Tag: kanglaonline

By Manas Maisnam
The news of Mary Kom & L. Sarita winning gold medals at 6th Asian Women Boxing Championship, held at Ulaanbaatar was flashed in the local newspapers of the city on 26th March 2012. By afternoon, an idea for a cartoon started to evolve in my mind. Immediately after reaching home from work, I went on to make the cartoon. As it was to be a night of load shedding, with electricity coming at 10:00 PM, I planned to use the generator to operate my scanner & laptop, once the drawing is over. So, I sent an SMS to Tammo Pradip, the editor of IFP informing him about my desire to submit a cartoon through email with a deadline from my side at 9:30 PM.

I ultimately went on to draw the cartoon amidst darkness, using a worn out ‘Moreh’ lamp with a constant tension in my mind about the 9:30 deadline. By 9:00 PM, the drawing was completed. Then, I put on the generator. It roared & gave bright light. With an extreme sense of satisfaction, I was about to plug my scanner to the generator output point when it fizzled & refused to give output current. I tried many times with my limited knowledge of checking plug etc. But everything was in vain. That machine simply stopped giving output, even though it was running!!.

Extremely frustrated, (it was already 9:15 PM), I dared to disturb Tammo Pradip and enquired whether submission of the cartoon at 10:30 PM be OK for publication on the 27th March edition. He gave a positive reply and even informed me that he will instruct his staff to wait for a cartoon till around that time. That statement lifted my spirit on an otherwise dark & gloomy night.

With great eagerness I waited for 10:00 PM and added further small details to my cartoon. Luckily, the electricity dept showered its kindness to me and light came exactly at 10:00 PM (remember, every minute counts by then!). I immediately went on to scan the cartoon and gave finishing touches in computer. By the time everything was completed, it was 10:35 PM. I felt so contended that I could keep the ‘revised’ deadline. Then using my mobile broadband connection, I was all set to send the cartoon to IFP by email. But, tragedy was waiting for me just at that juncture. Even though there was net connectivity, the speed was so slow that I was unable to attach my cartoon (hardly 200 KB file size). Side by side, I was trying to upload a smaller version of the cartoon for my FB. Both failed. I made numerous attempts. Disconnected the net & connected again, removed the dongle & inserted it again. But nothing was working. The clock was ticking slowly and it was 11:00 PM. With time literally running out of my hand, I was cursing the broadband company, pulling off my hair….. In short, my frustration was beyond control!! After a number of attempts & tense minutes, the net connection could finally attach the cartoon at around 11:35 PM, wasting a full one hour. It was ultimately sent to IFP, by which time the pages must have been ‘put to bed’ (ie, approved by the Editor & awaiting printing process).

Today morning (27th March), when I looked at the newspapers, the cartoon didn’t appear in IFP. A cartoon on the same subject, drawn by my friend W. Sadananda appeared in Poknapham. As far as I know, he did not use scanners, laptops or emails. The only consolation was my cartoon has been shared on my personal wall of FB, Mary Kom Home Page of FB on yesterday night itself, ahead of Sadananda!!

(Here is the link to my cartoon http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=351514344884073&set=a.123071701061673.8524.100000765316361&type=1&ref=notif&notif_t= photo_comment&theater)
In the battle of Man Vs Net, Net has won in this case!!!

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/03/man-vs-net/

On 10 January 2012, NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu and general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah were on their way from their camp at Hebron to Swu`s home town, Zunheboto in a large convoy of about 70 vehicles, when they were stopped and prevented to go any further by Assam Rifles personnel.

Expressing anger over the development, former `military chief` of NSCN-IM VS Atem in a press conference few days later in Dimapur such a restriction by Ministry of Home Affairs amounted to violation the ground rules of the ceasefire.

“The Government of India wants to solve the Naga political problem.

The Nagas want the solution.

However, if we don`t meet our people for consultation how can we move forward in solving the problem ?” fumed Atem.

Meanwhile, Wati Aier, convener of Forum for Naga Reconciliation conveyed this news to John Sundquist, member of UK based Naga Conciliation Group and Quakers Friends Society and complained about “massive deployment of Indian Army near Hebron Camp….. created difficulties for movement of NSCN-IM cadres to and from the Orthodox Theological Seminary (OTS)” and about him being frisked by the Indian Army twice, on his way to and from OTS every day.  Aier further requested Sundquist to issue a statement widely to media in the name of a groups such as ‘Friends of the Nagas’ or  ‘Naga Solidarity Group’, on the present situation in Nagaland. Interestingly, he specifically requested not to involve the Baptist community while issuing the statement . The suggested draft of the statement was: “The world community has followed the ‘Peace Process’ between the Government of India and the Naga people under the leadership of the NSCN with hope. While we (Friends of the Nagas / Naga Solidarity Group) still remain hopeful of dawning of a new era, the restriction imposed upon the NSCN leadership from traveling to Zunheboto, is ‘undemocratic and contrary to the Cease Fire agreement’…. we urge the concerned government to act favorably”.

While the Centre’s indulgence of NSCN (IM) leaders resulted in over three months blockades in Manipur in 2010 and 2011, not only has the group been trigger happy, but is also very ‘trigger hungry’, so to speak. One of the orders the outfit is pursuing is of 800 wpns worth USD 1.2 million, a deal struck by Anthony Shimray with the Chinese company TCL. The outfit enlisted Frans Welman, Secretary, Naga International Support Centre (NISC), Netherlands to negotiate with TCL on its behalf and has reportedly visited China for the same. This not only makes an utter mockery not only of the peace process and ground-rules of the cease fire, but also of NSCN (IM)’s talk of “honour”, exposes its duality and deviousness of NSCN(IM) and also tantamount to letting down the Naga people.

Not only has NSCN-IM not laid down arms during 15 years of cease fire and peace process, it is also actively pursuing acquisition of sophisticated Chinese weapons for replenishment of its armoury and for selling to Naxal-Maoists, it also continues speaking in different tongues in New Delhi and Nagaland. On January 31, Swu issued a statement at an annual NSCN ceremony in Nagaland, stating: “The integration of Nagaland is our birthright….Every Naga is expected to participate in our struggle for the integration of Nagalim. ”

On February 6, Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Rameshwar Roy, touring the state and talking to reporters on the sidelines of a visit to Sainik School, Pangei,  admitted to regular violations of cease-fire ground rules by cadres of NSCN-IM and stated that the ceasefire is still prevailing baring the intermittent breaches and gave reassurances on the security forces’ commitment to fully enforce the basic guidelines. He said, militants flouting the ground rules have been booked and handed over to right law enforcement agencies as the paramilitary cannot act directly and the established democratic set of laws have to be followed. NSCN-IM cadres were accused of firing, abduction and intimidation in favour of candidates belonging to the NPF during Manipur Assembly elections, held on January 28. Union home minister P. Chidambaram reportedly admitted that the NSCN-IM indulged in kidnapping and other unlawful activities despite holding talks with the Centre.

Some incidents during February 2012 are worth noting.

Assam Rifles arrested six cadres of NSCN-IM during the raid of a house of one `major` Yimkachang of NSCN-IM at Yimyu Ward, Mokokchung District. Three .22 revolvers and two pistols were seized from them. The arrestees were identified as Aluba Ao, Zulu, Among Imchen, Atiba, Wati Lkr and Imli Nochet. SFs arrested one `captain` of NSCN-IM, identified as Kaphung Koi Muinao, from Sewak Colony of Dimapur along with arms and ammunition, for violation of Cease Fire Ground Rules (CFGR), arrested one Mathew while collecting `tax` from Diphupar village and recovered  INR 155,500 collected as tax and collection receipts from him, arrested two NSCN-IM militants identified as Swapon (30) and Shikaya Sema (28) while collecting `tax` from near Sukhavi village.

On February 16, former Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai reportedly revealed that the policy of politically resolving the Naga issue ongoing on for several decades, would include the entire Naga society. In an interview, he is reported to have said, “all have to endorse the agreement, from the gaon burhas (village headmen) to civil society groups… none should be able to turn around and say after some years that they were kept in the dark and hence would not accept the agreement.” On the talks with the NSCN-IM, dragging since 1997, he added that  a settlement could be expected later in 2012. Considering all ground realities, that sounds rather optimistic.

On February 10, it was reported that  Anthony Shimray, ‘Head of Foreign Affairs of the NSCN-IM’ and nephew of Muivah, was produced before the Special Court of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) at Patiala House, New Delhi for his lead role in negotiating with Chinese intelligence agencies for large supplies of weapons . The Asian Age had elaborated on his arrest by NIA at the Indo-Nepal border in September 2010 on charges of illegal procurement and supply of arms and his revelations.

Several Naga civil society organizations appealed to the Union Government through a joint representation addressed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, urging for immediate release of Shimray, in “greater interest of peace and respect for his rights and dignity”. The representatives include Naga Hoho (the apex organisation of the Nagas), United Naga Council, Naga Mothers` Association, Naga Women`s Union, Naga Students` Federation, All Naga Students` Association Manipur and Naga People`s Movement for Human Rights. Do his rights include anti-Indian activities?

On January 25, 2011, Wang Qing, a Chinese spy disguised as a TV reporter, was arrested and deported after she reportedly visited the headquarters of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN-IM. Indian authorities said Qing admitted to being a spy for the People`s Security Bureau, a Chinese intelligence agency, and that she had conducted a secretive four-hour-long, closed-door meeting with Thuingaleng Muivah. Qing had apparently attempted to pass herself off as a traveling representative of a Chinese timber concern, a Naga student, or a Hong Kong television journalist, depending on whom she encountered. On inspection of her laptop by Indian authorities, it was discovered she had photos of herself with Muivah, Prachanda, head of Nepal`s Maoists, and members of the Kachin Independence Army, an ethnic separatist movement in Myanmar that Delhi believes has acted as a channel for Chinese arms to Naga rebel armies in decades past. Qing was detained in Dimapur, and transported back to Delhi for questioning. Qing was “quietly” deported back to China rather than be put on trial in India, for obvious reasons. But Qing’s case is only one of several recently that suggest an attempt by Beijing to step up efforts at undermining peace and increasing leverage over India as both countries grapple with sensitive border negotiations.

Mr Pillai’s reported remarks on the Chinese connection are noteworthy-. “There was evidence that insurgents from northeast India were meeting Chinese intelligence officials regularly in Yunnan (China) and in Nepal. We tracked top NSCN arms procurer Anthony Shimray who had ordered a massive supply of weapons. The procedures involved in shipment, export orders, regulatory compliances, etc are impossible without China`s involvement,” Intelligence reports say fresh consignments comprising weapons like Heckler and Koch rifles (HK 33), T81 rifles – have landed in the hands of the Northeast terrorist  in substantial numbers.

On January 19, 2011, it was reported that three Chinese nationals were arrested in Uttar Pradesh close to India`s border with Nepal, on suspicion of money laundering and spying on border security camps. Media quoted a local police officer Sanjay Kakkar  saying that the accused, including a woman, said they were employees of Chinese telecoms equipment maker, Huawei Technologies. “We arrested them for trespassing as we found them on Indian soil without a valid Indian visa,” Kakkar said, adding the three were caught taking photographs of border guards installations.

NSCN-IM has also been interfering in Arunachal Pradesh’s political affairs. It played a major role in toppling former chief minister Jarbom Gamlin last year. NSCN-IM forced at least five Congress legislators to desert Mr Gamlin, who shortly afterwards resigned after completing just 180 days of rule. This newspaper had reported that coal mafias involved in rampant illegal mining in the state were alleged to have been instigating the Naga rebels to topple the Gamlin government. If insiders are to be believed, 19 MLAs were genuinely opposed to Mr  Gamlin but another five, who shifted their loyalty from Mr Gamlin, were said to have been under the pressure of NSCN-IM. Congress insiders said that at least 24 legislators, including some ministers, formally approached the party high command, demanding a change in leadership. The Congress has 42 legislators in the 60-member House. Regretting that rampant mining of coal in Kharsang area of Changlang district is the prime source of money that has been feeding Naga rebels besides controlling the politics of frontier state, security sources said that NSCN-IM continues to maintain its domination on Tirap and Changlang districts of the frontier states. NSCN-IM, reportedly pursuing the agenda of coal mafias, came to focus first during former Arunachal CM  Mukut Mithi’s regime as then CM of Arunachal Gegong Apang accused Naga rebels of toppling his government.

If  NSCN-IM’s role in causing two blockades in Manipur over and above continuous extortion and violence are examples of its disruptive activities within the country, its contacts with both Chinese and Pakistani intelligence agencies are serious threats to national security. Need it be re-emphasized that New Delhi must do much, much more to overcome much that it has never done before? 

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/03/nscns-mockery-of-peace/

By Pradip Phanjoubam
“Can we help you?” said the front office manager at the hotel in Kalemyo town, our first halt in Myanmar, who looked in his mid 30s approaching me with two young assistants probably in their teens, as I tried to unload my two-piece baggage, one a flexible bag containing clothes and toiletries, and the other my large camera backpack, from the Xylo SUV vehicle I drove from Imphal on the day. “We are new so excuse us if we slip. Let us know how we can improve,” he said politely in not so good English and in local accent. Evident in this apologetic humility was an eagerness to learn. No, eagerness does not convey the complete sense. It was more akin to a hunger of a long famished society to open up and catch up with the rest of the free world. This hunger combined with the visible natural diligence of the people by and large, gives you the sense of a place already on the move and ready to take on anything that comes its way. It is everybody’s speculation today that in another 10 years, Myanmar would join the league of other vibrant South East Asian economies, and rise to unprecedented heights.

For the record, between March 11 and March 22, a total of 68 motor enthusiasts, government officials and a five member strong dance troupe, drove from Guwahati in Assam to Yangon in Myanmar and back in 17 vehicles, as part of an Indo-Myanmar Friendship Car Rally, organised by the  North East Federation of International Trade, NEFIT, and sponsored by the NEC. The rally drew participation of motor sports lovers from all over India, including Mumbai, Chennai and Delhi. There were also four participants from Myanmar.

Myanmar is opening up. There is no doubt about it at all. You can sense this everywhere even as the country today is preparing for by-elections to 46 seats in its two houses of Parliament Pyidaungsu Hluttaw, and two seats in two of its state assemblies on April 1. The country’s famous charismatic leader, Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy, NLD, has also agreed to participate in these by-elections. Her party boycotted the last general elections causing a split with those eager to participate leaving her and forming the National Democratic Force. The NLD now cannot hope to form the government in the current term even if it wins all the seats in the by-elections, but it now obviously wants a presence in the Parliament in preparation for a contest for state power in the next general elections. It remains to be seen if this party is still as relevant to the popular imagination of Myanmar’s future in the radically changed and continuing altering political and thereby economic environment in the country. But let politics be for the time being. We can only wish the country success, not without any self interest though, for Myanmar rising will have profound significance on the future of Manipur and indeed the entire Northeast region.

Burma strikes you as a deeply religious country. The landscape is littered with Buddhist pagodas of all sizes and age. Each of these is thronged perennially by devotees of all ages. Some of them like the Shwedagon in Yangon, where three strands of the Buddha are said to be preserved, command the grandeur comparable to any of the best architectural marvels of the world. However, what also becomes striking as you move on from one region of the country to another, especially in the great Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River Valley, amidst the universal evidences of immense creativity inspired by what is seemingly an unparalleled religious passion shared by everyone, is the absence of any secular art or architecture worth the name with the sole exception perhaps of the magnificent Mandalay Palace, made famous amongst followers of fiction writing in India by Amitabh Ghosh’s “The Glass Palace”. Every road seems to lead to the Buddha and his way in this country. You cannot help wondering if inherent in this homogenous psychological landscape is a hegemony, one which has flattened variety and dissent in the core of the country and fomented rebellion in the outlying States, home to the country’s numerous of ethnic nationalities. Yes non-Bamar population, most of them non Buddhists, though some like the Shans and Mons are, are referred to as nationalities and not tribals as in India.

But this speculation of underlying politics notwithstanding, the pacifism of Buddhism shows up in many positive and endearing ways. In Mandalay the crime rate is zero we were told. Some think this is inspired by fear and subjugation of half a century under a military junta, but then there are military juntas around the world where crime rates have not dropped – not at least to zero percent. I took a walk after a reception at the swanky Mandalay Hill Resort on one side of the great moat around the Mandalay Palace, at well after midnight to my hotel, Mandalay Swan, on the opposite end of the moat, a distance of about five kilometres, just to see how it feels like to be out alone in the night in a crime free environment. There were very few people on the road, but among those still there, returning home on light large-wheeled, fuel efficient two wheeler vehicles so popular throughout South East Asia, were women and young girls. There were also some policemen on parked motorcycles on the road staring at me as I passed by with bewildered looks, but dropping their eyes when I looked back. The sense is one of absolute security, and I must say there were only few other walks I ever had that I enjoyed as much.

The other thing strange about travelling in Myanmar for a Manipuri, and I could see this was the case of all of us from Manipur in the rally, is that you did not feel you have moved out of Manipur even in the heart of the country. This sense is even more than what I have felt in other South East Asian countries. Not only is this about similarity of faces and features with people there, but also of mannerisms, accents and intonations of language, aromas and flavours. If not for the lungis they wear, it would have been impossible to distinguish many of us from the market crowds there where we went sightseeing and shopping. Interestingly, our local guides notice this too. They eat a lot more meat, in fact you notice more than anywhere else that unlike India where it is so easy to be a vegetarian, it is practically impossible to be one in Myanmar. Vegetarian food here literally means the same non-vegetarian food with the meat pieces removed. Meat, I discovered however, tends to be overcooked making them too soft and almost falling off the bones as you lift them. For those who love to sink their teeth and tear flesh, this is no fun. But then, it would not be fair to pretend to be a good judge of cuisines of a place in just ten days of travel through it.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/03/travel-driving-through-myanmari/