tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65669446612256261102024-03-14T02:24:34.742-07:00PreleasedAll Press ReleasesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1311125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-39324258179813107962012-11-07T19:07:00.001-08:002012-11-07T19:07:42.732-08:00Guatemala quake: 48 killed, hundreds missing, several injured<strong>San Marcos, Guatemala:</strong> A 7.4-magnitude earthquake
rocked Guatemala on Wednesday, killing at least 48 people in two
provinces as it toppled thick adobe walls, shook huge landslides down
onto highways, and sent terrified villagers streaming into the streets
of this idyllic mountain town near the border with Mexico. One hundred
people were missing, and hundreds were injured.<br />
The quake, which hit at 10.35 am in the midst of the work day, caused
terror over an unusually wide area, with damage reported in all but one
of Guatemala’s 22 states and shaking felt as far away as Mexico City,
600 miles (965 kilometers) to the northwest.<br />
President Otto Perez Molina said at a news conference that 40 people
died in the province of San Marcos and eight more were killed in the
neighboring province of Quetzaltenango.<br />
San Marcos, where more than 30 homes collapsed, bore the brunt of the temblor’s fury.<br />
More than 300 people, including firefighters, policemen and
villagers, tried to dig through a half ton of sand at a quarry in the
commercial center of town in a desperate attempt to rescue seven people
believed buried alive. Among those under the sand was a 6-year-old boy
who had accompanied his grandfather to work.<br />
<div class="wp-caption alignleft" id="attachment_518669" style="width: 390px;">
<a href="http://www.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Guatemala-quake-ap.jpg"><img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-518669" height="285" src="http://www.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Guatemala-quake-ap.jpg" title="Guatemala-quake-ap" width="380" /></a><div class="wp-caption-text" style="width: 370px;">
Residents
and rescue workers use heavy equipment to look for people feared buried
at a sand mine, after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck in San Marcos,
Guatemala on Wednesday. AP</div>
</div>
“I want to see Giovanni! I want to see Giovanni!” the boy’s mother,
42-year-old Francisca Ramirez, frantically cried. “He’s not dead. Get
him out.” She said the boy’s father had emigrated to the U.S. and there
was no way to reach him.<br />
Perez flew to San Marcos to view the damage in this lush mountainous
region of 50,000 indigenous farmers and ranchers, many belonging to the
Mam ethnic group.<br />
“One thing is to hear about what happened and another thing entirely
is to see it,” Perez told The Associated Press. “As a Guatemalan I feel
sad … to see mothers crying for their lost children.”<br />
The president said the government would pay for the funerals of all victims in the poor region.<br />
Efrain Ramos helped load a tiny casket carrying the body of his
6-year-old niece from San Marcos’ morgue to a waiting pickup truck.<br />
“She is my niece. The little girl died when a wall fell over her,” a
shocked Ramos told a reporter. He said the girl was playing in her room
when the quake hit.<br />
The girl’s mother hugged the coffin wrapped with white lace and tulle while sobbing uncontrollably.<br />
Ramos said the family would escort his niece Rosa’s body back home for a viewing.<br />
Many of the colorful adobe buildings in the 10-square-mile center of
San Marcos were either cracked or reduced to rubble, including the
police station and the courthouse. The temblor left a large gash in one
of the streets, and hundreds of frightened villagers stood in the open,
refusing to go back inside.<br />
Hundreds of people crammed into the hallways of the small town
hospital waiting for medical staff to help injured family members, some
complaining they were not getting care quickly enough.<br />
Ingrid Lopez, who went to the hospital with a 72-year-old aunt whose
legs were crushed by a falling wall, said she had waited hours for an
X-ray.<br />
“We ask the president to improve conditions at the hospital,” she said. “There isn’t enough staff.”<br />
The quake, which was 20 miles deep, was centered 15 miles off the
coastal town of Champerico and 100 miles southwest of Guatemala City. It
was the strongest earthquake to hit Guatemala since a 1976 temblor that
killed 23,000.<br />
Officials said most of 100 missing were from San Marcos. The mainly
indigenous inhabitants farm corn and herd cattle, mostly for their own
survival.<br />
Hospital officials in San Marcos said they had received 150 injured.<br />
“I’ve been in Guatemala for almost two years and I am used to
earthquakes. This was a lot more severe, a lot more shaky,” said Peace
Corps volunteer Adam Baker, 27, of Carmel, Indiana, who tweeted a
picture of a small landslide behind his house in the nearby state of
Quetzaltenango. “Things fell in my kitchen.”<br />
Perez said more than 2,000 soldiers were deployed from a base in San
Marcos to help with the disaster. A plane had already made two trips to
carry relief teams to the area.<br />
The president urged people to stay put as emergency crews try to
reach victims on the few roads not blocked by landslides or debris. He
also encouraged people in the affected areas to stay outside and away
from tall buildings.<br />
David de Leon, spokesman for civil protection, told radio station
Emisoras Unidas that officials were working on evacuations and relief.
There were four strong aftershocks by late afternoon.<br />
Perez said 150 people had been evacuated by air from the San Marcos area.<br />
The country’s minister of communications and infrastructure told
Emisoras Unidas that landslides had blocked several highways in the west
of the country, and it would take at least 24 hours to re-establish
transport links to San Marcos.<br />
A spokesman for El Salvador’s Red Cross branch told The Associated
Press that the quake had been felt throughout the country, sending
people fleeing their homes in the capital, but there had been no
immediate reports of injuries or serious damage.<br />
The mayor of Mexico City said no serious damage or injuries were
reported in the city, although many people fled their offices and homes
during the quake.<br />
In San Marcos, 91 inmates, including five women, were huddled to one
side of the adobe makeshift jail that had floor-to-ceiling cracks and
threatened to collapse. Police told the prisoners they were to be moved.<br />
“We’d rather stay here and reconstruct the jail than be displaced.
That will be hard for our families,” said inmate Benjamin Tomas Gomez.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-6262780530091123742012-08-21T17:28:00.004-07:002012-08-21T17:28:17.402-07:00An Urgent Appeal: North East Support Centre and Helpline Team<div class="yiv1892153428WordSection1" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1345594867514589">
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal" id="yui_3_2_0_1_1345594867514586">
An Urgent Appeal</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
North
East Support Centre and Helpline Team has been receiving calls from
different people in Delhi that some North East people were killed in
different part of Delhi last night. NE Helpline Team has checked with
Delhi Police, Media and friends and none of them is confirmed.</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
Now
invisible communal forces are once again trying to mislead the nation
by such rumour again and it must be stopped immediately. </div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
We
appeal to all sections of society, particularly to the people from
North East India that any information that may be passed to you by any
means, , please confirmed it first by calling Police Helpline No 100,
from your community and student leaders. Unconfirmed information will
fuel the rumour.</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
We
appeal to Delhi Police to arrange special patrolling in North East
Indian dominated areas like Murnika, Mukherjee Nagar, Moti Bagh,
Khanpur, Safdarjung Enclave, Defence Colony, Gandhi Vihar, Nehru Vihar,
Vijay Nagar, Double Storey, Delhi University Campus, JNU Campus and
Sikanderpur in Gurgaon.</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
For
further clarification, the North East Support Centre and Helpline Team
can be contacted at 9774303076, 9968291645, 9811535563</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
Madhu Chandra</div>
<div class="yiv1892153428MsoNormal">
Spokesperson, NESC&H </div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-57553461147564973472012-08-21T17:27:00.000-07:002012-08-21T17:27:01.220-07:00OFFICE OF THE NORTHEAST YOUTH FORUM, DELHI
<br />
<span style="color: #852015; font-family: Algerian; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span><span style="color: #c00000; font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;">To,</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The Editors.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify; text-indent: .5in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We
are shocked and appalled by the un-ending incidents of targeted violence
towards Northeasterners in numerous cities in mainland India. Despite all the
tall assurances by political leaders, including the Prime Minister, the act of
hatred towards Northeasterners has not decrease, but continues to spread to
various parts of the country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What has
started as isolated incidents of atrocities against Northeasterners in certain
localities in Mumbai and Pune, especially Bangurulu has emerged as assault
towards Northeasterners in the national scale. It shows how callous the Indian
state’s approach to people who are minorities among the minorities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only has the attacked threatened and destroyed
the livelihood of many young men and women, but also has led to loss of trust
on the state governments and the centre in taking necessary measures for the
protection of Northeasterners every part of the country. Northeasterners has
been made to feel like an unwelcome guest where-ever they went out to live and
work in India.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">We
want to ask our responsible leaders why the issue has been downplayed as mere
‘rumour’, when the physical assault on Northeasterners are happening unabated
in various cities across India. Instead of focusing on attackers, the
politicians have chosen to target ‘rumour mongers’. However, the actual social
reality has shown that the hatred towards Northeasterners is much more than a
‘rumour’, it is too real to be ignored and brush aside as ‘rumour’. We demand
the Government of India and various state governments to be more serious in
dealing with the current wave of attacks on Northeasterners. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">The
root of present assaults on Northeasterners has been traced to ethnic violence
in Assam, where indigenous Bodos have been reduced to minorities in their own
land. What has been a cyclical violence between two ethnic groups has been
painted by the media and other sources have ‘communal violence’. The origin of
this violence lies in the failure of Indian state in making its border free
from immigrations from other countries, which they have done it deliberately to
serve their interest of vote-bank politics. The end results of all this
sinister politics is loss of innocent life, and insecurities for indigenous
people in their own home and villages. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Now,
what we are witnessing is ‘return’ of Northeasterners to their own home in a
massive scale, which can only be compared to Partition period in Indian
history. Numerous young men and women’s career and livelihood has been
shattered by ‘hate crimes’, which the Indian state has remain as helpless
watchmen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We demand the Central and
State Governments to take immediate and affective measures to stop the current
incidents of violent attacks towards Northeasterners in various parts of the
countries. Mere tokenism and lip-service will not work this time as the danger
to our livelihood is real and increasing. We asked the state governments to
compensate all those who have been force to flee from their work and educational
institutions. And all those responsible for attacks and hate crimes must be
booked and punish according to the law of the land. <span style="color: red;"></span></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: red; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-tab-count: 10;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Luikang Lamak</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">President,
NEYF, Delhi.</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">+91-8587895536,
+91-8974415409.</span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-83560440233579483312012-08-21T17:26:00.001-07:002012-08-21T17:26:25.046-07:00A Statement from the Asian Human Rights CommissionOver the past week, thousands of people hurriedly returned to their<br />homes in the northeastern states, fearing for their safety in the rest<br />of the country. The numbers of those fleeing was so high that Indian<br />Railways had to run special trains to meet the sudden upsurge in<br />passenger traffic. To a certain degree, the mass departure continues<br />even today. That the numbers fleeing has gone down is only because<br />most have left already. The administration was slow in responding to<br />the event, but soon caught up with the reality of the flight in<br />fright. Political leaders and the administration tried to assure<br />fleeing persons with statements declaiming the rumours. However, the<br />fact is, none were willing to believe these assurances.<br /><br />The government has now blamed Pakistan for spreading rumours that<br />caused the panic. It has banned a list of websites and domains alleged<br />to have posted false propaganda, which fuelled the exodus. Indeed,<br />given the state of affairs in Pakistan, where the Pakistani government<br />has minimal control over its military apparatus and is over-run by<br />extremist elements it is possible that the allegations about the<br />origin of the messages are true.<br /><br />However, blaming Pakistan for the exodus would not absolve India from<br />the realities that the people in India have learned to live with. By<br />comparison, if past experiences are of any meaning, returning home was<br />an option to the people from the northeast. This was not so for so<br />many victims of violence in the past that perished in the very homes<br />where they were born.<br /><br />There is not a single political party in the country that has not<br />capitalised upon sectarian and religious divisions for immediate<br />political gains. All of them, including those in the northeastern<br />states, without exception, have, in the past, fuelled sectarian<br />violence in some of the most abominable forms. And, there is no<br />guarantee they will not do the same in the future. None of the<br />political instigators have ever been punished for such deeds. In fact,<br />many have risen to power through planning, fuelling, and executing<br />communal violence, in villages, districts and states. Even the<br />national capital was not spared. The 1984 riots against the Sikhs,<br />engineered by politicians and henchmen of the party presently in power<br />at the centre, was a brutal pogrom.<br /><br />What is illustrated in the past week's event is the alarming reality<br />of clear-cut sectarian and ethnic fault lines from which India has yet<br />to recover. The event is iteration of the fact that the people trust<br />neither their government, nor the law enforcement agencies. Past<br />incidents of violence committed against Muslims, Sikhs, Christians and<br />Hindus; in Gujarat, New Delhi, Orissa and Kashmir only underlines this<br />fact. In all these incidents, the law enforcement agencies, and<br />subsequently the justice and political apparatus in the country, have<br />connived with criminals, reminding those who survived the violence<br />that justice is impossible and that there will be no remorse. Thus far<br />demanding or offering resignation from office is accountability at its<br />best in India.<br /><br />The government that has blamed and now banned selected internet<br />services, accusing them for precipitating fear will have a moral and<br />legal dilemma for not acting against similar elements in India. Bal<br />Keshav Thackeray and his clan, having a stronghold in the financial<br />capital of India, is not an isolated gang of provocateurs in pursuit<br />of sectarian violence and hatred in India. If legal standards and<br />responsibilities are the same in each case, and if the country's<br />justice apparatus is equipped, and is allowed to apply these standards<br />in each occasion, most politicians who pretend to be national leaders<br />in the country, would be in prison today. That it has not happened so<br />far, and perhaps will never happen, is the root cause of the exodus<br />that the country is witnessing now. It will happen again. All that is<br />required is a similar catalyst.<br /><br />Any community left with the only option of identifying first a<br />Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Sikh, or a Meitei, Naga, Malayalee, Tamilian<br />or Kashmiri, lives a life of insecurity. The plurality that India<br />claims exists within its fabric is in fact a fiction. No government<br />has tried addressing this. Each has only tried deepening it. To<br />address this divide, what is required is a strong national policy on<br />justice reforms, since justice speaks only one language, that of<br />equality. Unfortunately this has been the last priority for all<br />governments in India so far. Instead attempt is to legislate new laws<br />like the Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence (Access to<br />Justice and Reparation) Bill, 2011 that lacked clarity in objectivity,<br />purpose and public consultation.<br /><br />As a substitute of addressing the root problem, prohibiting access to<br />web content and blaming the neighbour for ones own misfortune only<br />reiterates the reality of retardation in Indian political thinking.<br />That the media has refused to look into this factor, and are<br />regurgitating the government's blame game, in fact, speaks about its<br />intellectual wilt.<br /><br />Exodus in essence is fleeing for survival. Irrespective of the cause,<br />the country witnesses it each year during the change of seasons.<br />Legally there is no difference between the conditions, that force<br />internal migration of an estimated one million people each year who<br />leave their villages to work and perish in the cities and brick kilns,<br />feeding the rampaging hunger of construction companies that define the<br />skylines of India's new urban landscapes, and that of those who flee<br />work places fearing communal violence. Government policies that result<br />in the destruction of livelihood options in thousands of villages,<br />corporate entities that connive with governments in the process, and<br />the absolute lack of consultation with the people on policies and<br />implementation when livelihoods are destroyed, are crimes of equal<br />gravity.<br /><br />Central to the issue is the unwillingness of the government and a<br />large section of citizens to recognise that, at its core, the concept<br />of a nation-state is that of an entity based on cooperation, i.e. an<br />agreement between the state and its people to form a nation, on the<br />guarantee that the state will spare no resources to protect basic<br />freedoms of the people, irrespective of their race, region, religion,<br />language and class. This guarantee is the best assurance, which<br />nurtures unity, speaking the universal language of justice based on<br />equality. It is this guarantee that the Indian state is yet to fulfil<br />for its people, who have forgotten or failed to realise the initial<br />act of cooperation that gave birth to their nation-state, and who<br />don’t truly understand the price of their daily submission amidst<br />petty squabbling, which legitimises inefficient and corrupt misrule.<br /><br /><br />/*For information and comments contact: */<br /><br />In Hong Kong: Bijo Francis, Telephone: +852 - 26986339, Email:<br />india@ahrc.asia <mailto:india ahrc.asia="ahrc.asia"><br /></mailto:india>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-81065290329695443642011-06-20T09:19:00.000-07:002011-06-20T09:19:21.233-07:00North Eastern Council – Poised for Progress<span id="title">North Eastern Council – Poised for Progress</span> <span id="content"> </span><br />
<div class="Section1"> <table align="left" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; margin-left: 6.75pt; margin-right: 6.75pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-insideh: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-border-insidev: .5pt solid windowtext; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-table-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-table-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-table-left: left; mso-table-lspace: 9.0pt; mso-table-rspace: 9.0pt; mso-table-top: 8.45pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;"><tbody>
<tr style="mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;"> <td style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 90.9pt;" valign="top" width="121"> <div align="right" class="MsoNoSpacing" style="mso-element-anchor-horizontal: margin; mso-element-anchor-vertical: paragraph; mso-element-frame-hspace: 9.0pt; mso-element-top: 8.45pt; mso-element-wrap: around; mso-element: frame; mso-height-rule: exactly; text-align: right;"><i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">Backgrounder</span></i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"> </span></div></td> </tr>
</tbody></table><div class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 70.9pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The North Eastern Council is the nodal agency for the economic and social development of the North Eastern Region which consists of the eight States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The North Eastern Council was constituted in 1971 by an Act of Parliament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The constitution of the Council has marked the beginning of a new chapter of concerted and planned <span class="SpellE">endeavour</span> for the rapid development of the Region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over the last forty years, NEC has been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>instrumental in setting in motion a new economic <span class="SpellE">endeavour</span> aimed at removing the basic handicaps that stood in the way of normal development of the region and has ushered in an era of new hope in this backward area full of great potentialities. NEC has come up with the roadmap for over all development and progress of North Eastern Region by implementing the NER Vision Document 2020 released by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on 2<sup>nd</sup> July 2008 in New Delhi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In an effort to translate the vision document into action a high-level Inter-Ministerial group has been constituted to provide guidelines and supervision the strategies and progress for inter-<span class="SpellE">sectoral</span> mobilization in the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some achievements are highlighted below:-</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Transport and Communication Sector</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">NEC lays thrust on strengthening the case of development in NER with special emphasis on connectivity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than 60 percent budget allocation of NEC is earmarked for the development of infrastructure, transport and communication. Apart from 9877.62 <span class="SpellE">Kms</span>. completed roads network, 56 new roads projects were selected for taking up during the 11<sup>th</sup> Five Year Plan, out of which 25 nos. have been given in-principle approval by the planning Commission. 15 <span class="SpellE">Nos</span> Projects have been approved by the expenditure and Standing <span class="GramE">Finance<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Committee</span> for implementation.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Power Sector</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Since inception, NEC has generated and augmented power to the tune of 694.50 MW of capacity addition (630 Hydro & 64.50 Thermal).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The new Micro <span class="SpellE">Hydel</span> Power Generation in the North East Region including Sikkim will further increase by 6 MW in addition to presently installed capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NEC has also contributed 1772.44 <span class="SpellE">Ckt</span> Km of transmission line and 40 nos. of system improvement projects. Preparation of DPRs for strengthening of transmission and sub-transmission of Power Systems in NE Region including Sikkim has been entrusted to PGCIL.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">AGRICULTURE & ALLIED </span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The NEC has</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> taken up different activities such as pilot projects on double cropping, development of fisheries and animal husbandry. It has also taken up special initiatives for the establishment of Institutions/<span class="SpellE">Centres</span> of Excellence in the States for promotion of animal husbandry in general and veterinary care in particular, for promotion of agriculture extension services, for promotion of biotechnology, horticulture, etc. A new initiative on the development of schemes leading to the development of modern piggery as an advanced livelihood activity has been also initiated. Nagaland Bee-keeping & Honey Mission (NBHM funded by the NEC is an example of a special initiative. Funding the NEC-IFAD Rural Livelihood projects, <span class="GramE">NERCORMP(</span>Phase-II) in 6 districts of the NER, after a very successful completion of Phase-I, which is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>to be implemented over a period of 6 years, at a total cost of Rs. 20000.00 <span class="SpellE">lakhs</span>.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">INDUSTRY</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the launching of NEIIPP – 2007 by the Union Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the bulk of the task is handled by the Ministry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, NEC of late, has been supporting projects mainly on capacity building on bamboo related product.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Important project include project for Rehabilitation of Surrendered Militant in Tripura, UNIDO-CBTC Phase –II project, Establishment of Bamboo Technology Part at <span class="SpellE">Byrnihat</span> etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NEC has also commissioned a study on development of border traders in the region to the RIS, New Delhi to highlight the salient aspect of border treat along the boundaries of North Eastern States. Project on livelihood development through Pilot enterprise for re-habilitation of surrendered militants by the Govt. of Tripura taken up where Bamboo based products will be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">TOURISM</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>That the act of promotion of tourism could be streamlined and appropriately planned, NEC has taken up the task of preparation of a Comprehensive Tourism Master Plan for the region through commissioning of the expertise of M/s Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Mumbai.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On 8<sup>th</sup> April, 2011, M/s TCS gave a presentation of their findings at the Ministry of Tourism, Government<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of India in presence of all the Govt. Stakeholders including the representative of the 8 States <span class="SpellE">Govts</span>. <span class="GramE">of</span> the region.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final report is expected shortly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NEC has included in its Plan, <span class="SpellE">programmes</span> such as – Support to Projects related to Tourism in NER, Capacity Building in Tourism and Hospitality sector, development of Inter-State Tourist Circuits, renovation of IB/Tourist Lodge/Guest Houses owned by State <span class="SpellE">Govts</span>. <span class="GramE">and</span> Publicity Campaign for promotion of Tourism. Construction of <span class="SpellE">Yatriniwas</span>-cum-NEC Guest house at <span class="SpellE">Paltan</span> <span class="SpellE">Bazar</span> <span class="SpellE">Gwahati</span> dully completed and inaugurated by Hon’ble Chief Minister of Assam in the presence of Hon’ble Union Minister <span class="SpellE">DoNER</span> and Chairman <span class="SpellE">NEC.The</span> seven stories building will cater to the accommodation requirement of tourist etc. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">HEALTH</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>NEC has been providing financial assistance for up-gradation of infrastructure facilities for the existing hospitals as well as creation of hospitals in the remote areas of the North East where such facilities are yet to be set. With regard to manpower development in medical, paramedical and allied health disciplines, NEC has been providing financial resources for up-gradation of infrastructure facilities and seats are allocated to all the NE States so that development of such manpower takes place equitably. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">HRD & EMPLOYMENT</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>NEC has been extending financial support to <span class="GramE">Meritorious</span> students of North Eastern States. More than 10,000 students have been benefitted so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Support for infrastructure development of sports, education, social sector, etc. is also extended. A number of Sports Stadium <span class="GramE">have</span> been constructed across the states. Football Academy at <span class="SpellE">Kolasib</span>, Mizoram and Tennis Academy at <span class="SpellE">Imphal</span> are under construction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Development of Schools and College infrastructure such as Sikkim College of Science, ITI <span class="SpellE">Tabarijoo</span>, construction of Tribal hostel at <span class="SpellE">Chandanpur</span>, Science Lab at <span class="SpellE">Thambal</span> <span class="GramE">college</span>, Music College at Nagaland etc are underway. Capacity building <span class="SpellE">programmes</span> for unemployed North Eastern Youth are also conducted. NEC has trained more than 6000 youths under this scheme ranging from IT, BPO, Aircraft maintenance, Beauty Care, CAD/CAM <span class="SpellE">Ayurvedic</span> <span class="SpellE">Thearphy</span>, Plastic processing, Banana fiber extraction, Tourism and Hospitality Management etc.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Dr. <span class="SpellE">T.Ao</span> Football Tournament was constituted for the North Eastern region to be held annually amongst the states. The Second such tournament was held at Manipur during Nov<span class="GramE">,2010</span>. North Eastern Council Chairman’s Sports Award for excellence has been constituted where cash awards are being given to medal winners in Commonwealth, Asian and National Games. <span class="GramE">A 500</span> <span class="SpellE">seaters</span> Rajiv Gandhi girls hostel for students of NE States is under construction at Delhi University. <span class="GramE">Working Women Hostel at Delhi also under construction.</span> To improve <span class="SpellE">Maths</span> and Science teaching in the NE, Teachers Trainings are being conducted.</span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>The NEC has also initiated the <span class="GramE">following :</span></span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(<span class="SpellE">i</span>) Strengthen Geo-Informatics Application for Rural Development (C-GARD) Laboratory in NER, (ii) Support of e-Governance schemes to the respective Boards of School Education/Education Deptt. in the States of Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Sikkim with Online connectivity to schools, (iii) I.T. education infrastructure has been extended to 194 schools in Meghalaya, Manipur and Sikkim and (iv)Computerization of Food & Civil Supplies and Consumers Affairs department. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 5;"> </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">INFORMATION & PUBLIC RELATIONS</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Apart from the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>usual<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>work of bringing out achievements<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>newsletter<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>about<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>the NEC,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>part<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>its<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>initiative<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>development<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Art<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Culture, NEC<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>has<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>taken<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>up<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>project<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Preservation<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>&<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Promotion of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Archeological<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Park<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>at<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="SpellE">Itanagar</span>, Arunachal<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pradesh<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>for<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rs. 370.00<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="SpellE">lakhs</span>,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>which<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rs. 120.00<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span class="SpellE">lakhs</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>already<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>released as<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>first<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>installment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">EVALUATION & MONITORING</span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>Projects funded by NEC are being monitored on a regular basis. Evaluation studies are being carried out by the Central/State Government institutions/Organizations so that the socio-economic <span class="GramE">impact of such projects are</span> known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To strengthen the monitoring mechanism in the NEC Secretariat, an initiative has been taken to appoint Consultants for this purpose but due to non-availability of suitable candidates as per the eligibility criteria, the same has been re-advertised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seminars Symposiums/Workshops etc. which have regional impact in the NER are being sponsored to various colleges and other educational institution. </span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">IFC & WSM </span></b></div><div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal; text-indent: .5in;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">One of the main activities of the IFC & WSM sector is to administer and run the North Eastern Regional Institute of Water and Land Management (NERIWALM), <span class="SpellE">Tezpur</span>, Assam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Institute has imparted training to many persons which include professionals, farmers, NGOs. Etc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During <span class="GramE">the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>11<sup>th</sup></span> Five Year Plan, the IFC & WSM sector has sanctioned 10 Hydro Electric projects, 5 Irrigation projects, 19 Flood Control and River Management projects and 1 Watershed Management project in different States of the NE Region except Sikkim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Sikkim, NEC has sanctioned 8 Water Supply and anti-erosion projects during the period in question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-14524504799107324972011-05-30T10:36:00.000-07:002011-05-30T10:36:13.042-07:00NE Helpline Demands Delhi Police to Absconding Murderer and Rapist of 7 Years Old NE Girl<b>North East Support Centre & Helpline </b><br />
<br />
<b>For Immediate Press Release </b><br />
<br />
North East Support Centre & Helpline salutes Delhi Police on arrest of Nigerian nationality who allegedly murdered a tribal women belonging to the Kuki-Chin community of Myanmar (Burma) in Delhi on April 29. NE Helpline also demands Delhi police to arrest absconding murderer of seven years old Naga girls in 2009 and rapists of Dhaula Kuan gang rape case of 2005. <br />
According to source reaching to North East Support Centre & Helpline, Delhi police has managed to arrest the absconding murder case accused of 23 years old women belonging to Kuki-Chin communities of Myanmar today. The accused has confessed the charges against him according to sources reaching. <br />
According to the police the accused and the deceased was staying together in Uttam Nagar for the past several months. Both of them were said to occupy a rented room in the first floor. The landlord found a bad smell emanating from the said room. Then the landlord contacted the police immediately. When the police broke opened the door, a decomposed female body was found stuff inside a travelling bag. A case of murder was registered in Uttam Nagar Police Station. <br />
Madhu Chandra, Founder Director of North East Support Centre & Helpline also appeals to Delhi Police to reopen the pending cases without action being taken, “Delhi Police must take action now to arrest the absconding murderer of seven years old girl, who was raped, murdered and dumped in water tank in Mahipalpur, New Delhi on April 19, 2009.” He further appeals to Delhi Police to take action to arrest the absconding gang rapists of Mizoram women at Dhaula Kuan in 2005. <br />
The recent research conducted by NE Helpline reveals the silent feature of racial attack on its own countrymen from North East India, whose appearance and culture are different from mainline India. 78% of North Easterners in Delhi face racial discrimination in different forms which is slightly less compare to the 86% in 2009. The 83% of North East men and the 74% of their women face racial discrimination in Delhi and NCR. <br />
“Delhi Government and police still have to develop policy and plan of action to end racial attack and sexual violence against North East Indian communities and women in Delhi and NCR,” says Madhu Chandra. <br />
“The best form of prevention against racial attack and sexual violence against men and women from North East India is to bring those accused under the justice of the law of the land irrespective of their communities,” added Madhu Chandra. <br />
North East Support Centre & Helpline (<u><a href="http://www.nehelpline.net/">www.nehelpline.net</a></u>) is combined initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to women, North East People and tribal communities of different states. <br />
Released by <br />
Angam Haokip <br />
Media In-charge<br />
<br />
RZ 61, 4<sup>th</sup> Floor, Palam Vihar, Dwarka, New Delhi 110075. Tel 25084561Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-20445013373617498772011-04-14T21:49:00.001-07:002011-04-14T21:49:30.236-07:00After Mandla Kumbh, India's Madhya pradesh State profiles Christian communityMadhya Pradesh Madhya Pradesh cops pull back Christian profiling plan<br />
<br />
Naveen and Firoz Mirza , Hindustan Times<br />
Bhopal, April 15, 2011<br />
<br />
<br />
A police circular in BJP-ruled Madhya Pradesh seeking detailed<br />
profiles of Christians and churches in the state has been withdrawn<br />
after protests from members of the minority community.<br />
<br />
State chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday sought a report<br />
on the circular issued on March 23. This is the first time such a<br />
circular was issued in Madhya Pradesh.<br />
<br />
The controversy caused by the circular surfaced at Ashtra town in<br />
Sehore district when a police official allegedly threatened a<br />
Christian priest who declined to give information sought through the<br />
circular. “The officer threatened to take me to the police station<br />
when I refused to provide details,” said Father Francis Scaria of the<br />
Ashtra parish.<br />
<br />
The police top brass claimed ignorance about the circular even though<br />
the state police headquarters issued it to all police stations,<br />
seeking information on the financial status, political leanings and<br />
sources of funding of churches and their staff.<br />
<br />
Director general of police SK Rout reportedly did not know about the<br />
circular till Wednesday when a delegation of Christians brought it to<br />
his notice.<br />
<br />
Rout told HT, “All district police units have been directed not to<br />
collect any such information.” The circular had triggered alarm and<br />
anger among Christians, who viewed the order as a prelude to<br />
unleashing organised violence on the community.<br />
<br />
Bhopal’s Archbishop Leo Cornelio, who heads the Catholic Church in the<br />
state, said, “It is a conspiracy against Christians in Madhya<br />
Pradesh.” He said similar profiling was done in Gujarat, where<br />
Christians were targeted in religious violence in some districts<br />
between 1999-2000.<br />
<br />
Father Anand Muttungal, spokesperson of Catholic Church, Madhya<br />
Pradesh, said the circular violated the community’s fundamental<br />
rights. It betrayed the anti-Christian bias of the state government,<br />
he said.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-89648143431358246472011-04-14T08:43:00.001-07:002011-04-14T08:43:17.067-07:00Condemns attack on the 3 members of a family of Hmar community from Manipur at Delhi - Manipur Students' Association Delhi (MSAD)<div align="right" class="titlebrown">New Delhi, April 14, 2011 </div><div align="justify"> <br />
<br />
<b>Office of the<br />
MANIPUR STUDENTS'ASSOCIATION DELHI<br />
Estd. 1971 </b> <br />
<br />
Manipur Students' Association Delhi (MSAD) strongly condemns the racial attacked on the three members of a family of Hmar community from Manipur residing in Munirka, New Delhi by the locals on 12th April 2011. <br />
<br />
MSAD understood it as a part of deep ingrained racism persists in the mainstream Indian society towards the people of North East. <br />
<br />
Executive members of MSAD had interacted with the victims in the hospital, one of them is critically injured. <br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://e-pao.net/news_section/images/PR/2011/MSAD_20110414_1.jpg" width="600" /> </div><div align="justify"> <br />
<br />
Such inhumane act has been a daily experience for the North Easterners in the capital city, and there is indifference from the country’s law enforcing agencies. <br />
<br />
Many of the racial oriented and sexual harassment cases are twisted by the police as ploy to defend the culprits, and deny several cases to register F.I.R as well. <br />
<br />
MASD addresses to all the student and civil organizations from North East and other democratic bodies elsewhere believe in progressive movements to join hand in fighting against racial discrimination. <br />
<br />
</div><div align="center"> <img alt="" border="0" src="http://e-pao.net/news_section/images/PR/2011/MSAD_20110414_2.jpg" width="600" /> </div><div align="justify"> <br />
<br />
Sd/-<br />
<b>R.K. Sanayaima<br />
General Secretary, MSAD</b> </div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-42742103053491081242011-04-13T05:39:00.000-07:002011-04-13T05:39:23.041-07:00One More Attack on Two North East Boys in DelhiNorth East Support Centre & Helpline<br />
<br />
<br />
For Immediate Release<br />
<br />
One More Attack on Two North East Boys in Murnika, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1302698293_0" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">South Delhi</span><br />
<br />
Brother and Sister Beaten By landlord and Neighbours Earlier still Critical at AIMS Trauma Centre<br />
<br />
For more information, please contact<br />
<br />
Madhu Chandra - Spokesperson <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1302698293_1">9716004939</span><br />
<br />
<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1302698293_2">New Delhi</span>, April 13, 2011 (3:15 PM)<br />
<br />
Two more boys from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1302698293_3" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">North East India</span> were severely beaten yesterday in Murnika, South Delhi. A brother and sister who were attacked in a different incident last night are admitted at AIMS Trauma Centre.<br />
<br />
In what could be another display of Delhi's collective racism towards the Northeast people, a 21-year-old DU student, Thang and his friend, Mang, 24 years, were beaten last night by locals in Munirka, Delhi. Mang suffered a <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1302698293_4">minor head injury</span>, while Thang's shirt was torn into pieces and he had scratch marks on his face and chest.<br />
<br />
According to sources reaching to North East Support Centre says that Mang and Thang were buying groceries for dinner at a Northeast shop when they heard shouts and scuffling. <br />
<br />
"Some people were gathering outside. We stepped out and watched for a while when one guy approached us and suddenly hit Thang," said Mang. "Another person picked up a brick and threw it at us which I somehow managed to shield myself with my hands from its potential blow. I ran for cover, but the next thing I knew Thang got surrounded and attacked by a bunch of people. He managed to escape from their grasp after sometime."<br />
<br />
Both Mang and Thang are roommates. They are from Lamka, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1302698293_5" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Manipur</span>. Police have registered an FIR. The torn shirt is with the police.<br />
<br />
In another attacked James (name changed) 30 years old brother and her sister Helen (name changed) 25 years old were beaten severely by group of people at Babulal <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1302698293_6">Chowk</span>, Murnika, South Delhi at around 11 PM last night. James suffered severe head enjuries and Helen on face, mouth and they are admitted at AIMS Trauma Centre.<br />
<br />
"Murnika is marked with countless numbers of racial attack on North East people living in the rented homes. The local police has totally failed to stop the violence and crimes against people from North East India," says Madhu Chandra - Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline.<br />
<br />
North East Support Centre & Helpline (<a href="http://www.nehelpline.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1302698293_7">www.nehelpline.net</span></a>) is combined initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to women, North East People and tribal communities of different states.<br />
<br />
Released by<br />
<br />
Angam Haokip<br />
<br />
Media In-chargeUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-58303465839965553572011-04-12T06:32:00.000-07:002011-04-12T06:32:02.458-07:00National Commission for Scheduled Castes Orders UP Government to Assist Burn VictimAll India Christian Council<br />
<br />
Dwarka, New Delhi 110075<br />
<br />
<br />
For Immediate Press Release<br />
<br />
National Commission for Scheduled Castes Orders UP Government to Assist Burn Victim<br />
<br />
Civil Society Delegation Met Commission Chairman<br />
<br />
Justice Denied for Three Years to Young Dalit Girl<br />
<br />
Photos of victims available at http://nehelpline.net/?p=522<br />
<br />
New Delhi, April 12, 2011<br />
<br />
A civil society delegation along with a victim and her father met the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) yesterday to submit a memorandum in the case of a six-year-old Dalit girl who was thrown into a fire by an upper caste man in April 2008. The NCSC immediately ordered the Uttar Pradesh government to appeal in the High Court against a lower session court judgment which acquitted the accused without a fair trial. The NCSC also ordered police protection for the victim, medical treatment, and education.<br />
<br />
Kamlesh with NCSC Chairman.jpg<br />
<br />
Kamlesh, the Dalit girl who is now nine years old, was going to use a toilet in an open field along with her eight-month pregnant mother on April 29, 2008 in Trauali Jhanauti Village, Mathura District, Uttar Pradesh. When they crossed a road in front of an upper caste Thakur home, the Thakur’s son Sunny (18 years old) beat Kamlesh and threw her into a burning pit. Her mother, Manju, tried to pull her out of the fire; she, too, was beaten by several men and fell unconscious. When she came to her senses, she rescued her daughter who suffered 80% burns.<br />
<br />
A fact finding team led by All India Christian Council (aicc) visited and took up the matter with authorities. A case (FIR No. 138/08) was registered under section 307 of Indian Penal Code and SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act. Mr. Sunny was arrested for six months. Kamlesh’s mother, Manju, who suffered trauma from the attack, was labeled by the court as mentally unfit to testify without any medical proof. The court acquitted the perpetrators without a fair trial.<br />
<br />
Together with Dalit Freedom Network USA, the aicc worked with the All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations to give a small amount of finances for medical care immediately after the attack and is committed to long-term advocacy and follow-up of this case. A civil society fact finding team revisited Kamlesh in December 2010 and found her health condition was critical, her right elbow crippled with skin pulling apart, and immediate medical attention needed for other burns as well. The team was led by Dr. John Dayal, member of the National Integration Council and aicc secretary general, and included Mr. Madhu Chandra, aicc Public Relations Officer; Vidya Bushan Rawat, social activist; and Anil Chamadia, Senior Journalist.<br />
<br />
Yesterday a civil society delegation along with Kamlesh and her father met Dr. P.L. Punia, Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes. The delegation included Dr. John Dayal, Madhu Chandra, Sarita Bhoi, National Convenor, Dalit Justice Initiative of Human Rights Law Network, and Mr. H.S. Mehra, Advocate.<br />
<br />
The All India Christian Council (www.christiancouncil.in), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.<br />
<br />
Released By<br />
<br />
Madhu Chandra<br />
PRO – All India Christian Council<br />
Spokesperson – North East Support Centre & HelplineUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-73729154577893805092011-03-13T00:25:00.001-08:002011-03-13T00:25:37.993-08:00Guarantee justice to join the national mainstream<b>Press Release: Asian Human Rights Commission</b> <br />
<b>INDIA: Guarantee justice to join the national mainstream</b><br />
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) congratulates the President of India, Honourable Mrs. Pratibha Devisingh Patil, for her visit to the northeastern states of Nagaland and Manipur. The President visited Nagaland yesterday and will spend today and tomorrow in Manipur. During a speech at Dimapur in Nagaland the President urged the northeastern states "to put their best efforts to be part of the Indian growth story by harnessing their potentials, particularly through the Centre's 'Look East Policy'". While becoming part of the larger 'Indian growth story' might be an attractive proposition for some in the region, many could consider the President's call for national participation a crude joke given the state of affairs in the region. <br />
<ins><ins></ins></ins> <br />
A general understanding of ordinary life in Manipur is good enough reason to argue and substantiate this point. During the past five years there is hardly a single day in Manipur where one of its citizens were not murdered extra-judicially, or abducted for ransom by non-state actors or criminals, or taken into custody by unidentified military, paramilitary or state police officers, or a case of brutal custodial torture is reported. During the same period not a single case was impartially investigated and the suspects brought to trial. The people of Manipur have more than two dozen cases to cite in which the security agencies operating in the state have demonised villages and its innocent inhabitants with rape, assault and torture accusing the villagers of having supported secessionist groups operating in the region. So far not a single incident, of which at least a few would amount to crimes against humanity, have been investigated. <br />
Those who dared to speak against such incidents have been falsely implicated in criminal cases and many have been extra-judicially executed. The government of India has attempted to threaten or intimidate those who dared to speak about these violent incidents before international agencies like the United Nations Human Rights Council, or during the sessions of many of the UN Thematic Mechanisms, with consequences at home upon their return to India from Geneva. The reports of the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders, formerly the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders submitted to the United Nations substantiate this point. <br />
The July 23 incident of 2009 where two persons, including a seven-months-pregnant mother and a surrendered militiaman were shot dead in full public view in the capital city of the state, Imphal, is yet to be properly investigated. Within hours after the incident, the Chief Minister of the state, Mr. Okram Ibobi Singh, made a false declaration to the state that the two murdered civilians were armed insurgents. The Chief Minister's statement was not based on any evidence or investigation. The Chief Minister or the state administration took no trouble to withdraw the statement despite the murder being nationally condemned as a ruse to continue providing blanket impunity to the state police officers, many of them appointed after the Chief Minister and/or those who claim to be his agents accepting huge amounts of money as bribes Today, the post of a Sub-Inspector of Police in Manipur State Police is publically auctioned for sale with 'bribe tags' ranging between 10-15 million rupees. The state government has not found it as its responsibility even today to offer the minimum, an apology to the families of blaming one of their relatives as a terrorist. The trial in the session's case against nine police officers accused of murder in the July 23 incident is yet to commence since the hearing on the charge is to take place today and tomorrow, unless adjourned further and delayed, which is the notorious feature of the country's justice system. <br />
The security apparatus operating in Manipur, inter alia the state police, all its operational wings, the military and paramilitary units, that muster their operational logic and mandate from the central government's accedence to the state administration's request for additional security cover, which is in theory supposed to provide security to the person and property of the Manipuri's have become today Manipur's and thus India's own nemesis. In addition to the riders against civilian prosecution in the Army Act, 1950 and The Assam Rifles Act, 2006, one central piece of legislation, The Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 provides effective statutory impunity against investigation and prosecution for this massive and unruly state machinery. The AFSPA continues to be in operation in the state, despite calls for its repeal from within and outside the state, including those made by government sponsored Inquiry Commissions, of which at least one was headed by the present Vice President of India, Honourable M. Hamid Ansari. <br />
No dreams of development and progress could sustain without a law abiding security apparatus that supports a justice framework, which nurtures the reign of the rule of law. A democratic environment provided by a republic depends for its survival upon some essential fundamentals, including a functioning, publically accountable and law abiding security apparatus. This is completely absent in all its cognitive and practical sense in Manipur. In that Manipur is the worst example along with the state of Jammu and Kashmir in India. In other parts of the country the security apparatus faces similar, if not exactly equal concerns about its daily functioning. <br />
On a parallel vein one could also find fault with the Government of India's perception of what it means by the 'Look East Policy'. A country that is constituted on the pillars of democracy and democratic norms has nothing much to emulate from most of the East Asian states, but for two relatively subtle examples of Japan and South Korea. Concerning an immediate neighbour of India, Burma, of which India had gone out of the way during the early years of military dictatorship in that country to promote and nurture the democratic movement in Burma, probably encouraged by India's experience with the experiment that it successfully concluded in former East Pakistan and later Bangladesh, India has backtracked much to the embarrassment of everyone who believes in democracy and those values the concept of democracy implies, by publically supporting the military junta in Burma. <br />
Counteracting the Chinese pressure or the refocusing of targets in the process of seeking better pastures for fossil fuels cannot be a tenable excuse for India's support to the Burmese junta. Neither can be the Lee Kuan Yew induced Singaporean model be of any inspiration to Indian democracy. This realignment of policies, visibly starting from 1993 has resulted in placing India in the limelight to be viewed not as a champion of democracy and freedom, but as an opportunistic state that is forced to make drastic changes in its foreign and domestic policies fearing a Chinese economic invasion. That the Honourable President of India has suggested this policy as an incentive for the people of the northeast is like referring an insane person to a lunatic for treatment. <br />
Should there be any incentive for the people of the northeast to join mainstream India, such request must be based on providing them the basic guarantees that India as a democracy could offer to its people. Of primary importance should be the emphasis in ensuring the fundamental guarantee of life with safety, and security from the excesses committed by the security agencies operating in the region. In that the central government cannot and must not depend exclusively upon the state administrations. Should there be a consensus to be developed to join the so called national main stream, it must be based on a confidence building exercise that is sustainable and anchored on the tenets of justice, rather than a faint prayer for forgetting and forgiving. In that justice is a notion visible and experienced only when there is real justice and redress for grievances. <br />
There can be no conversation when the table is set by threat and intimidation where only monologues exist. There would be no peace in the shadow of arms and violence committed with impunity. Silence fermented out of fear will only promote violence. The Honourable President, her Prime Minister and his Cabinet have much experience in the above propositions than anyone else that held power in New Delhi in the past 20 years. <br />
Honourable President need not look anywhere else to find an opening to initiate the process of peace and confidence building. Ms. Irom Channu Sharmila, also known as the 'iron lady' of Manipur has been observing an indefinite fast for the past 10 years pleading for establishing sustainable peace in Manipur. The state administration, expressing its true character of fermented force has only found it appropriate, to imprison her in a hospital ward, force-feeding her through a nasal tube. The administration has released Sharmila yesterday, upon which she is continuing her indefinite fast in a tent in Imphal accompanied by other human rights defenders. <br />
When Sharmila was detained, she was denied permission to meet anyone. In that Sharmila was under solitary confinement for the past decade without trial, a punishment that even the most hardened and convicted criminals in the country do not face. <br />
If the Honourable President is honest in her intentions when the President addressed the people of the northeast yesterday, let the President's Office prove it by initiating actions to withdraw the AFSPA from Manipur and let it be made clear to the people of Manipur through a public statement. Let there be independent investigations against all past and in every future incidents of human rights violations committed by the security agencies operating in the region. <br />
Let the perception of justice prevail in action and spirit in the region than the dark veil of fear and repression. <br />
Any affirmative action of the above nature will be the true incentive for the people in the region to expect that there is a larger and brighter future that the rest of India can offer by being part of the 'larger Indian dream' It would be also the most fitting birthday gift to Sharmila who will celebrate her 39th birthday on March 14, most probably once again in the solitary room at the government hospital in Imphal after being rearrested once the President departs from the region. <br />
# # #<br />
<b><i><br />
About AHRC: The Asian Human Rights Commission is a regional non-governmental organisation that monitors human rights in Asia, documents violations and advocates for justice and institutional reform to ensure the protection and promotion of these rights. The Hong Kong-based group was founded in 1984.</i></b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-91793454136212662802011-03-11T23:40:00.001-08:002011-03-11T23:42:22.150-08:00Hmar-Government of Mizoram Political Talk<b>HPC-D Press Release:</b><br />
<br />
Ref. No. HPC (D)/Sinlung/PAC-07 Dated: Sinlung, the 8th March, 2011<br />
To,<br />
The Home Secretary<br />
Government of Mizoram<br />
Subject: Hmar-Government of Mizoram Political Talk<br />
Sir,<br />
After much deliberations on the ongoing peace process, the Hmar People’s Convention<br />
(Democratic) – HPC(D) is convinced of the absence of confidence, trust and commitment despite<br />
signing the document for the Suspension of Operation (SoO). The narrow pre-conditions that has been<br />
repeatedly put forward by the Government of Mizoram has not only reduced the credibility of the<br />
Suspension of Operation (SoO) document, but also the parties that are involved in it.<br />
The HPC(D) strongly believe that both the engaging parties should pro-actively work to build<br />
confidence, trust and goodwill before the Hmar-Government of Mizoram political talk is put on track.<br />
Therefore, in the interest of securing a healthy climate for the political talk, the HPC(D) opines<br />
that the current term of the SoO be fruitfully employed by both sides. Accordingly, it is the stand of the<br />
HPC(D) that the ‘Hmar-Government of Mizoram Political Talk’ be held only after the extension of the<br />
current term of the SoO.<br />
To pursue the matter, the HPC(D) will send its delegates for extending the SoO anytime in<br />
May, 2011. The Government of Mizoram may kindly find a date for the purpose.<br />
Sincerely Yours,<br />
(L.B. HMAR)<br />
Secretary<br />
Department of Political Affairs<br />
Hmar People’s Convention (Democratic)<br />
<br />
<iframe height="556" src="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BzUXM6L2SaybN2FhYjRmZjktNWMzYS00MTBkLWIwNDUtYTllNzllMzE2MjYy&hl=en" width="100%"></iframe>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-75585131423803238522011-02-23T21:33:00.001-08:002011-02-23T21:33:37.550-08:00Attorney General Statement Ominous for Dalit Christians says Christian Council<div><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <div align="center" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_0" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">All India Christian Council</span></span></span></b></div><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt;"> <div align="center" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Palam Vihar, Sector 6, Dwarka, New Delhi, Email: </span><a href="http://us.mc1103.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aiccdelhi@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;" title="mailto:aiccdelhi@gmail.com
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_1">aiccdelhi@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">, </span><a href="http://www.indianchristians.in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;" title="http://www.indianchristians.in/
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_2">www.indianchristians.in</span></span></a></span><span></span></div></div><div align="right" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: small;">For immediate release</span></span></span></span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_3">Attorney General</span> Statement Ominous for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_4" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Dalit Christians</span> says Christian Council </span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Government must tell <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_5">India</span> ’s <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_6">Supreme Court</span> it supports Scheduled <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_7">Caste</span> status for Dalit <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_8">minority groups</span></span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">NEW DELHI</span><span lang="EN-US"> – February 23, 2011 – The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_9">All India Christian Council</span> has termed as “ominous” the statement of Attorney General G.E. Vahanvati and is deeply concerned about an indefinite delay of equal rights for Christians and Muslims of Scheduled Caste origin. The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_10">Supreme Court</span> was scheduled tomorrow to hear an oft-delayed case on the issue.</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">On Monday, the attorney general reportedly advised India’s Cabinet Committee on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_11">Political Affairs</span> that the central government need not act “at this stage” on the long-standing demand by Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims for Scheduled Caste status currently enjoyed by only Hindu, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_12">Sikh</span>, and Buddhists adherents.</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Supreme Court is expected to hear a key case on 24 February 2011 when it expects the government to give its opinion on a challenge to Paragraph 3 of Article 341 of India’s <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_13">Constitution</span> (Scheduled Caste Order) 1950. More than dozen individuals and advocates, including <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_14">Dalit Christians and Muslims</span>, have joined the case. This case has seen numerous hearings and delays ever since early 2004.</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Cabinet Committee, headed by <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_15" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; cursor: pointer;">Prime Minister Manmohan Singh</span>, includes <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_16">Finance Minister</span> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_17">Pranab Mukherjee</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_18">Home Minister</span> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_19">P. Chidambaram</span>, and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_20">Defence Minister</span> A.K. Antony. Minorities Affairs Minister Salman Khursheed was a special invitee at the meeting. According to news reports, the AG feels the issue is very complicated and has several ramifications.</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Centre for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_21">Public Interest Litigation</span>, run by former Law Minister <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_22" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Shanti Bhushan</span> and his son <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_23" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Prashant Bhushan</span>, filed <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_24">Writ Petition</span> (Civil) No. 180 of 2004 in early 2004 on behalf of plaintiff Franklin Caesar. Para 3 of Article 341 has been described by Christians and Muslims as anti-Constitutional and “communalising” the upliftment of the former untouchable groups who still remain the most economically and politically marginalised in India . The Supreme Court has repeatedly delayed a verdict because of the Union government’s inability to make up its mind on the matter despite repeated prodding by the court. </span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">“This speaks of a debilitating indecisiveness which is born of political perfidy and bureaucratic obduracy. In short, India ’s officials need to stand for what is right. All Dalits face similar societal discrimination and deserve similar government benefits,” said <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_25" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">John Dayal</span> , <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_26">Secretary General</span>, All India Christian Council (aicc).</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_27">Dayal</span> said, “Sections of the officialdom, belonging to the upper castes, and sections of the same power groups in the ruling and the major <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_28">opposition party</span> are opposing the assertion of the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_29">religious minority groups</span> to regain their constitutional rights. We do not see why these groups feel so threatened. Our brothers and sisters in the Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist Dalits know that most <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_30">government jobs</span> and seats in educational institutions go unfilled, and there is enough for everyone to share without restricting each others’ privileges and rights.”</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Dr. Jose ph D’souza, aicc President, said, “To be clear, we advocate the striking of religion in Article 341 as a qualification for Dalits to receive government assistance. This era of prevarication and political indecisiveness must end. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_31">Dalit Christians and Muslims</span> must be given their rights now.”</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Many experts believe the government has more than enough political support. Following a five decade long agitation, almost every opposition party -- barring of course the BJP -- has extended support to the demand of Dalit Christians. State <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_32">Legislative Assemblies</span> of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_33">Andhra Pradesh</span> and other states have passed resolutions to this effect. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_34" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Chief Ministers</span> including Mr. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_35">Nitish Kumar</span> of Bihar , Ms. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_36">Mayawati</span> of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_37">Uttar Pradesh</span>, and Mr. M.K. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_38">Karunanidhi</span> of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_39">Tamil Nadu</span> publically have urged the Union Government to restore <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_40" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Dalit Christian</span>’s rights.</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The National Commission for Minorities as well as the 2007 report of the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities (headed by retired Justice Misra and often called the “Misra Commission”) gave unequivocal support. The Justice Sachchar Committee acknowledged the disenfranchising of the Dalit Muslim groups. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes headed by former governor Mr. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_41" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Buta Singh</span> fully supports these demands, although it proposed a separate quota.</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">When the Constitution was signed, the affirmative action of reservations in jobs, legislatures, schools, and on such issues as rural development was given to all Dalits. Then communally motivated lobbyists forced the government to pass the 1950 order restricting privileges to Hindus alone. The government soon bowed to pressure from Dalit <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_42">Sikhs</span> and Buddhists and restored their rights. Even for the Christians, the Cabinet under Prime Minister Narsimha Rao passed a resolution and moved a Bill in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_43">Parliament</span> to restore rights. The Bill wasn’t taken up for technical reasons, and Parliament was soon dissolved. Since that day, governments have been prevaricating on the issue with scant respect for legal precedent, legislative propriety and humane considerations. Dayal said, “It is a mystery why the government yet demurs.”</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The All India Christian Council (<a href="http://www.christiancouncil.in/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_44">www.christiancouncil.in</span></a>), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.</span></span></div><div class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Released by </span></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Madhu Chandra</span></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1430371750MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">PRO – aicc <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1298525522_45">9716004939</span></span></span></div></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-30076882548143106452011-02-13T23:47:00.001-08:002011-02-13T23:47:18.823-08:00KUKI STUDENTS' ORGANISATION DELHI - Press ReleasePress Release<br />
New Delhi, <br />
The 13th February, 2011<br />
<br />
KSOD/PR/01/2011<br />
<br />
A 30-year-old Hangminlen Haokip, a resident of Churchandpur in Manipur passed away on the night of 11th February 2011 at around 11.45pm at LNJP hospital in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297668047_0" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">New Delhi</span>. The funeral service was held on February 12 at the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297668047_1" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">South West Delhi</span> Christian Cemetery in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297668047_2">Dwarka</span>, Delhi. Kuki Worship Service Delhi pastor Rev Letlal Haokip conducted the funeral prayer. The funeral service was attended by the Kuki Worship Service Delhi, Kuki Students' Organisation Delhi and Delhi Lompi. Many Kukis in the capital gathered at the cemetery.<br />
<br />
Ironically, the father of the deceased is unknown. The name of his village is untreachable. No one claim the deceased b ody. Finally KSOD claimed the body.<br />
<br />
The deceased Hangminlen Haokip and his three friends were said to be drug addicts living in Munirka. After facing money problem, they took sheltered under the flyover in Munirka. These four Kuki youths have been seen living under the flyover in November last year. The shocking incident came into limelight when somebody reported to KSO leaders residing in Munirka. Thereafter Mr Lalboi Baite, ex-vice president, KSOD made spot enquiry and found out that the condition of these youths were much beyond imagination. The matter was immediately informed to KSO advisor Pu Khupthang. The four youths were brought to advisor's residence, where they were given medical treatment and other necessary helps.<br />
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Kuki Students' Organisation, Kuki Worship Service, Gangte Welfare Association and Vaiphei Welfare Association had a discussion in last November. As per their discussion, KWS leaders admitted the four youths in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297668047_3">The Last Resort</span> rehabilitation centre in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297668047_4" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Delhi</span>. <br />
<br />
After one month, two of the four youths got recovery while the health condition of the other two deteriorated each passing day. The first two youths returned back to <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1297668047_5" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Churachandpur</span> while Hangminlen Haokip and Sasang Vaiphei were admitted in LNJP hospital. Hangminlen Haokip was declared dead by the doctors on February 11 night while Sasang Vaiphei is said to be in critical condition. <br />
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The incident gave us a striking lesson to learn. The youths belong to different tribes. However they chose to die under the same roof. So they began sheltering unitedly with their last hope, as one of the victims told the earlier rescuers. During day, the other two ventured out in the city to find food for their half-dead friends, who were lying unconsciously for several days. Though they were homeless, they vowed to die under one's care rather than dying lonely. The love and unity towards their fellow being is highly appreciated. This set an exemplary life for all of us. <br />
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On behalf of the Kuki Students' Organisation Delhi, we hereby, expressed our heartfelt gratitude to all the organisations and individuals who had painstakingly stood beside us throughout the steps. <br />
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We are deeply impressed by the cooperation extended by the broadminded leaders/members of Gangte Welfare Association, Vaiphei Welfare Association, The Last Resort, Kuki Worship Service and Kuki Students' Organisation. We also sought everyone to stand united in the days to come.<br />
<br />
Sd/-<br />
Lamtinthang Haokip<br />
President,<br />
Kuki students'Organisation Delhi. <br />
<br />
Sd/-<br />
T.Douminlian<br />
General Secretary,<br />
Kuki students'Organisation Delhi.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-85460047618855841502011-02-04T03:51:00.001-08:002011-02-04T03:51:47.350-08:00Hate campaign in run-up to Narmada Kumbh creates scare among MP Christians<div align="center" style="font: 10pt Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_0" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">All India Christian Council</span></span></span></b></span></div><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt;"> <div align="center" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">New Delhi, Email: </span><a href="http://us.mc1103.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aiccdelhi@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_1">aiccdelhi@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">, </span><a href="http://www.indianchristians.in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;" title="http://www.indianchristians.in
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_2">www.indianchristians.in</span></span></a></span></div></div><div align="center" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div><div align="center" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">For immediate release</span></span></b></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Hate campaign in run-up to Narmada Kumbh creates scare among MP Christians</span></span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div align="center" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Christian Council fact finding team deeply concerned about fallout from potential anti-Christian campaign in Mandla Samajik Kumbh, Feb. 10-12, 2011</span></span></i></div><div align="center" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">NEW DELHI, February 4, 2011 </span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">A fact finding team recently spent three days in the Mandla-Jabalpur region and is deeply concerned over imminent threats to the Christian community. Two million attendees are expected during the Narmada Samajik Kumbh from 10-12 February 2011 in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_3">Jabalpur , Madhya Pradesh</span>. Earlier this week appeals for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_4">preventative action</span> to halt anti-Christian hate speech and ensure peace were sent to state and national government officials by the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_5">All India Christian Council</span> (aicc).</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_6" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">John Dayal</span>, aicc <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_7">Secretary General</span>, said, “We support the freedom of the majority community to hold massive religious events. But, we fear that, even if there is no violence or a forcible conversion of Christians to Hinduism during the Kumbh, the Hindutva campaign has poisoned the atmosphere in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_8">Madhya Pradesh</span>. This will negatively impact relationships between Christian and other tribals in the hamlets, villages, and townships of the region.”</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The team uncovered plans for “ghar wapsi” (homecoming celebration) or conversion to Hinduism of local Christians despite Madhya Pradesh’s <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_9">Freedom of Religion Act</span> which requires prior notice of such actions. Literature distributed near the site talks about purging the region of “<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_10" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Christian missionaries</span>” who are falsely accused of large-scale conversions of tribals, mostly Gonds. The fact finding report was submitted this week to the Madhya Pradesh Governor, the federal Minister for Minority Affairs, the federal Minister of Home Affairs, and the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_11" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">National Commission for Minorities</span>.</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">“The penetration of hard core Hindutva activists in Madhya Pradesh may have a long-term dampening affect on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_12">freedom of religion</span> in this region. It may also negatively impact the continuing social work of Christians, including schools and medical centers in under-developed districts,” said <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_13">Dayal</span>.</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The fact finding team was comprised of Dr. John Dayal, member, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_14">National Integration Council</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_15">Government of India</span>, and aicc secretary general, and Mr. Vijayesh Lal, human rights activist and secretary of the Religious Liberty Commission, Evangelical Fellowship of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_16">India</span>. The organisers of the “kumbh” (a holy riverbank gathering) are Sangh Parivar groups such as the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_17">Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh</span>. </span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">“We were told that sadhus and Hindutva activists have traveled throughout the Mandla’s villages. While collecting money for food and care of Kumbh participants, they made oral threats and allegations of illegal activities by missionaries or priests, according to Christian and social leaders in Mandla. They threatened to wipe out Christianity from the region and convert the region’s Christians to Hinduism through ritual cleansing,” said Dayal.</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The fact finding team collected or photographed pamphlets, posters, banners, hoardings, and were given copies of other printed material. Slogans on the materials charged Christian missionaries of deceiving people through educational and medical services. One slogan translates, “Church will do anything for conversions.” Some of the materials display the name “Dharma <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_18">Jagran</span> Samiti, Maharashtraj.”</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The police superintendent issued orders on 6 December 2010 telling churches, and other groups, they must close schools and institutions and house visiting dignitaries and women police. School officials told police a lengthy school closure will be impossible. The police superintendent now claims he did not sign the order, but the fact finding team has procured what appears to be an authentic copy. </span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">“We are deeply concerned because Mandla police have a history of questionable demands of Christians,” said Dayal. For example, they ordered Sister Olga Lucas of the Deenbandhudham Convent to give details of the nuns in the convent such as bank accounts, landline, and mobile telephone numbers, as well as details of patients undergoing treatment in the hospital and clinics.</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The fact finding team interviewed the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_19">Catholic bishop</span> of Jabalpur , Right Reverend Gerald Almeida, as well as over 200 Catholic, Protestant, and Evangelical priests, pastors, and church workers from the area. The team visited the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_20" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Narmada River</span> , particularly the left bank, where houses and fields were leveled for housing, toilets, and other hospitality arrangements. The team spoke to local policemen and with contractors building the “shamianas” (tents), roads, and a new river barrage (dam).</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Local Roman Catholic and other Christian leaders sent a memorandum to the Madhya Pradesh Governor, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_21" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Chief Minister</span>, and divisional and district authorities. The memo lists samples of newspaper clippings and posters targeting minorities with hate slogans. The memo said, “Our sources tell us there will be a major ghar wapsi or conversion to Hinduism of local Christians. We urge the administration to take timely action and appropriate steps to protect the citizens and particularly the minorities, their places of worship and institutions, and religious personnel. The administration would be entirely and wholly responsible in case of any undesirable eventuality.” </span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Different kumbhs are held on various rivers across India . The “Narmada Samajik Kumbh” is distinguished because it is a very recent event invented by the Sangh Parivar to recruit tribal people in western and central India , specially the Chhotanagpur region which is inhabited by some of the oldest tribes in the world. The people call themselves Adivasis (original people), but the Sangh Parivar calls them Vanvasis (forest dwellers). The government has allotted 140 crore INR [Rupees 1,400 million] for civil works, tents, roads, and other arrangements.</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_22" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Roman Catholic Church</span> is particularly active in the region in education, health, and development projects, many begun in recent years. This region is heavily forested, and the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_23" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Mandla district</span> consistently ranks among the 20 most “backward” districts in India . There are many similarities to Kandhamal District, Orissa, which suffered unprecedented anti-Christian violence in 2008 after the late Swami Lakshmananda Saraswati vitiated Kondh tribals against Christians. It is also similar to The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_24">Dangs District</span>, Gujarat , where Swami Aseemanand invented the “Shabari Kumbh” and led a hate campaign against local Christians. This culminated in violence over <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_25">Christmas</span> 1998 and arson of at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_26">least three dozen churches</span>. Aseemanand is currently in police custody for his role in “Hindutva terror” including the bombing of Muslim shrines and mosques as well as the India-Pakistan peace train, called the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_27">Samjhauta Express</span>, in 2007. The Shabari Kumbh was originally planned for Madhya Pradesh, according to media reports.</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The full fact finding report is available at: </span><a href="http://indianchristians.in/news/images/resources/pdf/aicc_FFT_on_MP_and_Kumbh_Mela_Feb_2011.pdf" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;" title="http://indianchristians.in/news/images/resources/pdf/aicc_FFT_on_MP_and_Kumbh_Mela_Feb_2011.pdf
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_28">http://indianchristians.in/news/images/resources/pdf/aicc_FFT_on_MP_and_Kumbh_Mela_Feb_2011.pdf</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_29">All India Christian Council</span> (</span><a href="http://www.christiancouncil.in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank" title="blocked::http://www.christiancouncil.in/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_30">www.christiancouncil.in</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.</span></span></div><div class="yiv116278459MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Released by</span></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Madhu Chandra</span></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Regional Secretary</span></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv116278459MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296820242_31">09716004939</span></span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-71315787131366649992011-01-25T21:52:00.001-08:002011-01-25T21:52:38.757-08:00Christian Council Appreciates Supreme Court Revision of Ruling<div align="center" style="font: 10pt Tahoma;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 36pt;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_0" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">All India Christian Council</span></span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_1">Dwarka</span>, New Delhi 110075 <a href="http://www.indianchristians.in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;">www.indianchristians.in</span></a>, Email <a href="http://us.mc1103.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aiccdelhi@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: windowtext;" title="mailto:aiccdelhi@gmail.com
CTRL + Click to follow link">aiccdelhi@gmail.com</span></a></span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 10pt;"> </span></div><div align="center" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">For Immediate Press Release</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt;">Christian Council Appreciates <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_2" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Supreme Court</span> Revision of Ruling</span></b></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">NEW DELHI: January 25, 2011 </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Today the All India Christian Council thanked the Supreme Court for revising comments in the verdict given on 21 January 2011 in the case of Criminal Appeal No 1366 of 2005, “Rabindra Kumar Pal @ <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_3">Dara Singh</span> Vs. Republic of India ”. The ruling dealt with the appeal to overturn <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_4" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">life sentences</span> for two men convicted of murdering Australian missionary <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_5" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Graham Staines</span> and his two sons 1999. </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">In the ruling, several comments about conversions were included by the two judge bench of P. Sathasivam and B.S. Chauhan which provoked protests by Christians and many in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_6">India</span> ’s civil society.</span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dr. Joseph D’souza, aicc President, said, “We appreciate the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_7">Supreme Court</span> for taking suo moto notice of the deep concerns over their comments on conversion in the Dara Singh case. We are thankful that several remarks which the Christian community found objectionable were expunged from the record today. This restores our faith in the judiciary.” </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Dr. John Dayal, aicc <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_8">Secretary General</span>, said, “We were disturbed initially when the remarks by two <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_9">Supreme Court justices</span> gave the appearance of support for campaigns against freedom of faith. The Christian Council and community hold the justice system in high esteem as it is the appeal of last resort when state governments and administration often fail us. In fact our great respect is why the comments provoked deep concern.”</span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">The All India Christian Council (<a href="http://www.christiancouncil.in/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_10">www.christiancouncil.in</span></a>), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Released by</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_11">Madhu</span> Chandra</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;">Regional Secretary – aicc</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv1682209854MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1296021140_12">9716004939</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-49585627635949255982011-01-22T02:28:00.000-08:002011-01-22T02:28:06.057-08:00Christian Council Satisfied with Verdict for Killers of Graham Staines<div align="center"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 36pt;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_0" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">All India Christian Council</span></span><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div align="center" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">61, Palam Vihar, Sector 6, Dwarka, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_1">New Delhi 110075</span>, </span></div><div align="center" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Email <a href="http://us.mc1103.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=aiccdelhi@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;" title="mailto:aiccdelhi@gmail.com
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_2">aiccdelhi@gmail.com</span></span></a>, <a href="http://www.indianchristians.in/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;" title="http://www.indianchristians.in
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_3">www.indianchristians.in</span></span></a></span></div><div align="center" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">For more information, contact:</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Dr. John Dayal, Secretary General</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://us.mc1103.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=john.dayal@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_4">john.dayal@gmail.com</span></a></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">+91-<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_5">9811021072</span></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div align="center" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">For immediate release</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Christian Council Satisfied with Verdict for Killers of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_6" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Graham Staines</span></span></b><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Expresses Concern about Affect of Judges’ Comments about Conversion on Cases of Communal Violence</span></i></div><div align="center" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"></span></i> </div><div class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">NEW DELHI – <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_7">January 22</span>, 2011 – Yesterday, a bench of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_8">India</span>’s <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_9" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Supreme Court</span>’s issued a judgment upholding the life-imprisonment of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_10">Dara Singh</span> for killing <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_11">Graham Staines</span> and his two young sons in January 1999. Singh's accomplice, Mahendra Hembram, was also sentenced to life in prison. </span></div><div class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Dr. Joseph D’souza, President of the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_12">All India Christian Council</span> (aicc), said, “We are satisfied with the Supreme Court’s decision upholding the 2005 <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_13" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Orissa High Court</span>’s verdict which commuted a death sentence for Dara Singh to <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_14">life imprisonment</span> for killing Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons in Orissa in 1999. In dismissing Dara Singh’s petition for dropping of the case against him, the Apex Court clearly denounced the heinous <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_15">hate crime</span> perpetrated by communal forces.” </span></div><div class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Dr. John Dayal, aicc Secretary General, said, “Most Indian Christians oppose the death penalty both on moral and theological grounds, as much as we oppose abortion and taking away life at any stage. Of course, as Christians, we want the State and Central government to uphold the rule of law.” </span></div><div class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">In the conclusion of the ruling on Criminal Appeal No 1366 of 2005, “Rabindra Kumar Pal @ Dara Singh Vs. Republic of India”, the judges wrote, “It is undisputed that there is no justification for interfering in someone’s belief by way of ‘use of force’, provocation, conversion, incitement or upon a flawed premise that one religion is better than the other.” Some media reports insinuated this meant ‘conversions’ are illegal or the root cause of the violent attack.</span></div><div class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_16">Dayal</span> said, “Although we are yet to analyse the full judgment of the Supreme Court, we are disturbed by the parts carried by the media, mentioning terms like fraud and forcible and conversion. The Court must comment on Hindu conversions, termed Ghar Wapsi. But more than anything, we fear such remarks may negatively impact trials in Kandhamal, Orissa and future challenges to so-called ‘freedom of religion laws’ in various states.”</span></div><div class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Inquiries by the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_17" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">National Commission for Minorities</span>, Right To Information (RTI) requests, and other investigations have proven repeatedly there have been no fraudulent or forceful conversions by Christians in India anywhere, anytime. After analysing the <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_18">Supreme Court reference</span> to conversions, the aicc might move Supreme Court to revise the reference at an appropriate time. </span></div><div class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Dayal said, “We do not want any court to pre-judge the matter of conversions and violence. The real root cause of strife in which Staines lost his life with his two kids was a misunderstanding of conversion. We have seen communal violence not only against Christians, but also on Muslims and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_19">Sikhs</span> since India’s Independence. It is unfortunate that Hindutva forces look for an excuse to attack Christians and others because they believe that India is for Hindus only. This goes against India’s spirit of secularism.”</span></div><div class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The All India Christian Council (<a href="http://www.christiancouncil.in/" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_20">www.christiancouncil.in</span></a>), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The aicc is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Released by</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Madhu Chandra</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv310239774MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Regional Secretary <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1295692000_21">9716004939</span></span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-8442771193294485772011-01-13T02:05:00.001-08:002011-01-13T02:05:20.042-08:00Understanding Anti-large Dam Movement in Northeast India :: MRF Seminar<div align="center" class="bodyboldgreen">Understanding Anti-large Dam Movement in Northeast India :: MRF Seminar<br />
- Date :: 14 January, 2011 <br />
</div><b>MANIPUR RESEARCH FORUM<br />
Working Office: 78 NTH, JNU, New Delhi – 110 067, India <br />
<br />
Regd. Office: Wangkhei Yonglan Leirak, <br />
Imphal East, Manipur<br />
<br />
Phones: 24101590, 26741782, 9350967057, 9810855536, 9810350719<br />
www.manipurresearchforum.org <br />
mrfd.quarterly@gmail.com <br />
<br />
MRF Seminar<br />
State Vs People: Understanding Anti-large Dam Movement in Northeast India</b> <br />
<br />
<b>Speaker</b><br />
Chandan Sharma<br />
(Tezpur University) <br />
<br />
<b>Abstract</b> <br />
<br />
The policy of the GOI to turn northeast into 'India's Future Powerhouse' by generating massive amount of hydel power from almost all its perennial rivers has led to widespread protests in the region. <br />
<br />
These protests are based on the apprehension that this 'development' initiative of the government would spell disaster to the river ecosystem and the livelihood and cultural heritage of millions of people of the region. The fact that the region is seismically very active and ecologically fragile has further fuelled the public protest. <br />
<br />
Although the protests are witnessed in all the affected states of the region, here I will mainly confine myself to the movement that has seized the Brahmaputra valley of Assam in the last few years. <br />
<br />
<b>Venue:</b> Room No. 105, SSS-II, JNU, New Delhi<br />
<b>Date:</b> 14 January, 2011<br />
<b>Time:</b> 3:30 pm <br />
<br />
All are cordially invited. <br />
<br />
Sd/-<br />
<b>Dr. Atom Sunil Singh<br />
Seminar Convener<br />
Manipur Research Forum (MRF)<br />
www.manipurresearchforum.org</b>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-41060481192730449612011-01-09T23:28:00.000-08:002011-01-09T23:28:08.578-08:00Four Youths Northeast Youths and One Woman Assaulted in Delhi<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 26pt;">North East Support Centre & Helpline</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">RZ 61, 4<sup>th</sup> Floor, Palam Vihar, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_0">Dwarka</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_1">New Delhi 110075</span></span></div><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt;"> <div align="center" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Email: <a href="http://us.mc1103.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=nesupportcentre@gmail.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_2">nesupportcentre@gmail.com</span></a>, <a href="http://www.nehelpline.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;" title="http://www.nehelpline.net
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_3">www.nehelpline.net</span></span></a></span></div></div><div align="center" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">For Immediate Press Release</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Four Youths Northeast Youths and One Woman Assaulted in Delhi</span></b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div align="center" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> <div align="right" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">For more detail contact</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Madhu Chandra – Spokes Person – <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_4">9716004939</span></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div></span> <div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">New Delhi, January 8, 2011</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Four North-East youths were allegedly assaulted by a landlord on Friday night at Munirka in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_5">New Delhi</span>. Culprits arrested under pressure from Police Officer.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The victims John (25), Richard (23), Calvin (24) and Jenny (24) belong to Manipur. All names are changed. John and Kalvin are working in private companies in New Delhi. Jenny is a mother of one-year old child. The victims were temporarily residing in Munirka.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Madhu Chandra Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline reported the matter to Joint Commissioner of Police for Southern Range of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_6" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Delhi</span> Mr. Amulya Patnaik and Deputy Commission of Police for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_7" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">South Delhi</span> Mr. Daliwal, who responded to instruct the police officers on duty to take action.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Man accused arrested by <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_8" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Vasant Vihar</span> <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_9" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Police station</span> and a case registered under FIR 12/2011 under section of 323/341/506/34 of Indian Penal Court.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">According to John, the incident occurred on Friday at around 9.30 pm when he visited his cousin brother to inform about a job vacancy. While he left his cousin’s room, he met the landlord <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_10">Dinesh</span> on the road in Munirka, near by Dinesh’s building. John, an old tenant of Dinesh, rented a room from March 2010 to November 2010 in Dinesh’s building.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">John said: “Dinesh call me, saying he want to speak to me. At that moment, I left him hurriedly to pick-up some of my friends who are already waiting for me. I told my old landlord politely that I’ll be back soon and have a talk with him”.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“Suddenly Dinesh felt annoyed and started thrashing me. In the meantime, some of the locals also joined him in assaulting me. I sought help, but to no avail. I bleed profusely. At least I could manage to escape from their irony hands,” said John.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">John was soaked with blood. John’s forehead and left cheek wounded severely. However, he luckily escapes the brutal attacked by running away. </span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">When his sister Jenny, his brother-in-law Calvin and Richard knew the incident, they approached Dinesh politely to enquiring about the matter. </span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Dinesh and some of his friends were still there on the road near his building where the incident occurred. While seeing the couple, Dinesh and his friends began thrashing and smashing them mercilessly. Jenny, Calvin and Richard got injured. </span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Jenny, a mother of one-year old baby felt down on the road while her husband Kalvin was continuously beaten with iron rods and sticks by Dinesh and his associates.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">According to Jenny, Dinesh said: “I beat your brother because he came to my building. What can you do with me? Do whatever you want; I’m not afraid at all. He used abusive and lewd comments”.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">John’s mobile phone was forcibly snatched away and crushed on the road by Dinesh and his friends.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The victims call the leaders of Kuki Students Organisation Delhi. KSOD general secretary T Douminlian, KSOD member Mangkai Haokip and Bruce K Thangkhal, reported to North East Support Centre & Helpline rushed to the spot immediately from JNU campus.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">KSOD leaders met the victims and discussed the matter. Then they lodged a formal complaint at the Vasant Vihar police station around 1.30 am. </span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">The victims were taken to <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_11" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Safdarjung</span> hospital for medical examination (MLC). At 4.30 am this morning, one of the victims Jenny informed this reporter that the seriously injured John and Calvin were still in the hospital for X-ray test. They were left alone without the police. </span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Jenny and Richard after medical test, were dropped near Aggarwal Sweet shop in Munirka by the police. </span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“I am really afraid of Dinesh. Earlier he had assaulted two North East guys. The first one suffered a broken head and the second fractured arms. I’m afraid he might target us,” said Jenny, the distress victim.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">“Dinesh is accused of assaulting the North East frequently which went unreported,” says Bruce.</span></div><div class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">North East Support Centre & Helpline</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> (</span><a href="http://www.nehelpline.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.nehelpline.net</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">) is a joint initiative of various <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1294644408_12">human rights activists</span>, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Released by</div><div align="right" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"> </div><div align="right" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Angam Haokip</div><div align="right" class="yiv670835722MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Media In-charge</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-10164864341232924562010-12-15T20:40:00.001-08:002010-12-15T20:40:53.745-08:00Immediate moratorium sought on clearances for large dams in Northeast India - Press release by Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (Assam)<div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Press Release</strong><strong> by <a class="ext" href="http://www.kmssassam.org/" target="_blank" title="Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti - Assam">Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti, Assam</a><span class="ext"></span></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>23rd November 2010, New Delhi</strong></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Seeking a moratorium on clearances for large dams in Northeast India </li>
<li>Withdrawal of clearances granted to 2000 MW Lower Subansiri, 1750 MW Demwe Lower & 1500 MW Tipaimukh dams </li>
<li>Future steps on hydropower projects and dams only after full, prior and informed consent of people in the region</li>
<li>Protect the Brahmaputra river basin as a cultural and ecological endowment</li>
</ul><br />
<small></small><br />
<strong>Background: </strong><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">The Northeast of India is an ecologically and geologically fragile, seismically active and culturally sensitive region. There are plans to harness around 63,000 MW of hydropower through 168 large dams in the Brahmaputra and Barak river basins. <strong>The state of Arunachal Pradesh alone plans to develop 168 projects towards a cumulative capacity of 57,000 MW</strong>. MoUs/MoAs have already been signed for over 120 projects until now by the state government.</div><div style="text-align: left;">An important role is played by the Central Government which grants environmental and techno-economic clearances to projects. The environmental clearance process also assumes significant importance as it is currently the only clearance in which comprehensive social impact assessment and public consultation has to be done. Recent times have seen many concerns raised both about individual and cumulative impacts (downstream and upstream) of multiple dams planned in the region.</div><div style="text-align: left;">After downstream agitations in the Subansiri river basin an expert committee of IIT Guwahati, Guwahati University and Dibrugarh University was set up to study the downstream impacts of the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri project. In their report submitted in June 2010 this committee has recommended that:<em> “…The selected site for the mega dam of the present dimension was not appropriate in such a geologically and seismologically sensitive location…Therefore, it is recommended not to construct the mega dam in the present site…”. </em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em> </em>A House Committee set up by the Assam Legislative Assembly to investigate the impacts of dams in its final report submitted in July 2010 supported the Expert Committee recommendations on Lower Subansiri. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Downstream concerns </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Terms of Reference (ToR) for Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies have been granted by the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) for at least 54 large dams in Arunachal Pradesh since September 2006. In most cases the ‘baseline data’ collection has been asked to be restricted upto only 10 km downstream and the actual ‘impact prediction’ has been asked to be restricted to an even smaller distance downstream: only between the dam and powerhouse!</div><div style="text-align: left;">There is only one aspect which has been mandatory asked to be studied beyond 10 km downstream in all cases; this is the ‘dam-break analysis’ which predicts what will area be flooded downstream in case the dam actually breaks.</div><div style="text-align: left;">But dam-break is not the only downstream risk a dam poses. Unfortunately, most detailed downstream studies are only prescribed as post-clearance studies as has been done in the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri project on the Subansiri river, the 1500 MW Tipaimukh Multipurpose project on the Barak river and the 1750 MW Demwe Lower project on the Lohit river as recently as February 2010.</div><div style="text-align: left;">This clearly indicates that the projects are being treated as a <em>fait accompli</em> and downstream studies and consultations as a mere formality. It is only recently that partial downstream impact assessment in Assam has been prescribed as pre-construction studies in a couple of projects in the lower reaches of rivers such as Dibang and Siang. But these ToRs are clearly inadequate and importantly conduct of public consultation in Assam is still not required for projects impacting the state. <br />
<br />
Downstream impact concerns relevant to the Northeast include:</div><ul><li>loss of fisheries; </li>
<li>changes in beel (wetland) ecology in the flood plains; </li>
<li>impacts on agriculture on the chapories (riverine islands and tracts); </li>
<li>impacts on various other livelihoods due to blockage of river by dam (e.g. driftwood collection, sand and gravel mining); </li>
<li>increased flood vulnerability due to massive boulder extraction from river beds for dam construction and sudden water releases from reservoirs in the monsoons; </li>
<li>dam safety and associated risks in this geologically fragile and seismically active region; </li>
<li>the ecological and social impacts of drastic flow variations on a daily basis since the projects are peaking hydropower projects (particularly in winter).</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">For example, the usual winter flow in the Subansiri river is approximately 400 – 500 cumecs (cubic meters per second), flowing uniformly through the day. After the commissioning of the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri project, flows in the Subansiri river in winter will fluctuate drastically on a daily basis from 6 cumecs for 20 hours (when water is being stored behind the dam) to 2500 cumecs for 4 hours when the power is generated at the time of peak power demand. Such fluctuations in the river flow in the major tributaries of the Brahmaputra are likely to seriously impact critical downstream areas such as the Daying Ering sanctuary, Dibru – Saikhowa National Park, Majuli Island and Kaziranga National Park. This will also destroy the livelihoods of people in the Brahmaputra floodplains who have adapted to the natural river flows, which are like the ‘heartbeat’ of the river. <br />
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<strong>Upstream: The myth of ‘benign’ projects </strong><br />
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While Pandit Nehru and the former adviser to NEFA, Verrier Elwin, argued for development interventions in the state needing to be sensitive to the local indigenous ethos of the state, the current Central and State government policies seem to contradict this philosophy. The current plans involving building of 135 dams to harness 57,000 MW of hydroelectricity, leaving no river or stream to flow free in the state.</div><div style="text-align: left;">In parts of the state, for example Dibang and Siang valleys, citizens (particularly youth) are opposing this juggernaut of large dams which threatens the very ecological and social fabric of their homelands. Opponents of dams in the Dibang and Siang basins certainly want development and economic activity, but that which is socially and ecologically appropriate. Not multiple large dams which will:</div><ul><li>submerge large tracts of forests and agricultural landscapes; </li>
<li>destroy the rivers including sacred and historical sites; </li>
<li>bring in massive socio-cultural and demographic changes due to influx of large labour populations in the state outnumbering the local populations; </li>
<li>give little opportunity of sustainable livelihoods for local populations; </li>
<li>cause major downstream impacts both within Arunachal Pradesh and neighbouring Assam.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Both the push by the Central Government to accelerate hydro-power development in the state and the hurried signing of MoUs with power companies by the State Government has only sown the seeds of conflict. The people of the Dibang Valley have opposed the holding of the public hearing for the 3000 MW Dibang Multipurpose project no less than ten times. With huge upfront premiums already paid by companies to the state government before public consultation and green clearances, citizens opposed to the Dibang dam believe that it is pointless having cosmetic public hearings. In the Siang Valley, villagers protesting the 2700 MW Lower Siang project near Pongging had to face violent action by the paramilitary forces in May 2010, injuring several people. This is the first such incident in the state and has set a dangerous precedent in the otherwise peaceful state. <br />
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The Expert Appraisal Committee on River Valley & Hydroelectric projects and the MoEF have granted environmental or pre-construction clearances to virtually all projects in the state, indicating a clear pro-project bias. These clearances have only further perpetuated several myths about the projects coming up in Arunachal Pradesh at the national level. One such myth is that ‘Social impacts of projects in Arunachal Pradesh is less as it is relatively thinly populated as compared to other parts of the country’. <br />
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The small displacement argument to sell dams in Arunachal is one of the most misleading arguments. Firstly project affected persons (PAPs) are being grossly underestimated as only people whose lands are being directly acquired are being treated as PAPs. Rights and resource use of local communities in a much larger landscape will be impacted. These include the following:</div><ul><li>submergence of jhum lands will shorten jhum cycles over a larger area; </li>
<li>land use restrictions over large tracts for Catchment Area Treatment and Compensatory A forestation (particularly in the context of FRA); </li>
<li>impacts on downstream livelihoods due to major fluctuations in flow regimes.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;">Arunachal is home to small populations of culturally sensitive indigenous communities. Therefore, direct and indirect displacement is high if looked at from the perspective of local population (as opposed to the population of the country). The land in the state has been customarily delineated between different communities and clans and there is no place to resettle people or provide alternative land. Morever, these large hydel projects being labour intensive and long-gestation projects will involve influx of large labour populations for long stretches of time. This will have serious socio-cultural and demographic consequences for this tribal state. <br />
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<strong>Environmental Risks </strong><br />
<br />
Being a geologically and seismologically sensitive region, comprehensive environmental risk assessment assumes great significance in the Northeast (both during construction and operation of project) to decide the viability or otherwise of mega dams in the region. Unfortunately, in the current environmental decision-making process, ‘dam-break analysis’ is the only risk assessment which is done.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Lower Subansiri Expert Committee report has thrown up many issues related to the paucity of understanding of earthquakes and their impacts in the region while planning and designing dams. Beyond the impact on the dam structure itself, there are other risks both during earthquakes, for example: heavy sedimentation impacting viability of dam and over-topping of dam due to heavy landslides in reservoir inducing floods downstream. These and other environmental risks need to be properly understood while evaluating the viability of dams in the Northeast. <br />
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<em><strong>Experience of existing small dams: flood, loss of agrarian land etc</strong></em><strong> </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Dam Induced Flash floods </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Whenever there is excessive rainfall in upstream areas of the dams, the large inflows cannot be stored in the reservoirs and flow is released by opening spillways f the dams. This causes flash flood havoc in downstream areas in the plains of Assam. Such events of dam-induced floods have been experienced several times in different part of Assam. In most cases release of additional flows in such circumstances is operated secretly by the dam operators to escape responsibility of downstream impacts. Lack of prior information and early warning systems increase flood damage and casualty.</div><div style="text-align: left;">For example, a landslide dam that formed in the Tsatichu River in 2004 breached on July 10 2004 resulting in a large flood wave flowing through the Kurichu River. The Kurichu Hydropower project released the excess water that flooded several rivers in Assam including the Hakua, the Beki and the Manas. Moreover, it was a period of heavy monsoon. As a result it created an unprecedented flood hazards in western Assam. Flash floods carrying trees and huge amounts of silt washed away parts of the Manas National Park killing a large number of wild animals. A large number of fiber glass and inflatable boats of the Forest Department in the park were also washed away leaving the staff stranded. The road from Barpeta to Kokrajhar was breached completely cutting off access to the park.</div><div style="text-align: left;">In the month of October in 2004 a similar incident took place in the Kopili River in southern Assam. The Kopili Hydro Electric Project of NEEPCO could not hold the large inflows created by heavy rainfall in the Umrangchu area. The water leased caused devastating flood in Nagaon and Morigaon districts of central Assam.</div><div style="text-align: left;">It has been established beyond doubt that the flash floods in the river Ranganadi on June 14, 2008 were triggered by unwarranted release of excess water from the river dam on Ranganadi that is a part of the Ranganadi Hydro Electric Project. More than 22 people including farmers working on their filed were killed by these floods. More than 50 villages were inundated leading to displacement of more than 10,000 people. This flash flood breached the National High Way-52 at Ganesh Uddyan in North Lakhimpur on 14th June and deluged a wide area. <br />
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<strong>Ecological degradation of downstream areas</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">One of the most serious impacts of the dams on rivers is the ecological degradation suffered by the river and the riparian land in downstream areas. Since in all operational dams norms of environmental flows are not maintained, the storage and release pattern is anomalous and erratic. In the existing dams the no assessment of environmental flows were made, that means there is no knowledge of how much flow in the river is to be ensured down the dam in different stretches of the river so that needs of environmental use (forest, wildlife) and human consumptions are adequately fulfilled.</div><div style="text-align: left;">As a result the rivers are dying a slow death being deprived of seasonal water content. Lack of sufficient flow results in changed pattern of siltation on river bed and river banks. This has intensified river bank erosion in some areas while other areas have become vastly silted. Gradual drying of the river The Ranganadi is a live example how a river become degrades and dies due to a dam. However, the same river suddenly is surged with excessive flood due to release f water from the dam and causes flooding.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Fragmentation of the flow regime has seriously affected the aquatic biodiversity and the ecosystems of riparian wetlands. The river dolphins once found in plenty in the Ranganadi is no longer seen there. The Satrajan beel (wetland) on the bank of the river Ranganadi used to be a safe haven of migratory birds and had rich stock of fish. However, due to lowered water level in the Ranganadi and deficiency of flow in the winter the feeder channels that link the main river to the wetland have dried up or become congested. Therefore, the Satrajan has also become dried, shrunk and degraded. It is no longer a suitable water body for birds and fishes.<br />
<br />
<strong>Siltation and land degradation</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">The rate soil erosion from the hills of NE India is naturally high because the hills are made of soft rocks and soil that gets weathered and eroded in a climate characterised with heavy seasonal rainfall. Construction of dams causes significant destablisation of hills at local scale aggravating soil erosion. Huge amounts of boulders have been extracted from foothill areas on many rivers of eastern Assam to fulfil construction needs of dams. Removal of boulders untraps silt and sand increasing their content t in the sediment load of the river.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Further, flash floods caused by dams also carry more debris and sediment than normal riverine floods. All these factors have led to increase in intensity and area of siltation on river banks of river having dams operational or under construction in upstream areas. Recently sand content in the sediment load has been found to be much higher than the fine silt causing widespread sand casting on fertile agricultural land. Farmers in thousands of numbers have lost livelihoods and become wage earners. Important examples are the riparian areas on the banks of the rivers Ranganadi, Subansiri, Kopilli, Beki and Manas.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Ignoring downstream - The EIA farce </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">Considering the unique features of the region and the scale of intervention planned, it is critical that the social and environmental impacts are carefully assessed before deciding whether these projects are truly feasible. Large hydroelectric projects need to pass through mandatory ‘environmental clearance’ procedures, administered by the Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF), to evaluate their viability on environmental and social grounds.</div><div style="text-align: left;">Based on their specific location they could also require other clearances such as ‘forest clearance’ from MoEF and approval from the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) where areas inside wildlife protected areas (PAs) are involved. A key feature of the environmental clearance process is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, which is a critical document aiding the decision-making. It is important to note that this is the only study under current clearance mechanisms which also has a mandatory component on social impact assessment. </div><div style="text-align: left;">How has the quality of these EIA reports been for dams in Northeast India? Let us for example look at certain biodiversity aspects of the EIA reports. Renowned naturalist from Northeast India, Dr. Anwaruddin Choudhury, has examined EIA reports of at least five large hydroelectric projects – Kameng, Lower Subansiri, Middle Siang, Tipaimukh and Dibang – and finds all poor on wildlife aspects. A common feature of his introductory comments on these reports has been: “contains innumerable (instances of) incorrect data, unverified and superfluous statements, and above all reveals the casual approach,” referring to the power companies and EIA consultants. Dr. Choudhury says: “It is shocking that mega hydel projects in the northeast are being granted clearances based on such reports. How can we decide the fate of some of the country’s most important wildlife habitats based on sub-standard impact assessment studies?”</div><div style="text-align: left;">Here are a few more samples from these EIAs: The Middle Siang EIA lists 5 bird species in an area which has over 300 and even in this short list has a bird which is non-existent on this earth; the Kameng EIA reclassifies carnivores such as the red panda, pangolins and porcupines as herbivores; the Lower Subansiri EIA lists 55 species of fish in a river which has at least 156 and reports an area called the ‘Arctic’ in the Eastern Himalayas. But these days’ citizens’ groups are cynical of sending in their comments on poor EIA reports to the government. Based on these comments, the reports are only sanitised and the projects often granted clearances without necessary additional detailed studies. <br />
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<strong>Assam-Arunachal Conflict</strong><br />
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Critics have pointed out that anti-mega dam propaganda will stop development activities in Arunachal: We are asking who/by whom/for whom development is carried forward. Some of the communities will have serious and non-reversible social impacts: for instance Iddu-Mishimi and Dibang valley projects. The ecological terrain of Assam and Arunachal bear similar profile. All environmental impacts in Arunachal will have severe and challenging impacts on Assam, particularly in the foot-hills of Arunachal. <br />
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<strong>Social and political movement against dams</strong><br />
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The region (particularly in downstream Assam) has seen a major grassroots social and political movement against the mega dams in the past few years. Very recently KMSS submitted a memorandum signed by 1,12,000 signatories to the Indian Prime Minister seeking his urgent intervention on dam issue. The Prime Minister hardly responded to this public appeal. <br />
<br />
<strong>Scientific Committee on Lower Subansiri HP: </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;">The scientific/technical recommendations of the Lower Subansiri expert committee clearly suggest the need for scrapping of mega dams in the Northeast, questioning the reports dished out by pro-large dam technocracies on earlier occasions. This committee has recommended that: “…The selected site for the mega dam of the present dimension was not appropriate in such a geologically and seismologically sensitive location…Therefore, it is recommended not to construct the mega dam in the present site…”.<br />
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This has further strengthened and reinforced the concerns of the people of the region who have been expressing concerns against the imminent dangers of mega dams. <br />
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The Expert Committee’s report has been categorically endorsed by the <strong>Assam Legislative Assembly’s House Committee in its report on dams submitted to the Assembly in July 2010</strong>. The House Committee’s report embodies a clear political mandate against mega-dams in the region. The House Committee was set up after a major debate in the Assam Legislative Assembly in July 2009. We would also like to draw your attention to the fact that this committee has undertaken widespread discussions with different stakeholders while working on the report. <br />
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<strong>Our Demands:</strong><br />
<br />
The KMSS has strongly objected to the manner in which democratic deliberations on mega dam question in NE India has been thwarted by the powerful pro-dam lobby in the last couple of days. It is to be mentioned here that following a massive public hearing in Guwahati on 10th September last, Jairam Ramesh, Union Minister of Environment and Forests sent a letter to the PMO on the issues of mega dams in NE India.</div><div style="text-align: left;">We welcomed this move and recognized as first step towards heightening the anti-dam movement in Assam. The letter from Jairam Ramesh accepted several facts like the concerns of downstream people and absence of environmental governance in granting permission to various projects.</div><div style="text-align: left;">However, the meeting could not take place due to strong pressure exerted by power companies and other lobbies and also lethargy shown by Assam Chief Minister. We demand that the meeting takes place on an urgent basis. We strongly challenge the wrong claims made by power lobbies against the interest of the people of Assam. The best example of such mis-campaign is that of the Arunachal Chief Minister who has written a childish letter in defence of mega dams. We have sent a strong rebuttal of his claims. The copy of this rebuttal is sent to the PM, Power Minister and Minister of Environment and Forests.</div><div style="text-align: left;">The role played by the Assam Chief Minister is almost dreadful. While the entire province is crying and up against the Mega dam, he is giving the people of Assam a lesson of technology. We urge him to solve all the problems caused by Ranganadi etc. before he talks of technology. We also demand that the PMO office gives an urgent attention to the issue and takes a pro-people decision on a priority basis. Our lives are more important than any other trivial issues.<strong> </strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>KMSS demands </strong></div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>A complete moratorium on all clearances (including pre-construction clearances) by the MoEF to large dams/hydropower projects in Northeast India</li>
<li>Immediate withdrawal of clearances granted to the 2000 MW Lower Subansiri project, 1750 MW Demwe Lower and 1500 MW Tipaimukh which were granted environmental clearance without downstream impact assessment and public consent</li>
<li>Commission of a special study group consisting of Independent Reviewers (including scientists, people’s representative) to study the environmental and social impact off all the existing dams in Assam</li>
<li>A complete review of pre-construction clearances granted to projects in the region</li>
<li>Future steps on hydropower projects and dams to be taken only after full, prior and informed consent of the people of the Brahmaputra & Barak river basins</li>
<li>The Brahmaputra River and its tributaries to be protected as a cultural and ecological endowment of the people of the region and the country as a whole. Development plans will need to respect the environmental and cultural sensitivity of the region.</li>
</ul><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Please find below related press releases, memorandums, letters that provide more details on this issue:</strong></div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong><br />
</strong></div><table class="sticky-header" style="left: 326px; position: fixed; top: 0px; visibility: hidden; width: 728px;"><thead>
<tr><th style="width: 656.35px;">Attachment</th><th style="width: 42.9833px;">Size</th> </tr>
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<tr><th>Attachment</th><th>Size</th> </tr>
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<tr class="odd"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Seeking%20a%20moratorium%20on%20clearances%20for%20large%20dams%20in%20Northeast%20India_Press%20release_KMSS_23%20Nov%202010.pdf">Seeking a moratorium on clearances for large dams in Northeast India - Press release - KMSS (23 Nov 2010)</a></td><td>129.13 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="even"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Seeking%20a%20moratorium%20on%20clearances%20for%20large%20dams%20in%20Northeast%20India_Letter%20to%20Ministry%20of%20Power_KMSS_24%20Nov%202010.pdf">Seeking a moratorium on clearances for large dams in Northeast India - Letter to Ministry of Power - KMSS (24 Nov 2010)</a></td><td>94.38 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="odd"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Mega%20dams%20in%20Northeast%20India_Memorandum%20to%20Ministry%20of%20Environment%20and%20Forests_KMSS_Nov%202010.pdf">Mega dams in Northeast India - Memorandum to Ministry of Environment and Forests - KMSS (Nov 2010)</a></td><td>52.19 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="even"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/2000%20MW%20Lower%20Subansiri%20requires%20fresh%20environmental%20clearance_Letter%20to%20Expert%20Committee%20on%20River%20Valley%20and%20Hydroelectric%20Projects_KMSS_28%20Oct%20%202010.pdf">2000 MW Lower Subansiri requires fresh environmental clearance - Letter to Expert Committee on River Valley and Hydroelectric Projects - KMSS (28 Oct 2010)</a></td><td>29.96 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="odd"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/CNN-IBN%20lecture%20by%20Akhil%20Gogoi%20about%20work%20of%20KMSS_New%20Delhi_25%20Oct%202010.pdf">CNN-IBN lecture by Akhil Gogoi about work of KMSS - New Delhi (25 Oct 2010)</a></td><td>98.39 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="even"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Assam%20CM%20misleading%20public%20on%20flood%20moderation%20by%20Lower%20Subansiri%20dam_Press%20release_KMSS_22%20Oct%202010.pdf">Assam CM misleading public on flood moderation by Lower Subansiri dam - Press release - KMSS (22 Oct 2010)</a></td><td>62.71 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="odd"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Mega%20dams%20in%20Northeast%20India_Response%20to%20Arunachal%20Pradesh%20CM_KMSS_20%20Oct%202010.pdf">Mega dams in Northeast India - Response to Arunachal Pradesh CM - KMSS (20 Oct 2010)</a></td><td>139.73 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="even"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Seeking%20a%20moratorium%20on%20clearances%20for%20large%20dams%20in%20Northeast%20India_Memorandum%20to%20PM_KMSS_13%20Oct%202010.pdf">Seeking a moratorium on clearances for large dams in Northeast India - Memorandum to PM - KMSS (13 Oct 2010)</a></td><td>138.54 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="odd"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Assamese%20concerns%20on%20downstream%20impacts%20of%20mega%20dams%20in%20the%20Brahmaputra%20river%20basin%20continue%20to%20be%20treated%20casually%20by%20New%20Delhi_Memorandum%20to%20PM_KMSS_25%20Feb%202010.pdf">Assamese concerns on downstream impacts of mega dams in the Brahmaputra river basin continue to be treated casually by New Delhi - Memorandum to PM - KMSS (25 Feb 2010)</a></td><td>57.79 KB</td> </tr>
<tr class="even"><td><a href="http://www.indiawaterportal.org/sites/indiawaterportal.org/files/Large%20dam%20juggernaut%20in%20Northeast%20India%20ignores%20downstream%20impacts%20on%20Assam_Memorandum%20from%20civil%20society%20groups%20in%20Assam%20to%20PM_07%20Sep%202009.pdf">Large dam juggernaut in Northeast India ignores downstream impacts on Assam - Memorandum to PM from civil society groups in Assam (07 Sep 2009)</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-36390004617106845522010-12-15T00:09:00.001-08:002010-12-15T00:09:06.271-08:00PRESS RELEASEState Institute of Rural Development,Mizoram, Kolasib buatsaihin vawiin 14.12.2010 atanga tan turin ni thum chhung awh tur Integrated Watershed Management Programme chungchang training, Agriculture Conference Hall, Aizawl-ah neih mek a ni.<br />
<br />
He training hi Pu V. Lalremthanga, Director, R.D Deptt. chuan a hawng a, Pu Khuangthansanga Pakhuangte, Course Director chuan hawnna inkhawm hi a kaihhruai. He training-ah hian Aizawl District chhung atanga mi thlan chhuah 34 an tel thei a, V.C, YMA, MHIP, Watershed Committee leh Watershed Development Team an tel a. Watershed Management Programme thar lo chhuak chungchang inzirtirna hi SIRD faculty te bakah Dr. Lalnilawma, Asst. Prof. MZU, Dr. Lalbiakmawia Ngente, Gen. Secretary, MPF, Vanramliana, Asst. Prof. PUC leh Pu Lalvensanga Pachuau, Exe. Officer, Godrej Agrovet. ten zirtirna an pe ang. <br />
<br />
2009 - 10 chhungin IWMP hnuaiah Project 16 awmin, Aizawl District chhungah project 6 a awm a, kum 7 bawr chhunga hman turin 17,265 ha. enkawlna atan Rs. 2589.75 lakhs. ruahman a ni. Aizawl District chhunga BDO zawng zawng chu Project Implementing Agency atan ruat vek an ni.<br />
<br />
Khuangthansanga Pakhuangte<br />
Asst. Director, SIRD, MizoramUnknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-9181899060118438582010-12-13T22:50:00.001-08:002010-12-13T22:50:14.822-08:00The North East India on the Road to PeaceAs the World is observing the 62nd International Human Rights Day on 10th December, 2010, for lasting peace and security based on Universal Declaration of Human Rights and UN Charters, the Zomi Human Rights Foundation (ZHRF) express its deep concerns over the deteriorating conditions of the indigenous tribal and their right, particularly in North Eastern region of India.<br />
<br />
There are more than 220 distinct indigenous peoples in the North-eastern region of India which is approximately 12% of the total population of India (Cencus-2001). During the colonial period, the British came to know/realize that they had dealt with the indigenous peoples in the north-east regions that differed markedly from those living in the plains and who were more strongly influenced by the main land Indian culture. They took up a policy of segregating the hill/tribal from the dominant plain peoples. Such protective regulations went far beyond merely putting the hill tracts of the region under different administrative system.<br />
<br />
However, in the post independence period, the north-eastern region, for the last five decades or so, has experienced political unrest, insurgency and ethnic clashes. This political unrest combines two distinct conflicts: ethnic clashes among the indigenous groups and political movements against the State. The demands of the militants range from basic socio-economic equality, competition for land, political rights and regional autonomy to outright independence. Thus, the ethnic clashes and political movements go hand in hand resulting in a complex ethno- political situation. Other aspects of the region’s ethnic politic are insurgent or armed movements.<br />
<br />
The present socio-political unrest is also an offshoot of unequal power relations among the ethnic groups. In other words, the social turmoil has more to do with ethnic aspirations and an afford to protect ethnic territories and resources than political independence. By and large “mainstream” population considers the Northeast a “land of Conflict,” but very few go beyond them to understand the situations that lead to social and political unrest. Changing land relations are crucial because they affect the cultural system especially community land/chieftainship and individual rights. Thus, the factors leading to ethnic conflicts are numerous but land and a resource is basic to all of them. Overtime land has become central to the conflicts.<br />
<br />
In the midst of such conflict situation, the human rights situation in the region has deteriorated since 1960s. Unlawful killings, recruitment of child soldiers, abductions, enforced disappearances and other human rights violations and war crime have increased. Civilians are being attacked by both sides as fighting escalates between States and Non State Actors of the region and among the ethnic based militants themselves. Hundreds of civilians have been killed and injured.<br />
<br />
<b>Recommendation:</b><br />
1. Protection of indigenous tribal rights since the rights to be human is imperative for development. Safeguarding and protecting such rights is the basic objectives of National and International Human Rights Laws.<br />
2. The North East India’s Indigenous Peoples deserve to get their Indigenous Peoples Rights (i.e., Self Determination in all sphere of life), through peaceful means.<br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Issued by:</i><br />
<i>Information and Publicity Department,</i><br />
<i>Zomi Human Rights Foundation,</i><br />
<i>General Headquarters</i>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-90476968017267712142010-12-13T21:54:00.001-08:002010-12-13T21:54:49.514-08:00Delhi Police Once Again Failed to Provide Night Patrolling in Unsafe Areas<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 24pt;">North East Support Centre & Helpline</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">(An Initiative of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_0" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">All India Christian Council</span> dealing the Issues of Gender/Racial-Based Violence) </span></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Palam Vihar, Sector 6, Dwarka <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_1">New Delhi</span>. Telefax 011-25084561 </span></div><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt;"> <div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">Email: <a href="http://us.mc1103.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info@helpline.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_2">info@helpline.net</span></span></a> <a href="http://www.nehelpline.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_3">www.nehelpline.net</span></span></a> </span></div></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">For Immediate Press Release</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">North East Support Centre & Helpline Condemns Mangolpuri Gangrape of a Young Girl</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_4" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Delhi Police</span> Once Again Failed to Provide Night Patrolling in Unsafe Areas</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">North East Support Centre & Helpline Appeals <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_5">Delhi Police</span> to Proactive and Deploy Night Patrolling in all Unsafe Areas</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></b></div><div align="right" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div align="right" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">For more detail contact</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Madhu Chandra – Spokes Person – <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_6">9716004939</span></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">New Delhi December 13, 2010</span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">North East Support Centre & Helpline condemns the gang rape of young girl by three men on Saturday late night at Mangolpuri <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_7" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Industrial area</span>, place where Gurgaon-based BPO employee was gangraped and abandoned on midnight of November 23, 2010. North East Support Centre & Helpline along with other NGOs have appealed Delhi police to deploy night patrolling at unsafe areas within <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_8" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Delhi</span> and they have failed to take the hints. </span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">According to sources reaching to North East Support Centre & Helpline, the incident happened when a 18-year-old girl, along with her 24-year-old neighbour, was on her way to pick up her mother, who works in a factory at Mangolpuri, around 10 p.m. when four persons, including a minor, in a black Hyundai Accent allegedly passed lewd comments at her. It led to a heated exchange between the girl and the men in the car and she hurled a bunch of keys at them damaging the window glass. The men then asked her to compensate for the damage. As the girl continued to protest, the men dragged her inside the car and drove away. The adductors took their turn to rape the girl and latter police arrested the accused from the spot.</span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Madhu Chandra – Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline said, “Delhi police has committed another lapse. They accepted to deploy night police patrolling in unsafe areas of Delhi. Mangolpuri is the area where two crimes already took place - including gangrape of Gurgaon-based BPO employee on November 23 midnight and another girl attacked by two men on motorbike next day. Enough indication was given to Delhi police and they failed to take hints from past recent incidents in the area.”</span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Safety for women in Delhi is grave concerned that government and law enforcing agencies must immediately take preventive and proactive measurements to ensure safety to women particularly at night. The offenders must be punished at most severe punishment as possible.</span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">A concern of safety for women was discussed with Delhi <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_9" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Chief Minister</span> Smt. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_10" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Sheila Dikshit</span> at meeting held with delegations from North East Support Centre & Helpline along with other NGOs on <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_11">December 4</span>, 2010 to take up with Resident Welfare Associations of housing societies in Delhi. </span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">In this regard North East Support Centre & Helpline has submitted a memorandum to P R. Sawhney, Mayor of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_12">Municipal Council</span> of Delhi to give directives to Resident Welfare Associations to allow BPO cab to enter gates to drop <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_13">working women</span> at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_14">night shift</span> at door steps of their homes, to make easy access to colonies and setup and maintain street lights. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_15">Memorandum</span> to MCD Mayor is enclosed below.</span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">North East Support Centre & Helpline</span></b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"> (</span><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;"><a href="http://www.nehelpline.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.nehelpline.net</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">) is a joint initiative of various <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1292306052_16">human rights activists</span>, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.</span></span><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div><div class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Released by</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><div align="right" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Angam Haokip</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">Media In-charge</span></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;">MEMORANDUM TO MAYOR, MCD, DELHI</span></div><div align="center" class="yiv184400067MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif'; font-size: 12pt;">December 13, 2010 </span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-29583260451026613212010-12-01T02:11:00.000-08:002010-12-01T02:11:03.574-08:00Report Card for Home Ministry for November, 2010 PresentedThe Union Home Minister, Shri P. Chidambaram presented the Report Card of the Ministry of Home Affairs for November, 2010 here today. Following is the text of his statement:<br />
<br />
“I present before you the report of the Ministry of Home Affairs for the month of November, 2010.<br />
<br />
This report has an extra significance. It marks the completion of two years since I took over as Home Minister. On the second anniversary of the Mumbai terror attack, I found that there was a spate of news stories doubting the changes that have been brought about in the last two years. I therefore propose to deal at some length with one part of the work done in the last two years, and that is ‘capacity addition’.<br />
<br />
President Obama visited India from November 6 to November 9, 2010. The joint statement issued at the end of the visit noted that the two leaders “announced a new Homeland Security Dialogue between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Department of Homeland Security and agreed to further deepen operational cooperation, counter-terrorism technology transfers and capacity building.”<br />
<br />
Meetings of Joint Working Group on Counter Terrorism were held with Mauritius on November 4, 2010 and with Russia on November 23, 2010.<br />
<br />
Visit to States<br />
<br />
On November 3, 2010, I visited Kochi, Kerala and inaugurated the International Community Policing Conference. I visited Lakshadweep on November 3 – 4, 2010 and participated in a number of official engagements including flagging off M.V. Lakshadweep Sea and an Interceptor Boat.<br />
<br />
I visited Guwahati, Assam on November 12, 2010 and reviewed the security situation with the Chief Minister, Assam and senior officers of the Assam Police, Army and CPMFs.<br />
<br />
On November 20, 2010, I visited Karaikkal, Puducherry and reviewed the progress on several matters concerning the administration of the Union Territory.<br />
<br />
On November 26, 2010, I visited Mumbai and participated in a number of events to mark the second anniversary of the 26/11 attack on Mumbai. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Internal Security<br />
<br />
Twenty two innocent civilians were killed in different places in Assam on November 8 – 10, 2010. The NDFB (Anti-Talks) faction claimed responsibility for the killings. The Central Government condemned the atrocities committed by the NDFB (Anti-Talks) faction. Some arrests have been made. The security forces have been directed to take stern action in accordance with law, apprehend the leaders of the faction and the perpetrators of the crimes, and bring them to justice. They deserve – and will be given – exemplary punishment for their crimes.<br />
<br />
On the LWE front, the CPI (Maoist) continued its armed aggression against the State and innocent people. In the month of November alone, the CPI (Maoist) has been responsible for 135 incidents in which 62 civilians and 11 members of the security forces were killed. Of the civilians killed, 18 were branded as ‘police informers’. Apart from targeting so-called ‘police informers’, the naxalites have now started attacking the families of policemen and SPOs with the object of discouraging any one from providing assistance to or joining the police force. In Chhattisgarh, in the past 6 months, seven family members of police constables or SPOs have been killed and in two instances fathers of 2 SPOs were abducted and released with the warning to ask their sons to resign from the police force. The naxalites continued to target infrastructure: In November, they attacked 31 properties such as Panchayat Bhawans, school buildings, roads and police stations.<br />
<br />
The Government’s response to the challenge of Left Wing Extremism remains a two-pronged approach. In November, 2010, security forces arrested 170 naxalites and neutralized 24 naxalites in encounters with the extremists. Besides, 31 naxalites including some important cadres surrendered to the security forces. On the development side, Government approved an ambitious integrated action plan for sixty districts affected by Left Wing Extremism. I have already shared with the media the details of the plan. We propose to make a block grant of ` 25 crore to each district for the remaining four months of 2010-11 and ` 30 crore to each district for 2011-12. A meeting of the Development Commissioners of the nine States has been convened on December 3, 2010. It is our intention to fast-track the implementation of the plan and it is our hope that the District Administration in each of the districts would be able to deliver concrete and visible results before March 31, 2011.<br />
<br />
The notification declaring the LTTE as an ‘unlawful association’ under UA(P)A, 1967 for a further period of 2 years was upheld by the Tribunal vide its judgment dated November 12, 2010.<br />
<br />
FIR No.92/2010 dated February 26, 2010 of Bhawanipore Police Station, Kolkata was assigned to the National Investigation Agency for investigation on November 18, 2010.<br />
<br />
A sum of ` 24 lakh was sanctioned as assistance to 8 beneficiaries at the rate of ` 3 lakh each under the Central scheme of assistance to the victims of terrorist/communal/naxal violence.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
North East<br />
<br />
The entire State of Assam and a 20 kilometre-wide belt in the State of Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya bordering Assam were declared ‘Disturbed Areas’ for a further period of one year with effect from November 3, 2010 under section 3 of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.<br />
<br />
After overcoming many difficulties, the repatriation of Bru migrants from Tripura to Mizoram resumed on November 3, 2010. 101 families of Bru migrants have been repatriated in November 2010, taking the total number to 1,132 families who have returned to Mizoram.<br />
<br />
CPOs/CPMFs<br />
<br />
724.04 crore (57.2% of budget provision) has been released to the States under the MPF Scheme for State police forces in FY 2010-11. This includes ` 138.03 crore released to 20 States in November, 2010:<br />
<br />
Sanctions amounting to ` 23.97 crore were issued under the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS) to the following States:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Orissa : ` 9.59 crore<br />
<br />
Chhattisgarh : ` 9.59 crore<br />
<br />
West Bengal : ` 4.79 crore<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Total : ` 23.97 crore<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Sanctions amounting to ` 107.19 crore were issued for acquisition of land for the following CPMFs:<br />
<br />
SSB : ` 93.46 crore<br />
<br />
ITBP : ` 7.04 crore<br />
<br />
BSF : ` 6.69 crore<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Total : ` 107.19 crore<br />
<br />
Sanctions amounting to ` 43.23 crore were issued for the construction of residential accommodation for the following CPMFs:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Assam Rifles : ` 28.84 crore<br />
<br />
CRPF (CoBRA) : ` 14.39 crore<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Total : ` 43.23 crore<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Lump sum ex-gratia compensation amounting to ` 3.23 crore was sanctioned to the next of kin of 29 deceased CPMF personnel.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
An amount of ` 116.80 crore was released to the LWE affected States under the SRE scheme as reimbursement of the expenditure incurred by the States during 2009-2010.<br />
<br />
On November 23, 2010, ` 52 Lakhs was released for purchase of Driving Simulator for North Eastern Police Academy (NEPA).<br />
<br />
Sanction was issued for the creation of 370 posts in the CISF for induction at the following installations/establishments:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Diu Airport <br />
<br />
<br />
:<br />
<br />
<br />
69 posts<br />
<br />
Calicut Airport <br />
<br />
<br />
:<br />
<br />
<br />
148 posts<br />
<br />
Omkareshwar Hydro Electric<br />
<br />
Project, Khandwa, M.P.<br />
<br />
<br />
:<br />
<br />
<br />
76 posts<br />
<br />
SEWA Hydro Electric Project, J&K <br />
<br />
<br />
:<br />
<br />
<br />
71 posts<br />
<br />
Nuclear Fuel Complex, Pazhakayal,<br />
<br />
Kerala<br />
<br />
<br />
:<br />
<br />
<br />
3 posts<br />
<br />
Rare Material Project, Mysore,<br />
<br />
Karnataka<br />
<br />
<br />
:<br />
<br />
<br />
3 posts<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Total<br />
<br />
<br />
:<br />
<br />
<br />
370 posts<br />
<br />
Sanction was issued for 19 posts for the Judge Attorney General Branch of SSB. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The six-phase elections in Bihar passed off peacefully. Thanks to the deployment of Central Para Military Forces in aid of the State Police, not a single voter or a single polling officer was harmed during the long period of elections.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
14 Coys of CPMFs (10 CRPF and 04 BSF) were deployed in Uttar Pradesh for election duties during the bye-elections in the State. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
175 Coys of CPMFs (BSF 50, CRPF 50, CISF 45, ITBP 20 & SSB 10) have been deployed for the Panchayat Elections in Jharkhand that commenced with voting in the first phase on November 27, 2010 and will continue until December 24, 2010.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
An amount of ` 29.63 crore under SRE (P) and an amount of ` 11.51 crore under SRE (R&R) were reimbursed to the Government of J&K.<br />
<br />
Border Management<br />
<br />
India-Bangladesh Border: 17 kms of fencing and 20 kms of road works were completed in November, 2010 under phase II of the project. 25 kms of fencing were replaced in November, 2010 under phase III of the project. Poles for floodlighting were erected on a length of 60 kms and cables were laid on 15 kms stretch in November, 2010.<br />
<br />
India-China Border: Construction of 21 roads totaling 653.40 kms. is in progress. 19.43 kms of formation works and 0.70 kms of surfacing works were completed in November, 2010. Working season has nearly ended due to snowfall.<br />
<br />
Coastal Security: 10 boats were delivered in November, 2010. Thus, 169 boats have been delivered up to November 2010 against a delivery target of 192 boats. Eight boats are ready for delivery including 3 boats for Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Delivery of 204 boats, approved under the scheme, is likely to be completed by January, 2011, one month beyond the original target date of December, 2010. Ministry of Home Affairs will continue to pressure the two ship yards to deliver the remaining boats by January, 2011.<br />
<br />
Border Area Development Programme (BADP): The total amount released to 17 States under BADP in the current financial year till the end of November, 2010 stands at ` 514.66 crore (81.04% of the total allocation of ` 635 crore).<br />
<br />
Immigration<br />
<br />
At the end of November 2010, all 77 ICPs were computerized. The Muhurighat (Tripura) and Lalgolaghat (West Bengal) ICPs were networked with Central Foreigners’ Bureau (CFB), taking the total of CFB-networked ICPs to 70 out of a total of 77.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
A new service ‘Online Indian Citizenship’ was introduced to enable persons to file applications online for grant of Indian citizenship. This new service will ensure:<br />
<br />
i. Faster and uniform processing of applications for grant of Indian Citizenship.<br />
<br />
ii. Easy monitoring and tracking of cases.<br />
<br />
iii. Generation of accurate MIS reports.<br />
<br />
iv. Creation and maintenance of centralized database of citizenship granted to the foreigners.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Online Visa Application System with appointment scheduling (under the Mission Mode Project on IVFRT) has been operationalized since November 23, 2010 in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh under the High Commission of India, London.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On November 9, 2010, Government of India released and repatriated 54 Pakistani fishermen and 10 Pakistani prisoners to Pakistan through Attari border after completion of their sentences. So far, in 2010, Government has released and repatriated 111 Pakistani fishermen and 106 Pakistani prisoners to Pakistan.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
IPS Cadre<br />
<br />
The following appointments were made:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Shri Nehchal Sandhu, IPS (BH:73) as DIB w.e.f. 1.1.2011<br />
<br />
Shri Prakash Mishra, IPS (OR:77) as Addl. DG, NIA<br />
<br />
Shri Kashmir Singh, IPS (UP:78) as Addl. DG, CISF<br />
<br />
Shri Dilip Trivedi, IPS (UP:78) as Addl. DG, ITBP<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Union Territories<br />
<br />
On November 18, 2010, Cabinet approved the proposal for promulgation of ‘The Bombay Motor Vehicles Tax (Amendment) Regulation, 2010’ for amending the Bombay Motor Vehicles Tax Act, 1958 as extended to the Union Territory of Dadra & Nagar Haveli.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Disaster Relief<br />
<br />
On November 12, 2010, Government of India released ` 368.01 crore from National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF) to the Government of Bihar for drought and for cyclonic storm.<br />
<br />
In the month of November 2010, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams comprising 612 personnel and 71 boats were deployed for emergency response and rescue in the flood-affected States of Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Delhi, Kerala and West Bengal.<br />
<br />
On November 12-13, 2010, the Third Trilateral Meeting of Experts of India, Russia and China (IRC) was hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs at New Delhi. A total of 30 experts from the three countries participated in the meeting.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Census 2011 and National Population Register (NPR)<br />
<br />
Data collection for House listing & Housing Census and for the National Population Register (NPR) was completed in all States/UTs except in a few villages of Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.<br />
<br />
Counting machines and scanners have been installed, tested and made operational in all storage-cum-scanning centres. Counting of NPR Schedules is over in all the States except in West Bengal, Bihar and Tamil Nadu.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Scanning of NPR has been completed in the States of Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Tripura, Delhi, Uttrakhand, Goa and Kerala and 35% of the scanning work has been completed in the remaining States.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Data collection and printing of Local Register of Usual Residents (LRUR) for creation of NPR in the coastal villages has been completed in all project States/UTs, namely, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, Goa, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, West Bengal and Maharashtra. For production and personalization of identity (smart) cards in the coastal NPR, work orders for procurement of personalization machines and for pre-printing of cards have been issued.<br />
<br />
47. The field survey for the Annual Health Survey is in progress in<br />
272 districts in nine States. <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Judicial<br />
<br />
The Notification bringing into force the provisions of Sections 5, 6 and 21(b) of the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2008 was published on October 30, 2010.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Notification bringing into force the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2010 was published on November 01, 2010.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Other issues<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
13,000 pension records of freedom fighters were computerized in November, 2010. The database now has 262,000 records. The drive to implement the judgments of Courts continued. 20 judgments were implemented in November 2010; 87 judgments are pending for implementation.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
55, 918 records of claims and compensation paid to displaced persons were computerized in November, 2010. The database now has 253,844 records.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
On November 15, 2010, The Enemy Property (Amendment and Validation) Second Bill, 2010 to amend The Enemy Property Act, 1968, was introduced in the Lok Sabha.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The Orissa (Alteration of Name) Bill, 2010 and The Constitution (One Hundred Thirteenth Amendment) Bill, 2010 were passed in Lok Sabha on November 9, 2010.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
CAPACITY ADDITION DURING 1.12.2008 TO 30.11.2010<br />
<br />
I have learnt that capacity addition requires patience, perseverance and persistence. There is no magic wand and capacity cannot be added instantly. Hence, after I took over, we identified the critical gaps in capacity both at the Central level and at the States’ level. Policing begins with the number of pairs of feet on the streets. There were 530,580 vacancies in the State police forces as on 1.1.2009. Since that date, States have added 116,903 personnel to their forces. This is a remarkable achievement, but it also highlights the distance that remains to be covered.<br />
<br />
At the Central level, 31,584 vacancies were filled in 2009-10 and 14,506 vacancies have been filled so far in 2010-11. Recruitment is in progress in six CPMFs, namely CRPF, BSF, CISF, ITBP, SSB and Assam Rifles. 11,985 posts have been sanctioned to the NSG for the four regional hubs, the two regional centres and the operational force at Manesar.<br />
<br />
Huge amounts have been provided for procurement by the CPMFs. The equipment that has been or is being procured include assault rifles, carbines and pistols; BP jackets; mine protected or bullet proof vehicles and armoured troop carriers; motorcycles, rescue boats and attack craft; grenade launchers; night vision equipment etc.<br />
<br />
Funds have been released to the States under Modernisation of Police Force Scheme, Security Related Expenditure and Special Infrastructure Scheme. <br />
<br />
Border fencing, roads and flood-lighting works on the borders are in progress. More BOPs are being constructed on the India-Bangladesh and India-Pakistan borders. A comprehensive project for construction of border roads along the India-Nepal border, India-Bhutan border and India-Pakistan border at an estimated cost of ` 5,662 crore has been approved and the work will commence on April 1, 2011.<br />
<br />
The Coastal Security Scheme phase I will come to an end on March 31, 2011. Coastal Security Scheme phase II, at an estimated cost of Rs.1,580 crore, has been approved and it includes setting up of more police stations, acquiring boats, vehicles and other equipment, and constructing jetties.<br />
<br />
All Forensic Science Laboratories are being upgraded and strengthened. The department has been renamed as the Department of Forensic Science Services and its mandate expanded.<br />
<br />
The authorized strength of the IPS has been increased from 3,889 (as on 1.1.2009) to 4,013 (as on 1.1.2010). The number of officers in position has gone up from 3,322 to 3,383 during that period. The annual intake into the IPS was enhanced to 150 beginning 2009. Mandatory mid-career training programmes have been introduced at three levels for every IPS officer. <br />
<br />
The infrastructure at the National Police Academy is being strengthened. The syllabus has been substantially revised; new courses have been introduced; new subjects are being taught; new attachments have been prescribed with emphasis on field craft; and a separate paper on internal security has been included in the curriculum.<br />
<br />
Training capacity is being expanded significantly. IB is setting up 4 more Regional Training Centres. Every CPMF is augmenting training capacity. 20 CIAT Schools have been sanctioned in nine States.<br />
<br />
I have given you only a summary of important measures that have been initiated in the last two years. Despite the usual administrative bottlenecks, implementation has gathered pace and is being closely monitored. I review the Action Plan of each division every quarter. I do not say that every thing is satisfactory, but I can say with confidence that we have set for ourselves ambitious goals and we are geared to achieve those goals. Let me conclude by saying that India’s capacity to deal with challenges to its security is better today than it was two years ago, it will be better next year than it is today, and it will be even better two years hence. That, in my view, is the only measure of progress and achievement.”Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6566944661225626110.post-26317789956758934002010-11-26T20:52:00.001-08:002010-11-27T20:43:25.297-08:00Delhi Police Failed to Nap Gang Rape Culprits But Promised to Protect North Easterners<div align="center"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 24pt;">North East Support Centre & Helpline</span></b></span></div><div align="center" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Palam Vihar, Sector 6, Dwarka <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_0">New Delhi</span>. Telefax 011-25084561 </div><div style="border-color: -moz-use-text-color -moz-use-text-color windowtext; border-style: none none solid; border-width: medium medium 1pt;"><div align="center" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="border: medium none; text-align: center;">Email: <a href="http://us.mc1103.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=info@helpline.net" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;" title="mailto:info@helpline.net
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_1">info@helpline.net</span></span></a> <a href="http://www.nehelpline.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;" title="http://www.nehelpline.net
CTRL + Click to follow link"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_2">www.nehelpline.net</span></span></a> </div></div><div align="center" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">For Immediate Press Release</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_3" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Delhi Police</span> Failed to Nap Gang Rape Culprits But Promised to Protect North Easterners</span></b></div><div align="center" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">List of Demands Submitted to Delhi Police, Chief Minister, Women Commission and Minority Commission</span></b><span style="font-size: 10pt;"></span></div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"></div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">For more detail contact</div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">Madhu Chandra – Spokes Person – <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_4">9716004939</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif';">New Delhi November 26, 2010</span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif';">A delegation from North East Support Centre & Helpline met <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_5">Delhi Police</span> and submitted list of demands to ensure safety for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_6">working women</span> in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_7">Delhi</span> particularly for the vulnerable people from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_8">North East India</span> living in Delhi and NCR. In spite of the fact that pressure mounted, Delhi police failed to nap the gang rapists of 30 years old Mizo girl at midnight on November 23, 2010 in moving vehicle at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_9" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">South Delhi</span>. Panic continues to spread among the people from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_10">North East India</span>.</span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif';">The delegation includes Dr. John Dayal – Member of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_11">National Integration Council</span>, Madhu Chandra – Spokesperson, Rev. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_12">Ambika</span> Hongsha – Secretary and Dr. Alana Golmei – Member of North East Support Centre & Helpline. Delegation had long hour of discussion with joint Commissioner Police of Delhi, Southern Range Mr. Amulya Patnaik at his office this morning. North East Support Centre & Helpline demanded Delhi police to book BPO Call Centre for failing to follow the safety guidelines for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_13">working women</span> in night shift and the culprits should be book under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Prevention of Atrocities Act 1995.</span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif';">North East Support Centre & Helpline has offered Mr. Amulya Patnaik to extend helping hand to work together in ensuring safety for women in general and particularly for <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_14">North East India communities</span> living in Delhi and NCR.</span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'serif';">Memorandums were also submitted to <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_15">Chief Minister</span> Smt. <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_16">Sheila Dikshit</span>, Girja Vyas – Chairperson of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_17" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">National Commission for Women</span> and Dr. H T Sangliana – Deputy Chairman of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_18">National Commission for Minorities</span>. Text of memorandum is attached below.</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif';">Released by</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif';"> </span></div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif';">Angam Haokip</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif';">Media In-charge</span></div><div align="right" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'serif';"> </span></div><div align="center" class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Memorandum</span></b></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">November 26, 2010</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We are writing to you with deep distress about the plight of tribal women, especially those from the North Eastern States who are living and working in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_19">National Capital Region</span> and Delhi. Thousands of educated girls from Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_20" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Nagaland</span>, Assam and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_21">Arunachal Pradesh</span> who had come to work in Call Centers and IT sectors in these cities are facing racial discrimination and sexual assault. They live in small groups, and are often alone, which becomes a soft target for harassment in their residence and workplace. The North East Support Centre & Helpline was founded in New Delhi four years ago by concerned groups to assist such girls who are in distress and in danger of physical and psychological harm.</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We seek your urgent attention on the recent shocking incident of a Gurgaon based BPO employee Ms. P. C. Hmingchhuang 30 years old from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_22" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Mizoram</span> state. She was kidnapped and gang raped in a moving vehicle at Motibagh ring road on midnight of November 23, 2010. The incident has shocked the nation and panic has spread among working women, particularly young girls from North East India who used to return back home late night from work. This is not the first incident nor will be last when such incidents are continuously ignored and left without proper investigation.</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Considering this recent incident and same incident happened in the same locality in 2005, and the unprecedented racial/gender-based violence meted to the people of <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_23">North East India</span> living in Delhi, North East Support Centre & Helpline sees the need that serious and concrete steps should be taken up by the law enforcing agencies. Therefore, North East Support Centre & Helpline demands the following from your good office:</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">1.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">Special Helpline for North East communities should be set up immediately, headed by not lower than a range of Deputy Commissioner Police, preferably from <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_24">North East region</span>.</span></span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">2.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">There should be special Night Police Patrolling in all the prone areas of racial/sexual-based violence. The areas identified by North East Support Centre & Helpline are Murnika, Mahipalpur, Nanakpura, Motibagh, Mohamadpur, Khanpur, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_25">Sarojini Nagar</span>, New Friends colony, Defense Colony in <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_26">South Delhi</span>, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_27" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">North Delhi</span> Campus, Nehru Vihar, Gandhi Vihar in North Delhi and Sikhanderpur in Gurgaon. Setting up of special night police patrolling in these areas will not only prevent racial/gender-based violence face by people from North East India, but will also ensure safety to all the working women who are returning late at night from workplace.</span></span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">3.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">CCTV cameras must be installed in the above mentioned prone areas to nab the culprits. </span></span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">4.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">A white paper on actions taken by Delhi police on crimes committed against people from North East India in Delhi and NCR which were registered in various police stations should be produced.</span></span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">5.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">The BPO Company at <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_28" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Gurgaon</span> where Ms P. C. Hmingchhuang was working must be booked for failing to provide safety measurement to night working woman.</span></span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">6.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">Hostel for North East working women in Delhi and NCR</span></span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph"><br />
</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span lang="EN-US">7.<span style="font: 7pt 'Times New Roman';"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US">A Girl belonging to a tribal community of Mizoram and therefore, the culprits should be booked under suitable sections of IPC and SC/ST Atrocity Prevention Act 1995.</span></span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoListParagraph"><br />
</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="color: #333333;">North East Support Centre & Helpline</span></b><span style="color: #333333;"> (</span><a href="http://www.nehelpline.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">www.nehelpline.net</span></a><span style="color: #333333;">) is a joint initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.</span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;">Sincerely,</span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></div><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="yiv75905413MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 640px;"><tbody>
<tr> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none rgb(240, 240, 240);" valign="top" width="332"><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Dr John Dayal </div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Member National Integration Council, </div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1290833520_29">Government of India</span></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Founding Patron – NE Helpline</div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none rgb(240, 240, 240);" valign="top" width="308"><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Madhu Chandra</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Spokes Person – NE Helpline</div></td></tr>
<tr> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none rgb(240, 240, 240);" valign="top" width="332"><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Rev. Ambika Hongsha</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Secretary – NE Helpline</div></td> <td style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none rgb(240, 240, 240);" valign="top" width="308"><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Dr. Alana Golmei</div><div class="yiv75905413MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Founding Member – NE Helpine</div></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com