[Previous entry: ""Jamir should have peaceful retired life": Dr Shurhozelie By Oken Jeet Sandham – Asian Tribune"] [Next entry: "NSCNs battle for supremacy Zunheboto comes under heavy fighting The Morung Express"]
10/26/2006: "Unity call by NGOs, Hohos Correspondent Nagaland Post"
Unity call by NGOs, Hohos Correspondent Nagaland Post
Kohima, Oct 25 (NPN): Against the backdrop of continued factional violence in Nagaland, leaders of various organizations and NGOs on Wednesday gave a clarion call for reconciliation, unity and peace among the Nagas. Representatives from more than thirty NGOs and tribal hohos, who took part in the "Perspective Dialogue", organized under the aegis of the Naga Hoho, deliberated at length on various issues confronting the Naga society and suggested approaches needed to achieve the desired objectives. Among the issues that dominated the dialogue included the political negotiations between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M) ; factional clashes, killings, division among Nagas, severing of ties with prominent Naga NGOs by the NSCN (K) and the 'quit notice' served on the Tangkhuls.
"We (Nagas) now have a platform to solve our problem," claimed Naga Hoho president Bendangmayang Ao while referring to the ceasefire and dialogue between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M). "But our house is divided…" he added while setting the tone for the day-long dialogue. Initiating the topic of the first session "Nagas in transition - The Journey so far", Dr John Murry said "reasoning has to prevail over emotion" and that "the time is crucial (for the Nagas now) and that it calls for reasoning". Expressing deep concern over fratricidal killings in the name of factions, Dr John pointed out that Naga struggle began for a common homeland and not to eliminate each other. Such killings and blame-game have end if Nagas want to continue with their struggle, he said. Stating that people change with the passage of time, former president of Naga Mothers' Association, Neiduno Angami, called for introspection on what were the changes Nagas must make towards the future. She pleaded with the different factions to stop killing so as to provide Naga civil societies a chance to listen to them.
Rev. Dr. Wati Aier in his speech made a two-point suggestion: differences should be addressed through democratic means by acknowledging the existence of different political parties; no political parties talking on behalf of the Nagas should compromise. Rev. Dr. Aier said a decision on the issue of Naga sovereignty could be taken through an agreement among different Naga groups and parties. He suggested that the Hoho also question the act of the Naga IRB jawans presently posted at Chhatisgarh, who had "painted a bad picture to the Nagas in general".
Several other speakers also pointed out the various problems and weaknesses within the Nagas and gave suggestions for deliberation and introspection. There were also moments of both sadness and laughter when some Naga leaders reminisced about the sufferings during the earlier part of the Naga movement. Former MLA, A S Arthur while recollecting his long association with the issue of Naga struggle appealed to the Naga leaders present to intervene in the matter of the quit notice served on the Tangkhuls. Similarly, former Kedage (president) FGN, Scato said "the time for the barrel of the gun has gone and the time for reasoning has come". He stressed on the need for unity among the different factions and said if all could come together a consensus final solution could be taken. The Naga Hoho was likely to come out with a statement on Thursday that is expected to reflect on the points and suggestions made by participants today. Except for the lone Naga MLA, R.K. Thekho from Manipur, no sitting Naga MLA either from Manipur or Nagaland attended the dialogue. Representatives from the NPF and BJP attended the dialogue while there was no representative from the Congress party.
Brainstorm over vexed Naga issue The Morung Express
Kohima, October 25 (MExN): Today’s Naga Hoho brainstorming deliberations on “A Perceptive Dialogue on Naga State of Affairs”, at Zonal Council Hall, which could be termed as a historic event, offered an ample opportunity to all tribal Hohos and mass-based civil societies to speak out their minds. As unlike any other occasion, this time participants put across their views without reservation. Significant amongst the issues that dominated today’s discussions were the quit notice served to the Tangkhul community by the NSCN-K, factional killings, press war amongst the warring underground groups, insincerity on the part of Indian Government in the talks, ENPO alienation from Naga Hoho and NSCN-K etc. The need to adopt Christian ethos was also suggested by several speakers. Factional killings were unequivocally condemned with a reminder that the underground groups should heed to the voice and sentiments of the people and stop killings among themselves, asserting that today is not an age where conflicts are settled by war and conflict.
The tribal Hohos and NGOs also endorsed the leadership of the Naga Hoho in spearheading efforts to heal fratricidal wounds and making efforts to bring about unity within the warring underground groups. However, some of the speakers expressed skepticism about the Naga Hoho, stating that it is yet to get the “full mandate” of the Naga people. Also, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, spoke his mind saying that if the Nagas dare to change Naga history, they must do so. He stated unreservedly that most of the “so-called national workers” joined the factions merely for profit after the ceasefire for personal gains and not for the Naga national cause. “Don’t let the goondahs and dakus hijack Naga history”, he blasted and appealed to the Naga Hoho to take the call to the groups to listen to the voice of the people.
Fr. Abraham also minced no words in spelling out that the differences among the factions are now all about money, rank, power, ego, etc, and is no more about the much-talked-about Naga self-determination but factional determination, To justify his point, Abraham made a reference to the rampant defections among the various Naga underground factions. He was also of the view that the much-professed Nagaland being a Christian state has been dishonored by fratricidal killings and factional violence.
“Those who do not know the cry of the Nagas do not have the right to fight for them”, he opined. The day-long programme, which continued till 5: 00 pm, saw a number of speakers voicing their open opinions and suggestions about the ongoing peace process and repercussions likely to follow. Today’s programme, which was represented by more than 30 mass-based organizations from Nagaland and Manipur, was organized under the aegis of the Naga Hoho. The Hoho will be meeting tomorrow and will be coming out with their observations and comments on today’s deliberations. ENPO representative also spoke on the occasion. Although Congress and other political parties failed to attend the event, NPF and BJP took part in the deliberations. Participation from women organizations like the Naga Mother Association, Naga Women Union Manipur and Ao Women Association added more significance to the event.
NPCC blasts Dr Shurhozelie ‘Spell out ‘human approach’: Hokheto The Morung Express
Dimapur, Oct 25 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee today strongly reacted to the statements made by NPF president and Minister for Planning & Coordination and Urban Development, Dr. Shürhozelie, who, while talking about the prevailing situation, said that law and order is a State matter but “killing among the underground factions do not come under law and order subject.
A press release issued by NPCC President Hokheto Sumi stated that if the underground factions’ fighting and killing is not a law and order problem, then the Centre’s intervention may come and the security forces will have to fight the undergrounds by abrogating the ceasefire. Drawing out the irony of the Ministers statement, the Congress leader stated that If killing of innocent people during the underground clashes ‘requires political and human approach’, then deployment of State police like IRB to affected areas to save the situation is not necessary since it is not a law and order problem. At this juncture, Dr. Shürhozelie should spell out his formula of ‘human approach’ to restore normalcy in the State.
Stating the Congress Party’s role in the peace process, Hokheto stated that it was the consistent stand of the Congress Party that the different political parties should work for Unity of all the underground groups so that the fratricidal killings among the factions would stop. Killing within brothers will not achieve anything, Hokheto said and added that the Naga political problem requires the involvement of every Naga people and mentioned that the wisdom of the Congress leaders in the State could prevail upon the Central leaders and during the visit of Prime Minister late Narasimha Rao, he declared the Naga issue as a ‘Political issue’ and after the formation of the UPA Government in the Centre the ‘Naga political negotiation’ was elevated to ‘Ministerial Level’, the release added.
Talking about the pre-election promises made by the NPF leader, Hokheto stated that Dr. Shürhozelie had been a key player in forming many Regional Parties in the State and that being the present president of NPF, he talked of his concern for Naga political issue like bringing solution within three-months if voted to power. Hokheto pointed out that Shurhozelie may be an expert in advising others with his views when it comes to Naga issue but at the same time advised the NPF President to be more careful with his utterance of words.
Taking a dig at the Minister’s remark about the Naga issue who appealed to the political parties ‘not to forget political and human approach to the Naga political problem’, The Congress president again pointed out that on the night of 15th October, 2006, Shurhozelie, while talking to a Naga leader in Manipur, alleged that “it is the Congress who has been encouraging the Khaplang faction to terrorize certain tribe and trying for furtherance of their coming election.” Hokheto charged Shürhozelie of playing a double role by falsely implicating the Congress Party and on the other side expecting political parties to have proper understanding. The Congress President further asked the Minister to talk according to his true colours if the NPF president has the desire to bring Unity amongst the Naga people.
Law and order forces ZU to shift venue Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, October 25: In view of the prevailing law and order situation in North Cachar Hills District of Assam, the venue for the 26th general assembly of Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) which was earlier scheduled to be held at Haflong on October 28 has been shifted to Majorkhul Community Hall, Imphal.
The decision to this effect was arrived at during an emergency executive meeting of the apex body of the Zeliangrong people held at Rianglong (Tamenglong), District Headquarters today morning, ZU general secretary P Hemthui announced in a statement.
Hemthui informed that the general assembly of the Union would discuss various agenda relating to law and order problem and other developmental matters in Zeliangrong inhabited areas.
Election of new president and vice presidents (3 nos.) of the Union for the term 2006-09 will also be held, the statement said, adding that about 500 delegates of prominent Zeliangrong leaders, elected members (MLAs and MPs), ex-officio members from Manipur, Nagaland and Assam will attend the assembly. ZU has appealed to all executive members, zonal members, Zeliangrong frontal organisations, mission workers, public leaders, distinguished individuals and well-wishers to participate in the said assembly without fail.
North-east: Can development help? New Delhi G N Bajpai: Business Standard
All the initiatives taken for the north-east should be chronicled, along with studies of how they have benefited the people. Since Independence, the north-east region (now comprising eight states) has not been at peace. Countless efforts of successive Union governments in the shape of agreements, commissions, councils and even deployment of forces have not brought durable and widespread calm. In fact, the manner in which the country was divided in 1947 leaves the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim with a slim 22 km land connection with the country’s heartland, leaving 98 per cent of their external borders to be shared with the neighbouring countries of Bangladesh, Bhutan, China and Myanmar. The north-east, with a land mass of 262,500 sq. km (9 per cent of the country’s total), hosts a population of 39.04 million (2001 census). Assam, the most populous of the states, accounts for 70 per cent of that number, and the various tribal groups total up to 30 per cent of the region’s population. The region is characterised by varied habitat, heavy rainfall, extremely rich bio-diversity, mountains and hills and (ferocious) rivers. Inherently, the people are friendly, peace-loving and rooted in their traditions
The British administration left the socio-economic self-governance system of the region virtually intact, for reasons that have not been well understood. The only major economic activity undertaken in the region under British rule was the creation of a rail network to serve commercial interests, mostly of other parts of the country, and the establishment of tea gardens with largely migrant labour. When the government of independent India began integrating the region within a federal structure, system and ethos, resistance built up. Tribal leaders started organising themselves as a state within a state, with their own rule of law, and this gave birth to a number of movements focusing on further fragmentation of truncated states.
I still vividly remember being told by the then director-general of police in Nagaland, when I visited Kohima many years ago, that even employees of the government-owned Life Insurance Corporation (of which I was a director then) had to pay a “tax” on their salaries to the underground forces. He offered to mediate, but the employees felt that paying up was a better way to buy peace and security. Things may have changed since then, but it has been a field day for self-proclaimed champions of the interests of the local people.
It might be worthwhile to examine if the social unrest and political disharmony in the region have something to do with economic deprivation and social debilities, and whether the spread of economic well-being has a chance of arresting the disquiet. Normally, what attracts a person to an activity/engagement is the possibility of satiating the basic needs of life—food, clothing and shelter and then other aspirations. Hunger can drive a person to desperation.
The per capita income of the region is Rs 12,918 (net state domestic product), against an all-India average of Rs 17,823 at the 2001-02 prices. The population below the poverty line is more than 35 per cent, compared to the national average of 26.1 per cent. The region lags behind national levels of achievement on most parameters: the credit-deposit ratio ranges in the different states from 16.8 per cent to 38.3 per cent (against the all-India average of 58.7 per cent), industrial production is 2.16 per cent of the economy, per capita consumption of power is only 97 units of electricity (355 units for the country as a whole) and unemployment is at 12 per cent (all-India: 7 per cent). On the social and economic infrastructure index, with an average of 80 against 178 of Kerala, 187 of Punjab and 200 of Goa, and even on the human development index (notwithstanding higher literacy rates), the region lags behind the rest of the country by a wide margin.
The entire area has a road length of 1.7 lakh km, against the national road network of 25 lakh km, and rail length of 2,578 km, against the all-India total of 63,140 km. Except for the states of Nagaland and Tripura, the road length per thousand sq. km is far lower than the national average. The poor connectivity with the rest of the country is possibly one of the important reasons for limited contact with other regions, leading to widespread scepticism when it comes to judging the Union government’s intentions and initiatives The natural wealth of the region—fertile land, rich forests and substantial mineral and hydrocarbon deposits—lends testimony to the assertion that the economic setting could have been better. The economy of the region, notwithstanding the steadily deteriorating land-man ratio, has remained essentially agrarian. The traditional practice of shifting cultivation has led to shrinking of jhum cycles, making cultivation both uneconomic and environmentally unsustainable.
Deprivation causes disenchantment with the establishment and misinformation adds to the divide. Vested interests from within and outside the country work overtime to capitalise on the inequalities, blowing them out of proportion and completely ignoring the efforts and limitations. The idea of using economic development to mitigate miseries and more importantly to build trust, confidence and peace is not new, and successive governments have been seized of the issue. However, their efforts have been marked more by form than substance. Initiatives like setting up the North-East Council for Development and even the creation of a separate ministry for the region are supposed to help the area’s economic development, but their impact on economic prosperity has been marginal. The annual report for 2005-06 (www.mdoner.gov.in) of the ministry for development of the north-east region highlights the budget, non-lapsable central pool of resources, some capacity-building schemes, advertising and publicity, and more prominently the structure of the council and the ministry, but says little about what has actually been achieved. It would help both ordinary citizens and opinion-makers to better appreciate things if the net result of all the initiatives taken so far is chronicled along with how they have benefited the common man and woman.
The author is former chairman, Sebi and LIC
Cultivate the young, Jamir tells Church leaders Kuknalim.com
PANAJI, Oct 25:: His Excellency SC Jamir, the Governor of Goa said the Church must re-orient its priorities to make the tenets of Christianity more interesting to the younger generation Interacting with a twelve-member women delegation of Nagaland Police Baptist Churches Association which is on an educational tour to the South West of the country, this afternoon, Jamir said relevance of the times has changed and so has the mindset of the people, especially the young.
"In the 19th and 20th centuries, missionaries reached out to the unreached with sermons and hymns," he said. "But now, children are hardly interested in hymns. Their choice of music and songs has changed. Their interests have shifted to the latest IT technology such as the Internet, computer or video games. They spend hours and hours on their computers, but find it uncomfortable to attend a 45 minutes church service."
Pointing out that Nagas are very fond of revivals and mass gathering, he said in a lighter vein that Nagas make feasts out of Christmas and even elections!
He cautioned that unless the Church starts to cultivate the young and bring them to the fold of Christianity, there will come a time when the Churches would be empty.
Though the slogan of the people of Nagaland is that Nagaland is for Christ, he lamented that this is hardly the case since killings, violence and bloodshed continue unabated.
"Nagaland has gone to the Devil," he quipped and added that women especially can reach out and touch the hearts of the people to bring them back to righteousness. The women leaders, saying they would like to take His Excellency and the First Lady of Goa "back to Nagaland", sang the Lord's Prayer in Sumi dialect. They are touring the State as well as other Southwestern States to "educate, expose and enlighten" themselves.
It may be mentioned here that in 2000 when His Excellency was the Chief Minister of Nagaland, he had donated a Maruti Van to this association to further their activities.
The delegation informed His Excellency that the vehicle is still in very good condition and that it has really helped them reach out to the un-reached.
The delegation will be leaving for Bangalore on October 28 and from there to Chennai.
They shall be visiting the Churches and cathedrals here in Goa in the next few days and interact with parishioners and church leaders. (Issued by the OSD to the Governor, Goa)
Chumu residents appeal for peace Kuknalim.com
DIMAPUR, Oct 25:: The Chumukedima Town Tribal Hoho (CTTH), representing the 16 tribes and residing in Chumukedima town has organized a mass peace rally on October 20 at the Chumukedima local ground.
A press release issued by Khuluvi Assumi, convener of CTTH stated that the peace rally was held with regard to the prevailing tense situation in Chumukedima town. While alluding to the shootout between the two factions of NSCN during the past few weeks adversely affecting normal life in the town, it stated that the public in general and the student community in particular are suffering due to the tense situation. The CTTH has appealed both the factions not to stay or move about with arms and ammunitions and in uniform and resort to firing in public areas.
It has appealed to both the factions to maintain the ceasefire ground rules and stay in their designated camps and not in the town areas. (NPN)
Rejoinder to Wangtin’s ‘Truth and wisdom’- Nagaland Post Opinion
It is interesting to see Mr. Wangtin's write up which appeared in this daily, dated Oct. 25th under the heading 'Truth and Wisdom' but the content is contrary to that.
In the first place I would like to say that we should not quote the holy words of the scriptures to serve our politics. Is it not written, 'those who kill by sword will be killed by sword' etc. Why count only those who were given capital punishment by the NSCN/GPRN but not those who sacrificed their lives for the nation in the hands of both occupations and the cooperators? Who will be responsible for the killing of T. Sakhrie in 1959 for his opinion of non-violent method, Dr. Imkongliba for statehood, and many others like these? Were those also by Isak and Muivah? What about the countless killing of the true nationalists by the combined forces of Shillong accord and Indian armed forces since 1978 till now? What about the killing of nearly three hundreds of the true Naga nationalist by Indian and Burma backed Khaplangs, irrespective of tribes, in 1988. Were there not killonsers, Dy. Killonsers and Dy.C-in-C who have died?
Coming to unity, reconciliation and Indo-Naga political talk etc., had Th. Muivah not sent man to Kholi 1989 just after one year of the split for reconcile? What about Naga 90? That is 1990 when Church Workers called men from all organizations to pray together? On the question of Indo-Naga political talk we have clear answer. We never do anything secretly. It is understood to all Nagas, all Indians and even to the world bodies. We never stop any one or any organization from joining us or talking separately provided they are mandated by the people.In short, to educate a highly educated but a man of little knowledge in Naga political history like Mr. Wangtin, would take another couple of years. The best way is some matured persons take care of him and stop him from issuing immature write up till the time he become matured.
(Mr. Alem Konyak) Tatar, GPRN, NSCN (IM)
More about shame in uniform Kezungulo-U Krome The Morung Express Perspective Human Rights and Law Division, YouthNet
As citizens well-acquainted with the policing pattern of the Indian Reserve Battalion, reports of their high-handedness, sadly, does not surprise us anymore. But the latest reports emerging from Chhattisgarh has surely hit the collective conscience of the Nagas.
According to reports the killings, rapes, misconduct and debauchery of the jawans, burning of villages are common phenomenon where they have been posted in various areas of Chhattisgarh. My first reaction was disbelief, but again these stories have emerged from reports of credible and responsible citizens but still the reports were cross-checked with reliable sources so that responsible comment can be made.
Obviously the reaction and angry outburst of the Nagaland state government is understandable given that they are completely in the dark about the 9th IRB activities. In fact, the government and the Police Department maintain that their monthly reports were only complimentary and no anomalies have been brought to their notice. And when the Chhattisgarh government has already been alerted about these atrocities, it has clearly failed to act, and failed to inform the Nagaland government for reasons best known to them.
It has been documented that the IRB jawans have not even spared the dogs and cattle in looting the villages. It has also been said that the IRB personnel conniving with the Salwa Judum (believed to have been set up by the Chhattisgarh government to fight the Maoists) have jointly unleashed carnage on the people. The case of the shopkeeper came to be known because he was a non-local and not an Adivasi (as were all the earlier victims), and therefore hushed-up by the government.
As a Naga deeply conscious and ever aware of the atrocities meted on innocent Nagas by Indian security forces, the shared trauma, I assumed, would sensitize us to human experiences. But in fact, we are re-enforcing what our perpetrators have done to us, on a population already struggling under extreme hardships. To such heinous and hideous crimes let us not even try to rationalize or make excuses. This is not to say that cases of rape and killing is new to our society, but such scale of human atrocities by armed personnel who are supposed to keep the law is totally unacceptable.
The investigation, which has been directed by the State Government, to be conducted by the Commandant of the 9th IRB should run parallel to an independent Departmental Investigation from Nagaland. The government must also depute civil societies from Nagaland to make a thorough independent inquiry to verify all the reports and ascertain all the facts. Our justice system is now under close watch.
Let’s face it, to have to acknowledge this scale of moral nadir, we must own in humility that we have failed as a society, our religious institutions have failed, our Government too has failed, and sadly, even the State Police Department has failed terribly. With what face do we meet our good friends from outside Nagaland who have stood by us through our struggles all these decades.
The time for disbelief has passed and it is now time to act, so that something like this never ever happens again. The Departmental proceedings must be prompt so that the guilty personnel are immediately and appropriately punished. The Nagaland Police department must vehemently demonstrate the principles and code of conduct they abide by. It is tragic that the State Police Department is having to brandish the stick of the law, a little too often, on the IRB personnel for their notoriety. It must also, with sobering reflection, consider the human implications of the IRB training routine before it costs them even more dearly.
Moreover, the State Government must rethink its wisdom of deploying the 9th IRB to Chhattisgarh when there were already so much misgivings and protestations about it in the first place. Sometimes governments need to make unpopular decisions, if it is far-sighted, but sometimes it must also listen to the voices of those who elect them. It may also be aptly said that even though the present government has shown sincere efforts to address the problem of youth unemployment in the state, there can be no short-cuts to such pressing issues as we have also seen in the failure of the training undertaken by Naga youngsters in Chandigarh, which was initiated by the State Government.
As the reports haunt me in horror, I keep recollecting the pain, anguish and protests of weeping mothers, relatives and friends of the 9th IRB personnel, the resistance of civil society when they were dispatched to Chhattisgarh, and the heart-wrenching images of grieving near and dear ones as slain bodies of IRB jawans were brought home from Chhattisgarh. What home-coming now?
It must be conveyed to the strife-torn people of Chhattisgarh that Nagas hang their head in shame and grief for the horrifying actions and crimes of those their own. As a people who have long fought for our humane right to live in dignity, we dearly uphold and value them in every human race with whom we all share a common humanity. And any person regardless of who he/she is, what he/she is, regardless of where he/she comes from, perpetrators of such human crimes stand condemned.
Vexing issues Sangai Express Editorial
The peace talk between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) seems to have run into a road block and patience on the side of the Naga rebel group seems to be running out and not without reason. The peace talk has been in progress since 1997 with the cease fire coming into effect from August 1 of the said year. It is now more than nine years since the talks started but nothing seems to have move forward other than much touted, India recognising “the unique history of the Nagas.’ Here again we find nothing unique as the history of all people are unique in its own way. Apparently nothing concrete was achieved at the latest round of talks held at Amsterdam recently and while only the top notch leadership of the IM group and the top political leaders of India will be privy to the progress or rather non-progress of the talk, common sense tells us that there are some issues which will be hard to work out. One of course is the demand of the NSCN (IM) to integrate all Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit and the other is the question of the status of the proposed new entity, vis-a-vis the Government of India. There can be no easy answer to the two issues which we have just referred to for both are extremely sensitive, particularly the demand to integrate all Naga inhabited areas to pave the way for a new entity. The question that is lying before the Naga people is what now and which direction will the peace process proceed ? If the peace talk breaks down, will it again mean the rebels going back to the jungles to resume the bush against the security personnel ? What will the Naga civil society organisations say in the event of the peace talk breaking down ? These are questions which must have started to haunt a good number of prominent Naga public leaders as well as the common men, the villagers in the hills who eke out a living by tilling their soil.
The Naga issue is complex. It is not only a question of the demands raised by the NSCN (IM) but also coming to terms with the internal contradictions and strife among the Naga people. Whatever the IM group may say, reality says that the Khaplang group of the NSCN too has a stake and it cannot be ignored if any agreement is to be reached with the Government of India. Delhi thus has to address not only the issues raised by the NSCN (IM) but also by the NSCN (K) as well as the NNC. However the more important point is how the Naga civil society organisations hope to bring the warring factions to sit down together and talk things over so that their differences may be settled. It is an internal matter and only the Naga people can clean the internal mess, if we may say so. We would even like to go to the extent of stating that the biggest challenge before the Naga people is not about the peace process that is on between Delhi and the two factions of the NSCN but about the internecine killings. Without settling the internal blood baths, no solution with Delhi will have any meaning. Let the peace process continue to its logical conclusion, but at the same time let there be some efforts to stop the internecine clashes, that have already claimed many lives.
The faction option: Games India play What India is upto in division of Naga politics The Morung Express Perspective Achan Ramsan
As the current talk is for the birth of Nagalim and under process, a comparison drawn between India and Nagalim as put into two different contexts with different approach, agreement, arrangement and perception. No concrete measure of plan, policy and mapping of this issue is transparent, but at best, the Naga solution is matter of one’s perception and of one’s conjecture by nature.
In the case of India’s independence, plans of the British to quit India was already made, made-ready and the mantle of India’s self-rule was to pass on into the leaderships of MK Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. Not so with the Nagas, because it is not clear if India will pass on the leadership issue on to the NSCN(IM), or others like the NSCN(K),FGN or others, or all of them. India is keeping open the ‘faction option’ as the key factor in dictating the course of history and the direction that the Naga destiny is headed which is passing virtually thought at the hands of India – the upper hand. The dice is already in the hands of India to make or mar the protracted talk into success or failure.
The Crux: Guiding princle for India’s decision Thus, the consciousness of the Nagas to their identity and their perception of self-determination, their ability to assert the consciousness of their identity into concrete form will be the guiding principle and ultimate force in deciding the final outcome of the talk. Within the last ten years of talks enough gathering of intelligence and feedback done to teach the NSCN(IM)what the pulse of the people are for India to take the decision in a manner in strong support of their assessment that need never be ignored.
The centre will concede as much as that directly proportionate to the expression and assertion of the whole Naga populace. Because, they know too well that the ‘powerhouse’ of all or any movement is the people themselves. All movement begins and ends with the people. The center is no fool not to lay this final marking as the final covert foundation and mother of all solution. Talk with any organization is just following the protocol, of doing things right but in a roundabout manner in actually accessing and assessing the organization concerned as well as the mood and pulse of the people: their weakness and strength.
The Role of IB Here the role of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) comes in the picture as playing a crucial role in gathering data, information and vital feedbacks in formulating their schemes and policy as proposal to the party in parley of the issue for adoption of the best option. Moreover, going by the present prevailing situation, the options are too many and the prospect in favor of the Nagas not too bright, given the fractional rifts.
The present prevailing confusion and chaos and its potentiality to gain more currency in the Naga society is the natural work of the IB, spreading its tentacles. Their work become much more complex, invisible and invincible with vast array of destructive elements of big and vast galaxies of the stature of organizational and governmental level ready for any kind of collusion in destroying the Nagas aspiration.
Manipur government is more than ready to play the major role and add to this the factor of the Meitei undergrounds: all working together in collusion to subvert the Naga issue and polity as their own priority agenda to crush the Naga movement to distortion and destruction.
In this triangular nexus, the disunity within the Naga underground groups became fertile ground for fertile imagination to hijack the Naga cause and issue into the hand of the enemies as easy ploy to indoctrinate and misguide them and let them dance to the tune they want. I fear some factions are already falling prey into such trap.
Thus, the Nagas have to reckon with at least three elements inimical to the interest of the Nagas: the IB, Manipur government, the Meitei insurgent groups along with some Naga undergrounds in the same league. Thus, any seed of confusion, mistrust, misrepresentation are some of the powerful tools that can potentially turn the tide into tidal waves bound for destruction. The Khaplang coup is a case in point. If the Nagas are not wary of the past mistakes, and equip themselves to counter such development for the kind of arsenals arrayed against the aspiration of the Nagas, some ominous portent awaits. From actual vantage of viewpoint the odds seems insurmountable but on the other hand, the tide could easily be upturned if the Nagas are united and prepared. However, the sad state of affairs is their complacency. The path ridden with riddles and the question is if the Nagas are ready to digest the magnitude of such alien attack from all sides. The fact is, the Nagas without asserting their own aspiration are looking at their leaders to deliver the goods and there’s no critical preparedness when in reality they are passing through the most critical juncture and phase to claim for their own pound of flesh which never is visible at all as the centre perceived. That makes the talk as almost non-people participatory that is posing the most serious threat.
Changing Facet of Warfare The mileage the NSCN (IM) has gained in exposing and espousing the Naga cause by successfully lobbying the international arena and the eventual mounting of international pressure against India on the Naga cause, stirred the conscience of India. Or rather rattled India or embarrassed them in the international platforms that plodded them to do something much against their will and wishes. Thus, some course of action has to follow as a protocol
Therefore, as an outcome and eventual development, talks and decisions become inevitable as thrust upon India in order to enable them to stand tall in the circuit of international platform without the accusing fingers of the Naga issue stumbling their way.
Where once, the Nagas were asserting their rightful heir and place in history with pure and innocent approach without taking the wisdom of technical and tactical aspects, now aware of such folly and futility, they have come a long way and become wiser and adopted the more sophisticated approach of technicality of legitimacy. Thus, through the entrance door of technical wisdom of legitimacy, the Nags cause, they have been pushing their agenda through the right and proper channel into the corridor of power and pressure required from other countries. Thus, it became an unavoidable and inevitable round for India’s response. This because, Nagas were able to secure the coin of international legitimacy through trials and errors method.
Thus, the war nature changed from the bush war to the negotiating table through the ceasefire between the government of India and the NSCN (IM) entering into a dialogue with the latter representing the Nagas. This paradigm shift has made the Nagas to fight the war in the same parlance, but not so well equipped. Because the Nagas are lagging behind in the nature of such warfare with their lack of expertise, because not enough efforts has been invested in that direction to acquire the required sophistication of such knowledge and skill in the talks that has lasted for about ten years. On the other hand, there was not much room given the Nagas intelligentsia or the intellectuals to participate actively in formulating some concrete course in the international policy of such political nature. If there had been the wisdom and will to fight the war in the same wavelength and technique, then 10 years could have been enough time as the springing board to expose and train some elite groups to acquire enough expertise to give Indian no room to roam around.
I think, it is high time for the Nagas to establish a secretariat with different section of compartments and departments with each section dealing with specific field, work or program under the leadership and setup of the party in parley. Those in the secretariat should or may consist of people from among the Naga general populace handpicked for this purpose with their aptitude and competency for the kind of work as the criteria. A ‘think tank’ also needed to be set up with brainstorming session every now and then for the progress, process and speed of the work, plan and talk. This will save lots of troubles ad further augment the work.
Preparedness is half the work done. The Nagas should be prepared of the heavy responsibility now and ahead if at all forming of a government is ever contemplated. To form a government, the implication of the heavy scale and magnitude of preparation and preparedness must begin now if not much before. Because it is a process and if the process is not begun now, then risks are heavy and progress is at best questioned, leave alone progressive thought, work and wisdom to take shape and be given room for actual translation into reality by turning the current situation into a more suitable and sustainable one with the ethos of the Nagas. Otherwise, the same government with the same trend as with India’s independence is to be only expected. We have learnt from history of India’s unprepared ness to handle its own independence, thus not much change from the British government, excepting some modification here and there.
The Faction Option In line with the above strategy, Nagas must always remember that India has craftily kept open the factor of faction open. The talk at present is officially with the NSCN (IM) while the NSCN (K) is kept as a neutralizing factor, faction and option. India’s line of thought is that they are keeping the two in their armory to checkmate one another. Thus, reducing the potency of both the factions as mere pawns in their power game with two solutions and two options in their hand. At any point of time, the talks could be switched from one faction to another. That much power India wields as shields to turn the tide and the current talk into turmoil and total anarchy. Yes, that much strength and nothing less. What kind of scheme and what this scenario amounts to is for everyone to imagine. On the other hand, one faction could be induced to wreak havoc on the movement by tacit support and approval through covert or overt means of the IB as their tentacles spreads to suit Delhi’s interest in their unwillingness to take the talk to it end. Going by the present standard, Nags are passing through unprecedented phase of deep undercurrent of division within the ranks and files of their organizational set up as spawned by the non-committal attitude of the Indian government. If talks with the NSCN (IM) does not fit their scheme of things, one can only guess the adventurism of India already at work in fomenting troubles by the ‘faction option’, by promising talks with the outfit that can outdo the present party in parley. One wonders if the wind of changes is blowing that way. May caution prevail, this is not a game, at the same time let the Naga people themselves do their ‘homework’ as each and everyone has his and her role to play in asserting themselves for an end to the protracted talk into an honorable solution that is for the better and building of their future.
Centre to prepare NE Vision '20 Nagaland Post
Aizawl, Oct 25 (UNI): North Eastern Council (NEC) and Ministry of DoNER have decided to prepare Northeast Region (NER) Vision 2020 document comprising the time-bound programmes and specific focal areas. NEC sources here stated that NEC secretary H V Lalringa was asked for documenting the regional progress in a pragmatic approach, where local needs and aspirations should synergise with the planning process to reach the ultimate objective.
Sources said National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP), is currently working on the project with the primary survey carried out by the Centre for Northeast Studies and Policy Research and is expected to be ready by April next. Quoting DoNER ministry officials, state industry department sources said there would be sector-wise specific recommendations, as the vision will cover about three plan periods. It further stated the Eleventh Plan will be implemented from next year, inputs of which will be incorporated into the document.
Meanwhile, in a bid to utilise abandoned bamboo, Department of Science and Technology (DST) and National Mission on Bamboo Applications (NMBA) have initiated a joint venture to support the establishment of eight bamboo processing units in each state of the North East. DST officials here today informed that, ministry has asked the North East state governments to identify locations for the units to provide value addition, income and employment. ''Mizoram, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh governments have already identified the locations and are about to send the formal proposal to the Centre for approval,'' officials said. They informed that NMBA, structured as a technology mission, is one of the key initiatives of the department of science and technology for the Tenth Plan and said it has been given the task of creating the grounds for enlarging the bamboo sector. North East region is having matured bamboo of Rs 5,000 crore at present and utilisation of even about 25 per cent can generate Rs 2,500 crore a year. According to NMBA's advice, North East states have launched bamboo pre-fabricated structures for public domain buildings, especially for school construction programmes, hospitals and dispensaries linked with union government programme.
Manipur: Fissured land Nagarealm.com
Nitin Sethi examines the impact the proposed dam in Tipaimukh will have on the ethnic mosaic of the state. Tipaimukh Multipurpose Hydel Project (TMHP) is one of the largest projects in the region. It is to come up in the hills of Churachandpur district in Manipur.
A 1,500-MW project, it is to generate power from the Barak river, the second largest river in the region. The site of the dam is almost on the border with Mizoram. The proposed 164-metre-high dam will come up 500 metre (m) downstream of the confluence of the Barak and Tuivai rivers. Its reservoir will have a storage capacity of 15,900 million cubic m with a maximum depth of 1,725.5 m.
The project was first thought of in 1954 on the river Barak when the government of Assam requested the Central Water and Power Commission for ways to manage floods in the river basin. The commission surveyed and rejected three sites by 1965 on two grounds. The sites were geologically unsafe and large-scale submergence of cultivable land made it economically unviable. After going through many hands, the central government handed the project to the North Eastern Electric Power Corporation (NEEPCO), the government agency entrusted with the responsibility of building power projects in the northeast.
Then in 2003, the Public Investments Board and the Central Electricity Authority cleared the project by which time its cost had been revised by NEEPCO to Rs 5,163.86 crore.
The project is to be built primarily for flood control and power generation. Irrigation and other benefits will be spin-offs. Flood control will benefit some plain areas in Assam. Manipur and Mizoram, on the other hand, will bear the brunt of submergence. But they are to equally share, as the central government stipulates, 12 per cent of the power from the project, free of charge, while the rest will be taken by NEEPCO and the centre.
The problem is that of the installed capacity of 1,500 MW, at any given time only 412 MW will be generated, usually in the monsoons when the river is in spate. The leaders of the groups comprising the Action Committee against Tipaimukh Project (ACTIP) and academics in Manipur believe that the unviable project design will also drive a wedge between communities that live in a state of unremitting conflict between themselves and with the state.
To understand what the Tipaimukh project could bring to the state, one must put it in context. Imphal is in a valley surrounded by hills on four sides. In the valley the Meitei people are predominant. Legally, they do not have the right to purchase land in the hills.
The hills are inhabited by 29 major tribes. These tribes fall largely into two groups: the Nagas and the Kuki-Zomi-Chins. Besides these, there are some smaller communities. Though the Nagas share a sense of common history and kinship, as do the Kuki-Zomi-Chins, both the communities are internally differentiated.
Some districts like Ukhrul and Tamenglong are dominated by the Nagas, others, like Churachandpur, are predominantly Kuki-Zomi-Chins. For more than five decades, the communities have experienced armed conflicts. The armed groups from both communities fight the state, some fight among themselves. Some groups engage non-violently with the state.
There are sharp economic divides that feed the friction. In the valley, access to the rest of the world is relatively easy. Income levels are far higher. Markets for every primary commodity that the hills can sell, from rice to wood to bamboo, exist in the valley. In the hills, the only form of livelihood is agriculture - a mix of swidden (jhum) and settled. Forest and riverine products supplement agriculture. The economic disparity between the valley and the hills fuels the divide between the communities.
There are sharp political divides too. The Naga underground has been asking for an integrated Naga homeland by merging districts of Manipur that are Naga- dominated with neighbouring Nagaland. Mainstream Meitei society, largely based in Imphal, as well as valley-based underground organisations, is against this demand. They ask for the territorial integrity of the state to be maintained. Social organisations, student unions and women's groups often play the role of intermediaries. Even though they too are often divided along ethnic lines, they are the only forces in the state that try to encourage a climate for dialogue and negotiation, cajoling underground groups to come to the negotiating table. [Centralchrnicle]
Northeast's potential yet to be recognised Nagarealm.com
A region with a potential of generating 65,000 MW of hydroelectricity should be indispensable for a country that strives to be a superpower. But what if it continues to be beset with insurgency, infiltration, ethnic strife, emotional detachment, geographic isolation, and drains more energy than it can empower the superpower with.
The Northeast, comprising eight states — Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura — accounts for 7.9 per cent of India’s total geographical area and 3.8 per cent of its population. Yet only 10 per cent of the central budget is earmarked for the region.
It seems a lot of money. But ask any “indigenous” person, and he or she will say it is less than what New Delhi — if not on the lips, the “us” and “them” syndrome is in the subconscious — gets out of the region in terms of tea, oil, coal, forest, manpower and other mineral resources. Not to speak about “politically-motivated” money that is earmarked for projects that have little or no viability.
New Delhi too preoccupied "Today, New Delhi is too preoccupied with Kashmir to give the Northeast a proper thought; so will a superpower India have time for this region, which is equally troubled?” Artax Shimray, advisor of North East Students Organisation (NESO) asked.
“People here by and large favour negotiated settlement to conflicts, but talks with rebel groups keep lingering due to the government’s inability to take decisions. Having said that, militancy is not as serious a problem as ethnic conflicts that are engineered to facilitate globalization as India tries to become a superpower.”
“The Northeast’s strategic importance made New Delhi draw up the Look East policy to develop infrastructure. But, policies for the region do not involve the people and are not transparent. That is why people here are sceptical of the whatever seemingly benevolent steps New Delhi takes, and this has led to anti-dam, anti-mining, anti-infrastructure and anti-industry protests that India cannot ignore,” Shimray added.
Unresolved conflicts
According to All-Assam Students Union advisor Samujjwal Bhattacharyya, unresolved conflicts would decelerate India’s drive towards becoming a superpower. What, however, would hold her back would be the issue of illegal influx. At least 15 million Bangladeshis, most of them across the Northeast, are eating up space and resources a would-be superpower needs, he said.
Others feel the region could be key to India’s superpower ambition. Arunachal Pradesh, which has an installed hydroelectric capacity of over 10,000 MW and has potential to generate another 50,000 MW, knows it can empower the superpower. State Power Secretary T. Bagra said Arunachal Pradesh was heading towards becoming a power giant with a slew of MoUs signed for hydro projects that are less of a stress on the ecology. Ecology is the buzzword as the Northeast, despite deforestation, is the greenest part of India and is one of the world's prime biodiversity hotspots.
Need to get over decades of isolation
Ex-ADB official and economic advisor to Assam government Jayanta Madhav feels the importance of the Northeast vis-à-vis India's march to be a major global player was highlighted by New Delhi's Look East Policy. "There are lot of things going against the region — its poverty and unemployment rate is higher than the national average while its per capital income is much lower. But it has more educated people with forward-looking attitude, although it is at the bottom of human development index. It needs massive dose of infrastructure, communication network and market linkage to get over decades of isolation. Most importantly, the Northeast is the geographical link to China, the other superpower New Delhi cannot ignore."
A superpower-to-be needs strategic friends to limit the influence of an established superpower neighbour. That perhaps explains the significance of Northeast, vital to the Trans-Asian superhighway and railway project New Delhi is pursuing. [Rahul Karmakar, hindustantimes]
PM urged to take up matter with China By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Oct 25 – Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday urged the Prime Minister of India and the Union Water Resources Minister to take up the matter of the Chinese authorities’ reported move to divert 200 billion cubic metres of the Tsangpo water urgently with the Government of China. The Brahmaputra is known as the Tsangpo in China’s Tibet areas. According to the memorandum submitted by the Chief Minister to the Prime Minister, the Tsangpo contributes nearly 35 per cent of Brahmaputra’s annual yield at Guwahati. The diversion of the Tsangpo would significantly impact the volume of water availability in India. This would adversely affect the ecology, economy and thereby the security of Asom. The adverse impact, for example, on the hydroelectric potential of the Brahmaputra hardly needs emphasis, said the Chief Minister in his memorandum. He expressed the hope that as a lower riparian entity, the Government of India was fully seized of the matter and would initiate appropriate measures to protect the interest of the State. At a meeting the Chief Minister held with the senior officials of the State administration last evening, it was also decided to form an expert committee to study the entire matter. The names of the members of the committee are expected to be finalized within a day or two.
Knowledgeable sources said that the committee might be headed by former IAS Bhaskar Baruah as its chairman with the secretary of the State Water Resources Department on it as its member secretary. Former NEEPCO MD SN Phukan, Director of NE Space Research Institute K C Bhattacharyya, Prof Dulal Goswami, IIT’s Arup Sarma, Director ASTEC and Chairman, Brahmaputra Board might also be there on it as members, said the sources.
Naga students leave for Israel to pursue studies Pradeep Pareek
Dimapur, Oct 25: Finally, nine out of the 10 students selected to undergo one year PG Diploma Course under the Indo-Israel Work Plan Agreement 2006 at the Granot International Agri Studies Center, Israel left New Delhi for their destination on October 22, while one of them is still awaiting his visa arrival. Sources said intense pressure from chief minister Neiphiu Rio government and opposition leader Imkong only could persuade the Centre to give clearance to these students to go to Israel for the course. Rio also requested Imkong to write to Prime minister Manmohan Singh to allow this batch of the students to go to Israel.
Earlier, the Union home ministry refused to give clearance. The external affairs ministry had also raised objection pertaining to the MoU to be entered between the Granot Agri Studies, Israel and the Nagaland University. The students on completion of the course would be working under various projects earmarked by the state government under the agri and allied departments, informed a senior state official. Chief minister Rio speaking at a function today at Dimapur expressed his gratitude to the Centre for allowing the students to proceed to Israel for the study programme
