added.

Rk. Imo said that the construction works of various developmental projects has adversely affected the commuters for the time being. He added that the temporary arrangement was instituted keeping in view of such condition and ease atleast some of the difficulties faced by the commuters till the constructions of the projects are completed.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/g-f8SqCfPok/

IMPHAL July 6: Post the directive from the CJM, Imphal West to the officer in charge of Imphal West Police Station on July 5 urging the latter to take up investigation regarding the Visarev scam and to arrest 12 related agents, the state police have lodged a First Information Report yesterday.

According to the FIR number 395(7)11, the accused persons including Kumar Kom , N Victor,Sagolsem Robindro, M Romesh, K Basanta Meitei,H Tolen, Rk Jiranjit,O Rajesh,T Saratchandra,Laishram Kaoba and Yumnam Nganthoi will be liable to be arrested under section 406/417/420/120-B/34 of the Indian Penal Code which includes criminal breach of trust, cheating, conspiracy with common intent. If convicted the accused persons may serve time in jail.

Police sources said that the matter will be investigated thoroughly and all efforts will be made to bring the conspirators of the scam to justice.

It may be mentioned that most of the accused persons are currently in hiding in other states, but one Kesab Kanti Sharma who is also a main leader of the Visarev scam has been arrested by police and undergoing trail at Guwahati presently.

Kesab is also charged in the FIR made by N Premananda and his case may also be heard in the state, the source added.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/WPD0s12tqNc/

Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, July 19: Kuki State Demand Committee has called an 18-hour statewide bandh in Manipur from midnight of July 21 in an attempt to put pressure on the government in its continuing demand for a separate “Kuki State” within India.

The Kuki State Demand Committee resolved to call all Manipur bandh from midnight of July 21 to 6 pm of July 22 in its demand for “Kuki Land” for a separate “Kuki State” under the Constitution of India, said the committee’s information and publicity secretary L H Hmar.

The committee said that the bandh has also been called to show solidarity and support for the rights of village chiefs which have been deprived by the state government.

While appealing all associations to observe and respect the 18-hour bandh, essential services like medical, schools and colleges, press and electricity have been exempted from the purview of the bandh.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/Mw2hQ5BF1sw/

IMPHAL, August 7: Sadar Hills continue to burn as general strike supporters in demand of a separate full fledged Sadar Hills district set ablaze four more government offices and a godown used by the deputy inspector of school, Saitu, Gamphazol since yesterday night.

According to official sources, strike supporters set ablaze the godown belonging to the deputy inspector of school, Siatu, Gamphajol and the office of the deputy director Tribal Development, situated at Saparmeina were set ablaze this afternoon at around 1pm.

The offices were extensively damage during the arson, said the sources.

The sources further informed that the strike supporters also set ablaze the veterinary hospital situated at Thangkandphai Siakul and old SDO office building-Saikul late last night at around 11:30 pm.

Meanwhile, 164 loaded trucks including 12 passenger buses have reached Imphal at around 6 pm today evening under heavy security arrangement. 

According to an official source, 131 loaded trucks have arrived into the state capital along the the NH-37 (formerly NH-53) this evening at around 6:30 pm amidst a blanket of state security forces including cdo, IRB and MR teams.

The loaded trucks include carriers of essential commodities including rice, pulses, petrol tankers, etc.

Meanwhile, another 33 vehicles including 12 interstate passenger buses have also arrived at Imphal by passing through the Imphal-Jessami Road (NH-150) this evening.

An official source has maintained that the vehicles arriving along the Imphal-Jessami Road (NH-150) had started off from Senapati HQ yesterday morning, after being stranded at Senapati HQ since August 2.

According to official sources, the personnel of Manipur Rifles, Manipur Police Commando and other central forces escorted the vehicles however, there has been no reports of any untoward incident during the arrival of the trucks through both ways.

The indefinite general strike which has followed the economic blockade call of the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee demanding a separate Sadar Hills district has left the main lifeline of the state, NH-2 completely inaccessible, with goods laden trucks and inter-state passenger buses left stranded at Senapati while coming into the state.

It may be mentioned that the Sadar Hills Districthood Demand Committee had rejected an invitation from the state government for negotiations, as it had decided to give any room for negotiation unless their demand for a separate district is met with.

Meanwhile, at least six security personnel of an escort party of the trucks coming into Imphal along the National Highway-37 (NH-53) were injured in a road mishap at Seijang village.

The personnel belong to the 2MR and included an escort commander.

According to information received by the media persons, the incident occurred this afternoon around 1:30 pm when the gypsy on which the personnel were traveling lost control and plunged into a gorge after crossing a bridge near Seijang village.

The sources informed that the security personnel were escorting the goods laden trucks plying along the NH-37.

The victims has been identified as Warchungthang, 48, s/o Somanglian of Pallel, Lalkhojen, 47, s/o (L) Sankholian of Churachandpur (head constable 2MR), Makanmi, 35, s/o (L) Aphang of Ukhrul, Jamkholen, 28, s/o Chengkholet of M. Sogin village, Phaomei Akin, 33, s/o Thambaljao Phaomei of Majorkhul (escort commander) and Aimson Keishing, 48, s/o Wiasom Keishing of Wangpura Khunou.

Further according to the source, two of the injured are reported to be serious and all six has been evacuated to the RIMS hospital for treatment.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/sadar-hills-continue-to-burn-while-trucks-buses-arrive-through-alternative-routes/

Newmai News Network
IMPHAL, Aug 16: After over a month of exacting quest for justice, a rape victim has charged the local police with underhandedly protecting the accused without regard to rule of law.

Speaking at a press conference at Manipur Press Club here today, a 14-year old Sakina aka Mami of Keirao Makting Awang Leikai said that the persons who ravaged her modesty and raped her inhumanely continued to receive police protection despite the fact that she has doubtlessly identified the five accused several times before the police.

Significantly, Sakina was reportedly abducted by five persons, including Md Mujibur Rahman aka Ebungo (25), MV Jalandin and Md Amir, on July 15 just before midnight and allegedly gang raped.

“I m obliged to come out and seek justice so that no woman would have to go through similar fate as I have,” she said, and added, “I demand punitive justice and a befitting punishment against the persons who raped me.” 

Convener of Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the kidnapping of Sakina, MV Abdul Halim “condemned” the OC and Asst. IO of Irilbung police station for continuing to shield the five accused despite unmistakably identifying him to be Sakina’s abductor and in spite of several memoranda and statements submitted to the police department.

The JAC said that the five accused have been roaming free without any action being initiated by the police department despite medical report inimitable implicating him of committing the crime.

Even after a month, the case has been dragging on without any sight of ending, the convener said and asked for justice to be delivered in favor of the aggrieved Sakina.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/rape-victim-seeks-justice/

IMPHAL August 22: The shockwave of anti-corruption campaign has reached the state with more than 50 members of the Art of Living Foundation as well as other general public converged at the lane along the Paona International market and carried out a silent candle light anti corruption rally amidst pouring rain today evening.

The rally under the initiative of The Art of Living Foundation, Manipur unit took the northern side of the road from Keishampat by the river Nambul upto Wahengbam leikai traffic point.

“The rally is to create awareness to the general public about corruption. We are all aware that even in the national level many campaigns are going on but in our state like Manipur, is very prone in corruption and if I’m not mistaken, our state is one of the most corrupted state in the country, that is why we are giving awareness to the public that we should do something to eradicate corruption to our best level. This is our responsibility” Arambam Arjun, one of the teachers of the Art of Living Foundation, Manipur told some media persons during the rally.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/art-of-living-members-propagate-anticorruption-message/

IMPHAL Sept 1: North- East Support Centre and Helpline has severely condemned the rape of a minor physically challenged girl and demanded stringent action against the perpetrators.

A release of the organization stated that Anita (name changed), a fifteen year old from Wangkhei went missing from her residence in the evening of August 21. She was later found in an unconscious state in a house located at Kongba bazaar at about 9 pm on the same day.

According to the testimony of the victim and her father, Anita was first seduced, intoxicated and raped by a man about 20 years of age, a resident of Andro Khunjao at Rainbow Fast Food at about 4.30 pm on the said day and abandoned in a nearby area.

She was taken to Raj Polyclinic and later shifted to JN Hospital and then to RIMS.

As the matter was reported to Porompat police station on the same night, the officers did not register the case and told the family members to come back later on ground that the area does not fall under their jurisdiction. The case was later filed to Irilbung PS.

In the regard, Madhuchandra, spokesperson of North East Support Centre and Helpline spoke to the OC of Irilbung PS. The police said that the rapist has been apprehended and he had confessed to the crime on interrogation.

The organization, in a memorandum to the Chief Minister, DGP Manipur and Manipur Minority Commission, demanded  to include other relevant sections of IPC for crimes related to seducing, intoxicating and raping a physically challenged underage girl.

It was also demanded that the owner of “The Rainbow Fast Food”, Kongba Bazar where the crime took place must be held responsible and that the victim be awarded adequate compensation to rebuild her life.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/ne-support-centre-condemns-rape-of-minor-disabled-girl/

IMPHAL April 29: Department of Science and technology, Government of Manipur, under the Integrated Rural Energy programme (IREP) organized a function, today, for the distribution of high efficiency LED reading lamps to students of the Government Deaf and Mute School, Takyelpat, Imphal.

The function was presided by Letkhogin Haokip, IAS, commissioner (Social Welfare), Govt. of Manipur, G. Sheityabati devi, director Social Welfare, H.Usharani Devi, headmistress, Govt. Deaf and Mute School, Takyelpat,H. Imocha Singh, IAS commissioner (Sc.& Tech),Govt. Manipur and Uttam C. Laisram, Director (Sc. & Tech), Govt. of Manipur as the chief guest, president and guests of honour respectively.

The lamps were distributed by the dignitaries to the students of the School.

The lamps were procured from M/s Manipur Electronics Development Corporation limited, MANITRON, Takyel and said that each lamp carries one year warranty excluding the batteries. The cost of each unit, inclusive of batteries (3 nos.) is Rs 275 only.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/A7AQwkNR61s/

IMPHAL, May 12: The Kangla Foods production factory has shut down its function from today indefinitely due to monetary demands of Rs 20 Lakhs imposed by a militant group identifying themselves as KCP MTF.

Denouncing the extortion demand, the employees of the factory staged a sit in protest demonstration in front of the factory located at Nambol Chingmang.

The Kangla Foods is an emerging local foods production unit engaged in producing and promoting various indigenous food items. About 150 individuals are employed in the factory.

Discontenting the act one of the protestor termed it as an unfortunate act. He said that a small scale industry like the Kangla Foods is providing job opportunities in a state like Manipur where employment opportunities are rare.

He appealed the outfit to lift the demand and the intimidation on the factory and the proprietor taking into consideration the service rendered by the Kangla foods.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/ikpRsyfnEro/

Nothing should have come as more shocking than the news splashed on the front pages of local dailies today that an underground activist caught in the act of extortion turned out to be a personnel of the India Reserved Battalion, IRB, an armed constabulary of the Manipur government. This is also not the first time such a thing has happened, and indeed the Manipur police constabularies have come to have the extremely disparaging reputation of being infiltrated by various militant groups in a big way. If propriety was the rule of the game, today’s development should have even demanded the resignation of the top executive of the state, the chief minister, Okram Ibobi, himself, or at least his home minister, under whom the police department comes. Unfortunately, Okram Ibobi is also the home minister just as he is also the finance minister. He cannot in his capacity as chief minster possibly fire himself in his other avatar as home minister. In all likelihood, not to speak of heads rolling at the ministerial level, it is quite predictable that not even any of the senior police officers, the DGP included, would he held accountable for what should be described not only as shameful, but also dangerous development in equal measure, in the police department. But then, in the power corridors of Manipur, and indeed all over the country, shame and accountability are terms which have been deliberately erased from official lexicon. It is only recently that strong civil society and media pressures which made the Central government to think of introducing some semblance of accountability and discipline in public administration and public finance handling by those in power. Peripheral states like Manipur, however, are still blissfully left untouched by these waves.
The manner in which militant plants have been routinely discovered in the Manipur Police constabularies in the past one decade should have raised the alarm long ago. There must be something very wrong with the department. In all likelihood, as we had pointed out earlier, a lot of this is happening because of unprecedented corruption in the recruitment process during the period. It is known to everybody that today the bribe price of even the job of a constable in the Manipur police is as high as Rs. 3 lakhs. The price for sub-inspectors and inspectors can go up as high as Rs. 10 lakhs. This certainly would have some very serious implications, the most obvious of which is, those recruited would want to recover the bribe amount they had been made to pay, and this can only be done from means other than their salaries. Money being such a corrupting influence, once someone’s conscience has been breached by it, there is no turning back. So the ordinary newly recruited constable who recovered his money by corrupt means available to his profession and rank, would get addicted to his corrupt ways. Others probably end up seeking quicker ways of making money by joining the extortion racket introduced by the proliferating number of militant organisations.
There is however a scenario much more sinister. Since these jobs can be had by paying a bribe price, resourceful underground organisations can easily invest the money necessary to pay the bribe to infiltrate this key department of the government. This understandably would be far more convenient for the militants, as there would be no commotion over use of coercion, thereby leaving the infiltration process much quieter and shielded from public view or suspicion. Corruption in this way probably would have opened up the backdoor so wide that a lot of undesirable elements walked into government’s vital security and counter insurgency organs without a fuss. The pattern and frequency at which personnel of the Manipur Police have been found involved in the very crimes they are recruited to fight, certainly points towards this direction. What is now needed is a massive cleanup exercise. What is even more urgently needed is to fix accountability through a high level judicial probe. However, even before a probe is instituted, the redemption process should begin with the top executives of the state’s concerned department owning moral responsibility, and welcoming penalty, including resignation from the posts they hold, for indeed they have failed miserably. However, this is unlikely ever to be, considering the thickness of skin of those in power. Instead, at the most some scapegoats among lower and mid-ranked officers of the department would be found and transferred or suspended from service for some time to pacify public outrage. The bigger irony is, those thus suspended would also not see this as a punishment but a paid holiday. What a shame!

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/N1Z7j47jjTY/

IMPHAL May 28: Among the six people injured in a poll related incident at 19/9 polling station at Mahabali Rongmei LP School of ward No.19 on May 25, the condition of Sumitra Palmei, 32, d/o (L) Laldun Lungpu who was severely injured on her face and scalp area has worsen and is now admitted in the ICCU of Shija Hospital, said Lamta Golmei, 54, who was also badly hurt during the incident, in a press conference held at Mangge Makhong, Bhamon Leikai, today.

Narrating the incident, Lamta Golmei, strongly denied the statement made on several local dailies by the supporters of Y. Ratikanta, BJP councilor candidate for ward No. 19.

He said that on May 25 at 19/9 polling station at around 3.30 pm, a grey colored Bolero came speeding along the narrow road leading to Mahabali Rongmei L.P. School and came to a sudden halt without any concerned for the people who passing by the road.

He stated that the sudden commotion caused a gust of dust to blow all around the place that caused serious inconveniences to the nearby people, and added that he saw Y. Ratikanta, BJP candidate for councilor of ward No. 19 came down with few of his associates from the Bolero. On seeing the commotion a woman complained to him of the consequences in which he readily showed unbecoming attitudes to the people present at that time that later led to the altercation. He alleged that the candidate himself came with an intention as there were already 10/20 workers stationed in that area who later joined in to the altercation.

The candidate along with his several workers beat several people including women and drove off leaving no time to react for the others, he said alleging the action as a premeditated and well thought out plan.

Lamta further alleged that without any reason he was also beaten up black and blue along with his son Rocky Golmei, 27, who came running after him on seeing the situation. He stated that all of the injured persons were supporters of RK (ongbi) Bina Devi, INC councilor candidate.

He further condemned Y. Ratikanta, BJP councilor candidate for making false charges by tarnishing the facts. The other injured persons were Maja Gangpu Palmei 25, brother of Sumitra Palmei, Jolsian Golmei 25, s/o Amusanna Golmei, Bijoy Malingmei 26, s/o Khuman Singh Malingmei, Abui Kamei 32, Asing Puina Golmei, 26, and Konjengbam Nanao, 27, all from ward no. 19, Mahabali, he added.

Talking to the media persons, Thounaojam Vikramaditya, president Yaiskul Block Youth Congress committee, the convenor for the press meet refuted the charges and alleged that Prof. S. Tiken, vice president of BJP state unit had wrongly labeled charges by concealing the facts and encouraged Gundaism or hooliganisms. He charged that the high honourable esteem position held by such national party like BJP has been maligned by fielding such an incompetent person.

He added that it was very unfortunate that several baseless labels were also framed by S.Tiken on Rk. Dorendro husband of Rk (ongbi) Bina Devi, Congress councilor candidate of ward no. 19.

He further termed the derogatory remark made by Tiken as unfounded as no such incident of threatening with a licensed revolver to anyone by Dorendro took place, Th. Vikramaditya added.

He has also demanded that Prof. S.Tiken, should immediately clarify on the derogatory remarks and wrong allegation made on several local dailies on May 26 that were subsequently published on May 27.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/1JOKQQNEnNk/

IMPHAL, May 30 (Newmai News Network): The Ukhrul District Congress Committee and also the North East chapter of Jesus Gospel Ministry (JGM-NE) have condemned the bomb attack at the office of Autonomous District Council (ADC) located at Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal on May 28.
Three persons–a woman and her two daughters–were injured in the explosion on Saturday morning. Till date no organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Ukhrul District Congress Committee termed the Saturday incident as “undesirable bomb attacking culture targetting the innocent people. The Commiittee then appealed those elements responsible for such act to abstain from repeating in future.
Meanwhile, the Jesus Gospel Ministry-North East India (JGM-NEI) while asking the people involved in the May 28 incident to identify themselves, has said that such act is against any religion. “No religion permits such cruelty,” said Ashang Kasar who is the director of the JGM-NEI. He also said that acts of violence will not bring any good for the society but only more problems.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/StXciH6FTgU/

Manipur did not take the Santosh Trophy, the country`™s top most inter-state football championship, going down 1-2 to Indian`™s football powerhouse, Bengal, in the final played at the floodlit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Guwahati on Monday. The consolation however is, this small impoverished state always manages to put together teams year after year which no other team, even the best reputed and groomed, can take for granted. The fact that Manipur entered the final of this most prestigious national tournament is itself a feat, and this is only the second time Manipur has made it to the final of this tournament. This year too, although beaten, the young Manipur side visibly shook up the Bengal veterans considerably, the later having to resort to the cynical tactics of time wasting in the second half so as to hang on to the final whistle with the narrow margin they held by virtue of a goal each scored in each of the two halves. Manipur`™s relentless pressure in the second half ultimately broke through the Bengal defence and scored one to reduce the margin to 1-2. The pressure continued and if not for a number of missed chances, Manipur probably would have emerged on top. Even if Manipur managed one more goal in, which on so many occasions they nearly did, and the match was extended to extra time, the bet would have been overwhelmingly on Manipur to carry the day, for they were definitely the physically fitter and agile side. Bengal it must be said were the more experienced and it was experience which got them to keep the margin, though precariously, till the end. All in all it was a good match, and Bengal for whom it was the 31st time winning the trophy, deserved the win, although the losers Manipur too earned respect for the valiant fight they put up. Our congratulations go out to the Manipur team, and gratitude too, for earning the state another proud reputation.

We write also to raise an alarm. Football is no longer so much of a routine sight on the playgrounds of Imphal and indeed the entire state. The power of television being such, they are being usurped by cricket. Worse still is, it is not even the standard cricket, for Manipur`™s version is generally played either with tennis ball or else plastic look alike of the real cricket balls. This is good for toddlers, but no player who grows up on a diet of these versions of the game can ever make it to the top of what is virtually not just the national game of India, but also the national obsession. These versions can only be light recreation and never be fodder for future champions to emerge. The worry then is, this cricket placebo may end up as the dog in the manger, diverting focus from what the state is good in, but not replacing the space it usurped with new champion material. That would be such a loss. The blame can only go to the television media, and the monopoly over sporting glamour so wilfully given to cricket and at the cost of all other games in the country. It needs no reminder that it is not cricket but hockey which is the national game officially. No wonder India IS seldom of any reckoning in any other game apart from cricket on the international arena. This imbalance must be set right on a national scale, but most immediately for Manipur, the game must not be allowed to take away the focus from other games more suited to the genius of the place.

But the lopsided attention to cricket, and the near total neglect of other games was most prominently displayed on the day of the final. Major private news channels of the country did not even think the news of the final was worth even a short mention in their news bulletins for the day. Only Doordarshan the government owned channel did the needful faithfully and gave the match equitable coverage. On the other hand all the private channels flocked to, and gave extended coverage to a function honouring cricketers for their World Cup feat. While the attention cricket is good, what is lamentable is the manner in which all other games are ending up ignored. It is unlikely this attitude would change in the near future, for it is also the market which is determining it. Advertisers flock to cricket thus compelling the media to oblige the advertisers`™ needs and a self perpetuating spiral is thus created in which the advertisers and the media whet each others`™ appetite. Manipur must resist this temptation. Its sporting reputation were earned from a varied number of sports, it must remain so. If cricket is to be played, so be it, but with the media biases so pervasive, it must take care this new trend does not result in a cricket monoculture as in much of the rest of India.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/4RmSLjPLExQ/

by Charles ChasieOne has read that there will be a special service for reconciliation, led by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation this Easter. This creates a mixed feeling of both happiness and sadness. Happiness because God is the best guide to pursue the correct path and, ultimately, we all fall back on Him in our times of desperation. Sadness because just a short while ago, the FNR was forced to issue an appeal to the various factional groups, and all other Naga leaders, to reconcile for the sake of the future of Naga people and coming generations. Such an appeal had come in the wake of renewed clashes and war of words between factional groups and inability to hold a meeting across the table at the highest levels of the factions. One is happy that all factions seemed to have adopted a more positive approach since then. One hopes and prays such attitude will continue till an acceptable and durable solution is found. What still troubles is the seemingly effortless violence that erupts in any part of Naga inhabited areas and especially among Nagas themselves. No Naga opposes Naga Nationalism or the high ideals that launched the Naga Movement. But today all Nagas want the violence to stop and for Naga Future to be insured, enabling at the same time, our younger generations an equal opportunity to take their place among other peoples. Violence and fratricidal killings make no sense of Naga Nationalism or Patriotism. Indeed, these defeat the very purpose and objectives of Naga Nationalism. For the sake of the future of Naga children, Naga leaders cannot fail. I am not a “religious” person per se, but I do believe in God and in prayers. I also think that most Nagas have a profound connection with God in their lives. But that is not even the point in this case although the connection may well testify to the strength of the connection between the two! The point here is whether we are true to our stated beliefs. That, to me, is what Easter means. And it will also decide the rise or fall of the Naga people. Sure, the Nagas will have a lot to blame/castigate “India” and “India” has much to answer for – even more to herself than to the Nagas – but the time now is to leave that to God to pass judgement on India. The Naga role will be to ensure the future of the Naga people in the best way we know how.Talking about the future of the Naga people, one of the areas Nagas must focus on is how to create/build a society that works and can actually survive! In this instance, the following is what I read in the February issue of Frontline magazine. I thought, in many ways, they reminded of Naga society at this stage. “Delusions are possessing you,Already, ferocity and brute forceAre labeled strength and valour”The above are taken from Luiz Vaz Camoes’ “The Lusiads” (Frontline, February 11, 2011). The author, Talmiz Ahmad, Indian diplomat and author, is the writer of the piece titled “Strategic Scenarios” (A reflection on the strategic situation in the greater Indian Ocean in the light of the diminishing US influence in the region). The piece is from a review of a book titled, “Monsoon” by Robert D Kaplan. I found the piece very interesting and thought it ought to be shared. The originality of thinking of the reviewer of the book came across quite strongly. Secondly, I thought most Nagas will agree that the above quote, from The Lusiads, quite vividly depicts the Naga society we live in today! Naga pride today has been prostituted and taken down to its lowest possible interpretation of that word. For example, consider the following lyrics that have been passed on through mobile phones for, apparently, quite some time.“Ami (name of tribe) aseTumi ki phutani kuri aseDath Sath girai di boNath sath phulai di bo”It came in the form of rap music and so many young Naga children found it so catchy. But just imagine a future Naga society with such kind of mentality! Third, the book is about the greater Indian Ocean area – geographically from Oman to Indonesia, representing one third of the world’s population. This means North East India is placed bang in the middle of this geographical configuration. The region gains more importance in the backdrop of India’s Look East Policy. Because of the above reasons, I decided to `flag’ this piece and bring it to the notice of our people. I do not know how many of our people will either get hold of or actually ready the book mentioned here. But I do hope that as many as possible will be able to get hold of a copy or of the piece mentioned above and read the review. At this time, when Nagas are so hopeful of a final settlement, our people need all kinds of perspectives. We may individually like each other or dislike, even intensely, one another, but it does not really matter. What matters is what happens to us as a people and how we build our people-hood. We all know that no Naga thinks he/she is inferior to anyone else. This is freedom in the best sense of the word. This is a great position from where to begin to build a level playing field across the board and explains why only accepting each other as equals will actually work in the Naga situation. Sometime ago, the NSCN-IM, while mourning the death of the first woman commander of a Naga Battalion, also noted that they were the first to appoint a woman commander of a battalion. They were right to be proud of this fact. The question now is whether they will also accept all the other factions on a level playing field and bring closer the possibility of a workable and durable settlement of the Naga Issue.

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By Nehginpao Kipgen John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, has been one of the fiercest critics of the Burmese military junta, while lending unwavering support to Aung San Suu Kyi-led democracy movement. Why is a man who once called the Burmese military generals “thugs” have decided to visit Burma now? Perhaps equally surprising is that why did the Burmese government issue him visa?This week’s visit comes at a time when both the United States and the Burmese government are interested in improving bilateral ties between the two nations. The visit is more so important for the Burmese government than the senator’s own agenda. Even though McCain has not publicly spelled out the objectives of his mission, his past records have suggested what his intentions are. Although he is not an official envoy from the U.S. government, the nature of his important role in imposing sanctions on the Burmese government and his influential status in the U.S. senate makes the visit a significant one. The high-profile visit also comes at a time when Burma has once again captured headlines in international media. The country’s request for the 2014 chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, two high-profile visits from the U.N. secretary general’s special envoy Vijay Nambiar and U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state Joseph Yun, and the visit to China by the Burmese president Thein Sein, all happened in May, have drawn the attention of the international community. Analyzing his past records on Burma, senator McCain has two primary objectives in his trip to Burma: assessing the ground reality of political developments in Burma after the 2010 election and listening to Aung San Suu Kyi’s view on the U.S. policy toward Burma. McCain in his July 2009 senate floor statement said, “I once had the great honor of meeting Aung San Suu Kyi. She is a woman of astonishing courage and incredible resolve.” The 2008 presidential candidate presumably has no high expectation of making a great stride in this trip. By meeting Suu Kyi, he wants to reiterate his admiration for her courage and dedication for the cause of democracy, and convey the U.S. strong support for democracy and human rights. With the formation of a new Burmese government, McCain plans to assess the ground reality of political developments inside the country. In doing so, he is expected to meet representatives from the government, which is dominated by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. Since there are over 2,000 political prisoners still languishing in different prisons across Burma, McCain is likely to push for their release and the implementation of more democratic reforms before the U.S. can consider lifting sanctions, the issue raised by deputy assistant secretary of state Joseph Yun in his May 18-20 trip. On the other hand, the Burmese government wants to take this opportunity to show the U.S. government that it has made progress in democratic reforms. The new Burmese government, former military generals in civilian clothes, wants to demonstrate its claim to the international community. This is an important reason why McCain was issued visa in the first place. Indeed, the government has something positive to present to the visiting senator and other critics. President Thein Sein recently reduced all prison sentences by one year and commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment. Thousands of prisoners were released, although only a small number of political prisoners were among the freed. Naypyidaw will argue that it has successfully conducted the first countrywide general election in two decades and has released thousands of prisoners. It will reiterate its demand for the U.S. government to lift sanctions which the Burmese government considers as the greatest hindrance for improving bilateral relationship. It has to be noted that the United States has a leverage to help genuine democratic transition in Burma for two important reasons. First is because of the U.S. unparalleled economic and military power and its pioneering role in championing democracy and human rights. Second is because of the widely acceptance of the U.S. engagement policy by the Burmese people. The senator’s visit should be viewed as a positive development. The U.S. government needs to continue its diplomatic pressure for genuine democratic reforms and protection and promotion of human rights. One effective way of engagement for the senator is to urge his colleagues to confirm the nomination of Derek Mitchell as a U.S. special envoy for Burma. The then-president Bush nominated Michael J. Green as U.S. special envoy for Burma in late 2008, which was never confirmed by the senate. Senator McCain and his senate colleagues should not let president Obama’s nomination slip away. The special envoy, with an ambassador rank, can work more effectively than some occasional visits. Burma decades-old problem is not entirely a question of democracy. The root cause is about denying rights to ethnic minority groups. In the process of engaging Burma, the U.S. government, either democratic or republican party, should involve more representatives and experts from ethnic minorities. After all, the Burmese people themselves best understand the political psychology of the Burmese military generals. Burmese native scholars should be consulted equally, if not more than the Western scholars, in formulating effective U.S. political strategy. The Burmese scholars have the advantage of in-depth empirical knowledge besides theoretical, which the Western scholars often lack. Nehginpao Kipgen is a researcher on the rise of political conflicts in modern Burma and general secretary of the U.S.-based Kuki International Forum (www.kukiforum.com) whose works have been widely published in five continents – Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. He currently pursues a Ph.D. in political science at Northern Illinois University and can be reached at nkipgen1@niu.edu.

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In the wake of the growing chant for more liberalization of economies around the globe and the unabashed worship of the market, there are many extremely well informed voices calling for caution against dropping all economic regulatory mechanisms. It is true market worship has led to a path of growth generally, but critics are now calling attention to the fact that growth alone cannot be development. Development, they say is not about the size of GDPs and GNPs alone, but also of a number of other conditions, some subjective and others objective. One of these is environment. Among the others are: gender empowerment, equitable distribution of income, public health etc. The most economically and militarily powerful nation, the United States of America, has often been the subject of case studies in probing these issues. Some of the questions asked by Nobel Prize winning economists like Amartya Sen and Joseph Stiglitz should be able to rhetorically present the nature of the problem. Why is this most developed nation also dotted with the most number of prisons in the world? According to Stiglitz, (“Roaring Nineties”) some of the American states spend more money on prison maintenance than on primary education. It is true that these rich societies have enough to spend on both prison and education, but the picture narrates of something extremely dysfunctional? Again according to a study by Amartya Sen and John Dreze (“Development as Freedom”), Black Americans although on the average they command incomes many times higher than people in the Third World countries even after taking into account the differences in the cost of living, have a lower life expectancy than many of the latter societies. Markets also have seldom shown respect for the environment, and hence the world’s most well endowed market, the USA’s refusal to sign the Kyoto Protocol on world environment. These are facts and figures that point out how incomplete the traditional notions of development are. The issues are many, but on the morrow of the World Environment Day on June 5, it would be a profitable exercise to reflect on the many awesome aspects of the environment question.The question is large and can even go beyond easy comprehension. Viewed with an evolutionary sense of time, there seems nothing that anybody can do about the changes that happen to the earth’s environment. As for instance, who can prevent the next Ice Age from happening, for science today has determined that the Ice Epochs are a cyclic event, just as the earth’s seasons are, although on a much longer cyclic path. Seasons happen because of the earth revolves around the sun and also because of the inclination of its axis at 23.5 degrees against the plane of its revolution. It is now also established that the earth’s axis is not just inclined but also wobbles by about 4 degrees and this wobbling is thought to be the cause behind Ice Ages. In evolutionary terms this cycle may take millions of years to complete, but all the same it is inevitable. The last Ice Age, a minor one according to scientists, ended about 12,000 years ago, and it is only after this event that the race for modern civilizations was flagged off. Life forms also go extinct. This is again a fact about life on earth. Millions and millions of species of life have died out while million others have come out of oblivious existence to take centre stage in the earth’s 4.5 billion years. If a comet hit had not wiped off the predatory dinosaurs about 64 million years ago, scientists believe the species of life that evolved into modern man could have remained an insignificant creature perhaps the size of a house lizard, out of its own survival instinct. Evolutionary scientists like the late Stephen Jay Gould (author of best-selling “Wonderful Life”) and Simon Conway Morris (author of the authoritative “The Crucible of Creation”) have demonstrated through the study of fossils that on the one hand life just wants to be (the sole purpose of the creature called sponge seems just to hang around at one spot throughout its life until it comes to an end), and on the other, that life forms almost with an uncanny certainty, go extinct from time to time. They have also argued quite convincingly that evolution is not centred around humans and its sole purpose is to preserve life, not necessarily human life. The awesomeness of the mysteries of life is in a pristine sense, religious. If we reflect on it with earnest, it should humble even our greatest problems. On Environment Day then, let us learn to be humble.

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IMPHAL June 12: The Shija Hospital and Research Institute today observed its fifth anniversary while side by side launching ‘Mission Myanmar’ today.

The programme which was held at the hospital premise was attended by health minister L Jayanta and Mamtaa Carrol, program manager of Smile Train (Eastern Zone) among other dignitaries.

The Smile Train project sponsored by the Smile Train Incorporated, a US based NGO was taken up by Shija Hospital and in course of time many individuals mainly children having cleft lip and palate in the state have been operated on.

Under the project Shija hospital has performed 1927 cleft operations. Of these 20 percent were conducted outside the state including in Myanmar.

Managing director of SHRI, Dr Kh Palin stated that the project will be taken up in the neighboring country Myanmar starting from June 28 to extend the campaign, he said that there are numerous cleft and palate cases in the country which are left unaddressed due to lack of surgeons and only one surgeon from Thailand has been treating the cases in the country.

It is also speculated that Myanmar must be having around 50,000 to 60,000 cleft lip and palate cases out of its 15 million population with most of them requiring operation.

Palin said that the patients of Myanmar go to Thailand for surgery which is costly and time consuming.

“ Since the treatment we offer is free of cost and the close vicinity between Manipur and Myanmar would prove much effective in addressing the cases”, he said.

The campaign will also be extended to Tripura, Nagaland and Cachar.

Health minister L Jayentakumar attending the anniversary celebration as the chief guest assured that necessary help would be extended to Shija Hospital’s Mission Myanmar.

“We’ll be extending necessary help if required”, he said before adding, “I will make my own arrangement to attend the forthcoming programs”.

Expressing the need to mobilize the human resources of the region, the minister also provided a brief update on the latest status of the proposed Imphal-Mandalay bus service which was initiated when he was transport minister. Besides he also informed the gathering particularly the media that NEDFI had agreed to take up a medicinal and aromatic plant project in the state.

Mamtaa Carrol, program manager of Smile Train (Eastern Zone) attending the STCP anniversary while sharing on a similar sentiment, said,”Our project has no boundary as we are moving forward for a cleft free society. So it should be made mandatory to send persons with cleft cases from Myanmar to Manipur without any hesitation otherwise there would be no meaning of the Look East Policy”.

A Myanmarese citizen Sabilal (52),a resident of Tamu township who had been waiting his turn for the free operation at Shija said,”I’m happy now as I would get proper operation here”. He is among nine Myanmarese patients who have come down to Imphal for treatment of various ailments.

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IMPHAL June 14: United NGOs Mission, Manipur has appealed to the Chief Minister and the Governor of the State to make immediate alternative arrangement for the evicted families of Lamphel Yaipha Leikai at the earliest.

A press release of the secretary of the organization U Nobokishore stated that the conditions of the fifteen evicted families are now in a deplorable condition. As the families are left without proper shelter and living in makeshift shelters, the aged persons and the children are suffering from starvation and water borne diseases, the children are also not able to attend school, it maintained.

The press release further thanked the organizations and individuals for partaking in the protest rally and public meeting held on June 12 addressing the escalation of crime against women and children.

Meanwhile sources stated that the makeshift shelters constructed anew along the Lamphel roadside have also been removed by security persons.

Local MLA W Brajabidhu is also reported to have met the evicted families and told them to shift to another adjoining area, but the families have stated that the area is unfeasible as the said place is a marshy area.

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By N. Arunkumar
A leader is one who, out of madness or goodness, volunteers to take upon himself the woe of the people. There are few men so foolish, hence the erratic quality of leadership in the world.

You`re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn`t lose it. DU dictum!

Yes. It is official now. The DU cut off of 100% is downright absurd, ridiculous, insensitive and discriminatory to the rest of the country. Is the DU the preserve of the elite and the favoured who can garner such ridiculous marks that put them right at the apex of the marks tally in the public examinations? How can a student get 100% marks in languages? India or rather Delhi is the only place on the planet perhaps, where students can score a cent percent mark in language, it seems. The government’s assurance of the right to education bill has been scorned at fair and square by this bizarre decision by the DU to peg the ceiling at such a target.

Now, this brings into focus the marking standards in the country’s premier educational board’s right from the CBSE to the State Boards as they stand. If the CBSE students can score such absurd marks in the public examinations, then why lay stringent standards for other state boards to follow and adhere to rigorously? Most state educational boards are still languishing in the age old correction methods, which make it next to impossible for students to get fair marks, other than those who are again at the elite strata of the state’s social ladder. A few rare exceptions are there no doubt, though those cases are few and far between. Most often, it is apparent that the students coming from well – to – do ambience manage to outclass their lesser privileged brethren in the educational race by a distant margin.

This happens due to a number of factors, ranging from nepotism to preferential treatment of certain institutional corruption of the educational field by unscrupulous elements from within the society. When we find a few institutes doing well on a regular basis, we begin to wonder what is going on behind the scenes. There has to be something that is incorrect here, as it is most likely that a few people indulge in malpractices to wrest superiority over others. If the premier institute in the country goes to such extents as to allow only students of cent percent calibre into their corridors of educational merit, it will create another annoyed class of people, and it will plainly further widen the gap between the have and have not’s in this country. Don’t we already have enough of this gap amidst us that is giving us sufficient headaches? These are of course mere speculations that are brought up front by myself as a matter of concern to me and perhaps others like me.

Why is the bureaucracy in the country living in Utopia? What kind of role do they think they are playing in developing the talent pool in the country by resorting to such absurd practices of discrimination among the students who had burned the midnight oil to achieve something of a dignified status in their examinations? Isn’t there something really unnatural about such illogical decisions by the educational bureaucracy to the needs of the students of the country? Or, shall we say that there is a coterie already in place indulging in a new scam to divide and rule and make hay while the going is good for them? Do we need another expose of the murky goings on in the corridors of the universities of the country who are resorting to such practices that are downright unethical to the very noble intentions of education?

I think there is something very fishy about the whole thing at the moment and there is a time bomb ticking, and waiting to be brought out into the open. Not everything looks rosy in the educational field of the country today, folks. The education minister meanwhile is busy fighting the Ramdev’s, Hazare’s etc who are trying to bring the corrupted leaders to book. He is a lawyer first and lawyers are forever, remember that. An erudite spokesman who brings all his years of experience in fighting high profile cases at a hefty fee is now a leader of the downtrodden? The joke of Indian politics and the Indian politicians cannot get eerier than this! It is more than preposterous, and we fade away to the distant horizon, in the haze of scams, scandals and siphoning of money from the common man’s pocket with typical insouciance. The silliness of such inconsistencies is just too comical for us to ignore.

The Robin Hood factor is a reality in our political circles today. People like Digivijay Singh and sometimes even the other voices of the Congress are indulging in mudslinging with those who are uniting together to bring the corrupt politicians to the altar of justice. The language being used by these leaders leave much to be desired and are downright in poor taste. They should realize that they are playing to the media gallery and are under the scrutinising glares of the world when they appear on TV. However, it appears that they have lost all respect for the sentiments of the educated people in this country and indulge in phrases which are of very poor quality. Calling names at such figures like the Baba and even Anna Hazare is not acceptable to the common people, and they seem to overlook this.

So, how can poor students expect justice in such a murky atmosphere? Who will listen to their grievances? Should we have to fight out this stupidity again in the courts? For every simple thing if we are to go to the courts for our rights, then when are we going to go ahead with the business of living in this country? Each passing day is making the situation more and more complicated for us to find our rights in an ordinary way. Our politicians and so called leaders call our civil societies as ‘so called civil society’ and we are merely the ‘so called janta’ of the country. We are as good as cattle for them who are enjoying the heady reins of power over us and allowed to determine our quality of life. The only precondition to it is that it should not interfere with their quality of life…I mean our ‘so called’ leaders’ quality of living that is.

So, poor students of unfortunate states and humble backgrounds can now forget the DU, as it is formally declared accessible only to the real crème – de – la crème of the society in the country. The rest may go pleading to the private colleges who are ever ready to welcome you as long as you pay them the hefty fee that they demand from you anyway. So, is a nexus coming to light here? A faint ray of this nexus is already in the vanguard, don’t you think so? Nonetheless…God help our aspiring students from beyond the NCR.

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IMPHAL, June 21: At least three hard cores cadres of the underground KCP (City Meitei) group involved in various anti social crimes in the state were apprehended by a combined team of the Imphal East district police commandos and the personnel of 23 AR during a cordon off operation conducted at Thamnapokpi village on the early morning of the June 18.

According to an official release of the SP Imphal East, the combined security team on getting specific information about the presence of some of the hardcore activities of hard core cadres of the KCP conducted their specific operation at the Thamnapokpi village at the early morning after the areas have been kept under cordoned by the combined security forces.

The official release further mentioned that, the security forces during their course of operations in the village arrested three active members of the underground KCP (City Meitei) group identified as Sukham Ananta Meitei alias Nanao alias Salai, 20, son of S Muhindro Singh of Thamnapokpi Makha Leikai, Keisham Bindu Singh, 37, s/o K Achoubi of Thamnapokpi Mayai Leikai and Okram Somorjit Meitei alias Hemjit Singh alias Somo, 24, s/o O Chandra Meitei of Thamnapokpi Awang Leikai from their respective houses and the security force also recovered two 9mm pistol with several ammunitions from the arrested persons.

It is also mentioned that, during the preliminary interrogation, Sukham Ananta revealed that he joined the outfit in the month of March 2008 and got basic military training from Bangladesh under Army No.11023, 2nd Batch of KCP (City Meitei) and is now holding the rank of s/s corporal of the outfit and still working under the command of one s/s corporal Abom of the same outfit.

The release further mentioned that, S. Ananta also disclosed to the police that, he was involved in shooting and killing of a lady at Sabungkhok who was identified as an active worker of minister Ph Parijat on July 27 last year.

On the other hand arrested K Bindu also told the police that he is an active member of the same outfit an involved in extortion of Rs.5 Lakhs from one Rani of Yorbung a member of the village council, the release added.

Further Okram Somorjit also disclosed to the police that he was involved in killing of a worker of minister N Loken Singh at Wahengkhuman during April last month and shooting of Shyamkeshore, president of Yaingangpokpi Bazar Board near Leimakhong Mapal in the month of August last year over and above his assignment of collection of demand money of Rs.1 lakh from the Shija Hospital during March last year, the release added.

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