Manipur News

IMPHAL, August 19: The Amnesty International India has said the court ruling directing the release of ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ Irom Sharmila is a legal and moral victory for the activist.

“This welcome but long overdue judgement recognizes that Irom Sharmila’s hunger strike is a powerful protest for human rights and a peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression,” said Shailesh Rai, programmes director, Amnesty International India.

“Irom Sharmila should never have been arrested in the first place. All other charges against her of attempted suicide must be dropped and she must be immediately released. Authorities must instead pay attention to the issues this remarkable activist is raising,” it said.

“Irom Sharmila is being detained in the security ward of a hospital in Imphal, where she is force-fed a diet of liquids through her nose. She has never been convicted for attempting to commit suicide.”

Last year, over 18,000 people from across India supported an Amnesty International India campaign calling for the unconditional release of Irom Sharmila, it said while adding that India’s National Human Rights Commission also acknowledged that she was a ‘Prisoner of Conscience’ who was being detained solely for the peaceful expression of her beliefs and called for the removal of restrictions imposed on access to her.

Speaking to Amnesty International India in September 2013, Irom Sharmila, inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence, said, “My struggle is my message. I love my life very much and want to have the freedom to meet people and struggle for issues close to my heart,” it said.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Organisation Research and Education of Manipur while welcoming the landmark order has also expressed concerned that Sharmila’s continued protest of fast for the repeal of AFSPA will also put her at a heightened risk to her personal safety and life.

“It is astounding that after more than 12 years of being convicted to imprisonment under IPC section 309 (attempt to commit suicide), a judicial opinion has been expressed that there is no evidence that she has attempted to commit suicide! If the judicial opinion has any weight in the long turn, the order has put the tenability of Section 309 in the Indian Penal Code under a cloud.”

It further commended the ‘courageous order passed by a District and Sessions Judge of Manipur.’

The political dimension of Irom Chanu Sharmila’s unique lone protest stance has been thrust into prominence for the first time since she began her fast, the statement said

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/amnesty-international-core-hail-sharmila-release-as-legal-and-moral-victory/

IMPHAL, August 19: Volunteers of the Sekmai Protection Committee have seized a sand- loaded truck for violating the ban on sand mining from quarries on the river bed of Sekmai.

According to Sekmai Protection Committee president Kh Rajesh, a joint team of volunteers from Sekmai Protection Committee and Advanced Women Society, Sekmai caught a truck (bearing registration number MN-06T 0242) loaded with sand during a regular checking of various sites in the Imphal River after restrictions were imposed on sand mining in the area since June 1 last.

The driver of the seized truck is identified as Chanambam Ibocha from Iram Siphai and the truck belongs to Deven Warapam of Leimapokpam, Rajesh said.

The driver stated that he and the truck owner were not aware of the restrictions on sand mining and stone excavation from the Sekmai area, he added.

Rajesh said, “Today, we got news that some trucks and labourers were seen working in the area. So, the committee visited the site and asked all the labourers to return back from the site. However, all the sand collected was seized.”

Pointing out that the committee has already written a letter to both the District Collector and Superintendent of Police, Imphal West to take measures for enforcing the order issued by Forest department for restrictions on sand mining and collecting stones from quarries on the Imphal River, he said however no action has been taken up so far and that has resulted in such incidents in the area while also appealing to the government to look after the matter.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/sekmai-locals-seize-truck-for-violating-ban-on-sand-mining/

IMPHAL, August 19: A 17 year-old boy was injured when miscreants exploded a Chinese made hand grenade inside the Thakur Mandir, Mantripukhri under Heingang Police station Imphal East district.

Sources said that the incident occurred around 12.45 after midnight.

The victim has been identified as Kunal Shah, 17, son of Sunil Shah of Thakur Bari.

He was treated at the Raj Medicity and discharged the same night.

Police have registered a case in connection with the incident and investigation is going on in full swing.

Meanwhile, a Chinese made hand grenade was left at the residence of special contractor of PHED, Soubam Birdhaja Singh, 60, son of S Ibomcha Singh of Uripok Achom Leikai.

The bomb was found hanging at the gate wrapped by plastic bag this morning.

Later the bomb was safely retrieved by a team of police.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/17-year-old-injured-in-temple-blast/

IMPHAL, August 19: The Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) system, introduced some years ago to change the system by evaluating to incorporate every aspect of children aptitude during the time they spend in schools is unfortunately not understood by principals of some schools in the State, stated Council of Hr Sec Education Manipur chairman Dr Hamom Nabachandra.

Nabachandra was speaking at the observance of the 9th Private School Day which was organised by All Manipur Recognised Private Schools’ Welfare Association, Imphal.

Alleging that they didn’t even know what CCE stands for, he said the CCE scheme is good for the improvement of students but if misused it can bring the downfall of students in their academic careers.

We will be discussing the pros and cons of CCE along with various intellectuals of the State so that concerned authorities can come up with a better alternative, he added.

Accusing some teachers of giving good marks to students even though the students are not good in studies, Nabachandra said such a culture only gives a bad reputation to teachers and cripple the students instead of doing them any good.

The Council takes students from both the government and private schools equally, he said, and developing the schools in city areas only will not prove conducive for a good education environment because it can be only achieved by developing the schools in every nook and corner of the State.

The government is trying hard to send good teachers to every nook and corners of the State for improving the education system in the State, he said.

He added that most of the educational institutions in Churachandpur and Imphal, and the Don Bosco School in Maram render good education to the students.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/cohsem-chairman-berates-principals-for-being-oblivious-to-cce-scheme/

KANGPOKPI, August 19: All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur today has mobilized for it proposed 24 hr total bandh in all hill district of the State from midnight of August 20.

Speaking to local media persons at Kangpokpi, president of the student body Emboi Serto said that his team was there to mobilise support at Sadar Hills and Senapati for the proposed 24 hr total bandh as well as for further course of agitation if the total bandh has no positive and fitting outcome.

“We will imposed indefinite economic blockade in all national highway from midnight of August 22 if the 24 hr total bandh bears no satisfactorily result from the part of the State government as well as the Manipur University”, asserted Emboi while adding that the demand of the ATSUM is very much legitimate and realistic.

Emboi alleged that after much propelling over the issue of implementation of Central Educational Institution (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012 in the state Manipur University authority claimed that the notification regarding the Act reached them only this year but the fact is that it was already in their hand.

“Has speed post become slow post in Manipur?” taking one year and seven months to reached Imphal from UGC office asked Emboi to the MU authority while arguing that the notification has already been sent to the MU authority by UGC more than one years back.

The tribal student apex body chief further pointed out in his official letter to the Prime Minister of India regarding New Land Uses Policy, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh have factually written that the tribal population in the state have already exceeded more than 40%.

Therefore, there are no excuses and grounds for postponing the implementation of the Central Educational Institution (Reservation in Admission) Amendment Act 2012 even when one significant academic session had already been ignored due to lackadaisical attitude of the MU authority averred Emboi.

While alerting the general public Emboi stated that from midnight of Aug.20 till midnight of Aug.21 all vehicular movement, educational institutions, Govt. administrations, business establishments will be totally clogged. Only media and Medical will be relaxed from the purview of the bandh, added Emboi.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/atsum-warns-of-indefinite-blockade-from-aug-22/

IMPHAL, August 19: The Tangkhul Naga Wangnaolong strongly condemned the killing of Ngalanzar Malue, 60, of Nongman Ukhrul District, vice chairman of Autonomous District Council (ADC), who was shot dead at Finch Corner on July 12. We urge that such kind of act should not be repeated in the future.

This was stated S Raising, president of the TNWL to the media today at the Wunghon Village of Yangaipokpi. He added that TNWL is a body formed by chiefs of 242 Tankhul villages of Manipur. He further lamented that imposing Section 144 CrPC in Ukhrul town has only given fear psychosis and panic to the people and also hinders the peaceful co-existence among the people.

Akhui Zimik, vice president, TNWL said that it is the duty of the Government to provide security to Ngalanzar Malue as the Government was aware about the threat perception.

He added that the incident happened at Finch corner, 22 km away from the Ukhrul town and asked why the government is imposing Section 144 only in the town area. He asked if the government has any ulterior motive by imposing Section 144 in the town area. TNWL strongly appealed the government to repeal Section 144 from the town area.

He further maintained that there should be a valid reason for implementing Section 144 in the town area for such a long time.

Akhui Zimik continued that TNWL could not condole and condemn the incident in time because all the ADC members were socially boycotted by the Naga People’s Convention and this was the reason why the Tangkhul civil organisations have some time gap in this regard.

He also said that according to the customary law of the Tangkhuls, until and unless a boycott once imposed on an individual or a group is lifted, there is no room for excuse. But considering the fact that Ngalanzar was a son of the community, TNWL has decided to condole his untimely demise, he said.

MC Khating, chief of Thoyee village was also present during the press meet.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2014/08/tangkhul-naga-wangaolong-questions-imposition-of-section-144-at-ukhrul/