[Previous entry: "Indian PM offers to talk peace with northeastern rebels"] [Next entry: "Nagaland Assembly session to discuss office of profit on KOHIMA,"]

04/03/2006: "PM’s pledge for peace"

PM’s pledge for peace Nagaland Post
Tezpur (Assam), April 2 (IANS): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Sunday wound up his election campaign in Assam with an appeal to voters to re-elect the ruling Congress party and usher in a new era of peace and development.
"Bringing lasting peace by solving the problem of insurgency and accelerating the tempo of development is the topmost priority of my government," Manmohan Singh told an election rally at Tezpur, 185 km north of Assam's main city Guwahati. The prime minister arrived in Assam Saturday on a two-day visit to bolster his Congress party's election campaign.
The two-stage elections to the 126-member assembly begin Monday, with 65 constituencies going to the polls. The second phase of polling takes place April 10. "We are committed to address issues of development both in the rural and urban areas. The last five years of Congress government in Assam saw tremendous amount of development taking place," Manmohan Singh said to thunderous applause from a large crowd.
"In the next five years we will try and complete unfinished development projects and help solve the insurgency problem and bring back permanent peace."
The massive turnout for the prime minister's rally at Tezpur has made the opposition Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) jittery. Tezpur is the constituency of AGP president Brindaban Goswami, who is being projected as the party's chief ministerial candidate. Manmohan Singh reiterated the central government's commitment to take stern steps to thwart illegal Bangladeshi infiltration to Assam and other northeastern states. The influx of illegal aliens is a key political issue in Assam, which shares a long and porous border with Bangladesh.
"We are not going to tolerate any kind of infiltration and shall all take all positive measures to check the problem," he said. "Interests of all genuine minorities shall be protected".
Earlier Sunday, Manmohan Singh addressed another election meeting at Dongamokam in the troubled Karbi Anglong district in eastern Assam. The district witnessed some of the bloodiest ethnic riots in the state between November 2005 and January, when at least 110 people were killed and over 80,000 were displaced in an orgy of violence.
"I assure the people here of all help and will take steps to address your needs," Manmohan Singh said at Dongamokam. Manmohan Singh later left for New Delhi from Guwahati.
NSCN-IM reacts to PM’s remark Staff Reporter Nagaland Post
Dimapur, April 2 (NPN): The NSCN (IM) on Sunday described Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh's reported statement that "redrawing of boundaries of north-eastern states to accommodate the Greater Nagaland demand will not be done without the states' consent" as "voice of one man which should not to be taken for granted or as conclusive".
Talking to Nagaland Post, NSCN (IM)'s Kilo Kilonser (Home Minister), Rh. Raising said the statement made by the Prime Minister was "not taken seriously by us…it is not important". While asserting that "territory belongs to the people and not to the State", Raising described the statement of Dr. Singh as an "individual opinion" made in "individual capacity."
Further, the NSCN (IM) leader said "anyone can say anything through press statements" but that "solution cannot be brought through press statements rather it should be brought about through talks and negotiations, acceptable to both the parties". Raising added "one may utter many things through press statements but that if it is not acceptable to both the parties then it is not important." To a query, he said if the Prime Minister was "serious" about his statement he had made then "everything stops there."
The Prime Minister during a press conference at Guwahati on Saturday had said negotiations with the NSCN (IM) was on and "we want a fruitful solution to emerge". "We want Nagaland to prosper in peace and security. However, no change can be made in the present status of states without the consent of the states," he had told the media persons. The Prime Minister said if any change was necessary, it would be done with the prior approval of the states concerned. "We are committed to maintaining territorial integrity of all states in the north-east," Dr. Singh had said.
PM: No mid-term election “I will make it clear that the UPA government will last its full term and there will be no mid-term poll.” Deccan Herald Guwahati, DHNS/Agencies
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday firmly ruled out a mid-term poll even as he created a ripple in Assam by ruling out the possibility of any negotiation with the proscribed ULFA on the issue of “sovereignty”.

Campaigning in Assam ahead of the assembly elections here, he said, “I will make it clear that the UPA government will last its full term and there will be no mid-term poll.”

On the issue of holding talks on the sovereignty of Assam, the prime minister said, “The question does not arise at all. We are all servants of the Constitution. And the Constitutional position is quite clear on this (issue),” Mr Singh told a news conference in Guwahati. However, the prime minister’s comment has apparently put his party in a tight spot. The ruling party has been going gaga over the peace process with the outlawed militant outfit. It has not only been projecting the six-month-old peace process as an achievement of the state government led by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, but also promising to make it a success if voted back to power.

“If the ULFA wants to talk, it can raise any issue they want but that does not mean all issues are open for negotiation,” the prime minister said on Saturday. The prime minister’s comment, which has almost taken the fizz out of the much hyped peace process, came just a day after Army personnel gunned down a top ULFA militant at Lakhipur in western Assam. The slain militant, Lal Deka, commanded a ‘battalion’ of the rebel outfit. Meanwhile, the ULFA on Thursday issued a press release calling upon people to vote for only those politicians, who would take steps to resolve the “political conflicts between India and Assam”.

He said that the Centre would keep on pursuing the nine-year-old peace-process with the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) in order to bring permanent peace and prosperity in Nagaland. But he also ruled out the possibility of arbitrarily altering the boundaries of the neighbouring states for the sake of making peace with the NSCN (IM).

PM hums peace tune at Assam Sanagai Express
Tezpur Apr 2 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today appealed to misguided youths in Assam to eschew violence saying the continuing armed struggle in the State affected the entire North East Region and its development.
“Armed struggle should be avoided by the misguided youths (insurgents) for all round development of the region. They should give up violence and return to the mainstream”, Singh said addressing a Congress election rally here.
“If armed strugle continues in Assam, the entire North East is affected”, he pointed out.
Assuring that no genuine Indian citizen would be harassed in the process of detection of illegal migrants, Singh said border fencing work was on to check infiltration in the State.
The Prime Minister also said the Congress under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi had been successful in bringing about progress and development in Assam and other States where the party was in power. Soliciting votes, he assured the people that schemes under the Bharat Nirman Yojana would help solve the unemployment problem in the State and ensure development of both rural and urban areas.
Under Bharat Nirman Yojana, the Prime Minister said, emphasis would be given to education and health, particularly of women and children. The Prime Minister urged the people of Assam to give another opportunity to the Centre and the State Government to jointly work towards the goal of restoring peace in the State. Criticising both the Opposition BJP and the regional Asom Gana Parishad, Singh described the saffron party as communal and said the AGP, during its two earlier terms, could not do anything substantial for the development of the State. Singh said the Centre and the State Govt would work jointly for the uplift-ment of Tezpur, famed for its tea industry.
Earlier, during the last leg of his campaign in Assam, Singh briefly addressed another poll rally at Donka-mokam in ethnic violence-hit Karbi Anglong district. He assured that a special economic package would be given to the victims, including the next of kin of those killed or injured besides those whose houses were burnt. The Prime Minister said the Congress ruled District Autonomous Council, which submitted a memorandum to him, would take up measures to improve road connectivity, power supply, education and health. PTI

Truckers mad at govt inaction in tracing missing colleague The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Apr 1: Sixty six days had passed since truck driver Md. Ibothem along with a minor went missing in Nagaland but their whereabouts remain uncertain. The long inaction of the state government in tracing the missing persons and its inability to press Nagaland government to take initiative in this regard has strongly irked the drivers` community.

As per highly reliable sources, the Tata truck which went missing is now in the custody of one underground organisation which is at present in talks with the government of India but, there are no indications the driver and minor who went missing along with the vehicle are in their custody.

The truck, bearing registration no. MN01-5781 was reportedly recovered by the outfit from a garage at Sobha, Newland located at Char Mile of Nagaland in Dimapur district on February 25, exactly one month after the disapperance of the two.

The truck was loaded with chicken feed at the time it went missing. But when recovered from the garage, the same was reportedly found empty. The truck belongs to one Huidrom Ramcharan Singh of Khagempali.

Md. Ibothem, along with the 13 years old boy identified as Arif Shah, both hail from Yairipok Chagamtabi. The missing boy was a school student and had gone with the driver for roaming.

Investigation report revealed that the truck registered its entry at Dimapur check post on the Assam border in the afternoon of January 24. However, no registration was made the Patkai check post for the onward journey to Imphal along the NH-39, indicating that the truck disappeared somewhere between Dimapur and Patkai police check post.

Representatives of the All Manipur Drivers and Motor Workers Union when contacted expressed disappointment that the state government has done nothing for finding out the whereabouts of the missing persons despite the union apprising it for suitable action for many times.

They pointed out that when a van driver from Nagaland was found murdered in Manipur, the state government responding to the Nagaland government`s pressure even handed over the alleged accused. They even sent a ministerial team to convince the Nagaland government.

However when truckers, drivers from state were missing in Nagaland territory, the Manipur government cannot say anything to its counterpart, the union charged.

They also recalled the initiative that taken by the government of India when two Indian drivers were kidnapped in Iraq nearly two months backed and demanded that the state authorities should take their responsibilities seriously so that drivers of the state may feel secure while traveling to other states.

The Manipur government has always neglected the drivers community of the state, the union lamented.

In the meantime, JAC formed in connection with the disappearance of the two is likely to launch various forms of agitation against the government;s inaction regarding the matter as the government has still not responded to their ultimatum setting deadline on April 4.

A memorandum submitted to the chief minister by the JAC on March 28 has urged the state government to apprise its the Nagaland government to trace out the whereabouts of the two missing persons.

The JAC which has been formed by the public of the Yairipok supported by the drivers` union is also planning to hold a public meeting soon to discuss on the government inaction towards tracing out the missing persons. The meeting is also likely to consider about their course of action against the state government.

MHA officials to visit state The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Apr 2: Two top officials of the Union ministry of home affairs will arrive tomorrow at Imphal from New Delhi on a brief visit in the state to review the law and order situation of the state, an official source said today.

The two officials are special secretary, internal security Dr. GS Rajgopal, and joint secretary, north eastern region, Rajiv Agarwal. They are to arrive at Kangla helipad by an Indian Air Force chopper and will return to Delhi by the same chopper in the afternoon the next day.

During their stay at Imphal the two officials will call on state Governor SS Sidhu and chief minister O Ibobi Singh apart from holding talks with chief secretary, Jarnail Singh, DGP, AK Parasar and other top rank officials of central security forces deployed in the state of Manipur and Nagaland sector.
‘Remove Assam polling booths in Dimapur dist’ The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, APRIL 2 (MExN): The Western Sümi Students’ Union (WSSU) today said Assam has opened polling stations in the Aghunaqa area under Dimapur District. Terming the move as a “total disregard to the ground realities and the various agreements” made between Nagaland and Assam, a release said, “The Western Sümi Students Union (WSSU) in particular cannot remain a silent spectator in this high-handedness of the Assam Government.”
The Aghunaqa area under Dimapur District with more than 40 Naga villages falls under the Disturbed Area Belt. Noting that these villages have been recognized by the Nagaland Government, the students have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the polling stations “failing which the WSSU may be forced to resort to its own course of action in the interest of our public and that no electioneering process of Assam shall be allowed (to be conducted) inside the State of Nagaland.”
Meanwhile, a reliable source said that, so far, confirmation of 3 polling stations set up by the Assam Government has been received. It was also learnt that a joint team of the WSSU and Western Sumi Hoho intend to meet the Minister of Border Affairs Khekiho Zhimomi in order to discuss the situation with him. The Sumi delegation also intends to tour the Aghunaqa area to assess the ground realities out there. Incidentally, the Aghunaqa Area includes parts of Bokajan, Nagaon, etc. where a number of Sumi and Lotha villages are located.
Assam set for first phase of polls today The Morung Express
GUWAHATI, APRIL 2 (AGENCIES): Amidst tight security, the stage is set for the first phase of assembly polls in 65 of the 126 constituencies in Assam on Monday which will decide the fate of several heavyweights, including Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Campaigning was marked by absence of violence as the People’s Consultative Committee set up by the Ulfa, which has spearheaded the movement for sovereignty in the state, is engaged in peace talks with the Centre. It has for the first time abstained from calling a poll boycott and has announced that it will maintain equidistance from all political parties. The ULFA has also called for people to vote for parties which are committed on the issue of Assam’s sovereignty. Security measures are, however, tight with 300 additional companies of central forces deployed near polling booths for both phases of polls. The international border running along the state has been sealed to prevent entry of Bangladeshis and also ISI operatives, who according to intelligence reports were out to create problems during elections in Assam.
Adequate compensation for Karbi victims: Manmohan The Morung Express
Guwahati, April 2 (Rediff): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Sunday promised ‘adequate compensation’ to all the victims of the Karbi Anglong violence, besides stability and development.
As many as 103 people were killed and about 75,000 rendered homeless during the violence that rocked the hill district between September and December.
Dr Singh, addressing an election rally at Donkamokam in Karbi Anglong on the second-day of his two-day electioneering in Assam, reiterated that only the Congress was in a position to form a stable government.
He said a stable government was an essential pre-requisite for rapid development in the state given that the opposition parties are divided. He said, “Only the Congress can give Assam a stable government. The opposition in the state is divided, they do not have unity among themselves.”
Dr Singh further said his party was committed to the overall development of the backward Karbi Anglong district. “We will work for the rapid development of Karbi Anglong. I assure you that the Congress will provide all assistance to Karbi Anglong Autonomous District Council.”
SC Jamir and economic sovereignty Letters to the editor The Morung Express
• Sir-Appropos to the news item carried by some local papers on S.C. Jamir’s “First important comment on the protracted Naga political problems after being appointed to the gubernatorial post in July 2004...” the Naga people should congratulate him for clearly spelling out his political stand on the Naga political struggle. That, a) it is limited to present Naga state, that, b) it is within the Indian constitution, thereby reducing the freedom struggle to a mere law and’ order problem and that, c) some financial package is all that need to be negotiated thereby meaning we should demand some blood money from the government of India in lieu of Naga lives lost, Naga blood, Naga shame and pain. What we have suspected all along today we have heard from the horses’ mouth and in black and white. We should be grateful to him for his candid confession in the twilight of his political career.
S.C. Jamir also confuses us with talks about Economic sovereignty of Nagaland. If there is an accepted political term or an economic term as economic sovereignty, it has to be a status after attaining sovereignty, a league or, association of sovereign states as in European Union (EU). In fact the term economic sovereignty was coined by the media in the midst of conflicts of opinion of sovereign nation members of the EU. In political thought, philosophy or theory and practice and in economic theory or principles the term economic sovereignty has no place or mention. In the history of the world no people or nation ever fought for economic sovereignty. If Mr. S. C. Jamir thinks that economic sovereignty equals economic package he is living in a fool’s paradise.
The Government of India used military force to subjugate to the Naga people, having failed in that they employed the economic package line and poured money to the Nagas, having failed to win over the Naga people with that ploy they employed both means simultaneously but their efforts proved futile. After 50 years, the Government of India finally realized that the only way to resolve the Naga problem was through dialogue and negotiations without pre-conditions which places the ongoing peace process beyond and outside the Indian Constitution. The Naga people are not so gullible nor the Government of India so foolish therefore to believe that economic package is the final solution, however much Mr. Jamir may wish. Such rantings are in no way going to affect the peace talks nor the firm aspirations of the Naga people but only serve to bring down the linage of such a senior politician as S.C.Jamir in the eyes of the Naga people.
P. Modoli Tusii Nganii Village, Tahamjam (Senapati)
Human rights and National security: A neo-Nagaland police
By Mmhonlümo Kikon Sangai Express article
There has been various debates about National Security vis-à-vis Human Rights in recent times across not only India but, rather disturbingly, across the western countries. Before the Indian National Congress came to power, there was a big debate in the Mukherjee hall at St. Stephen’s College over the same topic. The debaters were Jairam Ramesh (presently a Minister in the UPA Govt), and Shashi Tharoor, author and currently the Under Secretary to Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General. These debates were mostly initiated by Govt departments or by Universities irrespective of whichever country it was discussed. Why did this particular theme become a phenomenal issue? Before Osama bin Laden’s jihadis plane-bombed the US of A, draconian laws were uncomfortably discussed and vilified by scores of human rights activists and humanists. In India the debates in Delhi happened immediately after the rubbles of the Twin Towers were replaced by twin light beams. Interestingly, the issue of whether to scrap POTA or not was the primary political focus at that moment and the Congress, being in opposition, lost no time in flaming the fires of dissent in all the platforms they could avail.
The more vocal dissenters were the left parties in India and the Vaiko inspired protests in Tamil Nadu, which eventually allowed the DMK led alliance to sweep the Lok Sabha polls in TN. It does not require a trained mind to observe the political link of this theme in the light of the above. In the end POTA was scrapped and the newly formed UPA Government took a strong anti-terrorist stance by proposing to strengthen the CrPC and the police in tackling “terrorists’ operating in India. While the debates raged on about whether National security should be above human rights, the policy makers and the so called think tanks strongly favoured a strong police force, strong not only in arms but also by law. The word impunity did not feature in the assessment of giving immunity to the police and of course the Army, while operating in disturbed areas. The interest in this issue has been varied and depending on expediency of some political situations, as was seen in the case of the Congress, the decibel level has been accordingly maintained. And while the world was turbulently flowing through the various intricacies of this issue, Nagaland Police also organised a similar debate among its officers early this year, in keeping with the trends of the world. Why oh why should we write about such an uneventful and seemingly inconsequential process in this present state of Nagaland?
It can only be explained by tracing back the history of draconian laws since 1958 (let us ignore the British Acts for now) and relating it to the current peace process. The birth and development of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in the Naga areas and in other conflict areas in India led to the gradual reduction of civil space in those areas. The provisions within the act are sufficient enough to frustrate the most ardent evangelist of the sanctity of the “biggest democracy” known as India. Alongwith the AFSPA there emerged a new policing concept called the unified command where the Army and the paramilitary forces join hands with the local deputies to practically continue with the AFSPA. Of course this means less space for the ever diminishing civil society. We already have a unique history of sorts with draconian acts and the dutiful police force. Therefore it is completely logical that besides the semantics involved in such debates and also the financial support from the Centre, it can be the beginning of a self-motivation that has the potential to become the dominant discourse and therefore the general truth when it comes to dealing with all sorts of offenders and suspected detainees. At the international level the recently created Counter-Terrorism Committee of the Security Council has been the cynosure of all Human Rights bodies due to its lack of the human rights component. The UN has created, through a resolution, a Special Rapporteur on the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism. In the recent Human Rights Monitor published by the International Service for Human Rights, there was strong emphasis on the impact that “laws and measures to combat terrorism” can have on the respect for detainees’ integrity and the right to be tried before an independent and impartial justice system. According to the report, “upholding human rights in the fight against terrorism remains a fundamental human rights issue, with civil society continuing to document and publicize severe human rights abuses committed within the context of the “War against Terror”.
Further, UN special procedures and the human rights treaty-monitoring bodies have continued to observe and record violations of human rights com-mitted in the context of State counter-terrorism me-asures.” In the vortex of all these international phenomenon we are also getting drawn into concepts which did not exist in the Naga customary laws. There was a restorative will in the delivery and interpretation of justice unlike the ones we are witnessing today. In our pride as a warrior people we are losing sight of the fact that the pride lies in the protection of our rights and respect for other peoples’ rights; not in the blind assertion of might or aggression. This was seen recently in the deployment of the IRB from Nagaland to Chattisgarh. How unfortunate is it for Nagas that when the struggle for the right to self-determination took us through various painful experiences and is still teaching us a lot, we are participating in the same methods and tactics of the oppressing agencies. There are ways to tackle political problems and the Government of the day has rightly pointed out that it is through dialogues and not through military might. How then can we who profess to support the Indo-Naga Peace Process behave so self-contradictorily? We cannot become outsour-cing agencies for other war mongers. The trend which prevails must also be challenged in the pulpits of the church because it is a fact that almost every Naga attends the Sunday service or mass. Are we as Christians to become war machines for the sake of money? These are questions which must be debated vigorously and if time and financial support are given to the Nagaland Police, why not go for an interactive debate with others outside the police force on such issues. Another interesting thing to note here is that human rights and civil society organs are becoming too bureaucratic and numb to even notice the formalization of impunity by such debates. A lot of people reminiscence over the effective civil society organs during the earlier regime in the state of Nagaland, but now it seems that either you are neutralized or ineffective or that the Government of the day has become too intolerant towards uncomfortable views and opinion makers. Finally it must be remembered that the health of a society is measured by the space it allows for different opinions rather than by the politicization of such space.
Office of Profit Today's Editorial The Morung Express APRIL 3
As per the statements emanating from offices of the two major political parties in Nagaland there appears to be some confusion over the legal interpretation of the term Office of Profit and whether certain offices are exempted from the Nagaland State Legislative Members (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964. Both the NPF and Congress have interpreted to their liking on what should constitute an office of profit so much so that for the ruling NPF the Leader of the Opposition is disqualified while the Congress party has proved the innocence of its leader and instead disqualified the Chief Minister. In a way the fact that both are referring to the same legal material but arriving at different conclusions may mean only one thing, the ambiguity of the law itself. Therefore rather than taking pot shots at each other the State legislators should now sit together and resolve the nitty-gritty legal points and get on with the constitutional assigned duty of running the government whether as Chief Minister or as an Opposition Leader.
The ploy of the Opposition Congress in Nagaland to unseat Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio from his chair appears to have taken a reverse route. While the Congress may have caught Rio on the defensive it has to be remembered that the allurement for office is a larger political issue and goes much beyond the likes of Sonia Gandhi, Amar Singh, Neiphiu Rio and I. Imkong. If the Congress bungled by jumping the gun too soon the NPF too cannot be oblivious to the fact that an Assembly or for that matter Parliament will become a sheer mockery if the Office of the Leader of the Opposition is derided merely to score a few political points.
More than the occupant, it is the office that counts in a functioning democracy. As in the case of Nagaland, therefore if at all the office of the Leader of the Opposition has not been exempted under (Removal of Disqualification) Act, 1964, it is most unfortunate. The NPF statement that “the Leader of Opposition I Imkong is the prime target for disqualification for holding office of profit”, is therefore highly inappropriate and lacks political maturity. Going by this logic of the NPF, any one who occupies the office of the Leader of the Opposition in Nagaland will be disqualified even if tomorrow the person happens to be Rio. Does it then also mean that Nagaland should therefore do away with this all important office? This legal lacuna regarding the office of the Leader of the Opposition must be corrected, and hopefully this will be done when the special session of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly sits on April 4.
On the larger issue of the Office of Profit, the absence of clarity is precisely the major cause for the current controversy. Both the DAN and Opposition Congress MLAs have a responsibility to come forward and deliberate in clearing this ambiguity but without in anyway circumventing the letter and spirit of the constitution.
Office of the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights, Delhi Unit, B-39, Ajanta Flat, Vasant Enclave, New Delhi-110057 Press Statement against “Mass Rape” in Tipaimukh, Churachandpur
Date: 02/04/06 We, the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) Delhi Unit, are extremely shock to learn that the Indian and the Manipur governments are keeping quite and pin drop silent about the “mass rape” of innocent Hmar villagers by the Meitei armed struggling groups namely, UNLF and KCP in Tipaimukh sub-division in Churachandpur district in Manipur on 16th January 2006. We strongly condemn such heinous and savageous act of those who were part of the uncivilised demonstration of criminal act of sabotaging the dignity and human hood of the innocent villagers which includes many very young women and an innocent girl child of 13 years old. There are many questions to be answered by these Meitei Armed struggling groups in Manipur.

We, as one of the genuine nationality groups struggling for our inherent right to self-determination from occupational forces, have a strong reservation and doubt on those people of their sincerity and honesty, who have committed this sinful human passion and lust against the young and vulnerable Hmar women by unleashing their beastly and inhuman act. This is a threat not only to those victims but also to all women of dignity and virtue. What is pathetic about the “mass rape” was non other than the act of those cadres of these Meitei Armed struggling groups who are fighting against the Indian State. In retaliation to “Operation All Clear” of the Indian Army, these Meitei Armed struggling groups have made the Tipaimukh areas’ innocent women victims, which is uncalled for and devoid of any reason d’ etat.

Moreover, we fail to understand as to why these undisciplined cadres have to target young women and girl child for continuous turn by turn rape by two three cadres. We have totally lost our faith and hope from those cadres of their sensibility of the human values and, more so, of the women dignity and modesty. What is worse of this obnoxious human crime is the manner of carrying out their revolutionary activities through destruction and sabotaging the dignified and honourable lives of young women whose lives were given by God. Their lives are in ruin and shame without their fault. The question is, is this the way we must live as brothers and sisters? Today, we are ashamed to live a respectful life outside the north eastern states because our non-practice of culture of rape of our own women has been gravely damaged by this and some sporadic incidents. Are you not committing an irreparable and shameful culture to our people there? Are you not becoming the victims yourselves of the Indian State’s strategy of creating tension among communities there? These are relevant questions to be answered by those rapists. This incident of the “mass rape” has led us to think that our women are no longer saved even in our own villages. We are reminded of those rape victims of the Indian Army, namely, Luingamla Muinao, Rose, Monorama Devi and raped victims in the “Oinam Case” of “Operation Blue Bird” etc. which are still fresh in our minds. In 2005, one of our north eastern women was raped by four Indian men in Dhaula Kuan in New Delhi. While we are yet to see justice for all these women, our Hmar girls are being raped by our north eastern men in arms in Churachandpur in Manipur. How are we going to heal this wound in our minds? What is wrong with this world we live in?

The root of all these devilish acts goes back to the time when Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act was introduced in the Naga areas in 1958 which was amended in 1972 and since 1986 this draconian Act has been applied in all the conflict zones in the N.E and Kashmir. The Indian Army has been given sweeping powers including shoot to kill under this Act. There has been unaccountable numbers of people being killed and so many of our women have been raped by the Indian security forces wherever they are deployed in the name of the so called Counter-insurgency. We can rightly say that all these problems are the creation of the Indian Government because the political issues of the struggling peoples in the north east and elsewhere in the Indian sub-continent have not been addressed to by the Indian Government. And we foresee that until AFSPA is repealed completely from the conflict zones this problem will still persist.
Those responsible for the recent “mass rape” in Tipaimukh, Churachandpur in Manipur, are the Indian Government, Manipur Government and the Meitei armed struggling groups for which they have to do to bring justice to the victims. We, as human rights movement of the Naga people, strongly believe that this particular incident was not only human rights violation of the innocent young and vulnerable Hmar villagers but also universal human rights violation of women on the earth. We cannot remain silent any longer on this issue. We caution the public to be aware that such ghastly act should not be allowed to commit against other communities in the near future. All of us must put heads together to wipe out repetition of such human rights violation among all women on the earth for peaceful and honourable living. We demand immediate bringing to book of those culprits involved in the “mass rape” for quick delivery of justice through compensation to the victims and their families and relatives. We urge the Indian and the Manipur Governments for necessary remedial measures to rehabilitate those villagers who have fled to Mizoram and elsewhere for shelters and medical check up. We would like to assure those victims and their families and relatives that the Nagas are with you in your struggle for justice and truth.

Ms. R.S. Mayori, Convenor NPMHR Delhi
Mr. Kent Chara Co-Convenor NPMHR Delhi

Assam readies for first phase of polls Sangai Express
Guwahati, Apr 2 : Amidst tight security, the stage is set for the first phase of Assembly polls in 65 of the 126 constituencies in Assam tomorrow which will decide the fate of several heavyweights, inclu- ding Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Campaigning was marked by absence of violence as the People’s Con- sultative Committee set up by the Ulfa, which has spearheaded the movement for sovereignty in the State, is engaged in peace talks with the Centre. It has for the first time abstained from calling a poll boycott and has announced that it will maintain equidistance from all political parties. The ULFA has also called to the people to vote for parties which are committed to the issue of Assam’s sovereignty.
Security measures are, however, tight with 300 additional companies of Central forces deployed near polling booths for both phases of polls. The international border running along the State has been sealed to prevent entry of Bangladeshis and also ISI operatives, who according to intelligence reports were out to create problems during elections in Assam.
Besides, the Assam police battalion personnel have been already deployed near vital public installations as OIL and railway tracks. The army, however, would not be specifically used for poll work but deployed in vulnerable areas. The first phase of polls in Assam will decide the fate of 545 candidates—505 male and 40 women candidates— with BJP putting up the highest number of 65 candidates, followed by 64 from Congress, 54 from AGP, 25 from NCP and eight each from CPI and CPI (M). Among the prominent candidates in the fray tomorrow are: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi from Titabor, Speaker Prithvi Majhi from Lahowal, State unit Congress President Bhubanes- war Kalita from Rangiya, Ministers Anjan Dutta, Dr Hemoprava Saikia, Gautam Roy, Himanta Biswa Sarma, Ajanta Neog, Bharat Chandra Narah and Pradyut Bordoloi. The other prominent Congress candidates whose fate would be sealed tomorrow are: Bithika Dev, wife of Union Minister for Heavy Industries Santosh Mohan Dev, former Ministers Ardhendu Roy, Devananda Konwar, Sarat Borkotoky, Pranati Phukan and State Youth Congress president Rekibuddin Ahmed.
The prominent AGP candidates in the fray are former AGP Ministers Jagadish Bhuyan from Sadiya, Hitendranath Gos-wami from Jorhat, Dr Kamala Kalita from Chaygaon among others. Former AGP ministers who have switched allegiance to AGP (Progressive) headed by former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta are Utpal Dutta and Sahidul Alam Choudhury while party vice-president Biraj Sarma and senior leader Rekharani Das Boro contesting as independents after being denied party tickets are also in the fray.
The prominent BJP candidates in the fray are former Union Minister Bijoya Chakraborty, state unit vice-president Ramen Deka, party spokesman Asokananda Singhal, sitting MLAs Mission Ranjan Das, Bimolangshu Roy, Parimal Suklabaidya, Kaliranja Deb, Sushil Dutta and Rameswar Teli. The contest in the state is mainly among the three major parties—the ruling Congress, AGP and BJP. PTI

Blockade in Manipur to be intensified From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, April 2 – Yet another indefinite economic blockade on National Highways 39 and 53 imposed by Zeliangrong Students’ Union of Tamei Area and Kuki Students’ Organisation, Sadar Hills since Saturday night is going to be intensified from tomorrow.

“We are continuing campaigns over our move in and around villages located on the NH 39 and 53”, says vice president of KSO (Sadar Hills) Papao Haokip.The student organisations have been demanding immediate black topping of Imphal-Tamenglong road

PM promises better facilities for tribals From Mahesh Jha Assam Tribune
DONGKAMOKAM, April 2 – “India is a vast country and there are people of different tribes. Our Congress leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, and Sonia Gandhi protected the interest of all tribes of our country. Hence, we all should endeavour for the betterment of our economic and education condition to get rid of poverty, starvation and illiteracy from the country,” Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said addressing a mammoth crowd at Dongakmokam in Karbi Anglong today. Praising the role of Congress government-led by Tarun Gogoi in the State, he said that the Congress Government has brought in major development in the State while no other political party thinks for the development of Asom. “If the Congress party comes to power at Dispur again, we can continue our fight against poverty, starvation and illiteracy,” he said.

Informing the voters, Dr Singh said that the Centre has started a scheme which will provide 100 days of work for each family in some of the districts of Asom and in next three-four years, this scheme will be implemented in the entire State. The people of Karbi Anglong needed lot of development, and all tribes should be given a chance to flourish. “If circumstances warrants to give more power to Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) for the development of Karbi Anglong, we will do so after discussion with the State government,” Dr Singh further said.

Regarding the tragic Karbi-Dimasa clashes, Dr Manmohan Singh said that the ethnic clashes were very regrettable. “There should not be tussle among us, we all should live together and the violence-hit people will be rehabilitated after discussion with the State Government,” he said.

In his 10-minute speech in Hindi, Dr Singh said that if we want to develop ourselves then there ought to be better education system, better roads, better health care facilities and better infrastructure facilities. In next four to five years, all steps will be taken to develop Karbi Anglong and all the remote villages of the district will be given electricity facilities, drinking water and better roads, health care, etc. and this can be done only when there is a stable government. He also appealed to the voters to cast their vote for Dr Mansing Rongpi, the Congress candidate.

On the other hand, levelling a scathing attack on his opponents, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that during the last five years all the developmental works were stopped and the Congress Government after coming to power made a drastic change. “We have started computer literacy in the State, we started the work of Karbi Langpi Hydro Electric Project (KLHEP). During the ASDC rule, the condition of the district was very bad,” Gogoi added.

Surprisingly, when Dr Singh was delivering his speech, the KNCA, a women’s organisation observed black day protesting the Prime Minister’s apathy and negligence towards the hill district during the ethnic clashes in the month of October and November last year. Even the intellectual society expressed their anguish and said that Dr Singh who was representing in the Rajya Sabha and is the Prime Minister of India never spoke a word during the ethnic clashes in which more than 100 people were killed and now he has visited the district just for political gain.

Our Tezpur Correspondent adds: Addressing an election rally at Tezpur Church Field today, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh while campaigning for former minister Bijit Saikia alongwith all the sitting MLAs of the entire district, said Congress has a long history of ruling the country and accordingly has already started a journey of progress and development. He promised safe drinking water, electrification, telephone etc. to every village. Criticizing AGP and BJP, Dr Singh said that AGP has not done any developmental works in the State inspite of being in power two times. He said that the capital city of tourism Tezpur has been given much importance where much probability of development is seen. The Prime Minister appealed to the voters to vote bring the Congress to power once again for the development of the State. In the rally Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, general secretary of Indian National Congress Pervez Hasmi, candidate of the Tezpur LAC Bijit Saikia, Nurjamal Sarkar, president of Sonitpur District Committee Congress, secretary Putul Rabha etc also attended.