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08/23/2006: "Congress trying to sabotage pol dialogue’ Congress attitude is inviting violence in the State: Rio Our Correspondent Kohima August 22 The Morung Express"


Congress trying to sabotage pol dialogue’ Congress attitude is inviting violence in the State: Rio Our Correspondent Kohima | August 22 The Morung Express
State Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today charged the Opposition Congress of attempting to sabotage the ongoing political dialogue and blamed the latter of inviting violence to the State. Citing various instances as a proof, the Chief Minister pointed out that Congress had tried to sabotage the peace process on several occasions. He said Congress’ refusal to partake in the Joint Legislator Peace Committee, which was initiated by the Assembly Speaker, is a clear case. He also brought in the infamous Congress booklet, ‘Bedrock of Naga Society’ to substantiate his point.
"We cannot allow Congress to fool the Nagas anymore. The Congress attitude is inviting violence in the State", Rio said, while replying to a starred question in the first day of the Monsoon Session of Assembly.
Clarifying his earlier statement on the interim agreement, Rio said that if the dialogue is finding so difficult to move ahead, interim agreement should be worked out so that the situation of 1950s and 1960s doesn’t return to the state.
"If settlement cannot come immediately now interim arrangement should be made so that dialogue does not fail and people are protected from repetition of the past ordeal", Rio stated in the Assembly today. The Chief Minister also admitted that 9 years have passed but till date talks are inconclusive, but he said the DAN government does not want people to undergo the same suffering like in the past.
"Are we prepared to face the same situation if talks fail? Our desire is peace", Rio asserted.
Irked by the Chief Minister remark that the Congress is trying to sabotage the political talks, and invite bloodshed to the state, Opposition Leader I Imkong demanded on floor of the house that the Chief Minister substantiate his allegation and the matter be debated in full. However, the speaker pacified the issue after he assured members that the Chief Minister statement would be re-examined.
‘Bedrock of Naga Society’ also surfaced in the discussion as Rio used the booklet to prove his allegation that the Congress is attempting to sabotage the political dialogue. "I was against the booklet, there is prove to this. That is why I quit Congress" Rio said, while trying to defend himself from the Opposition charge that he was also part of the booklet. He also cited various initiatives taken by his government like the formation of CCP, equi-closeness policy and facilitator role of DAN government to prove their support for the ongoing peace process.
Replying to a starred question raised by Congress MLA KV Pusa if the Indo-Naga political settlement is leading towards another interim Agreement, Home Minister Thenucho said that the dialogue is going on between the Government of India and NSCN-IM and talk is inconclusive. Thenucho also disclosed that as per the communication send by the Centre to the State in the recent past, the Government of India might review the ceasefire agreement with both the NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K.
NSCN (K) to spare `innocent` Tangkhuls from quit notice The Imphal Free Press

Kohima, Aug 21 : Close on the heels of issuing "Quit Notice" to the Tangkhuls in Nagaland, the NSCN-K said none of the innocent Tangkhuls would be targeted except the criminals - "bloodthirsty people."

The NSCN-K Ato Kilonser (Prime Minister) Kitovi Zhimomi said the Council of Kilonsers had issued "Quit Notice" to the Tangkhuls living in Nagaland State but no innocent Tangkhuls would be targeted as this would aggravate the situation and that the organization would not like to fan the flames of fragile situation of the State.

The NSCN-K leader said they did not want to hurt the innocent souls who had done nothing wrong to the society in anyway and that the cadres would make all efforts not to commit mistake on the innocent Tangkhuls. However, he did ask the innocent Tangkhuls to take all precautionary measures to avoid any mistaken identity while carrying out operation against the "criminal Tangkhuls." "We will not commit mistake on innocent Tangkhuls, however they should take precautionary measures" said the NSCN-K chief.

He was of the view that if the innocent Tangkhuls could shift to safer places to avoid unintentional mistake, even though the NSCN-K would see that no blunder is committed upon the innocents.

Kitovi also said his organization was for peace and unity amongst the Nagas, but "unfortunately" there were some section of people who often rejected such formula and this had aggravated the situation in the Naga society. He further stated the outfit could not remain ideal while the NSCN-IM continued to kill them. And hence the recent decision of Council of Kilonsers was to retaliate such force inimical to the Naga society, he added.

Earlier, the NSCN-K issued a "Quit Notice" to Tangkhuls living in Nagaland from August 17 alleging that they were masterminding terrorism in the State. It further maintained that the Nagas had for a along time borne the brunt and cruelty of the "Tangkhuls" responsible for "masterminding terrorism" against the NSCN-K and the innocent Nagas.

However, several pro-NSCN-IM groups from several countries have come out strongly against such diktat and accused the NSCN-K of being used by inimical to Naga political struggle for self-determination and to sabotage the ongoing political dialogue between the Government of India and the NSCN-IM, Kitovi stated.

NSCN-IM slaps Rs.5 mn demand on IndianOil in Manipur India E-news.com
Wednesday, August 23rd, 2006 Imphal - Fear has gripped Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) officials in Manipur following a Rs.5 million extortion demand from a tribal separatist group, leading to tankers staying away and dipping fuel stocks in the northeastern state.
A Manipur government official said militants of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) served the whopping demand to the Imphal-based Assam Oil Division of the state-owned IOC.
‘According to reports, the NSCN-IM had set Aug 20 as the deadline for payment of the extortion money. The IOC, however, refused to pay,’ said the official, who wished not to be identified.
‘The extortion demand and the subsequent threats by the NSCN-IM have forced many IOC officials in Imphal to move to safer areas fearing reprisal. Tanker drivers carrying petrol and diesel have also stopped coming to Manipur,’ he said. All essentials reach Manipur from Assam and other Indian states via Nagaland.
A senior IOC personnel added: ‘Tankers carrying oil from Assam have stopped going to Manipur for the past 10 days out of fear. Non-payment of the extortion money has fuelled fears that the NSCN-IM might attack the tankers while it crosses Nagaland on way to Manipur.’
Fuel stocks in Manipur are fast drying up and according to officials it could last for another week. The Manipur government has urged New Delhi to sort out the extortion demand with the NSCN-IM. There is no immediate reaction available from the NSCN-IM. The NSCN-IM is currently operating a ceasefire with New Delhi with both sides engaged in peace talks. Although the NSCN-IM is dominant in the adjoining Nagaland state, it also exercises influence in the bordering areas of Manipur.
Naga MPs lead chorus against ‘Quit Notice’ ‘Threat culture against tenets of Naga unity’ The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 22 (MExN): The United Naga Council (UNC) along with the Naga Women’s Union, Manipur (NWUM), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR South) has stated that it considered the "recent emergence of threat culture as totally against the process of Naga unity and is antithetical to the spirit of our common struggle towards our united vision".
This joint statement was issued against the background of ‘quit notice’ served by the NSCN (K) to the Tangkhul community recently through the local media. "The strategy of selective branding and targeting of a community falls within the larger stratagem of the dominant powers ‘cut and clear’ tactic to weaken the Naga struggle for self – determination", the joint statement issued by four organizations stated.
While pointing out that it was astonishing for any Naga struggle group to make allegations against "another as ‘terrorist’ which similarly falls within the same propaganda wave of the subjugating powers", the organizations stated that this would endanger the collective peoples’ struggle, leading towards a self-annihilatory process besides projecting the peoples’ movement negatively to the wider international community.
"The Naga public should jointly voice out against promotion of such culture of hatred and intolerance but progressively work together with increasing understanding and goodwill for the fulfillment of our aspiration", it stated and appealed to all Naga political groups to maintain restraint, rationality and courageously work with a united purpose to usher in healing and lasting peace in our homeland.
Naga MPs appeal to NSCN (K) The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 22 (MExN): Four Naga Parliamentarians have in a signed statement pointed out that they were "saddened beyond words" to learn about the Quit Notice served to the Tangkhuls to leave Nagaland State by August 17, 2006 as issued bt the NSCN (K). "We consider the notice unfortunate, unwise and against the interest of the Naga people", stated Rishang Keishing, MP, Rajya Sabha, Manipur; Wangyuh Konyak, MP, Lok Sabha, Nagaland; T.R Zeliang, MP, Rajya Sabha, Nagaland and Mani Charenamei, MP, Lok Sabha, Manipur in a signed statement issued from New Delhi. The four MPs have therefore appealed to the leaders of the NSCN (K) to reconsider their stand in the interest of Naga unity and integrity and also urged the Nagaland government, the leading NGOs to take up all precautionary measures so that no single drop of innocent blood is shed due to the quit notice.
Tangkhul Hoho, Nagaland plea to withdraw ‘Quit Notice’ The Morung Express
Dimapur, August 22 (MExN): The Nagaland chapter of the Tangkhul Hoho has expressed great shock and dismay over the recent ‘Quit Notice’ issued by NSCN (K), which appeared in the local dailies on August 17. In a release issued by the Secretary of the Tangkhul Hoho, Nagaland, the Hoho stated that they treat their brothers from the NSCN (K) as part of their family and they respect them being national workers. They further appealed to the NSCN (K) to revoke the said ‘Quit Notice’ delivered to Tangkhuls in Nagaland for the interest of peace and unity amongst the Nagas. The Hoho has also expressed great anguish over the unfortunate and unwanted factional clashes and prayed for immediate end of warfare. The Hoho assured on behalf of its members that the Tangkhuls residing in Nagaland are peace loving citizens, yearning for peace and unity without prejudice or favoritism to any particular organization and felt that there is no reason in issuing the said ‘Quit Notice’ upon them.
Revoke quit notice, NISC to NSCN (K) The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 22 (MExN): In the backdrop of reports of the NSCN (K) issuing a quit notice to the Tangkhul tribe and the former severing its ties with civil organizations like Naga Hoho, NSF, NPMHR and others, the Amsterdam based Naga International Support Center (NISC) has vehemently denounced what it termed as "discriminatory behavior".
The NISC called on the Khaplang Group "to not only revoke its ludicrous quit notice, but to rejoin the Naga family and to come and reconcile on the basis of open discussions to resolve old disputes. I am sure Nagas are well aware that communication creates chances to straighten out differences ", the NISC stated in a press communiqué.
The NISC stated that to describe the Tangkhuls as a criminal tribe and declaring all of them to vacate Nagaland was "a dictatorial act, an act of racism too".
"To haughtily and unsubstantially smear a particular tribe and the civil organizations who stand for the rights of the Nagas as whole is much more than an act of vindictiveness or of jealousy, it is an act of overindulgent arrogance based on nothing more than the fear of losing support", the NISC stated.
The NISC also alleged that it was "well known of the support the K Group receives from the Indian Government. If you dare Khaplang Group then reveal what is your real vision, policy and agenda, it stated while asking whether it was "to settle old scores brutally over the backs of all Nagas?; to get support for just Nagaland State to get some kind of autonomy?".
Assembly to wait for Delhi’s response on affiliation The Morung Express Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 22
Although the issue of affiliation of all private schools from four Naga districts of Manipur state to NBSE did surface in the 12th Nagaland Legislative Assembly session, which began today, both the ruling DAN government and Opposition Congress unanimously agreed to wait for the response of the Union Ministry of Human Resource Development before making any concrete decision on the issue.
Replying to starred questions raised by Congress MLA Taka Masa Ao on the issue, State Chief Minister and the Leader of the House Neiphiu Rio said that the government delegation would leave for Delhi after the assembly session to study the mind of the central leaders.
Rio said that the team would be led by him and would meet Prime Minister, Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi, MHRD Minister Arjun Singh and other key central leaders and press upon them to expedite the affiliation process at the earliest, so that the career of the students are not hampered. "We are going to express our actual position to them on the issue and then we will come and discuss how to go about it", Rio told the Opposition members during question hour.
Rio also made it clear on the floor of the house that there is documentary evidence to proof that the Meiteis are imposing their script on the Naga students in Manipur which is totally unacceptable to the Nagas.
Rio said on the floor of the house that state government would know how to go about only after meeting the central leaders. State Minister for School Education Imkong L Imkong also reiterated that Nagaland Government has no objection to the proposal for affiliation to NBSE if the Centre permits. He also said that decision of the state government was communicated to the MHRD and the latter is examining the issue. Contesting Rio allegations that the NPCC and CLP were trading contradictory statements on the affiliation issue, Leader of Opposition I. Imkong said that there is no difference between the two bodies of the Congress, however, stated that the NPCC asserting that the DAN government should go slow on the issue is only reminding the latter to be more responsible as the issue involves many complications. Imkong had earlier said that the Congress would support the issue if it was discussed in the Assembly.
Empowered committee to protect unique Naga polity The Morung Express
KOHIMA, AUGUST 22 (DIPR): State Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio said that constitution of a Standing Committee of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly is being proposed to fully give effect to the special provisions contained under Article 371 –A (1) (a) of the Indian Constitution. This was stated by the Chief Minister on the first day of the Twelfth Session of the House today at Kohima. Moving a resolution for the same, Neiphiu Rio stated that the state government endeavours to uphold the Naga dignity and honour through such an ‘empowered’ committee. The Committee would scrutinize acts of Parliament including amendment of Constitution for application to State of Nagaland under Article 371 – A (1) (a) of the Constitution.
Neiphiu Rio stated that the history of Nagaland is unique, particularly the history of its evolution as a state in the Union of India.
The Chief Minister noted that Article 371 – A, more particularly Clause (1) (a) is a fundamental Constitutional law regulating the special federal relations between the State and the Union. Parliament has since passed several Acts in the past with none of them being scrutinised by the State Government for knowing their impact on Article 371-A (1) (a). He also said that so far the state does not have any mechanism to identify those Acts of Parliament that shall not be applied to the State of Nagaland. The Standing Committee would be constituted for the whole tenure of each Assembly, through a provision in the Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Legislative Assembly, for scrutinizing and reporting upon the existing Acts of Parliament that may be made from time to time. It would include Acts of Parliament amending the Constitution of India to see if those Acts of Parliament impinge on any of the subjects listed under Article 371 – A (1) (a).
The Standing Committee may recommend to the State Legislature those Acts of Parliament which may be applicable to the state of Nagaland by following the procedures outlined in the said constitutional provision.
Quit notice worries Naga pol leaders Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 22: "We the Naga Parliamentarians are saddened beyond words when we learnt about the 'quit notice' served to Tangkhuls to leave Nagaland State within August 17, 2006 by the NSCN (K)," said a joint statement issued by MPs Rishang Keishing (Rajya Sabha, Manipur), Mani Charenamei (Lok Sabha, Manipur), TR Zeliang (Rajya Sabha, Nagaland) and Wangyuh Konyak (Lok Sabha, Nagaland) today.
describing the quit notice as unfortunate and against the interest of the Naga people, the MPs appealed to the NSCN (K) leaders to reconsider their stand in the interest of Naga unity and integrity. They also urged the Nagaland Govt, NGOs and all concerned to take up precautionary measures so that 'not a single drop of blood is shed due to the Quit Notice'.
Ukhrul students launch postcard campaign John K. Kaping Kangla

Ukhrul, Aug. 22: Under the banner of the All Naga Students` Association Manipur (ANSAM) with a code-name " Post card Plebisite drive", the private schools students in Ukhrul district are massively signing their names and addresses from standard V111-X sending SOS letter to the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh through post cards of their common commitment to affiliation to the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education.

The Post card addressed to the PM of India says, "through this post card the undersigned join my fellow Naga Students to urge you to recognize our right to education of our choice and to respect our desire for a common educational syllabus for united division. I therefore earnestly entreat you to kindly grant concent for affiliation of our schools to the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE).

It can be noted that in Ukhrul Head quarter alone around 36 private institutions in the early part of may last have started applying NBSE text books from standard V111-X and the students are now appearing their first examination with the NBSE syllabus for the first time in Ukhrul. Some schools students are facing acute shortage of the NBSE text book of the Optional subject as the text books are brought by the NSF and ANSAM from Nagaland, according to some of the Ukhrul private schools principals.

Naga MPs saddened at `quit notice` The Imphal Free Press Kangla

IMPHAL, Aug 22: Naga Parliamentarians of both Manipur and Nagaland have expressed anguish over the Quit Notice served by the NSCN(K) to Tangkhuls to leave Nagaland.

In a joint statement, Manipur MPs Rishang Keishing (RS), Mani Charenamei (LS), and Nagaland MPs Wangyuh Konyak (LS) and TR Zeliang (RS) said they were saddened beyond words by the NSCN(K)`s quit notice.

`We consider the notice unfortunate, unwise, and against the interest of the Naga people`, the joint statement said.

The MPs appealed to the leaders of the NSCN(K) to reconsider their stance in the interest of Naga unity and integrity. They also urged the Nagaland government and all leading NGOs to take up all precautionary measures so that not a single drop of innocent blood is shed due to the Quit Notice.\
Affiliation issue dominates ‘Question Hour’ Correspondent Nagaland Post
Kohima, Aug 22 (NPN): The issue of granting NBSE affiliation to all private schools in the four Naga-inhabited hill districts of Manipur dominated the Question Hour of the first day of twelfth session of 10th Nagaland Legislative Assembly, which began here on Tuesday.
Intervening in the debate, Assembly Speaker Kiyanilie Peseyie urged the members to await the decision of Union Ministry of Human Resources Development.
Earlier, School Education Minister Imkong L Imchen said the State government had no objection to the proposal of affiliation if the Government of India permits. The decision of the State government has been communicated to the MHRD on July 27 and the matter is under examination, the minister said while replying to a stated question from Congress legislator Taka Masa Ao. Raising supplementary question, Taka Masa said affiliation was a serious constitutional and genuine human issue. He wanted to know from the government if it had approached the Manipur government for "no objection" for affiliation of the schools to NBSE.
Pointing out complications after affiliation, NPF legislator, K. Therie, asked as to who would bear the expenditure of conducting examinations and other liabilities. Congress legislator K.V. Pusa also wanted to know as to how many schools of the four hill districts had sought for affiliation to the NBSE and the student enrolled in those schools. Another Congress legislator Subongmeren urged the government to take up the affiliation issue diplomatically and sincerely and to take the confidence of Council of Board of Secondary Education (COBSE). Congress member, C. Apok Jamir, wanted to know if any school from Naga inhabited areas of other states, apart from Manipur, had applied for affiliation to the NBSE.
NLA Standing Committee to uphold Naga dignity: Rio Nagaland Post

KOHIMA: Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Tuesday told the State Assembly that constitution of a Standing Committee of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly was being proposed to fully give effect to the special provisions contained under Article 37 -A (1) (a) of the Indian Constitution.
Moving a resolution for the purpose on the first day of the 12th Session of the House at Kohima, Rio said the State Government was trying to uphold the Naga dignity and honour through such an "empowered" committee. The Committee would scrutinize acts of Parliament, including amendment of the Constitution for application to State of Nagaland under Article 371 - A (1) (a) of the Constitution.
"The history of Nagaland is unique, particularly the history of its evolution as a state in the Union of India," he said.
The Chief Minister noted that Article 371 - A, more particularly Clause (1) (a), was a fundamental Constitutional law regulating the special federal relations between the State and the Union. Parliament has since passed several Acts in the past with none of them being scrutinised by the State Government for knowing their impact on Article 371-A (1) (a), he said. He also said so far the state did not have any mechanism to identify those Acts of Parliament that shall not be applied to the State of Nagaland.
The Standing Committee would be constituted for the whole tenure of each Assembly through a provision in the Rules and Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Legislative Assembly for scrutinizing and reporting upon the existing Acts of Parliament that may be made from time to time. It would include Acts of Parliament amending the Constitution of India to see if those Acts of Parliament impinge on any of the subjects listed under Article 371 - A (1) (a).
The Standing Committee may recommend to the State Legislature those Acts of Parliament which may be applicable to the state of Nagaland by following the procedures outlined in the said constitutional provision. Intervening in the matter, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio admitted that the matter was very complicated and delicate. However, he told the House that since education is in the concurrent list of Constitution of India, the proposal could be implemented in case the Manipur government does not have any reservation.
Earlier, the State cabinet in its first discussion on the matter endorsed the proposal. But in the second discussion, it agreed that the matter was complicated and decided to first meet central leaders including the Prime Minister, Union Minister of HRD and Union Home Minister to pursue the matter. In this regard, a delegation from the State, to be led by the Chief Minister himself, will leave for Delhi by August-end.
The State cannot remain a mute spectator when the fate of more than 50,000 Naga students is at stake, Rio said. He also told the House that after his meeting with NSF and ANSAM leaders, it was amply clear with documental evidences that there was a cultural invasion into the minority Naga society in the present state of Manipur.
NSCN-IM demands Rs 50 lakh from IOC Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, Aug 22 – The National Socialist Council of Nagalim-IM has demanded Rs 50 lakh from the Assam Oil Division of state-run Indian Oil Corporation, creating panic among its employees in the state, official sources said here today, reports PTI. The NSCN-IM, which is engaged in peace talks with the Centre, had set August 20 as the deadline for payment of the money, the sources said.
As the firm did not pay the money, most IOC officials living in official quarters at Assam Oil Division’s oil depot at Chingmeirong in Imphal had left due to fear, they said. They said the Manipur Government had informed the Centre about the demand made by the NSCN-IM.

Official reports said the stock of petrol and other petroleum products in the state would last about 10 days from today, because oil tankers had stopped bringing oil to the state for the past few weeks. Most drivers have refused to drive oil tankers along the National Highway 39 that links Imphal to Guwahati for the past few weeks as they feared action by the NSCN-IM, which has exerted pressure on IOC to meet its demand, reports said.

NSCN(IM) cadres violating Tml truce: NSCN(K) The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Aug 22: The NSCN(K) has appealed to all the cadres of the rival NSCN(IM) in the Zeliangrong region not cheat each other which may provoke unnecessary fear and panic to the people.

In a statement, the GRPN Zeliangrong Region of NSCN(K) appeals cadres of the rival faction not to resort any kind of violence in Tamenglong so as secure the well being of the people.

Claiming that their cadres were given instruction to abide by the understanding in good faith, the NSCN(K) said the cadres of the rival group violated the understanding and attacked their cadres in Tousem subdivision of Tamenglong district on August 18.

The outfit also claimed that another fighting between the rival cadres ensued on August 21 at Old Mandu village to flush out cadres of NSCN(IM) from the area.

The outfit also appealed to the NSCN(IM) not to continue interfering in the internal affairs of the Zeliangrong people saying it cannot be tolerated at all as all the traditional cultural and customary practices of the Zeliangrong people have been discriminated and trampled flatly due to intrusion of NSCN(IM) cadres.

‘Ouit notice’ flayed- Nagaland Post
The Pochury Region rejects in the sternest term the re-cent issue of 'Quit Notice' to the Tangkhul tribe from Nagalim by the Khaplang group. Such deviation into the enemy's policy is the reflection of their desperation at the threshold of Indo-Naga peace process led by the NSCN to expedite a solution to end to the protracted Indo-Naga political conflict.
In the sixties when the Indo-Naga peace talks were underway under the leadership of the Sema tribe, the narrow minded notion that the talks were under the stewardship of a tribe served the fertile ground of seeds of distrust. Overcastted by 'tribalism complexity', adverse forces permeated divisive barriers that overtook all good sense of positive sacrifices and contributions, which resulted in the consequent collapse of peace. This led to the alienation of the torch bearers of the Naga freedom movement during its time.
India tried to settle the Naga issue through a suppressed coercive surrendered agreement known as the infamous Shillong Accord in 1975 but failed, and the Naga people movement continued. After decades of resistance against aggression, India realizing the futility of military solution agreed to diplomatic political negotiations and so talks are underway to find an amicable lasting solution today.
We have suffered much loss by falling prey to the enemy's policy to undermine our inalienable rights to live as a people, in the course of our struggle. Today also, like the past, Nagas should not succumb to the policy of our enemies to keep the Naga people divided, so that our aspirations are subdued and we remain disintegrated. The seeds of isms will not be allowed to grow in our nation for we cannot be swayed again by divisive elements that brought us enough losses hitherto. God created us as people with our identity on our land and no force on earth can change that. The Nagas live collectively in our land and have collectively fought for our rights as a people.
It should be understood that no individual, tribe or group can disown Nagas out of our land at any stage of time, for the work of God cannot be changed either by humans or by Him for he created it to be that way. If one possesses the wrong notion of excluding a Naga from the Naga family, he rather is excluding himself out of the Naga family. The Pochury Region declares to all that S.S Maj. Kurchu of Tisari region as acting chairman, Pochury region of Khaplang group who signed the 'quit notice' does not represent or whole voice of the Pochury people. As such, the quit notice is rejected and he is also advised to change his foolish mindset. The Pochury region, GPRN will not permit any anti-Naga activity under our jurisdiction and warn that stern action will be taken against the guilty. The Pochury region also declares our all out staunch opposition against divisive forces throughout Nagalim. The Nagas had been lured blind into the antagonists' policy of divisive schemes to undermine the Naga aspiration that has inherited much loss and sufferings thus far. Hence, such elements will not be given the chance again and the unity and integrity of the Naga family will survive against all odds.
K. A. Pochury, Central Administration Officer, Pochury region, GPRN.
Naga Govt resolution to scrutinize Parliamentary Acts Sentinel
KOHIMA, Aug 22 (PTI): After 43 years of formation of the State, Nagaland Government today moved a resolution in Assembly seeking constitution of a house committee to scrutinize various Acts passed by Parliament under the article 371(a) of the Constitution.
Article 371(a) under which Nagaland was formed in 1963 provides special Constitution provisions to safeguard the tribal states ensuring that no Acts passed by Paliament will be applicable to Nagaland unless those are passed by the State Assembly.
Moving the motion, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, on opening day of the current monsoon session of the House, said as the history of evolution of Nagaland State was unique, the Government sought constitution of a standing committee of legislative assembly for scrutinizing the application of Acts passed by Parliament in the State. Pointing out that the Article 371-a, particularly clause 1(a), provides special federal relations between the State and the Union of India, the Chief Minister said that Parliament, since enactment of the Article 371-a, had passed several Acts in the past and accordingly Nagaland Assembly passed or adopted them without much discussions.Nagaland Assembly never scrutinized those Acts, including the constitutional amendments, to know their impact on the State, Rio said adding till date the State did not have any mechanism to identify those Acts of Parliament that should not be applied to Nagaland unless the legislative assembly by a resolution so decided.
Church refutes Army claim S Singlianmang Sangai Express
Lamka, Aug 22: Though the State Government has signed an MoU with the Churachandpur District Students' Union to defuse the tense situation arising out of the firing at a Church on August 20 night at Vengnuam, New Lamka the claim issued by the PRO PIB (Defence Wing) has added a new twist to the incident.
Dorcas Hall, the secretariat of Evangelical Baptist Convention (EBC), the Church that came under attack on Sunday night today denied that there were armed men inside the Vengnuam Church as was claimed by the PRO of PIB (Defence Wing).
‘At that hour of worship service in that Church, the Pastor was conducting Holy Communion service which had to be discontinued abruptly because of the indiscriminate firing of the security forces towards the Church. The Church was fully packed with devotees as usual for the sacred communion. There was not a single armed uniform personnel in the Church premises’ said a statement signed by Rev Dr Luaichinthang General Secretary, EBC.
‘Let the security forces do their duty of defending the citizens’ added the statement while appealing to the Government to take precautionary measures to ensure freedom of worship to citizens of secular India. Pastor PH Routhuam and Upa G Paukhanmang, the local Pastor and Chairman of Vengnuam EBC Church in a strongly worded rejoinder termed the security forces claim of 25-30 armed ZRA cadres being present inside the Church as ‘factually incorrect.’
The allegation against the Church while its members were still in a state of shock due to the barbaric behaviour of the security forces is nothing but rubbing salt to the wounds to cover the insane deeds of the security forces said the rejoinder that also denied any ties and connection with the ZRA. ‘The Church had never provide shelter to any armed militants, including the ZRA’, it declared. Significantly, Zomi Re-volutionary Army (ZRA) in a press communiqué today termed Sunday's incident as most unfortunate and claimed that the Army personnel were intercepted about 100 metres away from the Church. Stating that it was constrained to make a public statement , ZRA sa-id, ‘It was avoidable but for the unwarranted intrusion of Armymen, dressed in plain clothes yet carrying arms and using civil vehicles without informing us even when knowing fully well that our cadres dominate the area to check move- ment of suspicious/undesirable elements in the area.’
The communiqué claimed that ZRA cadres fired few shot in the air in self defence when fired upon by armed men in civvies moving in red and white van, but withdrew from the scene in compliance with the existing Suspension of Operation on seeing the two bullet proof moving in.
Meanwhile, condemnation of the attack on wor- ship place while it was thro-ng by its believers still pours in from all quarters including Zomi Mothers Assn, Vengnuam Village Authority, Evangelical Baptist Convention Church, Veng-nuam, Paite Tribe Council and a good number of cluster organisations.

KYKL doffs hat at unity move By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Aug 22 : Acknowledging the unification of the different armed groups of the Kuki-Chin people under the United Peoples' Front, the proscribed KYKL today said that the move is highly appreciable. A statement issued by the secretary of the Foreign and Regional Affairs of the outfit today said that the unification process will be a big step forward for the revolutionary struggle in the South East Himalayan region.
It is an undeniable fact that the people of this region have a common origin, custom, tradition and above all a common historical foundation, observed KYKL and added that in the future too the people will share a common destiny. The unification move will overcome the culture of factionalism, bloodshed due to internecine clash and the struggle for tribalism and clanism, said the outfit and added that the harmful political paranoia among the Kuki-Chin Nationalities will be defeated. Such a unification move will also set a remarkable political example of the other Nationalities of the region to unite under one political umbrella to fight the common enemy.
Observing that the unification of the different armed groups will prove positive in the process of building up a new Nation of South East Himalayan region of Tibeto-Kuki-Chin Mongoloid people, the statement said that in the process all must shed the orthodox or utopian dogmatic concept of narrow tribalism or clanism from the revolutionary mindset of the region.
Sharing its thoughts and beliefs, the outfit appealed to all revolutionary parties of the region to take a leap forward from narrow minded political parochialism of small communities to a big new South East Himalayan Nation of federated Nationalities. This is the only way to fight the process of Indianisation and Hin-duisation, said KYKL. KYKL believes that the united revolutionary struggle force must protect and defend the silent cultural genocide and the organised physical elimination of the indigenous people, said the statement. The people should be made conscious of the efforts taken up to subjugate, assimilate and destruct the culture and historical ordeals of the civilisation of the region, through legislation and administration, observed the statement. Taking advantage of the political polarisation of the indigenous peoples' petty revolutionary groups, India has ruled the region without any hindrances, said the statement and added that the time has now come to realise the dialectics of the National (s) revolutionary movement. Bearing all these facts in mind, the steps taken up by the United Peoples' Front of Kuki-Chin peoples is a courageous task to attain their political ends, said KYKL and added that the outfit also upholds the task of unification of all revolutionary outfits under one political umbrella and extend full support in the fight to attain total political emancipation.

NESO alleges army involvement in church firing Assam tribune– PTI
AIZAWL, Aug 21 – The North East Students Organisation (NESO) today alleged that Army personnel started firing inside a church in Manipur’s Churachandpur district yesterday. In a press release issued here, Lalmuanpuia Punte, vice chairman of NESO claimed that the Army entered the Evangelical Baptist Church in New Lamka (Churachandpur) while a mass was in progress.

“The Army personnel started indiscriminate firing inside the church where Thawng Khaw Lian, chairman of the Evangelical Youth Fellowship was killed,” Punte said adding five people were injured in the incident. The NESO condemned the firing and said that the incident proved the need for lifting the Armed Forces Special Powers Act from Manipur and some other States of the region.

Peace prospects in Asom — Shibdas Bhattacharjee Editorial Assam tribune
The banned militant outfit United Liberation Front of Asom’s (ULFA) announcement of restraint for the first time in its 27-year history has certainly ushered in a new hope for peace in the State as it is a major step forward to pave the way for direct talks between the insurgent outfit and the Government of India. In fact, the peaceful celebration of the Independence Day marked the beginning of a congenial atmosphere as tension on or before both the Independence Day and Republic Day as well as subversive activities on both these auspicious occasion became the order of the day in the recent past, particularly during the last two decades. The Centre’s decision to suspend operations against the banned organisation was positively reciprocated by the militant outfit and the declaration of restraint was justly termed by the top ULFA leadership as a logical response to New Delhi’s goodwill gesture of suspending army operations in Asom temporarily for 10 days. So also, the decision to finalise the modalities for the release of ULFA leaders in the next meeting between the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) and the Centre was significant as far as the direct talks between ULFA and New Delhi are concerned as it was a pre-condition on the part of the ULFA for direct talks. All this has naturally raised the hope among the people that the changed attitude of the ULFA and the Government will bring peace in the State after year’s of violence, suspicion and bloodshed of the innocent people. But this is only the beginning and there is still a long way to go. On the other hand, peace is not related with the ULFA problem only as various other issues have made the situation more complex. For this reason one should be realistic in analysing the whole situation from an unprejudiced point of view because it will be relevant here to keep in mind the earlier peace initiatives in other forms and the agony of the peace loving people after each failure.

But things are different now as the Centre’s move this time is a political one to take the current peace initiative further despite the violence unleashed by ULFA increased before the Independence Day. It can be seen from another perspective that the present UPA Government wanted to know the seriousness and commitment of the insurgent outfit to the on going peace initiative through this surprising decision. It will not be irrelevant to mention here that any negative move from the outfit would have legitimised the Centres policy against insurgency in the State. So also, it was a reply of the Centre to the PCG’s allegation that New Delhi was maintaining double standards regarding the on going peace initiative in the State the main objective of which is to bring the insurgent outfit to the negotiating table for a permanent and peaceful solution of insurgency. Thus it was a well calculated gamble in which the winner could only be the Government of India. Yet it was a change in the old policy of New Delhi towards the insurgent outfit in the State because so long the objective review of the insurgent problem of Asom by the Centre only worsened the atmosphere. The government’s policy has been unrealistic, incoherent and insincere as without realising the ground recalities the successive governments at the Centre adopted repressive and aggressive policy against the insurgency problem. It is really unfortunate that the State governments in Asom never had any sincerity to solve this problem, rather they utilised the issue for political prospects and poll politics.

So by acting according to the advice of the State government, the Centre always miscalculated it and thus made the problem more complex. In facts there is no denying that at the start of its low-intensity war focussed on the foreigners issue, the ULFA had enjoyed wide public support from those section of people who have been always vocal against the so-called step-motherly attitude of the Centre towards Asom that provided a popular base to the militant organisation. For this reason both the main political organisations in the State, namely the Indian National Congress and the Asom Gana Parishad always tried to utilise this as a narrow political game to win the battle of ballots. Moreover, the Government of India wanted to deal with the ULFA problem separately if compared to New Delhi’s approach towards the other insurgent groups of the north eastern region. For instance the peace process with the insurgent outfits of Nagaland can prove this observation correct. No doubt, the NSCN(IM) has agreed to review and reinterprect the principles like independence and sovereignty. But it is also the true that the Centre displayed greater flexibility in dealing with the insurgency problem in case of Nagaland which has made the longer Naga truce possible. This is a significant incident as far as the peace process between the Naga rebels and New Delhi is concerned.

But the ULFA lost its popular support as the years progressed since of inception in 1979. In fact, people of the State are really fed up by the decade long violence and bloodshed which have virtually cut the State from the mainstream of development. It is true that due to the negligence of the Centre as well as the State government, Asom could never make full use of its resources which is a matter of great disappointment for the people. But this cannot legitimise any kind of violent activity of killing innocent people and destroying public property. Moreover, it brought the burden of more expenditure, namely security expenditure which has been an excuse of the State government’s non-performance for a long time. On the other hand, the people of Asom no longer think ULFA’s demand for sovereignty justified because it is a reality that Asom cannot have a separate identity remaining outside the federal structure of the country. So the people who earlier laid much store on ULFA’s battle, realised their folly and gave up to believe the idea that there can be no alternative to peaceful democratic process if the State really wants to progress. It has already changed its political idiom, and talks about joining the mainstream, swimming with other States which left it behind through years when it grappled with insurgency and military operations. So also, as the years went by, ULFA lost its umbrella like character which gave birth to various other insurent outfits mainly on sectional basis. This was indeed a new development which made ULFA’s status in the State weaker. The rise of BLT, NDFB, BTF are some cases in point in this regard. In fact, the rise of Bodo militant outfit changed the atmosphere of insurgency as through their subversive activities they soon became the centre of importance for both New Delhi and Dispur. Thereafter, the peaceful settlement of the Bodo militancy by giving Bodoland the autonomous status sidelined ULFA to a great extent and they are getting marginalised. This is the reason why ULFA’s approach has become relatively softer and the organisation now is in favour of negotiated settlement. Moreover the military operation in Bhutan and the arrest of some top leaders of the militant outfit have obviously weakened the organisation.

Thus it is quite obvious that both the Government of India and the ULFA have come a long way and adopted flexible attitude which has created a new hope for a peaceful and negotiated settlement. But no one at the present juncture can give any surety that peace will be restored in the State after settlement of their ULFA problem. There is no surety that terrorist activities in the State can be prevented completely after this because the terrorist activities not only in Asom but the other parts of the north eastern region are related to cross-border terrorism from both Pakistan and Bangladesh. In fact, terrorism in India is no longer Kashmir-centric as the main objective of the agencies that want to spread violence and make bloodshed in the country seem to adopt the policy to include as much area as possible in their terror net. The country like Bangladesh has become a breeding ground of terrorist organisations. The Government of India is very much aware of the fact that Bangladeshis immigration has not only changed the demographic structure of the north eastern region but put forward a threat to the internal security of the region. India’s soft attitude towards Bangladesh has not changed yet. It is really unfortunate that the issues of much concern for India that are related to the anti-India policies of Bangladesh have become political issues in our country to be utilised for poll prospect.

On the other hand, the issue of militancy is always related to the issue of development, particularly job orientation. The despondency of the millions of unemployed in the State is a matter of great concern because it may initiate a new phase of terror. The government should give top priority to this issue and make sincere efforts to solve this problem.

The prospect of peace in the State has brightened after the restraint declared by ULFA reciprocating the goodwill gesture of the Centre. But it has certainly brought more responsibilities for both the militant outfit and the Centre as more vigilance will be required against all possibilities of subversive activities by those agencies who may try to sabotage the peace process. On the other hand, so long the Government does not take concrete policy decision against the anti-India activities of ISI and Bangladesh, the initiatives to install peace not only in Asom but in other parts of the north eastern region will not be fruitful.


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