Day: December 13, 2012

Two boys have been missing and a sit-in-protest was held today and the protesters demanded to hand over the two boys to their parents. The missing boys were identified as Soibam Sujakanta alias Angou (12) Yurembam Awang Leikai, Thokchom Birjit alias Babuloo (13) Tharoijam Maning Leikai. Sujakanta, a student of class VIII in Pole Star Public School, Yurembam was found missing when he went to play football at the locality ground on November 28 around 3.30 p.m. The following day a missing report was lodged with Patsoi PS. Birjit who was reading in class VII standard at Pari Imom Sindamsang was found missing since seven a.m. of November 29. Residents of Tharoijam Maning Leikai and Yurembam Awang Leikai staged sit in demanding to release and hand over them to their parents. Birjit had talked on mobile phone with his father on November 31 stating that he was in Burma and asked to receive him from Burma.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/two-boys-missing/

Maintain Old Cachar Road: ZSUKA
IMPHAL, Dec 13 NNN : The newly revived Zeliangrong Students Union Khoupum Area (ZSUKA) has urged the concerned authority especially the state government of Manipur to look into into deplorable condition of the Imphal-Cachar road, also known as the Old Cachar Road. The ZSUKA then appealed the Cachar Road Educational and Sporting Association (CRESA) to call off its agitation along the road taking into consideration the forthcoming Christmas.
CRESA has been imposing blockade along the road demanding the government to repair the road.
“The historical Imphal-Cachar road which is popularly known as the Old Cachar Road (Tongjei Maril) is severely ravaged and cries for attention for years together,” said ZSUKA.
The road is lying in a pitiable condition with large potholes, puddles and worn culverts throughout from zero point till Rengpang, the ZSUKA pointed out.
The bad road condition faced by the drivers ascribed to the dreadful state of the road which resulted in unreasonable fares hike, price-rise for the movement of villagers who require medical care. The villagers often call the epithel of ‘disco-route’ to this road as the passengers in the vehicles are thrown all about due to bumpy travelling.
“The road was not repaired once till today after it was black topped way back in 1968. It is an unbelievable fact that this road passes through the native village (Khoupum Gaidimjang) of one of the most influential politicians of Manipur, deputy chief minister Gaikhangam who also holds the portfolio of Home and Tribal Affairs and Hills,” said the ZSUKA.
Notably, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh while addressing a public gathering at Imphal on December 3, 2011 declared that the Centre had agreed in principle to take up Old Cachar Road. It was a re-assertion of the statement made on December 2, 2006, the Zeliangriong students’ body pointed out.
The Prime Minister of India’s declaration brought respite to weary people but it is yet to be translated into a reality, said the ZSUKA.
The deprived villagers are left with no other option but to block the traffic due to failure of the government to respond positively. The vehicular movement has been halted in the last few days under the intiative of Cachar Road Educational and Sporting Association (CRESA) with support from Chiningkon, Ngarian and other villages residing along the road, stated the ZSUKA.
The far-flung neglected villagers are facing much difficulty as there is no other route to reach the nearby towns to procure their essential commodities.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/maintain-old-cachar-road-zsuka/

The proposed indefinite ‘public blockade’ has been called off today by the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) following a written assurance given by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) intimated to the state government of Manipur as well as to the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and the KSDC.
KSDC information secretary George Guite informed this evening taking into confidence, the KSDC has decided to abandon the proposed ‘public blockade’. “But if the Central government is not sincere as the state government had done to us, we may resume our agitation any day,” George Guite said.
Meanwhile, the communique of the KSDC said, “The Kuki State Demand Committee appreciates that the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt of India have written to the Chief Secretary of Manipur (vide 9/7/2004-T, 13 Dec 2012, North Block, New Delhi) that following the Parliament Session an official of suitable seniority from MHA would be arriving at Imphal to work out the modalities for political dialogue with KNO for the formation of Kuki State. Based on the information conveyed to us by LM Khaute, aditional director general of police (ADGP), quoting letter from Devesh Dayal, Jt Secy Home, Govt of Manipur (No 2/8(1)/2010-H/L&O(KSDC)Pt., 13 Dec 2012, Imphal), KSDC would be glad to abandon our plan to blockade the Public Blockade and ASEAN Car Rally, intended to start from 5 pm of December 14, 2012. However, KSDC would hope that the state Govt. of Manipur, henceforth, would co-operate (as KSDC have on this occasion) with the initiative of MHA to begin political dialogue rather than raise hurdles, such as the ‘territorial integrity of Manipur’. In a mature and meaningful dialogue, transparency, plus exploration of all avenues and options, albeit within the Constitution of India must be the premise for dialogue to arrive at an amicable political solution”.
Kuki National Organisation (KNO) spokesman Dr Seilen Haokip informed that since the written assurance to begin a political dialogue has come we are likely to sign for the extension of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) term within a couple of days’ time in New Delhi. “However, we are yet to decide officially,” added Dr Seilen Haokip.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in its letter signed by under secretary M.P Singh adressed to Manipur chief secretary D.S Poonia assured that a senior official from the Ministry will be deputed to Manipur for discussing to begin the political dialogue with the Kuki militant outfits after the ongoing Parliament Session.
Meanwhile, talking to reporters this evening, Manipur deputy chief minister Gaikhangam expressed hope that the KSDC would call off the proposed blockade which was slated to begin from 5 pm of December 14 demanding for the political dialogue between the government and the KSDC and the Kuki militant outfits under SoO agreement.
“I appeal to the KSDC to roll back the proposed blockade in the interest of ther people,” said Gaikhangam. He then expressed hope that the KSDC would do so as the government had done what it demanded–the written assurance to begin a political dialogue.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kuki-blockade-called-off/

IMPHAL, Dec 13 NNN : Act of violence against women is very high in the country like India where people widely worship Goddesses and the avocation for adoration of women as mothers sometimes become the cause of violence against them, Prof MC Arun said Thursday.
Prof MC Arun, Anthropology Department, Manipur University, was attending the concluding function of the campaign on “International Fortnight Observation Protesting Violence against Women” held at Lamyanba Shanglen, Palace Compound here.
He claimed although female deities like Durga, Lakshmi and Swarasati are widely worshipped in India, men torture and even murder their wives for dowry and such crime is exceptionally high in this country.
Women are also subjected to various kinds of tortures outside the rim of dowry and these are done mercilessly by their husbands and families for some reason or the other, Prof Arun said, adding the avocation for adoration of women as mothers sometimes become one of the causes of violence against them.
The concluding function of the 17-day long campaign organised by Women Action for Development (WAD) was also attended by W Tiken, editor, The People’s Chronicle, Khellen Thokchom, correspondent, The Telegraph, Y Rupachandra, correspondent, Seven Sisters’ Post, OG Meitei, consultant, United NGO Mission, Manipur and Salam Oditya, general secretary, Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+).
The campaign started from November 25 was organized by WAD under the theme: “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence against Women.” Several civil organizations also joined hands with WAD in organizing the campaign.
Winners of the song, slogan, essay and painting competitions held as part of the campaign were also given prizes at the function. Gender Journalist Award 2012 was conferred to Th Rockey, reporter, Nahorolgee Thoudang. The award carried Rs 15,000 along with citation and certificate.
Sapam Aruna Devi, reporter, The Sangai Express was honoured with Special Jury Award carrying Rs 5,000 along with citation and certificate and Nimol Ningombam, reporter, Naharolgee Thoudang and L Ramananda, reporter, ISTV were given Rs 1,000 each as consolation prizes.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/violence-against-women-increasing-2/

IMPHAL, Dec 13 NNN: Three persons from Chandel district have been picked up by the combined team of the Army and the Manipur police commandos and toutured them and akso robbed off Rs 90,000 from the three victims before they were left with bruises, according to the Thadou Students Association, Chandel district (TSA-Chandel district).
Lalboi Mate (38) of Khudengthabi village, Thanglal Baite (36), of Moreh town Ward No. 9 and Haopu Mate (36), also from Moreh Ward No 9 were on Christmas marketing at Paona bazar in Imphal when the security force personnel claiming themselves as the combined team of the Army and the Manipur police commandos picked them up, blinded folded and took them elsewhere at around 7:30 pm on December 11, alleged the Thadou Students Association, Chandel district. The three people were tortured by the security force personnel during the night accusing them as criminals. The victims mobile phone handsets (Nokia brand) were also taken away by the security people, further alleged the TSA-Chandel district. These three persons were left the following morning near FCI godown at Sangaiprou area in Imphal, it added.
The students’ body then alleged that one of the police commando personnel came and demanded Rs 1 lakh from each of the three victims to deliver if they did not want to be killed. The victims had been asked to bring the money after they were released by contacting the telephone numbers that were seized by the security force personnel. They were also told not to tell anyone including their spouses about the incident.
Lalboi Mate is the father of five children while Thonglal Mate is the father of three and Haopu Mate is the father of six children.
The victims are now undergoing treatments at Christian Hospital, Imphal.
The TSA-Chandel district then urged the concerned authority to book the security force personnel involved in the incident at the earliest time possible or else strong agitation will be taken up by TSA-Chandel district in collaboration with other civil organisations.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/chandel-villagers-tortured/

IMPHAL, Dec 13 NNN: The 2-day long Zeliangrong Folk Festival 2012 organised under the theme “Peace and Solidarity” by the Society for Promotion of Community Task (SPCT) at Namching (Maha Kabui) ground, Keithelmanbi in the outskirt of Imphal concluded on Thursday.
Speaking on the occasion, Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam remarked that the Zeliangrong community has a rich cultural heritage and described this community as a peace-loving community.
He added each and every ethnic community in Manipur has its own heritage culture, and this is the very part of the whole heritage of the state while appealing that no group should infringe upon the harmonious relations of these communities in the name of safeguarding one’s own identity.
The Deputy Chief Minister further asserted that this diversity is playing a big role in bringing communal harmony in the state and commented it is time for everybody to work unitedly towards all round development of the state so as to make it a prosperous land.
Later, replying to a memorandum submitted to him by SPCT, Gaikhangam assured that he will make maximum efforts to construct a Zeliangrong cultural complex office building at Tongjil Maril after preparing a detailed project report and the proposal will be intimated to the concerned ministry.
Gaikhangam also generously donated Rs 50,000 to the organizing committee of the festival.
Social Welfare minister AK Mirabai, who was also present t the event which displayed different cultural song and dances, said though Manipur is a small state, it is adorned with different traditional cultures.
She said the Zeliangrong Folk Festival is held as part of the preservation of the community’s age-old culture. “We should keep up the concept of being oneness and let us try to reaffirm ourselves to protect the integrity of Manipur leaving aside the idea of dissolution.”
IFCD minister Ngamthang Haokip also took part at the function. He commented that the various cultural heritages of the state are now continuously on modification process to beautify them. “However, we should keep our art, culture, and tradition in their original forms.”
T Manga Vaiphei, chairman, Manipur Tribal Development Corporation (MTDC) and MLAs Janghemlung Panmei and RK Imo were also present at the function.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/zeliangrong-folk-festival/