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10/22/2005: "Naga Hoho hails Source: The Sangai Express"

Naga Hoho hails Source: The Sangai Express
Dimapur, October 22 (NNN): The Naga Hoho while appreciating the visit of Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes to Nagaland has expressed displeasure over his denying the Nagas a chance to express their views on the decades-old Naga political problem.

A press release issued by Naga Hoho vice president Keviletuo Kiewhuo said the hoho would have no disagreement if the entire visit was for the political party that Oscar represented.

However, the release said, since it was the Minister’s maiden visit to Naga areas after shouldering responsibility as the negotiator of Government of India, he was expected to be more realistic and sincere to the peace process.

“Does it signify that the Government of India is insincere to the peace process or a deliberate act of saying ‘my party is more important than the Naga people’s desire for an honourable solution,’? it questioned.
Leading from the shadows
Militancy first shattered the peace between Assam’s Karbi and Dimasa tribes in the late Nineties. The killings in the Karbi Anglong Hill district are the result of the same divisive politics, writes Samudra Gupta Kashyap
WHEN the bodies of three Dimasa tribals were found last month in a village inhabited primarily by the Karbi tribe, the police simply called it a dacoity. But the events that followed were much complex.

The killing sparked off more killings. Since then the Karbi Anglong Hill district, one of the two hill districts of Assam, has been on fire. Over 75 people, majority of them Karbis, have been killed while over 1,000 houses of both communities have been burnt down. Nearly 28,000 persons are living in 47 relief camps across the 10,434-sq km district.
In the midst of the violence if anything has survived it is the politics of opportunism. Various political parties as well as the two armed groups claiming to be saviours of the Karbi and Dimasa tribes respectively, have begun blaming each other for the ethnic strife. A strife which began years ago.
IN November 1951, a new district, the United Mikir and North Cachar Hills, was carved out of portions of Sibsagar, Nagaon, Cachar and United Khasi & Jaintia Hills. In 1970, it was again split up into two: the Mikir Hills district and the North Cachar Hills district. In 1976, the Mikir Hills district was rechristened Karbi Anglong.
While Karbi Anglong is dominated by the Karbi tribe, North Cachar is dominated by the Dimasas. But over 40,000 Dimasas live in Karbi Anglong. The two districts together constitute the Diphu-Autonomous Lok Sabha constituency, and both districts are autonomous districts under the Sixth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. Karbi Anglong incidentally is Assam’s largest district in terms of geographical spread.
TILL the late Nineties the Karbis and Dimasas lived in peace. Then came the shadow of militancy. It was followed by the birth of the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS)—a group that claims to be the messiah of the Karbi tribals and the Dima Halam Daoga (DHD)—which wants a separate state called Dimaraji exclusively for the Dimasa tribals. It claims the entire North Cachar Hills, portions of Karbi Anglong, and even Dimapur in Nagaland for its new state.
That was the beginning of a cleft between the two tribes, one which was exploited by politicians.
Initially, the NSCN (IM) supported the DHD but backed out after it found that the two hill districts of Assam also figured within the ‘Greater Nagalim’ that the Naga group stakes a claim to.
KARBI Anglong historically belongs to the Dimasas. Our ancestors ruled over Dimapur, the present Karbi Anglong hills and NC Hills and even a large portion of the Cachar district in the Barak Valley,’’ says Dilip Nunisa, chairman of the DHD, which declared a ceasefire with the government in December 23, 2002.
Since the ceasefire, the 450-odd armed cadres of this outfit have been confined to five designated camps, one of which is located in the Dimasa-dominated Dhansiri area of Karbi Anglong.
The UPDS, which too had signed a ceasefire agreement with the government on May 23, 2002, has been demanding the DHD camp be removed from their district. And, even as tension was brewing between the two groups, it was the September 26 murders that brought out it out into the open.
‘‘While the government failed to anticipate trouble and adopted a laid-back attitude, different forces looking for a opportunity, simply stepped in,’’ says Holiram Terang, a veteran Karbi MLA and leader of the Autonomous State Demand Committee (ASDC), a political party that has both Karbis as well as Dimasas. Terang blames the Congress government for not reacting promptly, but refuses to name any group for the violence.
Meanwhile, the government appears to be convinced that the two militant groups are directly involved in the violence. Chief minister Tarun Gogoi summoned leaders of both the DHD and UPDS to Guwahati last Tuesday. Union home secretary Rajiv Agarwal too has said both groups had violated the ceasefire ground rules.
But those are government versions. Politics is different. The Assam Assembly elections are hardly six months away. ‘‘The Congress government is also to be blamed. It is trying to distract attention of the people from its misdeeds and failures,’’ says AGP president Brindaban Goswami.
The BJP too has made a similar allegation. ‘‘Tarun Gogoi is trying to shift the focus from the Muslims’ withdrawal of support to the Congress and his government’s failures,’’ says SS Ahluwalia, BJP leader in charge of Assam.
UCM reiterates stand on territory
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 21: Reacting sharply to the recent statement of Oscar Fernandes that a National level meeting may be held to discuss the formation of a Greater Nagalim, the United Committee Manipur today reiterated that the people of Manipur will not yield an inch of the State's territory.

In a statement, UCM said that the people are aware that if there is no Manipur there will be no Manipuris and added that the flip flop stand of New Delhi with regard to the territorial sanctity of Manipur did not come as a surprise.

UCM said that the recent statement of Oscar Fernandes that a National level meeting may be convened to discuss the integration of Naga inhabited areas is nothing but an agenda of Delhi to tamper with the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Recalling the Great June 18 Uprising of 2001, the statement said that the people have shown that they are ready to sacrifice everything to protect the territory of Manipur and added that any future designs will meet the same fate.

No force on earth can defeat the people's resolve to protect the territory of Manipur, asserted UCM and added there is no ground to entertain the demand of integrating Naga inhabited areas in the current peace talk.

The National level discussion mooted by Fernandes is just an eye wash to play the appeasement policy at the cost of others, said UCM and added that this in effect means the disintegration of the territorial integrity of other States of North East India.

The deliberate attempt of the Centre to ignore the stand of the people of Manipur is akin to adding fuel to the fire, said UCM and added that Delhi should remember that though their political stooges in Manipur may believe in the culture of high command, the people of Manipur are not ready to buy this line.

What Fernandes said was against the Common Minimum Programme of the UPA Government, reminded UCM and questioned what action has been taken up in this regard.

In the name of the peace talk the NSCN (IM) is today openly extorting money from the people and imposing their taxes at will with the Indian military mutely looking on.

This has raised a serious question over the credibility of the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell set up by the Indian Government, said UCM further.

It is becoming clear that today the ceasefire between the Centre and the NSCN (IM) is against the people of Manipur, added UCM.
Nagaland policy to boost agriculture New Kerala
Kohima: Nagaland agriculture minister Kuzholuzo has said the Nagaland government has decided to direct all developmental policies of the agriculture sector towards increasing production, enhancing productivity and generating employment.

Mr Kuzholuzo, was speaking at the silver jubilee celebration of students' union at the school of Agriculture Science and Rural Development (SASRD) and the foundation day at Medziphema yesterday.

He said the present status of fertilizers used in the state is about 1.5 kg per hectare in terms of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash, which he claimed is quite negligible as compared to other states.

He also insisted over the need to strengthen the Nagaland state organic board, constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio for implementation of organic programmes.

Speaking on the occasion, Nagaland University Vice Chancellor Prof G D sharma emphasized on the need for Nagaland to go organic, saying that organic farming is an area where the state can reap rich dividends. ''No fertilizer, no pesticide'' should be the theme for all farmers in the state, he said.
Oscar Fernandes charged of violating CMP New Kerala
Imphal: The United Committee of Manipur (UCM) has accused Union minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes of violating the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the UPA government during his visit to Nagaland recently.

On the issue of territorial integrity of the north east, the central government was 'playing politics' by holding a weighing balance and issuing different statements, the UCM said.

UCM General Secretary Kh Gourashyam said during Mr Fernandes’ visit to the state, it was stated that the issue of integration of Naga inhabited areas will be discussed at the national level even when the UPA government has already declared in the CMP that territorial integrity of the north eastern states will not be affected.

He said when talks with the NSCN(IM) started in 1997 the people of Manipur were happy that a peaceful resolution of the problem of Nagaland will be brought about. But, Mr Oscar Fernandes in a statement had said that the issue of Naga expansionism will be discussed at the national level.

Mr Gourashyam describing Mr Fernandes' statement as 'baseless', said rather than bringing any tangible solution and peace, the ceasefire between the government and the NSCN(IM) have caused tremendous hardship to the people of Manipur . The NSCN is resorting to extortion and demand of ransom.

When the NSCN(IM) said "there is nothing wrong in extorting money from the people of Manipur, the Government could not do anything. Democracy has been made a farce." the UCM Secretary General said.

He said the central government should understand that people are firm on the issue of territorial integrity of the state and there is no question of compromise or talks on it. It is something inviolable, he added.

He further said that BJP leader L K Advani during an election campaign said the territorial integrity of Manipur will be protected but when NDA came to power the truce with NSCN(IM) was extended to other areas resulting in the Great June uprising of 2001 which led to the death of 18 persons and burning down of the State Assembly, Chief Minister’s residence and quarters of ministers, MLAs and offices of all political parties.

He said the NDA government after realising the folly decided to withdraw the decision. "Playing politics and creating tension in the north eastern states by central leaders should be stopped," he asserted.
‘Live and let live’; NSF to Karbi, Dimasa brothers The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, Oct 21 (MExN): The Naga Students Federation (NSF) has appealed to the Karbi and Dimasa communities to refrain from further killings stating that it was deeply pained by the unfortunate incidents of rampant killings between the two brother-communities.
In an appeal issued by K Eludang, General Secretary and WH Maring Speaker of the NSF, the apex Naga Students’ body while recalling the genesis of the prevailing Karbi-Dimasa conflict expressed sadness that the spark of the present developments had ignited a devastating flame which has resulted in the loss of 69 lives till date. It also stated that the subsequent developments leading to such costly flare-ups between the two neighbors were never expected.
While expressing the need for an amicable solution, the NSF also warned any political parties or organizations against politicizing the issue, cautioning that anything that won’t help solving the problem should not be introduced. Failure on this would only hijack and invigorate the problem, it added. The organization appealed to both the warring communities to adopt a non-violent approach for a solution. "We earnestly hope that peace will prevail thereby dawning the ray of hope of peaceful co-existence amongst the Karbis and Dimasas once again in the region", the NSF stated.
ANSAM express pain over Karbi killings The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, OCT 21 (MExN): The All Naga Students’ Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has expressed pain at the abrupt violent incidents of targeted killings between the closely settled neighboring communities, the Karbis and the Dimasas in Assam. "The recent outbreak of violence in the region has rendered many civilians homeless and destruction of properties. ANSAM appeal both the communities to restrain from emotional outburst and be realistic to desist from any extreme steps of violence.
The ANSAM also appealed the involved groups to open doors for mutual understanding and resolution through peaceful dialogue", stated a press communiqué issued by Paul Langhu President and Ng. Sounii Khapa Information & Publicity Secretary, ANSAM.
The association also urged the Government of India and the Government of Assam to initiate necessary steps to protect and safeguard the innocent villagers and provide immediate relief materials for shelter, food and clothes and medical needs to the affected victims.
The Association also appreciated the initiative of the mass based organizations like the North East Students’ Organization (NESO), Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human
Rights (NPMHR), Manab Adhikari Sangram Samiti(MASS), Bodo Women Justice Forum (BWJF), Karbi Students’ Association (KSA), All Dimasa Students’ Union (ADSU) to restore normalcy in the region through peaceful and humane strategies of unraveling the grim events through a joint peoples investigative process.
The ANSAM urged the state administration to avoid unrestraint militarization in the guise of maintaining law and order in the conflict zones but to provide adequate security measures and necessary humanitarian needs besides expediting the political process in the region.
Vatican ambassador in Imphal New Kerala
Kohima: Vatican Ambassador to India Apostolic Nuncio Pedro Lopez Quinatana arrived in Imphal yesterday amidst expectations that he together with the growing catholic community in the region, will initiate a move towards a more just society.

According to church sources here today the Ambassador, as chief representative of the Pope in India, was accorded a state guest status. He will tour different parts of Imphal and will join the silver jubilee celebration of the Archdiocese of Imphal before he proceeds on a three-day visit to Nagaland from October 24.

With the Vatican having a strong influence over many western powers and having played a significant role in resolving conflict -ridden regions, the christian community, and the catholic in particular, have welcomed the visit.

According to the reports here the Vatican Ambassador arrived at Imphal and was received by Archbishop Joseph Mittathany and Archbishop Dominic Lumon. A motorcade escorted the visiting dignitary to the main town where the children waved the papal white and yellow flags.

He will lead the celebration of the silver jublee celebration today where hundreds of priests, regional bishops, nuns and laity have congregated at Imphal to join the three-day celebration.

The Ambassador's itinerary includes visit to Koirengel hospital Mary immaculate parish in Chingmeirong, the first one to be established in the diocese, besides the Pastoral Training Centre and some more schools and communities.
‘Red Army behind ethnic violence’ The Morung Express
Fernandes’ role to be probed, nine more Karbi cadres killed
GUWAHATI, OCT 21 (AGENCIES): Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today opened a new chapter in the Karbi Anglong ethnic clash by pinpointing the names of ‘Red Army’ and ‘Black Widow’, which according to him are forces behind the entire episode of carnage in the district. The Red Army is believed to be a brainchild of CPI (ML) leader Jayanta Rongpi.
In another disclosure Gogoi said the government would also probe allegations that politicians, including former Defence Minister George Fernandes, had a hand in instigating ongoing ethnic clashes.
"There are reasons to suspect the role of George Fernandes and the local CPI-ML (Communist Party of India-Marxist Leninist) leader Jayanta Rongpi in the recent violence in Karbi Anglong district," the Chief Minister told journalists.
Not ruling out the hand of Rongpi in the ethnic clash, Gogoi said, "Rongpi is a man who believes in the cult of arms struggle and one should not be surprised if his name is raised".
"The judicial inquiry would definitely investigate the charges leveled against these two politicians by victims of the ethnic clashes."
Justice P.C. Phukan, a retired judge of the Gauhati High Court, has been assigned to conduct the judicial probe into the clashes and submit its report to the government within six months. Gogoi also said the clashes between the Karbi and the Dimasa tribes that claimed 80 lives began after Fernandes made two quick visits to the district late last month.
"The party represented by Fernandes does not even have a single local unit in Karbi Anglong district. What business does he have to visit the area twice in quick succession just before the clashes broke out first on Sep 26?" he asked.
"Many of the victims of the clashes told us and the police about the hand of Fernandes and Rongpi in the attacks."
Rongpi, a former MP from Karbi Anglong, was also accused by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of having a role in the clashes. The Karbi tribal leader, however, denied the allegations.
Yesterday BJP in charge of Assam SS Ahulwalaia had also alleged on the involvement of the NSCN (IM) which was vehemently denied by the outfit.
"The victims have spoken about a typical identification of the miscreants and as per the police reports too the involvement of Red Army cannot be ruled out", added the Chief Minister.
On being asked, whether the State Government is thinking of disarming DHD and UPDS for their sheer violation of ground rules, CM said, "Before taking any such step one would have to assess the extent of violation of the ground rules of the cease-fire by these outfits".
Further, 1,500 additional paramilitary troopers were deployed Friday in the troubled district to prevent further clashes.
Meanwhile, nine Karbi militants were today found killed, suspectedly at the hands of the rival Dimasa tribe, in Tamulbari in Upper Assam taking the toll in the current spell of ethnic violence to 86, police said here.
According to the police, a group of Karbi extremists after torching 12 houses at Kakubasti and seven at Kisiri Bongaon villages in interior areas of a reserve forest yesterday morning headed for Tamulbari. Dimasa guerillas ambushed them as they were about to enter Tamulbari and shot dead nine of them, the police said.
Five of the slain rebels were in uniform and had torches in their hands, police said.
Senior police officials had rushed to the area and security vmeasures were stepped up.
Meanwhile, the curfew and shoot-at-sight orders continued although prohibitory orders were relaxed for 12 hours from 6:00 am this morning.
Though markets and offices functioned normally, both private and government schools remained closed as most of them have been converted into relief camps for sheltering the victims of the ethnic violence.
Formal invitation letter for ULFA talks The Morung Express
ULFA should lay down arms before talks: Army Chief
NEW DELHI, OCT 21 (AGENCIES): The Centre today sent a formal invitation letter to ULFA-selected People’s Consultative Group for talks on October 26, Assamese writer Indira Goswami said.
"I have received a letter from National Security Advisor M K Narayanan inviting the group for discussion on October 26 at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block at 4 pm," Goswami, who took the initiative initialy, told PTI here.
"I look forward for a fruitful and positive discussion with the group in a constructive spirit," the NSA letter said.
Goswami said the PCG delegates are expected to arrive from Assam on October 24 for the talks. A retired engineer, Mukul Mahanta, who is the senior-most member of the group, is likely to be named as the leader of the eleven-member group.
Meanwhile, the banned outfit is understood to be giving its brief to the members on the agenda for the talks.
"The ULFA leadership is giving guidance to the PCG members on the agenda of the proposed talks. They are also in touch with me," Goswami, a Janapeeth award winner, said.
She, however, declined to comment on whether the "sovereignty" issue as demanded by ULFA would figure in the proposed parleys between the PCG and the government.
When asked whether Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi would also take part in the proposed talks, Goswami said that she had already suggested it but was awaiting a government response.
Meanwhile Army Chief Gen JJ Singh said today that ULFA should lay down their arms and come to the negotiating table, if it is sincere about their offer for peace talks with the Centre.
Asserting that operations against the group would continue, the Army Chief said his forces would treat the banned organisation as a "terrorist organisation".
He said ULFA cadres were at present pressed hard by the pressure put on them by the security forces and had lost much of their earlier sheen and ideological standing. Singh said moves by the group leaders to abandon their bases in the country and take shelter in other countries had not gone down well with the people of Assam.
Onus on Myanmar to resolve boundary dispute: India The Morung Express T.Siamchinthang October 21
LAMKA/MOREH: Despite the External Affairs Ministry raising three points to resolve the boundary disputes between Myanmar and India along its North Eastern States, Myanmar is yet to respond and is keeping mum over the matter.
Disclosing this to The Morung Express, reliable source informed that the Indian Government had raised three points issue. One significant point among the three proposals raised by the Indian government include that the Myanmar Government give 250 yards of land at Tamu to adjust the border dispute.
The boundary dispute comes in the backdrop of the festering wounds felt by the tribal people of the hill districts over the gifting away of Kabaw valley to Myanmar and to make sure that the sentiment of the people are not hurt and further to ensure that no stone is left unturned inform that Myanmar does not intrude into the tribal territory of the Zemi, Kukis and the Nagas, the source said.
Along with the proposal put forward by the Indian government to the Myanmar authority to yield 250 yards of land at Tamu (Myanmar), India would adjust the boundaries at Molnom and Behiang villages both in the districts of Chandel and Churachandpur of Manipur, said the sources.
The total area of land which will be adjusted against the 250 yards of land sought by the Indian Government is approximately 1.45 kms.
The reason behind India’s proposal to exchange the said areas of land is on the premise that there is hardly any human settlement at Behiang village in Churachandpur district. As for Molnom under Chandel district of Manipur the proposal was forwarded as Myanmar is keen on these areas for geo-political reasons.
The other proposal put forward by the Indian government is to stick to the present International boundary. However, Myanmar is yet to respond to the proposal of the Indian side. According to this proposal, both sides would respect the existing boundary and no construction would come up within 10 meters on either side of the border.
Concept of being a Naga The Morung Express
Former member of Manipur Human. Rights Commission Yambem Laba had justified the declaration of 18 June Holiday as Integrity Day of Manipur under the caption, "18 June events not anti Nagas" published in Imphal free press on 13-8-2005. We may recall the events that happened on that fateful day. The day was totally a mess and there was complete chaos in the state administration. The events were all stage managed. Y. Laba said that the sentiment was against the govt of India and hence the arsonist, burnt copies of Indian constitution and trio-color Flag of Indian Union. Besides burning of Constitution and Flag, the Meities agitators also burnt down a number of building including CM’s bungalow and Assembly buildings.
*Just after the ‘burning of Indian National Flag. The protestors hoisted the seven colored Meities National Flag in the Heart of ImphaI City. The same flag is still fluttering on top of Institute of Co-operative Management Building at Lamphalpat, Imphal.
*Justification of such acts encouraged the MEELAL activists to destroy the Central Library into ashes.
After burning down those buildings, they came out to the street and barked at the Nagas, like wild dogs. Laba observed that the 18 June events were not anti-Naga. Perhaps he was not informed of what happened or he is woefully unaware of the ground realities. The protestors screamed at the top of their voices, ‘’Naga hatlo" (Kill the Naga) "Hao’ hatlo" (Kill the Tribals), ‘’NagaIand da chatlo" (Go to Nagaland) and other endearments.
Over and above all those abusive words/remark, they also pelted stones on the houses of the tribal. Prof N Sanjaoba singh had patriotically stated that, "Manipur da Naga haiba iati ashi leite" (There are no Nagas in Manipur). His statement was published in Yakairol daily on 30-6-2001. If he meant Imphal as Manipur, he was right in that sense. Were all those acts/ events and statements not anti-Nagas? The day was therefore Anti-India & Anti-Naga. So Nagas are against the declaration of June 18, as state Holiday and Integrity Day.
After having Justified the events of 18 June 2001, and the subsequent anti-Naga Rallies, strikes & sit in protests. Mr Yambem Laba had come out with a new meaning to the concept of being a Naga. According to him, Naga means anti-Manipuri or Meitie to be more precise. In his X-File published in the Imphal Free Press on 20-8-2005 he said, "it appeared that The Nagas hatred for the Meities far surpassed than its hatred for Indian".
Here he attempts to throw a wedge between the Nagas and Indians which is rather irrelevant observation at this stage.
If there is at all Naga hatred for Meities today, certainly it would be the outcome of the long hatred matted out by the Meities to the tribals in early days. The concept of Mr. Laba was wrong. It is the other way round. The hate Naga policy had long been practiced since time immemorial. The Meities did not allow tribals whom they call Haos in their homes, prohibited to climb up even to their verandah, not allowed to touch water pots or pipelines, cash had to be dropped on the ground for any purchase a tribal made from Meities vendors, tribals were really a thing of untouchable in the eyes of the Meities. Such a despised feeling and attitude was in practice even up to the post Indian Independent days
Now the Meities claim for well meted and harmonious living with tribals for thousand years. This idea of good relationship and harmonious living was a recent development. This slogan come into use only after the declaration of cease fire between the. GOI & NSCN in 1997
It was rather an unexpected thing that a person like Mr. Yambem Laba, a man of good understanding who had read well would utter such a communal and provocative statement
D. Kaiphun Tamenglong Bazar