Sunday, February 15, 2009

UKLF clarifies on Zoumi Namni festival

Kut celebration manipur 15Image by ahinsajain via Flickr

IMPHAL, Feb 14: Welcoming the forthcoming Zoumi festival at Chandel, the UKLF’s publicity secretary Jacob has clarified that the outfit has no objection to celebrating Zoumi Namni festival. The outfit’s proposal is to celebrate the festival as a festival of the Zoumi tribe.

Saying that the Zoumi Namni is celebrated as Chin National Day in Myanmar while it is celebrated as Chapchar Kut in Mizoram, Jacob noted that the festival is celebrated in Manipur during spring season as Kut and has been recognised by the Govt as a festival of the Chin-Kuki-Mizo groups.

Reiterating that there is no festival for the Kuki group other than this, Jacob conveyed that the outfit is against importing a festival celebrated in Myanmar.
He further mentioned that the Government does not recognise Zoumi Namni festival.

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TSA sets February 20 deadline

IMPHAL, Feb 14: Even as the 48 hours National Highway blockade called by the Thadou Students’ Association (TSA) came to an end yesterday, the student body has set February 10 as deadline for the Government to implement the MoU it signed with the TSA.

The MoU signed between the TSA and the Education Minister pertains to development of infrastructure for schools located in Sadar Hills area and recruitment of requisite teachers.
Speaking to reporters at its office at Motbung bazar yesterday, TSA vice-president Paotinsei Thadou noted that the highway blockade concluded without any unwanted incident because of the support and cooperation extended by people.

Disclosing that RC Books for five vehicles were seized for violating the blockade, Paotinsei said that the RC Books will be returned back to the owners.

Claiming that it was compelled to impose the bloc- kade in the interest of students and the public beca- use of the Government’s failure to implement the MoU despite repeated appeals and reminders, Paotin- sei decried the reported act of issuing arrest warrants against TSA volunteers.

Asking why no arrest warrants were issued when NSCN (IM) cadres were found holed up in Siroy for a long time, the TSA functionary cautioned that the entire Thadou community will court mass arrest in case any TSA volunteer is arrested. Since 2003 when the Keithelmanbi High School was demolished by a mud slide that occurred at Gopibung, students of the High School are being taught in a UJB school for lack of school building, the TSA urged upon the Government to implement the MoU by February 20.

In case the State Government fails to act within the deadline set, the TSA would be constrained to launch different forms of agitation including economic blockade from February 21, Paotinsei said.

Source: THE SANGAI EXPRESS

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