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12/27/2005: "Nagaland reels under cold wave"

Nagaland reels under cold wave
Kohima: Sunny morning has brought relief to the people of Nagaland today following showers of hailstorm that lashed the hilly state yesterday and pulled the temperature below zero degree celsius in some places.

Zunheboto district and Aghunato town and its adjoining areas were most badly hit by the hailstorm and registered over two feet of hail deposits.

The capital town of Kohima also experienced heavy hailstorm yesterday and the Japfu peak in Puliebadze Range, situated just above Kohima, was covered by snow since yesterday.

The mercury was down between three to four degree celsius.

Hailstorm also swept Tuensang, Phek, Mokokchung, Longleng, Kiphire and Wokha districts.

The highest altitide town of the state, Pfutsero in Phek district, was also reeling under a severe cold wave where mercury was between zero to one degree celsius.

No loss of human lives were reported.

The commercial hub of Nagaland, Dimapur, was also hit by hailstorm yesterday.

Rio tosses interim solution idea
Open Forum

Chief Minister Nephiu Rio of Nagaland spoke to Sanjoy Hazarika on hiccups in the Naga peace process, a problem of numbers and innovative ideas. Known for his proximity to the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN, I-M), although in his early months in office, he spoke of a need for equi-closeness with all Naga militant groups, Mr Rio tossed a new idea into the framework of talks. He spoke of the need for an interim solution, remarks which bear significance both in the light of the recent Bangkok dialogue between Indian peace negotiators and the NSCN as well as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s interview to Jonathan Power of the International Herald Tribune where he said, albeit in the context of Jammu and Kashmir but with a resonance that covers the North-east, that “short of secession, short of redrawing boundaries, the Indian establishment can live with anything.”
On remarks by the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN, I-M) questioning the future of the ceasefire and the peace process:
That is between the NSCN and the Government of India. We hope and pray that it will continue. But because the NSCN is issuing strong statements so we have to be prepared. There was a deadlock (earlier) and if it is there, then we have to be prepared. It should take some time but let us find a solution. If it becomes very tough, it can take the shape of an interim solution, not a final one.
If you climb to a summit, a hilltop, then you can think of the next hill. A deadlock and breaking the ceasefire will not be advisable and (territorial) integration is at the heart of the solution. There was a 16-point agreement (in the 1960s) between the Government of India and the Naga Peoples Convention. People feel that it has to be resolved. It is not our view that we can force a settlement on anyone.
We (Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh) are neighbours and will continue to be so, that is why we must have an amicable solution.
But can the Nagas accept that Manipur should decide their fate?
Manipur does not want the Nagas to decide its future!
We have to take decisions in the Assembly and outside, calling for integration. My government also passed such a resolution, there are four such resolutions. The House has passed this unanimously. Some people outside may oppose it but then we cannot have consensus on all matters. An interim settlement is part of the peace process, all of these are part of the peace process. The process should continue now and the solution should be immediate. I am only a facilitator and can speak to our Naga brothers (NSCN) and the Government of India. There has been much progress, sovereignty is not being discussed any more. I see the 31 January deadline as a flexible arrangement.
On the population of Nagaland...
It is 14 lakh (although census figures have turned up 19 lakh!). It is a problem and figures are exaggerated. Because if it is reviewed, we have had warnings from village and district levels that in the review, the population will increase, not decrease!
All this is because of competition among the tribes, between districts. So we have been told that if we go for a review, then it will be more. The delimitation commission process is also creating problems because some districts are losing seats and Dimapur is gaining five seats. Mokokchung seats are dropping by three, Phek will have one less and so on. In the plains, the constituencies are large, Dimapur I has 50,000 voters but the hills have smaller voting numbers, between 12,000 and 20,000. Now these seats are distributed on tribal lines but the ones which the hills are losing are being added to Dimapur which has a three lakh population. And Dimapur has a lot of non-tribals.
Dimapur elects Nagas, not non-tribals...
That may be — but the problem is that a non-tribal area is taking seats away from Naga areas. Nagas must elect their own leaders and this process is not fair.
On innovative ideas for the state...
Nagas are good at picking up languages and human resource skills. We have had training for a few thousand youth in hotel, travel, tourism and call centres. You see them (working) in malls, hotels, about 23 have even gone to work in hotels in Dubai.
This is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Development for the North Eastern Region (MDoNER) and the Nagaland government. Now we are thinking of sending them to Bangalore where they can be trained for in-flight (cabin attendants) work. We are trying to give training and placement opportunities. Nagas want to work in other places because there is little for them to come back home to, in terms of opportunities and jobs. I want to set up an Eastern Asia Centre for languages in Kohima. We keep talking about the Look East Policy but all this will remain on paper and just ideas unless we work at a practical level to change things and develop and implement new plans. A centre like this must train people in Chinese, Malay, Thai, Burmese – if visitors from these countries come here, we must have tour guides who can speak their languages. Otherwise how will they communicate?
Why would they feel comfortable, how would they think of travelling as tourists if not invest. This is a first step, it is innovative and we want Central support for it because it has great potential to generate employment. There is no future in government employment, we cannot absorb people, that is why our young people are going out of the state and the region, they see no future there.
Foreign investment and collaborations...
The Koreans are here and working in developing the state’s hydel potential. They are also taking a test order of our ginger. They import ginger from China at huge costs.
But our ginger is as good, if not better and it is cheaper and quicker to transport. If we set up processing units in the region, there will be value addition. There is also the Naga chilli, the hottest in the world. So there are some small steps which can grow into bigger ones.
ARunachal gets an Opposition party in ’ 05 Assam tribune
ITANAGAR, Dec 26 – The biggest political event in Arunachal Pradesh in 2005 was the emergence of an Opposition party for the first time. The bureaucracy showed its determination to root out social evils in the name of customary laws and tribal rights and took several steps to tap the huge potential of this mountainous state, reports PTI.

Ever since parliamentary democracy was introduced in this tribal land in 1972 first as an Union Teritorry which graduated to statehood in 1987, Arunachal Pradesh enjoyed a single party rule without any discernible opposition.

The Gegong Apang-led Congress ministry for the first time recognised Kameng Dolo of BJP as leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly in September this year. The BJP has nine MLAs in the 60-member state Assembly.

The Opposition along with NCP MLAs and NGOs forced the government to announce a financial package for revival of the lone state-owned Apex Cooperative Bank whose 32 branches across the state had become non-functional for several months due to non-recovery of loans amounting to Rs. 170 crore.

Director General of Police Amod Kanth called upon the people to come out openly to register cases specially those related to atrocities against women committed in the name of traditions and customary laws.

He ordered the arrest of a panchayat leader who abducted a school girl, raped and married her all in the name of customary law in November, and said time has come “when we should determine how far the customary law and the rule of law will go together despite conflicts between them.”

The State Government decided to invite private sector for the first time to tap the huge hydel power potential which has been estimated to be 50,000MW, enough to meet the one-third requirement of the whole country.

MoUs are likely to be signed soon with three companies, including Reliance Energy, for development of five mega hydel projects in Siang Basin as per a Cabinet decision taken in September. These projects will generate a total of 5,000 MW.

BJP vehemently opposed the State Government’s decision to rename Arunachal University after Rajiv Gandhi following the visit of Congress president Sonia Gandhi during the statehood day celebration in February.

However, the Bill to this effect was passed unanimously in the State Assembly. This was followed by a recent assurance from the Union Human Resources Development Minister Arjun Singh that a Bill to convert the lone univerisity in the state into a Central University will be brought in the Parliament soon.

Faced with strong criticism, the State Government also launched a vigorous loan recovery drive involving deputy commissioners of all the districts and superseding the board of directors and appointing a commissioner rank officer as administrator.

In a rare display of political will to root out corruption, the state Cabinet on November 29 ordered an inquiry by NABARD into the bank scam and decided to refer cases of corruption and irregularities to CBI.

A case of over-payment of Rs 193.63 crore to the State Government by the Centre under the Hill Transport Subsidy Scheme was also referred to CBI.

The Union Panchayat Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyer took special interest in development of Panchayat Raj system in the state, undertook visit to several remote areas of the state in November and held a meeting with Ministers, MLAs and elected panchayat leaders, including women members to get a first hand knowledge. He signed an MoU with the Chief Minister for effecting mapping of panchayat activities for devolution of powers to Panchayat bodies.

To tap the tourism potential of this picturesque state, the government started Siang festival which was inaugurated by Rahul Gandhi at Tuting on December 11. The young Congess MP recognised the potential of the state and called upon the people to focus on promoting tourism and development of hydel power.

To improve the functioning of health centres specially in remote areas the State Government has signed MoUs with non-profit making NGOs to run all primary health centres in 16 districts in pursuance of the State Government’s public-private partnership programme under the national rural health programme. – PTI

While several of the 16 health centres have been handed over to Karnataka based NGO Karuna Trust, one PHC was handed over to a local NGO.

Being strategically located and sharing long international borders with Tibet (China), Myanmar and Bhutan a lot of ground work was made this year to reopen border trade through traditional routes and a team of high officials of Union Ministry of Trade and Commerce and External Affairs Ministries had visited the proposed points for this.

The state police launched a joint offensive along with army, Assam Rifles and Assam police in August to flush out ULFA insurgents from the Arunachal forests joining Tinsukia district. – PTI

UNLF condoles, accuses SF
By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Dec 26 : Deeply condoling the demise of one of its cadres, Sgt Maj Lukram Meeteingamba alias Nandakumar of Moreh Turel Wangma Leikai on December 11, the proscribed UNLF today said that he was killed in a landmine explosion laid by the security force at Mol-pibung in Chakpikarong sub-division of Chandel district.
The late Meeteingamba was a true soldier of the MPA, said the outfit in a statement and added that his commitment to duties was above board.
Pointing an accusing finger at the Indian security force, UNLF said that numerous landmines have been laid at Chandel, Churachandpur and Tamenglong districts by the security personnel to trap the revolutionaries and added that the landmines are mostly planted at roads and routes which are frequented by the villagers and the revolutionaries.
Citing examples, the statement said that on December 19, a 40 year old man identified as Hrangkhulien Joute was killed in a landmine explosion at Thanlon in Churachandpur district.
Another man identified as Lenkhomaang was also injured in the explosion.
On December 10, on International Human Rights Day, Thankhonchin Kuki (25) of Lanching village was grievously injured when a landmine exploded at Hengsi, added the outfit.
In a more sinister design, a GREF labourer identified as Lalneilen was seriously injured when he was used as a landmine sweeper by the Indian security force in between Keiphundai and Lhangnom village on November 21 on NH-53, charged the outfit.
The Kuki Movement for Human Rights took a bold step in exposing the modus operandi of the security force, added the statement.
The basic objective of the Indian security force in adopting such terror tactics is to shift the blame on to the armed outfits and try to portray the revolutionaries in the wrong light, asserted UNLF and added that it is also a ploy to strain the ties between the armed cadres and the villagers.
The outfit also shared the pain and grief of the bereaved family members of Meeteingamba as well as those who have been at the receiving end of the landmines planted by the Indian security force.
‘Govt shows lukewarm response to Bodo problems’ From our Correspondent Sentinel
GORESWAR, Dec 26: The Bodos are at present a divided lot due to the double role played by the Assam Government, and they are at present deprived from enjoying their rights. The Bodos seek peace in Bodoland, hence they brought the BLT from the jungles to the mainstream of society and thus were able to maintain 80 per cent peace in Bodoland. The remaining 20 per cent peace will also be established in Bodoland when the NDFB too will come to the mainstream of society through peaceful talks with the Central Government. These were some of the thoughts expressed by and shared with the gathering by Rwngwra Narzary, president, ABSU, while addressing a huge gathering that had come to participate in an open meet held at Goreswar on December 25.
Inaugurating the open meet of the 18th annual conference of Goreswar Anchalik ABSU, 10th annual conference of Goreswar Anchalik Bodo Women Welfare Federation, the first annual conference of Goreswar Anchalik Boro Harimu Afat, which were held jointly at the premises of Goreswar Higher Secondary School with a two-day long programme recently, Bipul Kumar Basumatary, speaker, Bagsa district ABSU, said that for the greater interest of Bodoland, all the ethnic groups should help the struggle of ABSU. Because ABSU works for the people of Bodoland, in times of danger, all should be united to stand against any anti-social activities.
Taren Boro, vice-president of the Boro Sahitya Sabha (BSS) urged the government to provincialize the venture-level school, to supply adequate school materials for the sake of education, and to fill the vacant posts in all departments.
He further said that Bodo language had been included in the 8th Schedule of the Indian Constitution due to the struggle of ABSU, BLT and the good activities of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha. He also said that the NE TV was also compelled to transmit Bodo cultural programme due to the demands of the Bodo Sahitya Sabha. Now the Bodo people are enjoying Bodo programme in the NE TV from August 19.
Earlier, on December 24, games and sports competition, plantation, spot poem writing competition, extempore speech competition, registration of delegates, poem recitation competition, inauguration of wall magazine and a seminar on the importance of horticulture in economic development was held.