Manipur News

MOREH, June 20: “The Burmese army personnel come to our village and keep loitering in the streets when it is dark, sometimes they come in vehicles. We are afraid to go out in our own village,” said L Haokip, a resident of Haolenphai village.

Haolenphai village is located around 3 kilometers north of Moreh, Indo-Myanmar border town and is inhabited by the Kuki community. Recently, the Myanmar army has erected a makeshift wooden fence to demarcate the line of control in the area which starts from border pillar number 74.

The mentioned village and its residents are spread out from the said pillar and further encompass border number 75 and 76. The area mentioned is almost about 12 square kilometers. At present, this area which originally is ancestral land of the Kuki village is claimed by Myanmar as their territory.

Haokip further added that in the past week, the Myanmar army has dismantled two houses which were under construction. They are posted near the border pillar and have set up camp nearby. His story was corroborated when a team of scribes went to inspect the dismantled houses, 3 armed Myanmar personnel came out and scrutinised the team. Fortunately, one of the persons travelling with the scribes spoke Burmese and managed to avoid any complications.

The villagers are panicked by the presence of the armed Myanmarese personnel intruding at the village premises. Adding to their problems, the Assam Rifles post officer along the ADC chairman has also instructed the villagers to stop new construction, Haokip said.

Reacting to this incursion, President of Information Centre for Hill Areas, Manipur, N Rajendro said that the border fencing has been vexed with constant problems since the very start as the land which originally was part of Manipur has been given away to Myanmar. “There was no issue of incursion at Haolenphai village, this is a recent issue and came post the border issue in July, 2013.” He added that the state government and the concerned authorities of the Centre need to address the incursion at Haolenphai and proper demarcation needs to be done, otherwise more agitations is in the offing. This would only add fuel to the fire of the present border issue imbroglio, he maintained.

The media team along with the activists and chief of Haolenphai village, Lalkholun Haokip also went to Lhangcham area with is located near border pillar 76. There is a vast extension of teak forest at the area. But, this area was also encroached by Myanmarese villagers and a huge clearing in the middle of the teak forest was used for shifting cultivation. When the field was inspected by the scribe team, a fire used for cooking was still lit and some clothings used by the farmers were also seen at the mentioned spot. On hearing the approach of the team, the farmers’ had run away from the spot.

According to Lhangcham, the state government has proposed to build an integrated check post at the site before. But, after the said area was claimed by Myanmar, the government authorities had shifted the venue of the check post to the village area of Haolenphai village. He decried the step-motherly treatment by the Union government authorities and ignoring the woes of the villagers. “We have been living in this land as my forefathers have before, we will not allow such discrimination, we will resist the Burmese intrusion in any possible manner and even at the cost of our lives,” he said.

Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) general secretary Seiboi Haokip also in a similar note called on the state government attention in this issue. He said that proper demarcation should be conducted and the matter should be settled at the earliest, otherwise KSO and other likeminded organisations are prepared to launch protests to halt the incursion. “This cannot be accepted in any manner, the villagers have the right to their ancestral land. It is our duty to ensure that their human rights is not violated.” he said.

It may be mentioned that border fencing on the eastern side of Moreh town at Govajang village has been halted due to a petition filed by the villagers. The fencing route had fallen in the middle of the village church. The said village has been inhabited since 1967 by the Kukis.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/myanmar-armed-personnel-intrude-into-haolenphai-village/

Imphal, June 22: The CAF & PD labourer’s Welfare Association has warned the state government of agitations if their charter of demand is not fulfilled till July 5. This was stated by CAF & PD labourer’s Welfare Association general secretary Ramendrajit in a press meet at Manipur Press Club on Sunday afternoon.

He said that the CAF & PD minister assured in the last assembly session that the demand of the labourers will be discussed in a cabinet meeting and under a very short period it will fulfill the labourers their chatter of demands.

Even chief Minister Okram Ibobi himself witnessed the ground reality in Sangaiporou godown on March 23 4 while on a scheduled visit. Now, the labourers are in a vulnerable condition as recently four labourers were hospitalised in Nambol Hospital from Paralysis, Anthracites, Kidney dialysis etc. Most of labourer still have health problems and can’t undergo treatment due to pending of fourth month’s payment from new contractors.

He said that many memorandums have been submitted and assure to fulfill our chatter of demands but till now the government of Manipur hasn’t taken up any positive action. CAF & PD minister Moirangthem Okendro has also given assurance on our demands. But now we don’t believe in their assurances that on coming July 5, the charter of demands will be fulfilled and the benefits of the National Food Security Act will also be given to labourers.

So if the charter of demands is not fulfill to labourers till July 5, we will launch a strike and from July 6 various forms of agitation will be launched, he said, appealing labourers to not agree to be hired by CAF & PD Sangaiporou.

If any labourer agrees to work with CAF & PD Sangaiporou, it will be at their own risk, he added.

Romendrajit said there are 21 male and 8 female labourers working in the CAF & PD Godown at Sangaiporou but most of them are victimised by the state government by neglecting their labour rights till date.

Further stating that 30 years back most of the labours were non-locals, he said that local people also started loading and unloading goods in the Godown before long. Unfortunately, the labours didn’t have any documents of agreement with the past contractors, he added.

He said that in 2011 the labours were paid only 76 paisa on loading and unloading two rice gunny begs from a truck by contractors.

“The illiterate labours agreed with the contractor’s agreements on government orders. They were again cheated by the contractors that bonus payments during festivals were paid only once a year,” he said.

The charter of demands consisted increment of labour charges, the charge must be equal to the FCI payment system, medical facilities, issuing of proper identify cards and following labour rules along with the implementation of the wage board.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/caf-pd-labourers-warn-of-cease-work-strike/

IMPHAL, June 22: The All Manipur Students Union (AMSU) has set a deadline for the State government to set up a Price Control Board within June 25. In case the State fails to meet the deadline, the student union will take its own course to check price hike in the State from June 26.

This was stated by secretary general, L Regan during a press conference at AMSU, HQ office today.

He elaborated that the volunteers of the union will be on an inspection drive of the prices of the commodities in the market places before the end of the set deadline.

If the government fail to meet the union’s demand, AMSU will declare the price list of various items in consideration of the general public and control the unchecked price hike in the State, he said.

Even though several appeals have been made to the government in this regard, the government has failed to provide any positive response to the demand, he continued.

This is a clear indication of the government negligence of the public’s suffering, he said.

AMSU’s Human Resource and Development secretary Manjit Sarangthem said that the concerned department has failed to put any check on the price hikes in the State.

The weight and measure department are also seen only when the niggol chakkouba festival approaches, he lamented.

He further said that there are several shops in the bazaar area which are not even registered, and appealed to the government to look into the issue at the earliest.

Unless the government take up preventive measures, the AMSU will be compelled to take its own course of action, the student leader warned.

Manjit asserted that the State government should own responsibility in the event of any untoward situation arising out of the issue.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/check-price-hike-amsu-sets-june-25-deadline-for-govt/

IMPHAL, June 22: The quantity of distribution of tools and inputs for farming to farmers is not much even though it is for the encouragement of farming in the state. This was stated by Imphal West deputy commissioner M Joy Singh on Sunday at the inaugural function of Cropping System Based Farmers’ Training Programme cum Distribution of Tools & Inputs under National Food Security Mission- Rice (NFSM- Rice) for the year 2013- 2014 at Training Hall, Directorate of Agriculture, Sanjenthong.

Pointing out that there is more number of women involved in farming as compared to men in the state, he said Imphal East has shown more interest and involvement in farming.

He said that to have sufficient amount of daily commodities like rice or vegetable, it will be better if the farmers show more interest for the welfare and development of the state.

Director of Agriculture/ District Agriculture Officer, S Guinija Devi said central government takes many steps for the welfare and development of the farmers.

70 percent of the state’s total populations are farmers and they took great responsibility, she said, adding that even though there are more numbers of farmers in the state; most of them cultivate single crops.

“Under the National Food Security Mission there are various schemes for the welfare of farmers, the farmers should take the advantage of various schemes provided under NFSM,” she said.

Deputy Director and Soil Chemist, Department of Agriculture, Ph Rajendro Singh said that for the preservation of agricultural land in the state proper agricultural land policy must be implemented if not it will create trouble in preserving the agricultural land.

“The distribution of rice only under the National Food Security Act will be added with distribution of corn and pulses and to bring green revolution the National Mission of Sustainable Agriculture will be implemented in the state within 2- 3 years.

Attending many awareness programmes instead of practicing after attending will not bring any fruitful result in farming,” he stressed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/farming-tools-distribution-still-not-sufficient/

Imphal, June 22: The general secretary of Thangmeiband Block Trinamool Congress Committee (TBTCC) L Ranbir has clarified to people that there are no two Trinamool Congresses in the Kendra.

Clarifying that they are the genuine Trinamool Congress workers of the Thangmeiband Block and have supported MLA Joykishan in the last general election, Ranbir said Joykishan’s stance towards AITCC and his cutting off ties with the party is unfortunate.

Continuing that there is no Trinamool Women Forum in Thangmeiband as of now, he stated that people shouldn’t be made more confuse for a simple matter in Thangmeiband.

Terming the incident of June 20 where a woman Trinamool Congresss worker voiced opinion against President Shyamkumar because she was a kerosene agent of Joykishan as unfortunate, he said a simple example of Joykishan despite winning the election in an AITCC ticket working against the Trinamool Congress can be revealed by his intention to join the BJP.

“If he loved Trinamool wholeheartedly why Thangmeiband got only about 300 votes in the last Lok Sabha polls; how can we say that he is a real Trinamool MLA?” he asked.

The person who works for secretary Congress in the past can join any party overnight. Kh Anil, a cousin of Joykishan is a Congress worker, he said, asking people to be aware of the fake name of Trinamool Congress in our area.

Pressuring the Speaker by sending a letter was to teach a lesson that what Anti-defection law was, he said.

TBTCC president B Gogen Sharma said that Sarungbam Rajen was a member of Trinamool but he made the statement before the Committee decided to take him off from the Primary membership along with L Gopal and Manichenglei Sarangthem.

He said that there are no two Trinamool congress committees in Thangmeiband. “Some persons are creating confusions on simple matters. If they have proper documents of the committee, they can come to a platform for an open dialogue on which is real. Anyone wishing to leave Trinamool can leave as we don’t have any problem but don’t disturb the present atmosphere of Thangmeiband Trinamool Congress,” he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/06/no-two-trinamools-in-thangmeiband-claims-tbcc/