Manipur News

IMPHAL, December 2: Certain war relics believed to have been used in World War II were excavated from the construction site of Slope Land Public School, Salt Village near Khongjom in Thoubal District today.

The excavated war relics believed to be used by Allied Forces, consisted several rounds of 303 ammunition, an unexploded hand grenade, a shovel and two rifle bayonets.

Later, N. Babulin, principal of Slopeland Public School handed over the war relics to World War 2 Memorial Foundation Manipur through the foundation`s president Letmang Haokip for preservation and exhibition at the foundation`s Museum located near Pallel.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/war-relics-excavated-from-school-construction-site/

IMPHAL, December 2: The High Court of Manipur acting on a PIL case, has asked the concerned authority to give concrete reasons on why the Lok Ayukta Act is not implemented in the State till date given that the same Act has already been implemented in other States.

The judgement was passed by a Double Bench of the High Court comprising Chief Justice LK Mohapatra and Justice N Kotishwar today.

This was informed by senior advocate Khaidem Mani who is the counsel of the PIL case during a press meet held at the office building of All Manipur Bar Association at Uripok Cheirap Court this evening.

He claimed that the court also questioned the concerned authority whether it is true that posts of a Chairperson and two Members needed to implement the act effectively have not filled up so far and if it is true then the concerned authority should submit detailed reports to the court within eight weeks starting from today.

Advocate Mani said that the number of the PIL case is 49 of 2014 and was filed by advocate Yengkokpam Priyokumar.

The petitioner had submitted written statement to the Governor of the State and concerned Union Ministries urging to implement the Lok Ayukta Act in the State as in other States. Later, he filed a PIL in the High Court of Manipur, he said.

According to advocate Mani, the Lok Pal or Lok Ayukta Bill before it became an act was implemented from January 6, 2014 in most of the States. The State government had announced that the act has been implemented in the State from October 3 of the same year.

However, a competent Chairperson and two Members who are much needed to effectively implement the act have not been appointed so far.

He envisaged that people of the State will be benefitted from the implementation of the Lok Ayukta Act.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/hc-asks-reasons-on-nonimplementation-of-lok-ayukta-act-in-state/

IMPHAL, December 2: Victims of the Armed Forces Special Power Act 1958 and others who have lost relatives today shared their testimonies during a discussion on AFSPA.

The discussion was held on AFSPA and its impact on the people of Manipur with special focus on women and children in Manipur at the Manipur Voluntary Health Association (MVHA), Ningthem Pukhri Mapal.

It was organised jointly by the District Women Committee, Imphal East – UNMM, Conflict Widow Forum, Domestic Violence Survivor’s Forum and Kshetri Chanam Leikai Women Development Association as part of Women Action for Development’s 16 days of activism against Gender based violence.

Several widows of the armed conflict and other victims participated and shared their testimonials and called for the AFSPA to be repealed.

One of the widows who had lost her husband in the armed conflict said she would happily sacrifice her life if it could repeal the AFSPA.

Damdei Christian College lecturer Priyadarshini Gangte noted AFSPA has only given a negative impact on the society.

It is also important to impart lessons on human rights from the grass root level in the schools so that whatever the students become in their later life, they can atleast respect human rights, she recommended.

The lecturer also advocated refined recruitment of the Armed Security Forces personnel and to conduct training sessions on basic human rights of a person on a regular basis.

Gangte also called for the need to strengthen the State Women Commission to redress the grievances of the widows.

Clinical psychologist Khwairakpam Ramakanta noted the behaviour of fear psychosis among the general populace on seeing the security forces is very common in the State.

He said the AFSPA gives maximum power to the armed Security Forces and in return maximum grievances to the innocent public.

Memories of being a witness of extra judicial killings, atrocities of the Security Forces linger on the mind-set of the victims of conflict leading to depression, he said.

The psychologist also noted that sharing of their testimonials at the community level will help the victims minimise their fear.

He further called upon the people for a collective movement to demand repeal of the AFSPA, 1958.

WAD secretary M Sobita said Indian forces in the State of Manipur are using the Act as an instrument of war. This Act is a licence to kill and rape, she alleged.

Sobita maintained under the cover of the Act, the Indian forces have killed many innocent civilians since many years.

Suspects are not guilty until it is proven, but under AFSPA, the security forces can shoot to kill anyone on the mere ground of suspicion which is not only a disregard of the basic human rights, but it hugely affects the entire family of the victim, Sobita elaborated.

She said Irom Chanu Sharmila has been protesting and demanding the repeal of the AFSPA, 1958 in the wake of the Malom Massacre.

Although Sharmila has been on a fast for more than 15 years now against the Act, the government continues to remain silent even as people are getting killed every now and then under the Act, she claimed.

Those widowed by the arm conflict have been neglected by the government, she said citing that widow benefit schemes are available to only a few.

She said PDS items and rehabilitation programmes for widows have not reached the larger populace.

Later at the end of the discussion, the participants raised slogans demanding repeal of AFSPA-1958 and release of Sharmila, among others.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/victims-of-armed-conflict-raise-demand-for-afspa-repeal/

IMPHAL, December 2: Janata Dal (United) Manipur will fight the early 2016 Municipal elections in the State along with the Congress, said its president Moirangthem Tombi hinting to an alliance between the two parties in the State.

This has come considering the recent massive victory of the Grand Alliance in the recent Bihar election, asserted Tombi today speaking at a press conference held at the party’s office at Babupara.

He said State leaders of the two parties had deliberated on certain issues including the agenda and strategy for the upcoming elections.

The leaders also resolve to join hands for the January 11 Municipality and Nagar Panchayat election, he said.

This comes in the wake of the recent bye-poll in two Assembly Constituencies, both of which the Congress lost to the BJP.

People will witness a wave of political change during the upcoming local body elections, he said.

The alliance will also be a turning point for the JD(U) in the State, he said while announcing that intending candidates may apply for party ticket from the its office before December 20.

The JD (U), he said will field maximum number of candidates in the election.

Tombi said he along with Lien Gangte general secretary of JD (U) Manipur will visit Bihar from December 12 to 15 and invite leaders of the Grand Alliance to attend election campaigning in the State.

Tombi appealed to the people to elect their good leaders responsibly.

Lien Gangte said in order to bring good governance in the State, we need to start from the grass root level and elect good leaders.

People play an important role in bringing change to the society, he said.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/12/jd-u-manipur-hints-at-alliance-with-cong-for-local-body-elections/