Land of Jewels (Sana Leibak)

The news that HIV/AIDS infection in the three hill districts of Manipur bordering Myanmar -- Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul -- is on the increase mainly due to commercial sex workers from that country spreading the dreaded disease should be taken note seriously by the authorities. Myanmar is a country where the incidence of HIV/AIDS is 1.3 per cent of the total population (240,000 out of 47,373,958) while it is 0.3 percent is case of India. Myanmar ranks lowest among countries worldwide in international assistance per capita and among lowest in the world to get antiretroviral treatment access by the patients. Currently, fewer than 20% of HIV-positive people in need of drugs receive them -- either from international groups or in small amounts from the government -- according to a report of Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) released in November 2008. More alarming is the fact that an estimated 42 per cent of Myanmarese women in the age group pf 15-49 carry HIV by the end of 2007. So, ne...

Agartala, June 16 : Authorities in the northeastern region have stepped up precautionary measures against the spread of swine flu, besides banning import of pigs and pork products from adjoining countries, officials said on Tuesday. A health official said no case of influenza A(H1N1) infection had been reported in Mizoram, Manipur, Meghalaya and Tripura. However, these states have banned import of pigs and pork products. The northeastern states share unfenced borders with Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan and China. "We are on a maximum alert with our rapid action teams keeping a strict vigil along the international border with Myanmar and Bangladesh and also boundaries with other northeastern states," said C Sangnghina, director of Mizoram's animal husbandry and veterinary department. "We are holding regular review meetings and collecting reports from deputy commissioners on the latest situation," he added. Sale of pork in Mizoram, Tripura, and Manipur has already co...

Rotarians extend help for Nargis victims : Imphal, May 22: In solidarity with the suffering of the people of Myanmar in the wake of cyclone Nargis devastating the low lying area of Irrawaddy Delta relief materials were handed over to Myanmarese authorities on behalf of 77 Rotary clubs from Rotary International District 3240 . The relief materials hand-over was initiated under the leadership of DG, Rtn Parbhat Kedia to convey solidarity with people of Myanmar in this hour of sorrow and bereavement. The items including emergency medicines were delivered at Burma Border Trade Centre (Tamu), the official point of aid centre as volunteers are not permitted to reach the affect zone physically, said a release of Rotary Club. Reports on radio, TV and official figure provided by the Myanmar authorities confirmed more than 1,34,000 killed or missing apart from a large section of the population rendered homeless, facing starvation and susceptible to disease outbreak since the cyclone hit the Delt...

NEC mulls on development projects: Imphal: Manipur government representatives who attended the 56th North Eastern Council meeting which concluded on Tuesday at Agartala drew the attention of the council and the Central government to the need for looking into the Look East Policy of the country. They urged all concerned to give a major thrust to the development of the Imphal airport, National Highways-39, 53, 150, Trans Asian Highway, border trading point at Moreh and Jiribam to Tupul railway line, an official source said. In the meeting, Manipur urged for upgradation of the Imphal airport into an international airport with cold storage facilities stating that the airport would soon have night landing facilities. They also urged for improvement of the three national highways which run across the state into four-lane roads for easy flow of heavy vehicular traffic. The state highways and border roads also need to be strengthened and improved to meet trade and commercial requirements, they...

Patil says NE situation improved Heirok JAC decries Govt's vague stance Bailed Kangleipal rearrested under NSA UCM prez advocates peace for development Sema tribe fires salvo at IM, Rio Relief material sent to Myanmar HKL opposes UADC proposal to demarcate Ukhrul Anti-dam activists reject Engineers' explanations Scribes take threats complaint to CM

Suspension of bus service to go on: Imphal, May 5: A meeting of the Inter-State Bus Association held at Hotel Imphal on Monday resolved to continue with the ongoing suspension of inter-State bus service. Inter-State bus service along NH 39 was suspended since May 3 because of unaffordable monetary demands made at different check-posts and by numerous UG groups. During the meeting, it was agreed to suspend tourist bus service until all the monetary demands from UG groups and the 'taxes' being levied at different check-posts are withdrawn. Even as a joint meeting with civil society representatives was convened today to discuss the unfolding situation following suspension of inter-state bus service, the meeting has been deferred to another date as attendance from civil society representatives was poor. On the other hand, because of the 120 hours economic blockade being imposed by ATSUM on national highways, a large number of loaded vehicles are being stranded on the highways unabl...

Inter-State buses suspend service: Imphal, May 4: Following the All Manipur Inter-State Bus Services Association (AMISBSA)'s decision to suspend buses services indefinitely due to 'heavy' monetary demands from various elements, all buses plying along the National Highways have suspended service from Sunday. The association has been compelled to take the decision owing to various elements, undergrounds and overgrounds demanding heavy amount of money from the transporters, a spokesman of the association told media persons on Sunday evening. The spokesman said transporters, mainly passenger buses, are facing many problems due to the heavy imposition of monetary demands and 'taxes' by different underground groups operating in both hills and valley districts. The inter-state bus services were financially overburdened as they had to ay 'taxes' at every police checkpost in neighboring Nagaland state. The decision was taken during a meeting held on Saturday at its o...

Swu invites Khaplang’s deputy to Bangkok: Kohima, May 2: Two decades of hostilities later, the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim has invited Khole Konyak, commander-in-chief of its long-time bete noire NSCN (Khaplang), for talks in Bangkok. This is not the first time, though, that the NSCN (I-M) has written to the top leader of NSCN (K). In the past, too, several letters have been written to NSCN (K) chairman S.S. Khaplang and Konyak, but the manner and style of writing the letters had displeased the Khaplang group’s policy-makers. Highly placed sources said Konyak has received a letter from the chairman of the NSCN (I-M) Isak Chishi Swu inviting him to come to Bangkok for talks to push forward the ongoing reconciliation and unification process among the Naga warring groups. However, there were no details about the letter sent by Swu, but sources said its purpose was to iron out the differences and push forward the reconciliation and unity process initia...

Suggests comprehensive action plan: Imphal, Apr 26: After reviewing the law and order situation of the State with officials of the State Government and members of the Combined Headquarters, the central team led by Union Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar suggested formulating a 'comprehensive action plan' to tackle the problem of insurgency and to check the extortion spree. The law and order situation of the State was studied jointly during a meeting held at the conference hall of Old Secretariat southern block today. Besides the central team which included Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta and Defence Secretary Vijay Singh who were on a two day visit to the State, the meeting was also attended by GOC 3 Corps, GOC 57 Mountain Division, top officials of Assam Rifles, CRPF, intelligence agencies and the State Police Department. Briefing media persons after the review meeting, Union Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekhar stated that basic purpose of the team's visit to Manipur i...

Team leaves for Myanmar: Imphal, Apr 24: A delegation consisting of officials of the Manipur government, Mizoram government, scholars and functionaries of the NIPCO will leave Imphal tomorrow for Myanmar for a series of discussions on the future prospects of India`s "Look East Policy" and its 1400 km tans Asian highway. President of NIPCO, Y Nabachandra said the delegation to Myanmar aims at explore the future impact of the trans Asian highway on the people of the state as well as in other parts of Asia where the highway is to pass through. It is a must for the people living in South East Asia to discuss and know the future impact on the living conditions of the people by the coming up of the highway which is to reach upto Thailand border, he said. The programme was sponsored by the department of commerce and industries, Manipur. Professors from Munipur University, traders, senior citizens, entrepreneurs, functionaries of NIPCO and well known scholars in different trades alo...

Meinya takes up rail cause for NE States: New Delhi, Apr 23: Member of Parliament from Inner Manipur Parliamentary Constituency Dr Thokchom Meinya, has underlined that all the State capitals in the North Eastern states except Dispur, capital of Assam have no rail connection. Though it was a long pending demand to connect all State capitals by trains, it is not yet implemented in the North Eastern region. Dr Meinya urged the Union Minister of Railways Lalu Prasad Yadav to connect the remaining seven State capitals of North East Region by rail without any delay. Participating at the discussion on the Demands for Grants of the Ministry of Railways for the year 2008-09 on Thursday last in the Lok Sabha, the Parliamentarian from Manipur stated that the total length of railways in the North Eastern region is about 500 Kms, though the size of the entire North East is one tenth of the whole country. He also pointed out that the British constructed half of the existing rail-lines in the North E...

Pangsau fest may set the platform: Nampong, Jan 30: The recently held Pangsau Pass winter festival at Nampong village of Changalang district Arunachal Pradesh has a remarkable historical significance and celebrates the true relationship between the Burmese and the local people. The festival kicked off on January 20 with the striking of the traditional gong by DoTC chairman Phusum Kimhun and singing of `We stand and sing for peace and unity` to send a clear message that the people crave for peace in the insurgency affected Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh. The PPWF was organised with an objective to rebuild the age old relationship between the people of Arunachal Pradesh and nieghbouring Myanmar. The festival was termed as the gateway to the hidden paradise of Arunachal Pradesh, and it was able to showcase the tribes of the state. For the first time, the locals, Myanmarese and the guests witnessed such a huge gathering of tribes belonging to different parts of Arunachal Pradesh, ...

'Kangla Food products safe for health': All the products of the Kangla Food are safe for health and nature friendly, claimed its proprietor Akhom Birendra. Speaking to reporters at its factory premises at Nambol Chingmang Phoijing on Sunday, Birendra conveyed that in addition to the Assam State Public Health Laboratory report which said that seven items of the Kangla Food products are safe for health, the Manipur Pollution Control Board, after inspecting its oven, has also declared that the factory is not hazardous to environment. At present, the Kangla Food is producing 22 different items. Out of these, the most popular seven items were sent for laboratory test, Birendra said. Full Story: Indians freed from Myanmar: Four Indians who have been imprisoned in Myanmar for a long time were freed on Sunday and handed over to Moreh police station. They have been brought to Imphal. The four Indian prisoners who were freed are identified as Lal Bahadur (35) s/o Anil Bahadur of Murshida...

Myanmar, India to step up vigil: Imphal: India and Myanmar on Friday agreed to step up vigil along the international border to curb cross-border smuggling of narcotic substances and help each other in dismantling drug factories. An official source said field officials of the two countries met at Moreh on Friday. The meeting focused on the problems of cross-border drug smuggling and measures to tackle the problem through co-operation. “The meeting agreed to step up vigil along the border and also share information on drug smuggling activities. We also agreed to help locate drug refineries and dismantle them,” the source said. The Myanmarese delegation was led by Lt Col Aung Ten, political in-charge of Tamu district. The Indian delegation was headed by superintendent of police, narcotic and border affairs, Manipur. Senior officials of the Assam Rifles, Narcotic Control Bureau and state police were present at the meeting, held at the office of the Customs Preventive Force. The meeting al...

Bullet in beer smuggler's leg: Imphal, Dec 29: As a follow up action to setting ablaze a truck laden with smuggled can-beer at Thoubal on December 25, the owner of the truck, who surrendered to the proscribed outfit RPF, was paraded before mediapersons somewhere in Senapati district on Saturday before punishing him with a bullet on his left calf. Along with having found out that the can-beer were smuggled in from Myanmar, the details of the cash amount and other gifts allegedly given to police personnel and AR posts for giving safe passage to the smuggled goods have come to light. Parading the truck owner identified as Thounaojam Inao alias Dhananjoy (35) s/o Thounaojam Budhi of Khongjom Papal, a spokesperson of department of communication and publicity of the proscribed outfit informed that Inao would be shot on his leg as punishment for defying the prohibition on foreign liquor and drug trafficking imposed by RPF with the support of the people since 1990. Inao was found with a bu...

RPF destroys beer consignment: Imphal, Dec 26: A consignment of canned beer, brought in from Myanmar, was seized and later destroyed by activists of the underground RPF/PLA on Tuesday, a spokesperson of the group informed reporters. The consignment, consisting of altogether 28,800 cans of beer, packed in 200 bags were seized from a Tata truck, bearing registration number MN-05-3794 at Samaram Laikon this morning at around 7 am while being brought in from Moreh, the spokesperson informed. The "contraband" items, of a total value of Rs 12,96,000 belong to one Inao from Khongjom Patpal, while the owner of the vehicle is one Chwodra Bahadur from Chingmeirong Khongnang Karak. The truck was being driver by one Tekcham Sanjoy, of Khongjom Tekcham Mamang Leikai. The spokesperson further stated that the truck along with the seized contraband would be destroyed by setting on fire, while the owner of the goods, Inao, must surrender to the party within five days, or else face dire conseq...

Kaladan deal awaits Myanmar seal: Silchar, Dec. 26: India is eagerly waiting for Myanmar’s foreign minister U Nyan Win’s New Year visit to Delhi for finalising the 00-million dollar Kaladan multi-model link project. The project envisages building of roads and waterway links to ensure the landlocked states’ easy accessibility to the Bay of Bengal through Myanmar. The detailed report of the infrastructure development project was discussed at a meeting at the Prime Minister’s office in January this year. The project had already been granted financial approval by New Delhi and Yangon, said senior officials of the border trade department of the Mizoram government in Aizawl. Sources pointed out that the alternative road, river and sea access via Myanmar’s southwestern flank had been extensively surveyed over the past six years by engineers of the two countries. The cabinet is likely to give a final nod to augmentation of the project once Win lands in India. Dhaka’s vacillation on providing t...

Rio wants Myanmar to recognize NSCN (K) Guwahati, Dec 20: The Nagaland Government wants that the Mynamarese Junta recognize the NSCN (K) group of militants holed up in that country for early resolution of the Naga peace process. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said he had raised the matter with the External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukharjee. “I am going to write to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to pressurize the military junta to recognize the NSCN (K) in their side of the border so that we can push forward the case,” he said. The NSCN(K) or Khaplang faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) has been largely based at Myanmar since they had split up with the Issac-Muivah faction of the NSCN. As the peace process has entered a crucial stage with the Centre, there were efforts to cover all the Nagas under the possible solution. However, it is not so easy as the political boundary of India and Myanmar have separated many...

Manipur 2nd most conflict ridden state in NE: Imphal, Dec 11: With 361 deaths till November 30, Manipur remains the second most conflict ridden state in the northeast, behind Assam with 388 fatalities, says a report of the South Asia intelligence review (SAIR). With a month to go before the end of 2007 the figure of fatalities has already surpassed the 311 militancy-related fatalities that occurred in Manipur in 2006. While fatalities among the militants in 2007 have remained more or less comparable to the previous year, it has certainly worsened among the civilians and the security forces. According to the currently available data, civilian deaths have already increased by over 42 per cent and those of security forces by 39 percent. According to a report of the Institute of Conflict Management, ministry of home affairs, during the year 2007 upto November 30, out of the 361 deaths, 137 were civilians, 39 were security men while 185 were militants of different outfits. During 2006, the ...

Lords to listen Naga issue on Human Rights Day: Imphal, Dec 9: Secretary General of the Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) Dr Neivetso Venuh will be highlighting the Naga issue at United Kingdom's House of Lords, London commemorating the International Human Rights Day on December 10. A copy of his speech to be delivered on the ocassion which was made available to NNN said, "Nagas are indigenous peoples, belonging to the Tibeto-Burman stock with an approximate 4 million in population and live along the tri-junction of Burma (Myanmar), China, and India. From time immemorial, they inhabit the land lying approximately between 92.5 E and 97.5 E longitudes and 23.5 N and 28.5 N latitudes, measuring about 1,20,000 sq kilometers". Dr N Venuh's speech mentions that in 1832, Captains Francis Jenkins and RB Pemberton, entered the Naga country and led numerous "punitive" expeditions against the Nagas for their resistance which led to open confrontation ...