Matamgi Manipur

by Dr Laifungbam Debabrata Roy. This article was published originally by the Sangai Express on 17 April 2012 The 'rights and interests of the citizens' is arguably a complicated question. Are we to be inclusive in its interpretation? India, after all, is a member of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), a state that is on its second term in the Human Rights Council and presently vying hard to become a permanent member of the Security Council. But more importantly, the question I raise is whether the Indian Armed Forces, trained to defend the country from external aggression and threats, is competent to deal with the question of rights and interests of citizens, which are the domain of civil, political, economic, social and cultural affairs. My answer is no, the Indian Armed Forces do not have the competence or the expertise to use the special powers given to them by AFSPA.

This editorial was originally published by the Morung Express on 5 April 2012 Many activists and intellectuals in Manipur both from the hills and the valley have expressed lethargic views when asked their suggestions and advice for the new government of Manipur at the backdrop of the long time turmoil experienced by the state. In a whirlwind interview conducted by Newmai News Network today, scholars, senior journalists and activists in the state did not have much to comment seeing the ground realities of Manipur. President of All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) A Mobi expressed that unless there is a radical change of the entire system nothing positive can be expected. "To change the entire system it is next to impossible," lamented A Mobi while noted activist-scholar Dr Dhanabir Laishram sarcastically quipped that to answer this question he has to rewind himself to the 1950s and demand the basic needs like safe drinking water, roads and electricity. "We ...

This news report was originally published by the Sangai Express on 2 April 2012 Click to check the photo of the brave girl here At first sight she looks like any other healthy, normal girl, but this fifteen-year-old girl, a victim of Pourabi blast in 2007, has been living with shrapnel that need to be operated. Wahengbam Bembem (15) daughter of W Pakpa of Keibi Heikak Mapan was injured in the Pourabi blast that occurred on December 16, 2007 when a bomb planted in the middle of the road exploded and ripped through the bus in which she was travelling. The incident claimed eight lives and injured more than 30 people.