Tag: Top Stories

GUWAHATI,July 22(NNN): Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi said United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) military chief Paresh Baruah was bent upon subversion in the state despite the outlawed outfit’s declaration of ceasefire.

Barua and some 150 hardliners have refused to talk to ‘colonial New Delhi’ and have broken off with the majority pro-talks ULFA headed by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa.

“We’ve received intelligence inputs that Paresh Baruah is planning terror attacks in the state with help from Manipur-based People’s Liberation Army, the Maoists and some other extremist groups of the Northeast,” Gogoi said on Friday. “But we are alive to the situation and taking all precautionary measures to foil his designs.”

Gogoi criticized Baruah for continuing with the armed movement when most of his colleagues gave up arms in the interest of peace. “I urge him to see the writings on the wall and abjure the path of violence. People want peace and not violence,” he said.

The Assam government believes that Baruah is operating from safe hideouts along China-Myanmar border. “He is currently holed up in northern Myanmar but keeps moving around. A number of extremist groups of the Northeast have their bases in that region,” Gogoi said.

Earlier, the ULFA used to operate from Bhutanese territories until being flushed out during ‘Operation All Clear’ (an Indo-Bhutanese joint military offensive of December 2003). Later, the outfit set up bases in adjoing Bangladesh. But the return of Sheikh Hasina to power and a subsequent crackdown on Northeast Indian militants saw ULFA shift to the China-Myanmar border.

Gogoi said peace parleys with the pro-talks faction of ULFA were imminent. “We’ve got green signal from the central government. Peace talks between ULFA and the Central government will begin very soon,” he added.

According to the chief minister, the talks will be held directly between ULFA and central government. Earlier, peace talks between ULFA-appointed People’s Consultative Group and central government hit roadblocks ostensibly after the government had refused to discuss all core issues. The issue of Assam’s sovereignty is one of ULFA’s most contentious demands.

“In the first round of talks, ULFA would submit its charter of demands. Government will then see how far it could go to accommodate the demands. All decisions will be taken by the central government but we’ll be consulted,” he said. The chief minister added that efforts were being made to bring all other militant groups to the negotiating table.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/9v7Ob5CPv2I/

IMPHAL, August 8: Atleast three militant cadres of different outfits have been arrested by security forces in the last 42 hours.

According to a release of the SP Bishnupur, police commandos of the district, while acting on specific information conducted search operation at Bishnupur Bazar and arrested one s/s lt corporal of the outfit PLA who has been identified as Moirangthem Rajesh Singh alias Kangleiganba, 24, s/o late M. Ibochouba Singh of Serou Mamang Leikai who joined the outfit in April 2008 and was trained at Myanmar.

It has further stated that on the same day at about 5:30 pm, one female cadre of the PLA identified as s/s l/corpl Haobijam Sundari alias Victoria, 26, d/o H. Sanayaima Singh of Tokpa Ching Tarunghoubi Leikai was also arrested from Ningthoukhong Awang Leikai during a separate search operation.

It has further added that the woman cadre had joined the outfit in March 2005 inder one s/s lt Rosan and had also been trained in Myanmanr.

The same release has also claimed that a team of the district commando further conducted a search operation in and around of ZEO Office, Bishnupur and arrested one KCP (MTF) activist along with one mobile hand set at around 10:30 am today.

It has further identified the arrested cadre as Pukhrambam Sanatomba Singh alias Sana, 38, s/o P. Mangi of Lilong Santipur.

During preliminary interrogation he revealed that he is involved in serving monetary demands and extortion of money from general public and government officials, added the statement.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/myanmar-trained-militant-cadres-arrested-claims-sp-bishnupur/

CHANDEL, Aug 18: The Chandel Naga People’s Organisation has demanded the authorities concerned to develop the District Industries Centre (DIC) of Chandel district which has not been functioning for quite a long time.

Addressing media persons during an inspection tour on Wednesday, vice-president of CNPO, Ch Gabriel stated that the DIC which is supposed to impart various skill development programmes to the unemployed people is in a deplorable condition with no proper office building and necessary infrastructure. The training centre as well as industrial compound needs to be enhanced for the development of the centre.

He further maintained that the land encroachers and other unwanted elements must be driven out from the complex of Chandel DIC. The office building of DIC must be repaired in the interest of the people of Chandel district, Gabriel enjoined.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/cnpo-demands-govt-attention-to-cdl-dic/

IMPHAL, Aug 24: The 11th session of 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly commenced today with official observation of obituary reference on the demise of Moirangthem Meghachandra, former member of 2nd Manipur Legislative Assembly from Uripok constituency, Haukholal Thangjom, former member of 2nd Manipur Legislative Assembly from Churachandpur constituency and Elangbam Suraj, member of 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly from Yaiskul constituency.

The obituary reference was the single business for today’s Assembly sitting. It was initiated by the leader of the House, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi.

Ibobi stated that (late) Moirangthem Meghachandra was a great political leader of the state who had strived for social upliftment in the state. He was elected twice as member of the House during 1972 and 1974 mid term poll in the state. He was the minister of health, education and veterinary and was also elected MP of Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency in 1967.

Chief Minister further mentioned that Meghachandra also contributed his sincere efforts during the movement for Manipur statehood.

Ibobi also stated that Haukholal Thangjom was another great personality among the tribal leaders of the state who had worked sincerely for the upliftment of minority communities of the state during 1950s apart from his success in attending as member of the House. He was also one of the political leaders who had fought for Manipur’s statehood.

Chief Minister further expressed his words of condolence at the sudden demise of sitting MLA E. Suraj Singh of Yaiskul A/C recently in a road accident in New Delhi.

He said that Suraj was one of the well qualified young leaders of the state. His talent on social activities and interest in the welfare of the youths, particularly in the field of personality development and games and sports are commendable.

Chief Minister also shared the sorrows of the bereaved families and praised the almighty to keep their soul in peace.

Opposition leader, Radhabinod Koijam and senior opposition leader O Joy, while sharing the obituary reference in the House, stated that the contributions made by Moirangthem Meghachandra and Haukholal Thangjom cannot be forgotten by the present and future generation of the state.

The opposition leaders have also expressed their condolence on the sudden demise of siiting MLA Suraj and praised his sincere ambition for the upliftment of youths of the state.

The obituary reference was also participated by power minister Phungzathang Tonsing, IFCD minister N Biren, MLA N Mangi Singh, MLA Dr Ratan Singh and MLA Helaluddin Khan.

Speaker I Hemochandra, after completing the deliberation of various members in the House, expressed condolence on the demise of three members of the House and later made an official announcement of the resolution for the obituary reference.

The members of the House also observed two-minute silence to show respect to the departed legislators.

Meanwhile, the 19th Report of Business Advisory Committee, 2011 will be presented by the Chief Minister in the House tomorrow.

Two calling attention motions from the opposition benches, short duration discussion on the demand for creation of Sadar Hills district to be raised by the Opposition leader MLA Radhabinod Koijam and introduction of two government bills will be the main business of tomorrow’s Assembly sitting.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/08/11th-assembly-session-commences-with-obituary-reference/

From Kaimuanthang
LAMKA, Sep 2 : In what many have anticipated to lessen the problems of the public when it comes to dealing with the bank in many matters and for the first of its kind, the Churachandpur branch of Housing and Development Finance Corporation , HDFC Bank was inaugurated today morning at Salem Veng.
The HDFC bank was formally inaugurated by the Power minister  , Horticulture and Soil Conservation T Phungzathang as Chief guest of the occassion .The  deputy commissioner of Churachandpur Jacintha Lazurus was the guest of honour.

The occassion was further attended by officials of various departments , the SDO LT Puii , the SP, M Rajen  to name a few

The Chief guest during his speech has said HDFC bank is one that has an excellent record in terms of performances in the country and

expresses hope that it will be able to provide the kind of quality services to its customers for which it has been known to date.

He further said many existing banks at present in ccpur are not able to serve customers properly due to which it causes uneccessary problems

to the publics while pointing out one has to spend almost the whole day just to deposit or encash his or her hard earned money

The DC during her speech stated the coming up of HDFC bank in the district is a welcome step while maintaining long queues of customers at the other  banks which are shameful will not arise.

She said the bank has been known for the kind of quality services it gave to customers and added that in places like Churchandpur which has been a fastly developing town.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/hdfc-bank-inaugurated-in-ccpur/

IMPHAL, Sept 21: KCP (MC)-Lallumba group, in a press handout, has decided to take up stringent action against its two erring cadres involved in serving demand notes to a Pradhan at Takyel Kolom Leikai yesterday.

The two cadres are identified as army no. 318040850 Sergeant Major Laishram Sushilchandra alias Tangleikhomba alias Boy, 32, s/o Tombi Singh of Keishampat Jailor Leirak and army no. 318940844 private Irengbam Gulapi alias Naoba Singh, s/o Yaima Singh of Kontha Ahallup Awang Leikai.

The Lallumba group is currently under the tripartite agreement with the union government and the state government.

President of the group, Lallumba further clarified that the two cadres are not related with KYKL (MDF) or any other outfit.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/09/action-to-be-taken-against-erring-cadres/

IMPHAL April 24: Four prominent women civil bodies, Nupi Samaj, AMKIL, United Mothers’ Organization and Chingmi Tami Apunba Nupi  has demanded the immediate release of Landhoni who is presently kept under judicial custody by the NIA.
A joint press release of the four organizations has stated that Landhoni has been detained since August 2010. She went to Guwahati to meet her husband regarding personal matters and cannot be dubbed as a cadre of any outfit which her husband is associated with.  The act of imprisoning an innocent person who is a mother of two is a wrong stance taken by the NIA and is a gross violation of human rights, it maintained. The civil bodies will not remain as mute spectators if she is not freed soon.
Further, the fate of the Landhoni’s two children is uncertain now as they are being hospitalized for undergoing trauma following the absence of their parents. The bodies will appeal to Landhoni also to break her fast for the sake of her children.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/i4lRZ3qzKeU/

New Delhi, May 4 (CNN-IBN): Missing Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu`s helicopter crash site has been located in the area of Lobothang, according to Union Home Ministry. The search party is now trying to reach the bodies which have been sighted just north of Sela Pass, the third highest pass in the world.

Search parties are moving in from three areas towards the crash site. The first party has started from Ramasapper, the second from Jung Waterfalls and the third from Lobothang. The nearest habitation to the crash site is a place called Sujula and reaching Sujula from Lobothang, which is six kms away, is going to take time.

The six km long road is snow filled and strong winds are making it tough for helicopters to land near the crash site. Home Ministry sources say that the search teams are unlikely to reach crash site on Wednesday as the area is snow laden.

Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said that some villagers had reached the crash site and have seen five bodies.

“Some villagers have reached the crash site and they had interrupted communication with the DIG at the control room.

According to the communication by the villagers two bodies are recognised and three bodies are charred beyond recognition. No official team has been able to reach the spot. So official confirmation is awaited,” Chidambaram said in New Delhi.

“A Cheetah helicopter flew over the site and noticed helicopter debris and some bodies at the site. Though it will take some more time before there could be an official confirmation but the news is grim and sad,” he added.

“The spot where the debris has been located is near Sela pass,” said Kiren Rijiju, Advisor to Arunachal Chief Minister.
“The terrain is very difficult. It will take at least one day to reach there. The area is snow bound and the altitude is very high. We are on the way to the spot. We may reach there by midnight,” Rijiju added.

Three bodies sighted
Three bodies were sighted along with wreckage of an aircraft at a place on the path the helicopter carrying Dorjee Khandu and four others had taken and the worst is feared.

Breaking information that is “not encouraging and not good news”, Home Minister P Chidambaram said at a place between Kyela and Lobothang a party sent by circle officer sighted what appears to be an aircraft.

“They have sighted three bodies. This sighting has been made from a height. They have not been able to go down to the place where the aircraft is crashed. The message has been given to the nearest Army post which is sending a team,” he said.

“The search party will take about half-an-hour to one hour to reach the suspected crash site,” he said.

Chidambaram said that an Army team has been dispatched on foot to the crash site and “we will know more about the crash site and the bodies lying there once they reach there”.

The place is located at a height of 4900 metres and, therefore, it will take some time and difficulty to reach there, he said.

“When they reach there, they will communicate to us what they have found there,” the Home Minister said, adding he was unable to state as to what type of aircraft or whose bodies they were.

“But I am afraid it is on the flight path of the chopper after it had taken off from Tawang. We are keeping our fingers crossed and let us wait for the official word to come from the team,” he said.

The single engine four-seater Pawan Hans helicopter with Dorjee and four others on board went missing soon after taking off from Tawang on Saturday.

Besides Khandu, others on board were pilots Captain J S Babbar, Captain T S Mamik, Khandu s security officer Yeshi Choddak and Yeshi Lhamu, sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup.

Inclement weather had prevented teams from carrying out aerial searches.

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

IMPHAL, May 12: A three day long public information campaign on flagship programmes of the central government will be held at the Indoor Stadium Tamenglong from May 17 to 19.
The campaign is organized by the Press Information Bureau, ministery of Information and Broadcasting, govt of India in collaboration with the Directorate of Field Publicity (DFP), Directorate of Advertising & Visual Publicity (DAVP), song and drama division, All India Radio and Doordarshan.
The campaign which has been developed by the PIB to be held countrywide will disseminate information to the targeted beneficiaries focusing on the centrally sponsored schemes of the government of India.
A press conference was held in this regard at the Old Lambulane office of the PIB civil this evening which was participated by spokesperson of PIB Premlata Loitam, and representatives of the other co-ordinating agencies.
Speaking at the conference, Premlata Loitam stated that the three day long campaign on flagship programmes of the central government will create awareness among the public on the various centrally sponsored flagship programmes like National Rurl health Mission (NRHM), Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA), Mid Day Meal (MDM), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee Sheme (MGNREGS) Rural roads, Rural drinking water, Rural Housing (Indira Awaj Yojana), Rural Telephony, Total Sanitation Campaign and Right to Information.
Further briefing on the proceedings that will be followed during the three day information campaign, she added that the first day of the campaign will witness various experts from concerned departments explaining on Sarva SIksha Abhiyan, Mid Day Meal and Right to Information Act.
 On the second day the experts will speak on National Rural Employment Gurantee Scheme (NREGS), Rural Housing (IAY), Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC), National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) and Rural Drinking Water Supply while on the last day the experts will brief on the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and Rural Telephony.
She further added that the public may interact with the experts after each session. As part of the three day campaign, a medical camp will also be held on the second day of the campaign from 10:30 am upto 3:00 pm on the sideline of the campaign.
A photo exhibition with 14 stalls with the main focus on the various developmental works and schemes undertaken in the state will also be held during the campaign, she added.
A theme based cultural programme to be presented by the Song and Drama division and the Nokphade Leela Party is another part of the three day long campaign, she further maintained.
Further briefing the mediapersons, she stated that the Tamenglong campaign will be the second campaign of the second phase as the first phase of the public information campaign of centrally sponsored schemes has already been held.
She also added that the organizers have been facing difficulties in finding resource persons from the various concerned departments who are willing to explain the various schemes to the public.
However she added that the campaign has already opened the villagers to the benefits of the various schemes with various reports of villagers complaining on the non implementation of the schemes in their villagers to their village authorities.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/YKmN1ff3AGQ/

By Chitra Ahanthem
One wise saying has this for people to ponder over: you fear what you don`™t know. And if there is one stage of life where fear plays a central part, it is the world of childhood where in each one of us try to make sense of the outer world. The growing up years is when we want to explore our surroundings yet scared to step out. It is also the stage when grown up people in their own beliefs of protecting us or trying to steer us out of trouble, tend to fill our ears with stories of doom and punishment. I am pretty sure that most our parents or family elders used the medium of stories to scare the living day lights out of children in the belief that they would be more obedient (with the threat of punishment with `proof` from stories).

The scare factor in my younger years was Tapta. Looking at the story now, one cannot help but be impressed by the very basic premise of Tapta: a creature that does not exist with the two main protagonists (the tiger and the thief) both believing the worst of this non-existing creature. But the narrative power of the story when the mother trying to soothe down her wailing baby says `tapta laak ae` (Tapta has come) and the immediate aftermath of the child stopping its wails immediately builds up the suspense of this `creature` and how hideous and mean it would be in its appearance. Lai khutshaangbi was another creature who made the windows in our house assume a very terrifying structure. The thought of a long stretchable arm that would swoop down on `children who do not behave` looked like a reality given my rebellious nature. Since there were no comic books then with local fables, it was our imaginations that drew our own mental pictures of the ogress with the stretchable arms. For me, she was someone with bloodshot eyes, unkempt straw like hair and hands that would go on and on. I remember a part of me trying to visualize how she would have rested her long arms when she tried to sleep. My imagination failed me but made up with the heart stopping terror of being lifted away. When my grand father told me that the `red` patch that we find in sugarcane is actually the blood of the lai khutshangbi after a father of a child cut her arms off, it bred more questions for me: would her arms grow back? No one gave me any answer and that scared me further. Thinking of an injured ogress meant conjuring the image of a very angry woman who would want revenge!

Yet, Tapta and Lai khutshaangbi sounded more mythical but with Churanthaaba, it was a different chapter altogether. Here was another entity whose features we were not told about, a being who was supposed to go about with a huge sack to collect unruly children. One major concern that occupied a lot of thought was what would happen to the children so caught. But the scariest `explanation` about what happened to the children caught by Churanthaaba was that they were being used as sacrifices while building huge bridges. The elders in the family said that Thong Nambobi (the humped bridge that connects Waheng Leikai with the bazaar area) was full of children!

I can only laugh at my naivete then. Yet, the fear of these entities were more or less shared by many of our generation and earlier. With later generations of children bred on story-books and fables, the terror made out by fictional characters just does not stay since they would discover much earlier in life that they were make belief. With TV and cartoon shows and video games exposing them to visual imagery, they did not have their imaginations creating a greater atmosphere of fear. They have no baggage of heart stopping terror of the unknown. Rather, they come up with startling conjectures. I remember my now 6-year-old son coming back from his school about a year ago. He looked very excited as he blurted it all out in a rush, `Mama, Tapta does exist! He sings songs. One is called `sambru`™ (mole)!` He was connecting the fictional Tapta with the singer`™s artistic identity and that was his discovery for me to acknowledge.

End-point:
Child psychologists may not approve of the tendency of parents and elders to tell children about scary characters or stories. Also, there is a certain feeling of being let down when we discover that our elders have often lied to us to make us behave for often, the stories were not often told as mere stories. Rather, they were used to scare us into `behaving`. Of course, it is now a different story altogether for the children we see around us now. Their world reflects the environment around them. The sad reality for them though is that their world of bandhs, blockades, murder, gun violence and more is scarier than the make belief characters our own parents told us about.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/9acErE6_tEI/

IMPHAL, May 30: The women bodies of Pallel areas under Chandel District have expressed their serious concerned over the ever increasing illegal smuggling and selling of drugs in Chandel district and Pallel areas.
A joint press statement issued by Chingtam Nupi Lup, Pallel, All Tribal Women’s Organisation (ATWO) Chandel District, Mahila Mandal Pallel mentioned that hundreds and thousands of youngsters are becoming victims of these narcotic drugs. Parents and guardians are crying to save their children from the from the drugs. The society is polluted and the future of the youngsters is on the verge of downfall and destruction due to the presence of large numbers of drug smugglers and sellers.
It is also mentioned that the organizations have been working hard to find out the ways and means to checked illegal smuggling and selling of drugs in Pallel areas and Chandel district. Action Plan has been contemplated to take strong action on whoever found guilty including eviction of places of illegal activities, expulsion from the locality, handing over of the culprit to the authority concerned for taking befitting action etc.
The joint statement further mentioned that, the organizations hailed the BSF for arresting Winson Shinglai of Yeason village, Ukhrul District and presently staying at Island village near Pallel with drugs worth lakhs of rupees. He has been suspected by the people since a long time back but could not do anything due to lack of evidence, it maintained.
It has further stated that he is one of the main smuggler of drugs not only in Chandel district but to the whole part of Manipur. He pretended to be a driver of the vehicle where drugs were recovered by the BSF. But he drives to smuggle drugs to different parts of the Manipur and even to Dimapur and Nagaland as per the findings made by the organizations, it maintained.The statement also mentioned that, Winson Shinglai should be tried in the court of law and he should imprisioned to life if not be hang to death. because it is better one man die instead of thousands of youngsters to be perished.
It is also mentioned that, moreover the organizations also hailed the recent arrest of MK Ringneihoi w/o Parpa Samson Chothe of Chothe Khunou presently residing at Pallel Bazar by the Manipur Police Commandos for smuggling and selling of drugs. This couple had been on the trial by the public of Pallel for their suspicious movements, it added.
The joint statement further appeal and seeks the cooperation of the public and law enforcing authority and to conduct frequent raids at the suspected places, including residential houses, shops etc to check and control the menace of growing illegal trade of drugs in Pallel bazaar and Chandel district to make their places and drug free zones.
The joint statement also reminded the concerned shop owners and Pharmacists to stop selling of illegal drugs items like Kores, Erax, Dendrite etc and any other harmful substance from June 6 next month in Pallel bazaar areas and the joint organizations have also decided to conduct raids in the shops and suspected places and any shopkeeper including including pharmacists, individuals are found selling, keep stocks or having possession of  any narcotic drug items, they will be given strong punishment as desired fit by the organization and there will be no further warnings or excuses the release added.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/oCq4A5S5d0w/

IMPHAL June 1: In order to disseminate complete knowledge on science to the students of Manipur, the Internship Science Camp, 2011 was organized in Manipur University expressed Prof. Papiya Nandy, director of Jagdish Bose National Science Talent search, Kolkatta, while addressing her speech as the guest of honour during the inaugural function of the First Science camp held in the Senate Hall of Manipur University. She further mentioned that apart from the Internship science camp 2011inaugurated today, other such science camps will be organized within this month of June at different places.

Various scientist and learned academicians from different scientific fields will participate during the said camps she further mentioned.

She also added that the main object of these camps is to impart added knowledge on science and its related subjects.

The Internship Science Camp was organized by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India under its unique programme `Innovation in Science pursuit for Inspired Research or in short `Inspire` for the first time in Manipur for attracting the young talents towards advanced studies and research in basic sciences.

The present camp was aimed towards providing a forum for intensified stimulating and brainstorming interaction between the participating young minds and a galaxy of scholars through lectures, lab experiments, lap visits, fun with experiments and field works. The Internship Science Camp 2011 which was inaugurated today will continue till June 5. Dr. T. Meinya, M.P., Prof. H. Nandakumar Sarma, V.C. (acting) M.U. and Prof. I.S. Khaidem, former V.C.M.U. graced the inaugural function as chief guest, president and the other guest of honour respectively.

The inaugural function was attended by many academician, scholars and participants of the 5 days camp. Various media persons from different local dailies were also present during the function.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/JrU94Xlg4a0/

By Amar YumnamConflicts have been with humankind since the beginning of life on this planet. The presence of conflict is not something which should necessarily cause loss of heart among the homo sapiens, but what should be of concern to us is the manner with which we are handling the situation and the potential outcomes of conflict at any point of time. In the case of Manipur, the latter seems to be exactly the case; the overall mannerisms, behavioural manifestations and assertions of power all point to a direction we do not individually as humans and collectively as society intend to move towards. But we are indeed retrogressing, regressing and degrading towards a non-enviable state. The society of Manipur has had a tradition of suppressing overt manifestation of poverty and lack of access to resources, but the daily encounters with people and events prove beyond doubt that we indeed are in a bad shape. Well, we certainly do not possess a red-light area, but this does not in any case indicate absence of the oldest profession. In every conceivable locality in Imphal city, the phenomenon of part-time workers in this profession is absolutely on the rise, and many are pushed into it by economic compulsions. We can also multiply the examples exemplifying the worsening economic life of a larger section of the population. What matters at this juncture is how we as individuals, as a society and as functionaries of the government behave and respond to this retrogressing, regressing and degrading atmosphere. Before I try to articulate my response on the issue, I would like to relate my experiences the other day. The circle in front of the Raj Bhavan, the Kangla and the turn at the Gandhi Avenue are the most congested traffic areas in Imphal, and have been made more so by the various diggings. We have seen many complaints, including editorials in the dailies, expressing dismay and anger against the traffic behaviour of the Very Important Persons of the land in these highly congested areas. I myself have experienced these umpteen number of times. But what I had experienced the other day has shocked me to the end. Judiciary is one we would take recourse to when nothing else functions well, but what happened in the section between the Kangla and the turn at the Gandhi Avenue the other day had really shaken my faith. The pilot vehicle leading the important flag-car carrying an important functionary of the highest seat of judiciary in the province kept sounding the siren all through the section where there is very little space if any for providing space for another vehicle to overtake. Well let us bear with this for once and calm ourselves by imagining it as the price to be paid for the pride of our judicial officers. What followed was even more shocking however. The vehicles completely broke all traffic rules by ignoring the signal of the traffic policeman posted at that point and overtaking all the vehicles from the left lane reserved for driving inside the MG Avenue and forcibly halting all the vehicles coming from the opposite direction. Now when some violations occur and we incur injuries because of that, we do approach the law courts for redressing. But what would we do if the experience just explained happens to be the empirical reality in the land, and what should we expect from the system in such circumstances? In the afternoon of the same day, I listened to a lecture by an American friend on how to establish peace and generate positive atmosphere for life, liberty and pursuit of happiness. It was a lecture emphasising the significance and criticality of touching and reaching out to people as important tipping points for generating an atmosphere of hope. Now the Connection: Now one may wonder why I am relating the two seemingly disconnect events. Well, the connection between the lecture and the morning experience on the same day lies in the social reality of Manipur during the last few decades and the behaviour of governance while engaging with the reality. The response of the people in charge of governance of the land has been one of shunting out and evicting the general population as if the latter were nothing more than insects. It makes no difference whether ours is a democracy or not. It makes no difference by the fact that elections are held and governments are formed once in five years. The state in Manipur has simply adopted the approach of shunting out and imposing obeisance through fear. In other words, the methodology of the state is the same as that of the non-state, i.e., cause widespread fear and impose order.This contrasts with the need of the land where the government should be increasingly endeavouring to connect with the people in order to address the contemporary issues. Now what prevails in Manipur is a scenario where the government alienates the people, and the different communities shunt out each other – a grand recipe for social collapse.State Failing: Now what we have explained above are sure signs of the state failing in the sense of decline rather than in the conventional sense of civil war, genocides and ethnic wipe–outs. We call it decline rather than failure for we now do see symptoms of the conventional failure to happen in the land sooner or later. Time is now for us to collectively appreciate the scenario and affect alterations in our behaviour so that we save ourselves from the catastrophe.

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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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IMPHAL, June 7: A joint review meeting of various projects and schemes implemented in the state under the NLCPR was convened this morning at the conference hall of Old Secretariat Imphal this morning which was attended by seven visiting officials of different central ministries and head of departments of the state government led by the state chief secretary.The joint official delegates of central ministries headed by the secretary DoNER, Joyati Chandra, jt. secy. DoNER PK Patnaik, director DoNER Udal Shankar and PR Mishra, director MHA North East in charge Dr. MC Mahenathan, director Ministry of Finance, Vandita Kaur and advisory to the Planning Commission of India, SN Brahmo conducted an inspection tour of sites where projects under the NLCPR is undergoing at present.The tour which was conducted this morning included visits of the construction sites of Thoubal Multipurpose project (Maphou Dam), Sagolmang Kharasom bridge, Capitol Project, NIT at Lamphel, City Convention Centre, Sewerage Project.According to an official source, the meeting started at 11:00am after the completion of the tour and further monitored the official progress reports of the various schemes and projects undertaken in the state funded by the Ministry of DoNER under NLCPR since 2000.According to the source, the visiting central officials during the review meeting today expressed their appreciation of the efforts of the various line departments in the implementations of the projects and schemes even though there have been multiple disturbances caused by the deteriorating law and order situation of the state.Further, the visiting central officials also suggested the state officials to submit the Utilization Certificates of the completed works in time in order to avoid the delays in the release of phase wise funds for the implemented projects of the state.In the meantime, director DoNER Joyati Chandra, during a short press interview soon after the joint review meeting at Old Secretariat this afternoon, expressed her appreciation of the efforts of the state government while implementing the projects and schemes under NLCR during this last two years. She further said that the state government has been implementing a total of 135 separate projects and schemes under NLCPR since 2000 for which the DoNER ministry has already released a total of Rs.1119 crores for the proper implementation of the projects. Besides out of the approved projects 46 projects were already completed and many of the remaining projects are in the completion stage while some projects are in progress.It is also mentioned that, the progress in the implementation of the various projects under NLCPR in the state might be due to stability of the existing state government and frequent monitoring of the construction works of projects both by the state government and officials concern from the centre, she added.Director DoNER finally mentioned that, delaying of launching of the propose helicopter services into the state was due to delay in the clearance from the ministry of Civil Aviation and there are possibilities of the project taking more time as the officials of the civil aviation are in the process of surveying to launched helicopter service not only in the state but also for the entire states of North east, she added.

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DIMAPUR, June 12( Newmai News Network): The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) today decided to accept the request of Nagaland University Vice Chancellor Professor K. Kannan for some more time to declare the undergraduate results. The student body has, therefore, relaxed the indefinite agitation which it began on Friday. 

The decision was taken during a meeting of the ANCSU officials held in Kohima today, the second day of the indefinite strike being carried out to protest against the failure of the University authority to declare the undergraduate results even after a lapse of 60 days as per the norms of UGC.

ANCSU officials said following the online declaration of BSc results today and also having received an official letter from the Vice Chancellor requesting extension of some more days for declaration of the BA results, the Union’s executive had a meeting and decided to relax the agitation. They, however, warned that they would resume their agitation and resort to own course of action if the Vice Chancellor fails to declare the results within the dates sought by him.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by ANCSU Assistant General Secretary Metsivikho Meyase informed that the Union had received a letter forwarded by the Governor’s Secretariat, with the wise intervention of the Governor of Nagaland, who is also the Chief Rector of Nagaland University, whereby the Vice Chancellor requested one more week to complete the evaluation of answer scripts and four days to declare the Arts stream results after moderation.

The Union, therefore, decided to relax the indefinite dharna. However, failing to comply in declaring the Arts Stream results within the stipulated time as requested by the Vice Chancellor, the Union shall resume further course of action, the release stated.

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IMPHAL, June 15: Decrying the land acquisition of Kabo Leikai located under the Wangkhei assembly constituency in connection with the expansion of the Hotel Imphal into a 5 star hotel, the All Manipur Christian Organisation (AMCO) organized a press conference at the Manipur Press Club this afternoon and demanding the government to shift the construction to another location which will not affect the general public.

Speaking to media persons at the press club president AMCO Rev. S. Prim Vaiphei has termed the land acquisition notice served to the inhabitants of Kabo Leikai in North AOC area in Imphal East district as “discriminatory” and “undemocratic” and has appealed to the Governor of Manipur to issue immediate order for its withdrawal.

He has further stated that the state government has set apart the areas which are adjacent to hotel Imphal such as MPSC, Government Oil Depot and Tourism Directorate Office and instead are attempting to take over the land of the poor people residing at Kabo Leikai.

Such action of the government is amounting to discrimination and also a direct confrontation to secularism, he added.

He further mocked the Christian MLAs accusing them of trying to convert Christian churches into a luxury hotel and added that Christian MLAs have forgotten their election promises and the oath taken in the name of God to do work for justice enshrined in the Constitution of India.

The constitution of India protects the rights of the Christian minority, but here in Manipur such rights have come under tremendous threat from the government, it said, and has pledged that it will continue to strive for well being, communal harmony, peace and co-existence in the state.

One resident of the area who identified herself as Bina present during the press conference also said that the Kabo village located under the assembly constituency of Wangkhei has around 300 voters with 50 houses. And the total area is about 1.50 acre.

She further said that the village is settled by nine different communities since a very long time back.

She also added, “We do not want money, we love our land”. “We are unwilling to receive the said compensation of the government for the land and properties and we will fight until we die”, she added.

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IMPHAL JUNE 17: One constable of the state police has reportedly succumbed to unknown ailments yesterday at around 7 pm while another VDF personnel also reportedly succumbed this early morning at their respective barracks under suspicious conditions.

According to a reliable source the constable has been identified as one Thokchom Rajesh, 27, s/o late Th Jilaton of Sangaipurou Mamang Leikai and currently posted at Patsoi PS.

The same source identified the dead VDF personnel as Athokpam Yaiphaba, 29, s/o late A Kuladhaja of Singjamei Top Leikai and also identified him to be attached currently with the Lamphel PS.

It is also informed that Rajesh was reportedly found lying unconscious on his bed inside the barrack yesterday evening at around 7 pm after returning from census duty. He was rushed to the RIMS but was declared brought dead by the doctors, added the source.

Meanwhile, in a similar incident, the VDF personnel identified as Yaiphaba was also found lying unconscious on his allotted bed by his colleagues this early morning at around 3 am, stated a reliable source.

According to the same source, the personnel was rushed to the nearby hospital however doctors announced him also brought dead.

The personnel was on sentry duty last night at the Lamphel PS, stated the source.

However till the filling of this report there has been no official confirmation from the respective police stations.

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IMPHAL June 23: A 15 member representatives of various leading exporters’ firm of the country have arrived here, to participate in the 2nd Buyer – Seller meet cum exhibition, 2011 held at the conference hall of the Hotel Classic, today. 

Expressing contentment at the products displayed during the exhibition, the representatives, that include from Delhi, Kolkatta, Kerala, Varanasi were of the opinion that the products should be made on par with the international standards in terms of commercial viability such as pricing, market acceptability and production capability.

They suggested that the parameters of the traditional methods of the local artisans and its usages should be diversified in order to meet the taste of global consumers.

The representatives of the leading exporters’ firms hinted that creative diversification in the locally produced textile products is necessary.

M. Rajen, OSD, handloom, directorate of commerce and industries said that today’s meeting cum exhibition was held to form a platform for the local handloom weavers and local entrepreneurs to have the opportunity to directly interact with the exporters and to find a viable roadmap for global arena of the locally produced handloom products. He said that Manipur stands 4th position in the number of Handloom weaver and 3th position in Handloom usages and Yarn consumption in the all India ranking.

Today’s buyers–sellers meet cum exhibition was organized by the Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers and Handicraft artisan co-operative societies limited under the integrated handloom development scheme.

The function was sponsored by the development commissioner (Handloom) Ministry of Textiles, Government of India & Department of Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur.

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The news item that Hollywood movies are making their way back in the cinema theatres in Imphal came as a pleasant surprise. After more than a decade of their abrupt withdrawal from the state cinema together with Bollywood movies following a ban on the latter by the underground Revolutionary People’s Front, RPF, the pleasurable tradition of going for these movies in Imphal’s then growing number of movie theatres had begun to seem like a distant memory. It may be recalled, the RPF had banned Hindi film saying they are a dangerous tool for advancing culture hegemony from mainland India in the immediate wake of the killing of one of their top leaders, allegedly in custody by the security forces towards the end of the 1990s. The story at the time was, national film distributors, probably under covert official pressures, had set the condition to Imphal movie theatres that if they did not screen Hindi movies, they would not be entitled to have English movies either. In the end, both were dropped and movie theatres in the state had to find other means of survival.

Thankfully, this was the time the digital age was not only burgeoning but as is the case with all modern technology, becoming cheaper by the day. Understandably the vacuum left by the sudden withdrawal of Hindi and English movies created a stir in the fledgling Manipuri film industry, and had it not been for the much cheaper and easier digital technology available, the vacuum perhaps never would have been filled. This is not to say it has been filled completely or adequately, but the fact is, it was not left a complete vacuum. Something good did come out of the bad situation. The necessity of the moment pulled the tottering Manipuri film industry up and forced it to stand on its own legs. A new crop of enterprising and talented young film makers came forward to take on the mantle from their forerunners who worked on the celluloid medium. While the former managed to bring out movies at the rate of at the most one every two or three years, their inheritors the digital film makers of today, especially the commercial oriented ones who are interested only in using well established formula melodramas, bring out several each every year. In the absence of competitors from infinitely bigger, richer, resourceful and experienced film makers from the giant industries of Hollywood and Bollywood, they had the entire field to themselves to experiment and also not be mauled into total submission by flops, therefore not be afraid to experiment further. They also helped at least a good percentage of the cinemas theatres to sustain their businesses. At the time of the withdrawal of Hollywood and Bollywood films, there were 11 theatres in Imphal city alone. Some are still very much around, but some others have had to convert their infrastructure to other more sustainable businesses.

We do hope that screening of the Hollywood film “Fast and Furious” at Usha Cinema last Friday is the beginning of a new era of openness in the state. Though movie fans did continue to still see Hindi and English releases on private video facilities and TV, seeing them in the theatre is an altogether different experience. We also hope theatre owners would also take the necessary steps to upgrade their theatres to make them fit for the new age films made on radically transformed technological platform. To underscore the point, what is more important is the atmosphere of openness and freedom which only can guarantee the foundation on which good art can grow. Manipuri film industry benefitted from the decade long hiatus of films from outside, but now it certainly has its own legs and should face no danger of being pushed away into insignificance by the formers’ re-entry. The pressure of having to live up to a higher standard should also do the home industry good in the long run, provided the people behind the enterprise are ready to meet the new challenge. We are confident and optimistic they would be able to do this with courageous aplomb, for they have indeed carved out an unmistakable niche for themselves amongst theatre goers in the state. This confidence is writ large in the large hoardings at vantage positions all over the Imphal city. The same confidence is also equally evident in the gleams on the faces of the Manipur film industry’s ever growing number of star actors and actresses.

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