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10/13/2006: "TNL calls for fasting prayers John K. Kaping Kangla on line"

TNL calls for fasting prayers John K. Kaping Kangla on line

Ukhrul, Oct 12: On the lives of Tankhuls being threatened and on being served a "quit notice" to Tangkhuls in Nagaland by the NSCN(K) and following the shooting down of an innocent student on October 2, the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) (Tangkhul Hoho) has called-upon all Tangkhul Churches irrespective of denomination in Ukhrul district to observe a "Fasting Prayer" in the forthcoming Saturday/Sunday (Oct 21 and 22, 2006), said Stephen Angkang, president, TNL in a press communique`.

The TNL appealed to all the Churches members to perform a deep devotion of self repentancy prayers for forgiveness for the sins committed from God.The fasting prayers to include the deep spiritual prayers for the lives Tankhul brethren living in Nagaland affected by the NSCN (K) dik dat so that the divine prayers intervenes in this critical situation.

The TNL also prayed to all the fellow-Church members to extent silent spiritual prayers over the "TNL Ban" imposed by the NSCN(K) so that the Almighty God touched every of the people to bring peace and understanding.

NSCN(K) softens stance on NGOs Nagarealm.com
KOHIMA, OCT11 [NPN] : Toning down its earlier stance against the mass-based Naga organizations including the NSF, Naga Hoho and NPMHR, the NSCN (K) has said its unilateral decision to dissociate and severe ties with these NGOs was "just a partial decision." Hinting that the NSCN-K was against the present leadership of the NGOs and not the people in general, NSCN (K) leader K. Zhimomi from the Ministry of NGO's and Public Relation challenged the present leadership of the NGOs to convince the NSCN (K) to cement the relations.

"Let them convince us because their term is only for a few years. During their term, they should build pucca bridge and not hanging bridge", the NSCN leader said. Alluding to those Naga NGOs which have been meeting the NSCN(IM) leadership from time to time and that too abroad in Bangkok, he wondered as to why the NGOs could not meet the NSCN (K) leaderships in their own land and jurisdiction in Nagaland.

"They are meeting NSCN (IM) leadership in Bangkok, but what did they bring back and what is the outcome?" Zhimomi asked and added that "it is only an eye to eye policy meeting and not heart to heart meeting." He also alleged that leaders of such NGOs were going to Bangkok only for sight seeing at the expense of the Nagas in the guise of meeting NSCN (IM) leaders.

"If they can go to Bangkok to meet the NSCN (IM) leadership by spending a huge amount and spend several days, why can't they meet the NSCN (K) leadership at Mon and how many days it will take and much money they'll spend to go to Mon?" he questioned.

While asserting the NSCN (K) under the leadership of S.S Khaplang had always stood for Naga unification, Zhimomi challenged the NGO leaders to bring together both the NSCN (K) and NSCN(IM) leaders, especially Khaplang and Isak Swu, to a meeting point if the NGOs were really for Naga unification. On the quit notice served to the Tangkhul community, Zhimomi simply said the matter was too lengthy for clarification. He instead insisted that whosoever wanted to know the real motive behind the notice, to visit the NSCN(K) ceasefire office at Mon anytime for detailed clarification.

Indian Military Supplies Burma Nagarealm.com
India has begun transferring military equipment to Burma in advance of a major military operation against Indian separatists based on Burmese soil, according to Indian press reports.
The reports claim that New Delhi has given Burma an unspecified number of T-55 tanks, recently retired by the Indian army, as well as armored personnel carriers, 105mm light artillery pieces, mortars and locally-designated advanced light helicopters. “We have recommended and started giving [to Burma] 105mm Indian field guns,” Vice-Chief Lt-Gen S Pattabhiraman of the Indian army confirmed recently to Force magazine.

Meanwhile, reports say that the Burmese army is preparing to evict Naga rebels from its soil, fueling fears of heaving fighting in northern Burma. According to the National Socialist Council of Nagaland, which seeks an autonomous homeland in northeast India, about 3,500 Burmese soldiers have been deployed to Burma’s northern Sagaing division, where the NSCN has as many as 50 camps and some 7,000 guerrilla fighters entrenched in fortified bunkers.

"We have spotted 98 trucks, loaded with weapons and ammunition, being sent by the Indian government, crossing over to Burma through the border town of Moreh in Manipur to help the junta crush our bases," Kughalo Mulatonu, a leader of the NSCN, told the Indo-Asian News Service. Reports also say that India wants to conduct joint military operations against rebel groups other than the NSCN in northeastern India, such as the United Liberation Front of Asom, which operates along the 1,643-km Burmese frontier.

Observers have suggested that an agreement on military cooperation between the two countries was reached during a visit to Rangoon and Naypyidaw last month by Indian Defense Secretary Shekhar Dutt, who is said to have met Vice Snr-Gen Maung Aye.

In August, despite British protests, the Indian Navy transferred two BN-2 “Defender” Islander maritime surveillance aircraft and deck-based air-defense guns, as well as surveillance equipment, to Burma. India abandoned its position in support of Burma’s democracy movement and launched an aggressive diplomatic and military thrust into Burma in the late 1990s, backed by its “Look East” policy, which envisages closer integration of the economies of the northeastern states of India with Southeast Asia—thus “neutralizing” Chinese influence in Burma. Relations between Burma and India have been strengthened recently by cooperation in trade and economy. According to official statistics, bilateral trade between the two countries—including border trade—amounted to US $557.68 million last year.
India stands as Burma’s 4th largest trading partner, after Thailand, China and Singapore, and also Burma’s second largest export market after Thailand—absorbing 25 percent of its total exports.

Along with investment by two Indian state companies—the Gas Authority of India Ltd and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation—at A1 Block gas deposit in the Bay of Bengal, India’s investment in Burma had reached $35.08 million dollars in January 2006. [Source : irrawaddy]
Myanmar crackdown on NE ultra camps on cards Details of ULFA, NSCN-K camps handed over Our Staff Correspondent Sentinel
SHILLONG, Oct 12: The Myanmar Government will take action against camps of Indian extremists on its territory, Assam Rifles Director General Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, who is also the security advisor to the North Eastern Council (NEC), said today.
Lt Gen Singh, who was a part of a Union Home Ministry delegation that held talks with the Myanmar Government in Delhi recently, said that based on details provided by India about Indian militant camps in Myanmar, action would be taken by the neighboring country.
Lt Gen Singh declined to provide the details, saying that they were with the intelligence agencies and the Assam Rifles was not privy to it.
Ruling out any immediate joint operation against the militant groups taking shelter along the Indo-Myanmar border, Singh said: “Because of the vivid details provided to Myanmar on the presence of militant camps, we hope that they would live up to the assurance to flush those Indian militants camping there.” Singh refused to divulge the details of intelligence exchange with the Myanmarese military junta, but a source informed The Sentinel that the list of 15 militant camps, including that of the ULFA, the NSCN (K) and Manipur rebel groups, had been submitted.
Asked what perceptible change was seen after the Assam Rifles Bill was passed, he said it was not enacted as the presidential assent was still pending. After the President’s assent, rules were to be framed for implementation by the year-end or early next year. It would increase the operational efficiency of the Assam Rifles, the DG said. Evading a question on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act in force in some parts of the North-east and which has been a matter of controversy for long, Lt Gen Singh said his force had never felt that it was ‘at the receiving end’. The decision for promulgating it had been taken at the highest level, he said.
AR Chief reviews security scenario in NE Newmai News Network
Shillong: The Northeastern region is peaceful from the security point of view, barring Manipur and Nagaland, asserted Director General of Assam Rifles (DGAR). Lt. Gen Paramjit Singh told a press conference in Shillong this afternoon after a two-day Commanders’ Conference today that Manipur remains the ‘troubled’ spot in the north east. Singh added, the Assam Rifles’ (AR) was maintaining utmost restraint while carrying out Counter Insurgency (CI) operations in the region, although with unavoidable co-lateral damages.
The DGAR is the security advisor to the North East Council (NEC). At present AR is under the Ministry of Home Affairs. So many of the security-related decisions taken in the North east is after consultations with the AR. On operations against northeast-based insurgents in Myanmar, Singh said a meeting of the Home Ministry was held in New Delhi recently. The AR had voiced its concern regarding Indian militants using Myanmerse territory as their base.
Intelligence agencies also gave details about Northeast-based insurgents in Myanmar, he said without giving much detail about the operations. “But as of now joint military operation between Indian and Myanmerse troops is ruled out,” Singh added.
The AR is providing administrative and logistic support to the army in parts of the 1640 kilometers long Indo-Myanmar border at his juncture. It is unclear though, if AR’s support to the army has anything to do with the operations that is reportedly being carried out in Myanmar. The DGAR added its CI operations were not affected in the ‘troubled state’ of Manipur, as some of its battalions were working under the unified command of the Army at the Indo-Myanmar border.On Nagaland, Singh said, factional feud between the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) has disrupted peace in that state. “In totality the northeast is peaceful,” Singh maintained.
Myanmar still in hot pursuit of NE rebels Nagaland Post
SHILLONG, OCT 12 (PTI & UNI): The Myanmar army will continue its ongoing operations against the anti-India insurgent groups operating in its territory, a senior defence official said.
Director General of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Paramjit Singh, who was a part of a union home ministry delegation which held talks with the Myanmar government in Delhi recently, said the flush out operations launched by the Myanmar army against the Indian militants were based on list submitted by India's Home Secretary V K Duggal. He declined to provide the details, saying that they were with the intelligence agencies and Assam Rifles was not privy to it.
Last month, Mr Duggal had provided a list of 15 camps to Myanmar's Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Brigadier General Phone Swe during the Home Secretaries' level meeting of both countries in New Delhi. The Myanmar army recently had launched a massive operation against North-East based militant outfits including the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang), United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), United National Liberation Front (UNLF) and others operating from inside Myanmar. India and Myanmar share a 1,650-kms border between northwestern Myanmar and India's troubled northeastern states.
Earlier, the NSCN (K) spokesman Kughalu Mulatonu told media in Nagaland that heavily armed Myanmarese army had launched operations in border areas adjoining Myanmar's border with Manipur and Tirap and Changlang of Arunachal Pradesh. In the past, similar operation was launched by the Myanmar Army to flush out Indian militants operating from the soil.
Evading a question on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act in force in some parts of the north-east and which has been a matter of controversy for long, Singh said his force had never felt that it was "at the receiving end". The decision for promulgating it had been taken at the highest level, he said.
On alleged human rights violations, Singh said that his force was well aware of norms.
He took a dig at the media saying "why did not the press write about human rights violation when four of our boys were killed recently as they also lost their human rights." On the issue of HIV/AIDS affected personnel, Singh said "it is well within the control and there is nothing to worry about. It is a cause for concern and not alarm." He, however, did not provide any figure.
When his attention was drawn to his predecessor, Lt Gen Bhopinder Singh's statement that there were 180 HIV/AIDS cases in the force, he said he could not take responsibility for the views of others. On a larger role for the Assam Rifles which also guards the Indo-Myanmar border, the DG said it would depend on development of infrastructure like building roads in border areas. The matter had been taken up with the union home ministry, he said. Commenting on the future plan of action, he said a road map on information technology for the next five years, infrastructure development and modernisation of equipment were being given shape.
NSCN (IM) man killed Newmai News Network
Imphal, Oct 12: One NSCN-IM cadre has been killed in the wee hours today at Tamenglong head- quarters as a result of the ongoing factional killing between the NSCN-K and the NSCN-IM that has been occurring off and on for quite sometime now.
The NSCN-K, Zeliang-rong Region said that at 3.10 am today, a cadre of the NSCN-IM was pulled out from a house and shot dead near the gate of Tameng-long hospital. The deceas- ed has been identified as Pvt Ramthing.
The NSCN-K's information and publicity in- charge, said they are mainly targeting Tangkhuls in the Zeliangrong Region but innocent Tangkhuls will be spared.
The statement said ma-ny a time they had restraint from ambushing the NSCN-IM cadres as personnel of the Assam Rifles accompany them.
It also warned that in future his outfit would not hesitate to take on the NSCN-IM even if there is presence of Assam Rifles personnel in the midst of the rival faction.
It further said Indian security forces should not blame them (NSCN-K) with regard to the cease-fire ground rules in the event of the NSCN-K ambushing them (AR and NSCN-IM).
On the other hand, expressing deep anger, the NSCN-IM said that it is just a matter of short period that the NSCN-K and the Meitei based UG elements would be wiped out from Naga areas.
NSCN-IM deputy kilonser for MIP, Kraibo Chawang, while reacting to today’s killing of the NSCN-IM cadre at Tamenglong H.Q, said that earlier the NSCN-K cadres came to Tamei under Tamenglong district and shot dead a theological student and thereafter carried out other anti-social activities in the Zeliangrong Region.
Kraibo further stated the NSCN-K along with the MPA cadres are trying their best to disturb the ongoing “Naga peace process” by creating lawlessness in the region. “The Khaplang group has no goals and objective but only trying to spoilt the Naga peace process”, quipped the NSCN-IM leader. Kraibo then said that the case of the NSCN-K has been hit-and-run nature. The NSCN-IM leader also accused the Assam Rifles for doing too little. He alleged that today’s killing at Tameng- long H.Q, had been done in full knowledge of the Assam Rifles. However, Kraibo said that the NSCN-IM has taken up full security measures with all out effort to wipe out the combined force of the MPA and the NSCN-K from the Naga areas. “The only purpose of the Khaplang gang and the MPA has been to serve the Manipur valley”, said Kraibo adding, “but ours (NSCN-IM) is to maintain good relation with all the indigenous people in the region”. Meanwhile, the NSCN-K, Zeliangrong Region has disclosed that the NSCN-IM under the command of Brig. Ramkathing is training PULF cadres somewhere in Tamenglong district.
Jamir, Imkong & IRCS condole Nagalnd Post
DIMAPUR, OCT 12 (NPN): Governor of Goa SC Jamir and leader of the Opposition, I. Imkong have condoled the death of Mrs. Leno Jasokie, wife of former state chief minister JB Jasokie, who passed away Wednesday at Kohima. Jamir in a condolence message said "though Mrs. Leno was not that out going,... she was the perfect house wife who reinforced the saying that behind every successful man is a woman."
I. Imkong said "during the formative years of Nagaland Statehood, Mrs. Jasokie had been a pillar to her husband in his pursuit towards the establishment of the statehood." Meanwhile, chairman, IRCS Nagaland Branch, Povotso Lohe in a condolence message said Late Leno was one of the most valuable life members of the IRCS.
The fake repeal of AFSP Colin Gonsalves The Morung Express
The June 2005 report of the Committee appointed by the Central Government to review the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, has recently been made public. It makes interesting reading.
The Committee consisted of Justice B.P. Jeevan Reddy, former Judge of the Supreme Court, Dr. S.B. Nakade, Shri. P. Shrivastav, former Special Secretary, MHA, Lt. General (Retd.) V.R. Raghavan and Shri. Sanjoy Hazarika.
The core of the report is Part IV recommendations and Part V which are the suggested amendments to the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
The recommendations begin with a sort of statement of principles. Even if a law is not made the Central Government can nevertheless order the Army into any particular state under Article 355 of the Constitution to protect the Sate against “internal disturbances”. It can do so even without their being a request of the state government. When the Army is deployed in any state the fundamental rights of the citizens are required to be protected and they remain “sacrosanct and effective”. The deployment of the Armed Forces should be undertaken with “great care and circumspection” and ought to be “an exception and not the rule”. The Armed Forces are not to be deployed too frequently and for “long periods of time”. Keeping this in view the AFSPA is “too sketchy, too bald, and quite inadequate”. “The Act, for whatever reason, has become a symbol of oppression, an object of hate and an instrument of discrimination and high-handedness”. All this is unexceptional. The problem starts when the Committee departs from these principles when it makes its recommendations and suggest amendments.
The first conclusion of Committee is then set out thus: “It is highly desirable and advisable to repeal this Act altogether, without, of course, losing sight of the overwhelming desire of an overwhelming majority of the region that the Army should remain (though the Act should go). For that purpose, an appropriate legal mechanism has to be devised”.
To justify the transfer of the provisions of AFSPA to another statute, in this case the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAP Act), the Committee reasons in an interesting fashion as follows: “a major consequence of the proposed course would be to erase the feeling of discrimination and alienation among the people of the North-eastern States that they have been subjected to, what they call, “draconian” enactment made especially for them. The UAP Act applies to entire India including to the North-eastern States. The complaint of discrimination would then no longer be valid.”
The Committee then notices that the UAP Act “does not provide for an internal mechanism ensuring accountability of such forces with a view to guard against abuses and excesses by delinquent members of such forces… over the years many people from the region have been complaining that among the most difficult issues is the problem faced by those who seek information about family members and friends who have been picked up and detained by armed forces or security forces. There have been a large number of cases where those taken away without warrants have “disappeared”, or ended up dead or badly injured. Suspicion and bitterness have grown as a result. There is need for a mechanism which is transparent, quick and involves authorities from concerned agencies as well as civil society groups to provide information on the whereabouts of missing persons within 24 hours”.
The Committee then sets out the suggested constitution of these “Grievance Cells”. The Committee recommended that it should be composed of three persons “namely, a senior member of the local administration as its chair, a Captain of the armed/security forces and a senior member of the local police”. The role of the Grievance Cells is to “ receive complaints regarding allegations of missing persons or abuse of law by security/armed forces, make prompt enquiries and furnish information to the complainant”.
Thus it can be seen that the Grievance Cells are dominated by the Security Forces and the Police and have no power to punish at all. All that they can do is enquire into an allegation and provide information.
That is important to have a Civilian Oversight Commission along the lines prevalent in the U.K. is obvious from the fact that the principal grievance against the security forces is that there is no accountability at all and that they torture, rape and kill at will. No enquiry has ever come to light where the security forces have been severely punished. It is surprising therefore that the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee should not take this aspect of the matter seriously at all. An independent enquiry is very important for one more reason. In Appendix A Entry 24, the Committee recommends that “if on enquiry, it is found that the allegations are correct, the victim should be suitably compensated and the necessary sanction for institution of prosecution and/or a suit or other proceeding should be granted under S.6 of the Central Act”.
Obviously the word “enquiry” refers to the enquiry conducted by the Grievance Cell. If this Cell is to comprise of the very forces committing the offence, one can hardly expect anything to come out of these enquiries. The promise of compensation and prosecution is therefore illusory.
The insertion of a provision relating to Grievance Cells could possibly have an adverse impact on habeas corpus and other petitions filed in the High Courts or the Supreme Court. These courts have been regularly ordering judicial enquiries in respect of allegations of torture, executions and disappearances. Should such a clause be inserted it could well be contended that the enquiry ought to be conducted not by an independent judge but by the Grievance Cells set up under statute.
After setting out the principles that the use of the Armed Forces ought to always be for a limited period, the Committee suggests and open ended time schedule in the following manner: “while deploying the forces under sub-section (3) the Central Government shall, by a notification published in the Gazette, specifying the State or the part of the State in which the forces would operate and the period (not exceeding six months) for which the forces shall operate. At the end of the period so specified, the Central Government shall review the situation in consultation with the State Government and check whether the deployment of forces should continue and if it is to continue for which period. This review shall take place as and when it is found necessary to continue the deployment of the forces at the expiry of the period earlier specified.”
It can be seen from this that there is no limitation at all on the deployment of Armed Forces in any state nor are there any guidelines laid down apart from the general statement of principles for the deployment of the Armed Forces.
Then comes the most dangerous part where a provision is sought to be inserted which is even more pernicious than the provisions of AFSPA read together with the Supreme Court judgment in the Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights case. Simply put, the Supreme Court interpreted the provisions of AFSPA to mean that the security forces cannot substitute the civil administration and the police and are always to act “in aid of the civil power”. What this meant was clarified by the Supreme Court to include taking the police force into confidence, normally not acting without the consent of the police, at all times working in tandem, handing over suspected terrorists to the police forthwith and without interrogation.
The suggested amendments are clearly at the behest of the Security Forces who saw for themselves a larger role than merely acting “in aid of the civil power”. The Committee has qualified the clause “in aid of the civil power” by saying that the Forces will do so “to the extent feasible and practicable… However, the manner in which such forces shall conduct their operations shall be within the discretion and judgment of such forces”. The Committee further concludes that the deployment of Security Forces in any states can happen “notwithstanding that no request for such force is received from the State Government concerned”.
Then comes the clincher. The suggested provision for opening fire is so overbroad that there is no reference to opening fire in self defense or opening fire in the context of the likely commission of a terrorist offence. Mere reasonable suspicion that a person is in possession of arms is sufficient to open fire without anything more. There is no indication at all that the principle of the minimum use of force is applicable at all. A non commissioned officer can order security forces to open fire. There are no guidelines for opening fire. There are no guidelines for any enquiry to be conducted after the forces open fire and injure persons. This draconian provision suggested by the Justice Jeevan Reddy Committee is as follows: “In the course of undertaking operations mentioned in (a) above, any officer not below the rank of a non-commissioned officer, may, if it is necessary, in his judgment, for an effective conduct of operations; Use force or fire upon, after giving due warning, an individual or a group of individuals unlawfully carrying or in possession of or is reasonably suspected of being in unlawful possession of any of the articles mentioned in Section 15 of this Act.”
It can be seen from the above that the only guideline for opening fire is that the non commissioned officer must, in his judgment, feel it is necessary to do so!
The Committee suggests that the Armed Forces after arresting a person should forthwith handover such person to the police. The observation of the Committee is as follows: “if the forces deployed under sub-section (2) or sub-section (3) of Section 40A arrest any person, under the preceding section, they shall forthwith hand over such person to the officer in charge of the nearest police station.”
The word “arrest” is a dangerous loophole. The police regularly make a distinction between “detention” and “arrest” and the period between the two sometimes runs into months. Under AFSPA the Security Forces were not permitted to arrest any person. They were merely required to take a person into custody and forthwith hand that person over to the police.
One of the “do’s” suggested is that “if any person dies during the course of these operations, his dead body should be handed over immediately to the police along with the details leading to such death.” There is no requirement for an independent enquiry to be conducted. There is no punishment for torture, forced disappearances or homicide. Thus the main grievance of the people of Manipur that the Armed Forces have raped women, tortured and executed persons and caused forced disappearances has been left unattended to by the Committee.
Finally, Appendix A contains the do’s and don’ts suggested by the Supreme Court with some modifications.
ULFA cautions against casteist chauvinism By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Oct 12 – The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today cautioned the people of the State against the danger of casteist chauvinism of a section of the Assamese speaking elites. This has afflicted the society of the State in a devastating manner, alienated many of the ethnic groups and finally led to the dismembering of the State into pieces, said the militant outfit in a statement signed by its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa and e-mailed to the newspaper offices.

It has also claimed that the neo-Vaishnavism preached by Srimanta Sankaradeva had made the demand for an independent Asom more logical for keeping alive the unique heritage of the State’s people. It has denounced the attempt of some of the Assamese elites to provoke the followers of Srimanta Sankaradeva against it with the plea that the outfit had gone against the very essence of Vaishnaivism by preaching secessionism as a harmful fundamentalist approach.

The materialist approach towards history proves that Asom was never a part of India. It had only matrimonial and other friendly relations with the Indian kings. Even Emperor Ashoka, who is known for his expansionist activities, did not annex Asom to his empire. Even Harshavardhan also maintained a friendly relation with Kumar Bhaskar Barma of Kamrupa, it said.

It has also sought to refute the claim of certain quarters that being a Hindu dominated State, Asom should not opt out of the Indian union with the arguments that it was not a fact that every member of the Assamese society was a Hindu. Moreover, even if the entire lots of the Assamese-speaking people were found to be Hindu, it would be a blunder to ask them to live in a single state system. India is not the only Hindu country. Nepal being another Hindu country is maintaining its separate identity. Moreover, it is also a fact that the Christians, Buddhists and Muslims also live in separate countries. Even the people of the same origin like the British and Australians, also live in separate countries, it said.

‘NE is peaceful barring Manipur, Nagaland’ From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
SHILLONG, Oct 12 – The north-eastern region is peaceful from the security point of view, barring Manipur and Nagaland, asserted Director General of Assam Rifles Lt. Gen Paramjit Singh.

Lt. Gen Singh told a press conference after a two-day Commanders’ Conference today that Manipur remains the ‘troubled’ spot in the NE. Singh added, the Assam Rifles was maintaining utmost restraint while carrying out counter-insurgency operations in the region, although with unavoidable co-lateral damages.

The DGAR is the security advisor to the North East Council (NEC). At present AR is under the Ministry of Home Affairs. So many of the security-related decisions taken in the North East is after consultations with the AR.

On operations against North East-based insurgents in Myanmar, Singh said a meeting of the Home Ministry was held in New Delhi recently. The AR had voiced its concern regarding Indian militants using Myanmarese territory as their base.

Intelligence agencies also gave details about North East-based insurgents in Myanmar, he said, without giving much detail about the operations. “But as of now joint military operation between Indian and Myanmerse troops is ruled out,” Singh added.

The AR is providing administrative and logistic support to the army in parts of the 1,640 kilometers long Indo-Myanmar border at this juncture.

It is unclear though, if AR’s support to the army has anything to do with the operations that is reportedly being carried out in Myanmar. The DGAR added its CI operations were not affected in the ‘troubled State’ of Manipur, as some of its battalions were working under the unified command of the Army at the Indo-Myanmar border.

On Nagaland, Singh said, factional feud between the NSCN (IM) and NSCN (K) has disrupted peace in that State. “In totality the North East is peaceful,” he claimed.

'ULFA uses truce to regroup itself' By IBNlive.com


Guwahati Former intelligence officer Colonel Grewal, an expert in Northeast India, revealed to CNN-IBN that even as the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) engaged the Government in talks, foreign mercenaries have been training the ULFA in Bangladesh.

"French ex-servicemen have trained the terror elements as well as the ULFA elements in handling, using, making IEDs, using of mines and like in Bangladesh," says Colonel Grewal.

Grewal revealed the names of former French commandos who have allegedly been training the ULFA. "French para-commandoes, who have left the French army, are available in Thailand to anyone who will pay them the money. They will impart training in any part of the world," says Colonel Grewal. Chairman of the UNLF, Sanayaima, revealed that the ULFA also shares camps with other Northeast rebel groups - notably the UNLF - in Myanmar's Sagaing Division.

Sanayaima was also certain that the ULFA peacetalks would fail. "ULFA's core issue is the restoration of Assam's sovereignty. So far, the Government of India has not responded to that. If ULFA wants to survive, they'll realise that just peace talks will not bring peace," says Sanayaima.

ULFA also wanted the Government to release five of its senior leaders. Amongst those demading the release is the outfit's vice-chairman, Pradeep Gogoi. "We want the sovereignty of Assam," he says. In fact, Arup Borbora, one of the 11-member PCG appointed by ULFA to set the stage for talks with the Government, concedes that the Government was ready to discuss all issues.

"During the first round of discussions the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that there is no bar on part of the Government of India to discuss any issue or issues. As far as ULFA is concerned, it wants the issue of sovereignty should be discussed," says Borbora, a lawyer.

Strangely, talks with the PCG broke down because the ULFA refused to give a formal letter seeking the release of its leaders not over the issue of sovereignity. So, were the year-long talks just a ploy for ULFA to regroup militarily?
Army beefs up security operations following ULFA attacks By ANI
Guwahati, Oct 12 (ANI): Following attacks by the banned United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA), the scope of military operations has been enhanced in Assam's Tinsukia District.
An Army spokesperson said that the Unified Command meeting met on Wednesday and agreed to intensify its drive against the militant outfit. A decision was taken in the meeting to deploy more troops in Southern Assam, where the ULFA seems to be most active.
A number of explosions have been reported in the recent past by ULFA after New Delhi alled off its six-week ceasefire with the outfit on September 24. Deaths of at least three people and 50 injured have been reported in explosions and grenade attacks suspected to have been carried out by the ULFA on security agencies and civilians at different places in the past 15 days.
Peace talks came to a stalemate when People's Consultative Group (PCG), a group of civil society leaders nominated by the ULFA to mediate for talks, pulled out of the peace negotiations, accusing the Centre of calling off the truce. More than 10,000 people have lost their lives to insurgency in Assam during the past two decades. (ANI)
Apunba Lup calls bandh on the day President is to arrive The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Oct 12: The Working Committee of the Apunba Lup has called a 5-hours statewide generall strike on the day the President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam is to visit the state on October 16.

The general strike will be effective from 5am to 2pm of October 16, a statement of the WCAL said saying the strike is being called to boycott the visit by head of the country to Manipur.

Giving reason for calling the boycott, the WCAL said the strike has been called against continued imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, state sponsored terrorism and use of forces against democratic movement of the people to get the draconian legislation repealed.

Asserting that the strike has been called for the causes of the people of Manipur, the WCAL urged people to extend support to the general strike.

The WCAL also appeal people to extend cooperation and take part in tomorrow`s rally cum protest-sit-ins to be staged in every district.

Three leading students bodies in the state namely the AMSU, DESAM and the Kangleipak Students Association have also boycotted President`s visit, saying welcoming head of the country is meaningless while people of Manipur continue to suffer due to imposition of draconian legislations like AFSPA.

Meanwhile, amidst the renewed agitation by the people to get the Armed Forces Special Powers Act repealed, the Manipur Peoples Party has called for convening a special session of the Manipur Legislative Assembly so that political parties in the state could arrived at a concrete decision on the issue of withdrawal of the AFSPA.

The MPP president Dr. L Chandramani has sent a letter in this regard to the chief minister O Ibobi Singh today urging him to convene a meeting for all the political parties in Manipur.

Expressing strong concern over Sharmila`s health, the MPP president in his letter to the chief minister said saving the life of the hunger striker has become the responsibility of the political parties. The MPP leader also said that political parties in the state should leave aside individual differences and acknowledge the need to mount pressure to the government of India for early implementation of the Justice Reddy report.

In the meantime, protest-sit-ins with the slogans Sharmila, repeal AFSPA and stop state terrorism continue unabated as more and more organisations and people joining the renewed agitation fueled by Sharmila`s relentless agitation at New Delhi.

Today, Rickshaw pullers demonstrated their solidarity to Sharmila by staging protest-sit-ins at various places. Large number of Rickshaw puller were seen staging protest-sit-ins in front of Johnstone Higher Secondary School. Such protests were also seen at Dharamsala, Thangal Bazar, Khongnang Ani Karak, Palace Gate, Khurai Lamlong bazar, JN Hospital, RIMS gate, Singjamei bazar etc.
The demonstrations by Rickshaw pullers were held under the aegis of All Manipur Rickshaw Drivers and Owners Association.
Various local organisations and Meira Paibis also staged protest-sit-ins to show solidarity to Sharmila`s demand for repeal of the AFSPA ending state sponsored terrorism in Manipur.

NCP demands removal of AFSPA The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Oct 12: The Nationalist Congress Party, NCP, Manipur Pradesh today staged a dharna at the Thangmeiband Khoyathong Andolan Keithel expressing solidarity with Irom Sharmila`s agitation at New Delhi demanding the removal of AFSPA from the state. The NCP Manipur Pradesh president Radhabinod Koijam told mediapersons that today`s dharna was staged to highlight the Ibobi Singh led SPF government`s failure on every front of governance.

The Youth Nationalist Congress General Secretary and in-charge of the Northeast Vinod Sinha also took part in the sit-in protest. Reiterating that Sharmila`s six year old agitation demanding the removal of AFSPA from the state is not for her selfish ends but for the cause of the people of Manipur, Radhabinod Koijam said the AFSPA should be removed and Sharmila`s life should be saved. The president also demanded that the recommendations of Jeevan Reddy Review Committee on AFSPA should be made public.

He further said that while developmental activties have come to a standstill, the SPF government is unable even to safeguard the lives of innocent citizens. Looking at the prevailing law and order situation it seems the state is being run without a government, he observed.

Stating that the state government`s arrogance is evident from Thabi and Umakanta`s episode, he questioned the wisdom of the state government in arresting innocent people at will.

Stating that the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh`s recent statement that 40 percent of the northeast is crisis prone area is a cause of concern, Radhabinod Koijam said it amounts to saying that there is no Congress-led government in the region and in one way it is a judgment on the performance of the SPF government. Expressing concern over the increasing gap between the people of the hills and valley, Radhabinod Koijam said that NCP stands for the integrity of Manipur and communal harmony in the state.

Stating that he has no personal grudges against Ibobi Singh, he said his love for Manipur is greater than his love for Ibobi and the SPF government`s failure should be highlighted. The state government has failed to punish the guilty on many counts. It is unsuccessful in apprehending the culprits involved in ISKON and Churachandpur bomb blasts. The sacked part time lecturers of government colleges are on strike and the students are suffering but the government is unable to to come up with any solution to resolve the issue. He also announced that NCP will employ various forms of agitation in the near future to highlight the inefficiency of SPF`s governance.