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07/15/2007: "NNC smells IM hand in hill school arsons Source: The Sangai Express"

NNC smells IM hand in hill school arsons Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 14: While reminding the Naga public that acts of arson and consequent sufferings that befall upon the people are due to misadventures perpetrated at the behest of NSCN (IM)'s Th Muivah and Isak Chisi Swu, the Nagaland Youth President of Naga National Council Chongbui Newmai alleged that the recent incident of burning down schools in some hill districts of Manipur are the handiwork of the IM leaderships.

The renegade leaders Th Muivah and Isak Swu burned down hundreds of houses and granaries in eastern Nagaland in 1980s apart from destroying 87 Kuki villages in the 1990s which were neither beneficial to themselves nor for the Naga Nation, said a statement issued by Chongbui to substantiate his allegation of the latest violent acts of raging down the school buildings as a fallout of Muivah-Swu ploy to cover up their failure in reaching with an agreement in the peace parleys.

With their past policy of reliance on violence bearing no positive results, Muivah and Isak returned home with no hope for their cadres other than carry out the devilish work of burning down more than ten school buildings in southern part of Nagaland to make the students suffer the toil, opined the statement while adding that such acts would lead to nowhere other than put careers of the aspiring students at peril.

No Naga will say that to kill their own people and to make their own people suffer is serving for the Naga Nation, it said and construed the recent acts of demolishing school buildings as acts of terrorism with criminal intent.

Further alleging that the IM group is being manipulated by the Government of India for destroying Nagaland with the top IM duo merely representing their respective tribes/communities and no concern for the Naga cause, Chongbui asserted that for the Nagas sustained aggression against india is the only way to regain sovereignty.

Recalling that issues such as integration, special federal relationship with India, demanding special provisions under the indian Constitution, affiliation etc are being pursued by the IM group, the NNC dismissed such demands as non-issue and irrelevant to the Nagas' overall aspiration.

"yet for these non-issues IM group is fighting against the Nagas, killing thousands of innocent Nagas including important national leaders, burning down villages and schools in the past 27 years there entailing innumerable suffering to the Naga population," the president contended while prevailing upon the Nagas to thwart all such devilish designs conceived and carried out by the IM group by any means.

Referring to the former Nagaland Chief Minister SC Jamir's book entitled 'Bedrock of Naga Society' whose contents are manifest with opposition to sovereign existence of Nagaland and which drew flak from various circles of the Naga society, Chongbui further noted a comment of SC Jamir who reportedly quipped 'I do not see any reason why Nagas cannot be sovereign within the Indian Union' prior to a friendly football match between clubs of Tangkhul and Ao tribes at Delhi University on July 12. Reacting to the said comments with a poser 'what is the reason the Nagas cannot be sovereign outside the Indian Union ?', the NNC statement assumed Jamir's and Govt of India's concern to Naga independence might be on strategic ground due to close affinity of the region with China and Myanmar.

Driving home the point that Nagas need sovereignty for the simple reason that without political sovereignty expecting growth on the economic and human resource fronts would be a far fetched dream, Chongbui further explained that independence of the Nagas is inevitable to safeguard its national identity as well.

Moreover, Nagas do not perceive any reason for giving up cherished goal of independence merely for the sake of India's economic progress and national defence strategy, it reiterated while affirming that Nagas are today mature enough to be misled by either SC Jamir's exhorting speech or the IM group's cover up tactics.
Students’ Joint meeting remains undecided Bonnie Konyak Morung Express News
Dimapur Despite the best efforts of the North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), the relationship between the NSF and the AASU seems strained after the recent economic blockade. This was further aggravated by a communication gap resulting in the President of NSF, Imchatoba leaving Guwahati without signing the draft of the Joint Declaration and the Memorandum to the Chief Minister of Assam. Consequently, the joint meeting with the Chief Minster of Assam, which was to be held today with a delegation of the NSF, AASU and NESO, had to be called off and rescheduled for a future date.
The whole episode began when NESO leaders set out on the task to draft a joint communiqué of the yesterday’s joint meeting and the Memorandum for the Chief Minister of both the states of Assam and Nagaland. The NSF president, Imchatoba, being required to leave Guwahati that very night as he had to leave for Delhi on other pressing matters, was unable to attend the joint meeting of the Student bodies with the Assam Chief Minister scheduled the next day. However it was agreed that a delegate of the NSF would accompany the AASU and the NESO for the said meeting, but the signature of the president was required for the Memorandum to be submitted.
With the meeting having ended late last night and with little time to prepare a final draft, NESO suggested that the NSF president just leave his signature on a blank paper which would be scanned and used after the draft was prepared. However, Imchatoba refused to do so saying that he would have to see and agree with the content of the final draft before signing it and asked the NESO leaders to finalize the draft as soon as possible.
After waiting for several hours when he received no word from the memorandum drafter, Imchatoba headed back home for Dimapur at 12:30 midnight.
Meanwhile, it was learnt that the NESO leaders had been waiting for the NSF president to inform them when he was leaving. When contacted the NSF president said that there had been a little miscommunication, however he informed that the other NSF delegates were arriving with the drafts today and he would do the necessary after going through it. Advisor of NESO, Artax Shimray said that the joint delegates would now first meet with the Chief Minister of Nagaland sometime this week along with the NSF president.
Though the matter has now been amicably settled, there was evidence of tension even during the joint meeting of the AASU, NSF and NESO with little time to thrash out all the issues involved in the economic blockade. The meeting nearly came to a deadlock a few times with the NSF reluctant to commit themselves for the joint visit to the Border Areas without first conferring with the students of the border areas especially the KSU, AKM and the PPC. The NESO and AASU were however insisted that the border visit be carried out at the earliest when the matter was still fresh. The matter was finally settled with the NSF agreeing in principle to visit, but the date remained undecided.
However till the filing of the report, the matter remains unsettled and the Joint meeting is still unfinished without the formal signature of the NSF president.
‘Good neighbors should talk’ The Morung Express
Dimapur, July 15 (MExN): The North East Students’ Organization today said that Assamese and Nagas have been living together as good neighbours since time immemorial, and announced that “any contentious issues including the border issue in between the two communities shall be settled through dialogues” as decided in the joint statement declared at Merapani on March 22, 2004. The Naga Students’ Federation and the All Assam Students’ Union have reaffirmed to urge the state governments of Assam and Nagaland to adopt a sincere approach for an early settlement through meaningful dialogue. Making reference to the meeting of the student bodies held yesterday, a NESO release stated, “The NSF and AASU express its strong resentment over the indifferent attitude of the Government of India in addressing the border issue.”
The NSF and AASU have appealed to the state governments of Assam and Nagaland to restrain from any actions and activities which may invite unnecessary tension along the border. “That, the NSF and AASU will continue to jointly work hand in hand in tackling the influx of illegal migrants/foreigners. Meanwhile, the two organisation demands the expulsion of all the illegal migrants/foreigners within the two states and particularly in the border areas. Moreover, propels upon the political parties not to flare-up unnecessary tensions by capitalizing the border issue.”
The release further stated that the NSF and AASU will jointly continue the process of people to people dialogue in the border areas to promote peace and harmony. “The joint initiatives would be started at the earliest convenience with the involvement and participation from the grassroots level.”
Politics and Political talks needs people Ningreichon Tungshang Morung Express in Focus
The Naga movement that was built with the people is riddled with blood of brothers, dishonesty, injustice, nepotism, corruption, social irresponsibility.
The ceasefires between India and the two Naga armed groups that brought some relief to the people have failed miserably. It seems to have done more harm than good to the Nagas. The internecine killings continue unabated. The period of ceasefire is abused.
Yet another round of “peace-talk” that would mean handshakes, formalities, heated argument, checkmate, mellowing, positional confrontation and perhaps another meaningless proclamation that they have come to a closer/better understanding or post talk statement and counter statement. It is speculation time again!
As the Indo-Naga political talk enters another round it is pertinent to reflect on some critical questions that challenges the Naga movement today.
Is the bloody 60 years of the Naga movement losing its relevance to ordinary people who are the foundation of the Naga movement? Are people moving away from the movement or is the movement that was rooted in the people being taken away by those who are supposed to represent them? What is the political message for the ordinary Naga people? What has ceasefire and peace talk brought to them, the ordinary people; the ones who are sustaining the Naga nation?
If the ceasefire agreement between the NSCN (IM) and the GoI survives this time amidst uncertainties that hangs like the Damocles sword there is an urgent need to prioritize issues before people are totally disconnected from the movement.
Interactions with various people indicate how insufficient is the peace process sans the space for people to take ownership and truly participate. The Naga social organizations too have failed in many fronts. One major failure is its inability to effectively translate the ceasefire period into building and linking the movement with the people at the grassroots. Building alliances with other struggling groups and democratic forces is insufficient. More needs to be done. Some have allowed themselves to be influenced by the politics of parochialism, nepotism and wrong sense of power and choosing to remain silent when the voice should be loudest.
Where did the strength to sustain the ten unproductive years of peace talk came from? Was it from the NSCN’s or the social organizations or others? One can say many but the most critical support came from the people. It is the people who have been supporting the peace-process even at a time when the talk hit rock bottom. What is then important is that the people are truly represented and the democratic values that is cherished is truly practiced.
We are forgetting too many things and there is a need to remind ourselves time and again that we are, the movement is, and the nation will be; with the people, not without the people. When we fail to take the people that include the ordinary, the weak, the poor along with the movement then the 60 years of the Naga movement will be reduced to a history that ceases to be relevant.
Ban on book Nagaland Post
New Delhi, July 15 (Agencies): The central government is trying to ban ex-RAW official, Maj Gen V N Singh's book under the Official Secrets Act as the writing brings to light the rot in the country's premier external intelligence agency. India's External Intelligence written by ex-army general V N Singh has got the head of the country's external intelligence agency asking for a ban on it. The book titled “India's External Internal Intelligence: Secrets of Research and Analysis Wing” talks about the intelligence gathering and mentions some locations.
Centre concerned at ground rules violations By R Dutta Choudhury Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, July 14 – The Government of India has expressed concern on the reports of violation of the ground rules of the cease-fire agreements by the members of the militant groups, which have already signed such agreements with the Government to come forward for peace talks and directed the State Government to take action against anyone found violating the rules. Highly placed official sources told The Assam Tribune that after receiving reports of violation of the ground rules by the militant groups under cease-fire agreement, the Union Home Secretary recently reviewed the situation in a high level meeting with the Chief Secretary of Assam and the Director General of Police as it is primarily the responsibility of the State Government to enforce the ground rules. Though the joint monitoring groups review the implementation of the cease-fire agreements from time to time, the State Government can take action as per law against any member of the militant groups found to be violating the agreements.

As per the ground rules of the cease-fire agreement, all the cadres of the militant groups must stay in the notified designated camps and only a few senior members are given photo identity cards to go out. The members of the groups under cease-fire agreement should not maintain any link with other militant group and they are not supposed to indulge in any unlawful activity. But official sources admitted that most of the groups under cease-fire agreement with the Government are violating the ground rules and the members of the groups stay away from the designated camps without proper permission from the authorities concerned.

Sources said that majority of the cadres of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) are staying away from the camps and the leaders of the outfit are claiming that the space available in the three existing camps are not adequate to accommodate all the cadres. The Government of India first asked the State Government to establish three more camps with the promise to reimburse the money spent on that along with the reimbursement of the security related expenses. But the State Government wanted the money in advance and that has been accepted by the Centre and funds have already been sanctioned. Now it is up to the Government of Assam to construct three new camps to ensure that all the cadres of the outfit stay inside the camps. Sources said that as per reports available, the cadres of the NDFB are also involved in other unlawful activities including extortions and in such cases, the State Government should take stern measures and take action as per law. Similarly, other outfits under cease-fire agreement with the Government are also reportedly violating the ground rules, sources admitted.

On the progress of talks with the militant groups, official sources said that formal talks with the NDFB are yet to begin even after two years of signing of the peace agreement. Sources said that despite repeated requests and deadlines, the NDFB has not been able to submit its charter of demands to set the ball rolling. Sources said that during the discussions, the NDFB leaders always managed to put forward some plea or the other to postpone submission of the charter of demands and without that the Government would not be in a position to start political talks. Sources revealed that the State Government is not keen on pulling off from the process and it is unlikely that formal talks would start soon. It is also alleged that the NDFB recruited some new cadres during the cease-fire period and the outfit had given inflated figures of its cadres at the time of signing of the cease-fire agreement.

Sources said that the talks with the United People’s Democratic Solidarity (UPDS) are deadlocked after the Government rejected the demand of the outfit for the creation of a new state. The Government categorically ruled out the possibility of further division of Assam and asked the UPDS to come out with alternative demands, but the outfit has not yet done so.

The talks with the Dima Halam Daogah (DHD) are also not making much headway. The outfit demanded creation of a separate state of Dimaraji, but the demand was rejected by the Government. Official sources said that though officially the outfit has not given up the demand, during talks with the Government, it placed some other demands including the demand for more powers to the NC Hills Autonomous Council. The DHD is of the view that the funds to the Autonomous Council should be provided directly by the Central Government without routing the same through the State Government. It is also of the view that the case of the Council is not represented properly before the Planning Commission by the State Government and demanded that representatives of the Council should be included in talks with the Commission. However, to accept the demands, the Centre must have a green signal from the State Government and the views of the State on thes
Assam tea baron's biography reveals encounters with ULFA By IANS
Guwahati, July 15 (IANS) Noted Assamese tea industrialist Hemendra Prasad Barooah has revealed in a new book some gripping insights into his life that include being tracked by ULFA militants while holidaying in Philadelphia and searching for Bhupen Hazarika's lost Rolex watch on a street. The legendary planter, who has remained away from media glare, shares many intimate details of his life with journalist Wasbir Hussain in 'Life and Times: Story of an Assamese Tea Baron', an authorised biography.
The book, published by Spectrum Publications, was released by Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi at a function Saturday in the presence of celebrated filmmaker Jahnu Barua.
The book is not just about Barooah, it is also about the times in which he lived and the fascinating people he had encountered from across the world - thieves and conmen, painters and politicians, lovers and musicians, business tycoons and lunatics, god men and frauds, and many more. Barooah says in the book how on June 11 1990 he along with 13 other tea planters met leaders of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) at the tea garden bungalow of a leading business family in Assam after the outfit summoned them to 'discuss the active participation of the tea industry in the economic development' of the state.
Then chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta had advised Barooah not to meet the ULFA leaders. 'Who advised you to go for the meeting? I suggest, you don't go,' Hemen remembered Mahanta as having told them. But the tea captains were prepared to take the risk and face the rebels. Barooah recounts how they went in three cars to meet the ULFA leaders - the meeting ended just before the crack of dawn with the rebels talking to the planters individually. Each one of them was asked to pay hefty amounts.
Barooah candidly reveals how he asked the companies not to make any payments.
'An ULFA caller one day threatened to kidnap me from Calcutta. That was the first time I got scared. I could not sleep that night,' Barooah says. Such was the pressure from the ULFA that Barooah was even traced in the US where he was on a holiday with his daughter. The telephone buzzed in Philadelphia. 'Dada (elder brother), are you all right? How's your daughter,' an ULFA militant said over the phone at a time when there were reports in the media in Assam that Barroah had 'fled' India. On the lighter side, Barooah recounts the night when he and noted singer and composer Bhupen Hazarika searched for the music icon's lost Rolex watch on a desolate road near Sivasagar in eastern Assam, besides his encounter with the man behind the Great Train Robbery in Britain.The book also covers Barooah's 'secret' meeting with Indira Gandhi in Assam and her bus ride to the sleepy town of Golaghat.
States told to resolve border feud A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati, July 14: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today decided to mount pressure on the governments of their respective states to resolve the border dispute amicably.
The decision was taken at a marathon meeting between the leaders of the two influential students’ body held at K.C. Das Commerce College here.
The meeting was convened in the wake of the tension prevailing between the two states following an attack by armed Naga hoodlums on three villages in Sivasagar district on July 5 and the subsequent economic blockade called by the AASU to protest the incident.
The students’ union, however, withdrew the blockade on July 10 on “humanitarian grounds”, following requests from the NSF and North East Students’ Organisation (NESO).
A 10-member NSF delegation participated in the meeting held under the aegis of NESO. The two students’ organisations have decided to move the Centre to find a permanent solution to the border problem. Both AASU and NSF have agreed to work towards ensuring safety and security to life and property of the people along the Assam-Nagaland border.
The meeting also decided to find a permanent solution to the border dispute.
Arunachal blames it on Asom Bangladeshi menace By our Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, July 15: The Arunachal Pradesh Government has blamed it on the Asom Government for, what it said, the massive infiltration of Bangladeshis into Arunachal Pradesh that does not share its border with Bangladesh.
Lakhimpur district of Asom bordering Arunachal Pradesh has witnessed large-scale exodus of people of suspected nationality last week following Arunachal Pradesh Government and All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union’s ‘operation clean drive’ against the people who have been staying in the State violating the Bengal Frontier Regulation Act, 1873.
According to the official statement issued by the Arunachal Pradesh Government, the violators of the Bengal Frontier Regulation Act are mostly suspected Bangladeshis who entered the State in search of manual jobs. It has been considered that the influx of people of suspected nationality into Arunachal Pradesh is the reason behind the abnormal rise in the rate of wage of labourers.
The porous Arunachal Pradesh-Asom border and some illegal entry points to Arunachal Pradesh like rivers and forest areas near Banderdewa check-gate have been brought under strict police vigilance, while the matter of fake Inner Line Permits (ILP) allegedly being prepared in Asom has been taken up with the bordering district administration of Asom, media reports from Arunachal Pradesh said quoting the Papumpare district administration.
According to sources, Papumpare Deputy Commissioner Bidol Tayeng, in a communication to his Lakhimpur counterpart, said that most of the people detected in Arunachal Pradesh without ILPs were from Asom. “They have neither valid documents like PRC, land pattas, electoral identity cards nor could they speak Asomiya or Hindi properly, and that forced the administration to suspect most of them as Bangladeshi nationals,” he said.
He, however, clarified that the current drive in Arunachal Pradesh is not against any particular community, but against the violators of the BFR Act. He also requested the Lakhimpur DC and the SP to ensure the security of the people and vehicles coming from Along, Daporijo, Pasighat or Zero to Itanagar via Lakhimpur, fearing backlash.
Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorji Khandu, while talking to reporters during his recent stay at Guwahati in connection with the election campaign of UPA’s Presidential candidate Pratibha Patil, also said that thousands of suspected Bangladeshis were entering Arunachal Pradesh, and that was considered as a security threat to the State since several ISI agents were reportedly carrying out activities under the cover of such ‘migrant’ people. It is the duty of the Asom Government to identify and deport the Bangladeshi infiltrators, he said. Since Arunachal Pradesh has no boundary with Bangladesh, such people are entering the State through Asom, he said. The Arunachal Pradesh Government urged the business community in the State not to engage suspected Bangladeshis in their trading activities.
Meanwhile, several trade bodies, including the Arunachal Chamber of Commerce and Industries (ACCI), have alleged that there are harassment to genuine citizens and door-to-door checking of ILP. “When attempts are made to lure investors and experienced technical hands to the State to set up and run industries, such activities will send a wrong signal,” said ACCI president Techi Lala in a statement.