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08/06/2005: "Manipur crisis continues despite Patil's assurance"




Manipur crisis continues despite Patil's assurance



Imphal, Aug 5 (IANS) Manipur's people are seething with anger as they accuse New Delhi of ignoring a 45-day highway blockade that has triggered an acute shortage of essentials, medicines, cooking gas cylinders and fuel. The state of 2.4 million people, bordering Myanmar, is virtually under siege with the Nagas holding Manipur to ransom since June 20 by calling an indefinite economic blockade.
"The patience of the people is being tested to such an extent that very soon violence might erupt with commoners like us taking the law into our own hands," warned youth leader Dhiren Singh in the state capital Imphal.
"Only if the state goes up in flames will the central government react. Otherwise New Delhi will remain silent and do nothing to break the deadlock," Singh told IANS. A litre of petrol is selling anything between Rs.75 and Rs.85 and that too is not easily available. A cooking gas cylinder is being sold for a whopping Rs.750, as against the usual price of between Rs.280 and Rs.290. The National Highways 39 and 53, the two arterial land routes through which Manipur gets supplies of essentials from outside the state, mainly from Assam, have remained blocked with truckers refusing to ply their vehicles for fear of attacks by supporters of the blockade.
Under pressure from the opposition, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil Thursday told parliament that all steps would be taken to ensure that supplies of essentials reached Manipur immediately.

"Why could the central government not take this step of ensuring supplies to Manipur before? Does it require political intervention to react? Why does New Delhi take so long to react," asked T. Brajeshwar, a community elder. Despite Patil's announcement, there are no immediate indications for an end to the impasse until Friday afternoon with army and paramilitary authorities yet to get any official instructions to clear highways. The All Naga Students' Association of Manipur (ANSAM) had called the economic blockade, preventing trucks carrying essentials and other supplies from entering Manipur. All vehicles from the rest of India have to pass through Nagaland and Assam to reach Manipur. There is also a strong presence of Nagas along the highway linking Manipur via Assam.

The blockade by ANSAM was to protest Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh's decision to declare June 18 as State Integration Day and a holiday to mark a mass uprising by the majority Meitei community four years back. At least 20 people were killed and hundreds wounded on that day in 2001 during a protest against the central government's decision to extend a ceasefire with the Isak-Muivah faction of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) beyond Nagaland and to cover Manipur. New Delhi later revoked the ceasefire extension directive. Chief Minister Singh's announcement irked Nagas as they say the decision was against the wishes of the tribal people who are keen on accepting the NSCN-IM proposal for merging Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur into a proposed "Greater Nagaland".

There are some 500,000 Nagas in four districts of Manipur.Attempts by the Manipur government to break the blockade failed in recent weeks with the central government virtually directing army and paramilitary soldiers not to use force while trying to clear the highways.This has been seen as an attempt to appease the NSCN-IM with whom a ceasefire has been on since August 1997. [Syed Zarir Hussain]



All Naga Students'' Association of Manipur (ANSAM) running a blockade .... AUGUST5 Manipur is at a standstill. It is now a state that has been under siege for more than six weeks with the All Naga Students'' Association of Manipur (ANSAM) running a blockade on NH-39 and NH-53, the two lifelines of the state. Many would blame Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh for the mess. It was his government's announcement of making June 18 the State Integration Day and a holiday to commemorate the popular uprising by the Meiteis that day four years ago, it was to commemorate the sacrifices made by 18 youth in an agitation to press for withdrawal of extension of the ceasefire with NSCN(IM) to the state in 2001.

This declaration triggered off the ANSAM blockade, it began on the midnight of June 19. The ANSAM's point is that the state government's declaration goes against the “spirit'''' of the demand for integration of Naga areas. The Nagas are all backing the NSCN(IM) idea of integration of all Naga-inhabited areas, whether in Assam, Manipur or even beyond the Indo-Myanmar border.

“It's the duty of the state government to ensure that the highways are free but he has miserably failed. It amounts to violation of the basic rights of the common man,'''' fumes Chaoba Singh, a former Union minister, who now heads the state unit of the BJP. All efforts to reopen traffic on NH-39, that links Manipur with the rest of India through Nagaland, have failed miserably with the Manipur Chief Minister failing to convince his Nagaland counterpart, Neiphiu Rio, to help him out. The two in fact ended up in a blame game with Rio reportedly justifying the solidarity extended by various Nagaland-based NGOs to the ANSAM bandh as a “brotherly gesture to the Nagas''''.

With NH-39, that links Manipur with Assam through Nagaland, remaining blocked since June 19, movement of essential items, foodstuff, fuel, life-saving medicines etc, has stopped. On any normal day, at least 400 trucks ply between Assam and Manipur. The other highway, NH-53, that links Manipur with Guwahati via Meghalaya and the Barak Valley in south Assam, however, was first opened after large-scale deployment of troops on July 18, to be closed again within 24 hours as suspected NSCN(IM) cadres damaged a vital bridge on the Irang river, about 120 km from here, by using a gas welding device. [Kiran Chaube, indiadaily]



NSF flays IRB action

KOHIMA, Aug 5: The Naga Students' Federation (NSF) today condemned the Indian Reserved Battalion's (IRB) ''provocative actions'' against the student volunteers, who were enforcing economic blockade on NH 39. In a release, issued by NSF vice-president Imchatoba Imchen and social and cultural secretary Worthing Horam, said the Nagas' ''struggle to defend their birthrights cannot be crushed by any brute force''.It said the IRB personnel, who are also Nagas, acted more like enemy.

Maintaining that it was pointless to confront fellow Naga brothers and sisters, the NSF said the IRB action was trying to save their ''selfish positions'' at the cost of Nagas by ''exploiting their ignorance.'' Regarding the blockade, it said the volunteers have only been showing their resentment through democratic means against the ''oppressors'' and also to express solidarity with the fellow southern nagas whose birthrights were being threatened by the Manipur government. The NSF also questioned the seriousness and commitment of the Nagaland government on the Naga integrity issue in the wake of its contradictory actions. It appealed to the Naga police personnel to exercise self-restraint and cooperate with it for the cause of the Naga children.

UNI

India airlifts food, medicines to blockaded Manipur

GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - India airlifted tonnes of food and medicines on Saturday to the remote northeastern state of Manipur where tribesmen campaigning for a separate homeland have blocked roads and cut off supplies for nearly two months.

Naga tribesmen living in Manipur began the blockade on June 19, leading to a severe shortage of food and fuel in the state's capital Imphal.

The Nagas are demanding that all Naga-dominated areas in the northeast be united in a "Greater Nagaland". A third of the three million-strong tribe live in Manipur and two other northeastern states, and the rest in neighbouring Nagaland.

Manipuris strongly oppose the division of their state.

On Saturday, four Indian Air Force (IAF) cargo planes brought about 40 tonnes of medicines, edible oil, sugar, pulses and other supplies to Imphal after the state sought federal help, a senior official said.

"The air force carried out a civic action at the request of the civil authorities and under instructions from New Delhi," an IAF official told Reuters.

Eyewitnesses said hundreds of soldiers in full combat gear surrounded the airport as flights landed and handed over the consignments to civil officials.

Hundreds of goods-laden trucks are stranded on Manipur's highways and a fuel shortage has caused long queues in several parts of the state.

Naga tribesmen have intensified their blockade despite the fact that leaders of a rebel group -- the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) -- and Indian officials extended a seven-year-long ceasefire by another six months last weekend.

"Our movement will continue till our main demand in resolved," said Paul Langhu, chief of a Naga students' union that heads the agitation in Manipur.

The Nagas have been fighting for freedom since 1947, when India got independence from Britain.

More than 20,000 people have died in nearly 60 years of Naga insurgency before the ceasefire came into effect in 1997.

Manipur echo in Nagaland OUR BUREAU the telegraph

Kohima/Imphal, Aug. 4: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio is facing the same predicament as his Manipur counterpart following a clash between police and students early this morning. Continuing protests against the decision of the Manipur government to declare June 18 as state integration day, nearly 40 activists of the Naga Students Federation enforced a blockade on National Highway 39. The activists pelted stones on a convoy of 30 goods-laden trucks, shattering the windshields near Phesama checkgate and damaged a police vehicle. An argument ensued between the police and students in which two students were held.

The trucks from Assam were provided security escorts by Nagaland and Manipur police. The police said a jawan of the Indian Reserve Battalion was injured when a stone hit him in the head. The students alleged that IRB jawans assaulted one of their activists who fell into a nullah. “This government is playing a double game to remain in power,” said NSF president Phushika Awomi. Awomi said the IRB had assaulted the NSF “volunteers”. The police, however, did not agree. Kohima superintendent of police Martin Pienyü said his men were exercising restraint and did not even take action against the students who were throwing stones. “We found 10 petrol bombs and catapults,” he said. Drivers said they faced trouble at several places inside Nagaland and Senapati district of Manipur. The IRB personnel reportedly fired in the air while the convoy was passing through Senapati district to scare away blockade supporters who hurled stones at the passing trucks.

The Nagaland government is keeping silent on the issue. Though Rio has promised adequate security to the truckers, there have been no words of advice for the students. The Nagaland chief minister has instead accused the Okram Ibobi Singh government of treating the minority communities in a stepmotherly manner. The Naga Hoho has extended unequivocal support to the NSF’s economic blockade as the issue has turned into one for demand of integration of Naga areas. The NSCN (I-M) claimed it was not involved in the blockade but has extended “moral” support to the All Naga Students Association of Manipur and the NSF. Home minister Thenucho was unavailable for comment.

SUDDEN DISQUIET: BLOCKADE, MANIPUR

In Manipur, it’s either the militants’ way or the national highway Blockade by Naga students forced CM to ask Army to clear it, no sign of more forces despite assurances from Home Minister in Parliament IMPHAL, AUGUST 5: Twenty-four hours after

Home Minister Shivraj Patil announced in Parliament that security forces have been asked to end the blockade of the national highways in the state, Manipur was still waiting. In fact, the Government’s indifference can be gauged from the fact that NH-53, believe it or not, has been under the control of various underground outfits for over seven years. Ask any Army officer about how the security forces finally ‘recovered’ and reopened NH-53 that links Imphal with the rest of India — via Assam’s Barak Valley and Meghalaya — from the grip of militant groups, you get a chilling account. The security forces in Manipur, where there are over 20 different underground armed outfits, have no hesitation to admit this fact. ‘‘The NH-53, from Jiribam to Kaiphundi, had been under underground domination for over seven years,’’ says Maj Gen GG Dwivedi, GOC of the 57 Mountain Division engaged in counter-insurgency operations here. The question that no one is willing to answer is why no action was taken for such a long time. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO), a wing of the Army that was supposed to maintain the 225-km stretch between Imphal and Jiribam, had stopped work when a superintending engineer and several other personnel were kidnapped by militants in October last year. That had made the Army admit that ‘‘the fear of extortion and kidnapping had prevented construction activities on this vital lifeline.’’

But it was only when the All Naga Students’ Association of Manipur (ANSAM) launched an economic blockade on the two highways — NH-39 and NH-53 — on June 19 that everybody woke up to consider reopening of NH-53. And that too happened only when Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh found that it was not easy to ensure safe passage of traffic on NH-39, which links the state with Assam through Nagaland, because various groups in Nagaland had already extended their support to the ANSAM blockade. So, he had to make a formal request to security forces to clear NH-53. It took three days for the Army to clear the 21-km stretch between Jiribam and Kaiphundi, during which at least 15 IEDs were neutralized. That the highway was under the ‘control’ of the NSCN(IM) — which is supposed to keep its cadres in designated camps under the ceasefire ground rules — is clear from a statement made on July 26 by Brigadier J P Alex, commanding a brigade in the area. He claimed his troops had ‘‘pushed back’’ the NSCN(IM) cadres from the Keithelmanbi-Oinamlong stretch with no casualties on either side.

Brig SS Rana of the 57 Artillery Brigade too has claimed to have ‘‘pushed back’’ cadres of the NSCN(K) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) from a 40-km stretch between Jiribam and Kaiphundi, neutralizing 49 IEDs on the route. Similarly, Assam Rifles has said it had smashed an NSCN(IM) hideout located about 30 km from its operational HQ at Nungba. Thanks to pressure from the Chief Minister, the security forces have now set up 15 new posts along the 225-km stretch of NH-53 between Imphal and Jiribam. ‘‘With the BRO pressing into service over 500 labourers and the Army and Assam Rifles extending support, NH-53 is now free from the grip of militants,’’ says Lt Col S D Goswami, Defence PRO here. Even before the present operation to clear NH-53, the Army was operational in three of the state’s five hill districts — Churachandpur, Bishenpur and Chandel — taking six months to clear the ‘‘liberated zone’’ declared by the armed rebels. The Army also destroyed 35 IEDs laid along the roads in that operation and claimed that the UNLF had suffered a lot in this operation. Also cleared was Henglep, a town that was under siege of another outfit, MPLF, for six years. Such was the situation that the administration had virtually withdrawn. It was only after the Army cleared the ‘‘siege’’ that the administration started functioning.

Same old fiddling The blockade of Manipur defies the idea of an integrated India Regional sensitivities. This is the official reason, proffered by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, as to why the Government of India remained in deep freeze even as Manipur remained under siege for over 40 days. But surely there is nothing particularly new about the simmering tensions in the region over the demand for a Greater Nagaland? Surely it is the job of the home ministry to remain alert to the possibility of these tensions spilling over and creating a situation of breakdown? And surely regional sensitivities cannot be cause for inaction?

Take the current situation caused by the economic blockade of Manipur imposed by the All-Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM). There were several moments in the genesis of this particular stand-off when the Centre could have intervened effectively to tamp down incipient hostilities. It could have, for instance, advised Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh, not to go ahead with his spectacularly misguided project of announcing June 18 as ‘state integration day’. How can the official government of a state be allowed to actually celebrate a moment in its history when the legislative assembly was torched in the name of regional pride? This is a foolhardy attempt to play with the emotions of the people, on both sides of the divide. There must, after all, be a more benign way for the Meities to convey their disquiet over the Naga peace process.

Then, again, once the blockade occurred, the Centre should have been swift in dismantling it before the ANSAM dug itself in. Now other disgruntled interests, like the Kukis, have also discovered how useful a blockade can be, and are threatening to follow suit. It was with great difficulty that the army could finally secure NH-53, connecting Imphal with Guwahati. If action had been taken promptly, the situation could have been under control by now and Manipur’s citizens could have been spared their present ordeal. The blockade of Manipur defies the idea of an integrated India and reveals, once again, the lethargy of the Centre to issues relating to the Northeast.

Naga rebels, government extend ceasefire, doubts linger Indian catholic

New Delhi (ICNS) -- India’s northeastern region seems heading towards grim days after a rebel group in Nagaland and New Delhi managed to extend their 8-year-old truce only for six months. The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) and the government have agreed to extend the truce for only six months after it ended on Sunday, July 31. Earlier the two groups extended the truce on a yearly basis after they agreed on a ceasefire. The latest agreement came after a two-day talk in Amsterdam that ended July 30. The two sides then issued a joint statement reaffirming “the need to extend the ceasefire and to intensify the peace process.”

NSCN-IM leader Thuingaleng Muivah represented the Naga group while government’s special emissary K Padmanabhaiah represented India. Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State for Programme Implementation and the leader of the ministerial group negotiating with the NSCN (I-M), was also present in Amsterdam The statement noted that the ceasefire has been extended for six months since the Naga group plans to hold “extensive consultations” with the Naga people who are spread in several states in the region. The NSCN-IM is reportedly unhappy over the Indian government’s failure to address its main demand -- unification of all Naga areas in the region.

The group wants to create a Greater Nagaland or Nagalim, incorporating parts of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and Manipur state where Naga people live in large numbers. The governments of these states have rejected the demand. Manipur faced several days of unrest after non-Naga people protested the Naga plan. The latest round of peace talks began last December after Muviah arrived in India along with his group’s chairman Isak Chisi Swu. Until Muviah left for Amsterdam on July 4, the two sides had held at least 13 rounds of talks. Swu had left in February. Before the Amsterdam talks began, several groups had expressed doubts over the ceasefire extension as the Naga demand for unification deadlocked the negotiations. Now, Muivah has decided not to return to India immediately but go to Bangkok instead, reports the Kolkata-based The Telegraph newspaper. The rebel leaders now plan to hold consultations with various Naga groups in the Thailand capital, before deciding to come to India for further peace talks. The NSCN is the oldest of about 30 rebel groups in the troubled region. Unlike in the past, the ceasefire extension has brought little cheer in Nagaland.

Padmanabhaiah told The Telegraph that the government was willing to extend the ceasefire by another year. “But then the NSCN (I-M) leadership felt that it wanted to consult various shades of Naga opinion. So they said in the first instance they would agree to extend the ceasefire only by six months,” he added. But the developments in Manipur seemed to have upset Muivah. The Nagas of Manipur have blockaded Imphal Valley in protest against the Ibobi Singh government celebrating “state integrity day”. They see it as an affront to their demand for a unified Naga homeland.
Muivah said on telephone from Amsterdam that he had wanted to restrict the ceasefire to only three months. “But the government representatives felt that would be interpreted as a deadline for a solution. There could then be additional problems at the end of three months. However, it is not as if we agreed to six months because of their fears. We wanted to give ourselves enough time for wide-ranging consultations,” he insisted. Muivah said he had told the Indian negotiators that the situation in Manipur “encompasses all Nagas” and not only those living in the hill districts of the state. He suggested that the issue “should be resolved through dialogue but the venue for talks should be New Delhi and not Manipur.”

Earlier, an NSCN-IM leader announced in Dimapur that the outfit is committed to peace and would do whatever it takes to continue the talks. The Naga outfit has also accused the government of violating the agreement by killing several of its cadres in the past few years. An NSCN (IM) statement 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 region.

Governor to inspect NH-53 on Aug 8 IAF to transport 20 tons of essential items including medicines, rice and fuel today By Our Staff Reporter Sangai
IMPHAL, Aug 5 : One day after Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil assured the Lok Sabha that essential commodities may be air lifted to help the people of Manipur cope with the economic blockade, the Indian Air Force is set to transport 40 tonnes of essential commodities to Imphal tomor- row morning. On the other hand, to get a first hand account of the developmental works being taken up along NH-53 by the BRTF, Governor SS Sidhu is set to tour this route on August 8.
Speaking to The Sangai Express a well placed source said that the goods to be brought in by air tomorrow include rice, sugar, lentils, fuel and life saving drugs. The quantity of life saving drugs was tentatively put at 700 kgs. The latest development comes in the wake of a fax message received by Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh yesterday evening, from the Union Home Ministry, to submit a priority list of goods that may be air lifted.
The goods were to be transported today, but due to some factors it was postponed to tomorrow.
The consignment is expected to reach Tulihal airport tomorrow morning at about 8, said the source.
Starting tomorrow, essential commodities will be transported by air to ensure that the State has sufficient stock of essential commodities to last a month. Meanwhile a well placed source said that the Governor will tour NH-53 for an overall review of the law and order situation and the developmental works along this route. The Governor will personally assess the security measures being taken up along this route in the backdrop of the dismantling of the Irang bridge some days back, added the source. He will also study the developmental works being taken up by the BRTF to make this route pliable for goods laden trucks. Giving details, the source said that the Governor will have his lunch at Nungba, spend the night at Jiribam and come back the next day by air to Imphal.
The State Government has also put forward its best foot to complete the work of opening NH-150. The task of opening this highway has been entrusted to the 36 BRTF.
At the moment security cover is given only along a 40 km stretch of the highway from Churachandpur. The developmental work along this stretch is nearing completion.
Efforts are on to deploy more troops beyond this stretch, said the source adding that the State Govt has taken up plans to connect this route with the Jiribam Tipaimukh road, said the source.

Students meet CM
IMPHAL, Aug 5 : A student delegation comprising of AMSU, DESAM and MSF representatives today called on Chief Minister O Ibobi Singh to demand the unconditional release of two student activists arres-ted in connection with the Pebam Chittaranjan Mangang self immolation case. According to MSF president, the CM assured the student delegates of taking up necessary steps to release Khomdram Sanamacha and Lei-shangthem Meiraba at the earliest. The joint student team during their meeting this afternoon also pre-vailed upon the CM to find an early solution to the ANSAM blockade, con-veyed the MSF president.



Flogging a dead horse
It is now more than 40 days since June 18 came and went and while the economic blockade imposed by the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur is still in force, the parties on either side of the June 18 divide seem to have missed out on the all important point. ANSAM has launched its agitation on the premise that the Government should revoke its decision to declare June 18 a State holiday while the other side, such as the United Committee Manipur, has made it clear that the Government should not revoke its decision on June 18. The stand and wisdom taken by either side on the issue is understandable but so far there is nothing to indicate that both sides have actually understood the finer points of the contentious issue at hand. June 18 has come and gone and there is no way that the Government can now revoke its declaration for the simple fact that June 18 has not been included in the Government Gazette of State holidays. This in other word means that the June 18 declaration expired the moment the clock's hand struck 12 O'clock midnight of June 18. This again means that the debate surrounding the June 18 declaration will amount to flogging the dead horse. It would have made matter more clearer if ANSAM had demanded that the State Government should not continue with the status granted on June 18 in the coming years and likewise it would have made sense if the votaries of June 18 declaration had demanded that the State holiday be included in the Government Gazette from next year. It would have made more sense if ANSAM had imposed the economic blockade before June 18, the moment the Chief Minister announced the June 18 declaration in the early part of June. However none of this has happened and this more than makes it clear that the issue may have something much more to do than with the status granted on June 18.
It is but expected of a Government of Manipur to stand by the territorial integrity of Manipur and however much we would like to pillory the Chief Minister for allowing the matter to fester for so long, Mr Okram Ibobi Singh did not commit such a heinous crime as ANSAM would like the world to believe. A Government is there in the first place to protect the interest of the State which it governs and as much as Mr Nephiu Rio will go to protect the interest of Nagaland and the Naga people, we also expect Ibobi Singh to protect the interest of Manipur and the Manipuri people. Our stand on the matter is clear. The debate over June 18 has gone on endlessly and meaninglessly for the fact stands that the status granted on June 18 by the Chief Minister has expired now. There is no point in holding the people to ransom over an issue which is no longer there. Or if the debate is to have any meaning, then the two sides should look beyond 2005 and talk about the coming years and forget about the question of revoking the Government's declaration or not. At the moment, the ice seems to have been broken and we would like both ANSAM and the Government to see where and how a solution can be worked out. The people have suffered long enough.



Manipur to knock UN door NET News Network
Imphal, Aug 6: Forum for Citizen for Security and Essential Commodities (CSEC) will be submitting a charters of memorandum to UN High Commission on Human Rights and others on the rights to food and essential commodities during the present crisis in Manipur. The CSEC in a statement circulated to the media today states during the one day workshop held in Imphal on June 5, deliberating on the situation arising out of the ongoing economic blockades imposed by ANSAM and other civil bodies on two national highways- 39 and 53, the CSEC said guided by objectives to fight scarcity of foods and other essential items, escalation of prices and to discourage all armed or unarmed groups from using the denial of food to any population as a pressure tactics to bargain for any interest groups it had resolved to make recommendations to UN, PMO office, Manipur Governor and Chief Minister, MHRC and Naga civil society. The CSEC in its recommendation to UN Special Rapporteur on Right to Food - to apprise on acute scarcity of food and to invite special rapporteur to Manipur during his forthcoming visit to India in August end. As observed by Supreme Court, the CSEC urged Government of India to deal the blockades with urgency, judiciously and effectively and to for providing highway protection force on national highways including improvement of roads, shifting of FCI godown at Dimapur to Jiribam in Manipur, increase trade items and its volumes coming from Myanmar.

The CSEC has also urged state government to take legal action against to those groups blocking flow of food and others items reaching Manipur. The recommendation includes on food, medicines, roads, fertiliser and oil products. On the recommendation to Manipur Human Rights Commission, it had urged to take up the matter and take necessary action for the protection and promotion of the rights to food and others essential items. Lastly it had urged the civil society groups of North East region (particularly Naga society), encompassing ethnic communities, should abstain from using pressure tactics to pursue any form of demand by denying any community of their most basic rights to food and essential items.

Indian Air force plane lands in Manipur NET News Network
Imphal, Aug 6: Eight Indian Air Force cargo plane carrying forty metric tones of food grains touched down at Imphal Tulihal airport today to regulate free flow of essential commodities supply to the people owing to the 49 days old indefinite economic blockades on both national highways by ANSAM. The All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) have been imposing economic blockades for the last one and half months demanding revocation of June 18 holiday described as Manipur Integrity Day by the state government as it hamper to the very idea of integration of Naga inhabited areas into a single administrative units or Greater Nagalim. The state government had declared June 18 as holiday to pay homage to the 18 persons who fell to security bullet while demonstrating for safeguarding territorial integrity of Manipur in the backdrops of NSCN (IM) and GOI cease fire extension to Manipur without territorial limits.

As for the day, the first IAF-AN 32 cargo flight touched down at Tulihal airport at 10.45 am this morning carrying twenty metric tones of sugar from Guwahati. Seven more IAF cargo plane made theirs landing carrying medicines, pulses and edible oils till this evening. The arrangements have been made with instruction from Home Ministry and the ferrying of good done through Director General of Assam Rifles. According to Th.Ratan, director FCS who received the consignment at the airport today said for the food grains received today will be sent to respective DC's of the nine districts for distribution to the people. And for the moment all stocks will be deposited at FCS godown at Sangaiporou. Though he maintained that all food materials received today will be not be sufficient he was hopeful that more flight will be coming. He also added that fifty good laden FCI trucks will be coming in to Imphal latest by tomorrow. It can be mentioned that the airlifting of food items comes in the wake of Home Minister Shivaraj Patil assurances to Lok Sabha that essential commodities will be provided to the people of Manipur to cope economic blockades. Regarding the matter Manipur chief secretary Jarnail Singh received fax messages from Home Ministry yesterday to sort out priority list of items to be airlifted. In the meantime, Manipur governor Dr.Shivender Singh Sidhu will be touring NH-53 on August 8 to oversee the development work taken up BRTF authorities as well as security aspect along Imphal-Jiribam road stretch. He will return to Imphal the next by Imphal-Silchar flight, according to report.

Umananda island seat to ULFA meeting NET News Network
Guwahati, Aug 05: Although security forces are keeping no stone unturned to make any attempt of militant’s to disrupt the forthcoming Independence Day in the state unsuccessful, few startling discoveries about ultra’s movement and strategy have become matter of great concern for the security bosses. Guwahati, the Mecca of security agencies in the state, if reports are to be believed stands most vulnerable to militant’s attack on the eve of I-Day. After the confession of an arrested ULFA cadre Romen Medhi that 10 numbers of PTD, grenades and Time devices have been sneaked into the city to carry out subversive activities, more volatile information have reportedly rocked the city police. On July 28, the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) had reportedly held a very important strategic meeting in Umananda Island near Guwahati straight under the city’s security noses to chalk out strategies for the forthcoming I-Day. The island is also seat to one the most venerated temple of the state, Umananda Temple. The report gained strength because Romen Medhi during his interrogation reveled that ULFA’s self styled Lieutenant Biju Chakraborty was also present in the city during that period along with his sister Tulika Medhi another hardcore cadre of the outfit.

As a consequence of the meeting, elaborate security arrangement has been made in and around vital installations in the city including Deputy Commissioners Office, Deputy Commissioner’s residence and Senior Superintendent of Police residence. An intercepted message in Meghalaya also indicates that a ULFA group under the leadership of Ranjit Hazarika of dreaded 109 Battalion is planning to carry out subversive activities in Guwahati, Nagaon and Mancachar area bordering west Garo Hills in Meghalaya. The militants are suspected to target VIP’s on move and Petrol pumps. Taking no chances, district administration in coordination with concerned departments has already started crackdown on vehicles with tinted glass and unauthorized use of Red lights in the city. It may be recalled that recently ULFA while flaying Centre’s procrastinating attitude towards the peace process reiterated that the outfit would carry on with revolutionary work “without waiting for government’s response”.

Meanwhile, suspected United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants today lobbed grenades at a CRPF camp this evening at around 6:30 injuring five persons including a CRPF Sub Inspector at Tongla town. The whole area was engulfed in darkness as load shedding was on. Identity of the four injured excluding the CRPF personnel is yet to be ascertained. The injured CRPF personal is T.S Negi.

India airlifts food, medicines to blockaded Manipur

GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - India airlifted tonnes of food and medicines on Saturday to Manipur where tribesmen campaigning for a separate homeland have blocked roads and cut off supplies for nearly two months. Naga tribesmen living in Manipur began the blockade on June 19, leading to a severe shortage of food and fuel in the state's capital Imphal. The Nagas are demanding that all Naga-dominated areas in the northeast be united in a "Greater Nagaland". A third of the three million-strong tribe live in Manipur and two other northeastern states, and the rest in neighbouring Nagaland. Manipuris strongly oppose the division of their state. On Saturday, four Indian Air Force (IAF) cargo planes brought about 40 tonnes of medicines, edible oil, sugar, pulses and other supplies to Imphal after the state sought federal help, a senior official said. "The air force carried out a civic action at the request of the civil authorities and under instructions from New Delhi," an IAF official told Reuters. Eyewitnesses said hundreds of soldiers in full combat gear surrounded the airport as flights landed and handed over the consignments to civil officials. Hundreds of goods-laden trucks are stranded on Manipur's highways and a fuel shortage has caused long queues in several parts of the state. Naga tribesmen have intensified their blockade despite the fact that leaders of a rebel group -- the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) -- and Indian officials extended a seven-year-long ceasefire by another six months last weekend.

"Our movement will continue till our main demand in resolved," said Paul Langhu, chief of a Naga students' union that heads the agitation in Manipur. The Nagas have been fighting for freedom since 1947, when India got independence from Britain. More than 20,000 people have died in nearly 60 years of Naga insurgency before the ceasefire came into effect in 1997.

ULFA not to attack civilians on Independence Day Ians Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service Guwahati, Aug 6 (IANS) The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Saturday promised not to target civilians during the Aug 15 Independence Day celebrations in Assam this year.

"Let us hope the Independence Day passes off peacefully. We have no intentions to target anything that affects civilians," said Pradip Gogoi, vice chairman of the ULFA. Gogoi is currently in jail and was talking to journalists outside a local court in Assam's main city of Guwahati where he came to face trial on charges ranging from murder to sedition. The announcement of a peaceful Independence Day has come as a relief to the security forces, with the ULFA last year having triggered a powerful landmine blast at an Independence Day parade in eastern Assam's Dhemaji town where 20 people were killed, most of them students. "The Dhemaji incident last year was an accident," Gogoi said.

The ULFA is a rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese homeland in Assam since 1979. The outfit earlier this week threatened to step up its armed campaign if New Delhi ignored its offer of peace talks. The ULFA has offered to hold talks with the Indian government if its main demand of 'sovereignty' or independence is discussed. There were two attacks by the ULFA this week targeting security forces in which a paramilitary trooper was killed and seven critically wounded in separate incidents. The latest incident occurred late Friday when suspected ULFA rebels lobbed a hand grenade at a paramilitary camp, wounding two soldiers.

"We also have no reports this time of the ULFA planning attacks aimed at causing civilian casualties in the run up to the Independence Day. But we are apprehending some stray attacks on security forces," a senior Assam police official said requesting anonymity. Security forces are on alert across the state, guarding vital installations, including oil refineries, railway stations and other government buildings. Militants in the insurgency-hit northeast have for years been boycotting India's Independence Day and Republic Day celebrations to protest New Delhi's rule over the vast region rich in oil, tea and timber. The run-up to the events has always been violent, with rebels striking vital installations, including crude oil pipelines, trains and road and rail bridges, besides targeting federal soldiers. The ULFA is among one of the powerful rebel outfits in a region where more than 30-odd guerrilla groups operate with demands ranging from secession to autonomy and the right to self-determination. The ULFA is yet to announce a boycott of the Aug 15 celebrations this year.


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