IMPHAL, Aug 29: A book titled, Chin, Kuki, Zo Genesis and Exodus was released along with a short film on Senlung cave expedition in a function held at Kuki Inn today.
The book is authored by Dr Joseph Suantak.
ADC Chandel Chairman Lhukhosei Zou was the chief guest of the function.
Tribal Affairs and Hills Director C Hangshing, MU Professors Lal Dena and KK Das and Tribal Research Institute former Director Dr H Kamkhenthang were also present at the occasion.
GS Gangte reviewed the book.
In another occasion, a book titled Henjunaha - Lairoulembi was released in a simple function held at Manipur Hindi Parishad today.
MLA T Mangibabu Singh and Manipur Literary Society president Sh Prahlad Sharma were present in the releasing function as chief guest and president respectively.
DM College of Arts Reader Dr Sagolsem Lanchenba Meetei reviewed the book. The book is authored by Daryl Thanga (Laishram Biramangol).
Source: TSE
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Chin Kuki Zo book released
IMPHAL, Aug 29: A Book titled Chin+Kuki+Zo Genesis and Exodus published by Akansha publishing House, New Delhi and written by Dr Joseph Suantak was released today at Kuki Inn, Imphal.
The book release program was organized by Kuki Research Forum India, Myanmar & Bangladesh.
As part of the program a booklet and CD about a Senlung Cave Expedition was released by the team leader of the expedition Dr Helkhomang Touthang at the same venue.
The programme was attended by ADC & DRDA Chandel Chairman Lhukhosei Zou as chief guest, TA&H Director, Lunminthang Haokip and DRDA Executive Director and Addl Deputy Commissioner CCPur C Hangshing as the guests of honour.
The functional president was Prof Lal Dena Dept of History, Manipur University.
Source: IFP
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Oil Exploration: CPNRM dares Govt threat
Imphal, August 29 2012: The Committee on Protection of Natural Resources in Manipur (CPNRM) has contended that the three public hearings organized by Manipur Pollution Control Board, Government of Manipur at Jiribam, Parbung and Nungba Town on July 30, August 8 and August 17 respectively for petroleum exploration, drilling and allied activities in Jiribam, Churachandpur and Tamenglong were complete failure as the indigenous communities to be affected by Petroleum Exploration in Manipur expressed strong objections to petroleum exploration and drilling by Jubiliant Oil and Gas Private Limited, (JOGPL) a company based in Netherlands.
In a statement, CPNRM conveyed its gratitude to all communities for expressing their voices against petroleum exploration in Manipur and reiterated its condemnation over the efforts of the Government of Manipur and its Police Department for filing First Information Report (FIR) against the communities for protesting against the public hearing held at Nungba on August 17 .
"There are serious violations and immense points of condemnations in inviting communities for environmental Public Hearing and later threatening them with arbitrary arrest and detention for expressing their rightful opinions.
The filing of FIR only indicates that the Government of India, Govt of Manipur and the profit mongering JOGPL only insists on undemocratic and militaristic forms of development.
Introduction of forcible means of development and relying on police and military to subdue the peoples voice will only infuriate the communities to resort to all means of possibilities to defend their land and resources and to stop all petroleum exploration", CPNRM said in a statement signed by its Convenor Pamei Tingenlung.
As the communities fully expressed their opposition to the public hearings against Oil Exploration and drilling and allied activities in Manipur, the Government and Jubilant Energy should respect the wishes, sentiments and desire of the people to protect and defend their land for their present and coming generations and immediately halt all process for oil exploration and drilling and allied activities in Manipur, the statement demanded.
The Government of Manipur, JOGPL and the Government of India should abide by the official written declaration at the Nungba Public Hearing to cancel public hearing future public hearing on petroleum exploration for block 1& 2 once and for all in Manipur, the statement said.
The Committee also reiterated its opposition to signing of Production Sharing Contracts, Petroleum Exploration License Agreements between the Government of India, JOGPL and the Government of Manipur in 2010 without the knowledge and consent of indigenous peoples of Manipur.
CPNRM will oppose any move of the Government to sell any resources and land of Manipur to any profit mongering groups, the statement made it clear, adding that CPNRM would like to call upon the Government of India, Government of Manipur and the Jubiliant Energy to Stop all Oil and Gas Exploration, Drilling and allied activities in Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Jiribam in Manipur and also to Immediately withdraw the FIR and other cases lodged against communities attending the Nungba Public Hearing on 17th August 2012, failing which will invite stern mass communities actions from all communities for which the government of Manipur and India will be solely held responsible for any untoward incidents.
Source: Hueiyen News Service
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CCDD concerned over Tipaimukh group
IMPHAL, August 29: The Citizens Concern for Dams and Development (CCDD) have expressed serious concern over the formation of a Sub Group between the Indian and the Bangladeshi governments for conducting joint surveys to assess the issues of Tipaimukh Dam and to facilitate an early construction of the proposed 1500 MW mega dam over Barak River at Tipaimukh village in Manipur.
According to a statement of the CCDD, “More concerning is the fact that the Sub Group had finalized a Term of Reference (TOR) for assessment of the dam issues on August 28, at New Delhi, where each country is envisaged for assessments in their respective sides”.
The statement further reiterated that the CCDD would like to outline clearly that any decision on the dam construction cannot be bilaterally decided only by India and Bangladesh as the land, rivers, forests and all resources in Manipur belong to all indigenous peoples of Manipur.
It is the rightful rights of the indigenous peoples of the state to participate and be involved in all decision making processes affecting their land, rights and survival is mandatory and is their undeniable rights.
It has further expressed that the government of India is yet to conduct a holistic impact assessment of the proposed dam in Manipur and that the EIA and EMP prepared for proposed Tipaimukh Dam has been criticized widely for misinformation and undermining the rich biodiversity, natural and cultural heritage of Manipur and other social, cultural impacts etc.
The state further lamented that the formation of the sub group between the two countries also excluded the indigenous communities to be affected by the Tipaimukh dam, constituting a complete disregard of the long standing demands of the indigenous peoples to respect their rights over their land and resources and to stop Tipaimukh Dam construction processes without their free, prior and informed consent.
“The UN Committee on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination (UNCERD) had urged upon the Government of India in 2007 and in September 2011 to respect the right to free, prior and informed consent of indigenous peoples before Tipaimukh Dam construction”, it said before adding that the Sub Group formation without the indigenous communities is disregarding this recommendation from the UN.
Indigenous Peoples of Manipur cannot accept any secretive and compromise deals between the Government of India and Bangladesh for Tipaimukh Dam construction, it continued.
“All affected peoples along Barak River should be rightfully involved in all decision making process on the proposed dam with due recognition of their inherent rights. Till then, the MOU signed between the Government of Manipur, the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, the Satluj Jal Vidyut Nigam Limited should be revoked”, the statement continued.
Further, the Environmental Clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF) of the Government of India should be revoked as affected peoples opposed all the five public hearings and to construction of Tipaimukh Dam, it said.
“Given the extensive forest areas to be submerged to the tune of more than 300 square kilometres of forest areas, and to fell more than Eighty Lakhs trees and subsequent multidimensional impacts, all processes for granting forest clearance should be suspended immediately.”
The recommendations of the World Commission on Dams, UNCERD and the provisions of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which recognizes indigenous peoples inherent rights over their land and resources should be fully adhered to in its entirely, the statement concluded.
Source: IFP
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Yangon cracks down on NE rebel camps
NEW DELHI, Aug 28 : As a result of regular National Level and Sectoral Level Meetings and follow-up of deliberations of NLM and SLM, Myanmar authorities have shown willingness to act against these militant groups and have started some operations against IIGs in Myanmar in recent times.
This was stated by Shri Mullappally Ramachandran, Minister of State of Home Affairs in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today, informed PIB press release.
There are reports that Indian Insurgent Groups (IIGs) have been using Myanmar territory for safe sanctuary. Manipur based Meiti insurgent groups like People’s Liberation Army (PLA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF), People’s Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK); Naga insurgent group like National Socialist Council of Nagaland/ Khaplang (NSCN/K) and United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) Anti-talk faction and National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) have their camps / hideouts in Myanmar Naga Hills (MNH).
The presence of IIGs in Myanmar has been the single most important security issue for India at every bilateral negotiations, i.e. National Level Meeting (NLM) at Home Secretary Level and Sectoral Level Meeting (SLM) at Joint Secretary Level held every year in pursuance of 1994 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar. Myanmar has always been assuring India that they will not allow their soil to be used by IIGs to carry out activities inimical to India. IIGs continue to use Myanmar territory notwithstanding Myanmar’s repeated assurances not to allow its territory for activities inimical to India.
In the recently held NLM between India and Myanmar at Nay Pyi Taw (Myanmar) in January, 2012 and SLM held at Kolkata in June 2012, the issue of continued presence of IIG groups in Myanmar was raised again and it has been assured by Myanmar to co-operate to address the Indian concerns.
Source: TSE
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