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10/09/2007: "NSCN-IM rebel dies in clash OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

NSCN-IM rebel dies in clash OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph

Kohima, Oct. 8: A National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) activist was killed and two were injured in a clash between the combined force of NSCN (Khaplang)-Federal Government of Nagaland (FGN) and NSCN (I-M) at Phek today. Sources from Phek said heavily armed members of the NSCN (K) and FGN clashed with the rival NSCN (I-M) members at 3.30am in the heart of the town.
The officer-in-charge of Phek police station, Nungshi Ao, said during the exchange of fire, one NSCN (I-M) member, Ivulho Sumi of Lazami village under Zunheboto district, was killed.
His comrade, Athem Tangkhul, was seriously injured. Another activist, Abemo Tangkhul, was apprehended by India Reserve Battalion personnel. Police recovered one AK series rifle and a .303 rifle. Phek town, once the stronghold of the FGN, had fallen into the hands of NSCN (I-M) some months back. Now, with the support of the NSCN (K), the FGN is trying to drive out the NSCN (I-M) men from the town.
Elsewhere in the state, there were reports of tension because of the presence of militants in the civilian areas. In Kohima, too, a good number of NSCN members were sighted in the town.
The proposed Naga peace talks which will be held on Wednesday in New Delhi will discuss the increasing factional clashes in Nagaland and how to implement the truce ground rules.
The NSCN (I-M) delegation, led by Thiungaleng Muivah, is most likely to raise the issue of the rival faction’s attack on their cadres. The Opposition Congress has demanded the dismissal of the Neiphiu Rio government stating that law and order situation has deteriorated.
State’s doctors protest NSCN-IM “Azha” The Morung Express
Dimapur, October 8 (MExN): Doctors in Nagaland register strong protest against the “azha” served against principal secretary Alemtemshi Jamir, IAS, by the NSCN-IM. The Nagaland In-service Doctors’ Association (NIDA) decided to lodge this protect taking note that a senior and responsible government colleague like Alemtemshi Jamir should be labeled “anti-national” and “anti-Naga” by the underground outfit.
The NIDA after deliberations felt that a sincere government servant responsible for all-round development and progress in Nagaland like the principal secretary should be subjected to ‘such allegations.’ The allegations (of his co-authoring the ‘Bedrock of Naga Society’) is totally unjustified, stated a note from NIDA president Dr. Khanlo Magh and general secretary Dr. Vizolie Suokhrie stated. “…Nagas have survived and managed to coexist despite numerous upheavals and are bound traditionally and by age-old customary laws to democratic processes of tolerance, speech and habitation” NIDA stated with the reminder that such ‘decrees’ to a Naga individual is detrimental to the betterment of the Naga society as a whole.
BJP cracking up in Nagaland: Therie The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 8 (MExN): Former MLA Therie today congratulated the State Unit BJP leaders who have the courage and have shown their concern to the sufferings of the people saying that their sacrifice of personal benefits are likely to accrue in ‘last few days of DAN’s desperate rule’.
Referring to the triumph of the saffron party in the Christian dominated state of Nagaland during the last election, Therie said that, it had been a shock to the Nation, brought around by the BJP was ruling in the centre and not because the people of Nagaland liked BJP’s ideologies. “The people needed the central Government in respect of the political negotiations as well as to sustain the economy of the state” and went on to add that though the need of the people of Nagaland remains the same today, the difference was that Congress and alliance are ruling in the center. Therie further took a dig at the Minister for Home, Dr. T. M. Lotha saying that when he was ‘celebrated and advertised’ to the nation that from a Christian State, BJP has a Home Minister, conveying the message to the nation that Christians in the state are supporting BJP’s policies and Programs, it has brought immense shame to the Christian Society of Nagaland.
The former Finance Minister of the DAN government stated that it is sensible for all to realize that Nagaland is a Christian state and whatever one may say to defend, it is because of BJP’s support to DAN’s misdoings that Nagas are persecuted almost daily. “They are also responsible for the suffering of the Nagas and spoiling the negotiations”, Therie attacked. Furthermore, he held the BJP responsible for persecuting Christians all over the nation - burning missionaries and their children, raping Christian Sisters, burning The Holy Bible, initiating anti-conversion bill, mass re-conversion of Christians, destruction of Church buildings and Christian schools; which, according to him, will live to tell that BJP is against secularism and in particular against Christianity
Against such a backdrop, Therie said that it is to the taste of every soul in Nagaland to see signs of BJP cracking up in the state because the BJP leaders themselves know that their party ideologies are against Christianity. The issue is a long felt ideological chasm between communalism and secularism, Therie said adding his firm belief that the matter will not end there, but was just a beginning. So saying, he spoke out that BJP leaders, having any concern for the people of Nagaland should now make bold decisions and bring back respect from the world’s Christian Community and salvage the Nagas from lawlessness in the state. He stated that it is the moral duty of every Christian in Nagaland to show the world that the persecution of Christians are wrong, by uprooting BJP from the soil of Nagaland in the next election.
BJP Gen Secy firm Dimapur, October 8 (MExN): The Nagaland BJP general secretary today came out affirming clear conscience, in response to the party refuting a purported decision criticizing DAN’s handling of the law and order situation in Nagaland.
“It is very said to disown its own directive whether good or bad” lamented Eduzu Th. Vadeo in a response to four BJP office bearers issuing a rejoinder on behalf of the president. “My conscious (sic) is clear for whatever I have stated in my earlier press release such as extortion, illegal taxes, looting, corruption, killing and law and order as it was party decision dated 2nd October 2007 at BJP office Dimapur” Vadeo affirmed. Vadeo stated that declaring his statement as “null and void” or “completely false and malicious” does not arise. If the party targets a particular person or minister alone then ‘ism’ will be created. “I hope good sense will prevail amongst the party colleagues” video hoped.
IM-GOI CEASFIRE EVALUATED RS Jassal The Morung Express Perspective
The signing of Cease-fire extension for indefinite period will go HISTORIC so far resolution of conflict of IM faction with GOI is concerned. No doubt differences in demands (about 32 of IM gp) have shrinked to a few but GOI stand on 13th point in Sixteen Point Agreement remains pivotal and irreversible, as much as NSCN( IM) settling the issue within Indian Constitution is kept a guarded secret.
Many students of this conflict keenly contest what are the gains for IM and what is likely left for K faction to negotiate with and why NNC/FGN does not come forward for negotiation if any clause of 16th Point Agreement is left out unfulfilled if that is worth fulfillment. Though it is quite obvious that their demands were fulfilled in toto starting from Four Point proposal 1946 to formation of Nagaland, except Thirteenth in the Sixteen Point Agreement i.e., bringing all the Naga inhabited areas under one administrative unit remains problematic. The worst affect of this CF is; which is otherwise welcome in all quarters due to its encompassing role in containing the terror; it has put life of supporting cadres of all the three factions and innocent civilians at peril. Most of the killings are now out of revenge & misguided suspicions and one killing pulls at least five more in the channel. If IM faction is product of progressive lineage of FGN there would have been no necessity for three factions to function. Three factions have different functional style with different source of funding but the most hard hit payee is the common man who coupled with fear of bullets for cooperation with one faction is naturally/ non co-operation for the other, starts looking to his benefactor which is nowhere in sight .This diabolic process is in orbit causing unrest & flowing of blood.
Analytically put, IM has achieved ONE most significant gain i.e., they can now relax and onus of any non –finalization of issue in future talks has been clipped to the wings of elected MsLA, MsP of both Manipur & Nagaland. And as and when people go awry about no outcome, they can attribute reasons for same to the inefficiency of their elected representatives. As already indicated they would be willing to scrap the CF agreement anytime for no satisfactory progress of peace process for which no section of the Nagas would like them to do so. Present peace allows their cadres to move freely (without weapons of course as per ground rules of CF) but with weapons too, if go undetected. So they are in a better position to reach any corner to thwart dissenting opinions. Threat on such people can reach faster & for fear of reprisals impelling them to join their bandwagon. Research on methods of achieving unification of Nagas among Nagas will continue. Culturally they have achieved unification i.e., controls in track TWO administration. One has to simply walk to Senapati, Ukhrul Jessami and see the cultural changes i.e., in communications, dresses; erection of Naga gates, education imperatives, dealing with social criminal cases by CAOs of GPRN, collection of taxes, in short their parallel Govt. is facilitated to function without fear of intervention from the State or SF’s because of CF in place. On the other hand inaction of State Govts Nagaland & Manipur both to deal with cases like Lungnila Elizabeth murder case, Henry Hubert duo murder case, killing of a Maram hijacker of a Maruti Van driver (Meitei), recent murder of a Nepali girl at Senapati, killings at Tuensang of three men in Civil jail in the presence of NP/NAP/CRPF/AR, many more killings will go on adding to the list. It really indicates true freedom in full sovereignty to act, to think and to react beyond Indian Constitution & Naga faith both. And yet spirit of Maoist communist ideology represented in the flag post and peace with ‘Nagaland for Christ’ flag flying atop will flutter with Naga HoHo, NMA and NSF NCF to watch with heads high, whistles in mouths blowing, devoid of sounds, warning the warring factions to curb killing spirits.
In view of above, what can happen finally; THE CONFUSION as conciliation between groups & church leaders is difficult to achieve in egoist ‘domino policy’ adopted by ‘those who matter’. It will resurge more vigorously. Strangulation of authority of Dobashi courts, village courts and Efforts in reconciliation is going ineffective due to CF. Govt. of Nagaland its legal proviso’s to stop killings UG to UG and UG’s to public is happening again & again & it will go on undeterred if ideologies of three factions are not ironed out into one mould. CL is miserably caught in contrarian pulls (Please connect CONFESSION of Dr.Tuisem & Bedrock of Naga Society).
The grand closing in of opinion on both sides (GOI-IM) is appreciation of each other’s vulnerable position. How does it affect average Naga? Four distinct concepts of Naga freedom thought have come out.
• For villagers/Headmen, it is of 1946 Four Point Vision to go back to village –State system i.e., as per one point out of four “If NHs are not separated from Bengal & put with Assam, better leave us alone” (as before) to say prior to British control system.
• Khaplang version ‘no solution if Eastern Nagaland (Burma) is not merged with Indian Nagaland’.
• IM faction- inclusion of Eastern Nagaland can be put on hold, but no solution if Southern Nagaland is not merged into Nagaland to form Nagalim. • NNC/FGN is thus impelled to demand complete Sovereignty even though Nagaland has been formed in line with 16 Points Agreement, but less areas from Manipur (though stated ostensibly). Here lies problem for both IM/FGN as it counters each other agenda. Top leadership on either side may take it correct or not and K gp influence it. Due to increased killings after CL has come up many Naga leaders and specially the church feel killing among Nagas of late are happening due to Tangkhul leadership which is sparking hatred time & again.IM feels once issue settles with them, their cadres will be free and situation will cool, which may be absolutely not so. Present bloodshed is on in Nagaland & IM solution will invite more blood in Manipur too. Let us ponder over it in cool thinking.
Passage of six decades, active interface and living together, fears of alienation of Naga culture by imposition of any majority communities’ writ on Nagas ways allayed, it should now be possible to settle issue peacefully. Since CF is for indefinite period, settlement of national workers be suitably undertaken Khaplang Mulatano, Muiva- Isaac and Pangerwalling- Nidino be co-opted in future review talks if possible . For equi-development of Naga people, the two tier system of governing their affairs on lines with Sikhs be thought of like ‘Shrimoni Akali Dal’ for political affairs and ‘Shrimani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee’ for religious , socio- cultural affairs taking in this all Nagas trans- borders w/o disturbing the existing state boundaries.
May I therefore call upon the Naga intellectuals & church leaders to sink their differences first & then to devote some time seriously and suggest SUKRAT like a legendary Ayurvedic Surgeon final operation of this sore problem to make this issue free from lumps and fungus affecting the glands of public life. People have lost freedom. Without CF, self respecting people could have at least looked to SF’s for help, now they have been made to float in helpless situation. Only four categories are left to enjoy basic human freedom. They are all NSA ARMED GROUPS, POLICE & THE SF’S, BUREAUCRATS AT THE HIGHER ECHELONS AND A CITIZEN WHO SURRENDERS HIS RIGHT to resist for incivilities. The writer can only pray for peace and wish everybody best of luck under this scenario. The Ind- Army finest in the world, central PMFs have become easy targets to bag HONOUR i.e., blame from politicians (when go in opposition), national and international media, for their in-efficiency to handle a few UGs ,compared to their outnumbering strength & regulate the movement of UG’s from their designated camps and above all of siding with one faction or the other. CFMG are lucky to draw fat pay from tax payer’s money for doing nothing for the past one decade. And now they also get entitled for perks & privileges for indefinite period May be! There is still hope & urgent need to expand CFMG with dedicated new members. They must be given backup of neutral armed SF’s like SSF at least one Bn attached to CFMG for monitoring moves of the cadres of both IM and K effectively and seriously. Strong NGO’s with proven peace credentials can help in improving the situation. Strict action against defaulters by trial under law of the land be introduced. And on found guilty such person(s) be evicted to a reformatory jail which may be set up for this category of detainees only one at Manigaon and one at Tibaktoo (both in Arunachal Pradesh) outside the state so that people can enjoy the sleep full nights under rights to civil liberties. Peace final needs hastening with whatever Central Govt. has in store for offering. More delay is inviting more blood. Blood whether in uniform or innocent civilian is equally important. Let us stop it.
Karbis protest against exploitation Staff Reporter
Diphu, Oct 8 (NPN): A massive rally was taken out here on Monday by around 2,500 people, mostly Karbis, in protest against the commercial exploitation of natural resources in Karbi Anglong and the alleged “political domination, suppression and oppression” of the indigenous people by the Assam government. The rally was spearheaded by the Organization for Revival of Mass Movement for Hemprek (ORMMH), a newly-formed organization fighting for the welfare of indigenous people of Karbi Anglong. The rallyists congregated at the Indoor Stadium and then marched to the Office of the Deputy Commissioner to submit a memorandum which was addressed to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. In the memorandum, the ORMMH said since the indigenous people have the natural right to benefit from the natural resources available locally, any exploitation of the resources must have an integrated scheme to benefit the indigenous people. It said deprivation of this would be an act of colonialism.
The ORMMH demanded that Centre transfer the power of mineral prospecting, extraction, sale and regulation to the indigenous people of Karbi Anglong and ban all mineral extraction in the district till the transfer of power was effected. The other demands of the ORMMH included – electrification of all villages of Karbi Anglong, allocation of at least 15 MW of electricity for Diphu town, earmarking at least 50 MW of electricity generated from Karbi Langpi Hydro-electric Project exclusively for domestic use of Karbi Anglong and reservation of 100 per cent non-technical jobs and 50 per cent posts of technical nature for the indigenous people of Karbi Anglong in all projects involving the natural resources of Karbi Anglong.
The ORMMH pointed out to Patil that there had been “relentless attempt of the ruling clique in Assam to exploit for their sole benefit, not only our job quota and political institutions but more seriously our rich and varied mineral and water resources which have vast economic potential”.
Later, talking to media persons, ORMMH spokesman Welcome Teron and its convenor Keshap Terang said as a part of its programmes, the ORMMH would constitute a number of units at the block level, which would be followed by a Tribal Solidarity Rally, to be held in January next. They said the chief ministers of four north-eastern States would grace the solidarity rally.
The ORMMH leaders claimed they were getting all support from various corners in their effort to protect the rights of the indigenous people.
BTC allegation OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph
Kokrajhar, Oct. 8: Bodoland Territorial Council and Bodo People’s Progressive Front (BPPF) supremo Hagrama Mohilary today came down heavily on Dispur for its alleged failure to fulfil the promises made in the Bodo Accord. Mohilary, who spoke to the media after a Bodo Accord Review meeting at BTC conference hall, accused the government of not being sincere about honouring the commitment made to the Bodos despite several assurances.
The party has formed a Pending Issue Implementation Committee to press the government for early implementation of schemes meant for the BTC.
Hmar outfit declares ‘War’ Newmai News Network
Aizawl The Hmar National Army (HNA) has publicly declared war on rival group Hmar People’s Convention-Democratic (HPC-D) and has stated their mission to nab the president and army chief of the HPC (D) before the end of December.
According to a statement made by LN Thara, Secretary, Information & Publicity, Hmar National Assembly/ Hmar National Army, the HPC (D) had violated the Coolant Period Agreement signed by the two parties on March 6, 2007 by putting to death six members of the HNA. “We believe that the HPC (D) will never again follow the right path in their mission and we oppose the party in every way. Even the members of the HPC (D) have lost their faith in their leaders. On July 3,2007, 2 members of the HPC (D) surrendered their arms - 2 AK 47, four magazines and 250 ammunitions to us and on September 5, former HPC (D) president and current Information Secretary of HPC (D) Lalrawngbawla gave himself to the state government,” the statement said.
The statement also declared that the HNA has posted a ‘Wanted: Dead or Alive’ on HPC (D) President Lalhmingthanga and his Army Chief Lalropuia, whom the HNA accuse of misusing their powers to bring terror to their fellow tribes. “We will capture the two men before the end of December this year. We might even put a price on their heads for their capture,” the statement said.
The statement further said that HNA army had searched Hmarkhawilen, Assam, the homeland of the HPC (D) President on September 30 and on October 1, the HPC (D) had forced markhawilen locals to be on duty, safeguarding the president of the HPC (D). “The HPC (D) then killed two innocent civilians Lalropuia and Valtea, both from Khawlian on September 28, 2007 to terrorize the people. The HNA sends its condolence to the families of the victims and urge the HPC (D) not to lay their hands on the innocent in the future,” the statement continued. The statement vowed to bring down the HPC (D) who bring terror to their own people, saying real development of the Hmar people will occur only when the power of the HPC (D) is wiped out.
My Last Conversation with Aung San Suu Kyi John Pilger The Morung Express
As the people of Burma rise up again, we have had a rare sighting of Aung San Suu Kyi. There she stood, at the back gate of her lakeside home in Rangoon, where she is under house arrest. She looked very thin. For years, people would brave the roadblocks just to pass by her house and be reassured by the sound of her playing the piano. She told me she would lie awake listening for voices outside and to the thumping of her heart. “I found it difficult to breathe lying on my back after I became ill, she said.” That was a decade ago. Stealing into her house, as I did then, required all the ingenuity of the Burmese underground. My film-making partner David Munro and I were greeted by her assistant, Win Htein, who had spent six years in prison, five of them in solitary confinement. Yet his face was open and his handshake warm. He led us into the house, a stately pile fallen on hard times. The garden with its ragged palms falls down to Inya Lake and to a trip wire, a reminder that this was the prison of a woman elected by a
landslide in 1990, a democratic act extinguished by generals in ludicrous uniforms.
Aung San Suu Kyi wore silk and had orchids in her hair. She is a striking, glamorous figure whose face in repose shows the resolve that has seen her along her heroic journey.
We sat in a room dominated by a wall-length portrait of Aung San, independent Burma’s assassinated liberation fighter, the father she never knew.
“What do I call you?” I asked. “Well, if you can’t manage the whole thing, friends call me Suu.”
“The regime is always saying you are finished, but here you are, hardly finished. How is that?”
“It’s because democracy is not finished in Burma . . . Look at the courage of the people [on the streets], of those who go on working for democracy, those who have already been to prison. They know that any day they are likely to be put back there and yet they do not give up.”
“But how do you reclaim the power you won at the ballot box with brute power confronting you?” I asked.
“In Buddhism we are taught there are four basic ingredients for success. The first is the will to want it, then you must have the right kind of attitude, then perseverance, then wisdom . . .” “But the other side has all the guns?”
“Yes, but it’s becoming more and more difficult to resolve problems by military means. It’s no longer acceptable.”
We talked about the willingness of foreign business to come to Burma, especially tour companies, and of the hypocrisy of “friends” in the West. I read her a British Foreign Office press release: “Through commercial contacts with democratic nations such as Britain, the Burmese people will gain experience of democratic principles.”
“Not in the least bit,” she responded, “because new investments only help a small elite to get richer and richer. Forced labour goes on all over the country, and a lot of the projects are aimed at the tourist trade and are worked by children.”
“People I’ve spoken to regard you as something of a saint, a miracle worker.”
“I’m not a saint and you’d better tell the world that!”
“Where are your sinful qualities, then?”
“Er, I’ve got a short temper.”
“What happened to your piano?”
“You mean when the string broke? In this climate pianos do deteriorate and some of the keys were getting stuck, so I broke a string because I was pumping the pedal too hard.”
“You lost it ... you exploded?”
“I did.”
“It’s a very moving scene. Here you are, all alone, and you get so angry you break the piano.”
“I told you, I have a hot temper.”
“Weren’t there times when, surrounded by a hostile force, cut off from your family and friends you were actually terrified?”
“No, because I didn’t feel hostile towards the guards surrounding me. Fear comes out of hostility and I felt none towards them.”
“But didn’t that produce a terrible aloneness ...?”
“Oh, I have my meditation, and I did have a radio . . . And loneliness comes from inside, you know. People who are free and who live in big cities suffer from it, because it comes from inside.”
“What were the small pleasures you’d look forward to?”
“I’d look forward to a good book being read on ‘Off the Shelf’ on the BBC and of course to my meditation .... I didn’t enjoy my exercises so much; I’d never been a very athletic type.”
“Was there a point when you had to conquer fear?”
“Yes. When I was small in this house. I wandered around in the darkness until I knew where all the demons might be . . . and they weren’t there.”
For several years after that encounter with Aung San Suu Kyi I tried to phone the number she gave me. The phone would ring, then go dead. One day I got through.
“Thank you so much for the books,” she said. “It has been a joy to read widely again.” (I had sent her a collection of T S Eliot, her favourite, and Jonathan Coe’s political romp What a Carve Up!.) I asked her what was happening outside her house. “Oh, the road is blocked and they [the military] are all over the street . . .”
“Do you worry that you might be trapped in a terrible stalemate?”
“I am really not fond of that expression,” she replied rather sternly. “People have been on the streets. That’s not a stalemate. Ethnic people, like the Karen, are fighting back. That’s not a stalemate. The defiance is there in people’s lives, day after day. You know, even when things seem still on the surface, there’s always movement underneath. It’s like a frozen lake; and beneath our lake, we are progressing, bit by bit.”
“What do you mean exactly?”
“What I am saying is that, no matter the regime’s physical power, in the end they can’t stop the people; they can’t stop freedom. We shall have our time.”
Myanmar junta seeks peace with monks The Assam Tribune
YANGON, Oct 8 – Myanmar’s military junta has donated thousands of dollars as well as food and medicines to monasteries in Yangon, in an apparent gesture of reconciliation, state media has reported, reports AFP. Buddhist monks had last month declared a boycott on donations from soldiers and their families as they spearheaded mass protests which brought as many as 100,000 people on to the streets of the nation’s man city.

The monks were beaten and arrested when the ruling generals reacted to the biggest threat to their rule in 20 years with a bloody crackdown that left at least 13 people dead and more than 2,100 locked up.
The official New Light of Myanmar newspaper said Lieutenant General Myint Swe of the defence ministry yesterday distributed about USD 8,000 in cash and huge amounts of rice, cooking oil, toothpaste and medicine to 50 monasteries and a nunnery in northern Yangon.

The paper, a government mouthpiece, said the donations were made on behalf of military members and their families, and were accepted by the monks.

In Buddhism, refusing to take alms is regarded as a snub akin to effective excommunication, and acceptance of the gifts would indicate the soldiers have been brought back into the faith. It came with the UN Security Council due Monday to weigh a draft statement condemning the military regime. The non-binding text, drafted by the United States, Britain and France, was submitted after the world body heard a report from UN envoy Ibrahim Gambari on his recent mission to defuse the crisis.
Draft for ending hostilities with UGs ready,US, South Asia investors have evinced interest in state, says CM By : A Staff Reporter Imphal Free Press
IMPHAL, Oct 8: Chief minister O Ibobi Singh, returning to Imphal today after a lengthy foreign tour, has said entrepreneurs of the USA and the South East Asian countries have evinced much interest in investment opportunities in Manipur, and the government is determined to provide a conducive atmosphere for such investment.
The chief minister, who attended a North East India Investment Conference in New York on September 26, along with the four-day North East India Investment Opportunities Week at Bangkok on October 1 to 4, briefed the state media on his experiences this afternoon at his official bungalow.
At the New York North East India Investment conference, on September 29, the CM said, he drew the attention of entrepreneurs and potential investors to the great potential of Manipur in the field of agro-based industries, rich bio-diversity of herbal and medicinal plants, rich forests and water resources and the advantages of being located at the gateway to South East Asia. He said he had invited the entrepreneurs to the state to see its potential, and there were plenty of positive response. In the four day conference held from October 1 to 4 at Bangkok, entrepreneurs and investors from various South Asian countries paid special aattention to Manipur, the CM said.
Entrepreneurs from Singapore, Thailand, and Indonesia expressed their desire to invest in Manipur in the power, tourism, food processing, development of IT, and development of roads and bridges infrastructure. He said such interest on the part of the entrepreneurs had given new hope, and he was expecting a good outcome in the near future. The chief minister at the same time admitted that many foreign investors were reluctant to work in the state due to serious law and order problems. In this connection, he said the state government will deal seriously and firmly with the situation.
He further observed that with the objective of bringing the law and order situation to normal, a draft terms and conditions for initiation of suspension of operations with all insurgent groups operating in the state has been prepared. In this connection, the state chief secretary, and state home secretary will be sent to Delhi soon for discussions with home ministry officials on the matter within two days time, he said.
The CM went on to say that for the uniform development of hills and valley in the state, the government has earmarked 50% of funds under special plan assistance for infrastructure development of the hill districts. Taking up of works under special plan assistance in the hill districts would commence on a war footing with the end of the monsoon season, the CM further said, asserting that no question of neglect of the hill areas. He further said night landing facilities for commercial aircraft at the existing Tulihal airport will be installed by December this year, as the Airport Authority of India has already given permission. This is a step towards the upgradation of the airport to an international airport, he said.
India gives clean chit to military Junta in Myanmar Indo Burma News
October 8, 2007: (IRNA) India has virtually gave a clean chit to the military junta in Myanmar by announcing a series of cross- border development projects aimed at better connectivity and boosting the regional economies of the two countries.
"We are involved in a variety of projects with Myanmarin diverse fields such as roads, railways, telecommunications, IT, science and technology, and power," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said here Sunday. Mukherjee was speaking at a lecture titled "India's Look East Policy - Challenges for Sub-Regional Cooperation in Assam's main city of Guwahati that was organised by the Public Diplomacy division of the ministry of external affairs (MEA).
"These initiatives are aimed at improving connectivity between the northeastern India and western Myanmar and are expected to give an impetus to the local economies as well as bilateral trade," the minister said. Mukherjee's statement assumes significance in the context of the present brutal attacks on pro-democracy protestors in Myanmar and the international condemnation to the military crackdown. India's External Affairs Ministry last week gave a guarded statement expressing "concern" over the recent turmoil in Myanmar.
"As a close and friendly neighbour, India hopes to see a peaceful, stable and prosperous Myanmar, where all sections of people will be included in a broad-based process of national reconciliation and political reform," the Indian foreign office statement said. The minister said among the notable agreements reached with the junta is about the connectivity of the waterways between the two countries.
"Probably among the most important is the Kaladan Multi-Modal Transit Transport facility, which envisages connectivity between Indian ports on the eastern seaboard and Sittwe Port in Myanmar," Mukherjee said. Exiled Myanmarese leaders had earlier expressed concern over India's lukewarm response in condemning the military crackdown on pro- democracy protesters in Myanmar; although analysts said New Delhi is walking a diplomatic tightrope to appease the junta for strategic interests.
"It is indeed very shocking to find one of the world's largest democracy (India) adopting a nuanced approach when the military is trying to neutralize pro-democracy supporters in its next door neighbour," Min Maung, an exiled Burmese student leader, said.