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09/18/2006: "Index of silence- The Nagaland Post Opinion"

Index of silence- The Nagaland Post Opinion
The silence of Khaplang in responding to subjects querried on the killing of innocent Naga people during the Naga national struggle need to be reckoned with, as silence happens to be the index of the inconsistent mind with conflicting deeds to its name.
Burning issues need to be addressed without delay or its negative implications may lead to the growth or unpleasant seeds of misperceptions in minds at this volatile juncture of todays political situation where adverse inclinations prevail.
Exposure of facts to straighten records correctly has been necessitated to dispel misinformations. The NSCN during decades or Naga freedom struggle have never ever been engaged in killing innocent people, either stranger or compatriot at any point of time. If there were any casuality, it was only during their aggression in collaboration with our enemy against us.
The NSCN in defense of our nation and our rights have firmly dealt with an iron hand upon those traitorous elements that collaborated with our adversaries against our nation. All the allegations leveled against us by Khaplangs and NNCs or killing innocent people are totally baseless and fabricated with political motive.
Among those many human rights violations committed by the Khaplangs and NNC against innocent Nagas, the following few incidents are cited below:
1. In 1979 Mr. S.S. Khaplang butchered 86 (Eighty Six) Dunghi innocent Villagers belonging to the Pangmi Naga tribe while Messrs. Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah were kept in the military custody during Martial law imposed by the pro-Shillong Accord.
2. Mr. Zahie Huire who was the then Angh (Governor) or Japfü state of the NNC/FGN cold bloodedly killed without rhyme or reason 48 (Forty Eight) innocent villagers belonging to the Thevopisu village of the Chekhesang Naga tribe.
3. All innocent family members of Mr. Wuime Khiamnungan, a Tatar member, his father, mother, brothers, and sisters and Liutenant Johnny, his father, mother, brothers, and sisters were all annihilated by the NNC for no reason.
4. Mr.Kholi executed the Chief Angh of Mon of his own accord (without the knowledge of the high command). He also killed the Village Chief of Japuka for reasons best known to him.
5. In 1996 the Khaplangs, in the sweet name of peace offensive, killed 37 (Thirty Seven) innocent Naga public including missionaries, pastors, bureaucrats, students, social activists and businessmen.
6. Two innocent students from Phom community were inhumanly tortured, their ears and private parts were cut, their eyes were lacerated out and left to die in cruel pains. The atrocities and dictats by these anti-Naga national elements upon innocent Naga people go on unaccounted and unaccounted. But to the stark reality, misleading propagandas are spread by them so that our people and the world are misinformed of the hard realities and the NSCN is discredited. Issued by: MIP: GPRN, (NSCN-IM).
My own anguish- Nagaland Post Opinion
I feel sorry to think as if I was born to see the tears of agony and pain of desertion of my people. The Naga people always mourned the killing of their dear ones by own Naga brothers. No family is safe from today's abnormality and none is secure. The freedom of rights and liberty that had been once enjoyed has gone very far away and no Naga is certain of what this life will be. My humble complaint to the living God is as to why? He created the merciless and delinquent leaders in our family who are responsible for today's large scale fratricidal among the Nagas. I always felt.
If God really loves the Nagas, all the sinful leaders must be taken away before they completely destroy the social and political fabric of the Nagas. It is those leaders who have erected the political walls among the Nagas that divided the unified struggle into different factions. Their being born into the Nagas family proves to be the curse rather than blessings. I don't blame the leaders of particular faction, but any emotional and sinful leaders who may be in any faction or any leaders that created artificial faction/among the Nagas.
Oh! My leaders! Do you study what you are and where you are? Stop your self pride and bow down before God and your Naga people seeking forgiveness for your crime that turned the sacred cause into fratricidal and vengeance ground. If killing of man is the goal of the struggle, then tell me also. To me as a true Naga, my moral conscience does not permit me to take that goal.
On my joining the national struggle movement, I openly declared before the Naga people that, my first task will be for unification of all Nagas, but ceaseless killing and deployment of secret mission command by Isak group for assassination of the Naga leaders changed my mind. I thought even the factional clashes also should immediately be stopped, but I was so sorry to see the dying face of my leader late Ngampan, Kilonser, murdered by secret mission of Isak group. I was also so surprised to receive the message of cold blooded killing of AKD Angami, Imnung Jamir and Saloni, Angami region chairman NSCN education Kilonser NNC/FGN and ex-tartar of NCC respectively. These four leaders have been assassinated by Isak group within May-September 2006. This Isak group should explain to the Nagas the purpose of their continued killing of Naga leaders for no cause who after dropping sovereignty issue slipped down for integration but failed. Further engaged themselves in the issue of affiliation of privates schools of four Naga district of Manipur to NBSE which faced another humiliation failure.
My leaders irrespective of the factions should tell me the ultimate benefit of killing of Naga leaders from other factions. If they fail to explain to the Nagas of the benefits of such killing, they must resign from national services. Why should the innocent Tangkhul bear the pains and sorrow of present NSCN quit notice? The reason being they failed to charge Th. Muivah V.S Atem and Raising when they refused to unite with the Nagas. Also, although innocent Tangkhuls being a victim of these leaders, they are always to be found at the side of I.K group.
The only alternative left for these leaders were to leave the Nagas and Nagaland, if they really want to opt out from the process of peace and reconciliation. They should first know how to love the Nagas and thereby adapt to Nagas' way of life. They should stop fooling the Nagas that, they will bring heaven down. I thank my Konyak boys in Isak group for their gradual consciousness and realization of their folly in joining the blood thirsty groups and took bold step to defy the killers of late Ngampan.
So far 19 (nineteen) Konyak youth have joined the NSCN, after the assassination of our greatest leader late Ngampan by Isak group. This advent of their defection is of great significance. There is no place for murderer command for killing of any Konyak leaders or even the other Naga leaders under any circumstances will not be excused either by NSCN or by the Konyak community because Konyaks are peace loving people.
My leaders! Do you think that you can kill at those who oppose you'll never happen. Rather the living God will do away with your lives. Stop playing with the Naga politics, "the creation of the living God; as your own tools to avenge your opposition or impose your will.
Rather pray to God and come closer to your brothers. Stop fooling the Nagas because you alone will achieve nothing. Can you find out anybody in national politics (with the exception of selfish Naga NGOs) who does not oppose your policy? The most important thing is to win the confidence of our brothers in national politics. You may plan to destroy the entire Naga nationalist who oppose your system, but even your age factor will not permit you. Don't let your generation curse you even after you die. Hope you will know where you are and what you are.
Y. Wangtin Naga, Central Council Member, NSCN/GPRN, (NSCN - K).
Rio's farm policy flops (The Telegraph) Kuknalim.com
KOHIMA, Sept 17:: The Nagaland government’s policy of designating 2006 as the “year of farmers” is most likely to come a cropper, in view of the prevailing drought-like situation...

The ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland’s agricultural policy, on which crores of rupees have been spent, now seems unlikely to bear fruit owing to ongoing crop failures.

The Neiphiu Rio government had constituted a committee, headed by agriculture production commissioner Alemtemshi Jamir, to look into the crisis and submit a report at the earliest. The Dimapur district administration is also preparing a report.

The government had chalked out plans for a paddy fair at Dimapur in December. Earlier this year, crores of rupees had been spent on procuring seeds, which were distributed among farmers across the state. However, with the present drought-like situation, chief minister Rio may have to curse the rain gods when December comes.

This year the state has seen temperatures soaring to record levels, especially in Dimapur and Kohima. The meteorological department said only 640 mm of rainfall was recorded, compared to an average annual rainfall of between 1,800 and 2,500 mm. A one-degree Centigrade rise in temperature has been logged.

Similar reports have poured in from other districts like Zunheboto, Mokokchung and Phek, famous for pani-khetis. In Zunheboto, district administration sources said 70 per cent of crops have been damaged. Mokokchung deputy commissioner said the district has been hit hard and both terrace and jhum fields have been affected.

According to the government, 30 per cent of the crop transplantation could not take place because of scanty rainfall. The paddy crop loss is estimated at over Rs 200 crore.

The state agriculture department has confirmed that major damage has occurred to paddy and other crops. (The Telegraph)
RIMS receives threat from militant outfit From Sobhapati Samom Assam Tribune
IMPHAL, Sept 16 – The Regional Institute of Medical Sciences which celebrated its 35th anniversary on Thursday is likely to be closed down if its authority failed to obey the dictates of suspected underground groups.

RIMS authority received a threatening letter from two Kuki militant bodies addressed to its Medical Superintendent and Deputy Director. The Kuki militant bodies are said to be Kuki National Front( Military Council) and Kuki National Army.

The threatening letter warned both senior officials of the institute to face the consequences if RIMS failed to reserve four posts of the institute for the two outfits. The three posts which the combined force of the two groups are looking for include one laboratory technician, two staff nurses and one lower division clerk, informs officials of the RIMS hospital during an interaction with the media persons here today.

The RIMS officials were unsure whether the threatgenuine or fake. Saturday being the deadline, they informed that media that they may stop serving people of the region if the threat goes on.

It is high time for the government to look into the situation faced by the RIMS hospital authority, an official of the institute appealed. In the past there were reports of shifting of this premier medical institute of the region to other parts of the country in view of the fleeing of senior medical professionals from the institution to other areas, following the frequent pressure from the underground groups operating in the State.

However, the Director the Institution Prof L Fimate recently rejected the report saying there is no move to shift the institute under any political pressure.
Jamir's call to Church leaders Nagarealm.com
PANAJI, SEP15 [NPN] : To make Christianity more appealing to the younger generation in the changed global scenario, Goa governor SC Jamir urged religious leaders to change the presentation of the Gospels to suit the tastes of children. Interacting with the 38-member delegation of the Bible Society of India (BSI) from all over the country Thursday night at the Banquet Hall, Raj Bhavan, where he hosted a dinner for them, Jamir said the routine method of preaching or spreading the word of God may not find too many takers today among the younger generation.

"One of the greatest challenges before Christians today is how to present Christ to the people, especially children," he said and added that "Christian leaders should amend, if not change, the strategy of presenting Christ to the changed world."

He suggested that there should be "whispering campaigns to spread the Gospels" and opined that conventions and revivals wither after the functions are over.

Pointing out that the modern generation is so obsessed with Information Technology such as the internet and other gadgets, Jamir said religious leaders should asses the situation and study how to encounter it successfully.

He also lamented that alongwith with the dwindling population of Christians in the country, morals and ethics are also vanishing.

The governor was also of the opinion that there are forces in the country distorting the tenets of Christianity and that these forces are determined to create disharmony. He asked if the Christian community is alive to this development. The executive members of the BSI, IBSTA & Translation Committee members are here in Goa for a two-day meeting and are scheduled to leave for their respective destinations Saturday afternoon.
Expansion of army bases worries ULFA The Morung Express
GUWAHATI, SEPT 16 (AGENCIES): The banned United Liberation Front of Asom is peeved at the Indian Army’s plan to expand two of its permanent bases in insurgency-affected Assam giving ample indication that the militant group continues to consider the Army a ‘colonial force’ notwithstanding the peace initiative to facilitate peace talks with the outfit.
The ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah who is suspected to be in Bangladesh, in a statement e-mailed to the media stated that the expansion of army bases at Misa in Nagaon district and Changsari in Kamrup district was not in tune with New Delhi’s decision to suspend army operation against the ULFA.
The ULFA leader said that expansion of the army base would lead to displacement of large number of ‘our people’ from their land and it would pave way for more militarisation of the state.
The ULFA statement came a day after New Delhi decided to accord another extension of suspension of army operation against the militant group till September 20 giving the group more time to send in the letter of commitment to sit for direct talks with the government.
It was the third extension of the suspension of army operation accorded after ULFA negotiators Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami and Rebati Phukon made the request.
The ULFA commander, however stated that, ‘Despite extending the olive branch, colonialist India has planned to displace hundreds of our people to create space for another military installation.
‘The expansion of army bases will lead to eviction of people, destruction of tea gardens and will cause harm to the eco system.’
The ULFA leader further alleged that the government would set up a nuclear research center on the land that had been acquired for expansion of army bases to process and enrich uranium found in the state of Meghalaya.
Security sources pointed out that the hard posture of the ULFA against expansion of army bases would not augur well for the ongoing peace initiative as it was going against the efforts to build mutual trust and confidence to find a peaceful solution to the insurgency problem.
UG group’s bullets ‘punish’ rapist guide Newmai News Network Imphal | September 17
The banned United National Liberation Front (UNLF) of Manipur shot at and injured a 63-year-old tourist guide of Imphal’s historic Kangla fort on the charges of raping a woman inside the Kangla last month.
The guide identified as R.K. Manisana Singh, a resident of Singjamei was found injured at Leimram in Bishnupur district of Manipur by police last night. Police brought him to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences last night. The militants injected bullets on both thighs of the guide.
Cadres of the UNLF picked up Manisana yesterday morning from Singjamei area and he was paraded before a group of media persons before he was shot at. A spokesman of the UNLF said following complaints by a victim, the outfit launched an investigation and found Manisana guilty of raping three women.
The spokesman said a housewife came to Kangla fort with a woman colleague in the afternoon of August 5 to offer prayers at the Pakhangba temple inside Kangla. Manisana took the woman inside his quarter and raped her after he sent the other woman elsewhere on some pretext.
The UNLF also charged that Manisana raped another girl, who came to Kangla on some research work. He reportedly took the girl to Sekmai and assaulted the girl there. He is also labeled with the charge of assaulting another woman in the past. The outfit did not disclose the names of the victims for obvious reasons.
The guide confessed to the charges. The spokesman said shooting in the leg is a lighter punishment. In the event of the guide’s committing a similar crime again, harsher punishment would be meted out.
It is reported Manisana has been staying at one of the quarters near Kangla temple since 1990 after the state archeology department appointed him as a tourist guide inside the fort. He is not a member of the Kangla Religious Committee, which is managing the temple of Pakhangba.
Expansion of army bases worries ULFA The Morung Express
GUWAHATI, SEPT 16 (AGENCIES): The banned United Liberation Front of Asom is peeved at the Indian Army’s plan to expand two of its permanent bases in insurgency-affected Assam giving ample indication that the militant group continues to consider the Army a ‘colonial force’ notwithstanding the peace initiative to facilitate peace talks with the outfit.
The ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah who is suspected to be in Bangladesh, in a statement e-mailed to the media stated that the expansion of army bases at Misa in Nagaon district and Changsari in Kamrup district was not in tune with New Delhi’s decision to suspend army operation against the ULFA.
The ULFA leader said that expansion of the army base would lead to displacement of large number of ‘our people’ from their land and it would pave way for more militarisation of the state.
The ULFA statement came a day after New Delhi decided to accord another extension of suspension of army operation against the militant group till September 20 giving the group more time to send in the letter of commitment to sit for direct talks with the government.
It was the third extension of the suspension of army operation accorded after ULFA negotiators Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami and Rebati Phukon made the request.
The ULFA commander, however stated that, ‘Despite extending the olive branch, colonialist India has planned to displace hundreds of our people to create space for another military installation.
‘The expansion of army bases will lead to eviction of people, destruction of tea gardens and will cause harm to the eco system.’
The ULFA leader further alleged that the government would set up a nuclear research center on the land that had been acquired for expansion of army bases to process and enrich uranium found in the state of Meghalaya.
Security sources pointed out that the hard posture of the ULFA against expansion of army bases would not augur well for the ongoing peace initiative as it was going against the efforts to build mutual trust and confidence to find a peaceful solution to the insurgency problem.
Imphal hospital threatened by UGs Newmai News Network eptember 16
Imphal: The Kuki National Army (KNA) and Kuki National Front (Military Council) today asked in a letter to the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) authority to stop the work immediately. The outfits also threatened to keep to senior officials of the medical college under house arrest. The threat was issued in a letter addressed to director Dr L. Fimate, which was delivered at the office of the medical superintendent Y. Mohen and deputy director in-charge E. Devendra this morning by unidentified persons.
The letter signed as combined force of KNA and KNF-Military Council issued the threat because the RIMS authority did not comply with their earlier demand. The demand is keeping reservation of one post of LDC, one post of laboratory assistant and two posts of nurse. The RIMS medical superintendent informed reporters that about three months back a similar letter demanded the reservation. Neither the director nor the superintendent could say whether the letter was genuine. Nevertheless it created a panic among the officials. The letter said that since the RIMS authority neglected its demand stringent measures would be taken against the officials. The letter asked the officials to stop work immediately and stop holding of interview for appointment of 14 posts, which is scheduled to begin on Monday. It said that the superintendent and deputy director would be kept under house arrest. Following the threat the director held a meeting of senior officials of the institute at its office this afternoon. The meeting decided to report the matter to the police. The meeting decided not to succumb to the threats. The director described the threat as “disturbing” and said such disturbance has been hampering the health care services, academic atmosphere and research works undertaken by the medical college.
He appealed to all sections of the people including the militants not to cause any disturbance to the functioning of the hospital and medical college. He said that the interview will be conducted on schedule time. The government has already provided security guards for the director. However, the concern is about the other two senior officials. The deputy director is staying at a government quarters at Lamphel while the superintendent is living at his home not very far from the hospital without any security escort. The director hinted that the hospital could be closed down if anything happens to any one of the officials of the institute.
UCM, KIM concerned over quit threat The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Sep 16: The United Committee Manipur and the Kuki Inpi Manipur have expressed strong concern over reported threat by a Hmar organisation to serve quit notice to Meiteis inhabiting in Churachandpur district.

Taking serious view of reported threat upon a particular community posed by an organisation called the Hmar National Assembly, a UCM statement said grievances of any community can be aired either to the state government or to the government of India.

The UCM statement came in the wake of a statement issued by the Churachandpur based Hmar National Assembly which asked Manipur government to distribute relief to all the women who were said to have been raped by cadres of UNLF and KCP in Lungthulian and Parbung earlier this year.

Asking Manipur government to fulfill the demand within 45 days, the HNA warned of serving quit notices to Meiteis inhabiting in Churachandpur with Kangvai as interstate boundary if state government fails to fulfill their demands within the stipulated period. The HNA also warned of taking revenge against Meitei community in Churachandpur in the same way the cadres of UNLF and KCP is said to have raped Hmar women in Lungthulian and Parbung.

While asserting that grievances of a particular community resulting out of government`s nonfulfillment to their demands should not be directed against a particular community, UCM statement said no particular community should hand out press statement which could affect harmony existing amongst different communities in the state.

Asserting that different communities inhabiting in Manipur have been living together sharing pains and sorrows during tumultuous times, the UCM said the need of the hour is to work together amongst all the communities in Manipur and remaining united against forces which are trying to divide the state and its people.

Meanwhile, the Kuki Inpi Manipur has appealed to "our kindred brethern in the HNA not to even think of a quit notice" but rather find some other alternative so that innocent prople do not suffer.

The KIM said in a statement that "since we have gone through the thick and thin of the effects of inhuman notices by the United Naga Council, UNC, and their likes KIM will be most grateful if the quit notice be dropped.

Meanwhile KIM also appealed to the state government to expedite reaching of its healing touch to the needy.