Manipur News – Page 15964 – www.manipur.org/news

IMF states stand against 6th Schedule

Opposing any move to implement Sixth Schedule in the hill areas of Manipur, International Meiteis’ Forum has cautioned that no demand should be made or conceded that pose threat to the State’s territorial and emotional integrity Source The Sangai Ex…

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=4&src=171212

Parking norms for session

As part of safety precautionary measures for ensuring smooth proceeding of the ensuing 3rd Session of 10th Manipur Legislative Assembly commencing from December 19 at the new Assembly Hall in Chingmeirong, arrangements for parking and passing of vehicl…

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=20&src=171212

Two NSCN K cadres killed

Two cadres of the NSCN K have been killed by the rival NSCN Khole Kitovi this morning at Nitoi village under Nagaland’s Kiphire district Source The Sangai Express Newmai News Network

Read more / Original news source: http://e-pao.net/ge.asp?heading=3&src=171212

Mass Bible reading Gangtes’ bid to enter Limca Book of Records

As part of the Gangte Gospel Centenary Celebration marking 100 years of embracing Christianity, thousands of people of the community participated in a mass Bible reading in a bid to enter the Limca Book of Records at the premises of Evangelical Synod C…

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UNC says no to 6th Schedule, sticks to AA stand outside GoM

Even as speculations are rife that the final outcome of the ongoing GoI NSCN IM political dialogue could be the extension of the provisions of the 6th Schedule to the hill districts of Manipur, the United Naga Council has today asserted that such an …

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Doctors deprived of 9 months’ salary

Among the 217 Medical Officers and Dental Surgeons appointed by Manipur Public Service Commission MPSC in 2008 and have been posted at different places since April last, 43 of them have not been provided their Employee Identification Number by the co…

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Spare innocent people

Some police personnel are really thoughtless. They think the crime committed by them will never be detected. The action of the police personnel, as they loot innocent people, reflects the deteriorating moral status of the security personnel. How did they become security men? This question can be put. Perhaps they have been misled by a wrong concept that if there is opportunity common masses could be threatened and their belongings snatched. But policemen are not aliens, they are part and parcel of the society. The wrong doers must face punishment so that the others may be desisted from committing the crime. Such news of police personnel looting innocent people’s money is really disturbing. It creates fear psychosis in the minds of helpless people. When all have remained indoors in the night the persons we will find on the road are uniform men only. Amazingly when they should have acted as protector they acted as tormentor. Police personnel involved in the crime could be grilled and from their admission one will be able to know what prompted them to commit the crime. A disease has inflicted the mind of men in uniform. Attempts need to be made to cure them. Unless that is done people’s outlook towards men in uniform will be like the simple villagers looking Gabbar Singh in the most successful Indian film Sholay. We must have laws to deal effectively with such kind of crime committed by security personnel. Manipur had seen in the past the crime of similar nature. But the perpetrators of the crime were not punished. Consequently the youngsters in the garb of kahki are tempted to imitate all that been done by their seniors. It is quite natural a person feels little bit of awkward when they see gun totting khaki clad personnel. They show nervousness when they are quizzed by such personnel. But one should not assume that all those, who tremble on seeing security personnel, are all wrong doers. Taking the advantage of the timid nature of common people some security poked fun asking them to leap like frogs. When they refused to obey their order they were beaten. Investigation into the extra judicial killings happening here and there, every now and then must attempt to grasp whether the victim was finished to end the clues if any other than the victim’s involvement in extremism. Police can arrest anybody on the slightest suspicion of involvement in a crime. But they cannot be punished on the street. Public discontentment is on the rise. Manipur police needs to do self introspection to improve its image. Police personnel must also hear the voice of the common masses. Someone should be able to say to which direction Manipur police should go. A state like Manipur, which has seen eruption of deadly crimes in the past two or three decades needs to have powerful police organisation, nobody will challenge that. But this however does not mean that the men in uniform should be given liberty to harass innocent common men. Extremes can lock in physical duel. That too at the places far away from where innocent common people are living. Spare innocent people.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/spare-innocent-people/

Nabakumar nominated , member consultative committee of fci

Manipur Information Centre
New Delhi, December 16
The Government of India nominated Huidrom Nabakumar Singh, a resident of Mayang Imphal Thana Mamang Leikai, Imphal West-II, Manipur as member of the Consultative Committee of the Food Corporation of India(FCI) for the State of Manipur with immediate effect for a period of two years vide the Government Order No. 7-22/2008-FC.1 dated the 27th November 2012 signed by A.K.Rana, the Under Secretary of the Department of Food and Public Distribution under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
Nabakumar who was currently in New Delhi said that as advised by the authority of the Food Corporation of India, Barakhamba Lane, New Delhi, he would be visiting Haryana and Punjab to learn how the procurement, storage and distribution operations of the Food Corporation of India in the two states took place.
With a view to protecting the interests of the producers as well as the consumers and to advice the Food Corporation of India on various matters relating to procurement, storage and distribution of foodgrains, the Ministry of Consumer, Food and Public Distribution, Government of India issued an order on October 10 last year for constitution of State/Union Territory level Consultative Committees for the Food Corporation of India.
The Consultative Committee shall consist of a Member of Parliament from the State concerned nominated by the Central Government, the Secretary to the State Government dealing with Food and Civil Supplies nominated by the State Government, the General manger concerned of the FCI and non-official members nominated by the Central Government. The Member of Parliament nominated to the Consultative Committee shall be its Chairperson and the concerned General Manager of the FCI shall be the Member Secretary of the Consultative Committee.
The functions of the Consultative Committee are to discuss and make recommendations on the matters of procurement and distribution of foodgrains; quality of foodgrains; storage of foodgrains; transit and storage losses; interface of the FCI with State Government on functioning of the Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) including allocation, offtake and actual distribution of foodgrains for Antyodaya, BPL and APL families and for various welfare schemes being operated by the Central or State Government; sale and disposal of stocks; and any other matter referred to it by the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution or the Food Corporation of India for its consideration.
The Consultative Committee shall normally meet once in every quarter. However, a special meeting of the Committee can be convened with prior information of the Ministry.
The Consultative Committee shall have the right to insect procurement, storage and distribution operations of the FCI. It shall also be entitled to inspect any godown where complaints about the quality of foodgrains stored or malpractices have been received by it. The inspection reports shall be forwarded to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and FCI Headquarters and the General Manager of FCI concerned.

Kuki students appreciate prompt action

IMPHAL, Dec 16 NNN: The Kuki Students’ Organisation, Chandel district (KSO-Chdl dist) while lauding the higher authority of the police department for taking up prompt actions in connection with the torturing three civilians from Chandel district, has also strongly condemned the act of the security force personnel.
Terming it as an act of ‘inhuman’ the KSO-Chandel district said such activity of the security force personnel amounts to violation of gross human rights which will remain affected not only on their physical health but their mental health is bound to be impacted negatively.
The KSO-Chandel district then urged the concerned authority to award befitting punishment to the security force personnel involved in the December 11-12 incident. The KSO-Chandel district then said it would endorse the move of Thadou Students Association-Chandel district.
Mention may be made here that three persons from Chandel district were picked up by the combined team of the Army and the Manipur police commandos and tortured them and also robbed off Rs 90,000 from the three victims before they were left with bruises, according to the Thadou Students Association, Chandel district (TSA-Chandel district).
Lalboi Mate (38) of Khudengthabi village, Thanglal Baite (36), of Moreh town Ward No. 9 and Haopu Mate (36), also from Moreh Ward No 9 were on Christmas marketing at Paona bazar in Imphal when the security force personnel claiming themselves as the combined team of the Army and the Manipur police commandos picked them up, blinded folded and took them elsewhere at around 7:30 pm on December 11, alleged the Thadou Students Association, Chandel district.
The three people were tortured by the security force personnel during the night accusing them as criminals. The victims’ mobile phone handsets (Nokia brand) were also taken away by the security people, further alleged the TSA-Chandel district. These three persons were left the following morning near FCI godown at Sangaiprou area in Imphal, it added.
It may be noted that one ASI of Bishnupur Commando had been arrested by the City Police yesterday . The statement of the Superintendent of Police Imphal West District said, during the course of investigation, it has been revealed that two persons were picked up by a unit of army, based at Ningthoukhong from Mantripukhri areas on December 11 and were taken to their camp.
During the operation, one ASI of CDO Bishnupur district namely Onkhomang Haokip accompanied the army team to pick-up Lalboi Mate from Jehova Lodge located at Paona Bazar Imphal without informing his senior officers and OC/city police said the SP statement.
Before ASI Onkhomang Haokip accompanied the army team, SI Md Imtiaz was contacted by the army for the operation using mobile no. 7308259804. However, Imtiaz turned down the request.
The Nokia handset which was taken from the victims was recovered from the possession of ASI Onkhomang Haokip added the statement.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/kuki-students-appreciate-prompt-action/

Two NSCN (K) cadres killed

DIMAPUR, Dec 16: The tempo of Christmas festivity is rising in Nagaland and so is the tension owing to the Naga underground factional clashes.
Two cadres of the NSCN-K have been killed by the rival NSCN-Khole/Kitovi this morning at Nitoi village under Nagaland’s Kiphire district.
Reports said while the cadres of NSCN-K were camping at Nitoi village, the rival cadres surrounded the village and started attacking resulting in the dead of two NSCN-K cadres. The incident happened at around 5 am.
The deceased NSCN-K cadres have been identified as one ‘lieutenant’ Among Tikhir and ’2nd lieutenant’ Solo Puchury.
It is worth noting that as recent as on December 5, two more cadres of the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi were killed by rival NSCN-K cadres at
Longkhim area under Tuensang district of Nagaland.
The deceased of that incident were identified as ‘Lieutenant’ Lumthrongtsaba and ‘Raja Peyu’ Chumkyuse, both hailing from Chungtor village under Tuensang district.
A total of four cadres from the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi have been killed so far by the rival NSCN-K cadres in this month itself.
On December 3, two cadres of the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi were killed by cadres of rival NSCN-Khaplang group in the heart of Dimapur.
There were varied stories with regard to the cirscumstances that had led to the killing of the NSCN-Khole/Kitovi cadres on that earlier incident.
Intelligence sources had said that the two cadres of NSCN-Khole/Kitovi were ‘chatting with shopkeepers’ at Murgi Patti area in the heart of Dimapur market when the cadres of NSCN-K came and shot them. However, NSCN-K sources had said it was purely a factional clash.
The deceased of December 3 were identified as 2nd lieutenant Sheye Konyak and sergeant major Wochamo Lotha.
Meanwhile, the booming factional clashes in Nagaland in the recent time has spoilt the pre-Christmas festivity activities in Nagaland, otherwise has been in the festive mood with series of advent Christmas parties underway since December 1. Stars and Santa Clauses have been put up but the undying factional clashes meant a spoil-sport to the cheering Christmas mood.
Nagaland, with the seven-day long Hornbill Festival, tagged as the festival of festival in the state has been in full swing in the state capital since December 1 but the insurgency related violence has been playing hiccups to the glowing festive ambience.
Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in all the sensitive areas where factional clashes are prone. Reports have also said that more factional clashes will occur in the days to come.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/two-nscn-k-cadres-killed/

Protest rally against Orange Festival

TAMENGLONG, Dec 16: Volunteers of All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and Zeliangrong Youth Front (ZYF) today marched along the Tamenglong streets carrying the effigy of chief minister O Ibobi Singh as part of its move to boycott the State Level Orange Festival to be held on December 17 and 18.
However, it was not known whether the effigy was set on fire or not.
“Nagas are not against the spirit of festival which promotes reconciliation and harmony and goodwill among the people. But when the government of Manipur sponsored festivals are used as platforms to dilute and negate the very political position of the Nagas and undermine our rights, we have no other option but to boycott it,” the ANSAM and ZYF said today in Tamenglong through a joint press communique.
“The reason why we are here today is to clearly deliver the message that State sponsored festival such as the Orange Festival seeks to present the fallacious picture of a responsible State Government promoting horticulture and social harmony in the state. When in reality it has consistently deprived the Naga people of real development benefits through diversion and corruption and created irreparable rifts between the communities through its communal policies and actions,” the ANSAM and the ZYF communique added.
“The proven mission of Mr. Ibobi, the other ministers of government of Manipur and MLAs of the ruling Government and also the unmandated ADCs has been to oppose the demand for an alternative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur pending settlement of the Indo-Naga issue and for derailing the much awaited settlement of the Indo-Naga issue through their machination,” it alleged.
ANSAM and ZYF then appealed to all Nagas to stay away from the Orange Festival scheduled to be held here at Tamenglong “so that the political position of severance of ties with the government is maintained in pursuance of our inherent and democratic aspirations”.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/protest-rally-against-orange-festival/

Th. Chaoba to become President BJP Manipur

Imphal Dec 16 UNA: Th Chaoba, former union minister will be the new President BJP Manipur Pradesh. He was the lone person who submitted nomination paper .
The former election will be held tomorrow and new office bearer will be declared the same day.
BJP National Spokesperson, Prakash Javedkar, who visited the state for a few hour held a meeting with the leaders of state regarding tomorrow election.
Addressing a press conference Javedkar said that he visited the state as their will be a new team and the BJP Manipur Pradesh will have a new President and office bearer. Regarding the election a meeting was held for hours and come out with a full consensus.
Only one person has submits a nomination paper for the President post but a former declaration will be held tomorrow added Javedkar.
Manipur will have two National Council so that it can fully prepare for the upcoming 2014 Parliament election for the two seat of MPs.
The conference was also attended by P. Chandrashhar Rao, Zonal NE in-charge, Shanti Kumar Sharma, president, Utlou Chaoba, Vice-president, Prof. Y Tiken.
Ministry of DoNER (Development of North Eastern Region) has totally failed in implementing of its programme in the north eastern region, said BJP National Spokesperson, Prakash Javedkar on Sunday.
Prakash Javedkar was speaking to a media person in a press conference at BJP Manipur Pradesh office this afternoon regarding election of new President for Manipur Pradesh.
Even the DoNER minister failed in answering about the delay in completing the work of national’s highway no. 2 and 37 and railway track in Manipur, when a question was put up in the Parliament by himself said the visiting BJP leader.
BJP strongly condemned the UPA government for neglecting the NE region in bringing development. Due to lack of development in the region most of the youth from north east are staying in other big cities of the country as they cannot find a job in the NE. The works of any development in the NE region cannot be completed in a time because of the corruption carried out by the missionaries of UPA government only alleged Javedkar.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/th-chaoba-to-become-president-bjp-manipur/

Congress inability to attend purposed meeting on December 13 unfair: A ruling Legislator

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By Oken Jeet Sandham KOHIMA, Dec 16 (NEPS): A ruling legislator in the DAN said in the proposed meeting on December 13 at the residence of the State Assembly Speaker, they were about to have further discussion to resolve that … Continue reading →

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By Oken Jeet Sandham

KOHIMA, Dec 16 (NEPS): A ruling legislator in the DAN said in the proposed meeting on December 13 at the residence of the State Assembly Speaker, they were about to have further discussion to resolve that “No solution, no election.” And if they can resolve in that way, then the matter will be submitted to the Government of India to prevail upon the ECI to look into the matter, the ruling legislator, who is willing not to be named, told NEPS here Sunday.

But the Congress said they should resign before solution whereas the “ruling said no election till solution to the Naga issue is arrived at,” he pointed out adding that if they (Congress) were serious and sincere, they should have prevailed upon the Centre which is run by Congress-led UPA and also influenced the neighbouring Congress-ruled States to expedite the solution process. “I think they appeared to be lacking sincerity,” the ruling legislator added.

But things are pulling apart as there appears to be no meeting point for the ruling and opposition members under JLP. The Opposition congress MLAs have been insisting that they should resign before state general elections, whereas the ruling MLAs clarified their position that there should not be election before solution to the Naga political issue is arrived at.

“In the meeting at Chumukedima on December 10, the JLP members including Congress ones have agreed in principle to have another meeting for further consultation at the residence of the state Assembly Speaker on December 13,” the ruling legislator said describing as “unfair” the inability of the Congress to attend the meeting on December 13, leading to the cancellation of the purposed meeting at the residence of the State Assembly Speaker.

He disclosed they were about to have further discussion to resolve that “No solution, no election” in the purposed meeting on December 13 at the residence of State Assembly Speaker. And if they can resolve in that way, the matter will be submitted to the Government of India to prevail upon the ECI to look into the matter, he disclosed.

But the Congress said they should resign before solution whereas the “ruling said no election till solution to the Naga issue is arrived at,” he pointed out adding that if they (Congress) are serious and sincere, they should have prevailed upon the Centre which is run by Congress-led UPA and also influenced the neighbouring Congress-ruled States to expedite the solution process. “I think they appeared to be lacking sincerity,” the ruling legislator added.

Amidst this unpredictable political climate, it is reported that the Election Commission of India (ECI) may announce notification for holding Nagaland election prior to the Christmas. The already confused political climate in the State is more compounded by this reported development again.
Since there are barely three months for the State to face what will be one of the most crucial elections in the State, the political scenario is getting muddier and becoming fast unpredictable.

The JLF had meeting on December 10 at Chumukedima but it remained inconclusive. It decided to have another meeting on December 13 at the residence of the State Assembly Speaker for further consultation with civil societies, NGOs and church organizations. This meeting was later cancelled as the Congress expressed its inability to attend. However, it said a meeting should be convened by the Speaker at the earliest.

CLP Leader Tokheho Yepthomi said the Congress in its meeting on 12th December 2012 at Dimapur suggested that a meeting of all political parties, NGOs and civil societies be convened by the Speaker as some political parties do not have MLAs and therefore it may not be proper for JLP to convene such meeting. He further disclosed that the Congress party resolved that if the Speaker can convene all the political parties, then the Congress shall join the meeting and deliberate upon.

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Request for Permanent Removal of PAP regime from Manipur

The post Request for Permanent Removal of PAP regime from Manipur appeared first on KanglaOnline.com.

MANIPURI ASSOCIATION OF CANADA 9 CORRAL COURT, WHITBY ONTARIO L1N 8E7, CANADA www.manipuricanada.org Ph. 905-493-4931 Ref: MAC/India/PAP-008 December 14, 2011 To Shri Sushil Kumar Sambhajirao Shinde Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs, India North Block, Central Secretariat New Delhi-110101, India Sub: … Continue reading →

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MANIPURI ASSOCIATION OF CANADA
9 CORRAL COURT, WHITBY
ONTARIO L1N 8E7, CANADA
www.manipuricanada.org Ph. 905-493-4931

Ref: MAC/India/PAP-008 December 14, 2011
To
Shri Sushil Kumar Sambhajirao Shinde
Hon’ble Minister of Home Affairs, India
North Block, Central Secretariat
New Delhi-110101, India

Sub: Request for Permanent Removal of PAP regime from Manipur

Hon’ble Shri Shinde,
The temporary lifting of the Protected Area Permit (PAP) regime from Manipur and some of its neighbouring states in early January 2011 and its subsequent extension till December 31, 2012 have shown a new ray of hope to the people in the region about bringing progress. This has proved an important experiment in India’s renewed venture to solve the multifarious problems plaguing the North-Eastern Region (NER).

Understandably, the true favourable changes in the psyche, vision, planning and action of the people and the governments in the region in the new PAP-free era still remain elusive during the past two years after its removal on trial basis. Foreign visitors still continue to be paranoid about entry restrictions. The news about PAP removal has not percolated into travel literature worldwide. The feeling of uncertainty associated with the temporary or experimental nature of the GOI’s order about PAP removal is pushing the goals farther.

The Manipuris, while appreciating the GOI’s real intention of removing this archaic Act want to see it permanently gone opening the gateway for them to progress, the much cherished goal. In a life without PAP regime, and favoured by other paraphernalia of India’s new thrust of development initiatives in the region, we can expect to see an unprecedented increase in academic standards of the universities, research and development works, foreign direct investment, productivity and flow of merchandise, trade and commerce, socio-cultural integration and general sense of security, progress and satisfaction in the North-Eastern Region in the days ahead.

I, on behalf of the Manipuri Association of Canada, other collaborating Manipuri expatriate organizations, local support groups and all signatories of the Global Online Petition for Removal of PAP from Manipur (submitted to Indian Home Ministry in December 2010), would like to request you to remove PAP from Manipur on a permanent basis as a sequel to the much praised temporary lifting of the same two years ago. This will usher in true progress to India’s NER.

With high regards
Sincerely,
Sd/-
Dr. Rajkumar Singh
President, MAC

Copy to:
1. Dr. K. Chiranjeevi
Minister of State for Tourism, India
1. Shri Vayalar Ravi
Hon’ble Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, India
2. Shri Paban Singh Ghatowar
Hon’ble Minister of DoNER, India
3. Shri Okram Ibobi Singh
Hon’ble Chief Minister of Manipur, India
4. Shri Rishang Keishing
Hon’ble Member of Rajya Sabha, India
5. Dr. Thokchom Meinya Singh
Hon’ble Member of Lok Sabha (Inner Manipur), India
6. Shri Thangso Baite
Hon’ble Member Lok Sabha (Outer Manipur), India
7. Shri T N Haokip
Hon’ble Minister, Tourism, Manipur
8. Shri N. Biren
Hon’ble Minister, Youth Affairs and Sports, Manipur

Dr. Phalguni Sougaijam
Secretary, MAC

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Vibrant Spirit: The missing element in Manipur`s polity – KanglaOnline

Vibrant Spirit: The missing element in Manipur`s polityKanglaOnlineThis has not been only in the case of this, but has rather has been the marked feature of every functioning of the state in Manipur. This does call for an introspection to identify the …

Vibrant Spirit: The missing element in Manipur`s polity
KanglaOnline
This has not been only in the case of this, but has rather has been the marked feature of every functioning of the state in Manipur. This does call for an introspection to identify the missing element which makes the repetition of such experiences a …

Manipur Rifles, AR raid in Dimapur – E-Pao.net

Manipur Rifles, AR raid in DimapurE-Pao.netTension heightened in Burma Camp when a squad of uniformed personnel picked up four persons from Naga Colony, and whisked them to an unknown destination at around 1.30 p.m. Saturday. Sources said, three of the…

Manipur Rifles, AR raid in Dimapur
E-Pao.net
Tension heightened in Burma Camp when a squad of uniformed personnel picked up four persons from Naga Colony, and whisked them to an unknown destination at around 1.30 p.m. Saturday. Sources said, three of the four picked up, were reportedly …

Participants of ASEAN car rally welcomed at Moreh

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/participants-of-asean-car-rally-welcomed-at-moreh/

Sovakiran elected working President MPP

The Central Committee of Manipur People’s Party (MPP) today unanimously elected Nongmeikapam Sova Kiran as the party’s working president.
O Joy, advisor, MPP said that according to the constitution of the party, the post of the working president should be filled up within a period of one year. Sobha Kiran was elected as the party president by convening the Central Committee meeting which is held every three months.
He said L Jatra had been the president in-charge of MPP since December 3 after S Umananda held the post of the party president for six months.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/sovakiran-elected-working-president-mpp/

ASEAN car rally reaches Moreh leave for Nagaland

Mail News Service
Imphal, Dec 15: Participants of ASEAN car rally 2012 were warmly welcomed at Moreh, border town of Manipur today. Govindas Konthoujam, Minister , Meghachandra, Parliamentary Secretary welcomed the participants and proceeded towards Imphal.
The participating teams arrived in the Imphal city at around 1:10 pm when a huge enthusiastic crowd including school and
college students received them amidst greetings.
Chief Minister O Ibobi received them at Kangla Fort where a cultural programme was organized by the state Government to entertain the participating teams from 11 countries. He also encouraged them by giving mementos at the function. Manipur
Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam also attended the function.
Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said, “I am informed that 2012 is the 20th Anniversary of ASEAN-India Summit-level partnership and I also understand that the Government of India is hosting the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in New Delhi from December 20-21. The theme of the summit is “ASEAN-India Partnership for Peace and Shared Prosperity.”
The summit is expected to adopt the “ASEAN-India Vision Statement 2020’ which would chart the future direction of
ASEAN-India relations and that the statement will also include recommendations by the ASEAN-India Eminent Persons Group (AIEPG), the Chief Minister added.
“Enhancing relations with ASEAN has been central to India’s “Look East Policy” and we are happy to note that there has been steady progress in the ASEAN-India relations since the policy was initiated in 1991,” he said.
India became a sectorial dialogue partner of ASEAN in 1992, which was upgraded to full dialogue partnership in 1996. Since
2002, India-ASEAN Summits have been held annually.
The Chief Minister later sent off them around 3:20 pm from Kangla Fort.
The ASEAN-India Car Rally was flagged off on November 26 from Yogyakarta , Indonesia with a wonderful cultural performances from Manipuri and Indonesia dancers. The rally thereafter proceeded to the iconic Borobudur temple, the largest Buddhist temple in the world and proceeded to to Singapore for the second leg of the ASEAN India car rally.
The ASEAN-India Car Rally was jointly organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and all ASEAN nations, the ASEAN India car rally commemorates 20 years of ASEAN-India relationship in the run up to the India-ASEAN commemorative Summit to be held in New Delhi on 20-21 December 2012.
The ASEAN-India Car Rally was flagged off at 0900 hrs on 26th November 2012 in a grand ceremony held at Royal Ambarrukmo
Hotel. From the Indian side, Mr. P.S. Raghavan, Special Representative of the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Gurjit Singh
Ambassador of India to Indonesia and ASEAN and Mr. Adi Godrej, President of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII)
flagged off the rally cars while the Indonesian side was represented by Mr. Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, Director General of
ASEAN, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Representative of the Governor of Yogyakarta and other dignitaries.
Hundreds of people had gathered at the venue, including school children waving flags of India, Indonesia and other ASEAN countries, to witness the event and cheer the rally participants.
The ASEAN national anthem was sung on the occasion followed by cultural performances from India and Indonesia. A Manipuri dance troupe from Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), India, performed on the occasion.
In his remarks at the Flag off, Mr. P.S. Raghavan, Special Representative of the External Affairs Minister, said that the ASEAN-India Car Rally, during its journey through ASEAN countries and India, would highlight the richness of culture and heritage in each of the countries, the complementarity of our engines of growth, the increasing bilateral trade accrossour border and the people-to-people bridges that have existed in this regions for several millenia.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/asean-car-rally-reaches-moreh-leave-for-nagaland/

Zeme tribe festival in Jan

IMPHAL, Dec 15 NNN: Come January 8 and one will witness the Zeme tribe from Manipur, Nagaland and Assam showcasing their colourful cultural items at Tousem sub-divisional headquarters in Tamenglong district with Manipur chief minister O Ibobi Singh gracing the gala event.
However, at present the big worry for the Zeme community has been the hostile road condition of the Tamenglong-Haflong road condition. According to the celebration committee of the Zeme tribe recognition cum cultural festival, North East India and Zeme Naga Council, Manipur, along the Tamenglong-Haflong Road there have been landslides at a stretch of road from Phoklong village to Jiri River which is about 5 to 6 kilometres long. The Zeme organisations said that if these slides are not cleared by then, participants from Assam Nagaland will have hard time reaching the Tousem headquarters.
“We appeal the concerned authority to clear the land slides by the first week of next month so that Zeme people from Nagaland and Assam can participate in the event.The celebration will be a four-day affair starting from January 8.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/zeme-tribe-festival-in-jan/