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05/16/2007: "NSCN (IM) toughens stand on ‘mob uprising’ The Morung Express"

NSCN (IM) toughens stand on ‘mob uprising’ The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, MAY 15 (MExN): Following recent incidents of ‘mob uprising’ and what it termed as ‘perilous activities’ associated with the former, the NSCN (IM) has in a joint council meeting issued a six point “National Standing Azhas.” The order as stated in a press communiqué issued by the MIP calls for effectively containing recurrence of public riots/arsons and for this the concern administrative units shall immediately activate the law enforcing agencies and control the situation.
However, in the case of ‘amassed agitation’ against military (Naga army) operation shall be treated as instigation/encouraging the adversaries and therefore, the commander on duty shall be empowered to exercise maximum force, even to the extend of causing grievous injury/death of agitators to bring the situation under control. “Because such uprising of mobs shall be considered as ‘human shield’ motivated and employed by the enemy. Hence use of force is justified”, the order states.
It has further ordered that the concern administrative officers/authorities shall submit preliminary report to the “cabinet” through the Kilo Kilonser within 24 hours on untoward incidents.
The order also mentions that the concern administrative officers/authorities shall be held responsible for any personal/individual disputes inflaming communalism/tribalism.
Any NSCN (IM) cadre with or without the influence of alcoholic/psychotropic substances disturbing social order and safeguarding of law and order causing loss of lives, injury or damage of properties shall be immediately recalled to the concern headquarters and be placed under suspension for thorough investigation and trials for justice. The ‘Azha’ also states that enquiry committees shall be constituted primarily to find out the cause of the violence/riot; identify the mastermind/ring leader(s); access the damages caused and loss of lives and properties. The last point in the ‘Azha’ states that befitting punishment shall be awarded to the offenders as per the gravity of the crime committed.
NSF reaffirms affiliation, illegal immigrant issues Newmai News Network
Kohima Amidst dismal results of students from the private schools from Chandel, Tamenglong, Ukhrul and Senapati districts in the 2007 class X examination conducted by the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), the Naga Students Federation (NSF) has re-affirmed to pursue the school affiliation issue with more vigour and trenchancy.
Talking to Newmai News Network today, newly elected president of the NSF Imchatoba Imchen and its outgoing speaker W.H. Maring said that during the NSF’s 5th Federal Assembly held at Asufu, Robvedzu (Punanamei) near Mao Gate, the apex body of the Naga students had re-affirmed to pursue the affiliation of the private schools in the four hill districts of Tamenglong, Senapati, Ukhrul and Chandel of Manipur to the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE), Nagaland “ with all care and seriousness”.
The newly elected NSF president further informed that besides the school affiliation issue, the apex Naga student’s body will take up all the impending agenda of the NSF which include the illegal immigration issue and to bring quality education in the Naga areas. Imchatoba Imchen who has been just elected few days ago to the top post of the apex body of the Naga students also stated that his team will work very hard for the betterment for the Nagas people at “this critical juncture of the Naga society”.
Naga rebels ruffle Ibobi Ukhrul DC’s ‘withdrawal’ after threat gives govt the blushes Nagarealm.com

Imphal, MAY15 [TI] : Bristling at the mere thought of a militant group forcing a deputy commissioner to abandon his station, chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh was all sound and fury in the Assembly today.

Ibobi warned the NSCN (Isak-Muivah), the government’s bugbear in more ways than one, against “meddling in the affairs of Manipur” and threatened retaliation if it did not mend its ways. For good measure, he pointed out that the ceasefire between Delhi and the militant group was not applicable to Manipur’s territory. The provocation for the chief minister’s outburst was an incident that took place last week.

When two Opposition members wanted to know why Ukhrul deputy commissioner Pankaj Pal felt so insecure as to flee to Imphal, Ibobi said the NSCN (I-M) had threatened to kill him for refusing to award a contract to a relative of one of its leaders. The chief minister said the threat was issued either over the phone or through someone who personally met the bureaucrat in Ukhrul, one of the hill districts that has a sizeable presence of Nagas. No case was registered with the police because Pal did not file a complaint, he added.

The deputy commissioner approached chief secretary Jarnail Singh instead, informing him about his disturbed state of mind with the NSCN (I-M) peering over his shoulder. On May 10, a strong police contingent escorted Pal to the state capital. Ibobi said the NSCN (I-M) wanted the district administration to give the contract for renovation of a healthcare centre to a relative of one of its kilonsers (ministers). The deputy commissioner refused, inviting the threat to his life.

The NSCN (I-M), however, denied that any of its members even mentioned such a contract to Pal or threatened him for any reason. Ibobi admitted that the five hill districts of the state require more security personnel. He said the government was planning to raise three more battalions of the India Reserve Battalion to make up for the shortage of personnel. Manipur has four such battalions at present and two are on the way. If three more are raised, the nine districts of the state will have an India Reserve Battalion each. Okram Joy Singh and I. Ibohalbi Singh of the Manipur People’s Party accused the government of allowing the NSCN (I-M) to get away with anything in the hill districts. “What are the central forces, police and the Manipur Rifles battalion deployed in Ukhrul doing? The writ of the Naga outfit sti-ll runs there,” Joy Singh said.
Congress prays for peaceful and progressive Nagaland Chizokho Vero The Morung Express
Kohima AICC secretary-in-charge of Nagaland, Ranjit Thomas today asserted that the Congress party wishes and prays that peace prevail in Nagaland and everyone in Nagaland progress harmoniously.
Talking to media persons at Congress Bhavan, Kohima on his maiden visit to Nagaland to help and assist Congress in Nagaland in fulfilling the aspirations of the party workers at the grass root level, Thomas said that the Congress party wishes to see a peaceful and progressive Nagaland.
The central government was doing a lot for Nagaland, adding that UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh were much more concern for Nagaland than other states.
He continued that the UPA Government has been very generous enough to grant huge amount of funds and various developmental schemes for the upliftment of the Naga people without any discrimination.
The Congress workers in the state will have to be more active in checking that the funds and schemes granted by the Central Government are being properly utilized, he added.
We want all round development of individual and social so that the state could find its place to stand to complete with everybody in all sphere of life, he asserted.
The Congress looks after the well being of the entire people, he said adding whether “we are in power or not we will help and work for the people.”
Elaborating his visit to the state, he said that his priority is to make Congress more people-oriented and give helping hand and to reach the people to make “Nagaland great.”
Earlier, he addressed the party workers at Congress Bhavan today.
Meanwhile, the AICC Secretary would be touring the rest of the district headquarters and have meetings with the Congress functionaries at the respective DCC offices.
Blank firing by cadres Staff Reporter Nagaland Post
Dimapur, May 15(NPN): Rival armed groups resorted to blank firing in the heart of Phek town, spreading fear and panic during the morning hours on Tuesday, though there was no report of any casualty. The blank firing incident at around 9.15 a.m. was preceded by the arrival of a combined force of Fedral-NSCN (K) at Jericho-II colony at around 5.30 a.m.
It was reported that blank firing took place in Type-Four colony where a 50-odd strong NSCN (I-M) group was camped and Jericho-II colony where the Federal-NSCN (K) had entered. Sources said the combined Federal-NSCN (K) force later vacated Phek town while the NSCN (I-M) group remained in Type-Four colony.
Plebiscite, a defining reinforced nationhood– Adinno 56 anniversary of Naga “voluntary” Plebiscite Day The Morung Express
Dimapur, May 15 (MExN): Despite the prevailing interminable militarized tyranny thrust upon the Naga people by the “enemy,” Nagas have no fear of “man’s evil designs” because “God (is) on our side,” president of the NNC, Adinno Phizo stated while calling for continually praying “in humility” for the freedom of the Naga nation in God’s own time.
In her message on the occasion of 56 anniversary of Naga “voluntary” Plebiscite Day (May 16), Phizo said whether ‘big or small,’ no nation came into existence ‘willy-nilly’ in modern times, so also, Nagaland. “The universal verdict given to the core subject of ‘our country belongs to our people’ by the Naga people on 16 May 1951 splendidly fulfilled A Z Phizo’s political vision for Naga nation” she maintained.
It was undoubtedly in response to his indefatigable tour of reaching out to the people to persuade them on the Naga common destiny that changed the course of modern Nagaland history, the NNC chief explained.
She said that after the May 1951 “irrefutable verdict,” the hitherto untested Naga communities unequivocally opted for Naga “national” identity, and as significant, affirmed national support for independence declared earlier on 14 August 1947, a day ahead of British India. “For the record, from ancient time the Naga people and the Indians did not share a common history nor belong to the same race” Adinno reminded.
Following the Naga people mandate “immutably entrusted with the Naga National Council (NNC),” A Z Phizo, the president of NNC reached out to the Nagas in the uncharted east and persuaded the regional leaders to enter into an organic integration to be duly enshrined in the first “Naga Constitution” circa February 1956. Accordingly, with the “legal” sanction vested in the constitution, the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was founded on March 22, 1956, she explained adding that nothing can deter the Naga people from upholding the “Naga Constitution.”
The NNC chief also cautioned to guard against letting go of the rich cultural heritage that the Nagas are blessed with. She exhorted thus: “In the past six decades, our people have not seen normalcy, taken for granted in most countries. While our resilient people endure the unremitting Indian occupation army militarized tyranny, it is difficult but we must not let our rich heritage disappear. Our oral tradition of hand down learning is declining rapidly, exacerbated by the war. All of us who love our country must feel the vacuum it has created with no suitable alternative. We know it is not just knowledge about our history but the tradition covers such wide interests as: upbringing, social discipline, harmony, ethical principles, sustaining eco-management, and also, individual and community responsibility. Any people ignorant of their heritage cannot be expected to appreciate their nation.”
Why the Tangkhuls anyway? The Morung Express \Perspective
O, Tangkhuls! People are speaking something against you. Come forward if you are bold enough. Say sorry and admit your mistakes. Then, people will excuse you. If you have something to defend, tell the nation the reasons so that the people will know that the charges and allegations leveled against you are false and without foundation.
You are not the only Naga tribe fighting for national freedom. Other tribes are also shouldering their share of responsibilities. As human beings, they too have their shortcomings. Why you alone then are given the yellow card in the political arena? Maybe, you are oversmart and headstrong, paying no respect to your comrade-in-arms of other tribes.
Maybe, you lack the discipline and undermine the azhas which govern the working and functioning of Nagalim. Today, it appears that you are losing in whatever you do. No one is heard saying that the Tangkhuls are brave and reliable in our national struggle. No one is saying that the Tangkhuls are faithful and steadfast clinging to the national principle and policy. Defecting from one faction to another is not your style of serving the nation.
Like a warhorse, you head straight into the theatre of war without hesitation. Like Esua who forfeited his heritage to his cunning brother Jacob yet did not harm him for fear of his father Isaac, you did not harm any tribe or community in retaliation for fear of God and fraternal feelings. Many in your rank and file have laid down their lives but more and more of your sons are joining the movement to show that you are committed to the national cause. Every able bodied person is ready to respond to the call of the nation. In a family of five brothers, four brothers are in the Naga army. Only one brother looks after the parents. They feel that national victory is their inheritance. This deed shall be part of the annals of Naga war for independence.
Even patient sufferings from the dreaded disease HIV are taken care of in the civilized world. A humane approach is made to make such person live life with dignity in the society. Had segregation been done in society, their lots will be miserable and they will be looked upon as sub-human. Nay, they will be considered worst than animals who enjoy veterinary benefits. But you are given “Quit Notice in Nagaland”.
What unpardonable crime have you committed? The Bible says, “I tell you the truth, all sins that people do and things people say against God can be forgiven. But anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit can never by forgiven. He is guilty of a sin that continues forever” Mark 3:28,29. The simple meaning is that if anyone after knowing that Jesus Christ is the son of God and personal savior then condemns Jesus, he will be never be pardoned. Is the crime committed by the Tangkhuls of this kind? If so, what is the use of fighting for Nagaland as a Christian nation under the banner of “Nagaland for Christ”? Will lifetime services of a patriot be meaningless? It is really disappointing to see the drama taking place within Nagalim today. Many like-minded friends will feel the same bitterness.
May I put the following questions to the public and organizations.
1. Will there be any Tangkhul in free Nagaland?
2. Should the Tangkhul Phizoites withdraw themselves for the struggle because they have no share according to “Quit Notice”?
3. Should the Tangkhuls in NSCN(K) withdraw themselves from the movement because they are unwanted?
4. Should the Tangkhul in rank and file withdraw their support to the national movement led by NSCN (IM) because they have no share in it?
5. Should the struggle for Naga national freedom be carried out without the Tangkhuls?
Dear brothers! Our struggle is not a joke nor day-dream. Any step that is fatal to the core issue will give chance for the common enemy to rejoice over our division and disunity. They will try to bring a time when we are disillusioned and broken up into pieces. But we are still oblivious, busy in fighting factional wars. We remain silent even when Quit Notice is served to one of our brothers. If the Tangkhuls are forsaken, what alternative do they have? They have to look for a new direction which will be costly and irreparable. Indeed, we are on the cross-road.
An open-minded public debate is required so that we are not swept away by hatred and anger. National interest is greater than any ill feeling or revenge. Let the public come forward and advocate for the right course to go before it is too late. Finally, let us deliberate over compromise and reconciliation and have a united Naga struggle as before.
KUKNALIM Ng. Muivah, Sr. Lecturer (SG) Retd., D.M. College, Imphal
56 Anniversary of Naga voluntary Plebiscite Day- Nagaland Post
I send my warmest greetings to our people on the 56th (1951-2007) Anniversary of Naga voluntary Plebiscite Day on 16 May. We thank the Almighty God for ever sustaining our people and Nagaland. Despite the prevailing interminable militarised tyranny thrust upon our nation by the enemy, with God on our side, we have no fear of man's evil designs. Let us keep praying to God in humility for the freedom of our nation in God's own time.
Our people in Nagaland commemorate the historic Plebiscite Day held on 16 May 1951 as the defining moment that brought about Naga nation. The older generation who witnessed Naga nation as it purposefully unfolded could vividly recall, before 1951, our independent but politically unconnected people were invariably known by their respective distinct community identity. Whether big or small, no nation came into existence willy-nilly in modern time, so also, Nagaland. The universal verdict given to the core subject of 'our country belongs to our people' by the Naga people on 16 May 1951 splendidly fulfilled A Z Phizo's political vision for Naga nation. It was undoubtedly in response to his indefatigable tour of reaching out our people to persuade them on the Naga common destiny in their own villages on foot that changed the course of modern Nagaland history. After May 1951 irrefutable verdict, and only then, hitherto untested Naga communities unequivocally opted for Naga national identity, and as significant, affirmed national support for independence declared earlier on 14 August 1947, a day ahead of British India. For the record, from ancient time the Naga people and the Indians did not share a common history nor belong to the same race.
Following the Naga people mandate immutably entrusted with the Naga National Council (NNC), A Z Phizo, the President of NNC reached out our people in the uncharted East and persuaded the Regional leaders to enter into an organic integration to be duly enshrined in the first Naga Constitution, circa February 1956. Accordingly, with the legal sanction vested in the Constitution, the Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) was founded on 22 March 1956. Nothing can deter the Naga people from upholding the Naga Constitution. In the past six decades, our people have not seen normalcy, taken for granted in most countries. While our resilient people endure the unremitting Indian occupation army militarised tyranny, it is difficult but we must not let our rich heritage disappear. Our oral tradition of hand down learning is declining rapidly, exacerbated by the war. All of us who love our country must feel the vacuum it has created with no suitable alternative. We know it is not just knowledge about our history but the tradition covers such wide interests as: upbringing, social discipline, harmony, ethical principles, sustaining eco-management, and also, individual and community responsibility. Any people ignorant of their heritage cannot be expected to appreciate their nation.
The Naga people find it inexplicable to fathom why the Government of India (GoI) is bent on trampling the existence of democratic Nagaland. Since India invaded Nagaland in 1954, regardless of the strength of the opposition and numerical disparity, our brave patriots thwarted GoI expansionist ambition on the battle field. And as time move on, we witnessed other nations in conflict adapted to changing international outlook and took the path of peaceful solution. Oddly, India's stature in the world is unlikely to shine sooner on account of further instigating and fund state sponsored terrorism in Nagaland in recent years.
In political context, Naga society refers to the people of the Federal Republic of Nagaland. Whilst the NNC consistently uphold the aspirations of the Naga people, some Naga communities remain outside Nagaland. Their forebears were arbitrarily partitioned ostensibly for "administrative convenience" during the British colonial rule in neighbouring British India and due to historical hangover stays 'an unsettled issue'. However, following the international Cease-fire Agreement between FGN and GoI in 1964, Nagaland opened its door to Naga people from 'outside' with a view to testing forward consensus. Hitherto, Naga people domiciled in the adjoining Indian states had to apply for 'Inner Line Permit' (ILP) to enter Nagaland. Only after 1964, the mandatory requirement of 'ILP' by non-domicile Nagas had been waived.
But in more recent time, our people in Nagaland struggle to understand the treachery of a section of Tangkhul community, evidently with identity crises, who were allowed to join our national service only after 1964 from the Indian state of Manipur. Their "collective" callous attempt to fabricate Naga history and willful lies, blame, and hatred tirade to justify and usurp power outrage the people of Nagaland. Obviously, the newcomers have no respect for the sanctity of Naga Constitution. Needless to say, it pained the people of Nagaland that responsible members of the said community appears unwilling to condemn the well documented heinous crimes perpetrated by a section of their community against the Naga people on the absurd pretext of saving Naga sovereignty. This brazen-faced political contradiction and of late, its ring leaders given the so-called Z+security protection by the enemy to stay in Nagaland is plainly an affront to the intelligence of Naga society. It beggar belief that certain community would misuse Naga name for their own agenda clearly to the detriment of Naga stand both at home and abroad.
The current fragile peace in our country cannot last notwithstanding for a while our people seemingly wandered in the wilderness and are just about recovering. In the intervening period, all sorts of politically naive individuals squabble over peace and unity as though the blind leading the blind in an unfamiliar alleyway. Not surprisingly, none could be seen coming out the wiser.
Meanwhile, the core issue between Nagaland and India remain the total withdrawal of Indian occupation army and its camp followers from Nagaland. It is not only the desire of the people of Nagaland, democratically represented by the NNC and FGN, but as much in India's own interest in the light of aspiring to become a leading nation in the world, to find a diplomatic solution to the long standing conflict between the two nations. That said, for now, under Geneva Convention, India is responsible for all the goings on whether by the Indian army or the extra-judicial atrocities committed by its proxy militia operating in Nagaland. I take this opportunity to thank everyone who work and stood together upholding our national stand regardless of the difficult time. May God bless Nagaland. Urra Uvie
Adinno Phizo, President Naga national council London 14 May 2007
Honesty of our way of living- Nagaland Post Opinion
The great Naga family consisting of about 50 tribes, big and small, existed since time immemorial. We were called Nagas mainly by the Burmese, Kachins, Assamese and then later on by the Meiteis, Britishers, Americans, Kukis, etc. Many books of anthropology and other notes are found available for reference in addition to verbal history left by our forefathers.
These tribes, in spite of slight differences in some ways or the other, were commonly one and hence, all of them were called Nagas by outsiders. They were one in common because they were the children of same parents. And also except for some disputes between some villagers, there was no practice of inter-tribal wars. Unfortunately with the strengthening of these tribes for good, some people started conceiving negative concepts of other tribes. These people while trying to be popular among these tribes wrongly implied the existence and importance of the tribe and think that he will become popular by talking ill of or competing with other tribe/tribes. Secondly the so called electioneering politicians followed suite so that they would get more votes by doing the same.
We the national workers are not exceptional. Our forefathers fought against the aggressors together. They went abroad together and small misunderstandings were sorted out among the family. But what has happened to us today? Our activity seems to be only in the newspapers. In every morning's news, we hardly see the progress we are performing in defense of our land and country. We fail to focus in our politics, and instead keep on writing about the good and bad deeds of these and those tribes. The donations we received from our public were never used for publication in political line. Stubborn and stagnant mindset of ours today may not be able to bring good fruit for the Nagas, but destruction, only destruction for us, destruction for our families, destruction for our public and finally destruction for our nation. We know many things, we can teach many things to others but we fail to understand the simple truth which we must try to catch hold of again. Otherwise regular issuing of many good points in sweetest English in the newspaper cannot convince the public but rather it exposes one's emptiness or political bankruptcy. MIP, GPRN NSCN-(IM)
Ceasefire does not mean unlimited freedom for NSCN(IM): CM The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 15: The ceasefire between the NSCN (IM) and Government of India is welcome but the outfit should not be given a license to indulge in illegal activities, the state chief minister O Ibobi Singh said today. If the ceasefire pact has deteriorated and has come to mean an unrestrained license to the underground outfit to do anything it pleases, it would be much more prudent for the Centre to end the ceasefire, the chief minister said while giving a reply to a calling attention motion in the state Assembly today. He also clarified that the ceasefire does not extend within the Manipur territory when O Joy asked whether the Indo-Naga ceasefire exists in Manipur, interrupting the chief minister’s reply in the house.

The chief minsiter was giving his statement in the House Tuesday replying to a call attention motion moved by opposition MLAs O Joy Singh and Dr. I Ibohalbi Singh of MPP. Raising the call attention, the MLAs urged the chief minister who is also in-charge of the state home department, whether the reports published in various local papers in Manipur on the escorting back to Imphal of the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul district due to threats was true and if true what steps had been taken up. The issue arose after a strong team of state security forces on the night of May 11 brought back the deputy commissioner of Ukhrul district after reported threats from a hill based outfit actively operating in Ukhrul district.

Media here in Imphal reported that the DC, Pankaj Kumar received threats of kidnapping for his alleged violation of an underground diktat that a work order for the improvement of a health centre in the district should be awarded to the contractors whose names were suggested by a kilonser (minister) of the outfit NSCN (IM). Singh reiterating the report said that so far the state government had no official report of serving of any threatening letter to the DC by the outfit. “The matter may have arisen after a heated argument,” he observed. The police also has not taken up any case on the matter as no complaint was lodged by the DC and the state government, Ibobi said. He informed the House that the matter came up when the DC Pankaj Pal was threatened with kidnapping as he failed to award the work for repairing of the Kamjong community health centre to a person recommended by a kilonser of the NSCN (IM). He went on to say that the work had already been awarded to another contractor and he had intimated the DC that if needed he could take additional forces to protect himself as “we have adequate security forces.” He also instructed the DC to consult the state chief secretary and do the needful.

“Disturbance to the district administration from any angle will not be allowed,” the chief minister warned. Earlier, putting up the calling attention motion, O Joy said that the Ukhrul DC was threatened for not allowing the award of work to a younger brother of a kilonser of the NSCN (IM). He further observed that such incidents which seem to be exposing the weakness of the district administration occurred on various occasions. It seems that there is no effective district administration in the hill districts. “It hurts the image of the government,” he said.

He raised many questions concerning what the security forces like the Assam Rifles and district police were doing, whether they could not protect the DC, why the Dc be escorted back by the state security forces to Imphal. He also suggested that there was need for looking into the relation between the Centre and the NSCN (IM), informing the house that the Centre and NSCN headquarter at Hebron had already communicated on the matter. While replying the CM also said that during the peace talks they should remain confined to their designated camp. In case of any exchange of fire between the security forces in the state and the NSCN (IM) who are not remaining confined, the state government would not take any responsibility, the chief minister observed. He further informed the house that he had informed K Padmanabhaiya who was leading the Union government side at the peace talks.

The chief minister informed the house that the Manipur government had earlier informed the Prime Minister of India with proof that NSCN outfits were collecting money from the truckers and vehicles plying on the national highways by imposing various kinds of “illegal taxes” and the PM also had said that the Centre would not remain silent on the matter. Singh also said that one each of Indian Reserved Battalion, IRB would be stationed soon in all the district headquarters so as to counter the increasing threat to the government officials. His government is also planning to replace the BSF at the border areas and deploy the Assam Rifles instead, he revealed.

He also observed that usually the Assam Rifles was not involved in maintaining law and order in the state until they were approached for assisting the state forces and the police. But there was instruction from the Assam Rifles that NSCN (IM) should not go out in their uniform to public places, the chief minister said adding that the opposition charge that the ceasefire seems to be in force in Ukhrul was not true.
Naga Cong in dire straits OUR CORRESPONDENT the Telegraph
Kohima, May 15: As the Nagaland elections draw near, the crisis in the state unit of the Congress has started to worsen, forcing the leadership to seek the party high command’s intervention to set the house in order.
AICC secretary in charge of Nagaland, Ranjit Thomas, who arrived here this afternoon, did not deny that there was a leadership crisis and dissidence in the state unit. Though Thomas ducked the query on the crisis in the party, he did say he had come to strengthen the state unit.
Speaking to mediapersons this afternoon at Congress Bhavan, the Congress leader said all efforts would be made to bring the party to power in the next elections, slated for early 2008. He was optimistic that any misunderstandings in the party would be sorted out soon in the larger interest of Congress workers. More importantly, it wants to defeat the ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government, which the Congress regards as the weakest government ever in Nagaland.
Thomas, who is on a seven-day visit to the state, will tour all 11 districts and hold meetings to gauge the mood of party workers. He will submit his findings to the party high command.
Sources said the crisis in the party was caused by the absence of strong leaders who can hold party workers together. After the departure of former Congress leader and chief minister S.C. Jamir, who became the governor of Goa, there has been a leadership vacuum in the state congress.
For instance, it is clear that the Nagaland PCC does not toe the line of the Congress Legislature Party. A senior PCC member, Kakheto Zhimomi, said if the leadership crisis in the Congress is allowed to continue, then the party will lose the forthcoming state elections without even contesting them. “Overhaul the state Congress set-up before it is too late,” Zhimomi advised.
Landslides on NH-39 disrupt highway traffic The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 15: Continuous rainfall in the region in the last few days has disturbed the normal passage of vehicles of all kinds along the Imphal-Dimapur section of the national highway as landslides occurred at at least two places since yesterday. Heavy landslides on the NH-39 occurred at Karong in Senapati causing disturbance to normal traffic on the Imphal-Mao section of the highway. The normal flow of traffic was totally halted on Tuesday morning but it resumed by the afternoon, an official said. Around half of the mud that blocked the road was cleared by this afternoon and crossing of heavy vehicles - one at a time - started by around 2 pm, a report said. An approximately 15 feet stretch of a hillside came loose and slid down on the highway last night leading to the total blocking of the road. Uninterrupted rainfall since morning also hampered the mud clearance work, inspector Shimray, OC, Senapati said over phone. He is personally looking after the road clearance work and controlling the traffic at the spot.

More than 100 trucks proceeding to Imphal from Dimapur side which were due to arrive this morning at Imphal were stranded at Karong some 5 km from Senapati towards Mao. They, however, started crossing one by one later in the day, the official added. Vehicles leaving Imphal for Dimapur and other destinations outside the state remained stranded till late evening, the report said. Heavy rains in the last few days in the region caused the landslides.
The movement of traffic along the same NH-39 was also disturbed at Kohima in Nagaland since yesterday as a portion of the road started sliding there. As the condition of the road portion started worsening, the authorities there have been regulating the movement of vehicles, a report from Kohima said. Water level of many rivers in the valley areas also rose up today due to the heavy rainfall in the entire state in last two to three days.
Manipuri assert their right to live in peace The Morung Express
Imphal, May 15 (ANI): Tired of the highhandedness of rebel groups, Manipuris have started pouring out on to the streets to protest against widespread extortions, shutdowns and unwarranted killings in the State.
Stranded vehicles, empty roads and an eerie silence seem to have become the order of the day, and nobody is willing to talk due to perceived pressures from underground groups.
Trucks carrying essential items are stranded if they fail to pay money demanded by militant groups.
After a lot of persuasion, a driver agreed to talk to ANI on the condition of anonymity.
"I have faced lots of problems in my career. To survive under the law of the police and the underground groups is difficult. But what can I do if I have learnt driving, I have no other option but to survive as a driver," he said.
If a trucker refuses to pay the extortion money, his truck is taken at an isolated spot and burnt.
This truck driver says he also faced a similar fate once.
Manipuris say, they want a better life, but are left with no option, except to live in fear. "I have suffered a big loss. This has to come to an end.
Otherwise, we will keep on facing the problem," the driver said.
The Superintendent of Police of Imphal West, Clay Khongsai, said, "There is a sense of fear psychosis, and a phobia is being created. In case of non-payment, a bomb is hurled, or they open fire at their homes. Even the recent cases of the burning of trucks, such type of extensive damage itself, create a fear in the public, the owner and the businessmen. So, people are scared to come out".
The construction of the National Highway 39, which was sanctioned six years ago, has been delayed due to militant threats.
Locals often demonstrate and organise road blockades, to press for completion of the Highway. Rebel groups apparently want a share of the construction contract.
People now understand that militants are basically thugs and not political rebels or ideologues. They believe that the insurgents are anti-people and anti development. T. Gulamjat Singh, a retired lecturer, said: "It might be true.
But the repair and construction of the road is for the people. Even insurgent groups must think on this properly. We want to appeal to all, whoever they might be, whatever any organisation might be, not to interfere in the construction and the repair of the roads."
People want the State Government to act tough against illegal elements.
Manipur's proximity with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) gives it a wonderful opportunity to realise its economic potential. It is the only northeastern State connected to Myanmar by road. There are also plans to connect Manipur with other South East Asian countries.
Manipur is considered a sensitive border State.
Foreigners entering Manipur (including foreign citizens born in Manipur) have to possess a Restricted Area Permit, which can be obtained from the Foreigners' Regional Registration Office in Delhi, Mumbai or Kolkata or certain other State government offices.
Permits are valid for only 10 days, and visitors are expected to travel only on tours arranged by authorised travel agents, in groups of four.
Furthermore, they may come to Imphal only by air and will not be permitted to travel outside the capital.
The people of Manipur are grouped into three main ethnic communities: the Meiteis, those inhabiting the valley, and the 29 major tribes in the hills which are further divided into two main ethno-denominations, namely Nagas and Kuki-Chins.
General strike affects normal life in Manipur The Morung Express
Imphal, May 15 (AGENCIES): Normal life was affected in Manipur on Monday following a 24-hour general strike called by different groups from midnight on Monday to protest the arrest of the general secretary of a social organisation by Central paramilitary forces.
Markets, shops and business establishments remained closed while transport services between Manipur and neighbouring states were also cancelled in view of the general strike, official reports said.
Attendance in government offices was reported “below normal”, reports said adding that all educational institutions also remained closed in response to the strike called by different civil society groups including All Manipur Students’ Union and apex body United Committee Manipur.
Manipur Assembly session, however, continued as usual. Reports said the strike also crippled normal life in interior districts, including hill areas, because of non-plying of district-bound passenger buses.
Organisers of the general strike also demanded immediate release of general secretary of United People’s Front Premjit Singh who was arrested by Border Security Force and Assam Rifles personnel on May 7 last. Singh was later handed over to police.
While official sources said Singh was picked up for “questioning”, civil society groups claimed Singh was an innocent youth working for protection of human rights and added people would object to arbitrary arrest of youths in the state.
2 killed, 10 injured in Guwahati blast Nagaland Post
Guwahati, May 14 (Agencies): At least two people were killed and 10 wounded Monday in a powerful explosion at a crowded marketplace in Guwahati, officials said.
A police spokesman said the bomb was planted on a parked motorcycle in a busy commercial area here.
"The impact of the blast was so powerful that it ripped apart at least four motorcycles parked in the area and wounded 12 people," a police official said.
Two of the injured died on way to hospital. "Three people are stated to be in a critical condition," he added.
Police have blamed the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), a rebel group fighting for an independent Assamese homeland since 1979, for the blast.
Assam has been rocked by a string of explosions in the past two weeks - while 19 people were injured in an explosion in Guwahati last week, eight were wounded in a car bomb explosion in eastern Assam. The ULFA has carried out at least 20 bomb attacks in the state in the past two months.
Meanwhile, the death toll in clashes between tea garden labourers and protesters enforcing a road blockade in Tinsukia district of the State rose to five even as indefinite curfew was extended to the oil town of Digboi today, officials said.
Curfew was extended as a precautionary measure after clashes that broke out yesterday at Doomdooma, Dangoli and Dholla police station areas resulted in the death of five people, they said.
The People's Committee for Peace and All Moran Students' Union had been blockading the national highways 37 and 52 since May 8 to protest the killing of one Budheswar Moran by the army mistaking him to be an ULFA militant.
Tea garden labourers of the area, who claimed the blockade was leading to a shortage of rations, yesterday led an attack on the protesters in which two people were charred and three hacked to death.
The indefinite blockade was in protest against the killing of Moran and an admission later by the army that he was not a militant.
The protesters had refused to take back Moran's body till Thursday, when it was cremated, and resolved to carry on the blockade till Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met them personally.
Gogoi, who is heading the Unified Command, has urged the army to exercise restraint during counter-insurgency operations in the state.
ULFA kills 6 migrants Nagaland Post
Dibrugarh, May 15 (Agencies): ULFA militants today shot dead six Hindi-speaking people and injured one person in Assam's Dibrugarh and Sibsagar districts, police said. The militants attacked a group of Hindi-speaking people at Belbari in Dibrugarh district killing five persons. Police suspected that it could be retaliation to the killing of five local people in Dibrugarh district by tea garden labourers on Sunday.
In another incident, two ULFA militants riding a motorcycle gunned down Babula Shah (78), a shop owner, and injured another near Borhat railway station of Sibsagar district. A senior ULFA leader telephoned local newspaper offices late Tuesday and claimed responsibility for the attacks without specifying the immediate provocation for the killings. On Monday, two people were killed and 10 wounded in a powerful blast in Guwahati - the latest in a string of bombings in Assam blamed on the ULFA. The ULFA had massacred 60 Hindi speaking people and injured over 100 in early January in Dibruagarh, Tinsukia and Sibsagar districts.
Meanwhile, curfew in the oil town of Digboi was relaxed for 10 hours from 8 am today as an uneasy calm prevailed in Doomdooma revenue circle following clashes over a road blockade in which five persons were killed.
The curfew was relaxed in view of Digboi remaining incident-free since yesterday, officials said.
The army staged flag marches in Kakopathar, Bordumsa, Doomdooma and Pengeri areas while the district administration, tea tribe leaders and political, student and community leaders held peace meetings and appealed to people of all communities and religions to maintain amity, they said. Three of the five persons killed on Sunday were charred to death and several others were injured with sharp weapons at different places in Doomdooma revenue circle, where groups of irate tea garden workers clashed with thousands of protestors enforcing a blockade on National Highway 37.
The people were protesting for the eighth day on Sunday against the killing of Budheswar Moran by army who claimed he was an ULFA militant. The tea garden workers, angered by supplies of food and medicines being cut off to their areas by the road blockade, attacked the protestors with sharp weapons on Sunday. Despite the curfew, a group of armed workers from a tea garden at Hahsora yesterday come out to attack protestors. Police fired in the air to control them and four persons were injured in the ensuing scuffle, sources said.
Govt-NDFB truce pact to expire on May 31 R Dutta Choudhury Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, May 15 – Though the term of the cease-fire agreement between the Government of India and militant outfit National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) will expire on May 31, it is unlikely that formal talks on the political issues will start before the expiry of the peace pact. The Government of India also set a deadline to the outfit to submit its charter of demands before the expiry of the term of the ceasefire agreement, but the outfit admitted that it would not be possible for it to do so.

Talking to The Assam Tribune, the general secretary of the NDFB, Govinda Basumatary said that the outfit would need some more time to finalize its charter of demands to be placed before the Government of India. He said that the charter of demands would have to be cleared by the general assembly of the NDFB. He admitted that the NDFB had not been able to hold its general assembly as the chairman, Nabla Daimary is abroad. He said that the chairman of the outfit is likely to come shortly to hold talks with Bodo mass organizations and only then the NDFB would be able to hold its general assembly meeting to finalize the charter of demands.

One and half years have passed since the NDFB signed a ceasefire agreement with the Government of India to solve the problems through political talks and formal talks are yet to begin. Basumatary, however, said that one and half years were not a very long time as formal talks with the NSCN (I-M) started only after seven years of signing of ceasefire agreement. “We do not want to expedite the process of talks and commit mistakes,” he added. He also refused to comment on whether the term of the ceasefire agreement would be extended further and said that the NDFB office bearers would have to discuss the issue to take the final decision.

The NDFB general secretary said that the police violated the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement in some parts of the State, particularly in the hill district of Karbi Anglong. The NDFB resorted to National Highway blockade today in protest against the killing of a cadre in Karbi Anglong on May 12 and Basumatary said that in recent months, four of the cadres of the outfit were killed in the hill district. He said that they have already taken up the issue with the State and Central Governments demanding that action should be taken against the police official involved in the killing of NDFB cadres in Karbi Anglong.

Basumatary said that at present only about 200 cadres of the outfit are staying in three designated camps, while, about 700 others are staying outside because of lack of accommodation in the existing camps. He said that as per the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement, all the cadres, who had arms training should stay in the designated camps and the political wing members, can stay outside. He said that about 70 per cent of the cadres of the NDFB were trained to handle weapons and recently the Government of India assured to increase the accommodation facilities in the existing barracks. “If the Government keeps its word, we have no problem in keeping the cadres in the designated camps,” he added.

Referring to the clash with the ex-BLT cadres, Basumatary clarified that the NDFB did not have any clash with the former BLT men or the members of the Bodoland People’s Progressive Front (BPPF) headed by former BLT chief Hagrama Mahilary. He said that the NDFB only wanted action against the ex-BLT men involved in the attack on the NDFB cadres on March 26 but some people misunderstood the demand. He said that the NDFB is ready to sit together with former BLT leaders to settle the differences across the table.