Open letter to Google

An Open Letter to Google

After having waited for more than three years for Google to update the Google Earth and Google Map satellite imageries for my State of Manipur (lying between N 25.749403° E 93.000779° and N 23.841493° E 94.750390°), I am writing an Open Letter to Google to request that the Satellite Imageries for Manipur be updated. Google Earth and Google Map imageries are the only GIS tools freely and openly available and accessible to the public, students and enthusiast of Manipur. While the major towns and heavily populated areas have been available for years (for which we are very grateful to Google) the rest of Manipur especially the hilly and moutainous areas have not yet been covered in detail.

My Open Letters have been prompted by a visit to a village called "Yang Khullen" ('Yang' means Roof or backbone and 'Khullen' means 'Old Village' in our language) in the mountainous area of Manipur. I have enclosed a few photographs I have taken of the village. The Photographs speaks for themselves. And another village is "Willong".

So, it is my sincere request that the imageries in Google Earth and Google Maps be updated. And it is my fondest hope that my request will be fulfilled before our Meitei (Native of Manipur) New Year which fall on 13th April every year.

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Bid to end insurgency in Manipur

The controversial Director General of Manipur Police, Y. Joykumar has claimed that the insurgent groups of Manipur are "devoid of ideology". He claimed that the UG groups have diverted from their true revolutionart ideology and have turned to extortion of money from the public and government. He made the statements in a meeting with the National media persons today in his office.

The DGP's statements are in line with the Government's policy to isolate the UG groups from the general populace's support. His statements has huge implications. The statements made by the DGP implies that the revolutionary groups of Manipur has no more cause other than extorting money from the public for their own monetary gains. This statement is true for many underground armed organisations in the state.

The people of Manipur has lose faith in some of these UG groups especially those factionalised and actively engaging in extortion from the public. On the other hand the people have also lose faith in the role of the Manipur Police and the Government Armed Forces as a protector of law and order.

The situation in this state has reached that state where the common people is fed up of both side of the warring party. If only it is possible, the people wishes both the warring groups to take their fight somewhere else and leave them alone.

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Victim’s family overjoyed by NHRC verdict

Following the recent directive of the National Human Right Commission (NHRC) to the Manipur government to pay monetary relief to the kin of late RK. Sanajaoba, who was killed in a "fake encounter" in broad day light on October 20, 2004, at Waheng Leikai, family members of the deceased expressed their happiness at the verdict of the NHRC and Asian Centre for Human Rights (ACHR) for its initiative in establishing the innocence of the deceased.




In a press meet today at the Manipur Press Club, mediapersons were briefed by the family members of the deceased and Y. Kapur, human right activist.




RK. Subharani, the victims' wife, expressed her contentment over the initiative taken by the NHRC and ACHR for bringing out the fact and further expressed her appreciation adding the compensation however will not be able to fill the gap left by her husband - the vacuum left by the violent and unnatural departure of a father and husband.




According to RK. Sorojini, the victims' mother, although her son was proven innocent by the NHRC, she would not be satisfied until all culprits involved in the incident are given befitting punishment as per law and appealed to the general public to extend cooperation in bringing justice.




The victim is survived by three children and a wife.




Y. Kapur revealed that the deputy registrar law of the NHRC, Sunil Arora, in a written statement, has on January 28, 2010, directed the Manipur chief secretary to pay Rs 5 lakhs as compensation within five weeks to next to kin of RK Sanajaoba and also asked for submitting necessary reports for the same within six weeks.




Y. Kapur further said that it was very unfortunate that the security forces from time to time has been violating Human Rights by manipulating the case to justify their misdeed and the same manipulation was also done in the case of Sanajaoba as the police in their charge sheet mentioned that he was shot for trying to snatched weapons from the police.




Further, the human rights activist asserted that people of Manipur are easily duped by security forces or by government due to the lack of awareness on Human Rights Education amongst the people and such manipulation can only be avoided if the concerned education departments emparted Human Right education in every institutions both in the schools or colleges.




Kapur also informed that a writ petition with regards to Sanajoaba's death with case number 506/06 has been filed at the Gauhati High court, Imphal bench, which is still pending and expressed hope that he expecting a positive development with the move of the NHRC.

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Prabhakara's parting shot

by Iboyaima Laithangbam




So M.S. Prabhakara, has eventually left the North Eastern region for good. It must have been an excruciatingly painful moment for him who had spent over 42 years of his life in the region. It was on the day of his departure from Guwahati that I read his article in The Hindu which was published three days earlier. My attention had been drawn to this article by a general discussion in a stag party. I made a point to skim read the article. I did not think it proper to read a friend's write up with mistrust, suspicion and with the objective of finding loopholes and infractions.




From the general discussion and my cursory reading of the article two points struck me. What is more I had a single line discussion on it with Prabhakara himself while his taxi had revved up engine for dropping him at the airport. His article gave me the impression that the merger of Manipur to the independent India on October 15, 1949 was preceded by the presence of the political agents, etc in Manipur and it means, so I had gathered, Manipur was not a an independent kingdom in the real sense of the term. On this issue Prabhakara said that people in Manipur are saying it. I am sure he must have interacted with persons who want that Manipur had been a part of India from the very beginning. It does not come as a complete surprise to me since many psuedo scholars maintain that the Manipuris are Aryans simply because Arjuna had married Chittangrada said to be a princess of Manipur. Nothing is known about her or some others with Sanskritised names. There is well founded contention that these men and women were invented by those persons who want to convert the Manipuris to Aryans. Manipur of those days was in Orissa and our kingdom was known as Manipur only after the advent of Vaishnavism in the 18th century. Secondly, how come we became Aryans simply because Arjuna, for argument's sake let us concede it, had married a girl supposed to be princess of Manipur. They were not Adam and Eve. If a Sikh marries a Manipuri girl now will all of us become Sikhs ? Because at the time of Arjuna's supposed marriage Manipur had a well established society. The persons already there could not have been their descedents.




After the 1891 conquest Manipur was brought under the British rule. The presence of a political agent whose nature of works is somewhat akin to the present day ambassador could not mean that Manipur was under the British rule. It is hazardous to take points in some books as gospel truths. One students' organisation had banned a text book as it said that Arjuna had come to Manipur and that we are Aryans. Another person had written a book which has a chaper on the merger ceremony at Shillong. An official who was personally present in the ceremony had in his book pointed out some discrepancies in the dramatis personae of the ceremony. In one article I had suggested to the person to make corrigendum since it concerns history and our posterity. Rather unfortunately the person has refused to do so. In other words the posterity will be confused since there are two different accounts of the merger ceremony.


If the October 15, 1949 merger agreement was not necessary in the real sense of the term a pertinent question may be asked as to whether the independent India would have undergone the rigmarole and drudgery of preparing the merger agreement, keep the Manipur's titular king under house arrest at Shillong for armstwisting him to sign on the dotted lines ? Besides he was merely a titular head who could do nothing without the approval of the elected body. Anti-merger persons say that as the merger was never discussed or approved by the elected body the document signed by the titular head is null and void and as such the merger is untenable.




If we accept the oversimplifcation of the rather complex legal and constitutional dimesions of the merger issue, by inference, we are telling the extremists that their armed movement for independence has no basis. But the fact is that Manipur's armed movement of different genre. The extremist leaders say that they are not demanding ceding of Manipur from India but merely restoration of independence which was wrested. Whatever may have been the relations of Manipur with the British Indian government before India's independence it should not be forgotten that the Britishers had restored independence to all princely states before their departure.




Prabhakara's parting shot might have opened the pandora's box. I hope he regularly surfs the website of the IFP.

-This article is courtesy of the Imphal Free Press.

PULF suspect gunned down, two earlier slain UGs identified

One suspected cadre of the underground PULF was gunned down by troops of the 28 Assam Rifles at Kiyamgei Muslim Takok Palli under Irilbung police station this evening around 8.15 pm during an encounter. One AK-56-Rifles loaded with one magazine and nine live rounds and some incriminating documents of the outfit were recovered from the possession of the deceased.

According to an official release, the incident occurred when troops of 28 Assam Rifles based on intelligence of presence of the armed militants in and around the Kiyamgei areas this evening, rushed to the area and conducted a swift operation.

During the course of the operation, some unidentified armed persons who have been taking shelter initially fired upon security forces and the security forces too retaliated., the release said

An encounter ensued on both sides for about 10 minutes and some armed person were seen escaping from the area while firing towards the security forces, it said.

The release further mentioned that personnel of the 28 Assam Rifles carried out search into the encounter site during which one unidentified person suspected to be amongst the armed militant was found dead along with one AK-56 Rifles containing a magazine along with nine live rounds.

The unidentified armed militants suspected to a cadre of underground PULF was picked up by Irilbung Police from the spot this evening and brought to RIMS morgue.

In the meantime, the identities of two suspected militants who were gunned down by a team of Imphal east police commandos yesterday at Irilbung were confirmed to be hard-core cadres of the underground UPPK.

The deceased were identified as Takhellambam Herojit alias Nanao alias Sailesh, 22, son of T Krishnakumar of Serou Mayai Laikai and Irom Naobiton alias Manglemba, 25, son of Ibocha of Lamshang Taothong Ayungba Maning Leikai.

It may mentioned that both the militants were killed during a fierce encounter yesterday afternoon around 1.45 pm at Lairouching-gol Tasar Farm under Irilbung PS.

According to the family sources, deceased Herojit never returned home since he joined PREPAK during 1994 and the deceased Naobiton alias Manglemba was reportedly too joined the same outfit eight years back.

Family sources further revealed that both the deceased were holding high rank in the outfit.

The dead bodies of two militants were handed over to their respective families by the police this afternoon after post mortem at RIMS morgue this afternoon.

Police commandos kill two UGs, weapons captured from hideout

At least two militants suspected to be of an underground group operating in the valley area in the state were gunned down by Imphal East police commandos during an encounter at Irilbung in Imphal East.


Police also claimed to have busted a hideout of the militants besides recovering huge cache of arms and ammunitions from the deceased militants.


The incident occurred this afternoon around 1:45pm in a Tasar farm located at Lairouchingol about 5 km north east of Irilbung police station in Imphal East.


According to an official source, a team of the Imphal east police commandos led by additional SP operations, M. Rajen, based on specific information about presence of militants rushed to Tasar farm during which the commando team came under heavy firing from suspected militant using sophisticated weapons.


The commando team also retaliated to the firing and ensued an encounter between both side for about 30 minutes, the source added.


After the encounter, the commando team during search at the encounter site recovered two bodies of suspected militant, the source said adding the police team also recovered arms and ammunitions including two AK 56 Rifle along with 180 live ammunitions and six magazine, one lethode gun and 20 live lethode bombs, one M-16 Rifles along with 90 live ammunitions and three magazine, one Chinese hand grenade, two magazine pouch, one pouch of lethode bomb and other daily used items.


The source further revealed that more than two militants were believed to be taking shelter at the hut which is used as temporary hideout by the militant.


A police source also speculated that the slain militants were on sentry duty and rest of the militants abandoned the hideout along with arms and ammunitions.


The corpses of the slain militants have been deposited at the RIMS morgue for identification.

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Have the Guilty been Punished?

Given below is the Resolution adopted by the signatories of the Resolution of the collective on the occasion of a demonstration against the State Terrorism in Manipur at Manipur Bhawan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi, Tuesday, 04 August 2009.

In Manipur the right to life is under suspension. The communities that are living in the valley are suppressed under the reign of terror perpetrated by the Manipur Police Commando (MPC) and the other oppressive armed forces. Those who are living in the hills, the first to suffer under the draconian Armed Forces Special Power's Act 1958 are raising the voice against the proposed deployment of the MPC & Indian Reserved Battalion. The security personnel have not only become perpetrator of extra-judicial killing of civilians in fake encounters but also have become mercenaries that indulge in the brutal suppression of people's clarion call to punishment of the guilty. There is no respite from suppression and harassment by the state terrorism to enjoy a peaceful life. Practically there is no difference between what is actually done in warlordism and what the state police do under the guidance of chief minister of Manipur Okram Ibobi. The gang of state terrorism, which is what the Manipur Police Commando (MPC) is now in the state, have become commission seekers and looters who would kill anyone for money and promotion. Several individuals are falsely implicated after they are killed in fake encounter and as a result anybody now becomes a posthumous terrorist.

The fake encounter of 23 July 2009 is a glaring example of this brutality of the MPC. On that day a gruesome killing spree was unleashed by the MPC at the heart of the crowded Imphal City in broad daylight. It led to the killing of a pregnant woman Ms. Thokchom (Ongbi) Rabina and a medical attendant Mr. Chongkham Sanjit and injury of Mrs. Wankheirakpam Gitarani Devi (40), wife of (L) W Nongyai Singh of Tengdongyang, Mrs. Ningthoujam Kishorani Devi (43), wife of N Raghumani Singh of Narakonjin, Mr. Golmei Mangal (58), son of Lemba of Maha Kabui Namching, New Keithelmanbi, Mr. Pangambam Lukhoi Singh (30), son of P Pakchao Singh of Heingang Makha Leikai and Mr. Kangabam Subhachandra Singh (40), son of K Samungou Singh of Kha-Potsangbam. In order to cover up the crime Ibobi had immediately responded with a fabricated report of the incident in the Manipur Assembly. He had charged the insurgents operating in Manipur as responsible for it. Not a single MLA in the State Assembly including the opposition party had raised voice for a judicial enquiry into the incident. The truth was totally silenced and kept out of public attention. One general position that the chief minister strongly upholds is to deliberately deny a transparent judicial enquiry of the incident and also to deny the validity of the public voices against such killings. Justice was denied to the victims and those who demanded judicial enquiry were arrested on 23 July. However, a detail visual report of the fake encounter was exposed by the Tehelka Weekly on 31 July 2009.

In Manipur the rights of justice and democratic protest are being denied. The Chief Minister, instead of owning the moral responsibility for the fake encounter and for misleading the people of Manipur by a fabricated report has responded with the familiar terror tactics. For the last few days there has been series of clamp down upon civil societies, arrest of the civil leaders, imposition of curfews, brutal repression of the protest against the state terrorism, and deliberate delay in the institution of a transparent judicial enquiry. The past experiences and the present situation have confirmed our perception about the democratic ideals that are believed to be ensured under the provisions of the Indian Constitution as meaningless for the suppressed people of Manipur. And we know that the militant Chief Minister, his government and the state mercenaries that are operating in Manipur are the instruments of governance instituted by the Government of India. We, therefore, expressed our plight and sought for an answer as to shouldn't the people of Manipur be allowed to enjoy the rights of peace & democracy or should they be perpetually governed as something other under the oppressive regime?

We condemn terrorism in any form in any part of Manipur and any further attempt to extend the state terrorism in any part of Manipur, both hills and valley.

We demand immediate revoking of the false statement of 23 July made by the chief minister of Manipur.

We demand the resignation of the Chief Minister on moral ground considering the precariousness of life that his rule in Manipur has created.

We demand immediate and complete dismissal and strongest punishment of the MPC terrorists responsible for killing of the civilians.

We, therefore, invited the victims of state terrorism and progressive individuals and organisations cutting across community and administrative boundaries to come together to collectively raise against state terrorism.

Signatories of the Resolution of the collective on the occasion of a demonstration against the State Terrorism in Manipur at Manipur Bhawan, Sardar Patel Marg, New Delhi, Tuesday, 04 August 2009

Jamia Teachers' Solidarity Association, Naga People's Movement for Human Rights, Hmar Students' Association, Naga Students' Union Delhi, Lok Raj Sangathan, Campaign For Peace & Democracy (Manipur), Progressive Democratic Students' Union, Manipur Students' Association Delhi, North East Support Centre, People's Union for Democratic Rights and Pratidhwani

After months of protest by the JACs, meira paibis, Civil societies and the student bodies and after months of schools being closed, the case has finally been handed over to the CBI for investigation. While the State Government and the Manipur Human Rights Commision are in a deadlock over the Independent Inquiry undertaken by the MHRC but that has been suspended now due to the case in the High Court. I and I think a majority of the people have some questions to asked the Government of Manipur

1. Why was the State Government hell bent on suspending the Independent Inquiry undertaken by the Manipur Human Rights Commission?


2. What happen to the Judicial Inquiry instituted by the State Government?


3. Is is true that the involved Police Commandoes have been suspended only in paper? Is it true that they have been transferred to a more discreet place of posting?


4. Is there a deadline on the CBI investigation? And will the State Government chargesheet the guilty Police Commando and their Superior Officers if the CBI finds them Guilty?

To us public, it look like the State Government is simply buying time. The CBI are notorious for taking their own time in their investigation. By the time their investigation is over most of the senior officers will have retired and the Present ministry would be no more. And the guilty Police Commando would have vanished from the face of the earth.

The July 23rd incident was witnessed by many but none will come out to testify. We, the people are really afraid.

Status of Woman in Manipur

The recent rapes and killings of of three women in two separate incident has once again brought to my mind the real status of woman in Manipur. Manipur has develop so much in the last ten twenty years and the women of Manipur has played a very crucial role in bringing about this development. In this blog post I am going to try to dissect the role played by women in Manipur, other than house-keeping. Your view are most welcome. So, please leave me a comment.

History


Woman in Manipur has always played a crucial role in every aspect of life. Women of Manipur are known for their active participation in the social, economic, cultural and political activities of the state. The active role played by women of Manipur can be traced back to history. Manipur in the pre-British era was are warring nation. The King of Manipur was always engaged in warfare with the neighbouring kings and rulers. As such the adult males had to accompany the King in his campaign against the neighbouring rulers and in normal times they has to attend 'Lallup' or military training in the palace. So, the women were left at home and had the responsibilities of maintaining her family. In the process she honed her skill, capabilities, knowledges in all matters. And in history their have even been times when the women of Manipur had to defend the land against attack in the absence of the men.

Social


In the absence of the men, the women has to do all the buying and selling of essential commodities. So, as they gather at such suitable places where they can conduct their businesses, such places developed into markets. As such places, they exchanges informations and ideas and views in socio-economic and political matters of the state. As a result of these interactions the women have a very developed awareness of the state of affairs of the state. They even reacted against the Orders of the Kings when it affected the interest of the people. The 1904 and 1939 movements were Trula's women's movement against the authority.

Again, in 1975, a mass Anti-liquor movement swept all over Manipur. Women in every localities gathered together and started guarding the society against the menaces of liquor. These movement were better known as 'Nisha Bandh' in Manipur. In the beginning of 1980s Manipur was declared a Disturbed Area and draconian laws were imposed, huge numbers of security and para-military forces were deployed. Many innocents and youths and women suffered at the hands of these security forces. There was arrest and beating of youths, killings and shooting of innocent civilians, disappearances, fake encounters, rapes and abuse of women. During these time, the Movement popularly known as "Meira paibi" movement was spontaneously started all over Manipur. These 'Meira paibis', the common women of Manipur, took to task, the guarding of the society. In course of time, they got involved in bringing about social justices. Family disputes, marital affairs, immoral traffics, drugs abuse and trafficking, land disputes are all matters in which they are actively involved in. People's belief in these Meira Paibis are immense and it is a common belief that their involvement will always bring justice.

Economic

Manipuri women, throughout history have actively participated in the economy of the State. In this 21st century, Manipuri women are still continuing this trend and are still actively contributing to the economy of the state. We need not look far to have a fairly good idea about these active participation. Visit any market place in Manipur, you will hardly find a man vendor there. The main market in Imphal, the Khwairamband Bazar is exclusively run by women vendors only. You will find numerous women traders trading conducting business, bringing in goods from places as far away as Nepal.

Other than this women of Manipur has also been actively involved in one trade or another to augment the family income. They contribute through knitting, embroidery, handicrafts, weaving or simply growing vegetables. We find them in all almost all fields be it the Police forces, administration or the service sector. They have attain some of the highest laurels for the state in Sports.

Politics


Though manipuri women plays a crucial role in electing our representatives, they have not been able to get elected themselves much. Though the numbers of women voters far outnumbers the men's, till now very few women have been able to get themselves elected to the state assembly. Collectively Manipuri women have been a political force to reckon but individually they have not been able to make much headway.

(This is the End of the First Part of this article. Please come back soon for the next and final part.)