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.
18 Apr 2011 - 11:07pm | editor
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Guwahati: There are 32 Foreigners’ Tribunals in the State and they have managed to detect only 54 illegal Bangladeshis nationals while disposing of 545 cases in the past five months. And all the infiltrators are not traceable now. In a tripartite talk, between AASU, the State Government and the Central Government, the State officials have conveyed this to AASU. “This speaks volumes about the sincerity and commitment of the Central & the State Government in dealing with Bangladeshi influx that has changed the State’s demography, endangering the very existence of the indigenous people. We are having a farce in the name of Bangladeshi deportation,” conveyed AASU leaders...
Guwahati : Assam police confirms the death of Phul Chand Ram alongwith two militants at a cross fire between ULFA and police that rocked Changsari near Guwahati on the wee hours of Thursday much to embarrassment of the Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi who assured the family of needful action to crack the impasse. Senior police officials say the kidnapped FCI official died following a heavy exchange of firing between ULFA militants and a police team led by western range deputy inspector general of police G P Singh which had to take support of Army while the raid was conducted at the house of Govind Deka of Changsari in Kamrup district. They say acting on secret information that a group of ULFA...
Guwahati : Army Personel alongwith the Assam Police have apprehended two people including the president of the Darrang district of MASS, and recovered five kgs of RDX, five PTD switches and eight grenades from the Baihata Chariali area in Rangiya on Wednesday evening. According to information, MASS General Secretary of Darrang unit Shyamal Sarma and Bipul Deka, a contractor of Mangaldai, were on the way to Guwahati on a Tata Sumo when they were apprehended. Interrogation is going on at Jalukbari police station
Guwahati : A fierce fighting between ULFA and security forces near the city on the wee hours on Thursday left two ultras and the kidnapped FCI officer P C Ram dead.Reliable sources here say acting on secret inputs that a group of dreaded ULFA leaders were halting at Burka near Changsari with the kidnapped FCI executive director, the police aided by the Army, raided the house of Govinda Deka of Panitema gaon at around 8-30 evening on Wednesday.The heavy exchange of firing that rocked the entire area continued till 2.00 am on Thursday.Post that the police have recovered two bullet riddled bodies of ULFA leaders alongwith a person who was around 52/55 years from inside the house.The ultras...
Assam Sahitya Sabha’s Chief Secretary, Dr. Pradip Bhuyan was recently Honoured by the Dergaon Sahitya Sabha Committee at their office- Chandra Nath Khound Bhawan on 8th July, 2007. The meeting was presided over by Dergaon Sahitya Sabha’s Vice President Mr. Manik Chandra Doley. Those present in the occasion included Secretary Sanjay Hazarika, Golaghat Sahitya Sabha’s ex-secretary Mrs. Tulika Devi, district representative Munnin Ch. Baruah and many other famous personalities of Dergaon. Mr. Chandra accepted to be present at the occasion and felicitate Dr. Bhuyan. He was also honoured by the Batiporiya Sahitya Sabha on the same day.
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The All Assam Students Union (AASU) has withdrawn from the economic blockade of Nagaland that they had taken up jointly with the AJYCP, the All Adivasi Students Union and the Gorkha Association. AASU Adviser Dr Sammujal Bhattacharya and President Sankar Prasad Rai have communicated at a press conference that they have decided to withdraw from the blockade based on humanitarian ground as this was affecting the common people of Nagaland. It is learnt that the North East Students Union (NSO) and the Naga Students Federation (NSF) had also requested AASU to withdraw from the strike Meanwhile the other organisations are continuing with the strike and have intimated that they are unclear on what...
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