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.
26 Jan 2015 - 6:00pm | editor
Hours after Tarun Gogoi allocated portfolios to his new council of ministers, the chief ministers exuded his confidence on Monday that the ministers would deliver the goods. Talking to reporters...
27 Sep 2014 - 9:38pm | AT News
Oil India announces Rs 1,200 crore investment in the state to revamp the pump stations of pipelines for carrying crude to refineries. The announcement came from OIL Chairman and Managing Director...
12 Mar 2014 - 10:04am | AT News
Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath is on a day long visit to Guwahati to take stock of the preparation for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls slated for April 7, 12 and 24.Sampath is reviewing the...
21 Mar 2018 - 10:48pm | AT News Imphal
IMPHAL, Mar 21: Airing fresh voice against non-implementation of 7th Central Pay in Manipur, the Joint Administrative Council (JAC) of All Manipur Trade Unions’ Council (AMTUC) and All Manipur...
The recent declaration by the United Nations to commemorate October 2 ( birthday of Mahatma Gandhi) as 'International Day of Non violence' is simply a reassertion of the need for a violence free society. The year 2007 is the centenary year of the Satyagrah Movement launched by the Apostle of Peace.Nothing much seems to have changed on this front. The world today has become a cauldron of hate and strife. As our aspirations scale new economic heights and our possessions multiply, our tolerance and sensitivity levels get reduced.Whether it is the cruelty of the military junta in Myanmar, the suppression of democracy in Pakistan, the threat of the Taliban in Afghanistan, the continued...
Assam thrashed Tripura 6-0 in their inaugural match of the first N E Challenge Cup Hockey Tournamnt which got under way at the Md Tayabulla Hockey stadium on Sunday. Prasanta Das (3), N Ibomcha Sing, Lalthazula and M Ramen scored the goals for the winner.Meanwhile Manipur got walk over in the inaugural match of the tournament as Nagaland, their first opponent, failed to turn up to play the championship. Earlier the meet was inaugurated by G M Srivastav, the president of the North East Hockey Association, in a simple function which was also attended by the sports commissioner Pradip Hazarika.
More than 3000 young professional NRIs in 58 locations across US and other countries including India, participated in a global vigil for farmers. "The tragic farmers' suicides are, finally, an extreme symptom of a much deeper rural distress - the result of a decade-long onslaught on the livelihoods of millions. The crisis now goes way beyond the families ravaged by the suicides" says senior journalist P Sainath, who was also awarded the 2007 Magsaysay Award.Just in Vidarbha, 836 farmers had committed suicide in 2007. Undoubtedly it is a wake-up call after years of neglect the farmers have been facing. Remarkably, these vigils drew thousands from urban India and NRI community who...
The Journalists' Forum, Assam on Thursday urged the Government of India to create diplomatic pressure on the Burmese junta to refrain from repressive measures against those carrying on the democracy movement in the country. In a citizens' meeting at the Guwahati Press Club with JFA president Rupam Baruah in chair, the newsmen's body asked the Union Government not to remain silent on the happenings in the neighbouring country and do the needful within its powers to facilitate a peaceful transition to democracy. Extending its whole-hearted support to the movement, the Forum demanded that Aung San Suu Kyi, the globally recognized pro-democracy leader, be immediately released from...
A citizens meeting has been convened on October 4 to discuss various Burma issues in the city. Organized by the Journalists' Forum, Assam, the meeting will commence from 2 pm at Guwahati Press Club. Mentionable that the recent uprising in the military ruled country that is adjacent to northeast, a number of people (including a Japani photojournalist) were killed. To suppress the pro-democracy campaigners and also the media, the Burmese junta (the present group of Generals is known as State Peace and Development Council) has already taken numerous unethical means, where the military continued massive crackdown on the unarmed monks and the common Burmese with strict restriction on the...
Indian Cricket League (ICL) has picked-up another cricketer from Assam and this time it is the former Ranji captain Zakaria Zuffri.The wicketkeeper batsman has signed the contract paper in Guwahati on Saturday.With Zuffri, altogether six players from Assam, had signed the rebel Indian Cricket League. Abu Nascim Ahamed, Parvez Aziz and Sujay Tarafdar joined the party first and later Pritam Das and Arlen Konwar followed their steps.Commenting on his decision to join the ICL, which is a brainchild of the Subhash Chandra-owned Essel Group, Zakaria said, "I was overlooked by the Assam Cricket Association for the last few years and I was also not sure whether they will give me proper...
The Assam police and district administration, who will involve with the security related matter in the forthcoming One day International match between India and Pakistan, will take several steps to ensure that the match can be organized without any trouble. As an extra step of caution this time they are planning not to allow spectators to go inside even with packet food.A discussion in this regard already held recently in the office of the deputy commissioner ,Kamrup (metro), which was attended by the officials of the Assam Cricket Association and the state police department. Later a joint team from the Assam Police and the district administration visited the Nehru Stadium, the venue of the...
GUWAHATI: The cricket season of the state will get under way with the S P Barooah Cricket Tournament, which will begin at Railway stadium, Maligaon, from October two. Altogether six teams, including three from outside the state, will be seen in action in the tournament.As per the schedule, released by the Assam Cricket Association (ACA), the President XI will face Assam 'A' in the inaugural tie of the tournament. The other teams in the meet are Secretary XI, CAB XI, Tripura Cricket Association XI and RS Academy, Delhi. All the group league matches will be two-day affairs while the final will be a three-day game.Meanwhile cash award will also be introduced in the championship from...
Kaziranga National Park (KNP) has lost a total of 44 animals in the three floods in 2007, starting from June 19, July 27 and September 5. However, in the first wave of floods no animal had died. In the second wave of floods, 3 rhinos, 3 wild boars, 2 swamp deer and 10 hog deer got drowned, 8 hog deer, one wild buffalo got drowned and a civet cat were hit by vehicles. And during the third wave of floods, vehicles hit 8 hog deer. One rhino was also killed by miscreants. This was revealed at a press meet, by KNP director S Buragohain on September 20. Bankim Sarmah, DFO, Eastern Wildlife Division, Bokakhat, also attended the press meet and added that the flood had washed away 5 wooden bridges...
Guwahati: Applications from competent reporter-journalists are invited for the 3rd GNRC media fellowship 2007-08 to study the healthcare scenario in Northeast India. The three-month long fellowship, conceived by Dr NC Borah, CMD of GNRC hospital and implemented with the help of Guwahati Press Club, is open to all mid-career journalists based in the region. The applicant must be a working journalist and have experiences for at least three years in any filed of print, visual or web journalism. The fellows will receive Rs 10,000 (ten thousand only) per month that would commence from December 1, 2007.The number of fellows has been increased this time to five, where two seats will be reserved...
Comments
Pages
Add new comment