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...

Imphal, June 20 : Even though the spreading of HIV/AIDS in the valley area has been able to control, the same is continuing in the three hill districts bordering with Myanamar, Churachnadpur, Chandel and Ukhrul, said project director of Manipur AIDS Control Society, Dr Kh Promodkumar today. The project director observed this while speaking as guest of honour at the concluding function of the two-month entrepreneurship development programme for people living with HIV/AIDS organized by the Institute of Co-operative Management (ICM) under the sponsorship of the MACS and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Co-operative commissioner, P Vaiphei attended the function as chief guest in the function which was presided by ICM chairman Kh Borkishore. Promodkumar said, the spreading of the dreaded disease in the three districts of Manipur, Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul located along the 358 km long porous international border with Myanmar is on the raise citing the main spreading agen...

Imphal, June 19 : The one day public consultative programme to maintain peace and tranquillity in Ukhrul district organised by Tangkhul civil organisations at Rashing hall yesterday has resolved to demand immediate withdrawal of IRB and commandos from Ukhrul. A joint press release issued by Tangkhul Naga Long, Tangkhul Katamnao Shaklong, Tangkhul Mayar Ngala Long and Tangkhul Shannao Long asked as to what prompted the Government to deploy IRB and commandos in Ukhrul district when there is allegedly no law and order problem. The consultative meet demanded revocation of disturbed area status from Naga areas of Manipur and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act as well. It resolved to participate and support the vexed Indo-Naga peace process. The Tangkhul civil organisations also conveyed deep concern over the establishment of designated camps by the State Government harbouring thousands of Kuki armed cadres in Naga areas, particularly at strategic sites and national highways. After three ...

General strike partially disturbs normal life: Imphal, May 14: Normal life in the state was partially disturbed today due to the statewide general strike called by the Manipur Forward Youth Front, MAFYF demanding release of its president Sapamcha Kangleipal who was re-arrested and detained under the National Security Act, NSA yesterday. In the meantime, after the torching of an oil tanker (MN01-6469) carrying kerosene oil by some suspected supporters of the ongoing ATSUM economic blockade at Lairouching along the NH-39 in Senapati yesterday at around 3 pm, snatching of registration books and other vehicular documents also continued on the highway. The 24-hour general strike commenced from last midnight and ended at midnight tonight. During the general strike hours there were no reports of any untoward incidents. Mention may be made that the MAFYF president, Kangleipal was released yesterday after sedition charges leveled against him were dropped by the court, but the police re-arrested...

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

Moirang and Shishak's INA flag: It is hard to find a Bengali who has not heard of or read about the legendary Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose. Many of them also know of the existence of a well-kept memorial to the Indian National Army at Moirang in the picturesque Loktak Lake area, 32 km from Imphal town, but have not visited it. It is built on the site where, on 4 April 1944, Netaji hoisted the INA flag on Indian soil for the first time (Meitei insurgents assert Manipur was never part of India and still is not). A contributor to Imphal Free Press, Waikhom Shana, reported last week that an INA flag, made of khadi and with an emblem of a springing tiger and which was hoisted for the first time on Indian territory, “is still in good shape and is in the custody of YA Shishak of Sangshak” in Manipur’s Ukhrul district. Now in his 70s, Shishak told Waikhom that he had worked for the Maratha Infantry as well as for the Japanese as a peon and that he had also been taken to Japan twice. INA men ...

Villages to Ukhrul: Only 20 km but cut off Khangkhui (Ukhrul), May 4: Come the rainy season Veikhang area of Ukhrul district which is just 20 kms away from the district headquarters will be disconnected from the rest of the State. Thanks to the the apathy of the State Government, the road connecting the said area to the district headquarters has not yet received even the first round of shingling, making it virtually impossible for any vehicle to reach this area, during Monsoon, which is home to the famous 'Khangkhui Caves'. To the uninitiated, Veikhang area consists of five villages, Choither, Khangkhui Khunou, Khangkhui Khullen, Nungshong Khunou and Nungshong Khullen having a population of around 4500. Veikhang Katamnao Long president Wungnaosho Kasar told The Sangai Express that taxi services are available only upto Choither, while the rest of the villages can be reached only on foot. That is why, Wungnaosho added, visitors are not able to reach Khangkhui Caves, which is a tr...

Found stored in a box at Ukhrul: Imphal, Apr 27: The INA flag which was hoisted for the first time in Indian territory is still existing in good shape.The flag is in the custody of YA Shishak of Shangshak in Ukhrul district, who witnessed the Indo-Japanese war at Shangshak. He also served as a peon in both the Maratha Infantry and Japanese Army in diffetent periods of time. The tricolour flag is made of Khadi and has a tiger printed on it. YA Shishak says the flag was the first INA flag which was hoisted first in Ukhrul by the INA. The INA complex built at Moirang was supposed to be made in Ukhrul but the late ex-chief minister Koireng build it at Moirang, he said. YA Shishak was in Class III when the Indo-Japanese war took place at Shangshak. The Maratha Infantry took him in their ranks as a peon. After some time he was caught by the Japanese Army who again made him work as a peon for them. He was taken to Tokyo twice by the Japanese, he said. YA Shishak is now living near Shangshak w...

Cross border arms smuggling in Manipur discussed: Imphal: Giving details of the cross border arms smuggling and other cross border activities of the insurgents operating in Manipur like the existence of training camps, hideouts and transit routes in Myanmar, the Manipur government has hinted at coordinated joint operations by the Myanmar army and Indian security forces, as decided during a home secretary level talks between Myanmar and India. Yunan province of China is the main originating point of the arms and ammunition found in Manipur and the main routes used for transporting it are Thai-Myanmar border through Kachin state and Kalemyo-Tamu in Myanmar and then onwards to Ukhrul district. Arms and ammunition are also being smuggled into Manipur through various routes, such as via Kasom Khullen, Moreh, New Somtal, Behiang etc. said the agenda note for Indo-Myanmar border management which was placed before the home secretary level talks between India and Myanmar at New Delhi in the mon...

Women killed in New Samtal blast: In a tragic incident, three women were killed when a bomb exploded while they were working under the NREGS programme at New Samtal area in Chandel district at about 12 noon on Monday. The incident took place while the women were clearing the road. The three victims have been identified as Lhingkhonem (45), Hoikim Guite (45) and Paumeng Haokip (43). Many others were injured in the bomb blast. Nurses retract: Following the assurance given by the Health and Family Welfare Minister to consider at least some of the demands of the striking nurses after the end of the ongoing Assembly session, Nurses Association of Manipur has called off its cease work strike with effect from Monday. The decision to call off the cease work strike was taken after a serious deliberation on the assurance of the Health Minister during an emergency meeting of the general body of the Association, its general secretary N Memchoubi Devi informed. The cease work strike would remain su...

Relief delay prompts stir threat: Imphal, Feb 2: Setting February 5 deadline for payment of the promised rehabilitation package to families in the five hill districts of Manipur affected by the ethnic violence of the Kuki-Naga, Kuki-Zoumi and Kuki-Paite clashes, the Communal Victims' Relief and Resettlement Association has cautioned the State Government to do the needful failing which intense agitation would be launched. Speaking to newspersons at the Manipur Press Club on Saturday, Association president Ajang Khongsai informed that Ministry of Home Affairs had on June 2006 released over Rs 8 crores to mitigate financial hardships besetting those families who lost their members during the Kuki-Naga ethnic clash in the early part of 1990s. After the NSCN (IM) served quit notices to Kuki villages in 1991 bloody clashes broke out from June, 1992 affecting 8800 Kuki families scattered in the five hill districts of Churachandpur, Chandel, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Senapati, for whom the Ce...

AJFMC alleges disparity in fund allotment: Imphal, Jan 31: The All Joint Forest Management Committee (AJFMC), Tamenglong district, has alleged the existence of imbalance in the allotment of funds under the Central Government's National Bamboo Mission (NBM) in the hill districts of Manipur and urged the concerned Department to take up remedial measures. The AJFMC has alleged that under the NBM, which is implemented through the State Forest Department agency (FDA), there is disparity in the allotment of schemes hectare wise. It pointed out that, out of the total 4000 hectares targeted in the whole State, only 500 hectares have been allotted to the western Tamenglong division though it is considered as the only 'bamboo district' among all hill districts of the State. Out of the 4000 hectares targeted area, 600 hectares have been allotted to the eastern Ukhrul Forest division where no traces of bamboo are seen, it alleged. As per the FDA allotment, the northern Kangpokpi divisi...

State braves boycott, drizzle to celebrate R-Day: Imphal: Boycott call by insurgent outfits and the chill generated by the January rain failed to dampen the spirit of the country's 59th Republic Day celebration as an impressive crowd thronged Kangla Fort to witness the riot of colour on Saturday. The celebration culminated with the Beating of the Retreat programme at 1st Manipur Rifles ground on Sunday afternoon with Governor Dr SS Sidhu gracing the occasion as the chief guest. Prizes to position winning march past contingents, cultural troupes and schools were also distributed by the Governor. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh took the salute from the march past contingents, which official report put at 64 security forces, NCC and schools, and 14 cultural troupes apart from taleaux of nine departments highlighting acheivements and policy/programme of the Government. Soon after arrival for the function a contingent of Manipur Women Police under the command of Miss Puspanjali (IPS) a...

'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...

Two businessmen, van driver abducted near Maram: Imphal, Jan 7: Three persons, including two local businessmen and a van driver have been missing since they were abducted by unknown gunmen on January 5 near Maram along NH-39 in Senapati district. The abducted persons are identified as P Rajendro, 40, of Chingmeirong, one Tomba from Hatta, and driver Elam Priyo, 41, of Keishamthong Hodam Leirak. According to official sources, the three were reportedly abducted by armed miscreants along with the van they were riding in on January 5 evening near Maram while travelling to Dimapur. The white colour Maruta van, registration no. MN01/K-9633, which the three had been riding in was found abandoned at a deserted spot in between Changoubung and Kangpokpi on Sunday afternoon. It was recovered by the Kangpokpi police, and is currently being kept at the Kangpokpi police station. It is suspected that their abduction was for purposes of collecting ransom, and a case has been registered by the Kangpokp...

Protest lined up: Imphal, Jan 7: A people's convention held here under the aegis of Delimitation Watch Manipur decided to observe a day of protest on January 10 to send out a loud and clear message to all authorities including the Government of India and the Delimitation Commission of India that the people of Manipur would not accept delimitation of the existing Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies based on the 'fictitious' census report of 2001. After a detailed deliberation on the issue, the convention held with Heikrujam Nabashyam, Naorem Dinachandra Singh and Ng Jugeswor as presidium members came to the conclusion that the census authority had flouted all norms while taking the census report of 2001 in Manipur and published a highly erroneous census data. The convention noted that in the districts of Senapati, Chandel and Ukhrul, the population figure has been recorded unbelievably high to the extent of doubling the actual figure whereas in the four districts of Im...

2007 -- A year of new twist: Imphal, Jan 3: The calendar year 2007 ended and issues relating to HIV and AIDS surfaced every now and then throughout the year, touching the consciousness of the people. Going by the figures, this year there were 2528 new HIV positive cases reported and 177 AIDS cases and 21 deaths. This is based on the epidemiological analysis report published monthly by Manipur State AIDS Control Society. Though the report is to be published monthly, the latest report published by MSACS for the year 2007 is till the month of October. From September 1986 to January 2007 out of 1,86,095 blood samples screened, altogether 25,433 positive samples were found. The rest are males with only 5,892 female blood samples. Out of this, 3,977 people developed AIDS and 578 died. In the September 1986 to October 2007 report, out of 2,21,119 blood samples screened, the number of positive samples were 27,961 with the number of female rising to 7,106 and AIDS cases reaching 4,154. There we...

Scribe assaulted: Acting president of All Jiribam Working Journalists Union N Priyobrata was severely assaulted by one Mutum Dilip Singh, son of Babatombi Singh of Babapara, near rail crossing on the night of December 29 last. Blaming that no action has been taken despite a complaint on the incident was lodged to the Jiribam police station, the Union has requested the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union for necessary action. According to a statement of the AJWJU, Jiribam, its acting president was beaten up on his way home without any reason and suffered severe injuries at left eye, face and other parts of the body. KCP executes ex-cadre: Deputy Commander of KCP (MTF) Capt Kesho has informed that an ex-cadre of the outfit, identified as Santosh Sharma of Tentha Khabam, has been awarded capital punishment at an adjoining place of Mayang Imphal-Uchiwa at around 8.10 pm on Monday for allegedly swindling party fund. Capt Kesho informed that in 2006, Santosh was punished for his involveme...

Manipuri student dies in Delhi: A Manipuri student doing his degree course in Delhi University identified as Mesak Sinate (22) s/o Damhau Sinate of Reng-kai, Churachandpur died after falling down from the second floor of a building at Lajpat Nagar, Delhi in the evening of December 25. Five militants nabbed: Five militants, belonging to three separate organizations, were nabbed during the past 24 hours in three different incidents in Manipur. Police said one militant was apprehended by Manipur Police and 39 Assam Rifles (AR) troops and Rs 70,000 was recovered from his possession. Imphal West commandos nabbed three people, suspected to be Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) cadres. In another incident, AR troops nabbed a People’s United Liberation Front (PULF) cadre and handed him over to the police on Wednesday. Source: United News of India (UNI) Another Story: Whip cracked against illegal hoardings: Acting on the instruction of the Union Ministry of Road Transport (Highway), Public Works ...

Fact finding team furnishes details: Imphal, Dec 20: The Fact Finding Committee constituted to probe the facts and circumstances behind the assassination of 10 KLA cadres by NSCN (IM) men at Tangkhul Hundung village in Ukhrul district on September 3 this year has submitted its report to the president of the Kuki Inpi, Manipur, for restoration of peace and justice. The fact finding exercise was jointly conducted by the Kuki Inpi Sadar Hills, Kuki Women Union, Kuki Movement for Human Rights and Kuki Students’ Organisation, General Headquarters. The fact finding team said that after recording the statements of many people, “The Commission is convinced that the incident is (sic) a preplanned attack carried out in broad daylight at Tangkhul Hundung village football playground.” A copy of the report submitted by the fact finding team which was made available to the press on Thursday said that the NSCN (IM) with its camp at Shingkap, KRA, at Saikul in Sadar Hills and the KLA at Bonjang villag...