More Indian Mizo Jews May Migrate to Israel in 2012

Aizawl, Feb 13 : A group of Bnei Menashe (Mizo Jews) from the northeastern states of Mizoram and Manipur are expected to migrate to Israel, the 'Promised Land' for the Jewish community this year. Jeremiah L Hnamte, a Bnei Menashe leader hoped that at least a few hundreds, if not all, would be able to 'go home' this year from Mizoram. He said the Israeli government had agreed to the migration of 7,232 Bnei Menashe members to the 'Holy Land' last year, but a number of obstacles had prevented them from leaving India.

"Some of the community members are extremely poor. So, the Israeli government will have to provide financial assistance and bear the travel expenses of the families," Hnamte said. One leader of the Bnei Menashes, however, attributed the delay in the migration of the Mizo Jews to the decision of the Israeli government to first take back the Ethiopian Jews before concentrating on the Jews living in India.

Following acceptance from the chief Rabbi and the Israeli government, it is believed that the Bnei Menashes are the descendants of one of the ten lost tribes of Israel and they were destined to migrate and live permanently in the Holy Land. The Israeli foreign minister, Avigdor Lieberman and absorption minister, Sofa Landver had thus proposed the migration of the remaining lost tribes from northeast India, a source said.

A leader of the Mizo Jewish community said the Bnei Menashes were baptized at the 'Mikveh' (Jewish spiritual baths) situated in the Zuangtui industrial estate near Aizawl by a team of rabbis from Israel and formally converted to Judaism. Four rabbis from Israel including the first and only Mizo rabbi, Gurion Sela, who came to Aizawl recently, are still helping the Bnei Menashe members to prepare for their migration to the 'Promised Land'.

According to a historian, the Chin-Kuki-Mizos of Manipur and Mizoram began to claim that they were descendants of the lost tribes of Israel only after they were converted to Christianity. With their introduction to the Bible, the Chin-Kuki-Mizo tribes saw a similarity in their pre-Christian traditions and those of the ancient Israelites. In 1951, Challianthanga, the head deacon of the United Pentecostal Church in Mizoram's Buallawn village, had a vision of God telling him the Mizos were descendants of the Israelites.

However, many theologists disagree that the Mizos, who belonged to the Mongoloid stock have a racial connection with the Israelis who are Semitics. But, the Mizos who have migrated to Israel seem to blend easily with the local populace there. Many of the young boys are already fighting the Hezbollah and other Muslim radicals shoulder to shoulder with the other Israeli soldiers and a young Mizo has already become an army officer there.

Demand to Revoke MoU to Set Up Tipaimukh Project

Imphal, Feb 13 : Renewing their stand against the construction of the Tipaimukh project, various anti-dam bodies of the region called upon the government to revoke the Memoramdum of Understanding (MoU) signed to set up the 1500 MW project over Barak river in Manipur's Churachandpur district bordering Mizoram on Saturday.

The Mou was signed between the state government, National Hydroelectric Project (NHPC) and the Satluj Vudyut Nigam Limited on April 28, 2010 and reaffirmed on October 21 last year. During his Imphal visit on December 3, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said environmental clearance for the project had been granted and forest clearance was under process.

A seven-point resolution that included revocation of the environmental clearance on the proposed project granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) on October 28, 2008 was adopted.

Organized by Committee on Land and Natural Resources (COLNER), Citizens' Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD), Action Committee Against Tipaimukh Dam (ACTIP), North East Dialogue Forum (NEDF) and the Sinlung Indigenous Peoples Human Rights Organizations (SIPHRO), the review meeting urged the government to take the consent of all the affected people as recommended by the UN CERD committee before beginning construction of the Tipaimukh dam and conduct impact assessment in all the portion of the Barak river in Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and Bangladesh.

Mismatch in Manipur Voters' Photographs

Imphal, Feb 13 : An exercise to compare photographs taken inside polling stations during the recently-concluded assembly election in Manipur with the photos incorporated in the electoral rolls revealed many discrepancies.

The exercise, which began on Sunday at the office of the Manipur chief electoral officer in Lamphelpat here, is being conducted under the supervision of three special ECI observers - West Bengal chief electoral officer Sunil Gupta, police observer D K Pandey, and director of the IT ministry Gaurav Dwivedi.

A mismatch was found between the photographs clicked in the polling booths and those in the electoral rolls for a large number of voters, pointing clearly at proxy voting. The ECI will take a call on conducting repoll in booths where the discrepancies have been noted on the basis of reports by the three observers.

On January 28, Manipur went to the polls to elect 60 MLAs for the 10th state assembly amid widespread booth rigging and violence, which prompted the ECI to order repoll at 34 polling stations in the five hill districts of Senapati, Chandel, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Senapati. The repoll were held on February 4.

The special observers, who landed in Imphal on Sunday morning, would examine the merits of the demand for repoll in other places after seeing the comparison study report.

The ECI has already said that repoll would be conducted if the voters' photographs taken on the poll day do not match those in the electoral roll.

The photo comparison task was taken up to verify complaints of proxy voting and poll malpractices. Over 85 complaint letters demanding repoll in various polling stations have been filed by candidates from to different political parties.

Beyond The Tea

Feb 13  : Flora and Fauna

Ian watkinson offers a taste of real Assam, a taste that lingers on much after you have finished your morning cup of tea.This was a part of India that was rarely visited by Indians and foreigners due to social and political instability. A legacy of the British for the manner in which they insensitively carved up the Northeast India before partition, and created East Pakistan, Assam is experiencing stability and progression unheard of until recently. It is justifiably keen on capitalising on its abundant charms to attract visitors, from the rest of India as well as overseas. The state is quickly reasserting itself by opening up areas formerly closed to visitors and rapidly developing better communication and roads into its more remote areas.

The true beauty of the state is most certainly its welcoming people and verdant nature. With one of the heaviest rainfalls during the monsoon season, Assam boasts of a fertile and productive landscape, both cultivated and wild. It has been called the ‘Kerala of the Northeast’ and not without good reason. Great forests of
Himalayan sal, teakwood and other hardwoods grow in profusion, along with a scattering of bamboo. Giant plantain and abundant crops are to be seen growing everywhere amongst extensive paddy fields.

The houses in the spotlessly clean rural villages are constructed from bamboo frames with woven reed panels pinned in between, skimmed with a mixture of cow dung and mud. They are raised on hard mud platforms, two feet above the ground, to survive the rainy season. Nearly every house has a fish pond, either in front of its vegetable plot or shared with others in the villages, for, freshwater fish form an integral part of the Assamese diet.

There are over 180 species of freshwater fish here, from the massive Roi that can be caught wild in the mighty Brahmaputra river, to small fish no bigger than a beedi. Birds are everywhere, from the ubiquitous white egrets to huge, solitary and broody adjutant storks, which stand motionless on their taut, stick-like legs in paddy water, eyes open for the next meal. With 120-plus rivers feeding the mighty Brahmaputra, 700 km of which flows through the state, water is Assam’s lifeline.

There are many fascinating places to explore within easy reach of the capital, Guwahati. There is the hilltop Kali Temple of Kamakya with a beehive-shaped sanctum, where unseen tantric rituals are still practised along with ritual animal sacrifice. Or, the Sufi shrine at Hajo, again atop a hill. You could even visit the Turbeh of an Iraqi sheikh who settled here in the 13th century — Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians all revere this unique spot and come here to pay their respects.

Courting Kaziranga

The jewels of Assam are its wildlife parks, which are gradually making their way back onto the visitors’ maps. They are all far from Guwahati — the park at Kaziranga, above the Brahmaputra valley, easily takes six hours or more of wild driving through countless tea plantations and small villages to reach. The tiring journey reaps rich rewards upon arrival, for, this is a beautiful place. In contrast to the lack of accommodation en route, here in Kaziranga, there are many eco-friendly style lodges with comfortable rooms.

Exploring the park can take a few days as it is split into three large zones. Taking a jeep safari in any zone either in the morning or evening is the best time to see animals, as there is no doubt that they will be there. Another delightful and peaceful way to get close to the animals is to take an elephant safari at dawn.

From the rickety wooden seat perched on the back of the lumbering pachyderm, you can get quite close to the peacefully grazing animals; it almost feels like they are within arm’s reach. The bird song at dawn provides the soundtrack — an orchestra in the forest. Through long elephant grass, the safari passes a herd of wild elephants, 40 or more, grazing in the thick grass. One can even find the last bastions of the Indian one-horned rhinoceros, rhinoceros unicornis. Although these are still  sought after by poachers for the supposed aphrodisiac effects of its single horn, there  are now over 2,000 rhinos in Kaziranga, mainly due to careful management in the park.

They can be found everywhere, grazing, taking mud baths or attending to their young calves. There are wild buffaloes wallowing in mud pools — the warden informed us that the buffalo is more dangerous than the rhino. Sambar deer, hog deer and spotted deer can be seen in profusion. There are tigers here as well, having steadily increased to being 106 in number from the 86 that were around previously. This seems to be one of the few parks in India where the numbers of its species are on the rise. There are more than 35 species of mammals living in these parklands and forest, including four species of monkeys. India’s only true ape, gibbon, can be found only here.

Over 480 species of birds find their way here. Entering the deeply forested jungle of tall hardwoods, they provide a symphony of sound — again, the best time to see and hear them is early in the morning or late in the evening just as the sun is going down. Blue rollers flash like blue sparks between the trees, grey fish eagles sit unmoving, sullenly surveying the rivers and water holes, golden orioles split one’s vision momentarily with a yellow flash, and jungle fowls peck the ground with their chicks.

Kailash peacocks scuttle in the undergrowth, red-chested parakeets screech playfully in and out of holes in the trees, the competing saxophonist sounds of coucals and koels filling the air with natural jazz. Mynahs and bright green linnets sing soprano solos high above. A rare great hornbill flies across the pastel evening sky as we turn to head out of the forest, a fitting farewell to a place near paradise.

Valentine's Day Brings Smiles To Rose Growers in Northeast

By Sushanta Talukdar

a horticultural farm in Meghalaya. Photo: Ritu Raj Konwar

About one lakh Dutch roses are expected to be sold, 50,000 on the occasion.

Soaring prices of roses resulting from shortfall in production across the country due to extreme cold have brought smiles to rose cultivators in the northeast, particularly those from Mizoram, as traders vie with one another to cater to the huge demand for Valentine's Day celebration in the region.

Mr. Rajesh Prasad, Managing Director of Zopar Exports Private Limited, a pioneer in rose cultivation and a leading grower in the region told The Hindu that about one lakh Dutch roses are expected to be sold in the northeast. About 50,000 roses are likely to be sold on Valentine's Day alone. Demand for about 40,000 flowers is expected to be met by production in the region while the rest would be flown in from Bangalore and Pune, he said.

In 2011, over 50,000 roses were sold in the northeast market during the celebration.

Apart from rose cultivators in Mizoram, strawberry growers in Meghalaya are also going to get a good return this time. Prices of strawberry which is also considered a cherished gift has already shot up from Rs. 200 to 225 for each kg.

Rose production in Nagaland and Meghalaya was hit because of extreme cold weather this winter. In Mizoram the weather was a little warmer due to which the production was on the expected lines.

Mr. Prasad said that due to shortfall in production the wholesale price of rose in the Bangalore auction market has already shot up to Rs. 6 to 9 per stick. As a result, the retail price is also expected to shoot up to Rs. 20 or more as against Rs. 10 per stem during 2011.

In 2002 when Mr. Prasad pioneered rose cultivation he could send on an average only 300 roses a day to Aizawl. Now, the Aizawl market consumes on an average 4000 roses a day.

Mr. Prasad said that every year the demand has been growing by leaps and bounds in the country and the northeast is no exception. The increasing demand is an indicator of the huge potential the region has for more and more local people taking up rose cultivation as a key livelihood opportunity.

Rose is primarily grown in Mizoram, Nagaland and some areas of Meghalaya and Arunachal Pradesh.

Militant Outfits in Peace Process Flouting Ceasefire Ground Rules

Guwahati, Feb 13 : Militants outfits in the state, which are in peace talks with the government, have been flouting ceasefire ground rules at will. Since 2002, when the United People's Democratic Solidarity went into ceasefire, Assam Police have arrested 620 cadres of various outfits in talks on charges of extortion, kidnapping and other crimes.

The outfits have also violated the ground rules by carrying weapons outside the designated camps. In the last 9 years, police have seized about 180 weapons. It is mandatory for all these outfits to deposit all their arms before starting dialogue.

The cadres of the outfits, who stay in designated camps, are allowed to keep some weapons with themselves for guarding their camps but are not permitted to exhibit them outside the camps.

"If anyone of them is seen outside the camps with arms, we immediately arrest them and seize the weapons," a source said.

"There are six outfits in peace talks with a combined cadre strength of 3354 staying in 24 designated camps. The two Dima Halam Daogah factions - Nunisa and Jewel groups - are the biggest violators," the source added.

From the two DHD factions, the police have arrested as many as 462 cadres and have seized 82 weapons. The Nunisa group declared truce in 2003 while the Jewel faction entered the peace process in 2009. This group is the key player in the huge financial scam in NC Hills Autonomous Council by siphoning off development funds to its coffers. Two cadres of the outfits have also been killed in encounters with security forces, while in the peace process.

The Ulfa's pro-talks faction, which has declared ceasefire in October last year, have also been flouting the rules and 26 of its members have been arrested so far along with 18 weapons. Similarly, 46 members of NDFB (Progressive), which entered the peace process in 2005, have been arrested on charges of kidnappings and extortion. From them 37 weapons have been seized so far.

The Karbi Longri NC Hills Liberation Front (KLNLF), which declared ceasefire in 2010 has also flouted the rules for which police have arrested 22 of its cadres and seized 23 weapons. If these outfits are not enough, another nine outfits of the state - Kuki Revolutionary Army, United Kukigram Defence Army, Hmar people Convention (D), Kuki Liberation Army, Adivasi Cobra Military of Assam, Birsa Commando Force, Santhal Tiger Force, All Adivasi National Liberation Army and Adivasi peoples Army - have laid down arms in one of the biggest development on January 24. These outfits together have 1659 cadres, who will be put up in 18 new designated camps.

Singer Whitney Houston Dies at 48

Whitney Houston sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos over her career.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Representative: Singer Whitney Houston has died at age 48

She sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos

The entertainer has struggled with addiction problems

Legendary pop singer Whitney Houston has died at age 48, representative Kristen Foster said Saturday night.


The cause of death and where she died were not immediately known.
According to her official website, Houston, who struggled with addiction problems over the years, sold more than 170 million albums, singles and videos over her career.

Houston was set to appear in this year's "Sparkle," a remake of the 1976 hit, which was loosely based on the story of The Supremes. It was her first movie role since 1996's "The Preacher's Wife."

Her body of work includes seven straight Billboard No. 1 hits in the 1980s, including "Saving All My Love for You," "Greatest Love of All" and "Where Do Broken Hearts Go." Billboard puts her soundtrack to the movie "The Bodyguard" as one of the top 10 biggest-selling albums of all time. She also starred in the film.
The daughter of singer Cissy Houston, Whitney was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. Famed music producer Clive Davis reportedly spotted Houston 20 years later in a New York nightclub, signing her on the spot, according to her website.

Her rendition of the national anthem at the 1991 Super Bowl, days into the first Persian Gulf War, earned raves and cemented her place in the American musical landscape.

After "The Bodyguard," Houston went on to appear in several more films in the 1990s, including "Waiting to Exhale."

In 2000, Houston earned her sixth Grammy for best female R&B performance and, a month later, she was named female artist of the decade at the "Soul Train" Music Awards.

Her career stalled, however, in subsequent years as she entered rehab for addiction problems.

In May 2011, Houston got help for her much-publicized struggle with drugs and alcohol, her representative said at the time.

Tipaimukh Under Hmar Extremists’ Control

By Anwarul Karim


Kolkata, Feb 10 : The members of an extremist group of the Hmar, a dominant tribe of Tipaimukh, control the vast area adjacent to the much-talked-about Tipaimukh Dam project.

Several militant organizations are active in Manipur State with different demands. But, Hmar Peoples Convention-Democratic’ (HPC-D) is the most influential extremist group.

Banglanews correspondent got the information while visiting the impassable and hill tract areas of Jiribam, Senbum and Churachandpur districts of the state.

HPC-D does not want the Tipaimukh Dam on Barak River. They also vowed several times to prevent the construction of the dam.

Wholesaler of Fulertol market Pradeep Pal told banglanews the daily essential demands of one third people in Monirampur is supplied from the Fulertol Port.

He added: “Though Bangla-spoken people are the majority in Fulertol, but Hmar is the dominant in the area.”

Barak River is the easiest way of communications in Tipaimukh and adjacent areas. So, the main aim of HPC-D and other extremists is to establish control over the river.

The HPC-D sets Check-post, Kachurbali, in 10-kilometer far from Jakuradahr. All boats plying in Barak River are compelled to stop at the check-post.

No boat can play on Barak River sans the license provided by HPC-D. They issued a number written on a steel plate as ‘license’, the boatmen have to paste it in front of their boats.

Each big size boat has to pay Rs 2,000 to HPC-D per year for playing on the river.
On condition of anonymity, owner of an engine-driven boat in Barak River told banglanews that they have no fear about the toll collection by the extremists. They give the money happily.

He said, “We had not any security of lives to go upstream from Jakuradahr earlier three to four years. But now we are secured for HPC-D.”

However, the boat owners, boatmen and passengers of Barak River are panicked of the sub extremist groups. They behaved like the terrorists of Bangladesh.

A boatman said the small extremist groups feared of the HPC-D members.