Day: November 9, 2011

IMPHAL November 9: Several civil organizations including the Just Peace Foundation will appeal the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit which will commence in Maldives tomorrow to address militarization and the Sharmila issue.

A declaration of the JPF has appealed to the summit to consider the accelerated militarization in the South Asian region in the name of counter terrorism. It has further mentioned that the military forces are taking over the developmental activities including the mega development projects and extractive mining, devastation of natural resources, displacing and further marginalizing the indigenous peoples inhabiting the region.

It further mentioned that the groups salute the resilience of Irom Sharmila as she enters her twelfth year of hunger strike demanding repeal of AFSPA and considers her as a symbol of struggle for justice. It has also condemned the apathy to take a proper favourable decision on AFSPA, in spite of several official committees and commissions of the government and international bodies like the UN, recommending immediate appeal of AFSPA.

JPF calls upon the governments of South Asia to immediately halt the futile process of militarization generating a spiral of insecurity and to redirect its resources and energy to build genuine democratic institutions to ensure the human security including education, health, housing and other welfare of the people.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/jpf-to-take-sharmila-issue-to-saarc/

IMPHAL, November 9: The state requires more trained and qualified journalists to bring a real change in the society, stated Prof Amar Yumnam, dean, School of Social Sciences, Manipur University who presided over the inaugural function of a three-day workshop on “Citizen Journalism” today at Manipur University, Canchipur.

The workshop has been organized jointly by the Department of Mass Communication, Manipur University and IGNOU Institute for Vocational Education and Training (IIVET), Shillong from November 9 to 11 at the New Block of Mass Communication, Manipur University.  

Prof Amar further maintained that the journalists of the state should take the cause for bringing peace and development to the region rather confining themselves to the gloomy scenario. 

Vice-chancellor of Manipur University, Prof HNK Sarma, who attended the function as the chief guest, asserted that the workshop on citizen journalism would surely encourage the general public to come forward and highlight their grievances to the media.

Democracy would certainly be strengthened if public begin to take part in activities like citizen journalism, he noted.

Editor of Manipur Mail, Ningthoukhongjam Ibungochoubi maintained that citizen journalism is a kind of participatory journalism where the media content is generated by the audiences rather than by the working journalists.

He further appealed to all to join and encourage the movement for citizen journalism.

The participants of the workshop would have more interactions on citizen journalism with Prof Nagaraj from Assam University.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/more-trained-journalists-needed-to-bring-change-in-state-amar-yumnam/

IMPHAL, Nov 9: While condemning the detention of MPP vice-president Y Mangi under NSA, MPP president Dr Nimaichand Luwang has alleged that the arrest of MPP leader was politically motivated by the state government.

He further stated that an emergency meeting of MPP office bearers and advisory committee seriously discussed the detention of Y Mangi under NSA. It was also decided to find out the truth and ensure justice to Mangi as early as possible, Nimaichand asserted.

Recalling the incident of recovering arms and ammunitions from the quarters of some MLAs at Babupara few years back, the MPP president maintained that the MLAs and others involved in the case have not been arrested and detained under NSA.

Nimaichand also clarified that the MPP is yet to take a decision on setting up vice-president Mangi as a candidate in the coming state assembly election.

It may be mentioned that the vice-president of MPP was arrested by Imphal West police commandos along with four other persons on October 30. He has been detained under NSA along with two other arrested persons after they were produced before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate, Imphal West yesterday.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/mpp-decries-vp-detention/

IMPHAL, November 9: Security forces have arrested seven militant cadres during separate counter insurgency operations launched in different part of the state since yesterday.

In the first incident, troops of Assam Rifles reportedly arrested at least six militant cadres from separate places.

A statement released by PRO IGAR (S) informed that troops of 35 Assam Rifles apprehended five cadres of the KCP (MTF) militant while conducting operation in the general area of East Juamding Nallah, Chandel district on November 8.

The arrested cadres have been identified as Naoram Dilip Singh, 27, s/o (L) Nasem Dolendra Singh of Singjamei Makha Naurem Leikai; Rajesh alias Robert, 21, s/o Samjam Chandra Kishor of New Chankon, Imphal; Ranjit, 20, s/o Krishna Lal of Keithelmanbi, Senapati; Sushil Meitei s/o Korinba of Chandrakhong, Thoubal and Krishna alias Kothil, 25, s/o Moshang of Kanaithong, Chandel.

Three AK-56 rifles with magazines, one lathode, one 9mm pistol with magazine, three rounds of AK and four Lathode bombs were recovered from them, it said.

The statement further asserted that troops of 15 Assam Rifles also arrested a lady cadre of the UNLF militant group from the general area of Panghang, Thoubal yesterday.

The arrested cadre has been identified as one Poornima Devi, 45 resident of Nangbram. She has been handed over to Yairipok Police station, it said.

On the other hand, the Superintendent of Police, Imphal east in a statement said that a combined team of the district police and 28 Assam Rifles arrested a lady cadre of the PREPAK yesterday around 8 am from Kongba crossing.

The cadre has been identified as one Maisnam Mani Devi alias Bhai, 25, d/o M Pakchao Meitei of Kumbi Leingang.

It asserted that on spot verification she disclosed to have joined the PREPAK in the month of December 2002 and trained at Shajik Tampak under Army no. 11404 of 11th batch under the command of Linthoi and now working under the command of s/s sergeant major Khuman of PREPAK.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/seven-militant-cadres-including-two-women-arrested/

IMPHAL, November 9: A recent sitting of the state advisory board on National Security Act, 1980, under its chairman Justice (retd) SP Rajkhowa at the office of Central Jail Sajiwa has approved the detention of 11 under trails belonging to different underground organizations under NSA.

According to an official source, the state advisory board on NSA convened three consecutive meetings recently and examined the reports and cases submitted against the 11 under trials identified as, Md Mirai Soukat alias Naocha alias Boy alias Mukib, 23, s/o Md Hayat Ali of Kshetri Mayai Leikai, Elam Mangi Meitei, 50, s/o E Jugindro Singh of Kabowakching Mayai Leikai, Amom Jibam Meitei alias Nanao alias Ibomcha alias Ibomcha alias Achamba, 42, s/o late A Mani of Moirang Khunou Chadapur Mayai Leikai, Salam Nabachandra Singh alias Naba alias Rupa alias Ibomcha alias Dinku alias Kenedy, 40, s/o late S Tomba Singh of Keibul Awang Leikai,  Tongbram Ningol Sandhya Devi alias Roshini alias Anju alias Luck, 25 d/o T Noren Singh of Khumbong Makha Leikai, M. Tominthang Haokip alias Tangboi Haokip, 29, s/o M Jamkhongam Haokip of Chakpikarong Chandel, Takhellambam Mocha Singh alias Khaba, 23, s/o late T Kumar Singh of Wangjing Awang Leikai,  Arambam Geetabali Devi, 27 d/o late A Ibotombi Singh of Sagolband Kangabam Leikai, Laishram Suchilchandra Singh alias Boy alias Chingtam alias Tangleikhomba, 33, s/o L Tombi Singh of  Keishampat Jailor Leirak,  Maisnam Ningol Lukram Ongbi Ranjita Devi, 38, w/o L Paka Singh of  Kanchikhul Mamang Leikai and  Okram Manglemba Meitei alias Nanao, 32 s/o O Ibopishak of Singjamei Okram Leikai, on the ground of their detention under NSA by the different district magistrate and state home department, the state advisory board on NSA have given their approval for the detention of said 11 UTPs under NSA for maximum of 12 months.

On the other hand the recent sitting of the board was attended by the two members of board identified as Dr. Yamini Kanta, Sr. advocate and Joginder Singh, Sr. advocate, the source added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2011/11/nsa-board-approves-detention-of-11-uts-under-nsa/