'True democracy in Myanmar must for strong ties with NE'

Guwahati, Mar 25 : Pro-democracy Myanmar politicians feel that a full-fledged democracy in their country is essential to promote economic and cultural ties with the northeast.

During a consultation programme on 'Peace and Human Rights in Burma' at Lamka in Manipur's Churachandpur district on Saturday, Myanmar's former National League for Democracy (NLD) parliamentarian, Tint Swe, said that ethnic groups in the northeast should actively come forward to help establish proper democracy in the neighbouring country. The programme was organized by the Burma Centre Delhi (BCD) and hosted by the Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF).

BCD coordinator Alana Golmei said that many ethnic groups common to Myanmar and the northeast are divided by the political boundary between the two countries. Golmei said that full-fledged democracy in Myanmar is a necessity for promoting closer relations between these groups.

"There are many ethnic groups that reside on both sides of the border. A full-fledged democracy in Burma is essential so that the divided groups can revive their connection. We are trying to promote consultations between ethnic groups on both sides of the border to help democracy in the neighbouring country," Golmei said.

In the consultation programme at Lamka, Zomi people from both sides of the border took part. Last year, there were similar consultations between the Nagas and other ethnic groups.

Swe emphasized the necessity of physical and mental connectivity between India's northeast and Myanmar for better cooperation between the two sides, adding that the connectivity is still in a nascent stage.

Myanmar's Naga National League for Democracy chairman U Saw Sa said that even though there have been political improvements, people there were still skeptical about the military-headed government. He added that the military-backed constitution still exists and that for a real democratic change, it should be drafted according to the people's mandate.

NE-based Indigenous People's Human Rights Defender (IPHRD)'s Suanmoi Guite highlighted the plight of ethnic minorities living in Myanmar, especially in the Chin state. Guite said that health, education and other basic facilities are a far cry for these people. He added that for these ethnic minorities, like the Zo people, it is easier to have access to healthcare facilities in Manipur's Churachandpur rather than traveling long distance to Rangoon.

Palm Sunday celebrated in Mizoram

Aizawl, Mar 25 : Palm Sunday, the day to commemorate the entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem city as a king was celebrated in the Christian-dominated state of Mizoram on Sunday.

Children, mainly students of schools belonging to almost all the church denominations, and also adults took to the streets in the morning waving palm leaves singing hymns quoting the verses of the Bible.

The main words chanted during the Palm Sunday processions was "Hosanna," as was done on the last Sabbath before Christ's crucifixion.

According to the Bible Christ entered Jerusalem as a king a few days before he was crucified and was riding on a donkey while people glorify him by placing clothes and palm leaves on the way.

Chief Justice of New Manipur HC To Be Sworn in Tomorrow

Imphal, Mar 22 : Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre will be sworn in as the Chief Justice of the new Manipur High Court tomorrow by Governor Gurbachan Jagat.

Justice Sapre, a former judge of Chhattisgarh High Court, was appointed on March 19 by President Pranab Mukherjee, official sources said today.

Manipur High Court will have three judges including Chief Justice Sapre, the sources said.

Judge of the Guwahati High Court N Koteswar Singh has been appointed as one of the judges of the high court.

The third judge will be appointed soon, the sources said.

The new Manipur High Court will be inaugurated by Union Law and Justice Minister Ashwani Kumar on March 25.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Altamas Kabir and Manipur Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh will be present at the inauguration ceremony, the sources added.

Mizoram Ministers Fail To Answer Tea Plantation Query

Aizawl, Mar 22 : The ministers of the LalThanhawla government were at a loss of words when Lalduhoma, a member of the Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP), asked a question regarding tea plantation and the number of tea cultivators in the state.

State minister for soil and water conservation department JH Rothuama on Thursday failed to reply to Lalduhoma's query regarding the tea plantation in the state. Rothuama said that his department had not looked after tea plantation for a long time.

When some of the members said that horticulture minister H Liansailova was the right person to reply to the ZNP member's query, Liansailova said he was not prepared to answer the question as tea plantation and processing used to be taken up by the industries department earlier.

Industries minister S Hiato remained seated and did not offer any clarifications.

"According to the Mizoram Government Transaction of Business Rules, 1987, which was amended in 2007, tea plantation was allocated to the soil and water conservation department," speaker R Romawia said.

He added that questions like the number of tea cultivators, area of tea plantation and quantity of annual production were never answered in the state legislature.

Mizo National Front Walks Out During Governor Address

Aizawl, Mar 13 : Opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) and its ally the Mara Democratic Front legislators on Tuesday staged a walkout during the address of the Mizoram governor Vakkom Purushothaman.

About 10 minutes after the governor began his customary address and was talking about the success of the New Land Use Policy, the flagship programme of the ruling Congress, R Lalthangliana, leader of the opposition group and other party legislators stood up and objected.

Lalthangliana said while the state government claimed that the NLUP fund allocation was from the Prime Minister's Special Package, in reality it was made from the state plan fund.

He said the 'diversion' of the plan fund was detrimental to a number of developmental projects in the state.

15,000 more families to be brought under NLUP

Aizawl, Mar 13 : Mizoram Governor Vakkom Purushothaman today said that the state government has submitted a proposal to include additional 15,000 families as beneficiaries under the government’s flagship New Land Use Policy (NLUP) during 2013-14 after covering 1.2 lakh families.

In his customary gubernatorial address to the state assembly on the first day of the budget session, Purushothaman said that the implementation of the NLUP made “good progress”.

“Out of the target of 1.2 lakh families, 96,139 families were given financial assistance during 2010-11 and 2011-12 and was scheduled to cover 1.2 lakh families during 2012-13″, he said.

“In view of the increase in the number of eligible families after the household survey of 2009, a proposal has also been submitted to the Planning Commission for additional 15,000 beneficiaries in addition to the original target of 1.2 lakh families,” he said.

In order to strengthen sustainability of the various projects under NLUP, an initiative was also taken to explore technical and supplementary funding support from the UN’s FAO and its global partner, the University of Minnesota, he said.

Planning Commission has so far released Rs 838.82 crore exclusively for the NLUP in addition to the fund flow of Rs 246.38 crore from CSS under the Convergence Plan, he said.

Due to the enhanced allocation of fund under NLUP, allocation under RKVY (Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana) has also gone up from 30.36 crore in 2011-12 to Rs 200.91 crore during 2012-13, he said.

The governor congratulated the people for maintaining peace in the state, adding that maintaining peace and tranquility, securing the safety of the citizens and affecting progress and development in all fields was one of the top priorities of the government.

The budget session of the Mizoram legislature would continue till April three.

State Finance minister H Liansailova would present the state annual budget for 2013-14 on Friday.

Appeal To Release Mizo Hostages Unconditionally

Aizawl, Mar 13 : With kidnappers threatening to kill five hostages kidnapped from Dampa Tiger Reserve on the Mizoram-Bangladesh-Tripura border last month, a meeting chaired by Mizoram Home minister R Lalzirliana has urged that they be released unconditionally.

Leaders of the Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee, a conglomerate of leaders of 13 major churches, the central committee of the Young Mizo Association, Mizo Zirlai Pawl, the Mizo apex student body and Mizo Students Union, at the meeting yesterday, urged that the five muster roll employees be released without condition, an official statement said today.

The meeting expressed fear that the kidnap might trigger communal tension in the state as the abductors belonged to a Bru militant group functioning under the NLFT.

Police sources said that the abductors were hiding inside Bangladesh near Thangnang and Zopui area and the captives were alive.

The police suspected that the abductors belonged to the National Liberation Front of Tripura and Borok National Council of Tripura combine.

The kidnappers often threatened the families of the hostages over phones that they would be killed if ransom of Rs 50 lakh was not paid.

The hostages, kidnapped on 19 February were Lalsangmawia from West Phaileng, Liansanga from Teirei, Vanlalfaka from Damparengpui, and Nelson and Lalrinmawia both from Aizawl.

Schools Live in Fear of Violent Disturbances in Northeast India

Imphal, Mar 13 : The principal of a local school, Sanjeebam Memcha Chanu, said they were living under constant threat from militant groups in Manipur.

"Living under such a situation will have a negative impact on students who come here to attain knowledge," she added.

Blasts, blockades, shutdowns and strikes force schools to remain closed for days, affecting students both in the short and long term.

Recently, students and teachers of the Pari Imom Shindamshang staged a protest, demanding the release of one of their students who was taken away by armed miscreants as a part of their child recruitment drive.

Meanwhile, a student, said,' There is a problem of kidnapping students for ransom. We feel scared to go to school without our parents or somebody to drop us.'

People want militants to shun violence so that development can take place and their children can look forward to a better future.