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Mapithel Dam downstream villagers continue to live in relief camps

IMPHAL August 3: The JAC for Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected People has set up a relief camp at TC Pokpi foothills for the dam affected villages located in the immediate

IMPHAL August 3: The JAC for Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected People has set up a relief camp at TC Pokpi foothills for the dam affected villages located in the immediate downstream areas as the villagers continue to wait for government to look into their plights.

A media team today visited the displaced downstream population and the dam site.

Residents of at least four villages in the immediate downstream area Tumakhok, Moirangpurel, Itham and Laikhong have evacuated from their villages following the recent reports of the leaks in the dam.

The media team found that relief camps have also been set up at the Meitei Nongdam. Others were found taking shelter in the local primary schools and meira shangs.

The team also found temporary makeshift dwelling camps lining up the higher foothills and line of trucks serving as the sleeping spaces of the displaced families.

All 1614 residents from 266 households of Tumakhok Village have evacuated their village following the reports of the leakages on the dam. They are now bundled in five relief camps set up.

A villager lamented our MLA and some NGOs have visited us with food and other supplies, but neither the concern minister nor the district administration have come to our rescue.

Speaking to the media team at the dam site, the concern superintending engineer Kshetrimayum Pritam insisted the dam is safe and the officials concern are cautiously monitoring and managing the water level of the dam.

Other officials including executive engineer Irom Mohindro and assistant engineer L Tamocharoi made the same observation.

They said they are releasing the dam water via the water conductor system at 14 cubic meter per second and through the pipeline at 5 cubic meter per second.

The officials also claimed that the dam stands at 876 meters at the moment which is just two meters above the spillways which are located at 874 meters.

It is also learnt that both the vertical and the horizontal filters are yet to be installed.

The media team could also observe that about a hundred of labourers were seen filling fresh mud to fill the seepages of the dam.

India: Nagaland for Christ , NSCN-IM speaks out

Speech delivered by Mr. Th. Muivah, General Secretary, NSCN during the signing ceremony of framework agreement with the Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi on 3rd August 2015 at

Speech delivered by Mr. Th. Muivah, General Secretary, NSCN during the signing ceremony of framework agreement with the Prime Minister of India Mr Narendra Modi on 3rd August 2015 at New Delhi.

I thank God for this momentous occasion.

On behalf of the Chairman Mr. Isak Chishi Swu and the Naga people kindly allow me to begin by saying that Naga people have great respect for Mahatma Gandhi because he understood and respected the Nagas when the Naga delegation met him for the first time in 1947. Unfortunately, after his demise, the Indian state resorted to military might to crush the Nagas. Armed confrontation followed inflicting heavy losses on both the parties.

After a long fighting, Mr. Narasimha Rao, the then Prime Minister of India had the courage to admit that it is political issue and should be solved through political negotiations. We appreciated his wisdom and accepted the Ceasefire Agreement to start political negotiation in 1997. We gave our commitment to him that NSCN shall leave no stone unturned to find a negotiated amicable settlement between the two parties.

The Nagas were very happy when the Government of India under the leadership of the then Prime Minister of India Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee, declared the recognition of the ”unique history and situation of Nagas” in 2002. We Nagas appreciated the statesmanship of Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee and we gave our commitment that if the Government of India would understand the reality of the Nagas, the Nagas will appreciate the reality of India even ten times more and we never back-track from our commitments.

Today, under the visionary leadership of honourable Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, we have come close to understand each other and have worked out a new relationship between the two parties on the basis of this uniqueness. We appreciate your wisdom, your leadership and your vision to build an enduring relationship between the Nagas and Indians. The Nagas will ever remember you for your statesmanship and your profound understanding of the Nagas with warm heart for them.

Beginning from now the challenges will be great so also the responsibilities. The obligations to meet the needs of the people shall be paramount for both the parties to make this historic Endeavour more meaningful. Let me also assure you that Nagas can still come closer if their rights are respected. On behalf of the Naga people allow me to assure you once again that Nagas can be trustworthy and take into your confidence for any policy in the Northeast and beyond the frontiers.

God bless you and your leadership.

Kuknalim.

sd/-

Mr. Th. Muivah

General Secretary, NSCN.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/india-nagaland-for-christ-nscn-im-speaks-out/

GOI and NSCN(IM) peace accord: Statement of Th Muivah, General Secretary, NSCN(IM)

Press Statement 3rd of August, 2015 Delhi. After decades of confrontation and untold sufferings the Nagas responded to have political dialogue with the Government of India in view of the

Press Statement

3^rd of August, 2015 Delhi.

After decades of confrontation and untold sufferings the Nagas responded to have political dialogue with the Government of India in view of the acknowledgement that the GoI will seek peaceful solution leaving aside military solution to the Naga Issue.

The attitude of the Nagas towards India changed considerably when the BJP government took realistic step in recognising the “Unique History and situation of the Nagas” on July 11, 2002. It demonstrated the desire for a lasting and honourable political solution of the issue. Better understanding has been arrived at and a framework agreement has been conclude basing on the unique history and position of the Nagas and recognising the universal principle that in a democracy sovereignty lies with the people.

We applause the leadership of Mr. Prime Minister NarendraModi and still for his statesmanship shown towards finding possible final political solution. We praise the Naga people and the people of India for exercising unprecedented patience in supporting the Indo-Naga peace process. With all faith and confidence we believe that an honourable peaceful political solution will be worked out before long.

We praise ad thank the Lord God almighty and in His mighty work for peace. May God bless India, her people and the leadership. We also thanked the Naga people for their unparalleled support. We know they can do the better still in the days to come.

Kuknalim

Sd/-

Th. Muivah

General Secretary, NSCN.

Speculating Naga Accord

An official report from New Delhi, announced on the national TV channels as well as on the Press Information Bureau website, the Government of India`™s official information outlet, said a

An official report from New Delhi, announced on the national TV channels as well as on the Press Information Bureau website, the Government of India`™s official information outlet, said a historic peace accord has been concluded between the NSCN(IM) and the Government this afternoon, bringing to a happy conclusion 18 years of negotiations and more than 60 years of violent insurrection by the Nagas against the Indian state. In all fairness, it must be said it is too early to comment or presume foreknowledge just as yet. By the same virtue, it would be preposterous to either celebrate or condemn the agreement. No details of the agreement have been revealed, and the PIB website simply says this will be made known in a few days. Until then, everything will be just speculations, and there will be plenty, some informed ones as well as some wild ones. The IFP must however pat itself for its editorial today (August 3, 2015) was bang on target in anticipating something of the nature soon on the consideration that the current generation of the NSCN(IM)`™s top leadership were getting far too old and this would have brought in some sense of urgency on either side of the negotiating table to bring the contentious issue to a closure as quickly as possible. In fact, the fact that one of the two top leaders of the organisation, Chairman Isak Chishi Swu has become critically ill, would have driven this urgency to a point of desperation.

While we await the details of the accord, let us try and assess what the contents of the agreement might have been by piecing together information that are available and from hindsight knowledge of some of the relevant chapters of the Naga struggle. From the indication given in today`™s function at the Prime Minister`™s residence at 7 Race Course Road, it does appear that the two main planks of the Naga struggle, that of sovereignty and integration of what are claimed to be Naga areas in Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar with Nagaland, have been abandoned. It also appears that the major concessions the Naga negotiators managed were in having the Government of India agree to acknowledge Naga history as unique, and concede to some more administrative autonomy for the Nagas in determining their future within the broad confines of the Indian Constitution. If this picture is true, what then would be the likely problem ahead for those who fashioned the accord, and those who would be covered by the purview of the accord?

What is most likely to have been agreed upon then is a watered down versions of Naga sovereignty and Naga integration. It remains to be seen if these will be acceptable to the neighbouring states, on the one hand, and more importantly to the larger Naga public. Indeed, it must have been a very fine balancing act that the negotiators must have had to go through. For they must have been all along aware that they can end up damned from either sides of the divide for diluting the two questions of Naga sovereignty and Naga integration too much or too little. The sovereignty could have for instance been interpreted as Nagaland government and/or Naga companies being made stakeholders in mineral resources extraction undertakings in Naga territories, which would include oil, of which Nagaland`™s Wokha district is now known to have a major deposit. Sovereignty could also have been watered down to mean more autonomy under the Indian Constitution, as for instance 6th Schedule type grassroots governance models, especially for Nagas in Manipur, for Nagaland as a separate state, already has considerable autonomy in self-governance.

Considering these speculations have a fair measure of accuracy, what would be the problems ahead? Probably the dissenting voices from neighouring states of Nagaland would be manageable if not negligent, for their territories would be untouched. In Manipur the autonomy model can come up for some serious censures, but this should not be beyond negotiation if autonomy concessions, including on the ILP question, are made for the non-reserved, non-tribal districts as well. The bigger problem in such a scenario as we can foresee it would be from Nagaland, particularly if today`™s accord offered to the Nagas nothing substantially more than what the Shillong Accord of 1975 promised. It may be recalled the NSCN had rejected the Shillong Accord calling it a betrayal and opted to continue the Naga struggle for sovereignty. Under the circumstance, the obvious difficult question NSCN would be left to answer is, what was the need for the 40 more years of suffering for the Nagas if all that are now presented as achievements have not much more than in the accord of 1975. The other likely problem is, if the present accord is about concessions for the Nagas in Manipur mostly in terms of autonomous administrative models, Nagas of Nagaland many resent that they were dragged into 40 more years of turmoil for what in the end has turned out to be for the benefit of Nagas in Manipur. But, these are only speculations and things could be very different from the picture imagined aloud here. All therefore can only watch and wait what the exact contents of the agreement turn out to be, for only then can any rational decision be made on what response is appropriate and fit to purpose.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/speculating-naga-accord/

Imphal curfew totally lifted

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East district from 4 pm of July 8 by orders of its District Magistrates has been totally lifted

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The indefinite curfew imposed in Imphal West and Imphal East district from 4 pm of July 8 by orders of its District Magistrates has been totally lifted from tomorrow.

The curfew was clamped in the districts in view of the volatile situation arising out of the death of Sapam Robinhood, a student of Ananda Singh Higher Secondary Academy, who was killed in the hands of police during a protest demonstration on July 8 demanding introduction of Inner Line permit System in the State without further delay.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/imphal-curfew-totally-lifted/

Prahlad Patel vetos Th Chaoba`s bid to induct new vice-presidents to State BJP

IMPHAL, August 2: BJP Manipur Pradesh President, Th Chaoba bid to deputize four persons as the new vice `“presidents to the political party recentlycame to nought as his initiative has

IMPHAL, August 2: BJP Manipur Pradesh President, Th Chaoba bid to deputize four persons as the new vice `“presidents to the political party recentlycame to nought as his initiative has been vetoed by the party`™s higher authority.

Th Chaoba passed an order on July 20 vide number 1/APPT/BJP/MP/2015 which notified four individuals who are incumbent vice-presidents of the organization to be relieved of their status. This was done allegedly without consultation of other office bearing members of the Party and totally at Th Chaoba`™s own interest. Sources mentioned that no proper reason was given also in regard to this action of removing the vice-presidents.

Chaoba had notified that the present office bearers namely Th Jadumani Singh, an MLA aspirant for Khangabok; Kh Bhawananda Singh, H Jayadev Sharma alias Gandhi of Yaiskul, Ex-MLA Danny Shaiza who are holding vice-president posts be removed immediately without tendering any particular reason. He also included veteran BJP member, Robin Blacky who is the Treasurer to be removed also.

In their stead, Chaoba approved the new appointment of Rk Ranjan, former BJP inner MP candidate; AR Khan (retired IAS); former MLAs Adim Panmei and V Hangkhalian as new vice-presidents. He also appointed Ng Robert Singh as the new Treasurer.

But, on July 24, Member of Parliament and BJP in charge of Manipur , Prahlad Singh Patel sent a notification to Th Chaoba Singh. The MP clearly directed the State President that his order should be repealed within a time of 48 hours. It further mentioned that Chaoba has no authorization to cancel the status of the office bearers nor to deput new ones , specially as the time for elections within the BJP is on the verge. He gave clear instructions to nullify Chaoba`™s earlier order and to intimate the BJP office by e-mail at the earliest.

In the regard, there are several complaints and allegations regarding the action perpetrated by Th Chaoba in the State unit. Sources said that the act was a clear case of nepotism within the BJP and that the President is acting on his own whims and profit and grossly ignoring the organizational framework.

Civil Society consultation on State Action Plan on Climate Change held

IMPHAL, August 2: The North East Youth Foundation (NEYF) and North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) have jointly organised a one-day Civil Society Consultation on Climate Change and State Action Plan

IMPHAL, August 2: The North East Youth Foundation (NEYF) and North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) have jointly organised a one-day Civil Society Consultation on Climate Change and State Action Plan on Climate Change on August 1.

A joint press release from the organizations said participants of the consultation programme thoroughly discussed on the impact of climate change in the state of Assam.

Addressing the gathering, Jadav Payeng popularly known as forest man said, `Education from the grassroots level is the key to conserve the nature and lower down the impact of climate change` adding that the youths are vanguard culminating solutions for protecting the eco system.

Further putting light on the key issues on impact of climate change, Rahul Mahanta, Department of Physics, Cotton College reiterated that the society as a whole must focus on both scientific and traditional measures to reconstruct the dilapidating ecosystem.

For this to become a success everyone needed to rely on data in order to form a concrete action plan, he said.

Secretary of Guwahati Press Club, Nava Thakuria highlighted very simple yet highly effective and goal oriented solution to build a healthy urban ecosystem.

Simple measures like rainwater harvesting, utilisation of solar energy can help us in minimising climate change, he observed.

NEYF and NEDF have appealed to the Government of Assam to look into few important areas before finalising the forthcoming climate plan such as translation of any existing or proposed draft into Assamese, Bodo and other regional languages which are used in the state of Assam so that people can understand about the planning. Other policies like water, forest, agriculture, land etc policy must be prepared before finalising the climate plan or policy to avoid any contradiction.

All existing policies must be respected before finalising climate policy to avoid any further contradiction, Strong relations with all the departments which are associated to avoid any confusion or controversies amongst people must be set up, SAPCC should adopt Free, Prior Informed Consent of the people of Assam before taking up climate adaptation measures like REDD+, water, land, agriculture etc. Human rights and gender issues related to Climate Change action should be the primary focus before implementing the proposed action plan and Climate action Plan should use the `Do No Harm`™ principles while taking up the action plan at all level of implementation, it said.

Discussion was held on the thematic areas which are proposed in different climate plans with more emphasis on areas like water, agriculture and forest. Participants from different parts of the state representing different originations apart from youths and students took part in one day consultation. The consultation was held at Bosco Reach Out in Guwahati and was moderated by Convener of NEYF, Ranjan K Baruah, the release stated.

Minister Works tours flood and landslide affected areas to take stock of damages

IMPHAL, August 2: All round despair around marks the state on the morrow of being hit by heavy monsoon rain, mud slides, sinking roads and land sliding tremors. Vehicular traffic

IMPHAL, August 2: All round despair around marks the state on the morrow of being hit by heavy monsoon rain, mud slides, sinking roads and land sliding tremors. Vehicular traffic on National Highway 2 sector connecting Imphal and Moreh have also stood still since yesterday because of landslides at more than 20 places and sinking road at different places affecting cross border trade severely.

Taking stock of the calamity, Minister Works & Transport Dr Kh Ratan Kumar Singh along with a media team visited Mayang Imphal is own constituency and inspected water leaking areas like Mayang Imphal Chabung Company Mayai Leikai, Chirai Mayai Leikai where the roads have partly sunk making ways for flood water to overflow from the Imphal River.

The furious torrents of Sekmaijin River had also given a sleepless night to the people of Phabakchao Bazar. Suspension bridge constructed on Sekmaijin River during 1973 was also flooded by the over flowing river currents.

Many people in the area were seen camping out on roads fearing of flooding their houses.

The Nambu River in the Mayang Imphal stretch was also swollen creating fear at Upokpi Khunou.

Later the minister drove towards Tengnoupal on the Imphal-Moreh road to take stock of the calamities created by the cloudbursts. The tour was accompanied by Minister IFCD Ngamthang Haokip and Tengnoupal MLA DK Korungthang and other PWD officials.

Tell-tale evidences of mud slides in between Patbung and Chelep of Chandel along Tengnoupal Sangsak Road during the journey.

After taking a long walk along the highway and inspecting the deteriorated road condition, Minister Ratan briefed the media and said that nature has not been kind to the state at the moment. The sliding of mud and cracks on road might have been triggered by a slight earthquake, he said.

He also observed that the natural calamity has forced vehicular movement along the Imphal-Moreh roadto shut down for the moment. He added excavators are being deployed to tow away the landslides to ensure traffic returns to normal at the soonest. He said that some places have seen worse disasters.

Further down the road, a two feet wide crack which had developed on the road approaching the Mahadev Temple has during the day caved in and portion of the road fell of the hillside. Ratan said that at these areas roads have to be cut and this could take time. He said he will have concerned engineers of his department work to come up with a comprehensive report at the soonest.

Rescue efforts in landslide hit Joumal village begin

IMPHAL, August 2: In the backdrop of washing away of Joumal village under Khangbarol sub-division in Chandel district in a massive landslide on August 1, a team of National Disaster

IMPHAL, August 2: In the backdrop of washing away of Joumal village under Khangbarol sub-division in Chandel district in a massive landslide on August 1, a team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) landed at Tulihal Airport last night to support the rescue efforts while Assam Rifles had been trying to send troops through the night at Joumal location, sources said.

The sources informed that as per preliminary recce, the troops could not be sent at night and they started out at 4 am. The NDRF team tried to reach via helicopter at the said village but was not able to reach the village till 2 pm. There was a complete communication loss at the village site due to landslides in the vicinity of the village. The information from the site was filtering at a very slow rate.

Notwithstanding this disruption of lines of communication and damage to their own infrastructure, Assam Rifles troops of Joupi and Sajik Tampak battalions of the 28 Sector Assam Rifles under aegis of the IGAR (S) responded to the situation by launching foot columns into the general area today morning and also carried out aerial efforts at the site.

The AR troops after confirming the site are providing security and assisting the rescue efforts being carried out by the NDRF team, it added.

The AR team was able to rescue three persons at 12 pm after aerial efforts. The rescued persons are identified as chief of Joumal village Robert Hamlet Paite 47 son of Lamkhajong Paite; Shekhow Paite, 37 son of Namthong Paite and Thongmang Paite, 40 son of Sonkhojang Paite.

The village chief said that it has been reported that there were 23 houses and 18 occupants when landslide occurred at 8 am yesterday, but the village has only 10 houses. The total population of the village according to him is 74.

He also said that six others also escaped and search for them is on. As of now, there are six survivors of the landslide including Mangkholet Baite, son of Ngehkang Baite, who reached Aibol Joupi yesterday and Mongpu Paite and Nagmandel Paite who reached Chamol post. The three others were rescued today.

The two who came to Chamol said that ten houses with 18 occupants came under landslide. So a total of ten houses and 18 were missing out of which six are rescued. Four bodies have been recovered by the combined effort of Assam Rifles and NDRF. A total eight people are still missing, the sources said.

Three dead bodies amongst 20 feared dead in Chandel landslide recovered

CHANDEL, August 2: Three dead bodies believed to be amongst the 20 Joumol villagers in Chandel district, who were feared dead were recovered by Aibol Joupi villagers today. According to

CHANDEL, August 2: Three dead bodies believed to be amongst the 20 Joumol villagers in Chandel district, who were feared dead were recovered by Aibol Joupi villagers today.

According to a reliable source, villagers of Aibol Joupi went to the spot of incident after receiving information from the survivors and conducted a search operation during which three dead bodies of women of Joumol villagers including a child were found buried underneath.

The villagers retrieved the bodies and buried them properly in a nearby spot, added the source.

The source also informed that two survivors of the village came to Chahmol village and reported the incident to the Assam Rifle post after which the AR rushed to the spot along with one of the villagers leaving the other at the camp as he was too tired.

The villager who stayed back at the AR camp has been identified as one Lhunkhomang Baite alias Mangpu.

Of of the 20 villagers believed to be buried alive, eight villagers managed to survive and take shelter in a hut throughout the night.

The villagers who survived the tragic incident are identified as Jamlet, Sonpao, Semkhothang, Khamneng, Jamlet, Khanching and Lhunkhomang Baite.

Meanwhile, landslide in other parts of the district washed away houses in another village and a portion of Tengnoupal-Sangshak Road.

In Kharou Khullen village under Tengnoupal, two residential houses were swept away by a landslide. However, there is no report of human casualty in the village due to the natural calamity.

After sweeping down a portion of Tengnoupal-Sangshak Road in between Chehlep Lamkhai and Phalbung Village, a landslide washed away another portion of the road in between Samukom and Simang village under Machi Block.

Speaking to media persons, John Haokip, president of Kuki Student`s Organization Machi Block said that Tengnoupal-Sangshak road is the only lifeline for the villagers of 22 villages. But the recent landslide cut off the road at many places and hampered vehicular movement along the road, he added.

The student leader also appealed to the concerned department to address plight of the aggrieved villagers of the area and take up prompt action for repairing the said road at the earliest.

Robinhood`s body still unclaim in JNIMS morgue

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The dead body of Sapam Robinhood being kept at the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) has become the first unclaimed corpse to be

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The dead body of Sapam Robinhood being kept at the mortuary of Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) has become the first unclaimed corpse to be preserved in a mortuary in the State for maximum number of days.

Sapam Robinhood, 16 alias Thoi son of S Romesh Singh of Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak but stayed at Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai, was killed in the hands of police during a protest demonstration staged on July 8 last demanding introduction of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

The dead body of the student is being kept at the JNIMS morgue as the deceased`™s family members and JAC formed in connection with the killing of the student refused to claim the body till those police personnel involved in the killing are suspended by the government.

Other than Robinhood, the unclaimed dead body to be kept in a mortuary for a long time was of Thangjam Manorama Devi of Bamon Kampu under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East.

Manorama was picked by personnel of Assam Rifles from her residence in the intervening night of July 10 and 11, 2004. Police recovered her dead body on July 11 morning and subsequently deposited the dead body at RIMS morgue on the same day at around 10.35 am. Post mortem examination of the body was also performed on the same day itself.

Though the dead body was officially indentified, family members of the deceased and JAC formed against the killing declined to claim the body.

After keeping the dead body at RIMS morgue for 13 days, police disposed off the body the next following day on July 24 and performed the last rites at the Public Crematorium at Hatta Minuthong.

On the other hand, the dead body of Robinhood is being preserved at JNIMS morgue for 25 days since July 8.

Coincidentally, the post mortem examinations of both Robinhood and Manorama were performed on July 11.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/robinhoods-body-still-unclaim-in-jnims-morgue/

Govt announces Rs 5 lakh ex-gratia each for families of people killed in flood, landslide

IMPHAL, August 2: The State government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the people who were killed in floods and landslides taking place

IMPHAL, August 2: The State government has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each for the families of the people who were killed in floods and landslides taking place in different districts due to the incessant heavy downpour of rain for the last couple of days.

The announcement was made during an emergency meeting of Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh and Council of Ministers convened this evening in the wake of the death of 20 villagers who were buried alive by a massive landslide at Zoumol village, Chandel district on August 1.

The high-level meeting was also attended by Chief Secretary, DGP, Deputy Commissioners and high ranking officials of concerned Departments.

Elaborating about the meeting, Education and CAF & PDF Minister Moirangthem Okendro who is also the spokesperson of the government said that the meeting has taken serious note of the devastating landslides, floods and subsequent submergence of many paddy fields due to the heavy shower of rains.

He informed that the concerned Deputy Commissioners had been asked to submit an in-depth report on the loss incurred in the floods and landslides within two weeks.

The meeting minutely discussed about the present flood situation in different parts of the districts and its adverse affects on the lives of people hit by the devastating flood, the Minister said.

Okendro maintained that the government will extend all possible assistance to the affected people on the basis of the report to be submitted by the Deputy Commissioners.

As of now, strict instructions had been given to the DCs to take up necessary measures to avail relief materials for the affected people, he disclosed.

Announcing that Agriculture Department will come up with steps to distribute sowing seeds and pulses for the paddy fields which have been destroyed by the flood water within three months, the Minister made a fervent appeal to the concerned farmers not to worry over the loss incurred in the flood.

The Cabinet meeting also appreciated the valuable help extended by the people in trying to face the devastating floods, he added.

The Minister went on to inform that the meeting also gave approval to total lifting of public curfew clamped in Imphal West and Imphal East district in view of the tense situation in the districts following the death of a student during a protest staged on July 8 demanding enforcement of Inner Line Permit System in the State.

However, the prohibitory order under CrPC 144 which prohibits assembly of more than five persons and carrying weapons that can cause harm to people will remain effective, Okendro said.

Disaster upon disaster

Manipur has never been in bigger trouble. Even the weather gods seem not at all eager to be kind to it this time. Incessant rains for a few days and

Manipur has never been in bigger trouble. Even the weather gods seem not at all eager to be kind to it this time. Incessant rains for a few days and the state ended up devastated by floods in the valley and landslides in the hills. The extent of damage caused has not been, and could not have been, ascertained just as yet, but from the look of the devastation, it will not be anything to trifle. At least 20 lives have been reported lost in a landslide which buried an entire hamlet, Joumol under Khengjoi Sub-Division in Chandel District near the Myanmar border. Some reports put the figure higher by a few, but whatever the exact number of casualties was, it will not change the magnitude of the tragedy. The site of the landslide is remote and not easy to reach even in normal times, but during the monsoons when all approach roads become a slush of mud, the area has always remained virtually cut off. Now, after these cloudbursts in the last few days and the disasters of landslides, it would be impossible to reach the site and return without sparing a few days. No wonder then there are still no accurate reports of the disaster as yet. This does not however mean the government must wait for the situation to improve. It must urgently send rescue teams there. If necessary, it must press helicopter service to do so.

Joumol suffered the worst in terms of human casualties, but the extent of the damage is far wider. Almost all the valley districts and the flatter reaches of Chandel district towards Chakpikarong have suffered flooding. It is however Thoubal and foothills of Chandel districts which have suffered the worst. Although except for a case of one person drowning there have been no other human casualties reported, it is imaginable what the losses would be in terms of homesteads and properties destroyed, crops and livestock lost. As the picture become clearer, it is quite likely to reveal an unprecedented tragedy. Apart from the profound individual tragedies, it would probably also spell big trouble for the state for the coming year or even years. The inundated areas constitute a major portion of the rice bowl of the state, and if the crops have been destroyed beyond redemption, food shortage in the year ahead is predictable, even with the assistance which would come as disaster relief from the Centre. What is essential now is for the state government to get into the act. It must first begin the rescue operations in earnest, and then take stock of the depth and spread of the damage so that it can start formulating ways to contain the miseries ahead.

The trouble is, this natural disaster is not the only problem there is for the government to tackle. At this moment the state has so many unfinished agendas for the government to resolve. The Inner Line Permit System agitation which had set the state on fire for almost the past one month is the most immediate of these. Even as the weather improved, there were already protest rallies in some areas of Imphal. Since the two districts of Imphal were the least affected by the floods, at least for a week, till the flood waters completely recede, these two districts should keep the agitations low key as a show of solidarity to those who faced the flood devastation. There are more problems at hand. There were some reports in sections of the media today that the Nagaland government is preparing to push the question of Greater Nagaland probably in a bid to facilitate a conclusive treaty between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) who have been in an inconclusive peace negotiation for the last 18 years. The urgency is clear. The NSCN(IM) leadership are getting old, and indeed the organisation`™s Chairman Isak Chishi Swu is already on his last leg, and General Secretary Th. Muivah too has entered the octogenarian decade, therefore the need to enter into an acceptable settlement would have to be felt desperately on both sides of the negotiating table. As to what kind of bearings this can have on Manipur is nothing ambiguous.

In the meantime, something would have to be done about those power brokers who build their private residences as sturdy and steel reinforced as bridges should be built, precisely by building bridges of straw and pocketing the money. The number of dams and bridges which were washed away even at the hint that the rivers were swelling is not a matter of joke. It is reported that flimsy 6mm steel rods were used to build the fallen brand new Sekmai minor irrigation dam for which Rs. 4.11 crore was sanctioned by the NEC. Petty bicycle thieves in the bazar are often caught and locked up in custody, so why shouldn`™t those who steal big money from public funds also not be hauled up and treated as all thieves should be? The trouble is, if this were to be done, even top functionaries of the government would have to spend time behind bars.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/disaster-upon-disaster/

Maoist mourns death of villagers in landslide

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The Maoist Communist Party, Manipur has expressed deep condolence on the death of 20 villagers who were buried alive by a massive landslide at Zoumol village in

IMPHAL, Aug 2: The Maoist Communist Party, Manipur has expressed deep condolence on the death of 20 villagers who were buried alive by a massive landslide at Zoumol village in Chandel district on August 1.

A statement signed by Comrade Nonglen Meitei, Secretary Publicity and Propaganda of Maoist Communist Party, Manipur shares the grievances of the family members whose residential houses have been washed away by the strong current of flood water caused due to incessant heavy downpour of rain for the last couple of days.

Saying that the outfit is trying to extend all possible assistance to the villagers affected by the flood, it appealed to the people to help the needy villagers in proving accommodation and basic amenities without waiting assistance from the side of the government.

The heavy shower in rain for the last few days has inundated many houses and paddy fields in the districts including Ukhrul, Thoubal and Imphal. Passage through many important roads has also been disrupted due to landslides. In such a situation, there is an urgent need for help, the statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/maoist-mourns-death-of-villagers-in-landslide/

One seriously injured and several others also hospitalized during ILP protest in Jiribam

Jiribam, Aug 1: A 22 year old protester, Thoibi from Gulathol village was seriously injured in police action to control agitators demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP)

An injured protester in ambulance.

Jiribam, Aug 1: A 22 year old protester, Thoibi from Gulathol village was seriously injured in police action to control agitators demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) in Jiribam. According to Jiri hospital doctors, she is seriously injured in her head and condition is critical, doctors have referred her to other hospital in Assam where better equipment are there.

This incident happened near the house of local MLA Thoudam Debendra Singh, a chairman of ILP drafting committee when protesters were shouting slogan in demand of Inner Line Permit.

According to the sources, among other protesters including KanglaOnline reporter Momon Thoudam also injured, many of them were hospitalized in Jiribam district hospital.

Related Images: Human chain form during Inner Line Permit (ILP) protest in Jiribam on 30th July 2015;

28 artisans feted on 16th Handloom Day 2015 celebration

IMPHAL, August 1: Commemorating the 16th Handloom Day 2015 celebration, Handlooms Promotion Council, Manipur felicitated 28 artisans by presenting certificate and memento and award during a function at Manipur Press

The function was attended by president of Manipur Apex Handloom Weavers and Handicrafts Artisans Limited M Sietyabhama Devi as chief guest; retired Assistant Director of Weavers Service Centre, Ministry of Textiles H Rajendra Singh as president and Assistant Director (Weaving), Weavers Service Centre, Ministry of Textiles SP Thubrikar as guest of honour.

Speaking on the occasion, Chief Functionary of Handloom Promotion Council Chingtam Luwang said that the Handloom Day has been observed with the objective of encouraging weavers and promoting them so that they could produce more handloom products.

He further said that the unique handloom products of the State may vanish if weavers and artisans are not encouraged and given enough platforms.

To felicitate weavers by presenting certain gifts in recognition of their skilful works is a kind of motivation, he said, adding that council is committed to motivating talented weavers of the State through various measures.

The 28 who were feted during the function are Adhiliyu Pamei, Akhama Pamei, and Magubamliu Golmei of Tamenglong District; Khumanthem Ibencha Devi, Ingudam Ongbi Sanatombi Devi and Pukhrambam Tombi Devi of Bishnupur; HB Premchand Anal, Tholung Khungdon Lamkang and JS Aknes of Chandel; Lalngillobi, Kimjamei and Thiyamkim of Churachandpur; Samurailakpam Ongbi Binarani Devi, Yendrembam Bimota Devi and Mongjam Ongbi Radheswari Devi of Thoubal; Pamchuila Lunggar, Alungphai Manglung and M Shimreichon of Ukhrul; Yumnam Opendro of Langthabal Heinou Khongnembi; Huiningshubam Amuba of Thongju Part 2; Takhellembam Ratan of Thongju Waikhom Khongnang; Thokchom Momocha of Koirou; Md Nashiruddin of Haraorei Makha Leikai; Khumanthem Madha Devi of Awang Khunou Lamkhai; Chirom Ongbi Leibakleima Devi of Thangmeiband Lairenhanjaba Leikai; Laishram Manimacha Devi of Thangmeiband Hijam Leikai.

Longjam Hemolata Devi of Kwakeithel Mayaikoibi Chabungbam Leikai was conferred with the Panthoubi Award while Heisnam Ongbi Thagoi Devi of Soibam Leikai Wangkhei Khunou was honoured with Wangkhei Rani Ningshing Award.

Govt orders schools to re-open from Aug 3

IMPHAL, August 1: After more than 20 days of imposing a temporary closure of all education institutions including higher secondary schools, high schools, junior/upper primary, primary schools located in the Greater Imphal area, the State government has ordered the re-opening of the educational institutes from August 3.

The decision to order re-opening of the educational institutes was taken during a cabinet meeting thie evening which was chaired by the Chief Minister and convened at his Secretariate.

Following the decision of the cabinet, the Secretariat: Higher and Technical Education deputy secretary Y Dimbajit Singh and secretary Education (S) Md Abdus Salam issued separate orders regarding re-opening of the schools/ colleges from August 3.

Meanwhile, the Education minister has also appealed to the schools and colleges to conduct extra classes so as to ensure that the school syllabuses are fully covered.

The minister said Sapam Robinhood`™s death during a movement demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System is really unfortunate.

He said the educational institutes were closed down to ensure safety of the students in the follow up agitations as part of the movement.

He further appealed to the parents, guardians, school/ college authorities, student organisations and civil society organisations to support the decision of the government.

The minister also appealed to the people to make education a disturbance free zone.

Appreciating the PIL filed by student body DESAM regarding the closing down of the educational institutes, Okendro appealed to all to create a conducive atmosphere for the schools to re-open without any disturbances.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/govt-orders-schools-to-reopen-from-aug-3/

MLA provides aid to flood affected villagers of Sangaikot

LAMKA, August 1: With no respite from the unceasing rain which has continued to pour till this morning several places in Sangaikot TD Block remain inundated. District authorities led by

LAMKA, August 1: With no respite from the unceasing rain which has continued to pour till this morning several places in Sangaikot TD Block remain inundated.

District authorities led by MLA GS Haupu and DC Lunminthang Haokip provided aid to the flood affected villagers today.

The team which also included Sangaikot MDC Pumtulthang, CMO of Ccpur Dr T Guite among others visited the flooded areas and took stock of the flood.

The MLA speaking to media persons at the spot said he is pained by the suffering of the people and happy that the DC and the local MDC have come to take stock of the situation.

The MLA and his tea visited Tuining and Makhau Tampak area and provided 15 bags of rice and four bags of dal to the two villages.

The Sangaikot MDC has also assured all possible help with support from the MLA and the DC.

According to the office of the District Agriculture Office around 13 hectar of paddy field in Sangaikot and another 300 hector in Makhau Tampak have been affected by the flood. However, the flood water has started to recede by this evening.

At Makhau, the worst affect areas are near the joining point of the Tappi and Imphal rivers. Local villagers of the area have been staying with relatives and friends in some other village since two days back, as was stated by one of the villager Mrs Nemkhochong of Boungmual Village.

It is also learnt that many from Bishnupur district who have been affected by the flood are also taking shelter at Boungmual Village with the village folk and the local KSO unit helping them.

The CMO who accompanied the team also distributed medicines especially for dysentery to the flood affected families.

Meera Mem-Saheb : A Review

By Dr Amarjit Moirangthem Last year I made a visit to Pabung K. Nilakanta of Mynarbond along my two twin sisters, I was checking his book self at his work-room

By Dr Amarjit Moirangthem

Last year I made a visit to Pabung K. Nilakanta of Mynarbond along my two twin sisters, I was checking his book self at his work-room , I found this, a novel name MEERA MEM-SAHED, written by a writer named Subram. The name slightly bears resemblance with another popular novel BOR SAHEB ONGBI SANATOMBI by Padmashri MK Binodini. Pabung saw my interest and asked me to take whatever I liked from his self. I happily grasped it along with other few books mostly by writers of Barak valley. But way back I didn`™t getenough time to read those while I was at Jiribam.

After a long time while rearranging my books and files , my eyes fall upon the book again, I took out and started to turn the first few pages, then I got lost in the story until I find there was no more pages left to read. Though book has got only 92 pages , it left me spellbound , touches my heart and my I was imagning the period myself. A thought struck my mind , I should do something or write about this novel for sure.

The back of the cover page clear mentions the name of the writer, Shri Moirenjam Dev singh, borned at Jaribond Laishramkhul, hailakandi district, Assam. A primary teacher by profession, but popularly known as Subram , had published many short stories, poetry books. I remember Pabung Nilakanta telling me that both are very fast friends, sharing similar interest in the book world. While googling , I found the writer has been already awarded with Leima Memorial Gold Medal for this particular novel by the Assam Sahitya Parishad. And a review has been done for AIR by ND Hodamba. Still I am convinced to write my views regardless of my little or no knowledge about Manipuri literature.

The Storyline: The novel is about the life of a poor Meitei lady named MEERA and her destiny against the strict Gaudiya Meitei society of Cachar in the period of 1850-70. Being borned to a poor Meitei family of cachar, she was only the begotten child of Mera and Angoubi at Tarapur , Silcher town. But During childhood, her father left the family to join the battle for young prince Chandrikriti , who had taken sheltered at Cachar along with his mother Heishnam Kumudini. The news of the demise of Maharaja Narsing reached Cachar, the moment was perfect for Prince Chandrakirti to regain his rightful throne and so to fight against the new King Devendra, his uncle, he started to assamble an army and began his expedition. Mera lost his life being injured at a battle near Gwai River and never returned. The mother and the daughter began had to start their struggle for their life, they began selling Kabok Muris- a traditional puffed rice. Day after days, she reaches maidenhood , grew to be a lovely beautiful lady
whom man of all ages envies.

`Meeragi sawong sada karigabu pandamnagani. Ahal laman faobana meerabu hairap ubada amuk onsinnaduna yengnarakley .`

`Pumbum taba pambom, chengtak taba kwang, tutak taba saji mitta, ngangtak taba khajai, nokfet taba chimbal nakta thungliba sambru, thagtpana mawatpa. Fajbana mahenba. Segaiba setley mapakpa, fajba setley mahenba, fajeiye. Thabagi loiba naidey.`(page 40)

One day, incidentally she ran in to the house of James Winchester a British tea-gardener in the nearby town, frightening from the gunshots across the Barak River. From the day she was looked down and jeered at as Unclean by the society. One day unable to bear all those, she thought of suicide, but took heart and decided to asked James to take her as his wife. James was in love with her already and agreed to marry her. A new life has has started for Meera, she became a Memsahed muck alike princess Chindrella. With time they begotten a daughter named her Mary. But fate has been always against Meera, during a raid by the Lushai tribes, she lost her beloved ones. James got killed trying to save Mary, and the chief of Lushai took the baby away and raised her in the hills .

The agony of losing both her beloved husband and the daughter, Meera suffered from mental illness. and became imbecile. She was then looked after by her mother again. But the society never took pity upon them and treated as Unclean. Later the baby was recovered when the british finally decided to settle with the war mongering hill tribes. She was sent back to London finally to her family. But the poor mother Meera was left to take her own life, drowning into the stream of Barak River in during the festival of Hiyangtannaba show (traditional boat race ) after the zilla durbar session.

The writer artfully co-related the story line with the historical events , what I would like to highlight about the novels through the following points

1. The Zilla Durbar: In 1874, the Maharaja of Manipur Shri Chandrakirti alias Naochinglen Nongdren Khomba was invited by the then Governor General Of India, Lord North Brook to have a session at Zilla ( Cachar was also known as Zilla by the Meiteis at the time). The king went to Cachar with his Royal durbar members and generals riding along the royal elephant and a number of around 1000 armed soldiers . The Durbar was held at a boat in the Barak , where both sides acknowledges each other, exchanged gifts. After the event they organized traditional polo matches, Hiyang Tannaba was shown to the people around at the Barak River.

2. The Sepoy Mutiny 1857 and Sana Chahi Ahum : Every Indian students have studed during the high schools classes about SepoY Mutiny also known as Siphai Lalhou. In Assam also Maniram Dewan and the Charing Raja are two prominent figures of the mutiny. But a Manipuri prince named Narendrajit Singh alias Sana Chahi Ahum, a son of ex-raja Chourajit Singh (1803-13), participated in this great uprising by joining the mutineers of the 34th Native Infantry, Chittagong, when the latter entered Cachar. He took a great role during the Battle of Binnakandhi which was an epoch making event in the history of North East India .But after being defeated , he entered to Manipur where he was captured by the Manipuri soldiers and handed over to the British where he was put into life imprisonment at the Cellular Jail, at Kalapani Andaman Island.

3. The History Of Tea Plantation In India: in 1823 that Robert Bruce, a merchant and soldier, first spotted tea plant in Assam and along with Alexander they did experimentation in tea plantation at Sadia, which succeded eventually. The lack of local cheap labourers was a problem then, they started to bring from other parts of India , mostly from the Santhal Parganas district of Bihar (now in Jharkhand state). In 1830k david scotch started plantation at the barak valley taking permission from the then king of Cachar Shri Govincandra ,with an annoual tax of 1000 rupees. Then the subsequent cultivation of tea flourished in the barak valley.

4. The Raid Of Lushais : the Lushai and other foot hill tribes were notorious for their heinous raids . The impact of the large scale expansion of tea cultivation during the colonial period in Cachar, affected the neighboring tribes, especially like the Kukis and Lushais, their social and economic conditions. This resulted in the constant raids of the neighboring tribes on the tea gardens of plains area of Cachar Valley. The nature of their raiding was burning villages, kidnapping and killing people. The name of the tea gardens of Cachar that the tribes were attacked, were `“ Rupcherra (1849), Adampore (1862), Chandraipur (1863), Loharbond (1868), Monierkhal (1869), Ainakhal (1871), Alexandrapur (1871), Katlicherra (1871), Dharmikhal (1871), Nagdirgram (1871), Jhallancherra (1871), Baruncherra (1892) and Baladan Tea Estate (1893). These raids executed by the Lushais ultimately led to the British Government to take severe measures with regards to them which ultimately brought the Lushai tribes under British regime on 27th January, 1898.

Not only novels depicts history, but describes about geography of Cachar and Barak valley. Further I find some interesting traditions of the then Meiteis , which has been depicted with clear convictions in the novel .

1. Swasti Puja Ceremony : the Swasti puja ceremony is an important birth ceremony of every Meitei . The writer tries to explain the ceremony vividly during the birth of Meera but explains according to Hindu Shastra. ( I find this part the most boring and uninteresting part of the novel)

2. The month of Mera : One of the auspicious months in the Meitei calendar, Mera Wayunba, Meera Houchongba, Mera Niyom Pali etc.

Mera, father of Meera was worried about the birth month of his daughter coz it fell in the month of Mera. He believed that the ill-fate of the King Gambhir singh was due to sharing of common birth month with his son Chandrakirti, MERA .

3. The Custom And Nature Of Uncleaness : the story mainly tries to convince the ill nature and evil face of gaudhiya vaishnavism in the book. The burning of the Mamang sanggoi for entering a British /white was a striking point of the writer, the way the society ill treated the Angoubi for giving shelter and giving support to Meera shows the unsavoury system of the Meitei society. The Caste system in that started in Meitei society has to be credited to Hinduism.

`Amangbisu lakliye. Angaobisu yaorakli. Thingu,thingu changhanganu, meeyam pumamak mangba tare.` (page 16)

The novel carries abundances of Bengali and sanskrits slokas, which the new generation of readers find hard to understand. And the writer could have added some more romantic moments and incidents between the two characters Meera and James.

Most disheartening is the how Meera`s soul departed her body and ended her life, drowning in the stream of the Barak River leaving their mother Angoubi`s with sorrowful tears and memories .

`Angaanba taibangda amang asenggi paalna khrabasu amamba ahimhda saramchat chenbada amang aseng yabidey. Meegi achengba ngairibab angam athou kayasu khudong chaba lourakhi. Tincharaba pumtharaba luchingbasingdagi chenfam maigei pumnak makhoigi huiroisingna chrak sidan pathaba nanthoknabagi pambei leikhidey. Kapla `“kapladuna macha aangaobi aduga siba ngainaba wana matam lelli.`( Page 76)

`Yengheidraba kummeidu unningdraduna meeyam mamit uisinnei. Upair touningai leitrabi Aangoubina torbanduda makhong makhut sit tingthoktuna famlaga leingoi hotladuna machabu kouduna tengthakhi.` (Page 92)

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/meera-memsaheb-a-review/

Kasom Khullen panic-stricken as landslides cause earth-cracks

IMPHAL, August 1: The incessant rain over the past few days in the State has also affected Kasom Khullen Village as several cracks are appearing in the village some running

IMPHAL, August 1: The incessant rain over the past few days in the State has also affected Kasom Khullen Village as several cracks are appearing in the village some running through houses after landslides occurred in the village roads.

One of the cracks runs through the main road of the village dividing the road in two halves with the western side caving in 2 feet deep.

The walls of the village community hall are also severely damaged as the floor has sunken in. The inter village road connecting the village to the Good Shepherd Parish Centre has also been swept away by a landslide.

The road connecting the PHC and the Police Station also sunk in by about three feet.

The magnitude of the recent disaster has left the villagers panic-stricken as no disaster of such magnitude has ever occurred in the State.

A landslide also hit the houses neighbouring the village headman`™s home.

Altogether 19 structures including community hall, village authority office and private buildings have been affected, according to the local villagers.

Major landslides have also occurred in several places between Yeasom and Kasom Khullen.

A part of the road near Yeasom village has also completely caved in cutting off the Sub- Division from Imphal, according to reports.

A portion of road near Dolaebong (Nungshit Haibi) has been totally swept away including the water supply source of Kasom Khullen Head Quarter.

The village authority has also appealed to the concern authority to conduct spot assessment for immediate relief measures.