Will he or won’t he? A hung jury

By Don Morgan Kipgen

The other day, a Rajdoot from Indraprastha made an unprecedented visit to Manipur as a vanguard of big things come. He came to see the real scenario of a political family feud of alarming degree. The man of the moment from the PMO as an AICC field Observer, Prith-iviraj Chauhan, did not come for the hands of Princess Sangogita to fly out with but he did come to ‘interview’ both sides of the divided Congress-I/ MPCC family members to settle things aright once and for all. Apart from po-sing formal questions to unreliable Congress-I MLAs and Ministers as to why the dissidents want to download the ‘Mussahraff of Manipur’ (read O Ibobi Singh) from his well-stored ‘political website’ maintained by them for over 5 years period, Chauhan also demanded from O Ibobi loyalists as to why the CM is fit, able and a strong leader of their choice. He also reportedly ask some very few neutral MPCC senior leaders as to who would be a better CM in case O. Ibobi were to be dethroned or relieved of his Chief Ministership. The AICC Observer would de-finitely not be convinced by the one-sided words or views of both the Dissident MLAs and O. Ibobi Loyalists since truth and honour are always the first casualties in war and politics. The more it is said in political war, the more there is element of doubt. Hence, it seems O Ibobi is likely to survive this biggest storm of his political career since the command and control system of the Dissidents appears to be in disarray after such a promising build up. If the Ibobi Administration were to be brought down, it should have happened a month or so ago when the disoreinted CM was licking his wounds. But now he is back in smart business, but not as commanding and confident as before. Even if he survived all these knock out punches, things will never be the same again. Heads will roll, either way; there shall be no room for Brutus and Judas.

The word is that the PM and Mrs Sonia Gandhi decided to give a benefit of doubt to a Congress I leader who emphatically, and most unexpectedly, secured an absolute majority after successfully running a full term Congress-I led Govt amidst a stormy sea. One should keep in mind that even the most maligned Laloo Prasad Yadav has been given such an important status despite his poor background: a husband and wife politicians too!!! Both have mountains of corruption and swindling charges and credible allegations of misgovernances staked against them till now. But these are not sufficient enough to keep them in a career-breaking political widlerness so far despite the relentless onsalughts launched by friends and foes alike. Needless to say these two non-intellectual and free-dealing political leaders somehow overcame all those unco-ordinated attacks. Who knows what if the CM of Manipur, O. Ibobi Singh, put his newly elected untained wife, who knows everything about a Chief Ministership, like Laloo Prasad did, if he were to be replaced!!! Since the ongoing stand-off is within the highest level, the last thing AICC would want is an openly divided or permanently broken Cong-I Govt in Manipur. In case O. Ibobi is reluctantly forced to step down by the AICC, there has to be an Appeasement Policy and fail-safe alternative Manoeuvres to somehow unite the divided MPCC politically, though highly far-fetched as things stand now. The biggest question in town is; Will he or won’t he ? With such a shaky position and boundless political uncertainties, O. Ibobi will have to bring out the whole part of his survival instincts. Even if he survive, he would be forced to give away either his Home or Finance portfolio which are his Ace of Spade and Queen of Hearts. After which he would have to reshuffle his Ministry and sack Dissident Ministers as advised. But one thing is clear- O. Ibobi will never enjoy the trust nor exercise full command over his own Council of Ministers as he did over the last 5 years. He is running around here and there praying, requesting, pleading and making promises to MPCC members to back him for bountiful returns if things go right. So, his future power-politics has already been compromised in his all out quest for political triumph. Now, who is going to replace O.Ibobi should the findings and reports of AICC Observer compelled New Delhi and AICC to dump him? Well, whosoever occupies the CMO, the present law and order will not change and corruptions will continue, crime rate will definitely remain the same. Change of Cong-I leadership will not change anything.

The present ground situation is no better than that of the last 6 years of Cong-I Govt led by O.Ibobi Singh as a capable CM. If the Dissidents or Anti-Ibobi Cong-I members say that he is not fit and inept leader then why did they re-elected as the CM of Manipur unanimously about 8 months ago ? And why or how did they again elected him as the CM 6 years ago without any open dissent by any of these very Dissident leaders in the first instance? What political leadership qualities did Mr. O. Ibobi Singh have lack now what he had before to become a CM ? The poorly led leaderless Dissidents had failed to oust him here in Imphal, then utterly failed to do so in New Delhi and now hopelessly camping in Imphal, this time, to save their skins and bleak political futures once O. Ibobi officially secured his strong position. Yes, we all know that the PM Manmohan Singh has already gave his full moral support and official assurance to O. Ibobi Team with direct blessing from Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, President, AICC. More importantly the “Crown Prince” Rahul Gandhi has reportedly favoured O. Ibobi Singh whom he personally called “Uncle Ibobi” as “My friend Ibobi” to make his absolutely clear to the leaderless MPCC rebel MLAs/Ministers. Hence, both the Central and State observing teams need to make things crystal clear to put the neglected State Administration back on its tracks for the general interests of the whole population once and for all. According to reliable sources at the PMO and office of the President, AICC, the long delayed sending of Observer and the much longer delay in submitting the report are indication that O. Ibobi has been given a new life line, probably as it looked. A winner is always given a chance since a loser cannot be a winner. A person cannot be called a ‘survivor’ for nothing. Will O. Ibobi Singh would be nailed on the basis of the on-the-spot fact-finding reports forwarded by AICC/PMO’s Observer, P. Chauhan? How or why is it that Mr Chauhan who came to Manipur on such an important mission as Observer for field reports be routed straight to another important mission without any official debriefing in New Delhi as a standard procedure? Was the visit just a mere formal Observation to please to Dissidents or was it a case of O. Ibobi Singh being already put in front of the AICC and PMO’s firing-squad with probably new leaders being chosen to bury O. Ibobi’s tainted legacies? Whatever the case might be both the repeated delayings of sending Central Observer and the handling of this political fiasco cleary shows that the ‘Manipur’s Matter’ is considered ‘secondary issue’ by AICC and PMO since direct official briefings and debriefings after an observation tour is not sent in under such sensitive issue as this one faced by the O. Ibobi Administration, and ofcourse, by the down-trodden and neglected citizens of Mani-pur for the last 15 years.

Even if the MPCC and O. Ibobi’s Congress - I are put through the sword, the peaceful citizens of Mani-pur deserve much dignified socio-political treatment by the Congress-I Top Guns in New Delhi. It’s not the size, resources, population and local eco-nomy of a State that really count in modern day de-mocratic Govt. Since the Constitution of the US being one of the guiding spirits of the Constitution of India, the equal relationship treatment of all the States of the USA have to be likewise honoured and followed for better future.


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Manipur News | December 15, 2007

Rebel camp to fly out today to regroup at New Delhi, CM too leaves state on official business
By : A Staff Reporter 12/15/2007 12:55:29 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 14: Refusing to retreat from their efforts to oust O Ibobi Singh from chief ministership and to put further pressure on the Congress high command at the Centre, the rebel Congress MLAs who were camping in Imphal since a few days back will again shift to the national capital, New Delhi tomorrow.

Meanwhile, chief minister O Ibobi Singh who left the state capital today on a official tour outside the state handed over the charge of chief ministerial duties to the senior most minister, Th Debendra. The chief minister has already reached Guwahati along with his wife Landhoni today.

Confirming the shifting of the dissident camp to the national capital, a source in the rebel camp said that air tickets had been booked with the Jet Airways for the MLAs in the rebel camp today.

MPCC president Gaikhangam will also leave for New Delhi on Sunday (December 16) to join the camp, the source said. However, four ministers including Th Debendra, who the rebel MLAs claim is their projected leader, will not be part of the MLAs team leaving tomorrow.

The source at the rebel camp also could not immediately confirm when the MLAs who are staying back will join the camp at New Delhi.

The sources also disclosed that the MLAs are heading for Delhi to wait for the submission of the report of the Congress general secretary, Prithivi Raj Chauhan who visited the state and is now back in New Delhi after taking stock of the crisis within the state Congress.

Chauhan is likely to submit his report to the party high command after Sunday as he left the national capital for Karnataka on a two-day visit of the state. He is scheduled to stay in the south Indian state till December 16, according to the source.

Meanwhile, the camp of the rebel MLAs at MLA Nandakumar’s quarter dispersed tonight after an informal meeting was held. This was apparently to enable them to make arrangements for their journey to New Delhi tomorrow, the source added.

In the meantime, chief minister O Ibobi Singh who left Imphal after handing over charge to Th Debendra will fly to Shillong tomorrow by chopper to attend the passing out parade of the jamandars of the Manipur Rifles on completion of military training at North East Police Academy, NEPA.
He is scheduled to leave Guwahati for his onward official tour to Delhi the day after. He will attend a meeting of chief ministers of the northeast on December 17 and 18, National Development Council, NDC meeting on December 19 followed by chief minister’s conference to be held in New Delhi on December 20.

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Rockefeller Award for Ratan Thiyam
By : A Staff Reporter 12/15/2007 12:54:45 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 14: Ratan Thiyam, poet, novelist, director, musician, painter and actor has done Manipur proud again. He has been named to receive the Asian Cultural Council’s 2007 John D Rockefeller Award in recognition of his extraordinary achievements as a theatre director, writer, designer, musician, actor and cultural leader in Manipur, India and internationally. The important contributions made by the Chorus Repertory Theatre in bringing the performing arts of Manipur and of India to the attention of international community have also been acknowledged by the trustees.

Each year the Asian Cultural Council presents the John D Rockefeller Award of the Asian Cultural Council to an individual from Asia or the United States who has made a significant contribution to the international understanding, practice, or study of the visual or performing arts of Asia. This award for outstanding professional achievement commemorates the deep and long standing interest of John D Rockefeller 3rd in Asian art and culture.

Candidates for the John D Rockefeller Award must be nominated by artists, scholars, and others professionally involved in Asian art and culture. Recipients are selected by the trustees of the Asian Cultural Council in consultation with various specialists in the candidates’ fields as well as with qualified individuals having firsthand knowledge of the nominees’ professional activities and accomplishments. The award enables recipients to pursue work in some aspect of the arts of Asia through international travel and research.

Funds for the award are made possible by an endowment gift to the Asian Cultural Council from The JDR 3rd Fund.

Ratan Thiyam’s love for Manipur and its culture knows no bounds. He firmly believes that plays should be based on logic and reason - it should mirror the society; it should be able to analyse the social changes and give comment on it. His plays have become ever more experimental with each new play.

His writings also equally voice his concern for his native land. Quoting a few lines from his poem ‘The story of a land turned barren’, he says:
With unknown ‘ism’
with unknown words
this land full of unknown habits
would become like this, would become so terrible unwittingly, because of it,
it is still stuck with ‘Kyamgei is a fertile land’
thinking what teacher Madhumangol had written is correct
I had forgotten to ask teacher Kalachand Shastri.

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While Tml village lives in fear, forest dept says tiger will not be trapped
By : Thingbaijam Dhamen/IFP 12/15/2007 12:53:41 AM

IMPHAL/TML, Dec 14: The state forest department has no plans to catch the Bengal Tiger roaming in the forests of Tamenglong even as the villagers of Bhalok village and its surroundings fear that the big cat might start attacking them sooner or later.

The wildlife warden’s office in Imphal has said that they have no plans to catch the tiger as there is as yet no possibility of the tiger attacking human beings. Efforts are also on to count the number of tigers dwelling in the area.

“We believe that more than one tiger may be in the jungle,” said the chief wildlife warden, AK Rana during a talk with the IFP. He also observed that the tiger may have migrated or escaped from the forests of neigbouring states of Nagaland or Assam due to the heavy deforestation there which has led to the reduction of its dwelling space.

Villagers on the other hand said that as many as 17 calves including buffalo calves had failed to return since the beginning of this month and they assumed that some of them might have been killed by the full grown Bengal tiger that has been roaming in the vicinity of their village Bhalok since the first week of December this year.

Officials of the state wildlife warden’s office, however, said that the calves may have been missing due to other reasons.

The presence of a tiger near Bhalok village has been officially confirmed after a team of the state forest department visited the village and found pug marks of the big cat which was once announced to be totally extinct from the forests of Manipur.

A villager named Akhuaikhou of Bhalok village said he had witnessed a tiger roaming with his own eyes at Joupi mountain located not so far away from his village.

According to village authorities, most of the villagers have heard the roaring sound of the tiger at night as well as in the evening since the last around one week.

The villagers have stopped going out from their respective homesteads at nightfall and in the early mornings. “Villagers have also been warned not to go out alone in the forests even in the daytime,” the chairman added.

As a precautionary measure and to prevent the tiger from intruding, jungle cutting operation has been launched by the villagers. Around 100 villagers are cutting the jungle between IT road and Joupi mountain where villagers believed the big cat is dwelling.

Even though the deputy commissioner, Tamenglong district issued an order on December 1 not to cause harm or death of the tiger, the villagers are disappointed with the state government officials who have not arrived at the village for hunting and trapping the tiger.

They said that if the authorities fail to do so they would take up their own course of action to relieve the villagers from the prevailing panic running in the village as well as in the neighbouring village.

In the meantime, the state wildlife warden here in Imphal, while appealing to the villagers not to kill the tiger said that the wild cat has the right to live in the forest and so far there is no possibility of attacks on humans by the tiger.

The officials are continuing their campaign to protect the tiger, the chief wildlife warden said.
He also said that the authorities had no plan to catch the tiger. “But we are making the villagers aware on how tigers become maneaters and the need for protecting the big cat. We are also conducting a poster campaign,” he added.

While reacting to the villagers warning that the tiger would be killed if the state authorities failed to catch the tiger, the wildlife warden said, “That is very irresponsible.”

“We are trying our best to convince the villagers not to kill the tiger and allow it to stay in the forest as the tiger dwelling there is not a maneater,” Rana said reiterating that “it is the right of the wild animals to dwell in the forest.”

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Tipaimukh project public hearing to be reconducted at site
By : Thingbaijam Dhamen/IFP 12/15/2007 12:52:54 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 14: Public hearing on the Tipaimukh Hydro-Electricity Power Project for which the foundation stone was laid a year back in 2006 will be reconducted at the project site.

According to an official source the public hearing on the environment aspect of the project follows a directive from the Union ministry of home affairs. The ministry also asked the Manipur government to conduct the public hearing as early as possible at the project site.

Mention may be made that many civil organizations based in the state like the Action Committee Against the Tipaimukh Project, ACTIP have been objecting to the construction of the project in Manipur. They are also blaming the authorities for conducting the public hearing at other places and not at the site where the dam is to be constructed.

Protesting that a public hearing in Tamenglong district in November 2006 was not conducted in a fair manner, project opposers had also burnt down a government office there.

The Tipaimukh Hydro Electric Multipurpose project is proposed to be constructed on the Barak river at the junction of Manipur, Mizoram and Assam states. The project is targeting to provide 1500 mega watt of power.

The project has been approved by the planning commission at a cost of Rs. 6,000 crores. However, approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, CCEA and forest and environment clearance is yet to be given.

The project is to be implemented by the North Eastern Electric Power Cooperation, NEEPCO as Central sector project.

Meanwhile, the NEEPCO has been making headway towards the detailed survey and investigation. The DSI is important from the point of view of preparation of estimates for the main project features.

The new alignment for the NH-53 diversion at Makru bridge site and Barak bridge site have already been surveyed, and necessary check, survey and estimation is getting ready to be conducted by the Border Roads Organization, BRO, an official said adding that the same work for the NH-150 and Manbahadur Road (Jiribam-Tipaimukh) are in progress.

The official also stated that the river route survey along Barak river from Karimgunj upto Jirimukh has been completed.

On the other hand, the implementing agencies have also floated notice for international competitive bidding for engineering, procurement and construction, EPC for major items like dam, electro-mechanic parts etc. and the date of opening of the bids is scheduled on December 31, 2007.

Process is also underway for the development of infrastructure like accommodation and path etc. at the project site, the officials added.

The foundation stone of the project, mention may be made, was laid by the Union minister for power at Thanlon in Churachandpur district in December 2006.

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Music festival to bring together state’s folk musicians
By : A Staff Reporter 12/15/2007 12:51:53 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 14: ‘Wake Up and Reach Out,’ a traditional and folk music festival that would bring together folk musicians and singers of the various ethinc groups of the state is to be held at the THAU ground, Thangmeiband next Wednesday.

The folk music festival, the second of its kind being organised by the Folk Art and Cultural Guild, Manipur aims at bringing music artistes from both the hills and the valley together on a common platform to promote and popularize folk music, Momo Laishram, director of the guild informed a press conference held today.

Laishram, who is also a professional drummer, observed that at this juncture of flux and change in society, the time has come for all of us to come forward and show who we are through our rich culture and music.

He said folk music artistes from Tangkhul, Koireng Aimol, Khoibu, Mao, Thadou, Zeliangrong, Maram, Poumai, Kuki-Chin-Mizo, Anal, Monsang, Tarao, Lamkang, Chiru, Chothe, Muslim and Meitei will be performing at the fest, sharing skills and experiences of their respective music traditions.

He added that there would be two categories - folk and modern music, and all participants will be expected to present their original compositions (rather than cover versions).

Soul Mate, professional blues musical band of Meghalaya, which represented India at an international Blues festival held at Memphis, USA, in January this year, and Warklung, a professional folk artiste from Karbi Anglong will also be performing at the festival.

Guru Rewben Mashangva, well-known Tangkhul folk and blues music artiste, who is an organising member, observed that the traditional music festival will give an opportunity to various artistes from different ethnic communities to improve themselves, and expose their traditional music forms on a broader platform.

Talented artistes and singers from every ethnic group will be selected after the festival for participation in the NE Roots Festival due to be held next year, Momo Laishram added.

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NSCN-IM gift new materials to Tamenglong hospital
By : Daniel Kamei/IFP 12/15/2007 12:50:56 AM

TAMENGLONG, Dec 14: The amount deducted from the state government employees’ salaries for alleged deriliction of duties was used to buy hospital items and handed over today to the district hospital in Tamenglong district headquarter by cadres of an insurgent group.

The material handed over today to the district hospital included 14 each of mattress, bed sheets and pillows. According to the Zeliangrong region NSCN (IM), the materials were bought with the money deducted from the salaries of those employees including doctors who were found out of station and abstaining from duty.

Staffs including doctors of the hospital were found out of station or irregular in their duties when inspected by the cadres of the outfit as a part of their inspection drive at each and every government office in the district.

The cadres of Zeliangrong Region, GPRN (NSCN/IM) have been conducting the inspection and punishing employees since around a month back in the district.

They deducted half the amount from five employees’ monthly salaries and with the amount bought the hospital materials which were handed over to the hospital authorities by cadres of the outfit led by one Rajoupiou (minister) Athimpou and Lisi ( equivalent to SDC of a district) Dingkham today.

Around 15 cadres of the outfit including around 10 well armed cadres came to the hospital along with the minister and handed over the materials today. Before leaving the outfit also helped six serious patient in the hospital by providing their requirements in kind.

As soon as the materials were received, old and rotten materials of 14 beds in the hospital were replaced in front of the Rajoupiou and cadres.

According to the Rajoupiou, they were following directives from their CAO, Longchaibi Golmei.
The hospital staff thanked the efforts of the outfit and said that they had done what the government had not done for a long time.

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Central team arriving to consider NIT construction matter’
By : A Staff Reporter 12/15/2007 12:49:29 AM

IMPHAL, Dec 14: A three-member fact finding team from the Centre is coming to Imphal on December 19 to hold a public hearing on the proposed construction of National Institute of Technology, NIT at the Langol area, according to ex-MP, Kim Gangte.

Addressing a press conference today at the Manipur Press Club, the ex-MP, who is the chairperson of the JAC for Protection of Residential, Agricultural and Wetlands, Langol-Lamphelpat, said the Central team would look into whether the people's consent is heard before taking up the proposed establishment of the NIT at Langol at the cost of destroying wetland and residential areas.

Kim Gangte also informed that recently a delegation of the JAC went to New Delhi and highlighted the public’s opposition to the proposal of the state government to construct NIT at Langol to the AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, and other Central leaders.

The delegation made it clear that a Nandigram-like situation could develop if the state government did not change its mind on the issue, she said.

Gangte said the Central leaders have responded positively to the grievances of the people of the area and assured to intervene in the matter.

Kim Gangte further pointed out that several memoranda urging the government to review its proposal for the construction of NIT at the area have been submitted to the state chief minister, as well as the three MPs of the state earlier, but no effect has been seen till date.

The ex-MP reiterated that the JAC are not against the setting up of the NIT in Manipur, which is considered a piece of good fortune, ‘but we oppose the decision to construct it at the proposed site’.

Observing that chief minister Ibobi has been insisting that adequate security is a major criteria for choosing a site for the NIT, she said Langol is not the securest place, citing various incidents of violence that have been taking place there.

She also pointed out, people of Bishnupur, and Keithelmanbi have come forward offering to donate land for the NIT at sites located near security posts, and questioned why Ibobi is not choosing these sites.

THE IMPHAL FREE PRESS

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MHRC’s missive to State police

By Our Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, Dec 14 : Following a petition filed by the wife of one Phanjoubam Ghanashyam, the Manipur Human Rights Commission has sent a missive to the DGP to ensure that the ‘prisoner should be treated in accordance with the provisions of the law for the time being in force in the country.’

The petitioner, Phanjou-bam ongbi Bidyapati Chanu in her petition to the MHRC alleged that her husband was shifted from Manipur Central Jail to the Imphal Police Station and subjected to harassment by way of threats and bodily harms.

Acting on the petition, the MHRC said that in view of the allegation that there is fear of torture of Ghanashyam, it would call on the DGP to submit an early report to the Commission.

The MHRC said that the report may submitted on or before December 24.

Earlier in the petition filed to the Rights Commission, Bidyapati urged it to call for a detailed report about the cause for the ‘illegal detention of the accused, Ph Ghanashyam in the police lock up, to inquire into the facts and circumstances leading to the shifting of Ph Ghanashyam from Manipur Central Jail to Imphal PS.’

The petitioner also urged the Commission to prosecute the personnel involved in the transfer of Ghanashyam from the Jail to the police station and to pay a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs or at a rate the Commission deems fit.

The Rights Commission in its missive to the DGP also said that allegations have been raised that no one is allowed to meet the prisoner.

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JAC warns State Govt over NIT site

By Our Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, Dec 14 : The JAC for Protection of Residential, Agricultural and Wetlands in Langol-Lamphelpat has cautioned the State Government against igniting a Nandigram like situation in Langol-Lamphelpat by its adamant move to set up the National Institute of Technology (NIT) there.

Addressing a press conference at Manipur Press Club here today, chairperson of the JAC and former MP Kim Gangte said what is happening in Nandigram, West Bengal is known to all the people now and the possibility of a similar violent situation cannot be ruled out if the State Government is adamant on its stand of setting up NIT at Langol area .

To highlight this point, three delegates of the JAC had recently gone to Delhi to met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, PMO Minister Prithiviraj Chauhan, HRD Minister Arjun Singh, MP Renuka Chaudhury, CPI National general secretary AB Bhardhan and other Central leaders, Kim Gangte said.

Apart from submitting the memorandum of the JAC to each of these Central leaders, the copy of the same have been forwarded to the three MPs from Manipur, she added.
As an outcome of the meeting with the Central leaders who gave a patient hearing to the case of the JAC, a National Fact Finding Team would be arriving to conduct public hearing on the issue at Imphal on December 19, she further informed.

The former MP informed that Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh had misled the Centre by stating that the people have no objection to setting up NIT at Langol.
As a matter of fact, JAC is not against setting up of NIT, but acquisition of the residential area, agricultural land and filling up the natural water bodies at Langol-Lamphelpat for construction of the said institute is objectionable, Kim clarified.

Langol-Lamphelpat area is a place where people belonging to different social backgrounds are living in social harmony. So the step being taken up by the Chief Minister would only disturb the social harmony and displace the people from their own homeland, she asserted.

Reacting to the assertion of the State Government that setting up of the proposed NIT at Langol is imperative from the security point of view, the former MP observed that such assertion is far from the truth and reality.

How could one say that the Langol area is safe, when the bungalow of the Chief Minister itself is not immune to bomb attacks and UGs have been arrested from the high security zone of Babupara quarters of the MLAs and Ministers ?, she questioned.

The security of the NIT lies in the three points appro-ved by the people and the same of which have been placed before the Central leaders by the JAC, she said, while pointing out that the issue of the NIT had been brought up in the Lok Sabha for discussion by MP Kirip Chaleha on December 6. With the support of other organisations and Chur-ches., the JAC would conti- nue to oppose construction of NIT at Langol, she added categorically.

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Manipur’s killing field

By Stuart John Groser, Executive Secretary, SODNER-Group, Ukhrul

In these times of unrelieved turmoil, change, confusion, doubt, temptation and terror, when we are living in a state where there is almost total anarchy, most people are looking for meaning in their lives.

The anarchy, discontent and unrest that is shaking the state cannot be dealt with by politics alone or by legitimate violence (or in other words by state sponsored terrorism) or by any other form of terrorism, but by getting closer to the central and intimate places of personal life and moral conduct and by changing our entire thought processes and outlook towards other people and towards life in general.

It is no use imagining and hoping that some new political formula can be improvised that will save what is left of our crumbling society or restore what has been destroyed. There is no use in putting the blame on someone else or looking into the future for some new revelation of what man needs in order to survive.

The revelation has already been made - man has conquered the jungle about him and the barbarian within him. The age old principles of dedication to work and duty, the transcendent criteria of truth, justice and sacrifice and the grace of love and charity have made men free.

Only in this profound, stern and time tested wisdom can we find the light and courage we need to bring about the change we are seeking. It is only by the principles of universal brotherhood and by recognition of one another as human beings that we can bring about an end to the corruption, senseless violence and killing that is wrecking our state.

Hitler and the Nazis propagated the theory that all non-Aryans were ‘sub-human’ and thus became notorious for their brutal killing of Jews and those other ethnic groups that they placed on the same level as the Jews.

They suspended the Rule of Law, detaining, torturing and killing people merely because of their inferior ethnic origin. This took place over forty years ago and was condemned by the entire world; but if we look around us today we can see the same thing happening in our state.

The authorities are using detention without trial (which may be imposed without explanation and without having to justify it in any court - refer AFSPA) torture and killing ‘encounters’ to curb insurgency. The insurgents are retaliating by placing IEDs, making indiscriminate attacks on camps, attacking convoys and patrolling parties of the security forces.

Most of these retaliatory measures have taken place and are continuing to take place in crowded public places. But the most heart-rending and painful problem is that of the violence, rapes, beatings, torture and death to which 'suspects' (innocent bystanders/civilians) are subjected to during combing operations and interrogation by the security forces.

However all the blame cannot be placed on them - the insurgents too have their share of blame to take. They are looting the poor passengers travelling on the highways, kidnapping and killing people who belong to other ethnic groups or tribes or states or even to another political group.

Once we start looking at one another as human beings who feel the same pain and bleed as each one of us does, then we can start on the road to recovery. The superiority complexes, ethno-centric thinking, greed and ego trips that we are having today must give way to a spirit of oneness.

We are all human beings first and foremost so why this senseless violence and killing of one another? What do we gain by it except more bloodshed and hatred? Have we become bloodthirsty animals? Will our blood-lust be sated when our beautiful state becomes another Vietnamese or Cambodian Killing Field? When will we, the Civil Society, have enough of all that is troubling us?

It is only when we, the People (the Civil Society), say ‘Enough,’ and rise up against all that is troubling us and making our lives miserable that it will stop. As long as we remain passive bystanders, spectators and witnesses - thanking God that the violence etc has not affected us personally - the corruption, senseless violence and killing will continue and we will all go on being the sacrificial offerings in this ‘Demonic Feast’.

From time immemorial Manipur has been a peacefully beautiful state with all peoples and tribes living together and working for the common good. Let us, irrespective of caste, creed, tribe, state or ethnic affiliation, come together and join hands so that we can restore it to its former glory.

Thus we can prove to the world and to ourselves that all differences can be transcended by a genuine love and concern for our fellow-men and a deep and cherishing love for our State.

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THE KUKIS

By PS Haokip

Introduction

The Kukis are indigenous people of Zale’n-gam, ‘Land of Freedom’. Zale’n-gam refers to the contiguous ancestral lands situated in present-day Northeast India, Northwest Burma and the Chittagong Hill tracts in Bangladesh. The Kukis lived in this part of the Indian sub-continent without being separated by international boundaries up until the early part of the twentieth-century. They were an independent people comprising numerous clans, each governed by its chieftain according to Kuki law, customs and tradition. After 1937, under British colonialists’ administration the upper Chindwin and Kale Kabow valley in present-day Sagaing Division was incorporated into Burma, the Chittagong Hill Tracts to East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), and the adjoining Kuki Hills ranging from present-day Manipur to Nagaland, Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills in Assam, Tripura and the former Lushai Hills to India.

The dismemberment of Kuki territory and its incorporation within the three independent nations: India, Burma and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), has caused immense socio-economic and political hardships to the people. The effects continue to haunt the people to this day. Another major impact of this state of dispersal concerns the people’s identity. However, despite the absence of a known script, and consequently a lack of written contemporaneous history, the oral tradition, recognized as a key stone in the reconstruction of communities dispossessed of written documents (Vansina, 1985), has served to retain vital elements of the Kuki people’s past and their identity. Other aspects that connect the people with the earlier period is their shared history, the mutually intelligible dialects, a common culture, customs and traditions, which have remained intact. Folk-lore, genealogy and traditional forms of compositions and musical instruments have also remained unaltered. These characteristics of the people define them as a distinct entity, and combined with the oral traditions help to preserve the people’s past and ethnicity. Carey and Tuck (1978 (reprinted), p2) perceptibly observed that the people’s rich traditions, wealth of manners and customs all point to one origin.


Who Are The Kukis?

Various scholars and British colonialist officials broadly describe the Kukis as belonging to the Mongolian stock. Fro example, Yule (1885) and Col Phyre (1886) concluded that the Kukis belong to the Indo-Chinese family, and Capt Forbes and GA Grierson categorise them as belonging to the Tibeto-Burman group. Taw Sien Kho, a lecturer at Cambridge University classified the Kukis as a sub-family of the Turaneans, which include the Japanese, Chinese and Siamese. A pertinent query that arises is how the term ‘Kuki’ came to denote a particular ethnic group. According to Col Reid (1893), the term ‘Kuki’ is a Bengali word meaning ‘hill-men’ or ‘highlanders’. In his view, from the time of Warren Hastings, ‘Kuki’ had come to be regarded as a conglomeration of various tribes. Capt Lewin (1870, p.130), the then Deputy Commissioner of Chittagong Hill Tracts, observed that the Kukis are a powerful and independent people. Kukis have also been described as a nation of hunters and warriors, ruled by their principal hereditary Chiefs or Raja, but divided into clans, each under its own chief.

Regarding the categorisation of Kukis, William Shaw (1929, p.16), a British civil servant, stated that the Koms, Aimols, Khotlangs (Hmars), Thadous, Lushais, Pois (Marings) Paites, Gantes, Darlungs (Darlong), Khelma, Biete and several others are undoubtedly all connected. Lt Col Shakespear (1912, introduction) noted that the term ‘Kuki’ has come to have a fairly definite meaning, and we now understand by it certain closely allied clans, with well-marked characteristics, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman stock. In Shakespear’s view the term Kuki includes Aimol, Chothe, Chiru, Koireng, Kom, Purum, Anal, Lamgang, Moyon, Monsang, Maring, Gangte, Vaiphei, Simte, Paite, Thadou, Hmar and Zou. According to GA Grierson, in Linguistic Survey of India, the tribes connoted by Kuki includes Anals, Aimols, Chirus, Gangte, Hmars, Koms, Lushais, Paites, Purums, Raltes, Suktes, and Thadou, each able to understand the other’s dialect and having a common social and cultural life and place of origin. A classification of Kuki by Prof JK Bose (1934), a renowned anthropologist, includes Chiru, Chothe, Anal, Kom, Tarao, Aimol, Purum, Lamgang, Wainem, Thadou, Lushai and Paite.

In independent India, the above classification that highlight the fact of common ethnicity and identity has been represented under ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ in the Constitutional Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes lists of 1951 in the states of Assam, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram, and in Nagaland simply as ‘Kuki’. However, the Constitution Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Lists (Modification) Order, 1956, The Schedule, Part X – Manipur, recognizes the various clans as separate individual ‘tribes’. This tribe modification order has exacerbated the identity crisis caused by the international boundaries that divide Kuki country.

In ethnological terms a ‘tribe’ denotes a people with distinct culture, tradition and language. By these criteria, in the state of Nagaland the Constitutional Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes classify the Ao, Angami, Lotha, and Sema, which all have a distinctive culture, customs, traditions and language are recognized as different tribes. By the same criteria, the Kuki clans, which share a common culture, customs and traditions, and dialects with the same root language need to be collectively identified as a single ‘tribe’, not separate ‘tribes’. The error of the tribe modification order of 1956 was rectified in the year 2003 by ‘The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Orders (Amendment) Act, 2002, No. 10 of 2003, in Part X Manipur’, which reintroduced ‘Any Kuki Tribes’.

‘Any Kuki Tribes’ also helps to dispel the anomaly introduced by the Constitution Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Lists (Modification) Order, 1956, which recognised Thadou, a sub-clan, to represent the various related sub-clans who speak the same dialect. The anomaly essentially relates to varying accounts of genealogical origins.

Efforts to bridge the gap of identity that prevailed from 1956 onwards has led to a rather frantic quest for alternatives to Kuki as a common identity. Nomenclatures, such as ‘Khul’, ‘Mizo’, ‘Tribal League’, ‘Tuhbem Som’, ‘Chikim’, ‘Zomi’, ‘Zo’, and ‘Eimi’ were experimented with, but to no lasting avail. The re-introduction of ‘Any Kuki Tribes’ provides an avenue to generate the much-needed unity among the people, particularly in reference to the dire political condition prevalent in present-day Manipur state. In specific regard to the existing predicament faced by the people, the present may prove to be an opportune moment to reconsider the credence of Kuki as a historically bona fide identity. With regard to Kuki’s historicity, for example, published in The Telegraph (17 Jan 1994), the Pooyas, the traditional literature of the Meitei people of Manipur testify that ‘two Kuki Chiefs named Kuki Ahongba and Kuki Achouba were allies to Nongba Lairen Pakhangba, the first historically recorded king of the Meithis [Meiteis], in the latter’s mobilisation for the throne in 33 AD’. When Kuki chiefs existed in prominent state in 33 AD (referred to above), it is a self-evident fact that the Kukis and the identity Kuki existed preceding that period. The identity Kuki is also endorsed by eminent personalities associated with the people in the past, such as Grierson (1904), Shakespear (1912), Lewin (1856), and Mackenzie (1884). Their accounts provide a rich cultural heritage of the Kuki people and their identity. Their narratives are also singular because none other exists that can legitimate an alternative identity. In other words, owing to its antiquity, Kuki’s appropriateness as a terminology for the collective identity of the people is self-evident. The identity is particularly important with regard to the crisis of identity in Manipur.


Kuki Indigenity with Specific Historical References

Historians such as Majumdar and Bhattasali (1930, 6-7) refer to the Kukis as the earliest people known to have lived in pre-history India, preceding ‘the “Dravidians” who now live in South India.’ Comparatively, the Aryans, who drove the Dravidians towards the south, arrived in the Indian sub-continent around BC 1500 (Thapar, 1966, 29). Apart from the refernce to the Pooyas dating back to 33 AD, Cheitharol Kumaba (Royal Chronicles of the Meitei Kings) records that in the year 186 Sakabda (AD 264) Meidungu Taothingmang, a Kuki, became king. This is supported by the statement of Prof JN Phukan (1992, 10) who writes:

If we were to accept Ptolemy’s ‘Tiladae’ as the ‘Kuki’ people, as identified by Gerini, the settlement of the Kuki in North-East India would go back to a very long time in the past. As Professor Gangumei Kabui thinks, ‘some Kuki tribes migrated to Manipur hills in the pre-historic times along with or after the Meitei advent in the Manipur valley'' (History of Manipur, p24). This hypothesis will take us to the theory that the Kukis, for the matter, the Mizos, at least some of their tribes, had been living in North-East India since the prehistoric time, and therefore, their early home must be sought in the hills of Manipur and the nearby areas rather than in Central China or the Yang-tze valley.

In the second century (AD 90 – 168), Claudius Ptolemy, the geographer, identified the Kukis with Tiladai who are associated with Tilabharas, and places them ‘to the north of Maiandros, that is about the Garo Hills and Silhet’ (Gereni, 1909, 53). Stevenson’s (1932) reference to Kuki in relation to Ptolemy’s The Geography also bears critical significance to its period of existence. In the Rajmala or Annals of Tripura, Shiva is quoted to have fallen in love with a Kuki woman around AD 1512 (Dalton, 1872, 10).


The Wingspan of Ancestral Kuki Territory

According to Capt Pemberton (1853), the Kuki territory stretch from the southern borders of Manipur valley to the Northern limit of the province of Arracan. Meerwarth (1835) observed that the Kukis occupied the hill ranges south of the Naga Hill, to the east the tribes of upper Chindwin and the Chin Hills, on the south those living on the hill tracts of Chittagong, while on the west they are bounded by the plains of Sylhet and the hills of North Cachar. William Shaw (1929) stated that the Kukis live in a large area of hilly country bounded by the Angami Nagas of the Naga Hills District in the North, the Province of Burma in the East, Lushai Hills in the South and the districts of Cachar in the West. Dalton (1872) had noted that the Kukis are the neighbors of the Nagas in Assam and in contiguity with the Mugs of Arracan. The Hill country occupied by them extends from the valley of the Kolodyne, where they touch on the Khumis to the Northern Cachar and Manipur. Similarly, DN Majumdar (1944) also observed:

The Kuki Chiefs rule over the country between the Karnapuli river and its main tributary, the Tuilampai, on the west, and the Tyao and Koladyne boundary is roughly a line drawn east and west through the junction of the Mat and Kolodyne rivers and their northernly villages are founded on the borders of the Silchar district.

The Encyclopaedia Britannica (1962, Vol 13, 511) records, ‘Kuki, a name given to a group of tribes inhabiting both sides of the mountains dividing Assam and Bengal from Burma, covering regions of the Nantaleik River.’

The wingspan of the Kuki territory as noted by Grierson (1904) is reproduced as follows:

The territory inhabited by the Kuki tribes extends from the Naga Hills in the north down into the Sandoway District of Burma in the south; from Myittha River in the east, almost to the Bay of Bengal in the west. It is almost entirely filled up by hills and mountain ridges, separated by deep valleys.
A great chain of mountains suddenly rises from the plains of Eastern Bengal, about 220 miles north of Calcutta, and stretches eastward in a broadening mass of spurs and ridges, called successively the Garo, Khasia, and Naga Hills. The elevation of the highest point increases towards the east, from about 3,000 feet in the Garo Hills to 8,000 and 9,000 in the region of Manipur.
This chain merges, in the east, into the spurs, which the Himalayas shoot out from the north of Assam towards the south. From here a great mass of mountain ridges starts southwards, enclosing the alluvial valley of Manipur, and thence spreads out westwards to the south of Sylhet. It then runs almost due north and south, with cross-ridges of smaller elevation, through the districts known as the Chin Hills, the Lushai Hills, Hill Tipperah, and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. Farther south the mountainous region continues, through the Arakan Hill tracts, and the Arakan Yoma, until it finally sinks into the sea at Cape Negrais, the total length of the range being some seven hundred miles.
The greatest elevation is found to the north of Manipur. Thence it gradually diminishes towards the south. Where the ridge enters the north of Arakan it again rises, with summit upwards of 8,000 feet high, and here a mass of spurs is thrown off in all directions. Towards the south the western off-shoots diminish in length, leaving a track of alluvial land between them and the sea, while in the north the eastern off-shoots of the Arakan Yoma run down to the banks of the Irawaddy.
This vast mountainous region, from the Jaintia and Naga Hills in the north, is the home of the Kuki tribes. We find them, besides, in the valley of Manipur, and, in small settlements, in the Cachar Plains and Sylhet.

Kuki chieftains reigned supreme in Zale’n-gam, the undivided ancestral lands, and their people lived in peace traversing its entire expanse like a grand eagle in flight.

Reference:

1. Annexation of Manipur 1949, Published by People’s Democratic Movement (1995)
2. Burma and Assam Frontier, ‘Kuki rising, 1917-1919’, L/PS/10/724, Oriental and India Office Collections (OIOC), British Library, London
3. Burma and Assam Frontier, Resolution on the Late Kuki Rising, Extract from the Proceedings of the Chief Commissioner of Assam in the Political Department, NO. 8856 P. dated the 27 September 1920
4. Burma and Assam Frontier, CONFIDENTIAL, File No. 4895 Field Operations, Simla, Despatch On the Operations Against the Kuki Tribes of Assam and Burma, November 1917 to March 1919, From Lieutenant General Sir H. D.U. Kerry, General Officer Commanding, Burma Division, To The Chief of the General Staff, Army Headquarters, India, Simla. (Diary No. 69190) No. 1762-KPM, Maymyo, June 1919
5. Carey, BS & Tuck, HN (1976, first published in 1932)), The Chin Hills, Vol. 1, Firma KLM Pvt. Ltd., Calcutta
6. Chakravorty, BC (1964), British Relations with the Hill Tribes Bordering on Assam since 1858, Calcutta
7. Elly, EB (1978, (first published in 1893)), Military Report on the Chin-Lushai Country, Firma KLM (P) Ltd., Calcutta
8. ETD Lambert Report, 25.10.1944, ‘A Note on the Kuki situation in Manipur State as a result of the Japanese Invasion’, File No. XLI, Cabin No.29 ‘Japanese War’, Secretariat Library, Imphal, Manipur
9. Freedom Fighters of Manipur, published in 1985, Congress Centenary Year, by Freedom Fighters Cell, MPCC (1)
10. Haokip, PS (1998), Zale’n-gam: The Kuki Nation, KNO publication
11. Lewin, Capt TH, Wild Races of South - Eastern India, 1870, London, W H, Allen and Co., 13, Waterloo Place, Reprinted by Firma KLM Private Ltd., Tribal Research Institute, Aizawl, Mizoram.
12. Mackenzie, A, The North-East Frontier of Bengal, (2005 (first published 1884, History of the Relations of the Government with the Hill Tribes of the North-East Frontier of Bengal)), Mittal Publications, New Delhi
13. Shakespeare, LW Col (1977) (first published in 1929)), History of the Assam Rifles, Firma KLM Pvt. Calcutta
14. Guardians of the Northeast, The Assam Rifles: 1835-2002 (2003, 19-20), Directorate General Assam Rifles, Laitumkhrah, Shillong 11
15. Thompson, J (2002), The War in Burma 1942-45, Sidgwick & Jackson, Pan Macmillan, London
16. Haokip, J Manipur a Gospel le Kuki te thusim, published by the author
17. NP Rakung, Reader, in The Telegraph, 17 January 1994, Letter to the Editor, Imphal, Manipur
18. Nishi Kikan – Organisation of Japanese Intelligence Unit in Burma, Confidential, 7 July 1944, No. 110/D1692/50/M10
19. Palit, DK (1984), Sentinels of the North-East: The Assam Rifles, Palit & Palit, New Delhi
20. Phukan, JN, The Late Home of Migration of the Mizos, International Seminar, Aizawl, Mizoram, studies on the Minority Nationalities of Northeast India – The Mizos, 1992
21. Reid, AS Lt Col, Chin - Lushai Land ( A description of the various expeditions into the Chin - Lushai Hills and the final annexation of the country), First edition 1893,Reprinted: 1976, Firma KLM Private Ltd., Tribal Research Institute, Aizawl, Mizoram.
22. Shakespear, J Lt Col (1912), The Lushei Kuki Clans, Macmillan & Co, Ltd, London.
23. Shaw, W (1929), The Thadou Kukis, Published on behalf of the Government of Assam
24. Vansina, J (1985), Oral Tradition, Wisconsin, USA




About the author: The writer PS Haokip is the president of Kuki National Organization.
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Title: THE KUKIS
Author: PS Haokip
Date: 12/6/2007

http://www.ksdf.org/read.asp?title=THE%20KUKIS&CatId=Article&id=12

Lamka Post | Dec. 14, 2007

ZEPADA in Mautaam toh kisai in PM kiang ah Memorandum pia

Lamka, Dec 13: Zomi Economic Planning And Development Agency (ZEPADA) in tuni in India Prime Minister kiang ah memorandum peek 29 a sahkhat pia in, huai ah Mautaam toh kisai hongpian dan leh panlak ding dan tuamtuam taklang uhi.

Memorandum in a taklatna ah, Churachandpur District sung a kialpi tunglel toh kisai PM kiang ah theihsakna pia in, 2005 apan ganhing chi tuamtuam in lou a piangkhia buhte netum gai in, tuni chiang in, ganhingte genphak hinawnlou in, kialpi lungkham huaitak tungta ahihdan gen uhi. ZEPADA in a taklatna uah, tukum a buh piangkhe dia a tuat uh 3805 MT himahleh, 87.27% in niam a, mipite ading in lungkhamna leh mangbatna tungta a, ni bangzah hiam nung in lungkhamna khimpi zing ding ahihdan gen ua, National Calamity te lak ah guang ding in Prime Minister kiang ah ngen uhi.

ZEPADA memorandum in agenbehna ah, CCpur District in antang 17388 MT a poimoh lak ah gentak louh buh piang ahihna ah District mipite ading in mangbat huailua ahihdan Prime Minister zasak ua, Churachandpur adingin kin le buang a Special Economic Package poimoh ahihdan gen ua, Mizoram in hamphatna a ngah bangbang Manipur ah leng pesam ding in thum uhi. Tuabanah, PDS antang leh hamphatna tuamtuamte Food for work tungtawn a peding in PM kiang ah ZEPADA in ngen ua, kial leh mangbang a om singtang bial a omte kiang ah gari tunglou ahihziakin, helicopter tungtawn a antang khe ding in leng PM kiang ah ngen uhi.

Village grain bank toh kisai in ZEPADA in PM kiang ah ngetna bawl in kintak a district sung ah grain bank tungkhe ding in phut ua, tuabanah, medical leh educational toh kisai ah leng centre apan kithuahpihna ngen uhi. ZEPADA in PM kiang ah kial douna ding toh kisai in, TRIFED unit khat CCpur a dinkhiak ding, Jatropha adia Spices leh Biodiesel Unit khat dinkhiak ding chih banah, solar leh Biogas plant piching khat dinkhiak ding in ngen a, tuabanah, South eastern Asian gam adia kikawmtuahna naipen ding in Silchar apan Myanmar via Behiang, Churachandpur tan rail lampi khunsuak ding in Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh kiang ah ngetna bawl uhi.

Hiai ngetna bel, Mr. Mani Cherenamei in NLYC saina nuai a New Lamka Cup uap a ahong hohna hunlemchang a la in amah tungtawn in pia uhi.



PCI (R) Khawmpi lian kipan ding

Lamka, Dec 13: Presbyterian Church in India, Reformed in tuni December 13, 2007 in PCI (R) Biakinn New Lamka ah khawmpi nei pan a, hiai hun ah Pastor Hiralal Solanki, Faith Presbyterian Church, New Delhi in Tanchinhoih gen ding a, December 16 nitak in zou ding uhi. Hiai hun sung in kum khat sung pai ding dan kikup khawmna leng nei ding uhi.



Suanlian Tombing in zi nei ding

Lamka, Dec 13: Mr. Suanlian Tombing s/o T. Paugou of Hebron Veng, New Lamka leh Miss Niangliandim d/o Mr. Ginzamang of Mualpi, hong tung ding December 15, 2007 zinglam dak 10 in Hebron EBCC Biakinn, New Lamka ah kiteng ding uhi. Mr. Suanlian bel Lamka Post a Daily Newspaper designer masapen ahi.


Grace Academy in 1na la

Lamka, Dec 13: 14th State Level Bharatyan Competion zanhal a Imphal a om ah Tuibuang a om Grace Academy High School in khatna la in Rs. 15,000/- sang uhi. Hiai hun ah Revenue District Jiribam leh Kangpokpi tel in team 11 kidem uhi.



Pastor Sing Taro in zi nei ding

Lamka, Dec 13: Karbi-Anglong District Assam a, EBC Missionary Pastor Sing Taro leh Ms Gousianvung d/o (L) Khupchinpau of Mata Mualtam, zingchiang December 14, 2007 sunma dak 11 in New Lamka Baptist Church (NLBC) Biakinn, Elim Veng ah kiteng ding uhi. Pastor Sing Taro bel ECC/EBC nuai a Karbi mi Pastor masapen ahi.

Hiai hun uap ding in NLBC saptuam in chialna bawl hi.



Muang Khuptong hong tung

Lamka, Dec 13: BSF a Asst. Commandant, tulel a Siliguri a om banah, Lamka Post a Honary Patron member Mr. Muang Khuptong, Christmas suti in Lamka hong tung a, February kha in kiknawn ding hi.



New Lamka Cup Final Match Outer MP in uap

Lamka, Dec 13: New Lamka Youth Club (NLYC) nuai a Tournament Board PT. Sports Compex a The Ist New Lamka Cup- 2007 a neih uh tuni sun dak 12:00 in hun khakna Final Closing Function nei ua, Mr. Mani Charenamei, Outer MP Manipur in Chief Guest hihna toh uap hi.

Mr. Mani in a genna ah, PT Sport Complex, New Lamka mun thovengtak a bawl theih ahihna ah kipahhuaisa mahmah a, tuailai kimawl lunglutte lampi hilh a nasatak panla ding in ngen a, Govt. inleng tuailaite khualna a sum tam taktak seng ahihdan gen in huaite manphatak a zat poimoh ahihdan gen a, kimawlsiamte a ding in dam sung nek ching ahihdan leng gen hi. Aman NLYC kithuahpih nang in Rs.10,000/- pia a, Football- 5 leh Volley ball 5 piak ban ah Goal net 2 pia hi.

Functional President dia chial a om T. Phungzathang Minister (Power Horti & SC) hawh theihlouh ziakin T. Kaigou pang a, Chief Host in Sumant Singh IAS DC/CCpur pang hi. New Lamka Youth Club President lenlai a si (L) G. Thangchinmang sunna leh a dangdang makai sikhinsate sunna hun leng nei uhi.

Tuni a Final kimawlna ah New Lamka United Football Club leh Sailienlung Memorial Team Rengkai kimawl ua, New Lamka United Football Club in Penalty in zou hi. Tuni a Winner te kiang ah Rs.10,000/- +Trophy+ Certificate leh Runner up te kiang ah Rs.5,000/- + Trophy piak in om uhi.



STC Annual Assembly 2007 zou

Lamka, Dec 13: Simte Tribe Council (STC) Annual Assembly -2007 zan leh tuni’n Simte Youth Organization (SYO) Hall Simveng ah nei ua, hiai hun ah STC member khaw tuamtuam apan makai tamtak pai khawm ua, Palaiten vaihawmna nei uhi.



Outer MP in Only Grace mun pha

Lamka, Dec 13: Mani Charenamei Outer MP in tuni a New Lamka PT Sport Complex a Football Final Closing function a Chief Guest apang zou a kiklam in New Lamka vengnuam a ZMA etkolna nuai a Only Grace pha ngal hi. Aman Only grace a naupang tagah kep a omte Krist mass present in sum tam lou leng pia a, aman amah level a panpih a sawm thu leng gen hi.



One Day Seminar nei

Lamka, Dec 13: 3-NH Assam Rifle Bn Hq ah tuni zinglam dak 10:00 apan One Day Seminar nei ua, huai ah Army Officer tamtak tel ua, CO- 3 Assam Rifle in sinsak hi.

Electric ginat louh pau lap 2 bawl uh Lamka, Dec 13: Lamka khawpi leh a kimvel a Electric meivak ginat louh tuni tan in ni 6/7 val bang phata a, huai pen Khengjang Power Sub Station a Part khat siat ziak leh Transformer kizang a thau (Oil) ziak hi’n thutut kingah hi.



AMDCTA tawh Govt. kilem

Lamka, Dec 13: Autonomous Dist Council (ADC) nuai a semtuten July 2007 apan kha lawh alak louh ziak ua, All Manipur Dist Council Teacher Assn.(AMDCTA) in Dec. 7, 2007 apan Pendown Strike apat uh toh kisai a Council Office leh Education Office te khak nung uh tuni’n Imphal ah Assn makaite toh Govt. in kilemna bawlta uh hi’n thutut kingah hi. Thutut kingah dan in, kilemna dung zui in July 2007 apan kha 5 lawh la thei ding uh chih LS Thangboi Ngaihte Jt. Secy AMDCTA apan thu tut kingah hi.



SDO/BDO ten Work Order pekhia

Lamka, Dec 13: CCpur Dist sung a NREGS toh kisai a khua tuamtuam a Job Card neiten NREGS nasep panta ua, huai toh kisai in SDO/BDO Office ten khua tuamtuam a Hausate kiang ah Work Order pekhe ta uhi. Khua hausa ten Master Roll a NREGS a tha kuante min gelh lut a mahni bial SDO/BDO office ah piak lut ngai ding in gen uhi.



Chauhan in capitol project a etna dissident minister ten zuilou

IMPHAL DEC 13: Congress sunga heutu leh makai O. Ibobi Singh khenkhiak sawm a panlakna om ziak a, Manipur a ni thum sung om dia hongzin, AICC General Secretary North East incharge leh PMO a MoS Prithviraj Chauhan in Manipur Governor Dr. SS. Sidhu, CM O. Ibobi Singh a tuam tuak a kimuhpih nung, zanhal leh zan tanpha a, O. Ibobi Singh gum pawl leh amah deihlou lam minister leh MLA te mimal mal akimuhpih ban ah, Congress sunga District President leh numei lamte kimuhpih nung in tuni zinglam dak 11.30 vel in Delhi zuan in kik nawnta Mr. Chauhan in Delhi zuan a akik nawn ma in, tuni zinglam dak 8 vel in, Manipur govt. in developmental project tuamtuam aneih lak a, Chingmeirong a Capitol project leh Kangla sung puahthakna te etkhiakna vanei hi. Hiai hun ah, MPCC President Gaikhangam, Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh, minister T .N. Haokip, K. Ranjit, N. Biren, Lok Sabha MP Dr.T.Meinya, DGP Y.Joykumar, IPS, Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh IAS leh Congress MLA bangzah hiam in zuimah le uh, Dissident lam a om hia kigen, minister Th. Debendra Singh, Y. Erabot, DD. Thaisii leh Phungzathang Tonsing leh MLA ten bel Chauhan hohna zuilou uhi.

Tuzingkal a, Prithviraj Chauhan in Capitol project mun a etkhiakna hun ah, nasep zekai sak ziakin, huai nasem Simplex company leh State PWD official te kiang ah bangziaka, nasep zekai hiam chih dotna bawl hi. Hiai hun a Simplex company, State PWD leh Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh in Chauhan dotna adawnna uah, nasepna dia vanzat tuamtuam cement leh

Sik vanzatte Guwahati lam apat puaklut ahihna ah, Nagaland sung subuaitu tuamtuam omziak leh Manipur a bandh leh economic blockade tamveitak om ziak hidan in hilhchian ua, himahleh, Chauhan bel lungkim zoulou dan a theih ahi.

CM in vanzat tuamtuamte chihlouh petroleum product tanpha a State a security escort na toh puaklut jel ahihdan leng Chauhan kiang ah hiai mun mahmah ah gen hi. Chauhan in Capitol project a etzoh in Kangla sung puahthakna te leng etkhiakna vanei a, tua hun ah Art and Culture department official ten nasepdan tuamtuam pulakna nei uhi. Hiai mun ah bel, Chauhan lungkim thou dan a theih ahi.

Tuzinga Chauhan in Capitol project leh Kangla mun aphakna hun lemchang la a, Manipur a Congress sung dinmun bangchih muh hiam chih dotna Press ten a bawl uh, Chauhan in dawng nuamlou in kihep khiaksan hi. Hiai mun ah, amah AICC General Secretary ahihna zar a Imphal hongpha ahihdan leng gen thakthak hi.

Tutung a Prithviraj Chauhan in Manipur hongphakna san, Congress sunga buaina AICC President leh Prime Minister kianga report apiak nung tukha December 19 vel a thuchian theih hidingin leng kigen hi.



Karigil Vijay Diwas

IMPHAL DEC 13: Manipur govt. saina in, India gam humbitnadia Kargil gal a hinna mansuah India sepaih te theihgigena hun, December 16, 2007 zinglam dak 10.30 in Lamphelpat a Rajya Sainik Board mun ah om ding hi.

Hiai hun ah gam leh nam a dia hinna chante zahna in pakvui piakna leh minute 2 suunna hun zatna om ding hi.



Interview hunchiam omlou in kisuan

IMPHAL DEC 13: Manipur govt. nuai a Revenue department a Revenue Inspector, Zilladar leh LDC lakna dia Interview/typing test December 14, 15 leh 16, 2007 a, SSA office, Babupara a neih ding chih himahleh, interview hun dingte hunchiam omlou a suan hidan in, Under Secretary(Rev) in Dec 10, 2007 in thusuah bawl hi.



Raj Bhavan Green hongkhia

IMPHAL DEC 13: Manipur Governor Dr. SS. Sidhu in tuni’n, Raj Bhavan huang sunga kibawl thak, Nine Hole Golf Course ‘Raj Bhavan Green’ kichi honkhiakna nei hi. Hiai honkhiak zoh in, Manipur a Counter Insurgency operation toh kisai enkhia hongzin Assam Rifle a Director General Lt.General Paramjit Singh AVSM, VSM, Inspector General Assam Rifle (South) Maj General B.K.Chengappa, 57th Mountain Division a GOC Maj General T.S.Handa, Manipur Police Wireless a Director M. Rachandra leh ADC to Governor Jimmy Thanghaulien Gangte IPS te’n kimawlna nei ngal uh chih tunin Raj Bhavan thusuak om hi.



Assam Rifle helpawl nih kaplum

IMPHAL DEC 13: Zan nitak dak 11 vel dingin, Thoubal district sung Waikhong Police station huamsung a om Elangkhangpokpi kichihna mun ah, 21 Assam Rifle ten helpawl KYKL hidia muanmoh nih kaplum uhi.

Police thusuak dan in kaplup a omte apat 9mm Pistol 2 leh atang 43, Wireless Set 2 , Sumtang Rs 16,000 val leh Motor cycle Pulsar MN 1N/0226 leng muhkhiak in om a, siluangte ahihna uh chet ding in Lilong PHC a koih hidan in leng thutut kingah hi.



Antang leh SK oil muh ding zah pedin ngen

IMPHAL DEC 13: Senapati District Students Association in tuni a thusuah a bawlna uah, NH 39 lampi Imphal apat Mao tan dinmun leh Water Reservoir bawl ding Minister leh a kisaipihte toh Dec 18, 2007 tan pichin ding chi a kihouna omsa himahleh nasep in ma sawnlou ahihdan taklang uhi.

Huailou in, Senapati district a ding Antang leh SK Oil kha thum paisa bang ngahlou ahihna uah, a kisaipihten December 20, 2007 tan a, amuh tuak teng uh musak dingin leng ngetna bawl uhi. Hiai hun tan a pichin ahihkei leh asia apha a SDSA ten mohpaw lou dingdan in leng thusuak ah taklang uhi.



Narcotic toh kisai in Police officer te training

IMPHAL DEC 13: Tuni zinglam dak 10 apat 1st Manipur Rifle Banquet Hall ah, Training programme under ‘counter narcotics & commodities & training project’ kichi Police officer ten nei uhi. Hiai hun ah ‘asset forfeiture of drug traffickers’ chih toh kisai kisin sakna om a, Manipur DGP Y. Joykumar IPS in welcome address gen in, K. Mohandas Additional

Secretary (Rev) in inaugural address gen hi.

Hiai training hun ah, New Delhi apat Competent Authority & Administrator Smt. Archana Ranjan leh Assistant Commissioner New Delhi Rajiv Ranjan ten’ ‘Evolution, rationale & importance of asset forfeiture of drug offenders’ leh ‘presentation on provisions of chapter VA of NDPS Act 1985 including case studies’ toh kisai sinsakna pia uhi.



Numei tunga violence toh kisai campaign

IMPHAL DEC 13: World Aids Day 2007-08 toh kisai a numei tunga tatsiatna doudalna dia campaign kibawl ‘demanding implementation, challenging obstacles; end violence against women’ kichi MNP+ te saina in Manipur Press Club, Majorkhul Imphal ah December 15, 2007 zinglam dak 9 in om ding hi.

Hiai hun ah khuallian in Manipur Legislature Forum on HIV/AIDS a Secretary leng hi MLA Dr. I. Ibohalbi Singh pang ding a, President in, AMUCO Adviser leh MU a Associate Prof. Dr. Dhanabir Laishram leh Guest of honour dingin, Dr.Shadhana Ningthoujam of JN hospital te pang ding uhi.

Hiai mun ah, numei tuamtuamten haksatna a tuah uh toh kisai in amau experience leh testimony te pulakna leng nei ding uhi.



www.zogam.com

Minor Northeast Girl Molested Repeatedly

New Delhi, December 13, 2007, (North East Support Centre & Helpline)

A minor girl of 17 years old who is doing a designing course was molested repeatedly by her landlord in Gurgaon, Haryana. After failing the repeated attempt to rape, the house owner, in frustration threw out the girl along with her sister and cousin from the house without any reason at midnight. The North East Support Centre & Helpline went to lodge an FIR at Gurgoan Police station today, but the police denied even registering it.

It was on November 11, 2007 that Miss. Shiela (name changed) with her elder sister and cousin took a rented room in Gurgaon, Haryana.

On December 2, 2007 at around 9.30 pm , the owner came and molested her knowing that she was alone. He tried to lure her and forced to use her. When she denied, he tried to strangulate her. On December 9, she was again attacked by the lustful owner who is already married and has two children. He molested her and tried to rape her but the attempt was failed as the girl raised alarm and brought attention to the outsiders. On December 11, at around 7.30 pm , house owner went inside Shiela’s room and molested her. Luckily she was not alone that day; her cousin was inside the bathroom taking a bath. On hearing the shriek from the girl, the cousin came out and saw their owner running out of the room.

The next day without any notice or reason they were thrown out of the house along with their belongings. “Some of our belongings are still locked away in that room” Shiela’s sister said “The owner even slapped my cousin and threatened to use violence to my friends who came to help us in shifting.” On being asked why she did not inform the police when the owner first tried to rape her, Shiela confessed that she was terribly afraid, humiliated and ashamed.

Along with the victims, the Fact Finding Team of North East Support Centre went to the concerned police station but instead of extending help, they refused to register the case and insisted on identifying the accused first. They were detained in the police station for a long time by the SHO Mr. Mohamad Hussain on the pretext of filing an FIR. Without delay the accused family members and friends were contacted and they came to the station immediately in three vehicles. Inspite of repeated request, SHO Mr. Hussain was nowhere to be seen, while the accused member pressed for a situation where both the parties can come to a compromising term.

The FIR is still not yet filed nor they were given chance to register the case. There are more then 2000 North East people staying in Gurgaon, where more then 68% of the discrimination went unreported and 22% denied even if they seek help from the police. It is up to us to decide whether we should allow this case to be ignored or give justice by giving our best involvement. The Fact Finding Team consists of Madhu Chandra, Ambika Hongsha and Lemyao Shimray.

North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nehelpline.net) is combined initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.


Release by


Lemyao Shimray
shimrayalem@yahoo.com
+91-9868740513
Media and Publicity Desk
North East Support Center

A NORTHEAST GIRL SEXUALLY APPROACHED BY HER LANDLORD

A young northeast girl residing in Chakkarpur, Gurgaon was sexually approached by her landlord on the night of 11th December 2007. The landlord quietly entered the girl's room seeing her alone. He grasped her neck and tried forcibly to kiss her. At the moment, the girl cried out and the landlord quickly ran away. Hearing the screaming cried of her sister, his brother who was inside the bathroom rushed to her immediately. But the landlord had already disappeared from the scene.

When her elder sister returned back from office, she narrates the entire ugly incident. Then her sister contacted the landlord through mobile phone requesting him not to repeat such sexual attempts to her sisters. She also requested him to settle the problem amicably on the very day, but her landlord boldly refused all the allegations. There were no peaceful talks between the said landlord and the victim tenant so far.

The landlord burst out on the night of 12th December at around 10 O'clock. He forcibly vacated the room and thrown out all the luggage of this innocent northeast tenants without any prior warning. Soon after the GEO members and friends flocked together, to intervene and assist in deportation of the girl's belongings. The landlord shouted furiously, slapped and grasped the northeast people who were helping the young girl. He passed lewd comments and harsh words to them. He locked the door instantly before the room was completely vacated. He debarred all those who helped the victim. Some of the goods were still left behind. The northeast people had also witnessed the rudeness of the landlord towards the northeast community on that night.

At present, the girl is working in a private firm.. She had been staying with her elder sister and brother in house No. 65 at Chakkarpur in the first week of November this year. They had already paid the rent in advance earlier. Now the landlord demanded them to pay the rent fee again. The victim family was totally in helpless condition.

In this regards, the GEO drafted an FIR unanimously and decided to lodge a complain to the nearest police station on the very night. Due to an avoidable circumstance, the FIR is expected to reach the police office today. And the result is being awaited.

The helpless victim sought for help to book the culprit and reward appropriate punishment under Indian constitution.

Further, the Gurgaon Eimi Organisation (GEO) constituted by different tribes of Chin-Kuki-Mizo-Zomi had strongly supported the victim and shall be moving forward to fight for the rights of the victim particularly, and for the northeast people in general. This type of problem occurs frequently in Gurgaon, where the northeast populace is quite thick.

Today, the GEO has condemned the landlord in the strongest term and urged the concerned authorities to book the culprit at the earliest. It also sought for unity among the northeast brothers and sisters to fight against such evils.


---------------------

For information:



GURGAON EIMI ORGANISATION (geo)



OFFICE BEARERS 2007-2008

President: Khum Vaiphei (9811300074)

Vice President: T Gigin Haokip (9999260047)

Secretary: T Ginlunthang (9999407221)

Joint Secretary: Reuben Minthang Haokip (9873297485)

Finance Secretary: Bruce K. Thangkhal (9999397620)

Treasurer: Chongboi Haokip

Speaker: Mrs Niang

Information & Publicity:

Jack Thangboi Haokip, Jacob ST, Sasang Zou, Lalbem Tuboi, Eddie Paite, Lalboi Simte, Ahtung Zou, Lelian Zou

Executive Members: Lalrosiama Mizo, Zamlal Haokip, Goulun Zou, Bryan Mizo

Advisors: Thangminlen Hangshing, Chingneikim Chin, Elboi Vaiphei, Lal Hmar

Please visit GEO blog : http://gurgaoneimiorganization.blogspot.com

E-mail: gurgaoneimi@gmail.

I PUMKHAT NADING ( OR ) MINAM LIANKHAT I SUAHNOPLEH

- Sia Suankhup, Korea

Positive Response:

1. Gamlei phawk tawntung ding: Ei Zomi or amau te Chin; Kei Tedim or amau te Zou or Teizaang, cihtawh cik mah hun in kipumkhatna omzo ngeilo ding a, thangpaihna khangsak semsem zaw ding hi. (Thuman genna ah mi thangpaih ding pen patauh ding bel hi lo hi). Tua ahih manin Leitangh tawh ki itna leh ih kibatna hong guicing zaw ding hi. Israel minam te 1990 kum ciangdong bang, gamdang ah a om tam zaw tham uh hi. Galpi masa leh nihna hun lai nangawn in zongh a omomna vuah a minam a thahna gamtuamtuam ah thuak uh hi.

Ahi zong in, gamdang ah citizenship ngah phial ta mah leh uh Israel leitangh pen phawkden uha, gamdang a omten a hih theihzah un puahden uh hi. 6 Days War tungtang in zongh Egypt te in a zawh zawh lohna uh a hang pen, Israel mi mah ahi gamdang pan (US, Russia, England, etc.) te in a neih zahzah uh tawh a leitangh uh hu uh hi. Leitangh leh Gamlei itna in nam 12 (+2) apha Israel mi te ki pumkhat sak veve hi.

2. Leitangh tawh thupan ding: Zomi ki ci ni cih sang in, ih gam ah van gil tampi koih in tua te ah Zomi na hihna mite muhding in koih le cin, tua in Zomi te sisan sungah lai gelhgelh na suak ding hi. Zomi ka it hi ci in, ih pianna khua ah taih inn ) concrete building lam nuam lo, ih khuasunga lampi khat na ngawn puah nuam lo, biak inn te puahlo, sumbuk bawl lo in om leng ei gen loh a teng te nangawn in Zomi leh ih khua daipih ngam lo ding uh hi. Ahi zong in, ih khua ciat ah sanginn, zato, sumbuk, motor lam, taih inn, Zo inn leh museum (tang van koihna), etc. cih tawh ih khuaciat puah in Zomi ih hihna mi te theisak ciat ni. Hih in pumkhatna ah hong gawmzo ding hi.

3. Minam pawi, Minam la, Minam lam, leh Minam itna Video te in hong kipumkhat sak zo lai ding: Lailam (Literature) tawh na hongsem a tamzaw te in minam hong khenthaang uh a, ih lung hong amsak uh hi. Ki pumkhatna ding sang in ki thangpaihna tampi hong piangsak pen lailam tawh na sem te ahi uh hi. Thuman in man kei ta leh lai a gelhzo khatpeuh at pen quotation in ki la a, hih pen ki pumkhatna leh ki langkhenna taktak hongpian sak zo aguicing nasepna a hi hi. Ahi zong in, Stereo la te in tampi tak ah hong kipumkhatsak zo lai hi. Gtn: Chin mi ka hi zumpih kei ning ci a, la kisa ka za nai kei hi. Tua ahih man in La or Video lam tawh kisai nasemte a kua mapeuh in tha ih piak hamtang ding thupi ka sa mahmah hi. Zomi a tam zaw omna ahih nak leh February sawmnih ni Zomi namni hi ki ci hamtang hi. Khuado pawi hi buang a, Zola sa in Zolam a ih lamloh ding hi thei kei ki ci zaw hi. Khuakhat ciat ah, khanglui INN ( aneu or alian) kilam henla, ih Nam ngeina te a sungah koih in, Zomi namni leh Khuado pawi sim in Nam Ngeina lahna pawi kibawl den leh hih in ih lungsim hong kipum khat sak ding hi. Galhiam tawi ih Minam hong it te (ZRO) in hih dan aana in hong hih leh lunggulh huai sa mahmah ing. Hih pen Kawlgam bek hi lo, Manipur, Mizoram, USA, etc ah ih neih hamtang ding hi ci in ka ngaih sun hi. Minam hong kipumkhatsak theinampen minam it te sep hamtang ding ahi hi.

Negative Response:

1. Pasian thu (or Religions) tawh Minam ki pumkhatna om zongei lo: Zeisu in leitung ah kumpi hong sep taktak hun ciang in, Leitungah kilemna om ding hi cih upna lianpi Christian te sung ah a nei ki om a, hih hunciang in kilemna om zobek ding hi. Minam sungah ki it na omding a kipum khatna tawh kithuah pah ding hi. Ih Minam sungah biakna leh pawlpi tamkhin luata a hih man in deihna, ngimna leh veina te a tuamtek in omkhin ta hi.

2. Politics in Minam hong kipumkhatsak zo ngeilo ding: Politicians ih cihte pen mihing ngaihsutna khempeuh amau deihna tawh a laihzo te hi uh a, siatna leh hamphat na guamsungah hong koih te a hi uh hi. Thuman leh thukhial anih in tonkhawm a thugen te ahi uh hi. Hih in, minamsung hong tokbuai zaw a, sisan luanna tampi piangsak zo thei hi. Religious tawh sang in Politician ten minam kipumkhatna ding in na tam sem zo zaw hi. Politicians ih cih pen biakna misungah zongha beilohna hang ahi hi.

3. Business (sumbawlna) in gamsung phelkham hi: Sumbawlna in gamsung muntampi khangto sak a, mi tampi siasak in zongh hausak zo hi. Minam kipumkhatna ding lunggulhna sang in amah leh a innkuan te zat tawm ding buai pihzaw a, Minam laigil a sungah tengsuak zolo hi. Ahi zong in, atunga thunih te sang in, sumbawlna tawh minam a it te in, nalia tampi semzo zaw uh a, zongh muntampi ah kipawlkhopna lampi sialzo zaw uh hi. Banghang hiam cih leh, Religiousmen leh Politicians te Business ah thu kikumkhawm thei zel zaw uh hi.

Aban mailam ah,


http://zogam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2114&Itemid=1

Studying diversity, conflict and internationalizing Burma

By Nehginpao Kipgen

The Union of Burma consists of 7 states and 7 administrative divisions. States are predominantly inhabited by minority ethnic groups while divisions are largely dominated by majority ethnic Burmans. Burma gained independence with adopted name ‘Union of Burma’ in 1948 and later changed to Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma on 23rd September 1974, but reverted to the Union of Burma on 23rd September 1988. On 18th June 1989, the State Law and Order Restoration Council adopted a new name called ‘Union of Myanmar’ with which the country is now officially known at the United Nations.

The country’s total land area is 261,970 square miles. Ethnic minorities occupy roughly two-thirds: Arakan/Rakhine state- 14,200 square miles, Chin state - 13,907 square miles, Kachin state- 34,379 square miles, Karen/Kayin state- 11,731 square miles, Karenni/Kayah state- 4,530 square miles, Mon state- 4,747.8 square miles, Shan state- 60,155 square miles.

As of July 2003 estimate, population according to the military is 52.4 million; last official census which occurred in 1983 reported just over 35 million (35,442,972). The same source puts religious affiliation in percent as: Buddhism (89.2%), Christianity (5.0%), Islam (3.8%), Hinduism (0.5%), Spiritualism (1.2%) and others (0.2%).

The military regime identifies “135 national races” of which the major ones are Arakan/Rakhine (7 sub-groups), Burman/Bamar (9 sub-groups), Chin (53 sub-groups), Kachin (12 sub-groups), Karen/Kayin (11 sub-groups), Karenni/Kayah (9 sub-groups), Mon (1 group), and Shan (33 sub-groups). The appellation “135 races” is codified on dialectical variations.

Although the accuracy is questionable, the 15th November 2007 update of the Central Intelligence Agency World Factbook gives ethnic composition in Burma as: Burman 68%, Shan 9%, Karen 7%, Rakhine 4%, Chinese 3%, Indian 2%, Mon 2%, other 5%. Figures slightly vary from source to source.

Burma was administered as a province of India from 1886 until sundered from the British India in 1937. This was the year when settlements of the Kuki (also synonymously recorded in literature as Chin and Lushai) people were divvy up into two countries- Burma and India. With the creation of Bangladesh in 1972, the Kukis were further dispersed in three countries.

A number of research findings concluded that “Kookies” or “Kuki” is a Bengali word meaning hill men or highlanders. These people have a tradition of passing on their history orally; and as a result, today’s researchers have to rely substantially on the works of British writers who wrote extensively on the Kuki people during colonial era. Their traditional government ‘chieftainship system’ has been abandoned in Burma, but still retained and practiced in India.

In the context of Burma, Kuki is an unpopular terminology and so is the term Chin in India. The military junta recognizes “Thado” and “Kaung Saing Chin” under Chin nomenclature. In India, particularly in the state of Manipur, “Thado” is widely written as Thadou and “Kaung Saing” as Khongsai. The connotation may sound different, yet it refers to the same people. In local dialects, they also call themselves as eimi, laimi, zomi/mizo, etc.

Prior to independence, ethnic minority territories were not part of Burma proper. Considerable effort was mobilized for the materialization of Union of Burma atPanglong on the 12th day of February 1948. The nullification of this historic Panglong Agreement and 1947 constitution had annihilated the essence of forming the Union of Burma.

Burma had a parliamentary democracy from 1948 till general Newin seized power in 1962. A broken promise of Panglong Agreement was one important factor that led to the rise of armed movements. Ethnic minorities’ demand is greater autonomy under a federated structure and not secession or disintegration.

Neither the bloodless coup of 1962 nor 1988 mass uprising was the root cause of today’s conflicts in Burma. As early as 1948, the Karen National Union under its armed wing Karen National Liberation Army had begun rebelling against the Burmese government.

The struggle in Burma is basically of 2 stages – restoration of democracy and rights of ethnic minorities. To attain the latter, the former has to come first. Any democratic set-up sidelining ethnic minorities would not bring an end to decades’ old political imbroglio.

Within the status quo states and divisions, there are sub-ethnic groups advocating for autonomy or separate administration. Although every demand of every sub-group may not be feasible, criteria for eligibility and legality need to be established. One should not expect the Union of Burma to remain forever 7 states and 7 divisions, or 8 states as envisaged by some.

For many years since independence, Burma political crisis remained a microscopic issue to the international community – either as a result of the country’s insignificant role in international politics or her too little importance to the interest and security of other nations. However, this concept has changed dramatically since 1988 mass uprising and countrywide general elections.

Non-recognition of 1990 election results led to intimidation and imprisonment of several Member of Parliament elects – which became the genesis of many of the opposition groups in exile, including National Council of the Union of Burma and National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.

Deadliest attack on the entourage of Aung San Suu Kyi at Depeyin in 2003 and her continued detention was one reason behind the passing of Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 by the U.S. Congress. The act bans the import of Burmese products and freezes the assets of senior officials.

In recent years, Burma has attracted unprecedented attention of the international community. The successful placement of Burma situation as permanent agenda of the United Nations Security Council on 29th September 2006 was a historic moment. It was followed by an unsuccessful attempt to pass a Security Council resolution on January 12th of this year.

More recently, the 2007 uprising incredibly got international community’s attention - headlines in many leading world newspapers, electronic medium and on television screens. Several world leaders and human rights activists around the world spoke up in support of Burmese democracy movement.

The entire world watched the brutality of military on its own people. The uprising immediate success was the attention it received from the world community and subsequent intervention by the United Nations Secretary General’s office through its special envoy Ibrahim Gambari.

The United States and European Union were quick to respond in taking tougher sanctions on the military generals and their businesses. Although there is no doubt about the powerful message it carries, unilateral sanctions seem to have limited impact. The vacuum created as a result of western sanctions has been filled by Burma neighboring countries.

Only western sanctions without cooperation from neighboring Asian countries have given enough space for the army generals to move around. Conflicting interests of two different approaches will continue to prolong the survival of military regime at the depletion of the country’s natural resources and collateral environmental damage.

While western powers pursue stick diplomacy, the Asian powers opt for carrot. Under such circumstance, the U.N. special envoy’s mission has become a little more than lip services with no substantive results to follow. The adamant stance of the 2 veto wielding powers (China and Russia) of the Security Council makes the world’s highest enforcement agency bootless.

The removal of Burma’s military regime could probably take less than a month or so. But unlike Iraq, the United States would not reign in its fighter jets and ground troops for reasons including: (i) Burma is insignificant importance to the U.S. national interest and security (ii) U.S. foreign policy toward Burma is more of policy oriented than strategic (iii) Rapidly advancing Asian super power is docking at the military’s backyard.

Though there is close to zero percent chance of military intervention either by the United States or by the United Nations, this would be the swiftest action to bring change to Burma should it be pursued. However, this would be a naïve prediction or suggestion for any political analyst at this point of time.

Meanwhile, the international community could consider the model of a six party talks on North Korean nuclear standoff. Six parties involving the United States, European Union, ASEAN, China, India, and Burma could break the iceberg of political crisis. Due to geographical proximity, enormous economic and diplomatic influence over Burma, China’s participation is pivotal.

If the international community continues to pursue two diametrically opposing views of western sanctions and Asian engagement, the military will continue to run the country with any resources available. Either concerted sanctions or collective engagement is needed to bring the military to a negotiating table.

Down the road, the culpable individuals in the military clique will be held accountable. Dayton Peace Accords of 1995 is one distant example that can be cited: carrot diplomacy brought warring parties to negotiation in a well devised plan.

However, stick diplomacy took its own course and the once powerful Serbian and Yugoslav president Slobodan Milosevic was tried for crimes at the International Criminal Tribunal in Hague, Netherlands.

On the death of Slobodan Milosevic in his detention cell, Richard Holbrooke, the then U.S. envoy who brokered the Dayton Peace Accords said, "I'm not going to shed any tears."

Nehginpao Kipgen is the General Secretary of US-based Kuki International Forum and a researcher o¬n the rise of political conflicts in modern Burma (1947-2004).

- Asian Tribune -

http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/8648

GUL-VAKHU KOP BANG IN… (MAI SUANG TEH)

L. T. Ngaihte

I nam leh gam neukha, tulai khovela a suahtak a,khang-gui kha zomthei a aom na ding igen chian ‘vakhu bang a nunnem a gul bang a pil hun’ ahi ichi sek ua,huai bang himah hiam chih a ngaihtuah sau itam di uam chih ka thei kei. Thil omdan theih haksa simpi ahi a,Jesu’n a nungzuite kiang ‘Ngai di uh,ngia lak a belam omding bang in ka hon sawlkhia ahi’ ana chi a,huai khit in, ‘huaiziakin,gul bang a pil leh vakhu bang a nunnem in om un’ achi zui ngal hi.

Ngia(wolves) ichih chiang in sasial ne a kivak ding a siam ahi ua, huaidungzuiin, ha hiam tak, chin hiam tak,taksa hattak,mit vaktak-zan a leng muthei,avun uh kivenna dia mul sau tak a tuam,huham tak leh hehpihna bei ganhing ahi ua, amau a chingtu hiam vengtu hiam neiloua,gamlak a khosa ding a siam ahi uhi.Chingtu bei ahihna uah, amau ut dan chiat a om,kuamah thunun louh,kuamah keplouh leh veen louh ahi uhi.Nisa nuai,vuahpi-huihpi nuai aleng,amau a haksatna omtuanlou a,gamtang thei ahi ua,a mit hah uh kia leng melmate thah na ding in a hak uhi.A melma te uh hiam a target te uh, amau sang a hatzaw te leng,awl awl a bei in,ngakzoutakin a pang ua, sazuk bang lawi bang leng a that zou zel uhi.Bawng bang a thah ding chiang un, asa neemna a taw ah apan ua, a ngoi uh a kaih khiaksak ua,a bawng sihma in, a sung teng bang gaiman khop a ganhing mulkimhuai ahi uhi.Singtang a ka ten lai un, Ngia in bawng a sual uh, ahong si ding kuan hong ‘sih-ham’ a, huai izak khak chiang in a mulkim huaina kithei khia hi.Huchibang a hehpihna bei gan hon lak a,belam om ding dan I ngaihtuah chian, lem liai lou dinga, ‘zum-leh-hiam’ kaal chih bang nepte hi ding hi.

Belam ichih leuleu chian, ganhing poihlong mahmah,khase baih, kepngai leh dondon ngai ahi ua, amau tang a hing thei ahi kei ua,a hon hon in a gamta uhi.Amau a kivenna ding a tal ua kii lou ngal a om kei a,a haa uh louhing nou nek nading lel ahi a, a lei u leng thil neem valhna ding lel ahi uh.Gam lak a khosa ding in a khe uh a tom a,thahatna a hau kei ua,singkung genlouh kawl sang deuh leng a kan zou kei uhi.Huaiziakin, inkhoi(domesticate) ahi na uh alian zaw a,pitu/Chingtu ama uah,leh anung uah a om zel hi.Ka neulai Lawibual a ka tenlai un,belam ka vul sek ua, sawm a sim ka nei sek ua, ka nuleh pa’n sawm-a-khat a pe zel uhi. Belam te a diakin, nou a neih chiang un abuai huai pet mah a,zan khat zan nih bang ‘labour’ anei ua, mi innuai khat ah a Pi’n a kah pih pih hi. Nou a honnei khin a, aneihna ma a hong nasia a, tulai pau leh a hong ‘septic’ a,amau alah bang mah hihtheilou, a nai leh a than(lungte) ka meek pawt sak sek ua, ama liam ah Iodine hattak ka nuh sak ua,hiai mahmah belam neihna a nuam lou pen ahi.

Jordan leh Israel lam a ka khosak sung un,Belampu te leh a dinmun uh kichian zawsem in kava mu a,zingsang a Belam pu’n a Belam te noisuk ding a a volh bang I muh leh lamdang asak theih phial hi.A Belam nawi gau teng a kualin, a lulam uh kisutuah in a ding ua, a Chingpa’n a nunglam uapan a noi lian mahmah te aban aban in a suk khe zel a, a Belam ten na asak chiang un a lu uh aki battuah ua, nupi khasia kikahpih bang mai in a om uhi.A gam uh eilam bang ahikei a, mual lian loulou,akal a kuam thukpi loulou a kibawl ngen ahi tang pi a, sing leh gua muhding a om kei a, suang leh lei ngil heuhhouh ngen ahi uhi. Tua suang pang mun khenkhat ah lounah hing tamlou khakha a hong pou khia ua, tuate ne ding in Belam te a gam agam in a om souh souh uhi.A Chingpa’n a panpih ding in Uital bang zah hiam a nei zel a, ahonpi nung gamla aomte ava naa ua, a ngak ua, a holkhawm zel uhi.Tuate phetlouin, ngia Belam te mandia hong kisa te a na attack zel uhi.

Hichibangtuk a ganhing nih kibanglou,teengkhawm dia thupiak, athupetu leng Topa Jesu Kris meuh ahi.A lampi a om ngei ding. Thil khat chiangtak a I muh theih bel-gul bang a pil leh vakhu bang a nunnem hinkhua hi,thil kibang lou mahmah tehtuah kal a hinkhua, ‘mai suang teh’ bang ahi.


Singtang lou khou khaten nathei ding ua, mai nou hong gah tung,apiankhiakna teel thei lou ahih manin,suang lianpi nih kal ah a hong khang khia a,a lang tuak ah delh in a om a, ahihhangin, azungpi a vaaktu ding nei ahihmanin, a hong khang khia a, suang teh khakna te khang theilou ahihman in, a awn nana a hong khang a, mel hoihlou tak lah pahtakhuai,phathuai mahmah in a hong piching hi.

Jesu Kris in a nungzuite kiang ‘gul bangin pil unla,vakhu bang in nunnem un’ achih hangin, ahihdingdan a gen sau pih kei. Ahihhangin, hiai hinkhua nih te amau mimal hinkhua a nei chiat din a deih hi.Ahihleh bang chi hin ta ding ? chih dotna lianpi leh theihnop huaipi ahi.Thil nih a kidoutuah(opposites) mikhat in neih khawm ding chihna ahi. Ngaihtuahna Neem leh Lungtang Khauh! Hiai gel neihkhawm da hi chu.Neih khawm phetlouh a, I mihinna a mun kikim luahsak ding hizaw mah.Mi maimai hih theih louh ahi,ahi alah Jesu’n a nungzui te mi maimai dia deihlou hi ngei ding.

I theihsa bang in, leitung hinkhua thil nih a akikalh (opposite) a bawl ngen ahi,Etsaknan:Mial leh Vaak,Dik leh Diklou,Sa leh Vot,Nuam leh Nuamlou etc.Hiai thil kibang lou te a kikim a mun khat a a om louh chian, buaina a tung gige hi.Huai buaina tuh,mimal ah, inkuan ah, society ah, nam kaal ah leh leitunghinkhua(environment) bang ah a tung zel hi. Tulai a kigen ‘Global Warming’ bang leng khawvot leh kholum a hong kikimlouh deuh ziak a thil piang himai mah hi.Huchibang in,neemna leh khauhna leng akidoutuah, aki kim(balance) tak a mi khat a a omkhak chian,huaipa uh mi pil,miettontak leh piching ahong suak hi. Misual(militant) te nunnem ngei lou, a nunnem te militant hingeilou bang mah leh hiai gel a hunlel a mix theite a pilpen himai mah hi.

Ka tangval tunglaiin, Pherjol ah zankhat kulkhum in ka omkha ua,huailai a ka thei gige khat genkhiak hong kilem lian abang.Gal mat piansimin,kou bel mikhat Bel gu va zongkhia in,a bel valaksak/aman va laksak dia kuan hina pi’n, a doha uh ichih- a pilna u leng hi,a inneipa ahong pau ngaih lala a,a inveng aza kha ten a khopi mitamna lam ah ‘Lawibual ten I khothak lam uh balsialnuai uh ahi’ chi’n va tangkou phiangsan uhi.Nungal tangval tam a tam hong tung phei ua, kou lawi bel 10 kipha nawnlou, Bible a ‘gohding belamnou’ bang ka hong hita ua,a minthang gen mangmoh ‘khindang a sahou’ bang lel ka hong hita uhi.Huchihlai in, amau Val-upa nih, akibang hetlou anei ua, khatpen a hong paichian ‘hiai Lawibual te phiangsan, vua unla khen un,khosung apan delhkhia unla,ahong ngamnawnlouh na dingun soisa zialzial un’ achi toitoi zel a,huaite izak chian chimul bang a thou sisi thei hi.Val-upa dang pen a hong paichian, ‘e khai,lunngaihna ding leh patauhna ding himhim a om kei, unaukhat,khawkhat I kei ua hia, zan a sawttak toh na giak ding ua, singpi bang le I dawn di ua, zingsang anne sa in,gilvah takin na kik ding uh’ a hong chi zel hi.Hiai I zak chian chu chimul thoute hong bok suk zel uh abang. Mi huai lai pek a huchi uh hitan chin !

Singtang nungak ‘ii’ chitheilou nu a kigen khat lah, ka hon ngai a chiteng nial theih neilou, lupkhawmpih dia zawn teng lah nial nachang theilou, ta a honneih tak a leng a ‘pa’ ding theih zoh hilou chih bang leng om thei.Khenkhat lah amau deihdan tak mihing omdia ngaihtuah in ngakngak, atawp a amah kia om kha chihbang le om thei.Mi gen teng gingta a, taalkaih theih dia om ding ahoihlouh mahbang in, midang gen khempeuh gingta lou a va om leng dik khin tuanlou hi.Ei kia dik hiam ei a ding kia dan a va muhna pen in midang hinlam leh poimohna phokbatlouhna ahi a, midang tellouin lah mimal in kuamah hing sawt zoulou hi.Lungsim neem, mite khemzoh mitampeuhmah ahihman in,Dictator minthang Adolf Hitler in a laibu gelh ‘Mein Kampf’ ah hichin gelh hi ‘Zuauthu siamtak a phuah I zak sak zelzel leh mitamzaw ten vangam bang gawtmun hi’n gingta thei ua, gawmun bang leng vangam bang in ngai thei uhi.Lamdang asak khop uh zuau I gen leh gingta baih deuhdeuh uhi’(By means of shrewd lies, unremittingly repeated, it is possible to make people believe that heaven is hell-and hell,heaven…The greater the lie, the more readily will it be believed’) chi hil hial hi.

Gul bang a pil a,vakhu bang a ngilneihna neilou mite pen ngaihnatna bei,zumna theilou leh angmasial na hi a,vakhu bang a ngilnei a gul pilna bang neilou te lah khasiatna,zoina leh tupkichian neihlouhna ana hi zel hi.Telding zaw theih huai lou. Anih gel un telhuai lou uhi.

Ei nam neute I khankhiak na ding in lungtang khauhna leh nunneemna I polhsiam uh kipha moh hi. Lungtang khauh chihmana melma a i theihte va sat hiam va thah hiam pen,nikhat ninih vualtungtuanna lel pe thei a,a hong kileh kikchiang in, na tu leh tate adin haksa law ding hi.Nunneem chi a, michihteng diksa a, mi nung zuizui mai ding chihleng dik tuanlou hi.Minung khat vei I zuih khak chian, huai mah zuih zuih baihlam pi hong suak a, zuih a ompa’n zong, zui zui lel din hon koih pah zel sek hi.Hiai leng thil diklou,tawpsan pah ding thil ahi.

Atung ate apan, thuakzohna toh douna (non-violent resistance) ei ading in poimoh pen hin kilang hi.I dikna leh I hihna gupna a thaulong ma a khutvuak toh din ngamna, I gam leh inam adia sepaih galthuam te dou dia thudik toh panngamna,hon hawte thilomdan theisiam sak kawm a chibai ngamna,melma te itna, doha a hon beite a diklouhdan uh theisak kawm a thumsak ngamna, I panpihna theisiamlou te bang le panpih semsem utna,ahoihlou te a hoih a thuk ngamna chihte zatsiamna tuh ‘gul bang a pilna leh vakhu bang a nunneemna’ hinkhua hi maimah hi. Pang teitei(Trang fanfan).Mai suang teh bang a I om na mun a khanlet dan siam a, I sung a om lungtang khauh tak leh ngaihtuahna nunem kihel sak in,malam nawt hanchiam ve ni.



(Hard copy of this article available in latest Tongluang Magazine)


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