Identity for Bru refugee children

Tripura asked to do needful
SUMIR KARMAKAR

Guwahati, Oct. 31: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked the Tripura government to provide birth certificates to around 3,500 children living in seven relief camps for Bru refugees in North Tripura district.

It has also asked the government to take steps to ensure healthcare, education and safety of the children living in the camps.

The instructions come following the visit of a two-member team of the commission, comprising Vinod Kumar Tikoo, a member, and Paresh Shah, a senior technical expert, on October 25 and 26.

“We have asked the administration to provide birth certificates to those who were born in the relief camps. After all, they are citizens of India and the administration has agreed to do so as early as possible,” Tikoo told The Telegraph here.

Over 37,000 Brus from Mizoram have been living in seven relief camps in Tripura since they were left displaced by ethnic conflict with the Mizos in 1997.

The Mizoram Bru Displaced Forum, an organisation fighting for the refugees, complained to the NCPCR team that the inmates, including children, were struggling for survival, as the administration was not providing them with facilities like proper food, schools and healthcare. They said many children were not given birth certificates, necessary for school admission and repatriation.

“We have asked the forum to submit a list of children who were born in the relief camps. Besides, there are no formal schooling facilities after Class V and children were seen loitering. We have asked the administration to set up Anganwadi centres and schools as education is now a right of every child,” Tikoo said.

Forum president Sawibunga told this correspondent over phone that they have been fighting for proper food, healthcare and education but the camp inmates were being neglected. “Even financial assistance of Rs 600 to pregnant women inmates has now been stopped as they don’t have Aadhar cards and bank accounts. Banks are also not allowing them to open accounts without the documents.”

The NCPCR team said they had asked the administration to allow the camp inmates to open bank accounts as the RBI had issued instructions to allow basic savings account for all, including minors.

Tikoo had met Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday and urged him to take steps to prevent child trafficking. “We want separate anti-trafficking cells and juvenile police units to tackle the crime. Most of the steps taken so far are confined to paper. We want practical measures.”

Camps: 7 (Maisingpara, Ashapara, Kaskau, Hazachhera, Hamsa, Khakchang, Naisaupara)
Inmates: Around 37000
Children: More than 3500
SSA schools: 78
Repatriated: 3300 to Mizoram since 2009

Source: Mizoram Bru Displaced People’s Forum

READ MORE - Identity for Bru refugee children

3 from Mizoram held with drugs at IGIA

Three people from Mizoram have been apprehended by security agencies for allegedly smuggling out narcotic drugs woth Rs one crore from the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) here.

The incident happened in the wee hours yesterday when the three, identified as Van Lal Chhana (21), Lal Zuiliana (42) and C Rochunga (29), arrived at Terminal-3 of the IGIA to board a connecting Air India flight to Aizwal.

Sleuths of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), who guard the airport, grew suspicious about their demeanour and took them for a detailed frisking.

"19.5 kilograms of Pseudoephedrine was recovered from their baggage which was kept concealed in wrappers," a senior CISF official said. The narcotic is used as a party drug.

While the value of the consignment in Indian market is about Rs 19 lakh, the same fetches close to Rs 1 crore in international peddling market, the official said.

CISF later called in anti-narcotics authorities who apprehended the trio.

READ MORE - 3 from Mizoram held with drugs at IGIA

PM, Sonia and Rahul to campaign for Congress in Mizoram

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would campaign for the party in Mizoram ahead of the state Assembly election, scheduled for November 25.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Luizinho Faleiro told reporters that Sonia would come on November 18 and visit south Mizoram's Lunglei town, while Rahul would visit the state on November 21 and addresses rallies in Mizoram-Myanmar border Champhai town and Mizoram-Assam border Kolasib town.

The detailed programme of the Prime Minister was yet to be finalised, Faleiro said.

When asked whether the three leaders would address rallies chaired by the local forums of the Mizoram People's Forum (MPF), he said that they would have to be taken care of as per the norms of the Special Protection Group (SPG).

In an agreement inked by the MPF, the church-sponsored election watchdog, all the political parties agreed that all rallies and meetings would be chaired by the MPF leaders.

There was severe criticism against the Congress leaders including Singh, Sonia and Rahul as they did not follow the norms of the MPF during the 2008 Assembly polls.

READ MORE - PM, Sonia and Rahul to campaign for Congress in Mizoram

MSU opposes to allowing Brus to cast vote

Aizawl, Oct 28 : After an appeal made to Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Electoral Officer, Mizoram, by the Mizo Students' Union (MSU) General Headquarters, Jt.

CEO, H Lalengmawia today held interaction with MSU leaders at his office over the students' body vehemently opposing the provision of allowing Bru refugees to cast vote outside Mizoram in the forthcoming State Assembly election.

Leaders of the students' body said that they find it difficult to comply with the request of the Election authority to give in the situation and let the forthcoming election go undisturbed, the press statement the students' body mentioned.

The Mizoram Election officials have informed the students' body that any change in the procedure while the election is in the offing is difficult, and so asked the students body to let the election held peacefully.

While the MSU respect the appeal, it is but difficult to comply with the request in view of the future of the Mizo nation, MSU leaders said.

"As the Chief Election Commissioner, Election Commission of India has been apprised, if the demand of the MSU is unsuccessful, then we are determined to take steps as necessary in order not to let the Bru refugees cast their vote outside Mizoram, and we will oppose the same till the last," MSU leaders said.

MSU claimed that the Bru refugees lodging at Tripura Camp did not want to return to Mizoram despite the Mizoram government and representatives of the people of Mizoram, the NGOs has many a times asked them to return, the reason being expecting political benefit.

"Even after their 15 years long stay in Tripura, the need to follow them with Ballot Box for vote casting till today is unnecessary", the ireful MSU leaders said.

In the meantime, another students' body in the State, MZP also on October 25 submitted memorandum to the Election Commission of India through Mizoram Chief Electoral Officer, in which they apprised the latter of their discontentment over the arrangement of Special Drive for inclusion in the Electoral Roll for the Bru refugees while the same is not arranged for the indigenous Mizo people.

If the special drive by way of which all the eligible voters in entire Mizoram would be included in the Electoral Roll is not carried out, MZP will take all necessary steps as the situation demands, the memorandum submitted to the ECI mentioned.

Regarding the matter, MZP president Lalhmachhuana said, "As we have just submitted memorandum, we shall wait for some time.

"However, if our demand is not met, we shall take steps such that those newly included in the Electoral Roll after the Special Drive may not cast their votes.

We don't think that will be a difficult task," MZP president said on being asked.

MSU has also voiced dissatisfaction over the ongoing special drive for inclusion of new voters from the Bru refugees in the Electoral Roll, saying the move can be taken as disrespect towards the indigenous people.

In response to media query over the matter, Joint Chief Electoral Officer H.Lalengmawia said, "As the Bru refugees are in the Electoral roll and so have voting right, the Election Commission pays heed." "As we are functioning under the direction of Commission, we have to do what we are asked to do, and take steps as such," he added.

Meanwhile, a total number of 11,311 Bru voters residing in Tripura Relief Camp are eligible to cast vote in the upcoming Mizoram state assembly elections.

It is pertinent to note that hundreds of Brus left Mizoram in 1997 and 2009.The first case was triggered when Bru militants murdered two Mizos who were forest guards on October 21, 1997 .

The second case happened after a 17-year-old Mizo boy was killed by the Brus near Bungthuam village on November 13, 2009.When the Bru left Mizoram they had driven out some Mizos in villages of Sakhan Hill Range in Tripura like Sakhan Serhmun, Sakhan Tlangsang, Sakhan Tualsen and Upper Dosda which had kicked up much ruckus in Mizoram then.

Meanwhile, a couple of years ago, head count conducted by the MBDPF found that there had been 31,703 Brus in the relief camps belonging to 5,448 families who were bona fide residents of Mizoram.

The repatriation of the 1997 batch of Bru refugees was underway until it stalled by the November 13 killing.

In the year 2011, conglomeration of major NGOs in Mizoram had submitted a joint memorandum to the then Union Home minister P Chidambaram to rehabilitate displaced Mizos in Tripura and stall the ongoing repatriation of Brus from Tripura to Mizoram.

The memorandum was signed by representatives of four large NGOs in the state--the Young Mizo Association (YMA), the MZP, the Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP) or elders association and the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or the women's federation and four political parties.

The memorandum had mentioned that more than 80 Mizo families displaced from Tripura's Sakhan Hill range in 1998 after being threatened by Bru militants should be adequately rehabilitated by the Centre, otherwise, the repatriation of Bru refugees from Tripura relief camps should not be allowed.

READ MORE - MSU opposes to allowing Brus to cast vote

Mizoram opp parties' pre-poll alliance move hits roadblock

Aizawl: The ongoing negotiation between opposition parties Mizo National Front (MNF) and Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) to forge a pre-poll alliance appeared to have reached a stalemate, but despite that, both sides expressed interest to resume the talks.

Elections for the 40-member Mizoram Legislative Assembly would be held November 25. The talks reached a deadlock yesterday after MPC chief Lalhmangaiha Sailo, now in Delhi, told other leaders of the party to stop deliberations with the MNF, a source in the MNF said.

"Earlier on October 16, we had agreed that MNF would contest from 32 seats and the MPC from eight," he said, adding the talks broke down during negotiation on selecting constituencies.

The source did not rule out the possibility of Sailo holding talks with chief minister and state Congress president Lal Thanhawla in Delhi.

MNF adviser R Khawpuithanga admitted that problems cropped up in the MNF-MPC negotiations but said the attempt at forging an alliance has not ended.

MPC treasurer Lalthansanga also said though there were some hurdles, it should be the endeavour of both parties to overcome such impediments.

The MPC, earlier led by former chief minister Brig Thenphunga Sailo and now by his son Lalhmangaiha Sailo, had forged pre-poll alliance with both the Congress and the MNF.

In 1993, the MPC, then known as Mizoram Janata Dal (MJD) formed alliance with Congress and the Congress bagged 17 seats and the MJD seven. They formed a coalition government which did not last long.

MJD was later rechristened as MPC and it forged an alliance with the MNF in 1998 when the MNF bagged 22 seats and the MPC 11.

READ MORE - Mizoram opp parties' pre-poll alliance move hits roadblock

4 Day Young Mizo Association's Conference Held at Khawbung

By Dr. Lalit Kishore

Aizawl, Oct 24 : This year, the 68th Young Mizo Association's (YMA) General Conference was held at Khawbung town of Mizoram state from October 15 to 18, informed my old student and now a facebook friend Marema Chhakchhuak, along with posting the conference pictures. Khawbung is a small town along the Mizoram-Myanmar border and the venue of the conference.

Prior to the YMA conference this year, the construction of two approach roads to the pandal were taken up and completed. The pandal was erected at the Mini-Sports complex in the town through the Central YMA Office in Tuikhuahtlang.

As we know that Mizoram is a tiny state in the Lushai and Mizo hills of our country which still requires spread of education and good governance after it left path of insurgency to walk the path of peace consequent to the Mizoram Accord of 1986.

Present Mizo youth love music and since most of them are born after the two turbulent decades of violence and insurgency, they take peace for granted and express their desire for mainstreaming through education and employment.

Over the years, the YMA has acquired the status a strong social organization that discusses various cultural, environmental, educational and developmental issues. These matters are discussed as a part of conference agenda and various resolutions are passed during the conference.

During the conference, a resolution opposing the proposed construction of the Tipaimukh dam for a hydro-electricity project was passed.

According to the YMA, the construction of the dam would displace many Mizo people and submerge a large area of land and affect the ecology of this tiny state.

The YMA conference also called upon the state government to strictly enforce the Mizoram Revenue Act passed this year and crackdown on illegal settlements in the international border areas adjoining Myanmar.

The delegates of the YMA conference passed a resolution suggesting the government to create safety reserve forest areas to prevent depletion of water resources through afforestation drives and community participation.

READ MORE - 4 Day Young Mizo Association's Conference Held at Khawbung

EC likely to change Mizoram poll dates

The Election Commission is likely to change the dates for assembly poll in Mizoram after political parties, NGOs and religious organisations requested for the same.

The polls to elect the 40-member state assembly were earlier slated on December 4 and counting will take place on December 8.

Political parties, churches and NGOs have sought a change in the dates of polling and counting of votes as the polling day coincides with the time when the Mizoram Synod, the highest decision-making body of the Presbyterian, will hold state-wide conference in Aizawl and the counting day falls on Sunday, a sacred day for Christians.

Sources said the Commission discussed the issue at its meeting today chaired by Chief Election Commissioner V S Sampath and Election Commissioners H S Brahma and S N A Zaidi, which was also attended by other poll officials.

A final call on the issue will be taken tomorrow but sources said the Commission is likely to consider the request by various parties to prepone the polling in Christian- dominated Mizoram.

The parties and organizations in Mizoram sought that instead of polling on December 4 along with Delhi, it may be held on November 25 along with Madhya Pradesh polls and counting be taken up on December 6.

A Congress delegation had yesterday met the Commission and said "since this is the period of festivity in Mizoram when most voters will be busy in church conferences during the week, many of them will not be able to vote and it will result in "deprivation of their voting rights".

Several organisations and major political parties of Mizoram have already submitted memoranda to the EC seeking change of assembly poll dates.

The Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee (MKHC), a conglomerate of leaders of 13 major churches in the state, has also pleaded with the EC to change the polling and counting dates.

READ MORE - EC likely to change Mizoram poll dates

Stop postal ballots for Bru refugees: Mizo students to EC

AIZAWL: Mizo Students' Union (MSU) has submitted a memorandum to chief election commissioner V S Sampath and Mizoram chief electoral officer (CEO) Ashwani Kumar in protest against the proposed move to let the Bru refugees in relief camps in North Tripura vote through postal ballots in their respective camps.

The MSU, in a press statement on Tuesday, said the Bru voters should cast their votes in their respective polling stations in Mizoram.

"If the Election Commission goes ahead in making arrangements for the Bru voters to cast their votes outside Mizoram (in the relief camps), the MSU would make all out efforts to prevent it," the statement said.

The MSU said the ministry of home affairs and the Mizoram government had made arrangements repeatedly to facilitate the Brus lodged in the relief camps to return to Mizoram and the government and civil societies in Mizoram have also made several appeals to the Brus to return.

Many Brus rejected the compassionate appeals of the people of Mizoram and refused to return due to political benefits they received in the relief camps, the MSU alleged, adding that the students' body was going to obstruct the exercise of franchise by Bru voters outside the state if required.

The MSU also alleged that Bru votes polled through postal ballots in the relief camps were rigged in the earlier elections.

Joint chief electoral officer H Lalengmawia said Mizoram election officials from Friday had begun a special drive to include eligible voters in the Bru relief camps of North Tripura district. The instruction to conduct the special drive was received from the Election Commission of India and nine officials from Mamit district were sent to relief camps on October 17, Lalengmawia added.

"The election department has been entertaining claims for inclusion of those who applied to be enlisted in the state voters lists," Lalengmawia said. Officials from south Mizoram's Lunglei district and Kolasib (on the Mizoram-Assam border) were also instructed to conduct the special drive in the relief camps from Tuesday, he said.

Till now, 11,311 Bru voters from the relief camps have been enlisted in the Mizoram electoral rolls belonging to nine assembly constituencies and covering three districts - Mamit, Lunglei and Kolasib.

Mizoram assembly polls are scheduled to be held on December 4.

READ MORE - Stop postal ballots for Bru refugees: Mizo students to EC

Mizoram poll: Women voters outnumber men, but no women's representation

Women voters have been outnumbering male voters in Mizoram for the past few years, but paradoxically there are no women representatives in the state legislature for years together.

According to the voters' lists published on August 16, of the 6,86,305 total voters, there are 3,49,506 female voters and 3,36,799 male voters. In the 2008 final electoral roll also, of the total 6.08,561 voters, female voters comprised 3,08,659 against 2,99,902 male voters. Mizoram began to have a separate legislature of its own since 1972 when it was elevated from a district council under the state of Assam to the status of union territory, but only six women, including three nominated legislators, have made it to the state assembly in the past 41 years.

Mizoram poll: Women voters outnumber men, but no women's representation Mizoram poll: Women voters outnumber men, but no women's representation The only three women politicians who received the people's mandate are Lalthanmawii of the People's Conference, elected from the then Aizawl East seat in 1979 and K. Thansiami of the PC (earlier nominated to the assembly in 1978) who was elected from the Aizawl West seat in 1984.

The first and only woman to become a minister and the last woman to make it to the Mizoram assembly till date is Lalhlimpuii Hmar, elected in 1987 as the Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee from Aizawl North-I constituency.

A leader of the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or Mizo Women's Federation laments that Mizo society being a strict patriarchal one, men are yet to accept women as rulers representing them in the law-making process. "We are accepted when we take up men's work besides household chores, but the patriarchal-minded people find it difficult to accept us as rulers or law-makers," she says. Lalnipuii, a veteran women rights activist and chairperson of the Mizoram State Commission for Women, says that awareness is needed to educate society, especially women in politics.

"The main political parties should not only field women candidates for the sake of it, but should nominate women having chances to win in the right constituencies," Lalnipuii says. On the argument that women having chances of winning elections are not interested in active politics, Lalnipuii claims that women being deprived of responsible and important posts in political parties are hesitant to take the plunge to work full time in politics.

President of the All Mizoram Women Federation (AMWF) Lalneihzovi says that participation of women in the legislation and executive is important for socio-economic all round development and the AMWF is making all-out efforts to ensure that women are represented in the state legislature. "We are working together with women bodies like the MHIP and the Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan (PMSA) and also with the women wings of the recognised political parties," Lalneihzovi of the Public Administration department in the Mizoram University adds.

Women voters have been outnumbering male voters in Mizoram for the past few years, but paradoxically there are no women representatives in the state legislature for years together. According to the voters' lists published on August 16, of the 6,86,305 total voters, there are 3,49,506 female voters and 3,36,799 male voters. In the 2008 final electoral roll also, of the total 6.08,561 voters, female voters comprised 3,08,659 against 2,99,902 male voters. Mizoram began to have a separate legislature of its own since 1972 when it was elevated from a district council under the state of Assam to the status of union territory, but only six women, including three nominated legislators, have made it to the state assembly in the past 41 years. Mizoram poll: Women voters outnumber men, but no women's representation Mizoram poll: Women voters outnumber men, but no women's representation The only three women politicians who received the people's mandate are Lalthanmawii of the People's Conference, elected from the then Aizawl East seat in 1979 and K. Thansiami of the PC (earlier nominated to the assembly in 1978) who was elected from the Aizawl West seat in 1984. The first and only woman to become a minister and the last woman to make it to the Mizoram assembly till date is Lalhlimpuii Hmar, elected in 1987 as the Mizo National Front (MNF) nominee from Aizawl North-I constituency. A leader of the Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP) or Mizo Women's Federation laments that Mizo society being a strict patriarchal one, men are yet to accept women as rulers representing them in the law-making process. "We are accepted when we take up men's work besides household chores, but the patriarchal-minded people find it difficult to accept us as rulers or law-makers," she says. Lalnipuii, a veteran women rights activist and chairperson of the Mizoram State Commission for Women, says that awareness is needed to educate society, especially women in politics. "The main political parties should not only field women candidates for the sake of it, but should nominate women having chances to win in the right constituencies," Lalnipuii says. On the argument that women having chances of winning elections are not interested in active politics, Lalnipuii claims that women being deprived of responsible and important posts in political parties are hesitant to take the plunge to work full time in politics. President of the All Mizoram Women Federation (AMWF) Lalneihzovi says that participation of women in the legislation and executive is important for socio-economic all round development and the AMWF is making all-out efforts to ensure that women are represented in the state legislature. "We are working together with women bodies like the MHIP and the Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan (PMSA) and also with the women wings of the recognised political parties," Lalneihzovi of the Public Administration department in the Mizoram University adds.

Read more at: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/mizoram-poll-women-voters-outnumber-men-but-no-womens-representation/429987-3-228.html?utm_source=ref_article

READ MORE - Mizoram poll: Women voters outnumber men, but no women's representation

Promised Land beckons norteast Jews

AIZAWL/IMPHAL: At least 160 people from Mizoram and 730 from Manipur belonging to Bnei Menashe (children of Menashe) community would migrate to their Promised Land, Israel, by the end of this year or early next year.

Those who will migrate includes Mizos, Paites, Kukis and Hmars from Manipur and Mizo Jews from Mizoram.

Jeremiah L Hnamte, one of the leaders of a lost tribe of Israel living in Mizoram, said, "We are arranging their documents so that they are ready to migrate whenever travel arrangements are made." Hnamte added that the 160 Mizoram Jews include children and even newborns.

"Many of those who had migrated to Israel earlier were baptized by the rabbis (priest) at the mikvehs (spiritual ponds)," said Hnamte. Gurion Sela, the first and only Mizo rabbi, also had to undergo the same ritual.

Hnamte added that after the rabbis were denied a visit to Mizoram by the government, baptism or formal conversion in Mizoram was discontinued for some time.

He said those who got selected to shift to Israel have studied Hebrew, Talmud, Halakha and Torah and also learned the culture and tradition of Jews at the Shavey Israel Hebrew Centre in Republic Veng locality of Aizawl.

The population of the Jews in Manipur is gradually increasing. Bnei Menashe are the descendants of one of the 10 lost Israeli tribes exiled by the Assyrians over 2,700 years ago, said a member of the community staying in Churachandpur district, which is predominantly settled by Chin-Kuki-Mizos.

An Israeli rabbi (priest) officially recognized them as one of the 10 lost tribes of Israel. They (Bnei Menashe) have been practising Judaism in Manipur, Mizoram, Assam and Nagaland since the last two decades.

"The total number of members of the community in the northeast is about 7,000 and most of them live in Churachandpur district of Manipur and Mizoram," said a member of the community on Tuesday.

He added, "The number of Synagogues (worship place of the Jews) in the district has increased from around 14 to 20 in the last five years, which suggests that their population is increasing."

Majority of the 899 Jews who will migrate to Israel in a phased manner from December are from Churachandpur, he said.

The Israeli cabinet's decision taken recently allowed 200 Bnei Menashe people from India to be brought to Israel by the end of this year, 400 in 2014 and 300 in 2015.

Over 274 Jews from the northeast moved Israel earlier this year. So far, about 2,000 Jews from the region have settled in Israel and half of them were from Churachandpur, he added.

BACKGROUND

* The Chin-Kuki-Mizo tribes of Manipur and Mizoram began to claim that they were descendants of the lost tribes of Israel only after they were converted to Christianity.

* With their introduction to the Bible, the Chin-Kuki-Mizo tribes saw a similarity in their pre-Christian traditions and those of the ancient Israelites.

* In 1951, Challianthanga, the head deacon of the United Pentecostal Church in Mizoram's Buallawn village, had a vision of God telling him the Mizos were descendants of the Israelites. A few families left Mizoram for Israel later, but could manage to reach only Haflong in Assam and returned to Mizoram three years later.

* Many theologians disagree that the Mizos, who belonged to the Mongoloid stock, have a racial connection with the Israelis who are Semitics.

* Chin-Kuki-Mizos, who have migrated to Israel, seem to blend easily with the local population there.

* Many young boys are already fighting the Hezbollah and other Muslim radicals shoulder to shoulder with the Israeli soldiers and a young Mizo has already become an army officer there.

READ MORE - Promised Land beckons norteast Jews

Cong delegation from Mizoram meets CEC

AIZAWL, Oct 22 – A Congress delegation from Mizoram today met Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) VS Sampath in New Delhi on the demands of churches, civil societies and political parties in the State for a change in the dates of polling and counting of votes in the upcoming Assembly polls.

Lok Sabha MP CL Ruala, who led the three-member delegation, said over phone that they met the CEC and top officials of the Commission for about half-an-hour today.

“We told the CEC that we wanted change of poll date from December 4 to November 25 and the date of counting from December 8 to December 6,” he said, expressing optimism that the ECI would take a favourable decision on the issue.

The Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee delegation, besides Ruala, comprised of MLA and former Minister Nirupam Chakma and State PCC general secretary C Lalruata.

Churches, NGOs and political parties wanted the change in the polling date as it falls on the day when the Presbyterian Church is having its highest decision-making conference, the Synod, between December 3 and 8.

The United Pentecostal Church – Mizoram (UPC-Mizoram) is also scheduled to have its annual general conference during the same period which would result in thousands of people including priests unable to exercise their franchise.

The proposed counting day, December 8, falls on a Sunday, the sacred day for majority of Christians, who had appealed that the day be changed to any day except Sunday and Saturday, the holy day for some denominations like the Seventh Day Adventist Church.

READ MORE - Cong delegation from Mizoram meets CEC

Mizoram polls: Political parties urged not to use insurgents

Aizawl: A conglomerate of 14 major churches in the state today appealed to all political parties and outfits not to use insurgents and armed groups in influencing voters in the forthcoming assembly polls.

Voters should be allowed to exercise their free will and choice in the polls and political parties should refrain from intimidation, cheating and distribution of money by armed groups, Mizoram Kohhran Hruaitute Committee said in a statement.

"We want the new government to work without fear or favour and also not to show special favour to any single church or organisation," it said.

Mizoram goes to poll on December 4.

READ MORE - Mizoram polls: Political parties urged not to use insurgents

Mizoram refugees to get postal ballot

Agartala/Aizawl, Oct 21 : The Reang tribal refugees, lodged in seven makeshift camps in Tripura the past 16 years since they fled their villages in neighbouring Mizoram, would cast their votes through postal ballots in the Dec 4 assembly polls in Mizoram, officials said here Saturday.

"At least one facilitation centre would be set up in each of the seven refugee camps in north Tripura so that the eligible refugees could cast their votes for the Mizoram assembly polls," North Tripura's Kanchanpur sub-divisional Deputy Collector Anupam Chakraborty told IANS over phone. He said: "The facilitation centres would be set up under the guidance of the Election Commission of India (ECI). The commission would supervise the work of these centres. Tripura government might provide the logistical support like security to these facilitation centres."

Director General of the ECI Ashish Srivastava, accompanied by Mizoram's Chief Electoral Officer Ashwini Kumar and other state officials last week visited the refugee camps in Northern Tripura to finalise the voting of the refugees.

Of the 37,625 Reang tribal refugees, locally known as 'Bru', living in the refugee camps in Kanchanpur and Panisagar in North Tripura since 1997, only 11,311 were listed in Mizoram's electoral rolls.

The refugee leaders complained to Srivastava that there were many eligible voters in the camps who were not included in the voters' lists of Mizoram.

A Mizoram election department official told IANS: "Following the directives of the ECI, the officials of three Mizoram districts - Mamit, Lunglei and Kolasib would soon start a special drive in the refugee camps in Tripura to include names of eligible voters in the electoral rolls of the state."

After a two-year break, the repatriation of the tribal refugees resumed Sep 30, with around 600 people making up 90 families going back to their homes in western Mizoram.

READ MORE - Mizoram refugees to get postal ballot

Mizoram Education Department signs MoU with Ratan Tata Trust

Aizawl, Oct 11 : Mizoram Education Department and Ratan Tata Trust & Navajbaj Ratan Tata Trust have inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for a joint venture for further progress and improvement of education in Mizoram.

The MoU was signed at Aijal Club here in the State capital today.

The MoU was signed on behalf of Mizoram Government by K.Lal Nghinglova, Commissioner & Secretary, Education & HRD Department while on the other side, H.D.Malesra, Trustee, NRTT signed on behalf of Ratan Tata Trust K.Lal Nghinglova, Commissioner & Secretary, Education & HRD Department said it is fortunate that Mizoram has got a good partner to work for the progress of education in Mizoram, and expressed hope that the joint venture would yield a good result.

Speaking on behalf of Ratan Tata Trust, H.D.Malesra expressed his gladness over the opportunity to work together with a state like Mizoram which has great number of educated persons.

He also highlighted the various programmes carried out by Ratan Tata Trust.

The joint with venture will cover primary and middle schools.

All the expenses as to organizing training for government school teachers; building good infrastructure for schools; and any other initiatives for betterment of education, shall be borne by Ratan Tata Trust.

The fund will be sanctioned through SSA.

READ MORE - Mizoram Education Department signs MoU with Ratan Tata Trust

EC official visits Mizoram-Tripura border

Director General of the Election Commission of India Ashish Srivastava today visited the Mamit district on the Mizoram-Tripura border to see how Bru voters at North Tripura relief camps would exercise their franchise in the state Assembly polls on December 4.

H Lalengmawia, state Joint Chief Electoral Officer who accompanied Srivastava, said that they would be visiting the six relief camps in the Kanchanpur Sub-Division of North Tripura district tomorrow.

Srivastava accompanied by election department officials and Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police of Mamit district left Mamit town this afternoon for the relief camps.

Though the DG did not say exactly how the Brus who were enlisted in the voters list in Mizoram would vote, he hinted that postal ballot system would be used and they would cast their votes in their respective relief camps.

State home department officials today said that the proposed resumption of Bru repatriation next week was likely to be deferred due to Srivastava's visit.

"We are most likely to postpone the repatriation of around 70 families from three relief camps as all the officials of the Mamit district administration were engaged in receiving the DG," an official said.

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Constable rapes Bru woman in Mizoram

Aizawl, Oct 9 : A constable of the India Reserve Police (IRP) was today arrested for allegedly raping a physically handicapped woman of Bru community at Damparengpui in Mamit district of Mizoram, police said.

The 45-year-old married woman was raped yesterday by Zorammawia, constable of the IRP 5th battalion, Mamit SP Rodingliana Chawngthu said.

Zorammawia was also placed under suspension, he said.

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69 BRU families desire to return to Mizoram

At least 69 Bru families at three relief camps in Tripura have expressed their willingness to return to Mizoram when the second phase of repatriation begins next week, Bru Coordination Committee (BCC) said today.

"Those who have expressed their willingness to return to Mizoram were 53 families from Kaskau relief camp, 14 from Hampsapara and two from Khakchangpara relief camps," Elvis Chorkhy, leader of Bru Coordination Committee (BCC) told PTI over phone from the Mizoram-Tripura border town of Mamit.

The 69 Bru families, comprising 225 adults and 100 minors, would bear their transport costs which would be reimbursed later, he said.

They would be resettled in Kanhmun, Rengdil, Chuhvel and Zawlnuam villages in Mamit district, he said.

The District Core Committee on Bru Repatriation would meet tomorrow to discuss the modalities of the resumption of self-repatriation, Mamit SP Rodingliana Chawngthu said.

Chawngthu said that 100 Bru families from Naisingpara and Asapara relief camps in North Tripura had been self-repatriated in the week-long process which began from September 30.

The second repatriation process is likely to begin from October 16 or 17, he said.

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