Skip to content Skip to navigation

Assam Times contributor gets UNHCR-CNES fellowship

The Guwahati based journalist and a regular contributor to 'Assam Times', Nava Thakuria has been awarded with the first media fellowship on refugee issues sponsored by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research (C-NES). The Fellowship with the theme, 'The Chins of Myanmar: Refugee Life in a Distant Neighbour', with a focus on Protection and Durable Solutions for the Chin ethnic group from Western Myanmar, which lives in challenging conditions in the Northeast as well as in New Delhi starts from 1 March to 31 May.

The announcement was made by a Committee comprising Mr. Sanjoy Hazarika, C-NES Managing Trustee, journalist and editor, Ms. Pamela Philipose, Independent Journalist and Ms. Nayana Bose of the UNHCR on February 15 last. The awardee Mr Thakuria has written extensively on issues related to Burma (Myanmar). Thakuria is a regular contributor to many acclaimed newspaper and portals based in Guwahati, Kolkata, New Delhi, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Seoul, London and California and his special areas of interest include socio-political developments in Northeast India with Burma, Bhutan and Bangladesh

It may be mentioned that Mizoram, a Burma bordering Northeast Indian state gives shelter to nearly 40,000 Chin refugees. Those Burmese citizens fled their country to get rid of the atrocities of the present regime named State Peace and Development Council. Led by the Senior General Than Shwe, the SPDC is identified as one of the worst human rights violators in the globe.

The refugees started fleeing Burma after the 1988 uprising for restoration of democracy in the land of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Thousand of Burmese have already sacrificed their precious lives supporting the pro-democracy movement led by the Great Lady. Many of them left Burma to live an exile live in its neighbouring Thailand, India, Bangladesh and many other countries around the globe.

"The effort is to build capacity and better understanding among journalists interested in refugee issues, especially at the middle-level, but also to publish their findings and observations extensively in the Indian media," said Sanjoy Hazarika, Managing Trustee of C-NES. It is an opportunity for the journalist to look at issues relating to refugee movements into the country, the condition of refugees, the problems of mixed migration (refugee movements combined with economic/environmental international migrants).

Carol Batchelor, Chief of Mission, UNHCR India, while mentioning the fellowship to study the refugee issue said, "It is hoped that through this opportunity for an in-depth review of refugee issues, journalists will be strengthened in their efforts to inform public opinion." There are two other fellowships, applications for which are welcome, one on "The need for a refugee specific legislation in India" (to be announced in May 2008) and another on Sri Lankan refugees (to be announced in August 2008). The programme is aimed to research and write on the issue comprising the protection and durable solution of the refugee problem.

Photo: UB Photos

Comments

RANJAN K BARUAH's picture

Hope to read some interesting articles by Nava Thakuria related to refugees.

Pages

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

Various aspects of impacts of climate change on the water resources of the NE region as well as results from contemporary research relevant to the region and especially the Upper Brahmaputra basin area were in focus in a one day workshop on ‘Adapting to Climate Change Impacts on Water in the Upper Brahmaputra basin in Northeast India’ that was held at the Shankardev Sabha Kakhya of the Dibrugarh Hanumanbux Surajmal Kanoi (DHSK) College on November 17th, 2012.The workshop was organised by Aaranyak (Guwahati), premier environmental research and advocacy organisation of India in collaboration with the DHSK College (Dibrugarh) with financial support from the India Water...
Here is good news for the food lovers of the region. The Morung, a restaurant which has been serving ethnic food of northeast, is organizing a series of food festivals in order to promote the local food items in a bigger way from November 23. The first phase of the festival will serve only the Naga dishes till November 25. Proprietor Rudra Deka said that the visitors will be able to enjoy unlimited supply of various food items at a minimum cost of Rs.299 per person. Popular singer Priyanka Bharali and celebrity cook Enu Baruah of Paakghar fame have formally will inaugurate of the festival on Friday. The Buffet menu is: 1. Chutney 2. Salad 3. Plain Rice 4. Naga Curry 5. Boil Veg 6....
Thousands of devotees offered prayers to the Sun God on the bank of Dudhnoi river on Tuesday on the occasion of Chhath puja. Bidyut Sarkar
The sixth annual national seminar was organized by Sanskriti-North Eastern institute of Culture and Religion, Guwahati from 16th to 18th November, 2012. Sanskriti is an anthropological research centre engaged in data based research on the people and cultures of north east India. It is administered by SVD society which has a number of social science research institutions world-wide. This year the theme selected by the organizing committee was Indigenous Resource Management in Tribal Cultures of North East India.The inaugural session was presided over by well known anthropologist Prof. A. C. Bhagabati, former vice chancellor of Arunachal University and present Director, Indira Gandhi National...
Despite strict vigil, ULFA militants are moving with arms without any hindrance in Sivasagar district. Sonari police recovered a huge cache of explosives during a joint operation with army in Bahbari area on Saturday. But the ULFA men managed to vanish from the spot. Acting on a tip off that three hardcore ULFA militants were hiding in a tiny village in Bashbar, police and army’s 299 Field regiment launched a joint offensive at Raidongia village in Rajapukhuri area. But the militants fled from the spot. Security forces recovered a mobile bomb, TNT weighing three kilogram, 2 detonators along with some other materials.
Diplomats from Association of South East Asian Nations countries are all set to visit Guwahati on November 15 to hold talks with Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. The ASEAN diplomats would be in Guwahati just before the ASEAN-India Car Rally in the city. Officials from the ASEAN countries are likely to talk about increasing trade and cooperation between the ASEAN region and north east. Thailand's ambassador to India Pisan Manawapat, Brunei's ambassador Dato Paduka Sidek Bin Ali, Indonedia's Charge d'Affaires Hendra Henny Andries and ambassador of Laos Thongphanh Syackhaphom would be among those who are expected to join the delegation. The rally would reach Guwahati on December 17 and...
Much to utter disappointment to the Assamese community in Delhi, a Delhi university student committed suicide on Saturday. The incident took place at Bijoynagar area where Sri Ram College student Abhishekh Saikia committed suicide by jumping down from a building in the capital. His neighbor said that he was found depressed with his affair with a girl. Saikia hails from Guwahati.
Five security personnel guarding Water Resources Minister Rajib Lochan Pegu have been injured when their vehicle collided with a dumper truck at Golaghat on Saturday. The incident took place on the National Highway 37 near Dergaon when Pegu’s convoy was on its way from Jorhat to Guwahati. The driver is understood to have lost control over the pilot car before it rammed into the dumper truck. Three of whom are stated to be in serious condition. All the injured have been admitted to the Jorhat Medical College. Two others have been released after primary treatment.
After a brief halt, violence revisits Bodoland. Two persons were killed in two different shoot outs in the BTAD areas on Saturday. The first one incident took place in Gossaigaon when one minority youth died in miscreant firing at the paddy field. The another incident took place in Kokrajhar where another youth lost his life. This has sparked off tension and administration has sounded alert in the area.After a brief halt, violence revisits Bodoland. Two persons were killed in two different shoot outs in the BTAD areas on Saturday. The first one incident took place in Gossaigaon when one minority youth died in miscreant firing at the paddy field. The another incident took place in...
Dispur is contemplating an education and employment generation panel to link up the two so that the youth could get jobs with their education. According to chief minister Tarun Gogoi, said economic development of the state, education, employment generation and farmers were its top priorities. He further said that his government is mooting to launch a state nutrition mission to tackle the problems of anaemia and malnutrition, found among the women and children of Assam.