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.
Guwahati : There was another high profile kidnapping in Assam. Cement Corporation of India (CCI) official Kailash Nath Jha and his security officer, Madan Kumar Bora were abducted at gun point by suspected militants at a place which falls under Bilai outpost of Bokajan Police Station, about 300 kilometres from Guwahati on Sunday. Police Officials suspect the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) to be involved in the kidnapping. The KLNLF has very close links to the ULFA as well and hence officials have not ruled out the hand of ULFA in the kidnapping as well. CCI has a cement plant at Bokajan. CCI officials were not available for comments. This high profile kidnapping comes at a...
Way back in the late 1960s, there were two individuals in the then sleepy town of Jorhat who were making and dreaming music in the confines of their homes. The young boys used to go to the local music school, perform in programmes in Assam and create music with rich melodies. Gradually they started capturing the heart and soul of Assam and came to be known as Jitu-Tapan. It so happened that one day the great Mohammad Rafi visited Jorhat in Assam for a show and on the same show there was an orchestra that was presented by the young duo of Assam. Rafi was more than impressed. He called both of them the next day and requested them to teach and compose Assamese songs for him. And “...
Arunachal Pradesh is one of the naturally beautiful states of India situated in the foothills of the Himalayas and there we have the Pakke Wild life sanctuary which is fast developing as a hot spot for Tourists. The River Bhareli (known as Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh) is on the northern and western sides of the sanctuary, to the east is the Pakke River and to the south lies the Nameri National Park of Assam. In this sanctuary the endangered Black Panther species is available. The Wild Life Institute of India (W.I.I.), Dehradun and the forest department of Arunachal Pradesh detected the presence of the Black Panther through camera trapping. This collaborative programme that works for tiger...
Nameri National Park: Aranyak is a biodiversity conservation society of North-East India. It organized a workshop on Eco-Camp of Nameri National Park (a tourist resort) on tiger conservation and its problem in NNP. The Brahamaputra valley in Assam is an important stronghold of the Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera Tigris) in India and facing serious anthropogenic threats that may lead to extinction in future. The Nameri National Park is one of the designated tiger reserves in Assam. As per the latest tiger census carried out by Forest Department, approximately 37 tigers were found in the park. This accounts for 10.6% of the total tiger population of Assam. The organizer invited a variety of...
Guwahati: Noted tea industrialist Hemendra Prasad Barooah has revealed in a new book about being traced by the ULFA to Philadelphia, about his English acquaintance involved in the Great Train Robbery in the UK, and about the search for Dr Bhupen Hazarika's lost Rolex watch one dark night on a street near Sivasagar. The planter, a multifarious personality, who has remained away from media glare, shares many intimate details of his life with eminent journalist Wasbir Hussain in 'Life and Times: Story of an Assamese Tea Baron', an authorized biography. The book, published by Spectrum Publications, Guwahati/New Delhi, was released by chief minister Tarun Gogoi at a function in a...
Talap : Reports have come in that there was an exchange of fire between ULFA and SULFA in Talap on Thursday . The Sulfa member, Sriman Chetri managed to escape unhurt. This may be precedence for many such instances in the future.
Guwahati : AJYCP, Gorkha Association , have withdrawn the economic blockade that had been in force against Nagaland from last Friday. Post discussions with the Government authorities, the Organsiations have withdrawn the economic blockade.Notably, post the Naga aggression on Assamese villages which had left 3 people dead, the AJYCP, Gorkha Association alongwith the AASU and some other groups had come together to enforce a economic blockade on the roads leading to Nagaland. AASU had earlier withdrawn from the economic blockade on humanitarian grounds on 11thof July 07.
Sibasagar: There was a false alarm at Sibasagar when police received a call informing them that one Mr Dilip Chetri a ULFA member was on his way to the Indian Bank to deposit a large sum of money there. Police and Army personnel descended on the Bank and waited for almost three hours but no one turned up. Investigations are on.
Dhemaji: Floods are in full flow in Dhemaji. Almost 40,000 people have been displaced after a breach in the embankment of the Jiadhol river. 25 villages are reported to be under water and the people have been stranded at various places. People have taken refugee in schools and colleges. Military helicopters are also dropping food and other essentials, officials said on Friday. A government spokesman said that nearly 120 villages in all in Dhemaji are affected since Thursday. This is the second spate of floods to hit Assam this year after the lull in floods last year
Nasscoms had launched the Assessment and Certification Programme (NAC) for the BPO sector which is a great success. Nasscom is now in the process of launching a similar testing and accreditation offer, NAC Tech, for the IT services, according to Mr Kiran Karnik, Chairman of Nasscom. The NAC was launched as a pilot last year for the BPO sector to ensure transformation of a “trainable” workforce into an “employable” workforce. The pilot was first rolled out in Rajasthan where 2,500 people took the NAC test. By the year-end, NAC for BPO will be rolled out in various States, including Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Chandigarh, Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and the North eastern...
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