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.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Friday said that ruling Congress did not indulge in vote bank politics. Talking to reporters Gogoi said that there is simply no question of vote bank politics. Criticizing AGP and BJP, he said that the illegal immigrants are not the only problem to be dealt with. He claimed that only the Congress government would be able to complete work on the photo-IDs of voters.
Governor Janaki Ballav Patnaik and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi have greeted the people on the occasion of Eid-ul-Zuha on Saturday.
In his message, Patnaik appealed for upholding the tradition of amity and communal harmony in the state and urged the people to strengthen the bond of fraternity so that anti-social elements do not create any dent in their peaceful co-existence.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Eid would spread the message of universal brotherhood, love, peace and sacrifice would further strengthen the bond among the people.
Curfew in Dhubri town has been relaxed on Friday two days after it was imposed following clashes between police and civilians. There is no report of fresh incident in view of Eid-ul-Zoha on Saturday. Shops, markets, offices and banks remained open during the curfew relaxation period. However, educational institutions were closed because of Durga Puja vacation.
In view of the festival, security measures have been augmented in vulnerable areas. Curfew was imposed in the district headquarters after three persons were injured in clashes between two groups in IG road area in this town.
Dispur would soon set up a commission to study the issue of unemployment in the State. It would also suggest measures to eradicate the problem. Disclosing this, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the Commission will comprise experts and besides studying the problem of unemployment in Assam, it will also suggest ways to solve it. The Commission’s report will be out by Bohag Bihu. The Commission will further look at the steps taken by the Government during the past decade to deal with unemployment and success and failure of various schemes.
A 5-day-long celebration of North East is going to be held at Dilli Haat, New Delhi on November 1-5. Titled as "Traffic Jam” the event is around the theme of community and unity. During these days, the event will bring people together around issues that break down community. There will be a special focus on Human Trafficking and in view of recent happenings also on discrimination towards the North East.
The festival will feature two event evenings (November 2nd and 3rd). Both evenings will be an assortment of music, live painting, cultural dances, and street theatre performances interspersed with short talks and presentations. The impact of the festival will be furthered...
In what could be described as a highly-encouraging news for Indian children’s cinema, a script that takes a look at the issue of witch hunting as seen by a small Assamese kid has found itself to be the only non-European project chosen for the co-production market of Cinekid, the world’s largest film, TV and cross-media festival for children.
Adapted from acclaimed Assamese writer Manikuntala Bhattacharjya’s children’s novel “Ishu” by National Award-winning film critic Utpal Borpujari, the script, also titled “Ishu”, is among the 15 film projects chosen to be presented before a high-profile panel of co-producers, distributors and sales agents...
Assam chief minister, Tarun Gogoi on Saturday released the white paper on the implementation of the Assam Accord saying that foreingers are no longer a huge problem to be dealt with. Gogoi claims with facts and figures that influx was on the decline. According to him, immigration was one of the issues like education, health and unemployment. He said that state will start the process for giving voters identity card after the completion final electoral roll.
Union Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday visited the porous Indo-Bangladesh border in Dhubri district on Saturday. Shinde visited the Shishumara and Mohamayachar border areas by a BSF boat to take stock of the unabeted influx from across the border. He inspected the eastern flanks accompanied by senior officials of the Home Ministry and Border Security Force. Earlier, he landed in Guwahati in the morning from Delhi on a day-long visit and took off in a helicopter to the BSF border camp in Panbari near Dhubri.
One more rhino was found dead on Saturday a week after its horn was sawed away by poachers in Kaziranga National Park. The rhino was believed to have been shot at by poachers at Agoratoli range of the Park and its horn was removed on October 13.
Amid Durga puja festivities, a shoot out rocked Guwahati city on Friday where a person lost his live at the hands of a miscreant.The incident took place at Chatribari area where an armed miscreant shot dead a person when he tried to overpower the miscreant. Identified as Brajen Rajbanshi, the victim was rushed to the hospital but died on the way to it. Police officials rushed to the spot and the miscreant manage to flee from the spot.
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