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.
In a major achievement for police, a huge cache of arms and ammunition was seized in Bokajan. The arms and ammunition were intercepted from a Bolero car at Khatkhati during a routine checking. Four persons were arrested when they were on their way to Manipur from Saujang. The arrested persons were identified as Antony Changloi, Lalboi Kitgen, Kakar Hauki, Jalang Palalng Thuralai. These arms include an AK-47 rifle, one AK-56 rifle, one M-16 rifle along with 700 rounds of live bullets.
A protest meeting organised by Journalists’ Protection Committee Assam at Guwahati Press Club today urged the authority to nab the culprits involved in the assassination of Raihanul Naium, a reporter of Gana Chabuk, in Dhubri on September 8 evening. The meeting also resolved to organise a State wide protest demonstration on September 16 next. Various speakers in the meeting also expressed their concern at the conspiracy, hatched by some anti-social elements to divide the journalist community of Assam on religious bases, and appealed every one to remain alert against such forces.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi leaves for New Delhi on Wednesday on a three days visit to the national capital.According to sources, apart from his schedule to call on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Gogoi is scheduled to meet prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Union home minister Sushil Kumar Shindhe to apprise them of the prevailing law and order situation in BTAD areas and Dhubri. Gogoi is also scheduled to give a courtesy visit to President Pranab Mukherjee before wrapping his visit.
After a brief respite from ethnic frenzy, Bongaigaon skips into yet another orgy of violence when ULFA exploded a powerful grenade leaving one dad and three others injured. But the ULFA member who made the grenade attack was captured hours after the incident. He has confessed the nefarious deed saying that the target was the security forces. The blast took in Bongaigaon township near a flyover on Tuesday evening.
Notably, on September 8, a CRPF man was killed and 12 others injured in an IED blast at Paltan Bazar in Guwahati.
Delhi police have arrested a youth accusing him along with three of his associates of gang raping a girl from Assam. The 16-year-old girl was allegedly confined at a house in Khyala in west Delhi for seven days where they raped her repeatedly. The rapists released her when the victim’s health deteriorated. Later she approached police and filed an FIR. She reached Raghubir Nagar on Imran’s direction to spend the night at his friend Nawal Kishore’s house. A case of rape was filed with Khyala police station after a medical test of the victim, and Nawal and his wife Shabeena were arrested.
A unique dance-drama docu-feature will be the focal point of attraction at first annual festival on Sankaradeva is slated be held in Delhi from Thursday. Talking to assamtimes, organizers in the national capital said that the event aims at creating awareness among the people in Delhi on the cultural heritage of Assam. The event will begin with a presentation on the diverse facets of life and teachings of Sankaradeva and his cultural geniuses.
This will be followed by an hour-long dance drama "Chordhora Jhumura", directed by Nirupoma Mahanta with technical support from the National School of Drama. "Veteran actor Victor Banerjee, who shares an emotional attachment with Assam, is the brand...
After months of will-it-wont-it, Ekhon Nedekha Nadir Xiphare' will hit the silver screen on Friday. Produced by National Film Development Corporation on Majuli river island, the total budget of the films stands at Rs 2.5 crore. Veteran actor Victor Banerjee along with actors Sanjay Suri, Bidita Bag, Raj Zutshi, Nakul Baid, Naveed Aslam, Preeti Jhangiani would be seen in action along with singer Zubeen Garg who has acted in the film. The film includes a recording of Hazarika in its opening credits, in which he narrates poetic verses about his favourite Luit witnessing the follies of human beings through time in silence.
The Energy and Resourses Institute (TERI) North East Regional Centre,Guwahati organized a day long farmers training programme at Kalaigaon on September 5.The training programme was held at Swahid Bhawan, Kalaigaon in association with Green Society,Udalguri.The theme of the programme was focused on Quality planting material and crop production under Technology Mission – Mini Mission.
The training programme was inaugurated by Jagadish Sarkar,MCLA,BTC at 11 AM. On the occasion,Sarkar explained about various schemes undertaken by BTC authority for farmers. At the same time expressed his regret for farmers of Kalaigaon not getting due benefits from BTC due to technical problems. He said...
Yet another rape incident of Assamese sends shockwave in Delhi. But the rapist has been booked. The incident took place on Saturday where a 19-year old woman from Assam working as a house-maid in Miyanwali Nagar in West Delhi was raped. That too by a 55 year old man who was arrested immediately after the victim lodged the complaint. Police has registered a case in this regard at Miyanwali Nagar police station and arrested the accused. The woman had been working in Delhi for some time and she used to live with her maternal aunt in Nihal Vihar area. She was raped 15 days ago, when other family members were away from the house. The accused allegedly forced him upon her when she was cleaning...
The shoot-at-sight orders in the curfew-bound Dhubri town seems to have worked where there no fresh incidents of violence in the area during the last 12 hours. The Saturday victim was identified as Raihanu Naim, a scribe associated with ‘Gana Chabuk. Miscreants tried to set the two houses on fire, the fire was doused with the prompt arrival of thepolice and fire brigade. Tension has been prevailing in Dhubri district following an incident of theft and vandalising of a Kali temple on Saturday. Over 14 persons have been arrested in connection with the incidents of Saturday
Comments
Pages
Add new comment