Senapati village wishes to join Tamenglong dist
Imphal, December 29: The Khonglong Kabui Village, which is under Senapati district, has expressed its desire to be associated with Tamenglong district at the Public Hearing of the Committee on Re-Organisation of Administrative and Police District Boundaries held in the office chamber of the Chief Secretary, Manipur in the Old Secretariat today.
Speaking to media persons after giving his statement in the public hearing, Tomba Gangmei, Village leader of Khonglong Kabui Village, Senapati district, said that if the government is to re-organise the district boundaries of the state, the Khonglong Kabui Village, which is under Senapati district should be brought under Tamenglong district.
He pointed out that prior to 1950, Khonglong Kabui Village Part II was under Tamenglong district but later on it came under the jurisdiction of Senapati district.
From the point of administrative conveniences, Khonglong Kabui village should be placed under Senapati district. It will also be more convenient for the people of the village to go to Tamenglong district head quarter instead of heading for Senapati, Tomba Gangmei asserted.
The members of Liangmai Naga Council and United Voluntary Organisation, Oinam, Bishnupur district also gave their statements in the Public hearing today. However, representatives of Saiton Area Chiefs’ Organisation, which was in the list of organizations for giving statements in the Public hearing, failed to turn up.
The public hearing was attended by Chief Secretary DS Poonia, who is also the Chairman of the Committee on Re-Organisation of Administrative and Police District Boundaries; Revenue Commissioner Sunderlal and Under Secretary (Revenue) Balkrishna Heisnam.
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Election scene hots up in Manipur
Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, Dec 29 – Hectic election activities are on in Manipur with Manipur unit of Rashtriya Janata Dal (United) move to join pre-poll alliance of Manipur People’s Party(MPP), Nationalist Congress Party (NCP)and Janata Dal(U). This move has been made to defeat the Congress party in the forthcoming 10th Manipur State Assembly elections scheduled to be held on January 28.
The move by RJD came a few days after the alliance had made an announcement on the 44th foundation day of MPP on December 26. President in-charge of the State unit RJD (United) K Kumarjit informed that the support to the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front(SPF) government has been withdrawn forthwith. The stand of the State unit was taken with the approval of the Central leaders, Kumarjit added.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State unit is yet to announce its formal pre-poll alliance with any like-minded political party.
However, claiming that the ruling Congress party will bag 40-45 Assembly seats in the ensuing election, Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh speaking to party workers and supporters on the occasion of the 126th foundation anniversary celebration of the Indian National Congress here on December 28, had once again said that the Congress will forge alliance with like-minded parties to form the next Government.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) has announced the first list of 19 candidates. A second list of candidates may be announced by January 3.
On the other hand, the United Naga Council (UNC) has reportedly decided to openly support the Naga People’s Front (NPF) in the Naga-dominated hill constituencies of Manipur. But Ukhrul Assembly constituency is likely to have a different story, sources claimed. Five out of seven intending candidates in Ukhrul are running for Congress ticket while one each for Trinamool Congress and NPF.
The party-wise position in the last Assembly poll was – INC (30), MPP (5), CPI (4), NCP (4), RJD (3), National People’s Party (3),Trinamool Congress (1), Independent (10). One seat each of Congress, CPI and Independent are lying vacant in Manipur valley due to untimely demise of respective MLAs.
NCP, MPP forge pre-poll alliance in Manipur
Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, Dec 17 – With the Manipur Assembly polls knocking at the door, electioneering has slowly started to gain momentum with the opposition Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Manipur Peoples’ Party (MPP) forming a pre-poll alliance.
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) State unit has also invited like-minded parties to join hands to face the Indian National Congress in the forthcoming polls.
Appealing to the like-minded political parties to join hands to beat the Congress in the forthcoming Assembly polls, expected to be held in February next year, BJP’s State unit president Shantikumar informed the media today that BJP national President Nitin Gadkari will be arriving here on Monday to address a public rally at the Bhagyachandra Open Air Theatre here along with National Vice President Najma Heptulla, party spokesman Prakash Javadekar and other party leaders.
The leaders of MPP and NCP including Union Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha Sangma made an announcement about the formation of the pre-poll alliance in a joint press conference here last evening.
Agatha Sangma, who was here on a three-day visit last evening said that NCP has all its doors open for formation of a pre-poll alliance with any like-minded party.
The move has been taken up to put an end to the Congress rule and bring up an alternative government in the State, said MPP President Dr Nimaichand Luwang in the presence of former Union Sports Minister Th Chaoba of MPP, former Chief Minister RB Koijam of NCP and former Deputy Chief Minister Dr L Chandramani of MPP.
Dr Luwang added that people of the State have got nothing but suffering from the Congress-led SPF Government. The people of the State are looking for a change. The change cannot be brought only by the NCP or MPP or any other Opposition party. So, the party has come up with the decision of forming pre-poll alliances.
Radhabinod Koijam, NCP State President said that NCP stands for withdrawal of AFSPA and wishes to end the insurgency movement in the State through political dialogue.
Source: Assam Tribune
57 militants in Manipur surrender
Newmai News
IMPHAL, Dec 16 – Fifty-seven cadres of 17 different underground outfits surrendered in Imphal on Thursday along with a huge cache of arms and ammunition before Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh during a surrendering ceremony held at the Headquarters IGAR (South) at Mantripukhri here.
The surrendered 57 cadres included five from United National Liberation Front (UNLF), 15 from People’s United Liberation Front (PULF), two each from PULF (UF), UTLA and People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak PREPAK (VC), one each from PULF (MI Khan), Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) MTF, KCP (City Meitei), KCP (Tabongia), PREPAK (PRO), People’s Revolutionary Army (PRA) and NSCN (K), six cadres each from PREPAK, People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and Kuki National liberation Front (KNLF) and four from Kanglei Yaol Kanna Lup (KYKL).
Speaking at the function, Ibobi said that cadres of various underground outfits entering into the peace initiatives is a significant trend and their decision to come back to the mainstream is extremely helpful to the development of the State. The Chief Minister also assured that the outfits’ initiatives for peace would be honoured and the government would also make its best efforts to redress their grievances.
The Chief Minister appealed to all other underground outfits which are not under SoO to abjure violence.
Source: Assam Tribune
Abducted father-son duo found killed
Correspondent
IMPHAL, Dec 16 – A bodies of a father-and-son duo, who were abducted by suspected militants 10 days ago, were found in Manipur’s Thoubal district this morning.
A police team recovered their bodies from a place near Lemba Khun, 9km north west of the police station around 6.30 in the morning.
Officer-in-charge of Yairpok Police station told this reporter that they have registered a case in connection with the incident. They have also recovered two cartridges and a projectile from the spot.
Sources in Imphal said Soram Ibomcha ((58), a chowkidar with the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED) and his son Yaipu (25), were abducted at gunpoint from Irilbung Water Supply Project in Imphal East district on December 7 night. The abductors, suspected to be KCP (MTF) Kesho Meitei group cadres, have reportedly demanded a huge sum from the department for their release, sources said.
Source: Assam Tribune
Tourism or Trade Fair? Get the fact right
Imphal, November 23: Charging entry fee from the visitors has defeated the very purpose of organizing the Manipur Tourist Festival-2011, which is currently underway at Hafta Kangjeibung here, with the stated objective of promoting Manipur as ‘world class tourism destination’, according to visitors at the fair.
Billed as the biggest tourism festival ever in Manipur, the event is being organized by the Department of Tourism, Government of Manipur in co-ordination with other government departments and agencies.
Talking to Hueiyen Lanpao, some of the visitors have questioned the idea behind levying entry fee to the festival pavilion. “The organizer should have a very clear about the concept of a festival and a trade fair. Charging entry fee of Rs 10 per head may be understandable if it is a trade fair or the event is being organized by some NGOs. But for a festival organized by the government, and that too, for the promotion of tourism, the whole purpose is defeated”, observed Programme Executive of AIR, Imphal, Bijaya Yulembam, who was among the teeming number of visitors coming to the festival.
“Are they going to charge fee from the visiting tourists (foreigners) as well? And how this is going to help in promotion of tourism?”, she wondered.
In the same vein, a government employee who came to the festival along with his family members pointed out that it is not the amount of the entry fee they charged but the whole notion of organizing a tourism festival that is questionable.
Requesting anonymity for obvious reason, the employee contended, “If the Tourism Department is short of fund, why it is organizing the festival in the first place?”
“In fact, amid all these prolonged bandhs and blockades, the tourism festival should come as relief to the wearied people and not as another burden”, wife of the employee opined.
Meanwhile, reiterating that the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival, 2011 is being organized to introduce Manipur to tourism map of the world, Commissioner of Tourism KK Chhetry has appealed to all the civil bodies in the state to refrain from imposition of bandh or blockade during the course of the festival which would go on till November 30.
Talking to mediapersons, Chhetry explained that imposition of bandh and blockade may cause problem to many people who are willing to come and participate in the festival.
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Kuki rights body appeals to lift blockade
Imphal, November 23: Kuki Movement for Human Rights (KMHR) appealed UNC leaders to lift the ongoing economic blockade with immediate effect for consideration of human sufferings in the state.
In a press release, issued by Chairman T Lunkim, KMHR, stated that the session of Christmas ought to be free from all kinds of disorderliness in the family, village and the state for the preparation of the joyous celebration of the birth day of the Lord Jesus Christ.
“For whatever reasons, disintegration of the state territory, southern Nagaland, greater Nagaland, alternative arrangement and countering the Sadar Hills District, the matter can be settled for peace and social harmony, and the same can be done by negotiation with competent authority. Remembering that in Manipur, in the hill areas in particular the tribals (Kukis and Nagas) have been living together as neighbours from the time immemorial,” it stated.
He further stated, “When the mighty British wanted to colonize the land of Manipur and the Kuki Inpi fought them back in both fighting and the imprisonment, thus saved the ancestral land for all the people of Manipur. Very sadly when the merger agreement was signed much against of the Kuki Inpi plea, the valley land has been lost. However we, tribal people, still maintaining land ownership till today. There is no watertight compartment areas which one particular tribe should claim as its own land. We own the land together in peace. Any misunderstanding of this ownership right by vested individual interest may rather endanger the undisturbed ownership, therefore communal interest has to be given up forthwith,” it added.
Further, urging the UNC to lift the economic blockade, the release stated that whatever the future holds, for the sake of the session of Christmas in order that we all celebrate Christmas by singing “Joy to the world and Lord has come”, who is the price of peace.
Source : Hueiyen News Service
Kenyan in Manipur festival
Imphal, Nov 23: One of the most crowded stalls in the ongoing Manipur tourism festival, The Sangai Festival 2011 at the historic Hatta Kangjeibung in Imphal, is ‘Africa Kenya’ stall selling all kinds of attractive items, including African massaimala, a yellow wood in natural colour.
Africa Kenya booth, sold items ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 3,0000, said its owner Mariam Idd Makame, a Kenyan and her husband Ruel Bo Laranjo, a Philipino.
She told Newmai News Network the she “really love the Sangai Festival and the people are so warm” and because of the hospitality, she came back again to the fest this year also.
“The response of the people is very nice and they are attracted to the items sold at our stall. No time to take rest due to non-stop proceeds. People are flooding around our booth buying all kinds of items. An officer came enquired yesterday at the stall as it was overcrowded with customers”, Makane said.
Lady bags, cowboy hats made of camel skin, and clothes which are usually used in making queen’s special clothes are also available in the form of lady bags, she informed.
The cowboy hats which are sold at Rs 500 per piece is one of the most favourite items of customers. A giraffe statue, men, women and many items made of Africa massaimala are also attracted by the people, the couple said.
Ruel Bo Laranjo met Makane in Kenya and married her where he used to work before and its is his first time in the Sangai Festival, he said.
Makane further said she is looking forward to come again here along with their children to participate in the fete next year.
Interestingly, the couple has 10 different stores in three countries called “African Bags and Jewellery”, five in Kenya, three in Philippines and another five in India.
It is worth noting that so many foreigners have been participating in the ongoing festival which was inaugurated on Monday by Manipur Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh at Hatta Kangjeibung here.
People from countries like Kenya, Myanmar, Thailand and North Korea are participating in the festival. Exhibition and sale of local products like handloom and handicraft items, exhibition of indigenous games like Mukna Kangjei, Mukna, Kang, Yubu Lakpi, Sagol Kangjei and Arambai are featuring in the festival.
Other events like, adventure sports and eco-tourism like expeditions to Dzuko valley, Loktak Lake and Lamdan, rock-climbing, Para-gliding are also be included in the festival which ends on November 30.
Source : Hueiyen News Service
Film on Sharmila awarded
IMPHAL,Nov 23: A film on Manipur’s human rights activist and poet Irom Chanu Sharmila was awarded best documentary award in the 2nd Siliguri International Short and Documentary film festival.
The 15 minute film is titled ‘The Silent Poet’ produced and directed by journalist Borun Thokchom, correspondent of Guwahati based TV channel DY365. “The festival committee informed me to come and receive a certificate and a memento during an award distribution function to be held at Siliguri on November 27″,says the young film maker Borun when contacted.
The film that highlights the poetic side of Sharmila who has been on indefinite fast since November 2, 2000, was edited by Biju Das. Out of the many poems she has written, she narrates “O’ Stranger” mirroring the amalgamation of events happening in Manipur, North-East India.
Iron Lady of Manipur has been on a hunger strike since November 2, 2000 to have the act, which provides unlimited powers to security forces to shoot at sight and arrest anybody without a warrant, repealed. Sharmila launched the indefinite hunger strike after she heard the killing of 10 people by armymen in Malom, on the outskirts Imphal. Inside a highly guarded hospital prison, 39 year old Sharmila scribes her notebook while serving her sentence for “attempt to commit suicide”.
Source : Hueiyen News Service
500 delicacies in Sangai festival
Imphal, November 23: “If you wanted to have a unique taste to tingle your taste bud you should visit Chinzak( food)court of the ongoing Manipur Sangai Festival 2011 at Hafta Kangjeibung in Manipur’s state capital.”
This was a quick reaction from Khuraijam Athouba, one of the coordinator of the Chinzak (food) court when this reporter tried to explore what are other attraction besides adventure, cultural and musical extravaganza of the ongoing the state tourism festival which is popularly known to the local populace as Sangai festival which entered third day today.
Of the 300 stalls offering different varieties of handloom and handicraft products of more than 30 different ethnic groups of Manipur besides health care services and others, more than 100 food stalls in the festival have been offering more than 500 different indigenous delicious cuisines and mouth-watering continental delicacies and dishes. Above all Thailand food stalls are another attraction of the festival.
Food lovers can check out for the typical local cuisine of the season such as Chakhao bora or Chakhao matum (Pakoda made of puffed sticky black rice) Koujeng Kanghou, (Fried Locust),Oak Chagem pomba, a typical skilled pork curry, varieties of chicken, dug and pork fry and curries, Ngaprum Singju, a spicy eel-salad, local sauces, rice beer, fermented juice etc.
“So if you wanted to promote tourism, we need to focus on our foods resources including the indigenous ones because they are the key components of attracting tourists these days in the region”, says Athouba. “Visitors hardly escape from the food court once they strolled in whether they buy goods or not.”
Urging to maintain neat and cleanliness besides having a separate smoking zone and avoiding use of plastics, KK Chhetry, Tourism Commissioner expressed the need to have quality tourism instead of quantity tourism.
Having regular food waste cleaning mechanism utilizing two water tankers daily besides installing fire extinguisher etc, the food court seem to have a well organized look unlike previous festivals.
However the continental food stalls outnumbered the indigenous food stalls overshadowing popular local snacks such as Kabok (sweet made of puffed rice), Heingan(fruit candy),Watin (Gram flour snacks), local Rasogola in the food court of the festival which is scheduled to conclude on November 30. Is this the sign of a quality tourism, comments a visitor.
Sobhapati Samom
Source : Hueiyen News Service
