Funds delay hits tiger conservation

Tourists enjoy an elephant safari at Manas National Park

Crucial field operations in Manas tiger reserve will be affected this year as the funds released by the Centre for wildlife conservation efforts are stuck in Dispur.

The ministry of environment and forests has released Rs 43.70 lakh as the first instalment to Manas for 2008-09 but the park has not received the funds yet though the financial year will close in another two months.

The money was meant for deployment of personnel for anti-poaching operations, buying petrol for patrol vehicles and other protection measures.

“The funds were released by the Centre to Dispur in October but we in the field have still not got it. Another two months remain for the closure of the financial year and the money will remain unutilised,” a park official said.

Non-release of central funds by Dispur has turned out to be a major problem for wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

This, despite the fact that the Supreme Court in February 2005 directed the state government to release funds to field formations within 15 days of its sanction by the ministry of environment and forests.

The World Heritage Committee Mission, too, had pointed out last year that non-release of funds by the state government had affected the tiger reserve and was one of the issues which led to its decision of not removing the “World Heritage Site in Danger” tag from Manas.

“While the financial commitment from Bodoland Territorial Council for the management of the site is extremely encouraging, it is very worrying that the issue of the release of central funds to the park by the Assam government is still not solved,” the World Heritage Committee report stated.

The park lies in the BTC-ruled Baksa and stretches to parts of Kokrajhar and Chirang.

Last year, the forest ministry deducted Rs 6.30 lakh from its funds since the park failed to spend that amount from the previous instalment.

The first instalment this year was Rs 50 lakh but was reduced to Rs 43.70 lakh after deducting the unspent balance.

This fiscal, the non-release of the first instalment has jeopardised the release of the second instalment as well.

“The second instalment is received only after the submission of the utilisation certificates for the first one,” the official said.

The Rs 74.40 lakh was meant for ration for frontline staff, wireless sets, infrastructure development and programmes to curb man-animal conflict.

The proposal for the tiger conservation foundation has still not been passed by the state cabinet though it would have helped the tiger reserve receive funds directly

Violence bears no fruit; Let us reconcile, says Khaplang

Dimapur : On its 29th “raising day”, NSCN (K) chairman SS Khaplang has said that violence and confrontational activities bear no seed for solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political problem.

Reaching to “my Naga comrades” Isak Chishi Swu, Kholie, Th. Muivah, Khodao Yanthan and others, Khaplang queried if, even in old age, “shall we not learn from years of unrewarding internal conflict?” Khaplang had these words in a copy of his speech received here. He said “infighting only devalues the political right of the Nagas”.

Khaplang said “We must reconcile first with our own hearts and extend the same to others.

A single reconciliatory action is worth a hundred paper proclamations for peace” Khaplang said while urging fellow Naga leaders not to stamp “our pages with contempt, hatred and vengeful inclinations towards our fellow brothers”.

What future Nagas inherit from “us” tomorrow is more important than what “we do to destroy each other today”.

Recalling the division and violent past of the Nagas’ political history, SS Khaplang said “we as national leaders failed to stem the rot and differences of opinion gave way to suspicion, discontentment, hatred and finally further bloody division within the Naga family”. This has been the greatest misery and nemesis of the Nagas, he lamented.

Urging that the slogan “Nagaland for Christ” should rule “our hearts and deeds as well”, Khaplang said the greatest question before the Nagas today is whether “we” are prepared to seek a common future for the sake of the Naga children. “Are we prepared to seek a common future for the sake of our children or continue to hunt each other with vengeful hearts?

The responsibility for tragic episodes in Naga history must be equally shared by all leaders. No one is blameless. God alone is our judge. Justification is poor statesmanship at this hour because thousands of witnesses could still recount the horrors endured” he asserted in his speech.

SS Khaplang appealed to the representatives of the entire Naga family; the Forum for Naga Reconciliation, the Naga Hoho and its federating hohos, GBs and GB’s forum, ENPO, NSF, NPMHR, NMA, churches and other Naga NGO’s and civil societies to continue the noble work of restoring peace, reconciliation and unity in the land of the Nagas, “so that we share a secure and respectable future”.

Break the antiquated mindset

Dimapur : Certain sections may claim that Naga women are at par with men in terms of competition in various vocational fields, but if one were to sincerely observe the ground reality, they are still far from being ‘accommodated’ by political welfare and decision-making bodies.

This was the statement made today by the Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (KNSK) who today urged that the 33% seat reservation for women be implemented in Nagaland.

The organization suggested that the bill be implemented at least even for a certain period of time.  Along with others, the Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong had also attended the January 29 meeting convened by the All-Political Party Consultative Committee

“If we sincerely observe the status of Naga women, we can proudly say that women can compete with men in all the fields. In fact, there are many women IAS officers, NCS officers, doctor, engineers, lecturers, lawyers etc at par with the men” the KNSK stated in  a letter received here. 

However, the ground reality is far from what is being claimed as the organization’s letter explained. “But on the other hand in the forums like village council, town council, State Legislative Assembly and Parliament Naga women have not been accommodated till now (except one).
 

Are the women not interested to serve the public or are they not capable or fit to serve the public? The answer is definitely ‘No’. It is because of the social barrier” the KNSK stated.

‘Women quota is for decision-making’ The Konyak organization said, that in the Naga society there was a time when women did not participate in welfare and decision-making activities. “That century-old tradition and practices still remain in the mindset of our people; this mindset acts as a social barrier for women to come to the fore front of public life. Perhaps this social barrier might have prevailed in the other parts of the country and the world as well” the KNSK observed.

The organization advised all in concern that the 108th Constitution Amendment Bill (women Reservation) should actually have been used as a mechanism or a tool to break the curse of  social barriers  prevailing in the Naga society for the last many centuries. If timely and appropriate measures are not taken, the KNSK stated, this ‘mindset will prevail.

”Therefore, the KNSK feels that the 33 per cent women reservation bill should also be applied to the state of Nagaland for certain period of time (say, for 3 consecutive terms) and appeal to all the civil societies and political parties to take this reservation policy as accommodative and guiding approach for the half of the Naga population” the KNSK appealed.

ISRO-built satellite fails after five weeks

Quality assurance of ISRO products has to be improved, if India wants to be aserious competitor for the Space technology market.

31 Jan 2009

BANGALORE: The very first communications satellite sold by the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) to the European operator Eutelsat has failed abruptly after five weeks in orbit, in a setback to ISRO which just celebrated the 100th day of its successful moon mission.

"Scientists at ISRO are analyzing the anomaly in the hope of reviving the satellite," ISRO spokesman S. Satish said.

He said ISRO's two earlier satellites INSAT-1C and 2D had similar problems. But European analysts have told the authoritative Washington-based Space News, that the ISRO-built satellite "is likely a total loss".

The satellite W2M is the inaugural product of a Euro-Indian joint venture agreement between Antrix and Astrium Satellites of Europe signed in February 2006. It was launched Dec 20 for Paris-based Eutelsat.

"It is really unfortunate but we have to take the failure in its stride," said K.R. Sridharamurthi, executive director of Antrix, the commercial arm of ISRO. He said the confidentiality agreement with Astrium prevented him from discussing anything further about the satellite problem.

In a curt statement Eutelsat said: "The performance of the W2M satellite, which was launched on 20 December, 2008, does not comply with the requirements set with the spacecraft's manufacturer, EADS Astrium/ISRO Antrix, following a major anomaly affecting the satellite's power subsystem."

Under the agreement, Antrix and ISRO had responsibility for operating W2M during its first weeks in orbit before transferring control to Eutelsat. "The satellite had performed well during these weeks," Sridharamurthi said.

Space News quoting industry officials said there was a sudden failure of its electric-power subsystem during the night of Jan 22-23 as it was being moved from its in-orbit test location toward its final geostationary slot at 16 degrees east longitude.

While the exact cause of the W2M failure is under investigation, "it can almost certainly be traced to the Antrix-provided platform", Space News, quoting industry officials, said.

According to Space News, recovery efforts will continue as engineers seek to determine whether at least a portion of the satellite's capacity can be brought into use. "If these efforts are unsuccessful, they said, W2M's on-board thrusters will be used to guide the satellite into a so-called graveyard orbit about 300 km above the geostationary arc."

The Astrium-Antrix joint venture's ambition is to offer a relatively inexpensive alternative for customers who want satellites at the lower end of the price, power and weight range of commercial telecommunications satellites.

Eutelsat was the first customer to purchase a satellite from the Antrix-Astrium joint venture. A second satellite 'Hylas' is under construction at an ISRO centre in Bangalore for Avanti Communications Group of London and scheduled for launch late this year.

Sridharamurthi said that work on Hylas production is proceeding as scheduled and will not be affected by the W2M problem.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/

Insurgency, infiltration twin threats to Northeast: Rajnath Singh

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajnath Singh Saturday said illegal infiltration from Bangladesh and insurgency continue to be the twin challenges facing the northeast with central funds meant for development going into the hands of the militants.

‘It is a matter of concern that development funds are being siphoned off with large chunks going into the hands of the militant groups in the northeast,’ the BJP president told journalists here.

Singh was in Guwahati to attend a party workers meeting.

‘Infiltration is a matter of serious concern, but it appears the central government is not very serious in solving the problem,’ the BJP president said.

On the issue of a massive fake currency racket flourishing in the northeast, Singh said this was nothing but ‘economic terrorism’ perpetrated by countries inimical to Indian interests.

‘There is fake currency even in nationalised banks. This is a deliberate attempt by inimical forces to weaken the economy by way of counterfeit currency notes,’ he said.

Singh called for setting up of a separate security council for the northeast so that it is able to devise region-specific measures to deal with a host of problems.
‘We also advocate multipurpose identity cards in the northeast to check the infiltration issue and update of the National Register of Citizens,’ he said.
On the electoral tie up with the regional Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in Assam ahead of the parliamentary elections, the BJP president was optimistic of a seat sharing pact between the two parties getting formalised soon.
‘We hope to work together with the AGP to oust the Congress party,’ Singh said.

Warts of Naga malady pointed out

Dimapur : Killings, extortion, mutual distrust and self-righteousness and arrogance of the Naga underground factions are some of the impediments responsible for today’s ‘fragmented’ Naga family, according to a group calling itself the “Naga national workers people support group”. Apart from deepening the divided Naga house, the said anti-people activities are also responsible for the Government of India and international communities refusing to take the Naga issue seriously.

A note explaining the reasons for the deep divisions characterizing the Naga ‘political groups’ was received here from the “Naga national workers people support group”. The group made clear that fratricide, “high handed extortion”, intimidation, “rampant defection” mutual distrust and self-righteousness and arrogance of the Naga underground factions are all anti-people activities. “They have a telling effect on the national character of our people and on the integrity of our national leaders,” the group strongly reminded. Unless the factions stop “wallowing in the above activities and attitudes” it will amount to personal aggrandizement and deviate from the “national” objectives, the “Naga national workers people support group” cautioned.
The group highlighted the reasons.

Under ‘mutual distrust’, the group said ‘mutual slandering’ has continued for very long in the Naga society today it has become almost impossible to break out from “our own tribal cocoons…”. Again, fratricidal bloodshed continues for either right or wrong reasons all in the name of “national freedom struggle” and has rendered the value of human life “so cheap”, the group reminded.  

The group had these words to say: “It is we who have divided our own house; it is we who have refused to be reconciled; it is we who have refused to be forgiving; it is we who have refused to be accommodative; it is we who have refused to listen to the voice of the people for whom we are supposed to be working for…let us face the fact, call spade a spade…” The group added to its reminder: “No amount of international campaign will help our situation when we cannot build up position of strength at home”.

Further, the group said various Naga apex bodies like the Naga Hoho, the ENPO, NPMHR, NSF, NMA, ENSF, UNC and ANSAM among many others including the Forum for Naga Reconciliation currently, have been working for the Nagas’ cause. “We the Naga national workers’ support group believe in the final mobility of making for a shared humanity for the sake of the Naga people who have suffered enough for the cause of the Naga nation; we do not take any pleasure in forming another group but for a facilitation of a viable direction for the Naga cause,” it stated. “Your weakness is not our strength. But we believe in the importance of building up the internal strength of the Naga people,” the Naga national workers support group added.

3rd Love All Badminton Tournament held

Dimapur: The third Love All Badminton Tournament organised by the Humane Touch began on January 28 at 6:00 pm at Viola Colony, Dimapur and concluded on January 29. The tournament had two categories-senior boys’ doubles and junior boys single.

The senior Men’s Doubles champions were Sanen and Achi from Signal Angami Colony while Along from signal colony  was crowned the Junior Men’s Singles champion. Informing this in a press release, chairman of Humane Touch, Saku Longkumer stated that the two day event was graced by Congress MLA from 2 Dimapur-II A/C SI Jamir as the chief guest on the opening night while on the second night, Dr Benjong, Mission Director (Horticulture), Nagaland graced the tournament as special invitee. 

The release stated that MLA SI Jamir while speaking on the opening night reminded the audience how God had gifted the Nagas with talent in games and sports.

He gave the instance of how a Naga youth led the first Indian team in football to the Olympics in 1948. He also expressed concern over how the ‘bad Naga political situation’ kept a generation of Nagas from exploring and building their talent in sports. He however expressed deep faith that the youth of today will rise high in the field.

The chief guest also drew the attention of the audience to the fact that Nagas have similar physical features with the South East Asian countries from where the best badminton players hail from and that therefore the Nagas have a great possibility of excelling in the sport even at the international level, the release stated. 

The release also stated that the chairman of Humane Touch, earlier in his welcome speech, expressed gratitude to the public for supporting the event through their presence. He asserted that in present times, progress and advancement of any country is measured through sport persons and not through weaponry. The chairman of the Viola Colony, Kikum, in his exhortation on the first night, asserted that the audience would be watching the players and therefore urged that they should play with great sportsmanship spirit. He also urged the losers not to be discouraged but prepare themselves to win in the next edition of the Love All Badminton Tournament to be organised by Humane Touch next year.

On the second night, the special invitee, Dr Benjong praised the Humane Touch saying that they have come with a message for social harmony and service to the people in these bad times when there is so much strife in the society He also commended the cooperation of people of the colony, for support shown to the organizing team as well as the player.  The release further informed that special songs by 2008 Naga Idol contestant, Ardo and 2008 Naga Idol Winner, Toshinaro presented special songs on the first and second nights respectively. 

Michelle Obama chooses affordable ‘Pottery Barn’ furniture for White House

US President Barack Obama’s wife Michelle is keeping it real – the mom-in-chief along with expensive Hollywood interior designer Michael Smith is redecorating the White House with items from the reasonably priced shop Pottery Barn, according to reports.


Smith said that he would take design cues from the Obamas’ ‘casual style’ while ‘utilizing affordable brands.’
Daughters Maila and Sasha are also contributing to the decoration by giving their own inputs, reports Us Magazine.

Michelle’s goal is to keep her daughters grounded.

In addition to doing chores despite a huge White House staff, ‘pretty much we’ll see Michelle and the girls in the White House kitchen, trying to bake something together, and her raising them as if they were still in Chicago,’ family friend Kim Lightford said.

Outcry in Nepal over parading of naked boys in Terai

Kathmandu, Jan 31 Over 30 domestic and international rights organisations, including Unicef and Save the Children alliance, have flayed an ongoing protest in Nepal’s southern Terai plains during which the organisers reportedly paraded a group of naked young boys."

‘In the name of protests, the Samyukta Sangharsh Samiti (SSS) that has been active in the Terai made 25 boys under the age of 14 parade through Jaleshwor town naked,’ Children are Zones of Peace (CZOP), a network of organisations working to protect child rights, said in a statement issued here.

‘All our member organisations condemn it,’ it added.

The rights alliance said its attention was drawn to the incident when a local daily, Nepal Samacharpatra, reported Thursday that children were being ‘punished’ in the name of protests in the southern town that has remained turbulent for nearly a fortnight.

Violence erupted in Jaleshwor, the main town in Mahottari district, after the Maoist government of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda announced that an ‘integrated service centre’ would be opened at the nearby town of Bardibas.

Jaleshwor locals feared it would lead to the relocation of the district headquarters to Bardibas, and called closures in protest.

The shutdowns continued for almost a fortnight, erupting in arson and violence and on Thursday, compelling the administration to declare curfew for two days.

According to media reports from Mahottari, the protests are being led by the Nepali Congress, the main opposition party, and regional Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party that this month withdrew its ‘moral support’ to the Maoist government.

The rights bodies said that to parade naked children in winter to draw attention to a protest movement in which they have no stake was ‘an unimaginable example of exploitation and attack on them’.

‘It shows the protesters have no empathy for children,’ the statement said. ‘It is regrettable that a group that is fighting for its own rights and identity has not been able to respect, protect and understand children’s rights.’
The act, the rights bodies said, violates Nepal’s interim constitution and the UN Child Rights Convention that guarantee every child the right to live with dignity and unviolated privacy.

The rights bodies are also urging the media not to publish photographs of the naked boys as it could reveal their identity and affect their right to privacy.

Nepal’s leading political parties, including the Maoists, have come under repeated public criticism for deploying minors in their political programmes, which at times turned violent, putting lives in danger.

According to the UN, the Maoists recruited child soldiers during their 10-year armed insurgency in violation of international norms. Even two years after the civil war ended and the signing of a peace pact, the child soldiers have not been discharged.

Cocaine worth rupees 75 lakh seized

Varanasi, Jan 31 : Two persons were arrested near Khujji crossing and about half a dozen cocaine worth Rs 75 lakh in the international market was recovered from their possession, police said here today.

The duo were arrested last night and have been identified as Brajesh Yadav of Mau and Mahendra Kumar, a resident of Ghazipur, SP Jaunpur V K Dohre said, adding a country-made pistol and Rs 4,000 in cash was also recovered from their possession.

The contraband was brought from Thailand, he said.

CEC recommends removal of Navin Chawla

New Delhi, Jan 31 : The battle in the Election Commission has assumed unprecedented proportions with the Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami recommending to the government removal of the other Election Commissioner Navin Chawla.


The recommendation comes about three months before Gopalaswami is to demit office on April 20 and is based on a petition by the BJP which had complained against the"partisan" functioning of Chawla.


The BJP had alleged that Chawla was close to the Congress party"I did my job. The report has been given," Gopalswami told media but declined to elaborate.


The Chief Election Commissioner's recommendation ahead of the general elections brings to the fore the differences among the three-member body which has often been marred by clashes over crucial decisions.


Only last year, Chawla had raised serious objections to the holding of the Karnataka assembly elections in May but was over ruled.


Similarly, he is believed to have also had reservations over the conduct of assembly elections of Uttar Pradesh in the summer of 2007.

Strong as an ox?

The beast which gives its name to the Chinese new year that begins on January 26th is meant to symbolise prosperity through fortitude and hard work, offering hope that China will soon regain its economic vigour. But an ox is often a castrated bull-which may be an apt description of China's economic pain. New figures show that China's GDP growth fell to 6.8% in the year to the fourth quarter, down from 9% in the third quarter and half its 13% pace in 2007. Growth of 6.8% may still sound pretty robust, but it implies that growth was virtually zero on a seasonally adjusted basis in the fourth quarter.

Industrial production has slowed even more sharply, growing by only 5.7% in the 12 months to December, compared with an 18% pace in late 2007. Thousands of factories have closed and millions of migrant workers have already lost their jobs. But there could be worse to come. Chinese exports are likely to drop further in coming months as world demand shrinks. Qu Hongbin, an economist at HSBC, forecasts that exports in the first quarter could be 19% lower than a year ago. 2009 may well see the first full-year decline in exports in more than a quarter of a century.

Economists have become gloomier about China's prospects, with many now predicting GDP growth of only 5-6% in 2009, the lowest for almost two decades. The most dismal view comes from Albert Edwards, at Société Générale, a French bank, who thinks China may be sliding into outright recession. He points to a fall in electricity output of 6% in the year to the fourth quarter, down from average annual growth of 15% over the previous five years.

In the past, the growth in GDP and electricity use have tended to move together (see chart). Mr Edwards reckons that a decline in electricity output may mean that GDP is falling, no matter what the official figures say. Equally worrying is the OECD's leading indicator of economic activity in China, which has plunged to its lowest level in its 26-year history, lower even than during the slump in 1989, the year of the Tiananmen Square protests and massacre.

This makes for a compelling story. But the relationship between GDP and electricity consumption has been distorted by the uneven nature of this slowdown. Energy-guzzling heavy industries, such as steel and cement, bore the brunt of China's downturn late last year. So it is not surprising that electricity use slumped.

Motivating minds

To some there is nothing so urgent that it cannot be postponed in favour of a cup of tea. Such procrastination is a mystery to psychologists, who wonder why people would sabotage themselves in this way. A team of researchers led by Sean McCrea of the University of Konstanz, in Germany, reckon they have found a piece of the puzzle. People act in a timely way when given concrete tasks but dawdle when they view them in abstract terms.

Dr McCrea and his colleagues conducted three separate studies. First they recruited 34 students who were offered £2.50 ($3.30) for completing a questionnaire within the subsequent three weeks. Half of the students were then sent an email asking them to write a couple of sentences on how they might go about various activities, such as opening a bank account or keeping a diary. The others were asked to write about why someone might want to open a bank account or keep a diary.

For their second study, Dr McCrea and his colleagues recruited 50 students, who were offered the same sums and timespans as the first lot. Half of these students were asked to provide examples of members of a group, for example, naming any type of bird. The task was inverted for the other students, who were asked to name a category to which birds belong.

Finally the researchers asked 51 students, who were again offered cash and given a deadline, to examine a copy of "La Parade" by Georges Seurat, a 19th-century French artist. Half were given information about pointillism, the technique Seurat used to create the impression of solid colours from small dots of paint. The others were told that the painting was an example of neo-impressionism in which the artist had used colour to evoke harmony and emotion. Both groups were then asked to rate the importance of colour in 13 other works of art.

As the team report in Psychological Science, in all three studies, those who were presented with concrete tasks and information responded more promptly than did those who were asked to think in an abstract way. Moreover, almost all the students who had been prompted to think in concrete terms completed their tasks by the deadline while up to 56% of students asked to think in abstract terms failed to respond at all.

Theories abound for why people procrastinate. Some psychologists think that those who delay completing tasks do so because they have low confidence that they will succeed in that task. Perhaps procrastinators are perfectionists or they may just be depressed. Others believe they are impulsive and lack self-control. Earlier research has shown that people defer tasks that are unappealing, difficult or expensive, which is no great surprise. Dr McCrea and his colleagues, however, are the first to show that the way in which a task is presented also influences when it gets done.

Kochi traffic police go Blackberry

Kochi: Traffic offenders in Kochi have to be doubly careful from now onwards as the city traffic police, perhaps for the first time in the country, are armed with Blackberry mobiles, especially designed to track down vehicle details from Regional Transport Office database in a jiffy.

Under the pilot project launched by Kerala Government, complete information about the vehicle and its owner could be instantly accessed by policemen using Blackberry mobile phones, which hitherto remained a proud possession of the elite class, especially top company executives.

Three complimentary Blackberry handsets were handed over to the police personnel in Kochi on Wednesday by Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in the presence of DGP Jacob Punnoose.

The technology has been developed by mobile service provider Vodafone (Kerala) with the assistance of the Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC) based on a request from the city police.

Vodafone has been associating with the Kerala police over the last two years providing technological solutions and this project was part of the partnership, its Senior Vice-President and Head (Marketing) R Suresh Kumar said in Kochi.

The phones will be connected through a network with the database of the motor vehicle department enabling the traffic police to access details of vehicles and the owners.

Once the vehicle or license number of the offender is fed into the handset, complete details regarding the owner of the vehicle, his license number and details like whether the vehicle was involved previously in any other offence and the registration number, could be obtained from the server, he said.

The Vodafone Blackberry handsets would also help the police register cases on the spot.

They also have a wireless printing technology with which challans could be served to the accused and penalty collected, Sureshkumar said.

The receipts will give the details of the violation committed by the offender, he said.

The project is being implemented in the city on an experimental basis and it was for the Government and police to take a decision on expanding it to other parts of the state, he said.

Traffic offenders would not be able to escape by providing false address as the blackberry will flash the full details of the offender at a touch of the button, he said.

Each Blackberry mobile handset cost around Rs 14,000 to Rs 15,000, he said.

Balakrishnan had stated on the occasion that the state government would be implementing a Rs 20 crore project for complete modernisation of the intelligence system of the state police force. Centre had agreed to provide Rs 15 crore for the project, he said.

Human Rights Watch Calls for Aid to Burma Refugees in India

VOA News

Rights group, Human Rights Watch, is calling for India to provide access to the United Nations to assist up to 100,000 Burmese ethnic Chin who have fled persecution and poverty in Burma. Human Rights Watch accuses Burma's military government of wide-ranging rights abuses in Chin state.

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A Human Rights Watch report is calling for Burma's military, known as the Tatmadaw, to halt ongoing human rights abuses against the ethnic Chin - a largely Christian community living in western Burma. The three-year investigation of those who had fled persecution and are living in India, Thailand, and Malaysia said Burma's military regularly imprisoned ethnic Chin to stifle political dissent.

Chin state is one of Burma's most remote and poorest regions, bordering India's Mizoram State. Official access to the border regions in Mizoram is restricted by the Indian authorities.

Report researcher and writer Amy Alexander says abuses by Burma's military had gone largely under reported.

"Human Rights Watch has documented widespread killings, arbitrary arrests and detention, torture and mistreatment, forced labor, reprisals against the opposition, restrictions on movement, freedom of expression and religious freedom, as well as extortion and confiscation of personal property," she said.

Cases cited included those of political prisoners, their hands tied, being hung from ceilings and beaten with sticks. Later cloths were placed over their faces and they were dunked into water until they lost consciousness. Over the years up to 100,000 Chin have fled into India's Mizoram state, where they are at risk of discrimination and abuse by local groups and deportation to Burma. A campaign in 2003 lead to 10,000 Chin being sent back to Burma. Human Rights Watch says those people who are sent back often face detention and even death.

Human Rights Watch Senior Researcher Sara Colm said about 4,000 Chin have trekked 1,600 kilometers to New Delhi to seek refugee status.

"We have people fleeing really repressive human rights situations in Burma to India and there is no access to them by the UNHCR," she said.

"We are calling today for pressure to be brought to bear on the Indian government to allow United Nations officials access to the border regions of Burma on a permanent basis and not force asylum seekers to have to make the long trek down to New Delhi."

The director of the Chin Human Rights Organization, Salai Bawi Lian Mang, welcomed the report.

"I hope it will mark a great impact and it shows how serious the situation in Burma is," he said.

"In Chin State people suffer religious persecution - 90 percent of Chin is Christian and then the Burmese Government has been systematically persecuting Chin Christian for the past two decades."

The report called for the Association of South East Asian Nations, European Union, and the United States to increase pressure on Burma to improve humanitarian assistance to the Chin.

Rural electrification scheme hits roadblock

New Delhi, Jan 31 The government&aposs ambitious rural electrification programme RGGVY has run into rough weathers as out of total 27 participating states under the scheme, 20 states have not submitted their Rural Electrification (RE) plans yet.

"All states are required to finalise the RE plan. But at present, only seven states -- Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Nagaland and Mizoram -- have finalised RE plan out of 27 participating states,"sources said.

Besides, none of the states has produced panchayat certificates for the electrified villages under the scheme. The scheme is also facing problem of non-availability of land for transmission station. There are delays in acquiring assets by state utilities.

The scheme, Rajeev Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana (RGGVY), is facing other hurdles also. In some states the strength of safety inspectors is not adequate, while some states Bihar, Jharkhand, Jammu and Kashmir and Uttar Pradesh have not finalised below power line list to serve the purpose of the scheme.

RGGVY was launched in 2005 to provide power connection to all the un-electrified villages in the country.

Under the scheme, the government provides 90 per cent subsidy for electricity distribution infrastructure and 100 per cent subsidy for providing power connections to rural households.

The government has already provided electricity connections to 18 lakh Below Poverty Line (BPL) households out of the targeted 50 lakh such families this fiscal.

“Nagaland against Women Reservation”

Kohima : A consultative meeting of Naga civil organizations, apex tribal hohos, students’ bodies and women organisations convened by the All-Political Party Consultative Committee to discuss the 108th (Amendment) Act 2008 (33% Women Reservation Bill), has decided not to implement it  in Nagaland.
Highly-placed sources revealed that the meeting convened by the APPCC discussed at length on the issue. However, it was informed that a majority of the representatives present from apex tribal bodies and students’ unions ‘diplomatically’ expressed their views against implementing the reservation bill for women in Nagaland.
Most of the speakers, out of the 35 organisations attending the crucial meeting are said to have opined that the Naga society “does not discriminate” or “deprive women folk”  in any field  and so the 33% women reservation bill should not be implemented in the State.
On the other hand, some organizations asked for implementation of the reservation bill while explaining that theoretically ‘it is easy to say that there is no discrimination or deprivation amongst men or women, but practically it does not imply’.
However, with a majority of the civil organizations  voting against the implementation of the bill, the meeting decided to submit a representation to the Parliament not to impose the reservation bill in the State of Nagaland. This way, it would giving an indication that “Nagaland” is “against” the 33 percent Women Reservation.
Earlier, a questionnaire was handed over to the 35 representatives attending the meeting where 18 stood against the bill while 12 stood in favour. There were four “partial view” while one “was silent”, sources said.  At the end the meeting, it was concluded that the “Naga society” is against the 33 percent reservation in the state.
Mention may be made here that political parties of the state have already discussed the matter on earlier two occasions last year under the chairmanship of the NLA Speaker but were unable to take any concrete decision and the issue has finally been decided in today’s consultative meeting.
Today’s meeting was attended by PHE minister Dr Nganshi, Forest minister MC Konyak, Parliamentary Secretary Chumben Murry, NPF president and DAN minister Dr Shurhozelie, NLA Deputy Speaker Ralangthung, and the Nagaland Women Commission chairman Sano Vamuzo.

Aqua-bombs in North East India

Pix:Ritu Raj Konwar .The Subansiri river where the proposed 2000 MW Hydel Project by NHPC is under-construction.

GOGAMUKH,JAN 29:The central government's proposed decision to build as many as 180 mega dams in North Eastern region is dangerous move without assessingand properly studying about the long term impact which may proved major catastrophe in the future.The NEEPCO Hydel Project of Ranganadinear Lakhimpur has already proved peril to the people of that regiondestroying large number of lives and property as well as renderinghundreds homeless during the last year's monsoon season. The Lower Subansiri Hydel Project,which is presently under construction by National Hydel Power Corporation (NHPC) with an aim to generate high 2000 MW in Gerukamukh in the adjoining Dhemaji district and Lower Subansiri district,if completed ,shall be no exception.

The construction of such high powered dams is bound to compound the problem of floods and erosions in the river banks,ecological imbalance,loss of forest andaquatic resources,extinction of varieties of flora and fauna,resulting unimaginable natural disaster. in the entire downstream region of Subansiri river.

The constructon of mega dam in Gerukamukh is also a threat to the existence of Mising Tani inhabited and Vaishnavite cultural seat of Majuli Island,which also one of the world's largest riverine island.Besides,there are many ''hidden threats'' such as it will affect the fishing communities who depends on the river for their livelihood and forced displacement of the Mising tribe as well as other indigenous communities from their habitat who lives along the banks of Subansiri river.

The earlier report of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) prepared bya team experts hasn't able to gained the confidence of the local population,it was a biased report in order to satisfy the corporates needs only.The recent announcement for another assessment report should take into account the forseeable disasters and other significant impacts .The proposed mega hydel project in Lower Dibang Valley,with an estimated 3000 MW in Arunachal Pradesh also the country's largest ever proposed dam , has already been objected to theconstruction of mega dam in the region,fearing displacement and outnumbering of the local ethnic Idu Mishmi tribe's populace by imported workers.The Siyom Hydel Project (1000 MW), which is being proposed to built in Upper Siang district of Arunachal Pradesh by Reliance corporate,is too facing similar protests from the indigenous Bori clan of Adi Tani tribe,who also depends on forest resources and fishing for livelihood in the place.

The entire projects in North East will proved costly and bring aboutuntold sufferings not only to the present generation but also to thefuture generation to the people of the region in the long run .The mega projects which are being constructed to provide back up to thedeveloping economy of India will lead to huge disastrous impacts bothnaturally as well artificial not only to the country,but also to the entire world that would result in global warming and climate change.Itis high time that the centre rethink the proposed building of such a huge number of mega hydel project in the region realising the long term affects and act in the greater interests of the people.The Hydel Projects are also known by the local press and people as Aqua bombs in NE India.

Suicide at Chennai passport office over Lanka Tamil plight

Chennai A 26-year-old man tried self-immolation at the Chennai passpot office to highlight the suffering of the Tamil people in Sri Lanka. He was taken to a nearby Govt hospital with 75% burns and died shortly after reaching there.

Muthukumar, a DTP operator for a Tamil magazine 'Penne Nee' (a women's magazine affiliated to PMK) doused himself with kerosene at the passport and set himself on fire chanting anti-govt and pro-Tamil statements.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), the regional party to which the magazine 'Penne Nee' is affiliated to, is staunch critic of the state and Centre on the Sri Lanka issue though it continues to share ministerial berth at the Centre.


Before attempting suicide Muthukumar shouted, “The govt of India is not doing the needful to help the Tamil in Sri Lanka. The whole of India should know about the issue”.

AR interacts with Siroy villagers

IMPHAL, Jan 29 : The commander of 10 Sector Assam Rifles carried out interaction with the people of village Siroy at about 10.30 am today. Around 250 to 300 people were present for the informal interaction with the commander.

Appreciating the people of Siroy for their quest for peace and tranquility in the area, the commander said that Assam Rifles is also committed towards the same. He mentioned that NSCN(IM) cadres have been conveyed to vacate the camp with assurance of safe passage to them as a one time measure and to go to any of the designated camp.

However, they have forced this stand off to continue for so long as they have not been able to take any decision on the subject. The DIG further reiterated that irrespective of the reports being published in certain sections of media, people of Siroy are aware that Assam Rifles is ensuring that no inconvenience is caused to the local people due to the ongoing impasse.

During today`s visit the DIG presented gifts to village elders, stationery items and sweets for schools of Siroy. The interaction was followed by a high tea and snacks in a cordial atmosphere.

It is pertinent to highlight here that in the past few days medical camps were organised by 17 Assam Rifles at Siroy village. 17 Assam Rifles is also extending CSD facilities and monetary as well as material assistance to the community kitchen at Siroy as a gesture of goodwill.

Approximately 115 people from Siroy village alone availed the medical and CSD facilities today, a release from the PRO IGAR(South) has said.

Meanwhile, our correspondent has said that Naga civil society organisations from Nagaland including the Naga Hoho, Naga Students` Federation (NSF) along with the United Naga Council (UNC), Naga Women`s Union, Manipur (NWUM), Naga People`s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) South Sector, All Naga Students` Union Manipur (ANSUM), Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL), Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong (TKS), Tangkhul Shanao Long (TSL),Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long (TMNL) today visited the village under seige at Shiroy and took stock of the situation.

Beating Retreat ceremony held

IMPHAL, Jan 29 : The Beating Retreat ceremony was held at the 1st MR parade ground today with state Governor Gurbachan Jagat as the chief guest of the function.

The Governor also distributed prizes to the winning participants of the Republic Day celebration along with prizes under other categories.

The 1st prize in the uniform prize male category was given to IRB, 2nd prize went to the BSF and 3rd to the Home Guards.

In schools category the prize winners were CC higher secondary school in 1st place, MR school and Johnstone higher secondary school in the second place and third place respectively.

The Governor also distributed red blankets to the heads of different districts.

After the prize distribution ceremony the Beating Retreat concluded the function.

In the march past category the 36th Assam Rifles band stood first followed by 2nd Manipur Rifles band and Fire services band in second and third place respectively.

In cultural troupes, Star Musical Centre, Khurai Konsam Leikai took the first spot, Lamhil Thadou Kuki Research Centre, Moreh stood second and Thawaijao Hungpung Young Student Organisation, Ukhrul was in third place.

Suspected rebel killed

Imphal, Jan. 29 : A police team shot dead a suspected militant near Khuman Lampak Sports Complex on the outskirts of Imphal city at 12.30pm today. A hand grenade and a driving licence issued in the name of Th. Haridas Singh were found on him.

The body has been sent to the mortuary of the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences for identification and post-mortem.

Suspected militants shot at and injured Leishangthem Jiten, 32, this morning in Imphal West. Police said Jiten and Kairepaibam Loyangamba were looking for Loyangamba’s younger brother Chinglemba Singh, 24, who was abducted by unidentified persons from Atong Khuman of Imphal West around 10.30 last night.

Suspected militants hijacked a jeep and set it on fire at Lamdeng in Imphal West at 12.30pm today.

Tripura in a dilemma over pay

Agartala, Jan 29 : Confronted by a near revolt within the employees’ front and general resentment among all sections of employees, the Left Front government in Tripura is in a dilemma over acceptance of the 

recommendations of the two-member pay review committee headed by principal secretary A.K. Mangotra.

The committee had submitted its recommendations on November 15, and immediately faced criticism from the employees’ front owing allegiance to both the ruling CPM and the Opposition Congress.

Facing all-round discontent, the state cabinet had asked chief secretary V. Shashi Prakash to take stock of the situation. His report on the recommendations and suggestions on changes had been submitted yesterday but the cabinet meeting held today failed to arrive at a decision over the issue. Official sources said serious differences among ministers have arisen over raising the retirement age up to 60 and fixing the formula based on the merger of dearness allowance.

The matter is likely to be taken up for a fresh look at the next meeting slated for February 3, sources said.

Pakistan PM calls US drone attacks 'counterproductive'

1 hour ago

DAVOS, Switzerland (AFP) — Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Thursday US drone attacks on Pakistani territory were "counterproductive" and called for a new approach by the US administration.
Gilani explained that each drone attack undermined Pakistan's policy of trying to build relations with tribes in restive areas and separate them from militants.

"When there is a drone attack that unites them again, the tribes and the militants," he told delegates here during a discussion about Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"This thing is counterproductive for Pakistan and the Pakistan military," he said.

He added: "Army action is not the only solution. We have to have a new strategy because in the US and in Pakistan, the people have voted for a change," he said.

"The change should be visible."

Absent at R-Day do : Principals axed

Imphal, January 29: The State Government has suspended six Principals and a teacher of six major Higher Secondary Schools located in Imphal for alleged failure to participate in the 60th Republic Day celebration organised by the State Government yesterday.

According to sources, the Principals were suspended for reportedly failing to participate in the Republic Day celebration and failing to let their students participate in the parade even after practices and full rehearsals.

The sources also informed that the Directorate of Education (Secondary) had invited the schools to participate in the Republic Day parade.

The suspended Principals have been identified as W Nongalei of Tamphasana Girls Hr Secondary School, S Khomdombi Devi of Johnstone Hr Sec School, Ch Padma Devi of Churachand Hr Sec School, Y Ibeton Devi of Ibotonsana Hr Sec School, L Rashi Devi of Ram Lal Pal Hr Sec School and W Biren of Model Hr Sec School.

The suspended teacher has been identified as S Tomba, vice president of Model Hr Sec School.

Meanwhile, another source informed that the schools had received threats from unknown persons suspected to be militants who threatened them not to participate in the Republic Day celebration.

The sources also informed that the school authorities had sent a petition to the Joint Director of Education (secondary) for the same.

Tongkalong: A victim of the Mizonization (Duhlianization) of Mara names

by  Laiu Fachhai
The other day, I came across a web page where some Northern brothers of mine were making fun of the name (possibly the sound of the word) of a village in Maraland called Tongkalong. I had lived in Tongkalong as a Bialtu Pastor. I like the village and the people. And above all, it is my beloved Mara village. So I felt I was a bit hurt.
It seems that the sound of the word, Tongkalong, is a rather funny or terrifying one in the ears of the Mizo (Duhlian) speaking people, thanks to the Mizonization of its Mara name, Tôkalô. This brings us to the whole question of the Mizonization (read Mizo transliteration) of the names of Mara towns, villages, mountains, hills, rivers, valleys, lakes, etc. Let us examine a few examples.
Towns/village names:
Tôkalô in Mara (meaning a place where the sound of thunder is frequently heard) is transliterated Tongkalong in Mizo.
Palâ in Mara (meaning?) is transliterated Lawngban in Mizo.
Kaochao in Mara (meaning a river that makes gorge) is transliterated Kawlchaw in Mizo.
Lôbô in Mara (meaning a place where a memorial stone was erected) is transliterated Lungbun in Mizo.
Mawhro in Mara (meaning a place where bamboos are always alive, that is, they do not flower and die) is transliterated Mawhre in Mizo.
Satly in Mara (meaning?) is called Chakhang in Mizo (transliterated from the Châkhei hill near Satly village. Satly village is not commonly called Châkhei by the Mara people).
Zyhno in Mara (?) is transliterated Zawngling in Mizo.
Lakes and rivers:
Palâ (Tipo) in Mara (Palâ Lake) is transliterated Palak (Dil) in Mizo.
Tisôpi (River Tisôpi) is tranlilerated Tuisumpui in Mizo.
From the above few illustrations, we could see that many of the Mizo (Duhlian) transliterations of Mara names result in the loss of its Mara meaning. One wonders, if the Mara language were used as the lingua franca of the Mizoram State and so Lunglei is called Lôlei; Aizawl, Aizaw; Serchhip, Siachhi, etc, would the Mizo (Duhlian) speaking people tolerate? No, they shouldn’t. Names in native languages should never be changed. Aizawl should rightfully be called Aizawl, not Aijal.
The Mara Thyutlia Py (Mara Youth Organization) and the Mara Student Organization in more than one occasions, if I remember correctly, had passed resolutions to petition the Mizoram Government to change all the Mara names from its Mizo (Duhlian) transliterated ones to its original Mara names. The Mara Autonomous District Council too had the same in its agenda. Meanwhile, Tongkalong remains Tongkalong and this beloved village name of us continues to “entertain” some of our Northern brothers and sisters.
In the same way the name “Aijal” was changed back to its Mizo original name “Aizawl,” would it not be good if Mizo (Duhlian) transliterated Mara names too could also be changed back to their original Mara names?
Source:  Zawlbuk.net
Some notes:
1. The writer, Dr. Laiu Fachhai, is an ordained Pastor and Reverend of Evangelical Church of Maraland (India). He had served in Africa for the 14/15 years as a missionary before his new assignment brought him and his family to Shillong, Meghalaya, India recently.
2. Satly village was often transliterated as Satlawng in Mizo. But the villagers themselves prefer to use Chakhei - their previous settlement very close to Satly (Sa- animals, tly-visit). Currently, it is transliterated as Chakhang. These days younger generations do not use Satly/Fatlau anymore. The reason Why they chose ‘Chakhei’ is recorded in ‘Chakhei Centenary Magazine.’
3. Mawhro - Maw comes from bamboo which is known as raMAW in Mara. Hro - greenish. A place where bamboo is always green and did not cause the deathly Mawta/Mautam phenomenon due to the flowering of bamboos. When Chapi/Chapui established the new village between Zyhno/Zawngling and Chapi, they named Mawhro - the correct translation in Mizo will be MauHring.

http://samaw.com/tongkalong-a-victim-of-the-mizonication-duhlianization-of-mara-names/955

Looking for Meteorites in Antarctica

[Antarctic Search for Meteorites] ANSMET's targets for the 2008-2009 field season are icefields near the Davis Nunataks and Mt. Ward, and icefields adjacent to the Dominion Range, a triangular body of rock sticking up between the headwaters of the Beardmore and Mill glaciers. Reconnaissance visits in 1985 and 2003 recovered 152 meteorites from these icefields; during the coming season we will conduct more rigorous systematic searching, crossing the ice in overlapping transects designed to locate and recover as many meteorites as possible. [More at ANSMET]

Iceland. Greenpeace calls new whaling quota a shameless stunt

If the new interim Icelandic government allows the new whaling quota introduced by the outgoing Fisheries Minister to stand, it will mean dire consequences for legitimate trade and tourism that is needed to help Iceland's economy. Whaling tarnishes the image of Iceland internationally, and is worthless from an economic point of view.

Over 90% of the meat to be produced by the increased quota would come from endangered fin whales, which are not eaten by Icelanders, only exported. 

But the export market to Japan is weak; a 60-tonne trial shipment of fin whale meat, which languished in customs for four months before being given import permission, remains only partly sold, and Japan already has thousands of tonnes of unsold whale meat in frozen storage.

Iceland's government should look to tourism, and in particular whale watching, as a means to rebuilding the economy.

Even a small increase in tourists going to Iceland to watch whales will create and secure more jobs and more money than whaling ever will.

In 2008, about 115,000 people went whale watching in Iceland. Over 20% of them stated that whale watching was as an important reason for visiting Iceland, and they spent millions of US dollars in revenue in the process.

A further 115,000 people have signed a pledge that they will consider visiting Iceland if the country ceases whaling, which could generate US$ 117million in tourism revenue, compared with only US$ 4million generated at the peak of Iceland's whaling activities.

"The outgoing Icelandic government's whaling quota increase is a shameless stunt that has nothing to do with use of natural resources and everything to do with politics," said Greenpeace International Whales Campaign coordinator Sara Holden.

"Greenpeace joins the Icelandic tourism industry in urging that the new interim government reverses the quota increase and instead focuses on real solutions that promote the beauty of Iceland's environment - such as tourism and whale watching."

Thang-ta guru G Gourkishore Sharma selected for Padmashri

NEW DELHI, Jan 28 : Manipuri Thang-ta Guru Gurumayum Gourkishore Sharma was among 93 Padmashri awardees for the year 2009 which were announced on the eve of the Republic Day celebration. He was honoured with the National Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1983 for his tireless contribution to the revival of Manipuri martial arts.

President Pratibha Devisingh Patil approved the conferment of Padma Vibhushan to 10 eminent people while 30 have been selected for Padma Bhushan and 93 for Padmashri awards.

Olympic Gold medalist Abhinav Bindra who created history in the Beijing Olympic games, legendary ghazal singer Shamshad Begum, Indian Express Group Chief Editor Shekhar Gupta, noted economist and wife of Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia Dr Isher Judge Ahluwalia and Security expert Lt Gen (retd) Satish Nambiar are among those chosen for the Padma Bhushan.

Noted astrologer G Sivarama Krishna Murthy, Gujarati critic Ramanlal C Mehta, dancer husband and wife duo VP Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan, artist VG Sathapati, civil servant SK Misra who brought Haryana on the tourist map of India, historian AS Menon, Tamil writer and essayist D Jayakanthan, historian Ramachandra Guha have also been selected for Padma Bhushan award.



Japanese Minoru Hara has been awarded for promoting investment in India while NRI Khalid Hameed has also been honoured. Bollywood hunk Akshay Kumar, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, yesteryears dancer and actor Helen Khan, noted playback singers Udit Narayan Singh and Kumar Shanu, ghazal singer Pinaj Masani and music director Hridyanath Mangeshkar have been selected for the Padma Shri.

Noted offspinner Harbhajan Singh alongwith Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and snookar player Pankaj Advani would also get Padmashri. Broadcaster Ameen Sayani, Chief Editor of Hindi daily Nai Duniya, Indore Abhay Chhajlani and editor of the paper`s Delhi edition Alok Mehta will also get the Padmashri.

Meanwhile, altogether 15 policemen of Manipur have also been selected for awards on the Republic Day.

While 11 senior police officials are selected for the Police Medal for Gallantry awards four are selected for the Police Medal for Meritorious Services awards.

Altogether 671 personnel have been awarded police medals on the occasion of the Republic Day this year which has been announced today. President`s Police Medals for Distinguished Service have been awarded to 71, President`s Police Medals for Gallantry to 15 and Police Medals for Gallantry to 107 personnel. Police Medals for Meritorious Service have been awarded to 478 personnel.

Police Medal for Gallantry have been given to M Premkumar Singh Head Constable, P Lokendro Singh Constable, S. Robindro Singh Constable, Y. Kishorchand Meitei Inspector, Md. Tajuddin Khan Rifleman,T. Haridas Singh Rifleman, Md. Doulat Khan Rifleman, M. Sanjit Sharma Jamadar, Md. Shoukat Ali Head Constable, H. Guneshwar Singh Rifleman and K. Sashikumar Sharma Rifleman Police Medals for Meritorious Service have been given to Asem Shyamcharan Singh, Inspector, CID (SB), Md. Ghiyasuddin, Jamadar, 7th Indian Reserve Bn, Imphal, Aribam Gopeshor Sharma, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Imphal West District, and Koijam Muhindro Singh, Havildar, 2 IRB, Imphal.

John Parratt pays homage to noted scholar and wife Saroj Nalini

IMPHAL, Jan 28 : Noted Scholar, John Parrat paid rich tribute to his scholar wife the late Arambam Saroj Nalini.

A note to the press by him today said Saroj Nalini, was born in Imphal, in the then princely state of Manipur, on June 2nd 1933. Her father was a well known and respected educationalist and government officer. During the war years he was posted to Jiribam, where she received her first education, and later transferred to a convent school in Haflong.

She proceeded to Calcutta University, where she became the first Meetei woman to obtain BA and MA degrees, majoring in Philosophy. While in Calcutta she enjoyed close friendship with Christian Naga students, and converted to the Christianity. She was baptised at the Lower Circular Road Baptist church, whose minister, Walter Corlett had himself served in Imphal during the war years. The Christian faith was to become a dominant influence on her future life.

She came to Britain in the late 1950s to study theology, and obtained a Bachelor of Divinity degree from London University in 1961. Shortly afterwards she was married to John Parratt. When their desire to work in India was frustrated they decided to work elsewhere in the developing world, initially in Nigeria, where Saroj became a tutor in philosophy at the University of Ile-Ife.

When her husband was offered a research fellowship by the Australian National University she enrolled for a PhD in the Department of Asian Studies there, under the supervision of the eminent indologist AL Basham. Despite the frequent absences of her husband on field work in Papua-New Guinea and having to care for three young children, the bulk of the thesis was completed before she returned to Manipur for further extended field work in 1972.

The doctorate was awarded three years later, one of her examiners being Prof. Suniti Kumar Chatterji, who (unusually for the time) himself had a deep interest in India`s north-eastern region. Her thesis was published in 1980 (Firma KLM, Calcutta) as The Religion of Manipur. It marked the beginning of a new phase in writing on Manipur by its rigorous application of critical methodology both in the collection and in the analysis of field data, and had considerable influence on younger Meetei scholars.

From 1975-90 she taught at institutions in southern Africa, including the universities of Malawi and Botswana. She published a number of important papers including a seminal study of Islam in Botswana and studies of Christianity among Tswana women. Her main research however remained the Meetei, and she spent lengthy periods on field work in Manipur.

She developed a close relationship with the University of Manipur, and was appointed an honorary professor there in 2001. The fruit of this research, besides numerous academic papers, was two books jointly authored with her husband. Queen Empress vs. Tikendrajit, the Anglo-Manipuri Conflict of 1891 (Vikas, New Delhi 1992) was a critical account, based on detailed archival and oral sources, of the most traumatic event in Manipur`s history.

By contrast The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba (Vikas, New Delhi 1997) was the result of meticulous field work, being an analysis and interpretation of the oral text, music and dance of the pre-Hindu religious festival which lies at the heart of Meitei culture.

Before she left Botswana in 2000 Saroj had already been concerned to produce an accurate translation of the Cheitharol Kumpapa, the Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur. On a visit to Imphal she had the unique privilege of being invited by the head maichou (court scribe) to photocopy the whole manuscript of the authenticated chronicle which was in his keeping. She quickly mastered the archaic script (meetei mayek) and the scribal conventions.

She became an honorary fellow of the Institute for Textual Scholarship and Electronic Editing of the University of Birmingham and began the translation which would occupy the remainder of her life. The publication was sponsored by the Royal Asiatic Society, and would include a fairly literal translation into English and explanatory notes as well as a facsimile of the original text.

Volume 1 appeared in 2005 (The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur: the Cheitharol Kumpapa Routledge, London and New Delhi), and the second volume is expected in 2009. By this time she was suffering from terminal illness, and just a week before her death she finished the draft translation of the final volume (up to 1891), thus completing a work which is likely to remain a standard text for scholars working on the Indo-Burma region.

Saroj Nalini Arambam Parratt earned widespread respect in north-east India, both for her scholarship and for her advocacy of the distinct identity of the Mongoloid peoples of the region as contrasted with the sanskritic tradition of the sub-continent. Her contribution to to our understanding of the history and culture of the Meetei is probably unparalleled.

 

Tension on the rise at Shiroy village over NSCN(IM)-AR stand off

Imphal/Dimapur/Ukhrul, Jan 28 : The 72-hour deadline set to vacate Siroy village by both the Assam Rifles personnel and cadres of the NSCN(IM) elapsed Monday but the impasse over the Ukhrul village is even more charged up with both the hostile parties consolidating to their respective position and the NSCN(IM) affirming today that the Naga outfit was determined not to "succumb to the anti-ceasefire politics of both the government of Manipur and the Assam Rifles" while the Assam Rifles authority has asked the NSCN(IM) to move to the outfit`s designated camps or surrender their weapons and move out of the Siroy village.

Amidst the heightening tension the Naga frontal organizations including the Naga Hoho, the United Naga Council (UNC), the Naga Students` Federation (NSF) and others rushed to Ukhrul headquarters today to take first hand report and defuse the situation.

This volatile and highly charged development prevailed today at the backdrop of top ranking Naga Army personnel, the armed wing of the NSCN(IM) during their three-day convention at Camp Hebron, off Dimapur on Monday "after minute discussion, taking due consideration of the prevailing deteriorating situation and in contemplation of the impending danger ahead, vowed to resist all forms of antagonism with renewed enthusiasm to safeguard the sacred cause of the Naga nation."

Few days ago, the Union home ministry had reportedly directed both Assam Rifles and the NSCN(IM) to vacate Siroy village to which 72-hour`s time span was given and the deadline elapsed on January 26.

Reasoning its stand, the NSCN(IM) spokesman informed NNN tonight that they were all prepared to abide by the Union home ministry`s directive but "unless the government of India gives us a designated camp in place of Siroy, where do we go. We will remain staying at the Siroy camp."

Meanwhile, the PRO HQ IGAR(South) has clarified that based on the request made by the NSCN(IM) on January 23 this year, the Assam Rifles had accepted to provide safe passage to the NSCN(IM) cadres at the Siroy camp as one time measure, provided they moved out with their weapons to any of the designated camps.

The above step was taken purely from the point of view of ensuring peace and tranquility in the area and ensuring that armed cadres do not roam around in close vicinity of populated areas, the PRO said in a statement.

It was unfortunate that after the request made by the NSCN(IM) to provide a safe passage was acceded to, the NSCN(IM) authorities intimated that they would not move to any of the designated camps and their cadres would move to yet another village with their arms, ammunition and explosives, it stated.

Obviously, this proposal of the NSCN(IM) could not be accepted, as no armed cadres could be permitted to move in any of these areas, the statement said.

It has been the endeavor of the army and Assam Rifles to ensure peace and tranquility and it was on this account that the permission for safe passage to these armed cadres was accorded as a one time measure. The army and Assam Rifles have gone out of their way to help the local populace through a number of MCA projects and sincere endeavors towards providing assistance to locals at all levels, it said.

NSCN(IM) armed cadres if allowed to remain in these areas will affect the security situation and prevailing peaceful environment and hence can not be permitted, the statement maintained while stating that the cordon of the armed cadres would continue till they either surrendered their weapons and left the area or moved to any of the designated camps along with their weapons.

The Assam Rifles has been ensuring security of the local populace and will continue to do so, it said.

Earlier on January 25, a Coordination Committee on Shirui Siege was formed at Ukhrul consisting of various frontal organizations (Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Shanao Long, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Saklong, Tangkhul Naga Wungnao Long, Naga People`s Movement for Human Rights, Tangkhul Leihsak Long, etc), faith based organizations, NGOs, representatives of Shiroy village, and social activists. The chief objective of the committee is to protect and promote the rights of Shiroy villagers whose human rights are being violated in the siege.

The Committee is also taking up an indefinite sit-in protest against the siege from 7 am of January 26 at Ukhrul until the withdrawal of the Assam Rifles from the village.

Meanwhile, led by Tangkhul Shanao long (Tangkhul women organization) hundreds of women reached the spot to form a wall-like human structure not to allow the AR to cross. Despite the chilly winter night the women from villages like Hundung, Choithar, Langdang, Nungbi and from the Ukhrul town stayed put in the camp area to face the war-like situation.

T Nagalong Kanti Memorial, Gandhi Memorial and many social workers were also guarding the place taking turns and a special discussion will be held tomorrow by the Naga Students Front Manipur, Naga Women Union Manipur, UNC and special members from some organisations.