Manipur News

IMPHAL, Sept 15: The teachers`™ association of Biramangol College has asked the student union of the college to withdraw its decision to indefinitely shut down the college from September 16 so that normal academic atmosphere in the college may be restored.

The teachers`™ association president Ibeynu called a press conference today stating that the teachers came to know of the indefinite closure of the college only from the media.

She further urged the students`™ union to withdraw its decision.

The students, she said, are resentful due to the failure of the authorities to provide the functional needs of the college since long.

Other members of the teachers`™ association who were present at the press conference said the post for a regular college principal has not been filled up since December 31, 1999.

The teachers also lamented that they had yet received their salaries for the past one year.

The members added further added that the college has a total student strength of around 3000 whereas the sanctioned posts of the college staff is just 42 of which 15 are non-teaching staff and only 27 teaching staff.

They also said that of the 27 teaching staff, 10 have retired.

The association also asked the government and the governing body of the college to fulfil the required posts at the earliest.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the student body has announced that it will withdraw its decision to close down the college indefinitely.

It is also learnt that the students have however, decided that until their demands are met with, the administrative block of the college will remain close.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/biramongol-college-teachers-urge-authorities-to-fulfil-demands-of-students/

IMPHAL, September 15: Taking serious note of the remarks of ex-MP Kim Gangte stating that the tribal should have been involved in the preparation of the three bills to safeguard the indigenous people which were passed in the State Assembly on August 31, the United Meitei Young Forum (UMYF) has asked the ex-MP to think before making comments on the issue.

In a statement, the UMYF questioned the ex-MP where she was when the bills to protect the indigenous people from the alarming influx of outsiders into the State were being prepared to be tabled and subsequently passed in the State Assembly which was the collective wish of the people.

Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam who is a tribal was made the chairman of the Drafting Committee of the bills, it said.

There is no question of favouritism or biasness when it comes to the preparation and subsequent passage of the bills, it asserted.

The statement pointed out that the time taken in the passing of the three bills may be the longest time taken in passing any bill in the history of the State.

Reiterating that the government through the media had repeatedly sought suggestions and observations from the people irrespective of caste and religion during the preparation of the three bills, the UMYF wondered what Kim Gangte was doing when all these were happening.

The three bills were passed in the Assembly in the presence of tribal MLAs and ministers on August 31, it said.

Ironically, Kim Gangte is claiming now that the chaos arising out of the passage of the bills could have been averted had the tribal people been consulted before the passage of the three bills in the Assembly, it said.

Such unfounded remark from a responsible politician who had remained an MP representing the State is highly condemnable, the statement said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/umyf-rebuts-kim-gangtes-assertion-on-passage-of-bills/

LAMKA, September 15: Womenfolk staging sit in protest in different part of Churachndpur marched till the Hiangtahm public ground to attend a public meeting where several leaders of the movement highlighted the future course of action.

Women folk and top officials of the Churachandpur police along with leaders of tribes have been instrumental in maintaining the present calm atmosphere in the district; however, there is an undercurrent tension which could erupt anytime suddenly with no positive response from the State government other than its repeated claims that the three bills will be of no harm to the tribals.

In the afternoon today, DSP Bishnupur CDO S Raghumani Singh apologised to protestors at Kangvai in the presence of JAC Churachandpur leaders after it was reported that Bishnupur cdos had acted against the protestors who were trying to stop a vehicle which was carrying liquor in the guise of essential commodities yesterday.

Meanwhile, a study revealed that during the present situation in Churachandpur, shortage of policemen in the second largest town in the State has been noticed.

Study also revealed that most posts in the police earmark for Inspector rank officers including the post of Reader to the SP, RO Anti-human trafficking, traffic inspector are held by SI rank personnel due to shortage of Inspector rank officials.

A police officer on condition of anonymity also acknowledged the shortage of personnel.

The police officer also said had the shortage of men power of the police filled up, the situation in Churachandpur would have been handled better to an extent.

However, the police had to be aided by other security forces including the Army/ Assam Rifles and IRB from outside who were not trained for crowd control, he said.

The situation has however considerably improved with the stationing of additional DGP LM Khaute and two other IGP rank officers. The improvement in the situation has also been made possible by the effort of the SP Mankhogin Haokip and additional SP Balram Singh who talked with the tribe leaders, women organisations and other stake holders and worked overtime to control the situation.

On the other hand, the JAC is still not sharing table with the government who on record has been stating that the three bills will not affect the tribals and hills of Manipur.

The Autonomous District Council Churachandpur team, led by its chairman Langkhanpau Guite has been meeting top officials of the Centre and continuing to stay in the national capital raising anticipation among the people of their bringing some good news for the tribal.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/womenfolk-stage-rally-in-churachandpur/

IMPHAL, September 15: The Co-ordinating Committee, ATSUM has stated that a critique on the three Bills has been submitted to all tribal MLAs justifying as to why they should step down from their respective seat of the Manipur Legislative Assembly on or before September 30.

ATSUM`™s critique said the Co-ordinating Committee of ATSUM feels pertinent to give out a critique on the three controversial Bills which were adopted by the Manipur Legislative Assembly unopposed by any political party on August 31.

It said that, the Manipur Legislative Assembly has committed a grave constitutional blunder intentionally as it did not follow the mandatory rules of procedures and conduct of Business under section 4 Clause 1 and 2 which reads as (1) `All Scheduled matters in so far as they relate to the Hill Areas shall be with the purview of the Hills Areas Committee.

`It is crystal clear beyond any shadow of doubt that the claim by the GoM that Protection of Manipur People Bill is a money bill is untenable as per law and absolutely misleading to the people because money bill relates to imposition of taxes and expenditure likely to involve transaction affecting the consolidated Fund of the Union or the State.

Moreover, the spirit of the bill has its social security objectives. Hence, the Bills fail to fulfil the Criteria of a money bill, it said.

It is worth mentioned that rules of procedures and conduct of Business had been deliberately violated as the three Bills were neither debated nor referred to the HAC before introduction and passing of the said bills, it said.

Section 2 of the The Protection of Manipur People Bill 2015 reads `It shall extend to the whole of Manipur` means the entire geographical area including of Hill Areas. Therefore, the sentence should be changed to: It shall extend only to the four valley districts of Manipur (subject of the HAC).

Regarding the controversial definition of the `Manipur People`™ and the undefined meaning of native people in the Bill under section 2 Sub Clause (b) and with reference to the base year i.e. the National Registry of Citizens 1951, Census Report 1951 and Village Directory of 1951 are the three requisite criteria that qualifies one to be Manipur people, it said.

Based on this parameter, 80% of the villages in the Hill areas would be rendered unofficial and liable to the de-recognised by the government.

The phrase `one of the Small Hill States` appeared in the first line of objects and reasons is highly objectionable because Manipur is not a Hill state. It is a ploy to change Manipur to a Hill state so as to make the Meiteis eligible to be included in the list of scheduled tribe of India, it said.

The Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms 7th Amendment Bill 2015 14 A (1) which reads `Notwithstanding anything contained in this Act……………….Manipur` is a Non Obstante Clause which in fact is a legislative device for enabling to give effect inspite of the bar provided by the provision of statute.

Moreover, the terms `any land in the state of Manipur`™ in the same section implies that the Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act(MLR & LR) shall be extended in the Hills Areas of Manipur apart from the proviso to sub section of Section 1 as per Manipur Land Revenue and Land Reforms Act No. 13 of 1976 published in Manipur Gazette dated 24-5-1976 wherein large pockets of plain areas of Churachandpur, Ukhrul, Senapati, Sadar Hills and Tamenglong districts had been the accumulated by the GoM by means of systematic encroachment of tribal lands in the name of development.

It said Section 14 B pages 3 of the Bill which empowers the state cabinet to approve purchase of any land in the state is a complete disregard to the HAC because the HAC is the sole authority in matters pertaining to Hill Areas. Therefore, the cabinet has nothing to do with allotment of land.

`Whereas under Section 158 land belonging to a scheduled tribe in the valley Areas cannot be sold to a non-scheduled tribe without the prior consent of the Deputy Commissioner concerned…….`. here we notice insertion of the word `valley areas` under section 158 which was not there in the principal Act 1960, it said.

The Manipur Shops and establishment(2nd Amendment) Bill 2015 attracts social and customs, which is enshrined in the Schedule matters, clause (12) under the Second Scheduled of the Hill Areas Committee order, 1972 because Shops and Establishment shall be established not only in the valley areas but also in the Hill Areas as well and yet the Bill was passed without referring to the HAC for consideration which is against the Rules of procedure and conduct of business in Manipur Legislative Assembly, it said.

`As the Co-ordinating Committee ATSUM is relentlessly putting efforts to subside the situations, Support and co-operations from the legislators is expected. We reiterate our appeal to step down from one`™s respective seats to pave way for restoration of peace and order in the Hill Districts. Considering the fluid situation in the Hill districts, we feel constrained to ask once and for all to the tribal legislators to put in their resignation paper before 30th September 2015. We are hopeful that this appeal will be honoured or any incident that occurs after the expiry of the stipulated time will be the sole responsibility of the Legislators,` it demanded.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/govts-claim-of-pmp-bill-being-money-bill-misleading-atsum/

IMPHAL, September 15: The North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) in collaboration with Social Youth Development Organization; People for Human Right and Climate Change (PHRCC) and Environment Conservation Network organized a public meeting cum rally on Rights of Farmer and Climate Change at Kakching Khunou, Thoubal district today.

Conveying this in a statement, the People`™s for Human Rights & Climate Change said as all the people of the State especially farmers had experienced the pattern of changing climate in terms of increase in temperature, change in rainfall patterns, etc the agricultural sector has been affected ever since.

In the year 2013, the Government of Manipur had introduced the Manipur State Action Plan on Climate Change but the concerned department has not yet able to implement the same in the State. The government has failed to act upon the difficulties being faced by the people in the State. More than 70 percent of the agricultural land depends on the monsoon rain but due the changing pattern, farmers are facing serious problem concerning their agricultural products, it lamented.

The change is happening due to the unplanned activities by many multinational companies, governmental sectors, etc resulting in manmade disaster. Here the poor persons, daily wage earners, farmers, fishermen etc only suffer, the statement pointed out.

In the recent flood in the State, Thoubal district was reported to be the worst affected with a record of 19,164 hac of land getting destroyed by the flood water which poured out from the Thoubal River, but the sad part is that the total cultivable land in the district is 21,650 hectares.

In the State, only 1, 95,000 hectares of land are being used for the rice cultivation out of the 23, 00, 000 hectares of cultivable land. Unfortunately this year, 34,960 hectares of cultivable land were affected due to the flash flood. It is to remind that 75 percent of Manipur population is depend on the agriculture and this year, the people will face a serious food crisis and also for the next food yield. Due to the recent flood, many farmers are worried about their livelihood and their food products. The Central government had released a sum of Rs. 8.4 crore but how far the released fund had been benefitted by the affected people is yet to be known, it stated.

Urging the people to coup up with the government to implement the Manipur State Action Plan on Climate Change to meet the need at the earliest, the PHRCC in the statement demanded the government to fulfil certain points.

The demands include implementation of Manipur State Action Plan on Climate Change, halt to construction of mega dam, introduction of short term crop which can easily harvest within two/three months as an alternative arrangement for the people of the State, protection of the agricultural lands, immediate publication of the action plan for the coming ten years and few others, the statement informed.

Today`™s public meeting was attended by retired assistant teacher of Kakching Khunou Government High School Kh Tejmar Singh; retired headmaster of the school M Khomdon Singh and retired assistant teacher M Chandramani Singh as chief guest, president and guest of honour respectively.

While convener of NEDF U Nobokishwor Singh; coordinator of Centre for Social Development U Jenison and secretary of Social Upliftment & Rural Education L Ibotombi Singh were present as resource persons.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/farmers-rights-highlighted-during-public-meeting/

IMPHAL, September 15: The Coalition for Indigenes Rights Campaign announced today that it had started the first phase of its movement towards the demand for restoration of the pre-merger political status in Manipur on September 8.

Speaking at a press conference at Manipur Press Club, CIRCA spokesperson Ningthouja Lancha said the campaign has been launched as a follow up to the resolutions taken during a people`™s convention held on August 21 at GM Hall.

The first phase of the campaign is being organised as `Yakai Khongjang,` and will continue till September 20, he said.

Remembering the day when Maharaj Bodhchandra signed the Merger Agreement with India under duress on August 21, 1949, CIRCA will initiate its second phase `Merger Agreement gi Mayokta Lepa Tha,` from August 21 which will continue till October 15, he said.

He said during the second phase of the campaign, CIRCA will organise sit in protests, rallies and public discussions on the Merger Agreement and the present communal tension prevailing in the State at various places including at educational institutions, market places.

Ethnic councils with representatives from all communities residing in the State will also be formed, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/09/circa-announces-course-of-action-for-premerger-political-status-demand/