Manipur News

MNS: On Khongjom Day, 23 April 2013, Late Prof. Sanajaoba’s article Right to Self Determination of Manipur along with a critical foreword was reproduced by New Delhi based Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur). The booklet was reproduced with the financial support from Somorendro Khangembam and Laishram Tiken Khuman. Book release programs were held at four places outside Manipur; (a) the program at Chandigarh organized under the aegis of Ng Robert was attended by Punjab University students and representatives of the Students for Society, (b) the program at Mumbai organized by Rakesh was attended by non-Manipuris as well, (c) in Shillong the program organized by Ojha Jugindro and team was held at the courtyard of the then Rajbari or Redland Bungalow, and (d) the program at the University of Delhi was hosted by the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi.
The programs upheld that there was utmost need of the entire people to had discussions on the question of the right to self determination of Manipur. The Delhi meeting raised that despite factual errors, methodological confusion and legal determinism that were inherent in the article; if the issues raised by it would be debated in wider scale on the basis of ideology there could be constructive conclusions to various questions pertaining in Manipur. The Chandigarh and Shillong program stressed that the principle of freedom / self-determination ought to be respected. The objective of CPDM in reproducing the booklet is to illustrate that freedom or self determination is not a tabooed word but to be discussed as an open discourse. CPDM upheld that there cannot be peace & democracy in a country where the question of freedom or self-determination are not allowed to be openly raised and discussed.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sanajaobas-book-on-self-determination-reproduced/

Jammu, Apr. 24 (ANI): Chief of Army Staff, General Bikram Singh, concluded his two-day visit of Jammu and Kashmir today.
General Singh’s visit to the state came even as the Indian Army has reportedly moved an infantry regiment specializing in mountain warfare to Ladakh’s Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector.
General Singh reviewed the security scenario in the state, especially Ladakh where Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) of China has intruded about 10 kilometers inside the Indian territory at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector.
The Army Chief also met Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah during his visit.
General Singh, who met top commanders of the Army, is said to have discussed various issues related to the Armed Forces with formation commanders and interacted with troops deployed on the line of control and Counter Insurgency duties.
External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid today said that both India and China are yet to demarcate their borders, hence these incidents keep happening frequently.
“Perceptions do vary from their side and our side as to what is the actual line of control, so when the perceptions vary, sometimes disagreements on the ground can take place and we have a system in place, which kicks in immediately over the issue and then that system tries to provide a solution. That’s what we are doing right now, that process is going on and I hope that we will find a solution,” he said.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony today said the government will take every step to protect the national integrity of the country to resolve the situation arising out of the incursion by Chinese troops in Ladakh.
“Our government will take every step to protect the national integrity of the country. At the same time, negotiations are going on at various levels to resolve the issue peacefully,” he said.
Apparently taking a tough stance on the reported presence of Chinese troops ten kilometers inside Indian territory in the Ladakh region, India yesterday asked China to maintain status-quo on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Referring to the incident that is being reported widely in the Indian media, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said during his regular briefing today said that ‘New Delhi sees this as a face-to-face situation between border personnel of the two sides due to differences on their alignment of the Line of Actual Control’.
“We have therefore asked the Chinese side to maintain status-quo in this sector and by status-quo I mean status-quo prior to this incident. The term face-to-face situation is not something that we have conjured up, it is something that is referred to under 205 protocol for the implementation of CBMs in the military field along the Line of Actual Control in the India-China border areas,” he added.
Akbaruddin said the ongoing incident in the Depsang area of the western sector of the India-China boundary is a localized event.
“This is a sector in which there are differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control. That’s why we have since 1996 been maintaining that there is a need for the sides to work together in clarifying and confirming the Line of Actual Control,” he added.
Akbaruddin said Joint Secretary (East Asia) Gautam Bambawale, who chairs the working mechanism for consultation and coordination on India-China border affairs spoke to his counterpart, who is the Director General Border Affairs of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about the incident on April 16.
“Subsequently, on 18th morning there was a flag meeting. Following that on 18th evening, the Foreign Secretary expressed the concerns of the Government of India to Ambassador of China in Delhi,” he added.
According to reports, a Platoon-strength contingent of China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) entered the Indian territory in Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in eastern Ladakh and erected a tented post, setting the stage for a face-off with Indian troops.
Daulat Beg Oldi, which is located in northernmost Ladakh, is a historic camp site. It is located on an ancient trade route connecting Ladakh to Yarkand in Xinjiang, China.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/army-chief-visits-jk-discusses-border-situation/

SHILLONG, April 24 NNN : As a part of national environment awareness, a seminar on ‘NER Biodiversity and its Conservation’ was organized by the Department of Zoology, Botany and Environment of St Peter’s College at its college premises, here on Wednesday.
Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Meghalaya Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, TTC Marak, placed his hopes on youth and students that they will play their active roles in conservation of environment especially biodiversity by acting locally and thinking globally.
Quoting a famous saying, “Forest presides civilization and deserts succeeds them”, Marak said that India is very rich in culture the only thing which is the need of the hour is development in a greener way.
“As youths one should enhance the quality of life. There is need of active need for the youths to get involved in maintain the bio-diversity of the nature,” Marak said adding, “Youth should make their involvement with police makers to bring a change and to achieve positive leadership.”
He also said that government has a vision to improve the standard of living environment is ready to extend its support.
Former Director Zoological Survey of India, Dr JRB Alfred while giving his keynote addressed expressed that there is a drastic need to create awareness among the people to save the environment.
“No one alone can bring a change. There is a need to create NGOs and go to the core of the issues,” Alfred said adding “Environment is our sovereign property and its environment which controls the lives of the people.”
He also highlighted the current scenario of biodiversity and how its conservation at local, regional and international level could be made possible to the college students.
Later, Principal of the College and also the Secretary of MEWS-India, Peter Therose said that Meghalaya is blessed with natural resources. “There is immense bio-diversity. The youths of the state should know how to conserve the bio-diversity,” Therose said. He also added that the other problem which the region suffers is from counter insurgency which is a major hurdle for the people.
The seminar was attended by the students and teachers of the college.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/seminar-on-ner-biodiversity/

AIZAWL, April 24 NNN : Mizoram will soon have improved inland waterway transport.
In the follow up action in connection with the project proposal already submitted for inland water transport development along Tuichawng and Khawthlang rivers in Mizoram which are estimated to cost Rs. 26.97 crores, Mizoram Transport minister P.C. Zoram Sangliana met Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan at the latter’s office chamber, Transport Bhawan, New Delhi, and discussed the matter with him on Tuesday.
It was agreed that the follow-up discussion shall be held immediately at IWT centre in Noida, and then another discussion over technical matters shall be held by Project Engineers on May 15 in New Delhi, after which, when all necessary matters are cleared, the required fund for the project shall be sanctioned.
The Mizoram Transport minister also met Union Culture minister Chandresh Kumari Katoch at her office chamber, Shastri Bhawan, with whom he discussed about the project proposal for setting up of Heritage Village, Aizawl district at the cost estimation of Rs. 25 crores and construction of major Inns at Kawtchhuahropui and Vangchhia villages in Champhai district.
In can be noted here that in December last year while attending the 57th National Development Council Meeting at Vighyan Bhawan, New Delhi, Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla had mentioned about the availability of 34% of the country’s surface water in North East region.
It is worthwhile to recall that in July last year, a resolution for quicker development of Inland Water Way for strengthening transportation system in Mizoram was unanimously passed in the 8th Mizoram Legislative Assembly session.
Inland water transport history in Mizoram began with the arrival of Rev.Williams Williams in Aizawl on March 15, 1891. He had made the journey by boat through Tlawng River and landed in Mizoram to preach the Gospel. Despite creation of landmark navigation history through the river in 1891 there is no meaningful development of the river water way within the last 120 years.
There is a good scope for the development of inland water ways in Mizoram. Before partition of India in 1947 there was an excellent waterway between Chittagong in Bangladesh and Demagiri in Mizoram through the Karnafuli river. With coming up of Kaptai dam on the Karnafuli in Bangladesh, a huge area around Demagiri has been submerged. This has created a good potential of inland water transport in the area. Another water way in the south was the Kolodyne.
In the north of Mizoram, the most frequently used water way was the Tlawng by which the British used to move men and material from Silchar to Sairang, gateway to Aizawl. It was a journey of about seven days inward and three days outward.
Mizoram is one among the 5 best performing states in the country in terms of water transportation.
Mizoram Transport minister PC Zoram Sangliana had said last month, “The team from Inland Water Transport Ministry of the Central government, who came on inspection visit to the state, had expressed their satisfaction over the functioning of water transportation system in Mizoram, so much so that, they had placed Mizoram among the 5 best performing states in India.”
Further, having found suitable to develop a water route between Bairabi and Sairang along Tlawng River, the Central government also plans to prepare a water-way between Tuichawng and Khawthlang rivers by clearing off all the hindrances so as to enable transportation by boat, the Transport minister had added.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/inland-water-transport-in-mizoram-soon/