November 17, 2015 – Page 3

Traffic regulations imposed to ease vehicular congestion during Sangai Festival

IMPHAL, November 17: With the aim to ease traffic congestion during the much awaited Manipur Sangai Festival 2015 from November 21 to 30, the Transport director has imposed certain traffic

IMPHAL, November 17: With the aim to ease traffic congestion during the much awaited Manipur Sangai Festival 2015 from November 21 to 30, the Transport director has imposed certain traffic regulations and declared parking lots in and around the main Venue of the festival at Kangjeibung.

The traffic regulations will be with effect from November 19 and continue till November 30.

According to an official order, Lamlong Bridge will act as entry and exit point for both commercial and private/ public vehicles, whereas at Minuthong and Old Thumbuthong only two wheelers and Light Motor Vehicles will be allowed entry and exit (excepting Sangai festival related vehicles viz transportation of stall materials, SLF Ferry buses and security vehicles, etc at Minuthong).

The Sanjenthong, which will be inaugurated tomorrow ahead of the festival, will be one-way traffic system for LMVs and two-wheelers with vehicles allowed to move from west to east (excepting VVIP/VIP and emergency service/ security vehicles).

The New Thumbuthong (Loklaobung) and the Singjamei Bridge will act as entry and exit for both commercial and private/ public vehicles, the order said.

In Imphal East, heavy vehicles including passenger transport service vehicles will be diverted from Kongba Junction towards Ayangpalli Road or Kongba Nandeibam Leikai, Singjamei Road; from Yonglan Leirak East junction towards Kongba or Porompat sides along Ayangpalli Road; from Porompat Traffic point towards Kongba side or Lamlong side along Ayangpalli road; from Lamlong bazar towards Lamlong Bridge, Dingku Road or Ayangpali Road.

In Imphal West, heavy vehicles including passenger transport service vehicles will be diverted from Moirangkhom Bazar Traffic Point towards Singjamei side or Krishna Premi Oil City, Moirangkhom side; from North AOC towards Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak, Lamlong Bridge; from Chingmeirong Khongnang Ani Karak towards Lilashing Khongnangmakhong, Watham Leirak Thanqmeiband side.

Both sides of the roads between Sanjenthong to Thangal General Statue Traffic Island, between Thangal General Statue Traffic Point to. Minuthong and along the lane from Advance Hospital to Harikhagok Makhong Crossing will be no parking zones.

Parking lots have been identified at Andro parking (subject to reservation of parking space for SLF Ferry Buses), Wangkhei Keithel Ashangbi, NSK Club, Wangkhei road, Archaeology plot on Wangkhei Road, Ningthem Pukhri Mapal whole circle, Ramji Prabhu School, Ningthem Pukhri mapal, RDS School and Wangkhei Girls H/Schooi (New Model School).

The MFDC complex and the MB College campus will act as parking space for security officials and the City Convention Centre and CC Higher Secondary School campus will act as parking for official and media (with valid car passes).

Parking for VVIPS like chief guests, high dignitaries, delegates etc will be at the Western Lane of Hapta Kangjeibung from north to south along BOAT shall be used for parking since they will be driving inside upto the BOAT. If required, the campuses of Iboyaima Shanglen as well as that of Art and Culture Auditorium may be used, it said.

Further according to the order, only vehicles of additional CS and above ie Governor, Manipur CM, Manipur Deputy CM, all ministers/ parliamentary secretaries, MLAs, official delegates shall be allowed entry from Lamyanba Pakhangba for proceeding to BOAT.

Intermediate public transport vehicles including Diesel Autos should take right turn from the main road (Kangla Road) and on entering M-Sector’ by lane proceed towards Governor Road/Paona Bazar via Fire Bridge Road as part of traffic arrangement in connection with the International Polo Tournament 2015 (Nov 22 to 29 excepting Nov 28).

Further no parking of vehicles other than VVIPs/VIP, Organisers and invitees etc (with Car passes) will be allowed at Pologround Maning parking, it said.

Militants defy ‘night-curfew’ kills AR trooper in Chandel ambush

IMPHAL, November 17: Atleast one personnel of the Assam Rifles was killed and two others grievously injured in a militant ambush in Old Samtal area of Chandel district. The ambush

IMPHAL, November 17: Atleast one personnel of the Assam Rifles was killed and two others grievously injured in a militant ambush in Old Samtal area of Chandel district.

The ambush comes just five months after the deadly June 4 Paraolon ambush which left 18 Assam Rifles personnel dead and several injured.

Defying the ‘night curfew’ imposed by the Army and Assam Rifles since mid October along the highly porous Myanmar border to check militant activities, a patrolling party of the 3 Assam Rifles was ambushed today in the interior area of Chandel district near old Somtal by heavily armed insurgents.

Sources said the attack occurred at around 3 pm and continued till late night, leaving one Assam Rifles personnel dead and two others grievously injured.

There may be more injuries, but reports on the number of injured remain sketchy at the time of filing this report.

It is learnt that the Assam Rifles troopers were conducting a detailed patrolling in the area between border pillar number 59 and 60 at around 3 pm today.

The patrol party numbering around 40 personnel were moving amidst the thick jungle terrain, when all of a sudden, automatic gunfire broke out aimed at the front of the patrolling party.

The 3 AR party was heavily ambushed by well armed militants using sophisticated weapons including grenade launchers, according to the source.

As the Assam Rifles personnel also took cover, there was heavy exchange of gunfire between the two sides which continued for hours.

As the said area is located more than 8 hours from the Assam Rifles headquarters, moving in swift additional reinforcements to the attack spot was logistically un-feasible, according to a source.

It is learnt that the two injured Assam Rifles personnel are being brought back along the jungle track which is not motorable.

It is also learnt that the attackers later retreated into the jungle and crossed the Myanmar border afterwards.

At the moment, there is no claim from any particular insurgent group but the area of operation is mainly dominated by some valley based underground organizations and NSCN (Khaplang).

The Paraolon ambush was carried out by a joint team of the NSCN (K), KYKL ad KCP which are members of the United Liberation Front of Western South East Asia (UNLFW).

4th State level Tribal Cultural Fest from Nov 18

IMPHAL, Nov 17: The Tribal Research Insitute, Manipur is organising the 4th State Level Tribal Cultural Festival on November 18 and 19 at its office complex, Chingmeirong Imphal. The inaugural

IMPHAL, Nov 17: The Tribal Research Insitute, Manipur is organising the 4th State Level Tribal Cultural Festival on November 18 and 19 at its office complex, Chingmeirong Imphal.

The inaugural function will be attended by Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, Deputy Chief Minister, Gaikhangam and Parliamentary Secretary, Victor Keishing, as the chief guest, president and guest of honour.

Identity Not Intrinsic

The intriguing nature of identity continues to fascinate scholars and politicians alike even to this day. Endless reams of newsprint spent on the subject as well as endless series of

The intriguing nature of identity continues to fascinate scholars and politicians alike even to this day. Endless reams of newsprint spent on the subject as well as endless series of scholarships on it haven’t been able to bring about a conclusive answer to what must be one of the most vexing problems of the modern world. If it were not so, there would be no need and reason why new thoughts and books on the subject still has a huge market. Identity still matters, and sometimes for what are seemingly unintelligible reasons. What then are the deciding factors of identity? Is it language, race, ethnicity, religion, geography, culture? While all of them are constituents, none or any permutation and combination or them, seem to be sufficient explanation for the phenomenon of identity. Yesterday quite a few of the deliberations at the memorial function of the 18 young men and women who lost their lives in the June 18, 2001 uprising to save Manipur’s territorial integrity were revealing in this regard. Some leaders of the many smaller tribes in the state especially were emphatic about identity being a matter of choice, asserting they would in the present juncture neither want to be identified with the Nagas or the Kukis or any other generic group classifications, and instead remain as themselves independently. We also know how many others in the past have, by the same principle, chosen to belong to any one of these generic groupings, and these choices have today come to stay. The point however remains that at one point in time, identity was a rather volitional choice than destiny.

Benedict Anderson, in his influential 1983 book “Imagined Communities” has more examples of this paradoxical idea of “choosing or else assigning identity”. The question of the Mulattos, the Caucasian European settlers in Latin America, mostly Spanish and Portuguese, who immediately lost not just their citizenships of their mother countries once they settled in the South American colonies, but also their primary Spanish or Portuguese identities is one such. Although speaking the languages of their mother countries, belonging to the same race and espousing the same cultures, they were presumed to have acquired a separate identity, and the distinctions came to be rigorously and sometimes brutally maintained. Similarly, it would be worthwhile noting that the war of independence that Americans fought was against their own forefathers. There was yet another reference in a different context to the phenomenon in yesterday’s deliberations by a Meitei Pangal. In 1947, when India was partitioned, some Bihari Muslims opted to migrate to the then East Pakistan, believing idealistically they were choosing to be part of a Muslim nation. They soon found out they had walked into what was primarily a Bengali nation. When the Bangladesh war of independence commenced in 1971, they ended up siding with Pakistan. Today these Bihari Muslims, numbering about 10,000, are an issue for international human rights organisations like the Amnesty International to tackle, having been deprived of even Bangladesh citizenship, although bona fide residents of the country since the time of its birth. We in the northeast also know of how a conflict between religious and linguistic identities at the time of the Indian partitition lead to the unfair situation of the Sylhet and Manmesing with a huge Hindu population ending up as a part of East Pakistan.

The point again is, there is nothing intrinsic about identity. It is a matter of choice. Let us then stop all these cock and bull stories of “time immemorial” affiliations and blood brotherhood as the basis of identity. If a genetic mapping of the peoples in the region were to be done, we are sure a lot of the identity myths would be blown apart. Let the separateness of identities remain, but if everybody was open enough, these separateness should be no cause for any fundamental conflicts of interests, as many are making it seem to be. “Identity as a choice”, also offers hope. It means, we can evolve rational choices rather than the blind, impulsive ones adhered to by most. Once the issue is put up on the rational, discursive space, meaningful discourses and negotiations can begin. The postulate of layered identities by Amartya Sen in “Identity and Violence: Illusion of Destiny” says as much. One can be a Meitei, a Manipuri, a northeasterner, an Indian, an Asian etc, in widening concentric sets, without any one of these components coming into conflict with each other.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/identity-not-intrinsic-2/

AR replies to Nagaland editors’ statement

IMPHAL, November 17: The Assam Rifles had written the letter to the editors of five media houses of Nagaland on October 24, highlighting the fact that NSCN (K) has been

IMPHAL, November 17: The Assam Rifles had written the letter to the editors of five media houses of Nagaland on October 24, highlighting the fact that NSCN (K) has been notified as an Unlawful Association under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967 by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and amplified some of the clauses of the Gazette Notification which have its own legal implications.

A copy of the MHA notification was enclosed with the letter, according to a press release of the IGAR (N).

Assam Rifles in no way have issued any “gag order” on the press.

The Editors were requested to publish articles of NSCN(K) in consonance with the Act quoted above, it said.

Publishing an “Extortion Notice” of a “Banned Organisation” against business establishments is akin to abetting the “Banned Organisation” in collection of funds which will be used to carry out subversive activities against the govt agencies and Security Forces, it said.

If Media Houses feel it is correct to issue them to public through their medium it’s their call, and answer the Press Council of India for violation of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act 1967.

The Media Houses are free to publish any article about the NSCN(K) organisation which would add to the Peace Process, air their opinion about the Security Forces and their conduct of operations. At no stage has the Media been asked to dilute their free reporting. The contents of the advisory making the Media Houses aware of the MHA Notification and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act are being deliberately misinterpreted.

The intent of the letter was to prevent contact of NSCN (K) with the public for conveying their “Extortion Demands” or “Extortion Threats” through a medium of mass communication, it said.

The sequence of events over the past couple of days appears to be a well-conceived plan by vested interests to use the press and muzzle the voice of the Assam Rifles, which is the only organisation having faced the full brunt of terrorist actions and achieved tangible results against a terrorist organisation, it said.

Even today, as in the past, the editors are free to publish any press release they receive from NSCN(K), however, it would not be possible for them to feign ignorance of the MHA notification declaring NSCN(K) a banned terrorist organisation and any consequent legal repercussions leading to it, it said.

It is their moral call to unleash “Extortion Demands” and “Self Proclaimed Killings/ Threats” of NSCN(K) to the Naga civil society from their esteemed Media Houses, it said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/ar-replies-to-nagaland-editors-statement-2/

MLA Karam Shyam bats for upliftment of disabled persons

IMPHAL, Nov 16: MLA of Langthabal constituency Karam Shyam has said that there will not be considerable development in the State if helpless and differently abled persons are brought into

IMPHAL, Nov 16: MLA of Langthabal constituency Karam Shyam has said that there will not be considerable development in the State if helpless and differently abled persons are brought into politics.

He was speaking during inauguration of the 10-day 5th Differently Abled Residential Cricket Coaching Camp organized by Disable Development Association Manipur at Sawongbung Awang Leikai today.

Karam Shyam asserted that differently abled persons should not be victimized instead they must be provided with the benefits and schemes they deserved for equality in the State.

He appealed to the differently abled person to put up their demands and raise the issues confronting them in the coming winter session of Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Differently abled persons who confined in houses due to social stigma should be encouraged and brought in the mainstream like any other normal person. The Social Welfare Department should come up with initiatives to uplift differently abled persons, the MLA continued.

Social worker from Wangoi, Kh Loken and Captain of 12 Bihar Regiment, Prasant Kuri attended the inaugural function as president and guest of honour respectively.

MLA Karam Shyam bats for upliftment of disabled persons

IMPHAL, Nov 16: MLA of Langthabal constituency Karam Shyam has said that there will not be considerable development in the State if helpless and differently abled persons are brought into

IMPHAL, Nov 16: MLA of Langthabal constituency Karam Shyam has said that there will not be considerable development in the State if helpless and differently abled persons are brought into politics.

He was speaking during inauguration of the 10-day 5th Differently Abled Residential Cricket Coaching Camp organized by Disable Development Association Manipur at Sawongbung Awang Leikai today.

Karam Shyam asserted that differently abled persons should not be victimized instead they must be provided with the benefits and schemes they deserved for equality in the State.

He appealed to the differently abled person to put up their demands and raise the issues confronting them in the coming winter session of Manipur Legislative Assembly.

Social worker from Wangoi, Kh Loken and Captain of 12 Bihar Regiment, Prasant Kuri attended the inaugural function as president and guest of honour respectively.

Ibobi assures notable development in Thongju, Thangmeiband A/Cs

IMPHAL, November 16: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has assured all possible help on priority basis from his government in bringing notable development in Thangmeiband and Thongju ahead of 2017 general

IMPHAL, November 16: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi has assured all possible help on priority basis from his government in bringing notable development in Thangmeiband and Thongju ahead of 2017 general election if the party wins the ensuing by-election in the constituencies.

The CM made the statement during a flag hosting ceremony of INC candidate Bijoy Koijam of 5-Thongju Assembly constituency held at the candidate`™s residence at Thongju Pheijaleitong today in connection with the November 21 by-election.

He said that the Congress government is committed to fulfilling people`™s desire as far as bringing development in the State is concerned.

Almost all of the promises made by the government have been fulfilled, Ibobi maintained, admitting that there had been delays in completion of some works which is due to unavoidable circumstances.

Ibobi alleged BJP candidate Th Bishwajit of showing less interest in taking up development works and failing to meet people`™s needs in his constituency during his tenure as MLA.

There will be all round development in the constituency if the Congress wins the by-election scheduled for November 21, he asserted.

He also made a fervent appeal to the public to support the INC candidate for further development in the State.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam said that BJP Manipur Unit has become a place for failure and disqualified candidates, who failed to abide by the Indian Constitution.

He further said that it would prove disastrous if the people go with disqualified candidates as representatives of their constituencies in the by-election as the Congress is the only party which the people can rely on for development.

Asking those who are trying to malign the Congress to be aware of their own background, Gaikhangam termed the charges leveled by BJP against the Congress party of disqualifying Th Bishwajit and Joykishan as baseless and unethical.

Those who think the judgment of disqualification of Th Bishwajit and Joykishan is improper can approach the court to ascertain the fact, he asserted. Wangoi MLA Oinam Lukhoi who was also disqualified approached the court though the judgment is kept in abeyance, Gaikhangam disclosed.

He appealed to the people to vote for INC candidates in the ensuing by-election in Thongju and Thangmeiband constituencies to ensure development.

Bijoy earnestly appealed to the people to elect him as their representative to bring more development in his constituency. Several Ministers, MLAs and officials of MPCC were also present at the function.

CM appeals legal fraternity to uphold dignity of courts

IMPHAL, November 16: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has appealed to the members of the legal fraternity to uphold the dignity of the High Court and other subordinate courts in

IMPHAL, November 16: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has appealed to the members of the legal fraternity to uphold the dignity of the High Court and other subordinate courts in the State.

He was speaking as the chief guest in the closing function of the 3-day long silver jubilee celebration of the High court Bar Association of Manipur at the auditorium of the High Court of Manipur.

The CM asserted that lawyers have a significant role in the justice delivery system and as such they need to update their knowledge with constant reading.

He also appealed to all in the legal profession to be very sincere to the profession and furnish proper and effective legal advice to the litigants and the public for enabling the justice delivery at the doorstep.

For a strong and effective democratic form of governance, the three pillars of democracy namely legislature, executive and judiciary as well as media which is regarded as the fourth pillar need to be strengthened, Ibobi maintained.

The function was presided by Senior Advocate Kh Binoykumar Singh, president of High Court Bar Association of Manipur while Education/CAF & PD Minister M Okendra Singh and Judges of High Court of Manipur Justice N. Kotiswar Singh and Justice Kh. Nobin Singh and Advocate General Manipur Th. Ibohal Singh were the guests of honour of the function.

To mark the occasion, a souvenir was released. During the function, floral tributes were paid to the departed souls of the members of the association.

CM appeals legal fraternity to uphold dignity of courts

IMPHAL, November 16: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has appealed to the members of the legal fraternity to uphold the dignity of the High Court and other subordinate courts in

IMPHAL, November 16: Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has appealed to the members of the legal fraternity to uphold the dignity of the High Court and other subordinate courts in the State.

He was speaking as the chief guest in the closing function of the 3-day long silver jubilee celebration of the High court Bar Association of Manipur at the auditorium of the High Court of Manipur.

The CM asserted that lawyers have a significant role in the justice delivery system and as such they need to update their knowledge with constant reading.

To mark the occasion, a souvenir was released. During the function, floral tributes were paid to the departed souls of the members of the association.

ATUM belittles plan to erect monolith to join Aimol tribe in Naga group

IMPHAL, November 16: The Aimol Tribe Union Manipur (ATUM) has claimed that S. Muntheireng Aimol, former president of the union and his outfit members with support from local NSCN (IM)

IMPHAL, November 16: The Aimol Tribe Union Manipur (ATUM) has claimed that S. Muntheireng Aimol, former president of the union and his outfit members with support from local NSCN (IM) cadres are planning to erect monolith symbolic of joining Aimol Tribe in the Naga Group at Aimol Satu Village premises in the month of November, which is completely against the wish of the Aimol people and the Principle of Neutrality in the Constitution of ATUM 2001.

According to a statement issued by ATUM, the Aimol people have been betrayed and deceived by the leadership of Munthuireng. Notably, Munthuireng and his colleagues went underground and they committed treason by declaring the Aimol tribe as a Naga tribe on April 18 as published in local daily/newspaper, it said.

The declaration and planning to erect monolith to include Aimol in the Naga cluster as attempted by the outfit is totally unacceptable to the people of Aimol. As a result, the leadership of Munthuireng and his colleagues was dissolved and the Aimol people had elected ATUM`™s new office bearers on June 23 at Aimol Ngairong Village in Chandel district, it said.

In fact, they are `coward traitors`™ and `incompetent`™ leaders of the Aimol people, the statement said, adding that for the sake of the community`™s well being, ATUM had appealed to the outfit that they should stop all kinds of outrageous and treacherous activities immediately against the Aimol.

Maintaining that there are 15 villages of the Aimol Community in Manipur, ATUM in the statement further claimed that the outfit has occupied four of the villages namely Aimol Satu, Aimol Khunjai, Chingnunghut and Kumbirei in Chandel district so far.

In these four Aimol Villages, the outfit makes the villagers including elders on sentry duty in the village day and night when the people of Aimol have no community`™s enemy at all in the land. At the same time, by using the same ATUM Official Letterhead and seal, the outfit`™s members are collecting money and practiced extortion in the community in the name of political propaganda of land issues, it alleged.

Appealing to the people of Aimol to stand firm and strong in protecting the social, political, cultural identity and dignity of the Aimol, ATUM asserted that the Aimol Community has been living peaceful with all the Naga, Kuki, Meitei and other communities in the land since time immemorial.

Accordingly, a separate entity of the Aimol Tribe should be honored and respected by all the communities in Manipur, and also keep on the principle of peaceful co-existence in the future as well, it said.

It further warned that Munthuireng and his outfit members should be fully responsible for any unwanted or untoward incident happening in the Aimol community in the future.

MPP takes a jibe at Cong Govt over Kangla Fort development works

IMPHAL, Nov 16: The Kangla Fort, one of the historic places of the State has been converted into a departmental store for Power Department by the Congress Government, president of

IMPHAL, Nov 16: The Kangla Fort, one of the historic places of the State has been converted into a departmental store for Power Department by the Congress Government, president of Manipur People`™s Party (MPP) N Sovakiran has pointed out.

Speaking to media persons at the office of MPP here today, Sovakiran alleged the Congress Government of exercising excessive power to gain political mileage and demoralizing holy places and heritage sites of the State.

Demanding to shift the electric pole, transformers and other materials from the northwestern side of Kangla Fort at the earliest, he asked the Kangla Fort Board headed by the CM who gives the approval to store the materials at the sacred place.

If the practice is not stopped, the sacred Kangla Fort will become a dumping place for other government departments in near future, Sovakiran said.

He also appealed to the people to refrain from casting vote to Congress party in the ensuing by-election in Thangmeiband and Thongju constituencies.

President of MPP Youth Machang Soibam who was present at the press meet alleged CM Ibobi of using government departments as earning place for Congress leaders and questioned the Kangla Fort Board authority whether the board is not aware of the malpractice inside the sacred fort.

Moreover, people are not satisfied with the ongoing decoration works for the ensuing Sangai Festival at huge cost, he said.

MPP takes a jibe at Cong Govt over Kangla Fort development works

IMPHAL, Nov 16: The Kangla Fort, one of the historic places of the State has been converted into a departmental store for Power Department by the Congress Government, president of

If the practice is not stopped, the sacred Kangla Fort will become a dumping place for other government departments in near future, Sovakiran said.

He also appealed to the people to refrain from casting vote to Congress party in the ensuing by-election in Thangmeiband and Thongju constituencies.

Moreover, people are not satisfied with the ongoing decoration works for the ensuing Sangai Festival at huge cost, he said.

CM gives away State Journalists Awards, says media plays an important role in development

IMPHAL, 16 November: The media which is considered the 4th pillar of the society is also an important tool in a democratic country and plays an important role in the

IMPHAL, 16 November: The media which is considered the 4th pillar of the society is also an important tool in a democratic country and plays an important role in the development of a society, Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh said today at the National Press Day observation at Manipur Press Club.

Eight journalists were also conferred with the Manipur State Journalists`™ Awards during the observation.

The observation was organised by the Department of Information and Public Relations.

In his speech, the Chief Minister called for a balanced and fair media reporting of sensitive issues.

He further congratulated the State Journalists awardees.

Elaborating further on the importance of the media, he suggested the IPR Director to identify a location for the construction of a Press Guest House soon.

Education minister M Okendro in his speech urged the media to exclude carrying sensitive reports which are inflammatory and could create undue chaos in the society.

The State, he said faces six months of rainfall and another six months of bandhs and blockades which hinder developmental work in the State.

All Manipur Working Journalists Union president Wangkhemcha Shyamjai also attended the function.

The Manipur State Journalist Award (Editor) was received by Naharolgi Thoudang editor Khoirom Loyalakpa.

The other seven journalists who received the Manipur State Journalists Award are Angom Ranjit (Art and Culture), Laishram Keshonanda (Science & Technology Reporting), Sorensangbam Sonia (Parliamentary Reporting) both from Poknapham, (Public Health and Hygiene), Wangkhem Rishikesh, Sports Journalist of Hueiyen Lanpao (Sports), Mutum Rameshchandra (Public Health and Hygiene) and Ashem Babycha (Women and Child Reporting) from the same daily.

Each award carries a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each along with a shawl and a citation.

According to a DIPR statement, though the Manipur State Journalists Award was given only to the editors annually with a cash prize of Rs 5,000, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations has been giving away the Manipur State Journalists Award for other categories since 2008 with a cash prize of Rs 25,000 each. The first Manipur State Journalists Award was given away in 1994.

First North East People`s Parliament rescheduled

IMPHAL, November 16: The First North East Peoples`™ Parliament hosted by Coalition for Indigenes`™ Rights Campaign (CIRCA), Manipur; Assam Sanmilita Mahasangha (ASM) and Assam Meitei Apunba Lup (AMAL) has been

The Parliament which was originally scheduled to begin from 13 November to 15 in Imphal will be held from December 8 to 10 in the city.

A committee has also been formed to facilitate the conduct of the Parliament with Somorendro Thokchom, Matiur Rahman and Wangkhemcha Saratchandra as its conveners. Ningthouja Lancha and Soubam Rajen have been assigned as Coordinator and Finance In-charge respectively.

The Parliament is to be organized with a vision to resolve all issues and threats faced by the indigenous people of the region and envisions a common platform to protect and defend the distinct social, cultural, economic and political identities of the indigenes through a collective and unified effort in the line of United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN DRIP), 2007.

The Parliament will provide a common platform to share and exchange views and ideas on the rights of the indigenes to govern ourselves in matters relating to internal and local affairs and home rule so as to conserve distinct political, legal, economic, social, and cultural institutions.

First North East People`s Parliament rescheduled

The Parliament which was originally scheduled to begin from 13 November to 15 in Imphal will be held from December 8 to 10 in the city.

JAC CCpur, JPO and innpis decide burial of `nine tribal martyrs` before November end

CHURACHANDPUR, November 16: A joint meeting between 19 representatives from innpis/tribes including seven representatives from JAC Churachandpur and four from the Joint Philanthropic Organisation (JPO) held a meeting at the

The meeting was presided over by Hmar Innpui president Dr John H Pulamte.

The president in his opening remark said that the long running agitation against the three anti-tribal bill spearheaded by the JAC has reach a crucial stage which called for a fierce and realistic action while asking those involved to join hands for a sustainable approach.

Sharing the course of action of the movement, he said it was decided yesterday that the `nine tribal martyrs`™ will be buried this month at a plot donated by Autonomous District Council Churachandpur under its chairman Langkhanpau Guite near the ADCC complex which was accepted by 21 of the 24 MDCs in a meeting held on September 2.

The ADC had also decided that if in case the JAC resolved to do otherwise, the ADC will contribute in other terms

Meanwhile the JAC convenor Lalkhohau Chongloi said during today`™s meeting the exact date for the burial of the nine will be held only after proper consideration with other stakeholders like the Manipur tribal Forum Delhi.

In fact the main discussion during the meeting was on the various aspects of the movement particularly the burial of the nine.

He said they are planning a press conference tomorrow after an indept consultation of the stakeholders who are from inside the State as well as outside.

The meeting also resolved that the unity of the different organisation to be held high while also endorsing the decision of the JAC to give a befitting and grand burial of the nine tribal martyrs within the month of November after the Centre has given its assurance in written to consider view of all stakeholders while considering the three bills.

The meeting also noted about the State government`™s failure to positively response to the JAC`™s charter of demand place before the Chief Minister on November 9.

The meeting also expressed strong disappointment against the Centre for failing to hold political dialogue with the SoO signatory groups UPF and KNO even after a decade.

The JAC and the JPO have been entrusted to look with the preparation for the burial of the nine tribal martyrs.

During today`™s meeting, the JAC and the JPO also resolved to support the relay strike organised by the MTFD in Delhi and send Rs 2 lakh from the public donation for which the JPO has been entrusted to do the needful.

Meanwhile, the JAC also decided to boycott the coming Sangai Festival to show their displeasure to the State government.

Irresponsible politics

The acrimony created in the electioneering for the two forthcoming bye elections to the Thongju and Thangmeiband Assembly constituencies, left vacant by the disqualification of the their Trinamool Congress MLAs under the Anti Defection Law is unseemly and unfortunately. Perhaps it would be wrong to say this round of electioneering has been uniquely given to below the belt deliveries, for indeed such styles of negative campaigning has become a hallmark of a number of grossly immature politicians of the state, and sadly in this category would belong many who can claim to be veterans in the vocation. In the current scenario, the exchanges between the BJP and the Congress, each literally alleging the other of scheming to disintegrate Manipur, is in particularly devoid of taste or logic. It is everybody`™s knowledge that no political party in Manipur, except those ideologically bound to seek such a disintegration, and have very sectarian and ethnic exclusive support bases, such as the Naga People`™s Front, NFP, would hold such a view. No broad-based party with voters across the ethnic spectrum of the state can afford to think of embracing such a stance and win elections. The Congress and the BJP would belong to this latter category, and even if the fallouts of some of their policies have in the past caused public apprehensions, it would be extremely unfair and foolish to say these have been deliberate. They simply cannot afford to take on such a political posture and hope to remain as a major party capable of staking claim to form the government when electoral fortune smiles.

Our advice to these politicians is to grow up and act mature, first and foremost. They should get back to the serious business of politics and not regress to the infantile game of digging up each other`™s petty pasts in the hope of gaining political mileage. It is a game in which both lose. They should not take the electorate to be stupid, for they know what it is that has caused the society the most damage. Any opinion poll will confirm that the culture of corruption and loyalty switching these contractor turned politicians have brought in has been most damaging to the society, and are still the biggest threat to the state`™s moral integrity than any other agent. The harm these campaigns do by themselves in the long run is immeasurable too, for the bitter aftertastes do not wash away easily. They linger on to damage inter-community relationships, cause unwarranted mutual suspicions, create hostile fault-lines etc. It is often said, a culture of liberalism should be a precondition of a healthy democratic polity, for in an illiberal set up, democracy can divide rather than unite. The manner in which Eastern European countries, such as the former Yugoslavia crumbled upon the introduction of democracy, right before the eyes of the world is evidence enough. Democratic contests devoid of the air of liberalism can be bitter unnecessarily, and split the society into factions. Although it is unlikely this theory was current in Manipur anytime, intuitively the past generations have understood this divisive character of democracy. In school and college elections therefore, their advice to the youth was always to avoid elections and to try and evolve consensus office bearers to the extent possible. They foresaw that in environments still raw and immature, the divisions that election and electioneering cause will linger on long after the election and harm relations among the students. It is to everybody`™s dismay that this school boyish immaturity still prevails in Manipur`™s brand of politics and supposedly experienced veterans in the field.

It is however not just during electioneering that this immaturity shows up in Manipur`™s politics. Recall the manner in which an honourable MLA took it upon himself to assert on the floor of the Assembly that there were no Nagas in Manipur. Recall also how he had to swallow his words the next day when he had to issue a formal apology and a lame excuse that he meant there were no Nagaland Nagas in Manipur. For his information, there are Angamis in Manipur according to census records. What these politicians do not realise in the one-up-manship political games is the damage they do to the everyday relationship between the people on the ground. There are also activist opportunists inimical to the interest of the state, quoting these irresponsible statements to claim they represent the general sentiment of the people by and large. The harm that such plebeian political leadership have been doing to the social fabric of the place is immense. The best remedy at this moment is for these leaders to try growing out of their schoolboy mind sets.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/irresponsible-politics/

Irresponsible politics

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/11/irresponsible-politics/

BJP continues election rants against Congress, claims party of being allergic to development

IMPHAL, November 16: The Congress governments in both Manipur and Assam are allergic to development of the North East region, claimed former Health minister of Assam Hemanta Biswas Sharma campaigning

IMPHAL, November 16: The Congress governments in both Manipur and Assam are allergic to development of the North East region, claimed former Health minister of Assam Hemanta Biswas Sharma campaigning for Thongju BJP candidate Th Biswajit Singh today.

Attending Biswajit`™s flag hoisting ceremony at his residence today, Hemanta who had recently joined the BJP after exiting from the Congress said it is time to root out the Congress from the region.

Expressing that he is against the Congress party which seems to be allergic to development of the region, he said he decided to join the Modi led BJP and fight to eradicate Congress from the region.

The Congress party in the North East has corrupted all funds meant for development projects, he said.

Charging the central leaders of the Congress being hand in glove with the party leaders in the North Eastern States in corruption, Hemanta claimed there is something fishy going on between the leaders of Congress.

Stating that he was the Congress party in charge of Manipur during the 2012 general election in the State, he claimed to know of every malpractice of the Congress leaders of the State.

He urged the people of Thongju to vote for the BJP candidate.

Lok Sabha MP and BJP in charge of Manipur Prahlad Singh Patel also charged the Manipur government of looting the funds and said right now the people of Manipur needs a storekeeper and that could be Th Bishwajit Singh.

Patel said Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh has claimed of development, but where is the development.

He further compared the development in Manipur and in Madhya Pradesh and said the Congress government in Manipur was sworn in in 2002, whereas the MP government was sworn in in 2005.

However, there is a big difference in development in every field between the two States, he claimed.

He further charged the State government of not submitting the utilisation certificates of PMGSY and the Indira Gandhi Awaj Yojana.

O Joy also charged the Congress of being a destructive agent to the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Former BJP president and ex-Speaker of the Manipur Legislative Assembly H Borobabu also spoke on the occasion.

Today`™s flag hoisting ceremony was also attended by other BJP leaders including M Asnikumar, Basanta Sharma, M Bhorot, Th Chaoba President BJP Manipur Pradesh.