CORE seeks clarification from IB
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 16 2014: The Centre for Organisation Research and Education (CORE), a reputed Imphal based research body, has expressed its outrage at the recent news of an Intelligence Bureau's (IB) report, 'Impact of NGOs on Development' apparently leaked to select National newspapers by dragging CORE's name into an unknown entity by the name 'Manipur Coalition on Extractives' while fallaciously alleging the organisation as routing funds through NGOs Chindu and Swadhikar for activism against oil drilling in Manipur and contributing to the negative impact on India's GDP growth assessed to be 2 percent to 3 percent per annum.

CORE cautioned that it would be constrained to seek legal recourse if the Intelligence Bureau fails to clarify on the matter.

CORE also sought the cooperation of the media, National and local, to extend to it the right to reply to such allegations making their appearance on their newsprint, and to prominently reflect its position on their news platforms � print and electronic.

CORE in a statement jointly signed by its president Dr Laifungbam Debabrata Roy and the organisation executive director Dr Immnanuel Zarzosang Varte said that The Times of India report by its scribe Bharti Jain titled "Dutch-funded NGO trying to stall oil drilling in Northeast: IB report" of June 14, 2014 was also reported again in at least two local English language print media of Manipur on June 15, 2014 .

"We dismiss this reported classified document mentioned in the media, and its alleged contents as a leveling of charges without any evidence to support its claims and an obvious attempt to muzzle the fundamental freedoms of speech and association, the right to information that are guaranteed by the Indian Constitution.

We are acutely aware that the leaking of such a classified document is designed to whip up public sentiment and its fictitious allegations made against the organisation may be amounting to outright libel, slander and defamation," CORE stated.

According to the CORE statement, it received a small amount last year from Rural Women Upliftment Society (RWUS) as a local resource centre under its time-bound project funded by CORDAID, that ended this June, for community based advocacy on conservation of environment and documentation of natural resources including the setting up of two model green villages in Manipur where many stake holders including village authority, church leaders, students leaders, national security forces stationed locally such as the Assam Rifles, etc, jointly participated to promote environmental awareness and promote green villages for the welfare of communities, their natural environment and ecological sustainability.

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