10/30/2006: "NSCN-IM chants new mantra after dialogue The Telegraph"

NSCN-IM chants new mantra after dialogue OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Oct. 29: In what could be termed as an ideological shift by the NSCN (I-M), the outfit’s chairman Isak Chishi Swu said after the last round of tripartite talks in Amsterdam, the Nagas had come to realise that interdependence had replaced independence in today’s geo-political landscape.
“It seems that the Government of India isn’t sincere to our proposal,” he said yesterday while admitting that the negotiations were still stalemate. The rebel leader was addressing the general assembly of the Unrepresented Nations and Peoples Organisation (Unpo) at Taipei in Taiwan.
He said the NSCN (I-M) had proposed a special federal relationship between Nagalim and the Centre which would clearly be defined under the terms of the political agreement. “We have also outlined the basis for such a federal principle. It would be two entities which are inseparable and yet not one within the other.”
Criticising the Centre for its rigid stance on certain proposals, he said: “We must trust Unpo. They will take all necessary steps for projecting our case in the United Nations and other world platforms. We remained suppressed, our rights were denied and our voices drowned for long. This is an opportune moment for us to draw the attention of international organisations to the Indo-Naga issue.”
In an appeal to New Delhi, Swu said the onus is on the Centre to prove that it respects political, historical and cultural rights of “the oppressed nations and people around the world”.
He said only an honourable solution to the Naga problem would usher in peace in the entire region. The NSCN (I-M) chairman thanked Unpo for its role in resolving many disputes across the world.
“The dedication of the staff at Unpo secretariat is praiseworthy, ” he said.

Govt bears angst against factional feud Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Kohima, October 29: Indicating growing resentment against the government for its failure to contain factional violence, hundreds of people on Sunday prevented Nagaland Home Minister Thenucho and his entourage from entering Amiphoto Colony in Zunheboto district, the place of recent clash between the two NSCN factions.

The minister was on his way to Zunheboto's Amiphoto to assess the damages caused by the factional feud and to take stock of the situation. He was accompanied by another minister Tokheho and two of Nagaland's parliamentary secretaries. It was only after about half an hour detention that Thenucho was allowed to proceed. The citizens alleged that their repeated pleas made to the government to contain the violence fell on deaf ears.

"The government instead of taking some urgent measures remained content with appealing to the two factions for cessation of the hostility," they said.

"When we pleaded with the government to intervene, it did not respond and instead we had to take matters into our own hand. What's the point in coming now?" questioned a leader of an NGO. Zuneheboto district has been recently in the news for factional violence.

Both the NSCN factions have strong bases in the district. It may be mentioned that cadres of both the NSCN factions were compelled to leave Amiphoto Colony on Saturday by the public.
Isak seeks UN intervention on Indo-Naga peace process Kuknalim.com
DIMAPUR, Oct 29:: If the strategy of the NSCN(IM) does not jump out of its track, and the world community's heart is won, the United Nations (UN) will endorse the NSCN(IM)'s move by deputing an official third party mediators for the Government of India and the outfit's peace dialogue...

On Saturday, NSCN(IM) chairman Isak Chisi Swu flew to the Taiwan capital of Taipei and put up the outfit's proposal before the Unrepresented Nations People's Organisation (UNPO) Assembly.

According to a Dimapur based English newspaper, Isak Chisi Swu while addressing the UNPO General Assembly on Saturday demanded that a third party intervention endorsed by the United Nations through the initiation of the UNPO be undertaken.

Strongly putting across his point by using the General Assembly as a platform, the NSCN(IM) chairman appealed to the UNPO leaders to persuade the United Nations to take up the case of the Nagas, according to the Daily.

"We trust that the UNPO will take all necessary steps in lobbying for our case in the United Nations and other international arenas. We have been suppressed, our rights have been denied and our voices drowned long enough yet we see the present time as the most opportune one to seek the attention of international organisations to play a more active role in the Indo-Naga issue," said Isak Chisi Swu. (NNN
)Normality returns to Zunheboto Sushanta Talukdar The Hindu
Residents force the warring militants to vacate residential areas Residents force warring militants to vacate residential areas
• Nagaland Home Minister says militants belonging to both factions have left the town
• The two-day gun battle claimed lives of two NSCN(K) cadres
Guwahati: The situation in Nagaland's Zunheboto town, which witnessed two days of gun battle between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and the rival faction NSCN (Khaplang), has returned to normality after residents of the town on Saturday forced the militants belonging to the factions to vacate the residential areas.
Nagaland Home Minister Thenucho, who reached Zunheboto town on Sunday evening to take stock of the situation, told The Hindu over phone that the militants belonging to both the factions left the town in response to the appeal from the people. Mr. Thenucho is scheduled to meet the people of Zunheboto and discuss with them the steps to be taken to prevent the recurrence of any such factional clash.
"People's voice important" "The situation is normal now. The militants have vacated the Amiphoto colony following an appeal by the public and the Government. The voice of the people is important. Our sincere effort is that peace should prevail in Nagaland," he said.
Thousands of residents of Zunheboto on Saturday marched to Amiphoto colony, when both the factions were engaged in heavy exchange of fire on Thursday and Friday, and compelled the armed cadres to vacate the town. More than 4,000 people fled in the wake of the gun battle between the two factions of the NSCN.
The public led by leaders of local NGOs of the Sumi tribe — Sumi Hoho, Sumi Totimi Hoho, Sumi Kukami Hoho — broke police barricades and marched to the scene of the gun battle in two batches on Saturday raising slogans and met the commanders of the warring factions.
The public urged the militants to vacate the populated areas and go to the jungles in view of the harvest season and ensuing examinations of their children. The militants agreed to leave after much persuasion by the NGO leaders and general public on the condition that no faction would be allowed to remain in the town. The NSCN (Khaplang) in a statement said they vacated the town in deference to the wishes of the people.
Anger greets Thenucho in Zunheboto Correspondent Nagaland Post
KOHIMA, OCT 29 (NPN): In an apparent show of resentment and displeasure at the ruling DAN Government for alleged failure to intervene in the latest clash between rival factions of the NSCN at Amiphoto Colony, thousands of Zunheboto citizens blocked Home minister Thenucho and his entourage for more than half and hour from entering the town on Sunday.
The Home minister accompanied by Works & Housing minister Tokheho, parliamentary secretaries Doshehe and Kaito, was enroute to Zunheboto town to assess the damage to property and to take stock of the situation in the aftermath of the three-day gunbattle between the NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K) cadres.
The public of Zunheboto and NGOs with active participation of Sumi Totimi Hoho (STH), stopped Thenucho and his team for over thirty minutes near the vicinity of the recent clash.
Speaking to Nagaland Post over phone, STH president Vikali expressed resentment over the failure of the state government to protect the lives of innocent civilians.
"We elected the government and it is their duty to protect our lives," she said. The STH president also said the affected people did not require any financial assistance or help in any manner from the government. "When we pleaded the government to intervene, they did not respond and instead we had had to take matter into our own hand. What's the point in coming now?" Vikali added. Another source said the entourage forcibly tried to enter the town to which the public reacted by snatching the guns from the escort party, which were returned later.
It was only after the public had put across their points of resentment that the Home minister and his entourage was allowed to proceed towards the main town. It may be mentioned on Saturday thousands of citizens of Zunheboto town led by the Sumi Totimi Hoho, Sumi Kukami Hoho and members of the Sumi Hoho gathered and marched towards Amiphoto Colony, the scene three days of fierce gun battle between the two NSCN rivals and compelled the armed cadres to leave the town. The standoff, which left two dead and many others injured, had virtually paralysed normal life in the town as important routes including that of Government Hospital and main state highway were blocked by the NSCN (I-M). Several leaders of NGOs including the STH, SKH and Sumi Hoho led the impromptu rally and met with the commanders of both the factions.
The public asked the cadres to immediately vacate the town and go to the jungles in view of the harvest season and approaching examinations of the school children. After much reasoning and deliberations, both the factions finally agreed to leave on the condition that none of the factions was allowed to remain.
Assam Rifles in eye of another storm Newmai News Network
Imphal Troops of the Assam Rifles deployed in Manipur are again in the eyes of a storm after the killing of a youth in an alleged fake encounter in Imphal East district yesterday. Residents of the district are now baying for the blood of the troops. Police said that jawans of the 4th Assam Rifles gunned down Pukhrambam Suranjoy alias Sanjoy Singh (26) around midnight of Friday during a search operation at Laipham Khunou Mayai Leikai under Heingang police station area.
In a report submitted to the police by the Assam Rifles along with the dead body the Assam Rifles said that the youth was killed in an exchange of fire during an operation at the village. The report also said that some gunmen fired at the Assam Rifles search party. And in retaliation the youth was killed.
Two separate statements issued by the PRO of the army and Assam Rifles IG (South) said that the slain youth was a cadre of the KCP. It also said that one nine mm pistol with a magazine containing three live rounds were recovered from his possession, the releases said.
The claim by the army authority has been flatly rejected by villagers and family members of the deceased. They charged that troops of the Assam Rifles first picked up Sanjoy Singh from a house and then shot him dead in their custody. Bipin, younger brother of the deceased is a witness to the arrest of Sanjoy from the house.
Bipin said that some Assam Riles personnel came to their house at about 11.30 pm on Saturday night. The jawans enquired about his elder brother. Bipin told them that his broher was watching TV at their uncle’s house, which is also located at the same village.
The jawans then took Bipin to the house from where the jawans took into custody his elder brother and then took him away. Bipin said after some time he heard some gun shot sounds. He did not know that his brother was killed. Police informed the death to the family the next morning.
Bipins aid that his brother was innocent who was working as an agent of the Villagers today held a sit-in-protest at the village demanding punishment of the guilty persons. Yesterday angry protestors also blocked the national highway 39 at Sangakpham. The dead body is still lying at RIMS morgue. A JAC formed by the villagers submitted a memorandum to the chief minister demanding action against the Assam Rifles personnel involved in the case.
Sumi Totomi Hoho blames govt The Morung Express
Dimapur, Oct 29 (MExN): The Sumi Totomi Hoho today blamed the ineffective measures from the government side as the main reason behind the chasing out of the warring NSCN factions who were engaged in a fierce turf war at Zunheboto town till yesterday.
A press release issued by Sumi Totomi Hoho expressed its displeasure over the role of the government in the present crisis and stated that due to the ineffective measures from the government side, the public of the town were compelled to carry out a mass rally to appeal to the warring factions to vacate the town.The release also stated that the residents of the Amiphoto colony and South point of the neighbouring colonies in Zunheboto town were displaced and scattered due to the continuous three days gun battle between the two NSCN factions, and as such the general public of the town held a rally and appealed to both the warring factions to leave the town, where both the factions consented to vacate and likewise left the town, read the press release from the Hoho.
It may be mentioned that thousands of people from all walks of life, including women and children of Zunheboto town gathered at around 9:00 in the morning on October 28 and proceeded to storm Amiphoto colony where about 200 cadres of the NSCN-IM had surrounded their rival fighters. The public could finally persuade both the factions to vacate and leave the area by around four in the evening.
Swu on UNPO mission to seek support Newmai News Network
Dimapur, Oct 29: If the strategy of the NSCN-IM does not deviate from its track, and the world community's heart is won, the United Nations (UN) will endorse the NSCN-IM move by deputing an official third party mediators for the Government of India and the NSCN-IM peace dialogue.
Yesterday, NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chisi Swu flew to the Taiwan capital of Taipei and put up the outfit's proposal before the Unrepresented Nations Peoples Organisation (UNPO) assembly.
According to a Dimapur based English newspaper, Isak Chisi Swu while addressing the UNPO General Assembly on Saturday demanded that a third party intervention endorsed by the United Nations through the initiation of the UNPO be undertaken. Strongly putting across his point by using the general assembly as platform, the NSCN-IM chairman appealed to UNPO leaders to persuade the United Nations take up the case of the Nagas, according to the Dimapur daily.
“We trust that the UNPO will take all necessary steps in lobbying for our case in the United Nations and other international arenas. We have been suppressed, our rights have been denied and our voices drowned long enough.
yet we see the present time as the most opportune one to seek the attention of international organizations to play a more active role in the Indo-Naga issue”, said Isak Chisi Swu.
Meanwhile, fear psychosis still grips Nagaland's Zunheboto district even as the general public had forced both the warring NSCN-IM and the NSCN-K cadres to leave from their respective holds in the district.
Factional violence that had become daily routine affairs in the Sema tribe confined Zunheboto district had disgusted the people which prompted the public to drive the militants out of the area on Saturday.
Motion for peace Nagaland Post Editorial
What can be understood from the reaction of the public of Zunheboto who braved danger by literally walking into the lions' dens and forcing the factions to leave the town is an unmistakable outpouring of resentment against armed cadres who had paid scant regard to public sentiment. The people of Zunheboto were not only left to fend for themselves but even the government appeared to have abandoned them at the worst moments of their lives. The district administration and security agencies tried in vain to plead or threaten but the factions were determined to resist and nothing could be done. The law and order collapsed not for want of trying. Even as the government appeared to be inflicted with self-paralysis , the public could only but watch in horror as their homes and hearth were being destroyed right before their very eyes. Families had to flee their homes and take refuge in other places and as the clashes became more fierce, all hope was lost. The divine intervention came in the form of an initiative by the women and mothers of the beleaguered town. Their initiative ignited the dying ember of courage of the town and so the flame of protest was the consequence. It is a tribute to the courage of those who initiated the move, that they succeeded in doing what the government with all men and resources within its disposal could not do. It may also be recalled that the people of Phek also expressed similar mass protest against the total breakdown of law and order in the district while armed cadres ran amok. There are two aspects that has today led to the mass outpouring of vehement opposition against depredation by armed cadres. Firstly, the armed cadres have practically transformed the Naga movement from its original people's movement into factional movement. The turf war has created a phenomenon that has seriously jeopardized efforts at bringing warring factions closer towards unity. The other aspect is about the abdication of constitutional responsibility by a mandated government. In fact the people in both Mon, Phek and Zunheboto have lambasted the failure of the law and order while the people of Phek have sought the intervention of the Government of India. One thing that needs to be clear, is that the people of Nagaland are fed up with all kinds of violence and unlawful activities but the tragic part is that no one is willing to confront the problem. If the government decides to act tough, then the consequence would be a direct threat to the continuance of the cease fire agreements. If that happens, it then confronts the people who are crying hoarse for peace; would they support the government if it decides to deal with these problems with an iron hand? Perhaps the greatest problem faced by all is over this grey area of loving them yet hating their acts. Until and unless there is a clear perspective over dealing with the problem, peace will remain a distant dream.
NSCN (I-M) on Akato’s defection- Nagaland post Opinion
The GPRN/MIP have always restrained from taking the gossip-like propaganda seriously. Yet, some are so influential and provocative that it needs to be rectified. So, that the public are not miscarried by it, like the one made by Mr. Akato Chophi, in the media. Yes, he infact was appointed to the National Judiciary Board of the NSCN, who later on defected to the Khaplang group giving the child-like excuses hoping to fool the mature Nagas. The saying that ' empty vessel makes more noises' seems to suit the so call Akato's propaganda when he himself foolishly exposed himself in the media that he is and will be the torchbearer of the Nagas.
But have he himself examine that, he himself is not a reliable person, how can a man of such be the torch bearer for the Nagas, whose mind is full of corrupt and sick and when his reason for defecting to the Khaplang group was only because he was not given the luxury that he expected. But since the NSCN is a very systematic organization where one is given only what the National worker needed to accomplish his/her duties. But People Mr. Akato who is very materialistic finds himself in the wrong platform of the GPRN where wealth, fame, power are not included in its chapter. And just for the record that Mr. Akato in the past has misappropriate the fund of the Government and have always avoided the service expected form the National worker. So, for many a reason he was not given the responsible charge as CAO/UT-1 knowing that he will not do justice to the responsibility given to him. But what embraces us all in that, he of junior officer questioning the work of the senior Leaders, regarding the Indo- Naga issues, and the functioning of the GPRN. We the GPRN have no need for people like Akato, now and in the future, for the GPRN only have the need for those who are true and committed the course of the Nation.
(Y. Keyeshe Aye) S.O. MIP/ GPRN, NSCN (I-M)
Can a treacherous solution be imposed on the Nagas?- Nagaland Post Opinion
It is well known by all Nagas and the world at large that the Nagas have their own traditional democracy and classless society. But Th. Muivah and Isak Chishi Swu are attempting to impose socialism on the Nagas at gun point since the last 26 years. Yet, they failed, and now they are attempting to impose forcibly on the Nagas seeking a solution within the Indian Union. In the past years they killed every Nagas (a leader or mere public) whoever opposed their (Isak-Muivah) socialism. And now they are killing the Nagas again because they are opposing a solution within the Indian Union. Even Isak and Th. Muivah are asking the world to give pressure on the Nagas to accept the fundamental principles of the Indian Constitution.
Isak said in the UNPO General Meeting held at Taiwan on 28th Oct. 2006; "Interdependence has replaced independence, we have therefore proposed a special federal relationship between India and Nagalim." (Quote, Isak's speech). Mr. Isak is an old man and has much experienced that the Nagas on rightful national platform of NNC, rejected the 16 - point agreement of 1960, and also blatantly rejected the proposal of Nagaland Peace Mission in 1965, which was to be a "solution within the Indian Union, outside Indian constitution" (later known as Suisa's proposal). therefore, at his grave age, he should not speak such treacherous words against the Nagas and Naga nation. Instead be should nobly admit his mistake and failure for the larger interest of Naga people. Because, he cannot impose such treacherous solution on the Naga people. Even if he try to so with the support of some world NGOs it will be only a failure and a disgrace to him. Be it known that the kinds of solution Th. Muivah and Isak who presently seek will never end the Indo-Naga conflict. Thomas, NNC Member.
Demilitarize Populated Areas The Morung Express Editorial
With increasing factional clashes and an overt turf war spreading from the rural hinterlands to public inhabited areas, the much hyped and talked about Ceasefire Ground Rules that the Government of India has signed with the two NSCNs has become a mockery with zero visibility of authority to monitor and implement it. There could be a hundred and one excuses, some of them reasonable, but the fact remains that no one seems to be in control of the situation, not the State government or security forces and definitely not the Ceasefire Monitoring Group/Supervisory Board. To add to this, the complete silence on the part of Delhi has not helped.
As the recent armed stand-off in Zunheboto town between the NSCN factions, which had virtually transformed civilian populated areas into a battle field, it only goes to show the complete lawlessness of the situation and how even the State machinery remains helpless to intervene. The Zunheboto crisis has also brought into sharp focus the differences among political parties over the ‘meaning’ of the situation brought about by such factional violence. This is quite unfortunate because at the end of the day whether it is ‘breakdown of law and order’ or ‘complications arising out of political dimensions’, the security of civilians cannot be compromised no matter what the circumstances are. Rather than polarize on the issue, political parties would have better served public interest if they had given practical suggestions to resolve the problem rather than politicizing factional violence.
To avoid such Zunheboto like situations even in the future, the crux of the problem has to established first and appropriate measures taken. In this case, the problem arises because of militarization of civilian areas. If both NSCN factions desire to resolve their differences militarily, they should take their battle out of public inhabited areas. Both factions should realize the futility of the so called ‘turf war’ because the Naga public does not understand the language of violence. In the same vein, if both agree to resolve their differences politically in a democratic manner through a dialogue process, the Naga public will be only too happy to support such a move. Both NSCNs should be reminded that they do not have public support when it comes to killings and violence.
The other issue that needs to be brought out into public discourse is on whether the Government of India’s representatives at the CFMG/CFSB led by the Chairman should be allowed to continue in the chair when it is clearly evident that the present mechanism to monitor the ceasefire has become virtually defunct. If at all Lt.-General (Retd) Ramesh Kulkarni and his team are indeed helpless when it comes to fire-fighting exercise, at least the honourable Chairman must now take precautionary steps to ensure that armed cadres are moved back into their respected designated camps and in the process help in demilitarization of public inhabited areas so that factional war can be resorted in the jungles or underground where it truly belongs.
Pressure mounts on Govt for fresh peace bid with ULFA By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Oct 29 – Though the peace process to bring the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) to the negotiating table has been deadlocked, different political parties and organizations of the State have been putting pressure on the Government of India to launch a fresh initiative to start political dialogues with the militant outfit and the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) has called upon the people of the State to put pressure on the Government in this regard. The PCG, formed by the ULFA to hold initial parleys with the Government to pave the way for direct talks, met here yesterday to review the situation in the State and the group is still of the view that a political dialogue is the only way out to resolve the conflict.

PCG spokesman Aroop Borbora, taking to this correspondent today, said that yesterday’s meeting was only an informal one as “two of our members, who stay outside, came to the city and we only reviewed the situation. We also did not adopt any resolution.”

Borbora said that the PCG was still sticking to its earlier stand on the issue of talks with the Government. He said that the PCG would not approach the Government to carry forward the peace process, but if the Government approaches the PCG with fresh proposals, the group would consider the same. He hoped that “good sense would prevail on the Central and State governments and fresh initiatives would be launched on the issue of talks.” He also pointed out that no problem could be solved through repressive measures and political dialogue would be the only way out to solve the problems.
Referring to the demands of various organizations on the issue of talks, Borbora said that such demands for breaking the deadlock to carry forward the peace process were welcome moves and all sections of people of the State should try to put pressure on the Government in this regard.

It may be mentioned here that different political parties and organizations have demanded that the Government should launch fresh initiative to carry forward the peace process. The AGP submitted memorandums to the President of India and Prime Minister, seeking their intervention to carry forward the peace process and initiate direct talks with the ULFA. The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) also met the Union Home Minister recently and demanded that Army harassment on innocent persons should be stopped and direct talks with the ULFA should be initiated. Meanwhile, highly placed official sources pointed out that the Government of India made its stand very clear on the issue of talks. Sources pointed out that the Government made it clear that the peace process can progress only of the ULFA shuns violence and the recent acts of violence by the militants belonging to the outfit in different parts of the State would seriously affect the whole process. The Government is also sticking to its stand on the issue of release of the five jailed central committee members of the outfit and called for a formal letter from the ULFA for doing so. In fact, the peace process was deadlocked on the issue of release of the jailed central committee members of the ULFA as demanded by the outfit and resumption of Army operations followed by acts of violence by ULFA militants resulted in deterioration of the situation. Meanwhile, the People’s Committee for Peace Initiatives in Assam (PCPIA) is meeting on November 5 to chalk out the next course of its agitation to put pressure on the Government to resume the peace process.
CM assures team of setting up Tirap council By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Oct 29: Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi has agreed to set up the Tirap Tribal Autonomous Council (TTAC) under the Sixth Schedule under Article 244(2) of the Constitution to ensure political and economic rights of the indigenous tribal people living in the Tirap tribal belt in Margherita subdivision bordering Arunachal Pradesh.
The Chief Minister has decided to take immediate and positive steps in this regard on October 27, when a delegation of the Tirap Autonomous District Council Demand Committee met him and handed over a memorandum demanding the creation of the council. This was stated by Prasanna Turung, president of the committee, while talking to newsmen here today.
He said the Chief Minister has assured them that, if necessary, the Government may create the TTAC before the ensuing panchayet election. The State Government will take necessary steps in this regard by constituting a committee to be headed by Plain Tribes Development Minister Pramilarani Brahma, who was also present in the meeting.
“This is the long-standing demand of over 68,000 tribal people living in the 114 villages spread over 100 square km land and adjoining hill areas covering Buridihing and Makum areas,” he said. The committee has placed a model proposal for the setting up of a 15-member autonomous council with representatives from various tribes, including the Sighphoos, Tangsa Naga, Tai Phakes, Mans, Khamtis and the Sema Nagas. The tribal leaders said protection of tribal groups living in that area from the silent encroachment by emigrant Nepalese, Bangladeshis and other non-tribals is very important since the tribals are gradually losing their lands and becoming bonded labourers of effluent classes belonging to other communities.
GPRN tells contractors to complete works or face consequences Ramkung Pamei The Kangla on line

Tamenglong, Oct 29: The Zeliangrong region authority of the Government of the Peoples' Republic of Nagalim, GPRN has issued strong warnings against the contractors who were given various road construction works under Tamenglong district and failed to complete their respective works.

The release signed by one Leacy L. Gonniei, Convener Zeilad Block of the GPRN have asked the concerned contractors Jogeshwor Singh, Special contractor and Gobodon Singh, Special contractor who were awarded construction of Kaiphundai - Tousem road (7 kilometer stretch), NH 53 to Nungkao (Luangkao) village and NH 53 to Sibilong village to complete their respective works immediately. The GPRN warned that it would not remain a mere spectator when people are deprived of their rights and facilities.

Fund sanctioned for the 7 kilometer stretch of Khaiphundai-Tousem road, as stated by the release was Rs. 1.15 crore, while it was Rs. 85 lakh and 95 lakh respectively for NH-53 Luangkao village and NH 53- Sibilong village. The GPRN authority also said that the works, awarded under PMGSY and state PWD was supposed to be completed by 2005 however, only 60-70% of the works have been completed so far. The release also lamented that concerned individuals/contractors as well as the authorities concerned have turned a deaf ear to the repeated complaints by the people.

Meanwhile, the Tousem area development committee TADC and the Tousem Sub-division Development Committee, TSDC made available copies of their respective separate meeting proceeding to the press where the committees resolved to take up stern steps against the erring contractors if they failed to complete their respective works within a short period of time.

Nagas blame government for lack of progress Nagarealm.com
NEW DELHI, OCT26 [ICNS] : The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isaac-Muivah), which participated in a new round of peace talks on Monday blamed government for not making progress in the long-running peace talks. 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, Reuters reported.

The report said no details of the talks 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.

Ceasefire would help in the repeal of AFSPA: CM The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Oct 29: Manipur chief minister O.lbobi Singh has today said that if the underground organizations operating in the state come out for peace talk with the Indian government by agreeing on a cease-fire like that of NSCN (IM) and NSC.N (K), it will help in the repeal or review of the AFSPA in the state.
O.Ibobi Singh, who returned today from New Delhi, was speaking at a block level Congress workers' conference at N Tomchou Higher Secondary School play ground, Mayang Imphal.

The Centre is now studying the report of the Jeevan Reddy Commission on AFSPA and I believe the Centre will soon take a positive decision regarding whether the AFSPA is to be repealed or reviewed based "on the Commission's report," lbobi said.

Ibobi, reiterating that his government has no desire retain this Act in the state even for a single moment but the ongoing separatist movements in compelled the government to extend it in the state. He also observed that so long as underground movement demanding separation from the Indian union is there, removal of the Act from the state will be a problem.

"The Centre will automatically lift the Act from the state if the underground movement in the state ceases," Ibobi said and appealed to the people to bring a settlement to the undergrounds' problem in the state first and do the needful for the repeal or removal of the act from the state.

He also went on to say that the Central security forces deployed in the state are not meant for protection of important installations and ministers’ quarter only but also for dealing with the law and order situation of the state and for the security of the people. "Talking about the Congress party, he said that the party is committed to implementing welfare programme for the people, but in Manipur the government is exhausted in dealing with outstanding issues. Recounting that the local area development fund for each MLA in the state is Rs. 30 lakhs and the same fund for Mayang Imphal Kendra has been taken out but no development work is seen so far, Ibobi disclosed, and said that the people of this constituency are also not trying to find out where the funds have gone. PDA chairman K Ranjit Singh, who also attended the function, criticized the MPP and said that Dr. Chandramani did nothing for repeal of AFSPA during his tenure as minister even when CRPF personnel killed many innocent people at Mayang Langjing.

He also attacked Radhabinod Koijam stating that he himself was chief minister of the state but he had no worthwhile thought for developing Manipur. The block level conference was also attended by IPR minister TN Haokip, MOBC minister Allauddin Khan and MLA Abdul Salam.

Churachandpur: Unremitting Terror Bibhu Prasad Routray Research Fellow, Institute for Conflict Management
With 248 militancy related deaths in 2006 (data till October 22), Manipur remains the third most violent theatre of conflict in the country, behind Jammu & Kashmir and Chhattisgarh. While each of Manipur’s nine districts has been affected by unending militant violence, severely impacting on the capacity of the state to govern, administer justice, and provide minimal security to its citizens, the pattern of violence has been the most persistent and convoluted in the hilly District of Churachandpur.
Located in the south-western corner of Manipur and spread over an area of 4,570 square kilometres, Churachandpur or Lamka (as the locals call it) meaning 'roads meeting at a mouth', is the largest district in the State. While it shares its northern and eastern boundaries with six of Manipur’s Districts (Imphal East, Tamenglong, Senapati, Bishnupur, Thoubal and Chandel), in the west and south, it is bound by Assam, Mizoram and Myanmar. The District population was 228,707, according to the 2001 census, and was distributed across several tribes, most belonging to the Kuki-Chin-Mizo group. The District also has sizeable Meitei (dominant in the valley areas of the Manipur) and a marginal Naga (dominant in the Hill Districts of Manipur) population.
In an age of competitive primordial assertion, ethnic diversity has been the bane of Churachandpur. The District has scarred by the bitter ethnic clashes between the Kukis and the Nagas that have recurred in several of the Hill Districts in the State since 1992. Similarly, in 1997, the Kuki and the Zomi tribes clashed, resulting in an undocumented number of fatalities and large internal displacement. With passing days, several militant groups, each claiming to represent specific tribes, and more often than not, multiple outfits claiming to represent the same tribe (e.g. there are about nine groups claiming to represent the Kukis), have cropped up in the State, and almost all of them have significant presence in Churachandpur. Even the Valley-based outfits, such as the United National Liberation Front (UNLF), the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP), have found secure bases in Churachandpur.
The geography and patterns of population settlement in the District have facilitated the militants in no small manner. As per the 1994-95 satellite imagery, the total built-up area of Churachandpur was 6,726 Hectares (Urban - 585 Hectares and Rural - 6,141 Hectares), just 1.47 per cent of the total land mass, and the cropland area is 9,928 hectares (2.17 per cent of the District territory). Apart from a handful of tiny townships like Henglep, Thanlon, Tipaimukh and the District headquarters at Churachandpur, the population is located over many scattered villages, often separated by hills, rivers, rivulets, streams, bamboo groves and thickets, each afflicted by serious problems of transportation and communication. For example, many interior villages in the District can only be reached after a journey involving a three to four days’ trek from the District Headquarters. While Churachandpur has been the hotbed of intense militancy, the incident that brought the District to the national limelight in 2006 was the rape and molestation of at least 25 women belonging to the Hmar tribe, by cadres of Valley-based militant groups, the UNLF and the KCP. On January 6, 10 girls, some of them minors, were raped or molested and several villagers assaulted in Parbung village in the Tipaimukh sub-division, located in the southern part of the District. One boy, whose two sisters were sexually assaulted, was shot dead the same night. Ten days later, on the night of January 16, about 18 armed militants assaulted about 402 villagers of Lungthulien. They went on to molest and rape 15 girls and women aged between 12 and 27. The villagers were so terrified that early in the morning of January 17 many of them fled to neighbouring Mizoram. 650 people were accommodated in camps set up by the Mizoram Government at Sakawrdai.
Fear of reprisal attacks by the militants ensured that the incidents were brought to the notice of an unresponsive and incapacitated administration only in the month of March. Widespread condemnation forced the State Government to appoint a one-man Inquiry Commission, whose report has since been submitted. Notwithstanding the finding of the Commission, the state’s ability to prosecute the militants remains severely limited, to say the least. Both the State and other agencies have found it convenient to view the incident as an isolated and horrific act that needs immediate punitive action – though the latter remains improbable. Moreover, one can hardly ignore the fact that the tribal population of Churachandpur has constantly been subjected to systematic acts of terror by Valley-based militant groups, who have tended to exploit the schism between the Valley and the Hills. For a number of years, the UNLF maintained ‘liberated zones’ in areas like Henglep, until the Army claimed to have flushed them out in January 2006. ‘Operation Dragnet’ launched by the Army on January 20, resulted in the death of seven UNLF militants and two army personnel including a Lieutenant Colonel. Although Army personnel are deployed in areas like Parbung and Lungthulien, militant activities continue to be reported from adjoining areas, and prominent incidents this year include:
• February 6: Fifteen Border Security Force (BSF) trainees were injured in a bomb explosion triggered by suspected UNLF militants at Mualkawi near Lamka.
• February 16: The body of a security force (SF) man, T. Ginlunlang Simte, suspected to have been killed by militants, was recovered by the Churachandpur District Police from Tolbung village.
• April 21: Suspected militants shot dead an unidentified youth near Khuga Dam.
• May 4: Three suspected militants were killed while four persons, including two SF personnel, sustained injuries in an encounter at Rengkai.
• May 5: Unidentified militants shot dead a civilian, Genminlun alias T. Benjamin, at Bijang.
• May 8: Two Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) cadres, Ningthoujam Shyamkahai and Khundrakpam Ranjit, were shot dead in an encounter with the SF personnel at Zouveng Meetei Leikai.
• May 28: UNLF killed a youth at Meitei Leikai in the Churachandpur town.
• June 18: Unidentified gunmen killed a youth, Seitin Chongloi at K. Salbungvill.
• August 3: Two motorcycle-borne militants fired at a SF patrol party at the New Bazar area of Churachandpur town and killed a BSF soldier besides injuring a civilian.
• September 18: A SF personnel belonging to the Assam Rifles was killed and five others sustained injuries in an attack by PLA at Telkotjang.
Planting of anti-personnel landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by the groups like the UNLF and the KCP to deter the movement of the SFs has been constant in the militancy in Churachandpur. Areas like Singngat, Thanlon, Henglep and Tipaimukh sub-divisions have been the worst affected. A number of civilians have also been killed, injured or maimed in landmine/ IED explosions. Separate data for Churachandpur is unavailable, but official data for the State indicates that three persons were killed and 30 were injured in 37 IED/mine blasts in 2004. The situation worsened in 2005 with 26 persons killed and 75 injured in 66 blasts. Till August 2006, there have been 33 incidents of IED/mine explosions, in which 17 persons have been killed and 73 were injured. A bulk of these incidents has taken place in Churachandpur District. The Hmar Students` Association, in fact, quotes much higher figures for the District, claiming that 81 persons have died in landmine blasts and booby traps planted by militants at Tipaimukh between September 2004 and January 2006. Recently, on August 15, 2006, a 57-year old man, identified as Lalroshang was killed in a landmine explosion at Parbung. In a muted official response, on September 18, 2006, the Manipur State Legislative Assembly passed a resolution condemning the planting of IEDs/mines.
While Valley-based militants appear to carry a mandate of sorts to target the non-Meitei population in the State, which is often implicitly endorsed by sections of the intelligentsia and human rights groups located in the Meitei dominated capital, Imphal, (this was evident in the muted reaction that the mass rape incidents attracted in mainland Manipur), such violence is only a part of the narrative on militancy in Churachandpur. The hill based militant outfits are also responsible for a substantial share of militancy-related excesses, and 13 of these groups operate in Churachandpur, each claiming to represent the rights of particular tribes. Incidentally, nine Kuki groups had signed a ‘cessation of hostility agreement’ with the Union Government in September 2005. That has, however, done little to lessen the spate of violence in the District.
Incidents of the tribal militants rising against atrocities on their own constituencies by Valley-based militants are surprisingly rare. In January 2006, the UNLF and the Hmar People’s Convention-Democracy (HPC-D) militants clashed in the Parbung area, and this resulted in the migration of the civilian population to Mizoram. On January 27, 2006, the Zomi Revolutionary Army (ZRA), in a statement, accused UNLF of pursuing divisive tactics among various tribal communities. On September 15, 2006, the obscure Hmar National Army (HNA) issued a Press Release with a warning that if the Manipur Government failed to look into its demands of relief and rehabilitation facilities to the Hmar Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) within 45 days, it would be constrained to serve a ‘quit notice’ on the Meitei community in Churachandpur. The notice, however, was never served.
Such symbolic bravado notwithstanding, internecine clashes among the tribal groups have brought about bigger miseries upon the people. Just the past six months several such incidents have been witnessed:
• April 18, 2006: HPC-D cadres killed Isaac L. Hmar, the ‘information secretary’ of the Hmar Inpui, a Hmar community- based organisation believed to be opposed to the HPC-D.
• April 25: Two unidentified militants were killed and a civilian was critically wounded in an exchange of fire between cadres of two rival militant groups at Lhangjol village.
• September 21: Three ZRA cadres were beaten to death after being abducted by rival cadres of the Kuki National Army (KNA) at Sielmat.
• September 26, 2006: HPC-D militants killed two HNA cadres in the Khomoi village under Chuarachandpur police station saying that the HNA is “an organisation which the Hmar nationals did not accept”.
Attacks on civilians have also been common, and the more prominent of recent attacks include the killing of a civilian, Songkhotinthang alias Tinthang, at Bijang Buite Veng by the Kuki National Organisation (KNO) on April 22; the killing of a youth, Ginpithang Kipgen, at a place between Nengthal and Ngathal, by ZRA militants on June 30; and the killing of two civilians and injury to four others, when a group of ZRA cadres opened fire towards a crowded church, targeting a patrol party of the Assam Rifles at Vengnuom on August 20. These incidents are only the most significant in widespread regimes of intimidation, extortion and quotidian violence by terrorist groups across the District.
The situation in Churachandpur is part of the enveloping anarchy in Manipur, and must be blamed squarely on the collapse of governance in the State. The problem here can by no means be attributed to a dearth of security personnel or resources. Compared to the national average of 122 policemen per 100,000 population, Manipur has a ratio of 535/100,000. In addition, the presence of the Army and para-military forces make it one of the most heavily securitized States in the entire country, and expenditure on security is substantially underwritten by the Centre. With the State administration constantly surrendering to terrorist pressures over the years, Districts like Churachandpur can be expected to remain subject to cycles of militancy in the foreseeable future.
Northeast militants exploit Nobel cause Nagaland Post
GUWAHATI, OCT 29 (AGENCIES): Mohammed Yunus won this year's Nobel Peace Prize for using micro-credit to transform Bangladesh's rural economy, but one of his services is posing a threat to India's security.
Militants in the Northeast are extensively using Yunus's GrameenPhone (GP), making a mockery of the union home ministry's restrictions in the border districts. Yunus and Iqbal Qadir launched GP in 1997 as an offshoot of his famous Grameen Bank, to provide communications to rural Bangladesh and help the Bank's clients, mostly women, to use the mobiles as payphones.
GP is now Bangladesh's largest cellular service provider with 9.5 million subscribers. It also has a number of unofficial subscribers in Northeast India, along the border.
The home ministry had restricted cellphones along the border to prevent misuse by cross-border militants. So BSNL and other Indian service providers have not been able to expand operations here. But due to a number of base stations in Bangladesh close to the border, that reach deep inside Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura, GP is now servicing militants, smugglers and exporters.
"Militants find it easy to get pre-paid SIM cards and recharge coupons from Bangladesh," says a senior Border Security Force officer in Assam's Cachar sector. "It is of grave concern that militants can talk through GP without the fear of being intercepted by our intelligence agencies."
This misuse came to light a few weeks back when militants of Manipur's outlawed United Liberation Front were caught in Shillong with Bangladeshi SIM cards. Two coal exporters were penalised for using GP SIMs that they said were "gifted" by their business associates in Bangladesh "to eliminate expenses on international calls".
ID Shura, additional deputy commissioner of Meghalaya's South Garo Hills, admits GP's popularity in his area has complicated matters. "Indian cellular service could have translated into better policing and improved communication in our geographically challenging border areas," he says. Local BSNL bosses admit to the problem. "But we cannot restrict it," says AK Gupta, chief general manager of BSNL's Northeast circle.

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