July 19, 2015 – Page 3

Govt open to talk with JCILPS, Robinhood JAC on ILP issue: Gaikhangam

IMPHAL, July 19: The All Political Parties on ILP had a meeting today during which the burning ILP issue and introduction of a new bill to monitor the incessant influx

IMPHAL, July 19: The All Political Parties on ILP had a meeting today during which the burning ILP issue and introduction of a new bill to monitor the incessant influx of outsiders into the state were discussed at length, said Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam.

Addressing a press meet at his official quarter at Babupara here today, Gaikhangam informed that the meeting that began at 3 pm and continued till 7 pm decided to convene another meeting tomorrow at 3 pm for further consultation with JCILPS and other concerned civil society organizations.

He reiterated that the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 has been withdrawn with the conviction that a fresh bill acceptable to the people has to be passed in the Assembly according to wishes of the people.

The government had convened an emergency sitting of Manipur Legislative Assembly and during it resolved to withdraw the MRVT & MW Bill, 2015 to draft a new bill at the earliest. The government also appealed to JCILPS and other stake holders to help in drafting the new bill acceptable to the people, he added.

Maintaining that a joint meeting of experts of All Manipur Bar Association, Bar Council of High Court of Manipur, Bar Council of India including senior media persons of the state had deliberated on preparation of a new bill during a meeting on July 17, the Dy CM said that during the meeting, the Chief Minister appealed to the experts to help the government in drafting a new bill at the earliest.

Even yesterday, the government attempted to meet JCILPS for having a talk on the matter but proved futile. There has been no response from their side till today, he said.

Asserting that the government is committed to having a meaningful talk with JCILPS to end the impasse over the ILP issue at the earliest, Gaikhangam appealed to JCILPS and JAC formed in connection with the killing Sapam Robinhood to co-operate with the government to prepare a new bill acceptable to the people.

He then clarified that Robinhood was not booked in the reported FIR registered by police instead it was a sue motto case taken up as per law.

After the victim`™s family filed a complaint in this regard, DGP directed to initiate a departmental inquiry into the incident. A senior IPS officer has been asked to lead the inquiry, he revealed.

Colonisation v Indigenisation

It is difficult to do a running commentary on issues with such deep roots as the indigenous people`™s movement, of which without doubt the current agitation in the valley districts

It is difficult to do a running commentary on issues with such deep roots as the indigenous people`™s movement, of which without doubt the current agitation in the valley districts of Manipur is a part. However, difficult though it is, this is precisely the task journalists cannot escape from. It is for this reason that journalism is often referred to as `literature in a hurry`. It is again for the same reason that practitioners of this profession are also as often referred to as the `first draft writers of history`. Despite these limitations, nobody will argue the vital role journalism plays in any society`™s attempt to understand itself and its problems, with a view finally to resolve them. It is perhaps a vindication of the first of these two assertions that many of the best creators of literary works in the world are former journalists, some even going as far to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. There are an equal number of examples of journalists who left their profession and turned to academics and excelled. While on the job however, journalists normally do not have the leisure or the inclination to do scholarly articles needing months of rigorous researches, with referencing and footnotes etc, for they are perpetually chasing very short deadlines.

With this little acknowledgement of limitation of the profession, we want to remind everyone of the need for moderation in the free use of words and concepts such as `indigenous`. The question who is an indigenous person itself has been problematic even for researchers in the field such as Christian Erni. Is this person somebody belonging to a primitive or pre-modern economy? Is he or she a practitioner of traditional, animistic religion? Is he somebody who lives in the wild and therefore stateless in the modern sense? Is a person indigenous only because she is believed to be the original inhabitant of a land? Probably the indigenous person has attributes of some or all of these, and is vulnerable precisely because these attributes are pitted against the encroachment of the modern economy and political system into their spiritual and physical spheres. But, it is quite obvious, each of these attributes are also accompanied by unresolved problems? Take the last postulate that an indigenous person is the original inhabitant of a place. Does this imply he evolved out of the soil and never moved anywhere else? Or is it just a question of his having arrived at his place of settlement earlier than later migrants? What about nomadic people? Do they cease to be indigenous? This problem, as Erni notes in his introduction to the edited volume `The Concept of Indigenous Peoples in Asia` is compounded in Asia where numerous groups contest to be classed as indigenous, unlike say in Europe or America where the dividing lines are much more distinct. To this we are inclined to add, this contest has been made even more complex in India because of the notion of Schedule Tribe and the incentive structuring that comes along with this. Interestingly, in the Indian context, a distinction has emerged between `Schedule Tribe` and `Tribe`, for obviously the two are not identical. One is a technical Constitutional categorisation and the other is a sociological condition? Small wonder then there are communities wanting to come under the ST list, and others, though by any sociological standards cannot anymore be considered a `Tribal`, refusing to forgo the ST status. It is for this reason that the understanding of the concept `indigenous` has to be flexible in places like Manipur. Hence Kukis, Nagas and Meiteis all claim to be `indigenous`, and by Erni`™s definition, all would qualify regardless of belonging to the Indian Constitution`™s ST list or not.

This musing on the volatility of the term `indigenous` is important for one more reason. If a genome study were to be done today, in all likelihood, all Meiteis, all Nagas or all Kukis may not even share the same ancestry even within their communities. Consider the valley. Many traditions, folklores and also semi-scientific studies by colonial writers have pointed out the valley has been a melting pot where different ethnicities descended and merged into a single identity since prehistoric times. Besides the hill tribes, names of many places in the valley also suggest they were early settlements of Kabaw, Awa, Khagi (Chinese), Kege, Pong, Takhel, Tekhao etc. Yale professor James C. Scott vouches this population amalgamation was a prominent feature of his and Willem Scheldel`™s imaginary landscape of `Zomia` (or the mountain massif of upland SE Asia), to which Manipur obviously would belong. The valley dwellers today probably would have the DNA of all these different peoples. If these happened in the pre and proto-historical times, this indigenisation process continued into the historical period too. If not, the Bamon and Pangal would still be aliens. This brings in another thought. If settlers come to colonise, as indeed modern settlers do, and instead of seeking to indigenise they try to marginalise or obliterate the existing indigenous cultures, the danger from the standpoint of the original population is obvious. But if the settlers come and seek to sink into the local milieu and ultimately indigenise, it is equally obvious why leniency must meet them. Those spearheading the movement for introduction of the ILPS must keep this in mind.

Leadert Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/colonisation-v-indigenisation/

JCILPS appeals for mass sit-in, formation of human chain and torch rally today

IMPHAL, July 19: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which is spearheading the collective demand for implementation of ILPS in the state to check the rampant entry

IMPHAL, July 19: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System (JCILPS) which is spearheading the collective demand for implementation of ILPS in the state to check the rampant entry of non-locals into the state, has appealed to the people to stage mass sit-in-protests, form human chain and take out torch rally by staying off normal duty on July 20 in solidarity to the legitimate demand.

In a statement, the committee also appealed to continue with different forms of democratic agitation everyday till a strong bill to safeguard the indigenous people from the incessant influx of outsiders into the state is passed by the government.

JCILPS, a conglomerate of 40 civil society organizations formed on July 4, 2012 has been demanding the government to enforce the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 as in neighbouring states Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh to monitor the ever increasing influx of outsiders, which has posed a serious threat to the existence of the indigenous people.

Following the public outcry, the state Assembly unanimously resolved to urge the Central Government to implement the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 in the state of Manipur as well on July 13, 2012. After the government utterly failed to do so, the JCILPS urged the government to enact a state law under Article 19 (5) of Indian Constitution, it said.

As a result, the state Assembly once again resolved to come up with a regulation comprising of ingredients of Inner Line Permit System under Article 19 (5) on July 12, 2013 but again failed to do so. After witnessing public outrage, the government formed an All Political Parties Committee on ILP ahead of the July 2014 Assembly session. Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam was made as Chairman of the committee and MLA RK Anand as Convener on August 4, 2014.

Subsequent upon its formation, the All Political Parties submitted a recommendation to the government on December 10, 2014 after seeking suggestion from intellectuals, academicians, veteran political leaders and lawyers. The 282- paged recommendation suggested that a regulation comprising of six-point could be enforced to monitor the influx of outsiders into the state.

Reiterating that JCILPS was assured by the government that a regulation based on the recommendation of the All Political parties on ILP will be enacted during the March 2015 Assembly session, the statement said the government instead passed the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 excluding the main points recommended by the committee.

ADC Sadar Hills member Haokholun Chongloi passes away

KANGPOKPI, July 19: Haokholun Chongloi, the lone elected Independent candidate of ADC Sadar Hills Members who had recently joined the Congress party expired due to cardiac arrest at SKY Hospital

KANGPOKPI, July 19: Haokholun Chongloi, the lone elected Independent candidate of ADC Sadar Hills Members who had recently joined the Congress party expired due to cardiac arrest at SKY Hospital yesterday afternoon.

He was 65 and is survived by his wife Deilhing Kadunliu Rongmei Chongloi, whom he got married in 1977 and two children Richard Haominthang Chongloi and Grace Lhaineikim Chongloi.

Haokholun Chongloi was elected as an Independent candidate from 8-Wakotphai District Council Constituency under Kangpokpi AC in the recently held 5th ADC Election, 2015.

Later, he joined the Congress party before taking oath on July 13 at the Conference Hall, Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council, Kangpokpi.

He was admitted at SKY Hospital a day after he took oath due to cardiac arrest and expired yesterday afternoon at around 3:30 pm.

Known for his exceptional leadership in the society, Haokholun Chongloi, who is the second son of (L) Vumkhohao Chongloi was born in 1949 at Leilon (Leimakhong) in Sadar Hills.

He passed MA (History) in 1981 at Guwahati University after joining the Medical Department as Male Nurse and took voluntary pension in 2009.

Late Haokholun Chongloi was also the pioneered in the establishment of Kangpokpi Christian Church which had been subsequently established in the year 1986 and became the founding secretary of the Church.

Said to be the biggest Church in Manipur, Kangpokpi Christian Church has been constructed with his commendable initiative as the Church Building Secretary apart from serving as the Church Secretary for more than 15 years.

He was also the president of Chonghang Youth from 1968 to 1988 and served as the general secretary of Chonghang Union from 1988 till breathed his last.

He was also elected as Chairman of Kangpokpi Ward No.7 for two consecutive terms and also served as Secretary, Kangpokpi Town Committee in 2011-2015 before he contested the 5th ADC Election, 2015.

Local MLA Nemcha Kipgen expressed her heartfelt condolence on the sudden and untimely demise of Haokholun Chongloi yesterday evening at the deceased residence at Kangpokpi while consoling the bereaved family members and relatives.

Members of Sadar Hills, Senapati and Tamenglong ADC also attended the last rite of Late Haokholun Chongloi today at his Kangpokpi residence apart from various CSOs including Kuki Inpi Manipur, KISH, KSO Sadar Hills, KWU Sadar Hills, KTC, KWWO, KYU, Church leaders, relatives and well wishers across the state.

Sadar Hills ADC member Haokholal Hangshing, Senapati ADC member M.L. Markson and Tamenglong ADC member Hatting Doungel shared the pain and grievance of the bereaved family while consoling them too.

Kuki Inpi Manipur and other CSOs leaders also conveyed their deepest condolence in the ceremony.

Henglep MLA disappointed with `insufficient` local area development fund

LAMKA, July 19: Henglep MLA T Manga Vaiphei who is also the chairman of the MTDC had inaugurated a new community hall at Torbung Village, Henglep sub-division yesterday. The inaugural

LAMKA, July 19: Henglep MLA T Manga Vaiphei who is also the chairman of the MTDC had inaugurated a new community hall at Torbung Village, Henglep sub-division yesterday.

The inaugural of the 100 by 40 feet hall was also attended by Henglep SDO Soimimlien as functional president.

Speaking on the occasion, the local MLA said the amount allotted as the MLA Local Area Development Fund is too little for the entire constituency of Henglep. But soon, the Henglep sub-division will be bifurcated into two for which has been already approved by the cabinet.

This will ease the taking up development work for the people.

He said only Rs 1 crore for his MLA Local Area Development Fund is too little for a constituency like Henglep which is considered the most backward and inaccessible.

He continued construction of a road from Tollen Village till Ukha Leikai will be started soon.

Vaiphei also said there is also a plan to construct community halls in various places at the earliest.

Such community halls are usually constructed under the BRGF Scheme, however, on several occasions, the fund are found to be insufficient like the one which is being inaugurated, he said.

The construction of the hall started under BRGF Scheme fund but had to take fund from the TD and his MLA Local Area Development fund, he said.

The hall was construction with Rs 15 lakhs, he said.

He continued that in order to help the citizens while exercising their franchise, he had set up more than five polling centres, one of which was in Tollen village.

Soiminlien said people should be aware that it is inappropriate and not right for people with houses to apply for IAY which is only for those who cannot afford one on their own.

He appealed to the people not to continue with such practice.

He said he is aware of such practice, because he is himself directly dealing with the IAY.

There are two ways of development, one being individual development and the other one is community development, he said.

Today`™s inauguration of the community hall is a part of community development, he said adding that all the people must try and go for community development that will bring all round development to the community while the individual one will never help develop the community at large.

The chief of Tollen village also organise a feast for the MLA and his party and village folks to show their gratitude to the MLA and said without the MLA`™s personal involvement the construction would not have been completed wanting more fund for completion.

BJP mahila president takes potshots at Congress Mahila mandal demand for women reservation in Parliament

IMPHAL, July 19: The Congress demanding woman reservation in the Parliament is good but it is mistimed and could be a ploy to divert the present issue of Inner Line

IMPHAL, July 19: The Congress demanding woman reservation in the Parliament is good but it is mistimed and could be a ploy to divert the present issue of Inner Line Permit System in the State, BJP Mahila Morcha Manipur Pradesh president RK Pramodini claimed.

Speaking to this reporter, Pramodini said the Congress should not forget that they were in power for 10 longs years in the Centre and is in power in the State for 13 years and continuing.

She was reacting to a demand of the Congress Mahila Mandal president.

Women reservation in Parliament is good but they never considered the same while they were in power for such a long time and now they are making the demand after the BJP came to power, she said.

If the Congress is really considerate of the women reservation, they could have done it during their time, she complained.

Don`™t speak on the issue and make a fool of yourself if you don`™t have proper knowledge of the woman reservation bill history, she said ridiculing the demand.

She demanded as to why the Congress is silent on the Food Security Act which is still not implemented in the State although it is already implemented in other States.

The BJP, she said honours the women.

BJP general secretary organisation L Boby Devi asked if the Congress Mahila Mandal is keen on women reservation although it has never extended any help to the family of Sapam Robinhood killed in the ILPS rally.

She demanded if they have ever raised their voice demanding justice for the family.

They are only trying to divert from the burning issue, she said.

New bill should be within the Indian Constitution, says MLA Imo

IMPHAL, July 19: We cannot stray outside of the Indian Constitution and stay within the constitutional limit while implementing any legislation like the Inner Line Permit System, Sagolband MLA RK

IMPHAL, July 19: We cannot stray outside of the Indian Constitution and stay within the constitutional limit while implementing any legislation like the Inner Line Permit System, Sagolband MLA RK Imo said while inaugurating a market shed at Sagolband Meino Leirak Machin.

He said the government has already withdrawn the Manipur Regulation of VIstors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill, 2015 following pressures from the public.

We need to be aware of the sensitive nature of the issue of implementing something like the ILPS, and any new bill introduced should be within the ambit of the Constitution or else we cannot get assent of the Governor or the President, he said.

All stakeholders should be very careful in preparing the bill, he continued.

He further appealed to the JCILPS, JAC formed in connection to the death of student Sapam Robinhood to remain calm during the timeline provided by the government for the preparation of the bill.

All stakeholders are also appealed to give valuable suggestions to the government for the preparation, Imo continued.

The time has come for all 57 MLAs to join hands and put away all political differences, he further appealed.

The market shed inaugurated today was constructed by the Young Pillars Union Club under the Local Area Development Fund and could be used as a market shed, bus waiting shed and various other purposes.

Local elders also shared the dais with the MLA.

Sunil Deodhar launches BJP`s Maha Sampark Abhiyan in State

IMPHAL, July 19: Sunil Deodhar who is the BJP`s Tripura in-charge today launched the Maha Sampark Abhiyan at the BJP Manipur Pradesh office. The inauguration was also attended by BJP

BJP’s Tripura in-charge Sunil Deodhar launching the Maha Sampark Abhiyan

IMPHAL, July 19: Sunil Deodhar who is the BJP`s Tripura in-charge today launched the Maha Sampark Abhiyan at the BJP Manipur Pradesh office.

The inauguration was also attended by BJP Manipur president Th Chaoba, State convenor A Sarda Devi among others.

Speaking on the occasion, Deodhar said Manipur is a beautiful place with favourable climate however the Congress government in the State has killed all of people`s aspiration and hope for development.

This is the right time to eradicate the Congress government to bring new hopes of development in the State, he continued.

The people along with the BJP should confront the Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh led government, he continued.

During its 13 long years of rule, the Congress government has not brought any development in the State, he claimed.

There is no transparency in development projects and for their own selfish interest, the Congress has introduced corruption into the entire system in the name of ruling the State, he continued.

In the last one year and two months of forming the government, the BJP has allocated huge fund for developmental projects in the State including Rs 100 crores for the establishment of the National Sports University, he said.

However, the Ibobi led government has failed to provide the land required for the construction of the university till date, he said demanding as to why the people should not consider the Congress to be enemies of the talented Manipuri sportspersons.

BJP, he said is the only answer to a bright future for the State.

He said once the BJP comes to power in the State, it will construct 3000 km length of road in the State in the first year itself.

The district headquarter road connections will be upgraded to two lane roads and those connecting the district headquarters to the State capital will be turned into four lanes, he said adding that all these is impossible without the BJP coming to power in the State.

The people, he said should bring the BJP into power in the 2017 General Assembly election for their own welfare.

Deodhar said as part of strengthening the party ahead of the 2017 election in the State, enrolment drives have been successfully conducted with more than three lakh individuals joining.

Now the Maha Sampark Abhiyan will help the party`s member to directly contact the party, he said.

Chaoba said the party will conduct an action programme of the abhiyan for 90 days in the State.

Workshops and public meetings would be conducted during the 90 days-time to spread awareness of the party objectives among the members, he said.

He said the BJP will come out strong in the three constituencies of Thongju, Thangmeiband and Wangoi where bye-elections would be held soon and these elections would be a turning point for the party.

And in the 2017 election, the BJP will eradicate the most corrupted government of the Congress, he continued.

He further rued the government dealing of the ILPS issue and said the Chief Minister is not clear on when he would be bringing out the new bill.

In the function M Asnikuamr general secretary administration, L Basanta Sharma general secretary Media affairs, S Premananda general secretary Orgnaisation, O Malesh President Yuva Morcha, BJP former-presidents and BJP Office bearer district mandal leaders were present.

IED found in CCpur

LAMKA, July 19: A Road Opening Party of 7 AR found an IED this morning around 7:20 along the NH 150 in Tolbung Bangla in Churachandpur. According to a source,

LAMKA, July 19: A Road Opening Party of 7 AR found an IED this morning around 7:20 along the NH 150 in Tolbung Bangla in Churachandpur.

According to a source, the bomb was found properly fitted in a container and found from the roadside.

The IED was later detonated at a safe location in Situ area after a bomb squad of the Army arrived around 11:45 am.

Meanwhile, traffic along the busy Imphal-Churachandpur road was stopped for some time.

Villagers also said that they had not seen any suspicious movement in and around the area this morning, and they came to know about the incident only after a huge security personnel including the CO 7th Assam Rifles and the Churachandpur additional SP arrived to take stock of the situation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/ied-found-in-ccpur/

Curfew relaxed for 14 hrs today

IMPHAL, July 19: The indefinite curfew imposition in Imphal West and Imphal East district from 4 pm of July 8 by orders of its District Magistrates will be relaxed for

IMPHAL, July 19: The indefinite curfew imposition in Imphal West and Imphal East district from 4 pm of July 8 by orders of its District Magistrates will be relaxed for 14 hours tomorrow from 5 am to 7 pm.

The curfew was clamped in the districts in view of the volatile situation following the death of a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy during staging a protest demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the state on July 8.

The curfew was also relaxed for 14 hours today from 5 am to 7 pm.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/curfew-relaxed-for-14-hrs-today/

NSCN (IM) insurgent caught in Manipur – Business Standard

NSCN (IM) insurgent caught in ManipurBusiness StandardAn insurgent of the NSCN (IM) was caught by Army troops in Manipur, a defence official said today. In an operation carried out by the troops under Red Shield Division apprehended the hardcore insurg…

NSCN (IM) insurgent caught in Manipur
Business Standard
An insurgent of the NSCN (IM) was caught by Army troops in Manipur, a defence official said today. In an operation carried out by the troops under Red Shield Division apprehended the hardcore insurgent yesterday from Senapati district of Manipur. A 9 …

IED planted on road side at Tourung in Manipur – Business Standard

IED planted on road side at Tourung in ManipurBusiness StandardA powerful improvised explosive device was found by the Assam Rifles personnel at Torbung in Churachandpur district this morning, official sources said. It is suspected that the IED planted…

IED planted on road side at Tourung in Manipur
Business Standard
A powerful improvised explosive device was found by the Assam Rifles personnel at Torbung in Churachandpur district this morning, official sources said. It is suspected that the IED planted on a road side of the Imphal-Aizawl National Highway 150, was …

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