Tag: press release

NEWS RELEASE
April 26, 2012

APC joins global call to revoke plans to build Tipaimukh dam

The Asian Peasant Coalition (APC) joins global call to revoke plans to build Tipaimukh dam in Borak River East India.

“We denounce the Government of India for pushing the construction of the proposed 1500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydroelectric Project (HEP) across Barak River in Manipur. and within 100km of Bangladesh border. All of the five public hearings on the project held between 2004 and 2008 have ignored the voices of the indigenous Hmar and Zeliangrong communities violating their right to participate in the decision-making processes and the right to their Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC),” remarked Fathima Burnad, APC Chairperson and concurrent leader of the Tamil Nadu Women’s Forum (TNWF).

“The construction of the dam when completed would bring about a major disaster for Bangladesh, virtually drying up the Surma and the Kushiara Rivers in winter season, which water most of the North-Eastern regions of Bangladesh. The dam would hit the people badly,” according to Badrul Alam, APC Vice-chairperson for External Affairs and President of the Bangladesh Krishok Federation (BKF).

Burnad stressed that, “A large number of Zeliangrong and Hmar people in India will be displaced permanently with the submergence of about 311 sq. KM covering 90 villages, affecting an area of nearly 2000 sq. KM.”

Both leaders said, “The project has put at stake the rights of the affected communities to their lands, territories and resources, including their livelihood, traditional knowledge, cultural values and identity.”

Both leaders added that, “ the construction work of the Tipaimukh Dam was postponed in March 2007 due to protests from different parts of Bangladesh and India. We can do it again! Let us intensify our action against the construction of Tipaimukh Dam.”

The APC calls on the Government of India and the Government of Manipur to:

1. Revoke the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Government of Manipur in India and National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) and SatlujJalVidyut Nigam Limited (SJVNL);
2. Fully adhere to the recommendations of the World Commission of Dams and UNDRIP – particularly regarding FPIC – before proceeding with the dam;
3. Conduct holistic Impact Assessment, such as on the socio-economic, environmental, cultural, health and human rights impacts due to the proposed Tipaimukh Dam, oil and petroleum exploration in the Barak River Basin in Manipur , Mizoram, Assam and Bangladesh with due participation of all affected peoples; and
4. Stop all forms of development aggressions and militarization. #

APC Secretariat
Rm. 2, 2nd Floor
25-B Matiyaga Street, Bgy. Central
Quezon City, Philippines

APC joins global call to revoke plans to build Tipaimukh dam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/apc-joins-global-call-to-revoke-plans-to-build-tipaimukh-dam/

1st IMPHAL METAL CONVENTION 2012: A brief review

1st IMPHAL METAL CONVENTION 2012

The Imphal Metal Convention which was held on the 14th of April at YAC ground, Imphal, was not just a music concert where popular bands come and play. It was a convention where senior musicians were invited and a photo exhibition of yesteryears rock bands of Manipur took place apart from the conventional rock concert. It also marked the official reunion of Post Mark after 18 years, which pioneered the metal scene with their album “Stamp on you”, that was released sometime in late 80′s/ early 90′s.

The bands that took part in the 1st Imphal Metal Convention: Metal Age Reloaded Festival 2012 were-
1) Post Mark (headlining act)
2) Yonsample
3) Azure Delusion
4) Cleave
5) Sandrembee
6) Dead Mobster
7) Chem Weed FM

Here’s a brief review of what went down that night-

Sandrembee opened the metal convention with a cover of Meshuggah’s classic ‘New Millennium Cyanide Christ’. They had some glitches here and there but they did manage to stick to their guns, by the end of the song the crowds were screaming ‘Meshuggah! Meshuggah!’. Their other song was “Metal Age”, a tribute cover of Post Mark’s original.

Dead Mobster, a death-core band from Imphal was the next band to perform. Their tight stage presence and performance proved that they were indeed the rising star of metal in Manipur. Their set-list included ‘Recreant’ (Chelsea grin), 18th (original song based on June 18th massacre of Manipur), ‘Killers don’t cry’ (original song), ‘Entombment of a machine’ (Job for a cowboy)

The next band was Azure Delusion, a math-thrash metal band from Nagaland. They delivered a powerful performance with raw stage ethics and hand banging. Their set-list included ‘Roots bloody roots’ (Sepultura), ‘Refuse resist’ (Sepultura) and ‘Hammer smashed face’ (Cannibal Corpse).

They were followed by Cleave, a popular band in the scene with a new line-up enthralled the crowd. They had a keyboard player minus a guitar player and yes, they lived up to their name. The vocalist with gothic-black metallic face paint blended so well with their ”progressive seclusion metal”. Their set-list were ‘ART’ (a song based on HIV/ AIDS), ‘Instantly silent’ (A slow song based on fantasy), ‘Incepting me own’ (an instrumental) and ’7 years devastation’ (based on Burmese invasion 1819–26).

Chem Weed FM was the band that followed. This Imphal based progressive metal band surely is arguably one of the most under-rated bands of Manipur. Many who witnessed them perform at the convention praised the guitarist, drummer and the vocalist. Their set list were Demons nightmare (original track), Ghost walking (Lamb of God), Walk to within hell(Lamb of God).

Next was Yonsample, the acclaimed Kolkata prog/tech band. Right from the very first riff they captured the crowd with their pure hard-edged performance. By the end of their allocated set-list the crowd were screaming ‘once more’ and yes, mosh pits were noticed when they started playing. They belted out all original numbers – ‘The Instauration’, ‘Break Through’, ‘Espial Abyss Afloat’, ‘Reincranation’, ‘Passage’, ‘Chaos Theory’.

The final act was the legendary Post Mark. Already a cult band for many, they were tight on stage and also sported their unique cultural themes. Their new vocalist Uttam, a popular singer in Manipur was a welcome surprise. They played ‘Metal Age’, ‘It’s So funny’ and ‘Soar High’, all from their cult album ‘Stamp on you’,

With flashing shutter lights, muddy mosh pit formations, crowd surfing and screaming cheers by around 2000 metalheads the 1st Imphal Metal convention came to a conclusion. From the decades old humble beginning to the many internationally acclaimed events happening in the country this Imphal Metal Convention is sure to acquire the much needed attention of the world.

In the evening, before the concert started there was a photo exhibition. Photographs of The Kids ( early 60′s), Waikhom Umakanta and Angom Pratap (early 60′s), Magnetoz (late 60s), Makhons (1971), Runway Tracks (1972), Phoenix(1980)/ Phynyx (mid 90′s), Cannibals (1985), Hell’s Angels (1985), Dark Krusaders (1986)/ Drixian Empire(mid 90′s), Brain Damage (1987), Death’s Guitar (1988), Post Mark (1989), Heavenly Fingers(1989) etc were displayed.

Almost everyone who came for the gig made a visit to the photo exhibition stall, from the veteran to young fans, to senior ladies (who came attired in phaneks). They were thrilled to see all the photos of the yester-years’ rock stars as most of them have never seen those photos before, and many of them never knew those bands existed. Some of the erstwhile band members were overwhelmed with nostalgia as they hugged each other, and talked about the years that have gone by.

Pioneer stalwarts of Manipur’s rock – Sando Laishram, Paul Gangmei, Nutan Elangbam, Angom Pratap, Bobby Nameirakpam, Ringo Golmei, Vivek Sharma, Thanlian, Mick, Len Gangte et al were among the invitees who came at the convention. Some of them were interviewed by TV Channels; some of them were called up on the stage. Paul Kamei, the vocalist of the then Machine Head (early 80′s) and Cannibals (1985) expressed his gratitude towards honoring and reviving the lost history of rock in the state. Regarded as the best front-man, Lien Gangte (vocalist of Phynyx/Phoenix) retold the past memories of the rock artists, their struggle and experiences with limited window to the outside world.

There was also a stall where the DVDs of Rock Music Manipur vol.1 were sold. For starters RMM v1, is a compilation album featuring 37 songs from 25 bands of Manipur, that got released last month.

With no major sponsors, we suffered some financial losses. Even if it was so, the goals set out were met in almost every aspect. The talents of metal bands of Manipur were given the much needed opportunity to perform. The sound quality was improved from past events; the crowd that gathered were the real witness to it. Most importantly, the pioneer rock bands of the state who started it all were honoured for the first time in the history of Manipur. The legendary Post Mark made a gala comeback after 18 years. Imphal witnessed multiple mosh pits and crowd surfing. Also a performing band (Yonsample) was called back on the stage for another song by the crowd at the gig, something alien in the Manipur rock scene so far. The first ever ‘Live video streaming’ of a gig was done in the internet via RMM website. In the recent past, perhaps for the first time there was no sponsor logo on the stage.

The Convention was organised by The Greens, Sandrembee, Riverboat Event Management, Rock Music Manipur (RMM), a congregation of youths from the state and various parts of the world; without any affiliation with political, exoteric social connections or the corporate world. Indeed metal in Manipur is kept alive by these dedicated core fans who did all the work – putting up poster in the streets of Imphal and other districts, driving around doing the ground work – not to forgetting the sky high petrol price, ticket printing, ticket selling, printing photos for the exhibition from Bangalore, getting the band from Nagaland by road, going around to give invitation to the members of pioneer bands, updating websites, video live streaming, setting up the stage, photography, selling DVDs, and more even after the event got over. Boss (Beverage), Likla (Beverage), E-Pao.net (Web portal), Scot Edil(Pharmaceutical stockist) generously made financial contribution, besides some fans and well wishers. Many were talking about the familiarity and belongingness people shared in the metal convention. The volunteers, organizers, the rock veterans, the bands, the crowd all had a good time. The love for metal music and the message of oneness it carried put this metal convention true to its meaning, and promised more of it in the near future.

Quotes:

“Times are changing in the North-east and IMC is a proof of that. We are honored to be a part of IMC. We had no idea that there were so many people who like heavy music in Manipur and we were awestrucked by the response of the audience.”
-Yonsample (Kolkata)

”IMC was one of the most memorable shows of Azure Delusions”
– Azure Delusion (Kohima)

“You can see and hear only when you attend any concert anywhere. But in Imphal Metal Convention (IMC) you could feel it and it touched the hearts of many people, who attended the concert and also to those who didn’t attend the concert – that’s the difference between IMC vs other concerts. Last nite (IMC) made lots of records- the first IMC, the first time our very own Manipur’s yesteryears rockers/legends (cutting across all caste, tribe and nation ) were honour in front of a headbangin’ metal freaks. That was a sweet priceless gesture which money can’t buy.”
– Loon Gangte

“Manipur gi sound system se phei fate pang ngangda ngangnei. Ei di kem khangba nate ado ngasai Yonsample gi makhol do adumai na touba amukfao manipur da tadri” (We say that Manipur’s sound system is not good. I am not an expert in sound, but I have never heard the sound like that of Yonsample before in Manipur!)
– Tenzing Nandeibam

“Rock n roll was buried in the ground but now this convention has woken up everyone”.
– Paul Gangmei (Machine Head/ Cannibals)

“Me and my metal head friends had an awesome time.. we headbanged, slam danced and did some ‘thabal chongba’ for 3 straight hrs and some mins because of the energy those guys were giving out in the form of unity and the music we all believe in.”
– Rocky Sharma

“Besides listening to many bands that were performing at IMC my mind was blown away with the young folks who love metal.. they reminded me of the metalheads at Wacken Open Air metal festival that we saw via DVDs. Seeing slides show put up in the screen on stage of those yesteryears legends I was asking myself why I wasn’t born that time.. they were the real metalheads…those bands, the way they put up their dress the way they performed.. those photos are real assets that we need to kept till the end of time..”
– Prinzy Kshetrimayum

“It’s really an honor to be remembered. Wish you a very successful endeavor in the years to come. May this event keep on continuing”
– Lien Gangte (Machine Head/ Phynyx)

“The new generation should be sincere and serious and entertain-able besides showing one’s skill only. I admire composition but I prefer music that can make people understand the message they want to give. The PA system and sound engineering should improve. I like most of the upcoming bands in Manipur’s rock music scene, they are second to none. Manipur has got lot of hidden talents. We need promoters to showcase the talented bands to the audience outside Manipur”
– Sando Laishram (Runway Tracks/ Phoenix)

By:
The Greens
River Boat
Sandrembee
Rock Music Manipur (RMM) and all the volunteers.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/05/1st-imphal-metal-convention-2012-a-brief-review/

We have officially started an Online Petition addressed to the Prime Minister of India, copied to the President of the Govt. of India, Chief Minister of Karnataka and Manipur, and the Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission.

The link to the online petition is:
www.change.org/petitions/bring-justice-for-richard

About the petition:

On the 18th April 2012, Loitam Richard, a 19 years old architecture student was found dead lying in a pool of blood in his hostel room. Police investigation and witness have revealed that he was assaulted the day before in his hostel and died sometime during the night.

Archarya NRV school of Architecture, Bangalore, the investigating police team and some news daily have blamed the death possibly due to a minor road traffic accident he met few days ago and drug abuse.

However, his parents believe he was severely assaulted and died sometime soon without anyone coming to his help. Initial post-mortem have revealed that he had sustained head injury with bleeding in his brain and several other injuries in his body including wounds which we believe are defensive in nature.

Many days have passed, and no one has been arrested or held accountable for the unfortunate incident and questionable events that followed after.

According to his parents, Richard was the best son they could wish for, who was very strong academically and in sports. They strongly deny the story of linking drug abuse to the death of their well-mannered son and believe it is an attempt to malign and defame their loving son and the tragic incident.

Please join us in demanding a fair and thorough investigation, including looking for possible aggravating factors as deserved by any other citizen of India and give justice to Loitam Richard and his bereaved family.

——

Many thanks for your support. We would really appreciate if you could share this information with everyone, your contacts, and help urge the citizens of the country to sign the petition.

Kind regards,
Justice for Richard Campaign Team

Posted: 2012-04-29

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/justice-for-richard-campaign-sign-online-petition/

Justice for Richard Loitam – Mass Sit In Protest and Candlelight Vigil

Justice for Richard Loitam (Facebook group with around 1 lakh members) is organizing a mass sit in protest and candlelight vigil at different cities across india on Sunday, 29th April,2012 demading justice to Richard Loitam.

We request you to kindly put the details in your esteemed website so that the news of the event reach as many people as possible.

1. BANGALORE: 4-6 PM, TOWN HALL

2. DELHI : 2-6 PM, JANTAR MATAR FOLLOWED BY CANDLE LIT VISIT AT INDIA GATE 7-8 PM

3. IMPHAL: 4-7 PM, URIPOK YAMBEM LEIKAI

4. PUNE : 5.30 PM, BLEU NILE BUND GARDEN ROAD, OPPOSITE POONA CLUB

5. HYDERABAD: 5:30 PM, “SIT IN PROTEST” and “CANDLE LIGHT RALLY” @Hyderabad Central University.
Regards
Team Justice for Richard Loitam

For more reference:

• News item: http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_richard-loitam-death-campaign-for-justice-goes-viral_1681780
• Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/410394948972870/

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2012/04/justice-for-richard-loitam-mass-sit-in-protest-and-candlelight-vigil-sunday-april-29/