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07/14/2006: "Nagaland Police refute NSCN (K) charges The Morung Express"

Nagaland Police refute NSCN (K) charges The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, JULY 13 (MExN): The Nagaland Police has refuted the charges leveled by the NSCN (K) that the Chief Minister was using rival cadres for his residential guards. Terming the allegations as erroneous misinformation, the Nagaland Police today issued a strong denial in order to “pre-empt any possible misconception and wrong conclusion from this erroneous presentation of facts”.
IGP (Crime) J. Bendangtoshi IPS in a press rejoinder informed that the safety and security of the Chief Minister or any other VVIP was fully the responsibility of the Police Department. It was clarified that the manpower deployment and detailment of the Chief Minister and VVIPs whether at their official residence, work place or while mobile are made by the police authorities based strictly on professional security considerations. Based on security consideration, the Chief Minister, it was informed, was provided inner cordon security by a contingent of para-military force, while his escorts and pilots during his tours and travels are drawn from the Nagaland Police.
“Therefore, to even suggest (by NSCN-K) that the chief Minister is using rival cadres for his residential guards is not only totally erroneous misinformation but also betrays complete ignorance of the whole gamut relating to VVIP security”, the IGP stated.
With regard to the facts of the incident on July 11 at Minister Hill, the IGP informed that on that day gunshots were heard emanating from a spot at about 1630 hours a little away from compounds of the Chief Minister and Speaker’s official residences. “Responding to it, the police team immediately rushed to the spot from both ends of the main Ministers Hill road axis.
One of the police party intercepted one Alto with six occupants trying to get away but were immediately apprehended on the spot and brought to Kohima South Police Station along with arms and ammunition they were carrying.”
The police also mentioned that at the time of incident, the Chief Minister was out of town along with his bodyguard personnel and his body guards were not there either in the residential complex or within its vicinity.
The IGP further clarified that the police had acted without any fear or favour and had also shown due courtesy while dealing with the apprehended NSCN (K) cadres without compromising on the official formalities and requirements.
It therefore sincerely appealed to all citizens and groups not to exploit such incidents for either propaganda or to mislead the public without verifying the correct facts which will only create more suspicion, misunderstanding and confusion in the minds of the people, whereas, peaceful co-existence and harmony among all sections of the people is the need of the hour today, it stated.
Nagaland MPs to table affiliation issue in Parliament Karaiba Chawang
Kohima | July 13 The Morung Express
The two Members of Parliament from Nagaland may put up the issue of NBSE affiliation of schools from four Naga districts of Manipur during the coming Monsoon Session of Parliament for deliberation if the Centre fails to respond in time to the plea made by Naga students and Nagaland government, said Rajya Sabha MP, TR Zeliang.
“We are not involved at present, but we will put up in the Parliament if their demands are genuine and the Centre fails to respond in time”, TR Zeliang said talking from New Delhi.
“But, first let us see the response from the Centre”, said TR Zeliang, pointing out that he is not sure as to what will be the reply of the Centre to the issue that has been placed before it by the Naga students and Nagaland government.
He also said that the state government can do nothing to accommodate the schools from the four Naga districts of Manipur under NBSE unless the Centre gave a go-ahead nod.
The State cabinet in its emergency meeting has agreed to write to the Centre and accordingly the State Education Minister Imkong Imchen has written to the Human Resource Development Minister. However, a response is awaited, Zeliang informed.
The NSF and ANSAM representatives are presently campaigning in New Delhi to press upon the central leaders to expedite the affiliation process.
The students’ representatives are expected to meet Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Minister for Human Resource Development Arjun Singh, and submit a representation to the latter, a source informed.
NSCN (IM) deny rivals assertion on Kohima shooting The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, JULY 13 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) has termed as misleading, baseless and false, the assertion made by the NSCN (K) that the former was providing security to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio. “Their accusation does not hold any truth, as there is no reason for the Naga Army to be guarding him (Mr Rio) for he is well by himself”, Joint Secretary MIP Ghukato stated in a press communiqué.
Instead the NSCN (IM) claimed that it was the Khaplang armed cadres who fired on them and not as accused by the latter. The MIP statement pointed out that the unprovoked firing brought to light, the intention of the NSCN (K) to suppress the people’s long cherished peace and to dislodge the efforts for finding a solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political conflict.
“The Khaplang party should come out into the open and bring forth to the Naga people their sacrifices, achievements, initiatives, contributions and support for the realization of the Naga people’s desired objective rather than taking negative approaches guided by their egotism if they are truly struggling for the people”, the MIP stated.
Questioning on whether the NSCN (K) was simply hibernating in slumber and sustaining themselves on taxations, extortions, threats and ism campaigns for the past several decades, the NSCN (IM) pointed out that it would be better to reconcile for the better “or it will ultimately be our own loss”.
“When they (Khaplang) denounced paper war recently, it was thought well and good for their realization of its mistakes as it brings to us nothing but shame. But recourse to illogical and absurd accusations after trying to vitiate the atmosphere brings to fore the ugly side of their manifestations that had been their persistent problem”.
The NSCN (IM) instead suggested that all should rationally assess themselves and take contributive steps instead of destructive policies. “Our respective roles and duties as Nagas should be dispensed by boldly pronouncing what is wrong and what is right, what is the truth and what is an illusion so that the differences could be brought to an end”.
Nagaland Police refute NSCN (K) charge, see page 3
Democratic Political Governance of Nagaland R.C. Chiten Jamir The Genesis of Nagaland State The Morung Express Perspective
For nearly a century, the British India Government administered the Naga Hills as a part of Assam Province. Beginning from 1886, the Naga Hills remained as a cultural museum, under the British suzerainty till 1947. After India’s independence in 1947, it remained as a district in Assam till December 1957. The erstwhile Naga Hills of Assam and the erstwhile Tuensang Frontier Division of the North East Frontier Administration (N.E.F.A.) were brought together for the first time ever, as a separate administrative unit, known as the Naga Hills–Tuensang Area (N.H. T.A.) under the External Affairs Ministry of the Government of India, through a political agreement between the Naga People’s Convention and the Government of India in 1957. The N.H.T.A. was consisted of three administrative districts, namely, Kohima, Mokokchung and Tuensang. The N.H.T.A. administration started functioning from December 1, 1957 to February, 1961.
The Nagaland State Act was passed by the Indian Parliament in December 1962. But a transitional period of 3 years was envisaged as a fore-runner of the Statehood. An Interim Body was inaugurated on 18th February 1961 to function as the de facto Legislative Assembly. An Executive Council consisting of 5 Executive Councillors was sworn in as the de facto Council of Ministers. The transitional arrangement was envisaged as a fore-runner of the Statehood and to enable the Naga Underground Nationalist to negotiate with India for lasting peace and a satisfactory final political settlement of the Naga Political Problem.
The First Ever Naga Government
The separate formation of a State for the Nagas was through a Political Agreement between the Naga People’s Convention and the Government of India in July 1960. The famous 16-Point Political Agreement brought about a very specia1 and unique state. Special constitutional safeguards are provided in the Constitution under Article 371-A (I) to protect the Naga Identity and the Naga way of life. The Indian Parliament cannot make any law in respect of the religious and social practices of the Nagas, Naga customary law and procedures, administration of Civil and criminal justice involving decisions according to the Naga Customary Law, ownership and transfer of land and its resources. The Government of India shall provide the necessary finances for the economic development of Nagaland and the cost of administration of the State. Each Naga tribe shall have the units of law making and administrative loca1 self government in matters concerning the respective tribes and areas, namely:
1. The Village Council,
2. The Range/Area Council and the Tribal Council.
Each tribe shall have the Courts of Justice namely:
1. The Village Court,
2. The Range Court,
3. The Tribal Court.
These are the Naga tribal institutions of Local Self Government. The Nagas must make necessary laws to give effect to all these special provisions provided in the above mentioned Article and in the Minutes of the 16-Point Agreement. The first democratic Naga Government was ushered in January, 1964, through a general election. Thus, a beginning of a Peoples’ Government was started all from the scratch. The political power which was long sought for by the Nagas became a reality. All the Naga Tribes of Nagaland assembled to generate a political power in unity for a legitimate purpose to nurse and care for the State of Nagaland and to shape it according to their genius and aspirations all by themselves.
The source of the political power comes from the people. And this is political democracy. Whatever political power that may be generated by man, unless guided and controlled and judged as much by the power of God, it will become corrupt and destructive and counter productive. Human nature is selfish, and political power becomes self-centred. The political power is concentrated in the hands of a few leaders only. The real makers of the political leaders are ignored and oppressed, the destructive manifestations of corruptions, injustices, inequalities, parochialisms and exploitations are directed against the people. Political power can thus become either edifying or destructive, creative or corruptive, liberative or oppressive.
Political Power
Nagas who are generally Christians know that the ultimate power belongs to God. Jesus said, “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” – Matthew 28:18. God’s power is to give a critique of distortion of political power. The abuse or misuse of political power is to be resisted by the people to whom the political power is accountable and subjected to the inevitable judgement of God. Politics without accountability and transparency is prone to corruptions, immoralities, wickedness and criminality. Political power and sovereignty lie with the people and hence the exercise of political power by the political and administrative agencies, are subjected to the imperative conditionality that their actions are accountable to the people. We are also aware that history is a proof that the political power generated by man becomes destructive and corrupt. The temporal power is accountable both to God and the People.
Nagaland State in Turmoil
Nagaland is a unique state constitutionally as also culturally and religiously. The Nagas decided to set aside Nagaland for Christ – a Missionary Land – Nagaland for Christ. Unfortunately, the Nagaland for Christ has become a mockery, curse and blasphemy. The state is ripped through with violence of hatred, enmity, bloodshed, killings, terrorism and diabolical designs. Daily we hear the news of tearing off of Nagas, merciless and atrocious killings of fellow Nagas.
Today’s violence is an outpouring of a burning passion upsurging to overthrow a suppressive political oppression and the endless exploitative economic injustice and social discrimination. Political power drives such forces back to the wall, and yet encourages clandestinely, such ways of life to become widespread and more stronger, for mutual conflict and destruction for political mileage. As long as hurts like exploitation, inequality, injustice, poverty exist, there can be no peace and security. In a world where there is socio-political and economic injustice, inequality, exploitation, discrimination and corruptions, there will always be social unrest and political instability. Political corruptions will go on creating and breeding violence, political opportunism and instability will give rise to social upheavals, turmoil and terrorism.
Rural Development
It is regrettable to say the least, that the development of the Naga villages has been rather lopsided. Nagaland joined the latter part of the Third Five Year Plan of India. In spite of the following Plans, even now, the basic minimum needs and expectations of the people in the villages are far from satisfactory. The grass-root Naga Democratic polity are the Naga villages, the peripheries of the villages, i.e. the Range areas, the tribal areas, especially the tribal institutions, are the grass-roots of socio-economic developments of the Naga society. Therefore, the Naga Democratic Polity does consist of the Naga Village Council, the Range (Area) Council and the Tribal Council. From time immemorial, the Nagas have these Institutions designed to serve the democratic Naga way of life. These are the uniqueness of the Naga Polity, the socio-political and economic social fabrics of the Nagas down through the centuries. These are the Naga Nation building democratic institutions. The N.N.C. based its political foundations on these social institutions. It reorganised the Tribal, the Sub-Tribal and the Village Councils on strong political sentiments and polity. The founding members of the Naga State also adopted the political sagacity of the N.N.C. and had these local self institutions incorporated in the constitution when the Naga State was founded.
Democratic Planning
It is a legitimacy of the democratic polity to plan everything and any thing for the people through a democratic planning. The grass-root people must participate through their local self government institutions to decide, plan priorities and execute all socioeconomic planned projects by themselves. This will ensure effective and efficient planning execution of rural economic developments. The people must take charge of their local affairs because only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches.
The uniqueness of the Naga way of life and the Naga Identity must be preserved and developed according to their genius, culture and aspirations. The local self government at the Tribal level, like the Tribal, Range and Village Councils and the Courts, must be made statutory bodies. The distinctive local self traditional institutions of the Nagas are a great source of political will of the people but they are not statutory bodies.
As envisaged in the Constitution, these local bodies should be made to function effectively in all matters of local development, administration. On the nation level also, the local self government is given top priority with a view to give political power to the people. The grass-root level can coordinate and harmonise the different village communities into an integrated solidarity.
Unfortunately in Nagaland, because of the fear of emerging local leadership at the grass-root level which were in existence before the state came into existence were misconstrued, misconceived a lot owing to localised political incompatibility. The abolition of the Area Councils (Range Councils) was a political plunder. The misconceptions regarding the role of the Area Councils, which were to work at the intermediary level between the village and the State as a peoples’ body should have been retained by laying down specific functions and powers of the Area Councils through legislation. Doing away with the Naga traditional institutions would only amount to a retrograde democracy. These Naga traditional democratic institutions should be made as the progressive units of socio-economic and political development agencies in the Naga society. In matters like ecological management, inter village roads, water supply, inter village disputes, checking on use of explosives in the rivers, hunting during closed seasons, these councils can play effective roles. It is imperative, therefore, that the traditional and ancient grass-root level democratic structures, which are in fact, the indigenous Naga way of life, should be remodelled or reorganised according to the exigencies of time and changing circumstances and requirements of both political and development imperatives. The Naga Scholars’ Society has also recommended the revival of the three-tier system of the Nagas have had from time immemorial i.e. the Village, the Range and the Tribal Councils. These are the Naga grass-root level socio-political, administrative institutions, irrespective of these being statutory or non-statutory. The introduction of Village Development Board is only of a recent origin. The Executive Council took up a Local Self Development with the then Prime Minister of India – Pandit Nehru. He was very sympathetic and agreed to sanction some under the Local Self Government Fund.
Whereas, a three-tier system of Local Self Government at the grass-root level is desirable, the question as to whether the two branches of the organisational structure at the grass-root level should be incorporated/amalgamated into a single unit and make it to shoulder dual function or otherwise, may be carefully examined by experts.
The Naga villages and their peripheries i.e. the Range/Tribal areas should be developed and transformed so that the literates will love to stay in them who will then become the real units of progress, development and prosperity. The grass-root tribal institutions should be made statutory in order to make the people the real participants in all matters of planning and development rather than just recipients. Political power lies with the people and therefore they should be given the responsibilities to look after their welfare and run their local affairs.
Although, because we are humans, doubts and misgivings assail on us, the burden of responsibilities to ameliorate the socio-political and economic conditions of our people may be too heavy on us, yet if we remain honest and sincere to the jobs assigned to us, resolutely following the path of democracy and trusting in the providence of God, then we shall surely have a better, happier Nagaland in our own days, blessed with peace and prosperity. God bless the Nagas!
Can N factions, P parties, C denominations come together The Morung Express P. Lakhao, Convenor Shepoumaramth Rights Watchdog Senapati (Tahamzam)

In the beginning, the Naga freedom fighters were one, one principle one aim. With the passage of time they split and became NNC, NSCM – (IM), NSCN- (K) (N-factions). In the same manner, after the interim Nagaland Government, different political parties (P-parties) emerged. Then the Christian church split into unaccountable denominations (C-denominations) and groups were formed even in the village levels and this process is bound to continue. The Split groups, parties and different churches all claim to stand for the betterment of the people and to save the souls of mankind. Splits and coming together of the underground organizations, political parties and the churches are general phenomenon and not to be surprised.
Can they ever come together at this present stage? No, no at all, even if uncle Phizo, grand father Mahatma Gandhi came back alive. They will not unite under one pretext or the other as vested interested leaders’ influence will go out of hand. But above all the churches leaders who stand for the love of one another, purity of thought and mind, peace through unity have not given a thought how all Christian could come together. Nor the Pope in Rome had given a thought or call for unity of different Christian denominations.
The Naga public leaders, churches and some public organizations are coming out against supremacy battles and appeal for coming together of the NSCN – (IM) and NSCN – (K). Even politicians have shed crocodile tears. But some have not opened their mouth.
While the Shipoumaramth Rights Watchdog respect all the Naga underground leaders, the NSCN – (IM) and NSCN – (K), but there are mix feelings as 1) one group have been successfully working for the Naga Nationals cause for an appropriate solution 2) the other grouup are busy analyzing and criticizing the steps taken up by its rival group and nothing more, 3) while the third group are concerned with the fading organization’s name.
Who is responsible for all this? It is the people, (meaning people support the three groups) as stated by one tribal hoho president in the Naga Hoho Federal meeting. This being so, supremacy battles are fought and fight they must, as in the case of the Sri Lankan Tamils fighting for an independent homeland where LTTE crashed the other two factional groups and became supreme and leading the struggle.
The Nagas had enough of false truth campaigns hurled on each group of the freedom fighters. If they are true patriots, they should blame the government of India (GoI) for their double standards and not resolving the Naga issue. But things are running in the opposite directions as described by the Naga International Support Centre (NISC) a foreign based group which appeared in the Sangai Express paper of July 10, 2006 page three.
The Nagas struggle with the mighty Indian Nation is a formidable one. The world politics is based on economic strength and Nagas have none, then our rights. But the collective leadership have been hobnobbing around the world and gaining support. These, the ordinary people of the villages and towns could not feel, see and touch. To say that 8 years of cease fire is too long or too short is a poor man judgement. But one thing is certain, the longer the cease fire is extended the nearer the solution will be.
It is stated that, human memories are short and for the last 8 years of the cease fire, we are forgetting the turmoil of people rounded up, beaten, shot and fear psychosis prevailed. If no solution is brought about by the present leadership of the NSCN – hon’ble Isak and Muivah there will be chaos and blood will flow in Nagalim. Who will be responsible for this? It will be not the NSCN (IM) but the respectable people who knows such thing is bound to happen but goes against the movement for selfish interests. It is high time that the people speak out what is good and what is wrong in the family, person to person discussion and all available forums and avenues.
P. Lakhao, Convenor Shepoumaramth Rights Watchdog Senapati (Tahamzam)
Reactions to NSCN-K allegation Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, JULY 13 (NPN): Dismissing the NSCN-K allegation that chief minister Neiphiu Rio was using rival cadres as his residential guards, the Nagaland Police said the allegation was not only a "totally erroneous misinformation" but also betrayed complete ignorance of the whole gamut relating to VVIP security. IGP (Crime) J Bendangtoshi in a press statement said the safety and security of the chief minister or any other VVIP is fully and totally the responsibility of the police department, adding the manpower deployment and detailment for VVIPs whether at their official residence or work place, are based strictly on professional security considerations.
Accordingly, the state chief minister is provided inner cordon security by a contingent of para-military force, while his escorts/ pilots during tours and travels are drawn from the Nagaland Police, the IGP said. On the July 11 firing incident, the police release stated that around 4. 30 pm, gunshots were heard emanating from a spot a little away from the compounds of the chief minister and NLA Speaker's official residences. Responding to the firing, police immediately rushed to the spot from both ends of the main Ministers' Hill road axis and a police party intercepted one Maruti Alto with six occupants along with arms and ammunitions, trying to flee from the scene.
Police said it acted without fear or favour, adding due courtesy was shown while dealing with the apprehended NSCN-K cadre without compromising on the official formalities and requirements. The state police has appealed to all citizens and various groups not to exploit such incidents either for propaganda or to mislead the public, without verifying the correct facts, which would only "create more suspicions, misunderstanding and confusion."
NSCN-IM: The NSCN-IM has also termed the rival's allegation as "baseless and false" as it said, there was no reason for the Naga Army to be guarding the chief minister. Joint secretary (MIP), GPRN/NSCN-IM, Ghukato in a press release said the July 11 firing near the CM's residence has brought to light the rival's intention to suppress the people's long-cherished peace and dislodge the efforts for finding a solution to the protracted Indo-Naga political conflict.
Asserting that it was the Khaplang men who fired upon the NSCN-IM cadre and not the other way round, the release stated the "recourse to illogical and absurd accusations after trying to vitiate the atmosphere, brings to the fore the ugly side of their manifestations that has been their persistent problem."
And that too after the NSCN-K had recently denounced paper war, the release added. The NSCN-K also challenged the rival faction to show to the Naga people their sacrifices, achievements, initiatives, contributions and support for the realization of the Naga people's desired objective rather than taking negative approaches guided by their "egotisms".The NSCN-IM further called upon all to rationally assess themselves and take contributive steps instead of destructive policies.
"Our respective roles and duties as Nagas should be dispensed by boldly pronouncing what is wrong and what is right, what is the truth and what is an illusion so that differences could be brought to an end," the release concluded.
Assam government wants ULFA to make direct contact The Morung Express
Guwahati, July 13 (PTI): In the backdrop of the killing of six ULFA cadres by security forces, the Assam government today said it favoured a ceasefire with the group and the release of its jailed cadres but it should establish direct contacts with the authorities for talks to solve the insurgency problem in the state.
“There has been no direct contact with the ULFA so far even though the peace process is on. We are only negotiating with a third party,” Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi told the state assembly today. He was referring to the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) nominated by the ULFA. “The moment they establish contact we will release the jailed cadres as demanded and go for a ceasefire to end hostilities,” Gogoi said in his reply to a discussion on the state budget.
“Incidents (like the killing of ULFA cadres) have happened, but the Centre and state government are keen to establish peace and end such hostilities for which direct contact with the outfit is necessary,” he said. He reiterated that there should be sufficient “indication” from the ULFA that it is interested in negotiations and a ceasefire. “We are sincere and we want talks for the sake of lasting peace, but there should be a similar gesture from the ULFA’s side,” Gogoi said.
Six ULFA militants - four in the Garo Hills of Meghalaya and two in Assam’s Nalbari district - were shot dead by security forces on July 11. Gogoi said the government was also interested in dialogue with other insurgent outfits active in the state.
ULFA enforces 12-hour shutdown in Asom By ANI
Guwahati, July 14 (ANI): The rebel United Liberation Front of Asom today enforced a 12-hour shutdown across the state, disrupting normal life. The state-wide shutdown caused difficulty to people as shops and banks remained closed. The national highway had bare traffic and education institutions remained closed.
The shutdown, however, did not affect train and flight services, said the North Eastern Frontier Railway and airport sources. People's Committee for Peace Initiatives, a 21-member conglomerate, protested against the recent killing of six ULFA cadres, four in Meghalaya and two in Asom, by the army. The ULFA is demanding a halt to army operations. The People's Consultative Group (PCG) appointed by ULFA to carry forward the peace process with the government, on July 12 had threatened to walk out. Another organisation sympathetic to the outfit called for a state wide shutdown today to protest the killing of six ULFA cadres since last night.
Lachit Bordoloi, a spokesman for the PCG said that they would discuss the issue and consider pulling out of the ongoing peace process to expose the government for playing a dual role of initiating peace and simultaneously carrying out operation against the outfit.
At least six ULFA militants were killed in separate encounters in Meghalaya and Asom since the night of July 11. While four cadres were killed by security forces during an operation in the remote Mendipathar area of Garo Hills in Meghalaya, two were killed in an encounter with the Army at Baglamari village in Asom's Nalbari district. The security forces had claimed to have recovered a huge cache of arms and ammunition, including 9 mm pistols, Chinese grenades, a radio set and Rs. 30,000 from the slain militants in the two states. (ANI)
Only truce can end hostilities: CM By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, July 13: In the backdrop of the killing of as many as six ULFA cadres — four in Garo Hills in Meghalaya and two in Nalbari in Asom — during the last two days, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today told the House that so long the ceasefire between the Centre and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was not signed the hostilities between the security personnel and the rebel group would refuse to die down. He said that so far the ULFA had not directly communicated with the Centre. “When the ULFA will come forward for direct talks, the Government will sign a ceasefire agreement with the group and release the top jailed ULFA leaders,” Gogoi said, adding that both the parties, the ULFA and the Centre, failed to exercise restraint as had been decided in the recent third round of Centre-PCG talks.
Making the stand of his Government on the vexed ULFA issue crystal clear, Gogoi said: “Both the Centre and the State Government are keen for direct talks between the Centre and the ULFA. The State Government is doing everything which it should do as a facilitator of the peace process. I hope the ULFA will directly communicate with the Centre soon and put an end to the hostilities,” Gogoi told the House during his reply to the debate on the Budget today.
Earlier replying to a question raised by AGP president Brindabon Goswami and MLA Keshab Mahanta asking the Chief Minister to clear his Government’s stand on the current hostilities between the security personnel and the ULFA at a time when the peace process with the rebel group is at an advanced stage, Asom Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain told the House on behalf of the Chief Minister that both the Centre and the State Government were keen for Centre-ULFA direct talks. “The security personnel-ULFA hostilities will die its natural death only when the rebel group will sign a ceasefire agreement with the Centre,” he said, and added: “The Government of Asom appeals to the ULFA once again from this august House to put an end to its clash with the security personnel by signing a ceasefire agreement with the Centre.”
He claimed that it was at the initiative of the Government of Asom that the BLT problem had been solved and ceasefire agreements signed with most of the rebel groups of the State.
2 years since Manorama’s death, AFSPA still rules Sentinel
IMPHAL, July 12 (Agencies): The second death anniversary of Thangjam Manorama, the woman whose killing sparked off agitations against the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, under which the Army operates in the State, was observed yesterday at her birth place in Bamon Kampu in Imphal east.
People in hundreds including school-going children from different places converged at the residence of the deceased woman to pay floral tributes at her portrait kept at the gate of her residence. The observation was organised by the People’s Action Committee against custodial killing of Thangjam Manorama.
Apart from offering tributes to Manorama, people also offered flowers and burned incense before the portraits of K Memita and Pebam Chittaranjan, who were martyred during the anti-AFSPA agitation. Mention may also be made that as a reaction to the brutality of the security forces, the family has still not held the last rites of the deceased girl.
The decision was taken by the family to mark the family’s moral support to the demand for removal of AFSPA from the State. Family members, in the meantime, expressed deep sadness that Manorama’s last rites could not be performed even after two years have been completed.
Speaking to mediapersons, Th Dorendro, younger brother of Manorama lamented that two years have passed by since his sister’s death, still the State Government was lying to the people of the State and giving false assurance of removing the draconian act. Apart from this, he charged the State Government of not publicising the Upendra Commission of Inquiry report that investigated Manorama’s killing.
Stating that the case at Gauhati High Court had remained untouched for such a long time, Dorendro expressed the family’s willingness to cooperate with the State Government in initiating steps to speed up the pending case. It may be mentioned that Th Manorama was picked up from her house on the night of July 11. The AR claimed that she was shot dead while attempting to escape.
In an unprecedented protest against the killing of the woman after apparent sexual assault, around a dozen women paraded naked in front of the Kangla gates on July 15 morning, thereby launching a month-long stir demanding the removal of AFSPA that saw daily confrontations between protesting crowds and security forces.