Northeast Platform

Northeast Platform: BSEM to harvest over Rs. 10 lakhs from govt schools as fine for low percentage; Marksheets to be held up in case of default

Northeast Platform: Rio laments ‘senseless’ killings

Northeast Platform: MPA cadre dies in landmine blast

NEW DELHI, May 29: Manipur Governor Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu inspected the Manipur Information Centre and Manipur Panthoibi Emporium in New Delhi Wednesday afternoon. The officers and staff members of the two establishments accorded a warm welcome to the visiting Governor. This was the first time the Governor visited the Manipur Information Centre and Manipur Panthoibi Emporium. During his visit to the Manipur Information Centre, the Governor enquired about the number of staff in the Manipur Information Centre, number of press conferences of the chief minister and information minister conducted at the conference hall of the centre, coverage of the state government information by the national media and tourism promotional activities. The joint director of the Manipur Information Centre briefed him about the shortage of staff as well as the non-posting of its two staff members appointed against sanctioned posts of the Centre, various efforts made by the Centre for projecting the good i...

NEW DELHI, May 30: Manipur tourism minister TN Haokip called on the Union minister of tourism and culture Ambika Soni in her office chamber at Transport Bhavan this afternoon.During the half an hour meeting, TN Haokip informed the Union minister about the submission of 17 new tourism projects for Manipur to the ministry as the Central prioritized schemes/projects for financial assistance for the year 2008-09. The Manipur tourism minister stated that Manipur had immense potential for development of tourism industry and the state government had recognized tourism as an industry for all purposes of industrial development. For all-round development of tourism in Manipur, the new proposals had been submitted to the ministry, he added.The seventeen projects costing about Rs. 433 crores are - development of Marjing polo complex at Heingang, construction of City View Point Complex with hotel and gift shop at Cheiraoching, reconstruction of Goddess Durga temple complex at Hiyangthang, reconstr...

IMPHAL, May 30: The Board of Secondary Education, Manipur, BSEM is to reap a rich harvest of Rs. 10,60,000 collected as fines this year from 530 high schools which could not achieve 30 percent pass percentage for three consecutive years during the years 2000 to 2003.Students of these schools will not be allowed to obtain their original mark sheets for this year’s HSLC exam, results of which were declared recently, if the school authorities do not clear the fines imposed on them. The board will start issuing the mark sheets within the next few days, officials of the BSEM told this reporter.Out of the 530 schools some schools are to pay double fines as their performance was low both in the first block year (2000, 2001 and 2003) as well as in the next block year (2001, 2002 and 2003).The BSEM authorities imposed a fine of Rs. 2000 each on a total of 224 high schools which could not achieve 30 percent pass percentage in three consecutive years of 2000, 2001 and 2002. Another 306 high scho...

Dimapur, May 30 (MExN) : A number of civilians, including a mother and school staffers, were assaulted by cadres of the NSCN (IM) on May 29, in Pimla, Dimapur, the Aqahuto Sumi Totimi Hoho stated in a press statement. Following the assault, the Aqahuto Sumi Totimi Hoho has served a deadline to the NSCN (IM) “commander” to tender an apology, failing which “the ASTH will march to Hebron camp for the justification.”According to the ASTH, on the evening of May 29 at around 7:30 pm, one Mrs. Vikali was assaulted by a group of NSCN (IM) cadres under the command of a certain Howoto. The victim was on her way to buy medicines for her daughter and in the dark, her torchlight accidentally shone upon the NSCN (IM) cadres. On this, the cadres proceeded to assault Vikali by kicking her onto the roadside. She even apologized to the cadres but this did not stop the cadres from assaulting her, the hoho stated. Later, the group of cadres proceeded to Yehovi Memorial School, Pimla, and assaulted two tea...

DIMAPUR, MAY 30 (NPN): Speaking on the theme, ‘A campaign for a common voice among the Nagas’ during the symposium session of the Naga Hoho at Peren on Friday, Principal of the Oriental Theological Seminary and active church leader Rev. Dr. Wati Aier lamented that Nagas resist self-examination and held this trait responsible for accelerating the ongoing conflicts among various factions.He also said that while Nagas confess and repent about individual sins, yet they have failed to address what he termed, as `collective sin'. He said collective sin become ingrained in the agendas and ideologies that seek to justify and defend one's organization and this makes the constituent members cling tenaciously to such agendas and ideologies. Dr. Wati said Naga Christianity cannot afford to negate the evil of the collective sin. He said there was an urgent need among theologically trained and conscientious people within the church and society, to correct the fallacy that God and the Holy S...

PEREN, MAY 30 (NPN): Chief minister Neiphiu Rio Friday said the most worrying aspect of the present Naga society was the senseless killings that have deeply hurt the sentiments of the people.“At a time when the cry for of the people is for peace and progress, it is most unfortunate that we Nagas are killing amongst ourselves,” the chief minister said in his inaugural address of the 9th general session of the Naga Hoho held here at Peren Town Hall premise. Thrusting greater responsibility to Naga traditional institutions, Rio said the tribal hohos and mass based civil societies must carry forward the voice of the people who were crying for peace and progress. “It must be made known to all national workers that the people want the killings to come to an immediate halt. Any person or organization that professes to represent the interests of the people should also listen to their voice,” he said.Reiterating the DAN Government’s stance that factional clashes were political in nature and mu...

IMPHAL, May 28: An MPA cadre who was hurt severely when a landmine planted by security forces exploded on May 27 while they were going to attack a security force camp at Aibol Joupi village near Dingpi area of Chandel district, said a statement of the UNLF today.Heikrujam Thonba alias Robin son of late H Krishnamohon of Wangjing Sorokhaibam Leikai (MPA no. 2066) sustained injuries when he happened to step into the land mine planted by the "IOF", it said.The team was going to ambush a camp of the security forces, it said adding that the explosion occurred at around 3.55 pm and he succumbed to injury at around 6.45 pm while he was evacuating to a safer place for treatment by the MPA cadres.UNLF/MPA gave revolutionary salute to its beloved cadre who took part in the revolutionary struggle with bravery, it said.Indian security forces are planting land mines in the interior hilly areas surrounding to their camps only to protect themselves, alleged the statement stating that many ...

By John K Kaping UKHRUL, May 28: More than 8000 people participated in a peace rally organized today by the Tangkhul Naga Long, TNL, under the directive of the United Naga Council, UNC. The main objective of today`s rally was to call for an end to the factional killings in Nagaland, especially in Dimapur area, and life threats and quit notices served to the Tangkhul community.The rally started from 1 am in the morning from two points, one from Hundung junction and the other from Ukhrul Kharasom junction, and later merged at TNL ground for a joint resolution.A majrity of the rallyists were students holding placards with messages such as, `Let peace prevail`, `Enough bloodshed in our land`, `Tribalism! Nagas anathema`, and `Brothers against brothers, no! no! no!`.Dr. YL Mingthing, director, Tangkhul Theological Association (TTA) in his opening speech appealed for easing of the factional killings in Nagaland. He also apprised all the armed underground groups not to single out the innoce...

IMPHAL, May 27: Twelve persons, four hawkers, one who helped in procuring kerosene in black market and seven persons who sold kerosene in less quantities were caught by a combine team of members of the KYKL and UNLF and paraded before a media team today.Mention may be made that while the two outfit announced they would forgo percentage cuts from the kerosene so as to make it available at controlled price, a joint statement of the outfits announced prohibition of sale of kerosene oil by the mobile hawkers and others, except the officially authorised agents and sub-agents.The four hawkers paraded before the media this late evening at place somewhere in Imphal west were Tongbam Sana, 36, son of late Th Tombi of Nongmeibung Bazar, Wangkheirakpam Ranjit, 32, son of W Bihari, Nongmeibung Bazar, Irom ongbi Romita, 40, wife of I Imo of Khurai Ahongei, Sapam Sorodhoni, 42, wife of Ibochou of Khurai Ahongei of Khurai Ahongei.The person who help them in procuring the item was Chongtham Inaobi, 2...

KOHIMA, MAY 28 (NPN): Chief minister Neiphiu Rio Wednesday said a recent survey conducted by Directorate of Evaluation with research support from YouthNet, has revealed that in the three districts of Dimapur, Kohima and Mokukchung, there were more than 45,000 non-Nagas gainfully employed and earning about Rs. 450 crores annually. “This is worrisome. We need to seriously ask ourselves why we cannot perform our own jobs. Why do we have to be dependent on outsiders to do our manual jobs?” Rio questioned while releasing a report of the Nagaland State Youth Consultation on Employment titled “The Voices – Uncensored”, here in the state capital.The chief minister also said employment was not merely a means of livelihood for young people but also a means of self discovery. “Young people are usually full of hope and energy. Their rich imaginative minds are ideal for innovations that can lead to enormous economic and political changes. The Government is, therefore, determined to go beyond nurt...

IMPHAL, May 27: The family of a slain man today refused to receive his dead body lying at the morgue refuting the police charge that the person was a militant and killed in an encounter on Sunday night.Police said the identity of the youth killed by Imphal west commandos late evening on Saturday at Langol Tarung village was established today as that of a member of the Naga National Council (NNC).In another protest rally over the killing of another youth Md Abdul Wahid, 29, from Porompat Thawanthaba Leikai in Imphal east, protesters rubbished the police allegations against the slain youth insisting he was an innocent man.Earlier a sit-in protest was also staged by the local womenfolk under the banner of the JAC against the Brutal Killing of Md WahidMention may be made that a youth who was later identified as one Md Abdul Wahid, 29, son of Md Barik hailing from Porompat Muslim Leikai was shot dead by a team of Imphal east commandos at Keirao Manjor Leikai under Irilbung police station o...

KOHIMA, MAY 27 (NPN): With the objective of creating a conducive atmosphere among warring Naga factions, a joint meeting convened by the Nagaland Joint Forum of GBs/DBs Tuesday here at Red Cross building, resolved to ask all the factions to agree to a one-year ceasefire between them, with effect from June 7, 2008. During the inter-factional ceasefire, the joint forum will take the initiative to bring top leaders from all groups together to a meeting under the umbrella of Joint Forum of GBs/ DBs, to work towards a harmonious and peaceful approach to Naga issue. The joint meeting attended by representatives of frontal organization and Naga national workers including Naga Hoho, ENPO, NNC, FGN, GPRN/NSCN (led by Khaplang) NBCC and GBs/DBs from all districts, also reaffirmed the 5-point resolutions adopted earlier on June 6, 2007, including condemnation of factional violence and cessation of fratricidal killings and bloodshed among Nagas of different factions as well as killings of innoc...

IMPHAL, May 27: Operation New Kangleipak of the KYKL is viewing the process for recruitment for 206 through the Manipur Public Service Commission, MPSC following a Cabinet decision in October 2006, a statement of the outfit said.If any of the concerned members of the selection committee and candidates happen to do corruption by taking bribes or giving bribe money, ONK will not take it lightly and deal them hard punishment, it warned.Amidst the ONK drive against corruption and irregularity in the education sector, if any of them repeated corrupt practices despite giving of punishments like shooting at the leg, it was sure to kill them one day, it said.The outfit is not giving capital punishment to any person who were charged of corruption considering for their families even they were worthy of awarding capital punishment it say if happen to cross the limit, some may befell into the jaw of dead.ONK is well known that corruption prevail anywhere but there is no rule that if they do we al...

Northeast Platform: Sumi Hoho condemns killings

Dimapur, May 23 (NPN): Sumi Hoho has strongly condemned the “wanton” killings among Nagas which it attributed to the derailing of fragile peace and unification process.A press release issued jointly by Sumi Hoho president Hokishe Yepthomi and its sessional secretary Hukavi T. Yepthomi said this was one of the few resolutions adopted by the Hoho during an executive meeting held on May 20 at Zunheboto which was also attended by other Sumi frontal organizations. The meeting was convened in connection with the prevailing situation vis-à-vis the ongoing peace and unification process among the different factions of Naga underground factions. The House appealed to the warring factions to stop fratricidal killings immediately in order to pave the way for mutual consultations towards realization of differences in the interest of Naga unification.Reiterating its total support to the efforts of GBs and DBs Forum for Naga unification and ceasefire among the different factions, the Hoho urged the ...

Dimapur, May 23: Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh met NSCN (I-M) General Secretary Thuingaleng Muivah in Delhi on Tuesday after denying him an audience for months, possibly with an eye on the renewed violence in the Northeast, a national daily reported on Friday.The meeting, the daily said, showed that Centre was keen on using the influence of NSCN (I-M) over various rebel outfits to buy peace in the region. The NSCN (I-M) is said to have been instrumental in getting at least some of the outfits in the region to the negotiating table. The low-profile meeting was also attended by national security adviser, M.K. Nara-yanan, sources said. “It was decided that the Naga talks would continue and both sides would try and find an honourable, mutually-acceptable peaceful solution,” a source told the daily. Muivah is understood to have been satisfied with the meeting. For more than a month, the NSCN (I-M) General Secretary had been camping in the national capital to meet the Prime Minister. Th...

IMPHAL, May 23: The NSA detention order of the MAFYF president along with four PREPAK cadres issued by the respective district magistrates have been approved by the state government. In the meantime, volunteers of the MAFYF this evening burnt the effigies of the chief minister and DGP near the Oriental College gate in the continuing protests against the detention of its president. The NSA detention order of Kangleipal which was issued by the Imphal west district magistrate on May 13 last along with two other persons namely Salam Iboyaima Meitei alias Boyai alias Akash alias Sushil alias G Akash Sharma alias G Sushil Sharma of Moirang Khunou Leikai and Wahengbam Nanao Singh alias Terenam alias Raghu alias Sana, 29, of Thoubal Makha Leikai were approved by separate orders of the state home department yesterday. The detention orders of the PREPAK cadre, Ningthoujam Rajendro Singh, 42, of Yorbung Khunou and Thokchom Maipaksana Singh, 28, of Heirok part-1 were issued on May 20 last. Their ...

IMPHAL, May 23: The state Cabinet after a thorough deliberation today agreed to provide arms to the civilians only for self protection under the modalities for the implementation of supply of arms to the Village Defence Guard, VDG under the Special Police Officers, SPOs. The Cabinet also decided to abolish cadre post sanctioned at the Manipur Information Centre and replace it by an ex-cadre post at the rank of joint director apart from revising the honorarium of the advocate general of Manipur. It also reviewed the issue of arms licence to the people and also decided to pay scholarships to the 300 students of government schools securing highest marks in the HSCL exam in order of merit like in the case of HSSLC exam. However, the Cabinet reportedly did not take any decision regarding the SoO operation with Kuki militants and disturbed area status of the state while reviewing the law and order situation of the state, a source said. The Cabinet meeting which commenced from 4 pm today dis...

By Oken Jeet Sandham Kohima, May 23 (NEPS): Senior Congress leader and MLA Chingwang Konyak dismissed the statement of state home minister Imkong L Imchen that state political leaders had never ventured in a “realistic way” to help solve the Naga issue along with the Naga underground leaders. Talking to NEPS here today, the veteran Congressman expressed wonder as to how Imchen could state that state political leaders irrespective of their party affiliations were responsible for present state of affairs in the state. Chinwang said such utterance by state home minister on the Naga issue was reflective of his ignorance on the genesis of Naga political issue. He should rather spell out who were those state politicians responsible for the present state of affairs in the state, instead of trying to shift blame to others for their failure to maintain law and order in the state, the Congress MLA added. The Congress MLA reminded that right from NNO time; Naga political leaders had been working ...

Northeast Platform: 40 trucks damaged in stoning, oil pumps run dry as blockade begins

Northeast Platform: Imchen plea to parties

Kohima, May 22 (NPN): State government is reported to have issued guidelines to all DCs and SPs to flush out armed underground activists from civilian-populated areas before June 10. According to highly-placed sources in government, the guidelines were announced during a joint meeting convened by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday with the DCs and the SPs at Civil Secretariat here. The meeting was also attended by Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen and senior government officials. During the meeting, the DCs and the SPs were asked to strictly implement and enforce the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP), a guideline issued by Union Ministry Home Affairs (MHA) earlier. The meeting revolved round two main issues – maintenance of law and order situation and tackling the rise in prices of essential commodities. In the second session, representatives from Kohima Municipal Council (KMC), Kohima Chamber of Commerce and Industries (KCCI), Dimapur Municipal Council (DMC), Dimapur Chamber of Com...

IMPHAL, May 22: State chief minister O Ibobi Singh who arrived at Imphal today from the national capital has called a Cabinet meeting tomorrow to discuss the law and order situation in the state.The discussion will focus on the Suspension of Operation, SoO, disturbed area status, modalities of the Special Police Officers and monitoring of functioning of the civil organisations operating in the state, according to a reliable source.Mention may be made that the state chief minister, O Ibobi Singh had been camping at New Delhi in connection with the tripartite talks between the Manipur government, India government and Kuki militants, UPF on the ground rules for the SoO.In the talks which were held on May 19 at a hotel in New Delhi, state chief secretary Jarnail Singh, DGP Y Joykumar and IGP (Intelligence) LM Khoute represented the state government.The outcome of the talks will be discussed in the Cabinet meeting scheduled tomorrow.IGP (Intelligence) Khoute who was nominated to particpat...

IMPHAL, May 22: Windshields of more than 40 goods trucks including oil tankers were broken in stoning by economic blockade supporters along the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 even as most of the oil pumps closed down today due to non-availability of stocks at the oil depots.A truck transporting sand from Dimapur was also set ablaze by blockade supporters last night at around 8.30 pm at Tadubi.The indefinite economic blockade along the NH-39 imposed by the Naga People’s Organisation, NPO, Senapati district commenced yesterday in protest against the state government’s failure to take up positive action in matters of PDS items and water supply even after its 24-hour district-wide bandh on May 20.Reports said that truckers leaving Mao gate late yesterday afternoon with security escorts were caught in heavy stoning from the blockade supporters on their way from Tadubi to Senapati.Windshields of more than 40 loaded trucks were shattered, reports said. There were no reports of human casual...

Northeast Platform: Rotarians from Ne reach Nargis victims in a big way

Northeast Platform: Imchen plea to parties

Northeast Platform: Another NSCN (IM) splinter group surfaces in Manipur; Pledges to work for fostering communal amity

Kohima, May 21 (NEPS): State Home Minister Imkong L. Imchen lamented that though leaders of political parties in the State were capable of talking to the Naga underground factions with reason, yet they never ventured in a realistic way to help resolve the Naga issue in coordination with the factions. Talking to this news agency here on Wednesday, the Minister said the wisdom of almost all capable and responsible persons who were in different political parties was not channelized towards solution of the Naga issue. In this regard, the minister predicted that there could be no success if the political parties continued to indulge in blame-game and play one-upmanship. He called upon the parties to come out openly with their "opinions and ideas" and share them openly with the Naga underground leaders to discover the common ground and frame reasonable agenda for the Nagas and Government of India. At the same time, he said wisdom of the intellectuals should not be shut up by the ba...

Kohima, May 21 (NPN): State government has pulled up the Border Road Organization (BRO) for its poor workmanship in maintenance of roads and bridges in Nagaland. In a letter to Defence Minister A.K. Antony, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio expressed serious concern on the condition of roads and bridges maintained by the BRO. The outburst by the State government came after the Chakhabama-Pfutsero bridge near Sedzii River had collapsed on May 2 due to poor workmanship and delayed tactics by the BRO on maintenance of retaining wall and road near SKV petrol pump in the heart of Kohima. In his letter to the Union minister, Rio demanded an immediate inquiry into the incident and strict action against the erring officials. After inspecting the site at SKV petrol outlet and finding the poor and substandard materials used for construction of the road and the wall, the chief minister called for immediate suspension of the work. Both the bridge and the road are maintained by 15th BRTF. Officials from t...

Imphal, May 21: Radio, TV and official claims of SPDC government of Myanmar confirmed more than 1,34,000 nationals got killed including missing and gone shelterless, living homeless lives facing starvation and disease since Nargis hit Delta May 2-3. 77 Rotary Clubs from Rotary International District 3240 under the leadership of DG Rtn Parbhat Kedia expressed solidarity with the people of Myanmar at this juncture of sorrow and bereavement and delivered emergency medicines at Burma Border Trade Centre, Tamu, the official point of victims aid centre, as volunteers are not permitted to reach Delta physically. DG N Rtn. Ajit Irom delivered the medicine packets on behalf of all the Rotarians from NE Region of India received by Aung Kyaw Hlain, director of Border Trade Department."We came prepared to reach Delta with our specialist medical officers and para medical team," said Rtn. Dr. Kh Palin, famous Smile train expert, MD of Shija Hospitals and Research Institute. Dr. E Kuladhaja...

IMPHAL, May 21: The state government has taken a decision for revenue realisation in the power department considering the present power scenario and the difficulties that the power department is facing such as limited allocation of power from Central sector generating stations, system constraints, gap between availability and demand, high commercial and technical losses, poor revenue realization, said the state power minister Phungzathang Tonsing during a press conference held this afternoon at his office chamber.The power minister further said the decision for realisation of power revenue was taken following a formal meeting with the Governor, Dr. SS Sidhu this morning at Raj Bhavan in Imphal where the state power minister Phungzathang Tonsing, principal secretary power, along with the chief engineer power and additional chief engineer power-I of the electricity department were also present.The minister further said that the officials of the department after minute discussions on the ...

DIMAPUR, MAY 19 (NPN): Holding the DAN government responsible for what was described as “unprecedented rise in prices of commodities” and the worsening law and order situation in the state, the Congress said these were the two issues on which Monday’s 12- hour Dimapur bandh had been called.Addressing a press conference, former chief minister and MLA, K.L. Chishi blamed the DAN coalition for the deaths of innocent people in factional- related incidents. He accused the government of showing a lukewarm response to the law and order situation despite the CLP’s repeated request to seriously address the problem. On the killing of an IRB jawan at Diphupar ‘B’ area, Chishi asserted “had government been active and responsive for the life and sentiments of the people,) at that point of time it (government) could have flushed out undergrounds in the areas” . However, Chishi lamented that the DAN government instead slept over it. Chishi said the Congress legislators, while submitting a memorandu...

Dimapur, May 19: Normal life was paralyzed here on Monday during the 12-hour bandh called by the Congress in protest against State government’s failure to contain violence and curb the skyrocketing of prices of essential commodities. All shops, business establishments, banks and government offices remained closed as vehicles remained off the road. The district administration said all normal activities came to a grinding halt except emergency services. Although no major incidents were reported during the day, the passengers of out-bound and in-coming trains had a harrowing time as bandh imposers restricted the movement of pedestrians also. The Congress had earlier alleged government remained like a mute spectator despite spate of factional clashes in and around Dimapur that claimed several lives in recent time. Meanwhile, District Congress Committee, Dimapur, has expressed gratitude to the general public for their support to the bandh.DCC, Dimapur, president Roben Lotha, alleged DAN gov...

IMPHAL, May 19: In yet another startling development, another splinter group of the NSCN(IM) which has since christened itself the United Naga People`s Council, UNPC, has surfaced in Manipur amidst disturbing news of clashes between cadres of the NSCN(IM) and NSCN(U) in Dimapur in neighboring Nagaland.The formal declaration of formation of United Naga People`s Council was made public through the media today in a press conference held this afternoon somewhere in Senapati district. President of the newly formed council, SS Max mentioned that the objective of formation of the United Naga People`s Council was to restore peaceful co-existence amongst the people living in both hills and valley and to safeguard territorial integrity and sovereignty of Manipur.He however added that the new splinter group had no enmity with the revolutionary movements wageed by Naga parent bodies like NSCN (IM), NSCN(K) and NNC.They have their specific objectives and we have ours, he said.In the meantime, narra...

By Oken Jeet Sandham Kohima, May 20 (NEPS): The Joint Forum of Nagaland GBs and DBs have today successfully organized massive peace rallies throughout the state today. The rallies were organized state district headquarters to register their string resentment against the recent unprecedented heightened factional violence I the state. Large number of people including huge school students turned up for the rallies. A massive peace rally was held here at local ground with thousands of students and publics joining it. Minister for Home, Imkong L. Imchen addressing the occasion said that a cease-fire agreement should be initiated immediately among the Nagas. He said killing among Nagas, extortion and gun power could not achieve political sovereignty but added that only peace would achieve their common goal. Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, Sachopra Vero and other public leaders also spoke in the rally. The rally also passed a resolution to stop killing among the Nagas. In Mon district, the stron...

Dimapur, May 18: In the midst of the unforgiving tumult accentuated by widespread bloodbath, fear and general insecurity Nagaland is going through today, tired Naga civil society continues to cry out to the warring Naga groups to stop the violence. Vehement denouncement and condemnations against the killings, clashes and loss of innocent lives and loss of properties as well as fervent appeals for dialogue, peace, reconciliation, unity and good sense, continue to pour in from greatly troubled Naga mass-based organizations. From Diphupar to Chakhroma, United Naga Council to the Naga Hoho, Chakhesang Public Organization to GB and DB forums, denouncements of the warring Naga groups’ hunt “to finish off each other” were expressed. Civil organizations, expressing deep hurt, anxiety and insecurity, have cried out to all in concern to let good sense prevail over the ongoing violence and antagonism. Diphupar demands stop to violenceVehemently condemning the May 16 Diphupar village violence, ar...

By Oken Jeet Sandham The Tibetans have achieved their main objective this time. They make their voice against the Chinese occupation of Tibet heard the world over. Taking advantage of the upcoming Beijing Olympic, they could organize a series of protests against the Olympic torch relay in key locations of the world like Paris, London, New York, New Delhi, etc. It is a history that the Beijing Olympic flame has ended its chaotic relay journey through Paris, amid city-wide protests against China's crackdown in Tibet that forced the torchbearers to extinguish the flame and take refuge in a bus. The Chinese authorities seemed to be facing unprecedented apprehension to the unusual Tibetan uprising against them. The world communities have woken up to find the reality that there is an issue between the Tibetan and the Chinese. And in fact the Chinese government’s integrity and standing in the eyes of the world community has been badly dented, although they might be claiming that Tibet is ...

IMPHAL, May 17: A driver was hurt while the windshields of at least 20 trucks including oil tankers and LPG laden trucks were broken when suspected supporters of the ATSUM economic blockade stoned them while they were crossing Kangpokpi area along the Imphal-Mao section of the NH-39 with security escorts late yesterday night at around 9 pm, official reports said today. The tanker driver who sustained injuries at the head was hospitalized in an unconscious state at a hospital in Kangpokpi, the reports said. In the meantime, the All Manipur Tribal Students Union, Manipur has called off the economic blockade with immediate effect after an agreement was reached with the state government today. Reports said that around 80 goods trucks including oil tankers and LPG laden vehicles, which were stranded at Mao gate due to the ATSUM economic blockade, proceeded for Imphal with heavy security escorts late yesterday evening. The goods vehicles reached Kangpokpi at around 9 pm. However, when some ...