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09/18/2007: "NPMHR explains ‘Indigenous People’ of UN ethos The Morung Express"

NPMHR explains ‘Indigenous People’ of UN ethos

Dimapur, September 17 (MExN): Clearly embarrassed that “certain unhealthy debate are emerging from ‘some Naga underground group’” simply for the sake of opposing other groups, the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) today issued a response elucidation the term ‘Indigenous People.’
The NMPHR stated that such ‘debate’ is not healthy for the Naga political movement in any way. So to restrain the debate from going ‘out of the way,’ a clear picture of the Naga people’s position as one of the Indigenous People of the world is given “without embarrassing ourselves in the face of other Indigenous peoples”….
“…for the sake of our people, who should not be drawn into further confusion, as we are already way above our share of mistrust and confusions” an exasperated NPMHR added.
The NPMHR reminded that when the UN declared year 1993 as the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People, defining who Indigenous People are, NPMHR initiated a series of debates and discussions amongst the Nagas over the contents of the draft from January 1993 till March 1993. People from various and different walks of life participated. Following this, a position paper on Nagas as Indigenous People with a draft entitled “Nagas in the International Year of the World’s Indigenous People – A Prerogative” was finalized. It was then submitted to the UN through the Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact in May 19, 1993 at Chiang Mai in Thailand, with a decision that Nagas too would celebrate the year in proud partnership with the other Indigenous Peoples of the world.
In this regard, the NPMHR and the Naga Students Federation formed an Action Committee, with various other committees and toured the length and breadth of Naga areas, conducting awareness programs and holding seminars at various educational institutions in Nagaland at that time. This year-long partnering by the Nagas with other Indigenous peoples of the world culminated with the historic celebration of the Naga Week held December 1-5, 1993, in Kohima.
“Ever since, Nagas have been actively participating in the deliberations of the United Nations both in the Working Group and Permanent Forums on Indigenous peoples and issues, which are held every year at Geneva and New York respectively” the NPMHR reminded.
It pointed out that the submission of the NPMHR clearly states “Our case is different and distinct in itself while the problems of most of the other indigenous peoples relate to recognition of their rights within nation states and they seek (redress) of their problems with Governments concerned, our case is an indigenous people under forced occupation and seeking recognition of their right of place as a sovereign state.”
The NPMHR also enclosed the draft submission of ‘The Nagas in the International Year of the World’s Indigenous Peoples: A Prerogative.’
NPMHR on rights of the Nagas

i. The right to live together as a people through unification of all Naga areas.
ii. The right to be free from the clutches of occupational forces, and
iii. The right to have the United Nations recognition of the Naga country as a sovereign nation.
Release of NSCN (IM) cadre appreciated The Morung Express
Kiphire, September 17 (MExN): The Yimchunger Tribal Council and the Longtoker Union Tuensang Town conveyed appreciation to the forgiving gesture of the Joint Defense Mission if NSCN(K) and FGN. General Secretary of YTC, R Thsanso stated that the Mission team led by Captain Vitoshe, Operation Commander and Convener Captain Asoba had captured Akiu Leacy Member of YMC Region NSCN (IM) but released him to the tribal council and Longtoker Union, Tuensang, unharmed. The release added that immediately after his capture by the Joint Defence Mission at Shamator town on September 16, the two organizations had rushed to the spot and were thus able to save the life of Akiu.
Manipur to oppose Nagaland move on school affiliation From Sobhapati Samom Assam Tribune
Imphal, Sept 17 – The Manipur Government has decided to bring in an ordinance disallowing schools in the State from affiliating to boards outside the State.

The step has been taken up in response to the Nagaland Government’s reported plan of enacting a legislation to allow affiliation of schools from outside the State with the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education.

Reports said the Nagaland Government has enacted an ordinance in this regard on September 13 last and the bill is likely to be introduced in the Nagaland Assembly session scheduled to begin tomorrow.

The legislation opens the door to fulfill the long campaign of Naga Students Federation and All Naga Students Association Manipur to allow affiliation of schools in Naga dominated hill districts of Manipur to NBSE. The Manipur Government had been objecting to any move which may affect the integrity of the State. As a result, an emergency Cabinet meeting of Manipur’s Congress-led Secular Progressive Front Ministry held on Saturday prompted the Chief Minister O Ibobi to rush to New Delhi the sameday to apprise the matter to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and seek his intervention.

Saturday’s Cabinet meeting apart from reportedly passing a resolution condemning the move of the Nagaland Government taking the stance that it amounted to a direct attack on the integrity of a state by another. The meeting entrusted the Chief Minister with the task of pressurizing the Centre to intervene in the Nagaland Government move and instructed the latter not to take any decision that may lead to misunderstanding between the two States.

Manipur’s School Education Minister L Jayentakumar has also cautioned the parents and guardians not to follow the diktat of some NGOs so as to save students from losing their careers. Students and guardians of students in the Naga-inhabited hill area of Manipur 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 Manipur’s four hill districts though NSCN-K opposes the NGO’s move.

Meanwhile, All Manipur Students Union, Democratic Students Alliance of Manipur and Ethno-Heritage Council in their statements issued here, blasted the reported move of Nagaland’s Education Minister Imkong Imchen to enact a legislation, 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.

Rejoinder to FGN- Nagaland Post Opinion
I am sure his intention is neither to say, we are of foreign origin living under the mercies of others, nor we are subjugated by others through politically, socially, economically and religiously means like that of Dravidians and Adivasis by the Aryans in India. He has his own reason, which convinced him to articulate. I appreciate his concerns and desire for reflecting what he thinks the Nagas are and what it would look like in the face of others and in addition elevating the psychological status of Nagas is credited. I agreed with him in social perspective. However, living aside any communal and factional prejudices, or an object to teach or retaliate the concept, but I as a responsible Naga by birth, cultural activist by profession (PhD in cultural studies) and above all a missionary of cross-cultural studies would like to clarify the terminology and etymology to avoid misreading of our identity in future. What I know about the word indigenous is derived from a Latin root 'genbe' born, which means genes, birth homeland, native, local etc. In a strict sense all humanity are indigenous people of the universe. Hence general concept of the word is without boundary. However, on the process of human civilization prior to Babylonian, Mesopotamian and Egyptian etc when people began to migrate from place to place the sense of indigenous was popularly used to refer to the first settler. This trend continued to European colonial period and passed it to us even today in the form of economy. But the word indigenous is in no sense connected to the verb form of subjects or deprived alone. Human history and language history does not contradict to one another if the word and its meaning is true. Yes English is not our Naga language yet at the same time rationalizing any author's glossary before authentication is equally important to analyze the context of his/her meaning. Anybody can do like Shakespeare who had contributed more than a thousand of English words but generalizing an individual's concept would be irrelevant to our Naga people especially on the word indigenous. No doubt Nagas are indigenous people whether we are free or slave. Therefore let us not restrict our national aspiration on the universal terminology alone rather dwell on concept and pragmatize in living. God bless Nagas.
Dr. Hesheto Y. Chishi, Indigenous Cultural Society (Centre) Nagaland, Dimapur.
Nagaland Page
Dimapur, September 17: While not directly coming out owning responsibility for the September 8 Jotsoma killing, where 5 people belonging to the Tangkhul community were shot dead at point-blank range by some unidentified miscreants, the NSCN (K) today gave some indication that the outfit had a hand in the Jotsoma killing by pointing out that the 'Quit Notice' issued to the Tangkhuls by the outfit still stands.
In a statement on the Jotsoma killing issued today, NSCN (K) Deputy Kilonser, Tikhak Naga, vaguely hinted that the killing was undertaken while in the process of enforcing the 'Quit Notice' issued to the Tangkhul community to leave Nagaland.
The incident of Sept 8 at Jotsoma- Nagaland Post Opinion
Responding to the write ups of IK group in local dailies regarding the September 8 incident at Jotsoma village area in which five (5) IK cadres belonging to Tangkhul tribe of Manipur were killed, the GPRN/NSCN make the following clarifications. The 'Quit Notice' issued to Tangkhuls of Manipur has not been withdrawn by the GPRN. Instead, the GPRN/NSCN had been honestly and gently appealing to the Tangkhuls to leave Nagaland safe and sound. This appeal has been repeated several times in order to avoid undesirable incidents. Still the NSCN is persuading the Tangkhuls brothers and sisters to comply with the appeal. But the Tangkhuls had not responded to the non-violent gesture of the GPRN/NSCN. The woman who was also killed in the incident was not only a simple house wife as the claimed. She was very much an IK cadre. She was an official member of what they call "National Socialist Women Organization of Nagaland (NSWON). The people's army of Nagaland had nothing to do with any house wife or mother. This had been clearly declared by non other than the Ato Kilonser of GPRN. But to make an issue out of non-issue is the hoppy and tactics of IK leaders.
When IK terrorists kill other Naga freedom fighters, they use to clap hands for joy. But when any of their cadres are killed by others they use to raise hue and cry and are shouting from the roof-tops. How cheap and hypocritical? Scores of NSCN cadres had been killed by them and are being killed, including non-combatants, but we never raise any voice and we simply concede the losses as a responsible organization. Because we know that belligerency exists between the NSCN and IK group.
Instead of accusing the rightful people and organization and nurturing hatred and enmity against the others, it is advisable that the Tangkhuls leave Nagaland in peace for their own land in Manipur. Th. Muivah and some of his aides do not want peace among Nagas. They cannot tolerate any voice of dissent. Their cruelty and cunningness are clearly manifested in their recent ex-communication of Rev. Dr. Tuisem Shishak for writing an article in the paper. Dr. Shishak's so called confessional statement was full of pretensions and to be criticized by many non-Tangkhuls including the NSCN. But the GPRN/NSCN refrained in respect of his personal dignity. But the Tangkhul leaders of IK found faults in it also. How vindictive and touchy the Tangkhul leaders are? Where are their leadership qualities? Are they Nazis or fascists? There is no good man and right man for Th. Muivah. Every one is bad and wrong before him. That is the problem.
Tikhak Naga, Deputy Kilonser, GPRN/NSCN (K)
Nagas protest against their highhanded rebel cadres Nagarealm.com
Kohima, SEPT17 [ANI] : Upset with the high-handedness of rebel groups, people in Nagaland have reportedly taken up the issue with rebel leaders. Zeliang tribe took out a peaceful rally against the NSCN(IM) for allegedly indulging in acts of arson in Jalukie Zangbi village.


Men belonging to Zeliang tribe wanted to march to the Hebron Camp, the headquarters of the NSCN(IM), to register their protest with the Naga leadership, but were stopped by the police. The anger was not against police, but against the NSCN(IM), which claims to represent Naga sentiment.

Regailong, a tribal leader, said: "The Zeliang people are not ready to stop their protest against rebels. The Zeliangs are still looking for an amicable solution." On August 28, the NSCN(IM) cadre wanted to execute a ruling given by its court to hand over Zeliang tribal land to Munglamuk villagers. When inhabitants of Jalukie Zangbi village refused to abide by the ruling, the NSCN(IM) burnt down some houses in the village.

Francis, a student leader of the Zeliang Tribe, described the ruling and the coercive action that followed as one sided and as something that shouldn't have happened. A few months back, some houses belonging to the Tangkhul tribe were burnt down allegedly by the NSCN(K). People reportedly want freedom from the stranglehold of rebel Nagas. [Vibou Ganguly]

Nagaland govt flayed for NBSE affiliation move Assam tribune
IMPHAL, Sept 17 – Several civil organisations of Manipur today condemned the recent Cabinet decision of Nagaland Government allowing schools in Naga-inhabited areas of other States to affiliate to the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE).

The United Committee Manipur, in a statement, urged the government not to allow students passing out from the NBSE to undergo further studies in Manipur and also not to allow them join the state service. The United Peoples Front and the Democratic Students’ Alliance of Manipur also urged the government to reverse the decision. – PTI
Self-Determination Editorial Morung Express
One of the most controversial and misunderstood principles in modern international politics which has evoked such strong emotions has been the right to self-determination. While the principle and values of self-determination has been a beacon of light in shaping the destiny of humanity, yet the holistic language of self-determination has been dichotomized in confusing people that it implies different things. Today in international politics self-determination has been divided into two components: ‘external self-determination’ meaning the demand for sovereignty and independence; and ‘internal self-determination’ which is a demand for autonomy and self-government.
The underlying importance of self-determination is not so much the focus on the political status, but on how a people exercise their freedom to choose the basis on which they can determine their own destiny in a way that realizes their aspirations. So for instance, you have East Timor which exercised their right to self-determination by becoming independent, while the Sámi people exercised theirs in the form of an autonomy. Hence, notwithstanding the formation of a political status as an independent state or as an autonomous people, it is the principle of self-determination that provides the basis on which a spectrum of political status can be arrived upon.
The significance of the right to self-determination has been firmly established in the two human rights covenants of the United Nations as well as Resolution 1514 which is the Granting of Independence to colonized states. Without the presence of the right to self-determination, the process of decolonization would not have had any legal acceptance by international law. It is therefore to be erroneous to assume that the right to self-determination means only autonomy, or for that matter only sovereignty. In actual self-determination as a principle embodies a spectrum of political status that ranges from self-government to sovereignty. Self-determination is the principle on which political aspirations are realized; and it is for the people to decide the nature of political status they desire.
Once the decolonization process served the interest of the ‘free world,’ the great powers of the world started constructing the language of the right to self-determination in a manner that was no longer consistent with the values and principles of self-determination, a right that forms the very basis and legitimacy for sovereignty. State centric intellectuals began propounding the idea that it was the pursuit for self-determination that caused many of the world’s conflict, while people based activists resisted that idea, declaring it was the denial of the right to self-determination which was the root cause for the conflicts today, resulting in state repression and political violence.
However, with the United Nations General Assembly recently adopting the Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13, the language of the right to self-determination has been restored to give new meaning as a collective right inherent to indigenous peoples. The recognition of the right to self-determination for indigenous people by the United Nations enables the principle of self-determination to be implemented as a process towards liberating a peoples rather than just simply serving as a remedy to a historical problem. By this it means, that self-determination is not just a method of decolonization, but a right that recognizes and enables the right to self-definition and the right to fully exercise one’s political status.
Many of the worlds political conflict revolves around issues of independence and sovereignty; or in other words conflicts which are fought over the denial of the right to self-determination. Most of these conflicts which are armed and protracted in nature are waged between state and non-state actors; and because there has been a serious absence of a broad framework to enable conflicting parties to negotiate, their differences have only intensified into polarized political realities. The missing dimension on all failed peace processes has clearly shown that the inability of governments to recognize the right to self-determination has been responsible for break-down of negotiations. In other words, the right to self-determination is the defining factor between a successful and a failed negotiation.
The appeal of the principle of self-determination is simple, for it expresses the human desire that it is surely better that nations should determine their own destinies rather than someone else do it. The concept of self-determination best demonstrates the idea of democracy, according to which the people are accepted to be most qualified to govern themselves. The values of the right to self-determination is foremost the most common and minimum denominator on the basis of which nations and states interact with each other. Considering that the right to self-determination gives rise to ideas of freedom and sovereignty, it must invariably form the very basis and principle on which governments and people must negotiate to form a just and lasting peaceful solution.
It is without doubt that self-determination has been a leading principle in the breakup of colonial empires and in the creation of independent and sovereign states in the Twentieth Century. And it is in the same breath that one must assert the right to self-determination as a unifying value on which peoples, nations and governments must begin building a more secure and just world. It is indeed incomprehensible to imagine a just and dignified relation between any two political entities in the absence of self-determination. Certainly in the case of Indigenous people, if they are to have full and effective enjoyment of all of the human and fundamental freedoms recognized by the UN, it is imperative that the right to self-determination is respected and implemented so that by virtue of that right “they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.”
16 hrs Manipur Hill districts bandh on September 19 Newmai News Network
Imphal The Kuki Students Organisation-General Headquarters (KSO-GHq), All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and the All Tribal Students Union, Manipur (ATSUM) have called 13 hours Manipur hill districts bandh on September 19 in protest against the Manipur government's decision to include some tribal villages belonging to hill districts in the forthcoming Panchayat election.
The bandh will begin from 5 am of September 19 and ends at 6pm. All the transporters and the general public are requested by the two students' body to co-operate during the bandh.
"Strongly objecting the policy of territorial expansion and subsequent encroachment of tribal land through the sinister design of encompassing the Autonomous District Council (ADC) jurisdiction in the forthcoming Panchayat election of 2007, ANSAM and KSO-GHq along with its constituent units submitted its objection through the Deputy Commissioner of Chandel on August 30,2007," said the tribal students' body. The statement said that in pursuance of our rightful demand to exclude the tribal administered districts from the purview of the Panchayat election 2007 again submitted objection to the state government of Manipur on September 10 jointly by ATSUM, ANSAM and KSO.
The tribal students' body further stated that "now the state government of Manipur applying dirty and unlawful act is forcibly ignoring the voice of the hill people in pursuing to impose dual system of Municipal and Panchayat scheduled in the tribal land administered by ADC." It also alleged that the policy and attitude of the state government of Manipur is lamentable and willfully acting against the aspiration and rights of the tribal populace.
The ANSAM and KSO then said that in pursuance of the rightful demand to preserve and protect the indigenous peoples' land and rights in the hill districts, the joint tribal organisations is compelled to undertake the agitation. It warned of strong action to be taken up against the violators of bandh on the day. The statement also urged all sections of the communities to stand up and fight a united effort to safeguard tribal land and rights.

ULFA leader Prabal Neog nabbed By A Staff Reporter Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Sept 17 – Dealing a major blow to the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA), police today arrested the commandant of its 28 Battalion Prabal Neog near Tezpur town. Neog was travelling with his wife from Arunachal Pradesh side while the police got hold of him.

It needs mention here that 28 Battalion is the most influential armed division of the ULFA and it is operating in upper Assam districts in a manner that has been keeping the security forces on tenterhooks.

According to IGP (SB) Khagen Sarma, Neog was travelling with his wife in a car at the time of his being intercepted by the police. However, it is not known till the filing of this report as to whether the ULFA leader was coming down right from Arunachal Pradesh.

Neog, one of the senior most leaders of the ULFA masterminded the recent series of killings of the Hindi-speaking people in Upper Assam districts.

He was also spotted in Karbi Anglong district just before the latest incidents of carnage of the Hindi-speaking people in the district. This has given credence to the doubt that there also he was involved in masterminding the plots for the killing of the Hindi-speaking people, said the IGP.

According to security agencies’ intelligence input, Neog was recently given responsibility of re-organising and strengthening the 27 Battalion of the ULFA, which is in bad shape.

The cadres of the 27 Battalion in Arunachal Pradesh camps are also facing hardships due to the outbreak of malaria in the camps and many cadres are forced to flee these camps by the disease, said sources in the security agencies.

Our Tezpur Correspondent adds: Prabal Neog, alias Benudhar Bora, his wife Purabi Neog and their one and half-a-year son were travelling by an Indica car bearing registration number As- 12 C –7268, to Arunachal Pradesh when the police intercepted them near Mission Chariali here around 2-30 pm today.

The arrested ULFA leader was also looking after the eastern command of the militant outfit, said Sonitpur DSP (HQ) Bibekananda Das.

Purabi was staying at Hotel Durba on Kabarkhana Road since last evening. Today, Prabal picked her and the child up and was just to leave the town when the arrest was made.

According to DSP Das, a cash amount of Rs 2.75 lakh and a mobile phone was recovered from the possession of the ULFA commandant. No arms or ammunition were found in his possession when the police arrested him. Police came to know the identity of the militant leader when the militant leader himself made a confession revealing his identity before the police at the Tezpur Police Station, following his arrest, said the DSP.

Neog, son of Haladhar Bora of Makum-Tarajan in Tinsukia district, had joined the ULFA in 1991. Earlier, he was the vice-president of Tinsukia district committee of the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba-Chatra Parishad (AJYCP).
ULFA abandon peace process The issue of national rights and dignity: ULFA The Morung Express
Guwahati, September 17 (UNI): The ULFA has claimed that they are abandoning the peace process and preparing for a full swing arms struggle asking people in the state to gear up for it.
In a statement published in its latest mouthpiece "Freedom" ULFA has for the first time revealed that Chairman Aurobindo Rajkhowa and Commander-in-Chief Paresh Bara would have agreed on negotiations had the peace talk moved ahead. ''But instead, the state government has once again played the old game and scuttled the peace process. The issue of national rights and dignity was repeatedly trifled. The ULFA could not swallow this. There was no alternative but harder struggle,'' the Freedom reportedly said.
Meanwhile, the Army claimed that facing the heat from security forces in the upper Assam districts, the ULFA is now raising a new battalion in Karbi Anglong district, taking advantage of the low presence of the armed forces there.
''They are now trying to raise the 27th battalion in Karbi Anglong,'' Maj Gen N C Marwah, GoC of the 2 Mountain Division, which has jurisdiction over seven Upper Assam districts and two in Arunachal Pradesh, told visiting mediapersons at the division headquarters here. Army sources said that following intensified counter-insurgency operations in the Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Jorhat, Golaghat and Sonitpur districts, ULFA cadres were taking shelter in Karbi Anglong because of the low presence of the security forces there. The district had emerged as a preferred hideout for the banned outfit because of its difficult terrain, dense forests, hilly tracts and rivers, besides its proximity to Bangladesh that allowed easy access to that country, they said. ''Karbi Anglong was a lost district in the sense that literacy and awareness level was extremely low. Besides, a large number of insurgent outfits championing the cause of various tribals were also operating there,'' they said.
In reply to a question, they said the ULFA were procuring and amassing arms and ammunition for its 27th battalion from militant outfits in the district,mainly the Karbi Longli National Liberation Front(KLNLF) demanding autonomy for the Karbis. ULFA's 28th battalion, comprising the A, B and C companies, was also active in Upper Assam, Lt Col A Chaturvedi of the 19 Kumaon Regiment deployed in Tinsukia said.
The 'A' company is active in Tinsukia district, the 'B' company covers Sibsagar, Jorhat and Golaghat, while the 'C' company works in Dibrugarh,Nalbari, Dhemaji and parts of Tinsukia. The A and C companies have a total strength of 150.
ULFA’s top brass ‘arrested’ By Subir Bhaumik BBC News, Calcutta
Assam police have arrested a top separatist leader. Prabal Neog, of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) was detained near the town of Tezpur, officials said. Police say he was involved in a spate of recent bomb explosions on oil and gas pipelines and also in attacks on Hindi-speaking migrants. At least 150 people have died in the attacks since talks between the ULFA and the authorities failed last year.
Assam police intelligence chief, Khagen Sarma, told the BBC that Neog was traveling with his wife, also a top ULFA activist, when they were arrested at a checkpoint near Tezpur on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra River. "We had definite information about his movement in the area near the Indian army base and we were tracking him for nearly a week," he said. Sarma said Neog had taken over the command of the "28th battalion" of ULFA after its former chief, Mrinal Hazarika, was arrested in the neighbouring state of West Bengal last year. "He is easily our most wanted separatist in Assam. This is a very big catch," Sarma said. Many other ULFA separatists have been killed or captured in recent counter-insurgency operations. Another senior colywas arrested in April.
ULFA began an armed rebellion against what it describes as colonial rule by Delhi in 1979. Thousands of people have died in the violence. An effort to start peace talks between the rebels and the Indian government broke down last year. The rebels are seeking a separate homeland for the Assamese people and demanding the departure of the non-indigenous population, particularly Hindi speakers.
Desperate Sharmila sends SOS to Sonia OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph


Irom Sharmila
Imphal, Sept. 17: Manipur human rights crusader Irom Sharmila, who has been on a fast for nearly seven years, has approached UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for help.
Sharmila, widely known as the “Iron Lady of Manipur”, hopes that the Congress chief’s intervention would go a long way in ensuring that her demands are fulfilled.
Sharmila handed over a letter addressed to Sonia Gandhi to Sandeep Pandey, Magsaysay Award-winning activist, yesterday when he visited the high-security ward of Imphal’s Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, where Sharmila is on her hungerstrike.
Pandey was visiting Imphal along with four other human right activists from different parts of the country to participate in a five-day demonstration in support of the campaign against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. He took the letter to New Delhi today and will hand it over to the Congress chief. The rally was organised jointly by the Imphal-based Manipur Forward Youth Front (MFYF) and the Mumbai-based National Alliance for Peoples Movement (NAPM). Pandey is one of the co-ordinators of the alliance.
Though details of the letter were not divulged, a source disclosed that Sharmila has urged Sonia Gandhi to help repeal the army act. “The letter also contains some very personal details relating to the health of the hungerstriker,” the source claimed. Sharmila launched her fast in November 2000 against the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act. The immediate trigger for her hungerstrike was the killing of 10 civilians by troops of the Assam Rifles at Malom near Imphal airport that month. Sharmila shifted her protest to New Delhi last year. However, Delhi police sent her back to Imphal in March this year. Sharmila was immediately taken to judicial custody, where she is continuing her hungerstrike.
Before leaving Imphal today, Pandey and leaders of the Manipur Forward Youth Front decided to convene a “national convention” in November over the imposition of the army act in the Northeast and Jammu and Kashmir. Hailing Sharmila’s “indomitable” spirit, Pandey said she was the bravest person in the world. “We fully support her struggle,” he added.
The two human rights groups are planning to organise another conclave after the national convention, in which human rights groups of Asian countries will participate.
MFYF president Sapamcha Kangleipal explained that though no date has been fixed for the national and Asian conventions, the front and the alliance have initiated the process of establishing contact with rights groups in Asian countries. The five-day-long demonstration, held in Imphal’s Keishampat junction, ended today. Women activists, doctors, nurses, human rights activists and students participated in the rally. Kangleipal said demonstrations were held in Dhaka and cities in Pakistan, the US, the UK and West Asian countries in support of the movement on Thursday. That was the first day of the five-day-long sit-in protest here.
MLAs quarters in spotlight again, Militants again nabbed from Babupara quarters The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Sept 16: A month after the arrest of a dozen militants from the official quarters of two MLAs and one ex-MLA, two more militants of different groups were again nabbed in a raid at the heavily guarded VIP area at Babupara, police said Sunday. On August 17 this year, 12 militants including those of the KYKL, PLA, PREPAK and KCP were nabbed from the official quarters of MLAs and ex-MLAs located at Babupara. The raids conducted by a combined team of Imphal east and west police also detected disassembled weapons and ammunitions apart from demand letters of the KYKL.

Today`s raid was also conducted by a combined team of Imphal east and west police commencing from 4.30 am and went on till around 7.45 am, officials said. The SPs of both the districts personally supervised the raids, sources said. The raid was conducted based on intelligence input that some militants were taking shelter in the area, the statement added.One of the detained cadres belongs to the KYKL identified as Salam Punshi Singh alias Inoucha, 30, son of Athotba Singh of Thanga Karang. He was rounded up from the quarter of the ex-MLA Salam Ibohal Singh, a statement of the SP, Imphal west said. The other was a NSCN (IM) cadre identified as Md. Zanur Khan, 22, son of late Tombinou of Bishnupur ward No. II. He was nabbed from a rented house of Soubam Nirmal of Bapupara.
Punshi as per his disclosure during preliminary interrogation joined KYKL in January, 2004 through one Prem, the then district commander of Bishnupur district. He was arrested in June 2005 and rejoined the outfit after getting released on bail. He is currently working under self styled lieutenant Prem of KYKL.

The NSCN (IM) cadre Zamir was working in the finance section of the outfit in Imphal area.

Reports said that the police rounded up around 150 people from the Babupara area and verification was conducted at the Imphal west district commando complex. During verification the two were found to be cadres of militant groups, the source added. Many sitting and ex-MLAs turned up during the verification and after identifying their drivers and workers got them freed, the report added. The Babupara area has been under the scrutiny of the state police since the arrest of 12 militants from the official quarters of MLAs during a police raid on August 17 last. In the meantime, yesterday two PLA activists identified as Ningombam Birjitkumar, 31, and Paonam Dhanabir Singh, 31, both residents of Pishum Ningom Leirak, were nabbed by a combined team of the Imphal west district police and 32 Assam Rifles from Kwakeithel Huidrom Leikai. On preliminary interrogation the two disclosed that they were assigned to kidnap businessmen and for collection of money for party funds, a statement issued by the SP, Imphal west said.
India's Petroleum Minister to visit Burma Mizzima news
September 18, 2007: (Mizzima) Union Petroleum Minister Murli Deora will visit Burma from September 23 to look at the potential to tap hydrocarbon discoveries in the neighbouring country.
"The Minister will be there to witness the production sharing contract (PSC) signing between the ONGC Videsh Ltd and the Myanmar government for stakes in three Rakhine (Arakan) offshore deepwater blocks," said a senior petroleum ministry official. Moreover, Murli Deora will hold talks with Brigadier General Lun Thi, Burma's Minister of Energy to revise the decision of turning down India's bid to natural gas from Burma's western off shore blocks, A1 and A3.
India is likely to try and lobby for a reversal of that decision, sources said. The agenda includes diesel exports from Numaligarh refinery to Burma and training of its engineers by Indian public sector units across the hydrocarbon value chain.Even though the companies together hold 30 percent stake in the blocks, the Burmese junta had recently decided that the gas from A1 and A3 blocks would be sold to China through a pipeline.
Energy security is important for sustaining India's more than eight percent economic growth. India procures 78 percent of its energy needs from abroad.
Monks protest in Myanmar amid tight security at temples Mizima
September 18, 2007: (AP) Yangon, More than a thousand Buddhist monks marched peacefully in two Myanmar cities on Tuesday, the latest in a wave of recent anti-government protests that have rocked the country, witnesses said. At least 400 monks, chanting prayers and walking in rows, marched in the country's biggest city, Yangon, said witnesses, who refused to be named for fear of reprisals. After pro-junta toughs and plainclothes police barred them from entering Yangon's famous Shwedagon pagoda and then the Bota Caung pagoda, the monks sat in the street and chanted before ending the protest and returning to monasteries.
Thousands of onlookers cheered, clapped and offered water as the saffron-robed monks made the three-hour, 16-kilometer (10-mile) march. ``We are grateful to the monks for making good on their promise despite heavy security presence and obstacles,'' said a man who followed the monks throughout the march. He refused to give his name for fear of reprisals.
Unlike at earlier protests, junta supporters did not intervene.
Meanwhile, in the city of Bago about 80 kilometers (50 miles) away, some 1,000 monks marched peacefully to the Shwemawdaw pagoda, residents said.
No one was arrested in either march. Both ended peacefully. The monks had given authorities a Monday deadline to apologize for beating hundreds of them two weeks ago as they marched peacefully in Pakokku, a center of Buddhist learning, to protest rising fuel and consumer prices.
The apology never came. The anti-government protests began Aug. 19 after the government raised fuel prices by as much as 500 percent, putting the squeeze on already impoverished citizens. The protests have continued despite the detention of more than 100 demonstrators and the rough treatment of others. Monks have been at the forefront of political protests in Myanmar since British colonial times. Because they are so revered by the public, repressing them is politically risky. The junta is wary that demonstrations could gain momentum if monks keep protesting. Tuesday's march came on the 19th anniversary of the coup in which Myanmar's current junta took power after crushing a failed pro-democracy rebellion that sought an end to military rule, imposed since 1962. The junta held general elections in 1990, but refused to honor the results when pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy party won. Suu Kyi has been detained, mostly under house arrest, for more than 11 years.
Meanwhile on Tuesday, rights activists were also set to hold protests over Myanmar, also known as Burma, at Chinese embassies and consulates in at least 13 cities worldwide _ an attempt to call attention to neighboring China's support of the junta.
China, like some other Asian countries, has invested heavily in Myanmar oil and gas projects as part of its global effort to feed its huge energy demands. In New Zealand's biggest city, Auckland, about 35 members of the Myanmar community marched to the Chinese Consulate and protested outside for two hours, said spokesman Naing Ko Ko. In New Delhi, about 100 protesters _ some carrying placards reading ``Burma: a killing field'' and ``China help democracy in Burma'' _ sang Myanmar's national anthem and made speeches demanding that neighboring countries, like India and China, pressure the military junta to restore democracy.