May 17, 2015 – Page 3

CCpur road junction named after soldier killed in IED attack

By Alex Guite LAMKA, May 17: In a rare act of showing appreciation and solidarity to the Khuga battalion, Churachandpur under 27 Sector, three village chiefs today erected a stone

By Alex Guite

LAMKA, May 17: In a rare act of showing appreciation and solidarity to the Khuga battalion, Churachandpur under 27 Sector, three village chiefs today erected a stone plaque naming the Khuga Dam-Singat Road junction as `Mohan Junction`™.

Following the formal inaugural function, Mata Village chief Kampu Vaiphei flanked by fellow chiefs of Bualian Village N Vaiphei and K Gamnuam Village Lamthang spoke to media persons and said the three village chiefs endorse the naming of the road junction and any kinds of vandalizing the plaque will be considered as an act against the three villages.

He continued the public can contact the village chiefs in case of any act of vandalism to the plaque so that action can be taken up against the miscreants with the help of law enforcing agencies.

He also asserted that the three village chiefs had themselves asked the CO of the Khuga Battalion as to how they can reciprocate good deeds of the battalion taken up under the Civic Action programmes as which the CO asked them to name the Khuga-Dam-Singat Road junction as `Mohan Junction`™ in honour of the battalion`™s soldier who was killed in an IED explosion near the Myanmar border village of Theigotang in the month of May last year.

It may be recalled that (L) Havildar G.Mohan Kumar was killed on the onset of the 25th Madras Regiment taking over from the Gorkha Regiment last May. He is survived by his wife and infant son.

The inaugural plaque is inscribed with the words, `Mohan Junction named after Late Havilder G.Mohan Kumar who laid his life for the people of Manipur and for the country`

It may also be mentioned that a school boy from Tuilaphai Village of Henglep who was bitten by a snake was saved by the Khuga Battalion medical team last night by administering anti-venom injection.

The boy identified as Manggoulian son of (L)Hauthang is a Class X student of Vumhao Govt Hight School located at Tuilaphai Village of Henglep.

According to his brother, Manggoulian was bitten by a snake around 9:30 last night and was first rushed to the Churachandpur District Hospital but was told that there was no anti-venom injection in the hospital.

However, the boy was injected with an antibiotic, he continued.

Later on the family called on the sitting member of ADC, Churachandpur Grace Zamnu who is a family friend for long, he said adding that the ADC member called on the 35th madras Regiment following which the CO of the battalion send his medical team, he continued.

It is also learnt that on May 14, the battalion had saved another snake bite victim from Mualbem Village.

Meanwhile, Tuilaphai villagers on being asked said there was a government dispensary in their village, however, the doctor comes only occasionally and on rare occasions.

They said the boy was lucky that he had the means of transport and was saved.

Destroyed Spontaneity

In the aftermath of the sorry episode in which escorts of the Manipur Legislative Speaker, Th. Lokeshwor, beat up a sub-inspector of the police for not giving way to the

In the aftermath of the sorry episode in which escorts of the Manipur Legislative Speaker, Th. Lokeshwor, beat up a sub-inspector of the police for not giving way to the VIPs convoy promptly enough, there is one more thing of importance made bare before the public: It is no longer possible to distinguish between spontaneous and stage-managed protests. While there were wide condemnations and adverse media coverage of the high-handedness of the VIP and his escorts, there were also protest pickets, or wakat mipham in colloquial lexicon, supporting the atrocious behaviour of the VIP and his men, although these were restricted to the Speaker`™s home constituency and the Assembly Secretariat. They were even demanding penalty for the victim for daring to stand against what they considered disrespect of VIP privilege. It is another matter that no one took them seriously, for what they were demanding was quite obviously against the pulse in the veins of practically every common man on the street these days. Although not many would have faced the same degree of atrocity as the unfortunate victim on that fateful evening, practically everybody would have experienced the indignity of being honked and sirened out of the way brutishly by these VIPs and their uncouth escorts.

These VIP convoys, although the chief minister, Okram Ibobi had once publicly pledged would prohibit them from taking shortcuts through the Kangla, still continue to do so. On second consideration, maybe this much should be allowed in view of the increasing and perennial traffic congestion on the main avenues that surround the Kangla, but many of these VIP convoys do not have humility and courtesy to do so silently. Even though within the Kangla there are only pedestrians who come to sightsee or pray, many of them still insist on using their beacon lights and sirens, as they zip by. Their eagerness to announce their presence is bewildering, and their act of doing so, a complete public nuisance. Probably they also know they are being a public nuisance, and one gets the feeling that like most spoilt brats, they enjoy the knowledge of their nuisance value. It is unimaginable this is happening when elsewhere in the developed world the effort is to scale down the pomp and fanfare of the State. Even in India, the arrival of Narendra Modi, and much more than him, Arvind Kejriwal, is giving new meaning to what VIP status should be.

Manipur however loves to be in its time warp and lives complacently by the values inherited from the colonial era where the colonial State towered over everybody and the plebeian public must by law be in mystified awe, if not in cold dread of all institutions and individuals that represented the State authority. The ideas of contempt of privileges reserved for these institutions, subjudice, sedition, etc are all about this. The legal understandings of these notions are however transforming, and sensibly too. Even in common usage, all the pompous honorific such as `Your Honour`, `Your Excellency`, `His Highness`, `Her Majesty` are all coming to be replaced by the more plebeian `Sir` and `Ma`™am` even in official communications. This equivalence brought about by an empowerment of the ordinary citizen, is one of the main features that distinguishes democracy. But in Manipur`™s time warp, there were protestors, outraged by the seeming disregard of `VIP Honour` by the man who did not side his car immediately, even if the traffic demanded he delayed doing this for a while so as to cause the least inconvenience to all on the road and to himself.

The blame for this arrested development of the mind in this regard however must go a lot deeper. Stage managing public protests have become a trend amongst our civil organisations, in the process robbing them of their values. Practically every day of the year, there are some group of women in some corner of the streets somewhere with a few placards announcing tired slogans, doing the biddings of some organisation or the other, supposedly protesting. And as in the case of the young shepherd of the school parable, who habitually played the prank of raising the `tiger` alarm and was ultimately killed by the tiger because nobody believed him when he screamed `tiger` when the animal actually appeared, nobody today pays any heed to these ghostly figures on street corners doing their wakat mipham. In Manipur`™s absurd theatre today, there is no longer any certain way of distinguishing spontaneous from fake responses of the people.

Leader Writer: Pradip Phanjoubam

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/05/destroyed-spontaneity/

KSO bans Sangai Express and ISTV for `partial reporting`

IMPHAL, May 17: The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) has resolved to ban The Sangai Express and ISTV in the State with immediate effect charging of being bias. A statement issued

IMPHAL, May 17: The Kuki Students Organisation (KSO) has resolved to ban The Sangai Express and ISTV in the State with immediate effect charging of being bias.

A statement issued by Seiboi Haokip, general secretary of the organisation, stated that the decision to ban the newspaper and the local television news channel was taken in view of the partiality in reporting practiced by the two media with respect to the Haorang Kairel killing incident and Thingsat killings.

It is fully evident from the news reporting that the newspaper and television news channel have prejudiced the Kuki people by resorting to ignore the Haorang Kairel killing incident while giving exclusive and undue coverage to the Thingsat killing incident, it said.

The two leading media have totally ignored and neglected due coverage on the Haorang Kairel killing incident or the crime as a whole. On the other hand, the Thingsat killing incident has been exhaustively reported inciting communal tension in the valley, it continued.

The KSO considers this manner of news reporting as unethical and unfair adding that the lopsided reporting and partiality has tinted the innocent victims of Haorang Kairel incident in a poor light as if the incident that happened was not a crime or newsworthy, it said.

Recalling the incident it said that on May 14 at around 11am, four innocent villagersof Kangchup Songlung viz. Shaktiman driver-Semkhongam Haokip and three workers- Nehminthang Haokip, Lunminhao Haokip and Thangminlun Khongsai, who were called to work by the Shaktiman owner were waylaid by a group of about 40 men at Sanjenbam Lamkhai. After they were dragged down from the truck, they were whisked away in two auto rickshaws and brought to Haorang Kairel, where they were subjected to fatal thrashing with rods and knives it alleged.

On seeing the crime elders of the locality intervened to save the victims and called the police. In the process the police snatched three victims away from the clutch of the mob and were brought to RIMS. The missing Shaktiman driver who was found in the field later was declared brought dead at RIMS.

But this incident has been deliberately ignored and censored by the two leading media in their news reporting, It said.

While in RIMS, the newsmen interviewed the survivors and gathered the details of the dead driver and the three survivors and also the circumstances of the crime. But, they failed to report the crime in their newspapers and feigned ignorance of the incident, it added.

The KSO and the valley based student organizations had also called a press conference condemning the Haorang Kairel incident particularly. But the Haorang Kairel incident has not been reported even though its details or circumstances were given to the reporters in the press interview, it lamented.

Not only the killing of Semkhongam Haokip has been censored in the news, the statements of the KSO and KIM were also distorted. The KSO cannot accept this unfairness without an apology from the two media, it claimed.

The Sangai Express and ISTV are widely subscribed and held in esteemed regard by the Kuki community. But, the two leading media is engaging in biased and lopsided reporting thereby hurting the sentiment of the community. As such the KSO has resorted to take this drastic action of banning the two media from circulating, it concluded.

AFSPA will be repealed only if condition is conducive: Rijiju

IMPHAL, May 17: Implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act depends of the ground situation. We don`™t decide on whether to continue its implementation or not, Union Minister of

IMPHAL, May 17: Implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act depends of the ground situation. We don`™t decide on whether to continue its implementation or not, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju told media persons today.

The MoS arrived, today, at the Imphal Airport around 2:30 pm on a two-day visit to attend election campaign of the BJP in the hill districts of the State.

Speaking to media persons at the airport, Rijiju said if the ground situation is conducive, AFSPA will be withdrawn.

He continued that the report of the withdrawal of the Act from Arunachal Pradesh is not true. We don`™t decide on the Act`™s imposition or withdrawal, however, once the situation is conducive, it will be automatically withdrawn, he observed.

We also want peace prevailing in the North Eastern States, so that this kind of law /Act becomes unnecessary, he added.

However, we need to first prepare a peaceful ground reality in the region to repeal this Act, Rijiju who is from Arunachal Pradesh told the media.

Without peace there can be no development, he continued.

On the issue of a Suspension of Operation signatory group killing two labourers in the State recently, he said we have been informed of the incident and such incidents should not be allowed to happen again.

The incident is very much unfortunate, both the State and Central governments along with the security agencies are working together to ensure that everything is peaceful in the State, he said.

He said actions would be taken against the culprits but it cannot be disclosed at the moment.

Actions will be based on the official report of the ground situation submitted by the agencies of the State government, he continued.

It is an co-ordination effort between the State and Centre, he said adding that one cannot work alone in term of security measurement.

Kiren Rijiju also said that he was in the State to meet his local party workers for the upcoming ADC election in the State.

Big hearts for big political concessions, time for pragmatism and not for losing our marbles!

By Oken Jeet Sandham Delhi’s Interlocutor to Naga peace talks RN Ravi’s attending the 26th General Conference of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) on May 14 at Khonoma is

By Oken Jeet Sandham

Delhi’s Interlocutor to Naga peace talks RN Ravi’s attending the 26th General Conference of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) on May 14 at Khonoma is historic in many ways. First, he is the envoy of the Government of India to the Naga political negotiations. Two, his attending the 26th General Conference of the NSF at a birthplace of legendary Naga freedom fighter AZ Phizo is significant. Third, his coming to Nagaland softens the rigid stand of the Naga people who were initially opposed to his appointment as “Delhi’s Interlocutor” to the Naga peace talks.

Ravi is not new to the Naga political history. He retired as Intelligence Bureau (IB) Special Director in 2012 and soon after BJP-led NDA came to power at the Center last year, his appointment as Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) for a period of three years was approved. Surprisingly, within a week of his appointment as JIC Chairman, he has been appointed as Delhi’s “interlocutor” to the Naga peace talks.

Ravi knows internal security issues and nitty-gritty of the northeast insurgencies. And as he was chief of the premier intelligence club of the country, his primary job was to brief the Prime Minister of many vital issues, particularly security related matters, of the country.

Even Shyamall Datta, before becoming as Governor of Nagaland, used to attend even the meetings of the Center-NSCN (IM) because he was chief of IB. He was busy setting things right for smooth discussion of the NSCN-IM and the Government of India. He was present in number of talks between the leaders of the outfit and the representatives of the Government of India held at various parts of the world. Sending him right after his retirement from the IB as Governor of Nagaland by the then NDA Government under the Prime Ministership of Atal Behari Vajpayee was mainly to help expedite the ongoing peace process and see the grounds for strengthening the process and create peaceful environment. And it was no wrong choosing a high profiled man who had vast knowledge on the country’s issues and problems to become Governor of Nagaland. It was rare having such a man who had the knowledge of the Naga issue as Governor, although he, as Governor, might have limited role to play but when he himself knew the subject of the ongoing peace process, it carried sense and those players in the theater could not undermine him.

Ravi was, however, critical of the Naga insurgents and peace process as could be seen from his past write-up which became the sore point compelling Naga civil societies to initially oppose to his appointment as “Delhi’s Interlocutor to Naga peace talks.” Pressures were mounted on the Government to such an extent that the Home Ministry had even forwarded a fresh proposal to replace him but it was turned down by the PMO. The rest is history.

But seeing his mind on the current Naga peace process after he spoke out at the 26th General Conference of the NSF at Khonoma and afterwards to media persons, he is rather in a tangle. Whatever he said was on the expected lines. Nothing new! Nothing extra! The least the people expected from his visit, of course, was that he would endorse Prime Minister Modi’s assurance of “time frame” for settling the Naga political issue in 18 months. This remark of the Prime Minister was even quoted on few occasions none other than by Nagaland Chief Minister TR Zeliang.

Although the Nagas were stunned by Modi when he did not utter a single word on Naga issue while delivering his historic inaugural speech at the “Hornbill Festival” onDecember 1 last year at Kisama and the day was also coincided with the “Nagaland Statehood Day Celebration,” many simply thought that since he already had assured a “time frame” of solution to the Naga issue within 18 months, he might not have felt it necessary to mention in such an event. Even Zeliang was taking that way.

To me, precious time has been wasted on unnecessary issues. If there is a hindrance, then it has to be resolved. We have seen enough that confrontational attitudes have not worked while searching solution to the political issue. Such attitudes have only bred unpolitical problems compounding more to the issues. The Government of India has also failed to exploit the unprecedented positive outcomes generated by FNR’s consistent efforts. In fact, who could believe that members of the NSCN rival factions would form one team to play soccer against a team of Naga civil societies? Who could believe that the members of the NSCN rival factions would happily mingle with one another and have pleasant discussions across the table? The Naga people’s crying for “unity and reconciliation” is more than their yearning for “solution” to the Naga issue. For they know that without unity and reconciliation, no permanent and tangible solution will come about.

Many retired top Indian bureaucrats had already served as Delhi’s Interlocutor to Naga peace talks. Former Nagaland Chief Secretary RS Pandey, after his retirement from the Central Government, was also appointed as Interlocutor by previous Congress-led UPA Government. Although he placed his concept of “shared sovereignty” to solve the Naga issue, he was still cautious of giving any “time frame.”

Anyway, Modi is the only Indian Prime Minister who assured a “time frame” for the settlement of Naga issue. He is also the first Indian Prime Minister who did not utter a single word on the Naga issue while visiting Nagaland during “Hornbill Festival” last year.

Modi, BJP leader, is undoubtedly the most powerful Prime Minister with 282 BJP MPs in Lok Sabha, crossing half-mark of Parliament strength, besides allies joining his Government. And when he announced a “time frame” of resolving the Naga political issue with this strength, nobody disbelieved him.

The settlement of the Naga issue demands a “political will” from a strong Prime Minister backed by a strong Government. If all his actions right after becoming the Prime Minister are to be taken, he appears to be straight. Yet, his knowledge to the long-drawn out Naga political history appears to be not very deep.

But, what is “political will”? It not just the Prime Minister takes decision on certain issue but it is how he politically presents his political blueprint with realistic political approach to the issue for the benefit of its intention, usually for the public welfare. And before any such step being planned, he has to examine the outcomes from the process being presented by his Interlocutor and the Representatives from the other party.

It is really complicated but we need big hearts for big political concessions if we prefer “political will” for settlement of the “complex Naga political issue” once and for all. Time for pragmatism and not for losing our marbles!

Manipur lose 1-2 against Maharashtra – The Sangai Express

Manipur lose 1-2 against Maharashtra
The Sangai Express
IMPHAL, May 17 : Maharashtra overcame Manipur by a margin of 2 goals to one in the quarter final league of the Sub-Junior Girls’ National Football Championship, 2015, today at Cuttack, Odisha. In today’s match, Babysana of Manipur banged in the opening …
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Manipur lose 1-2 against Maharashtra
The Sangai Express
IMPHAL, May 17 : Maharashtra overcame Manipur by a margin of 2 goals to one in the quarter final league of the Sub-Junior Girls' National Football Championship, 2015, today at Cuttack, Odisha. In today's match, Babysana of Manipur banged in the opening …
Manipur draw Jharkhand 1-1E-Pao.net

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Russian film fest begins in Manipur – Assam Tribune

E-Pao.netRussian film fest begins in ManipurAssam TribuneConsul General of Russian Federation in Kolkata Mrs Irina K Baskirova, Vice Consul and Director, Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Kolkata, Yuri Dubovoy, Consultant to Government of Manipur…

E-Pao.net

Russian film fest begins in Manipur
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Consul General of Russian Federation in Kolkata Mrs Irina K Baskirova, Vice Consul and Director, Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Kolkata, Yuri Dubovoy, Consultant to Government of Manipur RK Nimai Singh and Secretary, Arts & Culture, …
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ADC poll campaign gains momentum in Manipur – Nagaland Post

ADC poll campaign gains momentum in ManipurNagaland PostUnion minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju and Union minister of state for human resources development Ram Shanker Katheria arrived Sunday on their two-day visit in Manipur. During their campin…

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Union minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju and Union minister of state for human resources development Ram Shanker Katheria arrived Sunday on their two-day visit in Manipur. During their camping, the two ministers are scheduled to attend an election …
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Chief Minister seeks Centre`s nod to set up IIT in State

IMPHAL, May 17: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today drew the Centre`™s attention to set up an Indian Institute of Technology, IIT in the State. He was speaking at the

IMPHAL, May 17: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh today drew the Centre`™s attention to set up an Indian Institute of Technology, IIT in the State.

He was speaking at the inaugural function of the Administrative Block, Academic Block-I and laying of foundation stone for the PG Boys Hostel of the National Institute of Technology, Manipur at the institute`™s permanent campus at Langol today.

The Chief Minister was also accompanied by the Union Minister of State, Human Resource Development, Prof Ram Shankar Katheria during the function.

Ibobi said the Centre could upgrade the existing Manipur Institute of Technology, MIT to an IIT.

Upgrading the MIT to IIT level will not be difficult as the MIT has the adequate staff which is well qualified and the State is ready to provide the required land, the Chief Minister observed.

He said the State has been providing required land for setting up of any Central project in the State and will continue to do so.

A reputed institute in the State will be much beneficial, he said elaborating further that, Manipur being a strategically well placed gateway to the South Asian countries, setting up of any such institute will attract many students from the neighbouring countries as well as from other States of the country.

The neighbouring country of Myanmar is still lagging behind when it comes to education and as such setting up of a reputed institute in Manipur will be able to attract many students from the country which will also help in improving the relationship between the two countries, Ibobi added.

Meawhile, Prof Ram Shankar Katheria assured to provide any requirement for the development of education sector in Manipur.

Speaking at the function, Prof Ram Shankar Katheria said he will collect reports on the education scenario in the State and discuss the issue along with the concerned Union Minister.

At the same time, the State government should also apprise the Central government about its requirements to develop Education sector in the State, he said.

The MoS further directed the project manager of the NIT campus construction to maintain proper quality in the construction of the institue so that the building is strong.

There is quite a lot of hope on this institute, he said and added that students of the institute will one day bring much name and fame to the State and country.

The series of Union Ministers visiting the North Eastern States including Manipur is following an instruction of the Prime Minister, he said.

The Prime Minister has instructed the Union Ministers to look into all loopholes which are creating hindrances in developing the region and to help in their full capacities to uplift the region, he continued.

`We are not coming for picnics,` he asserted, continuing further that certain measures and steps will be taken up to develop the region.

Prof Ram Shankar Katheria also lauded the State Chief Minister for initiating the process of setting up the technology institute in the State and the concerned authority, faculty members for working tirelessly.

The function was also attended by chairman, BOG, NIT Manipur, Prof Yagnaswami Sundara Rajan; director of NIT Manipur, Dr S Birendra Singh, faculty members and other government officials.

Dr Syed Ahmed sworn in as Governor of Manipur – TwoCircles.net

TwoCircles.net

Dr Syed Ahmed sworn in as Governor of Manipur
TwoCircles.net
Imphal: Dr Syed Ahmed was sworn in as the 16th Governor of Manipur at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan here on 16th May 2015. Chief Justice of Manipur High Court Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr Syed Ahmad.
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TwoCircles.net

Dr Syed Ahmed sworn in as Governor of Manipur
TwoCircles.net
Imphal: Dr Syed Ahmed was sworn in as the 16th Governor of Manipur at the Durbar Hall of Raj Bhavan here on 16th May 2015. Chief Justice of Manipur High Court Laxmi Kanta Mohapatra administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr Syed Ahmad.
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