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09/22/2007: "Delhi votes for Indigenous Peoples’ declaration The Morung Express"



Delhi votes for Indigenous Peoples’ declaration The Morung Express

Dimapur, September 21 (MExN): India voted for the UN Indigenous peoples’ declaration even while first-countries like the United States, Australia, Canada and New Zealand voted against the same. The for-vote demonstrates the “positive attitude” of the sub-continent towards indigenous peoples.
“The Government of India needs to be congratulated for voting in favor of the declaration” the Asian Indigenous Peoples Pact Foundation stated in a message received here. It acknowledged the “positive attitude” stating that India’s Indigenous Peoples should take this opportunity to thank the Government of India and engage in meaningful dialogue with the Government to further the cause of Indigenous Peoples
“The very fact that 144 countries voted in favor of the Declaration suggests the unique role played by the Indigenous Peoples in their respective countries” AIPPF’s chairman Dr. S Debbarma stated in the message. However, implementation has yet to define the declaration in all its fundamental tenets. Although there are hiccups with regard to the use of the nomenclature ‘Indigenous Peoples’ by the Indian Government, voting in favor of the declaration shows India’s positive attitude towards the Indigenous Peoples and also the recognition of the contribution made by them, the AIPPF stated..
The foundation regretted that the USA, Australia, Canada and New Zealand voted against the declaration in spite of the fact that Indigenous people have positively contributed in the nation-building process in these countries. “11 countries which have abstained from voting have undermined the cause of the Indigenous Peoples” the chairman asserted. Still there remains much to be done, according to the AIPPF. ”The declaration will remain only as a declaration if attempts are not made by countries towards the implementation of the declaration. Before we make final conclusions we need to wait and watch how the countries who have voted in favor of the declaration implements the various provisions included in the declaration” the foundation advised” it added while joining the Indigenous Peoples around the world in celebrating the UN declaration.
Rio lauded for extending school board OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kohima, Sept. 21: The apex Naga organisation, the Naga Hoho, has hailed the Nagaland People’s Front, which is the major coalition partner of the Neiphiu Rio government, and other political parties of the state for allowing the Nagaland education board to extend its facilities outside the state.
It lauded what it termed was a mature political decision permitting the Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) to extend its syllabus and facilities to educational institutions located outside Nagaland and recognising the legitimate rights of these academic institutions to conduct internal promotion examinations. Naga Hoho president I. Bendangmangyang Jamir today expressed confidence that such a “landmark decision” by the state Assembly would immensely contribute towards achieving the Nagas’ goal for a “unified Naga homeland”.
The Hoho claimed that many Naga students in Manipur had been forced to curtail their academic careers during the agitation by Naga civil societies demanding affiliation of the schools in Naga-inhabited areas of Manipur to NBSE. It blamed the British as well as the Centre for dividing the Naga “indigenous families” through different “imaginary boundaries” for their administrative convenience. The Hoho also expressed its appreciation of the UN General Assembly for adopting a resolution upholding the rights of indigenous people at a sitting on September 13.
Rebel killed An activist of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) was killed when Assam Rifles personnel fought a gunbattle with a group of militants late last evening. The incident occurred at Mopakhat village under Kanubari police station in Tirap district of Arunachal Pradesh, bordering Assam. The slain militant has been identified as self-styled sergeant major Puman Wang. Another NSCN (I-M) member, self-styled second lieutenant Momo Moring, was apprehended, adds our staff reporter from Guwahati.
The group of militants had allegedly come to the area to extort money from a tea estate. In another incident, a militant of the Khaplang faction of the NSCN was injured following an encounter with police. The gunbattle occurred at a hotel in Horiojan area under Bokajan police station in Karbi Anglong district this evening. The police recovered a 9mm pistol and ammunition from the militant.
Which political party can salvage the Nagas?- Nagaland Post Column
Close on the heels of another election some political par-ties are once again making lot of promises and ass-urances just for electoral gain, although none of them can really implement them. On political agenda, the same old agenda, notably the Naga political and integration issue are in apparition which has grown stale, and like the graffiti on the walls, they have been there so long, they have ceased to attract the attention of people as they have ceased to believe in their capability of solving them. As such, these two issues should be consigned to oblivion as none of the parties can solve them. Don't be wishful thinking. Don't waste your mental muscle dreaming an effortless way to win success. Don't count on luck for victories.
If any effort is to be made to bring about a change and build a better future for ourselves, then we shall have to take another road-not the path we are treading now. The path where we are treading is full of deceits and snare for the unwary travelers. We need catchy labels-not those worn out political ideas and antics which do not respond to the fast changing of time just as medicine to patient. I know for sure that the present generation will not want to continue to live under the kind of situation that we have today. They all say that a change should come. Let us therefore talk about what are the things practical and pragmatic in our quest for a better future. Why are we trying to build our future on groundless hope? But let my tell you honestly that, the future I am talking about has to be based on the enlightened political leaders. Do we have even one among us?
In our political agenda, a law and order should get top-priority, and then only deve-lopment will come in the forefront. The political agenda of any party should, therefore, focus on how to put an end to anarchy; for, we cannot remain silent spectator when the entire society is heading towards a near-tool collapse. What should we do to resuscitate what is rotting to the core?
From whatever angle we look at the situation ahead of us looks grim with no sign of changing for the better. For years, the Nagas have been praying and fasting with tears, and at long last we could have it. But the kind of peace we have turns out to be a farce and deceptive with more blood oozing. The kind of peace we have is some-thing like a scarecrow in a barren field, waving a stick to drive away all our pleasures. The general public are weary of the protracted insurgency problem persists in the land. There are simmering voices everywhere that the exhausted society of ours must be rescued from anarchy and threatened dissolution. They are not even longing for sove-reignty but a change of situation which guara-ntees permanent peace because to live free from fear is a basic human right.
But it should also be understood that, men cannot live by peace alone any more than solely by bread. Peace and econo-mic development are closely inter-linked and neither could flourish without the other. If peace is not accompanied by cultural revival the in-tellectual and cultural activities would inevitably come to a standstill for neither there is security to encourage it, nor the means to support it. The inevitably consequences is that the country would decline along with political fortunes. As a matter of fact, the present situation evokes a sense of frustration and desperation with no sign of a brighter future in offer for the Nagas. As such, the political agenda of any party sh-ould be seriously focused on how to put an end the present anarchy in the state so that we can build a truly modern democratic and prosperous Nagaland where our children could smile in the sunshine of justice and equality.
Z. Katry Keyake, Kohima
Perpetrators of mother's honour- Nagaland Post
Every member of human society is born of a mother, fed on mother's milk and nurtured by her to grow up as a man and woman. This is God's or nature designated role for a mother. And a mother is, therefore, revered with Godly status. Criminals, though having animals like instinct, are also human and also comes from mother's womb.
Khaplang group Deputy Kilonser Tikhak Naga have sadistically admitted to killing late Major PK Stone's wife Maireila because she was a member of NSCN and official member of National Socialist Women Organization of Nagalim (NSWON). Though NSWON have no record of her as member, what really shocked the conscience of everyone irrespective of factional or tribal affiliation is, should a mother be raped and killed in such brutish manner by some mothers' sons of an organization who professed to go by Naga freedom fighter group with imitative name but shallow and criminal oriented in actual functioning?
Certainly, Mother Nature will be having an answer for the crime against mother, for nature forbids such magnitude of crime that demeaned mother's status. And it is God, the creator of mother who will have His reward reserved for the perpetrators of mother's honour.
MIP, GPRN/ NSCN-IM
NSCN (I-M) replies to ‘sadistic admission’ Newmai News Network
Dimapur The NSCN-IM said today that "Khaplang group" Deputy Kilonser Tikhak Naga has "sadistically" admitted to killing late Major PK Stone’s wife Maireila because she was a member of NSCN and official member of National Socialist Women Organization of Nagalim (NSWON). The NSCN-IM stated that though NSWON have no record of her as member, "what really shocked the conscience of everyone irrespective of factional or tribal affiliation is, should a mother be raped and killed in such brutish manner by some mothers’ sons of an organization who professed to go by Naga freedom fighter group with imitative name but shallow and criminal oriented in actual functioning?"
It then opined that every member of human society is born of a mother, fed on mother’s milk and nurtured by her to grow up as a man and woman. "This is God’s or nature designated role for a mother. And a mother is, therefore, revered with Godly status. Criminals, though having animals like instinct are also human and also comes from mother’s womb," asserted the NSCN-IM statement.
It then judged, "certainly, mother nature will be having an answer for the crime against mother, for nature forbid such magnitude of crime that demeaned mother’s status. And it is God, the creator of mother who will have His reward reserved for the perpetrators of mother’s honour."
MLA Tali speaks out on Tuli incident The Morung Express
DiMAPUR, SEPTEMBER 21 (MExN): With intentions to remove all speculation, MLA Talinungsang of Tuli spoke out on yesterday’s incident at Tuli basically saying that it was not a clash but a barbarous attack carried out on his supporters. Speaking to The Morung Express at his residence in Purana Bazaar, Dimapur, the MLA stuck to his story that his men had been unarmed and camped at Forest colony as they were unable to enter the village as the supporters of Congress candidate Imtiwapang Jamir guarded all roads leading to the village. Tali said that his men had been carrying nothing more than bags of rice and some ration for the villagers and the escorts from Dimapur had only meant to act as ‘moral support’ to the villagers who had been ‘chased out from their native habitat.’
Lamenting the treatment meted out on his supporters, Tali said that his people had fled the village on September 13, due to harassment and finally made it to Dimapur while their wives and children were being held in the village against their will. He also said that when the women had protested the act by sitting on the roadside and praying for their husbands to be allowed to return, they had been mishandled by the Congress supporters. It was further alleged that the Congress had rounded up all supporters of NPF, including women and children, barricaded them inside the village and even made bunkers and defences around the entire village. He accused Imti’s supporters of using children as human shields during the Thursday’s incident and added that the deceased, Imlisunep was actually an NPF member who had been held against his will along with many others from his party.
The MLA claimed that the brother of the deceased had been amongst the NPF members camped at Forest Colony when the incident took place and said that the deceased might have tried to run away from their hold and therefore was shot.
The MLA also revealed the chronology of events leading to yesterday’s attack which is said to have begun with meeting of Kangtsung citizen’s forum or Kangtsung Senso Mungdang on April 26, 2006. Supporters of the MLA is said to have been unable to attend the meeting due to manipulation and misunderstanding and only a few people had attended the citizen’s meeting and proposed the name of Imtiwapang Jamir to contest from the Congress ticket. The decision of this meeting is said to have been scraped by the executives of the forum and the people on the basis that it was not a unanimous decision which led to a divided opinion between the people of the village culminating in yesterday’s incident. Reacting strongly to the attack, the MLA said that such a throwback to the barbaric age in the 21st century was not only bad for Tuli, Nagaland or India but for the whole world condemned the act of the Congress candidate in destroying democracy.
Meanwhile witnesses of yesterday’s violence at Tuli at the MLA’s residence added that the citizen’s meeting was held every two years as per the constitution and along with other agendas, the citizens unanimously selected a candidate from the village. Despite differing opinions, the citizens are said to have always argued and reasoned their different points of view but finally reaching a consensus candidate to be sent to the election since 1977, for the last seven elections. However they said that the dispute was because the 2006 meeting was 2006 Senso meeting was ‘artificial’ in the interest of 30 to 40 people and the people were determined not to listen to the dictate of these few people though they were under tremendous pressure.
It was also disclosed that the NPF supporters of Tuli have filed an FIR at Tuli police station naming nine people identified in yesterday’s incident out of the many others who had been firing upon the NPF members. One of the witnesses, N Jamir also said that the police had been helpless and were mere spectators as Imti’s supporters were firing indiscriminately into their midst. It was also disclosed that after the eviction of these men on September 13, all mobile phones, landlines and communication had been seized by the Imtiwapang’s men. He said that they had gone in good faith because it was pertinent that these people be sent back since it was not possible to feed all of them for a long time. “If we had guns, how come all the 11 injuries are on our side and no one has been hurt from among them” he questioned.
In the meantime, more than 160 of Tali’s men from Kangtsung village and Tuli are stranded in Dimapur unable to return home. MLA Tali disclosed that efforts are being made to reach a compromise with the help of peace-making agents so that his men can return to their homes.
Zeliangrongs not to pay ‘taxes’ to NSCN-IM Correspondent Assam Tribune
DIMAPUR, Sept 21 – The apex tribal body of the Zeliangrongs, the Zeliangrong Baudi taking a strong step has decided to stop supporting NSCN-IM and also not to pay ‘taxes’ to the organization till the settlement of the Jalukie Zangdi village issue.

The apex body took the ‘bold’ decision in their general assembly held at Jalukie town recently. The meeting, attended by representatives from 90 villages of the Peren district, also resolved that if at all the NSCN-IM leadership wishes to discuss further on the issue they have to personally come to Peren district. The meeting felt that enough memoranda of their grievances have been submitted both to the NSCN-IM as well as to Nagaland Government. The tribal body said that all its pleas have gone unheeded.

Turning their guns toward the Neiphiu Rio-led State Government, the house decided to forward another memorandum to the Chief Minister to pay compensation to the families of the victims whose houses were razed and those who were injured during the rally held on September 3 when IRB personnel resorted to lathi charge, tear gas and blank firing.

The apex body of the Zeliangrongs will also submit an ultimatum to the Nagaland Government, pressurizing it to evict encroachers from Intangki National Park. The State Government had earlier issued an order to this effect on July 25 last.

The Baudi also decided to form Zeliangrong People’s Convention comprising of members from Assam, Manipur and Nagaland to facilitate it to take up common issues in the future.

Till the finalization of the demarcation of clear-cut boundaries, yet to be finalized, the house insisted that traditional district boundaries should be respected.

Almost all the speakers during their deliberations expressed strong resentment and unhappiness towards the treatment meted out to them while they were peacefully marching towards Hebron, the headquarter of NSCN-IM.
‘India should help restore democracy in Burma’ Newmai News Network
Guwahati President of All Burma Students’ League (ABSL) Kyaw Than on Friday said that India should play a vital role in bringing back democracy in his country (Myanmar).
“The people of Myanmar has great expectation from Indian government, which is the largest democracy in the world and the only secular neighbour of Myanmar,” Than told the newsmen in Guwahati while attending the programme “Meet the Press” organized by the Guwahati Press Club. Than participated in the Burma uprising in 1988 as a student and arrived in India in 1989 to take forward the political activities of the ABSL at international level.
Than has been staying in different parts of India since 1989. “The Military Junta in Myanmar had recently beaten up several people who took out a silent procession on August 19 last in Myanmar to protest against the price hike of oil. However, the Indian foreign minister had reacted to the incident as ‘a mere internal affair of Myanmar’,” pointed out Than and said that this had hurt the sentiments of Burmese people who wants democracy to be restored in the country. “Our people had expectation from India as they believe India to be the only secular democratic neighbour. It is very important for even India to restore peace and tranquility in Myanmar,” he said and added that without peace and tranquility restored in Myanmar through democracy, the Look East Policy of India would not materialize. “The China had been adopting ‘aggressive’ policies regarding Myanmar and the military government in the country had even leased out the threshold of Irawati river to China for establishing a Naval base of China,” he said. “India and Myanmar had historical relations. Even Assam had witnessed three aggressions from Myanmar during the Ahom regime. However, we must take lessons from the history,” Than added.
Repolling Charhajare draws blank in two booths By Our Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Sep 21: Inspite of repolling held for the Zilla Parishad and Gram Panchayat elections held under strict security vigil in three polling stations (actually four, but two were clubbed together for security reasons) in Charhajare under Lamshang Sub-Division, the poll percentage recorded was very low as none of the electorates in two polling stations came out to cast their votes.
However the overall voters’ turn out at the 49 polling stations where repoll was held today was recorded between 86 to 90 percent.
As there were huge gaps in the voters’ turn out at different polling stations, there will be problems in the constitution of Zilla Parishads, said inside sources.
Even though the repolling was conducted under the vigilant eyes of IG (Law and Order-II) A Romenkumar, DIG (Range-III) M Shantikumar, SP Senapati, CO of 6 MR and CO of 2 MR and stringent security measures put in place to prevent any untoward incidents, the polling stations wore a deserted look till 1.30 pm.
In the polling booth set up at Golden Junior High School only 31 votes had been cast and 12 votes in the Bal Vidya Mandir polling booth. On the other hand no voters turned up in the two polling booths set up in CL Memorial Hindi School till 1 pm.
On the other side, one supporter of Laishram Birenyaima, the candidate of Langthabal Zilla Parishad has been admitted to RIMS Hospital for treatment after he was allegedly beaten up by an officer of the Imphal West District Police during repolling today.
Birenyaima alleged that his supporter identified as Laishram Bhakta (25) s/o Shanta of Liwa Road Oinam Leikai was called out by the police officer while standing in the queue to cast his vote at Keibung LP School polling booth at around 2.30 pm today and taken inside a room where he was beaten up severely.
There were also many other alleged proxy voters in the same room. That Bhakta had been beaten up was known only after he fainted, Birenyaima informed.
Birenyaima said he has no objection in taking up action against Bhakta if he had indulged in proxy voting. However at the time he was called out by the police officer, Bhakta had not even gained entry to the polling station, he said, adding that the action of the police officer smacked of discrimination.
In another poll-related violence, some unidentified uniformed personnel reportedly beat up 10 workers/supporters of a candidate of the Zilla Parishad election near Laikhong village under Yairipok Police Station at around 11.30 pm yesterday. According to L Khomdon, husband of Sorodhoni of Yairipok Yambem who is the candidate, the incident occurred while they were going to drop some workers at their respective houses in two Gypsys last night after some discussion on matters related to repolling. As they were approaching Laikhong, the armed uniformed personnel stopped the Gypsys and made all the occupants to lay prostrated on the ground. After a severe thrashing, the uniformed personnel made the Gypsys to be driven toward Moirang Purel side. At Chaningpokpi area one of the Gypsys met with an accident and all the occupants have to spend the night there while the other Gypsy was taken further and held the occupants captive for the night. It was only this morning that the Gypsy was recovered and the occupants returned home safely, he informed.
Naga-ism, T Shishak & collective leadership - A commentary By Rs Jassal Sangai Express
Sixteen Point Agreement:-
13th Point in it has become a point of discord. GOI feels benevolent and gracious to convert Naga Hills into Nagaland by bringing Naga areas from NEFA adding Dimapur (of Kachari- Dimasa erstwhile Kingdom) and jungles along Assam- Nagaland border into its folds. Areas from Manipur were beyond PM power due to Merger Act 1949 signed with then Govt. of Manipur in which one clause clearly says “It will be the duty of GOI to protect the territories and interests of Princely State of Manipur”. At that time there was no conflict in Manipur. This point still acts as deterrent and continue to influence finality at the Center. So to continue the conflict this 13th point remains in a lever role. NDA Govt. have tried to sort it out but not possible and UPA Govt. is now facing it today. Even if any leader from CL is appointed as PM, he will also find himself in similar predicaments.
Some historical database:
1st Dec 1963 i.e., inauguration of Nagaland with full fledged Assembly of 60 members in one go as Sixteenth State of Indian Union is considered as golden day. But sadly dual path to further the cause in name of Sovereignty during undivided /leadership FGN/NNC was adopted by one group to go to East Pakistan for procurement of arms/ammo and training under Thungti Chang’s command and the other group under SS Gen Mowu Angami to go to Yunnan through Khap-lang’s territories (Heimi Areas) . This later group was obvious to come under influence of communist ideology of Chinese origin while the previous one under influence of ISI of Pakistan. This imbalanced the FGN think tank. And no student of Naga insurgency has touched this point so far. Silver line however appeared that the progressive thinkers in the UG’s, circulated open letters through all the means and resources and after protracted discussions decided to have no trucks with Chinese ideology since Nagas were or going to be a Christian State. These years of academic struggle disappointed those who were in London & America so Prof Copland Plan which had somewhat hope of revival got scuttled forever. At the same time this also deepened differences among Naga intellectuals and other activists so new organization under name RGN came up after arrest of Gen. Mowu Angami though short lived & came to end with shooting down of its leader i.e., Kaito Sema. Thereafter 1975 Accord welcomed by many though but completely discarded by present IM/ K (then part of NSCN combined leadership). This again saw many killings. But one aspect emerged boldly i.e., control of armed groups and major policy decisions fell to Tangkhul leadership and unfortunately during that period of transition & immediately after split of NSCN, maximum killings of civilians & UG to UG after 1975 Accord occurred which gradually gave negative publicity to Tangkhul leadership hence still meeting opposition from many Naga tribes. At this juncture and with this back ground, if ‘confession’ of rev. Shishsak is read, his ex-pression need be valued. Collective leadership or separate entities- NONE is clean of killing. Keeping acts of SF’s out, Naga to Naga casualties may be higher. And to dismal these are adding up day by day. At times K faction blames SF’s siding with IM and the IM vice versa. These will lead them nowhere who are in search of peace.
Events worth recalling
Naga (UG’s) sincerity for Indian Govt. in 1962 (China Border Skirmishes) 1965 (a war of fortnight with Pakistan) and 1971 (liberation struggle of Mukti Bahini Bangladesh) in which 8 Mtn Div from Zakhama had to move to Indo-Bangla borders to manage the influx of Bangladeshi into Assam/Tripura, Naga UG’s did show solidarity with GOI. Indians will always honour it.
How to achieve Reconciliation
Difficult to dictate. But some suggestion as follows needs consideration:-
(a) Collective leadership must value Shishak’s letter changing heading from Confession to suggestion and invite more & more from other well wishers if anybody wishes to participate.
(b) For one year observe functions of 14 Aug, 22 Mar and 6 Sept together from a common platform.
(c) Draw comprehensive lists of victims who lost their near & dear ones in connection with the Naga struggle from day one. Approach Nagaland Govt. irrespective of Party affiliation for a suitable compensation and rehabilitation
(d) Conscientious admittance to completely ban killings
(e) Th.Muviah to thank Khaplang to save his life during coup in which 108 Tangkhuls were killed in (ghallookara) chase to kill And Khaplang to confess wrong done and announce reconciliation of that dark event. Here you need services of some dedicated facilitator (s)
(f) Withdraw slogan Nagaland for Christ and rename suitably if necessary. Lord Christ’s grace for entire universe cannot be limited to small area. As Holy Spirits transcend borders and their GRACE becomes benevolent to the world like Ram, Rahim Nanak & so many others
Imagine! Mir Jumla’s army of 90,000 foot soldiers, 10,000 horses 30, cannons march started in boats from Dhubri through Brahmaputra and either side of its banks devastating plundering the kingdom of Agnigarh, Tezpur Chutia Cachars Sibsagar, right up to Tinsukia & then how he met with end Malaria and dysentery finished him & his entire army. Where man, thinks his armed prowess can subdue the weak, GOD, intervenes .Let this not happen to us. We must seek his blessings. Enough is enough.
87% overall voter turnout recorded, Charhajari the exception; Repolls conducted peacefully A Staff Reporter Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Sept 21: Repolls conducted today in 49 polling stations for the panchayat elections went off peacefully amidst tight security.
However, extremely low turnout was reported in the four polling stations falling within Charhajari area, where the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee had imposed an election boycott, with at least two polling stations recording nil turnout.
The turnout elsewhere was quite high with the overall turnout reported to be 87%.
Repolls were ordered by the state election commission in one polling station in Sawombung subdivision, seven in Porompat subdivision, 17 in Keirao Bitra subdivision, five in Lamsang subdivision, three in Patsoi subdivision, one in Wangoi subdivision, three in Lilong subdivision, five each in Thoubal and Kakching subdivisions and one each in Nambol and Moirang subdivisions polling eruption of election violence, including booth capturing, snatching of ballot boxes and destruction of polling material had taken place during the September 19 panchayat elections. To prevent any untoward incident, 10 to 15 armed security personnel drawn from civil police, IRB and Manipur Rifles along with two unarmed home guard personnel were deputed at each polling station where repoll were held. In addition, mobile teams of police commandos were also deployed to secure the vicinity of the polling stations.
On the other hand, despite massive security bandobast at the sensitive Charhajare area, no voters turned up in two polling stations in the area, while in the remaining two, a total of 43 out of over 1100 voters on the electoral rolls exercised their franchise (see accompanying story).
Voting in other areas however proceeded smoothly, with steady stream of voters turning out since the morning. In most polling stations, voting had been completed by 2 pm.
In the five polling stations in Imphal west, one in Lamsang sub-division, three in Patsoi sub-division and one in Wangoi sub-division maximum numbers of voters turned up and cast votes in today’s re-poll. In these polling stations eight armed security personnel and two unarmed home guard were detailed, official source said.
Re-poll in all the nine polling stations in Imphal west went off peacefully. In the 25 polling stations in Imphal east 10 armed personnel each along with two unarmed home guard personnel were detailed apart from deployment of 10 mobile commando teams for providing area coverage.
Four mobile teams led by SDPO, Imphal east, two led by OC Porompat police and another four teams led by OC Imphal east commando unit under the supervision of the SP, Imphal east were deployed for the purpose. Likewise in two polling stations in Bishenpur district, one under the Moirang block and another under Nambol were also guarded by 10 armed security men and two unarmed home guards. Additional SP of the district supervised the mobile teams in the district.
Tight security was also witnessed in Thoubal district where re-poll was conducted at 13 polling stations spread over three sub-divisions. Seven teams of police commandos were also detailed on mobile duties during poll hours. Three teams were under command of the SDPO of the district while three teams were under OC, Thoubal district commando unit. The over all security in-charge was the SP, Thoubal.
Burmese students not happy with India’s Myanmar policy Staff Reporter Sentinel
GUWAHATI, Sept 21: The All Burma Students’ League (ABSL) thinks a struggle for democracy against the military junta in Myanmar will reach its peak within a year since “the symptoms in the country today are similar to the symptoms during the nationwide uprising that took place on August 8, 1988, popularly known as the ‘8888 uprising’.
The ABSL has sought the support from the international community, particularly India, at this juncture, despite its dismay over the Burmese policy adopted by the Government of India so far. ABSL president Kyaw Than, while interacting at a ‘Meet the Press’ programme held at the Guwahati Press Club this afternoon, did not hesitate to express his shock and dismay over the comment made by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee during his Burma visit a couple of months back about the internal situation in that country.
“We are in close touch with the influential students’ bodies of the North-east and almost all the political parties in the country and try to get their moral support in our struggle for restoring democracy,” he said. However, this solidarity is yet to be reflected in the behaviour of the Government of India, the biggest democracy in the world, clarified the student leader in exile.
“The Burmese junta is playing a hide-and-seek game with India and China”, he said. On India’s hope for cooperation with the Burmese Government to flush out the North-east rebels from their soil, Than said, “the militancy in North-east is a political problem, which has to be solved politically, and the role of the Burmese Government in it cannot be so important”. According to him, the coming year will be very crucial for their struggle. He said, “the present political scenario in our country started when the military regime increased the price of fuel on August 15. On August 19, over 500 people gathered in Rangoon to protest against the hike. All the student leaders who led the peaceful demonstration were arrested and the number of detained activists has gone up to over 300, he said.
“But, these arrests, atrocities and threats from the military regime did not deter the people and the people’s movement has now spread to the other major cities in the country,” he claimed. Rejecting the ‘seven-point democracy plan’ projected by the military junta to change the Constitution of the country, the students’ leader said that this was another ploy of the Government to legalize the Army rule. The military rulers of Burma are still apprehending the National League for Democracy (NLD), floated by Aung San Su Kyi, who is still under house-arrest, he said.
Police station torched Guwahati, Sept 21: At least five policemen and a villager were injured and a police station and two gram panchayat offices torched in a mob attack in Cachar district today. Official sources said a thousand strong mob from Brahmangaon village attacked the Kalain police station after one person, Matabur Ali (38), allegedly died in police custody. Sources said Ali was arrested from Brahmangaon village last night following a family feud and as he was to be produced before the court today, he was pronounced dead. The agitated mob pelted stones and torched the police station and two gram panchayat offices injuring five policemen on duty, sources said. The police then fired at the crowd in which one villager received injury in the leg, sources added. The police station and the gram panchayat office as well as three motorcycles were totally destroyed in the fire, sources said. Police reinforcement and fire brigade personnel reached the spot late due to poor communication and bad roads hit by floods. A fresh contingent of police from Silchar, the district headquarter reached the spot and bought the situation under control, sources said. (PTI)
Charhajari: all security, no voters The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Sept 21: Fear and apprehension cast long shadows in the the Charhajari area, falling under Sapermeina police station, which was the focus of trouble on September 19 owing to the Sadar Hills District Demand Committee`s boycott of the panchayat elections. Repolls were held in four polling stations in the Charhajari area today, together with 45 others elsewhere, amidst massive security arrangements under the personal supervision of IGP A Romenkumar, but out of a total of over 2000 voters, less than 50 were willing to take the risk of coming out and exercising their franchise.

For the four polling stations, 15 armed security personnel along with two unarmed home guards were deployed at each poling station. IGP, law and order-II, A Romenkumar assisted by DIG range-III, M Shantikumar and SP Senapati Nitishkumar Ujawal have also been camping in the area since yesterday for the peaceful conduct of the re-poll.
A total of nine police commandos teams, four from Bishenpur and five from Imphal west conducted mobile duty in and around the Chahajare area during the poll hours. Additional SP Imphal west, Husne Jaman, SDPO, Lamphel, Jalin, DSP, AK Jhalajit of Imphal west supervised the mobile teams in the area.

A water cannon was also on standby for mob control purposes. However, despite these arrangements, no voters turned up in two polling stations at BL Junior High School, north and south wing, Charhazare which recorded nil percentage.

In another polling station at CL Memorial High School, Upper Charhajare only 12 voters of total 516 exercised their franchise while only 31 out of 586 voters voted at Golden English Junior High School.
Polling at these polling stations was conducted in the absence of the inner agents of the contesting candidates. Charhajari residents explaining the extremely poor turnout to IFP, put it succintly:

`The security forces will go back after polling is complete. It is the public who will be left to face future consequences.` There were no untoward incidents today, but tension among the public is still palpable.

The poll boycott imposed by the SHDDC, and the attacks upon the property of a local pradhan candidate were exacerbated by the arson that took place on September 19 evening, after the end of the polling, when altogether 10 structures, mostly shops owned by Nepali, Meetei, and non-Manipuris were burnt down by a mob. The damage caused due to the arson, as assessed by the fire service, comes to Rs. 4,00,000. The SHDDC, it may be mentioned, had called the poll boycott contending that the area comes under the Sadar Hills Autonomous District Council, and insisting that two anomalous local government systems should not be imposed in the same area. It had also imposed a 48-hour bandh in the area since on September 18 and 19 as part of the boycott.
Biggest Protests in two decades Monks protest in Rangoon, Mandalay, Yenanchaung, Taungdwingyi, Sagaing, Aung San Suu Kyi greets protesting monks Protests in Rangoon Mizzima News (ww.mizzima.com)
5:54 p.m About 100 monks in Kawhmu Township in Rangoon division took to the street at about 12 noon (local time). The monks attracted at least a thousand followers, according to eyewitnesses.
5:15 p.m Protesting monks on Sule pagoda in downtown Rangoon came to a general agreement and a conclusion was drawn based on the love of the people that they all demanded for the national reconciliation in Burma.
5:10 p.m A protesting monk told Mizzima that as they passed the residence of detained Burmese democracy icon Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, tears rolled down his cheeks even as the NLD leader cried.
5:00 p.m Monks in Rangoon's Kwanchankone Township join protests Monks in Kwanchangone Township of Rangoon division today joined the nation-wide boycott by monks. More than 500 monks from at least 22 monasteries in Kwanchankone, with religious flags aloft marched along the streets and chanted Suttas. "The people cheered on the monks by coming out of their houses and also worshipped them. Many people also followed them," a protesting monk told Mizzima. "As declared by the Monks Alliance, since the authorities are not apologizing for their high handed action against monks in Pakhokku town, we are boycotting the junta and protesting against it," the monk added.
4:30 p.m Monks protesting near Sule pagoda have divided themselves into groups of 15 and are now discussing on how to go ahead with the demonstrations. A crowd of at least 5,000 people collected as the monks arrived near the Sule pagoda. The sound of cheering reverberated in the area said an eyewitness. Following the meetings and applause, the monks called it a day and dispersed.
3:50 p.m Daw Aung San Suu Kyi greets protesters Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, detained Burmese pro-democracy leader, greeted protesting monks and their civilian followers, from inside her residence compound for about 15 minutes as they arrived in front of her house on the University Avenue Street in Rangoon. However, as she is restricted from going out, she was unable to address them. Protesters shouted "Long-live Daw Aung San Suu Kyi" and continued marching and are heading for Sule pagoda in downtown Rangoon.
"We saw Daw Aung San Suu Kyi come out of her house. She was wearing a yellow shirt and the crowd began shouting 'Long-Live Daw Aung San Suu Kyi' for about 15 minutes and continued marching towards Sule pagoda. Now they are in Sule pagoda, and are going up on to the pagoda. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi came out to the compound," an eyewitness told Mizzima.
3:15 p.m Protesting monks and their civilian followers have arrived near the house of detained Burmese pro-democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi on the University Avenue Street in Rangoon.
1:52 p.m At least 2,000 monks are marched towards Hledan along Pyi Road from Myaynikone in Rangoon.
1:40 p.m Monks continue protests in Rangoon More than 1000 monks in Rangoon have begun marching from Revolution Park to Myanikone and from Myaynikone to Hantharwaddy square in rows of three. The monks, chanting Suttas, were followed by at least 500 people. Eyewitnesses said the streets are blocked because of the crowd. Monks in the nearby monasteries have also joined the procession, they added.
1:52 p.m.
At least 2,000 monks are marched towards Hledan along Pyi Road from Myaynikone in Rangoon .
5:35 p.m
Monks in Sagaing join nation-wide monks protest
For the first time, monks in Sagaing town, capital of Sagaing division in central Burma, joined the nation-wide monks' boycott by taking to the streets today.
At least 200 monks came down from the famous Sagaing hills and marched through the town protesting. A local resident gave an eye witness account to Mizzima.
"The monks came down from the Sagaing hills and started the march about 12:30 p.m. (local time). There were about 200 monks and they marched through the main market and in front of the township offices and to Dupayone pagoda. From there they headed for the hills through Min Road. They chanted Suttas as they marched. Many people waked behind them. Some were on motorcycles. There were no security personnel in sight. Only a few plainclothes officials were seen here and there. They went back to the hills at about 3:30 p.m. (local time). Everything went off smoothly."

5:30 p.m
Monks in Monywa continued protest for the third day
At least 300 monks in Monywa in central Burma Sagaing division today continued their protest march for the third day today.
"Today the monks continued the demonstration. They came from smaller monasteries and holding religious flags marched along the streets even as they chanted Suttas. They entered the Phayagyi from the eastern gate and prayed. And they came out from the northern gate and headed towards Shwezigone pagoda. But some of them did not enter the pagoda and continued marching on the street from the Bogyoke statue towards Tharsi road," said a local resident.
"The people worshipped the monks from the side walk and offered cold drinks and water. And from there the monks marched towards the 80 feet-wide highway and headed for their monasteries," another resident told Mizzima.

Thousands of Monks protests in Mandalay
4:00 p.m Two men sent to jail for giving water to monks released The two men detained for offering drinking water to monk protestors were released after five days in prison. Min Min and Min Aung of San Pya ward were released from Sittwe prison from Arakan State in Western Burma at 4 p.m. on Friday. They were arrested on September 18 after offering water bottles to the monks who were demonstrating against the regime. The monks also launched the 'Pattanikuzana' Excommunicative boycott against the regime as a part of nationwide campaign the same day.
"They released the two at about 4 p.m. yesterday as they had promised. I heard that the monks suspended their protest march today after the release of these two people," a local told Mizzima.The monks in Sittwe today suspended their protest march after the release of the two.
2:30 p.m At least 200 monks in Yenanchaung, in Magwe division, took to the streets this afternoon. The march started at noon (local time) from Shwe Kyan Gone new town to the Yadanamyaythu pagoda in the middle of Yenanchaung town. The monks in rows of two, chanted Suttas as they marched to the pagoda. They prayed for about 20 minutes at the pagoda. The monks continued marching to Myat Saw Nyinaung pagoda and dispersed after prayers. More than 2,000 civilians worshipped the monks as they arrived in the main market and applauded and offered drinking water, eyewitnesses said.
" The Secretary of the Township Peace and Development Council, township police commander, in-charge police officials and Military Affairs Security officials all followed the procession and took pictures. But the Chairman of the TPDC was not present. These security people continued to send messages to their higher authorities. But there was no disturbances," a local resident, who followed the protest march, told Mizzima.
2:00 p.m In a major show of strength about 10,000 monks congregated and protested today afternoon in Mandalay, the second largest city in Burma, according to news agency AP. The city is home to more than half of the 4, 00,000 monks in the country.
1:00 p.m In a bid to avoid further unrest created by young monks, the authorities have pressurised abbots of some monasteries in Insein Township in Rangoon to send back young novices to their respective home towns. However, unconfirmed reports suggest that the novices, instead of going back to their home towns have joined other monks in Rangoon and continue to take part in the demonstrations. The information, however, could not be independently confirmed.

12:20 p.m Situation of Mandalay Monks protest, Interview with an eyewitness to the procession
"Today, monks from both Ma Soe Yein old and new monasteries came out on the streets. They began the protest march at about 9 a.m. (local time). The processions started from 38th street and headed for the north to the 82nd street. The monks walked in rows of five and chanted Suttas, promoting loving kindness. The monks then went westwards from the 26th (B) Street and marched past the Zegyo market to Ein Daw Yar west. From there they went to the 90th street and turned north. They then went towards the east to 35th (A) street and again to the north towards the Ma Soe Yein monastery. "I think there are at least 3,000 monks. The procession occupied at least three blocks of the streets. There were a lot of bystanders and onlookers cheering the monks. The streets were crowded with monks as well as people. Many civilians followed the procession. At the Ein Daw Yar and on the 35th street people offered the monks drinking water. "The march began at about 9 a.m. and ended at about 12:30 p.m. (local time). The monks marched at least 10 miles. There was no interference by the authorities. But the monks prohibited civilians from taking photographs. The held the religious flags in front."
11:30 a.m Thousands of monks in Burma's second largest city of Mandalay came out on the streets in protest today. Monks holding religious flags began the protest at about 9 a.m. (local time). The procession ended at about 12:30 p.m.
Is history repeating itself in Burma? Where does India stand now? Indo Burma News
September 21, 2007: (Mizzima) What had started off as a low-key and largely symbolic protest march in Rangoon on 19 August by a few students against the doubling of fuel prices has now snow-balled into a countrywide ant-military-junta movement in Burma.
Infamous for its brutal suppression of all forms of dissent, the junta didn't stop the protestors on 19 August. But, when a second protest march, considered the largest in a decade, occurred on 22 August, it pressed into service pro-regime civilian thugs of the Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) and Swan Arrshin, who intimidated, abducted and tortured the demonstrators. Nearly 150 student activists including 1988 veterans like Min Ko Naing and Ko Ko Gyi have been arrested and detained on charges of "undermining the stability and security of the nation". One died of torture during interrogation and many others have been seriously injured and hospitalized.
The military regime has launched a massive manhunt to nab all 1988 student leaders and, to that end, have circulated their photographs. Suspecting involvement of NLD activists in fomenting unrest, the administration has disconnected their telephone lines in many places. Surprisingly, despite these harsh measures the agitation has continued unabated. Between 20 August and 9 September, the agitation spread far and wide to Labutta (Irrawaddy Division), Buthi-daung, Taunggok and Sittwe (Arakan State), Kyakse (Mandalay Division), Pakkhoku (Magwe Division), Hakha (Chin State) and Myitkyina (Kachin State).
An ominous dimension of the current anti-regime movement is that Buddhist monks in large numbers have joined, first at Sittwe and Pakkhoku on September 6 and later at other places. At Pakkhoku they held 20 government officials hostage in their monastery for over four hours and damaged their vehicles. They also destroyed an electronic shop owned by a USDA activist.
Since then the monks have been leading anti-government rallies in Rangoon and other places. On 20 September they held massive street demonstrations in Rangoon and many other places in different regions of the country, with thousands of civilians enthusiastically joining them everywhere. Reports indicate that monks have been converging on Rangoon from all over the country on the invitation of their counterparts there. In a pre-emptive move, the jittery administration has been interfering with train connections to Rangoon from other parts of the country. The areas around Rangoon Public Hall and other typical places for public demonstrations in the former capital city have been fenced off by barbed wire; and troops have been deployed in good strength at vulnerable locations. Buddhist monks are the most organized and influential group in Burma after the army. In 1988, they strongly supported and directed the pro-democracy movement from different monasteries and pagodas in the country. On account of their clout in the society the generals are in a dilemma about using force against them.
The spontaneous uprising that Burma is presently witnessing does not pose a serious threat yet to the military junta that will use every means to crush it with brutality if it spreads deeper into the interior regions or if it continues for some time. The situation will be volatile if and when the military resorts to increased extrajudicial killing, arrests, disappearances and torture. U.S. President George Bush and the British Government have strongly condemned the suppression of the people's peaceful protests. The European Union Parliament has unanimously demanded a binding UN Security Council resolution on Burma.
The international press is abuzz with reports of the on-going public agitation against the junta, but, like our Foreign Office, the Indian media have ignored the momentous events in Burma
Ever since the abrupt reversal in 1992 of its pro-democracy policy in Burma and cozying up to the junta, New Delhi has totally neglected the democratic forces in the country. Stark pusillanimity dictates the policy of the world's largest democracy on Burma. One example suffices to drive this point home. India had awarded its highest civilian award to Aung San Suu Kyi, but its present leaders are scared to muster the courage for so much as to raise the issue of her release – a demand being consistently voiced by most democratic countries including the tin-pot ones in the ASEAN doing business with the junta. Last year, during his state visit to Burma, President APJ Abdul Kalam raised the question of Su Kyi's "well being" with the military strongman General Than Shwe only at the tarmac of the airport where the General had gone to see him off.
The sanctions slapped on Burma for its abysmal human rights record by the European Union and the United States have been undermined by the support given to the junta by China, Thailand and India. Thailand, under military rule since last year, has a serious credibility problem of its own. Its present rulers are keen to amend the constitution, institutionalizing a major role for the armed forces in the future governance of the country. India's increasing largesse in terms of funds and military aid to the Burmese junta in the hope of getting oil and launching joint counter-insurgency operations in Northeast India and counter-balancing China's strategic clout in Burma has come a cropper. After holding this country on tenterhooks for the last few years, the junta has opted to sell oil and gas to China instead. Last July ONGC lost out to Petro-China in its bid to import gas from the A-1 and A-3 blocks off the Arakan coast, where India's GAIL and ONGC Videsh together hold 30 percent interest.
Despite New Delhi's once strong support to the democratic movement in Burma and China's consistent record of totally backing the military junta, Beijing has emerged as the "key interlocutor" on Burma. In June this year, Eric John, U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State held talks with Burma's ministers of Foreign Affairs, Culture and Information in Beijing. On 14-15 August 2007, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, held talks with representatives of the Chinese Foreign Ministry in Beijing. The agenda of talks included Burma. Thus, instead of cutting into Chinese influence in Burma, which is touted as our strategic objective, India is "left in the lurch" in international diplomacy geared to addressing the issue of restoring democracy in that country.
India's hope of military cooperation from the Burmese junta in tackling insurgency in Northeast India is unwarranted. Apart from reports of regular cooperation between the Burmese military and insurgents from Northeast India at the local level, insurgency problems of Northeast India are mainly homegrown and have significantly waned. Still the Indian army went out of its way to help crush the Rakhine insurgency in Burma through its Operation Leach in February 1998, in the process massacring leaders of an Arakan opposition group. In perpetrating this high crime a double-agent colonel in our army took the administration, including the Prime Minister's Office, for a ride. Even that monumental act of treachery against a totally India-friendly Arakanese group could not secure effective cooperation from the junta in dismantling the residual presence of Indian insurgent groups on the other side of the Indo-Burmese border, let alone secure gas off the Arakan shore. The reason why India has miserably failed to achieve any of its professed objectives in Burma is our lackadaisical political leadership and the incompetence of our Foreign Service mandarins in conducting multi-pronged diplomacy in the increasingly complex modern world. In the case of Burma, going by the number of reciprocated military visits, it is clear that our army and not our Foreign Office has been calling the shots. That explains the bankruptcy of our policy on Burma, which is focused on only giving and not taking anything in return.
Amid this backdrop, a report that Petroleum Minister Murli Deora would visit Burma next week has disturbed many in the country. If the UPA government thinks that following his visit Burmese oil and gas will come gushing to this country, it is living in a fool's paradise. Except for sightseeing in that exotic country and further appeasing its military rulers, one can confidently assert that Deora's powwow will achieve nothing.
India must support the initiative of ASEAN for national reconciliation in Burma. The foreign ministers of ASEAN at their summit in July 2007 expressed concern to Burma about its slow pace of change and urged it to "show tangible progress that would lead to a peaceful transition to democracy in the near future" and the release of Aung San Suu Kyi other political detainees.
The time is now for opposition parties and the country's civil society to launch a coordinated movement to force New Delhi to undertake an all-party realistic audit of its policy toward Burma and to reorient its alignment with our self-interests and cherished democratic values, thus signaling to the rogue military regime in Burma that there is no free lunch in diplomacy.
(The author is former Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, Government of India.)



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