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.
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One person was killed and ten others have been seriously injured when ULFA militants exploded a powerful bomb in Sivasagar town on Monday only to make their presence felt.
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People from Assam, who fled from are back to the southern city. BJP leaders claimed that this was due to a goodwill mission undertaken by the party to restore the confidence of the people that they...
Assam Association, Chennai is going to celebrate Bhogali Bihu at CLRI Campus, Adyar, Chennai-600020 on 13th January, 2013. We request all Assamese residing at Chennai to presant in this Bhogali Bihu Celebration.Kishore Kalita,Organizing Secretary,Assam Association,Chennai.Cell: 9840588738.
After the successful celebration of Magh Bihu last year by us on 13th January 2012 at Dakshin Kalibari, Munirka, New Delhi , we have regrouped together again and decided to continue celebrating this spirit of Bihu. This time, we are organizing it in a grander way, under the banner of “BORDOISILA”.We have decided to celebrate the “Uruka” for the forthcoming Magh Bihu on the 12th of January 2013 in the same venue i.e. Dakshin Kalibari, Munirka, New Delhi and we promise the celebration and the lavish “Bhujor Bhaat” will be a memorable one.We cordially invite you all to come and join us celebrating this occasion of “Maghor Bihur Uruka aru Bhujor Bhaat...
Amid tight security the Assam Assembly begins its winter session on Monday morning with a stormy. As the House began its proceedings AIUDF members stood up and demanded discussion on the seizure of illegal arms in BTAD areas. The government tried to pacify the AIUDF MLAs. But they refused to listen to them. Amid din Speaker Pranab Gogoi adjourned the house.
Stung by incessant criticism, Dispur police grilled Congress MLA Eanmul Haque in connection with a huge Rs 270 crore scam in irrigation department a month after a senior accounts officer committed suicide blaming Haque who was OSD when the scam took place.
Haque arrived in the Dispur before police station at 9 in the evening on Sunday where he was grilled for nearly three hours. The Congress MLA is understood to have made some startling revelations during his interrogation. His name surfaced after head accountant Mothur Chandra Nath hanged himself at his residence leaving a suicide note blaming it all on the MLA. In a 22-page suicide note, he Nath alleged that during the last assembly...
Altogether six persons died and 12 others have been injured when a passenger vehicle collided its head on a truck in Goalpara district of Assam on Sunday. The tragic accident took place at Paharkata area in the morning when it collided head on a speeding truck coming from the opposite side. Six persons travelling in the winger dead on the spot. All the 12 injured persons have been rushed to the hospital. Five of the deceased were identified as Syed Zaman, Safia Begum, Safiul Alam, Firajuddin Ahmed and Hakim Ali.
Dispur turns into a security fortress with heavy deployment of security forces in the capital. Restrictions on the movement of vehicles have been enforced during the winter session of the Assam Legislative Assembly to be effective from December 10 to ensure safety of the public, vulnerable road users, vehicles users and to maintain smooth flow of traffic in and around Dispur Capital Complex keeping in view that several organisations have announced protest actions during the period.
Amid massive security arrangement the Assam Assembly begins its winter session on Monday. The five day long session begins with a stormy in view of a number of issues. On Monday, the list of supplementary demands and appropriation for 2012-2013 will be presented before the Assembly. Besides, on December 12, the introduction, consideration and passage of the Assam Appropriation Bill 2012 is slated. The government is likely to feel the heat of controversy surrounding Enamul Haque, murder and mayhem in BTAD areas, land deal with Bangladesh and price rise.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Sunday said that proper education should be implemented from the grassroot level.In his keynote address at the Pan IIT Global Conference 2012 Science City Auditorium in Kolkata on Sunday, he exhorted the IITians to work for the development of society.
Gogoi said that technical knowledge of IITians has to be duly provided without which social development would come to a grinding halt. He said that Dispur has taken various steps to deal firmly with terrorism and other terror tactics.
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that overall the situation BTAD area was under control and that there was no influx of people from the state to West Bengal. Talking to news agencies in Kolkata on Sunday, he said that he has no knowledge of any refugee from Assam in north Bengal. Gogoi was delivering the keynote address at the Pan IIT Global Conference 2012 held at Science City Auditorium in Kolkata on Sunday.
Deputy Chief of Bodoland Territorial Council Kampa Borgayari said that immigration was politically motivated and supported by religious extremist forces. In his address at a seminar in Delhi on Saturday, he said that there were many laws in force in the country but none of them have been able to deter or stop the illegal migration. President of Bodo Women's Justice Forum Anjali Daimari urged the people to come out together to fight the problem of illegal migration.
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