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New strain of HIV detected in Manipur but alarm bells don’t ring yet
Imphal, Aug 17 : The National AIDS research Institute (Nari) has detected a new HIV hybrid strain in blood samples taken from HIV-positive residents of Manipur but authorities don’t seem to have sat up.
The blood samples have tested positive for the HIV-1 B/C recombinant strain – a combination of of B and C strain of the virus. The strain, which resembles that prevalent in Thailand, is believed to have been acquired through cross-border sex tourism at Moreh-Tamu junction on the Indo-Myanmar border and fingers are being pointed at traders who frequent Thailand.
Experts are viewing the identification of a new strain very seriously as known methods of combating the HIV virus may now have to undergo a sea change.
Dr Priyo, in charge of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) at JN Hospital in Manipur told The Statesman: “A new strain is always worrisome. Apart from HIV 1, HIV-2 strain is also found in patients here. The HIV-2 strain does not respond to Nevirapine therapy.”
The news of a new recombinant strain surprised him. “This is serious,” Dr Priyo said. He was surprised that neither the National AIDS Control Organisation (Naco) ~ the nodal organisation for formulation of policy and implementation of programs for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in India, nor the Manipur Aids Control Society (Macs), had contacted him.
At Macs, officials said on the condition of anonymity that so far, Naco had not asked it to start surveillance of the new strain. Neither Macs, nor the microbiology department at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) seem to know which blood samples yielded the new strains. Imphal, Aug 17 : The National AIDS research Institute (Nari) has detected a new HIV hybrid strain in blood samples taken from HIV-posi... more -
Adam Ferguson (His Lens on Manipur)
Adam Ferguson was born in Australia in 1978 and graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Photography in 2003. In 2004 he was awarded a Peace Scholarship from Griffith and traveled to South East Asia to document Peace Art Project Cambodia, a European Union public awareness campaign aimed at curbing small arms. After working for regional newspapers in Australia and Mexico, he moved to Paris in 2006 and interned with VII Photo Agency. In 2007 he moved to New Delhi, India, where he is currently based as a freelance photojournalist. Adam’s work has been published in Time Magazine, Newsweek, The New York Times, International Herald Tribune, The Chicago Tribune, Bloomberg News, Courrier International, The Daily Telegraph, The Times, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Australian.
About the Photograph:
With the ‘Golden Triangle’ stretching between Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam and China, a porous Indian border leaves India’s northeastern states like Manipur vulnerable to an illegal heroin trade. Ongoing tribal insurgencies, corruption and a disregard for India’s northeastern states from New Delhi, render communities like Churachandpur in Manipur politically volatile and economically stifled. High unemployment and minimal opportunity cause a high number of youth to turn to drugs to escape poverty. But with Myanmar as a rogue neighbor, and corruption making the stifling of the heroin trade almost impossible, heroin trafficking goes on and little hope is left for any action to stop the free flow of heroin that devastates lives in India’s volatile northeast. Adam Ferguson was born in Australia in 1978 and graduated from Griffith University with a Bachelor of Photography in 2003. In 2004 he ... more -
A guided tour of ‘outer’ India
Have you ever heard of places like Somtal, Chapkikarong, and Soraphung? To many, they might not even sound Indian. But they are areas in the Indian State of Manipur.
The Indian Army and paramilitary forces took over three months (November 07 to February 2008) to partially recapture the sensitive Somtal area on the Indo-Myanmar border from hordes of Meitei (Manipuri Hindus) rebel groups.
Chapkikarong, a beautiful valley near the Burma border, is still infested by the Meitei and assorted Kuki rebel groups.
Soraphung, on the Manipur-Nagaland border, and close to Myanmar, is a stronghold of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) or NSCN (I-M).
The Naga imbroglio is a long story. But Manipur, where I conduct your tour now, is a far more complicated and longer story.
The kingdom of Manipur was merged with India in 1949. Since then, the Jewel of the East has rarely witnessed peace.
Several complicated factors contributed to the rise and consolidation of separatist outfits in Manipur since early sixties. The valley (700 sq miles) was mostly inhabited by Meitei Vaishnavite Hindus. The hills were traditional homes of assorted Naga tribes (about 15) and tribes of Kuki-Chin-Lushai origin (about 20). It is a vast, kaleidoscopic confluence of humans and bountiful nature.
I cannot guide you to Loktak, the Dal Lake of the East. The vastness, depth and rippling beauty of the water body has shrunk, and very few Siberian and Chinese birds migrate to the area during winter.
I cannot take you to Bishenpur (Vishnupur) to see the neglected 7th century Vishnu image created by the craftsmen of the Hindu Abha kingdom of Myanmar. Some stray terrorist bullets might hit you and me.
If I can manage a police escort, it may be possible to guide you to Moirang Lakeview, where Netaji Subhash Bose had set up Azad Hind Government’s headquarters on Indian soil. The memorial lies in neglect.
A drive up to the border smuggling towns of Tengnoupal and Tamu is fraught with danger. There are distinct possibilities of Naga, Kuki or Meitei underground gangs kidnapping us for a hefty ransom.
Would you like to travel to Tussom Khullen, Chassad and Toipoi? Rather risky. These tracts in Ukhrul’s Tangkhul Naga areas are administered by the NSCN (I-M) instead of the government of Manipur. You might have to pay local taxes to the Naga rebels for a bumpy journey to the remote villages on Myanmar borders.
However, the breathtaking beauty of the Ukhrul Naga Hills might tempt you to drop into a village, chat with the khullakpa (headman), witness wonderful dances and listen to Church carols. I wish I could guide you through the beautiful terrains in Ukhrul as well as Tamenglong and Thanlon-Parbung Hills.
However, I wouldn’t recommend setting up a business, take a government job or set up a professional practice either in the valley or in the hills.
The terrorists demand hefty monthly dues and casual “taxes” from all earning members. Besides professionals and traders, even ministers of and senior government officials are subjected to moral policing and heavy taxation.
During a recent visit to the valley, an old friend whispered that Manipur — perhaps like most other States in India — has a unique system of wealth sharing. Out of rupees one hundred, the political bosses take a cut of 25 per cent, the bureaucrats about 10 per cent, terrorists over 20 per cent.
But even the remaining 50 per cent does not reach the Aam Aadmi. Out of plan and non-plan budget, the lowest creatures in the democratic system can expect only 15 per cent of the allocated amount. The rest disappear in the jungles inhabited by animals called contractors, babus, local political dadas and fringe militants.
Let us continue the tour with a visit to the colourful “Ima Keithel”, or shopping vends managed by women. The land of Chitrangada still practices steady participation by women in all spheres of life. Have you ever heard of places like Somtal, Chapkikarong, and Soraphung? To many, they might not even sound Indian. But they are areas ... more -
Solidarity against AFSPA
New Delhi, Jan 26 : The Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) has extended its solidarity to the Manipuri women's month-long protest against AFSPA which began from today on the eve of India's Republic Day celebration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi.
In a statement, programme co-ordinator of CORE Wahengbam Joykumar said call for repeal of the undemocratic, anti-people and unconstitutional military Law, AFSPA, 1985 is not merely a Nation-wide one from all citizens of the country but now it has become an International call.
The people of Manipur as a whole have been demanding repeal of this Act since its enforcement in the State and now the people of India have joined in raising their voice against this Act. That is why the Government of India as well as the Government of Manipur should repeal this Act immediately without any hesitation in public interest and for the end of justice, Joykumar observed. New Delhi, Jan 26 : The Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE) has extended its solidarity to the Manipuri women's... more -
Manipur bans poultry import
Imphal, Jan 26 : In a pre-emptive measure to check the spread of avian influenza in the state following the wild spread of the disease in West Bengal, the government of Manipur has banned the import of chicks, ducklings, eggs, and live birds etc from other states to Manipur.
"In order to contemplate sufficient measures in addition to the intensive post operative surveillance plan being taken up by the Veterinary and Animal Husbandry (VAH) department for prevention of reoccurrence of Avian Influenza in Manipur, testing of poultry feed samples for any possible contamination with avian influenza virus is felt necessary", said an order issued by the state VAH director, Th. Dorendra Singh today to this effect. Imphal, Jan 26 : In a pre-emptive measure to check the spread of avian influenza in the state following the wild spread of the disease... more
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