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03/04/2007: "‘Black Day’ rally in Kohima Correspondent Nagaland Post"

‘Black Day’ rally in Kohima Correspondent Nagaland Post

Kohima, March 3 (NPN): Hundreds of people Saturday observed a "black day" in the form of a public rally which concluded with a clarion call to stop killings among the Nagas. The black day, organized under the aegis of Eastern Nagaland People's Organization (ENPO), was aimed at condemning the killings of two Konyak youths by the NSCN (I-M) in Kohima recently.
The rallyists held a programme at MLA Hostel junction from 9.30 am and then proceeded to the official residence of the chief minister to submit a memorandum. At the rally, speakers including the Acting president of the ENPO and the presidents of Eastern Naga Students' Federation (ENSF) and Konyak Union Kohima (KUK) condemned the fratricidal killings in the name of Naga freedom struggle and called for immediate cessation to all kinds of hostilities for the betterment of Naga society.
ENPO president Tongthan called upon the factions to realize the futility of fratricidal killings and expressed the hope that no more killings would take place on Naga soil. Similarly, the president of KUK B. Tingshem recalled the sequence of events in the aftermath of the killings of the two Konyaks and the subsequent admission by the NSCN (I-M) authorities.
In his speech, the president of ENSF Y.P Chillio said scores of Nagas were killed despite people's call for peace and cessation to fratricidal hostility. In their memorandum to the chief minister, the ENPO expressed its resentment over the silence and inaction of the State government on the killings of the two Konyak youths.
"The ENPO is dismayed to see that no step has been taken by the State government against the killer/killers of the two innocent boys till date", the rallyists said in the memorandum. They reminded that it is the bounden duty of the State government to apprehend and bring to book those responsible and award them exemplary punishment in order to deliver justice to the deceased families and demanded that the chief minister take up the matter immediately and fulfill the demand. Meanwhile, the peaceful rally turned almost violent when a crowd waiting below the main entrance gate of the chief minister's official residence demanded that the chief minister come out and address them. The crowd also made attempts to break open the police barricade.
NSCN (K) ambush rival cadres at Ghaspani ‘Public complaints spurred attack’ The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MARCH 3 (MExN): NSCN (K) cadres ambushed four from the rival group while they were sleeping in an old run-down government quarter at PWD Colony, Medziphema in the wee hours of this morning, according to Police. As a result of the attack which came in at around 12:30 am, an NSCN (I-M) cadre identified as Anthony from Shiron Village of Manipur’s Senapati District was injured. He was taken to Civil Hospital, Dimapur for treatment, informed Officer-in-Charge of Medziphema Police Station, Kevi. He said the NSCN (I-M) cadres were fortunate enough for not having sustained graver injuries or casualties. A hurled grenade did not explode, he added. Police also recovered 5 live rounds of lethod ammunition from the scene.
The situation is said to be “tense but under control.” A company of the IRB has also been deployed in the area. Giving reason for the attack, NSCN (K) UT-1 Supervisor, Akato Chophy, said the move was undertaken based on complaints made from residents of Ghaspani and Chumukedima. He said NSCN (I-M) cadres were interfering in the daily lives of the people of the area. Since the public could not drive out the NSCN (I-M) cadres who had guns in their possession, they had asked the NSCN (K) to do so, Akato said.
Despite repeated warnings telling them to move out of civilian areas, the NSCN (I-M) cadres stayed put and as such “I sent my boys to evict them,” he added.
Further, the UT-1 Supervisor has given a “warm welcome” to ‘2nd Lieutenant’ Botovi of Hebolimi Village under Zunheboto District for joining their ranks. Akato informed that Botovi was in the Ghaspani Town Command of the NSCN (I-M) before he joined the NSCN (K).
NSCN-IM, Centre hold talks The Morung Express
New Delhi, March. 3 (PTI): The NSCN-IM today held the first formal parleys with the Centre since top rebel leader Thuingaleng Muivah arrived in the country in December last year, and the two sides agreed to continue discussions to find a solution to the insurgency in Nagaland. “The outcome was very positive, and we had respectable discussions,” senior NSCN-IM leader R H Raising, who was part of the group’s four-member team at the talks, told PTI.
The NSCN-IM team led by Muivah and the government delegation headed by Union Minister of State Oscar Fernandes held “detailed discussions on political issues” during the talks that lasted about 90 minutes, Raising said without giving details. The two sides agreed to meet again later in March, possibly in the last week of the month. “It is imperative for both sides to continue these discussions,” Raising said. Home Secretary V K Duggal and former Home Secretary K Padmanabhaiah, the interlocutor for the Naga talks, were part of the government team.
Sources said Muivah is expected to return to Nagaland soon to continue consultations with civil society and tribal groups on the NSCN-IM’s key demands like the integration of all Naga-inhabited areas of the northeast. Muivah and NSCN-IM chairman Isak Chishi Swu have been engaged in drumming up support in Nagaland for this demand, which cast a shadow over the recent Assembly polls in Manipur. The Manipur Government is strongly opposed to the move, and the Centre put off talks with the NSCN-IM till the end of the polls. The Centre and the NSCN-IM have held numerous rounds of talks in India and abroad since they agreed to a truce in August 1997.
PM says talks must go on DIMAPUR, MARCH 3 (MExN): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has through the Group of Ministers engaged in parleys with the NSCN (I-M urged that the peace talks must go on despite whatever hurdles lie in the way, a source engaged in today’s talks said. The main point of discussion during the 90-minute discussions, which saw both formal and informal talks, examined the manner in which both sides interpreted recommendations. The GoM will talk to their higher-ups over the issue, the source said and added that both sides put up their positions, besides agreeing to “talk better” during the next round.
‘Stop killings; unite under banner of Christ’ Black Day grieves over killing of youths Karaiba Chawang The Morung Express
Kohima As people thronged the MLA junction in response to the ‘Black Day’ called made by ENPO to express their outpouring of grief over the killing of two youths, Lt. Pongjai and Lt. Phoba, by NSCN-IM on January 13, the message emerging from the protest rally was loud and clear. The gathering bluntly told all the warring Naga national groups to immediately stop fratricidal killing under the banner of ‘Nagaland for Christ’. The rally, besides, registering condemnation over the killing of innocent public by the armed UGs, also condemned the unabated factional clashes taking place regularly and made a fervent appeal for cessation of factional feud, so as to usher peace in the State.

ENPO President (acting), Tongthan, said that Nagas in different capacity have made sufficient appeals to the warring groups to stop killing amongst themselves.
“Division and killing is not a thing of beauty. Stop factional killing”, he said. He went on: “killing without respect for life in the name of Naga national struggle is absolutely inhuman”, and urged upon the underground cadres to be more humane, religious, and to work towards reviving the dying spirits of ‘national struggle’.
President, Konyak Union, B. Tingshem, contested that the NSCN-IM had been issuing a contradictory statement over the killing of the two boys. While the NSCN-IM’s Angami
Region and the central authority had claimed that the duo was cadres of the rival faction, a high official of the organization had admitted that they were innocent and was killed due to mistaken identity, he said. Four Konyak Tatars of the NSCN-IM had also written to their authority, stating that the two boys were innocent, and it was followed by alluding public apology from Isak Chishi Swu for his cadres’ excessiveness, which undoubtedly confirmed the innocence of the slain youths, Tingshem maintained.
Therefore, ENPO demanded that the NSCN-IM tender public apology and the cadres responsible for killing be dropped or discharged from national service. It also demanded that the state government make arrest of the cadres involved and to ensure security and peace.
Eastern Nagaland Students’ Federation (ENSF) termed factional killings as a mockery, as it is being carried out under banner of “Nagaland for Christ” and appealed to all the national workers for complete cessation of fratricidal killing amongst them.
Eastern Nagaland Peoples Organisation observes Black Day at Kohima on March 3.
“If they (UGs) don’t heed to the call of the public, it will be too late when they realize”, said Chillio, president of the ENSF. He said that public is willing to make any sacrifices for the national cause, however, said that the national workers should not make heavy demand on the poor public, as it is happening.
When national workers can enter into truce with the ‘enemy’, it is a weird thing they cannot keep peace amongst themselves, he added. ENSF also firmly asserted that killing should be stopped at any cause and Nagas should start speaking out the truth. Black Day was also observed in four districts of the state-Mon, Tuensang, Kiphire and Longleng. The rally also offered a silent prayer for the departed soul of the Lt Pongjai and Phoba and latter marched to the Chief Minister’s official residence to submit a memorandum. The memorandum expressed ENPO’s resentment over the State government’s silence over the killing of the two youths and demanded that the cadres involved in the killing be arrested immediately and exemplary punishment awarded.
NPF promises development, peace NPF candidate Atomi speaking to the gathering at Burma Camp. The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MARCH 3 (MExN): During the NPF meeting at Burma Camp Bazaar, today, Chingkolong Rongmei, Head GB of Burma Camp highlighted the needs of Ward 22 of Dimapur-I A/C saying that it was a slum area with no proper drainage system. The GB said that the residents of Burma Camp would see to it that the party was elected to power again if NPF saw to their development within the 8 to 10 months they had before the general election. Parliamentary Secretary, Doshehe Sema also urged the residents to take the opportunity that was being presented to them in the form of Atomi and added that he would make it a point to be present at the polling station and identify the true voters of NPF and recommend them to the party leaders. Doshehe continued that NPF was the true people’s party and promised to change the face of the residents and the colony in the remaining one year that was left for the government. Atomi Zhimomi also addressed the gathering saying that reason Burma Camp was still underdeveloped was because no NPF candidate had ever been elected from the ward and that they should vote for the party if they wanted prosperity, jobs and development.
Following the meeting at Burma Camp, another gathering was held at Children’s Park, PWD which was attended by State Level NPF Women wing president, Padmashri Chubala and Women Central Executive member, Nzano Kikon. During the meeting, Parliamentary Secretary, R. Khing clarified that the previous his attending the Congress meeting at Burma Camp had been an accident. Khing said that he had actually been stuck in the traffic when he had been told that there was a meeting at ward 22 and he had gone there thinking that it was an NPF meeting but as soon as he realized his mistake he had turned back.
Campaign Director Yahoto Awomi also addressed the people repeating the words of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio that they would cultivate peace and development in Nagaland. He said that after so many years of very little development it was time for the constituency to elect their own NPF candidate in Atomi and added that they should not expect Atomi to complete in the remaining 10 months what the others had not done in so many decades but assure them that the NPF candidate would give the constituency a good start for its development activities.
Ibobi Singh meets PM Nagaland Post
New Delhi, March 3 (PTI): A day after being sworn in as Manipur Chief Minister, Okram Ibobi Singh today met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here. The meeting was described as a "courtesy call" by the officials. This is the second consecutive term for Ibobi Singh, who was earlier elected the leader of the Congress legislature party.
After being sworn-in yesterday, he said he would expand his ministry after Holi. Ibobi leads the Secular Progressive Front (SPF) government, with CPI and RJD as partners. Congress has 30 seats, CPI four and RJD three in the 60-member state assembly.It may be mentioned Ibobi had contested from two assembly constituencies and won from both the segments.
Bangladesh says it will not provide refuge to Indian insurgents The Morung Express
New Delhi, March 3 (PTI): Insisting that no camps of Indian insurgents were present on its soil, Bangladesh today said it will not provide refuge to ultras fleeing from the North East and assured to take steps to check infiltration from its side. It also agreed to allow developmental activities taking place within 150 yards of the border, tea plantations till the zero line barring certain stretches and offered cooperation in tackling cross-border smuggling of drugs and cattle. The significant understandings came through after four days of discussions between the Director Generals of BSF and Bangladeshi Rifles here as part of the Indo-Bangladesh Border Coordination Conference.
“We are determined to do the utmost to see to it that miscreants from India do not get a breathing space in Bangladesh,” BDR Director General Major Shakil Ahmed said at a joint media interaction with his BSF counterpart A K Mitra after conclusion of talks. He said Dhaka had investigated on the lists, though “outdated” and “old”, given by India from time to time about the presence of insurgent camps in the country and promised to take action against ultras taking refuge in Bangladesh. “Any insurgent from India taking sanctuary in Bangladesh will be arrested and put through the law,” he said noting that BDR has detained eight people who have entered the country from North-East in the last two months. India had handed over a list of 176 camps of various insurgent groups like ULFA, National Liberation Front of Tripura, All Tripura Tiger Force, National Democratic Front of Bodoland and Kamtapur Liberation Organisation in Bangladesh.
India asks Bangladesh to clamp down on terror camps

New Delhi, March. 3 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) handed over a list of insurgents and terrorist camps operating from Bangladesh territory to the Bangladesh Rifles (BDR) during a joint conference here on Saturday. At the conclusion of a four-day long India-Bangladesh Border Coordination Conference, India handed over a list of 176 camps, which include mobile camps as well. “We have given them a list of 176 camps. These camps are based on intelligence information. They can be less and they can be more. And many of the camps are mobile camps, which can exist one day and disappear on the other,” said, BSF Director General A K Mitra. Promising full cooperation to tackle insurgent groups, BDR Director General Major General Shakil Ahmed said, “No organised terrorist camps existed in the Bangladesh territory”. “I can assure you there are no organized terrorist camps within the territory of Bangladesh,” Ahmed said. The two sides also discussed development works for the villages on the either side of the border. New Delhi has often said militants use the porous India-Bangladesh border to infiltrate and conduct terror activities in the country. West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram, share 3,900 km border with Bangladesh. Officials say fencing of the border has done little to deter Bangladeshis to migrate into India. An estimated 20 million illegal Bangladeshi immigrants are staying in India.
Violence in Manipur leaves one dead, one police gypsy burnt Newmai News Network
Imphal Violence erupted this morning between personnel of Manipur police commandos and the resident of Lilong Ushoipokpi Mairenkhom Makha under Thoubal district resulting in the dead of a youth and burning down of a police vehicle. The incident had been prompted by the action of the police personnel’s alleged physical assault of some youths in that locality. The police accused the local youths for not co-operating them in the investigation with regard to the alleged theft of some goods. There was a heated commotion following the killing of the youth identified as one Md.Wahidur Rehman alais Adon (21) son of Md. Rosan Ali of Lilong Ushoipokpi under the same district. The locals blamed the police for the killing while the police denied it. The mob rose up forcing the police to run helter-skelter leaving their vehicle (Maruti gypsy) behind. The furious mob set the abandoned vehicle on fire damiging it badly. The locals formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) against the killing demanding huge amount of ransom to the tune of Rs 5 lakhs to be paid to the deceased family members and grant a government job for one of the next of kin of the deceased. Later in the evening the matter was resolved with the intervention of a local MLA who was newly elected.
Fasting activist arrested on returning home By Reuters
GUWAHATI, India (Reuters) - A woman who has been fasting for more than six years in protest against an anti-terror law was arrested on Sunday after she moved her campaign back home from New Delhi, activists said. Irom Sharmila, 34, moved to New Delhi in October to continue with her fast which she began in late 2000 after soldiers shot dead 10 young men at a bus stop in a small town in the revolt-torn northeastern state of Manipur.
She has been demanding the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which gives troops sweeping powers to kill suspected rebels and immunity from prosecution. The law has led to widespread rights abuses in Manipur, activists say. "Sharmila has been taken away by police and admitted in hospital," Babloo Loitongbam of Manipur's Human Rights Alert said by phone from Imphal, the state capital, shortly before he and a colleague were also arrested without any charges. Senior police officials in Imphal refused to comment on the arrests.
Sharmila has become an iconic figure for Manipuris and she wanted to return home last month as her campaign was not making much of an impact in the capital while the AFSPA was one of the main issues in state assembly elections held in February. She was under arrest in New Delhi as well and was being force-fed through a nasal tube at a government hospital just like authorities in Manipur did since she launched her campaign. But her return was stopped by authorities who apparently feared it could hurt the ruling Congress in the polls, as it was seen to be non-committal on lifting AFSPA, analysts said. Congress returned to power last week. The 1958 law applies only in Kashmir and insurgency-affected northeastern India. Human rights groups say it has given the army a licence to kill, torture and rape with impunity.
Mob violence in Manipur Correspondent Nagaland Post
IMPHAL, MARch 3: The death of an alleged thief in police firing early Saturday sparked angry from residents of Lilong in Thoubal district who torched a police vehicle and snatched one 9mm pistol from the police. Tension ran high in the area as police also rounded up at least seven people to recover the missing weapon. Family members of the death thief alleged that police shot their son at point blank range near the house at around 9.30 am.
Following the dead of the local youth, hundreds of womenfolk of the area charged at the police personnel who fired several rounds to protect themselves. Taking advantage of the tussle between the police and womenfolk, some locals set afire the police Gypsy besides snatching a 9 mm pistol. Official reports said a team of Imphal East police commandos nabbed a thief identified as Md Abothem from Imphal area this morning at around 8 am and following the disclosure made by Abothem, the team proceeded to Lilong area to recover stolen items from a house.
As police were conducting a search, a youth later identified as Md. Wahidur Rehman (20) and a member of the same gang tried to escape, but was shot down by the driver of the commando team. The youth died on the spot. However, the alleged that the commandos dragged the youth out from the house and shot him in the head.
Ministry formation going to be a tough task for Ibobi Thingbaijam Dhamen

IMPHAL, Mar 1: For chief minister O Ibobi Singh it will not be a problem to choose ministers from the CPI MLAs as he will do it only on the recommendation of the party. but as far as ministerial berths for Congress MLAs is concerned it will not be an easy task for him or his party leaders. The size of the ministry for the 60-member Manipur Assembly is to be restricted to 12 only, including the chief minister, under the Anti-Defection Law.

O Ibobi Singh has retained the chief minister`s seat without much difficulty but expansion of his ministry by inducting ministers will not be an easy task. Another possible burden on the Congress high command at the centre would arise if there is pressure from RJD supremo Lalu Prasad asking for RJD MLAs in the ministry. There are already unconfirmed reports that the RJD has started demanding at least one ministerial berth from among its three MLAs.

The SPF partner CPI still wants to retain the two ministers it had in the previous government. It is expected to get at least one ministerial seat and another may be negotiable in lieu of the deputy Speaker`s seat. After giving away one ministership to the CPI and counting the chief minister as another seat in the council of ministers, 10 ministers have to be selected from 28 Congress MLAs of which 17 are old faces and will hotly contest for the plum posts. If the CPI refuses to settle for less than two ministerial berths, only nine seats will be left to be filled up by Congressmen.

All this may be sorted out during Ibobi`s meeting with the Congress high command at the Centre during his stay in the national capital. The chief minister is leaving Imphal for New Delhi tomorrow. If Gaikhangam and Th Debendro make voluntary sacrifices i.e. if Gaikhangam chooses to remain the MPCC president and Debendro accepts the post of Speaker, Ibobi may get some leeway as he will have more berths to distribute to his junior colleagues.

District wise distribution keeping in view the party`s prominent leaders may see DD Thaisii, the lone Congress MLA from Senapati, cornering a ministerial berth. And if Gaikhangam is not to be a part of the SPF ministry then Thisii is definitely expected to be inducted as they are representatives of their common community. Most importantly it may be mentioned that only Gaikhangam and Thaisii are representing the entire Naga community of the state in the ruling SPF government. Phungjathang or TN Haokip? who will be the lucky man to become a minister or will both get ministership is also a question that arises. Among them one is sure to get the post based on the community and district wise distribution. If N Mangi of CPI does not get a minister`s berth from the district wise view, Govindas or N Loken are expected to represent Bishnupur district. Ibobi will face pressure from both. Govindas was a minister in the outgoing ministry while Loken was the among the sacked ministers in the mid term downsizing of the SPF.

Coming to the two Imphal districts it will not be easy to choose ministers among the 14 Congress MLAs. District wise the Imphal east will be expectedly having CPI`s Parijat as a minister while from Jiribam Debendro is sure to get a minister`s, if not a Speaker`s berth, unless he withdraws from the race on personal grounds. Even the Speaker`s post may be given to one of the MLAs from Imphal other than Debendro. There were considerations of offering the Speakership to Kunjeshor or Erabot within the Congress. Whether they will accept it or not is another thing.

Who will be chosen from among Bijoy Koijam, K Ranjit, E Kunjeshor, W Brajabidhu, Y Erabot, L Nandakumar, W Brajabidhu, I Hemochandra, etc? Not all but some of them have to be inducted in the ministry to represent the two districts. This would be the most crucial test for Ibobi. At least two to four ministers have to be given to these eight Congress MLAs from Imphal. Apart from this, Ibobi has to give minister`s berths to at least one MLA from greater Imphal area.

Coming to Thoubal district, M Hemanta, M Oken and K Ranjit are not new faces. Newly elected Y Surchandra, former DC, who seemed to be much close to Ibobi during his tenure as DC, Imphal west is also in contention. K Ranijt, along with Bijoy Koijam and N Biren, were dropped from the SPF ministry in the last term on Ibobi`s reported assurance at that time that they would be inducted in the next reshuffle which was not, however, possible till the end of the term.

Ukhrul and Chandel districts, where no Congress candidates won the election, are the only areas to provide some respite to the chief minister. It is sure that there will be no ministers from these two districts during the tenure of the Ibobi led SPF ministry.
Observing from these angles, it can be expected that Ibobi`s ministry formation which he has announced after Yaosang festival will be a crucial test for him. Delay in the formation, till Ibobi shows his strength on the floor of the Assembly probably on March 16, can be expected.