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10/23/2006: "Naga talks in Amsterdam fail, NSCN-IM for self-governance Indo-Asian News Service Dimapur, Nagaland, Hindustan Times"

Naga talks in Amsterdam fail, NSCN-IM for self-governance Indo-Asian News Service Dimapur, Nagaland, October 22, 2006 Hindustan Times
Talks held in Amsterdam between Indian peace negotiators and a dominant tribal separatist group in the northeast failed with the government rejecting demands for self-governance, a rebel leader said on Sunday.
A group of senior Indian officials, led by Minister Oscar Fernandes and New Delhi's main peace interlocutor K Padmanabhaiah, ended three-days of talks on Thursday with leaders of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), the main rebel group in Nagaland.
"The government of India has failed to make their point explicitly clear on our demand for a special federal arrangement that allows us self-governance. Such insensitivity by New Delhi will jeopardise future peace initiatives," NSCN-IM spokesman Kraibo Chawang said.
The NSCN-IM, led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, have proposed "a special federal arrangement" which enables Nagas to govern themselves.
There has been no official statement made by New Delhi after the Amsterdam talks.
"We want a special federal relationship with India where we have a separate Naga Constitution. It should be a federation of India and Nagalim (Greater Nagaland), although we would allow the international borders to be jointly guarded by Indian security forces and our soldiers so as not to jeopardise the security interests of India," Chawang said.
"Nothing concrete has materialised in the Amsterdam talks and we are disappointed."
The NSCN-IM has been struggling for nearly six decades to create a 'Greater Nagaland' by slicing off parts of three neighbouring states to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The demand is strongly opposed by neighbouring states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The NSCN-IM and the central government entered into a ceasefire in August 1997 which has been renewed regularly. The present ceasefire expires in June 2007.
"The government of India is trying to tire out the Nagas by dragging the peace process. It is more than nine years and the government does not have any clear agenda to solve the problem," the rebel leader said. "The Nagas are getting restless by the day."
India and the NSCN-IM have held more than 50 rounds of peace talks in the past nine years to end one of South Asia's longest-running insurgencies that has claimed around 25,000 lives since 1947.
Naga rebels say India insincere at peace talks By Reuters
Monday October 23, 03:45 PM By Biswajyoti Das
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah) blamed the government on Monday for lack of progress in long-running peace talks, saying New Delhi was not sincere about addressing their key demands.
The NSCN-IM, fighting for an independent homeland for the mainly Christian Naga people, held a new round of talks with government negotiators for three days in Amsterdam last week.
But no details were released.
"India is trying to test our patience by prolonging the peace process. Such attitude of the Indian government will put at risk all peace initiatives in the region," Rh. Raising, a senior NSCN-IM leader, told Reuters.
The talks are mainly stuck over rebel demands to integrate all Naga dominated areas in the restive northeast region into a single state and their right to self-rule.
There was no comment from New Delhi over the outcome of the latest round of talks and officials said a statement could be expected after the negotiators brief senior government leaders.
More than 20,000 were killed in the conflict before the rebels and the government agreed to a truce in 1997. The ceasefire has held but the two sides have failed to find a political settlement to the revolt that began in 1947.
If the "casual attitude" of Indian officials continued, peace talks would prove futile and that would be expensive to both sides, Naga leader Raising said.
"We are sincere and committed in our efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the Indo-Naga problem, whereas India is committed to peace talks only in letter and not in spirit," Raising said.
Security analysts say peace with the Nagas is crucial to a broader peace in the northeast -- seven states connected to the rest of India by a thin strip of land and home to dozens of insurgent groups.
No headway in Amsterdam Naga talks Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR/NEW DELHI, OCT 22 (IANS): Talks held in Amsterdam between Indian peace negotiators and the NSCN (IM) failed with the government rejecting demands for self-governance, an NSCN (IM) leader said Sunday. A group of senior Indian officials led by Minister Oscar Fernandes and New Delhi's main peace interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah, ended three-days of talks Thursday with leaders of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), the main rebel group in Nagaland.
"The government of India has failed to make their point explicitly clear on our demand for a special federal arrangement that allows us self-governance. Such insensitivity by New Delhi will jeopardise future peace initiatives," NSCN (IM) spokesman Kraibo Chawang told IANS. The NSCN (IM) has a proposed "a special federal arrangement" which enables the Nagas to govern themselves. There has been no official statement made by New Delhi after the Amsterdam talks.
"We want a special federal relationship with India where we have a separate Naga Constitution. It should be a federation of India and Nagalim (Greater Nagaland), although we would allow the international borders to be jointly guarded by Indian security forces and our soldiers so as not to jeopardise the security interests of India," Chawang said.
"Nothing concrete has materialised in the Amsterdam talks and we are disappointed."
Meanwhile, another NSCN (IM) leader has expressed displeasure over the government's "delaying tactics" in finding a solution to its demands, saying the government was testing the Naga people's patience for too long.
"People in Nagaland are getting impatient and it is definitely not a good sign," said senior NSCN (IM) leader R.H. Raising Sunday. He said the latest round of peace parleys with Indian peace negotiators that ended Friday in Amsterdam was not conclusive.
"It was the same old story. We forwarded our points to which the government did not give any concrete answers. Both sides just ended up defending their respective positions," Raising told IANS over phone from Nagaland's commercial hub Dimapur.
"We are firm and committed in our stand and the government knows it quite well. Still there is no sincerity on their part."
He said the presence of international experts - Michael van Walt van Praag of the Netherlands-based NGO Kreddha; Anthony Regan, a constitutional adviser in Papua New Guinea and Yash Ghai, a renowned constitutional lawyer and professor at the University of Hong Kong - at the parleys helped in keeping the peace process afloat. The NSCN (IM) has been fighting for nearly six decades to create a 'Greater Nagaland' by slicing off parts of three neighbouring states to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The demand is strongly opposed by the states of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The NSCN (IM) and New Delhi entered into a ceasefire in August 1997, which has been renewed regularly. The present ceasefire expires in June 2007.
Central minister Oscar Fernandes headed the government side at Amsterdam, while the NSCN (IM) was led by guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah.Raising said: "Something has to be done very soon so that the peace process does not derail".
Debunking the Myth of Headhunting By Tezenlo Thong Kuknalim.com

Is the choice of early Nagas to build their villages on hilltops or ridges in any way related to the alleged widespread and deeply entrenched practices of headhunting? Western colonial writers have often postulated that...

the Nagas chose to establish their dwellings on hilltops because the practice had the advantage of having natural protections from headhunting raids. Unfortunately, we Nagas have come to imbibe this dubious claim of our erstwhile colonizers. I’d like to argue that this proposition is misleading and, then, present plausible alternatives or counter-narratives on why our foreparents chose to establish their settlements on hilltops.

The notion that the culture of the Other was exotic, queer, barbaric and savage was a prominent characteristic of the colonizer. This idea or presumption of the exotic Other intrigued White people to take frequent exploration trips or expeditions to distant lands or peoples. Likewise, Western colonizers came with the idea in their mind that the Nagas were fierce headhunters. A Dutch anthropologist, Christoph von Furer-Haimendorf, for instance, acknowledged that he wanted to travel to the Naga tribes to the “east and north-east” because of the fact that the region was “unexplored” and “feuds and head-hunting were still the order of the day” (See The Naked Nagas: Head-hunters of Assam in Peace and War [1978], p. 4). With this preconceived colonial mindset, they went on to look for any cultural practices or hints among the Nagas to authenticate their claim that the Nagas were indeed headhunters. Finding most Naga villages located on hilltops was enough to confirm the presumed existence of headhunting culture. If this is truly the case, we also might find a reason or two – related to slave trade, colonization, genocide, lynching, etc. – on why Euro-Americans built their settlements on the plains.

I’d like to suggest and delineate some alternative reasons on why the Nagas chose to situate their settlements on hilltops. First, there is a geographical reason. Given the steep terrain of the physical landscape of “the hills people,” as the Nagas were known among the plains peoples and foreign invaders, hilltops provided the best choice to build settlements. In other words, the Naga landscape hardly offers valleys or lowlands big enough to establish villages. On careful study, one will observe that most Naga villages are unusually elongated along the ridges, with almost no breadth. Most villages are built along mountain ridges, with normally two houses facing each other in a long row, and a village path runs in between the houses from one end of the village to the other. It only makes sense, then, that the ancient Nagas preferred to build their settlements on hilltops rather than on precipices or cliffs.

If, in the first instance, building settlements on hilltops was necessitated by the given precipitous physical settings, the second reason is deeply embedded in the culture of the people. Situating one’s village on a higher elevation has many advantages than in a valley or lowland area and has deep cultural significance on a daily basis. Several cultural reasons may be cited here. Closely related to the geographical landscape is the reason related to the climatic condition of the Naga inhabited areas. A village situated on a hilltop receives more or longer duration of sunshine than one that is located on a lowland or valley, especially in winter. Drying crops was and is almost a daily routine for the Nagas. For instance, before pounding the rice in preparation for a family meal, the rice has to be “dried” in direct sunlight for hours. Moreover, as a way of preserving and preparing for a long winter, certain crops are dried and stored, which otherwise cannot be kept for a day or two. Also, winter is long and cold throughout the entire Naga homeland, but the ancient Nagas did not have the luxury of warm and fancy clothes. Nor did they have a heating system that kept their houses warm. The wise selection of a village site, therefore, becomes crucial for these various reasons.

Yet another cultural reason why the Nagas chose the hilltop for their settlement is because it provided them with the advantage of taking a bird’s eye view of the surrounding areas, and the ability to do so from such a vantage point had almost daily practical implications. First, it provides the advantage of overlooking the entire landscape, and communal decisions on which area to cultivate for the coming years are taken. Second, the Naga “recreational” lifestyle consisted of the pursuit of game animals and birds, fishing and gathering. Locating one’s village on a high point provides the benefit of overlooking the region and determining where such activities can be pursued, an advantage that is not possible for someone settled on a relatively low ground. Third, settlement of land disputes is done sometimes by looking at the disputed area from the village. Arbitrators visit the spot only if the disputing parties fail to reach an agreement from distance. Finally, sometimes paddy fields are attended to from one’s village from destruction by animals, especially domesticated ones.

One way to deconstruct and belie colonial myths is to construct counter-narratives and reconstruct our traditional or cultural narratives by ourselves, because colonial myths, stereotypes or portraits, projected by the colonizer, are often introjected by the colonized and become the image through which we see and under stand ourselves. Such introjection inevitably leads to self-primitivization and self-alienation. The colonial portrayal that the Nagas were once “fierce headhunters” has, thus far, come to deeply associate with the discourse on Naga culture. This piece, therefore, is an attempt to critique the discourse on the alleged “culture of headhunting” among the early Nagas.

Vandals Strike Again Source: IMPHAL FREE PRESS Posted: 2006-10-23 Kangla editorial

The audacity was bewildering. The contempt of public opinion, outrageous. And yet this is the shape of Manipur’s brand of street politics, a phenomenon renowned political theorist, the late Karl Popper called, “mobocracy”. In total disregard of public reaction to the burning down of the Manipur State Central Library building along with its treasure of lakhs of books last year, many of which rare ones, arsonists again did virtually a ditto two days ago, burning down the administrative blocks of DM College and Imphal College, two of the oldest colleges in the state, the first named especially having a monumental presence in the pages of Manipur’s history of modern education. The college’s alumni from the 1960s would virtually be a who’s who, not just of Manipur, but of neighbouring states like Nagaland and Mizoram as well. Its reputation was once upon a time awesome, and before the founding of the Manipur University in the 1970, and the college was still affiliated with the Gauhati University, in science subjects, it probably ranked the best, or at least one of the two top colleges, the other contender being Cotton College of Guwahati. In a mindless act of mindless vandals, this was the historical edifice that was sought to be destroyed. To anybody who respects education or history, even thoughts of such acts would not have occurred even in their wildest dreams. By contrast, during the heights of the World War II, when the entire Europe was devastated by bombers, cities like Vienna, considered the cradle of European civilization, housing some of the best known institutions and artefacts representing that civilization, were left untouched by either side of the bitterly warring nations. Sadly, no nuanced and deep-rooted understanding of history and historicity of institutions of the kind in wild Manipur. It is such a cruel irony that the vandalism of two days ago was ostensibly in the name of promoting education.

Nobody has claimed responsibility for the carnage. Probably nobody would, as in so many other instances before, such as the ISKCON bombing. In all probability again, the state police would not be able to unravel the crime or bring the criminals behind them to book, and as has become their wont, close the case without bringing it to a logical conclusion. Easing the pressure on them to do otherwise, would be the fact that in a few days from now, public attention would be drawn away to something else, and quite understandably so in a place where the macabre has become routine. The protest rallies will die down and hibernate at least till the next time another cause for more rallies erupts. And so the state will continue to live from rally to rally, protest to protest. What misery this really is, but everybody seems to have resigned to the fate. Another huge scar has been carved on the face of Manipur, and there would be no effort to seek justice. Much less there would be no demonstration of the presence of the law and order machinery not only to shock and awe future potential wrongdoers, but also to give confidence and morale to the public at large. We hope we are wrong. We hope the law and order mechanism does swing back into action and comes up with something that can make the present case a deterrent for all future vandalism.
In the meantime, at least on the count of the present move to clean up the higher education scenario, the government’s effort needs to be understood and appreciated. The cleaning up process is not going to be easy or painless, after all the wrongs have already taken deep roots. Let recruitment of teachers, who are by far the most important social engineers and architects, be done solely on the basis of merit and qualification. In the education reformation process, instilling confidence amongst the citizenry that the educational institutions in the state are run by the best available talents, and not by the biggest bribe givers, is important. They must feel safe that their children are in safe hands in these institutions, and would learn the skills and knowledge that would put them at a par with their peers from anywhere in the world.
Who suffers when the rich and /or businessmen are kidnapped for extortion Northeast Herald
Nagaland, one of the insurgency affected state in the north east is seldom heard in the field of business and industries. The state is rich in agro based products which forms back bone of its economy. Due to insurgency and its geographical position, not many businessmen and corporate houses are keen to set up their production units in the state. Hence, the business class constitutes mainly of traders, dealers and distributors who import various items and sell them in the market.
The business in the state is dominated by the non-Nagas or outsiders as referred by the locals. These businessmen hail from northern states namely Rajasthan, Gujarat and Punjab with few from UP, Bihar and Bengal. They are settled mainly in major town and cities. Apart from paying various taxes to the government, these people pay hefty amount to the NSCN (IM), NSCN (K) and FGN in the name of contribution towards the Naga aspirations. Though these groups have signed ceasefire agreement with government, their activities are continuing unabated. Anybody not fulfilling the demand of the groups is threatened of dire consequences which may extend up to kidnap or death penalty. Hence, the businessmen always live under the constant threat of demand notes by one faction or the other.
In recent month, there were reported incidents of Chinese grenade blast in four different shops in Dimapur market, the commercial hub of the state. After detailed interrogation, it was observed that these were the warning issued by a particular faction to fulfill its extortion demands. In the past, three were cases of businessmen kidnapped by NSCN cadres who were released only after hefty sums were paid to them. As a result of these extortion demands and insurgency related incidents, not many people are forthcoming to establish their business in the state. The existing shop owners sell their goods with inflated price to recover their money. Hence, the items available in the market are always costlier than elsewhere in India. Also due to growing extortion demand, traders are not keen to expand their business.
One of the outcomes of this insurgency is the industrial backwardness which is the cause of growing unemployment in the state. With hardly any employment opportunities available for the youth, they opt the easiest option of joining one of the factions and lead unsettled life.
Due to history of prolonged insurgency and its related problems, it can be concluded that the only victim of the insurgency is common man, who is paying heavy price for all this problems. He has to pay more for items avail in the market and is always concerned about the future of their children.
We must understand that economy is the strength of a state and nation. Economy cannot grow without business community. All those who target the business community hit the business interest of the state and indirectly deny economic freedom and strengthening of Nagaland. We must endeavour to understand and differentiate between friends and foes of the society.
Yeptho K. Chishi A.G. Colony
The chilli so hot you need gloves BY SIMON DE BRUXELLES TIMES OF INDIA
THE world’s hottest chilli pepper does not come from a tropical hot spot where the locals are impervious to its fiery heat but a smallholding in deepest Dorset. Some chillis are fierce enough to make your eyes water. Anyone foolhardy enough to eat a whole Dorset Naga would almost certainly require hospital treatment. The pepper, almost twice as hot as the previous record- holder, was grown by Joy and Michael Michaud in a poly- tunnel at their market garden. The couple run a business called Peppers by Post and spent four years developing the Dorset Naga.
They knew the 2cm-long specimens were hot because they had to wear gloves and remove the seeds outdoors when preparing them for drying, but had no idea they had grown a record-breaker.
Some customers complained the peppers were so fiery that even half a small one would make a curry too hot to eat. Others loved them and the Michauds sold a quarter of a million Dorset Nagas last year. At the end of last season Mrs Michaud sent a sample to a laboratory in America out of curiosity. The owner had never tested anything like it.
According to Mrs Michaud, the hottest habañero peppers popular in chilli-eating competitions in the US generally measure about 100,000 units on the standard Scoville scale, named after its inventor, Wilbur Scoville, who developed it in 1912. At first the scale was a subjective taste test but it later developed into the measure of capsaicinoids present. The hottest chilli pepper in The Guinness Book of Records is a Red Savina habañero with a rating of 570,000 Scoville Heat Units (SHU). Mrs Michaud was stunned when the Dorset Naga gave a reading of nearly 900,000SHU. A fresh sample was sent to a lab in New York used by the American Spice Trade Association and recorded a mouth-numbing 923,000SHUs. Mrs Michaud said: “The man in the first lab was so excited — he’d never had one even half as hot as that. The second lab took a long time because they were checking it carefully as it was so outrageously high.”
The Dorset Naga was grown from a plant that originated in Bangladesh. The Michauds bought their original plant in an oriental store in Bournemouth. Mrs Michaud said: “We weren’t even selecting the peppers for hotness but for shape and flavour. There is an element of machismo in peppers that we aren’t really interested in. When the results of the heat tests came back I was gobsmacked.”
The couple are now seeking Plant Variety Protection from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, which will mean that no one else can sell the seeds. Mrs Michaud, 48, has run the company with her husband at West Bexington, near Dorchester, for ten years. Mr Michaud, 56, has been a regular on the television chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage series, advising on vegetable growing. Anyone wanting to try the Dorset Naga will have to be patient as chillis are harvested only from July on. In Bangladesh the chillies grow in temperatures of well over 100F (38C) but in Dorset they thrive in polytunnels.
Aktar Miha, from the Indus Bangladeshi restaurant in Bournemouth, said that even in its home country the naga chilli was treated with respect. “It is used in some cooking, mainly with fish curries, but most people don’t cook with it. They hold it by the stalk and just touch their food with it,” he said. “It has a refreshing smell and a very good taste but you don’t want too much of it. It is a killer chilli and you have to be careful and wash your hands and the cutting board. If you don’t know what you are doing it could blow your head off.”
Quit notice: Nothing wrong Nagarealm.com
There is completely nothing wrong or illegal in the "Quit Notice" issued to Tangkhuls by various regions/tribe of the Nagas.
It is deep rooted and well established tradition and custom of the Nagas that had been practiced since time immemorial-that if any person migrated to another village from his native village on various grounds, he can live in his newly adopted village as long as his modes of living are compatible to that of the indigenous villagers. But once his presence in that said village proves to be negative in social, economic and political lives of the villagers, he is asked to leave at once, and that person practically will have no say in that matter, but to comply with it. The same yardstick is applied to any foreigner, whether big or small, coming to India with Indian visa, if his presence in India produces negative effect. And the same person will have no say, but to leave India. This need not be proved or argued otherwise.

The migration of Tangkhuls to Nagaland is of very recent development which took place after the declaration of Naga independence on the 14 August, 1947. But, their coming into the Naga society had negative effects on the Naga people. And of late, the Naga people have experienced and witnessed untold miseries, particularly unceasing bloodshed among the Nagas. Therefore, the Nagas have issued "Quit Notice" to Tangkhuls to leave Nagaland safe and sound right from the middle of August 2006. Now it is running three months since the issuing of the quit notice. So, if the Tangkhuls defy or adopt confrontational attitudes, Naga society is headed for more trouble and bloodshed and the responsibility will solely rest upon the opportunist individual or groups who are supporting the anti-quit notice campaign. There is no wrong or illegality in the quit notice under the purview of neither the national, international laws nor statutes

Secretary, MIP, GPRN, NSCN (K) [Source : nagalandpost]
FROM HOT TO NOT Scoville Heat Units
Pure capsaicin: 15m to 16m US Police-grade pepper spray: 5m Dorset Naga: 923,000 Red Savina habanero: 577,000 Scotch bonnet: 100,000-325,000 Jamaican hot pepper: 100,000-200,000 Cayenne pepper: 30,000-50,000 Jalapeno pepper: 2,500-8,000 Tabasco sauce: 2,500 Pimento: 100 to 500 Bell pepper: 0
The elusive peace Assam Tribune editorial
Army operations and acts of violence by the members of the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) have again deteriorated the situation and the issue of talks between the Government and the militant outfit seem to be relegated to the background. However, the Government of India should not close the doors for talks with the militant group and fresh political initiative to bring the ULFA to the negotiation table should be launched as it has been proved beyond doubt that the problem of militancy cannot be solved through Army operations. The Army operations can, at best, manage to keep the situation under control and prevent the militants from carrying out subversive activities. Of course, the Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil recently assured the members of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his Ministry that the Government was ready to carry forward the peace process if the ULFA shuns violence as violence and talks cannot go side by side. He also reportedly told the committee that the Government of India believed in peaceful resolution of the problems and the Government was forced to resume Army operations because of the situation in the State. He termed the deadlock in the peace process as a temporary setback and hoped that the outfit would shun violence and come for talks. The Union Home Minister’s statement clarified the stand of the Government on the issue of talks and it is evident that the process would not be carried forward if the ULFA continues its acts of violence.

The Government of India, in a positive gesture, suspended the operations against the ULFA with effect from August 13 to create a congenial atmosphere for talks and the peaceful celebration of the Independence Day raised hopes for direct talks between the Government and the ULFA for a political settlement to the problem. But the ULFA reportedly indulged in large scale extortions by taking advantage of the suspension of operations, which resulted in the resumption of operations, following which, the ULFA also indulged in acts of violence including blasts in different parts of the State. If the ULFA is really serious on the issue of talks with the Government of India, it should have refrained from indulging in any unlawful activity during the period of suspension of operations in the interest of maintaining a congenial atmosphere for political dialogue. However, all is still not lost and both the Government and the ULFA should respect the sentiments of the people of the State and come forward for direct talks by adopting a policy of give and take for restoration of permanent peace in the State. Though the people’s consultative group (PCG), formed by the ULFA to hold initial parleys with the Government to pave the way for direct talks, has withdrawn from the peace process alleging lack of sincerity on the part of the Government, it is still hopeful of a political resolution to the problem, which is a positive sign. The Government should also start fresh talks with the PCG to keep the peace process alive and to bring the ULFA to the negotiation table. Different organisations in the State are calling upon the Government to start talks with the ULFA and the People’s Committee for Peace Initiatives in Assam (PCPIA), an umbrella body of 25 different organisations already launched a State wide movement to put pressure on the Government to hold direct talks with the ULFA. The two Chief coordinators of the PCPIA are also members of the PCG and the Government should initiate parleys with them and request the PCG and PCPIA to appeal to the ULFA to shun violence to carry forward the peace process. The Government should also issue strict instructions to the Army not to harass innocent citizens while launching operations against the militants as such incidents result in deterioration of the situation in the State.
The bandh culture — Dr Jyotsna Bhattacharjee Assam Tribune Editorial
It is no use calling bandhs to show resentment. They are only making the life of common people unbearable. After all, a poor State like Asom cannot afford the luxury of so many bandhs. Asom has been reeling under the impact of all these bandhs, which are called at the drop of a hat. You wake up one fine morning, planning a busy schedule for the day, only to learn at breakfast that somebody or other has given a bandh call and to your exasperation down goes all you planning. And truly the name ‘Asom’ suits our State to the letter – since none can equal it in the matter of bandhs. Our State is considered as backward. Leave aside foreigners – even many people in our own country seem to be totally ignorant of this insignificant land of ours. We have no industry worth the name nor any achievement to boast of. Only some people are aware that this State is very rich in natural resources. But inspite of having abundant natural resources, our State is not progressing at all, while other States are making rapid progress in all the spheres by leaps and bounds. But though Asom may be lagging behind other States in industry technology, and prosperity, at least in the matter of bandhs it has beaten other States hollow and has won hands down. It has became the speciality of political parties and various other organisations, who want cheap popularity and publicity by these gimmicks. Perhaps they want their fading image to be revived by these tricks. The greed for fame may be at the root of all these devices for recognition.

In recent years the State has gene through unprecedent violence, and terrorism has gnawed the very root of this land of ours. Violence has become a part of our life and killing of innocent people has become a game. The present society is steeped in violence upto its neck. Despite all these bandhs, peace rallies, protest meetings, demonstrations etc., violence is continuing unabated. Whenever something happens, even when nothing happens, a bandh call is given by some organisation or the other, and the State machinery comes to a grinding halt. Issues may be non–existent–it is easy to make an issue out of a non-issue and this is what these parties and organisations are doing. All these organisations are harping on peace and are doing more harm than good by calling these bandhs. Actually bandhs do not bring peace, they bring more disasters. For initiating a peace process we need an ideal atmosphere of tranquillity and a mind, free from hassles. These bandhs do not solve any problem – rather they aggravate them ten-told and are harmful in the long run. Our State has been burning since a long time. Bullets and peace cannot go together. So many parents have lost their children, so any women have lost their parents – that we have lost count of them. The people of the State are in a daze. Killing of innocent people has become a pastime for the terrorists, and in the midst of all this mayhem our vision has become blurred and confused. We have become so used to these heinous crimes that they just do not affect us any more. The newspapers and TV channels daily feed us with glory incidents, occurring in the various parts of the country – and we shallow them all without a blink. In view of this fact we can very well say that man has lost his huminity.

Majority of the people want cessation of violence and return of peace and for that sincere collective effort of all the people is needed. But a bandh cannot bring peace or happiness in any way. We have seen that it is very easy to give a bandh call – any issue, big or small, or even an imagined one is enough for various political parties and the organisations to call for a bandh. But they do not serve any purpose what so ever – rather they bring more misery, more suffering and more chaos. We have perfected the bandh – culture – and for us ‘bandh’ means a paid holiday. But whether it benefits any body is another matter. But who cars? As far as we can see, only political parties or organisations gain benefit by getting publicity, which is their goal. Self-interest – eggs them on to keep their names alive in public memory, by these bandh calls and they have neither any regard for the people nor for the State. Our State has a surfeit of holidays – add to that all these frequent bandhs – and the total number of paid holidays they make is mind – boggling.

Many people, of course, welcome these bandhs, as they imply “no work” and they plan the unexpected paid holiday accordingly, being prepared for any eventuality. They stock their fridge with the choicest food, procure cassettes of some popular pictures and get ready to enjoy the holiday. It is fun for them. But some people obey the bandh call with utmost reluctance. They are the trading community for whom it implies a huge loss, but still there is no option. They down their shutters because they fear the wrath of the organisers of the bandh and their supporters, who think that their demand should be treated as royal command. There is nothing voluntary about it and nobody actually supports the bandh. They obey the order, because they have to. For the common people it is a “do or die situation”. In this age when bullets are showered on innocent people like confetti, none can say what will happen if they ignore the bandh call. Hence it is prudence, which rules their activities.

The funniest part is that a large section of the people do not even know the reason for the bandh, nor are they interested. And the miscreants take full advantage of the situation to indulge in throwing stones on any vehicle they see on the road or in assaulting people, who disobey the bandh call. They are hooligans and derive what pleasure they can get by destroying other’s property. Hence to avoid these atrocities, the business houses down their shutters and people remain indoor. Obviously these acts do not demonstrate any support for the bandh and the bandh organisers delude themselves by declaring that it was a total success.

Perhaps these organisers do not know or do not want to know what hardship these bandhs bring to the common people. The educational institutions remain closed, which is harmful to the students. The attendance in various offices becomes thin and life comes to a standstill. One shudders to think what might happen to a patient who needed emergency medical treatment on that very day of the bandh. It also causes immense difficulties for the arrangement of any wedding or functions. Actually instead of bringing relief, these bandhs aggravate the problems.

For the leaders it is easy to give a bandh-call from their well-equipped offices. But it causes tremendous suffering to the common people at large – specially to those whose daily bread depends on their daily earning, for them a day without work means a day without food. We can well imagine the condition of these poor people, whose children may have a strave on the day of the bandh. The leaders are apparently unaware of the sufferings of the poor people.

Because of this bandh culture, investors dare not invest their hard-earned money in our State, thereby depriving thousands of people from getting employment. Some time back, Henry V Jardine commented that bandhs are disturbing and disruptive. Speaking at an interactive session on “West Bengal : An Emerging Investment Destination”, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industries, he remarked, “Bandhs are disturbing, not just because people are denied basic public services. What is even more disturbing is the very negation of future prosperity, a resounding “no” to investment and “no” to future jobs”. What is applicable to West Bengal may very well be applicable to our own State as well. If the present situation continues, Asom may not have the chance to progress in near future. It is a pity that the leaders of these political parties or the various organisations are totally unconcerned about the plight of the people. They are busy getting cheap publicity by cheap methods. But people are not so gullible any more and can see through the game of these sham leaders and know that their crocodile tears for the suffering of the down-trodden mean absolutely nothing. After all, they may fool some people for some time, but not all the people all the time. The organisers of these bandhs should realise that bandhs do not bring peace, rather they hamper the peace process. Violence erupts due to degeneration of moral values. No human being has the right to snatch away another’s precious life. Human life is short – why shorten it forcibly? We must realise that tear of every one is same and so is blood.

What is needed at the moment is sincere effort on the part of everyone to come together and to find ways to bring peace to our beloved land – without any craving for publicity. It is no use calling bandhs to show resentment. They are only making the life of common people unbearable. After all, a poor State like Asom cannot afford the luxury of so many bandhs.
1 GRPF constable killed, 5 injured in Assam militant attack By ANI
Sunday October 22, 01:09 PM
Udalguri (Assam), Oct 22 (ANI): A Government Railway Police Force (GRPF) personnel was killed and fiver others, including civilians, were injured in a militant attack on a train in Udalguri district of Assam last night. According to police, some unidentified militants fired at Arunachal Express at Khoirabari Railway Station in Udalguri, killing GRPF constable Ratul Sharma. Two other GRPF personnel Harendra Nath Sharma and Bipin Das were injured in the firing along with three passengers, who were identified as Mohan Basumatari, Partha Saha and Krishna Sen. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Khanin Sharma said that there was no power at the station when the incident took place. The injured have been admitted to a hospital in Tangla and an investigation has been ordered into the case, police said. (ANI)
AFSPA reveiw report copies available in Imphal The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Oct 22: Though it is yet to be officially made public, copies of the report of the committee to review the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, 1958 are now available in Manipur.
The copies are report are available at Hansome Book House, Keishampat Junction in Imphal against a payment of Rs 100. Producing a copy of the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission before mediaperson today, executive director of the Human Rights Alert, Babloo Loitongbam appeals people to get copy of the report and study it for indept analysis which could ultimately heighten people`s movement to get the AFSPA repealed. Babloo also disclosed that films about the 1000 women who were jointly nominated for Nobel Peace prizes will be exhibited at JNM Dance Academy, Imphal. during October 31 to November 2, 2006. During the exhibition, films about Irom Chanu Sharmila`s six years of relentless struggle will also be screened, Babloo said and appealed to the people to avail this rare opportunity at free of costs. The Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission had indeed recommended for repeal of the AFSPA, but the report has erroneously mentioned that Sharmila begun her struggle for repeal of the extraordinary legislation from 2001, which however should have been 2000, Babloo said. Though the report was submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs few days after the committee made its final preparation on June 6, 2005, no effort was made by the MHA to table it to the Union Cabinet, Babloo said adding even the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was unaware about the report.