Manipur News

GUWAHATI, November 18 (agencies): Governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have urged New Delhi to clarify plans to offer a `supra-state body` to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland ( NSCN Isak-Muivah faction) to enable Nagasoutside Nagaland to preserve their identity.

Reports in the local media about plans by the central government to grant Nagaland a special federal status by creating a `supra-state mechanism` for the Nagas to preserve, protect and promote their cultural, social and customary practices has led to angry reactions in the three states.

“The question of allowing governing Nagas settled in Manipur simply does not arise. We don`t know about any such plans by the central government,” Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said.

Similar views were echoed by the governments in Assam and Arunachal Pradesh, the two other states that have Naga tribals residing for decades.

The NSCN-IMand New Delhi entered into a ceasefire in August 1997. They have held more than 50 rounds of peace talks to end one of South Asia`s longest-running insurgencies.

The NSCN-IM, led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, had proposed `a special federal arrangement` which enables the Nagas to govern themselves.

The NSCN-IM wants a special federal relationship with India, with a separate Naga Constitution, and would like the Naga guerrillas to jointly guard the international borders alongside Indian security forces.

The NSCN-IM has been struggling for nearly six decades to have a `Greater Nagaland` by getting parts of three neighbouring states sliced off to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The demand is strongly opposed by the states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

Conceding their demands would be a tough proposition as any move to merge Naga-inhabited areas in the northeast or grant special status allowing Nagas settled outside Nagaland to be governed by a separate administrative structure could lead to a rebellion in the neighbouring states.

“There is no question of allowing people residing in our state to be governed by a separate council or structure. There can be no compromise on this,” Assam government spokesperson and Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said.

The NSCN-IM is on a sticky wicket, having climbed down from its demand for an independent Naga state outside the Indian union, the rebel leadership now harps on a Greater Nagaland and a special federal relationship.

“It seems the central government is now trying to re-phrase the concept of Greater Nagaland and talking of something called the `supra-state` mechanism to please the NSCN. Under no circumstances will the people of Arunachal accept such a proposal,” said a senior state minister who didn`t want to be named.

Media reports said New Delhi was contemplating granting a special federal status to the NSCN-IM on the eve of Christmas – in an attempt to seal an accord with the rebel leadership.

“If a state government, in whose territory the Nagas live, loses control and a neighbouring state government interferes and governs their lives, it would surely lead to chaos and disorder,” said Sarma.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/assam-and-arunachal-also-raise-objections-to-supra-state-proposal/

IMPHAL, November 18: “Let’s not forget that Manipur and its resources belong to all of us”, the Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi reminded the people of the state today.

Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was speaking at the Tribal Research Institute auditorium while opening the first state level tribal cultural festival.

The inauguration of the two day long festival was also attended by DIPR minister TN Haokip and MP Lok Sabha, Thangso Baite as guest of honour and functional president and other tribal MLAs, ADC chairmen, executive members and members of ADCs.

Chief Minister O Ibobi while addressing the gathering elaborated that Manipur and its resources belong to each one of us who have inherited it from our forefathers.

“We have shared a common past and common ancestry and our interest also lies in a common goal and common future” he added.

The Chief Minister further elaborated that Manipur is a land of diversity. It is multi-lingual, multi- ethnic and multi-religious state with more than 30 tribal communities living together in peace and harmony with other communities since time immemorial.

Further elaborating the on the present issues in the state, the Chief Minister stated that “The recent times have been full of troubles in Manipur in terms of ethnic rivalry and conflict. Sharp divides in ethnic line have emerged due to conflicting claims and aspirations”, and added that this conflict has adversely affected all efforts to bring development in the State.

In this backdrop, the theme of the festival, “Harmonizing and Honouring our culture” is very relevant and appropriate and it is the need of the hour, the Chief Minister said.

Both hills and valley should be equally developed and we should learn to live together in harmony, he reiterated.

Acknowledging that the tribal communities have traditionally been deprived and backward societies, the Chief Minister said that all out efforts are being made by the government for their development and empowerment.

Revival of the six District Councils after two decades is a big step in this direction, he added. Substantial power and authority has been delegated to the democratically elected ADC members and stated that the government is committed to take the initiatives for greater empowerment of the Tribal people.

He further congratulated the TRI Manipur for conceiving and organizing such festival and asserted that the event not only holds immense importance for the tribal brethren but also the people of the entire state. The Chief Minister also expressed his wish that the Festival would emerge as a unique annual event to serve as a platform for all the communities to share their cultural heritage and evolve harmony.

Presentation of cultural dances and folk songs, special numbers by popular singers from various tribal communities were the main highlights of the opening function of the festival.

The festival is being organized and sponsored by Tribal Research Institute, Manipur.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/cm-opens-tribal-cultural-festival-with-speech-on-common-future/

IMPHAL, November 18: The Loktak fisher folks, who have been evicted recently from the lake as a part of its cleaning project being implemented by Loktak Development Authority (LDA), are now in a pitiful state with no proper food and shelter.

So far 167 residential huts out of 1132 huts floating on the Loktak Lake have been burned down by the state authorities with the objective to expedite the cleaning project of Loktak Lake. All of the displaced families of Loktak Lake are presently taking shelter at District Multipurpose Mini Indoor Stadium, Ningthoukhong Kha Mamang Leikai.

Expressing deep concern over sudden eviction drive, Heisnam Chaoba Devi stated that the fishers have no place to live. They have been living in the huts on the Loktak Lake for many decades. The sudden eviction drive taken up by the state government has deprived the “right to life” of the Loktak fishers, she averred.

Chaoba further asserted that the fishers will stay on Loktak Lake till their last breath. All their belongings including money and valuable items have been burned down during the unwarranted eviction drive. The fishers will never accept the compensation of Rs. 40,000 given by the state government, she stated.

Thoudam Pishak maintained that their huts have been burned down in their absence. They are now left with nothing except the piece of clothing they were wearing. The state government is very inhumane, she cried out.

Pishak stated that the fishers were not given prior information about this eviction. The authorities claimed to have given the information through media; however, they have difficulty in accessing even the radio. The Chief Minister himself did not listen to the fishers and carried out the eviction without showing any compassion to them.

The fishers also condemned the attitude of local MLA for his apathy towards their sufferings. They said that their MLA had given them only a bag of rice and so far there has been no other assistance from his side.

Meanwhile, social leaders led by the president of All Manipur United Clubs’ Organization (AMUCO), KT Rahman visited the displaced families and donated 30 bags of rice and one bag of dal to them.

Rahman stated that the state government should consider the welfare of the Loktak fishers and ensure their rights are not harmed.

Members of Human Rights Alert (HRA) also inspected the condition of the evicted families of Loktak Lake.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/sudden-eviction-leaves-loktak-fisher-folks-in-dismay/