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07/21/2006: "Thai authorities grill Muivah on arrival; passport seized The Morung Express"

Thai authorities grill Muivah on arrival; passport seized The Morung Express
According to reliable sources the NSCN (IM) General Secretary Th. Muivah, chief negotiator in the current peace dialogue with the Government of India was stopped and detained by the Thai Immigration at the Thailand Airport on July 17 while he was on his way to Bangkok, Thailand for the crucial upcoming Indo-Naga political talks scheduled for July 28-29. |
NSCN-IM questions Sumi Hoho approach Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, JULY 20 (NPN): In the backdrop of the controversial June 14 ceasefire agreement signed between the two NSCN factions at Zunheboto, the NSCN-IM has questioned the approach of the Sumi Hoho towards peace, especially on the hoho's role as mediator. The NSCN-IM (MIP) in a press release stated that before mediating between any conflicting parties, the cause of the difference should be analyzed, the mediator should assess its role, the terms of the peace initiative underlined and assessed, in a manner befitting the integrity of the mediator. Stating that Sumi Hoho should follow in line with the people's desired goal since the hoho being the people's representative body, the NSCN-IM reasoned that since the people's collective principle is the national principle, the Sumi Hoho too should function in line with the national principle.
"The Sumi Hoho should clearly identify who are working for the nation and who are anti-nationals according to their deeds, traits, professions and achievements, and be able to classify and ascertain each one separately," the release stated. It also reminded that all matters related to the Naga political issue should be based on Naga national principles and not guided by one's emotion or confined on "inclined focus" and added that for every political issue, undertakings abide by certain procedures commanding respect, trust and goodwillfor anchoring on firm grounds of peace.
"It is when the components are lacking and mediators dishonorably desist from justifying their role, all implied resolve becomes imposed or dictated," the release added. The NSCN-IM said that, giving the circumstances, the Sumi Hoho president Rotokha and his team should assess themselves where they have lagged behind and in what manner they have failed.
The hoho should also ponder on whether the Sumi Hoho has exercised its powers and functions to uphold its integrity and honour, the release stated, adding it was high time that every individual examine "our self and identify our role in our national struggle. If we do not know our position and status, we will become tools of our enemy." The release further informed that the Sumi Hoho must keep in mind that "today there is neither space for mistakes nor can the Sumi people or the Naga people be given to ransom. The nation is above all other issues and hence the national principles of the Nagas cannot be compromised with."
Progress made in talks : Oscar Correspondent Nagaland Post
KOHIMA, JULY 20 (NPN): Union Minister incharge of Indo-Naga peace Oscar Fernandes today revealed that some progress have been made in the ongoing peace talks and expressed optimism that if talks continued in the present direction, solution was somewhat near at hand.
Fernandes who arrived here on a three day visit ahead of the next round of peace talks with NSCN-IM scheduled to be held at Bangkok from July 28, made the statement during a dinner party hosted by the state government here at Hotel Japfu this evening.
Reiterating that the UPA government was very serious about the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talks, Fernandes said both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were very concerned on the issue and had given their blessings and at the same time sought cooperation from the people.
Reacting to State Planning Minister Dr. Shurhozelie's statement on the prevailing Ceasefire Ground Rules, the Union Minister assured that it is the GoI effort to streamline and strengthen the prevailing ceasefire ground rules for effective implementation. Earlier, Dr. Shurhozelie, while welcoming the Union Minister, reiterated that the present DAN government would not stand in the way if any solution was arrived at through fruition of the ongoing Indo-Naga peace talks and stressed the need for a congenial atmosphere in the peace talks.
He also claimed that law and order in the state was under control, except for factional clashes, which was creating serious concern for the state government. Stating that the various factional groups have claimed fighting as "political ground", Dr. Shurhozelie requested Fernandes to deal the matter with all seriousness.
Further, raising suspicion of the hands of some intelligence agencies operating in the region in inciting division and fighting among the different Naga groups, Shurhozelie urged the Union minister to rein in such agencies and to be more sincere in solving the vexed Indo-Naga problem.
Shurhozelie asks sanity on continued factional fights Source: Oken Jeet Sandham / NEPS Asian Tribune
Kohima, Jul 20: Nagaland Minister for Planning and Coordination and Urban Development, Dr Shurhozelie reiterated the DAN Government's declared policy of creating congenial atmosphere for the 'peace process.' Talking to NEPS here at his official residence on Thursday, the Minister said as State Government, their responsibility was to create congenial atmosphere for the peace process.

'And when we talk of the peace process, we mean it covers all sections of the people,' he said. 'Therefore, all sections of the people should make the best use of such environment.'

Asked as to how far such policy was realistic when the NSCN (K) was accusing the leaderships of the DAN Government of having nexus with the NSCN (IM), Dr Shurhozelie refused to subscribe to the point. He, however, pointed out that 'some members amongst the NSCN (K) group always write against us.' 'It is for the people to judge,' he stated. He also said the law and order situation in the State had considerably improved and was well controlled. But he refused to call the factional fights in the State as 'law and order issue.' 'The underground factions go out to do anything they like and speak anything they like,' he said.

'So, what can we do, when they start fighting?' He said all the NGOs, civil societies and individuals made numerous appeals to them to stop fighting but the fights continued.
'The more appeals, the more fights amongst them,' he further questioned the intentions behind it.

'Do they believe to gain sovereignty by fighting amongst themselves,' the veteran regionalist and president of the major ruling NPF party asked and said, 'If all the cadres of the NSCN (K) go out of Nagaland and allow the NSCN (IM) cadres to occupy the state, do you mean to say a sovereignty to the Nagas or all the NSCN (IM) cadres go to the present State of Manipur and allow the NSCN (K) cadres to occupy the whole of Nagaland State, do you mean to say sovereignty to Nagas.' The Minister called upon the people that it was time to speak the 'hard truth' that if they believed to gain sovereignty by fighting amongst them, 'let them convince us.' They should not fool the Naga people and also themselves by such acts, he asserted. He also reaffirmed the commitment of the DAN Government that in the event of any final political settlement to the Naga political issue was arrived at; it would not stand on the way.
The NNC does not belong to Nagalim- Nagaland Post Opnion
The Naga National Council (NNC) belongs to Nagaland and Naga people. Since it is for the people and of the people, the CPO or other Naga public leaders or Naga people have the sole right to claim the legacy and legitimacy of the NNC, and at any cost, they have the right to defend the NNC, because without which the Nagaland people have no right to claim the sovereignty of Nagaland. But the NNC does not belong to the so-called NSCN (IM) of Nagalim, thus they are fighting against the NNC and killing its leaders since 1979 and neither recognized the legacy and legitimacy of the NNC like foreign country India who invaded Nagaland. Nagalim people have never concern for the future of Nagaland and fallaciously propagating even to the outside world that the integration and self-determination (autonomous) is the aspiration of Naga people.
It is necessary to ask eno Kedutsü Tsüzu to list down about a hundred names of national workers who were killed during the military coup of 1978 as he mentioned in his article under the caption "caption "CPO justifying Shillong. Accord", which appeared in Nagaland Post on 20th July, 2006. If he cannot list down their names he is a liar like his leaders IM.
I was in the Eastern Nagaland at the Naga Army Headquarter when the Military coup was declared by the Naga Army on 30th August 1978, because Muivah and Isak contemplated to overthrow the leadership of NNC and A.Z. Phizo the then president, NNC, by adopting a resolution on the 2nd August, 1978. Four leaders were detained under house arrest but no one was killed, even the lives of Muivah and Isak were spared and released and unhurt in May 1979. But after they were set free they started to kill NNC/FGN leaders who opposed Muivah's socialism in the last part of 1979. Since then killing started among the Nagas.
You cannot intentionally make the story of killing among the NSCN fold in 1988 at Hangsen Camp in Heimi Region as the story of Military coup of 1978 by the Federal Naga Army. You also always talk about the Accord which Nagalim people do not know. Nagaland people know it why it was done or what it was and thus never talk about it. For which you which you have no right to blame Nagaland people. The Nagaland people work for the future of Nagaland on their own way and they have nothing to do with Nagalim's peace process or selling process.
Also you Nagalim people have no room to impose socialism on the Nagaland people, and neither have the right to dictate or guide and give order the Nagaland people do this or that. The Nagas are free people and completely free from dictatorship or kingship from their ancestors, and enjoying with their traditional democracy, which is their way of life, and they will defend it at any cost. L. Palang Khiamniungan, National worker, NNC.
Congress to contest all seats in next polls Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, July 20:: The Congress party says it will contest all the 60 seats in the State Assembly election, which is 19 months away from now. Disclosing this to Nagaland Post on Monday, Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) president Hokheto Sumi said the Congress would go it alone in the Assembly polls and ruled out seat-sharing arrangement with other political parties. At present, the Congress has 16 MLAs in the House of 60 seats.

Asked whether the party will give party tickets to the sitting Congress MLAs, the NPCC president categorically stated that it would depend on their "performances and merit". However, he did not rule out new faces in the party for the poll fray.

The term of the current Nagaland Legislative Assembly will come to an end in early March, 2008. The State Assemblies of Meghalaya, Tripura and Himachal Pradesh also complete their terms in early 2008. The NPF-led DAN Government, headed by Neiphiu Rio as Chief Minister, assumed office in the State on March 6, 2003. (NPN)

Naga students wrath singes BSNL Newmai News Network
Students expressing their angst against BSNL's service
Kohima, Jul 20 : Members of the Angami Students Union clashed with the police force today in Kohima when the students came out on the streets to protest the tardy service provided by the BSNL. As part of its second phase of agitation against the BSNL, the powerful ASU picketed the head office of the BSNL since 8 this morning.
What started as a peaceful and uneventful agitation turned into a riot-like situation as the student volunteers clashed with riot police after the ASU volunteers locked up the Deputy General Manager, prevented the staff from entering the office premises and burned effigies of the BSNL at the office gates. While there was no physical violence, police had to put off the fire started by the students several times even as police and the volunteers confronted each other while the former were trying to press into service the fire tenders.
The General Manager of the BSNL, who came from Dimapur after hearing of the agitation, was forced to flee on foot after irate students turned their ire on him when he reached after hearing of the agita-tion, was forced to flee on foot after irate students turned their ire on him when he reached the scene and demanded that he be allowed to enter the office. His vehicle keys and some files he was carrying were also seized by the volun-teers.
While the GM apparently had the intention to try to pacify the agitators, the arrogant manner in which he approached the student volunteers spar-ked off a confrontation and the GM was forced to flee. Parking his vehicle right next to the agitating volunteers, the GM had deman- ded, “Who are you. Who are you to stop me?” This instigated the students to retaliate and the GM was forced to flee on foot along with his driver after the volunteers snatched the vehi- cle keys and the files.
The Angami students will be continuing with their agitation till an assurance comes directly from the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting. Apart from regular and efficient services, ASU is also demanding early issuance of WWL to the appli- cants, ready availability of Top-Up Cards for Pre-Paid subscribers, immediate re-dressal of SPS subscribers and activation and release of SIM Cards to the remaining SPS applicants, and effective upgradation of the Customer Care Centre. Earlier, ASU had submitted a number of repre- sentations and even an ultimatum and even launched an agitation against the BSNL during which its volunteers broke into the branch office in Kohima and chased away the staff and sealed the office. However, following assurances from BSNL officials, it had called off the agitation.

KNA executes woman informer Sinliangmang Guite Sangai Express
Lamka, Jul 20: A 28 year old divorced woman identified as W Tling Hmar alias Tete alias Toinu was last night executed by cadres of Kuki National Army at Hmar Veng here.
Sources claimed that two armed men shot the deceased twice on her throat and chest, few metres from the corridor after forcibly dragging her out of the house at 9. 25 pm.
Local police after receiving information about the incident retrieved the body at around 11 pm and deposited it at the district hospital.
Claiming responsibility for the execution, Th Stephen Kuki, Under Secretary, Kuki National Organisation/Army in a release today claimed that W Tling was awarded the extreme punishment for her invol-vement in plans to fragment the organization. Their ac-tion being a cleansing step within the organization, none shall tinge the inci-dent in communal lines, the statement added.
Meanwhile, Hmar Wo-men Association termed the incident as most shameful and said the incident is ‘an insult and challenge to the Hmar community’ as it was perpetrated within the Hmar dominated locality.
Condemning the incident ‘without any reserva- tion,’ HWA also called on all sensible individuals and organizations to condemn ‘the act of detestable and heinous killing.’
Churachandpur in recent days has often been marred by ugly incidents wherein even communal lines are toed by armed men who usually perpetrated crimes over innocent citizens. This unsavory trend, which haunts the township needs immediate exploit from the authorities bearing in mind the sensibilities of its complex community set-up.
The security forces also has to do something more than igniting factional clash within various armed group as most of these incidents occurred close to their locations.

Wandering conmen nabbed cleverly duping people of gold The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, July 20: Locals of Khurai detained two non local conmen, while trying to scoot away with cleverly stolen gold using a chemical process known as cupellation. Cupellation is a refining process for nonoxidizing metals, such as silver and gold, in which a metallic mixture is oxidized at high temperatures and base metals are separated by absorption into the walls of a cupel.

When applied deftly, the process dissolves away the outer surface of these metals giving them a shine. The dissolved metal can then be separated from the solution by a reverse process.

The conmen originally from Bihar but presently residing at Dimapur in Nagaland brought what was supposedly a metal cleansing solution and offered to shine household utensils belonging to one Sagolsem Nabakumar of Khurai Konsam Leikai. They then convinced women members of the house that even gold ornament could be given fresh glint with the solution they had, and proceeded cleansing precious ornaments with owners` consent.

They thus cleaned three necklaces estimated to be about eight Sans, apart from earrings and other gold ornaments. Then they tried to rush off with the residue solution after informing the owners of the ornaments to keep the cleansed gold sealed in a paper pack they provided for at least one and half hours. Suspicious, the residents unsealed the pack and found to their surprise, all the gold ornaments had depleted and contorted.

Immediately, they alerted neighbours and detained the two cheats who tried to slip off with the solution in which the gold had been made to dissolve. The conmen were later identified as Dharbind Kumar Shah, 21, son of Mohon and Deewan Kumar Shah son of Sudhir Kumar Shah, both hailing from Kathihar, Bihar, but presently residing in Dimapur, Nagaland.

As per their disclosure, they reached Ukhrul from Dimapur last Saturday and reached Imphal only yesterday. An identity card issued by executive magistrate, Ukhrul was also recovered from the possession of Dharbind Kumar. The I-card is valid from 07/06/2006 to 31/12/2009.

While interacting with IFP, the duo confessed to have successfully duped people of their gold and silver using the cupellation process. They also informed IFP that members of their families have been summoned from Dimapur to come by tomorrow and after their arrival compensations for the ornaments they damaged will be made.

Safe passage to ULFA cadresFrom Kalyan Barooah Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, July 20 – With no breakthrough in sight, the Central Government has offered safe passage to ULFA leadership and asked for its agenda for the peace process. In a day of fast development, Union Home Secretary, VK Duggal held an impromptu meeting with Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami at the North Block, here this afternoon. The meeting was joined by Intelligence Bureau chief, EL Narasimhan and joint Secretary North East, Rajiv Agarwal. The meeting that lasted about an hour ended with the Home Ministry officials requesting Dr Goswami to convey the Centre’s response to a set of pre-conditions set by ULFA. The Home Ministry reiterated its plea that the ULFA should establish direct contact with Government of India.

“The Centre is positive about the peace process and today they have clarified certain points, which I would be conveying to ULFA chairman, Arabinda Rajkhowa and if they agree, then the first round of direct talks could be held by August-end,” Dr Goswami told waiting newsmen. The Centre has assured that the ULFA delegates for the talks would be treated with respect, said the Jnanpith Awardee, indicating an assurance of safe passage for the militants.

All that the Centre wants in return, is a communication from the outfit addressed directly to the Government of India, conveying their programme for the dialogue. The first round may be held in Delhi itself and the Central Government would host them, Dr Goswami said. The flurry of activities started today after Dr Goswami received a letter from Rajkhowa, which was a reply to her earlier correspondence. Rajkhowa, who dwelt at length on the peace process also sought some clarifications from the Government of India. Some of the pre-conditions, Dr Goswami said were old like the the demand for release of the five detained cadres. The chairman also wanted to know whether the issue of sovereignty would be discussed in the talk, said Dr Goswami.

“There are few other issues involved, which I would not like to disclose at this stage,” she told this Correspondent. Upon receiving the letter, the author contacted the Union Home Secretary, who promptly invited her to North Block for further discussions. The Officials after discussing the points raised by the chairman conveyed its response.

Dr Goswami said the she would be sending an email directly to the chairman, conveying the Centre’s response, to ensure faster communications. About the demand for release of the ULFA detainees, the Jnanpith laureate said the Centre was positively inclined, but they wanted a direct communication from the leadership. “I have been given to understand that once they come for talks, the detained leaders may be set free,” Dr Goswami added.

The ULFA has asked for the release of five of their central committee members including vice chairman, Pradip Gogoi, ideologue Bhim Kanta Buragohain, cultural secretary, Pranati Deka, Mithinga Daimary and Ramu Mech. As for the demand for a discussion on the issue of sovereignty, Dr Goswami said the Government of India says the outfit was free to table all their demands during the discussion. “The Government of India is very serious about holding dialogue and wanted me to convey that the first round could be held by the end of the next month, if the ULFA leadership desired,” said Dr Goswami.

On the other hand, the ULFA leaders are also keen to come for talks. So if the two sides agree then talks would be held sooner rather than later, she said. The Peoples Consultative Group (PCG) members may even accompany the ULFA leaders during the first round, said the author.
Meanwhile, an official of the MHA said that they have so far not received any direct communication from the ULFA and today’s meeting was an effort to expedite the peace process.

Gogoi for direct talks By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, July 20 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today laid stress on establishing direct contact with the ULFA. He said that the ULFA tangle needed a political solution. In this context he referred to the case of the NSCN (IM). With the Nagaland outfit also a direct contact was established, he told the State Assembly. He was replying to the debate on the cut motions on the budgetary allocations proposed for the Police Department.

Gogoi also emphasized the need for a ceasefire agreement with the outfit to facilitate negotiations with it. The Government cannot make any unilateral move in this regard, he said. However, he expressed the hope that the ULFA would respond positively to all such requirements for taking ahead the process of negotiations and reiterated his Government’s commitment to facilitate the negotiations with the militant outfit.

He denied the charge of the opposition that the Government intelligence had failed in keeping strict vigilance against the terrorists. All the reports of the terrorist designs appearing in the local press are prepared on the basis of the inputs provided by the Government intelligence, he claimed and maintained that the law and order situation in the State had improved.

He also clarified that it was the belief of his Government that not all the Muslims were involved in fundamentalist activities. Terrorism has no religion, caste or language. Nor it has any country, he said. He also maintained that the State Government had clarified its stand on the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind long back. It considers the organization as a patriotic one and it had contributed to the freedom struggle of the country and is also contributing to the making of the post-independence India, he said. Allaying the apprehensions of the members of the House that Muslim fundamentalists would ruin Asom and the Assamese society, he said emphatically that Asom as well as the Assamese nationality would survive. The apprehensions concerning the so-called threats to the existence of the State and its society are meaningless, he claimed.

The Chief Minister told the House that his Government would not tolerate any fake encounter and would compensate the family of Riten Karmakar, killed in an incident of police firing in Golaghat district recently. An inquiry into the incident has also been ordered, he said. Earlier initiating the debate on the cut motions, Chandra Mohan Patowary (AGP) expressed concern over the recent reports of growth of fundamentalist outfits, which is posing a serious security threat to the nation. He said that the Government of the neighbouring country Bangladesh is virtually captured by the fundamentalist elements, which might pose a serious threat to the North East.

Patowary stressed the need for immediate solution of the problem of militancy through talks and said that steps should be taken to create a congenial atmosphere for political dialogue with the ULFA. He said that both the Government and the militants must work towards creating the right atmosphere. He sought clarification from the Government on whether it wanted to deal with the problem politically or as a problem of terrorism. “On one hand the Government is inviting the ULFA for political talks, while, on the other hand the Prime Minister was for waging a war against terrorism,” he said. He also expressed the view that if the Government was not in a position to release the jailed central committee members of the ULFA, it should not have made a political statement immediately after assuming office for the second term. Mission Ranjan Das (BJP) alleged that the special branch of the Assam Police failed in its responsibility and expressed concern over the threat posed by the fundamentalist elements to the security of the nation.
Ataur Rahman Mazarbhuyan (AUDF) made an appeal to the Government not to lengthen the process of negotiation with the militant outfits. He also regretted that the Jamiat-Ulema-e-Hind, which fought valiantly against the British colonialists and had also made remarkable contributions to the making of the post-independence India, had been dubbed as a terrorist organization. The Tablique-e-Jamat is also not spared, he said.

Prabin Gogoi (AGP) pleaded for a high-level inquiry into the killing of Riten Karmakar, who worked as a part time driver, by the police taking him for a terrorist. He also pleaded for compensation to the family of Karmakar. Ananta Deka (CPI-M) laid stress on a total reformation in the Police Department providing the department with modern equipment. The vacancies in the department should also be filled up, mobility of the police should be enhanced and there should be central morgues at every district, he said. However, modernization of the department should be linked with imbibing patriotism and love towards the people among its officers and personnel, Deka said. Dr Kamala Kalita (AGP) said that though there were many committed officers in the department, some of the officers were dependent on political patronage. This has made the people doubt the integrity of the department’s officers, he said. He also cited an instance in which two bodies of a drowned couple were lost in the presence of the inquiring officers of the department on July 10 at Panikhaiti village under Chaygoan Police Station.

Prafulla Kumar Mahanta (AGP-P) laid stress on prevailing upon the Central Government to help the State overcome the deficiencies in its police department. Major attention should be paid to modernization of the State police, he said. Padma Hazarika, Joseph Toppo and Binod Gowala (AGP), Dr Aditya Langthasa (AUDF), Mahibul Haque and Pranab Kalita (Independents) also took part in the debate. The cut motions were later withdrawn by the opposition.
NESO urges Centre to give it special status By ANI
Guwahati, July 20 (ANI): The North East Students Organisation (NESO) has demanded that it be granted special status by the Central Government to enable it to combat various menaces in the North East.
"The one and only solution of to solve the problem of North East is to provide constitutional status to the North East. It harms, otherwise, our land and national issues. This is the single solution to solve these various problems of North East. Throughout the country it was our alarming slogans towards the countrymen and national leaders to please save the North East to save India for tomorrow," said NESO president Mr. Sammujal Bhattacharya. Citing an example of the recent Mumbai serial blasts, Sammujal said terrorists have a single aim in life-to disrupt the unity of the country. NESO is the apex body of student bodies in the North East. The three constituent organisations of NESO are the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), All Manipur Students' Union (AMSU) and the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU). (ANI)
Assam Rifles post attacked, border trade takes another hit as violence rises in Moreh By Indian Express
Trade between the border town of Moreh and Namphalong in Myanmar, which had been hit by a three-day traders' bandh, suffered another blow on Wednesday after militants attacked an Assam Rifles post injuring four civilians. In another incident, a powerful bomb went off near a water tank in the town, severely injuring an Assam Rifles jawan.
Army spokesman Lt Col S D Goswami said militants attacked the Assam Rifles post from the Myanmar side of the border around 9.30 am, but missed the target and hit a civilian area, injuring four locals.
The indefinite bandh called by Moreh-based women's organisations under the banner of All Moreh Apunba Meira Paibi Lup was near total after the trading community supported the call. The bandh had been partially lifted on Tuesday. The bandh came after a face-off on JUly 13. According to reports reaching here, Subedar TB Pun was shot dead by militants around 2 pm on July 13, around a hundred metres from the Indo-Myanmar border checkpost. Reports said angry Assam Rifles personnel assaulted civilians and even some Myanmarese traders who had crossed over for trade purposes. Local mediapersons covering the incident were prevented from doing so by AR personnel, who allegedly threatened to destroy their cameras.
Threat from radical elements, ULFA talks hiccups echo in Asom Assembly Red alert sounded: CM Hindu Yuba Chatra Parishad (Bharat) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidharthi Parishad, Dibrugarh unit activists burning the effigies of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, and Bangladesh President Begum Khaleda Zia and the national flags of Pakistan and Bangladesh in Dibrugarh on Thursday in protest against fomenting Muslim fundamentalism and terrorism against India by the two countries. (Sentinel)
By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, July 20: The entire Opposition in Asom Assembly, comprising the AGP, BJP, CPI and the CPI-M, took the Government to task today on the threat perception in the State from radical elements and the hiccups that have developed on the peace process with the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi, in his reply, told the House that the common people in the State should remain alert and help the security forces overcome the problem. On the ULFA front, Gogoi said that direct communication by the outfit was a must.
During the discussion on grants for police administration, the AGP, BJP, CPI and the CPI-M wanted to know from the Government what steps it had taken to allay the fear of the common people who remained a panicky lot in the aftermath of the carpet bombing in Mumbai and the arrest of a number of suspected fundamentalists in the city. The Opposition also wanted to know what steps the Government had taken to bring the Centre-ULFA peace process, which has suffered a setback after the rebel group’s extortion note to the RBI Regional Director followed by the killing of as many as six ULFA cadres by the security personnel, right on the track.
In his reply, Gogoi said that threat from radical elements had always been there. “We are alert, but without alertness on the part of the common people our fight against fundamentalism will be futile. We will start a campaign to alert the people on the threat perception,” Gogoi said and added: “The police have sounded a red alert; this implies that the public has also been alerted. We should, however, draw a demarcating line between terrorism and communalism. All SIMI activists don’t mean Muslims and all ULFA cadres don’t mean Asomiyas.”
Gogoi said that in order to tackle terrorism, the intelligence network needed to be modernized, and to make that a reality the Government was contemplating the setting up of an intelligence research centre in the city. On the ULFA front, Gogoi said: “Direct approach by the ULFA to the Centre is a must. The NSCN-IM had also approached the Centre directly. How can there be a ceasefire with the ULFA without any assurance from the rebel group on cessation of all subversive activities?”
He added that the Centre and the State Government were very sincere to settle ULFA problem. “Since the Government is considering the ULFA problem a political one, it has been trying to solve the problem politically,” Gogoi added.
The Sentinel’s comment We understand that all ULFA activists are not Asomiyas, as Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi stated in the State Assembly, because by now many other foreign nationals might have joined the ULFA. But we fail to understand how all SIMI activists are not Muslims, given that the SIMI is an Islamic organization and why on earth non-Muslims would join the SIMI!