Northeast Students Demand Special Status

Guwahati, Jun 8 : Hundreds of students from seven northeastern states on Thursday gathered on one platform to demand a special constitutional status for the people of the region.

This was the first time that all the student bodies of Assam, Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and Tripura held a joint protest under the banner of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO).

The campaign seeks to draw the attention of the central government towards the problems of the northeastern states. It was organised here with the primary demand of a special status for the northeast with rights over land and resources.

“We decided last month to launch a massive joint agitation demanding fulfillment of various demands. Our primary demand is a special constitutional status for the people of the northeast India,” said NESO adviser Samujjal Bhattacharjya.

He said the next phase would be held on June 29 when demonstrations will be held outside all the Raj Bhavans in the seven states.

Bhattacharjya alleged that people of the region have suffered political injustice since 1947.

'I want to win the first bout for my Two Sons'

Harish Kotian

Hurt at missing out on a medal at the World Championships for the first time, MC Mary Kom tells Harish Kotian she's looking for revenge at the upcoming London Olympics

For MC Mary Kom, her first bout at the 2012 London Olympics is going to be doubly special.
Firstly, it will be the realization of a long-cherished dream to compete on a big stage like the Olympics. Second, the bout is on the fifth birthday of her twin sons Raengpe and Naidong.


"I will be fighting my first bout at the Olympics on August 5th, which is also the fifth birthday of my two sons. It is both a good and bad thing for me. The good thing is that I feel it will be a lucky day for me, but the bad thing is that I will miss both my children," Mary told Rediff.com in Mumbai, on the sidelines of an event organised by Olympic Gold Quest (OGQ).
"I want to win that bout; it will be the best present for my two sons. It is very difficult for me as a mother, because I miss them a lot. They keep calling me a lot everyday," she added.

Image: MC Mary Kom
Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani

'I was able to analyse my opponents during the World Championships'

With 50 days to go for the Olympics, OGQ proudly announced that 14 athletes supported by them have qualified for the mega-event.

This is the first time that women's boxing is being staged at the Olympics and Mary is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a podium finish.

Speaking about her preparation for the Olympics, where she will compete in the 51kg category, Mary said: "The preparations are going on well. I was able to analyse my opponents during the World Championships. Even though I did not win the gold, I was able to take a lot of positives from the event which will help me in preparations for the Olympics."

Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani

'I am happy that I qualified for the London Olympics'

It was the first time in six World Championships that Mary did not win a medal at the event. That could be because she was fighting in a heavier weight category for the first time. Since her preferred weight category (48 kg) was not included in the Olympics she had to move up a level to make it to the Games.

Having won a gold in the 45kg at the 2002 World Championships, three gold in the 46kg at the 2005, 2006 and 2008 editions and a gold in the 48kg in the 2010 event, Manipur's 'Mother Mary' was disappointed.
But she prefers to look at the positive side of things.

"I was very hurt that I didn't win the gold medal at the World Championships. I was very upset that I didn't win a medal, because in every championship before this I won a gold medal on five previous occasions. I think I was unlucky to not get a medal, but, at the same time, I am happy that I qualified for the London Olympics," she said, adding "I hope I can make it up by winning a medal there."

Photographs: Uttam Ghosh

'The only mental training for me is praying to God'

The 29-year-old is hoping to channelize her aggression and unleash it on her opponents in the ring.
"I am very, very angry and I hope to remove this anger on all my opponents at the Olympics," she declared.

Indeed, she is doing everything to achieve that end. But anything special?

"I don't believe in mental training. I just do the normal physical training and my normal boxing training. The only mental training for me is praying to God," she said.

Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani

'I am a big fan of Muhammad Ali'

More

Asked what inspired her to take up boxing as a young girl, at a time when women's boxing was not even heard of in the country, she replied: "I am a big fan of Muhammad Ali; I took up boxing when I was small because of him. I love his style, his footwork in the ring and everything else that he did."
She is quick to thank Olympic Gold Quest for their boundless support in ensuring that she goes to London in the best of shape, physically and mentally.
"I think getting so much support from Olympic Gold Quest and love from all the Indians fans is a big motivation for me to do well at the Olympics."

Photographs: Hitesh Harisinghani 

Bangladeshi Scribes' Dam Mission Fails To Take Off

Silchar, Jun 8 : A 10-member group of Bangladeshi journalists, who came here to visit the site of the proposed Rs 9,000-crore Tipaimukh hydroelectricity project at the confluence of the Barak and Tuivai rivers in Manipur, could not complete their objective as the helicopter carrying them couldn't land at Tipaimukh helipad, and not once but on two consecutive days.

The team, led by Bangladesh external affairs publicity wing deputy director Mohhamad Zashimuddin, were staying at a Silchar hotel for the last three days. Before arriving here, the team had visited New Delhi and met Union water resources minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and water resources secretary Dhruv Vijay Singh and were briefed about the project.

On Wednesday, the Indian government flew the journalists' group to the site of the proposed project on an Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter from Silchar airport at Kumbhirgram. But the copter could not land at Tipaimukh due to "technical reasons".

On Thursday morning, the Bangla scribes once again expressed their keenness to visit Tipaimukh, situated at a distance of 78 km from here and 100 km from Imphal. But the IAF authorities failed to take them to the spot for the same reasons as the previous day.

"The IAF said that the helipad at Tipaimukh is not fit for landing of the chopper. Therefore, the team could not visit the site," said Ranjan Mandal, media liaison officer of the central ministry of external affairs to TOI on Thursday.

Sources said the Bangladeshi team left Silchar for Dhaka via Kolkata on Thursday afternoon.

In July 2009, a Bangladeshi parliamentary delegation meant to visit the proposed controversial dam on a fact-finding mission met with a similar fate as they could not land on the Tipaimukh helipad. The sources said the Bangladeshi team was on a six-day trip to India with an aim to study the project - an arrangement made by the Dhaka and Delhi governments.

However, the Bangladeshi mediapersons on Wednesday had an opportunity to look at the congruence point of the Barak and Tuivai rivers and the Tipaimukh dam site from 1,200 feet above the ground for over 20 minutes during the 70-minute chopper ride from Silchar airport to the site. They understood that India was yet to make any construction at the proposed site, the sources added.

Meanwhile, the Committee of People and Environment (CPE), a south Assam-based body of environment activists and some anti-dam organizations, on Thursday morning staged a demonstration in front of the hotel in Silchar where the Bangladeshi scribes were staying.

"The demonstration was against the NHPC, which is responsible for construction of the hydroelectric project, and not necessarily against the Bangladeshi journalists," said Pijush Kanti Das, general secretary of CPE. "We demand immediate freezing of the big dam project," he added.

Anti-dam activists allege that if the 163 metre-high dam is built, the Barak and the Kushiara will dry up. Besides, as the site is located just 180 km off the Bangladesh border, the water flow of the River Meghna in the neighbouring country will also be hampered a great deal. This will dry up the 350-km Shurma and 110-km Kushiara. As a result, the northeastern part of Bangladesh will face severe environmental and economic problems.

The dam will have a negative impact on a 9,126-sq km area in the state of Manipur as well. A large number of indigenous communities, mostly the Zeliangrongs and Hmars, will be permanently displaced and deprived of their livelihood.

New Delhi handed the responsibility to implement the project, which was mooted during the 60s, from Neepco to NHPC only to accelerate the work. Although the foundation of the project was laid by the-then Union power minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on December, 15, 2006 amid large-scale protests, the project has witnessed no progress till now.

No Construction On Tipaimukh Dam Site

Bangladesh team Visits Tipaimukh Dam

Silchar, Jun 7 : India is yet to make any construction at the proposed controversial Tipaimukh multipurpose dam site on the Barak River in Manipur.

The Indian government took a group of 10 Bangladeshi journalists to the site by an Indian Air Force helicopter on Wednesday but the chopper did not land on the ground for 'technical reasons' even though the weather was good.

In July 2009, a Bangladeshi parliamentary delegation on a fact-finding mission met similar fate as they could not also land.

The newsmen had an opportunity to look at the congruence point of Barak and Tuibhai Rivers and Tipaimukh dam site 1200 feet above the ground for over 20 minutes when the helicopter gave about 70 minutes' ride from Shilchar airport to the site.

A village, Lungthulian, was seen at the top of the adjoining hill of the meeting point of the rivers.

The dam is planned 500 metres downstream from the congruence point, 210 kilometres from Sylhet border.

The Bangladeshi delegation reached India on Sunday and met Indian Water Resources Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Secretary of the ministry Dhruv Bijai Singh on Monday.

Drama

The delegation faced a hiccup when Indian Air Force officials told the team at 11:00am that no camera would be allowed during the visit.

The reporters instantly protested and informed the Indian authorities that they would not visit the place without camera.

After wrangling for over 2 hours, the newsmen were allowed to board the helicopter at 1:30pm Indian time with camera.

Tipaimukh dam

The Indian government plans to dam the Barak River to moderate floods during monsoon period and generate 1,500 megawatt of electricity.

The dam would submerge 302 square kilometres of area in Manipur and Mizorum and create a reservoir, which can hold 1,590 million cubic metre of water.

There is a strong protest from the local people and Bangladeshi side fearing it would have negative impact on environment.

River Barak enters into Bangladesh as the Surma and Kushiara rivers. The two rivers are lifeline for hundreds of water bodies in the greater Sylhet region.

Is It Too Early To declare Tripura As An Insurgency Free State?

Rebel outfits collaborating to create a network for supply of arms and cadres in time for 2013 elections Ratnadip Choudhury

A picture of NFLT hit squad in the jungles of North Tripura bordering Mizoram and Bangladesh Photo: Papan Das

Tripura has been portrayed as a role model in the entire Northeast for its success in curbing insurgency. For past three years, Tripura has been one of the most peaceful states in Northeast. The fencing of the 856 km long Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura, the mass surrenders by rebels and rural development has ensured peace. It is also speculated that the Union Home Ministry was even thinking about lifting the ban on National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) and declaring Tripura ‘insurgency free.’

However, TEHELKA has learned from sources that the NLFT, led by its chairman Bishwamohan Debbarma, is regrouping in Bangladesh and neighboring Mizoram. The group is planning a series of attacks in the state, ahead of the 2013 Assembly polls, that will decide the fate of the Left Front government that has been in power for 19 years.

The outfit is also part of the ‘United Front’ of Northeast rebel group, that is said to have been formed after United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and Manipur’s United National Liberation Front (UNLF) leaders were nabbed in Dhaka and handed over to India in 2009. According to intelligence sources, the ‘United Front’ is being led by the supremo of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang faction) SS Khaplang. It is NSCN (K) which is helping NLFT with arms procurement. The regrouping endeavour of NLFT suffered a major setback when Assam Rifles troopers nabbed NLFT finance department in-charge Utpal Debbarma from Mizoram’s capital city Aizawl.

While outfits like Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) and NSCN (K) have helped the rebel group recruit new members, around 30 rebels of NLFT who had earlier surrendered and joined the mainstream, have reportedly returned back to the NLFT bases in Bangladesh, sources added. Most of the rebels, who surrendered, have been beneficiaries of the rehabilitation packages by the government.

“Through NSCN (K), NLFT has procured a huge consignment of arms which was supplied near Sajeek area in Rangamati of Bangladesh. The rebel outfit maintains a base in that area. The consignment consists of sophisticated that include landmines, grenades, SLRs, INSAS rifles, LMGs, Swarovski Z3 rifles, pistols, ammunition, gelatin sticks and RDX, the military intelligence officer further added. Two trainers from NSCN (K) are in the base of NLFT, training its fresh recruits. GNLA is sending NLFT a trainer for handling explosives,” confirmed a senior military intelligence officer.

NLFT was formed in 1989, with an idea of Tripura’s secession from India. The outfit has suffered multiple splits over the years, with most of its leaders like Nayanbashi Jamatia, Kamini Debbarma and Montu Koloi surrendering under government rehabilitation packages. But its chairman Bishwamohan Debbarma is still at large, possibly in Bangladesh.

According to sources in the state home department, NLFT has abducted more than 30 people from remote tribal villages in 2012. Apart from Bangladesh, NLFT continues to maintain strategic hideouts in Mizoram. Recently, six workers of an Assam-based firm, who were working in a fencing site on the Mizoram-Bangladesh border, were abducted by NLFT rebels. NLFT had demanded a ransom of Rs 1.25 crores and later released the workers after the firm reportedly paid Rs 60 lakhs. “NLFT will be carrying on this extortion and kidnapping drive because it has sent its people in two small batches to Myanmar to get trained by NSCN (K). Khaplang is helping NLFT revive since he is leading the new ‘United Front’ but training and arms do not come for free,” the military intelligence officer added.

The estimated cadre strength of NLFT is around 130 and they have recruited nearly 50 new boys, apart from some young tribal girls. NLFT commanders Atahrababu Halam, Chatrabhanga Jamatia and Sachin Debbarma are in charge of this ‘revival mode’. They are also coordinating with NSCN (K) members in Bangladesh for arms and training and the link has been established through GNLA and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB). According to sources in Assam Rifles that leads anti-insurgency operations in Tripura, NLFT is using its former cadres in recruitment drives. Some minor boys have also been lured into joining the outfit. “We have inputs that at least six minor boys in North Tripura have joined NLFT over the past four months. They have picked up the trick of recruiting minors from GNLA,” said an Assam Rifles commandant operating in Tripura on conditions of anonymity.

Although NLFT is carrying out extortion in the remote areas of Tripura, they plan to launch guerilla attacks in the state capital Agartala as the polls approach. NLFT has been asking for their share of the payment of MNREGA from the poor tribals. The rebel outfit is said to have sent notices to remote tribal villages in North Tripura and Dhalai district that every MNREGA card holder will have to give 10 percent of his/her earning through MNREGA as donation to the rebel outfit or face the consequences. The ruling Left Front has always accused NLFT of supporting the opposition forces during elections in the state.

Khaplang and ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua have been instrumental in the formation of the new ‘United Front’. The People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of Manipur is also active in the front. The other groups who have come together are People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK), the Noyon group of Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) and Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA). The coordination is mainly for supplying weapons, training and also providing safe haven to the cadres of various outfits.

The other rebel outfit – All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) – is now almost defunct and a large number of cadres of ATTF have in fact joined NLFT with a huge cache of arms. With the Issac–Muivah faction of NSCN not being a part of the newly formed ‘United Front’ of Northeast rebels, NLFT is now banking on NSCN (K) for its twin objectives – revival of cadre strength and carrying out attacks in Tipura’s capital Agartala ahead of the 2013 Assembly polls in the state.

Ratnadip Choudhury is a Principal Correspondent with Tehelka. ratnadip@tehelka.com

PETA.xxx Site Launches, Features Sexy Photos And Animal Abuse

PETA launches a .xxx site to raise awareness for animal rights

PETA knows how to raise eyebrows: The animal rights group's memorable campaigns have included everything from celebrities posing nude in protest of animal fur clothing to scantily clad women having an erotic moment with their vegetables to support veganism.

Now, the group has pulled out all the stops by launching PETA.xxx, a site featuring adult content and animal rights messages, all in one place.

"[T]his is the perfect example of sex just being used to draw interest, and then once you're there on the site, we're going to hit you with facts that you need to know about the world of animals," adult-film legend Ron Jeremy said in a Q&A video.

The site has enough adult content to qualify for the .xxx domain, but also some other graphic images of animals that viewers may not expect to see, according to a HuffPost interview with PETA's Lindsay Rajt.
PETA's .xxx site isn't reserved for just celebrities and adult entertainment stars. Instead, the organization also welcomes regular Joes and Janes to visit the new site and volunteer to go naked at local animal rights demonstrations.

PETA has also launched other shocking campaigns in recent months. One ad spot compared human abuse to the silent suffering of fish, explaining, "Fish feel pain and fear, and they suffer enormously when they are impaled, crushed, suffocated, or cut open and gutted, all while they're fully conscious."

The organization also recently sued SeaWorld in an attempt to free the animals "from enslavement for human amusement." The case was dismissed by a judge.

Why Pic From Octomom's XXX Film Will Shock

Why first pic from Octomom's XXX film will shock you - but not for the reasons you're thinking

Nadya Suleman on the set of her porn film. She said the film was the most most liberating thing I've ever done. Picture: Jessica Drake / Instagram

SO where are all the stretch marks?

You'd expect a mother of 14 children - eight of them in one batch - would have at least a few physical traces of her pregnancies, but not Octomom Nadya Suleman.

The above picture of Suleman - from the set of the solo porn film she says she's been forced to make to pay the bills - betrays little of her history and her crippling financial woes.

Her stomach looks toned and flat, her skin smooth and wrinkle-free.

The photo was tweeted by her "porn coach" Jessica Drake along with the caption: "Who's this star?... some of you guessed right - this IS Nadya Suleman AKA Octomom - on the set of her xxx movie. surprised?"
Suleman, 36, filed for bankruptcy earlier this year but she missed the May 14 deadline to complete the paperwork showing she couldn't pay her debts and her case was thrown out.

The single mother is almost a year behind on her mortgage payments, has allegedly been on welfare support and the foreclosure sale of her home has been delayed yet again

This week it was reported she was becoming stripper - of sorts. Her publicist confirmed she had booked a stripper gig at the T's Lounge in West Palm Beach, Florida, and that she would appear topless at some point in the show but was adamant Octomom wasn't a stripper.

"This is not a new career for her," the publicist told CNN.

Which sadly leaves her the porn industry. Suleman said that her self-pleasure film was "the best, most powerful, and most liberating thing I've ever done".
She recently told the Huffington Post: "They made me look so glamorous, and for the first time in my life, I felt beautiful and sexy. I’m very excited for it to come out."

Call a Northeastern 'Chinki', Be Jailed For 5 Yrs

By Karishma Kuenzang & Kashika Saxena

The next time you call a person from North East India a 'chinki' you could end up behind bars for five years.

How many times have you heard someone call a person from the North East 'chinki'? How many times have you called someone from the North East 'chinki'?

Now is the time to watch your tongue before you stereotype someone, because calling someone 'chinki' can land you in jail for up to five years. The term, even though derogatory, has become synonymous with people from North East because of their mongoloid features.

But in an attempt to prevent racial discrimination against people from the North East, the Ministry of Home Affairs has asked all the states and union territories to book anyone who commits an act of atrocity against people from the region under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

Cyberspace has already started debating the pros and cons of this law, and while some people think a rule like this was long due, some feel that five years in jail is a little extreme. We asked people from the North East residing in Delhi if they think that people should be jailed from calling them 'chinki'.

Five years? hell, ya!
Of course it's fair to send someone to jail for calling us 'chinki'! What did Gandhi do when he was thrown out of the train because of his colour? He started a movement. That was in a foreign land, here we are treated differently and called names in our own country! - A 26-year-old sales executive

In Delhi, people call North Eastern women 'chinki', implying that they are "easy". This is an attack on a person's integrity and dignity. I am glad steps are being taken to stop this kind of discrimination. - A 20-year-old DU student

Sending people to prison is going to result in resentment and hostile behaviour. But sometimes these measures need to be taken because the discrimination against people from the North East in Delhi is appaling. - A 25-year-old JNU student

A little too extreme
Being called 'chinki' is very common in Delhi. For that, years of imprisonment isn't exactly required. A week should suffice. - A 24-year-old call centre employee

Imprisoning people for five years is a bit extreme. A few weeks should make the difference. But I'm glad this initiative is being taken because it's really difficult for people from the North East to settle down in a place where people just look down upon them all the time. - A 21-year-old DU student

Ask me this question after somebody is sentenced to jail for calling someone 'chinki'. I have my doubts. In case it is acted upon, then also I feel imprisonment for five years is way too much. - A 27-year-old journalist.