Press Release

Christmas & New Year Greetings

Aizawl: Today the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) wished the people of Mizoram a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

“As the year 2011 ends with Christmas celebrations and prayers, MCDF hopes that the year 2012 will bring peace and prosperity to the state of Mizoram and its people and the state government will work towards uplift of all sections of the population” – a statement released by the MCDF said. [Ends]

Media Coverage:

• Vanglaini, Aizawl, 22 December 2011: Krismas leh kumthar chibai an bûk

 Press Release

 MCDF thanks Mizoram government for payment of old age pension

New Delhi: Today the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) expressed its gratitude to the state government of Mizoram for paying the old age pension to all the beneficiaries across the state after a gap of nine months. The office of the Social Welfare Department at Aizawl confirmed to MCDF over the phone today that the department has started paying the old age pension to all the beneficiaries.

On 9 December 2011, MCDF had sought the personal intervention of Mizoram Chief Minister Lalthanhawla for payment of the old age pension before the Christmas. MCDF had brought to the Chief Minister’s notice that old age pension had not been paid for the last nine months, since March 2011.

MCDF also brought to the notice of the Commissioners of the Supreme Court about the blatant violation by the Mizoram government of the Supreme Court’s order of 28^th November 2001 that the payment of the pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme shall be made before seventh day of every month. On MCDF’s petition, the office of the Supreme Court Commissioners, New Delhi, sought an explanation about the inordinate delay in the payment of old age pension from the Director, Social Welfare Department, Mizoram.

“MCDF is thankful to Chief Minister Lalthanhawla for payment of old age pension to enable over 23,500 beneficiaries to enjoy their Christmas and congratulate all the beneficiaries.” – stated Hemanta Larma, president, MCDF. [Ends]

Read, MCDF’s petition to Chief Minister Lalthanhawla dated 9 Dec2011, demanding early payment of old age pension to all the beneficiaries in Mizoram.

MEDIA coverage

MCDF thanks Mizoram govt, The Mizoram Post, 21 Dec, 2011

Press Release

Indian Chakmas protest against visiting CHT Affairs Minister of Bangladesh

Aizawl: Today 15 (fifteen) Chakma civil society organizations submitted a joint “protest letter” to the visiting Chittagong Hill Tracts Affairs Minister of Bangladesh, Mr Dipankar Talukdar at Kamala Nagar, headquarters of Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC) in South Mizoram, protesting against his support to the unacceptable reference of the Chakmas and other indigenous peoples including Lushai, Tripuri, Garo etc as “Bengalees” in the recently amended Constitution of Bangladesh.

The Chakmas from Mizoram, Assam, Tripura, Meghalaya, and Arunachal Pradesh through their civil society organizations expressed the angst of the Indian Chakmas against the destruction of identity of the Chakmas in Bangladesh as a consequent to the 15th Amendment to the Constitution of Bangladesh passed on 30th June 2011 which has identified the Chakmas and other indigenous peoples including Lushai, Tripuri, Garo as “Bengalees”.

The Chakmas civil society organizations have demanded “a written assurance from you that upon your return to Bangladesh you will take all the necessary measures to impress upon the Shiekh Hasina government to recognize the Chakmas and other ethnic communities as “indigenous peoples” in the Constitution of Bangladesh.”

The Indian Chakmas also demanded Mr Talukdar’s personal intervention in his capacity as Member of Parliament and Minister of CHT Affairs for speedy and full implementation of the CHT Peace Accord of 1997 signed between the Government of Bangladesh and the indigenous peoples of CHT which would help restore peace and bring development to the region (Chittagong Hill Tracts) which is today the most neglected.

The 15 signatory organizations to the memorandum are Mizoram Chakma Development Forum, Tripura Chakma Students Association, Arunachal Pradesh Chakma Students Union, MAADI, Meghalaya Chakma Students Union, Guwahati Chakma Students Union, Barak Valley Chakma Students Association, The Chakma Voice, Mumbai Chakma Association, Dibrugarh Chakma Students Union, Mizoram Chakma Students Union, the Central Young Chakma Association, Mizoram Chakma Social Forum, Mizoram Buddhist Association and Chakma Mahila Samiti.

Mr Dipankar Talukdar is on an official visit to India (Mizoram) from 7-11 December 2011 to strengthen trade relations between the two countries. [Ends]

Read the Memorandum here: Memorandum to Dipankar Talukdar

Media Coverage

The Seven Sisters Post, North East India: Chakmas peeved at Bengali tag

9 December 2011

Press Release

Old age pension not paid for the last 9 months in Mizoram: MCDF seeks CM’s personal intervention

New Delhi: Today the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) stated that Old Age Pension has not been paid in the entire state of Mizoram for the last nine months, since March 2011 and has sought the personal intervention of Mizoram Chief Minister Mr Lalthanhawla for payment of Old Age Pension to all the beneficiaries before the Christmas. The petition has been submitted by fax.

“In the petition the MCDF stated that as per the Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated 28^th November 2001, payment of the pension under the Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension (IGNOAPS) Scheme shall be made before seventh day of every month and that Central grants meant for the IGNOAPS cannot be diverted for any other purposes as per the direction of the Supreme Court of 27 April 2004. But old age pension has not been paid in the entire state of Mizoram for the last 9 months since March 2011 which is direct and blatant violation of the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court.” – stated  Hemanta Larma, president of MCDF.

“Due to the inordinate delay in the payment of the old age pension, the beneficiaries in the entire state have been sufferings and the State cannot be a silent spectator to their hardships”, further stated Mr Larma.

The petition was also submitted to the Mizoram Governor His Excellency Shri V B Purushathaman, and the Office of the Supreme Court Commissioners, New Delhi.

Read MCDF’s petition to Mizoram Chief Minister Mr Lalthanhawla: Old Age pension-Letter to Mizoram CM

Media Coverage:

Merinews.com: ”Old age pension not paid for last nine months in Mizoram”, http://www.merinews.com/article/old-age-pension-not-paid-for-last-nine-months-in-mizoram/15862320.shtml

MCDF Impact

Read: Mizoram govt pays old age pension after nine months

Press Release

 Mizoram boy is first Chakma to enter NDA

 Aizawl: The Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) today congratulated Mr F. Nimon Chakma, son of Mr F. Raju Chakma (Joy Chad Chakma) and Mrs B. Protima Chakma of Kamala Nagar III, Chakma Autonomous District Council, Mizoram, for successfully clearing the prestigious National Defence Academy (NDA) examination which results were announced on 25^th November 2011.

“Notably, Nimon Chakma is the first from the Chakma community in India to crack the NDA exam. He has made not only his parents happy but the entire state of Mizoram proud by his achievement. MCDF feels that his example shall be an inspiration to many more Chakma and Mizo youngsters.” – stated MCDF President Hemanta Larma.

Ninom Chakma is now waiting for interview by the Services Selection Board of the Ministry of Defence for admission to the Army wing of the National Defence Academy. Currently, he studies at Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun, Uttarakhand.  [Ends]

Dangu Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Govt. of Canada along with Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, and Dangu Ted Menzies, Minister of State (Finance), Govt. of Canada, made the announcement on 13 October 2011.

Members of the Expert Panel include:

• Dangu Amit Chakma, University of Western Ontario president, (Panel Chair);
• Dangu André Bisson, Chair of the Board, Centre for Interuniversity Research and Analysis of Organizations, lead director, Transat A.T. and Chancellor Emeritus, Université de Montréal;
• Dangubi Jacynthe Côté, president and CEO, Rio Tinto Alcan;
• Dangu Colin Dodds, president, Saint Mary’s University;
• Dangubi Lorna Smith, director, Office of International Education, Mount Royal University; and
• Dangu Don Wright, president, British Columbia Institute of Technology.

The expert panel will advise the government on attracting the best and brightest international students to Canada; strengthening Canada’s engagement with emerging priority markets; expanding the delivery of Canadian expertise, knowledge and education services abroad; and promoting partnerships between Canadian and international education institutions. The expert panel is expected to report to the Minister, International Trade and Finance, Govt. of Canada.

“Education, innovation and knowledge are now key drivers in a world economy that is increasingly interconnected through global supply chains, trade alliances between countries, and businesses seeking to expand and succeed in high-growth markets around the world,” said Dangu Ed Fast

Patturu-turu!

BDO beats up villager for demanding NREGS wages

MCDF seeks Mizoram CM’s intervention to punish the BDO

27 September 2011

New Delhi: Today the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) in a petition submitted to the Mizoram Chief Minister Mr Lalthanhawla demanded stringent action against the Lungsen Block Development Officer (BDO), Mr John Tanpuia who tortured a villager Lobindra Chakma for demanding wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Lobindra Chakma mysteriously disappeared from the BDO’s custody on 23 September 2011.

The BDO, Mr John Tanpuia had asked Lobindra Chakma (44 years), s/o Chitra Kumar Chakma of Siphirtlang village in Lunglei district to saw teak logs, which the later refused on the grounds that he had no partners (it needs at least two persons to saw logs) and had no money to hire labourers. Angered by this, the BDO withheld Chakma’s wages under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme. Lobindra Chakma filed a complaint with the Lunglei Deputy Commissioner against the BDO for blocking his NREGS wages.

Enraged by the complaint, the BDO Mr John Tanpuia went to Siphirtlang village on 23 September 2011 and brutally beat up Lobindra Chakma, and his wife, Ms Milebo Chakma in full public view. Due to the severe assault, Lobindra Chakma vomited blood but the BDO continued to beat him. Later, Lobindra Chakma was huddled into the BDO’s vehicle and taken to his quarter at Lungsen. Since then, the whereabouts of Lobindra Chakma are unknown.

“It is a clear case of brutalities by a powerful official against a helpless villager. The misuse of authority by the BDO is palpable. Such brutalities are unacceptable in a civilized society. That the victim went missing from the BDO’s custody is a matter of great concern. The law of the land demands that the Lungsen Block Development Officer Mr John Tanpuia must be punished for his illegal and unconstitutional actions.” – stated MCDF president Hemanta Larma.

MCDF’s demands included registration of a case against Lungsen Block Development Officer Mr John Tanpuia and his immediate arrest, a high level investigation by a police officer not below the rank of Superintendent of Police; suspension of the BDO till the completion of the investigation; find out the whereabouts of Mr Lobindra Chakma and reunite him with his family; and provide a compensation of Rs 10,00,000 (ten lakhs) to the victim’s family as interim compensation which should be recovered from the accused BDO. [Ends]

MCDF submitted petition to Chief Minister of Mizoram, Mr Lalthanhawla demanding arrest of the accused BDO: Read: Petition to CM-BDO Lungsen

MEDIA COVERAGE:

The Shillong Times, 29 Sep 2011:

• http://theshillongtimes.com/2011/09/29/chakma-forum-demands-rs-10-lakh-for-%E2%80%98assault%E2%80%99-victim/

• http://www.themizorampost.net/

• http://www.netindia123.com/showdetails.asp?id=1841696&n_date=20110927&cat=India

• http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-76904.html

The Zozam Times, 28 Sept 2011:

• http://www.thezozamtimes.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=4307:lungsen-bdo-suspend-turin-cm-hnenah-ngen&catid=43:news&Itemid=63

News Web India, 28 Sep 2011:

• http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20110927/1841696.html

Lawrkhawm.com, 28 Sep 2011:

• http://lawrkhawm.com/index.php?page=49138

 Mizoram Express, 28 Sep 2011:

• http://mizoramexpress.com/index.php/2011/09/bdo-beats-up-villager-for-demanding-nregs-wages-in-mizoram/

Vulmawi, 28 Sep 2011:

• http://www.vulmawi.com/2011/09/chakma-pakhat-bo-chungchangah-yma.html

Mizo Aw, 28 Sep 2011:

http://www.mizoaw.com/index.php/14-sample-data-articles/135?showall=1

Excerpts from the article:

“The Chakmas accuse the Government of Mizoram of following ‘an exclusive knowledge system’ and of failing to provide the Chakmas, with equal educational opportunities and reservations in government jobs. The educational policies of the Government of Mizoram are in fact considered by the Chakmas as ‘glass ceilings’ constructed by the nexus of patriarchy to snip the chance of the Chakmas to get into eminent positions within the ‘sacred’ realms of the ldeal Zo Christian Stale. In short, the politics of the privileging of the knowledge of Mizo language over and above other marginal dialects/languages such as the Chakma is distinctly visible in the educational policies of the Government of Mizoram. Pardoxically, ‘Mizo’ is not offered as a ‘taught subject’ in schools in the Chakma areas. As a result, the Chakmas continue to be denied the appended benefits of education and the potential of developing their human resource and honing their life skills. Here, we see that the educational programme of the government including the SSA mission’s objective of providing quality elementary education so as to enhance ‘life skills’ falls short of its promise for the Chakmas in Mizoram.”

Read here: Tehelka-MCDF

MCDF deplores CYCA president’s pro-corruption stand

New Delhi: Today the Mizoram Chakma Development Forum (MCDF) deplored the pro-corruption stand taken by the President of the Central Young Chakma Association (CYCA), Mr Sashi Chakma who has opposed the decision of the Lawngtlai District Development and Vigilance Forum (LDDVF) to file a case with the CBI against alleged corruption by leaders in Chakma Autonomous District Council (CADC).

In a press statement dated 18^th August 2011, the CYCA opposed the decision of Lawngtlai District Development and Vigilance Forum (LDDVF) to seek a CBI probe into the alleged “sudden accumulation of wealth” by some CADC leaders. The CYCA stated that the decision to approach the CBI was politically motivated and taken without the consultation with CYCA President Mr Sashi Chakma who claims to be the Vice Chairperson of the LDDVF, sub-headquarters, Chawngte.

“Everybody knows that corruption is all-pervading in CADC. When the entire nation is raising its voice against corruption, it is really unfortunate that CYCA president Mr Sashi Chakma has raised objections to the anti-corruption actions taken by the LDDVF. Whether the case is political or not, it is upto the concerned political party or the accused to respond, not the CYCA which is expected to be apolitical organization. The pro-corruption stand taken by the CYCA president is against the ethos of the CYCA and such a stand may diminish the morale of Chakmas fighting against corruption at various levels.” – stated Mr Hemanta Larma, president of MCDF.

“The CYCA is supposed to work for development and progress of the society including taking measures for eliminating corruption which hampers development. If Mr Sashi Chakma as sub-headquarter Vice Chairperson of LDDVF has any problem with the decisions taken at LDDVF meetings, he should have used his LDDVF position to protest. He must refrain himself from using the CYCA to settle personal differences with any other individual or organization.” – further stated Mr Larma. [Ends]

In the Press: 

Northeast Today:     MCDF deplores CYCA pro-corruption stand

Mizoram Express:   Chakma forum flays CYCA President pro-corruption stand