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05/17/2005: "Muivah signs off in same strict tone"

17 may 2005 Tuesday
Muivah signs off in same strict tone NISHIT DHOLABHAI
Camp Hebron (Dimapur), May 16: Ending his second visit to the NSCN (I-M) general headquarters in much the same way he began the trip, insurgent leader Thuingaleng Muivah today said “everything would henceforth depend on Delhi”.
The NSCN (I-M) general secretary said he told representatives of various Naga organisations that the outfit had done its job and the onus was now on the Manmohan Singh government to take the appropriate decision. Muivah will resume the talks with Delhi next week, sources said. The Naga leader, who stayed for six days at Camp Hebron, gave indications that the Naga talks had entered the make-or-break phase. Politicians and tribal leaders made a beeline for the NSCN (I-M) headquarters when he was there. Local issues that will have a bearing on the peace talks and the public support to the outfit dominated the discussions. Various Naga tribal bodies made it clear that that a solution to the problem could be found only through peaceful means. “My people want a solution, but through peaceful means,” said Sumi Hoho president Rotokha Sumi.
Several other tribal leaders had the same opinion, which is a reiteration of the resolution adopted during a meeting in December last year. On Saturday, a delegation from the Konyak Union met Muivah and briefed him on the developments in Nagaland over the past few weeks. Last month, two Konyak youths were killed by NSCN (I-M) cadre, arousing local sentiments against the outfit.
“They presented their grievances and were assured that all possible measures would be taken,” said Kraibo Chawang, the outfit’s deputy kilonser (minister) for information and publicity. If the outfit indeed takes any action, the rival Khaplang faction will be the loser as it has been trying to trigger public sentiment against the I-M faction, a source said. Muivah has made it clear that there will “no meeting point” between the two factions unless Khaplang “admits his mistakes”.
At the same time, the situation is tense in Mon district as the two rival factions prepare for a battle.The Assam Rifles is monitoring the situation in the district, inspector-general of the paramilitary force (North), S.S. Kumar, said on Saturday.
Muivah stops short of saying talk is in a deadlock
There will be a deadlock if India continues to insist holding the talk under its Constitution, asserts Muivah Sangai Bureau
HEBRON, May 16 : General secretary of the NSCN (IM), Thuingaleng Muivah stopped short of stating that the peace talk between the Government of India and the outfit has entered a deadlock but admitted that if India remains adamant then the talk will be caught in a deadlock.
Speaking exclusively to The Sangai Express at Camp Hebron, Muivah said that the NSCN (IM) has made its position clear to Delhi and if anything goes wrong, then India should be held responsible.
To a question of where he would place the progress of the nearly 8 years old peace talk on a scale of one to ten, the general secretary evaded a direct reply but added that Nagas have never and will never accept the Indian Constitution. “They are trying to bring the talk under the Constitution but we have refused. If they still don't change their stand, then we can say that there is a deadlock,” said Muivah.
Making it clear that any solution has to be within the parameters of the recognition of the uniqueness of the Naga history, the NSCN (IM) leader expounded on the unique history of the Naga people.
“The uniqueness of the Naga history means that the land of Nagas were never under India. The Father of the Indian Nation, Mahatma Gandhi gave us the assurance that Nagas have every right to be independent. We also have the documents to verify the stand of Mahatma Gandhi. After the British left, the Indian Union was formed on voluntary basis, but the Nagas refused to do that. We were never part of India either by consent or by conquest,” maintained Muivah.
“The Government of India talked something about finding a solution outside the box. This may be interpreted differently,” said the rebel leader and added, “It could mean outside the Indian Constitution but within the Indian Union. This still is not acceptable to the Naga people.”
India may not be able to go beyond this and Nagas too will not be ready to yield an inch,” said Muivah and offered that the meeting point could be a federa- tion of India and Nagalim. “The terms of agreement should be written down and it should reflect in the Constitution of the two enti- ties,” said the general secretary. Under this arrangement, there can be a joint defence said Muivah adding that India may have the primary responsibility in external affairs but “whenever the interests of Nagas are affected, then Nagas should have a say. This is the best for both.”
Explaining the rationale of a joint defence, Muivah said, “Since India is worried about her security against external threats, this arrangement will ensure her security. On the other hand, it is only the Nagas who can protect themselves and so Nagas too should be part of the defence team. This arrangement will answer the security problem of both sides.”
Moreover the federation arrangements can be the meeting point, asserted the general secretary.
Any empowerment of the Naga people within the Indian Constitution will also not be acceptable to the Naga people, he added. To a question on whether Delhi has changed its perspectives on the talk with the coming of the Congress led UPA Government, Muivah said that there is not much change as such but conceded that “the BJP was more straight forward” and cited the recognition of the uniqueness of the Naga history. Muivah however hastened to add that it is a little too early to say anything on the Congress led UPA Government. To a question on whether any sincere attempts have been made to iron out the differences with the Khaplang faction of the NSCN, Muivah said unity has to be conditional and questioned under what basis the unity should be brought about. “For the sake of unity we cannot be expected to accept the Shillong Accord for that would not be unity but surrendering,” said Muivah. When reminded that the Khaplang group is against the Shillong Accord, the NSCN (IM) leader said that they may say they are against the Shillong Accord but they are fighting the Naga people in collaboration with Indian security force.

Muivah leaves for Delhi Source: The Sangai Express
Dimapur, May 16: NSCN-IM general secretary Th Muivah left Nagaland this afternoon for New Delhi to have more rounds of talk with the Government of India. Earlier there had been speculations that Th Muivah would stay in Nagaland for about a month.

Informing NNN, NSCN-IM Home Minister said today that there was every likely-hood that Th Muivah would come back to Nagaland after a few round of talks with the Government of India. Muivah was accompanied
NSCN-K warns people From Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, May 16 – Proscribed National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) has warned the Zeliangrong people not to attend any of the NSCN-IM meeting in the days to come. The outfit in an interaction with the mediapersons at Senapati district, also warned of taking stern action against any individual who violates the diktats of the outfit. Terming the NSCN (IM) as the ‘informer’ of Indian Government after engaging peace talks with the Centre, he said that NSCN (IM) are providing vital information to the Indian Government about the Zeliangrong people under the pretext of holding national security meeting for the Nagas. “NSCN(K) cadres would not spare anyone who extend support or cooperation to Th Muivah,” he warned, alleging that NSCN (IM) had deviated from the aim and objective of the Naga movement in order to work out an amicable solution with the India government.

Reacting to a statement of Chuiniyo, Commanding Officer of NSCN (IM)’s NP Battallion during a meeting which stated that Meiteis are the real enemies of the Nagas, spokeperson said that it would be better for the NSCN (IM) to refrain from taking any help from the Meitei brethen if they consider the Meiteis as the real enemies of the Nagas. Asserting that NSCN (IM)’s narrow-mindedness of the people on community line was responsible for the Naga-Kuki ethnic clashes in the early nineties, he pointed out that dividing the society on communal parameters will not serve any purpose and instead will act as an obstacle in the freedom movement. Expressing the opinion on the ongoing peace talks between the government of India and NSCN(IM), the spokesperson further stated that general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah was trying to work out a solution without realising the goals of the Naga people charging in fact Muivah is trying to make some personal gain by fooling the Naga people. Recalling the statement given by Muivah at Dimapur recently that Nagas are ready to fight their dream, he said that Muivah’s statement that he was trying to work out a solution wih the government of India without achieving the goals of the Nagas and then trying to put the blame for the failure on the Naga people. by his wife Pakahao today.
Assam, Nagaland to maintain 1979 status quo NET News Network
Guwahati, May 16: In view of the present turmoil in the Assam-Nagaland border, both the state governments has decided to maintain status quo as per the treaty signed between the two chief ministers in 1979. Decision was taken during a meeting of the chief secretaries of Assam and Nagaland in the presence of joint secretary of the union home ministry held here today. Chief secretary of Assam S Kabilan after the meeting said that although it would take long time and need discussion at chief minister level to settle the border dispute that being creating tension in Assam-Nagaland border specially after the demand of greater Nagaland (Nagalim) by Naga militant outfit NSCN(IM) but now it is being decided to maintain the status quo.
On the other hand chief secretary of Nagaland P Talitamjan said that Nagaland is keen to settle the long issue amicably. Joint secretary union home ministry Rajib Agarwal who monitored the discussion said that home ministry especially home secretary Vinod Duggal was concern over the development and had earlier discussed with chief secretary. Agarwala also said that he urged governments to hold discussion at a regular interval at chief secretary level, commissioner level, deputy commissioner level and even at magistrate level to bring peace and normalcy.
Pursuing peace
Suddenly the 8 year old peace talk between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India does not seem to be as rosy as everyone would like to believe and this can be gauged from the changing tones of its leader Thuingaleng Muivah in the last few days. Straight on his arrival from New Delhi at Dimapur, the rebel leader asked the Nagas to be ready to fight for another fifty years to protect their rights and gain their place under the Sun. To be fair neither side has ever openly stated that the talk has run into a dead end, but the seeming lack of progress in the peace talk can be felt in the tone of Th Muivah when he met the press and announced to the Naga people to be ready to face the worst. The demands of the NSCN (IM) seems straight enough. The integration of all Naga inhabited areas under one administrative umbrella, the talk to be held outside the ambit of the Indian Constitution and to arrive at a settlement which has nothing to do with the Constitution or Union of India. In an exclusive interview with The Sangai Express on May 14 at Camp Hebron, the general secretary of the outfit stopped short of saying that the peace talk has entered a deadlock but admitted that India has been insisting that the talk be held within the Constitution. Muivah made it clear that if this insistence continues then there will be a deadlock, for the Nagas have never and will never accept the Constitution of India. Two points emerge from the stand divulged by Muivah to The Sangai Express. The first and obvious point is the fact that the talk which has dragged on since 1997 has not been premised within any clearly stated parameters and two, the two sides are yet to see eye to eye on substantive issues. No one seems to know what has been discussed and what are the points left to be discussed between the two parties, but either way it will be a tragedy if the peace talk falls through and the guns start to boom in the hills of Nagaland and other Naga inhabited areas. The Naga people have just started to feel the joy of freedom, freedom from fear, either from the militants or from the Indian security force and it would be a tragedy if the pre-1997 bush war and assaults on each other were to begin again after a break of nearly 8 years. Peace always comes with a price and it will be interesting to see what price, the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) are willing to pay to achieve that everlasting peace which has proved elusive ever since the British left India in 1947. As we understand it, the price that one has to pay for peace to prevail is nothing less than climbing down a rung or two from one's position and this applies to the two sides on either side of the negotiating table. And it will also do good for the leaders on either side to ensure that any solution that is worked out does not lead to further problems in the region. For this to happen, one needs sincere understanding of the issues confronting all the people of the region.
Khaplang warning to tribe OUR CORRESPONDENT
Imphal, May 15: The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) today warned members of the Zeliangrong community against attending any programme organised by the Isak-Muivah group at its headquarters, Camp Hebron, in Dimapur.
“No member of the Zeliangrong community should go to Hebron or any other place to attend meeting or other programmes of the Muivah group. If the bar is violated, then stringent punishment would be meted out,” a spokesperson of the NSCN (K)’s Zeliangrong region told the media in Senapati district today. The NSCN (K) accused the rival faction of adopting a “separate policy to sharply divide the Zeliangrong community inhabiting different states of the Northeast”. “In the name of public consultation programmes, Muivah and his followers are collecting information about our group from those Zeliangrongs attending the programmes. Such information gathered is being passed on to the government of India. This has caused a serious security threat for us. Therefore, we decided to prevent the Zeliangrong community members from attending such programmes,” the spokesperson said. The NSCN (K) described the reported threat of the I-M faction to take up arms again as a “hollow” threat. “Why such threats? If it has the guts, it should act instead of mouthing threats. The NSCN (I-M) is allowing itself to be reduced to an informer of the government of India,” he said.
Assam-Nagaland border meet held By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 16 – A Chief Secretary-level meeting between the Assam Government and the Nagaland Government was held today at the Assam Administrative Staff Training College premises here, said an official press release. The meeting decided to exchange information on violation of the agreements on the issues concerning the two States. It was also decided in the meeting to hold Chief Secretary- meetings between the two States every three months in presence of the Union Home Secretary. There would be Commissioner-level meetings too in presence of the Inspectors and Deputy Inspectors General (Border) of the two States and the Deputy Inspector General of the CRPF, said another resolution of the meeting. These meetings will be held once in two months, it said.

In another resolution, the meeting decided to hold Deputy Commissioner-level meetings of the border districts once in a month. The repair of the pre-1979 house complexes could be done in the border areas of the two States with due permission from the Deputy Commissioners. But the following Chief Secretary-level meetings should endorse such approvals from the Deputy Commissioners. Both the States today laid stress on maintaining peace and amity in the border areas.
Threat forces buses off the road in northeast A Correspondent The Hindu
IMPHAL: Thousands of bus passengers were stranded in Assam, Meghalaya and Manipur as inter-state bus services were suspended from Sunday following a threat by a proscribed underground organisation. In the absence of a rail line connecting Manipur with other states buses plying on national highway 39 that snakes through Nagaland are the only means of transport for the common man. A militantgroup had asked the tourist bus operators to pay Rs. 250,000 a month as "tax" or face dire consequences. Armed militants on Sunday threatened bus drivers who decided not to ply the vehicles. In other news from the region, NSCN (IM) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah, who returned to Nagaland from a round of peace talks with the Centre on May 10, has been meeting various Naga leaders. He told reporters at camp Hebron in Nagaland that the Nagas were prepared to wage war for 50 years.
Meanwhile, the NSCN (K) has criticised the NSCN (IM) for entering into peace talks with the Union Government. A spokesperson said the NSCN (IM) had "betrayed" the Zeliangrong Nagas living in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. The Naga demand for an independent country had been compromised by the peace talks with the Indian leaders.
Passengers severely affected by bus services stoppage The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 16: Following the sudden closure of the ticket booking counters of the inter state passenger bus services in the state in the aftermath of threats from a undisclosed undergound outfit asking them not to operate their services till the monetary demand notices served by them are met, people have been making a beeline ouitside travel agencies to make enquiry on the possible dates of resumption of bus services, resulting in crowded scenes in front of the counters from early this morning till late evening. They, however, had to return disappointed without getting any satisfactory reply from the bus authorities. There were however no reports that the services would be resumed till late in the day even as the sudden development greatly inconvinienced the people, many of whom were in great need of going outside for various reasons, including examininations.

The only other alternative for travelling outside is air services but is expensive beyond their means of most, besides limited services. A report from Mao received here stated that at least 14 inter state buses had left Mao this morning with security escorts for Imphal. The buses were coming from other neighbouring states and were stranded yesterday at Kohima after the sudden development at Imphal.
Reports however said, although there were no sale of fresh tickest, five buses and 30 tata sumos did manage to leave Imphal with passengers from Imphal this morning for their destinations outside the state. Reports collected by IFP stated that the passengers who were travelling in the tata sumos had paid above the normal fares charged by the drivers. One passenger reportedly contributed atleast Rs. 500 for travelling upto Dimapur which is double of the usual fare. The fare for the distance upto Dimapur at the normal rate is from Rs. 200 to 250 while the fare uptill Gauhati from Imphal is Rs. 500 to 600. Passengers are paying the tata sumos at least Rs. 800 for the journey uptill Gauhati, that too after long bargaining, said some people who were witness to the scenes this morning in front of the counters at North AOC.
In the meantime, the few counters which remained open for giving the passengers the latest information were shut down also as the people there were pressurising them to explain the reasons for the suspension of the bus services and as they could not give any further information. Meanwhile, expressing strong concern over sudden stoppage of interstate passenger bus service, All India Student’s Federation, Manipur state council has appealed to underground elements and organisations not to indulge in any action which could affect transportation along the national highways.

Stating that suspension of transportation along national highways severely affects the economy of the state as well as commuters, the students body in a statement appealed to those giving frequent disturbance along national highways to understand the importance highways.Appealing to all concern not to impose unbearable demands to transporters, the student body also called for immediate resumption of interstate passenger bus service along national highway-39.

Therie party puts off expulsion OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kohima, May 16: Former Nagaland finance minister K. Therie, who was dropped from the cabinet earlier this month, is yet to be expelled from his party, the Nagaland People’s Front. The expulsion, apparently, has been put off. The NPF disciplinary action committee met today but ended its discussion inconclusively. “We have not taken any decision on this issue and will hold another sitting,” said senior NPF leader K. Kath. But sources said Therie may not be expelled from the party after all, in order to avoid further complications. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio is currently holding the finance portfolio. A “minor” reshuffle is expected later this week, during which a new minister will be inducted, sources said. Rio, who currently holds more than 10 portfolios, is also likely to hand over some of them to other senior members. The planning portfolio, for instance, will probably be given to education minister and NPF president Shürhozelie Liezietsu, say observers.
The Phek legislator, an old friend of Rio, was served a showcause notice by the party and dropped from Rio’s cabinet for alleged anti-party activities and indiscipline last week.
Fuel was added to the Rio-Therie feud when the NSCN (I-M) made it clear that it wanted Therie out of the council of ministers. While Therie was said to toe the line of the Naga National Council (Adinno Phizo), Rio supports the NSCN (I-M)’s concept of integration. Two days ago, however, Therie indicated a subtle change in his stand at a media conference, saying all efforts should be made to continue with the NSCN (I-M)’s peace process. He also said he was committed to the party and did not think that his ouster from the ministry was caused by the bad blood between him and Rio. However, Therie also pointed out that the chief minister should have taken him into confidence if there were any problems with the minister’s functioning.
KNC appeals
IMPHAL, May 16 : The chairman of the Kuki National Council, SS Haokip has appealed to the two organisations of the Kuki National Front, the KNF (MC) and KNF T Samuel group to stop targeting each other. These two organisations are under the umbrella of the KNC. In a statement, the chairman appealed to all organisations of the KNC to sort out any differences on the table to let peace prevail.
ECI has barred the publication of the electoral rolls of Chandel and Tengnoupal ACs though the nod has been given for the other 58 ACs
The North-East: Assam is hardest hit by displacement

The eight states in the geographically isolated and economically underdeveloped North-East are home to 200 of the 430 tribal groups in India. Between 30 and 40 rebel groups are currently active in the region. An influx of migrants from the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Nepal, and Burma has caused a massive population increase and subsequent competition for resources and jobs (Nath, January 2005). This has also spurred ethnic conflicts over land and fighting for political autonomy or secession. During the past decades, the North-East has been the scene of repeated ethnically-motivated conflicts in which the fight for a perceived homeland sometimes resulted in ethnic cleansing. At least 50,000 people have been killed in such conflicts in the North-East since India’s independence in 1947 (COE-DMHA, 2 April 2004). Violence has broken out in the states of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Tripura and Arunachal Pradesh, involving at least eight different ethnic groups (Bodos, Nagas, Kukis, Paites, Mizos, Reangs, Bengalis and Chakmas). The largest forced displacement movements have occurred in the states of Assam, Manipur and Tripura (Bhaumik, in Banerjee, Chaudhury, Das 2005).

There is no official estimate of the number of internally displaced persons in the North-East. Most information is found in local newspapers, while objective research in terms of assessing the magnitude of conflict-induced displacement in the region has yet to be carried out by either governmental or non-governmental agencies (IPCS, Routray, 17 January 2004).
In Assam, resentment among the Assamese against "foreigners", mostly immigrants from Bangladesh, has led to widespread violence and displacement of Bengalis, Hindus and Muslims. At least 10,000 people have been killed in separatist violence in Assam over the past 25 years (COE-DMHA, 19 April 2005). The largest displacement situation in the state stems from the (still ongoing) fighting between Bodos and Santhals which erupted in the early 1990s and displaced an estimated 250,000 persons. As of March 2003, the local government stated that almost 150,000 people remained in relief camps in Assam's Kokrajhar and Gossaigaon sub-divisions (Deputy Commissioner Krokrajhar, 30 April 2003).

The Karbi Anglong and North Cachar Hills districts have been the main scenes of ethnic violence over the past few years. During 2003 and 2004, thousands of civilians were displaced due to clashes between various ethnic groups and attacks against their villages. In March 2003, fighting erupted between the Dimasa and Hmar tribes over land and governance in the North Cachar Hills and displaced up to 5,000 people (The Telegraph, 20 June 2003). A peace accord restored stability in the area, and although no information has been found regarding the return of the displaced, it is likely that most have gone back to their homes. In the Karbi-Aglong district, thousands of civilians were displaced during 2003 and 2004 following a series of incidents of ethnic violence due to two separate but overlapping conflicts, one between two militant groups, the United Peoples’ Democratic Solidarity (UPDS, a Karbi militant outfit) and the Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA), and the other between the UPDS and the Khasi-Pnar people. Attacks by Karbi insurgents in October and November 2003 led to the displacement of 5,000 Kukis to Manipur and Nagaland. An unknown number of Karbis were also displaced (COE-DMHA, 5 December 2003; IPCS, Routray, 17 January 2004). In March 2004, following retaliatory attacks, more than 2,000 Karbis fled their homes in the Karbi-Anglong district of Assam to government-run relief camps (COE-DMHA, 29 March 2004).
In November 2003, another major incident of internal displacement occurred when a wave of violence was launched against Hindi-speaking people, many of them coming from Bihar to find seasonal work in Assam. The conflict was triggered by a row over jobs and reported intimidation of Assamese people in Bihar and violence quickly spread from the capital city of Guwahati to areas in Upper Assam. Mobs and militants killed at least 56 people and torched hundreds of houses. There is no estimate of the number of people who became internally displaced within the state, but at least 18,000 fled to about 40 camps in and outside Assam (The Hindu, 2 December 2003; Frontline, 6 December 2003; Reuters, 21 November 2003). The Naga people’s 50-year-long struggle for a homeland has been another major conflict in the North-East leading to displacement. In April 2001, a decision by the central government to extend a five-year-old ceasefire to all Naga areas in the North-East was met with violent protests in Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh. The ceasefire was seen as a step towards the establishment of a greater Naga state which could infringe on the territory of the neighbouring states. Some 50,000 Nagas, fearing revenge attacks, fled the Imphal valley in Manipur to Naga-dominated districts in Manipur and Nagaland (NPMHR, 5 January 2002; AHRC, 1 October 2003). According to the Naga International Support Centre, most of the internally displaced from this incident and previous conflict have returned to their homes and a final peace agreement is under negotiation between Indian authorities and the Nationalist Social Council of Nagaland (NSCN). However, feuding between rival factions of the NSCN has continued, at times becoming violent, since the signing of the peace agreement. In December 2004, the parties clashed again over territorial claims. However, no displacement due to the fighting has been reported (Sashinungla, Faultlines vol. 16, 2005). In Nagaland, Indian and Burmese security forces have also recently launched a campaign against Indian rebel camps on both sides of the border. It is not known to what extent this has caused the civilian population to flee (COE-DMHA, 25 March 2005). In North Tripura, some estimate that more than 100,000 people are internally displaced due to ethnic fighting and terrorist attacks by tribal insurgent groups targeting non-tribal settlers (Deccan Herald, 20 March 2004; Rediff.Com, 21 May 2003). During the first months of 2003, attacks by the outlawed National Liberation Front of Tripura and All Tripura Tiger Force, sparked off an exodus of non-tribal Bengalis from the interiors of the state (Rediff.Com, 12 May 2003). An estimated 31,000 Reangs (also called Bru) from Mizoram also remain displaced after fleeing ethnic fighting with the Mizos in 1997. Despite recommendations and orders of the National Human Rights Commission and the central government, the state government of Mizoram has refused to take back the displaced Reangs because they maintain that only half of the displaced are citizens of the state. However, the state government has now signed a peace agreement with the Reang militant outfit Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF), which provides for the repatriation and rehabilitation of the Reangs (COE-DMHA, 27 April 2005). Other populations at risk of displacement are the Chakmas in Arunachal Pradesh who are regularly threatened with expulsion, in particular by an influential Arunachal student organisation, which maintains that the Chakmas should be resettled elsewhere (IPCS, 19 September 2003). The Nepalis in north-east India are also a particularly vulnerable group and have been targeted and displaced in Assam, Manipur and Meghalaya. It is unknown how many remain displaced today (Nath, January 2005).
Tensions cause displacement along border with Bangladesh
Tension has also risen between India and Bangladesh since the beginning of 2005, leading to several clashes between the respective border guard forces, the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) and Indian Border Security Forces (BSF). Five Indian states border Bangladesh, four of them being in India's North-East. Tensions have increased as the BSF has stepped up efforts to track down insurgent groups believed to be hiding on the Bangladeshi side of the border. India has also increased efforts to control illegal immigration from Bangladesh, which has reached significant proportions in recent years. One of the measures is the building of a fence which now covers one third of the border. Cross-border operations into Bangladesh by the BSF and the fence-building have created strong protests in Bangladesh, resulting in regular clashes between the BSF and the BDR. Thousands of people on both sides of the border have temporarily been displaced due to the skirmishes. In the district of North Dinjapur in the West Bengal State, entire villages were reported empty during fighting in February (The Telegraph, 27 February 2005; Kumar, 8 April 2005).
Alice in scamland By N Arunkumar
India is a land of scams. We have all sorts of scams to engross our minds with, and each new scam is more awful than the previous one. It is a never-ending parade, and one, which does not fail to keep us glued to the edge of our seats in amusement. We wonder as to what shape or form the next one will take. And public memory is pretty short lived, to retain the simple details of each scam as it opens out. Just to jog down memory lane and recall a few of the past scams, which were brought under the public scanner, here are a few of them. Harshad Mehta and his bourse scam, the whistle blowing on the defence scam by Tehelka, the fodder scam, the sari scam (a lesser known one) and now the flood relief scam. And did you folks know that there was a toilet seat scam in the south of India at one time? Government grants to buy toilet seats for the use of public conveniences was swindled and money disappeared into the hands of a few? Well, the details can always be gathered from the National Archives of Public Shams…. oops sorry. Scams! And while at it, don’t forget the coffin chests during the Kargil adventure folks. Dead bodies of brave soldiers were packed in coffins that could have been made of gold, for the money they paid for those mediocre ones, it seems.
The latter part of the 1980’s was strewn with the details of skeletons tumbling out of the closet of a bull called Harshad Mehta. He is supposed to have siphoned off crores in fake share market deals, and was an expert manipulator who was single handedly responsible for the collapse of a few co-operative and nationalized banks. His meteoric rise to fame from modest backgrounds was the envy of a generation of Indians who were till then unaware of the intricacies of the stock market operations. One fine morning, the name Hars-had Mehta was on everyone’s lips and he attained the status of a demigod in the financial circles. The existence and functioning of the stock market got a boost thanks to this one master operator. The other scam invol-ved the rather comic field of cattle fodder, which was blown off in the foremost of the Bimaru states, Bihar. Here, the then Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav was supposed to have siphoned off crores of precious grants from the Centre, which should have found its way to the feeding basins of thousands of cattle. The name of the scam was also rather satiric, ‘Chaara ghotala.’ Well, nothing strange about it, thought people since it involved the notorious Bihar region of the country. Now, suddenly we hear that this scam has not seen the last of its days, with the charge sheet for the same being filed in the courts only recently. It has taken almost a decade to bring the culprits to book, which stole the fodder from the mouth of the cattle. Some speedy system of investigation indeed! What the charge sheet will be able to reveal in the respectable courtrooms though is still a matter of pure speculation. Another investigation and crores of rupees have gone down the drain, and the circus still goes on.
Of the more recent scams to come to the public eye is the flood relief material and money scam. It will require an entire sheet of novel proportions to bring all the scams to the public memory now. So let us stick to the latest scam that is once again quite hilarious in its form, as usual. Here, there is a claim that the money earmarked and granted for flood relief operations in Bihar were siphoned off by some ministers and officials into their pockets. Accusations are flying thick and fast, and there is apparently more than what meets the eye. There will be an uproar in the Parliament over this scam too, mostly by ministers and other honourable members who did not get a piece of the cake, and then an enquiry committee will be constituted to gather the facts. The facts are already more than confused for anyone to make any sense out of it. The enquiry committee will try to dig out the facts from the labyrinth of doctored documents which will hide more than what it will show. It will be like a baby’s nappies which hides and which shows too; or more like the vamp in the Hindi films that will dare with bare. The facts are there for anyone with a little common sense to figure out, but the documents will not be evidence by itself. There have to be hard definite proof to prosecute those charged and responsible for the intimidating behaviour they have undertaken against the society, which they have sworn to provide and protect. The money has gone, and is probably safely locked up in cartons and stashed somewhere, or in Swiss bank vaults. Most of the money is now in the hands of raucous that gallop around calling themselves as leaders of the masses. In all their years in the political arena they have nothing to show except their legions of followers who teem around them as parasites for the handouts they might get now and then. The nation is a breeding ground for parasites of all hues and shapes. The future only makes us scratch our heads in distress as lice also fall in the class of parasites. Shakespeare’s tragicomic tales are now passé. Take pleasure in the scams in the meantime and keep hunting for more. By the way, this is a suggestion to those paying attention, to form a new NGO and set up a department called the NAOPS, abridged form for National Archives Of Public Scams, in the best interest of the ignorant janta. Or, perhaps someone more imaginative than me can come up with a better abbreviation for this department.
Assam, Nagaland for status quo on 1979 pact By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 16: Amid the growing tension along the Assam-Nagaland border, the two States have agreed today to maintain status quo on the agreement signed between them in 1979. The two States have also agreed to chalk out a mechanism for exchange of opinion at various levels at regular interval to strengthen the mutual understanding.
Top-level bureaucrats of the two States, including police officials, accompanied the Chief Secretaries of their respective States at a meeting on border disputes between Assam and Nagaland, in the Assam Administrative Staff College here today . "A strategy has been chalked out to defuse the tension through regular exchange of views through meetings at various levels," Assam Chief Secretary S Kabilan said while talking to The Sentinel after the meeting.
Disputes over border roads also figured in the discussion, said Kabilan. Nagaland Chief Secretary P Talitemjen, while talking to The Sentinel, expressed his satisfaction over the outcome of the meeting. "Nagaland is keen to settle the issue through mutual understanding," he said.
The Centre was worried over the recent development along the Assam-Nagaland border, said Rajeev Agarwal, Joint Secretary of Home Ministry, who also attended the meeting. He told The Sentinel that the Centre was ‘very happy and satisfied’ with the outcome of today’s meeting.
Mr BK Gohain, Commissioner-Secretary of Home Department, Assam informed The Sentinel that border magistrate-level and Deputy Commissioner-level committees of the two States would meet once a week and once a month respectively. These apart, Home Commissioner-level and Chief Secretary-level talks will be held once in two months and once in three months respectively, he said. He said that Nagaland has ‘agreed to withdraw’ from Geleki reserve forest.
Talks with ULFA by this year: Gogoi By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 16: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that the State Government has been able to establish links with the proscribed ULFA, and he is hopeful that the much-anticipated talks with the rebel group would be initiated by this year. Gogoi, who will step into the fifth year of his term on Thursday, welcomed the ‘willingness’ of both the ULFA and the NDFB to come to the table. He termed the developments as a ‘good sign’. Talking to The Sentinel, Gogoi lashed out at the AGP for commenting that ‘the Congress wants to keep the insurgency problem alive’. He questioned the AGP about its achievement on the issue when the party was at the helm of affairs. "It’s the AGP which wants to keep the problem alive," Gogoi hit back at the AGP. Highlighting the achievements of the State Government during the last four years, Gogoi said that the State was backward in the power sector. "We are dwelling on it and hopeful of early results," he said.
Sangma for expediting peace process with ULFA By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 16: Former Lok Sabha Speaker Purno A Sangma today said that confidence between the Government and the ULFA should be built before going to the negotiation table. "Trust between the two sides is the need of the hour and nothing concrete can be achieved through talks sans trust," Sangma said while talking to The Sentinel here. Sangma, who is a facilitator in the peace process with the Achik National Volunteer Council (ANVC), said that the peace process is very complicated, and it will ‘certainly take some time.’
‘No shelter to B’deshi’ message in Jorhat too From a Correspondent
JORHAT, May 16: The AASU’s cry for an economic blockade against Bangladeshis to force them to leave the State has been stepped up through personal SMS texting in cell phones and posters put up by the AJYCP. Since yesterday, thousands of cell phone users here have been receiving messages which read: "Save Nation, save identity, let’s take an oath... No food, no job, no shelter to Bangladeshi. Start a complete economic blockade to illegal migrants. Jai Janmabhumi. Pl SMS this message at least your ten friends." BJYM. The police has ruled out tracing or taking any legal action against the senders as it is simply an appeal.
ABSU blames Cong for BTC poll violence
Intellectuals urged to be part of peace process Our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, May 16: Expressing serious concern over the violence that erupted during the BTC elections and the tension that had built up following it, the All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) called upon the intellectuals of the Bodoland area to take initiatives to bring about normalcy in the Bodo heartland. In a press release, ABSU president Rwngwra Narzary said that the Bodo intellectuals, who are sidelining themselves in the present crisis of the Bodos should come forward to bring back peace and brotherhood uniting all Bodo leaders who are at odds with each other.
The student body appealed to all sections of the Bodo society to refrain from engaging in activities that may create political turmoil. This, according to the body, should be done for the greater interest of permanent peace, unity and development in the BTC area. The student body further appealed to the BPPF leaders to unite themselves under one umbrella for the sake of keeping the party alive. The ABSU urged the leaders of the party to sit together for formulating the future strategies. Lashing out at the State Government for lax in security arrangements during the BTC elections which led to the outbreak of violence, the ABSU demanded stringent security arrangements during repolling.
It may be mentioned that the State Government had not sent any additional police force for conducting the polls peacefully. The conscious people here felt that it was a conspiracy of the Congress government to stymie the efforts of the BTC leaders. The ABSU further condemned the attack and destruction of the organization’s office at Rangiya and Bashbari and the killing of a cook in its Bashbari unit office by miscreants. The ABSU also demanded necessary action against the culprits involved in the murder and adequate compensation to the victim’s family.