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03/26/2006: "No compromise on sovereignty: NSCN-IM"

No compromise on sovereignty: NSCN-IM Correspondent Nagaland Post
ZUBZA (KOHIMA), MARCH 25 (NPN): The NSCN (IM) on Saturday said it would not compromise on the demand of Naga sovereignty with anything.
The statement was made by emissary to the collective leadership of NSCN (IM), "Lt. Gen" (Retd) V.S. Atem, while speaking at a joint meeting of NSCN (IM) and Western Angami Conference held at Zubza Government High School ground on Saturday.
Atem said the Nagas should not simply sit and rely on the NSCN (IM) alone to bring about sovereignty.
He called upon every Naga to contribute towards achieving this goal and further assured that NSCN (IM) would do everything possible towards this perspective.
Refuting reports that NSCN (IM) was compromising on the demand of Naga sovereignty with Naga integration, Atem said "in order to bring about a solution to the Naga problem, the Nagas should be brought together as one first."
Further, he appreciated the NNC leaders, who had brought the Naga issue to the limelight and sacrificed their lives for the nation. Atem said their sacrifices and contributions towards the Naga cause would never be forgotten.
"It is due to their sacrifices and sufferings that the Nagas have reached thus far," he said.However, he also minced no words in criticizing the NNC for signing the Shillong Accord. Stating that this was where the NNC had gone wrong, Atem said the Shillong Accord had only created division among the Nagas.
The NSCN (IM) requires constructive criticism and support from the Nagas and keeping in mind this it has decided to reach out to every section of the societies and Naga households, he said. Atem urged people to point out any weaknesses and lapses on NSCN (IM)'s part so that corrective measures could be taken.
Further, he urged people to pray for the success of the Naga movement.The other NSCN (IM) speakers at the meeting included Steering Committee member, AK Lungalang and Deputy Kilonser, Ministry of Kilo Affairs, Kevi Palous. The meeting, held on the theme "Interaction on Indo-Naga peace process", was attended by leaders of several Angami villages.
Naga team to study Bougainville Peace Process The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MARCH 25 (MExN): According to a news-report carried by Pacific Magazine as reported in The National, an eight-member delegation of political leaders and representatives of the Naga people are reportedly in Papua New Guinea for two weeks to study the Bougainville peace process. The delegation was engaged successfully in brokering cease-fire between India and the enclave of three million Nagas people in eastern India, bordering China and Myanmar, The National reports. Minister for Inter-Government Relations Sir Peter Barter said the delegation included two women and a student leader accompanied by two staff members from Kreddha, a Netherlands-based non-governmental organisation, which studies and promotes the peaceful resolution of internal conflicts in countries in different parts of the world. “The delegation will meet with participants on all sides of the Bougainville peace process to see how our experiences may help the Nagas make and build peace at home,” he said. Sir Peter said Government officials and political leaders will introduce the delegation to the country and also explain the background of the Bougainville peace process and outline the constitutional framework and arrangements for managing and implementation of the Bougainville Peace Agreement. The delegation will be in Bougainville for a week to meet leaders, officials and members of civil society, who have been active in making and building peace. Sir Peter was satisfied that the international communities were pleased to gauge the experience of PNG, Bougainville leaders, officials and members of the civil society who are partners in practical peace-building.
“The Government’s aim in agreeing to receive and brief the Naga delegation was simply to share our experiences with people who are seriously interested in the National Government’s shared commitment with Bougainville leaders to secure lasting peace by peaceful means.
“We hope they can draw their own conclusions and use whatever they find useful and relevant in their particular circumstances to help make and build peace for themselves,” said Sir Peter. Mention may be made that last year Bougainville became an autonomous region ending a ten-year secessionist war on the Island. The aim of the visit to Papua New Guinea is to see how the people of Bougainville and PNG succeeded in ending the civil conflict. The outcome of the group’s visit may help their own peace building efforts back home.
Bougainville Vice President Joseph Watavi earlier said in an interview: “They (the Nagas) are interested in the conflict resolution we thought that was applied in this process, and therefore I think it is in a way, in terms of international conflict resolution, I think it should actually help other peoples who are also facing the same problems in their areas to learn from the experiences that we have gone through.”
However, he said there are some fundamental differences because the way Bougainville actually dealt with the issues here was based on “our Melanesian approach between the Papua New Guinea government, leadership and the Bougainville people.”
Saying that women also have a vital role to play in peace processes, Watavi said, “It’s understood that the Nagaland state in India, has actually been desiring a separate nation in India, and I can say that this is one of the other things that Bougainville also wanted to do.”
The way forward is through an autonomy arrangement, and we are lucky that with our arrangement, he said. The Papua New Guinea Constitution recognizes a political referendum that can be conducted in 10 to 15 years, that allows the people of Bougainville to be able to choose for themselves, through that process, whether they could be a separate independent nation in 10 to 15 years. “And these are some of the experiences that we would like to share with the people from India who are coming here.”
NSCN factions spar over Athibung arson Staff Reporter Nagaland Post
Dimapur, March 25 (NPN): The NSCN (IM) on Saturday accused rival NSCN (K) of burning the residence of its rajapeyu Lalkhothang at Athibung around 8:30-9:00 pm on Friday. NSCN (IM)'s MIP Deputy Kilonser Kraibo Chawang alleged "guarded by the Assam Rifles and IRB personnel," a group of rival NSCN (K) cadres burnt the house of Lalkhothang on Friday night amidst a curfew. Lalkhothang was reportedly in Jalukie when his house was torched. Chawang alleged the curfew was imposed by "EAC Athibung, Nchabemo Lotha", while he was away in Dimapur. "He (Nchabemo) was in Dimapur but sitting here he directed his staff to impose the curfew," the NSCN (IM) leader alleged.
According to Chawang, this was the second incident when the rival cadres burnt down the house of an NSCN (IM) functionary. Earlier, the NSCN (K) allegedly burnt the house of tatar (Kuki Affairs) Hangsing. The NSCN (IM) charged the EAC with misusing IRB and Assam Rifles personnel. "This is not the first time that he was "playing" against the NSCN (IM), Chawang said. Branding Nchabemo as "anti-Naga and anti-peace process," Chawang said "we want him to correct himself and not to repeat it."
Further, the NSCN (IM) urged the State government to be careful over such developments. Chawang said at a time when the State government made lofty claims over the Naga issue, it failed to control its lower ranked officials. Meanwhile, when contacted, CFSB Chairman Kuhgalu Mulatonu dismissed allegation that NSCN (K) cadres were involved in the incident of arson. He said "the house was burnt by themselves (NSCN-IM)."
Further, Mulatonu dismissed allegation about NSCN (K)'s nexus with IRB and Assam Rifles and on the contrary accused the security forces of assisting and supporting the NSCN (IM). "If they were not aiding the NSCN (IM) then how could the NSCN (IM) roam about and monitor the movement of our boys at Athibung?" he questioned. Mulatonu said the NSCN (IM) instead of hurling accusations against the security forces "should acknowledge the credit given to them by Indian the security forces for more than a decade."
He alleged that State government and Chairman of CFSB and CFMC, Lt. Gen. (Retd) R.V. Kulkarni were yet to respond to the numerous pleas made by the NSCN (K) over the activities of the rival cadres at Athibung area.
"Who has given them (NSCN-IM) the legitimacy to act as a law-enforcement agency in Athibung," Mulatonu further questioned. He added "even if they blame the security forces that will not help them to be out of the terrorist list". "A time will come when the entire Nagas may join or assist the NSCN to wipe out the NSCN (IM) terrorists," Mulatonu added.
Three Naxals killed in police encounter in Chhattisgarh New Kerala
Raipur, Mar 25: Three naxalites were today killed and about 12 injured in a police encounter in Bijapur district, about 550 kms from here, police said here.

The encounter took place when a group of armed Naxalites confronted a searching party of the jawans of the Nagaland Battalion, who were moving in the Bhairamgarh area, Police told PTI here.

"In a fierce gun battle, three Maoists were killed and about a dozen rebels were injured near Indrawati River in Bhairamgarh area of Naxal-infested Bijapur district," the sources said. A 12-bore rifle and 18 rounds of ammunitions have also been seized from the spot, they added.
Expo to focus on northeast region's farm potential New Kerala
New Delhi: Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar will open Monday the North East Agri Expo 2006 in Nagaland that aims at generating interest among investors and stakeholders to the agricultural potentials of the region. The five-day expo at Dimapur will also highlight the innovative agricultural equipment, technologies and services developed in the northeastern states, says the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). The event will provide an opportunity to farm sector players to explore opportunities for contract farming, sourcing, processing, value addition, distribution and marketing, said a CII statement.

At the expo, private players would have a glimpse of the opportunities in the area of agricultural infrastructure development such as building world-class cold chains and pack-houses. The expo has been organised by CII in cooperation with the ministry of agriculture, ministry of development of northeastern Region, ministry of rural development and the Nagaland government. Private players in the expo could identify bankable agricultural, horticulture, and agricultural processing projects in the region.

CII president Y.C. Deveshwar said: "The expo seeks to highlight the region's natural and human resources to the industrial community. It brings all stakeholders onto a single platform to address growth and development needs of the agriculture sector in the northeast.

"Most important, it brings together the governments of the eight different states, each having their particular attractions. With the support of policy makers, industry sees a vibrant opportunity for itself in the region."

Besides focusing on the potentials of the high-value crops and improved harvesting techniques, the expo will also have an investors' meet to focus on "Commercialisation and Market Linkages for North East Agro Products".

The event will also feature interesting developments and areas like agri clinics, agri films, technology and process demonstrations, marketing of products through IT enabled services, live demonstration of futures and commodity trading, and finances and credit meets.
Thou Shall Talk To Thy Neighbors And Protect Thyself Nagarealm.com
With the Government of India-NSCN (IM) peace talks forever embroiled in uncertainty as to its outcome, there comes some words of wisdom from former Nagaland Finance Minister K Therie. The former minister evinced the necessity to establish a new approach towards the Naga Peace process and stressed the immediate necessity to hold talks with the neighboring states which are crucial in finding a durable and permanent solution to the decades old Naga political problem. The whole idea and approach of the NSCN (IM) in pursuing the peace dialogue, if seen, from the perspective of the neighboring states seems to bother on "we don't care about our neighbors" attitude. That is understandable because the talks are purportedly held on the Prime Ministerial level and evidently it is based on the premise that the solution to the Naga problem can be brought about by New Delhi and New Delhi alone and this unconcerned mindset and predilection towards what these neighboring states can bring to the peace process, which is overlooked, can only prolong finding a resolution. The talks are held between the Indian Nation and the Naga Nation anyways and neighboring states can hold off as these peace talks are for the big boys. Interesting indeed!

However, ground realities says things otherwise, because the main hurdle apparently is the NSCN(IM) demand for integration of all Naga inhabited areas and that is where the neighboring states come into the picture. It is the territories in neighboring states like Manipur, Assam and Arunachal Pradesh that the NSCN (IM) is demanding to create Greater Nagaland or Nagalim and the stand and disposition of the NSCN (IM) in not engaging the sentiments and political reality of the neighboring states will not only make finding a solution hard enough but might totally lead to a collapse of the ceasefire and this scenario is only a losing option for the Naga peace effort as much as for the entire region.

And the reasons the scenario is a losing strategy for the NSCN (IM) and for the region is based on two simple facts. The NSCN (IM) leadership should be shrewd and ingenious enough to realize that India is content at keeping the entire region as a "low intensity conflict zone" which does not really hinder its military capabilities. And secondly, the losers are going to be the entire North-Eastern region as continued insurgency and political uncertainty will not in anyway contribute to economic advancement or lead to any steps taken to improve the economic lot. Once again taking a cue from Bill Clinton- "It's the economy, Stupid!" Our world is obsessed with the economy. Almost everything we do is measured and considered in economic terms.

For each of the states of the North-East to have some semblance of political stability and economic viability, it is necessary for the entire region to approach the many issues facing the region in a fashion that is a beneficial for all the peoples residing in the region. And it is not just talks with the New Delhi, but understanding one's neighbors because as the Naga MLA rightly concluded, the Government of India cannot bring any solution to either the Naga political problems or the problems of the other states without sensible steps initiated from our side as well. If Nagaland expects to be an "oasis of peace" in a region ridden with problems, that assumption and expectation would be far-fetched

Coming back to the situation at home in Manipur, the uproar over the alleged rape of Hmar women in the interiors of Manipur's Churachandpur district by valley-based insurgent outfits have resulted in protests by civil society groups in Churachandpur, the second largest town in Manipur and headquarter of Churachandpur district. The valley-based underground outfits, namely the UNLF and the KCP alleged to have been involved in the mass rapes, have under their own investigation have given themselves a clean chit and of course there will be no buyers for that. On the other hand, civil society groups and NGOs belong to the Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic have stood by their allegations against the underground outfits. The state government is taking up the investigation with the appointment of retired Justice SP Rajkhowa, a former judge of West Bengal High Court, to head the twin inquiry commissions instituted to probe into the alleged mass rape of Hmar women at Lungthulian village and the torture and molestation of Maibam Naobi by Thoubal Police Commandos in their custody. The underground outfits have agreed to cooperate for an independent investigation to the accusation of mass rape.

The important point to underscore in a scenario such as this is the frustration faced by the public of Manipur whether they are Meiteis, Nagas or people belonging to the Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic group. If we are to look back, we see all sorts of atrocities committed by men in arms. The Manorama case had gotten the attention of the world with even a documentary film based on the Manorama issue getting an international award. Victims continue to belong to the fairer sex and it is high time that men in arms realize the futility of their very existence and understand that a good relationship with the people is of utmost important if either of two entities- the security forces or the underground groups- hopes to achieve anything significant.

Finally, the Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) has released Dr. T Lunkim after holding him in captivity for 61 days charging him with taking Rs.9 lakhs from army authorities to affect the ceasefire with the Kuki Liberation Army and others. We will have to wait for elder church leader to tell his side of the story. This is in the light of non-Naga hill-based underground outfits mostly belong to the Kuki-Chin-Mizo ethnic group entering into a ceasefire agreement with the Indian Army. We must recall that the Manipur Government did not appreciate such a move of the army authorities which it (the government) says should stick with its task of helping the civilians and not initiate any moves that are deemed political. The ceasefire supposedly agreed on does not include state security forces.

Looking at Manipur from above, one can detect a reign of almost total chaos. The government as has been the case at all times haven't been effective at all in every aspect of governance. Underground outfits have practically infiltrated almost all government departments and all developmental works have been contracted to underground outfits which siphon off money from the funds earmarked for various developmental projects. The moral high ground adopted by the underground outfits is in their shunning of contract works such as the latest case with PREPAK which has announced that it would not indulge in contract works anymore. The bigger underground outfits probably have reached the financial threshold so as to not need contract works, but what about the other fledgling outfits trying to raise their heads up and dream of being recognized as a 'major' underground or revolutionary outfit.

Let it be known that there are a lot of clueless individuals masquerading as revolutionaries that is definitely dragging this state into a point of no return. They are rightly referred to as extortionists and the fine line should be drawn between revolutionaries and extortionists. Extortion gangs for all practical purposes need to be eliminated and this task should be undertaken by the more powerful underground outfits. But then again even the powerful UNLF is coming under fire for alleged mass rape of Hmar women. Perhaps Manipur requires a radical solution. Families should be allowed to bear arms to protect themselves since it is families that are victims who are always at the receiving end. It would be provocative to suggest that the Right to Keep and Bear Arms as allowed by the Second Amendment in the US Constitution should also be incorporated in the constitution of the state of Manipur. That would at least allow the victimized families in Manipur to protect themselves and create a level playing field in the increasing deteriorating law and order situation.
Ending insurgency tops agendas in Assam Election Political parties in Assam wooing ‘the pillars of democracy’ The Morung Express
Guwahati, March 25 (PTI): The end to Assam’s 27 year-old insurgency may be still a long way off, but with the Assembly elections, the issue tops the agendas of all political parties.
The major parties; Congress, Asom Gana Parishad and BJP have made ending the ULFA insurgency through political discussions a poll plank though the banned outfit is sceptical of the promises and has decided to maintain equidistance from all parties in the two phase elections in the State from April three. The Congress has promised that it is committed to bringing about a permanent and political solution to the issue.
The Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi, claimed that it was due to the sincere efforts of his Government, a process of dialogue has begun with the ULFA. Two rounds of talks have been held between the Centre and the Peoples’ Consultative Group (PCG) formed by the outfit. “We will make all endeavours to bring the ULFA to the negotiating table with a view to bring a permanent solution to the problem,” Gogoi said.
The Congress was also committed to carry forward the process of dialogue with other extremist groups in the State to resolve their problems in a pragmatic manner and usher in peace and harmony. Meanwhile, the ruling Congress as well as opposition BJP promising to solve almost all the problems of Assam, have in their poll manifestos made attempts to woo the media in the state, assuring to either take up welfare schemes for them or ensure freedom of the press. Going to the assembly hustings on April 3 and 10, the Congress has promised to undertake steps to establish a journalists’ colony on the outskirts of Guwahati and provide land for building housing complexes for them. Also assuring to provide housing loans on easy installment to media persons, the party said, it would “do everything possible to implement the wage board recommendations of various commissions”. “We will further ensure that the present conducive environment for journalism is continued during the next five years”, the Congress promised. Making no such concrete promises for the welfare of the scribes, the BJP said, it would support “freedom of press so that it regains its fearless and neutral character as the negative effects of yellow journalism on society could not prevail under such a situation.
Hoping journalism would focus on welfare of society; the saffron party said it was committed to support such media organisations and also investigative journalism that exposes the ills of society. The regional AGP, which ruled the state twice in 1985 and 1995, did not have any special welfare schemes for the journos except giving press the status of being “one of the pillars of democracy”.
China and India’s Big Debate on Democracy

Not every day do the world's two largest countries have a neighborly argument about democracy.

But such an argument erupted here last weekend when a senior Chinese official and the Indian prime minister took turns expounding on the relative merits of bread and liberty at a conference held by the New York- based Asia Society.

At a gala on Friday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh quoted a speech by President George W. Bush that was easily construed as a swipe at China.

"Some people have said the 21st century will be the Asian century," Singh quoted Bush as saying. "I believe the 21st century will be freedom's century."

It was as close as Singh comes to ruffling feathers.

The next day, the Chinese commerce minister, Bo Xilai, came as close as senior Chinese figures do to fighting back, describing democracy as a "means," not an "end."

It was like a sneak preview of the complicated New World Order that Indians and Chinese like to say they are constructing, according to veteran Asia watchers like Richard Holbrooke, the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations who entered the Foreign Service in Vietnam, and Kishore Mahbubani, a former Singaporean ambassador to the UN and a prominent writer on Asian affairs.

"I'm not of the view that we should classify countries as democratic countries and nondemocratic countries," Bo said through an interpreter, to vigorous applause from many in the Chinese delegation of 200 bureaucrats and businesspeople. "If you simply understand or interpret democracy as allowing people to go on protest in the streets, then I think it's not always necessarily a good thing."

Without citing India or the majority of Mumbai's population that lives in slums or the shanties ringing the conference venue, Bo referred to "some developing countries" that cram their poor into "clusterings of shantytowns" where life is too bleak for freedom to mean anything.

"Some people in those places cannot even have a shower for years on end. And these people - most of them have no access to education," he said. "So how can you imagine that these people are in a position to talk about democracy when they are simply illiterate?"

More applause - though, again, not from the Indians, who know that their illiterate vote at higher rates than the well-off.

At the conference, the assembled international investors, diplomats and scholars seemed keen to thrust upon China and India a friendship that fits better in theory than in practice. Corporate bosses declared over and over that it was not "China or India," but "China and India."

Everyone seemed to agree that the two countries, working collectively, could eclipse American power. The century was declared to be theirs for the taking by speakers like Clyde Prestowitz Jr., president of the Economic Strategy Institute in Washington and the author of "Three Billion New Capitalists: The Great Shift of Wealth and Power to the East."

"Asians are going from being passengers on the bus of globalization to being co-drivers," said Mahbubani, the former Singaporean ambassador.

Over a cup of spiced tea, he spoke of the "tremors" already visible as the West, wary of ceding its influence, responds to the ascendancy of China and India, both at the height of "cultural confidence." He cited the American revulsion to the bid by China's Cnooc for the American oil giant Unocal, and the European fracas over Lakshmi Mittal's multibillion-dollar hostile takeover bid for the steel maker Arcelor.

"If Mittal's name were Jeffrey Roberts," the former diplomat said, "there would be no problem."

Holbrooke said the meetings offered a preview of what the world will look like when Asia is stewarded by Asians. On one hand was the "the drama of the two largest countries having a public argument over democracy," he said. On the other was the new reality of Asian powerhouses relating directly to each other as both "competitors and collaborators" - convened, but no longer lectured to, by the United States.

The 200 Chinese functionaries and managers had come to learn about India. The conference provided them with simultaneous translation, and panelists kept imploring them to ask questions. Few did.

As they meandered about and picked warily at Indian food, the Chinese seemed underwhelmed about the whole India thing, as a handful of them revealed in interviews. Many of them see the United States as their rival, even as Indians fixate on a rivalry with China. The resulting mismatch creates much Chinese confusion about whether "India versus China" is even a real comparison, as was evident in a closed meeting between Chinese delegates and Asia Society members after the conference.

"Chinese coming here, including myself, think this is totally chaotic," Donald Tang, the chairman of Bear Stearns Asia, said at the meeting. "If you come to India and spend a couple days here, you realize, 'My God, the world is not flat.'"

After seeing Bo's speech, Tang said Chinese businessmen had whispered to him that India was in no position to preach.

"Indians love their democracy, but they don't have lots of freedom," he said in the closed meeting, quoting the Chinese reaction. "The millions of people who live in slums in Mumbai - they have democracy, but no freedom."

The most positive Chinese view about India seemed to be that it was increasingly emulating China.

Lui Ji, honorary president and former dean of the China-Europe International Business School in Shanghai and one of China's most influential and politically connected scholars, said Singh reminded him of Deng Xiaoping, the father of China's economic reforms. The professor said he was happy to learn that Singh is in his mid-70s, the stage of life at which Deng prodded his own country to embrace change.

And in a sign of changing times, the professor even hinted that China, though unwilling to take lessons on democracy from Washington, could learn a thing or two from India.

"They feel very proud of the country," he said of Indians. "They call it the largest democracy. We hope India can use good democratic practices to lead us by example."
73 loaded trucks stranded due to economic blockade in Manipur New Kerala
Imphal: Altogether 73 trucks loaded with essential items were today stranded in Senapati district of Manipur due to 'indefinite economic blockade' which began from last midnight by a tribal students' union on Imphal-Guwahati NH 39 and Imphal-Silchar NH 53, official sources said.

Sixtyfive Manipur-bound trucks loaded with essential commodities were halted at Mao gate at Manipur-Nagaland border point on Imphal-Guwahati NH 39 by supporters of the blockade, they said. Another eight trucks with full essential items were also stranded at Kangpokpi area on NH 39 in Senapati district.

Sources said today being Sunday no arrangments were being made to provide security to these stranded vehciles and added that they would be brought to state capital here tomorrow with security. The All Tribal Students Union Manipur (ATSUM) has imposed the economic blockade on National Highways to press their demands which included among other things filling up of vacant posts of teachers in schools in hills.

Desperately seeking the truth Editorial Sangai Express
It is strange but true nonetheless that the allegations of mass rape of Hmar women by cadres of the UNLF and the KCP has now become something of a debate over the question of sending a fact finding team to verify the veracity of the allegations. While the UNLF has welcomed the initiative taken up by TIPS and other social organisations to mobilise a fact finding team and venture to the interior parts of Churachandpur district to get to the bottom of the matter, a number of tribal organisations, notably, ATSUM, Naga Women's Union, Manipur, Kuki Students' Organisation, Churachandpur, Hmar Students' Association etc have voiced their opposition to the fact finding team. The reasons furnished for opposing the fact finding team seem simple enough. According to them, the women have already been traumatised and the truth of the matter has been published in the media, notably in the North East Sun. Subjecting the supposedly rape victims would expose them to further trauma is a point raised by the bodies opposed to the fact finding team. Moreover the very fact that the rape victims have come out in the open to state their case is enough proof is the line of argument furnished for opposing the fact finding team. Lest anyone forgets, the charges levelled against the underground cadres are very serious. It was not only a question of some lumpen members of the armed groups raping a woman but about the question of mass rape, which is somewhat akin to ethnocide. Since the charges are serious, very serious, we feel a more substantive investigation into the case will help a lot in clarifying many unanswered questions. The mass rape was supposed to have been committed on January 16 this year, but it is significant to note that news of the incident hit the State media after a long lapse time that too from a student body.
It will also help if everyone realises the gravity of the situation, for the cadres of the two named organisations are predominantly Meiteis and there are enough room for vested interest elements to give it a communal hue. For rape charges to stick, an impartial probe is the need of the hour. The State Government has already instituted a Judical Inquiry to probe the allegations of the mass rape and apart from this, so far there has not been any independent investigation into the case at hand. At best what has happened is a trial by the media with either side having had their say through the media. This certainly is not a healthy trend. We are not in any way casting aspersions on anyone and we are not questioning whether the rape story is true or cooked up, but we do feel that a probe by an independent body is necessary. The suggestion from the Hmar Students' Association and the Kuki Students' Organisation that bodies like the National Women Commission and the National Human Rights Commission be involved in probing the case is welcome and this is a step that may be also studied. Remember what is at stake is truth and it is best that the truth comes out unalloyed and untampered. Justice is necessary and equally important too is the point that justice should also appear to have been delivered. And justice can only be achieved when the two sides, those pointing their fingers at the armed cadres and the leaders of the armed groups co-operate with each other to find out the truth.

TIPS defends fact-finding team formation The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Mar 25: Even as the KSO, Churachandpur has resolved not to allow the fact-finding team proposed to be formed by the Threatened Indigenous Peoples` Society, TIPS, access to the alleged Lungthulien rape victims, TIPS has strongly defended its move for the formation of fact-finding committee, asserting that there is a great deal of confusion surrounding the issue which needs to be cleared up.

TIPS, in a statement issued in this connection, said this would be in the interest of preserving harmonious relations among various communities in the state, as well as establishing the truth.

TIPS noted that it took around two months after the alleged crime was committed before the matter was reported, and said the reasons for the same need to be examined.

It also pointed out that there were discrepancies in the number of rape victims as mentioned in various accounts. The March 17 notification by the state government regarding constitution of a judicial inquiry into the issue mentioned that the FIR filed by Lungthulien village chief-in-charge, named nine victims, while the March 15 issue of the North East Sun mentioned more than 25, whereas the Joint Women Organisation, Churachandpur in its memorandum submitted to the state CM said there were 21 victims.

It also noted that media and civil society representatives who visited the area did not meet alleged victims and their accounts were got at at second hand. The human rights bodies which visited the area also failed to make public its report for a long time.

Asserting that the issue has the potention to create misunderstandings among communities, the TIPS stressed the need to establish the truth at the earliest

TIPS condemns rape as wel as any kind of human rights violation, whether perpetrated by underground elements or security forces and will always fight for the rights of the victims. It makes no distinction between hill and valley in this matter, it said.

The TIPS also said there was no question of pick and choose in constituting the fact-finding team and an open invitation to all civil society organisations of the state.

Reiterating that the objectives behind setting up the fact-finding body was to establish the truth, book the guilty and rehabilitate the victims, it questioned how this can be construed as causing further harassment to the victims.

It further questioned how the alleged rape cases can be considered established facts merely because they have been reported in the media, and expressed surprise at the decision of certain organisations not to allow the fact-finding panel to meet the alleged victims or visit the area, stating that it had expected these groups to be the first to come forward to cooperate with the fact-finding team.

How can the truth be expected to be established if they wanted to conceal the matter, TIPS further asked.