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FROM THE DESK

Vol.1 No.10 May 2008

Editor in Chief & Publisher – Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman Managing Editor – Rajoo Sharma Political Editor – Joydeep Bhattacharjee Current Affair & Feature Editor – Madhuparna Bhattacharjee Entertainment Editor – Gail T.W. Thomas Office secretary – Sanghamitra Roy Accountant – John Jamatia Correspondents: Assam: D. Banerjee, A. Roy Tripura: Ratnadeep Choudhury Mizoram: Ratnadeep Choudhury Columnist - Subir Bhawmik Technical Team S.S. Chandel and associates Circulation John Jamatia - 98631 94096 Rajiv Yadav Md. Mukib Hussain - 98541 21162 (Guwahati) Mridul Hazarika - 98646 06014 (Guwahati) Advertisement Incharge G. Lyngwa - 98630 25621 Production Consultant Debopriyo Chakrabarty Kolkata Office Incharge D. S. Pathak - 93310 07632 Advisor to Editor/Chairman Nyamar Karbak Printed and published by Pradyot Manikya Deb Burman from Shillong on behalf of The Northeast Today and printed by him at Swapna Printing Works, Doltala, Kolkata Graphic and Layout Artist – Creative Corp. Inc.

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Civil wars, social conflicts, communal riots and struggle for existence and self-assertion are all that matter to everyone, but bother none - only the two who are on either side of these. The recent unrest in Tibet is a similar incident, which raised many a storm over coffee cups, but failed to attract any pro-active action, which could have defused tension in the Southeast. Traditionally, Southeast has been the epicenter of various conflicts that relate to one’s right to nationhood, other’s right to territorial integrity, one’s demand for basic rights, other’s justification for denying those; and cumulatively, they have given shape to this ever active region struggling to attain a social equilibrium. In none of those cases, any influential state took enough interest to resolve the issue and this time Tibet is of no exception. So is the international reaction only suggestive and never assertive. The Tibetans protesting China’s occupation over its land is as old as Independent India, but the matter still remains unresolved simply because it does not offer an economic bonanza for countries like US and its allies, who find democracy is being gagged only in Central Asia, but not in China. Human rights are violated in other states but not during military crackdown on Tibetans. Whether Tibet is part of China or not, is absolutely a matter that concerns two concerned parties and none else. But that does not mean the UN Conventions would fall short to protect the rights of protesters. Tibetans in Tibet were forced to live outside their area in some urban locations without livelihood for China earmarking the land there for their economic activities. But surprisingly, no nation including India had any comment on that. No doubt, America lost interest in Tibet when its President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972 and closed a deal with Mao Zedong and acknowledged its idea of ‘One China’ theory. But it was widely expected India would take opportunity this time to get maximum benefit out of this unrest. Lest China take offence to India’s allegiance to the Dalai Lama and his followers, India was soft on China’s aggression. But what about a demand for independent inquiry into the incident and a genuine study to find out the state of affairs within Tibet? Probably India has a role to play. earmarking the land there for their economic activities. But surprisingly, no nation including India had any comment on that. No doubt, America lost interest in Tibet when its President Richard Nixon visited China in 1972 and closed a deal with Mao Zedong and acknowledged its idea of ‘One China’ theory. But it was widely expected India would take opportunity this time to get maximum benefit out of this unrest. Lest China take offence to India’s allegiance to the Dalai Lama and his followers, India was soft on China’s aggression. of affairs within Tibet? Probably India has a role to play.

While best efforts have been made to contact every individual for the material used in this edition, we, however, regret for any lapse that might have occurred without our notice.

Joydeep Bhattacharjee Political Editor [email protected] July 08

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NOTES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

Of Che Guevara and Manipur The Jananeta Irawat Charitable Trust organized the 80th birth anniversary of iconic revolutionary leader Che Guevara today at the Jananeta Irawat People`s Museum. Floral tributes were offered by members of the trust. Cuba better watch out since Manipur seems more concerned about Che than even his beloved Cuba or his country of birth Argentina. Maybe the South American nations can reciprocate by having the birthday of Veer Tikamrajit the brave general from Manipur who lost his life defending his land against the British. A perfect case of comrades in arms.

Man robs bank to pay for Escaped burglar asks cops to help used truck while sales- with handcuffs man waits outside Cops are looking for a man who allegedly robbed money from a bank to buy a used truck while the vehicle salesman waited outside. The alleged con-man took the truck for a test drive from a downtown car dealership along with the salesman who tagged along to a nearby bank. While the salesman was waiting outside the con-man went inside in the pretext that he needed some money to pay for the truck. The salesman didn’t realise that the man had allegedly passed a note to a bank teller demanding cash. After robbing the bank he climbed inside the truck and told the salesman he wanted to show the truck to a friend in Sherwood Park before buying it. Where he promptly abandoned the car and left the salesman dumfounded. 50

July 08

A man caught breaking into a German supermarket late at night escaped despite being handcuffed to railings - only to be arrested after he ran to a nearby police station to get the cuffs removed. A security guard had cuffed the man and held three others after spotting the breakin. But by the time officers arrived, the man had managed to escape, police said. Arriving at the police station, the 19-year-old told officers he had been locked up by a friend as a joke, and asked for their help. The officers at first went along with the ruse, ‘also laughing at the man’s apparent misfortune,’ police said. However, suspecting he was the missing man from the break-in, they pressed him for details after removing the cuffs. The man then confessed his role and was promptly re-united with his three accomplices in the station’s prison cell.