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02/05/2006: "Bumpy road ahead for peace in Nagaland"

Bumpy road ahead for peace in Nagaland Syed Zarir Hussain (IANS)
Dimapur (Nagaland), February 4, 2006Indian officials may be celebrating after convincing Naga separatist leaders to extend their nine-year-old ceasefire until July 31. But the road to peace in Nagaland could prove to be bumpy.
After the Bangkok meeting between Indian negotiators and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah), New Delhi faces bigger challenges in preparing a definite road map to address core issues related to Nagaland before the truce expires in six months. The NSCN-IM adopted a belligerent posture this time in staggered talks lasting four days in the Thai capital.
The group, led by guerrilla leaders Thuingaleng Muivah, refused to agree to a ceasefire extension beyond Jan 31 unless the Indian government consented to meet their demands within a definite timeframe. Indian Minister Oscar Fernandes and New Delhi's chief negotiator K Padmanabhaiah led the government side at Bangkok. The scheduled two-day talks failed and the two sides took two extra days before the rebels agreed for a six-month ceasefire extension.
At one stage, the NSCN-IM even threatened to return to war by pulling out of the truce signed in 1997 if New Delhi failed to come up with a firm commitment. For now, the government has clinched one more ceasefire extension. A joint statement signed by NSCN general secretary Muivah and Padmanabhaiah Tuesday stated: "Both sides recognise that there has been insufficient progress in the talks."
It was therefore decided to carry the political negotiations forward taking "new initiatives". The question is: whether New Delhi's strategy of buying time and extending the truce can really solve the problem?
The Nagas are clearly getting restive, and the rebels' adamant posturing is enough indication that they believe the government is having a game plan: drag the peace process without a concrete plan or agenda. The NSCN-IM, one of the oldest and most powerful of about 30 rebel groups in India's northeast, wants to create a "Greater Nagaland" by slicing off parts of three neighbouring states which have Naga populations. The governments of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh states have already rejected the demand. Will it be easy for New Delhi then to concede to the Naga demand?
The answer is known to both New Delhi and NSCN-IM -- it would be a tough proposition as any move to merge Naga-inhabited areas in the northeast could lead to a rebellion in the neighbouring states. The NSCN-IM is also on a sticky wicket. After having climbed down from their demand seeking an independent Naga homeland outside the Indian union, the rebel leadership now is harping on the theme of "Greater Nagaland".
"There is no option left other than demanding a 'Greater Nagaland'. The NSCN-IM leadership too is answerable to its people and their cadres," an analyst said. Indian officials believe that unless the Naga insurgency, the country's longest running, is resolved, peace will permanently escape the northeast.
So it is New Delhi that has to come up with some formula to resolve the impasse. Or else July 31, when the truce expires, could bury Nagaland's peace.

Parliamentary team assures Nagas on peace process
Kohima | February 04, 2006 7:41:05 PM IST Webindia

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj and members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (Home Affairs) have assured political parties in Nagaland that the Naga peace process would be brought to its logical conclusion. The assurance was given during a meeting yesterday the members had with the parties and various organisations of the state.
''We wish and pray for permanent peace in Nagaland,'' said Sushma Swaraj. The leaders of Naga Hoho, Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Naga Mothers Association(NMA) and Naga Students Federation (NSF) presented a joint memorandum and impressed upon the delegation the need for a logical conclusion to the political negotiation without any procastination.
The Naga delegation comprised political parties and mass based organizations from all Naga inhabited areas spread across the North East region. The Parliamentary delegation comprised Communist strategist Sitaram Yechury, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, Rajkishor Tripathy, former minister of steel and mines, Biren Singh Engty(Assam), Tapir Gao (Arunachal Pradesh), Baju Ban Reang(Tripura) and senior Parliamentarian C K Chandrappa, besides Ashok Kumar Sahoo, committee officer and N S Wallia, Deputy Secretary. The central team, which left for Imphal this morning, was on a two-day visit to Nagaland. UNI AS SP PL RN1744
Of face-saving formulas: Tone down the rhetoric Sanjoy Hazarika (North By North East) New Statesman
These past weeks have been a whirl: I have been in Zambia, South Africa, for interviews and then in the North-east with a group of academics led by the former foreign minister of Thailand, Surin Pitsuwan – a visit that we have reported on this page especially with a focus on India’s notional Look East Policy – and now I’m in Islamabad having just attended a regional seminar on “Political Violence and Terrorism in South Asia”.
There’s been good news and bad news: the bad news being the Karachi Test being over in a hustle with India getting a comprehensive thrashing and the good news – although going on expected lines – was the ceasefire extension between the Nagas and the Government of India for another six months. Public opinion as I have been saying for months is against any abrogation of the ceasefire: Naga leaders realise that and that that the Nagas, for the first time in decades, having savoured some security and peace, do not want to lose it.
There is a greater sense of realism and a knowledge that total sovereignty is not on but integration of Naga lands is a negotiable possibility, no matter how hard the road and how difficult the opposition from neighbouring states. The NSCN’s own people, both cadres and leaders, will not be too happy to go back to the jungle, having developed comfortable niches in Dimapur and other places.
As far as the future of the discussions goes, rhetorical flourishes are all very well in dealing with the public and the media. But when publicised extensively, they end up by locking sides into positions.
Luckily, there is always a face-saving formula which enables both sides to get out of the conundrum time and again. This time it was a result of acknowledging the failure of progress in the talks and the need to be innovative in the next months. This time-frame is too short a period, as has been pointed out by Monalisa Chankija in Open Forum – we have an editor from Nagaland and one from Manipur expressing their views, which are not very different – to cobble together a solution. But what should be done perhaps is a realistic effort to reduce the gaps between the two sides, enable the Naga leadership to conduct dialogue with leaders from Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh and for an atmosphere of trust to be built.
In addition, both sides should bring in civil society groups into an open discussion and debate on the issues at stake and aim by the end of six months, if not for a long-term settlement, at least an interim one which could have the basic ingredients of an eventual solution.
Nine years of talks have sustained a fragile but critical ceasefire. But a solution is still far away. The means cannot be seen as the end, as both sides are keenly aware. A new approach is needed, new thinking is required, including the possibility of setting up an all-party or all-group committee headed by a respected figure which can dispassionately look at the question of land and Nagas residing in other states of the North-east, to sensitively negotiate the explosive issue of Nagalim which the NSCN seeks.
**
Questions in Islamabad

Part of the seminar papers and discussions at the Islamabad seminar were focused on India-Pakistan relations with naturally Jammu and Kashmir being at the heart of it; the All Party Hurriyat Conference representative in Islamabad gave the usual Hurriyat/Kashmiri line on the issue blasting India (nothing new in that, but at least they’re consistent) while there were superb presentation on the challenges in Baluchistan and Sri Lanka.
My own presentation was on the North-east with a focus on the Naga movement and the state of the current talks, peace process and ceasefire, although I tried to touch on all major issues and conflicts in the region. I steered away from too much detail, otherwise it would have ended up confusing everybody – we are so complex and our issues are too in the North-east! But I did refer in some detail to the support from China, Pakistan and Bangladesh which has sustained militancies in the North-east over the decades.
There were a number of questions from the audience, which included former foreign ministers (including Abdus Sattar and the imperious-looking Sahebzada Yakub Khan), former foreign secretaries, diplomats and Army officials, but no one challenged this view, which I regard as significant.
There was a presentation on Bangladesh’s internal crisis and the growing radicalisation there by Brig-Gen M Sakhawat Hussain from Dhaka; we will run excerpts from next week.
One questioner, showing how closely issues are followed, asked how the recent bomb attacks and surge of violence by the United Liberation Front of Asom would impact conditions and whether the Naga talks process was leading anywhere after so many years. This was in the context of my remarks that Kashmiris could take a leaf from the Naga experience and get realistic; they needed to understand that the Naga struggle, while being older was also cognisant of public opinion, demands for peace and continuation of the ceasefire despite the confrontation with the State for over 50 years: Kashmir’s tryst with internal upsurges linked to azadi began in 1989.
The basis of the Naga-New Delhi talks may be stressed here again for the sake of those interested and involved in the Kashmir process, back door, Track II and formally. It was something I stressed in a television interview as well: they are held without conditions, they are for the main held in a third country with occasional rounds in India, they are bilateral and are held at the level of the Prime Minister (five Prime Ministers of India have held talks with the two NSCN leaders, Th Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu) although he has nominated his representative at most of the negotiations (currently Oscar Fernandes, minister without portfolio, and K Padmanabhiah, former home secretary). In the NSCN hierarchy, Mr Muivah’s position is equivalent to that of a Prime Minister.
NSCNs told to move out from Athibung Entire town must be cleared of armed groups: Kulkarni
BOTH THE NSCN factions reportedly locked in a bitter feud at Athibung town have been told to vacate the area within a few hours time. Terming it as a complete violation of the ceasefire ground rules, Chairman of the Ceasefire Monitoring Group/Supervisory Board, Lt Gen (Retd) RV Kulkarni told The Morung Express that both the NSCNs would have to move out immediately from the civilian area and abide by the ground rules as laid down.
“The Athibung situation is clear violation of ceasefire ground rules and there is no debate about it”, Kulkarni remarked in no uncertain terms.
Whether it was the Assam Rifles or the two NSCN factions, the message from Kulkarni was clear that the entire town would have to be cleared and normalcy restored at the earliest.
The Assam Rifles has also been told to take appropriate action and to ensure that no armed cadres remain in civilian areas. “I have been in touch with the Inspector General of Assam Rifles and my brief to them was that the security forces would have to get the cadres out of Athibung”, Kulkarni said while taking into consideration the clear mandate of the Security Forces to enforce the ground rules.
“The response from both the NSCN groups is positive”, Kulkarni said pointing out that he was in touch with them on a regular basis. The NSCN (K) reportedly assured Kulkarni that its armed cadres had already vacated the place. Similarly, the NSCN (IM) likewise was ‘taking steps’ to clear civilian areas, Kulkarni informed this paper.
(Zunheboto factional clash on page3).
DAN's ruling an era of development: Dr Lotha North East Press Service

Wokha, Jan 5 (NEPS): Nagaland Minister for Health and Family Welfare and Excise Dr TM Lotha called the DAN?s 3 years of ruling under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in the State as ?an era of development.?

Addressing publics in his whirlwind 38 Assembly Constituency tours here, the Minister stressed the importance of prevailing peaceful environment for taking off various developmental projects in the State. He pointed out that in the last 3 years of DAN?s ruling in the State, there had
been a sea change as far as ?peace is concerned.? ?And this is the reason why developments have been afoot everywhere in the State,? Dr Lotha stated.

Overseeing various developments and ongoing projects being undertaken under DAN Government in his constituency here, Dr Lotha also expressed his happiness on the overwhelming feedback of the publics. He further urged the publics to come forward and take the opportunity of working with the DAN Government in making the State as one of the most progressed states in the country.

Dr Lotha also sought suggestions from the publics in strengthening the hands of the DAN Government.? It is your Government and you should determine how best it can work,? he pointed out.

The Minister also inaugurated 2 Community Halls of Tsungza and Wezhuro and also visited Elumyo, Humtso, Pongitong, Tsugnza, Sankiton Shaki and Phiro.

District Administration staffs and district heads of departments and other important public leaders also accompanied the Minister while touring his constituency. In many villages, he was also accorded a warm welcome with colorful cultural presentations
Role of Assam Rifles under question
The NSCN (IM) has expressed unhappiness over the manner in which the Assam Rifles had been denying the presence of armed cadres from its rival group at Athibung town.
Earlier talking to The Morung Express, a top official of the Assam Rifles gave the version that it was the NSCN (IM) cadres who had marched into Athibung town while pointing out that the cadres from the NSCN (K) “were never at Athibung town in the first place” as they already had an official designated camp next to Athibung.
“We will not permit any group whether it is I-M, Khaplang or FGN to operate with arms in populated and civilian areas”, the official said on condition of anonymity and further said that the NSCN (IM) cadres should leave Athibung town.
“The Assam Rifles is denying to us over so many years now and today we are showing them that the NSCN (K) is there. The recent clash at Athibung is itself an indication of the presence of the NSCN (K)”, a top NSCN (IM) source who did not want to be named said.
Clearly showing displeasure over the denial by the Assam Rifles, the NSCN (IM) source admitted that its cadres had entered the town only because the Security Forces had failed miserably in clearing out rival group from Athibung town. “When people who are not supposed to be there are present, we have to ensure that they are pushed out”, the source maintained.
When queried on whether the NSCN (IM) was willing to defuse the situation by moving out of Athibung? “There is also no point for us to stay there”, was the reply.
“When we enter the area, personnel of the Assam Rifles and the IRB refuse us entry on the grounds that we are too close to their camps”, Deputy Kilonser of the NSCN (IM), V Horam said.
“We had put forward a proposal (to Kulkarni) that we could jointly conduct spot verification in the area and resolve the issue. But there are conflicting reports from both sides.”
Horam further warned, “If anything goes wrong, the CFSB will be held responsible.”
Hoho leader on life support system Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, February 04: Naga Hoho president and former Deputy Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly, Horangse Sangtam, is reportedly in life support in Bangkok.

Sources informed this Network this evening that Sangtam was admitted to a hospital last night following deterioration of his health.

The Naga Hoho president along with other tribal leaders from Nagaland had gone to the Thai capital recently after the ongoing peace process between Government of India and NSCN (IM) was deadlocked over certain issues.

Horangse Sangtam, who joined active politics in the seventies, also served the people as an MLA.

Prior to being elected as the president of Naga Hoho, he served the Naga Council, Dimapur as its president.

Earlier, in the day confusion reigned in Nagaland due to speculation that Horangse was dead.

According to sources in New Delhi, Horangse was declared clinically dead and was put on life support.

Naga leaders including Transport Minister Imtilemba Sangtam would be rushing off to Bangkok where they would decide if the life support should be removed and bring back his body to Nagaland.

Meanwhile, condolence messages have already started pouring in.

Reports said that Horangse Sangtam's kidneys failed to function which was the main reason the Naga Hoho president slipped to coma.

Report on Dzuko valley submitted to Environment Minister New Kerala
Imphal: Manipur Mountaineering and Trekking Association (MMTA) President N Ibungochoubi today submitted a report on the recent fire at Dzuko valley to state forest and environment minister Ngamthang Haokip.

Mr Hokip said he has sent a team of forest department officials to assess the damage done due to the fire at Dzuko valley area in the Manipur-Nagaland border and later a report will be submitted to Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.

A Proposal to earmark Rs one crore for protection of the valley will be made, he said.

Mr Ibungochoubi said about 44 people, including scientists and environmentalists, had visited Dzuko valley to assess the damage caused by the fire.

The valley is important as it is a wetland atop a mountain.

Registrar of Manipur university R K Ranjan, a renowned environmentalist said the government should urge the centre to declare the area as 'national park' of biosphere.
Disturbances in the area will have a serious environmental impact, he added.
Parliamentary team in bandh-hit Manipur OUR BUREAU Imphal/Kohima, Feb. 4: The Telegraph
An 11-member parliamentary standing committee on home affairs, led by BJP legislator Sushma Swaraj, visited Manipur today to assess the prevailing situation in the state and inspect the progress of ongoing projects funded by the Centre.
The visit came while the state was rocked by violence during a 36-hour bandh sponsored by students of a minority community.
Bandh enforcers turned violent and clashed with police in Imphal East. Police burst teargas shells and exploded stun bombs in Thoubal, where bandh supporters destroyed several vehicles. Unidentified youths exploded a bomb in Imphal East district this morning. No one was injured.
While most shops in the city were open, inter-district passenger services were suspended. However, inter-state bus services were normal.
Two government buildings were set ablaze by irate protesters in the district. They were members of the joint action committee against the custodial killing of Leitanthem Boy alias Premanda in Imphal East district.
Even as the central team was inspecting Khuman Lampak stadium in the district, protesters took out a rally demanding action against the policemen.
Gathering views on the integration of Naga-inhabited areas (including those in Manipur), as proposed by the NSCN (I-M), was high on the agenda of the Swaraj-led team that visited the Nagaland capital of Kohima yesterday.

UNLF releases captured NSCN (IM) cadres
The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Feb 4: The United National Liberation Front has said that the outfit has released all the three cadres of the NSCN(IM), who were apprehended by a mobile fighting team of the outfit after a brief exchange of fire at Saibol village under Tengnoupal subdivision of Chandel district on February 2.

Narrating the turn of events that led to the capture of three cadres and death of one NSCN(IM) cadre during the Saibol incident, a UNLF statement issued by its publicity officer Ksh Yoiheiba said that a mobile fighting team of the outfit intercepted some 10 cadres of NSCN(IM) loitering in Saibol area on the day.

The statement also said that the MPA team surrounded all the NSCN(IM) cadres and told them to maintain calm and prevent fire. Efforts to hold talks with the NSCN(IM) cadres was useless as they opened fire and tried to run away. This compelled the MPA fighters to retaliate leading to the death of one cadre of the NSCN(IM) and arrest of three cadres of the outfit.

The statement also said that all the three apprehended NSCN(IM) cadres were apprised about UNLF`s ideology and the necessity for launching revolutionary movement in north eastern part of India. They were also apprised about the need for maintaining close relation amongst different communities inhabiting the region who have similar customs and traditions, it said.

The three cadres were also apprised about hijacking of the Naga sovereignty by some narrow minded NSCN(IM) leaders only to please the government of India. They were also apprised about the need to maintain closer relations with different communities inhabiting the region from time immemorial and also told that the current peace process has created more hostility amongst communities inhabiting the region rather than solving the Naga issue.

They were also apprised that the fate of the people residing in the north eastern part of India cannot be decided by colonial powers and negotiations will remain elusive as long as there is disunity amongst different communities of the region, the statement said adding the three NSCN(IM) cadres were sent back to a safe location.
Why Mumbai must know what Manipur is doing
From India’s eastern edge, 7 film-makers reveal life beyond insurgency and angst Sanjukta Sharma sanjuktasharma@expressindia.com
Mumbai, February 4: EVERY kid in Manipur knows what AFSPA is,’’ says 29-year-old Haobam Paban Kumar, whose documentary AFSPA 1958 was screened at the Mumbai International Film Festival (MIFF) on Friday.
The film unspools like a diary, starting with July 11, 2004, when jawans of the 17 Assam Rifles picked up Manorama, a Manipuri woman, from her house. Her raped and mutilated body was later discovered near a hillock—an outrageous violation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) that set Manipuri women, youth and children ablaze for a month.
The film is a linear narrative of those days, and is part of the international competition section of MIFF 2006.
Haobam and seven other film-makers from Assam, Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland are here to represent a special package at this year’s festival. It’s the first time a national film festival has dedicated a whole section to films from this region.
But that’s not the surprise.
The surprise for most delegates will be what the package showcases—not just insurgency, ethnic violence or anti-national angst. Most film-makers featured in the package look at the north-east through apolitical prisms, highlighting age-old traditions or simple slices of life.
There’s Where The Tallest Grass Grows, a look at man’s relationship with bamboo in Assam (the grass is referred to as the ‘umbilical cord’ in Assamese lore).
There’s Sons of Abotani, on the Missing tribes, directed by Gautam Bora, a jury member for MIFF 2006. There’s also Fragrance of the Black Stone and Crystal Architecture of a Red Rose, a purely indulgent, experimental short film by Aparaj, a young film-maker who organises an annual Adda Film Festival on the roads of Guwahati.
‘‘We haven’t come with the message ‘Look at us, we are marginalised, we want to be heard’. Film-making is becoming a viable and lucrative art form in many parts of the north east, although documentaries are still at a nascent stage,’’ says Mauleenath Senapati, director of Where The Tallest Grass Grows and a graduate of Pune’s Film and Television Institute of India.
As in most Indian states, documentary film-making in the north east took off in a serious way in the early 1970s, under Dooordarshan’s patronage.
‘‘Over the last 10 years, there’s been a resurgence,’’ says Samudra Gupta Kashyap, curator of the north east package for MIFF. ‘‘Starting with Gautam Bora, director of Sons of Abotani, and acclaimed Manipuri director Aribamshyam Sharma, a new generation of film-makers ais emerging.’’
MIFF 2006, at Ravindra Natya Amndir, Prabhadevi, till February 8
Manipur, protestors burn offices Newmai News Network February 4
IMPHAL: A team from Parliamentary Standing on Home Affairs headed by MP Sushma Swaraj arrived in Imphal this morning on a two day official trip to study Manipur situation and progress of the ongoing development activities taken up with funds provided by the Centre.
The team came by helicopter from Kohima in the morning and landed at Moreh, Manipur’s border town. The eleven member team inspected the newly constructed border hospital, the two border gates and the trade centre. The team had a meeting with officials at the trade centre to review the situation in the border and development projects. From Moreh the team arrived at Manipur University at Canchipur in Imphal West by helicopter. The team was given a warm reception by the university officials by presenting gifts. The team inspepcted expansion programmes ongoing inside the campus and construction of the border fencing. The next visit was Khuman Lampak sports complex. They also visited Regional Institute of Medical Sciences. Ministers received the team at Moreh and state government officials accompanied the team during the visits. The team will halt the night at the Hotel Imphal and will leave Imphal tomorrow.
Even as the team was touring the state All Manipur Students Organisation observed a statewide bandh pressurising the government to declare a 10 percent job reservation for the minority community before beginning of the Manipur Police Service and Manipur Civil Service examination which will begin tomorrow at 20 examination centers.
Bandh supporters burnt tyres to block the roads at many places in Muslim dominated areas of Imphal East and Thoubal districts. Police fired tear gas shells at Mayai Lambi of Imphal West to disperse bandh supporters. Supporters also burnt effigies of chief minister, O. Ibobi Singh and three Muslim legislators including Speaker Maniruddin Shaikh.
In another development the JAC formed in connection with the killing of Leitanthem Boy alias Premanda (25) by a police team on January 30 in an alleged encounter launched a violent agitation today demanding punishment of the guilty police personnel.
Though the police said that the youth was killed in an encounter and that one hand grenade was recovered from him the JAC charged that he was killed in custody. The JAC also accused the police of looting nearly Rs one lakh from the slain youth.
Protestors burnt two government office buildings including the agriculture project officer’s office and a newly constructed office while the office of the industries department was destroyed by JAC members. Protestors also took out a rally demanding punishment of the police personnel involved in the killing. Before the rally a dharma was held at Kongpal.
Today's Editorial The Morung Express Numbness
Recent conditions have unmasked the glaring numbness which is eating away the spirit of Naga society. It seems like the Nagas have come to a time where they have just stopped living, have become indifferent to the world around them; and just too damn busy to care anymore. It is no wonder that cynical complacency laced with a deep yearning for self-worth is feeding into the frailties of human conviction. Indeed, prevailing conditions indicate that Nagas are at a time where the need for realization to recover its conscious spirit has become inevitably imperative. Not to do so could have frightening consequences.
Somehow, Nagas must discern within itself the vision to ensure that it does not lose its humanity while struggling to restore its own humanity. The numbness is depriving the vibrancy and dynamism of a society; reducing it to an object of history in which the people no longer define themselves. The stench of numbness is suffocating and deceptive and robs the human soul of its spirit. Numbness alters human behavior and makes people think they are never required to take responsibility for themselves. Subsequently, the lack of responsibility keeps a people in a state of permanent immaturity where it is quite easy to be convinced of the idea that the status quo is the norm.
These are compelling times and it has caused urgency to critically analyze the present and to evolve an antithesis which provides reasons to have hope. It implies the willingness to begin with a refusal to accept the existing situation that aims at destroying the moral imagination to live a full life. Consequently, it means addressing the issues that caused and led to the numbness of a people in the first place. It entails a journey towards truth, with the realization that it is a process of learning from each other because from the human point of view, no-one has the absolute truth by itself.
Human life is much more than the different boxes and walls that one creates around itself. It’s the numbness that makes a people embrace and love their boxes without any question and without being aware that it is preventing them a richer life. The boxes that induce emotional imprisonment can and must be shattered with the consciousness that defies the power of numbness. Therefore at some point of time, the numbness has to be challenged with the understanding that unless one transcends from the boxes, one will not have a fuller life.
Nagas are in need of leaders; leaders who can rally a people together around a vision that includes breaking out of the numbness into a dignified conscious spirit. It requires a vision which embraces the idea that people who are different from you are also fellow travelers in the journey towards truth. It’s true that many wish to make the world of their dreams for their own kind, but since it’s a world without walls, it will have to be a home for all of the world’s people. But for now, one must resist the idea which is confining them to their numb boxes, and discern reasons to have hope!
Nine member MPs team tours state, inspects various facilities The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Feb 4: A team of nine Parliamentarians constituting the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs along with concerned officials, led by its chairperson, MP Sushma Swaraj, now on the third leg of their north east tour, arrived in the state today and inspected various infrastructure and developmental works taken up under centrally sponsored schemes and projects.

Of the nine MPs three, namely Sitaram Yechuri, Sanliana and MK Reddy arrived directly from Kolkata but left after a brief stay by the same helicopter they came in this afternoon.

The other members of the team arrived directly at Moreh from Kohima this morning at around 9.15 am by choppers of the Indian air force and inspected Moreh CHC and Moreh trade center.

They also visited the bridge located at the international border with Burma.

Before this, when the team arrived at Moreh, they were felicitated by DC, Chandel Nobert Disinang, DIG range-II, Chris SP, Chandel, G Bimolchandra Sharma and DIG Range II, Christopher Doungel along with the officials of the state government stationed there in connection with the visit of the team.

The people of Moreh also came out to participate in the felicitation of the MPs and officials accompanying them. A memorandum was also submitted by the representatives of Meetei Council, Moreh, women associations and leaders of different communities residing at Moreh.

The visiting team gave assurance to the officials of the Moreh trade center to convey the proposal for developing and enhancing the condition of the trade activities to the central government.

After the visit at Moreh concluded, the team arrived at Manipur University complex. There the Parliamentary team had a look at the various developmental works taken up in the MU campus. MU officials demonstrated the potentials of the university with a Power Point presentation.

Later VC, Manipur University, C Amuba representing the university handed over a 5-point proposal for the development of infrastructure and upgradation of the university.

These were: opening of an integrated masters degree in physical education, upgradation of centre for Manipuri studies, opening of a new faculty for south east Asian studies, centre for nano science and material studies and establishment of Indo-Myanmar geology in the name of RD Oldham Institutes of Indo-Myanmar Geology.

The MU Students` Union also submitted a representation containing an 8-point demand to the chairperson, Sushma Swaraj for drawing attention of the centre.

The 8-point demand of the MUSU includes shifting of the Assam Rifles camp from inside the MU campus, development of the Chanchipur hill into a historical monument, creation of more infrastructure for enhanced sports activities, installation of modern equipment for cutting edge scientific research and immediate filling up of the vacant teaching positions in the university apart from opening of more relevant centre/departments in the university, facilities for uninterrupted internet connection and restoration of the past glory of the historic Chandranadi river.

Stating that games and sports has been an integral part of the culture and civilization of Manipur which has been at the forefront in the field of games and sports as well as in the field of youth activities and adventure sports at national and international level, the department of youth affairs and sports also handed over a booklet containing various features of the Khuman Lampak so as to convey the proposal of the state government for establishing a national sports academy at Khuman Lampak sports complex to the Centre, when the team reached the complex for their inspection.

The team inspected the complex by going round the complex in their vehicles.

At the last part of their inspection of the various places, the team finally reached RIMS complex. There also the RIMS authority submitted a memorandum lamenting the poor infrastructure at the institution and the conveyed the same to the centre for positive action. The team however could not inspect the various departments of the institution.
sanaton :They come, had a good time marketing at Moreh. Inspect MU from a tourist bus, went to khuman lampak, and inspect the stadium by looking at the replica model and thats the end. THe good part of the tour is that the municipal employees work day and night sweeping the routes that the VIPs will travel.
Parliamentary committee visits proposed airport site
The project was started in 1997-98 for operating 50 seater aircraft to put Arunachal on the air map of the country. Sentinel
Itanagar, Feb 4 (PTI): A high-powered parliamentary standing committee headed by former Union minister and BJP MP Sushma Swaraj visited the site for construction of an airport at Pasighat in Arunachal Pradesh, official sources said here today.
The team consisting of eight MPs including Sitaram Yechuri and Tapir Gao, who represent Arunachal East parliamentary constituency, went to the site of the airport yesterday.
The project was started in 1997-98 for operating 50 seater aircraft to put Arunachal Pradesh on the air map of the country, sources said.
The cost of the project was estimated at Rs 20.77 crore and sanctioned by North East Council (NEC).
However, the runway formation and security fenching were washed away due to unprecedented flash flood in 2000 and the work had stopped since then.
State government officials had apprised the committee that the airport could provide direct air service from Pasighat to Guwahati, Dibrugarh and Kolkata and vice-versa.
The committee, however, could not visit the State capital Itanagar where another airport is proposed to be constructed and left for Nagaland, sources added.