Bru Militants Blocking Obstructing Repatriation To Mizoram

Aizawl, Nov 24 : The Mizoram government Tuesday said militants are obstructing the repatriation process of over 41,000 Reang tribal refugees, sheltered in six camps of north Tripura for the past 13 years.

The repatriation of 41,600 tribal refugees from north Tripura's Kanchanpur sub-division to their villages in western Mizoram began Nov 3. Since then, 400 Reang tribal refugees, locally called 'Bru', have returned to their homes.

When 66 families were ready to return home Friday, hundreds of other refugees put up a blockade on the Tripura-Mizoram highway, protesting non-settlement of their eight-point demands.

'The police arrested 655 protesters and cleared the blockade. Subsequently, 48 refugee families left Tripura for their homes,' a Tripura official said.

Mizoram Home Minister R. Lalzirliana Tuesday alleged in Aizawl that militants of Reang tribals are intimidating innocent refugees in Tripura relief camps and are trying to spoil the repatriation process.

'There are some Reang tribal extremists who are intimidating and threatening innocent tribal immigrants and also indulging in illegal activities,' the home minister told reporters.

Lalzirliana said the security forces are prepared to take firm action against these guerrillas.
A Tripura government official, however, said there was no specific report of militants' intimidating the home-bound refugees.

'The refugees have been demanding an eight-point rehabilitation package, including formation of an autonomous district council in Mizoram, and reservation for them in government jobs and state assembly. They (refugees) want a four-partite written agreement involving the central, Tripura and Mizoram governments, and refugee leaders,' Kanchanpur Sub-divisional magistrate Dilip Chakma told IANS on phone.

'There might be a splinter group of militants. But we have no specific reports of militants' intimidating the home-bound willing refugees,' he added.

In April 2005, the Mizoram government and the militant Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) signed an agreement after 13 rounds of talks to solve the decade-old ethnic crisis, leading to the surrender of about 1,040 militants of the BNLF and Bru Liberation Front of Mizoram (BLFM), another separatist outfit.

Both the rebel outfits have been fighting for setting up an autonomous council for the refugees.
Over 41,600 Reang tribals, locally called Bru, have been living in six camps in north Tripura's Kanchanpur sub-division since October 1997. They fled western Mizoram after ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos following the killing of a Mizo forest official.

AASU Rejects Assam Govt Proposals

AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya addresses a news conference on the NRC update in Guwahati on Tuesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Nov 24 : The All Assam Students Union today rejected Dispur’s formula to resolve the standoff over the stalled process for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), 1951 while the state government exuded confidence of a breakthrough within 15 days.

Though the pilot project to update the NRC in Barpeta and Chaygaon revenue circles was not put on hold officially, it lost steam after four persons died in police firing on the supporters of All Assam Minority Students’ Union at Barpeta on July 21.

After holding talks with AAMSU factions and the AASU over the past two days, Dispur is thinking of making changes in the application form, conducting house-to-house enumeration and accepting documents approved by the Election Commission for revision of electoral rolls and updating the NRC as proof. But AASU has objected to the first two proposals, saying it will leave loopholes in the process of NRC update.

The AASU and 26 other ethnic organisations, after holding discussions with the cabinet sub-committee headed by revenue and Assam Accord implementation minister Bhumidhar Barman, today stated that the application form, in its current structure, was simple, transparent and fit for updating the NRC. Hence, there was no need to make any change in it. AASU said if the form was changed, it would suit the purpose of Bangladeshis migrants and help them enrol their names in the NRC. “The state government’s move to modify the form in order to make it comprehensible for the people is unnecessary. It is the responsibility of the government to explain to the people in a simple manner how to fill up the form rather than change it,” AASU adviser Samujjal Bhattacharyya said.

AASU has also rejected the government’s proposal for house-to-house enumeration and stated that the NRC should be updated by inviting claims from direct descendants of those whose names figured in the 1951 NRC or in the state’s electoral roll of 1971. Bhattacharyya said they have asked Dispur to give them the three proposals in writing within the next five days so that they can respond to them accordingly.

Government spokesperson Himanta Biswa Sarma told The Telegraph on the sidelines of a government function here that Dispur was hopeful of a breakthrough because of “very positive talks” between the students’ organisations and the cabinet sub-committee. He said discussions were held on “seven to eight points” and the students’ organisations would get back to the committee within seven days with their response.

“We will go for a statewide count in a phased manner within 45 days, instead of the pilot project, to make up for the delay. We will even get the Centre’s nod within 45 days,” Sarma said, admitting that Dispur was often accused by AASU and AAMSU of siding with the other. “But I can say talks are moving in the right direction.” The pilot project was to end in December.

Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said house-to-house enumeration was important so that no locals were left out.

Manipur Reaps Mustard Success

A mustard field

Imphal, Nov 24 : The agriculture department of Manipur has been successful in cultivating mustard on untilled soil on a large scale, and is preparing to unravel this feat to the country through a national conference early next year.

The department adopted the method five years back, and now, after seeing the success, many farmers have started cultivating mustard in their fields, immediately after paddy harvest.

Officials of the agriculture department said that this system is not practised in any other part of the country.

“The system is a success. We are introducing it at the national conference for kharif, being organised by the agriculture ministry in Delhi in February next year,” deputy director Ph. Rajendro Singh (soil chemist) and the man behind this campaign, told The Telegraph.

For documenting their success story, the department is now planting mustard plants in an area of one hectare at Maklang of Imphal West. Every detail of the process will be recorded — from the day the seeds are sown till they are harvested — for presentation during the conference, with video clippings and photographs.

The department is also hoping to support farmers in cultivating enough mustard seeds for sale outside the state and to produce mustard oil adequate for local consumption.

Last year, mustard was cultivated in 56,000 hectares and the yield was 43,600 tonnes. This year, because of floods, the area was reduced to 26,750 hectares and yield target is 50,000 tonnes.

The department had bought 200 tonnes of mustard seeds from the farmers last year, for distribution this year. The distribution target this season is 500 tonnes.

Farmers, mostly from the valley, have already taken to mustard cultivation on a large scale. From this year, the department introduced this system in the hill areas, mostly in the slopes bordering the valley. Many farmers’ self-help groups have been formed in various localities for distribution of seeds and for practising collective farming.

“The zero tillage mustard cultivation is a success and this means added income for the farmers. The results are making farmers in Maklang area very happy,” N. Ram Singh, president of a self-help group called Nongchup Imphal Loumi Sinmi Chaokhat Thourang Lup, said.

The department is hoping to achieve the target of producing enough mustard oil for the state in the next few years.

In the meantime, the department has also started experimenting with zero tillage pea cultivation. “We have sown seeds in some selected areas. If this is also successful, we will spread it throughout Manipur,” Rajendra Singh said.

128 Manipuri Militants Undergo Rehabilitation Training

Bangalore, Nov 24 : Nearly 128 Manipuri militants underwent a 90-day intensive spiritual, behavioural and vocational rehabilitation training conducted by the Art of Living and its sister organisation, International Association for Human Values (IAHV) here.

The militants from KCPMC Lallumba that laid down arms on August 6 joined the programme on August 16.

"Manipur, today, is one of the worst insurgency affected states in the northeast. We were not merely looking at training them in technical skills and soft skills, but their complete rehabilitation," said Darshak Hathi, International Director, Art of Living.

Based on Sri Sri Ravi Shankar's ideals of ''Inside every criminal, there is a victim crying for help'', the programme aimed at stress elimination, bringing inner peace, sensitivity and making them socially responsible citizens.

Alongside, there was a Vocational Skill Development Training programme to impart technical training to the group in computers, mobile-repair and other electrical equipment.

Centre Looks Into Palm Plantation Scope in Northeast

By SANJEEB MUKHERJEE

New Delhi, Nov 24 : The government is actively considering to bring in more areas under oil palm cultivation within the country in the next few years to reduce the palm oil import bill. At present, almost 99% of the country's annual palm oil requirement is imported due to low local output.

The government, at a meeting on oil palm cultivation, has decided to explore the possibility of palm plantations in non-traditional areas including Arunachal Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Patna, Pondicherry, Manipur, Meghalaya and eastern Uttar Pradesh.

It has also decided to impress upon states such as Assam, West Bengal, Tripura and Maharashtra�which have been identified for palm plantation under Oil Palm Development Programme (OPDP), but haven't done so yet�to start taking measures to grow palm if not from this fiscal then from next fiscal. The government is also considering to launch a mission on oilseeds and oil palm to give a special thrust to domestic palm cultivation in the next Five-Year Plan.

Annual edible oil imports have steadily climbed in the last few years to over 8 million tonne, due to rising consumption and stagnant domestic oilseeds production. Palm oil comprises over 80% of the total edible oils imported into India.

Presently, all programmes and schemes related to planting of oil palm are covered under the integrated scheme of oilseeds, pulses, oil palm and maize (ISOPOM).

�Oil palm development programme is progressing at a slow pace and the area coverage is not taking place as per envisaged targets,� it noted. According to government's assessment, only 1.78 lakh hectares have been covered under oil palm plantation till now as against a potential 10.36 lakh hectares. The meeting called for reviewing the subsidy on oil palm cultivation from Rs 15,500 per hectare to Rs 40,000 per hectare and on inputs required for it.

Ever since import of edible oils was brought under the open general licence in 1995, domestic palm oil prices have fluctuated considerably because of its direct linkage to oil markets in Malaysia and Indonesia. Noting this, the meeting which was chaired by agriculture secretary PK Basu decided to recommend the commerce ministry for a review of the import duty and import policy on edible oils. It was also decided to depute a team to Malaysia to consider the possibility of import of germplasm fand and study the technique for direct extraction of refined oil. The states were suggested to utilise funds available under various schemes to bring irrigation facilities for palm plantation.

The meeting also recommended enactment of Oil Palm Act by implementing states on the basis of existing legislation in Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Goa and Mizoram. Members at the meeting, which also included representatives from the state government and Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR), suggested diversification of planting material import sources, bridging the seed gap to ensure availability of quality seeds in time. The suggestions made are to be implemented by March 2011 so that recommendations of committees and expert groups can be fed straight into the mission.

Mega Dams, Mega Disquiet

By Sanjib Kr Baruah

New Delhi, Nov 23 : In a gathering of anti-dam activists in Assam, a small boy of about seven is asked whether he knows why he has come. “Brihot nodi bandhor biruddhe (to protest against mega dams on rivers),” he replies confidently in Assamese. The issue of the construction of an intricate network of 168 dams,

largely mega, in Arunachal Pradesh, has put people there and in Assam in panic mode. Political parties are using it as an election issue ahead of Assam’s assembly elections in March-April 2011, but there is an element of déjà vu for those who have been witness to the heady days of the six-year-long anti-foreigner agitation in the northeastern state.

Not even the vexed issue of insurgency has fired popular imagination as much as the mega dams. As an Arunachali poet puts it, “These massive dams will destroy the heart and soul of Arunachal Pradesh.” To build the Dibang valley project itself, about 32 lakh truckloads of river boulders will have to be removed.

Ignoring local opposition, work is going on at a furious pace at most of these dam sites. Already, experts have pointed out a plethora of environmental, geological, demographic and socio-economic problems the network will cause. But another set of core issues bear close scrutiny.

It is anyone’s guess as to how many trees will be felled and how much virgin forestland will be submerged by the dams in an area described as a biological hotspot. For example, the 2,000 MW Lower Subansiri project will use up 31,000 bighas of pristine forestland out of which 25,000 bighas will be submerged. The submerged area is a meeting point of the jungle tracts of Assam’s Subansiri, Kakoi and Dulung reserved forests with Arunachal’s Tale valley sanctuary and the Tale and Panir reserved forests.

In 1996, in view of the rapid depletion of fauna and flora, the Supreme Court had imposed a blanket ban on the felling of trees in the region. The ban is now being violated with impunity. In Manipur, 83 lakh trees are to be felled to build the Tipaimukh dam.

Another issue pertains to  Memorandums of Understanding with public and private entities for building dams instead of going for competitive and global bidding. Till very recently, any hydroelectric project of more than 200 MW capacity would have invited global bidders. In this case, MoUs are essentially being seen as instruments to block transparency and promote the arbitrary fixing of deals.

The issue of public hearings is another grey area. Visits and interactions made by this correspondent with local people from the affected areas is a pointer to that. In the Lower Subansiri dam project, public hearings were just an eyewash. For the Dibang project, public hearings have been postponed 13 times because of public opposition.

Local activists as well as the public  are also apprehensive of the fact that many dams have understated capacities. There seems to be no guarantee that the stated capacities in megawatt terms will not rise in the days to come. If it does,  who will monitor that?

New Delhi has already protested China’s damming activity on the Yarlung Tsangpo (as the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra is known in Tibet) on grounds of the downstream impact. On November 8, the Chinese government has admitted that work in indeed underway for the 510 MW Zangmu project. Yet riparian rights and issues of downstream impact are conveniently set aside when dissent raises its head in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Bangladesh.

Recently, the Central government has become ‘proactive’ on issue of river dams, passing strictures on a whole slew of projects across mainland India, from Uttaranchal’s Loharinag Pala (on socio-religious grounds) to the Polavaram dam in Andhra Pradesh (on grounds that the mandatory public hearings were not conducted). It would be interesting to see if the same standards are applied to the northeast where there is already a perceived sense of neglect.

Since independence, New Delhi has consistently followed a policy of winning the hearts and minds of the people in the Land of the Seven Sisters and to wean their minds off a history that has more often than not seen the fires of separatism and mindless bloodshed. “If the present thrust to build mega dams continues, mistrust against New Delhi will only grow and the battle for hearts and minds will be lost,” a local sociologist sums up the prevailing public mood.

Justin Bieber Named Artist of the Year

Justin Bieber's first American Music Awards was perfection.

The 16-year-old teen heartthrob went four-for-four on Sunday night, capturing every award he was nominated for, including the top award of the night, favorite artist. He beat a list that featured veterans Eminem and Usher, as well as Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

Bieber became the youngest person to ever win the trophy. Bieber also won favorite pop/rock album, favorite pop/rock male, and the show's breakthrough artist award.

"I can't stop smiling; this is amazing," Bieber said after he also beat Eminem and Usher for favorite pop/rock male. "Truly I don't know how this is possible because I've been singing Eminem since I was three and Usher is my mentor. So this is big."

Eminem, along with Lady Antebellum, had been the leading nominee with five awards. He didn't come up empty handed though, winning two, along with Usher, who also nabbed a pair. Lady Antebellum took home one.

Other winners included the Black Eyed Peas and Taylor Swift, but Sunday's ceremony at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles was as much a showcase for acts with new albums as it was a celebration of the biggest achievers of 2010.

Rihanna, with her hair dyed a ruby red, gave the show a colorful and sexy start, performing a medley of songs from her just released album "Loud," including the No. 1 hit "What's My Name," wearing a bustier and what seemed like a scarf wrapped around her backside.

"This is amazing!" said an exuberant Rihanna, who danced onstage later to receive her award — favorite soul/R&B female. She ended her speech by yelling, "Wassup! Thank you!"

The Black Eyed Peas, winners for favorite pop/rock band, gave a levitating performance, singing from boxes atop the stage during part of their performance of their new single, "The Time."

Yet some of the prime-time performances were given to acts who weren't nominated, but had albums to promote. Diddy's latest incarnation with the group Diddy-Dirty Money sang material from their upcoming album, while Kid Rock gave a stirring, acoustic performance of "Times Like These," his song lifting up his hometown of Detroit during its recent economic struggles, from his new CD, "Born Free."

A pregnant Pink was among the evening's performance highlights. Unlike recent appearances marked by a high-wire act, she stayed close to the ground to perform her latest song, "Raise Your Glass," but thrilled nonetheless with a tightly choreographed, high-energy dance number.

Katy Perry had the evening's most explosive performance as pyrotechnics accentuated the performance of her latest song, "Firework."

Swift, last year's artist of the year, took home favorite country female. Sporting sleek blonde hair instead of her usual cascading curls, Swift said simply: "I just want to thank the fans."

Swift later performed her new single, "Back to December," a song she also performed at the CMA Awards earlier in the month, but mixed things up by incorporating some of OneRepublic's "Apologize."

Ke$ha, perhaps trying to make up for the absent Lady Gaga, had the night's most bizarre act: She performed her heavily Auto-Tuned hit "Take It Off" looking like something out of space, with beams of light for eyes and sporting a motorcycle helmet. She then stripped down to a mirrored outfit, segueing into the next song with a pack of male dancers dressed like her, complete with blond wigs and fishnet stockings.

Nepal's New Global Hero Prevents Trafficking of Women

Kathmandu, Nov 22 : The daughter of a former Indian Army colonel has become Nepal's new global hero, receiving a prestigious American award for her relentless work to prevent the trafficking of women and children from Nepal and rescuing over 12,000 victims.

Anuradha Koirala, daughter of Col Pratap Singh Gurung of the Indian Army, and former student of St Joseph's Convent in eastern India's hill town of Kalimpong, gave a politically volatile Nepal a worthy cause to rejoice when she was declared the CNN Hero of the year 2010 at a gala in Los Angeles late Saturday. The event was also attended by Hollywood stars Demi Moore, Halle Berry and Jessica Alba.

There were fireworks at Maiti Nepal in celebration, the anti-trafficking NGO founded by the frail, 61-year-old former school teacher on the premises of her own house in 1993 with eight others and that made her win the $100,000 award after eight weeks of online voting.

Koirala, known by her trademark huge dot on the forehead and spartan sari, beat nine other shortlisted nominees, including India's chef with a conscience, Narayanan Krishnan, whose Akshaya Trust has become a byword for feeding the homeless in India's Madurai city.

Maiti Nepal, which means mother's home in Nepali, is the best-known anti-trafficking organisation in Nepal, running transit homes on the India-Nepal border to prevent women and children from being sold to India's brothels, rescuing them by conducting raids with peer groups in India and since 1999, also running a hospice in Jhapa in eastern Nepal for trafficking survivors diagnosed with HIV/AIDS.

The victims rescued by Maiti Nepal include girls as young as 14 who were sold into sex slavery in India at the age of nine.

In Kathmandu, Maiti Nepal also runs the Teresa Academy, a 10th-grade school to provide education to the rescued children and children of trafficked women living in its shelter. The rehabilitation work is bolstered by the legal unit of the NGO that seeks legal action against traffickers.

Last week, before the award was announced, Koirala had told a local weekly in Kathmandu that her aim was to see Maiti Nepal close down one day - when trafficking would be eradicated.

According to a report by the US State Department, about 12,000-15,000 women and children are trafficked to India across the porous border every year.

On the day Koirala won her award, Nepal police arrested a woman in the southern Saptari district, Nirmala Bhujel, for trying to sell a 14-year-old girl in India's Mumbai city, under the guise of getting her a well-paid job in Kuwait.

"I never thought I would get this international recognition when I started Maiti Nepal," a tearful Koirala told Nepali daily Republica from New York after being declared the CNN winner.

"Looking back at the struggle during those formative years, I can now say that anything can be achieved with perseverance and hard work."

The award also carries an additional $25,000, which goes out to all the shortlisted 10 nominees.

Source: IANS