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08/24/2005: "Integration at the heart of Naga freedom struggle: Naga Hoho"

Integration at the heart of Naga freedom struggle: Naga Hoho Morung Express News August 23
DIMAPUR: The Naga Hoho has made it clear that the integration of the Naga homeland into a single political unit was an inalienable right of the Nagas ‘by birth’. “Integration is at the heart of the Naga freedom struggle and we are asking for what is ours by birth”, stated a press communiqué issued by the Naga Hoho Publicity Secretary. The Naga Hoho also informed about the Naga Integration Rally on August 31 to be held at Kohima local ground. “This is in affirmation of our inalienable right to live as one people under one political unit and also to demonstrate that we are determined to undo the injustice committed upon us. The reunification of the contiguous Naga homeland is non-negotiable”, it stated on the upcoming rally. “Our children deserve to live as other dignified human beings on earth. We are duty bound to usher in the right future for them. We must reclaim and restore our honor and dignity”, it affirmed and called upon all sections of the Naga people particularly the various Naga national workers to extend their cooperation. “Let’s demonstrate together that we (the) Nagas can create history together” it appealed. The Naga Hoho in association with other mass-based social organizations would be holding the ‘Naga Integration Rally’.
NSCN-K says Centre won’t crack down on its camps Nahvind Times IANS Kohima Aug 23: The central government has agreed not to carry out security operations near designated camps of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang, a rebel leader said Tuesday.A three-member team of rebel leaders belonging to the NSCN-K held a crucial meeting with home ministry officials in New Delhi Monday to prepare cease-fire ground rules. “It was agreed that security forces would not conduct any operations near our designated camps in the future. It was one of the main changes in the cease-fire ground rules proposed by us,” Kughalo Mulatonu, a senior NSCN-K leader who was part of the rebel team, told IANS over the phone from New Delhi.
“In the past security forces often harassed our boys on the pretext of launching operations against other groups and so we sought some changes in the ground rules.” The internal security secretary, Mr Anil Choudhury led the home ministry delegation. C. Singson, the self-styled external affairs minister of the NSCN-K, led the rebel team. “The meeting was held in a very cordial atmosphere and we are happy at the outcome. We, however, told the home ministry that the NSCN-K would sit for formal peace talks with the government only after negotiations with the other faction (NSCN led by Isak and Muivah) come to an end,” Singson said. The NSCN-K also proposed the name of Major General (Retd) D P Merchant as chairman of the cease-fire supervisory board. Gen Merchant was earlier inspector general of the Assam Rifles based in Nagaland.
“The home ministry team said our proposal for a new chairman would be taken up with the higher authorities and it is very likely Merchant would be the new government appointed head,” Mulatonu said. At present Lt Gen (retd) Ramesh Kulkarni is the chairman of the cease-fire supervisory board. “We have sought his (Mr Kulkarni’s) replacement as he openly supports and backs the NSCN-I-M,” Mulatonu said. The NSCN-K had entered into a cease-fire with New Delhi in 2001 although the two sides are yet to begin formal peace talks. The two NSCN factions are waging a bitter turf war for territorial supremacy in Nagaland since their split in 1988.
Transporters not to ply on NH-39 until threats are ended The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Aug 23: A joint meeting of the civil society groups, transporters and transport agencies of the state held today at the Manipur Press Club has resolved not to ply vehicles along national highway - 39 till those creating trouble along the highway give assurance that no disturbances would be created along the highway. Before the decision was taken, the meeting discussed minutely about hardships and difficulties being faced by commuters and transporters along national highways, particularly along NH-39 in the wake as well as aftermath of the ANSAM economic blockade and threat of a particular underground group to collect huge ‘taxes’ arrears from each and every truck plying along the highway. The meeting was held under joint initiative of HERICOUN, IPSA and UPF and it was also resolved during the meeting that any transporter violating the decision would have to be responsible themselves for any untoward incident that happens to them. The meeting also decided to press upon the government to establish highway protection force as soon as possible and to provide effective protection in Nagaland sector of the NH-39 and reduction of entry check posts in Nagaland state.
In a bid to expedite the process development of the NH-53, the meeting also stressed the need for forming a voluntary monitoring cell so as to mount pressure on concern authorities and government to construction of the road. It was also agreed that the Manipur government be pressurised to deploy security along NH-53 perform their duties and responsibilities sincerely.

Further, it was also resolved that transporters coming from outside into Manipur be appealed to enter into the state through NH-53 and return back by the same route. Rs 4 lakhs looted: In another development, money in cash amounting to about Rs. 4 lakhs was looted by some gunmen from six passenger vehicles plying along the Imphal Moreh section of the national highway 39 at Leingangpokpi area some three kilometers from Tengnoupal police station towards Moreh, a report said. The report said that out of the six vehicles four were moving towards Moreh from Imphal and the remaining two were coming back to Imphal from Moreh. The looting took place reportedly between 9 am and 10 am. The four vehicles, all tata sumos going towards Moreh, were intercepted by the miscreants who forced the passengers to come out of the vehicles first and then took all the money in their possession. The gunmen even did a body search on the passengers and took whatever money they were carrying. The miscreants searched the vehicles also for any money left there. Out of the four ill-fated vehicles the registration numbers of three have been confirmed so far. The numbers are MN-0K/ 4814, MN-01/ 5136 and MN-01 5514. After taking all the money the miscreants let the vehicles go, the report added. The report also said that while the four vehicles were being looted by the miscreants, two vehicles, one passenger bus and one Maruti van also arrived and the passengers of these vehicles were also looted. According to the victims of the two vehicles, the amount collected from them was estimated to be around Rs. 1 lakh.

Jessami land dispute erupts again, crops destroyed Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 23: The land dispute over Choka between Jessami village in Ukhrul district and Zephoro village in Melori sub-division of Phek district in Nagaland has erupted again. Chairman of Jessami village W Ayete informed the press that on July 19, around 100 Village Volunteer Guards of Zephori village raided the Choka land and destroyed the standing crops. The raiders were armed with daggers and arms, added the Chairman.

Standing crops like maize, banana and others were destroyed by the intruders, informed the Chairman and added that the loss incurred in the attack has been estimated at about Rs 1.3 lakhs. The land was cultivated by the inhabitants of the village which has 25 households, he added. Following the attack, the SDO/SDM of Chingai sub-division clamped prohibitory orders under CrPC 144 on July 22 at Jessami village, said the Chairman further.
No such type of restrictions was clamped in the Nagaland village, he alleged and added that the people of Zephori village moved about freely. There is also an injunction to settle the matter peacefully an amicably. The dispute at the frontier area of Manipur and Nagaland, started as way back as I960, said sources. However Choka land has been under the ownership of Jessami all these years, said sources and added that Zephori villagers at the instigation of neighbouring villages of Nagaland have been intruding into this territory since 2000.

The matter has been apprised to Chingai AC MLA A Aza, said sources. The MLA assured the village Chairman that the matter would be taken to the Chief Minister of Manipur to do the needful. Villagers of Jessami have expressed unhappiness over the conduct of the DC in handling the matter and added though the DC has been repeatedly apprised of the situation; the district administration has done precious little to settle the issue.
Centre, NSCN-Khaplang hold talks Kuknalim.com
NEW DELHI, Aug 23: Indian officials and rebel Naga leaders have held talks to preserve a four-year ceasefire. The talks, held late on Monday were the first formal dialogue between the government and the NSCN-K which has observed a truce with Indian forces since 2001.
"They discussed the ceasefire and how to continue talks," an Indian home ministry official said. "The Nagas had some demands about the ceasefire monitoring group and they will be examined."

The two sides would meet again but no dates were set, he added. The Naga rebellion is India's oldest insurgency, and security analysts say peace with the Nagas is crucial to a broader peace in the northeast -- seven states connected to the rest of India by a thin strip of land and home to dozens of insurgent groups. The Khaplang faction of the NSCN is the second most powerful separatist group in Nagaland. A more powerful group, the NSCN (Issac-Muivah) has held repeated talks with the Indian government since it started a ceasefire in 1997.

But there has been little progress over the rebels' central demands -- the unification of Naga-dominated areas in northeast India and ultimately independence. Both NSCN factions, which split in the late 1980s, have thousands of fighters, and raise money mainly through "taxes".
More than 20,000 people have died in the over five-decades-old Naga insurgency.

Bureaucratic reshuffle Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, Aug 23: Within a span of four days, Nagaland government has ordered for the second bureaucratic reshuffle transferring and posting a dozen of junior bureaucrats.
According to a notification here on Tuesday Kevekha Mero, Sub-divisional officer, Jalukie, was posted in the same rank at Chizami, while H Singson, SDO Chizami, has been posted as under secretary Cooperation.Mr Avinash Champawat has been posted as SDO Jalukie, Mr C N J Haokip, Under Secretary Finance was posted as Under Secretary Home, while Kovi Meyase, EAC Niuland, has been posted as EAC Zunheboto. Mr Kevekha Kevin Zehol, SDO Kiphire will hold additional charges of SDO Pungro and EAC Kiusam.Mr T Kilemla, Under Secretary Fisheries, has been promoted and retained in the same department, while Dhiren Difoe Under Secretary, Law and Justice, has been posted as under secretary of land resources.
Delhi okays separate truce cell for NSCN-K
‘No more military ops near designated camps’ By Wasbir Hussain
GUWAHATI, Aug 23: The NSCN(K) today said that the Centre has agreed to concede its demand for a separate ceasefire cell to monitor the truce between the two sides and that New Delhi was likely to appoint a retired Major General as its chairman. "The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has agreed to our demand for a separate truce monitoring cell to oversee the ceasefire between our group and the Government. We have proposed the name of Maj Gen (retd) D.P. Merchant, who was Inspector General of the Assam Rifles in Nagaland," NSCN(K) ‘finance minister’ K. Mulatonu told this writer. The Centre, he said, has also agreed not to conduct
any counter-insurgency operations near the designated camps of the NSCN(K). This move is seen as a modification of the ceasefire ground rules between the two sides. "Putting a halt to military operations near the designated camps of our group was one of the main changes that we had proposed to the Government of India during our meeting in New Delhi yesterday. The authorities have accepted this proposal and have said that no security operation would be carried out close to our camps," Mulatonu, who is also a member of the group’s ceasefire cell, said. The meeting in New Delhi, the first since the truce was extended for yet another year on April 28, was headed by Anil Choudhury, Secretary, Internal Security, in the MHA, on behalf of the Centre. NSCN(K) ‘external affairs minister’ C. Singson headed the three-member NSCN(K) delegation. Mulatonu was also in the NSCN(K) team. The NSCN(K) had been extremely bitter about the Ceasefire Monitoring Committee that is currently in place. "We want the ceasefire ground rules to be modified. More importantly, we want a separating chairman to look after the truce matters involving our group because Gen Kulkarni is openly favouring the NSCN(IM). Let him continue to head the truce cell and look after the NSCN(IM) matters, but we must have a separate chairperson," Mulatonu had told this writer last week. "The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and we are happy at the outcome. Both sides agreed to abide by the terms of the truce and not to disturb each other," Mulatonu said.
IM rubbishes K's charges
Dimapur, August 22 (NNN): The NSCN-IM has outrightly rejected the allegations levelled against it by the Zeliangrong Region NSCN (K). NSCN-IM's Zeliangrong Region CAO MK Winning in a statement alleged that Dinkachin was killed in cold blood on August 21 at 1.43 pm near Bungte Chiru village under Bishnupur district by pumping in eight bullets on the head. Winning fumed at the NSCN-K's contention that Dinkachin was killed on August 20 saying that Dinkachin was picked up by the Khaplang group at 2 am on August 20 and was executed the next day. The Khaplang group had gone to the press to highlight the killing of Dinkachin before the actual execution, stated MK Winning and added that he (MK Winning) had never requested or threatened the abductors of Dinkachin.

The CAO's statement questioned the wisdom and agenda of the NSCN-K and observed that the charges levelled at the NSCN-IM CAO by the K group linking him with the newly floated Zeliangrong Revolutionary National Front (ZRNF), were nothing but baseless and unfounded.
Winning further asked "Why the Khaplang group is training its gun on me which is not a profitable task," and then said that the spokesman of the misguided Khaplang group who had been giving suicidal press-notes all these days to the press should come and face the CAO, Zeliangrong Region of the NSCN-IM without any condition. The statement then urged the people "not to fall prey to any divisive forces such as Felix alias Mairiliangbou of Lamlaba village".

The NSCN-IM appealed to all "national workers, Zeliangrong Region to uphold and safeguard the Naga National principle in the face of distress and adversity-'Prepare for the worst and expect for the best'" and then called upon the National workers to reaffirm the Naga national stands by giving their best and the last drop of their blood. The Zeliangrong Region, NSCN-IM fully support the ongoing peace process, said the statement. Meanwhile, NSCN-IM, Zeliangrong Region, has organised a condolence programme to mourn the demise of its Leacy member Dinkachin killed by the NSCN-K under Bishnupur district. In a release, MK Winning, CAO, Zeliangrong Region of the NSCN-IM while condemning the killing of Dinkachin, has termed the action of the NSCN-K, Zeliangrong Region as a dastardly act. It said that the CAO and workers of the outfit observed a five minutes silence as a mark of respect to the departed soul at the residence of the outfit's deputy kilonser Akhuan. The IM statement further described Dinkachin as a faithful servant of the Naga "nation" with no records of malicious activities that may be regarded "anti-national". The release then said that "the Khaplang group had committed gruesome crime upon Dinkachin after he had fallen into the cruel hands of the Khaplang group". [The Sangai Express]
Nagaland drags feet on bill OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Aug. 22: The Nagaland government has put on the back-burner the mandatory constitutional requirement of reserving 33 per cent seats for women in municipal bodies. The Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) government failed to table the Amendment to the Nagaland Municipal Act, 2001, under which elections to municipal bodies were held this year. Elections to 16 town councils and two municipal councils were held in Nagaland this year. Over three days of Assembly proceedings that concluded yesterday, no Amendment was laid on the table though the issue was taken up. The Opposition Congress raised the issue of the allegedly illegal election of a new town council chairman for Chumukedima but remained silent on the apparent illegality of all municipal bodies in Nagaland. Governor Shyamal Datta, in a message on July 21, said the Nagaland Municipal (First Amendment) Bill, 2005 did not address a major lacuna in the parent legislation, “in that it fails to make provision for reservation of seats for women”.
Article 243-T of the Constitution makes it mandatory to incorporate the provision of reserving for women not less than one-third of the total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every municipality. The state’s Act, on the other hand, provides for only a single woman representative. Noting that municipalities should function better with a fair representation of women, the governor had returned the Nagaland Municipal (First Amendment) Bill, 2005 last month. The parent legislation, now proved faulty, provides for one government-nominated member for every five elected members. The DAN government increased the number of nominated members to one for every three elected members. The government also provided voting rights to nominated members, violating Article 243-R of the Constitution. Congress leaders skirted the issue even as the government apparently wants the present system to continue. Observers say if a court is to take suo motu notice of the issue, elected local bodies may be struck down as illegal. A government official said legal opinion was being sought on the issue.
Trucks to stop plying on NH-39 Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 23: With ANSAM threatening to re-impose the economic blockade any day now, a number of civil societies including UPF, HERICOUN and IPSA and different transporter organisations and drivers union have decided not to ply on NH-39. A joint statement issued by the three civil societies said that trucks will stay off NH 39 until and unless a standing assurance is given that the vehicles will not be targeted and the heavy extortion racket run by an underground outfit along the route is stopped. This decision was taken during a meeting held at the premises of Manipur Press Club today morning, said the statement. Significantly even as the decision to stop plying on NH-39 was taken, the 36 BRTF has started the process of strengthening NH-53.

This comes close on the heels of Union Home Secretary VK Duggal instructing the BRTF to make NH-53 fit for vehicular movement. A task force has been formed to look after the maintenance and repairing work and the force will look after the Jiribam to Barak stretch of the said route. Preparatory works for strengthening NH-53, including recruitment of local labourers have started, informed the CO of 36 BRTF, Mahesh Prasad while speaking to The Sangai Express today. Till date 500 workers from Manipur have been recommended and medical test for the final selection is on, he said adding that another 1500 labourers will be recruited.
On the bridges on the highway, the CO said that three Bailey bridges will be converted to RCC bridges (permanent) and added that construction work for the same will start by the end of this year. There are 26 bridges including Bailey and Hamilton types along this route, said the CO adding that all of them are in good condition.

The only hitch is that goods trucks should not weigh more than 15 tonnes to cross these bridges. On the road repairing and construction work, Mahesh Prasad said that jungle cutting has been completed and widening exercise of the road has crossed the 30 kms stretch, from the Jiribam side. Once the road widening task is completed, black topping of the road will be taken up. Earlier other resolutions adopted at the meeting include asking transport agencies located outside Manipur not to send in any vehicles through NH-39 but to instead take the NH-53 route in future. Any driver or transporter violating the agreed resolutions should be held responsible for any untoward incident, said the statement. The meeting also resolved to exert the necessary pressure on the Centre, State Government and authorities of Indian Oil Corporation and others to build infrastructure so that the essential commodities may be lifted from an alternative site.

Infrastructure should be installed on a priority basis with an eye on the future, added the statement. To ensure protection of drivers on the highways, the meeting resolved to approach the authority to deploy highway protection force, especially on the NH-39 stretch that passes through Nagaland. The number of check posts within Nagaland should also be kept at the minimum, added the statement. To ensure the speedy development of NH-53 to provide it a viable alternative, a Voluntary Monitoring Cell should be set up to routinely check the work progress, mooted the organisations and resolved to exert the necessary pressure on the authority concerned to fructify this. The meeting also resolved to urge the Centre and the State Government to add more items on the Indo-Myanmar Trade Agreement and to allow bringing in the goods freely. Security forces deployed on NH-53 should be made to work sincerely to ensure the security of the vehicles passing through this route, resolved the meeting, further. The organisations also appealed to all transporters not to take the NH-39 route.

Factions fracture Naga dream of freedom from India August 16, 2005 Turkish weekly
By Simon Denyer

KOHIMA, India (Reuters) - Shoukrie says his customers' complain when he has to hike the prices in his small general store in the hill town of Kohima, capital of the Indian state of Nagaland. But, he explains, he has no choice. Rebel "taxes" are simply too high. And if it was not bad enough, there are three factions who each come demanding money.
"We cannot survive like this," says Shoukrie, who like many in Nagaland goes by one name. "Yes, we still believe in independence, but that hope is too far away now." "The situation of Nagaland is becoming a joke. As long as there are so many factions there is no hope of independence or sovereignty."
Here in the remote northeast of India, rebels from the Christian hill tribes of Nagaland fought a fierce insurgency against Indian rule for five decades, until a cease-fire in 1997.

But the Indian government and the Nagas, who are the most powerful of the dozens of rebel groups in the northeast, appear no closer to a resolution of the conflict, which security experts say could open the door to peace in the entire region. Within the Nagas, power struggles and personal rivalries have split the movement. All three factions are observing the cease-fire with the government, but not always with each other. Rebels themselves admit fellow cadres have not always behaved well, throwing their weight around, behaving as if their guns made them something special.
"FIGHTING FOR MONEY"
It all reinforces the impression many rebel cadres "are not fighting for the cause of the Nagas, they are fighting for money", in the words of Lhulie Mayse, a farmer in the small hill-top village of Khonoma. Today, only the main faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland is taking part in peace talks with the Indian government -- so far with little to show for it. Their patience is wearing thin, and they extended the cease-fire on July 31 for just six months, instead of a year. Ordinary Nagas worry the whole process is meaningless without unity, or could even be dangerous.
"It is no use having peace with just one group," said Mayse. "One group will smile, the other group will keep crying."
Before the British arrived in these thickly forested hills the Nagas were headhunters, divided into 32 constantly warring tribes who still speak different languages.
Christianity brought by American Baptist missionaries gradually brought headhunting to an end -- although some villages still keep the skulls of their former enemies. The church today is a major factor forging a sense of Naga unity in a Hindu-dominated country. But those tribal fault lines have not disappeared, and find expression in the rebel factions. Some ordinary Nagas fear fratricidal conflict is not far away, especially if one group of tribes feels excluded from any peace accord. "Reconciliation between Nagas is the only way to reduce this problem to a manageable size," said one Naga intellectual, who declined to be named because of rebel threats in the past. "The effort has to be born here."
Reuters via swissinfo

Outraged Sora womenfolk block NH-39 over killing The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Aug 23: Outraged over the killing of a youth by shooting and injuring of another at both his hands late last night at Sora Chingya by some unidentified gunmen, the residents of Sora, mostly womenfolk, turned out this morning and blocked the NH-39 for sometime disturbing the movement of traffic on this route. However, the distrubance ended when the Kakching police arrived there and dispersed the people. As no hard resistance came from the people there were no any untoward incidents, a report said. Out of the two persons shot at by the miscreants one identified as Feroz Khan, 34, son of Kadir Khan succumbed at the spot and the other identified as Nazir Khan, 28, son of Azir Khan who was shot at both hands was evacuated to RIMS hospital. Both victims hail from Sora village under Kakching police station. According to the injured person at RIMS, he along with the deceased were abducted by the gunmen from their respective homes and shot at Sora Chingya.

Police suspected the underground group PULF to be behind the shooting incident presumably in connection with the traffiking and use of no. 4 heroin. In another development, the Kuki Students Organisation, Chandel district, and Kuki Chiefs Association, Chandel district, have strongly condemned the brutal killing of L Henpao Haokip, of H Kotlenphai village, Pallel, by unknown persons last night. The KSO and KCA, in a joint statement appealed to the concerned organisations and individuals not to repeat such inhuman acts upon public and social workers. The joint statement also made an appeal in in the name of humanity against awarding capital punishments, calling for serving of stern warnings or awarding of other forms of punishment. It also urged those responsible to clarify the reasons behind the killing at the earliest possible time for the sake of justice.
Indian Army well-equipped to guard Arunachal sector From Anujata D Talukdar
TAWANG, Aug 23 – When the Chinese overran a large piece of territory in the then NEFA (Arunachal Pradesh) in the 1962 war, the defeat of the Indian forces was attributed to lack of preparedness as well as the appalling lack of proper equipment with the forces deployed there. It is said that the Indian soldiers were not even equipped with warm clothing to face up to the invading forces as well as the extreme cold weather. Some four decades later, there is a sea change in the situation. The Indian Army is on a modernisation overdrive in the Arunachal Pradesh sector with the best and latest equipment being made available right up to the forward positions in this strategic area. Gone are the days when the soldiers lacked proper food, equipment and shelter. Today, they are being housed in modern shelters where the elements are kept at bay. Regular helicopter sorties from places like Tawang supply the troops located in distant posts with the necessary ammunition, food, fuel, medicines, newspapers and magazines, and even their mail.The most visible sign of the changing face of the Indian Army is the polyurethene foam (PUF) shelters that are replacing the structures made of CI sheets. Imported from Israel, the PUF shelters are low cost and extremely light. The structure is erected with PUF panels that come with windows and doors to allow circulation.

“The panels are light enough to be carried by the men along with their other equipment,” said Maj RS Bhandari of the Tawang-based Korea Brigade. The PUF shelters are being set up in the forward camps in the far-flung areas of the sector as well, he said. About 15 such shelters have already been erected, he informed. Apart from its durability and easy maintenance, where the PUF shelters beat the CI sheet structures hands down is in comfort level. In the cold and windy locations, the PUF shelters provide the soldiers with the maximum possible comfort. Its insulation helps to keep the shelters warm and dry. The PUF shelters are ready for occupation in two days.

The Indian Army is also on an overdrive to network the entire sector, from Tezpur to Tawang and beyond, with optic fibre cables to improve telecommunications. “We are spending Rs 7 crore in this sector to connect all forward posts with optic fibre cables to improve communications,” said Lt Col Narendra Singh, the public relations officer (PRO) of the Tezpur-based 4 Corps. The new lines would ensure reliable communications between all defence units in the area, from the headquarters right up to the forward posts. It would also minimise disruptions due to weather and geographical conditions. It may be mentioned that similar optic fibre cable networks are being installed by the Army on the western frontier also.
The basis of territorial integrity and history: a quest for justice in retrospection Achan Ramsan (From the previous issue)
It appears the Nagas and the Meiteis see the world and history differently, interpret them differently and approach them differently so much so that their perspectives became incompatible. It is an irony that following the cease-fire agreement between the Indian government and the Nagas, pandemonium prevailed in the valley of Manipur fearing territorial disintegration, prompting the Meiteis to seek security in the embrace of the Indian constitution, even to the extend of demanding constitutional amendment to safeguard the territory of Manipur, notwithstanding the fact that many Meitei insurgents are demanding secession from India. Not even one of them condemned such move, which in any secessionist parlance is nothing short of total surrender to India. This is highly damaging to the morale and image of the insurgents as outfits without any ideological stand. The overall interpretation is this: Total recapitulation and reenactment of the instrument of accession or merger agreement signed by their Maharajah Bodhachandra in 1949 in which Manipur surrendered and became part of India. A case of history repeating itself! The point is on what basis the Meitei insurgents are waging the war now, if they indirectly accepted the Indian Union or constitution by tacitly supporting the move made by the Meitei frontal organizations, since their insurgents don’t reject the embrace of the Indian Constitution either. One gets the impression that they are wrangling within the bound of the Indian constitution to achieve their aspiration. But the Nagas realized that within the bound of the Indian Constitution, they would and could never get accommodation to their aspiration and justice would never be done to their quest for freedom to develop the pristine glory of their past social, cultural and political heritage and translate them into the future. To the Nagas, the people come first. Where there are people, there are lands. The two are one unit of the same entity, inseparably linked. Unlike the difficulty of other community in defining their boundaries, which may wax and wane according to the fortune of their kings, the Nagas do not have such problem. The territory of the Nagas consists of a well-defined boundary with each and every village having their own land and landmarks.
Thus, where there are Nagas, there is land as clear as the sky is from the earth. So often, there ensued war when intrusion happened. The occupation of the Naga territory by both the British and the Indian forces have diluted and downplayed the importance, significance and the relevance of such historic ancestral landmarks, bringing in its wake the present imbroglio, which is, but a brainchild of their adventurism. It is unfortunate and a mockery of justice that someone who had never planted a grain of seed in the land of the Nagas would claim it as his own. True, the Maharajah would extort taxes from some of the hills villages against their wishes and much to their chagrin. In this connection, occupation of the hills would be an incorrect term because no forces of the Maharajah were ever stationed in the Naga hill in the way of administration but military expeditions were carried out to extort taxes and exploit plunder. And efforts to extort taxes were with a threat to carry out punitive expedition for failure of compliance. Caste and class system being very much prevalent in the Meitei society, the Hillman were very much looked down during those time. As such the present move of the Meitei for territorial integrity is seen as perpetuation of their hegemony tentacles through sanction of the Indian government. But this in no way legitimized the claim of the Meiteis that the hills belonged to them. For that matter would the land of the Meiteis became a part of England just because they were conquered by the British and paid tribute to them? Let us not forget that once the valley of the present state of Manipur was devastated by the Burmese and laid desolate for 7 years (1819-1825) and given shelter by the hill tribes. The two different poles of fatal departure without any meeting ground between the two communities entailing drastic consequences seem to hinge on two different lines of thoughts -- of perception, approach and practice. The Meiteis advocate the irrevocability and inviolability of the state, and uphold the supremacy and sovereignty of the state without first considering the interest of the people. This perhaps, explains why no frontal organizations of the hills were ever consulted on the territorial issue but instead staged a mass rally unilaterally just after the declaration of the ceasefire in 1997. However, to the Nagas the people take precedence for any issue pertaining to union and there could be no sovereignty of the state unless endorsed by the people themselves. After all, the consent of the Nagas was not exercised in the creation of the state of Manipur, therefore declaring the union of the state as illegitimate, null and void.
To the Nagas, the very creation and existence of the state of Manipur has been perceived as an instrument of suppression of their rights and insult to their dignity. A case in point is the various documents and memoranda submitted to the center for reverting back the tribal land into a union territory or listings in the 6th schedule through the All Tribal Students Union of Manipur (ATSUM). But it was said the Nagas kept the movement in abeyance after becoming hopeful of the positive outcome of the talk between the Indian government and the NSCN (IM). The history of mankind is the struggle against oppression and suppression, subjugation and exploitation of one group of people by another. The rise and fall of a nation is dictated by the assertion of the peoples’ rights to secure social justice and equality in exercise of one’s conscience in pursuit of his/her aspiration. No force on earth is strong enough to bind and suppress the dynamic force of such pursuit of justice forever, because the unyielding spirit of man’s quest for freedom when sustained by justice defies all boundaries and barriers created by man. Otherwise any movement not propelled by a strong and legitimate reason fades away in due course of time. Transcending linguistic differences, cultural barriers, bondage of tribalism and the trap of parochialism, the Nagas today have emerged from the cocoon of their narrow shell to gel into one great family within a well defined parameter of unity of meaning and purpose to weave that common dream of building a nation despite all their differences and despite the bitter rancour of the past smeared with blood. Therefore a consensus union based on mutual benefit and interest, well qualified to live together as one people, ready to mend fences and end fights. This means recognizing and admitting the faults and wrongs in the way of reconciliation, which is to be followed up by amends, thereby paving the process of healing, so that the entire authority and the final freedom of choice is the sole discretion of the victim either to accept or to reject and part ways.
Otherwise forgiveness or friendship for that matter cannot be forced nor forged through a one liner. It takes a lifetime to interpret a word into action, a lifetime of devotion for trust to build up nurtured by the water of honesty and sincerity. The Nagas have long been victim of history be it in the hands of the Meitei, the Kukis, the British or the Indians. Naga villages today bears testimony to this and tell tales of the ruthless intrusion of their lands by such well organized overwhelming external forces beyond them to counter and who controlled their land for a considerable period of time in the form of exorbitant taxes and hostage of their women as ransom in a very desultory manner. All this insult of dignity they have borne taking them as a short passing phase of alien life, but hoping against hope for a better world in which their way of life would find and gain legitimacy in the world and would be left alone without trying to adopt a new way of life in order to adapt to the situation. And all this for their fierce love of freedom and independence, allegiance to their village, clan and family alone, nothing more and nothing less, rejecting any sort of federation or union beyond the village and the village system. They have paid the price dearly for their stubborn act of isolation. Now today, should they not be given a chance to unite? Or is it too high a price to ask for?
The world has come of age to be fooled by any dominant group to rule and dictate over the lesser. The age for empire to shrink or swell based on social justice is here to stay. The integration of Germany, disintegration of USSR and independence of East Timor are a few instances. This indeed is social justice. And social justice only becomes a reality when the aspiration of the people is realized. Let the Naga people too decide their own destiny and give them a chance to shape their own future.
Declare HIV-AIDS a crisis Subir Roy / New Delhi Subir Roy: sub@business-standard.com Indians who take pride in the country being one of the largest producers of so many things from milk to engineers, must wake up to the fact that it has the second-highest number of AIDS- and HIV-affected people. And as this is going up every year by half a million, the first place will most likely come its way soon. There are two particularly disturbing aspects about the prevalence of HIV-AIDS in the country. One, it is most rampant in some of the most prosperous and otherwise successful states in the country like Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, as also three small north eastern states like Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland These account for 80 per cent of all the victims in the country. As the health status south of the Vindyas is ahead of the rest of the country, the HIV-AIDS epidemic has the deadly potential of striking where national human development has fared the best. The future is more forbidding than the past because the yearly level of fresh infections is not going down, as it has been even in a country like Cambodia
In India now the disease has spread from specific high-risk groups to the population in general and from urban areas increasingly into the countryside. In the states mentioned, the level of HIV infection among women attending pre-natal care centres has crossed 1 per cent.
If India is to remain economically resurgent it will have to recognise that it has an HIV-AIDS epidemic on its hands and fight it on the same footing. The Indian system has repeatedly been able to rise to the occasion during a crisis. While controlling and getting the better of the epidemic, there may well be a great spin-off benefit. The overall effort will most likely take the health care delivery system on to a higher level of capability and effectivenessHIV-AIDS has to be fought not at the national level but at the micro level of dialects and in economically backward pockets, where the message of awareness, prevention and lifestyle changes has to be reachedSo much more than a national government directed project, a grassroots campaign by volunteers is essential. The sheer ignorance and prejudice even among public health care providers, going right up to the heads of institutions, when it comes to treating HIV-AIDS patients, makes this a task that has to be critically energised by volunteers who care and are committed. Other than telling poor people in their own language how to keep away from the disease, the prevention campaign has to concentrate on three specific groups—migrant workers, truck drivers and sex workers. Migrant workers who move for work to areas where they do not know the local language nor have roots or family, turn to sex workers and don’t have the right help to turn to when afflicted. And when they are back home they run the risk of passing on an acquired infection to their wives and future children. According to one statistic, 87 per cent of truck drivers go for frequent and indiscriminate sex but only 11 per cent of them use condoms. Both for them and sex workers, campaigning to make use of condoms a habit remains the only effective means of prevention. The one good news in this regard is the success that voluntary groups have had in Kolkata’s main red light district in raising the use of condoms.
At the organised level, increasingly larger numbers of people have to be screened to detect the HIV positive. Detection till now mostly takes place when patients admitted for surgery are screened without their knowledge. And of course those detected positive are promptly thrown out. The public healthcare system, which will have to fight most of the HIV-AIDS battle, has the biggest role to play in treating the infected. The bad news is that there is no sign yet of an AIDS vaccine but the good news is that with the advent of anti-retroviral drugs, AIDS symptoms can be kept at bay and it is possible to lead healthy lives, turning the deadly scourge into a “remediable adversity”.
But to administer these drugs, mostly free to poor people, you need a health service that works and enough government funding. Neither of them is available in India. This is not for want of a successful model, and that too in a developing country. Brazil has led an exemplary fight against HIV-AIDS so that it has reduced the level of infection to less than half of what was earlier projected.
It has achieved this by not being squeamish in publicly dealing with the subject; handed out condoms, syringes and needles freely; educated sex workers; treated victims freely; effectively fought drug majors and managed to buy generic versions of those drugs cheaply; and spent a massive $1.8 billion on them over six years. India’s tragedy is that Indian companies manufacture a lot of those drugs! But India has neither the mechanism nor the funding to give the same medicine to its own victims.

Heritage Dimasa Kingdom in Barak Valley From Partha Sarkar
SILCHAR, Aug 23– Khaspur, the land of Dimasa Kingdom, just 25 kilometre away from the city, is a remarkable place. It has now become a tourist place as well as picnic spot for the people of Barak Valley. The Dimasas came here as a ‘Royal Group’ led by a king. That was a phenomenon unknown to the other tribal groups of the district. But due to the continuous opposition of the Kachari kings, they took a further western route to migration and got settled in the Jaintia territories. There still exist a few buildings, which the Dimasa kings erected in Khaspur. They are all brick structures mixed with lime and brick powder used to join the bricks. Most of them are still standing in the palace compound, which is now the market place of the ‘Patimara’ near Thaligram Tea Estate. Each of them covers a rectangular plinth area resembling the shape of thatched roofs from front and back. Then there is the ‘main’ ‘or lion’ on whose top stood a stone image of a lion which is now lying on the ground.

There are temples which are still standing erect but in a some what dilapidated condition. A temple is situated about walk from the market place and the ruins of a two-storied building lie near it. There is also a brick-built roofed platform, which have pictures on the roofs but there are no walls. It is situated on the side of the Mathura and is called ‘Snan (Bath) mandil’. The area sar is arounded by Dimasa village which is homogenous in the sense that no person belonging to another tribe is allowed to purchase lands or settle down in that village. The concept of the ‘one-village one tribe’ is more or less a perfect reality in the district. The entire village is run by local self-government. The provision of the Sixth Schedule had given the Dimasas a political institution, which attracts the attention of the budding politicians to the hills and village administration is now under ‘Gaonbura’. The Dimasas being Hindus, their co-habitation with the Bengali Hindu is possible.

The entire Kingdom has been taken up the Archaeological Survey of India recently. There are two projects running in this area. One is the annual maintenance and another one is repair works. Under the project of annual maintenance, the department has already started constructing the boundary wall to protect the monuments. In the repair works, they are giving chemical wash i.e. tepee to the monuments. Nikhil Das, conservation assistant, said that the department has taken up the area seriously to protect the monuments and they are doing research.Briefing newsmen, Kalita, Tourist Information Officer, Cachar stated that the Dimasa Kingdom can become a picnic spot, but it cannot be considered as a tourist spot. So, the Tourism Department of Assam has not taken it seriously. According him there has been no queries about this area expect one or two, although a small park has been made by this Tourism Dept for picnickers.