Northeast Platform

MOTIHARI/IMPHAL, DECEMBER 1 (AGENCIES): The mystery surrounding the whereabouts of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) chairman Rajkumar Meghen, who went missing after being reportedly caught in Bangladesh about two months ago, was over finally when he was arrested at Motihari in Bihar on Tuesday. A Manipur-based banned outfit, UNLF is the oldest militant group in the northeast. It has been fighting for Manipur’s separation from India. Meghen is a member of Manipur’s royal family of Manipur. He studied international relations in Kolkata’s Jadavpur University Meghen’s father Rajkumar Madhurayyajit was an army officer in the Allied Forces during the British rule and had founded SSB for Manipur and Nagaland in Imphal. Meghen’s elder brother was a pilot with the Indian Air Force. ‘’A joint police team from Manipur and Bihar arrested Meghen from near Chhatauni Chowk. Manipur Police AIG C P Mina identified the militant leader,’’ SP (East Champaran) Paras Nath said. Meghen had taken shel

            The Kohima Ao Officers Forum (Ao Officertem Telongjem) have condoled the demise of late Nungshizenba MLA who passed away on 29 th November 2010 at Delhi. In a condolence message, the forum expressed shock and sadness to hear of the demise of the respected leader and representative of the Aos in the highest people’s forum, Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Mr. Nungshizenba.             The Forum described late Mr. Nungshizenba as a leader in every sense of the word, having continuously been elected to the Legislative Assembly consecutively since 1987 and serving the people in various capacities for nearly three decades as an MLA and Minister of various departments.             Late Nungshizenba was a political leader who was in touch with the people at the grassroots and knew their problems, their aspirations and needs. He was a man who was in touch with his roots and was a storehouse of folklore, cultural and traditional knowledge. He was thus a whetstone for the younger gene

                The first ‘Naga Chilli Eating Competition’ will be held during the Hornbill Festival this year, which is on the 6 th of December (Monday), 2010 in the Heritage Village, Kisama at 12:30 PM. This event has been managed by XL Nagaland under the aegis of the Tourism Department, Government of Nagaland. The interesting feature of this event is that it has been decided to involve all the Tribal Hohos of Nagaland. This event has been organized with the sole objective of promoting the Naga Chilli, which has already received rave reviews around the globe. Further promotion through such an event will not only put Nagaland into the horticultural map of the world and help the local farmers, but also boost Eco-tourism in the state. With this objective in mind, all the respective Tribal Hohos are requested to send two participants each for the competition, along with one Tribal representative.             Registration of the participants will be held on the 5 th of December (Sunday)

            Hornbill Festival 2010 will be slightly different from the previous years. The festival will be more people and tourist oriented, Commissioner & Secretary Tourism, Himato Zhimomi IFS said this while speaking with media persons at a press conference on 30 th November 2010 at the Directorate of Tourism, Kohima.                 He said that as per feedbacks received from previous hornbill launching programmes this year there will be less of talking and more of cultural activities. In this regard the Commissioner & Secretary said that the Governor of Nagaland will be the Chief Host at the inaugural function, where he will be received by about 1000 Kigwema villagers in their traditional attires from the parking and escort him to the main arena. The Tribal Guest, Buwang Konyak, Angh of Hongphoi village, Mon will invoke the Hornbill Festival in the Naga traditional way. All this has been arranged in order to add more of Naga flavour in order to showcase Naga culture and

            Following is the full text of the Statehood Day message of His Excellency the Governor of Nagaland, Nikhil Kumar:             Namaskar,             ‘On this day, as we celebrate the 47 th anniversary of our Statehood, as our state of Nagaland was started on 1 st December 1963 as the 16 th state of the Indian Union, I have great pleasure in addressing you my dear brothers, sisters, young men and women, dear boys and girls of our beautiful state to offer you my greetings and my best wishes. I also pay my tribute to the founding fathers of our state for their vision, foresight and concern for the well being of our people that had led to the founding of our state. I am aware that there are areas in which our state is deficient, but I also know that these 47 years have been very fruitful since there have been commendable achievements in its governance and development.             Our state has been making steady progress in the social sector, education and health care parti

            The paragliding airshow event was held on 1 st December 2010 at Kisama on the Hornbill Festival inauguration day from the hill side of Mount Kisama Naga Heritage Village from above 2000 meters high performed by Nagaland Rajya Sainik Board which was organized by the Department of Youth Resources & Sports.             This is the first time that the Government of Nagaland has taken up the paragliding show event in the Hornbill Festival and the government initiative is to take up paragliding as an adventure sports in the state. Official sources has said that 16 (sixteen) participants from all over the state were selected to undergo a month training for intermediate training in paragliding. The officials further stated that this sport is also initiated for adventure seekers for both local and tourist. The paragliding show today was from the trainers who have come from Sikkim to demonstrate what our Naga boys and girls can present in the years to come.

The celebration of the Hornbill Festival ‘Festival of Festival’ has begun at Naga Heritage, Kisama on 1 st December 2010 and will continue till 7 th December 2010.   As part of the celebration, the North East Cultural Day will be observed at the Naga Heritage, Kisama on the second day i.e 2nd December 2010 at Naga Heritage, Kisama. The Cultural Day which will be taken up by NEZCC Dimapur. The highlights of the day’s cultural programme will include traditional games like rope-swing, archery, bamboo dance & games and wrestling at 10:00 a.m., folk fusion music at 2:00 p.m. and folk dances of eight North Eastern States at 3:00 p.m. Other highlights of the day’s programme includes ‘Shadow plays’ depicting Naga folklores at State Academy Hall, fashions of North East at Indira Gandhi Stadium from 5:00 p.m. onwards, which will be organized by the Music Task Force and Night carnivals.

As another feature of the celebration of the Hornbill Festival 2010 at Naga Heritage, Kisama, various cultural troupes also took part at the cultural programme on the first day of the celebration. The following cultural troupes performed during the Festival were as follows: Yimmongdong Cultural Club Chungtia Village (Ao) performed warrior dance; Chozuba Village Cultural Troupe (Chakhesang) performed Rhosi li; Mech Kachari Cultural Troupe (Kachari) performed Dalai-o Banani (Love song); Wannong Cultural Club Keangpang (Konyak) on Aoleang Hem Lokpu (Aoleang song); Kuki Cultural Troupe, Athibung (Kuki) - Saipi Khupsuh. Other cultural troupes including Lotsu Cultural Club (Lotha), Mangko cultural Troupe, Shiponger village (Yimchunger), Sangvi Cultural, Women Society (Sangtam), Akhegwo Cultural Troupe (Pochury), Kasha Village Cultural, Troupe (Rengma), Yehemi Cultural Society (Sumi), Renga Cultural Club, Ngwalwa (Zeliang), Alder Club, Khonoma (Angami), Waoshu Village dancing Society (Chang)

            ‘Mari’ a novel written by noted writer Easterine Kire was released by Kaisa Rio, Lady wife of the Nagaland Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio at the Angami Morung at Kisama during the first day of the Hornbill Festival on 1 st December 2010.             The novel tells a tale about the voices of the Naga people amidst the horrors of the war that overwhelmed their mountain top home in 1944 during the battle of Kohima. Easterine shows just what it meant for Nagas to be refugees in their own homeland, their home and livelihoods around them crushed by the weight of conflict and bloodshed, their families split up and separated forever.             The Governor of Nagaland, Nikhil Kumar and Chief Minister of Nagaland were also present during the book release.

            The Nagaland State AIDS Control Society (NSACS) multi-media campaign awareness through festivals is underway at the Hornbill Festival, Kisama from 1 st to 7 th December 2010.             To create awareness, NSACS is organizing Slogan Writing Competition everyday   under the theme ‘HIV & AIDS from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The results will be declared everyday at 4 p.m. Attractive cash prizes will be awarded to the winners. A variety of pamphlets on HIV/AIDS awareness is also available at the NSACS stall for free distribution.

            The Department of Art & Culture is observing the 11 th Annual Archives Week celebration 2010 at the Heritage Village, Kisama from 1 st to 7 th December 2010.             The State Archives has been established as a Branch under the Directorate of Art & Culture, Kohima, Nagaland with a view to preserve the State records. The Archives is the only repository of the records in the State where the scholars are the users and valued beneficiaries.             To create awareness and importance of archival treasures the exhibition has been put up to draw attention on the importance of archives as the nation’s documentary heritage, and to stress the role of archival institutions in restructuring future developments. The documents displayed in the exhibition have been chosen from the official records and the private papers.             Public records on display include ‘Lieutenant Vincent diary of the expedition to the Angami Naga’ (1849) to the ‘Tour Diary of Mr. S.J.

            As part of the Hornbill Festival, a flower show, sale of fruits and vegetables at the Hortiscape Kisama was formally inaugurated by the Parliamentary Secretary for Horticulture, R. Khing at on 1 st December 2010.             Varieties of flowers such as Bonsai, Bulbs and tubers, indigenous foliage and flowers, orchids-hybrid and indigenous, biennials and perennials, cactai and succulents and annuals, fresh flower and dry flower arrangements are exhibited in ten categories for competitions. The wining prizes of the flower show competition were Rs. 10,000/- for first prize, Rs. 7000/- for second and Rs. 5000/- for the third positions and Rs. 1000/- each for the consolation prizes.             The fresh flower arrangement category which bagged the first prize was a mixture of orchid and roses with ferns and other leaves looked almost royal in the show.             At the show varieties of organic fruits and vegetables such as pineapple, bananas, mandarin (orange), sweet ora

            As part of the Hornbill Festival 2010, the Handlooom and hadicraft exhibition displayed at Bamboo Pavalion was inaugurated by Parliamentary Secretary for Industries & Comerce, Dr. K.C. Nihoshe on 1 st December 2010 at Kisama.             Expressing staisfaction for the impressive exhibits put up by 83 units, Dr. Nihoshe said, ‘Every year the handloom and handicraft displayed at the Bamboos Pavilion is getting better and better and the products showcased are becoming more refined’. He further said that Hornbill Festival is attracting more and more people every year and is making marked improvement.             Entrepreneurs from Kohima, Dimapur, Wokha, Peren, Longleng, Meluri, Mon, Phek, Tuensang, Mokokchung, Lady Bug, DUDA, Medziphema, Guwahati, kolkata, New Delhi, Imphal are participating in the handloom and handicraft exhibition cum sale, organised by the Department of Industries & Commerce Nagaland. Commissioner & Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Imko

The Hornbill Festival ‘Festival of Festivals’ of Nagaland began today the 1 st December 2010 at the Naga Heritage, Kisama with Nagaland Governor, Nikhil Kumar gracing the occasion as the Chief Host and State Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio as the Host.             Speaking on the occasion as the Chief Host, Nikhil Kumar extended his greetings to the people of the State and thanked the founding fathers for their vision and concern for the well being of the people of the State. He said that it is a significant day for the people of Nagaland as it was on this day that 47 years ago Nagaland State has became full fledged State and came into existence as the 16th State of the Indian Union. Nikhil Kumar said that the week-long Hornbill Festival is a celebration of the vibrant culture, fitting with the Statehood Day to mark the commencement of the festival. He said that the festival has acquired stature and fame and has become one of the most talked about cultural event in the country, to which

by Charles Chasie “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us…” — Charles Dickens in Tale of Two Cities “Beware of the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry, [who] infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How will I know? For this I have done. And I am Julius Caesar”. — William Shakespeare in Jul

by Anil Bhat Manipur’s media has been bearing the brunt of both menacing threats from the many terrorist groups and pressure from the state government. While some reporters have been killed, quite often editors have been hounded and even abducted. So, reporting on the deterioration of security and law and order in Manipur right since 2004 has been quite hazardous. This daily is out of the few in New Delhi which has been regularly reporting on the situation in Manipur and the north-eastern states, interspersed by comment pieces now and then. It is no wonder then that two disturbing and highly newsworthy developments in Manipur, which local correspondents and reporters may have been justifiably been hesitant to report on, came my way through two retired Army officers in Imphal, who write regularly for local dailies. Major R.S. Jassal, who served in Assam Rifles, married a Tangkhul Naga lady and settled in Manipur, has written about how non-Manipuris are being intimidated by undergro

27/5/2010 by Yambem Laba WHEN Thuingaleng Muivah left for the jungles to wage a bush war against India more than 40 years ago, never once did he think of returning home. Which is one reason why he was never caught. Instead, he trekked to China’s Yunan province and made the Kachinland and Somra tract in Myanmar his home, from where he directed his cadres in hit-and-run tactics. By 1980 he emerged as the flag-bearer of Naga insurgency following the ill-fated 1975 Shillong Accord. In 1988, when the NSCN broke up, he almost lost his life. He ought to be thankful to the Meiteis for saving him for it was the United National Liberation Front that had warned him of the impending danger when the Pangmeis and Konyak cadres rose in revolt against Tangkhul domination. However, in the skirmishes that followed, he lost his trusted aide, Lt-Col Luitha Tangkhul, and a host of other Tangkhul followers. Around the same time, R Minshaming, then chairman of the Tangkhul region of the NSCN, was caught by

IMPHAL, April 3: The Integrated Check Post (ICP) Joint Action Committee, Moreh ward No. 1 has urged concerned authorities to delay distribution of compensation to the affected land owners/pattadars until the KNO/KNA is shifted out of Moreh and Chandel district or else the land owners/pattadars of Moreh ICP are resettled at a suitable place. According to a statement jointly signed by the chairman, Semjathang Haokip and secretary, Ngamjathang Lhungdim, the JAC revealed that the president of the HTC Moreh, Jangmang Haokip has been threatening the land owners/pattadars that they would get their share of 50 percent wherever the compensation is distributed. It said that despite being aware of such intimidations to the public, the Chandel district authorities remain silent spectators. The failure of the concerned authorities despite open intimidation and is unfortunate, it said. The JAC also alleged that all the extortions at Moreh is made through the HTC by the KNA/KNO including NGR

IMPHAL, April 4: Altogether 12 local organisations of Arapti Mayai Leikai in Lilong convened a public meeting today and discuss over collapse of GT Memorial Academy in which a girl student was killed. Mention may be made a standard III student of the school namely Konsam Rosni died at the school during a heavy storm on April 1 afternoon. During today’s meeting, principal of GT Memorial Academy, M Kirankumar disclosed that Rosni was amongst students who ran out from the class room when the heavy storm struck the school on the fateful day on April 1. However, the girl suddenly rushed into her classroom apparently to collect her missing belongings. No sooner she moved into the class room, a Mango tree suddenly felled into the school structure and hit the girl student and killed instantly. During today’s meeting, representatives of 12 local organisations and local public later unanimously resolved to allow the school to revive with new rigid structure so that no students could be

IMPHAL, April 4: The first high level meeting of the state security advisory body was convened yesterday afternoon soon after Gopal Sharma, Retd. DGP BSF, the security advisor to the chief minister Okram Ibobi, took charge of his new office. The meeting was held under the chairmanship of the chief minister at his official bungalow from 3.30 pm till around 6.30 pm.and reviewed the existing law and order situation in the state. The meeting was also attended by the chief secretary Manipur, DS Poonia, commissioner home V Vumlunmang, DGP Y Joykumar Singh, IG, Intelligence LM Khoute and concerned SPs of both Imphal East and Imphal West who submitted reports of various security related problems which hinder the progress of various major projects undertaking in the state. In particular, the meeting discussed reports of interferences by insurgent groups in the construction work of the Capitol Project at Chingmeirong, Tipaimukh Multipurpose Project, Loktak Downstream Project and various

DUBAI: Legendary painter M F Husain, who was recently granted Qatari citizenship, has surrendered his Indian passport to the country's mission in Doha, a media report said on Monday. 95-year-old Husain, revered by many as India's Picasso, on Sunday went to the country's mission in Doha and surrendered his Indian passport, the Gulf Times reported. Husain, who has been living in self-imposed exile for nearly four years following a spate of cases in India over his controversial paintings of Hindu goddesses, had accepted Qatar's offer and would no longer be an Indian, his son Owais Husain said recently. India does not recognize dual citizenship. So, "in such a situation, surrendering passport by the person concerned is mandatory and Husain has only done that," an Indian Embassy official was quoted as saying by the paper. The artist has also applied for the Overseas Citizen of India card, the mission sources said, adding the embassy has facilitated all requ

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday filed an appeal before itself challenging the judgement of Delhi High Court holding that the office of the Chief Justice of India came under the ambit of the RTI Act and was liable to reveal information under it. The petition, which has been filed after CJI K G Balakrishnan had consultation with his fellow judges, raised the point that information held by the CJI is sensitive in nature and its revelation would hamper the judiciary's independence. The petition, though drafted more than a month ago, was filed on Monday by advocate Devdutt Kamat on behalf of the apex court registry and the case would be argued by the Attorney General G E Vahanvati. The apex court will be seeking immediate stay on the High Court rulings otherwise it would be under obligation to reveal information under RTI Act. In a path-breaking verdict, the Delhi High Court had on January 12 held that the office of the Chief Justice of India comes under the purview of th

KOHIMA, JAN 26 (NEPS): Members of Lions Club of Kohima (LCK) led by its President Lion Dr Sashimeren Aier has today visited Kohima Mental Hospital and interacted with the patients, doctors and nurses. As usual Members of LCK used to visit Leprosy Centers, Mental Hospital, Orphanage Centers, etc in and around State capital, Kohima on occasions like Republic Day or Independence Day Celebrations. And today, the team led by its President Dr Sashimeren Aier visited the Mental Hospital situated here at Aradura Hills today. As a token of love and affection, the Team has given soaps, tooth pastes, detergent items, mineral water bottles, eatable items etc to the Hospital doctors and nurses for the patients. The Team members have personally provided the eatable stuffs to the patients, besides they have moved around seeing from one room to another. Earlier, in a simple program for handing over the items to the patients, LCK President Dr Sashimeren told the patients to be firm in their praye

KOHIMA, JAN 21 (NEPS): Principal Director, Health and Family Welfare, Dr V Sekhose is of the opinion that so long the in-service doctors did not disturb or violate their official duties, it hardly matters when they keep providing services to others. He felt that services of most senior doctors who were talented in their areas of specialties were mostly sought after by many and it was difficult for them to refuse their request. “Of course, if they do not attend their office duties and start attending to others, then it is a violation,” the Principal Director told NEPS here today. “But what is wrong, when we utilize their services during their off duty.” Dr Sekhose also pointed out that doctors could not work 24 hours in hospitals except in some emergency cases. “This has to be understood by the people,” he stated. He recalled as to how people used to give high regards to the medical professionals in earlier days. He however regretted on the declining of such treatment to the medical

CHOZUBA (PHEK), JAN 18 (NEPS): The 2-Day 23 rd Session of the Chozuba Range Wrestling Association Meet 2010 has kicked off today here at Chozuba Town Local Ground with Chotisuh Sazo, Parliamentary Secretary, Social Welfare, Child and Women Development opening it. Addressing the mammoth gathering, the Parliamentary Secretary highlighted about DAN government’s policies towards the development of games and sports in the state. He also informed that DAN Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio himself was holding key post of presidentship of the Nagaland Olympic Association, which was indicative of his seriousness on the sports. Sazo disclosed that the state did not have any industries, companies and most of the youth depended on the government for their livelihood. In this area, he drew the attention of the Naga wrestlers, promoters and leaders of the associations to give more emphasis on the national style rather than Naga style. “Because Naga wrestlers have wider scope to reach the top as they

ZHAVAME, JAN 22 (NEPS): Parliamentary Secretary for Social Welfare and Women Development, Chotisuh Sazo said the Nagas had a very rich and diverse culture and further explained that among the Nagas, the “Chakhesangs are privileged to possess a very rich culture.” He was speaking as Cultural Guest at the Cultural Session function held here at Zhavame Village under Phek district on the closing day of the 4-day 63 rd General Conference of the Chakhesang Students Union (CSU) today. “Our culture has been enriched by the successive waves of migration which brought with them different cultures resulting in an eclectic mix that we proudly own today,” he said. “Our physical, religious and racial variety is reflected in our culture. This vast cultural diversity is manifested in the attires, customary practices, languages, relics, etc.” Stating that the “Chakhesangs are excellent breed,” Sazo said “We are called Chakhesang neither by accident nor by temporary arrangement but by blood.” “I