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07/29/2005: "New Zeliangrong outfit ‘non-existent’, says NSCN(IM)"

New Zeliangrong outfit ‘non-existent’, says NSCN(IM) The Imphal Free Press
Dimapur, Jul 28: Countering the charges made by the newly floated outfit, Zeliangrong Revolutionary National Front against it, the NSCN-IM, Zeliangrong region has dismissed the group as being ‘non-existent’ In a press note issued by MK Winning, the NSCN-IM, Zeliangrong region, also denied its involvement in enforcing the ANSAM blockade, stating that it had been falsely painted by the NSCN-K as being directly involved in the ongoing economic blockade along the two national highways. The statement further maintained that the Zeliangrong Revolutionary National Front floated by K S Guangsilung "is a non-existent organisation.
"If at all there be, it is a fictitious name created by the Khaplang gang at the behest of the United National Liberation Front. Therefore the Zeliangrong people, in particular are informed to remain well guarded against such dummy gangs and their activities now and in future", cautioned the statement. The statement further said that "such futile attempts are likely to be propagated by certain disenchanted elements among the Nagas like the biblical false prophets in the last days."
The statement asked K.S.Guangsilung to "come out in the open and hold face to face talk over your abortive issue at the earliest" adding with a warning note "you (Guangsilung ) may at best retract and be lost into oblivion forever before things go out of hands and the NSCN cannot be held responsible of any consequences".
Coming back on the ANSAM sponsored economic blockade, the statement of NSCN-IM, Zeliangrong Region denied its involving in the agitation saying that NSCN-IM's major general Markson, MIP deputy kilonser K.Chawang and Miss Salem who is the chairperson of the women wing of the NSCN-IM paid a brief visit to Tamenglong to assess the law and order situation and "it was just a matter of coincidence that the economic blockade volunteers resorted to taking action during their (NSCN-IM leaders) stay in the district headquarters".
The statement also said that CAO of the Zeliangrong Region MK Winning, most of the time was stationing at Tamenglong as the place being one of the main sensitive zones in the Zeliangrong Region. "If the NSCN is to comment on the present ANSAM sponsored economic blockade then the outfit is not against the decision of the Naga student body if it concerns the interest of the Naga public aspirations", asserted the statement.

Dimapur Nagas rally for unity The Imphal Free Press
DIMAPUR, Jul 28: The need for peace and unity among Nagas echoed today among the congregation gathered at a lightning solidarity rally on Naga integration movement called by various Dimapur based Naga NGOs at City Tower junction in Dimapur. Almost all the speakers made a call to the Nagas to remain united. Speaking on the occasion, C. Daipo, finance secretary, Naga Hoho, said that for long the aspiration of the Nagas have been to live together as one people under a single political roof for all round growth of the Naga people and integration doesn’t mean that the Nagas from Manipur, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Myanmar have to leave their present places and live in Nagaland. Reiterating that the Nagas are not living in others' land but they are living in their own land, village and area, Daipo said that it is up to the Nagas to decide their own future by the themselves.
Urging the Nagas to give total heart to heart cooperation and unity to achieve what the Nagas are fighting for, Dimapur Naga Council member, W. Mero, while delivering his speech on behalf of senior citizens of Dimapur, also said “every one needs integration and for this Naga gave their blood for the Nagas, not only Nagas living in Nagaland but Nagas settled everywhere” and went on to say that the Nagas should be united and work together to bring a solution and advocated it by adding that time has come for the Nagas to be united and fight for their rights.
The president of the Naga Women Hoho, Tiala Sapuh in her speech stressed that integration issue should not only be limited to territorial integration alone but every Naga should be integrated first in spirit, only then the Nagas can comprehend what they are seeking for.
W.H Maring, speaker, U/A Naga Students Federation, read out a memorandum which was addressed to the prime minister of India, which was later handed over to Bie-u Angami, ADC, Dimapur, at his office chamber, who accepted on behalf of Deputy Commissioner, Dimapur. R. Francis Anal, councilor, Naga Council, who read out a speech on behalf of Savi Liegise, president, Naga Council, and general secretary of GBs association also spoke in the rally while the representatives from NPMHR could not attend the rally due to their other engagement. Earlier, the programme was chaired by Obed Quinker, president, DNSU, invocation prayer was pronounced by Rev. Namrai Hungyu and the vote of thanks was delivered by Mejeing Gonmei, general secretary, DNSU.

‘Questionnaire’ an attempt to feel out people’s pulse: AR The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Jul 28: Reacting to media reports that security forces have been distributing a questionnaire seeking feedback on the Nagalim issue among villagers in some hill districts, The Assam Rifles has clarified that a patrol of the Assam Rifles as part of a routine activity had carried out an informal interaction with civilians in the area of Saikul. The aim of the interaction was to feel the pulse of the public about the ongoing situation in the state, a statement issued by the Assam Rifles said, noting that the ongoing economic blockade has affected the life of the common man due to scarcity of essential commodities as conveyed by the locals.
It said the officer leading the patrol explained to the public the need to maintain peace and tranquility in spite of the hardships, and clarified that no threats or coaxing had been done.
The statement, maintaining that the Assam Rifles is there to maintain peace and tranquility and not to sow any seeds of discord, said the incident has been misunderstood and misinterpreted by the media.
It further contended that the newspaper reports were a clear distortion by interested parties with an aim to damage the image of Assam Rifles in the area.

Mystery Naga quiz stumps Manipur Student unions move United Nations for intervention in economic blockade OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, July 28: Restive Manipur was saddled with a new crisis after Kuki villagers of Senapati district claimed to have received a questionnaire from the Assam Rifles, seeking feedback on the Naga demand for integration of areas inhabited by the community. Plagued by controversies, Assam Rifles authorities were quick to deny that anybody from the paramilitary force had distributed questionnaires among residents of Kuki villages in Saikul, one of the three subdivisions of Senapati district. The rebuttal, however, only added to the tension over their origin. Village chiefs said some Assam Rifles personnel distributed the questionnaires and asked them to deposit the documents, duly filled, at the Saikul post of the paramilitary force. Captioned “Feedback on merger with Nagaland”, each questionnaire contains 10 queries. The questions are: Is Nagalim a practical reality? Should Naga-dominated districts of Manipur merge with Nagaland? What will be the status of other ethnic minorities in Naga-dominated hill districts, if merged with Nagaland? In case Nagalim becomes a reality, should it remain part of India or seek independence? Is the economic blockade by ANSAM the right step towards taking the Naga cause to the forefront of state and national politics? Do you support burning of district administrative offices as part of the economic blockade/non-cooperation movement? Will resignation of Naga MLAs help the Naga cause in Manipur? Do you feel you will be better off as part of Nagaland? Do you support the extension of the ceasefire between the security forces and the NSCN (I-M)? Do you support the ethnic cleansing of non-Nagas from the hill districts of Manipur?
A Kuki organisation submitted a copy of the questionnaire to chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, who then asked the state home department to probe its origin. Anxious heads of Kuki villages said they feared a backlash from whoever was behind the campaign. On the other hand, Assam Rifles PRO Col Anil Kumar Mathur ruled out the possibility of any unit of the paramilitary force being involved in it. As chaos struck the Kuki belt, three major student organisations moved United Nations secretary-general Kofi Annan for his intervention in the Naga economic blockade that has choked the state’s supply lines. The All Manipur Students’ Union, the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur and the Manipuri Students’ Federation stated in their memorandum that the blockade since June 19 had resulted in an acute shortage of essential items and life-saving drugs. Giving details of the blockade and its impact on the people, the organisations said the United Nations was their last hope because the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur, the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) and Delhi were “together”. In a related development, speakers at an open-house discussion in Imphal called for steps to further improve the National Highway 53 — linking Imphal with Silchar — and make it the state’s main supply route. The road, which was reopened after a bridge damaged by Naga activists was repaired, had to be closed to traffic again today because of the fragility of another vital bridge along the road. Nearly 300 empty trucks had left Imphal for Silchar this morning, only to be turned back. The weak bridge over the Barak river is being strengthened, sources said.
UCM reaffirms stand on integrity, holiday The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 28: The United Committee Manipur, UCM today adopted 2 resolutions at an open house discussion held at MDU. These are: to protect and safeguard the unity and integrity of Manipur at any cost, if necessary by sacrificing lives if step to disintegrate Manipur is taken up and to urge the state government not to withdraw the declaration of June 18 as a state holiday at any cost. A state-wide signature campaign to reaffirm the resolutions began today. The one day open house discussion on the present economic blockade in Manipur was organised by UCM and presided by Konsam Lanngamba, president in charge UCM; Maibon Paomei, president ZUCAM; Yamang Haokip, general secretary Kuki Inpi; Y Devdutta, president UPF; Babloo Laishram, general secretary HERICOUN; Ibotombi Khuman, president IPSA; Ksh Bimola, MU professor and Rose Mangshi Haokip, Kuki Mothers’ Association attended. Rose Mangshi, referring to the invitation from ANSAM for talk outside Imphal, cautioned the chief minister not to repeat the most regretted act of Manipur’s history when in 1949 the then Maharaja was invited by the government of India to Shillong for talk and the Merger Agreement was signed. Asserting that the Governor is a nominal head and all problems in the state should be sorted out with the real head of the state while the ministry is still alive, she said ANSAM’s invitation for talk with the Governor was uncalled for. She urged ANSAM and other related organisations to cease the economic blockade on humanitarian grounds and adopt other democratic means to press their demands. Yamang Haokip, addressing the gathering, said that the declaration of state holiday on June 18 is not wrong and there is no hidden agenda behind it. He said that if government gives in to ANSAM’s dictate, “it will be a disgrace for all of us since the government represents us – the people”. In democracy agreements and disagreements are bound to crop up, but resorting to complete economic blockade is illegal and is equal to attempt to murder, he added.
Admitting that the people are very sentimental when it comes to territorial integrity, Lanngamba said that we should be logical and reasonable and not be carried away by sentiments. He said that if ANSAM withdraw the blockade, another organisation would start another and the only final and lasting solution would be to neutralise the NSCN-IM for ever. He referred to the NSCN-IM backed economic blockade as government of India’s double standard politics and appealed to all to stay alert. “Just like India loves Kargil, Manipuris can sacrifice their lives for Manipur’s territorial integrity”, Lanngamba said. Making reference to some organisations’ stand that the June 18 holiday is not required, he said these are the ‘black sheep’ of the larger family. He further declared that if NSCN leader Muivah can be made to change his stand, UCM will disappear from the earth’s surface.
Referring to ANSAM’s involvement in a political issue as uncalled for, Ibotombi said that as a student body, ANSAM should be working for student’s welfare. Making reference to the presence of a greater force behind, he said that if ANSAM was just a student body it should have softened its stand when the CM conveyed his regrets on the assembly floor. Babloo Laishram also urged the NSCN-IM to think beyond the Naga community and think about the region and to stop using small student body like ANSAM for its interest. He made an appeal to the civil society organisations to grow out of their selfish group interest and come together to guide the state safely out of this crucial phase. He said that HERICOUN’s stand is for all political parties, civil society organisations and students’ organisations to come together and have a closed door meeting and work for the united cause.
Y Devdutta called ANSAM’s economic blockade as a political blackmail of suppressing other communities by one community to march ahead. He said that in the recently held dialogue at Guwahati on July 14, 2005, through NESO, NSF said that ANSAM is controlled by it. This clearly shows that Nagaland is interfering in its neighbour’s politics. He said that it is very unfortunate that some organisations are creating confusions in the minds of the people as well as government by making irresponsible statements like ‘whether June 18 was declared as holiday or not Manipur’s integrity will be safeguarded’. He added that such remarks are very untimely and one should refrain from repeating them in future. Speaking as a guest, UCM founder member RK Anand said, “We will not tolerate NSCN-IM ‘s support to criminal activities”. He said that the government of India is accountable and answerable to the people as to why it is holding talks with NSCN-IM, whose demand include Greater Nagaland, after assuring that Manipur’s territorial integrity will be safeguarded. He asserted that June 18 will be a natural and permanent holiday for Manipur despite oppositions. He appealed to Muivah to understand central government’s divisive politics. Dilip, secretary organisation UCM, said that the people in the hills are also suffering the hardships of economic blockade but are keeping quiet due to the prevalence of a gun culture. He said that more than the Manipuris depend on tNH 39, the NSCN-IM depend on it since they collect Rs 15-20 lakhs daily and Rs 4-5 crores per month. He said the highway is not our lifeline, but NSCN-IM’s and very soon with the non usage on the highway NSCN-IM might cease functioning. Many of the non-meitei speakers expressed that sentiments were hurt among the tribal communities over the remark made by eminent writer M K Binodini at a function yesterday. In one of the evening papers, she reportedly used a general term for a community in relation to the economic blockade hurting the sentiments of many.
Apart from the presidium and the above speakers, there were other speakers who spoke elaborately on the issue.

IM counters charges launched by new outfit Newmai News Network Sangai
Dimapur, Jul 28 : Countering the charge launched by the newly floated outfit, Zeliangrong Revolutionary National Front against it, the NSCN-IM of the Zeliangrong Region has come out against the former by simply dismissing it as “misleading news item”.
In a press note issued by MK Winning of the NSCN-IM, Zeliangrong Region, the outfit today clarified that the NSCN-IM had been falsely painted by the NSCN-K as being directly involved in the ongoing ANSAM sponsored economic blockade along the two national highways leading to Manipur. Winning expressed regret over such misleading news item. The NSCN-IM of the Zeliangrong Region charged that the Zeliangrong Revolutionary National Front floated by K.S.Guangsilung “is a non-existent organisation.”
If at all there be, it is a fictitious name created by the Khaplang group at the behest of the United National Liberation Front (UNLF). Therefore the Zeliangrong people, in particular are informed to remain well guarded against such dummy gangs and their activities now and in future”, cautioned the statement of the NSCN-IM, Zeliangrong Region. The statement further said that “such futile attempts are likely to be propagated by certain disenchanted elements among the Nagas like the Biblical false prophets in the last days.”
The statement asked K.S. Guangsilung to “come out in the open and hold face to face talk over your abortive issue at the earliest” and added a warning note “you (Guangsilung) may at best retract and be lost into oblivion forever before things go out of hands and the NSCN cannot be held responsible for any consequences to that effect”. Coming back on the ANSAM sponsored economic blockade, the statement of NSCN-IM, Zeliangrong Region denied that it is invlved in the agitation and claimed that NSCN-IM’s major general Markson, MIP deputy kilonser K Chawang and Miss Salem who is the chairperson of the women wing of the NSCN-IM paid a brief visit to Tamenglong to assess the law and order situation and “it was just a matter of coincidence that the economic blockade volunteers resorted to taking action during their (NSCN-IM leaders) stay in the district headquarters”.
The statement also said that MK Winning, NSCN-IM, most of the time was stationed at Tameng long as it is one of the main sensitive zones in the Zeliangrong Region. “If the NSCN is to comment on the present ANSAM sponsored economic blockade then the outfit is not against the decision of the Naga student body if it concerns the interest of the Naga public aspirations”, he said.

Lift blockade appeals turn into Pol leaders bashing By Our Staff Reporter Sangai
IMPHAL, Jul 28 : While continuing to make fervent appeals to ANSAM to lift the economic blockade in order to ameliorate suffering of the common people several organisations condemned Central and State governments for failure to solve the problem. Even as the bodies highlighted shortage of essen- tial commodities and traders hiking prices taking un- due advantage of the situation Thoubal-based orga- nisations criticised Outer Manipur MP Mani Chare-namei for advocating com- munal politics in trying to project self as propagator of Naga interest.
If Charenamei is committed to ensure development and prosperity in the hill districts there is no justifiable explanation for absen- ce of any welfare program-mes taken up in hill areas since becoming a member of Parliament and empowered with MP development fund running into crore of rupees, questioned People’s Organisation for Civil Integrity and Liberty, Heirok (Thoubal district).
The organisation also reminded the MP of electorates from seven assem- bly constituencies in the valley areas as well as Jiribam voters entrusting Charenamei to address basic problems faced by the rural people instead of indulging in petty politics to remain in good books of a single community.
Moreover, had Charena-mei applied his resources in lifting the socio-economic conditions of the hill people the feeling of alienation and disgruntlement could have been addressed, observed the body while asserted that the MP’s positive role is an important ingredient in solving the ANSAM agitation.
desiring that MP Chare-namei abandon communal politics and Rishang kei-shing utilise his enviable political experience Education Guide Centre (Thoubal Moijing) questioned what additional proof does the Govt require to declare ANSAM as unlawful organisation after having dislocated Irang Bridge and a number of vehicles reduced to cinders. The Centre also observed that ANSAM is facing identity crisis as being a student organisation of Manipur the body is still adamant in calling off the blockade in the interest of the general public. Decrying Nagaland-based NGOs joining the agitation the Moijing organisation described as unfortunate silence maintain- ed by the Central Govt in-spite of the fact that people of Manipur had been under duress for over a month.
Expressing that State Govt should not oblige ANSAM demands on talks venue and revocation of the June 18 declaration while calling upon Naga political leaders to exhibit maturity in their conduct rather than mislead innocent hill people Sorbon Thingel Wo- men’s Welfare Assn (Uri-pok) appealed for restraint from all concerned to preserve the age old relation- ships amongst various communities.
Highlighting negative aspect of the ANSAM agitation Singjamei Kendra Development Assn contended that the agitation could not bring down the Govt or those at the helm of affairs. The most effected section of the society is the valley dwellers and hill people with the latter made to suffer even more as shortage of essential items in the capital districts consequ-ently mean adverse effect in hilly areas, stated the Organisation in a release.
Other social, voluntary and women bodies appealing to ANSAM to lift the blockade on humanitarian ground are Apunba nupi-lup (Heirok), United Child & Youth Development Organisation (keibi), Young Voluntary Organisation (Wangkhei), Bengoon Ma-mang Youth Welfare Assn (Mayang Imphal), The New Boys Hostel (DM College of Sc), Thangmeiband Hi-jam Leikai Ima Langol Leima Meira Paibi Assn, Kanglei Luptin (Imphal), Manipur Keithel nupi Marup (Khwa-iramband Bazar), L Mani Goura Sangeet Akademy (Wangkhem), Khurai Local Council CPI, Indian nation-al Trade Union Congress, All manipur nupi Marup, Mayang Imphal Apunba nupi Lup, All manipur Govt Hr Sec Lecturers’ Wel-fare Assn and Proletariat People’s Welfare organisation (Khurai lamlong Bazar).
Most organisations asking the State Govt not to revoke declaration of june 18 as State Integrity Day/Holiday also emphasised on expeditious develop-ment and proper mainten- ance of NH-53 in view of frequent disturbances on the Imphal-Dimapur route. Meanwhile, representatives of ten women organi- sation called on the Governor and held an hour long discussion on the prevailing situation arising out of the economic blockade. The women delegate also submitted a memorandum desiring the Gover- nor’s active participation in ensuring adequate availability of essential commo- dities including baby food, improvement/upgrading of NH-53 into a four-lane highway on war footing, sufficient security cover to drivers/transport operators and intimation to the Central govt for appropriate measures to ameliorate suffering of the common people.
The bodies are Women Education Development Association (Keisham-thong Bazar), All India Women’s Voluntary Services (Paona Bazar), All India Rural women’s Upliftment Association (Manipur), All manipur Mentally Handicapped Person’s Welfare Association (Mongsha-ngei), Family Planning Assn of India, Manipur (Sega Road), All India Women’s Voluntary Services, Manipur (paona ba- zar), Manipur Mahila Kal-yan Samiti (Deulah-land), Manipur Women’s Education Society (Singjamei) and All manipur Leimarol Marup (Yumnam Leikai).

NESO unhappy with extension of DAA Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, July 28: The North East Students's OrganiSation (NESO) has expressed shock over the extension of the Disturbed Area Act in Nagaland by another year NESO Chairman Samujjal Bhattacharjya and General Secretary N S N Lotha in a press release here today regretted the Nagaland Government's decision.
''It is in fact, an extension of another year of Disturbed Army Action and Nagaland is very unfortunate to undergo another such year,'' the release said. NESO endorsed the statement of the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights that the continuation of impunity and army excesses committed under the draconian legislation had marred the image of India.

Driver hurt in stoning at Nagaland By Our Staff Reporter Sangai
IMPHAL, Jul 28 : A driver of an LPG carrier suffered grievous head injuries when blockade supporters rained stones on the convoy of vehicles which were being brought in to Manipur under security escort at Khuzuma in Nagaland today at about 6 am. Grievously wounded, the driver lost control of the vehicle and it over turned, resulting in a number of LPG cylinder rolling down the hill side. The wounded driver is identified as Gul Bahadur Chettry of Mantripukhri. Security personnel applied first aid to the wounded driver and after treatment at JN hospital he was discharged today itself. Police source said that as the loaded truck over turned, some filled LPG cylinders rolled down the hill side. The security personnel however managed to retrieve 200 filled LPG cylinders from the truck and the same have been deposited at Mao police station.
A case has been registered at Khuzuma police station. About 103 goods laden trucks were escorted to Imphal today. These include 16 oil tankers, 22 LPG carriers and 65 other goods laden trucks.
A driver, Jit Bahadur who transported a truck load of cement, said that despite the security cover provided by Nagaland police, the drivers still face a lot of hardships and danger while crossing the highway. Blockade supporters stoned the vehicles at Dimapur, Kohima, Mao and Senapati, he said.
Car torched : A Maruti 800 car was also found burnt under questionable circumstances at a spot somewhere in Tadubi sub-division today at about 1 pm.
The car has been substantially burnt and its registration plate too has been destroyed by the fire.
Police source said that no goods were found either inside the car or anywhere around it. No person travelling in the car were also found, said police adding that no complaint has been also been lodged.

Barak bridge stalls NH-53 traffic, truck crash as trucker knocked unconscious on NH-39 The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jul 28: Traffic on National Highway-53 (Imphal-Jiribam road) has been disrupted again owing to the deteriorating condition of a bridge over the Barak river, even as altogether over a hundred goods-laden trucks arrived in Imphal along NH-39 amidst attacks by blockade supporters at several points along the route. With the condition of the ageing suspension bridge over the Barak river on NH-53 deteriorating following the passage of a large number of heavy vehicles in recent days, the concerned authorities decided to halt traffic on the route until extensive repairs can be made, reports reaching here said. Over 280 trucks which left Imphal for Jiribam this morning turned back at the Irang river after the security personnel posted there informed them not to proceed further as the Barak bridge was in bad condition and repair work was going on.

It may be mentioned, the Barak suspension bridge had reportedly sagged on one side following the passage of large numbers of heavy vehicles in the past few days. The BRTF authorities reportedly decided to carry out extensive repairs before allowing further traffic across the bridge.Reports said the repairs may take two to three days. In the meantime, a convoy of 103 trucks which set out from Dimapur yesterday evening arrived in Imphal in the late morning today after enduring attacks from stone-throwing and slingshot wielding blockade supporters all along the route. One of the trucks suffered an accident some 5 km short of Khuzuma police station, dashing against the hillside after its driver fell unconscious after being hit by a stone. The truck, carrying LPG cylinders has been left behind though the injured driver has reportedly been brought to Imphal.The identity of the injured driver could not immediately be confirmed. Despite security provision on both Nagaland and Manipur sectors, the convoy had to endure a barrage of attacks at virtually every populated settlement between Dimapur and Kangpokpi, according to the truckers.

In the Nagaland sector, even when blockade supporters forcibly stopped the trucks and destroyed their windshields, the Nagaland police escort provided to the convoy did not interfere beyond asking the blockade supporters not to do too much damage or injure the drivers, the truckers charged. Out of the total 103 trucks which reached Imphal, 16 are oil tankers and 22 are carrying LPG refills. On the other hand, the 281 vehicles which were supposed to proceed to Jiribam have been brought back to Imphal and kept at the Kangla fort. The returned drivers, talking to IFP, said they were low on fuel after the fruitless journey, and suggested that a particular oil pump should be set aside for them by the authorities so that they do not face problems when they go next time.

Looking for a Solution Source: IMPHAL FREE PRESS Posted: 2005-07-29
The blockade issue must not be allowed to harden any further. Already, it has gone much beyond its utility as a bargain instrument. Pushed into a corner, any of the sides in a conflict situation can become bitterly aggressive. It can also stiffen attitudes as everybody is witness today. As for instance, the attitude of those on the receiving end of the blockade have noticeably altered. From one of alarm, it is increasingly one of defiance, some even shedding all care if the blockade carries on for another year but refusing to accept any sell away compromise just for the sake of bringing the blockade to an end. These are harsh enough stances, let it not go any harsher. The responsibility is now on those behind the blockade as well as the chief minister, Okram Ibobi, who even if inadvertently, triggered off the controversy. All hurdles on the route to a possible resolution is not clear as yet but there are signs of a willingness to end the entangle on either side of the conflict. This opportunity must not be missed without an exploration. The All Naga Students Association Manipur, ANSAM, has clearly indicated it is for a negotiated settlement. The conditions it put forward may not be acceptable to the government, but even these conditions can become part of the negotiating process. The chief minister too has indicated he is willing to begin the process of reconciliation by sending his representatives to any of the hill districts named by the ANSAM to break the ice, and then if all works out as intended, for the real negotiations to take place in Imphal for a solution acceptable to all. This we feel is a fair enough proposal.
We are with those who believe there is nothing democratic about indefinite economic blockades, or sabotage of public property, whatever the issue at stake is. A token blockade or bandh to drive home a dissenting point is one thing, but an indefinite siege laid on any place is nothing less than an act of war. Not by way of caving in to pressure, but because a tremendous amount of precedence has been set, we do feel that the government is justified in agreeing to a negotiated settlement just one more time with even those who seek to hold it at ransom. The latest of these precedents was in the scripts agitation. In this case too, although not as effective, there was an indefinite economic blockade, trucks were burnt, so were public properties of immense value razed to the ground etc. Yet in the end, the government went in for a tame negotiated settlement. To balance off the equation of official ransom paying, it must settle this problem once more through negotiations, and then make it an official policy to have zero tolerance for any more of such agitations wherever they are. A lesson in this regard needs to be learnt, not just by Manipur, but also the whole of India, from sabotage and kidnapping prone countries like Israel and the United States.
What about the holiday issue? Ibobi should have heeded the proverb that a stitch in time saves nine. The more he delayed the issue, the more complex the problem got. The ANSAM did not help matters either by handing over the rein of its campaign to NGOs in Nagaland. Nor did the self-proclaimed democrat, Mani Charenamei, MP, with his asinine and totally unnecessary public commentary on the June 18, 2001, upheaval. Not only has the invitation of Nagaland NGOs been a provocation for similar organizations in Manipur, but the ANSAM today does not have the entire authority anymore to reach any definitive settlement on the issue on its own. The way to proceed now, as we see it, is for all the parties involved to tone down their rhetoric and abandon all posturing. These must be the precondition for a meaningful dialogue, the primary object of which must be to discover a meeting ground for ideas and aspirations. Devoid of all the rancour, and given a little more liberal inclination, the present controversy can be the beginning of a healing process of past animosities and misunderstandings. Holidays should also be to the extent possible not political, but rest days for those who earnestly work. Not too much symbols and counter symbols ought to be read into them. The trouble also is, too many people who give too little value to work, have begun giving too much value to holidays.
FEATURE - Muslim settlers fear persecution in Assam By Biswajyoti Das MOIRABARI, India (Reuters) - For more than two months, Sarifa Begum has been a virtual prisoner in her small neighbourhood on the banks of the mighty Brahmaputra river in Assam. Like many Muslim settlers in Assam, Begum is living in fear of deportation -- or even death. The gaunt 42-year-old has lost her job as a housemaid and is struggling to feed her family. "We are starving because I can't go out to work," Begum, the mother of four children and her family's only breadwinner. "We are the targets of ethnic Assamese. They will kill us if they get a chance." Begum's descendants were among hundreds of thousands of Muslim migrants who moved from former East Pakistan -- now Bangladesh -- to Assam decades ago in search of a better life.
Local Assamese resented the influx, and tensions boiled over in 1983 when Assamese, led by student leaders, killed some 3,000 Muslim settlers including women and children. In response to that massacre, the Indian government granted citizenship in 1985 to all settlers from the former East Pakistan who came to Assam before 1971. In a stroke, millions of migrants became Indian citizens. But hundreds of thousands of others, who came after 1971, remained illegal.
WAVES OF MIGRANTS Since then, hundreds of thousands more have swamped Assam, trying to escape grinding poverty in Bangladesh. They have strained resources in the oil-rich tea-growing state of Assam, and tensions have fuelled several ethnic insurgencies. Compounding the plight of Muslim migrants is the fact the national register of citizenship has not been updated in Assam since 1970. Many migrants fear that whatever documents they possess will not be recognised. Begum, herself, has an Indian birth certificate but says some Assamese groups have dismissed it as a forgery, a common complaint among legal migrants, many of whom are now calling for identity cards. In May, in response to the authorities' failure to get to grips with the problem, ethnic Assamese groups began a new campaign to oust illegal settlers. The campaign has seen thousands of Muslims flee their homes and threatened to snare millions of legal Muslim settlers like Begum. The lush paddy fields and the sandy, shifting plains of the Brahmaputra that divide India and Bangladesh are natural transit routes. Hundreds take rickety boats each week to cross the river, which at some places is five km wide, into India. The legal migrants, who now form almost 30 percent of Assam's 26 million population, are mainly farmhands or river fishermen in rural areas. In towns, they work in construction, as rag-pickers, rickshaw pullers or maids. Despite spending years as neighbours, many ethnic Assamese and migrant Muslims view each other with unease and the settlers find safety living among their own. LEGAL SHIELD WITHDRAWN Matters may become worse for the settlers after India's highest court this month scrapped a law that made deportation difficult because it put the onus of proving a suspect migrant's citizenship on the complainant. The law was framed in 1983 to prevent a witchhunt against legal Muslim settlers, but ethnic Assamese say it ended up protecting illegal migrants. With that legal shield gone, Muslim settlers are apprehensive.
"We are afraid, today or tomorrow, we will be kicked out of Assam," said Nasiruddin Ahmed, a 90-year-old retired college principal whose family came to Assam from East Bengal, now Bangladesh, more than a century ago. "We hardly move out of our settlements after dark," added Fozili Rahman, a cook who came to India before 1971. Legal settlers, who say they face discrimination and persecution because of their origins, are campaigning for identity cards so they can prove their Indian citizenship. "We have been here for generations, but our persecution hasn't stopped. Let there be some way of telling the legal migrants from illegal settlers," said Haroon Al Rashid, chief of a Muslim students' organisation. In 2002, India's then home minister Lal Krishna Advani of the nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, said there were 20 million illegal Bangladeshis in India, calling them a security risk.
Officially, Dhaka denies Bangladeshis cross into India in large numbers, saying New Delhi is harassing Indian Muslims. Assam's authorities and student leaders insist that naturalised citizens will be protected. "We are determined to push back those foreigners who have come after 1971. But at the same time, we will ensure safety and security to those who have settled earlier," said Shankar Prasad Rai, an Assamese student leader. But human rights activists fear an escalation in violence. "Immediate measures are required to assure security for all," said human rights lawyer Hafiz Choudhury.
ANSAM blockade : Whom should we fix the onus? By Ashinpou Gangmei from previous issue)

It is regretted to know that more than 20 Govt office buildings in four Naga district (i.e Chandel, Senapati, Tamenglong, and Ukhrul) have been burnt into ashes and more than 10 vehicles and properties worth of crores of rupees have been burnt during this blockade. Govt should make necessary arrangement for compensating loss of vehicles and properties to those individual concerned.
Instead of resolving the crisis with ANSAM through dialogue, the State Govt has escorted 230 trucks with heavy security escorts on the NH-53. And the next morning the Irang Bridge was found dislocated by some unidentified persons as a reaction to the adamant attitude of the Govt to concede to their demand. Of course, I do not encourage any form of violent at the same time I do not appreciate the adamant stand of the GOM to the sensitive issues concerning people of the State. Use of the force will not be the solution at this critical juncture but dialogue would help it rather. Now the State Govt is spending crores of rupees on security deployment on both the Highways, which is draining the State exchequer everyday and this could have been utilized for developmental works in difficult areas of the State. We should not forget the maxim 'stitch in time saves nine'. Of course, the State Govt has invited ANSAM for dialogue 2/3 times. The first invitation was turned down by ANSAM but it has expressed willingness to talk at the second invitation under condition, that venue of the talk should be at Senapati. The Chief Minister did not accept that condition and the blockade continues. The Chief Minister could have responded with ANSAM by deputing some of his Cabinet colleagues and the Chief Secretary. Now it has become the longest economic blockade in the history of the State. Despite repeated appeals, Govt remains adamant and uninterested for dialogue, instead it has resorted to use of force on the two National Highways. Here, I would like to put forward few suggestion for early solution to this impasse:
* Govt should declare June 18th as restricted holiday and maintain status quo.
* ANSAM should also come forward for negotiation with the Govt.
* Meitei brothers should play the role of big brother.
* The stands of some valley based NGO's like UCM, HERICON are too hard and they should also soften their stand to enable the Govt to declare June 18th as a restricted holiday. This may help to bring amicable solution to the present crisis.
* It may continue to observe June 18th as usual under patronage of NGO's like UCM, AMUCO etc.
Therefore, we all can contribute our mite and might in bringing an amicable solution to the ongoing economic blockade and redress the untold miseries and hardship being faced by the common people of both hills and plain. It can also equally serve the interest of both communities in the near future.— Concluded (The writer is a former general secretary of UNC)
Khasi Students continue pressure NET News Network
Shillong, July 28: Continuing its pressure on the Meghalaya Government, the Khasi Student’s Union (KSU) on Thursday has demanded that the designation of the ‘senior officer’ to be appointed by the state government to cater after the Meghalaya Board of School Education (MBOSE) office in Shillong should be above the rank of Joint Secretary. The KSU made this fresh demand ahead of tomorrows talk with the coalition led government on the MBSOE issue after a series of agitational programme for the past two months paralyzing the state economy and affecting three other states in the region. “Our core demand is appointment of an officer above the rank of Joint Secretary to look after the Board office in Shillong,” told KSU President, Samuel Jyrwa. Apart from their main demand, the student’s body would press the state government to fill up all post lying vacant in the MBOSE be filled up. When asked, the KSU Chief said, “We are concerned for the interest of the student community and are positive that the government would be proactive to our demands and which will simultaneously help the student community here in the state”.
Bush's bold bet on India by Jim Hoagland
Friday, July 29, 2005, New York: The United States and India have put aside their troubled past to reach far into the future with a visionary bilateral agreement that challenges both nations and the rest of the world to treat nuclear weapons and nuclear energy with greater realism than they do under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. (Source : Indian Express)
If Congress agrees to the changes in law sought by the Bush administration to put the agreement signed last week into force, nuclear energy will take centre stage from nuclear weapons in the new order of US-Indian relations, which now become crucial to constructing a post-Kyoto consensus on climate change. Energy vs arms has been an atomic trade-off dictated by the nuclear treaty for nearly a half-century — before global warming became a major international concern, and before rogue states showed they were not interested in such a trade. New Delhi and Washington give impetus both to the growing acceptance by environmentalists of nuclear energy as a lesser evil and to the Bush Doctrine of post-September 11 security. The odd status of nuclear energy as a combination risk (at least since the Three Mile Island disaster in 1979) and reward (for developing countries) mutates as fossil fuel pollution becomes a greater threat. For differing reasons, the United States, India and China are outside the restrictions of the Kyoto Protocol. Until that changes, a global climate change system will not work. For the Bush administration, this accord demonstrates the peaceful application of a national security strategy that holds that the nature of regimes, rather than the nature of the weapons they possess, will determine their relations with Washington. This is the first important diplomatic accomplishment of the George W. Bush presidency, which was as bare as Old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard in its first four years. President Bush needs to do much more to become convincing on both nuclear strategy and climate change. But it is important to recognise that his second-term team has put into place a cornerstone for far-reaching change — and did so while resisting India’s demands for formal recognition as a nuclear weapons state.
Not everyone will think that is progress. Viewed from the peculiar and selective morality embodied in the nuclear treaty, the United States has now surrendered both the moral and practical high grounds by agreeing to support India’s right to buy and develop the reactors, fuel and technology it needs for an effective national nuclear energy programme. The Non-Proliferation Treaty, which took effect in 1970, offers such advantages only to states that do not develop nuclear weapons, which India did in 1974. Along with effective diplomatic pressure from the United States and the nuclear suppliers cartel, the treaty has helped delay or prevent a number of other states from acquiring nuclear arsenals. But the pact was based on a fiction that was temporarily useful. The five declared nuclear states of 1970 granted legitimacy to their arsenals in return for pledging insincerely ‘‘to pursue good-faith negotiations’’ to abolish them. Washington, London, Paris, Moscow and Beijing intended to maintain the code of the nuclear priesthood on their own terms, as India pointed out in refusing to sign the treaty. That approach has been overtaken by the ability of other states to make nuclear weapons without the help or permission of the Big Five.
Instead of making the treaty’s shortcomings the issue, as Bush did with Kyoto and with the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty with Russia, which he abrogated, the president has simply placed the Indian-US relationship outside the treaty’s most restrictive conditions. This is realism of a high order, particularly for a president often accused of lacking realism in his foreign policy. Bush accepts the premise that the world’s largest democracy has nuclear weapons and technology that it does not intend to use against US interests. The United States has long tolerated Israel’s nuclear arsenal on the same basis and can reasonably oppose the programmes of the hostile regimes of Iran and North Korea by the same standards. Pakistan occupies a difficult, and highly dangerous, middle ground for US interests. Little in life is as theoretical as the overdrawn discussion of the importance of realism and idealism in shaping US foreign policy. All administrations apply a mixture of both that is determined as often by unexpected events abroad and political pressures at home as by grand, fixed designs. What is described as ‘‘realism’’ is frequently pure cynicism in semantic disguise, while ‘‘idealism’’ can be grievous misjudgement dressed up as good intentions. See Chile, 1973, as an example of the first tendency; Iraq today of the second.
The real dividing line in charting policy is between optimists and pessimists. Those are the qualities that determine which bets get made and which are shunned. In dealing with India as it is, and for the potential it holds, Bush shows again that he is first and foremost a historical optimist who bets big and bold.