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10/21/2005: "Civil body tells NSCN factions to stop killings"

Civil body tells NSCN factions to stop killings Morung Express News October 19
Peren: The Kuki Inpi Nagaland (KIN) has stated that an elderly woman, Kimvah (70), was killed and her son Sehhen (30) was injured while fleeing from blank firing committed by NSCN (IM) cadres. A press release issued by Silas Khongsai, Press and Publicity Secretary of the KIN said the aforementioned statement was confirmed. A consultative meeting of the body comprising the GB Union, Kuki officers, church leaders and public leaders was held at Molvon on October 18 to discuss the law and order situation in Athibung Town concerning the Kuki Society at large, Silas informed. "Through a lengthy and deliberate discussion, it was concluded that the main hindrance for social development was the presence of antagonistic feelings between the two rival factions of the NSCN," the release said and questioned, "Is this killing the fruit of ceasefire?" The meeting reasserted that it was very unfortunate that Athibung Town, a small hamlet under Peren district, was always being the epicentre of factional clashes. Within a span of only ten months, this is the sixth time that fighting has erupted in the area. "The meeting resolved that the NSCN (K) of UT-II should immediately be moved to their designated camp allotted to them at Sangphei area and they should immediately leave the main town," the release said. The KIN further called upon the NSCN (IM) to refrain from attacking the rival’s designated camp and strictly abide to the ground rules provided to both sides in accordance with the ceasefire agreement they have with the Government of India. The KIN also hailed the initiative of the district administration in deploying IRB personnel at Athibung for public security and timely intervention of the EAC by imposing curfew under CrPC 144.
New spokesman of NSCN (IM) Sangai express editorial
Two new points have emerged from the recent round of talks between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India if the statements issued by Oscar Fernandes on behalf of Delhi and the statements of Naga Hoho vice president Keviletuo Kiewhuo are any indications. From what Mr Fernandes told newsmen at Dimapur a few days, it is clear that the Centre has not totally rejected the demand to integrate all Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit. Mr Fernandes' disclosure that a Central meeting may be held along with the States whose boundaries stand to be affected to discuss the Lim demand of the IM group is more than ample proof that the Centre is still toying with the idea of capitulating to the demands of the IM group. On the other hand, Mr Kiewhuo has more than clearly hinted that sovereignty is something which no longer on the agenda of the talk. We are sure Mr Kiewho did not just echoed his thoughts but parroted the stand of the NSCN (IM) when he said, “NSCN (IM) should not go beyond the aspirations of Naga people.” Just Exactly what the aspirations of the Naga people that the Hoho leader was alluding to is a question worth asking now and it is extremely significant that he later went on to say that Naga issue could have been resolved in the 60s if the Naga leaders had not insisted on sovereignty. His statement as reported by news agency Press Trust of India runs thus, “There was an opportunity to resolve the issue in the sixties as the international political situation was conducive for a favourable settlement but unfortunately the Naga leadership insisted on sovereignty.” No Naga civil organisation leader would have the gumption to dismiss sovereignty if this was something contrary to the principles of the NSCN (IM).
The lie has been exposed. The Centre is still entertaining the idea of a Greater Lim at the expense of the neighbouring States while the NSCN (IM) has chosen to veer away from its earlier demand of sovereignty and settle for something else like a Greater Nagalim. It is unfortunate but true that the NSCN (IM) which has a waged a bush war against the Indian Government for years for sovereignty should now suddenly see India as an ally to dismember neighbouring States particularly a State like Manipur, which has a 2000 year old history. Before, it was the Indian Government and its security forces which were viewed as the enemies of the Naga people but today, that equation has changed and the enemy or the rival is today the people of Manipur, particularly the Meitei people. Strange how the course of history can change and stranger still how people who have faced the same situation together for years and suffered together for ages should today be pitchforked against one another because of a concept conjured up to solve the issue of one group of people at the expense of another. We will not be surprised if tomorrow, the Government of India agrees to push forward the agenda of the NSCN (IM) and in a way become its spokesperson. The test has begun and it will be interesting to see how Delhi change its steps according to the drum beats of the IM group. Mr Ibobi and his colleagues too should not sleep over the new development but think out ways to politically neutralise whatever agenda is cooked up.
NPCC clarifies on Union Minister’s visit Neps

Kohima, Oct 20(NEPS): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) made it clear that the two-day Nagaland visit by the Union Minister Oscar Fernandes along with his lady wife was a private one and had no connection whatsoever with the ongoing peace process nor were there any State official activities.
Clarifying to complaints raised by ruling NPF and BJP parties that the Union Minister’s latest visit to Nagaland would send wrong signals to various sections as he did meet the State cabinet and civil societies, the NPCC said the Union Minister, being a CWC Member and also in-charge of North East Congress Committee had come to Nagaland to address the PCC members� meet on October 19, 2005 at Congress Bhavan, Kohima. Expressing surprise on the hue and cry made by the ruling NPF and BJP parties in the State for the Union Minister’s not meeting the State Cabinet and civil society, the NPCC asserted that Fernandes, being the Union Minister had been accorded as a State Guest. At the same time, he being a convener of the Parliamentary Forum for HIV/AIDS also took the opportunity of meeting the State Chief Minister to discuss about the upcoming HIV programs in the State in particular and northeast in general, besides common interests. “Otherwise his two-day visit to Nagaland has no connection at all with the ongoing peace process or any other official activities in the State, although he is the chief negotiator of the Government of India in the ongoing peace process with the NSCN (IM),” it stated.
The Union Minister however expressed his happiness on the fruitful dialogues they had in their latest round of political talks with the NSCN (IM) leadership when media persons caught him in the airport and after the PCC meeting in Kohima. Ridiculing the statements of NPF President Dr Shurhozelie and BJP leader Mozamo Ngullie, the NPCC informed that they should not blame the Union Minister for their failures to meet him as whoever made an effort to contact or meet him during his stay in the State were given the opportunity to meet him. �They should also not be confused on the accord given to the visiting Union Minister as these are the established rules in parliamentary form of Government like ours,� the NPCC statement pointed out.
A brief profile of J B Jasokie Morung Express News
Son of late Dr. Khosa Angami from Khonoma village, he was born in 1925. He matriculated from Kohima High School in 1948 and studied up to B. Sc (Final) in St. Edmund’s College, Shillong. He served as guide and scout for the British Forces in the Battle of Kohima in 1944 during the Second World War. A keen sportsman, he was declared Individual Champion of the Eastern Upper Assam Tournament as an all-round athlete in 1948. He joined the Naga Independence Movement and went underground in 1953 serving as Publicity Officer and acting Secretary of the Naga National Council. He differed with Phizo on the means to be adopted to achieve Political end and after the Naga National Council resorted to violent means, Mr. Jasokie broke away and came overground in 1955. He organised the Naga People’s Convention and was elected General Secretary of NPC will the formation of Naga Hills Tuensang Area (NHTA) and later the full fledged State of Nagaland. He also piloted the discussion during October 1959 Naga People’s Convention which arrived at a decision regarding the formation of the State of Nagaland under the Constitution of India.
He was elected Member, Interim Body in February 1961 and appointed Executive Councillor in-charge of Forests, Medical, Public Health, Excise, Jails, Commerce and Industry. He was elected as Member to the Legislative Assembly in the first General Election in 1964 from Kohima Town Constituency and appointed Minister from 1964 to 1969. He was re-elected from the same constituency in the second General Election in 1969 on NNO ticket and appointed Minister. Winning again in the 1974 General Election, he was elected leader of the Opposition NNO Legislative party in the Assembly and became Chief Minister for a brief period on 10th March 1975 following the fall of Vizol’s Ministry. Mr. Jasokie was appointed member of AICC soon after the NNO merged with Indian National Congress in June 1976.
He was re-elected in the 1977 General Election and unanimously elected leader of Opposition, Congress Legislative Party. However, in 1980 he resigned from the Congress (I) and formed a regional party called the Naga National Party (NNP). Later it merged with a faction of UDF and formed yet another regional party under the banner of Naga National Democratic Party (NNDP).
In June 1980, Mr. Jasokie took over as the Chief Minister for the second time in his political career and continued to be so till the fifth General Election in November 1982. He was returned to the Assembly in the fifth and sixth General Elections. He was later appointed Minister in-charge of Planning in the Cabinet of Mr. Hokishe Sema. Re-elected from the same Constituency in 1987 and thereafter retired from active politics.
North East legislators to meet on AIDS Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, Oct. 20: Concerned over the threat posed by HIV/AIDS in India, the centre is organising a conclave of the legislators of the eight north eastern states, including the chief ministers, ministers and MLAs at Guwahati on November 19 next. This was disclosed by the union minister of state for programme implementation Oscar Fernandes at Dimapur yesterday in a press conference and called for united effort to curb the menace. Mr Fernandes, who is also the convenor of the parliamentary forum on HIV/AIDS, said the meeting, which would be chaired by Assam Chief Minister, would chalk out strategies for containing the menace.

It will be the first ever meeting of the chief ministers of the region on the subject, where Peter Piot, Executive Director of the UN AIDS programme is also scheduled to attend meeting.

Mr Fernandes invited Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, his cabinet colleagues, leader of the opposition I Imkong and Congress legislators. Stressing on the protection of youth, who are being affected by HIV/AIDS, he said the disease was gradually moving to the general population and unless urgent steps were taken with a political will India would overtake South Africa. India holds the dubious record of second place in the world with 5.134 million hiv/aids pateints. South Africa has 5.6 million HIV positive victims, he said. (UNI)
Anti-retrive viral centre to screen HIV/AIDS to be set up New Kerala
Pondicherry: An anti-retrive viral centre would be set up at the Government General Hospital here in the first week of December, to screen HIV/AIDS patients, Pondicherry Lt Governor M M Lakhera announced today. Inaugurating a conference on business response to HIV/AIDS conducted by the Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) he said a high level team of medicos would screen the patients and treatment would be given as per their recommendations. He said as many as 7800 persons have tested HIV possitive in the union territory. There were 500 cases of full blown AIDS, of which 200 had died, adding that the administration was taking all steps to make Pondicherry AIDS free.
He said ninety per cent of India's 51 lakh AIDS Patients were from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Nagaland and Manipur. As per the United Nations estimate 20 to 25 million more people would be affected by the disease in the next seven years.
According to CII estimates by 2010 the GDP of the country would fall by 17 per cent because of AIDS affliction.
Subliminal BJP tensions to surface in RSS meet New Kerala
New Delhi : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Friday began its national executive meeting at a particularly piquant time with many thorny issues prickling ties with its political wing, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Though the three-day RSS meeting in Madhya Pradesh's Chitrakoot town is not officially scheduled to discuss problems with the BJP, reliable sources indicated that issues like L.K. Advani's resignation as party president in December and who would lead the party next would inevitably come up.
RSS leaders said the organisation would also "definitely" discuss Advani's controversial remarks at the party national executive in Chennai last month about RSS intervention in party affairs and that it should not be seen as remote controlling the BJP. Interestingly, Advani, who attended last year's meeting in Haridwar, will be conspicuously absent this year after he irked RSS leaders by praising Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah during his visit to that country.
Sanjay Joshi, the BJP general secretary in charge of organisation, will represent the party instead at Chitrakoot. There are other troubling issues as well, creating tension in the once seemingly indestructible Sangh Parivar.

BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan's remarks that the collective leadership could solve its problems arising from Uma Bharati's letter to RSS chief K.S. Sudarshan about party infighting would in all likelihood be discussed as well. "It is clear that the RSS leadership is not happy with the way the BJP functions. The present developments are damaging for the prospects of the BJP as a political party. It's a concern for the organisation," said a senior BJP leader. The BJP has been dogged with dissent in several states, including the party-ruled Madhya Pradesh where former chief minister Uma Bharati is leading a campaign for a change of guard to replace Babulal Gaur. The party also faced embarrassment when Mahajan talked to media, reportedly blaming the top leadership for the troubles in the party. Other than politics with the BJP, there is plenty on the official agenda of the three-day meet, attended by around 350 volunteers from different parts of the country.

According to RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav, the meet would include brainstorming sessions on the "present situation of northeastern states, violence in the name of greater Nagaland, India-Pakistan talks in the context of Kashmir issue and increasing caste-based violence in the country".
Also on the agenda is chalking out rehabilitation schemes for the quake victims in Jammu and Kashmir. The RSS has sent a delegation to the state, where at least 1,400 people were killed in the Oct 8 earthquake. The delegation will submit a report on the rehabilitation programme.
N E legislators to meet on AIDSKohima | October 20, 2005 Webindia
Concerned over the threat posed by HIV/AIDS in India, the centre is organising a conclave of the legislators of the eight north eastern states, including the chief ministers, ministers and mlas at guwahati on November 19 next. This was disclosed by the union minister of state for programme implementation Oscar Fernandes at Dimapur yesterday in a press conference and called for united effort to curb the menace. Mr Fernandes, who is also the convenor of the parliamentary forum on HIV/AIDS, said the meeting, which would be chaired by Assam Chief Minister, would chalk out strategies for containing the menace.
It will be the first ever meeting of the chief ministers of the region on the subject, where Peter Piot, Executive Director of the UN AIDS programme is also scheduled to attend meeting. Mr Fernandes invited Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, his cabinet colleagues, leader of the opposition I Imkong and Congress legislators. Stressing on the protection of youth, who are being affected by HIV/AIDS, he said the disease was gradually moving to the general population and unless urgent steps were taken with a political will India would overtake South Africa. India holds the dubious record of second place in the world with 5.134 million hiv/aids pateints. South Africa has 5.6 million HIV positive victims, he said. UNI AS BA SKM1750
Another forest conservator`s house attacked by gunmen The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Oct 20: Even as the staff and employees of the state forest department have been condemning at dharnas and protests the attacks on their staff by gunmen suspected to be from underground groups, attacks on the officials of the forest department are continuing. Yesterday, two gunmen with masked faces fired upon the residence of the conservator of forest, Laikangbam Sharatchandra at Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak.

According to residents of the area, the incident happened at around 7.30 pm yesterday. The two unidentified men entered the house of the conservator which had already been abandoned by the family fearing possible consequences after they failed to provide a monetary demand of Rs. 5 lakhs made by an underground group some one month back. The residents stated that the two gunmen broke the iron padlock that locked the house and entered the house and destroyed the furniture and other materials inside the house. The TV set was also destroyed by the gunmen. Thereafter the gunmen also caused damage to the maruti car parked in the garage.

As the house had been abandoned by the family who were taking shelter in the house of a relative in the neighbourhood, none of the members of the family were affected in the attack by the gunmen. Strongly condemning the act of the gunmen, a meeting of the residents of Nagamapal Kangjabi Leirak was held today. The meeting resolved to keep a close vigil in the area at night time. As per the resolution of the meeting one woman from each family in the locality would turn up and gather at the local meira shang and go on rounds in the bylanes in the locality the whole night so that such incidents are not repeated in the locality in future. It may be noted that following frequent attacks on the employees and staff of the forest department by unknown gunmen in the last few months, the latest being the shooting in the leg of a conservator of forest, Thambou Singh at Wangkhei on October 7, the employees condemned the attacks on their colleagues, at a sit-in-protest staged on the next day of the shooting incident.

Ex ULFA cadre starts life anew, exposes rebel outfit s hollow ideology Ani
Guwahati, Oct 21 (ANI): Many young and promising youth joined the separatist outfit ULFA in quest for what they believed would be a better future for the state and the people.
But few years with the organization has made them realize the hollowness of the separatist movement and its ideology. Shristi Sharma also known as Seema Biswas, was once a dreaded member of ULFA, but now the 25-year old believes that an entire generation has been misguided and destroyed by the separatist outfit, and that peace and normalcy are essential for the future of the Assamese people.
Sitting on a different pedestal and trying to direct her life and the lives of those who work under her, Shristi is now the proud owner of two restaurants and a sweet shop here.
A few years back the very mention of her name evoked terror. Today she is a beacon of hope, and it would be wrong for people think of her as inexperienced due to her age. Life's harsh experiences have taught her a lot, including the futility of violence and the importance of peace and normalcy.
"I joined in ULFA in 1998. I knew about ULFA, but I did not know about its ideology. I had problems in the family. A relative of mine killed my father. I wanted to take revenge, that is why I joined ULFA," said Shristi Sharma, ex ULFA cadre.
For Shristi, life has taken a full circle.
Once destruction and mindless violence used to be her daily business. But after her surrender life has taken a different turn. Instead of arms and explosive training, she was given computer training by a rehabilitation centre. And the young mind was moulded to think positively and constructively.
Today she talks about creating and not destroying, about peace and not violence, and a new dynamic future very different from a past trapped in a directionless quagmire.
"We should live in peace. Killing and violence is futile. I did kill when I was immature. Now I understand the importance of peace in life. This is the best life," Shristi added.
One look at her present life will make one believe she is enjoying every bit of her new existence.
Without being a trained cook she guides others in the art of cooking. A born leader, she has always dreamt of guiding other people in life. And that's what she is doing.
She knows how important it is to have a good guide and good mentor. This hard realization has come from the experience she had being an ULFA cadre where she saw brilliant young people waste their lives for an exploitative leadership. "The ULFA ruined so many good lives. Subhash Sharma from Nalbari, Narayan Das, they all died without any reason, they could not achieve any thing. A generation of brilliant youngsters have gone waste. This should not happen again. The ULFA should come to the negotiating table."
This realization has come from the experiences of her present life. She now knows that peace and economic development go hand in hand. And the two decades of violence by the ULFA has affected the economic growth and prosperity of this Assam. Shristi also questions the ULFA and its leadership- "who are they to claim to represent the interest of the Assamese society when people do not support them?"
"The ULFA has lost its power, and especially after Bhutan and Dhemaji blast, their support has come down. If you want to fight for Assam and you do not have popular support, then how can you dream of an independent Assam? This is meaningless," she said. Shristi has big dreams. She is not happy to be the owner of two restaurants and one sweet shop in the heart of Guwahati. She wants to be the richest woman in the whole of Assam. She is the only surviving member of her family but she is determined to build her life anew, and believes steadfastly in the philosophy of life being al about 'promises to keep, and miles to go before I sleep'. (ANI) By Peter Alex Todd
Hope ahead of peace talks with ULFA representatives Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, Oct 21 (IANS) A general sense of optimism prevails in Assam with talks between representatives of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and central government peace negotiators beginning next week in New Delhi. The proposed talks, aimed at ending close to three decades of insurgency, between the People's Consultative Group (PCG) and the negotiators are scheduled to be held on Oct 25 and 26. The 11-member PCG is a team of representatives drawn from the Assamese civil society and chosen by the ULFA to begin preliminary discussions to work out the peace process leading to formal declaration of a ceasefire between the rebels and the Central government. The ULFA is a rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979. 'The central government has already sent air tickets for the PCG team members to come from Guwahati to New Delhi for the talks. Accommodation for the members in New Delhi was also being arranged by the government,' noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami told IANS. India's National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan is expected to lead the government team of negotiators in talks with the PCG. Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is also likely to be present in the meeting.
'There is a possibility of a meeting between the PCG members and the prime minister subject to time and convenience,' Goswami said.
Goswami, who teaches Modern Indian Languages at Delhi University, was nominated by the ULFA as PCG leader. 'We are all praying for a positive outcome and indeed very hopeful about the peace process moving forward in the right direction,' said Goswami, who has been mediating on behalf of the ULFA for more than a year now. People across Assam are hopeful of a solution to the violent insurgency in Assam. 'We are all waiting for something positive to happen as people in general are sick and tired of the killings and bloodshed in the region,' said Dharanidhar Barman, a doctor in Assam's main city of Guwahati. The proposed talks could bring the ULFA leaders face-to-face with the government peace negotiators at a later stage.
'It is grateful to mention that the government of India took up the process sincerely and the freedom craving masses of Asom (Assam) presume a peaceful and dignified solution of the conflict on the table of negotiation ignoring all adversaries,' ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa said in a statement.
The last round of direct talks between ULFA rebels and the Indian government took place in New Delhi in 1992. The talks ended abruptly after the five ULFA rebels -- who were released from prison for the dialogue with then prime minister Narasimha Rao -- went underground.
Gogoi said the Indian Army had called off military operations against the rebels last month to pave the way for talks. 'We want to give peace a chance,' the chief minister told IANS.
At least 15,000 people have been killed since the insurgency began in Assam in 1979, with more than 30 militant groups in India's northeastern states fighting for causes ranging from independence to greater autonomy.

Centre to deploy more forces in Karbi Anglong By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Oct 20 – The Union Minister of State for Home, Sriprakash Jaiswal today assured Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi that the Centre would soon send 10 companies of Border Security Force (BSF) personnel to control the situation in ethnic riot hit Karbi Anglong district. The Union Minister today visited the hill district to assess the situation and held a meeting with the Chief Minister and senior Government officials to review the situation in the district where more than 70 persons have lost their lives in ethnic clashes between Karbi and Dimasa communities.
An official release said that in the meeting, Gogoi sought more forces from the Centre as the State Government was finding it difficult to contain the situation because of the withdrawal of 15 companies of paramilitary forces. Jaiswal said that the Centre was forced to withdraw forces from Assam because of the elections in Bihar. But at the same time, he assured that 10 companies of forces would be sent to Assam within the next two or three days.
Gogoi told the Union Minister that the shortage of force and the difficult terrain in the hill district made it difficult for the government to bring the situation under control and revealed that 20 additional companies of police personnel have been sent to the district. He said that the State Government held talks with the leaders of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) as well as with social organisations representing the Karbi and Dimasa communities for restoration of peace. He said that an all party team would visit the district tomorrow in an effort to restore peace, while, a delegation of the ruling party would also visit the district. He said that steps have been taken to provide relief to all the affected people and sought cooperation from the Centre to bring the situation under control. Jaiswal assured that the Centre would extend all possible help to the State Government for restoration of normalcy in the trouble-torn district.
The meeting was attended among others by Ministers of State Rockybul Hussain and Himanta Biswa Sarma, Joint Secretary to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Rajiv Agarwal, DGP PV Sumanth, IGP Khagen Sarma, Commissioner to the Chief Minister BK Gohain and others, the release said.

Dialogue with ultras necessary: Governor From Raju Das Assam Tribune
SHILLONG, Oct 20 – Meghalaya Governor MM Jacob underscored the establishment of dialogue processes between States and insurgent groups here in the north-eastern region for its overall peace and progress. Jacob pointed that the “current dialogue process” between some States and insurgent groups provided lessons for all. He emphasised that such dialogue process should be “strengthened in the North-east”. The Governor, who was speaking as the chief guest at a two-day national seminar on ‘Peace process in North-east India’, said: “Violence and counter violence…completely bring down the value of human lives”. Peace depends on the commitment of dialogue, which in turn “necessitates mutual respect and tolerance” between the two sides. This enables “scrutiny of one’s claims alongside those of the other parties”, Jacob told the gathering.

Drawing attention to the “violent conflict of the north-eastern region”, Jacob said: “Fall in human security is a major concern.” Rampant acts of terror and extortion “signify facets of stateless society”, Jacob said. Moreover, victims of such terror have often been blurred by a stigma of belonging to one group to the other, which in effect endangers the community itself, the Governor stated.

A major impediment to peace in the region was the claim of ‘superiority’ of one community over the other. “Superiority should be based on morally superior acts and thoughts which are an intellectual and moral plank of reason of treating others as morally equal…this in turn shall establish peace,” Jacob asserted. On the world’s fight against terrorism and insurgency, Jacob said: “In the UN and other world forums, India used to appeal to all nations to fight against terrorism and insurgency. But only after the 9/11 event in America, that the world body considered the urgent need of tackling terrorism.”
The other side of Karbi Anglong tragedy NET News Network
Guwahati, Oct 20: The orgy of hate between the two communities of Karbi and Dimasa in Karbi Anglong district of Assam is likely to hard hit the ginger production of Assam. The ginger produce of area is valued at Rs 284,42,75,000. The fiasco is also likely to result in the delay or withholding of projects worth Rs 13.5 Crores in the ginger sector. There is also apprehension that Karbi Anglong may loss German export orders worth Rs 5 lakh, which it was likely to beg this harvesting season. With almost 69 persons losing their lives in the recent spurt of ethnic violence over the question of control of the land within the Dhansari Reserve forest, the farmers, which are mainly from the Kuki tribe, are sacred to visit the field. Torching of houses, curfew and shoot at sight orders have forced farmers to remain confined to their houses. They are not able to visit the farm site. Some local spices companies have also shelved their plans of setting up ginger candy and ginger paste producing plants in the area.
Local spices companies, which were planning to make an investment to the tune of Rs 10 Crores in setting up paste and candy plants, are now giving second thought to the proposal. The crop season of ginger starts from March and harvesting is done towards the end of October. Karbi Anglong accounts for 20 percent of the total ginger production of Assam. The area under ginger in Northeast region is 33,2000 hectares which gives total production of 191, 000 tonnes. Northeast produced about half of the total ginger production of India. The total ginger production in India is about 275,000 tonnes. As per the records of Assam agricultural department, nearly 16244 hectares of land of Assam is under ginger cultivation, the state produces 113771 tonnes of ginger annually. The annual ginger production of Karbi Anglong is about 22, 754 tonnes. However 90 percent of Karbi Anglong's productions are exported to Northern India and Pakistan. During last season the retail market price of ginger was Rs 30 per kg.
Officials in the state horticulture department felt that such ethnic strife would create problem in harvesting and transporting of the ginger. There will be labourer shortage in the area. " The fear psychos among the farmers and the reluctance of traders to transport the ginger produce from the trouble torn district will have a negative impact on the ginger production of the state. Harvesting of the ginger will be delayed, as it will take considerable time before farmers get back to the field. Security scenario is so bad that even regular transport operators are not willing to send their vehicle in the district," he said. Appreciating the ginger produce of Karbi Anglong, Germany has even expressed its willingness to purchase gingers from the area. Germany is examining the samples of the ginger. The setting up of the four collection centres as planned by export promotion agency, Agricultural and
Processed Food products export development authority (APEDA) for the assistance of the ginger growers is also likely to be delayed. The project cost is around Rs 3.5 Crore. Official in APEDA told that it has planned to set up collection centres before this harvesting season but now the project is delayed. Samples of Karbi Anglong's ginger are being examined by Germany. " We were expecting export orders to the tune 10, 000 kgs from Germany but the situation there is not congenial for export. The farmers might not able to produce and transport the requisite volume of ginger," he said. Ginger is one of the earliest known oriental spices and is being cultivated in Northeast both as a fresh vegetable and as a dried spice. Karbi Anglong is one of the ginger-producing belts of Assam. The Nadia and the Rio-De-Janeiro variety of ginger, which is produced in this area, is even exported to Azadpur Mandi of New Delhi from there it is exported to Pakistan. The ginger produced in the area is organic and have less fiber content.
ULFA peace talks: CPI smells a rat By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Oct 20: The CPI doubts the sincerity of the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre on the political dialogue with the proscribed ULFA. The party feels that the ‘U-tern’ taken by the Centre on the ‘talks’ with the outfit might be a plot to derive political mileage in forthcoming Assembly elections in the State. "In the recent past, the BJP, while in power at the Centre, took advantage of the ceasefire agreement with the NSCN(IM) in Nagaland elections," said Promode Gogoi, national executive member of the CPI, while addressing a press conference at the party headquarters here. "We should not forget that the direct negotiation between the then Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and the ULFA leadership was sabotaged by Delhi and Dispur, both under the Congress rule, to create a rift in the outfit," he said. Gogoi appealed to the people of the State to remain vigilant against any bid to derail the peace process.
On the ‘non-Congress and non-BJP alternative platform’ in the coming election, Gogoi said the State council of the party had reviewed the political situation and favoured a broad-based alliance comprising the AGP, the AGP(P) and both fractions of the ASDC.