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07/24/2005: "Greater Nagaland' could jeopardise peace IANS"


Greater Nagaland' could jeopardise peace IANS
KOHIMA: Tribal separatist leaders on Saturday warned that the peace process in Nagaland could be hit if the Indian government failed to concede their demand to merge Naga inhabited areas in the northeast. The statement by the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) comes ahead of a fresh round of talks between the rebel leadership and government negotiators to discuss the extension of a ceasefire that expires July 31. The meeting is likely to be held outside India although the date and the venue have been kept a secret.
"The meeting is crucial although we cannot predict now if the ceasefire will be extended or not. It depends entirely on the Indian government's attitude," NSCN leader R.H. Raising said. "If New Delhi takes correct steps, then we do not see why the truce cannot be extended by another year. But if a negative approach is taken, the peace process will be jeopardised," Raising told IANS.
The NSCN-IM led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah is engaged in peace talks with the Indian government. It signed a ceasefire with New Delhi in August 1997. The NSCN is the main rebel group in Nagaland.
There have been at least 40 rounds of negotiations since the ceasefire began although the talks have been deadlocked, with the Indian government virtually turning down the group's demand for redrawing the map of the northeast. The NSCN, the oldest and most powerful of around 30 rebel groups in India's northeast, wants a "Greater Nagaland" by slicing off parts of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh that have sizeable Naga tribal populations. The governments of Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh have already rejected the NSCN demand. But the rebel leader said: "Unification or merger is not a demand but the historical right of the Nagas and we expect the Indian government to abide by the commitment and assurance given to us.
"There is no meaning in simply extending the ceasefire if there is no commitment from the government to have a negotiated settlement to the problem. "We have committed to transform from guerrilla warfare to political warfare and now believe in hammering out a negotiated political settlement," Raising said. "Unless compelled, we are ready to abide by our commitment for peace through negotiations. Or else we have to take our own steps."
Nagaland, where more than 25,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency since India's independence from Britain in 1947, is a Christian majority state of two million people.

Meiteis resort to humanitarian angle in campaign? Nagas question Indigenous status of Meiteis? athili KOHIMA, JUL … (EMN)
While sounding resolute not to budge on the Naga demand to be a politically separate entity, the Meitei strategy against the economic blockade is being tuned towards giving a helpless image in the valley. Having entered the fifth week of the embargo on all economic goods to the Imphal valley, roughly making up 10 percent of the state’s area, representatives from assorted groups have reportedly reached different cities of India and begun mobilising public opinion against the Nagas. Similar to the 2001 episode wherein the Meitei lobby quite succeeded in gaining support from the Assam side in imposing a counter movement on the Nagas, leaders have been touring again with the hope of playing on sensitivities by harping on the indivisibility of territories. Nagas on the other hand have refused to buy the “excessive geopolitics” employed by the Meitei propaganda machine, which they say, takes advantage of the overwhelming resolve to keep India ‘intact.’ Ridiculing the assertion on the Meitei “Right to Self-Determination”, a senior member of the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) said the dominant community is itself a contradiction.
So “Why do they (Meiteis) refuse to allow Nagas to self-determine their future then?” if they also believe in the concept (of Self-Determination), he counter posed a question.
“This is a contradiction,” he said, and warned that Meiteis have begun to make inroads at international level discourses and used such platforms to discredit the Naga movement. He said the Meiteis, especially some NGOs, have begun asserting at international forums claiming to speak on behalf of the Indigenous Peoples.
“Do they fit into the definition of Indigenous (Peoples) at all,” he went on.
The current Indian approach of categorising a community as Indigenous is based on whether such a group is conferred the status of a Scheduled Tribe. Lately, this categorisation has seen changes with a more complex derivation emerging and has created some confusion.
It may be recalled that Meitei representatives have been attempting to insert the two words “Territorial Integrity” in global indigenous peoples rights declarations and other United Nations documents, with the hope of sounding a death-kneel to those seeking a trans-boundary transformation of conflicts, including that of the Nagas.
Closer home analysts say, these two words are also used to nullify and undermine the Naga movement as a section of the underground appear to have agreed to work jointly with other groups with the understanding that the territorial integrity of states existing currently within the Indian Union will be maintained. The exact contents of such a term of engagement, though not known, have been a matter of debate and confusion, they say.

Rishang discusses ANSAM issue with Governor From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, July 23 – Rajya Sabha MP and former Manipur Chief Minister Rishang Keishing yesterday met Manipur Governor Dr SS Sidhu to discuss the ongoing imbroglio between the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) and the State Government over the declaration of June 18 as state holiday even as the economic blockade called by the student’s body entered its 32nd day. Talking to pressmen after the meeting, Keishing said that there is a high possibility of an early solution to the present impasse as ANSAM had expressed their eagerness to talk with Chief Minister O Ibobi and the Governor Dr SS Sidhu on the issue. The student body had reportedly called him on Thursday asking him to help initiate such a dialogue.
Condemning the blowing up of the bridge over Irang river in Tamenglong district by suspected ANSAM supporters a few days back, Keishing said that he had advised ANSAM to restrain from committing acts of violence to press their demands. He had also told the students body that if such violent activities continued, the situation will get out of control and they will be booked under the law. The former Chief Minister also praised the people of Manipur, especially the Meiteis, for exercising restraint during the economic blockade.
ANSAM had launched a non-cooperation movement and enforced economic blockade on the two lifelines of the state – the highways – urging for the revocation of the declaration of June 18 as a state holiday. The State Government declared the day as ‘State Integrity Day’ in memory of 18 persons who lost their lives to safeguard the territorial integrity of Manipur in June 2001 uprising sparked off by the extension of the ceasefire between the NSCN-IM and the Government of India “beyond territorial limits” of Nagaland. The agitation turned violent in the four hills district headquarters of the state – Ukhrul, Tamenglong, Chandel and Senapati – on July 9 last following rumours of the shooting and assault of two blockade supporters by Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) personnel the previous night. Both the IRB personnel were suspended and jailed immediately. The enraged public in the four hill district headquarters took to the streets and burnt down as many as 20 government offices and set fire to official documents in eight other offices. Ten persons, mostly in Ukhrul, homeplace of NSCN-IM supremo Thuingaleng Muivah, were injured in the melee. Chief Minister Okram Ibobi had on numerous occasions invited ANSAM for talks, but ANSAM had insisted that Senapati should be the venue of the talks.

Clarification on Nagalim memorandum From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, July 23 – Rajya Sabha MP and former Manipur Chief Minister Rishang Keishing has clarified that he had signed a memorandum which spoke of the wish of all Nagas to live together, and not a memorandum on ‘Greater Nagalim’. Talking to newspersons at his residence yesterday, the three-time Chief Minister said that there was no mention of ‘Greater Nagalim’ or Manipur in the memorandum but spoke only of the wish of the Nagas to live together. The controversial memorandum on Naga integration submitted to Prime Minister Dr Manmohon Singh recently was also signed by all Naga ministers and MLAs of Manipur besides Keishing and Manipur Outer Parliamentary MP Mani Charanamei. The other signatories are Manipur Cabinet ministers Gaikhangam and Francis Ngajokpa and MLAs A Aza, Behring Anal, D K Korungthang, Wungnaoshang Keishing, Danny Shaiza, Henry Paotei, RK Theko, Samuel Zendai and Mangaibou. The memorandum called for strengthening the ongoing peace talks between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM). Affirming the support of the signatories, the memorandum further reads, “in the case of territorial integration of the Naga areas, we believe that it is a sincere quest and basic fundamental right of the Naga people to be under one political entity and live together. We therefore fully support the aspiration of the Naga people for integration.”
Keishing said, “By nationality, I am an Indian, I am also a citizen of Manipur, and a Naga by birth. Why should I try to harm any of these three? I am not ashamed to be called an Indian, or a Manipuri or a Naga.”
Emphasizing the need of all communities in the state to live together in harmony, he said, “Be they Meities or Nagas, it is wrong for the people of this state to want to live as disjointed, separate groups. Let us try to live together in peace and harmony.”
Further calling upon all communities not to think of themselves alone, but to try to live together, he clarified that he was the last person to sign the controversial memorandum, after asking for the removal of all controversial, suspicious elements in it.

KOHIMA, JUL … (EMN)
The Baptist and Catholic Church have been alleged of continuing to maintain predictable positions by limiting their intervention to appeals for lifting the blockade.
“They are not addressing the core issues that matter and keep on harping disengagement rather than going into the root causes,” says a young Naga student at Senapati. The 23-year old man who says he professes Christianity quit college to get into the movement said, it was important that the Churches went into the roots of the problems, rather than preach peace alone.
“Peace is what everyone aspires for,” Bunio agrees. However, he questions whether the continued objection to the Nagas assertion to live as a unified people by the Meiteis has to be overlooked.
“We do not mind criticisms (over the blockade and destruction of public property),” he said.
However, according to Bunio, the media, civil society and the Churches would not try to understand, what he calls, Manipuri (Meitei) arrogance and denial to achieving a genuine aspiration of the Nagas. Referring to the reported statement of the Catholic Church in Manipur issued by Rt. Rev. Archbishop Joseph Mittathany over the blockade, he said the time has come for the Church to give a hearing to the sufferings of the people.
“You preach that the sufferers and downtrodden be helped. But you would not ‘question’ why they were in that situation,” is how he posed back at the Catholic Church leader. He said the solution to the current impasse did lay in enabling the Nagas to come together as a people.
“The agitation has gone beyond revoking the declaration (June 18 as State Integrity Day).
We are not going back this time (on Naga unification),” he asserted.
The Nagaland Baptist Churches Council (NBCC) had described the blockade as a shortsighted measure employed as the age-old relations between the communities was threatened.
The NBCC went one step further describing the Manipur Government’s declaration holiday on June 18 as insensitive and lacking prudence.
It had urged both sides to settle the dispute through peaceful means and relieve the people of the effects of the blockade. However, opinion among student leaders is that the impasse could now only when the will of the Nagas to unify within one administrative unit is achieved.
“Can we try and understand what pushes a people to resort to measures such as the one seen in Manipur,” queried back a senior leader in Kohima on being asked to give his views.
He said real life conditions that does not necessarily express itself in acts of literal violence.
“Our brethren (Nagas in Manipur) have had to put up with intense social, economic, cultural and bureaucratic domination for decades and this is violence too,” he added.

Insurgency in Nagaland and region are supported by "church and the ISI": Bajaj
Oken Jeet Sandham - Asian Tribune
Kohima, 24 July, (NEPS): Several prominent speakers in the national seminar on the "Impact of changes in religious demography with special reference to tribal areas" held at the Mewar Institute, Ghaziabad today expressed serious concern on the fast changing "demography" which, they warned, was a serious threat to "national security."
Presenting his paper, Dr JK Bajaj of Center for Policy Studies and also author of famous book-Religious Demography of India---alleged that the insurgency in Nagaland and other North Eastern States were supported by "church and the ISI." He also stated about the "extraordinary increase in Christian population in Nagaland, Mizoram and other North Eastern States."
Virag Pachpore, Chief Sub Editor of the Hitvad, Nagpur and eminent author of various books highlighted how Christian missionaries helped Naga underground NSCN (IM), challenging the integrity of India. He also referred to the strategically importance of Nagaland in the field of "international security."
SK Kaul, Retd Member of SC &ST Commission also informed how Arunachal Pradesh had been the victim of "evil design of Christian missionaries in the recent years, which was noticed during his recent visit to the State. He stated there was forced conversion in "Changlang and Tirap districts of Arunachal Pradesh and NSCN (IM) is behind it."
Lt Gen (Retd) DB Shekatkar, who had served army for 25 years in the region, said that due to illegal migration from Bangladesh the national security was at stake and unlawful activities created law and order problem for the forces. He felt the need for immediate steps to check the "Muslim influx." Arvind Netam, former Union Minister said the Government of India in league with State Governments should immediately plan for effective control of Bangladeshi Muslims influx. He said the country was partitioned on religious ground and further cautioned that "we may face similar situation in future if not controlled. "It is the need of the hour to enlighten the society about this problem and the Government of India should take immediate steps to check illegal Muslim migration from Bangladesh," he pointed out. He also asserted the conversion of innocent tribal to Christianity had created multiple social problems in the family and the society at large, endangering the security of India. Col (retd) RS Jassal from Manipur also disclosed that one thousand Madrassas without any registration were planted throughout the North Eastern Region which, he asserted, was the "center of Muslim terrorism." - Asian Tribune –

Non unification of Nagaland could jeopardise peace Gulf times Published: Sunday, 24 July, 2005, 12:45 PM Doha Time
KOHIMA: Tribal separatist leaders yesterday warned that the peace process in Nagaland could be hit if the Indian government failed to concede their demand to merge Naga inhabited areas in the northeast. The statement by the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) comes ahead of a fresh round of talks between the rebel leadership and government negotiators to discuss the extension of a ceasefire that expires July 31.
The meeting is likely to be held outside India although the date and the venue have been kept a secret.
“The meeting is crucial although we cannot predict now if the ceasefire will be extended or not. It depends entirely on the Indian government’s attitude,” NSCN leader R H Raising said.
“If New Delhi takes correct steps, then we do not see why the truce cannot be extended by another year. But if a negative approach is taken, the peace process will be jeopardised,” Raising said. The NSCN-IM led by Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah is engaged in peace talks with the Indian government. It signed a ceasefire with New Delhi in August 1997. The NSCN is the main rebel group in Nagaland. There have been at least 40 rounds of negotiations since the ceasefire began although the talks have been deadlocked, with the Indian government virtually turning down the group’s demand for redrawing the map of the northeast.
The NSCN, the oldest and most powerful of around 30 rebel groups in India’s northeast, wants a “Greater Nagaland” by slicing off parts of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh that have sizeable Naga tribal populations. The governments of Assam, Manipur, and Arunachal Pradesh have already rejected the NSCN demand. But the rebel leader said: “Unification or merger is not a demand but the historical right of the Nagas and we expect the Indian government to abide by the commitment and assurance given to us. “There is no meaning in simply extending the ceasefire if there is no commitment from the government to have a negotiated settlement to the problem.
“We have committed to transform from guerrilla warfare to political warfare and now believe in hammering out a negotiated political settlement,” Raising said.
“Unless compelled, we are ready to abide by our commitment for peace through negotiations. Or else we have to take our own steps.” Nagaland, where more than 25,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency since India’s independence from Britain in 1947, is a Christian majority state of 2mn people. – Indo-Asian News Service

Only nominal security provided to state truckers in Nagaland The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 23: After enduring heavy showers of stones and slingshots all along NH-39, around 70 trucks carrying essential commodities made it to Imphal late this morning.
At least one handyman was seriously injured after sustaining a direct hit from a slingshot while passing through Kohima in the wee hours today, while several others suffered minor injuries. Most of the trucks also had their windshields broken. According to the truckers, the worst attacks took place in the Nagaland sector of NH-39, particularly the Kohima area, with the escort provided by the Nagaland police remaining as silent spectators.
The injured handyman, Sapam Lakhikanta, 21, of Khongjom bazar, who has been discharged after treatment at hospital, said countless numbers of slingshots and stones were hurled at the truck convoy while passing through Kohima at around 2:30 am today, and he was hit in the head by one of them. Truckers who talked to IFP said the Nagaland police escort did nothing to dissuade or disperse the attackers, not even bothering to stop their vehicles. The trucks were attacked by blockade supporters at several places in Nagaland apart from at Kohima. In the Manipur section of the highway too, blockade supporters tried to impede the convoy by pelting stones, but the police and MR security escorts dispersed them by firing in the air. Reports said security forces were forced to fire in the air at Chakumi village, and in the New Karong area to disperse blockade supporters. The trucks which reached Imphal tankers include 20 oil tankers, while six are carrying LPG cylinders. In the meantime, the empty trucks which left Imphal yesterday afternoon also came under attack at several points along the highway from Karong to Kohima, particularly in the Mao to Khuzuma stretch, where they had to halt briefly for security exchange. The outbound trucks reached the Assam gate beyond Dimapur this morning, but remain stuck there owing to a three-day bandh called in the Karbi-Anglong area, according to a report. Another report says that a large number of trucks bound for Manipur are sheltering at Jorsabat and Nau-mile area on the Assam-Meghalaya border unable to decide whether to proceed along NH-39, or along NH-53, where traffic has been disrupted owing to the destruction of the Irang bridge. Another 55 or so Imphal-bound trucks are currently stranded at Jiribam, according to another report.

Left asks govt to restore normalcy in Manipur IANS
NEW DELHI: Left parties on Saturday sought the central government's intervention to bring back normalcy and end the current impasse in Manipur following a blockade by the All Naga Students' Association of Manipur (ANSAM). In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, the four-party Left Front demanded urgent steps to ensure normalcy and availability of essential commodities in the violence-hit region. "Despite the best efforts made by the state government to overcome the economic blockade started on NH (national highway) 39 and NH 53 by ANSAM, the situation has not improved," said a letter signed by leaders of the Communist party of India-Marxist (CPM), the Communist Party of India, the Revolutionary Socialist Party and the Forward Bloc.

"The blockade continues (since June 20). The same organisation called ANSAM has claimed responsibility for breaking the bridges on NH 53," the letter noted. The parties pointed out that essential commodities were also not reaching the state, with rice being sold at Rs.50 a kg and diesel at Rs 80 a litre.
"It is as if the people of Manipur are in a state of siege," the Communist leaders said. The state government's attempts to end a dragging militant blockade by bringing in food and medicines suffered a setback after guerrillas blew up a key bridge over an alternative highway earlier Saturday. The blockade is being enforced by the ANSAM in support of a demand for unification of all tribal Naga-dominated areas in Manipur with "Greater Nagaland", a concept mooted by the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland.
Trial after 54 years - and finally justice By Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Machang Lalung, 77, was arrested sometime in 1951 from his native village of Silsang in eastern Assam's Morigaon district in northeastern India. There are no official police records now to pinpoint the crime for which Lalung was put behind bars, expect for a document that indicates he was booked under section 326 of the Indian Penal Code. This section pertains a non-bailable offence for "voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means". If found guilty, the maximum penalty under this provision is 10 years in prison.
After his arrest, police shifted Lalung to a mental asylum in northern Assam's Tezpur town, and since then he has been languishing there without ever facing trial. Lalung was declared fully "recovered" by the Tezpur mental asylum authorities way back in 1967 in a letter sent to Guwahati Jail officials. But the officials sat on the letter. In May this year, Lalung was shifted to Guwahati Central Jail. It was then that the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took up his case and pleaded for his release. And as luck would have it, the case came up for hearing for the first time this month at the chief judicial magistrate's court at Kamrup in Guwahati.
Lalung was eventually freed with a token personal release bond of Rs.1 with magistrate H.K. Sarma terming his case as "unusual".
"This is a situation where neither the executive nor the judiciary can shirk or skip responsibility on technical grounds. It is the question of life and liberty of a person who has been in judicial custody for 54 years in a mental hospital and who was not brought before the court to face trial even long after his recovery from mental ill-health," Sarma said in his judgment. "If we insist on technicalities (no police records of the crime) none but justice will be the casualty," he said in his verdict. Lalung is a free man today, but does not remember much about his past.

World Bank and NACO fund for AIDS prevention
KOHIMA, July 23:To assess the need and extend their support a team from World Bank and National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) officials will be visiting Nagaland this week in connection with Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS. The team will be interacting with the Heads of Government Departments during their stay between 24-27 July will provide financial help that may be required at various levels in order to contain further spread of HIV infection as the country launches into NACP Phase III by the year 2006. In view of this, a meeting has been called under the Chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary and Development Commissioner in his office chamber on 25th July.
Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Nagaland, Rajiv Bansal informed in a circular informed that all the invited members will be available during the brief interactive session and will offer valuable suggestions. As one of the action plans of the Multi-Sector response to HIV/AIDS, the Nagaland State AIDS Control Society will train resource groups from the various Government Departments beginning from the fourth week of August 2005. All the departments have been asked to identify 10 officers each in this regard and send the names to the Commissioner and Secretary, Health and Family Welfare and Chairman Nagaland State AIDS Control Society latest by 10th August 2005.

Ball still in state govt’s court, insist ANSAM The Imphal Free Press

Kohima/Dimapur Jul 23: The agitating All Naga Students' Association, Manipur, ANSAM, while expressing concern for the general public in Manipur who are facing hardship due to the indefinite economic blockade, has put the whole blame on the O.Ibobi Singh led government for the prevailing situation. The ANSAM today stated that it felt sorry for the people because they are facing immense hardship due to the indefinite economic blockade but maintained that it has not given any kind of commitment to anybody with regard to talks between the government and the Naga students although several invitations have been coming from the government side. The outcome of the ANSAM marathon meetings which began yesterday and continued till this morning, has not been spelt out to the media.
"We did not give our commitments to anyone whether we will talk to the Manipur government or not," said ANSAM spokesman Ngachonmi Chamroy while informing to Newmai News Network this afternoon adding, "however, ANSAM has been always ready for talks with the state government.We have even gone to the extent of proposing to have talks with the state government at one of the hill districts i.e.at Senapati taking into consideration of the prevailing situation but for the reason best known to the Manipur government, it had refused to reciprocate in the same spirit as we to resolve the issue".
The ANSAM while putting the whole present imbroglio held responsible by the Manipur government, has expressed its great concern for the general public, saying, "we share the inconveniences and immense hardship faced by the general public in Manipur due to our indefinite economic blockade imposed on the national highways.
We ( ANSAM ) are trying very hard to find ways and means to bring solution to the present problem and for that we are working hard to persuade the state government so that sanity prevail. And in our endeavour in this direction,we appeal all the social organisations/NGOs and the general public to pressurise the state government not to put the cart before a horse by being adamant not to revoke the June 18 declaration as State Integrity Day ( as holiday )".

Irang bridge reconstruction to be completed today The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 23: Reconstruction work on the Irang bridge on NH-53, destroyed by supporters of the ANSAM-supported economic blockade on July 20 morning has been taken up on war footing, and officials supervising the work have expressed confidence that it would be completed by tomorrow evening. A team of mediapersons which visited the spot today found the work going on in full swing under the supervision of BRTF and Army officers, with the required bridge-building material having already arrived from Jiribam and Imphal. The work is being taken up amidst heavy security, with MR, IRB and Assam Rifles personnel deployed in the immediate vicinity of the site. The CO, 5th MR and deputy CO, 2nd IRB, are currently camping near the spot.

Major HS Billing, an Army engineering officer supervising the work, assured mediapersons that the work would be completed by tomorrow evening, allowing resumption of traffic by Monday.

PWD Jiribam AE, Y Anilkumar, informed that the entire stock of bridge-building material at the Jiribam PWD stores have been used for the construction, along with material sources from the 25th BRTF, Imphal. He also informed that there are no immediate plans to salvage the portions of the old bridge that have fallen into the river, as it is in spate. Steps would be taken to recover the material once the water level goes down, he informed. The chief of Irang Toubam village, Dingthaorei Golmei, whom reporters met face-to-face for the first time since the destruction of the bridge, said on the night of June 19, some 20 to 30 persons came to the village in four or five Gypsies. They identified themselves as ANSAM supporters, and disclosed that they were there to dismantle the bridge, Golmei said, adding that when he objected, he was told it was none of his business and not to interfere. He said the youths forcibly kept all the villagers indoors, and started dismantling the bridge using blow torches.

Golmei made it clear that none of the villagers supported the ANSAM move in destroying the bridge, pointing out that they had already been facing difficulties owing to the economic blockade, and the destruction of the bridge had compounded their difficulties. If the government had delayed in reconstruction of the bridge, it is possible that deaths could have occurred in the village, he said. Assam Rifles DIG JP Alex, who visited the site today, assured that AR personnel would be deployed to guard the bridge after its reconstruction.

Kohli made BJP Gen Secy for Manipur and Nagaland Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, July 23 – Avinash Kohli was today appointed BJP's general secretary (Organisation) for the states of Nagaland and Manipur. This was decided at a meeting of the party's office bearers and Parliamentary party leaders presided over by party President L K Advani here, BJP sources said.

The first meeting of the senior party leaders, after the recent controversy surrounding RSS demand that Advani step down, also passed resolutions on internal security and economic situation in the country. The resolution was earlier proposed to be passed at the party's National Executive meeting in Chennai, which was deferred to September. – PTI
Manipur bears brunt of Naga ire the Statesman Statesman News Service
Imphal, July 23. — Manipur continued to remain in tension as the indefinite economic blockade launched across Manipur’s two lifelines ~ NH 39 and NH 53 ~ by Naga students’ organisations entered the second month today. With Manipur government trying to open the little-used NH 53 as an alternative route to transport essential goods, the All Naga Students’ Association in Manipur and its allies in Nagaland have stepped up their agitation. A convoy of 51 goods trucks despatched by the Manipur government to ferry essential goods today came under attack from the blockade’s supporters in Nagaland despite the Nagaland government being told in advance by the Centre to ensure the safety of the trucks bound for Manipur.
At least 30 trucks bore the brunt of the attack. Some drivers were seriously injured. Bandh supporters pelted stones and used catapults to attack the convoy last night near Dimapur.
Centre urged to restore normalcy in Manipur NET News Network
Guwahati, July 23: The Left parties today asked the Centre to take urgent steps to restore normalcy and ensure that essential commodities reach people in the trouble-torn Manipur in view of the of the blockade imposed by All Naga Students Association. In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, leaders of four Left parties sought Centre's intervention to end the "present impasse" and extend full security and protection to the two national highways, NH-39 and NH-53, and restore road and other modes of communication.
They observed that despite best efforts by the state government, the students' association has been blocking highways and had even claimed responsibility for breaking the bridges on NH-53. The letter, signed by Prakash Karat (CPI-M), A B Bardhan (CPI), Debabrata Biswas (Forward Bloc) and Abani Roy (RSP), said essential commodities were also not reaching the state with rice being sold at a rate of Rs 50 per kg and diesel at Rs 80 a litre.
Consensus must on influx issue: Sangma By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, July 23: Former Lok Sabha speaker and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader PA Sangma suggested for a consensus approach to the vexed issue of the illegal migrants. "All political and apolitical organizations of the State should sit together to work out a common policy and strategy for addressing the issue," he said. However, the minorities should not feel insecure in the wake of the post-Supreme Court verdict striking down the IM(DT) Act, added Sangma, while talking to The Sentinel here today. Earlier on the day, Sangma inaugurated the two-day political training camp organized by the youth wing of his party. Addressing the party workers, he said, "Adequate protection to the minority communities and tolerance of the majority section of the society are the two key factors behind the success story of the uninterrupted parliamentary system of India." On the recent ‘rapprochement move’ of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Coordination Committee of the minority organizations, Sangma said any step to restore the peace and mutual understanding among the communities should be welcomed. Where the post-IM(DT) political scenario is concerned, Sangma said the apex court verdict will certainly have an impact on electoral politics in the State. The State executive committee of the NCP is slated to meet in the next week to discuss in detail about the political impact of the Supreme Court verdict on IM(DT) Act, he said, adding that the stand of the party on the matter will be finalized in the meeting.
Now air cover for security forces to fight terror! (Source : Press Trust of India Sunday, July 24, 2005, New Delhi: Security forces engaged in fight against militancy and insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir, north-east and naxalite-infested areas will soon be able to call for air cover to give them an upper hand in operations. Government is also considering providing mobile phones to security forces deployed in remote areas besides inducting more modern weapon and communcation systems, Home Minister Shivraj Patil said.
"Air cover will be available to para-military and state police forces for evacuating injured personnel and, if necessary, for operational purposes," he said. Asked about steps being taken by the Government to modernise police forces, which, at times, were in a position of disadvantage while dealing with militancy, Patil said, "this (use of air power) is a change in the thinking and strategy".
The Home Minister said at present, the Border Security Force (BSF) had six to seven helicopters which could be used by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), India Reserve Battalions (IRBs), Shasastra Seema Bal (SSB) and other para-military forces and state police forces for operations.
"The police forces can also seek helicopters from the armed forces if required," he said.
As part of the modernisation drive, the Centre was making avaialble better weapons to match the fire power of militants besides providing armoured vehicles and advanced communication equipment to the security establishment/
NBCC calls for peaceful settlement of Manipur crisis
Kohima: The Nagaland Baptist Church Council today appealed for peaceful settlement of the Manipur crisis even as the Naga Students' Federation accused Manipur of trying to 'glorify' violence and 'provoke' the Nagas. "The Nagas and Meities of Manipur have been good neighbours and it is the responsibility of leaders to nurture the spirit of friendship,'' the NBCC said in a release here. The NBCC termed the declaration of June 18 as 'integration day' by the Manipur government as 'proof' of the government's 'short sightedness'. The declaration had propelled the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur(ANSAM) to launch an indefinite economic blockade in Manipur from June 19 pushing the state to the brink of collapse.

The NBCC, however, urged the Nagas not to resort to the economic blockade since it would not solve the issue. Meanwhile, in a statement NSF president V.Phushika Awomi said the students would not give in unless the 'democratic' demands of the people were met. The Federation asked the respective organisations to go back to the state and work out a solution at the earliest.

Referring to the meeting at Guwahati on July 20, Mr Awomi alleged that Manipur-based organizations like Apunba Lup, All Manipur Students Union(AMSU) and others were camping at Guwahati and campaigning against Naga integration. The NSF informed AMSU and Apunba Lup in the meeting that it would suspend or withdraw the agitation only after the Manipur government withdrew its decision of declaring June 18 as 'integration day'. The NSF president also denied allegations that the NSCN(IM) was involved in the agitation. [UNI]


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