Category: News

by Bibhu Prasad RoutrayProviding the best of rms and equipment to paramilitary personnel is crucial to the success of India`s anti-Naxal strategyA Few days ago, some newspapers in India ran two separate reports. One hogging the front page was a stub on India’s flourishing economy and the other relegated to the inside pages underlined the challenges faced by the security forces battling the Left-wing extremists (Naxalites) in the remotest corners of the country. The first item pointed to the soaring number of choppers and private jets jostling for space in Indian skies and the demands they make on the Air Traffic Controllers. The second report, on the other hand, quoted the Border Security Force (BSF) authorities asking the ministry of home affairs (MHA) to replace the Dhruv helicopters since these do not meet the force’s operational requirements. This report went on to detail the drastic shortage of choppers for the security forces deployed on anti-Naxal duty and its impact on the morale of the forces. These two narratives posed a familiar paradox, from Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner”, when there are “choppers choppers everywhere, but not many for the security forces”.On May 19, a chopper employed by Gadchiroli district police in Maharashtra returned with injured and dead police personnel from the encounter site at Nalgonda. However, security forces battling the Naxals in Beijjur phata in the same district could not avail themselves of the service of the chopper since it had already completed the stipulated 500 hours of flying and had to proceed for the mandatory maintenance service. The Gadchiroli police requested that the services of another chopper from neighbouring Chhattisgarh be provided. But by the time it arrived, the encounter had ended. It could fly only to recover three dead bodies of police personnel from the area.A similar incident took place in Jharkhand’s Lohardaga district on May 3 in which 11 security force personnel were killed. The Naxals ambushed a 150- member team of state police and paramilitary personnel returning from a combing operation. While four personnel were killed on the spot, seven others succumbed to their injuries since the chopper at the disposal of the state police was unavailable, being on a sortie to neighbouring West Bengal for poll-related duties. It could reach the incident site only after four hours. The Jharkhand Director General of Police admitted that the personnel died owing to lack of timely medical aid. One of the injured personnel who ultimately survived bemoaned the fact that he had to suffer the excruciating pain for over four hours before being evacuated and admitted into a hospital.The MHA, since mid-2010, has deployed a fleet of seven choppers for carrying out troop deployment, casualty evacuation and sending reinforcements in the Naxal-affected states. These choppers are based in Raipur (Chhattisgarh) and Ranchi (Jharkhand) and are available to any of the Naxal-affected states on demand. However, on most occasions, this fleet has been found to be highly inadequate to meet the forces’ ground-level requirements. Complains have been made about the frequent servicing requirements of these Advanced Light Dhruv Helicopters and their inability to fly beyond a certain height. They are frequently grounded by the unavailability of spare parts, which makes them almost an unreliable element in the anti-Naxal operations.In addition to these incidents of shortage, because of unavoidable technical and logistical reasons, choppers have also been diverted on occasions for use by politicians and bureaucrats. Media reports in early May indicated that out of the fleet of seven, only one chopper was functional and was catering to the requirements of the nearly 70 battalions of paramilitary forces deployed against the Naxals throughout the country.The MHA is planning to wet-lease six new Russian Mi-17 helicopters from private companies for deployment in the anti-Naxal operations. At a purchase price of Rs 45 crore apiece, wet-leasing the Mi-17 helicopters, under which the company lending it provides for the pilot, maintenance and fuel, is a far more affordable option. According to reports, the sorties by these leased machines to the Naxal strongholds could start as early as August 2011. The MHA hopes to reduce its dependence on the ministry of defence, which currently flies the paramilitary troops in the Naxal zones. In any event, the Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers’ “80 flying hours a month” rule is a handicap in terms of using them excessively. On the other hand, the Mi-17 choppers proposed to be taken on lease are fuel guzzlers, but the MHA has no alternative other than accounting for such expense.In various forums the Union home minister has spoken of the cumbersome procurement procedure coming in the way of providing the best of arms and equipment to the paramilitary personnel. One does not know whether the process of acquiring choppers also faces similar challenges. The proposal to wet-lease 13 Mi-17 choppers is at least an eight-month-old idea, first floated in October 2010. The number of choppers had then been decided on after taking the requirements of the forces operating in a vast territory into cognisance. But for reasons best known to the MHA, the number has now been reduced to six, which is highly insufficient. Meanwhile, the MHA has negotiated in vain with the IAF, which itself gets choppers on lease. Many of the IAF helicopters are deployed in the United Nations’ Congo mission and the move to recall them has not been successful.For operational purposes, choppers are as basic a requirement for the forces battling the Naxals as any other sophisticated arms and equipment. India’s anti-Naxal policy needs to improve upon the prevailing conditions, on an urgent basis. The author is a former deputy director in the National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), a visiting fellow at CLAWS (New Delhi) and a fellow at the Takshashila Institution.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/0-JiFN9sVD0/

At its crux, there are only two known ways of resolving a conflict of interest. One is to crush the weaker of the two with brute force and the other to reach a democratic consensus. The civilized norm of the modern world being the latter option, the need is to explore its possibilities, wherever conflict has come to stay, at least until a more perfected mechanism is evolved. For the moment, we can only foresee all putative future conflict resolution mechanisms as derivatives of the democratic system, the latter being known for its resilience and almost infinite accommodative capacity. But it must be acknowledged that often the most vocal advocates of democracy have regressed into the logic of an atavistic past where only force mattered. The objectionable interventions in the Middle East and West Asian have said this eloquently. It is a matter of pessimism that war still seems unavoidable even in the days of democracy. A qualification needs however to be added here. In the UNDP Human Development Report, HDR, 2002 with the theme “deepening democracy in a fragmented world”, one of the many interesting patterns of national behaviors that evolved from empirical data on wars in the second half of the 20th Century is, no two democracies have ever gone to war with each other. Quite obviously, these nations have discovered an alternative ground on which to thrash out vexed issues. The indication is also, democracy is a versatile medium for this meeting of minds and resolution of conflicts.Even in our situation, there have been very strong tendencies on very many occasions to return to the former method of conflict resolution, which basically has a one-line philosophy made famous by Joseph Conrad’s fictional character, Kurtz in Heart of Darkness – exterminate the brute. But, as in this story, the scale to decide which is the “civilized” and which the “brute” between the exterminator and exterminated, becomes extremely blurred. But the values of democracy, with its insistence on giving each and every one a say, regardless of numerical or physical strength, have generally managed to keep this tendency in check. There have been occasions when this inner moderation snapped, as in the case of the Naga-Kuki feud, Meitei-Meitei Pangal mayhem, and Kuki-Paite fratricide, but it would be reasonable to presume that many more would have been prevented by this inner cord. For indeed although our society seemed at certain junctures to have reached points of explosive of ethnic violence, nothing so catastrophic have happened so far. This however does not mean the dark forces of violence have been successfully subdued for all times. We still continue to sit on a dormant volcano which can with provocation come alive again. And provocations there have been and there will be by those who either do not understand or believe in the healing power of accommodation and mutual respect that democracy recommends.There have also been plenty of talks of a dialogue between the civil societies of the different communities that are at loggerheads. This is welcome, but a dialogue devoid of a willingness to accommodate can possibly lead nowhere. A dialogue or a discourse is not simply about convincing the opposing party to surrender to the will of the other party, but of discovering, or rediscovering as the case may be, of common grounds on which to build the foundation of the future together. This spirit has never been conspicuous in all the vociferous claims for the need for understanding and good neighbourliness. By democracy we do not necessarily mean only the number game. This is a necessary ingredient, but it is far from being a sufficient condition. Equally important, it is also about justice, and in evolving this understanding of justice, the premium must be on reason and creative insights into what is common good. Here concept of freedom is also important. Without individual freedom, the aggregate of which is what constitutes freedom of larger social grouping, including the nation, there can be no democracy. But again, as philosopher Isaiah Berlin said, freedom cannot be without any conditions. Absolute freedom for the wolves translates into death for the lambs. Freedom then can make meaning only if it is moderated by reason and a commonly legislated rational law.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/vqa7n6XT0eE/

By Nehginpao Kipgen John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona, has been one of the fiercest critics of the Burmese military junta, while lending unwavering support to Aung San Suu Kyi-led democracy movement. Why is a man who once called the Burmese military generals “thugs” have decided to visit Burma now? Perhaps equally surprising is that why did the Burmese government issue him visa?This week’s visit comes at a time when both the United States and the Burmese government are interested in improving bilateral ties between the two nations. The visit is more so important for the Burmese government than the senator’s own agenda. Even though McCain has not publicly spelled out the objectives of his mission, his past records have suggested what his intentions are. Although he is not an official envoy from the U.S. government, the nature of his important role in imposing sanctions on the Burmese government and his influential status in the U.S. senate makes the visit a significant one. The high-profile visit also comes at a time when Burma has once again captured headlines in international media. The country’s request for the 2014 chairmanship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, two high-profile visits from the U.N. secretary general’s special envoy Vijay Nambiar and U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state Joseph Yun, and the visit to China by the Burmese president Thein Sein, all happened in May, have drawn the attention of the international community. Analyzing his past records on Burma, senator McCain has two primary objectives in his trip to Burma: assessing the ground reality of political developments in Burma after the 2010 election and listening to Aung San Suu Kyi’s view on the U.S. policy toward Burma. McCain in his July 2009 senate floor statement said, “I once had the great honor of meeting Aung San Suu Kyi. She is a woman of astonishing courage and incredible resolve.” The 2008 presidential candidate presumably has no high expectation of making a great stride in this trip. By meeting Suu Kyi, he wants to reiterate his admiration for her courage and dedication for the cause of democracy, and convey the U.S. strong support for democracy and human rights. With the formation of a new Burmese government, McCain plans to assess the ground reality of political developments inside the country. In doing so, he is expected to meet representatives from the government, which is dominated by the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party. Since there are over 2,000 political prisoners still languishing in different prisons across Burma, McCain is likely to push for their release and the implementation of more democratic reforms before the U.S. can consider lifting sanctions, the issue raised by deputy assistant secretary of state Joseph Yun in his May 18-20 trip. On the other hand, the Burmese government wants to take this opportunity to show the U.S. government that it has made progress in democratic reforms. The new Burmese government, former military generals in civilian clothes, wants to demonstrate its claim to the international community. This is an important reason why McCain was issued visa in the first place. Indeed, the government has something positive to present to the visiting senator and other critics. President Thein Sein recently reduced all prison sentences by one year and commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment. Thousands of prisoners were released, although only a small number of political prisoners were among the freed. Naypyidaw will argue that it has successfully conducted the first countrywide general election in two decades and has released thousands of prisoners. It will reiterate its demand for the U.S. government to lift sanctions which the Burmese government considers as the greatest hindrance for improving bilateral relationship. It has to be noted that the United States has a leverage to help genuine democratic transition in Burma for two important reasons. First is because of the U.S. unparalleled economic and military power and its pioneering role in championing democracy and human rights. Second is because of the widely acceptance of the U.S. engagement policy by the Burmese people. The senator’s visit should be viewed as a positive development. The U.S. government needs to continue its diplomatic pressure for genuine democratic reforms and protection and promotion of human rights. One effective way of engagement for the senator is to urge his colleagues to confirm the nomination of Derek Mitchell as a U.S. special envoy for Burma. The then-president Bush nominated Michael J. Green as U.S. special envoy for Burma in late 2008, which was never confirmed by the senate. Senator McCain and his senate colleagues should not let president Obama’s nomination slip away. The special envoy, with an ambassador rank, can work more effectively than some occasional visits. Burma decades-old problem is not entirely a question of democracy. The root cause is about denying rights to ethnic minority groups. In the process of engaging Burma, the U.S. government, either democratic or republican party, should involve more representatives and experts from ethnic minorities. After all, the Burmese people themselves best understand the political psychology of the Burmese military generals. Burmese native scholars should be consulted equally, if not more than the Western scholars, in formulating effective U.S. political strategy. The Burmese scholars have the advantage of in-depth empirical knowledge besides theoretical, which the Western scholars often lack. Nehginpao Kipgen is a researcher on the rise of political conflicts in modern Burma and general secretary of the U.S.-based Kuki International Forum (www.kukiforum.com) whose works have been widely published in five continents – Asia, Africa, Australia, Europe, and North America. He currently pursues a Ph.D. in political science at Northern Illinois University and can be reached at nkipgen1@niu.edu.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/mTddMr9VXHk/

IMPHAL, June 9: A five member representatives of the World Bank Group have arrived in the state capital this morning to assess feasibility of the technical implications to sanction fund in the form of loan to Manipur government meant for improvement of power sector.
According to an official source, the state government while considering the difficulties towards the development aspects to both public and private sectors in terms of development caused by accumulating irregularities of proper power supply in the state, the state government had decided to sought financial assistance from the World Bank in terms of Loan which will be invested for the improvement of power supply in the state.
The visit is in respond the official approach made by Manipur government.
The five membered team of the World Bank group is led by two senior energy specialists Rohit Mutal and Mukul Matindra of the Worl Bank Group. The other members are Kavita Saraswati, senior engineer, Survi Goyal and Mudit Naraian,  operation analysts.
They arrived at the state capital today and attended series of meeting at the conference hall of Old Secretariat Imphal which started from 11 am under the chair of state chief secretary DS Poonia.
The official source further mentioned that the visiting team of the World Bank attended the introductory meeting this morning at 11.am and later analyzed official documentations tabled by the state concerned departments through state government seeking additional monetary assistance from the World Bank for the improvement of the power supply in the state.
The meeting was also attended by head of departments of Power, Planning and Finance.
The joint official meeting was resumed at 3pm this afternoon and reviewed the official presentation of the state government along with the visiting official representatives of World Bank Group and officials of power department on the operational and financial health of power sector, key challenges facing the sector and the department.
It is reported that the high level meeting today also discussed on the current institutional capacity and state power department in technical procurement/ contacting Planning, finance/account, environment, social and personal areas, schemes propose to covered under the project and works already done as well as implementation of RGGVSY and R/APBRP and their linkage with proposed schemes during the late hours this evening and concluded at 6.45 pm.
The source also mentioned that the visiting official representatives of World Bank Group will continue to attend the joint meeting with the Commissioner finance VK Dewangan and Special Secy. Planning Sajjad Hassan tomorrow morning at 10 am at Old Secretariat Imphal and will be followed by D-briefing meeting with the Principal Secy. LP Golmei at the same venue at 11 am and the visiting official representatives will leave Imphal for Delhi at 5 pm after collecting all source of needful documentations and comments made by the series of official level meeting to initiate needful proceedings to allow the state government to get loans from the World bank which meant for the improvement of power supply in the state, the official source added.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/_2-f4TdY7gA/

IMPHAL June 14: United NGOs Mission, Manipur has appealed to the Chief Minister and the Governor of the State to make immediate alternative arrangement for the evicted families of Lamphel Yaipha Leikai at the earliest.

A press release of the secretary of the organization U Nobokishore stated that the conditions of the fifteen evicted families are now in a deplorable condition. As the families are left without proper shelter and living in makeshift shelters, the aged persons and the children are suffering from starvation and water borne diseases, the children are also not able to attend school, it maintained.

The press release further thanked the organizations and individuals for partaking in the protest rally and public meeting held on June 12 addressing the escalation of crime against women and children.

Meanwhile sources stated that the makeshift shelters constructed anew along the Lamphel roadside have also been removed by security persons.

Local MLA W Brajabidhu is also reported to have met the evicted families and told them to shift to another adjoining area, but the families have stated that the area is unfeasible as the said place is a marshy area.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/C7Aqg_mskM0/

IMPHAL JUNE 17: One constable of the state police has reportedly succumbed to unknown ailments yesterday at around 7 pm while another VDF personnel also reportedly succumbed this early morning at their respective barracks under suspicious conditions.

According to a reliable source the constable has been identified as one Thokchom Rajesh, 27, s/o late Th Jilaton of Sangaipurou Mamang Leikai and currently posted at Patsoi PS.

The same source identified the dead VDF personnel as Athokpam Yaiphaba, 29, s/o late A Kuladhaja of Singjamei Top Leikai and also identified him to be attached currently with the Lamphel PS.

It is also informed that Rajesh was reportedly found lying unconscious on his bed inside the barrack yesterday evening at around 7 pm after returning from census duty. He was rushed to the RIMS but was declared brought dead by the doctors, added the source.

Meanwhile, in a similar incident, the VDF personnel identified as Yaiphaba was also found lying unconscious on his allotted bed by his colleagues this early morning at around 3 am, stated a reliable source.

According to the same source, the personnel was rushed to the nearby hospital however doctors announced him also brought dead.

The personnel was on sentry duty last night at the Lamphel PS, stated the source.

However till the filling of this report there has been no official confirmation from the respective police stations.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/HvJOSGR9cMY/

IMPHAL, June 17: The United Committee Manipur and the All Manipur Clubs Organization are set for their separate observation of the June 18 incident wherein 18 martyrs had laid down their lives during the agitation in June, 2001 in protest against the extension of the ceasefire between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) without territorial limit.

The two apex bodies will be observing the day at separate locations. While UCM will be observing the day at Kekrupat under the theme the Great June Uprising, AMUCO will be observing it at Thangmeiband Atheletic Union ground as the Unity Day as in the past years.

A floral tribute to the Matyrdom of the 18 located at Kekhrupat will marked the opening of the both the observation tomorrow and is likely to be attended by ministers, MLAs, state officials and people from all corners of the state.

Meanwhile, the state government is also all set and prepared to prevent any untoward eventuality during the June 18 observation of the United Committee Manipur and the All Manipur United Clubs Organization tomorrow.

State forces and central para military forces of CRPF including its Mahila Bn have already been deployed at identified vulnerable points in and around the Greater Imphal area starting from this evening.

The state police after in consideration of a peaceful observation tomorrow, a new traffic regulation have been made for greater Imphal areas which will enforce from the early morning tomorrow.

An official notification issued by the Superintendent of Police Imphal West district has imposed temporary parking arrangements and changes to ensure smooth traffic regulation during the observation of the June 18 Uprising.

The statement mentioned has specified separate location for parking of normal vehicles and vehicles carrying people to attend the June 18 function.

It said that vehicles coming from Thoubal side shall be diverted from Singjamei Bazar towards Kongba road and Wangkhei side via Singjamei Bridge and park at Palace compound.

The vehicles coming from Mayang Imphal side shall be diverted at Khagempalli crossing and Kwakeithel Bazar toward Lamphel Bus parking via Tera Bazaar, Naoremthong. Uripok Canteen Leirak and Lamphel Sanakheithel for parking. On their return journey- the vehicles shall follow the same route, it said.

The vehicles coming from Tiddim side shall he diverted towards Lamphel Bus parking from Kwakeithel via Tera Bazaar, Naoremthong , Uripok Canteen Leirak and Lamphei Sanakeithel. On their return journey the vehicles shall follow the same route.

The vehicles coming from Sagolband road shall be parked at Moirang Leirak Machin Bus parking. The vehicles coming from Uripok Kangchup road shall be parked near JAS petrol Pump, Uripok.

The vehicles coming from Sekmai and DM road shall be diverted at Khongnang Ani

Karak, towards Inter state Bus Terminus. Vehicles coming from Pangei side shall park infront of Lamlong girl high School, vehicles coming from Ukhrul and Sawombung side shall be parked at Northern side of Lamlong, vehicles coming from Tinsid road shall parked at Northern side of Tinsid road at Lamlong bazaar and vehicles coming from Yairipok and Andro sides shall be parked at Andro parking.

While specifying allocation of parking of vehicles carrying participants of June 18 observation, it said that Peoples coming to Kekrupat shall be allowed only from Minuthong and Khuman Lampak side and no one shall be allow to come to Kekrupat via Keisampat-Sanjenthong.

The vehicles coming from Thoubal side carrying people to attend the function shall be diverted at Singjamei bazaar via Singjamei bridge towards Kongba road, Wangkhei & towards New Checkon road.

The vehicles coming from Mayang Imphal side will proceed to Stadium complex via Keishampat – Kwakeithel Bazaar – Tera Bazar – Naoremthong- Uripok Canteen Leirak-Lamphei Sanakeithel – Watham Leirak – Lilashing Khongnangkhong – Khongnang Ani Karak and enter Stadium complex at the Northern central gate and park at the area around the main stadium.

The vehicle coming from f Tidim side shall get diverted from Kwakeithel Bazar toward Main Stadium via Kwakeithel Bazar-Tera Bazar-Naoremthong- Uripok Canteen Leirak-Lamphel Sanakeithel-Watham Leirak – Lilashing Khongnangkhong-Khongnang Ani Karak and enter Stadium complex at Northern Central Gate and park at the area around the main stadium.

The vehicles coming from New Cachhar road will proceed to Stadium complex via Tera Bazar – Naoremthong – Uripok Canteen Leirak – Lamphel Sanakeithel – Watham Leirak Lilashing Khongnangkhong – Khongnang Ani Karak and enter Stadium complex at the Northern Central Gate and park at the area around the main stadium.

Vehicles coming from Uripok – Kangchup Road will proceed to Stadium complex via Uripok Canteen Leirak – Lamphel Sanakeithel – Watham Leirak – Lilashing Khongnangkhong – Khongnang Ani Karak and enter Stadium complex at the Northern Central Gate and park at the area around the main stadium.

It further stated that vehicles coming from Sekmai side and D.M. road side shall enter Stadium complex via Dingku Road and drop the passengers at Central Plaza and then come out at Dingku Road via Pandol Road and park at the Central Bus terminus.

The vehicles coming from Pangei side shall be diverted at Lamlong Bazar towards Minuthong via Telipati and after dropping the passengers will park in the area, available near Hafiz Hatta Road.

The vehicles coming from Ukhrul and Sawombung side will proceed towards Minuthong via Lamlong Bazar. After dropping the Passengers at Minuthong they shall proceed towards Lamlong via Checkon crossing and Ayangpalli Road and park at Lamlong Bazar along Ukhrul Road.

Vehicles coming from Tinsid road shall be diverted from Lamlong Bazar towards Minuthong where the passengers will be dropped. From there, they will- proceed to Lamlong via Checkon crossing and Ayangpalli Road and park along Timid Road, it said.

The vehicles coming from Yairipok and Andro sides will proceed to Minuthong where the passengers will be dropped from there, they will proceed and park near Hafiz Hatta.

The vehicles for the 18 victims shall be allowed to go across Khoyathong LIC crossing towards North AOC and park front Cinema.

It stated that Earmarked vehicles of UCM to come to Kekrupat via Khongnang Ani Karak and Earmarked vehicles of AMUCO will be allowed to come to THAU ground via Khoyanthong.

Read more / Original news source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Kanglaonline/~3/rZ4AKGKbN_Q/