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.
One died and eleven others have been left injured at an accidental blast at an aluminum factory in Lahwal in Dibrugarh district. According to information, the blast took place at around 12-15 but the reason has yet to be ascertained. The injured people have been rushed to the Assam medical College Hospital, Dibrugarh but the one grievously injured died on the way. Investigation is going on.
MP from Dibrugarh Sarbananda Sonowal has demanded Centre’s intervention to check poachings of rhinos in the Kaziranga National Park. In a statement released here, he expressed grave concern over the continuing poaching cases and demanded immediate intervention of environment minister S Raghupathi saying the Assam government has been failing to protect the Kaziranga National Park. Mr Sonowal observed that that the state forest department is busy in mudslinging instead of taking steps to check poachings in the national park.
Hundreds of AASU activists are staging demonstrations on Thursday in front of the Kaziranga National Park alleging the park authorities’ failure to protect the rhinos and other animals from poachings which have been a regular features these days. They, further demand forest minister Rockybul Hussain’s resignation saying he has no moral right at a time when a good number of rhinos have been killed during his regime.
Participants at the protest rally against kidnapping, killing and anti-social activities to the business community in Dimapur organized by Dimapur Naga Student's Union (DNSU) at Dimapur on 07-02-08. Recently kidnapping for ransom to the business community of the state commercial hub has been increasing by some unidentified gunmen where state administration also could not trace. Pix by UB Photos.
“My father Sir Keith Cantlie served in the Indian Civil Service from 1910 till his retirement in 1947. So, in a way I consider myself daughter of Assam, a land of outstanding natural beauty with distant views of the snow and Himalayas” With her disarming smile simple down to earth and smiling manner the bespectacled Dr. Audrey Cantlie welcomes you with a big smile at her door at Oxford street as if somebody of her own. She has an emotional bond for Assam and the Assamese people. I still remember the day I met her sometime in September, 1998 at SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies, London) I introduce myself as an Assamese I could see the sparkle in her eyes: said to me...
North Eastern Region (NER) comprising of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura are all special category States and the national planning and resource allocations impart a special emphasis on the economic and social development of the region. The development plans in the North East are centrally financed on the basis of 90% grant and 10% loan. The Department of Higher Education has launched a number of schemes for the educational development in the region to be implemented through State Governments and through the agencies other than State Governments viz. autonomous bodies/NGOs, etc. As per the instant Government orders, Department of Higher...
It was a handful of Assamese families, who were residents of the national capital just after India attained its Independence, who got together to form “ASOM SANGHA”, an informal organization basically meant to be a platform to occasionally get together on social occasions and help one another to keep in touch with their home state. At that time, there were hardly about a dozen Assamese families in New Delhi. The first president was Mahendra Mohan Choudhury, who later became the Chief Minister of Assam, and the general secretary was Debendra Pal Das. It’s been 60 years since then, and the NCR region’s Assamese population that includes permanent residents,...
Two Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) militants have been killed in an encounter with Army in the Nambor Reserve Forest in Golaghat district in Assam on Thursday. According to information, the militants were caught in a fierce fighting with the 66 Field Regiment jawans in the Forest areas. An AK-56 rifle and a grenade were recovered from the slain militants. Security forces are continuing operations in the area. The militants have yet to be identified.
Situation still is remaining tense in Barama following the killing of Bodo leader Babul Swargiary by unidentified miscreants on Sunday. According to information, Bharat Ramchiari, a leader of the BPPF youth wing and a loyalist of Hagrama Mohilary, was behind the incident. The Bodoland Peace Forum president Bhraman Baglari alleged that Ramchiary had killed Swargiari.
The Reliance Communications has received government nod to provide CDMA services under the existing Unified Access Service Licences in the entire north eastern region. The Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has granted in-principle permission to its subsidiary Reliance Telecom in this regard, RComm said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange. The RTL would offer CDMA services also in addition to its existing GSM services in Assam and Northeast service areas.
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