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07/27/2007: "NSCN (IM) camp attacked Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network"

NSCN (IM) camp attacked Source: The Sangai Express / Newmai News Network
Kohima, July 26: Hardly 24-hours after the Joint Forum Working Committee of Nagaland Goanburas (GBs) Federation and Nagaland Dobashis (DBs) Association formally declared cease fire among various Naga National Workers (Naga underground groups) at Dimapur, the camp of NSCN(IM) in Phek district of Nagaland was attacked by activists suspected to be a combined force of the NSCN-K and FGN on Wednesday morning.

Sources said some armed gunmen suspected to be cadres of the rival faction attacked the NSCN(IM) camp, however no casualty was reported from either side.

Meanwhile, the Joint Forum Working Committee of Nagaland GBs and Nagaland DBs Federation have condemned the incident stating that though the attack was perpetrated by either NSCN-K or FGN it is against the cause of the Nagas and also the resolution passed at Dimapur.

The Forum also appealed to the factions to restrain from factional feuds.
Arunachal intruders clash with cops Fresh violence on Assam border

- Arunachal intruders clash with cops A STAFF REPORTER The Telegraph
Guwahati: Fresh violence rocked Assam’s border with its neighbouring state today, with hoodlums from Arunachal Pradesh attacking a forest camp at Dulung reserve forest in Lakhimpur district.
Twelve persons, including two forest guards, were injured as a 300-strong group attacked the forest camp around 2.30am. The group, armed with guns and sharp weapons, also damaged several houses that were being constructed.
Deputy commissioner (in-charge) of Lakhimpur, Ajit Das, said over telephone that today’s attack was a planned one, carried out by a large group of thugs from the neighbouring state.
Dispur has been asked to take up the matter with the Arunachal Pradesh government, he disclosed. Das said the hoodlums were illegal settlers from the neighbouring state, who have encroached on Assam land in the Dulung reserve forest. The officer said the group fired shots after beating up a group of labourers engaged in construction.
“Policemen posted in the area returned fire. The exchange of fire continued for over half-an-hour,” he said. It was not yet clear whether there was any casualty on the other side. Earlier this month, Naga thugs had attacked several villagers at Geleki in Sivasagar district. Two persons were killed and another was seriously injured, while several houses were torched in the incident.
On the border with Mizoram, too, there was trouble this month, following an incursion by villagers backed by policemen of that state. Assam has been at loggerheads with Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh for the past several decades, with all the states accusing each other of encroachment. Das said the locality had witnessed a similar incident several years ago.
The All Assam Students Union (AASU) had organised a four-hour rail blockade yesterday to demand an immediate solution to the inter-state boundary issue, mainly the impasse with Nagaland. The rail blockade programme was part of a series of agitations launched by AASU to exert pressure on the government to find a solution to the boundary issue.
Illegal migrants` issue raises its head again in Assam Assembly Zee News
Guwahati, July 27: The issue of illegal migrants from Bangladesh has once again come to the fore with neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland pushing back people of suspected nationalities into Assam where students' organisations have urged the state government to act and deport them.

Busloads of suspected illegal migrants were pushed back into Assam's Lakhimpur town from Arunachal Pradesh by the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) while the AO Students' Conference pushed back illegal settlers from Mokokchung in Nagaland to Mariani in Jorhat district recently.

The state youth wing of the BJP waylaid the buses coming to Lakhimpur and handed them over to the police who are verifying their papers and the border police is doing the same at Mariani for the people coming from Nagaland.

The AAPSU launched the 'Operation Clean Drive' to flush out illegal migrants who have been staying in the state violating the Bengal Frontier Regulation Act, 1873.

The students' body also blamed the Assam government for this massive infiltration into Arunachal Pradesh which does not share border with Bangladesh.

The AO Students' Conference in Nagaland also pushed back scores of settlers from Mokokchung town and warned the local people not to "harbour any non-locals".

Students' organisations of Assam like the All Assam Students' Union (AASU), All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU), All Assam Koch Rajbongshi Students' Union and Bharatiya Janata Yuba Morcha (BJYM), the BJP's youth wing, have reacted strongly urging the state government to identify and deport the illegal settlers back to Bangladesh.

The ruling Congress and the opposition Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) whose traditional votebanks constitute the minorities have opposed this view saying that those pushed back are genuine Indian citizens with proper papers. The state government, meanwhile, issued a directive that no organisation can detain any suspected person at any transition point.

Several legislators and ministers of the minority community met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and expressed their concern that some genuine citizens were being harassed.

The opposition Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) has also come out in support of these suspected people and have urged the Union Home Ministry to ensure safety and security of all Bengali speaking Indian citizens residing in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Assam.

"We have no objection in driving out Bangladeshis from any Indian state but harassment of genuine Indian citizens belonging to a particular community cannot be tolerated", said AUDF president Badruddin Ajmal. Most of the people driven out from the neighbouring states are from Karimganj, Cachar, Hailakandi, Barpeta, Dhubri and Goalpara districts of Assam who had gone there to earn an honest living, Ajmal claimed. The students' organisations are, however, firm that authorities must detect and deport people of doubtful nationality.

NSF’s ‘last chance’ to NPSC Correspondent Nagaland Post
Kohima, July 26 (NPN): Responding to the request from the NPSC for a mutual discussion in order to resolve the ongoing imbroglio over wrong questions and answers detected in the last NCS and Allied Services Preliminary Examination, the Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) Thursday decided to give a last chance to the Commission and sit with it for a discussion along with a third party.
The NSF cautioned in the event of failure on the part of the Commission to justify the questions or admit to the wrong questions, it would have no other option but to take its own course of action.
Addressing a press conference with representatives of the Transparency Seekers at the office of the Federation here on Thursday, NSF president Imchatoba Imchen said when the Federation was about to serve an ultimatum on the Commission for its failure to respond to the demands, the latter on Wednesday proposed a mutual discussion to resolve the crisis.
Pointing out lapses even in last year’s examination where more than thirty students were finally allowed to re-appear in the final examination following protests by the Federation, Imchatoba wondered as to why the Commission took to conduct such examination when it could not conduct the examinations properly.
Also speaking, NSF general secretary Hetoi Chishi clarified that NSF was demanding re-evaluation of the Prelim papers as re-declaration of the results might affect those already declared selected. He warned that NPSC would be held solely responsible for any “untoward fallout” in the event of its failure to re-schedule the Main examination.
Similarly, NSF vice president Charles Lotha said the NSF wanted the NPSC to rectify the lapses within the Commission.
“The Transparency Seekers has pointed out 12 questions, the answers of which were wrong or highly debatable and so, it sought clarification but the Commission is not in a position to do the same,” Chishi said. He said the Federation stood on the proposed expert panel including experts on all related subjects. The decision of the panel should be final and binding and if the ten questions come in favour of the students, the Transparency Seekers should be given chance for re-evaluation. Chishi said the NSF had already submitted a memorandum to the Governor demanding setting up of a state level independent inquiry commission within thirty days to probe the various cases of corruption in appointments and civil construction works in implementation of Sarva Shiksa Abhiyan (SSA) projects with special reference to Changtongya sub-division in Mokokchung district.
In the memorandum, the NSF also demanded immediate suspension of all erring officials till the probe panel accomplished its task.
On appointment of teachers, clerical staff and Grade-IV employees in the School Education Department for the recently-upgraded government higher secondary schools, the Federation said that as per the policy and standing order of State government all these post with a minimum pay scale of Rs.4100 should be selected through the NPSC. In this regard, the NSF demanded immediate scrapping of all Grade-III appointments made recently.
Stating that the process of upgradation of high schools to higher secondary started during the previous Congress government and the present DAN government only revived the initiative and upgraded the schools, the NSF questioned as to why the government failed to appoint the teachers in advance and resorted to appointing teachers on contingency.
The Federation demanded that the department immediately requisition the NPSC for conducting examinations for selection of teachers. At the same time, the NSF clarified that it was not against appointment of Grade-IV staff if the appointments were purely based on the MoU which the government had signed with the landowners.
Azo condemns Phek clash Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, JULY 26 (NPN): Condemning Wednesday’s factional clash between the NSCN (I-M) and NSCN (K)-FGN combine at Phek town, minister for Agriculture Kuzholuzo (Azo) the clash was an act of defiance against the popular desire of maintaining peaceful co-existence among the people.
Azo said the Joint Forum of GB Federation and DB Association had taken a historic step by declaring “complete ceasefire” of all underground groups on July 24 at Dimapur.
“This is a pragmatic and positive step towards solution of the vexed Naga political problem. Let us all welcome such unique Peace Pact,” Azo said and added “when peace can be achieved elsewhere, why can’t we emulate such humane decisions in Phek town and Phek district.”
To the underground groups, the minister said since the “keyword to sovereignty is Peace and Unity,” fighting and attempting to eliminate each other could never bring sovereignty to any warring group.
In view of the serious threat posed to public and their property due to factional clashes, the minister has asked all factions to immediately vacate civilian populated areas of Phek town.

FGN flays ‘meet’ Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, JULY 26 (NPN): The FGN has said the proposed 6th consultative meeting of NSCN (I-M) to be held Friday at Hebron Camp in Dimapur, was to draw the support of the people on the agreement reached by the NSCN (I-M) with Indian leaders in New Delhi on July 20.
Deputy rali-wali kilonser, FGN, Gaibon Panmei in a press release alleged that “Isak and Muivah are treacherously preparing 6th consultative …so that they would claim of the people’s support on their political blunder that they have given up the sovereignty of Nagaland for a solution within the framework of the India Constitution.”
The FGN also cautioned public leaders attending the consultative meeting that they would bear the responsibility for “selling the Naga national rights, which is treacherous anti-national act and they shall be dealt with as treason.”

Dorphang offers to broker peace in North-East Nagarealm.com




SHILLONG, JULY27 [TST] : Days after coming overground, former top HNLC leader Julius Dorphang has appealed to other militant leaders in the North-East to sit across the negotiating table rather than resort to violence and bloodshed, while offering to don role of a negotiator if other leaders of HNLC or other militant groups were willing to seek his help.

Addressing a press conference at Shillong Club on Thursday, Mr Dorphang said he realised that violence could not bring any desired solution to the various demands raised by militant organisations. "All the leaders of the various militant groups should understand (think) that it is only through dialogue and discussions that many problems can be resolved", he said. To a question, Mr Dorphang offered to play the role of a negotiator if other leaders of HNLC or other militant groups were willing to seek his help.

"The armed struggle by the various militant groups should stop and the government should also show sincerity in initiating talks," he added. While admitting that as the foreign secretary of the HNLC he had maintained links with other top militant organisations, Mr Dorphang reiterated that it was high time for all the militant groups to realise that they should sort out their grievances across the table.

No Bangladesh action : To another question as to whether there was any action on the part of Bangladesh against Nort-East militants taking shelter in that country, Mr Dorphang said he was not aware of any steps in this regard. He also claimed there was no political patronage on the part of Bangaldesh towards militants from the North-East. "There is also more danger if we depend on foreign institutions than those at home", he added.

HNLC headed for 'split' : The HNLC appears to be heading for a split with former HNLC leader Julius Dorphang claiming that he was still the chairman of the outfit. "I am still the chairman of the HNLC, but will work overground for the organsaition," Mr Dorphang told mediapersons at Shillong Club on Thursday. Mr Dorphang also maintained that the was not scared of his colleagues in Bangladesh, adding, "But if the Government provides me security, I have nothing to say." He said that two other top leaders of the HNLC -- Bobby Marwein and Cheristerfield Thangkhiew -- were stumblingblocks to peace in the State.

According to Mr Dorphang, the HNLC made an effort to sign a tripatrite agreement involving the State government and the Centre. Other leaders were not willing to have a dialogue and kept on putting conditions one after another for talks, he said. He admitted to having ideological differences with other leaders of the HNLC and added that there were some issues on which they had total disagreement.

"I am still trying to convince the HNLC leaders on the need of promoting peace rather than violence," he said. Mr Dorphang revealed that he had also written to the State and Central governments, seeking general amnesty for the HNLC leaders. On the cases pending against him, Mr Dorphang said it was up to the government to comment on the matter. "Let the law take its own course of action," he said.

HNLC a party : Mr Dorphang prefered to call HNLC a party rather than any other organisation. However he did not make it clear wthere it was just like a political party. "During the formation of HNLC, we considered it as party. It was organised in the party set up with a constitution. But all these yars, we have not released our manifesto. He agreed that the lower rank cadres who were not educated much had the feeling that they were deprived of the facilities being enjoyed by the top leaders. He also said that there were some betel nut plantations and quarry gifted by the pople in the border areas to the HNLC.

Separate homeland : The former HHLC leader reiterated that the demand of HNLC was a Hynniewtrep state. He, however, did not make it clear whether it would be under the Constitution of India or the HNLC was in favour of sovereignty. Referring to the 'Instrument of Accession' whereby the Khasi state was "forced" to join the Indian Union, he also said, "If Nagas can ask for separate homeland, why not us."

No pan to contest election : Mr Dorphang further said he had no plans for contesting the State Assembly elections due in early part of 2008. When asked on the alleged politican-militant nexus, he said there was no political patronage for HNLC militants from the State leaders.
India asks Bangla to hand over ULFA leadersFrom Our Spl Correspondent Assam Tribune
NEW DELHI, July 26 – India has asked Bangladesh to repatriate ULFA’s command-in-chief, Paresh Barua and general secretary, Anup Chetia and lodged protest against the activities of the ISI in the North-East, Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh said. In a letter to Union Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers and Steel, Ram Vilas Paswan, the Prime Minister said efforts have been made to further sanitise the border with Bangladesh. “We have also taken up with Bangladesh Government the need to take action against Indian insurgent groups operating from sanctuaries in that country,” he informed.

“We have sought the return of prominent ULFA leaders like Paresh Barua and Anup Chetia. We are conscious of the role played by the ISI and the matter has been taken up with both Bangladesh and Pakistan authorities,” Dr Singh added.

The Prime Minister was responding to Paswan’s letter regarding killing of Hindi-speaking people in the State last month. He also referred to the Prime Minister a petition submitted by a delegation of Purbottar Hindustani Federation, seeking Central Government’s intervention.

“The Government is duty bound to provide safety and security to these people who perceive themselves of them being soft targets,” Paswan had written to the Prime Minister.

The Union Minister had earlier in January visited Assam and in the aftermath of the attack on Hindi-speaking people. He had then described the situation as quite serious. In that letter, Paswan demanded that only IAS and IPS officers should be posted as DM and SP, in the affected districts so that the feeling of regionalism in the local administration could be curbed!

Asserting that he shared Paswan’s sense of sorrow and concern, the Prime Minister said he has categorically mentioned to Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi that it was imperative and the specific responsibility of the State authorities to ensure the safety and security of all segments of the people. “More specifically I have indicated that poor labourers coming from outside Assam, to earn their livelihood and contributing to the betterment of Assam, should have all the protections possible from the State,” he said.

The Prime Minister then listed out the measures taken by the State to protect the people. The actions taken are both preventive and precautionary. Police pickets have been posted in vulnerable areas. Areas where there are large concentrations or settlements of Hindi-speaking people, have been given priority, while posting policepickets, he added.
Sovereignty is Assamese' birthright: ULFA Frontline
Guwahati, July 27 (PTI): The banned ULFA today asserted that Assam's "sovereignty is the birthright of the indigenous Assamese and there can be no deviation from this path".
ULFA Chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa in his statement on the occasion of the outfit's 'Martyrs Day' today, e-mailed to the media here, claimed that since time immemorial Assam had been 'sovereign' and it is the "fundamental and birth right of every Assamese".
He also claimed the recent incidents of bomb blasts and killing of innocent people was not carried out by the ULFA but was allegedly "perpetrated by the security forces to malign and brand the ULFA as a terrorist organisation".
Rajkhowa further accused the government of gross violation of human rights for alleged custodial deaths of ULFA cadres, their bodies not handed over to their family members, false encounters, secret killing of innocent people, molestation of Assamese girls and women by security forces.
Referring to Assam's recent border disputes with Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh and Mizoram, the ULFA Chairman alleged it was the government's policy that had kept the issue alive.
"The government does not want to solve the problem as it does not want the people of neighbouring states to live in peace and harmony and the innocent people living in the border areas are paying the price for this with their lives," he added.
Rajkhowa further urged the people to "continue undeterred their struggle for sovereignty and not get swayed by the government's propaganda against the outfit."