Matamgi Manipur

By Yambem Laba This article was originally published by the Imphal Free Pres on 16 Dec 2012 The credit for raising the demand for a Kukiland or a Kuki state to be carved out of Manipur, does not belong to the Kukiland State Demand Committee or its armed wing, the Kuki National Organisation. It belongs to an almost unknown Kuki by the name of Hengkhulen Sithlou who had held the nondescript post of headmaster of Motbung High School in the Sadar Hills area of Senapati district. In 1970, he was said to have received the blessings of then Lieutenant-Governor of Manipur D R Kohli.

Rapping the State Government on the knuckles for the second time in less than 20 days, the Supreme Court today asked, “How can a State Government file an affidavit stating that they are killing ‘us’ and so we are killing ‘them’. Are we in a state of war ?” Are We In A State Of War? Supreme Court Tongue Lashes State Govt By a Staff Reporter of The Sangai Express, Nov 24 2012, originally published at  http://www.thesangaiexpress.com/tseitm-21325-are-we-in-a-state-of-war-supreme-court-tongue-lashes-state-govt/ Rapping the State Government on the knuckles for the second time in less than 20 days, the Supreme Court today asked, “How can a State Government file an affidavit stating that they are killing ‘us’ and so we are killing ‘them’. Are we in a state of war ?” The latest tongue lashing comes close on the heels of the “Do it quickly. People are dying out there. File your report by November 19” instructions issued by the Supreme Court on November 5, when the State Governm...

Ordeals and upheaval By Thingnam Kishan Singh This essay was originally posted by E-pao.net Part I As the majestic Himalayas gradually loop and descend in size and altitude towards the Southeast Asian frontier, interspersed with green valleys and blue hills, before immersing in the waters of the sea lays the land of Manipur washed with the Barak basin on the west and the Chindwin River on the east. History bears testimony to the travails of a civilization of the people of this land running through a course of two thousand years. Known as Kathe to the Burmese, Meklee to the Ahoms, Mooglie to the Cacharies, Cassey to the Shans, the people of this ancient Asiatic land presently called Manipur have experienced numerous upheavals as a result of encounters with different cultures and powers.

by Hannah Arendt February 27, 1969 Extracted from http://www.nybooks.com I These reflections were provoked by the events and debates of the last few years, as seen against the background of the twentieth century. Indeed this century has become, as Lenin predicted, a century of wars and revolutions, hence a century of that violence which is currently believed to be their common denominator. There is, however, another factor in the present situation which, though predicted by nobody, is of at least equal importance. The technical development of implements of violence has now reached the point where no political goal could conceivably correspond to their destructive potential or justify their actual use in armed conflict. Hence, warfare—since times immemorial the final merciless arbiter in international disputes—has lost much of its effectiveness and nearly all of its glamor. "The apocalyptic" chess game between the superpowers, that is, between those that move on the h...

by Avalok Langer This article was originally publsihed by the Sangai Express on 5 Nov 2012 After secret parleys with the Government, Th Muivah will meet other rebel outfits to push for a peace deal. But will they let him dictate the agenda? Avalok Langer reports NAGALAND IS buzzing with a sense of anticipation that a solution to the six-decade-long Indo-Naga political dispute is within reach. The sentiment was given a boost when National Socialist Council of Nagaland-IM leaders Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Swu announced in Dimapur last week that a deal could be reached as early as March next year. However, having held talks with the Government of India (GoI) in isolation and secrecy, the biggest question is, will the solution — which will, in all probability, be only for the British-created State of Nagaland that will act as a political umbrella for all Nagas — and the leadership of Muivah, a Thankul Naga from Manipur, be accepted?

by Ngulminthang This article was originally published by the Mizoram Express on 17 Oct 2012 Deliberations on history, migration, records, etc. have been quite a hot topic these days. I do enjoy reading when our well known Historians share their opinions and views through Print Media, Internets, Networking Sites, etc. etc. This entire hot History topic surfaced recently with one counter claiming the other and vice versa due to the districthood demand of Sadar Hills. I do believe that sticking on to Concrete History will be the best way to have a glimpse of our status at present.

By Dr. Khomdon Singh Lisam This article was originally published by e-pao.net on Oct 23 2012 We can start our discussion from the statement of G.K. Pillai, former Union Home Secretary, which was published on 27 September, 2011 in the Telegraph. According to him, the repeal of the draconian act AFSPA -1958 was one of the first steps towards resolving the vexed conflict of Manipur's valley and hills. He said that "the ancient kingdom of Manipur had a constitution even before India wrote her own and had a proud history and was overnight turned into a C-category state in 1948. He further added " we have to build trust by dealing with the core issues . An apology , say by the Prime Minister or the Home Minister, for the past mistakes could be a start. "

By Dr Dhanabir Laishram This article was originally published by the E-pao on 21 Oct 2012 In the first clause of our constitution defines our country as "India, that is, Bharat is a Union of States". The federal structure of our constitution flows from this definition and has been upheld by the apex court as a basic feature of our constitution. Over the years, there has been a steady erosion of the rights of the states and federal character of our constitution is being, slowly but steadily, converted into a unitary state structure. In other words maximizing zone of interference to the state by the centre is increasing more and more. It is also one of the factors of increasing political violence in the NE India. Even maximum contentions of agreement in between GoI and NSCN (IM) and even ULFA's talk in their ongoing peace process are also for bringing real federal relationship.

A design review of the newspapers' websites based in Imphal  The reason could be glaring to the professional web designers, but it is hard to understand for the layperson. But the fact is that these newspapers have the worst website design anyone can think of. This is not really a criticism but a few thoughts I have all the time.

By Yambem Laba This article was published by the Sangai Express on 20 Oct 2012 On the 15th of October 1949 one of the most important chapters in the chequered history of Manipur took place.It was the day that Manipur’s destiny began to be tied with that of India then emerging as a brave new world of democracy heralding the beginning of the end of the colonial era worldwide. By the early 1960s Manipur merger with India came to be questioned with the formation of the United National Liberation Front advocating an armed struggle to regain Manipur’s lost sovereignity.By 2012 the number of armed groups formed in Manipur numbered about 50 with demands ranging from liberation of Manipur to influencing voters choice in Panchayat elections to award of lucrative contract works.