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09/02/2005: "Rally epoch-making, says Naga Hoho"

Rally epoch-making, says Naga Hoho
Dimapur, September 1, 2005 The Naga Hoho has described the August 31 integration rally in Kohima as an "epoch-making event" in the history of the "Naga people's cry for justice and freedom" attended by over 1 lakh people. A press release issued by Naga Hoho publicity secretary P Chuba Ozukum thousands of other people failed to make it to the programme on time after they were held back by security forces. "This itself shows the insincerity on the part of security forces towards solving the age-old Naga political problem," the release said.
The Naga Hoho reiterated its commitment to draw a roadmap for Naga integration and thanked the political leaders from both the ruling coalition and the opposition for attending the rally. More than 50,000 people had gathered in Kohima to reiterate their demand for a greater Nagaland, or Nagalim that would include all areas inhabited by Naga people. The move is opposed by states such as Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam as the states would lose large chunks of heir border areas if such a demand was accepted by the Centre

Nagaland Congress traps Rio between Lim and sovereignty The Imphal Free Press
Kohima, Sept 1 : The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) ridiculed the statement by Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio during the National Integration Council meeting in New Delhi on August 31 that "integration of all Nagas is the road to solution of the Naga political problem".

Critiquing Rio`s view of integration as the legitimate birthright of the Naga people, a press release issued by NPCC president, Hokheto Sumi, wondered how the chief minister could have two different integrations ? `the one he had participated in Delhi for India`s integration and the other he encourages and claims to be the birth right of Naga`.The party also took noted Rio`s statement during the ANSAM-sponsored economic blockade that a hundred percent security could not be provided to the Manipur-bound vehicles.The party said though it was understandable that anything could have happened at that point of time without the knowledge of the government and the chief minister, yet it amounted to a direct encouragement to untoward incidents hence improper and irresponsible on the part of a legal government?
The NPCC said it did not take up the issue at that point of time as the situation would have aggravated.

Tax imposed as bonafide Govt: IM Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 30: The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) which is currently holding peace talks with the Government of India has claimed to have opened its foreign embassies in the Europe and South Asian countries. The Naga outfit has also further claimed it is collecting taxes from the people by virtue of being a bona-fide Government. In an exclusive interview with The Sangai Express, deputy kilonser (MoS Home) of the NSCN (I-M) V Horam informed that offices of the foreign embassies of the Government of the underground outfit have been set up so far in at least 8-9 European and South Asian countries.

When insisted on naming some of the countries where the said foreign embassies have been opened, the deputy kilonser, however, only repeated that they have been opened in the European and South Asian countries. To another query on the names of the countries which have recognised the Government of Republic of Nagalim of NSCN (I-M) as a bonafide Government, Horam said ‘We are still struggling’.

On collection of taxes from the people, the deputy kilonser said it is being done by virtue of being a bonafide Government. He disclosed that NSCN (I-M) has been collecting Rs 20 as house tax annually from every household within the Naga territory besides another 2 percent from the salary of every Government employee.
Maintaining that the tax being collected from the trucks is in the form of goods tax, Horam informed that this particular issue always came up during the peace talks between the Government of India and the NSCN (I-M). But the NSCN (I-M) leaders always explained to the Indian leaders that the taxes are being collected as there is a Government, he said. Horam informed that the next round of the ongoing peace talks might be held at Bangkok.

However, a definite date has not been finalised, he added.
When asked whether the report of death of James Kuki, the kingpin behind the kidnapping and subsequent brutal murder of Baby Lungnila Elizabeth, was true, Horam said that after James was released on parole he has been coming to sign at the register after every three months. The Kuki Inpi, Nagaland was the witness at the time of releasing James Kuki on humanitarian ground to enable him to undergo medical treatment, he disclosed. NSCN (I-M) has not received any request either officially or unofficially from the side of the CBI for questioning James Kuki in connection with the investigation of the case, he said, adding ‘We come to know this matter from the newspaper reports’. When questioned why James Kuki has not been convicted till date, the deputy kilonser said that the case is still pending.
UCM demands disciplinary action against MLAs Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, September 01: Taking a serious note of the participation of MP Mani Charenamei, and MLAs Wungnaoshang Keishing (Congress), Samuel Jendai, Henry Paote (FPM) and Danny Shaiza (BJP) in yesterday's Naga Integration congregation at Kohima, the United Committee Manipur has demanded a public declaration on what course of disciplinary action the respective party leaders would initiate against them. The Kohima session was a direct affront to the territorial integrity of Manipur and Mani Charenamei, undermining the contribution (poll) of Kukis, Meeteis and Meetei Pangals in getting elected to Parliament, by pronouncing his participation and speech as a Naga representative is akin to creating division among the people of Manipur in addition to stoking communal tension, observed UCM. Reminding that these political organisations had made pledges to protect the territorial and emotional integrity of Manipur, the UCM said that failure to issue a convincing statement would culminate in declaring the involved parties as anti-people (Manipur) political bodies.

In a statement UCM called upon the people to be ready to defeat the sinister designs of the adversaries and added that any organisation or individual posing challenges to the UCM aspirations to strengthen the bond of friendship and brotherhood among the North East people would be considered as anti-Manipuri. Moreover, the fact that the rally/meeting failed to generate overwhelming response despite being organised by leading Naga NGOs with support of Churches and Nagaland’s public leaders irrespective of political affiliations has an inner meaning that should be reflected upon, maintained UCM. Pointing to contradicting attendance figures in different newspapers and absence of Konyak and Angami tribes from the meeting, UCM said this is a victory of fraternity in the North East region.
Naga Hoho terms August 31 rally as epoch making Morung Express News September 1
DIMAPUR: The Naga Hoho has termed the Integration Rally which was held yesterday at the Kohima Local ground as an epoch making event and one of the biggest rallies in the history of the Nagas, which it stated, symbolized the aspirations of the Nagas to live as one people in their cry for justice and freedom. In a statement issued by P Chuba Ozukum, Publicity Secretary of the Naga Hoho, it hailed the event as another breakthrough in the history of the Nagas’ struggle for their inalienable rights. Referring to the 1951 Plebiscite as well as the visit of Late U-nu and Jawaharlal Nehru, Prime Ministers of Burma and India respectively in 1952, the Naga Hoho informed that more than one lakh people irrespective of arbitrary boundaries and divisions gathered to show their oneness for living under a single political ‘roof’.
The Hoho stated that regardless of the media quoting different numbers and implying on the turnout as being below expectations, apart from those who participated thousands more, of people had retracted to their homes for the reason that the rally finished before they could reach the destination. It further stated that the rally could commence more than half an hour behind schedule due to the fact that the Assam Rifles had conducted frisking between Khuzama and Mao Gate on the delegation coming from the southern region. "This itself shows the insincerity on the part of the security forces towards solving the age-long Naga political problem", the release stated while criticizing the action of the security forces. The Naga Hoho also expressed its appreciation and gratitude to the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio, Home Minister Thenucho and their ministerial colleagues, the leader of the Opposition I Imkong and his colleagues, Naga MPs, Federating tribal Hohos and mass-based civil societies, District Administration, security personnel, Kohima Municipal Council, volunteers from different tribes, the Media, non-Naga communities, Transport departments, private bus owners and educational institutions for their cooperation. The Hoho also expressed its gratitude to the Mokokchung Chancel Choir, Naga Boys from Jorhat, Vekutalu and Thunonulu and all the participants in the rally without which the event would not have been successful.
UCM reacts; calls for action against Naga MLAs Newmai News Network IMPHAL: The United Committee Manipur (UCM) has today urged political parties of Manipur to take action against those Naga MLAs, who participated in yesterday’s integration rally organized by the Naga Hoho in Kohima to express solidarity for a unified Naga homeland. In a statement the UCM warned that if the political parties failed to announce their respective stands on the conduct of the four Naga MLAs, the UCM would declare them anti-people and launch a movement against them.
"Lok Sabha MP Mani Charenamei is representing all communities including Meiteis, Kukis and Meitei pangals. But he was speaking for a particular community—his own community Nagas. This is an attempt to create ethnic enmity and spark off an ethnic skirmish", the UCM stated. Mani Charenamei, Naga MP in the Lok Sabha elected from Outer Manipur and four MLAs attended the rally. The four MLAs, according to UCM are Wungnaoshang Keishing from the Congress party, Henry Paotei, Samuel Jendai and Danny Shaiza from the BJP.
"The Chief Minister and Congress President O. Ibobi Singh, Thounaojam Chaoba Singh, BJP Chief and L. Chandramani Singh leader of the Federal Party of Manipur should make their positions very clear on the MLAs participation in the Naga integration rally", the UCM pointed out. Reminding that the State assembly had adopted several resolutions for safeguarding the territorial integrity of Manipur and that all the parties had declared they would protect the State boundary, the UCM cautioned that if the respective parties did not take action against the Naga MLAs the people of Manipur would not remain silent.
"If the parties fail to restore the confidence of the people on the issue of Manipur’s territory the people of Manipur would declare them as anti-people", the UCM stated while making a call on the people of Manipur to fight against forces that were trying to break up Manipur into pieces. "The UCM regards different communities settling in the North East as brothers and sisters, but the UCM will treat any one who tries to break up Manipur as enemy of the people of Manipur", it stated. The UCM in its statement further pointed ‘as significant’, the fact that only a few thousand people turned up for the rally and also the opposition expressed by some ethnic groups from Nagaland to the rally. Kicking off the month long Hijam Irabot birth anniversary CPI leader and Agriculture Minister also criticized the Lok Sabha MP from Manipur for addressing the gathering and supporting what he termed as the campaign to break up Manipur. He said, since Mani was elected from Manipur it was unbecoming of an MP to say things against the interest of the State, Parijat said. None of the political parties here in Manipur, other than CPI, have so far reacted to the Naga MP and MLAs from Manipur taking part in the August 31 Kohima rally.
Call for a unified homelandLand and its people can never be separated Morung Express
I thank God for this moment to stand on behalf of the Naga youth at this historic gathering. Representing the Naga Students’ community to express the genuine desire of the youths whose inherent rights need to be protected at any cost. The NSF wishes to reaffirm its principal stand on unification of Nagas homeland. Population and specific boundary is pre-requisites for any sovereign Nation, thus for Nagas, land and its people can never be separated. The NSF stands firm that the young generation shall not endorse or accept for any solution without integrating the contiguous Naga area. The youth shall never give up the struggle till the wishes of the Nagas become a reality. Kuknalim V. Phushika Aomi, President, NSF
Rio calls for religious tolerance at National Integration Council meet Kuknalim.com NEW DELHI, Sept 1: Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has emphasised the need for religious tolerance and to maintain the secular character of the country. Addressing the National Integration Council (NIC) meeting here on Wednesday, which was presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Mr. Rio criticised various laws passed by certain States in the name of regulating religious conversion, which he thought was aimed at preventing voluntary conversion to Christianity.
He observed that these measures amounted to infringement of citizens' fundamental right to profess and propagate the religion of their choice as guaranteed by the Constitution. He welcomed the initiative taken by the Centre to reconstitute the National Integration Council to safeguard the interests of the minorities. Restating that India was known for its secularism and tolerance, he said that of late the secular image had "taken a beating at the hands of certain religious fundamentalists."
He said the tribals and lower castes of the majority community were denied fundamental rights to freedom of religion as guaranteed by the Constitution. He also expressed his appreciation for the Right to Information Act, 2005. — UNI
Strength of NPF party vitalb for DAN govt: Dr. Shurhozelie Chizokho Vero September 1 Morung Express
KOHIMA (MExN): Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) President Dr. Shurhozelie Lizietsu today asserted that the DAN government was doing well and expressed confidence that the coalition could deliver the goods to the people as long as the party remained strong. "It is party government. We know that some of our party men have been playing negative roles to weaken the party all the time. But nothing will happen as long as we leaders who are sitting in this room remain steadfast,"
Dr. Liezietsu told during the NPF Central office bearers meeting at Hotel Japfu on Thursday. Dr. Liezietsu, who is a senior Minister in the present government, also stressed the need to maintain a team spirit within the party. "When team spirit prevails, there is no need to talk about party discipline," he said adding that constitutional provision for party discipline is included only for those who fail to keep the team spirit and go out of the way to damage the party. Dr. Liezietsu also challenged the party leaders to look forward with a positive attitude and continue to work in the interest of the party so as to enable the government to deliver the goods to the people. Nagaland Home Minister Thenucho informed the meeting of what the Associate members of the Delimitation Commission from Nagaland recently conveyed to the Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil on the stand of Nagaland while urging Patil to take the initiative in amending the Delimitation Act 2002, so as to exempt Nagaland from its purview.
"I hope he will do justice," Thenucho said and further reiterated that the government would put its best efforts forward to safeguard the peoples’ interest. We will do our best to bring justice, he added. Thenucho further said that if the delimitation exercise took place in Nagaland, it would create law and order problems and that the sentiments of the people would be disturbed.
ESSU thanks GPRN, NSCN (IM) Morung Express
Kohima, Sept 1 (MExN): The Eastern Sumi Students Union has expressed appreciation to the GPRN, NSCN (IM) for releasing unconditionally the three accused persons Inato Sumi, Kisheto Sumi and Ayeto Sumi, all belonging to Aghunato who were under their custody in consequence of the misfortune that they themselves had created . The union, while expressing happiness to the GPRN for their mature decision, also acknowledged the GPRN, NSCN (IM), for setting the trio free from the charges and ‘allow them to live a human life, free from any tension and fear psychosis’.The union’s President I. H. Hekato Achumi conveyed this in a release.
Letters to the Editor An Open Letter to ANSAM Morung Express
For 52 long day’s people of Manipur had borne the brunt of your wrong doings, hoping you will come to your senses. However your statements carried in the media show the contrary. You have become more emboldened by the appreciation which came from the PM of the country, the CM of the State, besides a host of the other NGOs for your wisdom to suspend the blockade. There is an old saying "Ta-khat, Ta-khat-laga Kirak-Tare" which says, "if the going gets tough, one get used to it." Peoples got used to what you and your compatriots did to hurt them the most. It makes them more determined to face the difficulties. You are a part of the people of the State, you must be aware that for more than 500 years, the peoples of Manipur were in perpetual state of war before the British came in the region. At one point of time the Burmese defeated the people and tried to exterminate the whole population known in history as "Chahi Taret Khuntakpa" (Seven year devastation). Yet the people fought back and drove the Burmese upto Mandalay. That was history.
Today we live in a democratic world. All of us acknowledge that democracy is the best. There is no alternative. It gives you the opportunity to change the government whenever it is not popular just by voting. The power is in our hands. The charm of democracy is so much so that even authoritarian dictatorial countries like North Korea takes the name of democracy. Democracy has no problem with the difference of language, religion or ethnicity etc. Indeed, India has more then 1000 ethnic groups/community of which Manipur’s share is a little less than 3 dozen. But the beauty of democracy is that ethnic consideration is no hurdle in the process otherwise there would have been at least 1000 different states in India. To demand a separate State on the consideration of ethnicity is obsolete and redundant. It will not help anyone – the claimant or others. Finding a past fault or a mistake against anyone is vindictive, and is not going to solve any problem.
Manipur is the home of 33 or 34 odd indigenous communities, spreading across the whole length and breadth of the State. There is not a single area of a sq. km. of inhabited land anywhere in the State which is exclusively inhabited by a single tribe or a linguistic community. It is like a mini-India where different linguistic and religious communities live together. Coming to your democratic economic blockade of the highways – your intention to tell the world that: (i) You were right in blocking indefinitely the national highways to pressurize the government to concede to your demand/You were seeking justice and making efforts to resolve the issue. But it was the State govt. who failed to reciprocate your goodwill gesture and hence the State government was entirely responsible for the sufferings of the peoples. (ii) It is the birth-right of the Nagas to live together under one administrative unit and the Manipur Government has come in the way.
(iii) The Nagas are one ethnic community who are forcibly disintegrated by the State and the Centre. Now, as for your 1st contention: There are certain accepted norms to pressurize a government. But your action of enforcing indefinite economic blockade on the national highways making the people suffer is neither democratic nor an accepted means to pressurize the Govt. It is like the terrorists taking the peoples into ransom. For the 2nd contention: Your idea of the birth-right is misunderstood. Let us not forget that we live in a democratic society. The people’s representatives take the charge of the State or the country. There is no ethnic State or authoritarian government like in Islamic countries or a Nazi Germany based on religion or an exclusive nationality.
Manipur is the home of many small ethnic or linguistic community of not less than 30 such community. If a group started claiming that they have the birth-right to claim that a particular area belong to their forefather and hence it is their land, then there will be no peace and instead it will cause mutual suspicion and hatred among the peoples, which no civilized society can tolerate and more so no meaningful government would agree to it. As for the Naga being one ethnic community: I am afraid your idea of Naga ethnic community is a political one. Linguistic groups like Anal, Chiru, Chothe, Maring, Monsang, Moyon etc. who inhabited mostly in Chandel district belong to Chin-Kuki ethnic group, against whom NSCN(IM) had a violent clash in the name of Nagalim. But these Chin-Kuki ethnic groups are taken as Nagas, which shows that the Naga is a sort of a social club or an organization formed for a purpose which is questionable. Interestingly the President of All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) belongs to a tribe which is a non-Naga but to the Chin-Kuki family. Let me remind you that today we live in a democratic world. There is no identity crises whatsoever in our society. Religion, language, custom etc. are no bar to live together in a democratic society. Therefore let us not confuse ourselves of ethnicity, nationality and identity. They are no anti-thesis to democracy, development and peace. This is what is happening around the globe. The democratic world which we see as role model. Let us not forget that any divisive move will only increase our miseries. Tactics like indefinite economic blockade should never and ever again be resorted to. Instead we must change our mindset, putting a side our empty egos for the sake of our children. Why cannot we emulate civilized societies like that of the Chinese, Malay; Tamils in Singapore or the French, Germans and Italians in Switzerland which are hardly a few hundred years old, instead of trying to be highwayman and allow our children to grow in a peaceful atmosphere. Noboshyam Heigrujam
Singjamei, Imphal, On email
Manipur’s Fifth Column Source: IMPHAL FREE PRESS
Caesar’s wife must be above reproach. What is perfectly legitimate for the common men and women on the streets to do, may not be so for people of position – not just them but also their spouses, children and close confidants. It is a principle in practice everywhere, including Manipur although haphazardly. According to our information, even a candidate for membership to the Manipur Human Rights Commission, was rejected because a child of his was a rank holder of an insurgent organization. The principle of course has not been applied in so many other cases, but that is another issue. At this moment we are concerned by the open campaign against Manipur’s core interest by certain members of the Manipur State Legislative Assembly. In particular the participation in the Kohima rally organized by the Naga Hoho for a Greater Nagaland. While we have every sympathy for Nagas in Manipur wanting to be with Nagas of Nagaland, as a believer in Manipur, we have everything against allowing anyone to use the weight of the Manipur Assembly or the Manipur government in whatever conceivable way to forward a campaign that necessitates the disintegration of Manipur. The MLAs themselves ought to have realized how improper their acts were. If they really believed in what they were campaigning for, they ought to have first resigned from the Manipur Assembly. That would have been bravery, earning the respect of even their staunch opponents. We for one certainly would have applauded such daring shows of conviction although not approvingly. Their fence-sitting act on the other hand was loathsome, and unconvincing of even their commitment to their declared cause for that matter. Like well-heeled government employees, cornering the best deals the establishment can offer, for themselves and their children, and yet putting up shows of being radical anti-establishment figures. It is unlikely the four MLAs they were unaware of the embarrassment they would have caused to the Manipur Assembly, government and the people.
When 11 Naga MLAs and two MPs from Manipur signed a memorandum to the Prime Minister, calling for Naga integration, it was at least done in secrecy. It is another matter the vigilant media dug it up for public consumption. But at least in that felt need for secrecy, there was still some respect and awe left for the Assembly and the idea of Manipur. All bonds with Manipur in this case were still not lost, so the Manipur Assembly and government had some reasons to pardon them. But this follow up act in Kohima is simply defiance, meriting stern action by the Manipur Assembly and the government. We would even recommend the political parties they belong to, all of which swore by the idea of Manipur integrity, to take penal action. If the Nagas of Manipur, by the strength of their conviction win their heart’s desire of integration with Nagaland, or for that matter sovereignty of their Greater Nagaland, we would be among those who wish them farewell without bitterness. But this does not mean the Manipur Assembly and government must stand by and degrade themselves by allowing fifth columns to be set up openly within themselves. It is also well known that in any adversarial situation, fifth columns are the most dangerous, for they corrode your defenses from the inside.
The Assembly Speaker, TN Haokip must ask the four MLAs, namely Samuel Jendai, Henry Paotei, Wungnaoshang Keishing and Danny Shaiza, to show cause as to why they have acted against their solemn oath of office and secrecy, as well as against seven resolutions of the House to not make any compromises against the territorial integrity of Manipur. If this is not done, the battered esteem of the House would become unredeemable. Depending on their explanation, penal action as per the law must be awarded. The same goes for chief minister Okram Ibobi and leaders of the Opposition parties. Nobody who does not believe in Manipur must ever be allowed to hold office of responsibility in the Manipur government. Let them campaign as individuals for whatever they want, but the Manipur government, even a part of it, cannot be expected to lend support to campaigns for its own disintegration. As for the MP from the Outer Manipur Parliamentary Constituency, Mani Charenamei, so far so good, as he only has to campaign for Greater Nagaland. But we worry for him when his mentors begin directing him to campaign for sovereign Nagalim. Unlike the Manipur Assembly, the Parliamentary axe would fall on him before he can even comprehend what went wrong.

The Indo-Naga Peace Talk By: Waikhom Damodar Singh Kangla on line
By now it is quite a well known thing to all as to how the "Naga uprising or movement" was originated and how ultimately it turned to a "revolt in arms" against the Government of India under the leadership of A. Zaphu Phizo which resulted to heavy bloodshed and loss of lives on both sides, and how the insurgency so began had escalated in very alarming proportions in the four hill districts of Manipur, namely Ukhrul, Senapati, Tamenglong and Chandel, and also how the armed uprising induced others who form several of such revolutionary parties in the valley area of Manipur, Assam and other northeastern States with their insurgent activities ever on the alarmingly increasing proportions. The Naga uprising launched in the early 50s under the banner of Naga National Council headed by Phizo was aimed for an independent and sovereign country of Nagaland of their own.

The armed revolt so launched assumed a very serious and highly alarming situation initially which could not be dealt with effectively by the local Administrations of the then District of Naga Hills and the Assam Government under whom the former was a district and therefore the services of the mighty Indian Army were immediately pressed in to assist the civil administration who (the Indian Army) soon brought the highly alarming and extremely critical situation under control forcing the revolutionary members of the NNC to go underground who were then known as Naga Hostile Groups (NHGs) and their leader, Phizo to escape out to London where he lived as an English citizen under the care of one Reverend Michael Scott till he died there. Since the Naga people of the District underwent many untold sufferings due to the armed uprising the moderate group of the Nagas under T. Shilu Ao etc. ultimately realised the impossibility of achieving the goal of having an independent country of their own outside the Indian Union from all points of view and therefore they came out immediately over-ground and negotiated with the Government of India as a result of which the latter very seriously granted the Naga Hills District a full fledged State within the Indian Union which came into being with effect from 1st January, 1963 with Shilu Ao as the first Chief Minister of the State. However, the NNC under some of their staunch leaders continued their armed insurgent activities vehemently sticking to their original aim of achieving the total independence of their own even by having gone to the erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and China and received guerilla fighting training and sufficient quantities of sophisticated arms and ammunitions, who also however later on in the year 1976 came to an agreement of a cease-fire pact and deal, a shrewd move initiated by the then Governor of Assam, Manipur, Nagaland and Tripura combined, Lalan Prassad Singh (LP Singh), a brilliant retired ICS officer and former Home Secretary to the Government of India and accordingly an accord under the name, Shillong Peace Agreement or Accord was signed in between the members of the NNC and the representatives of the Central and State Governments. The agreement was however straightaway rejected by a group led by Issac Swu, Khaplang, Thuingalen Muivah etc. who thus walked out from the NNC group pioneered by Phizo and formed a new Naga Revolutionary group called the National Socialist Council of Nagaland in the year 1980 and continued their armed rebellion in demand of an independent and sovereign State of Nagaland, this time much preferred to be called as Nagalim, the former two personalities as the chairman and vice-chairman respectively and the latter as the general secretary of the newly formed factional organisation.

The Issac Swu group rejected the Shillong accord challenging the leadership of Phizo and his diverted policy saying that it was some sort of a surrender and "sell-out" of their stand for a full fledged sovereign independent Naga country. The splinter group was however fractured again soon into two groups - one known as NSCN(IM) group under Issac Swu and Muivah as the chairman and general secretary respectively, and another as NSCN(K) group under the chairmanship of Khaplang, an Homi Naga of Burma border area as their opinions regarding having of a peace talk again with the Government of India proposed by Issac-Muivah suffered dissension from the Khaplang group. However, an agreement of Peace-Talk in between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) group was agreed upon soon when the two leaders of the faction, namely Issac Swu and Muivah met the Prime Ministers of India, P.V. Narashimha Rao in Paris earlier and later on in New York in 1995, H.D.Deve Gowda in Zurich in February, 1997, Atal Behari Vajpayee in Tokyo in 2002 and as such Peace-Talks between the two parties had since been going on with all their hostilities against each other totally suspended.

The Indo-Naga Peace Talk which thus had been going on since last 8/9 years is aimed for finding a solution or formula between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) group for keeping a permanent PEACE in Nagaland and its adjoining states, and the same is claimed by both the leaders of the Naga Revolutionary faction, the NSCN(IM), namely Issac Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah being weary of remaining further as revolutionaries and insurgents have now agreed or prepared to give up their more than five decades old demand for a sovereign independent Naga State ceasing all their hostilities against the Government of India, instead they now prefer to the creation of a Naga State of a much bigger territory with more autonomy within the ambit of the Indian Union. Creation of a Naga State of a much bigger territory is possible, as is well aware to all, only by "slicing-off" the areas of the adjoining states, namely Manipur, Assam and Arunachal inhabited by indigenous hill tribes some of whom ostentatiously or under great threat opt for coming under the coverage of the umbrella of the so called generally applied appellation "NAGAS" (which is actually a misnomer being a name borrowed and applied only very recently) including a large chunk of areas of Burma (Myanmar) inhabited by such people.

According to the history written by many learned historians all the indigenous tribes and people who migrated from outside and settled in the region in the early days belong to various groups and clans who sprang out from the same Mongoloid stock, many of whom still prefer to be called or known by their own indigenous tribal names. In Manipur, there are as many as 50 different types of such peoples of indigenous origin and by now a good number of all these sections of people of the hills have settled in the valley living side by side quite peacefully in full communal harmony with the Meiteis even with free social intercourse amongst themselves disregarding the very strict "barrier" that was there once during the very recent past on the grounds of untouchability, religion etc. - the majority of the Meiteis being orthodox Hindu and almost all the hill tribes Christians. Thus there is an inseparable and very close relationship amongst all the sections of people of Manipur that had been existing since very ancient days, particularly in between the Meiteis, the Tangkhuls, the Kabuis, the Anals, the Chothes, the Chirus, the Koms, the Koirengs, the Thangals, the Mao-Marams, the Marings, the Kukis etc.

The indispensability of such a close and ancient relationship arose from the factors of having many affinities and similarities in their cultural and indigenous habits and fashions of living and also in many other aspects, in particular of economic relationship. According to the traditional belief of the Tangkhuls it is said that in an early period of Tangkhul left his home for the valley who became a king there and who later on came to be known as PAKHANGBA, who is a dynastic god or deity of the Manipuris still worshipped ardently by all of them - this belief has no doubt some relevance regarding the appearance of Pakhangba in the valley, as according to the puyas (purans) of the Meiteis, Nongda Lairen Pakhangba (Jabista), the great is described to be a "heaven born" person. Since there is actually no such a thing as "heaven" in the high space physically the above proverb should have meant only to a high place i.e. a hill or mountain. Considering all the above facts it should now therefore have no hesitation to say that all the indigenous tribes, who during the primeval days had settled in this most ancient and sacred land, Manipur, sprang out from the same primitive Mongoloid stock and had been living as the inseparable "brethren" of a big and one family since last so many thousands of years in full "communal harmony" from the beginning till date very much unlike that of the serious communal-disharmonies frequently occurred due to "communal feuds" and "head-hunding encounters" amongst the tribes of Nagaland against each other on account of land-disputes etc. during the very recent days. Such an extra-ordinary feature of Manipur is really a very unique thing that one finds in her as quite a peaceful state despite her subjects are woven by conglomeration of so many different types of groups or sections of people speaking different dialects of their own, Meiteilon, the dialect of the majority group, the Meiteis being their "lingua-franca" for binding them as ONE people living in the same motherland.

Despite having been and is an unique land where the people of all sects had been and are presently living very harmoniously and cordially as mentioned above, it is indeed very unfortunate that a great unrest and feeling of anxieties have been created in the minds of all the people by the staunch move of the NSCN(IM) for tearing away almost all the portions of the age-old territory of Manipur and the same for merging with the neighbouring State of Nagaland for which the revolutionary group has very stubbornly put as the main agenda of their peace-talk that is being carried out currently. The move of the NSCN(IM) group in this regard is considered as ONE very much diverted from the main aim and object of the Naga Revolution as a whole, and such a diversion adopted by them now at this very much late stage is also seen as a very "flagrant move" and very much against their accusations made earlier against the NNC and the grounds on which they had defected from them. However, the sigh of great relief that one gets is to find that the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, and the Home Minister, Shivraj Patel have given their firm assurances, to the delegates from Manipur who met them just recently, of not disturbing the existing areas of the north - eastern States, particularly of Manipur and that the question of "unification" of all the Nagas for the purpose of disintegration of the areas has been rejected outright by the Government of India. Such a firm decision taken now by the Government of India is considered by all as a very wise, bold and correct stand on their part which could be said to be a decision not deviated at all from the one that was already taken earlier by the former Prime Minister of India, late Jawaharlal Nehru who stood very firmly against such an early demand for disintegration of the areas of Manipur for forming a greater Nagaland put up by a delegation of Naga leaders headed by late Phizo describing the demand as "impracticable, unacceptable and unwise" when he announced his disapproval of the move in the Lok Sabha. In fact, such a move has been seen by many as a very dangerous one which is very likely to end only with disastrous results as, any act of redrawing of the existing geographical boundaries of the northeastern States, particularly of the State of Manipur, on the basis of "demographic" and "ethnicity" is definitely "fraught with grave dangers" of bringing more "troubles" and "turmoils" of very very serious and unprecedented nature, greatly affecting the already existing peaceful "communal harmony" amongst the people, particularly in the State of Manipur where the majority of her people, both the sects, the Meiteis (including Pangals, the Muslims) and the Kukis have started feeling great unrest because of the persistent great pressure being put in by the NSCN(IM) group adopting all sorts of tactics, inducements and threats for materialising their "hypothetical demand". Lastly but not the least, the very pertinent question that may be asked very seriously and frankly is that - when the lawlessness problems created by the insurgency originated from the Naga Revolt in the north-eastern region are on the ever increasing trend, especially by the terrorist activities of other various ETHNIC groups of insurgents operating rampantly making the State administrations quite helpless and ineffective to deal with them how it could be assured of "heralding" a really peaceful and normal situation by fulfilling the aspirations of one group only, namely, the Nagas by conceding to their rather hypothetical demand of forming a greater Nagaland or Nagalim State at the cost of other neighbouring States? Also it is no denying the fact that despite the restrictions imposed under the cease-fire agreement rules between the Government of India and the NSCN(IM) group they are reportedly still carrying out rampantly the highly illegal acts of extortions of money in terms of lakhs and crores of rupees from the civilians and the Government establishments. It is in the context of the very pertinent question mentioned above that one fails to fully appreciate the goodness, in wider interest and scope, of the ongoing process of the so call "Indo-Naga Peace Talk" - a well advocated and publicised, no doubt, but very tricky and knotty move that has been taken up by both sides with great venture(risk).
ULFA talks deadlocked in bureaucratic wrangles Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service Guwahati, Sep 2 (IANS) The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) Friday expressed doubts over the central government's sincerity in holding peace talks with the group to end nearly three decades of insurgency in Assam. 'It appears that the government of India is not interested in holding peace talks. If they were sincere, by now we should have got a response from New Delhi to our offer for talks,' ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said in a statement received by IANS. The ULFA chairman in early July sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh offering to hold talks if the government agrees to discuss the outfit's core demand of sovereignty or independence. The ULFA's letter was in response to a formal invitation for talks by Singh.
There was a series of formal letters exchanged between the ULFA and the government since January to work out modalities for holding peace talks to bring an end to a violent insurgency in Assam. The ULFA is an outlawed rebel army fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979.
Meanwhile, noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami, sought by the ULFA to mediate in talks with the government, said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was in some sort of doubt over the issue of holding talks. 'National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan met me recently and asked if the ULFA was really interested in holding talks,' Goswami said.
'I replied in the positive and said the ULFA was willing to solve the problem through negotiations.'
Experts say the entire peace process was mired in bureaucratic red tape. 'It appears someone somewhere in the PMO's office or the home ministry was trying to unnecessarily put a spanner in the peace process. New Delhi would be best advised to grab this opportunity and begin talks with the ULFA immediately,' an analyst said. The ULFA had recently demanded the release of at least 10 jailed leaders as a precondition for talks. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had offered to release some of the jailed ULFA leaders if the outfit agrees to sit for talks with the centre. But there are contradictory signals with the chief minister saying he would have no problems in releasing the jailed ULFA leaders and Union Home Secretary V.K. Duggal during a recent visit to Guwahati rejecting ULFA's demand. 'There cannot be any preconditions for talks,' Duggal had told journalists.
Bandh total, peaceful Our Bureau
GUWAHATI, Sept 1: Normal life was affected in the State today following the 12-hour Assam bandh called by the Lok Jagaran Mancha and backed by Sangh organizations to protest the killing of RSS leader Sukleswar Medhi by militants in Nalbari recently. All shops, business establishments, schools, colleges, financial institutions and private companies remained closed while attendance in government offices was thin. City buses remained off the roads in the major towns while a few long-distance buses plied with police escort. According to reports received from Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Tezpur, Jorhat, Golaghat, Nalbari, Rangiya, Bhairabkunda, Bilasipara, Kokrajhar etc., the bandh was total and peaceful. In Dibrugarh, barring a few private vehicles, all kinds of vehicular traffic remained off the roads. There was heavy frisking of vehicles by the security personnel on the Dibrugarh-Tinsukia stretch of the NH-37. Even vehicles carrying newspapers were not spared.
PTI adds: Train services remained unaffected in the Brahmaputra Valley with most of the trains running on schedule though in the Barak Valley bandh supporters picketed railway tracks in Karimganj district bringing to a halt all passenger and goods train, Northeast Frontier Railway sources said. Flight services to and from Guwahati operated as per schedule, airport sources said. The State Government has beefed up security in and around all vital installations, including oil and gas pipelines, refineries and railway tracks.
ULFA: Secret killing report a farce By a Staff Reporter
GUWAHATI, Sept 1: The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has said that the interim report of the JN Sharma Commission on the secret killings in the State is nothing but a farce. In a release e-mailed to the press, the proscribed outfit today said that the panel had been instituted by the Government as it could not withstand the pressure of the public on the issue. In fact, the panel, with its fabricated report which includes the names of innocent people is safeguarding the culprits, the release alleged and added that the outfit had anticipated such an outcome. It was the Prafulla Kumar Mahanta-led government which carried out the dastardly killings in the State for its political insinuations, the release alleged.
Meanwhile, the ULFA has declared its political advisor Robin Handique, who died in Tezpur yesterday, a martyr. The outfit has alleged that Handique had been food poisoned slowly while he was in captivity. This led to the multiple ailments and eventually, his death, the release, signed by chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, added. By the time Handique was hospitalized there was nothing left for the doctors to do. Flaying the political parties regarding the ‘APCC letter’ to the ULFA, the outfit said that both the ruling party and the opposition are two sides of a coin. The letter was meant to malign the image of the outfit and to gain political mileage. If there was any real political will, the culprit could certainly have been punished. Although one quarter had called for an inquiry into the matter and the other assured to institute one, nothing really materialized, the release said. In fact, the desired political mileage has already been gained, it added.