[Previous entry: "Now, Centre for mid-January Naga talks"] [Next entry: "Nagaland reels under cold wave"]

12/26/2005: "PM cannot accept NSCN (IM) demand"

PM cannot accept NSCN (IM) demand
Centre says no to unification, limited sovereignty The Morung Express
NEW DELHI, DEC 23 (AGENCIES): The peace talks between the NSCN (IM) and the Government of India is reportedly stuck over the unification of Naga inhabited areas and the other demand of granting limited sovereignty. According to a news report carried on the December 23 issue of the Indian Express, New Delhi’s Emissaries, Minister for Planning & Programme Implementation Oscar Fernandes and K Padmanabhiah, who had gone to Bangkok for talks last week tried to convince the NSCN (IM) that neither the Prime Minister nor the Centre could accept their present demand. Things must be within Constitutional framework, said a senior official to the Indian Express.
Subsequently, they were asked to consider the autonomous status under Article 244A. The NSCN (IM) leaders, however, did not relent and were insistent on their demand for the unification of all Naga inhabited areas, many of which were in Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
‘‘Even the suggestion of unifying the areas is enough to create unrest in the neighbouring states. The Centre cannot take any chances and is therefore, treading cautiously,’’ the official added.
Moreover, there can also be no give on NSCN (I-M)’s demand for limited sovereignty, whereby they are insisting on a special federal arrangement in which the Nagas will have to be recognized as an independent entity.
‘‘This is not acceptable, specially since NSCN is not even willing to consider an autonomous system under which defence, foreign affairs, currency and communications will be New Delhi’s responsibility, while other subjects will be under the state’s jurisdiction. The Centre’s emissaries would be flying out again on January 13 for another round of talks in a bid to convince them.
‘‘Even they are under pressure to create unrest and force a migration of the local population,’’ sources in the government told the Indian Express.
As per the news-report keeping the government on tenterhooks, the NSCN (I-M) has refused to extend the six-month ceasefire, which will expire on January 31 2006. Even the government’s offer of granting them an autonomous status has failed to break the ice. The government has convinced NSCN (I-M) leaders Isak Chisi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah for another round of talks in mid-January to discuss extension of ceasefire. But according to the report, the Centre’s emissaries, who had gone to Bangkok for talks last week returned without assurance of ceasefire extension.
Isak Swu’s Christmas message The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, DEC 23 (MExN): “Let the 95% Naga Christian population rejoice together with the heavenly hosts and receive the great salvation which is freely given to us through his grace,” says the Christmas message of Isak Chishi Swu, Chairman of the NSCN (IM). While preaching the message that Christ’s birthday was not derived by human beings but an origination from God, the septuagenarian advocates, “So on this marvelous special occasion let our perspective be a new one.” Saying that the door is widely open for us to accept “His salvation,” the message reads, “Do not miss this opportunity by indulging in food and drinks alone but let it be an occasion for a spiritual feast so as to renew our spiritual lives and grow in his Grace to enjoy everlasting life with the Lord.” Re-enacting the Christmas story, the Chairman greets, “May the joy and happiness of 2005 Christmas give a refreshing touch and mighty anointing to all of us.”
Datta, Rio & Jamir greets people on Christmas The Morung Express
Dimapur, Dec 23 (MExN): The Governor of Nagaland Shyamal Datta has extended his greetings to the people of Nagaland on the occasion of Christmas. In a message of greeting the Governor stated that Christmas was a time to rejoice and rededicating oneself to the need for better understanding and appreciation of the essence of celebration. “The essence lies in giving and not taking (but) by treading the path of fellowship and brotherhood” the Governor reminded and wished the people that the Lord Jesus and the celebration would give the people the courage to stand up against all that undermine human dignity. “May the Lord guide us to have greater wisdom to make our life one of peace and goodness”, Governor Shyamal Datta prayed wishing all the people of Nagaland a merry Christmas and a happy new year ahead.
In a separate message, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio while greeting the people also asked that all traces of enmity, hatred and ill-will be removed from the mind because negative thoughts and feelings don’t co-exist with goodwill. “Let us truly send out our goodwill to one and all including to those we have not so far thought of as our friends and well-wishers”, Rio stated adding that the occasion be taken as an opportunity to widen “our circle of goodwill, without considering whether our goodwill will be received and responded to positively.” He reminded that God sent his goodwill towards men when they were still sinners and unworthy of his love and it was duty-bound that God be given a chance to heal the land, wounded hearts and bring true peace amongst the Nagas.
The Governor of Goa, SC Jamir in a separate massage stated that mankind is facing dangers and insecurity, with ever individual craving for peace and harmony which every religion of the world seem to respond to this felt need. He called upon the people to make this year’s Christmas a time for reconciliation between broken families, warring factions and groups, conflicting nations and peoples.
“Let us join the multitudes of angels and praise God almighty. Let the world proclaim glory to God in the highest and along with the shepherds of yore, let us take a spiritual journey to Bethlehem to witness the event which has come to pass”, Governor Jamir called.
Nagas consolidate demand for a unified set up The Morung Express
Kohima, Dec 23 (PTI): The demand for a unified Naga political set up gaining momentum amidst hopes of an early settlement of the vexed Naga conflict and unearthing of major irregularities in appointments in public service commission and school education department were major high points in Nagaland during the year gone by.
The year 2005 began on an optimistic note when the Naga peace process got a major boost with the arrival of top NSCN (I-M) leaders in Delhi and holding of discussions with Indian leaders to find a mutually accepted solution to the protracted Naga political problem.
The NSCN (I-M) leaders were also engaged in consultative meetings with representatives of various Naga groups during their stay in Nagaland and declared no solution could be found without integrating Naga-inhabited areas of the region in a single administrative unit.
Following the declaration, various Naga NGOs and churches spearheaded the campaign for Naga integration and rallies were organized in Naga-inhabited areas across Nagaland and Manipur. Both ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) and opposition Congress expressed solidarity with the Naga integration rally organized by apex tribal council Naga Hoho at Kohima.
At the end of the year, the peace process appeared little uncertain when NSCN (I-M) threatened to back out from peace process if the conflict is not resolved within the current spell of the cease-fire which expires in January. But representatives of Government of India and the underground outfit held negotiations in Bangkok and decided to hold another round of talks next month.
Unification before solution,UNC tells PM The Morung Express
Dimapur Dec 23 (MExN): The United Naga Council (UNC) in its memorandum to the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh in Delhi on December 15 has reaffirmed its stand for the conviction that any honorable solution to the Naga Peace Process must begin with the unification of the Naga areas first.
The UNC in a memorandum to the PM which was submitted on December 15 by a delegation of UNC which included Manipur-based tribal Naga Hohos and the All Naga Students’ association Manipur (ANSAM), stated that the Naga people derived the affirmation from the premise of the unique history and situation of the Nagas and for this matter, any solution which excluded Naga unification would not be meaningful, honorable or lasting. The Council also expressed concern that even after eight long years of ‘patient expectation’ no solution appeared to have emerged till date. “Eight years, we strongly feel, is more than adequate time to hammer out a solution howsoever complex the issue might be” the UNC in its memorandum stated.
Further maintaining that it was not forthcoming of what it said was disappointment of the collective leadership with the progress of the peace process and the statement that they (the NSCN-IM) would walk away from the negotiations, the UNC urged the Prime Minister to expedite the ongoing peace talks. “We urge upon you to kindly expedite the ongoing peace talks that appears to have stalled and erase the feeling in the hearts of the Naga people that the Government of India had not been sincere in their efforts to bring final solution to the Naga people” the memorandum stated.
Reminding the PMO of the several initiatives of non-cooperation taken by Nagas to put pressure upon the Government of Manipur and the Meities, “whose dictates and uncompromising attitude towards the Rights of the Nagas have dominated response of Manipur Government ”, the UNC made it clear that unification should be given priority over solution.
The Council impressed upon the PM’s office the ‘ardent desire and wishes’ of the Naga people of Manipur for the unification of Naga areas under one administrative roof. For this matter, it asked the Government of India to demonstrate its political will to resolve the Indo-Naga issue by carrying forward the peace process to an acceptable and settlement at the earliest.
All factions precious assets for Naga people The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, DEC 23 (MExN): The Naga National Party (NNP) has asked all Naga factions and people to take advantage of “Christmas and New Year” season and to come out and reconcile and stand unitedly for a peaceful settlement. “To the Naga people, all these groups are precious assets in their own levels,” a release said while stating that it was high time to leave behind past misgivings and be “reconciled as one family.” Reiterating that past clashes have caused far too much damage, the NNP said that the time has now come when the Naga people feel that “we can not go on like this for any longer.”
The organization which has its office in Imphal has appealed to “all who love our Nation and our people” to stop ridiculing the general public, stop harassing the intimidating people because “it is for the peoples’ freedom that the national workers are fighting.” Further, the NNP said, “Our so-called common enemies take advantage to divide us further so that they can rule over us.”
“Our Naga peoples want peace, unity and peaceful settlement of Nagas’ struggle once and for all,” the release said while maintaining, “Let the hearts of all Nagas be united spiritually and we struggle unitedly for unification of all Nagas and our land to come under one administrative unit.”
Nagas consolidate demand for unified political set-up Assam tribune
KOHIMA, Dec 25 – The demand for a unified Naga political set-up gaining momentum amidst hopes of an early settlement of the vexed Naga conflict and unearthing of major irregularities in appointments in the public service commission and school education department were major high points in Nagaland during the year gone by.

The year 2005 began on an optimistic note when the Naga peace process got a major boost with the arrival of top NSCN-IM leaders in Delhi and holding of discussions with Indian leaders to find a mutually accepted solution to the protracted Naga political problem. The NSCN-IM leaders were also engaged in consultative meetings with representatives of various Naga groups during their stay in Nagaland and declared no solution could be found without integrating Naga-inhabited areas of the region in a single administrative unit. Following the declaration, various Naga NGOs and churches spearheaded the campaign for Naga integration and rallies were organized in Naga-inhabited areas across Nagaland and Manipur. Both ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) and Opposition Congress expressed solidarity with the Naga integration rally organized by apex tribal council Naga Hoho at Kohima. At the end of the year, the peace process appeared little uncertain when NSCN-IM threatened to back out from peace process if the conflict is not resolved within the current spell of the cease-fire which expires in January. But representatives of Government of India and the underground outfit held negotiations in Bangkok and decided to hold another round of talks next month.

After declaring 2005 as the year of youth empowerment, the government encouraged the educated youth to take up self- employment ventures and organized cultural and sports meets at different parts of the state throughout the year. Another important development during the year was the villagers’ initiatives towards conservation of the rich biodiversity of the state and many village councils declared community conservation areas in their respective localities.

Although investors generally shy away from the militancy ridden state, luxurious Volvo bus services were introduced for Kohima and Dimapur to Guwahati by a private operator and Nagaland was covered by another cellular service Aircel. More and more Naga youth were seen opening shops and business establishments at Kohima and Dimapur during the year.
As usual the festive season began with the opening of the annual Hornbill Festival on December 1 and followed by a series of musical concerts, fashion parades and other modes of celebration across Nagaland, hoping for a peaceful and prosperous new year in this troubled land. – PTI

ULFA talks, IM(DT) scrapping, ethnic clash dominated State
Assam ends 2005 with hopes, an uncertain note Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Dec 25 (PTI): A ray of hope for end to ULFA insurgency, violence, scrapping of the controversial IM(DT) Act, a split in the regional party AGP and a controversy in the judiciary were the major issues to dominate the headlines in Assam this year.
After two and a half decades of insurgency, hope for peace appeared to dawn in the State with banned ULFA appointing a Peoples’ Consultative Group (PCG) to hold talks with the Centre and prepare the ground rules to resolve the issue. Noted litterateur and Jnanpith award winner Indira (Mamoni) Raisom Goswami had initiated the peace process last year and several rounds of exchanges were held between her and emissaries of the Prime Minister’s Office and ULFA leaders.
The outfit, in a surprise move on September 7, announced its decision to go ahead with talks on a give-and-take basis and asked Goswami to convey the same to the Centre. On September 8, ULFA ‘chairman’ Arabinda Rajkhowa nominated a nine-member Peoples’ Consultative Group comprising prominent personalities, including three journalists, while Goswami and noted footballer of yesteryears Rebati Phukan would be the facilitators. The PCG initiated a series of discussions and sought the people’s opinion of a cross-section of people on the modalities of the peace process prior to holding the first round of talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on October 25.
The first round of talks in New Delhi saw all the issues aiming to bring the ULFA to the negotiating table discussed and both PCG members and the Centre expressed the hope of a negotiated settlement. The peace process, however, had received a jolt in the initial stages with the army launching an operation in the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park in Tinsukia district to flush out ULFA militants. During the operation, codenamed ‘Operation Balwan’, two ULFA camps were destroyed and five top leaders of the outfit were killed and a huge cache of arms and ammunition was recovered. Both the PCG and the ULFA threatened to walk out of the talk process if the operations were not called off and Army later suspended it though a battalion was still posted there.
The ULFA-sponsored violence, however, continued in the State till August this year with the outfit triggering a series of blasts and grenade attacks targeting oil pipelines, security forces, railway tracks and market places. On the Republic Day this year, the ULFA exploded two time devices in the high security Judges’ Field where the official function was being held and Assam Governor Lt Gen (Retd) Ajai Singh was addressing the people. Violence continued to haunt the State with ethnic clashes between the Karbis and Dimasas claiming more than 120 lives, while thousands of houses were torched since September 26.
The Army was deployed under the Unified Command in Karbi Anglong and security personnel allege that militant outfits — the United Peoples’ Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) and the Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) — had instigated the attacks. Both the militant outfits, which are now in ceasefire, have been asked by the Government to remain within their designated camps and were assured that they will be called for talks soon. A landmark event in the State’s history was the scrapping of the controversial Illegal Migrants Determination by Tribunal (IMDT) Act by the Supreme Court on July 12 thereby changing the political equations of ruling Congress with the minorities which is considered its dominant vote bank. The scrapping of the Act, which was applicable only in Assam for detection and deportation of illegal infiltrators from across the border, was, however, welcomed by the opposition AGP, BJP and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU). The minorities were miffed with the Congress Government for the scrapping of the Act and decided to form a separate political party for forthcoming Assembly polls in the State.
In the run-up to the Assembly elections next year, the political scenario in the State witnessed a realignment of forces with the opposition Asom Gana Parishad splitting following the expulsion of former Chief Minister and its founder president Prafulla Kumar Mahanta who formed a new party.
Mahanta, who was removed from the party’s top post in 2001, was expelled along with a few former ministers and senior members in July this year for alleged anti-party activities. Mahanta launched the ‘Asom Gana Parishad (Progressive)’ and claimed his party was the real AGP.
The Congress too received a jolt before the polls with Gauhati High Court quashing the selection list of constables in 15 districts for irregularities and the opposition putting the heat on the ruling party. The quashing of the constable selection list coupled with the scrapping of the IM(DT) Act and ethnic violence in Karbi Anglong are likely to be the major poll issues to be raised by the opposition parties against the Congress. The Gauhati High Court was in news this year when its judges and lawyers took strong exception to its then Chief Justice B K Roy’s conduct of proceedings urging the Chief Justice of India to remove him. Roy, who was also involved earlier in a controversy with judges and lawyers of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was later transferred to Sikkim High Court. Elections to the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) constituted last year, the raging 23-day fire at an Oil India Limited (OIL) oilfield at Dikom in Dibrugarh district, the killing of NRI businessman Pratul Deb and postponement of the National Games to October next were the other highlights of the year
Nagaland: Peace Games Bibhu Prasad Routray Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management SATP
On September 21, 2001 emerging from negotiations in Amsterdam, the Government of India’s Chief Interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah and National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM) General Secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah declared a two-year time frame for the ‘solution’ of the Naga imbroglio. Very few actually believed such an assertion, although it raised some hopes in Nagaland and outside, of an end to the long-standing conflict.
Four years and three months after that declaration, and after numerous rounds of subsequent parleys between both the sides in India and abroad, Nagaland still stands at the crossroads, waiting for peace. And recent statements by the NSCN-IM suggest that both sides are still far away from anything that resembles a settlement.
Difficulties became apparent on July 31, 2005, with the NSCN-IM’s demand that the ceasefire extension be limited to six months, rather than the usual one-year period. Then, on November 5, IM leader R.H. Raising declared: "There is no point in operating a cease-fire and holding talks without any solution in sight." This statement came less than a month after the October 11, 2005, negotiations in Bangkok, where Muivah had stated, "We are very happy to have the talks with the Indian representatives because both sides are now more serious about all the issues." On November 7, other sympathetic organizations, including the Naga Hoho, the Naga Mothers Association and the Naga Students’ Federation put their weight behind the NSCN-IM’s position that the talks served no purpose unless they were seen to be leading up to a peaceful solution, creating some consternation in the concerned circles. Finally, on December 19, Muivah issued a veiled threat of the resumption of a bush war in case a tangible solution was not found by January 31, 2006, the day the current ceasefire comes to an end.
The eight year-old ceasefire, beginning August 1997, has led to a significant reduction in insurgency-related fatalities in Nagaland. Between 1992 and 1997, 1,338 persons had been killed in the conflict, averaging 223 per year. Between 1998 and 2004, a further 595 persons have been killed, bringing the average down to 85 per year, still a disturbing number in view of the ‘cease fire’ that is now in place. During the current year, 40 fatalities (data till December 25) have been reported from the State. The fatalities in the post cease fire period have overwhelming been the result of turf wars between the NSCN-IM and its arch rival, the Khaplang faction (NSCN-K). However, the reduced fatalities fail to reflect the ground-level violence which persists across the State, and which affects the widest possible spectrum of the population. A review of some incidents in November 2005 alone gives an indication of the nature and extent of this impact.
• On November 8, suspected NSCN-K militants killed Hesso Mao, former Director General of Police of Nagaland, at his residence in the capital Kohima.
• On November 10, NSCN-IM militants abducted seven persons from the Phek district, including Pfutsero Town Council chairman Dingulo Khutso, Chakhesang pastor Nuvosaye Vese and village elder Puneru Chakhesang. The abducted persons were later released following intervention of community-based organizations.
• On November 25, militants opened fire on two journalists, injuring Xavier Rutsa, senior correspondent of ‘Nagaland Post’ at Kohima.
Violent area-domination attempts by both factions (Khaplang and Isak-Muivah) continue and during just the second half of 2005, both factions clashed at least five times [Kohima (August 1), Peren (September 10 and December 5), Tuensang (September 26), and Mon (October 5)]. The most recent clash was reported from the Makhom Part-I village in Tamenglong district in neighbouring Manipur on December 19.
The ‘threat’ to withdraw from the peace process needs to be seen in the context of the failure of the NSCN-IM leadership to make any sort of progress towards its final goal, the integration of the Naga inhabited areas (NIA). On December 15, Muivah, in fact summed up his frustration in the following words. "We Nagas have extended our hand of friendship and India is putting conditions before accepting it. Is this wise? Can we keep coming back again and again, demanding friendship from India? Do Nagas have no honour?" Muivah claimed further that there has been no progress ‘from the Indian side’ over the last six months of the ceasefire. Five days after, on December 20, the NSCN-IM Deputy Kilonser (Minister) of the Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), Kraibo Chawang indicated that unilateral abrogation of the ceasefire by the outfit is still a possibility and will rest on the outcome of the next meeting between the two sides.
There is a pattern to these threats, issued periodically by the NSCN-IM since 1997. These have been used either to keep its bete noire, the Khaplang faction, out of the negotiation process in spite of several demands to broad-base the process; or to wriggle out of difficult positions after the Government has indicated the possibility of a solution short of the IM demand of an integrated Naga territory. Threats have also been used to keep its support base intact, to ensure that the Nagas do not come to view the group as a weak organization, susceptible to the Government’s pressure.
The fact remains that, in spite of Muivah’s six-month stay in India between January and July 2005 and the three rounds of dialogue [July 29-30, October 10-11 and December 16-17] that followed, very little has been achieved beyond the usual rhetorical assertions. States like Manipur and Assam remain opposed to any dismemberment of their territory to please the NSCN-IM. Minister and mediator Oscar Fernandes’ October 18 assertion that the NSCN-IM was ready for an interim solution was rebuffed by the outfit. Even the show of camaraderie, evident in Minister Fernandes’ playing the mouth organ to the tune of Muivah’s favourite ‘We shall overcome’, is fast disappearing as the NSCN-IM resorts to tough talk in the hope that this may prod the Government to take some action.
In a lateral effort to force some progress in the process, reports are now being vigorously circulated that a Dutch non-governmental organization is being ‘formally involved’ in the peace process as a third party facilitator. The NSCN-IM had, for some time, been hard-selling the idea of involving Kreddha (the organization takes its name from an Indo-European word meaning ‘to place trust’) as a facilitator in the process. Consisting of ‘experts in conflict resolution’, led by the former Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organization (UNPO) General Secretary Michael C. Van Walt Praag, Kreddha, is reported to have ‘briefed’ the Indian negotiators on their proposals for taking the Naga peace process forward, on December 17, the second day of the two-day round of negotiations in Bangkok. Media reports suggest further that the Indian Government has ‘accepted the proposal’ and that Kreddha and its team of ‘experts’ would consequently be involved in the next round of negotiations – an eventuality that borders on the ludicrous.
Kreddha’s links with the NSCN-IM and its support for the Naga right to ‘self-determination’ is well-known. Van Praag has been one of the international promoters of the cause of ‘Naga independence’ and was instrumental in securing some international exposure for the NSCN-IM by its inclusion in the UNPO in 1993. It was during his tenure (1991-98) as the General Secretary that the UNPO passed a resolution, in January 1995, condemning the Indian and Myanmar Governments for their military action against the group and for what was described as their "forceful invasion and continual occupation of Naga territory and their rampant violations of human rights".
Official sources reject the idea of third party intervention in the talks with the NSCN-IM, or even of the supposed December 17 'briefing' by Van Praag, and it is apparent that current media reports regarding Kreddha’s involvement in the ‘dialogue process’ are part of the insurgents’ continued efforts to internationalize the issue, and possibly to lift the IM leadership’s sagging spirits. The involvement of a third party would militate directly against the established Indian policy of rejecting international mediation in internal conflicts, and its impact would reverberate well beyond Nagaland. It is a decision, consequently, that is not likely to be taken lightly.