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10/17/2007: "Naga parties ride poll bandwagon OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph"

Naga parties ride poll bandwagon OUR CORRESPONDENT The Telegraph

Kohima, Oct. 16: With general elections approaching in Nagaland, the Congress, BJP, JD (U), RJD and prominent regional parties like the Nagaland People’s Front have come out with tall promises, ranging from solutions to socio-economic problems to early resolution of the Naga political imbroglio. Both the Congress and the BJP said Nagaland’s stagnating peace talks would figure in their respective election manifestos. The issue of corruption, which has reached its zenith in Nagaland, will also get priority in the election manifesto of both the parties.
The Congress election manifesto committee members said the Naga political issue would top their agenda, but they were equally concerned about the “neglected people who have remained empty-handed under the present Democratic Alliance of Nagaland government headed by chief minister Neiphiu Rio”. Congress parliamentary secretary and MLA, K.V. Pusa, who is also member of the election manifesto committee said if the Congress was voted to power, it would play proactive role in facilitating the Naga peace process. The BJP which has five legislators in the DAN government said it would field at least 40 candidates. Both the RJD and the NCP have also announced that it would contest in more than 40 seats.
Election disruption: The Nagaland government is apprehensive that militant activities may disrupt the Assembly elections, which will be held next year.
Addressing a meeting of deputy commissioners, superintendents of police and commandants of Nagaland Armed Police at the Nagaland Commissioner's conference hall today, chief minister Neiphiu Rio said militant activities are likely to intensify before the Assembly elections.
Expressing his scepticism about intelligence inputs from deputy commissioners and the police, Rio urged the gaon buras (village chiefs) and dubashis (chiefs of Naga customary courts) to assist the administration. Rio said the responsibility of enforcing the ground rules of the ceasefire with militant outfits should be distributed among the respective parties and that district monitoring committees should be formed to implement the rules strictly.
The militants had triggered violence in the 2003 Assembly elections.
Therie back in Congress fold The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 16 (MExN): Former Finance Minister K Therie today made a public declaration confirming his re-entry into the Congress party. The former NPF legislator declared his reentry at a public meeting in Pfutsero town.
Terming the Congress party as the ‘mother party’ of the nation, Therie said that he and his supporters had separated from the Congress for a “short time” because of reason of “difference in political opinion”. However, with the “closing” of the “Bedrock of Naga Society” issue by the Congress Legislative Party leader on the floor of the Assembly and also in the Naga Integration Rally on 31st August 2005, the story is now changed.
Stating that the objectives are common, Therie declared “We do not see why we should live in different houses when Congress has an open door policy welcoming one and all. In view of the policy, we intend to rejoin/join the Congress to serve the people of Nagaland with greater zeal”. Former NPF MLA K. Therie speaking at a public meeting in Pfutsero on Tuesday while formally rejoining the Congress.
He appealed to the supporters from all walks of life for their continued support. “We appeal to all sections of Congress workers particularly to all village Congress committees, ACCCs, DCC, NPCC and AICC to consider admissions and make everyone comfortable.”
Therie assured that the decision would strengthen the party and “Together we shall deliver democracy, peace, freedom, justice and goods to Nagaland. We shall together provide a strong, responsive, responsible Government that will deliver justice without fear or favor, affection or ill will.” The mammoth-sized Pfutsero area public meeting unanimously voted to join the Congress party. The meeting was also attended by MLA Khutovi and former MLA Vatsu Meru. Both former legislators spoke at the meeting. Rev. Dr. N. Cheiro, Pastor of PTBC invoked blessings while Yekhuse Tureng chaired the meeting. Sulupo Thingo, ex-President of NPF, Phek division and prominent public leader V Lasuh also exhorted the gathering.
“Educate” on Indigenous Peoples’ right’ : NSCN (IM) The Morung Express
Dimapur, October 16 (MExN): The NSCN-IM expects that Naga civil society would “educate” the people to educe respect and honor of their rights. The outfit was contextualizing the opinion following the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) recent effort in Ukhrul where a conference on Human Rights based on the UN Declaration of Indigenous Human Rights, was held.
Terming the NPMHR’s effort as a “shining light,” the outfit in an MIP note acknowledged the organization for impacting “international awareness” on the Nagas’ rights as an indigenous people. “The NSCN expects much more to be done by other NGOs to educate the Nagas and push forward the demand to respect and honor Nagas’ right in a more vigorous manner” the MIP stated.
The outfit also asserted that Nagas are “picking up the UN support” in a positive way, following the UN’s declaration on the rights of Indigenous Peoples. “Awareness and education on the rights of the Nagas in the context of the changed world perception on the rights of indigenous peoples, is the need of the hour for the Indigenous Peoples” it observed. The NSCN-IM also opined that Nagas have to “strike while the iron is hot” and prod the international community to exercise more responsibility, morally and politically to attain a just and honorable solution to the Indo-Naga issue.
India extends CF with NSCN (K) The Morung Express
New Delhi, October 16 (PTI): With intent to involve the insurgent faction in Naga peace process, the Centre has decided to extend ceasefire with the Khaplang group of National Socialist Council of Nagaland for another year from Thursday and continue the dialogue process, official sources said on Tuesday.
After three days of discussions between the two sides here, the Union Home Ministry has decided to renew the ceasefire between security forces and NSCN (Khaplang), which first became operational from April 28, 1991. An official notification to this effect is likely to be issued on Wednesday, the sources said.
The ceasefire between security forces and the other faction of the outfit led by Issak Chishi Swu and Thuingaleng Muivah, is already in force. At the discussions, the NSCN (K) delegation, which included their members in the ceasefire monitoring board like chief representative C Sinsong Kuki, expressed eagerness to continue the peace process and the ceasefire. The insurgents said they saw the process as a step forward in ensuring and maintaining peace and stability in the region.
The home ministry also planned to reciprocate their gesture by agreeing to extend the ceasefire by one more year, the sources said, adding it would take forward the Centre’s efforts to arrive at a permanent solution to the Naga problem. However, the sources said it was still too early to start a full-fledged dialogue with the Khaplang group and have reconciliation between it and the major faction led by Issak and Muivah.
The sources said the steps taken so far by the Centre on the Naga issue were “a clear expression of its commitment and determination to resolve the problem in the larger interests of the people of Nagaland” and added that the Naga leaders of both factions had shown “political wisdom and maturity” by continuing with the ceasefire agreement. The Khaplang faction had conducted prolonged parleys with the representatives of the Centre before arriving at an agreement on April 11, 2001, to hold talks and cease violence.
A ceasefire supervisory board, comprising five representatives each of Centre and NSCN (K), was set up at these talks and the ground rules for the ceasefire finalised. The Khaplang faction suffered a serious setback late last year when the Myanmar army ran over its camps, including the headquarters. Most of the top leaders of the faction, however, escaped the onslaught but a few were killed or captured.
‘Centre’s attitude towards us step-motherly’ NEW DELHI, October 16 (PTI): Accusing the Centre of adopting a step-motherly attitude towards it, the Khaplang wing of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) has asked the government to “rein in” activities of its rival NSCN faction.
“At present the government is concentrating only on the NSCN-IM and our issue has been more or less sidelined,” top NSCN-K leader A Z Jami said. “NSCN-IM cadres have been violating ceasefire rules and attacking our members. But the government measures to check their activities have been far from satisfactory,” he alleged. “Our foremost demand to the government was to stop the NSCN-IM from attacking our cadres,” Jami said. “We also demanded shifting of our ceasefire board office and strengthening the ceasefire ground rules,” he said. Another senior NSCN-K leader K Mulatonu, who is also the supervisor of the group’s ceasefire supervisory board, said several issues relating to the rival faction indulging in unbearable activities were discussed. “The activities of NSCN-IM are not good for the ongoing truce between the security forces and the NSCN-K,” Mulatonu said.
Tension at Intl Border Morung Express News
Kohima NSCN-K has put its GHQ, located at the Indo-Myanmar border, on high alert, while the Nagas living in the areas reported of the renewed tension following the regular patrolling conducted by the Burmese junta for the past several days. A high NSCN-K official, stationed at the International border, speaking on condition of anonymity said this evening that international border have been reeling under high tension for the past several days as the Burmese armies are carrying out regular patrolling for unknown reason.
“There will be armed confrontation again if the Burmese army doesn’t retreat”, official told Morung Express over mobile phone. The Indian Army is also patrolling Chemo village, situated along the international border. This was possibly due to the presence of Lok Sabha MP, Wangyuh Konyak, in his native village or could be because of the proposed visit of the Chief Minister and Governor. The official however, expressed apprehension that the presence of both Indian and Myanmar armies along the International Border could be to hold a meeting between the two parties with an intention to flush out the Naga army, he said.

“We don’t know why Indian army is also patrolling along the border, but they use to do when a border meeting is going to take place with the Burmese army”, official said. Meanwhile, official also disclosed that the passing out parade for 46 new recruits was held today at the undisclosed camp of the Oganization located at the international border. Rtd. Maj. Gen. Moba graced the passing out ceremony as chief guest, source also said. Moba was reported to have called upon the new recruits to render quality and dedicated services to the nation and not to sway away by modern day materialism.
No Objection Certificate demanded for affiliation Newmai News Network
Imphal The All Naga Students Association, Manipur (ANSAM) and the All Private School Forum of Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Chandel and Senapati (APSF-TUCS) have sought from the Secretary of Education of Schools, government of Manipur to issue the No Objection Certificate (NOC) credentials to the private schools operating in the four hill districts in Manipur.
"The ANSAM in the interest of the minority indigenous people of hill districts in the present state of Manipur, approaches your good self for prompt approval and necessary issuance of order in favour of private schools of hill districts seeking ' No Objection Certificate (NOC) credentials," prayed the ANSAM to the Secretary of Education of Schools.
While giving its reason for this move, the Naga students claimed that a large number of private schools in the hill districts demonstrated their interest to opt syllabus and administration of other school boards through the "privilege of writing HSLC Exam 2007 in Nagaland".
"That many of the minority private schools in the hill districts prepared to obtained NOC credentials is facing restriction from the state. This attitude may invite violation of the constitutional provision of Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution of India", asserted the ANSAM statement while adding, "therefore, with serious concerned and in the interest of the minority private schools, we urged you to kindly issue NOC credentials to any minority private schools seeking for it without further delay".
The Naga students body expressed that it will be grateful for respecting the interest of the private schools and the right of the minorities in the state. Echoing similar voice, the All Private Schools Forum-Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Chandel and Senapati (APSF-TUCS) said, "we believe that the government of Manipur and the public as well, are fully aware of the move of the private schools in the four hill districts viz, Tamenglong, Ukhrul, Chandel and Senapati to affiliate to Nagaland Board of School Education (NBSE) as the matter has been made public by our popular demonstrations and the media".
It further stated that by now it sufficiently apparent to the government that the move is the expression of popular and democratic choice which cannot be arbitrarily denied without inviting further instances of bias, subjugation and denial of right which would
only fuel further alienation. "Our demand to affiliate to NBSE is based on simple reason which we believe should be fairly appreciated without prejudice", said the APSF-TUCS. The forum also gives numerous reasons for its move on the affiliation.
Rio fears involvement of Naga UG groups in next election Nagaland Page

Kohima, October 16: Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, on Tuesday expressed fear that the forthcoming state general election in the state would be an unfair election due to involvement of Naga underground groups.
Addressing the Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and Commandants of Nagaland Armed Police at Nagaland Commissioner's conference hall today, Rio said smooth conduct of the forthcoming state general elections should be the top priority of the district administration as there would be lot of pressure from different corners, including the Naga undergrounds.
Rio said activities of undergrounds and interference in the elections process is likely to intensify and that public leaders will try to take undue advantages. He urged the district administrations and NAP officers not to give any space to the unscrupulous elements to disrupt the smooth conduct of elections.
The chief minister said administrators and police officials should not just play the role of diplomats but also firmly exercise their administration and judicial powers.
Nagaland had so far experienced heavy involvement of Naga underground cadres in the 2003 state elections, which ultimately brought Rio to power. "The prime duty for district administration is to maintain law and order," he said. On the handling of truce ground rules and restrain the activities of Naga underground groups, Rio was quite skeptical about the inputs of the intelligence reports from DCs and SPs. He urged the GBs (village chiefs) and DBs (chiefs of Naga customary courts) to assist the district administration. "They are not giving enough information," he said.
Rio said GBs and DBs should always know the activities of the undergrounds and to which factions they belong and subsequently proper records of such detail should be maintained.
State government has been trying to mobilize the GBs and DBs to garner their support and hold-down the activities of UGs. Nagaland Commissioner, T N Mannen has been actively spearheading this movement recently. He had toured the whole state. The chief minister said enforcing the ceasefire ground rules should be distributed to all concerned and that district monitoring committee should be formed to strictly implement the rules. His comment has come when the NSCN factions are still arguing with the Centre on how to implement the truce ground rules. The present ground rules have not served the purpose and this has vitiated the law and order in the state. Rio also asked the tribal Hohos and local leaders to be included in the district level monitoring committees alongside the district administration, police and para-military forces to enforce the ceasefire ground rules. So far there is no such district level ceasefire monitoring committee at present. But the ceasefire monitoring group (CFMG) is keeping eye on this. NSCN (K) has also ceasefire supervisory board. Lt. Gn. (Retd) Kulkarni is incharge of both offices.
To check the illegal movements of undergrounds the chief minister urged the law enforcing agencies to intensify frisking and checking in all important places, including the highways and districts roads. He said it should not be the sole duty of the unarmed police to carry out such exercise, but armed police, Assam Rifles and other para-military forces should also be engaged. So far security forces have stopped frisking and checking because of hue and cry from several Naga organizations and this has given the free movements of underground cadres and anti-social elements. (Page News Service)
Tourisms deptt. gears up for Hornbill festival The Morung Express
KOHIMA, OCTOBER 16 (DIPR): The Director of Tourism, Nagaland, Alem Pongener today met with various tribal leaders and representatives in his office Chamber to prepare for the forthcoming 8th Hornbill festival 2007. The meeting was called by the tourism Department asking the various Naga tribes to Co-operate and work unitedly so that the Hornbill festival would be a bigger success. Alem Pongener also stated that inspite of problems and difficulties faced by the Government, the popular hornbill festival have been gaining more popularity and success year by year.
In the initial years only few hundred foreign Tourist visited the Naga Heritage Village, but today it is attracting few thousands, more over all Hotels and Lodges in both Dimapur and Kohima been already booked for the upcoming festive season, he said.
Expressing his concern on the loss of various traditional artifacts and valuable items which are spoiled, damaged or stolen by miscreants, he assured the tribal bodies that he would take up the matter with the Government on priority basis so that necessary arrangements and security would be put in place. As a measure, the tourism department has also been trying to procure camouflage which looks more or less genuine like the traditional ones so that they can be replaced. The meeting was also attended by Additional Director, Art and Culture and officials from Tourism Department.
Militancy on the rise in Shillong Luit Neil Don Meri News India




The recent arrest of eight Dima Halam Daoga militants from the capital of Meghalaya has brought forth the harsh truth that Shillong has become a safe haven for terrorist activities. Supply of arms is also the rise.




SHILLONG HAS become the safest way for the militants to supply arms and ammunition to the northeastern states of the country. The capital of Meghalaya has virtually become a transit point of arms and extortion deals. This has come to light after the arrest of eight Dima Halam Daoga (DHD) militants and three other “suspected” Manipur based rebels in Shillong on Sunday.

On 19 December 2006, the commander of the ULFA’s 27 battalion, Pallav Saikia alias Ananta Kakati, was arrested along with his wife Moromi at an unspecified place of Meghalaya with huge cache of arms and ammunition. National Socialist Council of Nagalim (NSCN) general secretary Thuingaleng Muivah reportedly escaped to Bangladesh via Shillong a fortnight ago. He is supposed to take a flight to Bangkok from Bangladesh.

Meghalaya police said that eight DHD militants(Jewel Gorlosa faction), also known as ‘Black Widow’, were arrested on Sunday night. The arrested militants included the area commander of Umranshu, a district in Assam’s North Cachar Hills. He was identified as David Kamthai. DHD is an offshoot of the Dimasa National Security Force (DNSF), which surrendered en masse in 1995, except for its self-styled commander-in-chief Jewel Gorlosa, who subsequently launched the DHD. The arrested cadres were booked under the Unlawful Activities Preventive Act (UAPA). The cadres were involved in several criminal cases in Karbi Anglong district. The court remanded them to seven days of police custody. Pistols, ammunition and other incriminating documents, besides Rs 35,000 in cash, were seized from the militants.

The DHD aims at creating a separate State of ’Dimaraji’ for the Dimasa (‘sons of the great river’) tribe, comprising Dimasa dominated areas of the North Cachhar Hills and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam and parts of Dimapur district in Nagaland.


Manipur to issue ordinance on 'school affiliation' IndiaEduNews
Imphal: The Government of Manipur will soon issue an ordinance that will prevent affiliation of educational institutes in the state to the board of secondary education of any other state of the country. The decision was taken by the Government in response to a recent notification by the Nagaland Government which states that any educational institute located outside Nagaland could affiliate itself to the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE) 'if so desired.'
As per the provision in the proposed ordinance, any educational institute or school of Manipur would not be allowed to be affiliated to any board of secondary education outside the state without the prior permission of the Manipur Government.
Furthermore, no examination centres of any other state Board of Secondary Education (BSE) in Manipur would be allowed without the prior permission from BSE, Manipur.
"The state cabinet had earlier decided and even drafted an ordinance on the issue but it would be discussed again in the cabinet before seeking assent of the Governor," a senior official of the Government said.
East with bits left out: A more imaginative Myanmar policy would do India good Column the Morung Express
Most countries do public diplomacy abroad. In its standard use, the term refers to cultural and educational programmes, radio and television broadcasts, and citizen exchanges to promote foreign policy goals. In recent years, it has come to include ‘soft power’ — the goodwill that a country has because of the influence of popular culture and its positive image among foreigners. The target of public diplomacy is usually foreign audiences.
India however, chooses to do public diplomacy at home. For the second time in less than four months, the external affairs minister, Pranab Mukherjee, visited the Northeast to explain the Look East policy. Both events were sponsored by the public diplomacy division of the ministry of external affairs. One can only welcome the belated discovery by the South Block of the value of the public discussions of foreign policy. But one wishes that these exercises were more about taking input from the ground, rather than about explaining policy from the top. From the perspective of India’s multiple global audiences, there may be some risks in calling these exercises public diplomacy. Does our external affairs ministry treat the Northeast as India’s ‘near abroad’ or the ‘far-east’ within?
Mukherjee explained the promises that the Look East policy holds for northeastern India and how the priority given to its economic development fits into our foreign policy goals. The Planning Commission deputy chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, was around as well. He said that the Northeast would see a massive upsurge in economic development over the next five years. Audiences in the Northeast, however, have grown a bit tired of the repetitious nature of what they have been hearing about the Look East policy. The reporter for The Telegraph pointed out that Mukherjee’s speech in Guwahati was almost an exact reproduction of the speech he gave in Shillong four months earlier.
But the missing 800-pound gorilla from the Guwahati deliberations was the situation in neighbouring Myanmar. What are its implications for the future of the Look East policy? As fear grips Myanmar following the crackdown by the military junta, questions are being asked everywhere about the implications of the recent developments. What, for instance, does the crackdown on the Buddhist monasteries mean with reference to whatever residual legitimacy the military regime still has?
Since our Burma policy took a U-turn in the early Nineties, India has been betting on the military regime’s durability. Thus, even though the decision of the army chief, Deepak Kapoor, to publicly articulate foreign policy goals raised some eyebrows, his statement calling the crackdown in Myanmar an “internal matter” was not out of line with official policy. Mukherjee has said, “It is up to the Burmese people to struggle for democracy, it is their issue.” And the most scandalous of all was the presence of the petroleum minister, Murli Deora, in Myanmar to sign a deal for natural gas exploration when the crackdown was in full swing.
Our foreign policymakers like to describe our Myanmar policy as being premised on realism. The concept is subject to much criticism in the academic literature on international relations. Realism can easily be an excuse for lazy thinking: letting some supposedly objective national interests get the upper hand in shaping foreign policy.
The sudden end of the Cold War in 1989 spelt the failure of realism to explain some of the new forces that were transforming the world. Among these emerging forms of more globalized political activism are those that have been further energized in recent years by the internet, the mobile phone and the proliferation of 24-hour news channels.
The impact of some of these forces is apparent in the pressures on Myanmar and on many other governments — including India — vis-à-vis their Myanmar policy. In the past few days, India has had to modify its initial stance in response to these pressures. It voted for the European Union-sponsored resolution at the United Nations Human Rights Council condemning the Myanmarese government for its violent repression of peaceful demonstrations. The council has also approved a resolution calling for an independent investigation of the human rights situation in Myanmar.Myanmar itself has responded to these pressures by clamping down on the internet, the mobile phone network and by taking steps to stop the flow of news and pictures from the country.
Recently, China’s sensitivity to world public opinion has been all too apparent. Even on Myanmar, unlike India, China did not take a strict “internal matter” line, but opted for behind-the-scenes diplomacy. With the the Beijing Olympics on the horizon, China does not want to be seen as being closely associated with unpopular, repressive regimes.
After initial resistance, it began putting pressure on Sudan to accept a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur. Activists have warned that Beijing risks hosting the “Genocide Olympics”. While no one expects Beijing to become an advocate for democracy in Myanmar, there is little doubt that its Myanmar policy reflects sensitivity to global public opinion and the importance of soft power.
China is not alone in this matter. Unlike the early years of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, when there was a reluctance to intervene in the internal affairs of member states, political liberalization in countries like Indonesia and Philippines, and political activism in Thailand and Malaysia are leading it towards siding with the forces for change in Myanmar. Japan’s Myanmar policy has also changed significantly. Even Singapore has said that it is “deeply troubled” by the crisis in Myanmar.
India may be the laggard in responding to this new era of global activism. Indian foreign policy- makers had discovered realism rather late. It is understandable that countering Chinese influence, and hoping that Myanmar (and Bangladesh) would extend to our security establishment the kind of help that Bhutan provided in 2003 to eliminate Northeastern rebel groups would be major considerations in India’s Myanmar policy. But shouldn’t we be worried that India’s national interest defined in that way — and often articulated by active or retired military generals — requires the presence of non-democratic regimes in the entire neighbourhood?
Rather than betting on the generals’ survival for much longer, it is time for India to take a long-term view, draw lessons from its isolation on Myanmar, and rethink its Myanmar policy. It is in a good position to take the leadership in a global initiative to bring about a political transition in Myanmar. That would enable India to side with the forces of Myanmar’s future. In another era, when Burma was a province of India and the separation of Burma from British colonial India was debated, the Buddhist monks of Burma took a strong pro-India position. Writing from Calcutta in 1931, Ottama Bhikkhu of Burma supported a federal scheme tying India with Burma that had Gandhi’s blessings. None of Burma’s traditions, he said, “hark back to China, all hark back to India”. He pointed to Burma’s historical connection with India by sea and land dating back to “the earliest times”. Madras and Bengal, he said, “supplied dynasties of Burmese kings, priests and peasants”. The Buddha gave Burma its religion and “Indian architects their style of architecture.” Contrasting this with the relative absence of cultural influence from China, he said, even though China is near Burma, its “interest in Burma seems to have been limited to these trade-routes, for traces of her influence are hard to find”.
No other country has more of a reservoir of soft power assets in Myanmar than India. Today, the democracy movement there is led by a woman who once lived in India, and is the author of a book called Burma and India: Some Aspects of Intellectual Life under Colonialism.
We should not squander these soft power resources by letting our obsession with economic growth and energy security and our security establishment’s inclination to put counter-insurgency ahead of conflict resolution stand in the way of a more imaginative Myanmar policy. The author is at the Centre for Policy Research, Delhi, and Bard College, New York.
A quest for Biodiversity management within Indigenous Territorial space NP Ariiphreou The Morung Express Perspective
Indigenous peoples comprise less than four percent of the population of the world but they also constitute ninety five percent of the cultural diversity and over fifty percent population in areas of high biodiversity. The past century has witnessed state governments and corporate actors extensively involve in the cultural and environmental destruction and exploitation of resources from the indigenous peoples territory under the garb of modernization and development. Indigenous peoples/ nations therefore have immense interest and concern with the processes and contents of UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) which was negotiated in haste with minimal participation during the 1992 Rio Earth Summit. The fact that indigenous peoples have nurtured species variation for thousands of years invariably puts them in the position as ‘guardians of biodiversity’ since they have made possible the current breath of biodiversity. Although Article 8j of the CBD ( came into force since1993) recognizes indigenous peoples collective rights through the term ‘community’ and consent in term of ‘approval’, the question of state sovereignty overriding the indigenous rights has been a major concern. However with the recent adoption of the UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (2007) this notion will be severely contested since indigenous peoples are adamant that ‘no access to indigenous knowledge, innovation or practices should take place, without the prior and informed consent of the peoples. The purpose of the CBD is to protect biodiversity and so indigenous peoples local practices and knowledge are extremely important to take into consideration.
Indigenous forest fostering consists of the knowledge and sustainable use of vast numbers of different species – domesticated, semi-domesticated and wild although this distinction of ‘domesticated’ or ‘wild’ seems somewhat meaningless, with their distinct knowledge of developing and encouraging species diversification whether under agricultural cultivation or not. The harvesting of forest resources provides fruits for food and drink, medicine, shelter, pesticide and clothing. The knowledge and skill in managing these different types of forest, as well operating in a spectrum of ecological zones, demonstrate the enormous flexibility of indigenous people’s biodiversity management skills and validate their inherent sensitivity and care with which they relate to the environment.
Given that the indigenous people’s culture and subsistence are inextricably linked to their lands and territories, environmental degradation can be devastating. Indigenous knowledge and use of biodiversity is based on critical principles which have to be understood to ensure its protection.
‘In the first place indigenous peoples live in territories meaning that the people and the communities are responsible for the control and use of the total environment: soil, sub-soil, trees and plants, animals and birds. All resources are included in this generic sense of territory – including land, forest, lakes, rivers, etc. They assert that their territories are inalienable since it is owned by a people as a whole and are passed from ancestors to descendents as part of its heritage. Neither indigenous peoples nor non indigenous peoples have the right to sell or dispose of indigenous territories. The resources within therefore can be utilized or sold only by agreed consent since the own the territories collectively. Individual households work specific areas for their needs, within the framework of the territory as a whole. Territories are part of a holistic vision of the universe which includes political control over resources use; spiritual reverence for the invisible religious aspects of forest life; and a perception of the forest as a landscape fashioned by a history of indigenous activity’.
The effect is that we see a connection between territory, culture and our identity as indigenous peoples; our rights to use resources are based on customary legal systems operating within commons regimes. Generations of experience means that indigenous ownership and control leads to a defined territorial management, organized by our own political institutions. Under these conditions, we are self-determining and our freedom and dignity protect biodiversity.
Unfortunately, this mutually beneficial relationship between indigenous peoples and forest biodiversity is threatened by the strains which we find in areas which are encroached by outside forces, eager to seek fortunes and overwhelming the original inhabitants through brute force. The open access which dominant power centers have given to alien exploiters to enter the indigenous peoples territories limits the resources available for subsistence, and the danger is that biodiversity is being destroyed in the process of prolonged conflict which is exploitative and destructive by nature.
The Government of India’s position to build scores of High Dams for harnessing hydro power in the northeast region by way of imposing projects which is being vehemently resisted in the different states brings to the fore what kind of security it contemplates for the northeast. Will northeast continue to remain as a mere power storage colony for the metro India in this 21st century too without enjoying the benefits of its rich resources potentials? The Tipaimukh High Dam in Churachandpur district Manipur for instance which if constructed will be one of the largest hydropower generating Dams in the region but so far the opposition has been strong particularly from the Hill peoples in Manipur. The Dam is situated at the highly sensitive Taithu seismic faultline and is likely to submerge many historical and cultural heritage sites including destruction of a vast biodiversity species. The direct project site falls in the Hmar inhabited area but the majority of submergence will take place in the Naga areas of Manipur. The Committee against Tipaimukh Dam (CATD), a conglomerate of Naga people’s organization in the state of Manipur has been openly opposing it since the past more than two decades as the project will mean sacrificing one community for the interest of the state. The huge militarized budget is being looked upon with suspicion as a form of ethnocidal tendency alienating indigenous peoples land and lack of sensitivity to destruction of the rare biodiversity of the region. However, the response from Delhi has been bent on imposing the project whether opposition exist or not without even a mandatory environmental Impact assessment clearance. The question here is whether national security will override the quest for peoples yearning to protect the ancestral land and the invaluable ecosystem.
Now whether the new initiatives of maintaining Biodiversity registers or pooling of genetic resources to be collected and stored in genes bank will be accessible to the rightful owners in future. What kind of mechanism do the state possessed in view of the various international standards with regard to patenting of genetic resources and claimant for intellectual property rights. What kind of guarantees exists in terms of benefit sharing for the state and people of the region? These are areas which require serious contemplation, investigation and capacity building.
The recent workshop initiated by NEPED in collaboration with ICIMOD needs to be evaluated within this context. The involvement of a broad category of stakeholders in the initiative has been of paramount significance since full and effective participation is the need of the hour. However, the ultimate point will be whether there are proper legal safeguards in the protection of the people from land alienation, biopiracy or other negative affects flowing out from the implementation of this Act, which will determine the protection, sustainable use and conservation of our rich biodiversity resource. The two days workshop outcome reflects a certain level of uncertainty on this question. Despite the obscure position maintained, it is within the interest of the people that the state government gives enough time to re-examine National Biodiversity legislation and to follow up vigorously on the list of priority actions as recommended by the consultation, before fully endorsing it. Contentious issues that are likely to emerge may be on the ownership and access to genetic resources, imposition of protected areas, non accountability on the destruction on ecosystem and funding mechanism. The contest between whether people’s livelihood issues will take precedence over conservation, state interest versus community needs, etc may emerge which are sensitive and the need for institution developments to cater to such eventuality. The discussion on whether Delhi has been genuinely honoring the overall content of Article 371 A, the special provision accorded to Nagaland within the Constitution of India needs also to be seriously debated by the people in the public discourse and within the state assembly as well. Nagaland should assert full control through exercising ‘the free and informed consent’ principle over its natural resource and biodiversity wealth and to firmly negotiate with state actors or other corporate institutions wherever necessary in term of benefit sharing to have a gradual equitable growth process while maximizing the sustainable use and conservation of its biodiversity resources. The mute point is whether Nagas can harvest and protect its rich heritage within its territories swamp by problems of unguarded frontiers, emerging unpredictable climatic patterns, lack of a genuine functional democracy and increasing consumerist culture. Its time to give a serious look at this ever depletion of resources that had sustained our land, culture and identity. It’s a call to defend our survival with dignity.
Army derailing peace process: PCG By A Staff Reporter Assam tribune
GUWAHATI, Oct 16 – PCG member Hiranya Saikia today alleged that certain elements within and outside the administration were making attempts to derail the peace process to facilitate direct talks between the Government of India and the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA). He also alleged that certain sections were making false propaganda on the stand of ULFA commander-in-chief Paresh Baruah on the issue of talks.

Saikia has sent a representation to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh on the issue of talks and alleged that recently the GOC of the 4 corps of the Army, Lt Gen BS Jaswal made a “highly provocative statement” and such statements would definitely affect the peace process. He said the statement of the Army official is against the publicly declared policy of the Government of India regarding talks with militant groups and demanded that an investigation should be ordered into the circumstances leading to such a statement. In the representation, Saikia gave a detailed account of the peace process and said that since 2001, a number of efforts were made by the Government of India to initiate dialogues with the ULFA. But the attempts were not successful. After the general elections in 2004, for the first time in 26 years, with the consent of the ULFA commander in chief, noted litterateur Dr Mamoni Raisom Goswami wrote a letter to the Prime Minister on the issue of talks. The Prime Minister’s office responded to the letter in December, 2004, which was conveyed to Paresh Baruah. In the first week of February, 2005, the ULFA chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa responded through a letter to the Prime Minister to start the peace process and the ULFA formed the people’s consultative group (PCG) in September, 2005 to hold initial parleys with the Government to facilitate direct talks. Meanwhile, talking to newspersons, Saikia alleged that the “irresponsible statements” of the GOC of the 4 corps of the Army might be aimed at derailing the peace process. As the statement went against the declared policy of the Government of India, action should be taken against him. He said that the Indian Army, which failed to guard the country’s frontiers and drive out the foreign nationals, was only killing Indian citizens and at least one person is killed in Assam every day.
Positive role of Armed Forces in the North East
By: M.M. Lakhera
Recent debates in the media on the law and order problem in North East, as also the validity of Armed Forces Special Powers Act, have raised interest among the general public as well as human rights activists. From the points raised, there appears to be lack of understanding of the North East.

Firstly, it must be clearly understood that North East comprises eight States i.e. Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Tripura and Sikkim. If one were to analyse the law and order and insurgency problems in these States it would emerge that the insurgency is only on in parts of Manipur and parts of Assam. As regards Nagaland, as of today, there is no active insurgency since the cease-fire has been agreed to by NSCN (I&M). However, off and on some sporadic clashes between the two rival factions of Nagas i.e. NSCN (I&M) Vs NSCN (K) do take place. This is primarily because of the ongoing peace talks between the Government of India and NSCN (I&M). Obviously, the other group is trying to make its presence felt and does not want to be left out of the whole peace process.

As regards Arunachal Pradesh, there is no insurgency in the State; however sporadic incidents do take place, when the ULFA of Assam on being chased by security forces cross over to the areas of Arunachal bordering Assam. Sikkim and Mizoram are totally peaceful. As regards Meghalaya, there is no active insurgency in the State, a few bundhs on inter-tribal demands do take place some time. However, these are very much part of our democratic process. As regards Tripura, it did have insurgency earlier; today, the insurgent groups have been fully contained and the State enjoys a peaceful environment.

It will be seen from the above that it is very unfair to bracket all these North Eastern States as disturbed areas. This only proves lack of understanding of complex problems of the North Eastern region. It must be understood that no two States of North East are similar. In fact, each has its own set of problems. They have been grouped as North Eastern region on geographical convenience only.

AFSPA only in parts of North East :
As regards the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), it is really surprising that the people have been talking of this Act being applicable in whole of North East. Nothing could be more untruthful and damaging than this. The AFSPA is only applicable in parts of Manipur, parts of Assam & Nagaland. It is not applicable to other States of North Eastern region.

Secondly, it must be understood as to how this Act came into force. When the law and order problem in a certain part of the country deteriorated and the situation went out of control of normal law enforcing agencies, the Army had to be called out. It was felt by the Central Government that to tackle such special situations, special powers were required. The Parliament of the country passed the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958. This Act is only made applicable to an area or a State after due concurrence of State, and that too for a specific duration. Unfortunately, in certain parts of the country the situation has continued to remain critical from law and order point of view and hence, the Act has was extended from time to time.

One-sided reporting unfortunate :
The other fallacy about the Act is that the Armed Forces are using it indiscriminately. If it was so, there would have been a total revolt against such forces. What must be understood that in an ongoing conflict, there may be stray incidents where on the spur of the moment, more than justifiable force may appear to have been used. Unfortunately, such incidents get over-played. In fact, some units who have done a number of good works in the same area are never highlighted and one bad incident is over-played to portray the Armed Forces as villain. More often than not, such reporting is one-sided followed by a trial, where media beomes judges and juries. It also suits our national psyche where we enjoy and give more importance to such a ‘masala’ news. The race between our multiple channels to ‘break news’ first also makes the factual story the first casualties. It must also be understood that it is not the Armed Forces that have gone there on their own. The situation has been handed over to them by the State administration when the situation has gone out of their control.

Violations punished :
It is also a fallacy that Armed Forces personnel are seldom punished for such excesses. The strength of the Armed Forces is in its discipline. Each action is investigated and any violation of rules is swiftly punished within a few months. One would like to ask as to which other organisation in our country is taking such prompt action? We have incidents where criminals roam around freely and in some cases it takes years to bring culprits to trial.

Notwithstanding the above, there is a definite need to modify a few clauses of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act, which is already under review at the Government of India level. Finally, let us not continue to make adverse comments on the North East as a whole. We are part of the Indian nation and we do have our much lesser share of violence as compared to the rest of the country. Some of our States are an ‘Island of Peace’. We do hope this phenomenon will spread to our other sister States soon.

Primary Task to defend the country :
Similarly, we must understand that today the Indian Armed Forces belong to India and are manned by Indian citizens who very well understand the value of peace. Their primary task is to defend the country from external aggression. Unfortunately, because of the inability of normal law enforcing agencies to maintain peace in their area, the Government, as a last resort, hands over the situation to them. They are not there on their own. In fact, they would prefer to concentrate on their primary role of defending the nation from external aggression. Our attitude to use them as a whipping boy on the slightest pretext is contributing to frustration. Let us be fair to all. Condemn wrong acts; also give credit to good work. Avoid one-sided story.
Remember law and order and insurgencies are national problems and they require national support to be fought. Let us all contribute our bit to fight these and make our country a peaceful and developed one for others to envy.

**Lieut. Gen. (Retd) M. M. Lakhera PVSM, AVSM, VSM is the Governor of Mizoram.
Concern over encroachment on BTC forest land Correspondent Assam tribune
KOKRAJHAR, Oct 16 – Repeated encroachment on forest land of BTC by Bodo and Adivasi villagers in many areas of BTAD is a big concern as the matter is taking a bad shape even after many eviction drives, said Kampa Borgoyari, deputy chief, BTC, and I/C of Dept of Forests and Tourism, here on the concluding day of the seven-day long 53rd Wildlife Week celebration at Kokrajhar, organised by the Department of Forest, Wild Life Division, Kokrajhar recently. Speaking on the occasion, he said that the Bodo and Santhal people should understand the magnitude of the problem and should stop encroachment to save our natural resources for mankind. At the same time, he said BTC has been pursuading the Home Ministry at the Centre to entrust SBB guarding Indo-Bhutan border for induction to forest and wildlife protection in BTAD.

Speaking on the occasion, GC Basumatary enlighted the need for cooperation of NGO’s and all section of people for conserving forest and wildlife resources.

Sudhir Kumar, co, 16 BN SSB has also announced his commitment to the bordering villagers and forest villagers in BTAD to take advantage of welfare and beneficial schemes of SSB for health, community development & facilities for the rural people. DFO, Mr Sonali Ghosh, Kokrajhar wildlife division explained the positive impacts of programmes with students, villagers, researchers and civil society in the well long programme.

Meanwhile, Aaranyak an NGO, for biodiversity conservation based in Guwahati with the help of Rufford Foundation, UK handed over 10 wireless sets 3 base station materials from front line staff of Chakrashila wildlife sanctuary. It is to be mentioned here that during this weeklong celebrations, wildlife film shows for school children at Ganga Talkies, painting competition for school children at Govt HS & MP School, Kokrajhar, Quiz competition for school children, tree plantation & wildlife film show at Titaguri village, Kachugaon, Ultapani, Jharbari, Bhalukghora & Choraibhola were also held with mass people participation.

It may further be mentioned here that an interim report on conservation by BTC was also presentated by the Discovery Club, Kokrajhar while Aranyak, NGO-launch elephant conservation sticker of a brochure on tourist in formation of Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary by wildlife division, Kokrajhar also released. Awards were also distributed among the five JFMC’s of Haltugaon & Kachugaon Forest Division along with moments & certificates with incentives for a four programme in Shillong. In addition prizes were handed over to some young nature lovers of Kokrajhar including handing over of prizes to the winners of various competitions by the Kokrajhar Wildlife Division. Other NGOs are taking part in the weeklong programme include. Aranyak, Green Heart, Green Forest Conservation, Discovery Club, Mouzigandry from Manas, amongst others.
Myanmarese Christian refugees allege persecution by junta Sentinel
AIZAWL, Oct 16: Myanmarese Christian refugees settled in Mizoram have accused the military junta of religious persecution, saying it desecrated churches and molested women.
“I could bear everything else, but abusing my religion (Christianity) was the only one thing I could not tolerate. The military even pulled down churches and forced us to erect statues of the Buddha,” Thanga, a Myanmarese refugee in Mizoram, said.
“We had no other choice but to run away and take shelter in Mizoram. We were threatened, abused and our women molested,” he added.
Lalpianthang, originally from the Chin State in Myanmar and now settled in Aizawl, has similar tales of woes. “Before I came to Mizoram, my life in the Chin Hills was a living hell. Every day, I had to think of one way or the other how to avoid the ruthless hands of the military men,” she said. There are an estimated 20,000 Chin refugees in Mizoram. The Chin community belongs to the same ethnic stock as the Mizos of Mizoram.
Thangtinlian was another woman from the Chin State. “We were leading a peaceful life with our family until one day the Myanmarese army came and tore our dreams and life apart by torturing us,” she said amid sobs. Thangtinlian now works as a maid in Aizawl. “This is like a heaven compared to our life in Myanmar.” The Zo Reunification Organization, an Aizawl-based rights group advocating the return of the refugees to their homeland and restoration of democracy in Myanmar, said it was behind the Chin people.
“The Chin people could be asked to return only if Myanmar has a democratic government. The Chin people are our brothers and sisters and they count on us for our support,” Lalmuanpuia Punte, general secretary of the Organization, said. (IANS)
Pressure Myanmar, UK tells India Indo Burma News
October 17, 2007: (Times of India) New Delhi, India is once again being called on to use its influence to pressure Myanmar. The UK wants India to join an international economic incentive package for Myanmar in return for the military-ruled country to take steps towards democracy.
Mark Malloch Brown, UK minister for Asia and Africa, told TOI in an exclusive conversation, "India should say they support (UN special envoy) Ibrahim Gambari's mission. India does not want to be drawn down the sanctions route. There's a way to prevent that. India should offer Burma incentives to change, more engagements but with the threat that if the regime does not change there will be consequences." Also, among the first countries to react to the government's stunning decision to suspend the nuclear deal with the US, Malloch Brown said he would try to find out why India took this decision. "We want to find out what happened. Why the pause... we are all very intrigued and we want to learn more. We're all very surprised," he said.

Taking the lead on Myanmar, British ministers have been dispatched to China, Japan and Asean countries to push them to weigh in on the junta. According to reports, Brown has also written to his counterparts in India, China and Portugal to take up this scheme. This is part of the UK's big diplomatic enterprise to present Myanmar with an incentive initiative to begin the democracy transition. This was to figure at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg on Monday.
British Prime minister Gordon Brown was quoted as saying that at the Luxembourg meeting, Britain would push for "tough sanctions, including on individuals and commodities like timber, gems and metals". "We will also press for a ban on future investment linked to progress with the reconciliation talks," he said. Malloch Brown met foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee and had lunch with foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.

Malloch Brown said, "There is a need to start a more intensive internal political dialogue in Burma. Asean has come up with a strong statement and China is engaged in a very positive way in the UN Security Council. It's very important to make sure that India is also engaged." India, he said, has "not yet had the opportunity to state itself quite so strongly as the others, or demonstrate so strongly". Expanding on the US-led western strategy on Myanmar, Malloch Brown said, "What's very important is for Burma to get the message from all its trading and investment partners that things will not return to the way they were before. There must be political reconciliation and Burma is jeopardising its relationships if its sticks to violence." He added, "Hearing it from others is important but they need to hear it from India."

China, he said, had stepped up to the table in a big way. India needed to do so now. "They (China) pressured the Burmese to allow in Ibrahim Gambari. They pressured Burma to begin the process of internal reconciliation and dialogue. There is real evidence of Chinese action on these counts and they will say all of this at the UNSC meeting on Friday." India has already supported the Gambari mission, said senior MEA sources. The Indian ambassador had met Aung San Suu Kyi and India maintained regular contact with the democracy forces in Myanmar. But the government has made it clear that it will continue to pursue its economic and geo-strategic interests in Myanmar, and these are energy and security (particularly with the north-east insurgents). India also has a substantial diaspora in Myanmar and the government does not want to jeopardise their future.