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 bid to spread peace and social harmony in BTAD areas, a delegation of senior most journalists visited Bilasipara on Friday as a part of the Goodwill Mission. Led Dr Anupam Kumar Roy, the team comprised 15 editors of the local dailies. The team had a meeting with the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Bilasipara JVN Subramanyam who had apprised them of the initiatives of the administration towards restoring peace and normalcy in the Sub-Division. The delegation also enquired about the status of the health care facilities and relief materials being given to them by the administration. While interacting with the camp inmates the delegation told them to return to their places of residence and...
Life in BTAD areas and Dhubri district is rapidly limping back to normal. The last 48 hours are incident-free where curfew has been temporarily lifted from dawn to dusk. Same it is in Tezpur, Howly and Barpeta Road and Aam Bagan where situation improves gradually. Now the focus shifts to rehabilitation of the displaced people.
The Supreme Court has rushed a special team to assess the situation in BTAD areas and Dhubri district on Friday. Consisting of a group special commissioners the team is on a two days visit to Kokrajhar and Chirang districts where they took stock of the relief measures.
The team called on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi in the evening in Dispur who appraised the team of the measures to ensure early rehabilitation of the displaced people.
The issue of the crippling bandh calls on Monday and Tuesday reached the Gauhati High Court which on Friday asks for an affidavit from the government. Taking up a public interest litigation filed by Arun Pathak, a division bench of the court fixed September 29 as the date of hearing of the plea. Pathak, in his PIL has demanded Rs 10 crore from Bajrang Dal and AMSU for causing damage to public property during the band calls on August 27 and 28. The PIL assumes significance a day after Dispur threatened to take action against the bandh calls from one month.
Unable to get back to their homes, many of the people displaced by the floods and the conflict in Assam are staying in overcrowded camps with no access to basic amenities like drinking water and sanitation. Unhygienic conditions and lack of electricity has only made their plight worse.
Over 4 lakh people in Assam probably never ever imagined that their lives would one day be like this. For over 40 days, children have not attended school, not eaten proper food and have not moved out of the camp area.
While flood affected people continue to stay on “platform” (mound of land) as they call it, conflict impacted people have taken shelter in relief camps. Nearly three and half...
The violence-hit people in BTAD areas would be rehabilitated only after proper verification of relevant documents. This was what a group of ministers decided at a meeting in Dispur on Friday. Chaired by senior minister Prithbi Majhi, the meeting decided to end the identification process by September 6.
Tezpur police have arrested on Friday in connection with the violence during the AMSU-sponsored Assam bandh on Tuesday. They were arrested from Bhujchapori area. They include some a few AMSU leaders and panchayat members who turned violent. They were arrested from Bhujchapori area. They include some a few AMSU leaders and panchayat members who turned violent.
Normalcy is back to BTAD areas. There is no report of any untoward incident in these areas during the last 24 hours. Now the focus shifts to rehabilitation of the displaced people. District administrations in Kokrajhar, Chirang, Bagsa and Dhubri are gearing up to send to refugees back from the camps with required assistance for the process.
Despite deteriorating health, Mahendra Das is firm on fast unto death inside the Jorhat Central Jail. Das, whose fate hangs in balance due to an unfinished death sentence, said on Thursday that he won’t relent. Das, on Wednesday night was rushed the hospital following deteriorated health. But was taken back to the jail when his condition improved on Thursday morning. Das, a resident of Jorhat was convicted in a murder case after he beheaded a person 18 years ago and surrendered before police with the head. President confirmed his death sentence but still it mires in controversy.
A special train is scheduled to leave Guwahati for Bangalore on Saturday to carry the north east people who would be back to Karnataka to resume work.Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Thursday, chief minister Tarun Gogoi said that those who left the southern city, mostly, are keen to go back to their job locations. The train, with 14 sleeper class coaches, will leave Guwahati railway station at 1.15 on Saturday.The train service is being started after the Assam and Karnataka governments asked the railways to help thousands of students and workers who had arrived home from Bangalore, Hyderabad and other southern cities following rumours of a backlash over the ethnic clashes in...
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