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02/11/2006: "Unity pre-requisite for ‘Greater Nagaland’: Khekiho Minister attends Yimchungru Tribal Council session"

Unity pre-requisite for ‘Greater Nagaland’: Khekiho
Minister attends Yimchungru Tribal Council session
Minister of Industries & Commerce, Sericulture and Border Affairs, H. Khekiho Zhimomi participating in a traditional dance during the 56th general session of the Yimchungru Tribal Council at Thsotokur village, Tuensang, February 8.
DIMAPUR, FEB 10 (MExN): Minister of Industries & Commerce, Sericulture and Border Affairs H. Khekiho Zhimomi visited Thsotokur village in Tuensang district and graced the 56th general session of the Yimchungru Tribal Council as the Chief Guest on 8th February. He was accorded a warm reception.
Addressing the session, Minister Khekiho said that he had to come to the village as a Minister but as a leader who is duty bound to lead the people.
He lauded the members of the community for keeping alive the age-old relationship between the Sumi and Yimchungru tribes and should continue to uplift one another in the days to come. He expressed that the communities, in keeping up with the changes of time, should strive to live together in peace and harmony with other tribes as well.
Stressing on the unity and efforts to have greater Nagaland, the chief guest said that how the people could be expected to attain greater Nagaland when there is no peace on smaller Nagaland itself. In order to achieve the dream, there should be unity amongst all section of the society.
He urged the leaders of the village and the community in general to lead the people in right direction.
Saying that the DAN government has special concern for the people of the state especially Mon and Tuensang district, the Minister said that the government has been initiating and implementing various development activities in the two districts, in which the public were reaping the benefit. He assured to help in bringing any kind of development in the village.
He committed to the villagers to revive the Citronella distillation plant located in the village by providing new machines, sheds and fund to start off its functioning.
Others who spoke on the occasion include A. Lakiumong, MLA and Chairman, Development Authority of Nagaland, T. Torechu, MLA and DPDB, Kiphire and K. Yamakam, MLA.
The Minister was accompanied by his lady wife and host of officials from the department of Industries and Commerce and Sericulture.
UNC condole Horangse’s demise Morung Express News
Dimapur Feb 10 (MExN): The United Naga Council (UNC) expressed deep anguish and sorrow at the demise of Horangse Sangtam, President of the Naga Hoho who passed away on the night of February 6 at Bangkok.
“Uncle Horangse gave his life for the peace process, for an honorable solution to the Nagas and for the expedition of that process. It was his anxiety that prolonging the ongoing negotiations endlessly would endanger the prospect of peace in the Naga areas that moved him to go to Bangkok in spite of his ill health” stated a message from UNC President Puni Modoli.
The UNC questioned the Government of India “how much Naga blood do you still need, how many lives do you still want to take before you see reason before you show equal sincerity with the Naga people? Tell us and we will give you. We shall happily follow uncle Hoprangse’s footsteps” state the release.
Asserting that Horangse’s name will be forever written in the memory and history of the Nagas, continuing to inspire and strengthening them till the goal is achieved, the UNC stated that it will mark a new era of understanding, sincerity, cooperation between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) as well as the Naga brethren.
The UNC on behalf of the constituent tribal presidents and heads of civil societies of Nagas in Manipur conveyed its deepest condolences and shared the sense of loss with the bereaved family and prayed that the God Almighty would comfort and provide strength in the days to come.
Naga Hoho expresses gratitude to organisations Morung Express News
Dimapur Feb 10 (MExN): The Naga Hoho and the Funeral Organizing Committee extended its gratitude to various organizations, civil societies and agencies for rendering their contributions in various forms and capacities during the demise of Horangse Sangtam, President of the Naga Hoho.
Informing that the final rites to pay homage to the departed leader, held at Dimapur District Sports Complex February 10 as scheduled, the Naga Hoho stated that the funeral was attended by multitudes of people from every walk of life.
A meaningful and befitting parting service was given with streams of condolences pouring in from various organizations and individuals conforming the late President’s selfless sacrifices and unwavering commitment to the call of the people.
“The Sudden demise of Horangse has created historic moment for the Nagas” the message issued by P Chuba Ozukum, secretary, Information & Publicity stated. The Naga Hoho and the Funeral Organizing Committee expressed gratitude to the Human Rights Commissioner, Thailand, Forum Asia, Doctors and staffers of Vejdhani Hospital Bangkok, the Collective Leadership and colleagues of the NSCN (IM) for showing their outmost solidarity. The Hoho also extended its deepest appreciation to the Chief Minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and his colleagues for their noble gesture towards bringing the mortal remains of late Horangse from Bangkok and also for their physical and financial support, the staffers of Kolkata Nagaland House, Naga Students Union Kolkata, NCF Kolkata, Dimapur District Administration, Dimapur Municipal Council, various organizations and individuals towards making the funeral service and final homecoming of late Horangse Sangtam, President of the Naga Hoho a memorable and meaningful one.
Leader’s death strengthens people’s resolve Morung Express News
Horangse’s last words: “Express my gratitude to all tribal Hoho leaders and the people. O God, why do you want me to die in a foreign country like this? I want to die before my Naga Hoho colleagues”
For you the floral wreaths, for you the bugle trills: People pay homage to Late Horangse Sangtam, the leader who had captained the Naga Hoho till his death. (MExPix)
Dimapur ‘YOUR RESPONSE to your people has strengthened our resolve to live as honourable people.’ So said the banner inserted in the background of the provisional platform erected for the occasion of Late Horangse Sangtam’s funeral service. The Naga Hoho President, popularly known as Uncle Horangse, was laid to rest today at the Old Naga Cemetery after a two and a half hour long funeral service at the DDSC stadium here. Besides politicians and social leaders, a large gathering exceeding the 3000 chairs which were arranged for the service paid homage to the Naga leader.
Those who uttered condolence messages spoke of Horangse’s dedication to the people of Nagaland. Kevi, Naga Hoho Vice President had this to say: Prior to his departure for Bangkok Horangse said work is more important than health. Said Naga Mother’s Association President, Khesheli Chishi, “This is one of the worst things to happen to Naga society. We have lost a father and a leader.” Along the same lines, Naga Students’ Federation President Pushika Awomi said, “For the youth, Uncle Horangse was a leader and a father figure. He wished to see a solution before his death.” Naga Council, Dimapur President Savi Liegise who was closely associated with Horangse said, “He never wavered from his commitments.” Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights Convenor Dr Lanu Longkumer said the leader’s death had strengthened the resolve of the Naga people in fighting towards their goal. Thrinyimong, a close friend and former President of the USLB after offering his condolences walked down to where the coffin was placed and said his parting words, as is customary.
Men dressed in full traditional Naga attire took turns guarding the coffin which encased the remnants of the former deputy speaker of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly. Speaking for the Nagaland government, Dr Shürhozelie, Planning and Coordination Minister said Horangse, as deputy speaker, was steadfast in his duty of maintaining decorum in the House.
Fighting back emotion, Sethrongchem, the eldest son of the departed leader while putting across the saying that to err is human, asked for forgiveness from all those whom his father may have offended. “Dearest beloved brother, we departed without saying goodbye. Farewell till we meet again,” Horangse’s sibling Dr Meren said in his final goodbye.
Body recovered near Kohima Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, Feb 11: Police recovered a body of a suspected ultra from Jotsoma area on National Highway 39 last evening...

Police said today that the victim, shot on his forehead, was suspected to have been killed yesterday itself. A name, 'C Amos', was found tattooed on his arm.

The body had been kept at the Kohima South police station for identification.

This is the second instance of killing near Kohima town in factional killings between the rival NSCN goups.

On Thursday night, NSCN(IM) cadres had killed Kelhouneisa, the chairman of the Angami region of NSCN(K), and his bodyguard at Rusoma village, about 12 km from here. The chairman's son, daughter-in-law and three bodyguards were also abducted by the assailants.

Claiming responsibility for the killing, NSCN(IM) sources said they had acted on 'intelligence reports' that NSCN(K) cadres were planning an attack on their council headquarters at Hebron.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in and around this capital town, fearing retalliatory action by NSCN(K).

Patrolling has been intensified and frisking was been conducted at several places.

The Nagaland People's Front (NPF), the major coalition partner of the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland, today condemned the killing of Kelhouneisa and his bodyguard, terming it a 'heinous crime'.

UNI
Rich tributes to Sangtam NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telgraph
Dimapur, Feb. 10: A bevy of Naga leaders, including several ministers, paid glowing tributes to Naga Hoho president Horangse Sangtam during a funeral service here this morning.
Naga Hoho vice-president Keviletuo Angami said Sangtam’s last words were that his mission to restore peace in Nagaland was more important than his health. “Let us be committed to fulfilling his commitment,” he said.
Sangtam, 63, had been admitted to a Bangkok hospital on February 3 after he complained of breathing problems. He died on Monday night. The Naga Hoho chief had led a seven-member delegation to the Thailand capital just a few days earlier to interact with the NSCN (I-M) leadership and Indian negotiators during their ceasefire-renewal talks there.
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio and some cabinet colleagues were at Dimapur airport yesterday afternoon to receive the Naga Hoho leader’s body.
For a man of such popularity, Sangtam’s election as president of the apex tribal organisation of Nagaland was mired in controversy. But colleagues said he single-mindedly carried on his mission.
Dimapur Stadium, the venue of the funeral service for the Naga Hoho chief, was chock-a-block with community leaders, representatives of NGOs and countless admirers of the leader. Naga Mothers’ Association president Kheshili Chishi described Sangtam as an “inspiring personality”. Naga Students’ Federation chief Phushikha Aomi echoed her.
Leaders of several Naga groups from Manipur came for the funeral service and extolled the Naga Hoho leader’s commitment to the community’s cause. “He thought that if the process (the NSCN-Delhi talks) went on endlessly, it would endanger peace in Nagaland,” United Naga Council president Puni Modoli said.
Rio was away in Peren district for an official programme. His ministerial colleague Shurhozelie Liezietsu paid tributes to Sangtam on the government’s behalf.
Senior BJP leader Hokishe Sema, chairperson of the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland, was present, too.
Markets in Dimapur remained closed till afternoon as a mark of respect to Sangtam.
Form boundary panel in 3 weeks, Centre told POLITICAL BUREAU The Financial Exprss
NEW DELHI, FEB 10: The Supreme Court on Friday granted three weeks’ time to the Centre to constitute the proposed boundary commission to resolve border dispute among Assam, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.
The apex court opined 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.
With attorney general Milon K Banerjee submitting that he needed to consult the government and take instructions on setting up of the commission, a division bench of Chief Justice YK Sabharwal and Justice CK Thakker gave three weeks’ time for the government to suggest names of the chairman and members of the panel.
The court will consider the Centre’s suggestions on the next date of hearing.
The Assam government had filed two civil suits against Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh in 1988 and 1989 respectively accusing them of encroaching upon its 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 co-operate 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. In the second suit, it alleged that Arunachal Pradesh had occupied 300 sq km territory since 1971.
The Soul Hunters of Central Asia by Manpreet Singh 02/10/2006
The most Baptist state in the world—Nagaland—is vying to become a powerhouse for cross-cultural missions.
Your head would be decorating this drawing room had you met my forefathers a hundred years ago," quips Pihoto Khala. He is speaking to a visitor as he recollects the Naga peoples' century-long journey from headhunting to Christianity.
Today, images of Jesus Christ, not desiccated human skulls, adorn Khala's small house in the hills around Kohima, the capital of India's northeast state of Nagaland. The region, once notorious worldwide for its savagery, has now become India's most Christian-dominant area. It's known as "the most Baptist state in the world."
Nagaland actually lives up to its billing. Some 60 percent of Nagaland's 1.9 million people are Baptists, worshiping in more than 20 groups. Tucked away in a remote corner of the world, Nagaland's people are becoming the soul hunters of Central Asia. Christianity Today recently spent a week with Naga Christians to hear their story.
From Animism to Christ
On a recent Sunday morning, a Kohima sanctuary reverberated with the sounds of "Trading My Sorrows," by American singer/songwriter Darrell Evans.
Young Naga Christians shouted, "Yes, Lord; Yes, Lord; Yes, Yes, Lord."
After the service, Alem Terhuja, a young music teacher who trains teenagers for youth fellowship, told CT, "I can't even imagine life without Christ. Christ is my anchor. I believe Christ is the one who keeps you going through thick and thin."
Another worshiper, Atola Subong, told CT that she started a ministry to disciple young girls in Meghalaya, an Indian state neighboring Nagaland.
"Christianity is the best thing that has happened to me," Subong said. "Christ has fulfilled my deeper yearnings. It has done so much good for us. We want to share with others."
This desire is audacious, considering Nagaland's geography and history. Nagaland is a mountainous and landlocked area. Located on the border of Myanmar (Burma), it is one of India's smallest states, about the combined size of Connecticut and Rhode Island. The first American Baptist missionaries, Edward W. Clark and his wife, Mary, arrived in 1872, when it was considered extremely risky to minister to the Nagas' headhunting culture. But the Clarks served faithfully for 21 years in the hill country and helped establish a lasting Christian influence. By the 1890s, the British, who maintained a colonial presence in Nagaland, had outlawed headhunting.
The church grew slowly at first, and then in great spurts during revivals in 1956 and 1966. A third revival took place in 1972, the same year evangelist Billy Graham and an associate, Akbar Haqq, held a three-day November crusade in Kohima with 500,000 people attending.
However, politics and tribal divisions have complicated the church's growth and mission. After India achieved independence in 1947, Naga separatists (many of them Christians) fought fiercely for independence from India. India's government expelled all foreign missionaries from Nagaland, suspecting them of fueling the Nagas' desire for independence. Finally, after years of violence, India permitted Nagaland to become a "self-governing" state inside India. But entry into and exit from Nagaland is monitored closely, even today, since Christian rebels still advocate complete independence (their slogan: "Nagalim for Christ"). A tenuous ceasefire has been in place for about 10 years. An estimated 200,000 have died since 1947 in the low-level conflict, but most recent violence has occurred between tribal Christians over the issue of independence from India.
Despite the unrest, the gospel has taken root, so much so that the region's headhunting heritage is now a distant memory. Khala, a 46-year-old veterinarian, belongs to the Sumi tribe, one of the major groups. "My forefathers were the most ferocious headhunters among the Naga tribes. We were living in the Stone Age. What could we do? We were like animals. Tit for tat. We didn't know any other way of doing things.
"Christianity taught us tolerance. As God said, 'Revenge is mine.' Had missionaries not come, maybe we would still be living like animals."
The life of Khala's forefathers was one of fear. They lived in an animistic world. They thought angry spirits caused sickness. To find healing, they sought to appease the spirits' anger. Superstition was predominant, and people relied heavily on good and bad omens in making decisions.
"For Nagas, introduction to Christianity was a new experience of peace, hope, love, and the future in Christ. It freed them from fear," says Wati Aier of Oriental Theological Seminary in Dimapur, Nagaland's commercial center.
Khala was born into the devout Christian family of a Naga missionary pastor. Khala's father helped to plant 200 churches in Arunachal Pradesh, an Indian state north of Nagaland.
"God through my father did many miracles, like healing the sick and casting away demons from people. Those who were born between the 1900s and 1930s witnessed with their own eyes God's miracles," says Khala.
As a child, Khala heard stories of how people were expelled from villages and tribes for becoming Christians. But others saw that those who became Christians also became responsible, dependable, and prosperous. "As they say, seeing is believing. Others saw it and followed. God blessed them as they converted to Christianity," says Khala.
Khala's relationship with Christ deepened as he grew into adulthood. "I became born again the day my father died in 2003. Only after my father died did I come to my senses.
"All these worldly things I wanted. Instead of pleasing the physical body, why not pray to God and live happily for eternity?"
Since his father's death, Khala has rarely, if ever, missed a Sunday service. He prays three times a day with his five sons and is a deacon at Sema Baptist Church. His wife teaches at the church's Sunday school. Khala prays for the extension of God's kingdom and contributes generously to missions. He says the story of his family is one of transformation from animism to Christianity in two generations.
Moving Toward Mission
During the three revivals within 16 years, a vision emerged to send 10,000 missionaries from Nagaland to the world, starting with other states in India. Because of the decades of deep civil conflict, the church had done little missionary work. But that's beginning to change, as more Naga churches put a priority on cross-cultural missions.
Nagaland is strategically located near large populations with few churches and even fewer missionaries, including Bangladesh, Myanmar, Butan, Nepal, and western China. S. A. Walling, a well-known lay leader and scholar of Naga Christianity, told CT, "The Holy Spirit has been working continuously. The seed sown by the American missionaries has grown to become a healthy tree, bearing fruit from one generation to the next. God has a definite plan for Nagas in missionary work."
Naga Christians have become accomplished church-planters and builders of schools and seminaries. Vilodi Sakhrie, the young pastor of Union Baptist Church, located in the heart of Kohima, told CT, "There must be at least 15 churches in a one-kilometer area from the place you're sitting now."
Zhabu Terhuja, general secretary of Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC), told CT, "The growth of churches in Arunachal Pradesh is because of Naga churches. Twenty years ago in Sikkim, there were no Baptist churches. But today we have them there in good numbers. Churches are growing rapidly in Uttar Pradesh. We have mission fields in Orissa, West Bengal, Manipur, and Assam."
Terhuja says Naga Christians are active in Nepal, working with the assistance of Nepali Christian converts living in Nagaland. Missionaries are also spreading God's word in Cambodia, Burundi, Japan, Thailand, South Africa, and Hong Kong.
Naga church leaders have developed "revival-hour" prayer meetings as one method to build spiritual discipline and communal mission. At these gatherings, believers pray and sing praises to the Lord. "Revival prayers are a very important part of our churches," says Terhuja. "We have to be careful. The Western influence and materialism is sweeping the whole society. Unless people are grounded in the Word of God, things will go bad."
In November, the Nagaland Missionary Movement (NMM), the mission wing of NBCC, organized the first Naga missionary conference, with the theme "The Field is the World," to renew its commitment to world evangelization.
"Naga churches are seriously trying to follow the mandate of Jesus—going to the world," says Wati of Oriental Theological Seminary. Nagaland churches are self-supporting and self-propagating. The missionary movement is supported by contributions from local churches, associations, families, and individuals.
Nagaland is growing in its role as a regional resource for missions training. With at least eight theological colleges, Asian students are drawn to Nagaland. Christ for the Nations Bible College in Kohima has students from Myanmar, Nepal, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam. Alem Jamir, a lecturer at the college, says, "Our students are working in areas where there are no churches. We have a lot to do."
But, says Walling, many prospective, talented young people are too poor to pursue theological education and training. "Students from the other parts of the country, mainly from Hindu-dominated areas, are supported by individuals and families. After training, they are sent back to the areas they've come from. I myself support such students."
Also, Jamir told CT, many students "didn't go to schools for formal education." "Some have even been in prison," he said. "Our college's vision is to fill students with the Holy Spirit and send them out to the world to share the good news. God can use a nobody."
One student, Michael, 29, brims with enthusiasm when talking about missions work. "God willing, I will go as a missionary," says Michael. "I am young. May the Holy Spirit lead us. I will do my best, but God will show us the way. It's a joy to go on a soul-winning mission."
The hunger among Naga youth to spread the gospel is palpable. "The young people are the life of our churches. They are very active in evangelizing and prayers. All they need is direction and resources," says Terhuja.
In addition to financial challenges, liberal theology, denominational splintering, and nominalism also present challenges, according to Naga church elders. Tribal culture remains strong throughout Nagaland. Unity among Christians is hard to maintain, in part because there are more than 30 languages spoken in Nagaland. "Christianity didn't make us saints overnight. We struggle as everyone struggles in the world. The challenge is to live out the true Christian life in historical context," says Wati.
In Nagaland's church-oriented culture, though, Christians have an unusual opportunity to work openly. In December, for example, Baptist leaders agreed to ring their church bells each morning at 5:30 a.m. in a public call to Christian prayer. "Let the praises of God flow and fill the hills and valleys throughout Nagaland," they proclaimed in launching the program. Pastors decided on one specific prayer item each day. Families were provided hymns to sing at 7 p.m. each evening.
For Khala, this kind of communal spirituality is nothing new or unusual. He typically gets up every morning at 5 a.m. to pray.
On one calm, cold, and sunny November Sunday morning, while the sounds of church bells fill the Kohima valley, Khala takes his seat at Sema Baptist for the 10 a.m. service. Soon the church is full with more than 1,000 worshipers; many others sit outside in white plastic chairs.
During the sermon, Sema's pastor tells an inspiring story of 15 Myanmar tribesmen who walked for three days through violence-prone border areas in order to attend a mission training camp organized by Sema Baptist. It's yet another example of how Nagaland's churches are reaching out to meet new demands for leadership training.
Khala, his rough face turned soft, says, "People talk about heaven after life. I've found my heaven in this life. I feel like sharing with others this happiness. I feel like telling them to come and feel happiness instead of a sinful and worried life."
Manpreet Singh is a journalist based in New Delhi, India.
Copyright © 2006 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.
Street uprising against Army’s atrocities and custodial death The Morung Express
GUWAHATI, FEB 10 (AGENCIES): Street uprising against army operation in Assam has turned grave today as thousands of villagers tried to storm Army outposts protesting against atrocities and custodial killings.
According to official source, the Army too has gone defensive after the custodial death of an innocent youth Ajit Mahanta on Sunday night as they were trying to push a compensation package to the victim’s family.
Thousands of people, mostly supporters of ULFA, have continued to block the National Highway 52 at Kakopathar demanding punishment of the guilty and tried to storm the Army outposts.
The state government has also kept a safe distance from the incident leaving it to the Army as senior ministers and top bureaucrats have been steadfastly refusing to get involved in the incident.
This morning, braving the Army patrolling, thousands of unarmed villagers literally evicted two Army pickets located in and around the Pengeri area and made an abortive attempt to storm the main camp also.
Official sources confirming this development informed over phone that villagers have been demanding that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi should come personally to instruct Army to withdraw from the area. “Situation is very grave. Already two pickets of Army have been stormed and villagers defied the last night’s Army restriction of free movement. Anything can happen now as for the fourth day the National Highway 52 have been blocked,’’ said an official of the Tinsukia district administration.
The Army had branded slained Ajit Mahanta as ULFA linkman while the villager’s term him as ordinary villager. A rattled state government has opened a CID inquiry, but the ground situation is going from bad to worse.
In fact about 15000 people yesterday dug up the NH52 and performed some religious rites. The Army is trying to get Assam police into act to clear up the road, but even the district top brass of the Assam police is dragging its feet.
Manipur Journalists stage sit-in-protest, suspends publication The Morung Express
IMPHAL, FEB 10 (NNN): Journalists of Manipur today staged a sit-in-protest at Keishampat junction of Imphal and decided not to bring out tomorrow’s publications based in Imphal to protest against the attack on their colleague Ratan Luwangcha by unknown gunmen yesterday.
The decision to suspend tomorrow’s publication was jointly taken by the All Manipur Working Journalists Union and Editors Forum Manipur demanding action against the assailants.
Ratan Luwangcha, the Generals Secretary of the All Manipur Working Journalists Union and Bureau Chief of the Poknapham daily, one of the leading Manipuri vernacular dailies was attacked at his home by three gunmen coming on an Activa scooter. The attackers fled after the attack. Doctors at Shija Hospitals performed an emergency operation yesterday and the condition of the senior journalist is said to be critical.
The two journalist bodies has asked the attackers to give reasons for their attack by tomorrow. So far no armed group has claimed responsibility of the attack. Police also could not find any clue to the identity of the attackers. About 100 media persons participated in the sit-in-protest.
At meeting was held to review the situation. The meeting decided to suspend tomorrow’s publication. However, resumption of the publication from the next day would be decided by the two organizations tomorrow. Ratan is the fifth media person of Imphal attacked by unidentified gunmen during the past decades. Three editors were shot dead while an electronic media person was killed by unidentified persons in separate incidents.
Gas pipeline from Myanmar will not affect state clarifies officials Newmai News Network February 10
AIZAWL: It has been learnt from a high official source in the Mizoram state government that the proposed gas pipeline that will run through Mizoram, Tripura and Bangladesh from western Myanmar will not affect the state in anyway.
After all local newspapers today carried a story of an opposition against the proposed gas pipeline; the government source said there was lack of detail in the opposition’s statements and that the opposition’s statement was based mainly on the pipeline being constructed overground, which is not the case.
“The opposition against the pipeline going through Mizoram is based on the assumption that the pipes would be laid overground. This, however, is not the case. The pipes would be buried at least five feet below the ground and the question of the pipeline bisecting the state does not arise at all,” the source said.
He also pointed out that instead of being a liability, the pipeline would prove beneficial in many ways. “Electric power is a commodity in scarce supply in the state. Even if the plans for generating hydro-electricity in the state materialize, the output from these would become minimal during the dry seasons. So if gas is flowing through the state, it is only natural that the state utilizes this gas for generation of power. Apart from this, the state would profit by charging use of the territory to the concerned companies,” the government official informed.
At the moment, however, the pipeline is not a reality that can emerge in the near future. Even the state government has little information on the proposed pipeline and most government officials, even the bureaucrats, have denied knowledge about the proposal.
The Delhi-based Shwe Gas Pipeline Campaign Committee’s main object seems to be against doing any business with Myanmar military’s State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The people involved in the committee are mainly Burmese refugees fighting for the restoration of democracy in Myanmar/Burma.
The members of the committee have pointed out that although extracting the huge gas resources in the offshore fields in western Burma is not being objected to per se, it is objecting to the extraction on grounds that as long as it is done under a government not elected under a democracy, the people of Burma would continue to suffer while ensuring the entrenchment of the military regime.
However, the gas pipeline may not become a reality at all as the Burmese military rulers have reneged on their agreements with ONGC and GAIL. They now have said they have no gas to supply to India as the surplus is going to be bought by China. China has a lot of influence in the military junta of Myanmar which is becoming a great concern for India.
Since the foreign policy of India is involved to a great extent, mere protests may not be sufficient to stop the gas pipeline should India again manage to persuade Myanmar to sell its gas to it.
ULFA representatives threaten to pull out of talks By Indo Asian News Service
Guwahati, Feb 11 (IANS) Representatives of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), an outlawed separatist group in Assam Saturday threatened to pull out of peace talks with New Delhi, citing rights' violations.
The immediate provocation for the warning has been the killing of nine people in police firing in Assam late Friday. Police fired at demonstrators protesting the alleged death of a villager in eastern Assam's Tinsukia district in army custody last weekend.
Declaring that innocent civilians were being killed in the name of countering insurgency, the People's Consultative Group (PCG), an 11-member team of civil society leaders chosen by the outlawed ULFA, said the central government was violating the 'spirit' of the agreement reached between the two sides in New Delhi.
'We have told the Indian government in clear terms that we will pull out of the talks if security forces continue with their operations resulting in excesses on the common people,' Dilip Patgiri, a senior PCG member, told IANS.
The PCG Saturday formally conveyed its displeasure over recent military operations in Assam in a letter to National Security Advisor M.K. Narayanan.
The last round of peace talks between the PCG and government negotiators ended in New Delhi Tuesday with the two sides agreeing to work towards 'confidence building measures' and 'creating a conducive atmosphere' for signing a ceasefire agreement.
'On the one hand the government talks about confidence building measures and on the other it is violating the basic spirit of the talks by launching military operations,' Patgiri said.
'This kind of double standards would prove detrimental to the peace process'. The ULFA, a rebel group fighting for an independent homeland since 1979, in October last year nominated the PCG to initiate the peace talks aimed at ending nearly three decades of insurgency in Assam.
The talks were aimed at first paving the way for a formal declaration of a bilateral ceasefire between the ULFA and the central government. Direct talks between the rebel leadership and the government were expected to follow after the ceasefire.
'Now everything looks bleak if the government continues with military operations and rights' violations,' Patgiri said.