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05/25/2007: "Rebels in monopoly play OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

Rebels in monopoly play OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
New Delhi, May 24: The NSCN (Isak-Muivah) today pressed for “changes” in the ceasefire-monitoring mechanism that could be tantamount to clipping the rival S.S. Khaplang-led faction’s wings.
Sources in the militant group said after a ceasefire review meeting with home ministry officials that Delhi’s response to its recommendations would have a bearing on the peace process as a whole.
Thuingaleng Muivah, general secretary of the NSCN (I-M), had talked tough in March about the demand for a “special relationship between India and Nagalim”, but Delhi did not quite bite the bait.
The militant group has long wanted changes in the ground rules of the ceasefire to weaken the NSCN (K) and enable it to become the sole group to deal with the Naga issue.
“If the government of India wanted to do something about the Khaplang group’s activities, things would have been different,” an NSCN (I-M) leader said.
The militant group believes that Delhi is propping up the rival faction in order to undermine the NSCN (I-M), which is engaged in negotiations with the Centre since 1998.
The Union home ministry has, however, held firm and blamed both the groups for the impasse. Delhi is understood to have told the NSCN (I-M) in clear terms that it should stop extortion in Nagaland and other places in the Northeast before asking for concessions.
NSCN (I-M) sources said Muivah has initiated steps to rein in the outfit’s rank and file who go beyond “tax collection” and make more money than a “national worker” is expected to earn.
The group has effected a major “reshuffle” in its political wing, known as the “Government of the People’s Republic of Nagalim”, but has left the armed wing largely untouched.
The NSCN (I-M) delegation was today led by ceasefire monitoring cell convenor Phunthing Shimrang, while the home ministry was represented by special secretary (internal security) M.S. Kumavat and joint secretary (Northeast) Naveen Verma. Ceasefire monitoring group chairman Lt Gen. (retd) R.V. Kulkarni flew in from Kohima for the meeting.
Nagaland governor to meet PM Kuknalim.com
All-round development of Nagaland will be the main focus of Governor Kateekal Sankaranarayanan’s discussion with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi tomorrow. He met President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, home minister Shivraj Patil, defence minister A.K. Antony and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee yesterday.

Emphasising entry of private entrepreneurs in the state, he said: “It is not possible for the state government to do everything on its own.”

Calling for better road and rail connectivity, the governor stressed growth in vocational education, agriculture and better employment opportunities.

On the performance of the present government led by the Nagaland People’s Front, he said: “They are doing their job.”

When asked for his “personal report card” on its performance, he, however, replied: “Let the people be the judge.”

The Northeast will witness “glaring improvement” in the coming days under the Eleventh Plan, Sankaranarayanan said.

“Problems will be there, but development and the peace process cannot stop.”

An amount of Rs 50,000 crore has been earmarked for development of roads in the state. (TT)

Territorial monolith unveiled at Wokha Naganation.com
WOKHA, MAY 24 (DIPR): A traditional territorial monolith unveiling ceremony by Wokha Village Council was held near Veterinary Colony on May 19. The Wokha Village Chairman, while unveiling the monolith said that it is the decision of the Village Council to erect a monolith to demarcate the age old boundary of Wokha Village. However, it should not be misconstrued to represent points for straight excess representing the village boundaries. Further the monolith is intended to preserve peaceful co-existence and friendship with the neighbouring villages and the town sectors as well.
The Deputy Commissioner, Wokha, Mikha Lomi who spoke on the occasion said that Wokha village people are very cooperative and active and whenever any situation arises they are the forerunners who always take the pain to diffuse the situation. He also said today, they have taken a bold step for the younger generation by erecting a monolith which will be accorded in the village history.

Special Secretary to CM, Mhonbemo Humtsoe, Wokha District GB President, Senior Citizens Forum, 2nd-in-Command 40 AR, District Administration, heads of offices, and representatives of Lotha Hoho were among the members present at the function. The programme began with invocation prayer by Pastor Wokha Village Baptist Church NC Kithan, while vote of thanks was delivered by Dr KC Murry, (Retd.), Mount Tiyu College.MExp

Talks fail, blockade to resume; General strike affects normal life in state The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, May 24: Life in Manipur was partially affected Thursday owing to the 24-hour general strike imposed by the All Tribal Students Union Manipur, ATSUM.

Life was most affected in the border town of Moreh in Chandel and Tamenglong district as separate bandhs were also imposed at these two places by different organisations for unconnected reasons.

The general strike however, did not affect normal classes and working of the educational institutions/offices as the agitating students body exempted them from the purview of the strike.

The 24-hour statewide general strike was called by ATSUM to protest against the state government;s failure to convert into action their demands which the state government had agreed to a long time back.

Today`s state-wide general strike was a follow up to the four-day long economic blockade that ended yesterday midnight.

The strike which began last midnight concluded midnight tonight (May 24). No untoward incidents reported during the period.

In the meantime, talks were held between ATSUM and government representatives this evening at the chief minister`s official bungalow, but ended without reaching a mutually acceptable resolution.

Consequently, the economic blockade imposed on the national highways would be resumed with immediate effect.

Due to the general strike inter-state bus services were suspended. Inter-state district buses also did not ply. On the other hand, traffic movement in Imphal city was normal. The traffic volume was as high as usual. However, many shops in the Paona and Thangal Bazar downed their shutters for the day.

Oil pump stations also closed for the day.

Mention may be made that many of the oil pumps in Imphal have stayed closed since May 20 last, the first day of the economic blockade, for reasons best known to them alone.

Reports received from district headquarters of Senapati, Tamenglong and Churachandpur said that normal life there was crippled due to the strike. All shops and government offices remained closed for the day apart from vehicles of all kinds staying off the road.

However, the strike received less response in Ukhrul and Chandel, excluding Moreh town, as per the report received here.

Another report said that around 150 oil tankers including gas tankers for the bottling plan at Imphal are stranded at Mao gate. They will be escorted To Imphal tomorrow, officials said.

It may be mentioned ATSUM has been agitating since the last few months pressurizing the Manipur government to implement their demand which the state government at the earliest.

Total bandh was also observed at Tamenglong as the Zelaingrong Students` Union has extended support to the ATSUM stir apart from commencing the union`s total bandh along the NH-53 and IT road.

The total indefinite bandh of the ZSU along the NH-53 and IT road has begun from 6 pm yesterday.

Life and cross border business activities at the border town of Moreh in Chandel remained affected also today also due to the imposition of indefinite bandh in Moreh and its surrounding areas by the All Moreh Auto Drivers Association.The bandh, which began since 4 pm yesterday, was called in protest against excessive monetary demands imposed by underground organizations upon the auto-drivers operating in the Moreh area.

Villagers lynch ULFA cadre From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
DIBRUGARH, May 24 – Irate public lynched a suspected ULFA cadre at Pengeri and detained his comrade at Hulunggutti village under Kakopathar PS in Tinsukia district after the militants killed the schoolteacher of Kailashpur LP school this morning. Local villagers gave a chase to the militants following the hue and cry of the school students and managed to get hold of Budhe Dhadumia who was later beaten to death by the villagers. The other cadre whose identity has not been confirmed is said to be handed over to the police by the villagers in Hulunggutti.

The two militants who reportedly came over to the school on foot called for the schoolteacher when the school assembly was on. As the schoolteacher Rohini Gogoi approached them, he was shot at from point blank range in full view of the students, according to reliable sources. The teacher died on the spot.

Senior police officials from Tinsukia have rushed to the spot and investigation is on. In the meantime ULFA has denied their involvement in the killing, stating that the two cadres did not belong to their group and that the outfit had nothing against the teacher.
Ex-BLT leaders move Gogoi against NDFB Train services affected By a Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, May 24: Leaders and activists of a number of organizations under the Ex-BLT Welfare Society (EBWS) today staged a dharna at Dispur and submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi requesting him to persuade the Centre to squash its ceasefire agreement with the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB), take immediate action against the rebel group forcing its members to surrender, and implement the Bodo Accord in letter and spirit. The dharna was participated, among others, by BTC Chief Executive Member (CEM) Hagrama Mohilary.
In its memorandum to the Chief Minister, the Ex-BLT Welfare Society said that the NDFB was rampantly violating all ceasefire ground rules and recruiting new cadres taking the advantage of the ceasefire. “The rebel group has not only regrouped, reorganized and reinforced themselves with recruitment of new cadres, but it has also spread its bases by setting up new camps at different places where they never dared to tread,” the memorandum said, and added: “NDFB cadres have been moving freely with arms, carrying on extortion drives and even killing security personnel and civilians. New recruits of the rebel group are reportedly undergoing arms training under its self-styled chairman DR Nabla in Bangladesh so as to replace the old and tired cadres who opt to surrender and join the mainstream of society.”
Giving a list of Ex-BLT cadres killed by the NDFB, the memorandum further said that the rebel group was out to kill former BLT members in a systematic way.
The participants in the dharna and signatories of the memorandum are BPPF president Hagrama Mohilary, Adivasi Seva Samitee president Boyal Hembrom, Birsa Commando Force chairman Durga Hasda, Kokrajhar Zila Anusasit Parishad president Bimal Mozumdar, All BTC Sutradar Sanmilani president Tara Prasad Sutradhar, Religious Minority Cell president Boqtar Ali Ahmed, Hindi Samaj president Pardeshi Baspar, Nath Yogi Sanmilani president Prakash Nanda Nath, Hindi Bhasi Chatra Parishad president Shekar Yadav, Bengali Youth Federation president Syamal Sarkar, All Santhali Students’ Union president Christoper Tudu, All Gorkha Students’ Union president Podum Dangi, Koch Rajbongshi Sanmilani president Niren Ray, Religious Minority Council (women wing) president Ajma Begum and All BTC Koch Rajbonshi Yuva Chatra Sanmilan president Joydev Roy.
Meanwhile, Asom Government spokesperson Himanta Biswa Sarma met the agitators and assured them that the State Government would extend Rs 3 lakh to next of kin of each the three ex-BLT members and an AGP worker who had been killed at Sootea in Sonitpur district recently. He further told them that the Government would soon set up more designated camps for rebels groups under ceasefire. “The State Government has taken the demands of the Ex-BLT Welfare Society seriously, and the Chief Minister will meet leaders of the society on May 28 and 29,” Sarma said.
Meanwhile, train services to and from Asom were badly affected due to the 100-hour rail-cum-road blockade called by the Ex-BLT Welfare Society today. According to sources, train service resumed only after 4 pm. Sources said that the picketeers blocked train tracks at Kokrajhar, Basugaon, Gossaingaon, Bijni and Dudnoi.