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.
A BSF jawan was caught red handed in Guwahati for trying to outrage the modesty of a girl on Tuesday. The jawan was caught in the evening at Maligaon area were he proposed to go with a girl. When denied, he passed lewd comment on the girl. When it came to the notice of the local residents, he was caught and after public assault he was handed over to police.
Chief minister Tarun Gogoi has sent a group of ministers and parliamentary secretaries to BTAD areas to help the affected people restore confidence and to oversee relief operations. Parliamentary secretaries Bhupen Bora and Rana Goswami are touring Kokrajhar and Chirang on Wednesday. Revenue Minister Prithibi Majhi, Planning Minister Tanka Bahadur Rai and Social Welfare Minister Akan Bora who are visiting Bongaigaon. They are on a stock taking visit to Kokrajhar on Wednesday. Agriculture minister Nilomoni Sen Deka visited parts of Barpeta and Nalbari districts. Transport minister Chandan Brahma is camping in Chirang. Education and Health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma visited Dhubri and...
Army would seize arms in BTAD areas which would help the violence-hit areas to build confidence among the fear-stricken people. The government has already made it clear that miscreants responsible violence would be identified and action will be taken against them.
Amid violent bandhs chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday said that these would only complicate the situation. Talking to reporters in Guwahati he said that the time was not proper to call bandhs. “Instead of bringing calm, bandhs only increase the temper and also affect the economy,” he said. Gogoi deplored that some parties have failed to keep his request made during the all-party meeting of August 17 to refrain from any provocative statements for two months.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday appeal to the political parties and organizations to refrain from calling bandhs saying that these wont help the matters. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Tuesday, he accused the BJP and AIUDF of making provocative statements which fuels the cycle of violence in the state. He said called upon leaders of the two parties to restrain their cadres.
Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday calls BTAD violence unacceptable and that no government can ignore such treacherous activities. Addressing a meeting of the Congress Parliamentary Party she said that strict action would be taken against those who are mongering trouble in the state. She said that every effort should be made to ensure that people still living in camps return to their homes as quickly as possible.
A police officer was injured and his vehicle was burnt down during a string of violence in Nagaon on Tuesday. The sporadic incident took place in Kampur where police and CRPF jawans clashed with a group of bandh supporters in the town before curfew was clamped to bring the situation under control. The police official managed to escape from the spot but his vehicle was burnt down. In Bongaigaon at least 15 people have been injured when police resorted to blank-firing to disperse a group of bandh supporters in Abhayapuri who blocked the national road. Indefinite curfew was clamped in Aambagan where a local Congressman was injured in attack.
Two persons were killed and 12 others have been a vehicle carrying them rammed into a rail line during the 12-hour Assam bandh on Tuesday. The incident took place when a section of bandh supporters pelted stones at the vehicle before it lost control on way to Tinsukia from Dibrugarh. The injured have been rushed to the hospital.
One person was killed and many others have sustained injury when a group of youths clashed with some businessman in Barpeta Road areas on Tuesday during the statewide Assam bandh. A section bandh supporters burnt down some shops in the area forcing the district administration to impose indefinite curfew in the area.
Army will rein in the situation. Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Tuesday, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that police will help army bring the situation under control. Gogoi has appealed to both the sides to exercise maximum restrain. According to him, it would help the state restore normalcy in the violence-hit areas. He further appealed to the political parties and organizations to refrain from making any provocative statements.
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