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06/03/2007: "Manipur militancy blame on Myanmar- Officer points to flow of arms & drugs"

Manipur militancy blame on Myanmar- Officer points to flow of arms & drugs OUR CORRESPONDENT


Maj. Gen. B.K. Chengapa speaks to surrendered militants at the inauguration of a rehabilitation centre in Imphal West on Thursday. Picture by Eastern Projections
Imphal, May 31: Illicit flow of weapons from Myanmar is fuelling Manipur’s insurgency, according to Assam Rifles inspector-general (south) Maj. Gen. B.K. Chengapa here today.
The general said inflow of a large quantity of arms from neighbouring Myanmar had helped “insurgency and terrorism” thrive in Manipur. He called for ensuring effective policing of the international border.
“The disturbed environment in our neighbour (Myanmar) has led to the inflow of arms and drugs to Manipur, which, in turn, facilitated insurgency and terrorism in the state,” the senior Assam Rifles official said while opening a renovated rehabilitation centre for surrendered militants here today.
The general pointed out that the Indo-Myanmar border was porous and this problem has to be addressed as a part of the process of combating militancy in Manipur.
“The Assam Rifles has already been given the task of guarding the border here in Manipur. But unlike the western sector, here the border could not be effectively guarded because of a shortage of security strength,” Gen. Chengapa said.
He, however, expressed the hope that the task of protecting the border would be gradually extended along the 500-km-plus international border.
According to the Manipur government’s records, more than 20 militant groups are currently operating in the state. The insurgent outfits belong to various ethnic groups and the goals range from “restoring the sovereignty” of Manipur to protecting the interests of ethnic communities.
Stating that the internal security environment in Manipur has deteriorated further over the past few years as a result of escalating violence and extortion, Gen. Chengapa called for a major, comprehensive initiative to bring “misguided” youths to the national mainstream. He praised the surrender policy announced by the Ibobi Singh government as a step towards mitigating insurgency and helping militants return to normal life. The general added that renovation of the rehabilitation centre was a small contribution from the Assam Rifles supplementing the government’s efforts to resettle the former rebels.
The rehabilitation centre, located at Lamphel in Imphal West, currently houses 22 former rebels belonging to various militant outfits, including the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah), United National Liberation Front, Peoples Liberation Army and the Peoples Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak. The Assam Rifles has opened a computer training centre and will also impart driving lessons and training in tailoring to former insurgents.
We signed on our own volition: Vatsu Meru The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, JUNE 3 (MExN): Vatsu Meru dissident NPF MLA and one of the signatory calling for withdrawal of support to the Neiphiu Rio government has rebutted Agriculture Minister Azo who had claimed that “his signature and that of nine other NPF MLAs were obtained under duress during August/September 2004 to switch over loyalty from Neiphiu Rio”. Vatsu in a rejoinder stated that this claim of Azo was best known to them and to God. “Christians are expected to be truthful to themselves, people and God”.
“His statement ‘as soon as possible, we intimated to the Governor in August/September 2005’, certifies a one-year gap of time. Whether it is ‘as soon as possible’ or not, we leave it to the people for judgment”, Vatsu further stated while pointing out that Azo was lured and inducted in May 2005 into the Council of Ministers.
“Thereafter, he may have changed his heart. If so, the truth should be told to the people. Till 2nd June 2007 he and his other nine friends did not raise the issue of ‘duress’ at any point of time”, Vatsu stated.
It was also stated that all the signatories came all the way from Kohima to sign the withdrawal of support to Chief Minister in the Dimapur home of Z. Obed. “From amongst the ten Members they proposed him to carry the responsibility of Leadership and perform duties thereof. They further left the responsibility to Shri. Z. Obed Leader Elect to submit at an appropriate time when the quorum is completed. The quorum of majority completed only on 28th May, 2007 and the therefore, the proposal for change of leadership was submitted on 30th May 2007”, it was informed.
“The whole process of withdrawal of decisions took a good three years time which in itself displays that it is of their own volition. There is no logic to support that Mr. Obed has any force to keep 10 MLAs under duress alone. Nagas’ challenges are one to one. Therefore, the question of duress has no meaning. I am also a signatory along with the 10 Members and others. To the best of my knowledge and belief, we have signed on our own volition”, Vatsu stated.
Rebels kill 4 policemen Newmai News Network
Guwahati Four policemen died on the spot while two others were seriously injured when Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) guerrillas ambushed them at Dilai, some 16 km away from Bokajan Police Station in Karbi Anglong district of Assam this morning.
A patrol team of policemen, on a tip off, went to the Koilajan area situated on a hill top under Bokajan police station, they said. The militants, armed with automatic weapons and sheltered in a camp there, ambushed the police vehicle as it was climbing the hill. Four securitymen, including an assistant sub-inspector Bimol Sarkar, died on the spot while two other constables were injured, the sources said. The vehicle was totally damaged and the ultras looted all the arms belonging to the policemen, police added. According to sources, the militants escaped with two carbines; one SLR and one pistol.The dead have been identified as Constables Atauruddin Laskar, Devakanta Basumatary and driver Nabin Bordoloi all belonging to the fifth Assam police battalion while the injured were constables Debadhar Bora and Nihar Langthasa. A strong contingent of police and CRPF forces rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation.
NSCN-K clarifies on ‘rebels in monopoly play’- Nagaland Post Opinion
In response to the news item under the caption "Rebels in Monopoly Play" carried in a news daily on May 25, I would like to clear the stand of the GPRN NSCN.
First of all, let me start with the word 'peace process'. The NSCN(IM) has since long dubbed the discussion between them and the GOI as a peace talk and these talk as a peace process, which is otherwise not, because these talks will never lead to peace, rather it will aggravate the situation and bring in more and more complications in the Naga people's struggle for sovereignty. In actual sense, it is simply to fool the Naga people and the world by depicting these talks as a means for an early solution to the Indo Naga conflict. Any agreement reached between the NSCN-IM and the GOI will be nothing more than the repetition of the Shillong Accord.
The NSCN-IM does not carry the mandate of the Naga people either, though some NGO's and leaders from civil societies might have taken part in their own sponsored People's Consultative meeting. But asking the people to attend the meeting or face dire consequences, thereafter, putting them to sign on gun point and later on drafting a memorandum and subsequently submitting it to the Union Minister does not carry the will and mind of the Naga people. Rather, it is the handiwork of some few people who had acted on their own by terrorizing the Naga people at large. Therefore it is neither a peace talk nor a peace process, as Th. Muivah is assuming it. Any agreement that will reach in between the GOI and the NSCN-IM will be limited to the problems of NSCN-IM as an organization and not the Nagas as a whole.
Secondly it has time and again alleged Delhi of helping the NSCN-K. Here, let me tell you that at no point of time, we had receive any form from any foreign power, not even from our closest allies, leave alone Delhi. We are on our own and shall be on our own, no matter how many more years it takes or how many sacrifices we have to make.
These allegations are totally baseless and unfounded. I challenge Th. Muivah if he can prove to the people and authenticate his claims. In fact, by throwing this kind of baseless allegation, Muivah simply wanted to cover up his own in and out with the Indian authorities. It is he and the Indian intelligence that had been cooking all ills for us. On the one hand while the GOI wanted to keep the Nagas divided as long as it can and keep the Naga issues boiling till it dwindles on its own gradually, on the other hand, Muivah would agree to compromise (sell) the Sovereignty of the Naga people for a mere incentive within the framework of the Indian Constitution, provided NSCN (K) is made out of picture. It is otherwise quid pro quo. Therefore, both people are making an all out effort to push the NSCN (K) to a blink. And for that, Muivah wouldn't bother about the hundreds and thousand of Nagas who had made a supreme sacrifice of their life to be freed from the clutches of occupational forces. He won't mind those Naga men and women who were raped, tortured and killed by the Indian Army in cold blood. He won't care about sufferings and persecution that Naga people had faced in the hands of the enemy.
He is the man who had actually hijacked the real cause of the Naga National Movement. He's the man, who has suffocated the real aspiration of the Naga people for sovereignty and put it on the back seat. He is simple interested in writing the fate of the Nagas, no matter what it is and for that, be won't even dare to kill a man in a crucifixion style as it was done in Tirap District of Arunachal Pradesh under the commander of Lt.Col. Absolom alias Rockwang.
On September 26, 2001, Sgt. Yandan Chuba Chang of NSCN (Naga Army) was on his way to a hospital with wife Nyalai Wangsa Chang who was pregnant. On their way, Muivah boys picked Sgt. Chang, Naga Army from Longding town. He was tied and nailed in a crucifixion style and brutally tortured for hours together. His legs and limbs were smashed. Eyes were pulled out of the socket. In another occasion, Muivah's boys cut the genitals of Late Naolai Wangsu alive at Longhua village near Kanubari and hoisted it in a bamboo only because he was working for the NSCN. Such was horrifying, inhuman and barbaric acts of Muivah's boys. And as if it was less, again on September3, 2006, Cpl. Yelim Kongphe (Naga Army) of NSCN married Miss Nyamnyang Ngongpa but unfortunately, that same evening, Muivah's boys led by Sgt. Thingwang picked him from his residence. All his fingers, ears, nose and toes were chopped and he was forced to eat his own chopped meat. Before being finally shot, boots and buts accompanied with bayonets rained on him un-interrupted. The whole of Noklo village witnessed the scene of crime.
Such are the acts of Muivah boys, who by seer violence and spreading a reign of terror among the innocent Nagas of Tirap and Changlang has amass enough wealth and constructed buildings in Ukhrul from the loot and plunder from this twin district. The leaders of this twin district, who were opposed to their nefarious designs, were killed systematically in cold blood, for instances, late Sumlang Tangdong Nocte (Former Circle Officer, District Congress President), Late.Tenang Ramwa Nocte (Youth leader), Late. Chagan Mate Nocte (Public leader), Khonsa village, Late, Wanghua Lowang Nocte (Public leader) of Laptang village, Late Tumlet Lowang Nocte (Public leader) of Khela village. Late Janlung Kongnyu (Public leader) of Lazu village. All these leaders were killed for no fault of theirs. They were the few torchbearers among the Nagas of Tirap and Changlang who were groomed in many years, amidst so many toils and hardship by our people but unfortunately; in no time all were lost.
Whereas on the other hand, a Muivah's boy, Cpl. Nuktin Kiba Ao, from Chuchuyimpang village under Mokokchung district, was captured alive on March 7, 2002 after a gun battle at Honju village in upper Assam bordering Arunachal Pradesh, by the Naga Army, NSCN, but he was later released unharmed and handed over to his parents and village heads after proper medical care on April 5, 2002. He is still alive to narrate the incident. Therefore, do the Naga people still believe these thugs will bring back peace to our people? Do you still believe that the GOI will handover the responsibilities of the Nagas to these 'goondas'? If so, it will be no less than handling a sword in the hand of a monkey. I think in the last 50 years of Naga people's struggle, even our worst enemies might not have committed such heinous crimes against us. But let me assure you that the Naga people will write their own fate and not at the will of a superimposed person. Muivah along with few thugs will not succeed in making the Nagas dance to their tune.
When the entire Naga people wants a unity instead of an infighting, including his president Isak Chishi, who had on January 13, 2007 speech, advocated on peace and reconciliation but it is he and his group of Tangkhul gangsters who had always poisoned the greater mass of Naga with their venom of sinful desires. Muivah must admit his crimes and beg for forgiveness, from the Naga people, for all the wrong doings he and his group of thugs had committed right from the beginning, lest reconciliation will remain a myth forever.
Thirdly, on the demand for changes in the ceasefire-monitoring mechanism by the NSCN-IM, I warn Delhi of doing anything without consulting us. Since both the party had a ceasefire with Delhi, anything doing partially in favour of any party or organization will send a wrong signal which may ultimately result in a spell of fresh bloodbath in allover Nagaland, parts of Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pardesh.
The GOI is matured enough and we are hopeful that it will put its pen on the right place.
P. Tikhak, deputy kilonser, Ministry of Information and Publicity, NSCN-K
Is the Indo-Naga peace talk going in the right direction? Waikhom Damodar Singh Sangai Express Contd from last Saturday
So long they are sticking to their very much hypothetical and un-pragmatic demands of ‘disintegration of the indigenous areas’ and ‘sovereignty of their own’ to which the Government of India will never say - OK go head - their peace talk will ever remain as a thing very meaningless and a thing of dreaming for building ‘a castle in the air’. It is in this context, one would like to say without any bias that the ‘Indo-Naga Peace Talk’ is not at all going in the right direction of bringing the desired fruitful solution of keeping a lasting ‘peace’ in the north east region, particularly in consideration of the very undesirable developments latestly come up to the surface, in that the Khaplang group have recently vented out their most venomous and hostile feelings by audaciously announcing that the ‘Tangkhuls are not Nagas and therefore they are to immediately quit Nagaland State’ followed by the very fearful and recent lawlessness incident occurred at Tangkhul colony of Wungram at Dimapur, and also of the stern warnings issued very boldly by the Kuki students of Manipur saying that out of the some 7 lakhs tribal population inhabiting in all the hills of Manipur some 4 lakhs are their people and therefore they are the majority of the tribal population in the hills of Manipur and hence there cannot be any decision taken for any ethnic disintegration and re-drawing of the areas of Manipur as vehemently demanded by the NSCN(IM) group without their due consent and views obtained and making the issue more knotty by the similar warnings issued by Michael Keitana, president of the so called Eastern Naga Students Association based in Nagaland objecting the inclusion of the areas inhabited by the eastern Nagas in the redrawing of the map of a greater Nagaland. — Concluded
Rio staves off dissident threat Assam Tribune
KOHIMA, June 2 – Ending speculation over the fate of the Neiphiu Rio ministry in Nagaland, a majority of ruling Nagaland People’s Front (NPF) legislators today reaffirmed their solidarity behind the Chief Minister even as dissidents staked claim to form an alternative government under the leadership of former cabinet minister Z Obed. At a meeting of NPF legislature party, a major partner in the Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government, 26 out of 32 NPF MLAs in the 60-members state Assembly reposed their faith on Rio, asserting that there was no threat to the survival of the present DAN ministry, party sources said. The meeting, held at the residence of the Chief Minister, discussed the latest political development in the state arising out of the move initiated by dissidents and known Rio baiters within the ruling alliance.

Out of 32, six NPF dissidents, including four suspended MLAs, did not turn up for the meeting while two associate members of NPF (independent) out of four were also absent.
The 43-member ruling alliance comprises NPF-32, associate members (independent)-4, BJP-5 and JD(U)-2 while opposition Congress has 17 members in the 60-member Nagaland Assembly.

The NPF legislators meeting also entrusted the party’s disciplinary action committee to take steps against the dissidents who openly revolted against Rio and petitioned the Governor, demanding a change of guard in the ruling alliance, NPF sources said.

Immediately after the meeting, a jubilant Rio went to the Raj Bhavan and apprised Governor K Sankaranarayanan of the development, the Chief Minister’s secretariat said. Earlier in the day, ex-chief secretary and former public health engineering minister in the Rio cabinet Z Obed and former finance minister and known Rio opponent K Therie met the governor and staked claim to form an alternative DAN government, claiming they were supported by 22 MLAs.

Coming out of Raj Bhavan, Obed, who claimed he was the leader of DAN legislature party, told reporters that they still had the support of 16 NPF MLAs, who had petitioned the then Governor in August 2004, demanding a change of guard in the ruling alliance.

Obed, who was dropped during the downsizing exercise by Rio in 2004, claimed that 10 NPF legislators out of the list of 16, who yesterday withdraw their names and reposed faith on Rio, were yet to withdrew their names from the list which was in his possession.

“It is true that the signatures (in the old letter submitted at Raj Bhavan in 2004) were undated by themselves (10 NPF MLAs) and left with me, to be used at an appropriate time. I have no knowledge that they have retracted their signature,” Obed said. About the figure of MLAs with them, both Obed and Therie claimed that it was an internal matter within the ruling alliance where 16 MLAs out of 31, excluding Speaker, were in favour of change of guard.

“If majority MLAs (16 out of 31) demanded replacement of the Chief Minister, Rio has no moral right to continue,” Therie said, claiming they had the support of another six DAN coalition legislators to form an alternative government.
The five BJP legislators have already reposed their faith in the leadership of Rio on Thursday.

Meanwhile, former agriculture minister and JD(U) MLA Huska Sumi today said in a statement that he had submitted a separate memorandum to the Governor highlighting the functioning of the DAN government, particularly the “misuse of funds and corruption”, but he had nothing to do with the demand for seeking replacement of Rio. Coinciding with the dissidence in the ruling alliance, Opposition Congress has demanded intervention of the Raj Bhavan, alleging maladministration of the DAN government in the state.
However, the party said the timing of its demand had nothing to do with the “internal problems in the ruling alliance”.

A party delegation yesterday met the Governor and submitted a memorandum alleging that there was no semblance of administration as the state machineries had been systematically subverted by “anti-social elements” during the past four-and-a-half years of the Rio government. – PTI
Interview with Frans Welman Kuknalim.com
Saturday, June 02
Frans Welman is a photojournalist and documentary filmmaker from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He started out as a clinical psychologist with a preference for cross-cultural psychology. Armed with that inclination, he went on a journey that carried him from West Papua to Peru, and eventually to the doorstep of Nagaland. Jeremy Taylor of Kuknalim.com conducts an interview with Frans Welman ...
... Working in the prominent Dutch anthropological Royal Tropical Museum education department for many years brought the conviction to stand by those indigenous peoples who, due to post-colonial effects, have yet to attain their right to self determination. Frans Welman brings these peoples and environments they live in to light as his never-ending journey continues..

Kuknalim.com: Congratulations on the recent launch of your two new publications and thank you for taking the time for an interview with Kuknalim.com. We are honored to interview you at this significant time of your recent launch of two publications.

The book, Out of Isolation, is a remarkable work to gather testimonies and accounts from Nagas in an attempt to document the volatile history, heritage and conflict of the Naga people.

Kuknalim.com: Can you tell us more about this amazing piece of work?
Mr. Welman: It is really an three part attempt to intersubjectively present the Naga Cultures who happened to have met conflict not initiated by them. First part is about Culture and the misconceptions in terms on how the people of the mountains live, see reality and other people and this includes the term headhunting too, a term attributed to them by the British based on superficial and prejudiced notions from a western European culture.
The second part is Wandering among the Nagas and the stories of Zeliangrong Nagas close to Nagaland State which I sneaked into to visit a Naga Army Camp and report from there.

Then the history in full from British Times via interlude of the Baptists into Indian times and culminating in the second peace talks. Of course after the first one was agreed upon and abrogated the war resumed and the Shillong Accord meant a split in the Naga forces and the fighting amongst themselves began. Then the split deepened the rifts between the Naga more when the K was formed when it broke off of the NSCN.

Kuknalim.com: How long did it take to gather these testimonies and accounts?
Mr. Welman: The unbelievable stories Nagas told and where not verifiable because their land could not be visited. Meetings in the late 1980’s with NNC members who attended a UN meeting in Geneva before coming to Amsterdam. Later followed by high members of the NSCN to become part of UNPO/


Kuknalim.com: Beyond Twilight is an effort to present the Naga struggle from a different angle, written in the form of an intense political thriller.

Can you tell us more about this book?
Mr. Welman: The talks are in a deadlock. As I say in Out of Isolation the elephant tramples the mouse so what actually happens is that an external factor not controllable by India nor the Naga Peoples themselves comes into play and has far reaching effects.
The assassination of a Naga leader leads to all kinds of credible consequences and all characters though fictional are directly linked or based on real life interest in the Indo-Naga conflict.
That interest could be historically linked, dominance linked, or culturally linked. The point is that it will change the situation completely because it evokes the eyes of the world to focus on the conflict. Until the last moment though some things of importance remain unknown.
Kuknalim.com: How long did it take you to complete Beyond Twilight?
Mr. Welman: Once the idea is there it does not take very long. The actual writing took me about two months and I wrestled a month or so on a good idea to end it credibly. After writing the tedious work of rewriting and correcting begins and I am dismayed by the fact that in the print version there are still errors found.
Kuknalim.com: What inspired you to create a political thriller from a 50 year old struggle of the Nagas?
Mr. Welman: As I just indicated the India-Naga conflict is not known but has international responsibilities. So, the underlying motivation to write this is because colonial powers did a sloppy job when they departed from their colonies. Hence some of the characters in the book represent those interests. I am from the Netherlands and the Dutch face a similar situation with a former colony called West Papua in Indonesia. I wrote a non fiction book on that issue but do intend and have in mind a thriller about that too. The title” The Signature".
Kuknalim.com: What are your thoughts on the direction of a greater Nagaland leading to a free ‘Nagalim’ ?
Mr. Welman: To my opinion and considering the historical background there is no Greater Nagaland to speak of. The British referred to the Naga Hills and so the people living there were Nagas to them. So, essentially the Nagas want to be reunified, because they are separated by a border between two nation and beginning with the formation of Nagaland State were further divided by that state, a small part Arunachal and Assam and the Hills of Manipur, so, four states and two countries.
My thoughts on this matter are that during the British times the Nagas were not conquered but a part of their land and the people on it were colonized, two thirds was not. So, how could Britain hand over land and people to an emerging nation when Britain called the areas unadministered areas and the people Free Nagas?
So, I would call it reunification is what the Nagas stand for no expansionist drive they have to rule other, which is what the term Greater Nagaland implies.

Kuknalim.com: You have written other books and made documentaries. Do you have any more publications & documentaries on the Nagas?
Mr. Welman: One in the USA is called the Forbidden Land, the quest for Nagalim. This book tells the tales of three attempts to enter Nagaland, three failed attempts. Only once in Nagaland I was but on the Assam side. The term Nagalim refers to lim as land, but Nagalim means then all of the Naga lands in the Hills and not just Nagaland State.
Kuknalim.com: As “Enter The Forbidden land: The Quest For Nagalim” was your first published book on the Nagas, what was the reactions you received from its readers?
Mr. Welman: Mostly they were relatively positive in the sense that they saw it as an eyeopener for both the conflict and the Nagas are little known in this side of the world. And, when in India this is also but perhaps to a lesser extent true for India. It reads like an adventure story and travel books are en vogue among Europeans with some adventurous nature.
Kuknalim.com: Out of all your extensive travels and background in photojournalism, what has drawn you to the Naga people?Mr. Welman: In two words I reply to this question which I think I have already implicitly answered: the Unique Culture and the Resilience to be able to resist while all odds are against them.
Kuknalim.com: Do you face difficulty to travel to Naga inhabitant areas in India?
Mr. Welman: I cannot come to India anymore for a visa to enter the country is practically impossible for me not obtain now. This is due to the book the Forbidden land in which I show too what happens in the bureaucracy apparatuses when enquiring about reasons why a Remote Area Permit which had been granted cannot be issued. And, when I returned from Dimapur I blasted some Embassy people here for the treatment of the immigration people over there in India and said I thought it ludicrous to restrict foreigners from going into Nagaland. So, teasingly but with a sting I said: next time when in India I will go without permit and with some press around me to document when I am arrested.
Since then the visa application has to go through the Home Ministry. Do you know how the Home Ministry operates?
Kuknalim.com: Can you tell us more about the NISC – Naga International Support Center.
Mr. Welman: The decision to found the NISC has been described in the Forbidden Land, but has to do with the international obscurity of the Nagas and their Naga Hills.
Kuknalim.com: What role does the UNPO play in the Naga struggle?
Mr. Welman: The Nagas by way of the NSCN are a member of UNPO and have been member since 1993. Unpo is a membership organization of Unrepresented Peoples and Nations. East Timor was part of it for instance.
Kuknalim.com: A word of advice for the Naga people
Mr. Welman: I think the Nagas know best what is good for themselves but for a thing or two: fratricide either the sort which is caused by envy or worse by divide and rule imposed by opponents leads to a spiral of aggression with has strong effects on trust. My advice then would be bury the hatchet, stand together an go international. That way India will take the Nagas serious in the talks for peace.
Kuknalim.com: Do you have any comments or suggestions for Kuknalim.com?
Mr. Welman: I have noticed in the chatroom and in the for a that quite a few youngsters seem to have to express themselves in vile ways. Of course chatting in anonymity leads to extreme behavior but I did not realize yet how string the bad feelings run within the Naga Society with youth so utterly despaired but the lack of future prospects. They have known nothing but war and cease fire and then infighting too. Hence the psychological effects on the young Nagas like alcohol drugs and promiscuity are also acts of a dimmed future. This is also the result of a cease fire dragging on for too long.
Kuknalim.com: Thank you for taking the time for us to conduct this interview.
For more information: www.franswelman.nl
Naga International Support Center,
NISC website: www.nagalim.nl

(More publisher information coming soon)
(More publisher information coming soon)

Weapons for Indian rebels sourced from Burma The Morung Express
Imphal, June 3 (Agencies): Weapons sourced from Burma is fuelling insurgency in the northeast regions of India, according to the top brass of the Assam Rifles, India's security force guarding the porous Indo-Burma international border.
Senior officers felt that inflow of a large quantity of arms from neighbouring Burma is helping rebels and allowing terrorism to thrive in the border state of Manipur.
The Assam Rifles which has replaced the Border Security Force along the northeastern front now wants effective policing of the border.
Major General B K Chengapa, Inspector General of Assam Rifles, headquarters (South) based in Manipur's Mantripukhuri sector near Imphal said that the disturbed environment in neighbouring Burma has led to the inflow of arms and drugs to Manipur which in turn, has facilitated insurgency and terrorism in the state.
The General who looks after and supervises his troops deployed at important entry points like Moreh in Chandel district, Kamjong, Kasom Khullen, Huishi and Poi in Ukhrul district and Singhat in Churachandpur district in Manipur expressed his views during the formal inauguration of a newly renovated rehabilitation centre for surrendered Insurgents in Imphal. The rehabilitation centre which was re-opened by the IG in Lamphelpat area near Imphal presently houses around 22 former insurgents belonging to various underground outfits.
The Indo-Burma border is porous and this problem has to be addressed as part of the process of containing insurgency in Manipur, the IG said.
"The Assam Rifles has been given the task of guarding the border here. But unlike the western sector, the border here could not be effectively guarded because of shortage of security forces," he said.
The task of protecting the border would be gradually extended along the 490-kilometre stretch of the Indo-Burma international border.
There are around 20 insurgent groups operating in Manipur according to official reports available here. All the outfits belong to various ethnic communities and their objectives range from "restoring sovereignty" of the region to protecting the interest of their respective ethnic communities. Interestingly there are over 30 ethnic communities settled in Manipur state alone.
As a result over the past couple of years violence and extortion has escalated. It may be worth mentioning here that Oxfam's International report (September 2006 issue) on "India and the arms trade treaty" clearly says that Mandalay in central Burma and its border town Tamu are the birth places of illegal arms smuggling across the porous Indo-Burma border.
In the illegal arms market in Tamu town, a hand grenage costs Rs 600 while a unit of ammunition for automatic weapons costs only Rs 25.The rates charged by gun runners is not very complex and is even known to security forces, the report said. Assam Rifles, the Border Security Force, the Central Reserve police force, Indian reserve police battalion and state forces deployed in the north eastern states have seized approximately 39,000 AK series rifles in the last six years.
Children at war in insurgency zone Nagarealm.com
Heinrich Wolfgang of Germany was kidnapped by activists of Kuki National Army in 2003 when he visited Manipur for inspection while working with an NGO. Wolfgang was in captivity in Manipur jungles for 18 days. After his release, he said what he feared most during captivity was not the unfamiliar environment or wild animals, it was the thought of the rifle in the hands of his guard misfiring. Wolfgang was being guarded by a 14-year-old, whose rifle was taller than him.

Poor children in states like Manipur, Assam, Nagaland, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Jammu and Kashmir have an umbilical association with insurgency, having been in the face of armed conflict for years now. Pushed into the vortex of an unending armed conflict, child soldiers in these regions fight alongside their grown-up comrades in the thick of battle. Many are indirectly involved with militant groups, used as decoys or scouts to spot movements of security forces, transport ammunition, for money laundering and cooking.

Worldwide figures by Unicef estimate that 2,50,000 children have been recruited as soldiers in various capacities, laid bare to physical and psychological trauma. A report brought out by the International Committee of the Red Cross recently said, "Armed with lethal weapons, plied with alcohol and drugs to incite them to violence and fearlessness, forced into dependence on the group that has recruited them, children become loose canons, a danger to themselves and others."

Though rights activists in India say child soldiers are not as wide a problem here as in some neighbouring countries, they agree it needs to be tackled before it snowballs to proportions in Sri Lanka and Nepal. Activists, however, also add that figures are difficult to establish and any that would be quoted would only be rough estimates.

Talking to TOI on phone from Chhattisgarh’s Jagdalpur district, SP G P Singh related an encounter between police and Naxals about two months back near Dhanora village. "Two girls, about 14 to 15 years old, who were dressed in uniforms were caught. They were not well-trained and hiding in a crevice during the encounter. When we tracked them down, they started crying, thinking they’ll be killed. They said Naxalites had picked them up from school." On investigation, police found that powerless due to their extreme poverty and fear, parents of the girls had not even lodged a complaint of missing persons or kidnapping.

According to the police, Naxalites have a military wing of children called Bal Militia. They indoctrinate children and train them in handling arms. Rebels then use children dressed in school uniforms, so that they do not arouse suspicion, to attack unsuspecting policemen.

"Curiosity, poverty, lack of opportunities and dearth of recreation opportunities, push children into joining rebels. The situation of abnormality has become a part of conflict zones, where there is constant tension because of bandhs and combing," said founder-secretary of Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI) Binalakshmi Nepram.
"Rebels share the feel of a weapon with kids. They allow them to touch and handle it. A nine or 10 year-old gets attracted and is eventually using weapons for killing people," she added.

According to sources, police usually do not register cases against child soldiers caught during raids or encounters. The reason is they are very young and usually not part of rebel groups voluntarily. However, though the children are returned to their parents, there are no guarantees that they will not be picked up by the rebels again.

About North-East, Nepram, said, "The number of adolescents involved in militancy is growing because they are constantly exposed to violence, death, encounters and loss of parents."

There is no way of ensuring a better chance at life for these children. Official sources said there was neither any policy at the government level nor any official guideline to direct what should be done with child soldiers. Rights activists in Chhattisgarh allege even security forces use children and adolescents as special police officers. A report by Asian Centre for Human Rights said a team visited Bangapal relief camp in the state and interviewed nine minor girls, who were recruited as SPOs. These girls reportedly told the team that they were being trained in fighting tactics.

Officials deny the allegations. "No children have been recruited by security forces. The basic built of tribals and undernourishment makes them look younger," said K P S Gill, ex-security advisor to Chhattisgarh govt. What children who drift towards violence and conflict need is more opportunities to education and recreation. Government policies too must take this alarming trend into account while formulating policies, and encourage villagers to report missing children. [Joyce William John, TOI]

‘People losing democratic rights in BTC’ From Our Correspondent Assam Tribune
UDALGURI, June 2 – “People in Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) are losing their democratic rights under Hagrama Mohilary-led BPPF rule. But the public awarness campaign started first at Nalbari playground in Udalguri is enough to prove that people in BTC are now fed up with Hagrama Mohilary.” This was said by UG Brahma, Rajya Sabha MP and adviser of Rabiram-led BPPF, while addressing a mammoth gathering organised by Udalguri district committee of the party with Rabindra Basumatary, its district president in the chair on Thursday at Nalbari playground in Udalguri town.

Referring to the ‘misrule, corruption and exploitation’ being exercised by Hagrama Mohilary-led BPPF, the BPPF adviser demanded holding of VCDC elections in the BTC region at par with the panchayat elections to be held in Assam in October next. “Only then our people will be able to exercise their democratic rights to an extent. He also appealed to all sections of people of BTC region to try to understand the activities of Hagrama-led BPPF.

Speaking on the occasion as the chief guest, Rabiram Narzary, party supermo of BPPF appealed to all to bring an end to the ‘jungle raj’ prevailing in BTC region. “People in BTC region are now livin like captives, war prisoners under the gloom of fear and utter insecurity. Let us come forward to finish it,” he added.

The mass rally which was inaugurated by Dilu Sarmah, organising secretary of the party was attended by Hemendra Nath Brahma, vice president, Prodeep Kumar Daimary, vice president, Romeo Daimary, ex-MLA, Bishiram Narzary, ex-EM, Nathuram Boro, ex-MLA among many others and was attended by over 15,000 people from all walks of life. 191 persons from AGP, BJP, Hagrama faction of BPPF and AUDF joined the Rabiram faction of BPPF in the presence of party president on the occasion.

Later, a press release issued by the party vehemently criticised the role of State government and Hagrama Mohilary-led BPPF for conspiring to derail the peace process between NDFB outfit and the Union government. The press release also appealed to all the political parties of Assam as well as the social organisations to rise above the party lines for the greater interest of restoration of peace. The press note also demanded to keep ST reservation on LS seats in BTC region.

The press release issued jointly by Rabiram Narzary and Hemendra Nath Brahma, president and secretary respectively of the party slammed on the ‘wrong policies’ of the present ruling party, saying that decentralisation of power through Sixth Schedule provision has proved an effective mechanism in the constitution but the VCDCS are at present run by an ad-hoc body which are directly and politically appointed by the BTC goverment.” Such practices have turned the system favourable for notorious middlemen”, it observed.

“Earlier, a procession with placards against Hagrama regime was brought out.