08/24/2007: "Angami bodies flay MSF Nagaland Post"

Angami bodies flay MSF Nagaland Post

Dimapur, Aug 23 (NPN): Various Southern Angami organizations Thursday condemned the claim made by Manipur Students' Federation (MSF) that Dzükou valley belongs to Manipur.
Reacting strongly to a statement made by the MSF general secretary over a question in the UPSC preliminary examination, the Angami organizations including Southern Angami Public Organization (SAPO), Southern Angami Youth Organization (SAYO) Southern Angami Students' Union (SASU) and SAPO Core Committee Dzükou reiterated that "Dzükou Valley belongs to the Southern Angamis of Nagaland since time immemorial and there had never been any doubt or dispute over it".
In the light of this, the organizations described the claim of MSF as "irrational and misleading".
A statement signed jointly by SAPO president Pheluphwe Kirha, SASU president Pueyo Lcho, SAPO Core Committee Dzükou secretary Kezhokhoto Savi and SAYO president Sulvi Angami made it clear that the people of Southern Angami would never recognize any boundary, drawn arbitrarily by the British imperialists for administrative convenience. The signatories claimed the word "Dzükou" was derived from the Angami dialect and it itself was enough to "prove our authentic ownership".
It may be mentioned the MSF had taken strong exception to a question in the UPSC preliminary examination where names of four States including Nagaland and four valleys were given side by side to match each other. In the list, Dzükou valley was given to match Nagaland but Manipur was missing.
Pratiyogita Darpan, a competitive examination booklet, also showed Dzükou valley falling inside Nagaland. In an ultimatum served on Wednesday, the MSF asked the UPSC to clarify its stand within seven days or be ready to face a series of agitations from the students.
Traders flee; food crisis in KA Nagaland Post
Dolamara (Assam), Aug 23 (Agencies): The exodus of Hindi-speaking traders from parts of Assam's Karbi Anglong district has led to an acute shortage of essentials, with local Karbi tribals now facing the after effects of the violence.
Schoolteacher K. Timung is a worried man - the weekly bazaar every Saturday at village Dolamara, 275 km east of Assam's main city Guwahati, has remained closed for the last three weeks. "The Dolamara bazaar was the only place in the area where we do our weekly shopping with commodities ranging from rice and pulses, baby food, mustard oil, salt and other essentials," Timung told IANS.
There are an estimated 2,500 locals in the area that depended on essentials from the Dolamara weekly market. "Now the bazaar is closed as all the traders who were Biharis have fled after the violent attacks on them," Timung said in a voice filled with remorse.
The eastern Karbi Anglong district witnessed a string of brutal attacks in the run up to Independence Day where close to 30 Hindi-speaking people were killed by the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) and the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF).
Like Dolamara, the weekly markets in the adjoining areas of Bandarchak and Deithor have also remained closed since the violence.
"There is a severe shortage of food and other essentials. Hundreds of people like us depended on the weekly markets and small grocery shops run by Biharis and Marwaris for food. Now not a single shop is open," lamented Krising Bey, a community elder.
Hundreds of Hindi-speaking traders have fled the area after the attacks. Some of them have left the state while others are reportedly trying to buy time for normalcy to return. "We cannot risk our lives by returning to our workplace. Maybe the militants will come and attack us if we open our shops now," Hari Prasad Chauhan, a grocer in the districts Bokajan area, said.
Chauhan and his family are now sheltered in a relative's home in the adjoining town of Golaghat. The attacks have led to growing mistrust between the local Karbis and the Hindi-speakers.
Meanwhile, clusters of Hindi-speaking people will be set in Assam to protect them from being targeted by militants, Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said today.
"Hindi-speaking people are easily targeted by militants as they now live scattered across districts like Karbi Anglong. We are thinking of setting up clusters so that they can live together," Jaiswal told reporters in Mumbai.
Karbi Anglong has a population of around two lakhs, of which 55,000 are Hindi-speaking people, and once it is divided into three police districts, these people can have a separate police station and a superintendent of police, Jaiswal said.
He claimed the overall security situation in the northeast has improved a lot in the past three years.
"The smooth conduct of elections in Assam and Manipur and the successful National Games in Assam are testimony to this improvement," he said.

Sikhs Brief UK Foreign Office on Sikh Struggle for Khalistan, Boro, Naga Ranjit Singh Srai (PNSD) The Panthic Weekly
London, UK - In a highly significant development for the internationalisation of the Sikh freedom struggle, representatives from a range of leading Sikh organisations met with high ranking officials of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on 15 August 2007 in order to seek British support for the implementation of the Sikh Nation’s right to self-determination. The fact that the meeting was held on India’s Independence Day will be a powerful reminder that, for the Sikhs, the 15th of August 1947 represents an historic injustice which has led to sixty years of wholesale denial of their political, human and territorial rights, as well as the theft of Punjab’s crucial natural resources by the Indian state.

The meeting was organised by with the assistance of ‘Parliamentarians for National Self-Determination’ (PNSD), a cross party group of Westminster parliamentarians which promotes self-determination as a peaceful means of conflict resolution, together with members of its Sikh Advisory Panel. The FCO was represented by Richard Chapman, its head of the India section within the South Asia team, together with colleagues from the FCO’s research and human rights divisions.

The FCO team was informed about the development of the Sikh aspiration to find peace, security and dignity within a sovereign state of Khalistan which would also offer a strategic solution to the dangerous nuclear rivalry between India and Pakistan by forming a buffer state. This solution, together with a similar remedy to the conflict in Kashmir, would neutralise what most observers see as the most likely source of a deadly third world war. It would also enable the British and the Sikhs to re-establish a formal relationship based on mutual respect and co-operation.

The FCO was briefed on how Sikh efforts to secure their national rights within India since 1947 have been met with fierce opposition from the very inception of the Indian state. The categorisation of Sikhs as “Hindus” for the purposes of the Indian Constitution (which document has never been accepted by the Sikhs), the denial of a Punjab state based on linguistic lines (when other states were formed on that basis without controversy), the illegal appropriation of Punjab’s precious water resources by non-riparian Indian states and ultimately use of genocidal military force and pogroms which have left some 200,000 Sikhs dead since 1984 when the Indian army mounted its infamous invasion of the Goden Temple in Amritsar. The Sikhs have been left with no option but to protect their national interests by securing independence.

The ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ (national gathering) held at Sri Akal Takht Sahib on 26 January 1986 responded to Indian aggression by resolving to establish Khalistan and that remains the goal of the Sikh Nation. This was the only occasion over the last 30 years of repression when the Sikhs have freely determined their wishes in accordance the requirements of international law. Self-determination has been accepted by the UN as being not only a human right, but one without which all other human rights are open to abuse. It was made clear by the Sikhs the endorsement of the international community of any particular outcome is not required but that it should at least, if it had any doubts about Sikh demands, facilitate a plebiscite in Punjab under UN supervision so that a democratic and transparent outcome could be delivered by the voice of the people themselves.

The Sikhs referred to continued repression in Punjab as a raft of Sikh leaders, including Simranjeet Singh Mann, have been recently repeatedly detained, tortured and charged with sedition for simply calling for Sikh independence by exclusively peaceful and democratic means. This sustained repression of legitimate Sikh political activity had made the recent Punjab elections a farce and the Sikhs requested that the UK Government make it clear to India that such repression was an unacceptable breach of human rights and democratic norms. When asked about the current Chief Minister of Punjab and his ability to protect Sikh interests, it was pointed out that both he and his predecessor have previously openly called for an independent Sikh state and the FCO must draw its own conclusions about their subsequent ‘rehabilitation’ within the Indian establishment without achieving a single gain for the Sikhs in the process.

It was pointed out that India’s problematic relations with the Sikhs were similar to the conflicts in Kashmir, Nagalim, Assam, Manipur and Bodoland where national minorities were again suffering a much worse form of colonialism than the British had ever imposed. It was submitted that India’s appalling human rights record and its open defiance of its international obligations towards these nations meant that it was not appropriate for India’s claim to a permanent seat at the UN Security Council to be accepted.

The Sikhs asked that the UK Government take full account of the Indian state’s record in framing its policies towards that country, in line with the UK’s stated aims of promoting the rule of law and the values of democracy and freedom. Britain’s estimated 700,000 strong Sikh community is anxious to see that Britain uses its influence wisely, especially given Britain’s own responsibility as a an ex-colonial power in the region.

Specifically, the UK should agree to back the Sikh call for an international court to try those who have been responsible for the massive abuses of Sikh human rights since 1984, in the light of India’s policy of providing immunity to those who had engaged in state terrorism on its behalf. There is a mass of credible evidence – even public admissions by successive chief Punjab Police chiefs – of the systematic abuses, based largely on the work of Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and an array of domestic human rights bodies such as the Punjab Human Rights Organisation. In addition, the UK should demand that India drop the death sentences against Professor Devinderpal Singh Bhullar, Jagtar Singh and Balwant Singh. It was made clear by the Sikhs that the death sentence had been used in India disproportionately against minorities in order to pander to the Hindutva agenda as promoted by the RSS which should be banned in the UK due to its ideology of hatred and links with violence.

A constructive and significant meeting was concluded with Richard Chapman assuring the Sikhs that the views expressed would be duly considered and that the UK Government takes seriously Sikh affairs as well as human rights. He and his colleagues were thanked by the Sikh attendees – Amrik Singh Sahota, OBE (Council of Khalistan), Gurmej Singh Gill (Khalistan Govt in Exile), Manmohan Singh Khalsa (Dal Khalsa), Jaswinder Singh Rai and Santokh Singh Saran (Shiromani Akali Dal Amritsar) and Ranjit Singh Srai (PNSD).

Uprising warning to Ibobi - Education first casualty in Sadar Hills tremors OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Imphal, Aug. 23: Educational institutions in the Sadar Hills of Manipur were forcibly shut down today by members of the organisation that has been campaigning for the subdivision to be upgraded to the status of a revenue district.
The Sadar Hills District Demand Committee warned the government of an “intense agitation” if it continued to dilly-dally on the issue.
The committee forcibly shut down all government offices in the Sadar Hills on August 19 for an indefinite period. Educational institutions will remain closed till Saturday.
The committee has also called a 48-hour bandh in the Sadar Hills from Sunday.
“It is a do-or-die movement this time. We will not call off our agitation until the government takes concrete steps to upgrade Sadar Hills to a revenue district,” the information secretary of the committee, Lunthang Haokip, said.
Sadar Hills, a Kuki-dominated area, is a subdivision of Senapati district. The demand to upgrade Sadar Hills to a district was first raised in 1974. The erstwhile Wahengbam Nipamacha Singh government did decide to upgrade Sadar Hills to a district, but the plan was dropped after a boundary dispute cropped up.
A delegation of the committee met chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh recently to remind him of the pending demand. Ibobi Singh reportedly appealed to the delegation not to resort to any agitation, which it immediately rejected.
Haokip said the decision to resume the agitation was taken by the committee after consulting all organisations representing the Kuki community. The committee has asked all from Sadar Hills-based candidates who have filed their nomination papers for the forthcoming panchayat elections to withdraw their candidature. “We have asked the candidates who have already filed their nomination papers to withdraw their candidature or be held responsible for any untoward incident,” Haokip said. Panchayat elections are slated for September 19. Sadar Hills has an Autonomous District Council for administration of tribal-inhabited areas and three panchayat parishads — Motbung, Kangpokpi and Saikul.
Superintendent of police Nishitkumar Ujwal said security had been beefed up to prevent any untoward incident in the Kuki-dominated pockets of Senapati district. He said the police were rounding up activists of the committee who locked up offices and educational institutions.
ULFA wants letter from New Delhi for talks, says Goswami By IANS
Guwahati, Aug 24 (IANS) Noted Assamese writer Indira Goswami Friday said that the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has sought a formal letter from New Delhi for holding peace talks aimed at ending nearly three decades of insurgency in Assam.
'A top ULFA leader telephoned me recently and said the outfit could consider holding talks with the Indian government if it receives a formal letter from New Delhi,' Goswami told IANS.
She was for the last three years the key link between the ULFA and New Delhi with the rebel outfit formally entrusting her with the task of opening exploratory peace talks. She held several rounds of meetings with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
'I had written a letter last week to M.K. Narayanan (India's national security advisor), requesting the government of India to write a formal letter to the ULFA for holding peace talks,' said Goswami, a prominent scholar of the ancient Hindu epic Ramayana.
'I am confident we would be able to convince the ULFA leadership to sit for direct talks with the government once the letter is issued.'
Her efforts at bringing the ULFA leadership for direct talks with New Delhi had almost fructified but certain preconditions set by both the sides led to the fragile peace initiative's collapse in September last year. 'It is high time the government gave a serious thought to the ULFA issue and should not hesitate to write a letter offering for unconditional talks,' she said.
For close to three years, the Delhi University professor in Modern Indian Languages was in constant touch with Paresh Baruah and Arabinda Rajkhowa over telephone - although she has never met the two top ULFA leaders. 'Everybody in Assam wants peace and even Miliki Baruah, mother of Paresh Baruah, is praying for a negotiated settlement to the problem and would like to see her son back home,' Goswami said.
The ULFA had earlier said it would sit for talks if the government released five of their jailed leaders and discussed the core issue of sovereignty. New Delhi has rejected the preconditions.
'Let the ULFA come for direct talks and there should be no problems in releasing the jailed leaders. But they should shun violence and come for talks first,' said Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi. Despite her failure in brokering peace in the last few years, Goswami is optimistic.
'I am an optimist and believe peace would dawn in Assam. Violence cannot fulfil grievances and is not a solution. It is through negotiations and dialogues that any problem could be resolved,' said Goswami, a Jnanpeeth award winner, the highest literary award in India.
`India should lead in arms control being the land of Gandhiji` Manipur Information Centre

NEW DELHI , Aug 22: "The international arms trade is out of control. A thousand people die every day because of armed violence and many more are seriously injured. Many of the victims are women and children. In India alone, 12 people die from armed violence every day," said Binalakshmi Nepram, secretary general of Control Arms Foundation of India (CAFI).

She was speaking at the office inauguration of CAFI at B5/146, First Floor, Safdarjung Enclave here on Wednesday evening. The office was inaugurated by its president Lt. General (Dr) BS Malik with lighting of the lamp. She stated that there was no regulation for arms control under international law. The OXFAM launched control arms campaign in 2003. In the International Arms Trade Treaty organized by the UN General Assembly in New York on October 27 last year, which she attended, 139 countries voted for an Arms Trade Treaty but some countries like India, Pakistan, Israel and Myanmar abstained. India should lead in arms control. India should be the champion on it because it is the land of Gandhiji who introduced non-violence, she said.

Binalakshmi said that CAFI formerly known as India Working Group on Arms Control was established on September 10, 2004 in New Delhi by a group of concerned citizens from diverse background from different parts of India committed to finding solutions to ending ongoing armed violence caused by small arms, light weapons and improvised electronic device proliferation. The motto of the foundation was `Reduce arms misuse, explore ways to peace`.

She said that several meetings and round tables on Arms Trade treaty were organized in Delhi, Chennai and Mumbai. CAFI`s first newsletter called `Control arms India update` was launched on June 12, 2005. A documentary film - Gunning for Controls by Ashok Prasad was produced in the last year. Another documentary - The Manipur Women Gun Survivors made by N Avijit Singh was produced this year. The film depicts the women in Manipur whose lives have been wrecked by decades of gun violence.

The secretary general of the foundation stated that CAFI was instrumental in helping to set up the Manipuri Women Gun Survivor Network in Manipur The network was set up on December 24, 2004 with Reena Mutum as coordinator. The CAFI assisted the network by opening a bank account and depositing money for six women gun survivors in April this year. The Network helped women gun survivors in Manipur to find a livelihood so that their lives could go on with a new courage. The function was attended by many academicians, retired army officers, media personalities and distinguished social workers.

Nagalim.NL News

08/24/2007: "Angami bodies flay MSF Nagaland Post"