Stop harassment of Manipur journalists: Guild

New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) The Editors Guild of India Wednesday expressed concern over the plight of journalists in Manipur and called for urgent remedial measures to bridge the growing gulf between the state government and security forces on one hand and the media on the other.

A two-member team of the Guild that visited the state last month discovered that the media was under pressure from insurgent groups, harassed by the state government and police, and was also under stress from “non-state underground players”.

“Unlike other states, in Manipur, the Information and Broadcasting Minister does not interact with journalists,” the report submitted by veteran journalists Sumit Chakravartty and B.G. Verghese notes.
At present the only minister to interact with the media is the sports minister, a former footballer, said the Guild.
“Besides the state, the media is under pressure from insurgent groups, especially the
splinter elements, as in Margaret Thatcher’s famous phrase, publicity is the oxygen of
terror. There is a veiled atmosphere of fear in which there is a private voice and
public utterance. This is a very difficult path to negotiate but it is a journey that must be undertaken.”
The Guild also expressed concern over murder of five journalists, gunned down by unknown people, in the last few years.
“The state government has so far failed to either identify or book the perpetrators.
Media fraternities in the state suspect the involvement of the security forces in some
of the killings. Apart from continued harassment by the Manipur police and state
government, journalists in the state are also pressured by non-state underground
players,” the report said.
The Guild has recommended the setting up of regular informal meetings between senior editors and journalists with the chief minister, official spokesman, chief secretary, the director general of police and other officers of the Unified Command jointly so as to restore confidence and bring about a rapprochement.
It has also suggested setting up a media support group of academics, former
administrators, erstwhile security personnel, respected political figures, jurists,
professionals and NGOs in Imphal and elsewhere in Manipur.
Professional bonding between the state journalists and media group all over the country through internships could impart mutual strength and solidarity to both the local and national media, the report advised.

Highway blockade called off

Imphal, Feb. 16: Supply of essential commodities resumed today along the Imphal-Dimapur highway after the Senapati District Students’ Association lifted its 15-day economic blockade.

The development took place after a government team, led by Manipur tribal development minister D.D. Thaisii, held negotiations with a delegation of the student body at the district headquarters this afternoon.

The team, comprising Thaissi, Independent MLA from the district K. Raina and inspector-general of police (law and order-III) V. Zathang, held talks with the student delegation in the office of the Naga People’s Organisation located at the district headquarters for more than two hours.

The student body imposed the economic blockade on February 1 midnight in protest against the failure of the Ibobi Singh government to repair the road.

After a visit by works minister K. Ranjit Singh, the repair work started two days into the blockade.

Despite that, the student body refused to call off the agitation, demanding that maintenance work be handed over to the Border Roads Organisation.

Tension mounted following arrest of two blockade supporters by district police last night, prompting the Ibobi Singh government to send a team to Senapati.

The police said blockade supporters had set a truck loaded with fish ablaze last evening near Karong, about 6km north of Senapati police station.

After the arson, the police arrested A. Pukani, 34, and Yarmi Ringri, 35, from the spot. However, they were released later in view of the lifting of the blockade.

Taking advantage of the lack of adequate number of security escorts, some blockade supporters stopped the truck and set it on fire. It was part of a 300-supply vehicle convoy being escorted from Mao to Imphal by a team of Manipur Rifles personnel.

The arrest of the two alleged arsonists triggered tension in the district headquarters and other parts of the district, particularly along the Senapati sector of the highway, with the student body calling a lightning bandh in the district this morning.

Bandh supporters damaged some vehicles this morning.

During the talks later today, the student body agreed to lift the strike as well as the economic blockade with immediate effect. On its part the government team promised the student body that the ongoing repair work would be completed as soon as possible.

Trauma over, trafficked kids head back home

Chennai, February 16 : The 76 Manipuri and Assamese children, rescued from Bethesda Blessing Home in Kanyakumari district on January 23, began their journey home from Tirunelveli yesterday evening even as the girls belonging to Manipur and Assam taken to Bangalore have been reportedly located by the Tamil Nadu police.

After producing them before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Tirunelveli, the 52 Manipuri and 24 Assamese children were handed over to Saranaalayam Reception Home attached to the Child Welfare Committee in Tirunelveli.

The children have been staying at Saranaalayam for the last three weeks.

As per the schedule, the children were to leave by Ananthapuri Express from Tirunelveli but due to some trouble in connecting a separate coach from Tirunelveli, the children went by two buses to Madurai.

Speaking from Madurai, the Saranaalayam director, Father S Joseph Johnson, said that the children would reach Chennai on Monday morning and would board the Guwahati Express from Chennai Egmore station on Monday night and would reach Guwahati on Thursday evening.

After handing over the Assamese children to that State CWC, the Manipur CWC team would take the Manipuri children to their home State.

A police team from Tirunelveli, headed by sub inspector Abraham and a Assam CID police team led by Inspector P Bordoloi escorted the children.

Two Saranaalayam workers and social defence staff accompanied the children.

Meanwhile, according to sources, the girls belonging to Manipur and Assam taken Paul to Bangalore have been located by the Tamil Nadu police.

The Manipuri and Assamese children at Saranaalayam told Manipur Child Welfare Committee member K Maharabi Singh that more than 16 girls were taken by Paul to Bangalore, the sources said.

Subsequently, a special Tamil Nadu police team located the place in Bangalore and identified around 23 children.

They have approached the State Child Welfare Committee to rescue the girls.

Cops canter into semis

Lamyanba Pakhang men to take on Khurai Polo Club (A) today

Manipur polo

S. Girimohan of Manipur Police (in white) attempts a strike during the match with Thangmeiband Polo Club. Telegraph picture Imphal, Feb. 16 : Manipur Police Sports Club (A) stormed into the semi-final of the 1st 57 Mountain Division Polo Tournament, defeating Thangmeiband Youth Polo Club by 4-1 goals at Imphal Pologround here today. In the last quarter-final match today, Thangmeiband Youth Polo could hardly put up any defence against the volley of strikes by the Manipur Police SC team in the first two chukkers. The policemen put up a formidable front right from the beginning. The Manipur Police team struck first as M. Jawan Singh scored in the first chukker. The riders then followed through with some magnificent strikes in the second chukker. The cops dominated the proceedings totally, giving their best in the second chukker, as I. Khaba Singh fetched the second goal. Teammate S. Bimol Singh chipped in with another goal to increase the tally to three. With the policemen taking over the game with controlled and precise strikes, the Thangmeiband Youth Polo Club found it tough to score. However, in the third chukker, they managed to score a solitary goal when Y. Binoy Singh rode through to bring some solace to the team. The Manipur Police Sports Club soon overrode its opponents as S. Girimohan Singh found the winning fourth goal to seal the fate of the Thangmeiband Youths by 4-1 goals en route to the semi-final today. In the semi-final, Lamyanba Pakhang Polo will take on Khurai Polo Club (A) while Manipur Police Sports Club (A) will clash with Khurai Polo Club (A) tomorrow.

Meet resolves implementation of 6th Pay in state would harm unorganized sector

IMPHAL, Feb 16 : The general discussion on the impact and aftermath of implementation of the 6th pay Commission was discussed today in a function organized by the All Manipur Man Power Upliftment Centre.

The function was attended by various resource persons from various intellectual circles of the state, including professors from the Manipur University at MDU Imphal.

The discussions centred around prospects of rise in prices of essential commodities in the state with the implementations of 6th pay commission in the state.

Remarkably, Prof. Chinglen of Manipur University who attended as resource person elaborated that, implementations 6th Pay Commission would invite serious economic crises in the state and such implemenation of 6th pay commission without considering the per capita income of the common public and farmers.

He further mentioned that, the people of the state need to consider that the state has limited resources and entire need of various aspects of development is dependent on the mercy of the Central government.

He said, without considering the per capita income of the common people and farmers of the state, implementation of 6th pay commission will lead to the establishment of a state for the high income groups, i.e. government employees only.

Many participants expressed their opinion on the matter and the meeting final unanimously resolved that the state government to initiate necessary measures to provide unemployment allowances for farmers and educated youths of the state who be directly impacted by the implementation of 6th pay Commission in the state.

The resolution also called for implementations of minimum wage for the working classes groups as implemented in other parts of the country corresponding to the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission.

It also demanded extension of another additional 50 days as working days for already implemented NREGS instead of 100 days as observed in the state. It also called for maintaining transparency in provisions of AAY/BPL cards, regular provision of PDS items, control of prices for essential items.

It also called for the government to bear the transportation charges for the materials related to the farmers, establishment of Worker’s Social Society Act 2008, for the upliftment of workers living under the unorganised sectors, creation of more posts in view of the educated unemployed, establishment of anti-corruption cell in every district, extending service period etc.

The discussion also further resolved to appeal the state government to bring an amicable solutions to avoid the existing paralyses of state administration caused due to cease works strike of AMTUC and ANGEO in the state.

Lui Ngai Ni celebration begins at Senapati

IMPHAL, Feb 14: Celebration of  Naga Seed Sowing festival the Lui-Ngai-Ni 2010 began today.

The traditional festival Lui Ngai-Ni this year has started from this evening at Senapati Public ground with a gala cultural shows and music extravaganza. The Lui Ngai-Ni this year will be unique as the oldest Naga Queen Apei Hinga of Maram Namdi (Maram Khullen) will grace the main celebration tomorrow at Senapati Public ground and she will also perform a traditional ritual of blessing the Naga seed-sowing festival tomorrow.

Apart from the Nagas, other communities like Kukis and Gorkhas will also present their cultural items during the celbration at Senapati.

In fact the Lui Ngai-Ni, a seed sowing festival the Naga has been recognized as a state festival for its unique feature and celbrated on 15th of February every year in the state. All preparations for the festival have been made by the state level organising committee atSenapati district head quarter, and all Naga tribes both from the Manipur ad neighbouring Nagaland will going to present their aged old traditional dances and  folk items in connection with the celebration.

It may be mentioned that such tradititional functions of indigenour tribes of the state have becoming showcased and also becoming one of the eventual celebrations to attract the tourists from both India and foreign countries.

Over 80 goods laden trucks stranded at Mao

Imphal, February 14, 2010: Over 80 goods laden trucks bound for Manipur have been stranded at Mao Gate in the Manipur-Nagaland border due to the ongoing indefinite economic blockade called by Senapati District Students Association (SDSA).

The SDSA's sponsored agitation has entered 14 days today.

The students' body has been demanding from the state government of Manipur mainly to improve the National Highway 39, the lifeline of Manipur which is in deplorable condition.

Few days ago the agitating SDSA had relaxed its economic blockade for 36 hours in view of a mega religious programme at Senapati.

Fuel pumps ran dry prior to its relaxation period.Some ten trucks have already been damaged by blockade supporters in the course of 14 days agitation.