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03/13/2006: "8 Manipur ultras killed"



8 Manipur ultras killed Nagaland Post
Imphal, March 12 (UNI): Eight militants and a woman were killed in three different encounters between security personnel and insurgents in the state during the last 24 hours.
Police said four People's Liberation Army (PLA) cadres were shot dead by 18 Assam Rifles and 21 field para regiment yesterday at Khoibu Khullen in Chandel district. In the encounter a woman, identified as Moikham Singlei, was also killed and her son injured.
The combined force had attacked the militants and a fighting ensued which continued for more than two hours. Four bodies of militants had been recovered so far. Police were still looking for presence of militants in the area. A light machine gun and three AK rifles were also recovered.
Police said two People's United Liberation Front activists were also shot dead. Some demand notes were seized from their possession. One of them was the finance collector of the outfit, police added.
Meanwhile, family members of one of the deceased have refused to collect the body saying he was 'innocent'.
In another incident police said two militants were shot dead by unknown persons. Both of them were shot yesterday. While one died on the spot, the other succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Meanwhile, several organizations today staged sit-in demonstrations in different parts of the State to protest the alleged molestation and torture of a girl in police custody.
The Manipur Students' Association, Delhi, in a statement sent here said a sit in protest was also staged yesterday at Jantar Mantar in the capital and it was supported by several unions and organisations.
Naxalites kidnap 6 cops Nagaland Post
Raipur, March 12 (PTI): Maoists today abducted six policemen from Naxal-infested Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, top police officials said.
"Two head constables and four constables were abducted near Chintagufa area of the district," top police officials of Dantewada told PTI over phone. "Details of the abducted policemen are not known," they said adding additional police force have rushed to the spot to trace them.
The policemen were travelling in a bus when the Maoists stopped the vehicle near Chintagufa and abducted them, Dantewad District Superintendent of Police Praveer Das said.
The incident took place about 20 km from Dornapal and about 500 km from the state capital.
At the time of abduction, the policemen were without their weapons, Das said. The details of the kidnapping were not known, the SP said. Meanwhile, police today recovered bodies of two villagers near Konta area of Dantewada district.
The two were suspected to be killed by the Maoists, who have started targeting villagers to create a reign of terror in the entire Bastar region, including `hyper sensitive' Dantewada district, Das said.
Naxalites have stepped up their violent activities in Dantwada district after a peace campaign was launched against them with the active support of the state BJP government, police sources said.
So far, over 50,000 people have deserted their villages fearing for their life and have taken shelter in 27 relief camps opened by the government in the area, sources said.
From June last, about 200 people, including over 50 policemen, have also been killed by the Naxalites in Dantewada district, they added.
Mann urges India to fulfill Nehru’s promise on J&K by GK NEWS SERVICE
Srinagar: Prominent Sikh leader and president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) (Amritsar) Simranjit Singh Mann on Thursday asked Government of India to fulfill the promise and commitments made by late Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru with people of Jammu and Kashmir regarding implementation of the right to self-determination.
“The Congress and opposition leaders who respect and swear by Nehru should keep his promise and commitment,” Mann told a news conference here.
“The government should respect international law, and the right of self-determination be given to the people of Kashmir under UN charter signed by India, and amenable to it by virtue of Article 51 of its constitution,” Mann said, adding that India has ended the pre-53 position of Kashmir.
The Sikh leader said it were the British who drew boundaries like Red Cliff line and LoC and made historical mistakes. “The Sikhs, Kashmiris and Nagas now want to re-correct it,” he added.
Mann said the government of India loves Kashmir and not its people as can be gauged from the “reign of terror” unleashed by it troops on people. “The government of India is ruling the State at the behest of its troops and can’t buy the sentiments and emotions of people,” he said, adding the troops stationed in Valley were breaking the hearts of people in contrast to the claims made by New Delhi.
He said the government has given special powers and a freehand to its troops “to kill any one.” “The (Armed Forces) Special Powers Act and the Disturbed Areas Act have vested the powers to troops to commit any offence,” Mann said while drawing parallels between the “atrocities committed by troops” and the “crawling order” given by the British officer General Dyer in Amritsar during India’s struggle for freedom.
Commenting on the recent killing of four civilians, two of them children, by troops in Doodipora area of Handwara, Mann termed the as “genocide of Kashmiris.”
“We can only conclude that the Indian State has no respect for law or its international obligations to safeguard the life, property and honour of its minorities, a similar situation prevails in Punjab.” Mann said.
Mann lashed out at the US President George W Bush for not mentioning anything about the rights violations “committed by troops” in Jammu and Kashmir.
He said the claims made by India about being the largest democracy were “hollow.” “Where is the quality democracy claimed by India?” he asked.
Mann advocated demilitarization of Kashmir, Nagaland and Punjab, saying let the people decide their fate. The SAD president said that his party fails to understand the actual meaning of self-rule. “This proposal has been made only to confuse the issue,” he said, adding the party would fight till the last drop of blood for the right of the Kashmiri people.
by GK NEWS SERVICE)
Straight from the battlefield :: AN INTERVIEW
Shruba Mukherjee meets Temsula Ao, an author who has captured the troubled Naga experience within the pages of her new book. It was the intense urge to re-visit the lives of those people, whose pain has so far gone unnoticed, which forced Temsula Ao to switch over to prose from poetry. In her recently published collection titled These hills called home: Stories from a war zone, published by Zubaan and Penguin, the professor in the Department of English, North Eastern Hill University, Shillong, has brought alive the poignant experiences of a people caught in a spiral of violence. Excerpts from her interview to Deccan Herald.

What prompted you to take up this project?

This book is not the result of any ‘project’, nor is it about any specific ‘issue’. It all started when I was struggling with a particular poem and was getting nowhere. So I said to myself that after writing four books of poems I should try my hand at writing fiction again. Two of my short stories had already been published, so I started on a story actually to take my mind off the problem-poem. But as I started writing, I found myself gripped by a desire to write more stories. So I concentrated on a particular period of our history as the backdrop of the stories and here is the result.


Can you elaborate on the groundwork or research you have undertaken for the project? Was it an outcome of your own experience and did you meet any of the characters portrayed here?

As for ‘groundwork’ or ‘research’ in writing the stories, there was none. Yes, to a certain extent my ‘personal experience’ about aspects like curfew and the introduction of parliamentary government in Nagaland did help me in formulating certain ideas for some stories. Some other aspects like ‘grouping’ of villages and accounts of army atrocities on civilians, especially women were in public knowledge and the main issues of fear and resentment during the most turbulent years of the Naga uprising. All the characters are imaginary but the stories woven around them represent the oral history and truth about the happenings of those terrible years.

One underlying thread in all the ten stories is women, or in your words, “their efforts to cling on to humanity amidst the chaos that has engulfed their world.” What is your take on this?

There was no deliberate or conscious decision regarding this and the stories themselves seemed to have taken hold of the telling, so that the focus in a majority of them turned out to be on women. The only reason for this can perhaps be attributed to the fact that the writer is a woman living in a society which is so archly patriarchal and that the stories represent some deep-seated anxiety and concern about this male attitude.

How do you think the era of turmoil has transformed the Naga psyche?

All I can say at this stage is to repeat my own words, “It was almost like a birth by fire”. There have been wide-ranging implications as a result of the political upheaval; economic, social and even inter-tribal and inter-personal confrontations. It is as though the Naga psyche has been dealt multiple injuries, leaving permanent scars and disabilities, though well-hidden behind a façade of apparent normality, especially among the urban elite.

You have said the traditional Naga way of life is becoming irrelevant for the Naga youngsters in the face of the present progress and development. What is the way out?

It is inevitable that progress and development should overtake any society and it is a welcome phenomenon on the surface. But the unique position of the Nagas is that they have been catapulted suddenly from a state of virtual isolation and ‘ignorance’ into a confusing environment so out of sync with their tradition that ‘striking a balance’ itself is at the heart of the conflict. Our racial wisdom has always extolled the virtue of human beings living at peace with themselves and in harmony with nature and with our neighbours. It is only when the Nagas re-embrace this vision into the fabric of their lives, can we say that the memories of the turbulent years have served us well. [Deccan Herald]

War of attrition takes serious turn
Monday March 13 2006 00:00 IST Newind Press
BHADRACHALAM: War of attrition between the Maoists and the Chattisgarh police took serious turn on Sunday with the former kidnapping six policemen in trouble-torn Dantewada district.

In an apparent retaliation to the detention of 2 Gutti Koya supporters on Saturday, the Maoists intercepted a Dornapal-Chintalanar bus carrying six police personnel at about 9 am and whisked them away. While four of the kidnapped personnel belong to Nagaland police, the remaining are from the Armed Reserve Force (ARF).

The ultras vanished into the woods thrusting a note into the hands of the bus conductor. In the note, the Naxals demanded immediate winding up of anti-Naxal vigilante movement `Salva Judum' and a full-stop to combing operations in Chattisgarh-Khammam border.

The Chattisgarh government declared a red-alert in the border areas and launched a massive combing operations. Special party police have been pressed into service and a high-level committee is reviewing the situation. On the Andhra Pradesh side of the border too, a high alert has been sounded.
KNF clarifies Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Mar 12 : Setting the record straight, the Kuki National Front today said that its cadres shot Leishangthem Basanti (30) of Sekmai New Market on the leg not on grounds of monetary demands but because the woman was found transporting 300 litres of liquor. In a statement, the outfit said that it has strictly prohibited the transportation of liquor and sand and other intoxicants in the area.
KNF further warned all other traders from Sekmai not to supply or transport liquor in the area of jurisdiction of the outfit and added that such intoxicants are the root cause of all social ills in the society. This may even result in misunderstanding the tension between communities. The statement added that the KNF had already warned all not to supply or transport liquor and urged all to co-operate.

UNLF points blast finger at SF
By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Mar 12 : Categorically refuting the statement of the PIB (Defence Wing) that held the UNLF responsible for the IED explosion at Hollejang village in Chandel district that killed one woman and injured three others, the UNLF today said that the blast was not an IED but a landmine planted by the security personnel posted at Hengshi.
In a statement, the outfit said that the truth of the matter may be established by a media team.
The security force has adopted the tactics of planting landmines on the treks used by villagers and pinning the blame on the UNLF when the landmines explode and inflict human casualties, said the outfit.
This is nothing but to incite the villagers against the UNLF and on the other hand acting like the good samaritan by providing financial assistance, said UNLF.
It is with the objective of defaming the UNLF that the security force has been planting anti-personnel landmines at Chandel and Churachandpur districts and later heaping the blame on the outfit, claimed the statement.
Till today the booby traps laid by the MPA of the UNLF have always been away from the routes used by the villagers, said the statement and added that the villagers are always informed to stay away from such places where the booby traps have been laid.
The booby traps are laid to trap the security force if they try to attack the MPA camps, it added.
Out of the 10 villagers killed in the IED explosions, seven were killed when they were used as mine sweepers by the security personnel, claimed the outfit.
It is time for the people to unitedly condemn the tactics of the security personnel who are playing with the lives of the innocent villagers, said UNLF and dubbed the activities of the security personnel as war crimes.
Civilised societies which have spoken out against land mines should raise their voice now, said the outfit and urged the people, particularly the hill people not to be fooled by the tactics of the security personnel.

I’m being implicated falsely, Village Chairman says The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MARCH 12 (MExN): Replying to a rejoinder entitled ‘Gang rape and attempted gang rape incident’ which appeared in a section of the media recently, Zumolhi Mero, Village Chairman of Pfutseromi said the letter issued by Merhusayi Vadeo, Disamo Puro and Kewekhape Khupfu appalls him “because their story is a complete fabrication from the start to the finish.”
In their letter, they had alleged that on the way ‘Akole and Zebedee’ met the Village Council Chairman (VCC) of Pfutseromi Village, who is an uncle of Akole and called her to go with him. It was reported that Zebedee also asked Akole to go with him, but she on her own volition refused saying that the VCC is her uncle (Ami).”
Categorically clarifying that he had never seen Akole on the very day, Zumolhi said his calling her to go with him to the village was a totally false fabrication. “In fact, that evening after witnessing a football match, I along with the VDB Secretary, Mr. Zhiepfulo Mero, Mr Zhasheyi Kapfo, Village Council Secretary and Mr. Kewekhro Mero, a school teacher, while going to the village saw a man wearing a lohe shawl standing near the Pfutseromi Village gate around 7:30 pm.”
Assuming the man to be a fellow villager, we called him to come along with us, he said. “But this man never spoke to us. He continued looking elsewhere. He was the only soul I saw and no other person was in sight. As it turned out, the person happened to be Zebedee.” Saying that he did not recognize him then, the Chairman said the chance of talking with Akole as claimed by Zebedee is an absolutely false fabrication.
“I am saddened by the fact that my name has been drawn into this incident unnecessarily. I view this as a ploy to tarnish not just my person and office but also my village.”
The Mizo peace and the lessons for Nagaland Perspective The Morung Express
Mizoram, which once used to be as strife term and violent as some sister states still are, will soon be celebrating 20 long years of peace and rapid march towards development. In a land mark decision, the Mizos decided to change the path and the fail dangerous plans of various external agencies and be drivers of their own destiny, and removed the hurdles and pitfalls that plague most other states of North East till date. This courageous move has led to true atmosphere for peace and development. Decision to invite all ex-Chief Ministers to celebrate 20 years of peace is bold and praiseful, and shows that there is no petty politics. They have shown that ‘Peace pays’, and there is a big lesson for us mortals.
But it is not the common man who is at fault. People in streets want permanent peace and no more interested in various demands and private agendas, because permanent and genuine peace is pre-condition for development. But where is the problem?
The first problem I feel is our definition of peace itself. We have slowly started believing that peace simply means lack of violence, cease-fire etc. But peace means respect for each others views, respect for life, patience and big heart to accommodate everyone rather than pointing fingers. Violence, killings, fear of the gun, illegal activities continue unchecked, and various peace rallies and public cries go not noticed. So, there is no peace of mind. We need to learn our lessons and act fast and the state government cannot be a spectator and needs to lead from front. As Aristotle once said, “State exists not only for mere life but also for the sake of good life”.
The second problem is our definition for development. Dependence on crumbs and aid cannot be the forever solution. Our own resources have to be tapped; our strengths and weaknesses have to be studied. Whatever industries we had have been consigned to the coffin. Who will come here? Because our biggest hurdle is our extremely poor ‘working culture’. We need to identify new areas and change gears to be part of the fats growing knowledge economy and we need some sincere people. Temporarily borrowing some bureaucrats and politicians from Mizoram not be a bad idea.
The third problem is the burden of history thrown on us in the name of Naga cause by foreign agents, whose main aim is to create unrest and disturbance various regions of the world. We are also a small part of that big game plan and the games nations play in the name of geopolitics and strategic interests. For them people of other regions not matter. And we are the sufferers, and will remain at the mercy of foreign butchers unless we also rise collectively like the Mizos and say enough is enough, leave us alone please.
As long as our leaders and organizations keep playing into the hands of outer agencies, we will keep suffering. Even if we get cease-fire for the next ten years, true peace will never come. True peace means the freedom to take your decisions, freedom of movement and economic freedom. The hurdle is the factionalism and tribalism, we live in doubt and fear even when the ceasefire is there.
And our own brothers are the reason for our suffering and downfall, because they want us to be hooked to their demands and agendas which appear out of sort in this fast change globe village where the only thing that matter is economic progress. And we are under pressure to support one or more of them, at gun point and fear of our lives. We will continue to exist like this and support these factions as long as we remain stupid spineless fellows. But there is no other choice, because deserving options like true peace are not being allowed to be voiced. And bitterness among factions and differences of opinions will ensure that we remain in the war zone because of private interests.
Today, we are at the cross road and options are many. We need to take decision which takes care of our future rather than justify our past. Everyone wants peace and development but is afraid to speak. There is a leadership vacuum and leaders have their own agendas. The first step is all we need the courage for, rest everything will fall in place automatically. The only trick is to define a roadmap and identity opportunities. It may not be difficult, if we are united for peace and sincere in our efforts. Where there is a will, there is a way. May the Lord Christ grant us the courage and Strength?
Kuknalim
Tali Ao, Kohima
March 13 Today's Editorial
Restoring Democracy The Morung Express
Underlining the need for restoration of democracy in Myanmar, India has finally done the right thing by offering assistance in establishing the democratic structure in the country. That President A P J Abdul Kalam during his talks with Chairman of the Military Junta General Than Shwe, had discussed about India sharing its know-how in evolving appropriate institutions and capacity building should be taken as a positive development given the fact that even New Delhi, the world’s largest democracy, had often shied away from this issue as it had been more interested in the business opportunity that Myanmar has had to offer. While India may have profited from this economic tie-up, such a policy course of engaging the military regime has completely ignored the principles underlying India’s overall foreign policy.
Better still, it would be in the interest of the region as a whole if India can work out a more comprehensive bilateral engagement plan with the military junta instead of merely cooperating in certain areas such as trade and the flush out campaign of Indian insurgents in its north-eastern frontiers. Further, given the healthy friendship between the civilian government in India with the military establishment of Myanmar, no better country than India has the greater proximity to facilitate the restoration of democracy in that country. Therefore, the opportunity presents itself for India to seriously engage the junta on the democracy issue.
On this, New Delhi will have to work closely with the United States and the European Union to push for reform of Myanmar’s political structure. For the hopefuls both in India and Myanmar, the visit of President Kalam to Rangoon and raising the issue of restoring democracy augurs well for the pro-democracy movement across the region. The statement emanating from the Indo-US agreement for encouraging democracy and providing assistance to countries asking for such help would now have to be spelt into joint initiatives from both countries.
Against this backdrop, the recent ‘olive branch’ offered by the National League for Democracy (NLD) to the Myanmar Military Junta is something unprecedented. The men in uniform should seriously think about reconvening Parliament in accordance with the results of the 1990 elections in exchange for the NLD recognizing the role of the current military regime, in national politics. This is a significant gesture by the NLD for national reconciliation, which will break the political stalemate that has clouded Myanmar for 17 years.
In addition, China – as a member of the UN Security Council and major power in the region will have to play a bigger role in bringing change to Myanmar. It is in China’s political and economic interests to see national reconciliation, which would result in a more accountable and stable government in Rangoon. More importantly, leaders from countries of the ASEAN, US, EU, and India must do everything possible short of imposing sanctions to maintain pressure on the junta for the release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and all political prisoners as the only realistic first step in facilitating the national reconciliation process.
Security forces shot a young woman deliberatelyFamily members and villagers refused to take the death body Newmai News Network March 12

Imphal: Tribal villagers of Khoibu Khunou of Chandel district in Manipur accused the security forces of killing deliberately a young woman of the village during an encounter with militants’ yesterday morning.
The family and villagers of Khoibu Khunou refused to take the dead body, which is now lying at Lilong primary health centre of Thoubal district where the post mortem was conducted yesterday.
A combined team of the army and the Assam Rifles had an exchange of fire with militants of the Peoples Liberation Army at about 8 am. Four PLA cadres and one woman were killed in the encounter while the security forces recovered three AK rifles and one LMG.
The civilian is identified as Moikham (30). Her son aged one year and two months also sustained bullet injuries. The husband of the deceased, Chingthui said the security forces shot dead his wife while she was hiding under a bed of their house with the minor child.
The husband said that the villagers fled helter skelter on hearing the gun shot. While some fled to nearby jungles others ran inside houses to protect themselves. Shortly after the encounter some security forces entered the house where the woman was hiding and shot her death on the spot. The husband and family villagers turned at the venue of the post mortem. Strongly condemning the act of the security forces, they have demanded punishment of the personnel involved in the killing. They said the body would not be taken till the demand is fulfilled. While Khoibu villagers are seethed with anger women protestors at Bishnupur district in the valley erupted in anger following arrest of an old woman by the police. The protestors blocked the Imphal-Churachandpur road at Yumnam Khunou today demanding release of the woman.
Reports said a police team arrived at the house of the woman identified Ch. Tondonbi Devi in search of a son of the woman identified as Joy Singh reportedly in connection with the kidnapping of an individual. When the son was not found at the house the police took the mother at the police Bishnupur police station where she is still under detention.
The protestors burnt woods and tyres along the highway. Roadblocks were also put up blocking the vehicular traffic. The local MLA N. Radhakishore Sinh today met the agitators and promised his support in the effort for security release of the woman.
Meanwhile, the UNLF accused the army for planting landmine at Hollejang village of Dingpi area of Chandel district. The UNLF said in a statement today that the army falsely blamed UNLF for the blast in which one woman was killed and three others were wounded. The UNLF said the landmine was planted by the army personnel camping at Hengsi village.
The statement said the army laid landmines at Chandel and Churachandpur district, causing civilian casualties. The army also launched a false propaganda that the landmines were planted by the UNLF and its armed wing MPA.



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