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.
Amid an elaborate security arrangement 42 lakh voters are voting on Wednesday in the third phase of panchayat polls. the polling began in the morning to end at 5 in the evening. Asa many as 38,000 candidates are in the fray in this phase. The poll-share slated for 141 zila parishad constituencies, 741 anchalik panchayat members, 741 Gaon panchayat presidents and 7410 gaon panchayat members.
On the eve of the third phase of panchayat poll, Gauripur legislator andan associate of the ruling Congress and two others have been seriously injury while they were beaten up by the local people on Tuesday wee hours for distributing blankets after the end of poll campaign.According to information, the MLA Mohibol Haque was distributing blankets at a secret poll meeting on Monday midnight in Gauripur. Local people rushed to the spot and mired in altercation. Mr Haque fled from the spot but the people of the area followed him an assaulted him. His security personnels opened fire but fell injured.Later Gauripur police came and rescued the MLA and rushed to the Guwahati medical College...
The Assam Government is drafting a proposal to ban three more outfits operating in the state. According to information, Dispur seeks ban on All Adivasi National Liberation Army (AANLA), Dima Halam Daoga (Jewel) and the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF).The government has hoped that it will boost the anti-insurgency operations in the state.
The struggle against poverty must be linked with the ongoing struggles for land rights, restoring dignity to human life, and against the value system which makes most under-represented communities vulnerable to undue exploitation, is the essence of the documentary film 'The Padyatra' ('Padyatra' means a foot-march).Making of the documentary 'The Padyatra' was an attempt to educate the masses about their human rights and constitutional safeguards meant for them, said senior social activist and film-maker of 'The Padyatra' Mr Vidya Bhushan Rawat. Rawat has made several documentaries and authored many books on issues around human rights, dalits, women and minorities."Democracy can only...
Veteran Assamese film producer, director, three-time National Award winner Siva Prasad Thakur passed away at Guwahati on 05-01-08 at an age of 71. He died after brief illness. Thakur directed films as well as documentaries in Assamese. Some of his famous films are 'Bowaari', 'Son Moina', 'Asaanta Prahaar' and 'Aheer Bhoirab'. Pix by UB Photos.
The flow of picnic parties to the soil conservation premises at Kahara, Karbi Anglong district on January 1 was less in comparison to its previous years. Only 137 parties came to this attractive spot for picnic this year. The Karbi Anglong forest department earned Rs. 7,040100 while on the otherhand it had earned Rs 18, 260.00 from 246 picnic parties in January 1, 2007, and Rs. 1,37,000.00 for the whole year.KOUSHIK HAZARIKA
A two-day media workshop for mid career journalists has begun at Guwahati Press Club today. Organized by the School of Journalism, Southern Illinois University Carbondale (USA) in association with GPC, the workshop is aimed at strengthening media professionalism and the NGO-media interface in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka for HIV/AIDS coverage. The workshop witnesses participation of journalists and the Non-Governmental Organizations workers. The first session of the workshop was addressed by Dr SI Ahmed, chairman of AIDS Prevention Society, who highlighted the convincing role of media in fighting against the HIV-AIDS menace around the globe. The programme is led by two American faculty...
The lady is a social worker with a unique talent. She renders melodious songs in Assamese, Bangali and other languages in different places in order to collect donations for 'Thalassaemia patients'. The name of the lady is Sarbani Mazumdar. She is the wife of Bhibas Mazumdar, a resident of Kandi in the district of Murshidabad in West Bengal. She visited Raha on December 26 last and sang a number of songs before a large crowd. On that vary day her singing talent and efforts for the benefit of 'Thalassaemia patients' was highly praised and appreciated by all. The gatherings donated her Rs 3,000 for her cause.
Monthly magazine Jiban has selected top 10 persons of the year 2007 as below: Indira PP Bora whose tireless efforts have brought sattriya dance to the international stage. In 2007, she toured UK and conducted demonstrations, lectures, workshops in leading universities, museums and prime dance locations. In the same year, she also marked her golden jubilee year of dancing career. She has been an icon in establishing sattriya as career option and developing awareness among the new generation. Umananda Duwarah of Moran, a curator of cultural heritage. His own museum has over 1,700 gramophone records that include the original voices of Jyotiprasad, Bishnu Rabha and Phani Sarma, besides the...
Pressure has been mounting against the detention of Dr Binayak Sen in Chattisgarh with swelling number of people demanding unconditional and immediate release of Sen. Petitions addressed to the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Chattisgarh Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh, and others are swelling with numbers of people signing up from not only India but from expatriate community globally. Association for India's Development activists expressed their grave disappointment at the rejection of Dr Sen's bail by the Supreme Court of India. Dr Sen was arrested on 14 May 2007 under the draconian law - Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act (CSPSA) 2006, which gives the state...
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