MANIPUR TODAY

Thursday, 17 March 2011

Plebiscite

CM pulls a rabbit out of the hat with ‘good sign’ on plebiscite Ibobi hums a different tune on plebiscite

IMPHAL, Mar 16: Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh, who is also in charge of Home, has described the proposal of UNLF for hol-ding a plebiscite to resolve the the Indo-Manipur conflict as a good sign in the State Assembly today.

Taking part in the discussion on passing the Budget Estimates, 2011-12, Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh observed that for resolving the present armed conflict in Manipur, it is essential to start political talks. Since peace and development can come about after resolution of the issue through talks, the proposal of UNLF for holding plebiscite is a good sign.

However, keeping all the weapons of the UG group in the custody of UN and involvement of a third party in holding the plebiscite is a serious matter. So, it is very difficult to yes. Still, there has to be a beginning and the proposal for plebiscite is a good sign, the Chief Minister opined.

Stating that the ongoing peace talks between NSCN (IM) and Government of India is welcome, the Chief Minister further said that pressures are being exerted on the Government of India to work out a model which will be a permanent solution that would restore peace in the North East region through the ongoing peace talks.

In connection with Suspension of Operation (SoO), the Chief Minister informed the House that the Joint Monitoring Group has strictly warned all the signatories UG groups against violating the ground rules. The case over the fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3 to 4 crores from a bank in Churachandpur has been resolved after the Joint Monitoring Group warned that the monthly remuneration would be stopped if the involved cadres were not handed over to the police or the Army.

If there is any similar complaint over violation of ground rules in future, the matter would be taken up with the Joint Monitoring Group for necessary action, the Chief Minister assured.

On resource mobilisation, the Chief Minister said that there has been an increase of 60 percent in the resources of the State after Value Added Tax came into force. The need for check post and deployment of security at Hengbung in Senapati district has been addressed and similar check posts have been made operational at Pallel and Jiribam. Collection of taxes to the tune of Rs 300 crores from private power consumers is pending. As for recovering the outstanding due from defaulting Government Departments, steps have been taken up for deducting the amount from their respective plan allocation if the Departments concerned fail to clear the due by March 31.

Moreover, the Cabinet has taken a decision to increase the collection of taxes from Motor Vehicles at the rate of Rs 20 crores annually, the Chief Minister informed the House, adding that though there would not be any significant increase in tax in case of buses, steps are on to impose more taxes on luxury and high end cars.

Participating in the discussion, Opposition leader Radhabinod Koijam observed that the proposal for holding plebiscite should be regarded as a mooring toward democracy in due consideration of the need for ushering in peace and harmony through resolution of the existing armed conflict, which is political in nature.

MLA Morung Makunga pointed out that the proposal for plebiscite had been placed long ago and demanded to know what is holding back the State Government from taking up the matter with the Government of India for consultation to see whether it is acceptable or not.

He also pointed out that Naga peace talks has been going on for more than 10 years and it is high time to bring about a solution.

Furthermore, MLA Makunga, while lauding signing of Suspension of Operation (SoO), lamented that despite enforcement of SoO, Kuki UG groups are respecting the ground rules.

Abduction on ransom demand still continues. The key of a bull dozer has been taken away on the ground of not paying Rs 5 lakh and Rs 20 is being imposed on every cement bag taken to Chandel, the MLA complained.

MLA O Joy and Dr Ng Bijoy of MPP also participated in the discussion.

Monday, 14 March 2011

LAND OF BAND,BLOCKADE,GENERAL STRIKE

After the lull, comes the proverbial storm, ATSUM stirs again 48 Hrs bandh, 5 day eco-blockade called

Imphal, March 14: Miffed with the “lackadaisical attitude” of the State Government on its demands, the influential All Tribal Students’ Union Manipur (ATSUM) has intensified its on-and-off agitation by resorting to a series of agitation with a 48-hour total bandh in all the tribal areas in Manipur from midnight of March 21 and a 5-day (extendable indefi-nitely) economic blockade from midnight of March 23 on both National and State highways.

The 3-point resolution was arrived at in a ‘presidential council’ meeting convened today at its office. The meeting discussed and vetted the “unfinished agenda and demands placed before the State Government”. “Due to the lackadaisical attitude of the State Government of Manipur over the rightful and justified demands of the tribal peoples, the following (3-point) decisions are adopted unanimously,” said ATSUM president Thomas Taishya and Apao Haokip.

The 3-point resolutions adopted are: first, the enforcement of closure of Government institutions in all the hill districts of Manipur which was suspended following the holding of Cultural Exchange Program recently will recommence with more vigor from today.

Second, a resolution has been adopted for the execution of 48-hour total bandh in all the tribal areas (both plain and hills) with effect from midnight March 21 till midnight March 23 next.

Third, a 5-day economic blockade will be imposed on all National and State highways of the State from midnight March 23 till midnight March 28 next which is extendable indefinitely if the demands of the tribal students’ body are not met by this time. ATSUM has been demanding rectification on issues like inadvertent evading of the Rules of the Manipur Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Service (for SC and ST) Act, 2007 and its objection to 200 point roster as against the earlier 100 points.

Extension of the service of contract basis teachers in the hill districts for one academic year, discrimination of STs in the promotion of Leading Firemen, the issue of Chief Engineer in PHED,etc. It has also been demanding the revocation of the State Cabinet decision to post senior Manipur Civil Service officer as Executive Director of DRDA without due

Irom Chanu Sharmila

"Menghaobi" Irom Sharmila Chanu (born March 14, 1972), also known as the Iron Lady of Manipur, is a civil rights activist, political activist, journalist and poet from the Indian state of Manipur. Since November 4, 2000, she's been on a political fast demanding the Government of India to withdraw the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, also otherwise known as AFSPA, from Manipur and other areas of India's north east.

Since it began in 2000, Irom Sharmila Chanu's fast is unparalleled in the history of political protest.

On November 1, 2000, in Malom, a town in the Imphal Valley of Manipur, ten people waiting for their buses at a bus station were allegedly gunned down by the Assam Rifles, one of the Indian Paramilitary forces operating in the state. Insurgents had attempted to bomb the paramilitary convoy, and the Assam Rifles claimed that the civilians died in cross-firing. Eyewitness accounts of the local people however contradiced this claim. The incident, which later came to be known as the . The next day's local newspapers published brutal pictures of the dead bodies, including one of a 62-year old woman, Leisangbam Ibetomi, and 18-year old Sinam Chandramani, a 1988 National Child Bravery Award winner.

The lack of government response convinced Irom Sharmila Chanu, then 28, to act. On the evening of November 4, after taking blessings from her mother, she launched her hunger strike against the wider problems of the AFSPA.In due course, she extended the scope of her demand to all regions of India's north east where AFSPA's been imposed.

On 6 November 2000, three days after she launched the strike, she was arrested by the police and charged with an "attempt to commit suicide", which is unlawful under section 309 of the Indian Penal Code, and was later transferred to judicial custody. With her determination not to take food nor water, her health deteriorated tremendously; the police then forcibly had to use nasogastric intubation in order to keep her alive while under arrest. Since then Irom Sharmila has been under a ritual of release and arrest every year since under IPC section 309, a person who "attempt to commit suicide" is punishable "with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year[or with fine, or with both]"

Many people in Manipur and elsewhere attribute the present conflict in Manipur to the state of India's militaristic policies in the state, especially AFSPA. Though this cannot be determined, the outcome and the consequences of the Act has more than proven this belief. In the three decades since AFSPA was enacted in Manipur in 1980, and more than five decades since it was legislated to combat theNaga movement in 1958, violence and insurgency have grown manifold in Manipur. It has only contributed to the rise of more and more insurgent outfits in the region. But more importantly, it has almost destroyed the lives of a generation of Manipuri people by snatching away their freedom and creativity, taking away prosperity and growth of their society. Manipur now lives in shambles, in all aspects.

Sharmila was nominated to the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize by a Guwahati-based women's organisation, the North East Network. Sharmila was nominated for her passionate desire for social reform and her work on the issues of women's empowerment, peace and human rights, using non-violent methods. Today she represents the voice of the thousands of voiceless people who are still braving the misuse of the "draconian law" in a state where the government's policy has been missing the very people it tries to protect.

She was recently awarded the Gwangju prize for Human Rights, 2007 on May 18, 2007. The award was instituted by the Gwangju Asian Human Rights Folk School, which is a South Korean human rights body. Sharmila’s brother, Irom Singhajit received the award on Sharmila’s behalf. On receiving the award Sharmila said that she is “somehow happy. But it is not really my desire to bag award. My struggle is not for the sake of fame or award.”

On 1 March 2010 Science and Rationalists' Association of India and Humanist Association demanded that Irom Sharmila Chanu again be nominated for 2010 Nobel Peace Prize as her hunger strike for the sake of peace will cross the 10 years mark on 4 November 2010.