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05/14/2005: "NSCN-IM threatens to go underground Nahvind Times"

NSCN-IM threatens to go underground Nahvind Times
IANS Guwahati May 13: A fragile peace in Nagaland is under a cloud with a frontline tribal separatist group threatening to go underground if their demands were not met soon. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) led by guerrilla leaders, Mr Isak Chishi Swu and Mr Thuingaleng Muivah have ended a fresh round of talks with Indian government peace negotiators in New Delhi earlier this week to end nearly six decades of insurgency.
“Our collective leadership said we should be prepared to face any eventualities and if the situation and the circumstances demand we shall have to take up arms once again for the cause that we have been fighting for,” NSCN-IM spokesperson, Mr Kraibo Chawang told IANS over the phone from Nagaland’s commercial hub of Dimapur. “There cannot be any solution without unification of all Naga tribal inhabited areas in the northeast,” Mr Chawang said. “Moreover, people in general are very unhappy with New Delhi trying to deliberately delay the peace process. It will be counterproductive to keep on dragging the talks.” The NSCN is currently holding peace talks with New Delhi after the two sides entered into a cease-fire in 1997. The NSCN, the oldest and the most powerful of around 30 rebel groups in northeast, wants the creation of a Greater Nagaland by slicing off parts of neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh that have sizable Naga tribal populations.
The three regional governments of Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh have already rejected the NSCN demand for unification of Naga-dominated areas. “We have made our point very clear about the merger of Naga contiguous areas in the region and now it is for New Delhi to take the right steps or else it is meaningless to continue having peace talks,” the NSCN-IM leader said. Mr Muivah, who has since returned to Nagaland after talks with New Delhi, said they prefer a ‘referendum’ on the unification issue. “Holding a referendum is the best method to determine the truth whether Nagas residing in the neighbouring states want to be part of Nagaland,” Mr Chawang said quoting Mr Muivah.
The chief peace negotiator, Mr K Padmanabhaiah, however, said the talks earlier this week ended on a ‘positive note.’ The NSCN-IM’s tough stand is in sharp contrast to statements made by its leaders soon after the latest round of talks in New Delhi ended on Monday. Mr Chawang had told IANS on Tuesday that “only two or three substantive issues remained to be sorted out now” and that the talks ended on a positive note. Analysts say the group’s belligerent posture threatening to go back to the jungles could be a calculated strategy to put pressure on New Delhi to expedite the peace process on their terms. “Even the NSCN leaders are under pressure from within the group to clinch a deal. So the latest tough statements could be a ploy to make New Delhi toe their line and hasten up the signing of an accord,” an analyst said. Nagaland, where more than 25,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency since independence from Britain in 1947, is a majority Christian state of two million people.
Home Ministry concerned over Naga factional fighting Zee News
Guwahati, May 13: The Union Home Ministry today expressed concern at the factional fighting among Naga insurgent groups. The home secretary, V K Duggal, at the end of his three-day visit to the north-eastern states, told reporters that the situation in Nagaland was under control as the ceasefire with both factions of the NSCN was on, but expressed concern over the continued factional fights in the organisation.
During his official level talks in Nagaland, Duggal said the state government had demanded more money and forces which, he assured, would be sanctioned.
On the reported acts of violence by militants in the state, Duggal, who had served in various capacities in the insurgency-hit states, said the centre was committed to pursue the policy of peace, but admitted that the road to final peace settlement was not easy.
Referring to the several rounds of talk with the NSCN (IM), the Home Secretary said, "Those were very 'free and frank'." Bureau Report

Signs of hope on truce talks - Delhi mulls NDFB reply A STAFF REPORTER
Guwahati, May 13: Holding out hope on the Bodo militancy front, the Centre today announced that Delhi would respond to the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB)’s ceasefire offer within a few weeks. Union home secretary (Northeast) V.K. Duggal, who wound up his Northeast tour today, said the government was looking into the unilateral ceasefire offer. “We are looking into it and hope to respond within a few weeks. At the moment, let the elections (to the Bodoland Territorial Council) pass off peacefully. The Bodo outfit had announced a unilateral ceasefire in October last year and recently extended it for another six months. The government is yet to reciprocate.
He, however, did not disclose whether the government has established any direct contact with the outfit. There are reports that three NDFB leaders are holding parleys with home ministry officials to finalise the modalities of the ceasefire. Duggal was in the region to review the internal security scenario here. During his three-day tour, he visited Manipur, Meghalaya and Nagaland, besides Assam, and took stock of the situation. He said apart from Manipur, law and order in the other three states was good. “Manipur needs more attention. We are pursuing the policy of peace through development there while keeping our doors open for talks with the militant groups,” he added.
Duggal said work for the reconstruction of National Highway 59 was being taken up, which could serve as an alternative lifeline to the trouble-torn state.Despite the NSCN (I-M) leader Thuingaleng Muivah’s tough talk, Duggal said the government was not giving up the hope of finding a peaceful solution to the Naga problem. He said the peace process was going well in Nagaland and the only area of concern there was clashes between the two NSCN factions. “We have appealed to both groups to restrain themselves,” he added.The home secretary, who reviewed the Assam situation with minister of state for home Rockybul Hussain and chief secretary S. Kabilan, said though law and order has improved, security forces ne-ed to be more vigilant, particularly as Assembly elections were approaching.Duggal today also announced a new surrender policy for the Northeast militant outfits, which he said was on a par with the similar package in Jammu and Kashmir, but more attractive.
According to the new policy, the vocational training period for the surrendered militants has been increased from 12 months to 36 months so that they could pursue a “comprehensive vocational training package”. Minister of state for home Rockybul Hussain, who met Duggal later, asked for additional 15 companies of CRPF for counter-insurgency operations in the state. The home minister also sought additional Rs 50 crore from Delhi during current financial year for modernisation of state police.
NSCN-IM threatens to go underground:- Kerala news May 13, 2005
Guwahati, May 13 : A fragile peace in India's northeastern state of Nagaland is under a cloud with a frontline tribal separatist group threatening to go underground if their demands were not met soon. The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah have ended a fresh round of talks with Indian government peace negotiators in New Delhi earlier this week to end nearly six decades of insurgency.
"Our collective leadership said we should be prepared to face any eventualities and if the situation and the circumstances demand we shall have to take up arms once again for the cause that we have been fighting for," NSCN-IM spokesperson Kraibo Chawang told IANS over the phone from Nagaland's commercial hub of Dimapur.
"There cannot be any solution without unification of all Naga tribal inhabited areas in the northeast," Chawang said. Moreover, people in general are very unhappy with New Delhi trying to deliberately delay the peace process. It will be counterproductive to keep on dragging the talks."
The NSCN is currently holding peace talks with New Delhi after the two sides entered into a ceasefire in 1997.
The NSCN, the oldest and the most powerful of around 30 rebel groups in India's northeast, wants the creation of a Greater Nagaland by slicing off parts of neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh that have sizeable Naga tribal populations.The three regional governments of Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh have already rejected the NSCN demand for unification of Naga dominated areas.

"We have made our point very clear about the merger of Naga contiguous areas in the region and now it is for New Delhi to take the right steps or else it is meaningless to continue having peace talks," the NSCN-IM leader said. Muivah, who has since returned to Nagaland after talks with New Delhi, said they prefer a "referendum" on the unification issue.
"Holding a referendum is the best method to determine the truth whether Nagas residing in the neighbouring states want to be part of Nagaland," Chawang said quoting Muivah. India's chief peace negotiator K. Padmanabhaiah, however, said the talks earlier this week ended on a "positive note".
The NSCN-IM's tough stand is in sharp contrast to statements made by its leaders soon after the latest round of talks in New Delhi ended Monday. Chawang had told IANS Tuesday that "only two or three substantive issues remained to be sorted out now" and that the talks ended on a positive note. Analysts say the group's belligerent posture threatening to go back to the jungles could be a calculated strategy to put pressure on New Delhi to expedite the peace process on their terms.
"Even the NSCN leaders are under pressure from within the group to clinch a deal. So the latest tough statements could be a ploy to make New Delhi toe their line and hasten up the signing of an accord," an analyst said. Nagaland, where more than 25,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency since India's independence from Britain in 1947, is a majority Christian state of two million people.
When push comes to shove The Statesman Oken Jeet Sandham
The eight-year peace process between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) is again surrounded by uncertainty after Th Muivah’s note of caution to the Nagas this week at Dimapur, Nagaland’s largest city. After several rounds of talks with the Government of India in New Delhi, Mr Muivah, general secretary of the region’s most powerful militant group, declared that the Nagas should “be prepared for any eventuality and they should not be presumptuous.”
The formidable negotiator appears to be having problems in pushing the Naga agenda but remains unbending in the demand on meeting Naga aspirations. Although he says that India has genuinely understood the cause of the Nagas, he at times appears to be losing confidence in the Indian leadership.
“They only sided with the Meiteis, Assamese or Arunachalese,” Mr Muivah rued adding, “It (the Government of India) is not fair with the Nagas.”
He, however, says that the Nagas cannot expect 100 per cent fulfilment from the Indian side because there are some obvious difficulties. “But if they have the political will to solve the Naga problem, they can. The ball is in their court,” Mr Muivah said. The NSCN, he declared, had “made its position clear to the Government of India”.
The contentious integration issue – where the Nagas seek what they call the return of their traditional lands from Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (and which the affected states denounce as an incorrect interpretation of history and reject such claims – has become the stumbling block to the problem of solving the protracted Naga political problem. Mr Muivah, however, said they would only accept “negotiated settlement” but was not prepared for a compromise on the integration question which stirs anger in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and worries New Delhi about a furious backlash from these states (all Congress-ruled), which could worsen ethnic confrontation in the region.
Assam, anyway, has land disputes with Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Meghalaya going back decades, quite apart from the integration issue, and these are nowhere near settlement either. And New Delhi is unlikely to harm its own interests in states held by the ruling party. “We cannot accept the Indian term of consensus with the neighbouring people of Nagalim on the solution to the Indo-Naga political problem,” Mr Muivah said. There is a paradigm shift on the process over the last few years and integration has become the key to a solution to the Naga problem, which is as old as independent India. But this issue also has the potential to break the peace process if the reaction from the neighbouring states are any indication. Although Mr Muivah says the ball is in New Delhi’s court for finding a solution to the Naga political problem, it appears that Delhi is not in a hurry and may buy time as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the solution to the Naga political problem would take time. “It cannot be sorted out in a few meetings,” he said. Worried by the process, Mr Muivah says that the Nagas will not hesitate to go back to the jungle and fight for another 50 years for their rights. He also indirectly threatened to conduct a referendum if “the political impasse with the Government of India continues”.
Backed by a four-point resolution adopted during a consultative meeting with Naga civil society groups on 20 and 21 January at the NSCN headquarters (Hebron), some 40 km from Dimapur, the NSCN I-M’s collective leadership left for Delhi and dialogued with the Group of Ministers headed by Oscar Fernandes. Mr Muivah has not specified the current status of the talks, but it appears that the political process has entered a crucial stage but also that all is not well with the talks. Mr Muivah’s return for consultations is likely to impact the ongoing peace process, a hardening of positions is possible. (The author is a freelance journalist based in Kohima)
Angami women express outrage From Pradeep Pareek
DIMAPUR, May 13 – Situated in the heart of Nagaland capital, Kohima, Khuochiezie ground or the local ground on Thursday became a sea of Angami traditionally-attired women, who converged there to vent out their outrage against the rape and murder of Somy Koshy, a Keralite government school teacher at Mezoma village by a member of their community, Pezazoto Savino hailing from Khonoma village, on May 5 last. It was the second occasion, within a span of three days, when people took to the streets of state capital, which in last one month witnessed three incidents of “heinous crimes against the womenfolk”, including rape and murders of two mothers and a rape of a seven-year-old girl. On Monday, Kohima-based Malayali community organized the silent march to Raj Bhavan in protest against the rape and murder of their community member and today again thousands of Angami women, from different region of Kohima district, responded to the call by the Angami Women Organisation to denounce the “heinous crime” perpetrated against the innocent school teacher who untiringly for the last nine years imparted teaching to their children and also to express solidarity with the Malayali community.
Various speakers who addressed the gathering were all in unison maintained that the crime deserves the severest form of punishment so as to set an example. The speakers also tendered their apologies on behalf of the community. “Every single man and woman hailing from this community today bow their heads in shame for the crime of a single person although the community has no part in instigating this crime,” lamented a speaker while addressing the gathering. Said another, “There were times when we had to fear outsiders (read non-Nagas) but today we fear our own brothers and there can be nothing worse than that in our society.”
The protestors also called upon the men folk to awake from their slumber and stand up to protect the women. Later, they all carrying banners and placards demanding capital punishment for the rapist and murderers, marched to the Chief Minister’s residence. The women organization also submitted a seven-point memorandum to the Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio demanding trail and prosecution of Pezazotuo to be completed within the next three months, award of capital punishment to all those found guilty of committing the offences in question, to set up “State Commission for Women”, to identify the roots of such evils and find solutions, framing of laws ensuring security of women and to make public the actions taken against the rapist Pezazatuo. Some of the speakers also appealed the authorities to handover the culprit, as and when deemed necessary, to the people for dispensation of justice as per customary laws and practice enshrined in Article 371 (A) of the Constitution of India, so as to serve as a deterrent to others.
Assam sounds alert over Bangladeshi exodus

By Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, May 14 (IANS) The Assam government Saturday sounded an alert asking police and civil authorities to be vigilant against any communal backlash in the wake of large scale exodus of suspected Bangladeshi nationals from some cities. Hundreds of suspected Bangladeshi migrant workers are reported to have fled the Assamese city of Dibrugarh following threats from an unidentified group asking locals not to employ "illegal foreigners".
The exodus has sparked fears of a possible outbreak of communal clashes with some political parties trying to give the issue a religious colour. "We have asked the district administrations and the police to be alert to ensure that no genuine Indian citizens are harassed in the name of hounding Bangladeshis and also to prevent any sort of communal tension," Assam Home Minister Rokibul Hussain told IANS. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has asked Hussain, Planning Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma and Home Commissioner B.K. Gohain to rush to Dibrugarh and take stock of the situation. "We are visiting Dibrugarh today to assess the situation and find out the antecedents of the people who have allegedly fled," the home commissioner said.
The reports of suspected Bangladeshi nationals fleeing Dibrugarh, 490 km east of the state's main city of Guwahati, has triggered panic among thousands of other Bengali-speaking workers in Assam.
For the past fortnight, an unidentified group in Dibrugarh district has been circulating leaflets and sending messages on mobile telephones, warning "all illegal Bangladeshi nationals" to leave Assam or face action. "Let's take an oath ...no job, no food, no shelter to any Bangladeshis. Start a complete economic blockade against the illegal immigrants," a leaflet doing the rounds in Dibrugarh read. Most of the Bengali-speaking workers were engaged by local contractors in brick kilns, road and building construction works. A large majority of them also pulled rickshaws.
"We do not know for sure where these people have left and also not sure if they were Bangladeshis or Indian citizens belonging to a particular community," a senior police official in Dibrugarh said. Although the Congress government is trying to react cautiously to the controversy, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says their oft-repeated claim that Assam has become a hunting ground for Bangladeshi nationals stands vindicated after the reports of the exodus.
"We have all along been shouting to drive away the Bangladeshis. But the Congress government was trying to shield them for vote bank politics. Now the people have come out to drive them and we are happy," a senior BJP leader said. However, there are claims that most of the people who were hounded out of Dibrugarh were from Assam's Dhubri district, bordering Bangladesh. "The people on either side of the border look alike and speak the same language. Just to presume that someone speaking Bengali and practising a particular faith be dubbed as Bangladeshis will be dangerous," warned a minority Congress legislator.
Sovereignty main hurdle in ULFA talks: Duggal By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 13 – The insistence of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to include the “core issue” of sovereignty in any talks with the Centre may have thrown a spanner into any possible discussions soon. Union Home Secretary VK Duggal said here today that despite the Union Government’s willingness to talk to all dissatisfied groups, the ULFA’s stubbornness has made things difficult.
“The Government of India is committed to pursue the policy of peace. Anybody willing to talk is most welcome. But it cannot be with such conditions,” Duggal said while addressing a press conference here. The Home Secretary, who assumed charge of the key Ministry a month-and-a-half back, was here on a three day tour of four North East (NE) states—Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland and Assam.
The Home Secretary observed that the ULFA “is still continuing with such activities that are not congenial to peace.” Despite this, the situation is better in the internal security front in Assam, “though things could be more better”, he said. “This being the election year, we have to be very vigilant,” he stated, adding, “We cannot allow such elements to disrupt normal life.”

Duggal, who reviewed the security scenario in the state during a meeting with Minister of State for Home Rockybul Hussain, the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police, besides military, intelligence and para-military officials, said that the Centre will consider the State Government’s request for not charging it for deployment of Central Para-Military Forces (CPMFs). There were also requests for enhancing the presence of the CPMFs in the state and more funds for modernisation of the state police. “Money is no constraint,” Duggal told newspersons.The Home Secretary said that though maintenance of law and order is Constitutionally the responsibility of the states, the Government of India “plays a supportive role.” This role is most evident in the NE, besides Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) and the Naxalite affected states.

Duggal said, adding that last year alone Rs 112 crore was given for modernisation of the police in the region and another Rs 150 crore for security related expenditures. In addition hundreds of crores are spent on stationing CPMFs in the region, he said. “The entire effort is to support the state governments and facilitate the continuation of peace in the region. Development, progress and prosperity is not possible without peace,” he said. Duggal, who met the Chief Ministers and Governors of the states he visited, except the Assam Chief Minister who was out of station, said that by a large things are “under control” and have even improved over the past one year, “certainly in Assam, Meghalaya and Nagaland though Manipur is still on a bit of a tough road.” “We hope things will turn for the better,” he said. Referring to the work on fencing the Indo-Bangladesh border and checking infiltration, the Home Secretary said that Rs 393 crore was spent in the region last year on border management and security. This year, Rs 425 crore will be spent for the same purpose. He said that 198 km of fencing work has been completed in Meghalaya in the first phase. “Some of it may not be in the best of shape and may need to be repaired,” he said. Meghalaya shares 400 km of border with Bangladesh.

The official disclosed that during his discussions with the Meghalaya officials it was decided to order a survey of the existing fencing to spot the weak points. Works for that section will be commissioned. Another 54 km of fencing has already been completed in the second phase and the rest of the work will be complete by 2006. He said that five more police stations have been sanctioned along the border in Meghalaya adding to the five already in existence. The issue of border fencing on the Assam stretch of the international border also came up for discussions today. Duggal mentioned that Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil would be in the state soon to inspect the border areas along with the Chief Minister. “We have assured that 70 km fencing will be completed within one year,” he said while referring to the recent tripartite talks between the Prime Minister, the Assam Chief Minister and representatives of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). During the discussions, it was generally agreed that fencing work was slow, there was no proper surveillance of the riverine and swampy areas and there was too much gap between border outposts. “We are committed to proper quality fencing.”

Stating that the Centre was keen to see that misguided youths return to the mainstream, Duggal said that the Government of India has revised the surrender policy for the NE, making it more attractive and taking it at par with that offered in J&K. Surrendering ultras would now be housed in special camps for 36 months instead of the present 12 months to ensure that they receive a more comprehensive vocational training. Stipends up to Rs 2000 would be given to the trainees every month. After 36 months they would be given Rs 1.5 lakh each as seed money to start their own enterprises. “We hope this policy will have a salutary effect,” he said. Talking about the status of peace processes with varied militant groups, Duggal said that discussions with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) would start soon. The NDFB has already declared a unilateral ceasefire, he said. He said that a ceasefire with the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), Meghalaya’s Garo militant outfit, is in operation till 2005. He described the situation in that state as “okay”. In Nagaland, ceasefire is in effect with both factions of the NSCN though “we are concerned about the factional fighting.” He conceded that Manipur needed more attention. He said that though the effort is to encourage the misguided lot to come overground there would be no leniency in dealing with the hardcore ultras.

AASU versus ULFA
The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are engaged in a war of words over the issue of infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals into Assam with the militant outfit claiming that August 15, 1947 should be the cut off date for identification of foreigners from the State, while, on the other hand, the students’ organisation daring the ULFA to prove its patriotism by driving away the foreign nationals from the State. The ULFA chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa ridiculed the recent tripartite talks chaired by Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh to review the implementation of the Assam Accord and described the same as an effort to “Indianise Assam”. The ULFA leader rejected the Assam Accord and said that even the Indian citizens, who came to Assam after August 15, 1947 should be treated as foreigners. He even went on to accuse the AASU of targeting only the Bangladeshi Muslims. Not to be outdone, the AASU also hit back at the ULFA and described the ULFA leader’s statement as meaningless and alleged that Rajkhowa was not aware of the threat posed to the identity of the indigenous people of the State by unabated infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals. The AASU also made it clear that it would not follow the diktats of the ULFA. Such heated exchange of words between the AASU and the ULFA is unwarranted and it is a well-established fact that infiltration of foreigners into Assam has indeed posed a threat to the identity of the indigenous people.
Of course, the Central Government must take the blame for the delay in implementation of the Assam Accord, signed nearly 20 years back, but holding of a tripartite meeting at the level of Prime Minister to review the progress of implementation of the Accord is a positive sign and now the Government must prove its sincerity by expediting the process of implementing the Accord. Over the years, the AASU is the only organisation constantly fighting for the solution of the problem of infiltration of foreigners into Assam and the demand of the ULFA chairman for making August 15, 1947 as the cut off date for the detection of foreigners is not a feasible one. Several positive decisions including the agreement on updating of the National Register of Citizens, 1951, sealing of the Indo-Bangla border etc have been taken in the tripartite meeting and such decisions, if implemented within a specific time frame, can go a long way in solving the problem of infiltration to some extent. Under the circumstances, the ULFA chairman should not have declared the talks as a farce without waiting for the implementation of the decisions taken in the meeting.
It is a fact that the ULFA is yet to adopt a strong stand on the issue of infiltration of foreigners into Assam, may be because of the fact that several senior leaders of the outfit are taking shelter in the neighbouring country and they cannot afford to antagonise the Bangladeshi nationals by taking a strong stand. Over the years, despite repeated requests by the Government of India, the Bangla Government has not taken any step to evict the militants camping in the territory of that country as was done by the Government of Bhutan to demolish the camps of the militant outfits from the territory of the Himalayan Kingdom in December 2003. The demand of the AASU to seal the Indo-Bangla border within a specific time frame and to issue shoot at sight order along the international boundary may also have provoked the ULFA to react strongly as such moves will restrict the movement of not only the Bangladeshi nationals but also of the ULFA militants, who frequently visit Bangladesh by taking advantage of the porous border. The ULFA militants, who have either been arrested or surrendered before the police in recent times, admitted that they were taken to Pakistan for handling of Programmable time devices from Bangladesh and the activities of the ULFA through the neighbouring country will be seriously affected if the Indo-Bangla border is completely sealed.
Upper Assam wakes up to illegal migrant menace
No shelter to B’deshis the mottoFrom our Reporter
DIBRUGARH, May 13: It has always been a matter of grave concern for the Assamese — the fact that their motherland has been infested by illegal Bangladeshi migrants. With the gradual change in the demographic set up, it has almost become the raison d’être for the people of Assam to ensure that this parasitic ogre is not left to spread its tentacles. Unfortunately, for reasons obvious, these illegal migrants have been cajoled and pacified, given shelter and safeguard by a lot who care two hoots either for Assam or for its people. But fortunately, things seem to be taking a turn for the better with people from districts like Dibrugarh, Jorhat and Golaghat — not expecting anything from an uncaring government — have decided to do the needful for the cause : Not to shelter the Bangladeshis, nor to give them any work and nor even to take any kind of labour from them. The Sentinel, in its messages to the indigenous people of the State over the years, has been harping about the ill-effects of harbouring the illegal migrants in the State. Time and again, in its editorials and other write-ups, it has been said that mere nagging of the government, shouting of slogans or even intellectual harangues will not solve the hydra-headed problem. A forceful and vehement attitude of self-help, economic consciousness and most of all love for the land will help the Assamese to do the deed.
It is encouraging that the people of upper Assam have eventually woken up from their reverie and are now of the opinion that they will not let the illegal migrants have it as easy in breaking bread as it used to be. This has been evident from the fact that the Bangladeshi nationals, settled in Dibrugarh, are leaving the district in batches now after the realization that they will not be able find jobs to make the two ends meet. It may be mentioned that areas like Loharpatti, Graham Bazar, Shantipara, Paltanbazar etc. housed colonies of illegal Banladeshi migrants. Most of these areas wear a deserted look today. Meanwhile, Anwar Hussain, MP from Dhubri, today informed the Parliament that at least 15,000 people were evicted by a section of youths in Dibrugarh. Drawing attention of the House to a news report published in The Times of India under the heading ‘Youths ‘evict’ illegal migrants from Assam, Hussain questioned that how could a youths have judicial and legal authority to identify anybody’s citizenship and how did it take up the authority to evict so many people.
When this reporter contacted a few people who were leaving town, they said that they belonged to places like Dhubri, Nagaon, Goalpara and Barpeta etc. and that they had the necessary identity papers. But it is also common knowledge that such ‘identity papers’ can be procured easily from certain sources by shelling out a meagre amount. A source close to these people disclosed that they were leaving for certain places in lower Assam which are, by all means, a heaven for illegal migrants. When the Additional AP (Border), P Kar was contacted, he said that he had received reports about people leaving the town and would look into the matter. Kar denied any hand of the police in the incidents. He also said that he had not received any reports of youths threatening these people to leave the place. Neither did the Deputy Commissioner of the district, Harenra Nath Bora, had any inkling about it.
DATELINE Guwahati/Wasbir Hussain NE women: victims of a racist mainstream?
Is it possible that the threat perception of women varies according to their looks, language and culture? Unfortunately, yes if the women in question happens to be from the North-east. Sections in the so-called Indian mainstream often tend to club the women from the North-east as a different breed altogether. Oh, they are ‘chinks’ or ‘chinkys’, is how these arrogant, uneducated and insensitive lot would like to brand them. The result: women from the region are made to feel out of place in metros, particularly in New Delhi. Rape is a heinous crime, and can occur anywhere in the world. But, Sunday’s gang rape of a girl student from the North-east in New Delhi has shaken the sensibilities of people in this far-eastern corner, otherwise known for its liberal social mores and affinity towards western lifestyle, particularly in matters of dress, music and relations between sexes. What people in this region hate the most is the tendency outside at stereotyping the North-east and those who live here. On this occasion, the unfortunate student from the region was not really singled out by those who committed the crime. She just happened to come under the grip of some people with sick minds on the prowl at that hour in the night in the national capital. But, yes, women activists do agree that there is a complete lack of understanding of people, particularly women, from the North-east, by countrymen outside the region. They are certainly not available as many of the stupid mainstreamwallas would like to think.
"The rest of India is in urgent need of education on our culture and way of life. What they don’t know is that our so-called westernized lifestyle is only a façade, and in reality, we follow strict moral values," Monalisa Changkija, Editor of ‘Nagaland Page,’ an English daily from Dimapur, tells me during a lengthy telephone conversation. Monalisa, mother of two daughters, said that the Naga society, for instance, has its own code of conduct. She is right when she says that Western influence is restricted to such mundane things as dress, music etc. But, parents in the region, as Monalisa says, are certainly not telling their children to be cool and do whatever they like. It’s not that the kids have been let loose. Women activists in the region even do not hesitate to go to the extent of accusing sections in the Indian mainstream of showing ‘racist behaviour’ towards women from the area. "There is a clear attempt to isolate women from the North-east as a different entity altogether just because their features are different. They are dubbed as chinkys, and this is nothing but racism of sorts," Hasina Kharbih, who heads the Impulse NGO Network in Shillong, said.
The adverse security situation, as well as non-availability of higher educational facilities in the region, has prompted students from the North-east, including a large number of girl students, from moving over to Delhi and elsewhere. Said popular Assamese novelist Mamoni Raisom Goswami, who teaches at the Delhi University: "There has been a heavy inflow of students from the North-east to universities in Delhi over the past decade. Many of them are indeed doing well in their studies."
Goswami, too, agrees that there is a general lack of appreciation and understanding of the social customs of the people in the North-east by countrymen elsewhere. "Our culture is strong. Our boys and girls are at ease with each other, and often these are brotherly relations. That is something not common among the masses in the mainland, and, therefore, they make a mistake while forming their opinion on women from the region," Goswami, said by telephone from New Delhi. Now, what could be done to shake the myths away and educate those insensitive Delhiwallas? Prominent women in the region have come up with different suggestions to deal with the problem and help the rest of India understand the region and its people better. Said Hasina Kharbih, whose organization works in the area of HIV/AIDS and child trafficking: "The syllabus at schools and colleges across the country must include topics on the North-east, its people, culture and customs. Why is it that we are made to read everything about the rest of the country and not vice versa?"Monalisa on her part thinks the governments in the north-eastern States, as well as the NGOs, must come forward with programmes to sensitize students from the region, particularly girl students, on what to expect at campuses and elsewhere in metros like Delhi, Mumbai etc. "Our students must be told that while suddenly landing up in big cities they should stick to their roots and not forget the moral values their mothers had taught them."
One good thing that has happened in the past week is that our MPs have woken up from their usual slumber, and have raised their voice in Parliament demanding security to students from the North-east. The mainstream should know that the periphery too can strike back. But, that should be avoided. (Feedback: wasbir@yahoo.com)