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08/19/2005: "State govt. urges Centre to exempt Nagaland from Delimitation Act"

State govt. urges Centre to exempt Nagaland from Delimitation Act
Govt calls for increasing seats in State Assembly, Rajya Sabha, Lok Sabha Chizokho Vero KOHIMA (MExN): Leader of the State Legislature Assembly and Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today moved the House for passing of a resolution for exemption of Nagaland from the Delimitation Act 2002. In his address during the first day of the monsoon session, the Chief Minister strongly urged the Union Government to pay heed to the voice of Naga people as represented in the August House and implement the resolution of the NLA passed in this regard on earlier occasions. The Chief Minister also urged the Union Government to order a fresh Census for the entire State of Nagaland or at least in those areas where higher growth rates than the State’s average had been detected. The government also asked the Union Government to impose a moratorium on all delimitation exercise by suitably exempting Nagaland from the constitutional provision relating to delimitation and thereby from the Delimitation Act, 2002 till the fresh census was concluded and until a political solution acceptable to the Nagas was arrived at. The Chief Minister lamented that the earlier resolutions of the State legislature urging for the exemption of Nagaland from the delimitation exercise remained “unheeded despite the State government’s best efforts”.
The Delimitation Commission constituted under the Delimitation Act 2002 is likely to have its first sitting on August 23 to discuss the delimitation of Assembly Constituencies in Nagaland. The government observed that the security situation in Nagaland was “very delicate” and any attempt to stir up the inter-tribal relations by reorganising the assembly constituencies would gravely affect the ongoing peace efforts. It also stated that serious anomalies in the population figures for Nagaland as projected in 2001 census reports had been detected, in particularly the steep growth rates in several areas, which was more than the State’s average thus rendering the 2001 census of Nagaland as completely “unreliable for any constitutional exercises including the delimitation of Assembly Constituencies in Nagaland”.
The government also observed that any delimitation of assembly constituencies in Nagaland on the basis of this faulty census of 2001 would lead to aggravation of the existing anomalies.
The government also argued that Nagaland also enjoyed special status under article 371-A of the Constitution of India qualifying for the same exemption as had been granted to t Jammu & Kashmir.
In another significant development, the State government today moved for increasing the number of seats in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly (NLA) from 60 to 80, the number of Lok Sabha seats from the present one member to three and for the Rajya Sabha from one to two seats.
Reiterating the earlier resolution passed in the NLA, the Leader of the Legislature, State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said that such a step was necessitated keeping in view the emerging proposals for proportionately increasing the number of representatives in Parliament and State legislatures to accommodate 33 per cent reservation for women in the National and State legislatures.
The State government urged the Centre to forthwith act on the resolutions of the August House passed in this regard. Further, the House also urged upon the Centre to enact a law in Parliament at the earliest for creation of a Legislative Council in the State of Nagaland under Article 169 of the Constitution of India.
Manipur: Between the valley and the hills Tehelka Full article on subscprtion
Nagas have felt discriminated against for long but they have been emboldened to voice their bitterness openly after the Centre-NCSN(IM) talks. Now, the common man is giving vent to the Nagalim idea, and the Manipuri is apprehensiveBy Nitin A. Gokhale Senapati, Ukhrul and Imphal They say Chinmi Tammi Amatani (hill and valley people are one) but in reality treat us like foreigners,” Th. Thaiko Peter says in a dingy hotel room at Senapati, the headquarter of a district by the same name in the hills of Manipur. NEW DELHI, AUG 17 (PTI)
Manipur CM in Delhi to defuse crisis From our Staff Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Aug 18 – Under pressure to resolve the crisis in Manipur, Chief Minister, O.Ibobi Singh has rushed to Delhi to talk to the Central leadership in the wake of the demands by All Naga Students Association of Manipur (ANSAM) to hold negotiations in Delhi. A harassed-looking Chief Minister called on Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil this afternoon and is waiting to call on the Prime Minister. The Centre, which is not pleased with his handling of the situation leading to the economic blockade, has reportedly given him an earful.
The economic blockade that lasted for over 40 days was called off temporarily by ANSAM to pave the way for resolution of problem. ANSAM wants the talks to take place in the capital in presence of the Central Government officials. However, Ibobi prefers to hold it in Manipur.
The Centre is now planning to depute a representative to the talks to satisfy the agitators. With time fast running out the Centre is unwilling to let go of the opportunity to broker a peace deal. But it may be easier said then done because both the State Government and ANSAM are holding on their stand.
Centre to set up Road Protection Force for Manipur Outlook India
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured a Manipuri delegation that Government would set up a Road Protection Force for ensuring smooth movement of essential commodities through national highway to the state which was recently blocked by agitated students.
"The Centre will set up a Road Protection Force for smooth movement of essential commodities to Manipur," CPI National Secretary D Raja, who was leading a Manipuri women delegation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, told reporters after a half-an hour meeting. The Centre has also agreed to set up railway link from Jiribum on Assam-Manipur border to Imphal for overall economic development of the state "The Prime Minister also assured us that the Government would set up a railway link from Jiribum to Imphal for speedy economic development of the state," he said.
The delegation apprised the Prime Minister about the sufferings they had to face during the economic blockade after All Naga Students Association of Manipur blocked NH-39 to protest against the Ibobi Singh Government for declaring June 18 as "Integration Day". The blockade continued for nearly two months from June 20 and the Government had to throw open NH-53 which passes through insurgent-affected areas of Nagaland and Manipur. NH-53 was virtually closed for nearly eight years before being thrown open for traffic on August three under heavy security. The Prime Minister also assured the delegation of providing adequate funds to repair both the highways of Manipur for economic growth and prosperity.
Konyak Union Seek Clarification from NSCN-IM Morung Express Mon, AUG 18 (MExN): The Konyak Union Advisory Board convened a meeting on August 17 at its conference hall. The emergency meeting was called by the KU in light of the NSCN-IM press statement in a local daily where the outfit had reportedly claimed that it had sanctioned ex-gratia to the families of Lt. Panglem and Lt. Chahtai who were murdered by its cadres near Leangha Village about 11 km away from Mon on March 18 last. Wangtin Konyak, General Secretary, Konyak Union said that the meeting deliberated at length on the statement. The KU has decided to ask the NSCN-IM authorities to clarify their statement as the Konyaks want to know who accepted this ex-gratia. They also wish to be specified on the time and amount of ex-gratia the outfit had reportedly given. The K.U. further substantiated that it had never asked for any form of ex-gratia or compensation. The K.U. reminded that it had not demanded amount or ex-gratia but justification for the inhuman action initiated by its cadres against innocent public, during its meeting with Th.Muivah, Ato Kilonser of the NSCN - IM on May 14 last. It also maintained that it was against Konyak customary law to accept any form of ex-gratia. The K.U. further lamented that the NSCN-IM could have expressed their regret and apologies at an earlier time instead of offering different reasons and throwing the blame on the Konyaks.
NESO decries speech of ‘adopted NE MP’ Morung Express News August 18 Guwahati: The North East Students’ Organisation, while taking strong exception to the avoidance of issues pertaining to the North East in the Prime Minister’s Independence Day speech, has questioned Delhi’s honesty and intention as to what hidden agenda it has for bringing about peace in the NE region. Accusing the Central Government of a ‘systematic and well- planned exploitation and discrimination of the NE region ever since India got independence,’ the influential student body has stated that rulers of India provide lip service to the people only with a view to keep the region within the Indian union. The organization has further queried as to how other Indian rulers could be expected to contribute towards the development of the region when the Prime Minister- dubbed as ‘an adopted MP from the NE,’ by the NESO- failed to put the map of the NE correctly in his speech. The NESO has further articulated that the most important concern of the people of the NE was to bring about honourable solutions to the different ongoing political dialogues and ceasefires being held by the Government of India with various armed groups of the region. In this regard, the organization has expressed disappointment over the omission of the Prime Minister in including this issue in his speech. Meanwhile, the NESO has also condemned the inhuman attack on the lives of two Naga girls namely Leishichon Shaiza, who succumbed to her injuries and Ngakuimi Raleng who was seriously injured by a reportedly deranged person at the Gateway of India, Mumbai on August 13. The NESO has, in this context, asked for a proper investigation into the incident.
Nagaland govt demands fresh census in State Assam Tribune
KOHIMA, Aug 18 – Nagaland Government today adopted a resolution urging the Centre to carry out a fresh census and exempt it from the delimitation process on the lines of Jammu and Kashmir considering its complex demographic composition. Moving a resolution in the Assembly, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said there were serious anomalies in the population figures of Nagaland in the 2001 census which depicted “very high growth rates in several areas”.
In several areas, the growth rate was much more than the state’s average, rendering the 2001 census “totally unreliable for any constitutional exercise”, including delimitation of Assembly constituencies in Nagaland, Rio said on the opening day of the monsoon session. Alteration of boundaries of assembly segments involving transfer of constituencies from one tribal area to another would surely “upset the tribal balance, co-existence, peace and tranquility, creating another cause for unrest” in the region already surcharged with tension due to various reasons, he said. Like Jammu and Kashmir, which was exempted from the delimitation exercise, Nagaland also enjoys special status under Article 371-A, making it qualified for the same exemption, he said. Security situation in Nagaland was delicate and any attempt to stir up inter-tribal relations by reorganizing the assembly constituencies might affect the on-going Naga peace process. Delimitation of Assembly segments on the basis of the ‘faulty census’ of 2001 might lead to aggravation of the existing anomalies in the state, he said.
The first sitting on delimitation was scheduled on August 23. –PTI

Congress should thank us for wiping their ‘sins’: Rio
KOHIMA, Aug 18: Chief minister Neiphiu Rio on Thursday attempted to put at rest Congress accusations that the DAN government misused Rs.365 crore received as peace bonus in 2003 from the then Vajpayee led NDA government. To this effect, Rio tabled a White Paper on utilization of the amount saying that the government was doing so in deference to the wishes of Congress leaders. He was giving a written statement on the floor of the House on the first day of the three-day Assembly session. The amount was received by the state only to wipe off the accumulated deficit of the same amount, the chief minister said. However, Rio opposed the Congress allegations that the DAN had not explained the expenditure as untrue. He said that the opposition should not have raked up the issue after unanimous resolution appreciating the receipt of Rs.365 crore from the Centre.
The chief minister said that while getting money from New Delhi for specific projects entailed submitting of utilization certificates, in this case even the Centre did not ask for an explanatory note.
“Let me make it very clear that the whole of Rs.365 crore grant received by the state government on 31st March, 2003 was automatically adjusted in the state's RBI account, to offset the deficit or overdraft of the state government at that time, this was precisely the purpose for which the grant was sought by us, and given by the Government of India. So, there is no question of misuse of the grant by the DAN government,” Rio argued. Countering the Opposition, the chief minister said that in fact, the accumulated deficit of more than Rs.365 crore was created during the ten years of Congress rule.
“Therefore, I am of the opinion that the Congress party now sitting in opposition should be very grateful to the DAN government for wiping out the hang-over of their past mismanagement, sins, instead of asking us questions on how the grant has been utilized. I am also surprised that the Congress MLAs had jointly submitted a memorandum dated April 9, 2005 to the Prime Minister of India on this very issue, asking that the Government of India should not make further releases to the state without first investigating into this matter. I expect and request the Congress party to play the role of constructive opposition and not otherwise,” the chief minister added.

Home secretary in Manipur to assess blockade fallout Naga Realm
Imphal, Aug. 17: Union home secretary B.K. Duggal today made a whistlestop tour of Manipur to assess the stock of essential commodities and the condition of the state’s supply lines, six days after the All Naga Students Association of Manipur lifted its 52-day economic blockade temporarily. He made an aerial survey of the condition of the Imphal-Jiribam highway, reopened last month after the Naga students blocked the Imphal-Kohima highway. He held a series of meetings with governor S.S. Sidhu, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh, chief secretary Jarnail Singh and senior officials of the security forces. The home secretary, who was rushed to Imphal by home minister Shivraj Patil, was accompanied by officials from the ministries of food, surface transport, petroleum and border roads organisation. Talking to mediapersons before leaving Imphal for Delhi, Duggal said the Centre would provide Rs 7 crore to Rs 8 crore immediately for the improvement of National Highway 53, which links Imphal with Silchar. Funds would not be a problem and the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) would be responsible for its maintenance, he said.
Though the security threat on this highway is now much reduced, combined forces of the army, Assam Rifles and the CRPF would take care of the security problem. The state chief secretary would soon convene a joint meeting of the security forces and the BRO to chalk out strategies for road improvement and security. Nearly 100 supply trucks are moving along the Imphal-Silchar road on a daily basis. The number of trucks is restricted in view of the bad road condition.
The home secretary suggested to the government that the number should be increased to 120 and also the weight of the trucks from the current 10 tonnes to 15 tonnes. Noting the scarcity of fuel in the state, Duggal said the petroleum ministry and Indian Oil Corporation have agreed to enhance the stock capacity in Imphal as a long-term plan. He said a situation similar to the Naga students’ blockade would not recur. “Even if such a situation arises it would be dealt with properly,” he said.
Duggal, however, said the onus was on the state government to resolve the blockade as it was an internal matter. “All groups must understand that the common man should not be made to suffer while asking for one’s rights.”
The governor and the chief minister today left for Delhi along with Duggal. Ibobi Singh is likely to meet representatives of the Naga students in the capital in an attempt to find a solution to the blockade.
Naga students are demanding the revocation of the June 18 general holiday and warned that they would suspend the blockade only after weighing the response of the government. Supply trucks stopped plying following a five-day bandh called by Sadar Hills District Demand Committee in the Sadar Hills areas from midnight last night. Both National Highways 39 and 53 pass through Sadar Hills. [telegraphindia]

Plans lined up for State to tackle blockades.... Nagarealm
Imphal, August 17: Laying bare a number of plans to help the State tackle economic blockades in the future in the backdrop of the recent economic blockade imposed by ANSAM, Union Home Secretary VR Duggal who arrived at Imphal today said that plans are on to increase the storage capacity of fuel in the State. Addressing a media conference at the banquet hall of Raj Bhawan today, the Union Home Secretary said that he has already held talks with officials of the Indian Oil Corporation and they have endorsed the idea of increasing the storage capacity of fuel. "The IOC officials have agreed with the suggestions of increasing the storage capacity of fuel in the State and they will expedite the work for the same after studying the current holding position of fuel," he added. Other than this the Centre will also take up all necessary steps to ensure that the State is not starved of essential commodities and the Imphal-Jiri line will be developed, promised the Union Home Secretary.
On the developmental plans of NH-53, Duggal said that the Centre is ready to sanction Rs 7/8 crores to convert the highway to a double lane route. The development work of the highway will be entrusted to the BRO, said Duggal and added that work will be taken up in full swing as soon as the post Monsoon season sets in.
"Fund is not a problem. It can be sanctioned either from the Ministry of Road Transport or from the Home Ministry," he informed media-persons.
The Home Secretary further said that the Border Roads Organisation has already informed him that about 60 kms along NH-53 are in bad shape with numerous pot holes. The weak bridges on the route have now been strengthened and goods laden trucks weighing 15 tonnes can pass over the bridges, he added. The BRTF will also be entrusted with the task of maintaining the route on a daily basis, said Duggal and added that adequate security force would be deployed on the highway to provide security and foil any attempt to disrupt the smooth flow of traffic.
"In this regard I have held talks with the top brass of Army, Assam Rifles, CRPF and the State police and I also conducted an aerial survey of the route today," informed Duggal. Security forces have been pressed into service to sanitise the route, he said and added that the situation has improved considerably. Replying to a question from the media, the Home Secretary replied that efforts are on to make NH-39 safe and secured.
The matter has already been discussed with the Chief Secretaries and DGPs of Assam, Manipur and Nagaland; he informed and added that the Centre has already instructed the State Governments to provide adequate security along the highways. To another question, Duggal said that the demand raised by the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee will be discussed at the appropriate level. On the economic blockade launched by ANSAM, the Home Secretary minced no words and said that political issues should not be used as a tool to make the people suffer. To meet any suffering in the face of such blockades, the Centre has held minute talks with the State Government, informed the Home Secretary.
On the primary objective of his visit to the State, Duggal said that he had come to Imphal to review the security measures taken up on the National Highways, to ensure adequate stock of essential commodities including petroleum products. "In this connection I have held talks with officials of the State Govt," informed Duggal. [The Sangai Express]

Bid on Apang's life foiled; conspiracy alleged ITANAGAR, AUG 17 (PTI) Outlook The Arunachal Pradesh Police have foiled a conspiracy to kill Chief Minister Gegong Apang in a grenade attack on August 15 here by arresting five persons. Disclosing this at a press conference today, the Chief Minister said that a policeman was also found to be involved in the conspiracy and investigation was on. Apang said police came to know about the plot by intercepting telephonic conversations among militants belonging to National Liberation Front of Arunachal (NALFA).
They had planned to launch a grenade attack during his travel from his residence to Indira Gandhi Park to unfurl the national flag on the Independence Day, he said. The Chief Minister also claimed that opposition BJP and dissident Congress leaders "jointly hatched another conspiracy" to dislodg him with "fake" documents to prove that he had lost majority. "I survived on both the occasions as police intercepted telephonic conversations of militants in time, and fellow party leaders explained the origin of the fake documents," Apang said
Top level security meeting approves four additional posts on NH-53 The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Aug 18: A joint meeting of the top brass of central security forces deployed in the state and state forces was held today with the state chief secretary in chair. It was decided at the meeting to open additional security posts at four different places along national highway 53, an official source said.The meeting was called after the Union home secretary VK Duggal, who came to the state for a brief one day visit, had instructed the convening of the same to discuss the security shortcomings on the said route for the safety of the BRTF workers and truckers moving along this way. During his visit to the state, Duggal along with his entourage of officials of the ministry of home affairs had consultation with the top officials of the state home department and the top brass of the central security forces in the state about the latest security position of the national highways in the state.
In the consultation meeting which mainly discussed the co-ordination between the state and central security forces deployed in the Manipur section of the national highways, the state police had reportedly put up a complaint to the home secretary of not getting cooperation from Assam Rifles and Army deployed at different posts and the police, commandos, IRB and MR being left on their own while moving on the highways for escorting the vehicles. After hearing the police complaint, the home secretary had directed the holding of a meeting to find out ways for better co-ordination between the said forces. In the meeting today, it was decided that four new posts of CRPF at Barak, Makru, Kaiphudai and Oinamlong along the NH-53 be established from tomorrow. At each post there will be one company strength of CRPF with anti-riot weapons and wireless installations, the source disclosed.

Mention may be made that the state government had recently put up a proposal for the opening of security posts in seven different locations along the NH-53 viz, Sehjang, Awang Khul, Ramgailung village, BRTF camp near the Irang river, Irang, Rengpang and Kambiron. The meeting also discussed in detail the threat from underground elements to the security forces deployed on both the highways. The bandh of the Sardar Hills District Demand Committee was also discussed and it was decided that state personnel from 1st, 2nd, 3rd IRB would escort the vehicles passing through the Sardar hills areas and ROP conducted by Army and AR will be tightened so as to insure safe passage to them at any time through the national highways.

Naga Republic celebrates its Independence Day Hindustan Times Dimapur, August 17, 2005
A day before the Independence Day celebrations, the "Government of the People's Republic of Nagaland" celebrated the 58th anniversary of "Naga independence" at Camp Hebron, off Dimapur, on August 14. Education Kilonser (minister) Tongmeth Wungnao presided of the celebrations, receiving the 'national gun salute' of the Naga Army. According to reports received here, the celebration commenced with unfurling of the "Naga national flag" by the chief guest followed by the presidential address read out by the chief guest. A number of members of the underground were declared promoted by the "Defence Secretary". The celebration also included a two-minute silent prayer for "those who had laid their lives for the cause of the Nagas".
Speaking at the meeting, Keeya Kilonser (defence minister) Zarsie said the ongoing peace process was in a crucial stage adding "at any cost we should not mingle the political cause with party issues" which Nagas struggled for over fifty years. The celebrations were carried out by various battalions of the NSCI-IM, including the Kiutsumong Battalion, the Naga Army, JC Battalion and Hevuto Battalion. The celebrations at Camp Hebron were followed by a cultural programme.
Khalistan groups holds demonstration in Washington
Sunday 14th August, 2005 Anoop Singh - Panthic Weekly Staff Washington-DC, USA (KP) - According to a press note published by the Council of Khalistan on August 12, 2005, Sikhs from around the East Coast will gather by the Gandhi statue at the Indian Embassy on Q St. between 21st St. and Massachusetts Ave. NW in Washington, DC on Monday, August 15, 2005, at 9:15 a.m. to protest the celebration of Indian Independence Day. In case the celebrations are held at the Indian Ambassador’s residence, the demonstration will move there. According to the information recieved by the Panthic Weekly, the demonstration will be held to commemorate the Sikhs and other minorities murdered by the Indian government since Indian independence, to demand the release of all political prisoners, and to demand a sovereign, independent Khalistan. "India has murdered over 250,000 Sikhs since 1984, according to figures compiled by the Punjab State Magistracy and human-rights groups and reported in the book 'The Politics of Genocide' by Inderjeet Singh Jaijee. It has also killed over 89,000 Kashmiri Muslims since 1988, more than 300,000 Christians in Nagaland since 1947, and thousands of Christians and Muslims elsewhere in the country, as well as tens of thousands of Assamese, Bodos, Dalits , Manipuris, Tamils, and other minorities," the press release stated. According to a report by the Movement Against State Repression (MASR), 52,268 Sikhs are being held as political prisoners in India without charge or trial. Some have been in illegal custody since 1984! Amnesty International reported that tens of thousands of other minorities are also being held as political prisoners.
Indian police arrested human-rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra after he exposed their policy of mass cremation of Sikhs, in which over 50,000 Sikhs have been arrested, tortured, and murdered, then their bodies were declared unidentified and secretly cremated. He was murdered in police custody. His body was not given to his family. The police never released the body of former Jathedar of the Akal Takht Gurdev Singh Kaunke after SSP Swaran Singh Ghotna murdered him. Ghotna has never been brought to trial for the Jathedar Kaunke murder. No one has been brought to justice for the kidnapping and murder of Jaswant Singh Khalra. “Although Sikhs gave 80 percent of the sacrifices for India’s independence, India has massacred Sikhs since achieving independence,” said Dr. Gurmit Singh Aulakh, President of the Council of Khalistan, which is leading the demonstration. On October 7, 1987, the Sikh Nation declared its independence from India, naming its new country Khalistan. “Only a sovereign, independent Khalistan will end the repression and lift the standard of living for the people of Punjab. We are here to demand freedom and self-determination, rather than the genocide that has been inflicted on us for so many years,” he said. “Democracies don’t commit genocide.”
A. Soni comments on a Convention on Human Rights in South Asia held in London, July 24 this year
The Indian subcontinent, now perhaps more commonly referred to as ‘South Asia’, is a region of the World that is plagued with poverty, illiteracy, corruption and strife. Political conflict however is not limited to the bitter animosity between neighbouring nuclear powers Pakistan and India, in fact, the most severe and brutal conflicts, in the case of India, exist between the government and civilian populations. More specifically, the brutal conflict exists between those peoples who wish to exercise their internationally recognized human and legal right of self-determination and the Indian government’s refusal to recognize the legitimacy of such demands. India’s utter disregard for human rights and human dignity in the pursuit to crush such movements and pummel into submission those who talk of freedom from India and justice for the crimes the Indian state and security forces have committed has resulted in a deadlock for which there seemingly is no end to the atmosphere of fear, violence, bitterness and suffering for the oppressed peoples.
Self-determination as a human right and its applicability to the Sikhs was the theme of the speech given by Ranjit Singh Srai, a lawyer and co-ordinator of the Human Rights Advisory Group of the Panjabis in Britain All Party Parliamentary Group, at the World Muslim-Sikh Federation convention on Human Rights in South Asia held on July 24 in London. There were many speakers at this event including two special guests, Justice Ajit Singh Bains (Punjab Human Right Organization) and Inderjit Singh Jaijee (Movement Against State Repression) who had flown in from Punjab especially to attend. Both Justice Ajit Singh Bains and Inderjit Singh Jaijee have outstanding reputations as defenders of human rights in Punjab making their presence at this convention highly appreciated by all who attended. A broad range of human rights issues affecting the subcontinent were covered by the speakers, who were all in agreement that the subcontinent is a region that has a poor track record and respect for individual human rights. Women were said to be among the most at risk from this apathy towards human dignity and suffering prevailing in that part of the World. However, what was later brought into the limelight was the underlying causes of conflicts and the denial of the collective human right that is self-determination. It was this issue that was first raised by Ranjit Singh Srai, who touched upon this crucial yet grossly overlooked issue in human rights.
What Ranjit Singh Srai argued, based on an analysis of relevant international law, was that self-determination was not just a basic human and legal right but that it is actually the most important human right under the UN Charter and foundation for which all other human rights depend upon. Self-determination as a concept therefore is not simply a case of politics, but is a fundamental aspect of International Law and human rights. Self-determination as a human right is given prime importance in the UN Charter and features prominently in both the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (1966) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966). India is a signatory to these Covenants but it has formally entered a ‘reservation’ to the effect that it does not accept that self-determination applies to ‘peoples or nations’ within its borders. The UN treaty monitoring body responsible for policing compliance with the 1966 Covenants has requested India to remove this ‘reservation’ on the basis that it is not consistent with international law and is not acceptable. But India has ignored this request and continues to refuse to recognise any nations such as the Sikhs, Kashmiris and Nagas who are seeking their internationally recognized legal and human right of self-determination. India refuses to engage in any dialogue that raises the demand of self-determination and when such demands are raised they are suppressed by force.
It is extremely important to understand this legal and human rights dimension to demands of self-determination in Punjab and elsewhere. For it would be a huge blunder to ignore these and see the movement for Khalistan or Nagalim in purely a political context when in reality, this is far from the truth. These are movements founded on rights enshrined in international law and the freely expressed wishes of the people themselves. Genuine peace and justice in South Asia depends on the free exercise of those rights. The Sikhs as a nation freely determined, at the Sarbat Khalsa held at the Akal Takht Sahib in Amritsar on 26 January 1986, to exercise their right of self-determination and establish a sovereign Sikh state of Khalistan in the Sikh majority Punjab. This remains the legitimate and lawful goal of the nation despite the terrible oppression India has carried out to silence the voice of Sikh freedom. The human rights aspect to calls for self-determination in the north-west and north-eastern regions in India was confirmed by three other speakers, Justice Ajit Singh Bains and Inderjit Singh Jaijee who spoke largely on the human rights violations against the Sikhs of Punjab and Dr Mukul Hazarika of Assam Watch who spoke about the dismal human rights situation in the “seven sister” states of the extreme north-east, most notably Assam, Nagaland and Manipur.
Dr Hazarika spoke very passionately about the plight of the entire north-east, a region that is colourfully diverse in ethnic, linguistic and tribal identities, yet suppressed ruthlessly by the Indian state. The people of the entire region live in the grip of fear from the Indian security forces who have been given tremendous powers under a number of black laws such as the Armed Forces Special Powers Act that virtually enables the Indian army to detain, shoot dead and raid peoples houses with impunity and immunity from the law. Such unwarranted detention of civilians, extra-judicial killings and molestation of women (including gang rapes) by the Indian forces are a frequent occurrence in the “seven sister” states of the north-east protested Dr Hazarika.
Justice Ajit Singh Bains and Inderjit Singh Jaijee presented speeches on the human rights violations against the Sikhs. Abuses that have remarkable similarities to the traumatic experiences of civilian populations in Kashmir, Assam, Nagaland and Manipur. However, what both speakers from Punjab were able to touch upon that Dr Hazarika was not able to do due to time constraints was the fact that not only are individual human rights frequently abused in India but the political freedoms of the people are also subject to violations that are contrary to the spirit of democracy and where no one is ever held accountable. This was backed up by Dr Jasdev Singh Rai who spoke of how closely the current Indian Constitution resembles the British legislation imposed on the region in colonial times where the emphasis was not on ruling on behalf of the people but imposing illegitimate control over the people. The example of the Indian constitution (which it was noted has been amended over 100 times) being used as a weapon by the central government against the states was high-lighted by Justice Ajit Singh Bains. Justice Bains lamented about how the elected governments of the states have no real power or autonomy from the central government. Centre-state relations in fact are completely one sided and on numerous occasions the central government has dissolved elected state governments and imposed President’s Rule when there happened to have been a conflict of interests between New Delhi and the state in question. Under such circumstances, political freedoms and the legitimacy of Indian democracy is seriously questionable.
Much of this was confirmed by Inderjit Singh Jaijee who in addition had pointed out that over 200,000 Sikhs have been killed in India since the 1980’s. Inderjit Singh Jaijee went on to regret that the Indian government has treated the people worse than the British colonialists did in terms of abuses and that the Punjab is a police state which has the highest number of police men per capita and where human rights abuses are apart a system for which there is no redress. It was further commented by Inderjit Singh Jaijee that the Sikh struggle is one of self-determination and he agreed that self-determination was a basic human right, something that had been expressed earlier by Ranjit Singh Srai and supported by Dr Mukul Hazarika, who had voiced support for an independent, sovereign Assam based on same the provisions granted in international law.
As part of his speech, Ranjit Singh Srai had read out a message by Lord Nazir Ahmed, a member of the British Parliament who was unable to attend the convention. Lord Ahmed in his note had called for the need of the Sikhs and Muslims of the subcontinent to work together in upholding the human rights of the people and expressed his hope that the conference would develop a stronger understanding between those who were peacefully engaged in struggles for self-determination, what he called “the most crucial human right of all”. Lord Ahmed reaffirmed his support for the establishment of Khalistan at a time when Sikh leaders in India are being targeted for calling for independence. He criticised India’s militarization and forceful suppression of self-determination movements in Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab and the state terror unleashed on the people of these two regions. Lord Ahmed’s message was well received. It carried an appeal for those concerned with the region to make common cause: “Durable peace, justice and the rule of law in South Asia is vital to the greater security of the world; we must work together to defeat those that threaten these ideals.... until India reverses grotesque challenges to civilised standards, we will work together to help ensure there is no UN Security Council seat for India.” wrote Lord Ahmed. The Convention on Human Rights concluded with the passing of a number of resolutions calling for peace and condemning all forms of terrorism, including state terrorism. One of the Resolutions condemned the recent arrests of Sikh political activists and politicians in Punjab such as Dal Khalsa leaders Kanwarpal Singh and Sarbjit Singh Ghuman along with Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) President, Sardar Simranjit Singh Mann, all of whom had done nothing but call for the right of self-determination in a peaceful and democratic manner which was in accordance with International Law. A further Resolution appealed to all those who are oppressed by India and that are peacefully struggling to exercise their right of self-determination to forge an alliance and to co-ordinate their efforts on a political front.
Manmohan Singh Khalsa and Nazar Lodhi, officers of the World-Muslim Sikh Federation, thanked speakers and guests alike and pledged to carry forward their work to promote human rights in South Asia. (A. Soni is Associate of Dal Khalsa International. Can be mailed on
Mahanta fires salvo on Govt, AASU Secret killings By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Aug 18: Former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta, who is being placed under the harsh limelight in the wake of the controversial JN Sharma Commission report on the secret killings, today brushed aside allegations of his involvement in the episode. Rubbishing charges that the secret killings had taken place at the instance of the erstwhile AGP Government, Mahanta told a press conference here that the killings had, in fact, taken place during the earlier Congress regime. "Who can forget the instances when Assamese youths were burnt down," he said.
Firing salvos on the AASU, the expelled AGP leader said that the student body is up against the interim report of the Commission because it does not fall in lines with its agenda. "Subsequent rejection of the Commission’s report by the State Government and the AASU shows how much respect they have for our local judges," he added. Coming down heavily on ‘some’ of the AASU leaders, Mahanta, who was also accompanied by former Assembly Speaker Ganesh Kutum, said, "Nowadays what the Chief Minister says in the morning, are in the lips of some AASU leaders towards the evening." Terming the AASU’s allegations of his connivance with Justice JN Sharma as ‘unfounded’ and ‘concocted’, the two-time chief minister said, "If the AASU leaders had any information contrary to the report, why did they not provide the same to the Commission?" As for the State Government, he said, "it sabotaged the inquiry as it wanted the Commission to linger till the next elections and keep the issue alive and public in the dark."
‘Make NE an industrial region’ From our Reporter Sentinel
DIBRUGARH, Aug 18: Citing the specified industrial areas as one of the reasons for industrial backwardness in the north-eastern region, Dibrugarh MP Sarbananda Sonowal has demanded the Centre to allow the whole north-eastern region to be used for industrialization by removing the constraints of the heavy tax structure under the North East Industrial Policy, 1997. The MP raised the demand in the Parliament yesterday in a petition, for the implementation of the North East Industrial policy, 1997, in the interest of the rapid development of the industrial sector in Assam. Sonowal mentioned that if a larger area is included on the basis of the Policy, it would encourage the setting up of more industries not only in Assam but also in the entire North-east.
It would go a long way in solving the unemployment problem in the region, he added. He also pointed out that the proposal of the State Government to include more sectors has not been approved yet. It may be noted here that the State Government, along with the region’s entrepreneurs’ forum FINER and NEDFi, has been raising the demand for the amendment of the North East Industrial Policy, 1997. The MP also demanded a rise in the subsidy on the ‘term loan’ and ‘working capital’ from 3 per cent to 5 per cent. Besides, he wanted enhancement of Central financial assistance to industrial investment in the State from Rs 30 lakh to Rs 2 crore