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05/05/2007: "Senapati murder probe makes no headway John Basho Pou Kangla On line"

Senapati murder probe makes no headway John Basho Pou Kangla On line

SENAPATI, May 4: Authorities of the Nagaland police have not been able to act in accordance with the "warrant of arrest" issued against two top NSCN(IM) leaders, forwarded by the Manipur government, while the Senapati police have not been able to trace out one of the alleged accused who bailed out from police custody, in the latest developments in the kidnapping and murder of two kids in Senapati. In the meantime, the Fact Finding Committee on the murder of two kids has decided not to allow any further extension of the deadline on the part of the NSCN(IM) authorities on the investigation into the case. The outfit extended their self imposed deadline for the completion of the investigation into the case for two weeks on April 29.

An official source said that the arrest warrant issued against two top leaders of the NSCN(IM) which the Manipur state authorities forwarded to the Nagaland DGP for compliance, could not be turned into action as it would amount to breaking the ground rules of the ceasefire between the government India and the outfit in the state. The source said the Nagaland DGP had again forwarded the arrest warrant to the superintendent of police of Dimapur for action. The Dimapur police, however, could not conduct a raid at the designated camp of the outfit at Hebron, Dimapur as security forces including the police could not enter beyond one kilometer of the camp.

On the other hand, Veino Solomon, chairman of the Fact Finding Committee on the murder of the two kids has said that the committee will not allow any further extension of the investigation period by the NSCN(IM) after the expiry of the extended deadline on April 29.

Any intimation regarding the extension of the deadline would be handed over to the public and the committee would not take any initiative, Solomon said. He also informed that even though Adai had escaped from the NSCN(IM) custody eight other persons who were taken into custody by the outfit in connection with the murder case were in their custody.

In the meantime, the SP Senapati while talking to this correspondent conceded that one of the prime accused Guilong who was in police custody and was bailed out recently on health grounds could not be traced by the police. Guilong was reportedly handed over by Ireng village for his alleged involvement in the kidnapping and murder of the two kids Moheni Martin and Hriinii Hubert of Senapati. He went on to say that all the police stations in the state had been alerted for the presence of Guilong anywhere.

The SP also said that the writer of a letter to the editor of the Imphal Free Press under the title "Probe the kidnapping and killing of the two kids" which appeared in the May 1 edition, one Mathew Panmei, could be a fake as a police search for the person could not yield any clues regarding the whereabouts of the person. The writer had in his letter commented on many drawbacks of the police in handling the case and also of the NSCN(IM).

He had written that the NSCN-IM had not come out with the findings till date and still the investigation was being extended week after week. The reason could be that the case was corrupted and proceeding without a direction. Will the NSCN-IM succeed in closing the case and bringing justice to the parents of the two children and the innocent youths tortured under their custody, he questioned.

The state police claimed helplessness in the case as the accused are in the custody of NSCN-IM but this could be just an excuse, he said. One of the prime accused Guilong was in their custody, what relevant progress has been made through the investigation. Why is the state police keeping quiet over the issue of granting bail to Guilong on health grounds, the letter writer who gave his address as Senapati, Manipur only said.

A Poumai Naga Girl Attacked in Delhi The Tanghkul
New Delhi, 5th April: A Poumai Naga girl was attacked by some boys on 30th April 2007 at Chirag area Delhi. The girl was attacked by a group of rowdies on her way back to her residence.
The Indian local boys attacked the girl with a Coca cola bottle while she was returning home with her friends. They hit her in the head with the bottle where she collapsed at that instance. The attack occurred when the rowdies teased them and there was a heated exchange of words and argument between the Indian and the Nagas. Indian being wild by nature got wild during the argument and attacked the girls on her head with the bottle. They hit her hard on her head and she lost her sense at that moment itself.
Noticing that she faint the Indians tried to rape and molested her but due to continuous flowing of blood from her wound in the head scared the Indian and they fled. They retreated because of the oozing of blood. If the blood hasn’t been flowing from her injured part what would be the consequences of the girl?
Naga women were being the prime target and many Nagas were attacked in the past. Nagas were an easy target and the racist Indian mentality encourage the rowdies Indian to attack mainly Nagas again and again as there is no proper security guaranteed for the Nagas. Nagas should join hands together and stand together at this very moment. Organisation and Union should take initiative to pursue the case and punish the culprit.
It is a call to all the Nagas to stand up and fight for their rights at a moment like this. Live and let other live. Strive forward with righteousness and never give up the spirit. Kuknalim!
MIU Festival on 5th May (Khiamniungan Tribe) Kuknalim.com
This festival held in the first week of May every year. One of the main significance of this festival is to build cordial relations and to make close-knit relation between the maternal uncle and his sisters offspring i.e. (Nephews and Niece). It is during this festival that the maternal uncle offers a very special prayer by invoking the supernatural Deity to grant good health, prosperous life and power over enemy to his Nephews and Niece.

On this occasion Niece and Nephews visit their Maternal Uncle with presents like Clothes, Dao’s and other things besides edible items like – Fermented Breweries, sticky rice and cooked or uncooked meat. This is also a very special occasion of FORGIVE and FORGET between Maternal Uncle and his Niece or Nephews. But if the differences or disputes is beyond pardonable on the part of Maternal Uncle, he will not allow his Niece and Nephews to visit his house for getting blessing. In the event of such happenings it is believed that the future life of his Niece and Nephews lay in shambles. But refusing to give blessing is a very rare case.

The significance of this festival is also to mark the seedling in the new field in which all the families of the village go to their Khetis and perform Pujas and prayer by offering animal blood and flesh with other food stuffs to their Deity. The people also pray to bless them with strong, handsome and beautiful children. They too pray for increase of animals and grains in the field and ask for prevention of crops from damage and visitation of plague over human and animals.

This festival is also known as dividing line between merrymaking season and the start of working season. From this festival onwards people stops performing folk songs and dances till the next joyous festival called TSOKÜM’ comes. The elders of the Tribe and also the villages stops to enter any treaty or hold any diplomatic welfare ties with any Tribe and villages.
NWHD severs ties with Naga Council Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, MAY 4 (NPN): A serious rift has cropped between the Naga Council and the Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) over the Council's preference for some former NWHD members as councilors even after "verbal and written representation" by NWHD clarifying that the members in question do not represent the NWHD.
Attacking the Naga Council's "double standard policy" of allowing former NWHD president Tiala Sapuh and secretary Hukali Akato to represent the hoho as women councilors in the Naga Council, the Women Hoho has decided to withdraw cooperation and support to the Naga Council.
The Hoho said its decision would remain "until and unless the Council shows their willingness to represent the democratic laws and rights of its constituent organizations so as to have transparency while executing our social obligations and duties."
The NWHD in a joint press release issued by its president Watila P Belho, secretary Orenponi Humtsoe, vice president Supongla Anar and joint secretary Rose Chakhesang said the act of the Naga Council was in violation of its own resolution as well as the constitution of the NWHD.
NWHD said the Naga Council resolution dated April 21, 2006, serial No. 3, clearly stated that a person nominated as a representative to the council shall complete the full term of the Naga Council tenure unless his/her term expires.
Article IX (2) of NWHD constitution stated that "The incumbent president and secretary shall represent the NWHD in the Naga Council."
Again, Article IX (11) stated "Any executive members representing the NWHD in any other body shall discontinue once her tenure expires in the NWHD."
The NWHD said it was constrained to issue the press release to clarify certain apprehension and misgivings arising out of the hoho's decision not to cooperate with DC Dimapur's directive wherein the latter had authorized Naga Council and NWHD to go for donation drive in aid of Wungram arson victims.
It also reminded that NWHD had been rendering all possible humanitarian service in whatever ways possible, including providing assistance in the recent Wungram incident.
"The Hoho is ever willing and ready to volunteer our services to the society as and when called for," the release added.

Kuki rebels come together Nagarealm.com
Just like overground political parties, underground militant and terror groups also splinter and fight against each other, not just for ideology but for power and money.
For almost half a decade, the Kuki rebels of the North Eastern state of Manipur have fought a bloody war against each other. Now for the first time, they have come together in a rare display of solidarity against a common enemy - a display caught exclusively on NDTV cameras.

Kuki vs Kuki The Kukis fought a bloody battle against the Nagas for years. But rapidly, that battle has turned inwards - Kuki vs Kuki - as they splintered into more than a dozen groups each locked in war with the other. Now on a hill near Churchandpur on Manipur's borders with Burma, NDTV was witness to a rare sight.

Kuki rebels, bitter enemies until now, came together for the first time and displayed for the first time their armed power. NDTV saw factions carrying out parades, others posed with guns and some even staged combat exercises for us.

Common enemy The leader of one of the factions explained that they have come together to fight a common enemy - the Nagas. ''While governments of Burma and India are apathetic to Kukis, Nagas are our enemy, who have been trying to eliminate us. So we had to take up arms against them. Though we are different groups, our aim is the same,'' said Hemlal German, Leader, KNF (MC). The Kukis, who live in Manipur's hills, turned militant after they were attacked by Naga militants in a bloody battle in 1992, which killed more than a thousand. By eliminating the Kukis, the Naga militants wanted to include the Manipur hills as part of a Greater Naga Nation.

So in 1992, the first Kuki militants were born. However, soon the Naga militants set up rival Kuki factions and within a year, several Kuki groups were engaged in fratricidal wars where at least 20 die every year.

Splintered outfit Today, there are at least 14 Kuki militant groups, virtually one militant group for each pocket of Kukis, making them one of the most splintered militant outfit in India.

Kuki National Front Military Council

Kuki National Army

Kuki National Front Zougam

Zomi Revolutionary Front

Zou Defence Volunteer

United Komren Revolutionary Army

Hmar National Army

United Socialist Revolutionary Army

Kuki National Front

United Kuki Liberation Front

Kuki Revolutionary Army

Zomi Revolutionary Army

Hmar Peoples Convention

Kuki Liberation Army
So why this new found display of solidarity and this rare access?

They allowed us to film not just their martial posturing, but even rebels listening to Bollywood songs and showing photos of their girlfriends. India's security forces believe that the Kuki factions are less interested in self-defence against the Nagas. Instead like other North East militant groups, they have turned to extortion, gun running and drug trade. And so security forces will want to know: Will the Kukis coming together and make the threat even worse? [Kishalay Bhattacharjee, NDTV]

Bill Gates offers Rs 4.36 cr for NE AIDS plan Our Spl Correspondent Assam tribune
NEW DELHI, May 4 – Alarmed by the spread of the dreaded HIV Positive virus in the North-east, Microsoft chief Bill Gates has given Rs 4.36 crore for AIDS control programmes to Manipur and Nagaland. According to Government, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation sanctioned the amount in the last fiscal for the two north eastern States. Manipur has been given Rs 577.60 lakh and Nagaland Rs 532.37 lakh.

The amount, however, is not significant because the World Bank and the Government of India during the same period have sanctioned Rs 71.83 crore for implementation of National AIDS Control Programme in the region, according to figures furnished by Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Panabaka Lakshmi in the Rajya Sabha.

Of the total sanctions, the largest chunk of Rs 2134 lakh has gone to Manipur followed by Nagaland (Rs 1625 lakh) and Assam (Rs 1351 lakh). The total contribution of World Bank for fighting AIDS in the North-east was Rs 6073.22 lakh.

An outlay of Rs 95.50 crore has been allocated in the Budget estimate for the North Easter region, the Minister further added.

As on date, 235 NGOs are implementing different interventions in the NER and nothing adverse has been reported by State AIDS Control society, Lakshmi added.

The Minister was replying to questions about the performance of the NGOs in AIDS control.

Attacks on trucks continue; one more torched The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 4: The attacks and threats to truckers in Manipur because of extortion demands are continuing unabated and in increasing frequency. After the burning down of four cement carrying trucks recently, another truck carrying potatoes was burnt down by miscreants in the early hours Friday while at least seven trucks reaching Imphal from Guhawati could not unload their goods even after they arrived at Imphal. The potato loaded truck (AS-01AC-3285) was hijacked by miscreants late last night from Thangal Bazar area reportedly while unloading goods. The truck owner had allegedly failed to pay "annual tax" imposed by a separatist group.

The totally charred truck with the destroyed potatoes was found early Thursday morning near a foot hill at Moirangkampu some 7 km east of Imphal, police said. Police is yet to establish the identity of the owner and driver of the truck and the owner of the goods items as well.

Meanwhile, at least five trucks out of eight transporting goods items for the Manipur sericulture project remained parked at the MSRTC complex without unloading the goods they transported from Guwahati some days back. According to the truckers they could not unload the items as a particular separatist group threatened of dire consequencies stating that owners of the goods,the state sericulture department, must pay "godown tax" to them.

Officials of the sericulture department, however, refused to comment on the matter. They said the matter was being discussed at a high level. A reliable source said that a valley based separatist group has imposed a huge demand of more than one crore rupees on the department as "percentage" to the outfit. One of the trucks arrived some 10 days back while the others arrived in the last three or four days. The remaining three are on their way to Imphal.

The truckers informed that among the trucks transporting items for the same department, the drivers of three trucks were taken into custody by militants of an outfit based in Manipur at Dimapur in Nagaland some days back. The drivers were taken into captivity by suspected KRA militants from Assam-Nagaland border and released recently after being beaten up severely, a khalasi (handyman) disclosed on condition of anonymity.

On April 23 miscreants suspected to be cadres of the KYKL set ablaze atleast four trucks carrying cement at two places after hijacking them from different places for allegedly failing to pay "annual tax" imposed by the outfit. Four miscreants were involved in both the cases of arson. Failure on the part of the truck owners to pay Rs. 2000 as annual tax to the outfit involved in the arson was behind the attack on the vehicles. On April 30 three hardcore activists of the KYKL who were involved in the burning down of the four trucks were nabbed by a combined team of the Imphal West district police and 22 Maratha Light Infantry.