09/16/2007: "Files missing OUR CORRESPONENT The Telegraph"

Files missing OUR CORRESPONENT The Telegraph

Kohima, Sept. 15: Unidentified persons last night ransacked the Naga Club building housing offices of the Naga Students’ Federation, Naga Mothers’ Association and the All Nagaland College Students’ Union. They escaped with important files on Naga issues.
Vice-president of the federation, Charles Lotha, said they had lost several documents, 10 writing pads and receipt books. He said the federation was “not ruling out hands of Indian intelligence agencies”.
According to him, they possibly tried to find out the federation’s source of funds. It is suspected to have links with Naga insurgent groups.
A police officer visited the office this afternoon for investigation.
Naga Church leaders call for ‘A Theology of Communal Freedom’ The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 15 (MExN): Altogether, twenty three leading Reverends and Pastors belonging to the Naga community have come out expressing concern over the recent order to excommunicate Rev. Dr. Tuisem Shishak by the Tangkhul Naga Long (TNL) over the former’s ‘confession’, which was widely published in the local media here. The TNL in its order had stated that Shishak’s ‘confessional statement’ had been found ‘injurious’ to the Tangkhul community.
In a signed statement under the heading “A Theology of Communal Freedom”, the 23 signatories began by quoting Romans 3: 23 that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus”.
Significantly, the signatories urged and pleaded to all Naga communities “to make a corporate confession from within each community”. “The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him (Jesus). Confessing their sins…” the statement quoted Mark 1: 5 (NIV).
The statement pointed out that in “our context, albeit, polemical to some, the prophetic voice of Rev. Dr. Tuisem Shishak is a message from God to the Nagas in general” and that Naga people must confess and ask for God’s forgiveness “for our personal and corporate sins of omission and commission”. “Only the action of God can heal Nagas at the root of the self-centeredness that prevents us from going out of ourselves”, it stated.
The statement further added that “faced with this human fallen-ness, the called out man and woman has a duty to engage in positive denunciation of ones wrongs and failures”. “Such denunciation must be objective, courageous, and biblical. Rather than condemning, it seeks to save the community”, the statement maintained.
Pointing out that as a “concerned group of God’s servants, we love the Naga people and pray for our destiny towards a rightful place”, the 23 signatories nevertheless stated that “we truly weep at our present broken relationship with God and each other”.
The 23 signatories to the statement are Rev. Dr. V. K. Nuh, Rev. Khrotso Mero, Rev. L. Bizo, Rev. L Suohie Mhasi, Rev. Dr. P. Dozo, Rev. N. Shaipa, Rev. L. Kari Longchar, Rev. (Ms) Noksangla, Rev. N. Tzudir, Rev. R. P. Murry, Rev. M. Sakhrie, Rev. Zhabu Terhuja, Rev. Dr. Wati Aier, Rev. Dr. Z. Keyho, Rev. and Mrs. R. Terhuja, Rev. Dr. (Ms) A. Kapfo, Rev. Phughoto Aye, Pastor Ongmang Chang, Rev. Y. Chingang, Rev. Hotoku P. Zhimomi, Rev. K. Lorin, Rev. Lima Sangtam.
NISC alleges rape of slain chaplain’s wife Newmai News Network
Kohima, Sep 15: The Naga International Support Center (NISC), a human rights organisation based in Amsterdam has alleged that wife of NSCN-IM Chaplain PK Stone was raped before she was shot dead by the armed persons. The human rights group also strongly condemned the killing of 10 Kuki Liberation Army (KLA) cadres by the NSCN-IM.
NSCN-IM leader PK Stone and his wife Mareila alongwith three other cadres were on their way to Dimapur on September 8 when they were abducted at around 4 pm by some gunmen and killed them at a place near Jotsoma village along the Dimapur-Kohima road.
The NSCN-IM had accused the rival NSCN-K for the killings.
The Amsterdam based human rights group in a press note issued to Newmai News Network last night strongly condemning the act, said that the NISC was dismayed by such killing and stated, “No one has the right to murder. This senseless killing has to stop.”
On the killing of the 10 KLA cadres at Tangkhul Hundung village on September 3 by the NSCN-IM, NISC said whatever the criminal activities that had been committed by the Kuki militants on the Naga civilians, the NSCN-IM should have taken other measures instead of killing the Kuki militants.
The human rights group then stated that it had fully learnt about the Kuki militants terrorising the Naga villagers. However, the NISC questioned the NSCN-IM, “Did the well trained NSCN soldiers have no other measures at their disposal?”
The Amsterdam human rights group explained that no one has the right to take the life of another. It also stated that if the Kuki militants had committed crimes, the NSCN-IM men should “arrest them, charge them, hold in custody for further questioning and as a deterrent to other likewise groups meting out a sentence to set an example for other likewise criminals.
NISC does not believe that escalation is warranted!”
The rights group said since there is no justifiable explanation, the Naga International Support Center questions the NSCN-IM, on its own merits of justice and condemns the outright killing of ten Kuki men.
“The Naga International Support Center calls on the NSCN to rethink its stand on how to behave in relative peace during cease fire, how to keep its armed soldiers occupied and disciplined; or is it that the Christian Nagas have abandoned the ‘love thy neighbour’ principle?”, sarcastically stated the Amsterdam based human rights group.
On the killing of NSCN-IM cadres including the wife of PK Stone, the human rights group has this to say: “Cold blooded killings on members of the NSCN-IM, a Christian couple and bodyguards in the most brutal way leaves one to think what kind of people could have committed this atrocious act. Killing was not enough for them, they had to rape the wife of the chaplain and defiled her too”.
The Naga International Support Center called on the authorities to book the “beastly murderers, to bring them to justice and to find out what motivated them. Did they act on their own and by what motivation, or on command, and on whose command?”
“Whoever is responsible for this cowardly inhumane act, the Naga International Support Center vehemently condemns these murders, in fact all murders,” fumed the rights group.
Apex Naga NGOs offices ransacked at Kohima Nagaland Page

Kohima, September 15: Unidentified persons ransacked the offices of Naga organizations Friday night and took away several important files and documents on Naga issues.
The Naga Students' Federation Vice President, Charles Lotha told Nagaland Page that some unidentified persons ransacked the Naga Club Building, which houses the offices of NSF, Naga Mothers' Association and All Nagaland College Students' Union.
"We are trying to ascertain the details about who ransacked of our offices," Lotha said. He said the Federation is not hurry to comment or come to the conclusion about the incident, but at the same time did not rule out the hands of 'Indian intelligence agencies'.
Putting the blame on the Central agencies was promoted as in the past also Naga NGOs offices were ransacked and the modus operandi was not different from last night's incident.
Lotha said they have lost several files and documents. So far the NSF could detect loss of 10 writing pads of federating units, one writing pad of Speaker and receipt books. He said they are yet to confirm how many files are missing.
According to the NSF, the reason for taking away the receipt books was to find out from where the Federation was getting money to run the office. The NSF said even before some people tried to rummage through office but failed.
Lotha said last night's incident was a direct challenge to the Naga people and therefore should be condemned by all.
After filing an FIR, police personnel led by an officer inspected the office this afternoon for further investigation.
In a similar manner, office of the Naga People's Movement for Human Rights was ransacked at least thrice a couple of years back. Several important files on Naga political issue were taken away.
So far no arrests have been made by the police, but the finger of suspicion directly points on New Delhi's agencies.
Interestingly, several Naga organizations, including NSF and NPMHR are under the scanner of Government of India for their alleged link with the Naga insurgent groups. These are organizations, which are vocal on Naga political issue and have been skeptical about the manner in which the Centre was handling the Naga issue so far.
Even certain Naga militant organization has demanded the Centre to ban the Naga organizations like Naga Hoho, NSF and NPMHR for their alleged link with the rival group.
Presidential council meeting of NSF, which will be held on September 17, will come out unanimously against the ransacking of the federation office, NSF Vice President Lotha said. (Page News Service)
The ‘Reservation policy has divided the Nagas’ Pochury, Zeliangrong, Chakhesang demand their due Morung Express News
Dimapur Clearly unhappy that the state government acceded to the demand of six so-asserted “eastern” tribes for 25% job reservation but ignored others the Pochury, Zelaingrong and Chakhesang students have threatened to take an own course of action if the three are not given their due. The policy has clearly placed the Nagas in two categories, it is asserted.
A joint letter to the Chief Minister from the Pochury Students’ Union, Zeliangrong Students’ Union Nagaland and Chakhesang Students’ Union took strong exception that the government should ignore the other backward tribes. They have demanded equal and fair reservation to achieve the “ideals of BT reservation policy.” The existing reservation policy have placed the Naga tribes in two simple categories ‘advanced’ and ‘backward’ and further, there is also no provision in the policy to further divide the tribes under the same category until such time the policy is overhauled, the aggrieved communities lamented. The students expressed their resentment that the demand for total review of the 33% reservation in respect of the nine backward tribes was ignored even while acceding to the demands of the “eastern” communities.
The PSU, CSU and ZSUN reminded the state government that it is not at all fair to categorize the entire citizens of a linguistic division or tribe as ‘backward’ or ‘advanced’ without considering the grass-root situation and empirical realities. The students highlighted their perspective that the 33% policy for nine BTs in Nagaland remains without major periodical review for the last three decades. It has been without review to update in consonance with changing realities to fully realize the policy’s target and help the tribes that are educationally and economically backward. They should be significantly represented in the state services so they too can come at par with the “advanced tribes,” the letter stated. “The target of the policy is to remove backwardness in phase-wise manner whereby the 33% job reservation is reduced and elevated to the advanced category with periodical review; the latest decision of the cabinet to rise the backward quota is just the reverse; the attempt is seemingly targeted towards achieving 100% backwardness in the near future” the students stated.
The students also reminded that the reservation needs thorough review to address anomalies and discrepancies with the change of time. The state commission should be directed to investigate conditions of socially and educationally backward classes and examine the grass-root situation of different areas in the state so as to deliver fairness and justice to citizens” it stated. The decision of the state government cannot override the Fundamental Rights of its citizens. All relevant factors should be taken into consideration in order to ‘decide the backwardness’ of a particular class and ‘not on the ground of political mileage’ it added.
Need to project tourism: Governor Correspondent Nagaland Post
KOHIMA, SEPT 15 (NPN): Governor Sankaranarayanan today said that though Nagaland has tourism potential it did know how to project this potential to the outside world.
“We’ve the commodities but we don’t know how to sell them,” the Governor said while addressing a cultural programme organized by Malayali Samajam Kohima, on the occasion of Onam festival at the State Academy Hall here Saturday.
“During the Hornbill festival this year, we’ll invite people from outside the state and abroad,” he added.
Perhaps for the first time after taking over the gubernatorial post, Sankaranarayanan’s speech today was interlaced with wit and humor typical of a seasoned politician, drawing roars of applause from the audience.
He said wherever there was “land” and “oxygen” there are Malayalis, “even in the chief minister’s office,” and added “Kerala is not enough for the Malayalis.”
In a lighter vein, Sankaranarayanan, who is also a native of Kerala, highlighted on the liberal attitude of the Keralites saying they celebrate all the festivals of other communities as much as their biggest festival Onam.
He said Keralites were “vegetarian but eat fish and beef,” were “sectarian but married people from all community.”
Nonetheless, the governor called upon the Malayali community to be decent, maintain their dignity, not to indulge in cheating people and to be always with the people wherever they go.
Chief minister Neiphiu Rio who graced the occasion as guest of honor in his address lauded the Malayali community for rendering their services to the people of the state and recalled that the first batch of Malayalis coming to the state as government servants could be traced back to 1952-53, as per official records available.
“When the Nagas were in turmoil with their national struggle and movement, the Malayalis came and served the people,” Rio said. While extending Onam greetings to the Malayali community, Rio also said Onam festival, which is a festival of the beginning of harvest, should carry a message to the Nagas that celebration of any festival was meaningful only after one’s hard work bore fruit. The chief minister also appreciated the Malayalis for their contribution towards the Naga society through imparting education.
Rio further pointed out that there were many cases of inter-marriage between the Nagas and the Malayalis but so far this had failed to build a proper relationship between the two community. In this regard, the chief minister proposed cultural exchange programmes and declared that Nagaland would send a cultural troupe to Kerela.
Vice Chancellor of Nagaland University Prof. K Kannan who also spoke on the occasion, showered praises on the Malayali community for their unique trait of being easily able to connect and integrate with people wherever they live. Malayali Samajam president Vijayagopal in his address dwelt on the history of the first coming of Malayalis to Nagaland. Earlier, R.P Unnikrishnan gave a brief significance of the Onam festival while, C.Y Johnson, who chaired the function also proposed vote of thanks. The first session was followed by cultural programmes where the audience was treated to cultural presentations by various troupes.
ressed in a crisp white shirt, Thuingaleng Muivah sits down for an exclusive interview to Teresa Rehman inside the audience hall at the NSCN-IM’s council headquarters. Muivah’s close associates call him “Uncle” while others address him as “Avakharar” (a term of respect). In his characteristically soft tone, he firmly underlines the objectives of his movement and the roadblocks

INTERVIEW : ‘Sometimes bloodshed becomes unavoidable’ : Thuingaleng Muivah Tehelka Nagalim.com

How would you describe yourself?
This is a peculiar question. I claim to be a revolutionary because I base my decisions on objectivity. I cannot just go on living in hope. If I have to live at all, I have to understand the world around me as best I can.

Are you a religious person?
I believe in God as I know I cannot save myself. Jesus Christ alone can save me and through him I can have eternal life in the hereafter. I will not compromise on this issue.

Do you have moments of conflict with yourself?
It’s not good to get confused. When a man has precise knowledge of where he is, only then can he have a future.

Do you denounce bloodshed?
Bloodshed must be avoided because otherwise one cannot be sensible about the world and the future. Sometimes it is unavoidable, as when we see an unacceptable situation or condition being imposed on us. You cannot yield to wrong.

The Nagas are quite patriarchal. What are your views on women’s empowerment?
If women can prove themselves, they are respected equally. In this regard, Nagas are better than any community. We have two women on our steering committee and some others in the ministry. We even have lady commanders. They have to undergo the same kind of military training as the men.

Now that the ceasefire has been extended indefinitely, what will be your future course of action?
We have done the best we could in taking positive steps. But there has been no positive step from the Indian side. It is prudent on our part to continue the talks.

What about the term ‘indefinite’? Does it give you enough flexibility?
Well, something appropriate should be done on both sides if we really want an honourable solution.

What is an honourable solution?
If the Government of India is prepared to respect the reality of the Nagas, we will respect the reality of India ten times more.

Do you enjoy mass support?
We cannot claim that 100 percent of the people are with us. But it would have been impossible for NSCN-IM to have fought for so long had it not been for the support of the masses. Our experience tells us that our people are with us. And everyone wants peace. Naturally, everyone wants peace. But peace doesn’t come naturally. It has its own ways and means.

Your rival faction NSCN-K has alleged that you will succumb to the Indian government?
They are saying such things without understanding the ground reality.

What is the ground reality?
The Nagas are standing their ground. The Government of India is finding it difficult to come to terms with our stand. The problem with them is that they find it difficult to take positive steps
.
What about reconciling with your rival faction?
We have told the people that there should be forgiveness and a sort of reconciliation through understanding. If they so desire, we are there for them. The problem is how far will they be able to keep themselves away from Indian clutches? Do you think they are there on their own?

What about the role of the Church?
The Church leaders are bound to play an effective role. They are doing the best they can. We try to co-operate with them as much as possible.

Can the common Naga come and meet Muivah?
The basic political understanding is that the masses are always the foundation. Sometimes I also go to the villages to meet them. What about the NSCN-IM’s stand on dealing with social evils like drug abuse and AIDS that plague Naga society today? We have several centres for the rehabilitation of drug-addicts and HIV-affected people. We have managed to bring a lot of people back to their senses.

What about the next elections in Nagaland?
We are not very interested in them. Different parties may go their own way.

Will the NSCN-IM contest?
The question does not arise.

[Teresa Rehman, tehelka]

Civil society bodies react sharply, Ibobi to pressurize Centre, Govt to ban outside affiliation The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Sept 15: In a quick response to the reported plan of the Nagaland government for enactment of legislation allowing affiliation of schools from outside Nagaland to Nagaland Board of Secondary Education, NBSE, the Manipur government has decided to enforce an ordinance disallowing schools in the state from affiliating to boards outside the state.

All Manipur Students Union, in the meantime, also strongly reacting to the move of the reported move of the Nagaland government had warned the governments of both Nagaland and Manipur that they would be held responsible for any kind of untoward incidents arising out of the school affiliation issue.

As per media reports, the Nagaland government has enacted a legislation (an ordinance?) allowing affiliation of schools from outside the state of Nagaland to NBSE in response to call of the Naga Hoho urging the Nagaland government to expand its parameters of affiliation outside the state under NBSE.

The Nagaland government is also getting ready to table a bill on the matter to the state Assembly session beginning from coming September 18. The legislation opens the door to fulfill long campaign of NSF and ANSAM to allow affiliation of schools in Naga dominated hill districts of Manipur to NBSE.

In response to this, an emergency cabinet meeting of O Ibobi Singh led council of minister was held today before the chief minister left Imphal for Bangkok to attend North-East India Investment Opportunity Week and approved the enforcement of an ordinance not to allow any of the schools in the state to be affiliated to a board outside the state without prior permission from the state government.

The cabinet discussed threatbare on the possible consequences that may arise in the state owing to the move of its Nagaland counterpart. Mention may be made that students and guardians of students in the Naga dominated hill districts of the state have been under pressure due to the campaign of the ANSAM backed by NSF and Naga Hoho for switching to NBSE syllabus. Government schools have also been torched and ransacked in four hill districts in an apparent move to prevent students choosing government schools and compelling them to get admission to private schools which have switched to NBSE syllabus.

After a long deliberation on the matter the state cabinet approved a proposal of the state education department to amend section (1) of the Manipur Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 1972, source said. The cabinet also decided that, before the amendment is done, to promulgate an ordinance for disallowing private schools, aided schools, private and aided secondary schools and colleges in the state including the government run schools to affiliate to a board outside the state without the prior permission from the state government.

The ordinance has reportedly been put up to the Governor for his assent and is likely to enforce from as soon as Governor signs it, the source said. As approved by the state cabinet, in section (1) of the Manipur elementary and secondary education Act, 1972, a sub clause will be added to make it mandatory to obtain permission from the state government`s concerned authority if a school or secondary or college located in the state wanted affiliation to a board outside Manipur.

The cabinet also reportedly passed a resolution strongly condemning politically as well as socially the move of the Nagaland government taking the stance that it also amount to directly attack to the integrity of a state by another. The cabinet also entrusted the chief minister with the task of pressurizing the Centre to intervene in the move of the Nagaland government and instruct the latter not to take any decision that may lead to misunderstanding between two states.

The chief minister was also entrusted to sent communiqu�s to the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohon Singh, Union human resource development minister and Home minister to look into the matter, as it not only amounts to challenging the integrity of the state but there is apprehension of occurring ethnic crisis in Manipur because of the step of the Nagaland government.

The state education minister has also cautioned the parents and guardians not to follow to the diktat of some NGOs so as to save students from losing their careers.

In the meantime AMSU on Saturday strongly reacted to the reported announcement made by Nagaland education minister allowing affiliation of schools in Manipur to Nagaland Board of Secondary Education.

The All Manipur Students` Union, in a statement said the announcement of the minister amounts to adding salt in the wound as guardians of students in the hills of Manipur are still hurt by the setbacks caused to their children`s career, who went for Nagaland board examination under pressure from a student group based in the hill areas of the state. It noted that this year most of the students from Manipur who appeared in the high school leaving certificate exam conducted by the NBSE failed and the students and guardians have still not forgetten this.

The AMSU also said the repeated threats to the integrity of a neighbuoring state from the Nagaland government will gain nothing. AMSU will not remain as silent spectator and any untoward result arising out of the announcement of the Nagaland education minister should be the responsibility by Nagaland and Manipur government, the statement stated. The Ethno-Heritage Council, Hericoun, has also expressed its serious concern over the Nagaland government`s step in enacting a legislation that would allow the affiliation of schools from outside Nagaland to the NBSE.

While terming the Nagaland government`s reported step as untenable and unworkable, HERICOUN said it amounted to a direct challenge to the people of Manipur and demanded that the Manipur government give a fitting response. It maintained that the development has come because of the indifference and inaptitude of the state government, and said it must take appropriate measures now keeping the interests of the people of the state and of future generations in mind.
NSCW submits draft policy, 2006 before Nagaland Govt-UNI New Kerala
Kohima, Sep 16: The Nagaland State Commission for Women (NSCW) has formally submitted the draft policy, 2006 for women for its speedy approval by the state government.
NSCW chairperson Sano Vamuzo had met Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio on Friday and submitted the policy. The commission in a statement here today said the draft policy had been prepared by the leading women from different fields in the state during a consultative meeting on July 31 last.

Ms Vamuzo, while presenting the policy, lamented that the government had not adopted the mandatory State Policy for Women in the state as per the guidelines of the National Policy for Empowerment of Women, 2001 so far. Earlier, the commission had twice submitted the policy before the government but was turned down, the statement added.

The Severed Tongue Tehelka and Nagalim.com
Karbi Anglong in Assam is the centre of violence against Hindi speakers. A month after 32 people were killed in the area, the relief camps are full and the markets deserted.

Jahnavi offset, the only printing press in Bokolia market along National Highway 36 in the hill district of Karbi Anglong, has seen no clients for the past month. Proprietor Radheshyam Gupta, who till recently also ran a thriving trade in molasses, says, “I am so used to the din of the printing press that the stillness is distressing. Most days, I wouldn’t even have the time to sit. We used to buy molasses from local sugarcane cultivators and send it to the rest of the state. But everything has come to a standstill now.”

A few weeks ago, Ampahar, just about three kilometres away from Bokolia, witnessed the brutal massacre of eight Hindi-speaking people by militants suspected to belong to the Karbi Longri National Liberation Front (KLNLF) and the United Liberation Front of Asom. Gupta, who is also the secretary of the local Hindi-Bhashi Sanstha, claims, “My grandfather was the first in our family to settle here, and this is where I have spent my whole life. This is my native place and I can’t dream of going anywhere else.” But he fears the time when his son Piyush returns to school — at the moment, all schools in the area have been closed and turned into relief camps.

It’s difficult times as well for 50-year-old Ram Lal Chauhan, another Bokolia molasses merchant. “It’s very difficult to do business in an atmosphere of fear. Many people are living at the relief camps, but you can’t expect everyone to go back to Bihar or Uttar Pradesh. Look at me, I was born here, where am I to go?”

Hindi-speaking people comprise almost a third of Bokolia’s 25,000-strong population. The carnage last month, which saw 32 Hindi speakers killed across the district, has wrecked its subsistence economy. In the hinterland, petty vendors, mostly Hindi speakers, are the lifeline of the villages. And Karbi villages are not compact hamlets but scattered habitations that stretch over five or six kilometres. Eighty percent of the population is dependent on cultivating sugarcane (which is converted into molasses), ginger, pineapples and bananas. The molasses trade drives the hill district’s economy. There are four big weekly markets in the district; 100 trucks of molasses move out every week. Each truck carries molasses worth Rs 1-1.25 lakh. The molasses is predominantly used to make country liquor. After last month’s massacre, cane cultivators and molasses producers have not ventured out of the relief camps. Without the traders, the produce is rotting since the region doesn’t have a food-processing unit. The state horticulture department fears that such killings will impact the harvesting and transportation of ginger and sugarcane.

Karbi Anglong enjoys autonomy under the provisions of the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution and is Assam’s largest district. According to the 1991 Census, the district’s inhabitants number 6.63 lakh, dominated by the Karbi tribe, which accounts for 35 percent of the population. Apart from Karbis, Lalungs (Tiwas), Dimasa Kacharis, Rengma Nagas, Kukis, Garos, Khasis and Shyams occupy various pockets of the district.

Gupta alleges that the new land policy passed by the Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) based on the Land Acquisition Act, 1959, is the root cause of the district’s tensions. The present Council had passed a legislation on July 13, banning the sale, mortgage, barter, lease, gift etc of land from a tribal to a non-tribal, or a nontribal to another non-tribal within the KAAC.

All transactions carried out 12 years before the passing of the Act were also cancelled in the interests of the indigenous tribal population. Moreover, any person living for more than 15 years in the KAAC area, whether tribal or non-tribal, can transact in land only with indigenous tribals. And in case no indigenous tribal is ready to buy the land, the KAAC will take over the land by paying a reasonable compensation, and assign it to a tribal.

A section of Hindi-speaking traders alleges that the KLNLF is trying to implement this legislation by creating terror in the anticipation that the Hindi-speaking population will flee and sell their land at throwaway prices to the KAAC. Parsuram Dubey of the All Assam Bhojpuri Yuva Chhatra Parishad claims that with Hindi-speaking traders fleeing the district, there is a severe shortfall of grocery goods and many unscrupulous businessmen have resorted to black marketeering. “This Act is detrimental for both the tribal and non-tribal population,” he says.

Meanwhile, women, children and men huddle together at the various relief camps across the state. At the relief camp at Santipur High School, most of the men are petty traders, cultivators, grocers, barbers, cobblers and potters. Hira Lal from Nagakholi village in Bokajan is a potter who caters to the whole area. A fellow potter, Sudama Prasad, 50, who had come from Mugaon in Buxar district, wants only to get back to work. “Who wants to stay in a relief camp? But we have been brought here by the authorities as they apprehended trouble in our village too,” he says. Sitaram Rai, 55, who ran a tea stall in Dalamara Market where 14 people were shot dead, had come to Karbi Anglong at the age of 15. “I ran away from home in Munger in Bihar. I am also married to an Assamese. I belong here,” he says. [Teresa Rehman, tehelka]
NDFB disillusioned over peace move By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Sept 15 – The chairman of the National Democratic Front of Boroland (NDFB) DR Nabla has expressed doubts on the possibility of reaching their goal through peaceful negotiations and asserted that they would never retreat or surrender. In a statement released to the media, the NDFB chairman said that after fighting for 18 years, the NDFB declared a cease-fire in 2005 to resolve the conflict peacefully and democratically. “But in the last three years not even a single round of political talk took place between the Government of India and NDFB. So there is no hope of reaching our goal through discussion,” he said.

Nabla said that he did not foresee any resolution of the conflict peacefully and democratically. “To reach a far-flung destination, sometimes we have to rest to refresh, but if we rest too much, we may never be able to reach the destination. So it is time to ponder whether we will rest or proceed towards our goal,” he added.

Nabla alleged that the Bodo people had been oppressed and exploited for years and the chain of exploitation would have to be broken. He said that freedom could not be achieved without struggle and concerted efforts and the Bodo people would also have to continue the struggle to achieve the goal. He said that several movements by the Bodo people failed to achieve the desired results. But at the same time, he said that the movements failed because of a few leaders, who lacked commitment, dedication and determination and not because of common people. He called upon the people to remain vigilant to ensure that the NDFB does not betray the common people and the cause.

The NDFB chairman said that more than 600 persons have lost their lives in the struggle for freedom and the souls and spirits of the martyrs would always be the guiding force of the NDFB. “I will take the conviction to the grave or to victory and I will not bow down or surrender,” he asserted. Nabla further appealed to all Bodo people to unite to live as a nation and called upon all concerned to work for unity. He said that all Bodo people should leave behind all misdeeds, mistrust and hatred to work unitedly to achieve the goal.

It may be mentioned here that though the NDFB has signed a formal cease-fire agreement with the Government of India, formal talks on the political issues are yet to start. Both the Government and the NDFB are blaming each other for the delay in holding of formal talks. The Government said that the process of talks was delayed because of the failure of the NDFB to submit the formal charter of demands to set the ball rolling, while, on the other hand, the militant outfit is claiming that formal talks could start even before submitting the charter.
India's foreign policy on Burma fails Indo Burma News
September 15, 2007: (Mizzima) The widespread spontaneous demonstrations against the zero-tolerance military regime in over a decade in Burma were followed by the junta's brutal crackdown with all its resources. The international community has come out to speak against the Burmese junta's unsustainable and improper tackling of its own people but the regime has a big friend - India.
The majority of people living under the poverty line or one of Asia's poorest people have to spend half their wages on daily travel expenses after the junta doubled gas and diesel prices while raising the price of Compressed Natural Gas by 500 percent.
People came out on the streets to vent their anger but in a peaceful manner. However, women demonstrators were harassed and beaten by the militants of junta-backed Union Solidarity Development Association while there were bloody attacks on the men. In some cases, the Buddhist clergy were tied up and beaten by the security forces. At least 150 protesters against the fuel price hike were detained within two weeks.
In the wake of the ruthless suppression of peaceful demonstrations, UN Secretary General Ban Ki said “Let’s hope that the government in Myanmar will fully democratize their country, and respect and uphold the aspiration of the international community, particularly the release of Madame Aung San Suu Kyi".
However, India, the largest democracy in the world is now encouraging the dictatorship to do whatever they like to suppress Burmese people in the name of a policy of non-interference.
"The cardinal principle of our foreign policy is non-interference in the internal matters of any country", AFP quoted Pranab Mukherjee, the Indian External Affairs Minister as saying during his trip to Thailand. "Neither do we export ideologies ... it is for them (Myanmar’s people) to decide what kind of government they want," he had added. These words are of a leader of a country which once strongly supported the democracy movement in Burma. This is unbelievable to the Burmese still under the yoke of 45 years of military rule
The present Indian government has conveniently forgotten the brotherly relationship India's great leader Jawaharlal Nehru and Burma's independent hero Aung San had. The detained opposition leader and the daughter of Burma's hero, Aung San Suu Kyi was awarded the Nehru prize in 1995. In contrast, even the junta's big brother, the Communist Chinese government, has been persuading the junta publicly to go in for democratic reforms and to implement national reconciliation as it is of paramount importance in maintaining stability. The Chinese always have an upper hand over India.
Countering Chinese influence in Burma and self-interest oriented geopolitics, India has been wooing the Burmese military junta since its foreign policy did a U-turn in 1992, where India gave shelter to students who fled after the civilian clothes wearing military went for a coup. It is now the State Peace and Development Council.
India walked the path of the Chinese by selling arms, financing and defending the junta.
However, the question is "Does India gain from its national interest based policy on Burma? Aware of India’s stand, the Burmese junta is playing the Chinese card. Energy starved India lost the bid on natural gas and all of it may be handed soon to China.
India should look to winning the hearts of the Burmese people.

Nagalim.NL News

09/16/2007: "Files missing OUR CORRESPONENT The Telegraph"