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07/19/2007: "Naga peace talks on Jamir radar - Goa governor upholds ‘Indian’identity NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph"

Naga peace talks on Jamir radar - Goa governor upholds ‘Indian’identity NISHIT DHOLABHAI The Telegraph
New Delhi, July 18: Days before the peace talks between the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) and the Centre begin here, Goa Governor and former Nagaland chief minister S.C. Jamir told college students that the “alien” English word, sovereignty”, was the main hurdle in the dialogue between the Centre and the NSCN (I-M). Sources said Jamir may be inducted into the cabinet during the next reshuffle, which is likely after the monsoon session, or brought within the Congress’ organisational structure.
Sources added that Jamir would visit Nagaland to enhance the Congress’ prospects of wresting power in the next elections. “But he does not wish to contest the polls,” said a source. Jamir’s decision may make many in the militant groups and the Congress in Nagaland happy. But the politician in Jamir may not sit quietly in Delhi.
If he can be “sold” to the NSCN (I-M) as an able mediator who understands the Naga issue — the militant outfit hates Jamir and is accused of attempting to assassinate him thrice while he was chief minister — by the Centre, things could change for the Nagas.
Observers here said it is due to a dual resolve of finding a permanent solution to the Naga problem and utilising the senior Congressman’s political acumen that Jamir may be brought to Delhi. Close aides of the governor refused to comment on the matter but indicated that “Jamir is a politician forever”.
The former chief minister addressed students of the Ao and Tangkhul Naga communities in Delhi as the chief guest at Kirorimal College here.
“We feel a sense of acute restlessness, as if there is a vacuum in our souls, as if something very important is missing. When we think about India, that feeling of closeness or common identity is not as strong as it should be. The feeling is of ‘we’ and ‘they’, not of ‘us’. There is some mental block, some psychological hurdle, which prevents Indian nationalism or ‘Indianness’ from taking roots in the region,” Jamir was quoted as saying in a press release from his office. Jamir is an Ao while NSCN (I-M) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah is a Tangkhul Naga.
‘Danger of heightened bloodbath looming’ Convention on Indo-Naga political dialogue The Morung Express
Dimapur, July 18 (MExN): Naga civil society will be holding a convention on the Indo-Naga political dialogue on July 19 at Gandhi Peace Foundation, Delhi from 3pm onwards. An invitation was received from the Naga Hoho, Naga Mothers Association, Naga Students’ Federation and Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights.
“We are certain that you are aware, that the cease fire period is expiring on July 31, 2007. Another round of negotiation is likely to be initiated from 20th July 2007. Mass-based Naga Organizations like, the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights, the Naga Hoho, the Naga Mothers’ Association and the Naga Students’ Federation, feel that at this point of time, a public exchange of views is imperative” the invitation stated.
It was observed that after periodical ceasefire extensions for the last ten years now, the ‘peace process’ has showed no signs of tangible progress. Rather, the process has been reduced to a mere cessation of hostilities, Naga civil society stated. Further there is an increasing and unprecedented military built-up in the Naga areas. “This is creating suspicion and insecurity in the minds of the people. The Government of India has questionably displayed lack of political will, courage and sincerity in their approach to the Indo-Naga Political Negotiations” the invitation stated. It asserted that the interference from the Indian state intelligence agencies and her Armed forces has severely hampered the progress of the Indo-Naga political negotiations.
“We are aware that the people of India and the Nagas together share and cherish freedom, fraternity, liberty and human dignity. Reflecting these values, the Nagas are convinced that the Government of India is deliberately bogging the dialogue down and is noticed to be shifting its responsibility to states” the invitation stated. If the Government of India does not render the political dialogue its due place and in earnest…the peace that has been observed for the last ten years would but spell a more dreary and tragic phase to come for both the parties, it added.
It also warned that renewed armed confrontation with heightened vigour and intensity will ensue. The Nagas, committed to the peace, do not resort to violence but also do not yield to subjugation, the Naga frontals stated.
The Government of India and the National Socialist Council of Nagaland had jointly announced a three-month Ceasefire Agreement and a cessation from armed confrontation on July 25, 1997 with effect from August 1, 1997 on the principles that the talks would be unconditional; at the highest level, i.e. at the Prime Ministerial level and that the talks would be held in a third neutral country.
Students at Rio door for border peace OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, July 18: The student communities of Nagaland and Assam have sought an early solution to the simmering tension along the boundary line of the two states.
After stepping out of Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio’s chamber this evening, leaders of the Naga Students’ Federation, All Assam Students’ Union and the North East Students’ Organisation (Neso) said their meeting with Nagaland officials had ended on a positive note.
Many senior Nagaland government officials attended today’s meeting. The chairman of Neso, Samujjal Bhattacharyya, said students “are not empowered” to solve the border disputes between two neighbouring states. “It is the duty of the two state governments as well as the Centre to solve the problem at the earliest.”
He said a resolution had been adopted to establish “people-to-people” contact as a confidence-building measure. Bhattacharyya said they had also demanded adequate security for villagers living in the disputed areas.
Secretary of Neso, N.S.N. Lotha, said Rio had lauded this initiative of the students of Nagaland and Assam and assured them of all possible help. He reportedly promised that the Nagaland government would lend support to the charter of demands which the Centre is yet to fulfil. Neso appealed to the state governments to “act fast as they are people’s guardians”. Lotha said the problem “needs to be addressed by Assam and Nagaland in a holistic manner”. “Nagaland is committed to address the issue outside the court and relationship between people of the two states should be taken into consideration.”
During their meeting with Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and central leaders, the office-bearers of the three student organisations will raise the issue of illegal migrants, besides the border problem.
Few ‘diehard’ politicians refusing ‘ground reality’ The Morung Express
Dimapur, July 18 (MExN): Goa Governor Dr. SC Jamir is an “enigmatically dangerous and destructive” leader who is more an “obstructionist” that the nationalist image he presents himself to be, the NSCN-IM in a press release stated.
“Election in Nagaland is not far off and Jamir know too when to strike by way of projecting a new image of himself” observed an NSCN-IM MIP issue. The “habit” of Dr Jamir projecting a “wrong picture” of the Naga political movement is no secret at all, the NSCN-IM stated. It cited an instance: During the ongoing ceasefire, Dr. Jamir “has all along been making a futile effort to disengage the people from having genuine consultations with the Collective Leadership by smearing all sorts of negative on the Collective Leadership’s attitude and approach.”
The Goa Governor even goes to the extent of suggesting to the government of India to station maximum number of Army units in Nagaland, the NSCN-IM alleged. “This only goes to prove his image as a greatest obstructionist figure on the road to Naga solution” the organization stated. The NSCN-IM termed as irony that a few “diehard” politicians like Dr SC Jamir and others refused to go along with the “ground reality.”
Further, the booklet ‘The Bedrock of the Naga Society’ published under the ‘cover’ of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee is an “exact replica of the obstructionist personality of Jamir who will do anything under the sky to mudsling the Naga issue.” The NSCN-IM added that “as part of his never-ending criticism” against the Collective Leadership, Dr. SC Jamir is “again desperate” to gain upper hand in the interpretation and application of the concept of sovereignty in the “Naga context.” However, this time around he may find it hard to hoodwink the Nagas on the issue concerning sovereignty, the MIP added.
DON?T SEND THE NAGAS AWAY EMPTY-HANDED
Twenty-Twenty / Bharat Bhushan


Lessons in friendship
On February 2, we are likely to witness the beginning of a substantive and sustained dialogue for peace with the Nagas. The expectations from the dialogue are high but its success depends almost entirely on the attitude of New Delhi. There are likely to be three major obstacles to successful negotiations with the Nagas: the attitude of those directing the peace process on behalf of Delhi ? especially to federal relationships; sticking to impractical bottom-lines; and not learning from the Congress party?s own history on dealing with the Nagas.
The untimely demise of J.N. Dixit, and the exit of Ajit Doval as the intelligence chief of the country by the time the talks begin, could prove to be a setback to the peace process. Institutional memories and mechanisms in India are weak and, therefore, the role of individuals assumes exaggerated importance. Dixit viewed the Naga issue in a political perspective and was liberal in his approach to settling insurgencies. In his short tenure, Doval had developed an excellent relationship of trust with the Naga leadership. The Naga leaders saw in him someone who was not interested in doing them down but was genuinely keen to settle the dispute. With his exit, they will lose a guiding hand.
If those directing the Naga peace talks now continue with the openness of mind required, there may be nothing to worry. Any reversion to a hard line, no-concessions approach is likely to be counter-productive. If we have policy-makers who believe that India made a mistake in Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 by agreeing to a special status for the state, then they cannot resolve the Naga issue.
A flexible approach to the Naga negotiations and recognizing the immense possibilities of Indian federalism could become a model for settling other northeastern insurgencies. One must not, therefore, try to tire out the Nagas through prolonged negotiations and to beat them down hoping that eventually they would settle for something acceptable to New Delhi.
The Nagas are not politically na?ve and cannot be easily fooled. There is no point, therefore, in arguing that the negotiations must begin with the easier subjects first. Some initial understanding can, of course, have a positive impact on more intractable issues in the subsequent negotiations. However, if there is no understanding on issues of crucial importance to the Nagas, then agreement on peripheral subjects is meaningless.
It is imperative, therefore, that the Nagas be assured that whatever the ultimate contours of their relationship with India, there would be institutional mechanisms to protect their distinct identity.
They must also understand that a close relationship can be forged with them, based on a mutually acceptable division of competencies ? that is, a division of the subjects of governance by re-allocating the sub- jects that would be under the purview of the Central and state governments and those that would be governed jointly.
At one extreme, this might mean that the Centre would only keep with it key subjects like external affairs, defence, currency and communication ? the rest could go to the state. If there are Naga interests to be protected which impinge on foreign policy, then the state would naturally have to be consulted; for instance, the rationalization of boundary with Myanmar along areas that have Naga population. Similarly, it might be worthwhile to explore whether the state?s interests may also be affected by the Centre?s policy on defence or communications.
One common refrain in New Delhi is that the Naga demand for integration of territories cannot be conceded. This is a stupid slogan which people love to repeat unthinkingly. If anyone believes that Naga peace can be achieved without accepting, even if in principle at this stage, the desire of all Nagas to live together in a single administrative unit, then New Delhi can forget about peace. The Nagas living in the area contiguous with Nagaland will have to be given a time-bound process to decide whether they want to live together or whether they are happy where they are.
The United Progressive Alliance government works, however, through a mechanism of lowest common consensus. It has committed itself in its common minimum programme to not changing the boundaries of the north-eastern states. Narrow political interests have managed to tie the government?s hands down even before negotiations began with the Nagas.
The constitution of a second states? re-organization commission can provide the process by which not only the Nagas outside Nagaland but also the other ethnic groups and states which might be affected by the integration of Naga areas can argue their case. Such a commission must be time-bound and its tenure must not exceed two to three years. This is the only democratic way of taking decisions. It is also a way out of the present impasse.
Most importantly, there would have to be a transitional agreement that would usher in an interim government into power. This transitional agreement in effect would be an instrumentality for implementing the final Naga settlement.
Only when some broad understanding is reached on these crucial issues can negotiations on other subjects make any sense. Indian negotiators may claim that there are no roadmaps for dealing with such situations, but vibrant democracies make their own roadmaps.
Yet, the government would do well to delve into its institutional history of dealing with the Nagas. It might like, for example, to refer to the final round of negotiations between the then prime minister, Indira Gandhi, and the Naga delegation led by Kughato Sema ? which included Isak Swu, the current chairman of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah). This was the culmination of a peace process initiated by Jawaharlal Nehru before his death.
Indira Gandhi had told the Nagas that she was willing to settle all differences on the basis of friendship and unity with India. In the last meeting of the Naga leaders with Indira Gandhi on January 2, 1967, the Indian prime minister told them that if they left key subjects like defence, external affairs, currency and communications entirely to the Central government, she would be happy to leave the governance of other subjects entirely to the state.
The meeting with Indira Gandhi was followed by a more detailed discussion. Indira Gandhi?s external affairs minister, Dinesh Singh, home secretary L.P. Singh, external affairs secretary T.N. Kaul and joint secretary to the prime minister, S. Bannerjee represented the Indian side. From the Naga side, Z. Ramyo, Zashie Huire and Megamato Angami participated in discussing the division of subjects in the Union list, the state list and the concurrent list of the Constitution.
Surely the minutes of these meetings would be available in the archives of the ministry of external affairs that handled Naga affairs at that time. Our present policy pundits may be able to learn a thing or two from them. Some Nagas, including Thuingaleng Muivah, the general secretary of the NSCN(I-M), blame factionalism within the underground for rejecting the proposals made by Indira Gandhi in 1967. However, today there is an opportunity for the government of India led by a Congress prime minister to revive the Indira Gandhi proposals instead of listening to overly cautious advice about the disastrous consequences of re-negotiating division of competencies.
Some within Government scuttling talks: Naga leader Sentinel
KOHIMA, July 18: A dominant tribal separatist group in Nagaland on 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,” RH 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 on July 31.
Fresh peace talks between the two sides are scheduled in New Delhi on 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 Asom, 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 on 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.” (IANS)

On S.C. Jamir’s politics- Nagaland Post
In the eye of any Naga with simple way of thinking, S.C.Jamir may just be a season politician with harmless way of political and social dealings. But to those persons who have been keenly following his political activities from a very close angle, he is best described as 'enigmatically dangerous and destructive'.
Like a chameleon, Jamir changes colour to suit his political hypocrisy. He is of such typical character to maneuver the Naga political movement to serve his own political survival rather than to help bring Naga solution closer. This is the true colour of Jamir who is now making noise under the garb of a true Naga nationalist and at the same time that suits him best. Election in Nagaland is not far off and Jamir knows too when to strike by way of projecting a new image of himself.
True to his enigmatic character, Jamir's fondness for the Biblical verse in the book of Ecclesiastes that says, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven. A time to kill, and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to love and a time to hate, a time of war and a time of peace", is being enacted out of expediency and nothing much to do with principle and love of Bible teachings. Interestingly, Jamir is exploiting the name of Aos and Tangkhuls in the manner that is absolutely repugnant and malicious. Divisive also in the proper interpretation of his utterance. No Naga tribe should be used as his political play thing. The Nagas have crossed 63 years of political struggle and every single Naga tribe have equal responsibility to spread the message of peace, goodwill and brotherhood of all people in Nagalim. Christianity may have started in the region from the land of the Aos and Tangkhuls, but going by the true biblical and political meaning, equal responsibility is the compulsive demand of the present situation. The principle of equality and equal contribution to the maximum possibility are always stressed as the working guideline of NSCN and nothing other than this should be taken at face value.
If we go by the meaning of this Ecclesiastes verses, Jamir have sponsored and tried the killings and breaking of Naga people and society to saw seed of hatred among the Naga brothers causing irreparable damage to the Naga political and social cohesion. Naga history will always remember the horror when the Tangkhuls were hunted down like animals during the 90s when Jamir was at the helm of affairs. In one occasion connected with the first ever effort on Naga reconciliation organized by Naga Hoho in Kohima dated December 20, 2001, Jamir's paper on achieving genuine reconciliation was presented by I. Imkong on his behalf where he is said, "Nagas are Nagas and therefore, they have to live together under the same roof as brothers and sisters, love and affection should be the centre of this family" but this sounds more like a demagogue than anything.
The habit of Jamir in projecting wrong picture of the Naga political movement is no secret at all. During the ongoing ceasefire, Jamir has all along being making a futile effort to disengage the people from having genuine consultations with the collective leadership by smearing all sorts of negative image on Collective Leadership's attitude and approach. He even goes to the extent of suggesting to the Government of India to station maximum numbers of Army units in Nagaland. This only goes to prove his image as the greatest obstructionist figure on the road to Naga solution.
The irony of situation in Nagalim is reflective of the fact that few die hard politicians in the person of Jamir and others refused to go along with the ground reality and contribute everything for the sake of the Nagas' long cherished goal.
"The bedrock of Naga society", published by SC Jamir under the cover of Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee is the exact replica of the obstructionist personality of Jamir who will do anything under the sky to mudsling the Naga issue. Fortunately, the Nagas' stand to gain immensely by way of learning to tackle Jamir's political gimmick.
As a part of his never ending criticism against Collective Leadership, he is again desperate to gain upper hand in the interpretation and application of the concept of Sovereignty in Nagas' context. But this time round, he may find it hard to hoodwink the Nagas on the issue concerning Sovereignty. Ministry of Information & Publicity, GPRN, NSCN (IM)
Will the Decade long Cease Fire and talking peace lead to war or peace? Nagalim.uk
Press Statement
Amsterdam, July 16 2007: The upcoming Indo-Naga Peace Talks will conclude a decade full of hope and expectations, but apart from some recognition concerning the unique history and situation of the Naga Peoples, so far these talks did not yield any result.
On the grounds of genuinely reaching out for a peaceful solution to the decades old Indo-Naga conflict The Naga International Support Center urges both the Government of India and the Government of the Peoples Republic of Nagaland, GPRN, to extend the ceasefire

To pave way for an honorable solution it is absolutely essential for India & Nagaland to extend the Ceasefire, but this time seriously indeed for if the Government of India remains stubborn and while talking plays the divide and rule game strongly, the stand of the GPRN of the Nagas is serious and clear: when India persists in its unwritten policy of subjugating the Nagas militarily or otherwise, When this cease fire breaks in fact more than ever there is bound to be great loss of life on both sides.
The Naga International Support Center calls on the International Community, so the United Nations, UNPO, all Human Rights Organizations and the International Press to urge India and the Nagas to extend the ceasefire to avoid further and more extensive bloodshed. Let this wound be dressed thoroughly and India allow others to help you out of this five decade old quack mire which you began.
Source: A Naga International Support Center, NISC, www.nagalim.nl
Nagaland follows Arunachal, pushes migrants into Assam
From A Correspondent Assam Tribune
JORHAT, July 18 — The situation has turned tense in the railway township of Mariani in the aftermath of the influx of large groups of suspected Bangladeshi nationals which has been on since Tuesday. These suspected illegal immigrants have been pushed into Assam by the Nagas in Mokokchung district of Nagaland.

Sources said that hordes of these Bangladeshi labourers fled in a Guwahati-bound train yesterday itself. However, as many as 21 of them have been detained at the Mariani police station. Their interrogation is on. There were reports of more such incidents of infiltration today.

Meanwhile, the Jorhat District Students’ Union has asked the State Government to instruct the district administration to take immediate steps to identify these suspected nationals and deport them if their foreign antecedents are established. The district administration should take care to herd these suspected Bangladeshis together so that they do not get scattered, JDSU president Biren Saikia said. The student leader warned that the AASU unit would be forced to start a strong agitation if such incidents recur.

President of Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad Putul Dutta has asked the State Government to clarify its stand on the identity of the Bangladeshi infiltrators who have been pushed into Assam by the neighbouring States.
Assam's tribal-dominated Karbi Anglong area to be a spice export hub By ANI by Peter Alex Todd
Guwahati, July 19 (ANI): Assam's Karbi Anglong Autonomous Area is all set to become an export hub of Indian spices. Two companies, with tribal farmers having a 51 percent stake in it, will produce ginger, chilli, and turmeric, the three main products of the region. Coinonya Farms Producers Company Limited (CFPCL) will deal with turmeric, while the Karbi Farms Producer Company Limited (KFPCL) will produce ginger and chilli.
At least 600 farmers have joined hands to have their share in the CFPCL, while 400 farmers will be working together at KFPCL. Minister of State for Commerce, Jairam Ramesh, recently launched a new initiative of the Spices Board to promote the products processing and export in Karbi Anglong.
"We should not be satisfied by just growing crops, but also try and rope in private investors. This will help us in emerging as a potential market not only in the country, but abroad too," Ramesh said. "We are very much encouraged with the participation of our people. We are not seeking any personnel profit. We want to employ the local people here. Because our local people do not get good scope of employment in other areas," KFPCL Director K Khatar said.
The Kargi Anglong Autonomous Area was formed in 1952, and efforts are on to make it emerge a new centre for export products. (ANI)
We reproduce below what the ULFA’s mouthpiece Freedom, in its July 15, 2007 issue, said about The Sentinel. We also present here our reply to Freedom.
From Freedom
Why such smear campaign? Sentinel
The English daily The Sentinel in its editorial on 19 June, 2007 has accused ULFA for the increase in Muslim population in Asom. The Sentinel alleged that ULFA was oblivious of the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Asom and held responsible for the demographic change of Asom. In the editorial two contradictory issues like birth of ULFA and increase in Muslim population are mixed-up. Since long, this paper has been continuously trying to defame ULFA in order to enjoy colonial blessings. However, alertness on the part of the masses prevented each attempt from being fruitful. Was the number of Bangladeshi infiltrators less before the birth of ULFA? Didn’t they try to deny the relevancy of long 6 years of bloodshed in Asom for banishment of thousands of Bangladeshi intruders before the inception of ULFA? We again assert that we are against all kinds of infiltration in Asom - whether Bangladeshi or Indian. We don’t entertain varied point of views for infiltrators and our stance regarding any illegal infiltrator is same.
They accused us for keeping quiet over the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators in Asom. In order to conceal truth of oppression and repression behind the birth of ULFA, The Sentinel fabricated the story saying ULFA’s link with Bangladeshi communal rebel groups and Pakistani secret service ISI. If ULFA would have been a terrorist organization master-minded by alien powers then it would have been doomed long ago. These stories are circulated from time to time to hide the issue of restoration of sovereignty by intellectuals so as to reap political harvest. Both BJP and Congress blame each other for exploiting religious minority in Asom. And now they target ULFA and blame it for having relationship with communal powers, Bangladeshi infiltrators and also describe it to be a puppet in the hands of ISI. Motive is now crystal clear behind such campaign. That is to perpetuate Indian colonial rule in Asom.
Our Reply
The ULFA’s mouthpiece Freedom, in its July 15, 2007 issue, has said that “the leading English daily The Sentinel in its editorial on 19 June, 2007 has accused ULFA for the increase in Muslim population in Asom”. We fail to understand what editorial the ULFA is talking about. The Sentinel did not write any editorial on the ULFA in the June 19, 2007 issue. However, in the June 19, 2007 issue, what The Sentinel did carry was a front-page report on the increase in the number of Muslims in Asom due to illegal immigration from Bangladesh and after the ULFA was formed in 1979. We stand by what we reported that day.
Secondly, the ULFA has said that The Sentinel “has been continuously trying to defame ULFA in order to enjoy colonial blessings”. Let it be clear here that in the dictionary of The Sentinel there is nothing like “colonial blessings” for the simple reason that Asom is an Indian State, that the Asomiyas are Indian citizens, and that the Asomiyas were liberated from the colonial British power way back in 1947. If any, the so-called colonial blessings that the ULFA talks about is nothing but indeed the blessings that all Indian citizens get from their motherland — India. So do the Asomiyas who are Indian citizens, and so does The Sentinel which is an Indian newspaper.
Thirdly, the ULFA has said that “in order to conceal truth of oppression and repression behind the birth of ULFA, The Sentinel fabricated the story saying ULFA’s link with Bangladeshi communal rebel groups and Pakistani secret service ISI”. The Sentinel would like to ask the ULFA as to what its top brass is doing in Bangladesh. If the ULFA wants to ‘liberate’ the Asomiyas from “colonial” India, what stops its top leaders from openly fighting the Indian Army in Asom itself?
The fact is that the cause of a “sovereign Asom”, as espoused by the ULFA, has no takers in today’s Asomiya society except for some frontal organizations that work for the rebel group to further their own ‘business’ interests and, of course, except for a negligible section of the Asomiya populace who still feel that the ‘sons of the soil’ would one day return back to the State and do something for them by being in the mainstream — which means even in this case of a negligible section of the Asomiyas who seem to be sympathetic to the ULFA, the question of “sovereignty” does not arise because they know that it is just not possible, while at the same time they nurse the hope that the ULFA would join the Indian democratic mainstream one fine day and then work for the overall development of Asom. It is another matter that the ULFA does not want to confront this reality.
Interestingly, in Freedom (July 15, 2007) the ULFA says: “We again assert that we are against all kinds of infiltration in Asom — whether Bangladeshi or Indian.” Then what stops the ULFA from initiating action against illegal Bangladeshis in Asom? Why should the ULFA target only one kind of ‘infiltrators’ as it likes to call them — Hindi-speakers in Asom, who are Indian citizens? And, worse, why should the ULFA kill even the Asomiyas? The point is simple: if the ULFA is against illegal immigration from Bangladesh, it should prove that. Mere words will just not do.
15-member students’ team meet Nagaland CM on border issue
Now, exodus from Nagaland Sentinel & UNI
JORHAT/GUWAHATI, July 18: In yet another glaring instance of extreme intransigence on the part of a neighbouring State, hordes of suspected Bangladeshis are being pushed into Asom near the New Sonowal area along the Mariani-Mokokchung Road in Jorhat district. Large groups of labourers with dubious antecedents were forced to leave Nagaland yesterday.
According to reports available, a big group left Mariani and headed towards Guwahati in a train after arriving at the railway township. Another 45 suspected immigrants have been detained at the Mariani police station. Their interrogation is on, informed sources said.
There are allegations that these suspected Bangladeshis had been beaten up by the Nagas. The bodies of some of the labourers reportedly bear injury marks. The sources pointed out that the fleeing labourers might get down at safe havens during their Guwahati-bound journey.
Police said some people who descended from Nagaland claimed they hailed from Karimganj and Cachar, and they were taken to their respective places for verification.
Nagaland’s Ao Students’ Conference (ASC) gave a ‘clarion call’ yesterday that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh should leave the State immediately, and those Nagas who harbour them in their houses would be treated as traitors of Nagaland.
“Trade permits are issued to locals only, and therefore local businessmen employing Bangladeshis as their salesman or renting out their permits will be dealt befittingly,” the students’ body warned.
With allegations doing rounds that the student activists were harassing genuine Indian citizens, the ASC clarified that the campaign against Bangladeshis, christened as ‘Survival 2007’, is in no way connected or related to the Asom-Nagaland border problem.
The ingress of suspected immigrants from Nagaland comes close on the heels of a similar threat issued against the immigrants by students’ bodies in Arunachal Pradesh.
In the wake of the threat, suspected Bangladeshis numbering thousands entered Asom through Lakhimpur district till today. Lakhimpur police has so far arrested 65 suspected people who have failed to produce valid citizenship documents.
Meanwhile, the Jorhat District Students’ Union (JDSU) has strongly reacted to the latest development. The State Government should instruct the district administration to take immediate steps to identify the suspected immigrants, JDSU president Biren Saikia said. “Care should be taken to herd the labourers together in a secure place so that they do not get any opportunity to mingle with the floating population of Bangladeshis here,” he stressed.
The student leader maintained that the State Government should act immediately to avoid any volatile situation arising out of the latest influx of suspected Bangladeshi infiltrators. “If there is a repeat of such exodus of migrants from neighbouring States into Asom, we will be forced to adopt strong measures on our own,” Saikia warned. In such a scenario, the district administration alone will be responsible for any eventuality, he added.
Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP) president Putul Dutta has asked the State Government to clear its stand on the identity of the suspected Bangladeshis who have been pushed into Asom’s border areas. It is the duty of the State Government to deport the illegal immigrants once it is established they are not Indian citizens, he said.
Instead of acting tough on such incidents, the Tarun Gogoi-led Government seems to be more concerned with providing a safe refuge to the Bangladehis, Dutta said.
Meanwhile, a 15-member team of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), North East Students’ Organization (NESO) and Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) met Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in Kohima today, and urged him to find out an amicable solution to the vexed border problem. The delegation also met Nagaland Chief Secretary and DGP, and asked them to arrest the miscreants behind the Geleky incident of July 5. The delegation included NESO president Samujjal Kumar Bhattacharyya, secretary NSN Lotha, AASU president Shankar Prasad Rai and secretary Tapan Kumar Gogoi, NSF secretary Hectoi Chiswi, among others