02/06/2006: "LOSING PERIPHERAL VISION"

LOSING PERIPHERAL VISION Twenty-Twenty / Bharat Bhushan The Telegraph
The current dispensation in New Delhi does not seem serious about settling the periphery of India — whether it be Kashmir or Nagaland. As long as Metropolitan India is safe, it feels secure. The bushfires in the periphery can continue for all it cares.
When it is the question of allowing foreign direct investment in retail trade or Read between the lines airport privatization, the government acts firmly and with determination. But when it comes to dealing with India’s periphery, it feigns weakness. Therefore, it is not surprising that since Manmohan Singh assumed power, not a single political initiative has been taken to address the festering Naga problem — except, of course, the appointment of a group of ministers to talk to the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isac-Muivah). However, the ministers have nothing to show for themselves.
Eight-and-a-half years of ceasefire has made New Delhi forget the advantages of solving the Naga problem. Its entire focus is to somehow keep extending the ceasefire, forgetting the primary purpose of the cessation of hostilities. This is what was witnessed in Bangkok at the end of January. A prolonged ceasefire has meant that the government does not even remember the seriousness of the Naga problem. How can it then even begin to see the benefits of solving it?
Nearly 25,000 lives have been lost due to the Naga insurgency. The Naga rebellion has also been the source of all insurgencies in India’s North-east — they have trained most of the militant groups in that region. If the Naga issue is settled, the entire North-east can hope for peace. If the North-east is peaceful, then it is less likely to be a fertile ground for anti-India operations by either Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, Islamic fundamentalists and other countries aiming to bog down India in its internal security problems. New Delhi then has more time to address other issues such as Kashmir or the growing Naxalite problem. Since the Naga issue is next only to Kashmir in terms of the international attention it draws, there are other benefits to be had by solving it.
The prime minister does not tire of repeating the mantra that the Naga movement is “the mother of all insurgencies” in the North-east. But the fact remains that since the Mizoram Accord of 1986, not a single insurgency has been solved.
New Delhi’s lack of political will has been compounded by a misreading of the NSCN (I-M). It believes that eight-and-a-half-years of ceasefire have put its ageing leadership at a disadvantage. Its chairman, Isak Chishi Swu, and its general secretary, Thuingaleng Muivah, are no spring chickens and its cadre have got used to an easy semi-urban life compared to the hardships of the jungle. Wear them out some more and they will settle on terms acceptable to New Delhi.
If they continue to be intransigent, then a militarily weakened NSCN (I-M) can be marginalized and other groups — NSCN (Khaplang), the Naga National Council or S.C. Jamir, the Congress party’s “Gandhi of the North-east”, can be used as negotiating partners instead. The rest of India will think that Naga peace talks are continuing.This assessment is flawed. Muivah can still paralyze two states fully and two partially in the North-east. If negotiating with the NNC or the NSCN (K) could solve the Naga issue, then that is what the government ought to have done. Why bother with “unreasonable” elements in the NSCN (I-M)?
Those who signed the Shillong Accord also thought that the Naga issue had been settled with reasonable people. It resulted in a generation walking off to the jungle in protest and taking up arms. Through its unthinking acts, New Delhi can send one more generation of Nagas underground. There is no guarantee that this time the war will be fought in the jungle. Terrorism today is effective not in deserts, mountains and jungles but in the metropolises — in New York, London and New Delhi.
The government does not appreciate that the Nagas are talking about issues internal to India. All indications are that they want to be a part of India. They only want their relationship to be based on the terms of the peace agreement signed with them. So why insult the Nagas by constantly raising the red herring of “sovereignty”? It is reasonable, however, for New Delhi to expect that any solution to the Naga issue ultimately should be within the Constitution of India and that it must preserve the integrity of the Union. But the Constitution can either be a point of departure to resolve the conflict or it can be a point of arrival — the solution can be accommodated within the Constitution after due amendments.
Those in the government who want everything to be discussed “within the four-corners of the Constitution” do not recognize that it is the people who require a Constitution, not the government. Governments can also run on martial law, on monarchical tradition and even on a criminal or penal code ). A Constitution, therefore, is a document of the people. The people have to have the ownership of the Constitution and hence, it needed a constituent assembly, and today a two-thirds majority of parliament, for amending it. However, we should recognize that the Nagas were not represented in the Constituent Assembly. This can be changed so that they too, like the rest of India, can own it. They will have that ownership when they feel that their rights are recognized in the Constitution.
The Constitution does not recognize the unity and unique ethnic identity of the Nagas. If the Constitution unites the Nagas, they will welcome it. This will be a solution both within the Constitution of India as well as the Union of India.Why raise the issue of “sovereignty” when the Nagas themselves say that the notion of sovereignty has changed the world over. They still talk of sovereignty ambiguously but this should not be taken seriously. Farooq Abdullah and Parkash Singh Badal also talked ambiguously about the Constitution. Badal, in fact, burnt a copy of it in New Delhi but later went on to become the chief minister of Punjab.
The Naga underground will eventually go the way the Naga people want it to go — this connection with civil society is the singular achievement of the eight years of the cease-fire. The Nagas today see their future with India. They need to be hand-held in this process, with the government showing sensitivity to their aspirations and agreeing to devolution of powers. This cannot be done by sweet-talking them into extending the ceasefire indefinitely. New Delhi needs to come up with viable proposals. The patience of the Nagas is wearing thin. If the process breaks down, Manmohan Singh and his government will have to take the blame squarely.

Centre ready for ‘substantive’ talks with NSCN(IM) Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Feb 5 – Having agreed to the extension of the eight-year-old ceasefire by six months unlike the previous practice of one year, the Centre and the NSCN(IM) have decided to hold talks on “substantive” issues, with the Naga insurgents linking the cessation of fighting to progress in the parleys, reports PTI. The timing of the next round of talks will depend on NSCN (IM), Union Minister Oscar Fernandes, who led the government delegation at the four-day talks with NSCN(IM) leaders in Bangkok this week, told PTI on his return here.

“We have been able to extend the ceasefire by six months. But we were not able to take up issues in a substantive manner. Over the next six months, we will try to hold substantive talks,” he said. Fernandes, who sounded hopeful about the possible date for the next round of talks, however, refused to specify the issues to be discussed, including the Naga group’s key demand for unification of Naga-inhabitated areas of north-eastern States.

When asked about the possible date for next round of talks, the minister said, “Whenever they (NSCN-IM) want. We are ready to talk. It will depend on them”.

Govt, NSCN to hold talks on ‘substantive’ issues Kuknalim.com
NEW DELHI, Feb 5: Having agreed to the extension of the eight-year-old ceasefire by six months, the Centre and the NSCN(IM) have decided to hold talks on “substantive” issues.

The timing of the next round of talks would depend on the NSCN (IM), Union minister Oscar Fernandes, who led the government delegation at the four-day talks with NSCN(IM) leaders in Bangkok this week, told PTI on his return here.

Mr Fernandes, however, refused to specify the issues to be discussed, including the Naga group’s key demand for unification of Naga-inhabited areas of the North-eastern states.

Sources in the Naga camp had said prior to the Bangkok talks that unless the the Centre took “positive” steps on the Naga issue, the group saw no need to extend the ceasefire. According to them nine years was “too long a time” to take a decision.

They said they had conveyed to the Centre that the next extension would not take place if progress was not made in the dialogue. Mr Fernandes confirmed that the Nagas had conveyed their dissatisfaction over the slow progress of the peace process. PTI

NSCN factional clash, 2 injured Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, Feb 5: Two cadres of rival groups of the NSCN were injured in a gun battle in Mukalimi village under Zunheboto district yesterday.

Official sources said here today that heavily armed NSCN (K) cadres attacked the camp of Zasiboto battalion of NSCN (IM) in the early hours.

NSCN (K) sources told UNI over phone that they have over-ran the camp, killing at least four rival cadres and injuring as many, of the 58 cadres stationed in the camp.

The attackers also burnt down about 20 houses of the camp, sparing only the church.

The NSCN-IM, however, maintained that there was no casualty on its side.

The NSCN (K) sources further informed that in a joint operation by the Army and Arunachal Pradesh Police, one of its major camp in Changlang district of Arunachal Pradesh was over-ran yesterday.

The camp was located about 300 km from the NSCN (K) headquarters at Mon district in Nagaland.

The security forces also took away many documents, guns, ammunitions and computer sets from the camp, the sources added.

Several NSCN (K) cadres have fled to Mon district following the operation.

Reports said the Centre had deployed hundreds of troops in Arunachal Pradesh and intensified operations against the militants in Tirap and Changlang districts there. UNI
Horangse on life supportNaga Hoho President Horangse Sangtam speaking during a peace rally at Dimapur recently. (File photo) The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, FEB 4 (MExN): Naga Hoho President Horangse Sangtam is on life support. A well-informed source today said doctors in Bangkok were awaiting the final nod from his family members before removing the system supporting him. “Horangse is now in a coma,” the source said. He is said to have taken seriously ill due to the hectic schedule he had to undergo at the Thai capital where peace talks were recently held. The former MLA, former deputy speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly and former Naga Council President is a diabetes patient. A visibly emotional Lisepila, Horangse’s wife, said that since none from the immediate family possessed a passport, Naga Council President Savi Liegise had left for Bangkok to do the needful. Liegise is to leave for Bangkok after catching a flight from Kolkata. According to a source closely related to Horangse’s family, Liegise will in most likelihood reach Bangkok on February 5. Keeping watch over Horangse are old comrades Kevi, Naga Hoho Vice President and Paul Leo, former UNC President.
DAN's ruling an era of development: Dr Lotha- Asian Tribune –Oken Jeet Sandham
Wokha, (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.

Social activists from Maharashtra visit Nagaland
Kohima | February 06, 2006 5:38:56 PM IST Webindia

A 13-member team of social workers and activists from Maharashtra are on a visit to Nagaland to acquaint themselves with various activities of communities and socio-cultural issues in the state.
Experts in various fields are here under the initiative of former chief secretary of Nagaland A.M.Gokhale.
They would interact with the villagers to gain first hand experience of working of the community based programmes like village development boards, village councils and their governance in tourism, health and power arranged by the Nagaland Empowerment of People through economic development, said official sources. They would also interact with voluntary groups, women groups, village councils and other important persons, official sources added. UNI XC SP KK AB 1611
Crucial ULFA peace talks in New Delhi Tuesday Syed Zarir Hussain, Indo-Asian News Service
Guwahati, Feb 6 (IANS) Indian government negotiators and representatives of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are meeting for fresh talks Tuesday aimed at ending nearly three decades of insurgency, officials said. An Indian home ministry official said the talks would be held in New Delhi between government peace emissaries and an 11-member civil society group from Assam chosen by ULFA. 'We are taking the talks very seriously and we expect the two sides to put their heads together to try and resolve thorny issues,' the official who wished not to be identified said from New Delhi on telephone.
The ULFA, a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland since 1979, in October last year nominated the People's Consultative Group (PCG), a team of prominent civil society members.
India's national security adviser M.K. Narayanan would be leading the government side.
'We would be asking the government to suspend counter-insurgency operations, besides releasing a few top jailed ULFA leaders so that it paves the way for direct talks between the rebel leadership and New Delhi,' noted Assamese writer and PCG leader Indira Goswami told IANS on telephone from New Delhi. 'The talks are therefore aimed at working out a mutually acceptable peace process leading to formal declaration of a bilateral ceasefire between the ULFA and the central government.'
The first round of talks with the PCG and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was held in New Delhi Oct 26. Singh later said he was ready to discuss 'all issues relating to the ULFA'.
The ULFA in a statement last week said the outfit was ready for talks with New Delhi.
'We are ready for direct talks with the Indian government in the presence of international community members and UN representatives,' the rebel statement said. 'Our guns would fall silent automatically if there is a political solution to our problem. Just having a ceasefire would not help things.'
The ULFA representatives include prominent journalists, a yesteryear footballer, human rights activists, an engineer, a lawyer and a doctor. In 1992, a group of five senior ULFA leaders were freed from jail and taken to New Delhi for initiating talks with the then prime minister P.V. Narashima Rao. The leaders after holding one round of talks went underground. The ULFA is one of the most organised rebel groups in the northeast where more than 30 militant outfits operate with demands ranging from independence to greater autonomy. At least 15,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam since 1979 when the ULFA, the state's first rebel group, was founded.
AASU-ULFA debate hots up NET News Network
Guwahati, Feb 05: Proscribed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today came down heavily on All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and its leadership doubting its nexus with Union government to subdue the outfit’s demand for independent Assam. “Over the years, the Union government has been misleading our stand by upholding the possibility for a solution within the geographical boundaries of the country. The latest indulgence of the AASU leaders in propagating Centre’s version has forced us to point the needle of suspicion towards them”, added the press statement that was issued to media this evening.
“Independent Assam is the only way to restore permanent peace, relief from exploitation”, reiterated outfit’ chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa. Replying to AASU’s query, the outfit said that ULFA has always been protesting against the illegal migrants. “It is a different matter that it did not supported the Assam Accord knowing that it would not serve any purpose”.
It can be recalled that AASU questioned the outfit through media why they have not made their stand clear against the issues like infiltration and against activities of 14 fundamentalist groups and ISI in the State. “How could the fundamentalist groups and organizations like ISI could spread their activities in spite of having police forces and around 5 lakhs Army personnel”, enquired the outfit. “If AASU knows about the whereabouts of ISI agents let them inform it to their close friend i.e. Union Government”, added the release.
Suspension of Army operations on agenda By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Feb 5 – Members of the People’s Consultative Group (PCG), formed by the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to pave the way for talks with the Government of India, are leaving for New Delhi tomorrow to participate in the second round of talks with the Government. The second round of talks, scheduled to be held on February 7, will be held between the Ministry of Home Affairs and the PCG. However, it is still not clear whether it would be an official- level talk or any political leader will attend the meeting. However, the PCG is of the view that the meeting should be attended by a Minister, as it might not be possible for officers to take some key decisions to pave the way for direct talks between the Government and the ULFA.

After some initial confusion about the size of the group to attend the meeting, it has now been decided that all the members of the PCG including two facilitators Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami and Rebati Phukan will attend the meeting. Dr Goswami is now in New Delhi while the other members will fly to the Capital tomorrow afternoon.
PCG member Lachit Bordoloi told this correspondent today that the group would seek direct action on the part of the Government on the issues raised by it in the first meeting. He said that one of the key issues to be discussed is the suspension of operations against the ULFA to create a congenial atmosphere for talks. This issue was raised in the first meeting, which was attended by the Prime Minister himself. But till date, the Government has not taken any decision in this regard and the operations are still going on.
The second major issue to be discussed is the release of the Central Committee members of the ULFA to enable the outfit to take vital decisions regarding talks with the Government of India. Bordoloi pointed out that the ULFA has also raised the demand for release of the arrested Central Committee members and the issue was raised in the first meeting with the Government of India. This time, the PCG would seek clarification from the Government on the issue.

It may be mentioned here that more than 200 members of the ULFA are in jails in different parts of the State, of whom, five are Central Committee members of the outfit. They are vice chairman of the outfit Pradeep Gogoi, publicity secretary Mithinga Daimary, adviser Bhimkanta Buragohain and senior leaders Ramu Mech and Arpan Saikia. The third major issue for discussion will be the whereabouts of the ULFA men missing since the operations by the Bhutan Army in December, 2003. Bordoloi said that 19 members of the ULFA are missing since the Bhutan operations and the Government of India has not yet been able to establish their whereabouts. Those missing include Central Committee members of the outfit- namely, Robin Neog, Asanta Baghphukan and Bening Rabha.

Bordoloi said that in the first meeting itself, the Prime Minister had assured to discuss all issues with the ULFA and the Government should take decisions on the other issues raised by the PCG to facilitate direct talks with the ULFA to expedite the peace process.

Parliamentary panel for development of NE From Sobhapati Samom Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, Feb 5 – The seven- member Parliamentary team is likely to submit a proposal for establishing an institute for Indo-Myanmar geology study in north-eastern India.
The Parliamentary team representing a standing committee on Home Affairs headed by former Union Minister and MP Sushma Swaraj and Communist leader Sitaram Yechury have surveyed various developmental projects being under taken at the border town and in the state capital.

Sushma Swaraj during her visit here refused to talk with the media. However, she informed that a detailed report on the visit would be placed before the parliament.The team lambasted State officials on significant decrease in trade volume contrary to immense potential of Moreh . She explained the main purpose for the visit is to assess prevailing security scenario in border areas and take stock of progress of various developmental works.

Informing that the MPs had already covered Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram and Manipur as part of the North East tour, the BJP MP listed Tripura, Sikkim and Meghalaya as the next States in the Committee’s itinerary. At the Shillong headquarters of North East Council the Committee would attend a meeting and submit recommendations related to the current visit.

CPM MP Sitaram Yechury described the main reason for constitution of the Parliamentary panel as evaluation of developmental works in the Indo-Myanmar border areas and observed that Moreh has huge potential in promoting international trade and commerce.
The Committee would also present its recommendation to the Finance and Home Ministries, he said.

Responding to a query on relationship between India and its neighbouring countries, the CPM leader expressed that even though Indo-Myanmar tie is quite different from relationships the country shares with the neighbours evaluation from all possible angle need to be assessed to further improve the ties.
Yechury exuded confidence that India’s Look East Policy would not only enhance development of Manipur but would have positive impact on the entire country.
The team had an interaction with officials of Moreh Trade Centre wherein the officials representing customs and State security agencies highlighted inconveniences faced in dispensing their duties while the MPs insisted on detailed information on decrease in trade volume with Myanmar.
Meanwhile, the Manipur University authorities have submitted a six point proposal which include opening a course on Integrated Masters in Physical Education, upgrading Centre for Manipur Studies to the status of an institute, expansion of Centre for South East Asia Studies, Centre for Nano Science Material Studies to the visiting team. The MPs also made spot inspection of works like ongoing construction of many buildings in Imphal including the facilities available at Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, one of the most advanced sports complex in the country for over an hour and also visited RIMS hospital.

The RIMS Director Prof L Fimate also submitted a memorandum to the Sushma Swaraj-led team urging the MPs’ necessary action in provision of infrastructures at par with those of All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Other members of the Parliamentary delegation included Sanjay Raut, CK Chandrappan, Biren Singh Engti, Tapir Gao and Braj Kishore Tripathy. Seven officials also accompanied the MPs.
Development politics: A political utopia By Oinam Anand SanGai Express
Common people, electorates, scholars, politicians and even those who have shied away from politics and political culture of this century must have been familiar with these words: National politics, regional politics, communal politics, power politics, money politics, criminalisa-tion of politics etc etc. There may be endless list of prefixes or suffixes waiting to be attached to the word 'politics' in India. But recently, on the eve of Republic Day in his message to the nation, our President APJ Abdul Kalam used a word 'Development Politics'.
This word gives a very pleasing sensation to our ears. We feel as if we have got something which have been missing from us for years - something refreshing just like the feel of a soothing cool breeze in the hot summer evening. What prompted our President to coin these two words 'development' and 'politics' to form a new phrase in political dictionary is not far to seek. The politics in India is not clear enough and the politicians are not fit enough to give India the status of another superpower in 2020 if the dirt piled up in politics is not cleared up in time. One clear example is the frequent disruption of proceedings of the August Houses wasting valuable time which is to be utilised for the benefit of the people, is in a real sense not a good sign for Indian democracy. While the ruling party forget its commitments and promises kept before the people at the time of election, the opposition too always stick to oppose any motion for the sake of opposition however good the motion may be to the people.
And, above this, two journalistic sting operations - operation Duryadhona and Operation Chakravehu, the former showing some of the MPs taking bribe for raising question on the floor of the House and the latter devoted to the implementation of Local Area Development Schemes by the MPs which are believed to have been utilised to the cuts for their pocket money, courtesy this scheme might have urged the President of the largest democracy in the world to say that the aim and end of politics is development and welfare of the people in the real sense. Does India, which is dreaming of becoming a super power achieve it? If the answer is negative then we have to examine what are the factors that attributed to the failure. One point here is that for the past several years the growing misgover-nance of the country has been with the doings of the corrupt politicians. The deplorable functions of the executives in delivering good, unsatisfactory implementation of programmes and schemes, failure of law and order machineries and misadministration of all types are also attributed to the failure and dishonest functioning of the Government.
This dishonest functioning at all levels and mis-governance of the country arise from many factors stemming from serious deficiencies in the framework of the representative system. We have got parliamentary form of Government with multi-party system. At present there are more than 550 political parties registered under the Election Commission. Bonafide citizens are also allowed to contest elections as an independent candidate. So under this system, in an election where there is a multi corner contest, candidates representing minority section of the electorates get elected.
An MLA or an MP is elected but is not a representative in true sense of his constituency. So he is always calculating for his votes which he can win by appeasing a small section of the people. What he says in the Assembly or in the Parliament are mostly concentrated with his constituency or his personal interests and views. The interest of the ruler very often runs contrary to people's need and aspirations. So in a society which is politically illiterate or pretends to be so, Democracy is not necessarily the best form of Government. In the USA, the presidential candidates are often engaged in open debates on wide range of issues from domestic to International problems and voters get a chance to know the credentials of each candidate. But we don't have this system and is not likely to have in the near future. As the elections are not contested on the basis of party principle, ideologies or policies important matter of public and national interest are not debated openly. Election manifestos are hardly read, critically, analysed and publicly discussed. The result is, small time contractors, streetsmart boys, rabble-rousers and self-styled leaders of various organisations came in the fray whose only manifesto is to influence the voters through the exploitation of caste, community, ethnicity, communal issues. As recourse to large funds and muscle power play a vital role in determining the outcome of the polls, elections turn out to be a melee of mud-slinging and cash distribution and the honest, educated and better endowed candidates virtually shy away or are eliminated from the fray. The result is valueless polity. A seat in Parliament or a State Legislature is seen more as a source of power and patronage and less as an occasion to serve the people and the State and the nation.
Then, the question here is: will the suggested word 'Development Politics' be of rationale value and make a real impact unless they are accompanied by the corresponding changes in the political set up and behaviour of the political parties and politicians?
Respected Mr President, Development politics will be a political utopia and I am afraid, the words of the highest authority of our nation will vanish into thin air.

Nagalim.NL News

02/06/2006: "LOSING PERIPHERAL VISION"