[Previous entry: "Genetic study traces origin of Nagas The Morung Express"] [Next entry: "Spelling Out Peace IMPHAL FREE PRESS"]

08/04/2006: "Nagaland peace talks still elusive Indolink"

Nagaland peace talks still elusive Indolink Syed Ali Mujtaba
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) has once again announced the extension of the ceasefire for one year following three days parleys with the Indian negotiators at Bangkok on July 31, 2006. Speculation were rife that the customary extension of the ceasefire done every year since it was first signed in 1997 may not be made because the rebels in January had extended the truce only for six months, instead of a year.
The theory gained currency because a day before the talks were to commence, NSCN-IM leaders, Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, threatened not to extend the truce, accusing the Indian Army of covertly supplying weapons to a rival outfit to provoke a ‘fratricidal war.’ However, better sense prevailed in the end and the rebels agreed to continue with peace talks even tough complaining that little progress has been made on their core demands.
The main demand of NSCN-IM is to create a ‘Greater Nagaland’ by uniting 1.2 million Nagas through the unification of Naga-dominated areas in northeast of India. They also want a separate Naga Constitution, independent of the Indian constitution but are not totally opposed to incorporating some important sections of the Indian constitution.
Indian states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh that are going to be affected have already rejected the NSCN-IM demand. The Union government also has serious objections to the Naga’s rights to sovereignty and claim to redraw the boundaries of the northeast states for their territorial unification. India and the NSCN-IM held at least 50 rounds of negotiations in the past nine years but has not made any substantial progress in a in a bid to solve this problem.
Nagaland is a mountainous state bordering Myanmar with a population of nearly two million people that are predominantly Christians. The Naga problem is one of the oldest disputers in South Asia and since the independence of India has claimed more than 25,000 lives.
The genesis of the Naga insurgency dates back a day before India's freedom. The Nagas were the first ethnic group in the northeast to revolt against New Delhi’s rule. Legendary Naga leader Angami Zapu Phizo and his Naga National Council (NNC) on August 14, 1947, had asserted that the Nagas were never a part of India. By 1950 the NNC formally announced its desire to form a sovereign or independent Naga nation, marking the beginning of the armed struggle in Nagaland.
The NNC in May 1951 claimed that 99 percent of the Naga tribals and Christians have supported a referendum to determine their future as a free nation. This was summarily rejected by New Delhi. By 1952, the NNC launched a guerrilla movement, attacking villages and security posts to ignite a violent chapter in the history of Nagaland. In 1956, Phizo formed a parallel government called the Naga federal government (NFG) and its armed wing, Naga federal army (NFA). The Indian government in April 1956 launched a military crackdown in the erstwhile Naga hill districts in the undivided Assam. Phizo sneaked into then East Pakistan and then to London. Since then, until his death in 1990, he led the NNC from London. In 1963, Nagaland attained statehood and India made efforts to broker peace with the NNC. People like Jayaprakash Narayan and Rev. Michael Scott were then involved in the Naga peace process.
On Sep 6, 1964, a ceasefire was signed between the Indian government and the NNC. Six rounds of talks were held but despite the truce, the Naga rebels continued their offensives that made the government to abrogate the truce in 1969. By then chinks had appeared in the Naga struggle. Members of the powerful Sema tribe broke away and in 1968 formed the revolutionary government of Nagaland (RGN) led by self-styled ‘General Kaito’.
In 1971, India banned three prominent Naga groups; the NNC, NFG and NFA. Indian troops also launched a massive anti-insurgency operation in 1973 and for the first time were able to force the guerrillas to surrender. On August 14, 1973, the RGN, under the leadership of General Zuheto Swu, joined the Indian mainstream with a number of its cadres inducted into the Border Security Force. Apart from surrender, the army operations forced the NNC to talk peace with the government. As a result, Shillong Accord was signed on November 11, 1975, with the Naga rebels led by Kevi Yally, the younger brother of Phizo, accepting the Indian constitution.
But some people within the NNC opposed the accord and prominent among them were T. Muivah, Isak Swu and S. Khaplang. Muivah was then NNC general secretary and Swu a senior minister. Khaplang, a Burmese Naga, was president of the Eastern Nagaland Revolutionary Council, a wing of the NNC formed to protect Naga interests in Burma. There was another twist in the Naga tale when the trio of Muivah, Swu and Khaplang decided to sever ties with their parent body and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980.
Swu was made the chairman, Khaplang the vice-chairman and Muivah the general secretary. The NSCN emerged as the most powerful and radical rebel army in Nagaland, sidelining the NNC and NFG. The NSCN-led insurgency became bloody over the years. But soon the NSCN was mired in internal problems, with leaders differing on major policy issues on clan and tribal lines.
The NSCN split in 1988 with Khaplang forming a parallel NSCN (Khaplang). By 1992, the two NSCN factions were engaged in a fratricidal war over territorial supremacy. This provided New Delhi the much-needed weapon to tackle insurgency by forcing the NSCN (Isak-Muivah) to come to the negotiating table. A ceasefire accord was signed August 1, 1997. Since then the NSCN-IM and New Delhi have held at least 50 rounds of peace talks at Switzerland, France, Italy, Netherlands, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia and elsewhere.
A similar truce was also signed with the NSCN (Khaplang) faction in April 2001 but formal peace talks with that outfit are yet to begin. Now, after prolonged twists and turns in the Naga rigmarole, the mood is one of guarded optimism. The Nagas want 'honorable settlement' to end their long drawn struggle and to establish an enduring peace.
However, the slow progress of the peace talks has brought a mood of 'belligerency’ in the NSCN-IM camp. The joint statement issued by Muivah and New Delhi’s chief peace negotiator K. Padmanabhaiah has catapulted this feeling since the talks early this year. The statement says that both sides recognized that ‘there has been insufficient progress in the talks’ and to carry the political negotiations forward what is required is ‘new initiatives.’
The NSCN-IM cadre in Nagaland wants to know what are the ‘new initiatives’ New Delhi is taking to solve their problem. Some openly have expressed dissatisfaction with the commitments made by the Indian government. Indian government says it’s aware of the 'impatient mood’ of the Naga but at the same time has little option than to adopt a cautious approach to handle this sensitive issue. With little progress in the Naga peace talks being made and the ceasefire getting repeated extension, the signs of another chapter of internecine struggle breaking loose, looms large over the horizon of Nagaland. However, hammering out 'honorable' settlement with the Nagas is a major challenge that’s faced by India today. At the same time, truce with the Nagas is crucial for the peace in the seven northeast states that connects India by a thin strip of land called ‘chicken’s neck.’ Added to it is the northeast region of India is home to dozens of insurgent groups. If India really wants to address the problem of insurgency in its northeast region, it has to rework on the solutions to the Naga problem. Its casual approach may always elude any permanent tranquility in its northeast region that’s so important for its development. It may also have a telling impact on India’s look east policies.
Syed Ali Mujtaba is a journalist, based in Chennai, India. He can be contacted at syedalimujtaba@yahoo.com
MSHG organizes ‘Tsüngremmong’ extravaganza Staff Reporter Nagaland Post
Dimapur (NPN): In what could be termed as a beacon to women emancipation and empowerment in a patriarchal social setup, one of the successful women self help groups, Meranglar Self Help Group (MSHG) Dimapur has organized 'Tsüngremmong' extravaganza at the Imliyanger Memorial Centre (IMC) Dimapur on Thursday with Principal Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner, Alemtemshi as the chief guest. Dwelling on the significance of Tsüngremmong, the chief guest said "Tsüngremmong is a celebration which signifies social equity and justice - an occasion of sharing with the poor and downtrodden".
While highlighting that Tsüngremmong also signifies sanctification and hard work, Alemtemshi opined Tsüngremmong as an occasion to sanctify oneself and to work hard for livelihood and added that the forefathers worked hard against the impediments of snakes, leeches, thorns and weeds for their livelihood. Alemtemshi expressed regret that unlike the forefathers many youths today try to live without working but try to live through extortion, theft and robbery which he said is not the culture of Naga forefathers. On the celebration of festivals by the present generation youths, he said that the youths wear few traditional attire, drink and sing some of the folk songs familiar to them. Alemtemshi said that the youths should realize the observance of Tsüngremmong and other cultures as a legacy and observe the same with dignity and honour.
While delivering the keynote address, the Additional Deputy Commissioner (Judicial), Dimapur, Mayang Lima highlighted the different successful SHGs in various parts of the state which made a positive transition in the economic status of many families. He urged the MSHG to become a facilitator to other groups being an established group. Earlier in the day, there was sale of various products by seven different Self Help Groups in the same venue. The programme also included invocation by Rev N. Tzudir, Pastor of DABA, welcome address by Tainla Mar, vote of thanks by Martha Walling, presentation of folk songs, special songs and others followed by raffle draw. The programme was compered by T. Amenla Inchen and Ati Jamir.
Cease fire-fighting Nagaland Post
Statements of relief or happiness or even guided optimism by various individuals and organizations to the extension of the cease fire between the Government of India with the NSCN (I-M) now in its ninth year since 1997, are understandable in the light of what should be encouraged towards fulfillment of a peaceful solution to the Naga problem. There is also another cease fire agreement signed between the Government of India with the NSCN (K) in 2001. The statements have been issued time and again and do seem customary to the point that each organization including the media, would perhaps even feel it necessary or obligatory to say or write something about it. If saying or writing something that is expected or construed as a politically right thing to do, then it is reasonable to suggest that the message is for the path to peace and goodwill with all and not only between the signatories. The cease fire with the Government of India has been excellent in that there has been no fighting since it was signed and therefore, it is not a problem. The problem, nay, the biggest happens to be the internecine conflict within the Naga national groups themselves that has cast its long shadow over the hopes of the common people for a peaceful solution. Despite the existence of the cease fire ground rules, violent clashes between armed cadres of rival factions in Nagaland has not ended but rather, appear to convey the message that the spirit behind the cease fires has been rejected for all practical purposes. Much has been said about the supervision or implementation of the cease fire ground rules that has attracted flak for both the state government as well as the Government of India and its agencies. This has given way to the feeling about the inability of the government to maintain peace in preventing movement of armed cadres. In short, the question that is being asked is what role are government agencies supposed to be playing, vis-à-vis enforcement of the ground rules of the cease fire? Political developments during the recent years have resulted in a coherent voice in favor of resolution of the conflict through peaceful negotiations. However, rival groups or coalition of tribal interests appear to portray the perceptions of who is right or wrong as that of the six blind men of Indostan, a limerick by John Saxe. Possibly, the brief coherence for solution that found its strongest expression during 2003 was like a force that contained inherent contradictions that was bound to manifest in the later stages. One unmistakable desire of the people is not only about removing the potential danger of factional violence but to strengthen the rule of justice and law. There are far too many problems plaguing society and failure to solve these issues only compound the effort to bring about lasting solution of the political problem. Peace does not come easily just for the asking. It has to be won through difficult tests and situation. The collective will and wisdom of church, political and tribal leaders with a single minded devotion to the consensus in what is good and true needs to be reinvigorate the single and united desire of the majority.
Indefinite blockade of Imphal-Jiribam Road Assam Tribune – PTI
IMPHAL, Aug 3 – Vehicular traffic was stopped along the Manipur portion of the NH 53 as a students’ union began an indefinite blockade of the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway 53 at Jiribam area in Imphal East district of the state from today.

In a statement here, the Jiribam College Students’ Union (JCSU) said it would continue the stir till its demands, which included conversion of Jiribam subdivision into a fullfledged revenue district, were fulfilled. Official sources said efforts were on to hold talks with the agitating students to end the impasse which affected traffic along the road during the day.

The JCSU was being supported by the All Manipur Students Union, Democratic Students Alliance Manipur and Manipur Students Federation. The JCSU was also demanding conversion of the government-aided Jiribam College into a full government college, a union spokesman said.

Lalu denies move to scrap NE projects From Our Spl Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Aug 3 – The alleged move of the railways to scrap all major new projects in the North-east, has led to sharp reactions, with a delegation asking Railway Minister, Lalu Prasad to clarify. Reports of the latest move of the Railways to abandon all new projects including the Bogibeel-rail-cum-road bridge and Lumding-Silchar Gauge Conversion work, has snowballed into a major controversy, leading a delegation of MPs led by Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, Santosh Mohan Deb to rush to the Railway Minister, yesterday.

“These projects can be scrapped only over my dead body,” the Union Minister fumed, before Lalu Prasad clarified that his Ministry has given no such order.

The Railway Minister, who summoned all top officials including chairman and Member Technical of the Railway Board, assured that all new projects were on track including the Silchar-Lumding Gauge Conversion.

Interestingly, the projects reported to be on the list also included the Jiribum-Tupul rail link project, the foundation stone of which was laid by the Prime Minister last year.

The confusion arose after the chairman of the Railway Board, JP Batra, was quoted as having said something to the effect. As the news reports went un-clarified, impression gained ground that the Ministry was indeed planning to abandon the projects.

Meanwhile, the delegation that also included Karnendu Bhattacharjee, MP and L M Suklabaidya, MP was assured by the Minister for Railways that the work on the Jiribam-Tupul line is going on as per the plan and the target for completion of work on this line will be met. Funds will not be a constraint in execution of this project, he said.

The Union Heavy Industries Minister told this newspaper that they pointed out to the Railway Ministry officials that the Prime Minister had already assured that funds would not be constraint for the Project and that work should go on. The Prime Minister had clearly said that the projects would be treated as national projects. Under the circumstances, it was surprising to see reports that the projects were held up because of paucity of resources, Deb said.

Truce with kuki Ugs surfaces at security meet By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Aug 3: The lingering differences of opi- nion between Army authorities and State Govt regarding cessation of hostilities between the Central armed forces and kuki militant groups surfaced in a meeting of Combined Headquarters held today.
At the meeting attended by top brass of the Army and para-military forces operating in Manipur besides State police and civil officials, authorities of Central forces are informed to have urged the State Government representatives to pronounce their present stand on the ceasefire betwen Kuki militants and Army.
according to a reliable source, the State Govt representatives apparently unwilling to prolong discussion on the particular subject referred to a decision of the State Cabinet contents of which had also been intimated to the Union Home Ministry.
Mention may be made that the reference concerns objection of the State Government to the Kuki armed groups-Army understanding on ceasefire.
The meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister O ibobi at his office chamber this morning was convened to deliberate and take stock of the ongoing CI Ops launched jointly by State and Central security forces under the supervision of Combined Headquarters. The para-military forces were represented by 3 Corps Com-mander ZU Shah, Major General EJ Kochekkan of the 57 Mountain Division, Inspector General of Assam Rifles (South) BS Ghotra, IG (CRPF) PM Goud and DIG (BSF).
Besides, the Chief Minister, State’s Chief Secretary Jarnail Singh, Principal Secretary (Home) AE Ahmad, DGP AK Parashar and two IGs were also present.

All-clear for Assam Rifles to become armed force By Indian Express
Friday August 4
The Lok Sabha today cleared two legislations, the Assam Rifles Bill and the Cess Laws (Abolition) Bill. The Rajya Sabha has already cleared the Assam Rifles Bill that seeks to upgrade the force into an armed force with the director general of the force responsible for command and supervision. Minister of State for Home S Reghupathy assured members that the courts trying charges on AR personnel would be manned by officials trained in law. These courts ''will be held by officials trained in matters of law'', he said, and that no single person would pronounce judgments. ''If an accused objects to any official, that official would not sit on the bench,'' he added. The Cess Laws (Abolition) Bill moved by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar seeks to remove the cess imposed on exports of farm and diary products which, the minister said, acted as a tax on the products and eroded the competitiveness of our exporters in the international market.
ONGC to sell Asom oilfields to OIL? ‘It’s a strategy of ONGC to wind up its operation in Asom’ From our Correspondent Sentinel
SIVASAGAR, Aug 3: In the midst of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation’s (ONGC) repeated denial that the oil giant would neither wind up its operations in Asom nor shift the Assam Asset headquarters to outside the State, it has been reported that the company, under a very carefully devised plan under the name ‘restructuring programme of ONGC assets’, has proposed to sell all its major and minor oilfields in Asom to the Oil India Limited (OIL) and the hefty amount of money to be obtained from this sale would be invested by the ONGC in development of its oilfields in other parts of the country and in foreign countries through its subsidiary, the ONGC Videsh Ltd.
Highly-placed ONGC sources revealed that the ONGC is quite serious on the proposal and even the company has got the green signal from the Union Petroleum and Natural Gas (PNG) Ministry.
Sources said that crude production from the ONGC Assam Asset oilfields is fast declining. In late 80’s of the last century, the ONGC produced more than 30 lakh metric tonnes of crude oil per annum from Assam oilfields, but at present the level of production has come down to 12 lakh metric tonnes of oil per annum.
The sources added not the ONGC had proposed to make an additional investment of Rs 3,300 crore in revamping its ageing assets and oilfield to double production from Asom oilfields. But in the prevailing law-and-order situation, it is doubtful if the company would be able to invest this amount in an “effective and fruitful manner”, the source said, adding that besides frequent bandhs, barricades and other forms of agitations which adversely affect production of crude oil and gas, the security provided by the Asom Government, particularly in areas adjacent to Nagaland border is not at all satisfactory and effective.
The source pointed out that in Asom, the ONGC cannot award its contracts to suitable parties having the expertise and financial competence if such parties are not from within the State. The sources claimed that the ONGC, as a world class first rate company, stresses more on quality of work rather than satisfying the local sentiments. In places outside Asom, the ONGC contracts are given on the basis of global tenders, but in Asom it is not possible.
Responsible circle here believes that if this proposal of the ONGC materializes, it will be a great disincentive for new investors to invest in Asom and these would very adversely affect the industrial climate of the State.
Meanwhile, the veteran CPI and trade union leader and chief convenor of the Oil Field Suraksha Sangram Samiti Promode Gogoi, reacting to the proposed transfer of ONGC Assam Asset oilfields to the OIL, said that it was a strategy of the ONGC to wind up its operation in Asom on the ground of poor law-and-order situation and unsatisfactory security provided by the State government. He said that problems faced by the ONGC are also faced by the OIL. If the OIL can produce more oil and gas in similar situation, why not the ONGC, he asked.
According to Gogoi, the ONGC’s failure is to be ascribed to the ONGC’s incompetence and inefficiency.