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.
A fake financial institute has once again duped lakhs of customers during the last two year. The institution in question is Jivan Surakhya Group. Proprietor Chandan Das, who has recently sold out a satellite TV news channel is absconding. That too a week ahead of the date of payments to its agents and customers.Hundreds of customers vandalized its Hatigaon based office on Wednesday a day after another section of customers did it in Sonari at Sivasagar. Police have already registered a case against Das who is remaining untraced.
Rows and rows of earthen lamps and worship of tulsi plants marked the kati Bihu with traditional religious fervor across the state on Wednesday. In the rural areas people planted tusli plants seeking divine help to keep their paddy fields fine. Paddy fields were also kept shining with earthen lamps in the evening.Notably, the Kati Bihu fervor failed to reach Lakhimpur, Dhemaji and Majuli along with other flood ravaged areas on Wednesday.
Police arrested two infamous dacoits in connection with a robbery case at Kamrup Rural district on Wednesday afternoon.Police picked up the duo - Babu Ali and Dildar Ali - from a dhaba at Kalajal in Baihata police station when they had gone there to have a meal.
It’s a narrow escape from a powerful explosion in Barpeta Road. Police recovered a powerful bomb from a train track in Barpeta Road railway station on Wednesday.Weighing 800 gm, the explosive was planted with electrical wires, was hidden under boulders of track number one on platform two.After noticing it, a local resident informed the police who later defused the bomb at around 9.30 in the morning. But by then a train left the spot.Police cordoned off the area and took away the bomb to be safely defused later. A letterhead of a little known insurgent outfit 'Bengali Sangram Mukti Bahini' was found near the bomb.
Pride of Assam Mirdu Paswan Joon strikes a silver medal at the Indo-Sri Lanka Karate Championship 2012, held in Colombo.The Karate player received the second position in the Senior Male Black Belt Kumite event organised by the World Sunakoshi Sutukan Karate Organisation, Sri Lanka.
Dima Hasao hill district is all set to get chopper service and a wildlife sanctuary. The proposal is in its initial stage. Authorities call it a major boost on the district’s tourism front. It would further help the hills district improve surface connectivity. Sources told assamtimes that the recent agreement between DHD and Centre has no dearth of provisions to set up these.
In what could be termed as a mega cultural event, internationally acclaimed Sarod player Ustad Amjad Ali Khan will be performing in the city for the first time. The Sarod maestro will be accompanied by his two sons – Amaan Ali Khan and Ayaan Ali Khan, who have both nurtured out to be prodigies in themselves.This was informed by North East Zone Cultural Centre (NEZCC) Director Som Kamei in a crowded press conference in their cultural amphitheatre Shilpgram here today. Assam Governnor JB Patnaik will be the Chief Guest and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi will be the Guest of Honour in the event. NEZCC Chairman Nikhil Kumar, who is also the Governor of Nagaland, will be the Chief Host of the...
Good news for government employees. Dispur has raised the Dearness Allowance and Dearness Relief for its employees and pensioners from 65 to 72 per cent. The revision is effective from July 1.Following the increase, the DA will be at par with Central Government employees. The arrear will be paid in cash and an additional expenditure of Rs 400 crore will be incurred by the Government during the current financial year.
Atleast three children were feared to have met watery grave after two boats collided in the river Brahmaputra in Barpeta district on Tuesday.The incident took place on Monday midnight when a country-made boat collided with another boat in the Brahmaputra river at the remote Pub Aandabhanga-Saldiyapara area of Chenga. Over 50 passengers travelling in the two boats were rescued or were able to swim ashore, three kids are missing. They were identified as Sanidul Hoque, Kamal Badshah, Phulbahatan Nesa.
A 18 member gang of poachers who have been behind the killing of least ten rhinos in Kaziranga National Park over the past three years have been arrested.The gang leader Lyngdoh Rongpi was arrested from Jamelangshu hills on Monday night and based on his interrogation his accomplices were netted at a village in Bokolia.According to information, two forest employees were also held on suspicion of killing the one-horned pachyderm.An AK-47 rifle, 37 rounds of ammunition, two 303 rifles and one gun were seized from them.
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