06/12/2005: "NSCN(IM) leaders leaving India, future talks abroad"

NSCN(IM) leaders leaving India, future talks abroad Kuknalim.com
DIMAPUR, June 11: Leaders of NSCN-IM are leaving India after deciding to hold future talks with the Indian government abroad. Thuingaleng Muivah, the general secretary of the NSCN(I-M), has confirmed that he will leave Delhi on or around June 24. Refusing to comment on when the NSCN(I-M) leaders might return to India, Muivah said: “I cannot say whether or when we will come back.” He rejected the suggestion that he was going away for only four weeks, as some in the government believe, and would return thereafter.

The chairman of the outfit, Isak Swu, has not returned to the peace talks after he left Delhi in February. He went away for treatment, but was expected to rejoin the peace talks. However, he has not done so. Anthony Shimray, head of the outfit’s foreign command, who was summoned for the peace talks, left the capital for Bangkok today. The eight-year-long ceasefire with the NSCN(I-M) is coming to an end on July 31. Even if their departure is a pressure tactic, it does not bode well for the ceasefire extension talks. “Naturally, the ceasefire talks will have to be held outside India now,” Muivah said.
The NSCN(I-M) leader, however, rejected the suggestion that he was saying good-bye to the peace process.
“Once we have given our commitment that we will leave no stone unturned to achieve peace, we do not want to go back on it. But our sincerity should also not be exploited. We cannot go on staying here like this,” he said. Muivah seemed deeply disappointed that the talks with the government had not yielded any concrete result. The NSCN(I-M) leaders came to India in the first week of December last year and held 12 rounds of talks with the Centre.
“We cannot say that any significant progress has been made. The Indian negotiators made no attempt to overcome the obstacles in the way of a settlement — defining the pattern of relationship between the Nagas and New Delhi and the unification of the Naga homeland. Without resolving these issues, what kind of solution do they expect?” Muivah asked. (IANS/B.Bhushan)

Manipur heading for showdown over ‘Greater Nagaland’ IANS
Imphal: The restive state of Manipur is heading for a bitter showdown with the tribal Naga minority and the Metei majority community locking horns over the controversial issue of territorial integrity. While the estimated 400,000 Nagas in the state of 2.4 million people are siding with the demand for a “Greater Nagaland”, a concept mooted by the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), the Meteis are opposed to allowing any such fragmentation. The NSCN, a rebel group in adjoining Nagaland, wants the creation of a Greater Nagaland by slicing off parts of neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh that has sizeable Naga tribal populations. Four years after Manipur witnessed a violent campaign to oppose the extension of a ceasefire with the NSCN-IM beyond Nagaland, the region is all set for another row.
The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Nagas residing in four districts of Manipur, has organised a massive rally next week to drum up support for integrating Naga inhabited areas with Greater Nagaland. “Without unification of the broken land, the aspirations of the Naga people will never be fulfilled. We are going to fight for our rights,” UNC leader Paul Leo said. The Naga rally is being organised two days before the Meteis observe June 18 as Integration Day to commemorate the killing of at least 20 people during the anti-ceasefire uprising in 2001.
Therie un-satisfied with DAN performance on peace process Neps
KOHIMA, June 11: Former Finance Minister K Therie has expressed serious concern on the 8-year old fragile peace process between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM). He says there is no headway in the talks between the two parties, while widening more and more the gulf among the factions leading to serious threat to the peace process. Talking to NEPS here at his official residence on Thursday, the former Finance Minister explains that the Government of India had entered into a truce pact with the NSCN (IM) and also with the NSCN (K) to find a durable and permanent solution to the protracted Naga political problem.

"But the trouble is both factions cannot come down from their stand and positions because that have become a prestige issue for them, " Therie says. "In the process, they have developed hatreds and suspicion each other leading to senseless fratricides."
In order to secure a "negotiated settlement" to the longstanding Naga political problem, the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) had gone to the people with a Common Minimum Program (CMP). Therefore, it is the duty of the elected representatives to play an effective and responsible role to build up strategies to fulfill what was committed in their CMP, Therie says.
"We have also adopted the policy of equi-closeness, which means, we are supposed to maintain equi-relation with all the factions---so that there can be free and frank discussions," the former Minister states and further asks "What is the difficulty sitting with brothers and share the truth and reality of the Nagas."
He is however is not satisfied with the performance of the DAN Government with regards to its role as per the CMP. "I sometimes doubt whether we are really for the solution or for the chair," he questions. Therie says peace is really expensive for the people of Nagaland because after 22 years of Shilling Accord, they have ceasefire. He recalls how they had persuaded late Rajiv Gandhi when he came to Dimapur in 1990 for election campaign to initiate talks with the Naga underground leaders without any pre-condition. Rajiv promised to the Naga people that he would take up the matter, but unfortunately, he was killed in Tamil Nadu the next day while campaigning.
"Then again when late Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao came to Dimapur, we reiterated him to fulfill the commitment of Rajiv Gandhi," Therie says adding, "Rao initiated and NSCN (IM) leaders had positively responded to the call." "We are happy today that we have this costly ceasefires after so many years and making many sacrifices," the former Minister points out. "Therefore, if the ceasefire is abrogated without any headway, I think the State Government is also equally held responsible," Therie asserts. "Because we have gone to the Naga people with a commitment enshrined to our CMP to secure a negotiated settlement to the long-drawn-out Naga political problem."
The former Minister also asserts they should not let the golden chance at hand slip off because once the ceasefire is abrogated, it will take a generation to have another ceasefire. "I don't know how many people will live to see such another arrangement of ceasefire for talks," he adds. On the NSCN (IM) allegation that he met NNC president Adino Phizo in London and for which he should not be in the Rio Ministry, Therie asks why should they (NSCN-IM) prevent him from meeting his "brothers and sisters." Then anybody meeting Khaplang or Isak or Muivah should also not be inducted in the Ministry, he argues. Regretting on the recent incidents in Tobu, the former Minister avers the Government has so far not paid serious thought to put an end to the recurrence of the incidents. No serious attempt was made in the past and organizing temporary team at the time of incident will not help unless the Government formulates long-term plan by studying the ground. "If we are ruling, the primary duty is to protect the lives and properties of the citizens," he states. (NEPS)

AR-NSCN(IM) standoff settled ‘once and for all’ after monitoring cell team’s visit The Imphal Free Press

UKHRUL, Jun 11: The recent tension at Marou village under Phungyar subdivision in Ukhrul district will end once and for all after an agreement was reached between top-ranking Assam Rifles officials and a three-member team of the NSCN(IM)’s ceasefire monitoring cell, according to highly placed sources. During the discussions yesterday, participated by top AR officials including the DIG, 10 Sector, Somsai, an agreement was reached that both the Assam Rifles and NSCN(IM) camps located at Marou village would be vacated within a stipulated time. The NSCN(IM) ceasefire monitoring cell included the former CAO and senior leader of the group, W Shimray. Top leaders of the TNK. TKS, TSL, and TMNL and other Tangkhul social organisations also participated in the discussions.

The monitoring cell team visited the Marou village yesterday to a warm welcome from the villagers, Army personnel and NSCN(IM) cadres alike, the sources said. The villagers who left their homes for fear of being caught in clashes between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN(IM) are reportedly returning back, and all are expected to return to the village by tomorrow, according to the sources. It may be recalled that the tension had flared up in the village owing to a standoff between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN(IM) after the former demanded the latter vacate their camp in the village. The villagers had started fleeing their homes for fear of outbreak of clashes between the AR and the NSCN(IM) cadres.
Naga pol leaders under ANSAM's eyes Newmai News Network
Imphal, Jun 11 : The All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has cautioned all the Naga Ministers, MLAs and MPs in Manipur not to do anything that will damage the Naga interest.
In a statement issued by its president Paul Langhu, the student body stated that Naga politicians irrespective of political party affiliation in Manipur or anywhere else should not do anything that was detrimental towards working out an honourable solution out of the ongoing peace process.
The Naga student body urged the Naga politicians to be judicious and decisive when the situation demands adding “because history will judge us.”
The ANSAM president declared that the student body had made it known and clear that nothing was more precious and dearer than supporting the ongoing dialogue to come to its logical conclusion “because Nagas cannot afford to fail in this given time under the given leadership.”
On the current Ukhrul district impasse between the Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM, the Naga student body expressed its serious concern. It blamed some Assam Rifles officers for the current imbroglio in Ukhrul district. The student body further said that the prevailing situation in some parts of Ukhrul had been precipitated under the influence of “some Indian Army officers.”
Targeting its wrath on some officers of the “Indian Army officers”, the student body alleged that the motive of the army officers had been to sabotage the ongoing peace dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM.
“We view the unwarranted situation that took place at Marou and Kachai Phungthar villages under Ukhrul district as a mechanism perpetrated by some Indian Army officers to sabotage the hard earned peace through dialogue,” said the ANSAM president in a statement issued to Newmai News Network today. “It is our strongest appeal to responsible authorities to acknowledge the ground realities of the Naga situation and restraint themselves from doing anything to jeopardise the hard earned peace that is conducive for the ongoing peace dialogue between the GoI and the NSCN at the highest level”, appealed the ANSAM statement. The student organisation then appealed both the Assam Rifles and the NSCN-IM authorities to harbour a sense of mutual respect and understanding.
Efforts on to defuse Khasi-Karbi tension Assam Tribune
SHILLONG, June 11 – Three days after several hutments, mostly belonging to the Khasi community were burnt down at Lum Dorbar village in the disputed Block II area in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam, sincere efforts are under way to defuse the tension even as security has been beefed up along the inter-state border. Legislators from the Khasi Hills and leaders of prominent Karbi social organisations met in Shillong on Friday to chalk out a roadmap towards permanent peace.

“The situation has to be defused and peaceful relation between the two neighbouring states has to be strengthened”, parliamentary secretary Lambor Malngniang underscored at a media briefing at the Shillong Press Club on Friday. The state government is making all-out efforts to resolve the problem, Malngniang, who was part of a delegation of legislators which visited the affected village in Block II on Monday, said. Condemning the “inhuman act” of burning down of some 26 hutments at Lum Dorbar, Malngniang said Meghalaya was prepared to take back the displaced Khasi-Pnar people who are presently sheltered at village Umsaw in Ri-Bhoi district. Malngniang also clarified that the eviction was carried out as per Supreme Court direction by “uniformed personnel” of the Assam government and not by any Karbi organisation. The apex court, in 1996 had ordered eviction of encroachers from all government reserved forests.

Democracy a tyranny of majority: Bezboruah By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, June 11 – “In Assam, one’s religion determines whether one belongs to the minority or majority. One does not even have to be a citizen,” said eminent journalist DN Bezboruah while delivering the first LN Phookan memorial lecture at the Lakshiram Baruah Sadan here this morning.
Elucidating on the theme ‘Aberrations of Democracy’, Bezboruah delved deep into the malpractices and aberrations that have crept into Indian democratic machinery since independence. He categorised the majority rule scenario in democracy under the class of ‘tyranny of majority’ and wished for equal representation in Parliament from all States, irrespective of the population. “If anything, there is a strong motivation in the more populous states of India to go on increasing their population because this gives the states a much better representation in Parliament. And it is this overwhelming majority of heartland states in Parliament that has marginalised the peripheral States like those of the North East,” said Bezboruah. Earlier, dwelling on the life and work of late Lakshmi Nath Phookan, the founder editor of The Assam Tribune, Bezboruah saluted this “quite unassuming man” as a man of great courage and convictions.

It may be mentioned here that late LN Phookan, born in Dergaon in 1897, was not only a talented journalist, but also an excellent writer, poet and a true professional. He won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1970 for his collection of biographies Mahaatmaar poraa Rupkonwaroloi. He served as the editor, The Assam Tribune for 25 years from 1939 to 1964. Among other dignitaries present on the occassion were eminent poet Nilamani Phukan, Tabu Taid, and Prof Dilip Baruah. Dorin Hazarika and Diwas Phukan of Ace Institute, which had instituted the lecture,were also present.

UCM, UNC explain stand on Jun 18 Sangai Express
Imphal, June 11: The United Comittee Manipur ( UCM ) has said that since 2002 onwards, June18 had been a Manipur holiday but it was only this that the State government has officially declared it as a state holiday, reports NNN. The UCM general secretary said that it was actually demanding from the Government to declare June18 as “Great June Uprising Day” but the Government had declared it as “(Manipur ) Integrity Day” and declared it as a State holiday. Talking to Newmai News Network today UCM general secretary Kh Gourashyam said that whatever may be the case UCM will observed June 18 with the civil societies. Gourashyam said that civil societies irrespective of any ethnic group will participate in the observation on the day and various communities had been included in the June 18 Observation Committee. On the other hand,the United Naga Council (UNC) has dismissed the report as false which appeared in The Sangai Express on the June 11 edition under the caption “UNC against June-18”.
Informing this to Newmai News Network today, UNC president Puni Modoli said that the report was baseless and the source from which the news obtained was not from the United Naga Council. Puni Modoli said that the UNC leaders had an informal and casual discussion to appeal to the Government to review its decision of declaring June 18 as a State holiday. Puni Modoli said that the UNC was discussing informally to appeal to the Government to declare June 18 as a restricted holiday and not as a State holiday. The UNC president reasoned that about 21 ethnic groups are living in Manipur so the Government should consider the case of all these groups before doing anything. “We are not against any organisation but it is just our informal discussion to appeal to the Government of Manipur in this regard and there is no harm in requesting and appealing for anything,” said the UNC president.
Armed Forces Special Powers Act & human rights By A Romenkumar (IG L&O-II)
(Contd from previous issue) 7. Eleven commandants of the SC of India
(i) In DK Basu Vs State of West Bengal. AIR 1997 SC 610, the Supreme Court, while dealing with the case of custodial death, any form of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment whether it occurs during investigation, interrogation or otherwise, issued the requirements to be followed in all cases of arrest or detention till legal provisions are made in that behalf as preventive measure:
Custodial death is perhaps one of the worst crimes in a civilized society governed by the Rules of Law. The rights inherent in Article 21 and 22 (1) of the Constitution requires to be zealously and scrupulously protected. Court cannot wish away the problem. Any form of torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment would fall within the inhibition of Art. 21 of the Constitution, whether occurs during investigation, interrogation or otherwise. If the functionaries of the Govt become lawbreakers, it is bound to breed contempt for law and would encourage lawlessness and every man would have the tendency to become law unto himself there by leading to an archaism. No civilized nation can permit that to happen. Does the right to life of a citizen be put in abeyance on his arrest? These questions touch the special court of human rights jurisprudence. The answer, indeed, has to be an emphatic “No”. The precious right guaranteed by the Article 21 of the Constitution of India cannot be denied to convicts, sender trials, detenues and other provisions in custody, except according to the procedure established by law by placing such reasonable restrictions as are permitted by law.
Therefore, the SC issued the following requirements to be follow-ed in all cases of arrest or detention till legal provisions are made in that behalf as preventive measures:
(I) The police personnel carrying out the arrest and handling the interrogation of the arrestee should bear accurate visible and clear identification and name tags with their designations. The particulars of all such police personnel who handle interrogation of the arrestee must be recorded in a register.
(2) That the police officer carrying out the arrest of the arrestee shall prepare a memo of arrest at the time of arrest and such memo shall be attested by at least one witness who may be either a member of the family of the arrestee or respectable person of the locality from where the arrest is made. It shall also be countersigned by the arrestee and shall contain the time and date of arrest.
(3) A person who has been arrested or detained and is being held in custody in a police station or interrogation centre of lockup shall be entitled to have one friend or relative or other person known to him or having interest in his welfare being informed as soon as possible, that he has been arrested and is being detained at the particular place, unless the attesting witness of the memo of arrest is himself such a friend or a relative of the arrestee.
(4) The time, place of arrest and venue of custody of an arrestee must be notified by the police where the next friend or relative of the arrestee lives outside the district or town through the Legal Aid Organisation in the district and police station of the area concerned telegraphically within a period of 8 to 12 hours after the arrest.
(5) The person arrested must be made aware of this right to have someone informed of his arrest or detention as soon as he is put under arrest or is detained.
(6) An entry must be made in the diary at the place of detention regarding the arrest of the person which shall also disclose the name of the next friend of the person who has been informed of the arrest and the names and particulars of the police officials in whose custody the arrestee is.
(7) The arrestee should, where he so requests, be also examined at the time of his arrest and major and minor injuries, if any, pre-sent on his/her body, must be recorded at that time. The “Inspection Memo” must be signed both by the arrestee and the police officers effecting the arrest and its copy provided to the arrestee.
(8) The arrestee should be subjected to medical examination every 48 hours during his detention in custody by a doctor on the panel of approved doctors appointed by Director, Health Services of the concerned State or Union Territory. Director, Health Services should prepare such a panel for all Tehsils and Districts as well.
(9) Copies of all the documents including the memo of arrest, referred to above, should be sent to the Illaqa Magistrate for his record.
(10) The arrestee may be permitted to meet his lawyer during interrogation though not throughout the interrogation.
(11) A police control room should be provided at all districts and state headquarters, where information regarding the arrest and the place of custody of the arrestee shall be communicated by the officer causing the arrest, within 12 hours of effecting the arrest and at the police control room it should be displayed on a conspicuous notice board.
(ii) Failure to comply the above - High Court may institute contempt proceeding
Failure to comply with the said requirements sha-ll, apart from rendering the concerned official liable for departmental action, also render him liable to be punished for contem-pt of court and the proceedings for contempt of court may be instituted in any High Court of the country, having territorial jurisdiction over the matter.
(iii) CPOs and other Central agencies to follow
The requirements, flow from Article 21 and 22 (I) of the Constitution and need to be strictly followed. These would apply with equal force to the other governmental agencies also like Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, Directorate of Enforcement, Coastal Guard, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Border Security Force (BSF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), the State Armed Police, Intelligence Agencies like the Intelligence Bureau, RAW, CBI, CID, Traffic Police, Mounted Police and ITBP.
(iv) Requirement are in addition to Constitution-al and statutory safeguard
These requirements are in addition to the constitutional and statutory safeguards and do not detract from various other directions given by the Courts from time to time in connection with the safeguarding of the rights and dignity of the arrestee.
(v) Step to be taken by DGP/ Home Secretary
The said requirements shall be forwarded to the Director General of police and the Home Secretary of every State Union Territory and it shall be their obligation to circulate the same to every police station under their charge and get the same notified at every police station at a conspicuous place. It would also be useful and serve larger interest to broadcast the requirement on the All India Radio, besides being shown on the National Network of Doordarshan and by publishing and distributing pamphlets in the local language containing these requirements for information of the general public. Creating awareness about the rights of the arrestee would be a step in the right direction to combat the evil of custodial crime and bring in transparency and accountability. It is hoped that these requirements would help to curb, if not totally eliminate, the use of questionable methods during interrogation and investigation leading to custodial commission of crimes.
8. Armed Forces (Special Powers Act), 1958
(i) Awarding of Rs 1,00,000/- for disappearing of person arrested by army would be proper relief to be granted to the wife of victim.
Smt Linthukla vs Rishang Keishing, (1989) 1 Crimes 428 (Gau).
Constitution of India - Article 226 - Armed Forces Special Power Act, 1958 - Secs. 4 and 5 - Petitioner’s husband has been apprehended by the Army on 6/11/1983 - Failure of the Union of India to produce the aforesaid person - 5 years have since elapsed - Assumption that he is dead (Rs 1,00,000/- would be the proper relief to be granted to his wife - 25% shall be paid by the State and 75% by Union of India (Sebastian’s case: AIR 1984 SC 571 relied on)-para-7
(ii) Armed forces are called in aid of civil pow-er not as an independent body
Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 - Secs 4 and 5 - Scope of - Role of armed forces when they are called “in aid of the civil power” under the provisions of the Act - The role which the district administration has to play in these circumstances - armed forces must act in cooperation with the district administration and not as an independent body. Held: Though the armed forces have been given wide powers by the Act, these are sought to be confined within a narrow limit and in this limit also they do not really supplant the ordinary machinery for maintaining law and order or for that matter public order, but they supplement the working of ordinary law enforcing machinery.
(iii) Civil authorities and Armed Forces shall work hand in glove
The HC further held th-at the civil authorities and armed forces have to work hand in glove and not in suppression of any side. It is because of this that the Act requires by its section 5 that any person arrested or taken into custody by the armed forces has to be made over to the officer-incharge of the nearest police station with the least possible delay.
iv) There is no provision for military rule in the Constitutional setup The High Court further observed that in our Constitutional setup there is no provision for a military rule in any part of the territory of India.
(v) While dealing with the insurgents, armed forces should strike a balance between crushing of violence and crushing of liberty Of course, the armed forces must be allowed free hand in so far as dealing with insurgents or terrorists are concerned by them while dealing with others they have to strike a balance between the crushing of violence and crushing of liberty.
(vi) Armed forces must act in cooperation with the district administration and not as independent body
Further, the armed for-ces must act in cooperation with the district administration and not as independent body. Of cour-se, so far as operational part of the activity of the armed forces is concerned, they must be given free hand but in other matters, they must take the civil authorities in confidence and work in harmony. Cases referred
I) Ningshitombi Devi Vs Rishang Keishing, 1982 (l) GLR 756.
2) Sebastian M Hongray Vs. Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 571.
3) Sebastian M Hongray Vs Union of India, AIR 1984 SC 1026.
(vii) Role of the District administration after the deployment of armed forces
The HC observed that another aspect of the matter, however, deserves to be gone into by us. This aspect is related to the role which the district administration has to play after the armed forces have been called in aid of the civil power. A view seems to be gaining ground that after armed forces are deployed in the disturbed area the civil authorities cease to function. But as pointed out in Ningshitombi’s case though the armed forces have been given wide powers by the Act, these are sought to be confined within the narrow limit and in this limit also they do not really supplant the ordinary machinery for maintaining law and order or for that matter public order but they supplement the working of ordinary law enforcing machinery.
(This article was first published in the Academy Journal of the National Police Academy)
Gogoi performance hopeless: Madani ‘CM should disclose Act under which NRC Directorate has been formed’ By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, June 11: The Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind today described the four-year Congress rule in Assam as hopeless. Addressing newsmen here today, national secretary general of Jamiat Mehmood Asad Madani said that the performance of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi did not reflect good governance in the State. Madani charged the Congress with failure to fulfil its commitment of socio-economic development of minorities as promised by it before the 2001 Assembly polls. Madani said the Jamiat had recently met Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi and apprised her of the situation in Assam. The Jamiat also held the Congress Government responsible for the recent exodus of Muslims from different districts of Assam after being branded as Bangladeshis by some groups. Madani alleged that the Congress, the BJP and the AGP were all interested to divert people’s attention from genuine socio-economic issues to capitalize on the foreigners’ issue for their political gains.
He said that he was in favour of detection and deportation of illegal migrants from the State with March 25, 1971 as cut-off year. On the NRC Directorate constituted by the State Government, he said that Gogoi should disclose the Act and rules under which he had constituted the NRC Directorate. On BJP president LK Advani’s recent remark on Jinnah in Pakistan as a secular leader, he said the Jamiat had always opposed the two-nation theory of Jinnah to divide the country on religious lines. After partition, Jamiat had worked for communal harmony. Jinnah was never secular, he said.
‘Proposed Myanmar-India gas pipeline may be a boon for NE’ Workshop on oil and gas By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, June 11: "If the proposed Myanmar-India gas pipeline goes through Mizoram, Barak valley, Meghalaya, lower Assam and North Bengal, it would be considered as the energy highway, which will change the economic scenario of the region en route." This was stated by the participants of a workshop on "Oil and gas prospects in NE India and its role in the economic development of the region", organized by the TIFAC-CORE, Department of Petroleum Technology of Dibrugarh University and the Purvashi Oil and Gas Limited at the Institute of Engineers here, yesterday. In her speech, Dr Minoti Das, Head of the Petroleum Technology Department, Dibrugarh University said that before finalizing a plan to set up the trans-national gas transportation infrastructure, all the pros and cons should be analysed so that the future generation of the country get benefited. It may be mentioned here that with the recent discovery of huge gas reserves in Myanmar, offshore south of Mizoram and gas deposits in Barak valley, Tripura and Bangladesh as well as the deep ocean oil discoveries, a new vista for oil and gas business in the Assam-Arakan basin has also opened. This huge discovery of gas by the Daewoo-GAIL-OVL-Korean Gas Consortium at the A-1 block in Myanmar is reported to have in place gas reserves of 20 trillion cubic feet, which is much bigger than the Reliance discoveries in the Krishna-Godavari basin. Oil India Limited (OIL) GGM JK Talukdar, in his inaugural address, said that due to lack of proper market to sell low pressure gas, the OIL would have to cut short its gas production. "The gas production potential of the OIL is 7.5 million cubic metre per day. ‘‘Our buyers are fertilizers, power companies, GAIL and tea gardens," he said. Talukdar hoped that after setting up of the proposed gas pipelines up to Guwahati, several gas based companies would come up. Dibrugarh University Vice-Chancellor Dr Kulendu Pathak, Gauhati University Vice Chancellor Dr GN Talukdar, Adviser to the Chief Minister (PSUs) Dr PK Chowdhury also spoke during the programme among others.

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06/12/2005: "NSCN(IM) leaders leaving India, future talks abroad"