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06/21/2005: "WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE NAGA TALKS? TWENTY-TWENTY -"

20 june 2005 Monday

WHAT WENT WRONG WITH THE NAGA TALKS? TWENTY-TWENTY - BHARAT BHUSHAN The Telegraph



Problem of history

The first phase of intensive negotiations with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah) is coming to an end. After one more round of talks with the government, its general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah, is leaving for Amsterdam. The talks are stalled and Muivah says that he does not know whether or when he might return to India. The break from the negotiations should provide time to the two sides to analyze the 12 to 13 rounds of formal discussions they had. Several things went wrong for the Indian negotiators. The government of India had no proposals of its own. It only reacted to the proposals of the NSCN (I-M). The NSCN (I-M) submitted two sets of proposals — one on September 21, 2001 from Amsterdam and another as a memorandum on April 1, 2004 from Bangkok. The 2004 memorandum reformulated the first proposals by prioritizing the issues for discussion.

The NSCN (I-M) wanted to discuss the political issue first — negotiating “an appropriate federal relationship with India”; a division of competencies which would leave all subjects to Nagaland except defence, foreign affairs, communications and monetary policy, with the Nagas having a say in the first three, wherever their interests are affected; recognizing the legitimacy of the Naga demand for the reunification of their homeland and implementing it in a reasonable time frame; and a transitional agreement which would also convert the NSCN (I-M) army into a new regular armed force under the new state government. The reaction of the government was that the NSCN (I-M) proposals were not practicable. In effect the government was saying — ask for something that we can give. This reaction shows that the government was not ready for negotiations. The Naga proposals were known for three years before the NSCN (I-M) leaders were invited for an intensive dialogue in India. Why were they invited if the only thing that New Delhi wanted was for them to change their demands to those that could be easily met?

Another mistake that the government negotiators made was that they did not see the issue from the Naga perspective. The Nagas see their problem with India as unique, flowing from a history that was specific to them. The government negotiators, however, tried to equate the Naga issue with that of any other state of India — the logic being that nothing should be done for the Nagas which the government was not in a position to do say for the Tamil or the Telugu people. A specific problem situated in a unique history — of a people who do not consider themselves a part of India either by conquest or consent — was sought to be converted into a general problem of Centre-state relations. It seems to have been entirely forgotten that Nagaland, for nearly two decades, after independence was under the charge of the ministry of external affairs before being brought under the home ministry in the mid-Sixties. It was under the external affairs ministry that the state of Nagaland was created in 1960. There is no other Indian state which can claim that distinction. The specific history of Nagaland however seems to have been given the go-by.

Before now, the Naga issue has been addressed by giants like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri and Indira Gandhi. They may not have been able to settle the Naga issue, but they did not resort to cheap subterfuge. Instead of trying to tune into their wavelength and understand what they want, the government was only clear about what it does not want to give the Nagas. As it is, the government has merely rejected what the Nagas want without making an attempt to reframe their proposals. This would involve redirecting the attention of the NSCN (I-M) leaders from the positions they have taken to identifying their interests, and then making specific proposals to find ways of meeting them. If for example, the Nagas propose that they want a say in foreign affairs, the attempt should not be to reject the suggestion out of hand but to convince them that if there were to be boundary rationalization with Myanmar abutting Nagaland, then they would be consulted; that a Naga affairs officer could be posted in the Indian mission in Yangon or that the Nagas would be included in Indian delegations to United Nations bodies dealing with tribal and indigenous people. The attempt ought to have been to redirect the Nagas towards a problem-solving framework.

There was certainly no handholding of the NSCN (I-M) to guide them towards a mutually acceptable framework of settlement. Underground groups are not equipped in the same way as governments are in understanding the tangle of constitutional law, Centre-state relations and the collateral impact of decisions in a huge country like India. Leaving them to their own devices is tantamount to hoping for a failure. The negotiations have to be changed from bargaining for advantage to solving the problem jointly and cooperatively. The handholding has to be done outside the negotiating room to create conditions conducive for an agreement on the negotiating table. The ratio of informal meetings to formal ones has to be overwhelmingly in favour of the former. The process of negotiation itself is a part of the solution. No one realizes this better than Thuingaleng Muivah who has taken the ritual of participation in the negotiations to new heights. In ceasefire negotiations his entire cabinet turns up. In peace talks, adequate representation is given to the various NSCN leaders and at each stage others not present are briefed in detail. This is his way of ensuring that when a compromise has to be made, they would be willing to make allowances they may not make otherwise.

On the Indian side, a similar joint effort is missing although the prime minister is sincere about a settlement. The home minister suffers from a no-concessions mindset; the national security advisor comes with the baggage of experience of handling several insurgencies. The only frontline political person with any gumption among the negotiators is Oscar Fernandes who has the tough task of balancing the forces tugging in different directions. The government has not educated itself and the NSCN (I-M) on the consequences of not reaching an agreement at all. The costs and consequences of not reaching an agreement with the Nagas are enormous. Besides the bloodshed that the Nagas have already witnessed, another generation of Naga youth would be condemned to the jungles. The bitterness that has already lasted three generations will go on for another three. If there is no progress in the Naga talks, one can write off any prospect of starting a peace dialogue with the United Liberation Front of Asom. There is some disturbing talk that the Indian army thinks that if the Nagas do not extend the ceasefire this time around, it would not mean much because the army can “handle” them. Of course the might of the Indian army would not allow the NSCN (I-M) to occupy land in Nagaland, but if the Naga issue could have been solved militarily why did it not happen up to now? Bravado clearly is no substitute for hard political thinking.

Upset, Naga leaders take a break from talks By Nitin A. Gokhale Guwahati Tehelka

After eight years of ceasefire and several rounds of talks, no solution to the Naga dispute is in sight. Disappointed with the progress so far, top Naga leaders Issac Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah are returning to their bases abroad at the end of this month. “We are not breaking off the talks but our leaders are going back as all future negotiations will take place outside India,” Rh. Raising, the self-styled home minister of the Issac-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) said. Swu, the outfit’s chairman, had returned to Amsterdam in February and Muivah is leaving on June 24. “We are committed to peace and we will do whatever it takes to continue the talks but the ball is in the India government’s court,” Raising said. The NSCN(IM) has been observing a ceasefire with the government since July 1997. Since then several rounds of talks have taken place but no substantive progress has been made so far. The main stumbling block in the talks has been the demand from NSCN(IM) to reunite all Naga-inhabited areas in the Northeast under one administrative unit. The government finds it difficult to make any commitment on the issue since many Naga-inhabited areas are spread across the geographical boundaries of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.

The NSCN(IM) has accused the government of violating the ceasefire by killing several of its cadre in the past few years

Raising says it is the right of the Nagas to be united since the divisions were a political decision by the British and subsequently the Indian government. “It is our historical and political right to be united. We are not asking for anybody’s land,” he says. Muivah, the outfit’s most articulate and influential leader, had this to say: “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?”
The Naga outfit has also accused the government of violating the agreement by killing several of its cadre in the past few years. A statement issued by the NSCN(IM) secretariat has accused the Central and state security forces of ‘deliberately’ trying to undermine the ceasefire agreement signed in 1997. It also listed the number of its members killed in the past few years in the Northeast. “The Government of India should immediately control and restrain its army. If this is not done, the nscn will not be responsible for any consequences thereafter,” the statement said.

Infrastructure key to border trade Sunday, 19 June , 2005, 13:54

Kohima: Infrastructure development and removal of both physical and mental barriers are keys to the success of border trade and commerce in the northeast, according to a unanimous view expressed at a seminar. All physical and non-tariff barriers must be removed immediately from the region as well in neighbouring Myanmar, if the government's "Look East Policy" is to bear fruit, it said. This was the view expressed at the seminar on "Export From Nagaland", jointly organised by Capexil India and State Department of Industries and Commerce and sponsored by North Eastern Council recently.

Politicians, bureaucrats, bankers, entrepreneurs and experts in different fields were of the view that unless the Centre takes up vital issues such as improvement of road connectivity, telecom, banking services, existing barriers in free flow of goods and services between the region and Myanmar, enhancement of trade with Asean countries would remain a far cry. The seminar pointed out that although the Centre in principle encouraged boosting of trade and commerce between the region and the neighbouring countries, there has been lack of cohesiveness among the Union Commerce, Home and Defence ministry and the existing customs rules do not encourage free flow of good and services.

In this connection, P P Srivastava, who recently joined the NEC as a member after having served the region for over 40 years in various capacities, pointed out that when the Union Commerce ministry announced the policy of border trade to boost two-way trade between the region and south-east Asian countries, the Customs department came up with the negative list of items. "So the existing rules framed by them must be amended considering the ground situation to ease the movement of goods," he suggested. Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio pointed out that the existing visa and Restricted Area Permit (RAP) regime do not encourage any entrepreneur from Myanmar or other ASEAN countries to visit Nagaland and other NE states, because one has either to go to Kolkata or Delhi for a simple clearance despite having road connectivity between Mandaley (Myanmer) and Kohima via Imphal. The chief minister urged the Centre to actively engage itself with its Myanmar counterpart to improve vital infrastructure like road and water connectivity, telecom and banking services in towns of the neighbouring country closer to Nagaland and Manipur.

Rio pointed out that besides improving the Dimapur-Kohima- Imphal-Moreh road, which connect Mandaley, the vital roads like Kohima-Meluri-Avangkhu, Jorhat - Amguri- Mokokchung- Tuensang- Pangsha and Sibsagar-Tizit-Mon-Longwa be improved on priority basis as the state government had already set up two border trade points at Pangsha and Longwa and was in the process of opening three others points in places bordering Myanmar. In this connection, both chief minister and principal secretary, Industries and Commerce, Alemtemshi Jamir pointed out that most of the mineral deposits in the state are located along the international border areas. The seminar also rued the present banking services in the region, pointing out that credit-deposit ratio (CDR) in Nagaland is mere 15 per cent against the All India average of 58 per cent and urged the banks to relax rules to increase credit flow in the state. The Capexil, the organiser of the seminar, suggested that the Union Commerce ministry to take up the issue of access to Chittagong and Mandaley ports from the northeastern states with Bangladesh and Myanmar government respectively. The seminar also suggested a separate "north-east exim policy" by the Commerce ministry and urged northeastern council to play a catalytic role to harness potential area of trade and commerce with the neighbours. The restructured NEC is formulating a 15-year perspective document, christened as "Vision northeast 2020", which is a paradigm shift in drafting planning for the region, Srivastava said.

He said the main philosophy in this document, which would be ready by the beginning of next 2006, is the incorporation of views and suggestions of the people, instead of the current practice of formulating planning centrally from the top. The cross-border trade is a major component of this vision document, he said, adding, the ''north-east regional border trade mission'' would bring about cohesion and consolidate activities among different central ministries, foreign trade missions and the respective state governments of the region.

Vexed ‘Nagalim’ editorial Assam Tribune

With a little over a month remaining for the ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN(I-M) to expire on July 31 next, the latter’s accusation that the armed forces are violating the norms of the truce agreement exposes the cracks that have appeared lately in the relationship between the two sides, as well as in the efforts to push the peace process forward. In a recent statement, the outfit has warned the Centre of dangerous consequences while accusing the Army and the Central paramilitary forces of killing some of its “innocent” members in violation of the ceasefire agreement. With such proximity to the ceasefire expiry date, the allegation that certain elements in the armed forces have been trying to “sabotage” the agreement does not bode well for the peace process, for it once again brings back the spectre of violence in the region. There have already been reports of exchange of fire between the two sides both in Nagaland and Manipur. Such a turn of events ahead of the date of the possible ceasefire extension is unfortunate.

Along with the allegation of truce violation, the NSCN(I-M) has also accused the UPA Government of trying to avoid a solution to the vexed political problem, especially the core demand of the outfit – the Greater Nagaland or ‘Nagalim’. It may be recalled that such a situation of mistrust and misunderstanding had prevailed prior to the NSCN(I-M) leadership’s proposed visit to India for a fresh round of talks in December last. It had then accused the Centre of shipping arms to the rival Khaplang faction. Now, as the leadership gets ready to go back to Amsterdam, a similar feeling of mistrust seems to have crept in. The outfit seems to be frustrated over the fact that the peace process has failed to make any progress worthy of mention during the last seven months, deadlocked as it was over the core issue of Greater Nagaland. Despite the usual optimism brought by any fresh round of Naga peace talks, the oft-repeated demand for ‘Nagalim’ is destined to pose a roadblock to any attempt at finding a practical solution to the problem. The impasse in the peace process is unlikely to end unless there is a conscious attempt to see the reality.

It is time, therefore, the NSCN(I-M), instead of issuing veiled threats with the allegation of ceasefire violation, tried to understand that its hope for unification of Naga-dominated areas and its relentless struggle to undo what it terms a “historic wrong” is naturally considered by the neighbouring States of Nagaland as an attempt to re-draw the boundaries by manipulating the Constitution. The NSCN(I-M) must realize that the ‘Nagalim’ demand clashes violently with the territorial integrity of the concerned States and hurts the patriotism of the people. Secondly, it must not look at the efforts to bring the neighbouring states into confidence for a solution to the problem with suspicion, because the people of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh also want a permanent settlement to the political problem, although not at the cost of their respective territorial integrity. The Centre can also hardly afford to take a unilateral decision on the inclusion of the areas of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh in ‘Greater Nagaland’. The erstwhile BJP-led government’s decision to extend the ceasefire areas had almost set the State of Manipur afire, sparking off widespread violence. The fourth anniversary of the June uprising this year serves a sharp reminder of what the consequences could be if any decision detrimental to the interests of these three States is taken in a bilateral negotiation. Now, the NSCN(I-M) and the Centre must try to rebuild the faith that has largely been a bright feature of the relationship between the two sides over the years. They must try to lift the veil of suspicion so as to push the peace process forward for finding a permanent solution to the five-decade old political problem.

Six militants killed in northeast shootouts (Ians) By Indo-Asian News Service

Guwahati, June 20 (IANS) At least six guerrillas and a soldier were killed in separate encounters between rebels and security forces in the troubled northeast, officials Monday said. An army commander said four militants belonging to the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) were killed Sunday in Assam's Nalbari district, 70 km west of the state's main city of Guwahati. "Fierce fighting broke out between the ULFA rebels and a security team and in the ensuing encounter we shot dead four rebels," said Brigadier Sujan Chatterjee, commanding a mountain division.

"We also lost one of our soldiers, while two received serious injuries in the attack." The dead rebels included two explosive experts. Soldiers also seized a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including an AK-47 and an AK-56 rifle, eight hand grenades, pistols, several detonators and explosives from the dead militants. The ULFA has been fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979 in Assam, with the outfit of late offering to hold peace talks with the Indian government. In another incident, two unidentified rebels were killed by soldiers in the adjoining state of Manipur Sunday in continuing anti-insurgency operations. An army statement said troops busted hideouts of unidentified militants in the Henglep area of Manipur's Churachandpur district, about 90 km from state capital Imphal. "We recovered the bodies of two militants along with two AK-47 rifles," the statement said. "We have also destroyed several improvised explosive devices during the operation." Manipur is home to about 19-odd rebel armies with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy to the right to self-determination. More than 20,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam and Manipur during the past two decades.

Austerity measures in Arunachal Assam Tribune From Our Correspondent
ITANAGAR, June 19 – In view of worsening financial health of the state, the Arunachal Government has announced a package of austerity measures to capture the deterioration of cash balance position of the state. In an official order issued by finance department vide its order no FIN/EA-25/97/2, Cab/m-18/2005, a copy was made available to the Assam Tribune here today, stated that the decision was taken at a cabinet meeting held on April 28 last this year in the backdrop of its pressing need to curtail government expenditure to maintain a balance between income and expenditure of the state government. The badly hit by this austerity measure is on the employment creation or filling up any vacancy posts. It has put a general ban on creation and filling up of any posts, even ordered all the departments to abolished the existing vacant posts, except primary school teachers and health workers, which were vacant as on 01-04-2005 were lying vacant for one year or more on that date.

However, casual employees engaged under work departments like PWD, PHED, RWD, Power, IFCD and Forests are being exempted from the purview. With the enforce of this order, the major departmental activities of the state would come to a grinding halt as it proposes to avoid more funding of spill over schemes concerning on going against the revise estimates works. According to Cabinet, "such works often found frequently revised and in few cases escalated". This could be eliminated to a great extend by intensive and effective supervision, it maintained. Other measures that would be done away with the ostentatious expenditures are festivals, fairs, exhibitions, official lunch and dinners, revision of pay scales and up gradation of posts, purchase of vehicles, grants and honorarium and foreign travels on account by functionaries of the state government. In this respect, the state government directed all to route such proposals through finance department for considerations, but that should be matched by increased earning or savings, the order added.
While taking serious note of its failure to recover the outstanding loans and advances, the state government has asked all the concerned departments to intensify their efforts to collect revenue receipts in terms of income generations, recovery of loans and advances. Failing to achieve the targeted amount would face proportionate reduction from their budget grant. Talking to this newspaper, a top ranking official, who prefers not to be named, says, austerity measures could help in curtailing wasteful expenditures incurred by bureaucrats and ministers, but at the same time it will create unrest among the job seekers. He said all the major working departments in Arunachal Pradesh have been facing nagging problem of man-power shortage. "At least, the existing vacant posts should have been allowed to fill up considering the growing employment problem, which is a "biggest challenging task" before the government, he said adding that the measures should be attuned with the ground realities. Contrary to much hyped Budget estimates presented by the state cm, Gegong Apang for the year beginning from April 2005, the state government is now running into huge margin of deficit balance of its cash deposit in the state’s coffer.
Sources in State Bank of India, Itanagar Regional Office, while confirming the deficit told this correspondent, as on 16th June’ 2005, the state government has over draft of Rs 360 Crore alone with the SBI, whereas the state government stated that this year, Planning commission had approved Rs 3525.56 crore with an increase of Rs 1210.38 against the previous award for its prudent fiscal management. Moreover, PC approved the state plan outlay of Rs 950.35 crore against Rs 760.35 crore which was also fully reflected in the budget estimates.



Apang Govt under fire from Opp MLA From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune ITANAGAR, June 19 – "The Congress government headed by the state Chief Minister, Gegong Apang in Arunachal Pradesh has miserably failed to provide basic amenities despite tall claims", Opposition Legislator, Tani Loffa alleged here today. Speaking to Assam Tribune, State unit Saffron party, MLA, Loffa said, lack of basic amenities like water supply, road, electricity and primary health centres in the far flung areas of this hilly terrain state falsifies the state government’s tall promises made in their last assembly election manifestos regarding infrastructural development in remote villages. "The picture looks hopelessly dismal when these amenities are found missing, despite the central government pumping huge sum of money for infrastructural development in this backward state, which is being ruled for last 35 years under the same chief minister ship", he lamented. Electricity and road connectivity are yet to reach the villages despite Apang being in power for last three and half decades, he added. Expressing serious concern over the depletion of forest cover in the state, MLA said the state government is not serious about implementing the various existing acts and laws like forest protection act, animal protection acts to deal firmly with encroachers and illegal poaching of endangered species of animals. Forest cover in all district headquarters, sub-divisional including circle headquarters are fast disappearing, he pointed out.
On tourism, Loffa also criticized the Apang government for not initiating any steps to bring the East Kameng district in the world tourism map. "Chayang Tajo, surrounded by snow clad Himalayan bordering the China is famous for its pleasant weather, which remains cold through out the year, Pakke Tiger Reserve and Pakhui Wildlife Sanctuary, Nakshaparbhat, natural lakes, Pipu valley, all in East Kameg district could provide vistas of tourism activities", he said.



NDFB peace process gains momentum Assam Tribune By A Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, June 19 — The prospects of long-term peace in Bodoland area is getting increasingly bright with the last-standing Bodo militant outfit, the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), sending out positive signals to the Centre that it is serious in talking peace. Security sources revealed here today that the peace initiative is moving in the right direction with the outfit’s general secretary Gobinda Basumatary holding talks with representatives of the Union Home Ministry to chalk out the modalities of the peace process. These include the setting up of a ceasefire monitoring committee and identifying possible locations of designated camps to house the NDFB cadres.

The tripartite ceasefire between the NDFB, the Union Government and the Government of Assam, was inked on May 25 and came into effect on June 1. Since then, peace has prevailed in the Bodo-dominated areas in lower Assam, particularly the North Bank. Gobinda Basumatary was released recently from jail so that that he could talk with his comrades, including NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary, holed up in Bangladesh at the moment. This move led to the signing of the ceasefire agreement.
The sources here expressed confidence that talks with the NDFB should bear fruit much faster than the one that is carried out with the NSCN (IM). This is because the NDFB is also under pressure to give up violence for both internal and external reasons. According to the sources, the NDFB has lost its backbone in the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) operation in December 2003 when NDFB camps in Bhutan were smashed by the kingdom’s troops along with those of the ULFA and the KLO. “Subsequently, the security agencies have identified about 99 percent of its ground cadres, with help from its rival erstwhile Bodo Liberation Tiger (BLT) cadres,” they said.

The NDFB’s top leaders are Christians, though its foot soldiers are mostly Hindus, the sources stated. The Church has played an active role in pressurising the NDFB top brass to go for truce in line with the global condemnation of terrorism of all kind after the September 11 episode. With the NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and the ANVC already going for truce, NDFB had the choice to continue its alliance with the ULFA and KLO. But that channel is also drying out. The KLO, advocating a separate Kamatapur comprising parts of Assam and West Bengal, has lost most of its leaders. With almost all its prominent leaders being arrested or killed, Jiban Singha, the chief of the outfit is in a desperate situation. Singha is presently in Bangladesh, lodged in an ULFA camp. Though the NDFB did not make its presence felt in Friday’s peace rally organised by the All Bodo Peace Forum in Udalguri, the sources said that it should not have any bearing on the future of the peace process. “The people obviously would have loved to see at least a token presence of the outfit in the rally,” they admitted.



AMUCO reaches out to all with unity message By Our Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, Jun 18 : Without mincing words and putting the ball in the court of New Delhi, Prof N Sanajaoba, Dean of the Law Faculty of Gauhati University today challenged the Government of India to hold a referendum in the three States of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur to decide on the contentious issue of creating a Greater Nagaland within June 30 this year. The voters' strength of the three States is about 4 crores. Speaking at the Unity Day function organised by AMUCO at GM Hall today, Prof Sanajaoba said that the NSCN (IM) has shifted its stand from a sovereign Nagaland to a Greater Nagaland and the only way to work out a solution to this would be to seek the mandate of the people whose territories stand to be affected. Manipur has a population of about 24 lakhs and her territory should not be compromised just because some people took out a rally for the formation of Greater Nagaland, said Sanajaoba and added that India should realise that Manipur was there much before India or for that matter Nagaland came into being. If the referendum says yes to the formation of Greater Nagaland then the people have no choice but to say yes but if the answer is no then the people have every right to say no, added the Professor. No one is against the peace process between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India but the territories of the neighbouring States should not be compromised for the sake of a community, without consulting the others, said Sanajaoba and added that India ought to resolve the matter by holding a referendum in the three States.
A large number of Naga soldiers have laid down their lives for the sovereignty of the Naga people, but the number of Naga workers laying down their lives for Naga integration will be minuscule, added Sanajaoba. President of AMUCO, R Yangsosong Koireng said that Manipur is one of the oldest kingdoms in South East Asia with a 2000 year recorded history. The territory of Manipur cannot be challenged by anyone as long as the different communities continue to live in peaceful coexistence, he added.
Sango Poumai, president of the Hou Khunnai Innat Thousil Lup said that the hill and plain people of Manipur are one and the same and added that the term Naga was coined by the British. He added that people may change but the land cannot be changed. Hence the territory of Manipur should not be compromised at any cost, he added. Joseph Hmar, president of Hmar Students Association told the gathering to learn from the martyrs who laid down their lives for the sake of Manipur and accused the Government of India of sowing the seeds of mutual distrust. Earlier in the day floral tributes were paid to the pictures of the 23 persons who laid down their lives in the endeavour to protect the territory of Manipur. Present among those who turned up to pay their respect were Lok Sabha MP Dr T Meinya, Works Minister Th Debendro, Power Minister Gaikhangam. IFC Minister Phungzathang Tonsing, Industries Minister N Mangi, PHED Minister K Govindas, MLAs N Biren, Radhakishore, K Ranjit and former Rajya Sabha MP W Angou. AMUCO also observed the day at different parts of the State. At the Tuibong community hall in CCpur district, the All Kanglei Social worker Organisation observed the day. Representatives of different communities took part in the function, which was observed under the theme “Unity Day.”
A similar function was also organised at the Wangjing Primary School by the All Thoubal District United Clubs Organisation and Unity Day Observation Committee. United Clubs Organisation, Bishnupur district and Meira Paibi Apunba Lup, Bishnupur also observed the day at Ningthoukhong High School ground. At Mayang Imphal the day was observed under the aegis of All Mayang Imphal Clubs' Organisation. A similar function was also observed at Wangjing High School Ground organised by All Thoubal District United Clubs' Organisation and Unity Day Observation Committee.

Army-ULFA shoot-outs in Nalbari on Gogoi visit eve
Jawan, four ULFA cadres shot dead From our Correspondent Sentinel
NALBARI, June 19: Four United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres were shot dead in two separate encounters with the Army and police in Nalbari district since last night. An Army jawan was also killed in the firing. The shoot-outs with the ULFA on the eve of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi’s visit to the district have raised genuine questions over the security shield put in place for VVIP visit and the rebel group’s motive behind rushing its cadres to the district.

Talking to newsmen here today, Red Horns Division Brigadier Sujan Chaterjee, who visited the shoot-out site yesterday, said that there had been a fierce encounter between the ULFA and the Army near the MNC College last night. According to him, two ULFA cadres, explosive expert Jyotish Deka and Nurul Islam alias Babul Ali, were killed in the shoot-out while three Army jawans sustained serious injuries. One of the jawans, Havildar Atul Singh Panwar, succumbed to his injuries on way to the hospital. He said that two other ULFA cadres, Ramen Das alias Ranjan Das and Rinku Das were killed in another encounter with a joint team of the Army and police near the Shiv temple at Patacharkuchi on the outskirts of Nalbari town in the wee hours today. An AK-47 rifle, an AK-56 rifle, an M-56 pistol, eight Chinese grenades, two AK-47 magazines, explosive materials, detonators etc., have been recovered from the sites of the encounters. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is arriving here tomorrow to lay the foundation stones of the auditorium of Nalbari District Library and the Hajo-Nalbari-Sarthebari road renovation work. He will also address a public rally here.

KSU: Bring Arunachal Karbis back in ST list By a S taff Reporter sentinel
GUWAHATI, June 19: The Karbi Students’ Union (KSU) of Assam and the Arunachal Pradesh Karbi Students’ Union (APKSU) have raise the demand for ST status to the Karbis living in Arunachal Pradesh keeping in mind their pathetic politico-economic condition. A KSU team, led by its president Bhogeswar Teron, has been visiting Karbi villages in Pacunpari district in Arunachal Pradesh since yesterday. The KSU leaders held a meeting with the APKSU this morning to discuss the socio-political condition of the Karbis in the neighbouring State. Talking to The Sentinel over telephone from Itanagar, Teron said that the Karbis in Arunachal Pradesh had been treated STs till 1986. Through an Ordinance in 1986, the Centre had stripped the Arunachali Karbis of ST status.

Teron appealed to Arunachal Pradesh and Central Governments to bring the Arunachali Karbis back in the ST list. "The Karbis in Assam and Meghalaya are treated as STs, and as such, the Karbis of Arunachal Pradesh should also get ST status," he said. Teron said that the KSU and the APKSU would jointly submit memoranda to the Arunachal Pradesh and the Union Governments demanding tribal status for Arunachali Karbis.

Someone has to compromise: Islam Talks with ULFA From our Correspondent
NEW DELHI, June 19: Assam Minister for Food and Civil Supplies Nazrul Islam has said that to avail a conclusive solution to the insurgency problem of the State, "someone" has to compromise. "The people of Assam is longing for peace, but we have to trade very carefully," said Islam, who is heading a delegation of Congress ministers to meet AICC chief Sonia Gandhi and are camping at New Delhi since Thursday awaiting an appointment from the Congress chief. This remark from Islam came at the backdrop of the Mamoni Raisom Goswami-led peace efforts to bring the proscribed ULFA to the negotiating table. When asked about the burning influx issue, Islam said, "The infiltration issue is in fact a serious concern for Assam. But the drama which was created by the BJP and the AGP in the six districts of upper Assam is nothing but election tactics applied by both of them together. The people whom they claim to be Bangladeshis are people from the flood affected areas who have ventured to upper Assam in search of job opportunities. They are the people who have been living in Assam since ages. The 2001 census shows clearly that the growth rate of Assam is less then the national growth rate."

"I don’t think that the IM(DT) should be repealed. It will create a problem for the indigenous people of Assam. The police will harass the innocent people without any reason. If the citizen register of 1971 based on the 1951 census is upgraded and identification cards issued subsequently the problem will be solved. In fact, the issue was discussed in the tripartite talk between the Centre, the State and the AASU. The AASU, too, had agreed to it," he added. Denying any rift within the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee, Islam said, "Tarun Gogoi is doing a splendid job. Golam Osmani, being a senior leader, should not have made the statements against Gogoi and the State Government. If he (Osmani) had any problem he should have discussed it with all the members of the minority community. But he never discusses it with the MLAs nor the MPs. So we must not concentrate much on his statements. He is accusing that the government is doing nothing to safeguard the minority people. I completely disagree with him."

When asked to comment on the BJP’s claim that it would form the government in the next elections said that the BJP can never do it alone. "They may win some seats as they have done in the past, in coalition with the AGP. Moreover they cannot gain the support of the minority community," he added. Regarding the flood problem, State minister said that the cost factor for various flood control measures counts to around Rs 25 crore in his district alone. "Around Rs 100 crores is required to develop all the flood affected districts and to make them flood-free," he added.