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08/09/2005: "PM meets Naga Hoho delegation: Morung Express"
PM meets Naga Hoho delegation Morung Express News August 8
DIMAPUR: The Naga Hoho delegation, presently lodged in New Delhi, met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today. Vice President of the Naga Hoho, Keviletuo Kiewhuo, after the meeting, said that the Prime Minister had portrayed a positive outlook on the present peace talks being held between the Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah). He divulged that Singh was aware of the Naga problem and was trying to work out an amicable solution through democratic methods. Kiewhuo added that the attitude displayed by the Indian leaders they had met over the past few days was very encouraging. The Naga Hoho was also assured of New Delhi’s determination to solve the decades-old problem. Singh told the delegation that the Centre was analyzing the situation carefully and that a step by step process would be initiated to solve the problem.
While expressing serious concern over the present crisis in Manipur, Singh reiterated that a solution had to be arrived at only through peaceful means and that it was not right to open up battle-fronts. It may be mentioned that the Naga Hoho team will be leaving Delhi for Nagaland tomorrow. The team had been in Delhi for quite a few days where they had interacted with various Indian leaders on the sidelines of the Indo-Naga peace parleys.
NISC reaffirms support to Naga movement Morung Express News August 8
DIMAPUR: The Naga International Support Center (NISC), a human rights organization based in Amsterdam has reaffirmed its tacit support to the cause of the Nagas. A press release issued by the NISC stated that the Nagas had always been a free people and that they had not been subject to foreign rule as the pages of history had revealed. Moreover, the Nagas do not claim the land of others, but the reunification of the ancient land 0f the Nagas, the release added. The organization further stated that the Government of India, for the past eight years, was holding peace talks with the Naga Organizations who are capable of withstanding the Indian military while at the same time directly and indirectly embroiling the states in opposition to the reunification of the Nagas.
‘Ibobi Singh government of Manipur is intentionally imposing the arrogant will of the Meitei on the peoples of the hills, particularly the Nagas. How can one reconcile with that?’ stated the communiqué. Further, the NISC has called on both the Nagas and the Government of India to expedite serious peace talks that will benefit both the Indian Government who have to finance 2,00,000 soldiers that occupy Nagaland, and the Nagas who will reap the benefit of long desired peace.
Manipur govt delegation begins talks with ANSAM leadership [BLOCKADE-TALKS]
A state government delegation began talks with leaders of All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM), to end the ANSAM-sponsored ongoing economic blockade on National Highways passing through state, in Senapati district this afternoon, official sources said.
The delegation, led by Manipur Industries Minister N. Mangi Singh, began talks with ANSAM leaders to find an amicable settlement to end the 40-day old economic blockade on NHs, sources said.
Preliminary discussions to end the stir were held between the government side and the ANSAM representatives, sources said without giving further details.
The blockade on highways in Manipur resulted in essential items not reaching Imphal. The blockade was called in protest against the Manipur government's decision to declare June 18 every year as 'Solidarity Day' in memory of Manipuris killed in 2001 when the Centre extended the area of ceasefire with the NSCN beyond Nagaland.
The ANSAM leadership, which had called the 'economic blockade' since June 22, claimed declaration of June 18 as 'Solidarity Day' was against the move for integration of Nagas. [PTI, courtesy : Subscription - outlookindia]
UCM to launch stir from August 14
IMPHAL, Aug 6: The United Committee, Manipur, UCM has announced that it would launch a democratic people’s movement from August 14 onwards unless a definite stance is taken by the state government on the ongoing ANSAM-sponsored economic blockade by August 13 next. Speaking to mediapersons at a press conference today, the UCM organisation secretary, Yumnamcha Dilipkumar, charged that though the economic blockade has lasted over 45 days, the government was still hesitant to take definite steps to bring it to an end. How long are the people of Manipur to continue to bear the hardships caused by the blockade, he questioned. Although the Gauhati High Court has already pronounced the ANSAM sponsored blockade as illegal and unconstitutional, no steps have been taken by the government to crack down on the ANSAM activists, he maintained.
On the other hand, the preliminary talks held between government and ANSAM representatives achieved no discernable resolution, while no date has been set for resumption of the talks, Dilipkumar said, and charged the state government and the ANSAM with trying to pull wool over the people’s eyes. While observing that it was an open secret that the ANSAM blockade was launched to push forward the agenda of Greater Nagaland, the UCM leader maintained that the government of Manipur had been told by the Centre to go soft on the ANSAM agitators so as not to jeopardize the recent talks for extension of the ceasefire between the government of India and the NSCN(IM).
Accusing the state government of being the Centre’s puppet, he reiterated that the ANSAM’s activities were unlawful, and the government should have taken action accordingly. Dilipkumar said innumerable complaints from the public have been received by the UCM regarding shortage of various commodities. On the other hand, particular organisations in Nagaland were extorting Rs. 10,000 each from Manipur bound trucks on behalf of the ANSAM and the NSF, he charged. In this regard, he said the UCM would launch a democratic people’s movement from August 14 onwards if the government does not take decisive steps to end the blockade by August 13. The state government must bear responsibility for all consequences, he said. While welcoming the Centre’s move to airlift essential supplies to Imphal, Dilipkumar wondered how long it would be able to keep it up. He also said that the expenditure incurred in tackling the blockade should be recovered from the ANSAM, or from the Centre. [Imphal Free Press]
Zeliangrong Union expresses unhappiness over Manipur Govt. Kuknalim.com
DIMAPUR, Aug 8: The Zeliangrong Union of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur has expressed profound unhappiness on the Manipur Government for meting out a cold treatment to the Zeliangrong community in many respects particularly when it comes to developmental fronts. Charging the State Government, the Zeliangrong Union said that road linking Manipur and Nagaland through as Tamei-Tenning road falls in the Zeliangrong region both in Nagaland and Manipur had not been repaired till date even to the quarter mark of the standard road.
Calling it sub-standard, the Zeliangrong apex social organisation of the three States of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur came down heavily on the Manipur Government for not implementing the road construction task with sincerity. Tenning is a Zeliangrong dominated town in Nagaland while Tamei, too is dominated by the same community but falls under Manipur state. Linking these two towns by road would mean connecting Nagaland and Manipur by crossing Barak river in Tamenglong district. The Zeliangrong Union while comparing the construction works of both the neighbouring States has said that the Nagaland Government had done their bit in an effort to find more alternative roads, had impressively constructed the road with regard to the Tamei-Tenning road in Nagaland side but the portions in Manipur side is still in a deplorable condition.
The ZU urged the Manipur Government to complete their “home-task” as soon as possible. The WBM black topping too is a sub-standard one while the 16th point hump portion has not been constructed as per standard and grade required, rued the Zeliangrong Union statement. The 17th point falls in Khunphung village under Manipur and Ntuma village under Nagaland of which both the villages has been separated by the Barak and to which these villages should be a selection site so as to construct a Barak river bridge and in the process another river called Maguiki can be avoided, said the ZU statement adding that the Khunphung to Maguiki road should be abondoned to shortened the distance as well as to avoid constructing two bridges on the same river and facilitate movement of traffic and people.
It urged the Manipur Government to take things seriously in this regard”.
The commitment of the work agency is also questionable as unqualified engineer has been entrusted to take work charge” charged the Zeliangrong Union note adding that hanky panky state of affairs had been the reason for the poor standard of road construction. The intervention of the Central Government is necessary in this regard or else Manipur Government would slip-loose the work and later get it abandoned as may be the case in the past several instances, pointed out the Zeliangrong body. It appeals the Government that no bills should be released for the half-baked construction work but thorough investigations should be conducted before clearing the bills and punished the defaulters.
PM-Naga meet fails to end Imphal crisis Kuknalim.com
NEW DELHI, Aug 8: A meeting between PM Manmohan Singh and a Naga delegation on Monday failed to break the ice on the economic blockade in Manipur as the Centre indicated that it might intervene in the talks taking place with the agitating All Naga Students' Association of Manipur (ANSAM). The Naga team was ready to lift the blockade, that entered the 50th day, provided Manipur CM Ibobi Singh apologised for having given a call for observing "Integrity Day". Headed by Naga Hoho general secretary N Krome, the Naga leaders reiterated that the economic blockade was "the only legitimate, non-violent way"they had to protest against the CM's action.
Krome said that while urging that the blockade be lifted, the PM reiterated his resolve to find a solution to the larger Naga issue for which the peace process was underway.
He did not elaborate on the 35-minute talks he had but said that the Naga leadership would return to Kohima to discuss the PM's proposal. Four Manipur ministers were talking to ANSAM leaders in Senapati district, but Krome said there was a deadlock. While letting the Manipur government do the talking, the Centre is closely monitoring the situation. Not ruling out the possibility of intervening in the crisis, the home ministry has been concentrating on monitoring the law and order situation and maintenance of essential supplies.
Centre’s action plan to ensure supplies to Manipur From Our Staff Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Aug 8 – With the food stocks and essential items in Manipur running low, the Centre today thrashed out an action plan to make the abandoned National Highway (NH) 53 operational to keep the supply line open to the trouble-torn State. A high-level meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary VK Duggal and attended by Chief Secretaries and Director Generals of Police of Assam, Nagaland and Manipur, top Army, Air Force, CRPF and BSF officials, besides representatives of Food Corporation of India, Ministry of Food and Civil Supplies, Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), today identified the NH 53 as the main route to transport food and essential items and NH 39 currently under siege to transport Petroleum Oil Lubricants (POL).
The Union Home Secretary is also leaving for Manipur shortly to review the implementation of the Action Plan chalked out at today’s meeting. Interestingly, the Centre seems to have adopted hands off policy as far as negotiations with All Naga Students Association (ANSAM) is concerned, leaving Manipur Government, the job of talking to the agitators. The meeting today did not focus on the issue and instead confined itself to the logistical matters. Later briefing newsmen, the Home Secretary said that two Manipur Ministers have held first round of discussion with the agitators and might hold discussion with the Chief Minister of State. The first round of talks has ended in Senapati district on an encouraging note, he said. However, Duggal ruled out the possibility of holding meeting with ANSAM during his visit. “It is not on the agenda,” he said, replying to a question.
Asserting that the focus was on keeping the supply line open through NH 52 reopened after a gap of seven year, the Union Home Secretary said that the meeting has decided to maintain the supplies to Manipur at any cost. The Army and para-military forces have been directed the provide security cover and ensure safety and security of the convoys. Assam and Nagaland have also assured full cooperation in keeping the supplies moving. According to the Union Home Secretary, the food stock position was not alarming though the State had about four-five days of stock of POL. The stock position of the LPG was bare minimum. At least 70 odd trucks have reached Imphal yesterday, he said.
Spelling the steps being taken to operationalise NH 52, he said that Army and Central Para-military Forces have been directed to immediately provide assistance to Border Road Organisation (BRO) to improve the roads and bridges. The BRO has been asked to increase the strength of the roads and bridges to take the load of 100 to 200 tonnes from the current 15-20 tonnes. Large convoys are proposed to plied through NH 53 that runs from Silchar district in Barak Valley. The Union Home Minister had last week told the Lok Sabha that Manipur gets about 200 trucks daily. From the date of blockade, till August 2, normally around 8,000 trucks would have brought supplies to Manipur like POL, LPG and food grains. However, only about 700 trucks including petrol tankers have been able to enter the valley.
This has resulted in shortage of essential commodities in the State. All drugs in generic names are available. Some branded products are less in quantity. No serious complaints of shortage have come from hospitals. However, last week Centre airlifted medicines and life saving drugs besides essential food items. Patil further claimed that State Government has been organizing convoys of trucks and tankers to bring POL from Khatkhati in Assam via Dimapur on NH-39. Assam and Nagaland have been providing security to the convoys in their respective territories. Army cleared NH-53 of insurgent on second week of July. However, the next day, a bailey bridge over river Irang was cut. Meanwhile, sources said that the security problem faced by the truck drivers was discussed at the meeting. Following reports of stone throwing incidents and the convoys coming under attack of miscreants, truck drivers were increasingly expressing their reluctance to go to Manipur.
Press Communique Dated: 09/08/2005
The Ibobi Singh’s dictatorial and unilateral declaration of June 18 as “Manipur Integrity Day” sparked off an Economic Blockade by the All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) since June 20 2005. All the Naga civil society including the Naga Hoho, the apex body of the Nagas and the Naga Students Federation (NSF), the apex Naga students’ body have endorsed the civil non-co-operation movement launched in the Naga areas. The Nagas had launched the civil non-co-operation movement with dual objectives i.e., to impress upon the Government of India for expediting the 2nd Indo-Naga Peace Process and to express the Nagas’ disagreement against Ibobi’s communal declaration because it is directly going against the interest and spirit of the Nagas’ aspiration to live under one political administrative system or Integration of the Naga areas. The Manipur and the Union Governments’ inaction and indifferent attitudes towards the situation even after 50 days had taken an ugly turn considering the highly charged up and tense environment prevailing in the State. The Manipur and the Union Governments’ failure to revoke the declaration has made the situation in the state uncontrollable and volatile as the Meiteis had started committing direct violence against the Naga civilians in different parts of the state. The following incident of direct violence on the Nagas will succinctly illustrate the whole charged up and tense environment in the state.
One Naga woman identified as Teshang Phun, a mother of one, was brutally assaulted by Meitei youths on August 6 Saturday while she was shopping at a vegetable market in Langathel, a Meitei dominated sub-division under Thoubal District, Heirok Constituency in Manipur State. The woman, aged 40, belongs to the Maring Naga community, was purchasing food stuff when a group of Meitei youths accosted her in the middle of the market and enquired if she was a Naga. Then the youths reportedly began abusing her verbally that it was Nagas like her who were causing problems to the Meitei people and that she had supported the Economic Blockade called by the All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) for which "she now has to face the consequences". The Meitei youths then started assaulting her with naked fists, bamboo walking sticks and cane sticks. The assaulted woman is reported to be in critical condition and is presently admitted at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal.
Moreover, in those areas in Manipur dominated by the Meitei community, Nagas were being systematically targeted by the Meiteis. It is reported that assaulted Naga victims were being blamed for causing hardship to the Manipuri people by supporting the Economic blockade called by Naga organizations. Sources said these incidents of hate-attacks could not be reported due to lack of communication linkage and remoteness of the places where it is occurring. It further added that the latest incidence of attack on a Naga woman by the Meiteis ever since the economic blockade was launched was not an isolated case. Recently, tyranny of the security forces was also orchestrated by mercilessly beating up 24 Naga women, which includes 4 pregnant women, in the aftermath of the peaceful protest launched on 8th July in Senapati District against the shooting of a Naga man and critically injuring many peaceful protestors. Such crude measures of the Indian Armed Forces have been time and again perpetrated against the innocent Naga peoples since 1950s.
The question is, if such a peaceful means of protest is answered with such brutal firing and shooting, what are the means left for the people to express their feelings and aspirations? Isn’t such retaliation by brute force against the peaceful protestors a violation of the human rights? Where is the Union Government Commitment to the on-going peace process with the Nagas? Does peace process means shooting and killing the Nagas? Is this not a time that the Manipur government revoke the declaration? Have not the GoI moral and the Constitutional authority to direct the Manipur government to revoke it? Was it not too communal when the Manipur government declares that day as a state holiday? Do the non- Meiteis wanted that day as a Manipur Integrity Day? The answer is a very big “NO”. In the run up to the present crisis, the Fourth Estate i.e., the media in India has been reporting regularly. However, the Medias have never taken the task to the GoI and the Manipur government. Instead, some Medias have started blaming to the Nagas. This is a no surprise to the Nagas for the Nagas have been facing suppression more than 50 years.
The Naga Students’ Union, Delhi (NSUD) and the Nagas living in Delhi unequivocally condemned the assaults on a Naga Woman by the Meitei youths in strongest term and reiterates its stand once again in support of the civil non-co-operation movement launched for Integration of all Naga areas in the Naga areas by the Naga Hoho, NSF, ANSAM, Naga Mother Association, NPMHR etc. We, on behalf of the Naga students and the Nagas living in Delhi fervently call upon the democratic peoples in South Asia and the World to look into the problem in earnestness so as to save the Naga people and the tribals from the attack of the majority in the Northeast. In the endeavour to express the democratic aspiration of the Nagas and the adverse situation in which the Nagas are located, the Nagas in Delhi call upon the Medias (Print and Visual) to kindly assert its rights by giving out a maximum and correct information to the rest of the peoples, the situation in which the Nagas faces at present. Your kind work of dissemination of the above incident will surely help democratise the State functionaries and machineries for redressing the problem created by the Manipur state.
Thanking you in anticipation. Yours sincerely “Kuknalim” (S.SEBASTIAN KAMEI) President, NSUD
NH-53 uplift top priority for Manipur From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, Aug 8 – In view of the frequent road blockade along the National Highway 39 passing through the ‘sensitive’ Senapati district, inhabited by Naga and Kuki communities, development of the 222-km Manipur sector of National Highway 53 has become a priority agenda for the State Government. For this, two BRTF battalions have been assigned the repairing works of NH-53 popularly known as Jiri Lambi after the All Naga Students Association Manipur (Ansam) economic blockade. 25 BRTF based in Imphal is looking after the 141-km double-lane Imphal to Barak sector which have 18 major and minor bridges inbetween the route while 77-km single-lane Barak to Jiribam sector is the responsibility of 36 BRTF, based at Silchar in Assam. According to the Commander of 25 BRTF MA Raza, three bridges, Makru, Hamilton near Kaimai and Barak, have been identified as the weak bridges for the traffic on this National Highway. Almost all the bridges on this route were not repaired for the last eight years due to law-and-order situation. Blowing up of the bridge on Irang river along NH-53 by the blockade supporters in the night of July 19 has aggravated the difficulties more, forcing the transporters to suspend the entire trafficability and communication with the state capital. However, 25 BRTF in consultation with the state works department mobilized the resources and completed the repairing works under security cover. Thus, a new bridge on the river Irang was installed on July 26.
But it couldn’t directly open the traffic through NH 53 as only those freight vehicles not exceeding the tonnage of 10 tonnes each will be allowed to pass the Barak bridge, BRTF sources said, adding that, however, it may be extended upto 15 tonnes each after the bridges are adequately strengthened. But Chief Minister Ibobi assured that things will be alright within ten days time and appealed to the transporters to continue their job as his government will be compensating them. The issue of road blockade will be eased once the railway head reaches the state capital, Ibobi further said. A huge convoy of vehicles has been stranded at Jiribam since the past few days in view of the situation. Manipur Governor SS Sidhu is presently inspecting the overall situation along the route. He left along with state officials this morning to to take stock of the situation at Nungba. He will be staying tonight at Jiribam and will come back tomorrow. The BJP team led by its MLA M Bhorot in the meantime suspended their NH-53 inspection programme in view of the 12-hour-long Naga area bandh in the four hills districts today. The bandh has been called by ANSAM in protest against the assault of a Maring woman at Langathel on Sunday by members of a particular community. The bandh was concluded at 6 p.m. today without any major incident. The woman has been identified as Teshangphun (40) of Lamlong Khullen, Langathel.
Trucks attacked with petrol bombs on NH-53 The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Aug. 8: The governor of Manipur, Dr. Shivinder Singh Sidhu today proceeded the entire length of national highway-53 by road to personally inspect the condition of the road and bridges, and arrived at Jiribam late this evening at around 8 pm, a report said. The Governor had left Imphal after some minutes delay from the scheduled timing after getting a green signal that the line was clear. The Governor’s trip, it may be mentioned, had been in doubt following reports that a truck had got stuck at Saibon, located between Makru and Kaimai, effectively halting traffic on the road.
In the meantime, the goods laden trucks coming towards Imphal on NH-53 with security escort were attacked with Molotov cocktails at Awang Khunou despite the tight security deployment for the movement of the Governor.
A truck carrying LPG cylinder caught fire after getting hit by a petrol bomb, but no major damage was caused after the escort party and the truckers rushed and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was loaded with LPG cylinders meant for MM Gas Service, Imphal. In the meantime, the Governor, Dr SS Sidhu who was inspecting the conditions of the road and bridges on this highway in view of its heightened importance in the wake of the ANSAM-sponsored blockade, will halt this night at Jiribam electricity rest house and is scheduled to return back to Imphal by chopper tomorrow. In the meantime, all the goods laden trucks which were stranded at Saibon bridge since yesterday morning started proceeding towards Imphal from the wee hours of today. All the trucks were expected to reach the state capital this late evening. A total of 124 goods laden trucks had left Jiribam for Imphal on Saturday last. However not all of them could reach Imphal yesterday as the traffic on the highway was disrupted when one of the trucks got stuck at the Saibon bridge.
Chandel decry assault of women By Our Staff Reporter Sangai
IMPHAL, Aug 8 : The Chandel Naga Peoples' Organisation and Naga Students' Union, Chandel have strongly condemned the assault of four Maring women by some miscreants at Langathel yesterday. In a statement the two bodies said that the four women had gone to Langathel to buy essential items and there they were accosted by some men who beat them up. One of the women, Teshang Maring suffered serious injuries and was later referred to Shija Hospitals.
The miscreants also used abusive and provocative words againsr the four women, claimed the statement and added that the miscreants blamed the Nagas for the economic blockade which has made the prices of essential commodities sky rocket. Clarifying and setting the record straight over the imposition of the economic blockade, the statement said that ANSAM imposed the blockade to expose the weakness of the State Government and its discri- minatory attitude towards the tribal people in general and the Nagas in particular. The innocent people should not be targeted for the divisive policies played by the State Government, said the statement and added that the people should be more vigilant and educate the people of the intention of the politicians to gain political mileage.
The economic blockade launched by ANSAM is not against any community and should not be painted with a communal brush or anything of that sort, said the statement. CNPO and DSU also appealed to all right thinking persons and organisations to condemn the assault of the four women. The 12 hours bandh called by ANSAM to protest the assault of the women was called to educate the people not to be carried away by the wrongly ‘tutored’ minds, said the statement. The two bodies also demanded fitting punishment of the miscreants according to the law of the land.
The 12 hours bandh also passed off peacefully at Chandel, said the statement adding it was total at Chandel.
Angry farmer storms Manipur secretariat NET News Network
Imphal, Aug 8: Agitated farmers today stormed the gate of Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh and the old secretariat office housing FCS minister office demanding fertilizers for crops in the wake of scarcity owing to economic blockades. According to report, farmers belonging to Kakching areas of Thoubal district came in buses and trucks this morning to Imphal. After alighting nearby the chief minister gate, the farmers comprising women and men gathered at CM bungalow gate and demanded fertilizers for their dying crops. Police swiftly intervened and pushed back the farmers to a safe distance and were allowed to depute representatives to meet chief minister. Later led by Kakching MLA, L.Tomba and six other farmers met the Chief Minister. Ibobi had reportedly assured the farmers that special instruction will be given to FCS officers stationed at Jiribam to arrange for sending fertilizers loaded trucks on priority basis at the earliest. However, the farmers had reportedly demanded that five truckloads of fertilizers, which had arrived yesterday at Imphal, be given to them. But this demand was not entertained. Later in the evening, the same farmer team marched down to old secretariat housing FCS minister Ph.Parijat office demanding his appointment. It may be mentioned that Parijat had just returned from Jiribam where he had gone for overseeing supervision work for ferrying in goods including essential food items. Police later listed out four representatives to meet FCS minister.
Unified Command interested in military solution: ULFA NET News Network
Guwahati, Aug 8: The banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) on Monday has denied its hand in Boko explosion, which left four dead and held “Unified Command Structure” responsible for the “barbarous” act. Making its stand clear, the outfit informed that “ attacks in crowded places, hospitals, educational institutes and religious places were never in its protest agenda on the eve of Independence Day”.
In an e-mailed statement sent by the Chairman of the outfit, Aurobindo Rajkhowa, warning has been declared by the outfit to maintain vigil against any such attack in future. “ Sunday’s incident is an indication of Unified Command Structure’s initiative to find a military solution to the ongoing turmoil in the state,” read the statement. It may be recalled that this is the second denial from the outfit since Saturday, when a caller identifying himself as Paresh Baruah held state police responsible for the explosion in city’s Paltan Bazar area on Saturday evening. It may be recalled that four persons including a woman were killed when a time device planted in a bicycle near a bookshop in Boko exploded last evening.
The victims were identified as Sukhdev Sarma, Silva Marak, Robin Choudhury and Netrar Agarwal.
AASU warns Patil NET News Network
Guwahati, Aug 8: The All Assam Students Union (AASU) today warned the central government and the Union Home Minister not to play politics of religion or language in the name of illegal migrants in the state.
Reacting to Home Minister Shivraj Patil statement in Parliament on August 3 that Bengali speaking Indians are harassed in the name of detecting illegal migrants in Assam, the AASU advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya reiterated that like religious minorities, all Bengali speaking people including those who came to Assam before 1971 will be safeguarded by the student organization.
Adding substance to Bhattacharya’s declaration, AASU President Sankar Prasad Roy said that if necessary meetings will be held with Bengali speaking people to bring back confidence among them.
Meanwhile, the student organization urged the state government to pay pension to teachers in the state without provincialisation of colleges. “ Provincialisation will usher in politics to colleges,” warned Bhattacharya. He also cited example of West Bengal where teachers are paid pensions without the colleges being provincialised. Finally, the student organization took pot shots at the critics who holds AASU responsible for the degradation of education system in the state, “ It is only after provincialisation of schools in 1976 the education system in Assam started degrading,” pointed out Bhattacharya.
Meanwhile, a delegation of AASU led by Bhattacharya left for New Delhi this afternoon to access situation and create public opinion for the benefit of the state.
Rebel bombings rock Assam for fourth day By Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, Aug 9 (IANS) Rebel bombings continue to rock Assam with four more explosions blowing up a gas pipeline, two road bridges and a power installation, officials Tuesday said. A police official said militants late Monday blew up a pipeline carrying natural gas to tea factories near Tingkhong in eastern Assam's Sivasagar district, 390 km from the state's main city of Guwahati.
"The pipeline was severely damaged disrupting supply of gas to nearby tea garden factories," said A. Das, a police official. In separate incidents, anti-India rebels bombed two road bridges in the eastern district of Tinsukia.
"Both the bridges were considered vital as the route was used for movement of army soldiers," said a senior police official in Guwahati. In yet another incident late Monday, unidentified rebels damaged a power transformer in downtown Guwahati although there were no casualties. The four blasts are the latest in a series of explosions and attacks by militants in Assam since Saturday with police blaming the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) for the violence "There have been about 16 attacks so far and the ULFA is responsible for the blasts," Assam Inspector General of Police Khagen Sharma said. "The main idea is to terrorise people and create panic ahead of Independence Day (Aug 15)."
Four people were killed and nine wounded in an explosion at a crowded market Sunday. Besides, a gas and two oil pipelines as well as a rail track were blown up in separate incidents. There have been separate attacks on army and paramilitary soldiers and an explosion over the weekend at a government officers' housing colony.
The ULFA Monday night owned up bombing gas and oil pipelines and attacks on security forces, but denied its role in the explosion Sunday at the market in Boko village, 40 km from Guwahati.
"We shall never target public places and innocent civilians," ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said in a statement received by IANS. Experts of the state-owned Oil India Limited (OIL) are working overtime to repair the two pipelines blown up by militants over the weekend.
"Production is going on although our storage capacity is going down with general operations turning critical due to the two blasts," Gyanjit Kumar Talukdar, OIL's group general manager, said over the phone from Duliajan in eastern Assam. The Assam government Tuesday announced cash rewards for people who help police in spotting explosives or the presence of militants in public places. "The attacks are nothing but acts of desperation," Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said. The ULFA is a rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979. More than two-dozen rebel outfits in the oil-rich northeast are fighting for secession and routinely boycott Independence Day celebrations, observing it as a "black day".
Protest bandh remain total in Ukhrul Sothing W.A Shimray August 8
UKHRUL (MExN): Ukhrul wore a deserted look today following the twelve hour bandh called by the ANSAM in the entire Naga hill Districts of Manipur. Shops and educational institutions remained closed; vehicles remained off the road and attendance in government offices was negligible. However, there were no reports of any untoward incident. The 6 am to 6 pm total bandh was called in protest against what was considered as one of the most unprecedented happenings in the history of Manipur where a Naga woman was beaten up by two Manipuri men on 6th August at Langathel under Kakching police station in Manipuri’s Thoubal District. The victim was identified as Kh.Teshangphun aged 40 and w/o Kh.Motar of Lamlong Khullen.
The incident happened when Teshangphun along with three other women from her village went to Langathel to sell baskets at around 12 noon. They were accosted by two Manipuri men identified as Moirangthem Ingoucha and Puyan Jeevan. The two reportedly charged the woman blaming them for the recent price hike in Manipur arising out of the on-going ANSAM’s economic blockade and started beating her. She was rushed to the Thoubal District Hospital by the local Meira Paipis (women society) and was later shifted to Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal at the initiative of the Tengnongbal MLA K. Korungthang. She was later shifted to Shija Hospital, Imphal today. Sources from Thoubal said that the two men were arrested by the District police. Langathel is situated 17 kms from Thoubal town. Interestingly, Thoubal is the home District of O.Ibobi, the Chief Minister of Manipur. Fearing communal flare up already tensed by the on going economic blockade, different organizations from Thoubal district are trying to contain the issue by striking a compromise with the victim’s family. Meanwhile, the ANSAM blamed the government for causing the incident blaming it on the government’s delaying tactics in solving the economic blockade imbroglio. "All responsibilities should be borne by the Chief Minister", ANSAM representatives said. The ANSAM took the stand that it was against idea of settling the issue at the family and village level as the issue had effected the whole Naga populace.
