Manipuri Kids Score for Peace

By Mercy Kamei

Footballs returns many Manipuri childhoods and offers a better future.

Even as the ethnic conflict between the Naga and Kuki tribes continues to burn the Chandel district of Manipur, hope shines in an unlikely corner. The children of the conflict are attempting to affect
catharsis over the region. They are reconciling their troubled histories, making peace with their rivals and coming together on the ground for a round of that most beautiful game – football.

“The struggle of Manipur has been long and complicated,” says Kamei Mercy, IndiaUnheard Community Correspondent from Manipur. “Just the sight of these children coming together and playing is a vision that one wishes to keep for the future.”

In 2006, the Ministry of Panchayat Raj named Chandel among one of the 250 most backward districts in the country. Poverty, unemployment and malnourishment are rife. There are no proper healthcare facilities or schools. The prolonged civil strife has paralyzed the district. It is a heavily militarized zone with over one military personnel for less than 50 civilians.

Children are one of the most vulnerable groups in the regions. Some are recruited as child soldiers by the insurgent groups. Many children have killed in cross-fires between the army and the insurgents. They are illiterate and malnourished, the war has broken their families. They are easy prey for trafficking and child labour cartels. They are emotionally scarred and psychologically damaged by the violence, fear and displacement.

The sports are an initiative of the Manipuri Alliance for Child Rights, a right based forum of NGOs, people’s organizations, activists and individuals who are working for child rights in the state of Manipur.

“Education and healthcare are essential,” says Mercy. “But there is something more about a game of football. Your playmates are your first idea of community and in getting the children to play sports, the
Manipuri Alliance for Child Rights is doing a great job in restoring not only their childhoods but a sense of community among the future citizens of Manipur.”

The Naga-Kuki conflict has been a long standing and bloody fight for the control of land and resources. In the late 60s, the Kuki tribes were forced to immigrate from Burmese borders to the hills of North
East Indian to avoid being persecuted by the Burmese military.   With the rise of Naga insurgency in the 1990s, the Kuki became the target of ethnic cleansing. Entire settlements were razed to the ground. The intervention of the Indian Army only escalated the violence and the Kuki were once again caught in between.

“The situation of Manipur needs fresh ideas and outlooks,” says Mercy. “There children are our hope. They’re scoring one for peace.”

Source: indiaunheard.videovolunteers.org

Cold Wave Grips Manipur

Imphal, Dec 16 : Manipur is in the grip of a cold wave as the mercury plunged to 3.7 degree Celsius in the State capital today. The maximum temperature recorded was 22.7 degree, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Imphal sources said.

The minimum temperature of the volatile State that has around 10 degree Celsius in an average this month, has been gradually going down since Friday recording 8.4 degree Celsius.

Besides the State capital, the severe cold wave conditions also prevailed in other hill district headquarters of the State as Chandel recorded a minimum of 4.3 degree Celsius today, weather data observer of the ICAR, Imphal informed.

Similarly, hilly Tamenglong district headquarter, around 155 km west of here have been experiencing unusual cold since the last few days. “We’ve been facing chilly wind in the night forcing us to stay indoors,” says D Kamei, a resident of Tamenglong over phone. “There are also reports of snowfall in some parts of the town two days back.”

However, Tamenglong on record had a minimum temperature of just 6.4 degree Celsius on Wednesday against Tuesday’s 6.5. Churachandpur and Ukhrul are also experiencing similar cold waves.

So far January 21 having a minimum temperature of 2 degree Celsius is the coldest day of the current year against last year’s 2.3 degree Celsius as per Meteorological Office Imphal records on January 13.

“Even though coldest day of the year 2010 was in January, people feel colder this fortnight because fog has remained for a longer period,” MET office sources said.

The cold wave has forced households in Manipur to burn a huge amount of charcoal to burn their Meiphu (local charcoal heater).

Irina Shayk Will Bring you Holiday Warmth

I have no clue as to where Irina Shayk is in these pictures. But if this is how she is spending the Holidays then I'm with her. The stocking stuffing will take care of itself after that.

56 Trained Officers March Out Of North Eastern Police Academy

Shillong, Dec 15 : As many as 56 police officers from Meghalaya, Manipur, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh were commissioned into active policing after completing a year-long training in counter insurgency and counter terrorism operation at the North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA) here on Wednesday.

Calling upon the officers to be committed to their duties, Meghalaya deputy chief minister BM Lanong urged them to uphold the pledge of duty and sacrifice. "You are here not to take, but to give and serve the people. Police are the guardian of the law and peace makers," he said.

Apart from adequate outdoor training inputs in counter insurgency and counter terrorism, human rights and police-public relations, the young officers were also taken through a well researched training module approved by the Bureau of Police Research and Development of the Union government.

Deputy SP Thungrhoni Kikon of Nagaland was awarded the Meghalaya Governor's Sword of Honour for all round best probationer, the Meghalaya Chief Minister's Baton of Honour and the NEPA gold medal in indoor training.

Sub Inspector Th Sarda Devi of Manipur won the Meghalaya Governor's Sword of Honour award for all round best cadet.

Deputy SP Bomto Kamdak and Jummar Basar of Arunachal Pradesh also won the Arunachal Pradesh chief minister's Baton of Honour and NEPA gold medal respectively.

Established in 1978 to provide training to police personnel from the northeast, NEPA trains about 500 police officers annually.

In 2011 alone, 924 police officers from different parts of the country were trained in 41 in-service courses at the institute.

Mizoram Ministers Feel Better Being Chief Guests: PRISM

Aizawl, Dec 15 : Anti-corruption organisation PRISM(People Right to Information and Development Implementing Society of Mizoram) today alleged that the chief minister, the ministers and the parliamentary secretaries in Mizoram were more comfortable being chief guests than visiting development projects.

While the chief minister and the ministers visited ongoing development work under their respective departments for 49 times, they attended government and non-government functions as chief guests and guests of honour for a whooping 468 times during December one, 2010 to November 30, 2011.

Prism recorded the activities of the Chief Minister, ministers and parliamentary secretaries, based on government press releases, during the last eleven months and compiled them in a booklet Zopui which was released here yesterday.

According to the booklet, Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla topped the list by attending functions as chief guest for 94 times. He was followed by Education Minister Lalsawta for 43 times. Art, Culture and Transport Minister P C Zoramsangliana was 'an honourable chief guest' for 36 times.

Parliamentary Secretary to the chief minister, Lal Thanzara, the second-most important man in the Congress Ministry, attended function as chief guests for more than most of the senior Cabinet ministers, chief-guesting for 31 times.

Among the ministers, Social Welfare Minister P C Lalthanliana was number one when it comes to accompanying the chief minister or receiving him at the airport.

He did either of the two for 10 times, followed by parliamentary secretary H Zothangliana, accompanying or receiving the CM for nine times.

Since some programmes of the ministers were missed out in the government press releases, Prism pointed out that the actual number of times the ministers attended functions as chief guests could be much higher.

''If they (the chief minister and the ministers) had given more importance to visiting project sites or sitting in their offices, development would have been much faster,'' commented Prism president Vanlalruata.

During a discussion on the activities of the public servants, most of the participants felt this was due to the politicians’ thirst for publicity.

A few of them justified it as it gives an opportunity to highlight the government’s programmes, policies and achievements.

Regarding their tours to the rural areas, some participants said rural tours were necessary as they came into contact with the rural people for whom traveling to Aizawl was financially not viable.

However, some also argued that even if the ministers went to the villages, those they actually interacted with, were party workers.

UPDS Lay Down Arms

568 cadres lay down arms

DIPANKAR ROY

Lengbart Ingleng, defence secretary of the UPDS, waves the outfit’s flag during the surrender ceremony in Diphu on Wednesday.

Diphu, Dec : The barrier broke just after the sun began its descent over the Karbi Anglong Sports Association stadium here today.

Hundreds of people — men, women and children — surged to the ground as soon as the ceremony to mark the laying down of weapons by the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) cadres was over and the officials — both military and civilian — had left.

Eighteen years after they, most of them, at least, had found meaning and shelter in the deep jungles of Karbi Anglong district and even beyond, they returned amidst their own, to the mainstream today.

No one made any effort to stop the tears that flowed down their cheeks freely — neither the battle hardened cadres nor the people — as they hugged each other, some fiercely, as if making up for lost time.

“I am so happy,” said Preeti Teronpi. The pause follows in quick time. “These are tears of both sorrow and joy; joy because we have come back to our families and sorrow because we have left another (UPDS),” she said, dressed in battle fatigues and a new gamocha around her neck like several hundred of her male counterparts.

Munsin Hanse, son of UPDS deputy commander-in-chief, at the surrender ceremony in Diphu on Wednesday. Picture by UB Photos

Then came the band and the musicians and the celebrations began. The musician emerged from the shell of the militant to add his voice to the band’s singers; Vojaru Mukrang, joint secretary, political affairs, who had shed tears unabashedly some minutes ago surrounded by his people was now singing to them with gay abandon .

Kachesong pensi kelong; MoS, MoS kachetok aloh along; puani arni penkachesong; lahenlo kemang ason; arjatphipsi dolang hemprek kemang, the song went, meaning the struggle has achieved something but there is still a long way to go till statehood is achieved.

Before the tears and the music had come the apology.

“We are fully conscious of the fact that every armed struggle has collateral damage and criminal tendencies that negatively impact society and the UPDS movement is no exception to the rule. There is no denying the fact that traders, government functionaries and even innocent individuals have had to suffer immensely because of our movement. It is, therefore, my solemn duty, on behalf of my organisation, to apologise for the pain caused by us intentionally or unintentionally… from today onwards, we pledge to stand by you and make Karbi Anglong a safer and better place to live in,” said UPDS chairman Longsodar Senar, addressing the people at the weapons laying down ceremony.

Senar recalled that they had embraced armed struggle to rescue the people from “oppression and neglect, to fight inequality and injustice”.

Defending the memorandum of settlement signed with the government on November 25, he said there was no reason to “grieve or grumble” just because it was not named “autonomous state” and instead, all should work to ensure its clauses were implemented sincerely.

While the arms were laid down symbolically only by some of the leaders, led by the chairman, the disbanding of the UPDS as slated did not take place.

Mukrang said the organisation would hold its last general council tomorrow and then announce the disbanding. “Nothing ceremonial. We will just issue a statement,” he said.

The UPDS handed over assorted weapons numbering 177 and ranging from the favourite of militants and security personnel alike, the AK series rifle (85), to a universal machine gun and a rocket launcher.

As for those who joined the mainstream today, there were 568 of them, including the top leadership and the cadres that included 22 women; the ranks ranged from colonel to lieutenant.

Among those present were Assam director-general of police Sankar Barua, GOC 4 Corps, Lt Gen. Shakti Gurung, and additional DGP (special branch) Khagen Sarma, besides other senior military, police and civilian officials.

Pointing at the uniqueness of Karbi Anglong, Khagen Sarma said the district has or has had the presence of several militant outfits, including Ulfa, erstwhile BLT, Kuki groups and others. “Hopefully, after the UPDS, others will also come forward,” he said.

Among the invitees of the UPDS was Niranjan Hojai, commander-in-chief of the DHD (J), from the adjoining Dima Hasao district.

“We are hoping we can also sign an accord soon,” he told The Telegraph. “Things are moving in the right direction,” he added. The DHD (J) has already laid down arms and has since been in talks with the government.

Assam Wants Independent Body To Monitor Hydro Power Projects in Northeast

By Supratim Dey

Guwahati Dec 15 : Against the backdrop of widespread opposition to construction of hydro power projects in neighbouring state of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam on Wednesday demanded formation of North East Water Resource Authority (NEWRA) as an independent body to monitor the development of all such projects, particularly in the upper reaches of river Brahmaputra.

Assam has also come up with few suggestions which the state wants to be adhered to while implementing hydro power projects in Arunachal Pradesh.

“We need hydro power projects to meet the fast growing power demands of both the region and the country, but there must be an independent body to monitor construction and development of such projects. We want NEWRA be set up soon,” said Assam’s power minister Pradyut Bordoloi.

He added that Assam had been demanding formation of NEWRA since 2005, but due to opposition from Arunachal Pradesh, the proposed body could not be established yet.

“I feel the reason why Arunachal Pradesh opposes the setting up of NEWRA is that it feels it would be at a disadvantages position if NEWRA comes up. But then, Assam also has a future and we cannot compromise on it,” Bordoloi added.

Bordoloi said that the interest of Assam should not be by-passed while constructing mega-hydro power projects in Arunachal Pradesh. The state has demanded that rules be amended and clearances to hydro-power projects in Arunachal Pradesh, which would affect downstream areas in Assam, be given only after obtaining no-objection certificate (NOC) from Assam government.

“The central government should disclose us all the details regarding construction of every project in Arunachal Pradesh before giving its approval. Since, downstream areas in Assam could be affected by those projects, Assam should have a say in construction of those projects,” said Bordoloi.

Assam also demanded that Reservoir Regulation Policy (RRP) be made mandatory for all hydro projects in Arunachal Pradesh, by which every dam will have maintain a minimum flow of water in downstream areas. In addition, the Assam has also demanded that the present power sharing policy be amended to allow giving free power to downstream areas of a dam.

Bordoloi also cautioned Arunachal Pradesh that if Assam’s demands were not met, the state would take recourse to Inter State River Water Dispute Act, 1956, though the minister chose not elaborate on it.

Gas Deposits Found in Mizoram

Aizawl, Dec 14 : Though it is yet to be officially announced, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has struck gas deposits near Hortoki village in northwest Mizoram, according to officials of the state geology and mineral resources department.

The ONGC chief geologist, C Chakraborty, also confirmed that 'commercially viable' hydrocarbon deposits have been discovered, but refused to reveal the amount of gas found.

He said the details of the discovery would be revealed within a fortnight, adding the prospective locations comprise over 4,000 sq km in the northwestern part of the state.

State geology and mineral resources department officials said Mizoram, sandwiched between Myanmar and Bangladesh, both of which are rich in hydrocarbon, falls under category number one or 'proven commercial productivity zone'.

A senior geologist said according to rough estimates, there could be about 170 million metric ton of crude reserves in the state.

The ONGC started looking for hydrocarbon deposits in Hortoki and Meidum areas of Kolasib district along the Mizoram-Assam border in February this year. After a global tender was floated, several exploratory giants, both in the country and abroad, were selected to take up hydrocarbon exploration at different locations in Mizoram.