Manipur News

The UNLF today stated that the PlB(Defence Wing) claimed that Sgt. Maj. Salam Kunjabihari of Khordok surrendered to Red Shield Division with arms. It is a fictitious story the UNLF said. The UNLF said it was claimed that the service no. of Kunjabhihari was 886 of 13th batch. There is no one at the address given as per records of the UNLF. Service no 886 is not of 13th batch and the said number belongs to Ahanthem Ngamthang who died on 16-07-02 . It was added all knows the surrender drama of the troops.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/unlf-refutes-story/

Mail News Service
Imphal, May 6 : Governor Gurbachan Jagat today inaugurated the 41st Shumang Leela Festival organized by Manipur State Kala Akademi at Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen, Palace Compound here.
Addressing the opening ceremony of the festival, Governor Gurbachan distributed awards to 11 female group artistes . He congratulated the award winners of the last edition of the Festival . This year 20 groups are participating, including 8 of males and 12 of females.
This performing art form of Manipur loosely translated as courtyard theatre has provided entertainment to the general public for decades. Even though it started with comic genre to humour the kings and noblemen, it became a powerful tool for conveying social messages. The older generation still remember the leelas based on Khamba-Thoibi, episodes from Moirang parva, Mahabharata, Ramayana, etc. Later on the genre of Eshei Leela came which was popular among the youngsters as it was styled on modern Hindi films but its popularity did not last long.
Such a vibrant performing art is now finding it difficult to maintain its popularity because of the onslaught of modern entertainment forms like cinema, television, etc. Shumang Leela had stood strongly against proscenium theatre when the latter was in it’s hey day, but both art forms are facing serious crises against the modern technology.
It must be the responsibility of every citizen of the State to ensure that the rich tradition of Shumang Leela is preserved and propagated for posterity. Research needs to be done on it so that this rich and vibrant art form is understood in its totality. The tendency to absorb styles from cinema does not do much good to this art form and many experts believe that this has led to its stagnation and many believe that, without patronage, this art form may wither away like many other art forms of this State. During the time of the Maharajas, the number of art forms and its proponents were less and the State could provide very strong patronage for its growth. Similarly, in the field of games and sports also the State could provide patronage. But with increased population, and with the opening up of frontiers, many exotic art forms have become popular with numerous adherents and it is with these that the traditional art form has to compete. In many parts of the country, many indigenous art forms have vanished but in Manipur, because of its rich traditions, many of the art forms still survive in the 21st century and for this he congratulated the people of Manipur for their contribution, especially the promoters and artists of these rare art forms.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/shumang-leela-festival-begins-2/

DIMAPUR, May 6 NNN: The North East Students Organisation (NESO) is very much concerned on the report of the Parliamentary Panel for the abolition of the DoNER ministry.
The NESO team is likely to go to New Delhi in the next few days’ time to apprise the Central leaders not to abolish the DoNER ministry.
Sources from Guwahati informed Newmai News Network that the apex students’ body of the North East region will oppose the move of the Parliamentary Panel in this regard. NESO leaders are now in Guwahati and are preparing to go to the national capital.
It can be noted here that the Parliamentary Panel had made scathing attacks on performance of the DoNER Ministry saying that the ministry had failed to live up to the expectation.
The Parliamentary Panel further said the dismal performance of the DoNER ministry has been the reason that it had pointed out in its report to abolish the ministry.
The Parliamentary Panel had recently recommended that government should consider the handicaps and devise ways out either by placing the DoNER Ministry directly under the Prime Minister’s Office or evolve mechanism so that the Ministry could implement its decisions.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/neso-against-abolition-of-doner/

IMPHAL, May 6 NNN : The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO-General Headquarters) takes strong exception over the suspension of construction works at Indira Gandhi Tribal (IGT) University at Makhan village under Sadar Hills in Senapati district in the wake of monetary demands by several militant groups.
“The KSO has come to learn that the construction work which started a year and a half ago is presently in a state of turmoil because of vested interest groups. The KSO had taken a prominent role in the creation of this tribal varsity right from its inception and therefore, does not want to see any problems that could impede its development. This tribal university has a unique history wherein tribal students struggled for their rights in the face of great adversities. The varsity is an outcome of tribal solidarity and exertion of tribal rights in the state. Therefore, the crisis faced by the university at the moment is a matter of concern for the organization,” the apex Kuki students’ body stated.
Stating these facts, the KSO requests all the militant groups to abstain from making monetary demands and life threatening deeds. “The KSO does not want to see this hard earned centre of learning in a state of decadence. The KSO would like to make it clear that any vested interest group that troubles the varsity shall be considered anti-tribal and anti-development. The UG groups involved must stop immediately before losing credibility in the eyes of the public,” it added.
The KSO also learnt that the Amarkantak University where the IGTU is being affiliated has meted out step-motherly treatment to the varsity in all aspects of development. The tribal students in the state will not take this injustice lying down and shall take all necessary measures to rectify the wrongs. As such the Amarkantak University is advised to tread carefully otherwise it will face punitive and legal action in civil courts.
“The construction company which is undertaking the development of the university is also advised to execute works in earnest without any fear. At the same time, the company must also understand that the KSO will not condone any sub-standard quality in the construction works,” the Kuki students’ body said.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kso-wants-canal-works-at-igt-taken-up/

Imphal, May 6NNN : The Government of Manipur is trying to simplify and justify the burning down of 36 houses and granaries and destroying of other properties worth crores of rupees including valuable items and clothes belonging to Silent village by people from Seijang village numbering more than 1000 in a pre planned and well meditated manner is strongly condemned by Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF), All Zeliangrong Students Union (AZSU) and Zeliangrong Students Union, Manipur (ZSUM alleged on Monday. Questioning the nature of the land dispute the statement also asked if this case can be taken as the one that permits to burn down another village.
At the same time, the government of Manipur appeals for maintaining peace without taking steps to pull up the perpetrators to book them as per the law of the land and hence this attitude of the Government could encourage those senseless people to repeat such beastly act in future, it said.
Asking who disturbs peace, the statement also asked why combing operation is not conducted to arrest all the suspects from Seijang village and why the Government is not ordering suspension order for all the police personnel who failed to turn up and intervene in time.
It also said that the Silent villagers did not retaliate against the senseless attackers because they wanted to excercise maximum restraint thereby avoiding human casualties and ugly scene.
“During physical visit and interaction with the villagers of the Silent village it is reported that the attackers were well equipped with fire arms and other deadly weapons”, the statement further said. All Manipur Tribal Union (AMTU) strongly condemned the burning down of Silent village causing complete dismantling of 36 houses by the villagers of Seijang village on May 3.
AMTU president D.P Panmei said such uncivilized act is not a solution to the land dispute between two villages . A team of the Naga People’s Organizations (NPO) visited the Silent village in Senapati district in which some 36 houses were burnt down by villagers of Seijang which is under Lamlai Police station in Imphal East district on May 3.
The team comprising of tribe hohos including the president and the general secretary of Maram Union, the vice-president and the information & publicity of Poumai Naga Union, the president and the finance secretary of Thangal Union and the president of Karong Senapati Town committee along with NPO executive council led by its president and the general secretary.
NPO has strongly condemned the ‘barbaric and cowardice act’ of the Seijang villagers to carry out such inhuman and unacceptable activities to another village. Stating that the attack and damages were carried out around 10:30 am when the Silent villagers were out in the paddy fields for normal household chores.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/aids-sympathy-pouring-in-for-silent-villagers/