[Previous entry: "No compromise on infiltration: PM"] [Next entry: "Three killed in factional clashes in Nagaland"]
04/06/2006: "The Naga question and Indian intransigence"
Rio unites highways by inaugurating bridge Chizokho Vero Kohima |
Nagaland today inked another milestone in the field of road connectivity as Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio inaugurated Dzudza Baily Bridge, connecting NH 61 and NH 39. The bridge involves an estimated cost of Rs 93, 54, 860 and was funded by the Life Insurance Corporation of India, Mumbai under negotiated loan. Rio said the newly constructed bridge will not only be beneficial for the villagers of Tsiesema, Kiruphema and Menguzouma and neighboring villages but would also largely benefit the people of Wokha, Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Phek.
Rio also stressed on the need to maintain peace, adding that the developmental activities are possible when there is peace and unity among the people. Touching on the “Year of Farmers,” Rio said the government desires to enhance agricultural production and improve the living condition of the people and urged for seriousness from them to avail the government programmes. He said the present government has been giving due importance for the improvement of farming activities and socio-economic development of the state. Also speaking on the occasion, Minister for Work and Housing and Mechanical, Tokheho Yephtho said that the department has 24 ongoing constructions of bridges in the state where four have already been completed. Two more bridges in the Noklak area of Tuensang district constructed under DUDA will be inaugurated on April 26. Shortly, the department will also be bringing out a publication highlighting various achievements of the department to ensure transparency and accountability in the developmental activities, the minister said. Chairing the function, Toshi Aier, IAS, Principal Secretary Work and Housing department informed that the government was working on communitisation of the village approach roads in the state which is likely to start from this year.
Chief Engineer, PWD (R&B), Vikuotuolie Angami said the people coming from Northern Angami areas, Tseminyu, Phugoboto and Wokha and its neighboring villages who wished to travel to Dimapur via Kohima Town in the past covering a distance of 36 Km upto Peducha Village (Kiruphema) on NH-39 can avail the traveling distance only by 18 Km crossing over this newly constructed bridge over Dzudza River which also benefit the villages of Tsiese Basa, Tsiese Bawe village on NH-61 in the eastern part and Peducha on NH-39 Menguzouma, Peducha in the western part of this newly constructed bridge.
A budget provision of Rs 31. 50 lakhs has been kept aside for the period 2006-07 for this bridge. This provision will clear the balance amount of the contractor and also provide wing walls and protection walls for the bridge abutments to avoid erosion and river training works, Er. Vikuotuolie added. Extending gratitude to the government, the villagers also look forward to black topping of this road in the near future.
Several ministers including planning Minister Dr. Shurhozelie, PHED minister P Longon, minister for transport and communication Imtilemba Sangtam, parliamentary secretaries Nkhao Lotha, R. Khing, MC Konyak, Kaito and other government officers attended the function. Vote of thanks was tendered by Er. N. Chielie, Engineer-in-chief, PWD.
Morung Express News
Journey from ‘war zone’ to model of peace Forty years after jets bombed Aizawl, town readies for fireworks of a different kind The Morung Express
Aizawl, April 5 (AGENCIES): It’s been four decades since Indian Air Force jets swooped down from the sky and strafed this hill town, the only instance of the country’s fighter planes bombing its own territory. That was Delhi’s response to the “war of independence” launched by the Mizo National Front, led by the legendary Laldenga.
Come April 20, the Aizawl sky will once again be lit up by fireworks when Mizoram celebrates two decades of being an “island of peace” in a region torn asunder by militant and ethnic violence. The Peace Fest 2006, to be held at the Assam Rifles ground, will specifically commemorate the end of the rebellion that led to the Mizo Peace Accord between Delhi and the MNF in 1986. Appropriately, the celebrations will also convey a message to the rest of the Northeast — “Give peace a chance”.
Apart from some spectacular fireworks at the conclusion of the celebrations, the list of programmes includes performances by leading rock bands and singers of the Northeast and a fashion show. Chief minister Zoramthanga, who had participated in the MNF uprising alongside Laldenga, is understood to be taking a keen interest in the event.
Malsawmi, a member of the organising committee, promised that the fireworks display would be “something never before seen in the state”. The services of pyrotechnics engineers of the Assam Rifles have been sought for the aerial show. Charlie B, the choreographer for the mega fashion show, said as many as 21 models, including two from Mumbai and Calcutta, would walk the ramp in creations by the region’s top fashion designers.
“Miss Mizoram 2005 Lalfakawmi and 2000 NE Super Model Lalramsangi will also be seen on the ramp,” said Ruth Hrangchal, another member of the organising committee.
The only worry is the prospect of showers, but the organisers are keeping their fingers crossed. The chief minister had suggested that the event be postponed to November because of the possibility of rain. “I fully support your enthusiasm to celebrate 20 years of peace in the state and wish it all success. However, the success of the event could depend to a great extent on whether the dry season would keep up. Rain might disrupt all the programmes and all your efforts could come to a nought,” Zomanthanga was quoted as saying.
Equally enthusiastic about the proposed celebrations, Governor A.R. Kohli had suggested that programmes be spread out through the year. The North Eastern Council has sanctioned funds for the event.
“We remember all our friends who laid down their lives during the movement in Mizoram. We, who are still alive today, pledge to finish the unfinished task and rededicate ourselves to Mizoram,” said V. Zokunga, a member of the Ex-MNA Association and a former “second lieutenant” in Laldenga’s group. On March 1 this year, the association honoured several veterans, including Padmashri winner James Dokhuma, Congress MLA Sainghaka and former MNF “defence minister” R. Zamawia. Biakdiki, the wife of founder president Laldenga, was felicitated, too. The MNF was first formed as the Mizo National Famine Front during the Great Famine of 1965. It is a coincidence that mautam, or the bamboo-flowering phenomenon that is said to be the harbinger of famine, led to the birth of the MNF and is threatening the state again when the MNF is in power.
THE ULTIMATE BETRAYAL: 21 Hmar women raped. By: Lemyao Shimray Nagarealm.com
‘When truth is replaced by silence,’ ‘The silence is a lie’.
More then 600 indigenous people from North is participated in the protest rally on April 4th 2006 in Delhi. Condemning the rape of 21 Hmar women as a crime of war and to bring pressure on all parties of UNLF and KCP cadres to end this abuse, they walk the street of parliament. In a joint press statement given out by various organizations, it was mentioned that “We condemn the reign of terror unleashed by the UNLF and KCP cadres, the torture and inhuman treatment meted out to the helpless people of Churachanpur. We condemn the indiscriminate of planting landmines by the UNLF and KCP cadres in the area that have already claimed many lives, permanently maimed, and injured and displaced our people to Mizoram and different parts of Manipur and Assam. We condemned the mass rape of 21 Hmar women and girls, some as young as 13, by cadres of the UNLF and KCP.”
Speeches were presented by various organizations in protest against the ‘rape culture’ that enables the ‘victor’ to demoralize their victim. Mr Chitho Nyusou, the President of Naga Students’ Union Delhi in his speech says “When a few rioters torched the Manipur Assembly house in 18th June 2001, the government of Manipur were very swift in taking prompt action, where today they remain numb, which is obnoxious.”
As mentioned by the media in Manipur and North East region, a Protest rally was held against Tipaimukh project, many stories were run about the dam construction. Dr. R.K. Ranjan Singh, who is a writer and prominent environmental activist in the North-East, stated that “One of the largest projects proposed for northeast India is the Tipaimukh dam on the river Barak in Manipur. This 162.8 m. high earthen-rock filled dam also has the potential to be one of the most destructive. The project will have an installation capacity of 6x250=1500 MW and a firm generation of 412 MW.” The irony of media and intellectuals is that, they fail to recognise that ‘Tipaimukh’ is where, violation of the basic human rights and dignity of our brothers and sisters by cadres of Imphal valley were carrying out. This is the same area that have already claimed many lives, permanently maimed, and injured our own hill people. This is the area where many intellectuals failed to measure the depth of social stigma attached to rape victims that doubles up the sense of guilt and insecurity.
In the scorching heat of April summer in Delhi, the Hmar Women Association, as a living testimony narrated tales of the devastating effect sex crimes have on Hmar communities. Noticing that wartime rape crimes are increasingly either encouraged or included as official military strategies by the Meitei UG’s and the government of states and India, the people of the hilltops, where mainly occupied by the indigenous Hmar tribe have no other option but to silently born the outrageous behaviour of the valley based insurgents, who are running amok! The villager folks watched helplessly as their children and grandchildren were violated and degraded.
Marauding armies have always used rape as a means of controlling the minds and bodies of those they sought to conquer. In countries such as Bosnia, Kuwait, Somalia, Peru, Liberia, Rwanda and Indonesia, women pay dearly for civil and national wars. Rape enables the victors to demoralize their prey, further asserting their power over the foreign "other." It is this "otherness" that is stressed during warfare—it grants humans the right to destroy human life in the name of protecting the security of the motherland. The invasion of women’s bodies is another consequence of the masculine privilege that extends from this warfare. But, instead of death, it leaves behind a permanent legacy of suffering and sense of failure long after the battlefields have quieted.
The period of reign of terror extended from 06.01.06 to 18.01.2006, during this short period suffering of the innocent villagers both in Parbung and Lungthlien is beyond _expression. Between Nov 2005 and Feb 2006 the Tipaimukh Sub Division had been occupied by the valley based armed group. Coming out of their fear and denial syndrome, out of many only 21 of the virgin between age 13 to 14 from three villages have come forward to give an account of their horrible ordeal of physical and sexual. But despite the grim reports, observers (GoI and Manipur states) failed to notice that [tribunal indictments for sex crimes] are harbingers of more prosecutions and investigations of this particular war crime.
1000 of Hmar people fled to Mizoram as refugees while the Manipur state govt is playing a delay tactics. We have seen in recent years, wars that are basically designed to push out ethnic groups.... Rapes committed in public effectively terrorize communities and convince people to flee. 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 none 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 the Meitei Armed struggling groups have made the Tipaimukh areas’ innocent women victims, which is uncalled for and devoid of any reason that is stated. Highlighting the history, Rape and the threat of rape caused a wave of ethnic Chinese to flee Indonesia during the riots that swept Jakarta in 1998. It was also allegedly employed as an intimidation tactic by combatants in Bangladesh's war of independence. I won’t be surprised if that is the mindset the Manipur government have for Hmar people by encouraging the Meitei UG’s to rape and torture the Hmar villagers in Churachanpur. It is high time for the hill people of Northeast to wake up and listen to the call “To fight for Justice” as one.
In her speech, the Convenor of Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR), Delhi remind the crowd of how hill people are discriminated since from the time before the ‘Gorah’s’; that time when the hill people were in mercy of Meitei Maharaja and were not united, of how the ‘Hao’ was made to give forced labour to make the Kangla Lake with force labour and torture. “Never before was there any history that tells the culture of rape and sexual harassment in hill area until, Arm Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) was implemented” she stated “ Before it was Meitei then came British and Indians, now the discrimination have risen up in the form of Meitei UG’s. How long are we supposed to wait for justice under their power?” The Manipur Students’ Association Delhi (MSAD) former president participated in the rally along with 5 other members as a Meitei representative. Condemning the ‘mass rape’ and urging not to marginalize the issue. Stating that he strongly wish to work ahead to give justice to the victims and his full co-operation is with the Hmar people as an ‘Individual’. When inquired about the strength of Manipur Meitei in Delhi, the former president stated “Including the working people the strength of Meiteis’ in Delhi will round about 10,000.”
If given a chance I would very much like to raise a query ‘Out of 10,000, is not it an irony to state that the public and civilian support the cause and only 6 people attend the protest rally? The lack of participation from Imphal people in every activity to bring justice to the victims of Hmar is the truth fact of how much they are co-operating with hill people. We emphasize on not to marginalized the situation but then, we are tend to remember that the Manipur Government are ruled by Meiteis, the UG’s are Meiteis and the valley people who control the system are Meiteis. Whether we like it or not it is a hard fact politically to emphasize that the majority of the Meiteis in Imphal valley are link directly or indirectly to the UG’s who rape the Hmar women. A very simple example and proof: What happen to the women org like ‘Meira Paibi’ who oppose strongly the rape of Manorama Devi? Where is the zeal now? Are they silent today because unfortunately the rapists are Meiteis’? It may be true in humanitarian ground and on the ground in order to avoid ‘ism’. But can such gesture be avoided? Is this an ultimate betrayal on their ground? Such chauvinism, if we have to tolerate, as have been tolerating we don’t want to live under one administration.
It is very much true when Martha Gellhorn; Dachau 1946, Gaurdian; United States stated “Never believe government”. She wrote ‘not any of them, not a word they say; keep an interesting eye on all they do’ KUKNALIM!
British Legions arrive Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Apr 5 : A 32 me-mber team of Royal British Legion arrived at the State capital today to pay hom-age to world War II he-roes, who made supreme sacrifice in the line of duty, informed PRO IGAR (S) in a rele-ase while adding that the four day visit of the british team is being conducted under the aegis of Hqs IGAR (south).
Committee probes into GPF withdrawal case Newmai News Network Imphal: A House Committee of Manipur Assembly, which is probing fraudulent withdrawal of a huge amount of money from the General Provident Fund (GPF) of several government employees of different departments today, recorded statements of 16 employees.
The House committee summoned the 16 employees, who claimed that money was withdrawn from their provident fund account without their knowledge. The committee, constituted last year following an uproar in the Assembly recorded statements of some employees in February.
The 16 employees summoned to the committee today belong to Education Department (U), Directorate of Information & Public Relations and Public Works Department. Similarly some employees of Industries, Veterinary and School Education Departments have been summoned by the committee on April 13. One employee, who appeared before the committee today said his provident fund had an account of Rs.2.80 lakh from which withdrew only Rs.70,000.
He came to know that his money was withdrawn by some one after the government informed him that a deduction would be made from his monthly pay as his account was empty. Talking to reporters,’ Chairman of the committee Moirangthem Nara Singh said more cases of fraudulent withdrawal of money from the employees’ provident fund came to light during the course of investigation by the committee.
He said that the committee would thoroughly probe the matter and recommend punitive action against those involved in the fraud. Nara Singh said that some senior officials reportedly threatened employees who complained of loss of money from their accounts. Nara Singh said the committee is also trying to identify the officials who are threatening the employees. “Anyone found guilty in the scandal would not be spared,” he said.
Nara expressed the suspicion that a gang involving officials from the Accountant General Office, Treasury Office and the respective departments could be behind the fraud. The committee Chairman has appealed all employees, whose money has been withdrawn to come forward and report to the committee freely without any fear.
The Chairman said the committee would seek reports from the State Vigilance Department and the police which were also probing the cases. He said that all the head of departments were asked to furnish a detailed report on how money was withdrawn from the employees’ provident fund without the knowledge of the employees concerned.
Naga ‘Piece’ Process letter to the editor The Morung Express 1
I am constrained to write openly after giving a deep thought, thinking both from the heart and mind, that we Nagas have become a victim of ‘Narcacism’ (A Syndrome / disease where a man falls in love with himself). We Nagas have fallen so much in love with ourselves and our confused misguided thoughts that we have turned a blind eye to the actual reality which is occurring in Nagaland. The much hyped Naga Peace Process is declared by factions who are themselves fighting with each other. One wants Nagalim the other wants Nagaland. If Nagalim is got then the Konyaks and the Kheinmungans want to separate out, the Zeliangrongs want a separate status, such inherent problems which they are unable to solve will rip open Nagaland into two parts, a partition like North and South Vietnam ,North and South Korea and many more which history can quote. What one experiences here is not only regional division of land but a distinct attitude difference within us between the Haves and the Have-nots. The Pseudo Naga Nationalists (The Haves) who have for their own self interests self exiled themselves in a foreign country where as their side kicks keep tormenting us, the poor common Naga, here at home (The Have-Nots). A glaring example is the recruitment of cadres into their fold. Isn’t it surprising that most of the children of the Haves are studying outside Nagaland enjoying all the comforts of the world and are not recruited as cadres in their groups, then why only our children are forced through gun point to be recruited and face the brunt in the killing fields of Nagai and get killed in the factional clashes? Or is it that the children of these Haves are less proud to be Nagas? Then why do we get targeted? This is not only a political but a mental divide being created by these so called liberators. Then what Peace Process are we talking about when the whole of Nagaland is being tom into pieces. Who is to be blamed?
We the common Naga or those Pseudo Naga Nationalists. There is a very famous saying “It is not only the activity of Rascals that damage the society but also the inactivity of the Good People that do equal damage”. So dear Naga brethren lets come out of the shell of ignorance or forced ignorance of the activities of the so called devoted self professed cadres and their Cry for Peace over our dead bodies and cries of agony inflicted by them, their trick of ‘Disintegrating’ us by their call for ‘Integration’. One really wonders, whether it is The Naga Peace Process or The Naga Piece Process? Tali Longkumer, a victim of the Naga ‘Piece’ Process
Nagaland - a No Go land letter to the editor The Morung Express
Where is the government? Where sleeps the administration? Who will look after us? Miscreants comes to the town, encircle it, tell us to vacate the area, carryout extortion, fratricidal killings and above all threaten of adverse consequences and get away with it stating that we are fighting for you all. It is high time now to concede that things are not all that hunky-dory in our state. How can they be when miscreants have guts to walk into an area, indulge in fear tactics and subversion, coercing public to support them and negate the rival factions.
On March 20, approximately 100 NSCN cadres of Issac- Muivah faction entered the town of Phek dressed openly in IRS uniform they came in police trucks and spread like wildfire in the town and demanded a staff nurse to vacate the house of Zachelo an ex MLA of Congress. Earlier on Feb 27 a group of 30 cadres of both the factions of NSCN entered Meluri town and ended up in clash. On 17 March the so called intra rival group of FGN ended up in clash in Phek Town and recently on 25 March NSCN (IM) cadres entered Phek Basa and ended up fighting with cadres of FGN at Lozaphemi. The recent examples are full of such killings in our area which ends up in loss of life, achieving almost nothing. I do not know about our ideological groups but we have definitely lost life and property.
Mushrooming of underground terrorists in town and cities and inhibit the process and growth of legitimate economic development activities has become today bane in Nagaland. I am still to analyse the strategy behind the ongoing clash and differences between the factions on one hand and ongoing peace process on the other - which is going to rule the dias-sovereignty, integration or division within us. All said and done in the “Clash of Titans” we are bearing the brunt. Is the voluminous history of loosing life in fratricidal killing not enough for us to understand that what can be achieved at the end of the day is satisfaction of ego over the heap of dead innocents. Pray Jesus to liberate us and punish t he criminals
Marc Chakesang, Phek
The Naga question and Indian intransigence by Simranjit Singh Mann
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) has been following the struggle and tribulations of the Naga peoples since 1947. Like the Sikhs the Nagas have not signed the Indian constitution of 1950. Like us they have been seeking the right of self-determination enshrined in the charter of the United Nations. The demands of the Naga people as we understand are two-fold: (i) amalgamation of their population, which has been split amongst several states of the North-East in India into one state of Nagaland. The Nagas were not treated as a nation by the British Imperial government and some of their population and territory were included besides British India in British Burma as well. Had the British wished they could have carved out a contiguous Naga state without splitting them in these two countries. The British while carving out their colonies in Asia and Africa have not heeded the principle of homogeneity of tribes, peoples or nationalities. When they left their Indian empire in 1947, they forced the Sikh population from West Panjab to flee to East Panjab and other areas of India, thus making them the victims of the biggest ethnic cleansing recorded in history. Morally, historically, legally and constitutionally they were bound in 1947 to create a separate, independent sovereign state for the Sikh nation as they did for the Muslims, giving them Pakistan and the Hindus, India. Between the Sikh population they drew the Radcliff line in 1947 and for the Nagas split their peoples between India and Burma .
India which has inherited the British Imperial colonial system treats these two nationalities with contempt, dividing their populations into various Indian states and thus depriving them of a homogenous area, and robbing them of their international right to brings up their children and future generations under one culture, language and customs of their respective races and nationalities. The first demand of the Naga peoples to have their population amalgamated in one single area or state should not be difficult for the Government of India to fulfill as the Union government in Delhi has powers under the Indian constitution to change the boundaries of a state of the Union.
The Naga peoples have saught a peaceful solution to their demands and called for a ceasefire with Indian troops since 1997. However, no progress been made in the peace talks with the Nagas by the Government of India. For purposes of propaganda the Indian state has appointed a interlocutor, Mr. K. Padmanabhiah, who has no political clout in the Indian political system. The other man appointed by the Union cabinet is an insignificant junior minister, not even of cabinet rank, one Mr. Oscar Farnandes. These two Indian luminaries Mr. Padmanabhiah, and Mr. Farnandes, have been keeping the Naga’s on a merry go round for the last nine years. They talk to the Naga leadership at Bangkok and Amsterdam and tell them they have to go back to their principals in Delhi for the slightest of proposals put up by the Nagas and then don’t get back to them for almost six months or a year. This merry dance, is well choreographed, and the two negotiators know it too well. So do their masters in Delhi. Their underlings do as they are told. The other demand of the Naga peoples is to seek the right of self-determination. This is a legitimate demand in accordance with the UN charter and international law. Our party and all people who believe in justice support it whole heartedly.
But why is the Indian state prevaricating and not coming to terms with the Naga peoples problems? The fact is that the new Indian state has replaced British imperialism in the Indian sub-continent. It wants to deal with all peaceful and democratic struggles in the same manner of brutality as the Imperial government in London before 1947, when the white Christian ruled the sub-continent. After that the brown Hindu lords it over. Unlike the white Britisher the Hindu has the bicycle personality. We have all seen a man riding a bicycle. When cycling uphill his whole body is bent forward as if genuflecting. When the man cycles down-hill, his upper body is upright and straight. Therefore when the Indian ruler talks to a super-power, he is respectful and complaint as a cyclist going uphill. But when talking to a lesser power, like the pose of a man riding a bicycle down-hill, he is arrogant and haughty. That is exactly what the Hindu ruler is like.
In British India, a well equipped Indian army was maintained, not to fight off foreign aggression in the 20th, century, but to maintain absolute law and order so the democratic movements and pluralistic thought could be curbed and even smothered as the Jallianawala Bagh massacre of 1919 shows. Great Britain used this force to keep the Indian sub-continent under its complete subjugation and jackboots. After 1947, when the Hindu majority state was carved out with the British government handing over power to Nehru and his pseudo secular party, the Congress, there was no change in its policies to the sub-continents minorities. The minorities were cast out of the frying pan into the fire.
Hindu India since 1947 has used its army, navy and air-force more against its minorities than facing and fighting the enemy at its 1947 borders. Some 60,000 square miles, after the Indo-Chinese skirmishes of 1961 still lie in Chinese hands, though there is an Indian parliamentary proclamation that India will not rest in peace till the last inch of its territory is integrated with the so-called motherland. Known to the western democracies India has been following its nuclear policy for the last forty years. In 1999 the right-wing Hindu Vajpayee government exploded the nuclear device and declared itself a nuclear power, with nuclear, biological and chemical weapons in its arsenal.
Now with the fourth largest conventional armed force in the world and nuclear and other vile weapons in its armoury, India has become more arrogant and haughty with its smaller and weaker neighbours, and extremely more violent and cruel in dealing with minority dissent and democratic movements. Besides dealing militarily with its minority Kashmiri Muslims, Sikhs, Nagas and Assemese it has legislated draconian laws like NSA, TADA, POTA, Disturbed Areas Act and others to keep minority dissent under a tight lid. Die hard Hindu judges dole out stiff sentences from capital punishment to life imprisonment. Custodial torture of detainees is allowed as India has not signed any of these UN conventions and protocols, which would make life less trying and painful for its minorities. In this case “1984 Convention against Torture and other Cruel Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment” is a victim of India’s transgression. Guantamo Bay and Abu Graib, American detention centres for Muslims are peanuts compared to what the Indian authorities do to the less fortunate minorities. I talk from personal experience.
The Naga peoples have suffered their cup of woe and pain since 1947. They have been harshly dealt with by the Indian armed forces and those of whom have not met their end in extra-judicial killings have faced the rigors of India’s draconian and harsh laws, which defy democratic practices and norms. A week ago a Sikh American’s son embarked on a journey from San Francisco to New Delhi. The young naturalized Sikh American before setting out on his journey forgot to get his Indian visa stamped on his passport. At Bangkok he discovered his mistake. He went to the Indian commission. He was treated politely and told the Indian visa would be given by the evening. During his encounter with the Indian staff he was asked whether he belonged to a Sikh family as the Sikh designation Singh was written after his first name. He replied in the affirmative. That was the end of his journey to India as the Indian mission came to dilly dally and made him wait for two days. At the end of this long wait the young Sikh American took a flight back to San Francisco, got his visa to India stamped and once again began his journey, to India. He now says, had he not been a Sikh American, instead a Hindu, he would have carried on, from Bangkok with his journey to India, hasslefree.
Like this young Sikh, the Nagas and other minorities in India suffer the same discrimination. Because of their Mongoloid features the Nagas and other nationalities living on India’s eastern borders are still referred to as Chinese in Delhi and India’s mid-Hindu belt! So much for the melting pot of Indian nationalism touted by Hindu professors and India’s foreign and home offices! The worst torture the Nagas have suffered from the Indian armed forces is castration and slicing off their genitals. This barbaric torture has not been tried on the Sikhs yet though we have been threatened with the segregation of our women folk into a camp, and the creation of a new breed of Indians, born to them, through mating with the Hindu of the Hindi belt, that would be loyal and patriotic to India.
I don’t know how the Naga-Indian talks and the continuation of the ceasefire are going to continue. India with its might will want to carry on with the talks, hoping to tire out Naga leaders or win them over with money and promise of power within the current Indian system. That’s been the policy of Hindu India with all political dissent. If the Naga leadership holds out with their demands, the only alternative would be to go back to the bush.
In my thinking the Naga leadership is committing a bad mistake by dealing with low Indian intelligence officers like Padmanabhiah and a politician Fernandes who have no political clout in Delhi’s power structure. The Prime Minister, a Sikh economist, can’t deliver a just decision as he has no power base in the hard, fundamentalist Hindu political power base. The Indians enjoy his economics acumen, jugglery and shrewdness. They would like him to continue with his money wizardry. That’s because they as a religion worship wealth and the godess Lakshmi, the symbol of these goodies, is their favourite deity.
The best course, right now, for the Naga leadership would be to upgrade their talks with India’s political leadership. It would be best if their talks become bi-partisan with hard Hindu fundamental party the BJP joining up with ruling Congress leadership. Without this course and without setting a time limit to a solution, further talks appear wrecked and fruitless.
India, in order to shut the Nagas out of their contiguous link with their population in Burma, has simply kowtowed to the ruthless, dictatorial, military regime in Burma. Ever since Burma imprisoned the democratically elected Nobel Prize winner Aung San Sun Kyi, the liberal democratic western regimes have kept an aloof relationship with that unfortunate country. India, which ostensibly boasts of its liberal democracy, respect for human rights and pluralistic practices has kept very close links with Rangoon.
The Burmese hold India in total contempt and prefer warmer ties with the Chinese. The gas from Burma, which India was expecting to get from here has been given to China. China, to the rage of India has been given a naval base by Burma, a passage into the Indian Ocean which India considers its private lake. The Australians a littoral state of the Indian Ocean and suspicious always of an Asiatic threat, don’t like India’s ambitions to rule the waves in this ocean. They have built a special satellite receiving station at Alice Springs in Western Australia to monitor every Indian vessel that moves in these waters.
India has also given some military aircraft of British make to Burma. The British High Commissioner in India has said his country will neither service nor provide spare parts for these planes given to Burma because of its abominable human rights record and suppression of democracy. Burma is not forthcoming in linking south-east Asia with India through a motorway. For some years now it’s been the Indian foreign policy’s dream to have a super highway, all the way into Vietnam. The Indians call this their look east policy. By bending backwards to Burma, all that India gets is strong Burmese patrols that stop the Nagas in India from tying up with their compatriots in Burma. Therefore the Indian security pundits think that with Nagas, no matter how they treat the peace talks, India is in a win, win situation. The “pig’s back” as one haughty Indian officer puts it.
Apart from on going talks with Delhi, the Naga leadership should seriously think and send their own representatives to the Indian parliament and state assemblies wherever they muster up the requisite strength. Outfits pursuing militant struggles, leave the democratic and elected chambers to the Congress or the BJP, mostly with covert understandings. This does not help the struggling people but gives their oppressors and opponents political legitimacy to suppress democratic dissent and breach internationally recognized human right practices.
Simranjit Singh Mann, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
Gill to take on Naxalites Nagaland Post
Raipur, April 5 (IANS): K.P.S. Gill, whose reputation for putting down the separatist militancy in Punjab in the 1990s earned him the sobriquet of a "supercop", will now help the Chhattigarh government tackle the Maoist insurgency. The government has offered the former director general of Punjab Police - considered an authority on counter-terrorism - an annual contract and he has accepted it, said Home Minister Ramvichar Netam. "His tenure will begin from later this month. The government will fight against Maoists under his expert suggestions and proven strategies," Netam told IANS. He added that Gill would be given a free hand to evolve and implement the anti-Maoist operations.
Official sources said the appointment as security advisor was cleared despite the state police's reluctance because Chief Minister Raman Singh was particularly interested. Maoist guerrillas have killed more than 100 people, mostly civilians, since Jan 1 in the state. The guerrillas, who operate out of jungle bases in 13 Indian states mainly in the southern, eastern and central parts of country, claim they are fighting for the rights of poor peasants and landless labourers.
Sonia to visit State today By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, April 5 – Congress president Sonia Gandhi will undertake yet another day-long visit to Asom tomorrow to campaign for the party for the second phase of Assembly elections. She will address party rallies in Nagaon, Mangaldoi and Dhubri. Congress spokesperson Bobbeeta Sharma informed today that Gandhi would arrive in Guwahati at 11.45 am on Thursday and leave immediately for Nagaon for a public meeting scheduled at 12.15 pm. From there she will go to Mangaldoi for another meeting at 1.15 in the afternoon.
Coming back to Guwahati airport at 2.40 pm, she will proceed to Dhubri for a rally at 3.25 pm. She will return to Delhi in the evening via Guwahati. Meanwhile, the Congress has expelled four rebel candidates contesting the elections for six years. Sharma said Kishore Bhattacharya (Kamalpur), Padmeswar Sonowal (Dhakuakhana), Lucimai Basumatary (Panery) and Umesh Gogoi (Thowra) have been expelled, with immediate effect, for contesting against the official Congress candidates. Another party leader, Monoranjan Konwar, has also been expelled for supporting and campaigning for Umesh Gogoi and Kushal Deori, she said.
Another controversial killing rocks Manipur From Sobhapati Samom Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, April 5 – Another controversial killing has happened again in the State with security forces claiming to have killed two ultras in a counter-insurgency operation carried out by the combined team of the 7 Assam Rifles and the Bishnupur district police commandos at Saiton Khunou under Bishnupur District.
The killing took place in the night of Monday. Contradicting this claim is a survivor who made good his escape and disclosed that the two persons were executed after they were picked up by the security forces.
While security forces claimed that two armed militants were killed during a counter insurgency operation conducted at Saiton Khunou under Manipur’s Bishnupur district, two others managed to slip away from the combined counter insurgency operations team. One of the survivors who managed to escape contradicted the claim and said the victims were executed shortly after they were detained by the security personnel. While one of those killed was reportedly identified as a member of People’s Liberation Army, and the other Hemam Naocha is said to be an innocent student.
Rejecting and condemning the version of security forces, the residents of Saiton village held a public meeting and adopted a resolution of not accepting Naocha’s body. As a result, the body of Naocha is lying at the morgue.
Demanding action against the securitymen involved in the incident and compensation, a memorandum has also been submitted to the Chief Minister O Ibobi in this regard by the newly floated Joint Action Committee against the killing of Hemam Naocha on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a sit-in demonstration was also held at Thangal Bazar in the heart of the Imphal town in protest against the shooting of Director of Education (schools), Chongtham Jayenta, by two assailants on Tuesday near his Keishamthong residence in Imphal.
State police is still clueless about the identity of the armed gunmen who made good their escape after the shooting.
Sharp decline in tourist inflow in state The Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Apr 5: Tourism which the world recognises as the second largest industry is now declining in Manipur. This has been clearly indicated by the reduction in inflow of tourists in the state in the last few years, a phenomenon that is directly attributable to the uncertain law and order condition in the state. The official records of the number of tourists in the last five years revealed that tourist inflow in the state have declined considerably. The tourist inflow during the year 2005 inclusive of both domestic and foreign is 21,128 as per official records indicating a severe reduction, by 76174, compared to previous year, 2004-05 which is recorded as 97,302.
Even the very low revenue collection target of Rs. 1 lakhs could not be achieved by the tourism department during the financial year 2005-06. The collection has been very poor due to occupation of the main tourist homes by security personnel and less inflow of tourists due to the prevailing law and order situation and other varied reasons, department sources said.
Lack of proper infrastructure, the continued imposition of the protected area permit system and inner line permit system, lack of capital for investment and local disadvantages of the state etc. are the problems, besides prevailing law and order difficulties, said the sources.
The prevailing law and order situation is the main factor among other problems that hindered the department from going forward. However, with renewed endeavor put in by the department, co-operation from the state and central governments and public, a new vision for Manipur tourism can be envisaged which will certainly reverse the deteriorating socio economic condition of the state, the sources maintained.
Altogether twelve tourist homes which the state tourism department taken up with central financial assistance have completed so far, the official claimed adding that another 9 pending projects and three new projects only taking into account the viability and feasibility of the schemes. An overall approval and endorsement of the government of India is awaited.
The focus has to be on strengthening the existing infrastructure and on development of nature adventure and cultural tourism, the sources said. This can not only generate employment to the masses, it will have no social conflicts and environmental pollution. Mention may be made here that the department have prepared a perpective 20 years plan, and to take up projects step by step for development of tourism in Manipur. Some of the priority projects which the state tourism department are preparing to take up are development of eco-park with 18 holes golf course at Nongmaiching, development of integrated tourism destination, development of Hotel Management Institute, giving more emphasis on tourism promotion and publicity and upgradation of Hotel Imphal to 4-Star category.
The bountiful natural beauty of the state, with its deep forests, sprawling water bodies, cascading rivers, rich flora and fauna and the human skills of the Manipuri people exhibited through their dances, performing arts and sporting activities are yet to be exploited to the fullest, experts in the state tourism department observed.
Ojamaiba :Meitei: Adombu thagatchei...you are one of the exceptional Meitei's who hated about what is happening in Manipur.
meetei :HEI WHO WILL COME TO MANIPUR. THE LAND OF HELL AND BARBARIANS. THE CANNIBALS ARE ALL HERE. THERE IS NO POSITIVVE POINTS OF MANIPUR. THE AFRICAN JUNGLE IS BETTER THAN MANIPUR IN TERMS OF EVERYTHING. EVERYONE IS THIEF, SELFISH, NO LAW, NO RULES, KILLING, HUMAN LIFE IS CHEAP,................
NO ONE WILL COME TO MANIPUR EXCEPT THE ASSAM RIFLES, AK 47, BOMBS ETC OR THOSE WHO WANTED TO BECOME MASK MEN.
CM heads for Delhi over office of profit issue Thingbaijam Dhamen
IMPHAL, Apr 5: Manipur Chief Minister, O Ibobi Singh who has been under pressure in connection with the "office of profit" issue from the opposition today left Imphal for New Delhi to hold discussions with the Congress high command on the matter. During his stay in Delhi, he is also scheduled to call on the President of India and hold discussions on the impact of the office of profit in the state, a highly reliable source said.
It may be noted that following ouster of some MPs of the Parliament on the charge of holding office of profit and Sonia Gandhi`s resignation from the Lok Sabha last month over the issue, in Manipur also the opposition, BJP, Manipur Pradesh has been demanding disqualification of eight MLAs including the chief minister himself from being member of the Manipur Legislative Assembly. The BJP even submitted memorandum to the state governor SS Sidhu urging him to take up necessary steps for disqualification of the MLAs holding office of profit. Before CM left for New Delhi, he also held meeting with some MLAs of Congress in his official bungalow this morning and reportedly discussed on the issue of office of profit.
In the meantime, the salaries and pension of the state government employees for the month of March is likely delay for some few days even though the chief minister has given clearance to issue the order allowing drawals of salaries and pension for the employees. Source citing the reasons for not issuing the order stated that most of the head of the departments under the state government are yet to issue service extension orders for the employees holding temporary posts in their departments. The issue of service extension order for the employees on temporary basis is mandatory as their extended service period expired on March 31. So as to make way for clearing their monthly salaries, all the heads of department are required to issue orders regarding extension of their services.
As per the latest available information, the order for service extension of temporary employees has been issued for the state home department. But so far there were no information for other departments regarding the matter. Source also said that the state finance department was about to issue the order regarding the relaxation of ban imposed on encashment of government cheques and bills for allowing the employees to draw out their salaries and pension for the month of March. But, the department on detecting delays in the issue of service extension orders by some heads of department with regard to their respective temporary employees had held off from issuing the same.
