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.
Four awarded Assamese films – Agnisnan by Dr Bhabendra Nath Saikia, Hkhagoroloi Bohu Door by internationally acclaimed Jahnu Barua, Joimoti of Manju Borah, Aideu by Arup Manna and two documentaries Hastir Kanya by Prabin Hazarika, and Koihatir Dhulia by Hemanta Das – will be screened at the Dhaka International Film Festival beginning on Thursday. These will be screened under the title ‘Films from Assam – The Amazing Reel Life’, at the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka in the nine-day festival, stated a press release issued by the Assam Short Film (Finance...
Two hardcore ULFA militants surrendered before security forces Dibrugarh district on Wednesday. Both of them belong to the outfit's crack unit -- 28th battalion. They are Bhaimon Changmai and Bina Payeng who deposited a 9-mm pistol, one magazine and six rounds of live ammunition in Dibrugarh while they laid down thier arms. Dibrugarh deputy commissioner Ashutosh Agnihotri, superintendent of police Anurag Agarwal, CRPF commanding officer G S Sodhi and Army 11 Guards Regiment commanding officer Col D K Singh were present at the fuction.
Large scale violence in the form of booth capturing marred the third phase of panchayat polling in Nagaon district on Wednesday. The incident took place in the early hours at the two booths at the 48th and 49th Rajabari Muktab School. In the morning a group of five youth Congress activists suddenly forcibly stormed to the booths. The polling officials and the waiting voters prevented them from voting. The polling was suspended till 10-30. Later two ballot boxes were examined in full view of the Nagaon superintendent of police and some voters. No anomalies were found and the polling resumed.
Canara Bank organised a training camp in Guwahati in collaboration with the Kahikuchi Agruculture Science Centre. Altogether thirty two women participated in the two day training camp which ended on Wednesday. The participants were given away certificates at a function presided over by Deputy general manager of the bank Ravindra Nath Misra.
The Asom Sahitya Sabha has served an ultimatum for Dispur to ensure Assamese language in all administrative functionings by April 14. It further threatened to sit in stir from fifteenth of April if the government fails to implement it within this periodAddressing a press conference in the city, on Wednesday Asom Sahitya Sabha president Kanaksen Deka said the organisation would urge to the people not to cooperate with the government if it fails to enforce mother tongue in all the official functioning by fourteenth of April.Mr Deka said after the seventh January incident, a delegation of the Sabha called on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and submitted a memorandum. On seventh of January, several...
The police has arrested top ranked AANLA leader Rupen Lakra during an operation in Bokajan in Karbi Anglong district on Wedenesday. The police further claimed that Rupen was in charge of Karbi Anglong district. The police dug a portion of Baghjan field and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition. These include three AK-47 Rifles, two .31 rifles, 20 US carbine, Twenty five .351 bullets, 70 rounds of 9 9mm bullets, 155 rounds of AK-47 rifle bullets, 3 grenades, 6 hand grenades, one N-16 rifle, 4 highly explosive bombs, one grenade launcher besides an AK-47 magzine.
The name of the fellows for the 3rd GNRC media fellowship (2007-08) has been declared. Three promising reporters namely Lakhyajit Gohain (Dainik Janambhumi), Kishore Kumar Bhuyan (Dainik Batori) and Samya Bharadwaj (Amar Asom) have been selected for the three-month long fellowship.The media fellowship programme, conceived by Dr NC Borah, CMD of GNRC Hospital and implemented with the help of Guwahati Press Club is expected to provide the fellows an opportunity to study the present healthcare scenario in Northeast India.Each fellow will receive Rs 10,000 (ten thousand only) per month as remuneration. Till date, seven journalists of Assam have successfully completed the GNRC media fellowship....
Large scale rigging, booth capturing and other forms of violence have marred the third phase of panchayat polls in Hailakandi district. Despite an elaborate security arrangment, rigging have been reported in altogether 400 polling booths out of 621 booths in the Barak valley district.Besides, hundreds of polling officials have been beaten up by the miscreants from early in the morning and even these miscreants severed a hand of polling officer. The cases of violence have forced thousands voters to stay inside their houses. As a result, more than fifty booths failed to drew even a single voter.The annoyed polling officials later set on fire the polling materials at the controlling office...
Rigging and booth capturing is reported in many places of Assam in the third phase of pnachayat polls which is going on. According to information, a booth capturing incident rocked Morigaon district in the first half hours. In Barpeta a few booths have been captured by the miscreants. Similar incidents have been reported in Barak valley also. The voting began at 7 in the morning to end at 5 in the evening. Turn out so far is said to be seventy per cent.
Before the repolling in Raonamukh and Alokpur in Gohpur Assembly constituency on Wednesday miscreants set ablez a bridge in Rajabari. Later police and fire officials rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Meanwhile repolling is going on in some centres.
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