Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Note from Yambem Laba, journalist & Former Member of the Manipur Human Rights Commission
I am delighted to Know that the Wide Angle along with PVCHR & RCT is bringing out a Manual for Community Workers and Human Rights Defenders in Manipur, India Using Testimony as a Brief Therapy Intervention in Psychosocial Community Work for Survivors of Torture and Organized Violence.
I am convinced that such a manual will go a long way in mitigating Torture and organized violence in a State like Manipur which has been a conflict zone for nearly 50 years now, beginning from the days of Naga Insurgency under the leadership of the late Zapu Angami Phizo. The response of the Indian State to the challenge of Phizo has also been equally devastating- they introduced the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers (Assam-Manipur) Act 1958-parctically giving soldiers from the rank of havildars and above the right to shoot to kill with practically no questions asked.
50 years later the number of armed insurgent groups operating in the Northeast has risen from the one in 1958 to about 50 in 2008. The character of the armed struggle has also changed in the meantime from pure insurgency to quasi terrorism. In the midst of all these the plight of the people caught in the conflict zone began to increase many fold. Often the victims are left wondering as to whether the torture meted out to them is a fait accompli for which nothing could be done against.
By encouraging the victims to speak out not only verbally but through testimonies will go a long way in providing redressal to their grievances and also to influence the political process to take note and introduce due legislature to end such blatant violation of human rights and would also deter the non- state actors from indulging in such violation too.
I wish the Wide Angle, PVCHR & RCT all success in their future endeavors.
Yambem laba
Former Member
Manipur Human Rights Commission
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
AMSU announces indefinite class boycott from today
2009-09-09 | 08:21:50
Imphal, September 08: The All Manipur Student’s Union today announced class boycott infinitely starting from tomorrow (September 9) to all schools stating that there is no value of study in the prevailing lawless situation where there no life security.
AMSU took the decision to boycott classes indefinitely thinking that it would be batter to ensure life security first in the state where there is no security for the civil populace as dead is the last, a statement issued by the AMSU signed by its general secretary, Md Alamgir expressed.
The boycott is part of the solidarity to the people agitation demanding resignation of chief minister O Ibobi, befitting punishment to the police commando personnel involved in the July 23, shooting incident, total elimination of state terrorism, repeal of AFSPA and unconditional release of the volunteers of Apunba Lup spearheading the agitations.
The class boycott stir will continue till the demands are fulfilled, the statement said citing that when there is no security for life and state actors committed in extra judicial killing, it is meaningless to go to school for study.
The prevailing situation where people are living under a government enforcing “marital law” and “dictatorship”, where people are killing by the state actors and no one could tell when will die, there is no meaning of remaining in the class. What is the value of education when people are killing whenever they like, the statement asked.
AMSU well understand the loss to be suffered by the class boycott and also the impact of bandh, blockade etc. to the people. But considering for the security of the students in particular and for the people of the state in general, the decision has been taken, said the statement appealing the parents, guardians and other to bear with the body and extend support.
In the state, in the last around 30 years, spree of killing may be by the underground or security forces are continue unchecked. Thousands of people lost their life while many more had been hurt. Government forces have killed so many people after picked up, many picked up by them were missing apart from raping, molesting many women.
The state following democracy is not like having no people government but rule by dictator by in forcing martial law. Every body who thing of the land know what the state of condition prevailing in the state.
Since the beginning of the regime of the Ibobi as chief minister of the state in 2002, in the name of counter insurgency operation, people are killing in fake encounter without a day break. The reports published in the print and electronic media had evidenced how many people have lost their life in the hand of the security forces, the statement said.
AMSU took the decision to boycott classes indefinitely thinking that it would be batter to ensure life security first in the state where there is no security for the civil populace as dead is the last, a statement issued by the AMSU signed by its general secretary, Md Alamgir expressed.
The boycott is part of the solidarity to the people agitation demanding resignation of chief minister O Ibobi, befitting punishment to the police commando personnel involved in the July 23, shooting incident, total elimination of state terrorism, repeal of AFSPA and unconditional release of the volunteers of Apunba Lup spearheading the agitations.
The class boycott stir will continue till the demands are fulfilled, the statement said citing that when there is no security for life and state actors committed in extra judicial killing, it is meaningless to go to school for study.
The prevailing situation where people are living under a government enforcing “marital law” and “dictatorship”, where people are killing by the state actors and no one could tell when will die, there is no meaning of remaining in the class. What is the value of education when people are killing whenever they like, the statement asked.
AMSU well understand the loss to be suffered by the class boycott and also the impact of bandh, blockade etc. to the people. But considering for the security of the students in particular and for the people of the state in general, the decision has been taken, said the statement appealing the parents, guardians and other to bear with the body and extend support.
In the state, in the last around 30 years, spree of killing may be by the underground or security forces are continue unchecked. Thousands of people lost their life while many more had been hurt. Government forces have killed so many people after picked up, many picked up by them were missing apart from raping, molesting many women.
The state following democracy is not like having no people government but rule by dictator by in forcing martial law. Every body who thing of the land know what the state of condition prevailing in the state.
Since the beginning of the regime of the Ibobi as chief minister of the state in 2002, in the name of counter insurgency operation, people are killing in fake encounter without a day break. The reports published in the print and electronic media had evidenced how many people have lost their life in the hand of the security forces, the statement said.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
'Tehelka report is fake'
2009-09-08 | 07:05:33
Imphal, September 07: Full hearing on the city police failure to register FIR case as per complaint lodged by the husband of the Th Rabina who was killed in a shoot out at Khwairamband Bazar on July 23 started today in the court of justice Ashok Potshangbam of Gauhati High Court, Imphal bench.
State DGP counter charged that the photographs and reports published in the Tehelka news magazine about the killing of Sanjit as fake ones and make up story in the counter affidavit submitted through his counsel advocate N Kumarjit to the court during the hearing.
In the affidavit, it also claimed that the statement given by the chief minister, O Ibobi in the floor of the state Assembly as true apart from commenting that there is no reason for registering another FIR case in the same incident as City Police has already taken an FIR case on the incident.
During the hearing, government counsel, senior advocated Th Ibohal and counsel of the DGP, N Kumarjit argued citing rulings of the Supreme Court and High Court that said that City police station had already registered an FIR case with regard to the incident. With this reason behind, no necessary arises for registering another FIR case when another complaint on the same incident comes up.
On other hand, the counsel of mother in-law of Rabina, Thokchom Mema who filed the case against non-register of FIR case, advocate Khaidem Mani while giving his argument said that objected the observation of the government and DGP counsel on the basis of other rulings of the Supreme Court and High Court and insisted that police should register FIR case based on the complaint lodged by husband of the deceased Rabina, Chinglensana.
City police taken up an FIR case on the July 23 shooting incident based on the report filed by one Herojit, a police commando personnel under section 302/326/307/536 of IPC and under section 25 (1-B) of section 17/20 of UA (P) A Act. The case was registered against the deceased Ch Sanjit who was killed in the shoot out. There was no ruling from any court that a case cannot be registered based on the complaint lodged by the husband of the killed woman in the same incident, Mani argued.
In the complaint note of husband of Rabina, it was stated in the police firing on that day Rabina died while five other injure.
In the writ petition of Mema, it can be mentioned that she prayed the court to direct the state government to investigate the case to an independent body like the CBI and award adequate compensation to the victims.
State DGP counter charged that the photographs and reports published in the Tehelka news magazine about the killing of Sanjit as fake ones and make up story in the counter affidavit submitted through his counsel advocate N Kumarjit to the court during the hearing.
In the affidavit, it also claimed that the statement given by the chief minister, O Ibobi in the floor of the state Assembly as true apart from commenting that there is no reason for registering another FIR case in the same incident as City Police has already taken an FIR case on the incident.
During the hearing, government counsel, senior advocated Th Ibohal and counsel of the DGP, N Kumarjit argued citing rulings of the Supreme Court and High Court that said that City police station had already registered an FIR case with regard to the incident. With this reason behind, no necessary arises for registering another FIR case when another complaint on the same incident comes up.
On other hand, the counsel of mother in-law of Rabina, Thokchom Mema who filed the case against non-register of FIR case, advocate Khaidem Mani while giving his argument said that objected the observation of the government and DGP counsel on the basis of other rulings of the Supreme Court and High Court and insisted that police should register FIR case based on the complaint lodged by husband of the deceased Rabina, Chinglensana.
City police taken up an FIR case on the July 23 shooting incident based on the report filed by one Herojit, a police commando personnel under section 302/326/307/536 of IPC and under section 25 (1-B) of section 17/20 of UA (P) A Act. The case was registered against the deceased Ch Sanjit who was killed in the shoot out. There was no ruling from any court that a case cannot be registered based on the complaint lodged by the husband of the killed woman in the same incident, Mani argued.
In the complaint note of husband of Rabina, it was stated in the police firing on that day Rabina died while five other injure.
In the writ petition of Mema, it can be mentioned that she prayed the court to direct the state government to investigate the case to an independent body like the CBI and award adequate compensation to the victims.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Skewed coverage SEVANTI NINAN
Once in four or five years a stunning incident hits home and brings Manipur back into national focus.  In Focus: Manipuri students protesting State violence in New Delhi. Manipur is in the news. That is a miracle in itself. A State accustomed to steady national amnesia is watching bemused as the media descends. CNN IBN is here, New York Times is here, says a local editor. NDTV and Times Now have come and gone, says a local reporter. Manipur is in the news and its killing fields are feeling the impact. A State that reported 225 encounter killings this year until Tehelka hit the stands on July 31 has seen hardly any killings by the State in the three weeks since. The magazine ran an unnamed photographer’s sequence of 12 shots which chronicle the straight killing of a former insurgent by police commandos. No encounter, just a plain, point blank killing in a marketplace. Given Manipur’s status on India’s news radar it did not become a cover story even then, not until a subsequent issue. But it suddenly brought home to the country and the world the chilling realities in the border State that gets the least media attention. A Congress government runs this State and no eyebrows are raised at the Centre when the Chief Minister said in the Assembly on the day of this killing, “I don’t want to kill but what is the option.” (A translation of his statement made in Meitei.) A statement he has subsequently denied, though it was made in the House. But the photographs punctured the inertia. The Home Secretary at the Centre has come visiting since, even though Mr. Chidambaram, who hot-footed it to Kashmir when the Shopian rapes engulfed the Chief Minister there, has not. The photos got national exposure because the photographer who shot them could not get them published in the Imphal newspaper he worked for. They were sent to Assam and given to Teresa Rehman, Tehelka’s correspondent in Guwahati. Once in four or five years a stunning incident hits home and brings Manipur back into national focus. The last time was in 2004 when a young woman called Manorama was killed and raped after the Assam Rifles picked her up, and anguished mothers in the State chose to demonstrate naked. Those pictures seared the national consciousness. Off the media map Manipur has the killings, Kashmir gets the coverage. For reasons difficult to fathom, it fell off the media map. Despite a level of daily violence which Kashmir has not now seen for some years, Manipur does not make news. So there is no national outrage. Over a 60-day period earlier this year (May 15 to July 15) the media in the State reported 102 civilian casualties including deaths, 72 deaths of militants including 37 “encounters”, and five of men belonging to the State forces. Over the same period, this is what got picked up by the media outside the State: The Telegraph, the paper which has a Northeast edition coming out of Guwahati, found space in its Kolkata edition for six stories. Of the four on Manipur, three related to the killing of four Bengali migrants, the fourth from New Delhi was about a Manipuri actress nabbed with a militant. In the same paper, Kashmir rated nine stories and two editorials. DNA in Mumbai found space for 25 stories from Kashmir, three from Assam, none from Manipur. The Delhi edition of Times of India which also has an edition in Guwahati, found space for two stories from New Delhi on Manipur, one of which was on the nabbed militant above. What of the 70-plus conflict-related deaths in two months? They did not make news. And Kashmir? It rated 48 stories, half of them on the rape-murders in Shopian. The Delhi editions of The Indian Express and The Hindu over this period had around 60 stories each from Kashmir, eight and 11 respectively from Imphal, and each of them reported three militant-related deaths in this benighted State. Kashmir inevitably merited an editorial or two over this period, none of the seven States which make up the Northeast, did. What was the level of violence in Kashmir over the same period? Civilians killed 18, including the rape and murder victims in Shopian, militants killed seven, troopers, four. And what of television? “If a story breaks here NDTV will have a one-minute story,” says Imphal-based journalist Ahanthem Chitra. “If something happens in Kashmir there are panel discussions. Manipur, Nagaland, no panel discussions. It is headline news for one day then it dies out.” What makes a newspaper national, asks Pradip Phanjoubam, the editor of the Imphal Free Press. “Should not coverage be a criteria if papers are classified national by DAVP (Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity) and RNI (Registrar of Newspapers for India)? Should they not have to give space to all parts of the country?” * What is the shape of the local media in a poor cousin State riddled with insurgency? One of stoicism coupled with genteel penury. Salaries for experienced journalists seldom cross Rs. 5,000 a month, editors’ salaries range between 10,000 and 30,000 a month, mostly at the lower end. Appointment letters are a rarity though the All Manipur Working Journalists Union has now begun to insist on them. How do they manage? They work at more than one job and live with their families. The local economy generates no advertising for a newspaper; corporate advertisers prefer to use outdoor media. There are other challenges. Newsprint has to be transported via Assam by train, then by road. You have to pay tax to the NSCN-IM, Rs. 7,000 per truck. It costs Rs. 10,000 per tonne more, by the time it arrives. Increased aggression The killings continue with impunity because the State feels no pressure at all from a brave and persistent local media. As it keeps up coverage of the protests following the Tehelka expose, State aggression has stepped up, says the editor of Ireibak, Irengbam Arun. Last week, police commandos lobbed a smoke bomb towards the journalists covering a sit-in-protest in Imphal East. Elsewhere, commandos stopped a vehicle carrying journalists who were coming back after covering protests and questioned them at gunpoint. He adds that some months ago, in an incident possibly unprecedented elsewhere in the country, the Director General of Police summoned editors and asked them to reveal which reporters had done a story on urea smuggling which showed complicity of the police. Keeping journalism going in Manipur then, is a daily challenge. Printer friendly page |
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Union minister Agatha Sangma visits Sharmila,
Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Agatha Sang-ma struck the right chord with the people of Manipur asserting that she has come here not only as a representative of Garo Hills in Meghalaya but also Manipur and the entire North East.
The youngest Minister in the UPA Government at Delhi, Agatha Sangma who arrived here today morning on a two day visit also demonstrated her empathy with Irom Sharmila Chanu who has been on a fast unto death hunger strike since 2000 demanding the repeal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Straight on her arrival at Tulihal airport Miss Sangma along with NCP State unit president Radhabinod Koijam proceeded to the security ward of JN Hospital to meet Irom Sharmila Chanu who has been on a fast unto death agitation since 2000 demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.
Later speaking to the media Agatha Sangma acknow- ledged the determination of Sharmila and assured that she would put her case on the floor of Parliament to seek the repeal of the contentious Act.
The young Minister also pointed out that all the political leaders of the North East are against the continued imposition of the Act in the North East region and added that even the Jeevan Reddy Commission had recommended its repeal.
The Jeevan Reddy Commission, which was constituted following the huge outcry after the custodial death of Th Manorama in 2006 had recommended the repeal of AFSPA and recommended an alternative Act to deal with the situation in the region.
Radhabinod Koijam who was also present said that the NCP has been campaigning against AFSPA.
On the other hand, the ‘Iron Lady’ Irom Chanu Sharmila while interacting with media persons disclosed that the Union minister and the President of India are both women and she had a positive feeling that the AFSPA would be repealed from Manipur, as only a woman could understand the problems of other women.
Regarding the situation prevailing in the entire north eastern region, she maintained that economic development was the only way to tackle the insurgency problem in the north east. The increasing number of terrorists in the states was due to lack of economic development as many youths had become frustrated by the unavailability of jobs and various other related problems.
She further said she would work all out to get justice for the people of the north eastern region and also promised she would not let down the people of the entire north east. One of her main areas of concentration would be the youth and women as she had great expectations from both, she observed. She also feltthat capacity building was required in order to absorb the funds released by the Central government for which work was required from the grassroots level.
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Manipur & areas of concern - 26th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial observance
Two and a half decades ago, a mysterious disease swept the gay population in San Francisco in the United States. Amid confusion and misconception about the disease, many young people had died unaware. In 1983, four young men – Bobbi Campbell, Bobby Reynolds, Dan Turner and Mark Feldman – knowing they would die within a year, decided to put a face against the disease by putting a banner reading “Fighting For Our Lives.” Thus the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial observance was born. On the third Sunday of May every year, people around the world light candles to honor those who have died of AIDS, to support the millions of HIV infected brethrens and to bring about awareness and behaviour change for protecting the uninfected youths across the globe.
“Together, we are the solution” is the theme for this year’s edition of International AIDS Candlelight Memorial which falls on 17th May 2009. The theme reminds us the importance of a collective effort in fighting the AIDS epidemic.
Alarm bell
Routine screening for HIV started in Manipur from 1986 and the first case of HIV infection was reported from among the Injecting Drug Users (IDU) in 1990. At present, around 30,000 HIV positive cases have been reported in Manipur. During April ’08 to March ’09, out of 39,147 pregnant women tested for HIV in the state, 272 were found to be HIV infected and 204 mother-baby pairs were given Navirapine treatment. By March this year, 5314 HIV positives were receiving ART regularly from the seven ART centres. Among them, there are 445 children below 15 years. During the same period, 760 AIDS patients were admitted to the six community care centres across the state. HIV prevalence rate among the women attending ante-natal clinics stands at 14 per 1000, which is high enough to term the state as a High Prevalence State in the country.
Empowering the MSM
Apart from IDUs and commercial sex workers, MSM (Men having sex with men) community in Manipur is a major concern. The sexual behaviours of this group of people are dangerous as far as the HIV spread is concerned. The MSM need to be given social recognition and their creativity is to be counted as a treasure of the society. The third gender people like MSM need empowerment, education and recognition so that they meet the mental and physical harassments of sexually active young people, security personnel etc. Their talents may also be tapped to make them involved in AIDS control programmes.
Borderline woes
Another major concern in Manipur is the cross border sexual activities in addition to drug trafficking and drug abuse. Manipur shares a 358 km long International border with Myanmar. Besides being a heroin producing country, Myanmar gets the dubious distinction of having high rates of HIV prevalence in south-east Asia. Border villages in Ukhrul and Chandel districts have often shared the most unwanted flesh trade and drug trafficking. Sex workers from the other side of the border frequent the border towns almost regularly. The drug users of both sides often cross each other for convenience. The HIV/AIDS control programmes in these areas need a special look.
Youth and sex – a dangerous nexus.
The world is very fast today. Young people have no time to ponder over what is good and what is bad. Onslaught of various media – cable TV, Internet, mobile phones, SMS etc has influenced the young and tender minds to imitate whatever is seen and heard. Today is the age of Fast- food- culture. Students seldom visit libraries. Many young boys and girls spend time in Internet cafes chatting with unwanted dealings. It is even heard that there are young boys and girls talking a whole night with mobile phones. SMSs in mobiles with obscene pictures and words have been the order of the day. So as to exactly counter the newly emerging media influences, we have to regularly feed the young people with HIV prevention messages without interruption. The flow of information and messages to tender minds should not be slowed down under any circumstances.
An Apparently slowed down war
Sincerity and commitment of the people fighting against AIDS has to be counted in reckoning the pace of the epidemic. Saying goes like this “if you are fighting against AIDS, you have to be swifter than HIV”. The virus loves bureaucratic warriors who dislike to be in the field and who are hardly in touch with the people at the grassroots and at the remotest borders.
No new initiative for spreading HIV/AIDS awareness to the general population is seen in Manipur. We no longer hear useful HIV prevention messages from Imphal Radio station. For the last few years, we have not seen any effective HIV jingles in Imphal Doordarshan and local cable networks. Display advertisements of HIV/AIDS messages do not appear in local newspapers as it were before. No skit or no street play has been demonstrated in public. No shumang lila has been displayed for cautioning the general public against AIDS. No new hoarding or signboard is seen at roadside and no new leaflet/ pamphlet/ poster produced. No newsletter containing AIDS information has been published for public view in the state. Awareness sessions with resource persons are very rarely organized. The official website of Manipur State AIDS Control Society sits idle on the web without any updates from the day it was launched. No shouting is heard. Does it mean either the magnitude of HIV epidemic in Manipur has diminished to such an extent that youngsters do not need more messages on HIV/AIDS or the communication and media activities for HIV prevention and control has totally failed in the state ? Here is really dearth of HIV/AIDS information and messages while other parts of the globe are flooded with rich and updated information on the disease.
The key to HIV prevention is definitely a positive behaviour among the young people which can be brought about through AWARENESS only. As there is no vaccine for HIV and no standard cure for AIDS, education remains the only means for prevention and control of the disease. Without spreading awareness and information through target-specific suitable channels regularly, all efforts for provision of ARVs, Navirapin therapy, needle syringe exchange, condom promotion etc. will not be effective. Hence, the importance of information, education and communication cannot be overlooked.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Sex workers complain of harassment
IMPHAL, Mar 10: In this developed era of the world women are still discriminated and harassed in various form in a state like Manipur. And though the women organisation of the state are appealing to stop harassment to the women but it seems some of them still unable to understand the fact of respecting women.And whether they worked in any trade women should not be look down but they should be given extra support since they have been facing several kinds of hurdle and obstacles with no option left in their life.
And such case was held recently to some of the commercial sex workers residing at North AOC, Imphal area.Narrating to media one of the victim who faced the nightmare of the incident maintained that on the midnight of 27th February total of four commandos of Thoubal came in uniform and one in civil dress enter the room where the workers are staying. And after few interrogation they are asked to undress fully in front of them. And later started beating up and tortured in various act which she feel shy as well as embarrassed to disclosed since the act has crossed the limit she asserted.On the other had one of them also noted that such act is not the first time happened to them but it si often happened in the area. Not only harassment and tortured but they were also asked to stand nude and took clips with their mobiles.She also noted that on that day after harassing and torturing to six of the workers they were taken to some far off place in a jungle area and they were again beaten up like anything. Some of minor workers even screamed since the tortured was very much dangerous.Added that later they were taken to Imphal West Police and put them in custody the whole night and later they were released.But due to fear, all of them never tried to disclosed the incident infront of media since it will more make hard to them to survive in the area. But after discussing the incident with the people living in that area late they decided to bring the matter infront of media and highlight the incident to the people of state that how state police are wild and dangerous.Therefore, they want the state government to take action against all those police officers who are behind the incident occurred on that day.And they also maintained that people need to understand these women who are working just for few money to survive in this society. Though they are facing various humiliating things but they have no option. And also appealed that people should immediately stop such inhuman act in future and not to give disturbance.
And such case was held recently to some of the commercial sex workers residing at North AOC, Imphal area.Narrating to media one of the victim who faced the nightmare of the incident maintained that on the midnight of 27th February total of four commandos of Thoubal came in uniform and one in civil dress enter the room where the workers are staying. And after few interrogation they are asked to undress fully in front of them. And later started beating up and tortured in various act which she feel shy as well as embarrassed to disclosed since the act has crossed the limit she asserted.On the other had one of them also noted that such act is not the first time happened to them but it si often happened in the area. Not only harassment and tortured but they were also asked to stand nude and took clips with their mobiles.She also noted that on that day after harassing and torturing to six of the workers they were taken to some far off place in a jungle area and they were again beaten up like anything. Some of minor workers even screamed since the tortured was very much dangerous.Added that later they were taken to Imphal West Police and put them in custody the whole night and later they were released.But due to fear, all of them never tried to disclosed the incident infront of media since it will more make hard to them to survive in the area. But after discussing the incident with the people living in that area late they decided to bring the matter infront of media and highlight the incident to the people of state that how state police are wild and dangerous.Therefore, they want the state government to take action against all those police officers who are behind the incident occurred on that day.And they also maintained that people need to understand these women who are working just for few money to survive in this society. Though they are facing various humiliating things but they have no option. And also appealed that people should immediately stop such inhuman act in future and not to give disturbance.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Free the Feet from Shackles
By Irom Chanu Sharmila :-
Free my feet from the shackles
Like bangles made of thorn
Confined inside a narrow room
My fault lies in
Being incarnated as a bird.
Inside the dark room of the prison
Many voices echo around
Unlike the sound of birds
Not the merry laughter
Not that of a lullaby
A child snatched away from the mother’s bosom
The lamentation of a mother
A woman separated from her husband
The cry of anguish of a widow
A cry springing out of a sepoy’s hand
A ball of fire is seen
Dooms day follows it
The ball of fire was lit
By the product of science
Because of oral experimentation
Servants of sense organs
Everybody is in trance
Intoxication – the enemy of thinking
Wisdom of thinking is annihilated
No experimentation of thinking
Laughing with smiles on the face
By the traveller of coming beyond the hill ranges
Nothing remains but my laments
Nothing saved by the seeing eyes
Strength cannot show itself
Human life is precious
Before life comes to an end
Let me be light of darkness
Nectar will be sown
A true of immortality will be planted.
Putting on artificial wings
All the corners of the earth will be covered
Near the joining line of life and death
Morning songs will be sung
The chores of the world will be performed.
Let the gate of the prison be flung wide
I will not go on another path
Please remove the shackles of thorn
Let me be not accused
For being incarnated in the life of a bird.
Translated from Manipuri to English by
Wide Angle Social Development Organisation
Free my feet from the shackles
Like bangles made of thorn
Confined inside a narrow room
My fault lies in
Being incarnated as a bird.
Inside the dark room of the prison
Many voices echo around
Unlike the sound of birds
Not the merry laughter
Not that of a lullaby
A child snatched away from the mother’s bosom
The lamentation of a mother
A woman separated from her husband
The cry of anguish of a widow
A cry springing out of a sepoy’s hand
A ball of fire is seen
Dooms day follows it
The ball of fire was lit
By the product of science
Because of oral experimentation
Servants of sense organs
Everybody is in trance
Intoxication – the enemy of thinking
Wisdom of thinking is annihilated
No experimentation of thinking
Laughing with smiles on the face
By the traveller of coming beyond the hill ranges
Nothing remains but my laments
Nothing saved by the seeing eyes
Strength cannot show itself
Human life is precious
Before life comes to an end
Let me be light of darkness
Nectar will be sown
A true of immortality will be planted.
Putting on artificial wings
All the corners of the earth will be covered
Near the joining line of life and death
Morning songs will be sung
The chores of the world will be performed.
Let the gate of the prison be flung wide
I will not go on another path
Please remove the shackles of thorn
Let me be not accused
For being incarnated in the life of a bird.
Translated from Manipuri to English by
Wide Angle Social Development Organisation
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Man abducted by security men released after he promised to pay
IMPHAL, Jan 19: A person by the name of Elangbam Toto, son of E Ibohal, of Keishamthong charged that he was abducted from his work place by masked security personnel some of whom spoke Manipur and others Hindi at 8.30pm on January 17 and threatened death.
He was however released when he promised to pay them a sum of Rs. 1,50,000 he charged.
In this regard, the meira paibis of the Keishamthong locality staged a dharna protesting the atrocious act of security men turning on the people they are supposed to protect.
Recounting the incident, Toto said he was at his workplace, Hiro Hito, a factory which manufactures track suits, where he was advisor, when two armed security men, one conversant in Manipuri and the other who spoke only Hindi entered and pretended they were interested in buying tracksuits.They also entered the other rooms where the factory’s workers stay overnight.
The workers thinking they were again customers from organisations such as the CRPF, Army and Assam Rifles, who frequent the factory, asked them if they belonged to any of these organisations in friendly manner. The answers were in the negative.
Thereafter the intruders asked Toto to accompany them to the ground floor. They then took him to the road outside, where there was initially nobody in sight.
Two Gypsy vehicles full of armed security personnel emerged from the south and north side of the road.
They asked Toto to step into one of the vehicles. When Toto in petrifaction pleaded not to take him away as he was a family man, the men forced into one of the vehicles and whisked him away to a spot in Keishampat. There they stopped and asked why he was involved in extortion. He denied he was involved in such activities.
Toto said the mask from one of the security men nearly fell off as he got off a vehicle, and after that they started being more rude. They also blind folded him and drove for what seemed about 3 km in the Imphal area and when his blindfold was removed they were on an isolated black topped road.
There one of them took out a gun and told him that it was not a government issued weapon but one meant to set him up. One of them even held him by the throat as he spoke. The petrified Toto pleaded in desperation and promised to pay them if he was released safe.
The security men consulted between themselves and then one of them asked how much. He said he would arrange Rs 50,000. One of his captors then said make it Rs 1,00,000, to which he agreed in order to be free.
However the security men consulted among themselves again and came up with the figure of Rs. 1,50,000. Again he agreed in order to be let off, Toto said.
The men then took him away and left him at a place in Keishampat.The next day, he received a text message inquiring what has happened to the deal, Toto said.
The protesting meira paibis demanded an explanation for this state terrorism and extortion from the state authorities.
He was however released when he promised to pay them a sum of Rs. 1,50,000 he charged.
In this regard, the meira paibis of the Keishamthong locality staged a dharna protesting the atrocious act of security men turning on the people they are supposed to protect.
Recounting the incident, Toto said he was at his workplace, Hiro Hito, a factory which manufactures track suits, where he was advisor, when two armed security men, one conversant in Manipuri and the other who spoke only Hindi entered and pretended they were interested in buying tracksuits.They also entered the other rooms where the factory’s workers stay overnight.
The workers thinking they were again customers from organisations such as the CRPF, Army and Assam Rifles, who frequent the factory, asked them if they belonged to any of these organisations in friendly manner. The answers were in the negative.
Thereafter the intruders asked Toto to accompany them to the ground floor. They then took him to the road outside, where there was initially nobody in sight.
Two Gypsy vehicles full of armed security personnel emerged from the south and north side of the road.
They asked Toto to step into one of the vehicles. When Toto in petrifaction pleaded not to take him away as he was a family man, the men forced into one of the vehicles and whisked him away to a spot in Keishampat. There they stopped and asked why he was involved in extortion. He denied he was involved in such activities.
Toto said the mask from one of the security men nearly fell off as he got off a vehicle, and after that they started being more rude. They also blind folded him and drove for what seemed about 3 km in the Imphal area and when his blindfold was removed they were on an isolated black topped road.
There one of them took out a gun and told him that it was not a government issued weapon but one meant to set him up. One of them even held him by the throat as he spoke. The petrified Toto pleaded in desperation and promised to pay them if he was released safe.
The security men consulted between themselves and then one of them asked how much. He said he would arrange Rs 50,000. One of his captors then said make it Rs 1,00,000, to which he agreed in order to be free.
However the security men consulted among themselves again and came up with the figure of Rs. 1,50,000. Again he agreed in order to be let off, Toto said.
The men then took him away and left him at a place in Keishampat.The next day, he received a text message inquiring what has happened to the deal, Toto said.
The protesting meira paibis demanded an explanation for this state terrorism and extortion from the state authorities.
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