Mizorams' Growth Rate Higher Than National Average

Aizawl, Jan 27 : The gross state domestic product (GSDP) of Mizoram has grown by 9.57 percent during 2011-2012 against the national growth of 8.8 percent, Governor Vakkom B. Purushothaman said here Saturday.

"The per capita income in Mizoram has also increased from Rs.30,488 in 2007-08 to Rs.50,021 in the last fiscal (2011-2012)," the governor said, after unfurling the national flag at an event celebrating the Repuclic Day here.

The implementation of the state government's flagship programme -- New Land Use Policy (NLUP) -- for the development of rural areas is now in full swing, he said.

"The success of NLUP rests largely on the active participation of the beneficiaries and the concerned government departments. It would further boost the agricultural growth as well as the economy of the state," Purushothaman stated.

Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla and his council of ministers were present at the celebrations at the Assam Rifles Ground here.

Various contingents of central and state security forces and the National Cadet Corps (NCC) cadets paraded and performed various dare devil actst while the school students presented colourful programmes.

The governor said that of the 120,000 targeted beneficiary families, 90,139 families have been covered under the NLUP.

"Following the implementation of the NULP since 2010, there has been 16 percent increase in the estimated production of rice during 2012-2013 and the area under 'jhum' cultivation (slash and burn method of farming) has declined by 17 percent during the same period," he added.

The governor said Mizoram made good progress in power, roads, buildings, bridges, health and education sectors.

The mountainous state, bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh, celebrated the Republic Day with great zeal and passion.

Kuki Blockade Starves Manipur of Fuel

Kuki enforcers adamant on talks demand
















Fuel being sold in black in front of a petrol pump in Imphal on Sunday.

Imphal, Jan 28 : Manipur is fast running out of fuel as a result of the blockade imposed on the state’s supply routes by the Kuki State Demand Committee, which is calling for carving out a new state from the hill districts.The demand committee resumed its “public blockade” on Thursday to mount pressure on the Centre to start talks regarding creation of the Kuki state, which it is demanding to be carved out of areas comprising the whole of Churachandpur and Chandel districts along with Kuki-inhabited parts of Senapati, Ukhrul and Tamenglong districts.

On December 14, the committee suspended the blockade that was imposed from November 17 but resumed it blaming the Centre for failing in its assurance to hold talks.

Official sources said the fuel situation in Manipur was made worse since the past few days after a blockade imposed by the Jakhama Village Council in Nagaland disrupted supply for five days last week. The blockade was imposed after a man hit by a Manipur-bound truck died.

Such is the crunch that only a few petrol pumps opened today.

Official sources said arrangements were being made to send oil tankers with security escorts from tomorrow.

Petrol is transported to the state from Assam over the Imphal-Dimapur highway, which passes through Kuki-dominated Sadar Hills in Senapati district. Various vehicles, including oil tankers, were stranded in Senapti and Dimapur because of the blockade.

Manipur requires 90 kilolitres of petrol and 220 kilolitres of diesel every day.

The again, though most petrol pumps are closed, both petrol and diesel are available in the black market, where one litre of petrol is being sold at Rs 100 to Rs 110 and each litre of diesel is being sold between Rs 70 and Rs 80.

The situation is unlikely to improve in the next few days, as the demand committee is adamant that it will not lift the blockade until the Centre takes steps to start talks.

Blasts claim

CorCom, a co-ordinating committee of seven militant groups of Manipur, claimed responsibility for triggering five IEDs on the eve and on Republic Day in the valley.

In a statement issued today, the committee said the blasts were part of its boycott of Republic Day.

Four bombs were exploded on the eve of the Republic Day in an around Imphal. One of them exploded inside the 1st Manipur Rifles battalion headquarters where the Republic Day parade ground was located. No one, however, was injured in the explosions.

Lengkhawm Zai: A Singing Tradition of Mizo Christianity in Northeast India

HEATH, JOANNA (2013) Lengkhawm Zai: A Singing Tradition of Mizo Christianity in Northeast India. Masters thesis, Durham University.

PDF - Download Link 6Mb

Abstract

The Mizo people live in the Indian state of Mizoram. Following the arrival of missionaries in 1894 and a series of spiritual revivals, they have claimed to be a Christian people since about 1930. The Mizo hymn repertoire includes translations of western hymns as well as original compositions, and many of these are often sung with a modified tune and singing style that emerged during the revival period between 1906 and 1930. This singing style and the songs that have been composed specifically for it have come to be known as lengkhawm zai, and represent a Christian but indigenous musical tradition, with associated dance, gestural and instrumental conventions.

The context in which this singing takes place is lengkhawm. It typically takes place in two contexts: at a church service, and at a dedicated event for community singing called zaikhawm, which mainly happens at Christmas.

Can this relatively modern practice be described as traditional singing? In what way has it been shaped by the Christianity of the missionaries and subsequent influences from contact with other musical cultures? In what way does it reflect a continuation of the musical tradition that existed before the missionaries arrived in 1894?

This thesis explores the issues that surround the definition of modern traditions in Christian worship music in the context of lengkhawm, particularly addressing the nature of the exchanges that take place at the earlier points of missionary contact.

No Restrictions On Foreigners To Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland

New Delhi, Jan 28 : As a means of boosting tourism in the northeast, the government has withdrawn restrictions imposed on foreign tourists travelling to the picturesque region.

The Home Ministry has allowed free movement of foreign tourists to the three northeastern states of Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland by suspending a decades-old rule under which foreign nationals had to take mandatory permission from authorities for visits.

However, citizens of Pakistan, China, Afghanistan and Myanmar will not enjoy the benefit of the latest order, which would initially be applicable for a year, a Home Ministry official said.

Travel to these states will now be easier, but tourists will still have to register themselves with the foreigners registration officers of the districts concerned within 24 hours of arrival.

The much needed move to liberalise travel rules is expected to boost tourism in the northeast which is rich in natural diversity and has high adventure tourism potential.

The central government and states are eyeing a substantial market with about 58,000 foreign tourists visiting the northeast last year up by 18 per cent from 2011.

Officials expect a 25 per cent increase of tourist arrivals within a year after relaxation of rules.

Under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958, all areas in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim and parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand are declared “protected areas” and foreign nationals need permission to visit these areas.

Republic Day Celebrated Amid Tight Security in Manipur

Imphal, Jan 26 : Republic Day was today celebrated amid tight security deployment in Manipur with Governor Gurbachan Jagat taking salute from various contingents at the march past at the first Manipur Rifles ground here.

Official sources said there was heavy security and police deployment at various parts of the state capital in view of the boycott call of the Republic Day celebrations by all major insurgent organisations of the north-east, including United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and Revolutionary People's Front (RPF).

Patrolling was intensified at all entry points to Manipur Rifles ground including Moirangkhom, Sanjenthong, Keisampat and other areas, sources said.

Official reports from the districts said the day was also celebrated at all district headquarters amid heavy police and security deployment.

Insurgents had exploded three powerful bombs yesterday, including one at the first Manipur Rifles ground here, sources said, adding that most of the passers-by who came to witness the day's celebrations were checked at various places to intercept the movement of armed insurgents.

Manipur Has Over 17 Lakh Voters

Imphal, Jan 25 : Manipur chief electoral officer O Nabakishore Singh on Monday released the final photo electoral roll of the state for 2013 comprising a total of 17,47,889 voters across 60 assembly constituencies.

After several duplicate voters were deleted, the roll has now become almost error free, Singh said, adding that the department would continue to check for more duplicate voters that might still remain on the list.

Of the 17,47,889 electors, 8,61,416 are male while 8,86,473 are female. The percentage of total number of electors in the state is 62 per cent of the total population.

As compared to the 31,566 youths aged between 18 and 19 years who were enrolled in the electoral roll last year, 47,143 young people in the same category group were enrolled this year.

The Mao constituency in Senapati district has the highest number of voters at 55,501 while Tipaimukh constituency in Churachandpur district bordering Mizoram has the minimum number of voters at 17,038.

Ibobi Invites Kuki Groups For Talks

Imphal, Jan 24 : Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh and deputy chief minister Gaikha-ngam today offered to hold talks with the Kuki State Demand Committee and urged it to reconsider its decision to resume the public blockade in Kuki-inhabited areas from tomorrow.

The committee had on Monday announced the resumption of its public blockade from 5pm of January 24 and asked all government
establishments to withdraw from Kuki areas. It suspended the blockade on December 14 after the Union home ministry promised to hold talks on the demand for a Kuki state. The blockade began on November 17.

“The demand committee should come forward and talk about their grievances. We can settle issues through dialogue,” Ibobi Singh told reporters on the sidelines of the inaugural function of a three-day tribal cultural festival here today.

The chief minister appealed to the committee to reconsider resumption of the blockade.

Making a similar appeal, Gaikhangam, who also attended the programme, said the home ministry had initiated talks with Kuki militant groups to settle the issue and if any organisation had grievances, they could talk to the Centre and place their demands.

The committee also announced the boycott of Republic Day celebrations to mark “severance of ties with India and the Manipur government”.

A home ministry team had visited Imphal last month and held talks with leaders of Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and United Peoples Front (UPF) on the suspension of operations agreement.

“The culture of strikes and blockades does not bring any good. We hope the committee will not resort to any form of violence and impose strike and blockades,” Gaikhangam said.

Manipur is a very small state and no community should make attempts to divide it, he said.

Responding to a question, Gaikhangam said if anyone resorted to violence, they would be dealt with according to law.

The three-day cultural festival organised by the Tribal Research Institute, Imphal, is an attempt to unite all communities divided by politics.

The festival also gave an opportunity to both the chief minister and deputy chief minister to remind all communities living in the state that they were Manipuris. “We are all Manipuris and let us pray and work for ushering in peace, progress and communal harmony in the New Year,” Ibobi Singh said.

Nearly 40 communities are taking part in the festival, where cultural troupes presented songs and dances on the opening day. The remaining two days will see more performances of folk songs and dances. At the end of each day’s programme, delegates will enjoy a grand feast together.

“The festival could not have come at a better time as such a forum could help in bringing better understanding and unity among different communities,” Gaikhangam said.

‘Indian Authorities’ Served Quit Notice By Kukis

By Iboyaima Laithangbam

Naga tribals and others not asked to leave Kuki areas

The Kuki Statehood Demand Committee (KSDC) has served a quit notice on the “Indian authorities” from 5 p.m. on Thursday as a mark of protest against the non-committal attitude of the Central government to its long-standing demand for creation of a Kuki “State” to be carved out of Manipur. Significantly, the KSDC is not asking the Naga tribals and others to leave the “Kuki areas.” There was bloodshed between the Naga and the Kuki tribals from 1992 to 1996 as a part of the turf war.

Over 1,500 people of both the tribes, mostly women and children, were killed during the ethnic clashes. Several villages had been burned to cinders.

Talking to journalists on Monday, KSDC secretary Benjamin Mate said, “Republic Day will not be celebrated in the Kuki areas. No other national function can be held in these areas. The Indian government has not recognised the political rights of the Kukis for the last 65 years.” The latest planned agitation for the creation of a Kuki State was ahead of the ASEAN car rally which passed through Manipur. If the Kukis had launched blockade, the cars could never have passed through, Mr. Mate said. The Union government promised to start a political dialogue with the KSDC soon after the winter session of the Parliament. However, it seems the government has forgotten all about it, he said.

As a part of ethnic cleansing, a quit notice was served to the Kuki tribals with September 15,1993 as the deadline. However, before the expiry of the deadline, two Kuki villages, Joupi and Janglenphai, were torched on September 13, 1993. At least 87 fleeing tribals were waylaid and massacred at a mountain bridle path at Tamei. Some others managed to escape by jumping down the gorge. The villagers are relieved they have not been asked to leave the “Kuki areas.”

Manipur has an area of 22,327 sq. km and is much smaller than any district in Assam or West Bengal. The KSDC is demanding carving out Sadar Hills sub division of Senapati district and some portions of the valley district to create the new State. The Sadar Hills and the adjoining areas have an area of 1,696 sq. km. According to the 2001 census, these areas have a population of 1,88,529. Some Kuki leaders told The Hindu that it is much bigger than the Jiribam sub division of Imphal East district. It has also been demanding the status of a full fledged district. But it has just 232 sq. km and population of 37,826, according to the 2001 census. However, Naga organisations say many “traditional lands of the Nagas” have been included in the proposed State of the Kukis. They said they will never agree to this attempt to usurp their lands. The Nagas and the Kukis have also circulated their own maps showing their own lands. If these are conceded, what is left for the rest of the communities is a small patch of land in the valley.

Republic Day will not be celebrated in Kuki areas: KSDC Secretary

Naga organisations claim “traditional land of Nagas” have been included in proposed State of the Kukis