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10/24/2006: "Naga rebels say India insincere at peace talks Biswajyoti Das Reuters"
Naga rebels say India insincere at peace talks Biswajyoti Das Reuters
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.
Speak truth, work for truth: NNC Youth President The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, OCT 23 (MExN): Youth President of the Naga National Council C Chonghou has urged Naga youths to ‘speak the truth and work f or the truth’ only. “Today, youths of Nagaland are to be proud of as free men and as a free nation.
This is only because our forefathers had sagaciously founded our nation on the rock of truth. We, therefore, have the right to stand for the truth and work for it. And the truth is our right to achieve our national goal. But when we fail to uphold it, we will become a mare of the enemy and at last, we will be defeated by the enemy,” C Chonghou cautioned.
Asserting that Nagas are not Indians and Nagaland does not belong to India, he said “the Nagas are a sovereign independent nation since time immemorial and this age-old independence of Nagaland was formally declared to the outside world by the NNC on August 14, 1947, which was reaffirmed by conducting the Naga national plebiscite on May 16, 1951.
Since then the Nagas are upholding this national principle annunciated by the plebiscite, and in this running history, the Nagas have no treaty, accord or agreement with India or other nations which might tantamount to sell out Naga national rights” he stated.
According to him, India’s claim on Nagaland as an integral part of it is ‘false.’ “Also IM group leaders who are projecting as if the Nagas are demanding for self-determination and integration from India is false and telling lies to the outside world,” Chonghou maintained.
Pointing out that an unconditional withdrawal of all ‘foreign occupational forces’ from Nagaland will be the only solution to the Indo-Naga conflict and this is the only way to achieve peace and tranquility, Chonghou lamented that to ‘sell’ Nagaland to India can never be a solution to the conflict. Any Naga leader negotiating with India for a solution within the Indian union is attempting to sell out Nagaland and therefore it cannot be called as peace process, because it will surely bring more violence and bloodshed in Nagaland, he added.
Further, the NNC Youth President reminded that “we Nagas have our own traditional democratic system handed down to us by our forefathers, which even foreigners admired and termed as pure democracy.” Nagas have no kings, dictatorship or political parties in their history, he said. “Also we have no caste system and social classes among our communities. The youth of today therefore need not feel or think that our political and social system is inferior to other nations” he asserted.
Inview of these factors, substituting fair political and social systems with ‘socialist dictatorship’ is a political blunder and killing of Nagas in ‘the interest of socialism’ is an act of nonsense and madness, he asserted. “We cannot substitute our nationalism with socialism. Youths have to know that socialism and nationalism are two different lines which cannot be merged together. Naga nationalism has sprouted, rooted and grown up. That is the NNC.
Therefore, whoever is trying to kill the NNC, he/she is trying to kill Naga nationalism. The socialist group who is trying to kill the NNC is now negotiating with the government of India for a solution within the Indian union. That is not the fruit of our nationalism. So, the truth youths have to know that we cannot harvest rice from fig tree” the NNC Youth President reminded.
Lotha NSCN-IM region reacts to Lotha NSCN-K region The Morung Express
Dimapur, Oct 23 (MExN): The NSCN-IM Lotha region stated that mob violence in the Lotha region were the outcome of excesses committed under the order of (NSCN-K) Kilonser AZ Jami and not by the former organization’s cadres.
“Those past omissions and commissions committed were under the dictatorial leadership of AZ Jami. Therefore the Lotha region authorities appreciate the confession of AZ Jami under whose leadership heinous crimes were committed not only against the Lothas but the Nagas in general; it is to be reminded that most of these crimes were committed to fulfill his personal interest without the knowledge of the central authorities” a statement from the region said.
It stated that Jami in a quest to absolve himself of “the ruthless massacre of innocent pubic and freedom fighters, has been issuing statement after statement, the latest being on of them”. The region maintained that in a revolutionary government, the people are expected to cooperate with the “freedom fighters” who have dedicated their lives to “protect their rights and duties”. “It must be noted that history has shown that in any revolutionary government, anti-nationals have no place in the society. Therefore the public should not be judgmental over incidents that must have occurred in the process of national activity” the NSCN-IM asserted.
The statement also asserted that Yisanbemo Kikon is a “dedicated freedom fighter molded in a perfect revolutionary spirit” and that the NSCN-IM acknowledges his “contribution to the nation”. The region, pledging to defend him or his family against any threat or harm, warned that any harm to him would not go un-avenged. “Therefore it is warned that to prevent further bloodshed and sorrow, caution should be observed. Over this issue the Lotha Region reminds that his activities were in the interest of the nation” the statement maintained.
The business community, contractors and governments servants “who have recognized the genuine freedom fighters” were also appreciated by the region for “their guts and salute them as heroes for refusing to pay tax to the renegade”.
Demand for CBI inquiry into NPSC NSF writes open letter to Chief Minister The Morung Express
Dimapur, Oct 23 (MExN): The Naga Students Federation (NSF) has urged “Chief Minister of people’s Government” Neiphiu Rio to keep his words to hand over the Nagaland Public Services Commission (NPSC) corruption case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) without further delay and that the commission’s chairman should be brought for public trial. “The NSF urges honorable Chief Minister of people’s Government to keep his words to hand over the CBI without further delay to save public service commission institutions in the interest of upcoming youths who believe in truth, fair and justice; The NSF urges the authority of the Chief Minister office to consider this matter as generations’ issue rather than political issue” a letter to Rio from the NSF through its President Phushika Aomi and Speaker WH Maring advised.
NPSC is yet to be free from nepotism and corruption and needs drastic changes by taking stringent action against the officials responsible for the mess while the chairman of the commission should be brought to public trial “for all these faults and owe moral responsibility for all the mess during his tenure as Chairman” the NSF demanded. The Federation lamented that “whenever there is a crisis in the Commission and the presence of the Chairman is direly needed, unfortunately we find him absconding” and that the public are not at all satisfied with the government’s “softness” in tackling the bribery scandal in 2005.
The NSF raised these questions for clarification: The bribery attempt made on the CoE on February 14, 2005, and the commission’s decision to keep the matter as internal issue.
Failure of the NPSC to report the matter to the Vigilance/Police and “the emotional turn against certain local paper” for reporting the facts in May 2005; not allowing the CoE as prime witness of the bribery attempt, ‘thus obstructing the Vigilance from proper and in-depth investigation into the attempted bribery case by the Government’; the government’s “terms of reference” limiting the vigilance to go further with which “the scope to cleanse premier institution faded there”; the NPSC Chairman “whose integrity is doubtful” ‘unethically’ defending the CoE by writing a personal letter to the Chief Secretary to avoid departmental enquiry; questioning and nullifying the Vigilance Report against the CoE on his conduct such as ‘engaging Ms. Ajitha, a Clerk in Alder College Kohima, for typing question papers of NPSC 2004 without sanction of the Commission and the Government;
The NSF stated that in 2005, after preliminary result was declared, two wrong questions were detected during re-evaluation. The NPSC instead of admitting and taking punitive action on the errant officials, “blamed Computer” and later on claimed to have blacklisted the professional company engaged by the NPSC. “Will the commission consider miss-fed as unavoidable error? Was it not the responsibility of the Examination branch officials?” the NSF queried. Further, one candidate declared passed as EAC in 2005 (Reservation-BT) was later denied seat by entertaining complaint from another candidate who happened to have secured 19 marks more than her (complaint entertain after the mark-sheet is issued). “When the matter was brought to the notice of the Commission by the students’ community, it simply claimed as clerical mistake of the officials. Why Chairman and CoE, NPSC shows leniency in taking corrective measure against the irresponsible officials in such serious case and also entertain the complaint even after the result is declared thereby humiliated the already declared passed candidate?” the NSF asked.
“This year the declaration of preliminary examination is a record breaking for the Commission could declare it within 7 days after the exam and claims to have no complaints from any. The NSF detected an over aged candidate (Over aged by 2 years 5months 26days as on 01/01/2005) after viva-voce and learnt that the candidate was allowed by the CoE and the Chairman. The Candidate himself had clarified in the local papers on this matter. It is also found that the same candidate’s surname is notified as “Walling” whereas his actual Surname is “Longchar”. How such discrepancy cropped up over a name of a candidate and being overlooked by the Chairman of the Commission (the Matter is notified to the Chief Secretary and Commission by the NSF in written)?” it added.
The NSF said that the government is aware as to who should be held responsible for such mistakes committed in the Commission. Not a single exam conducted by the NPSC goes without a corrigendum/addendum and clarification till today, the NSF lamented adding that the Federation has a “big doubt” on the Examination branch of the Commission as to why the already declared result has to be re-declared on October 10, 2006, thereby Roll No. 0759 who was declared as DSP had to be adjusted to UDA and subsequently affected 4 candidates. “Does NPSC have adjustment authority? What excuses the Commission has this time too? Who should be held responsible for this? What is government going to do this time? Is the government still of the view that everything is all right in the NPSC? The Naga intellectuals need proper clarification from the CoE and the Chairman NPSC and assurance from the government” the NSF reminded.
AR launches ‘Peace Cradles’ Correspondent Nagaland Post
Kohima, (NPN): From the 'Peace Concert' to now 'Peace Cradle', the Assam Rifles popularly known as 'The Friends of the Hill People' has evolved with the new initiative with a commitment to foster peace in Nagaland under the theme 'Peace to the People'.
The 5 Sector Assam Rifles under the aegis of IGAR (N) which had earlier organized a 'Peace Concert' on 10 September 2006 at Kohima has now evolved the new concept of 'Peace Cradles'.
The Peace Cradles, which are being created in all the posts, will act as mini libraries, information and welfare centres and contact points for the public for interaction and coordinating peace and local beautification, health, care and developmental efforts. Initially three Cradles have been established by 42 Assam Rifles at Kukidolong, Piphema and Zubza under this concept and programme. One such Peace Cradle was inaugurated by Colonel Ravi Tuteja, Commandant - 42 Assam Rifles at Piphema village in the presence of village GBs, village council members and other prominent personalities of the area. The aim of these 'Peace Cradles is to provide a common platform for the local populace to interact with each other and also with Assam Rifles troops stationed there. These cradles provide the opportunity to the local people to accrue benefit through an information room having facilities for local Newspapers and a small lending library for school. This is a small beginning towards the efforts of the Assam Rifles to usher permanent peace in Nagaland for an all- round development and progress.
UNC Opposes dam construction Newmai News Network October 23
Imphal: The United Naga Council has declared that the council will not allow the construction of the controversial Tipaimukh Dam in the hill district of Manipur at any cost. The firm decision of the Naga organisation was taken in the October 20 special session of the UNC at Tahamzam (Senapati), stated a report made available to Newmai News Network today by its general secretary Azang Longmai. The statement came even as the pros and cons about the construction of the dam was debated through the media platform off and on, The UNC Special Session held at Taphou village, Tahamzam (Senapati), on October 20, 2006, reaffirmed against the construction of (the) Tipaimukh Mega Dam. In the session the NPMHR, NWUM, ANSAM and all the Naga tribes’ present presidents unanimously agreed to oppose what they termed as ‘imposition on indigenous minority rights’ ,said the UNC statement. It further stated that the construction of such a mega dam is a gross violation of rights to life and livelihood and contempt of basic human values. The people have the rights to reject the kind of development projects which they do not need or want. The United Naga Council also said that the Naga organizations who participated on the October 20 special session of the UNC had strongly objected to the proposed public hearing about the Dam in Churachanpur and Tamenglong Districts and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the proposed public hearing saying that such hearings would only mislead the public and eyewash the general mass.
Govt reacts to report against 9 IRB in Cht’garh Correspondent Nagaland Post
KOHIMA, OCT 23 (NPN): Taking strong exception to a news report that appeared in a section of local press Monday, over the allegations of various rights abuses by the 9 IRB jawans presently posted at Chhattisgarh, the state Home department has ordered an urgent Inquiry report from the commanding officer of the force. Talking to Nagaland Post, Home Minister Thenucho said that on the basis of the newspaper report, he had directed the Police Headquarters here to seek urgent clarification of allegations leveled against the 9 IRBn. Thenucho however said that there has been no complaints against the 9 IRB from the Chhattisgarh government or other sources. Closely observing the report, "the whole thing (in the report) is nothing but an attempt to tarnish the image of the force", the Home Minister said and expressed deep regret that the allegations were "going to demoralize the force (9IRBn)".
He also said since the 9 IRB has been leased out to the Government of Chhattisgarh under which the battalion is functioning, so any complaints whatsoever should come from that Government to the state. Similarly, senior police official from the state PHQ revealed that the Commandant of the 9 IRBn has been asked to conduct an inquiry and to immediately send the report to the PHQ.
The officials said they felt that the whole purpose of the allegations was only aimed at demoralizing the 9 IRB who have been doing an excellent job in Chhattisgarh. As per the newspaper report, it was alleged that the 9 IRB jawans burned down villages, committed random murder of Adivasi men and raped and impregnated some 100 women. The report also claimed that a suo motto case has been registered against unknown miscreants at Dornapal Police Station. However, the case made no specific mention of 9 IRB men, according to a Police officer here.
Other senior police official said that on the other hand the PHQ had been receiving monthly reports of the force deployed at Chhattisgarh that spoke of excellent performance by the 9 IRB . "What we have been receiving were only complimentary reports from Chhattisgarh government", one officer said. The State Home Minister and other senior police officials have expressed deep regret against the report in the newspaper for not having verified the mater made by some elements who were only interested in compelling withdrawal of the 9 IRB from Chhattisgarh and also painting a negative picture of the Naga IRB boys. Meanwhile, it was also learnt that the state DGP J Changkija had immediately contacted his counterpart in Chhattisgarh and sought verification of the allegations against the Naga IRB jawans.
Quest for solution: The Indo-Naga peace talk The Morung Express Perspective
The attempt to contain peoples struggle by the state has always been by use of force but the Naga Movement have aptly demonstrated the failure of militaristic war policy in handling the challenges placed by peoples’ movements and struggles. It has resisted and combated one of the longest and most brutal structures of militarization and repression that has crippled generations. This truth is the basis for the ceasefire and the initiation of the Indo-Naga peace talk.
Peace and War cannot possibly go together. If you want to talk peace then firstly the need to stop the war in any form but that does not seem to be the case here. How peaceful is then the peace talk? How sincere is Government of India (GoI) to solve the Naga issue? If all that is thrashed out during the ‘peace talk’ is sincerely being discussed by the Indian policy makers? How close is the solution? These are some of the questions generated in ones’ mind as another round of talk ends again. No tangible progress, yet the claim of negotiation process as ‘positive’. One cannot help but wonder what is meant by ‘positive’? Mere ceasefire and talks without any sincerity and political commitment will only aggravate intolerance as the peace talk appears to be losing its goodness with the GoI still grappling with the real issue and politicking with non issues. They continue to incite and promote factionalism amongst the Nagas and also with other communities. Factional killings are becoming an everyday affair. Armed Forces (Special Power) Act (AFSPA) still reigns supreme in all its fame. Psychological and low intensity warfare against the people continues unabated. Much is left to be desired to call the peace talk a peace talk.
The road towards a solution has not been easy and more hurdles to surface in different forms and from different angles. Even then the talk must go on. The nine years of ceasefire and peace talk cannot be made to go wasted and 50+ years of conflict needs a solution. If peace is honestly desired then the Indo-Naga peace talk has to sustain. It is important that the negotiating parties keep building on the small progresses that are made, like the latest agreement that two persons each from Indian and Naga civil society groups will be included in the Ceasefire Monitoring Group to help strengthen the ceasefire mechanism. The extension of ceasefire ‘as long as the peace talk goes on’ has also been a good decision as the talk can be focused and channelized in other constructive issue, the focus being resolving the issue. It is however desirable that the negotiating parties are careful with the kind of post talk statements. Very often it is plagued with contradictions and different interpretations that create unnecessary confusion. Such confusion especially from the Indian representatives who very often are full of contradictions can be avoided. It just reflects political immaturity on their part.
One understands there is nothing as 100% solution, yet the Nagas’ quest for the right to self determination cannot be undermined. The peace talk is a test and a challenge for the Indian state and its policy makers to prove its sincerity and political commitment in resolving the Naga issue. Therefore the GoI cannot afford to miss the chance and try and apply its piecemeal approach and other tactics. One can clearly recall the infamous accords and agreements that did not help but divided the Nagas instead. It also did not stop but strengthened the Naga movement.
If the peace talk is worth its name then solution cannot be possibly worked out within the constitution. The NSCN-IM leadership has proposed a ‘special federal relationship’ and have put across some demands of which some of the significant ones are the integration of all the Naga areas, separate constitution and a separate flag, the right to decide and run the nation with complete right over all the resources are. Acknowledging the importance of interdependence a Joint Defense and a shared responsibility of the external affairs with the right of the Nagas to pursue their own interest is also proposed.
One feels that it can get a little dicey but the understanding is that the constitution of the Nagas will not be in conflict with the Indian constitution on the universal principles and the federal relationship is to be incorporated in both the constitutions that cannot be altered or amended unilaterally. A committee drawn from the two along with Constitutional experts is expected to work on the federal relationship that essentially will be based on the ‘unique’ history and political situation. It is not very clear how the negotiating parties will work it out but the vital focus is a relationship as two entities.
The proposed relationship can be misleading and also misinterpreted but any arrangement within the constitution of India has been clearly ruled out. The quest for a solution therefore requires examining the constitution of India and given such a situation there is an urgent need for academicians, political scientist, intellectuals and others to start deliberating on how best a solution can be achieved. Resolving the Naga issue is expected to throw up new perspective and dimension to the world political discourse on conflict, and peoples’ movement and struggle.
What is of utmost importance however is the need for GoI to be sincere and honour the nine years effort and stop waging a war in another form of inciting killings amongst the Nagas that makes the peace talk a farce! It took years and thousands of lives for the peace talk to come. Let it not go in vain. Let the future and generations be stopped from being damned. Tungshang Ningreichon
Layman’s thoughts on Naga Political Movement The Morung Express Perspective
We understand that Nagas are a homogeneous group of people with common origin, history and culture; speaking different dialects but same in temperament, attitude and appearance; scattered over different political and administrative units but yearn for unity and integration and aspire to live under one political and administrative umbrella;
We also understand that Nagas have been struggling for over half a century for our ‘inalienable fight’ to self-determination and freedom, going through untold sufferings under Indian and Burmese political and military action; and in the course of events amongst the Naga brothers due to differences in ideology and factionalism; Knowing the futility of further arms struggle and rivalry among ourselves we abhor factional killing, which should immediately be stopped.
Now we strongly believe that the time have come for all the Nagas to bury seeds of division and hatred in the true spirit of forgiveness and reconciliation for a sustainable peace and permanent solution to the Naga political problem; Therefore, the aspiration of the Nagas for freedom, peace, unity and integration, and negotiated political settlement of appropriate status can never and should not ever be sacrificed at the altar of (petty) political differences, blackmailing, ransom like pressure tactics, personal ego, selfish and sectarian interests.
Shiloh Kath Dimapur
Open letter to Chief Minister from NSF- Nagaland Post
In continuation to the earlier demand, the Naga Students' Federation (NSF) is compelled to draw the attention of Government through open letter in regard to anomalies in the Nagaland Public Service Commission (NPSC). The NSF in the interest of the students/candidates, who values fair competition for the progress of Nagas, raises this question for your seriously retrospection and answer thereof:
1. The bribery attempt made on the CoE 14th Feb 2005, and the commission's decision to keep the matter as internal issue. Failure of the NPSC to report the matter to the Vigilance/Police and the emotional turn against certain local paper for reporting the facts in May 2005.
2. Not allowing the CoE as prime witness of the bribery attempt, thus obstructing the Vigilance from proper and in-depth investigation into the attempted bribery case by the Government. The Government's "terms of reference" limited the vigilance to go further thus the scope to cleanse premier institution faded there.
Later on the NPSC Chairman (whose integrity is doubtful) unethically defended CoE by writing personal letter to the Chief Secretary to avoid departmental enquiry against the CoE. Questioning and nullifying the Vigilance Report against the CoE on his conduct such as engaging Ms. Ajitha, (Clerk in Alder College Kohima) for typing Question papers of NPSC 2004 without sanction of the Commission and the Govt.
3. In 2005, after preliminary result was declared, two wrong questions were detected during re-evaluation being compelled by the NSF on certain logical ground.
The NPSC instead of admitting and taking punitive action on errant officials, blamed Computer and later on claim to have blacklisted the professional company engaged by the NPSC. Will the commission consider miss-fed as unavoidable error? Was it not the responsibility of the Examination branch officials?
4. One candidate declared passed as EAC in 2005 (Reservation-BT) and later denied seat by entertaining complaint from another candidate who happen to have secured 19 marks more than her (complaint entertain after the mark-sheet is issued).
When the matter was brought to the notice of the Commission by the students' community, it simply claimed as clerical mistake of the officials. Why Chairman and CoE, NPSC shows leniency in taking corrective measure against the irresponsible officials in such serious case and also entertain the complaint even after the result is declared thereby humiliated the already declared passed candidate?
5. This year the declaration of preliminary examination is a record breaking for the Commission could declare it within 7 days after the exam and claims to have no complaints from any. The NSF detected an over aged candidate (Over aged by 2 years 5months 26days as on 01/01/2005) after viva-voce and learnt that the candidate was allowed by the CoE and the Chairman. The Candidate himself had clarified in the local papers on this matter. It is also found that the same candidate's surname is notified as "Walling" whereas his actual Surname is "Longchar". How such discrepancy cropped up over a name of a candidate and being overlooked by the Chairman of the Commission (the Matter is notified to the Chief Secretary and Commission by the NSF in written)?
6. The Government is aware as to who should be held responsible for such mistake committed in the Commission office. NPSC is expected to be error free, and that is possible only when it is manned by competent people whose appointment/deployment is done on merit.
However, not a single exam conducted by the NPSC goes without a corrigendum/addendum and clarification till today. One's inefficiency should not be covered by false justification. The NSF has a big doubt on the Examination branch of the Commission as to why the already declared result has to be re-declared on 10th Oct 2006, thereby Roll No. 0759 who was declared as DSP had to be adjusted to UDA and subsequently affected 4 candidates. Does NPSC have adjustment authority? What excuses the Commission has this time too? Who should be held responsible for this? What is government going to do this time? Is the government still of the view that everything is all right in the NPSC? The Naga intellectuals need proper clarification from the CoE and the Chairman NPSC and assurance from the government. NPSC is yet to be free from corruption, nepotism and corruption and needs drastic change by taking stringent action against the officials responsible for all this messes.
The chairman of the NPSC should be brought to public trial for all these faults and owe moral responsibility for all the mess during his tenure as Chairman. But, whenever there is a crisis in the Commission and the presence of the Chairman is direly needed, unfortunately we find him absconding. The Public are not at all satisfied with the governments softness in tackling the Bribery Scandal in 2005 and therefore, the NSF urge Honorable Chief Minister of people's Government to keep his words to handover the Centre Bureau Investigation (CBI) without further delay to save Public Service Commission Institution in the interest of upcoming youths who believe in truth, fair and just. The NSF urges the authority of the Chief Minister office to consider this matter as generations' issue rather than political issue.
V. Phushika Aomi President NSF W. H. Maring Speaker NSF
809 BNLF militants surrender Nagaland Post
AGARTALA, OCT 23 (UNI): Altogether 809 militants belonging to the Bru National Liberation Front (BNLF) surrendered before the Mizoram police and government officials today at Naisingpara in Tripura's North district. This is the largest ever surrender of insurgents anywhere in the country. Assam Rifles sources said the militants had deposited 75 firearms, including one AK 47 series rifle, some automatic carbines, .22 rifles, 9 mm pistols, country-made guns, grenades and huge quantities of live cartridges to Mizoram government and police officials.
The sources further added that the Mizoram government had decided to give Rs. 40,000 to the surrendered militants as grant. They would be allowed to stay at government run camps Damparangpui in Mamit district of Mizoram for a year. After the surrender, facilitated by the Assam Rifles, 400 militants were sent to Mizoram today and the rest would be sent tomorrow. The formal surrender ceremony will be held at Tuipuibari, a village in Mamit district bordering Tripura on October 27 where officials from the Home Ministry and the North Eastern Council will be present, the sources added
Double-digit growth possible but poverty will stayParanjoy Guha Thakurta Copyright 2006 The Morung Express. All rights reserved.
As India’s leaders gear up to boost the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) to a dizzying 10 percent per annum, analysts warn that although double digit growth is achievable the country’s problems of endemic poverty, unemployment and agrarian distress are unlikely to disappear in a hurry. On Oct. 18, presiding over a meeting of India’s Planning Commission, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said 10 percent economic growth “is an ambitious target, but I do believe it is a feasible one”. His remarks came just after the commission approved the “approach paper” to India’s Eleventh Five-Year Plan that starts Apr. 11 next year.
India is one of several countries that follow planned national development plans set for five-year periods.
The document states that India would aim for an annual growth rate of 9 percent over the 2007-12 period, with the economic growth rate touching the 10 percent mark in the last two years of the plan period. If these targets are met, India’s growth rate would become comparable to that of its bigger neighbour China, the only country that has in recent times been able to grow at 10 percent or more on a sustained basis for over a decade. Singh, a former World Bank economist regarded as the architect of India’s liberalisation, predicted that India “would be finally emerging into the front ranks of fast growing developing countries”.
Every five-year plan that the Indian government had formulated in the past had set growth targets that were never achieved. But independent economists believe that the new growth targets would not only be achieved but also perhaps exceeded, provided the government substantially improves the working of the country’s inadequate and notoriously-inefficient social and physical infrastructure.
“Given the fact that for the first time in the nearly six-decade long history of (post-colonial) India, the country’s economy has grown by eight percent three years in a row and is almost certain to grow at a similar pace during the current financial year (ending Mar. 31, 2007), I think we can confidently aim for a 10 percent annual growth target,” says D. K. Joshi, principal economist with Credit Rating and Investment Services of India Ltd., now controlled by Standard and Poor’s, the reputed United States credit rating firm. Joshi told IPS that the eight percent average rate of growth that has been achieved in real terms over more than three years is especially significant because this has occurred despite crippling power shortages (of at least 10 percent of total demand, often more) and spiralling prices of petroleum products that have fuelled inflationary pressures. India currently imports three-fourths of its requirements of crude oil. The inflation rate in the country is at present in the region of 5-6 percent.
“A real rate of GDP growth of 10 percent is not just possible; this figure could go up to 12 percent,” says Manoj Pant, professor of economics at New Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University. “The issue is not really one of the growth rate but whether the pattern of growth is inclusive so that a dent is made on poverty, unemployment, inequality and rural development,” he said in an IPS interview. Pant points out that in India as well as in other countries, rapid growth of GDP has taken place without a significant fall in levels of poverty. Currently, at least one out of four persons in a country of 1.1 billion, lives below the internationally-defined poverty line of one US dollar a day. “Whereas it is possible to grow at 10 percent and not make a dent on poverty, the reverse is not true -- it would not be possible to significantly reduce poverty if the economy does not grow at 10 percent,” says Pant.
Whereas India’s manufacturing industry as well as its burgeoning services sector -- including the much talked-about computer software and information technology enabled services businesses -- have been growing at over 10 percent a year, the agricultural sector has lagged at a niggardly two percent annually. The share of the farm sector in the country’s GDP has come down from 40 percent to 20 percent over the past decade or so, but the share of the population dependent on agriculture has hardly reduced -- from roughly 70 percent to around 60 percent -- over this period. Singh himself acknowledged that “there is a crisis in agriculture in many parts of our country”. The day he approved the approach paper to the Plan, he told a conference: “The more I travel to interior areas and meet farmers, I get the feeling that in many parts agriculture is being carried out in adverse conditions. The problems may be attributable to a wide range of causes but the end result is that there are large tracts where farmers seem to be in acute distress.”
In recent months, Singh has travelled to different parts of the country such as the Vidharba region in the western Maharashtra state where thousands of farmers have committed suicide for failing to repay loans obtained from local moneylenders at usurious rates of interest. Federal Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who comes from the same province, admitted in Parliament that at least 100,000 indebted farmers have killed themselves in various parts of India between 1993 and 2003. The Prime Minister said that farmers would have to be paid remunerative prices even if this meant hardship for others who have to pay more for food. “This may hurt some sections of the middle class to a small extent, but it benefits the farmers who are the backbone of our economy,” Singh observed. “We need a balanced approach where we provide for food security for the poorest sections without compromising the returns to farmers àour strategy must be based on improving the real incomes and the quality of life of our farmers,” he added.
The approach paper to the Eleventh Plan has set a 4 percent target for the growth of the farm sector. It talks of doubling the country’s per capita income by 2017 and the creation of 70 million new jobs over the next five years that would, in turn, reduce the proportion of the educated unemployed in the total workforce to less than 5 percent. The paper sets 2009 as the target year by when clean drinking water would be provided to all Indian citizens.
As far as the social sector is concerned, the approach paper states that the Indian government intends reducing the drop-out rate of children in primary schools from 52 percent at present -- the highest in Asia -- to 20 percent by 2012. By then, the literacy rate is slated to rise to 85 percent from around two-thirds of the population at present. By the end of the Eleventh Plan, New Delhi hopes to bring down the infant mortality rate to 28 per 1,000 births and the maternal mortality rate to one for every 1,000 births. India’s sex ratio is also expected to improve from 935 by 2011-12 to 950 five years later. On physical infrastructure, the Indian government states that there would be electricity in each of the country’s 600,000 villages by 2009, a telephone line by November 2007 and broadband connectivity by 2011-12. By 2009, the government is hopeful that there would be proper road connections to every village with a population of 1,000 or more.
The approach paper states that there would be considerable improvement in the country’s environment by 2011-12. Green cover would be 5 percent of the total land area, all urban waste water would be treated before being discharged into rivers and the air quality in major cities would be on par with standards laid down by the World Health Organisation.
Change in truce ground rules needed By R Dutta Choudhury Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Oct 23 – Wrong policies of the Government are primarily responsible for the incidents of forceful collection of money by the militant groups, which are under ceasefire agreement and of late, there have been allegations of extortions by the militant groups like the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) and the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) despite the fact that all these outfits are under ceasefire agreement with the Government of India. Highly-placed official sources admitted that the policy regarding ground rules of the ceasefire agreement needs to be changed to prevent forceful collection of funds by the militant groups even after signing such agreements with the Government. Recently, the tea industry accused the NDFB of serving extortion notes on the gardens in the areas where they have a stronghold and official sources admitted that almost all the outfits under ceasefire agreement indulged in forceful collection of money.
Sources said that as per the ceasefire agreements, the cadres of the militant groups, which signed the agreements, should be kept in the designated camps and they should not venture out of the camps with weapons and in uniform of their respective groups. But this clause has been violated by almost all the groups. Sources said that the NDFB has three designated camps, one each in the districts of Kokrajhar, Udalguri and Baksa. The outfit submitted a list of about a thousand cadres to the Government after the signing of the ceasefire pact but majority of the cadres are staying outside the camps. However, the NDFB claimed that some cadres were forced to stay outside because of shortage of accommodation in the existing camps and the Government did not concede to their demand for opening of three more camps, Similarly, the UPDS has one designated camp in Diphu and the DHD has four such camps, three in NC Hills and one in Dhansiri area of Karbi Anglong.
Official sources admitted that the decision to allow the militant groups to run the camps on their own resulted in the extortion bids by the groups. Sources said that the groups were given the option of Government funding to run the camps, but they refused to accept the same claiming, “it would hurt their self-esteem.” Sources pointed out that the Government should have insisted on funding for maintaining the camps, as under the present situation, the outfits would be forced to resort to forceful collection of funds to maintain the camps. Of course, the concerned outfits always claimed that they only “accepted donations from well-wishers” but it is a fact that a number of persons including tea gardens received demand notes from the groups.
Sources pointed out that the talks with the militant groups are going on for years and it is obvious that they would be forced to go for forceful collection for the maintenance of the designated camps. The ceasefire agreement with the NDFB was signed nearly one-and-half-years ago and formal talks on the political issues are yet to start. It is evident that the process of political negotiations would take a long time. Similarly, talks with the UPDS and the DHD are going on since 2003 and the signing of any formal pact with the groups may take some time as the talks are apparently not progressing satisfactorily and the outfits have already threatened to pull out from the process. Sources pointed out that it is the responsibility of the police to take action against anyone found to be indulging in any unlawful activity and a few NDFB cadres were also arrested on charges of extortion. The issue was also raised in the meetings of the ceasefire monitoring groups, but any strong action against any group may affect the peace process, sources added.
Goswami appeals to Centre Sentinel
NEW DELHI, Oct 23: Terming the Government as the “guardian” of the society which should look into all concerns of people, a mediator in the fragile peace process in Asom today appealed to the Centre to take a fresh initiative for negotiations with banned ULFA for the sake of peace.
“Government is the guardian of the society which should look into hopes and aspirations of people. Since people of Asom want peace, it should restart fresh initiative for talks with the ULFA through the People’s Consultative Group,” Asomiya writer Mamoni Raisom Goswami, who has been mediating between the Centre and the banned group, told PTI here.
“What we want is discussion should be held with the PCG for bringing ULFA into the negotiating table. The peace process should be continued,” she said.
The fragile peace process in Asom went into wilderness last month following ULFA’s insistence of release of its five jailed top leaders and Government’s demand for a written commitment from the banned group on taking part in direct talks with the Centre.
Following reports of violence and extortion by ULFA, government withdrew the suspension of Army operations in Asom on September 20, which continued for nearly 40 days.
Commenting on reports that the Centre was ready to “relax” certain conditions laid down for holding the direct talks with the banned group, Goswami said “if the reports are true, it a welcome move and ULFA should reciprocate”. PTI
Distorting facts to their will Nagarealm. Com
Here is an attempt to give the whole resistance movement an entirely different dimension by contorting facts as they fit in a particular scheme, Dr. Sheikh Showkat Hussain comments.
The title of the Human Rights Watch Report on Kashmir is “Everyone Lives in Fear. Patterns of Impunity in Jammu and Kashmir”. The report in itself is a pattern of impunity against Kashmiris. It is obvious from the language it has used and the distortion of facts it provides. This is probably because those fighting for freedom in Kashmir are predominantly Muslims who can be easily stigmatized. The report has left no stone unturned to do this with the connivance of its Indian Authors, Researchers and Local Collaborators. These unfortunately include those as well who pretend to lead the secessionist movement.
During the Cold War Era, world was divided on all issues including Human Rights.
The West perceived rights of individual to equality, freedom and liberty of paramount importance. It refused to acknowledge basic necessities like food, shelter and clothing as human rights. The Communist World on the other hand gave priority to human needs and pleaded that humans can enjoy liberties if they exist and whatever is indispensable for human existence must be respected as a human right. It was this divergence of opinion that led to adoption of the two Covenants on human rights instead of one. Despite this difference of opinion, both liberal as well as leftist camp subscribed to the view that right of self determination is an indispensable human right. Both the Covenants i.e., Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights provided Right of Self Determination in their very first Articles.
The Human Rights Watch which pretends to work for human rights discards this very right by depicting Jammu & Kashmir as “India’s Northern Most State” ( p-13 ). Human Rights remained a tool of ideological warfare during Cold War Era and continue to be used for similar purposes. Keeping in view the Confluence of Western and Indian interests, such a depiction of Kashmir is not surprising; what surprises one is the appreciation of this report by JKLF leaders. Yasin Malik is also quoted in the report for a similar dialogue of Government of India with Kashmiris as it was having with Naga leaders ( p 128).The idea was floated by Mr. Prem Nath Bazaz in his `Kashmir in crucible’(p-184) towards the end of sixties. Indian government pursued this idea and it delivered Indira-Abdhullah Accord of 1975 as its illegitimate child. Atal Bihari Vajpayee was stunned by a similar demand few years back and taunted why Kashmiri leaders are degrading themselves to the level of Nagas.
Apart from statements of appreciation from JKLF leaders there is much more in this report about Kashmiri leaders. On Page 9 of the report there is quote from Professor Abdul Gani Bhat “ In early nineties we were fools we thought freedom was round the corner. All we had to do was to come on streets and protest. Pakistan would send its army to support us. The world would see that every Kashmiri wanted freedom and India would be force to agree. Instead we ended up with all this violence”. What a resemblance with statement of Sheikh Abdullah on his 1975 Accord with Indira Gandhi wherein he termed his 22 year struggle for Plebiscite as Awaragardi. May be what Professor Gani says about his mindset of early nineties gets repeated about his state of mind during 2004 when he proceeded for a fruitless dialogue process with New Delhi. Confession of foolishness on the part of a leader should be sufficient for people to ascertain worth of their leadership. Besides Ladeshah like discourses, Prof. Gani otherwise didn’t contribute much to the movement.
The report after mentioning that influx of militants from Pakistan has transformed the conflict provides another important quote on page 126 from Mirwiaz Umar Farooq “From day one these forces have tried their best……… to sabotage our sacred movement and with mask of Islam…… have infiltrated into rank and file of the movement for their trival interests”.
"Howay tum dost jis kay dushman us ka Asman kiun Ho" On account of such briefings from our leaders, the report depicts that the struggle of Kashmir became a feud between Muslims and Hindus as a result of involvement of ‘Islamic militants’ for which framers of the report have nothing but contempt and disregard. This overlooking the fact that most of the Hindus migrated from Kashmir between 1990-1993 when the nationalist groups played a predominant role. The involvement of religious groups within insurgency is associated with the decline of sense of insecurity among non muslims. Whatever targeting took place after 1993 coincided with visits of high profile international dignitaries to India. Killings of Chatisingpora are now internationally attributed to the state agencies or their auxiliaries. The report is not without contradictions. On page 4 the report mentions that militant groups have become increasingly unpopular. The view expressed is contradicted on page 118 by saying that there is political sympathy for militant cause than for the government and violations by armed groups are rarely opposed as committed by Indian security forces.
The report tries to balance abuses of state agencies and the ones attributed to militants. State can not be equated with non state actors in case of liability for human rights abuses. States are parties to international instruments and treaties on human rights. Non state actors are not parties to such treaties. State immunizes its security forces against litigations relating to human right abuses as has been mentioned by the report itself while deliberating on the legal framework which enables Indian security agencies to work with utmost impunity. Non state actors do not enjoy such immunity. While state agencies remain protected human right standards are seldom observed against non state actors. In a conflict one should not expect a unilateral adherence to human rights and humanitarian norms. The best way to secure in adherence by the parties to humanitarian norms is to persuade them to enter into an agreement on application of relevant laws provided in Geneva Conventions. This can be in the interest of both parties and ensure humane treatment of the combatants on both sides.
The report sounds exclusively biased in context of its reporting relating to abuses against children. It mentions that involvement of children in militancy may have led to some abuses against them. This portion of the report can’t be digested in Kashmir who is a witness to the fact that children have been victims of torture, molestation, killings and fake encounters. They have been often used as shields for mine clearance operations and during search operations. The children subjected to human right abuses in this way are in no way associated in insurgency. So many children have been subjected to harassment simply because their relatives happened to be associated with secessionist movement at political and non-political level.
The report quotes extensively from the work of Wajahat Habibullah. He is an Indian Civil Servant who worked in Kashmir on different posts assigned to him by Government of India. The work quoted in the report was also part of his official assignments for which he remained in US for a long time. The report, as it appears, seems to be an attempt to gain credibility in India even if it means denting it here among 10 million Kashmiris for whom, HRW claims to have published the report. [Greaterkashmir]