Manipur boy wins UN Peace poster

Guwahati, Jan 26 : Come March 18, a youngster from the northeast will be awarded at the United Nations headquarters in New York for his efforts in spreading the message of peace with his paintbrush and colours.

Eleven-year-old Raj Phairembam from Moirang in Manipur has won the International Peace Poster contest in which children from 100-odd countries took part. He is the first Indian participant to win the global award.

Raj, who is a Class V student of St Xavier's School in Moirang, painted a dove removing a dark covering featuring guns, blasts etc from the earth.

Govt formulate Job plans for Youth of NE India

New Delhi, Jan 28 : The government is finalising a special scheme for the skill development and employment of youth with focus on troubled Jammu and Kashmir, North-East and Naxal-affected areas to counter terrorism and insurgency.

The youth affairs ministry's programme will start with the north-eastern states. Assembly elections in Assam -- which is politically crucial for the ruling Congress -- are due later this year.

Over 50,000 Constables to be Recruited From Northeast in 2011

Guwahati, Jan 28 : Over 50,000 constables will be recruited from North East for various para-military forces this year.

Informing this at a press conference here today, Staff Selection Commission (SSC) chairman NK Raghupathy said, ''The SSC will be recruiting 53,200 constables from the region for six para-military forces on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs.'' The vacancies include 880 in the Assam Rifles, 3320 in the Indo-Tibetan Police Force (ITBP) and the rest in four others forces-- CRPF, Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), CISF and BSF.

Mr Raghupathy said the advertisements will be published on February four and the entire process will be concluded by July 31, 2011, for Assam Rifles and ITBP recruitment, and by October 31, 2011, for the other four forces.

''We are going for a time-bound recruitment and the SSC shall give their commitment to conclude it within the stipulated date in the advertisements itself,'' he added.

The Grand Homecoming: Swu and Muivah

Nagas in Delhi, on January 23, 2011, warmly welcomed their visionary leaders who have long yearned for the unification of the scattered Nagas in North-East India and Myanmar into a sovereign Nagalim.

~ BRUCE K. THANGKHAL

At 5 PM, 61, Lodhi Estate — a prominent location in the capital — was abuzz with hundreds of Nagas residing in Delhi, eager to witness the civic reception for National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) Chairman Isak Chishi Swu. The event was organized by the Naga Community, Delhi, and was attended by numerous Naga leaders, activists, scholars, students, and employees.

The crowd erupted in unison as Isak Chishi Swu arrived at the venue, accompanied by his wife and flanked by NSCN (IM) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, who was also accompanied by his wife and other leaders. Swu waved at the gathering from the stage, eliciting cheers and admiration.

The reception was presided over by James Pochury, a young and dynamic gentleman. The event began with the hymn “How Great Thou Art,” followed by an invocation prayer led by Rev. Dr. Ricky Medom, Pastor of the Naga Christian Fellowship, Delhi. The Sumi Kiphimi Kuqhakulu, Delhi, presented a touching welcome song in honor of Swu and Muivah. Kekhrie Yhome then delivered the welcome address.

The organizers, Naga Community Delhi, presented tokens of appreciation and love to Swu and Muivah for their tireless leadership. Since signing the historic ceasefire agreement with the government in August 1997, the NSCN-IM has engaged in more than 50 rounds of talks in India and abroad with the government’s interlocutors, though the negotiations have often ended in stalemate.

Speaking at the event, Isak Chishi Swu explained that the NSCN leadership had come to Delhi at the invitation of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to further political negotiations towards a final resolution. Swu acknowledged the positive attitude and efforts of the Government of India and reiterated the NSCN’s commitment to achieving a solution. He emphasized the importance of not missing this critical opportunity to resolve the issue.

The Poumai Tsiidoumai Me performed a beautiful folk song, followed by a speech from the much-anticipated General Secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah, who last visited India in December 2006 for talks with government leaders. Muivah highlighted that the Government of India has recognized the uniqueness of Naga history, which forms the basis of the ongoing dialogue. He assured the gathering that the Nagas will not be betrayed, stating, “We are not a lost people or a lost nation.”

Muivah elaborated that successive Prime Ministers, including the current one, had assured a solution that would be honorable and acceptable to both sides. He noted that the extent to which the Government of India would reflect its understanding and acceptance of Naga history remained a serious question yet to be resolved. He stressed the NSCN’s commitment to peace, stating, “We have not fired a single bullet,” and reaffirmed that their leadership had come unarmed for talks, demonstrating their intent for peaceful resolution. He cautioned that the Nagas’ patience should not be tested by forcing them into an impossible position and emphasized the need for reconciliation among the Nagas.

The event also included prayers led by Naga pastors residing in Delhi. Programme Coordinator Boveio Poukai Duo delivered a comprehensive vote of thanks, and the gathering concluded with the heartfelt hymn “We Shall Overcome,” followed by a benediction by Rev. Rocky Angumai, Pastor of UEF Delhi. A sumptuous dinner was served afterward.

The Nagas, spread across Nagaland, Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh in India, and Sagaing Division and Kachin State in Myanmar, number approximately four million. Under Sagaing Division, the Naga-occupied townships include Lahe, Tamu, Mowlick, Homelin, Laishi, Hkamti, and Namyung, while in Kachin State, they inhabit the Tanai Township, part of the Naga Hills District.

The Nagas first made their demands known in writing to the British Government’s Simon Commission on January 10, 1929, requesting that they be left to govern themselves as they were before British rule. On August 14, 1947, a day before India’s independence, the Nagas declared their own independence.

Under the visionary leadership of guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu, S.S. Khaplang, and Thuingaleng Muivah, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim was formed on January 30, 1980. The NSCN later split into two factions: NSCN (K), led by Khaplang, and NSCN (IM), led by Isak and Muivah.

NSCN (IM) has since demanded the integration of Naga-dominated areas and a “special relationship with India,” seeking greater powers for a “Greater Nagaland.” Initially fighting for an independent homeland, the NSCN scaled down its demands to creating Greater Nagaland by incorporating parts of Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh with Naga populations.

The political situation in Nagaland has remained unstable since the Naga National Council (NNC), led by A.Z. Phizo, declared independence on August 14, 1947. The NNC signed the Shillong Accord in 1975, but the NSCN has continued its struggle for sovereignty, making it one of South Asia’s longest-running insurgencies.

Kukis knock on Prez, Pm doors for Justice

Imphal, Jan 17 : Kuki civil bodies of Manipur have asked the Centre to task to the NSCN(IM) rebels who massacred hundreds of people of the community in ethnic clashes during the early Nineties.

 

In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday, the All Kuki Inpis and the Kuki Movement for Human Rights reiterated that the NSCN(IM) militants killed over 900 Kukis and destroyed about 360 villages displacing more than 1,00,000 Kukis.

The Kuki civil bodies said several memorandums have been sent to the successive Prime Ministers of the country seeking justice for the Kuki victims but the appeals have fallen on deaf ears. 

Unique Identification Number (UIN) launched in North East India

Agartala, Dec 2 (IANS) Aadhaar, a 12-digit identity number to be issued by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) for all Indian residents, was formally launched in the northeastern state of Tripura Thursday. 

Tripura is the first state in the northeast and the eighth in India where Aadhaar has been launched, according to officials here.

43.27pc in Mizoram had pre-marital: Survey

Aizawl: According to the latest survey done by a church body in Mizoram, 43.37 % had revealed that they had pre-marital sex. The survey was done to 31,202 persons across the state. Dr. Robert S Halliday, Coordinator of Synod Social Front in the Mizoram Synod said.

 

The main reason for the Synod Social Front (SSF) of the Mizoram Synod, the largest church organisation in Mizoram, to conduct such survey had been to eradicate the practice of pre-marital sex in Mizoram.

Dam: Way to Develop or destroy?

40,000 tribal people face displacement, starvation as government builds mega dam in Manipur, north east India.

 

Achungmei Kamei, a tribal woman and our correspondent in Manipur brings us this video about sufferings of tribal people caused by a mega dam project. Manipur is a hill state of India that has a fragile ecology, but a great reserve of biodiversity and has been home to about a hundred thousand Naga tribal people like Achungmei. For them land and forest are the main sources of livelihood. Today, nearly half of them are about to becomes refugees as a government mega dam project called Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Project is destroying their land, their forest and will submerge the homes when it is completed.

Curb on foreign tourists’ visit to 3 NE states lifted

In a New Year bonanza for Nagaland, Manipur and Mizoram, the Centre has lifted a decades-old rules of obtaining permission by any foreigner visiting the three northeastern states.

"The government has decided to exclude Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland from the Protected Area regime notified under the Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958, initially for a period of one year," a Home Ministry statement said.

However, all foreigners visiting these states will have to register themselves with the Foreigners Registration Officer (FRO) of the district they visit within 24 hours of their arrival.

Where Christ answers to over 50 names

Guwahati, Dec. 24: Apart from a home that is hundreds of years old, Jesus Christ has a name amid the mountains and rivers of the Northeast. He’s Isua in Mizo, Yisui in Ao, Jesun in Thadou, Isu in Hmar, Poupa Jesu in Paite, Isuan in Ranglong, Jisunii in Maram and Pakai Jesu in Kuki. 

The Bible has been translated into 57 languages in the region and the figure is expected to touch 100 by Christmas next year.

Zoumi folk art festival held:Thangkhal Cultural Dance Show

Imphal, December 12 2010: The Paite Tribe Council, Churachandpur in coordination with Department of Arts and Culture, government of Manipur and Kolkata based Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre yesterday organized a Folk Art Festival of Zoumi at YPA Hall, Upper Lamka, CCpur.

A modern cultural dance performed by ZMC under the theme 'Shifting Cultivation and Cloth Making' marked the opening ceremony of the festival.
In a speech, Deputy Commissioner, CCpur, Ms Jacintha Lazarus IAS said that in every civilization, the annals of culture are protected and it is nice to be associated with Paite Tribe Council.