Manipur News

IMPHAL, August 8: `Indigenous peoples must survive first before they can fulfill their development aspirations,` the Centre for Organisation Research & Education said today.

A statement of the CORE signed by president of the Elders`™ Council issued on the International Day of the World`™s Indigenous Peoples said this truism is a most critical and relevant issue in Manipur today.

The CORE called upon the governments of Manipur and India to take concrete actions to respect, recognize, protect and promote our collective rights as affirmed by the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007.

It said UN secretary general Ban Ki Moon had stated, `The interests of the indigenous peoples must be part of the new development agenda in order for it to succeed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/respect-recognize-protect-and-promote-indigenous-people-core/

IMPHAL, August 8: Commemorating the one month death anniversary of young student Sapam Robinhood who died due to police action on July 8 during an ILPS rally, more than 200 two-wheelers took out a rally around the State capital.

Showing solidarity to the late student`™s family and the ILPS movement, the rally commenced from Khurai Lairikyengbam Leikai and after passing through Khurai Lamlong and Ayangpalli Road and continuing till Khagempalli returned to Ananda Singh Higher Secondary School.

People attending the rally offered floral tributes to a life-size picture of Robinhood at his former school.

The rally was participated by mostly women in their mourning clothes who shouted slogans demanding implementation of the Inner Line Permit System or a similar act and waved black flags.

It was organised by the JAC formed in connection to the death of the class XI student.

Later womenfolk of Nongmeibung area and students also staged a sit in protest in front of the Ananda Higher Secondary School by blocking the road.

Sit in protests were also held at various places including at Wangkhei Meihoubam Lampak, Palace Gate, Khurai, Singjamei, Canchipur, Yumnam Leikai.

In the evening the whole valley districts were illuminated as people lit candles in front of their gates remembering Sapam Robinhood.

Torch rallies were also taken out at several places in the State capital voicing demands for the ILPS or a similar act later in the evening.

NNN adds: Commenting on the rather-late action of the government in the suspending police personnel, the JAC formed in connection to the death of Sapam Robinhood opined that the suspension of only some low-ranking personnel is an attempt to eye-wash the people of Manipur and an effort to forcefully slow down the momentum of the ongoing widespread agitation.

It, instead, demanded action to be taken to those police officers who ordered the firing that resulted in the death of Robinhood.

If the government fails to punish the police officers who are the actual culprits, the JAC announced that it will not withdraw its agitations.

Also, thousands of locals of Khurai side came out in the streets at Lamlong area and blocked the Imphal Ukhrul road for a while. At 2.55 pm exact, the timing when Robinhood died on this day last month, the protestors observed two-minute silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul of Robinhood. They also shouted several slogans demanding implementation of ILP system, protection of indigenous people of Manipur and also hailing the good soul of Robinhood.

Showing solidarity to bereaved family of Sapam Robinhood and supporting ILP demand, all the houses in valley districts lighted candles in their respective as a mark of respect.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/robinhoods-onemonth-death-anniversary-marked-with-rallies-and-sit-in-protests/

IMPHAL, July 14: The All Manipur Recogninsed Private Schools Welfare Association conducted a joint meeting on the ongoing demand for the implementation of the Inner Line Permit System in the State.

The meeting was held at the Gandhi Memorial Hall.

Later the the meeting also resolved three points which includes that the private schools in Manipur will stand for and support all movements taken up by JCLIPS; private schools will be reopened on August 17 if the government do not pass the important ILP Bill in the Assembly before August 15; submission of memorandum without delay to the government demanding implementation of ILP system and demand for an early solution to the woes and cries of the people.

Former president of the association Doren Khanganba said in the meeting that it is the right time for all indigenous communities to come out and unite in demanding implementation of the ILPS or a similar act in the State.

He said the act is not only for the meiteis, and will be beneficial for all indigenous communities living in the State.

The government`™s act of neglecting the demand is condemnable he observed.

He said if the State leaders are willing to implement the ILPS or a similar Act in the State, they would have taken up some concrete steps towards fulfilling the demand instead of using delaying tactics and fooling the people of the State.

He concluded by appealing to the people of the State to support the demand for implementation of the ILPS and said that if the present movement dies out, it would be difficult to start again.

Social activist, Mutum Churamani said the people must remain cautious and demand the government not to implement an Act just for namesake, but to implement it in letter and spirit.

He continued the present agitation seem to be diverting on a different course with reports of agitators harassing staff of the essential services including the media persons and medical staff.

There is an urgent need to spread awareness on such issue and a leader who could lead from the front at the moment, he added.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/all-manipur-recognised-schools-welfare-association-resolves-to-reopen-schools-from-august-17/

Imphal, August 8 (NNN): Transporters and drivers demanded that the three important bridges of National Highway 37 Imphal-Jiribam Road`”namely Barak, Makru and Irang bridges`”be built with RCC.

They also demanded that until the concrete construction of these bridges are completed, the existing hanging bridges should be strengthened so as to enable and ensure non-stop plying of vehicles.

This appeal was kept to the authorities concerned jointly by the All Manipur Truck Owners`™ Welfare Association and All Manipur Road Transport Drivers`™ and Motor Workers`™ Union in a press meet held today at TDC office at MG Avenue, Imphal.

President H Ranjit of the former and general secretary M Ajit of the latter briefed the media persons regarding their demand.

H Ranjit said, `It`™s been 15 days since vehicles could not ply along this road as the Barak Bridge is damaged and defunct as an over-loaded steel carrying truck of BRO tried to pass the bridge. BRO seems to be playing `delaying tactics`™ as repairing is not done yet even after so many days, while it took only three days in 2014 when TDC, PWD and BRO jointly repaired the same bridge, he said.

BRO`™s manner is condemnable and we also doubt why the repeated pleas of the transporters are not acted upon.`

He also mentioned that there were incidents of BRO substituting sands with hill soils in road construction.

He continued, `BRO`™s blame to the transporters and drivers for carrying overloaded vehicles is indeed false, and we always have been sticking to the guidelines of Central Motor Vehicles`™ Act.`

Ranjit also questioned why it took many days to repair only 25-feet length of the bridge. He drew the attention of the authorities concerned of the Central and State government to act immediately as this highway is the lifeline of the state and drivers and transporters feel safe and tension-free in this road, unlike while passing through in Imphal-Dimapur road.

The association leaders also mentioned about the urgent need to continue their service and to bring in essential items to the State, in such hard times of flood, landslides and law and order situation.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/transporters-demand-rcc-versions-of-barak-makru-and-irang-bridges/

BISHNUPUR, August 8: Condemning that the government has failed to consider the death of fishermen in Loktak Lake during the recent thunderstorms, local clubs of Bishnupur Ithing and Sendra called a press conference today.

The press conference attended by Pradhan of Thanga Part II Kh Binarani Devi and club members was held at the residence of Moirangthem Nilo Singh, 54 son of Late Manikhomba of Ithing Mayai Leikai, whose dead body was found in the lake on August 5 around 7 am.

Nilo had reportedly gone missing after he left his home for fishing in a boat.

Addressing media persons, Pradhan Binarani lamented that about ten fishermen of the district have died of drowning during 2010-15 but the deceased`™s families are yet to get any compensation and facilities including Group Accident Insurance Scheme for Active Fishermen/Fisherwomen of 2010-11 from the concerned government department.

She urged the government to avail Self Contain Under Water Breathing Apparatus (SCUBA) divers in the State and construct huts in different parts of Loktak Lake so that fishermen and fisherwomen could take shelter during occurrence of thunderstorms.

Apart from M Nilo, the other fishermen and fisherwomen who have died due to drowin in Loktak Lake while fishing are identified as Kh Ngambi Devi, 55 wife of Late Kh Ibotombi; Kh Raghumani, 35 son of Late Kh Thambaljao; P Natek, 60 son of Late P Ngoubram; M Ingo, 42 son of M Sanaba; P Matumbi, 52 wife of Jadhop; Kh Chandramani, 52 son of Late Kh Ningthemjao; L Chandramohon son of Late Yaima and P Ningthem, 39 son of Late Ibotombi, the Pradhan informed.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/thanga-pradhan-decries-govts-apathy-to-death-of-fishermen/

IMPHAL August 9: Consulting editor for the India Today group and author of `2014: The Election that changed India` Rajdeep Sardesai attended the second day of the three-day media advocacy programme for State journalists.

The programme organised by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union and sponsored by the Manipur Development Society at the Secure Office Complex Auditorium, AT Line North AOC was inaugurated yesterday.

The renowned journalist talked on investigative journalism during the programme which was attended by enthusiastic journalists and students of the journalism.

Rajdeep gave a very insightful presentation drawn from his experience especially his exposer at Jammu and Kashmir to draw the narratives of conflict situations.

He also emphasised on tapping the edge of the technology revolution and boom in connectivity in this information age.

Trends like `Citizen Journalism`™ and social media are seen today as new hopes to get reports from the far flung remote areas.

He defined investigative journalism as something which goes beyond the popular narratives, daring to ask uncomfortable questions, daring to risk conflict of interest which differs from cosy reporting. While quoting veterans like Prashant Bhusan, he lamented that investigative journalism requires both time and resources.

He further cited the Right to Information Act as an empowering tool to access documents in investigative research.

`Yet the government is still paranoid about sharing documents`™ he remarked while admitting that 10 years after RTI Act there are more RTI applications rejected than responded.

`There is an imperative need to challenge benchmarks like Television Rating Points which merely attempts to hook the viewer with titillating and sensational reporting with Respect Points`™ he said pointing that serious news is often shadowed and compromised.

He said the boom in the media world has undoubtedly increased the quantity or reports however it has also led to decline in quality which requires introspection.

He pointed out the lack in rural reporting, despite the fact that 70 % of the country`™s citizens still live in villages.

Sabina Inderjit, vice president, Indian Jounalist Union (IJU); S N Sinha, president IJU; Brozendra Ningomba, chief editor ISTV news and A Robindro Sharma, editor Poknapham also talked on various aspects of journalism today.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/india-today-group-consulting-editor-talks-on-investigative-journalism-in-imphal/

IMPHAL, August 8: The People`™s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak has wished the people of Manipur on the occasion of the International Day of the World`™s Indigenous Peoples on August 9.

A statement signed by its assistant secretary publicity and propaganda, Leibak Ngakpa Luwang said that the indigenous peoples who are scattered around the world continue to survive as the small, weak and exploited communities even today.

Several indigenous communities have today become extinct while many are facing extinction due to lack of proper government policies safeguarding them, it said.

The outfit, it said is saddened by the indigenous communities of the land losing their identities due to the discrimination and exploitation.

It said the total population of the around 5000 indigenous communities in the world stands at around 37 crore which is just 5 percent of the total population of the world whereas they make-up for 15 percent of the world`™s poor population.

It said the United Nationas General Assembly on December 23, 1994 had resolved to observe the International Day of the World`™s Indigenous Peoples on August 9 marking the first day of the first meeting of the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Population from August 9 to 13 in 1982.

It was first observed on August 9, 1995, the statement said.

It further continued that even though India is a signatory of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) which was adopted on September 13, 2007 by the UN General Assembly, it is yet to implement the declaration.

Read more / Original news source: http://kanglaonline.com/2015/08/prepak-sends-out-message-on-intl-day-of-the-worlds-indigenous-peoples/