Roundtable on Indigenous Peoples' Territories at WG8(j)

On Tuesday, 1 November at the 7th Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions (WG8(j)), Natural Justice hosted a roundtable on Indigenous peoples’ territories and community conserved areas. Members of Indigenous peoples and local communities from Zimbabwe, Australia, Canada, and Iran shared their experiences with varying types of legal recognition of collective rights to territories, areas, and resources, recognition of customary governance and management systems, and identity as a function of cultural connection to lands and waters.

Inappropriate forms of recognition and support was a common theme, particularly in cases where government or market-based mechanisms either retain ownership or decision-making power or have the potential to significantly undermine that of communities, primarily due to lack of attention to governance issues and inequitable sharing of costs and benefits. Other major barriers and challenges include far-reaching assimilationist policies, lack of full and effective participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities in decision-making processes that affect them, and a “clash of values” between customary and state legal systems and the collective and individual rights that they respectively elicit.

Forest Peoples' Experiences with Implementation of Article 10(c)

On the opening day of the 7th Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions (WG8(j)), the Forest Peoples Programme (FPP) and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD) co-hosted a side event entitled, “Content and Implementation of the New Major Component of Work on Customary Sustainable Use (Article 10(c)) in the Programme of Work on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions”. John Scott (SCBD) stressed the fundamental nature of Article 10(c) to Indigenous peoples’ and local communities’ ways of life, highlighted the experts’ meeting on Article 10(c) held in June, and encouraged Parties to take into account the Addis Ababa Guidelines.

Caroline de Jong (FPP) introduced the “10(c) project”, which has been ongoing since 2004 and comprised of documenting customary practices, rules, and laws and their relation to conservation and sustainable use, identifying threats to customary systems, and providing recommendations for more effective implementation of Article 10(c). The remainder of the presentation was given by a group of FPP partners: Kid James (Wapichan people, Guyana); Auchalee Phonklieng and Sakda Saenmi (Karen people, IMPECT, Thailand); and Muhammed Abdul Baten (traditional resource users of the Sundarbans, Unnayan Onneshan, Bangladesh).

Barriers and challenges to the implementation of Article 10(c) include: lack of recognition of customary sustainable management of natural resources; continuation of top-down and paternalistic conservation policies; lack of recognition of traditional institutions and authorities and customary laws; lack of secure rights to territories and free, prior and informed consent; external pressures such as mining, logging, plantations, infrastructure projects, dams, and individual land titling to outsiders, which contribute to the destruction of traditional areas and reduced access to resources and in turn, of traditional knowledge and customary practices; lack of understanding among policy-makers about Indigenous peoples’ ways of life and relations with lands and resources; mainstream education and assimilationist policies; insufficient and inequitable participation of Indigenous peoples and local communities in state protected areas.

Despite these barriers, a range of community initiatives are enhancing implementation of Article 10(c) from the ground up. These include, among others: community-based research to document and communicate customary sustainable use, for example, mapping, videos, and monitoring of biodiversity and illegal resource activities (such as logging); training on customary practices, developing community-based management plans, and inter-community agreements about conserving specific areas. Maps in particular were noted as very important in the struggle for land recognition and helping government and conservation agencies understand communities’ ways of life. Governance and principles like free, prior and informed consent were highlighted as fundamental to ensuring ecosystem sustainability and the security and wellbeing of communities for future generations.

The presenters noted two main issues that were missing from the tasks of the draft component of work on Article 10(c), namely, climate change (including impacts on territories and roles of traditional knowledge and practices in mitigation and adaptation) and gender considerations.

During the question and answer period, the following issues were discussed: legal recognition of territorial rights is the basis of traditional knowledge and customary use – in other words, rights to traditional knowledge cannot be recognized without recognizing rights to territory; given the many similarities across regions, it’s important to have Indigenous-to-Indigenous sharing and cooperation, including on methodologies for documentation and communication; territories are not always static or well-defined areas and may shift, depending on the resources and increasingly, due to climate change.

NJ in Montreal for Working Group on Article 8(j)

Kabir Bavikatte and Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) are in Montreal, Canada, for the 7th Meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions (WG8(j)). The meeting will take place from 31 October to 4 November and will be preceded by a capacity building workshop on access and benefit sharing from 29-30 October.

Natural Justice will co-host and participate in a range of side events and meetings and will post reports on this blog throughout the week. Daily coverage of the negotiations will be provided by IISD Reporting Services.

Meghalaya Autumn Fest to project NE

SHILLONG, Oct 29 – Meghalaya Tourism Development Corporation along with Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF) are all set to project the rich and colourful cultures of the North Eastern region at the Shillong Autumn Festival 2011, said former Meghalaya Minister and MTDF spokesman, RG Lyngdoh.

Addressing a press conference at Shillong Press Club here, Lyngdoh said the North East has been misrepresented in the mainstream India as the region is plagued with guns, AIDS and law and order problem. He said the aim of the forthcoming festival is to dispel all the misconceptions of the region.

“Experience the North East” has been decided as this year’s theme of the Shillong Autumn Festival as the rallying point to create awareness, a place to expose and sell the natural products of the State and the North East”, Lyngdoh said.

The three-day Autumn Festival would kick off on November 4 with the Shillong Street Carnival involving the localities, schools and colleges and cultural troupes of the eight States of North East, Lyngdoh said, adding that the cultural parade would be part of the festival.

The grand finale of the festival would be shifted to the scenic Orchid Lake Resort at Barapani near here which would be represented by mega haats against the backdrop of the lake.

He also informed that the North East Cultural Extravaganza would showcase the Manipuri Krishna Ballet, Pung Cholom and Thang Ta (Martial Arts) display.

The festival would also include adverture sport, fashion and music, said Lyngdoh, adding that the visitors would also witness never seen before Acro Flights by Ace Paraglider pilots from France.

Meghalaya CM hands over cheque to Drum festival organisers

Shillong, Oct 29 (PTI) Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma today handed a cheque of Rs 14.57 lakh to the organizers of the Wangala Hundred Drum Festival to be held from November 10 to November 12, next at Asanang in West Garo Hills District of Meghalaya. Addressing a press conference here, Sangma said the state government would extend financial support to such festivals, so that they could be held in a grand way, as also to attract domestic and foreign tourists. Sangma said the state government has taken upon itself the responsibility to make Meghalaya a major tourist destination in the North Eastern Region. He said it would be more attractive for the tourists if they could also visit other North East States at one go. The Chief Minister suggested that there should be a North Tour ackage by roping in other states of the region to enable the tourists stay longer in the region and subsequently earn more revenue from the tourism sector. “As of now the tourists who come to region normally visit Meghalaya and Kaziranga National Park in Assam”, Sangma said, adding that the time has to market North East as tourist destination. When asked about militancy could be a major set for tourism, Sangma said the root cause of militancy has to be tackled. “Militancy is not as glitter as one looks particularly when the militants are on the run. The have to face a lot of hardship while staying in the jungle with malaria and other diseases. That is why many of the youths who have taken up militancy come back and surrender”, he said. The chief minister said the state government was trying hard to introduce some of the flagship programmes in a mission mode to ensure rapid economic development amongst the people.

Exploring Access and Benefit Sharing in the ASEAN Region

Harry Jonas (Natural Justice) attended an ASEAN regional capacity development workshop on access and benefit sharing (ABS) in Manila, Philippines, from 25-26 October. The workshop was organized by the ASEAN Centre for Biodiversity and was attended by government officials, international organizations, NGOs, and academics. Over the two days, attendees heard presentations on the history of the Nagoya Protocol and experiences of national implementation from across the region and discussed challenges and opportunities. Natural Justice presented on our work and launched a publication entitled Community Protocols and ABS.

Agatha lambasts Meghalaya over poor show

TURA, Oct 27 – Union Minister of State Agatha K Sangma has alleged that a major chunk of funds for development of Meghalaya comes from her Rural Development Ministry and Agriculture Ministry in New Delhi but implementation by the State remains poor.

“There are many a time when State Government officials complain about delay in release of Central funds. But when I looked into the mater it was found that the State seldom implement the schemes given by New Delhi. I have to regularly intervene in the matter,” said Agatha Sangma.

She revealed that Minister for Rural Development had even asked her as to why implementation of Central schemes in Meghalaya remain poor.

She was addressing a conference of the opposition NCP that took place in South Garo Hills on Saturday. The conference lambasted the ruling Congress in Meghalaya for staking claim to various implementation of schemes that were taken up during the tenure of the NCP-led MPA Government in 2008-2009.

Top leaders of the NCP including Agatha K Sangma, Rajya Sabha MP Thomas A Sangma, Leader of the opposition in the State Assembly Conrad K Sangma and veteran politician from Garo Hills and former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma participated in the conference that took place at Sibbari border village of South Garo Hills.

Leader of the opposition and former Finance Minister Conrad K Sangma was the most vocal in his criticism of the Mukul Sangma-led Congress Government in the State.

“Today the Congress Government in the State is boasting of bringing various Central schemes to the State but if you look a little closer you will see that these were schemes we had proposed and forwarded for sanction to the Centre,” said Conrad Sangma.

“Eighty per cent of the Meghalaya Government’s budget is funded by the Centre. Out of Rs 4,000 crores for Meghalaya, Rs 3,500 crore is borne by the Centre”, he said.

He alleged that there is a huge racket in siphoning of Central funds in Meghalaya which is testament to the lack of development of the rural areas despite so much funds being provided by New Delhi.

Purno A Sangma also joined in the criticism for lack of development. He was appalled by the pathetic road condition in South Garo Hills and blamed it on the Mukul Sangma Government for delaying the inauguration of completed roads and bridges so as to take the laurels for work done by his government In 2008-09.

Building Capacity of Conservation Groups on ABS

On 26 October, the ABS Capacity Development Initiative and Conservation International hosted a one-day capacity building event for conservation organisations in the Washington, D.C., area on access and benefit sharing (ABS). Entitled "ABS and Conservation: Opportunities and Challenges for the Future", the event included speakers who have been working in the ABS context for many years, including Pierre du Plessis from CRIAA and Jorge Cabrera from INBio, Costa Rica. Johanna von Braun (Natural Justice) also presented on the use of biocultural community protocols for the implementation of ABS at the local level.

The event provided participants with a general overview of ABS, the Nagoya Protocol and a number of case studies, and raised question in terms of the overlaps between ABS and conservation and how ABS should function as an incentive for conservation. A number of participants particularly highlighted the importance of linking questions related to resource governance to conservation and ABS and the importance of connecting questions regarding resource rights to establishing successful ABS incentive schemes that lead to conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. The day ended with a fruitful discussion and brainstorming session on the particular role that conservation groups such Conservation International can play in making ABS work in practice.

Strigoi, Silent Running and We Need to Talk About Kevin

Just a reminder that we have a sciSCREEN bonanza this weekend and next week. On Saturday October 29th Rebecca Williams will introduce the film Strigoi with a talk on Vampire Culture as part of a Halloween special commencing at 6pm.



This will be followed by two full sciSCREENs. On Tuesday November 1st, and as part of sustainability week, there will be a full sciSCREEN discussion with 5 speakers after the film Silent Running centering on issues of biodiversity, the interdependency of humans and nature, interplanetary travel both now and in the future and creating earth like environments elsewhere. The film will begin at 6.15pm and is our Eco-Halloween special.



Finally on Thursday November 3rd, there will be a full Cardiff sciSCREEN including 4 speakers from Cardiff University after the 6.10pm screening of We Need to Talk About Kevin. Sponsored by the MRC Centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics and organised by 5 early-career researchers, the discussion will provide an opportunity to discuss issues such as postnatal depression, child development, foresnsic psyhcology and responsibility and blame.



All tickets can be bought from Chapter Arts Centre.

Hope to See You There.

Accused of voyeurism in Meghalaya, BSF denies charge

Guwahati, Oct 26 : Less than three weeks after two Border Security Force (BSF) constables in Meghalaya allegedly sacrificed a minor to be relieved of infertility, troopers of the paramilitary unit in the state have now been accused of voyeurism.

Earlier this week, the people of Nongtyngur village near the
India-Bangladesh border in West Khasi Hills district accused BSF personnel of patrolling unnecessarily in the area to watch local women bathe and pester them. Nongtyngur is 70 km southwest of Meghalaya capital Shillong.

The BSF denied the charge and said some locals involved in cattle smuggling were instigating the villagers. “Strict vigil has helped us curb cattle smuggling in the area for the past six months. Certain people don’t want our men to patrol a cattle smuggling route along a river near the village close to the border,” said BSF spokesperson Ravi Gandhi from Shillong on Tuesday.

Nongtyngur villagers, however, rubbished the BSF claim. “We cannot recall a single instance in the last many years when BSF personnel arrested any smuggler,” said a villager Bubu.

New Publication on Community Protocols in Peru

Asociacion ANDES, the Quechua communities of the Potato Park, and the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) have released a new publication entitled, "Community Biocultural Protocols: Building Mechanisms for Access and Benefit-sharing Among the Communities of the Potato Park based on Quechua Customary Norms".

The description is as follows: "The Potato Park communities in Peru are deeply committed to the conservation of biocultural resources, associated knowledge, and indigenous rights, and undertook this research to further investigate the role of customary norms and institutions in the protection of traditional knowledge (TK) and resources. The development of a Biocultural Protocol, in the form of the Inter-community Agreement for Equitable Access and Benefit Sharing, is the result of their efforts. In addition to providing a valuable example of effective community-based protection of TK and genetic or biological resources in praxis, this initiative is also one of only a handful of examples worldwide of working models that stem directly from customary laws and norms.

Given the present international paucity of models that adequately value and protect indigenous and local community rights, biodiversity and customary norms and practices in relation to benefit sharing and access to resources and knowledge – the present initiative may further serve as an example of best practice in relation to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol. Spanish translation is forthcoming." More information is available on the IIED website on biocultural heritage.

Shillong Autumn Festival to begin on November 4

SHILLONG: The three-day annual Autumn Festival held in Shillong with the theme 'Experiencing the North East', will begin on November 4. The popular event, which boasts of as many as 166 tribes and sub-tribes under one roof, attempts to showcase the diverse culture, cuisine and products of the northeast, giving tourists a taste of the exotic region. The festival promises to be filled with fun and festivity.

"We are attempting to turn this into a peoples' festival with more involvement from the communities," says Robert G Lyngdoh, chairman of the Meghalaya Tourism Development Forum (MTDF), which is organizing the festival in collaboration with Meghalaya Tourism Department and The Times of India Group.

The festival will begin with the 'Shillong Street Carnival' involving localities, schools, colleges and cultural troupes from the eight North-Eastern states. The carnival will include a cultural and float parade themed 'Shillong' followed by a fete to conclude the carnival at the Shillong Club. "There will be attractive prize money for those who are able to impress the judges. All the localities of Shillong are invited to set up stalls at the fete at subsidized rates," said Lyngdoh. "The MTDF is keen on reviving the tradition of fetes in the city," he added.

On November 5 and 6, the festival will shift to Orchid Lake Resort at Umiam (Barapani). The festival will include entertainment in the form of adventure sports, fashion and music. "This year, the visitors will witness acro flights at Umiam by ace para-gliding pilots from France," said Larsing M Sawian, president of MTDF.

The North-East Cultural Extravaganza will showcase the famous Manipuri Krishna Ballet, Pong Cholam and Thang-ta martial arts. Other performances include the Hojaigiri dance from Tripura, Snow Lion dance from Sikkim and traditional games from Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. Garo and Khasi drummers will also showcase their talent. A fashion show showcasing creations by eminent designers from the North-East including Bonney Darrang from Arunachal, Nandini from Assam, Daisy Momin from Tura and Keds from Nagaland will be held.

"The festival will also feature some unique performances by the North Central Zone Cultural Centre, featuring 103 dancers from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar," said Sawian. Prominent bands and musicians from the region and other parts of the country would entertain the visitors. The bands include Shaiir 'N' Funk, Raghu Dixit, and Reuben Mashangvaand besides the homegrown 4th Element, Streets Stories, Dossers Urge and others.

"All the states of the region will be represented in mega 'haats' constructed at the resort. Sunday, the penultimate day of the festival will be a 'family day' and no alcohol will be sold at the venue on that day," he informed.

"The festival will also be an epicurean experience as a variety of local brews and dishes will be available," one of the organizers said.

RTI hearing through video conferencing in Meghalaya shortly

Shillong, Oct 25 : The Meghalaya State Information Commission will introduce video conferencing system to conduct of hearing on RTI complaints in the state.

Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) CD Kynjing said here today that steps are being taken for conduct of hearing with the help of video conferencing.

This will be the first time in the country that video conferencing is being contemplated for hearing of RTI complaints, Mr Kynjing informed.

Further, in order to bring the commission closer to RTI information seekers living in remote places of the state, Mr Kynjing mentioned that a hearing was also conducted at Tura to make it easier for the applicants from Garo Hills region to come for the hearing.

Many of the applicants are not fully conversant with the procedure and aware of their rights under the RTI, the CIC pointed out that it was necessary to create a lot of awareness to the people of the state.

He also informed that the commission on its part has been conducting awareness campaign, trainings and capacity building from time to time.

Since the inception of the commission on March 3, 2006, only 102 cases of appeals and 175 cases of complaints have been disposed off by the commission.

Karate king who put N-E on world map dies

Shillong, Oct. 25 : The master who had put Meghalaya on the karate map of the world by grooming several youngsters who went on to win in international competitions, died last evening after a prolonged illness.

Coach, friend and mentor Stephan Leong, who turned 52 on October 18, had a glittering career spanning almost three decades.

Leong, the man who formed the All Meghalaya Karate-Do Association in 1981, took up martial arts as a career in 1973. After nine years of training, he went to Singapore and Malaysia for further training and obtained 1st Dan Black Belt in karate.

From 1976, he started training students while sharpening his skills with the ambition of achieving higher goals.

He was also a holder of the rank 4th Dan Black Belt in Shotokan Karate awarded by the Japan Karate Association, and 5th Dan Black Belt in karate awarded by the All India Karate-Do Federation (AIKF) which is recognised by the World Karate Federation.

For several years, as a keen karate practitioner and dedicated instructor, Leong had trained many karatekas of the Northeast in general and Meghalaya in particular, thus raising them up to the level of national champions and even world champions.

“He was more than a teacher to us. He made a lot of contribution to the state and the country. Without him karate would not have been popular in Meghalaya. We owe a lot to him,” Linza Fenny Syiem, karate coach in the state directorate of sports and youth affairs, told The Telegraph. Syiem, an international achiever in karate, was one of those who were groomed by Leong. She won her first international gold medal at the 7th Junior Shoto World Cup Karate Championship held in Paris in 1998.

On Leong’s contribution to her success, Syiem said: “Besides the grace of God, he was the main person to whom I attribute my achievements.”

Saying Leong would be deeply missed in the karate circuit, she said: “The most befitting tribute we can pay to him is by putting more effort to popularise the art in the state.” Like Syiem, Damang Syngkon, a four-time national champion and gold medallist in the men’s 50kg category at the 8th SAF Games and who represented India in the 14th Asian Games at Busan in 2002, is also another achiever who grew under Leong.

“He has always been like a father figure to us. Meghalaya got its first international medal in sports and games through the efforts of Leong. He was able to bring out many champions and this itself speaks volumes about the man. His departure has left a big void,” Syngkon, now a junior karate coach in West Garo Hills district, said.

Banshanlang Kharumnuid is also another player who won international accolades under Leong’s guidance.

“I have been associated with Leong since I was nine years old. He was not only my master in karate but he was also like a father to me. Most of my years were spent with him. He guided me in almost every aspect of my life. He was the one who shaped me up to the way I am today,” Kharumnuid said.

Leong had also participated in the International Karate Open Championship held at Kuala Lumpur in 1984. He was also appointed coach for the Indian contingent for the 8th Shoto World Cup held in Tokyo in September 2000. He dedicated most of his life to the promotion of karate in Meghalaya in particular and the region in general and was previously the technical director in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. Till his death, Leong was the karate coach at the Sports Authority of India, Shillong.

Leong was bestowed with U Kiang Nangbah Award for sports by the Meghalaya government in 2003. His body will be laid to rest here tomorrow.

Burying their differences as organisers in two rival organisations, sports organisers and karatekas Manoj Hazarika and Nogen Bonjang agreed that Leong’s death has left a void in the field of karate in the Northeast. “It is an irreparable loss for the region in particular and the nation in general. It is a void which could not be filled up in the near future. I have not only lost a personal friend of mind, the region has also lost a popular coach. He died at a time when there was much to be derived from him by the nation,” Hazarika, the secretary of All Style Karate-do Association, Assam (ASKAA), told The Telegraph in Guwahati.

Hazarika and Leong were trained together in Shotokan Karate of Japan Karate Association under Gitaraj Chouhan in Shillong in 1979. “I found Leong a great opponent to fight and improve my skills. He was a gifted player,” Hazarika said.

“As an organiser and coach, I would salute him because a friendly jibe from my side prompted him to take it up a challenge and revolutionise karate in Meghalaya. His initiatives helped Meghalaya surpass Assam in the sport and make the state a force to reckon with the national circuit,” Hazarika said.

Hazarika took a dig at the All India Karate-do Federation’s policy saying that it never recognised his capability to coach and produce players for the nation. “The federation never considered taking his service for any national duty,” he said.

Bonjang, on the other hand, felt none could replace Leong in the karate revolution of the region. “He was not only a pioneer of karate in Meghalaya but also pioneered the revolution in the entire region. He helped every state of the region in developing karate as a sport,” Bonjang, the secretary of the United Karate-do Association, Assam, told The Telegraph.

UKAA coach Ram Bahadur Gurung, who learnt karate from Leong, felt it was Leong who pioneered karate in Assam too.

“Most of the players from the region who represented the nation were trained by Leong and he was the most revered coach in this part of the country,” Gurung said.

Th. Kiran Singh, one of the pioneers of karate in Manipur, said Leong was an outstanding figure in the sport in the region as well as the nation and his demise an irreparable loss for the country. “In my association with Leong in the North Eastern Karate Federation, I have found him not very comfortable with the attitude of the national federation towards the Northeast and thus he took it up as a challenge to produce the best karatekas for the nation from the region,” Singh said in Imphal.

Karate organising bodies in all the states of the region, including ASKAA, UKAA and Manipur Karate Association, organised condolence meetings this evening and sent their messages to the bereaved family.

Tools aid for Rabhas, Garos

Genang (Meghalaya), Oct. 25 : Tension has subsided since the ethnic clashes broke out between Rabha and Garo communities here in January, but the violence that continued for about a fortnight was enough to rob 2,000 poor families living along the Assam-Meghalaya boundary of their livelihood.

However, today the villagers affected by the ethnic clashes had some relief with the Assam branch of the Indian Red Cross Society jointly with the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) launching the Micro Economic Initiative Programme for economic security of the villagers.

Under this special programme, 276 families belonging to both Rabha and Garo communities in Genang and Thapa Dangre villages in East Garo Hills of Meghalaya and Puthimari and Ginogre villages in Assam’s Goalpara district were provided grants to assist them pick up their farming or other income generating activities.

These included weaving equipment, pulling carts, bicycles, flying shuttle, agricultural equipment and mason tools.

“We have identified at least 2,000 families whose livelihood sources were badly affected and they were struggling to cope with the situation. We have started the programme in four villages and will cover the remaining villages gradually. We don’t give cash and instead provide need-based support to make sure that the grants are properly utilised to improve their condition,” public relations co-ordinator of ICRC Deba Prasad Sarma said here.

Around 5,000 families, comprising over 60,000 people, were affected in the ethnic clashes between Rabha and Garo villagers in January which broke out following a strike called by the All Rabha Students Union.

More than 200 women gathered at the playground of Resubelpara, a Rabha village in East Garo Hills, where the grants were distributed by ICRC member Paul Kin and cooperation assistant Diganta Bujarbaruah.

The villagers applauded in unison but the haunting memories of the clashes and the grief of losing their belongings were writ large on their faces.

Hema Rabha, 23, was five months pregnant when criminals came rushing to her Resubelpara village under Mendipathar police station and burnt all their four houses, stocks of 10 quintal paddy and her two weaving machines (tat sal).

“I rushed to the nearby hills and stayed there for some time before my husband took me to the relief camp. Before the clashes, I used to earn about Rs 2,000 every month by weaving our traditional clothes — Rabha dokhona. Today I got a weaving machine and from tomorrow I will try to resume work,” Hema told this correspondent, holding her seven-month-old baby girl, Christina.

Similar was the story of Shodesh Sangma, a Garo villager at Puthimari village in Goalpara, who lost his handcart in the clashes. He was provided a handcart today.

Lokpal bill cloud on RTI

Shillong, Oct. 23 : Meghalaya’s chief information commissioner Chester D. Kynjing said the introduction of Jan Lokpal bill in the winter session may “overshadow” the existing Right to Information Act, 2005. He was delivering the valedictory address at a seminar here today.

“We are all aware that there is a strong movement to pressure the government to frame the Lokpal bill in the country to root out corruption. We really don’t know how much power will be given and how much teeth it (the Lokpal) will have. But it will be successful only if information is freely available. There is also likelihood that it may overshadow the present RTI act,” Kynjing said.

The two-day seminar on Strengthening Participatory Democracy: Five years of the Role of RTI was held at Synod College, Jaiaw. It was organised by the P.A. Sangma Foundation in collaboration with Synod College and NGOs Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) India Office and Media for Change, New Delhi.

“There are allegations of corruption everywhere in the country. To dispel such doubts and fears, people should seek for information and find out for themselves as to how things are done,” Kynjing said.

“During the five years of implementation of the RTI act in the state, it would appear as if the public authorities have been very active and cooperative, and perhaps because of that, the complaints under Section 18 and appeal under Section 19 are not forthcoming to the Meghalaya State Information Commission.”

He said 102 cases of appeals and 175 cases of complaints have been disposed of by the commission since its inception on March 3, 2006.

“While it is true that our government functioning is quite transparent in comparison to other states in the sense that officers and public representatives are easily accessible to people, this is mainly perhaps because many of the applicants are not fully conversant with the procedure and aware of their rights under the RTI. Therefore, it is still necessary to create a lot of awareness to the people of our state,” Kynjing stated.

Improve infra in NE for trade: Meghalaya CM

New Delhi: The markets for the North-eastern region historically and geographically lie in India's neighbouring countries and these need to be rebuilt with appropriate trade protocols and improvement of infrastructure, Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma said on Saturday.

Addressing the National Development Council meeting, Sangma said basic infrastructure such as communication, power, etc to the existing land custom stations in the region is urgently required as this will provide an impetus for development of trade with Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

"Greater attention should be given to a trade corridor from Bhutan to Chittagong through Dhubri and the Garo Hills," he said.

The chief minister said the last month's visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Bangladesh has helped to usher in an understanding of the difficulties, as well as the expectations between Bangladesh and the North-eastern states.

"We congratulate the Prime Minister for the initiatives taken, and hope that pending and unresolved issues will be addressed expeditiously in the spirit of statesmanship which has been portrayed by the leaders of both countries," he said.

Sangma said it is an undeniable fact that having trade links with Bangladesh will be beneficial to the entire North-eastern region.

ABS Initiative Workshop in Malawi

Kabir Bavikatte and Sabine Zajderman (Natural Justice) attended the Fourth Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) Workshop for Eastern and Southern Africa in Malawi from 17-22 October. The workshop, organized by the ABS Capacity Development Initiative for Africa (ABS Initiative) and hosted by the Environmental Affairs Department of Malawi, was the first in the sub-region since the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol at the 10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). In light of this development, African countries are now discussing and identifying relevant ABS strategies at national, sub-regional, and regional levels to address the challenge of implementing the Nagoya Protocol. This meeting also echoed the Fourth ABS Sub-Regional Workshop for West Africa and the Maghreb, which was coordinated and facilitated by the ABS Initiative in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation of Mali and held in Bamako, Mali, from 26 September to 1 October.

The first four days of the workshop in Malawi aimed to inform the participants about the provisions of the Nagoya Protocol and provide them with a platform to share national experiences with implementing ABS, discuss key challenges while exploring national and sub-regional concerns, and identify capacity gaps and priority areas for action at the political and technical–administrative levels. Participants were first introduced to the Nagoya Protocol and its implications for national policies and legislation and were invited to discuss different policy choices – protective vs. market-oriented, governance and administrative structures, and definition of rights – for national implementation as well as potential coordination and harmonization strategies at sub-regional and regional levels. The use of the active ingredient of the Strophanthus Kombe seed harvested in the Lake Region of Malawi and the benefit sharing mechanism developed by TreeCrops with the local communities illustrated the main challenges faced at the local level and the complexity at times to discern a biotrade case from an ABS case.

The workshop ended with a two-day session exclusively focusing on practical approaches and methods in the field of Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) in the context of ABS. During this time, participants reflected on the development of sensible solutions and tools for dialogue to address the various communication challenges encountered with different stakeholders groups.

'Infiltration from Bangladesh impacting demography'

Shillong, Oct 22 : Infiltration from Bangladesh is posing a demographic threat due to vast stretches of the India-Bangladesh border being unfenced, a top police officer said Friday.

"Infiltration is still taking place because of the unfenced border,” Sudesh Kumar, Border Security Force (BSF) Inspector General (Assam-Meghalaya Frontier), told journalists here.

Kumar said that due to opposition from villagers, about 130 km of India’s border with Bangladesh in the Jaintia Hills sector alone has not been fenced and the area remains vulnerable to infiltration.


“We have identified vulnerable areas where we are conducting joint patrolling in those sensitive areas,” he added.

Meghalaya share a 443 km international border with Bangladesh.


Kumar said that there was an urgent need to fence the entire stretch of India’s border with Bangladesh to prevent infiltration and cross-border terrorism.

On Thursday, the BSF arrested an ULFA "captain", Dergrah Saronia alias Ananda Das, after he infiltrated from Bangladesh to India via the West Garo Hills. Saronia, a member of the ULFA central committee, was arrested from the Chandabui area.

Kumar also said that violence in the northeast had decreased mainly because of the meeting between union Home Minister P.C. Chidambaram, BSF chief Raman Srivastava and Border Guard Bangladesh chief Maj. Gen. Anwar Hussain when a Border Management Coordinated Plan was formulated.

Coal mine owners told to register their migrant labourers

The government of Meghalaya has asked all coal mine owners and cement plant operators in Jaintia hills district to get their migrant labourers registered under work permit system being introduced recently in the state. In an order issued by the Sub-Divisional Officer (Civil), Khliehriat today, the coal mine owners, cement plant operators, contractors and other companies were directed to register their migrant labourers with the labour inspector at the earliest. Khliehriat Civil Sub-division has several thousand of migrant workers and there are concern among the local people of the district that they could swamp by the rising population of non-tribal labourers. The state government had notified implementation of work permit system on October 14. Separate committees at the district-level and sub-divisional levels are also being constituted to register all migrant labourers.

Child trafficking in Jaintia Hills coal mines

Dimapur, Oct 20 : National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) held a meeting at Pinewood, conference hall at 11:30 am on October 17, 2011. NCPCR held the meeting in coordination with the Social Welfare Department, government of Meghalaya with the presence of various NGOs from Meghalaya.
A press note issued by Ibanshandor Myrthong, Intern (Impulse NGO) stated that the NCPCR called for the meeting with regard to a complaint filed by Impulse NGO Network on the trafficking of children on the coal mines in Jaintia Hills. Following up on a case where the Impulse NGO Network has filed, presenting with the statistics of how many children were working on the coal mines, and that how there has been a delay on the part of the government to implement the Right to Education Act and Child Labour policies he said, “The Commission will be compelled to call for a public hearing.”
Dr. Dube, also addressed the meeting saying that the government should not only look on numbers, but also check on facts to overcome the issues and the state should set up a Shelter Home in order to give shelter for the children who are being rescued from the coal mines by various NGOs working for the betterment of the children. The commission took cognisance in the matter the NGOs are working for the uplift of the children in the state and the country as a whole.
The note also mentioned that Impulse NGO Network has filed a complaint regarding the misbehaviour of some unknown people in the Meghalaya Hindu Mission Orphanage, where the children are being beaten up and threaten to be chased out of the said orphanage. The commission will investigate the matter and had taken the statement of a boy who had been abused in the orphanage. Dr. Yogesh Dube, member of the NCPCR present at the meeting thanked the NGO for their hard work and also invited them to work as an extended arm to help the commission. Members of the Impulse NGO Network, Child Line collaborative organisation- Bosco Reach Out, Reach Ministry, CSWO, Legal Rights Forum, Lympung Ki Seng Kynthei were present in the meeting.

sciSCREEN is Back and then some... Silent Running

Like London Buses, you wait for one and then two come at once. Not only will there be a Cardiff sciSCREEN on November 3rd with a screening of We Need to Talk About Kevin but there will also be a Cardiff sciSCREEN on November 1st run by BRASS which will include a screening of the sci-fi classic Silent Running.

Run as part of Sustainability week talks will centre on issues such as biodiversity, outer-space and astronomy. Speakers include:

Lorraine Frater from the Centre for Business Relationships Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS)

Chris Barber from the International Space School Education Trust (ISSET)

Chris North from the School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University

Rhodri Evans from the School of Physics and Astronomy, Cardiff University

Rob Thomas from the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University

The film will start at 6pm and, as usual, discussion and debate will commence after the film finishes and will include a free wine reception. For information on cinema tickets and ticket prices please contact Chapter Arts Centre http://www.chapter.org/.

Meghalaya guv worried over functioning of pvt varsities

SHILLONG: Meghalaya governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary on Tuesday expressed concerned over the growing number of non-functional private educational institutions in the state.

Inaugurating the interim campus of the University of Technology and Management (UTM) here on Tuesday, the governor observed that over the last five-and-half years, the state government had passed legislations establishing eleven universities, which had ten private ones. However, he rued the fact that only one of these was functioning to "some level of satisfaction".

"We want reputed corporate entities to establish educational institutions," he said expressing his worries about poor performance of the private institutes established in recent times.

Stating that education should not be commercialized as 90 per cent of the people in the country were left out of the ambit of higher education, Mooshahary said, "Commerce should not be given a narrow interpretation". He maintained that commerce too could be 'dignified' as he said education should not be opened up for the private sectors only for making profits.

Stating that learning was not merely for earning, he emphasized on "building of conscience" in the minds of students to make them responsible citizens.

In her speech, Ampareen Lyngdoh, state minister for housing, municipal administration, science and technology and urban affairs, underscored that the newly-established university must deliver on its promises made to people. "Several universities, institutionalized in the state, have fallen short of expectations," she said.

Chancellor Sanjay Kaul spoke on the "vision and mission" with which the university is envisaging to move ahead in the chosen domains. He added that the concept of this university was about 'lifestyle' and it was technology-driven with focus on employability.

Pro-VC SN Suri said the university's journey so far has been short but significant. "The university will introduce latest academic features and will start with a few programs in the first academic session, commencing in July 2012," Suri added.

"The university aims at serving the youth from the northeastern states and envisages expanding opportunities in professional and technical education for students, and equipping them with employability that will help them acquire jobs," he said.

The Hydrocarbons Education & Research Society (HERS) is the sponsor of the new varsity.

In its corporate social sector endeavor, the new varsity has 'adopted' the Laitumkhrah Bengali Secondary School.

Citizens Committee to be formed for better policing

The Meghalaya government has decided to form a citizens committee at the state and police station level for better policing, a police official said. The idea of forming the citizens committee is to improve the quality of policing and better communication between the citizens and the state police, the official said. We need the support of the citizens for providing better police service and therefore, we have decided to formed this committees by November, Meghalaya Director General of Police, N Ramachandran told UNI. In the committees eminent people from the community would be the members, especially the traditional heads who would be able to provide better road maps for effective policing. The members would be apolitical persons to avoid unnecessary allegations of being politically influenced in any of the decisions taken, he said. He said the formation of the committees at the different police stations would help the quality of policing and ensure better cooperation between the citizen and the government. People s support is a must to ensure better policing in the state, the customers are the citizen of the police service, the DGP stated. He, meanwhile, said that there would be no let up in the police s anti-insurgency operations in the state, the DGP added, the operations were being intensified, especially in Garo Hills. The problem is there, but definitely not big. We are adopting a multi-prolonged approach to deal with militants and very soon would be successful, Mr Ramachandran said.

Casualties hurt Meghalaya police morale

Shillong, Oct. 18 : The death of six lower ranked policemen this year in anti-insurgency operations in Garo hills after being trapped by the GNLA, has dealt a blow to the morale of constables.

At least five other policemen also sustained injuries in the past year fighting militants.

Despite the Special Weapons and Tactics team (SWAT) of the state police, the special Combat Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the CRPF and personnel of BSF being engaged in combating militancy in Garo hills, the casualties mostly involve state police constables.

The latest incident took place on the evening of October 15 when havildar William Mawiong and two others were lured into a GNLA trap in the West Garo Hills.

After a villager, identified as Pintu Marak, lured them to the nearby river for fishing, the GNLA militants abducted the trio.

Mawiong was shot dead while two other policemen, Sambu Dalu and Grejilistone Momin, were tortured by the militants.

A similar trap was laid on June 4, when three policemen were killed and two others were injured by GNLA militants at Tapa Darengchi in the East Garo Hills.At Tapa Darengchi, the policemen had conducted one round of anti-dacoity raids in the early morning of June 4 and took shelter at Sepikol a nearby village as it was raining heavily.

Later, a few civilians informed them that there was some fresh robberies at Tapa Darengchi.

However, it was a trap as the police personnel were climbing the hillock to reach the spot of the robbery, the GNLA militants who were on a hillock ambushed them.

After the attack, the militants snatched an AK-47, INSAS, carbine and SLR rifles, magazines and three jackets.

The three victims in the June 4 ambush were havildar Blein Makhroh and constables Duke M. Sangma, and Johnhighbirth Marak, the injured policemen were G.G. Momin and M. Rymbai who were constables from the unarmed branch of the police.

In yet another case on July 3, GNLA militants succeeded in confusing the policemen.

In their hunt against the GNLA cadres in a village near Williamnagar in the East Garo Hills, two teams of police personnel which mistook each other for militants, clashed, resulting in the death of havildar Gopal Prasad Nunia and constable Exmarting Marak.

With these series of incidents, the issue of pushing constables and havildars to the forefront to fight militants is a cause of discontent among the lower ranked police officers posted in Garo hills.

However, Meghalaya DGP N. Ramachandran who concluded his Garo hills visit on October 15 instilled confidence among the policemen during his four-day stay.

He said the police were committed to neutralise the activities of the GNLA.

The DGP during his interaction with reporters the same day in Tura admitted the difficulties and poor standard of living of his officers and men on the ground.

Despite getting the lowest pay, an average policeman was working nothing short of 15 hours a day, the DGP said, adding that he would make efforts to uplift their living condition.

Giving courage to policemen on duty, the DIG, western range G.H.P Raju, who is co-ordinating the operations against the GNLA militants in Garo hills said the tactics of the GNLA are nothing but acts of cowardice.

He also said the police have established some leads into the killing of havildar William Mawiong and added that the Garo villager, Pintu Marak, who lured the policemen to the riverside for fishing, is an overground worker of the GNLA.

The constables who were assaulted by the GNLA have identified the group of militants led by the southern commander of GNLA, Baichung Momin, and accomplices identified as Chenang and Laben.

According to the police officer, the movement of GNLA cadres led by Momin from Chokpot to Purakhasia and Gambegre was noticed for the past few weeks.

Photo exhibition reveals life in India's coal belt

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In a filthy pit, straining his body as he hacks ash from the ground, the image of a man captured in a black and white photograph represents the working conditions of many labourers in coal-rich northeast India.
The picture is one of several being exhibited in London this month by photographer Srinivas Kuruganti, illustrating life in Jharkland state, where underground fires sparked by coal mining have raged for nearly a century and displaced communities.
Kuruganti's fascination with the impacts of coal mining in northeast India started with a short bus ride he took in 1999, from the city of Varanasi to a small town called Chandasi, the biggest coal depot in Asia.
"Hundreds of men and women spend all day shovelling and carrying coal in and out of trucks," he said.
"The air is so thick with fine particles of coal dust that all shops, houses and roads are coated black. I spent a few days there but was left feeling that there was more I wanted to know."
His striking photographs form part of "Shifting Landscapes," an exhibition which also depicts the fast-changing landscapes of China through the lenses of husband and wife photographers Max and Liz Haarala Hamilton.
Underground fires
Despite its rampant industry, Jharkhand is one of India's poorest states, with Kuruganti citing estimates that more than half the state does not have access to clean drinking water. World Bank data from 2007 showed 59 percent of children there were malnourished.
Another of Kuruganti's exhibited photos, showing two people perched on the edge of a dumpsite carrying baskets, depicts another aspect of life in the coal belt. Locals in the city climb down perilously dangerous slopes of dumpsites collecting coal, which they rely on for heating and fuel.
Elsewhere in Jharkhand, uprooting families in the town of Jharia, underground coalfield fires have burned since the early 20th century.
Mining in India displaced about 2.6 million people between 1950 and 1991, according to a 2008 report by the Centre for Science and Environment in India. Fewer than a quarter of them have been rehabilitated, the report added.
Unregulated mining in Jharkland state has converted forests into wastelands and made the region uninhabitable for the local people from the Adivasi tribal group, who rely largely on the forests for sustenance, Kuruganti said. According to estimates over a million Adivasis were displaced between 1950 and 2000, he added.
"You look at who pays the price for economic development", said Kuruganti. "It's always the people in the village, by being displaced, or their land is taken away."
The exhibition, which is in conjunction with east London photography festival "Photomonth," runs from Oct 15-30 at London's Gallery S O.

ABS Training Course in Nairobi

Sabine Zajderman and Laureen Manuel (Natural Justice) attended a 5-day training course on access and benefit sharing (ABS) in Nairobi, Kenya, from 10-14 October. The course was aimed at addressing the capacity constraints faced by African countries in implementing ABS at the national and regional levels. About 30 delegates working in the field of ABS from East and Southern Africa attended the course, which was hosted by the Strathmore Executive Legal Education Programme (SELEP) in collaboration with the ABS Capacity Development Initiative for Africa. The course contents, designed by the Environmental Evaluation Unit of the University of Cape Town, included presentations on the key provisions of the Nagoya Protocol, traditional knowledge issues, and intellectual property rights, as well as case studies of actual experiences with ABS in Africa.

Meghalaya government constitutes committee to break deadlock

Shillong, Oct 15 : The Meghalaya government today formed a committee to break the deadlock between different factions of the society and government officials over the alignment of four-laning road project on National Highway 40 connecting Guwahati and Shillong in state's Ri Bhoi district.

''We have constituted committee comprising of Ri Bhoi district deputy commissioner, PWD officials and Umsning headmen to present their personal views before choosing the route, either the existing path or the bypass road,'' Chief Minister Mukul Sangma told reporters here.

The night roadblockade began yesterday. The blockade would again continue on October 19 and 20, while a dawn to dusk bandh has been called on October 21.

''There was no untoward incident in the district yesterday and all precautions are being taken to maintain law and order,'' Ri-Bhoi Superintendent of Police Claudia Lyngwa said.

The government Committee was constituted after the Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprising of social organisations, called a four- night road blockade on NH 40 from yesterday against the government’s decision to build the project through the existing market in Umsning.

Two JAC activists were arrested.

The district admnistration has imposed section 144 CrPC in the entire district prohibiting obstruction of vehicular movement along the National Highway -40.

The JAC wants the state government to adhere to the National Highway Authority of India’s projected alignment that takes a bypass from the existing market at Umsning.

Earlier, Chief Minister held closed door meeting with Khasi Student’s Union, Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People’s and Hynniewtrep National Youth Front seeking their suggestion to break the deadlock over the issue.

''We welcome the government’s decision (formation of the committee) and we would appeal to the JAC for the suspension of the ongoing agitational programmes,'' KSU President, Samuel Jyrwa said.

The state BJP unit, meanwhile, demanded a clarification from the chief minister about the allegations raised by social organisations that the state government was alternating the original alignment of the project under the influence of businessmen.

MAWM urges govt to legalise wine making

Wine makers of Meghalaya under the banner of Meghalaya Association of Wine Makers (MAWM) have urged the state government to consider legalisation of fruit wine production in the state. In a memorandum submitted to Excise Minister Abu Taher Mondal here yesterday the MAWM urged the state government to initiate process for legalising the production of fruit wine in the state to boost horticullture and fruits cultivation. Mizoram, a dry state for so many years, has legalised wine making from grapes and other fruits which benefit people of the state, MAWM president Michael N Syiem said. Legalising of fruit wine production in the state will give boost to horticulture which in turn benefit the rural economy, provide avenue for self employment and also attract tourists in the state, Mr Syiem said. Mr Syiem said, the look east policy of the union government will also provide a market for our fruit wines and further add incentive to wine trade. There has been growing number of home wine makers who got inspired through wine festivals and awareness about benefit of moderate consumption of wine, the association pointed out. The campaign to legalise the wine making in the state was started many years ago but the government has taken no decision till date. Wine in Meghalaya is being produced from fruits like black berries, passion fruit, strawberry, peach, pineapple, valencia, ginger, plum, watermelon and other fruits, the association said.

District level team constituted to check influx in M’laya

The Meghalaya government today constituted a district level team to check influx under the Work Permit System (WPS). “A dedicated team is required to implement work permit for labourers, adding, the state would strengthen the Anti Infiltration Wing of the police department to curb infiltration of illegal immigrants,” Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma told reporters here.

Though, the implementation of the WPS would have huge financial implications, Dr Sangma, said the state government was committed in taking steps to curb influx. The Government had informed that all the 39 blocks of the state would have one Labour Inspector with support staffs whose appointment would be done by a single window agency by October 15.

The task of the labour inspector in each block is to register any labourer or employee coming from outside the state. Meanwhile, the district level team would consist of representatives from the deputy commissioner and superintendent of police’s office. 

The Khasi Students Union (KSU), which had earlier spearheaded many agitations against Bangladeshi migrants, is putting pressure on the state government to immediately implement the WPS. The student body has threatened to launch an agitation if the government fails to introduce the work permit for migrant labourers soon.

Meghalaya villages seek merger with Assam

SHILLONG, Oct 15 – Seeing the developmental initiatives undertaken in Assam side, the Meghalaya residents of Sawlad, Nonrilong, Umsha, Umsohiong, Patharsiphiah and Bilkolang villages located in the Assam-Meghalaya border have openly displayed their desire to merge with Assam in order to benefit from the different development programmes.

An embarrased Meghalaya Government has asked its top officials as well as the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills to probe the report on the six villages that resolved to associate with Assam.

This is the second case of Meghalaya villagers display of lack of faith in the Government of Meghalaya. The first case was a village in the same district which refused to co-operate in the Census operations carried out by Meghalya officials.

Following the report, Meghalaya Minister for Revenue R C Laloo has asked senior officers in Shillong and the Deputy Commissioner of West Khasi Hills to institute an inquiry and submit the findings at the earliest.

Laloo told a group of newsmen on Wednesday, “I have asked the officials to ignore all the official formalities and to submit the report at the earliest”. He also expressed concern at the developments in the villages located along the Assam-Meghalaya border.

Asserting that such a display of disloyalty will not be accepted, the Minister said, “What belongs to us should be ours”, adding, “We are trying to get back our areas taken by Assam through the Joint Chief Secretary Committee of border areas. Already, the Chief Secretaries of Assam and Meghalaya are engaged in the process of solving the vexed inter-State border issues involving the 12 areas of dispute.

Meanwhile, the disgruntled villagers were complaining about the lack of roads, power, water, schools and health centres.

First Symposium on ICCAs in Indonesia

Harry Jonas and Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) attended the first-ever national symposium on the status, prospects, options, and opportunities for Indigenous peoples' conserved territories and areas conserved by Indigenous peoples and local communities (ICCAs) in Indonesia, organized by the People's Coalition for Fisheries Justice (KIARA), the Non-Timber Forest Products Exchange Programme for South and South-east Asia (NTFP-EP), Forest Peoples Programme, the ICCA Consortium, and WWF-Indonesia. The symposium took place from 13-14 October at the CIFOR campus in Bogor with support from The Christensen Fund, UNDP, GIZ, and WWF-Indonesia.

The two days comprised a number of presentations on diverse community experiences with conserved territories and areas across Indonesia, as well as a select few from other countries such as Iran, Panama, and the Philippines. The legal framework, including challenges and opportunities for official recognition of ICCAs, was elaborated by local legal NGO HuMa. Working groups discussed a range of questions, including the extent and local expressions and types of ICCAs in Indonesia; barriers to appropriate recognition and support; and future steps to promote the rights of Indigenous peoples and local communities, livelihoods, and conservation. Many thanks to Crissy Guerrero and the rest of the organizing committee for hosting us in Bogor!

JAC leaders arrested, Blockade to continue in Meghalaya

Meghalaya police today arrested two Joint Action Committee (JAC) actvists ahead of their four night road blockade, which started off this evening following the alignment of four-laning road project in the National Highway 40 connecting Guwahati and Shillong in State s Ri Bhoi District. The JAC has intensified its stir to pressurise the state government to give up its plan to construct the highway from the existing road at Umsning. The JAC wanted that the construction of the four-lane Gauhati-Shillong road through an identified Umsning by-pass. The blockade which started off at 1900 hours would be effective on October 13, 14, 19 and 20 besides, 12-hour Ri-Bhoi district bandh from 5 am on October 21. The state police arrested JAC leaders - Eddie Kharnabi and David Kharnaior - from their respective residences at Umsning based on FIRs filed against the JAC for arsons and stone pelting on vehicles during their last month road blockade. We arrested them based on FIR filed against by certain indivuals for damaging their vehicles by stone pelting and burning of vehicles, Superintendent of Police Claudia Lyngwa told UNI. In order to prevent breakdown of law and order in the district, Ms Lyngwa said elaborate security arrangment have been made to maintain law and order. We have got additional forces to ensure that there is no breakdown of law and order, she added. The district admnistration has imposed secction 144 CrPC in the entire district prohibiting obstruction of vehicular movement along the National Highway -40. Meanwhile, Public Works Department Minister HDR Lyngdoh maintianed that the government would go by the unanimous decision taken by the Assembly in the last budget session to go ahead with the four-laning work along the existing road at Umsning. NH-40 connects the Meghalaya capital with Guwahati and extends to Jowai in Jaintia Hills and Barak valley up to Tripura and Mizoram thorough National Highway-44. The Central Government has sanctioned Rs 536 crore for four- laning a 61.80 km stretch of this highway from Jorabat to Barapani. Out of the budget, Rs 167 crore has already been paid as land compensation. Work began this year and was moving smoothly till it reached Umsning in Ri-Bhoi district. Meanwhile, the JAC has decided not tow bow down to government pressure following the arrest of its leaders. We will go ahead with our stir till the government fulfill our demand despite the arrest of our two leaders, JAC Chairman Donkupar Sumer said. The JAC also alleged that the state government s decision for construction of four-lane road along the existing highway had been influenced by some petrol pump owners who have been lobbying with concerned minister. The JAC also accused politicians who own commercial buildings and other properties along the existing highway, of throwing their weight behind the government s decision in order to claim compensation if their buildings and other structures were destroyed.

sciSCREEN is Back: 'We Need to Talk About Kevin'

We will be hosting another Cardiff sciSCREEN event on Thursday 3rd November from 6pm at Chapter Arts Centre.

'We Need to Talk About Kevin' is adapted from Lionel Shriver's 2003 novel of the same name by director Lynne Ramsey. Tilda Swinton stars as Eva, who recounts to the audience the events leading up to and following the massacre of students and teachers carried out by her son Kevin at his high school. The film premiered at Cannes Film Festival this year, receiving praise from critics and audiences alike and is due for cinematic release on October 21st. Touching on themes such as postnatal depression, childhood development, violence and the old nature-nurture debate, both the book and this adaptation should present interesting discussion points.



The screening of the film will be followed by a full Cardiff sciSCREEN event sponsored by the MRC centre for Neuropsychiatric Genetics and Genomics. A panel of speakers spanning a number of disciplinary perspectives and expertise from Cardiff University will take part in a discussion of the themes raised during the film accompanied by a free wine reception.

Confirmed speakers for the event include:

Dr. Jules Holroyd - School of English, Communication and Philosophy;
Prof. Stephanie van Goozen - School of Psychology;
Dr. Elaine Green - MRC Centre, School of Medicine;
Prof. Robert Snowden - School of Psychology

Tickets for the film will be available from the Chapter Website shortly.

NCP demands probe on illegal cement plants in Meghalaya

Shillong, Oct 13 : The Opposition Nationalist Congress Party in Meghalaya today demanded an independent inquiry into the use of forest land and lime stones scattered in the forest area by cement companies without obtaining environmental clearance.

The Union Ministry of Environment and Forest had issued a letter to the Meghalaya government questioning the 'No Objection Certificate' issued to the eight cement plants operating in Jaintia Hills without getting environmental clearance.

''The government must institute an independent probe into the illegal setting up of these cement plants and mining of limestone’s in forest areas,'' Leader of Opposition Conrad K Sangma told reporters here.

He said a delegation of NCP leaders would also take up the issue with the central government to initiate action against these cement companies.

''We are not against economic industrializations, but we are against this form of industrialization violating environmental norms,'' Mr Sangma said.

Meghalaya Forest and Environment Minister Prestone Tynsong said the government had constituted high-level committee as per the recommendations of the Central Empowered Committee of the Supreme Court into these issue.

''All doubts over the mining activities of the cement plants would be cleared once the Committee submits its report in November,'' Mr Tynsong said.

Molested Shillong girl seeks justice

Acquaintance offers lift, tries to rape her

E.M. JOSE

Shillong, Oct. 13 : A student from Arunachal Pradesh who fought off a rape attempt by an acquaintance from her state is facing a tougher battle against forces that are trying stifle her cries for justice.

The 21-year-old was offered a lift by 24-year-old Bengia Anthony on his bike to her home in Shillong on the evening of October 7.

Instead of dropping her home, Anthony took her to Lad Smit on the outskirts of Shillong and tried to rape her, according to the girl’s statement. The girl lodged an FIR of “attempt to rape, murder and kidnapping” the same day against Anthony, whom she claimed to know well.

As the youth tried to pin her down, the girl screamed and bit his right arm, the FIR said.

Hearing the shouts, two persons rushed to rescue the girl, while Anthony sped away on his bike.

Constant prodding by the Shillong-based Civil Society Women’s Organisation led to Anthony’s arrest.

Anthony, however, was not available for comment as he was hospitalised soon after his arrest.

The superintendent of police, Shillong city, M. Kharkrang, said Anthony has filed a counter FIR from the hospital alleging that the FIR filed by the girl was false.

“Anthony is still in hospital and we have not been able to interrogate him,” he added.

The girl, on the other hand, reportedly gets threatening calls asking her to “forget about the incident”.

Refusing to bow to such pressure, she told reporters that she would pursue the case to bring the culprit to book.

The president of Civil Society Women’s Organisation, Agnes Kharshiing, today said the girl was in trauma, as Anthony appears to be an influential person who can cause further damage to her reputation and also influence the inquiry.

She said the counter FIR by Anthony blamed the two local persons who came to the girl’s rescue for the crime.

“It is also very unfortunate that many people are trying to blame the girl just to save the boy who is more influential. They are even trying to blame the persons who had saved her by saying that the culprit tried to save her from those two persons,” Kharshiing said.

Kharshiing said the girl had showed her the scratches she sustained on her body while fighting Anthony.

Quoting the victim, Kharshiing also said the accused tried to strangulate her.

SP Kharkrang said the girl’s medical report showed there were a lot of scratches on her body, besides signs of struggle.

He, however, said he had not gone through the medical reports of the accused, though the girl had alleged that there would be bite marks on his right arm.

Ray of hope for Garo Hills

SHILLONG: It seems the lives of poverty-stricken people of Garo Hills in Meghalaya is soon going to change for the better with the Centre, of late, making an attempt to alleviate their miseries.

A few years ago, the entire South Garo Hills district was selected by the Centre for implementing the National Food for Work Programme, which seeks to generate employment and provide food security. It also aims to create assets in 150 most backward districts of the country.

asThe pace of implementation of the programme would be accelerated in the days to come and the social security net will continue to be made available to the people through old-age pension, family and maternity benefit schemes,a? an official said.

It may be noted that Garo Hills has some of the poorest villages in the country as the tribals there still practice a?jhuma (slash and burn) cultivation which gives little returns. In the absence of basic facilities for education, healthcare and most importantly alternative avenues for income generation, it is hardly a riddle why these people are so poor.

Now, the government is focusing on employment generation among farmers and educated unemployed youth through animal husbandry and dairy farming sectors, the official added. He said the Centre-sponsored scheme for Integrated Dairy Development Project in Jaintia and West Garo Hills is being implemented, and the construction components of the project are expected to be completed soon. The government had also launched a scheme to dig 1,000 fish ponds in the rural areas of the state a few years ago.

The government has embarked on a mission to provide power-tillers in the state through a loan-cum-subsidy scheme as low-level of agricultural mechanization has been identified as one of the main reasons for poor crop yield in the state.

Recently, chief minister Mukul Sangma handed over ignition keys of power tillers to several farmers in the Garo Hills.

ICCA Consortium General Assembly in Bogor

Natural Justice participated in the 4th General Assembly of the ICCA Consortium on 12 October in Bogor, Indonesia, at the CIFOR campus. It was attended by 31 people, including representatives of Member organizations, Honorary Members, and the new regional co-coordinators. The Assembly included reports from the President (Taghi Farvar), Coordinator (Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend), Treasurer (Stan Stevens), Auditor of Accounts (Maurizio Farhan Ferrari), Chair of the Statutes Committee (Harry Jonas), regional coordinators, and Global Communications Officer (Vanessa Reid). The Assembly resulted in the adoption of the 2012 budget, revised Statutes, draft Procedural Guidelines and Membership Policy, and Global Communication Plan.

ICCA Consortium Retreat in Indonesia

Harry Jonas and Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) participated in a retreat of the ICCA Consortium from 6-11 October in Prana Dewi, Bali, Indonesia. The 6-day agenda brought together the new regional co-coordinators, the Consortium Secretariat, and some Member organizations and Honorary Members for the first time to discuss and plan a range of issues and initiatives.

Internal matters that were discussed included a review of the mission, 2020 vision, structure, membership, and past activities of the Consortium. Participants worked to propose revised Statutes, draft Procedural Guidelines, draft Membership, Partnership, and Financial Policies, and a proposed communication system for consideration at the 4th General Assembly on 12 October.

A range of sources of support were presented and considered, particularly: 2.5-year funding from The Christensen Fund (TCF) to strengthen the Consortium as an emerging local-to-global institution; 1-year funding from the UNDP/EEG Equator Initiative and UNDP/GEF Small Grants Programme (SGP) for documentation and dissemination of information of ICCAs in the context of 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets; 1-year funding from SwedBio for a review of national, regional, and international laws, policies, and practices that support or hinder Indigenous peoples' conserved territories and areas conserved by Indigenous peoples and local communities; and ideas for a funding proposal on participatory action research and policy advocacy. Also discussed were ongoing and potential initiatives and partnerships with, among others: the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD); the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Global Protected Areas Programme, Commission on Environmental, Economic and Social Policy (CEESP) and relevant Themes, and World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA); the Wild Foundation; and the UNEP-WCMC ICCA Registry.

Participants discussed past and planned involvement in various United Nations and other international policy mechanisms related to Indigenous peoples and local communities, particularly concerning biodiversity, climate change, food and agriculture, conservation, human rights, and cultural rights. They deliberated core concepts such as territories and the right to self-determination in relation to community conserved areas, considered a revised term for ICCAs, and planned regional objectives and activities for the Consortium in the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. A brief field trip helped illustrate cultural and spiritual aspects of the local water management and cultivation system known as Subak.

Natural Justice would like to thank Grazia Borrini-Feyerabend and Vanessa Reid in particular for planning the retreat and the Samdhana Institute for hosting us at Prana Dewi.

CSWO condemns attempted rape in Meghalaya

Shillong, Oct 11 : The Civil Society Women Organisation (CSWO) of Meghalaya has condemned the kidnap and attempt to rape of a girl hailing from Arunachal Pradesh by a person belonging to same state on October 7.

The CSWO sources said here today one Bengia Anthony kidnapped a girl and attempted to rape her in an isolated area on the outskirts of Shillong.

Incidentally, the girl managed to escape from the clutches of the culprit and met two person to whom she narrated the incident.

The duo, later handed over the girl to the authorities concerned, CSWO said, adding still the people were trying to blame the girl just to save the boy because he appeared to be more influential.

CSWO also said the culprit was trying to blame the duo who rescued the girl by saying that the culprit tried to save the girl from the duo.

Anti-measles campaign starts in Meghalaya

Shillong: The centrally-aided anti-measles vaccination programme aimed at covering nearly 99 per cent of children in Meghalaya began in four districts Monday.

"We target to reach more than 6,66,000 children in both rural and urban areas of Meghalaya," the nodal officer for the anti-measles campaign, Dr M R Basaiawmoit, said.

The districts to be covered are: Khasi, Bhoi, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills.

Basaiawmoit said the first day's vaccination suffered some minor hiccups when some superstitious villages protested against the campaign.

"We will have to go to such villages and hold talks with the elders to educate them on the need to have vaccination against measles," Dr Basaiawmoit said.

Meghalaya is ranked below the national average at 58 per cent and even below Mizoram where measles eradication status stands at 62 per cent, Dr Basaiawmoit said quoting WHO report.

During the first phase of the anti-measles campaign conducted by the government last year, about 14 million children in the country were vaccinated.

Meghalaya replaces plastic with leaf bags

Guwahati, Oct 10 : Bags hand-woven from locally available leaves have replaced plastic in Meghalaya. The decision to use leaf bags followed a clampdown on plastic bags by the municipal board in state capital Shillong.

According to urban affairs minister Ampareen Lyngdoh, the eco-friendly bag, for non-food items would be the traditional 'pla iew'. Edible commodities, on the other hand, would be carried in a leaf bag called 'sla'.

"Such a decision was necessary," Lyngdoh said. "The once crystal clear river Umkhrah, which passes through the heart of Shillong, has become polluted mainly because of clogging due to plastic bags. Even lake Umiam (20 km north of Shillong) has become a dump yard for various forms of plastic."

In order to mean business, Lyngdoh's department confiscated plastic bags from various shops in Shillong last week. The bags filled up two trucks.

Elders seek stern action

Shillong, Oct 9 : Village elders of Laitlyngkot-Nongkynrih area in Meghalaya’s East Khasi Hills district today asked the administration to take stern action against those involved in the brutal killing of three persons, who were accused of being menshohnoh (cut-throats).
Three persons, one at Maraikaphon and two at Mawkisyiem in the Sohra region, hailing from Laitlyngkot region, died since Tuesday after they were lynched by villagers who accused them of being menshohnoh or those who worship U Thlen (a mythical serpent) in the hope of acquiring wealth.
“If peace is to prevail, the administration has to take stern action against those who brutally killed our people in the two localities. The heartless slaying of the trio, Timingstar Khongsit at Maraikaphon and Warless Nongrum and Batskhem Rynjah at Mawkisyiem is totally condemnable and unacceptable,” Iengskhem Nongkynrih, headman of Mawkneng locality under Nongkynrih, told reporters after a meeting with East Khasi Hills deputy commissioner Jopthiaw Lyngdoh.
He also said the villagers are still angry with the incidents. “The people from Sohra should publicly admit their fault, which led to the brutal killings,” Nongkynrih added.
The deputy commissioner along with East Khasi Hills superintendent of police A.R. Mawthoh met the village elders of Laitlyngkot-Nongkynrih area to calm down the situation and to avoid any possible backlash against the people from Sohra area.
“We want to ensure that no backlash takes place following the unfortunate killing of the trio. We have also requested the village elders to speak to the villagers and to ask them not to take the law into their own hands,” Lyngdoh said.
A meeting with the elders of Sohra and those from Laitlyngkot-Nongkynrih area under the banner of peace committee has also been convened on Monday to diffuse tension, Lyngdoh added.
The superintendent of police said the law will take its own course against the perpetrators.
Yesterday, a court had remanded 10 people in seven-day police custody after they were arrested for their alleged involvement in the brutal killing of Khongsit.
Mawthoh said the police had ascertained the involvement of the 10 people before they were finally arrested. “We did not randomly arrest them. They were apprehended based on strong evidence,” he said.
On the Mawkisyiem incident, Mawthoh said a case has been registered and the culprits will be brought to book within the next few days.
On reports that a “compromise” has been reached between the perpetrators and the victims’ families, Mawthoh said the police will pursue the case notwithstanding the reported reconciliation.
He also said as the people from Laitlyngkot area had expressed fear of going to the weekly Sohra market in view of the incidents, additional police personnel will be deployed especially during market days.
“We are hopeful for a peaceful settlement to ensure that such unfortunate incidents do not reoccur. We are also trying our best to calm our people down so that no backlash takes place,” I. Riwan, secretary of Madan Lyngdoh, Nongkynrih said.
According to police, rumours about the presence of cut-throats started doing the rounds after the disappearance of a mentally challenged person from Mawmluh village near Sohra, and the death of a pilot, Mark Gautam Reddy Lynrah, who had gone missing from Sohra since August 18. Lynrah’s body was recovered from a gorge in Sohra on August 27.

Two BSF men detained after 'human sacrifice'

Shillong:  Two Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were detained on Friday for allegedly killing a seven-year-old boy as part of an occult "human sacrifice" in Meghalaya, police said.

Krishna Singh, son of a BSF trooper, went missing on Wednesday after visiting a Durga Puja marquees with his elder brother in a BSF campus at Prahari Nagar in Tura in the western part of Meghalaya.

When the boy's family and BSF personnel launched a hunt, the body was discovered with multiple injuries in the campus on Thursday morning.

"It is a gruesome murder and we are suspecting it to be a case of human sacrifice," Meghalaya police chief N. Ramachandran told IANS.

He said two BSF troopers -- Chandrawan and Babu Khan -- had been detained and were being interrogated.

Police have also gone to Mankachar in Assam to quiz Lukman Haqib, a tantrik priest in connection with the murder.

Meghalaya to have bitumen-plastic roads

SHILLONG: In a first-of-its-kind move in the northeast, bitumen and waste plastic will be used for road construction in Shillong using a technology known for its durability, especially in extreme weather conditions.

To start with, a four-km stretch in Jhalupara area of the city, which gets damaged every year due to heavy rains, will be re-constructed by Shillong Cantonment Board at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh. The CEO of the board, S Prabhakaran, said the board is approaching Madurai-based R Vasudevan, the patented owner of the technology. He added it will be the same as of conventional bitumen mix but will have a longer lifespan.

"To lay 1 km of plastic road 3.75 m wide, 9 tonne of bitumen and 1 tonne of waste plastic are required. A normal road requires 10 tonne bitumen for each kilometre. So a plastic road saves 1 tonne bitumen for every kilometre laid. Each tonne of bitumen costs Rs 50,000 to 60,000," he said.

Meghalaya to introduce change in mining policy

Expressing concern over the unscientific rat hole mining prevalent in Meghalaya especially in Jaintia Hills areas, Deputy Chief Minister In-charge Mining, Bindo M. Lanong, has stated that Meghalaya government has incorporated certain clauses in the proposed State Mining Policy which would make it mandatory for miners to refill the land after conducting mining operations.
“We would not allow any miners to leave the land where unscientific rat hole mining has been carried out without refilling it. The Government would ensure that this is being implemented in its true spirit since it is a matter of life and death for the people residing in those areas,” Lanong said.
He said that the Government would also encourage planting of trees in all those areas where mining activities take place considering it the most effective way to preserve the greenery of the mining zones.
When asked about the recent incidents in Jaintia Hills where several cracks have appeared on the earth’s surface, Lanong said he had sought a detailed report from the department in this regard.
“I would be able to give detailed information only after I receive the report. But the government would not take this incident lightly,” the Deputy Chief Minister asserted.
Unorganised rat hole mining in the coal rich belt in Jaintia Hills in Meghalaya has remained a concern as it is posing hazard to the environment. These sometimes turn to death traps for mining workers too.

Upcoming ICCA Consortium Events in Indonesia

Harry Jonas and Holly Shrumm (Natural Justice) will be joining other members of the ICCA Consortium from 5-15 October in Indonesia for a series of events. At a retreat from 6-11 October, the Consortium Steering Committee and Regional Coordinators will tackle a number of issues ranging from the action plan, 2020 Vision, and ongoing initiatives and partnerships to a global legal review and strategic inputs to international policy fora.

The 4th General Assembly will be held on 12 October at the CIFOR Campus in Bogor. From 13-14 October, the first ever national symposium on ICCAs will take place in Bogor. It will explore the concept, practice, limitations, and opportunities of ICCAs in Indonesia and, if appropriate, provide initial stimulus and support to a broad alliance of organizations and people willing to engage in appropriate follow-up activities.