Ruatfela Nu Rejects National Award Due To Army 'Brutality'

Aizawl, Nov 20 : Noted Mizo social worker Vanramchhuangi, popularly known as Ruatfela Nu, has refused to accept the prestigious National Award for Child Welfare, 2011, due to various reasons, including the Indian Air Force's bombardment of the Mizoram capital and other places in 1966.

Ruatfela Nu told TOI she was selected by the Union ministry of women and child welfare for the award for her contributions towards welfare of children in Mizoram.

"I was intimated that I would receive the award from President Pranab Mukherjee at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi on November 14. I rejected the award, which includes a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, which a large sum of money for a poor woman like me," the state Child Welfare Committee (CWC) member said.

Nu said she declined the award mainly for three reasons — brutal suppression of the 1966 Mizo Uprising, rampant violation of human rights when innocent people were mercilessly gunned down, and a large number of women raped by Indian Army personnel. "I was only six years old at that time. I had personally witnessed how three Indian Army personnel dragged a woman into a house. She was covered with blood stains and her clothes were ripped apart," she said.

She added she was constantly reminded of how the suppression affected the lives of innocent men, women and children. The social worker said she could not accept the award from the President — who is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Armed Forces — because the visions of the people suffering haunted her continually.

The recent decision of the state government to appoint B Sairengpuii, younger sister of Lal Riliani and wife of chief minister Lal Thanhawla, as the commissioner for people with disabilities (PwD) was another reason for her rejecting the award.

Rutfela Nu accused the state government of not only indulging in nepotism, but also ignoring the plight of the disabled people while appointing the retired secretary of the state social welfare department, who, while being the ex-officio assistant commissioner of the PwD, refused to meet the leaders of the Differently Abled Society of Mizoram for 22 times. She said misuse of office and public money by the state government also prompted her to reject the award.

Nu is not only a well-known human rights activist, but also widely known for working to protect the rights of children. Being a member of the Child Welfare Committee, she has helped the police arrest several child rapists and abusers who might have never been brought to book if the CWC did not file complaints with the police.

Hmar Rebel Leader Gets Bail in Mizoram

Aizawl, Nov 20 : A local court today granted bail to Lalropuia, self-styled Army Chief of the Hmar People's Convention - Democrats (HPC-D), on health grounds.

The chief judicial magistrate said that he was granting bail to the 45-year-old insurgent leader as Lalropuia was suffering from TB and diabetes and doctors advised him to seek treatment outside the state.

Lalropuia was arrested along with his 'Deputy Army Chief' Biaknunga from Silchar airport in Assam's Cachar district on June 10 last just after arriving from Imphal. He had been incarcerated in the Central Jail at Tanhril near Aizawl since then.

Zosangbera, newly-elected chairman of the outfit, was also arrested seven days later at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi by Mizoram police.

The HPC-D has signed Suspension of Operations (SoO) with the security forces in Manipur under the supervision of the union home ministry.

Mr. President Gets Touchy

Bandh Sparks Panic-Buying in Imphal

Imphal, Nov 20 : Imphal Valley is in the grip of panic as the indefinite blockade of highways launched by Kukis entered its third day on Monday.

People in the restive valley began stocking up on fuel and essential commodities as about a 100 trucks carrying essentials have been stranded on the Imphal-Dimapur and Imphal-Silchar highways that connect the Meitei-dominated valley with the country.

Police said about 50 trucks loaded with essential are stranded at Senapati and they would be escorted to Imphal soon. As the strike continues, stock of food and other essential commodities in Imphal dwindled even as the state government has invited the Kuki State Demand Committee (KSDC) leaders for talks on Tuesday afternoon. KSDC is demanding a separate Kuki homeland.

In 2010, Imphal Valley suffered unprecedented hardships because of a 121-day blockade called by Kukis and Nagas. Prices of cooking gas at that time had risen to Rs 2,000 while petrol was sold at Rs 250 a litre in the grey market. On Monday, long queues of vehicles were seen at the petrol pumps in Imphal. Till the time of filing this report, the rate of petrol soared to Rs 90 in the grey market. However, the prices of pulses, vegetable and baby food remained unchanged.

The strike is set to continue until the Centre gives an official assurance that political dialogue between with KSDC and Kuki militant groups - currently under suspension - ill be resumed on a prearranged date to deliberate on the Kukis' demand. KSDC's proposed map of a 'Kuki state' covers Churachandpur and Chandel districts, Sadar Hills in Senapati district and large chunks of land in Tamenglong and Ukhrul districts. Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Senapati and Chandel are Naga-dominated districts. The total 'Kuki area' is more than half of Manipur's territory even as the United Naga Council (UNC) has intensified its campaign for an alternative administrative arrangement for the Nagas in Manipur outside the state pending the settlement of Naga insurgency problem.

Manipur deputy CM Gaikhangam, who met Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Saturday night to discuss the Kuki issues, has stated the government is inviting the striking KSDC leaders for talks on Tuesday afternoon. Besides pointing out the demands made by KSDC, Gaikhangam also urged the Union home minister for initiating political dialogue with the Kuki militant groups.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the observation of Indira Gandhi's 95 birth anniversary at Congress Bhavan here on Monday, Gaikhangam, as assured by the Union home minister, said the Centre would begin political dialogue with the leaders of Kuki militant groups after the winter session of the Parliament. Gaikhangam, who also holds the state home portfolio, said that the Centre would also send senior officials to Manipur to chalk out modalities of the talks.

When contacted, KSDC general secretary Benjamin Mate told TOI that the committee has received the invitation for the talks from the state government. "We have decided to join the talks with the state government. A five-member delegation of the committee including me is ready to join for the dialogue on Tuesday. We hope a positive result will come out in it," Benjamin said.

Antony Pulls Up Forces For Slow Progress of Infrastructure in Northeast

By Sudhi Ranjan Sen

New Delhi, Nov 20 : With a new leadership likely to take over in China next year, Defence Minister A K Antony has expressed his displeasure over the slow progress of infrastructure in the North East.

Mr Antony's displeasure comes at a time when constructions and refurbishment of critical roads in Arunachal Pradesh and Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the North East are running way behind schedule. According to the plan, India was to build an additional 277 roads with combined length of about 13,100 kilometres along the China border by this year to ensure better connectivity and faster troop movement. However, according to Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials, in as many as 80 projects work is yet to begin. Only 29 out of the 227 roads are complete and construction in 168 projects is behind schedule. It is now expected that road network is likely to complete by 2015 if there are no further delays or hold-ups.

Source told NDTV that Mr Antony has also directed the newly appointed Minister of State (MoS) (Defence) Jitendra Singh to deal with issues relating to environmental clearance. Several critical and strategic roads are stuck because of environmental clearances. Mr Singh has also been asked liaise with the state governments to speed up with the projects.

According to MoD sources out of the 29 roads that were to come up in Arunachal Pradesh by 2012 only eight have come up. Similarly out of 13 roads that were to be built in Uttarakhand, a single road is complete. Likewise in Himachal Pradesh, out of the five roads that were to be built, only one is operational. Delays in land acquisition, lack of support from Indian Air Force to air lift material, unwillingness of contractors to work in difficult areas are some of the common reasons for delay in road construction the MoD was told.

The up- gradation of the Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the North East to all weather air fields to carry in supplies for forward stations and also to be used as launch pads to stage attacks deep inside Chinese territory also isn't going according to plan. It is understood as against seven ALGs that were to be made operational only two are operational and that to only to a limited extent. Mr Antony, it is understood, has asked the Vice Chief of Air Staff to monitor the up-gradation on a day to day basis. Sources also told NDTV, that the Air Force has been told that it needs to ready the air fields before the schedules that have been given to the MoD.

China in contrast has metalled roads and highways that connect all its logistic centres and major defence installations along the Sino-Indian border. And, in some sectors these roads are as close as one kilometre to the line of actual control (LAC). Earlier this year the MoD informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence that China was in fact increasing the width of all major highways in Tibet to double lanes highways. 

Northeast Reads More Than The Rest of India: Govt Report

New Delhi, Nov 20 : The northeastern states of India have a greater number of young readers despite their economic backwardness, a government report revealed Monday.

“The north-eastern states of India, despite their economic backwardness, have a greater proportion of readers among its youth population.

The survey results reveal that in the north-eastern states, 43 percent of youths are readers. While the central states have the largest block (85 percent) of non-readers, the northeast has the smallest (57 percent),” the report said.

The survey, published by National Book Trust, attempts to give an analytical and detailed account of the reading habits of literate youths in the northeast and their exposure to different forms of media.
The report also says even though literacy among general castes dominates northern, eastern and north-eastern states, the northeast has a higher proportion (23 percent) of literate youths from the Scheduled Tribes.

Moreover, the northeastern states have a relatively higher concentration of Muslim literate youths since about a third of the youths in the region are Muslims, followed by 18 percent Christians.
The report will be released by Human Resource Development Minister MM Pallam Raju Tuesday.

Northeast India Can Be Gateway To ASEAN

New Delhi, Nov 20 : With better connectivity, North East India could well be the gateway to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries comprising of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

This was articulated by Thailand Ambassador to India Pisan Manawapat on Saturday evening at a press conference held at the private residence of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio at Sovima village.

The Thai envoy, while expressing optimism that with easier connectivity, the South East Asian countries sees NE region especially the states of Nagaland and Assam as gateway to ASEAN, added that the improved situation in Myanmar would also act as a catalyst for easier connectivity between India and the ASEAN and thus enhance better relations.

Also stating that ASEAN countries, by 2015, will become a community of nations, he further stated that the Look East Policy will become more of a reality only with the initiatives taken by India towards this end.

The Thai envoy was accompanied by the High Commissioner of Malaysia, Ambassadors of Vietnam and Laos. They were in Nagaland to oversee the preparedness of the

State to host the 2nd ASEAN-India Car Rally 2012, which would be flagged in at Kohima, before proceeding to Assam in December.

The rally, which is set to take place from November 25 to December 20 and is organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in close cooperation with the member states of ASEAN and the ASEAN Secretariat, also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-India relations.

The rally has been conceived with the following objectives: To demonstrate proximity of India with ASEAN countries; to create public awareness of India-ASEAN relations; to promote connectivity, especially road transport, and to enhance trade, investment, tourism and people to people links between India and the ASEAN countries.

Officials from Ministry of External Affairs, GoI, & CII Nagaland Chapter and other State officials were also present at the press meet.

Also addressing the media, Chief Minister Rio expressed happiness about the forthcoming mega event and said the State is honoured to host the participants for the second time at Kohima. He also assured, on behalf of the State Government, that the participants would be given the best possible care. In this regard, he said a committee would be set up, headed by Himato Zhimomi, IFS, to make arrangements for the smooth conduct of the rally in Nagaland.

On India undertaking a number of initiatives to strengthen economic cooperation with ASEAN countries in areas of common interest, for promoting free trade, combating terrorism and for ensuring security in the region, Rio said the North Eastern states and particularly Nagaland will receive maximum benefits as it remains the centre point of the ‘Look East Policy’.

“In India, we are at one end of the world, but with the Look East Policy, we become the centre point of it,” he said, adding that it will create a boom in the NE states and Nagaland extensively.

Stating that North East India and the ASEAN countries have much in common, be it culture, geographical proximity, etc, he also said the car rally is a step to come closer. One of the first priorities of the motor car rally should also result in opening up better connectivity by road, he said.

Chief of Protocol, Ministry of External Affairs, GoI, Dr Sumit Seth and President CII, Nagaland Chapter, Dr Ao Toshi also spoke at the press conference.

The ASEAN delegation included Ambassador of Laos Thongphanh Syackhaphom and his wife Viengseng Syackhaphom; High Commissioner of Malaysia Dato’ Tan Sung; Ambassador of Vietnam Nguyen Thanh and his wife Dang Thi Thanh Xuan; MInsiter-Counsellor, Royal Thai Embassy, Worawuth Bunchaliew; Minister-Counsellor, Royal Thai Embassy, Miss Sasirit Tangulrat; First Secretary, High Commission of Malaysia, Faizal Shani; Press Assistant, Royal Thai Embassy, Benjapol Peuchsingha and Deputy Chief of Protocol, Ministry of External Affairs, GoI, Dr Sumit Seth.

Since the “Look East Policy of 1991”, the partnership between India and the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam has started developing at quite a fast pace. India became a sectoral partner of ASEAN in 1992, and a full dialogue partner in 1996.

With the 1st ASEAN-India Car Rally organised in 2004 with the objective to give ASEAN-India relations a very public face and a trail-blazing beginning, it created an atmosphere of exuberance that people of both sides still cherish and celebrate. The rally not only marked a meaningful step forward in ASEAN-India relations, but also reflected the existence of the land route connectivity that facilitated in being a catalyst of the free flow of trade, investment and terrorism between the ASEAN countries and India.

The organisers informed that the forthcoming Car Rally, with the expedition of 31 Mahindra & Mahindra XUV 500 vehicles, will travel through 8 of the 10 ASEAN countries and India in 22 days around 8000 kilometers. 124 participants from 11 nationalities will travel together in a piloted convoy on a predetermined route.

The flag-off will take place on November 26 at Jakarta, Indonesia. It will enter India on December 15 at Moreh border, move towards Imphal and take a night halt the same day in Kohima.

The rally will depart from Kohima for Dimapur on December 16 and will formally end on December 17 at Guwahati with a flag down ceremony by Anand Sharma, India’s Union Minister of Commerce, Industry & Textiles and Trade Ministers from the ASEAN countries. The rally will finally culminate in Delhi with a ceremonial flag-down on December 20 by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the presence of the Heads of State of 10 ASEAN countries.

Chef Rushed To Hospital After Tasting Naga Chilli

London, Nov 19 : A chef suffered a severe reaction after tasting a sauce made from Naga chillies, prepared for a Brit restaurant's 'Man v Food'-style hot wings challenge.

Staff drove Arif Ali, 26, to Hillingdon hospital, where he was treated and later discharged, but Ali spent the next week suffering severe stomach cramps and diarrhoea.

According to one onlooker, Ali happily tasted the food at Jimmy's restaurant, in London's O2 arena, as customers cheered him on, but he soon began sweating.

After drinking some milk, he carried on eating two more of the flaming hot chicken wings.

"But then he started gasping. The sweat was pouring off him and he collapsed at the table," the Daily Mail quoted the onlooker as telling The Daily Star.

"He was then carried off by a few staff into a car and rushed to hospital. One minute he was fine - the next he passed out and was in real trouble," the onlooker said.

The restaurant had wanted to challenge the boldest among customers with its fiery sauce, in the style of television series, 'Man v Food.'

"We have now decided in the interests of customer safety not to put this particular item on our menu," restaurant manager Salim Khan said.

Naga Jolokia chillis measure 250,000 on the Scoville scale of chilli strength and are far hotter than pepper spray.

It is so potent that they should only be handled using latex gloves.