Day: November 19, 2012

C
IMPHAL, Nov 19 NNN : Committee on Protection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM) has dwelt on the subjects dogging
with tribal people in Manipur including the demand for Kuki State, Autonomous Hills State and Alternative Arrangement by different tribal organizations.
On Monday, COPTAM has said tribal rights including tribal territories have by design been violated by the government of Manipur for the past more than half a decade. All Constitutional provisions for protection and administration of tribal hill areas of the state have been systematically hindered by the State Assembly and successive state governments, it alleged.
COPTAM stated that the calibrated absence of meaningful response from the state government on the issues raised
by the Committee is further evidence of the state government’s bias in favor of the valley dwelling majority community to the detriment of tribal.
The Hill Area Committee (HAC), a constitutional body provided for legislative protection of tribal interests and
executive supervision in tribal areas has been clipped of all its powers and functions, it added.
The Manipur(Village Authority in Hill Areas)Act 1956, the MLR & LR Act 1960, etc., which have been designed to
breach the constitutional protection accorded to tribal territories, and as such consistently opposed by the tribals of
Manipur, are relentlessly sought to be executed by successive governments in brazen disregard for tribal rights and
concerns. The persistent opposition over the past decades, of the valley people-dominated governments of Manipur, for according protection to tribal hill areas under sixth schedule of the constitution is testament to the true intentions of the majority dominated governments of Manipur, which is to leave tribal land open to exploitation and alienation, it further added.
“In the light of the above, the COPTAM would like to state that demands for self governance over ancestral land,
custom and Culture by the tribals, are political developments born out of total disillusionment with a biased and
unjust state government which have not only neglected development of tribal areas but have been guilefully
planning to strip tribals of all their rights.
The COPTAM has been, is and will always be extending the fullest of support to all efforts aimed at securing tribal
peoples’ rights in Manipur. It is also our sincere appeal to the governments, both in the state and at the center, to immediately begin talks with tribal organisation of Manipur for an early settlement of political discord in the region at one go without any discrimination among trial. The state’s insensitivity to tribal aspirations for protection of their rights and equitable development has driven sections of tribal communities to armed insurgency. The government must learn to progress beyond cease-fires and Suspensions of Operation to sincere political deliberation and dialogue at earliest possible,” COPTAM stated.
COPTAM then spells out the reasons to oppose village authority election under the Manipur (Village Authorities in Hill Areas) Act 1956.
One reason has been that the consent and approval of Manipur tribal chiefs was not sought when the Act was passed by the parliament in order to suit tribal traditional system of election and village administration base on their custom and culture. The chiefs are awake and aware only when the implementation of the act impinge on the traditional rights and authority of the chieftains.
Another reason is that traditionally, governance and administration under the Chieftainship/Haosa of the tribals is hereditary within their territorial jurisdictions. The chief is the head of the village authority. The members of the Village Authority are drawn from various clans in the village and they assist the chief in administration and dispensation of justice.
The conduct of Village Authority members by the government is neither the general interest nor the demand of the
people of tribal villages. It is an imposition to the tribal people with the intention to degrade Chieftainship institution
and to gradually intrude tribal ancestral land. Only where there is no chief, election of Village Authority can be
conducted by the government if there is a demand from the people of that village, was one of the reasons that
COPTAM has been opposing the village authority election under the Act.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/coptam-organizes-discussions-on-tribal-people/

The Manipur People’s Party has appealed to the Kuki Communities to withdraw the blockade on high ways as it affects all the people in the state. It appealed to all to live in peace and harmony.
President of the party S. Umananda said that Manipur has a history of 2000 years. Thirty six different communities are living in the state .
Manipur is not for some particular communities, we all belong to Manipur. Manipur can not be divided for Nagas, Kukis or Meiteis. We have our own culture and identity. Our territorial boundary shall not be changed at any circumstances. The implementation of inner line permit system in Manipur is a must. It can preserve the indigenous people of Manipur. The population of migrants exceeds the population of hill people. The migrants increase day by day. One day the indigenous people will be minority.
A team of all political parties including MPP is organizing sit in protest on 25 Nov. at Jantar Mantar New Delhi demanding the inner line permit system in Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/call-off-blockade-mpp/

IMPHAL, Nov 19 : A 60-year-old man was allegedly bludgeoned to death by his own son at Uchiwa Wangma, Litan Makhong under Mayang Imphal Police Station in Imphal West district.
Sagolsem Khohi was allegedly killed by his son S Raju, 37, a resident of Uchiwa Wangma, Litan Makhong yesterday. They had a quarrel after which Raju clubbed his father to death, sources said. The police are searching for Raju who is still at large.
Reports said both the father and son were heavily drunk after which a fight was ensued between them when Raju hit Khohi with a blunt object, resulting in his death. Khohi died on the spot.
They were quarrelsome and that both had fought each other frequently in inebriated condition in the past, sources said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/son-kills-father/

IMPHAL, Nov 19 NNN : The United Naga Council (UNC) has alleged today that Naga villagers confining in the foothills (of Manipur) have been intimidated to support the demand of the Kuki statehood and the ongoing blockade sponsored by the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC).
The UNC said that it has been the consistent position of the Nagas that the political aspirations of all communities drawn and evolved from their respective histories and situations should be mutually respected. Nagas have never been communal and history will bear that out. It has been with this principle that Nagas have promoted and nurtured the rights movements of other communities in the state and region, it stated.
“Any group may claim anything, without basis or history, for short-term considerations or due to machination of those who desire to perpetuate domination.Nagas will respect the aspiration of other ethnic groups provided their assertions do not sabotage our established historical position and we clearly can not compromise with claims that are without historical basis or justification.
“It may also be understood that the Naga issue is not merely the functions of unequal distribution of resources and discrimination against them by the dominant community. It is also not a minority versus majority clash of interest nor is it just only a tribal versus valley people conflict. There is a history, a culture, a value system and a social movement behind the legitimate aspirations of the Nagas,” the UNC said.
The Naga body then hurled an allegation and said, “ It is very unfortunate that the state sponsored Kuki state demand committee has vitiated the peaceful atmosphere in some areas of the foothills with intimidations to Naga villagers to support their demand and public blockade.The UNC is closely observing every development at this critical juncture and all the constituent tribes are advised to remain alert and vigilant”.
The political position and vision of the Nagas is clear. The facts and history must be respected and from such approach the resolution or settlement must be sought. Because of the uniqueness of Naga history and consistent assertion of the same,the Indo-Naga issue is being negotiated over the table. An honourable settlement to the Indo-Naga issue will contribute towards just peace for the north-east people and the region and we strongly believe that the peoples of the region stand to benefit from it in real, genuine and long-terms, the United Naga Council stated.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unc-alleges-intimidations-by-kuki-orgns/

IMPHAL, Nov 19 NNN : The 40th foundation day of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Centre has been organized today in memory of former late Chief Minister of the state, Md Alimuddin, jointly organized by the Pangal Political Forum, Manipur (PPFM) and the Manipur University at the Manipur Institute of Management Studies (MIMS) in Imphal.
Opposition leader, O.Joy paying rich tribute to the late chief minister suggested that memorial stones should be erected at various places of the state.
Giving his chief guest speech, Professor H Nandakumar Sarma, Vice Chancellor of Manipur University remarked Md.Alimuddin as a far sighted visionary who endeavored to establish higher education in the state.
He said the University already has foreign language department where one can learn foreign language in view of the Look-East Policy.
CPI leader , M Nara Singh expressed his desire to see a mega book store in the University.
Today’s function was attended by Md Alauddin, ex-minister and Advisor of PPF, Kim Gangte, ex-MP and president of All India Trinamool Congress of Manipur, AR Khan, IAS and Chief Advisor of PPF, Professor Th Ratankumar Singh, Dean of Students’ Welfare of Manipur University, M Tombi Singh, president of Janata Dal (United) of Manipur, AR Shah, Retired chief engineer and president of PPF and AK Amiran, Advisor, LSPMU, Canchipur as guests of honour.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/md-alimuddin-remembered/

IMPHAL, Nov 19 MNS NNN : The Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) observed “Quami Ekta Week” (National Integration Week) on Monday marking the 95th birth anniversary of Indira Gandhi, former Prime Minister of India at Congress Bhawan, BT road here.
A special lecture on “Women Can Effectively Fight Corruption” was also held at the Congress Bhawan, part of the observance organized by Manipur Pradesh Mahila Congress Committee (MPMCC).
Speaking on the opening function of the special programme, Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam corrected the term ‘corruption’ known by everyone as a kind of practice that involves both the moral and philosophical dishonesty.
He lucidly stated that corruption is caused by people who are not thinking good for the society and blamed corruption for the prevailing social disorder and unstable life of the people in the state.
“Let us give up the habit of concealing bad things for the sake of living unhappily,” appealed Gaikhangam who is also the president of Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee.
Thinking good and telling the truth are the two important ways to root out corruption, Gaikhangam suggested saying such holy attitude and mind should begin from home.
Asserting that women need to play the main role to put an end to corruption in the society, the Deputy CM also talked about late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s sincere efforts to root out corruption.
MLA D Korungthang, general secretary, MPMCC, AK Mirabai, minister, Social Welfare, other Congress MLAs, office bearers, executive members and presidents and members of MPCC also attended the special programme on corruption.
Earlier in the morning, Gaikhangam and those who were present at the programme paid floral tribute at the photo of Indira Gandhi at the Congress Bhawan remembering the late leader on her 95th birth anniversary observed as Quami Ekta Week.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/national-integration-week-observed/