News Wrap
AGD

Analogue Cable Television is almost blank, except for Doordarshan on the Indian Nation Broadcaster’s Terrestrial Network. Digital TV introduced in three phases, now covers around 90% of India. 500 channels are covered by digital cable, compared to analogue’s 100 channels. Quality of the signal has also improved. The consumer chooses which channels he wishes to watch, and thereby controls his monthly bill. Viewing choices are no longer dictated by the cable operator. High-end consumers can watch niche pay channels and pay-per-view television. Consumers have paid for bills for going digital. Analogue homes have been required to pay Rs 799 for a digital set-top box, or Rs 2500 for a direct-to-home (DTH) connection. The more than two million analogue homes in the four metros have paid at least Rs 165 crores, for switching to digital TV. The average monthly bill is about Rs 230 per user, which could increase in the long run. The digital system provides a clear picture of the number of TV homes. The cable operators are prevented from under-declaring the subscription numbers, by as much as two-thirds.

Manipur Clashes
Since the last week of October 2012, there have been renewed clashes between the Naga NSCN (Issac–Muivah) and the Naga NSCN (Khaplang), in Manipur’s Tamenglong District, leading to several fatal casualties. The NSCN (I-M) is led by Issac Chisi Swo, a Sema Naga from Nagaland and Thieungaleng Muivah, a Tanghkul Naga from Manipur. Boosted by a sizeable following in Nagaland and Manipur, the NSCN(K) is led by SS Khaplang, a Hemi Naga, from the Hukong Valley of Myanmar. Fierce turf wars are occurring between the NSCN (IM) and the Zeliarong United Front (ZUF). The state police and the army’s Assam Rifles hesitate to conduct investigations in areas, where gun battles have taken place in public places.

Lawless Earnings
At the beginning of October 2012, Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT) had stopped operations at the second and eighth berths of the Haldia Dock Complex (East Midnapore District, West Bengal), following unrest over the retrenchment of 275 employees at HBT. The company cited paucity of work at the port. There were suggestions that cargo-handling was being diverted to another company, whose owners have close links with the Trinamool Congress Party. Kolkata Port Trust (KPT) moved Calcutta High Court seeking permission to terminate its agreement with HBT, that had stopped work at berths 2 and 8. In the last week of October 2012, three HBT officials—Manpreet Jolly, Jagadish Behara and Bushan Patil, including his wife and one-year-old daughter—were allegedly, abducted at gun point, by an unidentified mob; released later, and instructed ‘‘not to come back to Haldia’’. The Mumbai based HBT has approached Court, and the Court directed the police to provide protection to workers willing to perform their duties. The alleged abduction at gun point was reported a day after the police pitched tents in and around the Haldia Dock. Mamata Banerjee’s West Bengal State Government has not been active for a long time, in maintaining law and order in Haldia. Militant Trade Unionism is being backed by the Trinamool Congress affiliated INTTUC at Haldia. There are fears of a possible re-run of ‘‘Singur or a Maneswar–like situation’’. The abduction drama occurred even after HBT paid Rs 17,45,730 for the deployment of police personnel towards restoration of peace, pursuant to a Calcutta High Court order. The Trinamool Congress is allegedly running an extortion racket, in the name of unionism.

The HBT has ben suffering huge losses for the past two years, as Kolkata Port Trust has not been allowing minimum volume of cargo at the two mechanized berths. While HBT provides maximum royalty to Haldia Port, KPT has been directing vessels at non-mechanized berths. The ongoing labour trouble in Haldia, is diverting ships to other ports, like Dhamra and Paradip. There are also allegations of deals struck by vested interests, leading to loss in KPT’s revenue. Meanwhile, the Haldia Bulk Terminal Services, a joint venture of ABG-LDA, has pulled out of the Haldia Complex, in the absence of a secure environment.

Targeting Roma

The animosity between Hungarians and ethnic Roma has been continuing for decades in western Hungary. About a third of the 5000 inhabitants of the small town Devecser are Roma. The Roma make a living from collecting second hand goods in Austria and Germany, and selling them at a giant flea market, just outside the town. Local Hungarians do not support this practice. In October 2012, a brawl between a Roma family and some local people, converted into a running street battle that thoroughly shook the town. The far right Jobbik party earned political points, by organizing a protest rally. Some years ago the Jobbik party had once made use of a ‘‘Hungarian Guard’’ of vigilantes, dressed in fascist style uniforms, to target the Roma. Jobbik, or the Movement for a Better Hungary has a strong support base, and the party could hold the balance of power between the ruling Fidesz party and the left wing opposition, after parliamentary elections in 2014. Fidesz has lost more than a million voters since 2010, the opposition remains weak, and more than half the electorate is undecided. Jobbik has retained its base, and is the third strongest political force in Hungary. Jobbik is pushing for a rethink an European Union Membership, and a realigning of economic ties, towards countries of the east. Hungary, hit by recession, may be forced to accept aid from the International Monetary Fund. Unpopular austerity measures would mean more votes for Jobbik. Sometimes Jobbik uses anti-Semitic language.

Frontier
Vol. 45, No. 24, Dec 23-29, 2012

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