Day: December 26, 2012

Imphal, Dec 26 NNN:The militant out Zeliangrong United Front (ZUF) has appealed the United Naga Council (UNC) to review its decision of going ahead with the 72-hour bandh. The ZUF in the same breath said the civil society organisations in the valley (Imphal) should uphold the slogan ‘Chingtam-Amatani’ (Hill-Valley are one people).
The ZUF then advised the UNC that instead of calling bandh, the latter should apprise the higher authority of the NSCN-IM to initiate action against the outfit cadre identified as Livingstone, accused in the Chandel incident. The ZUF also said the UNC does not carry the voice of the whole Nagas and that ‘whatever UNC speaks, does not reflect the society as a whole’.
The ZUF also advised the civil society organisations in the valley to stop at once the ongoing ‘communalised agitation’ in Imphal and other valley areas. “These organisations are turning the non-issue (Chandel incident) into a major issue based on communal principle,” said the Zeliangrong militant outfit. The ZUF expressed regret that many people heading home-ward for Christmas got stranded either in Guwahati or in Dimapur due to the bandh in the valley districts of Manipur. “No doubt the act committed by NSCN-IM cadre at Chandel on December 18 evening was condemnable by all but making a mountain out of a mole-hill is not a right thing to do,” the ZUF opined. The Zeliangrong outfit then said that the Chandel incident and the follow-up reaction have threatened the peaceful relation of the various ethnic groups in Manipur who are living together from time immemorial. The ZUF then said the NSCN-IM should take up concrete steps so that its cadres do not commit such act in future.
ANSAM said dor 48 hours the alleged December 18 manhandling incident was not reported. The bandh was announced only in the late evening the same day to target the Christians .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/review-72-hour-bandh-zuf/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Dec 26 : The protestors have called an 18 hour strike tomorrow from midnight to 6 pm today. meanwhile government has imposed curfew from 6 am to 6 pm. The JAC on Chandel incident was also dissolved.
An all parties meeting held was held yesterday at 3.00 p.m. in the Cabinet hall of Chief Minister’s secretariat, chaired by O Ibobi Singh, Chief Minister, Manipur.
After detailed discussion on the matters relating to 18th December, 2012 incident at Chandel, the meeting condemned the incident occurred on 18th December, 2012 at Chandel as inhuman. The meeting expressed its concerns at the inconveniences caused during the general strike to the general public and declared the incidents as very unfortunate.
The following resolutions were adopted unanimously:
1. In the meeting it is decided to urge upon the Government of India to hand over Living Stone NSCN(IM) to Government of Manipur at the earliest for taking necessary action against him under the Law.
Ail Political Party Leaders present, appealed to the JAC of Artiste, Film Forum Manipur and Manipur State Shumang Leela Council to withdraw the General Strike call considering the hardships faced by the general public.
3. All Political Party Leaders present, also appealed to the UNC to call-off the proposed counter blockade from mid-night of 26th December, 2012 considering the hardships and difficulties expected to be faced by the general public4. It is decided that a delegation of Ali Political Parties will visit Delhi to meet the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister to appraise the situation in Manipur very soon.
Meanwhile K. Meghachandra Singh, Parliamentary Secretary Information & Public Relations, Manipur expressed profound grief and sorrow over the tragic and untimely demise of Thangjam Dwijamani @ Nanao S/o (L) Th. Babu Singh of Thangmeiband Sinam Leikai, Imphal who was a stringer of DDK, Guwahati and formerly Cameraman of Guwahati-based Prime News Channel. His sudden death is deeply mourned by him and the Directorate of Information & Public Relations, Manipur. His loss will always be felt by everyone who knew him and particularly among the journalistic circles.
In the wake of molestation of a Manipuri actress and subsequent protests, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that the Centre intervene immediately and direct the state government to take appropriate steps to control the violence.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/general-strike-called-curfew-today/

IMPHAL, Dec 26 NNN: The Senior Citizens for Society (SCS), Manipur has alleged the Union Home Minister on Wednesday that the latter is antagonistic to the people of Manipur while the society has demanded a CBI probe into the Chandel incident to punish Livingstone Anal, a self-styled Lt col. of NSCN-IM.
Kh Mani, secretary SCS said the Chandel incident where Livingstone had ‘molested’ film artiste Kh Momoko in addition to physically assaulting her and attempting to kill two of her colleagues by shooting at a concert was not only serious crime against the trio but it is indeed a disgrace to the women society as a whole.
The case regarding the incident should be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation instead of Manipur police, he demanded.
He further demanded that the state Government should determinedly put pressure to the Central Government to book Livingstone, the main accused in the Chandel incident and punish him at the earliest.
A memorandum regarding the matter will also be dispatched to the Prime Minister, Khaidem Mani added and referred to the recent statement of Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde published in The Hindu and accused the Home Minister of being a leader who is antagonistic to the people of Manipur.
In the newspaper report, Shinde contended that the statement made by Manipur Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam was contradictory when he said that the state Government did not recognize the existence of peace camps in Manipur while the Deputy Chief Minister had reportedly instructed the Assam Rifles to close down the peace camp in the state. He also said at the same time that “the Assam Rifles cannot close down a peace camp opened by the Union Home Ministry.”
The report also mentioned that the Home Minister had instructed the state Chief Minister to refrain the Deputy Chief Minister as his contradictory statements had caused more confusion among the people.
Such act of the HM has clearly indicated that he is against the people of the state, he accused and said that this matter will also be mentioned in the memorandum.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/senior-citizens-want-cbi-probe/

IMPHAL, Dec 26 NNN: The 72-hour bandh to be effected from midnight of December 26 in all the ‘Naga areas’ called by United Naga Council (UNC) in protest against the alleged ‘communal attacks’ has been endorsed by Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) and Zeliangrong Students’ Union Manipur (ZSUM).
“This right time decision taken by the UNC in the present situation will send out loud and clear message and prove that Nagas are peace loving people. ZYF-ZSUM will strictly enforce the said bandh in Tamenglong district and other areas where Zeliangrong people reside to tell the world that we condemn the attacks on Nagas,” the ZYF and ZSUM said.
According to the ZYF and ZSUM, the bandh enforcers and supporters of Film Forum Manipur (FFM), Shumang Leela Council and various civil society organizations have not only inflicted irreparable damages to the already socially divided society but compounded division in all respects by their demonstration of attacks on tribal communities on the pretext and taking advantage of Chandel incident.
Large groups of people consisting of women with their babies on their back, aged persons, students, children who were on foot to cross the valley portion stretching more than 20km were harassed and some of them got beaten up while some were not allowed after having walked for more than half of the distance. Vehicles carrying sick persons were destroyed and burnt down. The annual plan of every family eagerly waiting and longing to atleast celebrate Christmas together with their near and dear ones staying in different places has been completely spoiled and the festive spirit dampened by the bandh as most of the people failed to reach their respective home, therefore, relaxation or continuation of strike does not make any difference now,” the ZYF and ZSUM added.
Both the organisations then said the Zeliangrong people strongly condemned the ‘primitive’ acts and activities of the strikers.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/zyf-to-support-unc-bandh/

Imphal, Dec 26MNS : The All India Tribal Students’ Association, Delhi and the Mongoloid people’s Forum solemnly appealed to the UNC and the ongoing bandh organizers to immediately call of the highly insidious bandh of communal tone and the proposed counter bandh in the hill by UNC in the interest of restoring peace and tranquility in the state. The Association also appealed to the KSO (Kuki student organization and the ZSF (Zomi Student federation). and the AMSU and DESAM to protect the people of Manipur from going haywire beyond control which is extremely alarming.
How did the molestation of an actress by of one NSCN (IM) cadre in Chandel, is followed by the Lathi – charging of a few delegates who tries to register their complaint to the Chief minister and subsequently the firing of a larger protesters by a policemen resulting in the death of an innocent journalist, culminate in an extremely Anti – hill people movement in the entire valley it was questioned.
If the motive of the bandh is to fight for justice, why thousands of innocent hill people who were on their way home were made to desperately and helplessly stranded in the valley for days. The state of Manipur has been witnessing
several incidence of Rape by security personnel, individual and even by militants but no protest of such magnitude of
communal colour had ever been witnessed in the past . Attack on the Chairman of Film Forum, Manipur L Surjakanta Sharma following his announcement for the withdrawal of the bandh was also questioned.
It was appealed to all the leaders of both the valley and hills to restrain from further flaring up of communal feeling in the state. As the valley and hills of Manipur cannot be totally separated forever, let us not communalize issues out of proportion it was stated.
Meanwhile the Shillong Manipuri Students’ Union, Shillong expressed serious concerns regarding the ongoing crisis of mis-governance in Manipur arising out of the alleged molestation to an Artist and firing to two artists at Chandel, Manipur on 16th December 2012 by one self style Lt. Colonel of NSCN (IM). In this regard:
SMSU condemned the molestation, physical assault to Ms. Momoko, an artist in Manipur and firing to two other artists by Mr.
Livingstone Anal, a cadre of NSCN IM, inaction of police personal , delay tactics and mis-governance in arresting Livingstone, killing of Dwijamani , insensitivity and irresponsible statement in communal lines by NSCN (IM). It demanded arrest of . Livingstone immediately and punish him for the crime he had committed and to take necessary steps that such thing does not recur.
It appealed to the people of Manipur not to take any steps in communal lines. It asked leaders of the JAC not to dilute the movement and NSCN (IM) to act fast to hand over the culprit to the Government of Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hill-valley-inseparable-tribal-bodies/