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02/10/2006: "Slain Jawans accorded full state honour"


Slain Jawans accorded full state honour New Kerala
Kohima: Nagaland Government today paid full state honour to the nine Indian Reserve Battalion(IRB) jawans killed in a landmine blast at Bheji in Chattisgarh on Monday. The mortal remains of the slain jawans were brought to Dimapur yesterday by a special BSF plane from Raipur, accompanied by Chattisgarh DIG T John Longkumer. The bodies were taken to the Nagaland Armed Police Training Centre (NAPTC) for the state funeral service with a convoy of vehicles.

Paying tributes to the jawans, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio condemned the "unprincipled and dastardly" attack on the Naga jawans at Kottachour. The battalion was sent to Chattisgarh in consonance with the terms and conditions as requisitioned by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, he said.

Nagaland Home Minister Thenucho also condemned the killing and said the deeds of the jawans should never be forgetten. The funeral service ended in chaos as the relatives of the deceased gheraoed the coffins and demanded immediate withdrawal of the 9th IRB battalion from Chattisgarh.
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Nagaland no to IRB recall - Rio govt to try for alternative postings NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph
Kohima, Feb. 9: The Nagaland government today rejected the demand to recall Naga personnel of the India Reserve Battalion (IRB) from Naxalite-infested Chhattisgarh, but did not rule out requesting Delhi to deploy the unit in a “less dangerous area”.
Mourners at a funeral service for the nine IRB personnel killed in a landmine blast on the Chhattisgarh-Andhra Pradesh border on Monday put the government in an embarrassing situation yesterday by raising slogans against the deployment of a Naga battalion there. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio, home minister Thenucho and Lok Sabha member Wangyuh Konyak beat a hasty retreat from the Chumukedima Police Training Centre, where the service was organised, when about 500 women refused to let the police take away the coffins for burial.
“Yesterday, the women were emotionally charged, for which they cannot be blamed,” principal secretary (home) Banuo Jamir said. The senior bureaucrat, however, said the government did not have the option of recalling an IRB battalion because it is raised with central assistance and can be requisitioned for any other state. “At best, we may urge the government of India to put the battalion in a less dangerous area later. But at present, there is no question of recalling them.”
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio hoped the Naga people and all IRB personnel from the state would not be disheartened by “cowardly acts” like the Chhattisgarh blast and perform their duties with more determination. Rio also said the government was aware of the terms and conditions set by Delhi when it decided to raise the 9 IRB Battalion. “Therefore, when the government of India asked for the services of the battalion for internal security in Chhattisgarh, my government knew that the moment of truth had come, and that we had to say yes if we are to show that we can keep our word.”
The chief minister is understood to have spoken to Union home minister Shivraj Patil and Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh after the incident. Since July, the battalion has lost 10 men in combat with Naxalites. Last year, a Naga constable named Bennam Phom was killed in action. Officials said they had received information from Chhattisgarh that Naga IRB personnel fighting Naxalites on the border with Andhra Pradesh were “in high spirits” and would not return till they accomplished their task.
The Chhattisgarh government announced Rs 5 lakh each in ex gratia to the families of the slain Naga personnel and Nagaland topped it with another Rs 2 lakh each. Rio also promised government jobs to the next of kin of the blast victims. Jamir said the Rio government was contemplating ways to “lessen the pressure” on the IRB personnel and their families. Though Nagaland has witnessed insurgency for five decades, only once has a militant ambush claimed more policemen in the state. In 1974, militants killed 12 policemen on election duty in Kohima district.
Tearful Nagas receive Sangtam's body Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Dimapur, February 09: A large number griefstricken Nagas from all walks of life received the mortal remains of late Horangse Sangtam at the Dimapur airport today.

Hundreds of Nagas gathered at the Dimapur airport to receive the body of the Naga Hoho president who also once served as Deputy Speaker of Nagaland Legislative Assembly.

Late Horangse went to attend the negotiation between the Government of India and NSCN (IM) at Bangkok recently but was admitted to the hospital due to health complaints where he breathed his last.

Speaking at the reception programme organized by the Reception and Funeral Committee for Late Sangtam, a member of the Naha Hoho delegation to Bangkok said that on January 28, Late Sangtam along with six other Hoho members left for Bangkok to meet the Indian leaders and the collective leadership of NSCN (IM) towards bringing a solution to the Naga problems.

He said that after attending a series of discussion with the collective leadership, Late Sangtam was admitted to a hospital due to health complaints.

"Today we have lost a true leader, a comrade and a father.
But we all believe that this is the will of God. Let us follow and pick-up the footprints left by our beloved leader," he said. A few moment of silence was observed to show respect to the departed soul.

The function saw paying of tributes by various persons including State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio and Kilo Kilonser of NSCN (IM) Kraibo Chawang besides others. Some of the dignitaries present to receive the body of (Late) Sangtam were Member of Lok Sabha Wangyuh Konyak, Minister of Industries & Commerce Khekiho Zhimomi, Minister Kipili Sangtam, Parliamentary Secretaries, Chairman of DMC, Vekhiho Awomi, Deputy Chairman of DMC T Angami and other DMC members and senior civil officers and public leaders.

A motor cortege of over two hundred vehicles escorted the coffin of Late Sangtam to his residence at Walford Colony, Dimapur. A solemn funeral service is being organized at the Dimapur District Sports Complex tomorrow at 10 am. Naga Hoho speaker HK Zhimomi will chair the funeral service, Rev Dr P Dozo will offer the invocation and final rites will be performed by Rev Yabang, Dimapur Christian Forum. The service will also have time for condolence messages from all sections of society.

The Reception and Funeral Committee has appealed to all Nagas to come and attend the funeral service and pay their respects to the departed Naga leader.
Peace rally held at Longleng The Morung Express
Kohima, Feb 9 (MExN): All NGOs and churches joined together and organized a peace rally at Longleng town on February 6.
The purpose of the rally was to appeal to all underground factions to stay away from the town and to stop killing each other.
The rally began at 9:00 AM at Lempong junction with prayer and speeches. Banners and placards appealing for stopping of bloodshed, killing and bringing back peace and tranquility in the district/Nagaland were displayed.
The rally condemned the incident on January 27 where two innocent women were seriously injured and appealed not to repeat such acts in future.
The conclusion programme was held at Longleng-Aboi junction where all the leaders of NGOs appealed the underground to stop killing each other as “we are all Naga brothers and sisters.”
They also appealed to move away from public places and stay at their designated camp to avoid any clashes.
Re-affirming the earlier stand of the PPC, the rally unanimously resolved that if any faction permanently stations itself against the wishes and appeal of the public and creates nuisance or law and order problem in the town, the respective faction will not be extended any co-operation by the public.
Thousands of people from all walks of life came out from their houses and joined the rally, according to PPC president Y. Mangko Phom and general secretary P. Manpong Phom.
The rally concluded with the pronouncing of mass prayer asking the Almighty to work and reveal to the Naga people about his love and power.
Later, the leaders met Deputy Commissioner, Longleng at his office chamber and submitted a memorandum asking the state government to post sufficient security personal at district status to control any further untoward incident particularly at Longleng town and district as a whole.
Naga International Support Center, NISC
With the demise of Horangse Sangtam, only sixty years of age, the Nagas have lost a noble leader whose loss will never be substituted again. The legacy of sincerity, concern and determined leadership he left behind will always inspire the Nagas and all who have met and come across this great soul.
May God bless and rest his soul.
NISC, Amsterdam
Hohos express grief over Horangse’s death The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, FEB 9 (MExN): The Tangkhul Longphang (Hoho) has expressed deepest sorrow and grief at the demise of Horangse Sangtam, Naga Hoho President. Stating that Horangse had worn himself out in the service of the Naga people “with a zeal to hammer out (a solution) to” the Indo-Naga impasse, a condolence message asked the Almighty to grant solace and strength to the bereaved family and restful peace to the deceased. In a separate condolence message, the Zeliangrong Hoho said it joins others in expressing shock and sorrow at the sudden demise of Late Horangse Sangtam. “Late Horangse Sangtam was a prominent quality leader, in terms of political as well as social activities, who contributed his best of knowledge and wisdom till his last breath for the better of our tomorrow.” It has conveyed deepest condolences to the bereaved family.
The Poumai Hoho Nagaland (PHN) mourned the demise of Naga Hoho president Horangse Sangtam on February at Bangkok. The Hoho’s general secretary H. Sosu described Horangse as a respected Naga leader who had rendered his best services to the cause of peace and unity in the Naga community in various capacities. He has been working relentlessly with a spirit of brotherhood for Naga peace process and reconciliation till he breathed his last. In his tragic and untimely death, the Hoho said, the Naga society has lost a dedicated shepherd and a tireless public figure. His sudden death had really caused a vacuum in our society at this crucial juncture, a condolence message said. The Hoho also conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed that Almighty will grant them peace of mind and strength to stand in these hours of sorrow and grief.
ANSAM condole Horangse’s demise Newmai News Network February 9
Senapati: The All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) has mourned the death of Naga Hoho president late Horangse Sangtam at Bangkok on February-6.
“We deeply mourn the untimely departure of Naga Hoho president Horangse Sangtam whose death has left vacuum that can never be filled try as we may, we know we shall never understand how you must be feeling at this juncture. “In such time we are left to deride solace from the words of the heavenly father who made us and who controls our destiny. In such time we prayed that God shall grand us the divine strength to brave all odds to continue the good works left by the Naga leader late Horangse Sangtam”.” the ANSAM stated in a message.
It stated that in the days to come the Naga student body would remember the late Naga Hoho leader’s dedication and selfless contribution, determination and his leading role to realize the aspiration of the Nagas to live together as one people. “We join the family members, dear and near ones of departed Naga leader late Horangse Sangtam in their moment of grief and seek God’s healing hand upon the living relatives, friends, near and dear ones of the painful memory and agony with His Devine love. May his soul rest in peace,” said the ANSAM message. The Naga students’ organization also expressed sorrow at the demise of late RN Toncham, the first Naga Delhi police officer who passed away on February-6 at AIIMS, New Delhi. The late police officer had been available for all the Northeast students studying in Delhi in the time of need said the ANSAM while extending it’s condolences to the family members of the late police officer. The ANSAM also strongly condemned the attack on Poknapham journalist Ratan Luwangcha by unidentified gunmen this morning. It stated that the attack on the journalist was condemnable by all sections of the people. The Naga student body termed the attack on Ratan as barbaric and cowardice act.
Centre to suggest names for boundary commission Zenews.com
New Delhi, Feb 10: The Supreme Court today granted three weeks to the Centre to suggest names of the chairman and other members for the proposed boundary commission to resolve Assam`s border dispute with Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

A division bench of Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and Justice C K Thakker gave the time after Attorney General Milon K Banerjee submitted that he needed to consult the government and take instructions on the setting up of the commission. The court, which is seized of two suits filed by Assam, seeking resolution of its boundary disputes with Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, was of the view that the boundaries of these states had already been defined in the Constitution and the commission was needed to demarcate the same on the ground.

Appearing for Assam, senior counsel K K Venugopal said border disputes cannot be settled in court and that there has to be a boundary commission to carry out demarcations in accordance with boundaries laid down by Parliament and defined in article 3 and Schedule-I of the Constitution.

He also suggested that the Surveyor General of India and some Army officers be made part of the proposed commission as they had better knowledge of the areas in dispute.

Counsel for both Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh referred to a 1925 law which gave them more territory and suggested that there should be a political solution to the problem.

Assam government filed two civil suits against Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in 1988 and 1989 respectively accusing them of encroaching upon its hundreds of square km territory.

The court had on September 13, 2004 asked the Centre to suggest names for the proposed boundary commission and sought undertakings from the three states that they would cooperate with the commission in the matter. Assam and Arunachal Pradesh filed the undertakings while Nagaland was yet to file the same.
In its first civil suit, Assam accused Nagaland of encroaching upon 27,000 hectares of its land since 1963 when the latter was carved out as a separate state from the former by virtue of the state of Nagaland Act 1962.

In the second suit, Assam alleged that Arunachal Pradesh had occupied its 300 sq km territory including 142 sq km reserve forest since 1971. It alleged that the demography of the disputed areas was also being changed to its disadvantage. The court would consider the Centre`s suggestions on the names for the proposed boundary commission on the next date of hearing. Bureau Report
Patil steps in to check Naxal violence The Morung Express
New Delhi, Feb. 9 (ANI): Following the killing of 13 policemen, including 10 from Nagaland’s 9th IRB, in two separate attacks in Chattisgarh on Monday, the Home Minister Shivraj Patil today convened a meeting to lay out strategies to check the growing violence of the naxalites. The Government should tackle rising Maoist violence through reducing poverty in affected areas and better police coordination, several Member of Parliament said on Wednesday. The MPs from the Rajya Sabha, who attended the meeting convened by the Home Minister, had said rebel violence was fallout of social inequalities.
“We have explained basically two aspects. One is it starts with a social problem, then takes an economic shape and then becomes a law and order (problem). So, we have told the Government that it is not a law and order (problem) alone. Law and order should be third aspect. Basically, socio-economic and then security, we have to look at in this way,” an MP from Andhra Pradesh, J D Seelam said. The Centre had promised to help states affected by Naxal violence set up joint task forces to coordinate anti- guerrilla operations across state boundaries. Lawmakers said the state police forces should be strengthened. “We have told him that our intelligence does not work effectively. The incident takes and then the police reach or the administration gets information. Then we have asked for modernisation in the police force, also stressed more on developmental work and ways of creating employment opportunities, especially in the rural sector. The Minister listened to our suggestions and said that the Centre has initiated steps in that direction,” said Motiur Rehman, an MP from Bihar.
An NAP battalion comprising 850 policemen was deployed in the Bastar region, a stronghold of the Naxalites, in June 2005.
Police say the Naxals, who have a strong presence in many of the State’s 16 districts, have stepped up violent attacks in the past several days. Last week, they killed eight civilians in an attack on a government relief camp for tribal people. Three Naxalites were also killed when police returned fire.
Last year, the Government drew up a policy focusing on poverty reduction and increased policing following a spurt in guerrilla attacks. Naxal insurgents, who number around 9,300, say they are fighting for the rights of the rural poor and against feudal land owners and corrupt local officials who siphon off development aid. The rebels operate in some of the most impoverished districts across nine states, including three bordering Nepal.
Imkong vows to reform education system
Imkong L Imchen, Minister School Education coming strongly on the reports of corruption and leakages particularly on the issue of distribution of free text books, called upon the District Administration to monitor the activities of the officials, teachers and Head Masters for transparency and leakages to be harmoniously linked up.
Taking a strong hold on the issue, he warned that from immediate effect, if any report against any DEO or DIS or officials comes up again, the issue would be taken very seriously and the concerned would be held responsible even to the extent of immediate termination from service. The inspection, he said, would be carried out very vigorously.
However maintaining that the monitoring is not aimed at any individual or jurisdictions, he said that the Administration was called to monitor, in turn to lend a helping hand to the DEO and DIS and respective Head Masters in addition to their reports and to maintain transparency. He said this was with the intention to make the department stronger and more vibrant. “We have to make our children’s education strong so that will be psychologically, mentally and spiritually at par and compatible with the rest of the world” he said. Further stressing on the importance of education he said that the officials has to go down to the grass root level and be more dedicated, so that the department would be able to make a difference in the society. The DIS and DEO are to submit monthly reports from immediate effect. The DIS and DEO have already submitted the figures and the list of students for the distribution of the texts books and accordingly the Department would give out the same to the concerned jurisdiction. Imkong also asked them to submit the exact figure of under matric or matriculate teachers teaching beyond their level in their respective jurisdictions so that more compatible and able teachers would be able to take their place for the betterment of the students.
Addressing the meeting for DEO, DIS and officers of the Education Department he also spoke about the issue on bogus employment stating that it was equivalent to criminal act and punishable by law. A special investigative team has been set up to investigate on the department owing to the certain reports made on the department; Imchen however maintained positivism that the bogus employment might be the doing of certain elements outside the department, however he urged the department to fully cooperate with the investigative team and confront with the situation in case of possibility in the department stating that no mercy should be shown to any individuals whatsoever as it was completely a criminal offence. With the existing situation of shortage of teaching staffs and excess in some institutions he authorized the DIS and DEO of the concerned jurisdictions to look upon the matter so that the situation would not persist and immediate deployment or redeployment be made. Also addressing the issue of certain teachers attached to particular institutions refusing to go back he maintained that in such cases there won’t be any question of promotion to the individual concerned.
Earlier, D.K Bhalla, Commissioner & Secretary (SE) chaired the event while Additional Director (HOD) (SE) delivered the welcome address and Dr. Kumuni, State Project Director, NSACS and Dr. N. Kire, Additional Director (SE) gave presentations about HIV & AIDS education, followed by agenda point discussions and Chairman’s remark.Morung Express News
Senior Journalist shot by gunmen; critically injured Newmai News Network
Imphal: Three unidentified gunmen shot and critically wounded an Imphal based senior journalist and General Secretary of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union at his Uripok Bachaspati Leikai home early morning.
Ratan Luwangcha, the Chief of Bureau of Poknapham, the most popular vernacular daily of Imphal, sustained two bullet injuries. He was operated upon at the Shija Hospitals at Langol. One bullet passed through his abdomen while the other passed through his left thigh.
Doctors said the scribe’s condition was serious and he is currently in the intensive care unit of the hospital. Doctors said one of the bullets caused extensive damage to his internal organs. The journalist fraternity of Manipur condemned the attack and demanded arrest and punishment of the culprits.
Ratan, at the time of the incident was on leave with a fractured leg. He was standing in front of his house with some family members at around 8 am when three unidentified gunmen came on a two wheeler and fired at him from close range. His house is located next to the road. The attackers escaped in a two wheeler after the firing. The residents of the area heard about ten shots.
The injured was immediately taken to the RIMS and later evacuated to the Shija hospital, where doctors carried out an emergency operation. The motive and identity of the attackers are not known. Police carried out search operations but no suspect could be rounded up.
As a mark of protest against the attack media persons took out a protest rally here and submitted a memorandum to the chief minister, O. Ibobi Singh later in the afternoon. In the memorandum the Editors Forum Manipur and All Manipur Working Journalists Union demanded punishment of the guilty persons. The memorandum also demanded security for the injured journalist.
In his response Ibobi Singh informed the journalists’ delegation that police were making efforts to identify the culprits and nab them by carrying out raids. He also assured the delegation that security would be provided at the hospital for the safety of the injured scribe.
Before the protest rally mediapersons held an emergency meeting to condemn the attack. The meeting resolved to hold a sit-in-demonstration tomorrow to highlight the threats faced by the media persons in the state. Former president of the AMWJU N Tombiraj Singh said the attack was on the working journalist union and it should be condemned by all right thinking persons.
Political Difference Feb 10 Today's Editorial The Morung Express
The visit of the Parliamentary Standing Committee in-charge of Home Affairs to Nagaland on February 3 to discuss major issues regarding internal security and development, including progress of the Naga peace process ought to have been an extremely important occasion that merits the serious attention of the government, the Opposition Congress party and civil society groups in the State. That the Standing Committee consists of politicians from all the major national political parties gives it the extra weight-age as far as its role in influencing policy decisions of the government is concerned. The presence of a political heavyweight like Sushma Swaraj leading the panel will likewise give greater legitimacy to the process underway.
With its emphasis to concentrate on long-term plans, policies and the philosophies guiding the working of the Executive, such Committees as the one which visited Kohima will be in a very privileged position to provide necessary direction, guidance and inputs for broad policy formulations. Given these facts, the present committee has the wherewithal to engage the government at the Centre on a high priority basis as far as the issues involved in the Naga peace process is concerned.
This is all the more desirable given the recent disclosure of divisions at the decision making set-up among the mandarins and agencies of the Indian Government which has seriously dented New Delhi’s commitment in resolving the issue. In particular, the insecure mindset of some of the Indian agencies particularly the Intelligence Bureau working under the Home Ministry and other hawks in the establishment is hardly tenable. It is all the more appalling to note the circumstances under which the present peace process is being dragged on its feet by those who have no mandate to decide on what should essentially be a political decision making process.
It is here that civil society groups may need to go beyond mere petitioning and get into a sustained engagement with decision makers who matter. As a committee that is essentially political in nature, such Standing Committee will be in the best position to address the Naga peace process from within by taking along with it the wide spectrum of political opinion. At the end of the day, a decision may not so much emanate from the talks table at Amsterdam or Bangkok but rather in Parliament. And it is because of this that civil society groups may have to step up some form of lobbying activity in the national capital.
Lack of clarity among the political parties and the absence of an all party consensus only weaken the basis of the process itself and with no clear-cut direction to follow, the peace wagon may well end up being disbanded midway. If at all New Delhi is serious and committed for a negotiated settlement, it is all the more urgent that the political leadership start taking control of the process itself and bring it to its logical conclusion, as was rightly mentioned by Sushma Swaraj. For this, such a Political Standing Committee, which has the mandate of Parliament should discuss threadbare the entire gamut of issues relating to the peace process and rally for a consensus appreciating the urgency for a peaceful negotiated settlement. The Committee should also put the mandarins of the Home Ministry in their right places so that the process towards a settlement is not hijacked by persons who remain outside of the political mandate.
CONDOLENCE PRESS COMMUNIQUE Mr. HORANGSE Kuknalim.com
A Naga International Support Center, NISC, www.nagalim.nl - A human rights organization

Amsterdam February 8 2006 CONDOLENCE PRESS COMMUNIQUE Mr. HORANGSE
SANGTAM, President of Naga Hoho who expired on February 6, 2006 at 10.15 p.m. (Thai Standard Time). at Vejthani Hospital, Bangkok after participating in the Indo-Naga peace talks held on
January 28-31, 2006 resulting in the extension of cease-fire for another 6 months

With the demise of Horangse Sangtam, only sixty years of age, the Nagas have lost a noble leader whose loss will never be substituted again. The legacy of sincerity, concern and determined leadership he left behind will always inspire the Nagas and all who have met and come
across this great soul.
May God bless and rest his soul.

Horangse Sangtam represented the Sangtam, a small Naga tribe Torn by the differences among the Nagas he paid special attention to reconcile the Nagas who were so brutally divided amongst themselves. As president of the Naga Hoho, the apex cultural body of the Nagas in which each tribe is represented Mr. HORANGSE SANGTAM was a man of integrity and determination.

Despite recovering from stomach through a major operation in March 2004 he remained active and concerned to the welfare of the Naga people. When HORANGSE SANGTAM took over the helm of the Naga Hoho the Indo-Naga peace talks were entering a crucial stage. He was determined to have
the fate of the Nagas to be settled once and for all. HORANGSE SANGTAM braved all odds posed by his deterioration of his health. Unfazed, he maintained that working for the Nagas was more important now, and so he embarked on an arduous journey to Bangkok for consultations with the Naga leaders who were at a deadlock. He contributed to extend the cease-fire for another six months between India and the Nagas. He did his job and rested.

Mr. HORANGSE SANGTAM was the President of Naga Council, Dimapur from the period 2000-2004 after which he took over as President of Naga Hoho from May 2005 till his sudden demise on February 6, 2006 when he breathed his last in Bangkok

"Work (Naga political journey) is more important than anything else; we
must complete it at any cost."
Horangse Sangtam said before he started his last journey to Bangkok.
For more information get in touch with us through nisc@nagalim.nl
Or visit our website www.nagalim.nl
Court tells government to sort out northeast boundary row By Indo Asian News Service
New Delhi, Feb 10 (IANS) The Supreme Court Friday gave the central government three weeks to decide on a suggestion to set up a commission to resolve a boundary dispute between the states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and judge C.K. Thakker granted the time after Attorney General Milon K. Banerjee told the court he would like to seek instructions from the government on the question of setting up the boundary commission.
The Bench asked the government to suggest names for the posts of chairman and other members of the proposed commission.
The court was hearing a civil suit filed in 1988 by the Assam government, claiming jurisdiction over areas in the neighbouring states of Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
The bench was of the view that the boundaries of these states had already been defined in the constitution, and the commission was needed only to demarcate the borders.
Benerjee said the problem required a political solution and this could be achieved through a constitutional amendment in parliament.
Appearing for the Assam government, senior counsel K.K. Venugopal said the court could not demarcate boundaries, a task that had to be performed by the boundary commission.
Venugopal suggested the Surveyor General of India and some army officers should be made part of the proposed commission as they had better knowledge of the disputed areas.
Counsel for Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh governments referred to a 1925 law that gave them more territory and suggested that there should be a political solution to the problem.
The court had Sep 13, 2004 asked the central government to suggest names for the proposed boundary commission and sought undertakings from the three states that they would cooperate with such a panel. But after the central government said it was yet to take a decision on the matter, the court had adjourned proceedings.

Award for film on AFSPA Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Feb 9 : AFSPA, 1958, a film which dep-icts the death of Th Manorama and the subsequent people's agitation to revoke the Act won two awards in the Documentary and Short Film section at the Mumbai Interna-tional Film Festival. Directed by Haobam Pawan, the film bagged the International Jury Award carrying a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh and the International Critic Award as well. The film will be translated into Finnish under the title Cry for Justice and will be aired six times this year by TV YLE chan-nel. Pawan is an alumni of the Satyajit Ray Film and TV Institute, Kolkata.
The abiding love between the hills and the plains R Yangsorang Sangai Express
The tale that before the advent of Hinduism, the Hill-Plain relation was cordial is of an interesting proposition: exchange of gifts between the hill and plain people, mainly between the Naga chiefs and the Rajas is evident from the Royal Chronicles and British accounts of Manipur. The British political agents were practically concerned with administrative reforms; effective means were deployed for the thorough understanding and better reading for the unaccounted hilly corners of the North-Eastern region of India. Written books on statistical accounts, social anthropology, linguistic surveys, etc. were published for administrative conveniences.
These British writers were all administrators, not scholars or historians, and their first hand impressions or second hand impressions were naturally susceptible to errors and omissions so their writings cannot be taken for granted. Since those writings were more or less reckoners for administrative efficiency only, the scholastic or academic references were without authenticities. A lot of mistakes can be detected while quoting the British writers. The relevancy is of a serious matter of Manipuri history, culture, literature, religion and ethnology, not playing with the sentiments of a people.
This essay is written without any hatred against a particular tribe or community. The writer may be naive, and he is aware that a subject not meant for the average intelligentsia shouldn’t be abused. Also, he doesn’t claim himself a scholar nor has he ever made a mention of it but this much is true that the inaccurate British accoun-ts surpassing all the Royal Chronicles of the land are refutable, and plenty of sentences are of insidious nature and are regularly incomprehensible.
Books written by the British Political Agents were, of course, not widely circulated fortunately, and those books filled with cobwebs and dusts were buried in the corroded wooden almirahs of the library at Imphal and Asiatic Society at Kolkota. Almost all the original copies which were stored in the Central Library, Imphal were burnt to ashes during the Mayek stir. Instances of mistakes and nebulousness of ideas are clear to quote Dr. G.A. Grierson (LSI, Vol-III, Part-III, 1904, Page 21.) “Wives are purchased; they are really the slaves of their husbands, and are occasionally sold by them when in debt.
The ill-fated Koireng tribe was given several names such as Kolhen, Kolren and Kolreng when its kindred tribes like Kharam and Mantak were named Karum and Muntuk respectively. The Quoirengs of T.C. Hodson are the Kacha-Nagas: not the Koirengs. Such remarks are now very damaging and misleading to a reader who knows very little about the land and its people.
Substantial clarification about the doubt and an in depth study on the community was made by renowned historian of regional fame, Prof. Gangmumei Kamei way back in 1975 and also later in 1988 in his book on the Koirengs which was released by the then Vice-Chancellor of Manipur University, Prof. K.J. Mahale at G.M. Hall, Imphal. Eminent scholars and historians among others who attended the releasing ceremony of the book included Dr. Nag Choudhuri, the former Vice-Chancellor of J.N. University, New Delhi. On account of lack of proper understanding and adequate knowledge of the people, the first hand or second hand compilations from hearsay or materials collected from the alien interpreters like Babu Bishwarup and Nathor Nath Baner- jee who were serving in the hill section of Manipur Administration as head clerks, the accou-nts lacked accuracies. Babu Bishwarup went to Kharang Koireng village situated at the foothill west of Phayeng village in about 1858 A.D. where he collected fragmented specimen of Koi-reng dialect and wrong list of clans’ names.
To quote Captain E.W. Dun in his book entitled “The People of Manipur - in Haw- chongba”, “the hill men indulge in feats of strength before the Raja, such as carrying heavy weights, etc. They also indulge in war dances and sham fights. The sports of the day conclude with a feast, at which they are regaled with the flesh of cows, buffaloes, dogs, cats, etc. which may have died in the valley.” So unmindfully and uncharitably he wrote to project the food habit of the hill men in bad taste. To be truthful, cats and dead animals are taboos for superior clans among the hill men. How was it possible for the overwhelming majority of the clans to regale with the flesh of cats and dead animals? The Britisher had gone into the detail while depicting the Haochongba festival in the royal palace of Manipur. Any civilized people will be on the brink of nausea to read the line-which may have died in the valley. Even the Lois were awkwardly portrayed by B.C. Allen and others in “Manipur”. Thus, “The Lois of Manipur are a low caste, not even dignified by the name of Hindus. They are probably descended from one of the hill tribes”. Innate kindness was missing from the hearts of the white men to consider hill men sub-human beings.
From all these accounts, it is clear that the history of the accounted period of Manipur had not been kind to the hill people because what should have been written like names of villages and its chiefs or the origin of the tribes were overlooked. At the best, the British writers’ range can never go beyond 1800 A.D. and in matters relating to the ancient history of this land, no competent British writer appeared and perhaps it might have been their disinterest or the circumstances under which the impracticability to accomplish so.
For dearth of written materials, although some written materials were available in old Manipuri archaic scripts, the study of which, no Britishers undertook. (LSI -PUJI, Vol.III, Page 21): “The valley of Manipur is inhabited by a people who call themselves Meitei. According to their own traditions, the Maya-sang tribe has come from the South, the Khumals from the East, and the Meitheis proper and the Luyangs from the North-East”.
It is not unlikely that along with the advanced group of civilized plain dwellers, the primitive inhabitants of the hill areas might have been living in the seventh-heaven of their own. It is also very unlikely that the Meiteis of the plain areas in those ages and the hill people might have been of different stocks of origin. The claim of the Tatar connection or origin of the Meiteis by Pemberton in the 13th and 14th centuries has been renounced by modern scholars of Manipur. If at all the Tatar horde reached Manipur, it would have been another influx during the 13th and 14th centuries, and the said horde might have penetrated through the East Bengal, then Assam and reaching Manipur finally, say by about the beginning of the 15th century. Then, who were the indigenous tribes of Manipur including the Meiteis? Who were the indigenous tribes residing in the hill areas of Manipur those days? The term “Hao” as commonly known but sarcastic for the hill men to mean the ancient hill tribes of Manipur may at best give a clue to the riddle of our lost antiquity of origin.
Now having much diverged in food, drink, habit and worship, especially, the last Hinduism and Christianity at diametric ends, the feeling of oneness between the hills and the plains is hard-reconciling. In this regard, the people of Manipur have strong reasons to be annoyed against the unkind history of Manipur under the Meitei kingship: the policy of segregation by the then Rajas of Manipur, defying innocent hill people and treating them as untouchables are the cynical aspects of the history of Manipur. The tribals were defied entering the houses of the Meiteis and they were declared untouchables. Even a minor entry to the Meiteis’ houses was defied and even the slightest touch with the Haos was declared unclean till not so long ago. The Meiteis used to address the Angamis as Ngameis or Awang Hao. Naturally, the sentiments of the tribal people are inclined towards a vengeance once inflicted by the history of Manipur. Surely, the people of Manipur will hate such racial anomalies.
People of all races or sub-races, big or marginal claim themselves to be the best, the holiest and the most perfect ones. Self-esteem is in the minds of every community but to debase others, treating them as inferior and not as real human being is a doom for all mankind and what we retain will be of a grim future. It is a fact that before the coming of the Hinduism in the plains, the advanced community was the Meiteis and the primitive hill tribes were the dominant population of the hills. In the ancient folklore of Manipur the word Hao was said to be used just to connote a sense of innocence and simplicity of the hill tribes of Manipur, but now it implies something to demean and despise the hill people in their social status. Such was the prevalent social strictures and bindings in Manipur valley. Under the then prevailing Brahma Samaj, the plights of the hill tribes were full of untold miseries.
The coming of Hinduism, the bed-rock of the Brahma Samaj during the rule of Gharib Niwas in the valley had affected Tribal-Meitei relationship severely and afterwards the coming of the Christianity in 1894 A.D. had greatly frozen the love and amity between the hills and the plains.
The only wish that wasn’t fulfilled may be—had the entire population of Manipur been brought within the orbit of Christianity, the history of Manipur would have been one of the most glittering chapters in South East Asia! In that case, contact with the Americans and the entire west would have been easier for the purpose of achieving advanced science and technology and trade and commerce. In all probability relation between the hills and the plains remained cordial till the coronation of Pamheiba who ascended the throne under the title of Gbarib Niwas in 1709 A.D. To quote Prof J. Roy (Hist. of Manipur, P47), “All the Naga chiefs were invited at the coronation ceremony of the King. The Ministers and officials of Manipur received the Naga chiefs, made friendship and intimacy with them. The Raja entertained the chiefs with good feasts and wine”. After his conversion to Hinduism, the Raja aimed at introducing Hindu observances in its entirety, and social barriers cropped up. Hill men began shying away from the Meiteis as ceremonial purity and rigidity in customary observation stood in the way.
Now, the literary circles and intelligentsia of Manipur have agreed to accept that the new faith brought in by a wandering fakir called Shanti Das Goswami who landed in the royal palace was responsible for shattering the niceties of the social composition of the hill and plain people of Manipur. Even today, a strong wind of racial prejudice is blowing, and the spirit of untouchability is indubitably rampant in the conservative circles and more dreadfully in rural Manipur, the stumbling block for unity.
Recent assassination of a high profile and top ranking police officer of the State, T. Thangthuam along with his security guard and explosions of land mines planted in the hills had shaken the entire hill districts of Manipur. Stunned and unbelieving, the citizens of CCpur town were enraged minutes after the gruesome assassination of Thangthuan and his personal guard in broad day light at Oinam Bazar where thundering bullets hit them. Regardless of ethnic differentia, all communities across the hill districts of Manipur grieved their death most. The people of the hill town were impressed so much by the cheerful countenance and pleasant personality of the late IGP (Intelligence) who was deeply attached not only to his family but to his community as well. Notwithstanding nodding acquaintance one had with him- his manner was more of a blend of friendliness and respect than a crime buster to be feared. He was one of those men who enjoyed immense popularity and fame during their life time. Indeed, it would be more appropriate to say that he has become a living father-figure in Zomi public opinion in particular and Chikim in general. Was it really a conspiracy? And the brain behind it?
The pain is intolerable: it is an irreparable loss not only for a section of the people but for the whole of Manipur. Expeditious and congruous action should be initiated to extinguish those flames of hatred and anger that were seething in the hearts of numerous Thangthuam’s fans and admirers. Perhaps, the community to which he belongs has suffered a nervous shock over the tragic irony. When the community, ostensibly the epicentre of the most developed hill district of Manipur, drifts into a deeper water of serious emotional complications, the pendulum will then swing to the other extreme.
The case in point here is that if the sentiment of the hill men is also felt among the plain people, the abiding love between the Hills and the Plains can be rebuilt on a firm basis. And again, if a particular community be it Gangte or Mao looks at the other askance, it will be hard to gratify the tie-up. The big brother is to play a positive role to defuse any eruption or upheaval for a breakthrough even if it is dominant in nature but near-sightedness and completely astute in character will alienate numerically weaker sections of the society from the mainstream. Unfortunately, the state of lawlessness and disorderliness has reached an all-time high in the decade due to the collapse of the state’s machinery and failure of the Government on all fronts giving a crushing blow to societal growth. It’s nothing but a catastrophic fall. Therefore, the moment calls for a magnanimous and gregarious attitude of the major community towards their hill brethrens to revitalize hill-plain relationship.


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