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.
The All Koch Rajbanshi Students Union has called for 1000-hour bandh from first of January 2008 across Assam and north Bengal in protest against the forcible entry of its striking leaders. The district administration on Wednesday rushed the AKRSU activists to the hospital citing deteriorating health while they have been striking for separate Kamatapur from sixteenth of December. They received verbal permission for hunger strike by the district administration. AKARSU president Biswajit Rai said.The proposed 1000-hour bandh is facing stiff opposition from a section of media. But the AKARSU leaders make it plain and simple that they will not reconsider it as the government did not visited...
The Opposition Asom Gana Parishad has promised to change the face of rural Assam with thrust on roads, health, drinking water, electricity, education etc if it is voted in the upcoming panchayat polls. In its panchayat poll manifesto released in the city on Wednesday, party president Brindabon Goswami said, they will ensure decentralisation of powers in the panchayat system to implement developmental schemes through rural bodies. Goswami further said education, agricultural products, village industries will also be in the party's thrust areas.Goswami observed that his party stresses overall development with decentralisation of power in federal structure. He further said with his...
The pragatisheel Asom Gana Parishad will ensure decentralisation of power in the panchayat system if the party is voted to power in the upcoming election.In the party's panchayat manifesto released in the city on Wednesday, Pragatisheel Asom Gana Parishad president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta said beside decentralisation, the regional party will ensure a strengthen financial system in the panchayati raj. The party will further constitute finance panel to make the panchayat system more powerful in financial affairs.Besides, the party's panchayat manifesto promises steps to uplift the schedule tribes and schedule castes people. Moreover, Mahanta said his party has been supporting the...
Hundreds of fish were found dead in Kacharighat last morning in mysterious circumstances. The fish’s watery grave in a pool which is separated from the Brahmaputra by a sandbar is the immersion area of local puja idols became a haunt of curious onlookers as the news of the dead fish spread.The incident came into focus after some local residents observed the dead fish in the otherwise clear water of the pool. And an equal number of sick fishes were also observed fighting for life in the shallow waters near the river bank.Members of the Pollution Control Board, Assam (PCBA) rushed to the spot and began the preliminary investigations regarding the mass deaths. Deepak Barua, Deputy...
In a tragic incident inside the Assam State Zoo on Wednesday a man died while a tiger attacked him while he was trying to capture its photograph with a mobile phone beside the cage.The tiger dissected his hand leaving him seriously injured. Later the person has been rushed to the Gauhati Medical College Hospital where he was declared brought dead.
he police has arrested the striking AKARSU activist from the city on Wednesday morning. Earlier, the ailing activists have been rushed to the hospital in view of their detoriating health condition. The activists have been staging hunger strike demanding separate Kamatapur. Various political parties, organisations and individuals have visited the protesters and expressed their solidarity. But the government has yet to address them.
The Reserve Bank of India is setting up a committee to suggest the measures to uplift the bank scenario in the north eastern region.Talking to reporters in the sidelines of a function on Tuesday, its regional director regional director Sewali Chaudhory said banking activities in this region has not been satisfactory over the years compared to other fronts of the country.Meanwhile, the Vijaya bank has a business worth Rs 3000 crore in this region.
A capacity building programme on Domestic Violence Act, 2005, was recently organised by the Integrated Rural Artisans’ Development Organisation (IRADO), a premier North East-based NGO.According to information, organisation chairperson Bonojit Talukdar explained the objective of the program saying awareness among women in general and rural artisans in particular about the Act was a must.He said domestic violence has adversely affected artisans, weavers and their productivity. Social activist and head of Nirmal Ashroy, an NGO, MR Kalsi said in the North East, violence against women has been seen.Another social activist Rupasree Bora Bordoloi said to save oneself from domestic violence,...
It’s a major embarrassment for the Assam government. The adivasi outfit ANLA has categorically denied its involvement in the Beltala violence on November 24.ANLA leader Bikash Munda said the outfit is not involved in the incident in any way.While he was taken to produce in the court, the arrested ANLA leader further pleaded his ignorance when asked whether the outfit was involved in the blast on Rajdhani Express in Golaghat district. The state government has been suspecting ANLA’s hands in the Beltala mayhem.Briefing media recently, the Assam government spokesman Himanta Biswa Sarma did not rule out adivasi outfit ANLA’s involvement in the incident.Notably, police...
The Assam unit of Bharatiya Janata Party vows to eliminate all corruption in the panchayat system if the party is voted in the upcoming panchayat polls. In its poll manifesto released in the city on Tuesday, the party promised steps to control the prices of essential commodities and also steps for overall development of the people.After its victory in the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council, the Assam BJP unit target the panchayat polls to steal the march. In its manifesto for the panchayat polls, the party promised that the party, if voted, will make an end to the on going corruptions in the implementations of the schemes for old age pension, widow pension. The party further alleged that...
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