Ex-Mizoram police chief, colleague held for funds misuse

Aizawl, Dec 23 A former director general of Mizoram police and his colleague were arrested by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on charges of misappropriation of funds meant for modernisation of the state police, officials said here Wednesday. The duo were later released on bail.

“The erstwhile Mizoram police chief M. Tumsanga and former additional superintendent of police Tlangkunga, both of whom retired from service two years back, were arrested Tuesday by the ACB for embezzlement of police modernisation funds in 2000,” an official of the state home department said.

The chief judicial magistrate in Aizawl granted interim bail to both former officers. Their regular bail plea would be heard within 30 days.

The arrest was effected after a recent Guwahati High Court order, issued on a public interest litigation of a non-government organisation (NGO).

Before the arrest, the state home department filed a first information report (FIR) with the police to initiate the case.

The misuse of funds was done when the Mizo National Front (MNF) ministry headed by then Chief Minister Pu Zoramthanga was at the helm of affairs.

Incumbent Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla-led Congress ministry came to power in Mizoram in December 2008.

READ MORE - Ex-Mizoram police chief, colleague held for funds misuse

Former Mizo DGP arrested in graft case

Aizawl, Dec 22 (PTI) M Tumsanga, former Director General of Police of Mizoram, was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau on the charge of misappropriation of crores of rupees meant for modernisation of the state police during the year 2000, police said today.

Besides Tumsanga, an IPS officer of West Bengal cadre, former Additional Superintendent of Police Tlangkunga was also arrested yesterday, they said.

The chief judicial magistrate here granted interim bail to the duo on the condition that their bail plea would be heard within 30 days.

Both the police officers are now retired.

The arrest culminated a Gauhati High Court order to set up an inquiry commission based on a PIL, ACB sources said.

The state home department submitted an FIR in the case on December 16 in accordance with the recommendations of the inquiry commission, they said

READ MORE - Former Mizo DGP arrested in graft case

Gorkhas in Mizoram support Gorkhaland

Aizawl, Dec 21 Members of the Gorkha community in Mizoram Monday staged a day-long sit-in here in support of a separate Gorkhaland state to be carved out of West Bengal.

‘The demonstration was organised to express our solidarity with the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) who want a Gorkhaland state in Darjeeling,’ said a statement from the Mizoram Gorkha Front (MGF).

The demonstration was held on a day when tripartite talks were held in Darjeeling Monday between the central and West Bengal governments and the GJM.

‘Gorkhaland is the only solution to protect the identity and life and culture of the Gorkha community in India,’ the MGF said. Mizoram is home to many Gorkhas.

READ MORE - Gorkhas in Mizoram support Gorkhaland

New Highway from Mizoram to Myanmar Border Sanctioned

The High Powered Committee (HPC) of Government of India set up for the projects of North East has sanctioned a new highway from Mizoram to Myanmar border . The Committee headed by Shri Brahm Dutt, Secretary, Road Transport & Highways in its meeting held here today cleared the proposal for construction of a new highway of 100 km length from Lawngtalai in Mizoram to Myanmar border. The estimated cost of the highway is Rs 650 crore. The highway would provide linkage to the proposed port facilities at Sittwe in Myanmar. The port facilities in the Bay of Bengal at Sittwe will provide water route to the whole of North East through the State of Mizoram. The port facilities alongwith the highway, which has been cleared by HPC today, will greatly enhance the competitiveness of the North East Region by reducing transportation cost.

READ MORE - New Highway from Mizoram to Myanmar Border Sanctioned

Fate of Mizoram tribal refugees uncertain

Agartala/Aizawl, Dec 16 (IANS) The much-awaited process of repatriation of 35,000 Reang tribal refugees from Tripura to Mizoram hangs in the balance despite pressure from the Centre, the Tripura government and rights bodies on the Mizoram government to resolve the 12-year-old ethnic crisis.
A fact finding team (FFT) from the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) in New Delhi visited Mizoram and Tripura Dec 8-15 to facilitate a resolution to the ethnic conflict between Reang tribals and the majority of Mizos in Mizoram.
The tribal refugees are unwilling to return to their homes in Mizoram until their demands for fool-proof security and sufficient financial assistance are accepted by the Mizoram government.
“The Centre has sanctioned Rs.33 crore to the Mizoram government to rehabilitate the tribal refugees,” an official in Aizawl said Tuesday.
Mizoram Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla said: “A ‘road map’ for the repatriation of tribal refugees from Tripura has been prepared and it was approved by the union home ministry.”
“Bipartite and tripartite meetings for the repatriation of the genuine citizens of Mizoram were held on a number of occasions. The state government has always agreed to bring back the bona-fide refugees of Mizoram and it is now up to them (refugees) to accept it and return home,” the chief minister told reporters in Aizawl Tuesday.
Over 35,000 Reang tribal refugees have been sheltered in six north Tripura camps since 1997 after they fled Mizoram following ethnic clashes with the majority Mizos.
The tribal refugees’ repatriation from Tripura to Mizoram has recently become complicated with violent mobs in western Mizoram burning down around 700 houses of Reang tribals last month following the gunning down of an 18-year-old Mizo youth by unidentified miscreants.
Following the arson and violence, thousands of displaced Reang tribals have taken shelter afresh in adjacent southern Assam and northern Tripura.
ACHR director and leader of the fact finding team Suhas Chakma told reporters in Agartala Tuesday that they would impress upon the Centre to call a high-level meeting involving the chief ministers of Mizoram and Tripura and Reang tribal leaders immediately to resolve the ethnic problem at the earliest.
“The recent influx of the tribals is another reminder to the Centre, Mizoram and Tripura governments and the Mizo and Reang tribal community organisations that unless sincerity is shown by all the parties, the ethnic problem could have serious implications. The time has come for all the actors to re-engage in dialogue with sincerity,” Chakma added.
The Centre and Tripura governments have asked Mizoram to resolve the 12-year-old deadlock on the repatriation of Reang refugees to the state.
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar recently held a meeting with union Home Minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi and discussed ways to resolve the deadlock on the repatriation of 35,000 Reang refugees to Mizoram and a fresh exodus into Tripura following the recent ethnic violence.
An inconclusive tripartite meeting was held in Aizawl last month between representatives of the central and Mizoram governments and tribal refugees to resolve the deadlock.
“Both the centre and the Mizoram government rejected our major demands. We will not return to our homes unless our vital demands are fulfilled,” said refugee leader Elvis Chorkhy, who led the seven-member refugee delegation at the tripartite meeting.
“The Mizoram government’s package for the home-bound refugees suggested a Rs.20,000 cash grant instead of Rs.50,000 as promised earlier. The package also recommended a scattered resettlement of the 35,000 tribal refugees in three different districts of Mizoram - Mamit, Kolashib and Lunglei. We want compact rehabilitation of the tribals in two districts in western Mizoram,” Chorkhy told IANS.
The Reang tribals also want deployment of the central paramilitary forces in the proposed resettlement and Reang tribal-dominated areas instead of the state security force to prevent further violence. The demand too was rejected by both the Centre and the Mizoram government.

READ MORE - Fate of Mizoram tribal refugees uncertain

Viewing porn on rise in Mizoram

Aizawl, Dec 14 : Viewing pornographic pictures and other 'bad pictures' among high school and college students is increasing in Mizoram if the results of ‘Survey on Sex and Sexuality’ by the Aizawl-based Shalom, an organisation working for the reduction of HIV/AIDS is to be believed.

This was revealed at a seminar spearheaded by the organisation last week. Reportedly, the seminar was attended by more than 80 youths from various church denominations in Aizawl.

The findings not only pointed towards the youths but also to the married women.
Expressing shocked over the findings officials at Shalom said that pornography is very bad for the youths especially to the school students and urged the people of Mizoram and the church to fight against the pornography.

"Parents have to be more cautious regarding this issue as it endangered the positive social life and personal lives of innocent boys and girls," said statement by SHALOM. Similar programmes like seminar, research will also be held in other districts of Mizoram.

One social activist is of the opinion that the arrival of mobile phones in Mizoram is the main reason for the youths increasing in viewing pornography.

Easy access to pornographic sites in cyber cafes offering adult contents have also another factor leading to an addiction to pornography among children in Mizoram.

READ MORE - Viewing porn on rise in Mizoram

14-year rape sentence for Mizo Girl Rape Accused

ANANYA SENGUPTA

Ajit Singh Katiyar New Delhi, Dec. 11: The lone arrested accused in the 2005 gang-rape of a Mizo student of Delhi University was today sentenced to 14 years’ rigorous imprisonment but his three accomplices continue to evade the law. Ajit Singh Katiyar, 30, accused of raping the then 20-year-old woman in a moving car with three others, had been convicted on Tuesday based on the victim’s statement. The prosecution had sought a life term while the defence had pleaded for leniency citing the humble origins of the convict — a driver with a Noida call centre when the gang-rape took place on May 8, 2005. Katiyar, arrested on May 13 after the victim identified him at a test parade, had apparently broken down under interrogation but has not revealed anything about the others. The police, who claim to have questioned nearly 1,000 people — most of them criminals and past rapists — say they have no clue about the missing trio. The number-plate of the black Santro in which the crime was committed, as noted down by a witness, had turned out to be fake. Medical evidence had established sexual intercourse and the presence of a sedative in the victim’s stomach. The court found Katiyar guilty of gang-rape, abduction, criminal intimidation, administering an intoxicant and group liability, and fined him Rs 20,000. On Tuesday, additional sessions judge Neeraj Kumar Gupta had rebuked the defence counsel for raising the subject of the victim’s live-in relationship and active sex life. “It cannot be said that a lady who has already lost her virginity is an unreliable lady. If a victim has lost virginity, it cannot give the licence to any person to rape her,” the judge said.

READ MORE - 14-year rape sentence for Mizo Girl Rape Accused

Tripura unhappy with Mizoram govt on refugee issue

Agartala, Dec 10 : The Tripura government has lambasted its Mizoram counterpart's 'lackadaisical attitude' towards repatriation of Bru (Reang) refugees from Tripura camps.

Talking to mediapersons here today, Rural Development Minister Jitendra Choudhury said Tripura had been taking the burden of Mizoram residents who had fled from Western Mizoram following ethnic clash in 1997 and recently few more hundred of the Brus took shelter while Karimganj district (Assam) administration pushed out three hundred more refugees from that state.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar visited the refugee camps and interacted with the refugee leaders following which held a meeting with Union Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi and urged him to ensure early return of the Bru refugees. The Tripura Chief Secretary also spoke to his Mizoram counterpart regarding their repatriation but no concrete results had come out yet.

The Tripura Rural Development Minister pointed out that the Mizoram government was not considering the issue seriously and instead ''playing political cards with the innocent Brus'', which was complicating the situation.

''But we have decided to supply ration and clothes to the refugees on humanitarian ground and to save their lives,'' Mr Choudhury said.

Meanwhile, the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) outfit has sought the intervention of Central as well Mizoram government to start the process of repatriation and sort out the issue.

The BNLF termed the killing of a Mizo youth as a ''conspiracy hatched to derail the repatriation process'' and sought immediate steps to nab the killers.

READ MORE - Tripura unhappy with Mizoram govt on refugee issue

Mizo tribes demand for government intervention to stop attacks

Aizwal Dec 10 : The decade old conflict between the Mizos and the Bru (Reang) tribes took violent turn in November with the burning of 500 houses belonging to Reangs.

This incident was followed by the gunning down of a Mizo youth.

Now displaced Mizo tribals are demanding that the centre to intervenes end the ethnic crisis.

Concerned about resolving the deadlock over the repatriation of 35,000 Reang refugees to Mizoram, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram met Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar in New Delhi recently.

As per schedule, the repatriation of Bru tribals from Tripura to Mizoram was to happen in mid -November. Unfortunately, the killing of a Mizoyouth has blocked the entire process.

The latest round of ethnic trouble has led to around 5,000 displaced Reang tribals taking shelter in northern Tripura and southern Assam. The Mizoram Bru Displaced Peoples Forum (MBDPF), an orgaisation of the Bru tribal refugees, has demanded immediate intervention of the Centre to resolve the ongoingethnic crisis in Mizoram and repatriation of the displaced Bru people.

The Mizoram Bru Displaces Peoples Forum president Elvis Chorky opined that now it is very clear that without the active participation of the central leadership this problem cannot be solved.

Especially, we request the intervention of the Union Home Minister, Chorky said. Over 35,000 Reang tribal refugees have been living in six north Tripura camps since 1997 after they fled Mizoram followingethnic clashes with the majority Mizos after the killing of a Mizo forest official. The tribal refugees earlier, in a letter to the prime minister, demanded his urgent intervention to resolve the stalemate over their repatriation and recentethnic troubles.

On the other hand the Bru refugees are demanding to provide security.

Refugees felt that as Mizos have burned their (Bru) houses and people were badly beaten up, so they are not interested in going back.

I am afraid they may attack us again. If a security force like Assam Rifles takes care of our safety only then we will go back, said a refugee. Tripura is also facing socio-economic problems due to the long stay of the tribal refugees and the recent exodus of tribals from Mizoram following theethnic skirmishes. Representatives of the central and Mizoram governments and tribal refugees are holding meetings to resolve the 12-year-deadlock between Reang tribes and Mizos.

READ MORE - Mizo tribes demand for government intervention to stop attacks

Many Burmese infected with HIV in Mizoram

7 December 2009: A sizeable section of Burmese living in Mizoram state, northeast India are infected with the HIV virus, according to a report of the Voluntary Public Health Education Network (VPHEN)

Chin people are the ones who are mostly infected among Burmese, who left their country because of the economic situation, forced labour and violation of human rights.

“Now we are treating 15 persons in the VPHEN center as they cannot afford medical attention. We found that 30 out of 100 were HIV positive among Chin people,” said a VPHEN worker.

The VPHEN group is backed by some NGOs and it is providing medicines and treatment to the needy. It uses one third of its resources for the Burmese people.

“We are counseling HIV patients and also providing awareness to Burmese people in Mizoram state, who lack knowledge about HIV infection. The VPHEN is especially set up for Burmese people,” he added.

Although, Khonumthung News could not confirm the exact number and details of HIV victims, but it is clear that many Burmese people are in need of help.

The main branch of VPHEN is in Aizawl city and other sub-branches are in Champhai, Saiha, Lawngtlai and Lunglei in Mizoram state.

READ MORE - Many Burmese infected with HIV in Mizoram

Dhaula Kuan rape case verdict today

New Delhi, Dec 8 : A city court has deferred the verdict in the Dhaula Kuan rape case to Tuesday, December 8.

Additional Sessions Judge N K Gupta deferred pronouncement of the verdict in the case in which a Delhi University student was allegedly abducted from Dhaula Kuan area of the National Capital and gangraped in a moving car in 2005.

According to the prosecution, the 20-year-old student, hailing from Mizoram, was abducted around 2.15 am on May 8, 2005, from Dhaula Kuan when she was walking back home after buying food from a roadside eatery and was raped by the four accused in a moving car.

The victim, who was later dumped near a gurudwara in South Delhi, was accompanied by a friend who, however, managed to flee from the clutches of the accused.

Delhi Police could arrest only one of the accused — Ajit Singh Katiyar.

The other accused — Danda, Jat and Tappe — have managed to evade arrest.

READ MORE - Dhaula Kuan rape case verdict today

79-year-old woman raped by youth

Aizawl, Dec 7 : A youth was arrested for allegedly raping an aged woman at Champhai town on Mizoram-Myanmar border, the police said here today.

The victim, a 79-year-old woman who is hearing impaired was allegedly raped by a 23-year-old man at Champhai town, they said.

The incident happened last night while her grand daughter was away on an errand.

The arrested youth has confessed to his crime, officials said.

READ MORE - 79-year-old woman raped by youth

Violence against women on rise in Mizoram : Activists

Aizawl: Violence against woman has been on the rise in Mizoram, where 40 cases of minor rape had been recorded by the police during this year, despite the fair sex holding high position in Mizo society, social activists said.

Referring to the police figures of 21 cases of adult rape, 13 cases of physical violence and four incidents of domestic violence in 2009, Secretary of Aizawl-based Centre for Peace and Development Angela Ch. Ralte said cases of sexual harassment and domestic violence were on the rise. Even nine complaints of abduction of women were lodged with the police during the period.

Notwithstanding the absence of a proper study, domestic violence would likely be very high in the state considering the fact that a majority of the victims do not come in the open for fear of further domestic strife, a counsellor working for the CPD, C Lalthansangi said.

"Large majority of the perpetrators of domestic violence are alcoholics who committs the crime in an inebriated condition," Lalthansangi said adding only a few husbands would beat their spouses due to mere anger.

READ MORE - Violence against women on rise in Mizoram : Activists

Earth scientists at Aizawl

AIZAWL, Nov 27: A three-day seminar on ‘Geodynamics, Sedimentation and Biotic Response in the Context of India-Asia Collision’ kickstarted today at Beraw Tlang in Aizawl.

Altogether 125 delegates from 21 States are participating in the seminar – the largest gathering of earth scientists in the country – which is organised by Mizoram University’s Department of Geology.

These scientists are from Research Institutions, IIT and universities across the country. The seminar will have nine technical sessions in which 135 research papers will be presented.

READ MORE - Earth scientists at Aizawl

Disabled to march Dec 3 to reiterate demands

NEW DELHI - Hundreds of disabled people along with their supporters are expected to take part in a ‘Walk to Freedom’ march in the capital on Dec 3 on the occasion of World Disability Day, to reiterate their demand to right to education, employment opportunities and accessibility to public services.



Organised for the 13th successive year by the National Centre for Promotion of Employment for Disabled People (NCPEDP), the walk will be held at the India Gate.

Javed Abidi, honorary director of the NCPEDP, said: “The estimated population of disabled people in the country is 70 million, yet they are an invisible minority since rights like education, employment opportunities and even opportunities in sports, continue to be denied to them.”

“There will also be other functions celebrating the achievements of the disabled community who have fought different challenges to emerge successful,” he added.

The World Disability Day was declared by the United Nations in 1982 and has been marked across the world ever since.

READ MORE - Disabled to march Dec 3 to reiterate demands

Mizoram Home minister blasts Asian rights group

Aizawl, Nov 23 : The Mizoram Home minister R Lalzirliana on Sunday strongly reacted to the Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) allegations and said that before making serious accusations, it would have been a wise move for ACHR to approach the Government of Mizoram to learn the facts and what steps the state government took at the onset to prevent further violence from taking place.

He also made it clear that when the state government learned that 18-year old Zarzokima of Bungthuam village had been killed by alleged Bru militants calling themselves Bru National Army of the Bru Revolutionary Union on November 13, he made a statement to the effect that violence would be retaliated with violence, meaning the State Government would deal strongly with those threatening to disrupt the peace and harmony of Mizoram through violence.

The "prima-facie evidence" mentioned by ACHR to prove that the burning down of Bru villages were pre-meditated by the Government of Mizoram "and some Mizo NGOs" could stem from the accusations made by the Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum that his statement was provocative.

The Mizoram Home minister said that as a responsible public leader and a long-time Congress man, he wished to strongly state that his statement was neither provocative nor meant to instigate communal violence.

"I would be the first to admit that the Western and North Western belt of Mizoram has been a simmering pot of communal problems from as far back as 10-15 years ago and that the problems between the Mizos and Brus could escalate at the drop of a hat.

As such, when the State Government learned of the November 13, 2009 killing of a Mizo youth in western Mizoram, the district authorities were immediately alerted to take action to prevent any communal trouble from flaring up while at the same time to vigorously pursue investigations into the killing of the youth," said R Lalzirliana.

R Lalzirliana also said that police forces were sent from various parts of the state to Mamit district, the district where the killing took place, as reinforcements.

The difficult terrain and inaccessibility of some of the villages made it impossible for the police personnel to reach these places and prevent outbursts of violence.

Police, however, managed to prevent miscreants from committing arson at Damparengpui, the biggest Bru village in the area, although, unfortunately, they were unable to save five houses.

At this point in time, the State Government is yet to establish whether any NGO is involved in the torching of villages and investigations are still on.

Meanwhile, seven persons, four from Kawrthah village, two from West Phaileng village and one from Suarhliap village were arrested on November 15, 2009 in connection with the burning down of villages.

It is the State Government’s belief that the killing of Zarzokima was an attempt by some people with self-interests from the Bru community to prevent the repatriation process which was to begin from November 16, 2009 from taking place.

The State Government had taken great pains to see that the repatriation take place as early as possible despite the reluctance shown by the Bru refugee leaders to be repatriated.

This reluctance is clearly highlighted by some of the demands the leaders made, demands that are impossible for the state government to meet such as allocating each refugee family four hectares of land.

He also assured ACHR that the Government of Mizoram is in no way involved in the torching of Bru villages and that relief measures and protection for the victims are in place and have been carried out.

Immediate relief measures carried out was to distribute four kg of rice to each adult and two kg of rice to each child, two blankets per family and a silpouline for temporary shelter.

The district administration has also been instructed to provide cooking utensils and other necessary household items necessary for the construction of huts.

The State Government has also announced ex-gratia of Rs 10,000 for each victim-family which is to be distributed without undue delay.

READ MORE - Mizoram Home minister blasts Asian rights group

Joseph Mizo supplied weapons to DHD(J)

GUWAHATI, Nov 23 – Dreaded gunrunner Joseph Mizo alias Vanlalchhana who was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) during the course of its investigation into the diversion of public money to insurgent activities, had supplied at least ten consignments of sophisticated arms and ammunition to the Dima Halam Daogah (J) in the recent past. The sophisticated weapons included various models of arms including rifles of the latest N-16 series.

The gunrunner in return had received payment of Rs 1 crore at least on three occasions.

These revelations were made by the NIA in the charg-esheet, which it had submitted on November 17.

NIA had also seized Mizo’s bank account where a huge sum of money was deposited.

The chargesheet also mentioned that Mizo, a resident of Aizawl, was a frequent visitor to places like Thailand and Singapore, where he had several rounds of meeting with Niranjan Hojai and Jewel Garlosa.

The NIA, it may be mentioned, had chargesheeted 14 accused of which 10 are currently in judicial custody.

READ MORE - Joseph Mizo supplied weapons to DHD(J)

Firing in Karimganj by miscreants from Mizoram

SILCHAR, Nov 21 : Close on the heels of Mizoram Government’s alleged encroachment of Assam land in Cachar district, a group of Mizo youths created a great deal of sensation in the Katamoni area in Karimganj district which shares its border with both Mizoram and Tripura.

According to sources, at least seven Mizo youths came in a Bolero car to Katamoni, consumed liquor and started firing near the shop of one Chayum Ghose late last night. The dog of the shopkeeper sustained injuries in the firing.

Katamoni police soon alarmed the Nagara and Rangamati police stations where the police personnel erected barricades to stop the fleeing miscreants who rushed towards Kanmun along the Assam-Mizoram border breaking the barricades.

According to sources, Chayum Ghose had received demand notes from suspected Bru militants a few years back.

READ MORE - Firing in Karimganj by miscreants from Mizoram

Bru leaders visit border villages in Tripura

Aizawl, Nov 20 (PTI) Leaders of three Mizoram-based Bru organisations today visited some villages on the Tripura border, appealing for peaceful co-existence between majority Mizo and minority Bru communities following incidents of arson and the murder of a Mizo youth.

Members of Bru Students Association (BSA), Bru Cultural Organisation (BCA) and Aizawl Bru Welfare Committee (ABWC) went around the villages in Mamit district, some of which were rocked by violence after a Mizo youth was gunned down at Bungthuam village, near Tripura border on November 13.

Superintendent of Police, Mamit, L R Dingluaia said the delegation members also met top district officials.

"The team members informed their (Bru) people in the district that the state government has been making all out effort to contain the recent spurt of communal tension and there is no reason to flee to neighbouring Tripura," Dingluaia told PTI over phone.

READ MORE - Bru leaders visit border villages in Tripura

Refugees pour into Tripura

More than 2000 Reangs cross over in past 36 hours

File picture of a Reang camp Agaratala, Nov. 21 : Altogether 2,220 Reang tribesmen belonging to 487 families have taken shelter in the refugee camps in Kanchanpur subdivision of North Tripura in the past 36 hours amidst indications that those sheltered in Hailakandi district of Assam will also head for Tripura camps as bona fide refugees. Despite Mizoram health minister Lalhingriana Sailo and Assembly Speaker Romaoia’s visit to Jampui hills on Tuesday, and the telephone discussion between chief minister Manik Sarkar and Union home minister P. Chidambaram, there has been no let-up in influx. Sources here said the actual number of refugees in the latest round of influx since November 13 “must have crossed 6,000 already” though officially 2,230 Reangs belonging to 487 families had registered in the camps at Damcherra, Dashda and Jampi blocks in Kanchanpur subdivision. “Many more people have not checked into the camps and have been living either with relatives or in the open over the past few days. The situation is worsening day by day,” said Kanchanpur sub-divisional officer Uttam Chakma. He said a section of the Reangs who had entered Hailakandi subdivision in Assam has returned to Mizoram but the rest were heading to Tripura for food and shelter. “We have come to know that only 12 families have stayed back in Hailakandi but more than 30 are on their way to Tripura, trekking the hills,” Chakma said. The president of the Mizoram Displaced Bru Peoples Forum, Elvis Chorkhy, blamed the Mizo leaders and their supporters for the influx. Chorkhy said the Mizoram health minister and the Speaker had come to meet and assure the small Mizo population in Jampui hills of their support and efforts to protect them. “They spoke to a few Reang refugees in Saboal camp and said the families who had lost their homes in the arson would be given Rs 10,000 compensation on their return to Mizoram but said nothing on security. They did not even give any commitment that the Reangs would be given police protection on return to their state,” said Chorkhy. He also described the killing of a Mizo youth on November 13 as a planned conspiracy to preempt the repatriation of Reang refugees that was to commence from November 16. “Unless the majority of Mizos and their government changes their attitude, no solution to the problem will be possible,” added Chorkhy.

READ MORE - Refugees pour into Tripura

Bru leaders visit border villages in Mamit

Aizawl: Leaders of three Mizoram-based Bru organisations today visited some villages in Mamit district, located on the Tripura border, appealing for peaceful co-existence between majority Mizo and the minority Bru communities.

Members of Bru Students Association (BSA), Bru Cultural Organisation (BCA) and Aizawl Bru Welfare Committee (ABWC) went around the villages, some of which were rocked by violence following the murder of a youth at Bungthuam village, near Tripura border on November 13.

Superintendent of police, Mamit, LR Dingluaia said the delegation members also met top district officials.

"The team members informed their (Bru) people in the district that the state government has been making all out effort to contain the recent spurt of communal tension and there is no reason to flee to neighbouring Tripura," Dingluaia told PTI over phone.

Hundreds of huts had been torched as tension escalated following the murder of Zarzokima, an 18-year-old youth, by suspected Bru militants.

The chain of events caused serious setback to the proposed repatriation of Bru refugees from six relief camps in North Tripura where they had been lodged since 1997.

While the proposed repatriation of Brus from November 16, from Kanchanpur sub-division in Tripura, could not take off, around 400 Bru families crossed over to Tripura since November 13, officials said.

READ MORE - Bru leaders visit border villages in Mamit

River poisoning results in water scarcity in Aizawl, Mizoram

AIZAWL, Nov 5 – City dwellers are reeling under acute water scarcity after its supply was stopped due to the poisoning of a river.

State Public Health Engineering department officials today said that the poisoning of Serlui river, a tributary of river Tlawng, where from water is supplied to Aizawl, was detected yesterday and all the tanks were emptied.

Yesterday morning, a large number of dead fish, crab and prawn was found floating in the river. Later, laboratory tests confirmed the poisoning, officials said.

Around 47 lakh litres of water, already pumped into tanks got wasted, they said, adding that sabotage cannot be ruled out in the case.

READ MORE - River poisoning results in water scarcity in Aizawl, Mizoram

Displaced Bru- Mizo Govt talks held

AIZAWL, Nov 5 – A delegation of the Mizoram Bru Displaced People Forum (MBDPF) held talks today with representatives from the Mizoram government headed by state home secretary Lalmalsawma here.

The proposed repatriation of Bru refugees from the six relief camps in neighbouring North Tripura district was deliberated in the meeting.

The Bru delegation demanded that each family should be given Rs 50,000 as resettlement package as originally promised against Rs 20,000 as intended by the Centre.

READ MORE - Displaced Bru- Mizo Govt talks held

Revenue targets from Commonwealth Games are too optimistic

A recent detailed report carried out by Comptroller & Auditor General of India (CAG) has highlighted that Commonwealth Games Organizing Committee (OC) is aiming at mopping up highly optimistic revenues out of the Commonwealth Games scheduled for next October.

The report, compiled over a three-month period earlier this year, evaluated the committee's preparedness in seven key areas, and it reserved a large portion of its alarm for a chapter titled "Financial Management". The report highlights that the OC had nearly doubled its projected revenue, from an initial figure of Rs900 crore, to over Rs 1780 crore, which was beyond any realistic estimates.

The stream of revenue that appeared to most mystify CAG was sponsorship fees, which leaped from an estimate of Rs450 crore to Rs960 crore. A significant fraction of sponsorship benefits will also arrive in kind, according to the report, and so may not be sufficient to offset any operating expenses.

According to the report, steps for generating sponsorship and other revenue should be further expedited as the window of opportunity is fast shrinking with the passage of time. No sponsorship contracts had been signed at all when the report was written some three to four months back. Only one sponsorship deal,predictably with Air India, for transportation had been struck by that time.

Ticket sales, however, are only expected to generate Rs100 crore, a small fraction of the total and just one-third of another intriguing item in the OC's revenue break-up. The OC has just signed an agreement to hold a lottery in Mizoram, and is hoping that other non-lottery states will permit this in the interest of sport.
Sales of tickets for the Mizoram lottery will begin on 1 November, 85% of the proceeds will accrue to the OC, while 15% will go to the Mizoram government.

The OC treasurer insisted that the CAG report is not reliable, and that it had worked with outdated information, even though it was researched between March and May.

The OC's own timetable, however, had called for sponsorship rights sales to begin last November, and for raising Rs40 crore in sponsorship revenue by June. But neither of them transpired. However, he still expressed hopes of mopping up a major part of targeted revenues of Rs 1780 crore very close to the Commonwealth Games.

READ MORE - Revenue targets from Commonwealth Games are too optimistic

Man commits twin murders

AIZAWL, Oct 29: A man held in connection with the murder of a Public Health Engineering Department pump operator has confessed to have committed another murder.
Police sources today said here that Joseph Thanga (23), son of Sikar Marandi, a resident of Lawngtlai district in southern Mizoram, confessed to have killed IC Mishra (55) inside latter’s quarters at Tuithum near here on August 28.
He further confessed killing B Lalhmingpuia (43), inside the latters residence at Tuithiang locality here on January 13 this year. The accused was incarcerated in the Central Jail for smaller crimes earlier, where he said to his co-inmates that he had committed a murder.
Based on the information and the fact that at the time of his second victims death he was out of jail, the police zeroed in on him.

READ MORE - Man commits twin murders

Mizo women most cancer-prone in country

AIZAWL: A central government survey has revealed that a high percentage of women in Mizoram consume tobacco in various forms, making them the most cancer-prone in the country.

As per the latest National Family Health Survey report, 22% Mizo women are regular smokers as against the national average of 2.5%, making them the most cancer-prone in the country.

Apart from smoking, the womenfolk also indulge in other tobacco products, including 'Tuibur' (tobacco-infused water).

'Tuibur' is made locally by passing smoke generated by burning tobacco through water until the preparation turns cognac in colour and has a pungent smell.

Consumption of tobacco products is very common among the youths, principal investigator of the state Tobacco Cessation Clinic Dr Jane Ralte said, adding that the annual death rate among women smokers in the age group of 24-45 years was twice as high compared to those who abstained from the habit.

READ MORE - Mizo women most cancer-prone in country

Chakmas face discrimination in Mizoram

By Paritosh Chakma

According to the ACHR report, the state government has failed to provide Chakmas access to basic healthcare facilities. Most villages had no health care facilities at all and the poor villagers lived at the mercy of ojhas (traditional herbal doctors).

A REGIONAL human rights watchdog, the Asian Centre for Human Rights in its report “2009 India Human Rights Report,” released in New Delhi on Friday, accused Mizoram of practising “systematic discrimination” against minorities. The ACHR stated that minorities were denied employment, basic healthcare, education and right to development. The state government has failed to “address systematic discrimination against minorities – ethnic, linguistic and religious,” the report added.

The ACHR alleged that Chakma minorities who live outside the Chakma Autonomous District Council have to face “more discrimination and neglect.” Majority Chakmas live on the border with Bangladesh and the Central funds for the development of the border areas under the Border Area Development Programme have been misused. The report claimed the Ministry of Home Affairs released Rs 1,556 lakh during 2004-05, Rs 903.48 lakh during 2005-06, Rs 2262 lakh during 2006-07 and Rs 2086 lakh during 2007-08, to Mizoram under BADP. But the ACHR team during its visit to the border areas “found very limited evidence of development activities.”

The state government failed to provide Chakmas access to basic healthcare facilities. Most villages had no health care facilities at all and the poor villagers lived at the mercy of “ojhas” (traditional herbal doctors). Deaths of children were often not recorded.

According to the report, Chakma minorities faced discrimination in state employment. Various recruitment rules have been legislated requiring linguistic minority candidates to pass Mizo subject up to Middle School level to be eligible for government jobs. There is no provision for teaching Mizo subject in schools in Chakma villages and hence they faced “regular discrimination” in government employment. Due to such institutionalised discrimination, the Chakmas’ representation in government services in Mizoram remained negligible.

The report also highlighted the problems of compensation and rehabilitation faced by the Chakmas who have lost their lands by the ongoing India-Bangladesh border fencing, a project of the Ministry of Home Affairs. A total of 35,438 Chakma tribals from 49 villages along the international border would be displaced. Although their lands and houses have been either destroyed or acquired by the government under the Land Acquisition Act of 1894, the state Home Department has stated that the government did not consider the out-fenced Chakmas as displaced.

READ MORE - Chakmas face discrimination in Mizoram

That Sounds Unusual

By Suanshu Khurana

Daughter-in-law of former MP minister dies Daughter-in-law of former MP minister diesDaughter-in-law of former MP minister diesMan dies defending girl from eve-teaser in D...I'm back after scoring a century: Sports Min...Indian community leader condemns attacks on ...Nine UPA ministers have criminal cases again...

A 60-year-old pradhan from Garhwal sings with a chorus of villagers about goddesses bathing in the Ganga; a 12-year-old tribal girl sings an old temple song on the blue mountains of the Nilgiris; a 30-year-old housewife from Mizoram chants a gospel hymn. Amit Heri, the jazz guitarist who lapped up some praise for his compositions in the movie Morning Raga, is trying an unusual fusion in his new album Jhula: A World Music Yatra (Music Today). The 38-year-old brings together little-known folk music from remote parts of the country and layers it with jazz and Carnatic music.

“I have tried to capture the rawness of different folk sounds and blend it with my own modern interpretation of it,” says Heri, who travelled to villages near the Himalayas, the border hamlets of Kerala and the Northeast and the tribal heart of Central India for the nine-track album. Some of the folk melodies are part of the vast oral tradition of the country. He has contemporised them with a liberal use of the guitar, drums and the keyboard, and sometimes even stylised it with his trademark Carnatic style. “Not many people have heard these songs before. I have tried to make them relevant and find them a place in mainstream world music,” says Heri, who graduated from the Berklee College of Music and has performed at international festivals like the Berlin Jazz Festival, London Jazz Festival and the Rome World Music Festival

Heri admits he does not comprehend all the languages and dialects in his album, but that was never a big problem. “I could grasp the tune and the people would translate the gist of the song for me,” says Heri.

READ MORE - That Sounds Unusual

The Dark Age of Forced Conversions

There is nothing in black and white when it comes to conversion

Oswald Pereira in Delhi

The concerted attacks against Christians in Orissa and sporadic incidents of violence against the minority community in other parts of the country ought to be condemned by all civilised Indians. The assaults against Christians are tantamount to violation of the Indian Constitution and the country's democratic norms built so painstakingly despite the diversity and apparent contradictions in our polity. It is sad that a country that boasts of a rich and diverse heritage and a history of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence is developing pockmarks of fanatical intolerance.
While it is right for the civil society to condemn the planned assaults against Christians, it would be wrong to ignore the history of persecution and forced conversions perpetrated by fanatical European missionaries hundreds of years ago in India. However, it is foolish to justify the current assault against Christians as a backlash of the murder and mayhem committed by European invaders and their cohorts (read missionaries) in the name of religious conversions and the lure of a new kingdom of heaven offered to 'pagans'.
Besides, historical facts like the 'Holy Inquisition' against the Hindus in Goa by the Portuguese Catholic Church that began in 1560 and lasted for more than 250 years cannot be glossed over. Historian Alfredo De Mello had condemned, and rightly so, the perpetrators of the Goan Inquisition. He said that they were "nefarious, fiendish, lustful, corrupt religious orders which pounced on Goa for the purpose of destroying paganism and introducing the true religion of Christ."
There is historical evidence to prove that some sections of European Christians who invaded India plundered the country, indulged in organised violence against men, women and children, and forced people to convert to Christianity. Some Muslim invaders too left a similar trail of death and destruction while forcing Islam upon the sections of indigenous people. While proselytising by certain Muslim dominant forces ended a long, long time ago, evangelisation by over-zealous Christian missionaries did continue partially. There might be subtle inducements in some isolated cases. But there is no evidence to prove that this is a universal or widespread phenomenon in India.
However, two wrongs don't make a right. So there is no case for condoning the actions of Hindu fanatics because of forced conversions years ago. Those who were converted hundreds of years ago, even by force, have reconciled to their adopted faith. Those converted in recent years too seem to have willingly accepted the new faith. Besides, it's a constitutional right to choose one's religion or convert.
Christians should not be made to suffer and assaulted for adopting a faith by free will. If an Indian citizen is a Christian by choice, his will should be respected as the freedom to profess and practise your religion is a fundamental right. Besides, they are often victims, hardly the oppressors.
Personally, as a Christian, it would be traumatic for me to reverse the history of centuries and reconvert to the religion that my ancestors may have been born into - if that be the case. But I would like to put into perspective the issue of forced religious conversions.
That is what I've attempted to do in my (yet to be published) second novel (See http://revengeofthenakedprincess.wordpress.com). Called Revenge of the Naked Princess, the novel captures the dark age of forced religious conversions in India in the 16th century. This story happened 450 years ago. But the messages that it conveys are relevant even today.
The story begins on a hot, humid morning on May 28, 1560, when hundreds of beefy Portuguese soldiers armed with a monstrous six-horse driven cannon and scores of mean muskets, raid the palace of the beautiful tribal Princess Darshana Kamya Kathodi at Yehoorwada in Tana. The raid is not meant to capture the princess or the palace, but to cow her down, her soldiers and subjects into conversion. Based on the success of the small Yehoorwada kingdom raid, the Portuguese King John III, dubbed 'Grocer King', hopes to convert into Catholicism thousands of natives in mainline kingdoms in the rest of the country.
By multiplying the flock of faithful native Christians, the insomniac 'Grocer' King who spends the night tallying countless bags of spices stocked in royal storehouses in Portugal, aspires to build a captive market for spices.  Rome's avowed objective of conversion is to open the gates of heaven to the natives by bringing them into the fold of the Lord of love, mercy and compassion. But the real attraction is the employment opportunities for blue-eyed priests and the lucrative market for gold and silver crosses and sacred holy water that the land of the converts offers. 
That's the interesting catch: because everything is not in black and white.
The writer is a senior journalist. His debut novel was Beyond the Newsroom

READ MORE - The Dark Age of Forced Conversions

Parties feel the heat as voters stay home

The low voter turnout in the first phase of elections makes political parties jittery

Posted On Friday, April 17, 2009 at 12:42:56 PM

The low voter turnout in the first phase of the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra has alarmed senior party leaders. According to reports, the turnout was approximately 54%, almost 10% less than the average voting in the state Was it is due to the scorching sun or the sheer apathy on the part of almost half of the 18.1 million voters? These are the questions now being asked in the state headquarters of major parties. Could it be that star campaigners-like Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, L K Advani, Narendra Modi Mayawati, Sharad Pawar, Vilasrao Deshmukh, Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, Gopinath Munde, and Nitin Gadkari to name a few-have lost their lustre, failing to generate sufficient voter interest in the polls? Union ministers Praful Patel, Vilas Muttemwar and Suryakanta Patil, AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik, Datta Meghe (NCP), Bhavana Gawli (Shiv Sena), Prakash Ambedkar (BRP), and Bhaskarrao Khatgaonkar (brother-in-law of chief minister Ashok Chavan, NCP), were among the prominent leaders in the first phase. Word on the street is that Congress leaders are keeping their fingers crossed as they are depending heavily on the Vidarbha region for votes. However, they are worried as a low percentage of voting has always affected their chances. Past precedence has shown that the Congress always receives a boost from the floating vote, while a low voter turnout usually comprises die-hard loyalists of local parties, such as the Sena. MPCC president Manikrao Thakare, who reviewed the situation, however, claimed that there was a "positive response'' from the voters to the Congress-NCP-RPI alliance. He added that in all the rallies held so far, Sonia and Rahul Gandhi were crowd-pullers. Their presence, he said, helped generate a positive atmosphere as both addressed less contentious issues. But unlike the Gandhis, whose presence guarantee crowds, state-level leaders are not getting the expected response while campaigning. So, the Congress is taking no chances, and is organising more rallies led by Sonia and Rahul Gandhi for the second phase of voting, scheduled on April 23. According to MPCC spokesperson Kanahaiyalal Gidwani, Sonia will address meetings in Jalna, Pune and Dondaich in Dhule on April 20, while Rahul will be at Bhiwandi and Shirdi on April 19. The MPCC has also decided to put in more effort to ensure mobilisation of crowds at the rallies. MPCC general secretary Sanjay Dutt and Rajani Patil (vice-president) will be in charge of the Pune meeting, while MPCC officials Sheshrao Chavan and Prakash Mugdiya will be in charge of the mobilisation efforts for the Jalna meeting. Senior leaders have also been roped in. One senior AICC observer told TOI that Congress is expecting a large chunk of seats: a minimum of 15 seats from Congress and another dozen from the NCP, a total that will ensure the alliance a comfortable position in the post- election wrap-up. The NCP, too, is refusing to read too much into the low voter turnout. The party spokesperson and former minister Madan Bafna said it was difficult to say who would benefit from the low turnout. Much will depend on the mobilisation of voters by different political parties during the two-week campaigning, he said. Meanwhile, Sena spokesperson Dr Nilam Gorhe said the party was receiving a good response on the campaign trail, and that members were not worried about the low figures. Sena-BJP leaders are hopeful that the low turnout will work in their favour, but they are in no hurry to talk about it and alarm the Cong-NCP alliance in the state. Lack of transportation facilities many have also played a role in the low voter turnout. Due to the Election Commission's vigilant watch, no candidate was taking the risk of providing voters with vehicles so that they can reach the polling booths

READ MORE - Parties feel the heat as voters stay home

Mizoram sees lowest turnout ever

Aizawl, Apr 18 : Mizoram has witnessed a 48.66 per cent poll turnout, the lowest in the history of Lok Sabha elections in the state since it became a Union Territory in 1972.

''Owing to poor communication network
, the results could not be received on time. When the results reached us, the poll percentage turned out to be only 48.66,'' poll officials said here today.

However, the votes polled in the eight relief camps of Bru/Reang refugees were quite high touching 57.7 per cent. In the relief camps, six in North Tripura district and two in Mizoram Mamit district, there are 12,539 eligible voters for Mizoram.

The ballots cast by the Reangs are on their way to the state capital Aizawl under tight security surveillance, officials said.

The 1977 parliamentary elections in Mizoram witnessed a 49.91 poll percentage which had been the lowest until this year's poll turnout.

The fate of the four candidates for the state's lone Lok Sabha seat will remain sealed in strong rooms in headquarters of the each eight districts of Mizoram till May 16.

The run up to the polls will witness a straight fight between Congress nominee and party stalwart C L Ruala and Mizo National Front-Mizoram People's Conference combined candidate and former MP Dr H Lallungmuana.

The two other candidates - Rualpawla of little-known Israel National Front (independent ticket) and Lalawmpuia Chhangte of the Nationalist Congress Party - are unlikely to get more than 10,000 votes each.

All the EVMs used in the polling stations in Aizawl district reached a heavily-guarded strong room here this morning.

Aizawl district election observer Renilla D Marak and Aizawl DC/DEO C Thanchhuma received the EVMs in the presence of other officials.

Mizoram also had by-election yesterday to the South Tuipui Assembly constituency left vacant by Chief Minister Lal Thanhawla.

The by-poll, which was a two-cornered fight between MNF-MPC and ruling Congress party, recorded 67.96 per cent voters' turnout.

READ MORE - Mizoram sees lowest turnout ever

Polling for 10 N-E LS seats peaceful with high turnout

GUWAHATI: Polling for the 10 Lok Sabha seats in six north eastern states went off pretty peacefully on Thursday with a fairly high turnout.

By northeast standards, the first phase of elections went off without a hitch except for a gun battle beween security forces and militants in a polling booth in the Autonomous District constituency. An improvised explosive device explosion had also taken place and a powerful IED was recovered in KarbiAnglong district.

Around 62 percent polling was recorded in the three parliamentary seats of Silchar, Karimganj, and Autonomous District of Assam. A polling officer tried to commit suicide in the Howarhgat area under the Autonomous District constituency.

According to Himanta Narzary, state chief Electoral officer, miscreants tried to snatch voting machines in two polling booths in Karimganj. Technical snags in EVMs was reported from 14 polling stations in Karimganj, eight in Silchar and three in the Autonomous district. "In Katlichera area the EVM was destroyed and we have sought EC’s permission for repoll," Mr Nazary added. Assam and Nagaland does not have Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPICs).

For the two seats in Meghalaya, polling was about 60 percent, while Nagaland registered the highest turnout for its solitary seat at 85 percent. Till 3 pm, polling for the lone Mizoram seat was 48 percent, but it is expected to touch 50 percent by the end of the day. Polling in West Arunachal Pradesh was about 59 percent while in East Arunachal, there was a 63 percent turnout.

Jiban Singh, DIG of Assam police, told ET, "Militants exploded an IED and a gun battle waged between BSF and militants when BSF personnel were attacked as they were returning from pol duty in KarbiAnglong," The police suspected the Karbi Longri National Front (KLNLF) as perpetrators of the crime. "There were also reports of clashes between supporters of Congress and Assam United Democratic Front (AUDF)" Mr Singh said.

State election commission officials said there was no violent incident in Meghalaya. "There were reports of EVM damage from one or two polling stations in Nagaland. We have sought a report and will the needful accordingly" they said.

State election commission officials indicated that there was a likelihood of re-polling in three or four polling booths in Manipur. In Mizoram, polling was by and large peaceful. The electorate in a certain village comprising 209 voters boycotted polls entirely on the issue of re-alignment of the national highway. There were altogether of 12 cases of poll related violence and EVMS damage in Arunachal Pradesh.

Altogether, about 7.45 million voters will decide the political fortunes of 72 candidates in six states of the northeast. Thursday’s ballot will decide the fate of sitting NCP MP, Agatha K Sangma, daughter of P A Sangma and the the youngest MP in the last Lok Sabha.

It will also decide the fate of BJP MP, Kiren Rijiju, Congress heavyweight and Union Minister for Heavy Industries, Santosh Mohan Dev, former minister of state for communications, Kabindra Purukayastha of BJP and AUDF president, Badruddin Ajmal.

READ MORE - Polling for 10 N-E LS seats peaceful with high turnout

Mizoram News Briefs

The first batch of 123 Polling Parties in Lunglei and Lawngtlai District have left today for their respective Polling Stations which are situated in interior areas. These comprised of 58 Polling Parties in Lunglei District and 65 in Lawngtlai District. These Parties also included those who are to undertake foot march in 40 villages in both the Districts. In Lunglei, the rest of the Polling Party except those to be deployed in Lunglei town area are to leave tomorrow. In Lawngtlai District the rest 80 Polling Parties are also to leave for their respective Polling Stations tomorrow. Meanwhile Polling Materials were issued to the Polling Parties in Aizawl, Mamit, Champhai and Saiha today. However, the last briefing of the polling personnel was held  in Serchhip and Kolasib today. The Polling Parties are to collect the polling materials tomorrow and some of them will leave for their destinations tomorrow itself.

Security personnel to be deployed on election duty in Aizawl district were also briefed in a function held at Vanapa Hall today. The Addl. SP, Mr Rodingliana Chawngthu and Mr. Ngursangliana Sailo briefed them on do’s and don’ts as well as for performance of their election duties with dedication till completion.
——

Polling Parties headed by Nodal Officers have arrived in 6 Bru Camps of Tripura to conduct polling by Postal Ballot Paper. According to the instruction of the Election Commission the Polling Parties are to issue Postal Ballot Papers from tomorrow to the genuine voters who are duly enrolled in the list of voters. As already stated, there are 4682 voters in the Bru camps who are eligible exercise their franchise in the coming Lok Sabha election.
——

Four candidates of the lone Lok Sabha seat in Mizoram shared a common platform in Aizawl today. Addressing the gathering an Independent supported by MNF and MPC, Dr. H. Lallungmuana said, his agenda is to see whether indigenous people of Mizoram occupy their rightful place as UN Declaration of Right to Indigenous People. He also underlined the need to utilize Central assistance for sustenance of the people of Mizoram to enable them to stand on their own.  Addressing the people, the Nationalist Congress candidate, Mr. Lalawmpuia Chhangte also said that Mizoram needs a person who can stand on behalf of the people to safeguard and protect them whenever there is a threat to the community and their religion. He also vowed to improve power position of the state. Describing the election as the battle fought between David and Goliath as written in the Bible, the Israel National Front candidate, Mr. Rualpawla said, representative of the Mizos in the Parliament needs to have good relation with the Israel Government. The Congress candidate, Mr. CL Ruala who addressed the meeting lastly also underlined the need to boost power generation in the state with the help of the Centre. His priority lists also included exploration of hydro carbon deposits underneath Mizoram and implementation of the Look East Policy of the Centre. The joint platform organized by the MPF was attended by a number of party workers and it was presided over by the MPF Secretary Dr.Lalbiakmawia Ngente.
————-

Sixteen houses were completely gutted by fire in Vathuampui yesterday. Official sources in Lawngtlai told ZONET that there was no casualty or injury because of the fire though properties worth of several thousand rupees were destroyed in the fire. The Deputy Commissioner, Lawngtlai has sent BDO Bungtlang to conduct on the spot verification of the incident and the quantum of assistance to be given to the fire victims. Meanwhile, the people of Piler and Sialsir villages in Serchhip district are troubled by forest fire during the last two days. Our Serchhip Corr. reported that the people of Sialsir village have got panic as the fire engulf their village. The people of the nearby villages were also asked to come forward to help them. In the meantime, the people of Piler village also continue the fight against the wild fire which has damaged a large cultivable land.
———-

One hundred and six persons fell ill after consumption of a wedding feast in Lunglei last week. According to delayed information, some of them complaint stomach pain with fever as the immediate symptom which was followed by loose motion and vomiting. They were taken to the Civil Hospital and Christian Hospital in Serkawn. The District Magistrate set up an Enquiry Committee headed by the SDPO, Mr. PC Lalchunglura with 3 members who are doctors. The Enquiry Committee is to submit its report to the Deputy Commissioner within 3 days. ———-

The Relief Committee of Baptist Church of Mizoram (BCM) has sent 40 bundles of CGI sheets for roofing materials of 20 cyclone victims families in Sangau and Sentetfiang villages. The BCM Relief Committee Secretary, Rev. R. Lalrintluanga told ZONET that the CGI sheets were sent to the 2 villages today by a 407 Truck.
———-

The birthday of the Architect of Indian Constitution Dr. BR Ambedkar falls tomorrow. The Governor have declared the day as a public holiday under Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881. All the Government offices, educational institution, banks and public undertakings will be closed.
———

Stock position of rice in 14 Principal Distributing Centres all over the state have been improved considerably. In reply to ZONET Corr., the senior official of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Department said, over 42 thousand and 499 quintals of rice have been lifted during the last two days and stored in the PDCs at Lawngtlai, Lunglei, Hnahthial, Serchhip, Chhingchhip, Champhai, Khawzawl, Kawlkulh, Saitual, Kolasib, Kawnpui, Lungdai, Aibawk andAizawl for distribution to the people on the basis of ration card.
———

READ MORE - Mizoram News Briefs

Mizoram's international border sealed

Aizawl, Apr 13 : Mizoram's international border with Myanmar and Bangladesh have been sealed to prevent disruptive forces from entering the state during the elections on April 16, official sources said on Monday.

Mizoram's 722-km long international border with Myanmar and Bangladesh have been sealed and strict vigil maintained along the borders with the Assam Rifles deploying additional forces in the areas adjoining Myanmar and Manipur border, sources said.

Preparations for the election to the lone Mizoram Lok Sabha seat and assembly by-poll to the South Tuipui constituency to be held on April 16 are complete, Mizoram joint chief electoral officer Lalhmingthanga.

"All the polling parties collected polling materials and other necessary items by today and everything would be ready in the polling stations by Wednesday, the eve of the polling," he said.

A 50-strong polling party left Aizawl on Sunday for Tripura to conduct polling for 4,682 Bru voters now lodged at six relief camps in North Tripura district's Kanchanpur Sub-Division, he said.

An electorate of 6,29,155 voters would exercise franchise on April 16 in 1,026 polling stations of which 40 are identified as sensitive.

READ MORE - Mizoram's international border sealed

Sangliana’s wife is five times richer than him

BANGALORE: It seems there is a rich woman behind every male politician if one goes by the assets declared while filing nominations for Lok Sabha polls.

After the better-halves of H N Ananth Kumar and H D Kumaraswamy, it is the wife of H T Sangliana who has emerged richer than her husband.

According to the assets declared by Sangliana while filing nominations as Congress candidate from Bangalore Central on Friday, his wife C Rothangpull owns property worth Rs 2.14 crore while his property amounts to Rs 40.61 lakh. That means his wife is about five times richer than him. This former Bangalore city police commissioner's assets include Rs 2,61,447 cash, 3.10 acres land worth Rs 3 lakh in Churachandpur, Manipur; a flat worth Rs 35 lakh in Koramangala. His wife owns jewellery worth R 2.8 lakh, two acres of land worth Rs 10 lakh near Gangenahalli and a house worth Rs 2 crore in Indiranagar. Most politicians flaunt luxury cars but Sangliana owns a third-hand Maruti 1000 car (1994 model).

CLEAN IMAGE
After filing nominations, he asked people to vote for him as his poll rivals - BJP candidate P C Mohan and JDS contestant Zameer Ahmed Khan - were corrupt and he was the only genuine clean candidate.

Source: Bangalore Mirror

READ MORE - Sangliana’s wife is five times richer than him

Bandhs to greet Sonia in N-E

SHILLONG/IMPHAL: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi's visit to Meghalaya and Manipur will be greeted by bandhs. While a Khasi rebel outfit called bandh on Monday when Sonia visits Shillong, the Joint Action Committee in Manipur formed against MCS officer Kishan's killing has given a strike call the day she lands in Imphal.

Sonia is supposed to address election rallies in Shillong, Silchar, Imphal and Arunachal Pradesh on Monday. Though, a students' organization had called a bandh in Silchar, it is likely to be withdrawn.

The outlawed Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) has called a bandh on April 13 in the Khasi-Jaintia Hills to protest the proposed visit of the Congress president.

The banned Khasi outfit had called for a bandh during PM Manmohan Singh's visit to Shillong to address an election rally ahead of the Assembly polls in March last year. However, the Khasi rebel outfit is under pressure from public as the day coincides with a popular Khasi dance festival Seng Kut Snem.

In Manipur, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) set up against the brutal killing of MCS officer Thingnam Kishan Singh and two of his staff has already announced a boycott of Sonia's visit. As AICC president is likely come to the state on Monday, JAC has decided to call a state-wide general strike on that day.

JAC charged her for keeping mum over the triple killing and Irom Sharmila Chanu's lone campaign against the controversial Armed Forces
(Special Powers) Act. JAC convener N Michael asked whether the Centre has any hidden agenda for refusing to ask NSCN (IM) to hand over the culprits to the state, and said Sonia's proposed visit is nothing but fooling the public.

Sources in Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), however, said AICC is yet to confirm Sonia's Imphal visit.

In Shillong, the state Congress leaders are hoping that party supremo Sonia Gandhi will finally seal the deal in its favour. Though Shillong has always been its traditional bastion, the Congress is currently facing a tough challenge from the NCP-led Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA).

Sonia is scheduled to address a public rally at the Jawaharlal Nehru Sports Complex here on Monday in support of party candidate Vincent Pala for the Shillong seat, which goes to the polls on April 16. With sitting MP and Union tribal affairs minister P R Kyndiah opting out of the elections, the Congress fielded business tycoon Pala, who, however, is a relatively unknown entity in the political and public circles.

On the other hand, the MPA has thrown its weight behind the United Democratic Party (UDP) candidate John F Kharshiing, who has a rapport with the traditional tribal administrative organizations in the state and is a well-known figure among the masses.

"Our party is sure to retain the Shillong seat, which we have represented in the Lok Sabha ever since the creation of the state and it will be no different this time. The visit of AICC president will ensure that our margin of victory will be much higher than what it was last time," a senior Congress member said.

READ MORE - Bandhs to greet Sonia in N-E

Thailand declares emergency as protesters storm summit

GETTY IMAGES

Supporters of exiled former premier Thaksin Shinawatra battle with pro-government supporters

Anti-government protesters stormed a building where leaders of Asian nations were to meet today, prompting Thailand's government to cancel the summit and declare a state of emergency in the seaside city that was to host it.
The leaders were being evacuated by helicopter from Pattaya to a nearby military airport, a security official said on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

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The red-shirted protesters, who are calling for the resignation of Thai Prime Abhisit Vejjajiva, declared victory and walked away from the convention center.
"We have won. We have stopped them from holding a summit," Jakrapob Penkair, one of the protest leaders, said in the capital, Bangkok. "But we have not achieved our goal yet. We will continue to protest in Bangkok until Abhisit resigns."
More than 1,000 protesters smashed through the convention center's glass doors and ran through the building, overturning tables, blowing horns, waving Thai flags and screaming, "Abhisit get out!"
All the leaders were safe, said Foreign Ministry spokesman Tharit Charungvat. Nine leaders from Southeast Asian nations were in a nearby hotel on the convention grounds at the time the protesters broke in.
"The meeting cannot go on. We have to consider the security of the leaders," government spokesman Supachai Jaisamuth said. "The situation is too violent and it is a security concern for the leaders."
The chaos dealt a major blow to Abhisit, who has been trying to project an image of calm and normality since taking power in a parliamentary vote four months ago after a court dissolved the previous government for election fraud.
It also scuttles a chance for the 16 regional leaders, including those from China, Japan and South Korea, to confer on ways to combat the global slump that has battered Asia's export-oriented economies. North Korea's recent rocket launch also was to be discussed at the gathering, which on Sunday was to include Australia, New Zealand and India for the full-fledged East Asia Summit.
Government spokesman Panitan Wattanayagorn said he hoped the summit could be rescheduled within the next few months, and warned protesters that "very tough standards will be applied to them very soon."
The summit started Friday with a dinner among leaders from the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, but fell apart Saturday morning as protesters blocked access to some of the delegates' hotels.
Organizers had to delay — and then cancel — morning meetings between Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and ASEAN leaders, as well as meetings with the president of South Korea, and later with Japan's prime minister.
A breakfast meeting of the foreign ministers from Japan, China and South Korea also was canceled.
The airplane carrying Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, who was to join the summit Sunday, was diverted on news of the cancellation. After making a refueling stop, he was to fly back to Australia, officials said.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, scheduled to meet with ASEAN leaders Sunday, issued a statement saying he "deeply regretted" that the summit was called off, and would not be attending.
The protesters are supporters of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was deposed in a 2006 military coup for alleged corruption and abuse of power. They say Abhisit was not elected by the people and should step down so new elections can be held.
"We want to tell Abhisit himself that this meeting cannot go on," protest leader Arisman Pongreungrong said after leading the mob into the hilltop convention hall in Pattaya, a resort city about 140 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Bangkok.
The protesters met little resistance from a thin line of soldiers in riot gear who were standing in front of the summit venue. When the protesters pushed toward the building and started pounding on the glass facade, the soldiers attempted to push them back but were overwhelmed by their numbers.
Abhisit, who has repeatedly refused to step down, went on national television and declared a state of emergency in the area surrounding the summit.
The decree gives the military the right to restore order, allows authorities to suspend civil liberties, bans public gatherings of more than five people and bars the media from reporting news that "causes panic."
Earlier in the day, there were clashes between anti-government protesters and pro-government groups, some wearing masks. Panitan, the government spokesman, said authorities were investigating reports of shots fired and an explosion.
Chatree Charoenchivakul at the Narenthorn Emergency Center said 10 people had minor injuries, including four red-shirted protesters. One demonstrator had serious injuries with shrapnel in his abdomen, he said.

READ MORE - Thailand declares emergency as protesters storm summit

Bru voters in Mizoram to cast votes on April 14 and 15

Aizawl , Apr 11 Bru voters in North Tripura district would cast their votes through postal ballots in their relief camps on April 14 and 15 for the lone Mizoram Parliamentary seat, for which the rest of the state would vote on April 16, election officials said here today.

Bru refugees are the only people, besides defence personnel and polling officials, permitted to cast their votes through postal ballots.

A 50-strong polling party would leave Aizawl tomorrow for the six relief camps in the district to conduct polls, state Joint Chief Electoral Officer Lalhmingthanga told PTI.

Hoping that the 4,682 Bru voters would complete the polling exercise during the two days, he informed that the security arrangements at the relief camps would be made by the District Magistrate.

Bru voters had earlier exercised their franchise through postal ballots in the December assembly polls.

READ MORE - Bru voters in Mizoram to cast votes on April 14 and 15

MPA stakes claim to form govt in Meghalaya, Cong counters

SHILLONG: Shell-shocked at losing power even after winning a controversial trust vote in the Assembly, the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) on Sunday made a renewed effort to revive its lost power by sending a representation to Governor RS Mooshahary and staking claim to form the government.

The Donkupar Roy-led alliance maintained that the non-Congress combine still had the majority in the 60-member House. The MPA's move, however, was ridiculed by Congress, which claimed to have the support of 31 legislators. In its representation to the Governor, the MPA said it should be invited to form the government because it had proved its majority on the floor of the Assembly on March 17.

"We said that we are ready to take a floor test again," an MPA leader said outside the Raj Bhavan complex here.

The NCP-led coalition also handed over the Governor a list of 28 members, excluding United Democratic Party (UDP) legislator and Assembly Speaker Bindo M Lanong.

Interestingly, Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) MLA and former health minister Adviser Pariong, who was earlier suspended after he had resigned from the then Donkupar Roy-led government, also figured in the MPA's list of MLAs.

Raj Bhavan sources said the Governor was currently out of the state and he was yet to receive the MPA representation.

On the other hand, Congress spokesperson R C Laloo claimed that the Congress-led Meghalaya United Alliance (MUA) had the majority in the Assembly, saying MPA should have 31 MLAs, not 28, to prove its majority.

"Not MPA, we (MUA) have 31 MLAs," he said. The legislator from Jaintia Hills said it was doubtful whether MPA had 28 legislators as NCP leader Purno A Sangma was not in Shillong.

The development comes even as the political turmoil in the state has flared into a legal hassle in New Delhi with MPA moving the Supreme Court
challenging the "illegal" imposition of President's Rule in the state.

While the Gauhati High Court had stayed the suspension of the five rebel MLAs by the Speaker, the apex court gave Lanong a "free-hand" to go ahead with the disqualification proceedings against the MLAs who had switched sides leading to the current political turmoil.

READ MORE - MPA stakes claim to form govt in Meghalaya, Cong counters

Sangma, others to lose post in Meghalaya

Shillong, March 30 : Over 100 persons with political affiliations, including NCP leader P A Sangma, who were in boards and corporations under the Meghalaya government, have lost their posts after they were de-notified in the wake of imposition of President's Rule.

“All political appointees to various boards and corporations under the government have been de-notified, and facilities extended to them withdrawn. This has been done to maintain impartiality and fair play,” a government official told PTI here today.

Besides NCP leader Mr PA Sangma, who was the chairman of the state Planning Board, former CM and United Democratic Party leader Mr JD Rymbai also lost his post as the Chairman of state economic development council.

Among others were 17 sitting MLAs, nineteen former legislators and persons with political affiliations, who were appointed as chairpersons or members of at least 25 different boards, councils, corporations and other agencies.

The chairman of a board is entitled to get perks and allowances of over Rs 30,000 along with a slew of other facilities.

All the appointments were made by the then ruling five-party MPA last year, in an apparent bid to pacify all the member partners of the coalition as well as to rehabilitate candidates who had lost the assembly elections to their rivals.

READ MORE - Sangma, others to lose post in Meghalaya

Human rights law network organised

ALLAHABAD: Human Rights Law Network organised a state level legal training workshop on the implementation of SC/ST Act and other related issues at the Nirala Sabhagar wherein over hundreds of advocates and activists from 15 districts participated.

Inaugurating the conference, noted dalit thinker Pancham Lal said that progressive laws have little effect if the mindset of the society does not change and a massive campaign to arouse the consciousness should be initiated. He lamented that even after 20 years of being promulgated, rate of conviction in the SC/ST Act remains dismally below five per cent.

Sunit Singh, social scientist of GB Pant Social Sciences Institute, while addressing the gathering on the fallout of implementation of national rural employment guarantee scheme stated that due to lack of social audit and effective monitoring, the corrupt bureaucrats in connivance with gram pradhans were making hay while the rural employed continued to live in pitiable conditions. Earlier, social activist and advocate of Allahabad High Court, KK Roy welcomed the delegates.

On the occasion, a two-day training workshop on dalit related laws passed a resolution to build a dalit advocates and activists network for effective implementation of legal provisions. Additional chief standing counsel of the state government Vipin Bihar was the chief guest on the occasion.

A resolution was also passed to make a representation to the state government for extending strict punishment to those police personnel who refuse to lodge First Information Report (FIR) and fail to submit the chargesheet within 30 days as specified in the SC/ST Act.

READ MORE - Human rights law network organised

Fake currencies worth Rs 1 lakh found from Reang refugees

Agartala , Mar 30  Fake currencies worth Rs one lakh were recovered from two inmates of Reang refugee camps of Kanchanpur sub-division in North Tripura district, police said today. 

The duo were apprehended with the counterfeit notes at tribal hamlet  Longtir near the camps yesterday when a group of  Assam  Rifles jawans, patrolling near the  Tripura-  Mizoram border stretch noticed them, police said, adding identities of the two are not yet known.    

A racket was active in dealing fake  Indian currencies in   Mizoram and circulating the money in Tripura's  North district through  Reang refugees, police said.    

More than 33,000 Reang refugees from neighbouring Mizoram, who had migrated from their ancestral homes since 1997 following ethnic clashes with the  Mizos there, were sheltered in six evacuee camps in   Kanchanpur sub-division.

READ MORE - Fake currencies worth Rs 1 lakh found from Reang refugees

Mizoram News Briefs 24th March

The Chief Minister, Mr. Lal Thanhawla said, the boundary between Mizoram and Assam as accepted by the Government of Mizoram is the boundary drawn by Governor General-in-Council in 1875. Intervening in the reply to a question asked by the MPC member,  Mr. Lalthansanga, the Chief Minister said, the first UT Government headed by Ch. Chhunga did not accept the boundary drawn by Assam Government in 1933 without the knowledge of the Mizos. Boundary Committee was subsequently constituted and the stand of the Government continues to be the boundary as drawn in 1875. Earlier, replying to the main question, the Revenue Minister, Mr. JH Rothuama informed the House that the boundary between Mizoram and Assam observed till date is 1933 boundary. He also said that the issue was taken up by Mr. Lal Thanhawla in 1994 while he was Chief Minister of the state. He however said, the issue was not discussed in the Chief Minister level of the two states.

Education Minister Mr. Lalsawta said, there is no plan for amalgamation of Higher Secondary Schools and Secondary Schools at present. He also said that the Government is intending to formulate Mizoram Education Policy. In reply to ZNP, Mr. K.Liantlinga, the Education Minister said, the Government is contemplating constitution of Education Reform Commission which will look into various issues and problems within Education Department.
———–

The Mizoram Parliamentary Secretaries (Appointment, Salaries, Allowances and Miscellaneous Provisions) bill-2009 moved by the Chief Minister, Mr.  Lal Thanhawla was  passed by the House  this afternoon.  Winding up the discussion on the Bill, the Chief Minister asserted that appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries was the practice in Central Government and in a number of State Governments till date. He also said that the Government has taken this decision after consideration of important roles to be played by them for the people which will entail certain amount of expenditure.
———-

Chief Minister Mr. Lal Thanhawla informed the House that there will be no discrimination in selection of NLUP beneficiaries. Replying to the question asked by MNF member, Mr. C. Ramhluna, the Chief Minister however clarified that selection will be done carefully to select the right person who is willing to implement the scheme. Referring to the lesson learnt in the past, the Chief Minister said, the Government will try to ensure selection of deserving persons who can utilize the assistance for its correct purpose. In reply to the main question, Rural Development Minister, Mr. R. Lalzirliana said, the Congress leaders never said that the quantum of assistance to be given to the beneficiaries under NLUP will be one lakh rupees. The Party leader rather said that the quantum will be not less than one lakh rupees depending on the trade selected by the beneficiary.
——–

Three Financial Committees of the House constituted recently was announced by the Speaker, Mr. R. Romawia. The Public Accounts Committee members are, Brig. T.  Sailo, Mr. B. Lalthlengliana and Mr. Lalduhoma, Mr. K. Lianzuala, Mr. C. Ramhluna, Mr. K. Lalrinthanga and Mr. TT Zothansanga. The Estimates Committee Members are Dr. R. Lalthangliana, Mr. Nirupam Chakma, Mr. K. Liantlinga, Mr. R.Lalrinawma, Mr. Lalrobiaka and Mr. Joseph Lalhimpuia and the Public Undertaking Committee members are Mr. PP Thawla, Lt. Col. ZS zuala, Mr.Hmingdailova Khiangte, Mr. R. Selthuama, Mr. RL Pianmawia and Mr.Lalthansanga.
——–

Hmunnghak Branch YMA constructed a dwelling house for an old and infirmed person, Siammawia. Engaging themselves in a voluntary social work yesterday and today construction of the thatched house was completed today. Other voluntary organization like MHIP, MUP and the Village Council also made contributions for construction of the house.
———–

A house of KT Zama of South Sabual was completely gutted by fire last night. According to telephonic information, there was no loss of life but the entire properties of the inmates were reduced to ashes. Volunteers from the village and the surrounding villages reconstructed a temporary shelter today by organizing voluntary social work. They also collected donations from other families in aid of the fire victim.
————–

The Assam Rifles celebrated its 174th Raising Day today. The day was celebrated by the 23 Sector Assam Rifles at its Hqrs. and in the Unit Hqrs. Senior officers of the Assam Rifles also laid wreath at the War Memorial in Treasury Square, Aizawl to pay homage to the riflemen who have laid their lives for the country. The 23 Sector Commander, Brig. Anil Pratap Rai led the officers in paying respect to the departed soul. The 10th Assam Rifles also held Special Sainik Sammelan at their Hqrs. which was addressed by the Commanding Officer, Col. Ajit Singh Walia. Set up way back in 1835 as Cachar Levy by Grange, the title of the force underwent several changes till it is known as the Assam Rifles. For the remarkable role played by the Force, the Assam Rifle has been known as ‘Friends of the Hill people’
——–

Today, the maximum temperature of Aizawl City was 30.4  degree Celsius and the minimum was 19.6 degree Celsius.

READ MORE - Mizoram News Briefs 24th March

It was 'murder' of democracy in Meghalaya, claims ousted CM

New Delhi, Mar 20 : Terming the imposition of President's rule in Meghalaya as "murder of democracy", ousted chief minister Donkupar Roy today accused Governor R S Moosahary of acting as a "stooge" of Congress party.

"It is nothing but murder of democracy in Meghalaya," Roy told PTI.

Claiming that the Centre's decision to impose President's rule in Meghalaya was "highly illegal" and "unconstitutional", Roy accused Moosahary of sending a "wrong" report to the Centre on the March 17 events in the Assembly when the Meghalaya Progressive Alliance government won the trust vote.

"The Governor blatantly supported the Congress. He has become a stooge of Congress party," Roy, who is camping in New Delhi, said and vowed to fight against the "unethical and unwarranted" move of the Central government in the Supreme Court till they get justice.

"We will fight till the last to get justice," he said adding "I have full faith in the judiciary. It is the judiciary, which can save the country". MORE

READ MORE - It was 'murder' of democracy in Meghalaya, claims ousted CM

MSU-in thudik lo report-ah puh

Aizawl:Mizo Students’ Union chuan Kolasib district, Saihapui V-a Assam sawrkarin school a din nia an sawi school education department-in minister hnena report a pek danah thil dik tawk lo a awm nia sawiin, he school chungchangah hian Mizoram sawrkar chuan hma la vat se an duh.

MSU hian Saihapui ‘V’ a Assam sawrkar enkawl Donakhal school hi Feb. 20, 2009 khan a hmunah kalchilhin an enfiah tawh niin an sawi a. Helai hi ramri, ram inchuh lai niin Donakhal school-ah hian Bengali medium zir a ni a, Mizo zirtirtu, Vanlalnghaka a awm a, a ni hian Assam sawrkar atangin hlawh a la a, amah chauh hi zirtirtu awmin a pension tep tawh nghe nghe a ni, an ti. He school-ah hian hnamdang zirlai naupang 30 chuang an awm mek a ni, an ti bawk.
Hetihlai hian school education deptt. hotuten a hmuna kal SDEO report an tarlan danah chuan Donakhal school-ah hian zirtirtu 3/4 vel an awm a, an zingah hian Mizo pakhat a awm ve nia tarlangin, zirlai naupang 6/7 vel lek awmin, helai hmun hi Assam ramri chhunga ngaih thin a ni a, mahse tunah chuan school hi an rawn ngaihsak tha lo hle niin an sawi thung.
School education deptt. report-ah Assam sawrkarin he school hi enkawl tha vak tawh lo anga a tarlan lai hian a hmuna enfiahtu MSU chuan tunhnai mai khan a building pawh hi an rawn sa tha niin an sawi.
Department report dan chuan he khuaah hian SSA Mizoram-in school an din a, a khua naupangte pawh Mizoram enkawl primary school-ah hian an kal deuh vek a, Donakhal school hi tihtawp an duh hle thin a, mahse disputed area a nih anga engemaw hleka boruak sosang thut thei a nih avangin hma lak mai a rem thin lo niin a tarlang.
MSU chuan hemi chungchanga hma la tur hian home minister pawh an lo ngen tawh a, Saihapui V chu Mizoram chhung ngeia awm a nih dan te, electoral roll hluia awm mi 37 Assam sawrkar hnuaia awm tih loh chu Mizoram electoral roll-ah an hming a chuang vek tawh thu te, revenue pawh Mizoram sawrkarah chhungin ram pawh VC pass-na inpek chhuah a nih thu te an thlen a ni. (Courtesy Evening Post)

READ MORE - MSU-in thudik lo report-ah puh

Speaker stand irks governor

R.S. Mooshahary

Shillong, March 19 : Meghalaya Governor R.S. Mooshahary was apparently angered by Speaker Bindo Lanong’s refusal to adhere to Raj Bhavan’s list of dos and don’ts during the trial of strength, prompting him to take the drastic step of recommending President’s rule.

Congress leaders and sources in the Raj Bhavan said Mooshahary consulted legal experts and went through the video footage and written documents of the Assembly proceedings before taking the decision.

Soon after the MPA won the trial of strength with the Speaker’s casting vote, CLP leader D.D. Lapang met the governor with 31 MUA legislators yesterday.

“After the meeting, the governor was satisfied that we had the majority,” senior Congress legislator Charles Pyngrope told this correspondent.

He said the governor had sought the opinion of former Advocate-General Anil Sharma before sending his recommendation to the Centre.

On the eve of the trial of strength, the Speaker had sought the opinion of Advocate-General G.S. Massar on the four-point message of the governor asking the Speaker to record the proceedings of the trial of strength in video, conduct the voting with the use of ballot papers, maintain status quo and the rights of speech of the members till the confidence motion was disposed of by the House and not take up any other item during the trust vote.

Quoting Massar, he said during the trial of strength that Article 175(2) of the Constitution did not empower the governor to send a message in the form of directives to the House other than matters related to pending bills.

Of the four-point directive, he allowed only videography of the proceedings.

A Raj Bhavan source said the governor had taken exception to the Speaker’s stand in rejecting his other directives.

The governor also termed the Speaker’s ruling to suspend five legislators as unconstitutional.

Following the imposition of President’s rule, the usual blame game has started in the state.

NCP leader P.A. Sangma termed the development as surprising and blamed the Congress while Lapang accused the MPA for the crisis.

“It is unconstitutional and we are going to challenge it in the Supreme Court,” Sangma said, adding that he would leave for Delhi tomorrow to discuss the matter with lawyers.

BJP organising secretary Dipayan Chakraborty blamed the Congress for the crisis.

“President’s rule can be termed as life giving drops to the Congress,” Lanong, a UDP leader, said.

READ MORE - Speaker stand irks governor

Bush fires spark alert

Silchar, March 18 : The Mizoram government has placed its forest and environment department on alert following the death of four farmers in bush fires over the past week.

According to official sources, the state government has asked the department to mobilise volunteers from among peasants and other villagers to fight the sporadic outbreak of bush fires that swept across the remote areas of the state bordering Myanmar and Bangladesh.

The principal chief conservator of forests in Mizoram, R.C. Thanga, today confirmed over phone from Aizawl that a thick pall of smoke had shrouded the sky for the last three days, almost obliterating the sun.

Thanga said over 100 bush fires were raging on the hill slopes in the rural areas of the state. He said jhum farmers ignited fire in the forests to destroy vast swathes of bushland to sow seeds of paddy, the staple food of the Mizos.The forest chief said the raging fire had killed four Mizo farmers during the past week.

They were caught in the flames fanned by strong winds sweeping across the jhum farms on the hills and dales near the villages.

Thanga said yesterday was the deadline for igniting the conflagration in the hills for facilitating rice cultivation.

The fire will take at least 10 more days to be doused.

Thanga confirmed that the villagers, with the help of forest staff, had started to clear shrubs and tiny bushes along the “fireline” earmarked by the village councils beyond which the fire was not allowed to spread.

According to reports reaching to this district headquarters town today, the villagers staying along the district’s border with Mizoram can see in the night fire burning in the hills of the adjacent state.

The sky in Cachar district is enveloped by a grey mantle ofsmoke emanating from Mizoram.

READ MORE - Bush fires spark alert

Kerala church Vs Mizoram church in politics

By Paritosh Chakma

Is it necessary to put religion aside from politics? Well, the Church in Kerala does not seem to think so. Recently, the powerful Latin Catholic Church in Kerala has reportedly sent a recommendation letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi urging her to consider Hybi Eden, president of Congress’ student wing National Students Union of India in the state, as party candidate for the Ernakulam Lok Sabha seat.
The letter, written by the Varapuzha Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil, who is also president of the Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council, provides two other names whom he deems suitable. Incidentally, all the three including Hybi Eden belong to the Latin Church.

This re-ignites the debate whether politics should be separated from the religion and religious institutions. Surely by recommending specific names the Kerala church is being directly involved in the politics.

Or does it want a social change through politics by fielding better (read as clean and efficient) candidates like the Presbyterian Church of Mizoram?

In Mizoram, the Presbyterian Church formed an election watchdog called Mizoram Peoples Forum (MPF) ahead of the state assembly elections held on 2 December 2008 to bring political and electoral reforms in the state. The MPF, backed by many other mass-based organizations including the all-powerful Young Mizo Association, has urged the voters to vote for candidates having good track records, who are clean and efficient to address the concerns of the people. It rightly did not name any specific candidates to the political parties or canvassed for any candidate. Recommending or campaigning for particular candidates would have surely eroded the impartiality of the Church and its child, MPF. It would have been then seen as an act of impropriety and as direct involvement in political affairs. This is where the Church of Kerala fundamentally differs from the Church in Mizoram.

In Mizoram, the MPF campaigned, among others, against use of money by the political parties/candidates to buy votes, house to house campaigning which encouraged bribes and mass feasting. In the run up to the elections, the Church and MPF asked the political parties to desist from fielding corrupt candidates (including the ones with criminal records).

I know the MPF had little impacts in many constituencies, particularly in rural pockets but the motive to keep politics clean and progressive has been commendable. The diktat - if we can call it so - of the MPF had no legal implications but it in “no non-sense” term warned of action by taking up the matter with the Election Commission if adequate evidence of violation was found against any candidate.

[paritosh-chakma.]

READ MORE - Kerala church Vs Mizoram church in politics