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06/01/2005: "Greater Nagalim’ Central issue: Apang"

Greater Nagalim’ Central issue: Apang From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
SHILLONG, May 31 – The issue of a ‘Greater Nagalim (Nagaland)’ as proposed by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) is presently being dealt with by the Central Government and various States of the North East, which would be adversely affected if the “Naga dream” actually became a reality and I have nothing to say on the matter at the present juncture, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang said here today.

“This matter is being dealt by the Centre and it would be too pre-mature for me to make any comment on the issue from this forum at this point of time,” Apang, who was here to attend a meeting of the Organising Committee of the North East Congress Co-ordination Committee maintained at a media briefing. The Arunachal CM was faced with this pertinent query from the media as, according to the proposed ‘Greater Nagalam’ envisaged by the NSCN, the Tirap and Changlang districts of Arunachal Pradesh would also form part of the dream Naga State besides parts of Assam and other adjoining States of the present Nagaland. Apang, however, admitted that the inter-state boundary problem among the States of the North Eastern Region was a “burning one” even as he maintained that this would not come in the way of a concerted and unified effort by the States of the region to achieve development.

“The boundary problem that some of our States have with Assam is due to wrong decisions made in the past and this is certainly a burning issue. We have sought the intervention of the Central government to help us arrive at an amicable solution,” Apang said at a media briefing after a day-long meeting of the Organising Committee of the North East Congress Co-ordination Committee (NECCC) at the Pinewood Hotel here. Maintaining that the vexed problem was a “concern for everybody” in the North East, the Arunachal CM rued the fact that the matter could not be discussed in today’s meeting due to the absence of Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi.

“Our problem is with Assam. How could we take up the issue in the absence of Mr Gogoi, the chief minister of the biggest State in the region,” he reacted to a pointed question by a journalist in this regard. The Chief Ministers of Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland have already sought the Centre’s intervention in solving the boundary dispute that these States have with Assam.
Apang face embarrassment NET News Network North East Tribune
Shillong, May 31: In an clear indication of his negligence on keeping tab of his colleagues, Arunachal Pradesh Chief minister Gegong Apang today said he was not aware of the 11 MLA’s led by assembly speaker Setong Sena meeting the NSCN (IM) leaders in December last year at Hebron near Dimapur.
“ The visit of them (MLA’s) was not in the knowledge of state government”, Mr. Apang said during a press conference here. On the contentious Naga integration demand by the NSCN (IM) for “”Greater Nagalim”, the chief minister evaded replies and stated, “it will be a premature comment at this moment”. However on repeated quarries from the pressmen, he said, “ it is a NECC meeting today and the whole thing would get diluted. Later on Mr. Apang speak out and said the center had not officially informed them about the whole issue. The issue he was referring to the integration demand of NSCN (IM).
“Future of our Nation depends on our present Students” Press Trust

Today, the serious problem with school going students is there is no career guidance or counselor in most of the schools or institutes in the rural areas. We need students counselors for those who passed or failed in the examination. After the board examination is declared, every year some students commit suicides due to lack of counseling. Also due to lack of career counselors, many students do not know, which subject to take up after Class X or XII. Some of the Class X and XII Board examination results are declared while some other Board examination will be declared in next few days. Well, will you take up science in Class XI or B.Sc. because you score high percentage in your board examination even though you are poor in Science and Mathematics? Or will you take up Humanities or Arts because you score less percentage in Board examination? If you choose the subject/career according to your percentage some time it may lead you to trouble in the future.

Is there any schools or colleges in Nagalim (Nagaland) where there is career counselor or given career guidance in the institute once in a year? Most of the student’s parents are illiterate in Nagalim. They are complacent with their agricultural works in paddy field. They have no knowledge to guide or advise their children to choose the right subject or course after matriculation. Every schools and colleges should have career counselor. But we have hardly found any career counselor in the school or college in Nagalim. Who will give career guidance to the school going students and college students? There are only a few students who have the knowledge of professional courses after 10+2 or 10+2+3, due to lack of career counseling from their parents and schools. There are many students in Nagalim who took up inappropriate course or subject and later had difficulty to get any job. To whom should we blame for them not getting jobs?

Interstate boundary dispute a burning issue:Apang Deepikaglobal.com
Shillong, May 31(UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang today termed as ''premature'' the talks on Greater Nagaland, saying demarcation of boundaries must be made through central intervention. After the meeting of organising committee of North East Congress Co-ordination Committee(NECCC) here, Mr Apang parried a direct query on the NSCN(I-M)'s demand for Greater Nagaland which involved his state too.

''It is premature and I am not authorised to talk on this issue...it is a matter between the Naga leaders and the Centre,'' Mr Apang pointed out. Asked about the inter-state boundary dispute, he admitted that it was a ''burning issue'' and stressed the need for cooperation from all states.

''We have already sought the Centre's intervention in the matter,'' he said. To another query regarding Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's absence from today's meeting, he quipped, saying, ''You ask Mr Gogoi why he did not come''.

Assam being a big state had more responsibility in addresing all such core issues, Mr Apang observed.
However, Meghalaya Chief Minister D D Lapang said Mr Gogoi was ''preocupied'' and hence he could not attend the meeting. Mr Apang expressed hope at the next general conference for which his state would be the host, all concerned Chief Ministers and PCC chiefs would be present.

Vision document push for economy OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Shillong, May 31: All the Congress-ruled states in the Northeast have decided to formulate “a vision document,” to forward the “economic development agenda,” of the region. Soon after a North Eastern Congress Co-ordination Committee (NECCC) meeting which was held today at the Pinewood Hotel here, chairman of the committee, chief minister D.D. Lapang, said the vision document, called “Vision North Eastern Region 2025,” will be made by a core committee of the NECCC. Lapang was addressing reporters after the meeting. The meeting was attended by Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang, former Mizoram chief minister Lalthan-hawla, former Sikkim chief minister Nar Bahadur Bhandari, legislators from Assam and Nagaland, besides Meghalaya deputy chief minister Mukul Sangma.
“The vision document will identify a road map for all the northeastern states, irrespective of which party is in power as we want to develop the economy of the Northeast and be prepared to contribute to the Look East policy of the Union government,” Lapang said. The core committee, which will prepare the vision document, will comprise senior members of the NECCC for all the eight states, Lapang said. The Meghalaya chief minister said a draft of the document would be ready at the next meeting of the NECCC in Itanagar in October. He said the Itanagar conclave would decide on “all other issues,” which could not be discussed owing to the absence of senior NECCC members like Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and representatives from Nagaland.
Apang said other important issues such other states’ border disputes with Assam would be taken up at the Itanagar meeting. Admitting that the issue was important considering that inter-state border conflicts “have been frequent”, Apang said the issue needs to be resolved soon.
Congress launches 'Poster Campaign' against DAN Govt. Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, May 31: Nagaland Congress party has launched a poster campaign across the state blaming the ruling coalition for the worsening law and order situation.

“Nagas want a people’s government, not the present proxy government,” read a poster, alleging that the incumbent Neiphiu Rio government functioned on the directions of the NSCN (I-M). The Congress party also submitted a memorandum to the Governor. The memorandum included demand for a white paper on the utilisation of Rs 365 crore grant by the previous NDA Govt. The party accused the government of failing to check the high incidence of rape, murder and extortion in the last two years.

“We know they will not resign. But at least our campaign will give the people some food for thought about the Rio government’s misrule,” Imkong said over phone from Shillong

Nagaland municipalities in funds crisis OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, May 31: Members of the municipal councils in Nagaland are unhappy as the state government has not yet disbursed funds, duties or manpower to the elected bodies. “We demanded Rs 3 crore this financial year, but were given Rs 2.3 lakh,” a council member said. Members of the Kohima and Dimapur municipal councils, constituted in January this year, had demanded supplementary grants for the last three months of the last fiscal, but the government turned them down. The government has also not disbursed the Rs 7 crore granted by the Centre to the state for its municipal and town councils in keeping with its policy of decentralisation.
Finance commissioner H.K. Khulu said the money had not been disbursed because of some teething problems, but they were being sorted out. “We will disburse it,” he assured. He said the Rs 2.3 lakh given to the councils was given as grants-in-aid out of a total of Rs 13 lakh meant for the erstwhile town committees. Kohima Municipal Council deputy chairman Vipopal Kintso said the government had heard their grievances, but was yet to bring about any change. At present, the council is paying its 120 employees from the revenue collected. The council members complained that the government had also not handed over the duties of the municipal councils such as construction of some roads, supply of power and water.
Govt failure
The Nagaland home minister has admitted that the state government was not fully prepared to deal with disasters like the recent landslide in Mokokchung, which killed 15 people. At a meeting with officials of his department, home minister Thenucho admitted that the administration was “caught napping” by the series of landslides. Official sources said Thenucho regretted that the state and district-level committees, set up to deal with disasters like earthquakes, landslides, floods and fire, had failed to react properly on time.Additional chief secretary and home commissioner E.T. Sunep admitted that the government had failed to rise to the challenge, the sources added. The government has now decided to set up control rooms in each district to tackle disasters.
Inter-factional clash claims one Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, May 31: An NSCN-(I-M) cadre was killed in an inter- factional clash with the combined forces of their rival NSCN-(K) and the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) at a place near Choklangan village in Noklak Sub-Division under Tuensang district of Nagaland. Official sources said combined forces of the NSCN-(K) and the FGN came face to face at a place near the village Choklangan and the ensuing gun battle continued for about half an hour in which the NSCN-(I-M) cadre was killed on Sunday last. The cadre was identified as a resident of Satakha under Zunheboto district and his body was sent to his native place for the last rights.

Sources said intermittent firing was continuing for a long time in the area. But so far there was no report of any casualty.Meanwhile, in a seperate incident an unidentified body, was found on the Kiphire- Shamator road in the remote Kiphire district, bordering Myanmar, yesterday. Official sources said the person was kidnapped by some armed miscreants from Kiphire town and was taking him towards Shamator. Police later recovered the body on the road along with the vehicle.(UNI)
High bid offer for exploration of NE oil fields From Our Staff Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, May 31 – Contrary to expectations, onland oil blocks in the North Eastern States of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh have attracted unprecedented response in the fifth round of New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP-V) the bids for which were opened here today. Addressing a press conference Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar said that oil blocks in Assam-Arakan region received six bids, the highest ever. “This reflects major confidence in the North Eastern Region, notwithstanding some problems in the region,” he commented.

The potential of Brahmaputra Valley and Arakan is being recognised internationally, the minister added. The problem, the Minister was referring to was about the handing over of oil fields to foreign companies in Assam. The turmoil in the State had led to apprehension in the Petroleum Ministry over the fate of the NELP-V in the North-East, where a number of blocks were on offer. For the 12 on land blocks countrywide, 44 bids were received. A total number of 26 foreign companies and 21 Indian companies including Oil India Limited (OIL) and Assam Company were in the fray.

Aos celebrate sowing festival with fervour and gaiety Press Trust
Fun and fiesta were a part of the Moatsü Mong, or the sowing festival of the Ao Nagas. The festival has been celebrated across Nagaland with fervour this week, bringing back memories of traditional games and merrymaking. Each village presented its own items of entertainment. One particular game drew special attention of both the tribal audience as well as a few foreign tourists. The arrival of Longsa villagers at the celebration ground was heralded by drumbeats and a traditional song. A group of bare-bodied youth carried a huge bamboo pole with palm leaves tied on the top. They planted the bamboo pole, known as Moatsü tongshi (pillar), at the centre of the ground. Every year, residents of different villages of the Ao area climb the pillar.
One of the Longsa villagers clambered up the pillar using his hands while another acted like a bear. One villager acted like a hen, while another mimicked a monkey. They clambered down fast in a way that could scrape one’s palms and heels. There was much laughter and applause in response. It was a display of both strength and the striking closeness to nature and forests that the Naga forefathers displayed in every sphere of life. “The closeness to nature is very apparent though hunting was rampant in early days. But our forefathers had a general rule of not hunting during the mating season for wildlife,” said Imti Imsong, one of the organisers. A majority of Nagaland’s wildlife is endangered due to indiscriminate hunting and felling of forests. The festival, which is celebrated after sowing, is a five-day extravaganza to invoke the gods for a bumper harvest. After the Longsa village chief exhorted fellow villagers by spilling rice beer, youth displayed bonhomie through traditional games. Most programmes during the festival see politicians occupying centrestage. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio graced the celebrations at Chungtia village in Mokokchung district on Tuesday. In Dimapur, it was former legislator and minister S.I. Jamir who participated as chief guest. Legislator K.V. Pusa presided over the function at Ungma village.
Rio, in his speech, exhorted the people to help the government in bringing back permanent peace to the state.

NH-39 bandh choking border trade The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, May 31: The Indo-Myanmar trade through the border town of Moreh has been paralysed due to the ongoing indefinite bandh on NH-39 called by the ADC Demand Committee, Tengnoupal, since the last two days. Sources from Moreh said that many shops and merchant establishments at Namphalong market, just across the border, and at Tamu proper, have also shut down due to the lack of business. There has been a sharp reduction in the number of petty business-persons coming to purchase goods from the Namphalong market and Tamu since May 25, when the ADC demand committee launched their strike, but Myanmarese shopes continued to stay open till Sunday in hopes of the bandh ending soon. In the face of the continued absence of traders from the Indian side however, Namphalong markets in Tamu town cross-border remained deserted.

The closure of the Namphalong market has also posed another problem for the residents of Moreh town: shortage of essential commodities and the consequent rise in prices. On the other hand, reports said the ADC Demand Committee appear to have decided to intensify their stir further due to the lack of any response from the state government to their demand for shifting of the ADC, Chandel office from Moreh to Tengnoupal. Volunteers of the committee have restrained all kinds of vehicular movement along the NH-39 from yesterday onwards. The Meetei Council, Moreh on the other hand, has decided to launch its own counter-agitation against the state government’s failure to resolve the situation. In this connection, Moreh residents have drawn the urgent attention of the state government to the need to bring an amicable solution to the matter at the earliest before the situation gets out of hand.

WCAL blasts AFSPA extension decision, threatens stir The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 31: In line with the decision taken by the state Cabinet yesterday, a formal notification was issued today in the name of the Governor of Manipur, declaring the entire state of Manipur, except the Imphal municipal areas, as ‘disturbed areas’. The declaration paves the way for the continued application of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 in the areas of the state still having the ‘disturbed area’ tag for another year. In the meantime, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has come down strongly on the state Cabinet decision to extend the ‘Disturbed Area’ which continues the draconian AFSPA in the state.
In a statement, the WCAL stated that mass movement against the anti-people Act has been taken up in the state since July last with sacrifices of lives by two people while enduring injuries by thousands. However, the state government ignoring the movement of the people against the Act, extended the Disturbed Area status, it charged. Reiterating that AFSPA empowered the security forces to conduct state sponsored terrorism resulting in the killing of several innocent Manipuris and outraging the modesty of women, WCAL also lamented that further extension of the Disturbed Area status will encourage the security forces to conduct fresh terrorizing activities. Further, the WCAL also urged the people to be prepared for taking up agitation against the extension of the draconian Act.
In another development, the state government has directed the district magistrates of Imphal west, Imphal west, Thoubal, Bishnupu, Chandel, Ukhrul, Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts to continue to exerise the powers under under sub-section 2 of section 3 of the National Security Act, NSA, within their respective jurisdictions for a further three months. An order in this regard has been issued by the special secretary, home, M Karnajit.
ULFA wants leaders’ release
ULFA has asked for the release of its top leaders so that it can discuss the Centre’s invitation forwarded by Assamese writer Indira Goswami four days ago to hold talks on its core demands. ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Barua, who called up some newspaper editors in Guwahati last night, said that while the group had received a copy of the PMO letter through e-mail from Indira Goswami, he would have to discuss the contents of the letter with other members of the outfit’s Central Committee in order to respond to it. ‘‘We will have to place the letter in our Central Committee. But since several top members are in captivity, we must first demand release of these members in order to hold a discussion,’’ The Assam Tribune quoted Barua as saying.
Barua, the newspaper said, has demanded the release of general secretary Anup Chetia, vice-chairman Pradip Gogoi, central publicity secretary Mithinga Daimari, advisor and ideologue Bhimkanta Buragohain and culture secretary Pranati Deka, among others. Chetia has been languishing in a prison in Dhaka since he was arrested in 997. Gogoi has been in a Guwahati prison since 1998, while Buragohain and Daimary were caught during the Royal Bhutan Army’s Operation All-Clear to flush out Indian rebel groups.
Centre unlikely to meet ULFA’s demand From Our Staff Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, May 31 – The Centre is unlikely to concede to the demand for release of ULFA cadres and likely to hold discussion with the State Government. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) maintained a stoic silence on the latest development on the ground that the Centre is yet to receive a formal response from ULFA. Besides, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and key officials of the Ministry are out of Delhi. Sources in the MHA when contacted said that the Central Government was unlikely to bow and release the detained leaders. However, the Centre would call a meeting of the State Government officials to work out a strategy. At the political level the Chief Minister may also be consulted by the Prime Minister’s Office, sources said. The mood at the Centre is not to make further concessions that would be seen as softening of stand by the Government.

ULFA’s pre-condition, however, came as a surprise for the officials. A section of the officials feel that the ULFA may not be interested to come for talks and therefore raising demands that the Centre would find hard to concede. Sources said that the possibility of ULFA trying to buy time to regroup cannot be overlooked, sources said. On the other hand, there are instances of Government releasing detained leaders to facilitate negotiations. The latest example being that of Govinda Basumatary, general secretary of NDFB, who was released from jail by Assam Government to pave the way for, talks.

Meanwhile, Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami was not surprised by the development. She said that ULFA leader Paresh Baruah has given hints suggesting that the outfit may put certain pre-conditions. “It looks like a positive development,” Dr Goswami said. The Government of India would have to work out a modality to fulfil the demand raised by the outfit, Dr Goswami added. Dr Goswami incidentally had visited the ULFA leaders in jail and interacted with them. The Prof. said that she is yet to receive any response from ULFA though National Security Adviser, MK Narayanan’s letter was on its way. A courier assigned by the outfit collected the letter, Dr Goswami added.

BTC poll result Assam Tribune
Former Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) chief Hagrama Mahilary is all set to become the first full-fledged Chief Executive Member of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), established under the provisions of amended Sixth Schedule of the Constitution of India after the signing of the peace accord between Central and State Governments and BLT in 2003. After the declaration of the results of the first ever polls, Mahilary has the support of 37 of 38 elected members, which proved his support base despite sharp differences among the Bodo leaders over the selection of candidates in the run up to the polls. In fact, Mahilary, who was also the chief of the interim council, formed to run the affairs of the BTC till the time of holding of the polls, managed to start development activities in the backward areas under the Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD) despite the delay in transfer of departments by the State Government and release of funds by the Centre and mainly because of this fact, he got the support of all but one of the elected members to run the full-fledged Council, which will assume office in the first week of June. Despite allegations and counter-allegations of rigging, the poll results also proved that in the BTAD area, no major political party managed to gain a foothold as only one AGP candidate was elected to the Council, while, the BJP failed to win even a single seat. The Congress, apparently eyeing the Assembly polls due next year, did not field any candidate.

Immediately after getting the support of all but one of the elected members, Mahilary outlined his priorities as the Chief of the BTC and said that development of the road communication network, improvement of standard of education and health care facilities would be the thrust areas for the BTC. It is a fact that the road communication in the entire BTAD area needs immediate revamping and though the interim council started works in this regard, it will take quite some time to improve the overall scenario. Health care is also a key sector, which needs immediate attention and Mahilary has already started talking tough and announced that action would be taken against the doctors who refused to work in the hospitals in the BTAD areas. The doctors posted in the remote areas always cite lack of security as one of the prime reasons for their refusal to work in the places where they are posted and as the BTC chief, Mahilary must ensure security to not only the doctors, but also to all Government officials posted under the Council. The Central Government has promised to provide infrastructure development grant of Rs 100 crore a year for a period of five years to the BTC under specific schemes and Mahilary and all other members of his team in the Council must ensure that the money is utilised properly for the development of the area. The Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC),formed in 1993 after the signing of an accord between the Government and ABSU flopped and the office bearers of the BTC must ensure the success of the Council with proper utilisation of all the funds made available to the BTC, while, the State and Central Governments also must play a positive role for ensuring the success of the new political arrangement.

The election to the BTC resulted in sharp differences among the Bodo leaders, which resulted in group clashes as well as allegations and counter-allegations at personal level among the supporters of the rival factions. Mahilary announced that he would take personal initiative for sorting out the problems with other Bodo leaders immediately after taking over office, while, the All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) has also decided to take initiative to hold talks with all the Bodo leaders to sort out the differences. The Bodo leaders must realise the fact that they must forget their personal differences and work jointly for the development of the Bodo society. The differences among the Bodo leaders cropped up only in the run up to the polls to the BTC over the selection of candidates and with the poll process now over, they should also forget the past and look ahead to the future for the development of the entire BTAD area
. Gogoi open to ULFA’s proposal North East Tribune NET News Network
Guwahati, May 31: Reacting to United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) commander-in-chief Paresh Barua’s salvo that all sixteen members of its central committee would have to be “present” to discuss the Centre’s latest invitation for talks, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the proposal is possible provided the Centre signals positive. Speaking to media, Gogoi sounding optimistic added that he would inform the latest development to PMO and wait for response.
On Monday night outfit C-in-C identifying himself as “PB”, told a section of media over phone that only six members of the ULFA’s central committee are currently “free”. He identified them as ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, Chitraban Hazarika, Sasadhar Choudhury, Raju Baruah, Jiban Moran and himself. The rest, which includes the names of Ramu Mech, Pradip Gogoi, Bhimkanta Borgohain, Anup Chetia, Robin Handique, Mithinga Daimary, Pronoti Deka, Robin Neog, Bening Rabha, Chitraban Hazarika and Raju Baruah have to be “released unconditionally” to enable the committee to sit together and discuss the Centre’s offer. But Barua also said that a letter “sent through the internet” is not enough. “The original has not come as yet,” he said, referring to the Centre’s talks invitation to the ULFA, which was given to writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami in New Delhi. Goswami has reportedly forwarded the letter to Barua through e-mail. “We want a letter in the format in which we had sent our offer to the Centre,” he said, meaning the ULFA wants a hard copy of the letter. The ULFA C-in-C said that the ULFA is ready to talk to the Union Government at “any venue including Assam.”
Lup decries DAA extension Sangai Express
IMPHAL, May 31 : Expressing strong resent- ment at the decision of the SPF Cabinet to extend the Disturbed Area Act for another year, the Apunba Lup termed the decision as anti-people and dishonouring sentiment of the general public. In a statement, the Lup said such indifferent attitude of the State Govt to the suffering faced by the people reflects endorsement of the Govt in conferring unbridled power to the security force to slay and torture the people. When the entire State had voiced opposition to AFSPA and had been taking the matter to the Union Government, State authorities extending Disturbed Area status tantamount to giving a free hand to the uniformed personnel, observed the Lup while appealing to the general public to keep vigil and oppose the latest move of the Government. Families of the Involuntarily Disappeared’s Association Manipur (Fidam) also condemned the State Government for extending Disturbed Area tag for another year.
Congress to bring out Vision Document soon North East Press Service
Shillong, May 31(NEPS): In a major effort to push forward the economic status of the region, the North East Congress Coordination Committee (NECCC) has decided to come out with a Vision Document. “We decided to bring out a Vision document 2025 Northeast India,” this was announced by Chairman NECCC and Meghalaya chief minister Dr. DD Lapang, adding the document would be released in the next General body meting of NECCC in the last part of October at Itanagar, where top leaders including Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi will attend. Addressing a press conference after the crucial prelude NECCC executive meeting here at Hotel Pinewood on Tuesday, Dr. Lapang said a Core committee would be formed within one-month time to examine how they would go about in shaping the destiny of the northeast.
Expressing his happiness on the central government for keeping the region’s states at par with others, he said that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh was keen to develop the region. He also lauded the UNPA Government at the center for upgrading the North East Council (NEC) to that of Regional planning body to be headed directly by the minister concerned (DONER) as chairman. Welcoming the “Look East Policy” of the union government, the chief minister said it was the northeast states that would benefit since it would be directly connected with South East Asian countries, where trade and commerce activities would be carried out. Admitting that insurgency was a worldwide phenomenon, Mr. Lapang said the root cause of insurgency in the region was partly due to economic compulsion and added that insurgency should not be squarely blamed.
Gogoi not averse to ‘free’ ULFA leaders By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, May 31: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today said that his Government would study the pros and cons of freeing the ten jailed central executive committee members of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) so as to pave the way for its peace negotiations with the Centre if the rebel group makes a formal proposal to the State Government towards that end. Writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami, on the other hand, said that she would talk to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) through National Security Council (NSC) Advisor MK Narayanan on the condition set by the ULFA. ULFA ‘commander-in-chief’ Paresh Barua told a section of the press yesterday that the group wanted the release of ten of its central executive committee members, who have been languishing in jails, so that it could sit together and take a decision whether to accept the Centre’s invitation for peace talks. The ten of the 16-member central body members, who are behind the bars, are vice president Pradip Gogoi, central publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, advisor Mama alias Bhimkanta Buragohain, central cultural secretary Pranati Deka, ‘captain’ Ramu Mech, chief organizational secretary Ashanta Baghphukan, ‘major’ Robin Handique (all in Assam jails) and general secretary Anup Chetia (in Bangladesh’s ‘safe’ custody). The other two, Robin Neog and Bening Rabha, have been missing since Operation All-clear launched in Bhutan last year. The other six are chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, ‘c-in-c’ Paresh Barua, Chitraban Hazarika, Sashadhar Choudhury, Raju Baruah and Kaveri Rajkumari.
Talking to The Sentinel, Gogoi said that his Government would study the matter if a formal proposal came from the outfit. "The condition set by the ULFA won’t be a hurdle for the current peace overture. The Government’s aim is to soften the group’s rigid stand slowly," Gogoi said, and added: "If the talks are initiated before the Assembly polls in the State, that will be a feather in my cap, but the efforts are not election-oriented." On the ULFA’s comment for talks in Assam, Gogoi said that it was a positive gesture. He, however, said that he was not fully involved in the peace process and that he got the important information from the Centre. "I have never sought details about the talks from the Centre," Gogoi added. Meanwhile, writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami told The Sentinel from New Delhi that she would talk to the PMO through NSC advisor MK Narayanan about the latest condition set by the ULFA. She said that Paresh Barua was yet to contact her about the new condition. Meanwhile, legal sources here said that freeing of jailed ULFA leaders to pave the way for the peace overture was a possible option if the State Government wanted so. They said that the jailed ULFA leaders could be freed if the State Government stood as the guarantor. "The method adopted in cases involving BLT leaders and cadres is applicable in the case of the ULFA also," the sources said, adding that everything depended on the State Government. ‘No harm in considering demand’ By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, May 31: The ULFA condition demanding release of ten of its top leaders before the proscribed organization moved ahead for talks with the Centre was greeted by a number of intellectuals of the State. The Sentinel talked to a few intellectuals and political leaders for their views on the ULFA condition.
Kanaksen Deka, the president of the Axom Xahitya Xabha, while welcoming the ULFA condition, said that there was no harm in releasing the ten detained leaders. He said that this will facilitate a democratic discussion within the ULFA and help its top brass to go ahead for the talks with the Centre. He added that the time was ripe for such a move as the jailed ULFA leaders by now must have understood the support of the Assamese for the talks. Eminent intellectual Hiren Gohain said that this was an interesting condition. He questioned as to why the ULFA had not consulted these leaders before placing the tough precondition before the Centre. He, however, said that the ULFA logic was not illogical and is worth considering. AGP president Brindaban Goswami said that the party had all along been saying that the only possible solution to the impasse was through negotiation. He said that the Government must consider it and set the process rolling.
A dissenting voice, however, came from Dhirendra Nath Chakravarty, the editor of a local daily, who said that the condition put forward by the ULFA is a reflection of the realization of the outfit’s top brass that they face a bleak future. He said that ULFA was a non-actor in the social and political stage of Assam and added that in another five years the proscribed outfit would decay. Jatin Borgohain, the editor of another local daily, said that the demand merits consideration. The AJYCP said that the ULFA demand was not without merit but it should have come earlier.
Apang hopeful of solution Assam-Arunachal border dispute Our Correspondent Sentinel
SHILLONG, May 31: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Gegong Apang said that he is optimistic about reaching a suitable solution on the border dispute with Assam. Apang was speaking in the sidelines of the North East Congress Co-ordination Committee (NECCC) meet here in Shillong today. On Arunachal Pradesh’s border dispute with Assam, he said that he has already taken up the matter with the Centre. He said that most of the ‘States adjoining Assam has some sort of border dispute with it.’ However, when asked if the Assam Chief Minister’s absence in the meeting today indicated his lack of seriousness, Apang replied in the negative, and said, "We are optimistic that things would be solved in a congenial atmosphere."
"In the next general meeting of the NECCC to be held in Itanagar in October next, we hope that all the Chief Ministers from the Congress-ruled States will be present to solve all the outstanding issues," Apang said. Meanwhile, the Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister refused to comment on the NSCN (I-M)’s growing influence in his State as part of the outfit’s endeavour for a ‘greater Nagalim’. "The Union Government has been apprised of the issue and I cannot comment on it," he said and added that the State was waiting for the Centre’s response on it.
NDFB truce: Governor optimistic of peace process Sentinel
GUWAHATI, May 31 (PTI): Assam Governor Lt Gen (retd) Ajai Singh lauded the recent ceasefire accord with the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) and hoped that this would give a fillip to the peace process in the State. Welcoming a group of newly-elected Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) members, led by Hagrama Mohilary at Raj Bhavan here yesterday, Singh said that the recent accord signed between the Centre and the NDFB would be carried on in a positive manner. The Governor congratulated the BTC members and hoped that they would work for the all-round development of the Bodoland area. Assuring full cooperation to the BTC leaders, the Governor said he would adopt all the constitutional means to ensure that the oath-taking ceremony of the BTAD would take place very soon. Mohilary, who regained power after the BTAD polls, said he would always work for the betterment of the Bodo people. Meanwhile, addressing a press conference at Kokrajhar, Bodoland People’s Progressive Front (BPPF) president Rabiram Narzary denied any political difference with Hagrama Mohilary.