[Previous entry: "Cong harps on Naga peace initiatives OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"] [Next entry: "Dismiss DAN for Jalukie village arson’ The Morung Express"]

08/28/2007: "Nagaland Congress stand draws flaks Source: The Sangai Express"

Nagaland Congress stand draws flaks Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 27: Cutting across party line and affiliation, various political leaders of the State including that of the ruling Congress have come out strongly against the Nagaland State Congress unit's message to the Centre to integrate all contiguous Naga inhabited areas with Nagaland.

The Nagaland Congress, in its annual general session on August 25 adopted a resolution to the effect of working towards integrating all the Naga-inhabited areas with Nagaland and settling the boundary dispute with Assam.

The session also urged the Centre to implement the same.

Denouncing the move of the Nagaland Congress unit, the Congress led Secular Progressive Front (SPF) Government in the State has termed the resolution as provocative, while its partner CPI has categorically stated that the Centre will never heed to such moves as the UPA is committed to safeguarding the existing boundaries of the North Eastern region.

The August 25 resolution of the Nagaland Congress was passed barely ten days after an all-political party meeting at Imphal resolved to hold a special Assembly session to discuss the recent submission of a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by six UNC MLAs and MP Mani Charanamei demanding unification of Naga inhabited areas including Myanmar with Nagaland Journalist turned Minister N Biren Singh said the Government will never compromise on the territorial integrity of Manipur.

Describing the Nagaland Congress resolution as provocative, Biren said it should not have been adopted. Chairman of MPCC Media Cell Seram Mangi Singh quipped, "That is not a good gesture (from the side of Nagaland Congress).

But the stance of AICC is very clear that the boundaries of the Northeastern States should be kept intact'', he said, while noting that the same point has been elaborated in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the UPA. State Secretary of CPI B Sharma, while referring to the UPA's CMP, iterated that the Centre will never endorse the move to disturb existing inter-boundaries of the region to facilitate create a greater Nagalim.

"The resolution might have been taken only for their political gains'', he said, while reminding that all the Govts and political parties of the NE States that shares boundaries with Nagaland including Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh are deadly against creation of a greater Nagaland.

Nonetheless, the CPI leader took serious note of the failure of the Central observer Ranji Thomas, who participated in the Nagaland Congress session to react at the time of passing such a provocative resolution. State BJP unit Gen Secy Saikhom Tiken Singh questioned how AICC, the major partner of the UPA which is committed to protect the existing boundaries of the NE Region, could allow its Nagaland unit to pass such a resolution.
While the Nagaland Assembly had passed resolutions three times for Naga integration, the Manipur Assembly too had resolved for safeguarding Manipur's territorial integrity. It clearly shows the Congress's double standard policy", he said.

The Opposition MPP, while taking serious note of the resolution, urged both the AICC and MPCC to clarify on the matter in no time, failing which, he said, the party (MPP) will take that the Congress as a whole has been playing a key role in breaching the boundaries of the North Eastern region. MPP Gen Secy S Umananda warned that his party and the people would not remain silent if the AICC leaders endorse the resolution of Nagaland Congress.

MPP denounces Nagaland Cong move The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Aug 27: The Manipur People`s Party, MPP, has expressed strong concern over reports that the Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee pressing the Central government for unification of the Naga-inhabited areas of the region, including those in Manipur, under an administrative unit.

The MPP, in a statement issued by its general secretary, S Umananda Singh, said the All India Congress Committee, AICC, and the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee must clarify their stance on the matter.

If they fail to do so, it will be considered that the Congress is in favour of the dismemberment of Manipur and the other states neighbouring Nagaland, the statement said.Stressing that Manipur had been a historical entity with its own geographical boundaries well before its merger with India, the statement said neither the people of Manipur nor the MPP will remain silent in the event of any attempt to dismember the state.
NSCN-IM cadres raze 30 houses in Peren The Morung Express
Masangum Jalukie About 30 houses in Jalukie Zangdi village under Peren district were razed by cadres of the NSCN-IM at around 7:30 this morning by about 15 cadres of the outfit. Reports said that the incident is an outcome of a boundary dispute between the said village and Munglumukh village, which is under Jalukie. It is said that the NSCN-IM is in support of the latter village and that the torching of the houses were was an attempt to evict the Jalukie Zangdi villagers.

Administration and police personnel of Peren district inspecting the houses razed by the NSCN-IM cadres at Jalukie Zangdi village on Tuesday. (MExPiX)

Women of Jalukie Zangdi village mill around the NSCN-IM’s Hebron Camp gate demanding to meet with the outfit’s collective leadership on Tuesday. (MExPiX)
Women of the village tried to prevent their houses from being torched but the NSCN-IM cadres went ahead using kerosene and petrol. The cadres are said to have given the pretext for the action as being orders from the “high command” of the NSCN-IM. Reports also said that some of the women incurred injuries during the whole melee when they tried to prevent the cadres. Sources said that the group of cadres was led by one ‘Tatar’ acting on orders to evict them from the village. The women are said to have queried the cadres if they (women) were not Nagas and that the cadres themselves are born of women. The cadres are said to have retorted that ‘we are born of women but we were also taught to kill.’ Further reports said that a house belonging to an NSCN-IM “Major” in the torched area was left untouched while the other houses were razed.
The villagers are also said to have informed that they have settled in the area for about five years and no such problems were encountered. The land had been given by the Jalukie people and is with permission, they said. Following the torching of their houses, enraged women from Jalukie Zangdi village marched to the NSCN-IM’s Hebron Camp and demanded justice. The women demanded to meet with the collective leadership but were denied entry. Sources further informed that one high ranking bureaucrat of the NSCN-IM is said to have told the women that Jalukie Zangdi village does not belong to the Zelaingrong community but the “Kachari” people and “Mias.” About 16 of the houses razed were inhabited by families, while others included granaries and hutments, sources said. The affected families are shocked that the organization should turn on the families who, sources said, profess support to the Nagas’ cause and the peace process. This treatment amounts to chasing away a Naga by the Nagas from own land, it added.
Meanwhile, the Zeliangrong students (ZSU and AZSU) have condemned the “STF command” of the NSCN-IM and the high ranking ‘bureaucrat’ and also expressed strong resentment and unhappiness with what the latter said. The students’ organizations have expressed shock that such action should be meted out by the NSCN-IM. Further, the Jalukie Students’ Union has said that the boundary issue should be settled by the Old Jalukie Council authorities amicably and that the NSCN-IM should not interfere in the matter.
Jalukie administration and police led by the SDO Zarenthung Ezung rushed to the spot after receiving news of the incident. The situation is tense but under control. A report to the effect is expected to be forwarded to the government.
Naga issue a closed chapter for NPF, says State Congress The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, AUGUST 28 (MExN): The Nagaland Pradesh Congress Committee has reacted to Home Minister Thenucho’s statement alleging that the Congress is copying the regional party policy on Naga political issue. In a counter response, Vitsorel Lcho Member, NPCC Media Cell reminded Thenucho that Naga political issue is a concern of all the Nagas and it does not belong to a regional party like NPF to talk of bringing solution to the political issue whenever election comes in the State. “Even in the last general election, the NPF Party has promised to bring solution to the Naga political issue within three months if voted to power. But when the NPF has failed to bring solution after four and half years in office they have not moral right to talk of Naga political issue and the issue is a closed chapter for the NPF Party”, the NPCC statement countered.
The Congress stated that it was surprised that Thenucho without exercising his authority as Home Minister to control law and order situation in the State has been appealing to the people to seek God’s intervention for restoring normalcy. “He has miserably failed to perform his bounden duty as Home Minister to provide security to the people whenever there is law and order situation. By shifting the responsibility to the Almighty God in the law and order situation, Thenucho could concentrate his time in awarding contract works and appointments by flouting rules for his personal gains”, the NPCC stated.
The Congress alleged that after assuming office some of the NPF leaders have been trying to mislead the people by terming that the law and order situations created through underground clashes is a political problem and not a State Government subject. “The Chief Minister, Neiphiu Rio had suggested for an ‘Interim Agreement’ to the Naga political issue without spelling out the frame work of such agreement. The NPF led DAN Government’s stand on ‘Equi-closeness’ has led to increase in clashes of the underground groups which has caused untold miseries and sufferings to the innocent public”, the NPCC claimed. As such it was stated that the Congress Party could not remain silent on the Naga political issue as it concerned all the Nagas and that the Congress “will fully and actively participate in the process of finding lasting solution to the political issue”. “The Party is further committed to develop a human and political relationship with all the groups by avoiding confrontation policies”.
‘Bear with us’ – NSCN (K) on erring cadres The Morung Express
Dimapur, August 28 (MExN): In the wake of an NSCN-K cadre committing excess on a former student leader, the organization appeals to the Naga public to “bear with us taking all ugly trends of the present day Naga society into positive considerations.” It has apologized for the misdeeds and excesses “of our errant cadres everywhere.”
“I personally confess and admit that the errant Sgt. Maj. of PAN, who was involved in the 16th August, 2007 incident was not the only errant cadre” NSCN-K Kilonser AZ Jami stated. He added that “there are so many indiscipline and lawless cadres whether civil or army in our organization but the Naga public are requested to bear with us taking all the ugly trends of the present day Naga society into positive considerations.” He apologized for the misdeeds of the organizations’ errant cadres “everywhere.”
The Kilonser further stated that there maybe “pro-Phizo” and “anti-Phizo” sections “among the Angamis” but Phizo had done “so many remarkable works.” Jami informed that “in a big meeting of the Nagas” a leader had said that “Angamis are the father of Naga national politics.” On this Jami opined “if it is true” the Angami community should keep it in mind and “should not succumb to others trick and pressures.” He also advised that the community’s “national workers” should not be tempted by “others pleasure and luxuries’ which, he stated, “some organizations” enjoy. Over the issue of defections, Kilonser claimed that in the later parts of 2005 and 2006 many NSCN-IM cadres defected to the NSCN-K “but when they saw that NSCN/GPRN is not an organization to enjoy life to their hearts content many of them were discouraged.” He asserted that NSCN-K cadres are “self-maintained” or “self-reliant” and the regions are autonomous unlike the NSCN-IM’s.
The NSCN-K Kilonser also stated that the NNC/FGN still exists. “Likewise Naga freedom struggle will continue against all anticipated odds till we achieve our objective of convincing the nations including India in recognizing the sovereignty of Nagaland” Jami stated while encouraging the Nagas to “cheer up” since “Jehovah is leading us” in spite of “our manifold sins and shortcomings.”
Jamir calls on Sonia Nagaland post
Dimapur, Aug 27 (NPN): Governor of Goa and former Chief Minister of Nagaland, Lokshree SC Jamir, called on UPA Chairperson Mrs. Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday morning and discussed at length issues facing Goa and Nagaland.
A statement issued by the OSD to the Governor said during the meeting various issues pertaining to political affairs and law and order were discussed with particular reference to Nagaland.
Jamir explained to Mrs. Gandhi that ceasefire agreements between Government of India and the two factions of NSCN should be maintained and sustained in letter and spirit. “The UPA Chairperson expressed her concern over the prevailing situation in the region and assured the Governor that she would do everything possible for restoration of peace in the area,” the statement stated. On the political situation in Goa, Jamir said the Congress-led government under the leadership of Chief Minister Digamber Kamat was expected to run smoothly.
NSCN (IM) assumes police role Nagaland Post
Kohima (IANS): From launching an anti-liquor drive to cracking down on youths surfing pornographic sites on the Internet, a dominant tribal separatist group in Nagaland has assumed the role of the moral police.
The Isak-Muivah faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-IM) has come out with a long list of do's and don'ts and warned of "serious consequences" for those who violate their diktats.
The outfit in a statement warned officials against using their government vehicles for transporting alcohol.
"If any such car was intercepted, its owner or officer-in-charge would be held responsible for the crime," said NSCN (IM) leader G. Tokishe Swu.
The rebel group also warned of stern action against the owner of Internet cafes and users, including schoolchildren, if the facilities were "misused" and someone found surfing pornographic sites.
The diktat also warned all shopkeepers to immediately install electronic balances so that customers were not cheated. Use of hand balances was banned and those violating the order would be penalized, the rebel statement said.
The NSCN (IM) also threatened to take action against illegal encroachers, especially those trying to occupy places of historical importance and parks.
The NSCN (IM) is currently operating a ceasefire with New Delhi since 1997 with the two sides engaged in peace talks to end 60 years of violent insurgency in Nagaland.
Imphal, AUG27 [TI] : The Okram Ibobi Singh government and political parties in Manipur today slammed the Nagaland Congress for extending support to the demand for integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas.

'Manipur upset with Nagaland Congress stand' Nagarealm.com

Nagaland Congress, in its annual general session on Saturday, passed a resolution to urge the Centre to work towards the integration of all contiguous Naga-inhabited areas. The party’s central observer Ranji Thomas was present at the session. Bringing the Naga-inhabited areas under one administrative unit is one of the main demands of the NSCN (I-M) in the ongoing peace talks with the Centre. The decision comes at a time when the Ibobi Singh government is contemplating a special session of the Assembly to discuss a “Naga integration” memorandum submitted to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh by some Naga legislators from Manipur.

Six Naga MLAs and one Naga MP from Manipur submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister on July 18 to unify the Naga areas as part of the solution to the Naga political problem. Ibobi Singh had agreed to convene a session to discuss the matter after the Opposition Manipur Peoples’ Party (MPP) urged both Governor S.S. Sidhu and the chief minister to discuss the memorandum in the House. “The Manipur government at any cost would not compromise on the territorial integrity of Manipur. The Nagaland Congress’s move would strain the relationship between two neighbouring states,” irrigation and flood control minister N. Biren said.

He said the UPA government at the Centre has a policy not to change the boundaries of the states in the Northeast. “The Centre should not change its policy,” he maintained.Manipur PCC spokesman N. Mangi Singh termed the decision of his Nagaland counterpart as a “not a good gesture”. The BJP criticised the Congress for harbouring double standards. “The Congress, which leads the UPA government at the Centre, maintains that Manipur’s boundaries would not be disturbed. On the other hand, its Nagaland unit takes a decision against it. This is double standards,” the BJP’s state unit general secretary Tiken Singh said.

He said his party would not change its stand of protecting the territorial integrity of Manipur. It will submit a report to the central leaders on this development and take up the memorandum issue, he said. The CPI, a partner in the Okram Ibobi Singh government, also criticised the Nagaland Congress.“This is an exercise in futility. The UPA government’s stand on Manipur’s territorial integrity has not changed till today. So the Centre would not listen to the Nagaland Congress’s demand,” CPI state secretary B. Sharma said.
NSF begins first phase stir Newmai News Network
Kohima, Aug 28: The apex students’ body, Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) today launched its first phase of agitation against the Nagaland Govt by sitting-in-demonstrati-on holding placards and banners in front the Naga-land Civil Secretariat, Kohima.
NSF General Secretary, Hetoi Chishi talking to media persons on the sidelines of the agitation said that the agitation was launched against the State Govt’s fai-lure to constitute a State Le- vel Independent Enquiry Committee to probe into va-rious charges over the im- plementation of Sarva Shik-sha Abhiyan (SSA) proj- ects throughout the State.
Refuting the State Govt statement that implementation of SSA projects in the State has been satisfactory, he said enquiry conducted by the NSF committee has revealed that except for Wokha, Zunheboto and some parts of Tuensang and Mon districts the implementation report in other districts are not satisfactory.
The NSF also opined that SSA being a Centrally Sponsored Scheme should be implemented sincerely in order to uplift the standard of education in the State. However, lamenting that the department implementing the project has not been sincere but becoming more corrupted, the NSF expressed that if such funds tempts people to be corrupted than it is better not to receive such grants.
Meanwhile, hundreds of students from different colleges led by the NSF offi- cials joined the dharna holding placards and banners inscribed with dema- nds and ex-pressions such as ‘Don’t robe SSA fund, use it for children; Don’t dilute education with corrup- tion, Make Govt schools attractive with SSA fund and SSA for children, not executive, deliver justice to the people etc. Further, the NSF has warned to launch further phases of agitations within next few days if the Government does not fulfil their demands. It may be recalled that the NSF in a representation submitted to the Government on June 31 last had set a deadline of August 3 for the Government to constitute the committee and enquire into the anomalies with special reference to Changtongiya Deputy Inspector of Schools where SSA funds had been diverted to other activities.

KSU invites minister to open debate OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Shillong, Aug. 27: The Khasi Students Union (KSU) has challenged food and civil supplies minister Martle N. Mukhim to a public debate on the utilisation of MLA funds at Jongksha under Dienglieng constituency on Wednesday.
Mukhim, alleged to have misappropriated Rs 7 crore from his MLA funds in the last 20 years, however, has dismissed the allegations. He said that he was only the sanctioning authority for different MLA schemes and it was up to the implementing agencies.
The Dienglieng circle KSU president, Kansing Lynshing, today said the debate would be between the KSU and Mukhim on all the schemes that had been earmarked and implemented in the constituency. A “judge” from another constituency would moderate the debate.
The KSU plans to conduct a spot inspection on August 31 after the debate and point out the amount spent on each scheme.
Assam: Militants attack minister's residence

Anurag in Guwahati



Suspected Karbi Longri North Cachar Hills Liberation Front militants on Tuesday detonated a powerful explosion at the residential complex of Assam Cabinet Minister Khrasing Ingti at Howraghat in violence-hit Karbi Anglong hill district.
No one, including the minister who was sleeping at the time of the explosion, was injured in the explosion that made mockery of the geared up security arrangements in the hill district.
The minister is provided personal security guards by the Assam police.
Police informed that the KLNLF ultras aided by the banned United Liberation Front of Asom militants triggered the explosive deice fitted to the boundary wall of the minister's residence.
There was a 20 mt distance between the wall and the residential quarters in the campus.
Police informed that it was a powerful improvised explosive device triggered with the help of a manually operated detonator.
The explosion caused damage to the boundary wall besides causing damage to some window panes of the residence.
Police recovered 47 mt of flexible wires, batteries and plastic containers used as detonators from the site of the blast. It was detonated by militants hiding in the campus of a house in the neighbourhood.
"It is the ULFA that has been training KLNLF to use explosives. The KLNLF is known to have expertise in handling such explosives," a senior police official said.
The KLNLF, with the help of the banned ULFA, killed 29 Hindi-speaking persons including women and children in Karbi Anglong earlier this month.
The killings forced New Delhi to send additional Central forces to the hill district.
Following the recent carnage of Hindi-speaking people, New Delhi also instructed Assam government to reorganise the police and paramiltary force deployment in the sparsely populated but thickly forested hill district with 10,434 square km area.
The hill district had only six police stations and 11 outposts. The number of police stations is being doubled now.
Terror gets a free entry at Northeast borders Arijit Sen / CNN-IBN

Guwahati: Hundreds of miles away from Hyderabad, it’s the Bangladesh borders that everyone is focusing on. The reason is the alleged involvement of Bangladesh based HuJI, in the blasts. And these porous borders may have been providing easy passage to militant groups into India for a long time.
There are about 30 militant groups in the Northeast. Many reportedly have camps in Bangladesh. Even ULFA leaders allegedly are hiding somewhere in Dhaka. Though all these groups often do not share Islamist militancy ideologies, in 2002, nine of these fundamentalist groups including the HuJI formed the Bangladesh Islamic Manch.
"It is important to remember that Northeast Indian militant groups are being provided with logistic support by HUJI(B) and other elements inside Bangladesh. So if the HUJI(B) demands some kind of a logistic support in return, groups within Northeast will be obliged to give them some kind of assistance within north east as a quid pro-quo and that itself is a dangerous situation,” says Political Analyst, Wasbir Hussain.
To prevent that situation go out of hand, the government should try its best to man the borders and provide support to the Muslim settlers of Northeast who are not yet influenced by militants but are vulnerable, as extremists often try to capitalise on their support.
NE emerges as major transit point Indo Burma News
August 26, 2007: (Assam Tribune) North-east India has become a major transit point of precious stones smuggling. Precious stones – ruby and sapphire are generally smuggled from Myanmar across the border and then sent to various destinations as per demand of the market.
In view of growing demand in the market, gem stones smuggling are on the rise in the North-east. During the past 10 years, the law enforcing agencies deployed along the border have made several seizures of precious stones of Myanmar.
“There have been several incidents of gem stones seizures at Champhai, bordering Myanmar. These stones are generally ruby and sapphire,” Jora Moiya, a senior police official of Mizoram Government told this correspondent over telephone today. According to him, Burmese people living along the border are involved in the smuggling to earn their livelihood.
These stone mines are scattered in Sagying Division, Myitkyina and Mogok of Myanmar. But now Myitkyina mines are controlled by the Kachin Independent Army (KIA) as per the agreement with the Burmese Junta. Mogok area is famous for rubi from which Myanmar Government earns a huge chunk of revenue. As these areas are geographically very close to the North-east border, smugglers easily run their business.
In North-east, stones are generally brought from Mogok and Myitkyina areas by the Burmese women and then sent their consignments to the region with the help of carriers. The carriers later dispatch to these to Jaipur and Delhi as per demand of the customers.
“We have confiscated several consignments of precious stones during the past several years and these stones have good demand in the Delhi and Jaipur markets,” a Customs official, who did not wish to be named, said. He further informed that these stones are generally brought in ‘impure form’ which are sent to Delhi and Jaipur for refining and marketing the product. Myanmar rubi has already made its strong presence in the global jewellery market because of its purity. In India, gem stones market has been picking up following increasing demand of the customers.
According to a survey, the jewellery market in the country has been growing at a rate of 20 per cent annually. To meet the demand, stones are brought from Myanmar. Moreover, the porous North-east border is also helping the illegal traders to run their business without any hindrance.