iMizoram : i Mizoram

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Mizo National Front slams Punjab MLA for stray dog remark

AIZAWL: The Mizoram opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) took strong exception to the resolution moved by Congress legislator Ajit Singh Mofar in the Punjab assembly regarding the disposal of stray dogs in Punjab to China, Nagaland and Mizoram. The MNF demanded that Mofar tender a public apology to the people of the northeast. Congress legislator Ajit Singh Mofar moved a resolution in the Punjab assembly on Thursday seeking to tackle the stray dog problem in the state by sending them to China, Mizoram or Nagaland for "whatever they do to them".

"We can make arrangements to put the stray dogs in jungles and zoos or send them to China, Nagaland and Mizoram where they are needed more. Stray dogs are a big nuisance. It is impossible to even go for walks because of them," he said.

The MNF, in a press statement, urged the ruling Congress party of the state led by chief minister Lal Thanhawla to pressurize the Punjab Congress legislator to immediately apologize to the people of the northeast. The party regarded the resolution of the MLA as well as his statement in the Punjab legislature as an insult to not only the people of Mizoram and Nagaland but the entire northeast.

"Some Mizos eat dog meat, but not the meat of stray dogs," the statement said, adding that the Congress legislator's insulting remarks might have stemmed from Lal Thanhawla's statement during the recent Aizawl municipal council polls, where he called the opposition party workers 'Uitang rual' meaning stray dogs.

"The Congress party, which was also in power at the Centre in the 1960s, claimed that the Indian Air Force was only dropping food to the people of Mizoram, while in reality they were dropping bombs to kill innocent people," the statement alleged. The MNF added that the national party always insults the Mizo people and disseminates wrong information about the northeast.

The MNF statement also slammed the Mizoram Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC), especially its chief Lal Thanhawla for remaining silent in the issue and thus, "concurring with the Punjab MLA".

"While the statement of the Punjab Congress legislator drew flaks from across the country, Lal Thanhawla and the MPCC remained silent and unmoved, leading to the belief that the Congress units in Mizoram and Punjab have a hidden agenda to insult the sentiments of the people of the northeast," the statement added.

Mizo cultural troupe for UK

AIZAWL, July 6 – In its endeavor to present Mizo cultural dances all over the world, a Mizo cultural troupe will participate at the 37th Alnwick International Music Festival to be held at Newcastle in the United Kingdom from August 4 to 11 this year.

In this connection, Mizoram Art & Culture Minister PC Zoramsangliana met Union Minister for Culture Kumari Selja in New Delhi on June 29 and discussed various measures to be taken for this purpose. The Union Minister had reportedly expressed readiness on the part of her ministry that necessary steps will be taken so that the Mizo cultural troupe can participate at the said music festival.

Zoramsangliana also met Indian Council for Cultural Relations President Dr.Karan Singh in this connection. The Mizo Minister, in his meeting, with British High Commission Sir James Bevan in New Delhi on Tuesday apprised the latter that the Mizo cultural troupe will perform at the international music festival. The High Commissioner assured the minister that his office will take necessary steps for the members.

The High Commissioner also agreed to visit Mizoram in the near future and said that he would attend Chap Char Kut celebration next year.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Assam Rifles to plant 10,000 trees in Mizoram

Assam Rifles Wednesday embarked upon a fortnight-long "Go Green" programme to plant at least 10,000 saplings across the state of Mizoram.

"The 'Go Green Fortnight' aims at saving, regenerating flora and fauna, reclaiming the natural setting and preserve ecological balance in mountainous Mizoram," an official release said.

The paramilitary personnel will plant at least 10,000 saplings of ornamental, fruit trees, medicinal plants, and costly wood trees on road sides, bordering areas and virgin lands, said the release.

The troopers will be helped by villagers and members of the Young Mizo Association. in the campaign.

Assam Rifles detain two Burmese soldiers in the North-eastern state of Mizoram

The Indian paramilitary group responsible for maintaining the security along Indo-Myanmarese border, the Assam Rifles, today announced that they have detained two soldiers from Myanmar. The arrest was made in the Champhai district, in the state of Mizoram. So far there has been no official announcement from the Myanmarese side relating to the incident.

According to the Indian sources, the detained Myanmarese soldiers had crossed the border illegally and were intimidating farmers on the Indian side of the border, when they were detained. Local sources claimed that the soldiers had demanded 100,000 Myanmarese Kyat from a Mizo farmer, and threatened him with weapons when he refused to pay the amount.

Personnel from Assam Rifles were undertaking routine patrol missions when they spotted the Myanmarese soldiers near the village of Ngur, who were armed with AK-47 machine guns and other weapons. The paramilitary forces detained the Myanmarese and handed them over to the local police department. An official from the Champhai police station informed the media that the detained foreigners will be produced before a magistrate within the next few hours.

Meanwhile, the Indian officials estimate that around 60,000 Myanmarese citizens live in Mizoram illegally, and local Mizo groups have threatened violence against what they see as an “influx of foreigners”. The illegal refugees, most of them belong to the Kuki-Chin ethnic group claims that they face harassment and discrimination in Myamnar.

Recently the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA) had asked the Mizoram state government to take necessary steps to check the influx of ethnic Chin in to its territory. In a related development, the Mizoram police deported 16 Myanmarese citizens last week. The state government of Mizoram claimed that they have so far deported more than 300 Myammarese nationals, after the directive was received from the MHA.

Ethnic tensions are not new in Myanmar, which is having a population of only around one million. Most of the population is Christian Mizo, but recently a large number of Buddhist Chakma from Bangladesh has settled down there, making up close to 8% of the population. The state is also home to another minority, the Hindu Reang (Kau-Bru). Almost all the Reang were driven out from Mizoram after the ethnic riots of 1990s, and now live in the refugee camps in neighbouring states.

Mizoram People's Conference to support PA Sangma

The Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) on Wednesday announced that the party would support Purno A Sangma in the Presidential elections on July 19.

MPC leaders said that they decided to vote for Sangma as he was a tribal from the Northeastern region and also a Christian.

"It is high time that the country has a president from the scheduled tribe and also a Christian," they said after a meeting of the party high command led by Lalhmangaiha Sailo, the son of former chief minister Brig T Sailo.

The MPC has two legislators in the 40-member assembly. With each MLA having eight votes, the MPC has 16 votes.

Monday, July 2, 2012

MNF slams Mizoram Congress

Aizawl, July 3 : Former chief minister and Mizo National Front leader Zoramthanga slammed chief minister Lalthanhawla, calling him an “agent of Indian nationalism” at a function organised by the former underground outfit to mark the 26th anniversary of Remna Ni, Mizoram Peace Accord Day, today.

This day marks the laying down of arms by the MNF and signing of the Peace Accord in 1986 between the MNF and the Centre.

At the MNF party headquarters, Zoramthanga, warned the people to be careful of Vai (Indian) nationalism. “Our God-given peace has to be protected and defended and this can only be done by being guarded and vigilant against Vai nationalism,” he said in his address to the party workers.

He said though it was a historical day for the Mizo people, the Congress was not interested in celebrating this great day with respect.

The ruling Congress, however, has earmarked jobs for the families of MNF returnees and families of so called martyrs who died for the cause.

Manhunt

Two days after a vicious highway murder, a state-wide hunt is on for five absconding persons, allegedly involved in the murder of a truck driver and the assault of his handyman on the Lunglei-Aizawl highway.

The culprits also hijacked the truck, which was ferrying FCI rice.

Aizawl SP L.R. Dingliana said a driver from Karimganj, H. Uddin, was found dead on the highway near Hmuifang, in the wee hours of June 29, while his severely injured handyman, Amir Uddin, was brought to a nearby PHC by a passerby. The victim said one of the five passengers had taken the wheel and was speeding, incurring cautionary words from the driver.

This started an argument and the truck driver feared the worst. The truck driver jumped off the vehicle, and reported the matter to the nearest police station, Sialsuk.

The second driver and the handyman, however, could not escape and were found on the outskirts of Hmuifang, the former dead with a slit throat and handyman stabbed but still alive. According to their statements, not all among the five are from the locality.

Rape protest in Mizoram

Aizawl, July 3 : The villagers of Lalnutui village in south Mizoram’s Lunglei district today took out a procession to protest the alleged rape of a Class VIII student by the headmaster of Lalnutui Upper Primary School.

The accused Lalngaihsanga is a resident of Lunglei town and allegedly raped the student while giving her tuition in his temporary residence at Lalnutui village, the police said.

The villagers and students union of the area demanded that the service of the accused be terminated and be punished in accordance with the law, sources said.