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03/17/2007: "'Ignited mind of youth is the most powerful resource on earth': Kalam Kuknalim.com"

'Ignited mind of youth is the most powerful resource on earth': Kalam Kuknalim.com

Underscoring the potential of the youth force in the state, the President of India Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam said Nagaland is the land of the young and therefore the dream of the youth has to be the dream of Nagaland. In his inimitable informality to be one with the people, the President asked that the bullet proof barrier shielding him around the lectern be removed.

"Ignited mind of youth is the most powerful resource on the earth, above the earth and under the earth," the President said while reminding that at least fifty percent of the state's nearly 20 lakh people are below twenty years. Sharing his thoughts on 'vision for Nagaland and the mission for University' at the second convocation of Nagaland University (NU) held Thursday afternoon here at Secretariat Plaza, Dr. Kalam who is also the visitor of NU, said he envisioned Nagaland with its rich natural resources, as an economically developed state well before 2020.

Dr. Kalam went on to identify six areas for accelerating economic development of Nagaland.
These areas included- tourism development; promotion of handicraft products with technology infusion; industrial growth with particular emphasis on horticulture and floriculture; agriculture and aromatic plants; bamboo and value added products and knowledge products with core competence in English and environment. To promote these areas, the President said Nagaland University has the mission to partner in the development of the state, particularly, by building the capacity among the students to meet the economic challenges.
Further, Dr. Kalam summed up five capacities required to build up through the education process such as - "inquiry, creativity, technology, entrepreneurial and moral leadership"

He said the University would be able to produce "an autonomous learner" if a student developed all the five capacities. According to Dr. Kalam, self-directed, self controlled and lifelong learners who would have the capacity to respect authority and at the same time capable of questioning authority, in an appropriate manner. Describing Nagaland as "a beautiful, happy and prosperous land", the President said the state is the gateway between one billion plus people to 0.5 billion people of ASEAN countries. "Nagaland is indeed in the front line in India's Look East Policy," he added.
In his address, Governor of Nagaland K Sankaranarayan who is also the chief rector of NU, said that till date, Nagaland has not found a place in the map of professional education.

He made a plea to the state government, university administration, teachers and students to join hands in order to improve the university infrastructure, start new discipline and achieve higher standards of learning.
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio who was the guest of honour at the convocation, expressed the hope that through the new 'Look East Policy,' of the Government of India, the university could play a vital role in forging working relationships with other South East Asian countries and their universities by introducing studies on oriental languages as well as international trade.

Vice chancellor, NU, Prof. K Kanan in his welcome address informed that for the first time, the university had utilized all the funds provided by UGC under 10th Five Year Plan for all the three NU campuses. Prof. Kanan also said NU would be initiating a school of engineering and institute of management by August 2007. A total of 12981 students of NU were conferred degrees on the occasion, out of which, the Dr. Kalam awarded certificates to 13 Ph.D candidates and gold medals to 23 graduates.
The convocation programme chaired by Registrar, NU, Theja Vihienuo. Earlier the convocation began after an opening song by students of Japfu Christian College, while professor in-charge of Examinations proposed vote of thanks. The Police brass band played the national anthem at the close. Later, while interacting with students at the GHSS, Kalam proved it once again that he is not only the President of India but a good teacher, motivator and champion of the children of the country. "Problem should not be your captain; you should captain the problem and defeat it," Kalam told a large group of students during the interactive session.

"An ignited mind of the youth is the most powerful resource of the earth and in the earth" he said and encouraged the students to aim high. Terming the word 'impossible' as not a good word, Kalam pointed out to the students that the world has proved that nothing is impossible.

Repeating one of his favorite practices, the President administered an "oath of courage" to the hundreds of students from twelve different institutions of the state capital who participated in the session. Earlier, the President was captivated by the welcome song presented by a group of students. Appreciating the lyrics, the President described it as "fantastic lyrics and composition". Kalam, who was given a copy of the lyrics on the theme "song for the country", was seen trying to catch the tune along with the students.

Despite the hectic schedule and travel at his age, the 75-year old President showed no signs of fatigue and continued to answer the questions of the students. "Whether a girl or a boy child, children are the wealth of the nation," Kalam said while replying to a question from a girl who had asked him what special contribution he would give to a girl child.

On his favorite teacher Subramanyam, the President narrated the story of how his teacher had taught the students on how birds fly and which had injected in him the vision of what he had become in his life later. To another query, he said "I want to see the billions of people in India smile". Elaborating, Kalam added he meant a "prosperous India". (NPN)

Prez asks Nagaland to implement PURA Times of India
KOHIMA: Urging the north-east states to contribute in making India a developed nation by 2020, President APJ Abdul Kalam has asked Nagaland to implement his concept of PURA (provision of urban facilities in rural areas) for all round development of its rural areas. As Nagaland has over 1,046 villages with a population of around 20 lakh, the development of rural areas would need creation of 20 clusters of villages having an average population ranging from 50,000 to one lakh, he told the second convocation of Nagaland University on Thursday evening.

This would involve identification of a cluster of 40 to 50 villages with growth potential and creating physical, electronic and knowledge connectivities and thereby market connectivity.

"I would recommend the university to undertake project work for creation of at least 11 PURAs in the 11 districts of Nagaland," he told the gathering at the civil secretariat ground, where the state governor, chief minister, his cabinet colleagues, senior government officials, academicians and students were present. Kalam also emphasised on providing dwelling units to all village citizens with clean water supply and sanitation facilities.

Rejoinder to Tsulimthong Deputy Director nscn ( im )- Nagaland Post
In response to allegation made by Tsalimthong Deputy Director NSCN (IM) press release on 14th March '07 after a month long hiding, somewhere at Dimapur, which is subsequently no way out to escape over and above the fact proved by evidence and statement given by various organization and authority from NSCN/GPRN, from the deceased’s family members who were absconding from the D.B.'s Court Pungro on 8th Feb '07.
Where as it was witnessed not only by the deceased’s family wife/members but also that six accused persons, who were imprisoned at Dimapur and Public of Zanger Village as a whole that Tsulimthong is the murderer/gang leader, who led from Zanger to Pungro alongwith his sophisticated weapons (Stand Gun) there is non other than Tsulimthong from Zanger Village, who is recklessly involved in various issues and saves his mortal life by stating false propagations. In fact, the tragic incident was due to the master plan of Tsulimthong Deputy Director Yapmuli Lacy and Alo Rajapyo NSCN (IM) GPRN, in whatsoever statement/allegation they made to escape from the murderer. In other sense they may escape from the hand of NSCN(IM) GPRN, authority but by hook or crook Lord Omnipresent will never discriminate the true eventuality of people. Whether high or low, rich or poor as we noted that according to our deeds, we will get be rewarded.
In the other words, can any physical action and eye witness consider false allegation and baseless press release, ex-pression make true sense? Further the deceased’s family members urge various competent authority not to take into account of Tsulimthong Deputy Director allegation given after a month or two who think and tries to escape from heinous crime. We (Deceased’s family members) further urge all the Naga citizens that let false statement be vanished and true statement prevail in Nagaland.
1. T.C. Shisham, Youngest S/o of Lt. Throngtsanki Hd GB.
2. P. Lolemthong, Zanger Village. 3. Thsointhsi, W/o Lt. Ningtsemong.
Kalam visits WW II cemetery Correspondent Nagaland Post
KOHIMA, MARCH 16 (NPN): Winding up his two-day visit to Nagaland, President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam paid a visit to the famous 2nd World War Cemetery Friday morning here in the state capital.
"It is indeed a great experience for me to visit the War Cemetery, it reminds how sacrifices are there to meet challenges of injustices," Dr. Kalam wrote in the VIP visitors' book about his impressions of the visit. He also remarked that the cemetery was "well maintained." The President was accompanied by governor K. Sankaranarayan, chief minister Neiphiu Rio and chief secretary Lalhuma. Earlier on Thursday night, the state hosted an official dinner for the visiting dignitary at the State Banquet Hall. In his address, Dr. Kalam described Nagas beautiful people living in a beautiful state and with a multi-culture that enriches the nation. He appreciated the unique village council system of the state and said it was a system worth learning. The President was also highly impressed with the youth of Nagaland and urged parents and teachers to produce good people out of them, by providing visions and proper legislations.
In respect of legislation, the President defined politics as a combination of two aspects, namely 'political politics and developmental politics.' Kalam further said he perceived the desire of the people for peace and progress and assured to do everything possible towards this attainment.
The dinner was graced by the governor, chief minister, council of ministers, Assembly speaker, the leader of opposition, parliamentary secretaries, MLAs and senior government officials.
Problems of manning polling stations in Nagaland- Nagaland Post
When election time comes, ev-ery one including the elec-tion strategies will first think how to bring bogus voters from outside, how to stand in the queue by the midnight and how to caste more proxy votes. It is only in the Election Book Manual which says about free and fair election. In reality no one including the candidates and all the political leaders will ever like to have free and fair election. Every candidate will like to win the election even through the practice of proxy voting.
Through this column, I would like to share some technical problems of the Polling Officials during the voting time. I have conducted election seven times during my service career as Presiding Officers both in Dimapur town as well as in the village. During these times I had to sign "firing order" twice-one time at Purana bazaar and another time at Fire Brigade area in order to control the situation. Luckily in both the occasions the situation was brought under control.
If we compare the voting system in the early 80's and the present day there is so much difference in the system. At least during the early days, the Polling Officials have certain authority to check the bogus voters. Even the Polling agents were able to raise some objectives against some bogus voters inside the polling booth. But today the situation is so much changed. The genuine voters cannot caste their vote.
During these bye-elections on March 8' 2007, I and my wife went to the polling station at forest colony twice to caste our votes. In the first visit, there was so much crowd that we went back. When we went again at around 2pm by then some one have already caste the votes against our names and even the polling booth was closed. For this matter I don't blame the Polling Officials as the situation was out of their control. The reason was that all the people in the line are of the same category. Hardly any of them are genuine voters. All the polling agents who are there to raise objections in the event of any bogus voter have also the same objective. With due apology I personally feel that they are there not to raise objective but only to see how much bogus voters have cats in their favor and to list out how much vacancies remain so that against those vacancies they may also fill up the voters slip for proxy votes. Since none of the polling agents raise objections against any incoming voters, it becomes very difficult on the part of the polling officials to stop them from coming to caste their vote even though knowing that the concerned person is not genuine voter. They will simply allow every body who could pronounce their names and their fathers name listed in the voting list. Because that way the situation become more conducive and every body seems to be happy.
On the other hand in the village area, the party who have majority influence will simply capture the entire vote. The village council will say that it has decided to let the village council members caste the votes of the entire village. Now any polling officials with just a handful of security personals cannot directly confront the village decision even if there is an objection from the minority group in the village. Because of these reasons at this juncture it is almost impossible to conduct free and fair election.
This being the reason and from my own personal experience while conducting various types of elections, would like to suggest the easiest and most simple system of conducting election:-
1. There should be compulsory identification card of every citizen of Nagaland with personal photo pasted in it. The card should be driving license, employee ID, gas card, registration of the vehicles, voter's identity card, and village citizenship card. Or in that matter any ID card with photo issued by the authorized ic, government, church or village. A law should be introduced that by the age of 18 years every citizens of Nagaland shall have a photo ID card of any of the above mentioned ones.
2. The polling party should consist of two groups: One group for conducting the actual polling whereas the other group will streamline the bogus voters in the main gate before entering within the perimeter of the polling station
3. Before any voter enter inside the perimeter of the polling booth the security personals along with the polling officials should check these ID cards and see that those who have ID card tallying the individual concerned be allowed to enter inside the periphery of the polling booth.
4. Polling is conducted in phases so that sufficient security personals are making available to each polling party for providing security to the polling officials as well as to fairly streamline the bogus voters in the main check gate. Unless the bogus voters are streamlined by the security personals at the main check gate, it is practically impossible for any presiding officer or polling officer to strictly adder to the election rules and regulation for free and fair election. I feel that the above system is very simple and for its implementation the government needs not invest much fund, as ID card is now very important for any individual in the state and I am sure by now two thirds of the adult population may be having one card or the other. Unless this kind of system is being introduced, a Christian state like Nagaland does not foresee a corrupt free Christian society even in the near future. Even if it costs some expenditure, it is worth its investment, as the bogus voting system is the father and the root cause of all corruption in Nagaland.
S. K. Kenye, President, CANSSEA, Dimapur.
ONGC will pump oil in Nagaland Jyoti Mukul Rustomjee
NEW DELHI: After a 13-year hiatus, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation is all set to start oil exploration and production operations in Nagaland. The country’s largest crude oil producer has signed a petroleum mining lease with the Nagaland government. ONGC sources said with this the company will start exploration and production activities in Changpang area of Nagaland. The company will also be now holding a valid petroleum mining lease for the Changpang field, situated in the Lower Lotha range, after a long 13-year battle. The field is a proven one in the Assam-Arakan basin and will be managed by ONGC’s Assam office. An MoU will be signed with the government of Nagaland in the next few weeks, said sources. ONGC’s operations in the area have been suspended since April 1994. Officials said the Changpang area was an extension of the Barholla producing field in Assam and has good potential.

ONGC is going ahead with a major investment plan to revamp its production facilities in Assam to step up the production from its ageing /R fields from the current level of 1.4 million tonne to 2.5 million tonne in the next three to four years. ONGC started survey works as early as 1963 in the Changpang area. A discovery was also made with trial production in March 1981. The Nagaland government, however, stopped all activities in May 1994 due to dispute over payment. Besides, ONGC also faced law and order problems. Nagaland is estimated to have 600 million tonnes of proven reserve of crude oil. ONGC has drilled 25 exploratory and 11 development wells since 1973 with production reaching 250 tonnes at Changpang.
ULFA leader killed in gun battle, 9 hurt in bomb blast The Morung Express
Sibsagar, March. 16 (PTI): A ULFA bomb expert believed to have masterminded several blasts here was killed in a gun battle with police while nine persons, including a woman and a teenager, were injured in a powerful explosion in Guwahati as the banned outfit observed its “army day” today.
ULFA leader Bidyut Barua and three of his comrades were stopped by police at Naojan area here following a tip-off but hurled a grenade in a bid to escape.
Police retaliated and an exchange of fire followed in which Barua alias Reba Gogoi, a bomb expert suspected to be behind the blasts here, was killed while the others escaped.
Police recovered a US-made carbine, three powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and some documents from Barua, who was arrested during the Bhutanese Army’s operations against Indian rebels in December 2003 and later released. Barua was suspected to be the mastermind behind the blasts that occurred in Sibsagar district on the eve of ULFA’s army day in which one of its cadres was killed and 11 people were injured. A pipeline of the Numaligarh oil refinery and an electric transformer were damaged in the blasts. Senior police officials told PTI that the ULFA triggered a blast in Guwahati’s busy A T Road area at around 1 pm, injuring nine persons and reducing 19 motorcycles and a scooter to mangled lumps of metal. Two critically injured persons, a 13-year-old school boy and a woman, were admitted to hospital while the rest were released after first aid, they said. Guwahati’s Senior Superintendent of Police S N Singh told PTI the explosive device may have been kept in a scooter that was completely destroyed or in one of several motorcycles that burst into flames. The exact nature of the bomb and how it was triggered would be ascertained only after investigations, he said. The blast occurred at a spot between Bishwaratna Hotel and the A T Road flyover near the police reserve and fire tenders battled the flames for over an hour while the area was cordoned off.
Manipur govt under siege over rape ATSUM, ANSAM, KSO threatens agitation Newmai News Network
The All Tribal Student Union Manipur (ATSUM), All Naga Students Association Manipur (ANSAM) and Kuki Student Organisation (KSO) have warned the Manipur government to fulfill their demands in connection with alleged rape and post rape torture of Nengneikim Haokip, media persons and women protestors by personnel of 38th Assam Rilfes posted at Kotlien under Sadar Hills of Senapati district by March 18, failing which the three apex organisations will spearhead various sorts of agitation from the next day (March 19) onwards.
The three tribal students’ organisations today submitted a joint memorandum to the Chief Minister of Manipur in connection with alleged rape and post rape torture of Nengneikim Haokip, assaultation of media persons and women protestors by personnel of 38th Assam Rifles posted at Kotlien under Sadar hills of Senapati district on March 14. A memorandum jointly signed by ATSUM president John Pulamte, ANSAM president Paul Langhu and KSO president Lusei Touthang said that it was ‘the sense of shock and shame’ of the situatio with regard to the alleged rape and post rape physical torture and ‘attempt to murder’ meted out to Nengneikim haokip (18) daughter of Thehmang Haokip of Veitum village by the personnel of the Assam Rifles apart from subsequent assaults of protestors and media persons.
The joint memorandum demanded the immediate termination of the guilty personnel(s) involved in the act, to arrange life time gratuity for the victim as well as medical cares and expenses incurred by the victim, to immediately shift the 38 Assam Rifle post from Kotlien, to fairly compensate the damage done to the protestors and media persons and a customary rite ‘ Toltheh’ to the villagers should be performed immediately as mark of confession of the crimes. “The results and out come of this agitation will definitely be the responsibility of the state government, hence, we are more willing that the grievances are redressed at the earliest” said the joint memorandum of the three organisations.
Dreams into Reality The Morung Express Editorial
The visit to Nagaland of India’s visionary scientist turned President Dr A.P.J Abdul Kalam has once again ignited the minds of people both young and old alike to the world of ‘possibilities’ that awaits them if only they dare to dream. As a man who believes in possibilities and no matter his own personal landmarks and achievements, he continues to dream, not for personal gain but to see that India’s billion hungry faces smile without being saddened by hunger and poverty. President Kalam’s optimism for success, which finds mention in the now famous India 2020 vision, is also largely because of his self belief in a young India. ‘Impossible’ as Kalam puts it “is not a good word”. “Young people must think that everything is possible”. And what is so captivating about India’s present Head of State is that he is able to inspire an entire nation in this self belief for a better India. Without a doubt President Kalam carries with him the rare distinction of being someone from outside the political firmament whose elevation to the highest post in the country was through his sheer academic achievement in the field of science and technology. India should indeed be proud of having such a learned President at the helm of affairs to guide the destiny of a billion people. But the saddest part of this otherwise great hope which he has generated and which Kalam himself will admit is that the President can only have a limited role to play. As a mere nominal Head of the State, the President’s vision will come to nothing if the political establishment does not follow suit. And this invariably will be the biggest challenge if at all the India 2020 vision has to become a reality.
And for this reason, for the people of Nagaland and the government as well, some of the suggestions put forward by President Kalam need a serious look in if the vision has to become a reality. The ingenious PURA (Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas) Model of development is a sound concept that is not only attractive but also within our capabilities. And Nagaland being a small state with a good network of villages and strong community spirit, identifying at least 11 PURAs in the 11 districts in Nagaland as suggested by Kalam is quite feasible. This will involve identification of a cluster of 40 to 50 villages with growth potential and creating physical, electronic, knowledge and market connectivity. The PURA model in essence will facilitate industrialization in rural areas and can be considered even as a growth centre from where development can spread and many PURAs can be added. But in order to identify the 11 PURAs, the politicians in the State should stay out of it and let the administration under the Chief Secretary and with Nagaland University as a partner, work out the cluster of villages and the circuits in each district, which can be considered as one of the 11 PURAs. Identification of the PURAs can likewise be made on the basis of the tourism and industrial growth prospects of the place. On a broader spectrum, the Kalam visit is also a good opportunity for Nagaland to reinvigorate its own Vision 2020 statement as brought out by the government.
Arrogance thy name is AR Sangai Express Editorial
That Manipur is a conflict zone is known to all particularly to the journalists, who have to cover news of all types sometimes from the spot of an encounter or a public uprising and in the process interact with a number of people, ranging from the political leaders, police, security personnel including the officers and the jawans, militants, plain criminals etc. The journalist fraternity of the State too realise the hazards that come along with their profession and this includes facing the wrath of security personnel, threats from armed persons and working under extreme pressure from different power centres. Despite the realisation of these facts, the question, why the journalists of the State reacted so sharply against the conduct of the 38 Assam Rifles personnel at Kotlien on March 14 merits some explanation from our side. Two journalists were assaulted but this is just one of the points for the media in Manipur to get so cut up over the whole incident. If the two journalists had got hurt in the melee during the crack down launched on the protesting women, then the outcry would not have been so vocal. It may even have been totally ignored, taking it as part of the professional hazards of being a reporter. However this was not the case, as the two journalists were assaulted after the women folk had been dispersed and everything had settled down. Adding insult to the assault of the two journalists, was the extremely arrogant stance adopted by the Assam Rifles in detaining the four reporters who had gone to cover the incident. That an officer of the rank of a Colonel had the gall to question the reporters on how they were going to file their report says something about how these men in uniform view the civilians of Manipur. Our answer to the question of the officer on how the reporters were going to file their report is simple and to the point; It is not the business of an Army officer to question how a report is to be filed.
This was not all. The order barked out to the reporters to delete all the photos from their cameras was again a telling example of how arrogant the Assam Rifles personnel are. It is this arrogance that should be taken by the horn and effectively tackled. The accusation that the reporters instigated the women folk to agitate and attack the Assam Rifles post at Kotlien was also extremely ridiculous. A more suitable word escapes us at the moment to describe the accusation, but it was ridiculous and exposes the petty mind of the officer concerned. If a few reporters can instigate unarmed women to rise and attack a post of the security personnel, then the said officer should have saluted the reporters for being so influential ! This says something about the mental make up of the men in uniform and if such ludicrous accusations and fantastical hypothesis can come from the fertile mind of an officer, then we can well imagine the mental conditioning of the lower ranked officials and their jawans. As for the rape allegations, let the fact be determined scientifically by experts concerned. However what was galling was the manner in which the women folk protesting at the gate of the Assam Rifles were beaten up so brutally. The Assam Rifles personnel had no business to come out and face the women folk. Mob control is the job of the police and the matter should have been reported by the AR men to the nearest police station to disperse the women. Why was this not followed ? We would certainly like an answer from the post commander or the Officer-in-charge of the Kotlien post.

President Kalam in city Assam tribune
GUWAHATI, March 16 – Doctors should come forward and work to reduce the incidence of avoidable blindness in the country. They should undertake more research and through that, pass on the benefits to the needy. President APJ Abdul Kalam stated this while visiting the Sri Sankaradeva Nethralaya today. He mentioned that doctors should also become educators and help spread quality medical education. It was a necessity in a country where medical education had to achieve greater progress within a short period.

The President lamented that the incidence of cataract in the North-east was very high. In such a scenario, it was required that the doctors here follow the work done by their counterparts in the Southern States. He lauded the role of the Sankardeva Nethralaya in providing quality healthcare to the needy and called for more such endeavours for benefiting society at large.

A tour through the facility was another highlight of his visit. During the tour, he interacted with the doctors and other staff and also visited the pediatrics ward where he interacted with the children. He also saw an audio-visual presentation on the activities of the Sankardeva Nethralaya.

ULFA sticks to sovereignty, leaders’ release Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, March 16 – The United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) today alleged that the Government of India was not keen on carrying forward the peace talks for a political resolution of the conflict. In its mouthpiece Freedom, which was released to the media today through e mail, the ULFA reiterated its stand on the peace talks and said that the five jailed central committee members of the outfit must be released as the opinion of those five was necessary to carry forward the talks. The outfit also reiterated that the Government of India must give a written assurance to talk on the issue of sovereignty of Assam.

The ULFA said that it was forced to opt for armed struggle out of compulsion and assured that it was for a peaceful political solution to the conflict. The outfit pointed out that the ULFA withdrew its call to boycott the National Games, but the Government of India, instead of showing keenness for political resolution of the conflict, launched operations against the ULFA and even harassed the common people of Assam in the name of launching operations. Along with the operations, the Government of India also launched a psychological warfare in an attempt to isolate the ULFA from the masses.

The ULFA also reiterated that progress of Assam would not be possible till Assam is freed from the “clutches of colonial India”.

Widespread condemnation of AR rape, assault The Imphal Free Press

imphal, mar 16: Cutting across community and ethnic lines, several civil society bodies and organisations have come forward to denounce the alleged rape of an 18-year old girl by an AR personnel at Kotlien on March 13, and the subsequent assault upon protestors and mediapersons.

In this connection, the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur, Kuki Students Organisation, and the All Naga Students Association, Manipur have also submitted a joint memorandum to the state chief minister laying before him a set of demands regarding the incidents of March 13 and 14.

The student bodies have also set a deadline of March 18 within which the demands have to be fulfilled, failing which a series of agitations is to be launched from March 19 onwards.

While expressing shock and shame over the rape of 18-year old Nengneikim Haokip and assault upon mediapersons and women protesters the next day, the student bodies demanded immediate termination of the guilty personnel involved in the act.

Highlighting the physical and mental trauma the rape victim has faced, the student bodies further called for granting life time gratuity for the victim as well as compensation for medical care and expenses incurred by her. It also contended that the 38 AR post at Kotlien has failed to serve its purposes and become a breeding ground for anti-social elements, and demanded the immediate shifting of the post for the sake of a more condusive and peaceful atmosphere in the area.

The student bodies also demanded fair compensation for the harm suffered by the women protestors and mediapersons who were assaulted by the AR personnel, and further called for perfoming of cutomary rite of `toltheh` to the villagers as a mark of confession to the crimes.

The Kuki Movement for Human Rights has also submitted a memorandum to the state chief minister, demandng immediate action against the AR personnel responsible for the rape of and attempt to murder 18-year old Nengneikim Haokip on March 13.
The Working Committee of the Apunba Lup, in a statement denouncing the rape incident and subsequent events, charged that the Indian government, which is seeking international support to tackle terrorism, has never punished the terrorist acts perpetrated by the Indian security forces.

The WCAL reiterated that it is time for the people of Manipur to take a united stance against the excesses of the Indian forces. The United Committee, Manipur, also condemning the incident, said it was time for the people of the state to teach the security forces a fitting lesson to ensure that these incidents do not occur again in the future.

The Poirei Leimarol Meira Paibi Apunba, Manipur, condemning the incident, termed it as a crime against society and the people of Manipur as a whole. The rape and the subsequent assault upon protestors and mediapersons has again exposed the fact that military rule prevails in the state where troops can commit any crime with impunity, it said and demanded exemplary punishment for the rapist and the ar personnel who assaulted the mediapersons. It also reiterated the demand for the removal of afspa from Manipur.
The United Women`s Front, Manipur also condemned in no uncertain words the rape incident and the assault upon protesting womenfolk and mediapersons the next day. The uwf, which sent a team to conduct a spot inquiry into the incident also extended its sympathies to the victims, and said it would extend full support to any steps taken to bring about justice in the matter.

The Committee on Human Rights, cohr, severely denouncing the rape, lamented that while there are international laws for the special protection of women, children and journalists in situations of conflict, as well as many Indian laws for the welfare of women, these are seemingly not applicable in Manipur. The All Manipur Youth Protection Committee, Kangleipak Students Association, Committee for Organisation Research and Education, United People`s Front, and Threatened Indigenous People`s Society, among others, have also issued statements strongly condemning the gross violations of human rights by the AR personnel posted at Kotlien.

Reconciling differences in Nagaland (COMMENTARY) Nagarealm.com
At an intense workshop at Tufts University in the Boston area last week, one of the strongly debated topics was the whole concept of transitional justice: broadly explained, whether nations have a 'right' to inflict on a smaller country, a weaker population group or dissenting segment, their concept of what constitutes justice or justify even violent actions to achieve results in their favour.
It's essentially a-winner-take-all scenario, where the victor does and can do no wrong. And largely this is a scenario that emerges in a country's post-independence era or after one in which a country has been dramatically reshaped by internal change and political events, such as the restructuring of the Soviet Union and the emergence of Russia.

That is why, despite all of India's failings and shortcomings, the many laws which intimidate people and brutalise them, the acts of omission and commission by the state and its agencies, it is good to remember that we are not alone and also that it is inconceivable of a body like parliament or even a state legislature having the kind of debate that the Russians had.

But how do we deal with issues that defy normal piecemeal solutions, some of which the Indian state is good at cobbling together? These are often ad hoc settlements that often are not sustainable in character because while they may be good in law they often do not address the core of the issues. Let us take the question of Nagaland and of the Naga demand, as reflected by the NSCN or National Socialist Council of Nagalim (as one group designates the land of Nagas), not for sovereignty but for Nagas to live 'under one administrative roof'.

Such a demand is understandable since it has been there for decades, whether we like it or not. This has been a consistent demand from the Naga leadership and in black and white since the 1960s, the time of the Memorandum of Agreement between some Naga leaders and New Delhi leading to the formation of the state. Not all the 16 points in the memorandum were agreed to by then prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, including this very demand (he suggested that discussions on the territorial issue be postponed to a later date - but he did not reject it out of hand). But they cannot be avoided especially since the 1964 ceasefire (yes, there was one as far back as that!) between the federal government of Nagaland and New Delhi covered those hill districts of Manipur that the present Naga leadership wants in its 'Nagalim'.
It should be noted that the federal government of Nagaland was represented politically by the Naga National Council, which later split and led to the formation of two NSCNs, one under Thuingaleng Muivah and Isak Swu and the other under S.S. Khaplang. Talks were held at the level of then prime minister Indira Gandhi and the issue fell under the jurisdiction of the ministry of external affairs before it was transferred to the home ministry. So there is a certain history that we cannot deny. But let us not just focus on this alone. These are weighty issues to be decided by our 'national' leadership (although little can be done without the clearance of the security-military apparatus) and the Naga 'collective' leadership of Muivah and Swu. However, there is a major catch - since the Nagas are not homogenous (there are 16 tribes in Nagaland alone and about twice that number overall), the I-M faction has been fiercely challenged by the Khaplang group. There have been gun battles and fights without number between the two groups while the Indian Army remains in barracks and the local police mute spectators.

Nagaland government leaders say the fighting is not a 'law and order problem but a political problem'. I have rarely heard more baloney. Granted that the Indian state is probably patronising the Khaplang group and wants to extend the ceasefire ad infinitum while wearing down the negotiating faction, the fighting raises an issue that cannot be glossed over - the internal, acute and abiding divisions among them. How are these to be overcome?
The question is: can a peace or a peace accord last if there are such bitter divisions? How can these conflicts be reduced? Can there be a political settlement before reconciliation, assuming that the latter is required?

Many speak glibly of having something along the lines of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) of South Africa for Nagaland and parts of the northeast. We would do well to remember that the TRC came after the dismantling of apartheid and the installation of Nelson Mandela as president. We cannot have a mere duplication of that process: our conditions are different and perhaps even more complex. But some form of conciliation is clearly required and that is what a group of Naga church elders told Muivah and Swu in a marathon discussion at their camp last month near Dimapur, the commercial capital of Nagaland. The church group and others had strongly criticised the rival faction for issuing a virtual death threat to members of the Tangkhul tribe to quit Nagaland. The Tangkhuls are the tribe of Muivah and they are located in Manipur's hills; significantly, the NSCN(I-M) is dominated by this tribe and many cadres are based in Nagaland. What really irked the Naga leadership was the call by the Nagaland Baptist Church Council for Tangkhuls to speak out against intimidation and pressure. This is drawing an interesting response for it shows how deeply divided the Nagas remain, on ideological, organisational and, to a degree, even tribal lines.

Unless the two sides (read Muivah and Khaplang groups) stop their conflict, there is little hope of a long-term sustainable settlement. There is wisdom in two sentences that I will quote here because they are acutely relevant to the situation there. One is from Nelson Mandela to his old friend and comrade Mac Maharaj, about overcoming the desire to avenge decades of suffering - 'Let it go'. He was talking about letting go of bitterness, a powerful tool for destructive change in a wounded society that needed healing.
The other is from Cecilia, a 60-year-old refugee from Congo, who has been displaced by civil war and has lived in a refugee camp for 20 years: 'There is no peace without forgiveness.'

Can the warring factions rise above their differences to realise a future in Nagaland without hate and violence, enabling the real work of rebuilding a society fractured and bloodied by decades of conflict and fear? Justice, dignity and honour cannot be based on retribution but on restoration and rehabilitation.[monstersandcritics News]
[Sanjoy Hazarika is a columnist and author and runs the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research, which has initiated innovative approaches to healthcare and governance in the region. He can be reached at sanjoyha@gmail.com ]