Politics / Manipur

GUWAHATI, March 3: Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam's first gambit in Manipur, a month-long unilateral ceasefire against separatist guerrillas in the state, began on Thursday. The move is being seen as an attempt by the government in the insurgency-hit state to build up public opinion in favour of peace and get the rebels to the negotiating table. The truce, coinciding with the Manipuri festival of colours called Yaoshang that begins next week, will apply to as many as 17 militant groups in the state that shares a porous border with Myanmar. "We are keen to evolve a negotiated and peaceful...

IMPHAL, March 2: With the unilateral ceasefire coming into effect since yesterday no untoward incident was reported from any part of the State today. According to police sources, since yesterday calm and a semblance of order has prevailed with no report of any shootouts or killing. Senior police officers informed the press that no report of any violence has come in ever since the ceasefire came into effect. However, except PREPAK, which had cocked a snook at the truce offer, no official response from any other underground organisations have been forthcoming till date, informed Higher Education...

IMPHAL, March 1: GAD officials are in a fix as many ministers of the PF Government have started squabbling over their allotment of office rooms at the Old Secretariat and New Secretariat. According to inside sources GAD officials are caught in a dilemma as many ministers have started hankering after spacious and well-maintained rooms for their offices. Meanwhile some ministers have started attending office following the completion of renovation and repairing works of the offices, added sources. However some Ministers have still not been assigned their private secretaries, informed a senior...

IMPHAL, March 1: Thousands of Christians, mostly Nagas from the northwest border of Myanmar have been taking shelter in neighbouring Manipur and Nagaland for the last 2-3 years in fear of alleged religious discrimination and prosecutions carried out by the military junta of Myanmar. This was disclosed by L Longsa, general secretary of the Myanmar based Naga National League for Democracy (NNLD) which extends support to Aung San Suu Kyi. He said that the mass exodus will continue in the days to come as the military junta is intensifying it 'exercise of iron rule'. More than three thousand...

IMPHAL, March 1: The one month long unilateral ceasefire announced by the state government and the 15 day truce offered by the Army came into effect from today. With the truce coming into effect all counter insurgency operation both by the central forces and State police have been suspended. No report of arrest, encounter and killing was reported today. Mention may be made here that in an unprecedented move, the new Chief minister Radhabinod Koijam had announced the one-month long unilateral ceasefire during a packed press conference at the Officers' Club of 1st MR on February 27. The truce...

IMPHAL, March 1: The banned People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak (PREPAK) today rejected the Radhabinod Koijam Government's ceasefire offer to all 17 insurgent outfits and suspension of counter-insurgency operations against them by the army in the State, reports PTI. The PREPAK in a statement here said, the government's offer was 'a trick' to all underground groups and underground cadres 'into lowering their guard.' The Chief Minister on February 27 had declared a month's ceasefire to the insurgent groups, effective from today, during which police and paramilitary forces would not carry...

IMPHAL, February 27: The seven-party coalition, led by Samata Party Chief Minister Radhabinod Koijam, is fighting survival battle following the resignation of three Ministers and the formation of a new party. The three Ministers, namely Health Minister, Nimaichand Luwang, Commerce and Industries Minister Khumukcham Amutombi and Animal Husbandry and Arts and Culture Minister M Manihar, have however softened their stance after a discussion with their party leader and Chief Minister R B Koijam. On the other hand, two members of the Federal Party of Manipur (FPM) including the Deputy Speaker, K...

IMPHAL, February 27: The Army has announced safe passage for all the insurgent groups operating in this border State during the 'Yaoshang' festival which commences from March 9. Addressing a press conference here at the historic Kangla Fort yesterday, the GOC of 57 Mountain Division, Major General Iqbal Singh, said that the suspension of operations against all the insurgent groups in Manipur will commence from March 1 and it will conclude on March 15. During the period, the Army and the Assam Rifles deployed in Manipur, will not carryout any operations against the insurgents, Iqbal said...

IMPHAL, February 27: Close on the heels of the declaration of 15-day ceasefire offer by the Army, the seven-party coalition government led by Radhabinod Koijam has declared a unilateral ceasefire against the State insurgents for one month with effect from March 1 in view of Yaoshang, the biggest festival of Manipur. Announcing the newly formed People's Front Ministry's stance on the declaration of ceasefire with all the underground outfits operating in Manipur during a press conference held at MR complex today, the Chief Minister said newly inducted Council of Ministers also took a resolution...

IMPHAL, February 26: Yet another split in the Federal Party of Manipur has been effected with two members of the party, W Thoiba and K Raina breaking away and announcing the formation of the Democratic Federal Party of Manipur. The Speaker has also granted recognition to the breakaway group and a formal notification to this effect has been issued. The Speaker ordered that the two members will be henceforth treated as a separate group and separate sitting arrangement in the House have been ordered. The two were not included in the Council of Ministers of the PF regime though two other members...