Obama Sends Drug Warriors to UN, DEA to CA: Stop Fighting Bush's Wars

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/maia-szalavi...

As someone who cares about humane drug policy, I expect politicians to disappoint me. Obama created a rare glimmer of light here with his honesty about his own experience -- but his choice of drug warriors like Joe Biden and Rahm Emmanuel for high level posts has made me wary.

Now, with a new raid on California's medical marijuana dispensaries and with Bush holdovers trying to push the UN to drop support for needle exchange and other harm reduction programs in its document to set drug policy for the next ten years, I am beginning to lose hope.

Amazingly, however, progressives in Congress (!) are speaking out about the possible UN fiasco -- sending a letter to our new UN Ambassador Susan Rice to protest the actions of these officials. Reps. Henry Waxman, Jose Serrano and Barbara Lee write:

Unfortunately, we understand that the U.S. delegation in Vienna has been actively blocking the efforts of some of our closest allies -- including the European Union -- to incorporate into the declaration reference to harm reduction measures such as needle exchange. We find it hard to understand how the U.S. delegation could object to language which would not obligate any country to adopt particular policies with which it disagrees.

I will go further. Obama has said that he supports lifting the federal ban on funding for needle exchange programs in the U.S. and that he supports science-based policy, which backs this action. He has said that he will end the raids on medical marijuana in states that have legalized it.

Redecorating the White House

US President Barack Obama’s wife Michelle is keeping it real – the mom-in-chief along with expensive Hollywood interior designer Michael Smith is redecorating the White House with items from the reasonably priced shop Pottery Barn, according to reports.

Smith said that he would take design cues from the Obamas'' "casual style" while "utilizing affordable brands."

Daughters Maila and Sasha are also contributing to the decoration by giving their own inputs, reports Us Magazine.

Michelle's goal is to keep her daughters grounded.

In addition to doing chores despite a huge White House staff, "pretty much we'll see Michelle and the girls in the White House kitchen, trying to bake something together, and her raising them as if they were still in Chicago," family friend Kim Lightford said.

Bishu celebrated with pomp & gaiety

Dimasa Kachari damsels present their traditional dance at the Bishu festival celebration at Bamunpukhuri ‘A’ village, Dimapur, on Tuesday, January 27. (Morung Photo)

Dimapur: Bishu, the post harvest festival of Dimasa Kachari tribe, was held at Bamunpukhuri ‘A’ village amidst much pomp and gaiety. The celebration was graced by Bhupen Hasnu, an executive member of the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council, Diphu, and Dhiren Difoe, Deputy Secretary of the department of Land Resources, Nagaland, as the chief guest and guest of honour respectively.

The two guests encouraged the Dimasa people to preserve and protect the age-old practices of the tribe. The guests encouraged the youths to uphold the culture and tradition of the tribe, besides extending Bishu greetings to the gathering.

Special guest Azheto Zhimomi, MLA of Dimapur III A/C, in his short speech reminded the Dimasa people to practice their culture, tradition and dialect since it was their identity. Also stressing on the need to use own dialects in festivals, and said that it would have a positive impact on the society and the tribe in particular. He also donated a sum of Rs.25,000 to the youths for carrying out various activities.

The festival was jointly organised by three adjoining villages including Darogajan and Bamunpukhuri ‘A’ and ‘B’. The highlights of the celebration included cultural dances, songs and indigenous games. The programme was also attended by DMC member Vikheho Zhimo and Congress members of Dimapur III A/C.

Unite Nagas as a people – Rio

Zunheboto : The DAN Government is a government committed to unity  and reconciliation of the  Naga  brethren. It is a bigger policy, said Chief Minister  Neiphiu Rio while speaking at the inauguration of SDO (C) Hq in Suruhoto.

He told the gathering that if ‘administratively we are not united, we can be united, politically’. He cited how the Britishers created their empire in India due to the disunity among  petty kingdoms. ‘Our disunity will be to the advantage of our adversaries’, he reminded.

“Nagas are free and without control and the Britishers termed Nagas as free people who lived under the banner ‘might is right’, during our forefathers. But today Christianity and civilization has changed our lifestyle”, he said. But at the same time he also warned that if ‘this civilization’ is not ‘properly controlled’ under certain rules and a disciplined life not maintained, ‘our future is heading for  ruin’.

 He further said freedom is not being free ‘to do as you like; you are free within rules and regulations’ he said. ‘Without  this  peace and regulated development cannot take place’ he said and added that the DAN Government is committed to the uplift of the downtrodden in the villages and rural areas. People must work hard to avail this privilege to create a favorable environment, he said.

Rio also said that the Nagas should choose ‘their own leaders to bring forth their own development’. In this regard, the chief minister had special praise for the MLA from Suruhuto, Shetoi, for his effort towards development of the constituency. The CM said Shetoi had initiated several developmental projects in Suruhuto especially in the road sector. Rio thanked the people of Suruhuto for electing him to the assembly and urged the people of the area to cooperate with the Government’s agencies.

Rio  also highlighted various programmes and initiatives of the state, especially in the youth sector. He said  special focus is on empowering   the youth through  the Chief Minister’s Corpus Fund along with empowerment initiatives and capacity-building exercises.
Earlier Minister for Road & Bridges, G. Kaito in his speech expressed his appreciation on behalf of the Sumi Legislatures and Sumi community to the Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio for listening to the voice of the Suruhoto people and bringing forth the reality of up-gradation of EAC Hq to that of SDO (C) Hq

MLA & Chairman NHHDC, Shetoyi said that in the history of Suruhoto town since 1944 Neiphiu Rio is the first Chief Minister to ever visit the town. The upgradation of EAC Suruhoto to that of SDO (C) and the monolith shall stand as a harbinger to many positive developments in the days to come. Parliamentary Secretary for Industries & Commerce, K.C. Nihoshi described Rio as a man of development, courage and a visionary leader.

The CM was accompanied by Minister for Power, Doshehe Y. Sema, Parliamentary Secretary for Geology & Mining, Y. Patton, Additional Commissioner, K.N. Ngullie, Deputy Commissioner, Zunheboto, C.M. Tsanglo, SP Zunheboto, KK Chishi, Commandant 8 NAP, Commandant 27 AR and a host of government officials from Zunheboto. A cultural item of various significance was displayed by surrounding villagers. The programme was chaired by DC, Zuheboto.

Posts reshuffled

Imphal, January 29: The post of five IPS/MPS officers have been reshuffled following an order issued by the Department of Personnel today.

Accordingly, SP of Churachandpur S Manglemjao has been posted as SP Security, ADC to Governor Gangte as SP of Churachandpur, CO of 5th MR Chaoba Lokho who was also in-charge of SP Tamenglong would take over the charge of only OC 5th MR and the charge of SP Tamenglong would handed over to Additional SP of Vigilance Gongning Phaomei while Deputy Commandant of 7th MR Th Basanta take up the charge of 8 MR.

NRHM report calls for better management of health initiatives

New Delhi, Jan 28: A better management of health-related initiatives has been recommended by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) second Common Review Mission. However, it admits to some improvements having taken place in this sector.

Outpatient cases, institutional deliveries, impatient cases, diagnostic services, emergency transport services have all registered an improvement in a majority of the States.

Over 50,000 nurses and ANMs have been added on contract under the National Rural Health Mission, besides nearly 15,000 specialists, MBBS doctors and Ayush doctors, says the report.

Such large-scale addition of human resources has translated into improved availability of health care services for people in rural areas.

According to the report, 13 states were visited by six member teams as part of the review mission in November-December 2008.

Public health experts, NGO representatives, development partners, senior public servants etc. were part of these independent teams that spent ten days in two districts of the selected states.

Assam and Mizoram in North Eastern region, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan from among the high focus States, four States namely, Karnataka, Maharahstra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu among the non-high focus States were covered in the current Common Review Mission.

The report says that there is large-scale evidence of poor people coming to government facilities on much larger scale than before. Attempts are being made to reduce the shortages of human resources, physical infrastructure, equipments etc.under the National Rural Health Mission, the report added.

The report has recommended a fast expansion of medical and nursing education in high focus states for provision of adequate number of health human resources.

Similarly, more efforts at building capacities among community leaders in the management of health programmes and in seeking inter-sectoral convergence with other determinants of health like water, sanitation, education and nutrition etc. is required.

The mission found that states with better baseline like Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra have been in a position to make quicker use of untied funds.

It felt the need for more flexibility in funding along with better management for enabling the areas of infrastructure, human resources and supplies to catch up with the achievements in institutional deliveries.

In the field of public-private-partnership, most of the states have NGO and private sector collaboration. A need was felt to deepen such partnerships in the states like Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. NRHM has definitely given a boost to community participation in the health sector.

DUIN: Another India exposed

Stairway to Heaven COLUMN

Julia Duin

The popular film "Slumdog Millionaire" may be the public face of India these days but one Catholic archbishop now in Washington is trying to educate listeners about another India.

That's rural Orissa, India's least-developed, poorest state not far from Calcutta, the home of Mother Teresa. Last summer, a priest was tortured and a nun gang-raped in Kandhmal, a cauldron of radical Hinduism and the site of an anti-Christian pogrom in August.

The depressing details of it all have been previously described by this writer: 70,000 homeless Christians, more than 5,000 homes destroyed, 3,000 people missing and/or hiding in the nearby jungles for the past five months, 87 people burned or hacked to death and the infrastructure of the Catholic Church destroyed.
Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, 75, of Cuttack/Bhubaneswar and the spiritual head of five Catholic dioceses in Orissa, says 50 percent of Orissa's 1 million Christians are Roman Catholics. French missionaries planted Catholicism there about 130 years ago.

Hundreds of their schools, churches and other institutions have been destroyed. Displaced people sitting in refugee camps are afraid to return to their villages.

"They believe they will be attacked again and again," he said Tuesday, just after his plane landed here. "Those who have gone back have been forced to become Hindus, and the police are not stopping this. They have been mere spectators in this affair."

Orissa has a law forbidding forced conversions but apparently this only applies to people who wish to leave the Hindu religion.

In Kandhmal, there are 64,000 Catholics in 34 parishes, many of them from tribal or untouchable castes; in short, India's least-desirable people, located near the country's aluminum mines. The real estate is valuable but the locals apparently are not, which is why the authorities have been less than zealous at curbing the mayhem.
"The damage there is colossal," the archbishop said. "Our concern is to get people back to the villages. and to construct houses as early as possible."

As for the unfortunate nun, she has fled to another state. But before she left, she appeared before 100 journalists, wearing a black veil to hide her features.

"They might eliminate her because she is responsible for a few people going to jail," the archbishop said. Even when he visited some of the refugee camps last month, he was not allowed to wander beyond their confines because of death threats toward him.

"I'd like the American government to tell the government in India to take some serious actions to prevent this from happening again," said the archbishop, who was at Georgetown University Wednesday. On Thursday, he speaks to U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops officials.

Friday afternoon, he appears at Johns Hopkins University's Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in the District, as well as making a morning visit to the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America's office on Maryland Avenue Northeast. Saturday, Indian-Americans are having him speak at a reception, banquet and fundraiser at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Northeast.

The archbishop does point out that not all Hindus are at fault and that one Indian daily, the Hindu, has become quite supportive.

"But the fanatics," he said, "want to establish a Hindu nation."
• Contact Julia Duin.

Burma's 'abused Chin need help'

By Jonathan Head BBC News, Bangkok Chin people flee persecution and hardship on the Indian-Burma border The US group Human Rights Watch has called for better protection of the Chins, one of Burma's least known and most persecuted minorities. Ill-treatment of many ethnic minorities by the Burmese military has been extensively documented by international human rights groups. But Human Rights Watch say there has been little attention given to the plight of the Chins. Chin state is isolated, located along Burma's western border with India. The group says they are subjected to routine abuse and forced labour by the Burmese army, but often face discrimination and hostility when they flee into India. Grim fate What must it be like to be the hungriest and perhaps the most repressed region of a country like Burma? That is the grim fate of the Chins, one of Burma's many large ethnic minorities, according to Human Rights Watch. Living among the steep hills along Burma's western border, the Chins are subjected to routine abuse by the Burmese army, says the new report. It is based on extensive interviews with Chins who have fled into the Indian state of Mizoram. It documents forced labour, sexual abuse, torture and extra-judicial killings. Their plight is compounded by acute food shortages - the UN's World Food Programme estimates that food consumption in Chin state is the lowest in Burma. Recently it has been afflicted by a plague of rats which have eaten much of what little they can grow on the barren hillsides. The state is tightly controlled by the Burmese military and access to foreigners restricted. Unlike minorities such as the Karen on Burma's eastern border, who can flee to Thailand when they face army harassment, almost no international attention has been given to the Chins. Human Rights Watch says that even when they reach India they get little help, and are often forcibly repatriated.

Zillai condemns

Imphal, January 28 : The Zillai (Vaiphei Students' Association) General Headquarters strongly condemned bashing up of one Sangboi Vaiphei of Rengkai, Churachandpur in the night of January 21 by police and his subsequent death on January 26.

Assaulting and killing of innocents by the 'custodians of law' is shocking and unacceptable in a civilised society and must be condemned by all, the students' body said.

Zillai also urged the authority concerned to take up necessary actions not to happen the same to other innocent civilians in future.

John Parratt pays homage to noted scholar and wife Saroj Nalini

IMPHAL, Jan 28 : Noted Scholar, John Parrat paid rich tribute to his scholar wife the late Arambam Saroj Nalini.

A note to the press by him today said Saroj Nalini, was born in Imphal, in the then princely state of Manipur, on June 2nd 1933. Her father was a well known and respected educationalist and government officer. During the war years he was posted to Jiribam, where she received her first education, and later transferred to a convent school in Haflong.

She proceeded to Calcutta University, where she became the first Meetei woman to obtain BA and MA degrees, majoring in Philosophy. While in Calcutta she enjoyed close friendship with Christian Naga students, and converted to the Christianity. She was baptised at the Lower Circular Road Baptist church, whose minister, Walter Corlett had himself served in Imphal during the war years. The Christian faith was to become a dominant influence on her future life.

She came to Britain in the late 1950s to study theology, and obtained a Bachelor of Divinity degree from London University in 1961. Shortly afterwards she was married to John Parratt. When their desire to work in India was frustrated they decided to work elsewhere in the developing world, initially in Nigeria, where Saroj became a tutor in philosophy at the University of Ile-Ife.

When her husband was offered a research fellowship by the Australian National University she enrolled for a PhD in the Department of Asian Studies there, under the supervision of the eminent indologist AL Basham. Despite the frequent absences of her husband on field work in Papua-New Guinea and having to care for three young children, the bulk of the thesis was completed before she returned to Manipur for further extended field work in 1972.

The doctorate was awarded three years later, one of her examiners being Prof. Suniti Kumar Chatterji, who (unusually for the time) himself had a deep interest in India`s north-eastern region. Her thesis was published in 1980 (Firma KLM, Calcutta) as The Religion of Manipur. It marked the beginning of a new phase in writing on Manipur by its rigorous application of critical methodology both in the collection and in the analysis of field data, and had considerable influence on younger Meetei scholars.

From 1975-90 she taught at institutions in southern Africa, including the universities of Malawi and Botswana. She published a number of important papers including a seminal study of Islam in Botswana and studies of Christianity among Tswana women. Her main research however remained the Meetei, and she spent lengthy periods on field work in Manipur.

She developed a close relationship with the University of Manipur, and was appointed an honorary professor there in 2001. The fruit of this research, besides numerous academic papers, was two books jointly authored with her husband. Queen Empress vs. Tikendrajit, the Anglo-Manipuri Conflict of 1891 (Vikas, New Delhi 1992) was a critical account, based on detailed archival and oral sources, of the most traumatic event in Manipur`s history.

By contrast The Pleasing of the Gods: Meitei Lai Haraoba (Vikas, New Delhi 1997) was the result of meticulous field work, being an analysis and interpretation of the oral text, music and dance of the pre-Hindu religious festival which lies at the heart of Meitei culture.

Before she left Botswana in 2000 Saroj had already been concerned to produce an accurate translation of the Cheitharol Kumpapa, the Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur. On a visit to Imphal she had the unique privilege of being invited by the head maichou (court scribe) to photocopy the whole manuscript of the authenticated chronicle which was in his keeping. She quickly mastered the archaic script (meetei mayek) and the scribal conventions.

She became an honorary fellow of the Institute for Textual Scholarship and Electronic Editing of the University of Birmingham and began the translation which would occupy the remainder of her life. The publication was sponsored by the Royal Asiatic Society, and would include a fairly literal translation into English and explanatory notes as well as a facsimile of the original text.

Volume 1 appeared in 2005 (The Court Chronicle of the Kings of Manipur: the Cheitharol Kumpapa Routledge, London and New Delhi), and the second volume is expected in 2009. By this time she was suffering from terminal illness, and just a week before her death she finished the draft translation of the final volume (up to 1891), thus completing a work which is likely to remain a standard text for scholars working on the Indo-Burma region.

Saroj Nalini Arambam Parratt earned widespread respect in north-east India, both for her scholarship and for her advocacy of the distinct identity of the Mongoloid peoples of the region as contrasted with the sanskritic tradition of the sub-continent. Her contribution to to our understanding of the history and culture of the Meetei is probably unparalleled.

Orissa villagers in human chain protest at Vedanta

By Jatindra Dash



BHUBANESWAR (Reuters) - Thousands of tribespeople in Orissa, some carrying bows and arrows, formed a human chain on Tuesday to protest against a bauxite mine planned by Vedanta Resources Plc, police said.

The protest is the latest in several land disputes involving multinationals and it comes days after the London-listed company said it was ready to start mining bauxite in Orissa.
Members of the indigenous Dongria Kondh tribe that has lived in the lush forests of Niyamgiri hills in Orissa for generations held hands to form a 17 km long human chain on Tuesday.
Those opposing the project said the mining will affect the lives of thousands of people and destroy local ecology.
"Hills are our mother, we will not allow the company to do mining," said Lingaraj Azad, a protest leader.
Holding placards that said "Vedanta Go back" and "Vedanta quit Niyamgiri", at least 10,000 protesters vowed to stop the company from mining in the hills.
Last August, the Supreme Court allowed Vedanta to mine bauxite in the Niyamgiri hills. Vedanta wants to dig open-cast mines to feed an alumina refinery it has built in the area as part of an $800 million project.
Acquisitions of land by foreign and local companies have been controversial in several Indian states, with courts having to resolve disputes involving big projects, including South Korea's POSCO's proposed $12 billion steel plant, also in Orissa.

Raul nears di Stefano mark as Real cut Barca advantage

Madrid, Jan 26: Real Madrid's iconic captain Raul moved to just one goal from equalling Alfredo di Stefano's club goalscoring record as Real cut Barcelona's lead at the top to 12 points with a 1-0 home win over Deportivo La Coruna.

Raul appeared to use his ear to glance home Lassana Diarra's fierce 39th minute cross for his 306th goal in the famous white shirt, leaving him just one goal behind di Stefano, who famously inspired Real to five consecutive European Cup triumphs.

Raul, 31, was taken off 20 minutes from the end as coach Juande Ramos put the team first so the former Spain international will have to wait until next week to try and get the goal.

Real moved three points clear of third-placed Sevilla, who lost 2-0 against Racing Santander, as they enacted revenge for their opening 2-1 defeat to Depor at the Riazor Stadium.

It was a fifth straight win for Ramos who has had to deal with the speculation that Arsene Wenger could replace him at the end of the season.

Barcelona have also been irked by suggestions that Real could break the bank to sign their Argentine star Lionel Messi who scored twice in the 4-1 win over Numancia on Saturday.

"I'll never leave Barca," said Messi. "I'll only leave if they throw me out. Barcelona is my home."

With Barca and Real in their custom positions of first and second the rest of the top sides appear to be fighting for the remaining two Champions League slots.

Despite playing against ten men for close to an hour Sevilla fell to a surprise 2-0 home defeat at the hands of Racing Santander.

Serbian striker Nikola Zigic, measuring in at 6ft 8in (2.05-metre), was the main danger and scored the crucial second goal at the beginning of the second half.

Zigic flopped at Valencia after a 20-million-euro move from Racing but the striker, back at Racing on loan, repaid them a little scoring his third goal in four games to down Valencia's Champions League rivals.

Sevilla now host Valencia on Thursday in a mouth watering Spanish Cup quarter-final evenly-poised after holders Valencia won the first leg 3-2.

Strugglers Mallorca shocked Valencia with a 3-1 win yesterday with Jose Jurado netting a brace.

Mallorca moved off the bottom of the table with the win and Osasuna replaced them.

Atletico Madrid are still yet to win in 2009 after a 1-1 draw at Malaga who had won four out of their last five games in the league. Elsewhere Espanyol's third coach this season, Mauricio Pochettino, saw his side draw 1-1 with Valladolid in his first match in charge.

Pochettino's next task is to eliminate local neighbours Barcelona from the Spanish Cup with the city rivals facing off at Camp Nou on Thursday in the quarter-final second leg with the first match finishing 0-0.

A newly-wed Couple shot dead in suspected honour killing in Punjab

Amritsar, Jan 26: In a case of suspected honour killing, a newly-wed couple were shot dead allegedly by the girl's family members in public view in Punjab's Tarn Taran district, days after the High Court directed the police to provide security to them.

The victims Balkar Singh, 30, and 19-year-old Ravinder Pal Kaur had a court marriage on January 1 this year against the will of the girl's parents and had approached the Punjab Haryana High Court after allegedly receiving threats but were yet to get security cover despite a court direction, police said.

Kabul Singh, father of the girl, along with his son Rajbir Singh and two cousins Jatinder Singh and Sarmail Singh allegedly chased Balkar Singh, who was buying edibles, and shot him dead yesterday, police said.

The assailants later reached his house to kill his wife Ravinder Pal Kaur, who ran towards the fields. But they chased her too and fired at her, killing her on the spot.

No arrest has been made so far and raids were being carried out to nab the accused.

The couple had recently approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court for protection following which police of both districts Amritsar and Tarn Taran were directed to provide security to the newly-wed couple as they were constantly receiving threats from the girl's parents.

Bodo problems to feature in ABSU’s conference

KOKRAJHAR, Jan 26 : Hectic preparation is going on in to full swing to hold the historic 41st annual conference of the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) scheduled from January 29 to February 1 at Daoharu Fwthar of  Bargaon in Sonitpur district.

The Reception committee, the ABSU and the local people are seen to be very optimistic of creating another history of splendid success by organizing the mega occasion like never before and has undertaken every possible measures to ensure smooth and successful completion of the conference.

The ABSU president Rwngwra Narzary in his appeal to the people said that the conflict situation among the tribals with special reference to the Bodo problems and prospects of Bodo medium will be featured in the historic session.

He also said that ABSU was very much concerned about the recent fratricidal killings among the Bodos where more than 80 people have lost their lives.

The union also expressed sorrow over the growing enmity, conflict and confrontation with a particular tribal community in Asom, and added that to find out the root cause, reasons and factors behind the conflict an important seminar will be organized in the session with a theme ‘conflict situations among the tribals themselves in Asom with special reference to the Bodos”.

He also said eminent resource persons, experts and learned personalities have already been invited with papers.
Narzary said a round table discussion on “problems, policies and future prospects of Bodo medium” will be held where more than 200 intellectuals, noted educationists and high level Government officials will take part to sort out comprehensive policies, measures to improve the standard of Bodo medium education as well as other problems.
Since the 41st session is also the terminating session, it would bear a significant importance for the future history of the ABSU for new leadership will emerge with new policies and resolutions would be adopted. Besides, new agenda of nation building will get priority in the fifth rounds of delegates’ sitting. Narzary also added that the new leadership will bring a new change in the society and innovative ideas for the Bodos for their uplift.
As part of the programmes, Tezpur University vice chancellor Prof Mihir Kanti Choudhury will be the chief guest of the open session on February 1. The Meghalaya governor Ranjit Shekar Mooshahary will inaugurate the open session.
The open session will be chaired by ABSU  president Rwngwra Narzary and will be addressed by former BSS  president Brajendra Kr Brahma and AASU Adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharjee.

Do we still have to plead for recognition, asks Sushil Kumar

New Delhi, Jan 26 Olympic bronze medallist Sushil Kumar is disappointed after being ignored for the prestigious Padma awards.

‘Last week an official from the Sports Ministry informed us that I and Vijender have been shortlisted for Padma Shri winners. But I was shocked when I heard that both of us were ignored for this prestigious award,’ the wrestler told IANS Monday.

‘It really hurts when your performance at the highest level goes unrecognised. This shows that Olympic sports in the country is not taken seriously and only cricketers get recognition.’
‘Do we still have to plead for recognition even after winning Olympic medals?’ Sushil wondered.
Boxer Vijender Singh, who was also left out despite winning the country’s maiden Olympic medal (bronze) in boxing, said he is not unduly worried.
‘Our job is to perform and win medals for the country. It is up to the government to take notice. I am not in race for any awards,’ he said.
Sushil’s coach Yahbir Singh said they were expecting the Padma award for the wrestler.
‘We were surprised after learning that Sushil and Vijender were not selected for the award. This is how we treat our champions?,’ he asked.
Though it was India’s most successful Olympic performance ever, only shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won the nation’s maiden individual Olympic gold medal, has been conferred with the Padma Bhushan.
Cricketers Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh, too, are in the list of Padma Shri awards, which has not gone well with the wrestling and boxing fraternity.
‘Cricketers are given all the awards. What have they done this year to deserve the award? Even the world body of boxing has recognised India as upcoming power in the sport and it is a shame that we are treated in this manner at home,’ said a boxing official, declining to be named.

Showcause to State on ADC elections

Imphal, January 26 : Following the move of the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench to have passed an order show-causing the Government of Manipur on January 22 as to why elections to the six Autonomous District Councils in the hill areas could not be held in the past 19/20 years, the Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has expressed hope that the action of the Court would mean a path for the grass-root level self governance.

Former ANSAM vice president and current president of Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) Ngachonmi Chamroy had filed a writ petition in the form of Public Interest Litigation (PIL) under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in the Gauhati High Court, Imphal Bench on December 19, 2008.Advocate R Daniel is the counsel for the petitioner.

The hearing of this case was held in the division court of Justice BD Agarwal and Justice Mutum Binoykumar on January 22 after which the double bench, Gauhati High Court had passed an order show-causing to the Government of Manipur to explain within two weeks time as to why elections to the Autonomous District Council in the hill areas could not be held for all these years i.e 19/20 years.

As per order of the Court, the State Government is supposed to give necessary response by February 4 to the High Court.

Meanwhile, informing Newmai News Network, the Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has asked as to what had the State Government done during the last two decades when there has been the existence of Manipur District Council Act, 1971 and that the supersession period order of the government was only for six months.

The six Autonomous District Councils are Churachandpur, Tamenglong, Sardar Hills, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel.

The Indigenous Democratic Front (IDF) has further informed that the January 22 move of the Gauhati High Court will 'create a big room for the people to participate in self governance at the grass-root level.' The IDF then warned that in the event of the State Government failing to oblige to the order of the Gauhati High Court, the Front will fight tooth and nail to deliver goods by staging sternest forms of agitation in the State.

IDF claims that its area of operation covers the whole state of Manipur.

Maharashtra wrestlers dominate

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Grapplers from Maharashtra were dominant and won two gold medals out of five at stake in the wrestling events of the PYKKA National Rural Games here on Saturday.

Wadkar Mukund Maruti struck gold in 38kg weight division while teammate Tanugade Pradeep won gold in 59kg. Sandeep of Delhi denied Maharashtra its third gold medal was he won the 73kg division beating Handeshahaji Dattatray in the final. In athletics, Sandeep (Haryana) won the boys 400m gold in 52.1s, while P. Kishore Babu impressed by winning the javelin with an effort of 54.56m.

The results (athletics): Boys: 400m boys: 1. Sandeep (Har), 2. R.S. Arun Raj (Ker), 3. S. Veeraswamy (AP) (52.1s); 1500m: 1. Paul Ekka (Jhrkd), 2. Vinay Kumar (U.P.), 3. Rahul Chikka (Har) (4:16.06); Long jump: 1. Surendra Kissan (Ori), 2. Vikash (U.P.), 3. Suraj Mandal (Kar) (6.35m); Javelin throw: 1. P. Kishore Babu (AP), 2. Vijay Dangi (Har), 3. Virendra Yadav (U.P.), (54.06m).


Girls: 400m: 1. Reena George (Kar), 2. Sonali Desai (Mah), 3. Ashwani (Har), (1:00.6); Long jump: 1. V. Pavithra (TN), 2. Jyothi Bante (Mah), 3. Divya Ramkumar (Ker), (5.12m); Javelin throw: 1. Karti (U.P.), 2. Aruna Parshuram Soaji (Kar), 3. Praci Patil (Mah), (34.03m).


Wrestling: 32kg: 1. Rajesh (Har), 2. Dhenge Ranjith (Ker), 3. Prashanth Tomer (U.P.) & Sunny Sund (Pun); 38kg: 1. Wadkar Mukund Maruti (Mah), 2. Basavaraj M. Sarwad (Kar), 3. Dheepak (Del), & Dheeraj Dave (MP); 47kg: 1 Pwan Ghawari (MP), 2. Ramu M. Burabusi (Kar), 3. Neeraj Kumar (Del), & Rohit Bharwaj (U.P.); 59kg: 1. Tanugade Pradeep (Mah), 2. Shriram Jat (Raj), 3. Dilbag Singh (Pun) & Gusharan Kori (MP); 73kg: 1. Sandeep (Del), 2. Handashahaji Dattaray (Mah), 3. Vishal Borasi (MP) & Pushpendra (U.P.).


Hockey (league): Boys: Haryana bt Gurjart 1-0; Punjab bt Chhattisgarh 1-0; Orissa bt Mizoram 4-0; Keala bt Bihar 2-0; Gujarat bt J &K 2-0; Orissa bt Rajasthan 3-0; Karnataka bt Mizoram 7-0; Jharkhand bt AP 2-0; Delhi bt Karnataka 4-1; Maharashtra bt Kerala 3-1; TN bt U.P. 1-0; AP bt Haryana 1-0; MP bt Chattisgarh 2-1.


Girls: AP bt Gujrat 1-0; Haryana bt Bihar 13-0; HP bt J&K 11-0; Keala bt Goa 1-0; Orissa bt Chhattisgarh 6-1; Karnataka bt Punjab 2-0; U.P. bt Maharashtra 2-1; Delhi bt TN 7-0.

Gender discrimination exposed to the hilt

Imphal, January 24 : Can you believe that in this land of Nupi Lans and Meira Paibis, there are many young women who have been cast out by their families and are spending the night sleeping on the floor of verandahs of shops and gullies in the Bazar area because they are addicted to drugs or indulged in flesh trade or are living with HIV ? .

This is the truth and the reality of many young women who have been dubbed 'Lamhenbi' by their family members.

They have no place to stay and spend the night outside, and in the process are exposed to the harassment of armed personnel.

Even if they want to give up such lifestyles and manage to give up their drug habit after undergoing treatment at some drug rehabilitation centres and acquiring vocational training, the reluctance of their near and dear ones to accept them and the discrimination demonstrated lead to self imposed low esteem and constrain them to continue to live in the wilderness.

On the other hand, howsoever notorious a young man might be in the society, there is always a place for them in the family and the society.

They would find a plateful of rice when they return home and a bed to sleep and would inherit the family properties when their parents pass away.

However it is a different story for the women.

They get no assistance, either from their family or society , thus forcing them to drift apart further from their families and the society at large.

This is the story of Bina (name changed on request) .

"After I was chased out from my house, I have been spending most of my nights either at the hotels of my friends or on the verandahs of shops and gullies in the Bazar," 35-year old Bina said while talking to The Sangai Express.

Bina is of the view that most of the women drug addicts and commercial sex workers in Manipur have become so in their efforts to find a road to save themselves from poverty or atrocities in their families.

Talking about herself, Bina recalled that she had been married off at a young age by her stepmother and father.

However as she could not bear children, her husband and in-laws started ill treating her.

Subsequently, her husband married another woman and she had to return to her parental home.

After coming back to her parental home, Bina started working in a house at Kakhulong in assisting brewing local wine to earn money for her sustenance.

'While searching for a means to earn atleast some money for my sustenance, I took up brewing wine.

For brewing one pot of wine, I was given Rs 30 and at the maximum three such pots could be brewed'', she informed.

But on the flip side, while getting along with others in the same profesion, Bina started drinking and gradually went on to taking drugs.

She also started a road side hotel of her own.

But it did not last.

As the meagre income she was earning was not enough to meet the demand of her drug habit, she also got in to the flesh trade and contracted HIV.

Determined to keep give up her drug habit and lifestyle of a commercial sex worker, Bina had undergone treatment a rehabilitation centre under the Ministry of Human Resource Development many a time.

In this regard, Bina said that as long as she was staying and undergoing treatment at the rehabilitation centre, she could stay away from drug and also learn vocational training.

But once she came out of the rehabilitation centre, she returned to her old habit as she has nowhere else to go.

On the plights of the female IDUs in Manipur, project co-ordinator of SASO/Alliance Female IDUs (FIDUs) Chandragini explained that even if all the possible assistance are being extended to the FIDUs who come to SASO, the greatest problem is the absence of a night shelter home for these women.

So abandoning of the FIDUs by the family members could become the main factor behind their continued drug abuse and indulge in flesh trade.

Chandragini further informed that starting from truck drivers to policemen and Army personnel and even teenaged boys are going to these women as their customers thus increasing the chances of spreading HIV among the general population.

''So if we are stop spread of HIV, the support of the family in rehabilitating these FIDUs and sex workers is very much essential'', she said.

She also emphasised on the need for setting up a night shelter home for these cast out women.

It may be noted here that in accordance to the Sentinel Surveillance Report of MACS, among the high risk groups the rate of HIV prevalence among female sex workers accounts for 11.6 percent in Manipur.

AMWJU, EFM penalise Editors

Imphal, January 24 : Taking a serious note of the disclosure by the SP of Bishnupur police that two press identity cards were recovered from the possession of two KCP leaders, the All Manipur Working Journalists' Union, has decided to suspend the membership of the Editor of Kangleipakki Meira for issuing the I card while the Editors' Forum, Manipur has also decided to suspend the Editor of Meeyam, who is incidentally the president of the Forum, for the same.

In a statement, AMWJU said that the matter was discussed minutely during a meeting attended by Editors and AMWJU today afternoon.

During the meeting, AMWJU confirmed the report from the SP again and when the two Editors were contacted, they also admitted to having issued the I cards.

Taking the facts into account, the meeting decided to suspend the Chief Editor of Kangleipakki Meira, Wangkhemcha Shyamjai from the membership of AMWJU for an indefinite period.

The meeting also acknowledged the prompt decision taken up by the Editors' Forum to suspend Saikhom Jugol, Editor of Meeyam.

AMWJU has also decided to conduct an inquiry, said the statement and added that the inquiry will be headed by its general secretary.

The inquiry report is expected to be submitted within a week's time.

The report of the inquiry will then be discussed in a general body meeting.

Scent of inside job in sentry killing

Imphal, January 24 : The OC of Porompat Police Station has started investigating the killing of a commando personnel who was on sentry duty inside the office complex of Imphal East SP and snatching away the service Rifles by some unidentified persons on the night of January 14 .

According to an official source, as there is suspicion on the possible involvement of the police personnel deployed in the same office complex in the said incident, the investigation has begun from within.

It may be recalled here that on the night of January 14 one police commando personnel identified as Md Sikandar who was on sentry duty was found clubbed to death and his service LMG Rifles and the allotted ammunition missing.

It is said the on that fateful night, the duty timing of Sikandar was from 9 pm to midnight with one Lukram Strong to take over from midnight to 3 am.

So far the investigation has established that the police commando who was on sentry duty from 6 to 9 pm on that day had been very cordial with Sikandar at the time of taking over the duty.

However, Lukram Strong who was to take over the duty from Sikandar after his duty hours was not present inside the office complex.

In case of taking leave from duty due to some emergency, any commando has to seek the permission of their higher officers.

But on that day, Lukram Strong allegedly went home without giving any prior information.

Moreover, on the same day of the incident one of the surrendered PULF cadres identified as Md Islamuddin was also found missing from the office complex of the SP although he had been staying inside the office complex for around 2 months on security reasons.

The absence of Lukram Strong who was to be on sentry duty and the surrendered PULF cadre on the same day has therefore raised suspicion, said the OC.

The two have been remanded to police custody till January 28 and are under hectic interrogation.

Pakistan has become ground zero for terrorist threat

Washington: Even as Pakistan has become "ground zero for the terrorist threat," an influential US senator has advocated support for Islamabad and helping it and India to return to bilateral peace talks disrupted by the Mumbai attacks.

"As America's second post-9/11 President takes office, a single country has become ground zero for the terrorist threat we face," said John Kerry, the new Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman in an Op-Ed piece in the Washington Times on Friday.

Events so far: ‘Pak action on India's dossier not satisfactory’
 
But Pakistan is also "under enormous pressure from all sides, from tensions with India to a ferocious insurgency in the tribal belt to a financial crisis that threatens the solvency of the Pakistani state", the Democratic party's presidential nominee in 2004 said.

"And all of this is being held together by a fledgling civilian government not even a year old," Kerry said. "For our sake and theirs, America must do more to help Pakistan."

"Crucial to this effort will be finding a winning regional strategy that recognizes the centrality of Pakistan's relationships with neighbours such as Afghanistan and India," he said.

Events so far: Pak to complete probe into India evidence soon


"It has become conventional wisdom that the war in Afghanistan can be lost in Pakistan, whose tribal belt offers a sanctuary from which Taliban insurgents launch cross-border raids against us and our Afghan allies," he said.

But "What is often overlooked, however, is that the opposite is true as well: Violent instability in Afghanistan can undercut essential counterinsurgency efforts in Pakistan."
"Similarly, as the aftermath of the November terror attacks in Mumbai reminded us, getting Pakistan to focus its military on extremist sanctuaries that endanger American troops also depends on lowering tensions with India."
US must work assiduously to help Pakistan and India to find a path back to the bilateral peace talks which were disrupted by the Mumbai attacks, Kerry said.
US interests not guiding India's Pak policy: Antony | Column: Did a book predict Mumbai attack?
The consensus among US intelligence agencies is that top Al Qaeda leaders are plotting their next attack from Pakistan, where the prevalence of religious extremists and nuclear weapons make it the central, crucial front in the struggle to protect America from terrorism, he noted.
But while there is an increasingly broad consensus that Pakistan is the strategic centre of gravity for defeating insurgents in Afghanistan, a military strategy alone cannot prevail on either side of the border, Kerry said

Many Zeliangrong people did not know their rights, says Fr Mathew Tharakan

Daniel Kameih

TAMENGLONG, Jan 24 : A two-day workshop on Basic Human Rights and Right to Information was held today at Shekinuh-Inn, Tamenglong district headquarter jointly organized by the Women Union For Progress, Tamenglong and Committee for Development of Tamenglong and sponsored by United NGO Mission Manipur. Many Zeliangrong people did not know their rights, said Rev. Fr. Mathew Tharakan, coordinator of Don Bosco Social Welfare, Tamenglong and Parish Priest of Mary Help of Christian, Tamenglong.

Speaking as chief guest of the inaugural function, Fr Mathew Tharakan also said that this kind of workshop is very important for our society as many people did not know their rights. It is also good to conduct at village level as hardly people know their rights, he added.

"I have been for 27 years in Tamenglong district with the Zeliangrong people. There is not much development even at district headquarter and if you go to the remote areas like Tousem sub-division of this district, there is nothing," said Fr Mathew Tharakan.

He also stated that good and bad people are living at district headquarters, and all funds and schemes were taken away by one man and the other poor people get nothing.

He also appealed that everyone should be made to read and write and know their rights so that one could fight for his rights to live healthy, wealthy, prosperity peaceful and better lives.

While giving the keynote address Rev. Kaiba Riamei, secretary of Women Union for Progress said that our rights have been neglected or exploited in our state of Manipur either by the state or by individuals.

While delivering his speech as resource person Joykumar, human rights activist said that many schemes and funds are released by the government for Tamenglong people but many are not taken up and many development funds were misused.

Many of us did not know our rights. Rice agent under PDS and IAY schemes were misused in our state particularly at Tamenglong but many of us did not claim their rights, said Joykumar.

Advocate M Rakesh, director, Human Rights and Law Network, Manipur also spoke on various human rights issues.

Manipur Govt action urged against persecution of Christians

IMPHAL, Jan 24 : The Joint Action Committee (JAC) against Christian persecution at Chingmeirong Rongmei (Kabui) village in Imphal has expressed deep concern over the alleged failure of the state government to arrest the culprits involved in the act despite condemnations expressed by Christian groups and churches. In this regard, the JAC has urged the government for appropriate action against the perpetrators.

A church was allegedly dismantled by the villagers Chingmeirong Rongmei village on December 14 last which led to condemnations from various religious bodies. But the villagers refuted to the allegations of Christian organisations. The report was followed by a series of allegations and counter allegations in the later stage.

In a press statement issued today by G. Gaithailung, co-convenor of the JAC, alleged that the timing of the attack and the way it had been carried out revealed that there was a dangerous attempt by some forces to eliminate Christians at Chingmeirong and annihilate them. The JAC also alleged that certain religious extremists have engaged in a series of attacks against the Christians at Chingmeirong including pelting of stones, physical assault, destroying Church building and residential building and maintained that such acts have left the Christians of the area in fear and virtually defenceless.

Stating that the Indian Constitution declares India as a secular state, the JAC alleged that the Manipur government in this regard has failed to in its duty to protect the rights of the Christians thus affecting their lives, personal liberty, and their right to freedom of religion, its profession, practice and propagation.

Further, stating that the Christians are dismayed by the extreme indifferences of the policy and leaders of the state, the JAC condemned the alarming trend of growing violence and intolerance in the state and Chingmeirong in particular. In this connection, the JAC appealed the state government to prevent further violence and harassment of Christian minorities in Chingmeirong and that appropriate action be taken against the perpetrators.

The JAC also appealed to the civil society organisations, religious groups and political parties to initiate confidence building measures to restore natural trust, peace and reconciliation among peoples of different faith in the state. The committee also urged the government to ensure that religious minorities may equally enjoy freedom of conscience and the right to freely profess, practice and adopt any religion.

The JAC also further urged the government of the state to recognise that the minority Christians in Chingmeirong are citizens of the state and that they have every right to enjoy their constitutional and natural rights without fear or favour.

NH-150 bandh indefinite, says JAC

IMPHAL, Jan 24 : The JAC against Expansion and Extension of Imphal Airport which began its indefinite bandh on the National Highway-150 passing through the Imphal airport from the 19th of this month has reminded that the bandh is an indefinite one.

Over the last 4 to 5 days, the bandh has been successfully implemented with very few vehicles on the road. The government`s armed personnel have been keeping strict vigil and have been trying to thwart the call of the people. Despite such difficulties, farmers, women groups and all affected people from more than six villages have resolutely stood firm in making their position clear on their demand, it said.

The JAC while condemning the use of government security forces against a democratic movement of the people, requested the government to mend its ways of dealing with affected people.

The JAC once again calls for a more democratic and transparent process when large scale projects are brought in the state. The current airport expansion move is nothing but the outdated top down approach where the people (including the affected people) are supposed to remain as silent spectators and suffer, it said.

Despite four days of continued bandhs the government has not acted on the demand of the JAC. In view of this, the JAC has collectively decided that all political parties, in particular the Congress and the allies of the present government, will not be allowed to function in the Naoriya constituency (project affected area), and all government and offices related to airport (including Airport Authority of India) will no more function in this area until an acceptable solution is arrived between the JAC and the government.

The JAC also noted that if any of the offices or office functionaries are found violating this call, fitting action would be taken up. The JAC shall bear no responsibility for any unwanted happenings, it said

Protest against bomb threat at school

IMPHAL, Jan 24 : A sit-in protest was staged today by students, teachers and guardians of Little Master Higher Secondary School, Samurou in front of their school against the keeping of a bomb at the school.

Placard with slogans like, "Make education a free zone", "Don`t demand unbearable amounts from schools" were displayed in the protest participated by around 500 persons including students, teachers and guardians from 10 am to 3 pm.

Regarding the incident, M Thoiba, founder secretary of the school expressed to the media that it was very unfortunate for the students that a bomb was kept during the schools examinations which disrupted the examinations.

He feared that the institute would not function for long as the demands and threats to the school were continuing. The school authorities also blamed the present government for their failure to improve the security situation and appealed against any demands or threats to the school.

Bijoy, a student of Class XI of the school, said that such incidents during examinations made the students fearful and could disturb the careers of the students.

More wheat for states where demand is greater

New Delhi (PTI): The Centre on Friday said it has allocated over 2 lakh tonnes of additional wheat to 11 states, including Delhi, Assam, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Punjab, for open sale to bulk consumers like flour millers.

"Keeping in view the requirement, a total additional quantity of 2.22 lakh tonnes has been allotted," an official statement said here.

The increased allocation for these states was, however, made after cutting the alloted quantity by 1.95 lakh tonnes in 14 states and union territories, sources said.

"We have cut the allocation in states where the offtake was low and transferred it to other states where demand is more," a senior official said.

The government has, for the second time, extended the scheme for open market sale of wheat by the Food Corporation of India to bulk consumers till February-end. It was originally meant for two months at the time of launch in October last year, but was later extended till January 31.

When the open market sale scheme was launched the total allocation for all the states was 9.72 lakh tonnes. Therefore now, only 27,500 tonnes of additional wheat has been provided under the OMSS, taking the total allocation to 10 lakh tonnes. 

The states which have been rewarded with additional allocation are - Delhi (1,00,000 tonnes), Karnataka (25,000 tonnes), Tamil Nadu (30,000 tonnes), Assam (20,000 tonnes), Haryana, Orissa, Punjab and Uttarakhand (10,000 tonnes each), Chandigarh (3,500 tonnes), Puducherry (3,000 tonnes) and Goa (1,000 tonnes). 

Maharashtra, among others, witnessed a cut in allocation by 45,000 tonnes, followed by Madhya Pradesh and Bihar by 30,000 tonnes each.

Under the scheme for the distribution of subsidised edible oils, states' demand for imported oils for supply through ration shops may gain momentum after the Centre's announcement to raise the subsidy by Rs 10 to Rs 25 a litre early this week.

Out of up to one million tonnes of imported edible oils targeted to be distributed under the subsidy scheme, orders have been placed for the import of 3.60 lakh tonnes.

About 3.52 lakh tonnes of edible oils have already landed in the country and about 2.05 lakh tonnes have so far been distributed to various states and Union territories.

‘Development of cultural tourism going on right track’

Parliamentary secretary Yitachu (center) seen here with village elders at Lozaphuphu in Phek district.

Lozaphuhu (Phek dist) : Parliamentary Secretary for tourism, art & culture, law and justice Yitachu said that the ‘development of cultural tourism in the state is going on right track’ and called for more focus on eco-tourism. Speaking at the 18th cultural day celebrations at Lozaphuhu village near Phek, Yitachu impressed upon the need to preserve flora and fauna, which he said, in return, will invite more tourists to the state.

He also stressed on the urgent need for all responsible agencies to responsibly play their part towards the success of tourism industry in the state. ‘Tourism department can take care of infrastructural needs, but the forest department and the wild life will have to sing along,” he opined.

He said the scope for eco-tourism was enormous provided the masses understand the concept and thereby help towards conserving the fast depleting flora and fauna. Calling upon the village community to shelve the wrong notion of inviting guests for monetary benefits he said, ‘We should emulate the age old custom of inviting guest and use the same in all levels to bring about positive change.’

Terming the current trend as against the culture of the Nagas, he stated that unless measures were taken, it could leave behind a negative impact. On the programmes, he stated that the government has been working to revive the age old culture and traditions as practiced by fore fathers.

Highlights of the cultural day long programme included folk dance competitions, folk tune, traditional rice pounding and traditional cotton weaving.

Excess consumption of alcohol generates extreme negative effects

This is also a crisis faced by the Britons but is not related with any nasty effect of the global downturn. It is related with the strange habit of drinking and the extensive investigations these days reveal that more and more habitants of Britain, especially of the middle class, are becoming easy preys to its allurement. It may be that you are not aware of this even though you live in Britain. How can the reports of various study groups be denied then?


The studies, almost all of them have been done comprehensively, claim that middle aged, professional Britons are more expected to exceed suggested daily levels of alcohol consumption than the working-classes and this disparity between them is increasing steadily. What should be the daily level? According to the advice of the government, the rate of drinking for men should be between three to four units while for women it varies between two to three. Nonetheless there is also a problem. Nowadays the changing reality of the society is also exerting influences on other sectors too. For that reason, these days the amounts of alcoholic drinks have also changed.

There is the trend for larger measures therefore. One large glass of wine now counts as three units, a medium glass as two and a small glass as one-and-a-half. But studies have proved that it is futile to make the Britons comprehend the dangers and many middle class drinkers insist they know what the safe level of alcohol consumption is. It is, therefore, the next of kin’s responsibility to take the decision what to do. Keep in mind, if your hubby or father is addicted to this habit, he may become the victim of negative short term effects of drinking. They are loss of judgment, loss of coordination, blurred vision, slurring of speech, and loss of balance.

You have to inform him of the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. He will not listen to it and it is quite obvious. You have to take him to the doctor of medicine, if there is any emergency. Have a discussion with a health care professional about the need for medical supervision. Do everything fast since delay can make the matter worse. Drinking too much alcohol can make him experience some extreme negative effects including unconsciousness, coma, and even death.

Assam Rifles recruitment

IMPHAL, Jan 23 : The Assam Rifles is conducting a recruitment rally for recruitment into the Assam Rifles at Chassad in Ukhrul district from February 2 to 6, 2009 for all domiciles of Manipur. The number of vacancies is 30 for GD/GD driver and the caste wise distribution is one for SC, 20 for ST and nine for General categories.

Minimum education qualification for the post of rifleman/general duty is matric or X Class passed. Age limit for General candidates is 18-23 years. SC/ST candidates are allowed five years relaxation in the upper age limit.

The interested and eligible candidates are required to bring original documents on February 2, 2009 at 6 am for the rally. The documents to be brought include those for education qualification, mark sheet and date of birth (under matric certificate where applicable should be countersigned by the deputy inspector of school/district education officer); SC/ST certificate, if applicable; character certificate not more than six months old; domicile/permanent residential certificate; three copies of recent passport size photographs duly attested by gazetted officer; and driving license for driver category (medium/heavy vehicle license to be preferred but the candidates having light vehicle license be also allowed).

The Group Centre Langjing in Imphal will also be conducting recruitment from January 27 till February 7 this year for filling up the vacancies of constables (GD)/male and female in the CRPF from Manipur and Nagaland states for which call letters to the eligible applicants have already been dispatched at the address given by the candidates in their application forms.

The candidates should report at the Group Centre Langjing for physical examination on dates mentioned in the call letters. Candidates are to report at the recruitment centre on the dates given in the call letters and will have to make their own arrangement if their stay is required for more than one day as per requirement of the recruitment process, a release from the CRPF said.

Obama has full plate on day one in the oval office

Washington, Jan 22 On his first day in the oval office, President Barack Obama launched efforts to revive the economy, summoned his war council to chart a new course in Iraq and plunged into Middle East diplomacy.

‘What an opportunity we have to change this country,’ he said Wednesday signing a series of executive orders to promote his vision of ‘a government that truly is of, and by, the American people.’

Obama who has pledged to take bold steps to revive the economy, presided over the White House meeting on the economy as a House moved toward approval of $358 billion in new spending, part of the economic stimulus package making its way to his desk. Last week, he won approval to use $350 billion in leftover financial industry bailout funds.

The new commander in chief held his first meeting in the Situation Room, where he, Vice President Joe Biden and senior military and foreign policy officials discussed war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama campaigned on a pledge to withdraw US combat forces from Iraq within 16 months, and to beef up the commitment in Afghanistan.

The new White House press secretary, Robert Gibbs, said Obama’s phone calls to leaders in the Middle East were meant to convey his ‘commitment to active engagement in pursuit of Arab-Israeli peace from the beginning of his term.’

Gibbs also that in conversations with Israeli, Palestinian, Egyptian and Jordanian leaders, the president emphasised he would work to consolidate the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

Acknowledging tough economic times while trying to set a tone for his new administration, Obama froze the salaries of senior White House staff who make more than $100,000 a year and put in place restrictions on former lobbyists who have come to work for him.

The pay freeze affects senior staff, including such high-profile posts as the national security adviser and the chief of staff. Obama, in a statement, said the move reflected the belief that ‘families are tightening their belts, and so should Washington.’

‘As of today, lobbyists will be subject to stricter limits than under any … other administration in history,’ Obama told reporters as he signed the new rules.

The ethics rules extend from one year to two years the cooling-off period that ex-lobbyists must observe before they can work on issues they previously lobbied on or communicate with executive branch agencies they contacted.

Officials who leave the administration also will be barred from lobbying for as long as Obama is president. And Obama announced a ban on gifts lobbyists try to give to any members of his administration.

‘We are here as public servants, and public service is a privilege,’ Obama said. ‘It’s not about advancing yourself or your corporate clients.’

Obama also instructed federal agencies and departments to be responsive to Freedom of Information requests and to lean toward making more information public instead of coming up with legal justifications for withholding it.

The president is requiring all members of his staff to receive an ethics briefing. He said he had gone through one last week.

As a senator, Obama in 2006 cosponsored a package of lobbying restrictions but wound up voting against a final bill, saying it lacked any enforcement mechanism to truly change the culture in Washington.

Man hit by stray bullet in Wangkhei shootout

IMPHAL, Jan 22 : An elderly man who was hit by a stray bullet was hospitalized today after being injured in a firing at Wangkhei Angom Leikai in Imphal east around 10 am.

According to locals of the area the firing took place between two unknown groups, one of which came on a motorcycle from Kongba side and four other persons who came in a Getz car. The firing continued for five minutes.

The injured person who was hit by the bullet was identified as Thoudam Thambou, 74, of Wangkhei Angom Leikai. He was hit on his right hip and was admitted to the RIMS Hospital. He is stated to be out of danger, according to doctors at the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Thoubal police commandos and 21 Assam Rifles on receiving information on the presence of KYKL activists at Lamjao and Wabagai villages on January 19 rushed to the area at around 6 pm and found some armed militants at Keirak Leirak Achouba who fired upon the security men.

During the ensuing encounter which lasted for around 10 minutes some six to seven militant suspects were seen running towards the village side. Although the security men chased the miscreants they managed to escape under the cover of darkness.

After the encounter, the security men searched the area where they found the body of slain suspect. They also recovered a 9 mm pistol marked `China 44 27004` and a magazine loaded with two live rounds of 9 mm from near the dead body, a release from the SP Thoubal said.

Meanwhile, in other incidents the Imphal east police commandos also made some arrests yesterday.

A team of the Imphal east police commandos nabbed a KCP(MC) cadre named Waikhom Ibomcha alias Bomcha, 30, son of W Kulla of Bashikhong Kongba Irong from the Kongba area yesterday around 7.30 am, a release from the Imphal east SP said.

The cadre disclosed during interrogation that he joined the KCP organisation in the month of November 2008 and was involved in extortion of money from the general public, government officials and businessmen in the Imphal east areas.

Another team of the same commando unit arrested a PREPAK cadre named Nameirakpam Hemanta Singh alias Deva, 38, son of N Ibobi Singh of Lilong Shantipur from Minuthong yesterday at around 8.20 am.

The cadre disclosed that he joined the outfit in June 2008 and was involved in the extortion of money from the general public and government officials in the Imphal east area.

Trooper kills six colleagues in Manipur

Imphal, Jan 22 An Assam Rifles trooper shot dead six of his colleagues with his service weapon and injured many including civilians in Manipur’s Ukhrul district Wednesday night, officials said.

The dead include a junior commissioned officer of the 17 Assam Rifles unit that is engaged in counter-insurgency operations in the northeastern state, the officials said.

They said a Naga trooper ran amok after an altercation and went on a shooting spree killing six colleagues inside barracks in Ukhrul, some 85 km from here.

Two troopers were critically injured and an unspecified number of civilians were wounded when the accused escaped from the spot and fired indiscriminately.

The exact number of civilians injured was not known, the officials said.

The accused trooper continues to be on the run and paramilitary and police forces have launched a major manhunt to nab him, said the officials.

Need to streamline customary laws – Rio

Dimapur : Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today said there is a need to streamline and document customary laws to strengthen and improve the justice delivery system. Urging the Naga traditional institutions of the state to work with utmost integrity and deliver justice to the people, he said the streamlining is to strengthen hands of government and society as a whole. Rio was addressing the general conference of the Nagaland DBs’ Association held in Phek. The conference was held under the theme “backbone of administration”.

In order to improve delivery of justice through the customary system, the CM urged the DBs to take steps towards documentation, record-keeping and also streamline customary laws. These, he said, should be done in consultation with all tribal hohos so that different conventions and laws of all the tribes are properly recorded. “This will greatly benefit the future generations”.

The chief minister appreciated the role being played by the joint forum of the DBs and GBs, who he said, have worked tirelessly for unity and reconciliation. Rio observed that the DBs carry an important responsibility in the justice delivery system because “the DBs are the custodians of the Naga customary laws”. However, the CM warned that wrong or biased decisions have the potential to create divisions, misunderstandings and even violence.

Rio also praised the system of Naga customary laws saying there are no ‘losers or winners’ under them. Rather, he said, the aim of the system is to achieve reconciliation, understanding and compromise. The CM also suggested to the DBs to hold seminars, conferences and refresher courses, especially for the new appointees. Towards this end, he assured cooperation and assistance of the State Government.

Taking the opportunity, Rio made another appeal for peace and reconciliation. He hoped all sections of the people would work for understanding and oneness so that an honorable solution to the Indo-Naga political problem would be brought about through  political negotiations, “so that we can work towards prosperity and progress”.

Others who participated in the opening function were the Nagaland GBs Federation and the Chakhesang Public Organization with both the respective presidents delivering short speeches.  The Phek Village Mothers and the choir of the Phek Town Baptist Church performed a song each. The formal programme was followed by a cultural exhibition with cultural troupes from different districts in participation. Among those present in the function were his ministerial colleagues and a host of senior civil and police officers of the government and public leaders of the area and district.

Some important points of Naga sovereignty

Through your esteem local daily, I the undersigned would like to highlights the following few genuine noted points in respect of the birth and formation of the Naga sovereignty, where our fore fathers fights for the rights and cause of the Nagas since from the time immemorial. This publication is indeed aimed at creating a better knowledge of how our leaders and pioneers of the Naga Freedom fighters engage themselves fighting for the better future of the Nagas with firm determination and loyalties. Following few enumerated points are some of the in formation points in regard to the formation and birth of the Naga Sovereignty.

1. From the beginning Nagas were independent people, Nagas were never ruled by any other nation other than themselves. Nagas lives with the feeling of oneness.
2. During the first world war in 1917, Nagas too fights in the war claiming themselves free from ruled of any other nations. Subsequently, a team of Nagas went to French under the Allied Colonel Leber Corps proclaiming that Nagas had their own uniqueness and free from the ruled of whatever nation.
3. It is to be noted that, with the formation of the ‘Naga Club’ in 1918, some Naga leaders were assigned to work for the cause of the Naga rights.
4. Under the initiatives of the Naga Club, a memorandum was submitted to the British Cabinet on 10th January 1929 urging the British government to take note of the rights of the Nagas.
5. It was in 1935 that the British Parliament passed a resolution that Nagas should be excluded from the Indian territory, hence, the covered lands of the Nagas was termed as “Naga Hills Excluded Areas”.
6. Naga Club was abolished on 2nd February 1946; thereby ‘Naga National Council’ (NNC) was formed in its place.
7. The global announcement of 14th August as the “Naga Independence Day” initiated in the year 1947.
8. 99% of the Nagas participated in the famous Naga Plebiscite Day on 16th may 1957. All plebiscite day participants take firm “Oath” provided that they shall be ever faithful and loyal to the Naga Sovereignty.
9. The Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was formed under the initiatives of the Parasent Sendenyu Area Rengma Region on 22nd March 1956. Following the formation of the FGN, a rainbow colour Naga National Sovereignty Flag was hoisted. Meanwhile, the following designated leaders of the Naga were assigned to read the given Holy Bible verse and thereby they were being blessed by the mandatory of the Nagas to work for the cause of the Naga rights.

(a) Khriesaneisa, FGN Kedahge (President) Roman 10:18. “But I ask: Did they not hear? Of course they did: Their voice has gone out into all the earth, Their words to the ends of the world”.
(b) Wheha, FGN Ato Kilonser (Prime Minister) Mathew 6:33. “But seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well”.
(c) AZ. Phizo, NNC Kedahge (President) Zechariah 4:6. “So he said to me, ‘This is the word of Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by my spirit’, says the Lord Almighty”.
(d) Kruzhalie, FGN Ahng (Governor) Japfu State. Roman 8:33. “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies”.
     Meanwhile, General Thongti Chang, Chief of the Naga Army, Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) hoisted the Naga Sovereignty Flag followed by the above stated leaders read their assigned bible verse. Under the banner of “Nagaland for Christ” the leaders were ask to declared themselves as such; “I shall be ever faithful to God and the people of the Nagas in all the pursuing activities of the NNC”.
     I also do felt pertinent to analyse the real meaning and objectives of the Famous 1957 plebiscite day participation. The participants of the plebiscite solemnly vowed before God and the man and take the oath as stated under;
(i) That I as a Naga shall honour the NNC and nothing else.
(ii) That I will never be part of the Central Investigation Department (CID) of India that may compel the citizens of the Naga to sold the rights of the Nagas.
(iii) That I shall never do with the name of NNC whatsoever for the personal benefits.

I shall be loyal to the above solemn words, “I vowed before God and man that I shall always lives behind the fellow Naga friends, besides- heaven and earth curse be mine in case I fail to abide by the above words”. This plebiscite participation was done by pressing their cut bleeding thumbs on the white documented paper.
Dear readers, therefore, let us remind ourselves with the loyal deeds of our forefathers who stays firm and committed all the time even in times of great difficulties “May God Almighty blessed each one of us”

(Vezonu Venuh)
President,
Naga National Council,
Phek Sub Region

Nagaland Govt under YKK fire over village recognition

Dimapur : The Yeza Kughuko Kuqhakulu (YKK) has appealed for ‘support, join and cooperate with the YKK’ and abstain from attending the inaugural function of what it claimed was the “illegally proposed Kheshepu village”. A memorandum to the DC Zunheboto and Additional Chief Secretary was issued by one Vikato Yeptho, GB and chairman of YKK. The memo  referred to the “rescission of abeyance order of Kheshepu village recognition”.

The YKK in its memorandum pointed out that the establishment and recognition of Kheshepu village at Tuzu Bridge had been strongly opposed by the ‘parent villages’ from the ‘very beginning dating back to 1991, due to the act being a violation of Sumi Naga customary law’, the memo stated.

Accordingly, the case was taken up in the court of DC Zunheboto with a settlement order (vide JUDL/1/133/92/U/S Yezami and five others versus Kheshepu of Litami village of VK area, dated February 21, 1992).

According to the YKK, this order had prohibited the establishment of villages without prior approval from the ‘parent villages’. The order was issued in recognition of Sumi Naga customary law and in consideration of Government memorandum laid down criteria and conditions for establishment of a new village, it claimed.

It further said that the  YKK in the year 2005 submitted a “detailed statement to the government in the form of representation, memorandum, ultimatum, and through media as to why Kheshepu shall not be allowed to establish his village at Tuzu Bridge under Zunheboto district”.

Besides this, the YKK informed of  objection letters from the Sumi Kukami Hoho, Zunheboto Area GB Association, and the Aghunato Area GB Association  submitted to the government during the month of April and May, 2008.

The YKK disclosed that an ‘affidavit agreement’, dated February 14, 2008, between Kheshepu Assumi and GBs and elders of parent villages, was delivered at the office of DC Zunheboto, with Dr. K C Nihoshe, Parliamentary Secretary for industries & commerce, among  the signatories and witness to the agreement.

According to the YKK, the agreement stated that Kheshepu Assumi would never pursue for establishment of a village at Tuzu Bridge. This copy of the agreement was also submitted to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the YKK informed.

The YKK in its memorandum expressed disappointment pointing out that in spite of several steps being taken by the YKK and various organisations, the government had turned down all efforts and issued another order for recognition (vide order no GAB-6/59/2005 (Pt) dated Kohima the 8th August 2008) “even though Shri Kheshepu agreed not to establish his village anymore”.

“Thus, it is very clear that the situation has been invited by the Government but not by Kheshepu that forced the YKK to take its own course of action in dealing with the above stated matter,” it stated.

The YKK warned that  failure on the part of Parliamentary Secretary Dr. Nihoshe to act, would call for “public attention to the fact that Dr. K C Nihoshe should resign on moral ground for misguiding the government machineries and the inability on the part of the government to protect the rights of the people.”

The YKK pointed out that the issue had “forced the ugly situation that may occur at any time at Tuzu Bridge and the government shall be held responsible.”

Enjoy the White Meat…

People buy fish put on display for sale at one of the fish markets in New Market, Dimapur, on January 20, Tuesday. (Morung Photo)

Trader abducted in Imphal

IMPHAL, Jan 21 – In a bizarre incident, some unidentified Hindi speaking armed persons in camouflage attire stormed a small sportswear industry house here and abducted it’s owner. However, he was released with a promise of handing over Rs 1.5 lakh.

Thirty-nine year-old Elangbam Toto, who runs the Hiro Hito Suit Industry, Keishamthong with his wife, broke the news about the entire abduction episode to media persons on Monday.

According to Toto, some Hindi speaking armed personnel in camouflage dress along with weapons barged into his industry house on January 17 night on the pretext of ordering sports wear around 8.30 pm and then reportedly abducted him.

I was blindfolded and taken to an unknown place where they beat me up, he said. When asked about his guilt, he was charged with collecting money from Bazar area.

The abductors agreed to spare his life but with a promise to hand over Rs 1.5 lakh by January 18. A sit-in demonstration was held in front of the industry unit at Keishamthong Laishom Leirak.

Smugglers killed

 AGARTALA, Jan 21 – Two smugglers were killed and five others injured when the BSF opened fired after being attacked by them at a border village in West Tripura district today, the police said.

The armed smugglers attacked a BSF patrol at Ashabari when prevented from entering Bangladesh with ganja which led to the firing.

The two killed were identified as Amir Hussain and Mahabur Hussain.

Four others and a driver of a BSF vehicle were injured and admitted to the Sonamura sub-divisional hospital.

The superintendent of police and top BSF officials have rushed to the spot with reinforcements. The situation was now under control. – PTI

Forum floated to combat human rights violations in manipur

Imphal, January 20 : CONCERNED OVER the rampant human rights violations particularly extra-judicial killings wherein three to four people have been killed in Manipur on daily basis, a legal forum called the Legal Protection Centre (LPC) to combat various forms of rights violation was floated on Monday.

Announcing the formation of the LPC during a press conference at the office of the Human Rights Initiatives (HRI) office in Imphal, LC.

Jenine Meetei, executive director of the HRI and co-coordinator of LPC, informed that the LPC is formed by a group of like minded individuals and organizations which includes lawyers, journalists, social workers, senior citizens, research-scholars, human rights activists and organizations.

The LPC is formed with the vision of holding a concerted effort and building a unified strength to check and combat various rights violations, added the co-coordinator of the LPC.

While revealing that the word 'extra-judicial killing' is a crying issue in the state which has reached at an alarming level, Jenine informed that the formation of the LPC is a follow-up action of the recommendation of a panel discussion entitled "Justice and dignity in Manipur".

The discussion was organized by the Manipur Human Rights Commission in association with the HRI and Manipur Human Right Organisation at the Manipur state guest house as a part of the 60th International Human Rights Day observation on December 10, 2008 .

Further, during the conference, Jenine also conveyed the Joint Legal Centre (LPC) was a voluntary group with the main objective to give free assistance and service to the victims and family of the extra-judicial executions and tortures etc.

Janine also informed that the LPC will also provide legal awareness through meetings, seminars, workshops, etc to related group and law enforcement agencies.

Also speaking during the press conference senior advocate and chairman of the LPC, Khaidem Mani revealed that even as there are no official facts of arm conflict in Manipur, there has been a big conflict going on in de facto.

Khaidem Mani, further revealed that the formation of the LPC will help assist in maintaining the law and order situation and as well as in bringing order in the state and added that it will also affect some of high ranking police officials.

Uchekon triumph in Hockey

Manipur hockey

A moment from the match between Uchekon and SAI-RC at Khuman Lampak Hockey Stadium in Imphal on Sunday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Imphal, Jan 19 : Uchekon Youth Athletic Club put up an impressive show defeating SAI RC by 5-2 goals in the 2nd Manipur Hockey League 2008 played at Khuman Lampak Hockey Stadium here today.

It was the Uchekon men who ruled the turf today with some improved game plan compared to their earlier shows, dominating the game particularly in the second half.

M. Dinaple Singh and S. Honda Singh scored two goals each for Uchekon while N. Rajesh Singh added a goal. For SAI RC, M. David Singh and K. Budha Singh scored a goal each.

In another match today, Posterior Hockey Academy Manipur continued with their winning streak overpowering Hockey Union by 9-0 goals.

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K. Devkishore Singh led the onslaught scoring three goals, Kh. Kothajit Singh and Kh. Ravikanta Singh fired in two goals each while Ng. Sunder Singh and N. Biken Singh chipped in with a goal each.