ZOLENGTHE: 2008-12-14

Saturday, December 20, 2008

After India, homosexuality divides UN as well

United Nations: The 191-member UN General Assembly is sharply divided over gay and lesbian rights but the advocates of same sex relations said the very mention of the subject in the world body would give fillip to the cause.

Currently, homosexuality which came up in the Assembly for the first time -- is illegal in 77 countries with 7 providing the death penalty.

A joint French-Netherlands drafted Declaration calling for decriminalising homosexuality gathered support from 66 members and an opposing one around 60. The declarations are still open to signatures but so far no resolution has been drafted which could determine the strength of two sides.

The French used unusual method to raise the issue as apparently they did not have enough votes to get the resolution through the Assembly but the Muslim countries failed in their bid to alter a Swiss sponsored draft resolution condemning summary executions. They would have liked to get the ‘sexual orientation’ deleted but the Assembly did not agree.

The French-Dutch declaration, which was read out by Argentina at the Assembly plenary, evoked outrage especially among the Muslims countries though its supporters said the punishment in several countries for same sex relations is a legacy of British colonialism.

France and Netherlands took advantage of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to raise the issue, stressing that it equally applied irrespective of sexual orientation.

It also urged all states to take legislative and administrative measures to ensure that sexual orientation or gender identity may under no circumstances be the basis for criminal penalties including executions.

Source: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/after-india-homosexuality-divides-un-as-well/400500/

Christmas bandh called off in Orissa

The bandh call given by the Sangh Parivar in Orissa on Christmas day has been called off. The decision was taken after the leaders of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati Shraddhanjali Samiti met with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik along with BJP leaders.

Earlier, Naveen Patnaik had sent a letter of appeal to the Samiti to withdraw its proposed bandh on December 25 in view of the state government's sincere efforts to nab the killers of Swami Laxmananand as well as the conspirators behind the killings.

Leaders of the Christian community and other organisations have welcomed the decision.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080077151

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Christians to Orissa govt: Provide security

BHUBANESWAR: A day after Sangh Parivar called off its Orissa bandh on Christmas Day, Christian leaders on Saturday asked Orissa government not to
withdraw security from churches and institutions across the state because of that.

A delegation of Christian leaders led by Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar Raphael Cheenath met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik urging him to provide security to Christians in other areas besides violence-prone Kandhamal district.

"Christians in other dioceses are also afraid. Security should also be provided to Balasore, Berhampur, Rourkela and Sambalpur dioceses", Cheenath told reporters after meeting the chief minister.

Claiming that a number of "strange" people from outside Kandhamal had entered the district despite extensive frisking exercise on roads, the Archbishop alleged criminals were freely moving in Kotagarh area.

"We apprehend that influx of non-state players into Kandhamal is aimed at creating communal violence", he said adding Christians were leaving relief camps because of fear.

The Christian leaders also drew attention of the chief minister to the proposed three-day Gayatri Aswamedha Yagam to be held in Sambalpur district with participation of a large number of people from December 25.

"This yagam smacks of evil intent", they said in the memorandum.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Orissa_Christians_demand_security/articleshow/3867284.cms

Christmas Stars all Over Northeast India Spreading Message of Peace

Shillong, Dec 20 : A paper star spells a lot during Christmas. Symbolizing hope, love, peace and divinity, stars adorn almost every household, offices and market places in the Northeast region in the advent of Christmas.

“People are swarming to roadside and departmental stores which display local-made paper and bamboo Christmas stars of varied designs for sale. A star is a must for the Christmas decorations.

It beautifies home entrances and also the Christmas tree,” said a local vendor.

In fact, the entire northeast is in a festive mood, with people preparing for Christmas and welcoming the New Year as shops bank on the Santa Claus to boost their sales. Christmas is a month-long affair here.

It is said that Christianity, the commonly practised religion in the Northeast, united the region that was separated due to linguistic, ethnic and geographical factors in the past. Christmas celebration is imbibed with family traditions, greetings and gifts here.

The Northeast is also known for versatile choir groups. They perform in national channels in television during Christmas spreading the message of peace and love. In the picturesque hill station of Shillong, capital of the predominantly Christian Meghalaya, choir groups belt out carols in churches and public places. “This is the season of happiness and rejoicing,” said a Baptist church pastor and leader of a choir group.

“The flow of shoppers has increased and we are open till late night. People buy gifts for friends and families,” said the owner of a leading shopping mall in Shillong, the fashion capital of the Northeast. With many shopping arcades coming up in the northeast, shopkeepers also resort to extraordinary marketing tricks to woo customers.

“You buy goods worth Rs 1,000 and Santa Claus is going to give you a gift amounting to about Rs 500. This new offer has become an instant hit and we are unable to cope with the rush,” the manager of a garment outlet said.

Keeping the celebration apart, the catchword in the entire region is peace. This is natural for a region where thousands have succumbed to insurgency. “Everybody is impatiently waiting for the Christmas day.

Let us all join together in praying for a new dawn of peace and hope in the region,” said Rev Dominic Jala, Archbishop of Shillong.
Pre-Christmas festive fever grips Nagaland

Kohima, Dec 20 : Pre-Christmas festive fever has gripped Nagaland with individuals, organizations and government agencies organizing various programmes across the hill state dominated by Christian populace.

The slew of events that dominated the landscape for past week were not only confined to merrymaking, music or dance. The occasion was being used as platform to send a message of peace, compassion, moral armament and meaningful engagement of youth in society.

In a pre-Christmas celebration programme in his official residence, chief minister Neiphiu Rio called upon all to work for peace and unity with the spirit of forget and forgive as the present Naga society is grappled with hatred and violence.

Senior ministers, legislators and government officials took part in the celebration at State Banquet Hall where chief minister joined others singing a carol on the occasion.

As part of Year of Capacity Building, many youth clubs both at Kohima and Dimapur organized sports and musical events heralding a mood of festivity in the trouble-torn state.

Buildings have been decorated with light in the capital town where Christmas Stars twinkle everywhere after dusk. In commemoration of the Year of Capacity Building 2008, a two-day pre-Christmas celebration was organized at Mon by district planning and development board (DPDB) on the theme, Christ the Light, Peace on Earth, reflecting unity and oneness among multi-ethnic society of Mon town.

Noted social worker Niketu Iralu, member of Moral Re-Armament (MRA), now christened as Action for Life, joined the celebration with other members of this social movement.

Agencies

Zomi Youth Organization in Silver Jubilee lawm

Zou Youth Organisation (ZYO) Gen. Hqt. in tuni sunma dak 10:00 in Zou Colony a om Chinkham Modern School ah a kum 25 chinna Silver Jubilee lopna thupitak in nei ua, Pu Phungzathang Tonsing, Minister (Power/Hort/Sc & Tech) in chief guest hihna toh uap ding chih himahleh Cabinet meeting poimohtak a om ziakin tel theilou hi. Amah sik-le-tang ding in 58/AC, Central Election Committee, Chairman Pu Thangzakhum in chief guest hihna toh uap in Awnchinkhup Veng ah Silver Jubilee suangphuh leh Jubilee Souvenir honna nei hi.

Hiai programme bel, zingkal lam in Lamka hanmual kiang a ZYO gam ah Silver Jubilee suang phuh hong masa a, huai a pan Jubilee lopna programme Chinkham Modern School ah kipan hi. ZYO founder President ban ah Jubilee Father T. Gouzadou Ex. Minister in ZYO kiphuh khiak dan tup ngim mizong gen theite panpihtu ding a kiphut ahih dan gelh thoh in sim khia a aman Laisiang thou Johan 13, 34- 35. a “Ki-ittuah chiat un, keiman noute kong itbang in noute khat leh khat ki-ittuah chiat un, huchi in mitten ka nung zuite na hi uh chih hong thei ding uh” chih in zou hi.

Chief Guest a pang Thangzakhum in Minister in tuni zingkal a hong hilh tawm ahihziakin bangmah kigin kholhna ka nei kei a, ZYO makaite pan khawm dan ka muh in phathuai ka-sa chih gen hi. ZYO phatuamngai pawlpite khat leh khat khut kilen a, kalsuan khawm poimoh chi hi. Chief Guest in a genzelna ah, tuni a ZYO in a poimoh a gente uh zingchiang a Minister pa kiang tun vek ding hi’n gen a, amah mimal pocket a pan Rs. 1000/- pia a, minister tungtawn a Puansan 10 a piak banah ZYO Silver Jubilee Magazine leng hong khia hi. Tuni a kikhawpna ah lasiam Miss Hatboi, leh Lawrence ban ah Cultural dance Kamdou Veng leh ZYO Sugnu Block in nei uhi.

Hiai hun ah Organisation tuamtuam UZO Hqt. YMA Manipur group, KKL Hqt. HYA Hqt. ZYA Hqt. ZSP Hqt. te’n Silver Jubelee chibai bukna nei uhi.

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ZYO Silver Jubilee lawhchingtak in lawm

Lamka, Dec 19: Zou Youth Organisation, Gen.HQ Silver Jubilee lawpna Dec.19, 2008 zinglam dak 11:00 apan Chinkham Modern School, Zomi Colony ah om a, Lamka Cemetary gei a Awnchinkap Veng ah Silver Jubilee chiamtehna ding in memorial stone honna om hi. Chief Guest dia chial a om Power Minister T.Phungzathang hoh theilou in T Thangzakhum Social Worker in Chief Guest hihna len in, Rs 1000 in ZYO a phungvuh ban ah, puansan (red blanket) hawmkhiakna nei hi.

T Gouzadou Ex Minister in ZYO khangthu tawh kisai genna leh Silver Jubilee message pia hi. ZYO Hqtrs a Project Committee Chairman G S Haopu Special Contractor in tuni a ZYO program uap a special number peteng Rs 500 chiat a piak ban ah, cultural dance a lam group tamkhop te Rs 1,000 chiat piakna nei hi. Hiai hun ah Zomi sung leh Zou namsung apan top official tamtak muh ding om a, philanthropic organization makai tamtak in uap uh chih thu kiza hi.

Source: WWW.ZOGAM.COM

“It’s Education, Stupid!” (Education Voucher in the Zou context)

- David Vumlallian Zou, M.Phil; PhD

Introduction: Purely in terms of quantity, there is no dearth of schools in Manipur. At least on paper, there already is a fairly good network of schools serving the hill areas of Manipur. Even remote villages usually house a school of some kind, and mission schools step in where the Government fails. But without adequate student strength, private schools are financially not a viable option in some areas. Today the schooling system (especially the Government sector) is plagued by a deep lack of accountability. Teacher absenteeism is a notorious problem in India’s state-run schools that have turned into holy cows to be milked by corrupt bureaucrats, absentee-teachers and parasitical chiefs. Ours is essentially a crisis of quality, not simply quantity. In the hill areas of Manipur, it is possible to identify at least four types of schools: Government, private aided, private unaided and mission schools. The “quality crisis” in the state schools is reflected in the flight of students to private schools. To their great credit, the Catholic schools totally outperformed both the Government and Protestant counterparts. The performance of Protestant mission schools left much to be desired, and an overhaul here can potentially benefit the poorest of the poor in the interior villages bereft of state schools.

Still low Literacy, but in Denial Mode

According to 2001 Census, the literacy rate of the Zou tribe is estimated to be 61 per cent 1– below the state average of 68.8 per cent. Not only is the level of general literacy low, it is a matter of concern that there is a significant gap between male and female literacy within the Zou community. The 2001 Census figures Zou female literacy rate at a pathetic 53.0 per cent against 70.2 per cent for the male counterparts. This humbling picture seems to have been confirmed by a recent survey by National Institute of Health and Family Welfare (New Delhi) which shows female literacy rate for certain Zou villages – Tangpijol at 15.28%, Behiang at 38. 08%, Tuaitengphai at 56. 96%, etc.

In spite of being confronted by such social facts, the leaders of Zou community are in a state of denial. They pretend that, by now, everyone must have had functional literacy enough to read the Bible, hymnals and the local newspapers. The Church also turns a deaf ear to the suggestion that Sunday Schools could be reformed as an effective tool for spreading basic literacy. In the social history of both Wales and Mizoram, Sunday Schools played an important role in providing “Bible-based literacy” to women, children and deprived adults. But in Manipur today, somehow Sunday Schools have been strangely equated with boring “Bible studies” which falsely assume the audience to be universally literate. With a general literacy of only 61%, almost half of the Zou population is handicapped by illiteracy to participate in any intelligent discussion of religious or secular issues. Till now, the ugliness of this social scourge has been either unrecognized or grossly ignored by the vanguards of the Zou society. As Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign, “It’s the economy, stupid!” in 1992, we need to realize today, “It’s basic education, stupid!”

It is high time to take stock of the situation, and do something – at least in the context of Church’s literary mission to spread the Word in the world. Christianity is basically a religion of the written word than oral tradition; it is a religion oriented to mass literacy than illiteracy. For it is written, and even printed – but not spoken: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (St. John 1:1).

Carving a Niche for Protestant Mission Schools

Unlike Catholic missionary schools, the Protestant schools have not yet taken their educational endeavors seriously. While the Catholics carefully select strategic locations to start new schools and hostels, the Protestants wastefully spread their limited human and financial resources thinly in many villages. Apparently a number of such mission schools are meant to appease the sentiments of certain village chiefs or local church leaders. Often the real objective is not to provide basic “quality education” for all. This skepticism is justified by the fact that the “Education Boards” of our mission schools are usually constituted by people with little or no professional competence. It is unimaginable how such an education board could identify – let alone attract – teaching talent in our school system.

As a matter of fact, running primary school is no less demanding than running institutions of higher education. But professional service or qualified educationists do not come free of cost. Without handsome pay package or other incentives, it will be difficult to attract high quality teachers – especially graduates with a good command of English and other “transferable skills.” The single most important catalyst required to reform any school system is quality teacher. A recent research shows that investing in quality teachers is more profitable than investing in school infrastructure.

At present, it will be impossible to maintain some of the existing schools which show poor performance. Then, how do we ensure that everyone gets functional literacy in remote villages? A possible solution lies in reforming the Sunday School by gearing it toward total literacy mission, and investing in the training of its teachers. It may even be possible to attempt something like the current “Teach for India” project initiated in 2007, and run by volunteers responding to the publicity generated by the national media. This is modeled on Wendy Kopp’s Teach for America (TFA). Meanwhile, it will be necessary to invest a substantial part of our Education Board’s resources in the establishment of Education Vouchers (scholarships) meant for talented pupils hailing especially from rural areas. The logic is to fund promising students, not sick schools. So, funding rural students instead of mission schools may go a long way in providing educational opportunities to the largest number of children.

Functional Private Schools vis-à-vis Failing Public Schools

Is the popularity of private fee-charging schools in Manipur to be explained by their superior quality? Elite private education is always considered to be the privilege of a few, and any suggestion that it might be there to serve the poor would be scoffed at. Not all private schools, however, boast of qualified staff and infrastructure comparable to state-funded schools. But the private institutions are generally more accountable: ‘the teachers are accountable to the manager (who can fire them), and, through him or her, to the parents (who can withdraw their children)’. The salaries of private-school teacher in rural India are typically less than one-fifth the salary of regular public-school teachers. In spite of their lower salary, dedicated private teachers tend to product better results than trained Government teachers.

It is not difficult, therefore, to understand why even the poor quit free public schools, and vote with their feet to move their children to low-cost private schools. In fact, these students are refugees from a failing state system. Impressively, many private schools offer fee waivers for deserving students from deprived families. Private unaided schools are doing a better job at educating children at lower cost than the government system. Indeed, it's remarkable how many low-cost private schools manage to do more with less. Sponsored by the Indian government The Public Report on Basic Education in India (The PROBE Team, 1999) indicates that private schools in India are ‘more effective and less costly’ than their public counterparts at improving the mathematical performance of students.

Even during the days of the British Raj, private mission schools in the hills of Manipur surpassed the Government schools in the valley. Reporting on the Ukhrul Mission Schools, Rev. William Pettigrew in 1923 said: “The President of the Darbar visited our Ukhrul School … and has every good reason for thinking that the boys passing … have a better knowledge than the State school scholars.”2 Will it be possible to replicate the results of the private sector in government schools? Or, can this phenomenon be leveraged to improve educational opportunities for all children via adoption of Education Vouchers?

Educational Entrepreneurship and the Spirit of Self-Help

Based on his study of “The Enterprise of Education,” James Tooley (2001) drew this conclusion: If state schools aren’t working, “exit” is a viable option. Without the incentives and accountability of the private sector, Tooley doubts whether public schools will be able to replicate the success of the former. There is a growing catalogue of Government schools that have been ‘fresh-started’, only to be given up on in despair of ever really improving. Politicians usually are neither willing nor able to fix this longstanding problem. More state intervention also may crowd out any last traces of educational enterprise. The more government intervenes, the more it crowds out this spirit of self-help.

The spirit of self-help can be seen in the most hostile environment. In the slums and villages of India provide several stories of educational entrepreneurs, prompted by community concern as well as business acumen. At present, socialist sentiments of the Government and the public have several prejudices against alternative approaches to education. Tooley (2001) suggests that what is needed perhaps is the creation of a chain of ‘budget-priced’ private schools. Such an alternative system will allow those trapped in mediocre government ‘sink’ schools to escape. Ultimately, it is not a question of privatisation or not – but how to make quality private schools accessible to poor families.

A Case for Education Vouchers, Competition and Incentives

An Education Voucher scheme is a coupon or a cheque provided by a Government to students to enable them to attend a school of their own choice. A voucher may be either universal or targeted – that is, for all children, or for particularly targeted groups. Universal vouchers are adopted by Chile in 1980 (Larrañaga, 1997) and Sweden in 1992. Targeted vouchers schemes are enacted in countries as diverse as the USA, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Columbia. In the US, the Milwaukee Parent Choice Programme was introduced in 1990 as a targeted voucher scheme for low-income families to attend private schools (Witte 2000). The Cleveland voucher scheme followed suit in 1995. An alternative ‘targeted voucher’ called Florida A+ Education Plan has been tried in Florida in June 1999. This became the first statewide voucher project to be implemented in the USA. The idea is that schools will improve their performance owing to the fear of being shamed into closing or loosing students and revenue.

The basic idea of an Education Voucher is that the government would fund students instead of schools and that the money would follow the student and get paid to whichever school that the child chooses to enroll in. The scheme will fund deserving students – not failing schools. It will make parents and pupils ‘free to choose’ either private or public schools. The key idea behind a voucher system is not an ideological predisposition towards either private or public schools, but rather the belief that competition can be a force for improving both public and private schools. Thus, the claim is not that all private schools are superior to government schools. Rather, the aim is to think about ways of providing the poorest and most disadvantaged sections of society with the same set of choices faced by their better-off counterparts. This is exactly what a voucher or scholarship would do. Providing every child an opportunity to go to a school of their choice will not only expand the set of choices open to the poor, but also force the government schooling system to improve in order to be viable (Sexton 2002; Muralidharan 2006).

The attractiveness of such a system is that it harnesses the power of incentives and competition while avoiding the biggest weakness of the market to caters only to those with purchasing power. A school voucher puts purchasing power in the hands of every parent, and is thus likely to be a deeply empowering experience (Kelkar 2006). A voucher system also provides the right incentives for schools to not only enroll children but to prevent drop outs (since the voucher money goes with the child). Schools will have the right incentives to hire the best teachers, hold them accountable, and be responsive to parents’ needs (Muralidharan 2006). Conventional experience teaches us that competition makes for a better delivery of goods and services than monopolies. This point is beautifully conveyed by an African poem (Friedman 2006: 137):

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up.
It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed.
Every morning a lion wakes up.
It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death.
It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or a gazelle.
When the sun comes up, you better start running.

Addressing Concerns about Education Vouchers

While voucher-based systems hold a lot of promise, there are certainly a range of concerns with such a model – some well founded, and others less so. One of the less well-founded (but common) reactions to the idea of vouchers is an emotional response that equates Education Voucher with an abdication on the part of the Government of its duty to provide universal quality education. However, the idea of vouchers does not in any way deny that it is ultimately the state’s responsibility to ensure that all children are educated and that nobody is left behind. The key distinction is that while it is clearly the state’s responsibility to finance and regulate schools, it is not at all clear whether it should be in the actual business of running sick schools. The state would thus in no way be absolved of its responsibility of “ensuring” universal basic education of high quality. Recent cross-country research shows that the best educational outcomes appear to be obtained by systems that combine public financing and private management in education – which is exactly the kind of public-private partnership that a voucher program would be (Sandstrom & Bergstrom 2002; Muralidharan 2006).

Concluding Remarks

The point is not to claim that Education Vouchers can be a “silver bullet” solution that will solve all our educational woes overnight. Rather it should be thought of as an especially promising idea among a range of policy options we have to improve the quality of education. To begin with, the pilot voucher project can also be initiated by Protestant mission schools in Manipur to rationalize the use of their limited resources in remote villages. Sunday Schools too can contribute to the success of the total literacy mission especially in interior villages. At present, there is much wastage due to duplication of work by mission schools operating without economies of scale. There is room for cooperation, coordination and pooling of resources between the different denominations of the Zou Christians. Since quality teacher constitutes the most important element of school reform, our Education Boards need to look for teaching talent beyond our narrow domestic walls. Though uttered in a different context, the words of Winston Churchill here rings true, “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to try and find a successful outcome acceptable to all that counts.”

Select Bibliography

Friedman, Thomas L. (2006) The World is Flat, London/New York: Penguin Books.

Kelkar, Vijay (2006) "Let Every Parent Be a Consumer," India Today. January 16.
Larrañaga, Oswaldo, (1997) ‘Chile: A Hybrid Approach’, in Zuckerman, Elaine and de Kadt, Emanuel (eds) The Public-private Mix in Social Services: Health care and education in Chile, Costa Rica and Venezuela, Washington DC: Inter-American Development Bank.

Muralidharan, Karthik (2006) “Public-Private Partnerships for Quality Education in India”, Seminar, Issue 565, September 2006.

The PROBE Team (1999) Public Report on Basic Education in India. New Delhi: Oxford University Press.

Tooley, James (2001) The Enterprise of Education Opportunities and Challenges for India, Delhi: Liberty Institute.

Footnote:

1 Census of India 2001: Manipur – The Scheduled Tribes, Office of the Registrar General, India.

2 CBCNEI Office, Guwahati, Assam, “Educational Report for 1923” (cyclostyled) by Rev. William Pettigrew. Also in Elungkiebe Zeliang (2005) History of Christianity in Manipur: Source Materials, Guwahati: Christian Literature Centre.

Manipur outfit bans export of rice

IMPHAL, Dec 19 – Considering the acute shortage of rice, Manipur outfit Revolutionary People’s Front (RPF) has banned export of rice produced in the State. The ban was to be effective from December 12.

The RPF, in a statement, warned that any one found exporting rice would be punished.

According to 2007-08 estimates, the total quantity of rice required for Manipur in a year was eight lakh metric tonnes whereas the total rice production in the State was only four lakh metric tonnes. But the actual quantity imported to make up the shortage was only 0.95 metric tonnes.

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Arunachal seeks more fund from Finance Commission
ITANAGAR, Dec 19 – Arunachal Pradesh Finance Minister Kalikho Pul has asked the 13th Finance Commission (TFC) to recommend an award of Rs 3,173.76 crore to meet its non-plan revenue deficit.

The 11-member TFC on Wednesday began a high level meeting with the State Government led by Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu.

Pul, in a memorandum to the TFC, said that the State had a huge resource gap in the area of non-plan activity due to which the State had not been able to transfer its liabilities from plan to non-plan side.

“We have also severe shortage of funds to maintain the assets resulting in deterioration of those critical infrastructures. Arunachal has been unable to meet even 10 to 20 per cent State matching shares against the Central sponsored development schemes,” it said.

The Minister said in the 12th Finance Commission award the State received only Rs 1,357.88 crore as revenue deficit grant as compared to Rs 5,536.50 crore for Nagaland, Rs 4,391.88 crore for Manipur and Rs 2,977.79 crore for Mizoram, which has even less population than Arunachal.

Pul said that the State Government had initiated bold measures of transferring the liabilities from plan to non-plan side and during the last financial year it had transferred the maintenance expenditure and committed salary expenditure amounting to Rs 150 crore along with over 13,000 posts from plan to non-plan side.

TFC acting chairman Atul Sarma said the demands made by the State would be seriously considered. – PTI

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Militants’ plan to trigger blasts on eve of Christmas unearthed
High alert in Tura town

By Our Reporter

SHILLONG: A blanket security cover has been put in place in the entire Tura town after security forces reportedly stumbled upon a devious plan of Garo militant groups to bomb crowded places in the run-up to Christmas and New Year celebrations.

Heavy security presence has been enforced in sensitive areas of Tura after militant groups People's Liberation Front of Meghalaya (PLF-M) and Liberation of Achik Elite Force (LAEF) reportedly planned to create mayhem in the heart of Tura to avenge the death of their ‘commander-in-chief’ Kimbre Sangma and push through their agenda of a Greater Garoland state by targetting both security forces and innocent civilians.

While district police officials have denied having any such report, sources from within the intelligence agencies revealed a sinister plan by the militant groups to create a sea of destruction in the town.

According to sources, LAEF and PLF-M had a joint meeting with militants from All Tripura Tigers' Force (ATTF) and decided to trigger an explosion either inside the Tura Super market or at one of the crowded locations of the town.

The outfits have tentatively fixed December 23 and 24 for the destruction during which time the markets would be teeming with visitors.

Police came across the plan of the two outfits after they arrested a PLF-M sympathiser from Dadenggre-Tikrikilla area who spilled the beans about the plan during interrogation. The accused had reportedly participated in the meeting which took place somewhere in East Garo Hills two weeks ago.

Soon after, barricades were thrown up at entrance of the Deputy Commissioner's office and at the two main hotels and the Super Market and frisking of vehicles and passengers began at all entrances into the town.

It is also reported that four militants from a particular group presently in ceasefire with the State and Central governments had attended the meeting and efforts are now on by the government agencies to take the foursome under custody.

West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner, F R Kharkongor, and Superintendent of Police, J F K Marak, however, termed media reports as highly "overpitched". "There is no issue whatsoever. The heightened security has been in place in view of the recent blasts in Guwahati and the attacks in Mumbai. This operation has been put in place because of the large number of visitors to popular sites during the festive season," both the top officials informed.

The LAEF had brazenly unleashed a reign of terror during July 2007 when their cadres lobbed a powerful hand grenade inside Tura Super market resulting in the death of two innocent civilians and injury to scores of others.

The top leader of the LAEF who gave the green signal for the operation, Peter Marak, was ultimately tracked down and killed by Garo Hills police inside the deep jungles of Songsak two months later.

Despite recent success by security forces in nabbing or killing top cadres of the LAEF, the outfit remains a threat to the security scenario of the region having tied up with militants from the powerful Naga outfit, the NSCN.

http://www.theshillongtimes.com/

Lemna leh muonna

# Peace comes from within, don’t seek it without. – Gautama Siddhartha (Founder of Buddhism)
# If you want make Peace. You don’t talk to your friend, You talk to your Enemies. –Moshe Dayan (Israeli Military Leader and Politician)
# Non Violence is only for the Braves –Mahatma Gandhi.

Khovel in Lemna leh muanna asui lai in, Leitung pumpi a Gam leh nam lamkai kichi ten lemna leh muanna thu a gen lai un a innmun a lougam te uah Zauna, Kitha- kimatna, Hiamngamna, Shina, Gitlouna leh Sualna bukim ten thunei khum in a haasuo ngai vawt sih uhi. Lemna ,Muanna chi a a geen geen lai un, Muanna sui a atai lai un, Leitung pumpi kituah na ding thu gen na in tha leh lungsim tampi seng in kilutuo jen in a geen ua hinanleh a gam alei ua akile kia chiang un galvan chi tuamtuam , thauvui thautang leh a dangdang MIHING tha na ding, matna ding a chijathuai pipi a bawl ua , ahoi josem bawl ding dan angaituo ua atam thei bang abawl veve uhi.

Ei gingtu kichi Tapidawte a ding in I hundampa Mangpa Jesu Khris hing pianni champha I lawp na ding uh hun ahing nai heaiheai ta a, lung leen bang ahuai ngap mama hi. Ahing tungpai ding Khrismass leh Kumtha toh jong ki jawitawn jong hi sim veve in thu tamlou lungsim a umte sung jual lei I chi man ahi. Tam Mass pen eite a ding in tahsa leh hagau a I ki suhhalna leh I ngahlaa pen uleh a thupipen hunkhat ahi hi. Ajiah pen khenkhat a ding in Sa neh na ding ahing hi ding a, khenkhat a ding in nihteen puansil tha neini ahing hi ding hi. Tuachi ma bang in khenkhat a ding in I hundampa I Mangpa Jesu tam leitung a nang leh kei mikhial te tan ding a sa leh sisan a leitung a ahing kumsuh hun chiemtena champha ahi hi. Vantual nuosie a a Itt mama amite hundam ding a Bethlehem a Bawng Inn sung a hing pianni ahi man in. I Mangpa , Lemna Leeng pa ahing pian nin Van a Angel ten ‘Leitung ah Lemna leng hen’ chiin zaila a sa uhi. Tuni a I gen ut pentah ahileh Lemna chi ahi hi.

Tunai leh tumasang a I gam a sil tung te nuo et kia talei, 26/11 (Mumbai Terror Attack) bang, ahisih leh Khrismass kuonkuon a Innlam Gari bandh neunou te bang (Nagaland apat…..) te bang. Lemna kipumkhatna, Ittna ahisihleh Muonnna jieh ahina diei?? Hilaijang lou eee… Lemna leh Muanna a ding a amelma lianpen sulnuo ahi bou hi.

Gingtu, Pasian hattungnung misiangthoute ihi na uah eiten I maban uah sep ding leh bawl ding poimaw mama tamtah in ahing ngah hi. I Laisiangthou in ahing hil ma bang in Ki Ittna khu michin a ding a I leiba uh ahi a, Lemna leh muanna , bitna chite pen I sui ding mai hilou a adel a I del thaw ding uh thupiah ahihi.

Lemna I chipen a man bei ahi laijang sih a, mantam tah ahi hi. A mantam ahiman in a man I pieh uh a kul leh poimaw ahi. Lemna pen a mu/nga a haa a , akep jong a haa a a etkol jong a haa hi. Hinanleh a mansuo / haasuo ding a bailam mama kia hi Ahi tah leh Lemna I chichi uh pen bang ahi talawm a?? Hei a hing kipan a bang chi kep a bang chi et kawl ding a tai chi bang dohna thupi tah a um hi. Bang in Lemna a paallut a dal a diei chi bang jong dohna poimaw tah ahi.

Lemna pen mual leh taangte, Nei leh Lam , Sum leh Pai te , Mipil misiamte ahi- sih leh Khovel/Leitung lamkai te a pat a hing ki pan ding ahi laijang sih a nangma a hing kuon a a nangma ahing kipan ding ahi bou hi. Nangma, Nang apata hing kipan khia a nanga bei mai lou a, nang a kipat a jam khia a pah leh gaa suong a jam koi ding ahi bou hi. A patna, a khatna nang nahi hi. Lemna leh muanna ,bitna ding a kalbi masa pen nangma nahi. A khatna nahi ding ahi a nahi hi. Sap ten ‘One is the mother of Millions’ a chi bang ua nang a khatna pen a bul nahi hi.Tambang ma khat A thousand miles journey begins with a single step jong aki chi hi.

Ahi. Tam leitung ah Lemna Thuhun thupi tahtah ki siam in hiamngam theina khut jah thauvui thautang leh a dangdang te bawl sut jop lou a tuote a suhsiat a ahoi thei lam bang ding a bawl leh siamleh jah pen poimaw tawh nanleh apoimaw penpen lemna galpa- Hiamngamna pen mihing lunggel a pat a hing kipan ahi chi I thei siam mama masah uh a ngai a, a poimaw pen ahi. Tambang lungsim tawng a gitlouna pen Buddhist sakhuo ham in “ Gamsa hina” (animality) a kichi hi. Tam gamsa hina ah mihing a ding in hoina, phatna leh khantouna , ki ittna leh I mihinpi te ittna chite a ding in mun a nei sih hi. Leitung a hiamngatheina khutjah tengteng thauvui thautang te subei in phiatmang nanlei tam I lungtang tawng a I gamsa hina I pai khiat siang kilkel lou a ahi leh bangma a phattuomna a um sih ding hi. I lungsim , I lungtang tawng a pat a ki siamthana a um lou a hi leh a panna bei leh bangma lou ahi giap ding hi.

Hiamngamna pen bang chi tuh in gapha in phungching tawh nanleh a hoina, akilawmna leh a dihna malmal a umsih hi. Silkhat poupou ah hiamngamna in guoljou lawching in tung ta nanleh a tawpna pen nikhat ni chiang in lawsapna, manthaina ahi veve hi. Hiamngamna pen mi meipuo te ki butna ahibou hi. Pu Mahatma Gandhi in siamtah in “ Nonviolence is not a cover for cowardice, but is the supreme virtue of the brave… Cowardice is wholly inconsistent with nonviolence….. Nonviolence presuppose the ability to strike ……. Truth ang nonviolence is only for the braves” achi hi. Greek te thupil khat in “ Fortune favours only the braves” a chi hi. Unaupa David Vumlallian Zou. Dr in a lai gelna ‘Lungsim leh nehsuina jalenna gam ah(???)’ chi ZSP Shillong Silver Jubille magazine ah “……… khantouna I chi chi jong muanna leh bitna minkhem (alias) maimai ahi”ana chi hi.

Ei Khristian te sakhuo mai hilou in leitung a sakhuo um teng teng in ‘ thuojaw na,jaidamna,ki ittna chite a thuhun te ua thupi pen leh ki hilna lianpen in a nei chiat uhi. Tuochiin “Mihinghina kitaitena” (Humanitarian Competition) aki pi bawl chiat hi. Tam ki taiteh na ah chitahna leh tahpanna chite lamsang a ki thuhilna pen gualjawna ding a lampi um sunsun ahi.

Khovel pumpi, I gamsung, namsung, innsung, khosung, vengsung leh mimal chiet a lemna leh muonna ahing um thei na ding pen koima a hing kipan ding ahi lai jang sih a , tuoleh gamlaa tah a vasui koi ding jong ahi tuon samsih hi. Tam lemna pen nang ma a um khinkhian ahi bou hi Nang a hing kipan ding ahi . Eima chiet a pat a hing kuon ding ahi jo bou hi.

Ahing tunng pai tading I hundampa, I tanpa I Mangpa Jesu Khris hing pian hun I lawp na uh Lungdam Pawi leh hun hing paijel in ahing puoh ding Kumtha in I lah uah lemna leh muuonna bitna te hing puoh ta hen.

Van neiy nuom un,Tanpa hing pei……… David tapa, Kumtawn a pa, LEMNA LENGPA ahi..

- Ginshanglian Samte
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© Copy Right ShangSamte
www.zabelleivangkhua.blogspot.com

Kuki martyrs remembered

IMPHAL, Dec 19: Paying befitting tribute and homage to the departed brave soldiers, the 91st comme-morative function of the Kuki Independence War, 1917-1919 was observed under the aegis of Kuki Independence War Memorial Committee, Imphal at Kuki Inn here today.

Former MP Holkhomang Haokip, ex-Minister C Dou-ngel and Kuki Indepen- dence War Memorial Committee member T Lunkim were among those present at the function.

Paying of floral tributes to the martyred soldiers and discourse on the events lea-ding to the outbreak of the war were the main highlights.

Speaking of the occasion, secretary of Kuki Independence War Memorial Committee Paosei Haokip said the commemorative event is being organised on December 19 every year in remembrance of all the Kuki heroes who laid down their lives in the Kuki war of independence fought against the British from 1917 to 1919. It was on December 19 of 1917 that many Kuki leaders have been gunned down by the British, he added.

A drama based on the theme of Kuki independence war had also been staged at the occasion. According to the drama, British sepoy came down to Monpi, a Kuki inhabited village and declared that one able person from each of the household would be send to France as labourers. As the chief of the village objected to the dictate, war broke out between the Kukis and the British. During the course of the war which waged for over three years, many Kukis were killed.

- TSE

Manipur Cabinet proposes Rs 2412 crores plan size

IMPHAL, Dec 19: The State Cabinet has decided to submit a proposal of Rs 2412.42 crores to the Planning Commission of India for the next fiscal of 2009-10. The Cabinet meeting held this evening with Chief Minister O Ibobi in the chair agreed to increase the plan size by 45.32 percent at Rs 2412.42 crores.

However, according to a senior Cabinet Minister, the State Government was intimated by the Planning Com- mission to make the plan proposal with an increment of 10 percent from the previous year’s plan size.

With 10 percent increment, the plan amount for 2009-10 should have been Rs 1826 crores. But the State Cabinet decided to increase the plan size by 40 percent. Plan size of the current fiscal is Rs 1660 crores.

The plan amount of Rs 2412.42 crores fixed by the State Cabinet for proposal to the Planning Commission includes Rs 800 crores under Special Plan Assistance. This is against Rs 550 crores included under SPA in the plan amount of the previous year’s plan size of Rs 1660 cores.
The plan size decided by the State Govt for proposal to the Planning Commission will be studied in the meeting of the Working Group scheduled for Jan 16 and 17 at Delhi.

The meeting will also deliberate on sectorial allocation after which the matter will be finalised in a meeting presided by the Dy Chairman of the Planning Commission. The meeting will be attended by the State Chief Minister. The Cabinet meeting also discussed on the scheduled visit of the Chairman of 13th Finance Commi- ssion at Imphal on January 20. The meeting further decided to submit a proposal of Rs 21.5 crores to the Chairman of the 13th Finance Commission during his visit to the State for improvising/procuring Home Department’s jail, building, equipment etc.

It also agreed on submitting another proposal for a significant amount of mo-ney from the Natural Cala- mity Fund to the Finance Commission team for proper maintenance of ecological balance.

Another point that received unanimous approval of the Cabinet was recruitment of 126 employ-ees including 12 laboratory technicians and 100 multipurpose workers in Health Department on contract basis. The Cabinet meeting also agreed on recruitment of 156 CRPO’s in Home Department by adding 60 more posts to the 96 posts already notified earlier, added the source.

-TSE

Abduction cases dominate SoO talks

IMPHAL, Dec 19: The fourth round of tripartite talks between representatives of State Government, Central security forces and Kuki militant groups under Suspension of Operation (SoO) pact was held today at 1st Bn MR complex here.

The meeting of the Joint Monitoring Group with UPF and KNO/KNA was held separately but at the same venue. The meeting chaired by Principal Secretary (Home) DS Poonia was also attended by State Police IG (Intelligence), officials of Assam Rifles, CRPF and BSF. The UPF was represented by 12 functionaries.

Five leaders of KNO/KNA participated in the other meeting. Although it is said that the SoO pact is tripartite and that the peace talk is between State and Central Governments and the Kuki militant groups, no official of the Union Ministry attended today’s twin meeting.

According to sources, Director (North East) RR Jha of the Union Home Ministry was supposed to join the peace talk but failed to turn up. The recent spree of abduction of Government offi- cials by UG groups including those under SoO pact figured prominently in both the meetings.
State Government officials and AR officials issued stringent instructions to leaders of both UPF and KNO/KNA to desist from any activity that goes against the mutually accepted ground rules.
To this, UPF and KNO/KNA leaders clarified their positions.

Nevertheless, it is repor-ted that the twin peace talk went on smoothly without any hitch.
Even as the matter regarding issuance of identity cards to cadres of the two conglomerates of Kuki UG groups was discussed threadbare during the meetings, the matter was post- poned to the next round of talk as both the KNO/KNA and UPF leaders could not furnish exact list and details of their cadres.

The meeting also failed to bring a mutual understanding between the ne- gotiating sides on the location of designated camps. Yet, it is reported that the twin issue of identity cards and designated camps will be resolved in the next round of meeting.

Although, identity cards of party cadres could not be issued yet, some top leaders of both UPF and KNO/KNA have already been issued identity cards by the Government.

The twin meeting with the SoO signatories came after a meeting of the Unified Command (Command Headquarters) was held yesterday with Chief Minister Okram Ibobi in the chair.

The meeting attended by representatives of Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF, BSF, Police and Intelligence deliberated on the recent spate of abduction of Government officials by different UG groups for ransom. The meeting also studied possible involvement of UG groups which are under SoO pact in the abduction cases.

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State police chief talks tough

IMPHAL, Dec 19: Necessary punitive actions will be taken up against any UG group under SoO pact with the Government if they are found involved in extortion and other criminal activities in violation of the SoO ground rules, warned DGP Y Joykumar.

Speaking at the inaugural function of Sugnu police station as functional president today, Joykumar observed that criminal activities perpetrated by UG groups under SoO pact has reduced the peace initiative of the Government to nought. He also warned all concerned to stop all criminal activities immediately.

In case any activist of those UG groups under SoO pact is found involved in extortion and other criminal activities, police will take up abortive action then and there. In addition to launching immediate assault, nec- essary actions will be taken up against the UG groups to which the activists belong, the DGP cautioned.

Asserting that Police De-partment should be strong for proper protection of people, he noted that lack of police strength in Sugnu and surrounding outposts caused much hardships to people of the area in the past.

Exuding confidence that people’s hardships can be reduced to a certain extent from today, the DGP said that four commando teams of Manipur Police well trained in counter insurgency operations, 60 IRB personnel and 68 police personnel will be stationed at Sugnu police station.

In addition, modern vehicles including motor bikes will be provided to the police station.

One commando team will also be attached to Wai-khong police outpost, Joykumar said.

Claiming that the Police Department has been able to build up people’s confidence to some extent in the last few years, ge disclosed that preparations have been made to set up strong police outposts in interior areas, located far away from district headquarters.

Saying that plans are also afoot to recruit more police personnel for these outposts, the DGP sought public support to Police Department in its effort to maintain law and order.

He also called upon the people to submit reports in the event of any excesses by police personnel.- TSE

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Third SoO talks makes further progress on peace efforts with Kuki militants

IMPHAL, Dec 19: The third round of trilateral talks on the Suspension of Operations, SoO, between the Kuki militants, government of India and the state government held this morning at the 1st Manipur Rifles banquet hall has agreed upon recognition to six more designated camps of the Kuki militant groups as submitted by the apex bodies of the Kuki militants spearheaded by the KNo and UPF.

According to a highly placed official source, the third meeting of the SoO between representatives of Kuki militant groups under the KNo and UPF was held today around 10.30 am at 1st MR under the chairmanship of state principal secretary home, DS Poonia, representing the state government, Binoy Nanda Jha, deputy director of the SIB, from the ministry of home affairs as an representative of the government of India, Col. Sanjoy Gupta representing the Indian army and other officials of the Central paramilitary forces.

The officials of the security establishments and the government discussed the proposal to recognise six more designated camps of the militants under the SoO. The camps which are mainly operating in Churachandpur district have already been inspected by the deputy director of SIB, Binoy Nanda Jha who arrived in the state yesterday.

The official source said the agenda over the proposed financial package for the militant groups who are covered under the SoO and finalisation of the issuance of identity cards to Kuki militants could not be discussed during the talks today due to the failure of the militants to provide the technical documents on the matter, the source added.

On the other hand, the third round meeting of the SoO which was supposed to be attended by the state IGP, intelligence and DGP, Manipur could not be attended by them due to their respective official tour programmes today.

However, the proceedings of the talks were made available to the DGP, Manipur later in the afternoon and the DGP convened a security meeting at his office chamber at the Manipur police headquarter in the evening on the matter.

The DGP’s meeting was attended by all concerned SPs of the districts and the recommendations made during the trilateral talks held in the morning were discussed by them.

- IFP

Friday, December 19, 2008

No cheer in Orissa this Christmas?

Friday, December 19, 2008, (Bhubaneshwar): There won't be any Christmas cheer in Orissa this year. A pall of gloom has descended on the Christian community as Hindutva groups have called for a bandh on December 25.

The stage is set for a confrontation with Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik saying the bandh will not be allowed and Hindutva groups determined to go ahead.

The mood in the Christian community in Orissa is gloomy, not only because of what happened in Kandhmal during Christmas in 2007 and between August and October 2008, but also because of a statewide bandh called by Hindutva groups to protest the state government's failure in catching the killers of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati.

"There's a great fear in the minds of the people that anything may happen on that day. The people feel they are not safe to celebrate the feat of the birth of Christ. Besides, people have been coming from outside of Kandhmal and they are going around with arms and ammunition. We don't know who they are," said Raphael Cheenath, Archbishop, Bhubaneshwar-Cuttack.

The Union Home Ministry has sent an advisory to the state government to ensure a peaceful Christmas and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has also assured the state assembly that no bandh will be allowed on the Christmas day.

"No bandh will be permitted on December 25, the Christmas day. We should not let violence mar the day," said Patnaik.

However, the sangh parivaar is defiant.

"We don't need anybody's permission for the bandh. Is it enough to arrest five to seven people? Why has the government not been able to apprehend the conspirators behind Swami ji's killing?" said Gouri Prasad Rath, secretary, VHP, Orissa.

However, the bandh call has little support from the ordinary man.

"We Hindus celebrate our festivals. Likewise Christmas is the biggest festival for them. So what's the point behind such a move?" said a local resident.

This Christmas will be a testing time for the Orissa government because it has to live up to the promises made by the chief minister to the Christian community and also because the Bharatiya Janata Party, a partner in the government, is unwilling to oppose the bandh.

Source: http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20080077035&ch=12/19/2008%203:40:00%20PM

ZSF GHQ in Mary Kom kipahpina vaiguon nei

Lamka, Dec 17: Leitung mun tuamtuam a World Women Boxing Champion 4 vei hial ana la, MC Mary Kom tuni zinglam dak 9:15 in Zomi Students Federation GHQ te’ makaih in Kangvai ah dawnna om a, huai apan Lamka khawpi lutpih in om hi. Tuabangkal ah, MC Mary Kom in agenna ah “Ka pasal hon kithuahpihna ziak a hiai bang tan tung ka hi” chi’n mipite mai ah gen hi.

ZSF GHQ makaih in Lamka khawpi fan pih in om a, Teddim Road zui in, Dorcas Road- Bungmual- D Phailian- Chiengkonpang- Red Cross Road leh Teddim Road zuihpih ahihnung in New Lamka YPA hall ah felicitation program om hi. Rev Paukhanmang Guite Director, EBC in Pathian kiang ah program latna nei hi.

Liankhankhup General Secretary Zoumi Sangnaupang Pawlpi (ZSP) in Mary Kom a kipahpih dan pulak in Zou puan silhsakna nei a, H Mangchinkhup Ex President ZSF GHQ in MC Mary Kom tanchin kimtak in pulak hi. Aman agendanin, Mary Kom kichi CCpur district khawneu chik apan khangkhia hi a, state level, national level leh International level ah minthanna tawp khawk angah nung in, award tuamtuam piak in om a, himahleh, India a kimawlmite hamphatna bangbang angah louh pen puaknat huai mahmah ahi chi hi.

Central Government in SC/ST te kankuahna in sports leh education lam ah budget tampi pi guang ua, huaite hamphat pih ding in Zosuan sinlaite kisak ngai ahi chikawm in, Abhinav in tuma a Olympics a shooting competition a gold medal angah ziak lel in sum a crore a sim mu a, Mary Kom leng huai bang hamphat pih ding in chin law mahmah ahi chi’n ZSF President lui H Mangchinkhup in gen hi.

ZEPADA Secretary K Vungzamawi in agenna ah, India gamsung leh singtangmite’ lak ah kimawlna vai ah medal hoihpipi ngah a sang a sim om mah leh Zosuan MC Mary Kom in award 11 val a ngah pen Zosuante’ minhoihna ahi chi kawm in, maban ah kuapeuh adia chouna sang mahmah ahi chi hi. ZHRF Secretary General P Suanmoi Guite in leng Mary Kom akipahpih thugen hi.

Hiai hun ah, Zomi Council sik le tang in Vice Chairman leh Singngat MLA T Hangkhanpau in kipahpih thugen kawm in puandum silhsak hi. T Hangkhanpau MLA in agenna ah “ Zomite adia tuni pen chiamteh tham (memorable Day) ahi” chi in, Kom Namte leng Zomi ahih man un, amau innkuan sung ah haksatna a tuah ua leh Zomi Council leh Zomi Namte kitaise lou ding ahi chi hi.

Mary Kom kipahpihna program ah, ZSF, ZYA leh ZMA apan thil piak manpha taktak piakna om a, YPA Hall, New Lamka ah mipi talou hi. Rev. Khen P.Tombing Chief Co-ordinator PCI ( R) in MC Mary Kom ading in hasotna tomkim agen zawh in, Mary Kom chair tung ah tusak a, a pasal Onlal Kom sam in, Mary luzang ah a khut ngasak a, tuazawh in Rev Khen Tombing in Pathian apan vualzawlna ngetsak hi. Rev Khen P Tombing in hunsaulou agenna ah, “Mary Kom in a thugen tung in Pathian min alou a, a thugen zawh in Pathian min mah in a thugen a siin a, mi ngaihsang huai mahmah ahi” chi hi.

MC Mary Kom in mipi paikhawmte mai a agenna ah, “Pathian apan vualzawlna thupitak ka ngah a, ka nungak hun lai in, world champion ka na hi a, ka nupi nung in world champion ka hi a, ta khat ka neih nung in world champion ka hi a, ta 2 ka neih zawh nung tanpha in world champion ka hi nawn a, hiai pen kisaktheihna hilou in Pathian apan vualzawlna ka ngah ziak leh ka pasal in lam tuamtuam ah hon kithuahpih (support) na ziak kia ahi” chi hi. Mary Kom in agenbehna ah, “Zi leh pasal nei nailoute’n bang tup neina hi uhiam, kei thugen siamlou ka hi a, ring a boxing kimawl theilel ka hi. Na hinkhua uah tup kichian nei in, leitung mite hon theih phak ding in om un. Boxing kimawlna ah singtang numei kei chauh hi gige chih pen thil zumhuai hi a, huai ziak in student te’n na tempai na uh tungtawn in na talent uh zongkhia unla, boxing lam ahihleh, a theipen hikei mah leng, ka hih theihtawp suah in noute ding in sinsakna ka hon peding” chi hi.

Mary Kom in agenzelna ah, “Bombay ah zingchiang in PEPSI MTV Music award 2008 lakding ka neihziak in tuni’n Imphal nusia in Bombay ka zot louh theihlouh hi a, ZSF program tawh a kituahkhak ziak in poika sa mahmah a, noute tawh nikhat zalentak a iki thuahkhawm nawn ngei uh ka lamen a, huai ding in Pathian in i maban uh hon pi tou zel hen” chi’n a thugen zou hi. Felicitation program zatna hun ah a vangkim in Zogam Artistes Association apan Vungthiankim leh S Pauginmuan apan la ngaihkhiakna om hi.

Source: www.zogam.com & www.lamkaphoto.com

ZYO Silver Jubilee

Zomi Youth Association (ZYO) Gen. Hq. kiphukhiet nua kum 25 chinna (Silver Jubilee) tuni December 19, 2008 sunma nai 1O: 30 in Chinkham Modern School Zomi Colony ah nei nei hita. Silver Jubilee lopna hun ah Shri Phungzathang Tonsing, Minister ( Power Horti Sc & Tech.) Chief Guest in pang, Golden Jubilee suangphu hong ding a, Souvenir zong hong in ZYO Award tuamtuam zong pekhe ding hi.

See the program here

Lamka Thuthang

Lamka Dec. 18: KSO CCpur in Lamka a Press te kimupih, Bilngong ziaka si ahikei a, kong kalhkhum ziak a si ahizaw - KSO

Kuki Student Organisation (KSO) Churachandpur District in tuni sunnung dak 2:00 in Kuki Innpi Office Tuibuang ah a paita December 16, 2008, nitak dak 5:30 a Kwakta a buaina piang toh kisai in Lamka pansan pressmen-te kimuhpih hi.

Kuki Students Organization makaite’n tuni a pressmen-te a kimuhpihna ua a taklat dan un, Kwakta kho sung ah drugs leh No.4 zuak a tam mahmah ziakin hun paisa in KSO leh Kwakta JAC pangkhawm in a khamdaihna ding in naktak in panla ua, tua toh kiton in helpawl khat inleng hiai thil hoihlou khamna ana bawl uhi.

KSO makaite’n a ban a genzelna uah, naktak a helpawl inleng pan a lak nung inleng khamdai zoulou ua, maban panlakzelna in Kwakta kho sung ah va lut in khamtheih zuak a, a theihte man khawm ding a, a kisaklai un mipi’n theiman uh hi’n gen uhi. Helpawlte gamtatna mipi’n thei man in mipi kipunkhawm ua, helpawlte kiang a report petu hidia a muanmoh uh Mr. Haokam Inn haltum ua, huai leng deihkhop lou in midang inn 3 hal beh lai uhi. Hiai inn halna a makaipipen leng Abo of Kwakta hi’n leng gen uhi.

A ban a genzelna uah, hiai inn halna a inn sung a kanglum Mr. Manglam (45) of Kwakta pen a bilngong ziaka kanglum dan a a gen uh zuauthu lel ahihman in KSO/CCpur in ngaikhok mahmah ahih dan leng press te mai a gen uhi. KSO makaite’n a genna uah, Mr. Manglam pen bilngong himahleh lum-leh-vot a thei mahmah ding a, sihna ding khop hial meisa omleh kong hong in a taikhe ding a, hiai pen bilngong ziak hilou in kongkhak polam a, a kalhkhum ziak ua kanglum hizaw ahi chi’n bilngong dan a ngohna pen nial uhi.

Hiai thiltung toh kisai a mohna neilou nautang kimok thah pen KSO in ngaisiam theilou ding uh ahihban ah, a thahna ziak uh a kin thei bang pen a hilh chetna pe ding in ngiat uhi. KSO in a taklatna ah khosung a valutte helpawlte ahi chih a theih uhleh huaite tung a gamtang lou a bang dia minautang poikhoih loute tunga hichi bang a gamtang uh hiam chih taklang kawm in Govt. in a kin theilam a judicial enquiry bawl ding in leng ngen uhi. Tua ban ah drugs leh No. 4 naktak a kham ahihlai a, a zuaktute tualgal piang thei ding khop hial a gup uh drugs & No. 4 zuak dia phalna a piakte uh hihiam chi’n dotna bawl uhi.

Tuabangkal ah, Lamka khopi sung a khamtheih naktak a doudal ahihman in khamtheih hihzongsangte’n a deih bang un Lamka khopi sung a, a muh theihlouh ziak un Kwakta ah thovengtak a lei theih ahihziakin Lamka khopi sung a khamtheih hihte tamtak in Kwakta naihzel uhi. Hiai ziakin Kwakta leh Lamka kikal ah gari accident bangzah hiam leng omta a, Lamka khopi sung a a guk a zuak theite’n leng Kwakta ah vala zel uh hi’n leng thutut kingah hi.

Khongsai Nulam kilawi khawm na nei ding

Lamka Dec. 18 D.. Phailian Community Hall ah hong tung ding Dec. 20, 2008 sunma dak 10:00 in Khongsai Nulam Kiloi Khawm chih programme hun zatna nei ding uhi. Hiai hun ah Doukhomang Khongsai, Hon’ble MLA Saikul chief guest in pang ding a, Thangkholun Haokip, Hon”ble MLA Chandel chief host in pang ding a, Lamkhosem Khongsai, DTO, CCpur in guest of honour hihna toh uap ding hi. Hiai programme pen Khongsai sung kuan a kipan a pasal neisate a ding a kibawl hi a, a nu-le-tate a ding a thumsakna Rev. N.T. Lamcha Khongsai, Tuibuang in vualzawlna leh thumsakna neih sak ding hi.

Chawilien Hmar mualliam

Lamka Dec. 18 North – Eastleh India Govt. tanpha in Cancer damdawi musuah tu chi a thei a om ban ah Kristian sah khua ginglou mi tam tak a damdawi ziak a na pilut tu Chawilien Hmar in zan nitak dak 11:30 lak in sungna in si hi. Amah luang tuni Saikot Hanmual vuiliam in om hi.

BSNL Optical fiber cable mun 3 ah kitan

Lamka, Dec. 18. Lamka leh khopi dangte kithuzakna poimoh mahmah BSNL a optical fiber cable kiphumte mun 3 a, a kitan ziakin ni 3/4 sung BSNL tungtawn kithuzakna buai hi. Official thutut kingah dan in, Dec. 15, 2008 in Bishnupur ah kitan a, Dec. 16, 2008 in Mao ah kitan a, Dec 17, 2008 in Kwakta ah kitan nawn in Deptt. in buaipih mahmah ua, tuni nitak dak 5 vel in bawlzou ua, zat theih hinawnta hi. Lamka khawpi ah BSNL lane line a siat mun luat ziakin a neitu a tamzaw in ngaihsak peih nawnlou in Mobile lam pibolzawta uhi.

Huai lou in Telecom department nuai ah WLL Village Public Telephone (VPT) Manipur SSA nuai ah tuni tan in khua hausa 350 kiang ah 350 hom kheta uhi.

Tuabangkal ah, Telephone Exchange Office thak ding Hq. Veng IB Road a kibawl leng March 2009 sung ngei a luahsawm a sung a poimoh tuamtuam ding nasem in buaipih uhi.

IPPI om nawn ding

Lamka, Dec 18 Immunization pulse polio infection (IPPI) Ist round Dec. 21, 2008 in Churachandpur District ah om ding a, IPPI Centre 400 val ah naupang kum 5 chiang in polio damdawi dawn ding ua, 2nd round bel Feb. 1, 2008 in om ding hi. Dec. 21, 2008 a Ist round om ding himahleh tutan in polio damdoi (Vaccine) Imphal chiang leng puaktun hinailou hi’n official apan thutut kingah hi.

One day District Level workshop nei

Lamka, Dec. 18 Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship saina in tuni sunma dak 11:00 in Synod Hall IB Road ah One day district Level Workshop for Rural Business Hub kichi ministry of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India sponsored in nei uhi. Huai hun ah Rupachandra Singh ADC/CCpur Chief Guest a pang in Workshop hong a, J.C. Kalita, AFM- IIE, Guwahati in Singtang gam a na tuamtuam sep ding dan sinsak a, a bik in singtang a lou bawl ding dan sinsak hi. Lamka area loubawlna toh kisai a lunglut mi 50 val tel uhi.

Lamka a Pangal-te patau

Lamka, Dec 18 Kwakta khua a Dec. 16, 2008 nitak a buaina tungtang ah tuni tan kilemna piching bangmah omlouh ziakin Lamka a om Pangal Muslim Zenhang Lamka area Mandop Leikai a om te mahni inn ah zan giak ngam omlou in Lamka Police station kiang a ALAA (Biakbuk) sung ah kibu khum in giak lut uhi. Tuni tan in Kwakta khua leh kim ah security om den lai hi.

DC CCpur Imphal ah

Lamka, Dec 18 Sumant Singh, IAS, DC/CCpur tuni zingkal in Imphal a Chief Secretary Office a a meeting ding in hoh a, tua ah IFCD IFCD tungtang leng genkhawm ding uhi. Hiai ziakin DC/CCpur office kai manlou hi. DC office a kailouh chiang in staff te kuamah muh ding tawm mahmah zel hi.

Source: The Lamka Post | December 19, 2008 @ www.zogam.com

Avian flu outbreak feared in Dimapur

Dimapur, Dec 18(NPN): With avian flu spreading like wildfire in Assam where more than three lakh affected poultry birds have been culled, cases of outbreak reported in nearly Karbi Anglong highlights the strong suspicion that the disease has already arrived Dimapur and nearby areas more than a week ago.

According to reports, many poultry birds have been affected in Dimapur particularly in the colonies bordering Karbi Anglong. It was reported that many poultry birds have died during the past week in the areas. The bird flu virus can change inside of a human body or an animal’s body – swine, for instance, that is medically closest to human.

According to a report about the possibility of avian flu transmission to human,it was stated that if bird flu and human flu combine, the strain formed out of the two combinations could result in its spread from human to human.

Meanwhile, according to PTI: More poultry deaths were reported Tuesday in Assam where avian influenza spread to another district, taking the count of affected districts in the state to seven, even as some crows tested positive for the H5N1 strain. Blood samples of the crows found dead in Chatribari area here were confirmed as H5N1 positive by laboratories in Bhopal and Pune, sources said.

The laboratories also confirmed that avian influenza had spread to three more areas in Assam, hitting seven districts so far with culling operations on in three. Director of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary A Kakati said three samples sent from Sariha village in Barpeta, Kheluamara village in Bongaigaon and Kharguli in Guwahati to the Bhopal-based High Security Diagnostic Laboratory had tested positive. With this, the number of bird flu affected epicentres increased from six to nine in seven districts, Kakati said. Fresh cases of unusual bird deaths were reported from Karbi Anglong, Nagaon, Lakhimpur, Sibsagar and Golaghat districts. - Nagaland Post

Governor addressed Mizoram House

The Governor, Lt. Gen. MM Lakhera said, the new Government will take strong and bold initiative to usher in clean, efficient and responsive administration. Addressing the members in the new House of Mizoram Legislative Assembly today, the Governor said, corruption at any level will not be tolerated from day one and the trademark of the government will be transparency to ensure proper utilization of public money. The Governor said, top priority will be accorded to alleviation of the poor in the villages and the urban areas. For this purpose, an improved and enlarged New Land Use Policy (NLUP) will soon be launched throughout the state and multi-pronged approach will be made for successful implementation of the programme. Referring to the projects already started by the previous government, the Governor said, his government will continue this projects if they are found technically viable and financially sound. He also said that Tuirial Hydel Project and Referral Hospital at Falkawn which have been abandoned will be reviewed. Referring to the internal states roads being constructed with World Bank loans and PMGSY, the Governor said, all these will be reviewed to ensure early completion of the projects. He also expressed happiness for the peaceful and serene conduct of the State Assembly elections. Describing it as a unique one having no parallel else where, the Governor thanked bureaucrats, law enforcing agency, the Churches, NGOs, the general public and the MPF in particular. He described the role of MPF for free, fair and peaceful conduct of the elections was remarkable. After conclusion of the Governor’s 13 minute address, the Congress member representing Lunglei East, Mr. Joseph Lalhimpuia moved a motion of thanks on the Governor’s address. After it was seconded by another Congress member, Mr. H. Zothangliana, the Speaker, Mr. R. Romawia left the motion to be discussed tomorrow and adjourned the House for the day.

One Assam Type house in Sairang Vengthar was completely gutted by fire this afternoon. The Village Council President informed ZONET that there was no casualty or injury because of the fire. However, all the properties and household goods of the house owner, Mr. Chuauzika were reduced to ashes. The Village Council and Branch YMA are taking initiative to assist the fire victim. Mr. Lalduhoma, MLA of the constituency assisted him with 1 thousand rupees today.
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The selected Village Education Committee (VEC) were awarded cash prizes today by the State SSA Mission. The VEC of Rulchawm won the first prize for good performance while the second prize was given to Kanhmun Village Education Committee and the third prize was given to Romibawk and Zote Village Education Committee. The cash prizes were handed over to the recipient by the Mizoram State SSA Project Director, Mr. V. Ralliana at a function in Chanmari YMA Hall.
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A popular musical band, Firehouse is all set to display its talent at the Assam Rifles Parade Ground in Aizawl tomorrow night. Talking to media persons in I&PR Auditorium today, the Firehouse members said, they will try their level best to meet high expectation of the people and the gate collection to be received will be utilized for assisting Samaritan Society. They also visited Samaritan Society today.
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The Sub Inspector and Asst. Sub Inspector of Police, under going training in the Ist MAP Battalion Hqrs. donated blood for the patients in Durtlang Presbyterian hospital today. Their blood was drawn by the Blood bank officials in their training camp at the Battallion Hqrs. 33 units of blood was donated by the trainees as Christmas gift.
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A popular religious leader known for his works in various fields Rev. Dr. Zairema passed away because of heart problem this morning at his residence in Zarkawt. He was 92 and survived by 1 son, 4 daughters and 17 grand children. Born on 4th March 1917, he passed B.Sc from Cotton College, Guahati. Completing Bachelor of Divinity from Serampore College in 1945, he served Mizoram Presbyterian Church in various capacities including the post of the top leader for several years. He also had served God under North East India Christian Council and the Bible Society in various capacities till he retired in 1983. Being a gifted and talented person, he was the key person in the translation of the English Bible into Mizo. While working as the Pastor, he also involved himself in various social and developmental works. When MNF movement erupted in violence in 1966, Rev. Dr. Zairema and his colleagues boldly took up the task of initiating talks with the Centre to find amicable solution to the problem. He was jailed several times for his zeal to bring peace to Mizoram. Being very firm in his believe of ’service to man is service to God’ Rev. Dr. Zairema had shown an example to others not by words but by actions. After a funeral service in his residence and in Zarkawt Presbyterian Church, many mourners bid tearful farewell to the reverent this afternoon. He was laid to rest in Zarkawt grave yard after the funeral function..
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Anti-Narcotics Squad of Mizoram Excise and Narcotics Department seized 10 grams of heroin in Chanmari West last night. The squad also apprehended Phunsanga of Myanmar and charged him under relevant section of ND & PS Act 1985.
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The 12th Annual General meeting of Mizoram Consumer Union was held in Aizawl Central Hall at Venghlui today. Addressing the meeting, the Secretary of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Mr. TBC Rozara asked the people to be cautious about investment companies. He asked them to ensure that they invest only in the Banks and Financial institutions which have licence from Reserve Bank of India. In the seminar part, the script of the Regional Manager of SBI, Mr. JL Vaikhuma was presented by the Deputy Manager, Mr. Lalthankima. He also asked the consumers to invest their money only in the licensed banks and financial institutions.The meeting was presided over by the President of Mizoram Consumer Union, Mr. P. Lalupa.
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Today, the maximum temperature of Aizawl City was 25.7 degree Celsius and the minimum was 13.1 degree Celsius.

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