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02/22/2007: "Manipuris protest against abduction of local leaders Daily News"
Manipuris protest against abduction of local leaders Daily News
Imphal, Feb 21 (ANI): Hundreds of women protested against the abductions of their leaders by some unidentified armed men, here on Wednesday. The protestors blocked Imphal to Chandel road, demanding safe release of nine persons including three women leaders, who were abducted on Tuesday evening. The local leaders belonged to National Socialist Council of Nagalim's Isaac-Muivah (NSCN-IM) and a Women's group, and have sponsored their candidates to contest in the ongoing assembly elections in Manipur in the Naga dominated Hill districts of the State.
"They (rebels) have kidnapped our women leaders and some other leaders. They were approximately about nine, we are not exactly sure of that. In order to release them, we have posed these kinds of agitations like that of blocking of roads as well as dharnas. And all the people of Chandel district have come together in agitation until and unless our leaders are released," said Khiloni, member of the Women's Union.
The Women's Union activists alleged, the Naga rebels abducted their leaders for raising their voice against such atrocities. The local administration said they are still investigating the matter and the probe so far has not thrown up any substantial leads.
"We are in touch with the civil society leaders, whoever can be useful and instrumental in helping to resolve this problem and secure the early release of those persons. So far, we have no official hint or intimation of where they are and who have done it," said Lornorvert Dishinang, District Magistrate of Chandel district. The third and the final phase of elections to Manipur Legislative Assembly is scheduled on February 23. Altogether 16 candidates are in the fray in the two Assembly constituencies of Chandel district, which go to the polls. (ANI)
IED found in Assam; police fire on Naga encroachers The Hindu
Sibsagar: A powerful IED was recovered in upper Assam's Sibsagar district on Wednesday. The IED was found by the Army concealed in a bag and kept in a bus travelling from here to Sonari, the police said. The Army also found an AK-47 rifle and some ammunition and arrested two suspected United Liberation Front of Asom militants. — PTI
In another incident encroachers from Nagaland who were felling trees and trying to take possession of a portion of the Geleki reserve forest on the Assam-Nagaland border were fired on by the police. The encroachers were first asked to desist but when they fired, the police retaliated.
NSCN (K) slams IM group Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, February 21: Accusing the IM faction of the NSCN of selling away the rights and aspirations of the Naga people, the NSCN (K) today said that after the Shillong Accord fiasco, the NSCN continued with the genuine struggle for the sovereignty of the Naga people.
However some vested interest people have misused the name of the NSCN and engaged in a peace talk with the Government of India for the past ten years, making a scapegoat of the Naga people.
Terming the peace talk between the IM group and the GoI as a farce, the NSCN (K) in a statement today said that contradictory to the claims of the Chief Minister of Nagaland, the peace talk is heading nowhere and on the contrary it has jeopardised the future of thousands of students.
This same group of self professed leaders are directly taking part in the Indian election, through NGOs in Manipur and Na-galand, it charged adding that their involvement in the election shows that they are agents of the Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and BJP leader LK Advani.
This is why the IM group has been given a free hand to suppress the rights of the Naga people and making them to vote for the candidates of their choice. Sounding a stern warning, the outfit said that NSCN will not remain silent spectators to the terror tactics of the IM group.
UNC exposes Cong on ‘territorial’ double speak Newmai News Network
Imphal Pledging to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur while speaking in the Imphal Valley but sidestepping the same while campaigning in the hills area by Congress Chief Sonia Gandhi shows the double standard of the Congress party, said the United Naga Council.
The Naga body was reacting to the Sonia’s comments in Imphal that “Congress party is committed to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur and that this commitment has been kept as a firm policy of the party”. The UNC claimed that the same Sonia avoided making any mention of territorial integrity in her speech during her election campaign at Nungba A/C under Tamenglong district. The UNC termed it as “volte face speeches and double standard quality of the Congress leadership”.
UNC information and publicity secretary while issuing a statement to Newmai News Network said, “The UNC seriously takes note on Sonia Gandhi’s volte face speeches committed to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur while speaking in the valley to please the valley peoples’ voters and skipping the same at Nungba A/C under Tamenglong district to woo the Naga voters for the Congress to return to power which had directly insulted the Naga people, “ said the Naga body adding, “ their mindset is clear enough that they love our land and our votes but failed to honour our aspiration and sentiments of the Nagas”. The UNC then urged the Nagas not to vote for the Congress party.
The UNC statement warned against ‘believing any form of rumours, false propagandist pamphlets and related articles with regard to the ensuing Manipur assembly election. It then clarified that the UNC had never intimidated or threatened any Naga candidate but appealed to the Naga candidates who had not been nominated by the Naga people represented by the UNC to refrain from contesting the ensuing Assembly election. The UNC then expressed its gratitude to the GPRN/NSCN-IM for releasing Khangthuanang Panmei safe and sound.
UNC candidate escapes bid on life Newmai News Network
Imphal Independent candidate from Tamenglong Assembly Constituency Samuel Jendai escaped a bid on his life when unidentified gunmen ambushed him with sophisticated weapons but the NSCN-K Zeliangrong Region alleged that the candidate had ordered his own security guards to open blank fire in order to procure more bullets for the NSCN-IM.
Samuel Jendai when contacted by Newmai News Network, said that he alongwith his supporters and security guards had gone to a village called Wairangba and Bhalok, some 27 km away from Tamenglong headquarters, when some underground elements came out at the gate of the village and started opening gun-fire in which the candidate’s security guards retaliated by firing back.
The candidate narrated that the gunmen opened about 200 rounds of gun-fire while attempting to assassinate him. Samuel Jendai, however, did not say which group or outfit could have been behind the act. The incident occurred at 2:30 pm on Tuesday, according to the candidate. He also said that the unidentified gunmen used a bomb and LMG guns while making an attempt on his life.Samuel Jendai is endeavoring to retain his seat from the Tamenglong A/C for the fourth consecutive term. This time he is contesting as the United Naga Council (UNC)’s ‘consensus candidate’. Interestingly, Tuesday’s firing incident occurred at the native village of his rival candidate Khangthuanang Panmei who was abducted and released by the NSCN-IM just recently.
Meanwhile, the NSCN-K, Zeliangrong Region has said that Samuel Jendai has accused the outfit for the incident. The Khaplang faction of the NSCN alleged that it was the typical tactics of Samuel Jendai saying that Tuesday’s incident was not the first time where the candidate had ‘practised’.
The outfit while talking to NNN said that earlier when Samuel Jendai was a Tribal Development minister, he had fitted some powerful crackers and burst them in his residence and later complained that the proscribed KCP had attacked him. The NSCN-K, Zeliangrong Region further alleged that the Tuesday’s Wairangba incident was nothing but a foolish tactic to supply new bullets for the NSCN-IM. The outfit said that Samuel Jendai had ordered his security guards to open fire in the air and painted as attacking the candidate and in return the security guards candidate would demand for more bullets and tighter security to which the bullets will go to the NSCN-IM. The outfit further accused that Samuel Jendai could no longer stay in the valley so he has left for the hill areas and now the candidate has tied up with the NSCN-IM.
NBCC lauds NSCN (K) ‘restraint’ Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, FEB 21 (NPN): Despite the non-withdrawal of the 'quit notice' served to the Tangkhul community by the NSCN (K), the Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has appreciated the NSCN (K) leadership for the "outmost restraint and patience demonstrated" and hoped that the latter would continue to maintain the same spirit of tolerance.
Director, peace affairs, NBCC, Rev. Kari Longchar in a press release said a nine-member NBCC peace delegation had earlier met the NSCN (K) council of kilonsers on February 4 at Mon and appealed to review the quit notice. Though the appeal was not accepted, the delegation had urged the NSCN (K) "never to touch the lives of innocent people who cannot discern their right hand and their left hand (Jonah 4:11)." The NBCC also acknowledged other NGOs and church bodies who had made fervent appeals with regard to the 'quit notice.'
The Khonoma Magic: A Nagaland Village Leads the Way Ashish Kothari
Over a hundred years back, advancing British troops found themselves facing a determined warrior tribe in the highlands of Nagaland. The Angami men of Khonoma, famed for their prowess and strategic skills, fought a resolute battle to safeguard their territory, inflicting heavy casualties on the foreign soldiers. Finally a truce between the two stopped further bloodshed, but meanwhile Khonoma village had etched its name into the history of Indian resistance to the colonial invasion. Today, Khonoma is witnessing another historic struggle. In an incident reminiscent of the British invasion, in the mid-1990s the villagers had to physically resist timber merchants who came with several dozen elephants to carry out logging, unfortunately aided by some insiders. Over the last decade Khonoma, inhabited by Angami’s, one of Nagaland’s 18 tribes, has made giant strides in establishing or strengthening systems of natural resource management, conflict resolution, village administration, and appropriate development…all coupled with a resolute will to conserve biodiversity and wildlife. And all embedded in the traditional ethos of the village, without fighting shy of experimenting with new technologies and thoughts from outside. The results are impressive enough to warrant yet another key historic place for this village, this time in the annals of India’s environmental movement.
NBCC appreciates NSCN (K) The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, FEB 21 (MExN): A NBCC peace delegation consisting of nine members met with the NSCN (K) Council of Kilonsers at Mon on February 4 and passionately appealed to review the Quit Notice to the Tangkhuls, informed Rev Kari Longchar, Director, Peace Affairs, NBCC. Although the appeal was not accepted, the NBCC peace delegation had urged the NSCN (K) never to touch the lives of innocent people ‘who cannot discern their right hand and their left hand’ (Jonah 4:11), it stated while also pointing out that the NBCC was also aware of other NGOs and church bodies who have made fervent plea in this regard. The NBCC in particular appreciated the ‘utmost restrain and patience demonstrated by the NSCN (K) leadership and hoped that they will continue to maintain the same spirit of tolerance.
NPMHR slams attempt to malign just peace Naga Nation
DIMAPUR, FEB 18: The Naga Peoples Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has expressed concern over what it termed as “forces both within and without trying to vilify and limit the initiative of the civil society groups working for democratization and just peace. The NPMHR in a press communiqué following its General Assembly held from February 16-18 cautioned vested interest elements that the civil and non violent approach of human rights movement across the world and in Naga Homeland should not be taken for granted in a fast globalizing and democratizing world.
“NPMHR appeal for understanding and critical solidarity among all national struggle formations for strengthening the political negotiation process for fulfilling the aspiration of Naga people”, it stated and resolved to intensify the dialogue with the people of India as part of the civil society initiatives to ensure accountability in the ongoing political process. NPMHR also expressed deep concern over the military operation in northwest Myanmar where innocent public become victims to state policy of militarization. The General Assembly of the NPMHR was held at Dimapur from the 16th -18th February 2007 with participation from the Secretariat besides members from Delhi, Nagaland and South (Manipur state) sectors, it was informed. The Meeting reviewed the continuing lobby works and monitoring processes for drawing the attention of international community on the plight of the Nagas and their continuing struggle for self-determination. NPMHR Delhi updated the continuing campaign for repeal for AFSPA at the national capital apart from the international meetings such as Committee on World Food Security, Rome (Nov 2006), World Social Forum (WSF) 2007 in Nairobi and Asia Pacific Indigenous Youth Network meetings in Mali where NPMHR is participating. NPMHR Delhi and the Secretariat has been entrusted to gear up the international link through participation of various international processes within the United Nations such as the UNWGIP, UNPF, UNCHR and others process linking to national self-determination network across the Globe. The other issues discussed and resolved included the disastrous impact of the use of land mine on innocents and the need for public awareness. NPMHR will also continue campaigns for unification of Naga homeland but will maintain non involvement in electoral politics. It expressed appreciation to the Government of Nagaland for establishing the Commission on Women and expects credible works on the part of the Commission members while extending NPMHR support; acknowledged the commitment given by the Government of Nagaland to investigate and book those involved in the alleged excesses committed by the Naga IRB in Chattisgarh; condemned the recent brutal mass killings of 7 Yimchunger community members and demanded serious investigation from the state government to ensure justice to the victims’ family and to restraint further occurrences of such senseless massacre; appealed for renewing the spirit of Naga brotherhood and restrain from intolerant attitudes and targeting of any particular community (ies). NPMHR put on record appreciating the reconciliation process taken forward by NBCC amongst the Naga people besides expressing the need for an inclusive approach and broader involvement of different Churches in Naga Homeland; Strengthening Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact through proactive participation of NPMHR; Improve coordination amongst NPMHR members spread across the world; NPMHR to follow up Youth Dialogue process in Asia and concerns over children welfare. It also expressed immense gratitude to the NEZCC and Arts & Culture department of Nagaland for their grant support which enable NPMHR to facilitate the peoples to people’s dialogue in the Northeast region through the program ‘Harmony through Culture’; which enabled NPMHR to reaffirm its commitment towards just and accountable process of Development, Health concerns such as the HIV + and AIDS, Women participation, environmental degradation and depletion of the rich ecosystem, and sustainable resource management and equity in benefit sharing to avert conflict generated by natural resource exploitation. MExN
More dirt on Naga donation scandal Nagarealm.com
Kohima, FEB21 : The NSCN (Khaplang)’s voluntary disclosure of a “donation” from the Congress has prompted the Isak-Muivah group to reveal more about its rival’s alleged dealings with politicians. The NSCN (I-M) today claimed to have information that the Khaplang faction got Rs 25 lakh from commerce and industry minister Khekiho Zhimomi recently. The money, it said, was handed over to NSCN (K) functionaries at Amiphoto Colony in Zunheboto.
Kitovi Zhimomi, general secretary of the NSCN (K), is reportedly in Zunheboto. The Isak-Muivah group’s revelation came days after the NSCN (K) caused a flutter by thanking the Congress for a donation of Rs 5 lakh through the leader of the Opposition, I. Imkong Ao. Kughalu Mulatonu, the outfit’s chaplee kilonser (finance minister), said the donation might have been made in expectation of “help” in winning the Assembly elections, slated for early next year. “The money could be to play the buy-and-win game for the coming elections,” Mulatonu said.
The NSCN (I-M) added to the scandal by claiming that the commerce and industry minister negotiated a deal with the Khaplang group and paid Rs 25 lakh, as against the Rs 90 lakh demanded of him earlier. The NSCN (K) had written to legislators from Mokokchung district last year, seeking Rs 1 lakh each to “reorganise our Ao region”, disbanded after the 2003 public uprising against the outfit. Accusing its rival of even hobnobbing with politicians in neighbouring Manipur, the Isak-Muivah group said the NSCN (K) had issued acknowledgements for cash transactions with the Okram Ibobi Singh government. “This shows that our rival has a price tag for its involvement in elections.”
It also criticised the “alliance” between the NSCN (K) and Manipur-based outfits that were “against the aspiration of the Nagas”. The Isak-Muivah group said it was “unprincipled” to join forces with outfits trying to impede the campaign for integration of all Naga-inhabited areas of the Northeast with Nagaland. “Taking lakhs of rupees from Nagaland politicians to assist them in Indian elections and accusing others of diverting attention from their nefarious deprivation of Naga people’s democratic rights reflect their anti-people motives,” it said.
UNC hits out at Sonia’s ‘double standard’ Newmai News Network
Imphal, Feb 21: Pledging to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur while speaking in the Manipur valley but skipped the same while in the hills area by AICC chief Sonia Gandhi during her recent election campaigns in Manipur showed the double standard of the Congress party, said the United Naga Council (UNC). The Naga body was reacting to the AICC chief's comments who said in Imphal that "Congress party is committed to maintain the territorial integrity of Manipur and that this commit- ment has been kept as a firon policy of the party" but nothing such was mention-ed in her speech during her election campaign at Nung-ba Assembly Constituency under Tamenglong district. The UNC termed it as the "volte face speeches and double standard quality of the Congress leadership".
UNC information and publicity secretary while issuing a statement to Newmai News Network said, "The UNC seriously takes note on Sonia Gandhi's volte face speeches committed to protect the territorial integrity of Manipur while speaking in the valley to please the valley peoples' voters and skipping the same at Nungba Assembly Constituency under Tamenglong district to woo the Naga voters for the Congress to return to power which had directly insulted the Naga people,".
The UNC statement further added, "their mindset is clear enough that they love our land and our votes but failed to honour our aspiration and sentiments of the Nagas".
The UNC then urged the Nagas not to vote for the Congress party.
The UNC statement warned against 'believing any form of rumours, false propagandist pamphlets and related articles with regard to the ensuing Manipur assembly election.
The statment also clarified that the UNC had never intimidated or threatened any Naga candidate but appealed to the Naga candidates who had not been nominated by the Naga people represented by the UNC to refrain from constesting the ensuing Assembly election. The UNC then expressed its gratitude to the GPRN/NSCN-IM for releasing safe and sound of Khangthu-anang Panmei.
A People’s Sanctuary Column The Morung Express
In 1998, the Khonoma Village Council declared its intention to notify about 2000 hectares (20 sq.km) as a Khonoma Nature Conservation and Tragopan Sanctuary (KNCTS). This was motivated by some of the village elders, notably Tsilie Sakhrie, who in the 1980s had been a contractor dealing with the Forest Department. During this time he had been having discussions with forest officer T. Angami, who motivated him to consider dedicating a part of the village forests to wildlife conservation. In the 1980s, Tsilie proposed that the village do something to this effect, but could not achieve a consensus. In 1995, when he became a member of the Village Council, Tsilie again broached the subject. A number of villagers were opposed to the idea, since hunting was so much a part of their culture. But over the next 3 years, through extensive discussions in the village, the majority was convinced. The Sanctuary’s foundation stone was laid in December 1998; it was also decided to ban hunting in the entire village, not only the Sanctuary area. Not content with simple declaration, the village set up a KNCTS Trust, with a formal set of rules and regulations. Office bearers were chosen from amongst the villagers; Tsilie was chosen the Chief Managing Director. Rules were laid down for the management of the Sanctuary, including penalties for violations ranging from Rs. 300 to 3000 depending on the seriousness of the violation. The village youth were requested to carry out monitoring, and to levy fines, which they could then use for their own village-based activities. Our young guides to the sanctuary, Megonilhu Viyie and Vivoselie Meyase, were highly motivated and enthusiastic; the latter was a warden appointed by the KNCTS Trust, to periodically check on the sanctuary.
The area included in the KNCTS is of outstanding value, from a biodiversity, water security, and aesthetic point of view. On the map it is about 20 sq. km, but if the contours are accounted for, the area may be 70 sq.km, comprising exquisite broad-leaved forests and dwarf bamboo grasslands. It is part of the Dzuku valley, which, though not many people would know this, was immortalised by Vikram Seth in his poem “The Elephant and the Tragopan”. The poem is about how the wild animals of the valley try to stop a proposed dam that would drown out their valley, reflecting an actual movement by NGOs in Nagaland against such a proposal in the 1990s. The idea of the dam has been replaced by a pipeline proposal, to take water from here to Kohima, a project that would hopefully have little ecological impact.
Dzuku is home to a healthy population of the severely endangered state bird, the Blyth’s tragopan (a pheasant). For this and other reasons, the Bombay Natural History Society considers it one of India’s Important Bird Areas. Dzuku and surrounding forests also contain considerable other wildlife, including Himalayan black bear, over 40 species of orchids apart from hundreds of other plant species, the endemic Dzuku lily, Serow, Sambar, Leopard, and so on. Once not so long back, all these species had dwindled alarmingly due to hunting and habitat pressures. Villagers assert that they are now again increasing due to their conservation efforts; in fact crop damage by wild pigs has become a menace! The hunting ban seems to be highly effective; less than 10 violations have been reported in the last few years.
Tsilie and others are now proposing an extension of the sanctuary to neighboring forests that are currently seen as a ‘buffer zone’. Currently no hunting or extraction of timber is allowed in the buffer. If accepted by the Council, the area (on map) would increase to over 3000 hectares (30 sq.km), on the ground over 10,000 hectares (100 sq.km) and Tsilie in his capacity as the President of the Western Angami Public Organisation (an institution that contains the entire western Angami tribal population) is already discussing with the Southern Angami Public Organisation to declare their areas also protected. Work could also be done to convince Naga tribes in adjoining Manipur, since the Khonoma citizens have relations extending into those villages. If successful, the entire Dzuku and Japfu area could be declared a community protected area, extending to perhaps several hundred square kilometers.
A Social Transformation Conservation is only one of the elements of social transformation at Khonoma. Visitors to the village will be confronted with a bewildering number of activities and processes that its residents seem to be engaged in. Some of these are new, some age-old. Khonoma may well be the only village in India that has a global citizenry with an active self-identity; every year, 1st September is celebrated as the village’s ‘birthday’, with Khonomaians from far and wide coming to the village to celebrate, or carrying out celebrations where-ever they are. There are even Khonoma Students Unions in Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi!
Given its historic past, Khonoma also plays host to many tourists; it is on the tourist circuit of those who visit Kohima. Some years back the Government of India recognised the potential of the village to organize itself, and granted it a substantial Green Village fund through the Tourism Department of the state government. The money is being used to provide basic civic amenities and hygiene measures, reinforce community infrastructure, and prepare the village to receive and show visitors it’s past and present. NGOs like EQUATIONS have helped the local Khonoma Tourism Development Board to carry out an Environment Impact Assessment of tourism, in case the village goes in for much larger visitor influx.
Khonoma is also well-known in agricultural circles, for its sophisticated cultivation techniques. In shifting cultivation, farmers use Alder (Alnus nepalensis) trees interspersed with the crops. These trees return nitrogen to the soil, thereby helping the land to rapidly regain fertility when farmers abandon it to move onto the next plot. The village overlooks a wide valley that has been converted into terraced fields, made with such precision that apparently their productivity has remained stable over centuries. Khonoma is also home to over 60 varieties of rice, and a diversity of millets, maize, Job’s tears, citrus fruits, and other crops (grown without using chemical pesticides or fertilizers). All this has made the village a model for emulation in many other parts of Nagaland through the efforts of the unique inter-departmental Nagaland Empowerment of People and Economic Development (NEPED) programme. This is especially useful where shifting cultivation has become unsustainable due to shorter cycles of leaving the land fallow after cultivation.
Amongst the factors that makes all this tick, is the strong and clear ownership of land and natural resources within the village boundaries. Such ownership provides a strong stake in working out sustainable modes of land management. But this would not be enough in itself (for such ownership could also result in individuals destroying their lands), were it not coupled with very strong social and political organisations. The village is divided into 3 hamlets (khels), each with several clans, each clan comprised of several families. The clan itself is a decision-making unit, and selects members to represent itself to larger village level bodies. These include the Village Council (overall responsible for all affairs), the Village Development Board (recipient of government funds for developmental purposes), and the ruffono, a recent innovation to bring all village institutions under a common umbrella. Traditional institutions such as decision-making by the gaon burras (village elders) have been integrated into the Village Council’s decision-making. The youth are part of either a Students Union or a Youth Association, the women are members of the Khonoma Women’s Organisation. In addition, all villagers are part of an age group. Such groups are formed by boys and girls in the age group 12 to 15, and carry out social activities like construction of rest houses and village paths, and formation of singing and dancing groups. The bond lasts a lifetime; members stick together till they are into their 60s and 70s!
Khonoma’s success is also dependent on the links its citizens have with the outside world. Many of its one-time residents are now in government service (though this does not seem to have helped in improving the awful road that connects Kohima to this village!).
There are, of course, blemishes aplenty. Women obviously do command a great deal of respect, and reportedly are very influential at the house-hold level, or through their own committee, but they do not occupy formal positions in most of the decisive institutions such as the Village Council. Some youth told us that while they have stopped hunting in their own village, they still occasionally hunt outside…though apparently this too is on the decline. The capacity to handle tourists seems rather limited, and there is a worry that a large-scale influx could be counter-productive….hence the importance of the tourism EIA mentioned above. Ironically, the ban on hunting has created the problem of crop damage by wild pigs and other wildlife, for which the village is contemplating selective lifting of the ban….but residents are worried about whether this may have other negative consequences. An increasing tendency to plant cash crops in the jhum (shifting cultivation) and terraced fields, is reportedly leading to loss of agricultural biodiversity. Documentation of the area’s biodiversity is rather minimal, a start having only recently been made by the biologist Firoz Ahmed in association with some of the village youth. Marvelling at the level of traditional knowledge, Firoz reports that of the 20 species of frogs and toads he found in Khonoma, 14 were already reported by villagers!
A State-wide Revolution Khonoma’s conservation initiative is all the more noteworthy if one looks at the enormous decline of wildlife across Nagaland in the last few decades. Hunting has been rampant, according to one resident perhaps fueled by the jump in fire-arms availability since truce was declared between the Nagas and the Indian army in the early 1980s. The tribes here eat virtually everything, and though this may not have earlier damaged wildlife populations due to limited hunting technologies, it had of late assumed severely destructive proportions.
Khonoma’s story assumes even greater significance because it is only one of dozens of similar initiatives across Nagaland. Our visit took us to 8-10 settlements in Phek and Kohima districts, and virtually everywhere we saw notice boards warning would-be hunters with severe penalties, declaring community forest reserves with stringent restrictions on resource use, and so on. Slowly but surely, wild animals are making a come-back, a phenomenon that even a decade back seemed virtually impossible.
Kidnapping and UNC diktat lead to tension in Chandel Sentinel
CHANDEL, Feb 21: Tension ran high in Chandel today following the abduction of 15 persons, including Anal Women Union leader Dr Sameri Anal and social worker Morhing Lamkang by unidentified armed persons in the early hours last morning apparently in connection with the ongonig elections. Protesting against the abduction, several hundred womenfolk blockaded roads and staged a demonstration at Chandel district headquarters near the DC office demanding safe release of the abducted the women. The women who expressed strong objections to the diktat of the unc to various candidate and the public to support their sponsored candidate, submitted a memorandum to the DC, Chandel, urging to provide adequate security and to take steps to ensure the release of the abducted persons. The womenfolk reiterated their desire for free and fair elections, maintainng that no one can deprive them of their right to vote. They said they are not going to follow the diktat of the unc to support their sponsored candidates stating that unc has no authority to intervene in the polls. The 15, including several tribal leaders were abducted from their respective houses at Chandel headquarters, and from Mantripantha village by the unidentified gunmen believed to be UGs at around 1:30 am this morning, apparently for failing to support the UNC-sponsored candidate, Francis Huten.
The protesting womenfolk also met Mani Charenamei, MP who visited Chandel headquarters this morning over the abductions, demanding his intervention for the release of the abducted persons.
The women briefly gheraoed Charenamei at the crossing near the Chandel DC`s office and blamed him for encouraging the violation of voting rights after the public had elected him as MP to look after the interests of the Naga people. The women, who stressed the need for the public to raise their voice to prevent any form of diktat from any organisation said they will intensify their agitation if the abducted persons are not released soon. Chandel DC Norbert Disinang, talking to mediapersons, said the demands raised by the womenfolk were genuine and said the district administration was taking serious efforts to ensure free and fair elections. While he disclosed that there is no formal report or complaints of abduction or threatening of candidates, he admitted that the administration is aware of informal reports of diktats imposed on several candidates by the UNC. In another development, the womenfolk who were who were kidnapped by the miscreants on their way while proceeding from Tengnoupal for participating in yesterday`s peace rally were released early today un-harmed, according to official sources.
The Political Mess of Nagaland Today and the Causes from Yesterday’s Irresponsibility Kaka.D.Iralu The Morung Express Perspective
What would have become the fate of countries like Poland, Czechoslovakia, France, Norway, etc, if they had quietly surrendered to Germany’s invasion of their lands in 1939 and 1940? Where would England be today if the British had not fought back against the German Blitzkreig that overran all of Europe and even threatened Britain’s sovereignty and independence in 1940? The answer would have been a simple German Nazi rule of the whole of Europe from 1939 onwards.
In their hour of attack, though initially overwhelmed, all these countries fought back for six years until by the end of 1945, all the Axis powers were defeated and the sovereign democracies of Europe were again restored. In this bitter war of defending their own histories, cultures and democracies, every young man and woman of Europe, irrespective of their various professions, collectively fought back until their own independence and sovereignties were saved. This was not a fight where their educated class fled to other countries and returned only when their soldiers had fought and won the victories for them. Far from it, doctors, engineers, architects, scholars and scientists all fought shoulder to shoulder with peasants and farmers in bloody battlefields not only in Europe but all over the world in order to destroy the evil intentions of the leaders of the Axis alliance. Had they not fought back against this invasion, Nazism and Fascism would have ruled Europe and even parts of Asia, Africa and the Americas. Today there is a vibrant Europe playing its vital role in international politics because yesterday they fought back and did not surrender.
Now, coming to our own context, despite our declared independence on 14th August 1947, when massive Indian troops invaded our country in 1954 - 1955, where did our educated Nagas disappear when our villagers and farmers rose up to defend our sovereignty and our independence? Where were these people when our villages were razed to the ground and our womenfolk and children were hiding in the jungles dying from starvation and disease? With the exception of a few patriotic and partially educated Nagas, all the rest of our educated people stayed back in our towns, indifferent to the plight of our political future or even worse, actively participating with the occupational forces in our land. They simply surrendered their rights without a fight and then threw in all their efforts into building the enemy’s political infrastructure over our lands and our people.
After the invasion, what did our pathetic villagers do when they came back from their jungles and were herded into concentration camps? Despite their broken lives and their blinding tears, they rebuild our villages, re-cultivated their fields and went on supplying rations for those of our soldiers who have continued to wage a guerilla war up to date. But where were our educated and intellectual Nagas throughout this invasion of our lands and the protracted conflict in our lands that has devastated our polity, our economy and our political future? Well, they simply went on building their own careers and their own wealth without any regard or concern for the common good of the nation to which they also belonged. In the end, many retired as high Indian government officials only to close the chapters of their lives with a stint in Nagaland state politics ending up as MLAs, Ministers and even Governors.
When two generations of educated Nagas have betrayed their history and their country like this, can we Nagas (or any outsiders) expect a vibrant Nagaland to be in existence today - a Nagaland throbbing with economic prosperity, peace and social harmony? Only the fool and the dreamer can expect such an utopia in Nagaland when in the first place our educated Nagas had sacrificed almost nothing for the freedom and prosperity of our nation and our land. We should also not be too surprised to see lawlessness and chaos reigning in our lands today because these educated Nagas have given their life’s services to the foreign occupational government instead of our own government. Now, whether one likes it or not, it is a universal fact of life that we always reap what we have sown. This business of sowing the right seeds in order to reap the right harvest is not a game of life that can be played as a pleasant pastime. In fact, one cannot sow seeds of irresponsibility and expect a harvest of peace, prosperity and social harmony to dawn in one’s land. Without sacrifices of courage, sweat and toil, there cannot be harvests of prosperity and tranquility. For example, a farmer cannot expect to harvest a bounty of crops without first going to his fields to sow the seeds and weed the plants until harvest time comes. Now, sowing of seeds and weeding of plants is not at all a pleasant pastime. In fact, it is back breaking work involving sweat and toil. But however unpleasant these activities may be, these activities are the absolute pre-requisite for reaping a bountiful crop.
This same economic principle applies to other areas of our lives whether it is in the moral dimension or the social and political dimensions. In the political field, without first doing the right moral and political things we cannot expect to harvest a rich return of political peace and harmony in our society. Now, doing the right moral and political thing involves both physical as well as mental sacrifices. In the case of Europe, it was six years of physical sacrifices that secured back Europe’s political and economic prosperity of today. Without sacrifices like this we cannot expect political freedom, social harmony or economic prosperity in our lands. To sum it up, discharging human moral, political or economic responsibilities is not at all a pleasant activity. However if we fail to discharge these responsibilities, we end up with very unpleasant consequences. Here I want to emphasize the word WE because the social and political problems that we are facing in our society today is not somebody else’s problem but OUR own problem.
Now a problem can never be solved by ignoring it or running away from it. In fact, if we try to ignore a problem or run away from it, the problem does not automatically solve itself but only gets multiplied. In our Naga political context too, our problem is not getting solved on its own accord over the years. It is in fact getting worse and worse.
Yesterday the problem was an invasion issue. And that issue still remains to be tackled and settled. But because we educated people tried to ignore and run away from that problem, today that first problem has multiplied into another additional problem called fratricidal killing among ourselves. This is how problems multiply when we try to ignore them or try to run away from them. These two problems could still further multiply into another three problems called The Southern Nagaland problem, The Western Nagaland problem and The Eastern Nagaland problem. As indications show today, instead of a united free and independent Nagaland, we might instead disintegrate into a broken and fragmented Nagaland at war with itself.
Is this what our half a century struggle is all about? Like any other nations on earth we Nagas also have social, religious and economic problems. However let us remember that the primary problem in Nagaland is a political problem. Let us also remember that all these other problems like economy, religion, social, etc, has its existence under a political umbrella of any modern nation state in the world. When the political umbrella is leaking, it affects all these other areas of our lives because they all function (or dysfunction) under a political umbrella.
As just stated we have religious problems among ourselves. But we must remember that we do not have a national religious problem. After all, that is to say no Nagas are persecuting or are killing fellow Nagas over religious issues. Our religious problems are but personal problems and not national problems. In the economic dimension too, we also have economic problems like disparities between the rich and the poor with the rich getting richer while the economic condition of the poor is becoming pathetic. However, we are not having riots in Nagaland because of starvation and poverty. In fact, if we are not lazy we have many economic opportunities where we can become even richer than our bureaucrats and ministers. Our economic problems like our religious problems are therefore again mostly personal problems and not national problems.
Therefore in the light of all these facts, let every Naga, especially the educated ones, wake up to this political problem that has killed over two hundred thousand Naga lives and has also devastated our economy and polity. Let us also wake up to the fact that fratricidal killings have already taken a toll of more than 2500 Naga lives. This fratricidal killing is today the greatest threat to Naga society. As such, we must tackle this problem first, before trying to tackle the political invasion issue. In this connection the Naga public must rise up en-mass and confront our national leaders with ultimatums rather than bowing down to their nefarious activities.
In conclusion, let us remember that even if we have committed political crimes of indifference and irresponsibility yesterday, it is never too late to rectify it today. If we do act today, we can still have a secure tomorrow in the future. However if we refuse to act today, our problem will not magically disappear but go on multiplying until we are all rendered futureless. Let us know this very clearly that without our active commitment and involvement, no political miracle is going to fall down from heaven or come sailing from across the seas. Fellow Nagas, the time has come for us to ACT, not WATCH. Surely, this is not the time for us to be pursuing our own small dreams and ambitions. It is rather the time to solve our common political problem so that we can pursue those dreams and ambitions under an atmosphere of peace and security. While living under political insecurity as in the present situation, how can we go on building mansions and palaces that can later come crashing down on our heads? First, under a politically stable umbrella, let us secure the land on which to build our mansions. Then, and only then will our mansions stand.
Explosives seized in Guwahati New Kerala
Guwahati, Feb 22: A huge quantity of explosives, including 400 electronic detonators and 26 kg of aluminium nitrate, was seized here and two persons arrested in this connection, police today said. A total of 600 special ordinary detonators used for blasting in stone quarries, 25 gelatine sticks and 37 bundles of fuse wire were found in the house of Radheshyam Shaw at Mikirgoli under Gorchuk police outpost last night, Additional Superintendent of Police Rajen Singh said.
Shaw and his business partner Monilal Paswan, the co-owner of a quarry, were arrested.
Though there were no immediate leads about the two being linked to the banned ULFA, Singh said the insurgency angle was also being investigated. --- PTI
Storm in tea party, Assam locks horns with New Delhi By IANS
Guwahati, Feb 22 (IANS) The Assam government has locked horns with the Indian Tea Association (ITA) and the union commerce ministry over shifting of the venue of the International Tea Convention from Guwahati to Kolkata on grounds of inadequate infrastructure.
The convention is scheduled to be held in November. 'It is absolutely unfair to shift the venue just because some ITA officials want the proposed tea convention to be held in Kolkata. We are capable of hosting an international meet and can easily provide modest accommodation to the 400 guests,' Assam's Power and Industries Minister Pradyut Bordoloi told IANS.
However, Commerce Minister Jairam Ramesh Tuesday insisted that Assam does not have the infrastructure to host an international convention. 'Where is the infrastructure in Assam?' Ramesh asked journalists while answering questions on the government's turnaround. The minister had earlier announced that the International Tea Convention, aimed at promoting Indian tea abroad, would be held in Assam. 'I have spoken to some tea delegates in Singapore, London, and Berlin and they told me they were not looking for jacuzzi or a sauna in a five star hotel here. They want decent accommodation and proper conference halls for the confabulations and we are capable of providing these facilities,' Bordoloi said, rebutting the commerce minister's statement.
The northeastern state of Assam is considered the heart of India's tea industry with the state accounting for about 55 percent of the country's total annual tea production of 928 million kg last year. India's $1.5-billion tea industry has been facing a crisis with prices dropping in the weekly auctions since 1998 and exports plummeting as well.
'At a time when we are trying to project Assam as the trading hub of the northeast and the gateway to Southeast Asia, it would be unfortunate if the tea convention is shifted out of Guwahati citing poor infrastructure,' the Assam minister said. The Assam government has once again urged the commerce minister to reconsider Guwahati as the venue for the tea meet.
Several prominent groups like the Assam Tea Planters Association and the Chah Mazdoor Sangha have opposed the move to shift the venue of the grand tea party. 'We strongly oppose the move. This would create a serious rift and misgivings in the mind of the locals here and would only vindicate the oft repeated sentiment that Assam's natural resources are being exploited by New Delhi,' a senior planter said, requesting not to be named.
UNLF frees PHED officials By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
The PHED officials who were released by UNLF Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Feb 21: Seven abducted officers and a driver of the State PHE Department were set free by the UNLF late evening today. The employees abducted on February 7 and 8 are SE H Suni, M Ibomcha, EE O Kullachandra, AE N Nobin, SO Arun, Naba-kumar, Somo and driver S Chinglen. Before the employees were set free, they were produced before media per- sons at a place in Bishnupur district.
It was reported in the media earlier that the employees were abducted in connection with former PHED Minister Govindas Konthoujam and present Minister of the same Department TN Haokip swindling Rs 80 lakhs (approximately) by asking the engineers to deduct 6 percent from the bills of all the contract works during the last two financial years.However, the outfit did not disclose any reason for abducting the employees and their subsequent release. Earlier, UNLF had claimed that Chief Minister O Ibobi and former PHED Minister Govindas Konthoujam paid Rs 6 crores to the outfit which the duo collected through fraudulent means.
Gogoi renews ULFA talks offer From Our Spl Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, Feb 21 – After having successfully hosted the 33rd National Games, Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi today again made peace overtures to ULFA by asserting doors were open for negotiations. The Chief Minister received accolades at the pre-conference of the Fourth International Conference on Federalism held at Vigyan Bhavan here this afternoon, when Information and Broadcasting and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi congratulated Gogoi for successfully hoisting the Games, describing it as victory against all odds.
The pre-conference of the international conference was presided over Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil and attended among others by Union Panchayati Raj Minister, Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Water Resources, Prof Saifuddin Soz, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission, Montek Singh Ahluwalia besides at host of ministers representing various Central ministries and international experts.
An elated Gogoi later addressing the conference said that armed revolution could be solved through democratic process. The Chief Minister then briefly gave the background of insurgency in Assam and the problems of the North Eastern Region.
However, he was quick to assert that the State Government was not keen on following a policy of confrontation to resolve the problem of insurgency. “We are committed to safeguard the life of citizens,” he said. “We will provide security to all and at the same time keeping the doors for negotiations open,” he said. The Chief Minister, however, added that the militant outfit has to abjure violence because it is only through democratic means can the problems be solved.
Gogoi then referred to the BLT, pointing out that the outfit had taken up arms against the State Government demanding Bodoland. But decentralisation of power and extension of the Sixth Schedule status resolved their problems. “The same people are now running the Bodo Territorial Council and are also part of my Government,” he said. The Chief Minister, however, made a strong case for fulfilment of hopes and aspiration of the people. Equal justice and respectability and honour are what are desired. “Unless we provide justice, respectability and give due recognition to custom and culture, federalism won’t work.”
A State may be small in terms of political identity but it must be given due recognition, he added.
The Chief Minister further added that sense of alienation prevailed owing to geographical isolation and lack of development. Addressing the conference, Chief Minister of Sikkim, Pawan Chamling said that his State wants to work more closely with the States in the North East to address disparity both in thinking and development.
Abducted persons released, Chandel polls back on track The Imphal Free Press
imphal, feb 21: The proposed indefinite Chandel district bandh and election boycott threat has been withdrawn following the unconditional release of all those who were abducted in the early hours yesterday by unknown gunmen apparently in connection with the ensuing elections. According to reliable sources, all those who were taken away from their respective homes yesterday, including Anal Women`s Union president Dr Sameri, ex-president L Rhinglun Anal and Lamkang tribe leader Morhing Lamkang were released unhurt today due to heavy pressure from the public. On the other hand, a sullen mood still prevails in Chandel over the reported diktat to the public by the NSCN(IM) to extend their support to the UNC-sponsored candidate.
Also, even as campaigning for the third phase of the polls ended this afternoon, no candidate other than the UNC-sponsored Francis Huten was reportedly allowed to campaign today. On the other hand, the state government is reportedly planning to send additional security forces, including IRB and police commandos to Chandel in addition to the central paramilitary forces stationed there in order to ensure a peaceful atmosphere for successfully holding the third phase of the elections.
Campaigning for third phase ends with three forced `retirements` Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Feb 21: The campaigning for the third and final phase of the 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly elections came to an end this afternoon at 3.30 pm. The third phase elections will be markedly different from the two phases which have concluded as three candidates have taken forced `retirements` after hard pressure from the underground elements and no apparent action from the election authorities seen so far. There were official reports that the authorities would leave no stone unturned to prevent violence on the poll day but the state as well as the election authorities seem to be paying less attention toward pre-poll violence like threatening of candidates, attacks on candidates and their vehicles etc. Out of the twelve Assembly constituencies which will go to the polls on Friday one is in Imphal east district, two in Chandel district, and three in Tamenglong district while the remaining 6 are in Churachandpur district.
The only constituency of the Imphal east is 40-Jiribam A/C of Jiribam sub-division. The two constituencies in Chadel district are 41-Chandel A/C and 42-Tengnoupal, for Tamenglong district the constituencies are 52-Tamei,53-Tamenglong, 53-Nungba and the constituencies located within the Churachandpur district are 55-Tipaimukh, 56 Thanlon, 57-Henglep, 58-Churachandpur, 59-Saikot and 60-Singhat. Polling personnel deputed at the farthest polling stations from the district headquarters have already started leaving for poll duty since yesterday. Some of the polling stations are located in the places where the personnel on duty have to trek on foot, by boat etc. Apart from "forced retirement" of three candidates - one independent contesting at Tamenglong A/C and two CPI candidates at Chandel and Tengnuopal A/C, the house of a BJP candidate was ransacked by miscreants in pre-poll violence. Two vehicles of Congress candidates Gaikhangam were also pushed into hill gorges by miscreants.
Two candidates, both from CPI, who were in the fray in the third phase poll in Chandel district have "retired" from candidature as they were forced to do so by some underground elements. Their retirement came after an independent candidate at Tamenglong A/C was also forced to `retire` by the NCSN (IM) in the last couple of days.
"Two of our candidates, Onjamang Haokip from Tengnoupal constituency and Nehkhothang of Chandel constituency, have taken `forced retirement` as they were threatened of dire consequencies by some insurgent groups even as the repeated appeals of the village elders to allow free and fair election went unheeded," said CPI state secretary B Sharma.
Police have information on the matter of forced retirements of the two CPI candidates but no action has so far been taken or any investigation initiated into the matter as no complaints have been put up from the candidates in question, a senior officer of the state police department said.
Enraged over the underground elements targeting its candidates the Communist Party of India, Manipur State Council submitted a ten-point representation to the Manipur Governor Dr SS Sidhu with copies to CEC, Delhi and CEO, Manipur.
The representation urged the authorities to check and control the alarmingly increasing pre-poll and post-poll violence so that democratic values and normalcy in the society could be restored.
In the wake of increasing pre-poll violence and kidnappings, the district election authority has decided to use maximum security. The district magistrate also promulgated restrictions on the gathering of five or more persons and bearing of deadly weapons within 100 metres of the all the polling stations in Chandel district. Meanwhile, the chief electoral officer, received formal complaints from at least three independent candidates contesting in the the forthcoming elections, including two in Tamenglong and one in Chandel, of `enforced retirement` from the polls, according to official sources. The complaints were received from the concerned agents of the candidates today, according to the sources.
The sources however made it clear that there would be no official cognizance of such `retirement`, as candidates who were cleared for contesting after scrutiny and who did not withdraw their candidatures within the allowed time will be counted as contesting candidates.
NO MEITEI-NAGA CONVERGENCE Nagarealm.com
Nagas want the unification of the Naga-majority hill districts in Manipur. Meities, Kukis and others oppose any such move. But everyone in the state agrees the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act has to go.
The divide in the Manipur society is likely to be reflected in the outcome of the ongoing Assembly elections in the state. On the one hand is the Naga agenda of unification of all the Naga-dominated areas in Manipur into an “integrated homeland”, on the other is the Manipur valley’s Meitei population’s steadfast opposition to compromise on the state’s “territorial integrity”.
Meitei’s — who are predominantly Hindus — constitute a majority in Manipur, but five out of its nine districts, namely Senapati, Tamenglong, Churachandpur, Chandel and Ukhrul, have a large concentration of tribal population which includes the Nagas.
The United Naga Council (UNC), the apex body of the Nagas in the state, which is spearheading the campaign for the integration of Naga-inhabited areas, has fielded 11 independent candidates in the four-Naga dominated districts of Manipur — Ukhrul, Chandel, Senapati and Tamenglong. The 11 candidates have come together under the United Naga Democratic Front with the twin objectives of intensifying their agitation for the integration of Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative unit and mobilising support for talks between the Centre and the Isaac - Muivah faction of the militant separatist National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN I-M). “After a series of discussions on the ongoing peace process with people from all walks of life, we decided to take a proactive role in the ninth general elections… We decided not to support any national or regional political party as they have taken no resolution in support of the peace process,” said KS Paul Leo, President, UNC.
NSCN (K), the Khaplang faction of the separatist group, has different views on the unification of Naga dominated hill districts of Manipur. Kughalu Mulatonu, supervisor of the ceasefire supervisory board of NSCN (K) told Tehelka that his group will not participate in the Manipur elections. “Our rival group NSCN (I-M) had set up the Neiphiu Rio government with 60 seats in Nagaland but they could make no headway with the peace process. What will they now do with 11 seats in the hill districts of Manipur? We are not an organisation for unification or integration. Our first priority is sovereignty and the rest will follow.”
Brigadier Phungthing, convenor of the ceasefire monitoring committee of the NSCN (I-M) told Tehelka, “Our views are very clear on the issue of the greater Naga homeland. We are fighting for what is rightfully ours.” Last year, over 3,000 Naga students from the hill districts of Manipur opted to affiliate with the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE). The Union Human Resource Development Ministry remained silent on the issue. However, NSCN (K) is opposed the Nagaland government’s decision to allow the students to affiliate to the NBSE and warned that it will not allow the pupils to appear in the High School Leaving Certificate Examination. “The NSCN (K) feels that the syllabus issue is not related to the Naga sovereignty issue,” says Paul Leo. Kughalu Mulatonu, supervisor of the ceasefire supervisory board of NSCN (K) called the shifting of affiliation as an “anti-Naga virus”. “If they want the support and blessings of the Naga people, they should go ahead with a rightful approach,” he said.
The first phase of Assembly polls in Manipur held on February 8 went off peacefully, barring some minor incidents. Polls were held in Ukhrul, Senapati and Thoubal districts for 19 of the 60 seats in the Assembly and close to 70 percent of the six-lakh-strong electorate cast its votes.
The second and third phase are scheduled for February 14 and 23. The Okram Ibobi Singh-led Congress government has been the first one in Manipur to last its full-five year term. In view of the prevailing law and order situation, at least two units of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in each polling booth. One issue on which all political parties in the state, including the ruling Congress party, have a unanimous stand is the repeal of the detested Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The death of a man in what is widely believed here to be a fake encounter in Lamlai in Imphal East, hours after the first phase of polling ended has shifted the focus back to the Act. A 24-hour bandh was observed on February 11 all over Manipur.
The Manipur People’s Party (MPP), the oldest regional party in the state, has the repeal of afspa as its main poll plank. RK Shivachandra, General Secretary, mpp, told Tehelka, “We want the repeal of the act. We want to emphasise that the insurgency problem is not a law and order problem. Its an armed conflict which has to be resolved politically.” He also stressed the need to not tinker with the hill districts’ current status. “We are not against the issue of Naga unification but we want the age-old territorial integrity of Manipur to be kept intact,” he says.
Politicians cutting across party lines have been visiting the homes of two women who epitomise the fight to repeal the afspa — Irom Sharmila Thanu, who has been on a fast-unto-death for six years now — and Thangjam Manorama Devi, who was allegedly raped before being shot dead while she was in the custody of Assam Rifles in July 2004. Members of Irom Sharmila’s family have not exercised their right to franchise since 2000. Her brother, Irom Singhajit, currently at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi keeping a vigil over his sister says, “I asked my family members not to cast their vote since we did not like the political atmosphere and no political parties can fulfill our expectations.” Sapancha Kangleipal, a member of Apunba Lup, a joint front of 32 civil society bodies, is camping at Delhi with Sharmila. He is critical of the role of the political parties. “It is very unfortunate that the political parties are using this issue to their advantage. We don’t adhere to any regional or national political party who have double faces and try to gain sympathy from the innocent Manipuri people,” he says. The non-Naga tribes who reside in the four hill-districts, including a majority among the Kuki tribe, refute the Nagas’ claims that they are the dominant tribe there, and are likely to oppose the UNC. Buried under these politically charged and emotionally volatile issues, common everyday civic issues like water, electricity, health and education have taken a backseat in the electoral manifesto of the political parties. [Teresa Rehman, tehelka]
