TULAI LAMKA - FINALE

- Lealyan Thawmte

Tukum July khatawp leh August khabul a Tulai Lamka thupi zanga - ka gam, ka mii leh saa te khosak leh tenna khua. Beh leh nam tuamtuam, Meitei gam a singtangmi kichi te ki gawm khom na khua lian pen leh pau tuam tuam zang in, lah kitheisiam vekte tenna. Paite, Hmar, Lushei, Sim, Vaiphei, Zou, Gangte, Thadou, Kuki etc., innsak innkhang a i ten khomna khua uh. Meitei ten veng a neih ua zawng, midang a ina ngaih louh uh. Pangal tamlouten Hotel a bawngsa minsa a zuak uh bang lim ina sakluat nate - Lamka- ka muh dan kahon gelh hi.

Marwari dawr te pan i niiteng poimoh uh, aantang, havaai, aloo, hanawtna, sahbon, shampoo, meh huan nadi sathau ahihkeh Frooti, Kissan theitui, bawngnawi vui, masala, chi, chinni. Ahihkeh, i taa leh naute poimoh, exercise book - ichih maite- pencil, pen, rubber te bang. Ahihkeh, mul met nadi, i meet chia ki et nadi limlang, samkolh sim te adia poimoh khollou samsih te bang - deih leh uut hunhun a muh leh leitheih na.

Ahihkeh Bihari te pan, khedap khui te, sam meet te, ahihkeh Shillong, Guwahati pan nahong paichia, na suitcase leh van puakte bus tung pan hon dom khiaksak - coolie - ichihte. Lamlian sik a chana/mix zuakte leh nippi chianga a mange barab zuakte, kawltu tuii hon hekkhiak sakte. Phalbi zan a sathau sa tak a suan 'bora' (pakora) leh vaimiim em minsa zuakte bang ana om sek na Lamka ahi.

Lamka in Cinema Hall nih nei sek a. Vaai film nuamtaktak te suah hisek. Beh, nam leh pau omlou. Pathianni a 'Matinee Show' bang HOUSEFUL deuh gige hi. Sasang Gangte bangin Christmas leh Kumthak lai in, a Cinema Hall ah Midnight Show bang hih in -nungak leh tangval ten a Hall dim in ki en sek hi. Nehru Marg/Tiddim Road junction bul a siingpi Hotel khat bang Krismas leh Kumthak sung in zaan khovaak in kihong gige hi.

Tu in, hiaihun hi Tulai LAMKA hilou in ..huai hun hi LAMKA hita mawk hi.

Tu in zaw, Meitei helpawlten - Vaai te thil chiin achih uh- ahihkeh, thil chiin di hilou a, a theih uh khaini leh kuva te- eite bang in ina chiin tei mahmah uh kha - a gam achih ua, a hon kham ua, a zuaksawn tu a atheihte uh mi khat leh nih bang a thah nung un. A kuva leh Khaini pen i khopi Lamka ah muhding in om veve hi. Aman zaw pung deuh in teh. Vaai film et nawp huai tak tak te enkha bang om non lou uh. I hinkhua masawn lou in, nungkiik didan kawkmuh in ki om. Gam iit leh kua dou leh sual? Bang dou leh sual? Bang tum a, bang lampi zuih tum? Leh mabaan di thei taktak le om lou. Singtang khuate pan lehkhasiam lou, pil leh theihna neilou te bang in .38, AK-47, M-16 te tung tawn bang in Lamka kialou, i nam pumpii hon hentaang mawk uh. Thautang kihtaak na ziak - a pil leh thei, leh a gel thei te kam bang humbit a omta. Sum neiten kitatna a zangin, a neiloute ki thuak. Sih hi thil lauh huai ahi chi a thei kisa kitam lawlai. A galvaan tawiten thei lou uh. A theih uh chu thuneih na piak a om ahi uh chih hi zaw. Thautang in sihna pe thei. Atam zawte thautang a si uh. Thautang in thutak khem theilou. Kuamah a thei uut omlou. A thei ngam le ki omlou. Thau leh galvaan ah muanna om kichi vek. Hikha ding. A dawilawkte a din. Ajiak i neih phot ngai ahihkeh - a bawltawm tu i om ngai. Sih lau leh sum iit ki tamlua. Ka sih chiang, ka taksa lel leinuai feet 6/7 a kiphum di leh, ka neih leh lam tawi lou ding kahi - chih theinapi in lah thei uut lou ngen kihita. Hiai hi, i TULAI LAMKA hong himawk ta hi. Bangchik chiang TUBAN LAMKA thu i geel ding ua? Kindong ni.

Tu kum a Meitei gam a Naga om ten Christmas lawpna tawh kisai a, a khuate ua phalbi zan dak 10 tan dawr hong ding achih bang uh - mipi deihna taklang un, kithutuah na ensak uh hi. Lamka in, Manipur a kholian pen 2 na hi len chenchan mahleh, hichibang a kithutuah na leh kum khat a, i ginna tawh kisai a, lawp leh kipahni hun te ah, beh leh nam tuam tuam omte kituak thei nailou uuh. I ginnna bel kibang vek mahleh.

Bangchik chianga, Lamka leh a sehvel a, Zo suan ten i unau hihnate uh thei ding i hiam chih ka theih kei. Hilele, tu kum bul a Lamka ka hong phak in Kathmandu, Nepal ah a mi khat kaki muhpih in, nam leh sahkhua, gam leh tenna hilouin - iitna leh hoihna, ginna leh kipiakzawhna thupi daan hon theisak hi. Nepalese te hi a Vaai a vaai di ua ka gintak lai in, ana huchi teuh kei ua. Kathmandu a ni 4 sung ka omlai in, lehkhazial tep, kuva haai, zukham hi ka mu kei a- Hindu sahkhua zui hilou uh amaw?

Te (t) rai(p) leh a suahlam gamte ua thautui a om ziak leh Maoist pawl ten Kumpi ( Monarchy) a deihlouh ziakun buaina om sim gige mahleh. Himahleh, hiai buaina te bel a gam tum lam uah hi deuh hi. Kathmandu ka tun ni in zaan/zingkaar daak 1.00 bang hita in. Denmark tawh hun kibang lou himahleh, ka sungte phone in damtak in Kathmandu ka tung chih ka hilh hi.

Lamka a kar 5 bang ka om nung in - Denmark ka kiik a hong hun a. Nepal ka tawn nawn hi. Ka lamet hetlouh in, Bhadrapur Airport apan, Kathmandu a Paite te khat in ahon vaaitun uut thu hi phone in a hon hilh hi. Ken kathmandu a Hotel ka book sa om ahi kachih zong in, Kathmandu Airport ah kahong tuak di chi leh 'ei ki omzen a hotel na tung ngailou' chi in. A tawp in kenle, eimi hon ngaina omnana ahih inchu chu kachi hi.

Amah hi Pastor Kam ahi.

Pastor Kam hi mi tagaah, Mission Compound a piang leh haksaatna chiteng ana thuak, sual na chiteng a ana kibual. Hilele, Pathian huntak a mu in leh tu a, Nepali tagaah naupang 53 enkawl leh Nepal a Pathian na sem ahi. A tangthu, gelh tum lel kahih ziakin kahon gelh sau keidi. Hilele, Pastor Kam sual dan leh hinkhua te hi thil danglam hilou hi. A Nu sihsan, Nuthak pan thil a tuahte. A naupan lai gentheihna tuahte. A khanglet lai a sual dan ahihkeh, sual hi a aki ngaihdan hi ..Bible thu zuui di hile - MEIDIL adia candidate no.1 ahi. 1970's leh a khantouh lai a Tribal Colony a school khat a asual daan. Imphal Cinema Hall te a ticket 'black' a, a zuak dante, ticket kituh nadia 'blade' - mul metna tawh bang a ki tawm luut dan te, 'Meitei Gang' te tawh Usha, Friends, Asha (Cinema Hall min) a akisual dan te uh. A ngaih zawng Nu'n, a lawmpa a neihsan daante. Burma lam pan 'Black Magic' leh 'martial arts' ana sin daante leh 1980's nung a, sum leh hauhsakna deih ziaka No.4 ( Heroin) ana zuakdante bang hon kum hi.

Sports a lungluut daante leh tuni tan a, zingkar dak 6.00 a thou a badminton akimawl daante bang tampi hon kum hi. Miit in le ka va mu ngei hi. Zingkaar, ka omna dia hon piak, inn sawngnih na pan in a tagaah khoi schoool kuan diiten. a uniform uh a aa uh hiam, a khutchin te uh a siang hiam, a necktie awh te uh dik hiam chi a a inn compound gate ua 'security guard' bang mai a dinga, a et chet chet ka muh chiah.. Pawlsawm nih vei 'fail'. BSF dia inch 1 a niam..football siam mahleh chinglou. Hilele..Imphal pan Rajasthan a Bible College tung thei..heutute deihsakna mu leh.. Nepal leh Tibet gamgi tan tung a, amah bang tagaah naupang te etkawl a uut ziaka a - pil leh siamna sang nei hetlou hinapi in, a thil tup a tang tun hi.. ...Pastor Kam hi, kei adia ka TULAI LAMKA mi kachih kialou in, i hinkhua ah bangchiteng a sual leh huham ina hih zong... HERO hithei lai ih etsaknalianpen ahi.

Thats TULAI LAMKA!!

www.zogam.com

AIDS Awareness: Sex education is the need of the hour

By N Samungou Singh

There have been nationwide debates and controversies about the introduction of sex education in school curriculum. Opposers of the debate claim that it is against our culture, it is anti-social and this programme is introduced under the influence of UNICEF and few MNCs. These claims may be valid to some extent or may not be at all. However, there is an urgent need of sex education in the context of HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and rise of unwanted pregnancies which are all largely due to unsafe sexual practices. For in as many as 85% cases, HIV spreads through sex and the cases are 13 times higher among homosexuals. According to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS), there were 36,700 teenage abortions in Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai in 2005-06. The figure shows that many girls today walk into abortion centres as if they walk into a beauty parlour. In case of Manipur also, although there is no sanction for pre-marital sex in Manipur society, increase in such cases among the youngsters has become a cause of concern with many young girls becoming HIV positive. It is through sexual route that more and more women are becoming HIV positive in Manipur and many of the girls who have not yet passed class XII have unwittingly become HIV positive. This reflects society’s changing face.

Sex is one topic we all shy away from talking about. We are concerned that providing information about sex and sexuality to young children may arouse curiosity and encourage early sexual activity. Parents and many other organisations fear that sex education under the guise of AIDS awareness and prevention would certainly promote free and safe sex and would have adverse impact on individuals and society. However, through sex education, we can create awareness about the hazards of the unsafe sexual practices. In a more elaborate explanation, sex education is a process of acquiring information and forming attitudes and belief about sex, sexual identity, relationship and intimacy. It helps youths to develop skills to protect themselves against sexual abuse, exploitation, unintended pregnancies, promiscuity, STDs and HIV/AIDS (Mangla, 2004).

Less encouraging picture of India

Today, the problem of HIV/AIDS in India has attained the epidemic status in some highly affected states such as Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pra-desh, Gujarat, Manipur etc. The recent report of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) shows an alarming increase of AIDS cases in India and the overall picture of HIV infection is less encouraging. More alarming is the spread of HIV among the general population, particularly among women, who do not engage in high-risk behaviours and whose chances of contracting the virus are considered low. There are signs of stabilization in the high prevalence states of Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pra-desh etc., indicating that efforts in place to bring awareness and prevent further spread of the epidemic are bearing fruit. The rate of infection, however, is increasing in other states. HIV infection is rapidly spreading beyond urban areas and an increasing number of people infected belong to the younger and working age groups. In Manipur also, even though HIV/AIDS prevalence has seen a decline among the IDUs in the state, new hotspots, particularly among the MSMs have emerged raising concern among the healthcare authorities. Thus, the larger national picture is far from encouraging.

Sex education need of the hour

Many parents are not comfortable discussing about sex and prefer to hope that their children are getting knowledge about it from other sources such as television, newspapers, movies, peer groups, schools etc. Today, children are bombarded daily by the media with sexual topics and images. Beginning with the early morning newspapers, we find in many of the national newspapers with sexual topics and photographs. Many children turn on the television, read the newspapers, or surf the internet to find sexual themed media. Our kids have easy access to it, and however, these media often do not provide accurate information and guidance.

Most young people adopt high risk behaviour due to the numerous myths and lack of skills to deal with peer pressure. They often do not know how serious the problem of HIV/AIDS is, how it is caused or what they can do to protect themselves. In view of this, there is an urgent need of sex education to educate the young generation about the dangers of this deadly virus and how preventive measures can be put in place.

To sum up, sex education should be introduced as a subject or at least as a chapter of a related subject. This vaccine of education is more important than the medicine vaccine amongst the young people to develop well-informed views about sex and sexuality, and raise awareness levels of HIV/AIDS, resist peer pressure and develop a safe and responsible life style.

The writer is the Research Scholar, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. He can be contacted at samungou @rediffmail.com

http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/Others/Articles.htm

Manipur Burning Topics | December 07, 2007

Debendra, rebel MLAs meet PM separately in Parliament House, Chauhan likely to visit Imphal Sunday; rebels to return home a day ahead
By : A Staff Reporter 12/7/2007 1:01:50 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 6: The campaign to replace chief minister, Okram Ibobi as chief minister by the rebel Congress MLAs who are now camping in New Delhi continues unabated despite the unexpected turn of events in which 10 opposition MLAs including the six sponsored by United Naga Council, UNC, professedly coming out in support of the chief minister.

The rebels have in fact, seemingly succeeded in advancing another pawn on the political chessboard, predicted to cause another serious threat to the chief minister’s defence.

At 11.15am this morning, the man projected as a possible replacement for Ibobi, Th Debendra met the Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh at his office room at the Parliament House. Although the details of what transpired are not known, the meeting presumably had to do with the campaign to remove Ibobi as Congress Legislature Party, CLP leader.

Interestingly, the rebel MLAs also met with the PM at 3.30pm again in his room in the Parliament House. Mayang Imphal legislator, Kh Ratan who was among those who met the PM said the latter gave them a patient hearing, claiming that the indications were encouraging for them, although the PM said nothing categorically on the fate of the Ibobi government.

Sources also said Lok Sabha MP from the Inner Manipur constituency, Dr T Meinya, was instrumental in arranging the second meeting.

Promising further intensification of the political drama in the state, the AICC secretary in charge of Manipur, Prithvi Raj Chauhan indicated he may come to the state on Sunday.

One day ahead of his possible visit, the rebel MLAs now camping in New Delhi would also be returning to the state on Saturday.

It may be recalled that the ongoing Parliament session is scheduled to conclude on Friday.

While it is uncertain what the ultimate outcome of the tussle would be, the rebels now claiming 18 physically present in their camp, and two more likely to join in soon, are confident they cannot but succeed.

The Congress commands an absolute majority in the state Assembly with 31 legislators, and if the claims of the rebels are true, they do command a comfortable majority in the CLP.

Under the circumstance, observers are of the opinion that they do have a very strong lever to influence even central Congress leadership to oblige their demand. “Even if they decide in desperation that they would leave the Congress and form another party, their act would not attract the anti-defection law” the observers said.

Ahead of some crucial Assembly elections early next year, this would be a consequence the Congress would want to avoid under any circumstance, they added. [IFP]

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Wungnaoshang hits back at rebel MLAs, Rishang
By : A Staff Reporter 12/7/2007 1:00:52 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 6: Wungnaoshang Keishing, Independent MLA representing Phungyar Assembly constituency has reacted fiercely to criticism from the dissident Congress MLAs over the supposed Opposition interference in the internal crisis in the state Congress, asserting that they have every right to speak their minds concerning the state government.

Wungnaoshang, addressing a press conference today at the state Assembly secretariat however clarified that the recent trip by Opposition MLAs belonging to the Hill Area Committee of the state Assembly to Delhi had nothing to do with Congress internal crisis, nor was it at anyone’s behest. The HAC members had discussed the situation in the hill areas, and the problems faced by the hill people with the Central leaders, Wungnaoshang said.

He however admitted that they had praised the initiatives taken by Ibobi Singh for the development of the hill areas.

‘Eikhoidi apha mibu phei hairamba phattababu phatte hairamba adu khaktani’ (‘All we did was make it clear who is good and who is bad’), he asserted. ‘We have every right to do so, and no one can gainsay this,’ he said.

Wungnaoshang went on to say that no other chief minister of Manipur has till now taken as much initiative for the development of the hills. There has been no other chief minister who has as much respect for the hill people as Ibobi, he said.

Wungnaosang reiterated that the MLAs from the hill areas were only doing their duty, and asserted that as MLAs, they had every right to make their opinions and concerns known, whether it concerns the state government or any other issue. Ibobi Singh is the chief minister not just for the Congress party, but for the state as a whole, he maintained.

He also attacked dissident MLA M Oken for his press statement issued yesterday, charging that the latter was biased against the Nagas, and acted as if he alone loved Manipur.

If Oken genuinely wishes to save Manipur he should stop seeing particular peoples as enemies, and trying to alienate them, he warned.

Attacking the veteran Congress leader, Rishang Keishing as a troublemaker, he said Rishang was the actual leader of the dissident group and the others are only following him. This is no surprise, he asserted, maintaining that he is the one who has been fomenting the trouble. [IFP]

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Army pledges to clear area upto New Lajang on Indo-Myanmar border by month end
By : A Staff Reporter 12/7/2007 12:58:12 AM

SOMTAL (Chandel) Dec 6: In the ongoing synchronized operations “Operation Somtal-2” of the security forces against the militants and their areas of domination in interior Chandel district, so far troops have cleared the presence of militants upto Old Somtal, according to the army authorities who spoke to a media team visiting the spot.

The “Operation Somtal-2” which commenced from middle of November last is the third of its kind launched by the security forces in Chandel area.
At least two major operations in 2006 (in January and December) had failed to clear the area of the UNLF presence. On November 18, the Army launched a two-pronged operation in New Somtal, targeting the ‘293rd battalion’ of the UNLF.

Current operations under the aegis of Headquarter 3 Corps and Headquarter IGAR (S) comprising of whole battalion of 44 Assam Rifles, 6 Assam Rifles and 10 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry started forward movement from Hollenjang village located some 119 km from Tengnoupal sub-divisional headquarters.

Security forces based on intelligence input believed that around 250 cadres of UNLF including some important leaders are still at Lajang village which is yet to be dominated by the troops involved in the operation.

According to them the operation will continue till they take control of the area upto the international border with Myanmar and make the movment of the villagers secure.

“Our main concern is to flush out the UGs and secure the place by removing IED’s planted by undergrounds,” said Brigadier Raymond Noronha who is in overall command of the ongoing “Operation Somtal-2” to the visiting media team.

The media team proceeded upto Changjal village from Hollengjang which is around 17 km from Changjal which the brigadier in charge there declared secure and safe for the villagers to move in.

The media team also spotted the army developing play grounds and distributing sports material to the villagers.

The team also spotted a bunker just on the roadside at Sehlon village, a village located before reaching Changjal and around 15 km from Hollenjang, which according to the villagers was erected by the undergrounds.

“UGs keep coming and going at our village but they never stay for a long time,” said Jamkhothang Mate of Sehlon village.

As commented by the villagers, the coming of the army to their village could improve their living conditions somewhat as they (army) buy their produce and give a source of income by engaging them as labour.

“The Army pays for the work they engaged us for,” a villager said.

Regarding the army’s civic action in the area dominated by them, one army engineering corps has so far constructed a play ground by using JCB and bull dozers at Phelun which has a population of around 70 heads. The population of the village reduced from around 200, as many villagers had moved to Moreh and Sugnu in search of a living and for higher studies which they could not get at the village and nearby areas.

The village has only one private school run by one Lalboy, having upto standard VII only.

The hardship of life in the area is compounded by the fact that villagers have to go to Myanmar for their essential commodities. A place named Bokan on the Myanmar side is the nearest place where they do their essential shopping.

At a small market across the border in Bokan, the villagers sell their agricultural produce and trek back to their village after buying their daily requirements.

Talking on the experience of presence of undergrounds in their villages, villagers said ‘they provides us the much needed medicines and other things. But our main problem with them is they restrict our free movement’.

The villagers believed that the UGs restricted them in their free movement because of presence of IEDs at various places in the jungle.

The road from Tengnoupal to Changjal has been made jeepable but the media team could not proceed beyond Changjal owing to the restrictions from the army authorities, who have declared the area unsafe for civilian movement as they are yet to clear it from all sorts of dangers.

“Our men had dominated upto Somtal which is again 16 km from Changjal and by the end of this month we will reach New Lajang village on the Indo-Myanmar border,” Brigadier RN said with a high hope of achieving the army’s goal this time.

In further talks, the brigadier admitted that the 25-day long “Operation Somtal-1” which was launched in the month of 2006 December had to be cut short due to shortage of manpower along with the coming up of the elections and Christmas festival. [IFP]

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Dr T. Meinya demands separate High Court for Manipur
By : Manipur Information Centre 12/7/2007 12:55:54 AM

NEW DELHI, Dec 6: Participating in the discussion on “Need for harmonious functioning of three organs of the state i.e. legislature, judiciary and executive” in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, Dr. Thokchom Meinya, MP from the inner Manipur parliamentary constituency stated that the basic structure of the Indian Constitution was the separation of power among legislature, judiciary and executive.

He said, “There appears, at times, some so-called conflicts rather apparent conflicts in the working and functioning of these three vital organs of the state. The one and only way to avoid and to have these conflicts or aberrations resolved is to practice self restraint and self respect and to practice true professional ethics”.

He also added that none of these organs should try to give directional instructions to the other organs and vice-versa. This would definitely go a long way towards harmonizing the smooth functioning of these organs of the state.

Dr. Meinya referred to Article 214 of the Constitution of India, which provided that there should be a High Court for each state. He said, “The President of India appoints the Chief Justice and other judges. Perhaps, there should not be any difficulty whatsoever in the respective working of these three organs. One has to always note that the Constitution is Supreme.

All the powers of the state are derived from it. So long as we preserve this sanctity of our Constitution nothing to worry about.”

Dr. Meinya drew the attention of the Union law minister that the constitutional obligation of having a High Court for every state of the Indian Union was yet to be fulfilled. He stated that Manipur was yet to have a separate High Court of its own and court cases relating to Manipur were still conducted under the jurisdiction of the Guwahati High Court.

The parliamentarian strongly demanded setting up of a separate High Court for Manipur. If the number of cases was a criterion for it, the number of pending cases for the state was exceeding large, he added. [IFP]

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As the Deputy Commis-sioner has issued strict ins- tructions to immediately do-lled out job cards to the con- cerned BDOs and initiate work following media re-ports about the sluggish pace of progress, job cards has now reached to a good proportion of the populace and its progress have now been noticeable even in the remotest region of the dis-trict.

In the proper township of Lamka, the transformations brought along by the NREGS were substantial. Those paths touched by the scheme were sparklingly fresh and orderly. At points it even appears that the corri-dors were extended or widen as filth that have shared a prominent space along the roads were removed.

The scheme has been ini-tiated in the east, west, north and south of the township and the Deputy Commi-ssioner Sumant Singh is having a tight schedule to inspect the works under-taken. Initially for the past several weeks he had per-sonally launched the work in various locality of the region and by now, the progress and transformation brought along by the scheme were visible in many a locality.

At a time when some locality have almost combed and polished their corridors, there nevertheless were a good deal of localities that still awaits their job cards and the works that comes along.

In the interior sub-divi-sion of Singngat, NREGS has restored the long neglec-ted and discarded inter- village roads that were de-veloped by the British colo- nialist.

Along the Tedim Road atleast three former roads which were abandoned have been revived. These roads though inconsistent for vehicles, were more convenient for the villagers who often travel by foot, as it was shorter.

The pitiable road condition even after 60 years of the nation’s inde-pendence in this part of the country has only provoked the desire to revive the discarded corridors.

TSE

The role of DNA in tracing ancestry, behavior and personal identity - Genetics and the Kuki society - Part 1

Chong Singsit *

Introduction

In a changing world, the laws of hereditary discovered by Augustinian monk George Gregory Mendel has stood the test of time, unchallenged, and is still the basis by which relationships among living organisms is explained.

There is no denying that genetic science has impacted our society, the government, science and technology, and the moral code of conduct.

Today courts decide the fate of accused criminals based on DNA testing, the eating of genetically modified food, and the practice of gene therapy; all of which will one day be routine rather than the exception.

The landmark sequencing of the human genome unlocked the genetic mystery of the human physiological functions and promised superior individual healthcare, including designer drugs. While the technology is astonishing, it also interferes with personal privacy and exposes individuals vulnerable to insurance company's decisions about personal healthcare.

This article is an excerpt of a seminar given on Thanksgiving Day November 22, 2007 at a gathering of the Kuki-Chin community at Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA to celebrate Chavang Kut (Harvest Festival).

The primary objective of this article, however, is the role of genetics in tracing human origin, ancestry, and personal behavior. People have wondered for ages how traits are inherited from one generation to the next, and why children often look more like one parent than the other, though most offspring possess blended characteristics of both parents.

DNA testing is the only empirical evidence that genetic imprinting on the chromosomes have taken place, establishing the laws of hereditary. While the role of DNA in ancestry study is more discreet, the influence of genes on human behavior is harder to establish.

Certain individuals may be born with genetic conditions that are likely to exhibit aggressive behaviors. The role of DNA in tracing individual identity may be harder to establish because of the environmental components that influence gene expression.

What can our genes tell us about who we are?
Do our genes affect behavior, personality, and self?
Is there a connection between genetic structures and specific behaviors?
How should we respond to the concept of freedom and responsibility?

Every genetic trait must be tempered with personal responsibility. If our genes direct us to behave in a certain way, can we evade the consequences of that action? Our founding fathers were wise to acknowledge God by inserting a statement in the constitution "all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

It is true that certain behaviors may have genetic components while others are acquired; nevertheless, there is no excuse for irresponsible behavior for normal human beings carrying 23 chromosome pairs.

DNA is the abbreviation for deoxyribonucleic acid, which is the genetic material present in the cells of all living organisms. DNA is the fundamental building block for an individual's entire genetic makeup. A person's DNA is the same in every cell (with a nucleus).

The DNA in a person's blood is the same as the DNA in their skin cells, semen, and saliva. Genetics is the study of genes and hereditary.

Since the discovery of DNA "the molecule of life" by James Watson and Francis Crick, at the University of Cambridge in 1953, molecular biologists have made many advances in the understanding of DNA and other nucleic acids.

DNA is a language whose alphabet has 4 letters,

adenine (A),
cytosine (C),
guanine (G), and
thymine (T).
Cells read the letters and make a copy (transcription) into a slightly different language called messenger RNA (mRNA), which then translates into a totally different language called proteins.

Those sentences are called genes. DNA is self replicating and self perpetuating and translates its message into protein.

Tracing ancestry based on DNA is not just an academic exercise, but also has other practical applications. A geneticist at Howard University offered commercial genetic ancestry tracing to African-Americans who wanted to trace their genetic lineage back to the areas of Africa from which their ancestors were captured and brought to America as slaves (Elliott and Brodwin 2002).

The emergence of several commercial genetic testing ventures offering fee-for-service paternity testing, tests for evidence of Jewish ancestry and Native American ancestry.

Owing to the practice of close marriages, social structure and culture within these two societies (Jewish and Native American), the genetic traits is easily traceable within these communities.

Well before the advent of molecular genetics, the tracing of ancestry played an important and controversial part in political identity. While genetic ancestry tracing is becoming increasingly popular, its limitations make the information it reveals subject to misinterpretation.

In light of this, it is worth noting genetic ancestry has the potential to disrupt identity claims as well as to corroborate them.


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The True Merger Story

By : Sanasam Umananda 12/6/2007 1:22:54 AM

The year 1949 not only evokes intense mental anguish and excruciating heartache to most Manipuris but also conjures up unsavoury images of severe emotional disturbance and psychological upsets which ultimately might have triggered the Maharaja of Manipur to sign the controversial Merger Agreement after his 4-day ordeal at Shillong Rajbari. History was created at 2-30 pm. of 21st September, 1949 but it became a history that invited future troubles to the enchanting land of a valley and nine hills ranges. An important turning point in the 2000 - year old political history of Manipur emerged in its wake which cannot be taken lightly. The seed of Manipur’s merger to India was sown at the said house amidst controversies and it became formally operational on the 15th October, 1949.

To the Indian and local pro-integrationists, it was a day of triumph but to many Manipuri patriots it was a tragedy and as evening descended after the signing of the agreement on that fateful September afternoon, many souls wept at the Rajbari lawn at the sight of the sinking sun equating it with the sinking freedom of Manipur. But a dream came true to Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel and a wish was fulfilled for Sri Prakasa, the then Governor of Assam and Nari Rustamji, his Advisor even if its smooth execution is suspect. Call it house arrest or internment, but Maharaja Bodhchandra and his men who were kept confined for 4 days at Shillong Rajbari being totally cut off from the rest of the world with acute mental trauma and psychological pain did not easily lose heart and clung to their determination not to yield to the advances of the Indian officials.

The Maharaja resisted and resisted to sign the document as is evidenced by the many letters written to the Governor of Assam by the Maharaja of Manipur. There is no dearth of such written documents. In such accounts of very serious historical importance, to rely on wild conjectures, idle surmises and hearsay reports would prove dangerous and therefore should be avoided.

Two things sometimes bewilder enthusiasts of true merger story.

1) Did the Maharaja of Manipur go to Shillong with the sole object of signing the Merger Agreement?

The answer is “NO”. This is proved by the following letter.

Letter Dated 19.9.1949

From the Maharaja

To Sri Prakasa

Thank your Excellency for your letter just received. I have cancelled my programme of leaving Shillong for to-day. The matter becomes very serious. It appears that the Government of India seems to be rather unkind and unsympathetic to me in giving me such a short period for me to ponder over this major problem and I am also quite unfortunate in not getting from the Government of India even the slightest indication of the subject-matter to be discussed in Shillong and as such I have deprived of the legal advice from my legal Remembrances and the voice of popular Assembly.

If I am compelled to work independently of my people my action will be quite unjustifiable...

Please read again the underlined words which are self-explanatory.

This is again confirmed by the following account:-

At 11AM. of 18th September, 1949 the Maharaja’s party reached Government House, Shillong. The Governor warmly received the Maharaja and led the latter to a room followed by Krishnamurty, (PS to Governor) and the ADC of the Maharaja. But the Private secretary to the Maharaja and the Advisor to the Governor went inside a separate room for a discussion. The former was made to be isolated with the Advisor from the Governor and the Maharaja which was pre-planned. The bolt from the blue came to the Private Secretary to the Maharaja with the sudden revelation by Nari Rustamjee, the Advisor that an Agreement for the Merger of manipur to India had been prepared and Gourhari the Private Secretary would persuade the Maharaja to sign it. The Private Secretary refused and outright rejected the idea. A war of words followed and Gourhari losing patience to hear the words of the Advisor stood up and went out of the room fuming with rage. He entered into the room where the discussion between the Maharaja and the Governor was taking place only to burst out with the words that the Maharaja would not sign the Merger Document as it was very controversial and would invite future troubles in Manipur as was suggested by the ADC, who and the Maharaja were also earlier surprised at the sudden and unexpected handing of the Document to the Maharaja.

2) Another confusion is - Did the Maharaja sign the Merger Agreement without any regard for people’s feelings?

The answer here also is a big “NO. The following letters authenticate it.

Date 18.9.1949.

From the Maharaja

To Sri Prakasa

The subject matter under reference involves the fate of future Manipur. I have received a number of representations and resolutions from the people concerning this important affair. I enclose some of the copies in original for Your Excellency’s kind perusal, which may please be returned when done with.

Now that the sovereignty of the state has been vested in the people it would be in the fitness of things to hear the people voice and learn their sentiment so that the time of action may not in any case be unconstitutional.

Letter dated 20.9.1949

From the Maharaja

To Sri Prakasa

I thank Your Excellency for your letter of 19.9.1949.

The subject for discussion was thought to be of internal affairs of the state. But your Excellency in spite of my prior request for an opportunity of hearing me first, has disclosed the decision of India Government to (be) the topic. Unfortunately, therefore, for me it has rather unhinged me.

Direct dealing with me was feasible when sovereignty was vested in me but after the introduction of the State Constitution Act, the sovereignty and administration of the State has been shifted to the people.

Under Rule No. 28 (ii) of the Manipur Admin. Rules now in force in the State as approved by the Governor of Assam, HH. The Maharaja of Manipur and the Council of Ministers have joint responsibility for such matters.

I am merely a constitutional head of a full responsible Government under the Constitution Act approved by the Government of India and as such the voice of the Majority is my voice and it shall be constitutionally and legally binding on me, not otherwise.

The question of Tripura and Cooch Bihar and that of Manipur are different in as much as the admin. and responsibility of the former bay solely in the hands of the Rulers whereas in the case of of Manipur, by virtue of the Constitution Act, Administration Rules and other agreements between the Govt. of India and the Manipur State responsibility and admin. is vested in the people based on full responsible government with a fully elected House on adult suffrage and joint electorate...

Our common end is dependent on the voluntary and conscientious co-operation of the people. I am for the people and the government in my state is the people’s government for the people by the people.

Please examine the underline words. The Maharaja did the right thing and strongly advocated for people’s will and democracy. The Maharaja also sought the kind permission of the Governor to release the full text of the correspondences between himself and the Governor to the press which the latter did not comply with.

From the correspondences it is crystal clear that Manipur’s journey to democracy on its own initiative received a severe jolt in 1949. The Maharaja’s regard and respect for people’s feeling and will are amply shown by the letters.

These letters, though outwardly show polite formalities and are replete with royal niceties and subtleties, but they also contain valuable revelations of the Maharaja mind who strongly resist the advances of the Government of India.

More than twenty letters were exchanged wherein the Maharaja asked for permission to leave Shillong for Manipur to consult the people. But he was not allowed to do so being guarded by securitymen in civilian dresses which makes one to believe that the Maharaja and his men were kept under House Arrest. This is a very high-handed gesture of the Government of India which flout all norms of democratic approaches. This sullies the great image of India which has earned universal respect for her great regard of non-violence democratic functioning and respect for popular will.

But the irony is that inspite of Maharaja’s entreaties to go to Manipur for consultation with the people’s representatives and the people, the Indian officials flatly refused it.

Lastly, came the Dasgupta episode which completely unhinged the Maharaja’s mind. Dasgupta’s mesmeric theatrics brain-washed the Maharaja by saying that a new king would be appointed in his place and Manipur would thus be surely merged to India. The purpose for which Maharaja steadfastly stood would not be served. He was made to feel that Manipur’s merger became a certainty and he would not be able to withstand it. This could not be dismissed easily as false because in an earlier letter written to him by the Governor it was hinted that if the Maharaja did not co-operate ex-parte decision would be taken.

Dasgupta won the day. The four-day house arrest and psychological pressures weakened the Maharaja and his firm stand ultimately gave way and the controversial turning point of Manipur’s history came about.

Conclusion: It would do well if the Govt. of India, even though belatedly, could settle the matter based on people’s likes and dislikes which was the cherished wish of the late Maharaja who died a broken-hearted monarch.

Maharaja Bodhchandra died on this day, 5th December, in 1955, six years after the signing of the Merger Agreement.



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Manipur Burning Topics | December 06, 2007

19-member team led by CM to take delimitation issue to Centre
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:53:49 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 5: A meeting of all political parties has decided to send a 19-member delegation of political parties (national as well as regional) operating in the state to New Delhi on December 7 to pressurize the Central authorities not to conduct delimitation work based on “bogus” census report 2001.

The meeting also re-affirmed to continue the struggle by the All Political Party Forum not to allow delimitation works based on the 2001 census to go ahead in the state.

The all political parties meeting held at the chief minister’s bungalow early today reacted to the reports of some MLAs of the state in New Delhi fixing responsibility for any outcome arising out of the proposed delimitation process upon the chief minister.

They had observed that the report was meant to “sabotage” the ongoing efforts of all political parties in the state and to defeat the same.

The controversial census 2001 report came during the tenure of MLA M Hemanta as minister. But instead of fixing responsibility for the same on some people, the political parties in the state were fighting the issue together considering that it was for the state and not for some individuals, the meeting observed and condemned the statement of some people in the media.

Mention may be made that rebel Congress MLAs in a release from New Delhi have said that from the discussion with Justice Kuldip Singh, whom some of them called on, it appears that the only solution lies in issuing an ordinance by the Centre wherein the states like Manipur, Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh are excluded from the delimitation.

The question is whether Ibobi would be able to impress upon the Central government for issuing such an ordinance, the rebels had asked and also said that if any unwanted things happen, the Ibobi led government should be entirely responsible.

‘It’s a big issue which would hurt the interest of the state and talking without the consent of the all political parties campaigning for not conducting of delimitation work based on 2001 census report is an act of irresponsibility,’ the all parties meeting resolved and appealed to refrain talking without authority.

The statement issued by the All Political Party Forum after the meeting reiterated that since the very beginning it was known that the delimitation works in the state was going to be conducted in a wrongful way, and the political parties in the state formed a forum of all political parties and have been giving pressure to all concerned officials, even by going to the Supreme Court.

The forum, All Political Party Forum has been campaigning since 2005 September by calling on the country’s Prime Minister, home minister, delimitation chairman etc. with copies of the resolution of the state Assembly.

The issue of delimitation has again arisen in the state even as a case on the same matter is pending with the Supreme Court after the proposed draft working paper of the delimitation commission of India for the state of Manipur based on the 2001 census was intimated to the associate members of the state in the delimitation committee.

It may be mentioned that the draft working papers on the delimitation of Assembly constituencies in Manipur prepared by the Delimitation Commission proposed to the reduction of the number of unreserved Assembly segments to four, with the number of ST reserved seats to be increased by three and SC reserved seats by one.

Earlier also on December 1, a meeting of the major political parties on Wednesday unanimously rejected the draft working paper of the delimitation commission of India for the state of Manipur based on the 2001 census.

The meeting also insisted the associate members of the delimitation commission for the state to attend the scheduled meeting on December 10 at New Delhi but no other comment came except rejecting the draft working papers.

The meeting which was held at the official bungalow of the chief minister today decided to call on the Prime Minister and Union home minister and chairman of the Delimitation Commission before the scheduled meeting of the working committee of the delimitation commission India for the state of Manipur to be held in New Delhi on December 10.

Today’s meeting also asked all the associate members of the delimitation committee for the state to attend the schedule meeting called by the Delimitation Commission of India with the associate members of delimitation committee from the state and to work out without further comment after putting strong rejection to the draft working papers of delimitation commission for the state.

The delegation will leave on December 7, said a statement issued by NCP on behalf of the all political parties of Manipur today.

The draft plan, mention may be made, was prepared by the commission based on the 2001 census figure which the state government rejected stating it was a “bogus figure”.

The draft work out paper also proposed to increase one Assembly constituency each in the said three hill districts after taking away one each from the valley districts of Imphal east, Imphal west and Bishenpur in the draft work paper.

A case regarding seeking cancellation of the census 2001 and re-conducting of the same is still pending with the Supreme Court and the hearing of the same is scheduled on January 25 next year.

Meanwhile, a release from the Manipur Information Centre said that state chief minister O Ibobi Singh along with 19 representatives of all political parties of Manipur will meet the Central leaders including the Prime Minister of India in connection with delimitation of assembly constituencies of Manipur after they all arrive here on December 7.

The 19 political leaders are Gaikhangam, president, MPCC, Dr. L Chandramani Singh, president, MPP, O Joy Singh, MLA, MPP, W Nipamacha Singh, president, RJD, Md Helaluddin Khan, MLA, RJD, Dr. Y Mohendra Singh, CPI(M), Sarat Salam, state secretary, CPI(M), P Parijat Singh, minister (health), CPI, Dr. M Nara Singh, CPI, Radhabinod Koijam, president, NCP, K Saratkumar Singh, NCP, Dr. S Dhananjoy, president, Samajwadi Party, S Lala Singh, Dr. H.Borbabu Singh, president BJP, Prof. S Tikendra Singh, BJP, W Kulabidhu Singh, ex-MP, president, JD(S), N Dhiren Singh, JD(S), Y Mani Singh, ex-minister, MSCP and M Ibomcha Singh, president , Samata Party.

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Rebel MLAs blast ‘Ibobi-UNC candidates pact, CM, Wungnaoshang come under fire
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:57:08 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 5: Reacting strongly to a report which appeared in the vernacular Poknapham today claiming that Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the AICC secretary in charge of Manipur said chief minister Okram Ibobi would stay since he even has the support of opposition parties, the Congress rebel MLAs now camping in New Delhi blasted both the chief minister and Wungnaoshang Keishing, the UNC sponsored independent MLA on whose statement the report was based.

Wungnaoshang had told the newspaper that 10 MLAs, including the six sponsored by the UNC had met Chauhan to express their support for the chief minister and Chauhan had promised them Ibobi would not be removed.
In an e-mailed press release signed by M Okendra, the rebel MLAs called this the result of a nexus between Ibobi and the independent MLA sponsored by UNC and an underground organisation who fought against the Congress and stood all along for greater Nagaland and the disintegration of Manipur.

“It is unfortunate that such elements are hired and sent to Delhi to meet Congress leaders just for the sake of saving his chair and also to gift away the interests of Manipur,” the rebels charged Ibobi.

It is now clear that these UNC sponsored candidates fought the last Assembly election against the Congress and won with the help and a clear understanding with Ibobi, conniving with UG outfits, the rebel MLAs alleged. “Ibobi is entirely to blame for the defeat of the Congress candidates in the hills” they further said.

Wungnaoshang Keishing and his team till very recently, including on the floor of the Assembly, were very critical of the Congress-led government about the non-implementation of development programmes in the hills. They have been blaming squarely the SPF government for the lopsided development and for complete failure of administration particularly in the hills, the rebels contended.

They have been all along struggling to destroy and eliminate the Congress Party in Manipur particularly in the hills by using money and muscle power with the backing of secessionist elements, the release further added.
Today the majority of the Congress MLAs and also the people of the state want Ibobi replaced and these same elements are making efforts to rescue him to achieve their goal, the release claimed.

The present struggle for removal of Ibobi from CLP leadership is purely an internal party matter of the Congress. He became the leader by virtue of being elected by the majority of the CLP members. Today, out of the 31 Congress MLAs, 20 are for removing him, the release further said.

“The movement by the pro-changer group within the Congress is a movement for bringing a better government that is transparent, decentralized and one which can bring about all-round development in Manipur particularly in the remote hill areas”, it added.

The rebels lamented that “outsiders” are being allowed to meddle in the internal affairs of the Congress party, pledging further that even if 100 Wungnaoshangs and Ibobis come together, they would continue to fight to save the state’s integrity and the Congress party.

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Bomb attack at Lamlong leaves 11 persons injured
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:56:19 AM


IMPHAL, Dec 5: Some 11 persons, including two personnel of the 7th Manipur Rifles, were hurt in a bomb explosion at Khurai Lamlong crossing at around 5.45 pm this evening.

The bomb was apparently hurled by unknown persons to target MR personnel who had just arrived at Khurai Lamlong bazar for security duties.
Most of the injured, who were immediately evacuated to JN hospital by security personnel suffered light splinter injuries and have been discharged after treatment. Some of the more serious victims were referred to RIMS hospital for further treatment, but they too are out of danger.

The blast took place at at a spot just a few metres short of the Khurai Lamlong crossroads, next to the Lamlong boys and Lamlong girls schools.
According to official sources, the bomb was hurled from an unknown direction just as the MR men were arriving at the spot for their assigned duty in two trucks.

However, most of those hurt were passers-by and shoppers, as there was a large turnout at the time for evening marketing at the Khurai Lamlong bazar.

Thongkhopao, 45, havaldar in the 7th MR, and Md Ajimuddin, 35, rifleman who were among the injured, told mediapersons at hospital that they saw sparks and heard fizzling sounds just before the bomb exploded.

The other victims are identified as Thangjam Mocha, 47, of Khurai Puthiba, Athokpam Dhiren 41, of Khurai Sajor Leikai, Sairem Priyokumar, 45, of Khurai Puthiba, Yumkhaibam Mani, 32, of Khurai Thangjam Leikai, Naoroibam Anand, 14, of Khurai Thoudam Leikai, his brother, Naoroibam Puchol, 11, Moirangthem Khamba, 38, of Kongpal, L Manipishak Devi, 46, of Khurai, and Th Ishwarchand, 24, of Yairipok Uyumpok.

Naoroibam Puchol sustained a splinter wound at his left calf, which opened a main vein, and he was refered to RIMS hospital for operation. He was the only one in serious condition, and doctors said all the victims are now out of danger and most have been discharged after medical treatment.

Many of civilian victims said they were caught completely unawares by the blast, and they were totally confused and frightened by the huge sound of the explosion.

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Cloth merchants’ disappearance brings women knocking on CM’s door
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:55:36 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 5: At least four women fainted while several others suffered minor injuries when police lathi-charged protestors in front of the chief minister’s bungalow in Imphal Wednesday afternoon.

The protestors, mostly womenfolk, were staging a demonstration denouncing police inaction in tracing two cloth merchants belonging to Thoubal district who have been missing since the middle of last month.

The two missing men, namely Md Yusuf, 28, and Md Taslim, 24, both hailing from Keibung village in Thoubal district were itinerant cloth merchants. Their whereabouts have been unknown since November 19, when they failed to return after leaving their respective homes that morning.

This afternoon, at around 2.15 pm, volunteers of the joint action committee formed in connection with the disappearance of the two, and family members gathered in front of the chief minister’s bungalow, and started shouting slogans and rocking the main entrance gate.

The demonstration continued for around 10 minutes without any intervention from the police. Later, however, Imphal west civil police and commandos lathi-charged them and drove them up to the gates of the telegraph office.
In the process, two women, Sarajan Begum, 40, and Amu Bibi, 20, fainted and were later evacuated to JN hospital.

The protestors stubbornly stayed put in front of the telegraph office for about half an hour despite police attempts to disperse them further. The police finally resorted to water cannon and drove the protestors upto the Nupilal complex.

In this action, at least two more women including an elderly one again fainted. One of them was forcibly taken by the police to the hospital while the other one was evacuated in a private vehicle coming on the road.

In the meantime, speaking to mediapersons during the demonstration, Abdul Hasim, president of the JAC, said the JAC had made every effort to trace the missing Yusuf and Taslim, and had lodged a missing person complaint to the Thoubal police station on November 26.

The JAC had also submitted a memorandum on December 3 to the chief minister, O Ibobi, who is also their local MLA to take up appropriate action to find out the two missing persons. With no action forthcoming from the authorities, the JAC had come to put further pressure on the CM in this connection, he said.

Apprehension of something untoward having happened to them increased in the minds of the people of their locality after the body of a youth who had been abandoned after shooting to death was recovered on December 2 last. Initially police suspected the slain man to be one of the missing persons but it was not.

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48-hr chakka bandh called over traffic restrictions
By : A Staff Reporter 12/6/2007 12:54:34 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 5: Denouncing the restrictions imposed on the entry of three-wheelers and four-wheelers in the Imphal bazar area, transport operators servicing the bazar area this morning staged a sit-in demonstration at the Hatta Kangjeibung in the Palace Compound.

The transporters have also announced they are calling a 48-hour statewide chakka bandh over the issue on December 7 and 8.

In a show of strength, the transporters gathered over a thousand vehicles, including auto-rickshaws and DI vehicles at the Hatta Kangjeibung from 8 am this morning.

However, they were forced to leave by the Imphal east district police some two or three hours later on the grounds that they had not obtained permission for the demonstration.

The transporters subsequently converged at their respective parking spots and staged sit-ins there.

In this connection, the Passenger Transport Joint Action Committee, Imphal Bazar Area president K Bedeshwor, said the imposition of restrictions on the entry of three/four wheelers in the bazar area from November 17 last in the wake of the bomb attack at a shop in Paona Bazar, had seriously inconvenienced passenger transporters who usually parked in the bazar area as well as the general public.

In this connection, he said, the transporters had had submitted memoranda to the chief minister O Ibobi, and the state transport commissioner urging that parking of their vehicles within the bazar area should be allowed. However, no one has taken the responsibility, he lamented.

Regarding their ouster from the protest site, he said attempts had been made to seek permission from the DC, Imphal east to stage the protest, but they failed to meet him.

He pointed out that most transporters serving the bazar area were facing major loss of income due to the restrictions on entry in the bazar area. Many of them have bought their vehicles with loans obtained from banks, and were required to make monthly loan repayments, he further observed.

The JAC, in a separately issued statement, said as part of their campaign to get the restrictions lifted, the transporters are calling a statewide chakka bandh from midnight of December 6 till midnight of December 8. However, vehicles engaged on medical emergencies, religious ceremonies, and for transporting students would be exempted.

The statement added that if the authorities continue to be unresponsive even after the bandh, the transporters would surrender their vehicle documents to the state transport director from December 14 onwards.

It may be mentioned, the Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench, had yesterday reportedly quashed the original order issued by the SP, Imphal west imposing restrictions on the entry of vehicles in the bazar area. However, the state transport department had issued a separate order re-imposing the same restrictions.

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STRAIGHT FROM THE HEART - J J SINGH

The government needs to make full use of the popular desire for peace in order to combat insurgency, writes J.J. Singh

Do the lives and liberty of people caught in a conflict zone such as Assam, Manipur, Jammu and Kashmir, or anywhere else in the world, matter? Are the belligerents, the terrorists or insurgents on the one hand, and the security forces on the other, concerned about the hapless citizens? These are relevant questions which relate to the conduct of sub-conventional warfare. These issues assume vital importance in the 21st century, when human rights organizations and the media act as watchdogs to prevent the abuse of human rights. No state or terrorist outfit can absolve itself of its human rights violations. The events that took place at Abu Ghraib or Guantanamo Bay prisoner camps are well known.

The Indian army has evolved a doctrine of low-intensity conflict that is based on lessons learnt from decades of counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism operations. A basic tenet of this doctrine is the concept of "the iron fist and the velvet glove". The iron fist denotes a ruthless approach while confronting terrorists, and the velvet glove represents the compassion of the security forces towards citizens in the battle zone.

No counter-insurgency strategy can succeed without the active support of the people. Terrorism in Mizoram and Punjab came to a grinding halt only when the people of these states stopped helping the terrorists. The people are central to such conflicts and all operational strategies should be focused on winning their ‘hearts and minds’, their support and cooperation. Actions that alienate or demean the population should be scrupulously avoided. After all, they are innocent victims caught between two warring sides.

Winning the hearts and minds of the people and removing the feeling of alienation are necessary for success in any counter-terrorist campaign. One must know and analyse the causes espoused by the terrorist or insurgent. Some of these may be genuine grievances of civilians, which have to be addressed by the administrative machinery of the State; others may be false propaganda, which should be exposed by all means available so as to acquaint the people with the reality of the situation.

The majority of the population of such conflict-prone areas are silent fence-sitters. They watch with keen interest the moves of the two sides. Invariably, they lean towards the winning side. Hence, operational strategy and ground-level tactics assume great importance. Professionally conducted operations against terrorists, with little or no collateral damage, would greatly help win over the people.

Assam, Manipur and Kashmir are today witnessing a plethora of terrorist organizations, mostly bereft of any credible ideology. Thus, a decline in public support for them is evident. As a result, the terrorists are resorting to violence and coercion, abduction for revenge or ransom, forcible collection of funds, killing of innocent civilians (suspected of siding with the security forces), and other atrocities including rape and arson.

As it dawns on the people that terrorist organizations have taken them for a ride, the support to terrorism starts drying up, as is happening in many parts of Assam, Manipur and Kashmir. There is a groundswell for peace and progress. In many cases, parents are convincing the misguided youths to surrender their arms and rejoin the mainstream. They have lost faith in the terrorist cause, and realized the unlikelihood of achieving success through violence. We have to encourage such developments and address issues like the economic rehabilitation of those who surrender, except those involved in heinous crimes.

The army’s role is to provide security to civilians and a secure environment for the administrative machinery to execute projects, particularly for the development of remote and inaccessible areas. Therefore, it is vital that the army conduct itself in an impeccable manner and reassure the people that, unlike the terrorists, it is a responsible and accountable force.

India attaches great importance to upholding human rights while conducting counter-terrorist operations. Before soldiers are inducted into such conflict-prone areas, they are first put through intense training, which includes the conduct of operations using minimum force, avoiding collateral damage, and displaying high moral standards. The Indian army’s benchmark of professional conduct is thus spelt out and systematically imbibed by all ranks.

Despite these steps, there are some mistakes committed by the troops on the ground. These are speedily investigated and action is taken against those proved guilty. At the same time, to maintain the army’s credibility, action is taken to provide solace, financial aid and other help to the aggrieved families.

Furthermore, to project the humane face of the army and to win over the people, Operation Sadbhavana has been launched through multi-pronged civic-action programmes, which have been a great success. These schemes include women’s empowerment, quality education, better health care, community and infrastructure development. The armed forces have also been praised by the people for responding instantaneously whenever a natural calamity has struck these areas, such as earthquakes, floods or heavy snowfall.

The problems in Kashmir, Assam and Manipur are not purely military in nature. If that were so, we could have overcome them by now with the application of superior military power and strategy. There are also political, social, economic and ethical issues involved. The counter-terrorism strategy at the national and state levels must encompass all these dimensions.

It is reassuring to see that violence levels have been considerably reduced by effective operations by the security forces in recent times, and the elected state governments are addressing the other important aspects by a synergized strategy. People have unambiguously given their verdict for peace, and in many cases rejected the diktat of the terrorists. It is good to see Kashmiris holidaying in Gulmarg and Pahalgam after many years, or Assamese and Manipuris leading more peaceful lives. People have realized that more than one generation have lost their entire youth, and they do not want this agony to continue. This opportunity must be seized upon by the Central and state governments to consolidate the gains made, and resolve the problems comprehensively.

The author is a former Chief of Army Staff



THE TELEGRAPH Tuesday, December 04, 2007
Copyright © 2006 The Telegraph. All rights reserved.

Senvon Diary 7

By L.Keivom

Senvona Arthatzawl

October 13, 2007 Inrinni. Inhma taka thoa Vunga le David Buhril hai Arthatzawl an ti hmun sirpui ding ka ti kha kan tho inhnuk bakah ruo a sur hmer hmer lei le khaw hrang hranga inthoka hung inleng kan hau bok leiin kan thrul a. Hi Arthatzawl hi kum 1986 kum bul tieng khan Parbunga inthoka inlàna Senvona ka fe trumin ka sir a, ‘Arthatzawl Pawlitiks le Mission Buoina’ ti lekha sei deu ka ziek nghe nghe a. Hi hmun poimawna san hi mi tam lemin ei hriet naw ka ring leiin a tawi thei ang takin hang hril ei tih.

Arthatzawl hi tien lai khawser an thaw changin ran takngiel khom inhrâm an phal naw hlak leiin hi hmuna hin an arhai an thak khawm hlak a, chu leia ‘Arthakzawl’ ti hming hung put tah nia hril an um a. Hril dan danga chun, âr thata an inthawina hlak bawlhmun a ni leia Arthatzawl an ti nia hril pawl an um bok. Kum 1914-a Watkin Roberts mission phun enkol dinga hung R. Dala chun hi lai hmuna hin in a bawl a, Arthatzawl hi a in huon a nih. Kum 1920-a Tinsuong khuoa Mission hmunpui an son hnungin Arthatzawl hi rausanin a um a, kum ruk sung chu a hming hril rikin a um ta nawh.

January 11, 1921-a R.Dala a thi hnungin a hmun chu H.K.Dohnunin a hung hluo a, mission hmunpui khom Tinsuonga inthokin Lakhipur (Hmarkhawlien) tieng an son a. Kum 1926 khan H.K.Dohnun, Field Secretary inrawina hnuoiah Senvon-a hin Presbytery a um a. Chu taka inthok chun Arthatzawl hi a hung inlang nawk tah a nih. Hi inkhawmpuia hin Manipura Field Superintendent dingin Mizorama inthoka hung mi pathum Rohmingliana, Lalnghinglova le Vanchhunga hai laia pakhat an dit tak thlang dingin palaihai chu Dohnunin a hril a, sienkhom tu khom an thlang nawh. Hi trum hin a mission phuntu Watkin Roberts le a kaiza vengtu H.K.Dohnun suot thlak tuma phierrukna nasa tak a um a, chu chu a nih Arthatzawl pawlitiks tia ei hril hi.

Hieng hun laia thoktu lien po hi Mizorama inthoka hung vong an nih. Sienkhom, Watkin Roberts mi ring le a ruol thra Dohnunin Field Secretary a chela inthokin Hmarhaiin thuneina iengkim an chalai bika ngaina a um leiin anni pahni suot thlak dan lampui dap pawl an um nia hriet a ni a. Chuonghai laia a hnunga chieng êm êma hma latu laia pakhat chu Tripuraa inthoka hung Lianhawla, R. Dala thi hnunga a nuhmei hung neitu kha a nih. Chuonghai huoihot chun zanah a rûkin Hmar mi ni lo hnam dang po Arthatzawla hin an inkhawm a, chu thu chu a hnung daiin a pût suok chauh a nih. A kum nawkin hi hmun, eini ta dinga ‘Akeldama’ hi khawhrawngin a sawi chim vong a nih. Threnkhat chun Pathienin an thu phierruk a awi naw leia sawi chim niin an ngaibel nuom hiel. Hieng laia thu phiertuhai le a hnunga NEIGM American Council-a General Secretary H.H.Coleman chu inthuruolin kum 1929/30 khan Watkin Roberts chu an hung suot thlak tah hrim a nih. Arthatzawl pawlitiks tirdakum tak hin kansar angin voisun chen hin ei hnam le kohran a la fak siet char char a nih. Coleman chu a thi ta a, a dam lai ngeiin a Mission inchu thlakpek NEIG Mission khom vui liemin a um a, sienkhom thla a la maksan rawn khop el. Chuong mihai chun Centenary hung tlung ding chen khom hi a ni taka thaw neka Arthatzawl pawlitiks zaizira a ni naw lem inser an la tum ngar ngar a hoi. Suol hin taluo a nei nawh.

Hlapawl inruolsiekna

Zing dar sawmah inkhawmpui ni hmasa tak chu kan tran a. Airuochingin za a ngai meta chu tawp zai rêl loin a la phingphi seng seng a. A hun takah hall kan lut chun indên taka ip sawi muk angin hall chu an lo sip vong ta a, tuolah a keng lo tam tak an ngir bok a. Khaw hnai deua inthoka kea zîng hunghai khom chatlak loin an hung tlung zing bok a. Hun insersuon thum kan nei a. Khawm Khatna (Session One) chu hlapawl inruolsiekna a na, Khawm Hnina (Session Two) chu Baibul (Delhi Version) inhlanna le tlangzarna a na, Khawm Thumna (Session Three) chu an mi fielna le ka hungna san tak Seminar a nih.

Khawm Khatnaa an inruolsiekna chu ‘Lal Isu hming inpâk ei tiu’ ti hla, ei Kristien Hlabua a thluk thumnaa sak ding a nih. Khuo 11-a inthokin hlapawl an hung a, an khuo lien le chin dan inang naw ang bokin an tlawm le tam dan khom an thlâu hle. Hi hla hi iemani kong zawnga ka hla hnâm deu hlak a ni a. Ka hnàmna san khom a chang thumnaah “Lalpa hnam thlang Israelhai….A lungsietnan a sandam cheu” a ti bik laia a chang linaa “Nangni Jentel, misuolhaiin, tuorna theinghil naw ro” a ti nawk bik, a pakhat a sandam tawl leia ropuina inkhumtir dinga a ti laia a Jentelhai chu misuol an ni leia ropuina inkhumtir dinga a ti hi ka ngai thei naw zawng tak a na, a phuoktu hi hmu inla chu a lu ben thlong top ka nuom hlak a nih. Hi hlaa Pathien kuoma chawimawina le ropuina inkhumtir ding a ni thu a hril hi a thrat lai zingin, a hla phuok dan hi chu a ni naw deuh chu a nih. Amiruokchu, a Saptronga mi ka hmu hnung chun, chang thumna tlar khatna le hnina “Lalpa hnam thlang Israelhai, Nangni a chin a lien” tia an inlet hi “ Ye chosen seed of Israel’s race, A remnant weak and small” ti a lo ni dai bakah chang lina tlar khat le tlar hninaa “Nangni Jentel, misuolhaiin, tuorna theinghil naw ro” ti hi “Ye, Gentile sinners, ne’er forget The wormwood and the gall” ti a lo ni nawk leiin ngaidam theiah ka ngai hram chauh a nih. Fimkhur taka hla phuok dan chu a ni naw hrim hrim.

An hang saka leh, eini thluka siem hla an sak phaa rawl puok konga suok kha, inruolsiekna a ni leia an intìm am a ni ding, an rawl suok ding a chenve lai hiel an îp hmang leiin a puok ding angin a puok zo ta nawh. Chun, hi hla thluk siemtu hin thuok lakna ding hun um mang loin a silar inzom zut a. Chu chu Leisen hlapawlhai lem chun bau kak rakna ding a um naw khah dittawk lo ni awm hrimin bau inchip deuthawin an hang silar a, thuok a ip leiin an hmel a sen trawn trawn el a nih. Dannaranin ‘f’ le ‘t’ ri ei lam thiem naw vong. Chun, an sak muong taluo vong a, inhmaw deu metin sakhai sien chu an sawl a nêp deuh bakah a ri khom thoin puok thra lem ngei a tih. A tawpah Parbung hlapawlin pakhatna an lak a, lawmman cheng singkhat an dong bok.

Baibul tlangzarna

Hmarram Kristien Thralaipawl Inkhawmpui buotsaituhaiin Seminar thruoitu dinga an mi fielna ka hmu hlima ka fe thei le thei naw ding iengkhom ka la ngaituo hman hmaa ka lungrila thu hung inlang hmasa tak chu: E khai! Gospel hung lutna kotsuoa ngei kan Baibul buoipui lai hi hong le tlangzar dingin Lalpan rem a hung ruot a ni el awm de maw? ti hi a nih. Chu chu mang khoma ka la phan phak ngai lo thil a nih. Thil thei a ni hlauh chun Pathien kut inlangna lei lieu lieu ning a ta, ei histawria thil la tlung ngai lo a ni leiin mellung poimaw tak ni bok dingin ka ngai a. Sienkhom an mi hung fielna hi thla khat sung chu ka don el nawh. Trongtraia Lalpa rawn hmasak phot a, ka hraw dinga lampui a mi ruotpek a ni chun lawm taka pom lem dingin lungril ka siem a.

Chuong lai chu sut dinga computer-a kan rem lai le rem fela um taphot chu a hmatiema final editing le proofreading kan thaw tran lai a nih. Dannarain hi thaw felna ding hin thla ruk vel bek a ngai a, chu sung chun a tlawm takah vêl thum bek en suok vong a ngai ding a na, inkhawmpui hlak chu thla hni chauin a bak ta bok si. A mi enpuitu tak H.K.Kawllienthang hlak ofis tieng namen loa a buoi leiin nuom angin a mi san hman ta bok si nawh. Chu bakah, sut ding chun a lekhapuon man ding nuoi ruk vel pek lawk a ngai a, chu chu pukna ding remchang zong a ngai bok a. Tleirawl Isakin a pa kuoma, “Hi, mei le thing chu a um a, sienkhom pumraw thilhlân ding beramte chu khaw lai am a um a?” ti a’n don a, Abrahamin, “Ka naupa, Ama kuoma pumraw thilhlân ding chu Pathienin mi hung pe el a tih” (Gen 22:7-8) a ti ang khan, Ama lekhabu sutna dinga poisa puk ding chu Ama bokin rem hung ruot dingin ka ring tlat a. Chuong ang tak chun a hun takah rem a hung ruot hrim a nih. Lalpa hi ring tlak le ring phû takzet Pathien a nih. Eini tienga ei thaw ding tak ei thaw phot chun Ama tieng chu ei hni hmain a lo thaw dai tah hlak a nih.

Chuonga sun le zan chawl hman lo khop hiela kan buoipui hnung chun sut thei dingin rem fel a ni ta a. Sienkhom, nuom zat zat lekhapuon inchawk el thei dinga kan lo beisei kha kan hang sut ding meu chun Bible paper an ti hi Delhi tlangah inchawk ding a um tlat nawh. A kawm dinga kan ti ang hmu ding a um bok nawh. Hinduhai holiday infawk khawm tam lai a ni leiin press-a sin nuom angin a fe hrat thei bok nawh. Theitawpa lekhapuon kan hang dap vel chun bu zanga sutna khop kan hmu hràm a. Chu chu hmangin kan sut tran a, Delhi tlanga Pathien kuoma inhlanna le tlangzarna nei dingin October 7 kan ruot a, a tûk inhma taka Senvon pana suok dingin rem kan ruot bok a.

Kan buoipui nawk pakhat chu bu khat rikzie 1.2 kilogram a ni leiin vuongnaa mania phur chun bu khatah cheng sawmriet pei kan chawi bel a ngai ding a ni leiin bu 200 chu air cargo-a Imphal tieng thon a, chu chu Lal Remsiem motor tirin Imphala inthoka Senvon chen a phur hman dinga thon tung a nih. October 7/8 a motor chu suok ding a ni leiin Oct 6 ngeia a tlung a ngai a. Hi consignment bu 200 le Keyboard thon ding chu a hung tlung charin ka car-ah kan thun sok sok a, Tv.Ebenezer leh erpawt tieng kan tlanpui a, aircargo booking an khàr ding trêpin kan tlung a, a phur man cheng singkhat le sanghni vel kan pek nghal a, an thun lut sok sok a, booking office khom chu an khar zui nghal a, a tuk dar sawmah Imphal a tlung hman a nih. Minit sawmin inhnu inlang chu a zing nawk a tlung hman chauh ding a na, buoi hleng a tih. Hi po po ka zuk inzawt san tak chu, harsatna tam tak karah a hun thlap thlapa inpei theia Lalpan rem a mi ruotpek dan ka hril nuom lei a nih.

Senvona bu 200 phur thlak dinga kan thon kha Lal Remsiemin tam taluo dinga a ring leiin bu 100 chauh an motor a lo inphurtir a, a dang po chu Imphal laia zor dingin an maksan a. Aizawl tieng hrawa Delhi-a inthoka hung pawlin bu 36 kan hung phur a, bu 24 chu Senvon kan hawn tlung a. Calcutta-Aizawl inkarah kan Baibul phur man cheng sangkhat le zanga chuong kan chawi bel bok a. Delhi-a inthoka Senvon chen vuongna le motor-a Baibul thon chu a hautak el ni loin a man a to a nih. Pathiena hmangaina thrang loa taksaa unau inhmangaina lei ringot chun thaw rop chi a ni nawh.

Hlapawl inruolsiekna an zo chun sun dar 12 kan tlung phak ta a. Chawl um loin Baibul inhlanna le Manipur le India hmar sak tienga hmang dinga tlangzarna khûn takin kan nei a. Baibul (Delhi Version) buotsai a ni dan tawite ka hril hnungin pastor le upa po poin kut innghata Pathien kuoma inhlanna an nei a, chu zoah tlangzartu dinga inkhawmpui thruoituhaiin an ruot Rev. Thangchuoiloin a tlangzar a. Ka ngen angin khaw tina mi Halelujah Chorus sak thei po, mi zathum chuongin rawl tawp insuoa Pathien ropuina le chawimawina dinga Hmar trong hlaka an hang sak chu, inbuotsai lawkna nei der naw hai sien khom an thiemin a ropui a, a ri kha Lalpa hmaa rimtuia inchang dingin van tieng panin a fawn tung hlup hlup el niin ka hriet.

Baibul kan tlangzar zoin chu nia pastor, upa le tirko hunghai chu bu khat sengin kan sem a. Hi taka kan semhai hi Delhi tlanga inthoka DHCF le mi hrang hrang pek bu 40 lai le Lal Remsiem le Lalzomthang pek bu 48 lai niin ka hriet. Thil inpek po po laia hlawk tak le thaw rop chia ka hriet chu Baibul inpek a nih. Thuhriltuin 11:1), “Tui chungah i bei pei rawh, ni iemani zat hnunga chun i hmu nawk ding a ni si a”a ti indikzie hre nuom le fie nuom chun a mamaw si, inchawkna ding nei si lohai kuomah chatuon hringna bu Baibul pe rawh. A tiemtu taphothai kuoma chawl loa Pathien thutak hril theina, thuhriltuhai thuhriltu ngirhmun chel theina a nih.

Tuta Delhi Version Baibula Genesis-Thupuong inkara thil dang thrang sa loin thumal 8,65,754 a um a, thumal pakhat pei hi cheng khat hua hisapin cheng nuoi kuo vel hu a nih. Dannaranin, Indian newspapers liena thu ziek hin a tlawm takah thumal pakhatah cheng riet vel an pek niin ka hriet a. Chuong anga mihriem thila Baibul hlutna hisap chun cheng nuoi sawmsari chuong hu a nih. Baibul hlutna tak ruok chu mihriem siem thil ieng anga hlu khoma inchawk thei lo, chatuon hringna bu a nih. Chu el bakah, ram le hnam le trong dam khawsuokna chabipui a nih. Chuong anga thil hlu tlangzara a um theina dinga Lalpan hmangruoa a mi hmang nuom el dam hi vangneina chunga vangneina, malsawmna chunga malsawmna a nih.

(November 30, 2007, Delhi)

http://www.sinlung.com/Articles/Senvon-Diary-7.html

Lamka Post | December 5, 2007

Langva kihawm zawm zel

Lamka, Dec-4: Power Minister Pu T. Phungzathang leh a team te’n Khuga Dam in a suksiat khuate a ding a Langva hawmna a neih zoh nung un langva hawm zawm zel ua, tuni’n leng Mata Grouping Centre a te piakkhiakna nei uhi. Tua toh kiton in zingchiang Dec. 5 in Geljang Grouping centre te kiang ah pe ding ua, Dec 6 & 7 in Lamjang leh Kullian grouping centre, December 8 & 9 in Panglian, Sehken, N. Tanglian te ah sunzom ding ua, Dec 10, 2007 in hiai a piakkhak louh khuate leh mimal kiang ah piakkhiak hinawn ding in official thutut kingah hi.


ZRO Home Ministry in thusuah bawl

Lamka, Dec- 4: ZRO nuai a Home Ministry in thusuah a bawl tuni a kimu in a taklat dan in Chritmas ding ziakin khopi sung leh pua ah gari paidan leh taidan ding toh kisai in thusuah bawl hi.

Thusuak in a taklatna ah, khopi sung a gari taite’n 30Km/Hr. a tai ding leh Lamka leh Imphal kikal a service bus te Tipaimukh Road a kinga ding leh Lamka leh Singngat kikal a service peuhmahte Hmuia Veng a khawl ding in theisak uhi.



Westminster School in Farewell programme zang ding

Lamka, Dec- 4: Mualnuam a om Westminster Jr. High School in zingchiang December 5, 2007 in amau school ah Farewell programme zang ding uhi.



Awareness Campaign nei ding

Lamka, Dec- 4: Manipur AIDS Control Society nuai a Women Development Society saina in December 6, 200710:30 in PCO, Media leh NGO te a ding in AIDS/HIV toh kisai in Awareness Campaign sai ding uhi. zinglam dak

Singngat A/C MLA Pu T. Hangkhanpau in tuni’n Singngat bial vehna a neihna ah a L. Kanan kho mipite kipak mahmah in puan tamtak awk sak uhi.



Director 2 in nasepna mun enkhia

Lamka, Dec- 4: New Delhi apan in Centre team SK Das Director Mnistry of Tribal Affairs leh LK Pegu Director of National Commission for Schedule cast ten tuni zingkal lam dak 9:30 in Lamka hong pha uhi. Amau CCpur a Centre apan Tribal development fund a na kisemte hong en uhi. New Lamka YPA Hall, Dr. Ambedkar School, Ngathal YMA Hall, Kawnpui YMA Hall SSPP Residential School leh YPA/Hq Hall te en ua, amau TD fund a kibawl building tamtak amuhte uh lungkimhuai hun tawk sa mamahmah ua, New Lamka YPA Hall kibawl ah lungtung tuan mahmah uh hi’n thutut kingah a, amaute sunnung lam dak 2:30 vel in Imphal ah kik nawn uhi.



NSIC Campaign lohching

Lamka, Dec- 4: National Small Industries Corportion (NSIC) in tuni sunma dak 11 in YPA Hall Upper Lamka ah NSIC nuai a scheme tuamtuam sepkhiak theihdan ding toh kisai in Awareness campaign nei ua, hiai hun ah mipi tamtak tel in lohching mahmah uhi.



Outer MP in Final Prog uap ding

Lamka, Dec- 4: New Lamka Youth Club vaisaina a New Lamka Cup Open Football Tournament pailel ah hong tung ding December 13, 2007 chiang in final kibawlna om ding a, hiai hun ah Mr. Mani Charenamei, MP (Outer) in khuallian hihna toh uap ding a, Power Minister Pu T. Phungzathang leh Pu Khamkhokam Guite, Chief Engineer, PWD, Mizoram ten Functional President leh Guest of Honour hihna toh uap ding uhi.

Hiai final kimawlna ah NUFC leh SMT te kimawl ding uhi.



PHED Minister Chief Guest in pang ding

Lamka, Dec 4: Zomi Colony a Chinkham Modern High School in zingchiang zinglam dak 11:30 in Annual Award Distribution cum Thanks giving Programme zat sawm uhi. Huai hun ah PHED Minister Pu TN Haokip Chief Guest apang in student te kiang ah award tuamtuam pekhe ding hi.



Police leh IRB 150 val tel

Lamka, Dec- 4: SHALOM Office sponsore na in tuni zinglam dak 10:00 apan in Synod Hall IB Road ah One Day Awareness Programme on HIV/AIDS & STI with The Police & IRB Personel chih nei uhi. S. Manglemjao Singh IPS SP/CCpur in inaugural speech nei a, Dr. VC Pau DAO/CCpur in Key-note Address nei a, huai zoh in Dr. Th Premchand Deputy Director MSACS, Upendra Singh State Advocacy Adviser Constella Futures Group, Jangkhogin Programme Officer Shalom leh Dr. C Lalbiakdiki Medical Officer Shalom ten thupi tuam chiat nei in sinsak ding uhi. Huai hun ah Police leh IRB personel 150 val tel uhi.



Ching Mary vuak liam in om

Lamka, Dec- 4: Miss Chingmary(18) d/o Aikhothang of Kamdouveng zan nitak dak 6 vel in vuak liam in om a, a lulak nasa in tun Dist Hospital Lamka ah etkol in om hi.



Public Awareness nei

Lamka, Dec 4: Conference of NGO of Rural India (CNRI) CCpur saina in tuni zinglam dak 9:30 vel in New Lamka YPA Hall ah Science & Technology Bharat Vikas Yatra Public awareness nei uhi. Huai hun ah DC/CCpur Sumant Singh, IAS Chief Guest apang in Public awareness hong hi.

Hiai hun zatna ah, student tamtak leh Science & Technology lam toh kisai Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) leh Natioanal Insurance Corporation (NIC) apan palaite’n sinsak uhi.



David PG vaiphei khawl sak

Lamka, Dec 4: Zillai General Hq a Asst. Gen. Secy David PG vaiphei ban ah ZSF Representative hihna tunai zek apan inn sung buaina khen khat ziak a khawl toh kiton in amah mun a ding in Mr. Kamlemsang of Nehru Marg guang thak uh chih President Zillai Gen Hq. apan thutut kingah hi.



NREGS ziak in khopi sung siangthou

Lamka, Dec 4: National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) nuai ah nasepna pai zom zel a, khopi sung veng tuamtuam ah NREGS a nasem in mun tuamtuam kilawmtak leh siangthoutak in om a, tuni’n leng Headquarter veng leh Upper Lamka te’n amau veng sung hahsiang uhi.



SUNNA

Chinkhojam(80) s/o(L) Liangin of New Lamka College veng zunkhum natna ziak in tuni zingkal dak 1:00 vel in si a, tuni mah in New Lamka YPA hanmual ah kivui hi.


www.zogam.com

IM-GOI ceasefire evaluated

RS Jassal *

The signing of Cease-fire extension for indefinite period is historical so far as resolution of conflict of IM faction with GOI is concerned. No doubt differences in demands (about 32 of IM) have shrinked to a few but GOI stand on 13th point in Sixteen Point Agreement remains pivotal and irreversible, as much as NSCN( IM) settling the issue within Indian Constitution is kept a guarded secret.

Many students of this conflict keenly contest about the gains for IM and what is likely to be left for K faction to negotiate with and why NNC/FGN does not come forward for negotiation if any clause of 16th Point Agreement is left out unfulfilled. Though it is quite obvious that their demands were fulfilled in total starting from Four Point proposal 1946 to formation of Nagaland, except Thirteenth in the Sixteen Point Agreement i.e., bringing all the Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit remains problematic.

The worst affect of this CF is; which is otherwise welcome in all quarters due to its encompassing role in containing the terror; it has put life of supporting cadres of all the three factions and innocent civilians at peril. Most of the killings are now out of revenge & misguided suspicions and one killing pulls at least five more in the channel.

If IM faction is product of progressive lineage of FGN there would have been no necessity for three factions to function. Three factions have different functional style with different source of funding but the most hard hit payee is the common man who coupled with fear of bullets for cooperation with one faction is naturally/ non co-operation for the other, starts looking to his benefactor which is nowhere in sight. This diabolic process is causing unrest & death.

Analytically put, IM has achieved one most significant gain i.e., they can now relax and onus of any non–finalisation of issue in future talks has been clipped to the wings of elected MLAs, MPs of both Manipur & Nagaland. And as and when people go awry about non outcome, they can attribute reasons for same to the inefficiency of their elected representatives.

As already indicated they would be willing to scrap the CF agreement anytime for no satisfactory progress of peace process for which no section of the Nagas would like them to do so.

Present peace allows their cadres to move freely (without weapons of course as per ground rules of CF) but with weapons too, if go undetected. So they are in a better position to reach any corner to thwart dissenting opinions.

Threat on such people can reach faster & for fear of reprisals impelling them to join their bandwagon. Research on methods of achieving unification of Nagas among Nagas will continue. Culturally they have achieved unification i.e., controls in track two administration.

One has to simply walk to Senapati, Ukhrul Jessami and see the cultural changes i.e., in communications, dresses; erection of Naga gates, education imperatives, dealing with social criminal cases by CAOs of GPRN, collection of taxes, in short their parallel Govt. is facilitated to function without fear of intervention from the State or SF’s because of CF in place.

On the other hand inaction of State Govts Nagaland & Manipur both to deal with cases like Lungnila Elizabeth murder case, Henry Hubert duo murder case, killing of a Maram hijacker of a Maruti Van driver (Meitei), recent murder of a Nepali girl at Senapati, killings at Tuensang of three men in Civil jail in the presence of NP/NAP/CRPF/AR, many more killings will go on adding to the list. It really indicates true freedom in full sovereignty to act, to think and to react beyond Indian Constitution and Naga faith.

And yet spirit of Maoist communist ideology represented in the flag post and peace with ‘Nagaland for Christ’ flag flying atop will flutter with Naga HoHo, NMA and NSF NCF to watch with heads high, whistles in mouths blowing, devoid of sounds, warning the warring factions to curb killing spirits.

In view of above, what can happen finally; the confusion as conciliation between groups & church leaders is difficult to achieve in egoist ‘domino policy’ adopted by ‘those who matter’.

It will resurge more vigorously. Strangulation of authority of Dobashi courts, village courts and efforts in reconciliation is going ineffective due to CF. Govt. of Nagaland its legal proviso’s to stop killings UG to UG and UG’s to public is happening again & again and it will go on undeterred if ideologies of three factions are not ironed out into one mould. CL is miserably caught in contrarian pulls (Please connect confession of Dr.Tuisem & Bedrock of Naga Society).

The grand closing in of opinion on both sides (GOI-IM) is appreciation of each other’s vulnerable position. How does it affect the average Naga? Four distinct concepts of Naga freedom thought have come out.

For villagers/Headmen, it is of 1946 Four Point Vision to go back to village–State system i.e., as per one point out of four “If NHs are not separated from Bengal & put with Assam, better leave us alone” (as before) to say prior to British control system.
Khaplang version ‘no solution if Eastern Nagaland (Burma) is not merged with Indian Nagaland’.
IM faction- inclusion of Eastern Nagaland can be put on hold, but no solution if Southern Nagaland is not merged into Nagaland to form Nagalim.
NNC/FGN is thus impelled to demand complete Sovereignty even though Nagaland has been formed in line with 16 Points Agreement, but less areas from Manipur (though stated ostensibly).
Here lies problem for both IM/FGN as it counters each other agenda. Top leadership on either side may take it correct or not and K group influence it.

Due to increased killings after CF many Naga leaders and specially the church feel killing among Nagas of late are happening due to Tangkhul leadership which is sparking hatred time & again. IM feels once issue settles with them, their cadres will be free and situation will cool down, which may be absolutely not so.

Present bloodshed is on in Nagaland & IM solution will invite more blood in Manipur too. Let us ponder over it.

Passage of six decades, active interface and living together, fears of alienation of Naga culture by imposition of any majority communities’ writ on Naga ways allayed, it should now be possible to settle issue peacefully.

Since CF is for indefinite period, settlement of national workers be suitably undertaken Khaplang Mulatano, Muivah - Isaac and Pangerwalling - Nidino be co-opted in future review talks if possible .

For equal development of Naga people, the two tier system of governing their affairs on lines with Sikhs be thought of like ‘Shrimoni Akali Dal’ for political affairs and ‘Shrimani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee’ for religious, socio-cultural affairs taking in this all Nagas trans-borders w/o disturbing the existing State boundaries.

May I therefore call upon the Naga intellectuals & church leaders to sink their differences first and then to devote some time seriously and suggest Sukrat like a legendary Ayurvedic Surgeon final operation of this sore problem to make this issue free from lumps and fungus affecting the glands of public life.

People have lost freedom. Without CF, self respecting people could have at least looked to SF’s for help, now they have been made to float in helpless situation.

Only four categories are left to enjoy basic human freedom. They are all NSA armed groups, Police and the SF’s, bureaucrats at the higher echelons and a citizen who surrenders his right to resist for incivilities. The writer can only pray for peace and wish everybody best of luck under this scenario.

The Indian Army is finest in the world, central PMFs have become easy targets to bag honour i.e., blame from politicians (when in opposition), national and international media, for their inefficiency to handle a few UGs, compared to their outnumbering strength & regulate the movement of UG’s from their designated camps and above all of siding with one faction or the other.

CFMG are lucky to draw fat pay from tax payer’s money for doing nothing for the past one decade. And now they also are entitled for perks & privileges for indefinite period

May be! There is still hope & urgent need to expand CFMG with dedicated new members. They must be given backup of neutral armed SF’s like SSF, at least one Bn attached to CFMG for monitoring moves of the cadres of both IM and K effectively and seriously.

Strong NGO’s with proven peace credentials can help in improving the situation. Strict action against defaulters by trial under law of the land be introduced.

And if found guilty such person(s) be evicted to a reformatory jail which may be set up for this category of detainees only, one at Manigaon and one at Tibaktoo (both in Arunachal Pradesh) outside the State so that people can enjoy to sleep full nights under rights to civil liberties.

Peace’ final need is hastening with whatever Central Government has in store for offering. More delay is inviting more blood.

Blood whether in uniform or of innocent civilian is equally important. Let us stop it.


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* RS Jassal wrote this article for The Sangai Express . This article was webcasted on 04th December 2007.

Spirit of voluntarism: International Volunteers’ Day

By Dilip Singh Wangkhem

Concept of Volunteer

Voluntary service, in its many forms, has been part of human interaction. Yet, widespread recognition of the value of volunteer action is more recent. This has manifested itself in the rapid growth of civil society organizations and Volunteer Sending Agencies (VSAs) all-over the world.

The word “volunteer” means different things to different people. Its translation into different languages and cultures evokes varied responses.

Two elements tend to cause confusion. One is the issue of remuneration; can volunteers be paid and still be called “Volunteer”? The other is that of professionalism; “Volunteer” is frequently equated with “amateur” or, at best, with service given freely on a part-time basis in fields which may have little to do with the person’s professional experience. This often leads to the misperception that a Volunteer is someone who is less qualified or is an eccentric looking for adventure.

We believe that a volunteer is someone who through service contributes to development and humanitarian relief within his or her own society or worldwide, within regard to financial gain.

Volunteer contribution and voluntary organisation:

Over recent decades, increasing awareness of the struggles of their fellow men & women has led more and more individuals from all walks of life to take an action role in bringing about change and building more just societies. Similarly, this period has witnessed an explosive growth of “Voluntary Organizations,” VOs all over the world, but more recently in developing countries. Voluntary Organizations have become in many countries a guarantee for social welfare, environmental protection and peace. One has only to read or watch the news to see that many areas of activity, from the cultural and the political to group survival in times of crisis, would fail without volunteer effort.

Much volunteer work is found in small communities; some act through civil society organizations such as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs), organized alliance or existing social structure. The range of objectives, methods of functioning and staffing of these VOs, NGOs and CBOs is very wide, even within the same country.

Despite this, the value of voluntary service is often hidden, finding little reflection in standard accounting system and statistics used to measure national income and economic growth. At the same time, to give a purely monetary value to volunteer service would be to demean the contribution itself.

Voluntary organizations emerge from the desire of people to demonstrate their concerns for the well-being of others by taking action. As individuals, they may become involved within their community, or with groups whose goals, hopes or values they share. In today’s reality of funding cutbacks, volunteer contributions promise to become even more central to communities and Voluntary Organizations are likely to be called upon more and more to provide assistance to the needy.

Diversity and evolution in volunteer roles

Today, volunteer work transcends by for the purely “developmental” in the sense of being limited to activities designed to foster social and economic growth and its distribution.

Much of it has to do with survival, when human beings are threatened by natural or man-made disaster, epidemics, civil war or environmental degradation. It is not worthy that while media attention is after focused on international volunteers who provide relief and they to bring about peace in war-tom countries, volunteers from the countries involved, often silently and sometimes in much larger members try to build bridges between those at war.

International Volunteer work has become more professionalised. Many countries have in place a human resource base which can go a long way to meeting their needs. They therefore require only practical and specialized inputs to support them in managing their programmes.

Professionalism has become the key, the volunteers most VSAs send out today are in their 30s and 40s, with post-graduate academic qualifications and several years’ practical experience in their own fields.

The typical United Nations Volunteer-Specialist, on average 39 years age, is a good example of this trend.

The role of wide range of development workers has shifted from primarily concentrating on technical cooperation with developing countries, to promoting national and local capacity building and strengthening of institutions. This has included increased emphasis on national implementation.

Characteristics of Volunteer Action:

While accepting the varied motives, which inspire volunteers, it is important to highlight the essential shared characteristics and strengths, which are part of volunteer action. A few of these characteristics and values lie at the core of volunteer motivation.

These include the notion of free will, of solidarity, of service to others and commitment to a cause.

Important driving forces are the desire for social justice, for partnership and sharing of the concerns and conditions of others, a sense of joint responsibility for the tasks to be undertaken, the willingness to adopt and demonstrate flexibility in response to local circumstance and therefore the desire to learn mutually.

Source: The Sangai Express