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08/12/2005: "Patil welcomes lifting of economic blockade of Manipur"

BLOCKADE-PATIL Patil welcomes lifting of economic blockade of Manipur
NEW DELHI, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil today welcomed the lifting of the 52-day old economic blockade of National Highway-39 in Manipur by Naga students.
In a brief statement, Patil welcomed the lifting of the economic blockade of Manipur by All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) and Naga students Federation. Patil also appealed to all the concerned parties to resolve their outstanding issues in a peaceful and understanding manner through dialogue, an official spokesman said here. The All Naga Students Association Manipur, which had called the blockade together with the apex Naga Students Federation in Nagaland, at a meeting in Kohima yesterday said it was being 'temporarily suspended' in view of the appeal by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Patil. ANSAM had blocked the NH-39 since June 20 after Ibobi Singh government had declared the day as a state holiday last year in memory of 14 people who were killed in "integrity agitation" of June 2001 in Imphal.
The NH-39 connects Manipur with rest of country and passes through Nagaland and higher reaches of the state before entering Imphal valley. Following the deadlock with the ANSAM, the Government had attempted to open NH-53 which connects Manipur through Silchar in Assam to Imphal passing through Naga-dominated Taminglong district in Manipur. Besides the highway has presence of insurgents and the condition of highway was bad as it was reopened after eight years.
NH-53 receives Centre's blessings with promises of funds and security The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 11: Taking cognizance of the 52 days crippling economic blockade imposed by the All Naga Students' Association, Manipur on the two National Highways and the need to develop a second lifeline for Manipur, the Centre has assured the State Government that it will pump in all the necessary funds for the development of NH-53. The Centre has also agreed to deploy the necessary Central security forces to provide protection along NH-53 and to over see the situation in the State, Union Home Secretary VK Duggal is scheduled to arrive here on August 17.
Speaking to The Sangai Express an official source said that the Centre has agreed to pump in the required funds to convert NH-53 to a double lane National Highway and make it fit for free movement of traffic. The Centre has also agreed to deploy the necessary security force on this route to provide security, said the source and added that to see the situation in the backdrop of the economic blockade imposed by ANSAM, Union Home Secretary VK Duggal will arrive at Imphal on August 17.
Some days back, the Union Home Secretary had summoned Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh and DGP AK Parashar to New Delhi to discuss the situation in the State following the economic blockade imposed by ANSAM and actively supported by the Naga Students' Federation. The Chief Secretary and DGP of Nagaland were also present at the meeting convened by Duggal. During his visit to Imphal the Union Home Secretary is scheduled to meet the Governor, Chief Minister and other officials concerned. Other than promising the required funds and security deployment, the Centre has also asked the BRTF to speed up the developmental works of NH-53, added the source.
Even as VK Duggal is scheduled to arrive here on August 17, ANSAM had decided to withdraw its economic blockade with effect from 12 noon of August 11. Meanwhile the two officials from the Prime Minister Office, who arrived here yesterday to over see the situation at the instructions of the Prime Minister visited Churachandpur today to get a first hand account of the sufferings faced by the people. The two officials are the Joint Secretary Sanjoy Mitra and Director Sanjoy Krishna. The Joint Secretary and the Director are scheduled to leave Imphal tomorrow. The officials from the PMO on arrival yesterday met Governor Dr SS Sidhu at the Raj Bhawan. They also met the Chief Minister at his Babupara official residence and held in-depth discussion on the situation, said sources.
The meetings centred on the situation arising out of the indefinite economic blockade imposed by ANSAM since June 19.

PM hails lifting of economic blockade Sangai Express
New Delhi, Aug 11 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday welcomed the ending of the 49-day long economic blockade of Manipur. In a message to the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) and other organisations, the Prime Minister said that he “appreciated and welcomed the gesture to voluntarily lift the blockade in Manipur from today keeping in view the difficulties being faced by the ordinary citizens of the State and the sentiments expressed by the Home Minister and the Prime Minister.”
The message further went on to say that the “Prime Minister appeals to all groups and parties to settle all grievances, perceived and real, through a process of dialogue and discussion, in a peaceful manner and in a spirit of mutual understanding and accommodation.”
The economic blockade of Manipur was suspended temporarily from 12 noon on Thursday.
The decision to suspend the blockade was taken at a joint meeting of the ANSAM and the NSF in Kohima on Wednesday, informed sources said. The NSF and ANSAM had consulted NGOs before taking the decision, the sources said. The ANSAM had organised the economic blockade since June 22 in protest against a Manipur Government’s decision to declare June 18 a holiday every year to observe “State integrity day.”
The blockade, however, did not affect movement of trucks along the Silchar-Imphal NH 53, official sources said. The ANSAM also responded to the invitation by Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh for talks and added the State Government should create a conducive atmosphere for a dialogue.
In the event of the failure of the Manipur Govt to resolve the issue, the Naga students would be compelled to take an appro- priate course of action for which the Ibobi Singh administration would be held responsible, the sources said. Sources close to Ibobi Singh have welcomed the decision of the ANSAM. ANI

Temporary lifting of blockade keenly observed
IMPHAL/MAO, Aug 11: Various organisations of Manipur have welcomed the temporary lifting of economic blockade on the two National Highways by Naga students' Federation (NSF) and All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) from noon of August 11. Passengers coming towards Imphal on NH39 were checked throughly by strike supporters at Mao, Manipur-Nagaland border. The highway was yet to see normal traffic as most trucks were stranded at Jiribam, Silchar and other parts of Assam. Food and Civil Supplies officials said it would take sometime to restore normalcy. Petrol, Gas and Diesel continue to be rationed at selected centres by the government. Under heavy escort over 100 trucks were brought to Imphal carrying essential items last evening through NH53.

Secular Progressive Front (SPF) spokesman Gaikhangam said the lifting boycott was a positive step. The government would discuss the matter, he assured. The United Committee Manipur (UCM), United People's Front (UPF), Manipur Forward Youth Front (MAFYF) and other bodies have welcomed the lifting of blockade. The CPI (M) hailed the move as the 51-day old blockade had affected the people to a great extent. UNI

NPMHR condemns atrocities in Manipur Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, Aug 11: The Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has condemned the Thangathel incident in Manipur in which four Naga women were physically abused by some youths on August six last. In a release here today, NPMHR Secretary General Nepuni Piku said on August six last four women of Maring community from Lanlong Khullen were physically and verbally abused by two Meitei youths, while another woman Teshangphum, a mother of a child, was seriously beaten up by the youths. The woman was from Langathel area under Kakching police station.
The NPMHR has appealed the concerned community to deter from such provocations which can further spiral-up tensions instead of resolving the existing conflicts. It also cautioned the concerned authorities to immediately book and punish the perpetrators or the situation could worsen, he said.

Patil welcomes lifting of Manipur blockade Kuknalim.com
NEW DELHI, Aug 11: Home Minister Shivraj Patil today welcomed the lifting of the economic blockade of Manipur by the All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) and the Naga Students Federation (NSF). The Home Minister appealed to all parties concerned to resolve their outstanding issues in a peaceful and understanding manner through dialogue. The ANSAM and the Naga Students' Federation had yesterday announced suspension of the 49-day-old 'economic blockade' on national highways in Manipur following appeals by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Union Home Minister. The blockade had severely affected movement of trucks, particularly on the Guwahati-Imphal NH-39. The ANSAM had called the economic blockade on June 22 in protest against a Manipur government decision declaring June 18 a holiday every year to observe ''state integrity day.''

Economic blockade ends, but no movement of trucks on NH-39 Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, Aug 11 – Although the crippling ‘economic blockade’ by a Naga student organisation on national highways in Manipur was suspended from noon today, there was no movement of trucks along the Imphal-Guwahati NH 39 in Senapati district, official sources said. No official reason was given, but sources close to transporters said trucks, carrying essential commodities to the State, which had faced shortages because of the 50-day blockade, could not run along the vital NH 39 because of extortion demands by militant outfits. Official sources said 178 trucks loaded with essential items left the border town of Jiribam this morning and were expected to arrive here this evening via the Silchar-Imphal NH 53.
The trucks had crossed all weak bridges along the NH 53 and so far no problem was reported, the sources added. The blockade in protest against a decison by the Ibobi Singh government, was suspended ‘temporarily’ from noon today. The All Naga Students Association Manipur, which had called the blockade together with the apex Naga Students Federation in Nagaland, at a meeting in Kohima yesterday said it was being “temporarily suspended” in view of the appeal by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. – PTI

Student bodies welcome ANSAM decision The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Aug 11: The three students’ organisations – MSF, AMSU and DESAM – which spearheaded the movement against the 52 days old economic blockade imposed by ANSAM expressed that the decision to lift the blockade temporarily is “a welcome move” and appealed to the people of the state to take full responsibility in future incidents too.Further the three student bodies made it known that the decision to boycott government offices on August 12 and to boycott the Independence Day on August 15 is also temporarily suspended in view of the lifting of the blockade. This was conveyed to media persons in a press conference called jointly by MSF, AMSU and DESAM. Speaking to the media persons, DESAM president L Romesh Meitei expressed that since the real reasons for the abrupt understanding reached between ANSAM and government of India was not clear, there were still widespread apprehensions among the people of possible hidden agendas.

Since the blockade was not lifted in spite of repeated appeals from all sections of the Manipuri population and the government but after talks with the Central government, we need to know and investigate “what happened behind the scene”, Romesh pointed out. ANSAM has already made it clear that if there is no positive response after holding talk with the Manipur government the blockade wouild continue. Asserting that if the state or Central governments decides to take any decision against the common interest of the people of Manipur they should remember that the people as well as civil society organisations and student bodies would readily for agitate. Further the three student organisations warned the state government that “we are ready to teach the government a new lesson” if decision is taken in favour of ANSAM. Romesh stated that the 52 days economic blockade left enough evidence that it was controlled by the government of India. The president said that if the Indian government continue with its divide and rule policy, different movements against it, even movements for independence by the different races to safeguard their interest will begin.
The state government was urged to continue with the developmental works on other national highways even if the blockade was suspended temporarily and to continue with the survey for finding the shortest route that go out of the state. Moreover the truck drivers were appealed to continue using NH 53 since the blockade can be resumed anytime. The student organisations also expressed displeasure over the dirty politics played by the government of India in Manipur. Making reference to yesterday’s incident in which 4 people were killed and 2 injured, the student groups said that the AR has started to create problems and misunderstandings among the people just after the blockade was lifted and appealed the people to stay alert. An appeal was collectively made to the civil society organisations to work unitedly and not to be “issue-based” united temporarily.

AMSU president S Prakash said that the motive for lifting of the blockade was not clear and the exclusion of Manipur, the victim of the economic blockade, from the talks was very suspicious. He said that since the blockade was suspended temporarily “we need to keep an eye on the agreement that will be reached between government of Manipur and ANSAM in the time to come”. However he asserted that holiday should not be revoked under any circumstances. MSF president S Sanjoy said that stronger agitation will follow if the blockade suspension is revoked. He said that during the 52 days blockade called by ANSAM no representative from the UPA government came to assess the situation. Officials from the PMO are coming only after the blockade was suspended temporarily. He stated that this is self evident of India’s divide and rule policy in Manipur.

AMSU, DESAM and MSF drop stir plan By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Aug 11 : Putting a hold on the proposed agitations in view of ANSAM suspending its economic blockade, presidents of three student bodies, AMSU, DESAM and MSF today emphasised on the need to speed up the developmental work of NH-53 which connects Imphal with Jiribam.
In a joint press briefing held this evening at the MSF office premises, the student leaders maintained that people should still remain alert as the reason cited by ANSAM for lifting the blockade lacks clarity. ANSAM had yesterday stated that it was lifting the blockade in view of the sufferings faced by the people and taking into consideration the intimations from the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister. Elaborating, Desam president L Romesh contended that the sudden turn around of Ansam, ostensibly following intimations from the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister, needs a clear explanation especially in view of the arrival of two PMO officials soon after the decision to suspend the stir was taken. Stressing on importance and significance of establishing additional surface transport routes, Romesh said the student bodies would not remain silent spectators if Central and State governments neglect NH-53 as well as other available road links. In fact the need of the hour is accelerating the developmental works of Imphal-Jiribam road as well as stressing on NH-150, he said while stating that relying on NH-53 only during emergency situation amounts to lack of vision.
Romesh also appealed to the driver community to ply on this route inspite of facing inconveniences as lack of interest from the drivers would ultimately lead to the Government taking the matter for granted. He also assured that AMSU, MSF and Desam are strongly committed towards the development of NH-53 and added that they will take up appropriate course of agitation if the Govt abandons the ongoing plan to make NH-53 fit for vehicular movements.
Blaming the Govt for failing to solve the ANSAM problem which inconvenienced the people no end, Romesh S Sanjoy announced keeping in abeyance proposed closure of Government offices and boycott of Independence Day celebration. joining the press briefing AMSU president S Prakash cautioned that involvement of Assam Rifles in the economic blockade is clear warning to the people to be vigilant in foiling attempts of vested interest to create dissension amongst various communities.
He also warned of intense movement in case the state government takes anti-people decision or revokes the State Integrity Day declaration.

Manmohan apologises for ’84 anti-Sikh riots Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Aug 11 – Seeking to assuage the sentiments of the Sikh community, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today apologised for the 1984 anti-Sikh violence, saying he was not standing on any “false prestige” and bowed his head in shame, reports PTI. Describing the assassination of the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as a “great national tragedy”, he said “what happened subsequenty was equally shameful”.
Intervening in a discussion on an Opposition-sponsored motion in Rajya Sabha on the Nanavati Commission’s report, the Prime Minister said he had seen statements by Opposition leaders that he should seek forgiveness of the country. “I have no hesitation in apologising to the Sikh community. I apologise not only to the Sikh community but to the whole Indian nation because what took place in 1984 is the negation of the concept of nationhood enshrined in our Constitution,” he said.
The Prime Minister said “I am not standing on any false prestige. On behalf of our government, on behalf of the entire people of this country I bow my head in shame that such a thing took place.”
Singh said he had accompanied Congress president Sonia Gandhi to Harminder Sahib (Golden temple in Amritsar) some five or six years ago and “we together prayed that give us strength and show us the way that such things never again take place in our country”.
An emotional Singh said while one cannot rewrite the past “but as human beings we have the will power and we have the ability to write better future for all of us”.
The Prime Minister said 4,000 people were killed in the tragedy and it should be an occasion for introspection, how working together as a united nation, new pathways could be found to ensure that such ghastly tragedies never again take place.
“I respectfully submit that this is not achieved by pursuing partisan goals, apportioning blame,” he said. He charged the Opposition with trying to separate the Sikh community from the great traditions of Congress party, but said he did want not to quarrel with anyone of them on this occasion. Pointing out that no Akali Dal members were present in the House, Singh said he did not want to score any point. “But, it is also a fact that when that glorious chapter in the history of Punjab was being written, the Akali Dal was busy dividing the people of Punjab on communal lines.”
“There were lapses in 1984. Several commissions have gone into this matter. We all know that we still do not know the truth, and the search must go on. This present commission is no exception to that,” he said. Hitting back at the Opposition, Singh said the Nanavati report conclusively stated that “there is no evidence, whatsoever, against the top leadership of Congress party. That lie, which has over the last 21 years been used to poison the minds of the Sikh youth, stands nailed conclusively”.
Referring to some individuals mentioned in the report, he said the commission has not come forward with conclusive conclusions. “These are in the realm of probabilities.” “...whosoever figures in the Nanavati report – and the commission has in its wisdom found it necessary to draw an adverse inference about their conduct or behaviour – we will reopen those cases,” he said.
ULFA goes red with Op Red ListCRPF jawans patrolling on the Brahmaputra in the city on Thursday. A Sentinel photo.By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Aug 11: The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has been carrying out an operation code named ‘Operation Red List’ since the second week of July ostensibly to avenge the killing of as many as 24 of its cadres by security personnel in, what the outfit calls, fake encounters at a time when its peace overture to the Centre, involving Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami, was at an advanced stage. According to Intelligence sources, a big ULFA gang entered Meghalaya where it was divided into three teams, one each for upper Assam, central Assam and lower Assam. Each of the three teams was again sub-divided into smaller groups comprising two or three cadres who are carrying out subversive activities at random. Since the groups are smaller in size, it is difficult on the part of the police to identify them. According to the sources, a five-member group led by senior ULFA cadre Mamoni Chetia is still at Garoghuli along the Assam-Meghalaya border. Two of the group are bomb experts and the other three are sharp shooters.
ULFA network busted in Jorhat From our Correspondent
JORHAT, Aug 11: The Jorhat Police today claimed to have busted the network of the proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom in north-west Jorhat. In the last couple of days, the police have arrested 10 people believed to have been the conduits of the militant outfit. The breakthrough came on Tuesday when an activist of the Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS), Benudhar Hazarika, a resident of Abhayapuri village under Borholla police station in Titabar subdivision, was apprehended. On the basis of the confessions made by Hazarika, the police launched a manhunt in the Charigaon and Koronga areas today and arrested six people believed to have close links with the banned ULFA. The arrested included a college teacher and a gaon panchayat member. The police said that Gopal Dutta, Samiran Dutta, Haren Dutta, Rajesh Bora, Hemen Saikia and Manas Pratim Gogoi, who were arrested today, aided and abetted the activities of the ULFA in a major way.
It may be mentioned here that Saikia, a resident of Naoboicha village, is a teacher in Mariani College and the assistant general secretary of the Jorhat unit of the CPI. Haren Dutta, a resident of Kolkhua Gaon, is a Congressman and a gaon panchyat member, the police said. Rajesh Bora is a teacher in Koronga LP School. According to the police, Bora owned a WLL phone through which he contacted Hazarika to facilitate the activities of the ULFA. Both Bora and Gopal Dutta, a resident of Malow Khat and a MASS activist, used to attend the meetings of the ULFA, the police said. The police further revealed that more arrests were likely following the interrogation of the ULFA linkmen apprehended today. A source said that vital clues to the gruesome murder of a Congressman, Amrit Dutta, at the Dhekorgorah Block office in May might be established as well. Dutta was the president of the North-west Jorhat Anchalik Panchayat. It may be mentioned that the police had yesterday arrested an ULFA cadre, Haren Chutia, a resident of Torani Village under Borholla PS on the basis of the information provided by Hazarika. Two more persons were arrested on the same day on charges of giving shelter to ULFA militants.
Blast kills one in Assam By Indo Asian News Service Guwahati, Aug 12 (IANS) At least one person was killed and six seriously wounded in a powerful grenade blast in Assam, the latest in a series of attacks ahead of Independence Day, officials said Friday. A police official said tribal rebels lobbed a grenade Thursday evening at a crowded market in village Dokmoka, 150 km east of Assam's main city of Guwahati. The blast took place around 8.45 PM. 'Seven people were injured in the attack and were shifted to hospitals with multiple wounds,' the official said. One of the injured died in hospital early Friday. Police suspect the blast to be the handiwork of a local Karbi tribal rebel group fighting for more autonomy in eastern Assam.
There were two more separate grenade attacks in the same area although there were no casualties, police said. There have been at least 30 explosions and attacks since Saturday with militants blowing up rail tracks, oil and gas pipelines, power facilities, besides a blast at a market Sunday that killed four people and wounded nine more. Police has blamed all the explosions and attacks on the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), a rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979. The ULFA had claimed responsibility for blowing up gas and oil pipelines and other installations, but denied its role in the market blast Sunday that killed four. Militants routinely step up attacks before India's Independence Day on Aug 15.

Four die in attack on civilian truck at Umathel: Handiwork of KYKL cadres, say police, Army authorities; families blame security forces The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Aug 11: Four civilians were killed, and two others were injured in an ambush allegedly carried out by underground cadres last night around 9 pm at Umathel Sandumba Achouba, under Sugnu police station, right at the gate of the Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya at Umathel. The victims were travelling in a Tata 407 vehicle which was heading towards Kakching Khunou to recover goods carried in another mini-truck which had suffered a breakdown. Police and Army authorities both said KYKL cadres had carried out the attack, having apparently mistaken the vehicle to belong to the security forces. On the other hand, the wife of the vehicle’s driver, who is among the injured, insisted that security forces had fired upon the vehicle. A team of mediapersons visited the spot this morning were told by the SDPO, Kakching N Satrajit, that a armoured Casper vehicle of the 33 Assam Rifles coming from Sugnu was travelling ahead of the civilian vehicle at about half a kilometre’s distance. After the Casper vehicle took the Kakching Khunou route, the civilian vehicle was fired upon by the suspected KYKL cadres mistaking it to be a security vehicle.

A large number of fired cases, three magazines and a live lethode bomb, apparently left behind by the attackers, were displayed to the mediapersons. The SDPO said the attackers carried out the ambush from the elevated terrain on the western side of the road, within the Navodaya Vidyalaya compound.
The ill-fated Tata vehicle was completely riddled with bullets on all sides. Mediapersons were also shown the escape route believed to have been taken by the attackers, which leads towards Wangoo or Kakching Lamkhai. Police sources further said around 20 to 30 UGs may have been involved in the attack. The live lethode bomb, and an IED said to be have been found in the vicinity were detonated by the 33 AR personnel in front of mediapersons. A PIB (defence wing) press statement also said the AR troops travelling ahead of the ill-fated truck as part of an area domination patrol reacted immediately to surround the UGs, but they escaped under cover of darkness.

Reports said four of the six victims, including the driver were seated in the cab of the mini-truck, while the remaining two were seated in the back. Among them, two of those riding in the front and the two in the back were killed, and the rest were injured. The deceased are identified as Angom Ibomcha Meitei, 20, of Sugnu Awang Leikai, Angom Sadananda, alias Inao, 25, of Sugnu Mayai Leikai, Wahengbam Gouramohan, 40, of Sugnu Awang Leikai, and Paokholal, 25, of Sugnu Zou Veng. Among the injured, Moirangthem Rojit, 29, of Sugnu Makha Leikai, who is the owner and driver of the mini-truck, received two bullet wounds, one at his left shoulder and another in the right side of the abdomen. Huidrom Biren, 36, received two bullet wounds in the buttock, which penetrated from the right side. The two are reported to be in serious condition. In the meantime, Moirangthem ongbi Thoibi, the wife of Moirangthem Rojit, told mediapersons that her husband, before losing consciousness, told her that the incident was the handiwork of security personnel. The incident happened when the security Casper overtook the mini-truck at Sandumba and finding it full of youths, fired upon them, she insisted. Residents of Sugnu area further deplored the attitude of the security personnel, who detained the injured persons along with their attendants on the way to hospital for around two hours at Kakching Lamkhai. On the other hand, police sources have pointed out that the empty shells and lethode bomb found at the site are not issued to police or to the security forces.

In connection with the incident, the residents of Umathel and neighbouring villages held a meeting today, in which a joint action committee was formed and a set of demands drawn up in connection with the incident. With the initiative of the local MLA, K Ranjit, a meeting between a JAC delegation and governement representatives was held this afternoon in the presence of the chief minister, where an MoU was signed. Under the terms of the MoU a magisterial inquiry is to be held by the DC, Thoubal into the incident within one month’s time , the government would extend ex-gratia to the families of the victims, and provide medical assistance to the injured. The government has also undertaken to take up necessary action for the security of Sugnu Assembly segment. The JAC and family members on the other hand agreed not to file any court cases with regard to the incident, and to receive the dead bodies for performing the last rites.