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03/14/2006: "Next round of Naga talks only after Assam polls"


Next round of Naga talks only after Assam polls Nagarealm.com
NEW DELHI, MARCH 14: In an indication that it was mindful of unforeseen pitfalls, the Centre has decided to hold the next round of talks with the NSCN (IM) leadership after the Assembly elections to Assam on April 10. Government circles on Sunday indicated that the next round of negotiations, a process which has been projected as an indication of progress by the Centre, could be held in mid-April, possibly in Bangkok once again. The last round of talks was in January when the two sides decided to explore “new initiatives.”

The move to hold the talks with the NSCN (IM) leadership only after the Assembly polls, sources pointed out, was being done with the aim of avoiding any controversy over the main demand of the NSCN (IM) leadership to bring all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas in adjoining states under one administrative unit. Besides Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, Assam is among the states that would be affected by any unification proposal. The proposal of a Greater Nagalim does not have the support in these three states, while Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio had contended that unification of Naga areas was an absolute necessity to bring peace to the Northeast.

In the last round of talks held in Bangkok between January 27 and 31, the government had assured the NSCN (IM) leadership of “new initiatives,” after the latter had hinted that they were not too happy with the lack of significant progress in the talks, which were entering the ninth year now. A joint statement issued on January 31 and signed by Centre’s interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah and NSCN (IM) leader Thuingaleng Muivah after the talks had mentioned the “new initiatives” though government had refused to elaborate on them.

An indication that the NSCN (IM) has been attempting to step up pressure on the Centre is evident by the fact that it has agreed only to a six-month extension of the ceasefire with the Centre, though the two sides agreed to carry political negotiations forward. [FE]
Rio’s plea for prosperity Correspondent Nagaland Post
KOHIMA, MARCH 13 (NPN): State chief minister Neiphiu Rio threw the gauntlet by stating that people misutilized government subsidies and assistance and therefore, should chose between progressing economically or remaining unprogressive.
Speaking at the "Ginger distribution programme for Kohima district" at State Academy Hall, Rio said it was high time the Nagas realized about their rights and responsibilities and urged upon them to work together along with the State government for the progress of the State.
He maintained that State's declaration of year 2006 as "Year of Farmers" was mainly to focus on achieving self-sufficiency in agriculture and its allied sectors in order to promote economic prosperity for the farmers. Stating that seventy per cent of the people in the State still rely on agriculture for livelihood, the chief minister said the State government had declared the year as "Year of Farmers" in order to improve the living condition of the farmers and also to augment State's economy. The government through various agencies has been giving various benefits to the farmers in cash and kind, he said.
Rio reminded that it was upto the farmers to decide whether to produce more and improve their living condition or to "misuse the benefits, eat up the seeds and the capital and remain poor and unprogressive".
He disclosed the State government allocated Rs.10 crore to the Agriculture Department for implementing the year-long programmes and activities. Further, he said the government targeted an additional crop production of 67,530 metric tonnes during the current year.
"The Naga ginger has an international market," Rio said and advised the Agriculture Department to properly plan market linkages in advance and help in setting up ginger processing and drying plant for ensuring that there was not any problem in marketing ginger. Earlier, Planning and Urban Development Minister, Dr. Shürhozelie Liezietsu in his speech pointed out that many government programmes and policies aimed at uplifting the society failed due to misuse of grants by the leaders.
He urged the leaders to first think of the benefits of the society and then think of themselves. The minister also assured the farmers of buyback policies. He disclosed that State government had earmarked about Rs.20 crore separately for the year-long programmes.
NU Office damaged by students Kuknalim.com
DIMAPUR, March 13: Furious over the reported non-acceptance of Prof. G D Sharma's resignation from the Vice Chancellorship of Nagaland University as well as non intimation on the demands of the students by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) the three campuses of Post Graduate Students' Union (PGSU) resorted to unruly agitation.
Entering their third-week of agitation on Monday, the frenzied PGSU students, numbering 200, damaged the official chambers of the Vice Chancellor, Prof G D Sharma, Registrar T. Vihienuo and Finance Officer, E M Patton in the Nagaland University Administrative Building.
They had locked themselves between the two gates of the university and begun the agitation with slogan shouting while some of the students entered the building and destroyed furniture, name boards, computers and photo boards in the official chambers of the three heads of the University.
Later, the students came out once again locking the gates and burned effigies of the three officials besides breaking window panes using catapults and stones for at least half an hour. They also burned several chairs and benches and traffic was disrupted along the DC office road as students blocked the road and prevent vehicular movement.

Though late, the arrival of the police personnel did not deter the students and they continued to destroy furniture of the University. Ther personnel present at the site remained mute spectators along with hundreds of people watching it all from a distance.

The students flayed the silence of the DAN govt. in Nagaland. They shouted slogans asking the DAN govt. to "Wake up" and deliver justice to the students. They also accused the DAN govt of being controlled by G D Sharma as the state govt has not reacted on the overall development despite submitting several representations. The agitation continued for almost two hours before the District Magaistrate arrived and disburse the students with a warning.

Interestingly, when the police tried to put out the fire by using a fire hose, the students were seen dancing under the shower in an act of defiance. Later, the police resorted to firing tear gas. However, the students retaliated by pelting stones and throwing back the tear gas shells at the police and district administration to which the police also resorted to stone pelting till the SDO(C), SP Kohima and NSF leaders intervened and put an end to it.

Following the forceful disbursement, the students congregated at the History Dept. of the University where they sought the cooperation and support of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) to impose a state-wide bandh and take up more aggressive forms of agitation.
Meanwhile, Thongsenlo Magh, President of the PGSU, Kohima campus, reiterated that they would even sacrifice an academic year for the betterment and welfare of the future of students and would continue the agitation. Courtesy: North East Herald.
NU Kohima face students’ heat Morung Express News Kohima | March 13

The ongoing agitation by the Post-Graduate Students Union of Nagaland University (PGSU) demanding immediate acceptance of Vice-Chancellor Professor GD Sharma’s resignation intensified into a violent fracas today when the students started resorting to stone pelting and destruction of furnishing at the Kohima Campus.
The protestors numbering around 200 started resorting to pelting stones and projectiles and destroyed windows, chairs, tables and furniture of the Nagaland University, Kohima. The agitating students also burnt the effigy of Vice Chancellor Professor GD Sharma. With the fracas continuing, the Police arrived on the scene and burst teargas to disperse the irate students.
The PGSU activists also forced the closure of the NU administrative office by locking the office since March 8. The union made it amply clear that it would agitate till the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India and the President (NU’s Visitor) accepts the VC’s resignation.
“We are not going to give up’, PGSU president Thonsenlo Magh told The Morung Express, adding it would intensify the agitation and continue till the concerned authority accepts the resignation tendered by Professor GD Sharma on February 28.
“We have the support of the Naga Students Federation (NSF) and the All Nagaland College Students Union (ANCSU), said PGSU spokesperson Chenkhang Konyak adding “We are fighting for justice.”
It may be recalled that the PGSU also took out procession on March 9 last where they submitted a memorandum to the Chief Rector ( Nagaland Governor) asking him to intervene and recommend acceptance of the resignation of the vice Chancellor. The PGSU also burnt effigies of NU VC on March 8.
BJP not to give in to ULFA threat “There would be violence and spell of ‘secret killings’if JP-AGP came to power” the Morung Express
Guwahati, March 13 (Agencies): The Assam BJP has decided not to give in to the threat from the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in the run up to the forthcoming Assembly polls.
“We admit that there is a threat. The militants killed three of our leaders including a state party General Secretary Jayanta Dutta during 2001 Assembly polls. But we are not at all giving them a chance this time,” said State BJP President, Indramoni Bora talking to newsmen on Monday.
“The party is not going to demand any additional security forces for poll candidates,” he said and added that it is the responsibility of the State Administration and the Election Commission (EC) to provide adequate security to poll candidates. “Let the Government and the EC study the situation and decide on the required security cover,” he added.
The banned ULFA in a statement last week had issued a threat to the saffron brigade holding the previous BJP-led NDA government at the Centre responsible for engineering the December, 2003 Royal Bhutan Army (RBA) operation to demolish ULFA base in the Himalayan kingdom.
The militant group stated that there would be violence and another spell of ‘secret killings’ in Assam if the BJP-AGP came to power in the state after the polls.
The BJP leader refuted that there was any dissidence in the party over selection of party candidates for the forthcoming polls. “There may be discontentment given that so many were trying for party nomination.
He also supported to the cry of party workers against the leadership at different places in protest against the selection of candidates and hoped that it would be sorted out soon.
The BJP is going to contest 110 seats out of the total 126 and has so far released names of 65 candidates for the first phase polls on 3 April. The second list of the candidates is expected to be approved by the central party leadership by 18 March next.
Meanwhile, the political parties in Assam are going environmental friendly this time with most of these parties deciding to take measures to secure the environmental balance of the state.
Two of the national parties -the Congress and the BJP have almost said goodbye to the plastic flags used extensively during the poll campaigns while the regional parties like the AGP is also contemplating to maximize the use of flags made of cloths and paper.
Secretary of the Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) Raju Prasad Sharma said that the party had already restricted the use of plastic flags and that flags made of cloths and paper would be supplied to each constituency.
“About 500 big size and 1000 small size paper and cloth flags would be distributed in all the 126 assembly constituencies of the state,” he said and added that while some had already reached party headquarters, some were being waited.
“Plastic flags are cheaper than the other ones and can even withstand the splash of rains while the paper and cloth flags are costly and gets wasted in rainy weather,” he said and added “we are taking the trouble only to save the environment.”
Similar sentiments were seen being echoed in the BJP headquarters in the city when the party the members informed that the party leaders particularly in the Barak Valley areas have decided to discard plastic totally.
“Our candidates would only use paper and cloth flags this elections particularly in Barak Valley and other places too,” said a BJP spokesman while adding that the party had reduced the use of plastic flags to a considerable extent this time.
AGP spokesman Apurba Bhattacharjee said that the party is reducing the use of plastic flags with maximizing the number of cloth and paper flags.
“However, it’s not possible to completely discard the plastic flags as the cost of cloth and paper flags are high. Besides, it’s difficult to have cloth and paper flags printed easily,” said Bhattacharjee.
“We require about one crore flags during polls and we are trying to maximize the number of cloth and paper flags this time,” he said. While the cost of one plastic flag is about 25 paisa, it goes to the tune of Rs. 4 each in case of cloth and paper flags.
Judicial inquiry into rape case instituted Newmai News Network March 13

Imphal: Decks are cleared for a judicial inquiry into the allegations by Hmar villagers that 21 girls were raped by militants of United National Liberation Front (UNLF) at Tipaimukh area of Churachandpur district earlier this year.
Ibobi Singh cabinet this morning decided to institute a judicial inquiry into the allegations following an uproar in the ongoing budget session of the state assembly and also a protest rally in Churachandpur district headquarters on March 8.
Announcing the cabinet decision in the House today Ibobi Singh said the inquiry would be headed by a retired high court judge. He said that the cabinet decided to institute a judicial inquiry instead of a CBI probe, believing that the central agency will not accept the state governments request.
In his statement Ibobi told the House that Tipaimukh, Thanlon and Parbung areas of the district were dominated by militant groups for more than one decade. Due to lack of security man power the government could not provide security forces at the areas. However, the army has now been deployed at some of the areas now.
He said relation between HPC (D) and two other militant groups operating at the areas was good earlier. But hostility developed between HPC (D) and UNLF-KCP combined since November lat year. The other two militant groups killed two members of HPC (D) on January 6.
Ibobi Singh also announced that a judicial inquiry would be ordered into the allegations by Maibam Naobi Devi of Thoubal district that she was molested by commando personnel. Ibobi said that the move was followed after the people expressed doubts about the magisterial inquiry ordered earlier this month.
The magisterial inquiry by Thoubal DC P. Vaiphei could not proceed further after no one submitted any statement in connection with the case. Ibobi Singh admitted that Naobi herself did not submit any statement or appear before the commission.
Naobi, on her release from custody on March 2 by the court without any condition charged that commandos molested her and touched her private parts. She also accused the commandos of torturing her in police custody.
Ibobi Singh said necessary action would be taken after the inquiry commissions submit their reports to the government.
Maoists release abducted policemen in Chhattisgarh Nagarealm.com
Raipur, Mar 14 : Maoists today released six abducted policemen from Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, police said. Two head constables and four constables, abducted yesterday near Chintagufa area of Dantewada district, were released near Polampali village of the Dornapal police station area, Additional Director General of Police Sant Kumar Paswan told PTI here.

Although the naxalites had demanded immediate halt in anti-naxal operations by the jawans of the Nagaland battalion, and also stop Salwa Judum or peace campaign against the Maoists as a precondition for release of the policemen, but not (not) a single demand was met, Paswan said.

"We have not met any of their demands but the policemen were released unharmed," he said.

After de-briefing of the abducted policemen, a senior police officer said the naxalites, while releasing them, the Maoists said they do not (not) have any enemity with the lower ranked forces and also they were not anti-tribals hence they were being let off. [PTI]
POST GRADUATE STUDENTS UNION [PGSU] Ransacks NAGALAND UNIVERSITY Office Nagarealm.com
Dimapur, March 14 : The ongoing agitation against Prof. G.D. Shamra, Vice-Chancellor of Nagaland University took an ugly turn Monday when police had to resort to lobbing tear gas shell and directing water jets to disperse students who had stormed the NU office ransacking the offices of VC, Registrar and Finance Officer. The protestors had also pelted stones and shattering window panes of the administrative building besides setting fire to furniture collected outside.

Despite repeated pleas for restraint to the students by the district administration, the students, who turned unruly, remained unmoved and even tried to prevent fire tenders from dousing flames after which water canons were fired at them.

The situation, however, could be brought under control after about fifteen minutes.

Later, at a meeting, the PGSU vowed to continue with the agitation till Prof. Sharma's registration was accepted by the Visitor.

The PGSU alleged that although the Registrar was served a letter by the HRD Ministry asking him to send the seniority list of professors for appointment of the acting VC, he ignored the directive. However, the Registrar denied the charge.

Impasse within the university has been continuing since March 8 when PGSU activists locked the entrance of the NU, disrupting both administrative and academic activities.

Prof. Sharma had tendered his resignation on February 28 after teachers and students demanded his ouster for his alleged financial irregularities in the university. [NPN]

'Misunderestimating' The Maoists Nagaream.com
The alarming succession of daring and bloody Naxal attacks, coherently fine-tuned under a long-term plan, continues to be met with a confused, incoherent, delusional and dangerous denial: that it is an 'internal problem' that can be 'easily contained' Once again, the rampaging Maoist movement has violently drawn attention to itself with a succession of daring and bloody attacks that go to the very core of governance, the credibility of administration, and the sagacity of political leadership across extended areas along India's eastern board. The most significant of these was the February 28 landmine blast in Dantewada in Chattisgarh that killed, according to the official record, 26 villagers and injured another 40, while they were returning in trucks after a meeting of the state-sponsored anti-Maoist Salva Judum campaign. While this was probably the worst attack in the history of the Maoist movement, the current year has already seen a significant number of major Maoist operations:

February 6, 2006: Ten Nagaland Armed Police personnel were killed and eight injured when a powerful landmine exploded as their vehicle was moving through a forest in Dantewada District, Chhattisgarh.
February 9, 2006: Eight Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel were killed and several others injured when a large group of Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) cadres attacked the National Mineral Development Corporation store in the Hirauli area of Dantewada District. Mining officials feared that about 50 tonnes of explosives were looted.

February 28, 2006: 26 tribals were killed and 40 others sustained injuries in a landmine blast triggered near Eklagoda Village, in the jurisdiction of Errabore police station of Dantewada District, when they were returning from an anti-Maoist Salva Judum meeting in two trucks and a bus.
March 3, 2006: Maoist cadres, mainly women, posing as marriage party revelers, attacked a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) camp and a police outpost near Chandrapura in Bokaro District, Jharkhand, killing seven Security Force (SF) personnel.
March 5, 2006: Over 100 Maoist cadres attacked the Umaria Police Station in Bihar, close to the Jharkhand border, damaging the police station and adjoining residences. Three Maoists were killed and two policemen injured in the attack.
March 5, 2006: Maoists blew up a major portion of the Bhansi Railway Station in Dantewada District. A railway engine and a major portion of the platform were damaged, but no person was killed.
By the end of February, a total of 115 persons had already been killed in Maoist violence in 2006, including 61 civilians and 28 SF personnel with Chhattisgarh accounting for the largest number, 74, including 49 civilians and 22 SF personnel.

This Maoist onslaught comes after another crucial year has been lost to vacillation, incoherence and neglect, as the steady creep of Maoist extremism continued across wide swathes of the country, penetrating unexpected areas with an array of unsettling tactics. On February 21, 2006, Minister of state for Home, Sri Prakash Jaiswal, conceded in Parliament that Maoist violence had increased dramatically in 2005, with 892 persons killed (516 civilians, 153 police personnel and 223 Maoists), compared to 653 persons (466 civilians, 100 police personnel and 87 Maoists) killed in 2004. The enhanced lethality of the Maoist conflict was demonstrated by the fact that, while incidents of Maoist violence had increased by just four per cent between 2004 and 2005, total fatalities registered an increase of nearly 37 per cent.
The growing audacity of the Maoists has been reflected in actions involving hundreds, and occasionally thousands, of cadres in operations that increasingly mimic the now-established tactics of their Nepali counterparts, involving coordinated attacks on police stations and posts, as well as on administrative headquarters and well-guarded government establishments.

The first of these "at that time an extraordinary" attacks occurred in Koraput, Orissa, in February 2004, when a few hundred cadre overran the District Headquarters, including the City Police Station, the Sadar (town) Police Camp, the Office of the District Superintendent of Police, the Treasury and the Orissa Special Armed Police 3rd Battalion centre; simultaneous attacks were also launched on three police stations at Laxmipur, Narayanpatna and Kakriguma, all in the Koraput District. The Maoists looted some 200 weapons and killed four SF personnel in this raid.
While there were lesser experiments of this nature thereafter, the Jehanabad Jailbreak set a new benchmark on November 13, 2005, in the midst of the processes for the Legislative Assembly Elections in Bihar. An estimated 200 Maoist 'hard core' cadre, backed by over 800 'sympathisers', attacked the Jehanabad District Jail, freeing 341 prisoners and abducting more than 20 activists of the Ranvir Sena (a private militia of upper caste landlords), and looting a large quantity of arms and ammunition. Seven persons (three Maoists, two Ranvir Sena cadre and two police personnel) were killed in this attack. The Maoists subsequently executed nine of the abducted Ranvir Sena cadre. The Maoists took control of all the entry and exit points to the town, and carried out simultaneous attacks on the District Court, Police Lines, District Armoury, the residence of the District Judge, and the SS College, where a Para-Military Forces Camp had been set up.
Earlier, on November 11, over a hundred Maoists had attacked a Home Guard Training centre at Pachamba in the Giridih District of neighbouring Jharkhand, killing five persons and decamping with 183 rifles, some pistols and a substantial cache of ammunition.

June 23, 2005, had also witnessed synchronized attacks across nine locations in the Madhuban Block of the East Champaran District, Bihar, when large groups of Maoists attacked the Police Station, Block Ofice, Post Office, two Banks, a Petrol Pump, and the homes of Rashtriya Janata Dal Member of Parliament from the Sheohar constituency, Sitaram Singh, and two supporters. The resulting gun-battle spilled over into the neighbouring Sheohar and Sitamarhi Districts, and twenty Maoists, four SF personnel and two civilians were dead by the time the assault ended.
The Jehanabad Jailbreak represented a major tactical shift in the Maoist strategy. As a Maoist Press Release on November 14, 2005, declaimed, the Jehanabad attack demonstrated that,

The well-equipped, well-trained, and numerically superior mercenary enemy forces can be dealt heavy blows by a numerically weaker but determined, fearless and politically motivated armed force of the people through concrete survey of the weak points of the enemy force, meticulous planning and effective execution based on the principle of taking on the enemy through surprise at lightening speed. The Press Release declared, further,

The guerrilla forces of our Party as well as the revolutionary masses of our country have to undertake more and more such actions in a big way so as to strengthen the guerrilla armies and to transform them into the People's Liberation Army in due course. Vast masses have to be mobilised to expand and deepen the ongoing people's war in our country.
The increasing effectiveness and organization reflected in the Maoist attacks has worried SF leaders.
J.K. Sinha, the Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which has its personnel deployed across all the Maoist afflicted states, admitted, "We are not much concerned about 20 small acts of violence because these activities can be controlled by us, but the bigger attacks are worrisome. They (the Maoists) are now trying the ambush our men so they can have the maximum impact on the morale of the Force."

In the meanwhile, state responses grind on in the established rut, throwing more men and more money into the conflagration, with little concern for strategic consistency, operational efficiency, or effective coordination. Large amounts of money have been allocated by the centre to the states for Police modernization, but remain largely unused, or are misdirected into other expenditure. In May 2005, Jaiswal complained: "The money is under-utilized despite the centre relaxing norms and by reducing amount of matching grants which have to be given by the states from 50 to 40 per cent, 40 to 25 per cent, and 25 to cent per cent (sic)". Utilization of funds was particularly poor in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. Jharkhand, for instance, received Rs. 360 million for police modernization for the period 2005-2006, but till the end of December 2005 had utilized just Rs. 20 million. In the meanwhile, Police proposals to purchase 15 anti-landmine vehicles were on hold because of 'lack of funds', many of the state's 400 police stations were housed in decrepit hired buildings, and funds intended for the modernisation programme were diverted to buy luxury cars for state Ministers and bureaucrats.

In July 2005, after the breakdown of the talks between the Maoists and the state government in Andhra Pradesh, the Task Force on Naxalism declared a policy of 'zero tolerance' towards the Maoists, unless they gave up arms. However, reflecting a habitual confusion, the Task Force simultaneously encouraged affected states to initiate talks with the Maoists 'provided they are within the legal framework' (though it is not clear how talks with an anti-state group that has been responsible for killing thousands of civilians and security personnel can be 'within the legal framework').

A Naxalite Coordination Centre has been established under the union home ministry, with the National Coordination Committee (NCC) as part of it, since June 1998. There is, however, little evidence of coordination between the various states afflicted by the Maoist terror. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh observed, for instance, "Some states want to hold talks with them. Some would like to take a tough stand. Such individual policies are not going to help."
Worse, the Constitutional scheme, which places law and order management squarely within the purview of the states' jurisdiction, clearly obstructs any enlargement of the Central role, even as it undermines effective cooperation between often-fractious states ruled by polarized political formations. After the February 28, 2006, landmine explosion that killed 26 tribals in Chhattisgarh, union home minister Shivraj Patil stated in Parliament, on March 1, 2006, "We are all responsible; we are all sorry." Nevertheless, he noted further that the centre had given prior information to the state government regarding such an incident, and that the centre was 'extending all cooperation and had also drawn plans with adjoining states'. Further, 26,000 central police personnel were already 'at the disposal of the states. However, 'it was for the states to utilize these forces and the centre would not like to direct them, since it would amount to interference'.
It is not clear how this unwieldy scheme can lend itself to effective operational coordination against as highly motivated, relentlessly violent and strategically oriented an adversary as the Maoists.
Even as Patil apologized in Parliament for the February 28 incident, and as criticism of the Salva Judum campaign mounted across the country, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh declared that the Salva Judum 'would continue' despite the attack: "The government will redesign the strategy and give a new direction to the campaign," he said, while describing the Maoist attack as "desperate and cowardly".
While the state continues to flounder in confusion, taking refuge in clich about terrorist 'desperation' and 'cowardice', there is clear and accumulating evidence that the Maoists are work according to a coherent long-term plan. The continuous extension of the sphere and effectiveness of violent activities is, no doubt, the most dramatic manifestation of this strategy, but it does not exhaust it.

In West Bengal, where Maoist activities currently remain at a low key, a Maoist 'central committee member' identified as 'Comrade Dhruba' explained in July 2005 that, apart from Bankura, Purulia and Medinipur Districts, "our mass base in Murshidabad, Malda, Burdwan and Nadia is ready. After five years, we will launch our strikes." These are the time frames of execution of a methodical and detailed strategy that is currently being executed across large areas of the country that are not currently afflicted by Maoist violence, and that are in still in the initial stages of 'mass political mobilization'.
Across these areas, security professionals remain largely oblivious to the dangers, till the stage of violence is actually reached "years after the consolidation of the Maoist 'mass base'. Regrettably, apart from throwing in more resources" manpower and funds" into areas afflicted by high levels of violence, and general declarations of intent regarding economic development, and political and land reforms, there appears to be no coherent or consistent strategy to contain the systematic extension of the Maoist advance, and no accurate and consistently held assessment articulated within the national policy establishment of the magnitude of the danger to national security.
The dangerous delusion that this is an 'internal problem' that can be 'easily contained' does not appear to have been diluted in any measure by the many decades across which the country has failed abysmally to contain the menace of Left Wing extremism and violence
Ajai Sahni is Editor, SAIR; Executive Director, Institute for Conflict Management. Courtesy, the South Asia Intelligence Review of the South Asia Terrorism Portal. [outlookindia]

Nine militants lay down arms ZU Shah gives clean chit to Army in Bpr case
By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Mar 13: Nine cadres of six different UG groups formally surrendered along with a large number of arms and ammunition before the Commander of 3 Corps, Lt Gen ZU Shah today at the HQs of Inspector General Assam Rifles (South) at Mantripukhri.
Of the nine surrendered cadres three belong to UNLF, two to PLA, one each to PREPAK, KCP, KRA and KNF (P).
The three UNLF cadres identified as Thokchom Nanao alias Nganba of Moirang, Naorem Laijangba of Pukhao Ahalup Makha Leikai and Ravi Kumar of Kwatha surrendered with three carbines and two magazines.
The PLA cadres who are identified as Rishi Kanta alias Shashi Kanta of Thoubal Lourembam and Md Senaibai surrendered along with one AK 47 rifle, one hand grenade, RS kenwwod, one 9 mm pistol and a huge amount of ammunition.
The cadre of PREPAK identified as Y Basanta of Imphal East gave up a carbine (US made) and a magazine, KCP man known as K Mantri of Kakching Khunou also gave up a carbine while K Singson alias Zimi of KRA and Thanou-pou alias Thangboy of KNF (P) both belonging to Churachandpur surrendered along with one 9 mm pistol each.
Welcoming the surrendered youths, Lt Gen ZU Shah remarked that their act of shunning violence and joining the mainstream is more courageous than engaging in violent activities.
Except for one who surrendered on October 7, 2004, all the cadres laid down their arms before the AR authorities on different dates since February 25 this year, he mentioned.
Shah also expressed optimism that the State Government would extend all possible rehabilitation schemes to these surrendered militants while maintaining that peace would be restored in the State.
One surrendered PLA cadre remarked “There is nothing to gain at all in joining the UG outfits except for engaging in violent activities, extortions etc.”
Apprehensive of reprisals, all the surrendered cadres were masked in today's surrender function.
The programme organised with the initiatives of IG AR (S), Maj Gen BS Ghotra in conjunction with 1st Raising Day of HQ IG AR was named ‘Home Coming Ceremony’ which was attended by many top officials of the State police, CRPF, AR and Army.
Asserting that Army abides by all the laws concerning human rights, Shah further rejected the allegations of molestation of a housewife by one Army personnel on the night of March 9 at Ningthou-khong.
On the other hand, it is reported that the State Cabinet has resolved to institute judicial inquiries into the alleged sexual harassment of M Naobi by Thoubal police commandos and the alleged mass in Churachandpur by UG cadres.

Apunba Lup condemns murder of Moikham Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Mar 13: Taking serious note of the murder of innocent Moikham Shinglai in the aftermath of a shoot out between the combined force of 18 AR and 21 Para Regiment and an UG group on March 11 at Khoibu Khullen village of Chandel district, the Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has strongly condemned the murder of the innocent women and the brutal attempt to kill her 14 months old infant son.
A statement issued by Apunba Lup alleged that the incident was a crystal clear revelation of a conspiracy towards ethnic cleansing pursued by the Indian Government against the people of Manipur for the last 50 years.
The basic objective of such state terrorism perpetrated by Indian security forces has been to wipe out Manipuri nation with the impunity provided by the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958, it added.
Despite the massive public movement launched since July 2004 to repeal AFSPA 1958 and to stop violation of human rights, the Union Government stills remains deaf to all the movements to this end, mentioned the statement.
Observing that many innocent people of the State have been killed and numerous others maimed by the atrocities of Indian security forces, the Lup called upon all the people of the State to stand unitedly and firmly against such imminent threat to the whole Manipuri nation.
While asserting that many innocent persons were killed and many women sexually harassed and tortured during the festival of Holi in the last many years by security forces taking advantage of peoples' festive mood and suspension of newspapers publication, it further appealed to all the people to be alert and take adequate care against any nefarious design of the security forces.
The statement added the bestial conduct towards Maibam Naobi by the State police commandos was an unpardonable humiliation of whole Manipuri nation.
Further the Apunba Lup appealed to all the local clu- bs to cooperate with the Lup and to voice various slogans coined by the Lup during all Thabal Chongba events.

Jail - The different world within our world — Memoir of a Naga nationalist—
By Lemyao Shimray for the Sangai Express
It was May 26, 1983 that I escaped but before that three prisoners who tried to escape were captured and one of them was beaten to death while the other two were hospitalised. I was filled with fear and nervousness. But having prepared everything I kneeled down and prayed, I was shaking with fear, confusion but when I prayed for the third time, like warmness of a fire came unto me and I was filled with total calmness, the feeling was unexplainable - with no fear. I don’t know how but I knew that I have succeeded even before the battle of my escape.
The rain pour down heavily with a mixture of thunder and storm followed by cyclone and branches from trees began to fall. The guards that were guarding the prison were compelled to run inside the barracks which gave me a wide path for my escape and suddenly the electricity went off in the whole area of Dibrugarh. It last for about 30 minute exactly the time I needed to escape. I tore the cut bar that I have been working on for month with all my strength, the noise of my yell as I bend the bar and its creaking sound were dissolved along with the noise of storm.
I crawled on the drainage infected with dirt, urine, human’s excreta were mixed with dirt’s from every nook and corner of the prison but still I felt no dirt nor the smell of it as it is still freedom that I sought for. When I reach the prison wall which is very high, twice I try to climb up anchoring the blanket I was carrying on the glass that was tucked on top of the wall as to prevent any escape and twice I failed, there I remember the words of Hagana, the freedom fighter’s commander while in the middle of confrontation of Muslim, a Jerusalem area where he guided his soldier.
Without any fear to regain my strength I took rest lying flat on that dirty pooled flowing drainage. For 15 minutes with my mouth wide open to collect and drink the rain water. After some rest I felt ready and I tried my attempt again. This time I succeeded and without knowing what may lie in that darkness of the other side of the wall which were guarded again by Assam Rifles I gave a huge leap and dive down to yet another drainage which gave a splashing sound of my landing. A guard shone a torch on my side but luckily or say by the work and miracle of God a big branch fall and he mistook my splashing sound for the falling branch and went inside. I make my way after that towards the shore of Brahmaputra river embankment.
That was the moment I will never ever forget, that was the moment I felt the pure joy of being freed, the taste of freedom. That was my first taste of freedom and the sweetest among all, which in the past I never valued. At that howling dark night I make my way towards freedom shouting and singing and praising God “I am free! Free from the shackled chain”
After my escape, many Assamese intellectual came to meet me with an understanding ideology and were convinced that there is no salvation in the rule of Indians. Along with Suresh Gogoi, Dihingia and other 12 member, the first ULFA was formed officially.
During my stays in Imphal jail all the political prisoner, Naga, Meitei and Mizo (in 1984 Mizo peace talk was in progress) revolutionary forces went for hunger strike for depriving us from book, bad quality of food and regarding about the visiting days in prison. Out of more then 300 political prisoners, Mathotmi and I were left standing after lathi-charge and torture from the security forces. We were single out and summoned to the S.P office where 6/7 strong muscle man of CRPF and Manipur Rifle jawans were waiting for us.
We never gave up and fight strongly but we were overpowered easily and outnumbered too. When one punch the stomach the other army use to stuff food in my friend’s mouth and use to forcibly put a small pipe that was connected to kettle with tea. They forcibly put in my mouth to drink finally when they did not succeeded even after the thrashing and bunching and forcing so, they put us into dark cell which is a four feet squared room. The agony of frozen jail and the human rights violation done there is still loomed around my soul till now. We were neither able to lie down nor stand up in total darkness. The room is also dirty and smellish. We were kept in that dark cell for a week and we use to spend our time by singing gospel songs. If I sing sopranos he’ll put other parts-tone and it was a very memorable moment for us which we treasured. That was my first experience of negotiation. All our demands were not given but most were given, such as newspaper, Radio, two times interview in a week’s time, much improvement in diet and medical care.
Jail is a different world where good eggs come, went away as a monster and where bad eggs go out turning into a saint. It is a very new world inside this world. I witness many change due to the condition and the atmosphere. An affair with similar gender. Gays and lesbian are not an issue inside the prison. Mostly out of all the prison that I have visited Assamese prison is the worst. What a small teenager won’t do for a half smoked cigarette?
Homosexuality is the biggest weapon and a submission of weaker prisoners. The administrators of the prison are so corrupted that we can say it is totally a dirty politics because of the environment and the realisation of how they can control the prisoner, they were unsympathetic. Doctors are the worst and the people that handle the mess. There are many violations done to women by the inmates and authorities of the prison. As the power to let the prisoners out on ground of medication is one of the most effective way to see the world outside. He can prescribe and issue medical certificate according to the satisfaction he will received. I mean all the doctors may not be that way but majority of them specially while I was in Dibrugarh central jail which is a sub jail of Guwahati and Phek jail in Nagaland is the worse so far as I have seen.
In Phek jail where the Shillong accords had manipulate and brainwash most of the people in Nagaland as an anti-Christ that, there was a hostile attitude the first time I was taken there. It was a very clear intention of finishing me as soon as I went in. But as I was led inside my cell and without losing any moment I took out my Bible and start to pray when I look up the face what I saw was the face of amazement and shock. Slowly they started to accept me as a revolutionaries and the ideology of how we NSCN and NAP works. We tried to make an escape again. We were 40 who organise it but somehow the news got leaked and was kept inside the dark cell again for two weeks. In Nagaland jail they use to smuggle me away and kept me hauled in an alien place for long time to interrogate and torture me without letting the outer person know about their operation. So much hatred was there for people like me but till now my faith were never shaken by the suffering and the attitude they showed.
During my stay in Imphal jail after the arrest in Kachai village, three times I was bailed and three times before I went out from the door of the police station I was arrested again on the ground of fault case which I was never involved. It was as absurd as my link with an incident that happens outside while I was in prison. But it was the authority that they control and my family were not able to do anything. Finally an operation team once visited and took a thorough research on my case and after finding all the case that was charge on me as a poppycock I was let out on medical ground. I was asked to report back after two months to take out my plastered leg and for my hearing for which will decide whether I ought to stay in prison again or set free but during those times when my friends from Eastern Nagaland’s base came out and sought my help for operation in Shillong I had no choicer but to follow my will and my cause. Instead of going to the doctor we took a hacksaw and let my brother cut my plaster that was around my leg. After three months when I return the doctor was shocked to see me not only with the plaster removed before it was time but I was riding a bike.

Army to launch operation along Myanmar border From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
MANTRIPUKHURI, March 13 – Army will launch flushing-out operation shortly along the international border particularly at Manipur’s New Somtal area bordering Myanmar. Commander of the 3 Corps, Lt Gen Z U Shah while interacting with mediapersons at Mantripukhuri said that Army is ready to launch operations at New Somtal area which is said to be the ‘safe haven’ for the underground outfits operating in the region.

He, however, stated that it will not affect the jurisdiction of Myanmar’s army as there is no such agreement between India and Myanmar for a joint operation. Reacting to the accusation of laying landmines in Manipur’s Churachandpur and Chandel district,General Shah said, “planting explosives is against human laws, Army laid IEDs against enemy”, adding “the accusation is a false propaganda”.

He assured that Army will be at service at Manipur’s Thanlon and Parbung areas under Churachandpur district unless peace returns. Lt General Shah also predicted that the problems of Manipur can only be solved when people of all walks are united and negotiation is initiated, otherwise, taking up arms will not bring peace.

Meanwhile, Assam Rifles based in Manipur claimed to have “managed insurgency to levels that enables civil administration to function effectively” by locating and destroying four UG camps, killing 70 guerrillas in actions and apprehending 385 of them last year.

According to a press statement issued by Inspector General Assam Rifles (South), a large assortment of weapons and ammunition of various types including 36 Kalasnikov rifles, 38 pistols, 2 M16, 2 Lathod guns,11 carbines and 2,000 rounds have been recovered from the undergrounds.

Besides, 53 tonnes of ganja were seized and destroyed,70 trucks of timber recovered and around 36 litres of illicit liquor destroyed with the help of Meira Paibis, the torch bearing women who are fighting against alcoholism and narcotic drugs. The statement also informed that to assist the public all out efforts have been made to bridge the gap between Assam Rifles and Manipur society. As many as 75 medical camps were organized and around 45,000 patients have been given free medical treatment and medicine in Manipur.


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