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10/25/2007: "Naga-American Council to Hold Press Conference at National Press Club Oct. 29 Earth Times"

Naga-American Council to Hold Press Conference at National Press Club Oct. 29 Earth Times


WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is being issued by the Naga-American Council:
WHAT: The Naga-American Council is hosting high-ranking dignitaries from Nagalim at Washington D.C.'s National Press Club. Their attendance is a rare occurrence, given India's strict travel restrictions in and out of the region. The Council will outline the conditions existing in Nagaland and surrounding states, emphasizing the current economic, political, humanitarian, and spiritual state of the Naga people. The Council's pro-democracy agenda will focus on key issues such as the recent peace talks this month in New Delhi, India's continuing use of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act of 1958, substantial oil and natural resource reserves, human rights violations, and Christian persecution. The Naga dance troupe will also sing their National Anthem as the Naga flag is raised for the first time at the press club.
WHO (Security Precautions preclude release of some individuals' names):
-- Gideon Sagma Atem, Retired Army General of the National Socialist Council of Nagalim, Member of Naga Negotiating team, and certified physician.
-- Official from the Ministry of Public Information
-- Esteemed Member of Parliament (Naga Hoho)
-- Head of Naga Baptist Church
WHERE: National Press Club Murrow Room
529 14th Street NW (corner of 14th and F Streets) Washington, DC
WHEN: Monday, October 29, 2007 9:30 a.m. EDT
MEDIA IS ALSO INVITED TO LUNCHEON, SPONSORED BY THE NAGA-AMERICAN COUNCIL IN HONOR OF THE CO-CHAIRS OF THE TASK FORCE ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AT THE CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS, ON CAPITOL HILL AT THE CANNON CONGRESSIONAL HOUSE BUILDING THE FOLLOWING DAY, OCT. 30, 12:00 p.m., CANNON CAUCUS ROOM 3rd FLOOR.
The Naga-American Council was founded in 2003 as a non-partisan organization whose mission is to address the Naga people's right to self-determination from India. The Naga-American Council is a voice for the Naga people in America. We seek to raise awareness of the challenges affecting the Naga by working with U.S. public officials, the media, and grassroots organizations. For more information, visit our Web site at http://www.nagalim.us/. Naga-American Council

Indias ‘greater role' in the UN supported
Harbin, October 24 (PTI): Russia and China today acknowledged India's growing status in the international affairs but stopped short of explicitly backing New Delhi's claim to a permanent seat in the revamped UN Security Council.
"The Foreign Ministers of China and Russia reiterated that their countries attach importance to the status of India in international affairs and understand and support India's aspirations to play a greater role in the United Nations," a joint communique issued at the end of the third standalone meeting of the Foreign Ministers of India, China and Russia, said.
India is seeking a full-fledged permanent membership in the revamped United Nations Security Council. While many countries have expressed support for India's bid, Beijing is yet to fully back New Delhi. Meanwhile, at the trilateral meeting between External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov here today, they underlined that the UN is the most representative and authoritative international organisation. "In order to deal with various problems and challenges facing the international community more effectively, it is important to strengthen the role of the United Nations, improve its efficiency and conduct a comprehensive reform of the United Nations," the communique adopted by the three ministers said.
MLA withdraws support to DAN The Morung Express
DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 24 (MExN): Deo Nukhu, MLA and leader of JD (U) Legislature Party has withdrawn support to the DAN Government. Declaring his decision, the JD (U) MLA, who is also Deputy Chairman of the State Planning Board, stated that in keeping with the pre-poll alliance commitment of the DAN parties, he had given his best support to the DAN government for over four and a half years. “As you are aware, although Congress party had emerged as the single largest party in the last general election held in February 2003, it was because of the support of BJP, Samata and JD (U) that the DAN government could be formed”, Nukhu stated. He described as unfortunate that gradually the original DAN alliance party workers from Samata, JD (U) and BJP who rescued the NPF party for leading the DAN government are being sidelined.
The JD (U) MLA stated that after the downsized ministry in July 2004, the JD (U) was left out of the ministry and lamented that there was no reshuffle in the entire 5 years tenure for offering opportunity of power sharing amongst the DAN legislators. “Practically it has been reduced to only NPF-BJP coalition government”, Nukhu stated.
It was also informed that in the State JD (U) executive meeting held on October 23 a majority of the members expressed their displeasure and discontentment with the DAN government over deteriorating law and order situation in the State and the step-motherly treatment towards JD (U) party workers by certain NPF ministers. “The NPF leaders do not seem to have the attitude of seat-sharing amongst the DAN parties even for the forthcoming general election. Hence, the JD (U) could not foresee any future in the DAN government”, Nukhu stated.
“Under the above circumstances and in the best interest of the JD (U) party, I do hereby withdraw my support to the DAN government with immediate effect”, Nukhu stated.
PCPIA bid to improve ties with Nagaland City Correspondent Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Oct 24 — Continuing with its efforts to foster unity and amity amongst the people of Assam and Nagaland, the Peoples Committee for Peace Initiatives in Assam (PCPIA) is going to hold a meeting with the representatives of various Naga organisations on October 26 at Bishnu Nirmala Bhawan here. Convenor of PCPIA Birinchi Neog informed that the meet would be attended by the Naga Ho Ho, Naga Mothers Association, Naga Students Federation and other organizations.

Apart from the border problem that has taken its toll on the life and property and most importantly on the age-old solidarity between two neighbouring States, the means of achieving a lasting solution to the vexed problem would be discussed at length at the meet.

“The responsibility of finding a permanent solution to the Assam Nagaland border dispute lies on the Central Government, but unfortunately the Government is still to take the problem seriously,” rued Neog. Neog further said that the PCPIA was confident of a positive outcome of the meeting. “The common people on both side of the border is suffering because of the escalating tension and we are hopeful that people will find a solution to the problem,” said Neog. On October 27, the PCPIA will organize a peace meeting at Merapani between the people dwelling on both side of the border.
YTC hits out at NSCN (K) Tisary Region over resignation demand The Morung Express
Dimapur, October 24 (MExN): The Yimchunger Tribal Council (YTC) today declared that the NSCN (K) Tisary Region has no moral right or authority to demand the resignation of the YTC President and termed the resignation demand as ‘uncalled’ for and tantamount to challenging and defaming the entire Yimchungru Tribal community. A press release issued by the Chairman of the YTC Executive Committee, Shellumthong Yimchungrü and Joint Secretary, S Tokiu Yimchungrü strongly condemned the demand for resignation made on October 5, and declared that the demand is tantamount to challenging and defaming the entire community.
“The YTC condemns in strongest terms the un-called and so-called directive issued to the President of the YTC which tantamount to challenging and defaming the entire Yimchungrü Tribal Community,” the release declared. The YTC dared and challenged any organization not to ferment ‘diabolic designs’ so as to subvert the identity and integrity of the Yimchungru tribe as a community. “The said region (NSCN-K Tisary region) has no moral right or authority to direct the resignation of the President of the Yimchungru Tribal Council as such,” the release asserted and said that the YTC and ‘the Yimchungru public does not acknowledge an ounce of cognizance of the region’s existence and functionary within the jurisdiction of the Yimchungru Territory thereof’.
The release also asserted that the territorial jurisdiction of the Pungro Sub-division is both the residential and settlement area inhibited and comprising entirely of the Yimchungrü tribe only.
In this connection, the release notified that the community does not and shall not acknowledge and extend any form of recognition or cooperation to the Tisary region. The release at the same time cautioned any Yimchungru individual from co-operating and taking part in the activities and services in the Tisary region.
Undergrounds sow Raja Mircha in Bangladesh Morung Express News
KOHIMA | Believe it or not, but, a new theory is doing the rounds on how Dorset Naga, commonly known as Raja Mircha, got into Bangladesh. According to this theory, it is believed that the world’s hottest chilli was taken to Bangladesh by Naga undergrounds during the early part of the Naga political movement when they went there for training.
Chilli is one indispensable spice for Nagas, as its not only gives taste to cuisine, but also because of its appetizingly hot flavour and other curative properties. Chief Minister Neiphiu also appears to endorse this theory. At the recent workshop on Biodiversity Act, Rio told the participants that Raja Mircha was first taken to Bangladesh by Naga undergrounds.
Some ex- undergrounds leaders who went to Bangladesh jungle for training at that time admitted that they used to carry lots of Raja Mircha along with other food items, and the chilli might have dispersed through human excreta or in course of transportation. This new theory believes that once this chilli might have grown wild in the Bangladesh jungles, from where Bangladeshis collected and started to cultivate. Later they took along with them to Britain when some of them went to live.
Till Joy and Micheal, the founder duo of Peppers by Post, discovered this chilli, it was known as ‘Naga Morich’ in Britain, and is highly regarded by the British-Bangladeshi community and is also widely available in catering shops. A Pepper by Post is small market garden, where it grows and sell fresh chilli by Post throughout Britain, and located by the sea in west Dorset.
The name Dorset Naga was given after Joy and Micheal successful grew it, sampled and got tested for its hotness in 2005 and later on got it patented. Interestingly, Nagas love Raja Mircha not only for its hotness, but for its strong pungent aroma which is addictively appetizing, but the world seems to have not tasted its actual flavour till date, and the debate is doing around only on its Scuoville Heats unit. Similar varieties of chilli are also found in Tezpur area of Assam, which is known by different name such as ‘Bhut Jolokia, Naga Jolokia, Naga Morich or Bih Jolokia. Experts said all these are members of the chilly called capsicum chenense/capsicum frustescens.
NBCC flays burning down of village Nagaland Post
DIMAPUR, OCT 24 (NPN): The Nagaland Baptist Church Council (NBCC) has termed the recent burning down of Inavi village by NSCN (I-M) men as another instance of "high handedness" on the part of the NSCN (I-M). Expressing concern for the "suffering public in the hands of the national workers," Director, Peace Affairs NBCC, Rev L Kari Longchar in a press release said that "there are other ways than using fire to solve any problem."
He also said that as per the Inavi village elders, at least 500 houses, granaries and the Church building were all burnt to ashes with the homeless villagers scattered in and around the village in miserable condition. Urging the NSCN (I-M) to stop burning villages henceforth, NBCC also requested all churches to pray and extend support to the victimized Inavi villagers.
Defection to NSCN (IM) DT Haokip spells out the background Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Oct 24: former finance in-charge of the armed Kuki Revolutionary Army (KRA) DT Haokip, dismissing his parent organisation labelling him as ‘deserter’ reasoned that tribalism/clan lineage within the KRA organisation constrained him to shift loyalty to the NSCN (IM) fold.
Moreover, effort for promoting the KRA/Kuki cause and its interest on his part is unquestionable, DT Haokip affirmed.
further contending that he joined the NSCN (IM) as the Naga rebel group and the KRA share common principle and ideology, besides alleging that his parent outfit had been conspiring to belittle contribution of the Haokip community, DT Haokip opined that his change of allegiance stand to benefit and strengthen the KRA organisation in the long run while appealing to his former colleagues not to be disheartened or project him otherwise.
He also cautioned that any action that would strain relationship between the NSCN (IM) and KRA would be detrimental to interest of both the entities.
Ridiculing charges of the KRA’s information and publicity in-charge Th Misao that he (Haokip) worked for the UNLF and KNF (MC) in any manner, DT Haokip also cited no less than three attempts by KRA activists to eliminate him and his family as another compelling factor for his decision to seek patronage and safety of the NSCN (IM) haven.
Conveying gratitude to the NSCN (IM) leaderships for accepting him after due scrutiny of his activities, DT Haokip expressed strong expectation and satisfaction his dissociation from KRA would only strengthen the latter outfit in all aspects.
Maintaining that his association with the NSCN (IM) would be an added elixir to aspirations of the Kukis, he asserted that his vision is for development of the KRA and Kuki community and that under no circumstance should he be viewed as detrimental to interest of the Kukis.
Clarifying on charges of misusing crores of rupees from the KRA exchequer, Haokip claimed he had already handed over documents related to financial or materials to his parent organisation prior to joining NSCN (IM). Claiming that all documents related to financial and administrative activities had been handed over to the KRA leaderships, he expressed willingness to sort out any misgivings while demanding that KRA leaderships detail expenditures and utilisation account of the expended funds.
Nagas oppose Manipur Govt. ordinance on school affiliation Nagarealm.com
Imphal, OCT24 [IEN] : Strongly objecting Manipur Government's move to bring an ordinance on the school affiliation issue, the Nagas have threatened to organize protests against the Government's decision.

As per the ordinance, any educational institute or school within the state of Manipur would not be allowed to be affiliated to any board of secondary education outside the state without the prior permission of the Government of Manipur. The schools will have to seek a No Objection Certificate from the state government if they want to be affiliated with boards located outside the state. Furthermore, the Manipur Government has decided to impose penalties on schools defying its ban and affiliating with the Nagaland Board of Secondary Education (NBSE).
Insoluble pleas Nagaland Post Editorial
After former prime minister P.V. Narasimha Rao gave the assent during 1996 for reopening talks with the NSCN(I-M), the next prime ministers- H.D.Deve Gowda then I.K. Gujral-took the process forward resulting in the signing of the cease fire agreement with the NSCN(I-M)in 1997. The beginning of the 90s saw the opening of a new chapter in the state's political history, where killings and counter-revenge killings seemed to overshadow Naga society with blood soiling the land and fear pervading each home. Before the cease fire agreement, the people of Nagaland were desperate for peace and after the agreement, it was strongly believed that the era of peace would begin. During those difficult and tumultuous period, the people felt that the cease fires were the end of the troubles and beginning of an era of peace and progress. The Nagas wanted to be free from the climate of ever-present fear of sniping, assassinations and military operations. People genuinely believed that the cease fires were an indication that their fervent prayers have at least touched the hearts of the armed factions and the Government of India and that henceforth, peace and progress would replace killings and destruction. Perhaps the people understood peace as a condition where there would be no more killings or activities inimical to society when all contending parties would heed to their plea for peaceful dialogue. Ten years today, peace has become a relative term, depending on how one sees it. Factional killings have assumed menacing proportions with armed cadres having a free run of the state with impunity. In fact, the cease fires have been more violated than adhered to by all groups. The public in several districts have even aired the feeling that the cease fires have been rendered meaningless because of violations and failure of the authorities in enforcing the ground rules. Do all these failures leave us with the only option that the solution would be in the of abrogation of the cease fires? Such a scenario would be like going back to square one. If there are those who feel that the cease fires are as good as nonexistent, they may not be totally wrong. This then leads one to seriously ponder over the objective of the cease fire. Cease fire is declared between groups at war. If the objective was only to halt all forms of hostile or aggressive acts by all parties, then it can be said that this objective has been achieved and perhaps the cease fires may be described as fruitful. On the other hand, the understanding of the general public about the cease fires is that all parties will cease all forms of activities inimical to peace so as to help restoration of normalcy. Once a condition of normalcy is created, then the environment would greatly help in fostering goodwill towards unity for a peaceful and lasting settlement. It may be assumed that the armed groups see the cease fires as a means towards achieving the political solution and where the peace as understood by the people which is desired, has become secondary. The only conclusion is that peace has to be enforced by the government while the armed groups focus on political aspects of agreement. That is not happening and perhaps, the current situation can be best described as ' No Solution. No Peace.'
How to rid of suspicion that hinders peace ( Z. KATIRY ) Keyake, Kohima
While addressing the Joint Forum meeting of Kohima District GBs Federation and DBs Association organized by the Joint Forum Working Committee (JFWC) at Indoor Stadium, Kohima on 18th October, 2007 T. Manen, Additional Chief Secretary & Commissioner of Nagaland said, “Suspicion hinders Peace.” According to him, whenever any initiative was taken up for our people’s welfare, they didn’t see the good sides but viewed it with a negative bent of mind. What he said reminds me of Karl Marx’s philosophy of the good side and the bad side of economic system - the good side of economic system ensures equality whereas the bad side of economic system breeds inequality.
If we go by these words of Karl Marx, there can be no peace in the world even if one shouts ‘peace’ from the roof-top of a house with folded hands, so long as there is concentration of wealth in the hands of a few people through the unprecedented legitimization of corruption. Hopefully, the generation that is waiting in the wings will work towards creating a non-populist egalitarian society - inclusive, proud and dignified. T. Manen himself is a successful bureaucrat, yet he failed to bring out the sources of suspicion. Well, if Nagas are truly yearning for peace, then we need to scrutinize the whole situation now - identify the sources of hatred and the well-springs of suspicion with the aim to clear stereotypes and misunderstandings that besiege the Naga society. This will surely pave the way to gradual reconciliation, not just among the underground factions but also among the different Naga tribes which will slowly but surely heal the land. We need to study carefully the feelings and attitudes of people and the sources of conflict. All our efforts toward this should be guided by reason, and not by emotion. No one should add more pain to the anguish already suffered enough. Perhaps, this is the time when we must open the eyes of our people by force in order for them to see the light (truth). But let me ask frankly: who had created most of the stereotypes, suspicion and cycle of confusions among the Nagas? Are not the Naga elites and the so-called politicians who had created all these in order to satisfy their own selfish interests? Even the much-talked about patriotism, as the need of creating a better future for the Nagas, has but vanished.
The kind of patriotism we have at present is actually self-interest that had led to the present situation where we have so many divisions and countless underground factions with conflicting interest, arrogantly irreconcilable with each other. Cannot the Nagas look beyond the prism of caste, creed and tribe in order to retain the relevance of what we are preaching with big sounding words such as universal love, universal brotherhood, Christian love etc.? As for me, I do not believe in fragmentation of Naga Society into self-seeking groups for the simple reason that the interest of Nagas as a whole is more important than the interest of just one tribe or a few tribes as the whole is important than the parts. My whole life I have lived in pleasant thoughts, envisioning things in the interest of the Nagas, and nothing else had interested me. Tell me, how many people are there in today’s Naga society, who is genuinely working to glue together the broken vase, the same way the Jews worked day and night to save people during economic recession in Europe?
It is said that to be a Jew meant to bear serious responsibility not only to their own community, but also toward humanity. For the last several decades, the Nagas have been trying vainly to change each other which had often resulted in mutual insult; spewing at each other with diabolical words as in theatrical films a dragon would emit fire from its mouth. Well, in every society, it is the elites (not the sweaty class of people) who create or make opinions at different levels, and on the basis of which key decisions affecting the whole society are taken. Have they done that? Have the Naga elites and intellectuals ever attempted to break down the stereotypes and barriers created by the so-called politicians and propagandists? Have they told them what they must say, and how to avoid reopening the old wounds? Have they told the editors of Newspapers not to publish those write-ups and criticisms which can further create more stereotypes and suspicion among the Nagas? No matter from what angle you look at the present situation, the reality is soaked up in hatred and mutual suspicion among the Nagas.
The cause of it is mainly attributed to politics of hatred and envy (whether underground or over ground) which had blown Naga society into fragmentary bits. Every Naga must oppose these evil forces which are working with intense energy for the destruction of Naga society and its future. For all the chaos and confusions in our society, we often brand it as the handiwork the government of India. But a closer look at the situation shows that the evil which is an ever-present option is not “out there”; it is lurking “inside” ourselves, cunningly disguised as devotion or idealism. Politics of 21st century is not politics of the 50’s and 60’s of the 20th century. Much has changed between then and now. Alongside those changes, the trend of underground movement for sovereignty has also undergone a sea-change, affected by others’ politics in the same way many countries are affected by the politics of super powers. Therefore, the whole situation needs to be reassessed on a down-to-earth pragmatic basis, and a beginning should be made to address those core issues seriously in order to usher in a real and permanent peace. It is unfortunate that the Naga political movement which had created huge expectation in the early decades of its movement has turned so destructive to Nagas themselves. For more than half a century, the Nagas have been living insufferably with taxes and extortions heavily weighing the people down under the deceitful notion of “national interests.” Let us shed the pretense of being nationalists. Once we shed this “pretense”, sovereignty will follow automatically. Personally, I do not agree with T. Manen when he said that today only 5% of the Nagas are for sovereignty while the rest are against it. All my life I have never believed that independence is something which only big nations may have. If that was the case, then today more than half of the nations of the world would have been stripped of their nationhood status. I cannot understand why the government of India is so adamant to concede to the demand of a population that longs for freedom. However, if everything goes well with the Nagas themselves, who on earth can prevent us from being a sovereign people?
To begin the process of reconciliation, the first step should be to dissolve our anger which has almost reached a climax amongst the underground factions, and the second step should be to make peace not just amongst the underground factions but also among the different tribes. Only then the stereotypes and mutual mistrust that exist in the Naga society, with threatening dimension will begin to disappear and hatred would die out. Toward achieving this objective, we also need to treat all the underground factions as true equals vis-à-vis the Naga political issue. There can be nothing more appropriate to quote than a phrase from Alvin Toffler’s, “The Third Wave”, as the correct premise on which we must deal with various underground factions for reconciliation: Oh, Nagaland ! in spite of all thy faults, I still love thee.
India, China and Russia jointly oppose sanctions on Myanmar The Morung Express
India today opposed imposing sanctions on Myanmar and called for encouraging all stakeholders to advance political reforms and national reconciliation, a move jointly supported by China and Russia. "We believe that the initiative taken by the UN Secretary General (Ban-Ki Moon) to open dialogue amongst the various stakeholders in Myanmar should be encouraged," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said at a joint press conference after the end of the third standalone meeting of Foreign Ministers of India, China and Russia here.
Mukherjee said India has suggested that the process of political reform and national reconciliation should be expedited on a broad base and equally among all stakeholders. "We believe that Myanmar authorities should be encouraged to engage in the process of dialogue with the Special Envoy of the UN Secretary General (Ibrahim Gambari), the initiative which he has taken should be encouraged to take it to the logical conclusion and there should not be any sanctions at this stage," the minister emphasised. Mukherjee acknowledged that the Myanmar issue had figured prominently during the trilateral meeting and they exchanged views on it.
Indo-Myanmar bus service by year-end By Surajit Khaund Assam Tribune
GUWAHATI, Oct 24 – The Indo-Myanmar bus service is likely to get underway by this year end as the Centre has given green signal to the Manipur Government to start the process. Centre has taken the move following a report submitted by the Manipur Government.

The bus service will be started between Imphal (Manipur) and Mandalay (Myanmar) covering a distance about nearly 800 km. The new service is aimed at boosting bilateral trade between North East and Western Myanmar. To carry forward the new bus service, a high-level delegation comprising Transport Minister of Manipur and traders will visit Mandalay soon to study the situation and explore trade potential in the Myanmar market.

As the road passes through militancy prone area, both the Governments have agreed to provide full security including highway patrolling to the passengers for their smooth journey.

“We are planning to start the bus service by December next as all formalities have been completed in this regard,” Yumnam Dilip Kumar, president of Indo-Myanmar Border Traders Union (IMBTU) told this correspondent today. In this context, he said that the Manipur Government had already submitted a detailed report to the Centre covering security aspect and trade potential.

Giving more details in this regard, Kumar said that the bus service would give a boost the tourism sector in the entire North East. “The people of Myanmar are keen to visit the region, but communication has remained a major problem for them. The new service will definitely give a boost the crippled tourism sector,” he added. In a bid to cement the bilateral relation between North East and Myanmar, the Centre last year had decided to introduce a bus service between Imphal-Moreh and Mandalay. But, the bus operators of Manipur refused to ply their buses on the road fearing attacks from the underground groups operating in the area. The matter was later sorted out following assurance from the Manipur Government.
Heinoubok killing UNLF shares thoughts, beliefs Staff Reporter Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Oct 24: The proscribed UNLF has clarified that the incident of killing Wahengbam Shamungou of Takyel Kolom Leikai and injuring of Aheibam Oken of the same locality at Heinoubok on October 21 was not related to the outfit or its armed wing the MPA in any manner.
A statement issued by the outfit’s senior Publicity officer Ksh Yoiheiba reiterated the UNLF’s firm belief in a firm bond between the people and the revolutionaries for the liberation struggle.
From the perspective of the close relationship between the people and the revolutionaries, there would not have
been any misunder-standing or strain in their relationships if the revolutionaries inform the people in advance, particularly the family members and local people of any accused that he/she deserves capital punishment if he/she should be awarded death penalty. The enemy forces will also not dare to drive any form of wedge between the people and the revolutionaries, observed the UNLF.
On the other hand, it would not be proper for the people to make statements as if all the revolutionaries are involved in any case of such killing or violence.
It would be prudent on the part of the people to be cautious against more and more ‘secret killings’ by enemy forces taking advantage of the prevailing circumstances, Yoiheiba added.
Kuki UGs asked to shun violence Sangai Express
IMPHAL, Oct 24: Various Kuki social organisations have issued a fervent appeal to each and every dominant Kuki UG groups to refrain from acting with brute force against the civilians and their comrades alike for the sake of peace and social order. A statement jointly signed by vice president of KUMHUR Dr S Chongloi, president of Kuki Women Union Rose Mangshi Haokip, president Kuki Inpi (Sadar Hills) Chungkam Haokip, president of Sadar Hills Chief Association Aneh Chongloi, president of KSO (GHQs) P Simte and president of KSO (Sadar Hills) Henkholal Doungel expressed serious concern over the recent incident of gun-battle between two Kuki UG groups at Saichang. In the aftermath of the gun-fight, immense troubles and miseries have been caused to the villagers who have been forced to flee their homesteads and take refuge at the nearby Itham Moirangpurel. Such incidents of inter-party fighting, violence and internecine killings have marred the Kuki society for the last many years, the statement said, adding that it is lamentable that the groups who pose to spearhead the cause of the people with sophisticated arms have gone haywire from the cause of their commitment and sacrifices. The impending wishes and aspiration of the Kuki people will never be met if intermittent disruption of public peace and social tragedy prevail perpetually, the statement said. The Kuki bodies have also expressed gratitude to the people of Itham Moirangpurel and volunteers of AMUCO for their hospitable treatment to the displaced villagers. It may be noted here that around 300 villagers including women and children from Saichang and Bong-yang villages under Saikul Block have fled to Itham Moirangpurel following heavy gun-fight between armed cadres of KLA and KNA (P) in the morning of October 18. The villagers have taken refuge in the two relief camps set up at Itham Moirangpurel.
Manipur becoming a killing field, rues MPP’s O Joy By : A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL, Oct 24: Opposition leader O Joy Singh, contending that Manipur has fallen into a tragic situation with the recent spurt of killings and violence, has called on the state government to pay special attention to bringing the law and order situation under control.
The MPP leader, speaking to IFP today, said the multiple killings, over the past several days, including that of women, was not at all a good sign for the state. ‘Manipur has become a killing field. In the past few months, not a day has passed without news of killings, and it has become a matter of keeping score of how many are killed each day,’ the MLA said.
Such killings are not going to help Manipur, but will only cause anxiety and apprehension among the people, he said, expressing his regret that jungle law is now prevailing in the state in which the strong is preying on the weak. All of these have occurred because of the disinterest on the part of the state government, and stressed that the latter needs to pay special attention to bring the law and order situation to heel. Otherwise it will only get worse, he observed.
He also observed that it is not right for UG groups which are engaged in factional fights to turn on the people, citing the example of the refugees of Saichang village who are now sheltering at the neighbouring Itham Moirangpurel because of factional fights among armed groups.
With winter setting in, the refugees will be facing a difficult situation and in any case they cannot stay for long at Itham, he observed, urging for steps on the part of all concerned to facilitate their return home. The MPP leader also opposed the recent abduction of three PHED officials by suspected UGs and joined in the call for their prompt release on humanitarian grounds.