Day: October 28, 2012

IMPHAL, Oct 28 NNN: Even as the state government of Manipur is setting the ball rolls to conduct the village authority elections in the hill districts of Manipur, tribal organisations opposing to such elections are all set to deliberate on the matter on October 30 at Kuki Inn, Imphal.
Convened by the All Tribal Chiefs Forum, Manipur and Committee on Prtection of Tribal Areas, Manipur (COPTAM), tribal intellectuals, activists, village authorities and those who matter in the issue will participate in the programme.
All Tribal Chiefs Forum, Manipur president T.Kipgen and COPTAM general secretary Thangkam Lupheng have requested all the tribal leaders, tribal frontal bodies and activists to take part in the programme in the interest of the hill districts of Manipur.
“We are taking a common decision on October 30 and the meeting is very crucial,” said Thangkam Lupheng and T. Kipgen.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/deliberation-on-village-authority-election/

An International Peace Poster Contest on the theme “Imagine Peace” was conducted at Sainik School Imphal on 28 October 2012. A total of 106 cadets of the school studying in class VI, VII and VIII participated in the competition which was organised as part of 25th edition of Lions International Peace Poster Contest under the aegis of Lions Club of Imphal Greater, Lions Club International District 322D. In the final result declared by a jury of two members namely Ng Norendrajit Singh and A Ashok Kumar from JNV Khgumbong and Sainik School Imphal respectively, Cadet Prabin Hemam (class VII) was adjudged first while Cadet Rohit Thokchom (class VII) and Cadet Boris Sougrakpam (class VII) stood second and third position respectively. The painting of the winner will be forwarded for District Level Competition to be held at Guwahati in the month of November 2012.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sainik-school-painting-competition/

Imphal, Oct 28 MNS NNN: A newly wed woman was found hanging inside her residence today at Kongpal Mutum Leikai under Porompat Police Station in Imphal East district at around 10 in the morning.
The deceased has been identified as one Mutum (O) Mona Devi (26) w/o M. Ibungomacha of Kongpal Mutum Leikai. Ibungomacha is a police constable currently posting at Porompat Police Station.
The dead body of the deceased has been deposited at JNIMS mortuary for post-mortem, informed the sources.
Meanwhile in a fatal road accident, a man was killed when the scooter he was riding on was knocked down by a Tata truck at Ngariyan under Irilbung Police Station in Imphal East district on October 27 at around 11.30 am.
The deceased has been identified as one Wahengbam Suresh Singh (27) s/o W.Itocha Singh of Nongpok Sanjenbam Khulllen.
According to a report, the accident occurred when the man coming in a scooter accompanied by a woman collided head-on with a Tata truck coming in opposite direction. The man died at the spot instantly after receiving head injuries. However, the woman is said to be out of danger as she sustained minor injuries.
Later, the dead body of the deceased was handed over to his family after performing a post-mortem at Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences .

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/newly-married-found-dead/

SENAPATI, Oct 28 NNN: The Central Organising Committee of the Chagah festival of the Liangmai tribe has invited all the Liangmais across Manipur to come and participate in the gala festival to be held on October 30 at Taphou Liangmai, Senapati.
According to Achapbou Niumai, several dance troupes are all set to showcase their cultural items with MLA from Mao assembly constituency Dikho gracing the occasion.
The event, which is celebrated every year on October 30 by the Liangmai community is becoming a tourists attraction ever since the festival was revived few years ago.
It is expected that large number of people from Tamei subdivision, Imphal, Sadar Hills and Senapati district will participate in the mega festival which is purely a traditional and cultural fete.
Traditionally spreaking, the festival is a several days event but in modern days, it has been cut down to just a day’s affairs.
Liangmai community from children to the aged come in traditional attires to participate in the festival. Rice beer and meat used to be some common menu but after the revival of of the Chagah festival few years ago, rice beer is out of the menu.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/chagai-festival-begins-today/

IMPHAL, Oct 28 NNN: The Zeliangrong Youth Front (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) has resolved to serve a letter to all the militant organisations operating in Zeliangrong areas to abjure violence and also not to loiter about with arms and other weapons. The Zeliangrong Youth Front also resolved to urge the government of India to strictly enforce measures to redress the worsening law and order situation in Zeliangrong areas.
In its executive meeting held on October 26, the ZYF(AMN) had also taken many other resolutions.
The ZYF (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) convened its executive meeting at Khonglong Part-(I) under the jurisdiction of ZYF Sadar Hills Zone pertaining to law and order and different issues in Zeliangrong areas.
The ZYF members unanimously resolved different resolutions including to serve an intimation letter to all the underground organizations operating in Zeliangrong areas to shun any form of violence activities with immediate effect.
“Under no circumstances no cadres of any group should roam freely with arms in public areas,” said one resolution. The ZYF also resolved to approach the government of India to enforce law and order strictly and effectively so as to ensure security of citizens’ lives and properties and also to return to peace and normalcy in the Zeliangrong areas. ZYF will not retrieve or collect any dead body of any cadre belonging to any underground organization if killed by factional fighting among Naga brothers, read a resolution.
On the apex Zeliangrong body issue, the ZYF-AMN decided to write appeal letters to both the organization i.e. Zeliangrong Baudi and Zeliangrong Union to sink their differences and to come together as one after the expiry of their respective present term of office and hold common election with nomenclature as Zeliangrong Baudi (Union) or Zeliangrong Union (Baudi) vice-versa whichever is considered to be suitable and appropriate considering the utmost necessity to have one and exclusive powerful tribe apex body to deal authoritatively of any matter concerning to Zeliangrong people.
The ZYF then resolved to write a letters to United Naga Council (UNC) and Naga Hoho not to recognise any organization as Zeliangrong tribe body in case of separate election is not conducted under common election of one tribe apex body. The ZYF then said that it would have liked to have only one tribe based apex women’s organizationin in Zeliangrong community. The ZYF then decided to monitor and look after all the developmental activities undergoing in the Zeliangrong areas. It also fully supports Indo-Naga peace talk and urged to expedite the Naga peace talk for early settlement. It appeals government of India to start peace talk with other Naga organizations.
The ZYF then resolved to submit memorandum to government of Manipur to reduce number of vehicles (trucks) plying on the National Highway 37 so as to avoid inconvenience caused to general public and to avert frequent accident by the reckless driving of inebriated drivers and to give strong instruction to drivers to avoid alcohol or any intoxicants during the time of driving; to pressurize the District administration to immediately re-open and provide necessary medical facilities to the needy public at Tamenglong district hospital which has been closed down due to alleged threatened by the armed cadres.
The ZYF Sadar Hills zone office bearers also expanded by induction of two executive members i.e. Majalin Phaomei as Advisor for ZYF Sadar Hills zone and L. Meihondai as Education, Games and Sports Secretary for ZYF Sadar Hills zone.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/stop-violence-in-tamenglong-zyf/

Mail News Service
Imphal, Oct 28 : Under the Special Project of NYK, Imphai a programme on the role played by the youth club in bringing peace and development in Manipur was held at the Laikhulembi Hall today. All active member of the Apunba Tengbang Marup (ATM), Uripok and NYC Volunteers ofNYK Imphal took part in the day long deliberation.
The role played by Apunba Tengbang Marup in maintaining peace and harmony in Manipur, voluntary service during seasonal flood, improvement of drainage, lighting of street lamp, helping the Government in public distribution of rice, kerosine, sugar and edible oil to poor families and supporting students in their studies were apprecited by all.
Y. Laksman Singh, District Youth Co-ordinator, NYK Imphal delivered a talk on “Youth Initiative for the Publicity of Message of Development and Peace in Manipur” A slogan Competition was also organised in which Shanti Devi, Biky and Imochouba Singh of Uripok got the first, second and third positions respectively. The DYC also distributed IEC materials to all the participants.
Tourangbam Pari, President of the Apunba Tengbang Marup thanked the official of Nehru Yuva Kendra, Imphal and NYC volunteers for organising programme in the club for the benefit of all the members. He wished to continue development activities in the area with the support and guidance of Nehru Yuva Kendra, Imphal from time ito time.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/nyk-youth-programme-held/

IMPHAL, Oct 28 NNN: Kovillan Smaraka Activist India National Award, annaward from Kovilan Trust, Kerala conferred to Irom Sharmila has been returned back to the Trust after receiving it formally in protest against the government of Manipur’s move to bar people from outside the state as well as the locals from meeting Irom Sharmila, the hunger striker demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Addressing newsperson at Manipur Press Club today, Babloo Loitongbam, stated that the Kovillan Smaraka Activist India National Award which carries a cash reward of Rs 50,000 along with a memento was handed over to Irom Singhajit, brother of Irom Sharmila by Mahashweta Devi, noted writer and activist at a function held at Kolkata Press Club on October 27 at around 4 pm.
He further said Irom Sharmila’s decision not to accept any award still stands tall.
Giving reasons on why the award was received formally then, “The decision to send a team to receive the award was arrived at because it was a good chance to vindicate the stand of Irom Sharmila. Moreover, there was also opportunity to interact with the noted writers and activists of the country present at the awardf unction “.
Irom Singhajit, a trustee member of JPF said that the government has barred organizations and activists from outside as well as of the State to meet with Irom Sharmila.
He further said the foundation will persuade the state government to lift the restriction imposed on Irom Sharmila while adding that it will take up a legal steps if the government does not relax the restriction.
It may be mentioned here that the government of Manipur had rejected the requests made by Mahashweta Devi, noted writer and activist from Bengal to meet with Irom Sharmila in 2009. Irom Sharmila Chanu who has been on fasting since the year 2000 demanding the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the state of Manipur is still lodged in the security ward of Jwaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences, Imphal.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sharmila-returns-award-to-protest-restriction/