Manipur News

TORONTO, May 30: From May 23-25, Nobel Peace Laureates Jody Williams, Shirin Ebadi and Mairead Maguire led an unprecedented conference in Canada, to develop strategies for ending rape as a weapon of war.
According to a statement from Mary D Khuvung of Control Arms Foundation of India, they were joined by over 120 civil society activists, corporate and security sector leaders, military and peacekeeping personnel, and academics to discuss and share ideas at the conference, entitled Women Forging a New Security: Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict.
 According to Nobel Women`s Initiative who organised the Conference, “Sexual violence takes place in every region of the world, with the reasons for its use varying from conflict to conflict. It has been used as a tactic to terrorize communities suspected of supporting guerrilla forces, as a way to force population off land, and to punish human rights defenders”, it added.
 “Waging war on the bodies of women has got to stop,” says Jody Williams, who won the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize for her work to end anti-personnel landmines. “Like any tactic of war, it can be eliminated.The magnitude of the problem must be matched by our collective effort. Working together, we can finally bring an end to this scourge on women and their communities.”
 The statement also stated that Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and honorary member of the Nobel Women`s Initiative, Aung San Suu Kyi also sent a video message emphasizing the critical importance of ending sexual violence in conflict.
 On 26 May, which was declared as international day of action against sexual violence in conflict, the three Nobel Peace Laureates called upon concerned people and nations from around the world to TAKE A STAND to end rape in war, it added.
 Binalakshmi Nepram, Founder of the Manipur Women Gun Survivors Network who participated in the conference spoke about the situation in Manipur and in India`s Northeast Region and the non-violent ways of unique protests in which women in Manipur and Northeast India have undertaken to respond to sexual violence against women in conflict zones, the statement added.
 A declaration was also unanimously adopted at the historic conference which called up Government of India, Manipur and other Northeast Indian states and also to non-state armed groups to stop violence against women in conflict areas and work to protect women.
According to the statement, the conference has resolved that, “We, 120 women from 33 countries including three women Nobel Peace Laureates gathered at the conference “Women Forging a New Security: Ending Sexual Violence in Conflict” in Montebello, Canada, May 23-25, 2011, call upon the Governments of India and the state of Manipur and other Northeast Indian states and non-state armed groups operating in the region to end violence against women in Manipur and Northeast India. We declare our solidarity with Irom Sharmila and hundreds of thousands of women in Manipur and India`s Northeast region who have non-violently resisted militarization in the name of insurgency and counter-insurgency. We call upon the Government of India to uphold its democratic values by repealing the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act of 1958. We call on all parties to cease attacks on the civilian population and seek peaceful solutions”.

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IMPHAL, May 30: The women bodies of Pallel areas under Chandel District have expressed their serious concerned over the ever increasing illegal smuggling and selling of drugs in Chandel district and Pallel areas.
A joint press statement issued by Chingtam Nupi Lup, Pallel, All Tribal Women’s Organisation (ATWO) Chandel District, Mahila Mandal Pallel mentioned that hundreds and thousands of youngsters are becoming victims of these narcotic drugs. Parents and guardians are crying to save their children from the from the drugs. The society is polluted and the future of the youngsters is on the verge of downfall and destruction due to the presence of large numbers of drug smugglers and sellers.
It is also mentioned that the organizations have been working hard to find out the ways and means to checked illegal smuggling and selling of drugs in Pallel areas and Chandel district. Action Plan has been contemplated to take strong action on whoever found guilty including eviction of places of illegal activities, expulsion from the locality, handing over of the culprit to the authority concerned for taking befitting action etc.
The joint statement further mentioned that, the organizations hailed the BSF for arresting Winson Shinglai of Yeason village, Ukhrul District and presently staying at Island village near Pallel with drugs worth lakhs of rupees. He has been suspected by the people since a long time back but could not do anything due to lack of evidence, it maintained.
It has further stated that he is one of the main smuggler of drugs not only in Chandel district but to the whole part of Manipur. He pretended to be a driver of the vehicle where drugs were recovered by the BSF. But he drives to smuggle drugs to different parts of the Manipur and even to Dimapur and Nagaland as per the findings made by the organizations, it maintained.The statement also mentioned that, Winson Shinglai should be tried in the court of law and he should imprisioned to life if not be hang to death. because it is better one man die instead of thousands of youngsters to be perished.
It is also mentioned that, moreover the organizations also hailed the recent arrest of MK Ringneihoi w/o Parpa Samson Chothe of Chothe Khunou presently residing at Pallel Bazar by the Manipur Police Commandos for smuggling and selling of drugs. This couple had been on the trial by the public of Pallel for their suspicious movements, it added.
The joint statement further appeal and seeks the cooperation of the public and law enforcing authority and to conduct frequent raids at the suspected places, including residential houses, shops etc to check and control the menace of growing illegal trade of drugs in Pallel bazaar and Chandel district to make their places and drug free zones.
The joint statement also reminded the concerned shop owners and Pharmacists to stop selling of illegal drugs items like Kores, Erax, Dendrite etc and any other harmful substance from June 6 next month in Pallel bazaar areas and the joint organizations have also decided to conduct raids in the shops and suspected places and any shopkeeper including including pharmacists, individuals are found selling, keep stocks or having possession of  any narcotic drug items, they will be given strong punishment as desired fit by the organization and there will be no further warnings or excuses the release added.

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IMPHAL May 30: The Manipur Cycle Club held its ‘Critical Mass II’ on May 29. The event was participated by around 50 cyclists, and the ride began from DM College of Science and passed through Thangal and Paona Bazar.
According to a release of the club, after passing through Singjamei, the ride ended at Yaiskul Oil pump where a BMX and skating show took place as a way to attract passers by. Leaflets promoting cycling as a means of transport were also distributed.
The next Critical Mass III will be on June 26 and those interested may contact Manipur Cycle Club at 2445134. Critical Mass is a cycling event, which happens on the last Sunday of every month, where cycle enthusiasts get together to promote cycling as the key means of transport, added the release.

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IMPHAL, May 30 (Newmai News Network): The Ukhrul District Congress Committee and also the North East chapter of Jesus Gospel Ministry (JGM-NE) have condemned the bomb attack at the office of Autonomous District Council (ADC) located at Khuman Lampak sports complex in Imphal on May 28.
Three persons–a woman and her two daughters–were injured in the explosion on Saturday morning. Till date no organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Ukhrul District Congress Committee termed the Saturday incident as “undesirable bomb attacking culture targetting the innocent people. The Commiittee then appealed those elements responsible for such act to abstain from repeating in future.
Meanwhile, the Jesus Gospel Ministry-North East India (JGM-NEI) while asking the people involved in the May 28 incident to identify themselves, has said that such act is against any religion. “No religion permits such cruelty,” said Ashang Kasar who is the director of the JGM-NEI. He also said that acts of violence will not bring any good for the society but only more problems.

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IMPHAL, May 29: Get together function of Foodgrains Transport Trucks Owner`™s and Driver`™s Association was held today Kyamgei Heibong Makhong.

During the function, Kh Inaoba of M/s Zimomi Traders, a tranport contractor under FCI, said scarcity of foodgrains is one major factor in creating serious law & order problem and hence procurement of foodgrains and its stockpiling is utmost necessity for a state.

M/s Zimomi Traders along with another sub-contractor of the FCI have managed to regularly transport rice through NH-53 after hiring about 200 private trucks. The duo sub-contractors have been trying its best to sufficiently piled up rice stocks for the state despite of numerous problems, threats and intimidations, Inaoba added.

While stating that ferrying trucks along NH-39 has caused numerous problems due to frequent disturbances either in the forms of bandh or blockade, Inaoba also said using NH-53 instead of NH-39 would fare much for the state.

He also said Imphal-Jiri route of the NH-53 has improved since last year but need much more to be improved to fully utilise the highway throughout the year.

He also appeal all the pressure groups not to create disturbance along NH-53 particularly to trucks ferrying foodgrains and other essential commodities for the general public.

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The clamour over the visit by the Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, to Senapati district to inaugurate an office of the political party he belongs to, the Naga People`™s Front, NPF, and the whimper with which it all ended was a situation which could have best been avoided with a little diplomatic acumen on the part of the Manipur government. What ought to have been realised all along is that setting up the office of a political party is not what matters in the end, but getting MLAs and MPs elected on the tickets of the party in elections in the state. The government of Manipur, as it had done in the last minute, should have ignored the matter, or even welcomed the chief minister of the neighbouring state and invited him to touch Imphal as well for a tete-a-tete. That would have robbed the wind out of the Nagaland chief minster`™s sail, not so much as a sinister Machiavellian plan, but the goodwill contained in such a gesture would have flattened all political posturing and gimmicks. As all die hard optimists do, we too believe goodwill is excellent diplomacy on its own, intended or otherwise. The Manipur chief minister, Okram Ibobi has clarified later that he had only the consideration of the law and order situation in the state for sending out the advisory to his Nagaland counterpart to refrain from coming to the state for the function, but later relented as the Rio insisted on coming. This explanation seems like an afterthought and a desperate effort to seek an honourable way out of the slippery situation, but it must be conceded he does have a point. After all, the law and order situation Manipur is at this moment, abysmal. Years ago, everybody would remember very well how a former Speaker of the Nagaland Assembly, Thenucho, almost fell victim to bullets of the Manipur police commandos who ostensibly mistook his bodyguards for militants and opened fire killing all in his car, except him. Surely nobody would want to see such a costly catastrophe repeated at any cost.

All well that ends well. The event came and went, and if not for the clamour created by the government, probably it would have been just another ordinary routine event. This however does not mean that the event did not have any ulterior political agenda. It was indeed intended as a symbolic move to send out the message that the push for a Greater Nagaland is still very much alive. The speakers at the function, including the Nagaland chief minister was pretty honest about this. But so long as he does not incite violence, or does anything to disturb the peace, his overture, even if in bad taste, should have been considered as part of his right to free speech. In the opinion of the law of the land too, it had become quite clear after the intense debate on whether the pro-Kashmiri Azadi movement statement made in New Delhi not long ago by maverick social activist and author, Arundhati Roy, amounted to sedition or not. All will remember that the court had in this high profile case, ruled that Roy`™s statement did not, for sedition clause can only be invoked if somebody actually incites violence or calls for breach of peace.

But let those pushing the issue also not be so naive as to believe the NPF is a national party and has the mandate of the provisions of the Election Commission of India, to open office anywhere in the country. It can open offices anywhere but not as a recognized political party by the ECI. A political party can become a national party only if it manages to poll at least one percent of the total electorate in four different state in elections held in these states. Likewise, it will be a state political party if it manages to get the same percentage in a state election. The NPF has fulfilled this clause in Nagaland elections, but in not in any other states as yet. It can aspire to be a national or a regional party but for the moment it is a Nagaland state political party. Moreover, for a political party to be a regional or national party, its primary membership would have to be open to every Indian and not confined to just one ethnicity. The NPF obviously does not satisfy this criterion either and is confined to just the Nagas. If this was otherwise, and the NPF membership was open to all, we would have advised all other communities in the state to flock to it, enrol themselves and domesticate it to make it look like another Manipur party. Jokes aside, the matter could have been handled in a much more matured way, and in the process deflated many trumped up egos as well.

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By Pr. Kungsong Wanbe
First of all the Bible says,`A merry heart doeth good like a medicine; but a broken spirit drieth the bones.` Proverbs 17: 22 KJV. A recent medical and psychological research has proved beyond all doubts what the wise men always know intuitively that `Laugh and be well` is no more catch-phrase. People who are unable or cannot laugh are sickly people. The same has been detected by modern medical science that anyone who cannot laugh is in the state of sickness. Man or woman who cannot laugh is not a member of any tribe or community. One renowned doctor of the Paris Institute of Psychology proclaims that laughter releases toxic emotions, which through the medium of the sympathetic nervous system, causes a sudden nervous discharge and change the physiological reactions of the individual. He (the doctor) once gave weekly lessons in the art of socially infectious laughter to large groups of people, and secured constant proof of laughter`™s wonderfully efficient respiratory means of leveling off supercharged emotions.

Not only does laughter instantly relax on the threefold levels of the physical, the mental and the emotional and we laugh because we enjoy ourselves and it shares enjoyment to others. At an experiment held at New York University in which two groups of students under the name group `A` and group `B` were formed and placed on exactly the same daily food. That the group `A` had to occupy itself immediately after meals with serious scientific discussion led by an academic instructor, while group `B` was regularly entertained by a light comedian. After only fortnight it was found that the general health and spirits of group B were undoubtedly better than those of group `A`. Group B`™s digestions and overall emotional tone were also noticeably improved over those of their less fortunate fellows.

Even on the purely physical level, a good laugh wonderfully relaxes muscular tensions in the whole body, especially in the chest and abdomen. By relaxing the diaphragm during the heavy breathing that accompanies all hearty laughter, inner tensions are specially relieved. This in turn leads to a deeper rhythm in the respiration, allowing oxygen to circulate more freely through the blood to every part of the frame. From the vocal chords to the soles of the feet we are stimulated and then relaxed. Even after a short time of laugh a person has enriched and enlivened his whole organism in a unique way. The doctor says, `Burst with laughter and get well`. He also says, the time we live now is a bad stomach problem, this may also be cured by a happy laugh.

Laughter being the pleasantest infection in the world, audibility is its first essential. All men laugh more or less, but those who laugh the most are the ones who live the longest and enjoy the best results. Laughter dissipates fears and apprehensions and certainly minimizes mental strains. The British association for Mental Health states that laughter is the greatest enemy of worry. People who cannot laugh themselves usually suffer seriously the sense of inadequacy, which makes them refuse to admit that they are foolish or wrong. It is very much sure that people who refuse to laugh suffer heart and mental retardation.

According to a French psychologist Dr. G.W. Valentine, when things go really wrong to a small child or an infant, everything looks black and natural laughter disappears. So a sick child who can still laugh is already halfway to recovery. The doctor also said that an infant`™s first smile is the first true expression of well-being and pleasure that infants begin to laugh at about twelve weeks, though they may smile when as young as six days. The older baby laughs not because he or she is physically better able to do so than the new born child, but because he or she is psychologically better equipped and they understand in some obscure instinctive way that the general meaning of some uttered human sound is good. That the development of laughter from the earliest age is connected with development of speech, which seems to suggest that, like speech, laughter is a fundamental means of human communication.

The doctor further said that laughter maintains this laugh among nations as among men because it helps preserve a sense of promotion. `No man ever distinguished himself who could not bear to be laughed at`, someone has said in a flash of insight. Laughers generally are more sensitive and sympathetic than those who show only stiff sad unsmiling faces and dogged expressions to people. If laughter is the pleasantest of all the emotions, it is also the most useful. Above all, it is an interacting social phenomenon, which invariably exercises a humanizing effect upon all who practise or enjoy it. It is beyond all doubt, a sudden glory, the happiest convulsion which humankind can summon back again and again as long as sanity prevails.

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IMPHAL May 29: Charges have been alleged upon the Khadi and Village Industries Commission for misconduct and nepotism in regard to awarding of work tenders by the Comission officials.

A reliable source revealed that a `drama`™ was staged at KVIC office by its officials and selection committee members on May 27 with respect to engaging of an agency for data collection and data entry for electronic tracking system for Prime Minister Employment Generation Program (PMEGP) units under the Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, Govt. of India.

A tender notification in respect of engaging the agency for data collection and data entry for e-tracking system for PMEGP units was published in local dailies calling for willing Agencies (DEA) to apply for the bid. According to the tender documents issued to the applicants for the bid,it was mentioned that the applicants has to undergo initial scrutiny for fulfillment of basic requirements, secondly for the technical appraisal where a bidder is required to make presentation of their company`™s profile, experience and also the methodology to be adopted for conducting the assignment and thirdly the applicants who have been shortlisted after the technical appraisal would be notified and thus qualify for opening of the financial bid.

The source maintained that ,four agencies (bidders) namely MANITRON, Computer Gallery, Capital Information Technology Park and Green Foundation had applied for the said tender. Although, all four agencies assembled last Friday at 1 pm as per direction by the Khadi and Village Industries Commission office staff, out of the four agencies, only one had been singled out and called in the selection committee room and witnessed the selection process and later the bid was also awarded in its favor namely Green Foundation. The remaining three Agencies was confined to another room for two hours only to be called in to pronounce that they have awarded the tender to the agency.

The source pointing out the discrepancies stated that out of four agencies, three were not allowed participation in the opening of the sealed tender documents which was supposed to be an open tender. Secondly none of the three agencies had not made presentation of their company profile, experience and also the methodology to be adopted for conducting the assignment which was a prerequisite for the technical bid. Thirdly, the remaining three agencies have not been intimated which agency qualified the technical bid. The source questioned how the selection committee could open the technical bids and financial bids without the knowledge of majority of the tender applicants,and such action points out the ignorance of the selection committee members and KVIC staffs.

Although the profiles of the selection committee members was not informed to the agencies, it is assumed that officials from different government department were on the selection committee. The majority of the applicants felt whether there were any motivating factors for the selection committee members to act in such a fashion. Values and duties of the participating agencies have been completely ignored. From the aforesaid points competence of the selection committee members is doubted and favoritism might have occurred in awarding the said tender, it alleged.

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By RS Jassal
1. In this conflict ridden situation, the announcement by Shri RK Meghen @ Sanayaima UNLF Chief to hold a plebiscite to end Indo `“ Manipur confrontation has been construed by various individuals and organizations in divergent ways. Mostly civil society orgs (CSOs) are taking it as a means to ascertain whether merger was legal or illegal, people be given liberty for self determination , full sovereignty & so on has echoed out of it. Day by day, media is puffing it up whatever big or small meetings are taking place with no analysis. No doubt, at certain occasions and under differing situations or difficult circumstances, communities or even nations were forced to take recourse to plebiscite on matters like applicability of one law for people of those particular communities or nations though such cases have been very far and few to count . That is valid only if 100 or so percent participation of the people is there. Here in Manipur `it`™ assumes special importance because of multi- ethnicals. Without touching constitutionality or sentimentality of a good number of people, I wish to offer my views being a citizen of Manipur.

2. Meghen has not spelt out terms of reference to be contested by people in private since it has to affect all the people mainly — Meities, Nagas, Kukis, Hmars, Pangals and non `“ Manipuri`™s (now Manipuri`™s). One wonders if all adults & above out of the 22.5 million will participate in the plebiscite even if Govt of India wish to give a trial . Will there be some significant outcome in the wake of demand of NSCN (IM) `“ UNC for Nagalim, and UNLF pledge to ensure integrity of Manipur. The political demands and social agenda of various UG groups differ, contradict and imbalance the scales to match with solution thus leaving no room for single point agenda for the plebiscite to achieve.

3. Compare to the differences caused with shift of stand each major UG group has undergone from start of revolution to current period from secession to reconciliation but with conditions India became independent on 15th Aug, 1947. There was no political demand as on that day. Naga Hills was an out district of Assam & out of NEFA admin box. Manipur was single district administration unit even up to 1960`™s and there was only one IGP for entire Assam. So roughly speaking, it was treated as part of Assam (erstwhile greater Assam) for national policies & social percepts. In 1964 open skirmishes ended with 6 Sep signing of SoO in Nagaland after expansion of Naga Hills to Nagaland by clubbing adjacent areas up to permissible extends. UNLF (1964) started its basic operations of mobilizing awareness against apprehensions of Manipur breaking into three parts like Naga areas going to Nagaland as per then action plan of UNIC under Rishang`™s leadership. Manipur however retained its supreme, serene & pristine form as self with dissolution of UNIC in 1972, UNIC mergering with Congress & Manipur gaining statehood status i.e., nine years later than Nagaland.

4. After six decades of up & down wading through muddy waters of insurgency, Naga UGs have been persuaded to agree to appreciate the typical constitutional position & obligation of India towards its people & has made them almost agree to not to break Manipur. Fat economic packages are under way. UNLF Chief may also have the idea that plebiscite is to regularize the merger to assuage the hurt feelings of a section of hard thinking people so that confrontation may be called off honourably and with dignity. IT MAY NOT BE FOR SECESSION, who knows, but the way discussions are going on & political pundits who are acknowledged nationalists also titling in their thinking to plebiscite, it is feared current discussion in the valley may go astray. It may prompt Nagas- Kukis – Zous Hmars – and Sadar Hills occupants (where Gorkhas are also in countable numbers) may isolate themselves from plebiscite . As early as recommendation of State Re Organization Commission during the Premiership of late Jawaharlal Nehru, Manipur was threatened to be stripped of hill areas & valley was to be left as a district of Assam, which was out rightly turned down by him & Manipur remained as it is today. So Manipur tided over that unsuspected threat and moved on & on .

5. Going a bit century back, in 1891 uprising of Manipur Kingdom against British Power & devastation of Kangla Fort, dismembering of Manipuri armed strength, the recommendation was made to the Queen at London by the British Viceroy, Delhi after a Military Court of Inquiry, that Manipur to be merged into British Indian State. It is on record. Her Excellency Queen refused to do so. It was ordered Manipur – be kept as a native kingdom & King from right lineage be selected & taken to Mayo College, Ajmer for education & princely upbringing. Young boy of 5 years age Churachand was identified. Manipur territories thus remained intact and tutor of young prince Mr. Johnstone also moved to Manipur as Political Officer latter when same Churachand took over as Maharaja. Coronation was held with appropriate gun salute. Manipur retained its status as it is today when there was nobody to take care other than the Regent. Manipur had faced similar situation of forced hibernation during 1825 `“ 1832 known as Seven Years of Devastation caused by Awa men of Burma( recall Chahi Taret Khuntakpa period) but Manipur emerged phoenix like out of Yandaboo treaty ending conflict with Ava permanently.

6. Negotiation table is also lying without activity because what UNLF wants PREPAK, RPF and KCP may not agree to. It is suspected . It is therefore suggested Civil Society Organisations, Frontal organizations, influential intellectuals be organized into pressure groups to contact important UG leaders and suggest solid measures to uphold the spirit of Manipur so that its body culture is not disturbed . I humbly ask, is Spirit of Plebiscite conducive to the body culture of Manipur ? What is expected out of it by UNLF from plebiscite without participation from Hills. And Hills firing repeated salvos of various sorts for changing directions can not be under scored. If plebiscite is intended for secession (ism), one wonders how public meetings are being allowed to hold discussions on plebiscite in light of constitutional amendment No 16 of 1963 under sub head right to secession which clearly says ` even discussion of secessionism will invite no protection to freedom of speech`. which is guaranteed to all Indians under Fundamental Right in the Preamble of Constitution.However it can be a negotiation instrument for UNLF chief/ as & when his team sits with Govt. of India on the table to discuss.

7. For final and close to acceptable solution `“ three(Tarun Gogoi, Ibobi & Rio) political hat scorer including two in line up need to sit together with Hon`™ble HM Shri. P. Chidambaram, at Guwahati with Rajkhowa (ULFA) , Muivah (NSCN IM) and Meghen (UNLF) as special invitees and chart out key map for peaceful solution. Other are all wasteful efforts.

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Kohima, May 28 (NNN): The 61st meeting of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group (CFMG) was held on Saturday at Hotel Japfü, Kohima. However, representatives of the NSCN/GPRN were absent from the meeting.

Briefing media persons after the meeting, the chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group, Eapen Jacob Kochekan Major General (Retd.) said representatives of the NSCN/GPRN chose to stay away from the meeting, while divulging that the group members had been keeping away from the meeting for the past several months adding that, earlier meetings were cancelled for this reason.

In this regard, he reminded that the CFMG is a mechanism set up by the Government of India and NSCN leadership to strengthen the ongoing political dialogue process whereby, certain ground rules had been set up. The chairman felt that the absence of the NSCN/GPRN is for consideration as to whether non-participation in the deliberation of the ceasefire monitoring group is in line with the spirit of the agreement. He said while many issues were discussed during the meeting, most of the points required the views of the NSCN and informed these issues have been conveyed to the organization by the office of the chairman and response would be awaited. As chairman, he expressed hope that all parties would attend future deliberations of the CFMG so that the group would be able to help and support the political Elaborating on this, the chairman disclosed that since the shooting incident at Namsa in August, 2010, the NSCN/GPRN has not attended the meeting citing several reasons as stated by the NSCN/GPRN which include, ground rules are not being implemented and that the previous meeting was chaired by a representative other than the proper chairman. He said the NSCN/GPRN further argued that the chairman had been appointed without consultation. Stating that the NSCN/GPRN has been giving one reason or the other, the chairman explained that discussions during the meeting are held when the parties give their views and on questions of ground rules, the chairman decides and directs parties involved within the ambit of the ground rules set up.

On extortion and taxation, the chairman read out a reference section from the Ceasefire ground rules where it is stated the government of India had raised concern on forcible intimidation on individuals including government officials. It is mentioned, the NSCN representative had stated that they being a people`™s organization did not resort to such activities. However, in view of the concern expressed by the GoI, and the interest of promoting the peace process, the NSCN representatives reportedly agreed that such activities would be prevented. The chairman opined, if somebody is indulging in extortion, since the NSCN claims it is against their mandate, people have to be made aware that whatever activity is taking place is not with the expressed approval of the group and people should desist from giving.

On the rape incident at Chedema, the chairman said he had not received any complaint so far, but information had been received from the Assam Rifles. He felt everyone feels the pinch of extortion and taxation and people need to be bolder, while lamenting that, unfortunately, fear is all pervading in such cases. He further opined a lot of criminal activities are taking place in the name of various groups and it has now become a convenient excuse for a lot of unscrupulous business people and the entire brunt is being borne by the poor people.

The Ceasefire Monitoring Group consists of five representatives each from the Government of India including the State DGP, IGAR, DIG (CRPF), and Secretary to the chairman from the GoI, the NSCN/GPRN and civil society, NSCN/GPRN. However, representatives from the civil society have reportedly not attended a single meeting so far. Besides the chairman, the meeting on Saturday was attended by Thechamo Lotha, Addl. DGP Nagaland, Banuo Z. Jamir, Addl. Chief Secretary and Commissioner Nagaland, Major Sandeep Kumar IGAR (N) and Prabhanjan Kumar, Commandant CRPF.

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by Soibam Haripriya
Phijigee Mani: Directed by O. Gautam
Produer: Medha Sharmi

Phijigee Mani as the title alludes to, reveals the beauty of subtle sensibilities of the Meiteis anchored on the universal essence of human relationships. The huge billboard in red with silhouette of archers in the background and a woman`™s angst ridden face in the foreground is a prelude to the promise of a different experience. The poster juxtaposed between others which stares at you with blood shot eyes of men and streaming eyes of women beckons yet it was with reluctance that I pulled myself to watch a Manipuri Feature film wary of insensitive dialogues and proclamation and preaching of the ideal Meitei nupi and mou.

Phijigee Mani opens with beginnings born of love and passion with seas of emotion surging within and yet not outpouring onto you. A mother`™s sweet irrationality, a sport person`s struggle amidst the politics behind the glory of the games for a land one traces one`™s belonging to, are all hinted at brief moments.

The movie which breaks stereotypical image of the lead protagonist Bonny must have disappointed many fans. One shouted from the backseat of BOAT at the premiere show `Bonny nang yaamna pharamle ko`, but it could be a good moment for actors, directors and producers to come up with challengingly chiselled out roles. Tonthoi`™s role as Yaifabi was the thread tying the various characters and anchoring moments. The angst of Yaifabi and her parents, when uninvited at the hour of white garlands of their beloved Phijigee Mani `“Sanajaoba (Bonny) `“ the son and brother embedded with the burden of living up to the hopes and dreams of the family, each hide within the safe corner of the infinite within.

The anxiety for a brother who has cast away yesterday`™s hopes and has begun to forge new ones and the desire to find the nook in his heart was Yaifabi`™s quest. She succeeded and the message at the core `“ of love, forgiveness and reconciliation were arrived at without a surprise. One admits that the film has tedious scenes and the chemistry between Sanajaoba and his wife Jessica could have been better etched to highlight the promise and perils of inter-community marriages. However, Sanajaoba`™s mother did the job- struggling to accept his son`™s beloved, embracing her granddaughter Langlen to her bosom and finally at the time of farewells blessing her daughter-in-law, without reluctance of either feelings or tears. Many used to thundering emotions bordering on the spectacular might take time to revive feeling numbed by the former, yet I believe the time is right for a more mature cinema, the time is right to nurture subtle sensibilities and mature audience. At the end of the film, one understands that everyone dies to be borne anew to beginnings.

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