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06/06/2005: "NSCN threatens to return to jungles if demands not met"

NSCN threatens to return to jungles if demands not met Navindh Times
IANS, Dimapur, June 5: A top tribal separatist group in Nagaland currently engaged in peace talks with the government today threatened to go back to the jungles if its demands were not met soon. The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-I-M), led by guerrilla leaders, Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, has held at least 20 rounds of peace talks this year with negotiators in New Delhi aimed at ending nearly six decades of insurgency in the state. The NSCN-I-M’s warning to take up arms again came ahead of a fresh round of talks with government emissaries in New Delhi this week. Dates for the talks are yet to be finalised.
“We are prepared for the worst and ready to fight again if we find the Indian government dithering on the issue of accepting our demands,” the NSCN spokesman, Kraibo Chawang told IANS. “The pace of the talks so far has not been satisfactory and we have conveyed our displeasure at the slow progress of the negotiations to New Delhi,” Chawang said. Any move by the NSCN-I-M to take up arms again could shatter a fragile peace in the North-East.
“We understand the problems of the Indian government but then the effort by the negotiators to help find a permanent solution has been rather poor,” Chawang said. The NSCN-I-M, the oldest and the most powerful of around 30 rebel groups in the North-East, wants the creation of a “Greater Nagaland” by slicing off parts of the neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh that have sizeable Naga tribal populations.
“There cannot be any solution without unification of all Naga tribal inhabited areas in the North-East,” Chawang said. “The patience of the people of Nagaland is withering by the day and any further delay to drag the peace talks could be counter-productive.” The governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh have, however, rejected the NSCN-I-M demand for unification of Naga dominated areas.
Centre to sound out states
The Centre is examining the possibility of setting up a border commission for Naga inhabited areas, but will most probably approach Manipur and Assam informally before making any moves on this controversial front. After 12 rounds of talks between the Naga ministerial delegation led by T.H. Muivah and a three-member central delegation led by Oscar Fernandes, the negotiations have reached a stalemate. The Centre had decided to first address issues where a compromise was possible, leaving tricky issues like integration of Naga inhabited areas for the last. But the Naga delegation has insisted that their main demands be addressed first.
To break this deadlock, the Centre is considering setting up a border commission. But setting up such a commission is wrought with pitfalls. The issue of integration of Naga inhabited areas have been strongly opposed in Manipur and Assam. It has also led to violence between the Nagas and Kukis. The Centre has decided to engage Assam and Manipur at informal level first, as well as at bureaucratic and political level to gauge the reaction of the people in the two states. According to sources the next round of talks with the Nagas will begin after the process of informal consultation with Assam and Manipur has started.
Information blackout in Assam By Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, June 6 (IANS) The Assam government has virtually blacked out information to the media, with strict orders asking police and civil officials not to speak unauthorisedly to journalists. A formal notification has been issued to this effect, leading opposition parties to accuse the Congress government of trying to hide facts to shield rampant corruption in the state. A middle-ranking bureaucrat was suspended last week after he gave an interview to a local TV channel highlighting the need for more funds to improve roads and other infrastructure. "If all officials speak to the media, there is a fear that facts will get distorted and so we have decided to impose restrictions in accordance with existing service rules and guidelines," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.
Today even senior police officials are scared to provide details of any rebel-related incidents to journalists, fearing government action. "Please do no quote me or else I will lose my job," a district police chief told IANS when asked for some information relating to an encounter with militants. With assembly elections due early next year, the state government is going all out to ensure that its image is not sullied by officials.
"We shall appoint nodal officers in each district to talk to the media on any matters. He or she will be the sole official spokesperson for that district," the chief minister said. The worst affected is the media which is now depending on hearsay or some bold officials who are speaking on conditions of anonymity. Political parties have come down heavily on the ban on officials interacting with the media.
"This is nothing but an attempt to conceal facts and the right to information. It has exposed the government's wrong policies and blatant corruption in all spheres of life," Dilip Saikia, general secretary of the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), told IANS. "Today Assam is like a state under a military dictator who does not trust anybody."
Nagaland observes World Environment Day kuknalim.com
DIMAPUR, June 5: Nagaland Pollution Control Board (NPCB) celebrated the day at its Dimapur office yesterday, where Assistant Forest Officer Toshi Wungtung emphasised the need for people to ''get involved in environemental projects''

Addressing the function, scientist Nell Vasa spoke on the topic ''green and clean environment''. He campaigned for ''cleaner production'' and introduced concepts like waste exchange and networking.
The participants in the function included instructors and trainees of the Forestry Training School, Dimapur, teachers and students of the National Green Corps (Eco-Club) and students from various schools. NPBC chairman Temsuwati Ao also graced the occasion. The day was also observed in the Medziphema campus of Nagaland University under the aegis of the Nagaland University Teachers' Association (NUTA), where the director of Higher Education Edward Lotha was the chief guest.

The state government observed the day with a ''mass cleanliness drive'' throughout Nagaland yesterday. State chief secretary P Talitemjen Ao, in a notification on Thursday, instructed all district commissioners to ensure that the cleanliness drive in their respective jurisdictions involved all works of life. Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, who swung into action himself with a spade in his hand, personally visited various parts of this capital town and joined the folks in cleaning different wards and colonies. Many Ministers and Legislators also joined the public in cleaning the areas in their respective Constituencies. Assam Rifles personnel, CRPF and army jawans joined in the drive along with police personnel.

Ukhrul says no more misuse of PDS items Newmai News Network
Imphal, Jun 5 : The Ukh-rul district is all set to beco- me the exemplary district among the hill districts of Manipur as it has started the thwarting process against manipulations and other instances of fraudulent, “ba- ck-door” practices. Fed up with these activities of misappropriation of “things” a workshop on Public Distribution System (PDS) was organised on June 3 at Youth Hostel in Ukhrul H.Q. The workshop was organised jointly by Public Grievances and Vigilance Forum of Ukhrul and Tang-khul Wungnao Long (Ta- ngkhul Headmen Union).
The programme was spo nsored by the Deputy Commissioner of Ukhrul. Resource persons in the said workshop were K. So-mi, retired MCS officer and Y Jogindro Singh, IAS, De-puty Commissioner of Ukhrul. The workshop dw-elt on the fact that essential commodities like rice, kerosene etc, issued by the Government never reached their destinations and other locations where the commodities had been authorised to be distributed. The workshop resolved that distribution and purchasing points of PDS commodities should be at the sub-divisional HQs or such other locations indicated by the authorities concerned in the interest of the general public.
It also passed a resolution that a joint memoran- dum be drafted and submitted to the authorities con- cerned for the abolition of agent system. It reasoned that the agents being the prime cause of the PDS mismanagement this system ought to be done away. Other resolutions pass-ed in the workshop include that as there had been numerous cases of misappro- priation, anyone found guilty in the PDS frauds be punished fittingly. One point of resolution said that illegal sales of rice and kerosene oil under PDS should be checked by the Public Grievances and Vigilance Forum of Ukhrul in co-ordination with the district administration. Matters regarding distribution of PDS materials shall be so notified by the SDOs concerned for respective villages/areas, said a resolution of the workshop. Ration/kerosene oil agents/fair price shop agents should be financially sound. They must be appointed after duly recommended by the village headmen concerned, said another point of resolution passed in the workshop. Another important resolution stated that fair price shop be opened whenever necessary for fair distribution of essential commo- dities to the public.A total quantity of 1,30,000 litres of kerosene oil allocation for Ukhrul district but the general public are in the dark about its total quantity in respect to the actual received of it so the workshop resolved that the concerned authorities /departments should work out the details about the affairs in co-ordination with the PGVF and TNWL.

CS directs DCs for social work kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, June 4: Nagaland Chief Secretary Talitemjen has directed all DCs to chalk out elaborate programme to make mass social work a success in the state tomorrow. This was stated during a Video conferencing with DCs in Kohima today. He said mass social work will be held in all the towns in the state and all state government employees should compulsorily take part in the programme. He said that mass social work should not be considered as a holiday. DGP J.Changkija also directed all SPs and commandants to issue instruction within their jurisdiction to ensure active participation of police personnel on the occasion. He also directed them to make their vehicle available for the purpose.
(Chuba Walling)-DIPR

AFSPA review panel to submit report today The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jun 5: The committee set up to review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958 will be submitting its report to the Central government tomorrow.
The AFSPA review panel, headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice BP Jeevan Reddy, will submit its report to the Union home minister, Shivraj Patel, tomorrow at the latter’s office chambers at 12 noon, according to sources inside the committee.

The five-member AFSPA review panel, it may be mentioned, was constituted at the instance of Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in November 2004 in the wake of wide-spread protests against the draconian Act in Manipur to review the controversial legislation, and recommend its repeal, amendment, or replacement by a more humanitarian law. It was supposed to submit its report within a period of six months. In the meantime, the sources declined to reveal the contents of the review panel’s report, or the nature of its recommendations, as the matter is confidential. The sources on the other hand urged that the public should exert pressure on the Central government to make the review panel’s report and recommendations public at the earliest.

NE’s geographical disadvantage can be a boon
SHILLONG, June 5 – The unique geographical disadvantage of the north-eastern region having the longest international boundary with five countries can become a ‘blessing in disguise’ with proper strategy and planning, according to an apex export body. The eight states of North-east, including Sikkim, share around two per cent of the border with mainland India while the rest is with Bhutan, China, Nepal, Myanmar and Bangladesh. This unique “geographical disadvantage” in terms of proximity with the rest of the country can be converted into a boon instead, said the Chemicals and Allied Products Export Promotion Council (Capexil) which also suggested a slew of measures to improve the region’s trade and export figure of Rs 367.45 crore till February last in 2004-05 fiscal.

To accrue benefit from the border trade, the governments of the region should develop the infrastructure at various land customs stations by improving the transport network, setting up quality control laboratories, banking facilities and organisational changes, says the Council set up by the Union Commerce and Industry Ministry and trade bodies. North-eastern states should look towards the neighbouring countries as their strength lies in the international border and beyond rather than viewing marketing in the rest of the country, Capexil sources said.

“It is important for the north-eastern states to come together and avail of the geo-strategic position of the region to open up the areas as an ‘entrepot’ to South East Asia to mould the region as a trading port of the orient”, the sources said. The Capexil, a premier business support organisation of 4000 members for promotion of export from India, asked the states to improve and construct double lane roads and bridges. Opening of the Stillwell road at Ledo linking central Myanmar and China on a priority basis, reopening of the Karimganj-Sylhet-Dhaka road, extension of the Amguri-Mokukchung-Twenchong road linking Myanmar, extension of the Sivasagar, Sonari-Nemtola road from Assam-Nagaland border to Lungwa in Myanmar, upgradation of national highways and connecting Indo-Myanmar border and construction of 1300 km highway connecting Moreh (India), Bagan (Myanmar) and Maesot (Thailand) were some of its proposals.

The Council, which often takes up wide ranging issues with the government and quasi-government bodies to facilitate trade, asked India to restore Mahisashan (India)-Shahbazpur (Bangladesh) railway traffic to facilitate export of bulk minerals like coal and limestone, food items and agro-horticulture based products. Creation of an air travel circuit between the North-east and Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, China, Thailand and Singapore to increase export and tourism from the region, an air cargo complex in Guwahati and better air connectivity between the north-eastern states are also among Capexil’s proposals.
It also suggests opening up and improvement of inland water-ways with Bangladesh and Myanmar.

As most of the land custom stations in the North-east lack basic amenities to facilitate trade, Capexil asked the government for construction of an integrated export complex including customs office, immigration, banking, truck parking bay, warehouse, post-offices, telephone exchanges, shopping centres, electronic weigh bridge and electricity. The role of border management forces like BSF, Assam Rifles in regard to export should be specifically defined and clear instructions circulated to them for ‘hassle free’ movement of said goods. Capexil said the security forces ‘create a lot of problems’ for clearance of consignments already okayed by customs authorities.
At times, the forces cite shortage of manpower as an excuse, but it delays export delivery schedule.

Offering its help to facilitate market information and educate the potential exporters, Capexil suggested formation of a state level export promotion committee to meet regularly to assess the extent of development of border trade in the region and undertake immediate action on problems faced. Capexil is of the view that despite NE being blessed with an abundance of natural, mineral and energy resources, agro-horticultural potential and tourism of this region was still ‘untapped’ as an export opportunity. With the globalisation process, trade relations with neighbouring countries were bound to grow and diversified, Capexil said, adding border trade and opening of the North-east were some of the means to generate growth impulse in the stagnant economy of the regio