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08/20/2007: "Indian Ceasefire Sine Die? Chiranjib Haldar Global Politician"

Indian Ceasefire Sine Die? Chiranjib Haldar Global Politician

The ceasefire between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN -I/M) and the government of India has been extended sine die on July 31, 2007. If we turn the clock back, the truce in Nagaland has been extended every 12 months since 1997, except in 2005, when it was renewed for just six months at the insistence of the rebels and further prolonged by another six months in February 2006. It was endorsed for another year on July 31, 2006 in Bangkok giving a fillip to the peace process. As of now, it is a war of rhetoric, bravado and threats of resorting to the extreme, aimed at making the opponent cower before the battle and ease up on their respective adamant stances. Ending speculation on both sides, at the end of the day on July 31 it was another leash of life to the ceasefire that both parties agreed upon in 1997. This is a natural corollary, for in the decade gone by, the peace ushered in by the ceasefire, though flawed, has become a powerful vested interest for all and sundry. Be it, mandarins in the North Block, the NSCN (I/M), the Nagas and other northeastern communities.

One should read the fine print in the joint statement issued by the center's key interlocutor, K. Padmanavaiah and NSCN (I/M) general secretary, T.Muivah ‘…it was decided to extend the truce indefinitely from August 1, subject to the progress of talks’. Reinforcing the ceasefire monitoring mechanism and adopting the Spanish government model of talking to the Basque separatists, whatever that means, may be the NSCN (I/M) leadership’s ploy to simply play to the Naga gallery. According to a status paper issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs recently, there has been no significant fall in civilian and military casualties in Nagaland in the year gone by. However, inter-factional clashes, read the NSCN (Khaplang) offensive against NSCN (I/M) has led to militant fatalities from both groups. The Nagaland government has been asked by the Ministry of Home Affairs to prepare an action plan to tackle this growing inter-factional rivalry.

There have been major glitches in the decade gone by. A lot of bad blood has been created between the Nagas and the Meities in the Imphal valley, an offshoot of the centre’s ambivalence. Former Prime Minister I.K.Gujral who brokered the armistice, initially refused to reveal its terms and conditions in parliament. Gujral did admit that he had discussed the ceasefire’s jurisdiction with Naga leaders Muivah and Isak Swu and yet within months of the truce, Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur bore the brunt of violence. For New Delhi it has been a carrot and stick policy – both the NSCN factions have been asked to go back to their camps. The bottom line is, it may be better to stagnate in peace than in hostility. The NSCN (I/M) has softened their rigid stance and have realised to some extent that the centre has to abide by the Indian constitution at any cost. Talks in Dimapur unlike in Amsterdam or Bangkok earlier are a pointer in that direction.

NSCN (I/M) hardliners have understood that if a decade of negotiation did not bring in any tangible result for them, armed rebellion could not do it either in the past 50 years since 1947. Semantically it was a ceasefire between two equal parties, but never in reality. For there was another unwritten script that emerged concurrently. In the peace breakthrough, the Indian interlocutors, first Swaraj Kaushal and then K. Padmanavaihah have always kept the upper hand by gerrymandering, overlooked by Muivah and IsacSwu in the euphoria of expectation. In this script, the Government of India was the benefactor, giving the insurgent organization another chance to reform, or else a honorable exit. If this was not so, the preconditions of the ceasefire would not have been about setting up designated camps for the insurgents.

The NSCN (I/M) has been accusing New Delhi of tacitly helping the Khaplang faction to weaken their strength. They blamed the Indian army for the supplies of automatic weapons to the Khaplang faction that has led to their recent revival. The Indian army has stoutly denied all such allegations. India has termed this a systematic violation of the ground rules of the ceasefire agreement by both the factions. It had also appealed them to end the battle peacefully and amicably failing which it said it reserves the rights to use force to flush out all such militants.

The Nagas were the first ethnic group in the northeast to revolt against New Delhi’s rule. On August 14, 1947, Naga leader Angami Zapu Phizo and his Naga National Council (NNC) asserted that the Nagas were never a part of India and demanded a sovereign status. However, New Delhi summarily rejected their demand that marked the beginning of the long haul of the armed struggle in Nagaland. India made efforts to broker peace and Nagaland became a state in 1964. Though a ceasefire was signed between the Indian government and the NNC, the Naga rebels continued their offensive that made the government abrogate the truce in 1969. However by then chinks had appeared in the Naga struggle. Then came the Shillong Accord that was signed in 1975. The trio of Muivah, Swu and Khaplang decided to sever ties with their parent body and formed the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) in 1980. But soon the NSCN was mired in internal problems, with leaders differing on major policy issues on clan and tribal lines. The NSCN split in 1988 with Khaplang forming a parallel NSCN (Khaplang). By 1992, the two NSCN factions, Isac Swu-Muivah and Khaplang were engaged in a fratricidal war over territorial supremacy.

Unlike the Mizo National Front in Mizoram, whose rebel leader Laldenga formed a government in 1986, politically the ceasefire has been unproductive for the NSCN (I/M). Despite the braggadocio, they have not been able to topple any democratically elected government in Kohima. The implicit basis always was, and still is, the settlement reached, has to be ultimately within the Indian Constitution, or within acceptable limits of amendment to the constitution. If the NSCN (I/M) or any bellicose group chooses to negotiate peace and thinks anything beyond this is achievable, they should be prepared for a hundred years of futile negotiations. It puts the ordinary citizens in total misery. They are berated by opposing laws, different extortion regimes and are expected to be loyal to two powers on the threat of being castigated either for being party to sedition to the nation, or being a turncoat.

There are, however, a few critical questions. During earlier talks, the NSCN (I/M) had proposed ‘a special federal arrangement’ and a separate constitution under the arrangement, both seemingly impossible propositions. The government of India has serious objections to both the demands. It’s not in favour of redrawing the boundaries of its northeastern states for the territorial unification of Nagaland. Ultimately the legendary Naga rebel leader Phizo had also accepted the Indian constitution. New Delhi expects an aging Isac Swu-Muivah and Khaplang to fall in line in may be another 10 years of extending the cessation of hostilities. But history repeats itself. Who knows another group owing allegiance to the NSCN (I/M) will break away and carry on their struggle as Isac Swu-Muivah had done when the Naga National Council signed the Shillong accord with then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975.
Chiranjib Haldar has been contributing to leading newspapers for more than a decade and is associated with a leading South Asian think-tank.15 Al Qaeda operatives held at Moreh The Tangkhul
IMPHAL, Aug 19 : In a sensational development, at least 15 suspected Al Qaeda activists have been rounded up from Moreh on the Indo-Myanmar border by personnel of 24 Assam Rifles on August 17 at about 3.15 am.

Speaking to The Sangai Express a highly placed source said that the suspected Al Qaeda operatives were arrested from a house located at Moreh Ward number 3, Old Post Office line.
The spokesman of Assam Rifles, Colonel LM Pant however said that his office has not received any official inputs on the matter.
Commanding officer of the 24 Assam Rifles, based at Moreh, Colonel Vikash Saini refused to pass any comments when contacted by The Sangai Express today evening.
However a source close to the Defence establishment at New Delhi, when contacted by The Sangai Express today evening, confirmed the report of the arrest of Al Qaeda operatives at the border town but did not give any details
The 24 Assam Rifles unit based at Moreh functions under the IGAR (South).
Efforts to contact the IG AR, Major General BK Chengappa personally drew blank as he was reportedly engaged in an important meeting when his office was called up this evening.
Colonel GS who received the phone call on behalf of the IG however said that the 15 arrested men are all Myanmarese Muslims. The officer said that they will be handed over to the police tomorrow.
The Colonel said that no links with the Al Qaeda have been established so far and added that they were picked up in the first place because they are foreigners who had entered Indian territory.
To queries, the Colonel said that no significant do*ents have been recovered from them other than some work permits.
One of the 15 had do*ents from Thailand, he said and added that they are being interrogated intensively.
The source said that the of the 15 arrested, 10 are from the Arakan region on the Bangladesh-Myanmar region, while the other five are from Bangladesh.
During interrogation, 5/6 of the arrested persons are reported to have admitted that they are Al Qaeda operatives.
All the arrested were brought to Imphal the following day on August 18.
The fifteen suspected Al Qaeda are being interrogated at the highest level, said the source and added that so far they have managed to seize passports, a card issued by a competent authority of the Government of Manipur identifying them as businessmen as another card enabling them to move across the border as traders.
US dollars, the amount of which has not yet been specified were also seized from them, said the source further.
The source informed that some of the detained persons have admitted that they were attached to finance and publicity wings of the global terrorist network, Al Qaeda.
The 6 persons who have admitted that they are Al Qaeda activists have been identified as Md Hussain (40), Md Nasim (50), Md Abdullah (20), Md Rehman (26), Md Zunided (17) and Md Rohit (16).
All of them are under close scrutiny.
Significantly three cadres of the Laskar-E-Taiba originally from Manipur were arrested from Delhi some time back.
The official version of the arrest may come after some days.
C-in-C of new outfit held at Silchar : Troops of 57 Mountain Division operating in Cachar area arrested the S/S commander-in-chief of the newly floated outfit, christened United Bengal Revolutionary Army on August 17 at Silchar in Assam, said a statement issued by the PIB (Defence Wing) today evening.
Weapons and incriminating do*ents were also recovered from his possession said the statement and added that the ultra has been handed over to Silchar police station.
The militant is identified as Sujal Roy alias Sujal Sharma.
The arms recovered included on .22 revolver, one magazine of 9 mm pistol, one Chinese made grenade and six rounds of 9 mm calibre ammunition.
Cell phone and car craze- Nagaland Post Column
There is no doubt that the standard of living in Nagaland has increased. People are now far better off than they were some years back. They are now able to enjoy even the luxuries of life. There are many things which people, especially the youth don't actually need to have. Yet they go in for such things. Mobiles phones are one such thing. There is no harm in having a thing if one can afford to have it. But one must think before having a thing of it can harm oneself or others. These days it has turned fashion even for the school going children to own mobile phones. I wonder where they get the money to pay or recharge their mobile bills. Does the school/college authority permit their wards to use such things in the campus or during their class hours?
Cars are also another such things. Having a car has become a status symbol especially in Dimapur and Kohima. Many people don't actually need to have a car or more that one car. Yet maybe they would have one to show off. This craze has led to another problem. It has added to the degree of pollution in the air and increase the noise pollution too. Thus the car owners forget that with every new car they are harming their own health as that of the others. The poisonous fumes from the exhausts of their cars can cause many fatal diseases. There is an additional problem caused by the increased number of cars. Moreover, they have made our roads and streets very congested. It has become a problem to find spaces for their parking even. People must think above it and put a check over their harmful craze of owning unnecessary man made materials.
Tovi Yep's Chuches Colony, Dimapur
Tuensang mob was a group of lunatics: NSCN (IM) Morung Express
Dimapur, August 19 (MExN): The NSCN (IM) today said that the mob that killed three of its cadres inside a Jail in Tuensang on August 18, was a group of lunatics who were carried away by the call of some war-mongering leaders, and clarified the NSCN (IM)’s Ministry of Information and Publicity should have not categorized the mob as belonging to the Phom community.
“It is an inadvertent mistake on the part of MIP to have categorized the mob in the Tuensang incident as Phoms. This is not the true picture of the story and the mob are a group of lunatic-like people carried away by the call of some war-mongering leaders usually found on the streets looking for trouble,” an NSCN (IM)/MIP press release said.
The release said that the mob indulging in such fury is just mindless demonstration of their overbearing mindset. “The incident have brought heaps of insult and loss of human dignity to the whole Nagas,” said the release. The release said that due to ‘certain circumstantial pressure’, the NSCN (IM) Phom cadres might have gone overboard in their ‘tax collection’, which might have caused the incident. However, the release asserted that the incident created by the unruly mob can never be condoned by any human standard and that the ‘application of animal-like instinct to take full control of the situation’ was not warranted.
“The NSCN (IM) cadres in Tuensang may come and go, but if the uncivilized method of social dealing is not buried for good, where is the guarantee that such horrid human drama shall not be repeated,” the release said. “Certainly Nagas should be ashamed of witnessing their own people going headstrong, but only to bull-doze their way to damnation,” the release added. The release called for good sense to prevail among the people in Tuensang, and also called for doing away with ‘the Tuensang social status which has already been rated as below standard by today’s civilized scale’.
NSCN (IM) Phom Region condoles The Morung Express
Dimapur, August 19 (MExN): The Phom Region NSCN (IM) today expressed its sadness over the death of three of its cadres at the hands of an irate mob inside Tuensang police lock-up on August 18.
Three NSCN (IM) cadres who were locked up in Tuensang police lock up, namely Namang Phom, Region CAO of Montikang village, Pte Moilong Phom of Hukpang village and L/Corpl Solo Chang were killed “by the unruly Yimchunger mob” at Tuensang police lock -up yesterday at 12 noon, said a condolence message received here from the Secretary of the Phom Region, NSCN (IM).
The message conveyed the condolences of the NSCN (IM) Phom Region to the bereaved family members and prayed for the departed souls to rest in peace. The NSCN (IM) Phom Region, Secretary also expressed gratitude to all concerned, particularly Parliamentary Secretary, P Chuba Chang, Chang Region, Phom Union Tuensang, Phom Peoples’ Council (PPC) and other individual and organisation who stood by them and rendered all sorts of help.
Ethnic heat on Assam’s carnage zone The Morung Express
Guwahati, August 19 (Agencies): Barely a fortnight after witnessing bloodbath against Hindi-speaking settlers, Assam’s Karbi Anglong district is under siege again. This time from various ethnic communities up against a restrictive land policy that had apparently triggered the carnage that claimed 30 lives.
The Nagarik Suraksha Manch, an umbrella organization of all non-Karbi communities in Karbi Anglong, has announced an economic blockade on NH39, the district’s lifeline.
The blockade is against the Congress-ruled Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council’s (KAAC) July 13 notification restricting sale, purchase, gifting, transfer and leasing of land from tribal to non-tribal and non-tribal to tribal. Though KAAC claimed the notification was to keep Bangladeshis out of the district, the notification also imposed restrictions on all tribes other than the "indigenous tribals"—the majority Karbis. "This notification is discriminatory and is potentially explosive," said a spokesman of the Nagarik Suraksha Manch, adding the blockade will continue unless the KAAC withdraws the notification. The Manch comprises communities such as Assamese, Bengali, Nepali, Bodo, Kuki, Adivasi, Rengma Naga, Tiwa, Mishing, Rabha and other indigenous groups besides the Hindi-speaking. All these communities have a sizeable but scattered population. They virtually control trade and agricultural activities. For instance, the Kukis control the lucrative ginger trade while the Hindi-speaking lord over the sugarcane plantations. The Karbi Anglong district authorities are wary of more violence in view of the economic blockade. Karbi Anglong, incidentally, is India’s second largest district but has only four police stations. “We negotiated with the Manch, and they agreed to a 12-hour blockade instead of an indefinite one,” said deputy commissioner M Angamuthu. "But we have taken precautionary measures against any repercussion."
Meanwhile, chief minister Tarun Gogoi said that his government would be reviewing the KAAC land policy.
Kohima threatens repeat of 2003 Mokokchung flushout Nagarealm.com

Kohima, AUG19 [TI] : A public backlash of the kind that forced the Khaplang faction of the NSCN to abandon its council headquarters in Mokokchung town in 2003 is brewing in the Nagaland capital.The Angami tribe has set 3pm tomorrow as the deadline for the militant group to hand over one of its activists, accused of attacking a leader of the Angami Students Union last week, or face a flushout. The militant in question had an altercation with the student leader over extortion. The NSCN (K)’s rival is in trouble, too. A mob lynched three extortionists from the Isak-Muivah faction in Tuensang, 250 km from Kohima, yesterday for collecting “tax”. They were dragged out of a police lock-up and beaten to death.

Commissioner T.N. Mannen said the situation was under control and that the district administration was alert to the possibility of reprisal. A source confirmed that NSCN (I-M) activists were seen moving about openly in the town. The NSCN (I-M) described the circumstances that triggered mob fury as “unfortunate”. But it said the “uncivilised way of venting public anger” was “more condemnable”.

In Kohima, the Angami Students Union, Angami Youth Front and several organisations here, including those representing other Naga tribes, warned of “drastic action” against NSCN (K) cadre in the capital town if the culprit who shot at the student leader was not handed over to them. A bandh called by Angami organisations was, however, lifted today. The militant, Yehokhu Sumi, had fired a bullet at the former president of the Angami Students Union, Medo Yhokha, on Thursday in Jail Colony.

The NSCN (K) pledged action against the militant, but the assurance failed to mollify residents. No representative of the outfit appeared before the organisations on Friday, as had been asked to do. The NSCN (K) argued that since the crime was committed without the approval of its leadership, the outfit as a whole should not be held responsible for it. Senior functionaries of the outfit - Kughalu Mulatonu, Singson Kuki and Akato Chophy - have separately pledged stringent action soon against Yehokhu. But Mulatonu has warned the Angami Nagas that the outfit would not tolerate the entire organisation being held responsible for the offence.
Heady Cocktail Editorial the Morung Express
The two recent back to back incidents at Kohima and Tuensang have brought to the fore once again, the genuine concerns of the Naga public over movement of armed cadres in public inhabited areas. The problem gets worse when such cadres extort money from the public without having being duly authorized to do so in the first place, which itself is an act of indiscipline from within the ranks. And when such wayward cadres take matters into their own hands, they not only cause harm to public peace but also bring embarrassment to the groups that they represent. It is high time for the concerned authorities in the different Naga underground groups to start disciplining their cadres before such criminal minded hooligans in its ranks go about destroying the sanity of the Naga public. The mob’s action at Tuensang on Saturday is unfortunate and should have been averted. Similar cases of mob fury even in the past did not achieve anything good for peace and goodwill other than to demonstrate the frustration of the public over the lame duck approach of the government with regard to the maintenance of law and order.
One of the other issues, which cannot escape attention at this juncture, is whether mob justice is the answer or the problem? There have been many instances even in the past when the irate public had wanted to ‘deal’ with a given situation. The other question that needs to be asked especially to the ‘State authorities’ is why mob violence is becoming a daily occurrence among the Nagas and how is crime and lawlessness being dealt with? The State government would have to take its own set of initiative so that the security of its citizen is not compromised under any circumstance. The UG groups would also do well to understand that their legitimacy is derived not only by way of its political mandate but also on whether it can effectively protect those who have consented to obey it. The UG leadership should streamline its command structure or else it would simply mean the hijacking of political authority by the laws of the jungle—which some of the errant cadres are extremely fond of indulging in.
Nothing illustrates better the heady mix of armed atrocities and mob fury then the Tuensang incident that led to the killing of three NSCN (IM) cadres. The Mokokchung incident a few years back is still fresh in public memory. Only that time, it was the NSCN (K), which was at the receiving end of public discontent. The recent mob uprising at Wungram colony, Purana Bazar in Dimapur also merits attention of everything that is wrong in our present society. For the Naga people in general, it is also a reminder that there is always the lurking danger of tribalism waiting to raise its ugly head and events taking a communal hue. But this should not be allowed to happen. As far as mob justice goes, no can condone it because it is barbaric and does not conform to what a civil society ought to follow. However, people take the law into their hands because the system has failed them. First of all, let there be civility among UG cadres and allow the rule of law to prevail in the State. Otherwise who knows the mob may well be the only solution although two wrongs will never make a right.
Lynching in peacetime Oken Jeet Sandham Morung Exoress Perspective
The lynching of wayward underground cadres by mobs in Nagaland is not new. Such incidents had happened in the past in Wokha and Mokokchung. But the fresh lynching of three cadres of the NSCN (IM) by mobs on Saturday inside the Police lockup at Tuensang exposes both sides of the coin. One the underground organization has failed to rein in their cadres from going out of the track. Two the carelessness and hedonistic style of the state law enforcement agencies.
The unfortunate incident at Tuensang would not have happened if those cadres were properly trained with some basic class of revolutionary values. Because in most of the cases, they tend to overreact undermining the basic elements of publics, the life support of their movement. Tax collections have been going on in the State and publics are obliging to it except some refusal here and there. But the manner in which some cadres flexing their muscles and resorting to highly unacceptable way of collecting taxes from the publics even to the extent of causing harms to lives and properties or even attempting on somebody’s life will surely spawn negative environment. Such act will only make them weaker as the publics will keep them aloof. The current uncertainty prevailing in the state capital, Kohima also relates to this style. On last Thursday, one of the NSCN (K) cadres, Yehokhu Sema, attempted on the life of the former Angami Students Union President, Medo Yhokha. The powerful Angami Students Union and Angami Youth Organization had even called for an indefinite bandh in the capital, besides demanding the higher-up of the organization (NSCN-K) to hand over the culprit responsible for the excesses meted out to one of their colleagues by August 20.
The state government machineries have become a laughing stock as their law enforcement agencies are gradually reduced to toothless state of affairs. Because collection of taxes by underground cadres in front of police check-gates has already become a phenomenon. The police will simply take ongoing ceasefire between the underground groups and the government of India as an excuse of their inability to curb the menace. The trouble is even if they arrest any cadre; a barrage of questions will pour against them for arresting such cadres during peacetime. They are in a limbo. There is a near absence of policing exercise and certainly, in such a void, the other untrained elements will come in and create law and order problem. This is what the publics are witnessing.
The policemen in the check-gate at Tuensang must have been watching for quite sometime before finally taking the risk of intervening the collection drive by the cadres of the NSCN (IM) on the fateful Saturday. Because the cadres carried out the tax collection from the vehicles were in front of their Police check-gate in broad daylight. One of the cadres had reportedly shot at Havildar Kiukum Yim injuring him, while the other cadres trying to snatch away the service rifle of one of the policemen. By any standard, the manner in which the cadres in question doing the act were very much questionable, besides it was against the law of the land. Definitely the act too is not in conversant with the established norms of the particular underground outfit and in fact they had acknowledged its illegality too.
Five years ago on 28 August 2003, an NSCN (IM) cadre was beaten to death at Tuensang after outfit’s activists assaulted two student leaders. This NSCN (IM) activist was beaten to death while his companions escaped during a discussion between representatives of the Tuensang and Mon Students Federation (TDSF), Tuensang and Mon Public Organization (TMPO) and leaders of NSCN (IM) of Tuensang at Goan Burah Court in the town (Tuensang). The incident also happened during a 12-hour bandh called by the leaders of the TDSF and the TMPO to register their protest against the assault and harassment of their two leaders by the NSCN (IM) militants. Public anger mounted with surging crowd during the meeting finally beat one of the cadres to death, while others managed to escape. During this time too, the NSCN (IM) warned its cadres against harassing members of the public or organization.
Whatever the case might be, the culprits from the angle of the laws of the land have been arrested and put behind the lock up. Once they are arrested and in the custody of the police, the police are responsible for their safety. The mobs numbering about 250 storming the police station in Tuensang and beating to death the three cadres of the NSCN (IM) who were already inside the lock up in handcuffs is a serious reminder that police stations should have sufficient manpower specially during ceasefire because such cases of underground excesses will be more during such time. While also underground higher-up takes steps to streamline their lower cadres that during such peacetime, the most important thing is they build good relationship with the publics.
Canoro Updates Sub-thrust Area Activities Market wire usa
CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Aug. 20, 2007) - Canoro Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:CNS) and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited ("ONGC") have concluded the technical evaluation and reached mutual agreement under the Joint Study Agreement for the initial work program to be conducted on the six Nagaland blocks. The initial work program provides for a reactivation of the Changpang oil field and 2D and 3D seismic acquisition on the five exploration blocks. A regional socio-economic study in the areas affected by the six blocks has also been conducted, while an environmental study of the Changpang field is anticipated to be completed by the middle of September.

Discussions on possible ways for implementing the recommendations contained in the Joint Study will commence during the second half of August.

Seismic Processing and Interpretation Update

In addition to the planned activity on the ONGC blocks in Nagaland, the recently acquired 2D seismic on the AA-ON/7 (140 km) and AA-ONN-2003/2 (220 km) exploration blocks is being processed. Both of these seismic surveys evaluate the same fold and thrust geological environment as the Nagaland exploration blocks.

The results, while preliminary, indicate several prospective independent structures across the sub-thrust belt in both exploration blocks. The processing, interpretation and final prospect generation on our AA-ON/7 block is planned to be completed in September. Once complete, we expect to recommend to our partners and the Government of India to drill in this area.

Canoro is a Canadian-based international oil and gas company operating in the Assam/Arakan basin of northeast India. Canoro is the operator of Amguri field with a 60% working interest. Canoro is the operator with a 65% working interest in the AA-ON/7 exploration block. Canoro also has a 15% non-operated working interest in the AA-ONN 2003/2 exploration block.

Common shares of Canoro trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'CNS'.

This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including management's assessment of future plans and operations, and capital expenditures and the timing thereof, that involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond Canoro's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks associated with oil and gas exploration, development, exploitation, production, marketing and transportation, loss of markets, volatility of commodity prices, currency fluctuations, imprecision of reserve estimates, environmental risks, competition from other producers, inability to retain drilling rigs and other services, delays resulting from or inability to obtain required regulatory approvals and ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, the impact of general economic conditions in Canada, the United States and overseas, industry conditions, changes in laws and regulations (including the adoption of new environmental laws and regulations) and changes in how they are interpreted and enforced, increased competition, the lack of availability of qualified personnel or management, fluctuations in foreign exchange or interest rates, stock market volatility and market valuations of companies with respect to announced transactions and the final valuations thereof, and obtaining required approvals of regulatory authorities. Canoro's actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurances can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits, including the amount of proceeds, that Canoro will derive therefrom. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. All subsequent forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, attributable to Canoro or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and Canoro does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this News Release.
Bandhs, strikes banned in Manipur Newmai News Network
Imphal | The Manipur government has banned bandhs or general strikes, blockading of highways and economic blockades in the state saying that these forms of agitation have greatly retarded the economic growth of the state.This decision of the state government has been taken last night at a Cabinet meeting.
According to the state government due to the bandhs and blockades in the state called by various organisations both social and militant groups, the state’s loss in the last three years alone amounted to the hefty Rs 1319.93 crores. Last night’s decision of the Manipur cabinet upholds the 1997 judgement of the Supreme Court of India which in turn affirmed the earlier ruling of the Kerala High Court announcing bandhs and general strike as unlawful.
Following this Cabinet decision, a public appeal was made by the state chief secretary saying that the organisations or elements who call or impose bandhs and blockades will be dealt under the provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, section 8B of the National Highway Act, 1957, and sections 384, 427 and 506 read with section 34 of the Indian Penal Code.
According to the sources, the Cabinet meeting last night had noted very seriously regarding the immense loss of the state economy. Mention may be made that the Manipur government is taking up strict measures on various fronts in quick succession within a short period.
Just little more than a couple of week ago, the Manipur government has banned the publications of press releases of the underground groups. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) strongly opposed the move of the government by terming it as gagging the mouth of the media. The media organisation urged the state government to reconsider its decision or else series of strong agitations would be initiated against the government order.
The state government had agreed to modify certain clauses of the August 2 government order and did it. However, the media in the state was not satisfied with the way it was modified. The apex journalists’ body of Manipur latter announced that it would do how the media should carry out its duties without listening to anybody’s diktats and orders. Recently the mediapersons had carried out a five-day protest in the state capital against the diktat of two factions of an underground organisation operating in Manipur. The said outfit apologized and pledged not to repeat their interferences in the working of the media, only then the newspapers started publishing their respective editions again.
Kohima shops to open today The Morung Express

DIMAPUR, AUGUST 19 (MExN): The Kohima Chamber of Commerce & Industry today announced that all shops and business establishment in and around Kohima will start functioning normally from August 20 onwards.
“Henceforth the KCCI also stated that until a directive has been received from the office of the KCCI no other authority will be allowed to close down the shop,” a press release stated.
Regretting that after a detailed discussion with ASU and AYO a decision was taken to re-open the shops in the interest of the public but due to some communication gap some untoward incident had happened to some traders, the KCCI, ASU and AYO have expressed regrets over the incident but at the same time thanked the business community and the public for their co operation.
The KCCI further informs the rightful owners to come and collect the keys that were taken on August 18 from the Vice President of KCCI at United Traders (food division), opposite Kohima College between 6 to 8 am Monday, August 20. For details, contact KCCI Towers at phone number 2290973
AHRC takes congnisance of killings of Hindi-speaking people



By PTI
Monday August 20, 06:10 PM
Guwahati, Aug 20 (PTI) Assam Human Rights Commission today issued a notice to the state government to furnish a detailed report on the recent killing of Hindi-speaking people by ULFA and KLNLF militants in Karbi Anglong district.
Commission Chairman Justice S Barman Roy took suo moto cognisance of the media reports on the killings and issued a notice to the Chief Secretary of the state government.
The Commission directed the Chief Secretary to furnish details specifying separately on the list of persons killed and injured with their address and amount of compensation, if paid, to each of the next of kin and to the injured.
The Commission has also asked for details on the steps taken for rehabilitation of the affected persons whose houses and properties were destroyed and damaged and the security arrangements made for prevention of occurrence of such incidents in future.
The Commission also directed the Chief Secretary to submit the report within by September 20, 2007.
ULFA and KLNLF militants had gunned down 29 Hindi-speaking people in separate incidents in Karbi Anglong district in the run up to Independence Day.