Repair works on at Khuga dam | Two New Lambulane youths killed in encounter

Repair works on at Khuga dam

From M Kaimuanthang

Lamka, Jul 11: The IFCD has started improvement of the right side of the
Khuga dam canal near Semuol village that collapsed on the intervening night
of July 7 and 8 due to the breakage of the cross drainage.
The officials are now removing the soil to see what is the condition of the
cross drainage and to carry out repairs on the drainage slab which may cost
the departmment around Rs. 3 to 4 lakhs. Work for this has started, said the
AE in-charge of KCD-1O, Haladhar at the site of the dam today.
According to sources, the cross drainage slab was probably constructed way
back in the year 1998 and when there was increase in the volume of water
during the test run the old cross drainage slab could not the bear the
weight and collapsed after seepage into the ground floor.
The AE and some of the officials said that it was not due to failure of
earth work but structure, while stating that the claims of some newspapers
that 10 paris of paddy fields were destroyed is a lie and one can see for
himself by going to the spot.
Regarding the siltation of ponds, the officials said the Rs. 4000 worth
cultured fishes washed away will be compensated soon with all the siltation
being removed at the earliest from the ponds.
In spite of this the village chief has said that he will not allow the
improvement works to start until and unless all the losses were befittingly
compensated.

================

Two New Lambulane youths killed in encounter
By : A Staff Reporter 7/12/2008 2:04:25 AM

Imphal, Jul 11: Tension remained high at New Lambulane this afternoon
following the killing of two residents including a law college student and a
football player by the combined security forces of Imphal east commandos and
115 Bn BSF this afternoon along the way between two hillocks at Tinsid road
about 8 kms east from Imphal under Porompat police station in an encounter.
According to a police source, the combined forces shot down the two
suspected activists of the underground KLA at Tinsid road this afternoon
during an encounter. The security forces also recovered one 9 mm pistol with
three live rounds, one hand grenade and two demand letters of
the KLA signed by Stephen Kuki and addressed to the DFO, Ukhrul and DFO,
Tamenglong demanding Rs. 2 lakhs each from the funds meant for bamboo
development schemes of the respective districts.
The source further said the incident occurred when the combined forces were
moving towards the Tinsid road this afternoon and spotted two youths driving
a NV scooter bearing registration No. MNIJ-7880 coming from the Sanjenbam
side. On being signalled to stop one among them fired several rounds towards
the security forces and attempted to escape. Both the suspected militants
were, however, killed by the security forces in the retaliatory fire.
Later, Lamlai police arrived at the spot and retrieved the two dead bodies
and deposited them at the RIMS morgue for post mortem this evening.
The deceased were identified as Thangkhotinsei Kipgen, 29, son of Letkhai
Kipgen of Seikul K Hengjang Bungpal village presently residing at his
maternal home at New Lambulane and studying in 2nd year at the LMS law
college, Imphal and Berdneo Hangsing, 22, son of Khupminlein Hangsin of New
Lambulane, a football player and information and publicity secretary of
Tribal Youth Club, New Lambulane.
Meanwhile, the killing of the youths caused tension in New Lambulane area
this evening, but the situation improved later after various representatives
of the clubs, organisations and civil society bodies announced that they
would take up democratic forms of agitation tomorrow.

===============

Five UG outfits outlawed
By : A Staff Reporter 7/12/2008 2:06:24 AM

IMPHAL, Jul 11: Union ministry of home affairs have declared five Meetei
"extremists" outfits with its factions and frontal organizations as outlaw
organisations under the sub-section 1, section 3 of the Unlalwful Activities
(Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), said a DIPR released said today.
The organisations are the People's Liberation Army, PLA, and its political
wing, the Revolutionary People's Front, RPF, the United National Liberation
Front (UNLF), the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and
its armed wing "Red Army", the Kangleipak Communist Party, KCP, and its
armed wing, also called the "Red Army", the Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL)
and the Manipur Peoples' Liberation Front, MPLF. Factions of these
organisations and frontal organizations also declared outlaw, it said.
They have been declared as unlawful considering their objectives and
activities, the DIPR released added.
The fresh banned list of the Union home ministry no longer includes any
Naga or Kuki underground organisation.

===================

Gurbachan Jagat to be sworn in as new Governor on July 18
By : A Staff Reporter 7/12/2008 2:09:32 AM

IMPHAL, Jul 11: The newly appointed Governor of Manipur, Gurbachan Jagat
will be sworn in as state Governor on July 18, an official source said
Friday.
To chalk out the tentative programme of the swearing-in ceremony, a high
level meeting is to be convened on July 17 under the chair of the new chief
secretary Rakesh.
Mention may be made that a press communique issued on July 9 by the
President of India, announced the appointment of Gurbachan Jagat as the
Governor of Manipur, replacing current Governor Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu
who has been transferred to serve as Governor of Goa for his remaining term.
The newly appointed Governor will be arriving on July 18, the day on which
he is scheduled to assume office at the Imphal Raj Bhavan.
The scheduled high level meeting will be attended by state principal
secretary (home), Poonia, commissioner (GAD) Bharat, secretary (law) A
Sukumar, secretary to the Governor RK Nimai and director, information and
public relations, Silhou.

===================

After Centre, NSCN(IM) unhappy with Nagaland govt too
By : A Staff Reporter 7/12/2008 1:57:24 AM

Dimapur, Jul 11: After heaping a series of accusations on the Government of
India by the NSCN-IM for the slow pace of the "Naga peace talks", the
Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN on Friday expressed its anger at the
Nagaland government too for the same reason.
The outfit stated that the government of India was blamed by NSCN-IM for
being insincere while dealing with the Indo-Naga political issue saying that
serious commitment was found lacking on the part of India, and that caused
the delay in bringing the peace talks to a meaningful level.
"Ironically, the Nagaland administration under the direction of Nagaland
state government is adopting the same attitude by applying different
yard-stick while going headstrong with the notorious flush out operation in
Dimapur," accused the the NSCN-IM saying that the indignation of NSCN-IM
cannot be faulted. "And when things started going too far the Naga Army is
forced into action but conscientiously," cautions the NSCN-IM.
The outfit further stated that the attack by 'Naga Army' against the hide
out of the 'reactionary forces' located at Diphupar is a direct out come of
the double standard policy of the Dimapur administration. "The Deputy
Commissioner's pretentious seriousness just faded after his operation flush
out evicted the NSCN members but allowing reactionary forces of
Azheto-Mulatuno-Kitovi group to be stationed there at Diphupar area and
other places from where all the criminals activities like abduction and
extortion are conducted. It was a long wait but the wait cannot be extended
for too long lest the public nuisance created by this group takes for a more
dangerous turn," fumed the NSCN-IM.
It then said that there is no running away on the action taken by the
NSCN-IM against the 'Azheto-Mulatuno-Kitovi group' "why the state police
forces turn a blind eye to the presence of their 'Highway Command' in the
house of Maj. Atoshe at L khel, Diphupar?" asked the outfit.
The NSCN-IM has acted with a very clear conscience when the Dimapur
administration failed to apply the same yard-sticks, said the statement
while adding, "When dealing with NSCN members the police acted with
promptness and faithfulness. But in the matters of Azheto-Mulatuno-Kitovi
elements, the police intelligence went out of action or simply directed to
go slow by the top level officials. But NSCN cannot afford to go slow, and
will never go slow to defend people's interest," further cautions the
outfit.
"The irony of the situation is that everybody talks about ceasefire ground
rules implementation. But nobody ask who will implement it and how. Not by
Government of India agency alone can ceasefire ground rules be implemented
if NSCN is not taken account. Otherwise, the ground rules remains in name
only. Let the government of India treat the Ceasefire rules with a heart of
sincerity to make it more meaningful. The state as well as Central
government should take serious note of the duplicity in the matter of
ceasefire rules," directed the NSCN-IM statement.

========================

SOURCE: IMPHAL FREE PRESS

Two New Lambulane youths killed in encounter | Five UG outfits outlawed

Two New Lambulane youths killed in encounter

Imphal, Jul 11: Tension remained high at New Lambulane this afternoon
following the killing of two residents including a law college student and a
football player by the combined security forces of Imphal east commandos and
115 Bn BSF this afternoon along the way between two hillocks at Tinsid road
about 8 kms east from Imphal under Porompat police station in an encounter.

According to a police source, the combined forces shot down the two
suspected activists of the underground KLA at Tinsid road this afternoon
during an encounter. The security forces also recovered one 9 mm pistol with
three live rounds, one hand grenade and two demand letters of

the KLA signed by Stephen Kuki and addressed to the DFO, Ukhrul and DFO,
Tamenglong demanding Rs. 2 lakhs each from the funds meant for bamboo
development schemes of the respective districts.

The source further said the incident occurred when the combined forces were
moving towards the Tinsid road this afternoon and spotted two youths driving
a NV scooter bearing registration No. MNIJ-7880 coming from the Sanjenbam
side. On being signalled to stop one among them fired several rounds towards
the security forces and attempted to escape. Both the suspected militants
were, however, killed by the security forces in the retaliatory fire.

Later, Lamlai police arrived at the spot and retrieved the two dead bodies
and deposited them at the RIMS morgue for post mortem this evening.

The deceased were identified as Thangkhotinsei Kipgen, 29, son of Letkhai
Kipgen of Seikul K Hengjang Bungpal village presently residing at his
maternal home at New Lambulane and studying in 2nd year at the LMS law
college, Imphal and Berdneo Hangsing, 22, son of Khupminlein Hangsin of New
Lambulane, a football player and information and publicity secretary of
Tribal Youth Club, New Lambulane.

Meanwhile, the killing of the youths caused tension in New Lambulane area
this evening, but the situation improved later after various representatives
of the clubs, organisations and civil society bodies announced that they
would take up democratic forms of agitation tomorrow.

==============

Five UG outfits outlawed

IMPHAL, Jul 11: Union ministry of home affairs have declared five Meetei
"extremists" outfits with its factions and frontal organizations as outlaw
organisations under the sub-section 1, section 3 of the Unlalwful Activities
(Prevention) Act, 1967 (37 of 1967), said a DIPR released said today.

The organisations are the People's Liberation Army, PLA, and its political
wing, the Revolutionary People's Front, RPF, the United National Liberation
Front (UNLF), the People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) and
its armed wing "Red Army", the Kangleipak Communist Party, KCP, and its
armed wing, also called the "Red Army", the Kanglei Yaol Kanba Lup (KYKL)
and the Manipur Peoples' Liberation Front, MPLF. Factions of these
organisations and frontal organizations also declared outlaw, it said.

They have been declared as unlawful considering their objectives and
activities, the DIPR released added.

The fresh banned list of the Union home ministry no longer includes any
Naga or Kuki underground organisation.

=============

After Centre, NSCN(IM) unhappy with Nagaland govt too

Dimapur, Jul 11: After heaping a series of accusations on the Government of
India by the NSCN-IM for the slow pace of the "Naga peace talks", the
Isak-Muivah faction of the NSCN on Friday expressed its anger at the
Nagaland government too for the same reason.

The outfit stated that the government of India was blamed by NSCN-IM for
being insincere while dealing with the Indo-Naga political issue saying that
serious commitment was found lacking on the part of India, and that caused
the delay in bringing the peace talks to a meaningful level.

"Ironically, the Nagaland administration under the direction of Nagaland
state government is adopting the same attitude by applying different
yard-stick while going headstrong with the notorious flush out operation in
Dimapur," accused the the NSCN-IM saying that the indignation of NSCN-IM
cannot be faulted. "And when things started going too far the Naga Army is
forced into action but conscientiously," cautions the NSCN-IM.

The outfit further stated that the attack by 'Naga Army' against the hide
out of the 'reactionary forces' located at Diphupar is a direct out come of
the double standard policy of the Dimapur administration. "The Deputy
Commissioner's pretentious seriousness just faded after his operation flush
out evicted the NSCN members but allowing reactionary forces of
Azheto-Mulatuno-Kitovi group to be stationed there at Diphupar area and
other places from where all the criminals activities like abduction and
extortion are conducted. It was a long wait but the wait cannot be extended
for too long lest the public nuisance created by this group takes for a more
dangerous turn," fumed the NSCN-IM.

It then said that there is no running away on the action taken by the
NSCN-IM against the 'Azheto-Mulatuno-Kitovi group' "why the state police
forces turn a blind eye to the presence of their 'Highway Command' in the
house of Maj. Atoshe at L khel, Diphupar?" asked the outfit.

The NSCN-IM has acted with a very clear conscience when the Dimapur
administration failed to apply the same yard-sticks, said the statement
while adding, "When dealing with NSCN members the police acted with
promptness and faithfulness. But in the matters of Azheto-Mulatuno-Kitovi
elements, the police intelligence went out of action or simply directed to
go slow by the top level officials. But NSCN cannot afford to go slow, and
will never go slow to defend people's interest," further cautions the
outfit.

"The irony of the situation is that everybody talks about ceasefire ground
rules implementation. But nobody ask who will implement it and how. Not by
Government of India agency alone can ceasefire ground rules be implemented
if NSCN is not taken account. Otherwise, the ground rules remains in name
only. Let the government of India treat the Ceasefire rules with a heart of
sincerity to make it more meaningful. The state as well as Central
government should take serious note of the duplicity in the matter of
ceasefire rules," directed the NSCN-IM statement.

============

Gurbachan Jagat to be sworn in as new Governor on July 18

IMPHAL, Jul 11: The newly appointed Governor of Manipur, Gurbachan Jagat
will be sworn in as state Governor on July 18, an official source said
Friday.
To chalk out the tentative programme of the swearing-in ceremony, a high
level meeting is to be convened on July 17 under the chair of the new chief
secretary Rakesh.
Mention may be made that a press communique issued on July 9 by the
President of India, announced the appointment of Gurbachan Jagat as the
Governor of Manipur, replacing current Governor Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu
who has been transferred to serve as Governor of Goa for his remaining term.
The newly appointed Governor will be arriving on July 18, the day on which
he is scheduled to assume office at the Imphal Raj Bhavan.
The scheduled high level meeting will be attended by state principal
secretary (home), Poonia, commissioner (GAD) Bharat, secretary (law) A
Sukumar, secretary to the Governor RK Nimai and director, information and
public relations, Silhou.

IMPHAL FREE PRESS

KSO warns Govt | Rapist executed

KSO warns Govt

IMPHAL, Jul 11: Expressing strong resentment over State Government's plan of
closing down grant-in-aid (aided) elementary schools, Kuki Students'
Organisation (KSO) warned that the organisation with the help of other
fraternal organisations will fight tooth and nail against the decision and
the outcome of which will not be in the interest of the Government. The KSO
informed that there are 502 schools under the grant-in-aid elementary
schools in the State, out of which 252 are in hill areas. The Government
planned to close down 169 schools in which 60 elementary schools and five
high schools are in the hill areas, where there is no private school within
the reach of the people. Maintaining that it must be realised that closing
down of these schools will amount to denial of right to education, KSO urged
the Government to reconsider the decision.

=============

Rapist executed

IMPHAL, Jul 11: The Kuki armed outfit KNF (MC) today said that it has
awarded capital punish-ment to Paozangam, who allegedly raped two minor
sisters on July 3, reports our Chura-chandpur correspondent. A statement
issued by the outfit said that Paozanga-m's crime was con- firmed and this
case could not be settled in accordance with Kuki customary laws. The outfit
also appealed to all not to misinterpret its action and further warned that
any person indulging in such crimes would not be forgiven.

THE SANGAI EXPRESS

World Population Day : July 11; Population Growth and Resource Crisis

By : Prof. R. K. Narendra Singh

The writer is a Professor and Head, Department of Biostatistics, RIMS and President of Population Study Group, Manipur

Man is the only peril to lie at the root of all problems around us. Rapid population growth and its fatal activities have placed incredible stress on earth’s resources. A large population means a large demand for everything and subsequently affects global warming, deforestation, starvation, pollution and related issues. To avoid these catastrophes we should check our population growth and reduce resource consumption.

Environmental impact is gauged by total resource consumption which is the product of population size and the average per capita consumption. It means to manage the present crisis of the shortage of resources (including energy) and environment; there must be a proper balance between population size and per capita consumption. Nevertheless our consumption has gone too far that creates our environment crumbling. Consequently, our demand is more excessive than that of earth’s absorptive and regenerative capacities.

Our earth has its own capacity to sustain her balance in all aspects. For instance, out of the total surface area, 510,066,000 sq. km. of the planet, the land surface area consists of 148,647,000 sq. km. only as against the total water surface area of 361,419,000 sq. km. including oceanic area of 335,258,000 sq. km. It means we have only 29.1% land area and remaining 70.9% belongs to water. Of this land area, nearly 5,000,000 sq. miles are in Antarctica and 9,000,000 sq. miles are in deserts and 11,000,000 sq. miles are in mountainous region. Of the deserts and mountains, at least one fourth of its land area cannot be inhabited. So we have only 5,000,000 sq. miles of land surface of our inhabitation.

Human inhabited land is being squeezed by rising sea level and expanding desert area as an impact of global warming. During the twentieth century, sea level rose by 6 inches and at the end of this century it may rise up to 35 inches. A one-metre rise of sea level would inundate many of the rice-growing river deltas and flood plains. Hundreds of cities and towns would be under water and hundreds of thousands of people would be homeless. During the last Ice Age, more than 30% of the earth’s surface was covered by glaciers – frozen rivers of ice that move very slowly. Even today, as much as, 10% of earth’s surface is covered with glaciers. They hold about 75% of the world’s fresh water. If all glaciers melted, the world’s sea level would rise about 70 metres. Again if Greenland ice sheet is melted, it would force the abandonment of thousands of coastal cities and communities. In fact, the rising sea level primarily the result of temperature increases due to several forms of burning of fossil fuels.

At the same time, the deserts are also expanding their area coverage primarily the result of overstocking grasslands and overplowing land. In fact the deserts cover about a quarter of the world’s land area. They range from extremely arid and barren sandy deserts (about 4% of the total land surface of the globe), through arid (15%) to semi-arid. Most deserts have features of all these, with one zone merging into the next, so the start and finishing of any desert is not exact.

China is losing cropping land to desert at an accelerating rate of 1,400 sq. miles per annum. Nigeria is losing 1,355 sq. miles to desertification each year. According to UNEP, in Afghanistan upto 100 villages have been submerged by windblown dust and sand, and sand dunes are moving onto agricultural land.

Of course, rising sea level and desertification will present the world with an unprecedented flow of environmental refugees and potential for civil strife. It is suggested that a reduction in individual consumption is one of the solution to solve this global environmental problem. The work of the Global Footprint Network (GFN) analyzed the situation. Measuring consumption as the use of biologically productive land and sea, their data shows a global maximum sustainable footprint, at today’s population, of just under 1.8 global hectares (gha) per person. Currently, by drawing down nonrenewable resources, we’re a bit over 2.2 gha, overshooting earth’s limits by about 25%.

Now the question is how much can we reduce per capita consumption? We can not curtail as much as to end our environmental woes. So the main solution to this menace is to end population growth since every hour, the world has an extra 8,000 little mouths to feed. More mouths to feed means less resources to feed them on.

History tells us that world population grew slowly at the very beginning and then at faster rate. It took million of years to reach the level of 230 million at the beginning of the Christian era. It again touched 545 million in 1650 and 1 billion in 1830 A.D. the population rose from 1 billion to 2 billion in 100 years i.e. from 1830 to 1930 and in subsequent 30 yrs to 3 billion i.e. from 1930 to 1960 and another 15 years to 4 billion i.e. from 1960 t0 1975. Around 5 billion was achieved in only 12 years i.e. from 1975 to 1987. At present world population is 6,602,244,175 adding by another 76 million people to the volume of world population per year. According to UN report the world will add another 2.6 billion people by 2050. At present global growth rate is 1.17% which is too high to make a stable population.

If the present trend further continues to grow, within a few decades energy will be scarce and expensive. Projections for the depletion of oil, gas and coal reserves estimated that by 2076, 90% of these reserves will be gone out. Global demand for fresh water has tripled since 1950s, but the supply of fresh water has been declining because of over-pumping and contamination. Half a billion people live in water-stressed and water-scarce countries, and by 2025 that number will grow to 3 billion. In the last 50 years, cropland area has been reduced by 13% and pasture by 4%. Global warming, acid rain, the hole in ozone layer, rampant crime, viral epidemics, homeless – all these problems and more stem from over population.

Human beings are intellectual creatures, created by God and His vicegerent to rule the planet. It is therefore our duty to prevent the catastrophe hovers around us. Whether to save human species or not in this fertile planet is in our hands. There is a biological “overshoot” indicating that population if unchecked, grows beyond the carrying capacity of its environment. And a ravaged environment then causes a population to crash. It is therefore responsibility of every one to face the challenges. Hence the need of the hour is to check the population growth and at the same time to reduce consumption of non-renewable resources.


Source: http://ifp.co.in/ArticleFull.asp?ArticleID=385

KSO resents govt move to close aided schools

Imphal, July 10: The KSO General Headquarters has expressed strong resentment over the purported government’s initiative to close down the grant-in-aid (Aided) elementary schools in the state, particularly in the hill areas. The KSO had investigated the government’s exercise to pull the plug on the aided elementary schools and found the government’s intentions as unethical and unpalatable, it said.

At the moment there are altogether 502 schools under the grant-in-aid (Aided) elementary schools under the Education(s) department since its inception on 1-10-2008 of which 252 schools are in the hill areas. The KSO has come to know that the government has planned to shut down 169 schools in which 60 elementary schools and 5 high schools are in the hill areas. The government plans to cut down the cost of imparting education to the people at the tune of Rs. 25 crores from this exercise. The government must realize that it is planning to deny education to its people if it goes ahead with this gory scheme.

It should be known that there are no private schools within reach in almost all the hill villages in the state unlike the villages in the valley areas. Putting these poor villages of the hill areas under the axe will amount to denial of the right for education to thousands of underprivileged children living below poverty line (BPL) who nevertheless afford to go to private schools tens of kilometres away from their villages.

The government must also realize that the condition and the circumstances faced by the people of the hill areas in respect of education differ to the situation in the valley where there are private schools in almost all Leikais.

At a time when the Central government plans to bring education to every doorstep in the country, the state government instead tries to take away education from its people especially the underprivileged tribal children in the hill areas.

In these aided schools there are also unapproved teachers to assist the approved teachers in running the schools in the past 28 years. The fates of these teachers are hanging in the balance. The government should instead try to appoint the teachers as approved teachers so as to justify their hard works through these years. There are about 350 unapproved teachers in the 252 schools. It is high time the government must act for the welfare of these unapproved teachers who served tirelessly for the last 28 years.

It is the cherished objective of the KSO and the other fraternal students’ organization to bring about quality education to the people. So, hindrances in any form from any quarter are uncalled for and the KSO is prepared to go to any length to achieve its objective of ushering quality education.

If the government is bent on closing down these aided schools it should first open full-fledged government schools in every village where these elementary schools are functioning.

And if in any case the government is no satisfied with the performance of the teachers or the functioning of the schools, it should take up stringent measures on the teachers. But in no uncertain term it should close down the schools which would jeopardize the fate of unprivileged village children who could not afford education in towns and cities.

Over and above, if the government is sincere enough for educational development in the state it must shift its policies of containing education in towns and cities but see a wider perspective by looking into the problem and needs of the hill people in the education field.

Therefore if the government proceeds with its plan to close down the grand-in-aid (Aided) elementary schools in the hill areas, which conditions differs from the ones in valley areas, the KSO and its fraternal students’ organisations will fight tooth and nail against the government policy, the outcome of which will not be in the interest of the government.

So, the KSO GHQ urges the government to shelve its plan of closing down of the aided elementary schools and high schools in the hill areas in the name of social justice and development.

Source: http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=2650

A nation under different nomenclatures - II

By Nehginpao Kipgen

The groups in alphabetical order are: Anu, Anun, Asho (Plain), Awa Khami, Chin, Dai (Yindu), Dim, Gunte (Lyente), Gwete, Haulngo, Ka-Lin-Kaw (Lushay), Kaung Saing Chin, Kaungso, Khami, Khawno, Kwangli (Sim), Kwelshin, Lai, Laizao, Lawhtu, Laymyo, Lhinbu, Lushei (Lushay), Lyente, Magun, Malin, Matu, Meithei (Kathe), Mgan, Mi-er, Miram (Mara), Naga, Ngorn, Oo-Pu, Panun, Rongtu, Saing Zan, Saline, Sentang, Taishon, Tangkhul, Tapong, Tay-Zan, Thado, Tiddim (Hai-Dim), Torr, Wakim (Mro), Zahnyet (Zanniet), Za-How, Zizan, Zo, Zo-Pe, Zotung. Many of the spellings here are different from what the locals use.

Although these people belong to the same mongoloid stock and speak Tibeto-Burman languages, any in-depth analysis could escalate into controversy. On the other side of the border in Manipur state, the Indian government recognises them as three separate ethnic entities: Kukis, Meiteis and Nagas. Despite having a common tribal heritage, Meiteis are categorized in general category population while Kukis and Nagas are placed in tribal category.

In Chin State of Burma, people from Halkha, Falam and Tiddim townships constitute the bulk of our population. In Mizoram, the Lushais (Duhlian dialect speakers) are the majority; and in other parts of Northeast Indian States, particularly in the State of Manipur, the Thadou dialect users form the majority.

The term Mizo became popular in the 1940s with a view to uniting all the people in the then Lushai Hills. The introduction of the Lushai Hills Autonomous District Council in 1952 led to the abolition of chieftainship in Mizoram.

As India was closer to independence, the Mizo Union (formerly known as Mizo Common People’s Union) demanded that the Chin-Kuki-Mizo people inhabited areas adjacent to Lushai Hills be included in the new State. The move was challenged by United Mizo Freedom which advocated for Lushai Hills to join Burma after independence.

During the days of Mizo National Front, our people from different quarters joined the movement in one way or another. However, a dream of amalgamating different geographical regions was unsuccessful. With the formalization of Lushai Hills into Mizoram state on February 20, the Lushai Hills became a unit of the Indian Union in 1987.

The terminology ‘Mizo’ which is more or less synonymous to ‘Zomi’ simply means hill people. Similarly, the term ‘Kuki’ is believed to be an Assamese or Bengali word meaning hill people or mountaineers. In other words, both Kuki and Mizo nomenclatures denote hill people. The origin of ‘Chin’ is convincingly not defined yet, though there are a number of theories.

In the context of Manipur, according to earlier British ethnographers, the Kuki group consists of 22 tribes: Aimol, Anal, Chiru, Chothe, Gangte, Hmar, Koirao, Koireng, Kom, Lamkang, Maring, Mizo (Lushai), Monsang, Moyon, Paite, Purum, Ralte, Simte, Sukte, Thadou, Vaiphei and Zou. Due to socio-political benefits attached to it, new tribe(s) recognition may be in the offing.

As per 2001 census, the Thadous form the single largest unit of tribal population in Manipur. Though outsiders call or know them as Thado or Thadou, some clans within the group are hesitant to identify themselves as such, and thus becoming one most contentious issue and divisive force impeding the unity and progress of any Kuki national movement.

In 1946, an ethnic-based political association called Kuki National Assembly was formed by the non-Naga tribal groups of Manipur. Later, not pleased with alleged Thadou dominance and supremacy, the non-Thadou groups began to look for a more democratic association which gave birth to Khulmi National Union in 1947. Until today, despite belonging to the same family, a wedded relationship cannot be established.

Also in Manipur, seven tribes fall under Naga appellation: Angami, Kabui, Kacha Naga, Mao, Maram, Sema and Tangkhul. In recent years, some Kuki tribes have seemingly been assimilated into Naga fold partly due to geo-political advantages, and also partly due to the Naga armed movement.

While their brethrens have had a statehood status under the aegis of Chin in the Chin Hills and Mizo in the Lushai Hills, the Kukis are stressing the need to come together and demand their inhabited areas in the form of state or autonomy – with particular reference to a Kuki state demand in Manipur.

Given that India is a burgeoning democracy, our people in India are advancing academically and politically. Perhaps, they may have produced more educated individuals, Governmental and Non-Governmental officials than our people from Bangladesh and Burma combined have procreated. Among others, we can see some outstanding individuals who have been elevated to ambassadorial posts.

Generic terminologies such as Eimi, Khumi, Laimi, Zomi, Zo et cetera are also gaining momentum endogenously. On the other hand, there are others who are tenaciously inclined toward the names we are internationally known with. There are also pockets of population who tend to identify themselves distinctively. In every sub-group, elements of both extremism and moderatism exist.

It is not an awry phenomenon to identify ourselves with different names depending on our local or regional dialects. Nonetheless, context or geographical connotation is something that cannot be easily done away with. In Burma, people will continue to call us Chin; Mizo in Mizoram, and Kuki in other parts of the northeast Indian states, particularly in Manipur.

People who prefer Chin refer to all our people when they use the term. Similarly, people who prefer to use either Kuki or Mizo mean to include the same people. Likewise, when names such as Eimi, Khumi, Laimi, Zomi, et cetera are used in local dialects, they refer to all of our people.

The bottom line is that as long as we disagree to agree on having a common platform, our people will remain divided under different nomenclatures despite knowing the fact that we are of one family. If this pattern is to continue unaddressed, future generations could be drearier.

I charily chose this polemic but pivotal subject to inculcate the hearts and minds of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo students and youngsters around the world. No academic research findings will suffice unless our consciences convince us to come together under one nomenclature. Otherwise, we will have to bury ourselves bickering over this.

Finally, let me end by quoting a line from my 2006 Chin National Day message: “Going to school with the eventual aim of making money is good, but it is even better if one can go to school for building his intellectual capacity and enhancing self-confidence in this competitive global village.”

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


Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/

INVITATION: WORKSHOP ON GLOSSARY OF ZO CULTURAL VOCABULARIES

INVITATION

In order to, commemorate the Year 2008 as the International Year of Languages as declared by the UNO, Chairman, ZOCULSIN is pleased to invite you for 10 days WORKSHOP ON GLOSSARY OF ZO CULTURAL VOCABULARIES beginning from 24th July to 2nd July 2008 at MPs' Club South Avenue, New Delhi sponsored by CIIL, Mysore.

Prof. Pandit former Director of the Anthropological Survey of India has consented to be our Chief Guest and Dr. Subbakrishna of CIIL, Mysore will be the Co-ordinator for the workshop.

RSVP

Secretary, Zoculsin

WORKSHOP ON GLOSSARY OF ZO CULTURAL VOCABULARIES

Sponsored by
The Central Institute of Indian Languages, Mysore(CIIL),
Karnataka, India
in collaboration with
Zo Cultural-cum-Literature Society India(Zoculsin) Hqtrs: Delhi

DURATION : 24 JULY 2008 TO 2 AUGUST 2008
VENUE : MP CLUB, SOUTH AVENUE, NEW DELHI
Time: 11 A.M to 5 P.M
Detail programme will be circulated later on

After Khuga, another canal breaches

S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, Jul 10: Days after the khuga canal breaches during its trail run, another canal about a farlong from the khuga canal breaches yet again at Ngurte village, about 7kms from here.

The canal which irrigates about 500 acres of farmland, according to Lalhmuok Famhoite, Secretary of Eastern Khuga Farmers Association breaches on Tuesday night. As the main source of water for the farmland breaches, half of the water that was hose-off from Tuikham rivulet was now wasted, he said.

The canal constructed by the minor irrigation department is likely to lose more soil and water, and may eventually breakdown if not immediately mended, he adds.

Mizo Rally: Taking their annoyance to the State Government, the marginal Mizo community here today staged a rally in protest against the recent spate of violence committed against the law-abiding citizens of Mizo populace in the State.

An apparent offshoot on the killing of Langsanglia-na, today’s rally held under the aegis of MPC made it known that the community is against ‘brutal and merciless torture and killing of innocent Mizo men by insurgents’ and that the State Government is neglecting them.

In its memo address to the Chief Minister, the rallyists call on the State Government to protect the Mizos in the State and to award ex-gratia to two of its ‘innocent’ youths who were executed by insurgents.

KNF (MC) parades rapist:

An armed wing of the KNO, KNF (MC) today, somewhere in the district paraded a seventeen-year-old youth who was accused of raping two minor sisters on July 3.

Parading the alleged rapist and the two minor girls before the media, KNF (MC) C-in-C Th German Kuki said, the minors - three-year-old and seven-year-old sisters were exploited on broad daylight inside their residence at Gangpichai.

The sisters were the six and seventh children of Letkam of Gangpichai, and they were the only ones at home when the youth exploited them as their parents were out of station and their elder siblings not at home.

Identifying the youth as Paozangam, 17 son of Ngamhao of Gangpichai, the outfit’s commander said his offences being one of the most shocking crime ever witness in the region, he will not be pardoned for his deeds. KNF (MC) reportedly arrested the rapist yesterday and ever since he was placed under their custody to face their ultimate judgment.


Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-14.html

Green signal for 627 women cops recruitment, CS report on SoO deliberated

IMPHAL, Jul 10: The State Cabinet today deliberated on the report of the Chief Secretary who presided a meeting concerning suspension of operation with Kuki armed groups at New Delhi in May besides approving fresh recruitment of 627 women police personnel.

According to an informed source, today’s cabinet meeting presided by Chief Minister O ibobi Singh thoroughly deliberated on the Chief Secretary’s report with regard to the SoO session at the National capital even though no resolution on the issue was adopted.

Disclosing that the New Delhi session included separate meetings with representatives/leaders of the United people’s Front and Kuki National Organisation, the source said apart from the Chief Secretary Manipur’s Director General of Police and Inspector general of Police (Intelligence) took part in the SoO meeting.

On the women police recruitment issue, the Cabinet consented to creation of 12 post of Inspector rank and 12 Assistant Sub Inspectors from the total strength of 627 lady cops.

Significantly, it was decided that 32 post of Sub Inspector would be created besides conducting direct recruitment to fill up 10 vacant post of ASI rank.

Other resolutions adopted that meeting include extension of service superannuation age of college lecturers by a year to 60 years in compliance with the UGC guidelines and to amend Manipur Judicial Service Rule as had been decreed by the Supreme Court. Welfare measures/schemes un- der relevant Labour laws of personnel employed in recognised firms such as insurance cover, service condition improvement etc also figured in the meeting with consequent approval.

Source: http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-07.html

ZDV in Kamkhanpao tawpsak

ZDV in Kamkhanpao tawpsak

Lamka, July 10: ZDV cabinet in Mr. Kamkhanpao, C-in-C ahihna apan tawp sak ahihdan tuni’n ZDV in thusuah bawl in tua ah CZ Robert in suaikai hi.

Thusuak in a taklatna ah, 10th Nov. 2007 in ZDV CHQ in cabinet meeting nei in tua ah Mr. Kamkhanpao in pawlpi dankalh a a gamtat ziak a kha 8 giat sung nohkhiat a om ahihdan taklang kawm in, hiai hun sung a a kibawlhoih tuanlouh ziakin ahihna C-in-C apan paihkhiak a om hi’n leng taklang hi.

Source: Lamka Post July 11, 2008

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

ZDV in Kamkhanpao nawhkhia

Zou Defence Volunteer (ZDV) nuai a Information Secretary CZ Robert apan thusuak kingahdan in, November 10 2007 in ZDO/ZDV General Headquarter Zojang ah Emergency Cabinet Meeting nei ua, huai hun ah ZDV C-in-C Kamkhanpao in pawlpi dan bangzah vei hiam a apasal ziak in atungtang ngaihtuah ahihdan gen hi. ZDO/ZDV thusuak in agen zelna ah, huai ni apan kha 8 sung a a omdan tawpsan ding in theisak ua, himahleh, aman a tawpsan tuanlouh ziak in tuni July 10 2008 apan C-in-C ahihna lakkhiak sak ahihdan puang uhi. Kamkhanpao thakhengtu dingin Thangchinkap @ Anthony guan hi’n leng tua thusuak in taklang hi.

Source: Manipur Express July 11, 2008

Sum-le-pai sang in Sakmin hoih

Editorial, The Lamka Post July 10, 2008

North East Council senna nuai ah Lamka Police station apan Singngat kikal lampi bawlna pailel pen 75% bang zohsiang hita hi. MLA election teng a campaign la dia kizang Singngat leh Lamka kikal pen a taktak a nasep pat ahihna ah mipite lamet a taktak a tangtung bang khongkhong ahihman in mipi kipahna sang mahmah hi. Kum 1 val paite in Singngat leh Lamka kikal dakkal 2 val gari tai a, tun bel dakkal 1 lelkhong taita a, lampi a sauzaw hoihzaw ahihtakman in gari hekte’n leng nuamsa in gari hat theipeuh mahmah hileuleu zel a, tuahsiat ding lau kihinawn leuleu hi.

Nasepna tuchiangchiang ah demna ding neuhneuh om mahleh, a tamzaw tham zohsiang ahihna ah na kipahhuai mahmah a, singtang lam apan damlou gim mahmah a hon puakte uhleng Singngat leh Lamka kikal ah gari in singlum nawn hial lou ding chihna hita ahihman in mihing hinna bangzah him hotkhiak ahita ding a, mahajonte gari a hek kei deuh ding a, thautui leng a bei tawmzaw deuhta ding chihna ahihtak man in mahajonte leh migentheite a ding in kipahhuai tuaktuak hi.

Singngat leh Lamka kikal a tamzaw zohsiang himahleh, hiai sang a sauzaw Guite Road omlai a, hiai in alkatra nengchik leng chiamkha nailou ahihman in hiai kikal sem dia mohpuakna la contractor-te’n ‘vahnombah’ lampang uang bawl sang in bangchileh Guite Road a hoih thei dia? bangchileh a detdou thei dia, bangchileh a tawldam thei dia chih ngaihtuahna toh lungtunhuai tak mah in pan honla le uh chih deihhuai mahmah hi. Bible in nasemtu loh mutak ahi a chih bang in, contractor te leng a sep man uh a muh ding uh ahi, ahihhang in, midiktatloute hih bang a hih mailou in, a pung ding kia enlou in banah, seplouhna leng sep bang a gelhtheite mai a leng kitulut tuanlou in, Zomite Gou ahi chih phawkkawm in mun dang teng sang a hoihzaw in hon bawl le uh deihhuai mahmah hi. A gam neitute’n bel a lampi hoih sang in a summuhna ding kia uh a hon ngaihtuah ding ua, huai tuh a ngeina uh ahi chih mangngilhlou in amaute ginna gal lam a hoih in semle hang in Nam muantham i hihna mite hon thei ding uhi.

Gen sau lai le, khovel pumpi a Zomite a dia lampi poimohpen tuh Tedim Road, Guite Road leh Tipaimukh road ahi. Hiai lampite tuh Zosuante hinna lampi hi a, hiai tungtawn in Zomite lak ah nek ding puaklut in om a, tua toh kiton in Zomite sepsuah zuak theihte tuh hiai lampi tungtawn mah in puakkhiak in om hi. Tua ahihman in hiai lampi bawl thei dia om contractor teng in Lamka khopi sung a kibawl bang a duhthusamtak mai a ahon bawl uh deihhuai mahmah a, tua bang a hon bawl ding in contractor teng i hasuan in i chou uhi.

Phamsa Pu H. Jelshyam in a laphuahna ah, ‘Sum-le-pai lam tamsang in, sakmin hoih manphazaw e’ a chih bang in hiai nasepna ah sum lam a puunna sang in sak min hoih mah hon thupi bawl thei le uh deihhuai mahmah hi. Sum-le-pai a hauhsakna in midangte hetkha zel a, himahleh min hoihna in mi tengteng kipak sak a, min hoihte a ding inleng tangtawn gou daih ding hi. Hiai lampi bawltu dingte’n ngaihtuahna thuktak toh gel vengveng a na a hon sep uh i lam-en hi. I gam puah ding in USA apan kuamah a hong kuan kei ding a, phualpi kumpi apan inleng kuamah a hong kuan tuan kei ding, nang hoihtak a nasep leh a hoih ding a, hoihloutak a nasep leh hoihlou himai ding ahi chih phawk thak ni.

Email us at : lamkapost@yahoo.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Source: http://zogam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3615&Itemid=2

Water from Khuga dam canal causes flooding at fields

By Kaimuanthang

Churachandpur, Jul 9: Just as the state government was preparing for the nauguration of the Khuga multi purpose project, unexpected floods at paddy fields caused by a possible leakage from the main canal at T Semuol are giving sleepless nights to the public of Churachandpur as well as the dam authorities. At a stone's throw from M Semuol village the Khuga dam canal water flowing during the trial run on July 7 night caused sinking of > the ground soil. The sinking of the ground resulted in a big hole of > around 25 meter depth attracting all the volume of waters penetrating down > the culvert hole down the canal.

Soon after the water dispersed and submerged at a pond lying near the > culvert, the overflow of water continued to go downward to the nearby > paddy field which resulted in an artificial flooding of the paddy field. > Meanwhile, despite the major artificial flood at the paddy field due to > the weakness of both sides of the canal walls none of the officials concerned have visited the affected site till today.

Jamthang, chief of the affected M Semuol village told this correspondent that at least all the village areas which the irrigation canal pass through must be well maintained so that unnecessary incidents along with the possibility of human casualties to the farmers may be avoided. He further said that due to the sudden flood cultured fish worth around Rs. 4000 have been lost and demanded compensation from the concerned department.

About 10 hectares of full grown paddy fields at the side of M Semuol have been flooded by the seepage of water. The matter was put before the concerned district administration today officially for necessary action, he added.

http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=2647

ATSUM indefinite economic blockade postponed

IMPHAL, Jul 9: Teachers and doctors are the most regarded persons by the hill people in Manipur so there is no question of ill-treatment as alleged by the state education minister, said Joseph R Hmar, a spokesperson of the All Manipur Tribal Students' Union, ATSUM. He also announced that the proposed indefinite economic blockade schedule to commence from 6 am of July 10 on the two national highways of Manipur by the students body has been revoked and will re-schedule after a decision in this regard is taken by a general body meeting of union.

Mention may be made that the students body, the All Tribal Students Union, ATSUM had announced to impose indefinite economic blockade on the national highways connecting the state with others state of the country commencing from 6 am of July 10 in protest against the alleged non-implementation of its demands from the state government. Speaking to journalists here, spokesperson said that the union has decided to postpone the proposed economic blockade till a general body meeting of the union is held and discussed on the matter.

Categorically denying the statement of the state education minister regarding alleged ill-treatment of teachers in the hill said that it was a baseless one. He said that the most welcome men by hill people are teachers and doctors. He further observed that the teacher who was ill-treated may not be a good teacher but a loose character man or drunkard man who does not know the duty of being a teacher.

While reacting to the alleged cutting of money from the salaries of a Hindi matriculate teacher N Sanatomba posting at Poi Junior High School in Ukhrul, Joeph said that it was a baseless charge. He said that the report of reduction of Rs 2000 for church building construction was not happened as there is no report of forcibly collecting money for construction of church in any part of the state. Hill people always favour teachers and respect them with high regard, he said while urging the Manipur government to institute an investigation into the allegation as the earliest so to clear the confusion created by the statement of the minister.

He also observed that the reduction of money from the salaries of the teacher may be as penalty imposed on him for not attending the school regularly as it has been a regular practice of the teachers posting in the hill areas of the state. If the teacher attend school regularly and teach the students well the question of reduction may not happened, he added.

Further reacting to minister's statement which stated that as there is no shortest of teachers in the hill areas and no teacher will be appointed as such condition, Joshep said that it was a totally different observation of the minister considering the ground situation of the condition of the shortest of teachers in the hill areas.

He said in the total 257 government schools in the hill areas but there is no enough number of teachers in these schools. In the meantime, services of the teachers serving on contract basis have ceased their service as extension order were no more issue by the authorities, he said. He said revealed the district wise data of current strength of teachers in the hill areas. In Churachandpur district there are a total of 72 schools while there are 101 graduate regular teachers, 92 science and nine arts teachers apart from 120 arts graduate and 99 science graduate teachers on contract
basis. Still there is shortest of 113 for arts and 14 science teacher, he said.

Likewise, in Chandel district have 17 government schools while four arts and 29 science teachers are posting here with 43 arts and 19 science teachers on contract basis. There is shortest of 42 arts teachers and 19 science teacher, he observed. Thirty-seven government schools are there in Kangpokpi sub-division of Senapati district and 13 regular arts and 40 science teachers are posting here while 13 arts teacher and 34 science teachers serving on contract basis. The shortest teachers here are 41 arts and 20 science graduate teachers. For Senapati district, the current strength of teachers in 26 schools is 35 arts and 27 science teachers and 58 arts and 32 science teachers are serving on contract basis. The shortest teacher here is 53 science and 13 arts teachers, he went on observed.

A total of 44 government schools are in Tamenglong district and it has 35 arts and 27 regular science graduate teachers. Nine arts and 19 science teachers on contract basis are also serving in the district. The shortest teacher here is 115 arts and 51 science teachers. In the Ukhrul district also currently 20 arts and 78 regular science teachers are currently posting in a total of 61 schools. 20 science and 78 science teachers are also serving on contract basis. Still there is shortest of 105 arts and 91 science teachers in the district, Joshep revealed. The state government should consider it, the spokesperson said while stating that a director looking after both hill and valley is not suited. So, two directors one for hill and another for valley should be arranged, she said for better looking after the schools. He also reiterated that the student union had earlier submitted a lists of the schools in the hill running properly but with shortest in teacher but no action was taken up, he alleged the minister. He also observed that the number so students in the hill schools will be
remarkably increased if shortest teachers are mend up.

http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=2643

PM to meet President

NEW DELHI: Barely an hour after the NDA constituents led by BJP demanded that the government be asked to prove its majority within a week, President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday asked Prime Minister to meet her on Thursday.

A Rashtrapati Bhavan communique issued on Wednesday night, hours after the four Left parties submitted letters snapping ties with the UPA government, said "keeping in mind these political developments, President has requested the Prime Minister to meet her tomorrow to have his views."

Singh returns from Japan after the G-8 summit well past midnight.

The leaders of the four Left parties submitted a list of 60 MPs and a joint letter signed by leaders of - CPM, CPI, RSP and Forward Block - to seek a vote confidence in the Lok Sabha immediately.

The communique also said that Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh and its Parliamentary party leader Ramgopal Yadav also met the President and gave a fresh letter of support of 39 of its MPs to the government.

With the Left parties formally withdrawing support to the UPA government which is bracing itself for a confidence vote, the game of numbers on Wednesday acquired greater intensity.

A war of words erupted with the Left leaders accusing the government and the Congress leadership of "disregarding" the majority voice in Parliament on the "notorious" nuclear deal and "always looking up to the US".

Hitting back, the Congress said during the course of a series of meetings with the UPA the Left never objected to government not giving to it the full text of the draft agreement with the IAEA.

With the support of SP, PDP and some Independents, the government hopes to garner 272 for a simple majority in the Lok Sabha which has an effective strength of 543.

Ajit Singh-led RLD, JD(S) headed by former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, Mamta Bannerjee's Trinamul Congress and TRS come in the "undecided" category but have given enough hints of backing the government in a trust vote.

Meanwhile, turning down the Left's demand of making public the draft of safeguards agreement with IAEA, Congress had said "confidential" nuclear information cannot be divulged at the height of international terrorism.

"At a time when international terrorism is at a height documents containing clauses of confidentiality cannot be divulged," Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari told reporters.

Congress' reaction came as a response to a demand from the Left parties to make public the text of the draft safeguards agreement which is to be finalised with the IAEA.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/PM_to_meet_President_tomorrow/articleshow/3215671.cms

Mizo Jews devastated after migration bid to Israel halted

By Syed Zarir Hussain

Aizawl, Jul 9 : Hundreds of newly-converted tribal Jews in India’s northeastern state of Mizoram feel devastated after New Delhi refused them permission to migrate to Israel following protests by Christian groups, community leaders said Wednesday. “We are all shattered with the Indian government rejecting our applications for migrating to Israel,” Jeremia Hnamte, administrator of the Mizoram chapter of the Shavei Israel Organisation (SIO), told IANS.

SIO, a group headquartered in Jerusalem, is dedicated to searching for the lost tribes of Israel and helps them return to their Promised Land. Rabbinical leaders announced in 2006 that some 6,000 members of the Bnei Menashe tribe in India’s northeast were descendants of ancient Israelites or one of the Biblical 10 lost tribes.

The recognition from Israel came after tribe members sent scores of applications seeking to migrate to Israel, or the “Promised Land”, saying it was their right to do so. According to Israeli law, every Jew enjoys the “right of return” - or the right of abode in the country.

“We understand that a group of Christians lodged a formal protest with the Indian external affairs ministry and home ministry saying they should not allow Mizo Jews to migrate to Israel and stop conversions,” Hnamte said.

“We are fighting for our right to migrate and hope to get a positive response from the Indian government soon.”

“There was tremendous pressure from the church and the Mizoram government on New Delhi to force Israel to ban the conversions,” a community elder of the Bnei Menashe tribe said requesting anonymity. Meanwhile, a group of about 200 Mizos was awaiting clearance from the government after they were officially recognized as Jews.

After the recognition, a group of rabbis visited Mizoram last year and converted the batch of nearly 200 Mizo tribal people to Judaism after they took a holy dip at a mikvah or a ritual bath.

“The new converts are practising the religion perfectly. Once they are allowed to migrate to Israel, they will undergo a year-long course there to learn other aspects of Judaism at government expense,” Itzkhak Colney, a Jewish clergy, told IANS. Colney was a convert and migrated to Israel in 1997 and is now in Mizoram to help the locals here to preach Judaism and the Hebrew language among the Mizo Jews.

Some 1,000 people from Mizoram and neighbouring Manipur state have migrated to Israel since 1994 when a private body, the Amishav Association, took up their case. The last batch of 218 Mizos left the northeast for Jerusalem in 2006.

Mizoram is a predominantly Christian state, while most Manipuris follow Hinduism. Most Jews in the two states were Christian by birth.

Apart from names, the converts share many practices in common with traditional Jews -such as keeping mezuzahs or parchment inscribed with verses of the Torah at the entrance to their homes. The men wear a kippah or headgear during prayers.

“I have no regrets at all to leave my birth place because Israel is our Promised Land. We are dying to leave,” Peer Tlau, a practicing Jew in Mizoram, said.

“A vast majority of the people do not know Hebrew although many of them are now learning the language and following the religion like the one practiced in Israel,” Zaitthangchungi, a local researcher and author of a book ‘Israel Mizo Identity’, said.

IANS

CDSU for snapping ties with BSEM | ATSUM bares fangs against Edn Minister

S Singlianmang Guite

Lamka, Jul 8 : Taking their protracted call for separate compartmental examination centre in the district to the extreme, the Churachandpur District Students' Union today seized a huge cache of files from the Zonal Education Office and set July 12 as deadline for the heads of institutions to withdraw their enrolment/registration from the State education boards.

In a statement circulated to all heads of institutions in the district today, CDSU said, the union had on September 19, 2006 signed an MoU with the Government for installation of separate compartmental examination centre here. ''However, to our utter surprise, the Government is hesitant to address our grievances till date, despite a series of reminders and appeals'', it added.

Under the circumstances, the union has no other option but to resort to extreme steps, it said.

In their statement, the student body said, ''All heads of institutions in the district are asked to with-draw/halt their enrolment and registration of Cl-V, VIII, IX, XI and XII from BSEM and CoHSEM of Manipur board on or before 12th of July, 2008''.

It also pledged to initiate necessary action to any institutions which fail to comply with the directive. Saying their agitation spelt out today were merely a first phase, the union made it known the forming of 'a committee' to seek alternative means for affilia- tion to some other board, other than Manipur's.

CDSU volunteers took possession of the Zonal Education office files at around 12 noon today.

The Zonal Educadion Officer of CCpur Joseph Lalrothang is said to be out of station when the student union volunteers ran-sacked his office premises, as he was reportedly attending a meeting at the DC's office.

Police have been informed of the incident but the students hads already left the spot when the police arrived.

Source: http://thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-06.html

===================================

ATSUM bares fangs against Edn Minister

By Our Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, Jul 8: Terming it as irresponsible, All Tribal Students' Union, Manipur (ATSUM) has reacted strongly to Education Minister L Jayentakumar's remarks that his department could not agree to the contention of lack of teachers in the schools located in the hills and the teachers posted in the hills do not want to go as they are beaten up and send back.

Instead of its earlier proposal of imposing economic blockade along the National Highways on July 10 in protest against the Education Minister's remarks and to demand posting of adequate teachers in the hills, the student body has also decided to convene a joint emergency meeting of its constituent units and parent bodies to discuss the future course of action to be taken up in this regard.

Talking to mediapersons in this connection at its Old Lambulane office today, Information and Publicity Secretary of ATSUM Joseph R Hmar said that one can say that there is no lack of teachers in Junior and High Schools in the valley, but the it is different in case of the 257 Junior and High Schools in the four hill districts.

He pointed out that Churachandpur district where there are in all 72 Junior and High schools, the total number of regular teachers including just 9 arts teachers and 92 science teachers. Over and above this, 113 arts teachers and 41 science teachers are still being required. However, 120 arts teachers and 99 science teachers have been appointed on contract basis.

In Chandel district, there are in all 17 Junior and High Schools. But the number of regular teachers in these schools is just 4 for arts subjects and 29 for science subjects. The total number of teachers still required is 42 for arts subjects and 6 for science subjects. However, only 42 arts teachers and 6 science teachers have been appointed on contract basis.

In Kangpokpi sub-division where there are in all 37 Junior and High Schools, the number of regular teachers is 13 for arts subjects and 40 for science subjects. The number of teachers still required is 41 arts teachers and 20 science teachers while the number of teachers appointed on contract basis is 48 arts teachers and 38 for science.

In Senapati district, there are in all 26 schools and the number of regular teachers is 5 arts teachers and 27 science teachers. The number of teachers required is 58 for arts subjects and 32 for science subjects. But the number of teachers appointed on contract basis is 53 for arts subjects and 13 for science subjects.

Similarly in the 44 schools of Tamenglong district, the number of regular teacher is 9 arts teachers and 19 science teachers. The number of teachers required is 115 arts teachers and 51 science teachers and 122 arts teachers and 65 science teachers have been appointed.

Likewise, in Ukhrul district where the total number of schools is 61, the number of regular teachers is only 20 arts teachers and 78 science teachers. The number of teachers required is 105 for arts subjects and 91 for science subjects while 88 arts teachers and 41 science teachers have been appointed on contract basis.

However, the service of all the contract teachers have been terminated in September 2007 and no contact teachers is now work- ing in these schools today, Joseph pointed out.

It is really unfortunate that the Education Minister did not anything about the problem of lack of teachers in the hill schools nor try to keep abreast with the system of education prevailing in the hills. In fact, ATSUM had been exerting pressures on the Government for appointing and posting the required teachers in the hills, although the Government has not yet given any response to these pressures. In such a critical juncture, the remarks of the Educa-tion Minister was irrespon- sible, Joseph said.

In case the existing Directorate of Education (S) is not being able to understand the problem of lack of teachers in the hills, then the State Government shou-ld consider setting up of a separate Directorate of Education for the hill districts, Joseph demanded.

As to the complaint lod-ged by Hindi Matriculate teacher N Sanatomba of Poi Junior High School, Ukhrul, Joseph that he was given only Rs 11,000 as salary for three months instead of Rs 31,650, Joseph asserted that along with establishing contact with the Students' Union of Ukhrul district, ATSUM has investigated into the matter and confirmed that no such thing had ever
occur.

As a matter of fact, peo-ple in the hills have high regard for teachers, doctors, nurses and media persons and the question of beating them up, taking money from them or forcing them to contribute money for construction of church is out of the picture, Joseph said, adding that ATSUM would not remain quiet in the face of such baseless char-ges. The Government shou- ld
clarify the matter to the people, he demanded.

Joseph further announced that the proposed economic blockade to be called by ATSUM on the two National Highways on July 10 in condemnation of the remarks of the Education Minister and demand- ing posting of required teachers has been suspended. Instead of that an emergency meeting of the five constituent units and two parent bodies of ATSUM would be convened soon to discuss the future course of action to be taken up and the same would be announced to
the people, Joseph added.

Source: http://thesangaiexpress.com/News_pages/Local_page-04.html

=========================

Gurbachan Jagat replaces Sidhu as state Governor; SC Jamir transferred to
Maharashtra

By : Manipur Information Centre

NEW DELHI, Jul 8: As per the press communiqué issued today by the President of India, Gurbachan Jagat has been appointed as the Governor of Manipur. Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu has been transferred and appointed as the Governor of Goa for the remainder of his term while SC Jamir has been transferred and appointed as Governor of Maharashtra for the remainder of his term.

Prabha Rau has also be appointed as Governor of Himachal Pradesh in place of Justice Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje (Retd).

One of the most decorated former Punjab cadre IPS officer, Mr Gurbachan Jagat, was the chairman of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) from April 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007. Known for his honesty and integrity, Jagat held eminent positions as police officer before his appointment as member of the UPSC on August 14, 2002.

A post graduate in English literature, Jagat joined Indian Police Service in 1966. He served as district police chief (from 1978 to 1981) of Amritsar when Punjab was on the boil and played a significant role to tackle some of the most complicated situations which occurred during that period. Heading the intelligence/security apparatus in Punjab as DIG intelligence/security, Punjab Police (1982-1990), he coordinated the fight against the insurgency in the state. In recognition of his role and efforts during these grueling years, the government of India conferred upon him the
rare honour of a Padmashri, in 1987, for his efforts in the pre and post Operation Blue Star years. He was also awarded the Indian Police Medal for Meritorious Service in 1982.

Tasked with the conceptualizing and setting up of the Housing Corporation in militancy-affected Punjab as MD in Punjab Police Housing Corporation (1990-1995), he created a secure environment for the police in the form of impenetrable police stations, on one hand, and secure housing facilities, on the other.

As additional DG administration, Punjab Police (1995-97), he was able to help towards re-orienting the priorities of the Punjab Police back to peacetime policing in the post- militancy scenario. It is in this period that the government of India and the J&K government chose him as director general of police, Jammu & Kashmir (February 1997-December 2000) to lead the fight in Kashmir.

A police force, which at one time had revolted against the state and on whose loyalties existed a question mark was not only rebuilt, but motivation levels reached such heights that it became the vanguard in the fight against terrorism in J&K. A completely new hallmark was achieved in building up coordination amongst the various arms of the government including the army, the Central police organisations, the intelligence agencies and the state police/administration, thus creating a fully synchronized effort in the fight against terrorism in the larger interests of the nation.

The force was completely modernized, re-equipped and its size almost doubled from 36,000 to 60,000. The fight against terrorism was taken right to the people with boys from the most inaccessible regions being recruited on the spot and brought into the fold of the police. In recognition of these tireless efforts, the J&K government rewarded him with the the 'Police Officer of the Year' award in 2001.

As director general, Border Security Force (December 2000 - June 2002), the largest paramilitary organization in the world, he made great strides not only operationally but also technically and administratively. The force was galvanized both on the borders as well in its counter-Insurgency operations, taking it to greater professional heights.

A new perspective plan was put into operation for modernization and computerization and with the blessings of the Union home ministry; the BSF today is professionally equal to any fighting force on the globe.

Welfare measures including moves towards creating resources for the better living standard of the personnel and their families have significantly raised the morale of the force.

Apart from the above honours, he has also received the following service medals: Pashchimi Star, Sangram Medal, Special Duty Medal (Punjab and J&K), Aantrik Seva Suraksha Medal, Operation Raskshak and Operation Vijay. He is a prolific thinker and reader who dabbles in writing. Coming from a rural background, he has the interests of the rural areas close to his heart.

Source: http://ifp.co.in/FullStory.asp?NewsID=2642

Khuga Dam kichimsia sa in mipi patau: Hausa pa’n IFCD ni 5 sung hun pia

M. Semuol leh Bohlui khua kikal ah Khuga Dam Rightside Canal kichimsia

Lamka, July 7: Lamka Police station apan sim-suah kilometre 9 vela gamla banah Khuga Dam apan mallam(Lamka lam) km 4 vel a gamla Bohlui leh M Semuol khua kikal a Khuga Dam Rightside Canal kibawl chimsia a,huai Canal kichimsia a tuiluang ging a thupi luat mahmah ziak in M Semuol khaw mite’n Khuga Dam kichimsia sa in zan khawvak in ihmu lou uh hi’n kigen hi.

Manipur Express staff te’n tuni in hibang thu a zak un Canal kichipsiatna mun va enkhia in lemla uh a, huaizawh in akiangnai a M Semuol khua pha in , mi poimawh tuamtuam tawh houlimna va nei uhi. M Semuol Hausa Yamthang in agenna ah zan nitak dak 10 leh 11 kikal vel ding in thawmging thupi mahmah akhaw kiang uah om a, amau leng patau zak uh ahihdan gen hi. Khaw mite lak a khat in a gendan in Canal a chipsiat phet in thawmging nasa petmah a, amau leng “Khuga Dam kichim hita e” chi in dipkaw hialin om uh a, zan khawvak in hak mai uh ahihdan gen hi.

Thusuak kingahdan in Khuga Rightside Canal in atotkhak M Semuol leh Bohlui kikal zan nitak a kichim ziakin a khang ah tui luangkhesuk in a ging thupi mahmah a, ngakul feet 800 kimkot(feet square) alian tumsia a, ngakul sung teng buannawi in dim a, huai apan tuilet in a khang a Misao Lhahvom, Bohlui, M Semoul leh Saipum-te tuilou om teng tumsuk chih ahi. Canal chim in a hihsiat buhtuhna tuilou pari bangzah phazou ding hiam chih sutkhiak haksa mahmah hi’n khawmite’n gen uhi. Canal kichipna mun a om (culvert) ahihleh huai area a suahlam leh tumlam a tuilou omte tui supply na dia bawl hi a, Canal kichipna ziak ahihleh theih hilou a, khaw mite gendan in sik tellou abawl ahihziak hiding in gingta uhi.

Ngakul neitu Ngamkhopao in a gendan in tuma zek in nga Rs 3800 man a ngakul ah khum thak ahihdan gen in, a gam leh leitang ban ah a ngateng tawh bang zah man (value) mangthang ding hiam chih tu-le-tu a ngaihtuah khe bun nailou ahihdan gen hi. Tuni mah a thiltung ahih ziak in, louneite kuakua hiam chih suikhiak haksa lai a, Canal kichimsia in lou bangzahta suse ban hiam chih leng theih but haksa lai chi hi.

M Semuol Hausa Pu Yamthang in agenna ah tuni in Irrigation and Flood Control Department(IFCD) official khenkhat in huai mun vapha uh ahihdan gen hi. Thiltung tawh kisai in Pu Yamthang in agenna ah, IFCD te adia nipi kal khat(one week) sung a hih buchin ding un point 3 pia ahihdan Manipur Express staff te theisak hi. Pu Yamthang in a genzelna ah, IFCD in nganou tui taihmang teng a sumtang(in cash) a a piakding uh, ngakul a buannawi kivuk dim teng a khuatkhiak ding uh leh thumna ah IFCD in tuateng a sukbu chin ma Canal kichim a bawllouh ding, hiai teng a sukbu chin kei ua leh Village Authority in maban ah panla ding ahihdan gen hi. Khuga Canal chim mit a mu khat in agenna ah tuma lam mah in Canal khat vei chimkhin ahihdan gen a, tu in Right sidecanal in a zuih taklam pang chim bang hita leh inn 10 val tui in tuum ding ahihdan gen hi. Pathian in amaute vengbit tadih ahihdan leng Manipur Express staff-te zasak uhi. Canal kichim ahihleh Right canal a veilam pang ahi hi.

Tuabangkalah zanhal July 5 (Kiginni) sunnung dak 12 vel ding in IFCD Minister N Biren Singh in Khuga Dam nasepna enkhe kawm in Dam a Leftside Canal leh Rightside ah tui khahkhia hi. Hiai hun ah kilometre 20 tan a sau tuikhahna ‘trial run’ nei ua, trial run pe’n tu in a final result om ahih ziak in, Khuga Dam leftside leh rightside canal ah tui khah ngam huai nawnlou suak hidanin tamtak in gen hi. Manipur Express staff te’n mi tuamtuam ngaihdan a lakkhawmna uah hibang thiltung pe’n i gam adia ‘thil mulkimhuai mahmah’ ahihdan gen ua, Canal kichim maimai mi tamtak in Khuga Dam kichimsia bang a a ngaihtuah ua, huai in thil tamtak a suksiat leh maban ah ngaihtuah ding thil tamtak om ahi chi uhi. Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in hun lem masapen in hiai Dam hongkhe ding chih hilai hi.

Source: http://zogam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3597&Itemid=2

Inner Line Permit: Bitna hia khanmohbawk?

Editorial, The Lamka Post July 08, 2008

British Kumpi a hatlai in nitum ngeilouhna lalgam ah vaihawm uhi. India leh Burma ah leng vaihawm ua, hiai gam nihte tehtuahkal, ei singtangmite tenna tua North East India i chih ah leng vai ana hawm uhi. Huai hunlai a NE bial a ana teng ei singtangmite i niam mahmahlai ziak un British Kumpi’n ahihtheihtan in humbit honna sawm sam hi. Huailai in NE India bial ah tulai dan in state tuamtuam om naikei mahleh singtangmite tenna bial deuhte bel theihsiamna toh etkol in om hi. Hiai singtangmite tenna bial ah huai hunlai in Sapte chihlouhngal Vaite hi’n Kawlte hitaleh, a lut om naikei mahleh, khophawk nailou, khanglou nailou singtangmite pu-pa ngeina, tawndan leh khosakna bangkim hun hong paizel a mangthang thei ding, nam changkang leh tamzawte’n nawmvalh thei ding chih muhkholhna sautak neih ziak in British Kumpi’n hiai singtangmite bial ah phalna neilou a kuamah a luttheihlouhna ding un dan bawl hi. Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation 1873 tungtawn in Inner Line Permit (ILP) bawlkhiak in om a, huai dungzui in India khua-le-tui hihna neite nangawn leng hiai dan a kizatna bial ah phalna neilou in lutheilou uhi. British Kumpi’n hiai dan a bawl pen vaihawmna a hong kikheng, India in zalenna a hon muh nung in leng zattouh in om a, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram leh Nagaland a hong pian nung tunitan in leng hiai state-te ah zat in om hi.

Singtangmite khualna ziak in Inner Line Permit pen India sorkar in zangtou mahleh ILP in gamdangmi gentaklouh India khua-le-tui hihna neite khualzin-vakvel ding nangawn dal ahihna ah Constitution a Fundamental Rights lak a khat ‘freeom of movement’ kalh hi. Huai ziak mah in North East Plains People’s Traders and Youth Federation in hiai thu court a tut dungzui in Gauhati High Court in hiai dan zat ding Mizoram ah tuma 13-6-2008 in hon kham tadih a, India khua-le-tui hihna nei himhim kuapeuhmah Mizoram in ILP neihlouh ziak a man in thonkhe theilou hi. Hiai dan kibawl tung in NE a singtang gam ah chial thoh nangawn in leng a hithei liai teng kuamah ut ding un gintakhuailou hi. Huai ziak mah in singtangmite bit dan khat in i bit uhi. Himahleh, hun a hong paizel a, ILP a kizatlouhna Tripura state bang i et chiang in, nidanglai in singtangmite vaihawmna gam himahleh tuni chiang in Tripura a singtangmite a gam mah uah ‘minority’ a suak uhi. Huai ziak in, hiai ILP in singtangmite a dia bitna hon tun mah ahihdan theih in om hi. A lehlamtak ah, India in NE a Tourism industry puahhoih sawm in panla mahleh ILP a om sung teng deih bang taktak theilou ding suak hi. Huai ziak in, bitna hon tun kawmkawm a i khantouhna ding uh daltu khat ahihna chiang leng om zel hi.

Midang, mundang toh kikawmtuahna leh kisumdawnna hoihtak omlou in khantouhna taktak pianglou ding a, huai ding in nawmvalh a om khak ding lau kawmkawm a khosak thil hitheilou khat suak hi. ILP ziak in pau-le-ham leh tawndan bit mahleh sumdawnna toh kisai in state piching Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram leh Nagaland bang nawmvalh a om khinta a hihna chiang uh om hi. ILP in singtangmite a dia bitna hon tutna chiang om mahleh bitna taktak hon tun tuanlou ahihna leh a lehlam a khantouhna ding daltu khat suak ahihna ah, huchi thouthou lakkhiak hivet leh houh singtangmite a kimetzaw diam? Khantouhna dia ‘risk’ la dan a kingai in leh ILP lakkhiak ziak a ‘negative impact’ om ding pen ‘price of development’ dan a ngaithei hileng i pangzou d’uam? Singtangmite gam a zin-le-lengte leh phaizangmite’n innmun-loumun a hong neihtheihkei nak ua leh panzoh in omnalou ding hiam? Nawmvalh a om khak ding lauh ziak a kikulkhum in bangtan mah hon tunlou ding a, den chiang a North Korea mah bat theih ding bang hi.

Source: http://zogam.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3596&Itemid=2

'Govt ready to face trust vote before Aug 11'

NEW DELHI: Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday said the UPA government will approach IAEA on the Indo-US nuclear deal only after seeking vote of confidence in the Parliament. ( Watch )

Undeterred by the Left decision to pullout, government on Tuesday expressed readiness to face a trust vote as soon as the President directs and announced that it would go ahead with the nuclear deal only after shaking off the challenge.

"The taste of the pudding is in the eating", remarked External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee when asked whether he was confident of sailing through a trust vote after withdrawal of support by the key outside supporters.

Mukherjee, who has been government's pointsman on the Indo-US nuclear deal, however, went the extra mile to praise the Left, "appreciating" their support to the government for over four years to keep at bay the communal forces.

"I am not entering into any acrimony. We appreciate the support the Left parties extended to us for four long years to keep at bay the communal forces.

"We do believe that to keep at bay the communal forces, cooperation among all secular parties is needed," said Mukherjee, the Leader of the Lok Sabha, implying thereby that the Congress could have to do business with the Communists again after the next elections.

With Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi by his side, Mukherjee said the government will go in for a trust vote in the Lok Sabha as soon as it receives a formal communication from President Pratibha Patil.

Briefing reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs, he said a short session of the Lok Sabha would be held to seek the vote of confidence in view of the situation arising over the Left decision to withdraw support.

"I do not indulge in sharing confidence or in a numbers game. I have already stated that we are going to seek the vote of confidence," he said when asked how confident the government was about winning the trust vote.

At the same time, he sought to put at rest any doubts over government's keenness to go ahead with the deal.

"Surely, we would like to seek the approval of the Board of Governors of IAEA the moment we receive the vote of confidence. That is why we would like to expedite the entire process," Mukherjee said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Govt_will_seek_trust_vote_before_August_11/articleshow/3211554.cms

Left withdraws, SP pledges support

NEW DELHI: Ending weeks of suspense, the Left parties on Tuesday announced withdrawal of support to the UPA over the Indo-US nuclear deal.

A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared that government would "very soon" approach the IAEA to move forward on the deal, an upset Left said the "time has come" to pull the rug.

The four parties -- CPM, CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP-- have sought an appointment with President Pratibha Patil on Wednesday to submit their letter of withdrawal of support, CPM general secretary Prakash Karat told reporters after an hour-long meeting of leaders of these parties.

They have also asked the President to direct the Prime Minister to seek a trust vote to prove his majority in the Lok Sabha.

The Left parties in a letter to External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, copies of which were circulated to the media, made it clear that there was no point in going ahead with the proposed meeting of the UPA-Left committee on the deal on July 10 in view of PM's remarks. (Full text of Left's letter to Pranab)

Karat said that the Left will formally withdraw support on Wednesday.

NDA has called an emergency meeting of all its constituents tomorrow and even called all its Chief Ministers to Delhi for a meeting tomorrow.

SP to provide support to UPA govt over N-deal: Mulayam

Minutes after the Left announced its decision to withdraw support from UPA government, the Samajwadi Party held a press conference. Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said that at his parliamentary party meeting, they have decided that his party will give unconditional support to the govt. ( Watch )

He also said that his party supports the nuclear deal, and would actually mobilise its members to tell people all over the benefits of the deal.

He also said that there were some apprehensions among some of their members over the deal, but they have all been allayed now. On being asked whether SP would join the government, he said a categorical No!.

Communal powers need to be tackled and unless they are tackled, the country would be divided into pieces. For SP, nation's unity is prime and we don’t want to play politics in this, said the SP chief.

We believe the nuke deal, after assurances from the former Prez APJ Abdul Kalam, is good for the country and we have decided to support the government on this deal.

Party's general secretary also lashed out at those who have given the deal an anti-Muslim tag, saying everybody is an Indian first, and then of any religion, and they all support the deal.

Every Samajwadi Party vote in Parliament will be cast in support of the Indo-US nuclear deal and to save the UPA government, said SP general secretary Amar Singh.

He further said that all 39 Samajwadi Party MPs would vote in favour of the government.

Amar Singh asked the Left parties not to vote along with BJP against the government.

Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav hoped that Left parties would not join communal forces in working against the UPA government.

Apparently avoiding burning bridges, Samajwadi Party refrained from commenting on the Left parties' withdrawal of support to the government and maintained that they respect the Left as they are secular.

"I respect them and I will keep respecting them in future. I will not utter a word against my colleagues in the Left," said SP General Secretary Amar Singh today after the SP Parliamentary Party meeting.

Singh said while the SP would be supporting the government for just for one year, the Left has supported the government for the last four years.

"They made the UPA and sustained it for four years. They should also be ready to get both the bouquets and brickbats for successes and failures of the UPA during the four years," the SP leader said.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Left_withdraws_support_to_UPA/articleshow/3210483.cms

Educational institutes run normally on first day of 48-hr general strike

The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 7: The 48-hour state-wide general strike which commenced from midnight on Sunday affected the state partially today.

The general strike which is due to end by midnight of Tuesday (July 8) did not affect schools, colleges and other educational institutions, as the strike callers kept them outside the purview of the strike.

No untoward incidents were reported on the first day of the strike today.

Students attended schools as usual and school vehicles plied as usual as all the educational institutions and other related offices remained open for the day.

Apparently responding to the recent call from various students bodies, the educational institutes were exempted from the strike.

Except in and around the Haobam Marak area, two wheelers and light vehicles plied on the streets as normal but due to the non-arrival of the passenger service vehicles form other districts the traffic volume in Imphal city was considerably low.

Parking places of the passenger buses wore a deserted look as all kinds of passenger buses, including the inter-state and inter-district ones, remained off the roads today. However, a few taxi and auto-rickshaws were seen on the streets in Imphal city.

Most of the shops opened but shut down early afternoon.

Official reports said that normal life in other district headquarters of the state was not affected by the bandh even though no passenger buses and other commercial vehicles from Imphal arrived there.

In the morning today, strike supporters took to the streets along the two major roads in Imphal west district, the Tiddim road (Imphal-Churachandpur section of NH-150 at Kwakeithel area) and the Mayai Lambi road.

They blocked the Kwakethel-Karong road by piling logs and burning tyres. However, police dispersed them by firing tears gas and mob ammunitions in a bid to resume normal traffic.

Womenfolk also took to the streets at Kwakeithel area and blocked the road. They spread broken glasses on the road to disturb the traffic but police dispersed them from the area.

The general strike was called denouncing the murder of a youth named Langpoklakpam Bimolchandra by a combined force of Imphal west police commandos and 21 Maratha Regiment at Changangei near the Imphal airport on July 4 morning.

A local joint action committee, JAC, against the killing of the youth is alleging that he was killed in a fake encounter after being picked up from near the locality and are demanding government dismissal of the commando personnel involved in the killing.

They are also demanding repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the state and an end to any acts of state sponsored terrorism.

Source: http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=42645&typeid=1

Nadal's next step is to tame New York, knees permitting

Steve Bierley | The Guardian

A recent article in one of America's leading tennis magazines had the
temerity to describe Rafael Nadal as "one-dimensional". It can only be
assumed that the writer does not watch the game much, although the United
States has always been a little grudging towards players considered as
clay-court grinders. No doubt the attitudes across the Atlantic will change
now that the 22-year-old Spaniard has added the Wimbledon championship to
his four consecutive French Open titles.
Nadal, unlike Roger Federer, who has won the last four US Opens, has yet to
build up a big following in New York, principally because he has not gone
beyond the quarter-finals in five attempts and last year lost in the fourth
round against his countryman David Ferrer, the world No4 in this week's
post-Wimbledon rankings.
The top three in those rankings remain as they were, headed by Federer, with
Nadal and Novak Djokovic, the Australian Open champion, tucked in behind.
Any one of this trio may finish the year as No1, although there were many
after Sunday's astonishing men's final at the All England Club prepared to
hail Nadal as the "unofficial" world No1.
He now holds a 12-6 career lead over the Swiss (9-1 on clay, 2-3 on hard,
1-2 on grass). This was their 14th overall meeting in a final, with Nadal
now leading 10-4, and their sixth meeting in a grand slam final with Nadal
4-2 ahead. Counting from the 2005 French Open, when Nadal won the title for
the first time, 13 of the 14 majors have been won by either Federer (eight)
or Nadal (five), the one exception being in Melbourne this year when
Djokovic, the 21-year-old Serb, broke through, beating Federer in the
semi-finals.
Such statistics, underlining the mighty battle that has been raging at the
top between Federer, the world No1 since February 2004 and Nadal, who has
trailed him as the No2 since July 2005, were part and parcel of the
aftermath of what is generally perceived to be the best Wimbledon men's
singles final, in both terms of quality and drama, of all time. Yet barely
had the feast been digested before two questions were being asked: Can Nadal
do what Federer has failed to do, namely win all four slams? And is Federer
a spent force, having won 12 majors since the first of his five Wimbledon
titles in 2003, but none this year?
Before attempting to answer, it is worth emphasising that both players came
through Sunday's match with tremendous credit. Their rivalry is immense but
the respect they have for each other is of the sort encountered, post fight,
outside the boxing ring. The BBC viewing figures peaked at 13.1m, close to a
50% share of the overall television audience.
To nobody's surprise Nadal yesterday pulled out of this week's clay-court
tournament in Stuttgart, though it was typical of the man that he flew to
Germany in order to make the announcement in person that his right knee, a
cause of concern throughout the Wimbledon fortnight, was not up to playing.
Obviously he was exhausted after becoming the first man since Bjorn Borg to
win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back to back. However his knees,
which have strapping support for every match, remain a worry, particularly
on the US concrete hardcourts that are murder on anyone with the slightest
physical problem.
Nadal was suffering from tendinitis at the US Open last year, and the
hardcourts almost jolted him into submission, or as near to submission as he
ever gets. "It's like putting miles on a car. Eventually the car will wear
down, and Rafa is not the lightest guy out there," said Pat Etcheberry, a
Florida-based fitness coach who worked with Pete Sampras and Justine Henin.
"All that constant pounding puts strain on the knees."
On the plus side Nadal has significantly improved his serve, which is giving
him more free points, while his overall game is also developing, as was only
too obvious against Federer. It is not so much that the Swiss has faded but
that Nadal is constantly improving - and that has shaken Federer's
confidence.
Toni Nadal, uncle and long-time coach, monitors his nephew's physical
condition constantly, while modifying his style. There will be the
opportunity perhaps to ease his schedule between the slams, and this should
help prolong the Spaniard's career although many still fear that he may
prematurely burn out.
Nadal has been compared to Borg, who left the sport at the age of 25. But
Borg was a different character, his exit having more to do with loss of
desire. It is hard to image Nadal ever losing his competitive edge, assuming
his body does not break down.
As for Federer, he is still only 26, so he has time on his side to win three
more slams and beat Sampras's record of 14. But should the US Open title
slip from his grasp in September then that record will look an awfully long
way off

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2008/jul/08/wimbledon.tennis2