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05/06/2007: "Rio’s vision OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

Rio’s vision OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, May 5: Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has called on legislators of the region to fulfill the aspirations of the people they represent and try and become harbingers of change.
Rio was speaking at the inaugural function of the three-day 10th Northeast Region Commonwealth Parliamentary Association Conference yesterday.
He said failure of the parliamentary system to appropriately include and reflect time-tested traditions, customs and aspirations of the people in systems of governance would bring about a “constitutional divide” between the people and the government.
He reminded the parliamentarians not to forget the common culture, history and bond of co-existence that has been prevalent over centuries despite inter-state disputes.
Rio said the conference should pass a resolution for strengthening the existing border trade points with Myanmar and Bangladesh by constructing highways connecting these stations from both sides of the border. Rio also released a souvenir on the occasion.
NSF spit fire over indulgent, negligent govt officials The Morung Express
Dimapur, May 5 (MExN): The Naga Students’ Federation strongly demands that action be initiated against irresponsible government officers who “enjoy like kings/queens at the expense of public.”
A letter addressed to the Chief Secretary by the NSF through its president V Phushika Aomi, expressed resentment, that officers in the state play truant in almost all the outposts/district headquarters. The government has been urged time and again to discipline the erring officers, the NSF reminded.
“Those officers enjoying salaries without serving (the) public a single day of a month should be terminated immediately. Each officer should be made to understand that vehicles along with driver, personal peon, quarter, telephone facilities and even servants, TA/DA above salaries, provided to them is for devoting their tie towards public service and not enjoy like kings/queens at the expense of public” the letter reproached.
The Federation also took note that vehicles attached to the officers are being misused for private purposes by the officers themselves. “School duties, church service attending, farm duty and picnicking by their children” the NSF listed. The vehicles meet with mishaps “while officers’ children were driving but the Government coolly pays them for repairing it, instead of taking action for misusing it” the Federation lamented.
Making these points to the Chief Secretary, the Federation has demanded ‘redeployment’ of the officers to their respective postings immediately. It also demanded that unless the officials are on specific duties, their vehicles should be “withdrawn” from the negligent officers. On this, the Federation also reminded the government that there are thousands of unemployed educated youths who are willing enough to serve the people “without looking for luxury facilities.”
“The government’s lukewarm attitude towards their officials is (the) main factor of encouraging truancy and spoiling the system thereby failing public needs” the NSF stated and strongly warned that officers’ vehicles would be seized if found being misused. And consequences should not be blamed on the students or public, it added.
Nagaland faces a Hindi hurdle Thannganing Hungyo The Morung Express
New Delhi Nagaland has lots of catching up to do if students in the state wish to be fluent in Hindi. Mizoram, on the other hand, has surged ahead by setting up a college to train Hindi teachers. An adequate number of teachers has been appointed in Mizoram for this purpose, says a bureaucrat in the ministry of human resource development.
The HRD ministry recommends that Nagaland should walk in Mizoram’s footsteps, if the state wishes to be on a par with the former as far as the quality of Hindi teaching in schools is concerned. Nagaland may have inefficiently utilised the scheme for appointment of teachers, added the official, speaking of reasons behind the lag.
Another reason he cited was the unwillingness of teachers from the Hindi-speaking belt to work in the Northeast. As a second language, Hindi is preferable compared to Urdu and other modern Indian languages, he added. The Planning Commission had earlier decided to transfer the administration of the scheme for appointment of Hindi teachers — on technical grounds — from the languages section of the HRD to the Kendriya Hindi Sangathan located at Agra. However, the HRD ministry is asking that the scheme be transferred back to the ministry, as “it has not worked.”

However, the Planning Commission is yet to give its response. The Nagaland school education minister, Imkong L. Imchen, has an altogether different story to tell. Squarely blaming the Centre for not sanctioning enough funds for the growth of the subject, he said the bureaucracy in Delhi was hampering the progress of the scheme.
“Hindi is important for fostering national integration,” the minister said. He also stressed the importance of garnering more funds to facilitate Hindi teaching. In Nagaland, Hindi is compulsory up to Class VIII, after which it becomes an optional subject. According to the All Nagaland Hindi Teachers’ Association, several students of the state are trying to acquire fluency in the language, as it helps them when they enroll in educational institutes outside the region. English is the official language of the state but the common tongue is Nagamese, a combination of Assamese with a sprinkling of Bengali and Hindi. (Courtesy The Telegraph)
Condolence message from the Naga delegation- Nagaland Post
In our search for Peace, the Naga People have been exploring every possible options that may lead towards restoration of our human dignity through sharing of our experiences and solidarity with other people across the world who too are struggling for Peace and freedom. And every venture had its own part of the story to tell. But perhaps, one of the most significant experiences in-so-far as the involvements of civil society organizations are concerned has been the experience of the "Bougainville Peace Process" which was based on a bottom-line that says; "to find peace through peaceful means."
The Naga Delegation that visited Papua New Guinea and Bougainville in March 2006, is therefore deeply shocked to hear the news of the death of Peter TsiamaliliI, administrator of the Autonomous Bougainville Government, on 15th April 2007, who sacrificed the luxuries and comforts of being Papua New Guinea's Ambassador to the United Nations and Brussels, etc. and came home as a Bougainvillean to take up the responsibility of the Administrator of the new Autonomous Bougainville Government in 2005. His words, that "Goals and Actions are just empty words unless they are implemented and achieved", while launching the Strategic Action Plan of 2006 - 2010, must be vigorously pursued in all earnestness by "all public servants" of the ABG in keeping with the appeal made by ABG President, Joseph Kabui, who convened an Urgent Conference with all the Chief executive officers of respective divisions soon after Tsiamalili's death, "to dig a little deeper into what they can offer in the gap the late Mr. Tsiamalili had now left behind."
Words alone are inadequate to express the sadness of our hearts, but we pray that our Almighty God will grant solace to the President, his Cabinet Colleagues, all Members of the ABG Parliament and the ranks and files of the civil services, during this hour of darkness in losing one of Bougainville's most treasured son.
We also offer our heartfelt condolences to Mrs. Ruth Tsiamalili and Children and all his near and dear ones as we join you in grief and sorrow. May his Soul Rest in Peace.
Neingulo Krome, Gen. Secy, NAGA HOHO, On behalf of the 2006 Naga Delegation.
Wungram incident: Another repetition of 1984 Merapani war- Nagaland Post
The recent Dimapur incident or inferno of 22/4/07 could have been avoided if the parties involved in the unfortunate incident of the previous day, the 21st April could have exercised some restraints. The Tangkhul colony, so called Wungram colony at Purana Bazaar, Dimapur is a replica of Delhi Red Fort, where the Tangkhul IK authorities are living comfortably and securely with tight fencing and barricaded gates. But it was destroyed and burnt down by irate mob consisting of many tribes men of Dimapur (as reported) on 22/4/07. It was quite an unfortunate incident and regrettable. We are not happy when our enemies are in troubles as the Bible says. But what we meant is that it could have been averted if some serious thought had been taken by all the parties concerned.
I can boast of that I am also an educated person at least by the Naga standards, but at the same time confess that I am not matured in Naga national politics. Yet going through all the past records available or communicable to us, I find that Naga groups in all walks of life used to do which should have not been done. Afterwards amended or regretted, but the consequences used to be more damaging and irreparable.
The Merapani war of 1984 was actually provoked by Assam. The Nagaland Government under S.C Jamir responded by investing men, energy and money to wage the war. The Nagas clearly won the battle and the refugees who were settled by the Assam Government at the so called Disputed Area Belt (DAB) fled the area, but the harvest was reaped by Assam. Some of the houses were either burnt or damaged during the fighting. But under the pressure of India and his intention of not to allow the benefits to be enjoyed by the Lothas, S.C Jamir allowed resettlement of the displaced refugees even by giving grant-in-aid in various forms. The refugees returned and re-settled in the land belong to the Nagas (Lothas). Thatched houses and bamboo walls before the war became brick-walls with CGI roofing's. The Assam refugees were well settled after the war.
Likewise, the Red Fort in Nagaland was burnt down and damaged. But now there is hue and cry for re-settling the affected Tangkhuls by raising huge donations in cash and in kind by the same people who were bitterly against the Tangkhuls before the incident. The consequences will be very damaging for the Nagas. This will be another repetition of Merapani war of 1984. Take care Nagas, if you cannot push through the matters at hand why create troubles unnecessarily??
During the French Revolution which started in 1789 and after having suffered much loses in men and properties, Marat a leader of the revolution said, "The rich have so long sucked out the marrow of the people that they are now visited with a crushing retribution. Again, another French nobleman said, "if the peasants had attacked the property and privileges represented unjust inequality, that the fault laid there, and that the remedy was not to repress the peasants, but to suppress in equality".
In the foregoing statements of the French leaders lay the conditions and situations of Nagaland today. According to information's received by us, weapons and ammunitions of IK were found by the mob people in the house of one Tangkhul which was allowed to build inside the "survey training institute complex (Government land) adjoining the Tangkhul colony. Such are the cases everywhere in Nagaland and that is why we are always complaining against the state-sponsored terrorism in Nagaland.
Care-Taker Lotha Region, GPRN, NSCN (K)
Child soldiers in NE raise concerns The Morung Express
Kaimunathang, May 5 (NDTV): The militants’ most powerful weapon on the Indo-Myanmar border are young, enthusiastic, fearless, impressionable boys and girls. They come cheap, eat less, travel light, are easy to manipulate, and have very few demands.
“I joined the undergrounds in 2005. My land and people need me. I never went back to my home. Since joining I have killed three people in encounters. I have experienced encounters with other UGs at least five times,’’ said Moirou, child soldier.
Seventeen-year-old Moirou is one of the hundreds of children recruited by militant outfits there. Though there aren’t any in ULFA’s cadre list, the outfit outsources teenagers to ferry explosives, even lob grenades. Last year, two boys carrying explosives for ULFA were blown up in Tezpur. But others like the NSCN, the UNLF, the PLA openly recruit children.
Combat skills
NDTV managed to get rare access that’s often denied to international observers. The boys demonstrated their combat skills. The smallest boys are placed closest to the enemy, because their leaders say they are the most fearless. And when they are not, they are given helpful doses of drugs.
“I have never been afraid of the gun. I don’t miss my family. I chose to be a militant,’’ said Siamthianmuan, child soldier. Another 16-year-old boy has been assigned to take care of a burglar from a nearby town. He was first beaten and then threatened. Done with the job at hand, they are back to being children. But the gun at their side is a constant reminder of their other life. Fifteen-year-old Brandy, who is the darling of the group, says he enjoys life with the militants.
“I can’t remember when I joined. I went to school in Mizoram till Class VI. Yes, I miss my friends and family. I enjoy life with the guerillas. We do anything that we are ordered to do. I am not afraid of guns. I haven’t killed anyone yet but even if any member from my family or friends opposes our groups I can surely kill them,’’ said Brandy, child soldier.
That’s pretty much what all the boys say. They will kill anyone their commander asks them to kill. There are some who can’t take the life as an underground operative. Muang joined up when she was 15. Today at 19, she’s a young mother who has recently quit. “I joined in 2003. It was difficult at times. I have never killed anyone. If girls want to marry they are allowed to quit. I had joined the outfit as I was interested,’’ said Muang, former soldier. Girls are particularly at risk of rape and abuse. Still, several outfits find them useful. Lunking, a former rebel, said it is not an easy life. “I have been a militant for two years now. I faced so many problems as a woman. I want to live a normal life now. I can tell you the problems a girl soldier faces but let me tell you its killing,’’ said Lunking, former soldier. ‘’Personally I feel very sorry for children who enter militancy at an early age as they are not physically or mentally fit. If it goes on like this our society, our country is in jeopardy,’’ said Anganwadi worker, Churachandpur.
Home memories
Some of the boys carry photographs of their girlfriends back home, Someday they hope to return. Many of them even went to school but then they were convinced that the gun was a better tool against a society that would give them little. ‘’As far as underage employment, underage boys joining UGs I feel its very unfortunate. If this trend goes on its quite clear that in coming years there would be few young men with proper mind. Most of the youths are helpless, they have been compelled to. Although some of them want to continue studies and stay in the mainstream they are helpless they have to join they are made to forced to since some organisations want it that way. They feel that under aged boys can be brainwashed easily. It should be discontinued. Government should do something. Basically it’s mainly because of economic hardship,’’ said Holkholun, President, Kuki Innpi, Manipur.
Child soldiers in Sierra Leone, Uganda or Rwanda or even closer home in Afghanistan is the more familiar face. But there is hardly any international or national concern about the hundreds of children recruited, trained, maimed, killed in conflicts in India particularly in the NE.
The use of children as soldiers has been universally condemned as abhorrent and unacceptable. Yet very little has been done to address the issue. Say for example, has the Indian government ever raised the issue with the NSCN, a group they have been in a ceasefire agreement for years?
ULFA “commander” shot dead in Asom The Morung Express
Guwahati, May 5 (UNI): A self-styled ULFA commander was killed in an encounter with J&K Rifles and Karbi Anglong Police at Sunpura village under Howraghat police station late last night, police here said today. They said acting on a tip-off, the joint team conducted a search operation in the area. On spotting a group of some two to three persons moving in a suspicious manner, the security personnel challenged them to stop. However, the group opened fired at them, forcing the security personnel to retaliate. The encounter continued for about 15 minutes, in which one militant, Raj Kalita alias Bipul Choudury, was killed, the police added. The others, however, managed to escape in the cover of darkness. One 9 mm semi-automatic pistol, six rounds of 9 mm ammunition and one magazine of AK-47 rifle were recovered from the area, the police said. Rajiv Kalita, a lieutenant in the ULFA, was the mastermind behind the January 6 bomb blast during the KA Autonomous council elections in which seven polling staff, including three policemen were killed. The ULFA had carried out the blast in close cooperation with the outlawed Karbi Longri Nationalist Liberation Front (KLNLF). Last night's encounter was in succession to a number of anti-insurgency operations in Karbi Anglong district. The heavy security deployment across Upper Asom had compelled the ULFA cadres to shift base to this district, from where they could proceed to Myanmar, through Nagaland.
No bus service between Indo-Burma from today The Morung Express
Imphal, May 5 (NNN): Following the monetary demands made by some underground groups to the bus owners plying between the Indo-Myanmar road, the Indo-Burma Sungnu Bus Owners Welfare Union has called to stop plying bus services indefinitely, beginning from Sunday morning.
According to the Bus Owners Union, some underground outfits have been demanding money from the bus owners for sometime now.
Unable to bear the pressure, the bus owners plying along the National Highway 39 between Imphal to Moreh town have been called to stop services till an amicable settlement is reached and appealed the general public to bear with them during the agitation for finding an amicable solution.
Meanwhile, the Kumbi areas in Bishnupur district completely shut down their activities for the day protesting against the alleged harassment meted out by the 7 Assam Rilfes even after killing one Tomba of Kumbi.
The local people of Kumbi areas are protesting against the continuous harassment meted out to them by shutting of all business establishments, no vehicular movements, shutting of schools, and offices among others.
Mamoni blames ULFA, Govt for failure of talks Staff Correspondent Sentinel
SHILLONG, May 5: The peace initiative between the Centre and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) derailed due to lack of transparency on both sides, felt Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami.
The Jnanpith award winner, who facilitated the peace process in Asom, told a select group of reporters in Shillong today, “The peace deal failed before it could take off because both the Centre and ULFA are not transparent.” Goswami did not vividly elaborate on the points related to the lack of transparency, but she strongly felt that the Centre should have taken an extra initiative to accommodate the demands of the ULFA.
“The Centre never releases the imprisoned rebels to facilitate the process and the non-taking off of the third round of peace talks added more to complexities comp-ounded by the ULFA,” stated Goswami, adding: “Even I am in a dilemma.”
Goswami also wanted that the ULFA’s demand for talks on sovereignty and other subjects should not be viewed in one dimension in order to bring about long-lasting peace in Asom. Maintaining that she has not given up hope to mediate since ULFA leadership still favours a discussion with the Government, the Jnanpith award winner lamented that violence and killings in Asom aggravated after the failure of the peace process.
Goswami also observed that ‘if violence and killings in Asom can be stopped only if there is a direct talk between the ULFA and the Centre.’
“Direct talks is a must now,” the mediator stated, while demanding of the Government to have a more flexible stand. “As a guardian, the government should release the six ULFA leaders in order to make a breakthrough,” stated Goswami while arguing: “If the released leaders return to the jungle, the advantage will go the government because the people will then think that the ULFA has no interest for a peaceful Asom.”
Holding ‘that peace cannot be achieved at gun point’, Goswami said everything has reached such a pretty pass because both sides have tried to use guns to settle their scores.
Rebuilding of Stilwell Road Sentinel
Ledo, May 5: India has started rebuilding its portion of Stilwell Road, which came up at the height of World War II. This follows talks between China, Myanmar and India on reopening of the historic road for trade and overland transport reaching a crucial stage.
“We have started widening and developing the stretch of the Stilwell Road on the Indian side. Now it all depends on the three countries agreeing to reopen the road,” Industries Minister Pradyut Bordoloi said today.
Added Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi: “The road would be a dream come true for the people of the northeast. It will boost trade and commerce signi-ficantly.”
The 1,726-km Stilwell Road was a vital lifeline for movement of troops of the Allied Forces during World War II to free China from Japanese occupation. It starts at Asom and cuts through the Pangsau pass in Myanmar to Kunming in south China.
The road was built by Chinese labourers, Indian soldiers and American engineers, and named after American General Joseph Stilwell who led the task and completed it in 1945 after three years of hard work.
The Stilwell Road on the Indian side is 61 km long. The major stretch of 1,033 km lies in Myanmar while the Stilwell Road in China is 632 km long.
China has completed constructing its stretch of the Stilwell Road. The only problem is now Myanmar.
“Myanmar is keen to rebuild the road but the major hindrance for them is funds and other resources,” an Indian foreign ministry official said. All the State governments in the Northeast agree that the Stilwell Road would bring economic prosperity to the underdeveloped region.
“Free trade with Southeast Asian countries and India’s northeast would be possible only with the reopening of Stilwell Road,” said Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh.
“Our region would then have the potential to become the hub of business activities and the gateway to Southeast Asia.” (IANS)