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05/26/2005: "NISC blasts Dr. Meinya statement The Imphal Free Press"

NISC blasts Dr. Meinya statement The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 25: The Netherlands based Naga International Support Center, NISC, has reacted sharply to Inner Manipur MP Dr. Th. Meinya’s recent statements disparaging the NSCN(IM)’s Greater Nagalim claim, charging that he is attempting to disrupt the Peace Process between India and the Naga outfit.

The NISC, in a lengthy e-mailed statement, maintained that Dr. Meinya’s statements were devoid of substantiation, and represents the view of only the Meitei people who predominantly live in the fertile Imphal valley.

Maintaining that Dr. Meinya has radicalized the fragile cease fire, it said that by ‘dictating’ to the Indian government and the Naga people he created confusion and turmoil that could lead to loss of life for many.

Accusing Dr. Meinya of distorting facts, the NISC reiterated that Nagas do not demand a Greater Nagaland; Nagas want to be reunified; they do not want to be dominated by other peoples, neither by India nor by the Meiteis; Nagas do not want an inch of other peoples’ land, and Nagas have the right to self determination.

‘The Indian government has recognized the unique history of the Naga peoples and it realizes that the occupational war unleashed upon the Nagas not only has to come to an end but that lasting peace will come with an honourable solution’, it said, and maintained that reunification of the Naga peoples is one condition to achieve an honourable solution.

The NISC called on all responsible governments, peoples’ organizations and individuals to contribute to peace by adhering to the right of the Nagas to self determination and to support the peace talks which are aimed to achieve an honourable solution to the long standing conflict.

Alert over influx from Assam
DIMAPUR, May 25: The Nagaland government is alarmed over the fresh influx of Bangladeshi migrants into the state following their exodus from neighbouring Assam... A source in the government said the illegal migrants have been pouring into Dimapur town and Niuland subdivision of Dimapur district.
The government has alerted the deputy commissioners of Peren, Wokha, Mon and Mokokchung districts on the development. They have also been asked to devise plans to monitor such movements. The government has also directed the deputy commissioner of Dimapur and the superintendent of police to act in tandem along the foothills to keep vigil on the influx of migrants.

Fernandez to visit state

KOHIMA, May 25: Congress leader Oscar Fernandez, who is playing the key role in the negotiations with the NSCN(IM), is expected to visit Nagaland in the first week of June, Congress sources said today.

“It is not finalised, but he has expressed the willingness to visit Nagaland,” said Congress Legislature Party leader, I. Imkong. With allegations of non-transparency about the Naga talks doing the rounds, Fernandez’s visit is likely to shed some light on the progress of the negotiations. Fernandez will also accompany Congress president Sonia Gandhi to Shillong for the Congress co-ordination committee meeting in Shillong on May 31. Close on the heels of NSCN (I-M) leader Thuingaleng Muivah’s visit to Nagaland for a second round of “consultative meetings,” Fernandez’s trip is believed to be an attempt to take stock of the Naga situation. Though the next round of talks is just a week away, the outfit has claimed it was kept in the dark about the Centre’s intention to include representatives from Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh in the peace dialogue in New Delhi.
“We reiterate that the dialogue will go on only on the basis of the unique history of Nagas, so what is the point in including them (other states) in the talks?” asked an NSCN (I-M) leader. “The government of India has not spoken to us if it has such an idea,” the leader said. Imkong, on the other hand, alleged that there is no transparency in the talks and held chief minister Neiphiu Rio responsible for it.
“Till today, the Naga people have been kept in the dark about the progress of the ongoing political dialogue and with every passing day, the solution to the Naga political problem seems to be as elusive as ever,” the Congress stated in a resolution after a party meeting today.

He said Rio should explain his role as “facilitator” and blamed the chief minister’s “equi-closeness” policy for factional killings. Asked if the party had urged the Centre to reveal what has transpired during the talks, Imkong said that the party has asked the Centre to prepare a blueprint on the progress of the talks. The UPA will have to inform the Naga people through the DAN government, said Nagaland Congress president, Hokheto Sumi. A source, however, said, the Centre was already in the process of making such a document.

Dream comes true for Rongmei Christians
IMPHAL/ KOHIMA, May 25: A dream came true for over 140,000 Rongmeis in Manipur, Nagaland and Assam when all the 73 books of the Bible became available in Rongmei...

It was released officially on May 24 in Tamenglong on the occasion of the parish feast by the parish priest, Fr. P.X. Francis.

The denominational Bible with 66 books was already made available by the Bible Society of India a few years ago. The missing books which were part of the Christian Bible until 1530 are Tobit, Judith, Sirach, Baruch, I Maccabeese, II Maccabeese and Wisdom of Solomon. 173 verses in the Book of Daniel and 6 chapters in the Book of Esther, which are also part of these, make these sections almost one fourth of the Old Testament, which are widely quoted in the New Testament.

In the preface to the "Intang makmei Buk 7" (Missing 7 books), the head of the translating team, Fr. Francis TJ, a Don Bosco priest writes, "It is one of the greatest tragedies of Christian history that such vast wealth of God's treasures have been deprived of to most Christians for the past 500 years or so." Right now, most of the Biblical Scholars of all denominations accept these books.
Landslides kill 12 in Nagaland
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - Landslides triggered by heavy rain damaged hundreds of houses in northeast India on Thursday and killed at least 12 people, including four children, officials said. They said police and rescue workers were looking for more bodies as 10 people were still missing and believed to be buried in Mokokchong town in Nagaland, about 160 km (100 miles) north of state capital Kohima.
"The landslides happened early in the morning after heavy rains last night. People were sleeping when it occurred," a senior police officer in Kohima told Reuters by phone. He said 17 people were seriously injured. Landslides are common in the mountainous states of the northeast, especially during the rainy months between April and October.
NSCN-IM on SMS ‘war’ to counter Jami
KOHIMA, May 25 (UNI): Following the resignation of former ‘deputy prime minister’ A Zuponthung Jami from NSCN-IM, the faction’s crisis managers have begun an SMS campaign to reiterate its position on the ongoing peace dialogue with the Centre. Jami, who was heading the all-important ‘ministry of information and publicity (MIP)’ within the NSCN-IM, had alleged that the current peace talks had by-passed the sovereignty issue and given undue importance to integration, which, according to him, was ‘more or less an administrative matter.’ "I do not see any reason why my sacrifices and the suffering of my entire family during the 50 years of my humble service for the nation be ended in the Naga integration," he stated. There were several SMS texts quoting Th Muivah from his BBC interview. Sources said the SMS campaign was aimed at countering A Z Jami, who, the NSCN-IM alleged, had defected over difference of issue related to the Lotha region with his fellow colleague from the same tribe M Kikon.
Heal the Nagas
A socio-political matter was treated as a security-related one by New Delhi, a huge mistake for which we are repenting today, writes JK DUTT. Maximum autonomy must be accorded to Nagaland and efforts ought to be made to remove the feeling of alienation
The general secretary of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), Thuingaleng Muivah, gave a thought-provoking interview to the BBC recently on the Naga issue, his main point being the Nagas were in no way going to accept the jurisdiction of the Indian government legally, physically or politically in the course of resolving the Naga problem that has prevailed since 1947.
Both the senior leaders of this faction — Isak Chisi Swu and Mr Muivah — are in India for the second time in as many years for peace talks with the government of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The ongoing talks that began with the previous government and have been creditably steered to-date by New Delhi’s man on the spot, K Padmanabhaiah, is of enduring significance to the North-east because every insurgent group operating in that region is keenly watching the negotiations’ progress.
If it ends in success then there is ample hope that the other insurgent groups will also decide to settle their disputes with the government in a peaceful manner. This will pave the way for wholesale negation of insurgency in India’s most vital geo-political cum geo-economic segment. But if talks with the NSCN (I-M) fail, the consequences are too disturbing to think of. The only lodestar for these talks is the fact that New Delhi has successfully resolved the long-drawn conflict with the Bodo Liberation Tigers. So there is good enough reason for an analogy in the same vein.
A brief insight into the Naga issue would be educative. The problem originated during the British days when the fiercely proud and independent-minded Nagas simply refused to be cowed down by India’s foreign rulers. Historians recount that the British could lord over every other warrior tribe of India of the time barring two, the Pathans of the north-west and the Nagas of the north-east.
A Naga delegation also met the Simon Commission circa 1929 and an understanding was arrived at by which the British left the Nagas alone. The real problem cropped up at the time of India’s independence. The charismatic Naga leader and a founder member of the Naga National Council, AZ Phizo, fell out with Jawaharlal Nehru solely because of the wrong handling of the issue by New Delhi’s nascent ruling party. Phizo demanded sovereign status for his fellow countrymen, something that Nehru refused to entertain. Inexplicably, New Delhi decided to apply military force on Phizo in place of cool-headed diplomacy. Compounding the political felony, the government erred in dispatching the Indian Army to “quell” the Nagas (the Army is still there!) and followed up this unwise step by unleashing the abhorrent Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 on them.
A socio-political matter was treated as a security-related one by New Delhi, a huge mistake for which we are repenting today. Phizo moved off to England to carry on his struggle and insurgency gradually spread all over the north-east. The state of Nagaland as we know it was formed on 1 December, 1963 with Kohima as its capital. The conflict with the government, however, continued unabated.
An accord was signed at Shillong in 1975, largely due to the untiring efforts of Jaiprakash Narain but this accord was short-lived. 1980 saw the breaking away from the Naga National Council of an influential group calling itself the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, only to be banned by the government. Eight years on, the NSCN split, forming the I-M and the Khaplang factions. The latter is led by SS Khaplang. This made no difference to the non-stop onslaught against the government with the Nagas procuring modern weapons to further vitalise their guerrilla tactics.
Ultimately, genuine efforts made by successive Prime Ministers, including clandestine meetings abroad, brought about an officially declared ceasefire and the corresponding lifting of the ban on the NSCN. In the meantime, several changes had taken place within the Naga set-up. Phizo expired and his place was taken by his daughter Adinno Phizo in London who stuck to the sovereignty demand.
The NSCN (I-M) and the NSCN (K) fell out on ideological differences. Other splinter organisations like the Naga Ho Ho and the church, too, joined in. Not to miss an opportunity, political fuelling of the cauldron in the north-east by Bangladesh, Pakistan and Myanmar reached an all-time high.
The NSCN (I-M) modified its original demand for independence with something more sinister.
A new term, Nagalim, was coined and this became the new objective. Nagalim translates to “a greater Nagaland”, which in turn enunciates an extended Nagaland state inclusive of those districts from the adjacent states where Nagas have been residing for generations.
Specifically, these comprised the districts of Changlang in Arunachal Pradesh, Karbi Anglong in Assam, and four districts of Manipur — Senapati, Ukhrul, Tamenglong and Chandel. The NSCN (I-M) wanted the ongoing ceasefire, as applicable to Nagaland per se, to be equally applicable to all these districts. The government in its foolhardiness and as a suo motu move, decided to experiment with the ceasefire extension in Manipur as a trial measure in June, 2001. The outcome was a violent protest in Imphal, the ferocity of which forced the Centre not only to rescind its thoughtless order of ceasefire extension but also impose President’s rule in Manipur. Elections have been held but the wound and suspicion are yet to heal. This type of casuistry shows governance in a rank bad light.
It is also debatable whether the concept of Nagalim has the blanket approval of the other Naga factions. Some questions have been raised on the NSCN (I-M)’s locus standi to speak on behalf of all the Nagas. The I-M claims to be the largest of the Naga groups and avows that it does have the unqualified backing of all for Nagalim. An assessment shows that the other Naga groups have resorted to fence-sitting, albeit Adinno Phizo’s occasional thrusts and parries for her Naga kingdom from her British hideout. She also conducts a running battle with Mr Swu and Mr Muivah, while the Khaplang faction waits and watches. The point is, what happens now? The Prime Minister has an arduous task and must be hard put to find an acceptable solution to the I-M’s publicised manifesto. Going along with the Nagalim herring will obviously be disastrous as Manipur has explicitly demonstrated. So it would be prudent to reflect on the method that the British gainfully used on the Nagas – leave them alone under some terms of reference. This will need very tactful handling. Additionally, New Delhi has to build a good infrastructure for Nagaland’s all-round development that will provide adequate employment scope to the Naga youth. Arranging the interaction of Nagas with residents of other states on a “meet-and-greet” basis will be another appropriate step in closing ranks.
The Army and the unholy Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act must be withdrawn from all Naga areas. Maximum autonomy must be accorded to Nagaland under an effective publicity campaign.
The most crucial aspect of it all is to overtly undo the feeling of alienation that the Nagas have been harbouring since 1947. The incalculable hurt to their psyche as inflicted first by Nehru and maintained by his successors must be ameliorated. We need to appreciate that the Nagas are an immense asset to our nation and we have to enfold this intrepid race into our mainstream without fear or rancour.
Hopefully saner gumption will prevail during the talks, giving way to a movement where India’s oldest insurgent mode will reform itself into an abode of peace and prosperity.
(The author is Lieutenant-Colonel (retd), Indian Army.)
Arunachal BJP decries UPA decision From Our Correspondent
ITANAGAR, May 25 – Opposition BJP in Arunachal Pradesh has criticized the UPA government’s decision of dissolution to the Bihar assembly terming it as ‘murder of democracy’ and pooh-poohed the Bihar Governor Buta Singh’s accusation of horse trading on the NDA as baseless. The BJP party in a release said that the Central government was the master of murdering of democracy in the states of Goa and Jharkhand and this time it has struck Bihar at the behest of State Governor reflecting political vindictiveness of Congress and its allies.
Reffering to the action of Governor, Singh, BJP alleged that he has proved his highhandedness to install a puppet government. Meanwhile, the Arunachal PCC in a separate release hailed the decision as correct and said decision should have been taken much earlier in view of its fractured mandate. The PCC, however, urged the UPA partners to fight the Assembly polls when it is held to form a popular government for the welfare and better interest of that people, the release added.
NDFB ceasefire could drive ULFA into peace mode (NEWS ANALYSIS By Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, May 26 (IANS) A ceasefire pact between an influential tribal separatist group in Assam and the Indian government could be the beginning of a new chapter of peace and hope in this otherwise restive northeast region. On Wednesday, home ministry and Assam government officials signed a historic ceasefire agreement with the outlawed National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) in New Delhi - probably bringing the curtains down on one of the northeast's violent tribal insurrections.
The NDFB, fighting for an independent homeland for the Bodo tribe since 1986, is one of the region's dreaded rebel armies with an estimated 1,500 fighters, who largely carry out hit-and-run attacks. Until very recently, the NDFB was a recalcitrant group - dogged in their belief that they could carve out a separate homeland. But things changed dramatically after Bhutan launched a massive military offensive in 2003 that saw well-entrenched bases of the NDFB in the Himalayan kingdom uprooted in just under a month. Along with the NDFB, another frontline rebel group from Assam, the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), also suffered reverses during the Bhutan operations and was subsequently forced to quit the Buddhist kingdom. The Bhutanese crackdown had actually led the NDFB to change its belligerent posturing. Once evicted from Bhutan, the NDFB was virtually in tatters and this led its top leadership to talk the language of peace with shelter becoming a major problem for the outfit to continue its guerrilla campaign.
"Moreover, we used all psychological and military tactics to keep the pressure on to force the NDBF into offering a ceasefire," a senior Assam police official said. And soon, Bodo rebel leaders cracked under pressure and succumbed to offering a truce. Although the ULFA is yet to announce a ceasefire, the group has repeatedly been offering to hold talks with New Delhi and even sought the help of noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami to mediate for possible negotiations with the government. All this has happened after the Bhutan operations.
"The ULFA and the NDFB never thought that Bhutan will dare to touch their bases. But once evicted, the two groups were virtually struggling to get any help for setting up new bases in the region," the official said. "The operation in Bhutan is definitely a turning point in the history of insurgency in Assam."
Now with the NDFB already in a peace mode, the ULFA is going to face the heat from both the security forces and the people at large to offer a truce.
"The ULFA is now isolated and with no ally to look forward to in the state. It will be a matter of time before the outfit too decides to join the mainstream," an analyst said.
New Delhi must not sit tight on the success of the ceasefire pact with the NDFB, but should try and bring the ULFA and other rebel groups in states like Manipur and Tripura to the negotiating table. A dragging militancy spanning more than five decades has impeded economic growth in the northeast with the region better known to the outside world as a land of rugged beauty and one of South Asia's hottest insurgency theatres. "We are committed to working hard and solving the region's vexed insurgency problem once and for all," Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told IANS. More than 50,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in the northeast since India's independence in 1947.
Amnesty flays rights abuse under AFSPA From Our Staff Correspondent
NEW DELHI, May 25 – Amnesty International has assailed the human rights violation under the controversial Armed Forces Special Powers Act pointing out that some of the provisions breached international standards. Perpetrators of human rights violations continued to enjoy impunity in many cases. Gujarat State authorities failed to bring to justice those responsible for the widespread violence in 2002. Security legislation was used to facilitate arbitrary arrests, torture and other grave human rights violations, often against political opponents and marginalized groups, the Report released worldwide this afternoon said. In the North Eastern State of Manipur, local groups opposed human rights violations under AFSPA and called for its repeal. The 1958 AFSPA remained in force in ‘disturbed areas’ including large parts of the North-east. A number of provisions of the AFSPA breached international standards. For example, the Act empowered the security forces to arrest people without warrant and to shoot to kill in circumstances where their lives were not in danger. It also granted members of the armed forces immunity from prosecution for acts carried out under its jurisdiction. On July 11, Thangjam Manorama also known as Henthoi died after being arrested under the AFSPA by Assam Rifles in Greater Imphal in Manipur. Her body was found later the same day a few kilometres from her home. It reportedly showed signs of torture and multiple gunshots wounds. There were reports that she had been raped. Her death was followed by protests by community and women’s group, which the security forces tried to suppress by detaining participants and firing on demonstrators, injuring scores of people. A judicial inquiry was ordered at the end of the year, the report said.

Hagrama welcomes NDFB truce From Our Correspondent
KOKRAJHAR, May 25 – Hagrama Mahilary, chief of Bodo land Territorial Council (BTC) and ex-chairman of Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) has welcomed the ceasefire between NDFB and the Central Government. Talking to this correspondent today, Sri Mahilary expressed his happiness over the initiative taken by both the Central and State governments for bringing NDFB into the main stream. He also said accept the NDFB back into the peaceful way of life to ascertain permanent peace in this region. Sri Mahilary further clarified that he is not directly a party in this ceasefire process but he would be happy to extend all possible co-operation if needed for the greater interest of the Bodo society. He further added that although he is not in direct touch, he keeping a close watch on the development and requested Sri Govinda Basumatary and c-in-c of NDFB to go ahead in a positive line keeping in view the over all interest of Bodos. He also appealed to the Central government to try for a possible outcome without disturbing BTC.

Manipur govt has failed on all fronts: NCP From Sobhapati Samom
IMPHAL, May 25 – Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) state unit blasted the Congress-led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) ministry in Manipur with failure on all fronts. Charging the ruling front for giving free hand to anti-social elements in carrying out abduction for ransom, President of NCP Manipur unit V Hangkhalian charged," this shows the weakness of the government".

Referring to the fake appointment scam which has rocked the School Education Department following exposure by proscribed Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL), he said he is surprised that the Government has not been able to definite decision on the matter even after an underground organisation pulled up the guilty officials. Echoing the same feeling, Spokesman of NCP Manipur unit Ningthoukhongjam Radhakanta told this Correspondent that NCP would be holding a day-long State level political conference in Imphal on May 26 to take stock of the prevailing law-and-order situation and to discuss the developmental works being taken by the Congress-led SPF Government in the State.
Expressing grave concern over the deteriorating law and order situation and charged the Government with failure on all fronts, Radhakanta said "the Congress-led coalition Government is giving a free hand to anti-social elements in carrying out abduction for ransom and in elimination of innocent persons by security forces in the name of counter-insurgency".

As to the controversy over allotment of plots in the newly constructed temporary market, he said it was due to lack of sincerity on the part of the Government, and added all these burning issues would be deliberated upon thoroughly during the proposed political conference. He further maintained that the proposed Capitol Project in the State has earned the wrath of the people due to lack of proper planning and transparency. Despite the opposition from the public, the state authority is planning to take up Capital project at Lei-Engkhol at Chingmeirong near Imphal. Nationalist Mahila Congress Manipur unit has also been formed with L Ranita as president to strengthen the party position in Manipur.

Trade pact with Myanmar to be reviewed By Surajit Khaund
GUWAHATI, May 25 – Setting a target of $ one billion trade with Myanmar by 2006, the Indian Commerce Ministry is likely to review its trade pact with Myanmar which was signed in 1994. Commerce Ministry’s move came in the wake of demands from various trade bodies and the state governments. To carry forward the move, a crucial meeting has been organized in Shillong tomorrow to take suggestions from the trade bodies for giving a final shape to the new trade pact. The meeting to be attended by the secretary of Commerce & Indiustry, Government of India, and the deputy director general of foreign trade MK Mero will review the progress of trade with neighbouring countries.
Talking to this correspondent here today MK Mero said the agreement should be reviewed following demand from the traders and the state governments in the region. “As per the rules it (trade pact) was supposed to be reviewed in every two years , but it has not have been possible there fore it is the right time to review the pact”, he said. He further stated there is enough scope to improve the bilateral trade between North East India and Myanmar by way of allowing the traders to export and import more items. Despite the target set by the Commerce Ministry, the export growth between North East India and Myanmar is still low due to free flow of third country products across the border. As per the agreement only 23 items are allowed to trade ,but interestingly several products including life saving drugs, bicycle and garments are smuggled to Myanmar causing huge loss to the traders.

Asked whether the Commerce Ministry will cover more items in the trading list , he said “ministry has received suggestions from various trade bodies in this regard and we are keen to allow more items to give a boost to the barter trade “, Confederation of India Industry (CII) Assam chapter chairman Abhijit Baruah said that CII has been pressing the Indian and the Myanmar governments to review the agreement keeping in view the potential in the region. “ Moreover we have submitted a proposal to have transit treaty among India, Myanmar ,China and Thailand which will enable the movement of goods through Myanmar, China and Thailand”, he added. He further informed that the trade body also sought permission from the Myanmar Government to allow the Indian Companies to set up manufacturing bases in the bordering areas of Myanmar by providing special incentives that would help in boosting bilateral trade.

ULFA’s statement
The recent statement by Arabinda Rajkhowa, chairman of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on the issue of deportation of foreigners from Assam raised doubts in the minds of the people on Assam whether the militant outfit was under some kind of compulsion to give such a statement on an issue concerning the identity of the indigenous people of the State. It is a well-established fact that unabated infiltration of foreigners posed a serious threat to the identity of indigenous people of Assam and the problem needs to be addressed immediately before it is too late. Of late, the State is witnessing a fresh upsurge against Bangladeshi nationals amidst calls for a social movement to impose economic sanction against the Bangladeshi nationals living in the State. Amidst the growing feeling against the foreigners among the indigenous people, the statement by the ULFA, which claims to be fighting for the welfare of the people of Assam, comes as a major surprise. The ULFA Chairman’s statement clearly indicates that the militant outfit is adopting a soft stand towards the Bangladeshi nationals living in Assam while, targeting the Indian citizens and Nepali people living in Assam. Though the ULFA leaders have been claiming that they were against all foreigners living in Assam, the recent statement gives an indication that the outfit has adopted a soft stand to the problem of infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals and under the circumstances, involvement of foreign agencies in pressurising the outfit to issue such a statement cannot be ruled out.

Rajkhowa, in a recent statement, alleged that indigenous Muslims are being harassed during the campaign to expel illegal migrants from the State and called upon the people not to do harass indigenous people. The ULFA chairman launched a tirade against the Indians and Nepali nationals living in the State and kept mum about the threat posed by infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals. He went on to say that the economy and politics of Assam were being influenced by the “Indians” and alleged that sectors like petroleum, tea and agriculture were under the control of “Indians”. Of course, no right thinking person will support harassment of Indian citizens in the name of detecting and deporting foreigners from the State, but it is also a fact that infiltration of foreigners to the State must be checked to protect the identity of indigenous people. A social movement including economic sanctions is a must under the present circumstances to discourage foreigners from coming to Assam and with reports of agents of Pakistani agencies taking roots in Assam by taking the help of the Bangladeshi nationals are really causing worry for the security of the nation as a whole and the Central and State Governments should not overlook the security of the nation. According to reports of the security forces, the ULFA has strong bases in Bangladesh and the top leaders of the outfit stay in the country. Time and again, the Government of India submitted lists of the militant camps in Bangladesh to the government of the neighbouring country with the request to take action against them, but so far the Bangla Government has not paid heed to such requests. The statement by the ULFA raised questions on whether the outfit has decided to adopt a soft stand towards the problem of infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals to Assam just to protect their sanctuaries and if the outfit is really interested in the welfare of the indigenous people of Assam, the leaders of the outfit should adopt a tough stand on the problem of infiltration of Bangladeshi nationals. At the same time, the organisations initiating the social movement against the foreigners should also keep in mind that infiltration is not a Hindu-Muslim issue and no party or organisation should try to give a communal colour to the issue.

Patil: NDFB truce to ensure dev, encourage other groups
NEW DELHI, May 25 (PTI): In a major boost to the peace process in the North-east, Bodo militant outfit NDFB has signed a ceasefire accord with the Centre and the Assam Government, leading to suspension of operations for the first time in two decades of insurgency by the group. As per the accord signed yesterday, all three sides will suspend operations for one year beginning June 1, 2005 and the Bodo outfit will maintain peace during this period and not carry out any hostile or violent activity against the security forces or the civilians. The security forces will, in turn, not carry out any operations against the NDFB. The NDFB cadres will not carry arms or move in uniform in this period, and will not give assistance to any other militant group.
The agreement was signed by Special Secretary in Union Home Ministry, Assam’s Home Secretary B K Gohain and general secretary of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), ending 20 years of insurgency by the group in which over 1,000 people have been killed. After his meeting with the Bodo leaders today, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil said the accord will help strengthen the peace process in Assam and other States in the North-east. "It is a step forward in the peace process and will encourage other insurgent organisations to come forward and form agreements," the Home Minister told reporters.
He said the ceasefire will help in all-round development of the area and in fulfilling the legitimate desires of the people. Patil said a Joint Monitoring Group (JMG) would be formed to oversee the implementation of the agreement. The JMG will comprise equal representatives from the Centre, Assam Government and NDFB and Joint Secretary (North-east) in the Home Ministry will chair the group. As per the agreement, the NDFB will stay in designated camps and the list of cadres and weapons in these camps will be given to Assam Police.