Day: September 4, 2015

IMPHAL, September 4: The Federation of Government College Teachers`™ Associations, Manipur (FEGOCTA) welcomes the State Level Celebration of Teachers`™ Day by the government on September 5, said a statement of the association.

It said the real honour to the teaching community will be sincerity, implementation of the national education policies and the government acting as an ideal employer.

If the government continues the same extra-ordinary delays and fails to act on issues concerning the teachers, the celebration of teachers`™ day will be yearly ritual. It is an occasion for the teaching community to reflect on their new roles, it said.

After new the higher education policy issued by IV1HRD dated 31-12-2008, the only proper thing ft done is the extension of retirement age, the statement said.

On other crucial issues the government`™s actions are characterized by arbitrary decisions, long delays and lack of transparency in higher education. Therefore FEGOCTA demands that the government takes up immediate steps to release the components of salary SCA & TA, grant one increment in the pre-revised scale, to promote about 350 eligible teachers upto January 2015 due since 2009, fill up vacant posts of librarians and non-teaching staff and expedite pending High Court cases, the statement continued.

No actions to promote/create the posts of Professors as per UGC Regulations, 2010, constitution of State Higher Education Service, increase in the higher education budget, GPF ceiling up Rs 1.78 crore etc are hurting the college teachers and higher education in the state. Those polity, government and society which fail to recognize the importance of higher education and respect the teaching profession have not progressed and have disturbing conditions. Manipur is experiencing such situations. It is the primary responsibility of the government to ensure academic atmosphere and provide modern facilities in the educational institutions in the state, it said.

FEGOCTA condemns the violence in Churachanpur and other places since August 31. In a democratic polity the apprehension, fear and differences should be resolved through dialogue among the stakeholders, the association said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/resolve-long-pending-issues-to-make-teachers-day-meaningful-fegocta/

IMPHAL, September 4: The Mapithel Dam Affected Villagers Organization, All Manipur Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union and the Centre for Research and Advocacy, Manipur organised a consultation on `Development Injustice & Sustainable Development Goals in Manipur.`

The consultation was organised at the Nupi Lal Complex with Committee on Human Rights chairman Phulindro Konsam, Panti Gonmei of Rongmei Lu Phaum, Human Rights Initiative director Joykumar Wahengbam as dais members.

In his key note address, secretary of the Centre for Research and Advocacy Manipur Jiten Yumnam explained how unsustainable development policies and projects has displaced communities, wrought environment disaster and perpetuation of human rights violations.

He explained how mega dams, such as Mapithel dam, 1500 MW Tipaimukh HEP project, the 105 MW Loktak HEP project and the extractive industries, such as oil exploration are forcibly introduced against aspiration of communities.

Human Rights Alert director Babloo Loitongbam stressed on the need for equitable development.

Human Rights should be inherent with development justice, he observed.

Babloo also questioned if the current sustainable development goals will ever lead to just development.

He explained unsustainable development often leads to conflict and human rights violation and stressed the need for peaceful and sustainable society.

MDAVO advisor P Grace questioned for whom is development.

He shared how Mapithel dam entailed massive loss and widespread devastation in Mapithel valley ever since the blocking of Thoubal River since January 2015.

He said villages, schools and church were submerged mercilessly. He explained Mapithel dam is a perfect case of development injustice in Manipur.

Laishram Ojit, JAC for Mapithel Dam Downstream Affected Peoples, shared how Mapithel dam is being built without quality control and affected villagers in downstream areas such as Tumukhong, Itham, Moirangpurel etc and how people had to flee to higher and safer grounds.

There is no downstream impact assessment. The dam is unsafe for people in downstream villagers, he observed.

Phulindro Konsam shared how development process in Manipur led to multiple human rights violations and militarization in Manipur and how this benefit only few elites and corporate bodies.

GopenLuvvang of Irabot Foundation shared how introduction of large unsustainable project has led to widespread land grabbing and undermined food sovereignty in Manipur.

Oinam Rajen of All Loktak Lake Areas Fishermen Union shared how the 105 MW Loktak Project submerged more than 80,000 acres of agriculture land without compensating affected communities.

The Loktak Project and other projects has completed undermined food sovereignty of Manipur.He stressed the need for decommissioning of the Ithai Barrage of Loktak project. NHPC continues to remain unaccountable for its violations, he said.

Panti Gonmei, Rongmei Lu Phaum shared how the Imphal Ring Road project financed by Asian Development Bank has threatened to submerge agriculture land, forest and wetlands in and around Imphal.

ADB and Govt of Manipur has failed to provide timely information to communities.

Meanwhile, the participants also adopted several resolutions which included affirming that all indigenous communities have the right to self-determination and self-determined development over their land and resources, expressing concern with the pattern of development injustice in Manipur and human rights violations that antagonize the intrinsic relationship of indigenous peoples over their land and resources, concern with the blocking of Thoubal River-and the inconvenience and harassment meted to both upstream and downstream villagers.^

They also resolved to release waters of Mapithel dam and to let the Thoubal River Flow Free.

A photo exhibition on development injustice was also opened during the consultation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/consultation-on-development-injustice-discusses-government-policies/

IMPHAL, September 4: A man has today charged an organisation based in Lilong Bazar of kidnapping his son who is a police constable for a ransom amount of Rs 3 lakhs.

Speaking to media persons today at the Manipur Press Club, Basir Ahmad said his son who is a police constable had left home for his duty at the Nilakuthi police out-post on August 13.

However, the same day, he was kidnapped by the organisation from Lilong Bazar, Basir claimed.

He said a written complaint was submitted to the Lilong Police OC on August 30 and a Thoubal magistrate had ordered police action against the organisation.

However, the Home department has decided to remain silent till date on the matter involving a personnel of their own, he lamented.

Basir said soon after being informed of his son`™s abduction, he had gone to meet members of the organisation the next day but they told him to bring Rs 3 lakhs.

He said no charges including that of drugs or robbery are levelled against his son, nonetheless the organisation had demanded the amount in exchange for his son.

When he denied them that his poor family couldn`™t afford such a huge amount, the organisation charged his son with unrelated cases, he claimed.

However, if he is involved in any such cases, why have they failed to hand over his son to the police, he questioned.

Basir also charged that the organisation made him listen to his son being tortured on the phone.

Even though it has been more than 20 days, the police including the OC Lilong have decided to remain silent and failed to take any legal action, he claimed.

He demanded whether there was a hidden nexus between the police and the organisation to share the ransom amount.

He claimed the organisation which was set up for the good of the society by the people has today been reduced to an anti-social element and in such a situation if the people arise against it, the government should he held responsible.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/man-charges-lilong-org-of-kidnapping-son/

IMPHAL, September 4: Three vehicles were reportedly attacked and damaged in Tamenglong during the 48 hour bandh called by the United Naga Council restricting vehicular movement in all national highways in the hill districts.

The bandh which started from September 3 midnight was called against the passing of the three bills including The Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill 2015 and two other related bills in the State Assembly.

Around 9:30 am today, bandh supporters stopped a Border Road Task Force vehicle coming from Langkhong to Lukhambi and damaged it.

In the second incident, a Bolero jeep of the Simplex Company was attacked by bandh supporters and damaged it at a road near Lukhambi Village.

Bandh supporters also damaged a personal jeep coming from Ijeirong Village to Noney at Noney Bazar.

Due to the bandh, all forms of vehicular movement remained nil along the highway and other than hospitals and educational institutes, all other offices remained closed.

Construction work of the tallest rail bridge at Lukhambi was also stopped during the bandh, informed sources.

CHANDEL: The first day of 48-hrs bandh call by the UNC passed off peacefully.

The bandh paralyzed movement of passenger carrying vehicles and others plying along sections of NH- 102-C (Pallel- Chandel) and NH-102 (Pallel- Moreh) as Bandh volunteers blocked the road at Tengnoupal, Lamkang Khunou, Liwa Changning, Chandel DC junction and Panchai junction.

DIs and Sumos giving daily services along Chandel `“Chakjpikarong via Sugnu were also suspended during the bandh.

Mini secretariat at DC office complex bore a deserted look due to bandh. Police officials and personnel were seen keeping strict vigil.

However, shops in Japhou Bazar and schools were not affected.

There are no reports of any untoward incidence until the time of filing this last report.

Our KANGPOKPI Correspondent: Suspected supporters of the 48 hr bandh of Thadou Peoples Liberation Army burnt down an iron laden truck along the Trans Asian Highway No.1 near Keithelmanbi cemetery yesterday night at around 9:30 pm.

The Thadou People Liberation Army had imposed a 48 hr total Chakka Bandh along the two National Highways viz. Imphal-Dimapur road and Imphal-Jiribam road from 6 pm of September 3 till 6 pm of September 5 against the three bills passed by the State Assembly.

Meanwhile, the United Naga Council (UNC) also called 48 hr bandh from midnight of September 3 in hill districts of the state.

Unaware of the TPLA Chakka Bandh since most of the print and electronic media of the state failed to carry the said news report of the militant outfit some vehicles had been plying along the Trans Asian Highway last night even after the imposing of the bandh.

A reliable source informed that suspected volunteers of TPLA`™s 48 hr Chakka Bandh shot tyres of some wingers who had been plying along the highway at around 9:15 pm but they

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/unc-bandh-supporters-damage-vehicles-in-tamenglong/

IMPHAL, September 5: The Federation of All Tribal Youth Clubs Manipur strongly condemns the Churachandpur incident when eight precious tribal lives were lost informed a statement.

It said the government is not contended with the breach and robbing of the constitutional right of the Hill Areas Committee to be consulted in any hill related matter.

It also said the association condemns the twenty tribal MLAs who when even their constitutional right is out rightly defied keep on pleading the tribal people that their rights are not infringed upon. We demand immediate resignation of the tribal MLAs who have utterly failed to safeguard the tribals whom they represent, it said.

It is also questionable as to why the state government is denying the people of the right to express and communicate through internet just at the backdrop of the Churachandpur incident, it demanded.

Meanwhile, the BJP Ukhrul has said that the incident in Churachandpur which left innocent civilians death with the toll rising to eight should be condemned by one and all.

Innocent lives have never been riskier than now as Congress rule in Manipur enter its 14th year, it said.

With all signs of constitutional breakdown and human rights violations by the Government of Manipur, no time will be more befitting and appropriate than now to invoke president`™s rule (PR) in Manipur, it said.

Social unrest, chaotic law and order situations and economic failure are some of the tools this government wantonly uses in harassing and torturing the people of Manipur, the statement continued.

Adding fuel to the fire, political intricacies and power struggle within the cabinet have worsened the situation as some MLAs are interestedly creating situations for self political mileage with provocative, rash and imprudent remarks included.

The gory Churachandpur incident on 31 August could have been averted had the cabinet and the Legislative Assembly consulted the Hill Area Committee (HAC) in passing the bills of 31st August which is constitutionally mandatory, it said.

They government is directly challenging art, 338 (A) clause (IX) of the Indian constitution by not taking the HAC into confidence, it continued.

The tribal MLAs deserve no less condemnation, the BJP Ukhrul continued.

Both the government and tribal MLAs of Manipur had played with the tribal peoples sentiments for far too long to avoid distrust and discord, it said.

The height of mockery and disgust is when the self defunct HAC pleaded with the tribals that their interest remains intact even as their special constitutional right to be consulted is vehemently and intentionally crippled, neglected and ignored by passing three contentious bills and issues in just 10 minutes right under their nose on August 31, it said.

Such imprudent practices sidelining the hill people has become a way too deeply ingrained not only in the governance but also in both political and non political set ups in Manipur almost becoming a habit of the state, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/fatycm-condoles-ccpur-incident/

KANGPOKPI, September 4: The Coordinating Committee ATSUM today is ready to submit a memorandum to the State Governor regarding the passing of the three bills in the Manipur State Assembly tomorrow.

The memorandum signed by Maun Tombing and Joseph R. Hmar, convenor and co-convenor of the Coordinating Committee ATSUM said that the All Tribal Students`™ Union Manipur (ATSUM), representing all the tribals of Manipur in general and the tribal students community in particular draw your kind attention to the procedural lapses, unconstitutional processes and anti-tribal clauses contained in the Bills which was adopted by the Manipur Legislative Assembly while introducing and subsequent passing of the three Bills for immediate intervention and necessary action.

The memorandum says that the State Legislative Assembly has committed grave constitutional blunder `intentionally` while introducing and passing of the three Bills as it didn`™t follow the mandatory rules of procedures and conduct of business which says that all scheduled matters in so far as they relate to the hill areas shall be within the purview of the Hill Areas Committee.

It also further said that every Bill, other than a Money Bill, affecting wholly or partly the Hill Areas and Containing mainly provisions dealing with any of the scheduled matters shall, after introduction in the Assembly, be referred to the Hill Areas Committee for consideration and report to the Assembly) of the Manipur Legislative Assembly envisaged under Article 371 C of the Indian Constitution.

It can be noted here, that the above-mentioned Rules of Procedures and Conduct of Business had been clearly violated as the three Bills were neither referred to the Hill Area Committee (HAC) nor considered by the latter before introduction and passing of the said Bills it added.

The Coordinating Committee ATSUM also lamented that the three Bills particularly The Protection of Manipur Peoples Bill, 2015 and The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (Seventh Amendment) Bill, 2015 contained highly objectionable clauses which are clinically designed to deprive and further marginalised the Tribal of their rights and traditional lands.

The Protection of Manipur People`™s Bill, 2015: Section 2 says `It shall extend to the whole of Manipur` means the entire geographical area including the Hills Area, it pointed out.

Therefore, the sentence should be changed to `It shall extend only to the four Valley districts of Manipur`, it demanded.

It further said that the bill includes controversial definition of the `Manipur People` and the undefined meaning of Native People, in the Bill under Section 2 Sub Clause (b) with reference to the base year i.e. The National Registry of citizens 1951, Census Report 1951 and Village Directory of 1951.

Based on this parameter, 80% of the villages in the Hill areas would be rendered unofficial and liable to be derecognized by the government, it said.

It is also to be noted here that Registration of Citizens and census Report in the Hills falls within overview of the HAC for consideration because the `Second Scheduled` of the Manipur Legislative Assembly HAC order 1972 which reads ` The Establishment of Village committee or Councils and other matter relating to village administration and abolition of villages and counting of the numbers of villages in the matter of payment of Hill House tax are made by the respective village headmen/Chiefs as per item No. 9 of the said scheduled matters, it continued.

In the statement of objects and reasons appeared in the third line of the The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms (7th Amendment) Bill, 2015, Bill No. 17 of 2015 five Hill Districts are mentioned which as a matter of fact is within the purview of the HAC.

Section 14B page 3 of the Bill which empowered the State Cabinet to approve purchased of any land in the State which is a complete disregard to the power and function of the HAC, which is the sole authority in matters pertaining to Hill Areas therefore, the cabinet has nothing to do with allotment of land, it claimed.

By virtue of Article 371C, the cabinet is incompetent to consider the matter without the consent and knowledge of the HAC in all matters relating to Hill Districts, it said.

The phrase `One of the Small hill state` appeared in the first line of the Objects and reasons is highly objectionable because Manipur is not a Hill State, it said.

It is a ploy to change Manipur to a Hill State so as to make the Meitei eligible to be included in the list of the Scheduled Tribes of India.

Section 14 A (1) `Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act, Non-Manipur Persons, Firms, Institutions or any other similar entities who intend to purchase any Land in the state of Manipur`¦`¦..` is ambiguous as the terms (Firms, Institutions and other similar entities) does not clearly mentioned whether they (Firms, Institutions or other entities) belongs to Manipur People or Non-Manipur People the memorandum further added.

Moreover, the term `Any Land in the state of Manipur`™ in the same section implies that the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act (MLR and LR Act) shall be extended in the Hill areas of Manipur.

Hence, It is in fact a sinister designed to grab the tribal traditional land in due course of time by way of legal interpretation and means.

Circumstances arising from the above facts and substantiation you are therefore, kindly requested to minutely study the matter and take appropriate steps so as not only to avert major constitutional crises and uphold the sanctity of the constitutional provisions but also to protect and safeguard the rights and traditional land of the tribals in Manipur as well the Coordinating Committee said in the lengthy memorandum.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/coordinating-committee-atsum-draws-govs-attention-points-out-undesired-clauses-in-bills/

LAMKA, September 4: Members of the Autonomous District Council Churachandpur have today come out strongly against attempts to attack the residence of the ADC chairman at New Lamka.

The chairman Langkhanpau Guite flanked by vice chairman Lalhosam and executive members Gouzamang Guite, Grace Zamnu and Khaikhomang Tonsing and others said they are with the people but it pains to see the constant threat against them which so far have been thwarted with co-operation of locals and tribal leaders.

He said the mob which seems to act with no apparent reason seems to be targeting them although they had no hand in the passing of the three bills.

He said they were ever ready to visit the people, however, at times they are attacked by the mob and forced to remain inside the shelter of their own residences.

He further appealed to the people to provide them free movement and their areas be declared free zones.

The chairman, on behalf of his members, asked any group or individual to come out if they (members) had done any harm or used any foul words and that they were ready to beg their pardon.

However, he declared, if the desire to attack was just random, they will use all means at their disposal to protect themselves and no one can aggrieved with the subsequent result.

The chairman also appealed to the protestors not to attack the properties of the ADC like its quarters at Phailian which a mob had attempted to torch last night.

He said such buildings were constructed under the 13th Finance Commission and it will be hard to construct them again.

The EMs of the ADC Churachandpur also expressed that they were elected by the people and supported by leaders of various organisation.

They sought forgiveness if there had been slip of tongue, but added that they will be protecting themselves through their supporters from any attack which is not based on issue.

Issueless attacking will not be acceptable to them and their supporters, they said.

Meanwhile, a team of the UNC led by its president Gordon Kamei, speaker S Kho John, chairman ADC Senapati MI Markson, vice chariman ADC Senapati Hangson, member ADC Senapati Solomon Keino and others including representatives of NPF Manipur Unit, NPO, ZYO met with representatives of the Zomi Council, Kuki Inpi Churachandpur and Hmar Innpui today after paying their respect to the eight who lost their lives during the movement.

During the meeting at the PTC office, the visitors said they were there to talk on tribal unity.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/adc-ccpur-members-appeal-against-attack-on-them/

LAMKA, Sept 4: `I express my sympathy and condolence to all the deceased during the recent violence, and blame the lack of governance by the State government for the resent violation of human rights,` said ex MP Kim Gangte during a press conference today at Tuibuang.

She further demanded the government to review the three bills passed by the Assembly and learn to respect the tribal rights.

She said it is sad to listen to the State Home minister saying that the bills will not affect the Hills.

Gangte also lamented the fact that the centre instead of imposing the Presidents Rule has sent more troops.

This is not the solution, but the solution should be a political one, she said.

She said let`™s not talk about ex-gratia for those killed, but focus on the core issue of political demand of the tribals.

She further challenged the Chief Minister to go on tour in the interior parts of the State as she does to ascertain the real development in the State.

She also demanded the MPs and MLAs to step down for disowning the tribal issue and sough PR in the State.

She said the people should however not communalise the struggle both within the State and outside the State.

She also pointed out the cut of base year of 1951 for pointing out the natives of Manipur is unfortunate as then the country was only three years old and had no proper records.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/kim-gangte-condoles-ccpur-death/