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07/18/2007: "Back for talks with old script - Naga leaders refuse to ‘compromise’ OUR BUREAU The Telegraph"


Back for talks with old script - Naga leaders refuse to ‘compromise’ OUR BUREAU The Telegraph


Isak Chishi Swu at Camp Hebron. A file picture
Kohima/New Delhi, July 16: Naga rebel leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah reached New Delhi today carrying the burden of a restive community’s expectations and a script that has not changed since the last round of deadlocked talks with the Centre.
Before leaving Camp Hebron, the NSCN (I-M) headquarters near Dimapur, Swu asked the rank and file of the outfit to go back to their respective bases and prepare for “any eventuality” after July 31. The 10-year ceasefire will lapse on the last day of this month if either side refuses an extension.
Karaibo Chawang, a member of the NSCN (I-M)’s steering committee, said the July 20-21 round of talks would determine the course of the peace process. He declined to say whether Swu and Muivah would meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this time.
As usual, Union minister Oscar Fernandez and interlocutor K. Padmanabhaiah will lead the government team in the talks.
Alezo Chakhesang, a senior member of the NSCN (I-M)’s information and publicity wing, said Delhi was putting “maximum pressure” on the Naga leadership to agree to a settlement on its terms. He was alluding to the Union home ministry’s recent statement on “maximum autonomy to the Naga community within the ambit of the Constitution”.
The Naga leader said the NSCN (I-M) was ready to go back to the jungle if that is what Delhi wanted. Official sources said the government was aware of the delicateness of the Nagaland situation and would not do anything to queer the pitch ahead of Assembly polls early next year.
One person the NSCN (I-M) will miss going into the next round of talks is Angelus Shimray, who died recently. Shimray had led the committee that drafted the outfit’s constitution, which it insists will ultimately define the “special federal relationship between India and Nagalim”.
Although Delhi has given no indication of ever accepting a separate constitution for the Nagas, an official source said the “negotiations will carry on”.
Swu and Muivah came to India separately last year. They have since been conferring with tribal leaders on how to break the deadlock in the peace process. The team that reached New Delhi from Dimapur today has 15 members, including A.K. Lungalang, the “speaker” of the Tatar Hoho (parliament), V.S. Atem and Samson Jojo.
Burmese junta divides Naga homeland: NSCN Indo-Burma News
July 5, 2007: (Mizzima) The National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isaac-Muivah faction), one of the more powerful rebel outfits in India's northeastern region has accused Burma's military junta of dividing the homeland of the Naga community.
The NSCN (IM) which is into a dialogue for peace with the government of India since August 1, 1997, monitored by its Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), has published a book titled Naga Homeland in Danger: The politics of Constitution making in Myanmar (Burma).
Isak Chishi Swu, Chairman of the NSCN-IM, formally released the book from its general headquarters in Hebron near Nagaland's commercial capital Dimapur during the first day's session of the Joint Council meeting of the Government of People's Republic of Nagalim on July 4, sources said. The book release function was attended by Thuingaleng Muivah, the General Secretary of the NSCN-IM, along with other top officials of the outfit.
Giving a vivid account of the plight of the Nagas in Eastern Nagalim under Burma, divided by British imperialists from Western Nagalim in total violation of Nagas' right to live as one political body, the book claims that the manner of exploitation of the Nagas is nothing but unfair and inhuman "as the boundary is made to run through villages, fields and even homes."
The Naga community living on the Indian side used to call those who live across the international boundary in Burma as eastern Nagas.
These eastern Nagas used to visit their neighbours in Manipur's Ukhrul as well as Nagaland's border district during annual festivals. In Manipur, they visit during the time of Naga's seed sowing festival Lui-Ngai Ni which falls on February 15 every year.
"The political plight of the Nagas and the gross injustice done to the Nagas by successive governments in Myanmar (Burma) can no longer be tolerated by the Nagas in general and the NSCN in particular," said a press release issued by the outfit's Ministry of Information and Publicity, while informing that this is the reason why it had brought out the book to expose to the whole world what the military junta is doing to further divide the Naga homeland.
"This book is meant to drive home the point that the world should no longer remain silent to the act of treacherous imposition by slicing away Nagas' land in the guise of creating a Naga state but which excludes most important townships and mineral-rich areas," the statement of the outfit further said. The book also exposes the condition of Eastern Nagalim under the coercive control of the Burmese military junta, which commits excessive human rights violations. Further the book points to the dirty politics or game plan of drafting a new constitution putting the Nagas at the receiving end, the MIP release said.
"In the storm of controversy is the National Convention. What exactly is the National convention? Find out from the book and its implication on the Nagas," it added. The NSCN (IM) asserted that importantly, the book is worth its weight in gold in pushing forward the Nagas' aspiration for a homeland now divided across two countries, subdivided under different state controls and facing further division in Eastern Nagalim which is presently in Burmese territory.
AASU to launch stir from July 24 By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, July 16 – Bemoaning the lack of intervention from the Prime Minister while the people of Assam along the Nagaland border were passing sleepless nights due to depredations by Naga miscreants, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) today said that it would resort to a series of agitations from July 24 to draw the attention of the Centre to the contentious Assam-Nagaland border issue. “It is unfortunate that Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh — a representative from Assam in the Rajya Sabha for three successive terms – should turn a blind eye to the burning border issue. He must give a serious look at the problem of the people whom he represents,” AASU general secretary Tapan Gogoi and adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharya told the media.

The AASU, which met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi yesterday, said that Gogoi had assured of some positive initiatives to resolve the border imbroglio but “we will be assuaged only when his words translate into action.”

Asserting that both talks and stir would go on simultaneously till some concrete developments took place on the border dispute, the AASU leaders said that there could be no compromise on the safety and security of the people living in the border areas. “We want a permanent solution to the border issue, and this can materialize only when both the Centre and the State government take up the matter seriously. On our part, we will continue to pressurize the authorities,” they added.

An AASU delegation will also call on the Nagaland Chief Minister in Kohima on July 18.

On July 24, the AASU will observe a sit-in demonstration on railway tracks from 11 am to 3 pm in every district. On July 26, it will keep an effigy of the Prime Minister with a lamp in public places, urging him to open his eyes to the border problem.

In addition, the AASU will embark on a weeklong awareness campaign from July 30 for helping people to submit their views before the commission formed by the Supreme Court.

Pointing out that the poor road conditions along the border was complicating the job of the police to keep vigil in the area, the AASU dasked the State Government to ensure proper road conditions at the earliest. “The distance between two border outposts is 15 km but it takes two hours to cover the distance,” it said.

The AASU also stressed the need to facilitate more people-to-people contacts for restoring the goodwill between the people on both sides of the border. “We are taking some initiatives with support from our Nagaland counterparts,” it said.
Some within government scuttling talks: Naga leader© 2007 Indo-Asian News Service
Kohima, July 18 (IANS) A dominant tribal separatist group in Nagaland Wednesday accused a section of the Indian government of deliberately lingering the peace process by going back on their promises.
'Some people within the Indian establishment do not want a solution to the Naga problem and simply wish to drag the peace process,' R.H. Raising, a senior leader of the Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM), told IANS.
The NSCN-IM and the central government entered into a ceasefire in August 1997. The present truce expires July 31. Fresh peace talks between the two sides are scheduled in New Delhi Saturday with guerrilla leaders Isak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah arriving in the capital.
'We don't know for sure if the ceasefire would be extended or not. It all depends on the Indian government's attitude... the ball is in Delhi's court,' Raising said.
'We cannot say anything if the situation in Nagaland would turn violent or not if the ceasefire is not extended. It is obvious that 10 years after the ceasefire was signed, people are getting restive with no solution in sight.'
The NSCN-IM has been struggling for nearly six decades to create a 'Greater Nagaland' by slicing off parts of three neighbouring states to unite 1.2 million Nagas. The demand is strongly opposed by Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.
'Some of the Indian leaders are really committed to the peace process, but still we find the government going back on their promises, thereby delaying a solution,' the rebel leader said.
The talks Saturday between the Group of Ministers headed by Oscar Fernandes and top NSCN-IM leaders would also be attended by K. Padmanabhaiah, the government's chief interlocutor.
'A delay in arriving at a solution and not extending the ceasefire would magnify the problem. The talks scheduled later this week would discuss certain substantive issues,' Raising said. 'We are still positive of a permanent solution to this historic issue.'
‘Delhi police security booklet’ In the eye of the storm Morung Express Longrangty Longchar
Dimapur THE HULLABALOO over the ‘profiling’ of north east students by the Delhi police which has stirred strong resentment among the people of North East has simmered for the moment, with the Delhi Police today calling for a meeting with the various students unions from north east region at Delhi. An active student leader from a North East state disclosed that almost all student unions of North East region in Delhi attended the meeting and they had a positive interaction with the police. “We had a nice time with the Delhi police,” said the student leader and added that the students’ delegation also met with the author of the booklet on ‘security tips for north east students’.
This is the cover of the book authored by Deputy Commissioner of Police Robin Hibu. This book claims to be for ‘security tips.’ Initially Hibu had claimed it to be a ‘personal initiative,’ the book bears the name of the West Delhi Police.
However, she refused to divulge any further information on the meeting. Instead, she said that the author, Robin Hibu, Deputy Commissioner of Police, West Delhi, had always helped the north east students and that he would always be there to help the students in Delhi. The student leader instead blamed the media for blowing the story out of proportion and requested the media not to drag it any further.
“That booklet was meant to be circulated only among the students from the north east region living in Delhi, and somehow it was passed on to the media and the story was blown out of proportion,” she said and added that the booklet was meant as a guideline for the students of northeast region only.

Booklet not a profiling at all: Hibu
Robin Hibu, speaking with the Morung Express, said that that the publishing of the book is purely his initiative and not the official publication of the Delhi Police Department.
He said that booklet is simply an information brochure containing all the important telephone numbers of Delhi and not a profiling of the north east students. “It is more of an elder brotherly attempt to help out the north east people here,” said Hibu.
The booklet, he said, contains mostly telephone numbers which one can use during any kind of emergencies. He lamented that the whole issue has been misinterpreted by the media without knowing the real background of the booklet.

He said that as a top police official in Delhi, he has helped many youths and people from the northeastern region who land up in jails and who face other problems with police.
On being asked about the dress code and food habits which he mentioned in the brochure, which has drawn a lot of criticism from different sections of north east people, Hibu said that he has added that point about dress and food habits “humorously”.
“In fact I like akhuni very much,” said Hibu and added that he is a very good cook. He also clarified that he is not telling the girls from the north east region what to wear but simply to dress decently. He said that he really felt very sad when he read the news. Hibu said that a lot of people in Delhi have praised the brochure published by him, commenting that it is the first time that such a brochure has come out for the north eastern people.
However, one noted women rights activist in Delhi, Bela Bhatia, speaking with The Morung Express expressed her shock and disbelief that the Delhi Police could do such a thing as publish that controversial book.
“I think that such racist comment on a community or people should not be made,” said Bhatia on the topic of food habits and dress codes.
She termed as ‘perfect nonsense’ about the advice by the Delhi police to avoid smelly food like bamboo shoots and akhuni.
“That (the advice not to cook smelly food) should be protested, we should protest. I love bamboo shoots, and in fact bamboo shoots are found not only in the north east region but also in many parts of India. WE are lucky that India have so many diverse cuisines, we should be proud of it. Even in India there are many other smelly food items, but that should not be restricted to community or a region, but should be accepted as the taste of the food concerned.
On the question of the dress code, she said that the cases of rapes and molestation cases might sometimes be because of scanty, but she strongly said that there is a conception, a psyche that women are not safe in lonely bye lanes and are provocative when scantily clothed. Bhatia strongly opined that the people should fight that ‘psyche’, the ‘patriarchal norms’, instead of telling what women should wear or not.
“Women have the own freedom for choosing their dress,” said Bhatia.

A Human Right activist from North east region based in Delhi said that the intention of the book and its author might have been good but the booklet tends to generalize the whole north east people living in Delhi.
The activist opined that some sporadic cases of rape might have happened because the woman was scantily dressed, but it does not mean that it does not happen to other well dressed women.
The activist said that the assumption that rape occurs to only scantily dressed women makes a concerned person ‘uncomfortable’.
However, despite all the comments and the hullabaloo over the whole issue, The Morung Express got hold of the booklet today, and the content was stark. Just as the author, Robin Hibu, said, it had telephone numbers and some general advice and safety tips.
However, it does tell the women not to wear scanty clothes and implied to dress decently, not to disturb neighbours with smelly food like akhuni and bamboo shoots, not to have disturbing parties and so on. However, the question yet to be answered is simply, ‘Are north east people the only one wearing scanty clothes, eating smelly food cuisines, having parties? And do the north east people really need a security measures to be followed in what is called the nation’s capital?’ The answer is simply not forthcoming from the Delhi police.
Youth forum critical of NSCN-IM cadres Morung Express News
Dimapur, July 16 (MExN): Cadres of the NSCN-IM are exacting heavy toll from the people of Tirap and Changlang district in Arunachal Pradesh, a youth organization from Arunachal Pradesh states. Developmental activities have been put to “extinction,” the locals intimidated and even personal income are taken away by the NSCN-IM cadres, in the name of Naga nationhood, the Tirap and Changlang Youth Welfare Forum stated in a statement received here.
The letter, appended by executive of the youth forum highlighted instances where NSCN-IM cadres in the two districts are said to be subjugating the people in various ways. The letter mentioned one “Lieutenant Colonel” of the NSCN-IM who along with his cadres has pushed all development activities to “extinction.” Even local non-locals in the areas have come to ‘enjoy,’ the forum lamented. The poor locals work hard to make ends meet but they are forced to surrender their hard-earned money; they are unable to provide for their wives and children even with basic needs, it was stated. Notwithstanding the immense misery and suffering they are subjected to, the locals bear and carry out the dictates of the cadres for fear of their lives, the forum informed. “They have become like slaves…there is no freedom to weep even” the forum cited.
The lives of the locals are one under constant fear; top-ranking cadres of the outfit have also become contractors, threatening the natives at gun-point to hand over their earnings. And this is all in the name of Naga nationhood, the youth forum stated.
“Such great are the woes and affliction of the native people here and the great lamentation is in the fact that there is not a single soul to protest against such inhuman acts; no one dares to face the gun” the forum stated. Submitting this grievance, the forum queried what crimes have the locals committed that their happiness should be sacrificed for the sake of some selfish motives. The forum has called upon the competent authority in concern to look into this matter at the earliest and bring the misery of the people of Tirap and Changlang to end.
No unification under Indian union–FGN Morung Express
Dimapur, July 17 (MExN): Referring to the NSCN-IM’s declaring to treat as “anti-nationals” all who oppose the unification of Naga territories, the FGN states that the “Nagas will never accept the move for integration or unification of Naga territories under the union.”
“Indeed whosoever stands or speaks for the unification/integration of Naga territories under the Indian union is anti-national and anti-Naga nation” stated a response from assistant secretary Thihu Khamo of the FGN. Before Isak Chishi Swu and Th. Muivah completed their “graduation, the Naga National Council (NNC) was formed and through which the Nagas were united and integrated into a nation” it stated. The Nagas then reaffirmed the declaration of the NNC and “voted” to remain as an “independent nation in May 1951, the FGN stated.
The two NSCN-IM leaders joined the NNC in 1960s and by that time the Nagas had well-founded as a nation, Khamo asserted adding that up to 1980, they defended the cause under the banner of the NNC/FGN. “Who can deny these facts? But they vividly converted and deviated from the Naga national stand and they are now demanding integration/unification of the Naga areas/territories under the Indian union” the FGN lamented. “As they became traitors” how could they, Khamo stated, treat the Nagas who are ‘opposing the unification but defending the sovereignty of Nagaland as the enemies of the Nagas.”
The FGN stated that the Nagas will never accept the move for integration or unification of Naga territories under the Indian union. “This is the most treacherous word and anyone or group who works or supports for unification of Naga territories under the Indian union is traitor and they shall be dealt with as treason” the FGN added.


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