Mass ‘weapon’ for Dibrugarh drugs war

Dibrugarh, May 21 : Dibrugarh police’s latest and most potent weapon in their war on drugs is a vegetable seller.

Every morning, a wiry middle-aged man pushes a cart loaded with vegetables around a cluster of Dibrugarh neighbourhoods in search of buyers and news on narcotics movement.

Meet Rashid Ali (name changed), an under-cover informer and Dibrugarh police’s new best friend.

The job, of course, is far from easy. Keeping an eye on cocaine and marijuana over mounds of potato and pumpkin requires skill and patience.

It helps, though, that Ali is a former addict. He had been taking drugs since he was a teenager and was booked by the police twice. On being released, he quickly went back to his old ways, as most addicts are wont to do.

Two deaths in the family changed all that.

“Maine apne do bhai ko kam umar main hi kho diya, sab is nashe ke liye (I have lost two of my brothers to drugs at a very early age),” Ali said. He now promises to work with the police till his last breath to root out smugglers from the district.

For a police force that had long realised that mass awareness and participation was as crucial to their movement against drugs as the periodic raids they conduct on narcotics dens, such former addicts are a boon.

“People like Ali show us that we have been successful in our attempts at least to a certain extent. We are making efforts to ensure that such people are secure from addiction,” a police officer said.

Dibrugarh’s notorious underbelly, comprising primarily a flourishing drug cartel, has frustrated policemen, destroyed homes and ensnared youths. And the ease with which drug dealers and petty suppliers walked in and out of custody baffled the law-enforcing agencies.

After forming special squads and running awareness programmes to fight the drugs, the police now feel they have finally arrived at a strategy that would not allow drug dealers to escape as easily. Leading the mission is the district police chief, Anurag Agarwal, assisted by two young IPS officers, additional superintendent of police (headquarters) Diganta Bora and assistant superintendent (probationer) Rafiqul Alam Laskar.

During the last five months, police in Dibrugarh have been able to arrest 12 drug smugglers and conduits. In all, 100 grams of opium, 137gm heroin and 10kg ganja have been seized.

Those arrested had been booked under provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. “None of the 12 have been able to get bail thanks to this new strategy. We often get inputs about people who are related to the drug business. The first thing we do is to watch the person. Whenever we get confirmed information about any person who is carrying drugs, we get hold of him,” Agarwal said.

Catching the drug dealers and conduits with banned substances rather than just picking them up on the basis of suspicion has made their work much easier.

Besides, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Guwahati is dispatching forensic reports of the drugs seized by the police during raids and arrests as soon as they can.

“Earlier, we had to face a lot of problems while producing evidence in courts because of the delay in receiving FSL reports. But after we made a request, they have started sending early reports which has helped us a lot,” Agarwal added.

Telegraph India

Share

Blogger Widgets

Myanmar Meiteis in search of roots

Imphal, May 20 : Rajen Singh alias U. Swe, of Yangon knows he is a Meitei. But he cannot speak his language as he has become a Myanmarese Buddhist.

There are many Manipuri-Myanmarese like Rajen who are citizens of Myanmar. Successful in their professions, they are, however, cut off from their culture and identity much to the concern of the Meitei elders who are fighting a losing battle to preserve their roots in their foster land.

There is a flicker of hope though.

Beginning June 7, the Indo-Myanmarese Fraternal Alliance, an Imphal-based organisation, will embark on a 20-day trip to Myanmar to restore old ties between the Meiteis of Myanmar and Manipur.

The 20-member team will visit various settlements inhabited by people with Manipuri origin.

“We will help and also take part in Lai Haraoba (pleasing of the god) — a Meitei religious ceremony — in at least three areas of Myanmar. We will take along pena, a violin-like traditional instrument, artistes and maibis (priestess) who are an essential part of the festival,” the president of the organisation, R.K. Sivachandra Singh, said.

Nearly three centuries back, several Manipuris were taken as prisoners of war by the Burmese.

Emperor Alongpia used the best Meitei cavalries to attack Chinagmei in Thailand.

The cavalries were made to settle at Nadaswe in Saigang division. Those settled in Myanmar constructed temples of Meitei deities and still preserve the culture of Lai Haraoba in their own way.

“We will take part in Lai Haraoba at Nandaswe, Amrapura and Gaave. We will perform all the rituals, including Lai Ikouba (invoking the Lai from water). We aim at reviving the Meitei culture, which is losing relevance among the Myanmarese Meiteis,” Sivachandra Singh said.

He should know. He has been organising trips to Myanmar for many years to restore the old bond. Though the exact number of Meiteis in Myanmar is not known, those frequenting the neighbouring country put the figure not more than a few thousand.

The princely state of Manipur, that now shares over 300-km-long border with Myanmar, had trade and commerce with erstwhile Burma.

A Meitei king even married his daughter to a Burmese prince. The relationship soured after the Burmese invasion.

Another objective of the trip is to find out if any tribal community from Manipur migrated to the country.

“We have been told that tribals, believed to be of the Kuki-Chin-Mizo group, are inhabiting seven villages in Golden Triangle, notorious for heroin smuggling. During the trip we will go there and also visit the villages to unearth the truth,” Sivachandra Singh said.

Telegraph India

Share

Blogger Widgets

Chandel district in throes of drugs and HIV/AIDS

Imphal, May 20 : Opium is available in plenty at Japhou bazar of Chandel district and women are being hired by the traffickers to smuggle the drug, according to Molenson, project coordinator, SASO in an interaction with the media at Japhou bazar in Chandel.

Traffickers supply drugs to these women as their wage and also utilise them in trafficking the opium, he alleged while stating that these women were poor and had financial problems.

From Japhou bazar, 60 km from Imphal, it takes two days on foot to reach the Myanmar border through forests.

On these routes, many runners are trafficking drugs including opium, the SASO coordinator said.

Such illegal business are being done by men but they engage women for transporting the drugs, he observed.

Molenson said other reasons for women taking up such jobs was family condition, as most of them are impoverished backgrouns with no livelihood source.

Apart from drug abuse problem, the state government also has been neglecting health care in Chandel district which added to the woes of the people he said.

The condition of the government hospital here is dismal and there are no private clinics in the district where people can avail paid health facilities.

There is no facility for CD4 count, Molenson said adding that people in the interior areas of the district face utmost difficulty in availing CD4 count.

Talking of the difficulties faced by the people while availing CD4, he said people from interior villages often halt overnight at the SASO office and then proceed to Imphal the next day.

In Imphal also they had to stay for two days as after booking for CD4 centre at Imphal, they have to wait for the result. On the fourth day they have to return home.

In the entire four days a person had to spend at least Rs. 200 per day.

Even though officials of the SASO collected the sample for CD4 count for onward test at Imphal, they could not get the accurate result, he went on to say.

SASO and CNP+ have altogether 300 clients in the district. SASO has 40 women clients while CNP+ has 180.

A total of 20 clients of SASO are availing ART, Molenson informed adding that during a survey conducted by SASO, around 50 children were found infected by HIV/AIDS and most of the children were Injecting Drug Users, IDU.

But only one child is taking ART, he added.

So far, 340 IDUs have been registered with the organisation and most of them were users of cocktail, he observed.

SASO reached the district as early as 1999, but the drug problem is still increasing in Chandel district.

The two NGOs, SASO and CNP+, are doing their work on parent to child transmission, PTCT. There is no facility for surgery in the hospital in Chandel, he pointed out stating that when the need arises, they have to go to Imphal or nearby hospitals for the same.

The district AIDS Control Committee, CACC has seven board members but none of them are residents of Chandel district.

The coordinator said Buprenorphine was also not available in the district and as a result 26 IDUs from the district are currently getting buprenorphine at Imphal.

If the medicine be made available in the district, it will benefit the infected people, he said.

The NGO also identified 196 commercial sex workers. But only few are residents of Chandel district while most of them are coming from other parts of the district.

These commercial workers are home based and some are detected engaging in work at nearby security posts, he observed.

Johnson, an IDU who has been using drugs for the last six years, said he was using cocktail and others according to availability.

But sometime ago, when he went to a de-addiction centre at Chandel as he do not want to use drugs any more, only the signboard was found displayed with no work being taken up at the de-addiction centre. It also had no staff, he said.

Later, he went to the Thoubal district de-addiction centre for treatment. “But unfortunately I can`t leave drugs as there is frustration and stress,” he said.

He also observed that if there are facilities for availing buprenorphine in the district headquarters, the number of IDUs may reduce sharply.

IFP

Share

Blogger Widgets

Overview of Manipurs agitations, bandhs

Imphal, May 21 : Almost every day, the past 140 days from this year January 1 till today people of Manipur experienced agitations, protests, bandhs or strike which disturbed in one way or the other.

Out of a total of 30 different forms of protest or agitations that were faced by the people, 19 are bandhs or general strike (state-wide and district-wide) which affected the normal life for 20 days during the period from January 1 to April 30.

The number does not include the currently ongoing agitations like the ongoing protest of the volunteers and supporters of Manipur Forward Youth Front, MAFYF against the arrest its president Sapamacha Kangelipal and his detention under NSA.

Protest against injury of a student of Manipur University Imphal in shooting, against the killing of a person at Ningthoukhong in Bishenpur district by troops of 15 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry last weekend are also currently on.

Today also police dispersed a group of protestors storming the chief minister’s bungalow demanding justice to the shooting of the MU student, Ranjit by a personnel of the Manipur Rifles during a frisking and checking last weekend while a local JAC formed in connection with killing of one Shyamjai hailing from Moirang in Bishenpur district is imposing bandh along the Imphal-Churachandpur section of NH-150 (Tiddim road).

The data also did not count the closures of shops and business establishment and other private and government institutions at various parts of the state due to the unbearable extortion demands and threats to their lives for non-payment of the money they demanded.

Many shops located in small market places in the Imphal city as well as in the outskirts of Imphal including pharmacy shops and their agents had and have been facing heavy monetary demands.

Passenger service operators of all kinds (including auto-rickshaw service operators and interstate bus services) had at many occasions suspended their services which disturbed the normal movement of the people repeatedly.

Apart from this many state as well district level student’s bodies also launched various kinds of agitations like the closure of government offices and imposition of economic blockades on the highways.

One such economic blockade imposed by the All Manipur Tribal Students Organization, ATSUM which extended over 15-day had concluded only on May 17 last.

In January, the first month of this year three bandhs were witnessed in Manipur. The Kuki Students’ Organization opened the account of the bandh with the imposition of a 12-hour Manipur bandh on January 11. The bandh was called in connection with their demand for exercise of the delimitation works in the state at the earliest.

Another 12-hour NH-150 (Tiddim) bandh called by Loktak Development Authority Master Roll Employees came up on January 30. This was followed by 24-hour Sadar Hill bandh imposed from midnight of January 31 till February 2.

At least different forms of agitations and protest disturbed the whole month of February in Manipur.

A 24-hour state-wide general strike called by the JAC of 5th and 6th IRB waiting list candidates on February 1 well come the second month of the year. It was followed by another state-wide 12-hour general strike called by a JAC formed against the kidnapped of an assistant engineer named N Kesho Singh of Kakching state electricity department.

Other district-wide bandh in Thoubal district in this month were 24-hour bandh on NH-39 called by the locals on the controversial death of a house wife Santi Devi on February 2. On the same day another Uripok-Kangchup road bandh in Imphal west district disturbed normal lives in the district.

The bandh was called in protest against the rounding of eight women from Mayang Langjing for allegedly shouting slogans against the India government supporting the boycott of Republic Day called by underground organizations in the state.

The All Manipur Petroleum Tankers’ Union suspended their services from February 12 till 24 of the same month demanding transfer of IOC, Imphal depot managers. This had severely affected to the transport system in the state due to shortest of vehicle fuels.

During March, only one bandh in Imphal West against the expansion of Imphal airport was witnessed even though various protest in this regard were launched by the local residence residing in the surrounding of the airport.

The normal lives in the state were severely disturbed in the state in this month after the serial murder of at least 15 non-local labourers which the state authority imposed night curfew till middle week of April. The holy festival was also disturbed by it.

The holy festival which falls in the last week of March which witnessed killing of three persons including a girl at Heirok in Thoubal district and killing of two tribal girls in the same district by the militants rocked the state again during the month of April.

Protest against kidnapping of engineers of state public works department on April 3, rally against the killing and torture of women in Imphal and Churachnadpur on April 5 and 8, transporters suspension of plying vehicles on the Imphal-Moreh highway no. 39 and stoppage of all kinds of passenger services was also witnessed in this month.

24-hour bandh along the NH-39 against the acquisition of land for expansion of Manipur University, CPI protest against price hike on april 17, Tiddim road bandh on April 21 and on NH-39 against killing of a youth by militants and indefinite bandh on Nh-39 by All Tribal Women’s Organisation and 24-hour district-wide bandh in Senapati district on April 24 distrubed lives in Manipur severely.

EP

Share

Blogger Widgets

Khuga canal causes chaos in Church

Churachandpur, May 21 : Faced with an unprecedented risk, the local committee of Saidan EFCI Church since Sunday deserts their Church as the Khuga Canal that passes nearby formed an inch wide crack on parts of the floor, keeping them unease and apprehensive.

‘Even the slightest sound inside the Church now makes us terrified,’ the apprehension that our Church could plunge anytime is with everyone now, Upa HV Rama, the local chairman told this correspondent today.

Occupied since 1986, the semi-pucca building initially witness the cracks way back in 1997, when the canal first made its way near the Church.

A minor repairing with an estimated cost of Rs.80,000 and three iron pipes could then retains the structure, however the cracks reappears as the canal construction resumes in early April.

About half a couple of Church elders who accompanied the media team today said they have more than once fore-warned the concern department, and requested them to construct a retaining wall before they resume the work.

A man identified as SE and a contractor has promise me to do the needful in early April, the local chairman said.

They however denied him the promise on papers, as they allegedly claimed to represent the government and told him what they promise is a promise of the government.

Now, that the construction is underway with the promise disregarded, cracks capable of bringing down the Church pave in, and the walls of the canal losing ground with every downpour, muggy soil of about 6 feet is all that holds the building now.

‘Another rainfall is all that holds our Church,’ is how most of the church elders put at.

On their fore-warn claims, the media team was even told that request for faster pace of work was suggested prior to the cracks, at which a minimum of 100 labourers were promise by the officials, but that too was disregarded and with some downpour their apprehension comes to the fore.

With water leaking from the canal on the side of the Church, it is likely that even without a downpour the wall will continue to lose the six foot soil that holds the Church.

The damage that could very well be avoided has been done; a retaining wall will need space for foundation, an earth filling will let loose with another downpour.

The cracks have created a tizzy psychosis on the 350 odd EFCI church members, depriving them of peace even inside a Church.

TSE

Share

Blogger Widgets

SoO meeting with Kuki UGs

Imphal, May 21 : Some agreements on the State Government-proposed ground rules of the Suspension of Operation (SoO) with Kuki UG outfits operating in Manipur have been arrived at during a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh at New Delhi yesterday.

A reliable source said the meeting held at a hotel in New Delhi was attended by Joint Secretary (Northeast in-charge) of Union Home Ministry Navin Burma, DGP of Manipur Y Joykumar and IGP Intelligence LM Khoute.

During the course of the meeting, the State Government from its side stuck to its earlier stand of adopting the ground rules of the SoO formulated by it insisting that the any talks with the UG groups should be proceeded keeping in mind the territorial integrity of Manipur and the Constitution.

The State Government proposed that UG groups concerned should provide the list of their respective cadres and no designated camps should be set up within 20 kms of the International boundary nor along the National Highways or populated areas.

Furthermore, the State Government made it clear that it would issue identity cards to UG cadres and the designated camps would be guarded by the State police or the Central forces, thus making it compulsory for the UG cadres to seek prior permission if they want to venture out of the designated camp area.

After listening to all the proposals of the State Government, even if the UG groups which would enter into SoO could not agree to all the proposals atleast showed sign of agreements on some points, the source informed.

The meeting held at a venue decided by the Union Home Ministry also agreed to hold the next round of meeting very soon, the source added.

TSE

Share

Blogger Widgets

India warns Northeast on bidi smoking

Guwahati, May 19 : A report of the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a strong note of warning to the North East which has a high prevalence of bidi smoking amongst the younger generation compared to rest of India. In its Bidi Monograph entitled ‘Bidi Smoking and Public health’, the Union Ministry has emphasized the urgent need to protect the poor and illiterate users of bidis, the most vulnerable section of society.

This report, first of its kind concentrating on various aspects of bidi smoking including the socio-economic and public health issues, provides in-depth information on the consumption pattern and the associated usage risks.

As per the report which is a compilation of scientific studies and data and prepared with support from World Health Organization (WHO), Healis Sekhsaria Institute of Public Health, Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, US Department of Health and Human Sciences and edited by renowned researchers Dr Prakash C Gupta and Dr Samira Asma, the prevalence of daily plus occasional bidi smoking in the North East varied from around 10 per cent to 40 per cent in men and women.

In four of the eight North East states, bidi smoking predominated, while in the rest, cigarette smoking dominated. In addition to cigarette and bidi, ganja smoking mainly by men was also common in the region particularly in Manipur where 23.5 per cent men are into ganja smoking.

Compared to the all India figures, current bidi smoking amongst students in the age group of 13 to 15 was also higher in the region. In Manipur, bidi smoking amongst students, including boys and girls was 14.2 percent, followed by Nagaland at 12.7 per cent, by Mizoram at 10.6 per cent, Arunachal Pradesh at 7.7 per cent, Meghalaya at 7.2 per cent and Assam at 4.6 per cent.

Current and frequent bidi smoking by students was highest in Sikkim with 48.6 per cent.

On the other hand, the report points out that amongst current bidi smokers, over half indicated developing dependence on nicotine. It ranged from 54.5 per cent in Bihar to 98 per cent in Sikkim. Over one tenth of the current bidi smokers also reported using drugs or alcohol which ranged from 0.6 per cent in Manipur to 41.0 per cent in Assam.

The Central report also reveals that current bidi smoking was lowest in Goa, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi etc, intermediately high between 4.6 and 9.2 per cent in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya etc and high between 10.6 per cent and 14.2 per cent in Manipur, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim.

AT

Share

Blogger Widgets

Youth movements seek to bring change in Nagaland

Kohima, May 19 : Students sell vegetables, tea or even pull rickshaws and shine shoes at Dimapur market under a youth movement in Nagaland promoting work ethics and dignity of labour.

The movement, Oriental Theological Seminary (OTS), Dimapur has come a long way in its 15 years of existence and organises ‘A Day of Earning’ programme twice a month on Saturdays for students.

“Sometimes we gather in teams to clean dirty public areas, hospital compounds, bus stations and rehabilitation centres,” said Sentila, a Master of Theology student at OTS.

Another youth movement, True Love Waits (TLW), launched by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) in February 2005, promotes abstinence till marriage by administering pledges.

Although some were sceptical about the campaign, NBCC youth leaders believe that this does not contradict the official line of battle against HIV/AIDS and instead complements it.

Yet another youth organisation, YouthNet, a network of young professionals, has been creating awareness about positive attitude, rational thinking, employment, dignity of labour, Right to Information, electoral reforms and assertive actions against government apathy.

YouthNet tries to usher in change, enabling the Naga youth to acquire life skills and become positive, rational, productive, responsible and contributing members of society. It was launched by a woman, Hekani Jakhalu, who gave up a legal career in Delhi to do something for the youth of her State.

The YES (Youth Employment Summit) campaign is a decade-old youth movement which was first initiated in Egypt in 2002 jointly by former US president Bill Clinton and the Egyptian president, said Theja Meru, a member of YouthNet and a musician.

Besides contributing to government programmes, the YouthNet also launched awareness campaign on Right to Information Act throughout Nagaland, specifically targeting college and university students.

During the February Assembly election, YouthNet members collected disclosure of assets of all candidates from the districts and made them known to voters under its campaign, ‘Know Your Candidate’.

PTI

Share

Blogger Widgets

John Wesley, the Herbal medicine specialist of Shillong

Shillong, May 19 : Since time immemorial herbal treatment of various ailments has been an integral part of life in India, particularly in the rural areas. But a Meghalya-based medical practitioner is popularizing it in the northeast India.

John Wesley Kharduid is a popular name in the northeastern India due to his herbal treatments of patients suffering from various ailments. Dr. John Wesley Kharduid, tin herbal medicine, said: “I treat patients with arthritis, handicapped children, patients who are paralysed or had a stroke. I prescribe only herbal medicine.”

He says that he has visited many countries and is presently working to promote the importance of herbal treatment, as he maintains that it is the most ancient form of treatment without having any side effects.

Recently, a badly burnt child approached him. The facilities available in the local hospital were not adequate to take care of him. It is in this situation of hopelessness that patients approach John Wesley Kharduid.

John is a native of Thangning, about 18 kilometers from Shillong in Meghalaya. He started his career, as herbal practitioner in 1982. Though John didnt have his formal education beyond standard eight in school, it didnt prevent him from carryon on practicing and gained wide popularity. He claims that he learnt the significance of herbal medicines from his late uncle and grandmother.

Today, John claims to have treated all kinds of cases. Over 70 per cent of his patients have been successfully cured. Most of them come from outside the State. Some patients are from Germany who are undergoing cancer treatment.

John plans to construct a 30-bed hospital for herbal treatment at his farm in Thangning. He wants to include a teaching institution at his hospital for interested students from across the world to take up a course in herbal medicine.

Joyly, one paralysed patient, said: “In other hospitals, I did not get any relief at all but now I am getting a little relief.” Christel Ghosh, a German patient, said: “We mentioned about cancer and she told me this doctor could cure the boy with cancer.”

He has for permission to the ministry of DONER last year. He is very hopeful that his skill will be recognized world over. John, who has been awarded many prizes and certificates including the most talented medicinal practitioner award.

He says: “Many letters reach me from Scotland, the U.S, China and also from other parts of India. They want me to come there for herbal practice.” John hopes that his achievements will prompt the Central and the State government to promote herbal medicine in other parts of the country too.

ANI

Share

Blogger Widgets

Cops choke on uranium cake

Guwahati, May 20 : A little learning, it is said, is a dangerous thing. That’s what happened to a policeman and his colleagues who balked at the idea of touching a sealed packet supposedly containing a cake of radioactive uranium.

When the team from Shantipur police station in Karbi Anglong caught four youths with the wax-sealed box, they were certain it was a “big catch”. Otherwise why would someone take so much precaution?

When an army team broke open the box and suspected it could be uranium, the jubilation vanished.

So scared was one officer that he even refused to carry the substance to the forensic laboratory in Guwahati since his son, who is a student of science, had warned him about the hazards of uranium radiation.

The police have kept the consignment wrapped in a thick aluminium foil and are contemplating to bury it “deep” under ground.

The arrested quartet, Mohan Thapa, Biju Thapa, Kishor Thapa and Napa Thapa, revealed during interrogation that the consignment was handed over to them by two youths from Manipur a few days ago.

A police officer at Santipur police station said the four were carrying the 850gm consignment containing the yellow cake in a bag and were travelling on bicycles when a police team apprehended them at Deopani near the Dhansiri river last evening.

The officer said the arrested youths, all of them of Nepali origin, were instructed to sell the uranium to militant organisations at a price not less then Rs 6 lakh.

Uranium is a dense, radioactive metallic element found in rocks and soil. It gives off invisible bursts of penetrating energy called “atomic radiation”. Exposure to atomic radiation can cause death within a few days or weeks. Smaller doses can cause burns, loss of hair, nausea, loss of fertility and pronounced changes in the blood.

Still smaller doses, too small to cause any immediate visible damage, can result in cancer or leukaemia in the person exposed, congenital abnormalities in his or her children (including physical deformities, diseases and mental retardation), and possible genetic defects in future generations.

Telegraph India

Share

Blogger Widgets

Peace Rallies Held All Over Nagaland

Kohima, May 21 : The Joint Forum of Nagaland GBs and DBs have on Tuesday, successfully organized massive peace rallies throughout the state. The rallies were organized state district headquarters to register their string resentment against the recent unprecedented heightened factional violence in the state. Large number of people including large number of school students turned up for the rallies.

A massive peace rally was held here at local ground with thousands of students and publics joining it. Minister for Home, Imkong L. Imchen addressing the occasion said that a cease-fire agreement should be initiated immediately among the Nagas. He said killing among Nagas, extortion and gun power could not achieve political sovereignty, but added that only peace would achieve their common goal. Deputy Commissioner, Kohima, Sachopra Vero and other public leaders also spoke in the rally. The rally also passed a resolution to stop killing among the Nagas.

In Mon district, the stronghold of NSCN (K), massive peace rally was organized with the theme “Stop bloodshed and factional killing amongst the Naga National Workers”.

DC Mon, Dinesh Kumar, IAS in his speech said that we should first try to bring peace in Nagaland as then only development would follow and the future of the younger generation will be bright.

He deliberated on the principle of non-violence and urged the Nagas to unite and join hands for a better tomorrow. Earlier the programme started with an invocation by Pastor KBCM, Rev. Tenwang and introductory speech was delivered by President GBs Association and President DBs Association. Vice President KU, Chairperson MTC and Executive Secretary KBBB also spoke on the occasion. The function was attended by various NGO leaders, officials, school students, teachers and general public.

Similar rally was also held at Wokha district headquarters under the theme “To stop bloodshed fratricidal killings amongst the Naga national workers”. Deputy Commissioner Wokha, Mikha Lomi while addressing the public, appealed to the people to show solidarity to fight against the gun culture in our society and to stand together and oppose fratricidal killing amongst the Naga brothers. He also appealed to all the leaders to think seriously and take positive steps to stop this long term political problem.

Short speeches were also delivered by the Chairman Lotha Hoho, Chairperson of Nagaland Women Commissioner, President Eloe Hoho, President LSU, SP Wokha, Deputy Chairman, Wokha Town council and Executive Secretary KBES. The rally started from public ground and proceeded towards PWD and culminated at NST junction. More than 10,000 people from all walks of life attended the rally. The function was chaired by P.N. Tsungoe, Convenor GBs and DBs Wokha Unit, while vote of thanks was delivered by P.A. to DC Wokha, Myinthungo Khuvung.

In Mokokchung, more than ten thousand people representing village council members, Ao Senden, Watsu Mungdang, AKM, Ward Chairmen, Town Councils, various School students of Mokokchung town and Mokokchung public assembled at the main police point in the morning and proceeded towards Imkongmeren Sports Complex holding placards, banners and giving slogans such as “We want peace, stop bloodshed, shun violence” etc.

The Vice President of All Nagaland GBs Federation, Chubakumzuk and President Ao Senden Temjenkaba called upon the people to shun violence, fratricidal killings amongst the Naga brothers and further appealed to the people to work ceaselessly for bringing permanent peace in Nagaland. Earlier the peace rally programme began with invocation pronounced by Pastor MTBA, Ponen and benediction by Rev. Alemmeren of ABAM Impur.

In Dimapur, the peace march started from city tower junction and culminated at DDSC stadium where a public meeting was held. Commissioner Nagaland, H K Khulu in his short speech stated that Nagaland state was passing through the darkest hour in its long sixty years of Naga history after the creation of the state. He said that they were living in a fragile atmosphere wanting peace and harmony for progressive society and that they were fed up of the continuing violence and killings among ourselves.

He said they needed to introspect ourselves and learned to forgive our brethrens for peaceful co-existence. He also appealed to the various factions not to do armed operations in civilian areas endangering the lives of the public and their properties.

Deputy Commissioner Dimapur, Maongwati Aier while addressing the gathering stated that one hundred and forty years ago before the advent of Christianity in 1872, Nagas were practicing head hunting culture but when the Nagas accepted Christianity this cruel practice was given up, but what they saw today was that the old habit had come back to them and was haunting them.

They needed to give up this habit as no administration, police or army could give them peace but if they only turned back to Jesus only then they would have everlasting peace and harmony amongst their community, he emphasised.

The state convener for GBs & DBs Joint Forum, Taku Longkumer while addressing the gathering stated that the Joint Forum had undertaken the peace initiative from 2006 and the outcome was six months ceasefire between the various factional groups in the state fighting for Naga sovereignty. However overlooking the ceasefire, killing among the factions had not been stopped, therefore the joint forum had organized peace rally all over the state appealing to the various factions to completely stop this fratricidal killings amongst the Nagas, he added.

Others who spoke in the same function were Speaker Naga Hoho, President Naga council, President NSF, President DNSU and retired Additional Chief Secretary & Commissioner, T.N Manen. All the speakers jointly voiced and aired their displeasure over the random killings amongst the various factions in the state fighting for sovereignty.

Asian Tribune

Share

Blogger Widgets

No decision on uranium mines

Shillong, May 21 : The Meghalaya government has clarified that no decision has been taken on uranium mining in the state, despite the Union minister of state for power, Jairam Ramesh’s claim that it was in favour of a nuclear plant.

At a recent seminar, Uranium Corporation of India Limited (UCIL) officials claimed that the state was ready to go ahead with uranium mining. However, chief minister Donkupar Roy said the people were still debating on the merits and demerits of uranium mining and no government could go ahead with the mining unless the people of the state were convinced.

“As of now, no decision had been taken on uranium mining. There should be a consensus within the government and it has to be proved to the people that there are no health hazards involved in uranium mining,” the chief minister told this correspondent.

The deputy chief minister and Hill State Peoples’ Democratic Party (HSPDP) president, H.S. Lyngdoh, who is from West Khasi Hills, has been very vocal against uranium mining in the district.

In his recent meeting with Ramesh, Lyngdoh said the present Meghalaya Progressive Alliance (MPA) government would not allow uranium mining.

Other coalition partners in the government, the United Democratic Party (UDP), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and the Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement (KHNAM) had also opposed uranium mining in the state during the election campaign.

“There are no differences within the coalition partners, but the members are free to air their opinion on the matter,” Roy said.

If the cabinet comes to a consensus on the issue, all the partners will abide by the decision, the chief minister said.

“As all the coalition partners are opposed to uranium mining, it is not easy on the part of the Centre and the UCIL officials to convince the state government to go ahead with the mining. It is not about saying yes or no to the project. It is up to the people to decide and that will be endorsed by the government,” Roy said.

“We respect the views of the people and as this government was elected by the people of the state, we cannot go against them,” he added.

Telegraph India

Share

Blogger Widgets

Mizoram leads the world in 4 types of cancer

Aizawl, May 21 : Mizoram has the highest incidence of four types of cancer in the world and the grim situation is caused mainly by extensive consumption of tobacco by the Mizo people including women, experts said.

Dr Eric Zomawia, head of the pathology department in the civil hospital in Aizawl, said that Mizoram led the world in the number of cases of Hypopharynx cancer (Male), Tongue cancer (Male), Stomach cancer (male & female) and Esophageal cancer (male).

Zomawia said that Mizoram also has the dubious distinction of topping all states in six other types of cancer and Aizawl district is on top among districts, though other districts like Serchhip, Champhai, Lunglei and Mamit are not far behind.

The lifestyle of the people of the state, especially their extensive consumption of tobacco coupled with consumption of smoked meat, leads to the high incidence of cancer, he says.

Around 40 per cent of the cancer can be prevented by changing the lifestyle, he says.

Dr Jane R Ralte, officer-on-special duty and head of the Tobacco Cessation Clinic in the Aizawl Civil Hospital, confirmed the fact that tobacco chewing and smoking is highly prevalent among Mizo people.

Tobacco use:

Quoting the study report of the Mizoram Presbyterian Church Women Ministry in 2004, Ralte said that 1,85,557 members of the church are using tobacco which is 77 per cent of the total members of the church.

She said that 86,477 women of the church used tobacco, which is 47 per cent of the total women church members while only 23 per cent of the total church members are free from any form of tobacco.

As much as 22.1 per cent of the women indulge in smoking whereas the national figure is only 2.5, she says.

She said that 60 per cent of Mizo women are using other forms of tobacco (not smoking) while the national average is only 12.4 per cent.

”According to the National Family Health Survey conducted in 1998-99, Mizoram was in the first position in tobacco consumption which is clearly indicative of the fact that Mizoram leads in cancer incidence,” she said during a seminar on Cancer Prevention, organized by the Rotary Club of Aizawl on May 15 last.

Stressing the need for a tobacco-free environment in Mizoram, she said that second hand smoke inhalation increased the risk of heart disease and lung cancer by 25 per cent, endangering the lives of children and other non-smokers.

The traditional way of initiating smoking habit to young people at the tender age of 13 by the Mizo society, though discontinued since the past few decades, still haunts the older people, she said.

Young boys and girls were introduced to smoking by their parents, as they had to work in the jhums infested by mosquitoes.

Zomawia agreeing with Ralte says that stomach cancer has the highest incidence among Mizos, both male and female, and it is 53.1 per cent among the male while it is 32.8 per cent among females.

Lung cancer and esophagus came next and were also mainly caused by smoking, he said.

Factors responsible:

He, however, said that consumption of fermented pork, smoked meat and vegetable and poisoned wild animal meat, including fish and crabs, being consumed almost regularly in the Mizo society is also attributed to the high incidence of cancer.

Zomawia said that the Centre, seized of the gravity of the situation, has given recognition to the Aizawl Civil Hospital as the Regional Cancer Centre and a Population Based Cancer Registry is also established in Aizawl.

The oncology department in the hospital is also equipped with telecobalt machine, day care centre (chemotherapy), brachyterapy CT Scan, Mammography, Bronchoscopy and endoscopies.

He also said that apart from setting up the Tobacco Cessation Clinic, a Diagnostic and Research Centre has been established with specialists in surgical oncology, medical oncology, radiation oncology and pediatric and gaynae oncology now in place.

Asked why majority of the cancer patients were referred to places like Mumbai, Delhi and Vellore, he said that it was the lack of knowledge about the technical capabilities now available in Aizawl.

PTI

Share

Blogger Widgets

Lalzama announces ‘IT Vision’ for Mizoram

Aizawl, May 21 : Mizoram Information Technology Minister Dr Lalzama today asserted that establishment of an effective telecommunication system, creation of an IT park and a world-class Indian Institute of Information Technology were among his top agenda.

The IT Minister claimed that the ruling Mizo National Front (MNF) was the forerunner in the state in the field of IT and bamboo industry. He said Mizoram was one of the most advanced states in the IT sector in the Northeastern region and asserted that the new initiatives taken up by the MNF government would help the State march ahead.

He said owing to the inefficient telecommunication system in the State, the people had to face frequent breakdown of mobile services, internet banking and broadband services.

“The students are the worst sufferers as they do not have wide access to resources and we can not set up Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) and other IT-enabled Services like call centres and medical transcription owing to the poor telecommunication system,” the minister stressed.

To overcome these problems, the Minister said, the Power Grid Corporation of India had been assigned to undertake fibre optic connectivity in Mizoram. “Work will commence within the next three months to connect Mizoram to the two nearest points, either Kumarghat (Tripura) or Badarpur (Asom),” Lalzama said.

All the districts and blocks in the state are to be connected through fibre optics. Besides, 71 mobile towers are being planned to be installed under the universal service obligation funding that would benefit even the remotest rural areas to access mobile connection.

“We are determined to install an international gateway once we have access to good and reliable connectivity,” the IT Minister told reporters. Moreover, the State Government was looking at setting up Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) in Mizoram, the Minister said, adding that the Business Standard Reporter had identified Mizoram as one of the best locations for IT.

The minister also proposed a one-stop-shopping-centre-cum-IT park in Mizoram, preferably near the Lengpui Airport. “Once the IT park is set up, multinational companies will rush to Mizoram thereby creating job opportunities for our youth,” Lalzama claimed.

On the question over a bureaucrat or a technocrat heading the upcoming IT department, the Minister said a clear-cut decision had not yet been taken. “If we reserve the top post strictly for a technocrat, there could be a problem as we are short of eligible technocrats. We will make the recruitment rules in such a way that both a technocrat or a bureaucrat can head the department,” he said. However, the Minister strongly recommended that a technocrat was the best option for a technical department’s head.

UNI

Share

Blogger Widgets