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05/23/2005: "NSCN(IM) suffers major blow with former Kilo Kilonser’s defection"

23 May 2005 Monday
NSCN(IM) suffers major blow with former Kilo Kilonser’s defection The Imphal Free Press

Dimapur, May 22: In what is seen as a major blow to the NSCN (IM), its MIP Kilonser (Minister), AZ Jami, who had also served the faction as Kilo Kilonser (Deputy Prime Minister) and Executive Secretary of the Steering Committee, defected to rival NSCN (K) faction on May 20. Citing reasons for his resignation, a press release issued to Newmai News Network today by A.Z Jami said he had no enmity with anyone and that he had resigned from the NSCN (IM) and joined the NSCN (K) as he did not see any reason why his sacrifices and the sufferings of his entire family during the last fifty years of his service for the nation be ended in Naga integration.

“Yes, integration of Naga areas is an idea to be cherished and appreciated. But the issue of integration is more or less administrative matter. The point is that the sacrifice made by the people during the three quarters of the century is not for integration only”, he said. Jami said Nagas had struggled over fifty years and sacrificed their lives not for integration but that they had always fought for their freedom and land.

“When we talk about Naga integration, we must remember that unless the people concerned prepare themselves for it, no individual or organization can do that by force,” he said while also observing that political solution of the Nagas of Manipur could not be negotiated by the Nagas of Nagaland and vice versa as that would be a cardinal error. He also maintained that any political solution like Kashmir with Naga integration would be a failure. According to him, that will become another 16-Point Agreement of 1960 or the Shillong Accord of 1975. Stating that such agreement would only invite another revolution, Jami urged the Nagas to make the history straight that if they could not achieve sovereignty in their time, they should leave it to their posterity. “We shall not make political mistake because Nagas have already made immense sacrifices for Naga sovereignty,” he said. Jami also expressed unhappiness with the NSCN (IM) for not maintaining transparency in the ongoing political talks and said even most of the top-ranking NSCN (IM) leaders did not know what the leadership was negotiating.

“In the consecutive Naga consultation meetings, the Naga leaders did not specify any political status nor gave any terms and conditions. The Naga leaders in the meeting only gave blind support to the so-called peace process. So what will you say if the NSCN (IM) leadership brings another Shillong Accord with your mandate?” he said. Jami appealed to the Nagas whether overground or underground to stop “murmuring and hesitating” but “open their eyes, raise their heads and start working” adding the destiny of the Naga nation was not in the hands of anybody or organization as it is solely in the hands of God.
Blast rocks Guwahati, three troopers injured By Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, May 23 (IANS) At least three paramilitary troopers were critically wounded in a powerful bomb explosion Monday in this Assam capital. A police spokesperson said militants suspected to be from the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) triggered a remote-controlled improvised explosive device close to a crude oil refinery in Guwahati. The blast took place around 9.30 a.m. when a paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) patrol was conducting a foot patrol in the area. "The intensity of the blast was severe and the CRPF soldiers were lucky to have survived the blast," a senior police official told IANS. The injured were shifted to a local hospital. The ULFA, fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, recently threatened to carry out violent strikes against security forces with the state government stepping up its drive against the rebels.
"We had intelligence reports about the ULFA planning some attacks in the state with the outfit suffering heavy reverses at the hands of security forces in recent weeks," the police official said.
On Sunday, police arrested four hardcore ULFA rebels from separate hideouts and recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition.
Talks-sabotage slur on governor JAHANSHER FIROZE The Telegraph
Dimapur, May 20: The NSCN (Isak-Muivah) today warned for the fourth time this month that it would not hesitate to pull out of the peace talks if Delhi continued to dilly-dally on the issue of integrating Naga-inhabited areas. NSCN (I-M) information and publicity secretary Akaho Assumi, who was privy to several rounds of talks with Delhi, accused former bureaucrat and present Arunachal Pradesh governor S.K. Singh of scheming to sabotage the peace process. Singh had recently ridiculed one of the core demands of the NSCN (I-M) — to bring all Naga-inhabited areas under one political structure — as a futile dream that was bound to fade away with time. In a stinging rejoinder, Assumi said: “The Arunachal Pradesh Governor is speaking the language of right-wing Indians, which resulted in a confrontation for more than five decades.”
He said the governor’s comment was in stark contrast to the positive outlook of successive prime ministers, starting with the late P.V. Narasimha Rao. “All of them agreed that a military solution was not feasible in the context of the Indo-Naga issue and related disputes.” The militant leader said “loose comments” by a person of Singh’s stature could derail the peace process. “He is making unwarranted comments against the peace process, which amounts to plotting a conspiracy to sabotage and derail the ongoing peace process. He knows very well that there is no greater or smaller Nagalim, and that the Nagas want what belongs to them and what has been theirs for ages.”
Another top NSCN (I-M) functionary, K. Chawang, said the militant organisation would hold an emergency meeting of its “civil set-up” tomorrow, for which all senior leaders of the unit had been summoned to Camp Hebron. Chawang, however, declined to divulge why such a meeting had been convened so soon after NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah’s departure from Nagaland. Muivah had said on arriving in Dimapur early last week that Nagas must be “prepared for any eventuality”.
'Assamese Muslims harassed in Bangladeshi campaign' By Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, May 23 (IANS) "Indigenous" Muslims are being harassed in the name of evicting suspected Bangladesh migrant workers from the state, the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has said in a statement. The outlawed ULFA, fighting for an independent Assamese homeland in Assam, said there were attempts at creating communal clashes in the state while trying to hound suspected Bangladeshi nationals from the region. "There are reports of indigenous Muslims being harassed and troubled by some people in the pretext of driving out illegal infiltrators from the state," ULFA chairperson Arabinda Rajkhowa said in a statement. "There is a serious attempt at creating a religious rift in the state to trigger communal clashes. We appeal to the people of Assam not to allow people with nefarious designs to foment trouble."
The ULFA also accused some political parties of trying to whip up emotions ahead of assembly elections in Assam scheduled early next year. "This is nothing but a pre-election exercise by people with vested interests," the ULFA leader said. Indian intelligence officials say several senior ULFA leaders operate out of Bangladesh. Dhaka denies the charges. Thousands of people thought to be Bengali-speaking migrant workers have left their workplaces from at least a dozen Assamese towns and cities after an unidentified group distributed leaflets asking them to leave or face action. The group has also stuffed leaflets through letterboxes and sent messages on mobile phones telling people not to employ "illegal foreigners". Many of these Bengali workers were engaged in brick kilns and pedalling rickshaws in Assam, besides doing menial jobs. Police and civil authorities in Assam confirmed reports of Bengali workers fleeing several cities but were not sure where they had gone.
The Assam government last week ordered a probe to ascertain if the fleeing workers were actually Bangladeshi migrants and also asked police to be on alert to prevent any outbreak of communal clashes in the state. "The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Rastriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) are working overtime to foment communal riots in the state by trying to incite passions," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said. The BJP denies the charges. The exodus started a fortnight ago and is still continuing with many towns and cities currently witnessing cycle rickshaws going off the roads, construction coming to a virtual halt, besides vegetables, eggs and chicken getting scarce in the markets. Assam shares a 272-km border with Bangladesh, much of it unfenced and Indian officials often claim that large-scale infiltrations threaten the region's demographic profile. There are no official estimates for the number of migrants in Assam. Dhaka denies allegations that it encourages people to enter India illegally, and the volatile issue has often sparked violent clashes between border guards on both sides.
‘Centre should recognise NE’s independence’ By R Dutta Choudhury
GUWAHATI, May 22 — Militant outfit National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), which has declared a unilateral ceasefire to come for talks with the Government of India, today said that the Government should recognise the independence of not only Boroland but also of the entire region. In an interview with The Assam Tribune, conducted through e- mail, the chairman of the NDFB, Nabla Daimary, also said that the Government should release its arrested cadres before formal talks. The following are the excerpts of the interview:
Assam Tribune: What is the status of talks with the Government of India?
Nabla: The formal talks are yet to start. Formal talks may start only after the formal declaration of the ceasefire.
AT: It is reported that you have nominated three persons to initiate talks. If it is a fact, when we can expect positive results?
Nabla: Our nomination is only to formalise the ground rules of the ceasefire and not for talks. If the ground rules are agreed on by both parties, we can expect a formal ceasefire soon.
AT: Have you given up the demand for a sovereign Boroland? What will be your main demands during the talks with the Government of India?
Nabla: The fight for liberation and independence cannot be given up as long as there is occupation. I think no organisation demands sovereignty. Sovereignty comes only after liberation and independence. Once Boroland is free and independent, it may be called sovereign. But I think that in this modern world, there is no absolute sovereign nation, no absolute sovereign king or ruler. So we like to remind you that NDFB is not demanding a sovereign Boroland but only fighting for liberation and independence. We have been saying that we have nothing to demand from India. So we will talk on the basis of our constitution and manifesto, that is on independence and freedom. After occupying for more than three hundred years, the British ultimately recognised the independence of India and left the country. So India should follow the example of the British and recognise the independence of not only Boroland but also the entire region.
AT: Will you demand the release of your arrested cadres and office-bearers before the formal talks with the Government of India?
Nabla: I think that it is the duty of the Indian Government to release and give an account of all our missing comrades before the formal talks.
AT: Do you have any information on the whereabouts of B Erakdao, the publicity secretary of the NDFB, who is missing since the Government of Bhutan launched the operation in 2003?
Nabla: I was informed by Erakdao on December 14, 2003, that he had been called by the Home and Prime Ministers of Bhutan to sign on the agreed text of the Thimphu talks. But they have been betrayed by Bhutan. Now they may be either in Bhutan or India alive, or may be coolly murdered by Bhutan or India. We consider this act as the mother of betrayals by Bhutan in modern history.
AT: Any comments on the recent polls to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC)?
Nabla: The election to the BTC was unfortunate. Once more the Boro people are victims of Indian politics.
AT: Will you demand scrapping of the BTC during the talks?
Nabla: We have nothing to do with the BTC and we shall not even talk about BTC.

Don’t harass indigenous Muslims : ULFA By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, May 22 — The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has claimed that indigenous Assamese Muslims were being harassed in the ongoing campaign to expel illegal migrants from Assam. In a statement today, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa appealed to the people of the State not to harass the indigenous Muslim population and create communal clashes. The economy and politics of Assam have been deeply influenced by the “Indians”. Petroleum, tea, timber—all belonging to the State—were being rampantly exploited, jobs of the local youth are being grabbed, industry licences and contract work were all being taken away by the “foreigner Indians” , he said.
More importantly, in agricultural Assam, owners of agricultural land were being deprived of their land for the creation of military camps, construction of roads, etc, Rajkhowa said. He added that the ULFA has not forgotten liquor don Triveni Singh’s threat that he could destroy Golap Borbora’s government within 24 hours. Matang Singh, Shiv Shambhu Ojha, Santosh Mohan Dev, Mani Kumar Subba and others have taken away the political rights of the indigenous people, he claimed.

BTC poll violence
The first ever polls to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) will remain as a dark period in the history of Bodo politics because of sharp differences between senior Bodo leaders, followed by large-scale violence and rigging on the day of the polls. The BTC was created in 2003 following the signing of the peace pact between the State and Central Governments and militant outfit Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) and the first ever polls to the Council generated much hype and expectations among the people of the area. But the polls turned out to be jinxed right from the day the poll notification was issued. As soon as the date of the polls was announced, the Bodo leaders including former BLT men got together and formed a political party- Bodoland People’s Progressive Front (BPPF), headed by former All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) president Rabiram Narzary to contest the polls, but the new party ran into serious trouble during the selection of party candidates for the BTC polls and the situation worsened following the filing of nomination by the party president from Bonorgaon constituency in Kokrajhar district and former BLT chief Hagrama Mahilary, who headed the interim body of the BTC, openly supported former BLT militant Mono Kumar Brahma alias Jaila, who contested against Rabiram Narzary. This happened despite the fact that Mahilary was one of the members of the policy making body of the BPPF. In fact, former BLT cadres openly supported independent candidates who were contesting against the official nominees of the BPPF in several constituencies of the BTC during the campaigning and their contention was that the leadership of the BPPF did not consult them during the selection of candidates.

The differences among the Bodo leaders turned into a violent situation on the day of the polls and there were reports of group clashes and allegations and counter-allegations of rigging by both the factions. Due to allegations of large scale rigging in Dotoma and Bonorgaon constituencies, the State Election Commission (SEC) appointed the Lower Assam Commissioner as a special observer to investigate into the matter and counting of votes of the polls has been postponed twice and now the final decision on counting will be taken by the Commission only after receiving the report of the Special Observer, who has visited Kokrajhar and took the views of all concerned including the election officials and political parties. The administration, despite the efforts, failed to hold peaceful polls and it is a fact that the State Government failed to apprehend the situation and deploy adequate security personnel to the vulnerable areas to deal with the situation despite reports of group clashes in the run up to the polls. The BPPF leaders have now alleged that the divisive politics of the ruling Congress was primarily responsible for the situation, while, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) levelled same allegation against the ruling party. But the Bodo leaders cannot also escape their own responsibility for the present situation as it highlighted their own failure to stay together in a moment of crisis. The Bodo leaders must realise the fact that they will have to stay together if they are really interested in development of the Bodo society in particular and of the backward area as a whole through the BTC as the Central Government has already promised a grant of Rs 100 crore a year for a period of five years for development of infrastructure of the area. On the positive side, the ABSU, which played a key role in the formation of the BPPF, has decided to initiate a move to settle the differences among the Bodo leaders and for the sake of restoration of peace and development of the area, one hopes that the students’ body will succeed in its efforts.
Indefinite NH-39 bandh NET News Network
Imphal, May 23: An indefinite bandhs on NH-39 starting from Pallel to Moreh will be enforced from May 25 midnight onwards demanding the shifting of ADC office from Moreh to Tengnoupal in Chandel district. Additional Deputy Commissioner Demand Committee (ADCDC) yesterday has circulated a communique to this effect. According to statement of Doumilin Mate, it stated that the committee has been demanding the shifting of the ADC office to Tengnoupal sub divisional headquarter for a long time. Justifying its action of the bandhs, the statement added that the move was initiated as the state government had failed to fulfilled the MOU signed on April 25 last for arranging the temporary shifting of the ADC office at Tengnoupal to cater to the development and other adminstrative reforms. The bandhs decision have been made following a meeting of representatives from Kuki Chiefs Association, Maring Uparup Assembly, Maring Students Union, Lamkang Students Union, Aimol Students Union, KSO, Hills Tribal Council, Moreh and Kuki Women Human Rights, Naga Students Union, Social Workers along with ex- MLA and Ministers, the statement said. Meanwhile, combined security forces exchanged heavy fire with armed highway looter at Sita junction along NH-39 leading to border town Moreh on Sunday morning. However there was no report of any casualty. According to a late report, troops of the 33rd Assam Rifles along with 2nd IRB personnel on getting report of road blockades using log lying strewn at Sita junction, possibly to loot highway travelers, rushed to the spot. As the security team reached the site, around 20/30 armed men were seen loitering the area. The combined team using the bulletproof vehicles proceeds and an exchange of fire ensued with the armed men for about ten minutes. Later outnumbered, the armed men retreat to the deep jungles. After the exchange, the combined team claimed to have captured one-armed men from the spot.