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JCILPS ready to extend deadline for new bill, but with a rider

`Suspend personnel involved in Robinhood`s death; provide written assurance to incorporate five-point recommendation` IMPHAL July 23: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System has decided to extend its deadline

Peoples convention on ILPS at Iboyaima Shanglen on 23 July 2015 . Photo : Athouba Khuraijam

`Suspend personnel involved in Robinhood`s death; provide written assurance to incorporate five-point recommendation`

IMPHAL July 23: The Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System has decided to extend its deadline for a new bill to monitor the unabated influx of outsiders into the State for a month following an intense five hour long brainstorming with the public and other leaders during a public consultative meeting.

The meeting convened to pool public opinion and suggestions on the present impasse between the State government and JCILPS was held at the Iboyaima Shumang Leela Shanglen and organised by the committee.

More than 500 individuals participated in the intense discussion which was moderated by senior journalist Irengbam Arun.

The meeting commenced with the observance of a 2-minute silence in memory of Sapam Robinhood who was killed in police action to control a student rally on July 8.

At the end of the meeting the committee and those attending jointly resolved to extend the deadline set for the government to draft a new bill provided the government is ready to meet certain conditions.

The first of the conditions arrived at was for the government to pass the new bill before August 15 and that the government would provide a written insurance that it will incorporate the five points which were earlier recommended by the JCILPS to the government during the preparation of the now withdrawn Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill 2015.

Another condition was immediate suspension of the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood and constitution of a judicial enquiry.

Peoples convention on ILPS at Iboyaima Shanglen on 23 July 2015 . Photo : Athouba Khuraijam

However, the meeting also resolved that people`s movement will continue until the new bill is passed by the Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Moderating the discussion, Arun explained that the purpose and the imperative need of the consultation was to streamline the future course of the movement.

He also observed that the last bill which stands withdrawn now following much public outcry was a misleading and mockery of the public demand.

He also explicitly asserted that the movement is not anti-non domicile and public should also be mindful/considerate of sensitive conducts and inconvenience due to instant impositions of bandhs, general strikes etc.

JCILPS co-convenor BK Moirangcha in his key-note address said for almost three years now, since November 2012 to be precise, the JCILPS has been campaigning for a legislation to legally safeguard the rights of the people of Manipur.

Several speakers from different fields of expertise also shared the platform to express their views on the present movement with the core concerns of almost all speakers centering on the alarming tripling of non-indigenous population of the State and the indigenous people`s shrinking ownership of resources especially land.

Executive members of the JCILPS also detailed the five-point recommendation which has already been submitted to the government and further sought a consensus on the points from those attending the meeting.

It was also observed during the meeting that the wave of support in the ongoing movement has come from the ordinary laymen including women groups, senior citizens, local clubs, individuals, CBOs and CSOs.

Leaders and representatives of the United Committee Manipur, All Manipur United Clubs` Organisation, Information Center for Hill Areas, Manipur also attended and placed suggestions on the present movement.

Several speakers also raised issues on the need to re-open educational institutes, which have today become the major casualty sufferers during any movement in the State.

One of the speakers, Dr Khomdon Lisam voiced his concern about the absence of a guiding constitutional expert in the present drafting committee constituted by the government to prepare the bill.

People`s Action for National Democratic Movement (PANDAM) president Yumnamcha Dilip Kumar also raised concern over the trust deficit of the public on the present government and its tactics, ever since the latter `betrayed the public.`

He further suggested opening up of a communication channel between the JCILPS and the government to ensure that the five-point recommendation is incorporated in the bill this time.

Titular king of Manipur Leishemba Sanajaoba implored the government to empathise and acknowledge the popular sentiment of the people and safeguard `our identity.`

He continued that the government should constitute a well represented drafting committee which will be acceptable to the public and incorporate the recommendation of the JCILPS.

He also sought penalty for the police personnel involved in the action which led to the death of Sapam Robinhood.

Meanwhile, another speaker questioned as to why the government failed to utilise the Law Secretary, the Advocate General or a constitutional expert for drafting such an important law.

Senior citizen Dr Arambam Lokendro also asserted that JCILPS being the representative of the public has the right to be informed about the progress of the drafting process of the bill and on the status of the five points.

The government drafting committee should also accommodate further suggestions that evolved from public consultations, he observed.

He suggested few actions for the government to restore the trust of the people, which include constituting a judicial inquiry on the death of Sapam Robinhood, extending official invitation to JCILPS, and drawing up ILPS or a similar law to safeguard the indigenous people in the State.

He also shared his concern about the national media projecting the movement in a different light.

Human chains and sit-ins mark ILPS demand agitation

IMPHAL, July 22: Agitations demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State and punishment for the police personnel involved in the death of student Sapam Robinhood continued

Students of Waikhom Mani Girls College form a human chain along the Impha-Moreh Highway in support of ILPS.

IMPHAL, July 22: Agitations demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State and punishment for the police personnel involved in the death of student Sapam Robinhood continued at several places in the State today.

As part of the movement, Meitei pangals of Andro constituency today staged a sit in protest and later formed a human chain at the Yairipok Azad bazaar.

The agitators also observed a one-minute silence in memory of Late Sapam Robinhood.

The agitation was jointly organised by the Tulihal Educated Association, SDYO, TMWA, IYDO, Ningthounai Youth Organisation, local clubs of Changamdabi and Laikol Muslim clubs.

President of the Tulihal Educated Association, Md Thoiba said the people fully support the demand for implementation of the ILPS in the State.

Now that Ramadan- the holy month fasting is over, we will come out in full support of the demand, he said.

He further urged the government to stop neglecting people`s demand until there is a death and deploying delay tactics.

He asked whether the government would not have withdrawn the bill, if there were no incidents of death or people getting injured during the movement.

Taking a week`s time just for the formation of a Drafting Committee is akin to showing disrespect to the public movement, he said.

Several local leaders also spoke on the ILPS during the protest.

Agitators also shouted slogans demanding implementation of the ILPS in the State and action against the police personnel involved in the death of Robinhood.

They also shouted that there is no peace in Manipur.

The sit in protest was also participated by students of Azad High School, Antartic English School and Model Kids Centre all located in Yairipok Tulihal.

Meira paibis groups and local youth clubs of Tentha area also sit in protest at the Tentha Multiplex complex and later took out a rally starting from Tentha Khongbal Leikai.

Students of local schools like United English School, Oxford English School, Model English School.

During the protest demonstration, the protestors demanded amending the Constitution if it is required in order to implement the ILPS in the State and to punish the police personnel involved in the death of the student Robinhood.

Students of Waikhom Mani Girls College, Thoubal also formed a human chain on Imphal-Moreh national highway.

Meira paibis of Nongangkhong also staged a sit in protest at the Thoubal Ningthou Lai haraobung, while students of Pole Star School also formed a human chain showing support to the ongoing ILPS movement.

NNN adds: Today residents of Khurai Sajor Leikai formed a mob and stopped traffic movement in Imphal-Ukhrul road.

Since early morning, people of the locality came out out and blocked the road.

They said they will continue blocking the road until the state government implements ILPS in Manipur.

Vehicles coming along the road from both sides were made to turn back.

At Lamlong Bazar too, women vendors of the market staged a sit-in-protest wearing black badges in demand of the ILP system and punishment to those security personnel who were responsible for the death of student Sapam Robinhood. Similar protests were also held at Nambol Hao Keithel, Haobam Marak and many other areas.

Many women of Uripok area also demanded implementation of ILP system in Manipur by staging a sit-in-protest beneath the Uripok Flyover Bridge.

Members of 12 major transporter organisations today staged a sit-in-protest demanding the implementation of ILP system in Manipur. The protest was held at Keishampat Leimajam Leikai area on the side of Tiddim Road. The members announced to support the on-going agitation by stopping their services on July 24 from 4 am to 6 pm.

The transporters strongly condemned the brutal killing of Sapam Robinhood by the state forces.

Announcing that they will support the actions of the JCILPS and JAC of Robinhood, they also demanded the state government to implement ILP system in Manipur and to punish those personnel who killed Robinhood as per law accordingly.

Those who attended in the protest today appealed all the drivers, truckers and transporters of the state to support and join in the cease-work strike of July 24.

Where do we go from ILP?

By Praem Hidam Now that a young student has been murdered and there is an acute sense of grief and resentment among the protesters. While this brutality on the part

By Praem Hidam

Now that a young student has been murdered and there is an acute sense of grief and resentment among the protesters. While this brutality on the part of the government’s response has only stiffened its callousness and regulations, the protestors are simply roiling. In this conjuncture, the only way to become vocal and audible enough is to use a language of rioting, though it is not what we always intend to do. In it we find a flow of messages and the government knows what we do. This precisely has remained to be the only way of communicating with this government. We believe that not everything in the world especially things like the one we are handling cannot always be subsumed to operate under the law and institutions. The point is, our upsurge is democratic and we are democratic by any count.

To begin with, let us first agree to this fact that we cannot afford to lose the speed and mobility of what has happened in the last few weeks. But this may not mislead us to losing sight of where we are heading to with the same speed and mobility, at this rate. Any agitation including this one if it is to grow in a direction that can truly offer promises for a better scheme of things, cannot miss but to engage with the contradictions of its strengths. How we choose to engage with our own contradictions is prefigurative in the sense that it will shape the future course of the movement and its wider outcomes. That will come slowly but surely will it come.

This short discussion is about these concerns.

What we need to do, and which is what we are trying to do here, is rather to try and give some insights in order for us to be able to carry out a vision and make sure that the popular mandate that we have on this issue can do wonders in an entirely different political conjecture which is far removed from the institutional working of electoral democracy.

It is true that we see some ideals in the scheme of things that may happen in post ILP scenario. And here are a couple of questions that we need to address if we believe in the ideals of this current agitation. How are we going to make sure that the present agitation is transformed into a ceaseless prodding for a more progressive society; into a movement that is connected as a part of wider currents of other political movements? Have we ever thought of this? Or shall we expand our objectives as we have grown into this stage of movement that truly has become one of the most popular upsurges in the recent years?

As we know, and this is true especially in the case of Manipur, that different conjectures of politics have often mounted up simultaneously that even as we are trying to keep pace with rapid turns of events we have already missed steps and very often fall back on common sense which often are uncritical, over generalized and blinded. Keeping in view the sequences of all the happenings of this agitation, we may however say this with commitment that the only strategy, perhaps the most important of all is to mobilize on common sense.

A cautious and critical relationship with common sense will enable us to see some contents of popular sensibilities which are more positive and politically reliable, that have traces of better vision of change and resistance. We also believe that these contents will be a big help to re-strengthen the organizational crafts when it comes to transforming this demand into a wider and lasting movement, connecting it to other movements of our times.

In order for it to be more meaningful we can rebuild this agitation on the spontaneous philosophy of the ordinary people, on the battlefield that is street and other places like this. The question is not of entirely relying on the leadership and the organizations leading this agitation but of renovating and making critical an already existing activity, of helping the people’s consciousness to perfection. We do not intend to see a movement that is merely popular which may happen to be a tilted, singular, and majoritarian expression; but a movement that is truly founded on the common wisdom that could withstand elitist and anti- democratic stances. We also intend to see a movement with a broad coalition consisting of communities and groups. Many of the misgivings about this agitation can be avoided if the leadership has the patience to listen attentively to the people’s common sense, across communities and try to develop strategies towards greater coherence. To move along as a movement we need to hone a collective agency and this could possibly be achieved if we can identify what contents of popular sensibilities are potential of undermining and of being critical of the regressive intensities and tendencies, the contradictory wisdoms and common senses.

Having said this, we are now proceeding to an aspect of this agitation which is particularly crucial to the circulation of the demands that goes far and wide. It is true that we demand with a desire to envisage a future, and in fact we do hope so, where we are secure and live on our own terms. This penchant for being ourselves along with the vision that seeks to protect it and the self that is being projected are not however given. They all are constituted within specific historical configuration that is nothing but our own doings, lives and experiences. The demand for ILP is no exception and it is in this sense a product of our times.

Deriving from our encounters with debris and the propellants, we might also consider that our agitation is not going to be a question of law alone. In actual fact, it will never be one. There is one aspect of this issue and it relates to a war like situation where two economies are in conflict. One works with its power to distribute, divide and occupy while the other operates with intensities of anger, disaffection, fear and retaliation. The former advances with Capital (usually money, goods and networks) the latter being about one that is left unused, untapped and replaced usually resist the other economy in the form of what is going on today, riots. Since war and economies figure as essential tropes in the overall picture, the current agitation can even grow much further into becoming a movement for just distribution of opportunities and free and equal chance to capabilities and aspirations. These are even at this moment what our demands are for. This war is thus not only about outsiders or insiders. Its potential power lies in its ability to raise the basic questions that have got on our nerves for quite a long time. From ILP we can further move against all kinds of exploitation, for a society where the common have a good part in the running of their affairs, including what they do to earn and live. If we want to go deeper and come up with alternative modes of life and governance which can be comparatively much better than the one we are living with, what else can it be other than this form of upsurge?

The outside will be transformed into a symbolic form and it can be anything, be it institutions, agencies, the bourgeois political order, or the system of power or something else. Anything or anybody that coerces us, disables us to become and prevents us from desiring to be what we are and what we can do constitutes the symbolic form in the figure of the outsider. Either inside or outside, with outsiders or insiders all that remains for us is to move and grow, to question and critique as a movement and perennially in motion.

If it is what we can do and we are so potential in our ability to grow, why are then we so obsessed with a law which was used by the colonial authorities to rule us, to exploit our resources in secret, by not allowing others to know what was actually going on behind the veil of inner line which was nothing but keeping us inside, forcing us to be covered not to see what was being done on us, on our land? Very simple. Being behind the line is a serious business and wanting to cross it is even more so!

(Dr Praem Hidam holds a Phd from Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He lives in Delhi and can be contacte at praemhidam@gmail.com)

The article was originally published in The Sangai Express on 21 July 2015.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/where-do-we-go-from-ilp/

ASIA: Mob justice – a symptom of degenerating rule of law

By Javeria Younes 20 July 2015 The mob justice meted out to 13-year-old Samiul Alam Rajon, who was beaten to death in Bangladesh by an angry mob resolute on teaching

Furniture lying in the courtyard of W.Manglemjao of Khurai Thongam Leikai after an enraged mob ransacked his house on charges of molesting a student. Photo: KO archive

By Javeria Younes

20 July 2015

The mob justice meted out to 13-year-old Samiul Alam Rajon, who was beaten to death in Bangladesh by an angry mob resolute on teaching the youngster a lesson for stealing a bicycle, is a classic case of mob madness witnessed on our streets every day. Throughout Asia, deteriorating rule of law and ineffective criminal justice systems are resulting in people losing trust and resorting to mob justice.

Mob justice is often defined as the verdict of the crowd by subverting legal procedures and institutions in a situation of great injustice and mass suffering. The right to mete out punishment belongs to the state, but not so in societies where weak courts and poor law enforcement are combined with institutionalized injustice. The failure of judicial systems to deliver has aggravated the general frustrations of societies, resulting in feelings that grievances can only be adequately addressed by people taking the law into their own hands. Where cities are ever smarting under violence and where the grip of the law is loose, it is not unusual for citizens to act as police and judge. Protesters turn into vigilante mobs with ready justifications for committing acts of murder.

Increase in mob justice is directly proportionate to the backlog of cases in the courts. The mobs in Pakistan in particular, take the shape of mad vigilantism in blasphemy cases. Many crimes have been committed by charged up mobs that are often incited by local religious leaders to perform their religious duty and kill any person accused of blasphemy. People are desperate for justice and unable to access it, and so resort to taking the law into their own hands. Frustration with the criminal justice system, lack of police visibility and lack of trust between police and particular communities are some of the main drivers behind incidents of mob justice.

Such justice cannot be ethically condoned or tolerated in modern, liberal, democratic societies, but is overlooked by governments and the judiciary in our part of the world. The culprits, if apprehended, are acquitted by the court for lack of evidence, as their direct involvement is questionable due to the number of people involved. In the August 2010 case involving the lynching of two teenage brothers from Sialkot, Pakistan, for instance, the judge sentenced seven men to death while five co-accused were acquitted for insufficient evidence. Similarly, in the famous Best Bakery case during the 2002 Gujarat riots, where a Muslim family of 14 was burnt to death by an angry mob chanting communal slogans in Hanuman Tekri, Vadodara, all of the 21 accused were acquitted on 27 June 2003 by the additional session’s judge. On 9 July 2012, the Bombay High Court upheld the life sentences of four accused, while it acquitted five for lack of evidence.

Mob justice is not just a sudden outburst of uncontrolled fury, or the unspeakable brutality of an insane mob. It is the direct result of the persistent inability of our legal systems to conclusively resolve so many criminal cases. Increasing cases of mob justice are being reported from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, where people take matters into their own hands.

In July 2011 for example, six alleged robbers in the Noakhali area, southern Bangladesh, were beaten to death by a mob after the gang they were part of shot a villager dead. The video of the public lynching of Samiul Rajon in Bangladesh went viral, wherein the men are shown laughing and taunting the 13-year-old as they hit him repeatedly with a metal rod, while he begs them to stop and asks for a glass of water. Likewise, in southern Assam’s Karimganj District, India, a mob judged that a man was guilty of raping a girl and punished him by cutting off his penis. Another rapist was dragged from his prison cell and hanged to death by the mob. On 5 March 2015, the charged mob broken open the gate of the supposedly high security Dimapur Central Jail in Karimganj and dragged out the accused Syed Farid Khan onto the streets, where he was tortured and later hanged in the presence of jail security that stood as a silent spectator to the horror.

Petty theft is one of the main triggers for lynching in Indonesia. According to data from the National Violence Monitoring System, 20 percent of victims that were killed, badly hurt, or permanently crippled are victims of mob justice. In 2014, there were nearly 4,300 incidences of mob justice causing three hundred deaths. Similar trends can be observed in Sri Lanka, where a Buddhist mob was incited by monks after the alleged assault of another monk by Muslim youths in the town of Aluthgama, killing three people in Muslim areas. In Pakistan, a Christian couple was burnt alive by an angry mob alleging blasphemy.

Societal intolerance and growing despair of the lengthy and ineffective legal process has caused people to take revenge on petty criminals, while corrupt leaders, being influential and wealthy, enjoy complete protection of the system that perpetuates judicial incompetence. In these cases, a mob’s mentality is not so far different from extremist groups such as ISIS, which forcibly impose their version of moral and religious ethics, killing those who disagree.

The governments of South and Southeast Asia must invest in strengthening judicial and police institutions; establishing the rule of law has to be given priority over everything else. The legitimacy of any government depends on the rule of law, which requires establishing policing and judicial institutions that are effective, fair and transparent. Educating the public about how courts work and the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty, and visible policing, are some of the things to begin with.

In seeking justice, society must temper vengeance with reform. A mob is the method by which good citizens turn over law and governance to the criminal or irresponsible classes. Checks and balances are needed to prevent governments from either devolving into autocratic tyranny or autocratic mob mentality. Petty crimes should be dealt with at the magisterial level to lessen the burden of the lower judiciary; petty criminals should be reformed by community service and not by serving jail time, as this will only add unnecessary burden on the judicial system and the national exchequer. The state must proactively take urgent steps to restore people’s faith in the system before it is too late and geopolitical stability is threatened by a charged mob ready to bring down the government, resulting in anarchy and chaos.

Javeria Younes is a lawyer and social activist working for an egalitarian society, free from torture, and can be reached at: javeria.younes@ahrc.asia, and javeria.younus@live.com.

Source : AHRC/CORE

No let up in ILPS movement: Road blocks give way to suspension of all economic activities

IMPHAL, July 20: There is no let up in the movement demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System or a similar legislation in the State, although supporters turned to

A torch rally taken out in New Checkong area demanding implementation of the ILPS.

IMPHAL, July 20: There is no let up in the movement demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System or a similar legislation in the State, although supporters turned to suspending all economic activities and staging sit in protests rather than imposing road blocks as the Joint Committee on Inner Line Permit System initiates its new course of agitations.

Normal life in the State capital and the valley districts was greatly hampered as business activities were suspended in response to a call from the JCILPS. Road blocks were also witnessed at a few places.

Since early morning, womenfolk came out to the streets and staged sit in protests.

Women vendors suspended their economic activities and staged sit in protests at their market sheds at several places.

Sit in protests were also witnessed on the road sides in almost every locality. Formations of human chain were also witnessed at different localities including at the Keishamthong Elangbam Leikai, Thangmeiband, Sagolband, Nagamapal among others.

The movement supporters held placards demanding immediate implementation of the ILPS, punishing the police personnel involved in the death of Sapam Robinhood, etc.

Residents of Kotha Khabam Maning Leikai also staged a sit in protest at their local community hall. Similar sit in protests were also witnessed at Awang, Mayai and Mantra Leikais of the locality.

Locals also blocked the road demanding punishment of the police personnel involved in the death of Robinhood.

Agitators also blocked the Uripok-Kangchup road and the Imphal-Jiribam road at different places since early morning affecting traffic flows, however, no untoward incidents were reported from the said areas.

Sit in protests were also staged at Thangmeiband, Uripok, Moirangkhom, Yaiskul Police Lane, Keisamthong Kabui Khul, Keishamthong, Singjamei, Singjamei Wangma Kshetri Leikai, UYO-WWA-WDA Club of Bheigyapati Leikai, Heirangoithong Bazaar etc.

Meira rallies were also taken out at several places including at New Checkon area late in the evening.

A large number of supporters from Sagolband who had taken out a rally met and converged with another large number supporters coming from the Uripok side near the Bir Tikendrajit Flyover, however, police disperse them back to their respective areas in a peaceful manner.

The Kakhulong Women Society also took out a torch rally demanding and supporting the implementation of ILPS in the State. The torch rally which started from Kakhulong passed through Masjid Road and Paona Bazar.

The Sangaiprou Kabui Khul also staged a sit in protest at Sangaiprou Kabui Khul demanding implementation of ILP in the State.

The All Manipur Nupi Manbi Association also staged a sit in protest at Khurai Lamlong Bazar supporting the public movement for implementation of the ILPS or a similar law in the State.

Our community also shares the fear of the people of the State in the absence of an Act like the ILPS, said secretary of the association Santa Khurai.

Santa also said that it is their bounded duty to support the mass movement.

Incessant failed to dampen the spirit of Kang chingba (Rath Yatra) in Manipur: Photo gallery by Siddharth Haobijam

Imphal, 18 July 2015 : Like every year, this year too show Manipuri hindus celebrating Rath Yatra or Kang Chingba. But due to incessant rain , the Govindajee temple was

Manipuri hindus celebrating Rath Yatra(Kang Chingba) despite incessant rain. Photo by Siddharth Haobijam

Imphal, 18 July 2015 : Like every year, this year too show Manipuri hindus celebrating Rath Yatra or Kang Chingba. But due to incessant rain , the Govindajee temple was flooded and many devotees rue the neglect of the government .

Kang was also celebrated at ISKCON temple situated at Tiddim Road.

Many localities also saw colourful small rath rolling into the streets with children in colourful, festive dresses in tow.

NEFIS activist protest outside RML hospital against assault on a Manipuri nurse on duty.

NEFIS Press release, 16 July 2015 In response to the physical assault on a Manipuri nurse of Dr RML Hospital on the night of 13 July, activists of North-East Forum

NEFIS activist outside RML hospital

NEFIS Press release, 16 July 2015

In response to the physical assault on a Manipuri nurse of Dr RML Hospital on the night of 13 July, activists of North-East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) gathered in protest outside the Hospital gate. The nurse from Manipur was attacked by a patient at 13^th night inside the hospital. The patient was brought in as part of a medico-legal case and was accompanied by policemen. NEFIS condemns the unsafe work atmosphere in the hospital and considers it a huge problem that women employees are being attacked by patients during their work hours and more so during night shifts. Such violent assaults are not only a crime but also a violation of labour rights, such as the right to a safe work environment. The recent attack on the nurse from Manipur also reflects how nurses and other workers from the North-East are exposed to racist attacks in their workplace and are highly vulnerable. The organization strongly feels that most such attacks on North-East women and youth have a racist undertone, and that such attacks are facilitated in a large number of workplaces which have ad-hoc security arrangements.

Considering that the hapless nurse was attacked by a person accompanied by policemen and the immediate assistance she received in warding off her assailant came from a doctor, it is evident that the RML hospital administration has to take greater efforts at enhancing its own security measures and staff. Greater precautionary measures as well as proper surveillance of patients brought in as part of medico-legal cases is a responsibility that RML Hospital should take on more seriously. To this effect, NEFIS activists submitted a memorandum to the hospital’s Medical Superintendent. A delegation also met police officials at the nearest police station to apprise them of concerns regarding the lack of safety in RML and other hospitals. The delegation emphasized that in conditions of poor security, nurses and other healthcare workers from the North-East were falling easy targets because they looked different.

The demands raised by NEFIS included:

Better protection and security for nurses and workers from North-East should be given, especially at night.
Provision of an assurance from the CMO’s office that all the nurses and workers should be treated equally and no racial or sexual discrimination should be faced by them.
Compensation and other assistance should be provided to the victim immediately so as to help her overcome the trauma of the assault.
To curb future racist attacks of such kind, proper measures should be taken by the local police station to address loopholes in the given system.

NEFIS can be contacted at nefis.delhi(at)gmail(dot)com

Manipuri students in Pune demands introduction of ILP in Manipur: MSAP PR

Pune, 14 July 2015 : The Manipur Students’ Association, Pune (MSAP) organized a peaceful rally on 14-July 2015 at Pune University Campus, Pune & also observed a 2 minutes silence

MSAP rally demanding introduction of ILPS in Manipur.

Pune, 14 July 2015 : The Manipur Students’ Association, Pune (MSAP) organized a peaceful rally on 14-July 2015 at Pune University Campus, Pune & also observed a 2 minutes silence to condemn the killing of one the students who was part of the peaceful rally demanding the introduction of the Inner Line Permit system (ILPS) in the state.

On July -8, a 16 year school boy, Mr. Sapam Robinhood was hit on the face by a tear gas shell fired from a close range in an effort by the state police to block a rally at Khurai, the impact had resulted in his tragic death.

The Students association of Manipur, Pune (MSAP) strongly condemned the current violation of basic human rights in the state and taken a strong resolution to support in whatever way possible in fighting against any human right violation in the state.

(MSAP can be reached at prezmsap@gmail.com)

Manipur ILPS demand: General strike in Jiribam

Jiribam, 14 July 2015 : JCILPS Jiribam branch enforced general strike at different places and market areas in Jiribam sub-division. Leingangpokpi, Lalpani bazar and Champanagar were mainly affected by

ILPS demand agitation in Champanagar, Jiribam

Photo credit : Momon Thoudam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/manipur-ilps-demand-general-strike-in-jiribam/

MSAD holds public meeting against demographic invasion by the state policies and state atrocities

Office of the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi New Delhi Press release Ref.No.:MSADPR20150711

Office of the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi

New Delhi

Press release

Ref.No.:MSADPR20150711 Date: 11/7/2015

A Public meeting was held against the demographic invasion by the state policies and state atrocities on July 14, 2015 at Delhi University Garden. The meeting was organized by Manipur Students’ Association Delhi and took these resolutions.

1) Issuance of passes/permits to outsiders/Non Manipuries –(Manipuries are those people/communities who have been recognized by the state government )

(a) Passes would be with limited validity

2) Not to allow permanent settlement to non -Manipuries in Manipur.

(a) Multinational companies and state cannot buy / give (i) Individual and Community owned land.

3) Marking 1951 as the base year to differentiate between migrants/Non Manipuries from Manipuries,/People of Manipur .

4) Denying land holding rights to outsiders/ Non Manipuris,

5) Setting up of a full-fledged Labour Department to regulate entry of inter-State migrants and commencement of detection of migrants/outsiders.

(a) There should be a monitoring committee from civil society organizations from the state to check the functioning of the committee/department appointed by the government that SSC should be acknowledged by the Government.

6)In keeping with the historicity and contemporary needs of Manipur as a geo-political entity whose existence, as the first Schedule of the Indian Constitution acknowledges, precedes the adoption of the Constitution of India, all necessary constitutional and administrative steps must be taken to protect and preserve the Manipur State and her indigenous people.

(a)Indian constitution should be amended to implement the ILP/MSPC (Manipur State Permit System)

7) Either the Government of Manipur or the Union Government of India should not enact any legislation or administrative step that go against the spirit and letter of above basic demands.

The meeting strongly endorsed to adopt these approaches to be adopted by the people who are part of the ongoing movement for Manipur State Permit System/ Inner Line Permit System

a) An open dialogue for all the communities of Manipur would be held in the ongoing movement.
b) Political class and political consciousness program would be held for the mass awareness
c) Inter- communities dialogue within the communities of Manipur would be held as part of the ongoing struggle for demanding ILP/MSP( Manipur State Permit)
d) Any anti – non Manipuri / communal discourses would not be inserted in the process of mobilization.
e) Demographic invasion is rooted in state policies. Demographic invasion is systematically done by the state policies and the target of the movement would be against the state and its policies not against non Manipuries/ migrants who have come for their livelihood.

Resolution on State repression

1) Justice should be delivered to Sapam Robinhood and all the injured persons under state atrocities during the movement

2) Government impose curfew should be lifted and normal life should be restored immediately

3) The state should not curtail the democratic rights of the students to take part of the people’s movement.

4) Students have every right to participate in the people’s movement.

5) State should restore normal class from imposed curfew in the educational institutions.

6) A proposed draft would be prepared to safeguard the indigenous people of Manipur and that will be sent to JCILPS.

MSAD can be reached at msad.manipur@gmail.com

AR Recovers contraband drugs : Press release

PRESS RELEASE: 13 JUL 2015 HQ IGAR (SOUTH) RECOVERS CONTRABAND DRUGS Based on specific intelligence regarding drug peddling on NH 102, troops of the 24 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector

PRESS RELEASE: 13 JUL 2015

HQ IGAR (SOUTH) RECOVERS CONTRABAND DRUGS

Based on specific intelligence regarding drug peddling on NH 102, troops of the 24 Assam Rifles of 26 Sector AR under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) apprehended an individual alongwith contraband drugs at Khudengthabi check post on 10 Jul 15. A motor cycle without Registration Number traveling from Moreh to Pallel was stopped for checking, and on a thorough search of the motor cycle led to recovery of 2165 numbers of WY(R-20) tablets (Approx worth Rs 21.65 Lacs), one Mobile phone and an Aadhar Card. The apprehendee was identified as Jamkhongam Haokip, aged 23 years, s/o Mr Thangkholet Haokip, resident of Lokchao, PO/PS – Tengnoupal, District- Chandel. The apprehendee along with the recovered items have been handed over to the Moreh Police station.

ASSAM RIFLES PROVIDES FURNITURE AND BOOKS

41 Assam Rifles of 10 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of HQ IGAR (South) distributed furniture and books at Ngariching Living Centre Blind School in Ukhrul under ‘Assam Rifles Military Civic Action programme’ on 09 Jul 2015. The Assam Rifles has been instrumental in reaching out to the remotest locations and supporting the pillars of peace like Education, Capacity Building and Infrastructure Development. The people are being brought face to face with development and education in the quest for lasting peace in far-flung areas of the state.

The school had very limited funds for procurement and it had a long standing demand for amenities and stationary for which Assam Rifles made efforts towards fulfilling these demands. The demands were submitted in February following which Assam Rifles proactively got the funds sanctioned and procured books and furniture for the students at the earliest. These will help the students in the present and upcoming academic years. This ensured the welfare of the youth so that they can attend school without any hindrance and focus on their studies. The organization aims at creating an environment for the children to enable them to have a bright future and assist in the development of the nation. The villagers also expressed their profound gratitude towards the Assam Rifles for this kind gesture.

The press release was sent by PRO HQ IGAR(SOUTH). They can be contacted at procelligarsouth@gmail.com.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/ar-recovers-contraband-drugs-press-release/

Women empowerment can make a qualitative change

By Flora Remei ”When the woman moves forward, the family moves, the village moves and the nation moves” -Jawaharlal Nehru The excerpt from Nehru’s writings, cited above, holds the ground

By Flora Remei

”When the woman moves forward, the family moves, the village moves and the nation moves”

-Jawaharlal Nehru

The excerpt from Nehru’s writings, cited above, holds the ground amongst many. Undeniably, women’s contribution make a society whole and perfect. Many believe that a woman is a bridge across generations and hearts. Alas! Despite the heroic roles that women had played in the history and the present, women are the victims of patriarchal subjection and male chauvinism.

It is believed that egalitarianism was the norm of social relation in the primitive societies. Before the birth of the pairing marriage, family and private property; women were socially powerful as they enjoyed absolute mother’s right over the children. However, with the changing modes of production, when physical strength began to play important roles in war, production, booty capturing, and accumulation of private property; under the male dominated marriage and family systems, women gradually lost their prominence. Patriarchal values began to predominate and women are being treated as the property of men. A woman’s body began to be defined, either chastity or pollution began to be measured, and the price or value of her body began to be determined on the basis of the patriarchal notion of an ideal womanhood.

Overtime, the patriarchal notion of womanhood became engraved in the social perceptions and it relegated women to the subservient position in a hierarchically gendered social order. The societal spaces and relations, including politics and religion, began to reflect and reinforce women’s subjugation— more often than rapes and commodification of women are the denial of material benefits and other choices. These became common symptoms of a greater rot lying beneath the social superstructures. All these suggest betrayal of the ‘expected’ trust towards the other half of human composition that is constituted by the women. All these reflect a systematic rot that prevent the society from achieving true progress and all-round development.

In the present Manipur society that we live in; women’s safety, defined in the broader sense, is still an elusive touchstone, although many try to portray the prevalence of egalitarian ethos and practices. Certain moribund and decadent patriarchal thoughts and practices that enslave and threaten the dignity of women continue to operate. Women are being looked down upon as sexual objects to fulfill the unrestrained sexual lust of the men. News of rape and violence on women became the frequent headlines in the media. The patriarchal notion of women’s chastity created prolonged traumatic effects upon the rape victims, as they are being always condemned as the polluted body whose value have been degraded considerably. In other words, male sexual lust and aggression inter played with the patriarchal notion of either ideal womanhood or polluted; and it created insecurity to the women in various ways. She fears for the physical safety and social well-being, from the ruthless force of decadent customs, traditions and attitudes that undermined and subjected women.

The subjection of women under the patriarchal norms is structurally rooted in the relation of production that either confined women in the domestic premise of the men or reduced them into some form of domestic slavery. Their subjection in the relation of production makes them difficult to overcome the patriarchal restrictions superimposed on them. This structural bias misplaces women from the rightful place where they wanted to be, as human beings inspired by the progressive ideals of liberty and full-fledged empowerment in all aspects of livelihood. In other words, the structural bias prevents the women from the full growth of their physical, moral and intellectual temperaments. As a result; many women remain suffering from illiteracy, poverty, malnutrition and lack of choices. They enjoy little freedom for their creative self-development and growth.

Women needed empowerment? Who will do it, when and in what ways; are some of the questions that progressive women have been raising for many years. Many women believe that empowerment is a positive and multidimensional ideal. This ideal implies opening up of opportunity avenues towards the promotion of women’s self-confidence and the ability to determine the course and quality of their lives. This calls for a multi-layered approach, in order to achieve a structural overhaul. Firstly, the priority is to ensure proper education of women along progressive lines. Progressive education will increase a woman’s awareness, her choice and the abilities to take advantage of available opportunities. Secondly, in the meanwhile, proper education must be accompanied by opening up of public spaces for women. There should be proportionately equal representation of women in governance and decision making process that affect them. Thirdly, women must also enjoy society’s material and moral resources. There should be an initiative towards bringing an end to the evil practices like domestic violence and other forms of subjection. It would involve gradual demolition of the patriarchal value system. But, this attitudinal change requires a multi-layered social campaign. To achieve it, children at the school must be taught about the value of gender equality. Apart from the schools, the values of respect for women must be fostered and nurtured in the family domain.

Finally, humanity is like a bird. A bird needs both the wings to fly high into the sky. Likewise, a society becomes wholesome and progressive when gender equality is respected and valued. The society will grow only when women that constitute half of humanity, could contribute at par with men in all aspect of social relations and productions. Equality will bring balance and progress; as it will ensure a new strength that will be founded on the basis of the lived experience of fairness and mutual consensus. A common psychological make-up guided by the virtue of empathy will make this world a better place for all.

This article was sent to Kanglaonline by Flora Remei. She’s doing BA(Hon) Philosophy 3rd Year, Miranda House, Delhi University. She can be contacted at floraremei2013(at)gmail(dot)com

Joint statement circulated on the occasion of the PROTEST AGAINST BRUTALITY OF STATE FORCES AND TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF MANIPUR FROM DEMOGRAPHIC INVASION

INDIA: Manipur Joint Statement Opinions against the Ongoing Indefinite Curfew in Manipur 11th July 2015 In Manipur, there has been a democratic movement to safeguard the rights of

INDIA: Manipur

Joint Statement

Opinions against the Ongoing Indefinite Curfew in Manipur

11^th July 2015

In Manipur, there has been a democratic movement to safeguard the rights of the indigenous peoples. The incumbent regime in the State led by Mr Okram Ibobi has acted contrary to the democratic and legitimate demands of the movement for Inner Line Permit System and the recommendations of the All Political Parties Committee on ILPS (2014). There was a deliberate attempt to protect the interest of the migrant outsiders by arbitrarily passing a bill known as the Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers’ Bill 2015, which has not received the assent of the Governor. There were attempts to suppress, at gun point, the protests against the Bill and the popular movement to defend the rights of the indigenous peoples. Brutal police actions have inflicted casualty on several persons. A 16-year old student named Sapam Robinbood, participating in a rally, was killed by the police on July 8, 2015. In order to suppress popular demonstrations against the brutality, the Government immediately imposed an indefinite curfew in the two central districts of Imphal Valley and closed all the educational institutions. Defying the curfew, people came out in the streets of Imphal in great numbers. The police resorted to open aggressive and disproportionate use of force in the form of torture, and cruel and inhuman degrading treatment, indiscriminate use of tear gas and rubber bullets, firing of live rounds upon the protestors and arbitrary detentions with impunity.

It is against this backdrop that we are coming up with a joint statement under the title Opinion against the Ongoing Curfew in Manipur.

Government and curfew

There has been unrestrained population invasion by outsiders under the policy and constitutional framework of the Government of India that ostensibly allows free movement of people within the country. The outsiders are enjoying virtual monopoly over commodity and the labour markets of Manipur. On the other hand, the military and corporate and private sector partnership projects have been forcibly taking control of the land and resources without any regulation and restraint. In this situation, it is natural that the indigenous peoples began to take up the initiatives towards defending their identity, market, livelihoods, land and other resources.

The question of defending the rights of the indigenous peoples is a political question that is intricately founded in the context of a worsening socio-economic condition and progressive cultural annihilation. It is the responsibility of a democratic government to bring a political solution to this question. However, the puppet Manipur regime, which functions under the command of the federal Indian pro-corporate and private sector regime, indulge in suppressing this question under the barrel of a gun.

Why is the government indifferent to the universal principle of defending the rights of the indigenous peoples? The government is determined in using curfew to suppress the popular movements to defend the indigenous peoples and the agitations against the summary killings, torture and arbitrary detentions. This predisposition exposes the government as an authoritarian regime of a violent and radical right-wing clique that relies on the gun as the backbone of its enterprise against the people, at the cost of democracy. Judging by the nature of State terrorism, the Government remains the real enemy of democracy.

Police and Curfew

The perception is that the Manipur police is meant for ensuring the security of the people; in fact the regime constantly refers to them as “security personnel”. Those who are employed in this sector are recruited from amongst our citizens, the majority from poor families. The expenditure of their salary, uniforms and weapons are being paid out of the taxes collected from the people including themselves. However, in the past instances and in the present situation, the police have forgotten that they are the citizens of our motherland and have acted brutally. Instead of serving the peoples, they have been converted into a mercenary force of the terrorizing clique that runs the Government.

During the curfew, the Manipur police and its auxiliary forces the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) and Village Defense Force (VDF) have been acting like agents of terror without any restraint. In the name of controlling crowd, which they referred to as “mob control”, they have intentionally violated the standard norms of using ‘firearms’, and have indulged in the widespread use of live bullets, rubber bullets, mock bombs and tear smoke shells with the intention to inflict injury and to kill. The deliberate baton attacks, brutal beatings and firing upon unarmed civilians who were on the run exemplify their terrorist character.

We want to raise some questions to the Manipur police. Aren’t you natives of our motherland, born of the same mothers? Do you really think that there is no share for you in this movement to defend the indigenous peoples? Are you supportive the stand to act against the movement of the indigenous peoples to defend their culture, land and livelihood? Being persuaded by the oppressive cliques and opportunism for a small government salary, promotion and misuse of weapons; how long will you remain standing against legitimate democratic movements concerning our motherland?

Curfew and economic burdens

The immediate tactics of closing down educational institutions and using curfew to suppress the agitation have converted the Greater Imphal area into a war field. Deployment of several rabble rousing police gangs in strategic locations and corners of Imphal has caused obstructions to the free movement of peoples. They indulged in unprovoked baton charging, firing rubber bullets and tear smoke shells on anyone either coming out of a gate or walking on a street. Tear smoke shells have been lobbed into homes too.

The government, instead of bringing a political solution, has spent huge amounts of money in the war effort. Huge amounts from the public exchequer are spent on fuel for bullet proof and armoured vehicles, live ammunition, rubber bullets, mock bombs and tear smoke shells. The government is a favoured customer in the burgeoning market to suppress dissent. When the lack of interest to bring a political solution to vital issues and problems culminated into silencing of democratic voice by spending huge amount of money in war expenditure, whose loss is it? Is this money paid out of the wage labour of those who run the government? No! They do not work with the hands and feet to earn their livelihoods. They exploit peoples and misappropriate public fund to accumulate their wealth. The public fund that they misuse comes from the taxes paid by those who work with labour. Should we agree with this ugly trend of wasting our money to wage war against the people, when it could instead be used for economic production and growth?

The war against the people, as other facet of curfew, has created a big onslaught on their free movement and the local economy. The imposition of the curfew in the central areas of Manipur has not only created obstructions to those who live in those areas, but also on those who earn through daily commuting from the peripheries and those who have to pass through the central areas to reach other destinations on a daily basis. In that sense the curfew has extensive impacts similar to a blockade on the economy and transportation all over Manipur.

The curfew has imposed a big burden on those who are dependent on the Imphal market for their daily consumption. It seriously affected the petty traders who are dependent on the local market for commodity exchange. The marginal labourers who are in search of daily work are badly affected because of the restrictions to free movement. Who will compensate for the loss incurred on the family income due to the obstructions caused by the curfew? If these burdens of the people have not been addressed by those who accumulate huge money through corrupt means and who are enjoying the blessings of the authoritarian regime; it only obviates the fact that they are profiting from oppressing the people and are never for their welfare.

The authoritarian regime knows the aspiration of the exploited and oppressed peoples. But, it does want to address it at the cost of the vested interests of the rulers. Therefore, there is no need of repeatedly conveying the aspirations of the people to them. For several years the peoples have been bearing the burdens of the ugly corrupt model of governance and the tactics of suppression of the democratic voices at gun point. We strongly condemn all these models and tactics.

Statement endorsed by:

1. Akhu Chingangbam, Imphal Talkies.

2. Amit Bhattacharyya, Secretary General, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners.

3. Anthony Moirangthem, President, Manipur Students Association Pune.

4. Dina Oinam, President, Women Empowerment and Child Development Organization (Manipur).

5. Dr. George T. Haokip, Chairperson, Institute Alternative India.

6. Ishan Chandam, League of the Proletarian Students of Manipur.

7. Jiten Yumnam, Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur.

8. L. Bijendra khuman, Social Welfare Club Mayang Imphal.

9. Luikang Lamak, Ex-President, Naga Students’ Union. Delhi.

10. Malem Ningthouja, Campaign for Peace & Democracy (Manipur).

11. Padam Kumar, Worker’s Unity Trade Union.

12. Priyobata Irengbam, Manipur Students’ Association Delhi.

13. Roy Laifungbam, Civil Society Coalition for Human Rights In Manipur and UN [Members are: All Manipur Nupi Manbi Association; Centre for Organisation Research & Education; Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur; Citizens Concern for Dams and Development; Civil Liberties and Human Rights Organisation; Civil Liberties Protection Forum; Committee on Human Rights, Manipur; Community Network for Empowerment; Extra-judicial Execution Victim Families’ Association Manipur; Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared’s Association Manipur; Forum for Indigenous Perspectives and Action; Human Rights Alert; Human Rights Defenders Manipur; Human Rights Initiative; Human Rights Law Network Manipur; Human to Humane Transcultural Centre for Trauma and Torture Victims; Just Peace Foundation; Life Watch; Manipur Alliance for Child Rights; Movement for Peoples’ Right to Information Manipur; North East Dialogue Forum; Threatened Indigenous Peoples Society; United Peoples Front.]

14. Sanayairanchan Kshetrimayum, Manipur Alert.

15. Sapam Shyamsunder, Irabot Research and Commemoration Committee.

16. Vijay Singh, Editor, Journal Revolutionary Democracy.

11^th July 2015

Joint statement circulated on the occasion of the PROTEST AGAINST BRUTALITY OF STATE FORCES AND TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF MANIPUR FROM DEMOGRAPHIC INVASION, organized by the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi, at the University of Delhi, on 11^th July 2015.

ILP Totally an adult issue ?

By Rocky Wahengbam “What is ILP?” people ask. Why are youths involved? Do they need to? Are the indigenous people really threatened? Without giving a straight answer ‘Yes’, let us

By Rocky Wahengbam

“What is ILP?” people ask. Why are youths involved? Do they need to? Are the indigenous people really threatened? Without giving a straight answer ‘Yes’, let us first try to understand the issue as a whole. If you’re an outsider and want to travel to Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, you’ll need this Inner Line permit (a type of certificate/paper). Even if you’re an Indian citizen and wish to travel to these places, you’ll need an ILP. This provision was made by Britishers under an Act called as Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation Act, 1873. An outsider cannot take away any rubber, wax, ivory or other forest product (or any book, diary, manuscript, map, picture, photograph, film, article of religious or scientific interest outside these inner line permit areas). This ILP provision was made to give special protection to the indigenous people of the North-east region. If I give the above definition when someone asks about ILP, it would be just a lame one. The present demand for ILP encompasses much more than the above mentioned definition which derives from the Act imposed by the then British for their business interests. In addition, the MRVTMW Act 2015 passed by Manipur Legislative Assembly in March 2015 which awaits the consent of the State Governor neither serves any purpose in protecting the native population.

The JCILPS set up to demand the implementation of the said permit agreed with the All political parties before its drafting of the said bill on 5 major agendas namely : 1) Issuance of passes/permits to outsiders/migrant workers. 2) Not allow their permanent settlement in Manipur. 3) Marking 1951 as the base year to differentiate migrants from original settlers. 4) Denying land holding rights to outsiders/migrants. 5) Setting up of a full-fledged Labour Commission to regulate entry of inter-state workers and detect illegal migrants/outsiders. But, the MRVTMW Act 2015 didn’t talk about land holding rights and didn’t define indigenous/original inhabitants/ permanent settlers. Hence, it ended up backfiring itself. Any act passed which do not ban the land holding rights of non-indigenous outsiders will remain a joke to the demand committee.

The Manipur Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Act, 2015 which experienced a walk-out of the 4 Trinamool Congress Opposition MLAs when it was passed in the Assembly in March 2015 failed to capture the aspiration of the people. The Leader of the House CM Ibobi Okram who moved the motion in a hasty manner by proclaiming to make amendments if needed in future, blatantly shows how a Bill which in its soul passed to protect the Indigenous Inhabitants ends up protecting the Migrant Workers. An Act which was hastily passed without paying heed to the All Parties Resolution by projecting that the Govt. has stopped resorting to the ‘delaying tactics’ ends up being a part of the same old game.

What are the implications of ILP? ILP can be used only for travel and not for permanent residency in the area. Outsiders cannot buy property in the state. Inter-racial marriage (Marriage of Manipuris [Kangleichas] with Non-Manipuris) will become minimal as residences of outsiders are not permitted. There will be less competition among the backward tribes and in-flowing foreigners. Although such provisions though are not valid for Central Govt. employees, security personal, etc.

ILP is applicable only to Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, but it is not applicable to Manipur. So, question: Why doesn’t Manipur fall under ILP system? Because Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh were under the British control till independence. So Britishers implemented ILP permit there, but Manipur was princely states so ILP wasn’t implemented here. Although, Manipur (as a princely state before independence) had created its own system of Permits/ passports but it was abolished in 1951. In 2012, Manipur State Assembly also passed a resolution urging Government of India, to implement the ILP system to Manipur. Moreover, these 3 states with all their original inhabitants belonging to the Scheduled tribe list of the First Schedule enjoy protection under Article 342 of the Indian Constitution. This ST status made them easy in implementing the aforementioned ILP. For Manipur, some sections of population particularly the Meeteis which qualifies the definition of ST (primitive traits, geographical isolation, distinct culture, shy of contact with community at large, economically backward as compare to the mainstream society) under the constitution are still not ST and hence, do not enjoy various other constitutional protections.

Pro ILP arguments for Manipur

After independence, the influx of foreigners/non-locals/outsiders in Manipur has increased exponentially. This has led to increased competition (in jobs, business, elections ) among locals and outsiders. Foreigners started standing for local elections and some of them have also emerged victorious! Local youth has to compete with outsiders for state Government jobs, college admissions. Influx of outsiders, changes the demographic structure of the state, in long term, this could pose a major problem to reservation quota for Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes.

Culturally, outsiders bring their language and culture. It poses serious threat to Manipuri language, scripts, local dialects and traditional way of life. Drug trafficking cases, incidents of rape and other crimes in the State have become more rampant due to the influx of outsiders into Manipur. Manipur is one of the six high HIV prevalence states in the country. The influx of migrants is worsening this problem. Lands in tribal belts and blocks are being occupied by non-tribals and Bangladeshis, but the government machineries have done nothing to protect these lands from the encroachers, rather give them ration cards to secure the vote bank. Since the NE states are already backward in areas of education, infrastructure, etc such a competition has passed on to the younger generation. The recent violent riots in Assam is an example on how if immigration is unchecked can lead to severe problems. Outsiders are ready to work for lower wages. This makes difficult for the local Manipuris to get any employment.

Why ILP is a Valid Demand?

ILP system is already in place in Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, then why should it not be implemented in Manipur, which is in the same geographical area, facing similar problems for immigration. ILP system doesn’t PROHIBIT outsiders from entering into a state. It merely requires them to get registered so they can be easily identified. Any under-privileged section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part there of having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same. This demand is therefore constitutional and legal.

Regulation of Visitors, Tenants and Migrant Workers Bill-2015

The Bill originally suffered for bringing out without penal clauses violating Article 35 a (ii) of the Indian Constitution. Without penal provisions in the Bill, it was framed like a tiger without fangs or claws. Firstly, the title of the Bill is a disgrace. The title which seeks to protect migrant workers instead of the indigenous people of Manipur just goes over my head. I cannot comprehend why such an Introduction was put forth in the bill to highlight the aims and objectives of the Bill when there is already an Act called State Migrant Workmen Act-1979 to protect Inter-state migrant workers. The introduction which says – A Bill to provide for registration of visitors, tenants and migrant workers for their safety and security and for maintenance of public order in the State of Manipur, is sure to invite a big slap right in the beginning.

Section 14 of the Bill said that the Provisions of this Act shall not apply to the permanent residents of the State of Manipur. The Clause which doesn’t define ‘Permanent Resident’ is a misleading and ambiguous one. It will become extremely difficult to identify all those who came after 18 November 1950 and chuck them off from the electoral list. Lastly, the major contention with the bill is that there is no clause mentioning about the Banning of Land Holding Rights by ‘Outsiders.’

With the Arrival of Indian Railways, Trans-Asian Highway, Major national projects under Act East Policy and Centrally sponsored schemes, ILP is a must- a socio economic political necessity. The aspirations of the people in total can be realized and full protection can be meted out by incorporating the ST demand with the ILP demand. Today, one dies for ILP; many will die for ST status because ILP is never complete without ST status. With the death of a student called Sapam Robinhood, the public out-roar has become more intense and the fear of other states emulating such protests has also increased. Excesses of state actors particularly the State Police have become quite rampant recently. Lessons have not been learnt when one youth was shot death for not stopping his vehicle at the frisking point. In terms of tackling such protests, I envisaged a civil war if some protests same as that of Delhi gang rape happens in Manipur. Their training should incorporate controlling of angry mob instead just teaching them to shoot suspects.

The 5 days house confinement of outsiders by civil organizations will take an ugly turn if this sensitive issue is not handled in time. We cannot say that a bloody clash between the native and the outsiders will never happen. The death of the Youth and his idolization as ‘Yelhoumi Kanbagi Lamjing Meira’( Torch bearer for the protection of Indigenous people) shows where this issue is moving into. His death can be understood in the way the state has failed to understand peace protest and blood shedding is required in each issue. All these involvement of the students will be termed as the increased political consciousness of the youth or youth being used as instruments to receive political ends, I do not wish to comment. But one thing is sure, this issue could have been easily solved if the legislature ponder upon the aspirations of the people and work towards achieving them. The non-existent intervention from the judiciary is also questionable. It’s high time for everyone concerned to pull up their shocks and nip the issue at the bud by understanding the aspiration of the indigenous people before the cry of mothers become our lullaby and the sounds of teargas and mock bombs become the firecrackers of the night. Everybody loves fire crackers but nobody wants them to be a part of everyday life. It will be already late if we sit and wait for the molehill to turn into a mountain.

The writer is a Sociology Honours graduate from Hindu College, Delhi University and can be reached at rockywahengbam@gmail.com

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/ilp-totally-an-adult-issue/

Manipur ILPS demand intensified, JCILPS Jiribam branch burns effigies of CM O Ibobi

Exclusive report from Jiribam by Momon Thoudam. Jiribam 10-July-2015: Joint committee on Inner Line Permit System( JCILPS) Jiribam branch Volunteers of Students’ Wing, JCILPS women organization and civil organizations in the Jiribam

Manipur ILP Demand – Jiribam: A police personal stands near the protest site

Exclusive report from Jiribam by Momon Thoudam.

Jiribam 10-July-2015: Joint committee on Inner Line Permit System( JCILPS) Jiribam branch Volunteers of Students’ Wing, JCILPS women organization and civil organizations in the Jiribam sub division responded to the call of JCILPS and intensified their demand to introduce ILPS in Manipur.

Effigies of Manipur Chief Minister, Deputy CM and Education Minister were burnt today at different places in Jiribam. Protesters also burnt effigies in front of the residence of Revenue & Law Minister and Jiribam MLA Th. Debendra. Normal life has been affected in Jiribam due to the continued agitation.

Click on the below photos to view the photo gallery:

Photos of curfew imposed in Imphal after JCILPS student agitator killed in police action

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/07/photos-of-curfew-imposed-in-imphal-after-jcilps-student-agitator-killed-in-police-action/

MSAD PR on JCILPS student protestor killed (Manipuri language)

Office of the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi New Delhi Press release Ref. No.: MSADPR20150708 Date: 8/7/2015 Yelhoumee kanbagi khongjangda sarkargi force na hatpada thawaina pontha pikhrba athouba maheiroi Sapam

Office of the Manipur Students’ Association Delhi

New Delhi

Press release

Ref. No.: MSADPR20150708 Date: 8/7/2015

Yelhoumee kanbagi khongjangda sarkargi force na hatpada thawaina pontha pikhrba athouba maheiroi Sapam Robinhood, apokpa Sapam Romesh amadi apokpi Sapam Babita (Abi) leipham Khurai Lairikyengbam Makha Leikai amadi Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School Chekon da class XI science da tamliba maheiroi asina changsillakliba khongjangda thawaina pontha pikhibada Manipur Studnets’ Association Delhi (MSAD) na thamoi sokna nungaitaba fongdokchari amadi leihouriba eemung manunggi meeoisinggi awabada saruk yajari loinana ngasigi thoudok asida asok-apan nagkhraba maheiroisinggidamaktasu MSAD na nungaitaba fongdokchari.

Matam kuinadagi changsillakliba khongjang asibu namthanabagidamak paliba sarkar asina maheiroisingbu sa-ngada chatthaagadaba lichat chatthaba haibasi khunnai asibu oosittabani. Tunggi yumbirel oirakkadaba maheiroisingna lairik tamgabada thadoktuna leibakki khallaga chatpa rally da police force sijinnaduna khunai asibu muthatlage khanbagi mawongda tourakliba asi taraina louba matam nattre.

Ngasigi sarkar asi yelhoumeegi khandaba makhoigi furitkhaoda changnaba peisa kharagi khanba leibakki khandaba maikei khangdana chelliba turelgi ichelgumbani.

Manipur Legislative Assembly asi peisa khakta khannanaba leibra ntraga leibakki warep loupham natabra? Leibakki oiba wa khannapham natrabadi masi leibagi wahanthok leiribra?

Sarkargi ludraba thouong asi tasengna maheiroi khunnaibu singnabani amadi asigumlaba thoudok asina henna thouna happaga eikhoi punna amatta oibagi liching makhada changsilliba khongjang asina mai paktrifaoba changsinminasi haina MSAD na meeyamda ningsingjari. Loinana hayen tang 9 July 2015 pung 3 p.m. da DU garden, north campus ta makha taba khongjang changsinnabagidamakta public meeting ama koujari.

CORE PRESS STATEMENT: Extreme abuse of power/failure of Home Department of Manipur to stem disgraceful slide in public affairs

PRESS STATEMENT 8th July 2015 The Centre for Organisation Research and Education expresses utter scorn for the extreme abuse of power and failure of the Home Department of Manipur to

PRESS STATEMENT

8th July 2015

The Centre for Organisation Research and Education expresses utter scorn for the extreme abuse of power and failure of the Home Department of Manipur to stem the disgraceful slide in the public affairs of Manipur. The reported fatal injury suffered by a young boy of 16 years, Sapam Robinhood Singh, S/o Romesh of Keishamthong Thangjam Leirak, presently residing at his mother’s home at Khurai Lairik Yengbam Leikai and studying in class XI (Science) at Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School, Nongmeibung was avoidable and preventable. He was reportedly shot with a tear gas shell on his left check at close range and was rushed to Public Hospital Hatta and was later referred to Raj Medicity, North AOC where he succumbed to the injuries inflicted by the Manipur Police. It has been reported that a large number of students numbering more than forty also sustained injuries and are undergoing treatment at various hospitals around Imphal.

The Manipur Police have been trained in the use of tear gas projectiles and mob control, as stated by official information from the Manipur Police Training College (MPTC) at Pangei. But this report seems to say the very opposite. A peaceful rally is not a mob. Use of fire power by the police is under the domain of the district administration. Who gave the order to fire tear gas projectiles at the students? Excessive and disproportionate use of power is, unfortunately, the character of the Manipur Police.

We condemn the totally unjustified abrupt imposition of indefinite curfew in the Great Imphal area from 3:30 PM of 8th July 2015, seeking excuses in an imagined deterioration of law and order, as a clear demonstration of the total failure of the state administration. Peaceful demonstrations and rallies are the very foundations of the democratic will of the people and the fundamental rights freedom of expression and assembly protected by the Indian Constitution, and not to be confused with deterioration of law and order. It is evident that the government of Manipur is not just anti-people but openly in contempt of the democratic principles of India.

It is paradoxical that the government of India entered into an international human rights treaty on civil and political rights and entered into an obligation to uphold, promote and protect these rights, but it is left to the civil society, children, students and human rights defenders to perform these obligations!

As we grieve with the family of Sapam Robinhood and all the injured young students, we demand an immediate lifting of this draconian curfew imposed in Imphal and the immediate establishment of an independent and fair judicial inquiry into the incident in order to fix responsibility and liability in accordance to the law.

[Dr. Laifungbam Debabrata Roy]

President

Elders’ Council

Press release from CORE, Manipur. They can be reached at laifungbam@coremanipur.org

Jiribam affect by JCILPS bandh as well

Jiribam,7 July 2015 : The 19 hour bandh called by the JCILPS jiribam branch, Conglomerate body of student organization, women organization and civil organization with demands to implement the Inner

Jiribam,7 July 2015 : The 19 hour bandh called by the JCILPS jiribam branch, Conglomerate body of student organization, women organization and civil organization with demands to implement the Inner Line Permit System in the State . Normal life was affected in Jiribam by the 19 hours bandh, All roads leading to Jiribam was closed while schools, offices and business establishments remained closed for the day..