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08/19/2006: "Condemnation of ‘Quit Notice’- Nagaland Post"

All Nagas are sons and daughters of the same parents. Traditionally, culturally, reli-giously and by blood we are same, only recently, enemies divided us into many parts. But from the inception of our national movement every Nagas have equally fought against the invaders of course some earlier and the other later.
Th. Muivah was told to lead 300 Naga armies to China in 1966 by the Naga tatar Hoho. He did no go by himself neither was he sent by the Tangkhul tribe. He did his mission successfully and Nagas are proud of going to China that time.
After fighting the enemies left and right together for such a long time, it is unthinkable to drive some tribe or tribes out. It is known fact that the enemies who defeated the Nagas militarily and politically, have started using some selfish interest person or persons to spoil the whole Naga family and their dearest cause, as they did in the past.
Angpa never represent the whole Konyaks, so to drive some Naga brothers out of Konyak region is not the decision of the whole Konyaks but his own personal whims.
Capt. Retd. Chinkap, CAO, Konyak Region, NSCN-IM.
\This is a rejoinder to the news item under the heading 'Quit notice' published in various local dailies on August 17 by the eight regional incharge under NSCN (K).
The NSCN, Ao region outrightly and vehemently condemn such headless warning carrying 'drive out' ultimatum to a particular Naga tribe besides insulting our NGOs that does not represent the Nagas. This only prevails their illiterate political philosophy in view of our Naga National politics.
There are 82 different Naga tribes spread over Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Arunachal etc., as per the records maintained by our National leaders. How then, a group of tribes serve such quit notice to a particular community? In the present Naga civil society, our NGOs have no basis for their growth of our own society?
With reference to the present 'Quit notice and Ao region in particular. Mr. L Wati, Regional Chairman, Ao region NSCN (K) and his followers does not represent the whole Ao region and as such, he has no authority to issue any warning or quit notice to any Naga tribe. We shall never allow those with confined and confused political ideology to dictate our Naga society.
Bendang Aier, CAO, AO region, NSCN (IM).
It is surprising to note that 8 regions of the so called NSCN (K) workers have served 'Quit notice;' on August 17 to one particular tribe (Tangkhuls) is totally a wrong motive and step.
Almost all Naga people are talking about Naga unity today, to be under one umbrella, involving mass based organization/NGO's. How and why this hatred should be created among a Naga societies of a staff of Nationalism? Creating disunity among own brethren means having no brain and a mad one to be counted. Therefore creating division among Nagas happens only by an immature leader and everybody should condemn.
S. P Lamba Khiamn, CAO,Khiamniungan rehion, NSCN (IM).
‘Quit notice ploy to pressurize NSCN (IM)’ UK based Naga Support Group writes to UN Secretary General Morung Express News Dimapur | August 18
A UK based Naga Support Group has issued a letter to the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on the quit notice served to the Tangkhul community recently by the NSCN (K) and has alleged that “the Khaplang group from Burmese-occupied Nagalim has been made to issue ‘quit notice’ to the Tangkhul Naga community”.
Terming the NSCN (K) as a ‘tool of the Indian intelligence services’, Professor Timothy Kaping, President of Naga Support Group (UK) alleged that the Indian government, in its attempt to pressurize the NSCN (IM) to renounce its struggle for self determination and to accept the “Hindu-inspired Indian constitution”, was indirectly resorting to such kind of ploy.
“India had unsuccessfully played this dirty game through the Khaplang group before, killing many Tangkhuls and other Naga civilians. As such, we will be indebted if the UN kindly takes note of this sadistic savagery of India and its mercenaries, and also encourage the Indian government and the NSCN to work sincerely for peaceful resolution of the 50 odd years Indo-Naga conflict”, the letter written to the UN Secretary General stated.
The letter also complained that, in spite of the many assurances given to the NSCN (IM), the Indian government was yet to take any positive steps. The UK based Naga Support Group also informed Annan about the twenty-four US Congressmen who wrote a letter to President Clinton on 20 October 1999 in support of “Nagalim’s right to self-determination”.
The September 8, 2005 letter written by former US President Jimmy Carter praised the Indian government headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as well as the NSCN leaders for the initiative taken to work towards a peaceful and lasting solution to the Indo-Naga political problem was also mentioned to Annan.
48 hrs hill bandh ends peacefully From Addie Chiphang Sangai Express
Ukhrul, Aug 18 : The 48 hours total bandh called by the United Naga Council (UNC) and all Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) ended pea-cefully without any unto- ward incident.
O NSCN officer who was, however, reportedly detained for 4/5 hours by the volunteers for loitering in the town without any reasons.
In a joint statement, UNC and ANSAM said that they have been compelled to impose the 48 hours total bandh to protest the inflammatory allegations in which they were dubbed as terror groups by the Government of Manipur.
On the charge that UNC and ANSAM have been terrorizing the guardians of students by brute force to accept Nagaland Text books by L Nanda Kumar, Education Minister, the two Naga bodies said that such labelling is a dangerous matter. The statement termed the allegations as totally baseless, unconstitutional using “coercive means” which deserves strong condemnations.
It added that the sinister design to create misunderstanding between the NBSE and Naga students is venomous and contemptible. Nevertheless, the UNC and ANSAM asserted that the public support the ongoing Naga-India political process to secure a lasting peace under the collective leadership of NSCN (IM) . However, supporting pea-ce building process does not necessarily mean that Naga public organization are brazenly adhering to the diktat of anyone .
Despite the negative campaigns and coercive threats there is strong confidence that the struggle is in tandem with the deep feeling and genuine aspiration of the Naga people especially the students ‘The pillars of our future’ where the issue at hand with hope , courage and commitment will certainly lead to , “we shall overcome someday”, the statement added.
During the bandh all the shops downed their shutters, vehicles remained off the road and the towns wore a deserted look. The bandh was however relaxed for students, Medical, water supply and electricity.
Tension at the border town Sangai Express
Editorial The simmering tension at Moreh following the dastardly murder of the AMSU Chandel unit president Sunil Agarwal by the KNF (MC) is threatening to spill into a communal stand off between the Kukis on the one hand and the others, particularly the Meiteis on the other side. Nothing can be more dangerous than this. As the mortal remains of the student leader showed, he was subjected to severe torture and was later shot dead by cadres of the KNF (MC). The outfit issued a statement claiming that it was responsible for the killing of the student leader but gave no detailed reason on why he was eliminated. The KNF (MC) merely said that Sunil was killed as he did not heed earlier warnings not to work against the interest of the armed group. What Sunil did to antagonise the KNF (MC) has not been spelt out at all and the outfit has come under the impression that its curt statement should be enough to shut up the voices of protest. That this did not happen is there for all to see as the indefinite bandh at Moreh is still on and with tension rising between different communities, the district administration had to step in an impose an indefinite curfew on the border town. The killing of anyone is abominable enough and the people of Manipur have on more than one occasion made it clear that they would not accept any explanation or charges after someone has been done to death. The case of Sunil Agarwal shows without any doubt that the stand of the people has not been acknowledged with the merit it deserves. The calling card of many underground outfits runs thus-kill and later heap all charges on the victim to justify the killing.
Today Sunil Agarwal is no longer amongst us, but the ghost of his murder continues to haunt not only the people of Moreh but also the conscientious people of the whole State. Today the issue has taken on a larger dimension and what was seen as a protest against the killing of a student leader is threatening to take on a communal tone, if the incident at Moreh during the last few days is anything to go by. This is where caution is extremely needed. The KNF (MC) may represent the Kuki people, but on the other hand it should also be kept in mind that the Kuki people do not represent the KNF (MC). This in effect means that Sunil Agarwal was killed by the KNF (MC) and not by the Kuki people and this reasoning should be the guiding light while dealing the issue by the people on either side. Manipur has seen enough blood shed during the ethnic clash between the Nagas and the Kukis, the Kuki-Paite clash and the communal confrontation between the Meiteis and the Meitei Pangals. At this stage when the State is passing through such a critical phase, communal tension and distrust will do nothing except add to the woes and anguish of the common people. The onus of ensuring that the murder of a student leader does not take on a communal hue rests on all for communal confrontation will not ensure justice.
Rio assured hills MLAs on affiliation: Jendai Staff Reporter Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR AUG 18 (NPN): Chief minister Neiphiu Rio has reportedly assured a team of five Naga MLAs representing the four Naga-inhibited hills districts of Manipur that all efforts would be made towards affiliation of all private schools in the four hills districts to the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE).
The five Naga MLAs including Samuel Jendai, B.D. Behring, Henry Paotei, W. Keishing and Danny Shaiza had earlier met the state chief minister on Thursday and discussed in-depth the affiliation issue. Addressing media persons here at Hotel Saramati on Friday, leader of the five-member team Samuel Jendai said Rio had assured to explore all means to fulfill the affiliation demand, even to the extent of making amendments in the state Educational Act.
The Advocate General, Nagaland, was invited during the meeting to seek his views on the affiliation issue, Jendai said adding one senior official of Lok Sabha has also been invited to examine the same. The state chief minister reportedly informed the MLAs that he would convene a meeting exclusively to talk about the affiliation issue.
Jendai said the team also met the Leader of the Opposition, I. Imkong who reportedly told the Naga MLAs that Congress party would not oppose if the Educational Act is tabled for amendment in relation to the affiliation issue. He said that the Leader of the Opposition was quite positive about the outcome of affiliation issue and reportedly told the team that the Congress would support on the matter. The team leader expressed happiness that they were getting support from all corners, irrespective of party affiliations.
While urging for expedition of the process of affiliation, the MLA urged Nagaland government to work for an early settlement of the affiliation issue for the benefit of all concerned.
The team leader further disclosed that a petition had been submitted to the Union minister for Human Resource Development, as resolved in a meeting of all the Naga MLAs in Manipur on August 3. On relation of affiliation issue to the Naga integration move, Jendai said "Nagas are towards nation building process where unity is needed, all should be united in social, economic and educational aspects - all should be intact".
To another query on the threat by Manipur Government, he said "they can threaten but they cannot put into action".
NPCC clarifies to NSF statement Nagaland Post
Nagaland Post DIMAPUR, AUG 18 (NPN): Taken aback by the statement of Naga Students' Federation (NSF) that the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee (NPCC) and the NSCN-K had misconstrued the affiliation movement for all private schools in the four hills districts of Manipur to Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), the NPCC has clarified that it only highlighted certain difficulties and problems which would arise before and after the affiliation of those schools into NBSE.
The NPCC also said the NSF should not try to brand NPCC with any underground faction.
"Any organization while trying to defend their own stand should not put their thoughts on others mouth," NPCC president Hokheto Sumi said in a press statement.
Reminding the NSF and All Naga Students' Association Manipur (ANSAM) that NPCC had never talked of any threat to job opportunities to Naga students of present state of Nagaland with the affiliation, Hokheto said NPCC had earlier clearly stated that any hasty decision on the issue would lead to misunderstanding between people of the two states.
"The NPCC is of the firm view that any major decision should not be taken hastily but a careful study of the issue is required. The NPCC has even explained the situation to the NSF officials recently at Congress Bhavan," Hokheto added.
He also said NPCC had requested the NBSE to come out openly with the norms and rules if private schools from outside the state were to get affiliation, which, the NPCC president said, had nothing to do with either NSF or ANSAM.
Saying NBSE was yet to come out openly with the norms and rules, the NPCC also said affiliation of private schools to NBSE has first to be permitted by the state government and only after certain years, the schools are recognized and then grant-in-aid granted basing on the performance.
Hokheto said it was in this light NPCC had earlier stated affiliation of outside schools would create more problems to NBSE and added "this problem is being seen even before affiliation."
He also asked if there were to be no complications in granting scholarships, then why should the state government be entrusted with its disbursement by the central government.
Asserting that NPCC had never misconstrued the initiatives for affiliation, Hokheto further said NPCC still stood by its statement that affiliating the private schools of those places would not only lead to misunderstanding between the people of the two states but also divide the students' community of those places and create more problems in the coming days "until we fall under the same administrative umbrella."
It may be mentioned the NSF had earlier, in a press statement, said the NPCC and NSCN-K had "misconstrued" the affiliation movement initiated by the NSF as a move that threatened job opportunities and scholarships for Naga students of present state of Nagaland.
BSF confirms B’desh militants’ role in NE Nagaland Post
SHILLONG, AUG 18 (UNI): The Border Security Force (BSF) today confirmed that a 'strong nexus' between the al-Qaeda, Laskhar-e-Toiba (LeT) and Muslim militants of Bangladesh and in North East India were trying to foment trouble in the North Eastern part of the country.
''We have definite reports of Students Islamic Movement of India and Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam (MULTA) have linkages with Al-Queda and LeT in Bangladesh,'' Inspector General of BSF Jyoti Prakash Sinha told UNI here.
Mr Sinha's statement assumed significance in the backdrop of the recent Mumbai blast especially after security agencies established the SIMI cadre's links with the Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami.
Mr Sinha, who recently took over as the BSF IG In-charge Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur and Nagaland (AMM&N) frontier revealed that the BSF have also established links between SIMI and MULTA with Jamiatia Islamic of Bangladesh, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami.
He said the close understanding between Al-Qaeda, LeT and Muslim militants of Bangladesh and North East India was mainly for forming a ''Greater Bangladesh'' in Indian territory.
The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) with the Directorate General of Forces Intelligence (DGFI), Bangladesh is instigating youths in India to achieve their objective, the IG asserted.
In order to achieve their goal, Mr Sinha said, the militants based in Bangladesh recruited impoverished Muslim youth from Asom and indoctrinated them with Islamic fundamentalism.
''These youths after being indoctrinated are pushed back to India to unleash terror for the creation of a pan Islamic state,'' he said. However, the BSF IG said that adequate steps have been taken to thwart these anti-nationals elements. ''Of late, we have deployed additional troops along the Indo-Bangla border to prevent terrorists sneaking inside the country,'' Mr Sinha said.
Boatmen in Dhubri district of Asom have been instructed to carry the Indian flag on their boats for identification purpose and to check infiltration, he added.
ULFA to halt guerrilla campaign Nagaland Post
GUWAHATI, AUG 18 (PTI): The ULFA today announced a "cessation of hostilities" in Assam for the first time in its 27-year armed campaign for a separate homeland, as the Centre held discussions in the national capital with two key mediators on initiating direct talks with the outlawed group.
In an e-mail message to the media in Guwahati, ULFA chairman Arabindo Rajkhowa said the organisation "respected the Centre's decision to suspend army operations and as a reciprocal gesture has announced cessation of hostilities".
The Centre had on Sunday temporarily suspended army operations against the ULFA in Assam, apparently to pave the way for the direct talks. Rajkhowa hoped the ULFA's decision would bring about a atmosphere conducive to talks with the government. He said the group's decision to stop hostilities was in line with the demands of the people of Assam.
He also warned "evil forces" not to take advantage of the "ceasefire" to malign the organisation. Carrying forward the peace process in Assam, National Security Advisor M K Narayanan and Union Home Secretary V K Duggal held discussions in Delhi with two mediators negotiating on behalf of ULFA -- noted writer Indira Goswami and Rebati Phukan -- on holding direct talks with the group.
Emerging from the talks, Duggal told reporters, "It was a good meeting. It was held on positive lines and we have decided to meet again after a few days." Sounding optimistic, Goswami and Phukan said the two sides reviewed progress made since the last meeting on June 22 between the ULFA-nominated People's Consultative Group and the Centre. The talks were viewed as a precursor to bringing the ULFA to the negotiating table.
Goswami said the Centre's response was good and hoped the issue of the release of five jailed ULFA leaders could figure at the next meeting. Asked about the Centre's response to ULFA's demand for the release of these leaders, Goswami said, "We are hopeful. We have been given some signals that the release may be possible." Reacting to the truce announced by the ULFA, Goswami told PTI, "I am extremely happy. It's a major announcement. I hope the direct talks will be held within a month."
The talks were viewed as a precursor to bringing the ULFA to the negotiating table. Goswami said the Centre's response was good and hoped the issue of the release of five jailed ULFA leaders could figure at the next meeting. Asked about the Centre's response to ULFA's demand for the release of these leaders, Goswami said, "We are hopeful. We have been given some signals that the release may be possible." Reacting to the truce announced by the ULFA, Goswami told PTI, "I am extremely happy. It's a major announcement. I hope the direct talks will be held within a month."
The ULFA was formed in 1979 in the upper Assam town of Sibsagar by a group of men led by Rajkhowa and "commander-in- chief" Paresh Barua.
Remote controlled terror Nagaland Post Editorial
The recent bomb blast in the International Krishna Consciousness complex in Imphal on August 9 is being seen as another instance where the 'hand' of the Pakistani ISI directs or masterminds terror acts through various insurgent outfits. According to a newsreport the Union Home ministry suspects the involvement of the KYKL, which was formed over a decade ago. The suspicion over the involvement of the KYKL stems from reports that the outfit has been indulging in extortions and said to have demanded a hefty amount from the ISKCON's chief priest. Probably the failure in paying the demand led to the incident that left four dead and sixty six injured. The links of the ISI with such outfit come from disclosure made by the IG BSF(North East) Jyoti Prakash Sinha who said the ISI hand is strongly working in tandem with Students Islamic Movement of India(SIMI)cadre and Bangladesh-based Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami. Sinha revealed that the BSF have also established links between SIMI and MULTA with Jamiatia Islamic of Bangladesh, Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Harkat-ul-Jihad Islami.Sinha was specific in alleging that the Students Islamic Movement of India and Muslim United Liberation Tigers of Assam have linkages with Al-Qaeda and LeT in Bangladesh. With several lakh Bangledeshi migrants already spread out to much of the north east region, recruitment and indoctrination among these migrants was not difficult. It may also be noted that the North East Student's Organisation (NESO)had stated that the ISI including Al-Qaeda have set up more than fourteen branches in various parts of the region. With growing sophistication amid mushrooming of various militant outfits in the region, it can be said that ISI has a vast terror network which it funds and remote controls. Indian defence agencies have been stating that Pakistan is involved in abetting terrorism in the proxy war. The base for ISI is believed to be in Bangladesh where various militant outfits of the region are armed and trained in terror warfare. These statements ,that zero in on the 'unseen hand' of the ISI in arming, funding and abetting terrorism in the region establishes the danger of the Trojan horse, ie., the unabated and unchecked influx of Bangladeshi migrants. If fourteen branches of terror networks have already been set up by the ISI in the region, then these must be identified and a suitable response be made. From the pages of recent history, fundamentalist terrorism is no small matter. Those who promote and fund such activities have a definite plan. In the case with the north east, the great design is to create hell for the established governments through militant outfits and then exert indirect control over the territory which the fundamentalist would like and go to any extent and pay whatever it costs to achieve. There is no dearth of money and motive in the whole game plan. As it is, a significant portion of the region is disturbed and if the situation worsens, then it could result in large scale violence. In fact, the entire region is like a powder keg waiting to be ignited through terror networks. Unless the people of the region also realize the danger and are suitably prepared to fight it out, the ISI could well turn the screws through its fourteen branches.
After 27 yrs ULFA announces ceasefire The Morung Express
GUWAHATI, AUGUST 18 (PTI): The United Liberation Front of Asom on Friday announced a ‘cessation of hostilities’ for the first time in its 27-year-old armed campaign for a separate homeland. In an e-mail message to the media in Guwahati, ULFA chairman Arabindo Rajkhowa said the organisation ‘respected the Centre’s decision to suspend army operations and as a reciprocal gesture has announced cessation of hostilities.’ The Centre had on Sunday temporarily suspended all army operations against the ULFA in Assam, apparently to pave the way for direct talks with the outlawed group. Rajkhowa hoped the ULFA’s decision would bring about a atmosphere conducive to talks with the government. However, he warned ‘evil forces’ not to take advantage of the ‘ceasefire’ to malign his organisation.
Kuki armed group commits to the anti-personnel mine ban The Morung Express
Geneva, August 18 (AGENCIES): Awareness and support to Geneva Call’s action in India has made further progress with a second armed Non-State Actor, the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) and its armed wings—the Kuki National Army, the Kuki National Front (Military Council), the Kuki National Front (Zogram), the Zomi Revolutionary Front, the United Socialist Revolutionary Army, the Zou Defence Volunteers, the Hmar National Army and the United Kom Rem Revolutionary Army, committing on August 9 to a total ban on anti-personnel mines by signing Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment (DoC), in the Alabama Room, in the City Hall of Geneva.
Operating in Northeast India and Northwest Burma/Myanmar, the KNO was formed in 1988. Its ideology is based on Zale’n-gam, which relates to the ancestral freedom enjoyed by the Kuki people in their land. In signing the DoC, the KNO has expressed its will to see the use of anti-personnel (AP) mines in the region definitely banned: “The KNO has never used anti-personnel mines” says President P.S. Haokip,
Geneva Call is an international humanitarian organization dedicated to engaging armed Non-State Actors in mine-ban action. It provides a mechanism, complementary to the Convention on the prohibition of the use, stockpiling, production and transfer of anti-personnel mines and on their destruction (the “Ottawa Convention”), which can only be signed by State Actors. To date, with the Kuki National Organization, 31 armed groups have signed the Deed of Commitment.
New Delhi wakes up only to booming guns in northeast! By IANS Saturday August
Guwahati, Aug 19 (IANS) The road to peace in Assam has come one step closer, although the oft-repeated statement that New Delhi wakes up only when the guns boom in the northeast has once again proved right. The outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) late Friday announced a truce in response to the central government's decision Aug 14 to suspend military operations against it for 10 days. This is the first time the ULFA has offered to halt its guerrilla campaign since the outfit was formed by five radical youths 27 years ago in 1979 at the Rangghar, an 18th century amphitheatre of the Ahom royalty in eastern Assam's Sivasagar district. With both New Delhi and the rebels making the right moves to scale back offensives and jump-start the peace process, there is an air of fresh hope in Assam for a breakthrough in the dragging insurgency.
Former tribal guerrilla leader and present Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has gone on record saying that the rise in insurgency in the northeast is not without reason.
'The only language New Delhi listens to is the language of rebellion, and so there is this language of revolt in the region. The government wakes up when the guns boom,' Zoramthanga told IANS in an interview earlier this year. His words have turned prophetic. New Delhi made a snap decision to offer a unilateral truce to the ULFA on Aug 14. Exploratory talks have been going on between the central government and ULFA representatives for some time, the last round having been held June 22 in New Delhi with a call for restraint by both sides.
The ULFA had been lying low for 45 days after the third round of talks, hoping for the release of five of its jailed leaders to pave the way for direct talks between the rebel leadership and New Delhi. The centre took the ULFA's silence as a possible weakness and slept over the issue, making no moves to push forward the peace process. Instead, security forces killed 16 ULFA cadres in separate offensives.
The move backfired and the ULFA counter-attacked a week before Independence Day with a wave of bombings, killing a dozen people and wounding about 60. The spurt in rebel violence shook New Delhi and despite the string of explosions the central government sprang a surprise by announcing to halt all military operations against the ULFA for 10 days as a 'goodwill gesture'.
And this is where Zoramthanga's words have come true. The central government should not try to drag the peace process and think of tiring out the rebels - such a move could boomerang. It is time the government played a proactive role and released the five ULFA leaders from jail to kick-start the peace talks. The ULFA cannot backtrack now as it would invite the wrath and ire of the Assamese people who want peace in the state. The government could well take the Assamese people as a guarantee for releasing the ULFA leaders from jail as the rebel outfit cannot sustain without either the covert or overt support from the common people. And if the ULFA tries to play a game it could be a nail in its coffin. Similarly if New Delhi tries to drag on, the Assamese people would get further alienated from the mainstream - a reality that New Delhi should never ignore. The first priority now is to begin direct peace talks and break the ice.
ULFA representatives to hold talks in New Delhi By IANS Friday August
Guwahati, Aug 18 (IANS) Representatives of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) are meeting Indian government officials in New Delhi to discuss the outfit's stand on the suspension of military operations last week.
A two-member team of civil society leaders chosen by the ULFA to begin talks will meet National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan and Home Secretary V.K. Duggal at the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) at 6 p.m. Friday. 'We are meeting the two officials with a view to smoothen the peace process. One of my colleagues, Rebati Phukan, has come from Guwahati and he is carrying some message from ULFA,' Indira Goswami, a noted Assamese writer and sought by the ULFA to mediate for the talks, told IANS over telephone from New Delhi.
The ULFA, which is fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, is yet to formally respond to New Delhi's snap decision Aug 14 to halt anti-insurgency operations against the outfit for 10 days.'We are always positive although I cannot say for sure what message my colleague is carrying with him from ULFA,' Goswami said.
Local media reports quoted an unnamed ULFA leader as saying that the outfit had 'positively responded' to the government suspension of military operations. 'We have decided to suspend all operations by our 28th battalion,' the ULFA leader was quoted as saying.
The 28th battalion of ULFA is believed to be the main unit whose cadres were responsible for a wave of bombings in the run-up to Independence Day that killed at least a dozen people and wounded 60. There is no independent confirmation to the media reports about ULFA's decision to respond to the government's 'goodwill gesture' of suspending security operations.
'We shall be seeking the release of five jailed ULFA leaders during our meeting so that the outfit is able to hold direct talks with the government,' Goswami said.Talks between the government and ULFA representatives began in October last year but have not yielded any breakthrough. A group of 11 civil society leaders in the region - collectively called the People's Consultative Group (PCG) - welcomed the halt in military operations and said they hoped the talks would now move forward. 'We are very optimistic that the peace process would be productive,' said Goswami, who heads the PCG.
Time to study the cause of conflict Nagarealm.com
The Sumi Hoho, an apex body of the Sumis took a bold initiative to bring the warring NSCN factions to enter into ceasefire between them at least in Nagaland's Zunheboto district.
The ceasefire was declared on June 14 last but soon after the declaration of the truce, the NSCN-IM Supremo Isak Chishi Swu nullified it charging the rival group of browbeating his people while singing the truce, besides assassination bid while returning to their base. The Sumi Hoho has, however, denied the charges and still urging the NSCN-IM to observe the ceasefire in the district. Earlier too, the Sumi Hoho tried to neutralize factional fights in the district but failed, although their concerted efforts had been widely appreciated by people across tribal lines. We also saw a historic Naga reconciliation initiated by the Naga Hoho in December 2002 at Kohima Local Ground with hundreds of prominent Naga leaders including national workers attending it. Ruefully, this too did not work because the spirit of “forgive and forget” proliferated by the Hoho failed to motivate those people.

In every relationship you are involved in, it’s inevitable that something will happen in the relationship that will cause you to be upset with the other person or the other person will be upset with you. We have often heard the expression of the “forgive and forget” but we believe that “forgive and forget” doesn’t serve you. We believe that in most cases, we really don’t forget and here’s why. Have we even had the feeling that the harder we try to “forget” something, the more we end up focusing on it. If someone says to us, “Don’t think of the color black,” “Don’t think of the color black” “Don’t think of the color black,” no matter how hard we try, we probably can’t stop visualizing or thinking about the color black.

The same thing happens when we try to “forget” a negative situation that has an emotional charge to it. No mater how hard we try, we can’t seem to do it. We believe that instead of forgiving and forgetting, we have to forgive and let go. Many people write to us wanting to know how they can forgive when they have been wronged---a friend cheated on them; they’ve been abused in one way of another; or maybe their feelings have been hurt and they don’t feel loved or valued.

What we have found is that the process of healing a relationship requires more than forgiveness. We must also let go. But let go of what? In many cases, when we are having a different time forgiving someone, we are holding on to an attachment of some kind or another. The attachment most commonly manifest themselves in the need to be justified, the need to be honored, the need to be right, the need to be vindicated, the desire for revenge, and the inability to move past fear.

So when we are holding onto an attachment, what we are actually doing is holding onto a position which is serving us in some way but it is not moving us forward in healing the relationship.

I have been attending number of seminars for conflict resolutions and how to bring conflicting groups to the same platform and the process of healing between them. Most of the time, we have seen many prominent NGO leaders, public leaders, politicians and rights activists attending such seminars. There have been hate campaigns in many parts of the world, but such situations had also brought under control through series of conflict resolutions and healing processes. In our case too, it is no different and certainly we need conflict resolution professionals to intervene the crises. They will analyze and offer their expertise to individuals, organizations, and Government suffering from disputes they can not settle on their own.

It is very unfortunate that the State which is considered as the only Christian State with hundreds of Reverends and Pastors fail to neutralize this conflict for decades. Unlike the past, the leaders of the underground organizations today started summoning even Reverends to testify their integrity and stand on the Naga cause. It is time to study as to why one group accepts, while another rejects them. [Oken Jeet Sandham, KOL]
ULFA hails truce by Centre By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Aug 18 : In a significant development the ULFA today welcomed the Centre’s decision to suspend Army operations against it. In a press statement, ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa today said that the ULFA “respected the Centre’s decision to suspend Army operations and hoped that the decision to stop hostilities would pave the way for talks as desired by the people of Asom at this juncture.” The ULFA leader reiterated his organization’s commitment towards fulfilling the long-standing aspirations of peace as wished by the people of the State, and said that his organization would appropriately reciprocate the positive gesture shown by the Centre. Rajkhowa further hoped that the fulfilment of the demand for releasing the five top leaders of the outfit would pave the way for direct talks with the Centre. He further warned “evil forces” not to disrupt the positive developments in the peace process. Rajkhowa hoped that the decision of the ULFA would bring about a conducive atmosphere for talks with the Government.
Former Chief Minister Prafulla Mahanta welcomed the decision of the banned outfit by saying that after a long time the State is on the verge of witnessing a peaceful solution to the 27-year-long problem. He also called upon the Centre to grab the positive signals emanating from the ULFA. Former minister Rekharani Das Boro has also welcomed the decision of the ULFA.
DATELINE Guwahati/Wasbir Hussain
Insurgency, terrorism and the middle path Sentinel
Insurgency’, if one looks up at the dictionary, means rebellion, revolution or uprising. And ‘terrorism’ stands for violence, intimidation or a terror campaign. There are other perceptible differences between the two—while insurgency is supposed to be pursued by groups that have certain ideological moorings, and whose fighters are generally selective about their targets of attacks, terrorism is nothing but a campaign of terror, often systematic and violent, used by its perpetrators to achieve a certain objective.
A State can negotiate on an insurgency. There are enough examples in India, particularly in the North-east, where the State has negotiated with insurgent groups and brought about acceptable solutions, bringing the curtains down on many such insurrections. There can be no negotiation on terrorism, for terrorists do not believe in the middle path. Taking into account this rather broad and simplistic context, I can say today that the ULFA is not a terrorist group. Therefore, I differ with that section of people, however small, who are against a ‘soft approach’ towards the ULFA or who are against the very idea of talking peace with the group.
There can be zero tolerance on terrorism, for such brands of violence are not always home-grown. But, it is difficult to pursue a zero tolerance policy towards an insurgency simply because those leading such an armed movement are men or women who are part of the local society itself. If the Government of India has been patient with different varieties of insurgencies in the North-east for decades now, it is because of this realisation that these are actually political problems, requiring a political solution. If the solution would have been militaristic, groups like the ULFA would not have continued to be a potent force sixteen years after a near-sustained military operation.
But what happens when an insurgent group veers from its usually expected path and indulges in random attacks in which innocent people are hit? It is then that such groups should carry out self-introspection, revise its strategy, and listen to the voice of the masses or the civil society. What has been most heartening in recent weeks, when the ULFA stepped up its violence ahead of Independence Day, was the condemnation of all forms of violence by the PCG, a panel hand-picked by the ULFA. By that one statement, the PCG has managed to shake off charges that it was only condemning the offensive by security forces and remaining silent on the violence by the ULFA in which innocent people got hit. The bottomline in any insurgency theatre is that the two warring sides must ensure that non-combatants are not targeted.
Twenty seven years is a long time for a rebel organisation or its leaders to acquire the wisdom of realpolitik. The ULFA leaders, I am sure, would not like to go down in history as a bunch of trigger-happy men, but would like to appear as leaders who, through their movement and political negotiations, could considerably change Asom’s course. New Delhi has taken an initiative by suspending Army operations in Asom for ten days. It is not too much to expect the ULFA to come up with a positive response. No one is expecting the ULFA to sit for talks with the Government within these ten days, but a positive signal is certainly expected by all.
Setting five detained ULFA leaders free is neither a big issue, nor is such a thing unprecedented. In fact, the Government will have to think out of the box and take radical initiatives for peace. But for that to happen, the ULFA must also demonstrate its ability to reciprocate in clear terms. As I have said in the past, the need of the hour for both the Government and the ULFA is to speak of unconditional talks. When two sides meet, lot of things can be placed on the table and discussed. And I firmly believe that a solution could actually be found in the arguments that the ULFA may have in support of its demands.