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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Our Guwahati Correspondent: All is not well with the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) as it is mired in yet another internal bickering.Former AASU leader and the sitting AGP spokesman Prabin Boro is up in arms against former Health and Family Welfare Minister and sitting MLA Dr Kamala Kalita.Mr Boro has sought stern action against Dr Kamala Kalita for making contradictory statements before the media regarding the reunification decision in the recent meet at Mangaldoi.According to Mr Boro, what he briefed the media on the Mongaldoi meeting was the “not his personal comment”.Notably, Dr Kalita had said that regarding reunification Mr Boro’s statement before the media was his...
Our Jorhat Correspondent: A set of draconian laws are there to prevent the 100 year long tea industry from flourishing in Assam, says the Assam Tea Planters’ Association President Raj Baruah.Addressing the 70th annual general meeting of the tea planters’ body, at the Jorhat Gymkhana Club on Saturday, Mr Baruah said a tea estate owner should be free from all statutory liabilities for availing the benefits under the Special Purpose Tea Fund for the rejuvenation and replantation of tea bushes.Mr Baruah stressed on the need to amend the relevant sections of the Plantation Labour Act to provide relief to the tea industry and urged the Government to ensure that there was no...
India’s great singer of Assamese origin Dr. Bhupen Hazarika has been requested to perform on the occasion of the 60th Independence Day celebrations at the Parliament House, New Delhi. The Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh has invited Dr. Hazarika on behalf of the Central Government to perform two songs on this historic event at the parliament on 15th Aug, 2007. The two songs that he has requested Dr Hazarika to perform are the Hindi versions of” BISTIRNO PARORE” and “MANUHE MANUHOR BABE”.
GUWAHATI: The body of abducted Food Corporation of India Executive Director (North Eastern Regional Office) Dr P.C. Ram was recovered from Anandapur village in Lower Assam’s Baksa district on Saturday. Baksa Superintendent of Police Kankanjyoti Saikia has intimated that the decomposed body of Dr Ram was dug up from the village. It was later identified to be that of the FCI official by his former domestic help Junu Murmu who is like his adopted daughter. The body was taken to Nalbari Civil Hospital for post-mortem. Dr. Ram was abducted along with his driver by ULFA from Srinagar area of Guwahati on April 18 while on his way home from office. Police said the body was found buried in...
Our Guwahati Correspondent: Fourteen hours after the arrest of its five top guns, the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) killed FCI Zonal Manager Phul Chand Ram in its captivity on Saturday (as per the earlier update) and has also exploded three bombs in Upper Assam killing 2 persons.According to information, Dr Ram’s dead body was found on Saturday at Anandapur in Baksa . When his body was discovered half of it was found buried in the ground. Investigations are going on at present and the Police and Para military forces have cordoned off the entire area. It may be mentioned that Dr Ram was kidnapped by ULFA militants on April 17 on his way back to his working place along with...
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Sibasagar : Sarbashikhsha Abhijan, an educational organisation set up by the Government to improve the educational system in Assam has committed some grave follies in the examinations held at primary level class five in Sibasagar.The first day the Mathematics question paper had a lot of errors and the second day the English paper had Hindi questions in between.
Guwahati : The Assam Sahitya Sabha is organizing a two-day Assam Maha Sanmilan at Rabindra Bhawan on July 1 and 2 next to discuss the socio-economic issues concerning the State and also its present law-and-order situation. The Maha Sanmilian would be inaugurated by Homen Borgohain, a leading writer and journalist. Several leading personalities and intellectuals are expected to attend the Maha Sanmilan said a Sahitya Sabha press release here.
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