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.
Security forces claimed to have killed a hardcore ULFA man during an encounter in Goalpara district on Monday. The encounter took place at Krishnai bordering Meghalaya in the wee hours when police launched an operation against the ULFA men who have been hiding in the area. Identified as Ruhit Rabha, the ULFA militant died on the spot while four others managed to flee from the spot. Later, police recovered some arms and ammunition from the spot. Operation is on to trace the four other militants.
The stage is set. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri on Tuesday. The AICC general secretary is likely to be accompanied by Digvijay Singh. Taling to assamtimes, APCC officials informed that Gandhi will visit some of the areas of the Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang on Tuesday to take stock of the relief and rehabilitation measuresadopted by the state government for the violence hit people in the three districts.
A beefed up security scenario on Saturday failed to avert a powerful grenade explosion in Guwahati where a CRPF jawan lost his life and at least ten others, mostly CRPF jawans injured in Platanbazar. The deceased CRPF jawans was identified as Bhawani Singh who succumbed to injuries on the way to the GMCH. The injured have been rushed to the GMCH for treatment. They have been identified as Rajnil Gandhi, Bori Tanti, Ashok Khandakar, Babu Das, Dilip Kumar Sarma, Demsa Devi, Saheda Begum, Manoj Kumar, Upar Singh, Rinki Sarma, Umanath Sahani.
Trouble brews for a cabinet minister a few days after the prime accused of a sensation massacre was found dead. Seven local organizations on Saturday asked Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to drop cabinet minister Akon Bora who, they alleged, was involved in the massacre in Jugdal two years back. Talking to reporters these local organizations alleged that the prime accused Arjun Bordoloi was killed by Bora only to destroy the evidence of his involvement in the Jugdal case.
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit the trouble hit Kokrajhar, Chirang and Dhubri districts on Tuesday. According to APCC, Gandhi would be accompanied by Digvijay Singh. Gandhi will visit some of the areas of the Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang on Tuesday to take stock of the relief and rehabilitation measures.
Despite round-the-clock-vigil, miscreants time and again have been targeting Guwahati in the form of bomb explosion. A CRPF jawans was killed and nine others have been injured when suspected ULFA militants exploded a powerful grenade in the city on Saturday. The explosion took place at around 7-45 in the evening with a sound near the Paltanbazar police station where at least people, mostly CRPF jawans injured. One of them succumbed to his injuries on the way to GMCH.
The third special train to Bangalore is likely to leave Guwahati on Sep 20 to facilitate the return of those who had fled Bangalore and some other south Indian cities last month after rumours of attacks on people from the northeast. The state government will pay the cost of train tickets for those who are willing to return. According to the Northeast Frontier Railway, the notification is expected in a day or two.
The Assam government had also directed the Transport Secretary to issue instructions to all the Deputy Commissioners in the state to register the details of the people who inquire about the special train Sep 20 through the helpline created by the state government.
The second Bangalore bound special train will leave Guwahati on Saturday. The train is expected to carry over 1000 north east people back to the southern city who arrived in Guwahati fearing attack. Passengers can board the train only from Guwahati, Kamakhya, Rangia, New Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar railway stations. The passengers, who board the Bangalore special Saturday, will also get their tickets reimbursed.
Thousands of people took to the streets in Sivasagar, Jorhat and Dibrugarh districts on an all out war against Bangladeshi immigrants on Friday. Over 30 local organizations in Moran, Amguri and Golaghat took out huge processions demanding steps to detect and deport the immigrants. Amid the simmering protest, several suspected Bangladeshi immigrants were held in Sivasagar, Jorhat and Dibrugarh districts who were detained by police.
The entire state erupts in an all out drive against Bangladeshi immigrants after the influx awareness drive. Local residents in Sivasagar district have apprehended five suspected immigrants and handed them over to police on Friday. They were held at Namtola near Sonari in the wee hours and later were handed over to police. Local residents have claimed that they had no convincing evidence.Earliar on Thursday evening local residents in Seleng near Moriani in Jorhat district held to immigrants while 5 others managed to escape.
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